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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/35458-h.zip b/35458-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..85a3f5c --- /dev/null +++ b/35458-h.zip diff --git a/35458-h/35458-h.htm b/35458-h/35458-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..38ef266 --- /dev/null +++ b/35458-h/35458-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8211 @@ +<!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"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Green Forest Fairy Book, by Loretta Ellen Brady. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Green Forest Fairy Book, by Loretta Ellen Brady + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Green Forest Fairy Book + +Author: Loretta Ellen Brady + +Illustrator: Alice B. Preston + +Release Date: March 2, 2011 [EBook #35458] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FOREST FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<a name="Frontis" id="Frontis"></a> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="509" height="800" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"And now, Yvonne, to set your mind at rest, +gaze into the pool at your feet."<br /> +<i>Frontispiece.</i>—<i>See Page 168.</i> +</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE GREEN FOREST FAIRY BOOK</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="509" height="800" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>THE<br /> +GREEN FOREST<br /> +FAIRY BOOK</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>LORETTA ELLEN BRADY</h2> + +<h4>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY<br /> +ALICE B PRESTON</h4> + + + +<h4>LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY<br /> +BOSTON</h4> + + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> +<h4><i>Copyright, 1920</i>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By Little, Brown, and Company</span>.<br /> +<br /> +<i>All rights reserved</i></h4> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center">TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS<br /> +OF LITTLE JIM WARDS<br /> +SAN FRANCISCO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL<br /> +IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF<br /> +OUR TWILIGHT STORY-HOURS<br /> +THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Prologue</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dame Grumble and Her Curious Apple-Tree</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_6">6</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Tale of the Northland Kingdom</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Little Tree that Never Grew Up</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Tale of Punchinello</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Strange Tale of the Brown Bear</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Beggar Princess</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Sweep and Little Sweep</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kings and Queens and Peasant Folk</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Goose Girl and the Blue Gander</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_231">231</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Little Brown Man</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Tale for Halloween</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td></td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"And now, Yvonne, to set your mind at rest gaze into the pool at your feet"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Frontis"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"Oh, you wicked creature!" Dame Grumble would exclaim when he began to shake the Apple Tree</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>For many days these three companions journeyed on through soft white clouds</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>From this bag the Night Wind begged a dream for the Little Tree</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"Look, look, dear Punchinello!" little Beppo cried. "I am no longer lame"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"Hide me, Little Sweep," cried Red Cap. "My brother is after me"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>So at last, after much thought, the goose girl did as the blue gander bade</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_237">237</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>It was the gayest company one ever could imagine, as they marched along</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_262">262</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>THE GREEN FOREST<br /> +FAIRY BOOK</h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>PROLOGUE</h2> + + +<p>Long, long ago, when all the world was young +and there were but few people dwelling on it, +the strangest things could often come to pass. +Then fairyfolk still lived in the greenwoods +and elves sang and danced in the soft summer +dawns. Then trees could sing and flowers +speak and birds would carry messages about +the world; wild beasts were often loyal friends +to men and helped them in their difficulties. +In these old days, most noble dukes and earls +would fall in love with dairymaids whose gentle +ways and manners charmed their hearts. +Sometimes great kings grew weary of the splendor +of their courts and left their thrones to +live as simple peasants. Each princess had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +a fairy godmother who showered her with magic +gifts. Then wise men read the stars and seers +would gaze in crystal bowls to tell the coming +good or ill they saw.</p> + +<p>In those old days, the housewives left a bit +of bread and cheese upon the pantry shelf each +evening, that the brownie who was said to dwell +in every kitchen might have a midnight feast. +These brownies, 'twas said also, would make +much mischief if they were not treated very +well. In early dawns, when fields of flowers +were asparkle in the sun, the milkmaids used +to bathe their eyes and ears with dew that they +might see the fairyfolk forever afterward and +hear them sing at midnight in the glen. The +farmers' boys would search among the hedges +in hopes of meeting The Red Caps who were +said to bring much luck. These Red Caps +too were said to give a magic purse of gold to +those they fancied,—a purse that was always +brimful no matter what was spent from it. +The witches still rode broomsticks through the +skies and there were wishing wells and magic +charms and spells.</p> + +<p>In those delightful days of which I tell, there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +were not scores and scores of books as there +are now. Travelers journeying about the +world told tales of the wonders that they saw +and heard. It was not then thought strange +that kings and queens or royal counselors and +such wise folk should love to hear these wonder +tales. In those dear days, indeed, the grown +folk all loved wonder tales as well as children +love them now and were not worse because of +it. Sometimes these wonder tales were told +by magic chairs or chests; sometimes by birds +or beasts that were enchanted and had power +of speech.</p> + +<p>It has been related that in those olden days +there was a lovely bird with plumage all of the +purest gold and it was called The Golden +Bird. The Golden Bird had a voice so rare +and sweet that when it sang the nightingales +stopped midway in their songs to listen. The +Golden Bird likewise possessed the gift of +speech and could tell wonder tales the like of +which were never heard before or since. When +it began to sing in any land, news that The +Golden Bird had come spread swiftly everywhere. +The king would then declare a holi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>day +which lasted all the time The Golden Bird +was in the land. The people hastened to the +greenwood and there beneath the trees would +listen while The Golden Bird told wonder tales +and sang for their delight. And thus, The +Golden Bird flew all about the world, to every +land and clime, beloved by all folk everywhere.</p> + +<p>But sad to tell, at last there came a time +when The Golden Bird was seen no more. The +folk of every land looked anxiously for its return +and thought it stayed too long in other +places. But years passed by and still The +Golden Bird came not. Then travelers journeying +about the world declared The Golden +Bird was nowhere to be found and all the people +mourned at these sad tidings. Some thought +the lovely bird had perished at some greedy +hunter's hand; others said the world had grown +too wicked for The Golden Bird to dwell here +any longer. However, what had happened to +the lovely creature, no one ever knew.</p> + +<p>But sadder still to tell is this: When The +Golden Bird was seen to fly about the earth +no more, the people did not hold its memory +dear. As time passed on and it came not, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +thought about it less and less and very few recalled +the wonder tales The Golden Bird had +told. Then as the world grew older and all +folk began to doubt about the fairies and to +scoff at wishing wells, The Golden Bird was +quite forgot by all save one. This one, a little +girl who tended flocks upon a mountain, gazed +in the clouds at dawn each day in hopes to see +The Golden Bird come soaring. Sometimes she +wept because The Golden Bird came not. At +last, to please the child, her aged grandame, +who had heard The Golden Bird tell wonder +tales when she had been a child, took pen and +ink and wrote them down as she remembered +them. She wrote, 't is said, a hundred tales +or more but through the ages that have passed +between they have been lost, until there are +but eleven; these are the eleven that I have +set down in The Green Forest Fairy Book.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>DAME GRUMBLE AND HER CURIOUS APPLE TREE</h3> + + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p>Long, long ago, in a country quite close to +the top of the earth, where the North Wind +blew fiercely each spring, there lived a woman +called Dame Grumble. Now Dame Grumble +had an Apple Tree which she loved exceedingly, +although it vexed her beyond all compare. It +was a very fine large tree, and well shaped for +shade, just the sort of tree that should have +yielded a bushel or two of fruit each autumn; +but it did not. Each year when the cuckoo +flew over the earth, calling the trees and flowers +to waken because spring was come again, the +Apple Tree would be covered with clouds upon +clouds of fragrant, pinky-white blossoms. Then +Dame Grumble's heart would rejoice. But +no sooner was the Apple Tree thus bedecked +than the North Wind would blow furiously,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +tearing off the blossoms and carrying them off +in clouds. The curious part of it all was this: +When a few of the blossoms chanced to fall to +the ground, they made a chinking sound like +that of small coins in children's banks. Then +when these blossoms had withered, Dame +Grumble would find nice, new shining pennies +where they had lain. From this she supposed +the Apple Tree would one day bear apples of +gold.</p> + +<p>Now Dame Grumble, it must be confessed, +was not very amiable. Indeed, it was from +her nature that she drew her name. Some +said Dame Grumble complained from the time +she rose in the morning until she sought her bed +at night. Even then she complained of her hard +pillow or thin coverlets until she fell asleep. +Her poor son, Freyo, thought his mother must +surely grumble all night in her dreams, for on +waking each day she began directly where she +had left off the night before. Many a time this +poor lad wished that he were not lame, but +could go out in the world to seek his way for +himself. Dame Grumble led him a dreadful +life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>If the day were hot, Dame Grumble thought +longingly of the days when the snow lay on the +ground and she sat in comfort before the blazing +logs. But when the winter came again, she +complained bitterly because she had to break +the ice on the well each morning. She declared +it was a shame, since she had but one son, that +he should be lame, and thus be a burden instead +of a staff. Her ceaseless scolding and carping +often made poor Freyo so miserable that he +would put aside his wood carving, for he had +no heart to work. If the East Wind blew ever +so lightly, Dame Grumble complained that it +gave her strange pains in her face, and would +wish instead for the West Wind, which she +thought mild and gentle. But when the West +Wind blew over the forest and fields and dried +the linen she spread on the hedges, Dame +Grumble cried out that he was a thieving creature. +She would hasten to gather her dried +linens, vowing all the while that the West +Wind would steal them if he dared. Oh, there +was no pleasing Dame Grumble! Freyo, her +son, was well aware of that.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" width="509" height="800" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Oh, you wicked creature!" Dame Grumble +would exclaim when he began to shake the +Apple Tree.—<i>Page 9.</i> +</span> +</div> + +<p>Now seeing that Dame Grumble was of a +disposition to grumble and complain when there +was no cause at all, you may have some idea +of her bitter feeling when the North Wind +robbed her of her apple blossoms each spring.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you wicked creature!" Dame Grumble +would exclaim when he began to shake the +Apple Tree. "Just wait, and some day I will +catch you and shut you up in some dark place +where you shall remain forever. No one would +miss you. The North Wind is the most hated +wind that blows!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, Dame Grumble!" the North Wind +would reply. "How would the boys and girls +ever skate if I did not blow in winter time? +How would the forest and orchards ever have +time to make their new green leaves and flowers +for the springtime, if I did not lock the earth +tight each winter? You make a mistake, +Madam. The North Wind would be keenly +mourned and missed. But beware! Some +day I will catch you and carry you off to a certain +desert island in the middle of the sea, and +there you may complain for all your days."</p> + +<p>Then the North Wind would roar and blow +his hardest, and Dame Grumble's petticoats<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +would spread out like sails, until she feared she +might be blown away, and would seek refuge +in the cottage. There in anger she would watch +the clouds of blossoms blown from her favorite +tree. When the North Wind had gone off +again, she would rush out and scold the Apple +Tree severely.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Such a tree!" Dame Grumble would +exclaim in vexation. "If you would but cling +more firmly to your blossoms, at least a few +would remain on your branches, and then I +should have a golden harvest. From the pennies +I find where your blossoms have withered, I +am quite sure that you would bear apples of +gold, if you bore apples at all. Then I could +sell these golden apples and make a fortune for +myself."</p> + +<p>"But, Dame Grumble," the Apple Tree would +protest, "you cannot withstand the North +Wind, either. Your petticoats spread out like +sails, and you can scarcely keep your feet on +the ground."</p> + +<p>"And what of that?" Dame Grumble would +answer crossly. "I have but two feet, while +you have roots as numerous as your branches.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +Moreover, they reach far down beneath the +earth, and there spread far and wide as your +topmost boughs. You are stronger than I. +You should fight the North Wind, who is naught +but a wicked robber in disguise. I am sure +that he has stored up a fortune in pennies from +my blossoms that he has stolen this many a +long year." Then Dame Grumble would shake +the Apple Tree until Freyo would beg her to +stop.</p> + +<p>It must not be supposed that Dame Grumble +did not contrive various ways to save her blossoms +from her enemy. Indeed, she spent many +hours every day thinking of plans to defeat +the North Wind, but she had never succeeded. +All one winter she worked in the cold and snow, +chopping tall thorn branches to make a barrier +about the Apple Tree. "Thorn branches are +very strong, and will protect the Apple Tree," +thought she. Freyo told his mother this was +useless work, but she would pay no heed to what +he said.</p> + +<p>"Then, Mother," pleaded the poor lad, "since +you will not stay indoors this bitter weather, +please bring me a branch of walnut from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +forest. I would like to carve a clock-case in +a certain design I have in mind. If I had but +proper tools for wood carving and a store of +oak and walnut, I might one day make a fortune +for you. Then you would have no longer +need to quarrel with the North Wind about +the blossoms."</p> + +<p>"Oh, hold your silly tongue!" cried Dame +Grumble. "A great simpleton I would be to +sit here quietly and wait for you to make a +fortune with your bits of woods! Each year +the North Wind steals a fortune in pennies +from me, and I mean to try to stop him if I +can. Should I find a bit of walnut that will +fit into my pocket, you may have it; otherwise +you must do without."</p> + +<p>Poor Freyo had but few tools, and those few +were very poor; nevertheless, he had skillful +fingers and could carve lovely pictures in wood. +Dame Grumble always laughed scornfully when +the lad spoke of the fortune he hoped one day +to make. To her mind, wood carving and +clumsy chests and clock-cases were naught but +folly. She rarely remembered to bring Freyo +a branch of wood from the forest. Dame Grum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>ble +was always thinking of her blossoms and +her enemy, the North Wind, and had no time +to think of Freyo. So the poor lad had to content +himself with bits of wood he found in the +chimney corner, and he carved frames and treasure +boxes from these.</p> + +<p>Now, as we have told, all one winter Dame +Grumble worked diligently dragging thorn +branches from the forest, until she had a great +heap. When the snow began to melt, she +planted these branches of thorn about her favorite +tree. Then when the Apple Tree was +decked once more in clouds upon clouds of fragrant, +pinky-white blossoms, the North Wind +came roaring over the fields and lanes. He +laughed loudly when he saw the barrier of thorn +branches.</p> + +<p>"And so, Dame Grumble," cried the North +Wind, "you do not know my strength better +than this!" Seizing a branch of the thorn, +he tore it from the ground as though it had +been a twig and hurled it in the air. Then +he did likewise to the rest, and in half an hour +he had torn up every vestige of Dame Grumble's +barrier.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Many times I have left you a few blossoms, +Dame Grumble," he cried, as he blew on his +way, "but you have never thanked me for the +pennies, so this time you shall have none."</p> + +<p>Naturally Dame Grumble was more vexed +than ever before. She shook the Apple Tree +with fury and left off only when she was too +weary to shake it longer. All evening she scolded +so bitterly that Freyo wished himself far away. +Life with this scolding dame was far from pleasant +for the poor lame lad. Still he never +complained. "Mother complains enough for +both," thought he.</p> + +<p>When Dame Grumble arose next morning, +she had another plan in mind. "My son," said +she, "I am going on a journey to seek in all +places for the fortune in pennies which my +wicked enemy, the North Wind, has stolen +from me. When I have found it, I shall return, +and all things will be well. I shall buy +you a fine coach and build a noble house where +we shall live like kings and queens, and there +we shall be very happy, I daresay."</p> + +<p>"But, Mother!" cried Freyo in dismay, "the +North Wind travels all over the earth, and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +you cannot do. When winter comes what will +you do for shelter? Besides, I do not long for +a coach, but for a crutch instead; and as for +happiness—it is to be found in kind hearts +rather than in noble houses. In our little cottage +we could be as happy as kings and queens, +if you would but leave off scolding and be content."</p> + +<p>"That shows how little you know!" replied +Dame Grumble. "I cannot be content without +a fortune, and a fortune I mean to have. +If I have not found the hollow that I seek before +winter comes again, I shall return. But I +have a feeling that my search will not be all +in vain." Then, bidding Freyo take good care +of the cottage, Dame Grumble tied on her bonnet +and shawl and set out on her journey.</p> + +<p>When Dame Grumble had gone, Freyo was +greatly puzzled. He was not sure that he was +really lonely. He missed his mother's presence +about the cottage because she was a famous +housewife, always busy with some savory broth, +or baking great loaves of brown bread. However, +he was relieved that he did not hear her +sharp tongue scolding all day long. He care<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>fully +tidied the kitchen until it looked spotless +and shining, as though Dame Grumble herself +had done it. Then he sat down before his +bench. While he was working, Freyo paused; +he thought he heard his name called softly.</p> + +<p>"Freyo, Freyo!" spoke a gentle voice. "Only +come to the door, and you can see me. I have +something to tell you that will make you happy. +Please do come!" Freyo set down his work and +hobbled to the door.</p> + +<p>"It is I, the Apple Tree," spoke the voice +again; "come nearer that I may talk to you. +You have always been kind to me, when Dame +Grumble has abused me, Freyo, and now I shall +reward you."</p> + +<p>Freyo made his way to the Apple Tree, and +she continued: "Do you see my two stoutest +branches quite close to the ground? These I +mean to give you for crutches."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Apple Tree!" cried Freyo. "I would +not cut off your branches! I would not give +you such pain."</p> + +<p>"But cutting off these two branches of mine +will cause me no great pain," the Apple Tree +insisted. "They are over-heavy, and next<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +spring when the North Wind blows, I fear that +he will snap them off. What the North Wind +cannot bend he will break, as well you know. +When you have made your crutches, you may +go to the forest and gather more wood for your +work of wood carving, until you have the store +that you desire."</p> + +<p>At last Freyo was persuaded. The branches +were cut, and all day long he sat beneath the +Apple Tree, while he fashioned a pair of crutches. +By evening they were finished, and when he +slept that night, Freyo dreamed of wandering +in the greenwood; he had never yet been so +far from the cottage door.</p> + +<p>"How well you have done!" exclaimed the +Apple Tree next morning, when Freyo stepped +out briskly on his crutches.</p> + +<p>"And you too have done well," replied the +lad. "I see two tufts of green leaves already +at work to cover the places where I cut your +branches." He waved farewell to the Apple +Tree and set upon his way. Freyo was gone +the whole day long. When the sun set that +evening, he had not returned, and even when +the moon rose slowly, still he did not come.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +The Apple Tree began to worry and to fret lest +her branches had not proved strong enough for +crutches. Then presently she saw Freyo with +a heavy pannier strapped upon his back; but +not one bit of oak or walnut wood had he.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Apple Tree!" cried he, "never in my +life have I been happy as I was to-day. Only +to wander beneath the trees and see the blue +forget-me-nots that make a lovely carpet underfoot, +or to hear the birds sing sweetly was like +paradise. I wished the whole world were one +great forest, and that the time were always +spring. I could not bear to come away!"</p> + +<p>"But Freyo," said the Apple Tree, "you have +brought nothing for your work! How will you +make chests and clock-cases?"</p> + +<p>"I could not find it in my heart to cut the +smallest twig," confessed the lad. "The trees +looked all so beautiful and stately that it seemed +to me a shame. Instead I gathered brown bells +and forget-me-nots to plant about your roots. +I am sure you must be lonely in this bare wind-swept +spot, and they will serve for company."</p> + +<p>"Now that was kind," replied the Apple Tree, +"but you must now give heed to what I say.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +In the forest there are many trees that will +gladly give you a fine branch or two. When +next you go there, tell them that you are the +friend of the Apple Tree whose blossoms fall +to earth with a chinking sound, like small coins +in children's banks. Then they will know +you and will be generous as I have been. Besides, +I warn you that at the first approach of +winter, Dame Grumble will return. She will +be crosser than ever, for she will never find the +fortune in pennies that she seeks. Now be +advised, Freyo, and gather a goodly store of +oak and walnut while you may."</p> + +<p>When Freyo went again to the forest, he told +the message of the Apple Tree to the tall pines +and low bending oaks, and to shady maples +too. These trees all gave him such a bounteous +supply of boughs and branches that Freyo soon +had store to last him for his carving a whole +year or more.</p> + +<p>'T was well he had. One day as he sat working +beneath the Apple Tree, he noticed that +the leaves fell fast and that the wind blew chill. +Another morning, when the maples on the hillsides +flamed like fire, Freyo heard a shrill familiar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +voice borne on the air, and presently Dame +Grumble herself appeared before the cottage +door.</p> + +<p>Now, as the Apple Tree had foretold, Dame +Grumble was crosser than ever. She had not +found the fortune in pennies she had sought, +and she was out of humor with her journey. +She vowed she had not had one pleasant moment +from the time she had set out; she said +that she had longed unceasingly for her little +cottage. Dame Grumble solemnly declared +that she had done with journeys forevermore +and looked forward to great happiness, now that +she was home at last. She praised Freyo's +housekeeping and said the cottage looked as +tidy as a pin. When she had laid aside her +bonnet and shawl, she began to make a fine +supper for him.</p> + +<p>"How nice that you have crutches, my son, +and can get about so well!" she cried with +pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Are they not a blessing, Mother?" asked +Freyo. "They are not bad for a poor lad who +never before had seen a crutch, but made them +just as best he knew."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dame Grumble continued to praise the +crutches and to admire them until she learned +that they were made from branches of the Apple +Tree. Then she was furious; her anger knew +no bounds. She rushed out to the Apple Tree +and shook it with all her might. Then she ran +in to throw the crutches in the fire, but this +Freyo would not permit.</p> + +<p>"The Apple Tree herself gave me her branches, +Mother," said he, "and the crutches are mine."</p> + +<p>"Give them to me at once, I say!" stormed +Dame Grumble. "The Apple Tree is mine, +and consequently her branches are mine also. +I must punish you for this disobedience. Do +you not know that I prize the Apple Tree above +all else on earth? Do I not expect a harvest of +golden apples from it some day? Now when +that day is come, I shall not have nearly so +many, because of your wickedness. Why did +you cut as much as a twig from the Apple Tree?"</p> + +<p>"Mother," answered Freyo, "if there be any +harm done, it is done. To burn the crutches +will not make the branches grow upon the Apple +Tree again." Dame Grumble first commanded +and then entreated that her son give her the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +crutches to burn, but Freyo was firm. At last +she burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" she sobbed. "It is not enough +that I have had many troubles and cares in the +past; each year my wicked enemy, the North +Wind, steals a fortune in pennies from me! +And now added to this I must suffer disobedience +from my own ungrateful son." She sobbed and +wailed until Freyo was nearly distracted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother!" he begged. "If you would +only cease your weeping and look at these wonderful +things I have made in your absence. +Here is a clock-case with the four seasons carved +upon it. The hours are told by twelve lovely +nymphs dancing through the forest; it is a +treasure worthy of a king. Some day a duke +may come a-riding by and fancy it—then, +who knows—my fortune may be made, and I +would give it all to you, Mother."</p> + +<p>In spite of all his pleadings, however, Dame +Grumble would not look at his treasures. She +was so deep in her woes that she could think +of nothing else. She would not touch a crumb +of supper but said mournfully that she had no +heart for either food or drink.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>Freyo sat before the fire, sad and desolate. +With the scolding dame's return, the quiet and +contentment of the little cottage had fled. +"Ah," sighed the poor lad, "I have no doubt +that Mother is right; perhaps I am wicked and +ungrateful after all."</p> + + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>During the winter that followed, Dame +Grumble led her son a dreadful life. He could +no longer talk to his good friend, the Apple +Tree, for she was sleeping her deep winter's +sleep and would not waken until the spring. +So while the snow whirled high without and +piled itself in drifts at door and chimney, Freyo +sat patiently carving his great oaken chests and +settles. When he carved fields of wheat with +wild fowl flying over, the poor lad fancied himself +afield once more; when he carved forest +scenes, he lived again the memories of his +happy summer. If Dame Grumble spoke to +her son, it was but to call him wicked and ungrateful. +She often vowed she would forgive +him if he would but give her the crutches to +burn. But Freyo had a plan in mind. With<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +the first sign of spring, he meant to be off and +seek his own way in the world, and this he could +never do without his precious crutches. The +poor lad had no desire to spend another winter +with this cross, fault-finding dame.</p> + +<p>Now, as was her usual fashion, Dame Grumble +spent much time in planning means to spare +the blossoms of the Apple Tree. It happened +that on her journey she had found a book which +told of orchard trees and how to care for them. +So in this book Dame Grumble now began to +study diligently. She found a picture of an +apple tree encased with strong, coarse netting. +This strong, coarse netting, so the book said, +would protect the fruit and blossoms from all +harm. Accordingly, Dame Grumble sat her +down before her wheel and spun endless miles +of heavy thread. From this she next wove +yards upon yards of strong, coarse netting. +Often and often Freyo begged his mother to +cease this useless labor. The North Wind +would soon tear the whole thing into shreds, +said he. You may be sure Dame Grumble +always had a sharp retort for him.</p> + +<p>"Had I a son who was a comfort and a bless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>ing, +I have no doubt that he would long ago +have found a way to save my precious blossoms +from the North Wind," she would say. "I +daresay, too, that I would have had a harvest of +golden apples long since. Even now I might be +dwelling in some noble mansion with slaves to +do my bidding and a different carriage for +every day in the week!"</p> + +<p>So the winter dragged on wearily. At last +the snow began to melt, and the sunbeams to +make bright spots on the kitchen floor. The +hedges here and there showed patches of green +leaves; the birds returned from the southland +whither they had gone for the winter. Forget-me-nots +and brown bells blossomed about the +Apple Tree, and the green grass for miles about +was thick with yellow buttercups. It was then +the Apple Tree awoke from her winter's sleep +and decked herself in clouds of fragrant, pinky-white +blossoms. Then it was that Dame Grumble +went forth from her cottage with yards +upon yards of strong, coarse netting with +which she covered her favorite tree. Seeing +the bare places that marked the two missing +branches, she cried out afresh that she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +a sad, sorrowful woman and had too many +cares.</p> + +<p>While Dame Grumble was thus occupied, +Freyo unlocked the cupboard where he had +hidden his precious crutches. But, alas! The +wood of the Apple Tree was not suitable for +such use, and the crutches fell to pieces when he +touched them. Freyo tried to mend them here +and join them there, but it was in vain. They +broke again in other places. Now when Dame +Grumble learned this, she vowed it was a just +punishment for Freyo's disobedience. However, +with her usual perverseness, she took no +more interest in the crutches. She did not +trouble to burn them, and there they lay in the +cupboard for many a long day.</p> + +<p>"You will obey your mother when she commands, +another time, I daresay," she would often +remark, and point to the useless, broken things.</p> + +<p>Now that spring was come, it was not long +before Dame Grumble's old enemy, the North +Wind, came also. Shouting and hallooing he +blew over the fields and forests one sunshiny +day, and when he reached the Apple Tree, he +stopped still in amazement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ho! Ho! Ho!" laughed the North Wind, +"who has thus cleverly covered the Apple Tree?"</p> + +<p>"I have!" shouted Dame Grumble from +within her cottage, where she had run to hide. +"Now you had best be off, for you can never +undo this strong, coarse netting I have woven; +it is tied in a thousand tight knots!"</p> + +<p>"Ah! is it indeed, Dame Grumble?" inquired +the North Wind with mock politeness. +"Will you kindly have patience for a little until +I try my skill?" With that he blew a blast +that unloosed all the yards upon yards of strong, +coarse netting and bore them off like puffs of +thistledown. Dame Grumble's heart sank; but, +strange to say, the North Wind did not blow +away the blossoms of the Apple Tree. Instead, +he lingered about the cottage until night fell +and played all manner of tricks to bring Dame +Grumble running out. He blew soot down the +chimney and blackened the clean-scrubbed +kitchen floor; he put out her candle when she +had lighted it for evening; and whisked her +linen from the hedges into the fields and far +away. Not one word of anger or reproach +would Dame Grumble utter, even so. If the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +North Wind would but spare the blossoms of +the Apple Tree, nothing else mattered. At last +the North Wind grew weary of his teasing and +departed.</p> + +<p>"Just you wait, Dame Grumble!" he called +in farewell. "Some day I shall catch you unaware, +and I will carry you off to that desert +island that waits to welcome you as Queen of +Grumblers!" Then he blew on his way.</p> + +<p>Dame Grumble waited, fearful lest perhaps +he would return, but the North Wind returned +no more that spring. The blossoms on the +Apple Tree began to wither, and presently tiny +fruit began to form on its branches. It seemed +at last as though Dame Grumble would gather +the harvest of golden apples for which she had +so longed; but even so, this cross, fault-finding +dame was not content.</p> + +<p>"Alack!" she often mourned, "if I had had +this strong, coarse netting years ago, I would +have had many a golden harvest long ere this. +Without doubt this covering hath a charm above +the power of the North Wind. Had I a son to +assist me, I daresay he would have thought +about it long since."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But, Mother, I cannot help it that I am +lame and do not assist you," sighed Freyo.</p> + +<p>"But you can help it when you are wicked +and disobedient; and wicked and disobedient +you were when you cut the two stout branches +of the Apple Tree. For now, though I shall +gather golden apples, there will not be nearly so +many because of your rash act."</p> + +<p>So the springtime passed and the summertime +came. Day by day the fruit on the Apple +Tree grew larger, and day by day Dame Grumble +took pencil and paper to count the number of +apples that hung upon each branch. She tried +each day to reckon just how many more she +would have had but for the branches Freyo had +cut off, and every day she grew vexed afresh. +Dame Grumble would not permit Freyo to go +near the Apple Tree. She vowed he might take +a notion to cut down the whole tree, for all she +knew.</p> + +<p>The summer grew older; the meadows turned +brown, and the fields grew bare. Dame Grumble +watched eagerly for a sign which would +show that the apples were turning to gold; but +no sign she saw. The apples turned bright red<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +instead. The summer began to wane, and a +sharp chill in the air warned Dame Grumble +that winter was not far away. The maples on +the hillsides flamed crimson and scarlet once +again, and yellow leaves fell from the poplar +trees like rain.</p> + +<p>"Now can it be that you are going to disappoint +me!" exclaimed Dame Grumble to the +Apple Tree. "Why, pray, do not your apples +turn to gold?"</p> + +<p>"How you talk, Dame Grumble!" replied +the Apple Tree. "You will be disappointed +no matter what happens! Though I gave you +a thousand golden apples, you would never +cease to mourn that you might have had a +hundred more had not Freyo cut off my two +branches. Then you would make the poor lad's +life more miserable than ever. I sometimes +wonder that you are not ashamed to plague and +torment him as you do. You do not deserve +golden apples, and I will not give you golden +apples. So you had best make haste and gather +these red apples of mine before the frost will +nip them."</p> + +<p>But this Dame Grumble would not do. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +was assured that the red apples would turn to +gold, in spite of the Apple Tree. For if young +and tender blossoms yielded bright new shining +pennies, did it not follow that the ripened fruit +would be of purest gold? Dame Grumble so +believed. "The Apple Tree does not love me +and never did," she thought within herself; "it +is but a plan to make me angry."</p> + +<p>By and by the leaves fell from the Apple +Tree itself, until its branches were quite bare +and brown. The apples shone tantalizingly +red, and then Dame Grumble realized at last +that they would never change to golden, as she +hoped. Now this new disappointment, you may +be sure, did not tend to sweeten her disposition. +All day she sat gazing mournfully at her favorite +tree and wept bitter tears at her new loss.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother, pray do not weep so!" begged +Freyo. "You will make yourself ill. My store +of wood is gone; but if you would bring me two +stout branches from the forest, I would fashion +another pair of crutches for myself. Then I +would set off to make a fortune to take the place +of this fortune you fancy you have lost."</p> + +<p>"Fancy I have lost!" repeated Dame Grumble<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +scornfully. "The fortune I <i>fancy</i> I have lost! +I do not fancy I have lost a fortune; I know +full well I have lost a fortune. Besides, who +would give a copper farthing for your clumsy +chests and boxes!"</p> + +<p>So all day long Dame Grumble dwelt on her +woes. At night she sat sighing in the chimney +corner until the little cottage quite close to the +top of the earth was as dull and gloomy as +though a thousand crows had settled suddenly +upon it.</p> + + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>Now it happened at this time, when all Dame +Grumble's troubles seemed too many to be +borne, that the good dame and her son enjoyed +a visitor. Visitors in that country quite close +to the top of the earth were very rare, you may +be sure. This visitor was not an ordinary sort +of person; far from that was he, indeed. Because +he journeyed ceaselessly about the earth +and was well known to folk of many lands, he +was called the Traveler. But though he roamed +thus everywhere, the Traveler seemed never +bound for any certain land or country but went +his ways just as the winds of heaven went theirs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +The Traveler never remained long in any city +or village, nevertheless he stayed long enough +to do a kindness for some sad one, or to help +some poor one on his way. Few people ever +could agree about his age; the old thought him +young, and the young thought him old. However, +young and old alike agreed that the +Traveler seemed possessed of magic powers to +banish cares and troubles. Wherever he found +quarrels and spites, he left love and kindliness; +where he found envy, he left content; where he +went once, the Traveler always found a warm +welcome awaiting him on his return.</p> + +<p>What was the secret source of the Traveler's +noble qualities was a mystery to all folk. Some +said the Traveler kept his cheerful spirit because +of a certain great cloak that he always wore. +This cloak, they said, was made of wool woven +from the fleece of fairy sheep and had great +powers of happiness. Others said that in a far-off +country the Traveler had drunk deeply of a +certain magic well, the waters of which were +said to bless one with a kindly heart forevermore. +Still others thought the Traveler's power +over cares and sorrow lay in the plain wood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +staff he always carried. But though the secret +of his soothing charm was thus uncertain, certain +it was that the Traveler paid a visit to +Dame Grumble and her son one chill autumn +evening, and the story of it all is this:</p> + +<p>It happened one day, as the Traveler was +walking along the road that led up to the country +quite close to the top of the earth, he chanced +to meet the North Wind. Now the North +Wind loved to tease and play his tricks on every +one, and so he seized the Traveler's hat and +blew it five fields off; he swept stinging dust +into his eyes and wrapped his cloak so tightly +around him that but for his staff the Traveler +would have stumbled. Though he was so +bothered and annoyed, the Traveler did not +complain. He loosed his cloak and wiped his +eyes of the dust, then once again he set upon +his way.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the Traveler, "it is a strong +wind that blows here; but how clean the road +is swept in consequence! It is also a good +wind."</p> + +<p>The North Wind had expected blame instead +of praise and was abashed. So straightway he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +brought back the hat, and then he blew gently +in the direction which would best suit the +Traveler's footsteps. So it was that this visitor +knocked at Dame Grumble's cottage one evening +just at candlelight. The Traveler begged +her hospitality, and Dame Grumble bade him +enter. She placed a chair before the hearth +and began to prepare a supper for him. All the +while she complained most bitterly that she +should thus receive a guest in her kitchen. +When she set forth the supper, Dame Grumble +sighed because the bread was brown instead +of white.</p> + +<p>"Never sigh, Dame Grumble!" urged the +Traveler with his kindly smile. "Seldom have +I seen a pleasanter kitchen, and never have I +eaten better fare. Your brown bread is fit for +a king, and your broth would give courage to a +weary army!"</p> + +<p>"That is all very well for you to say, good +sir," replied Dame Grumble sulkily, "but you +do not know all my troubles." She did not +often find one to give ear to her tale of sorrow, +and if the Traveler would, Dame Grumble +meant that he should hear her. Above all else<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +in the world, Dame Grumble loved to talk about +her woes.</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps after supper, when you sit +before the fire, you will tell me of your troubles, +good dame," said the Traveler. You may be +sure Dame Grumble agreed. Indeed, so eager +was she to begin that she hummed a lively +tune to hasten her work. At the unusual sound +of his mother's singing, Freyo left his bench to +learn the cause of it. When he saw the Traveler, +he greeted him with warmth.</p> + +<p>"We do not often have a visitor, good sir," +said he, "so I shall leave my work and join you +by the fireside."</p> + +<p>"But first," exclaimed the Traveler, "you +must let me see this work of yours; you must +dearly love it, thus to be about it after darkness +has fallen and all men sit to take their ease."</p> + +<p>"Good sir," replied Freyo, "my work is +wood carving, and I do love it better than the +whole world!"</p> + +<p>The Traveler regarded the great chests and +clock-cases with deep admiration and begged +Freyo to tell him of his work; of whom he had +learned his skill; and whence his designs had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +come. To these questions Freyo replied that +he did not know, he supposed he had taught +himself.</p> + +<p>"Good sir," said he, "some folk make pictures +on a canvas with bright colored oils and +brilliant paints, and other folk make pictures +with fair words, as they tell wonder tales. I +have not skill like those, but I have dreamed +bright dreams and have loved to sit and carve +my dreams upon my chests of oak and walnut +wood. Think you that my skill is fair or that +my pictures would please aught beside myself, +who carved them?"</p> + +<p>"I have no words to tell you how high I hold +your skill," declared the Traveler, "and as for +the pictures you have carved in wood, they +would delight a queen or please a king as well. +They are truly lovely."</p> + +<p>"Then, good sir," replied Freyo, "to the +Apple Tree that stands before our door you +must give all this praise. The summer before +the summer that has just passed, this good tree +of her own accord did give me her two stoutest +branches, from which I made a pair of crutches. +Then I could wander in the woods from dawn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +till dark, and hear the birds sing songs the +whole day long. 'T was then I learned to +dream my finest dreams; it was like heaven, +sir!" The poor lad sighed in memory of the +happy time, and before he could say more, +Dame Grumble interrupted. The good dame +could no longer restrain her tongue or her impatience, +it seemed.</p> + +<p>"Now, good sir!" cried she, "you have heard +my son; you must hear me. The Apple Tree +was not an ordinary tree, as my son knew very +well! He did wrong to cut the smallest twig +whilst I was gone.</p> + +<p>"Each year, when the cuckoo came calling in +the spring, there was no finer sight in all the +world than the Apple Tree. So thick was it +with blossoms that scarce a branch or twig +could be seen. Its fragrance floated on the +breeze, drawing every bee and butterfly for +leagues and leagues about. Surely with such a +tree I might look for a bounteous harvest, one +would think. But, alas! No sooner was the +Apple Tree thus decked like a bride than my +wicked enemy, the North Wind, would come +and blow these blossoms far away. But mark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +you now the wonder of my tale: a few blossoms +would sometimes fall beneath the tree, and +when they fell they made a chinking sound like +that of small coins in children's banks. When +they had withered, I always found bright, new +shining pennies where they had lain.</p> + +<p>"Now from this curious fact I have believed +that when the Apple Tree would bear fruit, the +apples would be of gold. If young and tender +blossoms yield bright, new shining pennies, does +it not follow that the ripened fruit should be of +purest gold?"</p> + +<p>"It would seem so, good dame," agreed the +Traveler. "What then were the apples—silver, +perhaps?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed sir, no!" replied Dame Grumble +with deep feeling. "For all I know, in cutting +off the branches of my favorite tree, my wicked +son bewitched it. For though the Apple Tree +bore fruit this year, it bore naught but red +apples of a common sort; I scorn to gather +them!</p> + +<p>"Oh, Oh!" wept Dame Grumble, bursting +into tears once again at the memory of her loss. +"Thus to have my own son so wicked and dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>obedient, +whilst I, footsore and weary, was +seeking for the fortune in pennies which the +North Wind had stolen from me these many +years! It is too much! I am sure, good sir, +you will agree that I have many troubles, and +that it is not right to call me Dame Grumble +because I sometimes speak of them."</p> + +<p>"I had rather agree that you have also many +blessings, good dame," returned the Traveler, +with his kindly smile. "Come, let us draw our +chairs before the hearth, and perhaps you may +learn to see them too. There is nothing that +does so help us see our blessings as the bright +flames dancing up the chimney when all the +world without is dark and cold."</p> + +<p>But ere she sat down, Dame Grumble recollected +yet another grievance. "And added to +my other troubles," she complained, "I have +a son who is lame and must be always a burden +instead of a staff."</p> + +<p>The Traveler nodded gravely. "That is a +sorrow, I agree," said he, "and I have no doubt, +good dame, that your motherly heart must +often ache with the pity of it all."</p> + +<p>To this Dame Grumble made no reply; she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +began to think instead. For years her mind +had been so busy with the plans for her blossoms +and her golden harvest that it had quite forgotten +how to think of aught else. As for her +heart, it ached only when she thought of the +fortune in pennies that the North Wind had +stolen from her, and that she had not found.</p> + +<p>"Then too, Dame Grumble," continued the +Traveler, "I must tell you that I think the +North Wind no more than a rough playful +fellow, and not wicked as you say. Only this +afternoon he stole my hat and ran away with it, +but before I had gone twenty yards, the amiable +fellow had brought it back to me again. And +since he blew me to your cottage door, I will +henceforth claim the North Wind for my friend."</p> + +<p>"Then since it was the North Wind that +brought you to our door, I will no longer call +him my enemy, but instead will call him my +friend also," declared Dame Grumble with a +smile. In the firelight her face suddenly looked +so sweet and gentle that Freyo sighed deeply. +Dame Grumble heard the sigh, and asked her +son the cause of it.</p> + +<p>"I sighed because I wished you would smile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +often, Mother," replied the lad. "You looked +so sweet and pleasant."</p> + +<p>"And now," began the Traveler, "since we +are all so happy, let us begin to think about the +good dame's difficulties,—the fortune in pennies +which she sought and could not find, the +precious blossoms which the North Wind blows +away each spring, and the Apple Tree which +should have borne apples of gold, but which +bore red apples instead. For these three evils +we must find a remedy without delay."</p> + +<p>Now all the while she had been sitting with +the Traveler by the fireside, because of his +magic power, Dame Grumble had been thinking +busily. Not of fortunes or of golden apples, or +yet of red apples either; instead, quite to her +own surprise, she was thinking of how wearied +she had grown of all these things. She wished +suddenly that she would never hear of them +again. Judge then of her son's astonishment +when she answered the Traveler in the following +fashion:</p> + +<p>"Good sir, although I sat me down to talk +about my troubles, now that I have told them, +they seem light and trifling; I am indeed amazed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +that I have heeded them at all! Though for +years and years I have quarreled with the North +Wind because he robbed me of a fortune, I +seem suddenly to care no longer for fortunes or +gold or riches, or any such.</p> + +<p>"For as I peer into the flames, it comes to +my mind that there are many in this world not +so blessed as I. Many a one is hungry and has +naught to eat, while my larder is filled; some +are cold whilst I sit in comfort before a fire of +pine knots that sputter and glow. I see now +that I have many blessings." Dame Grumble +did not know she had these thoughts because of +the Traveler.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" cried the Traveler, "did I not say the +blazing logs helped one to see one's blessings, +and was I not right?"</p> + +<p>"I have often fancied that was so, good sir," +agreed Freyo, "and now, since my mother no +longer wishes to talk about her troubles, perhaps +you will tell us tales of your journeys; +you are a traveler and have seen far distant +lands."</p> + +<p>"Pray do, good sir!" begged Dame Grumble +too. "It is long since my son and I have heard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +tales of any sort. Also from your great wisdom +I have a notion that we shall be highly entertained."</p> + +<p>So the Traveler told them tales of other lands. +He told of strange birds with bright-hued +feathers of such great length that they swept +upon the ground like queens' trains. He told +of burning mountains and of fiery lakes, of +lovely flowers blooming in the snow, and gardens +that grew underneath the sea. The wind +without howled dismally; within, the flames +leaped high and made queer elfin shadows to +dance on the walls; the clock ticked off the +minutes into hours, but still Dame Grumble +and her son sat listening, wrapt in wonder. +At last the candles snuffed out, and naught but +the back log smoldered and glowed in the +darkness.</p> + +<p>"Now good sir," cried Dame Grumble, "I +am sure you must be weary." She bade him +take the best room, but the Traveler refused. +The comfortable chair in which he sat was all +he needed, he declared, and he bade the good +dame and her son good night.</p> + +<p>When they awakened next morning, he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +gone; but on the chair they found his staff. +Fastened to the staff there was a note which +bade Freyo use it in place of the crutches, and +said when he had no longer need for it to give +it to some other one that had.</p> + +<p>"Mother," said Freyo, when he had read the +note over and over again, "would this not seem +to say that I might one day walk without the +aid of either crutch or staff? What think you +of it?"</p> + +<p>"It would seem so, my son," replied the dame, +"and then how happy I would be!"</p> + +<p>A knock at the door startled them both. +Dame Grumble, thinking it was the Traveler +returned, hastened to open; but it was not he. +It was a king's herald dressed in scarlet satin +and silver laces.</p> + +<p>"I am the herald of King Silversword," said +he. He bowed low to Dame Grumble as though +she were a duchess.</p> + +<p>"And I am Dame Grumble, at His Majesty's +service," answered Dame Grumble, with a bow +equally fine.</p> + +<p>"Then hearken to my message," began the +herald. He unrolled a scroll of parchment, set<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +thick with king's seals and written all in silver +letters, and read the following proclamation:</p> + +<p>"Know ye that the apple crop of the whole +world has failed. From north to south, from +east to west, there is not one apple to be found, +nay not for a king's ransom. Now that of itself +could be borne, none the less, for apples be +great luxuries. However, the little Princess +Silverstar, the only daughter of King Silversword +and Queen Silverland, has fallen ill and +craves constantly for red apples. The doctors +and the medical men hold no hope for her recovery +unless she has to eat the fruit she craves. +Wherefore, if good Dame Grumble will sell a +dozen or more red apples to His Majesty, King +Silversword, she may name any sum of gold or +portions of rich jewels in payment; nay, whether +she demand both gold and jewels, or even His +Majesty's entire fortune, it shall be hers in +exchange for her red apples."</p> + +<p>"Come now, good dame, what do you say?" +asked the herald, as he rolled up the scroll once +more.</p> + +<p>"I say, good Master Herald, that my red +apples are not for sale," the dame replied, "but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +if they have a power to restore the little Princess +Silverstar, she may have them all. They shall +be a gift from me and my son Freyo."</p> + +<p>Now the herald was amazed at this. From +the humble surroundings, he knew the good +dame and her son were naught but worthy +peasants, and he reasoned wisely that riches +would not be amiss. Accordingly, he tried to +persuade Dame Grumble to accept some gift, +a tract of fertile land, a noble mansion, or at +least a bag or two of gold; but Dame Grumble +was firm in her intention and would not be +persuaded.</p> + +<p>"If my red apples have a power to heal," +she declared, "they will have thrice that power +if given with a good heart instead of in barter +or exchange." So the herald besought her no +more. He called the servants and bade them +strip the tree, and then, with many thanks, he +hastened on his way.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother!" cried Freyo, as they watched +the royal coach depart. "How fine of you to +refuse such riches! All your life you have so +longed for a fortune, too!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, my son," replied the good dame<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +earnestly, "the only fortune I desire now is the +fortune that you will one day make for me. +However, I must confess that all the while I +spoke with the king's herald, it seemed that the +Traveler was close beside to tell me what to +say, and that the words were not my own. +Now, was that not a strange thing—and he +gone these many hours?"</p> + +<p>As she went about her daily tasks, the good +dame seemed to have forgotten her old woes +and troubles and Freyo whistled like a thrush +as he sat working at his bench. The little +cottage had never known such a happy day. +Freyo's tools seemed to fly as though by magic, +and the gloom that had been slowly settling +down upon the little cottage quite close to the +top of the earth now seemed to take wings and +fly off. It was just at sunset when they heard +the blowing of horns and trumpets, and again +the coach of King Silversword drew up before +their door.</p> + +<p>Freyo, wishing to hear news of the Princess +Silverstar, seized the Traveler's staff and hobbled +toward the door. But wonder of wonders! +No sooner had he leaned his weight upon it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +than he grew tall and straight as a young +poplar tree. Like an arrow he sped from the +cottage door, and Dame Grumble rubbed her +eyes lest she should wake and find herself +a-dreaming.</p> + +<p>"Now look you, good Master Herald!" she +cried in amazement. "You saw my son only +this morning, and he was lame as lame could be; +and now, behold, he walks as well as you or I! +Truly, say I, it is a day of miracles!"</p> + +<p>"Thou sayest right, good dame!" declared +the herald. "It is to tell you of another miracle +that I have come hither. Only this morn +the little Princess Silverstar did eat but one of +the red apples, and to the delight and wonder +of the court, she began to grow stronger. When +she had eaten three or four, the doctors and +medical men pronounced her cured; they believed +that the red apples coming as a gift, +rather than for barter or exchange, had worked +an important part in this miraculous recovery. +To-night there is great feasting and rejoicing in +the land of King Silversword, and the praises +of Dame Grumble and her son are sung by rich +and poor and high and low alike." The herald<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +then unrolled another scroll and read the following +proclamation:</p> + +<p>"Wherefore His Majesty, King Silversword, +to show his gratitude, doth now create Freyo +the First Wood Carver of his kingdom and +master of all other wood carvers in the land."</p> + +<p>Freyo could scarcely believe his good fortune +and begged the herald to read the scroll once +more. Then he began to shout with joy. "And +only to think, Mother!" he cried, "I am no +longer lame, but can walk about like all the +youths whom I shall meet at court."</p> + +<p>"I am rejoiced!" declared Dame Grumble, +"but if there be feasting in all the lands of King +Silversword, there should likewise be feasting +in our little cottage. You are whole and +strong, and the Princess Silverstar is restored +to health through our gift. Let us be merry +too!</p> + +<p>"And you, good Master Herald," continued +the good Dame, "though our food be plain, if +happy hearts alone be needed, there will be no +merrier household in all the world than ours +to-night. Will you not sup with us?" The +herald vowed he would be honored, and so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +Dame Grumble popped another pudding in the +steaming pot, and they all sat down. While +the three ate and drank, the good dame and her +son recalled the wonder of their visitor the +evening before.</p> + +<p>"One could scarce believe the change the +Traveler wrought upon my mind and heart," +said the good dame. "Before he came, I was +scolding and complaining always from morning +until night. Yet since he entered into my door, +I have had scarce a vexatious thought."</p> + +<p>"It would seem, good dame, that the Traveler +was some gentle spirit come from afar," agreed +the herald. "I do not doubt that he and his +magic arts are the secret cause of these miracles +we have seen to-day."</p> + +<p>When he departed with the herald the next +day, Freyo left behind the Traveler's staff; the +good dame fancied it would be a guard against +the return of her low spirits. She leaned on it +as she stood by the cottage door and waved her +son a farewell and thought with pride how +handsome he was now that he was tall and +straight. Thus we must leave Dame Grumble +in the country quite close to the top of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +earth, and journey off with Freyo on the way +to seek his fortune.</p> + + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>At the court of King Silversword, Freyo was +welcomed with much honor and ceremony. +Dame Grumble's gift to the little princess had +made a thousand good friends for him, it seemed. +King Silversword looked at him with eyes of +gratitude; Queen Silverland could not praise +him enough. The Little Princess Silverstar +took much pleasure in the tales that Freyo told +her of the North Wind and the Apple Tree. +Before many days had passed, Freyo had become +the child's favorite courtier, and was a +favorite of the whole Court likewise. The +noble lords vowed that Freyo had wisdom beyond +his years and vied with one another to do +him kindnesses. The noble ladies declared that +Freyo had a kindly heart as well as handsome +features. They said his gentle manners were +worthy of a duke's son. King Silversword gave +orders that a fine workroom be built at the top +of the royal palace and fitted with every sort +of tool that a wood carver might fancy. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +also sent great ships a-sailing off to distant +lands to bring rare woods for Freyo's work.</p> + +<p>When all things were in order, Freyo began +his first task for the great King Silversword: +it was to carve seven great chests which would +be used as dower chests for the little princess +by and by. So fine was the design upon each +chest, and so delicate and intricate the carving +and the traceries, that seven long years passed +before the seven chests were finished. In all +that time, although the princess grew to be a +lovely maiden, tall and stately, she still took +pleasure in the tales that Freyo told her of the +Apple Tree that grew up in the country quite +close to the top of the earth. Now when these +seven chests were shown at court, it was the +opinion of wise men and artists from far and +near that their equal could not be found in all +the world. King Silversword was greatly +pleased, and in reward he commanded that +Freyo be made Duke of Freyoland. Ten thousand +leagues of land in the country quite close +to the top of the earth were given him for his +domain, and a noble castle was likewise built +there for him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>The seven dower chests were next filled full of +gold and jewels, and orders for a splendid ball +were given. Princes and dukes as well as lords +and marquises from every court on earth were +bidden to attend, and from this assemblage of +noble youths, the Princess Silverstar would +choose her husband. Some gossips at the court +declared it was assured that Princess Silverstar +would choose Prince Goldenmines, the +richest prince in all the world. Others thought +that she would surely favor Prince Palmire, +because he was so handsome. Judge then of +the surprise of all when Princess Silverstar +chose Freyo for her prince and begged her royal +parents to consent.</p> + +<p>"Is it not to Freyo's noble gift, so long ago, +that we do owe our daughter's life!" exclaimed +these grateful monarchs. "How then shall we +deny him for our daughter's husband? Announce +the betrothal, heralds!"</p> + +<p>Then straightway the wedding day was set. +Dame Grumble journeyed down from the country +quite close to the top of the earth and was +made welcome by Queen Silverland and her +noble ladies. (To be quite formal, we should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +now call the good dame Duchess Freyoland, for +as mother of a duke, she had likewise become +ennobled. However, as the good dame liked +her old name best, perhaps we had best call her +just Dame Grumble after all.)</p> + +<p>In order that all folk might rejoice in goodly +earnest at her wedding feast, the Princess Silverstar +besought her father two favors. First, +that he would forgive all debts and moneys +that his people owed the crown, and second, +that he would take no taxes for a whole year and +a day. She then commanded that every subject +be given fine new holiday attire and a well-filled +purse, according to his rank and station. +In all the history of the kingdom there was not +known a finer feast than this. The noble lords +and ladies rode and drove or danced at splendid +balls. The common people sang or played +games on the highways and feasted on the +village greens. Then when the seven days of +fun and feasting passed at last, and Freyo with +his lovely bride drove off to their castle, Dame +Grumble sat beside them in the royal chariot. +But not for long could the good dame content +herself in their splendid castle. Her heart be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>gan +to yearn, and she began to pine most sadly +for her home. Though Freyo and his lovely +bride begged her to stay and dwell with them +forever, the good dame would not hear of it.</p> + +<p>"Ah, no, my children!" cried Dame Grumble. +"Long, long ago, 'tis true, I wished for a noble +house and fancied I would be happy as a queen +if I might live in one. Since the visit of the +Traveler, I have grown much wiser. I know +that I can be happy as a queen if I am but content. +So in my little cottage with the North +Wind and the Apple Tree for friends, I shall +dwell all my days."</p> + +<p>So saying, Dame Grumble bade Freyo and +his lovely bride farewell, and leaning on the +Traveler's staff she set off for home. She +reached her little cottage on a bright spring day, +just when the Apple Tree was decked in clouds +of fragrant, pinky-white blossoms, and looked +as lovely as a fairy tree. Dame Grumble gazed +with satisfaction on her favorite tree, and as +she gazed it came to her mind that in all the +noble sights she saw at court, she had seen +nothing half so lovely as the Apple Tree in +spring.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was not long now before the North Wind +came roaring over field and forest in his usual +fashion, but when he saw Dame Grumble he +ceased suddenly. He asked most civilly how +the good dame did and whether she had liked +the life at court. To all his questions Dame +Grumble made most amiable reply and hoped +the North Wind's health was fair. For, if you +will believe me, these two old enemies were now +good friends. They had not had a cross word +or a quarrel since the evening of the Traveler's +visit long ago.</p> + +<p>"And now, Dame Grumble," said the North +Wind, "for seven long years you have ceased +your scolding and grumbling, and if you will it +so, the spell that bound the Apple Tree may now +be broken. Only command me to cease my +mischief, and I will touch your blossoms nevermore. +Likewise command the Apple Tree to bear +you golden apples, and you shall have them."</p> + +<p>"But North Wind!" cried the Apple Tree. +"First tell my mistress what you have done +with all the pennies from my blossoms. My +mistress has a heart of gold and needs not +golden apples."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dame Grumble smiled with pleasure that the +Apple Tree should speak thus kindly of her. +Well she remembered the olden days when she +had often been most harsh with her favorite +tree, and she hoped the tree had now forgiven +her. "The Apple Tree praises my heart too +highly," said Dame Grumble modestly. "Still, +North Wind, I must own that I have been most +curious about the pennies from the blossoms +you have blown away."</p> + +<p>"The pennies were not stored in some hollow +of the earth, as you supposed, long, long ago, +when you set out to find them," said the North +Wind. "Each springtime, when I blew the +blossoms of the Apple Tree around the world, +I dropped the pennies at the feet of poor children +who had none but me to love them. These +poor children then ran pell-mell to the nearest +sweet shop to spend their pennies and were +happy as larks in consequence."</p> + +<p>"The Apple Tree is right!" declared Dame +Grumble. "For all the golden apples in the +world, I would not rob a single poor child of its +penny. So blow your fiercest, North Wind; +and Apple Tree, see to it that there be a penny<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +for every orphan child on earth." The North +Wind obeyed, and Dame Grumble smiled to see +the lovely blossoms flying through the air like +April snow.</p> + +<p>And so the good dame settled down to dwell +in peace and happiness. Kings' palaces and +dukes' castles were all very well, said she, but +after all, there was no place like home. As for +climate and a clear blue sky in summer, there +was no place to equal the country quite close to +the top of the earth, Dame Grumble thought. +Often and often, just at candlelight, Dame +Grumble peered into the dusk and gloom in +hopes of seeing the Traveler coming toward her +door; but he came not. Sometimes she asked +the North Wind for news of him, but he could +tell her little.</p> + +<p>"I think," said the North Wind, "that the +Traveler still journeys round the earth, but +always in advance of me. Sometimes I travel +over cities where all folk are content, and where +there are no strifes nor quarrels. I hear folk +speaking of a noble traveler who has lingered +with them, and I have often thought it is the +Traveler whom we seek. If I should ever meet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +him, I shall tell him that Dame Grumble waits +each evening to welcome him."</p> + +<p>"But my mistress, and you too, North Wind," +said the Apple Tree, "have you not heard it +said the Traveler visits only those who are sad +and sorrowful, or who are afflicted with cold, +selfish hearts? If that be true, he will return +to our little cottage no more; there is no need +for him."</p> + +<p>Now it would seem that the Apple Tree was +right, for the Traveler returned no more. And +in all the world there was not such another +place for comfort and good cheer as Dame +Grumble's little cottage quite close to the top +of the earth where the North Wind blew fiercely +each spring.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A TALE OF THE NORTHLAND KINGDOM</h3> + + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p>Long, long ago, in a certain far-off region of +the world, there was a land of ice and snow, +and this land was called the Northland Kingdom. +There each year the ice broke on the +rivers and flowed out to the sea, and the snow +melted in the valleys. Then corn and rye and +other good grains would grow; but these mild +seasons were short, and for the most part ice +and snow abounded everywhere.</p> + +<p>Added to this, in the time of my tale there +was no light in the Northland Kingdom. All +time was deep gray twilight or inky darkness, +and there was no day. Neither Moon nor Stars +had ever pierced the overhanging gloom and +mists, and the sun had never shone upon the +Northland Kingdom. Reindeer flitted silently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +through this land of shadows, and great white +bears made their homes in icy caves by the sea. +When birds of passage reached this land of +darkness, they trilled their softest songs and +went to rest, and when they waked, they soared +away in search of brighter lands. But knowing +nothing of the light of day, the folk of this dark +land mourned not its lack and were content to +dwell ever in shadow. A thousand silver lamps +and myriads of waxen tapers gleamed always +in the palace of the king; and in the fields the +workers sowed and reaped by light of flaming +torches. The herders built great fires on the +hillsides, and in their light and warmth told +their flocks. The housewives spun by firelight.</p> + +<p>Now in the time of which I tell, the good king +Tamna ruled the Northland Kingdom. He +was a wealthy sovereign even as the wealth of +kings is reckoned. King Tamna owned a thousand +mountains of gold and silver and the fish +of ten thousand streams. Herds of reindeer +and caribou beyond all counting were also his, +as well as the forests and plains over which they +roamed. Beside all this, King Tamna was +sovereign lord of one hundred princes of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +Northland Kingdom. These hundred princes +paid King Tamna tribute; that is to say, they +brought him yearly certain portions of their +flocks and herds and of their grain and gold and +of all that was theirs, for such was the law of +the Northland Kingdom.</p> + +<p>Now good King Tamna had a daughter, Maiden +Matanuska, Princess of the Silver Birches. +She was so called because her marriage portion +was a forest of silver birch that lay between +two swift-flowing streams and reached from +sea to sea. Some folk thought Maiden Matanuska +was part wood sprite, for in spite of dark +and shadows she would roam for hours in the +paths and lanes among the birches and was +not afraid. The Maiden Matanuska understood +the language of the trees and learned from +them just when the ice and snow would melt.</p> + +<p>The silver foxes that roamed this forest were +her pets. They frisked and followed her about +like faithful dogs; and though their furs were +worth a king's fortune, Maiden Matanuska +would not consent to have them slain. For +this the silver fox were grateful and loved her +dearly. They taught her secrets never known<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +before by men, and from their wisdom Maiden +Matanuska learned to tell when icy winds would +blow and snow begin to fall and when the grain +would grow again. Maiden Matanuska understood +the songs of birds as well, and when the +birds of passage sang of other lands, where there +was light of day, she listened eagerly. But +when she begged these birds to sing her more, +they answered her with sleepy chirps, for birds +would not sing long in that dark land.</p> + +<p>It was from these sweet songs the birds of +passage sang that Maiden Matanuska came to +know that there was such a thing as light of +day. The more she heard, the more she longed +to see this marvel. While she wandered in her +birchen forest, she would dream bright dreams +of other lands, she knew not where,—lands +where ice and snow were not, but where gay +flowers bloomed instead, and there was day as +well as night.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my father," said she with a sigh, "how +pleasant our land would be if all the shadows +and the gloom departed for a time and we had +light of day as well as night."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, my daughter," said King Tamna,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +with an answering sigh, "but how to brighten +this dark land I know not. For your sake I +would that I could; but for myself, I care not. +Now I am growing old and soon must journey +all alone to lands where light or darkness matters +not."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my father! Speak not of that time," +cried Maiden Matanuska, bursting into tears. +She loved her father tenderly and knew he spoke +of the time when he must die. "If you were +not here with me, neither light nor darkness +would matter to me, and I should be desolate +and lonely."</p> + +<p>"Then speak no more of your longing for +light," replied the king. "It grieves me that +I cannot give you what you most desire. But +before I have departed from this life, I hope to +see you wedded to some brave prince who will +love you and protect you in my place."</p> + +<p>And though Maiden Matanuska vowed she +wished no prince at all, her father gave her protests +no heed. "There is a handsome youth +who wears a feather mantle with whom I see +you wandering in the forest. Who is he?" +King Tamna asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He is Prince Kenai of the burning mountain," +said the maiden. "He, too, has dreams +of light and tells me wonder tales which I do +love to hear."</p> + +<p>"Prince Kenai is the poorest prince in all the +Northland Kingdom," said the king; "but if +his wonder tales please you, I shall say nothing."</p> + +<p>Now, as may be supposed, there was no lack +of suitors for the maiden's hand. Indeed these +hundred princes of the Northland Kingdom each +longed to marry her. She was the fairest maiden +in the land, and moreover, she was as lovely of +mind and manner as she was fair of face.</p> + +<p>There came at last a certain night when good +King Tamna sat in state to greet his tribute-bearing +princes, and Maiden Matanuska sat +beside her father. In robes of purple velvet +bordered deep with ermine and thickly sewn +with threads of beaten gold, with golden crown +and sceptre too, King Tamna looked a very king +of kings,—a monarch of great state and dignity. +The Maiden Matanuska, robed in shimmering +gossamer white, her golden hair, that fell about +her like a cloak, crowned with a wreath of leaves, +and in her hand a holly branch, looked like some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +angel newly come from paradise. She seemed +some lovely maiden in a dream, who would perhaps +take flight and float away in the encircling +gloom and mists. These hundred princes knelt +before the throne and begged the lovely maiden's +hand in marriage.</p> + +<p>At this the king was troubled, for clearly +Maiden Matanuska could not wed them all, +and how to choose among them he knew not. +At last the royal counselors advised him in the +following way:</p> + +<p>"Now since these hundred youths be princes +all, and therefore suitable in rank to wed your +daughter, let Maiden Matanuska for herself +decide which one she'll wed."</p> + +<p>When this was told, the Maiden Matanuska +sat some time in thought and then she spoke. +"I'll wed the prince who brings to me the thing +which I have never seen before, for which I +long with all my heart, and which I shall love +well."</p> + +<p>The hundred princes then departed to their +various lands and began to seek among their +treasures to find the thing they thought would +please the maiden. Some princes brought her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +toys of ivory wrought in wondrous ways, and +some brought robes of doeskin, soft as satin, +white as milk, embroidered all in beads of many +colors. But these proved not the thing for which +the maiden longed. Some princes brought her +great carved silver chests, and some brought +chains and bracelets made of purest gold; but +none of these were what the Maiden Matanuska +wished, and all these princes failed to win their +suit. So fared they all until at last there were +but three to try their fate,—Prince Kathalan, +Prince Katala, and Prince Kenai.</p> + +<p>Now Prince Kathalan was the greatest warrior +of all the Northland Kingdom. He had won +a hundred battles and boasted that he would +win a hundred more. He gloried in his warlike +fame and doubted not that Maiden Matanuska +would favor him above all others.</p> + +<p>Katala, who was wealthiest prince of all, rejoiced +because his slaves had lately found a +diamond mine, the like of which was never known +before in all the Northland Kingdom. Prince +Katala had great faith in the power of his riches +and was full sure that Maiden Matanuska would +smile upon his suit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>Prince Kenai dwelt in the land of a burning +mountain whose fires destroyed his forests and +laid waste his lands, and the land itself, moreover, +was not enriched with gold or silver or with +any other metal. Because of this, Prince Kenai +was called poorest prince of all; but because +in all the Northland Kingdom none other dared +venture near this burning mountain, he was +counted bravest prince of all.</p> + +<p>Of these three, Prince Kathalan spoke first. +"Oh, Maiden Matanuska, Princess of the Silver +Birch," cried he, "I bring to you this magic bird +of battle, my raven. Black as its wings are, wise +is the bird, and moreover it hath the gift of +speech and prophecy. With this magic raven +as my omen, no warrior can worst me in battle, +and I can conquer legions. So marry me, O +Maiden, and I will make you the most powerful +queen the world has ever known."</p> + +<p>The Maiden Matanuska shook her head. +"You have not guessed my meaning rightly," +answered she. "I care not to be a queen of +power, for such queens are unhappy, I have +often heard; and I hate the thought of battle. +So keep your magic raven, warrior prince. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +love far better the gentle doves that flutter +around me in my forest."</p> + +<p>Prince Kathalan departed in a rage, and Prince +Katala stood before the throne.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maiden Matanuska, Princess of the +Silver Birch," cried he, "I bring to you a golden +casket filled full of gems called diamonds which +you have never seen before, and which you will +love well, for they are truly lovely. And these +are not a thousandth part of all my wealth; so +marry me, O Maiden, and I will make you the +richest queen the world has ever known."</p> + +<p>The gems within the casket flashed forth +purple fire and shone like brilliant stars; but +Maiden Matanuska sighed again.</p> + +<p>"I care not for great riches, Prince Katala," +answered she, "for I have riches of my own in +goodly store. As for thy diamonds,—though +they be truly lovely, as you say, I should as +soon love the icicles that cluster round my +casement in the storm. They are as hard and +cold."</p> + +<p>Prince Katala departed likewise in a rage, +and Prince Kenai bowed low before the throne.</p> + +<p>"And now what treasure do you bring to win<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +my hand, brave prince?" asked Maiden Matanuska.</p> + +<p>To which the prince replied, "I bring you +none, and neither do I seek to win your hand. +Your heart is what I do desire, O Maiden, for +I do love you truly and would die to serve you.</p> + +<p>"Now in your father's halls are treasures +and all riches in great store. Fair silken banners +hang the walls to shut the cold drafts out; a +thousand gleaming silver lamps light the way; +great chests are filled full of ornaments of beaten +gold, as well as many other things my eyes have +not discovered. With all this wealth heaped +high on every hand, if you still long for that +which you have never seen, think you that in +my barren land it will be found? In my land +so poor that even crows forsake it?"</p> + +<p>"Well said, brave prince," the king replied, +"and if you have not treasures such as men hold +dear, you have indeed a noble gift of speech. +But even so, some gift or token you must surely +bring, or otherwise you had not come at all but +stayed within your barren land. Come, tell +us what it is."</p> + +<p>"I bring no treasure save the treasure of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +wonder tale which you will hear," said Prince +Kenai, and then began to tell.</p> + +<p>"Within my land, as well you know, there +lies a burning mountain from which men flee +in fear, but which I love. Now when my mountain +has burst forth in flames, and tongues of +fire that reach to heaven light the sky of all the +world, I have seen wondrous things. I have seen +other lands far distant, where ice and snow are +not, but where the green grass clothes the hills +and plains; where poppies shaped like golden +chalices grow thick, and birds sing hour after +hour. And in these pleasant lands of which I +tell, there is a time of light as well as dark. This +time of light lasts many hours long and is called +day."</p> + +<p>"Then tell me this, Prince Kenai," cried the +king. "How comes this light of day to other +lands? It comes not to this dreary realm of +ours, where it would be most welcome."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you that," replied the prince. +"There is a wondrous traveler called the Sun +who high up in the clouds does journey ceaselessly +about the world. He has great power +over night and causes darkness to break forth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +in light wherever he does turn his face toward +any land.</p> + +<p>"And now farewell, good king and Maiden +Matanuska, whom I love. I go to seek the +Sun and beg him to return with me and shine +upon the Northland Kingdom as he does on +other lands upon the earth. Then will we have +the light of day as well as night, and Maiden +Matanuska will have that which she has never +seen, for which she longs with all her heart, and +which she will love well. Farewell."</p> + +<p>Prince Kenai wrapped his flowing feather +mantle around him and took leave of the king. +The Maiden Matanuska walked with him +through her forest where the silver birches grew +down to the borders of the sea, and there they +parted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my brave prince," wept Maiden Matanuska, +"my heart cries out against your going, +for since the day I met you I have loved you +dearly; but I was always fearful lest my father +bid me wed another because you had no fortune. +Therefore I set the riddle which only you did +guess. And now, may all good powers guard +you on your quest and bring you safely back to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +me. While you are gone, the waking hours +will often find me standing on this shore, awaiting +the glad sight of your return."</p> + +<p>"My beloved maiden!" sighed the prince. +"With such sweet faith and love to bless me, +I cannot fail." He rent his flowing feather +mantle in two parts and wrapped a portion of +it around the maiden. "I would I had a richer +token for you, love," said he. "But even so; +this feather mantle is no mean gift. Who wears +it will be ever safe from icy blasts and snow and +cold and will be ever young and fair as on the +day they wore it first. Now kiss me in farewell +and promise me that when I do return and bring +the Sun, you'll marry me."</p> + +<p>The Maiden Matanuska kissed him thrice and +promised, and springing into his boat, Prince +Kenai sailed away. She stood upon the shore +and blew him kisses and caresses, but soon his +form was lost in darkness and the mists, and +Maiden Matanuska was left forlorn.</p> + + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>Now in those olden days, when princes journeyed +around the world on errands for the maid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>ens +whom they loved, the space of time they +usually were gone was a year and a day. So +when a year and a day had passed, the Maiden +Matanuska often wandered through the birch +wood and stood upon the border of the sea. +She strained her gaze far to the south to see the +sight of any sail; but Prince Kenai came not.</p> + +<p>She asked the birds of passage if they had +seen her prince, and sometimes they had news +of him. "Oh, tell me, ye wild Gulls, of the +wild skies," she asked, "do you know aught of +my brave Prince Kenai? He wears a feather +robe like mine and seeks in lands afar to find the +Sun for me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," replied the Gulls. "We've seen +a prince so dressed, and he was sailing westward +on the sea and seemed to seek the Sun."</p> + +<p>"And found he what he sought?" cried +Maiden Matanuska eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" the Gulls replied. "The truth is, +he did not. For many evenings when the +day was done, we saw this prince sail westward. +He hoped to meet the sun just where +the sky bends down to meet the sea, but +though he sailed for days and days, the place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +he sought seemed sailing too, and so he reached +it not."</p> + +<p>"That is sad news," the maiden sighed. +"But when again you see my prince, tell him +that all my thoughts are his, and I am sure he +cannot fail."</p> + +<p>Another time she asked a Kite-bird had he +seen Prince Kenai.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, dear maiden," the Kite-bird made +reply. "And he was in the Southland, whither +he had gone to seek the Sun. But he was worn +and wearied with much wandering, and the +road was long; and by the time he reached there, +the Sun had long departed on his journey to +the Eastland."</p> + +<p>"That is sad news, good Kite-bird," said the +maiden, "but when you see my prince again, +pray tell him that my hopes are his, and I am +sure he cannot fail to win his quest."</p> + +<p>And still another time did Maiden Matanuska +ask an Auk to tell her of Prince Kenai.</p> + +<p>"I saw him," said the Auk, "and from the +feather robe he wore I judged him first to be +some bird. In lands where scarlet poppies lull +the weary travelers to deep sleep, and waterfalls<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +make thunder down the mountain sides, Prince +Kenai I saw toiling up a rocky slope where it is +said the Sun does rise."</p> + +<p>"And did he reach the top of this steep slope?" +asked Maiden Matanuska.</p> + +<p>"Now that I could not say," the Auk replied, +"for I was flying swiftly and paused not at all. +But this I know; the Sun's a mighty, glowing +being and is like to burn all those who venture +near his presence. Unless Prince Kenai have +some magic charm, I doubt if the Sun will heed +him."</p> + +<p>"That is the saddest news of all," sighed +Maiden Matanuska. "But even so, I shall +not weep but pray for him instead. When you +next see my prince, good Auk, tell him that all +my love is his, and I'll await his coming though +he remain a thousand years."</p> + +<p>"I shall," replied the Auk, and soared away.</p> + +<p>And so the Maiden Matanuska waited while +the time sped on. Wrapped in her feather +mantle, she wandered through the birches like +a lonely spirit, and the trees were grieved for her. +She still dreamed dreams and loved to think +about the time when she would greet her prince;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +when the light of day would banish all the gloom +and shadows of the Northland Kingdom. Still +years passed on, and still Prince Kenai came +not. King Tamna feared him dead or that +perhaps he had lost his way and was a wanderer +forlorn; but Maiden Matanuska knew no fears.</p> + +<p>"The journey to the Sun is long, my father," +she would say, "and my brave prince no magic +hath to make it short. He will return and bring +with him this wondrous traveler whom he +seeks, and what a pleasant place the Northland +Kingdom then will be!"</p> + +<p>But as the time went by there came great +sadness in the Northland Kingdom. The good +King Tamna laid him down to sleep one night +and never waked again. All folk both high +and low mourned deeply, for good King Tamna +had been like a kindly father rather than a king. +When at last the time of mourning passed, Lord +Boreas, cousin to King Tamna, came to rule +the Northland Kingdom.</p> + +<p>Now Lord Boreas was a cruel sovereign, a +tyrant, and the people were unhappy under +his rule. He made harsh laws, and if these laws +were not obeyed, he punished with severity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +Lord Boreas, it was whispered, had an evil power +over the icy winds and rivers in the Northland +Kingdom, and few dared resist his will. His +anger, it was said, had caused many a village +to be blown into the sea and noble cities to be +flooded with a rush of waters. But while the +rule of this harsh king fell hard on all alike, on +Maiden Matanuska it fell hardest. Lord Boreas +was her guardian. He scorned the simple customs +of the good King Tamna and straightway +ordered all things to his liking. He planned to +fell the Maiden Matanuska's forest and build +a city in its place.</p> + +<p>"However, my sweet cousin," said Lord Boreas, +"I'll wait until the next mild season is at hand. +Then when the silver foxes come from their winter's +sleep, my hunters shall lay traps for them +and slay them every one. Their skins will sell for +gold, and for your marriage portion you shall +have a noble city and ten thousand chests of +gold, and I myself will marry you and make you +queen."</p> + +<p>Though Maiden Matanuska's heart was sad, +and she wept bitter tears for her loved trees and +pets, she made no protest at her cousin's words.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +She feared his wrath, and so she bowed her head +submissively. But when the palace slept and +all was still, wrapped in her feather mantle, +she stole softly out. Down through the shadowy +lanes and misty isles among the silver birches +she sped, until she reached the border of the +sea. Then through the gloom she peered to see +the sight of any sail; but no sail she saw.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my beloved prince," she wept, "I fear +that when you come 'twill be too late. For +rather than to wed my cruel cousin, I'll fling +myself into the sea and die!"</p> + +<p>"Now, Maiden Matanuska, what grave sorrow +can this be?" a gruff voice spoke beside +her. It was old Reynard, chief of all the silver +foxes. He had stolen from the burrow to learn +how went the season and to know when he might +waken all his sleeping tribe.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Reynard, my good friend!" exclaimed +the maiden. "Since first you did begin your +winter's sleep, I have had many sorrows. My +father, good King Tamna, is no more, and now +my cruel cousin Boreas rules the Northland +Kingdom." She told her tale of sorrows, and +old Reynard listened, all alert.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Without a doubt, your cruel cousin Boreas +hath an evil power over the winds and streams," +said he, when she had finished, "but he shall +learn it is not simple to outwit the cunning fox. +Now in the past, as you, dear maiden, have +protected me and all my tribe from harm, so +will we now protect you in your need. Come, +follow me; do as I bid, and all will yet be well." +So saying, old Reynard then led the maiden +down beneath the earth to where the silver foxes +still slept their winter's sleep, and birch roots +wound about in and out.</p> + +<p>"Now, Maiden Matanuska," said Reynard, +"if you will place a feather from your mantle +at the root of every tree, they will be safe from +cold and icy blasts, in spite of all Lord Boreas +in his wrath may do. Then when that's done, +wrap you all warmly in what's left of it and +rest you safely with my people. When Prince +Kenai comes I'll waken you."</p> + +<p>The Maiden Matanuska did as Reynard bid, +and far beneath the earth she hid herself from +cruel Boreas. 'Twas well she did, for when her +cousin found her fled, his anger knew no bounds. +He sent great parties out to search the land,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +and he himself, with flaming torch in hand, set +out to seek her in the forest. Among the birch +trees he found traces, showing that the Maiden +Matanuska passed that way. Upon a branch +he found a scarlet ribbon she had worn, and +in the thorn-bush was caught a silken scarf; +but though he sought for hours and called +her name, Lord Boreas could not find the +maiden.</p> + +<p>"Because I do not know the winding paths +among the trees as well as you, you think to +trick me, Maiden Matanuska," he cried at last, +in fury, "but you shall know my vengeance +now." Then climbing up the steep slopes of a +near-by mountain, and summoning all his powers +of evil, he commanded thus:</p> + +<p>"Rise, rise, ye rivers that flow swiftly to the +sea, until the birchen forest in the valley be all +flooded with a mighty rush of waters! Then +blow, ye chill winds, from the east and north +until these waters to a solid wall of ice are all +transformed."</p> + +<p>The rivers, obedient at his command, then +rose swiftly and overran their banks so that +soon the tallest trees were all submerged, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +nothing but a lake was seen. The winds began +to blow their wildest, and the lake became a +solid bank of ice that threw off chilling mists.</p> + +<p>Then Boreas called the people of the Northland +Kingdom and addressed them thus: "Behold +the fate of Maiden Matanuska and beware! +For so shall perish all who dare defy me."</p> + +<p>The people wept and mourned in secret for +the maiden whom they dearly loved, but there +were none who dared cry out against the cruel +Boreas.</p> + + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>Meanwhile Prince Kenai, bent upon his +quest, was wandering still in lands afar. Each +morning in the dawn he saw the wondrous +traveler that he sought rise in the eastern sky +and scatter clouds of darkness; and each evening, +when the day was done, he saw the wondrous +traveler set far in the west and take with him +the day. But though Prince Kenai journeyed +all around the earth and halfway back again, +he found no road to reach the Sun, and he was +sad. Still he continued on his way with hope +and courage.</p> + +<p>It happened once, while he lay sleeping on a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +mountain, an eagle wounded by a poison dart +dropped down beside him.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" cried the eagle bitterly, "from the +great cloak of feathers which you wear, I thought +you to be one of my own race. But since you +are a man and I am wounded and can fly no +more, I must prepare to die. You'll take my +beak and claws to show your fellow men your +skill at hunting and stuff my body to adorn +your walls. Alas! That I, a prince of air, +should come to this!" the great bird moaned.</p> + +<p>"Fear not that I shall take your life, good +eagle prince," said Prince Kenai. "For though +I am not of your race, I am a prince of earth, and +to my mind all princes, whether of the earth or +air, should be as brothers."</p> + +<p>Prince Kenai fetched water from a near-by +spring and dressed the eagle's wound with healing +herbs. For many days he did the same +until the pain grew less, and by and by the +great bird's wound was healed.</p> + +<p>"Now, brother," said the eagle, when he could +fly once more, "you've served me nobly, and in +my turn I shall serve you to prove my gratitude. +You told me of your quest to reach the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +Sun, and I will tell you this. There is no road to +reach the Sun that mortal man may tread. The +way lies through the clouds, and indeed, 'tis only +I and all my brother eagles that have strength +to travel there. So get you on my back without +delay, good Prince Kenai, and we shall start."</p> + +<p>Straight upward soared the eagle through +the clouds, and when the day was nearly done +they reached the splendid mansion of the Sun. +Good luck was theirs, because the wondrous +traveler had returned from his day's journey +round the world and was well pleased to see +them. He bade them welcome and asked the +reason of their visit.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Golden Sun," said Prince Kenai, "far +in my land which is the Northland Kingdom, I +learned that you had power over night and +brought the light of day to lands wheresoever +you did turn your face. Therefore I set out to +seek you and entreat you to return with me +and shine upon the Northland Kingdom, which +is a land of night and darkness. All around the +world I've followed you in vain, and never +would have met you had not this good eagle +borne me thither on his wings."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Prince Kenai does not tell the reason why," +exclaimed the eagle. "He saved my life when +it was in his power to slay me, and, therefore, +I have brought him hither, as was his wish." +The eagle told his tale, and when the Sun had +heard, he praised Prince Kenai.</p> + +<p>"Now see," the Sun declared, "the mighty +power of a kindly deed. Had you, Prince +Kenai, slain this noble bird, as most men would +have done, he had not brought you to my mansion, +and you could not have begged this boon +of me. For your reward, I'll go with you. +To-morrow morning when I rise, we'll start +for this dark land, and thou, my eagle, bear +Prince Kenai on thy wings that he may all the +faster lead the way."</p> + +<p>For many days these three companions journeyed +on through soft white clouds and summer +skies until thick, gloomy mists came into view. +The wind blew chill as though from fields of ice +and snow, and the dull skies were leaden gray. +From this, Prince Kenai knew the Northland +Kingdom was at hand, although a pall of darkness +overhung the landscape, and nothing could +be seen.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<img src="images/i004.jpg" width="509" height="800" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">For many days these three companions journeyed +on through soft white clouds.—<i>Page 86.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> +<p>"I'll soon change this!" exclaimed the Sun, +and then began to shine full on the Northland +Kingdom. Straightway all the scene began to +change as though by magic. The lowering +mists dissolved and rolled away in rosy clouds +or formed gay-colored rainbows in the skies; +the skies themselves changed to bright blue, all +flecked with white instead of leaden gray. The +birds of passage wakened from their sleep and +sang their sweetest songs. Upon the mountain +side the snow began to melt away, and +many-colored flowers bloomed where it had +been. No bank of ice or snow, however high or +deep, was able to withstand the genial warmth +of all the beams the Sun poured down. The +wall of ice that bound the birchen forest broke +and with a roar plunged down into the sea. +Then upon the waves were seen a thousand +glittering banks of ice that seemed like noble +palaces afloat. The birch trees all began to bud +and bloom with silvery leaves that rustled +softly; and green grass, thick with violets, went +creeping underfoot.</p> + +<p>On learning what had come to pass, old Reynard +wakened Maiden Matanuska and led her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +from the burrows until she stood once more +upon the border of the sea.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my beloved Prince Kenai!" she cried, +as she beheld him. "Though in your absence +I have suffered many sorrows, now that you are +returned, I'll soon forget them all. How marvelous +is the light of day! And how divine the +Sun!"</p> + +<p>"And tell me, maiden," said Prince Kenai, +"now that you see all around the light of day, +dost love it still as well as in the old dark days +when you did dream of it?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I find the light which you bring +more lovely than my wildest dreams," she +answered. "To see the smiling skies, the blue +sea all a-sparkle with great glittering banks of +ice, the green grass thick with flowers everywhere, +and over all the Sun shine down in +wealth of golden beams—I knew not how to +dream a dream so fair; and next to thee, my +prince, I love the light of day above all else."</p> + +<p>Here they heard shouts of cheer and praise, +and soon great multitudes of folk went running +through the forest. "A miracle! A marvel +'tis," cried they, "that Maiden Matanuska is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +alive!" And then, in deep amazement, they +listened to the tales the Maiden Matanuska and +Prince Kenai told. Such tales were rare, even +in those olden days of wonders. When both +were done, the Chief Counselor of the Northland +Kingdom spoke.</p> + +<p>"Now listen, all good folk," said he, "and +learn that in this very hour the cruel Boreas, +fearing the great power of the Sun, has fled the +Northland Kingdom, and we are now without a +king. Whom shall we choose?"</p> + +<p>"Prince Kenai! Prince Kenai!" cried the +people. "'Twas he who gave our Maiden +Matanuska the magic robe that saved her life; +and he it was who brought the Sun to brighten +our dark land. He was our benefactor; let him +be our king!"</p> + +<p>"Wilt be our king, Prince Kenai?" asked the +counselor.</p> + +<p>"If Maiden Matanuska marry me and be +your queen, I shall be king," said Prince Kenai. +"What say you, my loved one?"</p> + +<p>"I'll marry you, my prince," she answered, +"for I do love you truly. Our feather mantles +which have so nobly served us in the past shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +be our wedding robes; the birds our royal +choristers; the birches tall our stately chapel +walls, and the blue sky above all, glowing with +the Golden Sun, shall be our ceiling. Your good +eagle and my good Reynard shall stand beside us +and let all folk both high and low be bidden to +our feast to wish us joy and happiness."</p> + +<p>All things were done as Maiden Matanuska +ordered, and they were married on that very +day. A royal feast was made, and sports and +games were set; indeed there was a holiday that +lasted forty days. The Sun was bidden to +attend, and so well pleased was he that he +stayed in the sky above the Northland Kingdom +and set not once until the forty days had +passed, and all that time was burning daylight.</p> + +<p>Then, when the holiday was done at last, the +Sun took leave. "Farewell, all folk, and you +good king and queen," said he. "And though +night come when I have turned my face from +you, fear not. For in the morning I will come +again and bring with me the light of day." +Which thing he did.</p> + +<p>And from that time the Northland Kingdom +was no more a land of darkness and of gloom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +The overhanging mists returned no more, and +when 't was night, the Moon and Stars shone +softly down. The Sun his face turned toward +there every day, and though his beams were +pale and wan when he was in the Southland, he +stayed each summer forty days and nights and +set not once; which custom he continues to this +very day.</p> + +<p>Prince Kenai and the Maiden Matanuska +reigned many years and were beloved by all +their subjects. Though scores of years passed, +by virtue of their feather mantles they were +always young and fair as on the day they wore +them first. Indeed, 'tis said they never died, +though folk who dwell still in the Northland +Kingdom differ as to what became of them. +Some say that when Prince Kenai and Maiden +Matanuska grew weary of this life at last, they +wrapped their feather mantles round them, and +borne upon the eagle's wings, set off to visit at +the mansion of the Sun. But other folk declare +that on dark misty nights a pair resembling +them are often seen to wander through the dim +aisles of a certain birchen forest where the silver +foxes are found.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE TREE THAT NEVER GREW UP</h3> + + +<p>Long, long ago, when the world was very +young, so young that the flowers and trees and +grasses had voices and talked with each other, +or sang with the breezes that blew softly around +them, there lived in the midst of a forest a very +little tree.</p> + +<p>Now, though the Little Tree was straight as +an arrow and had glossy green leaves, she was +the most unhappy little tree in all the world. +She could not sing with the winds, and neither +could she speak to the other trees around her. +These other trees often spoke to the Little Tree +and asked her questions. When she did not +answer, they thought the Little Tree stupid and +sulky. These other trees that could sing and +speak began to grow tall, and after a time they +grew so high their topmost branches seemed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +touch the sky. Then, even though the Little +Tree had spoken, they could never have heard +her. These other trees grew tall as giants. +The Little Tree grew each year, it is true; but +she grew so slightly that it could scarcely be +noticed. She was greatly ashamed of her small +stature.</p> + +<p>As the seasons went on, the branches of the +tall trees grew so very thick that they shut out +the light down in the forest. Then the Little +Tree could not see the sun at all, and one by +one the ferns and flowers at her roots died from +the dampness, and the Little Tree was all +alone! Nothing broke the silence of the dark, +still forest save the calls of the birds when they +returned each year to build their nests, or the +sound of the branches swaying in the breeze. +Then there came at last one soft spring day +when the Little Tree waked from her winter's +sleep and began to sing. She was so happy +that she sang for hours; but alas! there was no +other tree to hear her or to answer her song. +So the Little Tree, though she now possessed +the voice for which she had longed, was more +lonely than ever before.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>At night, when all the world was sleeping, +and while the Night Wind roamed the forest, +the Little Tree would weep softly to herself +because she was so sad. Then, after a time, +her lament grew to be a song, a very sad song, +it is true; but oh, so very beautiful! The +Night Wind, who was fond of singing, came to +listen each evening for the Little Tree's lament, +and as he blew upon his way, he carried her +song to the Stars. Now it happened one night +the Little Tree was so sad and lonely that she +could not sing; instead, she wept until her tiny +branches shook with sobbing.</p> + +<p>"Oh," mourned the Little Tree, "I am so +lonely here! I wish I could die. If only I +might burn on some cottager's hearth or warm +poor children's hands; but alas, I am the most +useless tree that grows!"</p> + +<p>The Night Wind heard the Little Tree sobbing, +and going close, whispered softly to her:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Little Tree, please do not be so sad. +What does it matter that your singing voice +came after all the other trees had grown too tall +to hear you, or that you are such a very little +tree? Your voice is so sweet and lovely that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +the birds of this forest now model their choicest +songs on yours. Each night I carry your songs +to the Stars, and they too have sung your lovely +music."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Night Wind, do you tell me true?" +begged the Little Tree. "For I am such a +little tree, how can the Stars hear me?"</p> + +<p>"They hear you thus, my Little Tree," replied +the Night Wind, and brushed aside the +branches of the tallest trees.</p> + +<p>Then looking up, the Little Tree beheld the +Stars high up in the heavens shining down on +her. They seemed to smile and beckon as she +watched, and so she sang her sweetest songs to +please them. The Night Wind and the Stars +themselves sang with the Little Tree, and made +such lovely music that had any one been listening, +they would have thought they heard sweet +strains from paradise. But all this happened +when the world was very young, and there were +but few people dwelling on it.</p> + +<p>"And now, my Little Tree," the Night Wind +said, when he had dropped the branches of the +tall trees once again, "pray do not wish for +some woodman to cut you down. I would miss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +you sadly, if you were to go away from the +forest."</p> + +<p>Farther on in the forest, the Night Wind met +the Spirits of the Woods. They were two +sister spirits robed in floating garments made of +mists. They roamed the forest and cared for +all the trees. They knew how long each tree +would dwell in the forest and when the woodman's +ax would fell it. The Spirits of the +Woods possessed a magic bag of dreams, and +from this bag the Night Wind begged a dream +for the Little Tree.</p> + +<p>"Ah," he pleaded, "the Little Tree is so sad +and lonely, the other trees have grown so far +away they cannot hear her sing, and neither can +she talk with them. She would dearly love a +beautiful dream from this dream bag of yours, +Spirit."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Night Wind," replied the Spirit doubtfully, +"there is but one dream left, and that is +the Little Tree's dream of the future. If we +give it to her, you must promise that you will +not answer her questions concerning it. For it +is a strange dream and will puzzle her greatly. +Will you promise?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<img src="images/i005.jpg" width="509" height="800" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">From this bag the Night Wind begged a dream +for the Little Tree.—<i>Page 96.</i></span> +</div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> +<p>"I promise," said the Night Wind, and blew +upon his way.</p> + +<p>And after that night, the Little Tree was not +lonely or sad. She never became a joyous tree—her +youth had been too sorrowful for that—but +she was content. Each night, when all the +forest filled with creeping shadows, she sang her +songs to the Stars, and she came to love the +Night Wind dearly. Each night the Little +Tree dreamed the dream the Spirits of the +Woods had given her, and strange to tell, it was +always the same dream. It was such a pleasant, +lovely dream that sometimes the Little Tree +was puzzled, and wondered whether she really +lived in her beautiful dream, and only dreamed +that she lived in the forest.</p> + +<p>Each night the Little Tree dreamed she +floated far away, until she reached a palace +which was set on a high hill. Within the palace +was a great hall richly hung with silken tapestries +and gleaming softly with light that shone +from carved crystal bowls. Within this palace +hall a great king and his court were seated, and +sweet strains of music floated on the breeze. +But the strangest thing of all was this: the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +Little Tree often thought she heard her own +songs in this palace hall. She was not sure, but +she was greatly puzzled. She knew that she +had dwelled always in the forest, and how could +she know the music of noble lords and ladies? +Then one night in her dream the Little Tree was +startled to hear the sound of her own voice +singing the songs she had so often sung to the +Stars. She pressed eagerly to the palace window +to see within, but because of her branches +she could not go very near, and she could not +see. Then came the dawn, and her dream +floated far away.</p> + +<p>All through the day, the Little Tree called +again and again to the tall trees and asked +them of her curious dream; but, of course, they +could not hear her. She waited eagerly to see +the daylight fade, and when the Night Wind +came, she questioned him:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Night Wind," cried the Little Tree, +"will you tell me of my dream? I am sure I +heard my own voice singing; but how could it +be that noble lords and ladies within that +palace hall would listen to me? For am I not +the least of little trees?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the Night Wind did not tell her truly. +He had given his promise that he would not, +and so he answered her, saying:</p> + +<p>"Now that I do not know, my dear, but +though you are indeed the least of little trees, +you are the only Little Tree in all this world to +me. Of noble lords and ladies and their ways +I know nothing, for do they not shut me from +their homes and hearths when I would enter +and warm myself? But now, Little Tree, it +grows late; will you not sing for me?"</p> + +<p>Thus with the Night Wind and the Stars for +company, the Little Tree lived on for many +years. From them she learned much wisdom +and came to know about the great world which +lay beyond the forest, and that all trees would +one day go there. And all this time the world +was growing older, and the forest was not so +silent as it had been in the time when the +Little Tree first dwelled there. Sometimes the +woodcutter's ax rang out, and the Little Tree +would hear a great tree come crashing down to +earth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, why must I leave the freedom of the +forest and be torn limb from limb in some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +wretched mill!" cried one of the tall trees, as +he fell close by the Little Tree one day.</p> + +<p>"Ah," replied the Little Tree softly, "you +would not wish to dwell forever in this forest, +would you? In the world there is much that a +great tree may do to bring happiness."</p> + +<p>"Who is it that speaks to me thus gently?" +asked the Fallen Tree. "I do not know the +voice, although I thought I knew all trees growing +in this forest, for I was among the first trees +to grow here."</p> + +<p>"And so was I," replied the Little Tree. "Do +you not remember the Little Tree that could +neither speak nor sing? I am she. For though +I am ages and ages old, I am scarcely taller than +yonder little fir of ten seasons."</p> + +<p>"In those days we thought you stupid and +sulky, Little Tree," replied the Fallen Tree, +"but by your speech I now can see that we +were wrong. Who has taught you all your +wisdom, and have you not been lonely all these +years?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I was very lonely," said the Little +Tree. "Even after I could sing, it was no better. +The flowers and ferns had died, and there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +none to hear me or talk to me. One night I +wept and wished to die, and the Night Wind, +who is of a kind heart, cheered me with words +of praise. Since then I have never been sad, +for I have had a lovely dream each night, and I +have sung to the Stars."</p> + +<p>But this the Fallen Tree could not believe, +and so he answered sharply:</p> + +<p>"Now, Little Tree, how can that be? Tall +as I was, and high as I stood when I was monarch +of this forest, never once could I send my +songs to the Stars, although I tried to do so +many times. Now surely such a little tree as +you could not accomplish what a monarch failed +to do! You have learned wisdom without +doubt, and you sing very sweetly, I daresay; +but take care lest your dreaming lead you in +untruthful ways."</p> + +<p>"Oh, pray believe me!" cried the Little Tree. +"Wait only until the twilight comes, and the +Night Wind himself will tell you so."</p> + +<p>"More foolish talk!" scoffed the Fallen Tree. +"The Night Wind is but a feeble creature to a +monarch of the forest, such as I. When I stood +aloft in all my glory, the Night Wind could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +bend the smallest twig of mine unless I willed +it so."</p> + +<p>"That is true, my friends," spoke a gentle +voice beside them. It was the voice of the +Night Wind, for all unknown to them, darkness +had fallen. "Because you were so proud and +held your branches firm against my gentle +breezes, never once did I carry your songs to +the Stars; but I have done so for the Little +Tree." Then he brushed aside the branches of +the tall trees, and the Little Tree sang to her +shining audience so far above in heaven. She +sang until the Fallen Tree slept, and then the +Night Wind gently dropped the branches until +the forest was all dark once more. Then he +kissed the Little Tree farewell and blew upon +his way.</p> + +<p>Now, as more people came to dwell upon the +earth, more trees were needed every year to +shelter them. The forest was no longer dark +and silent. The woodman's ax rang out, and +here and there the sun shone down where groves +of noble trees had once stood. But even so, +the ferns and flowers and grasses did not bloom +again. The woodcutters made dusty roads and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +trails, and heaps of dead leaves eddied in the +breeze. At last one day a certain king gave +orders that all remaining trees of this forest +should be cut down. He planned to build a +noble city where the forest stood. Now charcoal +fires flared all night, and herds of oxen +tramped the whole day through, and soon a +dreary waste of withering branches whose brown +leaves crackled dismally was all that remained +of the noble forest.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Little Tree," the Night Wind mourned, +"there is no longer any need for me. When the +forest stood, it was my work and pleasure to +brush the fallen leaves and lull the trees to sleep. +Indeed, were it not for you, I would be desolate. +Each night I tremble lest I shall not find you +awaiting me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Night Wind," replied the Little Tree +softly, "it is because you love me that you fear +to lose me; but do not be troubled. I have seen +great trees fall to my right and to my left, and +small trees likewise, yet no one seems to want +me. I am such a little tree; I am sure that +you will find me here forever. That does not +grieve me, even so, for I have come to love you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +dearly, and it would break my heart to be +parted from you."</p> + +<p>Then one dull winter's day, the Little Tree +felt a human hand laid on her slender trunk, +and she knew her fate had come. She was +such a little tree that it took but two blows to +fell her. When the Night Wind came again, he +found the Little Tree moaning with the pain of +her wounds. He caressed her tenderly and +begged her to say her pain was better.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Night Wind, the pain is truly better +since you have come," whispered the Little +Tree bravely, and died in his arms.</p> + +<p>When the Night Wind knew the Little Tree +was gone, he flung himself down on the earth +beside her, and wept and wailed so bitterly that +the Spirits of the Woods came from the ends of +the world to see what troubled him.</p> + +<p>"Ah," sighed the first Spirit. "How sad +it is the Night Wind should be parted from +the Little Tree. Could we not make him a +mortal, so that he may meet her again in the +world?"</p> + +<p>"Agreed," replied the second Spirit. So +while the Night Wind slept, the Spirits of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +Woods changed him to a mortal and called him +Robello.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that some time later a youth +called Robello came to dwell on the outskirts +of the noble city which stood in place of the +great forest. Now this Robello did not till the +soil, and neither did he herd flocks on the hillsides. +Instead, at evenings, he played his +violin so sweetly and so sadly that some folk +could not tell his music from the wailing of the +winds. People from that region, as they passed +his cottage at nightfall, paused to listen to +Robello's playing, and many a one wiped a tear +from his eye at the memories it stirred. Robello's +fame began to go abroad, and wise men +learned in the arts of song declared that if +Robello but possessed a fine violin, the world +could hear no better music.</p> + +<p>Now, at this time it happened that the king +(the same who had ordered the great forest cut +down) received the gift of a rare violin. The +maker of this violin vowed that its like was not +to be found the whole world over, for when +'twas touched with the bow, it sent forth a +sobbing sound like the cry of a broken heart.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +The maker of this rare violin besought the king +and begged that no mere fiddler be allowed to +touch it, and that a music master should play it +always. The king agreed and accordingly commanded +that all who played the violin should +appear at the palace. Robello went in company +of a thousand other players.</p> + +<p>The palace of the king was set on a high hill, +and as Robello entered, he seemed dimly to +remember it, although he knew well that he had +never been within its gates before. The king +and court sat waiting within a great hall richly +hung with silken tapestries and gleaming with +lights that shone softly through carved crystal +bowls. The violin players were gathered together, +and to Robello fell the lot of playing +first.</p> + +<p>The king himself placed the violin in Robello's +arms, and slowly, as though in a dream, Robello +drew the bow across the strings. With the first +notes wakened memories that had long been +slumbering. Then as he played, Robello felt +the great hall grow dim, until at last it seemed +to fade away, and he saw naught but a vision: +the deep dark forest just at dusk, and he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +once more the Night Wind caressing the Little +Tree.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my Little Tree," he whispered, as he +bent lovingly above the violin. "This is the +dream that you did love so dearly. Do you +remember me?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, Night Wind," sang the Little Tree, +"although they call thee by another name, to +me thou wilt be the Night Wind forever. He +who fashioned me thus spoke truly when he said +I sobbed like a broken heart, for my heart has +been broken with longing for thee. Let us sing +the songs we sang to the Stars so long ago."</p> + +<p>Then Robello played as he had never played +before, and the violin sang as never violin had +sung before. When the last notes died away, +there were tears in the eyes of the noble lords +and ladies, and the king sat silent for a time. +At last he spoke, and ordered that all other +players be sent away, and declared that none +save Robello should ever touch this rare violin.</p> + +<p>So Robello remained in the palace of the +king and was made chief musician to his majesty, +and never had the Little Tree sung so +sweetly in the forest as she sang now at Robello's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +magic touch. Robello played at all court festivals, +and nothing had such power to soothe +the king as had Robello's music when he played +his violin at nightfall.</p> + +<p>Then came a sad day when his servants went +to waken him and found Robello dead, his beloved +violin clasped closely in his arms. The +king and all his court mourned the passing of +Robello for many days. Then one evening, +just at dusk, they buried him with his beloved +violin still clasped closely in his arms, and +strewed his grave with boughs of trees. And +in that region, to this day, there are some folk +who say that when night falls Robello can still +be heard playing his violin within the palace +hall; but others say this is not right; it is the +Night Wind calling softly to the Little Tree that +never grew up.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE TALE OF PUNCHINELLO</h3> + + +<p>There lived once long ago, in days of jesters +and court fools and harlequins, a certain clown +called Punchinello. This Punchinello, like all +others of his trade, whitened his face and painted +it in grotesque fashion. He wore gay satin +robes of many colors all hung with silver bells +that jingled when he danced, and pom-pom +slippers turned up at the toes. This Punchinello +was a clown of clowns, and his droll dances +and his merry tricks and songs had made thousands +laugh.</p> + +<p>Punchinello traveled around the world in +company with a circus. Whenever this circus +reached a city, it formed a great parade before +it entered. Then would the people throng the +streets and highways, eager for the show. They +clapped their hands when lions roaring in their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +cages and elephants led by their keepers passed +along; but when this famous Punchinello, prancing +and twirling, came in view, the crowds cheered +wildly with applause.</p> + +<p>"Oh, welcome! Welcome, Punchinello!" +they would shout.</p> + +<p>The ladies threw him flowers and children +blew him kisses. Kings and queens had often +hailed him thus, for Punchinello pleased all folk. +Those who were sad and those who sorrowed +often sent for Punchinello when the circus show +was done, and he would dance and sing to cheer +them. But for this service he would take no +gold or present. So though he grew to fame, +this Punchinello grew not rich.</p> + +<p>"It is enough that I can make sad faces glad," +said Punchinello, and wrapping his great cloak +about him, he would steal away, leaving happiness +behind him.</p> + +<p>"My store of wealth lies in the golden smiles +my antics bring," he often said, "and when my +merry songs and dances please the world no +more, I shall be poor indeed." But with his +light, fantastic dancing, and his songs and jests, +with his twirlings and his leapings,—was it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +likely that the world would ever cease to smile +on Punchinello? The world is always fond of +fun and laughter.</p> + +<p>"Punchinello is the greatest man in all the +world," some folk said when they had seen him +dance and heard him sing.</p> + +<p>"That is not right," said others. "He would +be emperor if that were true; but Punchinello +is the greatest man in all the circus."</p> + +<p>"But neither is that right," still others said. +"For if he were, he would be owner of the circus. +But Punchinello is the greatest clown in all the +world." And on this all folk agreed.</p> + +<p>Now on its way about the world, the circus +chanced to journey to a city where a king and +queen held court. These royal folk and all +their court watched the gay procession from +their balconies and were delighted. The king +and queen sent heralds, saying on a certain night +that they would grace the show and to be sure +that Master Punchinello played before the royal +box. Then as the pageant wound upon its way, +with banners flying and with music of the fife +and drum, they passed a building where the +sick were tended. It was a hospital. No eager<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +faces gave them welcome here, and lest they +should disturb the sick, the fife and drum ceased +playing. Punchinello fell to walking soberly +along. Suddenly he chanced to spy a tiny, +wistful face pressed to the window pane. Then +Punchinello bounded lightly up the ladder, and +leaping into the room, began to dance and twirl +about to please this little child.</p> + +<p>"And does my dancing please you, little one?" +asked Punchinello when he paused.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir!" cried the child. His name +was Beppo. "Please dance again for me. It +makes my pain grow better."</p> + +<p>"Alas! I cannot, little one," said Punchinello, +pointing to the circus that was passing. +"I must make haste to join my friends again."</p> + +<p>"Then would you come to-night when it is +dark and dance for me?" begged little Beppo. +"The pain is always worse when it is dark, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I'll come, my little one," said kindly +Punchinello, and his gayly painted face grew +sad. "Just leave your window open, little one, +and I'll steal in and dance for you and sing you +to the land of happy dreams."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>And that night, when the circus show was +done and all the lights were out, while other tired +players slept, this kindly Punchinello wrapped +his cloak about him and stole out underneath +the stars to visit little Beppo. The little lame +child was delighted with his songs and dances, +so kindly Punchinello vowed that he would come +each night and do the same, while the circus remained +in the city. Each night the child lay +waiting for him eagerly, and how he hugged +and kissed this Punchinello when at last he +came!</p> + +<p>"Last night I dreamed of running through +the woods," cried little Beppo to him one night. +"I saw tall trees that seemed to touch the sky +and heard the birds sing in their nests. I never +had a dream like this before, and your sweet +songs did give it to me, Punchinello. Come, +dance and sing for me."</p> + +<p>Then Punchinello danced his best. His slippered +feet like lightning flew; the bells upon his +robes rang out, and he would twirl upon his toes +until his many-colored baggy robes stood out +and he seemed like a brilliant human top. He +jumped, he twirled, he leaped high in the air<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +and bowed before the little cot as though it were +a royal throne. When he at last grew weary, +he would stop, but then the child would beg for +more.</p> + +<p>"Oh, please, dear Punchinello," he would +say, "just once again. It makes my pain grow +less to see you whirl." Then Punchinello could +not refuse, and he would whirl and twirl again +until he was too weary to do more. Folding +little Beppo in his arms, he sang him lullabies +until the child fell fast asleep. And so the nights +went on.</p> + +<p>The nurses noticed that little Beppo's cheeks +grew plump and that his eyes grew bright. He +said his pain was better, and they thought it +was the medicine. They knew nothing of this +Punchinello. He entered each night through +the window and departed the same way. The +circus folk said Punchinello was not well and +told him he must rest.</p> + +<p>"Our show would be as nothing if it were not +for you, Punchinello," they declared. "To-morrow +the king and queen will come to see us +play, so rest you well to-night that you may +dance your gayest for them." Though Punchi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>nello +promised, late that night, when all the +world lay sleeping, he stole away to dance for +little Beppo.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Punchinello!" cried the little lame child. +"I'll tell you of my dream. I dreamed I wore +a spotted satin robe like yours and pom-pom +slippers turned up at the toes. I dreamed I +danced and twirled as lightly as you do yourself. +Now is that not a pleasant dream for one who +cannot even walk?"</p> + +<p>"It is, my little one," said Punchinello. +"Come sit upon my knee and wind your arms +about my neck. Now tell me, has your pain +been less to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Much less, much less, good Punchinello," +said the child. "Indeed, I think your dances +and your songs have charmed it all away. I +think about my lovely dreams by day, and lie +and wait for you by night, and have no time +for pain, it seems. Come dance for me, my +Punchinello."</p> + +<p>"To-night I'll sing instead, my little Beppo," +answered Punchinello. He was weary, and when +he whirled his head grew dizzy. "I'll sing you +a song of ships that sail through seas of clouds; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>and trees as sing the world to slow sleep when winds +do blow."</p> + +<p>But little Beppo wished to see him dance. +"See, Punchinello," said he softly, "around your +neck I tie my locket. It is my only treasure. +They say my mother placed it on me when she +died. It has a bluebird painted on it which is +the only bird I've ever seen. Now wilt thou +dance for me, dear Punchinello?" He kissed +the clown's queer painted face, and Punchinello +danced.</p> + +<p>And never had he danced so well before. As +though he heard afar the music that the fairies +make at midnight, he waltzed and twirled faster +and yet faster, pausing not at all. He pranced, +he leaped and spun upon his toe as though he +were a dancing doll wound up to dance so long. +The little lame child watched him eagerly, and +as he watched, as though he too heard magic +strains from fairyland, he sprung up from his +cot and straightway danced and whirled about +in Punchinello's footsteps.</p> + +<p>"Look, look, dear Punchinello!" little Beppo +cried. "I am no longer lame but dance as well +as you yourself."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<img src="images/i006.jpg" width="509" height="800" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Look, look, dear Punchinello!" little Beppo +cried. "I am no longer lame."—<i>Page 116.</i> +</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> +<p>But Punchinello, whirling like a leaf, made no +reply. He sang his gayest songs and leaped so +lightly in the air, there seemed to be a thousand +harlequins, and little Beppo followed lightly +after. Suddenly the child stopped, for Punchinello +was no longer dancing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my good Punchinello!" he exclaimed. +"Why did you run away? I'll follow after +you," and down the ladder he swiftly sped. He +saw the white tents shining in the moonlight. +"Indeed, I'll join the circus with my Punchinello," +said he to himself, "and travel around +the world with him."</p> + +<p>But alas! Poor Punchinello had not stolen +off, as little Beppo thought. For while in his +wild dance that charmed the lame child's pain +away, poor Punchinello felt himself grow ill. +His head grew giddy, and at last he fell upon +the floor, and there the nurses found him in the +morning. They placed poor Punchinello on the +bed where little Beppo had lain for so many +years, and wondered whence the clown had come.</p> + +<p>And so it was the king and queen who went +next day to see the show were displeased because +the famous Punchinello was not there to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +dance and jest for them. No other clowns or +harlequins would please their royal majesties, +and so they left in anger. They bade the circus +owner strip his tents and in that very hour depart, +and when another morning came, our little +Beppo found himself in a strange city with the +circus folk. At first these circus folk were puzzled +what to do with him, but as the child could +dance and cut droll capers, they made for him +a spotted satin suit and gave him pom-pom +slippers turned up at the toes. They would have +called him Little Punchinello, but this the child +would not allow.</p> + +<p>"Good Punchinello was my friend," said +little Beppo. "And 'twas from him I learned +to dance before I ever walked. I will not take +his name, but I will seek him everywhere until +I find him."</p> + +<p>Some circus folk thought Punchinello had +run off to join a show of traveling jugglers, and +others thought perhaps he had grown tired of +dancing and grimacing. Then by and by they +ceased to talk of him, and all forgot him, save +little Beppo.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile poor Punchinello lay in a raging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +fever. The nurses thought that he would die, +for he was very ill. But after a long time the +fever left him, and then they knew he would +grow better. He asked one day for little Beppo, +but they could tell him nothing of the child.</p> + +<p>"We came to waken him one morning, but +the child was gone and you were lying ill," said +they. "We could not see how this could be, +for little Beppo was too lame to walk; but +though we searched the city, he could not be +found."</p> + +<p>Another day poor Punchinello asked about +the circus, and again the nurses shook their +heads.</p> + +<p>"The circus folk have gone long since," said +they. "The king was angry with them and bade +them go in haste, 'tis said. We cannot say +which way they went."</p> + +<p>When Punchinello was all well at last; he rose +and donned his many-colored robes that jingled +when he walked. He had grown thin and pale, +and they became him poorly, but he had not +money to buy others. He wrapped his great +cloak all about him and started out to earn his +bread. Poor Punchinello was too weak to dance;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +he could not plow or dig; he had not been so +trained. And so at last this famous Punchinello +stood upon the highways and sang for pennies +that good-natured people threw to him.</p> + +<p>"I am the famous Punchinello," he would +sometimes say. "Have you not heard of famous +Punchinello of the circus?"</p> + +<p>But those who heard him laughed in scorn. +"If you be famous Punchinello of the circus," +they would say, "why sing you then for coppers +like a beggar, and where is the circus? You +are not Punchinello, but a fraud."</p> + +<p>Thus poor and friendless, Punchinello started +out to seek the circus. His wanderings led him +into many lands, and often he met folk who told +him that the circus had passed there. But +Punchinello, journeying afoot, could never travel +fast enough to overtake the circus. His pom-pom +slippers soon were torn by stones along the +highway, and he went barefoot. His satin robe +of many colors faded and grew worn. Punchinello +patched here with yarn and there with +bits of leather cloth or sacking, until the colors +had all fled, and it was naught but rags sewn +all together. Poor Punchinello danced no more,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +for ragged robes and dancing do not fit; but +even so, his voice was sweet and clear as ever.</p> + +<p>"So I am not yet poor, despite my rags," he +would say bravely to himself. "For yesterday +I caught a golden smile from one who flung a +copper; and who knows? Perhaps to-day I +may again be favored."</p> + +<p>Then one day in his wanderings Punchinello +awakened to the music of the fife and drum. +He saw gay banners flying and hurried to the +highway with the crowds. It was the circus he +had sought so long, and as he saw his old friends +marching by, poor Punchinello's eyes filled with +tears of joy. The lion tamers with their roaring +beasts strode by, the elephants in scarlet blankets +decked, the jugglers next, and then a little +dancing clown who stepped and pranced in +drollest fashion.</p> + +<p>"Oh, welcome, Beppo! Welcome!" cried the +crowds, and Punchinello saw it was the lame +child he had known.</p> + +<p>He darted from the crowd and cried, "Oh, +little Beppo, dost remember me? I am good +Punchinello."</p> + +<p>But here the circus folk protested. "Be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +off! Be off! You bunch of rags!" cried they. +"Our Punchinello was no beggar, and you are +not he."</p> + +<p>"I swear I am!" cried Punchinello. "Do you +not know me, little Beppo?"</p> + +<p>"When I was ill and could not walk," the +child replied, "a clown called Punchinello cured +me of my lameness by his merry songs and ways; +but his face I know not. He came always in the +night. When he danced, he danced so swiftly +that a million harlequins there seemed to be +about me: and when he held me in his arms, I hid +my head against his shoulder, because I loved +him dearly."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember this, then, little one?" +asked poor Punchinello, and showed the bluebird +locket, "the only treasure you did own, +and which you gave to me?"</p> + +<p>"I do, and you are my good Punchinello!" +little Beppo cried, and flung his arms about him. +He kissed the shabby creature and wrapped him +in his own fine scarlet cloak to hide the rags. +"How I have sought the world for you, dear +Punchinello, to tell you of my gratitude; but I +could never find you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + +<p>The circus folk went running and crowded +round the pair. "Oh, welcome! Welcome, Punchinello!" +they exclaimed and shook his hand. +"A thousand welcomes. We have missed you +sadly and now you will be our clown again."</p> + +<p>"But little Beppo is your clown. What of +him?" asked Punchinello.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we shall both be clowns!" declared the +child, "like father and like son. Together we +shall dance those dances that you taught me +and sing those songs with which you charmed +the world."</p> + +<p>And so this Punchinello found himself once +more in satin robes of many colors, all jingling +merrily with bells, and pom-pom slippers turned +up at the toes. His face he whitened and then +painted it in grotesque fashion, and with his +little Beppo he danced that night and made his +old-time capers and grimaces.</p> + +<p>"Well done! Well done! Good Punchinello!" +cried the people. "We have missed you +sorely, but enjoy you all the more for missing +you." They laughed and cheered him wildly +until the show was done.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Punchinello, as he laid him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +down to rest that night, "I am the richest man +in all the world. A thousand golden smiles +were mine to-night, and better still I have the +love and gratitude of little Beppo whom I dearly +love. What more than that could Punchinello +ask? And so good night!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE STRANGE TALE OF BROWN BEAR</h3> + + +<p>Long, long ago, in the very far north, there +lived a mammoth Brown Bear. Never in all +the world was seen such a gigantic creature. +Brown Bear was so tall his eyes looked over tops +of trees, and his footprints were so deep that a +grown man could stand full height in them. +They were great pits.</p> + +<p>Now Brown Bear owned a gold mine so rich +that the king envied it. Also Brown Bear loved +gold exceedingly, but as he had no hands he +could not dig for it. Therefore he lay in wait +for travelers journeying through the forest, and +seizing them, he would carry them off to be his +slaves and dig his gold. All folk suffered from +this cruel custom,—the rich and poor, the high +and low, the young and old. The king of that +land offered rich rewards to the hunter who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +would slay this monster or to the trapper who +would snare him. But no arrow was made +strong enough to pierce the hide of Brown Bear +and no trap could hold him. So he continued +to carry off all captured folk to his gold mine +underneath the mountain side. 'Twas said that +Brown Bear had as many slaves as there were +subjects left in the kingdom. 'Twas also said, +the walls of Brown Bear's cave were lined so +thick with gold that they outshone the sun.</p> + +<p>It happened one evening that a poor peasant +returning to his hut missed his little child. His +wife had lately died, and there was no one at +home to tend the little one. He asked the neighbors +of the child and learned that it had last +been seen running toward the forest. In deep +anxiety, the peasant hurried to the forest, but +though he searched all night and called, he could +not find his little one. When morning came at +last and it was light, he saw the child's bright +scarlet cloak beneath a tree and not far off the +mighty footprints of Brown Bear.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" the peasant wept, "my little one +is carried off by this great monster. I do not +wish to live!" He seized the little scarlet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +cloak, and weeping and lamenting pressed it to +his heart. Then when he could weep no more, +he rose and began to follow in the path of Brown +Bear's footprints.</p> + +<p>"I'll seek this Brown Bear in his cave," +thought he, "and if he make a slave of me, I +shall at least be with my little one, and if he +kill me, I care not."</p> + +<p>For many hours then the peasant toiled +through brush and bramble, and when night +came, from weariness he stumbled and fell headlong +into one of the mighty footprints of Brown +Bear. He broke no bones, but for a long time +he knew nothing. When he awoke at last, he +found beside him a tiny baby bear that wept and +shivered with the cold.</p> + +<p>"You, little one, are not yet wicked," said +the peasant; "and though your race has done +me injury, still if I warm and comfort you, so +may some good soul warm and comfort my own +little one whom I have lost."</p> + +<p>He wrapped the baby bear all in the scarlet +cloak and fed it bread. Then when it slept he +took it in his arms and climbed out of the pit +and set upon his way once more. He had not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +gone far when he reached a cave all lined with +gold, and this he knew to be the home of Brown +Bear. Caring nothing for his life, the peasant +boldly entered. When he was within, he saw +the wife of Brown Bear weeping bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Why come you here, O Peasant?" cried the +wife of Brown Bear. "Do you not know that +my husband makes slaves of all men? Hasten +away before he returns lest he do you greater +harm than even that."</p> + +<p>"I care not if Brown Bear make a slave of +me," the peasant answered. "Where is thy +husband now, and why do you weep?"</p> + +<p>"My husband, Brown Bear, is out seeking in +the forest to find our little one, who wandered +off and who, alas, I fear is dead. Therefore +I do weep," she answered sobbingly, "and lest +you know it not, O Peasant, let me tell you this; +the loss of children is the greatest grief that ever +parents suffer."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! I know too well what grief is that!" +the peasant cried, and bursting into tears, he +told the tale of his own woes. Now as he told, +the wife of Brown Bear fixed her great eyes on +the bundle wrapped in scarlet that he carried.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What have you there, O Peasant?" she +asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>"A tiny baby bear I found when I fell headlong +into one of Brown Bear's footprints," he +replied. "The little one did weep from cold +and hunger, and so I fed and warmed him. And +as I could not find it in my heart to let him die, +I took him from the pit with me."</p> + +<p>"It is my little one! It is my little one!" +the wife of Brown Bear cried. She seized the +baby bear and hugged and fondled it with joy. +"But for your kind heart, Peasant, he must +have died down in the pit; so wait you till my +husband comes for your reward."</p> + +<p>She raised her great voice in a mighty roar, +and presently Brown Bear came crashing through +the trees. He seized the baby bear and hugged +it as his wife had done, and when he heard the +story thanked the peasant warmly.</p> + +<p>"Now for this service you have rendered me, +I'll give you all my gold, O Peasant," cried +Brown Bear. "For though I do love gold beyond +compare, I love my little one far more."</p> + +<p>"And just as dearly do I love my little one +whom you did steal, O Brown Bear," the peasant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +cried. "And likewise do all parents love their +little ones. Therefore if you will free all those +you hold as slaves, ten thousand homes will be +made happy as this home of yours to-night. I +ask this boon, and you may keep your gold which +you do love so dearly."</p> + +<p>But Brown Bear would not have it so. "You +shall have what you ask and all my gold beside," +said he. "For while I mourned because my +little one was lost, my gold brought me no gladness, +but instead did mock me with its brightness." +So saying, he flung open wide the door +that led beneath the mountain side and bade +his slaves go free. With shouts of joy these +folk ran to their homes, and all the forest rang +with their rejoicing. The peasant found his +little one and held him to his heart.</p> + +<p>"My little one! My little one!" he cried. +"I wish no more reward than this, O Brown +Bear."</p> + +<p>"But you shall have more, even so," said +Brown Bear, and gave to him the key of the gold +mine. "Now you are richer than the king himself, +and indeed, 'tis right that you should be. +For what his thousand hunters with their poi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>soned +barbs and cruel traps could never do, with +your kind heart you have accomplished, Peasant. +Go tell the king and all his subjects that they +need fear me nevermore. Through mine own +grief I know the sorrows I have caused, and from +henceforth I'll live in peace with man."</p> + +<p>The peasant thanked him and with his little +one departed for his home, and there a multitude +of grateful folk were gathered to greet +him. And from that day the peasant was no +longer poor. As owner of the rich gold mine, +he now became a man of wealth. The king +respected him and made him noble because he +had done noble service for the kingdom. His +title was Duke Kindlyheart.</p> + +<p>In closing this strange tale, I too must say +that Brown Bear kept his word and nevermore +molested travelers journeying through the forest. +Indeed, he grew so friendly with the king and +court that he fought all their wars for them and +brought them many victories. When Brown +Bear died at last, as creatures all must do, the +people wept for him, and all the kingdom put +on mourning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE BEGGAR PRINCESS</h3> + + +<p>Once upon a time there lived a king who had +great wealth and also many daughters, among +whom he divided his kingdom before he died. +That is, he gave lands and estates to all but his +fourth daughter, the Princess Yvonne, who from +her lack of fortune was forced to seek her living +in the world. Having not a copper piece for +her pocket and no gold save the gold of her hair, +which, though it was very beautiful, nevertheless +would not feed or clothe her, she was forced to +beg her bread from door to door and became +known as Yvonne, the Beggar Princess. And +the reason of it all was this.</p> + +<p>The king, being very wise, wished his daughters +to wed none but princes from the most +powerful thrones in the world. As soon as each +daughter reached the age to marry, the king in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>vited +to his court the suitors for her hand. The +first and second daughters married the princes +of their father's choice and went off to their +palaces rejoicing, and so likewise did the third +daughter. Because of their obedience, the king +was pleased and gave them land and great riches +for their marriage portions. He then turned +his attention to find a husband for his fourth +daughter, the Princess Yvonne, the fairest and +most charming of them all.</p> + +<p>Now all unknown to her father, Yvonne, loved +Prince Godfrey of the Westland Kingdom. +They had often met in the forest, and there +they had vowed their love to one another. +Prince Godfrey had wished to ask for the hand +of Yvonne, but she, knowing her father's iron +will, begged him to delay.</p> + +<p>"My father is a stern king and rules his daughters +in all things," said the princess. "He would +part us forever should it come to him that we +had dared to do aught without his consent. Return, +I pray you, to your kingdom and there +await my father's summons, for I have heard +him say that you would be bidden to his court +as suitor for my hand."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<p>Prince Godfrey, much against his will, consented +to do as Yvonne asked. He kissed her +farewell and departed that very evening for the +Westland Kingdom. What befell him on the +homeward journey, Princess Yvonne never knew, +but she saw him no more. She carried his image +in her heart and could love no other prince, +though her father sent far and near for suitors +to please her. Knowing nothing of her love +for Prince Godfrey, at last the king placed her +refusals to a stubborn spirit.</p> + +<p>"My daughter, Yvonne," said he, after she +had refused five princes in as many days, "how +do you know whom you love or whom you love +not? You, my fourth daughter, cannot pretend +to know as much as I, your father. Where +have you been to learn of this nonsense that +you call love?"</p> + +<p>To which the princess made reply: "That I +cannot tell, my father, except that my heart +bids me marry only the prince whom I shall love +well, and of these princes you have brought +hither I love none at all. I pray you now, turn +your attention to the affairs of my younger +sisters, who are anxious to wed, and leave me for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +a little longer in peace." She was so gentle in +her speech and so winning in her manner that +the king forgot his vexation and busied himself +with seeking suitors for his younger daughters.</p> + +<p>They married according to his wishes and +pleased him exceedingly. With each marriage, +the king gave portions of his kingdom, until at +length there remained but two estates, and of his +nine daughters there were but two unmarried. +Again he sent for the Princess Yvonne, and this +time he spoke sharply to her.</p> + +<p>"Now, Yvonne, my fourth daughter, I have +listened to your entreaties and given you your +will in all things, and still you are not wed. I +cannot compel you to marry if you do not wish +to please me; but this I tell you. To-morrow +there comes to this castle a prince who has both +gold and lands, and who moreover is handsome +and possessed of a sweet temper. If you wed +not him, I will give the remainder of my kingdom +to your youngest sister. Then you will +be left portionless, and what disgrace that will +be! A princess without a fortune is a sad creature, +and I advise you to try my patience no +longer."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>Yvonne listened with tears in her eyes. She +dearly loved her father and wished to please +him, but her heart still treasured the image of +the absent Godfrey.</p> + +<p>The following day, at her father's commands, +she dressed herself in her finest robes and bound +her hair with the royal jewels. Thus attired, +she went forth to the throne room to greet the +suitor who awaited her. The king was well +pleased with her appearance and smiled encouragement +to her, but alas for his hopes! +The Princess Yvonne burst into tears before the +court, thereby offending the suitor and bringing +down her father's wrath. He bade the weeping +Yvonne withdraw and commanded his youngest +daughter to appear in her place. So agreeable +was this youngest daughter that the +prince forgot his anger and fell in love with +her before a single day had passed. They +were married with great splendor and the king, +as he had declared, gave them the remainder +of his kingdom as a wedding gift.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that the Princess Yvonne went +forth from her father's castle without his blessing, +without a fortune, without even a copper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +piece for her pocket, and without riches of any +sort save the bright yellow gold of her hair. +She had been raised in a castle and therefore +knew not how to spin or to weave or even to +embroider, which three occupations were considered +suitable for young serving women in +that day, so she was forced to beg her bread +from door to door; hence her title, Yvonne, +the Beggar Princess.</p> + +<p>She left her father's kingdom and by and by +found service at a farm. The people were very +poor, and she did the work of three, but they +treated her kindly, and Yvonne worked cheerfully. +Early in the morning she drew water +from the well, and many a ewer she had carried +to the kitchen before the sun rose. She served +the table for the plowmen and took her own +meal in the pantry while she tidied up after they +had gone to the fields. All day long she baked +and brewed, or scoured pots and pans until they +shone like silver. In spite of her changed fortunes, +the princess remained as sweet-tempered +as in the days when she lived in her father's +castle and had naught to vex her from morning +until night. If the butter would not churn,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +she would sing instead of scolding as the other +maids did, and presently the butter would come, +and such butter as it was too! When the loaves +burned, she did not cry out against the Brownies, +who were said to play tricks with the oven, +but received the scolding from her mistress +with humility. At night, no matter how weary +she might be from her long day, the princess +went willingly to fetch the cattle, for the walk +through the fields and forest cheered her.</p> + +<p>It was in the forest she had first met Godfrey, +and it was in the forest he had vowed to love +her always. So as she sang her shepherd's song +and called softly to the straying herds, she was +with her absent prince in memory.</p> + +<p>"He will come for me by and by," she would +whisper to herself sometimes, when she waked +suddenly from a dream in which Godfrey had +seemed very near. Other times she would be +frightened lest perhaps he might some day pass +her on the highway. "In my peasant's dress, +there is but little to remind him of the princess +whom he bade farewell in my father's +hunting forest," she would say. She had no +mirror and quite forgot her lovely face and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +her golden hair, which a queen might well +have envied.</p> + +<p>One evening in autumn, when the night falls +early and the darkness creeps on swiftly, the +princess wandered through the forest in search +of the cattle. She was tired, but as she walked +among the trees she grew rested, and presently +she began to sing. In the open spaces she called +softly, but no creatures came to follow her. The +wind sighed through the pines, and once she +started, thinking she heard some one call her +name. She stood quite still and listened, but +the wind died away and the forest was silent. +She wandered farther, and the trees grew more +dense. There was no moon to guide her, and +after a time, the princess perceived she had lost +her way.</p> + +<p>"For myself, it does not matter," said she, +"I can find shelter in the hollow of some tree +and there be very comfortable until morning." +Never before had the cattle strayed so far but +that at the sound of her voice they would come +slowly down the paths and crashing through the +brush. They followed her like pets. She resolved +to call them once more and began to sing:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, tell me, shepherds, have you ever heard,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A wee white lamb that cries at eve—"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>but she broke off her song and caught her breath +sharply. An old mill stood before her in the +spot where a great oak had spread its branches +when she began her song! The mill sails turned +and creaked in the forest breeze, but there was +not a sound of life about the place. There were +no doors, and though the princess walked all +around the walls, she found no opening save a +sort of window heavily barred and crossbarred. +On the top of the walls glistened jagged lumps +of glass.</p> + +<p>"It looks more like a prison than a mill," +thought she, and then as she peered into the +opening, a voice from the dungeon beneath began +to sing. Yvonne's heart leaped for joy; +it was the voice of Godfrey, her beloved!</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Yvonne, Yvonne, my heart has ached with longing<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Since I bade you farewell in the forest.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each night my spirit has stolen forth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To kiss you in your dreams<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lest you forget me, because I came not.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A cruel king has stolen my throne and enslaved my land,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">And until he is driven from it,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I must remain in this dungeon, bound by his evil spell.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, Yvonne, fly to your father,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Beg him send an army to help my people,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For they suffer greatly and I am powerless.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But before all, Yvonne, unbind your golden hair<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That its brightness may shine within these prison walls,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And sing to me that your heart is still mine."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The princess unbound her hair, and in the +forest about the mill all became bright as +day. Then through her tears she sang of her +life, for she was deeply grieved to find Godfrey +in such a plight.</p> + +<p>"To think that I who love you should be the +cause of all your woes!" cried Godfrey, when +he had heard her story. "Return to your father, +Yvonne. Tell him that you will wed whom he +wishes and forget me, for I have brought you +naught but tears and sorrows."</p> + +<p>"Ah, my beloved," replied the princess, +"though I cannot see you and you be but a voice, +you are the voice of one who loves me, and +that to me is dearer than all the world. I cannot +return to my father, for now he is dead, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +my sisters have cast me off because I was portionless; +but I myself shall seek this cruel king and +beg him to set you free."</p> + +<p>"Seek this cruel King Ironheart!" exclaimed +Godfrey in dismay. "Surely, Yvonne, you +know not what you say, for never in all the +world before was known such a tyrant! Men +he casts into prison, nor does he ever release +them, but condemns them to dig beneath the +earth that he may fill his treasury with gold; +women must toil all day in the fields and for +a few coppers; while their children die of hunger, +this King Ironheart has granaries filled full +of good grains. King Ironheart has vast armies, +each soldier of which is as cruel as his master, +and were you to go to the Westland Kingdom, +these same soldiers would seek you out and enslave +you with the rest of my people. You must +not go, Yvonne; as you love me, promise me +that you will not."</p> + +<p>"The more you tell me of the sorrows of the +Westland Kingdom, the more I am resolved to +seek this cruel Ironheart. If I fail, I fail, but +what is my life to me unless you be set free, +Godfrey?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But, Yvonne," pleaded Godfrey from his +dungeon, "think of my suffering, should you do +this for my sake. What powerful weapon have +you to use against this wicked Ironheart?"</p> + +<p>"None but courage and a good heart," replied +the princess. "In the past they have +worked miracles, and so may they work miracles +now. Deny me no more, Godfrey, but tell me +the way to your kingdom, that I may all the +sooner return to free you, for I will not fail."</p> + +<p>No words could move her, and at last Godfrey +gave her her will.</p> + +<p>"Dress your feet in the slippers of bark which +you will find beneath a pine tree close to the +mill. They will serve you for your travels until +you return again to this forest," said he. "Then +watch closely in the east, and when the sun rises, +start at once to follow him as he journeys across +the sky, neither stopping nor staying, and at +sunset you will find yourself on the borders +of the Westland Kingdom. Should you grow +weary or should your courage fail you, Yvonne, +sing, and my spirit will fly to cheer you."</p> + +<p>So with the coming of the dawn, Yvonne +bound her golden hair and dressed her feet in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +the slippers of bark. She looked toward the +east for the first beam of the sun, and when she +turned once more to the mill it had disappeared. +In its place stood a great oak with green grass +smooth as a carpet growing beneath it. But +Yvonne had no time to marvel at this new wonder, +for the sun rose from the clouds and straightway +began its journey above the world. All +day long Yvonne followed after, now wading +shallow mountain brooks, now fording rivers +wide as any sea. Now she walked through +cool green forests and again over hot, sandy +desert plains. She grew weary and longed to +rest, but remembering Godfrey's words, she +sang instead. And so it was at sunset she found +herself upon the borders of the Westland Kingdom, +and too weary for aught else, she begged +shelter of a peasant woman and slept soundly +until morning.</p> + +<p>The Westland Kingdom, in the days of Prince +Godfrey, had been the pleasantest place in all +the world, but now there was not a sadder spot +on earth. From his desert throne, King Ironheart +had long coveted its great forests and +fertile fields, its rich mines of silver and gold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +beneath the earth. He had not dared meet +Prince Godfrey in open battle, for Godfrey was +a fierce warrior and his nobles were brave +soldiers. So it was secretly and in the dead of +night, when Prince Godfrey was away from his +land on a journey, that King Ironheart entered +the Westland Kingdom and conquered it by +force of arms. At the same time he caused +Godfrey to be imprisoned in the mill which +sank beneath the forest by day. Then having +done thus much, he offered riches and high +honors to all Westland subjects who would +swear allegiance to him as their sovereign lord. +The people with one accord refused to listen to +his ministers and remained faithful to Godfrey.</p> + +<p>King Ironheart was furious, but he gave them +seven days in which to change their minds. At +the end of the seventh day, he called a council +of the Westland people and was gracious in his +bearing toward them; but from the highest +noble to the lowest peasant, there was not one +in all the kingdom who would bow the knee to +King Ironheart. From that day, the reign of +cruelty began. King Ironheart bade his army +drive the men to the mines beneath the earth,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +and when this was done, he rewarded his generals +and soldiers with the palaces and houses +of the Westland people. Driven thus from +their homes, there was nothing left for the +women and children but to seek shelter where +they could find it. Some lived in wretched +huts; others toiled at cutting logs to build rude +cabins, and all were forced to work like slaves. +King Ironheart meant to punish the Westland +Kingdom and spared no one.</p> + +<p>Though the castle of this cruel king lay but a +short distance from the entrance of the Westland +Kingdom, the road that stretched between +was filled with such sadness and sorrow that it +was many a day before the princess stood at its +gates. Little children struggled with heavy +burdens, and when she had helped these, other +little children with heavy burdens passed sadly +down the same road. Women toiled unceasingly +in the forest or drove the plow from +dawn until dark; King Ironheart's soldiers saw +to it that none idled. Yvonne had no coins to +buy bread, and again she was forced to beg +from door to door, but so willingly did she help +those who labored that the sad-faced women<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +were glad to share with her their scant store. +A Westland woman, noting the slippers of bark, +asked her who she might be and from whence +she came; to which the princess made the following +reply:</p> + +<p>"In my country I am called Yvonne, the +Beggar Princess. My father cast me off portionless +because I would not wed to please him; +and I seek the tyrant Ironheart, to beg him +quit the Westland Kingdom and to free from +his dungeon Prince Godfrey, whom I love with +all my heart."</p> + +<p>When the Westland women heard her reply, +they marveled at her courage, but shook their +heads and advised her to give up her quest.</p> + +<p>"You seek to move with pity one whose heart +is cold as his name would say!" they cried. +"King Ironheart laughs at mothers' tears and +takes pleasure in the wails of hungry children; +return to your home, Oh Yvonne, or this +wicked king will enslave you with this sad land."</p> + +<p>"That I will not do," replied the princess +firmly. "With courage and a good heart, I +have come hither to beg mercy of King Ironheart. +If I fail, I fail, and here in bondage I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +shall remain with you who mourn Prince Godfrey, +for he is lord of my heart."</p> + +<p>The princess delayed her errand no longer, +but rose with the dawn the following day and +was waiting early at the castle gates. On being +questioned by the soldiers, she said she had +come to seek King Ironheart. They asked who +she was, and she answered them truthfully that +she was Yvonne, the Beggar Princess.</p> + +<p>"A Beggar Princess!" exclaimed the soldiers +in derision. "Who ever before heard of a +princess without gold?"</p> + +<p>"This gold I have about me," replied the +princess, and she unbound her golden hair. In +the morning sun it shone brilliantly and dazzled +the eyes of King Ironheart, who leaned from his +balcony to learn the cause of the sudden bright +light. He saw the princess standing at the gate +and commanded that she be brought before him.</p> + +<p>As she entered the throne room, though she +had not feared her father's wrath and was not +afraid to walk alone at midnight in the forest, +the princess was seized with a sudden fear that +left her almost speechless. It was not that +King Ironheart was hideous as monsters are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +often hideous, nor was he misshapen; but beneath +his smile there lurked such cruelty and +malice that she feared her cause was lost before +she had begun to plead it. The thought of +Godfrey lying in his dungeon stirred her, and +she asked leave of his majesty to sing. King +Ironheart was pleased with her request and +graciously ordered his chief harpist to play the +airs for Yvonne. At the end of the entertainment, +the king's servants brought handsome +robes and gifts of gold for the singer whom the +king mistook for some peasant maiden.</p> + +<p>The princess refused his gifts with dignity.</p> + +<p>"My lord," said she, "I may not receive gifts +from you, for my rank is equal to your own. I +am Yvonne, the Beggar Princess."</p> + +<p>"Then so much the better," replied the king +in a hearty tone. "I have long wished for a +princess whom my heart could love, and who +would not fall a-trembling at the very sight of +me. We shall be married at once, and I will +make war on your sisters this very day, to recover +the marriage portion which is yours by all +rights." He sent then for the coronation robes +and the crown of pearls, but again the princess<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +waved away the bearer of his gifts. With her +singing, courage had returned, and she now faced +the tyrant king bravely.</p> + +<p>"My lord," said she, "I have come hither +not to wed you, but to beg you to leave the +Westland Kingdom, for the people suffer greatly +because of your harsh rule; and to implore you +to free from his dungeon Prince Godfrey, whom +I love with all my heart."</p> + +<p>King Ironheart was amazed that she should +dare to oppose his wishes, but secretly he admired +her courage and fearless spirit and determined +to win her for himself. He promised her +great riches and vowed to make her the most +powerful queen in all the world, but Yvonne was +firm. When he saw it was useless to urge her, +King Ironheart grew angry.</p> + +<p>"And what powerful weapon or armed force +do you bring against me that I should thus do +your bidding, O Yvonne, Beggar Princess?" he +asked at length in sneering tones.</p> + +<p>"None but courage and a good heart, my lord, +and those can work miracles," replied the +princess.</p> + +<p>"Then," said King Ironheart, "if by miracles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +you hope to accomplish your quest, perform to +my liking the task I now set for you, and when +it is finished I shall leave this kingdom and free +Godfrey from his dungeon."</p> + +<p>He called a servant and directed him to bring +from the pantry a handful of corn, and when it +was brought he gave it to the princess.</p> + +<p>"When it is spring, plant these kernels, and +in harvest time, if from your planting I do not +gather corn to fill to the overflowing every +granary in the Westland Kingdom, I will enslave +you with the rest of this land, and Prince +Godfrey shall remain in his dungeon until death +come to free him. Now go," commanded King +Ironheart, "and return no more until your task +be done."</p> + +<p>The women who awaited the princess in the +market place sighed when they learned the +task King Ironheart had set. From one scant +handful of corn to fill every granary in the +Westland Kingdom! It was impossible. Even +Yvonne found it hard to keep a good heart with +the thought of the task before her. If she +failed, Prince Godfrey would remain forever +in his dungeon, and yet from one handful of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +corn how should she reap a harvest for a +nation?</p> + +<p>She tied the corn in a kerchief and carried it +next her heart lest some of the precious grains +should slip away. Each night she counted +them, and each night she rejoiced to find she had +still one hundred, the exact number King Ironheart +had given her. From her work at the +farm, the princess knew well the labor of the +fields and dairy, so she toiled the winter through +with the other women. One evening, as she +sat in the moonlight counting her precious +grains, she heard voices near by, but a hedge +hid the speakers.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the first voice sadly, "that one +hundred provinces, the fairest this side of Paradise, +should be so crushed beneath this cruel +King Ironheart! I would that he were driven +away, and that the good Prince Godfrey would +return to his own once again."</p> + +<p>"Have patience," answered a second voice +which was exceedingly sweet and gentle. +"Know that for the space of the winter months +the Princess Yvonne hath carried next her heart +one hundred grains of corn from which the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +cruel Ironheart hath commanded her to reap a +harvest for the nation. Now such is the power +of a good heart that when she hath planted +these grains, there will spring from them such a +harvest as never before was gathered in any +country. Then, according to his promise, King +Ironheart will free Prince Godfrey and quit the +Westland Kingdom forever."</p> + +<p>The voices ceased suddenly as they had begun, +but on looking over the hedge, the princess +could see no one. She treasured the words she +had heard, and with a song in her heart, waited +until the winter should be gone. When spring +was come at last, she traveled with it through +the Westland Kingdom and planted a single +grain in the center of each province, until her +kerchief was empty. It seemed that the land +itself was weary of the cruel Ironheart and +longed once more for peace and happiness, for +such a supply of corn was never known in the +Westland Kingdom. In autumn, when it was +gathered into the granaries, there was more +than they could hold, and the king's servants +built storehouses to contain the surplus. Then +the princess went to King Ironheart to tell him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +that her task was done. He had heard of the +wonder from his ministers and had waiting for +her another task. The first he now declared +had been but child's play, and he vowed to +free Prince Godfrey when she should accomplish +the second.</p> + +<p>"But, my lord, how can I believe you?" +cried the princess in dismay. "Even should I +accomplish the second task, when it is done will +you not set for me another and another, and so +on until the end of time?"</p> + +<p>"Never fear, Yvonne, Beggar Princess," replied +King Ironheart with his cruel smile. +"This time I will keep my word right gladly. +Though I set Godfrey free a thousand times, +he will never marry you, for should you accomplish +this second task, you will be the ugliest +woman in all the world. Think twice before +you set about it," he warned. "If you fail, +you will be enslaved for the rest of your life; +and if you succeed, you will be hideous.</p> + +<p>"Now you had best marry me and give up +this silly thing you call true love. It hath +brought you naught but tears and sorrow in the +past and will bring you no better in the future."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +He smiled and looked graciously at Yvonne, +but she was unmoved.</p> + +<p>"Because I loved Prince Godfrey, I defied +my father and became the Beggar Princess, +Yvonne," she answered scornfully, "and because +I loved Prince Godfrey, I came to his +land to beg his freedom of you who hold him in +cruel captivity. How then should I wed you? +Tell me what it is that you would have me do; +I care not whether I return from my task the +ugliest woman in all the world!"</p> + +<p>"Then listen well to what I say," replied the +king, "for I shall not tell you twice. My kingdom, +which lies just beyond the borders of the +Westland Kingdom, is naught but a great desert +plain. There are on this plain neither rivers +nor springs, but instead the wind blows the +sand in clouds above it all day long, and nothing +will grow in such a place.</p> + +<p>"Seek this plain, and when you have found +it, cause springs and rivers to water it, the +better to nourish a forest which you must plant +there to please me. In the heart of this forest +build for me a splendid palace, the outer walls +of whitest marble and the inner walls of purest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +gold. Thousands of red roses must climb to +the towers of the palace. When you have done +thus much, trouble not yourself to furnish it +for me, but return to me, and I promise that I +shall betake myself and my court to my own +kingdom and quit this land forever and ever. +I am weary of a people who smile never but +weep from sun to sun for their absent lord."</p> + +<p>"But Prince Godfrey; what of him?" asked +the princess.</p> + +<p>"Ah," laughed King Ironheart, "I shall tell +you also the secret charm that will cause his +chains to fall from him and his dungeon doors +to open wide." He bade the princess farewell, +and his smile was more cruel than she had yet +seen it. Nevertheless she departed from his +presence full of courage.</p> + +<p>The women were again waiting her in the +market place, and when they heard the second +task, they despaired of seeing again their rightful +lord and sadly resigned themselves to their +fate. They followed the princess to the gates +of the kingdom, and as she was about to depart, +an old wise woman gave her a bag, saying:</p> + +<p>"Within this bag are pine cones and acorns<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +of marvelous power. When you have caused +the first springs to water the desert plain, at +nightfall dip these into the waters, plant them +and by morning a forest of oak and pine will +spring from them."</p> + +<p>The princess took the bag and thanked the +wise woman. Strange to say, she was hopeful +about her task.</p> + +<p>"Who can tell?" thought she. "One task +that seemed at first impossible I have already +finished." So she sang cheerfully as she went +her way. In her mind she pictured the delight +and joy of Prince Godfrey when she should go +again to the mill in the forest to tell him that he +was free. For three days and three nights she +traveled, and on the morning of the fourth day +she reached the great desert plain. It was even +more desolate than King Ironheart had said. +Great stretches of burning hot sands spread +far and wide, and the sky, where it bent down +at the horizon, seemed copper-colored. The +blazing sun beat fiercely over all, and there was +neither bush nor tree for shade. When the sun +set, darkness came swiftly and without the +gray softening shades of twilight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>The princess sat sadly and watched the stars +come out. In the deep blue sky above the +desert they shone like gold.</p> + +<p>"Their happy gleaming seems to mock the +heart of one as sad as I," sighed she. Now that +she was upon the desert plain she wondered +how or where she was to begin King Ironheart's +task.</p> + +<p>"The gleaming stars mock no one," said a +voice close beside her, "but instead they shine +brightly to cheer all those who sorrow."</p> + +<p>The princess turned to see the speaker, but +she was alone on the plain.</p> + +<p>"I am the Spirit you heard by the hedge one +moonlight night," spoke the voice again. "Do +you remember?"</p> + +<p>"I remember well," replied Yvonne, "and +oh, Spirit, had the cruel Ironheart kept his +promise, Godfrey would even now be free of +his dungeon; but alas! The wicked king hath +set me still another task."</p> + +<p>"It is to help you with that task that I have +come," said the Spirit. "Each night when the +stars begin to shine in the heavens, expect me, +until your task be done; and now to begin as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +the king commanded, I must have the blue +from your eyes to make the rivers and lakes."</p> + +<p>"The blue from my eyes!" cried the princess +in dismay. "Truly the cruel Ironheart hath +said it rightly. I shall be the ugliest woman +alive! But it is to free my beloved Godfrey, +so take it, Spirit!" She felt a movement of the +air close beside her and an invisible hand was +drawn across her eyelids. At the same moment +she heard the singing of a brook near by and in +the distance the roaring of a waterfall.</p> + +<p>Remembering the wise woman's advice, +Yvonne dipped the acorns and pine cones in the +brook and planted them in the desert sand before +she slept. In the morning she awoke in a +wilderness of forest, and the plain, no longer +barren and desolate, was alive with birds that +sang, and wild deer that ran among the trees. +The princess sought the heart of this forest, and +there when night had come she awaited the +Spirit. When the stars began to shine, it came +as it had promised.</p> + +<p>"The outer walls of the palace must be of +whitest marble," said the Spirit, "and for that +I must have the whiteness of your neck and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +throat." Though the princess shuddered, she +consented, and the invisible hand was passed +over her neck and throat. No sooner had it +done so than in the open space among the trees +she could see the outlines of a great building +whose walls gleamed in the moonlight.</p> + +<p>"And now," continued the Spirit, "if you +have no wish to wander through this forest of +oak and pine, but long instead to have done +with your task, give me at once the gold of +your hair and the red from your lips, that I +may finish the inner walls of the palace and +cause thousands of red roses to climb to the +towers."</p> + +<p>"The sooner I finish my task, the sooner +will King Ironheart free Godfrey from his dungeon," +replied the princess. "While he lies in +chains, the red of my lips and the gold of my +hair bring me no pleasure; so take them quickly, +Spirit." The same hand was passed over her +hair and her lips and the Spirit spoke again.</p> + +<p>"Now look at the palace to see that it is all +King Ironheart desired," it said. "Then when +you are satisfied we shall start at once to tell +him that your task is done. I shall remain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +with you to cheer you until you go again to the +mill in the forest."</p> + +<p>Yvonne did as the Spirit bid. She found the +palace of great splendor, and myriads of red +roses blossomed over its white marble walls. +Within all was bright as day; the golden walls +glittered like a thousand suns.</p> + +<p>"Even the tyrant Ironheart could ask no +more," said she. "Lead the way, Spirit, and I +shall tell him that I have finished my task."</p> + +<p>Traveling by a short road known only to +the Spirit, the princess reached the Westland +Kingdom the next day, and was on her way to +the castle when the women went down to +the fields to work. They regarded Yvonne as +one they had never seen before, and she was +puzzled for the reason.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" cried the Spirit sadly. "You are +fair of face no longer, Yvonne. They do not +know that they have ever seen you before." +Then straight past the guards and into the +presence of King Ironheart the Spirit led her.</p> + +<p>King Ironheart cried out in fury as the +princess entered the throne room. "Old crone!" +he exclaimed. "How dare you to come into my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +presence? Do you not know I cannot abide +old age or ugliness? You shall be punished."</p> + +<p>"Old age," echoed the princess. "I am not +old. I am Yvonne, the Beggar Princess, whom +you bid turn the desert plain into a wilderness +of forest and build therein a splendid palace +for you."</p> + +<p>Then the cruel king laughed heartily. +"Never," cried he, "have I been so diverted. +Go at once to the mill in the forest where the +sun rises, O Yvonne, Beggar Princess, and at +the very sight of you the walls will fall. Tell +Prince Godfrey that I have departed his land +and have betaken myself and soldiers to the +splendid palace which you so kindly built for +me. However, let me first reward you with +this gift." Before the princess was aware, he +had flashed a mirror before her face.</p> + +<p>Yvonne gazed spell-bound as she beheld her +changed image.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried she, "you are more cruel than I +had even supposed. But for you I had never +known how hideous I have become. Truly I +am the ugliest woman in all the world!" She +wept and covered her face that she might look<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +no more in the mirror which King Ironheart +continued to hold before her gaze. The Spirit, +with pitying words, led her from the castle and +tried to comfort her; but at the sight of her +changed image, Yvonne's courage had fled. Even +when the glad shouts of the Westland people +told her that Ironheart was departing the kingdom, +she did not smile. She wept all the way +as she journeyed sadly to the forest where the +sun rose. She now longed only to free Godfrey +and then to die.</p> + +<p>"For," thought she, "though he be gallant +enough to wed me in pity for my hideous countenance, +I love him too dearly, and I could not +bear that all the world should look with loathing +on his queen."</p> + +<p>Late one night the princess entered the forest +where she had gone so often to seek the herds, +and at midnight she stood before the mill. It +was dark and dreary looking as ever, and no +sign nor sound of life could be seen about it. +Standing close to the window-like opening she +began to sing:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Prince Godfrey, my beloved,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I have come to set you free.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wicked Ironheart hath at last departed your land<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the Westland people await your return with all joy."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>She heard his voice from the dungeon beneath +and listened eagerly for his reply.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Yvonne," cried Prince Godfrey, "your +voice is sad when it should be glad. For even +now my chains have fallen from me and I am +hastening to the door of my prison unhindered." +The mill sank into the ground, and Yvonne +trembled with joy as she saw Prince Godfrey +coming toward her. He passed her without +a glance and then returned to ask eagerly:</p> + +<p>"Old crone, hast seen aught of a beautiful +princess who sang from this spot not a moment +since?"</p> + +<p>Yvonne, seeing that he knew her not, pointed +silently down a path, and away sped Godfrey. +Then away sped Yvonne down another path +and ran until she found a hollow tree. There +she crept in and laid her down to sleep. +"Though Godfrey search the whole night, he +can never find me here," said Yvonne to herself. +"Then in the morning I shall go to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +farmer's wife and herd cows once again. None +will be there to mock my ugly features, and +since my beloved prince is freed at last, I am +content." But though she spoke so to herself, +it would seem otherwise, for Yvonne wept +bitterly until at last she fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Prince Godfrey shouted her name +and searched the forest in vain. At last he +sat to rest and a voice beside him spoke.</p> + +<p>"You seek Yvonne, the Beggar Princess," +said the voice. "I can take you to her if you +so wish."</p> + +<p>"But I see no one!" cried Godfrey in amazement. +"Who is it that knows my secret +thoughts thus?"</p> + +<p>"I am the Spirit with which Yvonne set out +to rid your land of the tyrant Ironheart, and +with which she gave her beauty that you might +be freed of your prison. The old crone whom +you passed in this forest was none other than +Yvonne." Then the Spirit recounted the tale +of the trials and sufferings that Yvonne had +borne. Godfrey listened with dismay.</p> + +<p>"And now," concluded the Spirit, "fearing +that you would feel bound to wed her in spite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +of her changed face and hideous features, +Yvonne has hidden herself in the hollow of a +tree not far from this spot. Shall I lead you +thither, Godfrey, or will you journey to the +Westland Kingdom alone?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, Spirit!" cried Godfrey sadly, "I would +have died within my dungeon rather than gain +my freedom at such price. However, what is +done is done, and no regret or vain repining may +undo it. So lead me quickly, Spirit, that I may +tell Yvonne how I do honor and love her for her +noble heart and courage."</p> + +<p>Now the Spirit was pleased that Godfrey +should speak so. Then, because it was a good +spirit, and had no wish to see folk sad or unhappy, +it resolved that these two mortals had +suffered trials sufficient. So while the Spirit +guided Godfrey through the shadowy aisles of +dusky cedars, it caused the earth to tremble +mightily three times. Great crashes like those +of thunder accompanied each tremor; Yvonne +fled frightened from her hiding place and found +herself face to face with Godfrey. At the sight +of his beloved one, Godfrey knew no fears and +cried out in delight and joy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Yvonne! The Spirit did but try me," +he exclaimed. "Thou art thrice as lovely as +the dawn itself which now appears in yonder +sky!"</p> + +<p>But Yvonne would not heed his words, and +covered her face with her hands. Weeping and +lamenting, she begged him to leave her. "Pray +do not mock me, Godfrey," she cried, "I cannot +bear that you should see my face. Indeed +I am become the ugliest woman in all the world. +Let me go, as you love me. But for my fright +at the violent trembling of the earth I had +remained safe hidden until you had departed +for the Westland Kingdom."</p> + +<p>"Then but for the violent trembling of the +earth, I had lost you forever!" cried Godfrey. +"So I bless the one who sent the earthquake."</p> + +<p>"Then you bless me and I am free at last to +fly to paradise," said the Spirit. "I caused the +earth to tremble. I wished the tyrant Ironheart +to cumber it no more. At the first +tremor, in the forest of oak and pine, the ground +opened wide in a great chasm. At the second +tremor, the forest as well as the palace of King +Ironheart were swallowed up in this great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +chasm. At the third tremor, the chasm closed +itself and there now is nothing in that spot +but a hot arid desert plain where the wind +blows the sands about in clouds the whole day +long."</p> + +<p>"Then King Ironheart is no more?" asked +Prince Godfrey.</p> + +<p>"King Ironheart and all his wicked followers +lie deep beneath this arid desert plain of which +I tell," declared the Spirit. "And now, Yvonne, +to set your mind at rest gaze into the pool at +your feet."</p> + +<p>Yvonne gazed downward and there beheld +an image, so beautiful that she turned to see the +fair maiden whom she fancied had peeped over +her shoulder. The image of Godfrey smiling +beside her assured her at last that it was her +own face she saw, and Yvonne's joy knew no +bounds.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Spirit!" she cried. "You have done +many kind things for me, but this gift of beauty +thou hast given me surpasses all! I am the +happiest woman alive, for now I know I am +worthy to be Godfrey's queen."</p> + +<p>"I did but give you what was yours, Yvonne,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +returned the Spirit, "and now farewell, for soon +the sun will rise and I am off to paradise."</p> + +<p>"But, Spirit, will you not come with us to +the Westland Kingdom?" begged Yvonne. +"What shall we do without you to help us with +our trials? Pray stay."</p> + +<p>"Nay, Yvonne," replied the Spirit. "Continue +in the way you have begun; remember +always, courage and a good heart can work +miracles and there will be no need of me. Farewell!"</p> + +<p>"Farewell, farewell, Spirit!" called Godfrey +and Yvonne together. Then as the sun rose +from the clouds they heard an answering echo +of farewell. So singing for joy, hand in hand, +Prince Godfrey and Yvonne the Beggar Princess +followed the sun on his journey to the +Westland Kingdom, where they lived forever +after, and where to this very day 'tis said by +some that their descendants reign.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>SWEEP AND LITTLE SWEEP</h3> + + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p>Once upon a time, in days long ago, there +lived a Chimney Sweep and a little Crossing +Sweeper. This Chimney Sweep was called +"Sweep." He had a very black face, from the +soot he swept down tall chimneys, but he had +a kind heart and dearly loved this little Crossing +Sweeper, whose name was Little Sweep. Little +Sweep had a grimy, gray face from the ashes +she threw on her muddy crossings, and as for +her heart,—I suppose it was kind. Sweep +thought it kind, and Little Sweep vowed she +loved Sweep tenderly.</p> + +<p>Now Sweep was his own master and owned +a smart little donkey cart, all filled with brooms +and brushes; but Little Sweep had a dreadful +master, who beat her often and gave her scarcely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +enough to eat. Sweep lived in a snug little +garret, and Little Sweep lived in a cold bare +attic just across the way. The street was so +narrow that the two could chat quite easily +with one another. On holidays, when Sweep, +so black and sooty, and Little Sweep, so gray +and grimy, rode forth in the smart little donkey +cart, the people all stared and vowed it was +seldom one could see a couple so well matched.</p> + +<p>Every morning Little Sweep was out with +her broom, before the sun was up. Her master +would beat her if she dared lie late abed. Now +Sweep had no need to rise so early. His trade +of sweeping down tall chimneys did not begin +until later in the day. Nevertheless this +amiable fellow bought himself a clock with a +loud ringing bell, and when this clock rang out +at five each morning, he would throw bread +and buns to Little Sweep just over the way. +Little Sweep would eat the bread and buns most +eagerly, for she was always very hungry. +Sweep bought her red mittens to warm her +poor hands, and wept when he learned that her +cruel master had taken them from her and sold +them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah, Little Sweep," he would say, "when +my golden dollars fill the stocking, we shall be +married, and you will sweep crossings no longer. +Instead, you will sit at home in a neat little +cottage and brew me soups and make strong +soaps to wash my black face. Then on holidays +we shall both ride forth, all clean and shining."</p> + +<p>"Oh, please hurry then, and sweep ever so +many chimneys, that the stocking may very +soon fill with golden dollars!" Little Sweep +would reply. "My master grows crosser every +day, and I cannot bear my life."</p> + +<p>"But you forget me," answered Sweep. "Is +not my garret window just across from yours, +and do I not throw you bread and buns each +day?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, if it were not for your bread and +buns, I know that I would die," declared Little +Sweep. "My master does not give me food +enough to feed a robin."</p> + +<p>"And I would buy you more bread and buns," +sighed Sweep, "except that bread and buns cost +pennies, and if I spend too many pennies, the +stocking will never fill with golden dollars."</p> + +<p>Now in those olden days, as no doubt you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +know, kings and queens and noble folk stored +all their gold in great carved chests of oak and +walnut; but humble folk like Sweep hid their +savings in a stocking.</p> + +<p>One day when Sweep swept down the +chimneys of a rich baker, the rich baker gave +him seven tarts and a plum cake, for a present. +You may be sure that Little Sweep enjoyed a +feast that night. Her cruel master had gone +off for the day and had locked her in her room +with only bread and water. When Sweep +learned that, his kindly heart was touched; he +gave Little Sweep the whole plum cake and +kept but one tart for himself. That was the +manner of man Sweep was. Everything for +Little Sweep and nothing for himself. When +he swept tall chimneys in the shops of merchants, +Sweep would buy some bits of linen or +some ends of lace for Little Sweep. These +Little Sweep would fashion into curtains and +tidies for the little cottage of their dreams.</p> + +<p>Now it is a curious thing to tell, but nevertheless +quite true, that though Sweep's stocking +filled at last, and there were even two golden +dollars more than it could hold, still Little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +Sweep lived in her cold bare attic. And still +her master beat her. The reason of it all was +this. Sweep and Little Sweep could not agree +upon a cottage. Sweep wished a cottage with +many chimneys, in order that he might work at +his trade. Little Sweep, on the other hand, +who hated ashes and everything to do with +chimneys, wished for a house with all glass +doors and windows and no chimneys at all! +Plainly the cottage to suit these two could not +be found. Then Sweep decided on a sage plan.</p> + +<p>"Now do you be content with a house of +fewer glass doors and windows, Little Sweep," +said he, "and likewise I shall content myself +with fewer chimneys." So again they set out, +and this time soon found a cottage to please +them. Little Sweep swept the crossings before +it; Sweep swept down the chimneys. Then +at the doors and windows Little Sweep hung up +the curtains she had made, and pinned the +tidies to the backs of the chairs. Sweep bought +a ham and a bacon, and likewise a loaf of white +bread, and behold, they were ready to be +married!</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<img src="images/i007.jpg" width="509" height="800" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Hide me, Little Sweep," cried Red Cap. +"My brother is after me."—<i>Page 175.</i> +</span> +</div> + + +<p>Sweep was very happy because his darling +would sweep no crossings, and neither would her +cruel master beat her any more. Little Sweep +rejoiced because she did not like her trade; she +was sure that she would never again be hungry, +for Sweep would buy her all the bread and buns +she could desire. Sweep took the two extra +golden dollars and spent them both on finery +for Little Sweep. He bought her a little gray +wedding frock (to match her grimy, gray face, +you know), some blue cotton stockings, and a +red ribbon for her hair. For himself he bought +only a gay green feather to wear in his hat and +a bottle of oil to polish his holiday shoes. Always, +you will notice, he gave everything to +Little Sweep.</p> + +<p>Then the day before their wedding day, some +very strange things came to pass. Little Sweep +was standing at her crossing when a tiny little +man, dressed out in green and wearing a bright +red cap, flew through the air and perched upon +her broomstick.</p> + +<p>"Hide me, Little Sweep," cried Red Cap. +"My brother is after me."</p> + +<p>"Hide in my pocket," replied Little Sweep, +and no sooner had the first Red Cap crawled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +into her pocket than a second little creature, +larger than the first, flew through the air and +perched upon her broomstick.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Little Sweep," cried the second +little creature angrily, "have you seen my +brother flying north or east or south or west?"</p> + +<p>Now as Little Sweep had heard that Red +Caps often did great things for those who befriended +them, she stood silent.</p> + +<p>"Stupid!" cried the second little creature, +when she did not speak. Then off he flew as +suddenly as he had appeared, and out from +Little Sweep's pocket crawled the first Red Cap.</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" exclaimed Red Cap, brushing his tiny +beard and dusting his green satin suit. "How +comes it that your pocket is so very dusty?"</p> + +<p>"I must keep ashes in it for my trade of sweeping +crossings," replied Little Sweep. "I hate it."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps I might find you a better +trade," said Red Cap, gazing thoughtfully at +Little Sweep's gray grimy face and raggedy +garments. "We Red Caps, although we be +very little folk, be very powerful folk, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have heard that you grant wishes to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +poor folk sometimes," replied Little Sweep; +"is that true?"</p> + +<p>"It is," said Red Cap, nodding gravely. +"Make three wishes now, and I will grant them +for you."</p> + +<p>Now fairy lore is filled with tales of folk who +had three wishes given them, and, as you have +perhaps remarked, these folk have often wished +too hastily and consequently wished unwisely. +The old woman who wished for black puddings +is one, and the man who wished his mill to +always grind salt is another. And there are +scores and scores of these unwise folk that I +could name. But Little Sweep was not like +one of these. She leaned upon her broom and +paused some time in deepest thought. At last +she spoke.</p> + +<p>"First," said she, "I wish to be a beautiful +princess, dressed in robes of satin sewn with +gold, my face all clean and shining, and on my +head a coronet of pearls."</p> + +<p>"Second, I wish to dwell within a splendid +castle by the sea and have a hundred rooms all +filled full of gold and treasures, and a thousand +slaves to do my bidding.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Third, I wish my old master to sweep +crossings in my place. That is all."</p> + +<p>"It is enough!" cried Red Cap in amazement. +"To look at you, who would ever think you +would even know enough to wish such powerful +wishes! My store of magic power will be quite +gone when all you wish is done; but even so, +I have promised, and we Red Caps always keep +our promises. Go home and wait quietly."</p> + +<p>So Little Sweep flung down her broom, although +it was but two o'clock in the afternoon +and she had yet to work until sundown, unless +she wished a beating. Her old master was +seated in the kitchen, stirring up a bowl of +porridge, when she entered.</p> + +<p>"Lazy one! Idle one!" he cried out in +anger as she entered. "Is it thus you leave +your work at midday? But I have something +to make you lively." He seized the rope. But +for once in her life Little Sweep was not afraid.</p> + +<p>"You had better not," said she boldly. The +old master heeded her not, however, and raised +the rope to strike. Before it fell, he screamed +in amazement! Little Sweep's rags fell from +her suddenly, and she stood before him, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +beautiful princess robed in satin, and on her +haughty brow a coronet of pearls.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" cried the old master in dismay. +"Had I known you were a beautiful princess +in disguise, never, never would I have beaten +you; neither would I have starved you, you +may be sure."</p> + +<p>"That makes no difference now," replied the +haughty princess with spirit; "why did you +beat me at all?" As she spoke, the old master +screamed again, this time in wildest terror. +His garments changed suddenly to sweeper's +rags, and into his hands flew the very broom +that Little Sweep had just flung down! In +this poor guise the old master fell upon his +knees and humbly begged a penny of the haughty +princess. But again she would not heed him.</p> + +<p>"Out of my way, simpleton!" she exclaimed. +"Now go and sweep crossings in my place, and +may your new master beat you even as you beat +me!"</p> + +<p>With that the new master entered the kitchen, +and finding there the old master dressed in +sweeper's rags, sent him off with a cuff to go +about his work. A coach of pearl with silver<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +trimmings drew up before the door, and away +went the haughty princess to her castle by the +sea.</p> + +<p>There, as she had wished, she found a hundred +rooms filled full of gold and treasures, and likewise +found a thousand slaves to do her bidding. +But in the midst of all her glory and magnificence, +the beautiful princess was greatly +worried. Can you think what troubled her? +It was exactly this. She had not a name +suitable for her fine situation. "Little Sweep" +would never do for a beautiful princess, dwelling +in a splendid castle by the sea; also she was +vexed lest her thousand slaves should perchance +learn that she had once swept crossings, +and so despise her. While she sat thinking +thus, and greatly troubled, she heard soft +chimes sounding through the castle halls. +Presently a servant dressed in crimson plush +and golden lace entered and bowed low before +her.</p> + +<p>"Will the Princess Cendre be pleased to +dine?" asked the servant humbly, and so +it was that the haughty princess learned her +new name. From that time forth she quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +forgot that she had ever been called "Little +Sweep."</p> + +<p>"Lead the way, slave," she commanded +haughtily, "and the Princess Cendre will follow."</p> + +<p>Then down to a great dining hall she went. +Upon the walls were many mirrors, and the +table was laid with dishes of beaten gold. The +Princess Cendre (for we may never again call +her Little Sweep, unless we wish to make her +very angry) gazed with delight at her image +reflected in the mirrors and ate with greatest +satisfaction from the golden dishes. When at +last the meal was done, musicians played sweet +airs for her pleasure. Princess Cendre enjoyed +the music, but oh, much more did she enjoy +gazing about the splendid hall wherein she sat! +A thousand tapers made all as bright as day; +the walls were hung with silken tapestries, and +curtains made of lace as fine as cobwebs covered +all the windows. It was while she sat gazing +thus that Princess Cendre suddenly bethought +her of the little cottage Sweep had furnished +for her. Then it came also to her mind that +to-morrow was her wedding day.</p> + +<p>"Well, to be sure," thought she, "if all these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +wondrous things had never happened, I would +have married Sweep. But now that would +never do. Sweep could not expect it. His +black face would ill become my splendid castle +by the sea."</p> + +<p>The musicians then sang good-night songs, +and Princess Cendre sought her room once +more. There on a table she found several books +with her title, "Princess Cendre," stamped in +golden letters on the covers. She was more +than pleased to see how it was written; she +had been wondering how she would even manage +to spell this fine new name of hers. Before she +slept that night, she took pen and paper and +practiced writing "Princess Cendre" a hundred +times, that she might do it gracefully forever +after. (While she had been a wretched little +Crossing Sweeper, she had not learned much in +books, you know. So it was that she did not +know that "Princess Cendre" meant naught +but "Princess Sweep" in a foreign language.)</p> + + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>Now we must leave this selfish Princess +Cendre sweetly sleeping in her castle by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +sea and make our way back to Sweep's snug +little garret once again. On the night of this +eventful day Sweep returned home from his +labors very late. There was no light in the +attic just across the way, but he was quite +content. He thought, of course, his Little +Sweep was safely tucked up there. Before he +ate his bread and cheese, he tossed three sugar +cookies in at her window, and then set about +polishing his shoes and making himself extra +smart for the morrow. Sweep's candle burned +very late; but even so, when he lay down to +sleep at last, he dreamed such dreadful dreams +that he was glad when morning came. He +dreamed that he had lost his Little Sweep, and +that he married in her stead her broomstick +dressed up in the little gray wedding frock. +The clock with the loud ringing bell wakened +him at last, and Sweep dressed himself in all +his holiday attire. Then he called softly to +the attic just across the way.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, my Little Sweep," said he; "this +is your wedding day." He tossed in a bright +red apple, and presently a head was thrust forth +from the attic window opposite. Not Little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +Sweep's, as of course he had expected, but the +shocking, tousled head of the old master.</p> + +<p>"Ah, kind Sweep!" exclaimed the old master, +"I do most greatly thank thee for the sugar +cookies and the red apple."</p> + +<p>"But those sugar cookies and red apple were +not for you, old villain!" cried Sweep. "They +were for my darling Little Sweep. Give them +to her at once, I say."</p> + +<p>"Oh, pray, good Sweep! I cannot give the +sugar cookies or the red apple to Little Sweep, +because I have already eaten them myself; +besides, she is no longer here, you know," +replied the old master, and then began to tell +the tale of wonders he had seen the day before.</p> + +<p>Sweep listened in amazement. "Now if I +find you have not told me true," cried he, +"I will surely do you a mischief!" Then down +the stairs he sped, and over across the way. +There, as the old master had declared, Sweep +found the new master in the kitchen. The +new master was a pleasant youth, and of +amiable manners. He invited Sweep to stay +and eat breakfast with him, but Sweep, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +you may suppose, was of no mind to eat. Instead, +he begged for news of Little Sweep.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I have seen no such person here," +replied Master Jasper, "but this I did see, +which did most greatly astonish me. Yesterday, +as I came into this kitchen, a beautiful princess +robed in shining satin swept past me, and +stepping into a coach of pearl was whirled from +sight. That old villain yonder began to mumble +that this lovely princess had once been his +slave. Of course, I heeded him not, but fetched +him a sharp cuff on the ear and bade him go +about his work."</p> + +<p>Sweep now begged leave to look up in the +attic, if the new master would permit. Master +Jasper gave him leave and led the way himself. +Sweep followed him with lagging tread. He +now began to fear that this strange tale might +be true after all. Sadly he gazed about the +cold, bare little room. There in one corner he +saw the bright-colored pasteboard box that he +had made for Little Sweep's poor treasures, +and close by, on a peg, hung the little gray +wedding frock and the red ribbon he had bought +her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Alas!" mourned Sweep, "it is all my fault! +If my heart had not been thus so stubbornly +set upon a cottage with many chimneys, Little +Sweep and I would have been married long +since, and then, of course, all this magic would +never have happened." The honest fellow +wept bitter tears that left great tracks all down +his sooty face and made him look the very +picture of woe. Young Master Jasper felt +sorry for him. He too had lost his love, it +seemed, and so he sought to comfort Sweep as +best he could.</p> + +<p>"Come, Sweep!" cried Master Jasper when +he had heard. "All is not yet lost. If Little +Sweep loved you as dearly as you say, then she +will only love you ten times more, now that +she is a princess! The thing for you to do is +this. Go seek until you find the castle or the +palace wherein she dwells. Who knows—why, +even at this very moment she may be crying +her eyes out, because it is her wedding day, and +yet Sweep has not come!"</p> + +<p>These words cheered Sweep. His spirits rose, +and so he dried his tears at once and then set +out to seek the castle where his Little Sweep in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +the guise of some fair princess might be dwelling. +But though he sought the whole day through, he +sought in vain. When it was growing late, he +left the crowded city streets and ways and +found himself among the open fields and lanes. +Then by and by, at twilight time, Sweep walked +beside the borders of the sea. There he sat +down to rest, for he was very weary. He tossed +aside his cap and sighed to think how happy he +had been but last night, when he thrust the gay +green feather in it. Then he became aware of +a voice speaking to him.</p> + +<p>"I know where Little Sweep is dwelling," +said the voice, and peering down, Sweep saw +a tiny Red Cap perched upon his knee. (It +was the very Red Cap that had hidden in Little +Sweep's pocket the day before.) "If you wish, +I can take you there," continued Red Cap in +a friendly fashion.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Red Cap, if you only would!" cried +Sweep. "My heart is broken because I cannot +find my darling."</p> + +<p>"Then close your eyes and do not open them +until I say," commanded Red Cap.</p> + +<p>Sweep closed his eyes and felt himself a-sailing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +through the air. He sailed so fast that he had +scarcely time to draw a breath before he felt +himself set down upon the earth once more.</p> + +<p>"Now look about you," commanded Red +Cap.</p> + +<p>Sweep obeyed. He found himself within +a stately hall of marble; the walls were carved +with gold and coral, all in intricate designs, +and there, upon a throne of ivory set with +gleaming sapphires, was seated Princess Cendre. +Her flowing robes of shimmering white seemed +made of moonbeams sewn together, so soft and +luminous were they. Her hair, black as a +raven's wing, was bound with ropes of pearls +and diamonds. The Princess Cendre sat so still +that Sweep at first believed she was some lovely +carven image he beheld. There was little to +make one think of Little Sweep, save that when +the Princess Cendre spoke, her voice was Little +Sweep's.</p> + +<p>"What brings you hither, Sweep?" cried +Princess Cendre angrily, when she became +aware of him.</p> + +<p>Sweep was astonished, but answered mildly, +even so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah, Little Sweep," said he, "now who +would think that fine new raiment and a face +all clean and shining would make this wondrous +change in you? But perchance, if you had ever +worn the new gray frock I bought you for our +wedding, I would have known about your +beauty."</p> + +<p>"My name is Little Sweep no longer, but +Princess Cendre, I would have you know," she +answered coldly. "And what have I to do with +gray wedding frocks, I should like to know?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Little Sweep," began Sweep in great +surprise, but she interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Princess Cendre, if you please!" cried she.</p> + +<p>"Well, Princess Cendre, then," said Sweep. +"Have you forgot that this is our wedding day? +I thought perhaps you would be grieved as I +that we were parted, and so I came hither to +marry thee."</p> + +<p>"To marry me!" exclaimed the Princess +Cendre in astonishment. "With your black +face, do you suppose that I would marry you? +I am the Princess Cendre, you must not forget. +And Sweep, if this be your wedding day, as you +say it is, my advice to you is this: Marry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +the Crossing Sweeper of your choice, and if you +cannot find her, choose another. The city is +full of such poor wretches; there are two or +three at every corner."</p> + +<p>Sweep could scarcely believe that he had +heard aright. He had not dreamed his Little +Sweep would treat him thus. He was surprised +and pained to hear her use so many harsh words +all at once. He had not thought she knew any. +In the old days when she had swept crossings +for a penny she had always been a gentle little +creature.</p> + +<p>"Surely you are joking, just to try me," cried +poor Sweep. "If you had loved truly, as you +did often say, then though you did become +empress of all the world, you would love me +still. My face is no blacker to-day than it was +yesterday or the day before that. Do not treat +me thus coldly, Little Sweep, or you will break +my heart."</p> + +<p>"And if you call me by that name again, I will +have my servants cast you from my topmost +turret and break your head," replied the Princess +Cendre in a towering rage.</p> + +<p>"When I was naught but a Crossing Sweeper,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +beaten always and half starved, you gave me +bread and buns and bade me love you. To be +sure, I ate the bread and buns because I was +hungry. But now that I am become a princess +and no longer need your gifts, my heart bids me +to marry none but a prince. Moreover, the +prince whom I shall wed must be handsome and +charming, and his lands and wealth must be +greater than my lands and wealth, which are +very great indeed. So get you gone, now, +Sweep. You see how foolish was your errand."</p> + +<p>Poor Sweep stood gazing silently at the +haughty princess, so fair to see and yet so hard +of heart. Presently Red Cap bade him close his +eyes again. Sweep closed his eyes and found +himself a-sailing through the air, and once again +he found himself upon the borders of the sea.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Sweep, I am the cause of all thy misfortune," +said Red Cap sadly.</p> + +<p>"How so, my little friend?" asked Sweep.</p> + +<p>"It is this way," said Red Cap. "If I had +not vexed my brother yesterday, he would not +have chased me so fiercely, and I would never +have sought shelter in Little Sweep's pocket. +Now, if I had not sought shelter in Little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +Sweep's pocket, I would never have given her +three wishes, and she would never have become +the Princess Cendre, but would have married +you upon her wedding day."</p> + +<p>"But even so, Red Cap," sighed Sweep sadly, +"you are not at fault. Had Little Sweep +desired, she might have wished me to be something +high along with her. But though she +has been ungrateful and selfish, too, I love her +dearly and cannot bear to say a harsh word of +her."</p> + +<p>Red Cap was surprised at Sweep's gentle +speech. He had expected him to abuse Little +Sweep and say unkind things of the haughty +Princess Cendre. In all his dealings with +mortals (and he had many, for Red Cap was +nearly, if not quite, a thousand years of age), +he had noticed that mortals were prone to speak +ill of those who had injured them. "Without +doubt this black-faced Sweep is of noble heart," +thought Red Cap, "but I shall try him even +further."</p> + +<p>Aloud he spoke: "Now, Sweep," said Red +Cap, "I have no more magic of the sort that can +raise folk to wealth or high rank and noble<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +station; but I have still great power to destroy. +Say but a word, and in an instant I will destroy +the castle by the sea. The Princess Cendre in +a flash will turn to Little Sweep; the old master +will be back in the kitchen, and young Master +Jasper will be in his uncle's house once more. +What do you say to this plan?"</p> + +<p>"To that I must say no," said Sweep. "I +think it most unworthy."</p> + +<p>"Then, Sweep, since you will have none of my +plan, I must be off," said Red Cap. "But hark +you; although I have not magic power in great +store, if you desire aid at any time, make but +a simple wish, and I will instantly appear to help +you. Now farewell!" he cried, and darted off.</p> + + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>Poor Sweep! Now that his Little Sweep +had treated him so cruelly, he became the saddest +man that one could ever know. For days and +days he did nothing, but would sit with his head +in his hands, staring at the wall, thinking only +of his Little Sweep. Nothing could arouse him, +until at last Master Jasper stepped across the +way and scolded him roundly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, Sweep, this will not do!" cried Master +Jasper. "The bread and cakes and pies will +burn in the ovens all over the land, if the chimneys +be not neatly swept down. Then how the +housewives will scold, to be sure! Likewise will +the merchants say that Sweep is become a lazy +fellow, who sits idling all day long." Master +Jasper, it will be seen, was a sensible youth, as +well as amiable and agreeable.</p> + +<p>So once again Sweep set out with his smart +little donkey cart all filled with brooms and +brushes. He found many a housewife angry because +he had delayed her spring house-cleaning; +but when these angry housewives looked at +Sweep's black face, so sad and sorrowful, they +had not the heart to upbraid him. Now, strange +to say, though Sweep was thus so dull and disconsolate, +his trade of sweeping down tall chimneys +thrived as it never had thrived before. He +swept tall chimneys in the north of the kingdom, +and in the south also. Likewise he could often +be seen driving his smart little donkey cart to +the east or to the west to sweep tall chimneys +there. The fame of Sweep's skill began to grow; +he swept the chimneys in the halls of dukes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +and earls. Indeed, the king and queen commanded +Sweep to bring his brooms and brushes +and set to work about the palace. Their majesties, +it seemed, had been greatly troubled because +the royal kitchen chimney sent the smoke down +instead of up and made the royal cooks and +maidens sneeze and sputter all day long. So +skillfully did Sweep deal with this stubborn chimney +that ever afterward it sent the smoke sky-high, +as proper chimneys should. The royal +cooks and maidens sneezed and sputtered no +more, and their royal majesties were grateful +as could be. The king with his own hands +pinned a royal decoration on Sweep's sooty +sleeve. (But if I am to tell the truth, I must +tell too that from much soot and grime and dust +this royal decoration soon became as black as +Sweep's own sooty sleeve and could not be seen +unless one looked quite closely.)</p> + +<p>Now that his trade was thriving thus excellently +and he had no longer need to buy bread +and buns for Little Sweep, Sweep's pennies +grew to golden dollars very rapidly. The golden +dollars in their turn soon filled the second stocking +full, and even filled a third before Sweep was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +well aware of it. But even so, he took no pleasure +in his wealth; he sighed instead because he +had no longer Little Sweep to share it with him. +Then, lest he become a miser hoarding gold and +spending it not, Sweep at last bethought him +of a kindly plan. Throughout the kingdom +there were thousands and thousands of other +little Crossing Sweepers, two or three at every +corner waiting for a penny. These wretches, +Sweep knew well, were just as poor and miserable +as his own Little Sweep had been in days +gone by. According to his kindly plan, Sweep +now began to change his store of golden dollars +back to pennies once again. Then when +he met a little Crossing Sweeper standing +broom in hand, Sweep would fling a handful +of pennies to the little creature. Sometimes +he filled his donkey cart with bread and buns +and bright red apples to feed these little Crossing +Sweepers, in memory of his own lost Little +Sweep. Until at last from these good practices +Sweep became known as the friend of +all Crossing Sweepers, and was greatly loved +throughout the land.</p> + +<p>So seven years passed by. Meanwhile Sweep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +and Master Jasper continued friends. Sometimes +Sweep stayed to supper in Master Jasper's +comfortable kitchen; other times Sweep would +bid Master Jasper step across and smoke a pipe +or two with him. Then, one evening just at +dusk, Sweep returned from his labors and found +young Master Jasper packed and ready for a +journey.</p> + +<p>"Where are you off?" asked Sweep, and +pointed to a musket flung beside a knapsack.</p> + +<p>"Have you not heard the news?" cried Master +Jasper eagerly. "A whole year since, a savage +tribe invaded Yelvaland and carried off as +prisoner the young and lovely Empress Yelva. +Now as this lovely empress has neither father +nor husband nor brothers to protect her, and +her people cry for aid, all youths who long for +noble adventure are urged to fight beneath her +banners. Come join me, Sweep."</p> + +<p>But Sweep shook his head. "It is not suitable +that I should fight for Empress Yelva," +he replied. "My black face fits me for naught +but my trade of sweeping down tall chimneys."</p> + +<p>"But you are wrong, Sweep," argued Master +Jasper; "a black face in battle is no great mat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>ter. +Stout hearts and strong arms are sorely +needed. Come, and we shall march and fight +together as brothers."</p> + +<p>Again Sweep shook his head. "Indeed, good +Master Jasper," answered he, "I wish with all +my heart that I might fight with thee against +this savage tribe and aid the lovely Empress +Yelva; but alas! Who, save thee, would care +to march and fight beside a black-faced sweep?"</p> + +<p>"A thousand would! Two thousand would—Nay! +ten thousand would be glad to march +with thee, Sweep!" exclaimed a shrill small +voice beside them. On peering down, Sweep +beheld a tiny Red Cap perched upon the poker; +it was the same that had befriended him so long +ago.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Sweep!" continued Red Cap briskly, +"I took a fancy to you when we first met, seven +years ago, and had a notion then that I would +like to know you better. However, since in all +these years you have not wished a wish of me, I +could not have the joy of your acquaintance. +We Red Caps," he explained, "although we be +such powerful folk, cannot appear to mortals +without they wish for us, you know."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I had not known that," answered Sweep +politely, "or I would have wished some simple +thing just for the pleasure of a chat with thee. +But tell me, how is it that you thus appear before +me now?"</p> + +<p>"Have you so soon forgot your wish?" asked +Red Cap. "Did I not hear you wish a moment +since to fight beneath the banners of the Empress +Yelva? It is to grant that wish that I +now come. And mark, since in seven years +you have wished no wish of me, my magic now +has grown to power tremendous. Behold thine +army!"</p> + +<p>Sweep heard the measured tramp of many +feet, and looking through the gathering gloom, +beheld a line of forms that marched by, four and +four, and all were singing gayly as they went. +At first Sweep could not tell what manner of +soldiers these might be, but presently his eyes +became accustomed to the dusk, and he perceived +that this vast army was composed of +Crossing Sweepers armed with brooms instead +of muskets. Perched atop of every broomstick +he could see a tiny creature similar in looks and +dress to the Red Cap perched upon the poker.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My brothers and my cousins and likewise +all my friends and uncles have come to help +thee too, Sweep," said Red Cap. "And thou, +good Master Jasper, throw aside thy musket, +for in Sweep's army, muskets and such like will +be useless things."</p> + +<p>Good Master Jasper quickly did as Red Cap +had commanded and followed after Sweep. +Sweep shouldered his long brush and marched +proudly at the head of his strange army. And +thus began the journey into Yelvaland.</p> + +<p>Now of that journey there is not much to tell. +To be sure, whenever it was time for breakfast, +dinner, or supper, the Red Caps clapped their +hands and there appeared a thousand tables +spread with all good fare. When night fell, or +when storms arose, the Red Caps likewise caused +a city of ten thousand tents to spring up on the +plains. The Crossing Sweepers enjoyed the +whole march as a holiday. In all their wretched +lives before they had not had such good things to +eat. Their hollow cheeks grew plump and rosy +with the winds and sun, and Sweep's heart rejoiced +to see the happy changes that came upon +his friends. At night when they sat grouped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +about their campfires, the Crossing Sweepers +sang songs loud in praise of Sweep, whom they +declared had always been their friend and who +now was the cause of their pleasant holiday.</p> + +<p>Now while Sweep and his strange army were +marching thus toward Yelvaland, the people +there were plunged in deep despair. The savage +troops had given their soldiers so many +drubbings and such bitter punishments in battle +that they had quite lost heart. Judge then of +their great joy when they beheld a friendly force +marching to their aid. But as this horde drew +near, and they perceived what manner of army +it really was, their hearts sank again.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" sighed these discouraged folk of +Yelvaland, "of what avail against the savage +troops will be this ragged rabble that approaches?"</p> + +<p>But when Sweep's army entered into Yelvaland +and began to lay about them with their +broomsticks, that was another story. Aided +by the magic power of the Red Caps, each broomstick +fell with the force of fifty giant fists and +resounded loud as thunder on the mountain +tops. The savage troops stood their ground<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +but a short time and then fled in terror before +these strange and powerful weapons which they +had never seen before. (Savages do not sweep +their houses, you know, and so they knew nothing +of the useful broomstick.) Sweep, gallantly +leading his vast army, pursued the flying savages +and gave them battle all the while. So dextrously +and well did the little Crossing Sweepers +wield their brooms that on the third night, when +both armies had agreed to rest, these savage +troops rose up and stole off. Over the hills and +far away they fled and never again were heard +or seen from that day to this. The glorious +part of Sweep's great victory was that he had +not lost a single follower in battle!</p> + +<p>"And now to free the young and lovely Empress +Yelva," said Sweep to Red Cap, "and then +our work is done."</p> + +<p>"In all good time that too will be accomplished," +answered Red Cap. "The Empress +Yelva lies hidden deep down in a well of her own +tears. This well lies close beside the gates of +Yelvaland, and so you had best face your army +right about and march there."</p> + +<p>Then once again the Crossing Sweepers shoul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>dered +their brooms and marched gayly off to +Yelvaland. They reached the gates of the +kingdom just as the moon was sinking slowly +in the sky, and Sweep gave orders that they +wait until the dawn to enter.</p> + +<p>"Come with me, Sweep," whispered Red +Cap; "the time has come to seek the Empress +Yelva," and led him to a well within a grove of +trees.</p> + +<p>"Now, Sweep, attend me closely," warned +Red Cap, "for if you do not as I say, all will be +lost. When the moon's last ray will light the +waters of this well, plunge down into its depths +and bring the Empress Yelva up with you. +Lose not a second's time, for if the moonbeam +leave the well before you, the lovely Empress +Yelva must forever remain prisoner and yourself +likewise. Do you think that you are nimble +enough to try?"</p> + +<p>"I know not of my nimbleness, but I will try," +said Sweep, and plunged down headlong, as a +pale moonbeam shone down and silvered the +dark waters. Before the winking of an eye, +it seemed, he rose again, clasping the Empress +Yelva by the hand. The moonbeam tarried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +long enough for Sweep to see the lovely maiden +he had rescued. Her eyes like two blue violets +shone with kindliness, her golden hair fell rippling +like a cloak about her, and when she spoke +her voice was like the chime of silver bells.</p> + +<p>"Ah, sir!" exclaimed the lovely Empress +Yelva. "Although from your poor dress I +know that you are naught but a humble Sweep, +I honor you for your brave deed, and I shall +wed you."</p> + +<p>At this poor Sweep was covered with confusion. +He had not dreamed the lovely Empress +Yelva would so much as deign to thank +him; had not the haughty Princess Cendre +scorned him? But even so his heart still longed +for his first love, and knowing nothing better +to do, the honest fellow told his sad tale to the +empress, as they stood beside the well. She +listened closely all the while.</p> + +<p>"You have a noble heart, good Sweep," said +she when he had done, "and though you do not +choose to wed me, I bear you no malice, but +instead shall help you win your Little Sweep, +who has become the Princess Cendre."</p> + +<p>"Alas, your worship!" said Sweep sadly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +"that can never be. The Princess Cendre +would scorn my black face, no matter what my +fame or fortune."</p> + +<p>"Why as to that, Sweep," cried Red Cap, +"have no more concern. The Empress Yelva's +tears, it would seem, are magic, for since you +have plunged down the well, your face is become +clean and white as though 'twere scrubbed +a dozen times. You are now a handsome fellow."</p> + +<p>"And when I have rewarded you suitably, the +Princess Cendre will be more than glad to wed +you, rest assured, good Sweep," said Empress +Yelva. "But now the dawn is here, so let us +hasten that I may see my people and my own +dear Yelvaland once more."</p> + +<p>You may imagine that there was wild rejoicing +when Sweep and his vast strange army +knocked upon the gates of the kingdom and demanded +that they open wide for Empress Yelva. +A holiday that lasted seven days was set, and +there were games and sports and pleasures. +The people sang and danced upon the highways, +and oxen were roasted whole upon great bonfires. +Sweep and all the Crossing Sweepers +were praised and honored throughout the length<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +and breadth of Yelvaland, and all was merry as +could be.</p> + +<p>When this great holiday was passed, as holidays +all do, the business of the court began again. +The Empress Yelva ordered that a cottage and +a piece of ground, as well as two bags filled with +gold, be given to each Crossing Sweeper in reward +for their brave deeds. The Crossing +Sweepers were so delighted with their gifts that +they never again returned to their own land +but dwelled in Yelvaland for all their days. +The Red Caps likewise were so pleased with +lovely Empress Yelva and so admired her kind +heart and sense of gratitude that they decided +from that day to make their home among the +forests of her realm.</p> + +<p>"And now, Sweep," said the Empress Yelva, +when all this was done, "I have not forgot the +promise that I made thee." Accordingly she +made him prince. His title was Prince Sweepmore +and his domain of Sweepmost was twice +as great and twice as rich as was the domain of +haughty Princess Cendre. Sweep now was +dressed in crimson velvet. The Empress Yelva +from her treasure store gave him a golden sword<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +all set with rubies that flashed forth flame and +fire in the sun. A hundred horses laden all +with bags of gold and pearls were also given him, +as well as a like number of servants to attend +him. Then once again Sweep set forth to marry +Princess Cendre.</p> + +<p>"I grieve to see thee go, good Sweep," sighed +Empress Yelva as they parted, "but even so I +do admire thy faithful heart that bids thee go."</p> + +<p>"And I likewise do grieve to go; and I thank +thee for thy gifts," Sweep answered. He bade +young Master Jasper farewell too. Young Master +Jasper had fallen deep in love with a noble +maiden of the Empress Yelva's court and was +about to marry her.</p> + +<p>A royal messenger had been sent before to tell +these tidings to the Princess Cendre. Now, +strange to say, though the haughty Princess was +thus beautiful and wealthy, she was still unwed. +To be sure, many princes of small fortunes had +sought her hand, but of these the haughty creature +would have none. However, her selfish +ways had not pleased princes whom she had +desired to please, and so it was she sat alone +within her splendid castle by the sea. You may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +be sure that she rejoiced when she learned that +Sweep was now a prince with land and riches in +good store.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" she exclaimed, "his face is clean and +shining too, I hear, which is excellent. I could +not tolerate him otherwise; but as it is, I shall +delight to wed him." And so the haughty +princess sent for milliners and jewelers and for +bootmakers and dressmakers too. She bought +such silken hose and high-heeled shoes as must +have cost a fortune, and had her wedding dress +sewn thick with diamonds. When word was +brought that the new prince was come, she +donned this sparkling robe and received him +with great courtesy.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Sweep!" cried she, "although I know +full well that Empress Yelva hath given thee a +fine new title, I love to call thee by the dear old +name I used to know. Tell me of thy life since +last we parted. I have heard the Empress Yelva +desired to marry thee herself. The forward +creature! I blush for her that she should be +so bold. She must be very plain of face indeed +if she must go a-seeking for a husband."</p> + +<p>To these sharp words Sweep made reply:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +"Indeed, the Empress Yelva is so fair of face +that neither tongue nor pen can well describe +her beauty. Moreover, she is so kind of heart +and gentle of manner that though she were as +plain as plain, I still would think her lovely!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" returned the haughty Princess +Cendre and gazed with satisfaction in her mirror. +"However, it is not to chat about this forward +creature that you have come hither; it is to +wed me. Come, my bishops are in readiness; +my guests are waiting."</p> + +<p>Now, when Sweep at last beheld this haughty +Princess after seven years of longing, he found +a curious change had come upon him. He became +aware that he no longer loved her, and +that her haughty manner and her spiteful speech +distressed him. At last he saw her as she really +was, an ungrateful, cold-hearted creature who +thought of no one but herself. (Although +Sweep knew it not, the waters of the well had +wrought this change in him. You may be +sure that Red Cap was aware of it!) So +though his heart was grieved to give another +pain, Sweep determined to speak his mind +quite plainly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah, Princess Cendre," said he, "I fear me +you must tell your guests that you have changed +your mind and bid your bishops go. For since +my black face has been changed as though by +magic, it would seem my heart and mind by +magic were changed too. I know now that thou +art too cold and proud to be my princess; a princess +should delight to make folk happy, and that +I fear me you would never do."</p> + +<p>The Princess Cendre was enraged at this talk. +We well know that she had a dreadful temper +when it was aroused, and she chose to rouse it +now. She stormed and she scolded; she threatened +Sweep and she denounced him; but she +could not move his resolution.</p> + +<p>"You have come hither to wed me. This is +my wedding day, and you shall not ride away!" +cried she.</p> + +<p>"Nay, but I will," returned Sweep. "Once +before I came hither to wed thee on thy wedding +day, and once before I rode away. And so +farewell!"</p> + +<p>Away rode Sweep with all his train, and stopped +nor stayed until he reached the gates of Yelvaland. +A herald told the news of his approach,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +and Empress Yelva with her noble lords and +ladies went forth to welcome him. Sweep fell +upon his knee and humbly begged the lovely +maiden's hand in marriage, and Empress Yelva +smilingly consented.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, dear Sweep!" declared the Empress +Yelva, "I had a notion all the while that you +would soon return, and had our wedding feast +prepared!" (Now could it have been that the +Red Caps whispered of the magic change the well +of her own tears had caused?)</p> + +<p>Then straightway Sweep and Empress Yelva +were married. Young Master Jasper and the +noble maiden were married too; it was a double +wedding. Another feast was held, so bounteous +and so magnificent that all previous feasts +seemed poor and mean by comparison. Sports +and games were set, and prizes of great value +were awarded. Each nobleman received a bag +of diamonds as a gift, each noble lady a rope of +pearls. The common people, one and all, were +given each a bag of golden coins that they too +might make merry. The lords and dukes danced +on the highways with the dairymaids; the Empress +Yelva and her ladies trod minuets with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +shepherd lads and farmer boys, and all was +merry as a marriage feast should be.</p> + +<p>Sweep now was Emperor. He wore a robe +of purple bordered deep with ermine, and held +a sceptre clustered thick with diamonds when +he sat at court. With Empress Yelva by his +side, he now rode forth in a splendid chariot of +gold and royal enamels. But though he was +thus raised to high rank and great wealth, Sweep +was as amiable and as kind of heart as he had +been when he swept down tall chimneys for his +living and drove his donkey cart all filled with +brooms and brushes. To tell the truth, however, +Sweep had little opportunity to do kind +deeds. There were no poor folk to be found in +Yelvaland. The Empress Yelva governed her +realm too well and wisely for that. Now it +happened on one winter's day, when all the +ground was white, Sweep noticed that the frost +hung thick and glistened on the branches of the +firs and cedars.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me, my dear," said Sweep to +Empress Yelva, "that it would be most suitable +if we should build some houses for our little +friends, the Red Caps, who are dwelling in our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +forest. I fear me that they suffer greatly from +the cold."</p> + +<p>The Empress Yelva thought this plan most +excellent, and soon the royal carpenters and +joiners were set to making tiny little houses. +When these were made, the royal painters colored +them bright green with bright red roofs, which +was quite like the costume of the Red Caps, +if you will remark. The Empress Yelva and +her noble lords and ladies then hung these tiny +houses in the branches of the firs and cedars, +and they looked like so many brightly colored +bird-houses. When the Red Caps flew home +that night, they were delighted; they guessed +at once for whom these tiny houses were meant. +They praised Sweep and complimented him on +his kind heart and his thoughtful ways.</p> + +<p>"We Red Caps do many kind things for mortals," +they remarked most sagely to each other, +"but it is seldom mortals ever think to do kind +things for us. It is quite fitting that Sweep +should be Emperor; he hath a noble heart, as +sovereigns all should have."</p> + +<p>It happened then upon another day, while +still the snow lay thick upon the ground, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +Princess Cendre and her servants went a-riding +through this forest. The haughty princess +marked the tiny brightly colored houses, and +asked what they might be. A forester near by +made answer thus:</p> + +<p>"Now if your royal highness please," said +he, "Sweep, our good Emperor, hath caused +these to be made for our little friends, the Red +Caps. They suffered greatly with the cold, he +thought."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" exclaimed the Princess Cendre. +"Then your little friends, the Red Caps, must +suffer from the cold again, I fear. I have taken +a great fancy to these pretty toys and mean to +hang them in my own forests, that my goldfinches +and nightingales may dwell therein in +winter, instead of flying to the southland." +She then desired her servants to cut down the +tiny, brightly colored houses and rode off, little +thinking of the mischief she had done.</p> + +<p>That night, when the Red Caps flew home, +they were agitated and buzzed about like so +many angry little bees. They missed their tiny +comfortable houses and shivered with the cold. +They knew, of course, who had done this. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +knew all things—these Red Caps of the olden +days.</p> + +<p>"Now this haughty Princess Cendre is impossible!" +they declared most wrathfully. "She +cares not though we freeze to death; although +we have done noble things for her, she has quite +forgot them. She has been princess long +enough!" they cried. "Let her be Little Sweep +again," and they clapped their hands in anger.</p> + +<p>Then in that instant vanished the splendid +castle by the sea, and Princess Cendre's robes +of satin fell from her. She found herself dressed +out in sweeper's rags, and once more, broom in +hand, standing on her corner. The old master, +back within his comfortable kitchen again, was +disposed to treat her no better than he had before; +and so, for all her days, Little Sweep was forced +to dwell within her cold, bare attic. But there was +no kind Sweep to toss her bread and buns each +day nor buy her bright red apples or plum cake.</p> + +<p>Sweep, on the other hand, lived long and +happily as Emperor. He and the lovely Empress +Yelva, it is said, were blessed with twenty +children, all of whom inherited Sweep's noble +nature and his kindly heart.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>KINGS AND QUEENS AND PEASANT FOLK</h3> + + +<p>Once upon a time, in a splendid palace on +the top of a high hill, there dwelled a very old +king and his wife, who was likewise a very old +queen. Now this royal old couple lived in +great state and luxury. Their diamond crowns +glittered and sparkled like the sunbeams on a +summer sea; and their trailing velvet robes +were so thickly embroidered with gold that they +stood alone. This very old king and his wife, +the very old queen, had a coach of gold and glass +drawn by eight white horses in silver harness. +But with all this splendor and magnificence, +this royal old couple were not happy or contented. +Indeed they were called Queen Grumpy +and King Crosspatch, which names were most +suitable, for they were discontented and disagreeable +as the day was long.</p> + +<p>Queen Grumpy fretted because she had a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +hundred ladies-in-waiting. She said they bothered +her. King Crosspatch scolded and sulked +because Lord High Chancellor would not permit +him to smoke a briarwood pipe. They both +declared their diamond crowns gave them a +headache, and they were tired of their trailing +velvet robes. Queen Grumpy and King Crosspatch +refused to ride in their royal coach of +gold and glass. The eight white horses trotted +too swiftly and shook their old bones about. So +this very old king and this very old queen went +afoot; but even so, they complained and scolded +because all the roads about the palace led either +up a hill or down, and they puffed and panted +for breath before their walk was done.</p> + +<p>Now often and often at sunset, as they rested +on their way up the high hill, Queen Grumpy +and King Crosspatch looked with longing on a +certain snug little cottage down in the valley. +Within this snug little cottage lived a very old +man and his very old wife. They were peasants. +There were rows and rows of sunflowers and +hollyhocks before this snug little cottage and +behind, while to the left and right stretched +green pastures thick with blackberry vines.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear!" King Crosspatch would sigh, +as he watched the old man at work. "How +pleasant it must be to live in such a snug little +cottage. That old man goes every evening to +fetch the cows. How I wish I were that old +man!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, yes!" Queen Grumpy would reply +with an answering sigh. "How I wish I were +that old woman. She goes about from morning +until night, so brisk and blithe. She can bake +bread and churn butter herself; she is not +bothered with a hundred ladies-in-waiting as +I am."</p> + +<p>Now most remarkable to tell, often as Queen +Grumpy and King Crosspatch gazed thus longingly +at the little cottage so snug, and wished +themselves the old man and the old woman, the +old man and the old woman gazed just as longingly +on the splendid palace and wished themselves +King Crosspatch and Queen Grumpy. +For if you will believe me, this old man and his +old wife were a most discontented couple too!</p> + +<p>So it happened one evening, when Queen +Grumpy and King Crosspatch were walking +down the hill, they met the old man and his old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +wife climbing up. So while they sat to rest on +a stone stile, these four discontented old folk +fell to talking.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed King Crosspatch to the old +man, "I have often watched you fetch the cows +home from pasture in the evening, and what +fun it seems, to be sure! Then you often go +a-berrying too. You should be very happy."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, Your Royal Highness, I am not!" +replied the old man with bitter feeling. "I am +tired of fetching cows, and I would like to sit +still all day with folded hands. I often wish +I were you. As for going a-berrying; I go only +because I am so fond of blackberry pie. There's +one for my supper to-night," he added, and +smacked his lips with relish. And then, oh, +how King Crosspatch envied the old man! +King Crosspatch had longed to eat blackberry +pie all his life, but the court physician would not +permit such ordinary food on the royal table. +So the poor old king had never had even a taste +of a blackberry pie.</p> + +<p>"And you too," said Queen Grumpy to the +old woman, "you should be very happy. You +loop your dress above your red flannel petticoat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +and trot round all day, baking bread and churning +butter. You have nothing ever to vex or +worry you."</p> + +<p>"Nothing to vex or worry me!" repeated the +old woman in astonishment. "Why, I am +vexed that I must churn my butter, and at this +very minute I am worried lest the loaves I left +baking in the oven may burn before I am home +again. And indeed, Your Royal Highness, I loop +my dress above my red flannel petticoat only +because I must. A hundred times a day I wish +I were you and could wear trailing velvet robes +sewn thick with gold!"</p> + +<p>Now as these four discontented old folk +talked on, a curious plan popped into their +heads. They decided to change places. Accordingly, +Queen Grumpy took the old woman's +dress and looped it above the red flannel petticoat; +the old woman buttoned herself into +Queen Grumpy's trailing velvet robes. King +Crosspatch put on the old man's battered hat; +the old man set the sparkling diamond crown +above his sunburned brow, and all was done. +Then singing and laughing, these four old folk +went on their separate ways. All four felt as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>sured +that they were really walking on the road +to happiness at last, and all were very pleased +and jolly in consequence.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, there's no place like a palace,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A palace, a palace!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, there's no place like a palace<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Upon a hill so high!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>sang the old man and his old wife as they +climbed up the steep hill.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, there's no place like a cottage,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A cottage, a cottage!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, there's no place like a cottage<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Down in a valley green!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>sang King Crosspatch and Queen Grumpy, and +they went trudging down. Then when they +reached the snug little cottage, how pleased they +were to be sure! Everything was so cozy and +comfortable to behold. The kettle on the +hearth was boiling, and the loaves in the oven +were browning; the bird in the cage was singing, +and the cat on the cushion was purring. +The table was laid with all manner of good +things for tea.</p> + +<p>"The blackberry pie! The blackberry pie! +My dear, let's have it at once!" cried King<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +Crosspatch, and went searching through cupboard +and larder to find it.</p> + +<p>"Wait just a moment until I have made the +tea," answered Queen Grumpy, busily bustling +about the kitchen. She made the tea, and he +found the blackberry pie, and then they both +sat down to supper. There were ever and ever +so many good things on the table. There were +cold roast fowls and quince preserves; there were +strawberry tarts and plum as well; there was +fresh new butter, and there was thick sweet +cream. Queen Grumpy and King Crosspatch +ate them all and then began to think about +dessert!</p> + +<p>"Now would you mind, my dear, if I should +eat all the blackberry pie myself?" asked King +Crosspatch of Queen Grumpy. "You see, I +have only read about blackberry pie in books +and have never tasted one in all my life before."</p> + +<p>"Not at all, my dear!" replied Queen Grumpy +most amiably. "I intend to eat all this ginger +cake which I have never seen or tasted before." +And so this royal old couple continued to eat +until both larder and cupboard were bare.</p> + +<p>"How fine this little cottage is and how very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +snug!" said Queen Grumpy, seating herself in +a rocker before the blazing logs. She began to +knit on a gray wool sock she found. "I think +we shall be very happy here."</p> + +<p>"And I think so too," agreed King Crosspatch. +"We have eaten a fine supper in a very +few minutes and without any fuss of footmen +or ladies-in-waiting either." He found a briarwood +pipe and began to doze peacefully in deep +contentment. Queen Grumpy knitted busily +until the logs burned low, when she began to +nod and doze also. Then they both went to +bed.</p> + +<p>But the beds in the snug little cottage were +not of the excellent quality of its cold roasted +fowls and new butter and jam. The mattresses +were rough affairs. They were stuffed here +with corn husks and there with straw and yet +again with goose feathers, which pricked Queen +Grumpy and King Crosspatch like so many +pins. On these rough husky beds the royal old +couple tossed restlessly until morning. They +vowed they did not sleep a wink. (Perhaps +they had eaten too much blackberry pie and +ginger cake; what do you think about it?)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +When it was daylight at last, King Crosspatch +clapped his hands to call his servants to attend.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear!" said Queen Grumpy, "have +you forgotten that we are no longer royal folk +but simple cottagers instead?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I had quite forgotten all about it," +replied King Crosspatch. "Well, I am glad +we are," and he began to dress.</p> + +<p>Together they set about making breakfast; +but again the breakfast proved a different matter +from supper. You will remember that they +had eaten everything in the cupboard and +larder the night before. There was no milk, +for they had forgotten to milk the cow, and +neither were there eggs. They had neglected +to search the nests. Moreover, the wood box +was empty, and the fire was out.</p> + +<p>"Now do you go out and chop some wood for +the fire, my dear," said Queen Grumpy. "I +shall milk the cow. I have always liked to look +at pictures of milkmaids." She took the pail +on her arm and went in search of the three-legged +stool. Then she seated herself beside +Bossy-Cow and began to milk. But sad to +tell, Bossy-Cow, who herself was rather dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>agreeable, +waited until the pail was nearly +filled, and then she gave a sudden kick. Such a +vicious kick it was, too! It upset the milk-pail, +three-legged stool, Queen Grumpy and all, +and frightened the poor old queen half out of +her wits. She began to scream so loudly that +she quite frightened King Crosspatch, and the +hatchet slipped and chopped a bit of his little +finger.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh! Oh!" wailed King Crosspatch at +the very top of his voice. "I think this hatchet +is bewitched! Oh! Oh! Oh!" he wept, holding +up his little finger. (It was not much of a +cut; just a little scratch; but he was a great +crosspatch, you know.) "Oh, what shall I do? +What shall I do?" he wailed. "With this terrible +cut on my little finger, I can't do anything +at all!"</p> + +<p>"There now, there now," petted Queen +Grumpy soothingly. "Don't chop any more +wood. There are still a few drops of milk left +in my pail, and we shall drink that and eat +bread for our breakfast." She led her weeping +husband within the snug little cottage, but +when she looked in the oven she found another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +disappointment. Queen Grumpy had forgotten +to take the loaves out of the oven the night +before, and they were burned to a crisp.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this plagued cottage!" exclaimed Queen +Grumpy, thoroughly vexed. "Everything goes +wrong here. I wish I were back in my own +palace once more! I would never sigh again to +leave it."</p> + +<p>"Neither would I," agreed King Crosspatch, +drying his tears suddenly. "Let's go back!"</p> + +<p>They made up their minds in an instant, and +slamming the door of the snug little cottage, +they began to climb the steep hill to their +splendid palace. Every step of the way they +were in a perfect torment of fear lest the old +man and the old woman would refuse to change +places again.</p> + +<p>"That old woman will never want to give +me my trailing velvet robes," said Queen +Grumpy, as they sat to rest on the stone +stile.</p> + +<p>"And I have been thinking that the old man +will fight to keep my diamond crown," said +King Crosspatch anxiously. But at that very +minute they heard voices, and behold! around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +the turn in the road came the old man and old +woman, hurrying as though an army were after +them. The old man was thumping his stick, +and the old woman was making angry gestures +with her hands; and both the old man +and the old woman looked very cross and ill-humored.</p> + +<p>"Ah, here you are!" exclaimed the old man, +stopping short before the stone stile. "Now +give me my hat and take back your hateful +crown without any further nonsense! I could +not sleep a wink last night, because it was so +heavy on my head. Such a hateful palace too! +I never saw the like! I could not smoke my +briarwood pipe which I brought along for +company, and this morning two villains were +like to drown me in a pool before I was fully +awake."</p> + +<p>"They did not try to drown you," replied +King Crosspatch haughtily. "That pool was a +bath. Here is your hat; give me my crown."</p> + +<p>"You may call it a bath or not, just as you +choose," declared the old man warmly, "but +let those two villains drown you instead of me, +is what I say! I was never so disappointed in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +all my life as I was with your palace. The +royal throne was hard as stone; the royal +beds were soft as dough; everything was +wrong."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Queen Grumpy and the old woman +were having a time of it.</p> + +<p>"Your cow has no manners," complained +Queen Grumpy. "She kicked me, and she +spilled the milk. I should behead her if she +were mine."</p> + +<p>"Would you, indeed?" asked the old woman +scornfully, "and drink water and eat bread +without butter all the rest of your life, I suppose? +Let me tell you, Your Royal Highness, +that your servants are lazy and good-for-nothing! +I saw dust on the tops of all the doors +and windows, and the silver flagon was not +polished as brightly as my old pewter pots. +Your royal cooks make griddlecakes heavy as +lead; you had best behead them instead of my +good Bossy-Cow." Then she added, "Did you +feed my bird and give him water?"</p> + +<p>"I could hardly feed myself in that awkward +cottage of yours!" retorted Queen Grumpy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my poor bird!" exclaimed the old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +woman. "Here, hurry and give me back my +own dress that I may loop it above my red +flannel petticoat and be comfortable once more. +I suppose you took the bread out of the oven +in time—did you?"</p> + +<p>"I forgot it, and it burned," sulkily replied +Queen Grumpy, buttoning herself into her +trailing velvet robes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what stupid folk are kings and queens!" +cried the old woman in a passion. "Come +along, husband," she called, and down the hill +they went.</p> + +<p>"And what stupid folk are cottagers!" called +King Crosspatch after them. "Come along, +wife," said he, and up the hill they went.</p> + +<p>And so these four old folk again went on their +separate ways. All four were sure that they +were walking on the road to happiness at last, +and so all were very jolly and smiling in consequence.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, there's no place like home!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, there's no place like home!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>sang the old man and his old wife, as they +went trudging down to the little cottage so +snug.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, there's no place like home!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, there's no place like home!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>sang Queen Grumpy and King Crosspatch, as +they went climbing to their splendid palace on +the top of a high hill; and there we will bid +them all adieu!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE GOOSE GIRL AND THE BLUE GANDER</h3> + + +<p>Once upon a time there was a goose girl who +tended her flock in a green meadow. The +meadow was dotted with forget-me-nots and +yellow buttercups, and the sun shone down on +it; her geese were fine blue geese and uncommonly +knowing. She should have been the +happiest goose girl in all the world, but she was +not. She thought not of the beautiful meadow +nor of her geese that were a pleasure to tend, +for they were so wise and always did her bidding; +but instead this goose girl wept every day because +she longed to marry a certain lord who +lived in a gray stone castle at the top of a high +hill. All day long she sat looking at this castle, +and her eyes could see nothing else for admiration +of it. She dreamed dreams a hundred +times a day, in which she married the lord, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +was cross with her geese because she had to +tend them.</p> + +<p>Now when the lord of the castle went riding +by the green meadow, this silly goose girl would +run after the carriage, shouting his name and +throwing bouquets of wild flowers to him. +But alas! The carriage always whirled by so +quickly that the lord heard her not, and the +bouquets of wild flowers fell in the dust by the +roadside. Each time the goose girl wept and +threw sticks at her geese because she had been +disappointed, until they fled to shelter.</p> + +<p>"It is the stupid coachman's fault," said the +goose girl to herself one day, after she had +chased the carriage for a long distance. "My +lord is within, of course, and cannot hear me, +for the windows of glass shut out all sound." +She knew that maidens often wrote letters +when they were unable to obtain speech with +those whom they fancied, and she resolved to +write to the lord of the gray stone castle.</p> + +<p>She spent her year's earnings on some pink +paper with red hearts lovingly entwined on the +border, and that her letter might be colorful +and splendid, she bought also some purple ink.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +Then the goose girl sat before a flat rock and +strove to compose such a letter to the lord that +he would stop his carriage the next time he rode +by the meadow.</p> + +<p>"The first day he will ask me to ride with +him, and the second day he will ask me to wed +him," thought the goose girl, as she sat gazing +at the gray stone castle. "The third day I +shall ride with him a bride to yonder castle, +where I shall dwell forevermore and have +naught to do with geese but to eat them +roasted!"</p> + +<p>Her geese, thinking perhaps she had spread +on the rock something fine to eat, crowded +about her, but she drove them off. They +bothered her, and she wished to give her mind +to the letter. One large blue gander remained +near, in spite of her angry motions and cross +words. The goose girl was about to begin her +letter when she remembered that she had +brought no pen.</p> + +<p>"Ah me! What shall I do?" she cried. "I +shall have no more earnings for another year, +and by that time my lord may be wed to some +fair maiden, and I will surely die of a broken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +heart!" She covered her face and wept aloud +at her misfortune. Suddenly she began to +laugh instead.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that I should be so foolish!" she exclaimed. +"Here waiting my hand I have a +hundred pens." She seized the large blue +gander and plucked a fine quill from under his +wing, but no sooner had she done so than the +bird began to speak.</p> + +<p>"That is not right," declared the gander. +"You have taken what belongs not to you +but to me. Put back my quill, or I shall be +vexed."</p> + +<p>"And who is there to care?" replied the +goose girl rudely. "When I have written a +letter to my lord of the gray stone castle, you +shall have your quill and not before."</p> + +<p>She began to speak her thoughts aloud, as +goose girls often do, and started once more to +compose the letter. "To my dearest lord of +the gray stone castle, whom I love with all my +heart, but who whirls past me as I sit tending +geese in the meadow," she planned to write, and +dipped the quill in the purple ink. To her dismay +the pen wrote not at all as she planned,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +but seemed possessed of a spirit to go of itself. +It wrote with a remarkable flourish:</p> + +<p>"Dear gander!"</p> + +<p>But the goose girl pulled it from the paper +before it could write more.</p> + +<p>"What manner of pen is this?" she cried in +vexation.</p> + +<p>"It is not your quill," said the blue gander. +"I am its master, and it will write letters to +none but me."</p> + +<p>"Well, upon my word!" declared the goose +girl. "You are the most forward creature I +have yet seen, and this is what you will get." +She took a long branch and beat the gander +until he hid from sight in the bushes. Then +again she strove to write her letter, but again +the pen was possessed of a spirit of mischief.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" wept the goose girl, "I have +spent all my earnings on splendid pink paper +with red hearts lovingly entwined on the border, +and purple ink I bought also that my letter +might be fine as a valentine. But, alas! I am +bothered with a stubborn quill that will not +write as I think. If I write not my letter to my +lord, he will never know of me. Then he will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +never marry me, and I shall dwell forever in my +wretched hut instead of the gray stone castle, +as I have desired."</p> + +<p>"You weep because you cannot marry the +lord who lives in yonder gray stone castle," +said the blue gander, poking his long neck from +the bushes where he had fled. "Let me give +you some advice. A wretched hut is not a +pleasant place, 'tis true, but your manners suit +it better than the castle of your dreams."</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, forward bird!" screamed +the goose girl in anger. She seized a clod of +earth and hurled it with such force that had +it struck the gander, he would have fallen flat +in his tracks; but luck was with him, and he +dodged.</p> + +<p>The next day and the next day after that the +goose girl sat down to write before the flat rock +in the meadow; but the quill was stubborn as +ever. She spoiled all but one sheet of the +precious pink paper. Then once more the blue +gander spoke to the goose girl.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<img src="images/i008.jpg" width="509" height="800" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">So at last, after much thought, the goose girl +did as the blue gander bade.—<i>Page 237.</i> +</span> +</div> + + + +<p>"You have spoiled many sheets of your +precious pink paper," said the gander, nodding +his head and cocking his eye in the wisest sort +of way. "Why will you not let the quill write +a letter to me,—if only to see what will happen?"</p> + +<p>"But then I shall have no more paper on +which to write to my lord, and I shall dwell +forever in my wretched hut instead of the castle +of my dreams," answered the goose girl.</p> + +<p>"Mayhap there might be a betwixt and between," +remarked the gander sagely. "Write +the letter and hand it to me with a bow."</p> + +<p>So at last, after much thought, the goose +girl did as the blue gander bade. She dipped +the quill in the purple ink, and immediately it +touched the paper it began to write such a +marvelous letter as never before was seen or +read! It called the blue gander all manner of +tender names and vowed he was handsome and +knowing. At the end, this remarkable quill +wrote the goose girl's name with a flourish so +fine that she was pleased in spite of herself. +She folded the letter and handed it to the +gander with a bow.</p> + +<p>No sooner had she done this than the blue +gander spread his wings and flew away in the +clouds, and in his place stood a handsome<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +shepherd lad dressed in blue corduroys. He +had a hundred sheep in the fold that followed +him, and in his hand a bag of silver.</p> + +<p>"Dearest Goose Girl, wilt be mine?" asked +he. "Yonder is my cottage, where I am sure +we shall be very happy."</p> + +<p>The goose girl was amazed at the change. +But so handsome was this young shepherd lad, +and so winning of speech and manner, that all +thoughts of the gray stone castle and the lord +tumbled out of her head. She gazed with delight +at the little cottage to which the shepherd +lad pointed. Blue smoke was curling from its +chimney, and a bluebird was singing in a cage +beside the kitchen door.</p> + +<p>"We shall be married at once, shepherd lad +of my heart," she answered him sweetly, "and +I shall make you griddlecakes for your supper."</p> + +<p>So the goose girl and the shepherd were married +and went to live in the little cottage. Indeed, +for all that I know, there they may be +living to this day, for I have met no one who +has ever told me of the death of either.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE BROWN MAN</h3> + + +<p>Once upon a time, there lived at the top of a +very tall tree a little magic sprite. Now this +magic sprite was called the Little Brown Man, +and the tree was called the Tall Pine Tree. The +Little Brown Man was so very small that had +you ever seen him skipping and hopping about +in his tree, you would have thought him some +lively little brown squirrel. The Little Brown +Man was always busy as a bee and twice as +cheerful. He spent his days sweeping away +the withered pine needles so that fresh new +green needles might grow. With his cunning +hands and powers of magic he mended broken +places in the bark with healing herbs. At +night the Little Brown Man rested from his +labors. He curled himself up in the topmost +boughs of the Tall Pine Tree, and the tree would +rock him gently and sing him songs about the sea.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus the Little Brown Man, scarce bigger +than my hand, and the Tall Pine Tree so high +lived on in peace and happiness until an evil +time befell them. It happened on a black +winter's night, when the Storm Wind in a rage +went crashing through the forest. Lashing the +heavy branches of the tallest trees, he tore them +loose and flung them to the ground as though +they had been but so many twigs. Uprooting +tiny trees and saplings by the score, the Storm +Wind tore his way along until he reached the +Tall Pine Tree. There he saw the Little Brown +Man asleep in its topmost boughs.</p> + +<p>"Ha, Little Brown Man!" laughed the Storm +Wind wickedly. "At last I've caught you +unaware, and I will do you mischief!" So saying, +he blew a furious blast and flung the Little +Brown Man to the ground beneath. Then, in +a wailing voice, the Storm Wind wove a spell of +deep enchantment round the Little Brown Man, +singing thus:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Flaming eye and hand like claw,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You'll dwell at your tree top no more;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No child at your approach will stay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Your face will scare them all away.<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span><span class="i0">But 'til some child bids you good-day,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You'll dwell down on the ground so low,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And to the Tall Pine cannot go!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And then the Storm Wind blew away.</p> + +<p>For a long time, the Little Brown Man lay +still as one dead, for the fall had hurt him +cruelly. The Tall Pine Tree wept bitterly at +the little sprite's misfortune, and by and by +its tears, falling like rain, wakened the Little +Brown Man. But alas! The Storm Wind's +wicked spell had changed him, and the Little +Brown Man with flaming eye and clawlike +hand was very fierce and terrible to look +upon.</p> + +<p>"Oh, tell me, my Pine Tree!" cried the Little +Brown Man in dismay, "how am I changed +thus? My hands are hands no longer, but +claws like those of wild beasts; my eye flames +redder than the wicked wolf's! I cannot hop +or skip; indeed, I scarce can hobble, so bent +and twisted have I grown."</p> + +<p>"Alas, my Little Brown Man!" the Tall Pine +Tree replied. "While you did sleep, the Storm +Wind tore you from my topmost bough, and +wove this wicked spell around you. Until some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +child will speak to you a kindly word, you must +remain thus bound by this evil spell."</p> + +<p>In spite of his twisted back, the Little Brown +Man tried again and again to climb into the Tall +Pine Tree, but all his efforts were in vain. +Wearied and tired out at last, he made himself +a nest among the withered pine needles and +began to wait for the magic word to break the +Storm Wind's evil spell.</p> + +<p>At last the winter passed. The snow began +to melt; the brook, freed of its coat of ice, began +to sing and chatter as it splashed along; +the birds built nests; the sun shone down; the +pussy willows, gray and brown, began to bud +and bloom. Then boys and girls came out to +play beneath the trees and gather buttercups +and bluebells. The Little Brown Man's heart +rejoiced, for he was sure the evil spell that bound +him soon would end. Whenever happy children +played beside the Tall Pine Tree, he would +hobble toward them, saying:</p> + +<p>"Good day to you! Good day to you, my +children!"</p> + +<p>But alas! The boys and girls were frightened +of his clawlike hands and flaming eye, and so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +they screamed and ran away. Thus springtime +went, and summer followed after; the maple +leaves flamed red and gold in autumn, and +winter came again to wrap the forest in its +cloak of snowy white. Still the magic words +to break the Storm Wind's spell remained unspoken. +Thus years and years rolled on. In +winter now the Storm Wind tore the branches +of the Tall Pine Tree and flung them to the +ground. The Little Brown Man, with his +cunning hands and powers of magic, could no +longer bind them fast. The Tall Pine Tree, +once so green, grew old and rusty looking, +because the Little Brown Man could no longer +sweep the withered needles from its boughs. +The Little Brown Man, down upon the ground, +was in despair. It seemed the wicked spell +would never be broken. No children ever +lingered near the Tall Pine Tree. Indeed, +when once they passed that way, they never +came again. They thought the Little Brown +Man was a wicked pixie who would do them +harm.</p> + +<p>Then at last the Little Brown Man peered +from his nest one bright morning and saw a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +girl walking slowly toward the Tall Pine Tree. +Little Nannie always walked very slowly, because +she was quite lame, and leaned upon a +crutch. Sometimes she paused to watch a bee +or butterfly; sometimes she leaned against +a tree to rest, and all the while the Little Brown +Man watched her eagerly. At last she reached +the Tall Pine Tree, and then he hobbled forward, +saying:</p> + +<p>"Good day to you! Good day to you, my +child!"</p> + +<p>His flaming eye and clawlike hand so startled +Little Nannie that she dropped her crutch; +but when she saw that the Little Brown Man +was also very lame, she was sorry for him, and +so she answered bravely:</p> + +<p>"Good day to you, good sir! I hope your +health is fine," and so the magic words were +spoken.</p> + +<p>The Little Brown Man could scarcely believe +his ears and began to caper about and prance +with glee. Then presto! In a twinkling vanished +all his ugly features, his back grew straight, +and he was once more kindly-eyed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tall Pine Tree! Oh, Tall Pine Tree!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +he cried in joy. "Behold now I am free to +climb up to your topmost boughs once more!" +But in his joy the Little Brown Man did not +forget Little Nannie, who stood staring, wide-eyed, +at the wonders she had seen.</p> + +<p>"And now, my child!" cried he, "what can +I do to serve you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, please, sir," answered Little Nannie +timidly, "if you would give me my crutch, +I would be most grateful. I am so lame that +I cannot stoop to pick it up myself."</p> + +<p>"Your crutch!" screamed the Little Brown +Man in a passion of rage. "It is a wicked stick +that holds you back when you would run and +play, and so I treat it thus!" He seized the +crutch and flung it in the brook, and there it +floated swiftly in the current.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Little Brown Man, what have you +done!" wept Little Nannie. "Now I can never +wander in the forest any more, but must sit +always in my chair. I cannot walk without my +crutch, and my mother is too poor to buy me +another." She leaned against the Tall Pine +Tree and sobbed aloud.</p> + +<p>"Stop, stop, Little Nannie!" cried the Little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +Brown Man, "I meant you no harm, as you +will see. Now tell me this: Is it your wish +to walk always with a crutch? If so, say but +a word, and I will bring it back again, for now +my powers of magic are returned."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Little Brown Man!" answered Little +Nannie through her tears, "I do not wish to +walk always with a crutch; indeed, I often +weep because I wish to run and play like other +boys and girls."</p> + +<p>"Then try and see if your wish come true, +Little Nannie," commanded the Little Brown +Man.</p> + +<p>Little Nannie took a step forward, and then +another and another, and found her feet like +wings. So, singing and laughing, she danced +home through the forest, the happiest child in +all the world. When she reached her gate, she +cried out:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother! Mother! Come quickly and +see! I can run and play like other boys and +girls! The Little Brown Man has granted my +wish to me!"</p> + +<p>"My child!" cried her mother in amazement, +"this is the work of a good fairy without doubt!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +And what did you say to thank the Little Brown +Man?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother, I was so happy I forgot," +replied Little Nannie, hanging her head.</p> + +<p>"Then let us go in search of him at once," +said her mother.</p> + +<p>So hand in hand they sought the Little Brown +Man, but though they called loud and long at +the foot of the Tall Pine Tree, they could not +find the Little Brown Man. For at the magic +of a kindly word, he had flown to the topmost +boughs, and there he dwelled for evermore.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A TALE FOR HALLOWEEN</h3> + + +<p>Babette and Antone were the children of a +very poor woodcutter. They lived in a little +cottage on the side of a steep mountain, and +the mountain looked upon a great forest. Now +though their father toiled in this forest from +dawn until dark, he could earn but little. Wood +in that region was plentiful, and woodcutters +were numerous. Their mother made fine laces +which Antone carried to the market to sell; but +in spite of all their efforts, the poor parents +seldom could give their children more than +bread and broth to eat. Often indeed the broth +was lacking if the woodcutter found no hare in +the traps he set. Babette and Antone, however, +were happy little children and never thought +of their poverty. But it worried the woodcutter +that Antone was ten years old and had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +not yet gone to school. Antone's mother taught +him to read and write, that the other boys and +girls would not be too far beyond him, and +Antone studied his lessons diligently. Often +as he sat doing his sums on the hearthstone, +with a bit of charcoal for a pencil, his mother +would sigh sadly. Antone did not like his +mother to be sad, and so he always laughed to +cheer her.</p> + +<p>"Never fear, Mother," he would say. "Soon +I shall send myself to school. My vegetable +patch does finely. Then, when I am a great +scholar, you shall be poor no longer. My father +shall have a team of oxen and you a fine satin +gown; Babette shall have a dozen real dollies +instead of the turnip dollies she now rocks in her +dolly cradle."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Antone, my son," his mother would +answer with a sigh, "unless you make your +fortune as a maker of toys, I fear you will have +no fortune at all. Your fingers are as clever +as a wizard's even now; and though you are +past ten, we cannot spare you to go to school."</p> + +<p>It was true, as she said. Antone made boats +from bits of cedar wood, and when he had fitted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +them with sails you could not tell them from +any that had come out of a shop. He carved +a doll's cradle from a pine knot, and for a dolly +painted the white face of a turnip until one +would think it was the face of some fair maiden,—so +blue were this turnip dolly's eyes and so +pink her cheeks, her hair of golden corn silk fell +in such waves and her robe of young cabbage +leaves was so green and beautiful. Then as +often as this turnip dolly faded and began to +shrivel, Antone made another, which Babette +declared was always more beautiful than the +one before. Babette had never been to the +village and therefore knew nothing of real +dollies. She loved her turnip babies tenderly +indeed; she always carried them in her arm +when she went with Antone to meet their father +and sang them little songs as she rocked them +to sleep.</p> + +<p>Now it happened one night in the season of +Halloween that Antone sat carving jack-o'-lanterns +to sell in the village. Babette, who +was rocking her dolly to sleep, sat watching +him. Being but six, she knew nothing about +the fun which comes with Halloween, and so she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +listened round-eyed with wonder to Antone, +who knew all things about jack-o'-lanterns. +When she heard that boys and girls dressed like +goblins and witches frolicked in the village +streets, Babette made up her mind to frolic too.</p> + +<p>"How fine it must be!" she cried, clapping +her hands. "Halloween must be quite like +Christmas!"</p> + +<p>"Not quite so fine as Christmas, Babette," +answered Antone, as he carved the teeth in the +last jack-o'-lantern, "but Halloween is very +fine nevertheless. It is comical to see the jack-o'-lanterns +bobbing up and down with their +faces grinning in the candle light. And on +Halloween the boys and girls play pranks on +their elders that they would be well switched +for at any other time; but every one laughs +and is gay on that night." Antone finished the +jack-o'-lantern and piled it with a dozen more +in his little cart. He would sell them all in the +village when he took his vegetables to market +the next day; no one else could carve such +splendid pumpkin faces as Antone.</p> + +<p>"Then let us go and play pranks in the village +too, Antone," cried Babette. "Mother will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +make us goblin dresses, and there is still one +great pumpkin in your garden for a jack-o'-lantern. +Oh, what a frolic we shall have!"</p> + +<p>"Babette!" exclaimed Antone in astonishment. +"Wherever did you get such a notion? +The frolic in the village is not for us. Mother +has no time to make us goblin dresses, and if she +did, she has no goods; besides, how should we +find our way home through the forest?"</p> + +<p>"You know the way through the forest, +Antone," insisted Babette, "and if Mother cannot +make us goblin dresses, we can go without. +It will be dark and our jack-o'-lantern will be +as fine as any. Do come," she begged, "I have +never been to a Halloween frolic."</p> + +<p>"Now, Babette, I tell you we cannot go to +the village to-morrow night," answered Antone. +"I could not find my way home through the +forest after dark, and we would both be lost. +Be a good girl and do not tease any more."</p> + +<p>Antone spoke sternly, and Babette burst into +tears. She was very fond of her own way, and +when she could not have it, sometimes she was +a very naughty little girl. She sobbed and +wept so piteously that Antone found it hard to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +refuse her. However, he dared not go to the +village at night, as he feared to lose his way in +the forest. So Antone trotted Babette on his +knee and whispered that he would buy her +chocolate; but she only wept the harder.</p> + +<p>"Now, Babette!" cried Antone at last, when +Babette showed no signs of stopping, "I cannot +take you to the village; but if you are a +good girl and stop crying at once, I will make +a little Halloween frolic just for you and me. +Now promise me you will not cry any more."</p> + +<p>Babette dried her eyes and promised. She +wished a Halloween frolic, but whether she +frolicked at home or in the village mattered +not at all.</p> + +<p>"Will we wear goblin dresses or ghost dresses, +Antone?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Antone puzzled a moment before he answered. +"Oh, ghost dresses, I think," said he.</p> + +<p>The next day Babette was very good. She +helped Antone gather his vegetables for market, +and when he returned sat beside him quietly +while he carved the last pumpkin from his +garden. When the jack-o'-lantern was finished, +Antone lighted the candle just for one second<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +so that she might see it grinning in the light. +Babette clapped her hands; but he held up +a warning finger. The Halloween frolic was +to be a secret. After supper the children went +to bed as usual, but instead of undressing, they +pulled their white nightdresses over their heavy +coats.</p> + +<p>"They will do for ghost dresses," whispered +Antone when all was still, and they crept softly +out. In the moonlight the jack-o'-lantern was +grinning broadly to greet them.</p> + +<p>"Pumpkin is smiling at us," laughed Babette. +She was very happy, for her frolic was about +to begin.</p> + +<p>Antone struck a match to light the candle, +but there was no candle in the jack-o'-lantern.</p> + +<p>"I put the candle in; I know I did," said +he in surprise. He searched in the dark, and +Babette stopped her laughing. Antone looked +about, and there beneath the bench lay the remainder +of his precious candle. It was chewed +to bits, and the wick was in shreds.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Babette!" cried he. "A wicked rat +has stolen our candle, and I paid a whole penny +for it too!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, the bad rats!" cried Babette, bursting +into tears. She stamped her foot and sent +the jack-o'-lantern rolling off the bench. It +struck the earth with a bump and dented its +nose a trifle.</p> + +<p>"Now, Babette, what a baby you are! See +what you have done!" cried Antone. He +stooped to pick up the pumpkin, but the pumpkin +was too quick for him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, you don't," laughed Pumpkin in a +thick throaty sort of voice. "Babette smashed +my nose a little, but that's no matter on a Halloween +night. Good-by, boys and girls," he +called airily and rolled swiftly down the hill.</p> + +<p>"You come back here; you're my pumpkin," +cried Antone and started after the runaway. +Babette followed, weeping and crying aloud.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my Halloween frolic! Oh, my Halloween +frolic!" she mourned. "Now we have +no jack-o'-lantern and no candle either."</p> + +<p>"But just you wait until he rolls down into +the vegetable garden," shouted Antone, as he +chased the swiftly rolling pumpkin. "He'll +have to stop at the hedge." He took his little +sister's hand that she might run faster. Pump<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>kin +rolled along just in front of them but always +just out of their reach. When he reached +the hedge, he gave a great leap and landed directly +in the vegetable patch.</p> + +<p>"Come on, you Turnips! Come on, you +Carrots!" called Pumpkin, as he rolled along. +At his words the Carrots and Turnips tore themselves +from their beds and followed after him, +shouting.</p> + +<p>"Come on! Come on!" called Pumpkin, and +Parsnips and Beets followed the Carrots and +Turnips.</p> + +<p>"Look at Antone following us," yelled Pumpkin, +and all his vegetable followers turned and +laughed in derision.</p> + +<p>"Ordinary nights you may be master, Antone," +cried they, "but not on Halloween. This +is our night."</p> + +<p>"Well, you wait until I catch you and then +see how hard you'll laugh," called Antone angrily. +To see his vegetable patch laid waste +made him furious.</p> + +<p>"But you'll wait until you catch us before +you punish us, won't you, Antone?" they answered +mockingly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, it's Halloween! It's Halloween!" +sang Pumpkin, turning handsprings as he rolled +along, and the rest of the vegetables did cartwheels +as they went careering after him. They +looked like a dozen market stalls upset on the +hillside, and poor Antone nearly wept when he +thought of his loss. He followed them with +determination. Antone was not a lad to give +up easily.</p> + +<p>"Follow me! Follow me!" sang Pumpkin, +as he led the way to a tiny door that opened +beneath the forest. Turnips and Carrots +squeezed through, and Antone, fearing to be +left behind, caught up Babette and ran faster. +Just as he reached the little door, a rough Potato +tried to slam it in his face. But Antone was +too quick for him. He ran through and climbed +down the hole into the underground forest. +There he continued the chase, but the ground +here was springy and elastic, and with each +step Antone began to gain on the vegetables. +Babette's fatigue left her, and she shook herself +free of Antone's hand.</p> + +<p>"We'll catch up to them," declared Antone +as they ran along. Even as he spoke, Potato<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +stubbed his toe, and Babette caught him. She +held him firmly, although he squirmed and tried +his best to get free.</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!" bawled Potato, when he saw +he was a prisoner. "Oh, Pumpkin, wait for +me!" he cried. The tears streamed from every +one of his eyes, and he looked truly sad. At +his cries Pumpkin turned around, and all the +vegetables followed their leader.</p> + +<p>"Come now, Antone," began Pumpkin in a +persuasive voice. "You might let us have one +night off, you know. Halloween is our night." +Somewhere on his run, Pumpkin had picked up +two twigs, and on these he now balanced himself +rather unsteadily and thrust his leaves in the +place where his pockets would have been if he +had had pockets. He looked so very jolly and +his grin was so very broad that Antone was inclined +to give up the prisoner; but just then +he thought of the ruined vegetable garden and +grew angry again.</p> + +<p>"It is all very well for you to be polite, Pumpkin, +and try to beg off your friend," said Antone, +"but this is the very fellow that tried to slam +the door in my face not two seconds ago."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Antone," cried Potato, "that's wrong. +It was three seconds ago as true as I live. I +looked at my watch just as I was trying to pinch +your nose in the underground door, and it's +quite three seconds ago; maybe it's four."</p> + +<p>"Oh, hush up!" cried Pumpkin. "That's +no way to talk when you are trying to beg +off. Let him off for my sake, Antone," he +continued in a most winning voice. "You'd +get everlastingly tired of being in bed yourself; +you know you would. See if you wouldn't +take the first chance to kick up your heels if you +could get it."</p> + +<p>"But, Pumpkin," replied Antone, "think +of my vegetable garden; it is ruined. I was +saving all my vegetable money to go to school, +and now I cannot go for ever and ever so long. +Besides, how could I know you got tired of being +in a bed? You never spoke to me before."</p> + +<p>"Well, I speak to you now," replied Pumpkin, +"and as for your vegetable patch, we'll all +make that up to you, won't we, boys?"</p> + +<p>"We will! We will!" called the vegetables +in chorus, and the Potato in Babette's little fist +yelled the loudest of all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There, now, you see we mean no harm," declared +Pumpkin, "so let Potato go. Then you +can both join us in our Halloween frolic."</p> + +<p>At the magic words "Halloween frolic," Babette +put Potato down at once. She was +bound to have her fun, and, after all, the vegetables +seemed to be a jolly lot. So peace was +made, and the children followed the bobbing +Turnips and Onions. Then shouts were heard, +and Pumpkin ordered a halt. Presently they +were joined by a dozen or more Cabbages.</p> + +<p>"You're nice ones!" panted the Cabbages. +"There we sat in the storeroom waiting for you +to call us, and the first thing we knew we saw +you pelting off down the hill like mad things."</p> + +<p>"My gracious!" said a very stout Cabbage, +who was terribly out of breath, "I'll have to +take off my outer leaves before I go another +step. I feel as though I were boiled."</p> + +<p>Antone recognized the Cabbages at once. +"You are Father Minette's cabbages, are you +not?" he inquired politely as they marched +along.</p> + +<p>"Why, if it isn't little Antone, the woodcutter's +son!" exclaimed the very stout Cabbage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +"Yes, we come from Minette's farm. Mother +Minette saved us for pickle, but we fooled her +and slipped out of the storeroom when she was +not looking. Oh, we Cabbages are not so green +as we look!" The Cabbages all laughed, and +Antone was surprised to find that he laughed +too.</p> + +<p>As they went marching on, Pumpkin sang +and danced in the lead, and Onions and Carrots +echoed his hearty songs. Presently great black +cats with shining yellow eyes stepped from behind +the trees, and each cat was soon joined by +its mistress, who was no other than a real witch +in tall peaked hat and carrying a broomstick. +The Cabbages, who were a friendly lot, introduced +Antone and Babette to these witches, +and the witches seemed pleased to meet the +children.</p> + +<p>"They do not seem to be wicked witches, do +they, Antone?" whispered Babette.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear," replied a witch who overheard, +"we are not a bit wicked on Halloween, +you know. Any other night, I would probably +do you a mischief. It is my nature, you know." +She reached in her bag and handed Babette a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +peppermint. Babette, who was very fond of +peppermint, ate it up with all haste.</p> + +<p>"You shouldn't do that, my dear," reproved +the witch. "It is seldom witches give peppermints, +and when they do the peppermints should +be treasured. Here is another to keep for your +pocket, and then you will never be without a +peppermint when you want one." And she +handed Babette another. Babette curtseyed +so prettily that the witch was charmed and took +her to ride on her broomstick.</p> + +<p>It was the gayest company one ever could +imagine, as they marched along. Every vegetable +was singing a different Halloween song in +a different key, and they all had voices that +sang out of tune by nature. Babette, her little +white nightdress flying in the breeze, was riding +on the witch's broomstick and singing loudly +as the rest. When they reached the dancing-floor +it was lighted with millions and millions +of glowworms, and an orchestra of ten thousand +frogs hummed lively tunes in their throats. +Pumpkin seized a handful of glowworms and +put them in his head. Then with his features +all aglow he cried out:</p> + +<p>"Ready for the dance!"</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<img src="images/i009.jpg" width="509" height="800" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">It was the gayest company one ever could imagine, +as they marched along.—<i>Page 262.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> + + +<p>Instead of taking partners, the vegetables +just plunged on to the floor and began to jump +about like mad. If they fell down they did not +jump up at once but rolled around the floor +most good-naturedly. They looked so like +vegetables boiling about in a great soup kettle +that Antone thought he should die of laughing. +The witches took their brooms and began a sort +of "ladies-change" figure while they chased +their cats around the edge of the circle. Babette +danced hardest of all. She knew no more of +dancing than any Carrot or Parsnip, but she +capered wildly, singing at the top of her voice.</p> + +<p>"Come and dance too, Antone," called Babette, +as she went jumping past her brother, but +he shook his head and laughed.</p> + +<p>"I am too big for such nonsense," said he. +"I am ten, you know."</p> + +<p>"What nonsense!" cried a witch who was +chasing her cat close by. "Ten is exactly the +right age to have fun." She raised her broom +playfully, and before he knew it, she swept Antone +into the middle of the dance. Pumpkin, +his grinning features all aglow, went flying past<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +and made Antone feel proud. Pumpkin was +certainly the handsomest vegetable of the lot. +As the night grew later, the frogs hummed faster, +but hum as fast as they would, they could not +keep up with the frisky vegetables. Beets and +Cauliflowers continued to bob up and down like +mad; Cabbages from Minette's farm lost leaf +after leaf; Carrots and Onions grew battered +from much tumbling about, and the merry din +of song and laughter grew louder and louder.</p> + +<p>"Let's play Blind Man's Buff," called Antone. +"I'll be 'it' and show you how to play." +He tied the handkerchief over his eyes, and the +witches and their black cats went darting hither +and thither. The vegetables were so pleased +with this new game that they would play nothing +else. They might have been playing it yet had +not a cock crowed suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious me!" cried a witch. "The +glowworms are all gone out. It's nearly morning. +All who are going back to the vegetable +patch had best be on their way."</p> + +<p>"Not I!" cried Pumpkin. "I've done with +vegetable patches forevermore."</p> + +<p>"Not we," exclaimed the Cabbages. "We're<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +going to turn savage and be wild cabbages for +the rest of our days! We shan't go back to +Mother Minette's pickle jars." Straightway +every vegetable began to raise its voice and declare +it would not go back to Antone's patch.</p> + +<p>"Oh, hush, all of you!" cried the witch. +"Stay in the woods for the rest of your life if +you like. It is nothing to me; but what of +Antone and Babette? Who is to take them +home?"</p> + +<p>"Well, ma'am," replied Pumpkin with a low +bow, "we thought that you might be good enough +to give them a ride home on your broomstick."</p> + +<p>"But Pumpkin!" cried Antone in dismay, +"you promised to make it up to me if I let Potato +go, and I think you should all return with +me. I shall not have any vegetables if you all +remain in the woods."</p> + +<p>"Never worry about that, Antone," replied +Pumpkin with a lordly air. "Here is a purse for +each of you, and if you take good care never to +lose them, you will have plenty of gold forever. +Isn't that true, boys?"</p> + +<p>"True as we're not going back to the farm," +cried the Cabbages. "You had best hurry and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +plant yourself before it grows daylight, Pumpkin," +they warned and began to dig holes in +the earth. Before Antone and Babette had +mounted the witch's broomstick, all the Carrots +and Turnips and even Pumpkin were all tucked +up in their sandy beds. They called a faint +good-by as the children sailed off with the +witch.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a beautiful Halloween frolic," +sighed Babette as she leaned her head on Antone's +shoulder and fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>The broomstick flew with the swiftness of +an eagle, and the witch warned Antone to hold +Babette with a firm grasp. One by one the +stars went out as they sped across the sky. +The black cat steered and seemed to know the +exact way to the woodcutter's cottage, for just +as the dawn was breaking the broomstick glided +down to Babette's window. The witch shook +hands with Antone, and the black cat politely +jumped off to help Antone with his little sister. +Before the good creature could mount again, +the broomstick was off like whirlwind, and it +was left behind.</p> + +<p>"This broomstick is so wild I cannot stop it,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +called the witch from the clouds. "Keep good +care of my cat until next Halloween."</p> + +<p>Antone put Babette in her little crib and made +the black cat a comfortable bed in the kitchen. +Then he lay down to sleep and dreamed of the +Halloween frolic until he was wakened by his +mother.</p> + +<p>"Come, Antone!" she cried. "I have good +news for you. Only look from the window and +see the great black cat without a single white +hair that sits washing his face in the sun. Such +a cat coming to us on Halloween will surely +bring us good luck! But come, my child, get +up, for the sun is high, and it is time for you to +dig your vegetables for market."</p> + +<p>"My vegetables have gone wild in the forest," +muttered Antone, "but it is no matter, for here +is a bag of gold which they gave me. The cat +is the black cat of the witch who brought us +home on her broomstick; so let me sleep, Mother, +for I am weary with dancing at the Halloween +frolic." He closed his eyes and slept again, +while his mother examined the leather bag.</p> + +<p>"Antone, my son!" she screamed. "Here +is gold yellow as a pumpkin! Where have you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +been to gather such wealth?" She shook him +and gave him no peace until he waked fully and +told the story. Even then his mother did not +believe it, but threw up her hands and wept +that her son should thus rave with fever.</p> + +<p>The woodcutter and Babette came running +to see what had happened, and at the sight of +the second bag of gold the poor woman grew +calmer. Babette showed the peppermint which +the witch had given her, and the mother doubted +no more.</p> + +<p>"To receive a peppermint from a witch is +surely a mark of great favor," said she, and began +to laugh through her tears. "I thought I was +dreaming or that Antone raved of fever, for +never in my life had I seen so much gold."</p> + +<p>"It is like the fairies to bless the children of +the poor," said the woodcutter. "Now Antone +will go to school, and Mother will have a handsome +dress and shawl."</p> + +<p>"And is it not as I said?" cried his wife. "A +black cat coming on Halloween would bring us +good luck, and here is the luck already!"</p> + +<p>It would have been hard to find a happier +family than the woodcutter's as they set out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +for the village that day. When it was told +that the woodcutter was looking for a pair of +oxen, some folk laughed outright. The woodcutter +was too poor to feed a pair of canaries, +they declared; but when it became known that +the woodcutter's wife had bought a new dress +and a golden ring, they began to wonder who +had died and left the woodcutter a fortune. +Antone told the tale of their wealth to those +who questioned him, and straightway the village +children ran to throw their jack-o'-lanterns +from the roofs and high places. But their +pumpkins broke or stayed on the ground below +where they had fallen (it was no longer Halloween, +remember). At noon, when the woodcutter +and his family sat down to dinner in the +village inn, the landlord threatened to charge +a penny from all who stood gazing through the +windows. Some folk scoffed openly and declared +it was a tale to tell children and dullards; +but there were the two leather bags filled with +gold. The greatest marvel of all was, that no +matter how much the woodcutter or his wife +spent from these, the bags always remained +brimful of gold!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p> + +<p>Antone chose a pair of steel skates in the +village shop and bought an armful of books for +which he had longed. Babette, however, with +her usual perverse ways, would have none of +the dollies in the village toy shop. They were +ugly, she declared, and their cheeks were not +pink and beautiful as were the turnip dollies +Antone made for her.</p> + +<p>And ever after that the woodcutter and his +wife were no longer poor folk. They had white +bread and even butter every day of their lives, +and on Sundays and holidays they had roasted +fowl for their dinner. Antone went to school, +and Babette had an embroidered frock which +was the envy of every child in the village. Their +mother no longer sighed as she went about her +household tasks, and neither did she strain her +eyes making fine laces for market. Instead +she rode proudly on the seat of her husband's +ox cart when he delivered wood in the village; +sometimes she even drank tea with the mayor's +wife! Visitors from far and near went to see +the famous spot where Antone's vegetables all +ran away one Halloween night; and to this day +there lives not a man who can make grow on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +that land cabbages or turnips or any other vegetable, +although in a spot in the forest, not far +off, cabbages and pumpkins and all such vegetables +grow wild.</p> + +<p>Each year, as regularly as Halloween came +to mark the harvest time, Antone and Babette +mounted the broomstick with the witch and +rode off to the Halloween frolic. There they +always found Pumpkin grown rounder and +jollier than the year before, and they always +rode home across the sky just as the dawn was +breaking. The black cat became so fond of +Babette that it never again rejoined its rightful +mistress, but remained with the woodcutter and +his family and brought them good luck for the +rest of their days.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Green Forest Fairy Book, by Loretta Ellen Brady + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FOREST FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 35458-h.htm or 35458-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/4/5/35458/ + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Green Forest Fairy Book + +Author: Loretta Ellen Brady + +Illustrator: Alice B. Preston + +Release Date: March 2, 2011 [EBook #35458] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FOREST FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: "And now, Yvonne, to set your mind at rest, gaze into + the pool at your feet." + _Frontispiece._--_See Page 168._] + + + + + THE GREEN FOREST FAIRY BOOK + + + + + THE + GREEN FOREST + FAIRY BOOK + + BY + LORETTA ELLEN BRADY + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY + ALICE B PRESTON + + [Illustration] + + LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY + BOSTON + + + + _Copyright, 1920_, + BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. + + _All rights reserved_ + + + + + TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS + OF LITTLE JIM WARDS + SAN FRANCISCO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL + IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF + OUR TWILIGHT STORY-HOURS + THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + PROLOGUE 1 + I DAME GRUMBLE AND HER CURIOUS APPLE-TREE 6 + II A TALE OF THE NORTHLAND KINGDOM 61 + III THE LITTLE TREE THAT NEVER GREW UP 92 + IV THE TALE OF PUNCHINELLO 109 + V THE STRANGE TALE OF THE BROWN BEAR 125 + VI THE BEGGAR PRINCESS 132 + VII SWEEP AND LITTLE SWEEP 170 + VIII KINGS AND QUEENS AND PEASANT FOLK 216 + IX THE GOOSE GIRL AND THE BLUE GANDER 231 + X THE LITTLE BROWN MAN 239 + XI A TALE FOR HALLOWEEN 248 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + + "And now, Yvonne, to set your mind at rest + gaze into the pool at your feet" _Frontispiece_ + + "Oh, you wicked creature!" Dame Grumble would + exclaim when he began to shake the Apple Tree 9 + + For many days these three companions journeyed + on through soft white clouds 86 + + From this bag the Night Wind begged a dream + for the Little Tree 96 + + "Look, look, dear Punchinello!" little Beppo + cried. "I am no longer lame" 116 + + "Hide me, Little Sweep," cried Red Cap. + "My brother is after me" 175 + + So at last, after much thought, the goose girl + did as the blue gander bade 237 + + It was the gayest company one ever could + imagine, as they marched along 262 + + + + +THE GREEN FOREST FAIRY BOOK + + + + +PROLOGUE + + +Long, long ago, when all the world was young and there were but few +people dwelling on it, the strangest things could often come to pass. +Then fairyfolk still lived in the greenwoods and elves sang and danced +in the soft summer dawns. Then trees could sing and flowers speak and +birds would carry messages about the world; wild beasts were often loyal +friends to men and helped them in their difficulties. In these old days, +most noble dukes and earls would fall in love with dairymaids whose +gentle ways and manners charmed their hearts. Sometimes great kings grew +weary of the splendor of their courts and left their thrones to live as +simple peasants. Each princess had a fairy godmother who showered her +with magic gifts. Then wise men read the stars and seers would gaze in +crystal bowls to tell the coming good or ill they saw. + +In those old days, the housewives left a bit of bread and cheese upon +the pantry shelf each evening, that the brownie who was said to dwell in +every kitchen might have a midnight feast. These brownies, 'twas said +also, would make much mischief if they were not treated very well. In +early dawns, when fields of flowers were asparkle in the sun, the +milkmaids used to bathe their eyes and ears with dew that they might see +the fairyfolk forever afterward and hear them sing at midnight in the +glen. The farmers' boys would search among the hedges in hopes of +meeting The Red Caps who were said to bring much luck. These Red Caps +too were said to give a magic purse of gold to those they fancied,--a +purse that was always brimful no matter what was spent from it. The +witches still rode broomsticks through the skies and there were wishing +wells and magic charms and spells. + +In those delightful days of which I tell, there were not scores and +scores of books as there are now. Travelers journeying about the world +told tales of the wonders that they saw and heard. It was not then +thought strange that kings and queens or royal counselors and such wise +folk should love to hear these wonder tales. In those dear days, indeed, +the grown folk all loved wonder tales as well as children love them now +and were not worse because of it. Sometimes these wonder tales were told +by magic chairs or chests; sometimes by birds or beasts that were +enchanted and had power of speech. + +It has been related that in those olden days there was a lovely bird +with plumage all of the purest gold and it was called The Golden Bird. +The Golden Bird had a voice so rare and sweet that when it sang the +nightingales stopped midway in their songs to listen. The Golden Bird +likewise possessed the gift of speech and could tell wonder tales the +like of which were never heard before or since. When it began to sing in +any land, news that The Golden Bird had come spread swiftly everywhere. +The king would then declare a holiday which lasted all the time The +Golden Bird was in the land. The people hastened to the greenwood and +there beneath the trees would listen while The Golden Bird told wonder +tales and sang for their delight. And thus, The Golden Bird flew all +about the world, to every land and clime, beloved by all folk +everywhere. + +But sad to tell, at last there came a time when The Golden Bird was seen +no more. The folk of every land looked anxiously for its return and +thought it stayed too long in other places. But years passed by and +still The Golden Bird came not. Then travelers journeying about the +world declared The Golden Bird was nowhere to be found and all the +people mourned at these sad tidings. Some thought the lovely bird had +perished at some greedy hunter's hand; others said the world had grown +too wicked for The Golden Bird to dwell here any longer. However, what +had happened to the lovely creature, no one ever knew. + +But sadder still to tell is this: When The Golden Bird was seen to fly +about the earth no more, the people did not hold its memory dear. As +time passed on and it came not, they thought about it less and less and +very few recalled the wonder tales The Golden Bird had told. Then as the +world grew older and all folk began to doubt about the fairies and to +scoff at wishing wells, The Golden Bird was quite forgot by all save +one. This one, a little girl who tended flocks upon a mountain, gazed in +the clouds at dawn each day in hopes to see The Golden Bird come +soaring. Sometimes she wept because The Golden Bird came not. At last, +to please the child, her aged grandame, who had heard The Golden Bird +tell wonder tales when she had been a child, took pen and ink and wrote +them down as she remembered them. She wrote, 't is said, a hundred tales +or more but through the ages that have passed between they have been +lost, until there are but eleven; these are the eleven that I have set +down in The Green Forest Fairy Book. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +DAME GRUMBLE AND HER CURIOUS APPLE TREE + + +I + +Long, long ago, in a country quite close to the top of the earth, where +the North Wind blew fiercely each spring, there lived a woman called +Dame Grumble. Now Dame Grumble had an Apple Tree which she loved +exceedingly, although it vexed her beyond all compare. It was a very +fine large tree, and well shaped for shade, just the sort of tree that +should have yielded a bushel or two of fruit each autumn; but it did +not. Each year when the cuckoo flew over the earth, calling the trees +and flowers to waken because spring was come again, the Apple Tree would +be covered with clouds upon clouds of fragrant, pinky-white blossoms. +Then Dame Grumble's heart would rejoice. But no sooner was the Apple +Tree thus bedecked than the North Wind would blow furiously, tearing +off the blossoms and carrying them off in clouds. The curious part of it +all was this: When a few of the blossoms chanced to fall to the ground, +they made a chinking sound like that of small coins in children's banks. +Then when these blossoms had withered, Dame Grumble would find nice, new +shining pennies where they had lain. From this she supposed the Apple +Tree would one day bear apples of gold. + +Now Dame Grumble, it must be confessed, was not very amiable. Indeed, it +was from her nature that she drew her name. Some said Dame Grumble +complained from the time she rose in the morning until she sought her +bed at night. Even then she complained of her hard pillow or thin +coverlets until she fell asleep. Her poor son, Freyo, thought his mother +must surely grumble all night in her dreams, for on waking each day she +began directly where she had left off the night before. Many a time this +poor lad wished that he were not lame, but could go out in the world to +seek his way for himself. Dame Grumble led him a dreadful life. + +If the day were hot, Dame Grumble thought longingly of the days when the +snow lay on the ground and she sat in comfort before the blazing logs. +But when the winter came again, she complained bitterly because she had +to break the ice on the well each morning. She declared it was a shame, +since she had but one son, that he should be lame, and thus be a burden +instead of a staff. Her ceaseless scolding and carping often made poor +Freyo so miserable that he would put aside his wood carving, for he had +no heart to work. If the East Wind blew ever so lightly, Dame Grumble +complained that it gave her strange pains in her face, and would wish +instead for the West Wind, which she thought mild and gentle. But when +the West Wind blew over the forest and fields and dried the linen she +spread on the hedges, Dame Grumble cried out that he was a thieving +creature. She would hasten to gather her dried linens, vowing all the +while that the West Wind would steal them if he dared. Oh, there was no +pleasing Dame Grumble! Freyo, her son, was well aware of that. + +Now seeing that Dame Grumble was of a disposition to grumble and +complain when there was no cause at all, you may have some idea of her +bitter feeling when the North Wind robbed her of her apple blossoms each +spring. + + [Illustration: "Oh, you wicked creature!" Dame Grumble would exclaim + when he began to shake the Apple Tree.--_Page 9._] + +"Oh, you wicked creature!" Dame Grumble would exclaim when he began to +shake the Apple Tree. "Just wait, and some day I will catch you and shut +you up in some dark place where you shall remain forever. No one would +miss you. The North Wind is the most hated wind that blows!" + +"Indeed, Dame Grumble!" the North Wind would reply. "How would the boys +and girls ever skate if I did not blow in winter time? How would the +forest and orchards ever have time to make their new green leaves and +flowers for the springtime, if I did not lock the earth tight each +winter? You make a mistake, Madam. The North Wind would be keenly +mourned and missed. But beware! Some day I will catch you and carry you +off to a certain desert island in the middle of the sea, and there you +may complain for all your days." + +Then the North Wind would roar and blow his hardest, and Dame Grumble's +petticoats would spread out like sails, until she feared she might be +blown away, and would seek refuge in the cottage. There in anger she +would watch the clouds of blossoms blown from her favorite tree. When +the North Wind had gone off again, she would rush out and scold the +Apple Tree severely. + +"Oh! Such a tree!" Dame Grumble would exclaim in vexation. "If you would +but cling more firmly to your blossoms, at least a few would remain on +your branches, and then I should have a golden harvest. From the pennies +I find where your blossoms have withered, I am quite sure that you would +bear apples of gold, if you bore apples at all. Then I could sell these +golden apples and make a fortune for myself." + +"But, Dame Grumble," the Apple Tree would protest, "you cannot withstand +the North Wind, either. Your petticoats spread out like sails, and you +can scarcely keep your feet on the ground." + +"And what of that?" Dame Grumble would answer crossly. "I have but two +feet, while you have roots as numerous as your branches. Moreover, they +reach far down beneath the earth, and there spread far and wide as your +topmost boughs. You are stronger than I. You should fight the North +Wind, who is naught but a wicked robber in disguise. I am sure that he +has stored up a fortune in pennies from my blossoms that he has stolen +this many a long year." Then Dame Grumble would shake the Apple Tree +until Freyo would beg her to stop. + +It must not be supposed that Dame Grumble did not contrive various ways +to save her blossoms from her enemy. Indeed, she spent many hours every +day thinking of plans to defeat the North Wind, but she had never +succeeded. All one winter she worked in the cold and snow, chopping tall +thorn branches to make a barrier about the Apple Tree. "Thorn branches +are very strong, and will protect the Apple Tree," thought she. Freyo +told his mother this was useless work, but she would pay no heed to what +he said. + +"Then, Mother," pleaded the poor lad, "since you will not stay indoors +this bitter weather, please bring me a branch of walnut from the +forest. I would like to carve a clock-case in a certain design I have in +mind. If I had but proper tools for wood carving and a store of oak and +walnut, I might one day make a fortune for you. Then you would have no +longer need to quarrel with the North Wind about the blossoms." + +"Oh, hold your silly tongue!" cried Dame Grumble. "A great simpleton I +would be to sit here quietly and wait for you to make a fortune with +your bits of woods! Each year the North Wind steals a fortune in pennies +from me, and I mean to try to stop him if I can. Should I find a bit of +walnut that will fit into my pocket, you may have it; otherwise you must +do without." + +Poor Freyo had but few tools, and those few were very poor; +nevertheless, he had skillful fingers and could carve lovely pictures in +wood. Dame Grumble always laughed scornfully when the lad spoke of the +fortune he hoped one day to make. To her mind, wood carving and clumsy +chests and clock-cases were naught but folly. She rarely remembered to +bring Freyo a branch of wood from the forest. Dame Grumble was always +thinking of her blossoms and her enemy, the North Wind, and had no time +to think of Freyo. So the poor lad had to content himself with bits of +wood he found in the chimney corner, and he carved frames and treasure +boxes from these. + +Now, as we have told, all one winter Dame Grumble worked diligently +dragging thorn branches from the forest, until she had a great heap. +When the snow began to melt, she planted these branches of thorn about +her favorite tree. Then when the Apple Tree was decked once more in +clouds upon clouds of fragrant, pinky-white blossoms, the North Wind +came roaring over the fields and lanes. He laughed loudly when he saw +the barrier of thorn branches. + +"And so, Dame Grumble," cried the North Wind, "you do not know my +strength better than this!" Seizing a branch of the thorn, he tore it +from the ground as though it had been a twig and hurled it in the air. +Then he did likewise to the rest, and in half an hour he had torn up +every vestige of Dame Grumble's barrier. + +"Many times I have left you a few blossoms, Dame Grumble," he cried, as +he blew on his way, "but you have never thanked me for the pennies, so +this time you shall have none." + +Naturally Dame Grumble was more vexed than ever before. She shook the +Apple Tree with fury and left off only when she was too weary to shake +it longer. All evening she scolded so bitterly that Freyo wished himself +far away. Life with this scolding dame was far from pleasant for the +poor lame lad. Still he never complained. "Mother complains enough for +both," thought he. + +When Dame Grumble arose next morning, she had another plan in mind. "My +son," said she, "I am going on a journey to seek in all places for the +fortune in pennies which my wicked enemy, the North Wind, has stolen +from me. When I have found it, I shall return, and all things will be +well. I shall buy you a fine coach and build a noble house where we +shall live like kings and queens, and there we shall be very happy, I +daresay." + +"But, Mother!" cried Freyo in dismay, "the North Wind travels all over +the earth, and that you cannot do. When winter comes what will you do +for shelter? Besides, I do not long for a coach, but for a crutch +instead; and as for happiness--it is to be found in kind hearts rather +than in noble houses. In our little cottage we could be as happy as +kings and queens, if you would but leave off scolding and be content." + +"That shows how little you know!" replied Dame Grumble. "I cannot be +content without a fortune, and a fortune I mean to have. If I have not +found the hollow that I seek before winter comes again, I shall return. +But I have a feeling that my search will not be all in vain." Then, +bidding Freyo take good care of the cottage, Dame Grumble tied on her +bonnet and shawl and set out on her journey. + +When Dame Grumble had gone, Freyo was greatly puzzled. He was not sure +that he was really lonely. He missed his mother's presence about the +cottage because she was a famous housewife, always busy with some savory +broth, or baking great loaves of brown bread. However, he was relieved +that he did not hear her sharp tongue scolding all day long. He +carefully tidied the kitchen until it looked spotless and shining, as +though Dame Grumble herself had done it. Then he sat down before his +bench. While he was working, Freyo paused; he thought he heard his name +called softly. + +"Freyo, Freyo!" spoke a gentle voice. "Only come to the door, and you +can see me. I have something to tell you that will make you happy. +Please do come!" Freyo set down his work and hobbled to the door. + +"It is I, the Apple Tree," spoke the voice again; "come nearer that I +may talk to you. You have always been kind to me, when Dame Grumble has +abused me, Freyo, and now I shall reward you." + +Freyo made his way to the Apple Tree, and she continued: "Do you see my +two stoutest branches quite close to the ground? These I mean to give +you for crutches." + +"Oh, Apple Tree!" cried Freyo. "I would not cut off your branches! I +would not give you such pain." + +"But cutting off these two branches of mine will cause me no great +pain," the Apple Tree insisted. "They are over-heavy, and next spring +when the North Wind blows, I fear that he will snap them off. What the +North Wind cannot bend he will break, as well you know. When you have +made your crutches, you may go to the forest and gather more wood for +your work of wood carving, until you have the store that you desire." + +At last Freyo was persuaded. The branches were cut, and all day long he +sat beneath the Apple Tree, while he fashioned a pair of crutches. By +evening they were finished, and when he slept that night, Freyo dreamed +of wandering in the greenwood; he had never yet been so far from the +cottage door. + +"How well you have done!" exclaimed the Apple Tree next morning, when +Freyo stepped out briskly on his crutches. + +"And you too have done well," replied the lad. "I see two tufts of green +leaves already at work to cover the places where I cut your branches." +He waved farewell to the Apple Tree and set upon his way. Freyo was gone +the whole day long. When the sun set that evening, he had not returned, +and even when the moon rose slowly, still he did not come. The Apple +Tree began to worry and to fret lest her branches had not proved strong +enough for crutches. Then presently she saw Freyo with a heavy pannier +strapped upon his back; but not one bit of oak or walnut wood had he. + +"Ah, Apple Tree!" cried he, "never in my life have I been happy as I was +to-day. Only to wander beneath the trees and see the blue forget-me-nots +that make a lovely carpet underfoot, or to hear the birds sing sweetly +was like paradise. I wished the whole world were one great forest, and +that the time were always spring. I could not bear to come away!" + +"But Freyo," said the Apple Tree, "you have brought nothing for your +work! How will you make chests and clock-cases?" + +"I could not find it in my heart to cut the smallest twig," confessed +the lad. "The trees looked all so beautiful and stately that it seemed +to me a shame. Instead I gathered brown bells and forget-me-nots to +plant about your roots. I am sure you must be lonely in this bare +wind-swept spot, and they will serve for company." + +"Now that was kind," replied the Apple Tree, "but you must now give heed +to what I say. In the forest there are many trees that will gladly give +you a fine branch or two. When next you go there, tell them that you are +the friend of the Apple Tree whose blossoms fall to earth with a +chinking sound, like small coins in children's banks. Then they will +know you and will be generous as I have been. Besides, I warn you that +at the first approach of winter, Dame Grumble will return. She will be +crosser than ever, for she will never find the fortune in pennies that +she seeks. Now be advised, Freyo, and gather a goodly store of oak and +walnut while you may." + +When Freyo went again to the forest, he told the message of the Apple +Tree to the tall pines and low bending oaks, and to shady maples too. +These trees all gave him such a bounteous supply of boughs and branches +that Freyo soon had store to last him for his carving a whole year or +more. + +'T was well he had. One day as he sat working beneath the Apple Tree, he +noticed that the leaves fell fast and that the wind blew chill. Another +morning, when the maples on the hillsides flamed like fire, Freyo heard +a shrill familiar voice borne on the air, and presently Dame Grumble +herself appeared before the cottage door. + +Now, as the Apple Tree had foretold, Dame Grumble was crosser than ever. +She had not found the fortune in pennies she had sought, and she was out +of humor with her journey. She vowed she had not had one pleasant moment +from the time she had set out; she said that she had longed unceasingly +for her little cottage. Dame Grumble solemnly declared that she had done +with journeys forevermore and looked forward to great happiness, now +that she was home at last. She praised Freyo's housekeeping and said the +cottage looked as tidy as a pin. When she had laid aside her bonnet and +shawl, she began to make a fine supper for him. + +"How nice that you have crutches, my son, and can get about so well!" +she cried with pleasure. + +"Are they not a blessing, Mother?" asked Freyo. "They are not bad for a +poor lad who never before had seen a crutch, but made them just as best +he knew." + +Dame Grumble continued to praise the crutches and to admire them until +she learned that they were made from branches of the Apple Tree. Then +she was furious; her anger knew no bounds. She rushed out to the Apple +Tree and shook it with all her might. Then she ran in to throw the +crutches in the fire, but this Freyo would not permit. + +"The Apple Tree herself gave me her branches, Mother," said he, "and the +crutches are mine." + +"Give them to me at once, I say!" stormed Dame Grumble. "The Apple Tree +is mine, and consequently her branches are mine also. I must punish you +for this disobedience. Do you not know that I prize the Apple Tree above +all else on earth? Do I not expect a harvest of golden apples from it +some day? Now when that day is come, I shall not have nearly so many, +because of your wickedness. Why did you cut as much as a twig from the +Apple Tree?" + +"Mother," answered Freyo, "if there be any harm done, it is done. To +burn the crutches will not make the branches grow upon the Apple Tree +again." Dame Grumble first commanded and then entreated that her son +give her the crutches to burn, but Freyo was firm. At last she burst +into tears. + +"Oh! Oh!" she sobbed. "It is not enough that I have had many troubles +and cares in the past; each year my wicked enemy, the North Wind, steals +a fortune in pennies from me! And now added to this I must suffer +disobedience from my own ungrateful son." She sobbed and wailed until +Freyo was nearly distracted. + +"Oh, Mother!" he begged. "If you would only cease your weeping and look +at these wonderful things I have made in your absence. Here is a +clock-case with the four seasons carved upon it. The hours are told by +twelve lovely nymphs dancing through the forest; it is a treasure worthy +of a king. Some day a duke may come a-riding by and fancy it--then, who +knows--my fortune may be made, and I would give it all to you, Mother." + +In spite of all his pleadings, however, Dame Grumble would not look at +his treasures. She was so deep in her woes that she could think of +nothing else. She would not touch a crumb of supper but said mournfully +that she had no heart for either food or drink. + +Freyo sat before the fire, sad and desolate. With the scolding dame's +return, the quiet and contentment of the little cottage had fled. "Ah," +sighed the poor lad, "I have no doubt that Mother is right; perhaps I am +wicked and ungrateful after all." + + +II + +During the winter that followed, Dame Grumble led her son a dreadful +life. He could no longer talk to his good friend, the Apple Tree, for +she was sleeping her deep winter's sleep and would not waken until the +spring. So while the snow whirled high without and piled itself in +drifts at door and chimney, Freyo sat patiently carving his great oaken +chests and settles. When he carved fields of wheat with wild fowl flying +over, the poor lad fancied himself afield once more; when he carved +forest scenes, he lived again the memories of his happy summer. If Dame +Grumble spoke to her son, it was but to call him wicked and ungrateful. +She often vowed she would forgive him if he would but give her the +crutches to burn. But Freyo had a plan in mind. With the first sign of +spring, he meant to be off and seek his own way in the world, and this +he could never do without his precious crutches. The poor lad had no +desire to spend another winter with this cross, fault-finding dame. + +Now, as was her usual fashion, Dame Grumble spent much time in planning +means to spare the blossoms of the Apple Tree. It happened that on her +journey she had found a book which told of orchard trees and how to care +for them. So in this book Dame Grumble now began to study diligently. +She found a picture of an apple tree encased with strong, coarse +netting. This strong, coarse netting, so the book said, would protect +the fruit and blossoms from all harm. Accordingly, Dame Grumble sat her +down before her wheel and spun endless miles of heavy thread. From this +she next wove yards upon yards of strong, coarse netting. Often and +often Freyo begged his mother to cease this useless labor. The North +Wind would soon tear the whole thing into shreds, said he. You may be +sure Dame Grumble always had a sharp retort for him. + +"Had I a son who was a comfort and a blessing, I have no doubt that he +would long ago have found a way to save my precious blossoms from the +North Wind," she would say. "I daresay, too, that I would have had a +harvest of golden apples long since. Even now I might be dwelling in +some noble mansion with slaves to do my bidding and a different carriage +for every day in the week!" + +So the winter dragged on wearily. At last the snow began to melt, and +the sunbeams to make bright spots on the kitchen floor. The hedges here +and there showed patches of green leaves; the birds returned from the +southland whither they had gone for the winter. Forget-me-nots and brown +bells blossomed about the Apple Tree, and the green grass for miles +about was thick with yellow buttercups. It was then the Apple Tree awoke +from her winter's sleep and decked herself in clouds of fragrant, +pinky-white blossoms. Then it was that Dame Grumble went forth from her +cottage with yards upon yards of strong, coarse netting with which she +covered her favorite tree. Seeing the bare places that marked the two +missing branches, she cried out afresh that she was a sad, sorrowful +woman and had too many cares. + +While Dame Grumble was thus occupied, Freyo unlocked the cupboard where +he had hidden his precious crutches. But, alas! The wood of the Apple +Tree was not suitable for such use, and the crutches fell to pieces when +he touched them. Freyo tried to mend them here and join them there, but +it was in vain. They broke again in other places. Now when Dame Grumble +learned this, she vowed it was a just punishment for Freyo's +disobedience. However, with her usual perverseness, she took no more +interest in the crutches. She did not trouble to burn them, and there +they lay in the cupboard for many a long day. + +"You will obey your mother when she commands, another time, I daresay," +she would often remark, and point to the useless, broken things. + +Now that spring was come, it was not long before Dame Grumble's old +enemy, the North Wind, came also. Shouting and hallooing he blew over +the fields and forests one sunshiny day, and when he reached the Apple +Tree, he stopped still in amazement. + +"Ho! Ho! Ho!" laughed the North Wind, "who has thus cleverly covered the +Apple Tree?" + +"I have!" shouted Dame Grumble from within her cottage, where she had +run to hide. "Now you had best be off, for you can never undo this +strong, coarse netting I have woven; it is tied in a thousand tight +knots!" + +"Ah! is it indeed, Dame Grumble?" inquired the North Wind with mock +politeness. "Will you kindly have patience for a little until I try my +skill?" With that he blew a blast that unloosed all the yards upon yards +of strong, coarse netting and bore them off like puffs of thistledown. +Dame Grumble's heart sank; but, strange to say, the North Wind did not +blow away the blossoms of the Apple Tree. Instead, he lingered about the +cottage until night fell and played all manner of tricks to bring Dame +Grumble running out. He blew soot down the chimney and blackened the +clean-scrubbed kitchen floor; he put out her candle when she had lighted +it for evening; and whisked her linen from the hedges into the fields +and far away. Not one word of anger or reproach would Dame Grumble +utter, even so. If the North Wind would but spare the blossoms of the +Apple Tree, nothing else mattered. At last the North Wind grew weary of +his teasing and departed. + +"Just you wait, Dame Grumble!" he called in farewell. "Some day I shall +catch you unaware, and I will carry you off to that desert island that +waits to welcome you as Queen of Grumblers!" Then he blew on his way. + +Dame Grumble waited, fearful lest perhaps he would return, but the North +Wind returned no more that spring. The blossoms on the Apple Tree began +to wither, and presently tiny fruit began to form on its branches. It +seemed at last as though Dame Grumble would gather the harvest of golden +apples for which she had so longed; but even so, this cross, +fault-finding dame was not content. + +"Alack!" she often mourned, "if I had had this strong, coarse netting +years ago, I would have had many a golden harvest long ere this. Without +doubt this covering hath a charm above the power of the North Wind. Had +I a son to assist me, I daresay he would have thought about it long +since." + +"But, Mother, I cannot help it that I am lame and do not assist you," +sighed Freyo. + +"But you can help it when you are wicked and disobedient; and wicked and +disobedient you were when you cut the two stout branches of the Apple +Tree. For now, though I shall gather golden apples, there will not be +nearly so many because of your rash act." + +So the springtime passed and the summertime came. Day by day the fruit +on the Apple Tree grew larger, and day by day Dame Grumble took pencil +and paper to count the number of apples that hung upon each branch. She +tried each day to reckon just how many more she would have had but for +the branches Freyo had cut off, and every day she grew vexed afresh. +Dame Grumble would not permit Freyo to go near the Apple Tree. She vowed +he might take a notion to cut down the whole tree, for all she knew. + +The summer grew older; the meadows turned brown, and the fields grew +bare. Dame Grumble watched eagerly for a sign which would show that the +apples were turning to gold; but no sign she saw. The apples turned +bright red instead. The summer began to wane, and a sharp chill in the +air warned Dame Grumble that winter was not far away. The maples on the +hillsides flamed crimson and scarlet once again, and yellow leaves fell +from the poplar trees like rain. + +"Now can it be that you are going to disappoint me!" exclaimed Dame +Grumble to the Apple Tree. "Why, pray, do not your apples turn to gold?" + +"How you talk, Dame Grumble!" replied the Apple Tree. "You will be +disappointed no matter what happens! Though I gave you a thousand golden +apples, you would never cease to mourn that you might have had a hundred +more had not Freyo cut off my two branches. Then you would make the poor +lad's life more miserable than ever. I sometimes wonder that you are not +ashamed to plague and torment him as you do. You do not deserve golden +apples, and I will not give you golden apples. So you had best make +haste and gather these red apples of mine before the frost will nip +them." + +But this Dame Grumble would not do. She was assured that the red apples +would turn to gold, in spite of the Apple Tree. For if young and tender +blossoms yielded bright new shining pennies, did it not follow that the +ripened fruit would be of purest gold? Dame Grumble so believed. "The +Apple Tree does not love me and never did," she thought within herself; +"it is but a plan to make me angry." + +By and by the leaves fell from the Apple Tree itself, until its branches +were quite bare and brown. The apples shone tantalizingly red, and then +Dame Grumble realized at last that they would never change to golden, as +she hoped. Now this new disappointment, you may be sure, did not tend to +sweeten her disposition. All day she sat gazing mournfully at her +favorite tree and wept bitter tears at her new loss. + +"Oh, Mother, pray do not weep so!" begged Freyo. "You will make yourself +ill. My store of wood is gone; but if you would bring me two stout +branches from the forest, I would fashion another pair of crutches for +myself. Then I would set off to make a fortune to take the place of this +fortune you fancy you have lost." + +"Fancy I have lost!" repeated Dame Grumble scornfully. "The fortune I +_fancy_ I have lost! I do not fancy I have lost a fortune; I know full +well I have lost a fortune. Besides, who would give a copper farthing +for your clumsy chests and boxes!" + +So all day long Dame Grumble dwelt on her woes. At night she sat sighing +in the chimney corner until the little cottage quite close to the top of +the earth was as dull and gloomy as though a thousand crows had settled +suddenly upon it. + + +III + +Now it happened at this time, when all Dame Grumble's troubles seemed +too many to be borne, that the good dame and her son enjoyed a visitor. +Visitors in that country quite close to the top of the earth were very +rare, you may be sure. This visitor was not an ordinary sort of person; +far from that was he, indeed. Because he journeyed ceaselessly about the +earth and was well known to folk of many lands, he was called the +Traveler. But though he roamed thus everywhere, the Traveler seemed +never bound for any certain land or country but went his ways just as +the winds of heaven went theirs. The Traveler never remained long in +any city or village, nevertheless he stayed long enough to do a kindness +for some sad one, or to help some poor one on his way. Few people ever +could agree about his age; the old thought him young, and the young +thought him old. However, young and old alike agreed that the Traveler +seemed possessed of magic powers to banish cares and troubles. Wherever +he found quarrels and spites, he left love and kindliness; where he +found envy, he left content; where he went once, the Traveler always +found a warm welcome awaiting him on his return. + +What was the secret source of the Traveler's noble qualities was a +mystery to all folk. Some said the Traveler kept his cheerful spirit +because of a certain great cloak that he always wore. This cloak, they +said, was made of wool woven from the fleece of fairy sheep and had +great powers of happiness. Others said that in a far-off country the +Traveler had drunk deeply of a certain magic well, the waters of which +were said to bless one with a kindly heart forevermore. Still others +thought the Traveler's power over cares and sorrow lay in the plain +wood staff he always carried. But though the secret of his soothing +charm was thus uncertain, certain it was that the Traveler paid a visit +to Dame Grumble and her son one chill autumn evening, and the story of +it all is this: + +It happened one day, as the Traveler was walking along the road that led +up to the country quite close to the top of the earth, he chanced to +meet the North Wind. Now the North Wind loved to tease and play his +tricks on every one, and so he seized the Traveler's hat and blew it +five fields off; he swept stinging dust into his eyes and wrapped his +cloak so tightly around him that but for his staff the Traveler would +have stumbled. Though he was so bothered and annoyed, the Traveler did +not complain. He loosed his cloak and wiped his eyes of the dust, then +once again he set upon his way. + +"Ah," said the Traveler, "it is a strong wind that blows here; but how +clean the road is swept in consequence! It is also a good wind." + +The North Wind had expected blame instead of praise and was abashed. So +straightway he brought back the hat, and then he blew gently in the +direction which would best suit the Traveler's footsteps. So it was that +this visitor knocked at Dame Grumble's cottage one evening just at +candlelight. The Traveler begged her hospitality, and Dame Grumble bade +him enter. She placed a chair before the hearth and began to prepare a +supper for him. All the while she complained most bitterly that she +should thus receive a guest in her kitchen. When she set forth the +supper, Dame Grumble sighed because the bread was brown instead of +white. + +"Never sigh, Dame Grumble!" urged the Traveler with his kindly smile. +"Seldom have I seen a pleasanter kitchen, and never have I eaten better +fare. Your brown bread is fit for a king, and your broth would give +courage to a weary army!" + +"That is all very well for you to say, good sir," replied Dame Grumble +sulkily, "but you do not know all my troubles." She did not often find +one to give ear to her tale of sorrow, and if the Traveler would, Dame +Grumble meant that he should hear her. Above all else in the world, +Dame Grumble loved to talk about her woes. + +"Then perhaps after supper, when you sit before the fire, you will tell +me of your troubles, good dame," said the Traveler. You may be sure Dame +Grumble agreed. Indeed, so eager was she to begin that she hummed a +lively tune to hasten her work. At the unusual sound of his mother's +singing, Freyo left his bench to learn the cause of it. When he saw the +Traveler, he greeted him with warmth. + +"We do not often have a visitor, good sir," said he, "so I shall leave +my work and join you by the fireside." + +"But first," exclaimed the Traveler, "you must let me see this work of +yours; you must dearly love it, thus to be about it after darkness has +fallen and all men sit to take their ease." + +"Good sir," replied Freyo, "my work is wood carving, and I do love it +better than the whole world!" + +The Traveler regarded the great chests and clock-cases with deep +admiration and begged Freyo to tell him of his work; of whom he had +learned his skill; and whence his designs had come. To these questions +Freyo replied that he did not know, he supposed he had taught himself. + +"Good sir," said he, "some folk make pictures on a canvas with bright +colored oils and brilliant paints, and other folk make pictures with +fair words, as they tell wonder tales. I have not skill like those, but +I have dreamed bright dreams and have loved to sit and carve my dreams +upon my chests of oak and walnut wood. Think you that my skill is fair +or that my pictures would please aught beside myself, who carved them?" + +"I have no words to tell you how high I hold your skill," declared the +Traveler, "and as for the pictures you have carved in wood, they would +delight a queen or please a king as well. They are truly lovely." + +"Then, good sir," replied Freyo, "to the Apple Tree that stands before +our door you must give all this praise. The summer before the summer +that has just passed, this good tree of her own accord did give me her +two stoutest branches, from which I made a pair of crutches. Then I +could wander in the woods from dawn till dark, and hear the birds sing +songs the whole day long. 'T was then I learned to dream my finest +dreams; it was like heaven, sir!" The poor lad sighed in memory of the +happy time, and before he could say more, Dame Grumble interrupted. The +good dame could no longer restrain her tongue or her impatience, it +seemed. + +"Now, good sir!" cried she, "you have heard my son; you must hear me. +The Apple Tree was not an ordinary tree, as my son knew very well! He +did wrong to cut the smallest twig whilst I was gone. + +"Each year, when the cuckoo came calling in the spring, there was no +finer sight in all the world than the Apple Tree. So thick was it with +blossoms that scarce a branch or twig could be seen. Its fragrance +floated on the breeze, drawing every bee and butterfly for leagues and +leagues about. Surely with such a tree I might look for a bounteous +harvest, one would think. But, alas! No sooner was the Apple Tree thus +decked like a bride than my wicked enemy, the North Wind, would come and +blow these blossoms far away. But mark you now the wonder of my tale: a +few blossoms would sometimes fall beneath the tree, and when they fell +they made a chinking sound like that of small coins in children's banks. +When they had withered, I always found bright, new shining pennies where +they had lain. + +"Now from this curious fact I have believed that when the Apple Tree +would bear fruit, the apples would be of gold. If young and tender +blossoms yield bright, new shining pennies, does it not follow that the +ripened fruit should be of purest gold?" + +"It would seem so, good dame," agreed the Traveler. "What then were the +apples--silver, perhaps?" + +"Indeed sir, no!" replied Dame Grumble with deep feeling. "For all I +know, in cutting off the branches of my favorite tree, my wicked son +bewitched it. For though the Apple Tree bore fruit this year, it bore +naught but red apples of a common sort; I scorn to gather them! + +"Oh, Oh!" wept Dame Grumble, bursting into tears once again at the +memory of her loss. "Thus to have my own son so wicked and disobedient, +whilst I, footsore and weary, was seeking for the fortune in pennies +which the North Wind had stolen from me these many years! It is too +much! I am sure, good sir, you will agree that I have many troubles, and +that it is not right to call me Dame Grumble because I sometimes speak +of them." + +"I had rather agree that you have also many blessings, good dame," +returned the Traveler, with his kindly smile. "Come, let us draw our +chairs before the hearth, and perhaps you may learn to see them too. +There is nothing that does so help us see our blessings as the bright +flames dancing up the chimney when all the world without is dark and +cold." + +But ere she sat down, Dame Grumble recollected yet another grievance. +"And added to my other troubles," she complained, "I have a son who is +lame and must be always a burden instead of a staff." + +The Traveler nodded gravely. "That is a sorrow, I agree," said he, "and +I have no doubt, good dame, that your motherly heart must often ache +with the pity of it all." + +To this Dame Grumble made no reply; she began to think instead. For +years her mind had been so busy with the plans for her blossoms and her +golden harvest that it had quite forgotten how to think of aught else. +As for her heart, it ached only when she thought of the fortune in +pennies that the North Wind had stolen from her, and that she had not +found. + +"Then too, Dame Grumble," continued the Traveler, "I must tell you that +I think the North Wind no more than a rough playful fellow, and not +wicked as you say. Only this afternoon he stole my hat and ran away with +it, but before I had gone twenty yards, the amiable fellow had brought +it back to me again. And since he blew me to your cottage door, I will +henceforth claim the North Wind for my friend." + +"Then since it was the North Wind that brought you to our door, I will +no longer call him my enemy, but instead will call him my friend also," +declared Dame Grumble with a smile. In the firelight her face suddenly +looked so sweet and gentle that Freyo sighed deeply. Dame Grumble heard +the sigh, and asked her son the cause of it. + +"I sighed because I wished you would smile often, Mother," replied the +lad. "You looked so sweet and pleasant." + +"And now," began the Traveler, "since we are all so happy, let us begin +to think about the good dame's difficulties,--the fortune in pennies +which she sought and could not find, the precious blossoms which the +North Wind blows away each spring, and the Apple Tree which should have +borne apples of gold, but which bore red apples instead. For these three +evils we must find a remedy without delay." + +Now all the while she had been sitting with the Traveler by the +fireside, because of his magic power, Dame Grumble had been thinking +busily. Not of fortunes or of golden apples, or yet of red apples +either; instead, quite to her own surprise, she was thinking of how +wearied she had grown of all these things. She wished suddenly that she +would never hear of them again. Judge then of her son's astonishment +when she answered the Traveler in the following fashion: + +"Good sir, although I sat me down to talk about my troubles, now that I +have told them, they seem light and trifling; I am indeed amazed that I +have heeded them at all! Though for years and years I have quarreled +with the North Wind because he robbed me of a fortune, I seem suddenly +to care no longer for fortunes or gold or riches, or any such. + +"For as I peer into the flames, it comes to my mind that there are many +in this world not so blessed as I. Many a one is hungry and has naught +to eat, while my larder is filled; some are cold whilst I sit in comfort +before a fire of pine knots that sputter and glow. I see now that I have +many blessings." Dame Grumble did not know she had these thoughts +because of the Traveler. + +"Ah!" cried the Traveler, "did I not say the blazing logs helped one to +see one's blessings, and was I not right?" + +"I have often fancied that was so, good sir," agreed Freyo, "and now, +since my mother no longer wishes to talk about her troubles, perhaps you +will tell us tales of your journeys; you are a traveler and have seen +far distant lands." + +"Pray do, good sir!" begged Dame Grumble too. "It is long since my son +and I have heard tales of any sort. Also from your great wisdom I have +a notion that we shall be highly entertained." + +So the Traveler told them tales of other lands. He told of strange birds +with bright-hued feathers of such great length that they swept upon the +ground like queens' trains. He told of burning mountains and of fiery +lakes, of lovely flowers blooming in the snow, and gardens that grew +underneath the sea. The wind without howled dismally; within, the flames +leaped high and made queer elfin shadows to dance on the walls; the +clock ticked off the minutes into hours, but still Dame Grumble and her +son sat listening, wrapt in wonder. At last the candles snuffed out, and +naught but the back log smoldered and glowed in the darkness. + +"Now good sir," cried Dame Grumble, "I am sure you must be weary." She +bade him take the best room, but the Traveler refused. The comfortable +chair in which he sat was all he needed, he declared, and he bade the +good dame and her son good night. + +When they awakened next morning, he had gone; but on the chair they +found his staff. Fastened to the staff there was a note which bade Freyo +use it in place of the crutches, and said when he had no longer need for +it to give it to some other one that had. + +"Mother," said Freyo, when he had read the note over and over again, +"would this not seem to say that I might one day walk without the aid of +either crutch or staff? What think you of it?" + +"It would seem so, my son," replied the dame, "and then how happy I +would be!" + +A knock at the door startled them both. Dame Grumble, thinking it was +the Traveler returned, hastened to open; but it was not he. It was a +king's herald dressed in scarlet satin and silver laces. + +"I am the herald of King Silversword," said he. He bowed low to Dame +Grumble as though she were a duchess. + +"And I am Dame Grumble, at His Majesty's service," answered Dame +Grumble, with a bow equally fine. + +"Then hearken to my message," began the herald. He unrolled a scroll of +parchment, set thick with king's seals and written all in silver +letters, and read the following proclamation: + +"Know ye that the apple crop of the whole world has failed. From north +to south, from east to west, there is not one apple to be found, nay not +for a king's ransom. Now that of itself could be borne, none the less, +for apples be great luxuries. However, the little Princess Silverstar, +the only daughter of King Silversword and Queen Silverland, has fallen +ill and craves constantly for red apples. The doctors and the medical +men hold no hope for her recovery unless she has to eat the fruit she +craves. Wherefore, if good Dame Grumble will sell a dozen or more red +apples to His Majesty, King Silversword, she may name any sum of gold or +portions of rich jewels in payment; nay, whether she demand both gold +and jewels, or even His Majesty's entire fortune, it shall be hers in +exchange for her red apples." + +"Come now, good dame, what do you say?" asked the herald, as he rolled +up the scroll once more. + +"I say, good Master Herald, that my red apples are not for sale," the +dame replied, "but if they have a power to restore the little Princess +Silverstar, she may have them all. They shall be a gift from me and my +son Freyo." + +Now the herald was amazed at this. From the humble surroundings, he knew +the good dame and her son were naught but worthy peasants, and he +reasoned wisely that riches would not be amiss. Accordingly, he tried to +persuade Dame Grumble to accept some gift, a tract of fertile land, a +noble mansion, or at least a bag or two of gold; but Dame Grumble was +firm in her intention and would not be persuaded. + +"If my red apples have a power to heal," she declared, "they will have +thrice that power if given with a good heart instead of in barter or +exchange." So the herald besought her no more. He called the servants +and bade them strip the tree, and then, with many thanks, he hastened on +his way. + +"Oh, Mother!" cried Freyo, as they watched the royal coach depart. "How +fine of you to refuse such riches! All your life you have so longed for +a fortune, too!" + +"Indeed, my son," replied the good dame earnestly, "the only fortune I +desire now is the fortune that you will one day make for me. However, I +must confess that all the while I spoke with the king's herald, it +seemed that the Traveler was close beside to tell me what to say, and +that the words were not my own. Now, was that not a strange thing--and +he gone these many hours?" + +As she went about her daily tasks, the good dame seemed to have +forgotten her old woes and troubles and Freyo whistled like a thrush as +he sat working at his bench. The little cottage had never known such a +happy day. Freyo's tools seemed to fly as though by magic, and the gloom +that had been slowly settling down upon the little cottage quite close +to the top of the earth now seemed to take wings and fly off. It was +just at sunset when they heard the blowing of horns and trumpets, and +again the coach of King Silversword drew up before their door. + +Freyo, wishing to hear news of the Princess Silverstar, seized the +Traveler's staff and hobbled toward the door. But wonder of wonders! No +sooner had he leaned his weight upon it than he grew tall and straight +as a young poplar tree. Like an arrow he sped from the cottage door, and +Dame Grumble rubbed her eyes lest she should wake and find herself +a-dreaming. + +"Now look you, good Master Herald!" she cried in amazement. "You saw my +son only this morning, and he was lame as lame could be; and now, +behold, he walks as well as you or I! Truly, say I, it is a day of +miracles!" + +"Thou sayest right, good dame!" declared the herald. "It is to tell you +of another miracle that I have come hither. Only this morn the little +Princess Silverstar did eat but one of the red apples, and to the +delight and wonder of the court, she began to grow stronger. When she +had eaten three or four, the doctors and medical men pronounced her +cured; they believed that the red apples coming as a gift, rather than +for barter or exchange, had worked an important part in this miraculous +recovery. To-night there is great feasting and rejoicing in the land of +King Silversword, and the praises of Dame Grumble and her son are sung +by rich and poor and high and low alike." The herald then unrolled +another scroll and read the following proclamation: + +"Wherefore His Majesty, King Silversword, to show his gratitude, doth +now create Freyo the First Wood Carver of his kingdom and master of all +other wood carvers in the land." + +Freyo could scarcely believe his good fortune and begged the herald to +read the scroll once more. Then he began to shout with joy. "And only to +think, Mother!" he cried, "I am no longer lame, but can walk about like +all the youths whom I shall meet at court." + +"I am rejoiced!" declared Dame Grumble, "but if there be feasting in all +the lands of King Silversword, there should likewise be feasting in our +little cottage. You are whole and strong, and the Princess Silverstar is +restored to health through our gift. Let us be merry too! + +"And you, good Master Herald," continued the good Dame, "though our food +be plain, if happy hearts alone be needed, there will be no merrier +household in all the world than ours to-night. Will you not sup with +us?" The herald vowed he would be honored, and so Dame Grumble popped +another pudding in the steaming pot, and they all sat down. While the +three ate and drank, the good dame and her son recalled the wonder of +their visitor the evening before. + +"One could scarce believe the change the Traveler wrought upon my mind +and heart," said the good dame. "Before he came, I was scolding and +complaining always from morning until night. Yet since he entered into +my door, I have had scarce a vexatious thought." + +"It would seem, good dame, that the Traveler was some gentle spirit come +from afar," agreed the herald. "I do not doubt that he and his magic +arts are the secret cause of these miracles we have seen to-day." + +When he departed with the herald the next day, Freyo left behind the +Traveler's staff; the good dame fancied it would be a guard against the +return of her low spirits. She leaned on it as she stood by the cottage +door and waved her son a farewell and thought with pride how handsome he +was now that he was tall and straight. Thus we must leave Dame Grumble +in the country quite close to the top of the earth, and journey off +with Freyo on the way to seek his fortune. + + +IV + +At the court of King Silversword, Freyo was welcomed with much honor and +ceremony. Dame Grumble's gift to the little princess had made a thousand +good friends for him, it seemed. King Silversword looked at him with +eyes of gratitude; Queen Silverland could not praise him enough. The +Little Princess Silverstar took much pleasure in the tales that Freyo +told her of the North Wind and the Apple Tree. Before many days had +passed, Freyo had become the child's favorite courtier, and was a +favorite of the whole Court likewise. The noble lords vowed that Freyo +had wisdom beyond his years and vied with one another to do him +kindnesses. The noble ladies declared that Freyo had a kindly heart as +well as handsome features. They said his gentle manners were worthy of a +duke's son. King Silversword gave orders that a fine workroom be built +at the top of the royal palace and fitted with every sort of tool that a +wood carver might fancy. He also sent great ships a-sailing off to +distant lands to bring rare woods for Freyo's work. + +When all things were in order, Freyo began his first task for the great +King Silversword: it was to carve seven great chests which would be used +as dower chests for the little princess by and by. So fine was the +design upon each chest, and so delicate and intricate the carving and +the traceries, that seven long years passed before the seven chests were +finished. In all that time, although the princess grew to be a lovely +maiden, tall and stately, she still took pleasure in the tales that +Freyo told her of the Apple Tree that grew up in the country quite close +to the top of the earth. Now when these seven chests were shown at +court, it was the opinion of wise men and artists from far and near that +their equal could not be found in all the world. King Silversword was +greatly pleased, and in reward he commanded that Freyo be made Duke of +Freyoland. Ten thousand leagues of land in the country quite close to +the top of the earth were given him for his domain, and a noble castle +was likewise built there for him. + +The seven dower chests were next filled full of gold and jewels, and +orders for a splendid ball were given. Princes and dukes as well as +lords and marquises from every court on earth were bidden to attend, and +from this assemblage of noble youths, the Princess Silverstar would +choose her husband. Some gossips at the court declared it was assured +that Princess Silverstar would choose Prince Goldenmines, the richest +prince in all the world. Others thought that she would surely favor +Prince Palmire, because he was so handsome. Judge then of the surprise +of all when Princess Silverstar chose Freyo for her prince and begged +her royal parents to consent. + +"Is it not to Freyo's noble gift, so long ago, that we do owe our +daughter's life!" exclaimed these grateful monarchs. "How then shall we +deny him for our daughter's husband? Announce the betrothal, heralds!" + +Then straightway the wedding day was set. Dame Grumble journeyed down +from the country quite close to the top of the earth and was made +welcome by Queen Silverland and her noble ladies. (To be quite formal, +we should now call the good dame Duchess Freyoland, for as mother of a +duke, she had likewise become ennobled. However, as the good dame liked +her old name best, perhaps we had best call her just Dame Grumble after +all.) + +In order that all folk might rejoice in goodly earnest at her wedding +feast, the Princess Silverstar besought her father two favors. First, +that he would forgive all debts and moneys that his people owed the +crown, and second, that he would take no taxes for a whole year and a +day. She then commanded that every subject be given fine new holiday +attire and a well-filled purse, according to his rank and station. In +all the history of the kingdom there was not known a finer feast than +this. The noble lords and ladies rode and drove or danced at splendid +balls. The common people sang or played games on the highways and +feasted on the village greens. Then when the seven days of fun and +feasting passed at last, and Freyo with his lovely bride drove off to +their castle, Dame Grumble sat beside them in the royal chariot. But not +for long could the good dame content herself in their splendid castle. +Her heart began to yearn, and she began to pine most sadly for her +home. Though Freyo and his lovely bride begged her to stay and dwell +with them forever, the good dame would not hear of it. + +"Ah, no, my children!" cried Dame Grumble. "Long, long ago, 'tis true, I +wished for a noble house and fancied I would be happy as a queen if I +might live in one. Since the visit of the Traveler, I have grown much +wiser. I know that I can be happy as a queen if I am but content. So in +my little cottage with the North Wind and the Apple Tree for friends, I +shall dwell all my days." + +So saying, Dame Grumble bade Freyo and his lovely bride farewell, and +leaning on the Traveler's staff she set off for home. She reached her +little cottage on a bright spring day, just when the Apple Tree was +decked in clouds of fragrant, pinky-white blossoms, and looked as lovely +as a fairy tree. Dame Grumble gazed with satisfaction on her favorite +tree, and as she gazed it came to her mind that in all the noble sights +she saw at court, she had seen nothing half so lovely as the Apple Tree +in spring. + +It was not long now before the North Wind came roaring over field and +forest in his usual fashion, but when he saw Dame Grumble he ceased +suddenly. He asked most civilly how the good dame did and whether she +had liked the life at court. To all his questions Dame Grumble made most +amiable reply and hoped the North Wind's health was fair. For, if you +will believe me, these two old enemies were now good friends. They had +not had a cross word or a quarrel since the evening of the Traveler's +visit long ago. + +"And now, Dame Grumble," said the North Wind, "for seven long years you +have ceased your scolding and grumbling, and if you will it so, the +spell that bound the Apple Tree may now be broken. Only command me to +cease my mischief, and I will touch your blossoms nevermore. Likewise +command the Apple Tree to bear you golden apples, and you shall have +them." + +"But North Wind!" cried the Apple Tree. "First tell my mistress what you +have done with all the pennies from my blossoms. My mistress has a heart +of gold and needs not golden apples." + +Dame Grumble smiled with pleasure that the Apple Tree should speak thus +kindly of her. Well she remembered the olden days when she had often +been most harsh with her favorite tree, and she hoped the tree had now +forgiven her. "The Apple Tree praises my heart too highly," said Dame +Grumble modestly. "Still, North Wind, I must own that I have been most +curious about the pennies from the blossoms you have blown away." + +"The pennies were not stored in some hollow of the earth, as you +supposed, long, long ago, when you set out to find them," said the North +Wind. "Each springtime, when I blew the blossoms of the Apple Tree +around the world, I dropped the pennies at the feet of poor children who +had none but me to love them. These poor children then ran pell-mell to +the nearest sweet shop to spend their pennies and were happy as larks in +consequence." + +"The Apple Tree is right!" declared Dame Grumble. "For all the golden +apples in the world, I would not rob a single poor child of its penny. +So blow your fiercest, North Wind; and Apple Tree, see to it that there +be a penny for every orphan child on earth." The North Wind obeyed, and +Dame Grumble smiled to see the lovely blossoms flying through the air +like April snow. + +And so the good dame settled down to dwell in peace and happiness. +Kings' palaces and dukes' castles were all very well, said she, but +after all, there was no place like home. As for climate and a clear blue +sky in summer, there was no place to equal the country quite close to +the top of the earth, Dame Grumble thought. Often and often, just at +candlelight, Dame Grumble peered into the dusk and gloom in hopes of +seeing the Traveler coming toward her door; but he came not. Sometimes +she asked the North Wind for news of him, but he could tell her little. + +"I think," said the North Wind, "that the Traveler still journeys round +the earth, but always in advance of me. Sometimes I travel over cities +where all folk are content, and where there are no strifes nor quarrels. +I hear folk speaking of a noble traveler who has lingered with them, and +I have often thought it is the Traveler whom we seek. If I should ever +meet him, I shall tell him that Dame Grumble waits each evening to +welcome him." + +"But my mistress, and you too, North Wind," said the Apple Tree, "have +you not heard it said the Traveler visits only those who are sad and +sorrowful, or who are afflicted with cold, selfish hearts? If that be +true, he will return to our little cottage no more; there is no need for +him." + +Now it would seem that the Apple Tree was right, for the Traveler +returned no more. And in all the world there was not such another place +for comfort and good cheer as Dame Grumble's little cottage quite close +to the top of the earth where the North Wind blew fiercely each spring. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A TALE OF THE NORTHLAND KINGDOM + + +I + +Long, long ago, in a certain far-off region of the world, there was a +land of ice and snow, and this land was called the Northland Kingdom. +There each year the ice broke on the rivers and flowed out to the sea, +and the snow melted in the valleys. Then corn and rye and other good +grains would grow; but these mild seasons were short, and for the most +part ice and snow abounded everywhere. + +Added to this, in the time of my tale there was no light in the +Northland Kingdom. All time was deep gray twilight or inky darkness, and +there was no day. Neither Moon nor Stars had ever pierced the +overhanging gloom and mists, and the sun had never shone upon the +Northland Kingdom. Reindeer flitted silently through this land of +shadows, and great white bears made their homes in icy caves by the sea. +When birds of passage reached this land of darkness, they trilled their +softest songs and went to rest, and when they waked, they soared away in +search of brighter lands. But knowing nothing of the light of day, the +folk of this dark land mourned not its lack and were content to dwell +ever in shadow. A thousand silver lamps and myriads of waxen tapers +gleamed always in the palace of the king; and in the fields the workers +sowed and reaped by light of flaming torches. The herders built great +fires on the hillsides, and in their light and warmth told their flocks. +The housewives spun by firelight. + +Now in the time of which I tell, the good king Tamna ruled the Northland +Kingdom. He was a wealthy sovereign even as the wealth of kings is +reckoned. King Tamna owned a thousand mountains of gold and silver and +the fish of ten thousand streams. Herds of reindeer and caribou beyond +all counting were also his, as well as the forests and plains over which +they roamed. Beside all this, King Tamna was sovereign lord of one +hundred princes of the Northland Kingdom. These hundred princes paid +King Tamna tribute; that is to say, they brought him yearly certain +portions of their flocks and herds and of their grain and gold and of +all that was theirs, for such was the law of the Northland Kingdom. + +Now good King Tamna had a daughter, Maiden Matanuska, Princess of the +Silver Birches. She was so called because her marriage portion was a +forest of silver birch that lay between two swift-flowing streams and +reached from sea to sea. Some folk thought Maiden Matanuska was part +wood sprite, for in spite of dark and shadows she would roam for hours +in the paths and lanes among the birches and was not afraid. The Maiden +Matanuska understood the language of the trees and learned from them +just when the ice and snow would melt. + +The silver foxes that roamed this forest were her pets. They frisked and +followed her about like faithful dogs; and though their furs were worth +a king's fortune, Maiden Matanuska would not consent to have them slain. +For this the silver fox were grateful and loved her dearly. They taught +her secrets never known before by men, and from their wisdom Maiden +Matanuska learned to tell when icy winds would blow and snow begin to +fall and when the grain would grow again. Maiden Matanuska understood +the songs of birds as well, and when the birds of passage sang of other +lands, where there was light of day, she listened eagerly. But when she +begged these birds to sing her more, they answered her with sleepy +chirps, for birds would not sing long in that dark land. + +It was from these sweet songs the birds of passage sang that Maiden +Matanuska came to know that there was such a thing as light of day. The +more she heard, the more she longed to see this marvel. While she +wandered in her birchen forest, she would dream bright dreams of other +lands, she knew not where,--lands where ice and snow were not, but where +gay flowers bloomed instead, and there was day as well as night. + +"Oh, my father," said she with a sigh, "how pleasant our land would be +if all the shadows and the gloom departed for a time and we had light of +day as well as night." + +"Ah, yes, my daughter," said King Tamna, with an answering sigh, "but +how to brighten this dark land I know not. For your sake I would that I +could; but for myself, I care not. Now I am growing old and soon must +journey all alone to lands where light or darkness matters not." + +"Oh, my father! Speak not of that time," cried Maiden Matanuska, +bursting into tears. She loved her father tenderly and knew he spoke of +the time when he must die. "If you were not here with me, neither light +nor darkness would matter to me, and I should be desolate and lonely." + +"Then speak no more of your longing for light," replied the king. "It +grieves me that I cannot give you what you most desire. But before I +have departed from this life, I hope to see you wedded to some brave +prince who will love you and protect you in my place." + +And though Maiden Matanuska vowed she wished no prince at all, her +father gave her protests no heed. "There is a handsome youth who wears a +feather mantle with whom I see you wandering in the forest. Who is he?" +King Tamna asked. + +"He is Prince Kenai of the burning mountain," said the maiden. "He, too, +has dreams of light and tells me wonder tales which I do love to hear." + +"Prince Kenai is the poorest prince in all the Northland Kingdom," said +the king; "but if his wonder tales please you, I shall say nothing." + +Now, as may be supposed, there was no lack of suitors for the maiden's +hand. Indeed these hundred princes of the Northland Kingdom each longed +to marry her. She was the fairest maiden in the land, and moreover, she +was as lovely of mind and manner as she was fair of face. + +There came at last a certain night when good King Tamna sat in state to +greet his tribute-bearing princes, and Maiden Matanuska sat beside her +father. In robes of purple velvet bordered deep with ermine and thickly +sewn with threads of beaten gold, with golden crown and sceptre too, +King Tamna looked a very king of kings,--a monarch of great state and +dignity. The Maiden Matanuska, robed in shimmering gossamer white, her +golden hair, that fell about her like a cloak, crowned with a wreath of +leaves, and in her hand a holly branch, looked like some angel newly +come from paradise. She seemed some lovely maiden in a dream, who would +perhaps take flight and float away in the encircling gloom and mists. +These hundred princes knelt before the throne and begged the lovely +maiden's hand in marriage. + +At this the king was troubled, for clearly Maiden Matanuska could not +wed them all, and how to choose among them he knew not. At last the +royal counselors advised him in the following way: + +"Now since these hundred youths be princes all, and therefore suitable +in rank to wed your daughter, let Maiden Matanuska for herself decide +which one she'll wed." + +When this was told, the Maiden Matanuska sat some time in thought and +then she spoke. "I'll wed the prince who brings to me the thing which I +have never seen before, for which I long with all my heart, and which I +shall love well." + +The hundred princes then departed to their various lands and began to +seek among their treasures to find the thing they thought would please +the maiden. Some princes brought her toys of ivory wrought in wondrous +ways, and some brought robes of doeskin, soft as satin, white as milk, +embroidered all in beads of many colors. But these proved not the thing +for which the maiden longed. Some princes brought her great carved +silver chests, and some brought chains and bracelets made of purest +gold; but none of these were what the Maiden Matanuska wished, and all +these princes failed to win their suit. So fared they all until at last +there were but three to try their fate,--Prince Kathalan, Prince Katala, +and Prince Kenai. + +Now Prince Kathalan was the greatest warrior of all the Northland +Kingdom. He had won a hundred battles and boasted that he would win a +hundred more. He gloried in his warlike fame and doubted not that Maiden +Matanuska would favor him above all others. + +Katala, who was wealthiest prince of all, rejoiced because his slaves +had lately found a diamond mine, the like of which was never known +before in all the Northland Kingdom. Prince Katala had great faith in +the power of his riches and was full sure that Maiden Matanuska would +smile upon his suit. + +Prince Kenai dwelt in the land of a burning mountain whose fires +destroyed his forests and laid waste his lands, and the land itself, +moreover, was not enriched with gold or silver or with any other metal. +Because of this, Prince Kenai was called poorest prince of all; but +because in all the Northland Kingdom none other dared venture near this +burning mountain, he was counted bravest prince of all. + +Of these three, Prince Kathalan spoke first. "Oh, Maiden Matanuska, +Princess of the Silver Birch," cried he, "I bring to you this magic bird +of battle, my raven. Black as its wings are, wise is the bird, and +moreover it hath the gift of speech and prophecy. With this magic raven +as my omen, no warrior can worst me in battle, and I can conquer +legions. So marry me, O Maiden, and I will make you the most powerful +queen the world has ever known." + +The Maiden Matanuska shook her head. "You have not guessed my meaning +rightly," answered she. "I care not to be a queen of power, for such +queens are unhappy, I have often heard; and I hate the thought of +battle. So keep your magic raven, warrior prince. I love far better the +gentle doves that flutter around me in my forest." + +Prince Kathalan departed in a rage, and Prince Katala stood before the +throne. + +"Oh, Maiden Matanuska, Princess of the Silver Birch," cried he, "I bring +to you a golden casket filled full of gems called diamonds which you +have never seen before, and which you will love well, for they are truly +lovely. And these are not a thousandth part of all my wealth; so marry +me, O Maiden, and I will make you the richest queen the world has ever +known." + +The gems within the casket flashed forth purple fire and shone like +brilliant stars; but Maiden Matanuska sighed again. + +"I care not for great riches, Prince Katala," answered she, "for I have +riches of my own in goodly store. As for thy diamonds,--though they be +truly lovely, as you say, I should as soon love the icicles that cluster +round my casement in the storm. They are as hard and cold." + +Prince Katala departed likewise in a rage, and Prince Kenai bowed low +before the throne. + +"And now what treasure do you bring to win my hand, brave prince?" +asked Maiden Matanuska. + +To which the prince replied, "I bring you none, and neither do I seek to +win your hand. Your heart is what I do desire, O Maiden, for I do love +you truly and would die to serve you. + +"Now in your father's halls are treasures and all riches in great store. +Fair silken banners hang the walls to shut the cold drafts out; a +thousand gleaming silver lamps light the way; great chests are filled +full of ornaments of beaten gold, as well as many other things my eyes +have not discovered. With all this wealth heaped high on every hand, if +you still long for that which you have never seen, think you that in my +barren land it will be found? In my land so poor that even crows forsake +it?" + +"Well said, brave prince," the king replied, "and if you have not +treasures such as men hold dear, you have indeed a noble gift of speech. +But even so, some gift or token you must surely bring, or otherwise you +had not come at all but stayed within your barren land. Come, tell us +what it is." + +"I bring no treasure save the treasure of a wonder tale which you will +hear," said Prince Kenai, and then began to tell. + +"Within my land, as well you know, there lies a burning mountain from +which men flee in fear, but which I love. Now when my mountain has burst +forth in flames, and tongues of fire that reach to heaven light the sky +of all the world, I have seen wondrous things. I have seen other lands +far distant, where ice and snow are not, but where the green grass +clothes the hills and plains; where poppies shaped like golden chalices +grow thick, and birds sing hour after hour. And in these pleasant lands +of which I tell, there is a time of light as well as dark. This time of +light lasts many hours long and is called day." + +"Then tell me this, Prince Kenai," cried the king. "How comes this light +of day to other lands? It comes not to this dreary realm of ours, where +it would be most welcome." + +"I'll tell you that," replied the prince. "There is a wondrous traveler +called the Sun who high up in the clouds does journey ceaselessly about +the world. He has great power over night and causes darkness to break +forth in light wherever he does turn his face toward any land. + +"And now farewell, good king and Maiden Matanuska, whom I love. I go to +seek the Sun and beg him to return with me and shine upon the Northland +Kingdom as he does on other lands upon the earth. Then will we have the +light of day as well as night, and Maiden Matanuska will have that which +she has never seen, for which she longs with all her heart, and which +she will love well. Farewell." + +Prince Kenai wrapped his flowing feather mantle around him and took +leave of the king. The Maiden Matanuska walked with him through her +forest where the silver birches grew down to the borders of the sea, and +there they parted. + +"Oh, my brave prince," wept Maiden Matanuska, "my heart cries out +against your going, for since the day I met you I have loved you dearly; +but I was always fearful lest my father bid me wed another because you +had no fortune. Therefore I set the riddle which only you did guess. And +now, may all good powers guard you on your quest and bring you safely +back to me. While you are gone, the waking hours will often find me +standing on this shore, awaiting the glad sight of your return." + +"My beloved maiden!" sighed the prince. "With such sweet faith and love +to bless me, I cannot fail." He rent his flowing feather mantle in two +parts and wrapped a portion of it around the maiden. "I would I had a +richer token for you, love," said he. "But even so; this feather mantle +is no mean gift. Who wears it will be ever safe from icy blasts and snow +and cold and will be ever young and fair as on the day they wore it +first. Now kiss me in farewell and promise me that when I do return and +bring the Sun, you'll marry me." + +The Maiden Matanuska kissed him thrice and promised, and springing into +his boat, Prince Kenai sailed away. She stood upon the shore and blew +him kisses and caresses, but soon his form was lost in darkness and the +mists, and Maiden Matanuska was left forlorn. + + +II + +Now in those olden days, when princes journeyed around the world on +errands for the maidens whom they loved, the space of time they usually +were gone was a year and a day. So when a year and a day had passed, the +Maiden Matanuska often wandered through the birch wood and stood upon +the border of the sea. She strained her gaze far to the south to see the +sight of any sail; but Prince Kenai came not. + +She asked the birds of passage if they had seen her prince, and +sometimes they had news of him. "Oh, tell me, ye wild Gulls, of the wild +skies," she asked, "do you know aught of my brave Prince Kenai? He wears +a feather robe like mine and seeks in lands afar to find the Sun for +me." + +"Ah, yes," replied the Gulls. "We've seen a prince so dressed, and he +was sailing westward on the sea and seemed to seek the Sun." + +"And found he what he sought?" cried Maiden Matanuska eagerly. + +"Alas!" the Gulls replied. "The truth is, he did not. For many evenings +when the day was done, we saw this prince sail westward. He hoped to +meet the sun just where the sky bends down to meet the sea, but though +he sailed for days and days, the place he sought seemed sailing too, +and so he reached it not." + +"That is sad news," the maiden sighed. "But when again you see my +prince, tell him that all my thoughts are his, and I am sure he cannot +fail." + +Another time she asked a Kite-bird had he seen Prince Kenai. + +"Oh, yes, dear maiden," the Kite-bird made reply. "And he was in the +Southland, whither he had gone to seek the Sun. But he was worn and +wearied with much wandering, and the road was long; and by the time he +reached there, the Sun had long departed on his journey to the +Eastland." + +"That is sad news, good Kite-bird," said the maiden, "but when you see +my prince again, pray tell him that my hopes are his, and I am sure he +cannot fail to win his quest." + +And still another time did Maiden Matanuska ask an Auk to tell her of +Prince Kenai. + +"I saw him," said the Auk, "and from the feather robe he wore I judged +him first to be some bird. In lands where scarlet poppies lull the weary +travelers to deep sleep, and waterfalls make thunder down the mountain +sides, Prince Kenai I saw toiling up a rocky slope where it is said the +Sun does rise." + +"And did he reach the top of this steep slope?" asked Maiden Matanuska. + +"Now that I could not say," the Auk replied, "for I was flying swiftly +and paused not at all. But this I know; the Sun's a mighty, glowing +being and is like to burn all those who venture near his presence. +Unless Prince Kenai have some magic charm, I doubt if the Sun will heed +him." + +"That is the saddest news of all," sighed Maiden Matanuska. "But even +so, I shall not weep but pray for him instead. When you next see my +prince, good Auk, tell him that all my love is his, and I'll await his +coming though he remain a thousand years." + +"I shall," replied the Auk, and soared away. + +And so the Maiden Matanuska waited while the time sped on. Wrapped in +her feather mantle, she wandered through the birches like a lonely +spirit, and the trees were grieved for her. She still dreamed dreams and +loved to think about the time when she would greet her prince; when the +light of day would banish all the gloom and shadows of the Northland +Kingdom. Still years passed on, and still Prince Kenai came not. King +Tamna feared him dead or that perhaps he had lost his way and was a +wanderer forlorn; but Maiden Matanuska knew no fears. + +"The journey to the Sun is long, my father," she would say, "and my +brave prince no magic hath to make it short. He will return and bring +with him this wondrous traveler whom he seeks, and what a pleasant place +the Northland Kingdom then will be!" + +But as the time went by there came great sadness in the Northland +Kingdom. The good King Tamna laid him down to sleep one night and never +waked again. All folk both high and low mourned deeply, for good King +Tamna had been like a kindly father rather than a king. When at last the +time of mourning passed, Lord Boreas, cousin to King Tamna, came to rule +the Northland Kingdom. + +Now Lord Boreas was a cruel sovereign, a tyrant, and the people were +unhappy under his rule. He made harsh laws, and if these laws were not +obeyed, he punished with severity. Lord Boreas, it was whispered, had +an evil power over the icy winds and rivers in the Northland Kingdom, +and few dared resist his will. His anger, it was said, had caused many a +village to be blown into the sea and noble cities to be flooded with a +rush of waters. But while the rule of this harsh king fell hard on all +alike, on Maiden Matanuska it fell hardest. Lord Boreas was her +guardian. He scorned the simple customs of the good King Tamna and +straightway ordered all things to his liking. He planned to fell the +Maiden Matanuska's forest and build a city in its place. + +"However, my sweet cousin," said Lord Boreas, "I'll wait until the next +mild season is at hand. Then when the silver foxes come from their +winter's sleep, my hunters shall lay traps for them and slay them every +one. Their skins will sell for gold, and for your marriage portion you +shall have a noble city and ten thousand chests of gold, and I myself +will marry you and make you queen." + +Though Maiden Matanuska's heart was sad, and she wept bitter tears for +her loved trees and pets, she made no protest at her cousin's words. +She feared his wrath, and so she bowed her head submissively. But when +the palace slept and all was still, wrapped in her feather mantle, she +stole softly out. Down through the shadowy lanes and misty isles among +the silver birches she sped, until she reached the border of the sea. +Then through the gloom she peered to see the sight of any sail; but no +sail she saw. + +"Oh, my beloved prince," she wept, "I fear that when you come 'twill be +too late. For rather than to wed my cruel cousin, I'll fling myself into +the sea and die!" + +"Now, Maiden Matanuska, what grave sorrow can this be?" a gruff voice +spoke beside her. It was old Reynard, chief of all the silver foxes. He +had stolen from the burrow to learn how went the season and to know when +he might waken all his sleeping tribe. + +"Oh, Reynard, my good friend!" exclaimed the maiden. "Since first you +did begin your winter's sleep, I have had many sorrows. My father, good +King Tamna, is no more, and now my cruel cousin Boreas rules the +Northland Kingdom." She told her tale of sorrows, and old Reynard +listened, all alert. + +"Without a doubt, your cruel cousin Boreas hath an evil power over the +winds and streams," said he, when she had finished, "but he shall learn +it is not simple to outwit the cunning fox. Now in the past, as you, +dear maiden, have protected me and all my tribe from harm, so will we +now protect you in your need. Come, follow me; do as I bid, and all will +yet be well." So saying, old Reynard then led the maiden down beneath +the earth to where the silver foxes still slept their winter's sleep, +and birch roots wound about in and out. + +"Now, Maiden Matanuska," said Reynard, "if you will place a feather from +your mantle at the root of every tree, they will be safe from cold and +icy blasts, in spite of all Lord Boreas in his wrath may do. Then when +that's done, wrap you all warmly in what's left of it and rest you +safely with my people. When Prince Kenai comes I'll waken you." + +The Maiden Matanuska did as Reynard bid, and far beneath the earth she +hid herself from cruel Boreas. 'Twas well she did, for when her cousin +found her fled, his anger knew no bounds. He sent great parties out to +search the land, and he himself, with flaming torch in hand, set out to +seek her in the forest. Among the birch trees he found traces, showing +that the Maiden Matanuska passed that way. Upon a branch he found a +scarlet ribbon she had worn, and in the thorn-bush was caught a silken +scarf; but though he sought for hours and called her name, Lord Boreas +could not find the maiden. + +"Because I do not know the winding paths among the trees as well as you, +you think to trick me, Maiden Matanuska," he cried at last, in fury, +"but you shall know my vengeance now." Then climbing up the steep slopes +of a near-by mountain, and summoning all his powers of evil, he +commanded thus: + +"Rise, rise, ye rivers that flow swiftly to the sea, until the birchen +forest in the valley be all flooded with a mighty rush of waters! Then +blow, ye chill winds, from the east and north until these waters to a +solid wall of ice are all transformed." + +The rivers, obedient at his command, then rose swiftly and overran their +banks so that soon the tallest trees were all submerged, and nothing +but a lake was seen. The winds began to blow their wildest, and the lake +became a solid bank of ice that threw off chilling mists. + +Then Boreas called the people of the Northland Kingdom and addressed +them thus: "Behold the fate of Maiden Matanuska and beware! For so shall +perish all who dare defy me." + +The people wept and mourned in secret for the maiden whom they dearly +loved, but there were none who dared cry out against the cruel Boreas. + + +III + +Meanwhile Prince Kenai, bent upon his quest, was wandering still in +lands afar. Each morning in the dawn he saw the wondrous traveler that +he sought rise in the eastern sky and scatter clouds of darkness; and +each evening, when the day was done, he saw the wondrous traveler set +far in the west and take with him the day. But though Prince Kenai +journeyed all around the earth and halfway back again, he found no road +to reach the Sun, and he was sad. Still he continued on his way with +hope and courage. + +It happened once, while he lay sleeping on a mountain, an eagle wounded +by a poison dart dropped down beside him. + +"Ah!" cried the eagle bitterly, "from the great cloak of feathers which +you wear, I thought you to be one of my own race. But since you are a +man and I am wounded and can fly no more, I must prepare to die. You'll +take my beak and claws to show your fellow men your skill at hunting and +stuff my body to adorn your walls. Alas! That I, a prince of air, should +come to this!" the great bird moaned. + +"Fear not that I shall take your life, good eagle prince," said Prince +Kenai. "For though I am not of your race, I am a prince of earth, and to +my mind all princes, whether of the earth or air, should be as +brothers." + +Prince Kenai fetched water from a near-by spring and dressed the eagle's +wound with healing herbs. For many days he did the same until the pain +grew less, and by and by the great bird's wound was healed. + +"Now, brother," said the eagle, when he could fly once more, "you've +served me nobly, and in my turn I shall serve you to prove my gratitude. +You told me of your quest to reach the Sun, and I will tell you this. +There is no road to reach the Sun that mortal man may tread. The way +lies through the clouds, and indeed, 'tis only I and all my brother +eagles that have strength to travel there. So get you on my back without +delay, good Prince Kenai, and we shall start." + +Straight upward soared the eagle through the clouds, and when the day +was nearly done they reached the splendid mansion of the Sun. Good luck +was theirs, because the wondrous traveler had returned from his day's +journey round the world and was well pleased to see them. He bade them +welcome and asked the reason of their visit. + +"Oh, Golden Sun," said Prince Kenai, "far in my land which is the +Northland Kingdom, I learned that you had power over night and brought +the light of day to lands wheresoever you did turn your face. Therefore +I set out to seek you and entreat you to return with me and shine upon +the Northland Kingdom, which is a land of night and darkness. All around +the world I've followed you in vain, and never would have met you had +not this good eagle borne me thither on his wings." + +"Prince Kenai does not tell the reason why," exclaimed the eagle. "He +saved my life when it was in his power to slay me, and, therefore, I +have brought him hither, as was his wish." The eagle told his tale, and +when the Sun had heard, he praised Prince Kenai. + +"Now see," the Sun declared, "the mighty power of a kindly deed. Had +you, Prince Kenai, slain this noble bird, as most men would have done, +he had not brought you to my mansion, and you could not have begged this +boon of me. For your reward, I'll go with you. To-morrow morning when I +rise, we'll start for this dark land, and thou, my eagle, bear Prince +Kenai on thy wings that he may all the faster lead the way." + +For many days these three companions journeyed on through soft white +clouds and summer skies until thick, gloomy mists came into view. The +wind blew chill as though from fields of ice and snow, and the dull +skies were leaden gray. From this, Prince Kenai knew the Northland +Kingdom was at hand, although a pall of darkness overhung the landscape, +and nothing could be seen. + + [Illustration: For many days these three companions journeyed + on through soft white clouds.--_Page 86._] + +"I'll soon change this!" exclaimed the Sun, and then began to shine full +on the Northland Kingdom. Straightway all the scene began to change as +though by magic. The lowering mists dissolved and rolled away in rosy +clouds or formed gay-colored rainbows in the skies; the skies themselves +changed to bright blue, all flecked with white instead of leaden gray. +The birds of passage wakened from their sleep and sang their sweetest +songs. Upon the mountain side the snow began to melt away, and +many-colored flowers bloomed where it had been. No bank of ice or snow, +however high or deep, was able to withstand the genial warmth of all the +beams the Sun poured down. The wall of ice that bound the birchen forest +broke and with a roar plunged down into the sea. Then upon the waves +were seen a thousand glittering banks of ice that seemed like noble +palaces afloat. The birch trees all began to bud and bloom with silvery +leaves that rustled softly; and green grass, thick with violets, went +creeping underfoot. + +On learning what had come to pass, old Reynard wakened Maiden Matanuska +and led her from the burrows until she stood once more upon the border +of the sea. + +"Oh, my beloved Prince Kenai!" she cried, as she beheld him. "Though in +your absence I have suffered many sorrows, now that you are returned, +I'll soon forget them all. How marvelous is the light of day! And how +divine the Sun!" + +"And tell me, maiden," said Prince Kenai, "now that you see all around +the light of day, dost love it still as well as in the old dark days +when you did dream of it?" + +"Indeed, I find the light which you bring more lovely than my wildest +dreams," she answered. "To see the smiling skies, the blue sea all +a-sparkle with great glittering banks of ice, the green grass thick with +flowers everywhere, and over all the Sun shine down in wealth of golden +beams--I knew not how to dream a dream so fair; and next to thee, my +prince, I love the light of day above all else." + +Here they heard shouts of cheer and praise, and soon great multitudes of +folk went running through the forest. "A miracle! A marvel 'tis," cried +they, "that Maiden Matanuska is alive!" And then, in deep amazement, +they listened to the tales the Maiden Matanuska and Prince Kenai told. +Such tales were rare, even in those olden days of wonders. When both +were done, the Chief Counselor of the Northland Kingdom spoke. + +"Now listen, all good folk," said he, "and learn that in this very hour +the cruel Boreas, fearing the great power of the Sun, has fled the +Northland Kingdom, and we are now without a king. Whom shall we choose?" + +"Prince Kenai! Prince Kenai!" cried the people. "'Twas he who gave our +Maiden Matanuska the magic robe that saved her life; and he it was who +brought the Sun to brighten our dark land. He was our benefactor; let +him be our king!" + +"Wilt be our king, Prince Kenai?" asked the counselor. + +"If Maiden Matanuska marry me and be your queen, I shall be king," said +Prince Kenai. "What say you, my loved one?" + +"I'll marry you, my prince," she answered, "for I do love you truly. Our +feather mantles which have so nobly served us in the past shall be our +wedding robes; the birds our royal choristers; the birches tall our +stately chapel walls, and the blue sky above all, glowing with the +Golden Sun, shall be our ceiling. Your good eagle and my good Reynard +shall stand beside us and let all folk both high and low be bidden to +our feast to wish us joy and happiness." + +All things were done as Maiden Matanuska ordered, and they were married +on that very day. A royal feast was made, and sports and games were set; +indeed there was a holiday that lasted forty days. The Sun was bidden to +attend, and so well pleased was he that he stayed in the sky above the +Northland Kingdom and set not once until the forty days had passed, and +all that time was burning daylight. + +Then, when the holiday was done at last, the Sun took leave. "Farewell, +all folk, and you good king and queen," said he. "And though night come +when I have turned my face from you, fear not. For in the morning I will +come again and bring with me the light of day." Which thing he did. + +And from that time the Northland Kingdom was no more a land of darkness +and of gloom. The overhanging mists returned no more, and when 't was +night, the Moon and Stars shone softly down. The Sun his face turned +toward there every day, and though his beams were pale and wan when he +was in the Southland, he stayed each summer forty days and nights and +set not once; which custom he continues to this very day. + +Prince Kenai and the Maiden Matanuska reigned many years and were +beloved by all their subjects. Though scores of years passed, by virtue +of their feather mantles they were always young and fair as on the day +they wore them first. Indeed, 'tis said they never died, though folk who +dwell still in the Northland Kingdom differ as to what became of them. +Some say that when Prince Kenai and Maiden Matanuska grew weary of this +life at last, they wrapped their feather mantles round them, and borne +upon the eagle's wings, set off to visit at the mansion of the Sun. But +other folk declare that on dark misty nights a pair resembling them are +often seen to wander through the dim aisles of a certain birchen forest +where the silver foxes are found. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE LITTLE TREE THAT NEVER GREW UP + + +Long, long ago, when the world was very young, so young that the flowers +and trees and grasses had voices and talked with each other, or sang +with the breezes that blew softly around them, there lived in the midst +of a forest a very little tree. + +Now, though the Little Tree was straight as an arrow and had glossy +green leaves, she was the most unhappy little tree in all the world. She +could not sing with the winds, and neither could she speak to the other +trees around her. These other trees often spoke to the Little Tree and +asked her questions. When she did not answer, they thought the Little +Tree stupid and sulky. These other trees that could sing and speak began +to grow tall, and after a time they grew so high their topmost branches +seemed to touch the sky. Then, even though the Little Tree had spoken, +they could never have heard her. These other trees grew tall as giants. +The Little Tree grew each year, it is true; but she grew so slightly +that it could scarcely be noticed. She was greatly ashamed of her small +stature. + +As the seasons went on, the branches of the tall trees grew so very +thick that they shut out the light down in the forest. Then the Little +Tree could not see the sun at all, and one by one the ferns and flowers +at her roots died from the dampness, and the Little Tree was all alone! +Nothing broke the silence of the dark, still forest save the calls of +the birds when they returned each year to build their nests, or the +sound of the branches swaying in the breeze. Then there came at last one +soft spring day when the Little Tree waked from her winter's sleep and +began to sing. She was so happy that she sang for hours; but alas! there +was no other tree to hear her or to answer her song. So the Little Tree, +though she now possessed the voice for which she had longed, was more +lonely than ever before. + +At night, when all the world was sleeping, and while the Night Wind +roamed the forest, the Little Tree would weep softly to herself because +she was so sad. Then, after a time, her lament grew to be a song, a very +sad song, it is true; but oh, so very beautiful! The Night Wind, who was +fond of singing, came to listen each evening for the Little Tree's +lament, and as he blew upon his way, he carried her song to the Stars. +Now it happened one night the Little Tree was so sad and lonely that she +could not sing; instead, she wept until her tiny branches shook with +sobbing. + +"Oh," mourned the Little Tree, "I am so lonely here! I wish I could die. +If only I might burn on some cottager's hearth or warm poor children's +hands; but alas, I am the most useless tree that grows!" + +The Night Wind heard the Little Tree sobbing, and going close, whispered +softly to her: + +"Oh, Little Tree, please do not be so sad. What does it matter that your +singing voice came after all the other trees had grown too tall to hear +you, or that you are such a very little tree? Your voice is so sweet and +lovely that the birds of this forest now model their choicest songs on +yours. Each night I carry your songs to the Stars, and they too have +sung your lovely music." + +"Oh, Night Wind, do you tell me true?" begged the Little Tree. "For I am +such a little tree, how can the Stars hear me?" + +"They hear you thus, my Little Tree," replied the Night Wind, and +brushed aside the branches of the tallest trees. + +Then looking up, the Little Tree beheld the Stars high up in the heavens +shining down on her. They seemed to smile and beckon as she watched, and +so she sang her sweetest songs to please them. The Night Wind and the +Stars themselves sang with the Little Tree, and made such lovely music +that had any one been listening, they would have thought they heard +sweet strains from paradise. But all this happened when the world was +very young, and there were but few people dwelling on it. + +"And now, my Little Tree," the Night Wind said, when he had dropped the +branches of the tall trees once again, "pray do not wish for some +woodman to cut you down. I would miss you sadly, if you were to go away +from the forest." + +Farther on in the forest, the Night Wind met the Spirits of the Woods. +They were two sister spirits robed in floating garments made of mists. +They roamed the forest and cared for all the trees. They knew how long +each tree would dwell in the forest and when the woodman's ax would fell +it. The Spirits of the Woods possessed a magic bag of dreams, and from +this bag the Night Wind begged a dream for the Little Tree. + +"Ah," he pleaded, "the Little Tree is so sad and lonely, the other trees +have grown so far away they cannot hear her sing, and neither can she +talk with them. She would dearly love a beautiful dream from this dream +bag of yours, Spirit." + +"Ah, Night Wind," replied the Spirit doubtfully, "there is but one dream +left, and that is the Little Tree's dream of the future. If we give it +to her, you must promise that you will not answer her questions +concerning it. For it is a strange dream and will puzzle her greatly. +Will you promise?" + +"I promise," said the Night Wind, and blew upon his way. + + [Illustration: From this bag the Night Wind begged a dream for the + Little Tree.--_Page 96._] + +And after that night, the Little Tree was not lonely or sad. She never +became a joyous tree--her youth had been too sorrowful for that--but she +was content. Each night, when all the forest filled with creeping +shadows, she sang her songs to the Stars, and she came to love the Night +Wind dearly. Each night the Little Tree dreamed the dream the Spirits of +the Woods had given her, and strange to tell, it was always the same +dream. It was such a pleasant, lovely dream that sometimes the Little +Tree was puzzled, and wondered whether she really lived in her beautiful +dream, and only dreamed that she lived in the forest. + +Each night the Little Tree dreamed she floated far away, until she +reached a palace which was set on a high hill. Within the palace was a +great hall richly hung with silken tapestries and gleaming softly with +light that shone from carved crystal bowls. Within this palace hall a +great king and his court were seated, and sweet strains of music floated +on the breeze. But the strangest thing of all was this: the Little Tree +often thought she heard her own songs in this palace hall. She was not +sure, but she was greatly puzzled. She knew that she had dwelled always +in the forest, and how could she know the music of noble lords and +ladies? Then one night in her dream the Little Tree was startled to hear +the sound of her own voice singing the songs she had so often sung to +the Stars. She pressed eagerly to the palace window to see within, but +because of her branches she could not go very near, and she could not +see. Then came the dawn, and her dream floated far away. + +All through the day, the Little Tree called again and again to the tall +trees and asked them of her curious dream; but, of course, they could +not hear her. She waited eagerly to see the daylight fade, and when the +Night Wind came, she questioned him: + +"Oh, Night Wind," cried the Little Tree, "will you tell me of my dream? +I am sure I heard my own voice singing; but how could it be that noble +lords and ladies within that palace hall would listen to me? For am I +not the least of little trees?" + +But the Night Wind did not tell her truly. He had given his promise that +he would not, and so he answered her, saying: + +"Now that I do not know, my dear, but though you are indeed the least of +little trees, you are the only Little Tree in all this world to me. Of +noble lords and ladies and their ways I know nothing, for do they not +shut me from their homes and hearths when I would enter and warm myself? +But now, Little Tree, it grows late; will you not sing for me?" + +Thus with the Night Wind and the Stars for company, the Little Tree +lived on for many years. From them she learned much wisdom and came to +know about the great world which lay beyond the forest, and that all +trees would one day go there. And all this time the world was growing +older, and the forest was not so silent as it had been in the time when +the Little Tree first dwelled there. Sometimes the woodcutter's ax rang +out, and the Little Tree would hear a great tree come crashing down to +earth. + +"Oh, why must I leave the freedom of the forest and be torn limb from +limb in some wretched mill!" cried one of the tall trees, as he fell +close by the Little Tree one day. + +"Ah," replied the Little Tree softly, "you would not wish to dwell +forever in this forest, would you? In the world there is much that a +great tree may do to bring happiness." + +"Who is it that speaks to me thus gently?" asked the Fallen Tree. "I do +not know the voice, although I thought I knew all trees growing in this +forest, for I was among the first trees to grow here." + +"And so was I," replied the Little Tree. "Do you not remember the Little +Tree that could neither speak nor sing? I am she. For though I am ages +and ages old, I am scarcely taller than yonder little fir of ten +seasons." + +"In those days we thought you stupid and sulky, Little Tree," replied +the Fallen Tree, "but by your speech I now can see that we were wrong. +Who has taught you all your wisdom, and have you not been lonely all +these years?" + +"Indeed, I was very lonely," said the Little Tree. "Even after I could +sing, it was no better. The flowers and ferns had died, and there was +none to hear me or talk to me. One night I wept and wished to die, and +the Night Wind, who is of a kind heart, cheered me with words of praise. +Since then I have never been sad, for I have had a lovely dream each +night, and I have sung to the Stars." + +But this the Fallen Tree could not believe, and so he answered sharply: + +"Now, Little Tree, how can that be? Tall as I was, and high as I stood +when I was monarch of this forest, never once could I send my songs to +the Stars, although I tried to do so many times. Now surely such a +little tree as you could not accomplish what a monarch failed to do! You +have learned wisdom without doubt, and you sing very sweetly, I daresay; +but take care lest your dreaming lead you in untruthful ways." + +"Oh, pray believe me!" cried the Little Tree. "Wait only until the +twilight comes, and the Night Wind himself will tell you so." + +"More foolish talk!" scoffed the Fallen Tree. "The Night Wind is but a +feeble creature to a monarch of the forest, such as I. When I stood +aloft in all my glory, the Night Wind could not bend the smallest twig +of mine unless I willed it so." + +"That is true, my friends," spoke a gentle voice beside them. It was the +voice of the Night Wind, for all unknown to them, darkness had fallen. +"Because you were so proud and held your branches firm against my gentle +breezes, never once did I carry your songs to the Stars; but I have done +so for the Little Tree." Then he brushed aside the branches of the tall +trees, and the Little Tree sang to her shining audience so far above in +heaven. She sang until the Fallen Tree slept, and then the Night Wind +gently dropped the branches until the forest was all dark once more. +Then he kissed the Little Tree farewell and blew upon his way. + +Now, as more people came to dwell upon the earth, more trees were needed +every year to shelter them. The forest was no longer dark and silent. +The woodman's ax rang out, and here and there the sun shone down where +groves of noble trees had once stood. But even so, the ferns and flowers +and grasses did not bloom again. The woodcutters made dusty roads and +trails, and heaps of dead leaves eddied in the breeze. At last one day a +certain king gave orders that all remaining trees of this forest should +be cut down. He planned to build a noble city where the forest stood. +Now charcoal fires flared all night, and herds of oxen tramped the whole +day through, and soon a dreary waste of withering branches whose brown +leaves crackled dismally was all that remained of the noble forest. + +"Ah, Little Tree," the Night Wind mourned, "there is no longer any need +for me. When the forest stood, it was my work and pleasure to brush the +fallen leaves and lull the trees to sleep. Indeed, were it not for you, +I would be desolate. Each night I tremble lest I shall not find you +awaiting me." + +"Ah, Night Wind," replied the Little Tree softly, "it is because you +love me that you fear to lose me; but do not be troubled. I have seen +great trees fall to my right and to my left, and small trees likewise, +yet no one seems to want me. I am such a little tree; I am sure that you +will find me here forever. That does not grieve me, even so, for I have +come to love you dearly, and it would break my heart to be parted from +you." + +Then one dull winter's day, the Little Tree felt a human hand laid on +her slender trunk, and she knew her fate had come. She was such a little +tree that it took but two blows to fell her. When the Night Wind came +again, he found the Little Tree moaning with the pain of her wounds. He +caressed her tenderly and begged her to say her pain was better. + +"Oh, Night Wind, the pain is truly better since you have come," +whispered the Little Tree bravely, and died in his arms. + +When the Night Wind knew the Little Tree was gone, he flung himself down +on the earth beside her, and wept and wailed so bitterly that the +Spirits of the Woods came from the ends of the world to see what +troubled him. + +"Ah," sighed the first Spirit. "How sad it is the Night Wind should be +parted from the Little Tree. Could we not make him a mortal, so that he +may meet her again in the world?" + +"Agreed," replied the second Spirit. So while the Night Wind slept, the +Spirits of the Woods changed him to a mortal and called him Robello. + +Thus it was that some time later a youth called Robello came to dwell on +the outskirts of the noble city which stood in place of the great +forest. Now this Robello did not till the soil, and neither did he herd +flocks on the hillsides. Instead, at evenings, he played his violin so +sweetly and so sadly that some folk could not tell his music from the +wailing of the winds. People from that region, as they passed his +cottage at nightfall, paused to listen to Robello's playing, and many a +one wiped a tear from his eye at the memories it stirred. Robello's fame +began to go abroad, and wise men learned in the arts of song declared +that if Robello but possessed a fine violin, the world could hear no +better music. + +Now, at this time it happened that the king (the same who had ordered +the great forest cut down) received the gift of a rare violin. The maker +of this violin vowed that its like was not to be found the whole world +over, for when 'twas touched with the bow, it sent forth a sobbing sound +like the cry of a broken heart. The maker of this rare violin besought +the king and begged that no mere fiddler be allowed to touch it, and +that a music master should play it always. The king agreed and +accordingly commanded that all who played the violin should appear at +the palace. Robello went in company of a thousand other players. + +The palace of the king was set on a high hill, and as Robello entered, +he seemed dimly to remember it, although he knew well that he had never +been within its gates before. The king and court sat waiting within a +great hall richly hung with silken tapestries and gleaming with lights +that shone softly through carved crystal bowls. The violin players were +gathered together, and to Robello fell the lot of playing first. + +The king himself placed the violin in Robello's arms, and slowly, as +though in a dream, Robello drew the bow across the strings. With the +first notes wakened memories that had long been slumbering. Then as he +played, Robello felt the great hall grow dim, until at last it seemed to +fade away, and he saw naught but a vision: the deep dark forest just at +dusk, and he was once more the Night Wind caressing the Little Tree. + +"Ah, my Little Tree," he whispered, as he bent lovingly above the +violin. "This is the dream that you did love so dearly. Do you remember +me?" + +"Ah, Night Wind," sang the Little Tree, "although they call thee by +another name, to me thou wilt be the Night Wind forever. He who +fashioned me thus spoke truly when he said I sobbed like a broken heart, +for my heart has been broken with longing for thee. Let us sing the +songs we sang to the Stars so long ago." + +Then Robello played as he had never played before, and the violin sang +as never violin had sung before. When the last notes died away, there +were tears in the eyes of the noble lords and ladies, and the king sat +silent for a time. At last he spoke, and ordered that all other players +be sent away, and declared that none save Robello should ever touch this +rare violin. + +So Robello remained in the palace of the king and was made chief +musician to his majesty, and never had the Little Tree sung so sweetly +in the forest as she sang now at Robello's magic touch. Robello played +at all court festivals, and nothing had such power to soothe the king as +had Robello's music when he played his violin at nightfall. + +Then came a sad day when his servants went to waken him and found +Robello dead, his beloved violin clasped closely in his arms. The king +and all his court mourned the passing of Robello for many days. Then one +evening, just at dusk, they buried him with his beloved violin still +clasped closely in his arms, and strewed his grave with boughs of trees. +And in that region, to this day, there are some folk who say that when +night falls Robello can still be heard playing his violin within the +palace hall; but others say this is not right; it is the Night Wind +calling softly to the Little Tree that never grew up. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE TALE OF PUNCHINELLO + + +There lived once long ago, in days of jesters and court fools and +harlequins, a certain clown called Punchinello. This Punchinello, like +all others of his trade, whitened his face and painted it in grotesque +fashion. He wore gay satin robes of many colors all hung with silver +bells that jingled when he danced, and pom-pom slippers turned up at the +toes. This Punchinello was a clown of clowns, and his droll dances and +his merry tricks and songs had made thousands laugh. + +Punchinello traveled around the world in company with a circus. Whenever +this circus reached a city, it formed a great parade before it entered. +Then would the people throng the streets and highways, eager for the +show. They clapped their hands when lions roaring in their cages and +elephants led by their keepers passed along; but when this famous +Punchinello, prancing and twirling, came in view, the crowds cheered +wildly with applause. + +"Oh, welcome! Welcome, Punchinello!" they would shout. + +The ladies threw him flowers and children blew him kisses. Kings and +queens had often hailed him thus, for Punchinello pleased all folk. +Those who were sad and those who sorrowed often sent for Punchinello +when the circus show was done, and he would dance and sing to cheer +them. But for this service he would take no gold or present. So though +he grew to fame, this Punchinello grew not rich. + +"It is enough that I can make sad faces glad," said Punchinello, and +wrapping his great cloak about him, he would steal away, leaving +happiness behind him. + +"My store of wealth lies in the golden smiles my antics bring," he often +said, "and when my merry songs and dances please the world no more, I +shall be poor indeed." But with his light, fantastic dancing, and his +songs and jests, with his twirlings and his leapings,--was it likely +that the world would ever cease to smile on Punchinello? The world is +always fond of fun and laughter. + +"Punchinello is the greatest man in all the world," some folk said when +they had seen him dance and heard him sing. + +"That is not right," said others. "He would be emperor if that were +true; but Punchinello is the greatest man in all the circus." + +"But neither is that right," still others said. "For if he were, he +would be owner of the circus. But Punchinello is the greatest clown in +all the world." And on this all folk agreed. + +Now on its way about the world, the circus chanced to journey to a city +where a king and queen held court. These royal folk and all their court +watched the gay procession from their balconies and were delighted. The +king and queen sent heralds, saying on a certain night that they would +grace the show and to be sure that Master Punchinello played before the +royal box. Then as the pageant wound upon its way, with banners flying +and with music of the fife and drum, they passed a building where the +sick were tended. It was a hospital. No eager faces gave them welcome +here, and lest they should disturb the sick, the fife and drum ceased +playing. Punchinello fell to walking soberly along. Suddenly he chanced +to spy a tiny, wistful face pressed to the window pane. Then Punchinello +bounded lightly up the ladder, and leaping into the room, began to dance +and twirl about to please this little child. + +"And does my dancing please you, little one?" asked Punchinello when he +paused. + +"Oh, yes, sir!" cried the child. His name was Beppo. "Please dance again +for me. It makes my pain grow better." + +"Alas! I cannot, little one," said Punchinello, pointing to the circus +that was passing. "I must make haste to join my friends again." + +"Then would you come to-night when it is dark and dance for me?" begged +little Beppo. "The pain is always worse when it is dark, you know." + +"Indeed, I'll come, my little one," said kindly Punchinello, and his +gayly painted face grew sad. "Just leave your window open, little one, +and I'll steal in and dance for you and sing you to the land of happy +dreams." + +And that night, when the circus show was done and all the lights were +out, while other tired players slept, this kindly Punchinello wrapped +his cloak about him and stole out underneath the stars to visit little +Beppo. The little lame child was delighted with his songs and dances, so +kindly Punchinello vowed that he would come each night and do the same, +while the circus remained in the city. Each night the child lay waiting +for him eagerly, and how he hugged and kissed this Punchinello when at +last he came! + +"Last night I dreamed of running through the woods," cried little Beppo +to him one night. "I saw tall trees that seemed to touch the sky and +heard the birds sing in their nests. I never had a dream like this +before, and your sweet songs did give it to me, Punchinello. Come, dance +and sing for me." + +Then Punchinello danced his best. His slippered feet like lightning +flew; the bells upon his robes rang out, and he would twirl upon his +toes until his many-colored baggy robes stood out and he seemed like a +brilliant human top. He jumped, he twirled, he leaped high in the air +and bowed before the little cot as though it were a royal throne. When +he at last grew weary, he would stop, but then the child would beg for +more. + +"Oh, please, dear Punchinello," he would say, "just once again. It makes +my pain grow less to see you whirl." Then Punchinello could not refuse, +and he would whirl and twirl again until he was too weary to do more. +Folding little Beppo in his arms, he sang him lullabies until the child +fell fast asleep. And so the nights went on. + +The nurses noticed that little Beppo's cheeks grew plump and that his +eyes grew bright. He said his pain was better, and they thought it was +the medicine. They knew nothing of this Punchinello. He entered each +night through the window and departed the same way. The circus folk said +Punchinello was not well and told him he must rest. + +"Our show would be as nothing if it were not for you, Punchinello," they +declared. "To-morrow the king and queen will come to see us play, so +rest you well to-night that you may dance your gayest for them." Though +Punchinello promised, late that night, when all the world lay sleeping, +he stole away to dance for little Beppo. + +"Oh, Punchinello!" cried the little lame child. "I'll tell you of my +dream. I dreamed I wore a spotted satin robe like yours and pom-pom +slippers turned up at the toes. I dreamed I danced and twirled as +lightly as you do yourself. Now is that not a pleasant dream for one who +cannot even walk?" + +"It is, my little one," said Punchinello. "Come sit upon my knee and +wind your arms about my neck. Now tell me, has your pain been less +to-day?" + +"Much less, much less, good Punchinello," said the child. "Indeed, I +think your dances and your songs have charmed it all away. I think about +my lovely dreams by day, and lie and wait for you by night, and have no +time for pain, it seems. Come dance for me, my Punchinello." + +"To-night I'll sing instead, my little Beppo," answered Punchinello. He +was weary, and when he whirled his head grew dizzy. "I'll sing you a +song of ships that sail through seas of clouds; and trees as sing the +world to slow sleep when winds do blow." + +But little Beppo wished to see him dance. "See, Punchinello," said he +softly, "around your neck I tie my locket. It is my only treasure. They +say my mother placed it on me when she died. It has a bluebird painted +on it which is the only bird I've ever seen. Now wilt thou dance for me, +dear Punchinello?" He kissed the clown's queer painted face, and +Punchinello danced. + +And never had he danced so well before. As though he heard afar the +music that the fairies make at midnight, he waltzed and twirled faster +and yet faster, pausing not at all. He pranced, he leaped and spun upon +his toe as though he were a dancing doll wound up to dance so long. The +little lame child watched him eagerly, and as he watched, as though he +too heard magic strains from fairyland, he sprung up from his cot and +straightway danced and whirled about in Punchinello's footsteps. + +"Look, look, dear Punchinello!" little Beppo cried. "I am no longer lame +but dance as well as you yourself." + + [Illustration: "Look, look, dear Punchinello!" little Beppo cried. + "I am no longer lame."--_Page 116._] + +But Punchinello, whirling like a leaf, made no reply. He sang his gayest +songs and leaped so lightly in the air, there seemed to be a thousand +harlequins, and little Beppo followed lightly after. Suddenly the child +stopped, for Punchinello was no longer dancing. + +"Oh, my good Punchinello!" he exclaimed. "Why did you run away? I'll +follow after you," and down the ladder he swiftly sped. He saw the white +tents shining in the moonlight. "Indeed, I'll join the circus with my +Punchinello," said he to himself, "and travel around the world with +him." + +But alas! Poor Punchinello had not stolen off, as little Beppo thought. +For while in his wild dance that charmed the lame child's pain away, +poor Punchinello felt himself grow ill. His head grew giddy, and at last +he fell upon the floor, and there the nurses found him in the morning. +They placed poor Punchinello on the bed where little Beppo had lain for +so many years, and wondered whence the clown had come. + +And so it was the king and queen who went next day to see the show were +displeased because the famous Punchinello was not there to dance and +jest for them. No other clowns or harlequins would please their royal +majesties, and so they left in anger. They bade the circus owner strip +his tents and in that very hour depart, and when another morning came, +our little Beppo found himself in a strange city with the circus folk. +At first these circus folk were puzzled what to do with him, but as the +child could dance and cut droll capers, they made for him a spotted +satin suit and gave him pom-pom slippers turned up at the toes. They +would have called him Little Punchinello, but this the child would not +allow. + +"Good Punchinello was my friend," said little Beppo. "And 'twas from him +I learned to dance before I ever walked. I will not take his name, but I +will seek him everywhere until I find him." + +Some circus folk thought Punchinello had run off to join a show of +traveling jugglers, and others thought perhaps he had grown tired of +dancing and grimacing. Then by and by they ceased to talk of him, and +all forgot him, save little Beppo. + +Meanwhile poor Punchinello lay in a raging fever. The nurses thought +that he would die, for he was very ill. But after a long time the fever +left him, and then they knew he would grow better. He asked one day for +little Beppo, but they could tell him nothing of the child. + +"We came to waken him one morning, but the child was gone and you were +lying ill," said they. "We could not see how this could be, for little +Beppo was too lame to walk; but though we searched the city, he could +not be found." + +Another day poor Punchinello asked about the circus, and again the +nurses shook their heads. + +"The circus folk have gone long since," said they. "The king was angry +with them and bade them go in haste, 'tis said. We cannot say which way +they went." + +When Punchinello was all well at last; he rose and donned his +many-colored robes that jingled when he walked. He had grown thin and +pale, and they became him poorly, but he had not money to buy others. He +wrapped his great cloak all about him and started out to earn his bread. +Poor Punchinello was too weak to dance; he could not plow or dig; he +had not been so trained. And so at last this famous Punchinello stood +upon the highways and sang for pennies that good-natured people threw to +him. + +"I am the famous Punchinello," he would sometimes say. "Have you not +heard of famous Punchinello of the circus?" + +But those who heard him laughed in scorn. "If you be famous Punchinello +of the circus," they would say, "why sing you then for coppers like a +beggar, and where is the circus? You are not Punchinello, but a fraud." + +Thus poor and friendless, Punchinello started out to seek the circus. +His wanderings led him into many lands, and often he met folk who told +him that the circus had passed there. But Punchinello, journeying afoot, +could never travel fast enough to overtake the circus. His pom-pom +slippers soon were torn by stones along the highway, and he went +barefoot. His satin robe of many colors faded and grew worn. Punchinello +patched here with yarn and there with bits of leather cloth or sacking, +until the colors had all fled, and it was naught but rags sewn all +together. Poor Punchinello danced no more, for ragged robes and dancing +do not fit; but even so, his voice was sweet and clear as ever. + +"So I am not yet poor, despite my rags," he would say bravely to +himself. "For yesterday I caught a golden smile from one who flung a +copper; and who knows? Perhaps to-day I may again be favored." + +Then one day in his wanderings Punchinello awakened to the music of the +fife and drum. He saw gay banners flying and hurried to the highway with +the crowds. It was the circus he had sought so long, and as he saw his +old friends marching by, poor Punchinello's eyes filled with tears of +joy. The lion tamers with their roaring beasts strode by, the elephants +in scarlet blankets decked, the jugglers next, and then a little dancing +clown who stepped and pranced in drollest fashion. + +"Oh, welcome, Beppo! Welcome!" cried the crowds, and Punchinello saw it +was the lame child he had known. + +He darted from the crowd and cried, "Oh, little Beppo, dost remember me? +I am good Punchinello." + +But here the circus folk protested. "Be off! Be off! You bunch of +rags!" cried they. "Our Punchinello was no beggar, and you are not he." + +"I swear I am!" cried Punchinello. "Do you not know me, little Beppo?" + +"When I was ill and could not walk," the child replied, "a clown called +Punchinello cured me of my lameness by his merry songs and ways; but his +face I know not. He came always in the night. When he danced, he danced +so swiftly that a million harlequins there seemed to be about me: and +when he held me in his arms, I hid my head against his shoulder, because +I loved him dearly." + +"Do you remember this, then, little one?" asked poor Punchinello, and +showed the bluebird locket, "the only treasure you did own, and which +you gave to me?" + +"I do, and you are my good Punchinello!" little Beppo cried, and flung +his arms about him. He kissed the shabby creature and wrapped him in his +own fine scarlet cloak to hide the rags. "How I have sought the world +for you, dear Punchinello, to tell you of my gratitude; but I could +never find you." + +The circus folk went running and crowded round the pair. "Oh, welcome! +Welcome, Punchinello!" they exclaimed and shook his hand. "A thousand +welcomes. We have missed you sadly and now you will be our clown again." + +"But little Beppo is your clown. What of him?" asked Punchinello. + +"Oh, we shall both be clowns!" declared the child, "like father and like +son. Together we shall dance those dances that you taught me and sing +those songs with which you charmed the world." + +And so this Punchinello found himself once more in satin robes of many +colors, all jingling merrily with bells, and pom-pom slippers turned up +at the toes. His face he whitened and then painted it in grotesque +fashion, and with his little Beppo he danced that night and made his +old-time capers and grimaces. + +"Well done! Well done! Good Punchinello!" cried the people. "We have +missed you sorely, but enjoy you all the more for missing you." They +laughed and cheered him wildly until the show was done. + +"And now," said Punchinello, as he laid him down to rest that night, "I +am the richest man in all the world. A thousand golden smiles were mine +to-night, and better still I have the love and gratitude of little Beppo +whom I dearly love. What more than that could Punchinello ask? And so +good night!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE STRANGE TALE OF BROWN BEAR + + +Long, long ago, in the very far north, there lived a mammoth Brown Bear. +Never in all the world was seen such a gigantic creature. Brown Bear was +so tall his eyes looked over tops of trees, and his footprints were so +deep that a grown man could stand full height in them. They were great +pits. + +Now Brown Bear owned a gold mine so rich that the king envied it. Also +Brown Bear loved gold exceedingly, but as he had no hands he could not +dig for it. Therefore he lay in wait for travelers journeying through +the forest, and seizing them, he would carry them off to be his slaves +and dig his gold. All folk suffered from this cruel custom,--the rich +and poor, the high and low, the young and old. The king of that land +offered rich rewards to the hunter who would slay this monster or to +the trapper who would snare him. But no arrow was made strong enough to +pierce the hide of Brown Bear and no trap could hold him. So he +continued to carry off all captured folk to his gold mine underneath the +mountain side. 'Twas said that Brown Bear had as many slaves as there +were subjects left in the kingdom. 'Twas also said, the walls of Brown +Bear's cave were lined so thick with gold that they outshone the sun. + +It happened one evening that a poor peasant returning to his hut missed +his little child. His wife had lately died, and there was no one at home +to tend the little one. He asked the neighbors of the child and learned +that it had last been seen running toward the forest. In deep anxiety, +the peasant hurried to the forest, but though he searched all night and +called, he could not find his little one. When morning came at last and +it was light, he saw the child's bright scarlet cloak beneath a tree and +not far off the mighty footprints of Brown Bear. + +"Alas!" the peasant wept, "my little one is carried off by this great +monster. I do not wish to live!" He seized the little scarlet cloak, +and weeping and lamenting pressed it to his heart. Then when he could +weep no more, he rose and began to follow in the path of Brown Bear's +footprints. + +"I'll seek this Brown Bear in his cave," thought he, "and if he make a +slave of me, I shall at least be with my little one, and if he kill me, +I care not." + +For many hours then the peasant toiled through brush and bramble, and +when night came, from weariness he stumbled and fell headlong into one +of the mighty footprints of Brown Bear. He broke no bones, but for a +long time he knew nothing. When he awoke at last, he found beside him a +tiny baby bear that wept and shivered with the cold. + +"You, little one, are not yet wicked," said the peasant; "and though +your race has done me injury, still if I warm and comfort you, so may +some good soul warm and comfort my own little one whom I have lost." + +He wrapped the baby bear all in the scarlet cloak and fed it bread. Then +when it slept he took it in his arms and climbed out of the pit and set +upon his way once more. He had not gone far when he reached a cave all +lined with gold, and this he knew to be the home of Brown Bear. Caring +nothing for his life, the peasant boldly entered. When he was within, he +saw the wife of Brown Bear weeping bitterly. + +"Why come you here, O Peasant?" cried the wife of Brown Bear. "Do you +not know that my husband makes slaves of all men? Hasten away before he +returns lest he do you greater harm than even that." + +"I care not if Brown Bear make a slave of me," the peasant answered. +"Where is thy husband now, and why do you weep?" + +"My husband, Brown Bear, is out seeking in the forest to find our little +one, who wandered off and who, alas, I fear is dead. Therefore I do +weep," she answered sobbingly, "and lest you know it not, O Peasant, let +me tell you this; the loss of children is the greatest grief that ever +parents suffer." + +"Indeed! I know too well what grief is that!" the peasant cried, and +bursting into tears, he told the tale of his own woes. Now as he told, +the wife of Brown Bear fixed her great eyes on the bundle wrapped in +scarlet that he carried. + +"What have you there, O Peasant?" she asked eagerly. + +"A tiny baby bear I found when I fell headlong into one of Brown Bear's +footprints," he replied. "The little one did weep from cold and hunger, +and so I fed and warmed him. And as I could not find it in my heart to +let him die, I took him from the pit with me." + +"It is my little one! It is my little one!" the wife of Brown Bear +cried. She seized the baby bear and hugged and fondled it with joy. "But +for your kind heart, Peasant, he must have died down in the pit; so wait +you till my husband comes for your reward." + +She raised her great voice in a mighty roar, and presently Brown Bear +came crashing through the trees. He seized the baby bear and hugged it +as his wife had done, and when he heard the story thanked the peasant +warmly. + +"Now for this service you have rendered me, I'll give you all my gold, O +Peasant," cried Brown Bear. "For though I do love gold beyond compare, I +love my little one far more." + +"And just as dearly do I love my little one whom you did steal, O Brown +Bear," the peasant cried. "And likewise do all parents love their +little ones. Therefore if you will free all those you hold as slaves, +ten thousand homes will be made happy as this home of yours to-night. I +ask this boon, and you may keep your gold which you do love so dearly." + +But Brown Bear would not have it so. "You shall have what you ask and +all my gold beside," said he. "For while I mourned because my little one +was lost, my gold brought me no gladness, but instead did mock me with +its brightness." So saying, he flung open wide the door that led beneath +the mountain side and bade his slaves go free. With shouts of joy these +folk ran to their homes, and all the forest rang with their rejoicing. +The peasant found his little one and held him to his heart. + +"My little one! My little one!" he cried. "I wish no more reward than +this, O Brown Bear." + +"But you shall have more, even so," said Brown Bear, and gave to him the +key of the gold mine. "Now you are richer than the king himself, and +indeed, 'tis right that you should be. For what his thousand hunters +with their poisoned barbs and cruel traps could never do, with your +kind heart you have accomplished, Peasant. Go tell the king and all his +subjects that they need fear me nevermore. Through mine own grief I know +the sorrows I have caused, and from henceforth I'll live in peace with +man." + +The peasant thanked him and with his little one departed for his home, +and there a multitude of grateful folk were gathered to greet him. And +from that day the peasant was no longer poor. As owner of the rich gold +mine, he now became a man of wealth. The king respected him and made him +noble because he had done noble service for the kingdom. His title was +Duke Kindlyheart. + +In closing this strange tale, I too must say that Brown Bear kept his +word and nevermore molested travelers journeying through the forest. +Indeed, he grew so friendly with the king and court that he fought all +their wars for them and brought them many victories. When Brown Bear +died at last, as creatures all must do, the people wept for him, and all +the kingdom put on mourning. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BEGGAR PRINCESS + + +Once upon a time there lived a king who had great wealth and also many +daughters, among whom he divided his kingdom before he died. That is, he +gave lands and estates to all but his fourth daughter, the Princess +Yvonne, who from her lack of fortune was forced to seek her living in +the world. Having not a copper piece for her pocket and no gold save the +gold of her hair, which, though it was very beautiful, nevertheless +would not feed or clothe her, she was forced to beg her bread from door +to door and became known as Yvonne, the Beggar Princess. And the reason +of it all was this. + +The king, being very wise, wished his daughters to wed none but princes +from the most powerful thrones in the world. As soon as each daughter +reached the age to marry, the king invited to his court the suitors for +her hand. The first and second daughters married the princes of their +father's choice and went off to their palaces rejoicing, and so likewise +did the third daughter. Because of their obedience, the king was pleased +and gave them land and great riches for their marriage portions. He then +turned his attention to find a husband for his fourth daughter, the +Princess Yvonne, the fairest and most charming of them all. + +Now all unknown to her father, Yvonne, loved Prince Godfrey of the +Westland Kingdom. They had often met in the forest, and there they had +vowed their love to one another. Prince Godfrey had wished to ask for +the hand of Yvonne, but she, knowing her father's iron will, begged him +to delay. + +"My father is a stern king and rules his daughters in all things," said +the princess. "He would part us forever should it come to him that we +had dared to do aught without his consent. Return, I pray you, to your +kingdom and there await my father's summons, for I have heard him say +that you would be bidden to his court as suitor for my hand." + +Prince Godfrey, much against his will, consented to do as Yvonne asked. +He kissed her farewell and departed that very evening for the Westland +Kingdom. What befell him on the homeward journey, Princess Yvonne never +knew, but she saw him no more. She carried his image in her heart and +could love no other prince, though her father sent far and near for +suitors to please her. Knowing nothing of her love for Prince Godfrey, +at last the king placed her refusals to a stubborn spirit. + +"My daughter, Yvonne," said he, after she had refused five princes in as +many days, "how do you know whom you love or whom you love not? You, my +fourth daughter, cannot pretend to know as much as I, your father. Where +have you been to learn of this nonsense that you call love?" + +To which the princess made reply: "That I cannot tell, my father, except +that my heart bids me marry only the prince whom I shall love well, and +of these princes you have brought hither I love none at all. I pray you +now, turn your attention to the affairs of my younger sisters, who are +anxious to wed, and leave me for a little longer in peace." She was so +gentle in her speech and so winning in her manner that the king forgot +his vexation and busied himself with seeking suitors for his younger +daughters. + +They married according to his wishes and pleased him exceedingly. With +each marriage, the king gave portions of his kingdom, until at length +there remained but two estates, and of his nine daughters there were but +two unmarried. Again he sent for the Princess Yvonne, and this time he +spoke sharply to her. + +"Now, Yvonne, my fourth daughter, I have listened to your entreaties and +given you your will in all things, and still you are not wed. I cannot +compel you to marry if you do not wish to please me; but this I tell +you. To-morrow there comes to this castle a prince who has both gold and +lands, and who moreover is handsome and possessed of a sweet temper. If +you wed not him, I will give the remainder of my kingdom to your +youngest sister. Then you will be left portionless, and what disgrace +that will be! A princess without a fortune is a sad creature, and I +advise you to try my patience no longer." + +Yvonne listened with tears in her eyes. She dearly loved her father and +wished to please him, but her heart still treasured the image of the +absent Godfrey. + +The following day, at her father's commands, she dressed herself in her +finest robes and bound her hair with the royal jewels. Thus attired, she +went forth to the throne room to greet the suitor who awaited her. The +king was well pleased with her appearance and smiled encouragement to +her, but alas for his hopes! The Princess Yvonne burst into tears before +the court, thereby offending the suitor and bringing down her father's +wrath. He bade the weeping Yvonne withdraw and commanded his youngest +daughter to appear in her place. So agreeable was this youngest daughter +that the prince forgot his anger and fell in love with her before a +single day had passed. They were married with great splendor and the +king, as he had declared, gave them the remainder of his kingdom as a +wedding gift. + +Thus it was that the Princess Yvonne went forth from her father's castle +without his blessing, without a fortune, without even a copper piece +for her pocket, and without riches of any sort save the bright yellow +gold of her hair. She had been raised in a castle and therefore knew not +how to spin or to weave or even to embroider, which three occupations +were considered suitable for young serving women in that day, so she was +forced to beg her bread from door to door; hence her title, Yvonne, the +Beggar Princess. + +She left her father's kingdom and by and by found service at a farm. The +people were very poor, and she did the work of three, but they treated +her kindly, and Yvonne worked cheerfully. Early in the morning she drew +water from the well, and many a ewer she had carried to the kitchen +before the sun rose. She served the table for the plowmen and took her +own meal in the pantry while she tidied up after they had gone to the +fields. All day long she baked and brewed, or scoured pots and pans +until they shone like silver. In spite of her changed fortunes, the +princess remained as sweet-tempered as in the days when she lived in her +father's castle and had naught to vex her from morning until night. If +the butter would not churn, she would sing instead of scolding as the +other maids did, and presently the butter would come, and such butter as +it was too! When the loaves burned, she did not cry out against the +Brownies, who were said to play tricks with the oven, but received the +scolding from her mistress with humility. At night, no matter how weary +she might be from her long day, the princess went willingly to fetch the +cattle, for the walk through the fields and forest cheered her. + +It was in the forest she had first met Godfrey, and it was in the forest +he had vowed to love her always. So as she sang her shepherd's song and +called softly to the straying herds, she was with her absent prince in +memory. + +"He will come for me by and by," she would whisper to herself sometimes, +when she waked suddenly from a dream in which Godfrey had seemed very +near. Other times she would be frightened lest perhaps he might some day +pass her on the highway. "In my peasant's dress, there is but little to +remind him of the princess whom he bade farewell in my father's hunting +forest," she would say. She had no mirror and quite forgot her lovely +face and her golden hair, which a queen might well have envied. + +One evening in autumn, when the night falls early and the darkness +creeps on swiftly, the princess wandered through the forest in search of +the cattle. She was tired, but as she walked among the trees she grew +rested, and presently she began to sing. In the open spaces she called +softly, but no creatures came to follow her. The wind sighed through the +pines, and once she started, thinking she heard some one call her name. +She stood quite still and listened, but the wind died away and the +forest was silent. She wandered farther, and the trees grew more dense. +There was no moon to guide her, and after a time, the princess perceived +she had lost her way. + +"For myself, it does not matter," said she, "I can find shelter in the +hollow of some tree and there be very comfortable until morning." Never +before had the cattle strayed so far but that at the sound of her voice +they would come slowly down the paths and crashing through the brush. +They followed her like pets. She resolved to call them once more and +began to sing: + + "Oh, tell me, shepherds, have you ever heard, + A wee white lamb that cries at eve--" + +but she broke off her song and caught her breath sharply. An old mill +stood before her in the spot where a great oak had spread its branches +when she began her song! The mill sails turned and creaked in the forest +breeze, but there was not a sound of life about the place. There were no +doors, and though the princess walked all around the walls, she found no +opening save a sort of window heavily barred and crossbarred. On the top +of the walls glistened jagged lumps of glass. + +"It looks more like a prison than a mill," thought she, and then as she +peered into the opening, a voice from the dungeon beneath began to sing. +Yvonne's heart leaped for joy; it was the voice of Godfrey, her beloved! + + "Yvonne, Yvonne, my heart has ached with longing + Since I bade you farewell in the forest. + Each night my spirit has stolen forth + To kiss you in your dreams + Lest you forget me, because I came not. + A cruel king has stolen my throne and enslaved my land, + And until he is driven from it, + I must remain in this dungeon, bound by his evil spell. + Oh, Yvonne, fly to your father, + Beg him send an army to help my people, + For they suffer greatly and I am powerless. + But before all, Yvonne, unbind your golden hair + That its brightness may shine within these prison walls, + And sing to me that your heart is still mine." + +The princess unbound her hair, and in the forest about the mill all +became bright as day. Then through her tears she sang of her life, for +she was deeply grieved to find Godfrey in such a plight. + +"To think that I who love you should be the cause of all your woes!" +cried Godfrey, when he had heard her story. "Return to your father, +Yvonne. Tell him that you will wed whom he wishes and forget me, for I +have brought you naught but tears and sorrows." + +"Ah, my beloved," replied the princess, "though I cannot see you and you +be but a voice, you are the voice of one who loves me, and that to me is +dearer than all the world. I cannot return to my father, for now he is +dead, and my sisters have cast me off because I was portionless; but I +myself shall seek this cruel king and beg him to set you free." + +"Seek this cruel King Ironheart!" exclaimed Godfrey in dismay. "Surely, +Yvonne, you know not what you say, for never in all the world before was +known such a tyrant! Men he casts into prison, nor does he ever release +them, but condemns them to dig beneath the earth that he may fill his +treasury with gold; women must toil all day in the fields and for a few +coppers; while their children die of hunger, this King Ironheart has +granaries filled full of good grains. King Ironheart has vast armies, +each soldier of which is as cruel as his master, and were you to go to +the Westland Kingdom, these same soldiers would seek you out and enslave +you with the rest of my people. You must not go, Yvonne; as you love me, +promise me that you will not." + +"The more you tell me of the sorrows of the Westland Kingdom, the more I +am resolved to seek this cruel Ironheart. If I fail, I fail, but what is +my life to me unless you be set free, Godfrey?" + +"But, Yvonne," pleaded Godfrey from his dungeon, "think of my suffering, +should you do this for my sake. What powerful weapon have you to use +against this wicked Ironheart?" + +"None but courage and a good heart," replied the princess. "In the past +they have worked miracles, and so may they work miracles now. Deny me no +more, Godfrey, but tell me the way to your kingdom, that I may all the +sooner return to free you, for I will not fail." + +No words could move her, and at last Godfrey gave her her will. + +"Dress your feet in the slippers of bark which you will find beneath a +pine tree close to the mill. They will serve you for your travels until +you return again to this forest," said he. "Then watch closely in the +east, and when the sun rises, start at once to follow him as he journeys +across the sky, neither stopping nor staying, and at sunset you will +find yourself on the borders of the Westland Kingdom. Should you grow +weary or should your courage fail you, Yvonne, sing, and my spirit will +fly to cheer you." + +So with the coming of the dawn, Yvonne bound her golden hair and dressed +her feet in the slippers of bark. She looked toward the east for the +first beam of the sun, and when she turned once more to the mill it had +disappeared. In its place stood a great oak with green grass smooth as a +carpet growing beneath it. But Yvonne had no time to marvel at this new +wonder, for the sun rose from the clouds and straightway began its +journey above the world. All day long Yvonne followed after, now wading +shallow mountain brooks, now fording rivers wide as any sea. Now she +walked through cool green forests and again over hot, sandy desert +plains. She grew weary and longed to rest, but remembering Godfrey's +words, she sang instead. And so it was at sunset she found herself upon +the borders of the Westland Kingdom, and too weary for aught else, she +begged shelter of a peasant woman and slept soundly until morning. + +The Westland Kingdom, in the days of Prince Godfrey, had been the +pleasantest place in all the world, but now there was not a sadder spot +on earth. From his desert throne, King Ironheart had long coveted its +great forests and fertile fields, its rich mines of silver and gold +beneath the earth. He had not dared meet Prince Godfrey in open battle, +for Godfrey was a fierce warrior and his nobles were brave soldiers. So +it was secretly and in the dead of night, when Prince Godfrey was away +from his land on a journey, that King Ironheart entered the Westland +Kingdom and conquered it by force of arms. At the same time he caused +Godfrey to be imprisoned in the mill which sank beneath the forest by +day. Then having done thus much, he offered riches and high honors to +all Westland subjects who would swear allegiance to him as their +sovereign lord. The people with one accord refused to listen to his +ministers and remained faithful to Godfrey. + +King Ironheart was furious, but he gave them seven days in which to +change their minds. At the end of the seventh day, he called a council +of the Westland people and was gracious in his bearing toward them; but +from the highest noble to the lowest peasant, there was not one in all +the kingdom who would bow the knee to King Ironheart. From that day, the +reign of cruelty began. King Ironheart bade his army drive the men to +the mines beneath the earth, and when this was done, he rewarded his +generals and soldiers with the palaces and houses of the Westland +people. Driven thus from their homes, there was nothing left for the +women and children but to seek shelter where they could find it. Some +lived in wretched huts; others toiled at cutting logs to build rude +cabins, and all were forced to work like slaves. King Ironheart meant to +punish the Westland Kingdom and spared no one. + +Though the castle of this cruel king lay but a short distance from the +entrance of the Westland Kingdom, the road that stretched between was +filled with such sadness and sorrow that it was many a day before the +princess stood at its gates. Little children struggled with heavy +burdens, and when she had helped these, other little children with heavy +burdens passed sadly down the same road. Women toiled unceasingly in the +forest or drove the plow from dawn until dark; King Ironheart's soldiers +saw to it that none idled. Yvonne had no coins to buy bread, and again +she was forced to beg from door to door, but so willingly did she help +those who labored that the sad-faced women were glad to share with her +their scant store. A Westland woman, noting the slippers of bark, asked +her who she might be and from whence she came; to which the princess +made the following reply: + +"In my country I am called Yvonne, the Beggar Princess. My father cast +me off portionless because I would not wed to please him; and I seek the +tyrant Ironheart, to beg him quit the Westland Kingdom and to free from +his dungeon Prince Godfrey, whom I love with all my heart." + +When the Westland women heard her reply, they marveled at her courage, +but shook their heads and advised her to give up her quest. + +"You seek to move with pity one whose heart is cold as his name would +say!" they cried. "King Ironheart laughs at mothers' tears and takes +pleasure in the wails of hungry children; return to your home, Oh +Yvonne, or this wicked king will enslave you with this sad land." + +"That I will not do," replied the princess firmly. "With courage and a +good heart, I have come hither to beg mercy of King Ironheart. If I +fail, I fail, and here in bondage I shall remain with you who mourn +Prince Godfrey, for he is lord of my heart." + +The princess delayed her errand no longer, but rose with the dawn the +following day and was waiting early at the castle gates. On being +questioned by the soldiers, she said she had come to seek King +Ironheart. They asked who she was, and she answered them truthfully that +she was Yvonne, the Beggar Princess. + +"A Beggar Princess!" exclaimed the soldiers in derision. "Who ever +before heard of a princess without gold?" + +"This gold I have about me," replied the princess, and she unbound her +golden hair. In the morning sun it shone brilliantly and dazzled the +eyes of King Ironheart, who leaned from his balcony to learn the cause +of the sudden bright light. He saw the princess standing at the gate and +commanded that she be brought before him. + +As she entered the throne room, though she had not feared her father's +wrath and was not afraid to walk alone at midnight in the forest, the +princess was seized with a sudden fear that left her almost speechless. +It was not that King Ironheart was hideous as monsters are often +hideous, nor was he misshapen; but beneath his smile there lurked such +cruelty and malice that she feared her cause was lost before she had +begun to plead it. The thought of Godfrey lying in his dungeon stirred +her, and she asked leave of his majesty to sing. King Ironheart was +pleased with her request and graciously ordered his chief harpist to +play the airs for Yvonne. At the end of the entertainment, the king's +servants brought handsome robes and gifts of gold for the singer whom +the king mistook for some peasant maiden. + +The princess refused his gifts with dignity. + +"My lord," said she, "I may not receive gifts from you, for my rank is +equal to your own. I am Yvonne, the Beggar Princess." + +"Then so much the better," replied the king in a hearty tone. "I have +long wished for a princess whom my heart could love, and who would not +fall a-trembling at the very sight of me. We shall be married at once, +and I will make war on your sisters this very day, to recover the +marriage portion which is yours by all rights." He sent then for the +coronation robes and the crown of pearls, but again the princess waved +away the bearer of his gifts. With her singing, courage had returned, +and she now faced the tyrant king bravely. + +"My lord," said she, "I have come hither not to wed you, but to beg you +to leave the Westland Kingdom, for the people suffer greatly because of +your harsh rule; and to implore you to free from his dungeon Prince +Godfrey, whom I love with all my heart." + +King Ironheart was amazed that she should dare to oppose his wishes, but +secretly he admired her courage and fearless spirit and determined to +win her for himself. He promised her great riches and vowed to make her +the most powerful queen in all the world, but Yvonne was firm. When he +saw it was useless to urge her, King Ironheart grew angry. + +"And what powerful weapon or armed force do you bring against me that I +should thus do your bidding, O Yvonne, Beggar Princess?" he asked at +length in sneering tones. + +"None but courage and a good heart, my lord, and those can work +miracles," replied the princess. + +"Then," said King Ironheart, "if by miracles you hope to accomplish +your quest, perform to my liking the task I now set for you, and when it +is finished I shall leave this kingdom and free Godfrey from his +dungeon." + +He called a servant and directed him to bring from the pantry a handful +of corn, and when it was brought he gave it to the princess. + +"When it is spring, plant these kernels, and in harvest time, if from +your planting I do not gather corn to fill to the overflowing every +granary in the Westland Kingdom, I will enslave you with the rest of +this land, and Prince Godfrey shall remain in his dungeon until death +come to free him. Now go," commanded King Ironheart, "and return no more +until your task be done." + +The women who awaited the princess in the market place sighed when they +learned the task King Ironheart had set. From one scant handful of corn +to fill every granary in the Westland Kingdom! It was impossible. Even +Yvonne found it hard to keep a good heart with the thought of the task +before her. If she failed, Prince Godfrey would remain forever in his +dungeon, and yet from one handful of corn how should she reap a harvest +for a nation? + +She tied the corn in a kerchief and carried it next her heart lest some +of the precious grains should slip away. Each night she counted them, +and each night she rejoiced to find she had still one hundred, the exact +number King Ironheart had given her. From her work at the farm, the +princess knew well the labor of the fields and dairy, so she toiled the +winter through with the other women. One evening, as she sat in the +moonlight counting her precious grains, she heard voices near by, but a +hedge hid the speakers. + +"Ah," said the first voice sadly, "that one hundred provinces, the +fairest this side of Paradise, should be so crushed beneath this cruel +King Ironheart! I would that he were driven away, and that the good +Prince Godfrey would return to his own once again." + +"Have patience," answered a second voice which was exceedingly sweet and +gentle. "Know that for the space of the winter months the Princess +Yvonne hath carried next her heart one hundred grains of corn from which +the cruel Ironheart hath commanded her to reap a harvest for the +nation. Now such is the power of a good heart that when she hath planted +these grains, there will spring from them such a harvest as never before +was gathered in any country. Then, according to his promise, King +Ironheart will free Prince Godfrey and quit the Westland Kingdom +forever." + +The voices ceased suddenly as they had begun, but on looking over the +hedge, the princess could see no one. She treasured the words she had +heard, and with a song in her heart, waited until the winter should be +gone. When spring was come at last, she traveled with it through the +Westland Kingdom and planted a single grain in the center of each +province, until her kerchief was empty. It seemed that the land itself +was weary of the cruel Ironheart and longed once more for peace and +happiness, for such a supply of corn was never known in the Westland +Kingdom. In autumn, when it was gathered into the granaries, there was +more than they could hold, and the king's servants built storehouses to +contain the surplus. Then the princess went to King Ironheart to tell +him that her task was done. He had heard of the wonder from his +ministers and had waiting for her another task. The first he now +declared had been but child's play, and he vowed to free Prince Godfrey +when she should accomplish the second. + +"But, my lord, how can I believe you?" cried the princess in dismay. +"Even should I accomplish the second task, when it is done will you not +set for me another and another, and so on until the end of time?" + +"Never fear, Yvonne, Beggar Princess," replied King Ironheart with his +cruel smile. "This time I will keep my word right gladly. Though I set +Godfrey free a thousand times, he will never marry you, for should you +accomplish this second task, you will be the ugliest woman in all the +world. Think twice before you set about it," he warned. "If you fail, +you will be enslaved for the rest of your life; and if you succeed, you +will be hideous. + +"Now you had best marry me and give up this silly thing you call true +love. It hath brought you naught but tears and sorrow in the past and +will bring you no better in the future." He smiled and looked +graciously at Yvonne, but she was unmoved. + +"Because I loved Prince Godfrey, I defied my father and became the +Beggar Princess, Yvonne," she answered scornfully, "and because I loved +Prince Godfrey, I came to his land to beg his freedom of you who hold +him in cruel captivity. How then should I wed you? Tell me what it is +that you would have me do; I care not whether I return from my task the +ugliest woman in all the world!" + +"Then listen well to what I say," replied the king, "for I shall not +tell you twice. My kingdom, which lies just beyond the borders of the +Westland Kingdom, is naught but a great desert plain. There are on this +plain neither rivers nor springs, but instead the wind blows the sand in +clouds above it all day long, and nothing will grow in such a place. + +"Seek this plain, and when you have found it, cause springs and rivers +to water it, the better to nourish a forest which you must plant there +to please me. In the heart of this forest build for me a splendid +palace, the outer walls of whitest marble and the inner walls of purest +gold. Thousands of red roses must climb to the towers of the palace. +When you have done thus much, trouble not yourself to furnish it for me, +but return to me, and I promise that I shall betake myself and my court +to my own kingdom and quit this land forever and ever. I am weary of a +people who smile never but weep from sun to sun for their absent lord." + +"But Prince Godfrey; what of him?" asked the princess. + +"Ah," laughed King Ironheart, "I shall tell you also the secret charm +that will cause his chains to fall from him and his dungeon doors to +open wide." He bade the princess farewell, and his smile was more cruel +than she had yet seen it. Nevertheless she departed from his presence +full of courage. + +The women were again waiting her in the market place, and when they +heard the second task, they despaired of seeing again their rightful +lord and sadly resigned themselves to their fate. They followed the +princess to the gates of the kingdom, and as she was about to depart, an +old wise woman gave her a bag, saying: + +"Within this bag are pine cones and acorns of marvelous power. When you +have caused the first springs to water the desert plain, at nightfall +dip these into the waters, plant them and by morning a forest of oak and +pine will spring from them." + +The princess took the bag and thanked the wise woman. Strange to say, +she was hopeful about her task. + +"Who can tell?" thought she. "One task that seemed at first impossible I +have already finished." So she sang cheerfully as she went her way. In +her mind she pictured the delight and joy of Prince Godfrey when she +should go again to the mill in the forest to tell him that he was free. +For three days and three nights she traveled, and on the morning of the +fourth day she reached the great desert plain. It was even more desolate +than King Ironheart had said. Great stretches of burning hot sands +spread far and wide, and the sky, where it bent down at the horizon, +seemed copper-colored. The blazing sun beat fiercely over all, and there +was neither bush nor tree for shade. When the sun set, darkness came +swiftly and without the gray softening shades of twilight. + +The princess sat sadly and watched the stars come out. In the deep blue +sky above the desert they shone like gold. + +"Their happy gleaming seems to mock the heart of one as sad as I," +sighed she. Now that she was upon the desert plain she wondered how or +where she was to begin King Ironheart's task. + +"The gleaming stars mock no one," said a voice close beside her, "but +instead they shine brightly to cheer all those who sorrow." + +The princess turned to see the speaker, but she was alone on the plain. + +"I am the Spirit you heard by the hedge one moonlight night," spoke the +voice again. "Do you remember?" + +"I remember well," replied Yvonne, "and oh, Spirit, had the cruel +Ironheart kept his promise, Godfrey would even now be free of his +dungeon; but alas! The wicked king hath set me still another task." + +"It is to help you with that task that I have come," said the Spirit. +"Each night when the stars begin to shine in the heavens, expect me, +until your task be done; and now to begin as the king commanded, I must +have the blue from your eyes to make the rivers and lakes." + +"The blue from my eyes!" cried the princess in dismay. "Truly the cruel +Ironheart hath said it rightly. I shall be the ugliest woman alive! But +it is to free my beloved Godfrey, so take it, Spirit!" She felt a +movement of the air close beside her and an invisible hand was drawn +across her eyelids. At the same moment she heard the singing of a brook +near by and in the distance the roaring of a waterfall. + +Remembering the wise woman's advice, Yvonne dipped the acorns and pine +cones in the brook and planted them in the desert sand before she slept. +In the morning she awoke in a wilderness of forest, and the plain, no +longer barren and desolate, was alive with birds that sang, and wild +deer that ran among the trees. The princess sought the heart of this +forest, and there when night had come she awaited the Spirit. When the +stars began to shine, it came as it had promised. + +"The outer walls of the palace must be of whitest marble," said the +Spirit, "and for that I must have the whiteness of your neck and +throat." Though the princess shuddered, she consented, and the invisible +hand was passed over her neck and throat. No sooner had it done so than +in the open space among the trees she could see the outlines of a great +building whose walls gleamed in the moonlight. + +"And now," continued the Spirit, "if you have no wish to wander through +this forest of oak and pine, but long instead to have done with your +task, give me at once the gold of your hair and the red from your lips, +that I may finish the inner walls of the palace and cause thousands of +red roses to climb to the towers." + +"The sooner I finish my task, the sooner will King Ironheart free +Godfrey from his dungeon," replied the princess. "While he lies in +chains, the red of my lips and the gold of my hair bring me no pleasure; +so take them quickly, Spirit." The same hand was passed over her hair +and her lips and the Spirit spoke again. + +"Now look at the palace to see that it is all King Ironheart desired," +it said. "Then when you are satisfied we shall start at once to tell him +that your task is done. I shall remain with you to cheer you until you +go again to the mill in the forest." + +Yvonne did as the Spirit bid. She found the palace of great splendor, +and myriads of red roses blossomed over its white marble walls. Within +all was bright as day; the golden walls glittered like a thousand suns. + +"Even the tyrant Ironheart could ask no more," said she. "Lead the way, +Spirit, and I shall tell him that I have finished my task." + +Traveling by a short road known only to the Spirit, the princess reached +the Westland Kingdom the next day, and was on her way to the castle when +the women went down to the fields to work. They regarded Yvonne as one +they had never seen before, and she was puzzled for the reason. + +"Alas!" cried the Spirit sadly. "You are fair of face no longer, Yvonne. +They do not know that they have ever seen you before." Then straight +past the guards and into the presence of King Ironheart the Spirit led +her. + +King Ironheart cried out in fury as the princess entered the throne +room. "Old crone!" he exclaimed. "How dare you to come into my +presence? Do you not know I cannot abide old age or ugliness? You shall +be punished." + +"Old age," echoed the princess. "I am not old. I am Yvonne, the Beggar +Princess, whom you bid turn the desert plain into a wilderness of forest +and build therein a splendid palace for you." + +Then the cruel king laughed heartily. "Never," cried he, "have I been so +diverted. Go at once to the mill in the forest where the sun rises, O +Yvonne, Beggar Princess, and at the very sight of you the walls will +fall. Tell Prince Godfrey that I have departed his land and have betaken +myself and soldiers to the splendid palace which you so kindly built for +me. However, let me first reward you with this gift." Before the +princess was aware, he had flashed a mirror before her face. + +Yvonne gazed spell-bound as she beheld her changed image. + +"Oh!" cried she, "you are more cruel than I had even supposed. But for +you I had never known how hideous I have become. Truly I am the ugliest +woman in all the world!" She wept and covered her face that she might +look no more in the mirror which King Ironheart continued to hold +before her gaze. The Spirit, with pitying words, led her from the castle +and tried to comfort her; but at the sight of her changed image, +Yvonne's courage had fled. Even when the glad shouts of the Westland +people told her that Ironheart was departing the kingdom, she did not +smile. She wept all the way as she journeyed sadly to the forest where +the sun rose. She now longed only to free Godfrey and then to die. + +"For," thought she, "though he be gallant enough to wed me in pity for +my hideous countenance, I love him too dearly, and I could not bear that +all the world should look with loathing on his queen." + +Late one night the princess entered the forest where she had gone so +often to seek the herds, and at midnight she stood before the mill. It +was dark and dreary looking as ever, and no sign nor sound of life could +be seen about it. Standing close to the window-like opening she began to +sing: + + "Prince Godfrey, my beloved, + I have come to set you free. + The wicked Ironheart hath at last departed your land + And the Westland people await your return with all joy." + +She heard his voice from the dungeon beneath and listened eagerly for +his reply. + +"Oh, Yvonne," cried Prince Godfrey, "your voice is sad when it should be +glad. For even now my chains have fallen from me and I am hastening to +the door of my prison unhindered." The mill sank into the ground, and +Yvonne trembled with joy as she saw Prince Godfrey coming toward her. He +passed her without a glance and then returned to ask eagerly: + +"Old crone, hast seen aught of a beautiful princess who sang from this +spot not a moment since?" + +Yvonne, seeing that he knew her not, pointed silently down a path, and +away sped Godfrey. Then away sped Yvonne down another path and ran until +she found a hollow tree. There she crept in and laid her down to sleep. +"Though Godfrey search the whole night, he can never find me here," said +Yvonne to herself. "Then in the morning I shall go to the farmer's wife +and herd cows once again. None will be there to mock my ugly features, +and since my beloved prince is freed at last, I am content." But though +she spoke so to herself, it would seem otherwise, for Yvonne wept +bitterly until at last she fell fast asleep. + +Meanwhile Prince Godfrey shouted her name and searched the forest in +vain. At last he sat to rest and a voice beside him spoke. + +"You seek Yvonne, the Beggar Princess," said the voice. "I can take you +to her if you so wish." + +"But I see no one!" cried Godfrey in amazement. "Who is it that knows my +secret thoughts thus?" + +"I am the Spirit with which Yvonne set out to rid your land of the +tyrant Ironheart, and with which she gave her beauty that you might be +freed of your prison. The old crone whom you passed in this forest was +none other than Yvonne." Then the Spirit recounted the tale of the +trials and sufferings that Yvonne had borne. Godfrey listened with +dismay. + +"And now," concluded the Spirit, "fearing that you would feel bound to +wed her in spite of her changed face and hideous features, Yvonne has +hidden herself in the hollow of a tree not far from this spot. Shall I +lead you thither, Godfrey, or will you journey to the Westland Kingdom +alone?" + +"Ah, Spirit!" cried Godfrey sadly, "I would have died within my dungeon +rather than gain my freedom at such price. However, what is done is +done, and no regret or vain repining may undo it. So lead me quickly, +Spirit, that I may tell Yvonne how I do honor and love her for her noble +heart and courage." + +Now the Spirit was pleased that Godfrey should speak so. Then, because +it was a good spirit, and had no wish to see folk sad or unhappy, it +resolved that these two mortals had suffered trials sufficient. So while +the Spirit guided Godfrey through the shadowy aisles of dusky cedars, it +caused the earth to tremble mightily three times. Great crashes like +those of thunder accompanied each tremor; Yvonne fled frightened from +her hiding place and found herself face to face with Godfrey. At the +sight of his beloved one, Godfrey knew no fears and cried out in delight +and joy. + +"Oh, Yvonne! The Spirit did but try me," he exclaimed. "Thou art thrice +as lovely as the dawn itself which now appears in yonder sky!" + +But Yvonne would not heed his words, and covered her face with her +hands. Weeping and lamenting, she begged him to leave her. "Pray do not +mock me, Godfrey," she cried, "I cannot bear that you should see my +face. Indeed I am become the ugliest woman in all the world. Let me go, +as you love me. But for my fright at the violent trembling of the earth +I had remained safe hidden until you had departed for the Westland +Kingdom." + +"Then but for the violent trembling of the earth, I had lost you +forever!" cried Godfrey. "So I bless the one who sent the earthquake." + +"Then you bless me and I am free at last to fly to paradise," said the +Spirit. "I caused the earth to tremble. I wished the tyrant Ironheart to +cumber it no more. At the first tremor, in the forest of oak and pine, +the ground opened wide in a great chasm. At the second tremor, the +forest as well as the palace of King Ironheart were swallowed up in this +great chasm. At the third tremor, the chasm closed itself and there now +is nothing in that spot but a hot arid desert plain where the wind blows +the sands about in clouds the whole day long." + +"Then King Ironheart is no more?" asked Prince Godfrey. + +"King Ironheart and all his wicked followers lie deep beneath this arid +desert plain of which I tell," declared the Spirit. "And now, Yvonne, to +set your mind at rest gaze into the pool at your feet." + +Yvonne gazed downward and there beheld an image, so beautiful that she +turned to see the fair maiden whom she fancied had peeped over her +shoulder. The image of Godfrey smiling beside her assured her at last +that it was her own face she saw, and Yvonne's joy knew no bounds. + +"Oh, Spirit!" she cried. "You have done many kind things for me, but +this gift of beauty thou hast given me surpasses all! I am the happiest +woman alive, for now I know I am worthy to be Godfrey's queen." + +"I did but give you what was yours, Yvonne," returned the Spirit, "and +now farewell, for soon the sun will rise and I am off to paradise." + +"But, Spirit, will you not come with us to the Westland Kingdom?" begged +Yvonne. "What shall we do without you to help us with our trials? Pray +stay." + +"Nay, Yvonne," replied the Spirit. "Continue in the way you have begun; +remember always, courage and a good heart can work miracles and there +will be no need of me. Farewell!" + +"Farewell, farewell, Spirit!" called Godfrey and Yvonne together. Then +as the sun rose from the clouds they heard an answering echo of +farewell. So singing for joy, hand in hand, Prince Godfrey and Yvonne +the Beggar Princess followed the sun on his journey to the Westland +Kingdom, where they lived forever after, and where to this very day 'tis +said by some that their descendants reign. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SWEEP AND LITTLE SWEEP + + +I + +Once upon a time, in days long ago, there lived a Chimney Sweep and a +little Crossing Sweeper. This Chimney Sweep was called "Sweep." He had a +very black face, from the soot he swept down tall chimneys, but he had a +kind heart and dearly loved this little Crossing Sweeper, whose name was +Little Sweep. Little Sweep had a grimy, gray face from the ashes she +threw on her muddy crossings, and as for her heart,--I suppose it was +kind. Sweep thought it kind, and Little Sweep vowed she loved Sweep +tenderly. + +Now Sweep was his own master and owned a smart little donkey cart, all +filled with brooms and brushes; but Little Sweep had a dreadful master, +who beat her often and gave her scarcely enough to eat. Sweep lived in +a snug little garret, and Little Sweep lived in a cold bare attic just +across the way. The street was so narrow that the two could chat quite +easily with one another. On holidays, when Sweep, so black and sooty, +and Little Sweep, so gray and grimy, rode forth in the smart little +donkey cart, the people all stared and vowed it was seldom one could see +a couple so well matched. + +Every morning Little Sweep was out with her broom, before the sun was +up. Her master would beat her if she dared lie late abed. Now Sweep had +no need to rise so early. His trade of sweeping down tall chimneys did +not begin until later in the day. Nevertheless this amiable fellow +bought himself a clock with a loud ringing bell, and when this clock +rang out at five each morning, he would throw bread and buns to Little +Sweep just over the way. Little Sweep would eat the bread and buns most +eagerly, for she was always very hungry. Sweep bought her red mittens to +warm her poor hands, and wept when he learned that her cruel master had +taken them from her and sold them. + +"Ah, Little Sweep," he would say, "when my golden dollars fill the +stocking, we shall be married, and you will sweep crossings no longer. +Instead, you will sit at home in a neat little cottage and brew me soups +and make strong soaps to wash my black face. Then on holidays we shall +both ride forth, all clean and shining." + +"Oh, please hurry then, and sweep ever so many chimneys, that the +stocking may very soon fill with golden dollars!" Little Sweep would +reply. "My master grows crosser every day, and I cannot bear my life." + +"But you forget me," answered Sweep. "Is not my garret window just +across from yours, and do I not throw you bread and buns each day?" + +"Indeed, if it were not for your bread and buns, I know that I would +die," declared Little Sweep. "My master does not give me food enough to +feed a robin." + +"And I would buy you more bread and buns," sighed Sweep, "except that +bread and buns cost pennies, and if I spend too many pennies, the +stocking will never fill with golden dollars." + +Now in those olden days, as no doubt you know, kings and queens and +noble folk stored all their gold in great carved chests of oak and +walnut; but humble folk like Sweep hid their savings in a stocking. + +One day when Sweep swept down the chimneys of a rich baker, the rich +baker gave him seven tarts and a plum cake, for a present. You may be +sure that Little Sweep enjoyed a feast that night. Her cruel master had +gone off for the day and had locked her in her room with only bread and +water. When Sweep learned that, his kindly heart was touched; he gave +Little Sweep the whole plum cake and kept but one tart for himself. That +was the manner of man Sweep was. Everything for Little Sweep and nothing +for himself. When he swept tall chimneys in the shops of merchants, +Sweep would buy some bits of linen or some ends of lace for Little +Sweep. These Little Sweep would fashion into curtains and tidies for the +little cottage of their dreams. + +Now it is a curious thing to tell, but nevertheless quite true, that +though Sweep's stocking filled at last, and there were even two golden +dollars more than it could hold, still Little Sweep lived in her cold +bare attic. And still her master beat her. The reason of it all was +this. Sweep and Little Sweep could not agree upon a cottage. Sweep +wished a cottage with many chimneys, in order that he might work at his +trade. Little Sweep, on the other hand, who hated ashes and everything +to do with chimneys, wished for a house with all glass doors and windows +and no chimneys at all! Plainly the cottage to suit these two could not +be found. Then Sweep decided on a sage plan. + +"Now do you be content with a house of fewer glass doors and windows, +Little Sweep," said he, "and likewise I shall content myself with fewer +chimneys." So again they set out, and this time soon found a cottage to +please them. Little Sweep swept the crossings before it; Sweep swept +down the chimneys. Then at the doors and windows Little Sweep hung up +the curtains she had made, and pinned the tidies to the backs of the +chairs. Sweep bought a ham and a bacon, and likewise a loaf of white +bread, and behold, they were ready to be married! + + [Illustration: "Hide me, Little Sweep," cried Red Cap. + "My brother is after me."--_Page 175._] + +Sweep was very happy because his darling would sweep no crossings, and +neither would her cruel master beat her any more. Little Sweep rejoiced +because she did not like her trade; she was sure that she would never +again be hungry, for Sweep would buy her all the bread and buns she +could desire. Sweep took the two extra golden dollars and spent them +both on finery for Little Sweep. He bought her a little gray wedding +frock (to match her grimy, gray face, you know), some blue cotton +stockings, and a red ribbon for her hair. For himself he bought only a +gay green feather to wear in his hat and a bottle of oil to polish his +holiday shoes. Always, you will notice, he gave everything to Little +Sweep. + +Then the day before their wedding day, some very strange things came to +pass. Little Sweep was standing at her crossing when a tiny little man, +dressed out in green and wearing a bright red cap, flew through the air +and perched upon her broomstick. + +"Hide me, Little Sweep," cried Red Cap. "My brother is after me." + +"Hide in my pocket," replied Little Sweep, and no sooner had the first +Red Cap crawled into her pocket than a second little creature, larger +than the first, flew through the air and perched upon her broomstick. + +"Tell me, Little Sweep," cried the second little creature angrily, "have +you seen my brother flying north or east or south or west?" + +Now as Little Sweep had heard that Red Caps often did great things for +those who befriended them, she stood silent. + +"Stupid!" cried the second little creature, when she did not speak. Then +off he flew as suddenly as he had appeared, and out from Little Sweep's +pocket crawled the first Red Cap. + +"Ugh!" exclaimed Red Cap, brushing his tiny beard and dusting his green +satin suit. "How comes it that your pocket is so very dusty?" + +"I must keep ashes in it for my trade of sweeping crossings," replied +Little Sweep. "I hate it." + +"Then perhaps I might find you a better trade," said Red Cap, gazing +thoughtfully at Little Sweep's gray grimy face and raggedy garments. "We +Red Caps, although we be very little folk, be very powerful folk, you +know." + +"Yes, I have heard that you grant wishes to poor folk sometimes," +replied Little Sweep; "is that true?" + +"It is," said Red Cap, nodding gravely. "Make three wishes now, and I +will grant them for you." + +Now fairy lore is filled with tales of folk who had three wishes given +them, and, as you have perhaps remarked, these folk have often wished +too hastily and consequently wished unwisely. The old woman who wished +for black puddings is one, and the man who wished his mill to always +grind salt is another. And there are scores and scores of these unwise +folk that I could name. But Little Sweep was not like one of these. She +leaned upon her broom and paused some time in deepest thought. At last +she spoke. + +"First," said she, "I wish to be a beautiful princess, dressed in robes +of satin sewn with gold, my face all clean and shining, and on my head a +coronet of pearls." + +"Second, I wish to dwell within a splendid castle by the sea and have a +hundred rooms all filled full of gold and treasures, and a thousand +slaves to do my bidding. + +"Third, I wish my old master to sweep crossings in my place. That is +all." + +"It is enough!" cried Red Cap in amazement. "To look at you, who would +ever think you would even know enough to wish such powerful wishes! My +store of magic power will be quite gone when all you wish is done; but +even so, I have promised, and we Red Caps always keep our promises. Go +home and wait quietly." + +So Little Sweep flung down her broom, although it was but two o'clock in +the afternoon and she had yet to work until sundown, unless she wished a +beating. Her old master was seated in the kitchen, stirring up a bowl of +porridge, when she entered. + +"Lazy one! Idle one!" he cried out in anger as she entered. "Is it thus +you leave your work at midday? But I have something to make you lively." +He seized the rope. But for once in her life Little Sweep was not +afraid. + +"You had better not," said she boldly. The old master heeded her not, +however, and raised the rope to strike. Before it fell, he screamed in +amazement! Little Sweep's rags fell from her suddenly, and she stood +before him, a beautiful princess robed in satin, and on her haughty +brow a coronet of pearls. + +"Oh! Oh!" cried the old master in dismay. "Had I known you were a +beautiful princess in disguise, never, never would I have beaten you; +neither would I have starved you, you may be sure." + +"That makes no difference now," replied the haughty princess with +spirit; "why did you beat me at all?" As she spoke, the old master +screamed again, this time in wildest terror. His garments changed +suddenly to sweeper's rags, and into his hands flew the very broom that +Little Sweep had just flung down! In this poor guise the old master fell +upon his knees and humbly begged a penny of the haughty princess. But +again she would not heed him. + +"Out of my way, simpleton!" she exclaimed. "Now go and sweep crossings +in my place, and may your new master beat you even as you beat me!" + +With that the new master entered the kitchen, and finding there the old +master dressed in sweeper's rags, sent him off with a cuff to go about +his work. A coach of pearl with silver trimmings drew up before the +door, and away went the haughty princess to her castle by the sea. + +There, as she had wished, she found a hundred rooms filled full of gold +and treasures, and likewise found a thousand slaves to do her bidding. +But in the midst of all her glory and magnificence, the beautiful +princess was greatly worried. Can you think what troubled her? It was +exactly this. She had not a name suitable for her fine situation. +"Little Sweep" would never do for a beautiful princess, dwelling in a +splendid castle by the sea; also she was vexed lest her thousand slaves +should perchance learn that she had once swept crossings, and so despise +her. While she sat thinking thus, and greatly troubled, she heard soft +chimes sounding through the castle halls. Presently a servant dressed in +crimson plush and golden lace entered and bowed low before her. + +"Will the Princess Cendre be pleased to dine?" asked the servant humbly, +and so it was that the haughty princess learned her new name. From that +time forth she quite forgot that she had ever been called "Little +Sweep." + +"Lead the way, slave," she commanded haughtily, "and the Princess Cendre +will follow." + +Then down to a great dining hall she went. Upon the walls were many +mirrors, and the table was laid with dishes of beaten gold. The Princess +Cendre (for we may never again call her Little Sweep, unless we wish to +make her very angry) gazed with delight at her image reflected in the +mirrors and ate with greatest satisfaction from the golden dishes. When +at last the meal was done, musicians played sweet airs for her pleasure. +Princess Cendre enjoyed the music, but oh, much more did she enjoy +gazing about the splendid hall wherein she sat! A thousand tapers made +all as bright as day; the walls were hung with silken tapestries, and +curtains made of lace as fine as cobwebs covered all the windows. It was +while she sat gazing thus that Princess Cendre suddenly bethought her of +the little cottage Sweep had furnished for her. Then it came also to her +mind that to-morrow was her wedding day. + +"Well, to be sure," thought she, "if all these wondrous things had +never happened, I would have married Sweep. But now that would never do. +Sweep could not expect it. His black face would ill become my splendid +castle by the sea." + +The musicians then sang good-night songs, and Princess Cendre sought her +room once more. There on a table she found several books with her title, +"Princess Cendre," stamped in golden letters on the covers. She was more +than pleased to see how it was written; she had been wondering how she +would even manage to spell this fine new name of hers. Before she slept +that night, she took pen and paper and practiced writing "Princess +Cendre" a hundred times, that she might do it gracefully forever after. +(While she had been a wretched little Crossing Sweeper, she had not +learned much in books, you know. So it was that she did not know that +"Princess Cendre" meant naught but "Princess Sweep" in a foreign +language.) + + +II + +Now we must leave this selfish Princess Cendre sweetly sleeping in her +castle by the sea and make our way back to Sweep's snug little garret +once again. On the night of this eventful day Sweep returned home from +his labors very late. There was no light in the attic just across the +way, but he was quite content. He thought, of course, his Little Sweep +was safely tucked up there. Before he ate his bread and cheese, he +tossed three sugar cookies in at her window, and then set about +polishing his shoes and making himself extra smart for the morrow. +Sweep's candle burned very late; but even so, when he lay down to sleep +at last, he dreamed such dreadful dreams that he was glad when morning +came. He dreamed that he had lost his Little Sweep, and that he married +in her stead her broomstick dressed up in the little gray wedding frock. +The clock with the loud ringing bell wakened him at last, and Sweep +dressed himself in all his holiday attire. Then he called softly to the +attic just across the way. + +"Wake up, my Little Sweep," said he; "this is your wedding day." He +tossed in a bright red apple, and presently a head was thrust forth from +the attic window opposite. Not Little Sweep's, as of course he had +expected, but the shocking, tousled head of the old master. + +"Ah, kind Sweep!" exclaimed the old master, "I do most greatly thank +thee for the sugar cookies and the red apple." + +"But those sugar cookies and red apple were not for you, old villain!" +cried Sweep. "They were for my darling Little Sweep. Give them to her at +once, I say." + +"Oh, pray, good Sweep! I cannot give the sugar cookies or the red apple +to Little Sweep, because I have already eaten them myself; besides, she +is no longer here, you know," replied the old master, and then began to +tell the tale of wonders he had seen the day before. + +Sweep listened in amazement. "Now if I find you have not told me true," +cried he, "I will surely do you a mischief!" Then down the stairs he +sped, and over across the way. There, as the old master had declared, +Sweep found the new master in the kitchen. The new master was a pleasant +youth, and of amiable manners. He invited Sweep to stay and eat +breakfast with him, but Sweep, as you may suppose, was of no mind to +eat. Instead, he begged for news of Little Sweep. + +"Indeed, I have seen no such person here," replied Master Jasper, "but +this I did see, which did most greatly astonish me. Yesterday, as I came +into this kitchen, a beautiful princess robed in shining satin swept +past me, and stepping into a coach of pearl was whirled from sight. That +old villain yonder began to mumble that this lovely princess had once +been his slave. Of course, I heeded him not, but fetched him a sharp +cuff on the ear and bade him go about his work." + +Sweep now begged leave to look up in the attic, if the new master would +permit. Master Jasper gave him leave and led the way himself. Sweep +followed him with lagging tread. He now began to fear that this strange +tale might be true after all. Sadly he gazed about the cold, bare little +room. There in one corner he saw the bright-colored pasteboard box that +he had made for Little Sweep's poor treasures, and close by, on a peg, +hung the little gray wedding frock and the red ribbon he had bought +her. + +"Alas!" mourned Sweep, "it is all my fault! If my heart had not been +thus so stubbornly set upon a cottage with many chimneys, Little Sweep +and I would have been married long since, and then, of course, all this +magic would never have happened." The honest fellow wept bitter tears +that left great tracks all down his sooty face and made him look the +very picture of woe. Young Master Jasper felt sorry for him. He too had +lost his love, it seemed, and so he sought to comfort Sweep as best he +could. + +"Come, Sweep!" cried Master Jasper when he had heard. "All is not yet +lost. If Little Sweep loved you as dearly as you say, then she will only +love you ten times more, now that she is a princess! The thing for you +to do is this. Go seek until you find the castle or the palace wherein +she dwells. Who knows--why, even at this very moment she may be crying +her eyes out, because it is her wedding day, and yet Sweep has not +come!" + +These words cheered Sweep. His spirits rose, and so he dried his tears +at once and then set out to seek the castle where his Little Sweep in +the guise of some fair princess might be dwelling. But though he sought +the whole day through, he sought in vain. When it was growing late, he +left the crowded city streets and ways and found himself among the open +fields and lanes. Then by and by, at twilight time, Sweep walked beside +the borders of the sea. There he sat down to rest, for he was very +weary. He tossed aside his cap and sighed to think how happy he had been +but last night, when he thrust the gay green feather in it. Then he +became aware of a voice speaking to him. + +"I know where Little Sweep is dwelling," said the voice, and peering +down, Sweep saw a tiny Red Cap perched upon his knee. (It was the very +Red Cap that had hidden in Little Sweep's pocket the day before.) "If +you wish, I can take you there," continued Red Cap in a friendly +fashion. + +"Ah, Red Cap, if you only would!" cried Sweep. "My heart is broken +because I cannot find my darling." + +"Then close your eyes and do not open them until I say," commanded Red +Cap. + +Sweep closed his eyes and felt himself a-sailing through the air. He +sailed so fast that he had scarcely time to draw a breath before he felt +himself set down upon the earth once more. + +"Now look about you," commanded Red Cap. + +Sweep obeyed. He found himself within a stately hall of marble; the +walls were carved with gold and coral, all in intricate designs, and +there, upon a throne of ivory set with gleaming sapphires, was seated +Princess Cendre. Her flowing robes of shimmering white seemed made of +moonbeams sewn together, so soft and luminous were they. Her hair, black +as a raven's wing, was bound with ropes of pearls and diamonds. The +Princess Cendre sat so still that Sweep at first believed she was some +lovely carven image he beheld. There was little to make one think of +Little Sweep, save that when the Princess Cendre spoke, her voice was +Little Sweep's. + +"What brings you hither, Sweep?" cried Princess Cendre angrily, when she +became aware of him. + +Sweep was astonished, but answered mildly, even so. + +"Ah, Little Sweep," said he, "now who would think that fine new raiment +and a face all clean and shining would make this wondrous change in you? +But perchance, if you had ever worn the new gray frock I bought you for +our wedding, I would have known about your beauty." + +"My name is Little Sweep no longer, but Princess Cendre, I would have +you know," she answered coldly. "And what have I to do with gray wedding +frocks, I should like to know?" + +"Why, Little Sweep," began Sweep in great surprise, but she interrupted +him. + +"Princess Cendre, if you please!" cried she. + +"Well, Princess Cendre, then," said Sweep. "Have you forgot that this is +our wedding day? I thought perhaps you would be grieved as I that we +were parted, and so I came hither to marry thee." + +"To marry me!" exclaimed the Princess Cendre in astonishment. "With your +black face, do you suppose that I would marry you? I am the Princess +Cendre, you must not forget. And Sweep, if this be your wedding day, as +you say it is, my advice to you is this: Marry the Crossing Sweeper of +your choice, and if you cannot find her, choose another. The city is +full of such poor wretches; there are two or three at every corner." + +Sweep could scarcely believe that he had heard aright. He had not +dreamed his Little Sweep would treat him thus. He was surprised and +pained to hear her use so many harsh words all at once. He had not +thought she knew any. In the old days when she had swept crossings for a +penny she had always been a gentle little creature. + +"Surely you are joking, just to try me," cried poor Sweep. "If you had +loved truly, as you did often say, then though you did become empress of +all the world, you would love me still. My face is no blacker to-day +than it was yesterday or the day before that. Do not treat me thus +coldly, Little Sweep, or you will break my heart." + +"And if you call me by that name again, I will have my servants cast you +from my topmost turret and break your head," replied the Princess Cendre +in a towering rage. + +"When I was naught but a Crossing Sweeper, beaten always and half +starved, you gave me bread and buns and bade me love you. To be sure, I +ate the bread and buns because I was hungry. But now that I am become a +princess and no longer need your gifts, my heart bids me to marry none +but a prince. Moreover, the prince whom I shall wed must be handsome and +charming, and his lands and wealth must be greater than my lands and +wealth, which are very great indeed. So get you gone, now, Sweep. You +see how foolish was your errand." + +Poor Sweep stood gazing silently at the haughty princess, so fair to see +and yet so hard of heart. Presently Red Cap bade him close his eyes +again. Sweep closed his eyes and found himself a-sailing through the +air, and once again he found himself upon the borders of the sea. + +"Ah, Sweep, I am the cause of all thy misfortune," said Red Cap sadly. + +"How so, my little friend?" asked Sweep. + +"It is this way," said Red Cap. "If I had not vexed my brother +yesterday, he would not have chased me so fiercely, and I would never +have sought shelter in Little Sweep's pocket. Now, if I had not sought +shelter in Little Sweep's pocket, I would never have given her three +wishes, and she would never have become the Princess Cendre, but would +have married you upon her wedding day." + +"But even so, Red Cap," sighed Sweep sadly, "you are not at fault. Had +Little Sweep desired, she might have wished me to be something high +along with her. But though she has been ungrateful and selfish, too, I +love her dearly and cannot bear to say a harsh word of her." + +Red Cap was surprised at Sweep's gentle speech. He had expected him to +abuse Little Sweep and say unkind things of the haughty Princess Cendre. +In all his dealings with mortals (and he had many, for Red Cap was +nearly, if not quite, a thousand years of age), he had noticed that +mortals were prone to speak ill of those who had injured them. "Without +doubt this black-faced Sweep is of noble heart," thought Red Cap, "but I +shall try him even further." + +Aloud he spoke: "Now, Sweep," said Red Cap, "I have no more magic of the +sort that can raise folk to wealth or high rank and noble station; but +I have still great power to destroy. Say but a word, and in an instant I +will destroy the castle by the sea. The Princess Cendre in a flash will +turn to Little Sweep; the old master will be back in the kitchen, and +young Master Jasper will be in his uncle's house once more. What do you +say to this plan?" + +"To that I must say no," said Sweep. "I think it most unworthy." + +"Then, Sweep, since you will have none of my plan, I must be off," said +Red Cap. "But hark you; although I have not magic power in great store, +if you desire aid at any time, make but a simple wish, and I will +instantly appear to help you. Now farewell!" he cried, and darted off. + + +III + +Poor Sweep! Now that his Little Sweep had treated him so cruelly, he +became the saddest man that one could ever know. For days and days he +did nothing, but would sit with his head in his hands, staring at the +wall, thinking only of his Little Sweep. Nothing could arouse him, until +at last Master Jasper stepped across the way and scolded him roundly. + +"Now, Sweep, this will not do!" cried Master Jasper. "The bread and +cakes and pies will burn in the ovens all over the land, if the chimneys +be not neatly swept down. Then how the housewives will scold, to be +sure! Likewise will the merchants say that Sweep is become a lazy +fellow, who sits idling all day long." Master Jasper, it will be seen, +was a sensible youth, as well as amiable and agreeable. + +So once again Sweep set out with his smart little donkey cart all filled +with brooms and brushes. He found many a housewife angry because he had +delayed her spring house-cleaning; but when these angry housewives +looked at Sweep's black face, so sad and sorrowful, they had not the +heart to upbraid him. Now, strange to say, though Sweep was thus so dull +and disconsolate, his trade of sweeping down tall chimneys thrived as it +never had thrived before. He swept tall chimneys in the north of the +kingdom, and in the south also. Likewise he could often be seen driving +his smart little donkey cart to the east or to the west to sweep tall +chimneys there. The fame of Sweep's skill began to grow; he swept the +chimneys in the halls of dukes and earls. Indeed, the king and queen +commanded Sweep to bring his brooms and brushes and set to work about +the palace. Their majesties, it seemed, had been greatly troubled +because the royal kitchen chimney sent the smoke down instead of up and +made the royal cooks and maidens sneeze and sputter all day long. So +skillfully did Sweep deal with this stubborn chimney that ever afterward +it sent the smoke sky-high, as proper chimneys should. The royal cooks +and maidens sneezed and sputtered no more, and their royal majesties +were grateful as could be. The king with his own hands pinned a royal +decoration on Sweep's sooty sleeve. (But if I am to tell the truth, I +must tell too that from much soot and grime and dust this royal +decoration soon became as black as Sweep's own sooty sleeve and could +not be seen unless one looked quite closely.) + +Now that his trade was thriving thus excellently and he had no longer +need to buy bread and buns for Little Sweep, Sweep's pennies grew to +golden dollars very rapidly. The golden dollars in their turn soon +filled the second stocking full, and even filled a third before Sweep +was well aware of it. But even so, he took no pleasure in his wealth; +he sighed instead because he had no longer Little Sweep to share it with +him. Then, lest he become a miser hoarding gold and spending it not, +Sweep at last bethought him of a kindly plan. Throughout the kingdom +there were thousands and thousands of other little Crossing Sweepers, +two or three at every corner waiting for a penny. These wretches, Sweep +knew well, were just as poor and miserable as his own Little Sweep had +been in days gone by. According to his kindly plan, Sweep now began to +change his store of golden dollars back to pennies once again. Then when +he met a little Crossing Sweeper standing broom in hand, Sweep would +fling a handful of pennies to the little creature. Sometimes he filled +his donkey cart with bread and buns and bright red apples to feed these +little Crossing Sweepers, in memory of his own lost Little Sweep. Until +at last from these good practices Sweep became known as the friend of +all Crossing Sweepers, and was greatly loved throughout the land. + +So seven years passed by. Meanwhile Sweep and Master Jasper continued +friends. Sometimes Sweep stayed to supper in Master Jasper's comfortable +kitchen; other times Sweep would bid Master Jasper step across and smoke +a pipe or two with him. Then, one evening just at dusk, Sweep returned +from his labors and found young Master Jasper packed and ready for a +journey. + +"Where are you off?" asked Sweep, and pointed to a musket flung beside a +knapsack. + +"Have you not heard the news?" cried Master Jasper eagerly. "A whole +year since, a savage tribe invaded Yelvaland and carried off as prisoner +the young and lovely Empress Yelva. Now as this lovely empress has +neither father nor husband nor brothers to protect her, and her people +cry for aid, all youths who long for noble adventure are urged to fight +beneath her banners. Come join me, Sweep." + +But Sweep shook his head. "It is not suitable that I should fight for +Empress Yelva," he replied. "My black face fits me for naught but my +trade of sweeping down tall chimneys." + +"But you are wrong, Sweep," argued Master Jasper; "a black face in +battle is no great matter. Stout hearts and strong arms are sorely +needed. Come, and we shall march and fight together as brothers." + +Again Sweep shook his head. "Indeed, good Master Jasper," answered he, +"I wish with all my heart that I might fight with thee against this +savage tribe and aid the lovely Empress Yelva; but alas! Who, save thee, +would care to march and fight beside a black-faced sweep?" + +"A thousand would! Two thousand would--Nay! ten thousand would be glad +to march with thee, Sweep!" exclaimed a shrill small voice beside them. +On peering down, Sweep beheld a tiny Red Cap perched upon the poker; it +was the same that had befriended him so long ago. + +"Ah, Sweep!" continued Red Cap briskly, "I took a fancy to you when we +first met, seven years ago, and had a notion then that I would like to +know you better. However, since in all these years you have not wished a +wish of me, I could not have the joy of your acquaintance. We Red Caps," +he explained, "although we be such powerful folk, cannot appear to +mortals without they wish for us, you know." + +"I had not known that," answered Sweep politely, "or I would have wished +some simple thing just for the pleasure of a chat with thee. But tell +me, how is it that you thus appear before me now?" + +"Have you so soon forgot your wish?" asked Red Cap. "Did I not hear you +wish a moment since to fight beneath the banners of the Empress Yelva? +It is to grant that wish that I now come. And mark, since in seven years +you have wished no wish of me, my magic now has grown to power +tremendous. Behold thine army!" + +Sweep heard the measured tramp of many feet, and looking through the +gathering gloom, beheld a line of forms that marched by, four and four, +and all were singing gayly as they went. At first Sweep could not tell +what manner of soldiers these might be, but presently his eyes became +accustomed to the dusk, and he perceived that this vast army was +composed of Crossing Sweepers armed with brooms instead of muskets. +Perched atop of every broomstick he could see a tiny creature similar in +looks and dress to the Red Cap perched upon the poker. + +"My brothers and my cousins and likewise all my friends and uncles have +come to help thee too, Sweep," said Red Cap. "And thou, good Master +Jasper, throw aside thy musket, for in Sweep's army, muskets and such +like will be useless things." + +Good Master Jasper quickly did as Red Cap had commanded and followed +after Sweep. Sweep shouldered his long brush and marched proudly at the +head of his strange army. And thus began the journey into Yelvaland. + +Now of that journey there is not much to tell. To be sure, whenever it +was time for breakfast, dinner, or supper, the Red Caps clapped their +hands and there appeared a thousand tables spread with all good fare. +When night fell, or when storms arose, the Red Caps likewise caused a +city of ten thousand tents to spring up on the plains. The Crossing +Sweepers enjoyed the whole march as a holiday. In all their wretched +lives before they had not had such good things to eat. Their hollow +cheeks grew plump and rosy with the winds and sun, and Sweep's heart +rejoiced to see the happy changes that came upon his friends. At night +when they sat grouped about their campfires, the Crossing Sweepers sang +songs loud in praise of Sweep, whom they declared had always been their +friend and who now was the cause of their pleasant holiday. + +Now while Sweep and his strange army were marching thus toward +Yelvaland, the people there were plunged in deep despair. The savage +troops had given their soldiers so many drubbings and such bitter +punishments in battle that they had quite lost heart. Judge then of +their great joy when they beheld a friendly force marching to their aid. +But as this horde drew near, and they perceived what manner of army it +really was, their hearts sank again. + +"Alas!" sighed these discouraged folk of Yelvaland, "of what avail +against the savage troops will be this ragged rabble that approaches?" + +But when Sweep's army entered into Yelvaland and began to lay about them +with their broomsticks, that was another story. Aided by the magic power +of the Red Caps, each broomstick fell with the force of fifty giant +fists and resounded loud as thunder on the mountain tops. The savage +troops stood their ground but a short time and then fled in terror +before these strange and powerful weapons which they had never seen +before. (Savages do not sweep their houses, you know, and so they knew +nothing of the useful broomstick.) Sweep, gallantly leading his vast +army, pursued the flying savages and gave them battle all the while. So +dextrously and well did the little Crossing Sweepers wield their brooms +that on the third night, when both armies had agreed to rest, these +savage troops rose up and stole off. Over the hills and far away they +fled and never again were heard or seen from that day to this. The +glorious part of Sweep's great victory was that he had not lost a single +follower in battle! + +"And now to free the young and lovely Empress Yelva," said Sweep to Red +Cap, "and then our work is done." + +"In all good time that too will be accomplished," answered Red Cap. "The +Empress Yelva lies hidden deep down in a well of her own tears. This +well lies close beside the gates of Yelvaland, and so you had best face +your army right about and march there." + +Then once again the Crossing Sweepers shouldered their brooms and +marched gayly off to Yelvaland. They reached the gates of the kingdom +just as the moon was sinking slowly in the sky, and Sweep gave orders +that they wait until the dawn to enter. + +"Come with me, Sweep," whispered Red Cap; "the time has come to seek the +Empress Yelva," and led him to a well within a grove of trees. + +"Now, Sweep, attend me closely," warned Red Cap, "for if you do not as I +say, all will be lost. When the moon's last ray will light the waters of +this well, plunge down into its depths and bring the Empress Yelva up +with you. Lose not a second's time, for if the moonbeam leave the well +before you, the lovely Empress Yelva must forever remain prisoner and +yourself likewise. Do you think that you are nimble enough to try?" + +"I know not of my nimbleness, but I will try," said Sweep, and plunged +down headlong, as a pale moonbeam shone down and silvered the dark +waters. Before the winking of an eye, it seemed, he rose again, clasping +the Empress Yelva by the hand. The moonbeam tarried long enough for +Sweep to see the lovely maiden he had rescued. Her eyes like two blue +violets shone with kindliness, her golden hair fell rippling like a +cloak about her, and when she spoke her voice was like the chime of +silver bells. + +"Ah, sir!" exclaimed the lovely Empress Yelva. "Although from your poor +dress I know that you are naught but a humble Sweep, I honor you for +your brave deed, and I shall wed you." + +At this poor Sweep was covered with confusion. He had not dreamed the +lovely Empress Yelva would so much as deign to thank him; had not the +haughty Princess Cendre scorned him? But even so his heart still longed +for his first love, and knowing nothing better to do, the honest fellow +told his sad tale to the empress, as they stood beside the well. She +listened closely all the while. + +"You have a noble heart, good Sweep," said she when he had done, "and +though you do not choose to wed me, I bear you no malice, but instead +shall help you win your Little Sweep, who has become the Princess +Cendre." + +"Alas, your worship!" said Sweep sadly, "that can never be. The +Princess Cendre would scorn my black face, no matter what my fame or +fortune." + +"Why as to that, Sweep," cried Red Cap, "have no more concern. The +Empress Yelva's tears, it would seem, are magic, for since you have +plunged down the well, your face is become clean and white as though +'twere scrubbed a dozen times. You are now a handsome fellow." + +"And when I have rewarded you suitably, the Princess Cendre will be more +than glad to wed you, rest assured, good Sweep," said Empress Yelva. +"But now the dawn is here, so let us hasten that I may see my people and +my own dear Yelvaland once more." + +You may imagine that there was wild rejoicing when Sweep and his vast +strange army knocked upon the gates of the kingdom and demanded that +they open wide for Empress Yelva. A holiday that lasted seven days was +set, and there were games and sports and pleasures. The people sang and +danced upon the highways, and oxen were roasted whole upon great +bonfires. Sweep and all the Crossing Sweepers were praised and honored +throughout the length and breadth of Yelvaland, and all was merry as +could be. + +When this great holiday was passed, as holidays all do, the business of +the court began again. The Empress Yelva ordered that a cottage and a +piece of ground, as well as two bags filled with gold, be given to each +Crossing Sweeper in reward for their brave deeds. The Crossing Sweepers +were so delighted with their gifts that they never again returned to +their own land but dwelled in Yelvaland for all their days. The Red Caps +likewise were so pleased with lovely Empress Yelva and so admired her +kind heart and sense of gratitude that they decided from that day to +make their home among the forests of her realm. + +"And now, Sweep," said the Empress Yelva, when all this was done, "I +have not forgot the promise that I made thee." Accordingly she made him +prince. His title was Prince Sweepmore and his domain of Sweepmost was +twice as great and twice as rich as was the domain of haughty Princess +Cendre. Sweep now was dressed in crimson velvet. The Empress Yelva from +her treasure store gave him a golden sword all set with rubies that +flashed forth flame and fire in the sun. A hundred horses laden all with +bags of gold and pearls were also given him, as well as a like number of +servants to attend him. Then once again Sweep set forth to marry +Princess Cendre. + +"I grieve to see thee go, good Sweep," sighed Empress Yelva as they +parted, "but even so I do admire thy faithful heart that bids thee go." + +"And I likewise do grieve to go; and I thank thee for thy gifts," Sweep +answered. He bade young Master Jasper farewell too. Young Master Jasper +had fallen deep in love with a noble maiden of the Empress Yelva's court +and was about to marry her. + +A royal messenger had been sent before to tell these tidings to the +Princess Cendre. Now, strange to say, though the haughty Princess was +thus beautiful and wealthy, she was still unwed. To be sure, many +princes of small fortunes had sought her hand, but of these the haughty +creature would have none. However, her selfish ways had not pleased +princes whom she had desired to please, and so it was she sat alone +within her splendid castle by the sea. You may be sure that she +rejoiced when she learned that Sweep was now a prince with land and +riches in good store. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed, "his face is clean and shining too, I hear, which +is excellent. I could not tolerate him otherwise; but as it is, I shall +delight to wed him." And so the haughty princess sent for milliners and +jewelers and for bootmakers and dressmakers too. She bought such silken +hose and high-heeled shoes as must have cost a fortune, and had her +wedding dress sewn thick with diamonds. When word was brought that the +new prince was come, she donned this sparkling robe and received him +with great courtesy. + +"Ah, Sweep!" cried she, "although I know full well that Empress Yelva +hath given thee a fine new title, I love to call thee by the dear old +name I used to know. Tell me of thy life since last we parted. I have +heard the Empress Yelva desired to marry thee herself. The forward +creature! I blush for her that she should be so bold. She must be very +plain of face indeed if she must go a-seeking for a husband." + +To these sharp words Sweep made reply: "Indeed, the Empress Yelva is so +fair of face that neither tongue nor pen can well describe her beauty. +Moreover, she is so kind of heart and gentle of manner that though she +were as plain as plain, I still would think her lovely!" + +"Indeed!" returned the haughty Princess Cendre and gazed with +satisfaction in her mirror. "However, it is not to chat about this +forward creature that you have come hither; it is to wed me. Come, my +bishops are in readiness; my guests are waiting." + +Now, when Sweep at last beheld this haughty Princess after seven years +of longing, he found a curious change had come upon him. He became aware +that he no longer loved her, and that her haughty manner and her +spiteful speech distressed him. At last he saw her as she really was, an +ungrateful, cold-hearted creature who thought of no one but herself. +(Although Sweep knew it not, the waters of the well had wrought this +change in him. You may be sure that Red Cap was aware of it!) So though +his heart was grieved to give another pain, Sweep determined to speak +his mind quite plainly. + +"Ah, Princess Cendre," said he, "I fear me you must tell your guests +that you have changed your mind and bid your bishops go. For since my +black face has been changed as though by magic, it would seem my heart +and mind by magic were changed too. I know now that thou art too cold +and proud to be my princess; a princess should delight to make folk +happy, and that I fear me you would never do." + +The Princess Cendre was enraged at this talk. We well know that she had +a dreadful temper when it was aroused, and she chose to rouse it now. +She stormed and she scolded; she threatened Sweep and she denounced him; +but she could not move his resolution. + +"You have come hither to wed me. This is my wedding day, and you shall +not ride away!" cried she. + +"Nay, but I will," returned Sweep. "Once before I came hither to wed +thee on thy wedding day, and once before I rode away. And so farewell!" + +Away rode Sweep with all his train, and stopped nor stayed until he +reached the gates of Yelvaland. A herald told the news of his approach, +and Empress Yelva with her noble lords and ladies went forth to welcome +him. Sweep fell upon his knee and humbly begged the lovely maiden's hand +in marriage, and Empress Yelva smilingly consented. + +"Indeed, dear Sweep!" declared the Empress Yelva, "I had a notion all +the while that you would soon return, and had our wedding feast +prepared!" (Now could it have been that the Red Caps whispered of the +magic change the well of her own tears had caused?) + +Then straightway Sweep and Empress Yelva were married. Young Master +Jasper and the noble maiden were married too; it was a double wedding. +Another feast was held, so bounteous and so magnificent that all +previous feasts seemed poor and mean by comparison. Sports and games +were set, and prizes of great value were awarded. Each nobleman received +a bag of diamonds as a gift, each noble lady a rope of pearls. The +common people, one and all, were given each a bag of golden coins that +they too might make merry. The lords and dukes danced on the highways +with the dairymaids; the Empress Yelva and her ladies trod minuets with +shepherd lads and farmer boys, and all was merry as a marriage feast +should be. + +Sweep now was Emperor. He wore a robe of purple bordered deep with +ermine, and held a sceptre clustered thick with diamonds when he sat at +court. With Empress Yelva by his side, he now rode forth in a splendid +chariot of gold and royal enamels. But though he was thus raised to high +rank and great wealth, Sweep was as amiable and as kind of heart as he +had been when he swept down tall chimneys for his living and drove his +donkey cart all filled with brooms and brushes. To tell the truth, +however, Sweep had little opportunity to do kind deeds. There were no +poor folk to be found in Yelvaland. The Empress Yelva governed her realm +too well and wisely for that. Now it happened on one winter's day, when +all the ground was white, Sweep noticed that the frost hung thick and +glistened on the branches of the firs and cedars. + +"It seems to me, my dear," said Sweep to Empress Yelva, "that it would +be most suitable if we should build some houses for our little friends, +the Red Caps, who are dwelling in our forest. I fear me that they +suffer greatly from the cold." + +The Empress Yelva thought this plan most excellent, and soon the royal +carpenters and joiners were set to making tiny little houses. When these +were made, the royal painters colored them bright green with bright red +roofs, which was quite like the costume of the Red Caps, if you will +remark. The Empress Yelva and her noble lords and ladies then hung these +tiny houses in the branches of the firs and cedars, and they looked like +so many brightly colored bird-houses. When the Red Caps flew home that +night, they were delighted; they guessed at once for whom these tiny +houses were meant. They praised Sweep and complimented him on his kind +heart and his thoughtful ways. + +"We Red Caps do many kind things for mortals," they remarked most sagely +to each other, "but it is seldom mortals ever think to do kind things +for us. It is quite fitting that Sweep should be Emperor; he hath a +noble heart, as sovereigns all should have." + +It happened then upon another day, while still the snow lay thick upon +the ground, that Princess Cendre and her servants went a-riding through +this forest. The haughty princess marked the tiny brightly colored +houses, and asked what they might be. A forester near by made answer +thus: + +"Now if your royal highness please," said he, "Sweep, our good Emperor, +hath caused these to be made for our little friends, the Red Caps. They +suffered greatly with the cold, he thought." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed the Princess Cendre. "Then your little friends, the +Red Caps, must suffer from the cold again, I fear. I have taken a great +fancy to these pretty toys and mean to hang them in my own forests, that +my goldfinches and nightingales may dwell therein in winter, instead of +flying to the southland." She then desired her servants to cut down the +tiny, brightly colored houses and rode off, little thinking of the +mischief she had done. + +That night, when the Red Caps flew home, they were agitated and buzzed +about like so many angry little bees. They missed their tiny comfortable +houses and shivered with the cold. They knew, of course, who had done +this. They knew all things--these Red Caps of the olden days. + +"Now this haughty Princess Cendre is impossible!" they declared most +wrathfully. "She cares not though we freeze to death; although we have +done noble things for her, she has quite forgot them. She has been +princess long enough!" they cried. "Let her be Little Sweep again," and +they clapped their hands in anger. + +Then in that instant vanished the splendid castle by the sea, and +Princess Cendre's robes of satin fell from her. She found herself +dressed out in sweeper's rags, and once more, broom in hand, standing on +her corner. The old master, back within his comfortable kitchen again, +was disposed to treat her no better than he had before; and so, for all +her days, Little Sweep was forced to dwell within her cold, bare attic. +But there was no kind Sweep to toss her bread and buns each day nor buy +her bright red apples or plum cake. + +Sweep, on the other hand, lived long and happily as Emperor. He and the +lovely Empress Yelva, it is said, were blessed with twenty children, all +of whom inherited Sweep's noble nature and his kindly heart. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +KINGS AND QUEENS AND PEASANT FOLK + + +Once upon a time, in a splendid palace on the top of a high hill, there +dwelled a very old king and his wife, who was likewise a very old queen. +Now this royal old couple lived in great state and luxury. Their diamond +crowns glittered and sparkled like the sunbeams on a summer sea; and +their trailing velvet robes were so thickly embroidered with gold that +they stood alone. This very old king and his wife, the very old queen, +had a coach of gold and glass drawn by eight white horses in silver +harness. But with all this splendor and magnificence, this royal old +couple were not happy or contented. Indeed they were called Queen Grumpy +and King Crosspatch, which names were most suitable, for they were +discontented and disagreeable as the day was long. + +Queen Grumpy fretted because she had a hundred ladies-in-waiting. She +said they bothered her. King Crosspatch scolded and sulked because Lord +High Chancellor would not permit him to smoke a briarwood pipe. They +both declared their diamond crowns gave them a headache, and they were +tired of their trailing velvet robes. Queen Grumpy and King Crosspatch +refused to ride in their royal coach of gold and glass. The eight white +horses trotted too swiftly and shook their old bones about. So this very +old king and this very old queen went afoot; but even so, they +complained and scolded because all the roads about the palace led either +up a hill or down, and they puffed and panted for breath before their +walk was done. + +Now often and often at sunset, as they rested on their way up the high +hill, Queen Grumpy and King Crosspatch looked with longing on a certain +snug little cottage down in the valley. Within this snug little cottage +lived a very old man and his very old wife. They were peasants. There +were rows and rows of sunflowers and hollyhocks before this snug little +cottage and behind, while to the left and right stretched green pastures +thick with blackberry vines. + +"Ah, my dear!" King Crosspatch would sigh, as he watched the old man at +work. "How pleasant it must be to live in such a snug little cottage. +That old man goes every evening to fetch the cows. How I wish I were +that old man!" + +"Indeed, yes!" Queen Grumpy would reply with an answering sigh. "How I +wish I were that old woman. She goes about from morning until night, so +brisk and blithe. She can bake bread and churn butter herself; she is +not bothered with a hundred ladies-in-waiting as I am." + +Now most remarkable to tell, often as Queen Grumpy and King Crosspatch +gazed thus longingly at the little cottage so snug, and wished +themselves the old man and the old woman, the old man and the old woman +gazed just as longingly on the splendid palace and wished themselves +King Crosspatch and Queen Grumpy. For if you will believe me, this old +man and his old wife were a most discontented couple too! + +So it happened one evening, when Queen Grumpy and King Crosspatch were +walking down the hill, they met the old man and his old wife climbing +up. So while they sat to rest on a stone stile, these four discontented +old folk fell to talking. + +"Ah!" exclaimed King Crosspatch to the old man, "I have often watched +you fetch the cows home from pasture in the evening, and what fun it +seems, to be sure! Then you often go a-berrying too. You should be very +happy." + +"Indeed, Your Royal Highness, I am not!" replied the old man with bitter +feeling. "I am tired of fetching cows, and I would like to sit still all +day with folded hands. I often wish I were you. As for going a-berrying; +I go only because I am so fond of blackberry pie. There's one for my +supper to-night," he added, and smacked his lips with relish. And then, +oh, how King Crosspatch envied the old man! King Crosspatch had longed +to eat blackberry pie all his life, but the court physician would not +permit such ordinary food on the royal table. So the poor old king had +never had even a taste of a blackberry pie. + +"And you too," said Queen Grumpy to the old woman, "you should be very +happy. You loop your dress above your red flannel petticoat and trot +round all day, baking bread and churning butter. You have nothing ever +to vex or worry you." + +"Nothing to vex or worry me!" repeated the old woman in astonishment. +"Why, I am vexed that I must churn my butter, and at this very minute I +am worried lest the loaves I left baking in the oven may burn before I +am home again. And indeed, Your Royal Highness, I loop my dress above my +red flannel petticoat only because I must. A hundred times a day I wish +I were you and could wear trailing velvet robes sewn thick with gold!" + +Now as these four discontented old folk talked on, a curious plan popped +into their heads. They decided to change places. Accordingly, Queen +Grumpy took the old woman's dress and looped it above the red flannel +petticoat; the old woman buttoned herself into Queen Grumpy's trailing +velvet robes. King Crosspatch put on the old man's battered hat; the old +man set the sparkling diamond crown above his sunburned brow, and all +was done. Then singing and laughing, these four old folk went on their +separate ways. All four felt assured that they were really walking on +the road to happiness at last, and all were very pleased and jolly in +consequence. + + "Oh, there's no place like a palace, + A palace, a palace! + Oh, there's no place like a palace + Upon a hill so high!" + +sang the old man and his old wife as they climbed up the steep hill. + + "Oh, there's no place like a cottage, + A cottage, a cottage! + Oh, there's no place like a cottage + Down in a valley green!" + +sang King Crosspatch and Queen Grumpy, and they went trudging down. Then +when they reached the snug little cottage, how pleased they were to be +sure! Everything was so cozy and comfortable to behold. The kettle on +the hearth was boiling, and the loaves in the oven were browning; the +bird in the cage was singing, and the cat on the cushion was purring. +The table was laid with all manner of good things for tea. + +"The blackberry pie! The blackberry pie! My dear, let's have it at +once!" cried King Crosspatch, and went searching through cupboard and +larder to find it. + +"Wait just a moment until I have made the tea," answered Queen Grumpy, +busily bustling about the kitchen. She made the tea, and he found the +blackberry pie, and then they both sat down to supper. There were ever +and ever so many good things on the table. There were cold roast fowls +and quince preserves; there were strawberry tarts and plum as well; +there was fresh new butter, and there was thick sweet cream. Queen +Grumpy and King Crosspatch ate them all and then began to think about +dessert! + +"Now would you mind, my dear, if I should eat all the blackberry pie +myself?" asked King Crosspatch of Queen Grumpy. "You see, I have only +read about blackberry pie in books and have never tasted one in all my +life before." + +"Not at all, my dear!" replied Queen Grumpy most amiably. "I intend to +eat all this ginger cake which I have never seen or tasted before." And +so this royal old couple continued to eat until both larder and cupboard +were bare. + +"How fine this little cottage is and how very snug!" said Queen Grumpy, +seating herself in a rocker before the blazing logs. She began to knit +on a gray wool sock she found. "I think we shall be very happy here." + +"And I think so too," agreed King Crosspatch. "We have eaten a fine +supper in a very few minutes and without any fuss of footmen or +ladies-in-waiting either." He found a briarwood pipe and began to doze +peacefully in deep contentment. Queen Grumpy knitted busily until the +logs burned low, when she began to nod and doze also. Then they both +went to bed. + +But the beds in the snug little cottage were not of the excellent +quality of its cold roasted fowls and new butter and jam. The mattresses +were rough affairs. They were stuffed here with corn husks and there +with straw and yet again with goose feathers, which pricked Queen Grumpy +and King Crosspatch like so many pins. On these rough husky beds the +royal old couple tossed restlessly until morning. They vowed they did +not sleep a wink. (Perhaps they had eaten too much blackberry pie and +ginger cake; what do you think about it?) When it was daylight at last, +King Crosspatch clapped his hands to call his servants to attend. + +"Ah, my dear!" said Queen Grumpy, "have you forgotten that we are no +longer royal folk but simple cottagers instead?" + +"Indeed, I had quite forgotten all about it," replied King Crosspatch. +"Well, I am glad we are," and he began to dress. + +Together they set about making breakfast; but again the breakfast proved +a different matter from supper. You will remember that they had eaten +everything in the cupboard and larder the night before. There was no +milk, for they had forgotten to milk the cow, and neither were there +eggs. They had neglected to search the nests. Moreover, the wood box was +empty, and the fire was out. + +"Now do you go out and chop some wood for the fire, my dear," said Queen +Grumpy. "I shall milk the cow. I have always liked to look at pictures +of milkmaids." She took the pail on her arm and went in search of the +three-legged stool. Then she seated herself beside Bossy-Cow and began +to milk. But sad to tell, Bossy-Cow, who herself was rather +disagreeable, waited until the pail was nearly filled, and then she +gave a sudden kick. Such a vicious kick it was, too! It upset the +milk-pail, three-legged stool, Queen Grumpy and all, and frightened the +poor old queen half out of her wits. She began to scream so loudly that +she quite frightened King Crosspatch, and the hatchet slipped and +chopped a bit of his little finger. + +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" wailed King Crosspatch at the very top of his voice. "I +think this hatchet is bewitched! Oh! Oh! Oh!" he wept, holding up his +little finger. (It was not much of a cut; just a little scratch; but he +was a great crosspatch, you know.) "Oh, what shall I do? What shall I +do?" he wailed. "With this terrible cut on my little finger, I can't do +anything at all!" + +"There now, there now," petted Queen Grumpy soothingly. "Don't chop any +more wood. There are still a few drops of milk left in my pail, and we +shall drink that and eat bread for our breakfast." She led her weeping +husband within the snug little cottage, but when she looked in the oven +she found another disappointment. Queen Grumpy had forgotten to take +the loaves out of the oven the night before, and they were burned to a +crisp. + +"Oh, this plagued cottage!" exclaimed Queen Grumpy, thoroughly vexed. +"Everything goes wrong here. I wish I were back in my own palace once +more! I would never sigh again to leave it." + +"Neither would I," agreed King Crosspatch, drying his tears suddenly. +"Let's go back!" + +They made up their minds in an instant, and slamming the door of the +snug little cottage, they began to climb the steep hill to their +splendid palace. Every step of the way they were in a perfect torment of +fear lest the old man and the old woman would refuse to change places +again. + +"That old woman will never want to give me my trailing velvet robes," +said Queen Grumpy, as they sat to rest on the stone stile. + +"And I have been thinking that the old man will fight to keep my diamond +crown," said King Crosspatch anxiously. But at that very minute they +heard voices, and behold! around the turn in the road came the old man +and old woman, hurrying as though an army were after them. The old man +was thumping his stick, and the old woman was making angry gestures with +her hands; and both the old man and the old woman looked very cross and +ill-humored. + +"Ah, here you are!" exclaimed the old man, stopping short before the +stone stile. "Now give me my hat and take back your hateful crown +without any further nonsense! I could not sleep a wink last night, +because it was so heavy on my head. Such a hateful palace too! I never +saw the like! I could not smoke my briarwood pipe which I brought along +for company, and this morning two villains were like to drown me in a +pool before I was fully awake." + +"They did not try to drown you," replied King Crosspatch haughtily. +"That pool was a bath. Here is your hat; give me my crown." + +"You may call it a bath or not, just as you choose," declared the old +man warmly, "but let those two villains drown you instead of me, is what +I say! I was never so disappointed in all my life as I was with your +palace. The royal throne was hard as stone; the royal beds were soft as +dough; everything was wrong." + +Meanwhile Queen Grumpy and the old woman were having a time of it. + +"Your cow has no manners," complained Queen Grumpy. "She kicked me, and +she spilled the milk. I should behead her if she were mine." + +"Would you, indeed?" asked the old woman scornfully, "and drink water +and eat bread without butter all the rest of your life, I suppose? Let +me tell you, Your Royal Highness, that your servants are lazy and +good-for-nothing! I saw dust on the tops of all the doors and windows, +and the silver flagon was not polished as brightly as my old pewter +pots. Your royal cooks make griddlecakes heavy as lead; you had best +behead them instead of my good Bossy-Cow." Then she added, "Did you feed +my bird and give him water?" + +"I could hardly feed myself in that awkward cottage of yours!" retorted +Queen Grumpy. + +"Oh, my poor bird!" exclaimed the old woman. "Here, hurry and give me +back my own dress that I may loop it above my red flannel petticoat and +be comfortable once more. I suppose you took the bread out of the oven +in time--did you?" + +"I forgot it, and it burned," sulkily replied Queen Grumpy, buttoning +herself into her trailing velvet robes. + +"Oh, what stupid folk are kings and queens!" cried the old woman in a +passion. "Come along, husband," she called, and down the hill they went. + +"And what stupid folk are cottagers!" called King Crosspatch after them. +"Come along, wife," said he, and up the hill they went. + +And so these four old folk again went on their separate ways. All four +were sure that they were walking on the road to happiness at last, and +so all were very jolly and smiling in consequence. + + "Oh, there's no place like home! + Oh, there's no place like home!" + +sang the old man and his old wife, as they went trudging down to the +little cottage so snug. + + "Oh, there's no place like home! + Oh, there's no place like home!" + +sang Queen Grumpy and King Crosspatch, as they went climbing to their +splendid palace on the top of a high hill; and there we will bid them +all adieu! + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE GOOSE GIRL AND THE BLUE GANDER + + +Once upon a time there was a goose girl who tended her flock in a green +meadow. The meadow was dotted with forget-me-nots and yellow buttercups, +and the sun shone down on it; her geese were fine blue geese and +uncommonly knowing. She should have been the happiest goose girl in all +the world, but she was not. She thought not of the beautiful meadow nor +of her geese that were a pleasure to tend, for they were so wise and +always did her bidding; but instead this goose girl wept every day +because she longed to marry a certain lord who lived in a gray stone +castle at the top of a high hill. All day long she sat looking at this +castle, and her eyes could see nothing else for admiration of it. She +dreamed dreams a hundred times a day, in which she married the lord, +and was cross with her geese because she had to tend them. + +Now when the lord of the castle went riding by the green meadow, this +silly goose girl would run after the carriage, shouting his name and +throwing bouquets of wild flowers to him. But alas! The carriage always +whirled by so quickly that the lord heard her not, and the bouquets of +wild flowers fell in the dust by the roadside. Each time the goose girl +wept and threw sticks at her geese because she had been disappointed, +until they fled to shelter. + +"It is the stupid coachman's fault," said the goose girl to herself one +day, after she had chased the carriage for a long distance. "My lord is +within, of course, and cannot hear me, for the windows of glass shut out +all sound." She knew that maidens often wrote letters when they were +unable to obtain speech with those whom they fancied, and she resolved +to write to the lord of the gray stone castle. + +She spent her year's earnings on some pink paper with red hearts +lovingly entwined on the border, and that her letter might be colorful +and splendid, she bought also some purple ink. Then the goose girl sat +before a flat rock and strove to compose such a letter to the lord that +he would stop his carriage the next time he rode by the meadow. + +"The first day he will ask me to ride with him, and the second day he +will ask me to wed him," thought the goose girl, as she sat gazing at +the gray stone castle. "The third day I shall ride with him a bride to +yonder castle, where I shall dwell forevermore and have naught to do +with geese but to eat them roasted!" + +Her geese, thinking perhaps she had spread on the rock something fine to +eat, crowded about her, but she drove them off. They bothered her, and +she wished to give her mind to the letter. One large blue gander +remained near, in spite of her angry motions and cross words. The goose +girl was about to begin her letter when she remembered that she had +brought no pen. + +"Ah me! What shall I do?" she cried. "I shall have no more earnings for +another year, and by that time my lord may be wed to some fair maiden, +and I will surely die of a broken heart!" She covered her face and wept +aloud at her misfortune. Suddenly she began to laugh instead. + +"Oh, that I should be so foolish!" she exclaimed. "Here waiting my hand +I have a hundred pens." She seized the large blue gander and plucked a +fine quill from under his wing, but no sooner had she done so than the +bird began to speak. + +"That is not right," declared the gander. "You have taken what belongs +not to you but to me. Put back my quill, or I shall be vexed." + +"And who is there to care?" replied the goose girl rudely. "When I have +written a letter to my lord of the gray stone castle, you shall have +your quill and not before." + +She began to speak her thoughts aloud, as goose girls often do, and +started once more to compose the letter. "To my dearest lord of the gray +stone castle, whom I love with all my heart, but who whirls past me as I +sit tending geese in the meadow," she planned to write, and dipped the +quill in the purple ink. To her dismay the pen wrote not at all as she +planned, but seemed possessed of a spirit to go of itself. It wrote +with a remarkable flourish: + +"Dear gander!" + +But the goose girl pulled it from the paper before it could write more. + +"What manner of pen is this?" she cried in vexation. + +"It is not your quill," said the blue gander. "I am its master, and it +will write letters to none but me." + +"Well, upon my word!" declared the goose girl. "You are the most forward +creature I have yet seen, and this is what you will get." She took a +long branch and beat the gander until he hid from sight in the bushes. +Then again she strove to write her letter, but again the pen was +possessed of a spirit of mischief. + +"Oh! Oh!" wept the goose girl, "I have spent all my earnings on splendid +pink paper with red hearts lovingly entwined on the border, and purple +ink I bought also that my letter might be fine as a valentine. But, +alas! I am bothered with a stubborn quill that will not write as I +think. If I write not my letter to my lord, he will never know of me. +Then he will never marry me, and I shall dwell forever in my wretched +hut instead of the gray stone castle, as I have desired." + +"You weep because you cannot marry the lord who lives in yonder gray +stone castle," said the blue gander, poking his long neck from the +bushes where he had fled. "Let me give you some advice. A wretched hut +is not a pleasant place, 'tis true, but your manners suit it better than +the castle of your dreams." + +"Hold your tongue, forward bird!" screamed the goose girl in anger. She +seized a clod of earth and hurled it with such force that had it struck +the gander, he would have fallen flat in his tracks; but luck was with +him, and he dodged. + +The next day and the next day after that the goose girl sat down to +write before the flat rock in the meadow; but the quill was stubborn as +ever. She spoiled all but one sheet of the precious pink paper. Then +once more the blue gander spoke to the goose girl. + +"You have spoiled many sheets of your precious pink paper," said the +gander, nodding his head and cocking his eye in the wisest sort of way. +"Why will you not let the quill write a letter to me,--if only to see +what will happen?" + + [Illustration: So at last, after much thought, the goose girl did as + the blue gander bade.--_Page 237._] + +"But then I shall have no more paper on which to write to my lord, and I +shall dwell forever in my wretched hut instead of the castle of my +dreams," answered the goose girl. + +"Mayhap there might be a betwixt and between," remarked the gander +sagely. "Write the letter and hand it to me with a bow." + +So at last, after much thought, the goose girl did as the blue gander +bade. She dipped the quill in the purple ink, and immediately it touched +the paper it began to write such a marvelous letter as never before was +seen or read! It called the blue gander all manner of tender names and +vowed he was handsome and knowing. At the end, this remarkable quill +wrote the goose girl's name with a flourish so fine that she was pleased +in spite of herself. She folded the letter and handed it to the gander +with a bow. + +No sooner had she done this than the blue gander spread his wings and +flew away in the clouds, and in his place stood a handsome shepherd lad +dressed in blue corduroys. He had a hundred sheep in the fold that +followed him, and in his hand a bag of silver. + +"Dearest Goose Girl, wilt be mine?" asked he. "Yonder is my cottage, +where I am sure we shall be very happy." + +The goose girl was amazed at the change. But so handsome was this young +shepherd lad, and so winning of speech and manner, that all thoughts of +the gray stone castle and the lord tumbled out of her head. She gazed +with delight at the little cottage to which the shepherd lad pointed. +Blue smoke was curling from its chimney, and a bluebird was singing in a +cage beside the kitchen door. + +"We shall be married at once, shepherd lad of my heart," she answered +him sweetly, "and I shall make you griddlecakes for your supper." + +So the goose girl and the shepherd were married and went to live in the +little cottage. Indeed, for all that I know, there they may be living to +this day, for I have met no one who has ever told me of the death of +either. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE LITTLE BROWN MAN + + +Once upon a time, there lived at the top of a very tall tree a little +magic sprite. Now this magic sprite was called the Little Brown Man, and +the tree was called the Tall Pine Tree. The Little Brown Man was so very +small that had you ever seen him skipping and hopping about in his tree, +you would have thought him some lively little brown squirrel. The Little +Brown Man was always busy as a bee and twice as cheerful. He spent his +days sweeping away the withered pine needles so that fresh new green +needles might grow. With his cunning hands and powers of magic he mended +broken places in the bark with healing herbs. At night the Little Brown +Man rested from his labors. He curled himself up in the topmost boughs +of the Tall Pine Tree, and the tree would rock him gently and sing him +songs about the sea. + +Thus the Little Brown Man, scarce bigger than my hand, and the Tall Pine +Tree so high lived on in peace and happiness until an evil time befell +them. It happened on a black winter's night, when the Storm Wind in a +rage went crashing through the forest. Lashing the heavy branches of the +tallest trees, he tore them loose and flung them to the ground as though +they had been but so many twigs. Uprooting tiny trees and saplings by +the score, the Storm Wind tore his way along until he reached the Tall +Pine Tree. There he saw the Little Brown Man asleep in its topmost +boughs. + +"Ha, Little Brown Man!" laughed the Storm Wind wickedly. "At last I've +caught you unaware, and I will do you mischief!" So saying, he blew a +furious blast and flung the Little Brown Man to the ground beneath. +Then, in a wailing voice, the Storm Wind wove a spell of deep +enchantment round the Little Brown Man, singing thus: + + "Flaming eye and hand like claw, + You'll dwell at your tree top no more; + No child at your approach will stay, + Your face will scare them all away. + But 'til some child bids you good-day, + You'll dwell down on the ground so low, + And to the Tall Pine cannot go!" + +And then the Storm Wind blew away. + +For a long time, the Little Brown Man lay still as one dead, for the +fall had hurt him cruelly. The Tall Pine Tree wept bitterly at the +little sprite's misfortune, and by and by its tears, falling like rain, +wakened the Little Brown Man. But alas! The Storm Wind's wicked spell +had changed him, and the Little Brown Man with flaming eye and clawlike +hand was very fierce and terrible to look upon. + +"Oh, tell me, my Pine Tree!" cried the Little Brown Man in dismay, "how +am I changed thus? My hands are hands no longer, but claws like those of +wild beasts; my eye flames redder than the wicked wolf's! I cannot hop +or skip; indeed, I scarce can hobble, so bent and twisted have I grown." + +"Alas, my Little Brown Man!" the Tall Pine Tree replied. "While you did +sleep, the Storm Wind tore you from my topmost bough, and wove this +wicked spell around you. Until some child will speak to you a kindly +word, you must remain thus bound by this evil spell." + +In spite of his twisted back, the Little Brown Man tried again and again +to climb into the Tall Pine Tree, but all his efforts were in vain. +Wearied and tired out at last, he made himself a nest among the withered +pine needles and began to wait for the magic word to break the Storm +Wind's evil spell. + +At last the winter passed. The snow began to melt; the brook, freed of +its coat of ice, began to sing and chatter as it splashed along; the +birds built nests; the sun shone down; the pussy willows, gray and +brown, began to bud and bloom. Then boys and girls came out to play +beneath the trees and gather buttercups and bluebells. The Little Brown +Man's heart rejoiced, for he was sure the evil spell that bound him soon +would end. Whenever happy children played beside the Tall Pine Tree, he +would hobble toward them, saying: + +"Good day to you! Good day to you, my children!" + +But alas! The boys and girls were frightened of his clawlike hands and +flaming eye, and so they screamed and ran away. Thus springtime went, +and summer followed after; the maple leaves flamed red and gold in +autumn, and winter came again to wrap the forest in its cloak of snowy +white. Still the magic words to break the Storm Wind's spell remained +unspoken. Thus years and years rolled on. In winter now the Storm Wind +tore the branches of the Tall Pine Tree and flung them to the ground. +The Little Brown Man, with his cunning hands and powers of magic, could +no longer bind them fast. The Tall Pine Tree, once so green, grew old +and rusty looking, because the Little Brown Man could no longer sweep +the withered needles from its boughs. The Little Brown Man, down upon +the ground, was in despair. It seemed the wicked spell would never be +broken. No children ever lingered near the Tall Pine Tree. Indeed, when +once they passed that way, they never came again. They thought the +Little Brown Man was a wicked pixie who would do them harm. + +Then at last the Little Brown Man peered from his nest one bright +morning and saw a little girl walking slowly toward the Tall Pine Tree. +Little Nannie always walked very slowly, because she was quite lame, and +leaned upon a crutch. Sometimes she paused to watch a bee or butterfly; +sometimes she leaned against a tree to rest, and all the while the +Little Brown Man watched her eagerly. At last she reached the Tall Pine +Tree, and then he hobbled forward, saying: + +"Good day to you! Good day to you, my child!" + +His flaming eye and clawlike hand so startled Little Nannie that she +dropped her crutch; but when she saw that the Little Brown Man was also +very lame, she was sorry for him, and so she answered bravely: + +"Good day to you, good sir! I hope your health is fine," and so the +magic words were spoken. + +The Little Brown Man could scarcely believe his ears and began to caper +about and prance with glee. Then presto! In a twinkling vanished all his +ugly features, his back grew straight, and he was once more kindly-eyed. + +"Oh, Tall Pine Tree! Oh, Tall Pine Tree!" he cried in joy. "Behold now +I am free to climb up to your topmost boughs once more!" But in his joy +the Little Brown Man did not forget Little Nannie, who stood staring, +wide-eyed, at the wonders she had seen. + +"And now, my child!" cried he, "what can I do to serve you?" + +"Oh, please, sir," answered Little Nannie timidly, "if you would give me +my crutch, I would be most grateful. I am so lame that I cannot stoop to +pick it up myself." + +"Your crutch!" screamed the Little Brown Man in a passion of rage. "It +is a wicked stick that holds you back when you would run and play, and +so I treat it thus!" He seized the crutch and flung it in the brook, and +there it floated swiftly in the current. + +"Oh, Little Brown Man, what have you done!" wept Little Nannie. "Now I +can never wander in the forest any more, but must sit always in my +chair. I cannot walk without my crutch, and my mother is too poor to buy +me another." She leaned against the Tall Pine Tree and sobbed aloud. + +"Stop, stop, Little Nannie!" cried the Little Brown Man, "I meant you +no harm, as you will see. Now tell me this: Is it your wish to walk +always with a crutch? If so, say but a word, and I will bring it back +again, for now my powers of magic are returned." + +"Oh, Little Brown Man!" answered Little Nannie through her tears, "I do +not wish to walk always with a crutch; indeed, I often weep because I +wish to run and play like other boys and girls." + +"Then try and see if your wish come true, Little Nannie," commanded the +Little Brown Man. + +Little Nannie took a step forward, and then another and another, and +found her feet like wings. So, singing and laughing, she danced home +through the forest, the happiest child in all the world. When she +reached her gate, she cried out: + +"Oh, Mother! Mother! Come quickly and see! I can run and play like other +boys and girls! The Little Brown Man has granted my wish to me!" + +"My child!" cried her mother in amazement, "this is the work of a good +fairy without doubt! And what did you say to thank the Little Brown +Man?" + +"Oh, mother, I was so happy I forgot," replied Little Nannie, hanging +her head. + +"Then let us go in search of him at once," said her mother. + +So hand in hand they sought the Little Brown Man, but though they called +loud and long at the foot of the Tall Pine Tree, they could not find the +Little Brown Man. For at the magic of a kindly word, he had flown to the +topmost boughs, and there he dwelled for evermore. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A TALE FOR HALLOWEEN + + +Babette and Antone were the children of a very poor woodcutter. They +lived in a little cottage on the side of a steep mountain, and the +mountain looked upon a great forest. Now though their father toiled in +this forest from dawn until dark, he could earn but little. Wood in that +region was plentiful, and woodcutters were numerous. Their mother made +fine laces which Antone carried to the market to sell; but in spite of +all their efforts, the poor parents seldom could give their children +more than bread and broth to eat. Often indeed the broth was lacking if +the woodcutter found no hare in the traps he set. Babette and Antone, +however, were happy little children and never thought of their poverty. +But it worried the woodcutter that Antone was ten years old and had not +yet gone to school. Antone's mother taught him to read and write, that +the other boys and girls would not be too far beyond him, and Antone +studied his lessons diligently. Often as he sat doing his sums on the +hearthstone, with a bit of charcoal for a pencil, his mother would sigh +sadly. Antone did not like his mother to be sad, and so he always +laughed to cheer her. + +"Never fear, Mother," he would say. "Soon I shall send myself to school. +My vegetable patch does finely. Then, when I am a great scholar, you +shall be poor no longer. My father shall have a team of oxen and you a +fine satin gown; Babette shall have a dozen real dollies instead of the +turnip dollies she now rocks in her dolly cradle." + +"Ah, Antone, my son," his mother would answer with a sigh, "unless you +make your fortune as a maker of toys, I fear you will have no fortune at +all. Your fingers are as clever as a wizard's even now; and though you +are past ten, we cannot spare you to go to school." + +It was true, as she said. Antone made boats from bits of cedar wood, and +when he had fitted them with sails you could not tell them from any +that had come out of a shop. He carved a doll's cradle from a pine knot, +and for a dolly painted the white face of a turnip until one would think +it was the face of some fair maiden,--so blue were this turnip dolly's +eyes and so pink her cheeks, her hair of golden corn silk fell in such +waves and her robe of young cabbage leaves was so green and beautiful. +Then as often as this turnip dolly faded and began to shrivel, Antone +made another, which Babette declared was always more beautiful than the +one before. Babette had never been to the village and therefore knew +nothing of real dollies. She loved her turnip babies tenderly indeed; +she always carried them in her arm when she went with Antone to meet +their father and sang them little songs as she rocked them to sleep. + +Now it happened one night in the season of Halloween that Antone sat +carving jack-o'-lanterns to sell in the village. Babette, who was +rocking her dolly to sleep, sat watching him. Being but six, she knew +nothing about the fun which comes with Halloween, and so she listened +round-eyed with wonder to Antone, who knew all things about +jack-o'-lanterns. When she heard that boys and girls dressed like +goblins and witches frolicked in the village streets, Babette made up +her mind to frolic too. + +"How fine it must be!" she cried, clapping her hands. "Halloween must be +quite like Christmas!" + +"Not quite so fine as Christmas, Babette," answered Antone, as he carved +the teeth in the last jack-o'-lantern, "but Halloween is very fine +nevertheless. It is comical to see the jack-o'-lanterns bobbing up and +down with their faces grinning in the candle light. And on Halloween the +boys and girls play pranks on their elders that they would be well +switched for at any other time; but every one laughs and is gay on that +night." Antone finished the jack-o'-lantern and piled it with a dozen +more in his little cart. He would sell them all in the village when he +took his vegetables to market the next day; no one else could carve such +splendid pumpkin faces as Antone. + +"Then let us go and play pranks in the village too, Antone," cried +Babette. "Mother will make us goblin dresses, and there is still one +great pumpkin in your garden for a jack-o'-lantern. Oh, what a frolic we +shall have!" + +"Babette!" exclaimed Antone in astonishment. "Wherever did you get such +a notion? The frolic in the village is not for us. Mother has no time to +make us goblin dresses, and if she did, she has no goods; besides, how +should we find our way home through the forest?" + +"You know the way through the forest, Antone," insisted Babette, "and if +Mother cannot make us goblin dresses, we can go without. It will be dark +and our jack-o'-lantern will be as fine as any. Do come," she begged, "I +have never been to a Halloween frolic." + +"Now, Babette, I tell you we cannot go to the village to-morrow night," +answered Antone. "I could not find my way home through the forest after +dark, and we would both be lost. Be a good girl and do not tease any +more." + +Antone spoke sternly, and Babette burst into tears. She was very fond of +her own way, and when she could not have it, sometimes she was a very +naughty little girl. She sobbed and wept so piteously that Antone found +it hard to refuse her. However, he dared not go to the village at +night, as he feared to lose his way in the forest. So Antone trotted +Babette on his knee and whispered that he would buy her chocolate; but +she only wept the harder. + +"Now, Babette!" cried Antone at last, when Babette showed no signs of +stopping, "I cannot take you to the village; but if you are a good girl +and stop crying at once, I will make a little Halloween frolic just for +you and me. Now promise me you will not cry any more." + +Babette dried her eyes and promised. She wished a Halloween frolic, but +whether she frolicked at home or in the village mattered not at all. + +"Will we wear goblin dresses or ghost dresses, Antone?" she asked. + +Antone puzzled a moment before he answered. "Oh, ghost dresses, I +think," said he. + +The next day Babette was very good. She helped Antone gather his +vegetables for market, and when he returned sat beside him quietly while +he carved the last pumpkin from his garden. When the jack-o'-lantern was +finished, Antone lighted the candle just for one second so that she +might see it grinning in the light. Babette clapped her hands; but he +held up a warning finger. The Halloween frolic was to be a secret. After +supper the children went to bed as usual, but instead of undressing, +they pulled their white nightdresses over their heavy coats. + +"They will do for ghost dresses," whispered Antone when all was still, +and they crept softly out. In the moonlight the jack-o'-lantern was +grinning broadly to greet them. + +"Pumpkin is smiling at us," laughed Babette. She was very happy, for her +frolic was about to begin. + +Antone struck a match to light the candle, but there was no candle in +the jack-o'-lantern. + +"I put the candle in; I know I did," said he in surprise. He searched in +the dark, and Babette stopped her laughing. Antone looked about, and +there beneath the bench lay the remainder of his precious candle. It was +chewed to bits, and the wick was in shreds. + +"Oh, Babette!" cried he. "A wicked rat has stolen our candle, and I paid +a whole penny for it too!" + +"Oh, the bad rats!" cried Babette, bursting into tears. She stamped her +foot and sent the jack-o'-lantern rolling off the bench. It struck the +earth with a bump and dented its nose a trifle. + +"Now, Babette, what a baby you are! See what you have done!" cried +Antone. He stooped to pick up the pumpkin, but the pumpkin was too quick +for him. + +"Oh, no, you don't," laughed Pumpkin in a thick throaty sort of voice. +"Babette smashed my nose a little, but that's no matter on a Halloween +night. Good-by, boys and girls," he called airily and rolled swiftly +down the hill. + +"You come back here; you're my pumpkin," cried Antone and started after +the runaway. Babette followed, weeping and crying aloud. + +"Oh, my Halloween frolic! Oh, my Halloween frolic!" she mourned. "Now we +have no jack-o'-lantern and no candle either." + +"But just you wait until he rolls down into the vegetable garden," +shouted Antone, as he chased the swiftly rolling pumpkin. "He'll have to +stop at the hedge." He took his little sister's hand that she might run +faster. Pumpkin rolled along just in front of them but always just out +of their reach. When he reached the hedge, he gave a great leap and +landed directly in the vegetable patch. + +"Come on, you Turnips! Come on, you Carrots!" called Pumpkin, as he +rolled along. At his words the Carrots and Turnips tore themselves from +their beds and followed after him, shouting. + +"Come on! Come on!" called Pumpkin, and Parsnips and Beets followed the +Carrots and Turnips. + +"Look at Antone following us," yelled Pumpkin, and all his vegetable +followers turned and laughed in derision. + +"Ordinary nights you may be master, Antone," cried they, "but not on +Halloween. This is our night." + +"Well, you wait until I catch you and then see how hard you'll laugh," +called Antone angrily. To see his vegetable patch laid waste made him +furious. + +"But you'll wait until you catch us before you punish us, won't you, +Antone?" they answered mockingly. + +"Oh, it's Halloween! It's Halloween!" sang Pumpkin, turning handsprings +as he rolled along, and the rest of the vegetables did cartwheels as +they went careering after him. They looked like a dozen market stalls +upset on the hillside, and poor Antone nearly wept when he thought of +his loss. He followed them with determination. Antone was not a lad to +give up easily. + +"Follow me! Follow me!" sang Pumpkin, as he led the way to a tiny door +that opened beneath the forest. Turnips and Carrots squeezed through, +and Antone, fearing to be left behind, caught up Babette and ran faster. +Just as he reached the little door, a rough Potato tried to slam it in +his face. But Antone was too quick for him. He ran through and climbed +down the hole into the underground forest. There he continued the chase, +but the ground here was springy and elastic, and with each step Antone +began to gain on the vegetables. Babette's fatigue left her, and she +shook herself free of Antone's hand. + +"We'll catch up to them," declared Antone as they ran along. Even as he +spoke, Potato stubbed his toe, and Babette caught him. She held him +firmly, although he squirmed and tried his best to get free. + +"Help! Help!" bawled Potato, when he saw he was a prisoner. "Oh, +Pumpkin, wait for me!" he cried. The tears streamed from every one of +his eyes, and he looked truly sad. At his cries Pumpkin turned around, +and all the vegetables followed their leader. + +"Come now, Antone," began Pumpkin in a persuasive voice. "You might let +us have one night off, you know. Halloween is our night." Somewhere on +his run, Pumpkin had picked up two twigs, and on these he now balanced +himself rather unsteadily and thrust his leaves in the place where his +pockets would have been if he had had pockets. He looked so very jolly +and his grin was so very broad that Antone was inclined to give up the +prisoner; but just then he thought of the ruined vegetable garden and +grew angry again. + +"It is all very well for you to be polite, Pumpkin, and try to beg off +your friend," said Antone, "but this is the very fellow that tried to +slam the door in my face not two seconds ago." + +"Oh, Antone," cried Potato, "that's wrong. It was three seconds ago as +true as I live. I looked at my watch just as I was trying to pinch your +nose in the underground door, and it's quite three seconds ago; maybe +it's four." + +"Oh, hush up!" cried Pumpkin. "That's no way to talk when you are trying +to beg off. Let him off for my sake, Antone," he continued in a most +winning voice. "You'd get everlastingly tired of being in bed yourself; +you know you would. See if you wouldn't take the first chance to kick up +your heels if you could get it." + +"But, Pumpkin," replied Antone, "think of my vegetable garden; it is +ruined. I was saving all my vegetable money to go to school, and now I +cannot go for ever and ever so long. Besides, how could I know you got +tired of being in a bed? You never spoke to me before." + +"Well, I speak to you now," replied Pumpkin, "and as for your vegetable +patch, we'll all make that up to you, won't we, boys?" + +"We will! We will!" called the vegetables in chorus, and the Potato in +Babette's little fist yelled the loudest of all. + +"There, now, you see we mean no harm," declared Pumpkin, "so let Potato +go. Then you can both join us in our Halloween frolic." + +At the magic words "Halloween frolic," Babette put Potato down at once. +She was bound to have her fun, and, after all, the vegetables seemed to +be a jolly lot. So peace was made, and the children followed the bobbing +Turnips and Onions. Then shouts were heard, and Pumpkin ordered a halt. +Presently they were joined by a dozen or more Cabbages. + +"You're nice ones!" panted the Cabbages. "There we sat in the storeroom +waiting for you to call us, and the first thing we knew we saw you +pelting off down the hill like mad things." + +"My gracious!" said a very stout Cabbage, who was terribly out of +breath, "I'll have to take off my outer leaves before I go another step. +I feel as though I were boiled." + +Antone recognized the Cabbages at once. "You are Father Minette's +cabbages, are you not?" he inquired politely as they marched along. + +"Why, if it isn't little Antone, the woodcutter's son!" exclaimed the +very stout Cabbage. "Yes, we come from Minette's farm. Mother Minette +saved us for pickle, but we fooled her and slipped out of the storeroom +when she was not looking. Oh, we Cabbages are not so green as we look!" +The Cabbages all laughed, and Antone was surprised to find that he +laughed too. + +As they went marching on, Pumpkin sang and danced in the lead, and +Onions and Carrots echoed his hearty songs. Presently great black cats +with shining yellow eyes stepped from behind the trees, and each cat was +soon joined by its mistress, who was no other than a real witch in tall +peaked hat and carrying a broomstick. The Cabbages, who were a friendly +lot, introduced Antone and Babette to these witches, and the witches +seemed pleased to meet the children. + +"They do not seem to be wicked witches, do they, Antone?" whispered +Babette. + +"Oh, my dear," replied a witch who overheard, "we are not a bit wicked +on Halloween, you know. Any other night, I would probably do you a +mischief. It is my nature, you know." She reached in her bag and handed +Babette a peppermint. Babette, who was very fond of peppermint, ate it +up with all haste. + +"You shouldn't do that, my dear," reproved the witch. "It is seldom +witches give peppermints, and when they do the peppermints should be +treasured. Here is another to keep for your pocket, and then you will +never be without a peppermint when you want one." And she handed Babette +another. Babette curtseyed so prettily that the witch was charmed and +took her to ride on her broomstick. + +It was the gayest company one ever could imagine, as they marched along. +Every vegetable was singing a different Halloween song in a different +key, and they all had voices that sang out of tune by nature. Babette, +her little white nightdress flying in the breeze, was riding on the +witch's broomstick and singing loudly as the rest. When they reached the +dancing-floor it was lighted with millions and millions of glowworms, +and an orchestra of ten thousand frogs hummed lively tunes in their +throats. Pumpkin seized a handful of glowworms and put them in his head. +Then with his features all aglow he cried out: + +"Ready for the dance!" + + [Illustration: It was the gayest company one ever could imagine, + as they marched along.--_Page 262._] + +Instead of taking partners, the vegetables just plunged on to the floor +and began to jump about like mad. If they fell down they did not jump up +at once but rolled around the floor most good-naturedly. They looked so +like vegetables boiling about in a great soup kettle that Antone thought +he should die of laughing. The witches took their brooms and began a +sort of "ladies-change" figure while they chased their cats around the +edge of the circle. Babette danced hardest of all. She knew no more of +dancing than any Carrot or Parsnip, but she capered wildly, singing at +the top of her voice. + +"Come and dance too, Antone," called Babette, as she went jumping past +her brother, but he shook his head and laughed. + +"I am too big for such nonsense," said he. "I am ten, you know." + +"What nonsense!" cried a witch who was chasing her cat close by. "Ten is +exactly the right age to have fun." She raised her broom playfully, and +before he knew it, she swept Antone into the middle of the dance. +Pumpkin, his grinning features all aglow, went flying past and made +Antone feel proud. Pumpkin was certainly the handsomest vegetable of the +lot. As the night grew later, the frogs hummed faster, but hum as fast +as they would, they could not keep up with the frisky vegetables. Beets +and Cauliflowers continued to bob up and down like mad; Cabbages from +Minette's farm lost leaf after leaf; Carrots and Onions grew battered +from much tumbling about, and the merry din of song and laughter grew +louder and louder. + +"Let's play Blind Man's Buff," called Antone. "I'll be 'it' and show you +how to play." He tied the handkerchief over his eyes, and the witches +and their black cats went darting hither and thither. The vegetables +were so pleased with this new game that they would play nothing else. +They might have been playing it yet had not a cock crowed suddenly. + +"Good gracious me!" cried a witch. "The glowworms are all gone out. It's +nearly morning. All who are going back to the vegetable patch had best +be on their way." + +"Not I!" cried Pumpkin. "I've done with vegetable patches forevermore." + +"Not we," exclaimed the Cabbages. "We're going to turn savage and be +wild cabbages for the rest of our days! We shan't go back to Mother +Minette's pickle jars." Straightway every vegetable began to raise its +voice and declare it would not go back to Antone's patch. + +"Oh, hush, all of you!" cried the witch. "Stay in the woods for the rest +of your life if you like. It is nothing to me; but what of Antone and +Babette? Who is to take them home?" + +"Well, ma'am," replied Pumpkin with a low bow, "we thought that you +might be good enough to give them a ride home on your broomstick." + +"But Pumpkin!" cried Antone in dismay, "you promised to make it up to me +if I let Potato go, and I think you should all return with me. I shall +not have any vegetables if you all remain in the woods." + +"Never worry about that, Antone," replied Pumpkin with a lordly air. +"Here is a purse for each of you, and if you take good care never to +lose them, you will have plenty of gold forever. Isn't that true, boys?" + +"True as we're not going back to the farm," cried the Cabbages. "You had +best hurry and plant yourself before it grows daylight, Pumpkin," they +warned and began to dig holes in the earth. Before Antone and Babette +had mounted the witch's broomstick, all the Carrots and Turnips and even +Pumpkin were all tucked up in their sandy beds. They called a faint +good-by as the children sailed off with the witch. + +"Oh, what a beautiful Halloween frolic," sighed Babette as she leaned +her head on Antone's shoulder and fell fast asleep. + +The broomstick flew with the swiftness of an eagle, and the witch warned +Antone to hold Babette with a firm grasp. One by one the stars went out +as they sped across the sky. The black cat steered and seemed to know +the exact way to the woodcutter's cottage, for just as the dawn was +breaking the broomstick glided down to Babette's window. The witch shook +hands with Antone, and the black cat politely jumped off to help Antone +with his little sister. Before the good creature could mount again, the +broomstick was off like whirlwind, and it was left behind. + +"This broomstick is so wild I cannot stop it," called the witch from +the clouds. "Keep good care of my cat until next Halloween." + +Antone put Babette in her little crib and made the black cat a +comfortable bed in the kitchen. Then he lay down to sleep and dreamed of +the Halloween frolic until he was wakened by his mother. + +"Come, Antone!" she cried. "I have good news for you. Only look from the +window and see the great black cat without a single white hair that sits +washing his face in the sun. Such a cat coming to us on Halloween will +surely bring us good luck! But come, my child, get up, for the sun is +high, and it is time for you to dig your vegetables for market." + +"My vegetables have gone wild in the forest," muttered Antone, "but it +is no matter, for here is a bag of gold which they gave me. The cat is +the black cat of the witch who brought us home on her broomstick; so let +me sleep, Mother, for I am weary with dancing at the Halloween frolic." +He closed his eyes and slept again, while his mother examined the +leather bag. + +"Antone, my son!" she screamed. "Here is gold yellow as a pumpkin! Where +have you been to gather such wealth?" She shook him and gave him no +peace until he waked fully and told the story. Even then his mother did +not believe it, but threw up her hands and wept that her son should thus +rave with fever. + +The woodcutter and Babette came running to see what had happened, and at +the sight of the second bag of gold the poor woman grew calmer. Babette +showed the peppermint which the witch had given her, and the mother +doubted no more. + +"To receive a peppermint from a witch is surely a mark of great favor," +said she, and began to laugh through her tears. "I thought I was +dreaming or that Antone raved of fever, for never in my life had I seen +so much gold." + +"It is like the fairies to bless the children of the poor," said the +woodcutter. "Now Antone will go to school, and Mother will have a +handsome dress and shawl." + +"And is it not as I said?" cried his wife. "A black cat coming on +Halloween would bring us good luck, and here is the luck already!" + +It would have been hard to find a happier family than the woodcutter's +as they set out for the village that day. When it was told that the +woodcutter was looking for a pair of oxen, some folk laughed outright. +The woodcutter was too poor to feed a pair of canaries, they declared; +but when it became known that the woodcutter's wife had bought a new +dress and a golden ring, they began to wonder who had died and left the +woodcutter a fortune. Antone told the tale of their wealth to those who +questioned him, and straightway the village children ran to throw their +jack-o'-lanterns from the roofs and high places. But their pumpkins +broke or stayed on the ground below where they had fallen (it was no +longer Halloween, remember). At noon, when the woodcutter and his family +sat down to dinner in the village inn, the landlord threatened to charge +a penny from all who stood gazing through the windows. Some folk scoffed +openly and declared it was a tale to tell children and dullards; but +there were the two leather bags filled with gold. The greatest marvel of +all was, that no matter how much the woodcutter or his wife spent from +these, the bags always remained brimful of gold! + +Antone chose a pair of steel skates in the village shop and bought an +armful of books for which he had longed. Babette, however, with her +usual perverse ways, would have none of the dollies in the village toy +shop. They were ugly, she declared, and their cheeks were not pink and +beautiful as were the turnip dollies Antone made for her. + +And ever after that the woodcutter and his wife were no longer poor +folk. They had white bread and even butter every day of their lives, and +on Sundays and holidays they had roasted fowl for their dinner. Antone +went to school, and Babette had an embroidered frock which was the envy +of every child in the village. Their mother no longer sighed as she went +about her household tasks, and neither did she strain her eyes making +fine laces for market. Instead she rode proudly on the seat of her +husband's ox cart when he delivered wood in the village; sometimes she +even drank tea with the mayor's wife! Visitors from far and near went to +see the famous spot where Antone's vegetables all ran away one Halloween +night; and to this day there lives not a man who can make grow on that +land cabbages or turnips or any other vegetable, although in a spot in +the forest, not far off, cabbages and pumpkins and all such vegetables +grow wild. + +Each year, as regularly as Halloween came to mark the harvest time, +Antone and Babette mounted the broomstick with the witch and rode off to +the Halloween frolic. There they always found Pumpkin grown rounder and +jollier than the year before, and they always rode home across the sky +just as the dawn was breaking. The black cat became so fond of Babette +that it never again rejoined its rightful mistress, but remained with +the woodcutter and his family and brought them good luck for the rest of +their days. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Green Forest Fairy Book, by Loretta Ellen Brady + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN FOREST FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 35458.txt or 35458.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/4/5/35458/ + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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