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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/37147-8.txt b/37147-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..667ab6c --- /dev/null +++ b/37147-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4750 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cricket's Friends, by Virginia W. Johnson + +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 Cricket's Friends + Tales Told by the Cricket, Teapot, and Saucepan + +Author: Virginia W. Johnson + +Release Date: August 21, 2011 [EBook #37147] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + + THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS. + + Tales told + + _BY THE CRICKET, TEAPOT, AND SAUCEPAN_ + + BY COUSIN VIRGINIA. + + + NEW YORK: + WORTHINGTON CO., + 747 BROADWAY. + 1888. + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by + NICHOLS AND NOYES, + in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of + Massachusetts. + + Press of J.J. Little & Co., + Astor Place, New York. + + TO + Minnie Slack, + with all fresh young hearts and loving souls akin to her's, this + little book is dedicated, + BY COUSIN VIRGINIA. + + +My little friends, who read the first volume of the "Kettle Club" last +Christmas, will remember an allusion to the introduction of new members +this year. Their history will here be presented. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + THE TRAVELLED SPIDER 14 + + THE AMBITIOUS WASP 41 + + THE DISAPPOINTED CATERPILLAR 73 + + THE FOUR SILVER PEACHES 82 + + GOING MAYING 101 + + GRANDPAPA MOUSE AND HIS FAMILY 116 + + THE ENCHANTED BABY-HOUSE 152 + + THE STORY OF AN UMBRELLA 179 + + THE GODMOTHER'S GIFTS 194 + + + + +THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS. + + +The Club were all curiosity for some time to see the new members who +were to be introduced into the select circle. + +"I am afraid of spiders," remarked the Teapot, with a lady-like shiver. + +"If a caterpillar touched me, I should run a mile," exclaimed the +Saucepan. + +"None of them can reach me," laughed the Kettle with a gurgle of +satisfaction. + +At last the Cricket marched the strangers in one night, and gave them +places about the hearth. + +"Allow me," said he, flourishing his right feeler in the air, "to +introduce to you, friends, some very distinguished additions to our +number,--the travelled Spider, the disappointed Caterpillar, and the +ambitious Wasp." + +"How do you all do?" inquired the Kettle very politely, for the Saucepan +and Teapot seemed rather stiff in their manners. + +"Very well, thank you," growled the Spider. + +"Quite so," croaked the Caterpillar. + +"In excellent spirits," echoed the Wasp, folding his gauzy wings in a +satisfied way. + +"If it is agreeable to the rest, I propose your all joining the Club," +continued the Cricket briskly. + +"Certainly," assented the Kettle; "the more the merrier, you know." + +"I think we should be extremely careful about admitting strangers to our +circle, unless they bring letters of introduction," said the Teapot +primly. + +As for the Saucepan, she contented herself with looking sideways at the +Caterpillar, and coughing contemptuously. This was not very pleasant; so +the Cricket trotted up to the two rebellious members, and gave them a +pretty sharp lecture upon the laws of courtesy and good breeding, which +served effectually to make them ashamed of themselves. The visitors now +became angry, and began to talk together of leaving without delay, +which naturally distressed the good-hearted president, who was so much +affected by a desire to do something pleasant, that he swung himself +wildly upon the hook, and thereby sprinkled those below with a stream of +scalding water. + +"Mercy!" shrieked the Wasp, dancing on one foot in an agony. + +"Oh, my back!" groaned the Caterpillar, rolling himself about in a ball. + +"What ails you, Kettle?" cried the poor Cricket, running about with his +eye almost put out from receiving a whole drop in it. "Do keep your hot +water to yourself." + +The Spider alone was unhurt; so he merely shook himself, and sat +chuckling at the discomfiture of the others. + +After doing all this mischief, the Kettle subsided, with many meek +apologies. + +"We can give you references enough, if that is all you want," said the +Wasp snappishly; "but we had better leave, I think, comrades, before we +have another hot bath. My hind leg is completely disabled." + +"Do not go," urged the Cricket. "We should enjoy your society so much, I +am sure, when we become better acquainted." + +The three visitors looked at each other in silence for a time; then the +Spider said,-- + +"I have just returned home, and, as it is so near, I do not mind running +in to spend the evening; so I will join the Club." + +"I will also," said the Caterpillar in a dismal tone of voice, "only I +am not very good company for any one now." + +"Dear me," said the Wasp, airily, "I shall not promise to remain any +longer than I am amused." + +The Teapot and Saucepan became more amiable in their behavior as the +evening advanced, and the Cricket hastened to assure the new-comers that +references, other than their evident respectability of appearance, were +entirely unnecessary. They insisted upon producing testimony, however. + +The Caterpillar took from his throat, about which it was twisted like a +cravat, a bit of green rose-leaf, and handed it to the Cricket, who read +aloud,-- + + "I can certify that my esteemed friend, the Caterpillar, will prove + a charming addition to any circle. + + "GRASSHOPPER, Jr." + +The Wasp then passed a lump of wax to the chairman, with these words +pecked upon it:-- + + "I cordially recommend our neighbor Wasp to the society of all + intelligent people, as a most refined and agreeable companion. + + "A. TITMOUSE, Esq." + +The Spider alone of the three gave no letter, but said coolly,-- + +"I have seen plenty of the world, yet I have never troubled myself with +such nonsense as cards." + +"You will not find ceremonies of the kind necessary here," remarked the +Cricket, with a severe glance at the Teapot. "Perhaps you will tell us +something of your adventures, however. + +"I do not mind doing so at all," returned the Spider, gathering up his +long legs into a more comfortable position. + + + + +THE TRAVELLED SPIDER. + + +I was born in the cellar of this very house, and, for a delightful, +spidery residence, I know of no place to equal the dark, dust-stained +window ledge where I first drew breath. After a long period of absence, +I find my early home has lost none of its charms. This is the case with +men as well as spiders, I am told. The American thinks there is no river +in the world so grand as the great Mississippi; the Frenchman none so +beautiful as the Seine; the Englishman none so famous as the Thames; the +German as the Rhine; and the Egyptian as the sacred Nile,--because home +is represented by each. + +"So, too, with me the cellar window has rare attractions: there one can +spin a dainty web to snare the silly flies and gnats, when they come +dancing along, for supper. Never believe the life of a spider is an +easy one, though: that is an altogether false idea. We work hard enough, +although we wear such good armor, and have such sharp, strong claws; for +we live by our wits, and a dull, stupid spider has but a poor chance of +it. First, one has to be on the watch for stray morsels of food, to be +ready for a pounce; then one's net may become torn in some way so as to +require mending; or a wandering spider comes prowling along to try and +conquer a home without the trouble of making it: so between all these +cares there is little leisure time to spare. The class to which I belong +does not have the constant labor that falls to the share of some of our +cousins, who spin their webs from trees, or festoon them about verandas +and other exposed localities, where the wind often blows them about so +roughly, that they are obliged to suspend bits of wood and stone to the +corners to maintain an equilibrium. I have some other relatives, to +think of whom alone is enough to warm any spider's heart with pride. + +"Foremost of these ranks the scorpion of warmer climates, where it +creeps into sheltered crannies under every stone or sandy bank, even +inhabiting boots and gloves. When disturbed, out it pounces, with an +angry snap of the claws and a savage whisk of the tail, ready for some +mischief, you may be sure. + +"Ah, I wish I was a scorpion, instead of a mere ordinary spider! But +then every one cannot be great, after all. + +"Well, even the scorpion is foolish sometimes, as I will presently tell +you. It lives in burrows, which it digs in the ground, the entrance +being formed to the exact size of the insect. By the shape of the hole +people discover the residence, and, when they wish to destroy the +inmate, they pour some water down, to see if the scorpion is at home. +The scorpion detests water; and it no sooner feels the stream trickling +through the opening, than out it rushes, to see what is the matter. To +drive a spade into the hole and kill the scorpion is then an easy task. + +"There is still another mode of destroying these princes of our race. A +circle of smouldering ashes is made around the burrow, and the scorpion, +after running for some minutes about the space inclosed, and seeing no +means of escape from the ring of fire, invariably bends its tail up over +the back, and inserting the point between two segments of the body, +stings itself to death. + +"I have another powerful relative, to be found in South America. This is +a large hairy spider, two inches long in body, and seven inches with +expanded legs. Only fancy such a size! I should be a mere pigmy in +comparison. This spider is so powerful that it can kill small birds, by +entangling them in a strong web. Think of that!" cried the Spider, +hugging himself with satisfaction. + +"You need not turn up your broken nose, Madame Teapot: we are all +murderers; still we do any amount of good, after all, in destroying +insects that would otherwise cause much trouble." + +"I don't believe a word of what you say," interrupted the Saucepan. "A +spider kill a bird, indeed! Nobody ever heard of such a thing." + +"My dear," interposed the Teapot scornfully, feeling very much angered +at the allusion to her nose made by the ill-bred stranger, "great +travellers always tell fine stories." + +"While you stay at home, and, seeing nothing, doubt what we say," +retorted the Spider half angrily. + +"Oh, dear me!" exclaimed the Cricket impatiently, "shall we never have +peace? I was so much interested in your recital, friend, that an +interruption seems very annoying indeed." + +"I am glad to find you a Cricket of such large views," replied the +Spider politely; "so I will proceed, if it affords you any pleasure. My +mother had much more experience of the outside world than any of her +neighbors, and, when I was still young, she talked with my father one +night about my future prospects in life. I remember that we children +were in the nursery--a silken tube, very soft and warm for our tender +bodies--when I overheard her remarks. + +"'I cannot consent that my eldest son should settle down here at home, +when there is so much to be seen that will improve his mind,' she said. + +"'That is foolish,' returned my father wisely. 'He will only fall into +all manner of mischief, and he cannot make himself any thing but a house +spider after all.' + +"I never slept a wink afterward, that night; and soon after I gained the +consent of my parents to start on my travels. + +"I had an easier time than most insects would enjoy, in leaving the +shelter of their homes. When I was in danger I could generally trust +that my long legs would carry me out of harm's way; and, if I was not +able to escape, I just hid under a stone, or rolled myself up into a +snug ball among the loose soil. + +"I cannot begin to tell you all the curious adventures I had, or the +strange things I heard; for I have been away such a long while, I have +forgotten more than half. Still I remember a few particulars of +interest. + +"I was trotting about one day through a field of dry stubble, when I saw +a pleasant river winding along in the sunlight, and sought the bank. The +first object I noticed was a Kingfisher, seated motionless upon an +overhanging branch, and peering eagerly down into the water in search +of food. A very handsome bird is the Kingfisher, I assure you, with his +blue coat of shining feathers, and scarlet shirt front; but so still is +he when watching for prey, you would not notice him, sometimes, among +the bushes. + +"'How are you to-day, sir?' I cried, while still at a distance. 'Are the +fish lively, may I inquire?' + +"'Keep quiet, will you?' said the Kingfisher, turning his head +impatiently towards me. + +"'There, I have lost a splendid chance through your speaking,' he added +angrily, as a fish darted past. + +"'I am very sorry to have disturbed you,' I replied, crawling out upon a +twig, the better to observe his proceedings. + +"'I have carried every thing home to my family, and I am now as empty as +a drum,' said the Kingfisher in an aggrieved tone, and then he resumed +his watch. + +"Suddenly down he dropped into the water, with a rush that fairly took +my breath away, and, after splashing about furiously for a few seconds, +returned to land, having a small fish in his beak. + +"'Ha, ha!' laughed the Kingfisher, 'I've got you at last. Yes, and there +is plenty of room left for some of your plump brothers and sisters +besides.' + +"So saying, he tossed the poor fish up in the air; then, opening wide +his beak, caught and swallowed it with great apparent relish. I was very +much amused by all this; so I said, as he settled upon the perch once +more,-- + +"'Well, well, we spiders are considered terrible butchers by most +people, but we are rather more dainty than to gulp down our meals in +that fashion. I hope you may not suffer from an indigestion, Mr. +Kingfisher.' + +"'Do not worry over that,' returned he, cocking his bright eye at me. +Then he flew away, and I scrambled after him as fast as I could, for I +was curious to see how Madame Kingfisher and the babies fared. + +"I followed the flight of the bird until he disappeared on the ground +somewhere, and I arrived just in time to see him pop into a hole on the +water side of the bank. I crept into the tunnel, which was originally +made by a tiny animal, the water-shrew, and which had been enlarged by +the Kingfisher to suit the size of the nest. This nest, my dear friends, +I found to be composed of dried fish-bones,--mostly those of +minnows,--and arranged in a nearly flat form, save a slight hollow +pressed by the bird's shape while laying eggs." + +"Oh, oh!" spurted the incredulous Saucepan, "that is a worse fib than +the account of the bird spider." + +"Very wonderful, indeed," bubbled the Kettle, who had not ventured to +speak since he scalded the company. + +"I could tell you stranger things than that," said the Wasp, hopping out +upon the hearth nimbly as the Kettle swung. + +"One at a time, if you please," interposed the Cricket, restoring order. + +"You would not doubt the truth of what I say," continued the Spider, +shrugging his shoulders, and making a comical grimace, "if you once +sniffed the horribly fishy odor of the Kingfisher's burrow. Bah! I can +smell it yet. I hid in a dark corner, watching them as long as I dared; +for I feared I should be crushed when the bird came out again, the +entrance was so small. + +"'How do you find yourself, my love?' inquired the father Kingfisher +politely. + +"'It is rather dull, you know,' replied the mother Kingfisher. 'Hush, +nestlings, you cannot eat another morsel; so be quiet.' + +"They chippered together for a while; then I ran out just in time, for +the other followed quickly. + +"'What are you doing in my house?' he asked angrily. + +"'I wanted to see how pretty it might be,' I answered saucily. + +"Upon this the Kingfisher pounced at me; but I dodged this way and that, +and a fine race we had of it. Finally, I saw a lady and gentleman +walking along together; so I climbed upon her trailing dress, while the +bird grew shy, and flew away. I strolled about upon the lady's dress for +a while, until she saw me, and gave a shriek of alarm. This was even +better fun than the race with the Kingfisher. I cantered up and down, +the gentleman trying in vain to catch me; I pretended to run off upon +the grass; then I stole back, and hid inside one of her curls. Here I +remained all the evening, peering out now and then, when she returned to +the house, to watch the gay lights and people. When she retired to her +room, she combed me out of my hiding-place; but I did not care, so I +walked out the window as if nothing had happened. The stars were shining +brightly, and, as the night was so warm, I thought I would walk on a bit +farther before finding a night's lodging. Like all good travellers, I +had learned not to care much where I slept. + +"The bats were swooping about on the watch for mosquitos and other +insects; the owls hooted from the tree-tops, and the bull-frogs croaked +duets across the marshes with each other; while beautiful moths +fluttered on the still air, to enjoy themselves after sleeping all day. + +"Seated before the door of his house was a relative of yours [addressing +the Chairman], the Field-cricket, chirping briskly. I knew he was a +fierce, combative sort of fellow; still I tried to be very polite, as I +wanted to get a peep into his mansion. + +"'I am glad to meet so clever a house-builder, as yourself,' I said, +with a low bow. + +"'As to that,' returned he modestly, 'I am nothing to the Mole-cricket.' + +"'If I could only have a glimpse of your residence,' I sighed. + +"The Cricket grew affable, and offered to make a call with me upon the +Mole-cricket. Accordingly we started together; and it was fortunate I +had a guide, for otherwise I never should have discovered the abode of +this curious insect. It is very quarrelsome with its own kind, as +perhaps you are aware; and it passes nearly the whole of its life +underground, in the many winding galleries and passages, excavated by +means of the spade-like limbs. + +"'I hope we may find him in a good humor,' remarked the Field-cricket. +'Hulloa!' + +"He called several times; then, receiving no answer, pushed a blade of +grass into the opening, when out dashed the Mole-cricket, furious at the +intrusion. + +"'What do you want?' he asked, snapping his strong claws at us in a very +unpleasant manner. + +"'The Field-cricket was so kind as to bring me here, hoping that you +would allow me to see something of your house,' I said boldly. + +"'I have just got it into a splendid state of order, so I do not mind.' + +"'Wait,' exclaimed the Field-cricket, as we were about to enter, 'you +must promise not to eat us up after we get in.' + +"'I promise,' laughed the other; 'I have already had my supper, so I am +not hungry.' + +"For my own part I did not fear being devoured, as I knew I was too +prickly and tough a morsel to tempt any appetite. The Field-cricket, +however, might with reason entertain apprehensions, for he was as sleek +and plump as I was lean and bristly. He took the precaution of putting +me between himself and our guide, so that he could keep on guard should +the Mole-cricket forget his promise. Well, the latter behaved very well +instead; so I have really no complaint to make. He led us through such a +number of dark passages, that I was fairly bewildered with the size and +variety of the smooth-walled tunnels. + +"'Why do you have so many?' I inquired, when we paused, quite out of +breath, in a kind of central chamber. + +"'Oh!' he replied, 'one must have a large house to run about in; and +after all it is not so much work to make it. Besides, I can hide +securely here, in ever so many different places, if necessary. This is +the nursery,' he added, pausing before a really large cavity, which was +much nearer the surface of the ground than the rest of his habitation. +It was a fine apartment, nicely prepared for the reception of some two +or three hundred yellow eggs. + +"'I build this so much nearer the surface,' explained the Mole-cricket, +'so that the eggs may have the benefit of the sun's warmth, although I +dislike it so much myself, that I always burrow deep in the earth while +the daylight lasts.' + +"All this time I observed the Field-cricket grew more ill at ease,--now +giving an anxious croak, then skipping back a pace, if the Mole-cricket +only looked at him. He had some cause, sure enough. When we arrived at +the entrance once more, I saluted our host courteously, thanking him +for the pleasure he had given us. The Mole-cricket, instead of replying +politely, made a sudden rush at his cousin, with his large jaws wide +open. I stepped between them just in time to save the Field-cricket, who +ran away as fast as ever he could; and that is the last I ever saw of +him. + +"'You had better go home again,' I said to the disappointed +Mole-cricket. 'All I regret is that I should have seen you do such a +thing, for I did not suppose you were so much of a barbarian.' + +"'Ho, ho!' he growled, in a sulky tone. 'I would eat you up for your +impudence, were you not so tough-looking.' + +"'I am afraid you would have a nightmare afterward,' I rejoined; and +then we parted, never to meet again. + +"My attention was next attracted to a globe, about the size of a +cricket-ball, suspended from the head of a thistle by several stout +grass stems. It was woven together firmly, and presented no opening that +I could perceive; yet the walls were so delicately thin, that the forms +of some tiny animals, packed snugly together in this secure, though +airy nest, were to be seen. Presently I beheld a pretty little creature, +clothed in thick, soft fur, marked with white, nimbly climbing the stem +of a plant, to pounce upon an unsuspicious fly, which it did as swiftly +and accurately as a swallow. + +"'What do you want here?' said the Harvest-mouse suspiciously. + +"'I am only seeking a night's lodging; so I will creep into this +harebell, I think.' + +"I slept soundly; the wind rocked my cradle delightfully. The next +morning my curiosity was gratified, when I peeped out, by seeing the +Harvest-mouse pay a visit to the baby mice. Her own body was so slender, +that she could easily crawl through any space in the nest: which she +did; and, when she came out again, the opening was carefully covered by +the meshes of fine grass blades, so that the ball was apparently entire +as before. + +"'Ah, ha! my lady,' I cried, jumping down beside her. 'That is the way +you do it, eh?' + +"The mother-mouse gave a little shriek of terror; but then, seeing it +was only a Spider that spoke, she laughed good-naturedly. + +"'I am not afraid of harm from you,' she said 'but there are so many +horrible creatures about, ready to destroy us, that my nerves are often +sadly shaken.' + +"'Pooh! you must not be so timid,' I urged. 'Now, for my part, I have +travelled a long distance; yet I have found no peril that I could not +easily escape from.' + +"'Never mind,' returned the Harvest-mouse, shaking her head. 'You will +be frightened yet, depend upon it.' + +"I soon found, to my sorrow, that I was to be not only frightened, but +in serious danger. I was nearly killed the next moment by the ant-lion." + +"What is an ant-lion?" inquired the Teapot. + +"Ah! I know," sighed the Wasp. + +"And I also," echoed the Cricket. + +"But what is it?" chimed in the eager Saucepan, by this time quite +interested in the Spider's narrative. + +"I will tell you," pursued the Spider. "The ant-lion is a beautiful kind +of insect, resembling the dragon-fly in its larval or imperfect state. +It feeds chiefly upon active insects; and, as it is too slow of motion +to catch them otherwise, it resorts to a very clever expedient,--it +makes all food come within reach; thus saving a world of trouble. The +head is furnished with a pair of long, curved mandibles, which gives to +the inner jaws a free play. The grub makes a pitfall to entrap any +passing prey, by tracing a shallow trench, the circle varying from one +to two inches in diameter. It then makes another round, starting just +within the first circle; and so it proceeds, continually scooping up the +sand with its head, and jerking it outside the trench. By continuing +this process, always tracing smaller and smaller circles, the ant-lion +at last completes a conical pit, buries itself in the sand, and waits. + +"Like many another inquisitive ant, beetle, or spider, I went along to +the edge of the pit, and peeped in to see what it might contain, when to +my horror the sand gave way, and I slid down, down, almost into the jaws +opened wide to receive me. I turned faint with fright for a moment; then +strength returned, and I scrambled up the side again. This was not easy, +as may be imagined: the sand loosened more and more every step I took, +and, even faster than I showered it down, the ant-lion flung it back, +endeavoring to keep the sides steep, and prevent my escape. + +"I just struggled to the brink, when who should come to my assistance +but the good-hearted Harvest-mouse, who had witnessed the whole affair +from her overhanging nest. She kindly extended her long tail for my +benefit, which I eagerly clutched, and so was dragged out alive. + +"Ugh! I never see a dragon-fly floating along, without thinking of that +dreadful pit where the ant-lion lurked in waiting for victims. I felt +too much exhausted to move after that, and, while in so miserably +helpless a state, a bird snapped me up, to carry me through the air by +three legs, as food for the young birds. They were very +hungry,--children generally are,--but they would not give me so much as +a peck of their greedy bills. + +"'Why did you not bring a nice, fat-bodied garden-spider, while you were +about it?' said the robin-mother reproachfully. + +"I was then flung out of the nest, and fortunately caught upon a +projecting twig as I fell. I hid under a leaf to rest awhile, +congratulating myself that I was so rough and ugly. + +"Several pretty young squirrels were whisking about the branches, while +their parents gravely watched their sports with tails curled up over +their backs in repose; or joined in the fun, chasing to loftier perches, +where it made me giddy to watch them swaying about, and leaping from +tree to tree, then returning to my immediate vicinity again. + +"'Do you live out here?' I inquired, going towards them. + +"'Yes,' they said, 'this is our summer house, you know; and very +comfortable we find it for the heat of the season.' + +"'I wish you would let me look at it.' + +"'Oh! you can do that, certainly. It is built in sight of all the world. +This is not the case with our winter house, however.' + +"The cage was made of very slight materials, and placed upon the +extremity of a frail branch, that swayed with every gust of wind. 'I +should think you would be shaken out,' I remarked. + +"'Not a bit of it,' returned the mother Squirrel. 'We could not be +reached by any animal, the branch is so slender; and I am seldom +frightened by the cries of boys,--unless, indeed, a stone should rudely +strike the cage, when I take each of my young ones in my mouth, and +deposit them in a place of safety.' + +"'Where, then, is your winter home?' I next asked. + +"'Ah! that is a question,' replied the father Squirrel, rubbing his nose +with one little paw, in a knowing way. + +"'I do not wish to make any impertinent inquiries, but I should like +very much to know something more of your interesting family,' I said +modestly. + +"Upon this the two parents whispered and nodded together for a time, +then turned to me again. 'If you promise not to tell any cat afterward, +you can see it,' they said. + +"Of course I consented. The winter cage was located in the fork of a +tree, where the boughs concealed it from view, and served to shelter +from the wind as well. The nest was quite large, being composed of +moss, leaves, and grass. + +"'Come in and see how nice and warm it is,' invited the hospitable +Squirrels. + +"'Do you build a new house every year?' + +"'No: that would be too much trouble; so we generally occupy one for +several seasons.' + +"Bidding the amiable Squirrel family good-by, I crawled down the tree to +the earth once more. I began to weary of this rough-and-tumble sort of +life. In the struggle with the ant-lion I had sprained my back, which +malady was severely aggravated by the rude treatment of the bird that +carried me through the air, only to throw me away when the nestlings +declined tasting of me. + +"I reached the bank of the stream where I had first seen the Kingfisher; +then, as the day was cloudy and cool, I sat down in a nut-shell, that +served to keep me warm. While I lazily watched the fish dart through the +crystal waters, and the birds flutter overhead, a curious object came +floating towards me. What do you suppose it was? Why, nothing less than +a snug raft of dried leaves and twigs, fastened together with silken +threads, that bobbed along right merrily, bearing the sailor who +constructed it easily and securely. He was really a remarkably handsome +fellow, of a dark, chocolate-brown color, marked with a broad, orange +band, and with pale-red legs. This was the floating palace of the +Raft-spider, who not only pursues insects on shore, but trots out upon +the water after them just as well. In doing this he requires some +resting-place, and so builds the raft that excited my wonder and +admiration. When he saw me sitting in the nut-shell on the shore, he +laughed loudly; while I was only too glad to attract his attention, for +I had a favor to ask. + +"'Will you take me on board?' I inquired. + +"'Yes: run ahead to yonder large pebble; then you can jump on when I +pass by.' + +"I did so; and when he came alongside I sprang aboard of the raft, which +was amply large enough to receive both of us. I thought there never was +better fun than sailing down the stream in this style. We danced along +smoothly on the current when the water was calm, or we whirled round +eddies and rapids; but we passed through all these dangers in safety. +The Raft-spider conversed pleasantly. He frequently dashed overboard +after some unlucky insect that had fallen into the water, moths, flies, +and beetles; or he snapped up some tiny wanderer that rose to the +surface for air; sometimes even crawling down the stems of plants for +prey to the depth of several inches. He always returned to the raft with +these spoils, and cordially invited me to share them, which I did with +relish. + +"'Eat away,' he urged. 'I can get plenty more at any time, while you +look as thin as a starved grasshopper.' + +"We had already become excellent friends, when we suddenly beheld a +large boat steering swiftly towards us. The Raft-spider is extremely +cautious; so, bidding me follow, he slid overboard to hide, as he was in +the habit of doing when any danger threatened. Now this was all very +well for him, as he could live under water for some time; but what was +to become of me? The water bubbled up into my ears; I opened my jaws to +scream, only to have more gurgle down my throat. I sputtered and gasped +and floundered, until my companion took compassion upon me, and held my +head up until the boat had passed, when he dragged me on to the raft +again, more dead than alive. + +"'To be sure,' he remarked gayly, 'I forgot you were not the same kind +of a Spider as myself. You are only a landsman, after all.' + +"'Do you have to jump overboard in that fashion often?' I faintly asked. + +"'Bless you! I have done so every five minutes sometimes.' + +"'I should like to land, then, if you please.' + +"The Raft-spider made fun of my fears; but I was determined to get away +from the water as soon as possible, so he put me ashore, and went on his +way, still laughing." + +Here the narrator was interrupted by the entrance of Hulda, who whisked +the Teapot and Saucepan off to a high shelf across the room. The +Cricket, Wasp, and Caterpillar fled in opposite directions, but the +unfortunate Spider was not quick enough to escape. The thrifty +housekeeper espied him with her keen eyes, and, pouncing upon him, +caught, and threw him out of the window. + +Here was an abrupt close to the story. The others could do nothing but +sigh over this misfortune, and finally the Cricket said,-- + +"I propose, for one, that we do not meet again until the family have +gone to bed; as, by so doing, we will not run the risk of being thrown +out of the window." + +To this they agreed; and then they separated, the Wasp and Caterpillar +accepting an invitation to visit the Cricket in his mansion behind the +brick. + +The next night, when the household had retired, the Kettle Club resumed +their places about the hearth. The Teapot had been left beside the fire, +fortunately; but the poor Saucepan, to her great vexation, still rested +on the shelf. They had hoped to hear something of the fate of the +Spider; but, although the Cricket had been out of doors, prowling about +that day, he could find no trace of the missing member. + +"Such an interesting Spider as he was, too," commented the Kettle. + +"Yes, indeed," assented the Teapot amiably; "I did not suppose one of +his race could be so agreeable." + +"There is no use groaning, since it cannot bring him back again," said +the Wasp sharply. "Who is to speak to-night?" + +"We should be delighted to hear you," said the crafty Cricket, desirous +of keeping the Wasp in a good humor. + +"Perhaps you will not find my history interesting, after that of the +Spider," said he with affected modesty: he thought it would be much more +so all the time. + +"I am sure we shall," cordially returned the Cricket. + + + + +THE AMBITIOUS WASP. + + +"To begin then," commenced the Wasp, "I must first describe to you how I +was born. Did any of you ever see, very early in the spring, one of my +tribe flying slowly about, pausing to examine every earth bank, now +exploring the burrow of a field-mouse, or perhaps entering the tunnel of +a boring insect, all the while buzzing in a fussy way?" + +"I now remember watching a Wasp during my travels, that behaved in a +very curious manner," said the Cricket. "It alighted upon a wood-pile, +and gnawed off a quantity of fibres, which were kneaded together +carefully into a ball; and then the Wasp flew away with the ball to a +hole near by. I did not dare ask any questions; because I feared +receiving a sting for my curiosity, and I have heard such a wound is +most painful." + +"Ah! that is always the way," said the other in an aggrieved tone. "We +are thought by man to be good for nothing but to steal sugar, or other +sweets; and gnaw holes in fruit, to disfigure the ripe beauty of +peaches, plums, and apricots. We are called lazy fellows, going about to +give any one a sharp thrust; when in reality a sting often causes death, +by tearing the poison-bag. This belief is partly true; still not +altogether, for we are also of some good in the world. We do not live +solely upon the juices of flowers and fruits: we are very fond of the +hosts of flies that swarm about and render themselves so annoying in the +summer season. For instance, if you notice the pigs in the farm-yard any +warm day, you will observe that the flies cluster thickly over their +skins, tormenting the poor animals terribly. This torment is greatly +lessened by the wasps, who skim over the fence every now and then, and +capture a fly inevitably in their fatal grasp." + +"Is it possible!" exclaimed the Teapot. + +"Yes, indeed," returned the Wasp complacently. "But I must tell you how +I was born. The Wasp you saw on the wood-pile was selecting a home, +like a careful matron, and was bundling the fibres together to use in +the construction of her nest. This she was obliged to do without any +help whatever, for all the other wasps had died the previous autumn, +while she was left to sleep through the winter in some warm nook, then +found a new colony in the spring. Having brought the fibres to her +burrow, she runs up the side of the chamber, clinging to the roof with +the last pair of legs, while with the first pair aided by the jaws, she +fixes the woody pulp to the roof, forming a little pillar. Other pellets +are attached, until this pillar, like a stalactite in a cave, is +completed. At the end of the pillar she places three very shallow cups, +lays an egg in each, and makes a roof over them. More cells are then +added, eggs laid in them, and the roof extended over the whole. By the +time all this is done, the eggs laid in the first three cells are +hatched into tiny grubs, who are terribly hungry, requiring ever so many +flies from the mother Wasp. At last they cease to feed; spin a silken +cover over their cells; and, after spending a short time in this +retirement, tear away the covering with their jaws, emerging perfect +insects. + +"They now repay the mother Wasp for her care, by assisting in all heavy +labors, so that she really has little to do, but lay eggs as fast as +cells can be made for their accommodation. Before long the first terrace +is completely filled with cells, and more room is needed. The wasps next +construct several more pillars exactly like the first one; and, by +adding cells to these, another terrace is built below the first one. +Three or four more terraces continue to form, the cells of these last +being so small, that the mother Wasp cannot put her head into them. The +inmates of these cradles are very much smaller than their parent, and +are known as the workers, their lives being devoted to labor. These +workers make excellent nurses, always feeding and tending the baby wasps +with jealous care. Towards the close of the summer their conduct +changes, however; they feel that a quick death for those nurslings who +will not have time to grow up before cold weather is best, so they pull +the helpless white things out of their beds, and carry them outside to +die. I am glad I was able to grow to wasphood." + +"Please raise your voice a trifle," said the Saucepan, in a vexed tone. +"I cannot hear half that you say, over there." + +"You had better use an ear-trumpet," remarked the Wasp impertinently. "I +am already as hoarse as a raven from shouting so loudly." + +"When the nest is abandoned the workers die; and so do almost all of the +others, save a few of the females." + +"How is it that you are alive, then?" interrupted the Teapot. + +"One thing at a time, if you please," said the Wasp pettishly; "I am +telling you as fast as ever I can. When I first spread my wings to fly +out into the warm, bright sunshine, I was half-wild with delight at my +new strength and beauty. The world seemed such a wonderful place! The +air was so fresh, the flowers so fragrant and varied in coloring, and +the hills so grand in height, that I could only flutter from place to +place, bewildered with happiness. I alighted finally upon a +catalpa-tree, whose branches were covered with splendid blossoms." + +"'You feel very gay,' rustled the tree. + +"'Yes, I am only just born; so I may well be gay.' I answered. + +"'Ah! dance while you may,' said the Catalpa gravely. 'Your life lasts a +few hours, but mine for years.' + +"My fine spirits were chilled in a moment, and I dropped to the grass, +feeling utterly miserable. I could only enjoy all this pleasure for a +few hours after all! There was so much to see, and so little time to see +it in, where should I turn first? While I sat there thinking after this +fashion, a pansy slowly unfolded, and out of it stepped a tiny figure, +no longer than one of my legs. I was not very wise, but I knew it must +be a fairy or elf that now stood before me. He wore knee-breeches, a +jacket to match, and a funny little cobweb cap. + +"'So we are sad, eh?' he said, winking one eye drolly. + +"'I have such a short time to live, that I do not know which way to turn +first,' I replied. + +"'That is a pity,' said the sprite, rocking himself upon a stem of +seed-grass, as if it were a hobby horse. 'What would you do if you +could live longer?' + +"'What would I not do?' I exclaimed. 'I should try to see every thing +beautiful and curious in the whole world.' + +"'Stop a bit,' he interposed. 'You shall do this if you desire it so +much.' He took off his cobweb cap and threw it at me, saying, 'This will +make you invisible, if you put it on your head, when any danger +threatens.' + +"Before I had time to thank him the elf turned a somersault in the air, +and plunged head first into his pansy mansion, which closed upon him." + +Just at this moment the Kettle Club was startled by a sudden thump, +thump in the room. + +"What was that?" whispered the Teapot; and all the others listened, +without daring to look over their shoulders, for the fire was rather +low. + +"It is only I," said the Saucepan. "I have jumped off the shelf to hear +better." + +"You must have hurt yourself," said the Kettle. + +"Oh, no: I only feel a trifle jarred. I am made of tin, you know." + +How were they to move the Saucepan nearer to the hearth? + +"I think I could be rolled over, if any one would be so kind as to push +me," she suggested eagerly. + +So the Cricket, Caterpillar, and Wasp trotted out, and by pushing +together succeeded in moving the Saucepan to the fireside. + +"We can never turn you over," panted the Caterpillar. + +"I can rest on my side," said the Saucepan cheerily. + +"Your lid lies out yonder on the floor," said the Cricket. + +"That is not the least matter. It would not stay on my head if I had it. +Go on with the story, please; I am sorry to have made so much trouble." + +"Where was I?" inquired the Wasp. + +"The pansy fairy had just disappeared," said the Kettle, who for a +wonder remembered the story. + +"To be sure," resumed the Wasp briskly. "I skipped with delight at my +brighter prospects, and started forward again with renewed courage. I +first encountered some of my brothers and sisters, to whom I at once +communicated my good fortune. Strange to say they none of them seemed to +appreciate my superior advantages. + +"'For my part I do not wish to live any longer than the sunlight lasts,' +said one; and to this sentiment the others agreed. + +"'My ambition leads me further,' I answered, and flew onward, never to +see them more. + +"I passed over the broad expanse of land, until I saw the sea glittering +like a polished mirror in the distance. How I should like to make a +voyage! I paused to rest upon a cliff that rose steep and smooth, with +the ocean foaming about the base. There were a great number of +bird-nests drilled in the surface of the rock, and by peering over the +brink I could see the young birds, that were the funniest little balls +of white down imaginable. Suddenly a parent bird came swooping home, +and hopped into the very nest that I was examining. + +"'Don't tumble me into the water,' I cried, clutching at the slippery +stone, for the rapid flutter of the bird's wings made me giddy. + +"'I will not hurt you,' said the other. 'I have been a long way to-day, +and I have really gained little to eat for my trouble. I followed a +great ship for hours, and only caught up a few crumbs, after all.' + +"'Why, I do believe you are one of Mother Carey's chickens,' I +exclaimed. + +"'My proper name is the Stormy Petrel; still the sailors call me Mother +Carey's chicken. I do not know why, but then sailors have queer ideas. +Bless you, I can frighten them terribly by just skimming round and round +on the wind: they then reef all sails, thinking I am about to bring a +storm by my presence. Ha, ha!' laughed the bird merrily, 'only think of +little me being dreaded by great, strong men. I can generally tell when +a storm is coming,--they are right in supposing that much,--and oh! how +I enjoy it! Why, friend Wasp, you have no idea what life really is, +just fluttering about among the flowers and trees: I should gasp for +breath where every thing is only still sunshine. What I call life is to +see the clouds piled in dark masses overhead, the waves rearing +mountains high, and to have the wind blow a hurricane.' + +"'I should imagine such exposure would beat the life out of you,' I +remarked. + +"'Not at all,' replied the Petrel. 'I like to be tossed about, and +spread my wings on the gale, although it may nearly take my breath +away.' + +"'I never dreamed of such a life,' I said; 'please tell me more about +yourself.' + +"'First I must feed my young one, as I have been away all day. We never +lay but one egg, fortunately, for we have to feed them ourselves. We +secrete a kind of oil in the digestive organs for them. Indeed, we are +such oily birds, that in some parts of the world the natives thrust a +stick through our bodies, and use us for lamps.' + +"'You are gone so long,' piped the nursling. + +"'That is to find something to eat, my dear.' + +"'The time is so long, doing nothing but sit alone, staring out at the +sea,' clamored the nursling. + +"'Very true,' assented the mother Petrel quietly; 'but there is no help +for it, except to grow strong and fly for yourself.' + +"Upon this the young one began to strut and tumble about the nest, to +the great delight of the parent, who encouraged such exertions. We +became excellent friends, and talked over my plans of travel. + +"'I dare not venture upon the ocean; because, if I grew tired of flying, +I must fall into the waves and be drowned.' + +"'You would soon be fatigued. Supposing I carried you?' said the Petrel. + +"Here was a splendid idea. If I could only be taken to other lands, what +pleasures would be in store for me. The Petrel promised to bear me over +the seas, if I would wait until the nestling was able to take care of +itself. I lived inland while I waited, and visited the birds every day +in their rocky home. When the time approached for our departure, the +mother bird proposed I should take a sail, just to accustom myself to +the voyage by way of trial. I climbed upon her back, and she made a dart +straight out into the air, that drove every particle of bravery out of +my body. + +"'Now, then,' said Mother Carey's chicken, 'hold on tight, and I will +show you some better fun still.' + +"I begged her to return to land; but the wind blew so strongly, that she +did not hear my faint voice. She whirled in circles, pattered upon the +water surface unconcernedly, and rose in the air with the rapidity of +the arrow shot from a bow. I closed my eyes, and clung about the bird's +neck, fearing every moment a fall into the great green billows that +rolled away into space, as far as sight could reach. When we landed once +more, I fainted away. The Petrel was dancing on one leg, and laughed at +me, when I opened my eyes again. + +"'I have a great mind to give up the journey,' I said in a pet. 'I can +never cling to you in this way. If I had been content to lead the life +of an ordinary wasp, I might have escaped all this trouble and +vexation.' + +"'It is never well to quarrel with destiny,' remarked my companion. +'Still, I would not give up because of a first sea-sickness.' + +"Presently I regained my courage somewhat, and we began to ponder how I +could be fastened on. I flew to land, and procured several long +horse-hairs. These I wound about the bird's slender throat, and strapped +myself tightly to her body. What a journey we made of it! The faithful +Petrel must have carried me an immense distance. Sometimes she perched +on the rigging of a ship, sometimes we rode on the waves, or we paused +for the night at some rocky isle; yet Mother Carey's chicken never +seemed to weary of the scenery about us." + +"What did you have to eat?" inquired the Caterpillar, who, like all +caterpillars, had a famous appetite of his own. + +"Very little, indeed," said the Wasp. "A stray insect now and then, but +never a sip of honey the whole way. I took the precaution, before +starting, of fastening a blade of grass about my waist; in the same way +that Indians gird themselves before making a journey, to prevent any +feeling of hunger. At last land was seen in the distance, and I again +stood on firm, dry ground. + +"'Good-by,' said Mother Carey's chicken, spreading her wings as though +ready for a fresh journey. 'I wish you good luck. Should you ever desire +to go back north, any of us will give you a passage.' + +"So saying the pretty, good-natured Petrel flew away, leaving me alone. +I did not feel very happy just then: I almost wished myself still a baby +wasp in my wax cradle again, with nothing to do but eat and sleep. I was +afraid at finding myself so far from home; and besides that I was very, +very hungry: there is nothing like a sea-voyage to give one an appetite. +Beyond the barren sand beach there rose a stately forest, which I +determined to visit; but just then my attention was attracted by a +beautiful object in the water. It was a flower of the most exquisite +coloring, with a rich purplish-crimson outer edge and a disk of the same +hue, the stout, short tentacles of which were marked with pellucid rings +of white and lilac. Floating just beneath a crystal film of sea, it +expanded temptingly under my wistful gaze. What a wonderful place, I +thought, where delicious flowers were borne to hungry travellers! I +fluttered nearer, longing for a sip of honey; and in another moment +should have been lost, had not a little fish come along, to be stung and +devoured by the anemone before I fell into its clutches. I afterwards +learned that many a bee or wasp was enticed to death, as I had so nearly +been; for the beautiful flower was only a greedy zoophyte, after all, +swallowing every thing that came in its way. + +"Trembling at my narrow escape, I next flew towards the forest, taking +the precaution of assuming my magic night-cap in starting, for I did not +know what dangers might be in store. Arriving within the boundary of the +forest, I alighted upon a blade of grass to rest. The air was +delightfully fresh and pure, while the sun already slanted, in tropical +splendor, towards the western horizon. Palm trees extended about me in +every direction; the fan-leaved miriti towered to an immense height; the +graceful assai showed its feathery masses against the rounder foliage; +and the jupati threw its shaggy fronds into broad arches, while from the +branches swept ribbons of clinging plants, hanging air roots as ladders +to climb by. Here and there a long crimson blossom on spikes, or yellow +and violet trumpet-flowers, relieved the sombre green by their brighter +hues. + +"Presently I saw a slender, pale-green snake, that was twined about a +tree like a vine, with only the bright eyes sparkling and fixed upon an +unsuspicious, plump tree-frog. + +"'Good evening, friend,' I buzzed in the snake's ear. 'How pretty your +coat is!' + +"'Who speaks?' exclaimed the snake, looking complacently upon his +beautiful, frosted armor. + +"'Never mind,' was my wicked response, 'By your vanity you have lost +your supper.' + +"The snake's eyes flashed angrily. Sure enough, the tree-frog had taken +alarm, and was hobbling away out of reach. + +"I continued my way until I reached the brink of a broad, placid pool, +where I hoped to make the acquaintance of some of the many creatures I +saw congregated about the margin. Dark-striped herons, snowy egrets, and +storks stood gravely at the brink, or strode over the water-plants on +their long legs. Flocks of whistling ducks flew above my head, macaws +chattered in the trees, and a pretty canary chirped in the bushes. Upon +the surface of the water floated the magnificent Victoria water-lily, +the broad leaves extending for six or ten feet, and the flowers just +closing their alabaster cups in sleep. I now removed my cap; but I was +so small an object, that I attracted no notice whatever. + +"'Ahem!' I began. Whereupon some of the birds turned about and stared at +me. 'My home is very far north of your country,' I said; 'but a good +fairy has kindly given me permission to visit you all.' + +"'Indeed,' exclaimed an old stork. 'How extraordinary! If you was a +bird, now, it would not seem so strange.' + +"'A bird brought me,--Mother Carey's chicken.' + +"'Could you not find a better bearer than one of those fussy, bustling +little bodies?' said a handsome egret scornfully. + +"'Do not despise the petrel because she is not so strong and beautiful +as yourself,' I replied. + +"'Ha, ha!' laughed a macaw from his high perch. 'How fine it is to be a +water-fowl, and have such long legs.' + +"At this all the storks, herons, and egrets ruffled their plumes, and +prepared for an angry dispute with the saucy macaw; but I hastened to +interfere. + +"'I should be sorry to make any trouble among you. If you would tell me +any wonders to be seen here, or show me any of your homes, I should be +greatly obliged.' + +"A black nose was poked out of the water, and a turtle, in a shrill +little voice, piped,-- + +"'Did you ever see us lay eggs? We shall be about it soon,' then sank +out of sight again. + +"'As to that, the world is full of wonders wherever you may turn,' said +the stork, who had first spoken. 'You should visit our ants'-- + +"What more the stork would have said, I cannot tell; for just then a +crashing noise was heard in the thicket, and all my companions took +flight on the approach of the lord of the forest. Presently the jaguar +appeared close beside me, and stooped to quench his thirst in the pool, +so I had an opportunity of seeing what a fine creature he was, with his +soft striped fur, velvet paws, and glowing, cruel eyes. I did not dare +move even so much as to put on my cap, while my wings seemed paralyzed +with fear. Startled by some sound, for he is a very shy, cautious +animal, the jaguar retired again, and I only just escaped a severe +crushing from his powerful foot as he passed. + +"I must now describe to you my first night in a tropical land. As +darkness increased I sought shelter on a spreading shrub, and the +insects began a tremendous noise. 'They will grow sleepy by and by,' I +thought drowsily. + +"But not a wink of sleep did they take, or allow me, that whole long +night. The howling monkeys began the concert, the tree-frogs and +crickets trilled occasionally, and the owls hooted dismally. When I +tried to stop my ears to these sounds, the fire-flies, resembling +crystal drops of fire, flared their torches in my face with blinding +brilliancy. + +"'Don't, please,' I pleaded. + +"The naughty fire-flies only laughed at my misery, and danced around me +in bewildering circles of flame, until my eyes ached. + +"'I wish you would be quiet,' I said crossly. + +"'Quiet,' echoed the fire-flies. 'Not we. There is all to-morrow for +naps.' + +"It was not long, with such an experience, before I found I could not +live in the tropics. I never had a sound night's rest while there. + +"I strolled on through the cool, shady forest, which formed a delightful +contrast to the hot, sunny landscape without. What most amused me was to +see the little, striped-faced monkeys poke a cluster of inquisitive +heads out of the holes of trees where they were sleeping, if any sound +disturbed them. They paid dearly for their curiosity, as I shall +presently tell you. I had paused to admire the butterflies that +clustered in the sunlight here and there, as if desirous to display +their gorgeous coloring to the best advantage. Some were of a velvet +blackness, relieved by rose-colored and green shadings; others were of a +blue, metallic lustre; and others floated on outspread wings, +transparent as glass, spangled with lines of violet, silver, and gold. +No wonder the lovely insects were vain of their gaudy dress! When I told +them I was a stranger, they danced and pirouetted in their giddy flight, +until they resembled the wandering petals of falling flowers. Suddenly a +handsome dragon-fly, whose armor glittered with a golden refulgence, +swooped down to capture one of the butterflies, then retired to a +neighboring branch, and prepared to devour his prey. + +"'Why don't you stay at home with your sober wife, instead of whisking +about where I can catch you?' said the dragon-fly, shaking his pretty +captive. + +"Just then there approached a very singular-looking person indeed. He +wore a broad hat, blue spectacles, and had a great many curious tin +cases slung about his belt and over his shoulder. In his hand he carried +a dip-net, which he threw cleverly over our heads, and entangled us in +the bag. We could do nothing but stare helplessly at one another in +dismay. + +"'Oh, dear!' cried a young butterfly piteously, 'We shall now have pins +driven through us, and be speared to a cardboard platter for ever. I +have heard my mother say so.' + +"We all shivered,--even the dragon-fly, who had been captured also. Of +course the striped-faced monkeys came peeping out in the wrong time, +and, after a good deal of poking into the tree, one of them was caught. +Thus the naturalist gentleman returned home with his treasures, the +little monkey alone of us all being destined to live. + +"The first thing, upon taking us from the net, was to politely hold a +bottle to our noses, which caused a few feeble kicks in the air, then a +fainting fit. When I again opened my eyes, I was lying upon a board, +surrounded by my companions, who were transfixed with pins upon paper, +as the young butterfly had said. I certainly thought my end had come, +and that hereafter my body was destined to adorn some cabinet. I +pretended to be still unconscious, and so lay quite motionless under +the large microscope through which the naturalist gentleman regarded me, +now poking my ribs, now turning my head to one side, and all the while +making remarks on my personal appearance. + +"'I don't believe that you belong here at all,' he exclaimed. 'I must +dissect what may prove a new species.' + +"Here seemed my last chance of escape; so, watching an opportunity, when +he was selecting a suitable knife to carve me up with, I drew my elf's +cap from under my wing. The naturalist gentleman was too quick for me: +he seized my night-cap with his tweezers, and began eagerly to examine +it. I was sorry enough for the loss. Still one had better part with the +fairy's gift than life itself: so I flew away. I dare say the naturalist +gentleman may have carefully preserved the cobweb cap, to puzzle science +with for a long time. + +"Journeying on, I came to the bank of one of the largest rivers in the +world. I paused to view the waves dash against the shore in foam, the +vessels flit past on the strong breeze, and the distant villages on the +other side. There were several low strips of sand reaching out from near +where I rested, and I observed groups of natives making camp-fires, or +erecting a kind of watch-tower overlooking the land. I inquired what +they were doing, of a monkey who sat stroking his sandy whiskers with an +indolent air. + +"'Ah! don't you know?' he returned. 'They are waiting for the turtles to +lay their eggs.' + +"The next morning I beheld a curious sight. In the first gray dawn, +myriads of turtles were creeping down the sandy slope, and flapping into +the water again, their duties of depositing eggs for that season being +accomplished. No sooner had they departed, than the natives gave +signals, and from every direction crowded the boats to receive the eggs, +which would then be prepared as turtle oil, and sold in jars. + +"I decided to try and find the ants next, as I had been recommended to +do so by the stork. The monkey could tell me but little of them, and +advised my searching farther inland, I next encountered the iguana, who +poked his head out from among the creeping vines of a tree as I passed. +Any thing so monstrous in a lizard I had never dreamed of. It must have +been five feet long, was very fat, and the skin changed color like that +of a chameleon. The Indians are fond of the eggs of this species, which +they eat mixed with farinha. When I asked about the ants, the iguana +answered,-- + +"'I do not trouble myself much about those busy fellows; still, you will +find them almost everywhere, I dare say.' + +"I bid him good-by hastily, for I was half afraid of such a great +creature, and left him winking lazily on the branch as before. If the +Spider was here, I could tell him of some relatives that I met,--rough, +hairy spiders, with fierce looks; soft, plump things that melt away +almost at the touch; and others of gorgeous hues, that double themselves +into cunning shapes to resemble flowers and buds. At last I came upon an +army of Saüba ants, each one carrying a bit of green leaf daintily as a +parasol. Although on the march, the whole company treated me most +cordially. + +"'We cannot stop now,' said one of the soldiers. 'Come with us.' + +"So I followed in the train, curious to know what they were about. +Presently they paused; and a detachment turned aside to overrun an +orange-tree, from which they stripped the foliage with incredible +rapidity. Having performed this duty, they rejoined the main army, and +the whole moved on to their incomplete nest. Here the leaf-bearers +merely threw down their burdens, and the workers placed them in proper +order. + +"'We use the bits of leaf to thatch the dome of our house, thus +preventing the loose earth from falling in,' said an ant near by, +pausing to take breath in the midst of his labors. + +"He then led me through the vast subterranean galleries of their +dwelling, which extended an immense distance, as may be imagined, for +the exterior of the nest must have been at least forty feet in diameter. +The ants promised, if I would return after their day's work was done, +they would give me some interesting accounts of themselves. Leaving the +busy throng, I crept into a flower-bell to take a nap. When I returned, +the Saüba ants were actually resting themselves,--a luxury that I did +not suppose an ant ever indulged in. Some of them were strolling about +at their ease; and others were diligently scrubbing their coats after +their work, or were assisting each other in the friendly task of +brushing such portions of the body as could not be reached by the owner. +They were very chatty and agreeable, so we enjoyed ourselves very much. + +"'Have you met the foraging ant?' asked one. 'They sally forth with +officers to direct the movement. They are rather hot-tempered and cross, +to be sure, attacking any one fiercely that may come in their path; yet +they do a world of good. When it is known they are approaching, people +open every closet, drawer, and box in their houses, that the ants may +search and cleanse them. What digestions they have! Scorpions, +cockroaches, lizards, rats, and snakes are devoured in a trice; while +into every crack and cranny where a stray insect may have hidden pour +the army until all is cleared: then on they go again.' + +"'How wonderful!' I exclaimed. + +"'I can tell you of a wiser race yet,' chimed in another. 'The +agricultural ant of Texas plants and reaps for itself. The nest is +surrounded by a mound, and then the land is cleared for several feet +beyond. A grain-bearing grass is sowed by the insect, and afterward +tended with great care, the ant cutting away all other grasses or weeds +that may spring up,--like the good farmer it is. When the small, white +seed is ripe, it is carefully harvested, and carried into the granary, +where it is cleared of the chaff, which is thrown outside as worthless. +Should the rain wet the winter stores, the ant brings the grain out into +the sun to dry, that the damp may not cause sprouting among the +provisions. What do you think of all that?' concluded the ant, with a +triumphant manner. + +"'I think you are the most wonderful insects in the world.' + +"At this the Saüba ants all looked highly pleased, and they richly +deserved the compliment; so there was really no harm in it. I found +myself exposed to so many dangers, without my magic cap, that I finally +concluded to fly to the seashore, and see if I could take passage +homeward again. Here I found no other a bird than the Petrel's baby, now +a handsome young fellow enough, who readily agreed to carry me +northward. + +"I strapped myself to my bearer with the horse-hairs, and found myself +rather a better sailor than on my first voyage. I am now on my way to +the pansy fairy, with the petition that he will give me another cap. If +he consents, I shall next visit Europe and the East," said the ambitious +Wasp pompously, in conclusion. + +The whole Club were so much entertained by this history, that the +Saucepan never once complained of her uncomfortable position, rolling on +her side. Hulda was much surprised to find her in this attitude next +morning; but the maid servant wisely concluded the rats must have +visited the shelf, and whisked the Saucepan off with their long tails. + +When it came time for the disappointed Caterpillar, they were surprised +by the entrance of a welcome guest: the Spider came sidling in, looking +gay as possible. Of course they all spoke at the same time, and asked a +hundred questions before he could answer one; especially the Teapot, who +had never appeared so excited on any previous occasion. + +"I am all right again, thank you," said the Spider gruffly. "I got a few +bruises by my fall from the window; but, being used to tumbles of all +sorts, I have now recovered somewhat, although I felt rather stiff the +next day." + +"I am not fond of talking," said the Caterpillar, with humility, "nor +can I do so well. In my present state of caterpillarhood, I am aware +that I do not please,--that I am not, in fact, any thing but an +uninteresting glutton. There! the Spider is laughing already." + +"I should be sorry to do any thing so rude," said the Spider slyly; +"only you are rather fond of leaf-salad, I have heard." + +"True," replied the Caterpillar, smacking his lips at the thought. "What +could be more delicious! Still I must not dwell upon topics of food, for +fear I should never have done describing such delicacies as suit my +palate. I shall not find much in my own personal history to entertain +you this evening. Never having travelled, like my two distinguished +companions, I cannot bring to your notice the wonders of other lands, as +they have so ably done." + +Here the Wasp and Spider arose, laid one foreleg upon the heart, and +made a low bow in acknowledgment of the compliment. + +This ceremony over, the Caterpillar proceeded:-- + + + + +THE DISAPPOINTED CATERPILLAR. + + +"I have had no occasion to stroll farther away than the garden of this +house. I am sadly puzzled for something to talk about. The Wasp has +anticipated me, even, in a description of butterflies,--a state I am in +hopes of attaining some time, when you will not be able to recognize me. +My world has been limited, so far; yet I have seen some wonderful +things, too. Did any of you ever see a humming-bird?" + +"Yes," said the Cricket, Spider, and Wasp in a breath. + +"Did any of you ever converse with one?" + +"I did not suppose they ever stopped buzzing about long enough to +speak," remarked the Spider. + +"I have talked with one," said the Caterpillar triumphantly. "When I was +just hatched, some week or more ago, I crawled for the first time out +of the soft, warm bed my good mother had made me in the curve of a leaf. +I stretched myself upon the leaf which had been my cradle, to enjoy the +warm sunlight, and looked about upon the various forms of life and +beauty to be seen on a summer morning. The buttercups and daisies +laughed up at me from the grass, the insects floated about on gauzy +wings, while the birds darted from branch to branch in merry sport. + +"Close beside my leaf couch was a knot, or natural excrescence in the +branch; and this tiny cavity held a nest, lined with fibres from mullein +leaves and fern-down, containing two pearly eggs no larger than peas. + +"Suddenly a glittering object shot up into the air until it was almost +lost to sight; then descended upon the nest I was just examining. No +wonder the eggs resembled pearls, when the parent bird could not have +been more than two inches in length. When I beheld the lovely, fragile +thing, with its diamond-bright eyes, and the plumage of the graceful +curved throat, glittering like burnished metal in changing hues of +orange and ruby, I felt ready to cry with vexation that I was such an +ugly, worm-like creature. True, I shall be handsomer sometime; but I can +never be a humming-bird. Besides, I belong to a sober species. A robin +came hopping along jauntily from twig to twig, with a morsel of cherry +in his beak. + +"'Such a fright as I have had,' twittered the humming-bird. 'A great +stupid man was peering about to find my nest a long while, and to-day he +has followed me. Ah! but I gave him a long journey. I fluttered right +and left, or darted ahead; then finally rose in the air so high he could +hardly see my wee body; then dashed down here safe enough.' + +"'A wise plan,' commented the robin. 'Thank fortune, I am not in such +demand.' + +"Interested in the conversation, I crept too near the margin of the +leaf, lost my balance, and fell upon the nest. + +"'You awkward thing,' said the bird, giving me a contemptuous poke +aside. 'How ugly you are!' + +"'I know it,' I replied; 'it was my admiration of your superior beauty +that caused my fall. Excuse the clumsiness of a caterpillar just born.' + +"'Go away with your nonsense and flattery I feared I was shot when you +fell.' + +"'Who would hurt you?' I asked, slowly climbing back to my leaf. + +"'Plenty of enemies. That man is watching below, and nothing would +delight his cruel soul so much as to carry away my family.' + +"'Tell me something amusing, or I will inform him where you live.' + +"'He would not believe a caterpillar,' laughed Madame Humming-bird. +'However, I will tell you any thing in my power.' + +"'If it is all about your distinguished relations in the South, I have +heard enough on that subject already,' said the spiteful robin. + +"At this the other grew very angry, inflating her tiny throat, and +snapping her bill. I tried to soothe her wrath, for I dislike any thing +irritating. + +"'I always did despise robins. My great family, indeed! One should +learn better than to associate with plebeians.' + +"'The robin was jealous of your superior beauty.' + +"This made the humming-bird good-natured again; so she went on:-- + +"'Did you ever hear of my first cousin the Chimborazian hill-star? Ah! +there is a fine bird for you. Not afraid to expose his frail form to the +cold of higher latitudes, he dearly loves mountain air. I will tell you +a story about him sometime. The hermits are so clever at building nests, +they would laugh at this rude cradle of mine; still, as I cannot find +any suitable leaf to suspend my nest from, bound by elastic +spider-threads, I just use this knot, which answers the purpose after +all. Some of them form a felt-like substance of moss and bark woven +together; others use a fungus resembling buff-leather; while the Sappho +comet lines her nest with the long hairs of the clamas. My relatives can +boast the greatest variety of coloring. They have black diadems, +purple-shaded patches, or vivid scarlet, blue, and crimson aigrettes. I +do not know why people need invent fairies and gnomes when they can +have us for subjects, flashing about among the flowers, as gay as the +brightest of them, or bathing in some secluded nook of the brook, under +the fern-leaves that form a tiny bower.' + +"We were so much interested in the subject under discussion, that we +never heeded the approach of danger. I looked up and saw a man's face +close beside me. He was climbing cautiously along, his gaze fixed upon +my pretty companion. Before I could give any warning, I was shaken to +the ground, and the humming-bird continued to talk of her great +relations, unobservant of my fall. I watched eagerly, and presently the +man came down again, with his captive and her nest uninjured. + +"'Oh, my dear Caterpillar!' she sighed, looking through the meshes of +the fine net which covered her little head; 'I wish you were strong +enough to help me. However, promise to find my husband, and tell him of +my sad fate.' + +"I have never found him," said the disappointed Caterpillar. "I presume +he has consoled himself with another wife by this time. I searched +faithfully, crawling over whole trees in hopes of seeing him, and +exposing myself to many dangers. I met other caterpillars in plenty. +That of the looper-moth supports itself for hours on the hinder feet, +raising the body high in air, and, by a resemblance to the twigs of the +tree, succeeds in deceiving the birds that would devour it. Some I found +to be protected from injury by tufts of hair, acrid secretions, and +stinging powers. Others so closely resembled brown, crumpled leaves, or +green, fresh ones, that I should never have known them had they not +spoken; while some of the number arm their dwellings with thorns. I have +even heard of another species, called bombardiers, who fire off little +guns when pursued, accompanied by a blue smoke and disagreeable scent. + +"I liked to watch the ermine-moth community the best. They spin a +commodious tent; and, wherever they wander over the tree, they carry a +thread with them, so that they may not lose the way. Birds can do no +more than strike their wings against the elastic bridges thus formed: +they cannot penetrate the lines. + +"Well, all the caterpillars laughed at my folly in searching for the +humming-bird's husband; and perhaps they were right. I now have reason +to despair of ever meeting him, for he never returned to where the nest +had been; and a slow crawling caterpillar cannot hope to pursue the +flight of a bird." + +Here the Caterpillar paused abruptly: the Wasp, interested alone in +startling incident or romantic adventure, was yawning. + +"Really, I beg your pardon," he had the grace to say; "I did not sleep +well last night." + +But apologies or entreaties did no manner of good. The Caterpillar +steadfastly refused to continue his tale. + +"Very likely I was growing tiresome," he replied in an injured tone. Yet +he made no further remark; for the Caterpillar, like other slow persons, +was apt to be obstinate. This made affairs rather stiff and +uncomfortable; so they were all glad to retire for the night. + +The next evening, the Caterpillar was still sulky, and resisted all +attempts of the Teapot to coax him into better humor. The Cricket +wisely concluded to divert matters, by inviting the Spider to entertain +them. + +"I believe I am something of an author," said the Spider, "although I +have never written for any of the magazines of the day. I will tell you +a story I composed last summer, if you like." + + + + +THE FOUR SILVER PEACHES. + + +"Beyond the Frith of Clyde, the Kyles of Bute cleaving their way among +gray cliffs, tapestried with mosses and richly clothed with lichens, +past Loch Ridan's clear waters, past the peninsula of Cantyre, on the +bosom of the Atlantic, lies a group of islets, varied in hue and +form,--the Hebrides. + +"To this isolated region, where the ocean hurls in winter storms against +the rock walls, or ripples in caressing waves under summer skies, we +will turn; for children have been born on that rugged shore, scenting +the heather and wild thyme with their first breath. + +"On the island of Iona, near Port St. Ronain, there once lived a good +man, who had three strong sons, and two ruddy, blue-eyed daughters. One +thing troubled him: little Neil, his nephew, did not thrive so well; +for he was a cripple, and it saddened the uncle's heart to see the boy +droop and pine away. + +"Little Neil was an orphan; and he missed a good mother so much, that he +was not happy, like his sturdy cousins. He could never run along the +stretch of white sand, flecked with quartz and shells from the Ross of +Mull. No: he could only creep painfully to the brink of the green, +crystal waters, to peep into their clear depths; or climb to some higher +eminence, and watch the sea-birds in their rapid flight, the distant +outline of cliffs shining in the sunlight, and the light breeze curling +the waves crisply about the bows of many a little craft that skimmed +over the azure sea only to melt into the hazy distance. + +"Neil loved the ocean and the sky above it, embracing between them his +island home. Everybody thought him a strange child, and this naturally +gave him very bitter feelings: it seemed to him he should like so much +to be his cousin Angus, who hunted the otter and tended the sheep, +sleeping many a night upon the open hillside, wrapped in his plaid. + +"The lame child had never been at school; yet he had heard the +traditions of his home often related about the winter fireside. He had +heard the grandeur of Fingal's Cave described; the stone cairn that +marks the last resting-place of the Scandinavian woman, whose wish it +was to be buried in the pathway of the Norway wind; and the castle of +Duart, where a lord of the isles left his wife to be overwhelmed by the +rising tide. Then, too, he had shuddered with fear over many a tale of +ghosts and goblins haunting ruined houses; for the Scotch people are +superstitious. + +"The great day of the year arrived, and all the cousins went to the fair +held at Broadford, on the Isle of Skye. Little Neil had once been there, +to see the women with smart caps and scarlet tartans grouped about their +cows and sheep, while the men and boys passed in restless, changing +crowds; but the noise and bustle wearied him, so he remained at home. + +"Now I am coming to the real matter of the story: the kernel shall be +ready for your appetite, if you have but the patience to crack the +shell. We will see what kind of entertainment was prepared for the +lonely cripple, who told his thoughts to no one, and chose the +whispering winds for companions. + +"When the sun sank over the broad ocean, little Neil sought a favorite +nook in which to watch the long day die. Fainter grew the rich hues of +the western sky, more distant the line of rocks, here outlined in creamy +whiteness, there abruptly riven by some black precipice, until Neil +fancied strange forms were flitting about the bases of the cliffs, and +rose to go; but he was stayed by a curious sight. The sea was glimmering +with a phosphorescent light, and the waves that broke upon the shore +were gemmed with globules of living fire, which melted away almost +imperceptibly into rosy shades. The boy had often seen the ocean thus +illuminated; but his gaze was attracted to a certain point, where the +brilliancy centred in a wave of beautiful transparency, through which +glittered emerald and golden flashes, appearing and disappearing in +rapid succession, until Neil was dazzled by the splendid sight. + +"The wave throne upreared slowly, creamed over, and deposited at the +boy's feet a casket of delicate frost-work, glittering with a wonderful +radiance. Neil reached forward and touched it, when the lid flew open, +disclosing four silver peaches, resting in separate filigree spaces of +the same precious metal. Across the fruit lay a small case-knife, the +handle studded with precious stones, and the diamond blade wearing a +keen edge. + +"'This casket contains four wishes, from which you may choose. They are +the gifts of the Wind Sisters,' said a water spirit; then sank in a +circle of foam bubbles. + +"In the sky appeared a ring of blended colors, which descended rapidly, +taking the form of four globes,--one rose pink, one gold, one green, and +the last pale blue. The radiance of these globes of light spread far +over the ocean. They parted slowly as they neared him, the outline of +the separate forms melted into soft masses, and upon the vapor rested +the Wind Sisters. + +"The South Wind, whose misty chariot took the shape of a magnolia +blossom with pink-tinted petals half-opened, shook her rosy mantle, and +a breath of balmy perfume was wafted to Neil, like the scent of a garden +after a summer shower. + +"The East Wind floated on a couch of golden cloud, her black hair waving +over a fleecy amber robe down to her sandalled feet, while her presence +breathed a richer odor than the delicate fragrance of the southern +sister: it came from spice-groves and orange-trees. + +"The West Wind stood erect upon her throne of emerald, her fair head +bound with ivy tendrils, her green mantle fluttering sparkling breaths +of health, flower-scented too, with the violet and anemone, and in her +eyes a promise not found in those of her languid companions. Lastly, on +the right rested the North Wind, her stately form supported on +snowy-white pinnacle and fret-work of vapor, sharply defined as the ice +cliffs that frown upon the Polar Sea. She wafted little Neil no perfume +of flower or shrub from her lily draperies; yet he felt a keener joy +kindle in his heart at the frosty stillness of her presence, than when +the others lavished their treasures upon his senses. + +"'Open the first peach,' commanded the North Wind in a grave, stern +voice. + +"Neil raised the fruit, divided it, and found it to be lined with pure +gold. + +"'I can give you wealth,' said the East Wind, in a rich, soft voice. +'Look!' + +"A scroll of mist rolled from her chariot to the surface of the water, +taking the form of a mirror as it expanded; and upon the polished +surface little Neil fixed his eyes. + +"First there appeared a garden, the like of which the Highland boy had +never dreamed of. Upon lawns of velvet smoothness rose wonderful +trees,--the palm, towering into feathery crests; the lemon, drooping a +grateful shade of snowy blossoms; and the palmetto,--all interlaced by +climbing plants. In this delightful retreat, wearing robes of satin, and +reclining upon magnificent carpets, within hearing of trickling streams +or the twitter of brilliant birds, was a man resembling Neil's own self. +Servants flitted about him, bearing flagons of sherbet, or held tempting +fruits in their cool leaves,--the delicious pomegranate and juicy date; +while grave men, slaves only to his wealth, bowed in homage. + +"The scene melted gradually into a palace of splendid appearance, where +Neil still held a place, his turban spangled with diamond, his pipe-stem +encrusted with emeralds, and the dagger hilt, half concealed in a +Cashmere sash, glistened with amethyst and carbuncle. From the lofty +hall, vaulted passages and pavilion extended, each more rich in +coloring, more gorgeous in ornament, than the last; while beyond a +balustrade of delicately carved marble sloped a terrace, blooming with +roses and jasmine vines. Again the rich man was surrounded by servile +homage and flattery; but Neil saw he was nothing but a cripple, after +all. + +"The East Wind sat in her couch of sunshine, with a triumphant smile +upon her dark face. + +"'Ah! it is all very grand, lady,' said Neil sadly; 'only must I be lame +still?' + +"'Yes.' + +"'What good would the riches do me, then, with the pain also?' + +"'Much good. Think of the power you can wield. The whole world would +open her countless treasures. You could obtain knowledge; you could see +every thing that is beautiful or interesting; and you could relieve the +needy by your bounty. Better be a rich cripple than a poor one.' + +"Little Neil thought so, too; but he concluded to cut another peach +before he decided the question. He did so; and the interior of the +second was lined with crystals of great brilliancy, that shimmered in +points of light like a rainbow prism, yet their gleam was cold as ice. + +"'I can give you fame,' said the West Wind in musical tones. 'Look!' + +"She unfurled her green mantle, which grew into a mirror like the +previous one, only of an intense, steely brightness. Neil saw a range of +mountains, snow-capped, their steep slopes skirted by pine-trees; while +far below spread a sunny landscape, ripening vineyard, tracts of waving +grain, and olive-groves. Through the narrow defiles, down the +precipitous heights, hewing a passage for their clumsy elephants by fire +and vinegar, came an army, and in their midst moved a man, the master +spirit of it all. + +"'Hannibal,' whispered the West Wind. + +"The picture changed to a succession of views,--battle-fields swathed in +smoke; soldiers moving across the plain, their arms glittering in the +sunlight, their banners fluttering; a city burning in wreaths of flame +against a northern sky; a nation crowning their chief with laurels. + +"'Napoleon,' whispered the West Wind again. + +"Then the boy saw travellers exploring unknown regions, statesmen and +authors toiling over vast schemes. + +"'Could I be like these, lady?' he asked. + +"'Yes.' + +"'Would I be happy?' + +"'That is for you to decide. Fame is a greater gift than that of my +sister here: any fool can be rich. But every man cannot have what these +men possessed, because God gave them what gold never can buy,' said the +West Wind, her proud eyes brightening. + +"'I should only be a cripple, and men would laugh at me,' sighed Neil, +taking up the third peach, and opening it. + +"The lining was composed of opals, quivering in tremulous rays of purple +and pink more beautiful than words can describe. + +"'I can grant you the love of all,' said the South Wind, in a voice like +the chime of silver bells. 'Look!' + +"Her scarf floated downward a mirror still retaining a rosy tinge, that +was a relief to the eye after the glitter of fame's glass, or the golden +haze of wealth's vision. + +"Neil saw himself on the river bank, surrounded by children, some +playing games, and others reading in the shade. Upon his shoulder +perched a white dove, which appeared to whisper wise counsel in his ear; +for, whenever dispute arose among his companions, he quieted their anger +by soothing words. + +"Again Neil saw himself a young man, traversing the suburbs of a great +city, where gardens bloomed with purple grapes, peaches, and golden +pears. The dove rested upon his head, seeming to attract other birds +that perched on Neil's hand to preen their feathers. Sleek-crested +horses tossed their manes at his approach, and the dogs crouched to be +caressed. As he entered the crowded streets, children laughed, fair +women smiled; and on every face was a kindly greeting for the man with +the invisible dove. + +"Lastly, Neil saw himself a very old man, seated before the open door, +as the sun was setting in the west. About him were gathered kind friends +ministering to his wants, the little ones weaving a crown of tender lily +sprays to place upon his head; but the dove, instead of perching upon +his shoulder, as it had done when a boy, now hovered afar, ready to take +flight. The journey of life was almost over. + +"'Dear South Wind, let me have this wish,' cried Neil eagerly. + +"'You shall have it. Who can live without love?' + +"He was so sure of liking this gift, that he pushed aside the casket, +and the last peach rolled on the ground. + +"'Wait,' said the North Wind, 'until you know my gift. I am not sure you +will prefer it; still you must decide.' + +"Neil severed the peach, and in it were reflected the fleeting shadows +of angel forms. + +"'I can grant immortality,' said the North Wind, holding up a shield of +pure ice, and Neil saw a strange spectacle. + +"He beheld a vast amphitheatre, crowded with cruel, hard-featured +people, all watching eagerly a boy standing in the arena alone, yet +wearing on his upturned face a light that shone upon none of the heathen +about him. Above him poised an angel, whispering words of encouragement, +as a handsome tiger sprang into the circle from an iron gateway, and +approached the boy with crouching, stealthy step. The tiger made a +sudden leap, the heathen crowd shouted, and _two_ angels winged their +way above the palaces and temples of Rome. + +"Next there rolled a dark stream across the mirror, bearing upon the +current a woman, with hands roughly bound together. Dark figures loomed +against the eastern sky, watching her; but another watcher was there +also,--the same angel, shedding a radiance from her golden wings upon +the drowning head. Neil saw a great man before a haughty council,--Dr. +Martin Luther; he saw many of a humbler class teaching the poor and +ignorant, whether in the wilds of savage Africa, or the city streets, it +mattered little which; and with each hovered the angel companion. +Children, too, there were who were patient and unselfish, doing what +they could in little acts of kindness, while the angel smiled even more +tenderly upon them. Upon all their faces beamed a joy that separated +them from the world. + +"'Riches do not always bring happiness,' said the North Wind. 'Fame +seldom does, and mere earthly love must fade before the presence of +death.' + +"'Let me be like those you have shown me,' cried Neil, stretching out +his hands towards her. + +"The other sisters rose slowly, floating south, east, and west, until +they became balls of light again; but the North Wind took the little +cripple in her sheltering arms, and bore him swiftly away. Over the sea +they went, the North Wind sweeping gracefully along; and Neil felt no +fear of her, as he had done when she stood on her cloud throne. + +"At first he could see nothing but one vast expanse of water, domed by +the clear sky; then, at length, he noticed a dark line on the horizon, +which grew more distinct, and proved to be land. + +"'You must begin the journey for yourself now,' said the North Wind, +alighting on the shore. + +"'Oh, don't leave me!' cried the child, clinging timidly to her white +draperies. + +"'Do not fear: I shall still be with you;' and then she rose above, +leading him on the path he should go. She had now become the angel that +guided the others. + +"So Neil began the toilsome, painful journey. The way led across an +arid, desert waste, where waves of yellow sand glowed under the sun's +fierce heat. Neil hobbled along slowly, the hot earth scorching his +feet, the brazen sky without clouds, and the air stirring from a heavy, +pulseless stillness, into sultry wind puffs. The child might have +drooped and fainted by the road, had not the North Wind spread her cool +wings to shade him from the sun's vertical rays. She also gave him a +crystal flask of pure water, and a loaf of bread; but, although his own +lips were parched with thirst, he gave the precious draught to others +who implored the refreshment. The supply never failed; yet, when the +child looked into the flask, there never appeared to be but a few drops +remaining. So, too, with his loaf of bread. There was always more to +give when he broke a piece; yet there never seemed enough to eat any +himself. + +"'Never mind,' he thought bravely. 'All these poor people have not the +North Wind to shelter them, as I have.' + +"At last the desert plain ended, and Neil began to ascend a steep +mountain-side, that was clouded in a mist of snow at the summit. He +found the way still more difficult. Now he had to climb slopes smooth as +glass; now he trod a narrow ledge above a frightful precipice, where +many fell; or he was obliged to cross glaciers, where the rough points +hurt his feet, and the ice yawned treacherously about him. The cold air +whistled by; and the sleet drifted in sheets, so that he could hardly +see his way. + +"The North Wind gave him a fur cloak. How deliciously warm and soft it +felt! A shivering old man came by, and Neil gave him the garment. + +"'Never mind,' he thought, 'he is so old; and, besides, I have only to +look up into the North Wind's kind eyes, to be both warmed and fed.' + +"Half frozen with cold, he finally descended the other side of the +mountain, to the brink of a wide river, upon the opposite side of which +bloomed a fair country. + +"'You must swim the stream,' said the North Wind; so Neil plunged in +boldly. The waves curled up over his head at times; great monsters swam +towards him with fierce looks,--serpents and alligators opening their +huge jaws as if to devour him; yet he panted on until he was cast upon +the shore. + +"When he awoke, Neil found himself lying upon the soft grass, near a +spring of water that gurgled from a moss-grown rock, with a pleasant +sound, and tinkled along in mimic cascades beside him. He was surrounded +by a group of fair children, who bade him drink of the spring. Neil +drank deeply, and immediately he felt a new life. His limbs were no +longer distorted, his back bowed: he was well at last. + +"'Where is the North Wind?' he asked. + +"The children led him to the gates of a palace, which had been before +concealed from his view. + +"'We have brought another child,' said his companions; and the gates +flew open to admit them. + +"In the court of the palace stood the North Wind, looking more radiant +than the sun. + +"'Do you know me?' she said, kissing Neil. + +"'Oh yes,' he replied joyfully. 'You are my own dear mother, who died so +long ago.' + +"The North Wind was indeed his mother. Little Neil was in heaven." + +The Spider heaved a deep sigh when he had finished, although his +countenance glowed with the radiance of an inborn genius. "I wish I had +ever been able to screw up my courage sufficiently to attempt +publishing any of the ideas which occupy my brain," he said. + +"Why have you not?" buzzed the Wasp. + +"Ah," returned the other, "who ever heard of a Spider turning author, +and walking into the office of some magazine with a manuscript under one +arm?" + +"It is an age of improvement, you know," remarked the Cricket. + +"I perceive you have a fine mind," said the Kettle; "only we are not +much used to considering the winds in a poetical light, especially when +they howl down the chimney winter nights." + +"No, indeed," assented the Saucepan, who had been thinking of a story +for some time. "I can tell you something plain and homely enough if--" + +Here the Saucepan paused, coughed, and waited to be urged. + +The next evening they were ready to listen, and Saucepan began:-- + + + + +GOING MAYING. + + +"There was a general rising, as the teacher dismissed her section, the +pupils clicking desk-lids, dropping books, and chirping like a flock of +busy swallows, as they rushed down the broad stairway to the street. +Among the crowd were two little girls, who presently detached themselves +from the rest, and entered the Common, talking earnestly. The smaller +was listening with an air of grave attention to the animated +conversation of her companion. + +"'But, Nellie,' she said, with a doubtful shake of the head, as she +glanced at the bare branches of the trees, that rustled in the breeze +with rather a wintry sound, 'I think it would be too cold.' + +"'Too cold!' echoed Nellie, tossing her head contemptuously; 'and pray +did you ever read of May-day being any thing but warm and lovely, with +wild-flowers, green grass, and running brooks? Nonsense, you really know +nothing about the matter here in town.' + +"Finding that her prudent little schoolmate still hesitated, Miss Nellie +produced a brilliant-covered book from her satchel, which she had been +perusing behind her grammar with great relish that very morning, and so +dazzled Bessie's eyes with a pictured May-queen in white muslin and pink +ribbons, that all her scruples faded, and she agreed to an excursion +next day, in honor of the first of May. + +"Accordingly, at an early hour on Saturday, without the knowledge or +consent of her parents, Bessie Morton proceeded to the house of Nellie +Wray, whom she found in a state of great excitement. With their dinner +packed in a basket, and various extra receptacles wherein to carry +flowers and other treasures they might discover, they set forth bravely. +At first little Bessie ventured to suggest the propriety of taking the +cars to some suburban town, at least; but Nellie scorned such every-day +affairs, or she pretended to, although I am inclined to the opinion +that she had not a penny in her pocket at the time, and disliked owning +to such extreme poverty. So they trudged along, swinging their baskets; +Nellie enlivening her friend by scraps of information on the topic of +spring-time, until Bessie was warmed to an equal amount of enthusiasm on +the subject. The sky was clear, the sun shone brightly; and what matter +if the wind was a trifle frosty, causing a slight purple tinge in the +tip of their noses, so long as it was May-day. Besides, in the country +it would be different. And without doubt it was. As the blocks of houses +were succeeded by scattered dwellings, the landscape became bleak: brown +earth, sprinkled here and there with tufts of grass, budding trees, and +bare shrubs, surrounded by sombre, wind-swept hills, presented a +chilling disappointment to the children. + +"Nellie surveyed the scene rather blankly; then affirmed that green +valleys must be farther on. Presently she saw a little brook in a +distant meadow, and announced her firm conviction, that upon its banks +wild-flowers grew in abundance. They climbed over the fence after some +difficulty, and proceeded across the field, looking eagerly on all +sides for the coveted anemones and violets. They did not notice that at +the farther extremity of the pasture were some horses, quietly rubbing +their heads on the bars of a gate. + +"Soon the ardent little botanists were searching on the bank for floral +treasures, and were rewarded by a few sparse clumps of pale, +frozen-looking violets. With an exclamation of triumph, Nellie stooped +to pluck one bunch; while Bessie, no less delighted, pounced upon +another. In the midst of these labors, as they chatted merrily over +every tiny, dew-tipped cup that reared its fragile head, they were +alarmed by a rumbling sound, that seemed to shake the very earth under +their feet. Upon raising their heads, they discovered that the horses, +with manes and tails streaming on the breeze, were scampering over the +ground, with all the graceful movements of unrestrained freedom. A +slender-limbed, fleet-footed bay led the others in circles around the +inclosure, a world of mischievous fun sparkling in his bright eye, as he +pranced and curveted along. + +"The children clung together in speechless dismay, as they saw the +animals become wilder with every bound, knowing their only means of +escape was at the wall where they had entered, or the opposite gate. +While they were hesitating about what course to adopt, the leader, for +the first time apparently, noticed them, and with a wicked shake of the +head came dancing towards them. Then, without losing a moment's time, +they fled across the field, dropping flowers and gloves; conscious of +nothing but that the horses were neighing and snorting close behind +them, and that they must reach the gate soon, or be eaten alive. Nellie +arriving at it first, pushed through with frantic haste, just as the bay +thrust his nose playfully over Bessie's shoulder. Nellie rescued her +terrified companion, by dragging her over the boundary, and closing the +gate unceremoniously in their pursuer's face. With a low, +half-apologetical whinny, Master Bay began to rub his head on the bars +again, as quietly as when they had first entered his dominions. + +"Still panting with fright, the young pleasure-seekers next glanced +about for a means of escape from present difficulties; only to discover +that the narrow lane they had entered led in quite an opposite direction +from the road they had left. What was to be done? They never could +attempt passing those awful horses again, and the lane must lead out +somewhere, so they would explore it. They found it turned into a +barnyard, which they decided to cross, hoping to find their way out +beyond. + +"The yard contained a lively population. There were waddling ducks, with +tufted feathers on their heads; there were noisy, cackling geese, +strutting roosters; and several large families of pigs, who strolled in +and out of their houses, the little pink ones, with their tails in a +very tight curl, peering out from amid the straw of their beds: while +pretty, brown-eyed calves lowed in adjoining sheds for their absent +mothers. Entering the place, the children cautiously picked out their +footsteps around the mud puddles, until they reached the centre, when +the ire of a turkey-cock was excited by Nellie's red cloak. His angry +note, as he flapped his wings defiantly at her, was echoed not only by +his own family, but by the whole goose and duck tribe, until there was +a general clamor of indignation against the intruders. + +"At this juncture, there appeared on the scene a choleric goat, with +venerable beard and sharply curved horns, who, after surveying the field +of action for a time, advanced with bent head and glowering visage. +Again they were compelled to take refuge in flight,--this time entering +a large barn which flanked the inclosure on one side, and closing the +door after them. By this act they excluded all light from the place, +save where a few rays penetrated the chinks of the boards, throwing +vague, uncertain lines over the hay-loft and into the darkness below. +They groped about the place in search of another door, but without +success; then they returned to the entrance, and peeped through a hole +in the woodwork, to see if it was possible to retrace their steps. The +goat had assumed a warlike attitude, giving hints of unabated rancor by +butting at the closed door; while the turkey-cock still puffed with +rage, and even the little pigs had ventured forth to see what was the +matter. + +"'Oh, dear! what shall we do?' exclaimed Nellie most dismally. 'Will we +have to stay here until somebody comes?' + +"'We must find another door,' said Bessie resolutely, as she led her +discouraged schoolmate on a second exploring expedition. Finally, after +stumbling down unexpected steps, knocking their heads against heavy +beams, and sneezing with dust, they found a small aperture, half choked +by rubbish, through which they crawled into a shed, and so out into a +meadow. Once more they clambered over a wall into the main road, +somewhat dilapidated and dusty after their adventures. + +"'O Nellie! your shoes are covered with mud, your dress is torn, and +your face quite dirty,' cried Bessie. + +"'O Bessie! your hat is crushed on one side, and your hair covered with +hay-seed,' retorted Nellie, who could not refrain from laughing, as she +contemplated their sorry plight. + +"'Don't you think we had better go home?' said Bessie ruefully, +attempting to bend her disabled hat into shape. + +"'Go home before noon, when we have had no fun yet?' replied Nellie, her +spirits reviving now that all danger was past; 'oh, no! we have our +dinner to eat, and lots of nice things to do.' + +"Once more yielding to her playmate's superior sagacity, little Bessie +trotted along cheerfully, until they espied a fine rock on a sloping +hillside, which they immediately proposed converting into a +dining-table. To reach the spot, they were obliged to pass through a +piece of rough, ploughed ground, recently sown, near a little cottage, +with gray, overhanging roof, and narrow, closed windows. + +"Spreading a napkin for table-cloth on the rock, they were soon +arranging their provisions; here a sandwich rested upon a pedestal of +apple, to prevent its tilting over a slice of custard pie; there a small +bottle, containing a mysterious fluid, suggestive of weak molasses and +water, dripped through its broken cork into a store of pickled limes. +But what matter if the gingerbread did taste of mustard, or if the +chicken was encrusted with spilled sugar, on a first of May picnic? + +"After surveying the result of their labors with great satisfaction, +they were just preparing to enjoy the result, with appetites only +sharpened by previous misfortunes, when Bessie's attention was attracted +by the curtain of one of the cottage-windows being drawn aside, and a +head appearing behind the glass. It was such a hideous head, with +tangled white hair surmounted by a queer cap, and the face was so +sharp-nosed and wrinkled, that the little girl paused, with a chicken +wing elevated half-way to her mouth, to stare at the apparition fixedly. + +"Nellie, noticing her sudden silence, turned also; and, when she saw the +face, gave a shriek, and commenced tumbling cakes, pies, and pickles +into the basket. Then the head disappeared from the window, and a +comical little old man, in a dressing-gown, popped out of the door, like +a spider from its hole. He hobbled towards them, shaking his cane, and +croaking like a hoarse old raven. + +"'Get out, will ye, a-tramping of my rye, and a-bringing of your traps +under my very nose. Hullo, there! just wait till I catch ye.' + +"He looked so wild and angry, as he came towards them, all the time +wagging his head, and tapping the ground spitefully with his cane, that +they ran away across the rye as fast as ever they could; the old man +shrieking and chattering after them all the while, until they reached +the wall and stumbled over into the highway, Bessie still clutching her +chicken wing. + +"Hurrying along as rapidly as possible, to escape from their dreadful +pursuer, they came to a place of cross roads, and, puzzled which +direction to take, they decided on a pleasant road turning to the right. +When they had proceeded a short distance, they noticed a high fence +running parallel with the road, in which was a door. Impelled by her +usual heedless curiosity, Nellie turned the knob and peeped into the +inclosure. The view of winding paths and shrubbery proved so inviting, +that they entered. They saw broad avenues bordered by rows of fine elms, +trim hedges, and flower parterres, all leading to a large mansion with +closed windows and doors, as if nobody lived there, while a dome of +glittering glass conservatories rose on one side. The children strolled +about, every moment discovering something new to admire,--now it was a +graceful-arched bridge; now it was a white statue gleaming through the +shrubbery; now it was a massive carved urn, filled with hardy, clinging +ivy vines. + +"Seeing no one near, they determined once more to eat their dinner; and +so, selecting a pleasant bank for the purpose, were soon discussing +their good things. + +"'Now you will find that May-day is nice, after all,' said Nellie +triumphantly, her mouth full of cake, as she poured some of the contents +of the bottle into a cup the size of a thimble. + +"Oh, false hope! There was a crackling of dry twigs behind them, and, +with an alarming growl, a large, savage-looking dog bounded directly +into their midst. To see a huge black nose appear over one's head, and a +double row of sharp, white teeth displayed within a few inches of one's +eyes, is trying to the courage,--at least our little friends found it +so; for they not only abandoned their baggage to the enemy, but beat a +hasty retreat, Nellie rushing wildly down one alley, while Bessie +escaped by another. + +"The dog, instead of following them, began to devour their repast, +selecting such dainty morsels from the _débris_ as best suited his +palate. + +"Bessie found herself, she scarcely knew how, behind a summer-house, +where she crouched trembling for a time, until, summoning courage, she +ventured to call, in a quavering little voice, to her missing friend. +Receiving no response, she began a search, frightened that she was +alone. She peered about on every side, entreating Nellie to +appear,--first from under a bush that would not have concealed a cat; +then lifting a watering-pot left by the gardener, as though she expected +to find her companion rolled in a ball below the spout; until, with +heaving sobs, she paused by a bridge, and made a last desperate effort. +This time she heard a faint response, as Nellie presently crawled forth +from under an arch of the bridge, sadly splashed with water, her hat +gone, and her ankle sprained. What need to tell how they wandered +through avenue, grove, and by-way, hopelessly bewildered and +lost?--how, utterly discouraged and terrified at last, as the sun began +to slant towards the western horizon, they sat down by the road-side, to +indulge in a flood of tears? + +"'It's not a bit like story-books,' sobbed Nellie. 'I am so hungry and +tired and cold. Oh, dear!' + +"Just as they were preparing to rouse themselves to try and find their +way, a gayly painted express wagon came rattling along at a smart pace. +The good-natured driver stopped readily enough to answer their questions +as to the way home; and, when he had gleaned a few particulars of their +story, he took them into his conveyance, and carried them safely within +the city limits. + +"When the sun had set, and the evening shadows fell cold and gray +through the narrow streets, two forlorn little forms, all travel-stained +and weary, crept along to their respective homes; ready to beg +forgiveness for their truancy, ready to acknowledge their folly, and +nestle into their soft, warm beds, to dream of the smiling woodland or +pleasant meadows in the story-books first of May." + +"Where did you hear that?" asked the Spider. + +"Who knows but I may be an author, too?" responded the Saucepan airily. +"Surely it is my own affair." + +"I have been thinking of this story for a month," said the Spider, in a +patronizing tone. "Still I am glad you had the pleasure of telling it." + +This was malicious on the part of the Spider, and of course the Saucepan +was in danger of losing her temper in consequence. The Caterpillar had +by this time recovered somewhat from his low spirits, and determined to +distinguish himself, because he feared they all must consider him a +person of inferior ability. When they again met, the Cricket hoped to +talk a little, as he had not had a single opportunity to do so since the +arrival of the three travellers; but he was again doomed to +disappointment. + +"Allow me to speak," said the Caterpillar, with a dignified manner. + +Then he commenced:-- + + + + +GRANDPAPA MOUSE AND HIS FAMILY. + + +"Grandpapa mouse was quite an old gentleman at the time of which I +write. He and his wife lived in a nice, large granary belonging to a +rich farmer, which would have made them a splendid home, but for one +reason. Do you know what that was? Why, they did not have to scamper all +about to find their living, as some mice do; for they had every thing +that was good piled up about them. They could nip a kernel from an ear +of corn here, or taste a bit of barley there; until they were so fat +they hardly knew what to do with themselves. + +"Grandpapa was taken with the gout, and had to sit all day with one leg +wrapped in a wisp of hay, besides having to take nothing but water +gruel, which seemed to him a very sad case indeed. + +"As for Grandmamma, she was so large round the waist, her grandchildren +had to nibble a hole twice the usual size for her to pass through, when +she wished to take the air. + +"They were seated one winter's night each side of the fire, which +consisted of some shreds of corn-husk upon a pebble, and certainly made +as bright a blaze as need be. Grandpapa was feeling better; for the +mouse doctor had been to see him that day, and had given him a new +liniment of great virtue. He was whistling quite a gay tune, and staring +at the fire, when suddenly he exclaimed,-- + +"'It is almost Christmas time, my dear.' + +"Grandmamma had been dozing over her knitting-work; so she rubbed her +eyes, and said,-- + +"'What?' + +"'It is almost Christmas,' he repeated louder, for she was a trifle +deaf. 'I heard the farmer say so to-day, when he was counting his +turkeys out there. I think we had better give a dinner-party, and invite +all our children home.' + +"'Perhaps we had,' assented Grandmamma with a sigh: she knew how much +work it would make. 'We have not enough spare rooms, though, I am +afraid.' + +"'We can easily gnaw a few new ones,' said Grandpapa briskly. 'Let us +send our invitations by the postman to-morrow.' + +"So they wrote to all their children; and the next morning the little +servant mouse had to watch under a bush until the letter-carrier came. +Now this postman was a snow-bird, who had promised always to take +messages for the mice, if they would steal him bits of bread and cake +from the pantry. + +"'If you please, sir, my master has got some letters for you,' called +the little servant, in a wee, piping voice, for her nose was getting +cold out of doors. + +"'Put them into my bag,' said the snow-bird, hopping along jauntily. + +"So the little servant stood upon her hind legs to place the letters in +the tiny bag which the snow-bird carried under his left wing; then she +threw her apron over her head, and ran home. + +"I suppose there never was such a sweeping and scratching and gnawing in +any other mouse family, as went on in this one for the next two weeks. +All of them worked so hard, making new holes for their expected guests, +that the little servant had an attack of mumps at the last minute, and +had to have her head tied up in a rag of cobweb. + +"Christmas Eve came at last. Grandpapa had his coat of fur nicely +brushed, and Grandmamma wore a new cap with a ruffle round it. + +"Presently there sounded the patter of little footsteps, which announced +the arrival of the eldest son, and his family of six children. +Grandmamma had scarcely kissed them all round, when in walked the eldest +daughter, with her husband and baby. She had only just been shown to her +room to take off her bonnet, when all the rest came,--a son from the +city; a daughter from the next village; and the youngest child, who +lived in a distant town, and was an old bachelor. + +"What a time there was! Grandpapa grew quite hoarse with shouting at his +different sons; and as for the children, there were so many of them +tumbling about, it is only a wonder their mothers ever could tell them +apart. + +"At last the elder ones had their supper and were sent to bed, where +they soon forgot every thing in sound sleep. Then all the mothers began +to talk together in one corner with Grandmamma about their houses and +cook-books, while the gentlemen discussed mouse politics in another. So +the evening passed away very pleasantly; and by ten o'clock they were +all asleep, too, except Grandpapa: he was so excited, that his wife had +to give him a Dover's powder before he could shut an eye. + +"The next morning the children were awake bright and early, wanting all +sorts of things to eat, and poking into odd places where they should not +have gone. + +"'O Grandpapa! is there no ice this morning?' cried an eager young +mouse; 'I have such a prime pair of skates!' + +"'Can you cut a pigeon wing backwards?' asked one of the city cousins. +'I will show you how to do it in style.' + +"'May we go, too?' urged all the little mice in chorus. + +"Grandpapa consented: so the small servant went to show them the way; +and they soon reached the pond, which was in reality a frozen puddle, +about twelve inches square, and very smooth, on the edge of a wood. + +"All the country mice put on their skates, made of beech-nuts, with +crooked pins for runners, and began to caper about in a great way. The +vain young city mouse then fastened on his, which were tiny apple-seeds +beautifully polished, and strapped with gray horse-hairs. + +"'See,' said he, 'my skates are rockers;' and sure enough they were, for +he soon toppled over backwards, while all the others laughed to behold +his fall. If a cat had happened to spy them, what a dainty Christmas +dinner she might have had! But no cat did; so they had a splendid time, +and went home as hungry as mice can be. + +"As for the ladies, they had enjoyed the quiet in-doors very much +indeed. You must not suppose that all the children were able to scamper +out. There were ever so many babies, that looked just like little bits +of pink pigs. Those from the city had nurses, but those from the country +had not. + +"'It is time for my baby's morning nap,' said the city mouse, looking at +her watch. 'Dear me! is there no cradle?' + +"Then Grandmamma sent to the lumber room, and had one her children once +used brought out. It was half of a peach-pit, which, when lined with +soft paper, made an excellent bed for the fretful baby mouse. + +"So the day wore on, and at last they began to get sniffs of nice things +cooking. Grandmamma bustled about with her cap-strings flying, and grew +very red in the face from scolding the little servant, who was all the +while going the wrong way, because she could do nothing but stare at the +finery of the nursery maids. + +"At last dinner was quite ready; so Grandpapa took his place at the head +of the table, and Grandmamma hers at the foot: yet they could see +nothing but the tips of each other's noses, the pile of good things was +so high. Before the old gentleman was placed a dish of toasted cheese, +that made every mouse present smack his lips with delight; while before +his wife was a fine large egg; and the rest of the table held bits of +meat, cracker, and blades of wheat. The children had a smaller table to +themselves, with just as much to eat as their parents. They behaved +pretty well at first, until one roguish little mouse thrust his nose +into the cheese, and the next one gave him a push that sent him +sprawling across the table. This made all the others frolic, too, so +that the city mouse had to come and box their ears all around. + +"While she was doing this, the little servant happened to come along, +carrying a nut-shell of honey; and what did she do but catch her foot in +the beautiful long tail of the city mouse, and spill the honey all down +her back. There was a regular uproar at this: the city mouse was so +angry, it seemed as though she never would take any more dinner. + +"Grandpapa had been very still all this time: he was eating as if he +never expected to have the gout again. If his doctor had only seen him, +I am sure I do not know what in the world he would have said. + +"When they had finished the meal, they made a circle around the fire; +and, the ladies not objecting, the gentlemen lit their cigars, which +were in reality straw tubes. + +"'I wish somebody would tell a story,' said a little lame mouse, who had +been obliged to stay in the house all day, because it could not run and +jump like the others, but had to hobble along on a crutch made of a +lucifer match. + +"'Yes, yes, Grandpapa, tell us a story,' cried all the other young mice +in a breath. + +"'I don't know any stories,' said Grandpapa, puffing away at his straw +cigar. 'Ask your uncle.' + +"So they began to clamor at the bachelor uncle, and he finally consented +to amuse them. Now, of all the family, he was the most doleful mouse +imaginable; and before he began his story Grandmamma whispered to one of +her daughters-in-law, that he had been disappointed in love, which +accounted for his melancholy. Whether this was true or not, I do not +know; but he also suffered from dyspepsia, and that is apt to make one +sad, it is said: so perhaps it was his liver, and not his heart, that +was affected. He now drew his seat closer to the fire, and began:-- + +"'I fear I shall not be able to tell you any thing very wonderful: still +I can give you some description of my own life since I left home; and, +when I have finished, I hope some of my brothers and sisters will also +tell us what they have been about. When I was a young mouse, my health +was very delicate: the doctor feared a throat affection, so I decided to +go farther south for change of air. There was no need for me to settle +anywhere: I was not a marrying mouse.' [Here Grandmamma nodded and +winked, as much as to say, "I told you so."] + +"'Ordinary society did not suit me at all: to hear a mouse talk of +nothing but his dinner, seemed very tame. That reminds me it is time to +take my medicine two hours after eating. Dear, dear, I nearly forgot!' + +"The bachelor unfastened a bit of goose quill, corked at both ends, that +was hung about his neck with a string, and took a pill from it. He then +resumed his story:-- + +"'I journeyed on in frequent danger, until I reached the handsome town +where I now live. I had to cross a broad beach, and saw the ocean +rolling in great waves of foam, before I came to the houses. It was +night, and the stars shone brightly overhead; but I was so tired with my +day's tramp, that I crawled into a stone wall, to rest. I was soon +disturbed by a squirrel's scrambling in after me. + +"'"Good evening, sir," I said; for my mother had always taught me to be +especially polite to strangers. "Will you tell me where I can find a +night's lodging?" + +"'"Do you like gay company?" replied the squirrel, peering at me with +his bright eyes. + +"'"I like grave people better." + +"'"Why, then, I know the very place," cried he. "Go to the town library, +where you can find a set of students." + +"'I thanked him, and went on until I arrived at the library, where I was +received most courteously by the society of literary mice, to which I +now belong. Perhaps you may have noticed the leather medal I wear upon +my left shoulder. Never shall I forget their kindness that night. They +first inquired if I was married, because they did not admit such +parties; and when I satisfied them I was not, they at once gave me the +hole recently occupied by a brother, who had died of brain fever, +brought on by overwork. + +"'What a delightful time we have of it there! We spend the day getting +in stores of provisions, strolling about out of doors, or taking a nap; +then when evening comes, and the old librarian places all the books in +order before going home, we begin to scamper about, having the place all +to ourselves. + +"'Our president (he has nibbled more books than any of us, and that is +why we elected him) calls us about him after a while, and asks what we +have seen that is interesting or new. This is a most agreeable +arrangement; since one of us is always appointed to be about the library +during the day, to hear what the people may say there. I have been +particularly useful in this way, and that is one reason I am so much of +a favorite. + +"'One thing troubles me greatly at present, so that I must make off home +again as soon as ever I can: I left the whole of the society in such a +state of mind over it, that they were not going to allow themselves any +Christmas dinner.' + +"'Pray what is the important question?' inquired Grandpapa. + +"'Why, about a month ago,' replied the bachelor, warming one foot at the +blaze, 'it was my turn to visit the reading-room. I had crept around +very quietly for some time, hearing old gentlemen talk over their +newspapers, or watching ladies rustle in and out, when a young man and a +little girl came in. With them was a tan terrier, which began to trot +around, snuffing such mischief as he might, when he suddenly spied me +seated at my ease upon a large book, and leaped up at me, barking +furiously. If the young man had not seized him by the collar, I do not +know what would have become of me. As it was, there he sat under his +master's chair, winking, and ready to eat me alive any minute. + +"'The little girl kept asking her brother strange questions about +different things, until he said,-- + +"'"Did you know, Mimi, that the moon is made of green cheese?" + +"'She said, "No." + +"'"It is," he continued. "The wise men that study the stars have just +found it out." + +"'I pricked up my ears at this, and as I had a chance soon after to make +my escape, I did so.' + +"'What!' exclaimed the whole mouse family. 'Is the moon nothing but a +big slice of cheese, then?' + +"'Do you believe it, my son?' inquired Grandpapa, rubbing his nose with +a puzzled air. + +"'Dear me, dear me!' sighed Grandmamma, wiping her spectacles, 'what +next?' + +"'I don't know what to believe,' continued the bachelor. 'I told the +others of it that night, and I do not believe the president has slept a +wink since. We have searched everywhere to learn if it is really true; +we have set an extra watch of four to listen in the library; and if they +have not found out something when I go back, I, for one, shall start +direct for Harvard University, to settle the matter. + +"'Now, you see, if the moon is really made of green cheese,' he added, +shaking his head wisely, 'I should suppose it would have been eaten up +long ago.' + +"Here he stopped suddenly. Every one of his nephews and nieces had +fallen asleep, some in their mothers' laps, and others huddled together +in little balls upon the floor. A great deal they cared about the moon! + +"The lame mouse, however, had listened to every word with bright eyes, +and this pleased the bachelor so much, that he patted her upon the head, +saying,-- + +"'You are a good child, my dear; I shall leave you something in my +will.' + +"The others were then roused up, and trundled off to bed; but they were +so sleepy they did not once think to ask their uncle's pardon. + +"'I've been thinking,' said Grandpapa, 'of the time when my gray cousin +and I made a trip together. We were both very gay, and one hot summer +morning he said to me,-- + +"'"Every one is bound to the mountains: let us go, too." + +"'"But," said I, "you know my father is away on business, and I am the +eldest son, left in charge of the family." + +"'"Never mind," rejoined he, "we can have such splendid fun!" + +"'Well, we ran away from home (my cousin lived with us, as he had been +left an orphan at a tender age). We travelled along bravely for a time, +although the sun was dreadfully hot upon our backs.' + +"'"Oh, dear!" I panted, "I never was so warm in my life." + +"'"What is easier than to carry an umbrella, then?" suggested my +companion; and with that he nibbled the stems of two toad-stools until +they separated, and carrying one above his own head, gave me the other. +This was a delightful change, for the toad-stools spread so as to +shelter our faces from the sun. We trotted along comfortably after this, +and finally came to the brink of a brook, where we paused, because we +did not know how to get across. + +"'"The mountains look such a little way off," said my cousin dismally; +yet the brook still whirled on, seeming to laugh at our discomfiture. + +"'"I believe we could skip from stone to stone," urged the gray mouse, +who was determined not to turn back, if he could possibly help it. + +"'So I tried the bits of stone for some distance; and then I found +myself away out where the water was ever so deep, and I was seized with +fright, not daring to move an inch either way, but clinging to the wet, +slimy rock. Presently a beautiful trout came swimming towards me, its +sides all clothed in variegated scales, and its handsome eyes sparkling +with fun. + +"'"What is the matter; are you sea-sick?" laughed the trout, splashing +the foam from its tail in my face. + +"'"Oh! don't, if you please, I am so giddy now," I cried, and then +tumbled headlong into the water. + +"'Ugh! what a cold bath that was: it makes me shiver only to think of +it. The wicked fish took me on his back, and gave me such a sail as I +hope I may never have again in this world. It went up and down, and up +and down again, approaching the shore occasionally only to dart off for +a fresh trip, until I fairly squealed with fright, clasping its slippery +back the while. At last it flung me off, and I landed by my cousin, who +did nothing but laugh at me. I was very cross by this time; so, after +trying to dry myself upon some blades of grass, I determined to return +home. Just then a fat old bull-frog paddled lazily towards the bank. + +"'"Will you carry us across the brook?" inquired my cousin eagerly. + +"'"How much do you weigh?" asked the bull-frog, winking slowly. + +"Just take up this fellow, and see." He then lifted me upon the +bull-frog's back, who carried me safely across before I could say a +single word. Afterward he brought my cousin over also, and we were able +to resume our journey. + +"'Fortunately we overtook a field mouse soon after, who invited us to +visit his family in the stump of a tree, which we were glad enough to +do, as we were both hungry and tired. That night I was very ill with +chills and fever,--probably owing to the cold bath I had taken; and the +field mice had to give me a dose of some kind of bark that they always +kept in the house, as they lived in a swampy region, which made me +better. They none of them thought I could go on the next morning; and, +as the gray mouse was so anxious to climb the mountains, I proposed his +starting without me. This he consented to do, when one of the young +field mice offered to be his guide; and if I felt well enough, I was to +join them after a while. I had a very nice visit, indeed: the field mice +were so hospitable and kind. I spent most of my time in the house with +the ladies, and the eldest daughter was--who do you think? Why, your +mother, of course; and a prettier young mouse I never saw.' + +"'Don't be foolish,' interrupted Grandmamma. + +"'Yes; but you were just as pretty as ever you could be,' urged +Grandpapa, politely. + +"'I know I was considered the belle of our society;' and Grandmamma +tossed her head when she thought of the admirers of her youth. + +"'I concluded I would not join my cousin at all,' went on Grandpapa; +'but this I was finally obliged to do, for days passed on and they did +not return. At this we all began to look grave; so the father +field-mouse told me that he was afraid something had happened, and he +thought we had better search for them. We made a party of eight, and set +out towards the mountains, anticipating something dreadful must have +befallen the travellers. Ah, what a time we had! + +"'We came to a place where the rock rose so steep and straight before +us, that I did not consider it possible to climb it. What do you suppose +we did? We tied ourselves together, as travellers do when ascending the +Alps in Switzerland, although not with such ropes as they use; we +fastened the tips of our tails together with bits of grass, then marched +along side by side. This was an excellent arrangement, as we afterwards +found; for at one time they all slipped, obliging me to bear their +weight upon my tail. It was a terrible moment: I feared it would break, +or be pulled out from the roots entirely! + +"'At last we reached a shelf of rock where we could rest awhile. The +view from this place was splendid. The valleys lay below blooming with +verdure, many-colored flowers, and golden grain almost ready for the +harvest; the rivers sparkled under the clear sunlight in silvery +threads; and of the towns scattered along the the hillside as far as I +could see, the church steeples looked like mere arrowy spikes. When I +gazed down upon this beautiful smiling earth, and up at the blue sky +where the soft white clouds were floating idly along, it seemed to me +very wonderful that the good God, who had made such grand things, had +made also little me. + +"'We climbed up and up for several days, following footprints that were +certainly those of mice; and we hoped belonged to our friends. At last, +even such traces ceased; and we were fairly at our wits' end, when we +heard faint sounds behind a large leaf. Peering cautiously around the +corner, we saw the gray mouse and his companion stretched upon a bed of +moss, groaning in the most dismal manner. They were overjoyed to see us +again, for they had supposed they must die up there alone. My cousin +had slipped, and sprained his ankle terribly; while the field-mouse had +lost his balance, in trying to assist him, and fallen down a precipice +some twenty inches high, thus injuring his spine. It was all very well +having found them; but how were we to get them away, when neither of +them could move a step? We sat for a long time looking at each other in +doubt, and then a bright idea struck me. + +"'"We can braid this sword-grass together, and lower them down by it," I +said. + +"'We soon joined a quantity in this way, then fastened one end about the +waist of my cousin, and let him down to the next ledge. In this way we +got them both to the foot of the mountain. Now it remained to carry them +across the country; so we tore a mullein leaf in two halves, and, +placing the pieces upon birch twigs, formed excellent litters for our +invalids. We reached the stump of the field-mice again, after an absence +of a month. The surgeon mended my cousin's ankle, which was broken; and, +as for the young field-mouse, I am told he has not known what it was to +feel well a day since. + +"'During the period that we remained, I made a proposal of marriage to +your mother, and was accepted; so, with the understanding that I should +return in the spring, we finally started home. My mother forgot to scold +us, she was so frightened by our long absence. Besides, she received +very sad news just at this time. My father, who was away on business, as +I have said, was taken with the cholera suddenly, after eating a late +supper of bacon rinds, and died. I tried to be a good son ever after,' +concluded he, wiping a tear from his left eye, 'although if I had not +been naughty this time, I should never have known your mother.' + +"'For my part,' remarked the city mouse, 'I have had rather a tough time +of it so far. Now, indeed, I enjoy my ease; but, as I have said, it has +been hardly earned. My desire in going to town was, first, to learn +something of life, and then aspire to belonging to the class of business +mice, which seemed to me the most enviable lot imaginable. I was very +near losing sight of this aim once; still I persevered, until now I am +reckoned among the most influential people. When I began my career, I +was extremely gay; that is, I enjoyed the company of a number of other +young mice, who did nothing but frolic the whole day. I might have kept +on in this way for any length of time, had I not been suddenly checked. + +"'I was invited to a ball given by a wealthy mouse at his country +residence, which was located in a nook of the wall of an ice-house. It +was really the finest place for the time of year I ever visited, and the +wealthy mouse had spared no expense in fitting it up nicely. The +coolness of the house was so refreshing in the sultry heat of July; for, +if one was too hot, all one had to do was to skip down where the great +blocks of ice were piled, and soon get cooled off again. Well, we were +all to attend the silver wedding of the old couple. The young mice had +the greatest time at the tailor's, wondering what to wear; for we were +expected to assume the character of some distinguished person, as it was +to be a fancy masquerade. I thought the tailor would have been crazed +with getting our costumes made, we altered our minds so often; but, +finally, all was ready, and, with our dresses wrapped in brown paper, +we started. + +"'At the entrance door,--a crack in the stonework,--we were shown by two +waiters, in white jackets and aprons, to the dressing-room, where any +number of guests were tying on their masks, made of scraps of various +colored silks, that certainly had a very stylish appearance. The +reception rooms below were truly magnificent. The walls were hung with +strips of red and blue paper, gnawed into all manner of fanciful shapes, +while a row of glow-worms, placed at intervals, lit up the place in the +most beautiful way. At one end of the room stood the host and hostess +upon a platform an inch high (she wearing her wedding-dress of lily +leaves, which had a very old-fashioned effect, because every one wears +swan's-down nowadays), to receive the company, who marched up to make a +bow, each in turn. I represented Bluebeard, with a green turban round my +head, a red sash with a dagger of a rose-thorn, and a pair of yellow +Turkish trousers. This was all very elegant; but I found I could not +dance the polka very well, I was so much bundled up. A friend of mine +was dressed in a long-tailed coat of scarlet plush, with gold +knee-breeches; another had on for armor half of a nutmeg-grater, with a +tin shield made of the top of a spice-box, and a thistle-cup for helmet. + +"'As for the ladies' toilets, I cannot begin to describe them, there was +such a variety of beauty and elegance. One lady's costume I remember +especially, however: it was so very dainty. She was equipped as a +flower-girl, with a short dress of sea-lettuce, looped by tufts of +dandelion down; she wore pink slippers, laced across the instep, a +bodice of wasp-wings, and a hat made of a silver three-cent piece, +ornamented by a flower in the side. I danced with this lady a great many +times, although, as she was masked, I could not see her face at all; and +we became quite well acquainted. The dancing-room grew very hot; and the +band played splendidly (they were katydids, and worked so hard with +their fiddles, it is only a wonder their legs were not worn out +entirely), when I proposed to the young lady-mouse to take a walk in the +moonlight. We found a good many others strolling along arm in arm; and +she had just consented to give me a whisker (as mortals would exchange a +lock of hair), when we heard a shrill voice behind us in the distance. + +"'"Oh, that is my grandmother!" exclaimed my lovely companion in a +whisper, and then she fainted away. + +"'The grandmother hobbled up, and she was certainly the ugliest little +old mouse I ever saw in my life. Her nose was very long, she wore green +spectacles, and used a cane in walking. When she beheld the insensible +form of her grand-daughter, she fairly shook her cane at me. + +"'"What do you mean?" she said in a hoarse, croaking voice. "I came to +the ball to watch this young mouse; and now you have skipped out into +the moonlight to take cold, have you?" + +"'She attempted to box my ears, while I tried to dodge her sharp claws; +and, in so doing, the fair young mouse fell to the ground, thus ruining +her pretty hat. The grandmother screamed with rage to see so nice a +costume spoiled, and this sent all the guests out to find what was the +matter. The noise brought still another guest to the scene that we did +not expect: a great cat, with eyes like green fire, came creeping +through the grass; but we never noticed her, we were so busy bickering +and quarrelling among ourselves. + +"'Suddenly she gave a pounce into our midst; and we all ran for our +lives, tearing our dresses, losing caps and shoes, tumbling over each +other, until we arrived breathless under shelter. We then began to count +our number, and found that the poor flower-girl mouse was missing. I +peeped out of the crack fearfully, and sure enough the horrible cat was +stepping away lightly with our poor companion in her cruel mouth. + +"'Of course the ball was closed after this dreadful accident; and as for +the grandmother, I have heard she was crazy afterward, so that she had +to be confined in an egg-shell with wire bars at the entrance. This +event sobered me very much. I began to think that there was something +more to be done in the world than frisk about and dress finely. + +"'When I returned to the city, I went to a merchant mouse of great +reputation to seek employment. After some delay, I was shown into his +counting-room (behind the fireplace of a lawyer's office), where I found +him, as was to be expected, busily engaged at his desk. I told him I +should like to be appointed one of his clerks, as I hoped to rise, like +himself, to the rank of wealth and importance. He put his pen behind his +ear,--it was the pin-feather of a bird,--and smiled rather grimly, as +though he fancied a good many mice would enjoy growing as great as he +had. The salary I should receive was very small, he told me, and I would +have to work very hard for it; still I was not discouraged by all this, +so the next morning I entered his store. + +"'He was one of the most influential provision mice in the city, doing a +large wholesale business with other cities, and the country as well. I +belonged at first to the number of young clerks whose duty it was to go +about the streets and houses with bags, like rag-pickers, to find odd +scraps of bread, cheese, sugar, nuts, raisins, and starch, which we +brought to the warehouse, where they were taken in charge by other +clerks, who packed them to be carried away, or sold them in piles at a +time. + +"'It was terribly fatiguing, for we were expected to bring a full bag +always by nightfall; but I determined to be industrious; so I +persevered, although the time seemed _so_ long before I was promoted to +the rank of clerk in the receiving department. From this I have +progressed slowly enough, yet I have gained much knowledge. Dear me! I +could tell you where a crumb of cheese came from in the dark. Now I am +the head of the house; for my employer has retired from business, +leaving me in charge. I have also married his only daughter,' said the +city mouse, with a proud air. + +"'I am glad you have succeeded;' commented Grandpapa kindly; 'only be +careful that prosperity does not make you arrogant, as it is apt to. + +"'Now, my dear daughter;' he added, turning to the mouse who had arrived +second on Christmas Eve, 'what have you been doing this long time?' + +"'I went to visit my cousin, as you will doubtless remember. She is a +great matchmaker, and perhaps you knew that when you sent me to her; for +I was then quite mature in age, and did not inherit any of my mother's +beauty, besides. Well, she found me plenty of suitors, and before long I +married. I enjoyed life very much at first; but sorrows in plenty +awaited me,' sighed the daughter, arranging her crape head-dress. + +"'I had four beautiful children; and my pride in them was so great that +I decided to take them to the mouse fair, where prizes were to be given +to the handsomest babies. The mice were flocking from all quarters to +this splendid exhibition, which was given in order to raise funds for an +orphan asylum that was much needed in the region. + +"'The place selected was under a rock on the margin of a wood. The tent +was made of rags joined together; and at the entrance we all paid the +admittance fee,--a kernel of corn, which was to go towards the fund. The +collection within was very fine. There were a few grains of maize +brought all the way from Egypt at immense expense. There was a portrait +of one of our distinguished ancestors, painted in brickdust by a young +mouse artist of great talent; there was a scrap of bacon sent from +England; and there were two whole figs given to the fair by a wealthy +mouse of high rank. There were also a number of articles to be sold by +lottery; a work-box formed of a filbert hollowed out, and lined with +moss, besides being fitted up with needles and scissors of fish-bone; a +pony carriage made of a scallop shell upon spool wheels, the most +luxurious thing to drive in I ever beheld; a candlestick of brown sugar, +beautifully nibbled into filigree work by a blind mouse of large +experience; and a blanket composed of a sheep's tail, embroidered with +cat-whiskers. + +"'These are a few of the things I remember, because I nearly ruined my +husband by taking shares in them all; and I actually drew nothing, so +all that money, or corn rather, was lost. + +"'Behind the tables stood rows of young lady-mice, all dressed alike, +with buttercup caps upon their heads, and wearing aprons, the pockets +trimmed with gold thread. This gave them a very pretty appearance; and +they sold much more among the gentlemen mice than they would have done, +had they been more plainly dressed. + +"'At last it was time for the prizes to be given to the finest children; +and the committee of ten old mice, who were to decide the important +question took their places, and all mothers were told to come forward. +How lovely my dear babies did look! They never cried, or crumpled their +little white bibs in the least; and I felt so proud of them I could +hardly stand. + +"'Well, they took all the prizes: one for his large weight, one for the +size of his nose, which was very remarkable for his age; one for the +smallness of his feet; and the last for the great length of his tail. +Oh! the other mothers were so enraged and jealous, I was afraid they +would tear my eyes out.' + +"Here the daughter mouse began to sob and cry, while all of the family +tried to comfort her. + +"'I will tell the rest: she will not be able,' piped her husband, +holding a smelling-bottle to her nose. + +"'No, no,' she said in a faint voice, while Grandmamma fanned her: 'I +will finish. + +"'We started home again with the little dears, and on our way paused to +rest for the purpose of eating a few wild berries in the wood, as a +luncheon, leaving our nurse at some little distance in charge of the +children. We were startled by a sudden squeal, and beheld the nurse +trotting towards us, her eyes wild with fright. + +"'"Where are the babies?" I shrieked in terror. + +"'Alas! I soon discovered what a misfortune had befallen me. A dog had +found them as they lay asleep, and was now tossing them rudely about in +sport, and I could not defend them. I have never been the same mouse +since their sad death, and I do not expect ever to wear any thing but +mourning. + +"They were all very much affected by the sorrows of the eldest daughter. +When she had finished, the city mouse used her handkerchief several +times, while Grandmamma's spectacles were quite dim with tears. + +"'Could you give us some items of your experience, also?' inquired +Grandpapa of his eldest son, sleepily but politely. + +"'I have really nothing of importance to tell;' and perhaps he was +right, for he certainly had been very quiet all this time, although it +may have been because he ate so much dinner. + +"'I have lived a very uneventful life,' he went on, 'not having wandered +further than the next village, where I live in a barn very comfortably. +I have no learned tastes, like my bachelor brother; I do not care in the +least whether the moon is green cheese or not,--as long as I stay on +earth it need not trouble me; I am not a business mouse, like my city +brother; I have never made a journey, like my father here; and all my +children have lived to grow up, so that I have not the same misfortunes +as my poor sister. + +"'That is all I can say for myself; and, if it is agreeable to you all, +I propose we go to bed, as some of us will have to make an early start +in the morning,' he said, rising with a yawn of fatigue. + +"They consented to this last arrangement, and thus Christmas Day closed +on Grandpapa Mouse and his family." + +Public favor was universally awarded the Caterpillar after this effort. + +The Cricket next received a reward for all his patience and good humor, +by having an opportunity of telling-- + + + + +THE ENCHANTED BABY-HOUSE. + + +"Yes, it was a pleasant day, after all! The bright sunlight danced +through the parted crimson curtains down upon the nursery floor, down +upon curly heads nestled among the pillows, tinging the canary bird's +golden feathers, as he ruffled himself upon the perch before skipping +down to the dining-room of his cage for a stray seed or sip of water, +and blinking straight into the eyes of little Milly, as she first opened +them upon her sixth birthday. The other children were still napping; but +Hannah, the nurse, thought of it, and came to kiss the pet who had first +rested in her arms, a wee bundle of flannel, with a tiny red face. Nurse +thought Milly a great deal prettier and bonnier, as she crept out of bed +now to stand upon the warm hearth-rug in her white night-dress, warming +her little pink toes at the blaze, than when she was only that little +bundle of flannel on the day of her birth. + +"'Come, dears,' said nurse, rousing the others: 'it is Milly's birthday, +you know; so be up bright and early.' + +"'Yes, yes,' sang Milly, merrily whirling about the room to the step her +dancing-master had last taught her. 'Get up! I am six years old to-day: +only think; and you but four, Miss Pet,--such a little, little girl.' + +"'No: I aint,' answered Pet, indignantly, rolling out upon the floor +like a rosy ball of an apple: 'I am so big I can see over the table, +anyhow.' + +"Upon this Milly caught the small sister by both hands, and whirled her +round the room so fast, that Pet had not a particle of breath left in +her fat little body. The noise made all the other children open their +eyes, and join in the fun; while even the baby sat up in its crib, to +crow, and pat its dimpled hands together, because the rest did: babies +can never give any better reasons for their actions. Nurse Hannah and +her assistant, Sarah, never had such work to dress their charges, as on +that morning. First, Tom put on his soldier's cap, which Santa Claus had +given him only a few weeks before, and strapped the sword about his +waist, which certainly made him look very funny indeed, considering that +he still wore only his night-clothes; while all the rest strutted after +him in single file, Dick beating a drum, Milly carrying a tin musket, +and Pet bringing up the rear, staggering under the weight of a knapsack. +In this way, they marched about, always slipping like eels when Nurse +Hannah touched them, and making so much noise the while, that she could +scarcely hear herself speak. At last, Sarah pounced upon Pet, and bore +her away shrieking and struggling to the bath-room, whence, after a good +deal of gurgling and splashing, she returned, looking as fresh as a +rosebud that the dew has just kissed into fragrance. Milly now began to +behave better; for she thought she must set Pet a good example, since +she was so much the elder of the two. Tom and Dick, however, grew wilder +and gayer as they dressed themselves. They hid Milly's boots so that she +could not find them; they whisked the baby out of his crib, where he +sat contentedly sucking one thumb, and perched him upon the bureau; and +Tom leaped upon the table with a newspaper, which he held upside down, +and pretended to read, with Nurse Hannah's steel-bowed spectacles upon +his little pug nose. + +"At this they all laughed so loudly that mamma came to the door to +inquire what was the matter, and tell them it was breakfast-time. + +"'O Sarah! please brush my hair, quick,' implored Milly. 'I want to +begin my year in season for every thing, if I possibly can.' + +"So Sarah brushed her hair, and smoothed down the nice new dress and +crisp muslin apron prepared for the occasion; then Milly ran downstairs, +and climbed into her high chair, just before papa was ready to ask the +blessing, feeling very gay and happy. After breakfast, mamma proposed +that they should all go out to play for a time, as the morning was so +fine. + +"'Then,' she said with a smile, patting her eldest daughter's soft round +cheek, 'we will see what we can do to amuse Milly in the house.' + +"Mamma then went away, and Milly turned to the window with a half sigh +of disappointment. The view from where she stood was beautiful enough to +make any child's eyes sparkle with delight. The earth was hidden by a +soft covering of fresh snow; the trees and shrubs were powdered with +icicle fringes, that gleamed and sparkled in the sun like so many +crystal pendants; and the Hudson River swept along, bearing upon its +surface, now a stately steamboat, ploughing its way swiftly along +through sheets of foam-flakes, and now a flitting sail-boat, with white +sail spread like a bird's wings upon the wind. But, for the moment, +Milly did not enjoy this splendid winter landscape; nor did she notice +the little snow-birds, hopping about the frozen ground on their +frail-looking little legs, and cocking their bright eyes up at her, as +if begging a crumb from the plenty of the table. A cloud had come over +her bright face, causing it for the time to look sullen and sad. Do you +know what she was thinking of? Precisely what you or any other little +child might in her place. She had expected a birthday gift, and now +nothing of the kind was presented to her from papa even down to the +baby. + +"'I always had one,' reflected Milly, growing more and more aggrieved as +she thought of this injustice, until a tear rolled down her cheek. 'I +always had one,'--this with a sob,--'even when I was ever so little. I +had a rag doll, and a tin horse and cart, and a picture book, and all +sorts of things; but to-day'-- + +"Here Pet came running in with her arms full of wrappings, followed by +Sarah also carrying Milly's warm cloak, hat, and mittens. + +"'Come,' said Pet, 'we are to slide on the pond with the boys, and have +such fun.' + +"'I don't want to slide,' pouted Milly, turning away to the window +again. + +"'What a naughty girl!' exclaimed Sarah, as she tied on Pet's hat, who +could do nothing but stare at Milly in amazement, with big, bright eyes. + +"'Not do,' piped the little sister. 'Oh! I know somethin', Mil',' she +added, puffing out her cheeks with an important air. 'You are not to go +up-stairs at all, mamma said.' + +"'Oh, you silly little goose!' said Tom, overhearing the last sentence +as he entered the room: 'I shall box your ears for that, Miss.' + +"Then Tom pretended to carry out his threat, and Milly forgot her tears +to join in the romp; while Sarah tried to defend poor Pet, who became so +tumbled and out of breath, with her hat knocked over one eye, that she +looked very funny indeed, though I do not believe she was very much hurt +after all. + +"Well, they went out into the frosty air, which nipped their little +noses, stung their round cheeks into a warmer glow, and caused the blood +to course through their young veins like sparkling champagne. Tom and +Dick meant to be very good and patient to-day, because they loved their +little sister much, although they were sometimes rough and rude to her; +but then she was only a girl. Milly's uncle had sent her a beautiful +pair of skates Christmas, all buckles and straps and sharp-curved +runners. They were really splendid; but Milly did not make very much +progress in using them, after all. Her ankles _would_ turn; and she felt +so helpless standing upon the smooth, glaring surface of ice alone, +with her two feet planted close together, while her brothers whizzed +past her in circles that made her head spin to watch, and asked her why +she did not "strike out,--so!" Then when she followed their advice, and +did strike out, her skates were sure to flash up in the air, where her +head ought to have been, while her head went down bump, bump, where her +skates should have been. This was the way Milly skated. When they +reached the pond, Tom and Dick strapped on their skates; then Dick +said,-- + +"'Now, Milly, we will teach you real nice to-day: we are going to be +awfully good.' + +"'No, I thank you,' said Milly, with a grand air: 'I am not going to +tumble about, and get so vexed on my birthday. Pet and I will be ladies, +and you shall be our horses.' + +"At first, the two boys looked surprised; but Milly quite coolly seated +herself upon Tom's sled, tucked her little petticoats snugly about her, +and sat nodding at them both. + +"'Upon my word, that's cool!' cried Tom; but he harnessed himself with +the rope, nevertheless, and away they started, the silver bells +attached to the sled tinkling merrily. They had a grand time of it for +an hour or so, until Milly suddenly remembered what Pet had said about +not going up-stairs; and then she wondered what it all could mean. They +finally started for the house; and when they saw their mamma standing at +the dining-room window watching, Pet and Milly joined hands, and ran as +fast as they could towards home: they could not tell exactly why, except +that they felt like it. + +"'Can Milly go up-stairs now, mamma?' asked Pet eagerly. + +"Mamma assented; and Milly, wondering very much what was coming, +followed her mother into a little room that had never before been used, +and which was now furnished in the most beautiful manner. There was a +fresh muslin curtain, looped with gay ribbons, at the window; the carpet +looked as if it had just been strewn with rosebuds; the tiny bedstead, +of carved wood, had the daintiest linen and crimped hangings; while +there was a little bookcase in one corner, containing all kinds of +pretty books; upon the table bloomed a bouquet of sweet-scented +violets; and by the table was the loveliest rocking-chair imaginable, +just large enough to hold a little girl of six years old. Upon the wall, +in a wreath of evergreen, were written these words: 'Milly's room.' + +"Milly gazed about her, feeling as if she was in a dream. Having +examined all the fine furniture which was from this time to be all her +own, Pet pointed to a large object in a corner, concealed by a sheet +curtain. + +"'What's that?' dancing about with delight. + +"'Let her guess,' said Tom, putting his hand over foolish little Pet's +rosy lips, to keep her from telling the important secret. + +"'It's a ba-by,' gurgled Pet; but Tom put his jacket over her head, and +extinguished her entirely. + +"'Can you guess what it is?' asked mamma. + +"'It looks like an elephant,' said Dick. + +"'I should think it might be a bookcase, only there is one; and Pet said +it was a baby-house,' replied Milly hesitatingly. + +"'Right, right!' cried all the children, clapping their hands. + +"Then papa drew aside the curtain, and Milly's eyes fairly danced with +delight at the sight disclosed. + +"It was the most splendid baby-house she had ever seen in her life, +although she had always considered that of her Cousin May very fine +before. The roof reached nearly to the ceiling of the room, boasting +gables and chimneys; there was a large front door, wearing the number of +the house upon a brass plate; and the windows with the parted curtains +temptingly invited a glimpse into the interior. Mamma then told Milly to +open the door, which she did half shyly, as though she did not know what +to expect next. First, she sat down upon the carpet to look at the +kitchen, with its shining painted floor, its stove, dresser, teakettles, +saucepans, flat-irons, and other implements of that department, over +which reigned Dinah, in a yellow turban and smart red dress, with ever +so many assistant darkies, from her daughter Sue down to tiny doll +grandchildren, not more than an inch long, all as black as ebony. Next +came the dining-room, which was certainly as handsome as the most +fastidious doll could wish for. There were two mahogany sideboards, with +a grand array of frosted cakes, pies, and ice-cream pyramids, only they +were all made of painted wood; and there was a table with a beautiful +gilt tea-service, and a large coffee-urn upon it. On the neatly papered +wall hung several choice pictures about an inch square, and a veritable +cuckoo clock, with the bird all ready to pop out when you pulled a silk +tag. A genteel waitress, in a muslin cap and apron, stood by the table. + +"Milly now stood up to view the second story, and by so doing just +brought her small nose on a level with the bedroom. She found this to be +furnished exactly like her own. The same carpet was spread upon the +floor; the bureau, the bedstead, and washstand, were precisely similar. +The baby-house had many more articles of furniture, however, than did +the larger apartment; for it was not only adorned by a toilet-table, a +wee bath-tub, and a wardrobe, but there were ever so many cradles and +high-chairs for the children. + +"'Now look at the parlor,' cried Pet. + +"I cannot begin to describe the magnificence of this drawing-room. Every +thing was gilt and crimson in the appointments, which is certainly very +good taste, whether doll or human being. There was a gilt chandelier, +with pink wax candles ready to light at any time, gilt chairs, and +centre-table holding vases filled with flowers, while the carpet and +walls were crimson. Before the open piano was seated a very pretty doll +in a flounced blue silk dress, trimmed with crystal drops; upon the sofa +reclined her two sisters, one wearing white with a green sash, and the +other pink barege; while the mother, in purple satin edged with white +lace, occupied a large arm-chair, with her feet upon a footstool. At the +billiard-table in the corner were several more dolls, one holding the +cue ready to play a game. + +"This is all that I can remember of the wonderful baby-house (it is a +long time since I saw it last); but if there was any thing else that I +have not mentioned, you may be sure Milly discovered it before +nightfall, that birthday when she was six years old. When she had seen +all these things, little Milly jumped up with a flush on her cheek, and +turned to all the kind faces that were watching her surprise and +pleasure. First, she gave her parents a kiss of thanks; then there was +Sarah smiling in the doorway, and Nurse Hannah holding the baby, who +looked quite solemn, with one thumb in its mouth, baby fashion. The boys +then ran away to their skating again, for they thought they were too big +and old, to show much interest in a baby-house; and the sisters were +left to their play undisturbed. Of course there was no end of fun for +the rest of that long, happy day. Milly and Pet had hardly leisure to +eat their dinner, they were so absorbed with their new playthings. Such +a confusion as they made in the neat little rooms, house-cleaning, +re-arranging furniture and dollies! Such a number of meals as were +served in that one afternoon alone! It is only a wonder that a single +doll had any digestion left, or that Dinah could still show her white +teeth in that contented smile; for any other cook would have given +warning that she was about to leave, I am sure, who had to serve the +quantities of sweetened water, scraped apple, and chalk dishes that she +did. But Dinah did not lose her temper, although it was so severely +tried, one would think; and the day's pleasure closed with a grand +tea-party, to which Tom and Dick were invited. Then the baby-house was +arranged, and the door closed for the night. + +"When it was bedtime, Milly realized, for the first time, what a large +girl she had grown, to have a place all to herself. Sarah brought a +light, and prepared to put her charge to bed; but this Milly resisted +indignantly. She was going to undress, and take care of herself; so she +bade Sarah good-night very ceremoniously, and the nursery-maid went away +laughing. There was a good deal of pattering to and from the nursery, +however, after that. First, Milly ran across her mother's room, and +along the passage, to make a call upon the other children; and she +looked back with a little shiver at comfortable Miss Pet sitting on the +hearth-rug like a soft white kitten, and the baby asleep in the crib, as +she returned to her _own room_ once more. Then the others made her a +call, and envied her new dignity: only Pet whispered in an awed tone,-- + +"'Wont you be afraid when the light goes out, Milly?' + +"'No, indeed,' said Milly bravely. + +"Then she blew out the candle, and sprang into bed, just to show Pet how +much she enjoyed it all. But when they had trotted back, and it was all +dark, she began to see strange shapes from out of the darkness, and to +hear rustlings all about that she had never noticed in the shelter of +the nursery, until she fell asleep. She was awakened by a noise that +made her heart leap into her throat with a single bound. It was +something between a gurgle and a groan; and so frightened grew little +Milly, that she stole out of her warm bed, and paused, trembling, on the +threshold of her mother's room to listen. What do you suppose the noise +was, after all? Milly almost laughed at herself when she discovered; it +was her papa snoring loudly. She was so glad that no one knew of her +fright, the first night she slept alone, that she nestled into bed +again, and pulled the blankets almost over her curly head. The moonlight +came peeping into the window in silvery beams; and, after looking out +upon the clear sky, where a few stars twinkled, Milly saw a wonderful +sight. Down the moonbeam, which formed a pathway paved with sparkling +hues, floated tiny fairy figures, bearing in their midst upon a litter, +formed of a lily-cup, their queen. Milly thought she had never dreamed +of any thing half so beautiful. Shimmering colors wrapped each little +sprite in a misty glow, while their wings were frosted like those of a +butterfly. As for the queen, she was ten times more radiant than any of +her subjects, as a queen should be; and, when she moved, a faint musical +sound tinkled from the chains of turquoises, which were fastened about +her waist; from thence they twined in festoons all about her small +person. She was further distinguished from the rest by a starry crown +upon her head, and a wand tipped with the same radiance in her hand. + +"'Here we are, at last,' said the moonbeam fairy in the sweetest voice. +'Give me your hand, Milly.' + +"The little girl extended it half-fearfully, and the fairy leaped into +the outspread palm, dancing lightly over the pink-tipped fingers in +doing so. + +"'Don't be afraid of me,' she said. 'I never hurt any child in my life, +I assure you.' + +"The other fairies climbed upon the bed also, some clinging to the +curtain tassels, some perched among Milly's curls, and others sat at +their ease on the footboard. + +"'It is Milly's birthday,' rustled the elves, like the soft patter of +raindrops among forest leaves. + +"'Yes: we have come a long way to see you, for we live in the moon,' +said the fairy; 'and it is only when she lowers silver ladders to the +earth, that we can make a visit down here.' + +"'I am so glad you all came to-night,' exclaimed Milly; 'only how did +you know, away up there, that it was my birthday?' + +"'Ah!' returned the fairy smiling, 'we always know every thing, you may +be sure. The angels tell us, especially about those that are good upon +the earth. Now to-night my twelve sisters are also down here somewhere; +this one flitting into the attic windows of the city streets, where +there is sickness and sorrow; that one whispering words of comfort in +dreams of warmth and plenty to the little wayfarer, sleeping upon a +cold doorstep; while another is hovering over the broad sea, to lead the +poor, rude sailor's thoughts home.' + +"'Do you live in a palace?' asked Milly. + +"'Yes: we live in a palace beside a silver lake; and we are called the +twelve sisters of the fairy lake, because we all sprang into life from a +single bubble of foam, blown through the reed of our Father, the water +god, who rules over rivers and fountains in the moon.' + +"'How wonderful!' commented Milly. + +"'Let us be doing something, mistress,' piped a restless elf, who had +never been at rest a moment, but who skipped and danced about like a +firefly; once, indeed, turning a summersault, and landing upon Milly's +nose. + +"'What shall we do?' said the queen. + +"'Oh! any thing else but talk, please; we can do that at home,' replied +the elf. + +"'Shall I show you my new baby-house?' inquired Milly, who supposed that +the fairies must find as much to interest them in it as she did +herself. + +"At this the restless elf darted off, and was followed by the others; +while the queen waved her wand, and, to Milly's astonishment, the door, +which she had carefully locked, flew wide open. The fairy again waved +her wand; and from every tiny chandelier sprang jets of light, that +shone through the windows, and sparkled over the handsome furniture in +the most beautiful manner. + +"'Will you come to see the fun?' asked the fairy; and Milly, all +curiosity, followed her midnight guests across the room. + +"The restless elf next borrowed the queen's wand, and, stepping into the +window of the bedroom, tapped each of the sleeping dolls with it upon +the head. + +"'Come, come! get up, you lazy creatures!' cried the roguish elf, +enjoying himself immensely. + +"All the dolls began to move about and yawn, as if they were just waking +up. Milly thought she had never imagined any thing so delightfully funny +as the little babies winking their bright black eyes, and crying so that +the nurses had to rock the cradles to keep them quiet. + +"'Now, then,' said the elf, 'you all dress yourselves as quickly as +possible, and then I will tell you what to do.' + +"He left them in the bedroom, roused Dinah in the kitchen, and the +genteel waitress in the dining-room; then he returned to the parlor, +tried the piano, whistling a tune, at the same time winking so drolly at +Milly, that she laughed with delight; played a round or so at the +billiard-table, and then seated himself in the large arm-chair. In the +mean while, the dolls were grumbling over the whole affair. + +"'I never heard of such a thing,' said the fat mamma, smoothing her hair +before the looking-glass, 'to turn us all out of bed at this time of +night, and set all babies crying, too!' + +"'Never mind, mamma,' said the daughter in blue silk, shaking out her +flounces: 'it is the little lady's birthday, and we can take a nap +to-morrow.' + +"'Yes,' chimed in the pink-barege sister; 'and she never has broken us, +you know.' + +"'I am sure I am afraid of my legs, if that Miss Pet only looks at me, +for fear they will be smashed,' echoed the white-muslin lady, looking +mournfully at her china boots. + +"'If Pet could only hear her talk!' whispered Milly to the fairy queen; +when lo! in toddled the young lady, and, putting her arm about Milly's +neck, stood looking at the wonderful sight also. + +"'I am so glad you can see it too, Pet!' + +"'By this time the dolls had made their toilets; all except the babies +that were left in charge of their nurses, some of whom trotted them upon +their knees, or fed them with pap out of tin mugs, while others still +rocked the cradles, and the seamstress stitched upon the sewing-machine. + +"'First, we will have a dance,' said the elf, cutting a caper in mid +air. 'You stupid dolls! why don't you act as though you were made of +something better than wood?' + +"'We are made of the best French china and kid,' retorted the dolls +indignantly, as they all huddled together in the corner, and stared at +the elf with their round eyes. + +"'They are afraid of you; join your companions on the roof,' commanded +the queen. + +"The elf made a wry face, for he desired to play pranks upon the +dollies; but he flew up at the royal command to where the others were +clustered about the chimneys, and hung himself by one leg from an eave, +with his queer little face and twinkling eyes close to Milly. Left to +themselves, the inmates of the baby-house felt more at their ease. The +blue-silk daughter commenced to play a lively air upon the piano, to +which all the younger dolls began to dance; and such waltzes, polkas, +and quadrilles as were performed never were seen before. + +"'You would think they had been to dancing-school all their lives,' said +the fairy. + +"'What fun we are having!' exclaimed a pretty doll, with red cheeks, +mincing along. 'I was only made last week, and I had no idea the world +was such a nice place.' + +"'You need not think you are to go on in this way all your life,' +snapped another, who was rather ill-natured, because her nose was +broken. 'We are all bewitched to-night.' + +"'Are we?' returned rosy-cheeks. 'I should like to be so always, then.' + +"In the mean while, the stout mamma had done nothing but doze and nod +upon the sofa, with a fine lace pocket-handkerchief over her head, while +all the music and dancing had gone on so merrily about her. But no +sooner had the genteel waitress arranged every thing below stairs, and +tinkled the little silver bell, than she whisked off the covering from +her face, and rose briskly to go to supper. + +"Such a feast as awaited them! There was _real_ tea and coffee bubbling +in the urns; the wooden cakes, pies, and ices, were wooden no longer; +or, if they were, the dolls certainly found them delicious. As for +Dinah, the cook, she was as busy as possible, not only making various +dishes over the fire, but boxing the ears of her children, and scolding +them when they did not bring her pepper or salt just to the minute. +Then, what a pet she was in when any thing burned upon the stove! + +"Milly watched all the busy little figures until her very eyes ached, +and the clock, upon the dining-room wall of the baby-house, struck one, +two, when out popped the bird above, without any one's pulling the silk +tag, and chirped 'cuckoo' quite distinctly. At this the moonbeam fairies +fluttered from their perch upon the gables, and circled in rings of +flame and purple and gold and blue, quickly succeeding each other; while +the moonlight streamed brighter and brighter, wrapping every thing in a +dazzling cloud. + +"What do you suppose this dazzling light really was, my dear little +reader? Why, it was nothing but another day's sun kissing Milly's +eyelids and curls with golden caresses. Yes, every thing was undisturbed +in her room. The baby-house was closed; and, when she peeped in, all the +dolls were as stupid as though they never had skipped, or eaten a late +supper the previous night, while all the wooden cakes stood upon the +sideboard untouched. + +"'Never mind; the fairies _were_ here,' thought Milly, 'for Pet saw +them, too.' + +"At the breakfast-table, she tried to tell her story; but Tom and Dick +laughed at her so, she did not get through with it very well. + +"'But the fairies were here,' cried Milly, half vexed. 'Pet saw them.' + +"The little sister, who was eating bread and butter contentedly, +stopped, with her mouth and eyes wide open, which made everybody laugh +the more. + +"'I never did!' said Pet, indignantly: 'I only slept the whole time.' + +"Poor Milly said no more; but she never saw the moon climb her +sparkling, star-strewn pathway afterward, without wishing that the +fairies might spread their rainbow wings, and flutter down into her +little chamber again, as they did the night when she was six years old." + +It stormed heavily all day. The Teapot and Saucepan, sitting on the +shelf in a state of idleness, agreed together, that, if the rain dashed +against the windows in that way, the Club would not be able to hear each +other speak when night came. + +On the hearth stood an intruder; a dilapidated old umbrella was in the +corner, drops of dirty water trickling in streams across the hearth from +the damp folds. + +"I have wet my feet in this muddy river," said the Wasp. + +"The hearth was so clean before," sighed the Caterpillar. + +"I am really very sorry my master the peddler left me in your way," said +the Umbrella, meekly. "Only I cannot help it." + +"To be sure not," said the Kettle. "You look like an old traveller, +friend; will you tell us something of yourself?" + +"Certainly," replied the Umbrella, and began his history:-- + + + + +THE STORY OF AN UMBRELLA. + + +"You will hardly believe it when I say that I was once as handsome as an +umbrella need to be; I am so faded and stained by old age or rough +exposure now. Yet I actually was; for in the large manufactory where I +was born, no stouter whalebone frame or finely carved handle could be +found. + +"My ribs have been broken in several places since, and clumsily mended +again, which naturally gives me a bungling appearance. Ah, well! beauty +must fade. + +"I remember very well my début in life. I was standing in the rack of a +larger shop, one fine summer morning, when a very natty young gentleman +entered, and purchased me without delay. + +"Of course, as I was inexperienced and foolish, I was only too glad to +exchange the monotony of the warehouse for any novelty. + +"Allow me to remark, in commencing, that I have one complaint to urge +against fate for having made me what I am. The life of an umbrella is a +most aggravated form of slavery. One can never be sure of having a +moment's peace. In stormy weather, no matter how heavily the rain falls, +or the snow sleet drives, one must be on duty, shivering in wet corners +neglected, or dragged out to brave the tempest again; while on clear +days one may be under the bed, or behind the wardrobe likely +enough,--that at least was my experience, but then my master was a +bachelor. + +"I wondered what duty I should perform on this bright, pleasant morning; +for there was not so much as a cloud in the sky to be seen. I soon +discovered I was to be of service on an excursion of some kind; for the +gentleman walked up an avenue leading to a handsome house, and upon the +steps, under the clustering rose-vines, stood a fair lady, awaiting his +arrival apparently. + +"Presently they drove away in a pretty basket carriage, drawn by a fat +little pony, and I accompanied them, together with the luncheon parcels +and fruit baskets. + +"It was a pleasant route along a shady road; and I amused myself +listening to the conversation of the young people (it was of a very +interesting nature to themselves!), or I flirted with the lady's +parasol,--a dainty bit of silk that ruffled its lace flounce +coquettishly upon the breeze, and showed the pink-tinted lining to +advantage. + +"'You are extremely handsome,' I remarked to the Parasol. + +"'Yes,' she replied complacently; 'I was imported from Paris, you know, +and cost very dear, as my lace is _real_. But what are you doing here?' + +"'That I cannot tell myself,' I answered. 'Perhaps we shall know before +the day is over.' + +"At length we reached the end of our drive; the master assisted his +companion to alight; the luncheon, parasol, and myself, followed to +where the grass bank, soft as velvet, sloped to the brink of a merry +little brook, which sparkled laughingly in the sunlight for a time, then +hid among the ferns that fringed the distance. + +"An umbrella never was exposed to more contempt than I received on that +occasion. No sooner had my master brought me upon the scene, than the +company began to laugh and jest. It seemed so absurd to these silly +people, that I should be needed. Even the Parasol, resting in the lap of +her mistress, smirked contemptuously at me where I stood disconsolately +against a tree. For three long hours I remained unoccupied; while all +the gay people strolled among the trees to gather wild flowers, or +reclined in the shade to enjoy strawberries and ice-cream. + +"Gradually the sun became obscured behind masses of swiftly rising +cloud; but no one noticed it except myself, and, as no refreshments were +offered me, I had nothing better to do than to watch the change of the +weather. Suddenly there sounded a peal of thunder, followed by a flash +of lightning; then down pattered the rain, making delicious music among +the leaves overhead. + +"I never felt so wicked in my life. I longed to dance, only an umbrella +cannot do that without losing its balance. I longed to shout aloud, but +an umbrella cannot do this either for the want of a pair of lungs. I +spread my grateful shelter above the heads of the group to whom I +belonged, and I even took the naughty Parasol under my protection, which +was certainly a generous act, although one ought never to make a merit +of such things: I should be ashamed to suspose any of my race would have +behaved differently under the circumstances. + +"There was no house or shelter at hand, and all the pretty pony +carriages were no protection against the storm. How flabby the muslin +dresses of the ladies became, how limp the white coats of the gentlemen, +as they crowded under the shelter of the oak-trees pretending to think +it very funny indeed! But they did not, I could see that plainly enough. +The young ladies' hair came out of curl, and the brims of their hats +were crushed out of shape from attempting to keep them dry; while the +piles of frosted confectionery melted into a mass that might as well +have been soaked brown paper, or any thing else tough and disagreeable. +The strawberries tumbled about in crimson pyramids, followed by stray +golden lemons; and cakes, with white caps on, popped out of their place, +to join in the general ruin. + +"How proud I felt! Soft words and tender glances were exchanged by the +young couple I protected; for I managed to screen them from the rest, so +they could enjoy themselves the more. + +"'Dear Umbrella,' entreated the Parasol, 'do save my tassels; they are +growing quite wet, and the color has changed.' + +"'Yes, indeed, Madam Butterfly: you are not good for much.' + +"'I am so new to be thrown aside,' sobbed the Parasol. 'All for a stupid +shower, too!' + +"'There, don't cry,' I urged. 'Your tassels can be changed or dyed.' + +"'Dyed!' shrieked the Parasol, indignantly. 'I hope I have not come to +that.' + +"'Do not be so proud,' I said. 'You will certainly come to grief. At +least men do, and I see no reason why the same rule should not apply to +parasols as well.' + +"I have never seen the parasol, lady, or any of the gay company that +laughed in the sunshine, or shivered in the rain since. I suppose my +young master must have married the lady, for I saw him slip a beautiful +diamond ring upon her finger at the picnic. I hope they are all very +happy, and that the frail parasol is still in existence; yet I have no +means of knowing. Alas! an umbrella cannot move without being carried. + +"For a short time I resided in the young gentleman's apartments, where I +formed some very pleasant acquaintances. There was a porcelain standard +on the mantel-piece, holding a meerschaum pipe; and a tobacco vase, with +a little Hindoo god perched on the lid. There was an embroidered +smoking-cap with a gold tassel, hanging over the arm of a parian statue +of Juno; a bronze clock, a silver-knobbed cane, and a riding-whip on the +wall. + +"The smoking-cap and riding-whip were very spicy in their conversation, +and waged continual war with the tobacco vase or pipe, who were true +Germans. + +"'That stupid maid very nearly broke my head with the handle of her +duster,' said Juno, angrily. 'My heart flutters still with the fright it +gave me.' + +"'She soiled my lining with her dirty fingers, too,' said the +smoking-cap. + +"'Thank fortune! I do not require dusting, warbled the canary bird, +spreading his golden feathers in the sunlight, and flirting a seed at +the Hindoo god on the lid of the tobacco vase, who only grinned a +broader smile at the attention. + +"'My face is cracked,' chimed in the pretty, good-natured clock; and at +this, the canary bird, jealous of any sound save his own voice, poured +forth a flood of music from his tiny throat. + +"'Hush!' rustled an ivy-plant, that drooped in graceful tendrils about +the open window. 'We have not received the new-comer politely.' + +"'What new-comer? Oh, the Umbrella!' + +"'Yah, ze Umbrella,' echoed the meerschaum, speaking very broken +English. + +"So they all welcomed me cordially, to my great relief; for I was +beginning to feel dreadfully shy and awkward, not being accustomed to +society. I endeavored to make myself agreeable, by describing to them +the incident of the shower, at which they all laughed heartily. + +"My thoughts frequently revert to the life I led in that delightful +home, where I was surrounded by so many refinements. Alas! it was too +soon brought to a close. My master made a journey; and, although I had +not the least idea of it, I accompanied him. I was scarcely allowed time +to look farewell at the various inmates of the room; the clock and +canary chirping good-by in duet, and I was gone. + +"I next found myself upon a large steamboat. Any thing more wretched +than the night we passed there, I cannot imagine. I rolled about in the +most uncomfortable fashion, the lights bobbing up and down, the cabin +floor rocking giddily, and my careless master took no heed to my safety. + +"A tattered, rusty-looking man came prowling along, then, stooping over +me, adroitly managed to drop a clumsy, cotton umbrella, and carry me off +instead. What must have been my master's disgust, when he discovered +that horrid, faded thing, instead of my slim, genteel self! + +"There was no help for it, because an umbrella cannot raise any outcry; +so the thief took possession of me without struggle. + +"We arrived in a large city; and I was carried ashore by the rusty man, +who made his way along many narrow, dirty streets, to a small dingy +shop, which he entered. It was a musty, dark place, crowded with +many strange articles of sale, from mended furniture, silver +watches, odd crockery, and picture frames, to china vases, and silk +pocket-handkerchiefs. + +"Here, I was sold to the owner of the shop, a wrinkled, old man, with a +white beard, who placed me in company with others of my class in a rack. +At first I was too unhappy in my altered circumstances to attempt any +conversation with those about me. The sun came peeping in the +dust-stained window; and each stray, gilded beam seemed a blessing in +that sad, gloomy place. How every thing brightened under the heavenly, +glorifying touch! The wreaths of artificial flowers took the bright hues +of life; and a gray parrot, in a battered cage, shook himself to peer +about more cheerfully. + +"'How pleasant the sun is!' remarked the parrot. 'If it only would shine +here all day, as it does in my native India, instead of creeping away +over the roofs so soon, leaving us chill and dark again!' + +"Then I inquired, 'You have not lived here always?' + +"'I should rather think not,' retorted the parrot, sharply. 'Do you take +me for a common bird, sir? I belonged to one of the best families at +home; only it was my misfortune to be caught by a sailor, who brought me +over the seas to this great city, when he was taken ill, poor fellow, +and died. I heard him say I was to be a present for his sweetheart up in +the country; but I never saw her, because the lodging-house woman sold +me, with the rest of the sailor's effects, to the old Jew here.' + +"'As to that,' said a rosewood arm-chair, with a faded cover, 'I once +adorned a magnificent drawing-room myself.' + +"' And we,' sighed a wreath of artificial roses, 'once nestled among the +curls of beauty.' + +"'I was stolen,' said an alabaster vase, standing in graceful purity +among the surrounding common objects. + +"'I was, also,' echoed a velvet portmonnaie, an ivory fan, and a +crystal perfume-bottle, with silver top. + +"Then with the parrot for conductor, holding a bit of straw in his left +claw, as the leader of an orchestra wields his bâton, they all commenced +a song, the words of which were composed by the ivory fan, and set to +music by the parrot. + + 'Our varnish is cracked, + Our colors are worn, + In this den we are packed, + All our glory is gone. + + _Chorus_. We have seen better days, + Tra, la, la, tra, la, la.' + +"The parrot was so much affected by this sad yet beautiful composition, +that he shed tears. + +"Just then the old Jew shopkeeper came to show the bird to a purchaser, +but the parrot was most obstinate. He would not move or speak, although +coaxed and even threatened to do so. The customer turned away, saying,-- + +"'What a stupid bird! he does not speak a word.' + +"This touched our friend's pride, who cocked his head over his shoulder, +and replied,-- + +"'I think the more.' + +"The customer was so much delighted, that he at once bought the parrot, +who departed in triumph. + +"'I spoke because I thought I could not do worse than stay here,' he +remarked, with a sage nod of the head. + +"Soon after, a little beggar-boy peeped into the door, and, as I stood +near by, seized me. He did not know what to do with me; so, after riding +on me as a hobby horse a while, he exchanged me with a larger boy for a +green apple. It is said the wheel of fortune constantly revolves; and, +if such is the case, my luck must have been very low just then. I was +knocked about from one person to another. Now it was a boot-black owned +me, now it was a news-vender, or perhaps for a space I belonged to a +street sweep. At last I was taken from this miserable existence in the +most curious way. + +"I tumbled out of the window in an attic where I had been carelessly +left, and crashed down upon the pavement. I was severely injured in my +whalebone parts, yet my ivory handle remained unbroken. For a long +while I lay unnoticed; then an old lady, carrying a shawl and carpet-bag +upon her arm, came along to rescue me. She took me a journey in the +cars, and at last I saw the fresh, smiling country once more. + +"The old lady lived in a pretty cottage, surrounded by a pleasant +garden, where the tulips and lilies nodded in the breeze all day long. +The old lady was thrifty, so she had my ribs mended by some village +tinker; but it was not well done, which accounts for the loss of my fine +figure. + +"It was a delightful home,--every thing was so neat about it; and I +should have been contented to remain there all my life, had I been +consulted. + +"The old lady's nephew came home from school for a holiday; and, after +shocking our nerves in that quiet spot a week, he departed again, in a +rain-storm. The good aunt insisted upon my being made use of, although +the young master did not wish it at all. When the rain ceased, he +carelessly threw me out by the road-side,--then drove on to his +destination. + +"I remained in the ditch several days, all soaked and muddy as you now +see me. Finally the peddler, who is stopping here to-night, discovered +me, while he was driving his wagon slowly along, and raised me from my +lowly position. + +"I do not know where I may go next," said the Umbrella, mournfully. "We +are all born, but we are not all dead, you know." + +"A new thought, certainly," remarked the Kettle, drowsily. "Follow an +umbrella from the cradle to the grave." + +It was now time for the Wasp to distinguish himself. + +"I can repeat something, in the fairy-tale style, which was told me by +Mother Carey's chicken, when we were waiting for the nestling to grow +strong enough for us to make our journey. It is:-- + + + + +THE GODMOTHER'S GIFTS. + + +"On the edge of the wood there once lived a poor woman, and her three +children. On the opposite bank of the broad clear river rose the king's +palace of marble, with a flag floating proudly from the battlements; but +the poor woman's children never had crossed the river, or dared to +venture into the magnificent gardens which surrounded the royal +residence. Ah, no! they were too poor for that. + +"This made the widow's heart very heavy at times, when she watched the +setting sun gild the arched dome, and silken pennant, or make the lofty +windows flash in a thousand glittering sparkles of light, in answer to +his golden beams. + +"'My children are as handsome and good as any that visit there,' she +said to herself. Yes, even as brave as the king's son and daughters +themselves, no doubt; yet I can never earn enough to give them fine +clothes, so they just have to stay alone in the woods. To-morrow is the +great festival, when all are at liberty to bring some curiosity, for +which they will receive a prize, if it prove the most worthy, from his +majesty. What have my little ones to display?' + +"She called them to her and said,-- + +"'A distant relation of your father's, who is a fairy, was present at +your birth, my dears. Perhaps she may visit you again, sometime; so if +any person should call in my absence, treat them very politely. Remember +that fairies are easily vexed.' + +"Soon after the mother departed to the mill, and the children seated +themselves under a large tree to enjoy their breakfast of brown bread +and milk. + +"Across the water the king's children, all glistening in jewels and +embroidery, were plucking fruit from the laden boughs, or tossing +flowers to one another in fragrant showers. + +"'What fun that must be!' exclaimed the poor woman's son Small, his +little round face dimpled with laughter. 'I should like to marry the +princess in a blue scarf.' + +"'She is not so handsome as her sister with the red net over her black +curls,' said the older brother, Perke. + +"'For my part, the young prince seems perfection,' added Elfie. + +"At this they all laughed together, and finished the brown bread. A +black hawk paused on outspread wings in the air, and dropped a large +gold ring from his beak, which fell to the ground near the children. +Before they could stoop to touch it, from within the circle sprang three +tulips, rising on slender, enamelled stalks, their gorgeous variegated +buds closed. + +"'There is one a-piece, any way,' said Perke, plucking one. + +"Small and Elfie did the same. + +"'Let us save them until mother returns,' said the sister. + +"'It must be a gift from our godmother,' whispered Small, wisely. + +"'I shall see what mine contains,' said Perke, boldly. + +"He pulled at the folded leaves, but they resisted all his endeavors, +and clung firmly together. + +"Small concluded to hold his bud under the spring that gurgled into a +mossy basin, yet it did not open for the crystal drops that fringed it +with fragrant dew. + +"Then little Elfie pressed her warm lips gently upon the tulip, and like +magic it flew open, disclosing a tiny gold trumpet. + +"Her brothers then kissed their flowers as well, and found each to +contain a similar gift. + +"Within the golden circle now sprang up still another tulip, which +opened of its own accord, and forth stepped a quaint little figure. She +wore a red-peaked cap, high-heeled shoes, and a tight-laced bodice. Her +hair was bright yellow, and the tip of her sharp nose had a blue tinge, +which would have been unbecoming to any other person than a fairy. Her +carriage consisted of a sweet-pea blossom, drawn by two spirited +cockchafers. The children could not but admire the skilful manner in +which she handled the ribbons and whip, made of a spider's leg, +ornamented with tassels. + +"'Here I am at last, dears,' said Madam Pug briskly. 'Whoa! Trot is a +most vicious bug. Be still, sir!' + +"'Are you our godmother?' asked Elfie, timidly. + +"'Certainly,' answered the fairy, putting on her spectacles, the better +to examine them. + +"'You have grown to be nice, plump children; I hope no giant may catch +and eat you up. I am here to grant whatever you may wish, which can be +obtained by blowing the request through the trumpets to be found in the +flowers. Use the power wisely; so that, when I come again, I may find +the gift has proved a blessing instead of a curse.' + +"She then cracked her whip, hoisted a tiny umbrella, which served the +purpose of a sail as she rose in the air, and the cockchafers spread +their wings. + +"'It is slow travelling along the rough earth,' she remarked, when she +reached a level with the children's noses, 'so I will fly for a time, +especially as important business calls me to the North Pole just now.' + +"The children were left to examine their trumpets, and look at each +other in wonder at the good fortune which had befallen them. What do you +suppose they at once did? + +"'First, let us wish for clothes handsomer than those of the royal +family across the water,' proposed Elfie. + +"They blew through the trumpets, and instantly their coarse garments +were changed to magnificent satin and velvet, with fringes of lace, +pearls, and silver tassels. They could do nothing but caper about in the +sunshine, now admiring each other's plumed caps, now comparing shoes on +which sparkled radiant jewels, until the court paused to watch their +bright forms, in amazement; for, in the distance, the poor widow's +children resembled brilliant meteors flashing about among the trees. + +"'Now let us wish for a boat, to visit the palace before mother +returns,' cried Small. + +"The next moment saw them speeding across the water in the most +beautiful little boat imaginable. It was made of ivory, lined with a +delicate pink shading, like the cavities of sea-shells, and a sail of +pink silk, held by gold cords, expanded like a rose-leaf to the soft +breeze. The court clapped their hands at the wonderful sight. + +"All at once the children looked down at themselves: they wore their +rough clothes again, which only seemed the uglier from contrast with the +elegant ship. + +"'We can never visit his majesty in these rags,' said Elfie. 'Let us +wish for even more splendid dresses than those we just had on the bank.' + +"White robes spangled with diamond drops enveloped them; but the boat +glided from beneath their feet at the same time, leaving them to sink +through the water to the very river bed. This brought them unexpectedly +into the presence of the river fairy, a sworn enemy of their godmother, +who caressed them, and coiled her floating hair about them in slender +rings, which served to bind them captives. + +"'Stay with me always,' coaxed the river spirit, in her sweet voice; +'life is so pleasant under the cool, clear waters here.' + +"'I like the sunshine better,' said Small, rubbing his eyes with two +chubby little fists. + +"'You can bask on the surface,' laughed the fairy. 'Come with me to the +neighboring ocean and see all the wonderful forms one can assume.' + +"She gathered them in her arms, and swept down the stream swiftly until +the ocean opened broad gates of welcome, and she paused on the threshold +of the great deep. She waved her fair arms, and a forest of sea-weeds, +some thick-stemmed as trees, others mere tangles of silky threads, rose +before them. In shaded nooks scuttled crabs, looking like awkward +spiders; marine worms twined about in ribbons of green or brown; and +upon the drooping fronds clung gorgeous mollusks, their variegated +shells displaying the fringed edge of no less gorgeous mantles. + +"'If you would rather swim about than live at the bottom, look at the +fishes,' said the water spirit. + +"'Forthwith approached a finny host. The whale cleaved the waters with +his powerful tail; the sword-fish flashed swiftly past followed by the +stealthy white shark, who showed his terrible teeth. Then came the +graceful dolphin, quivering in long tracts of silvery light, the +indolent porpoise, the handsome salmon, the greedy cod, the pretty +mackerel, and a countless multitude of beautiful fish, their scales +tinged with a golden lustre, or dyed in crimson and purple tints. + +"Little Elfie clapped her hands when she beheld some lovely medusæ +dancing lightly along on the surface, their feathery tentacles drifting +idly on the current; so the fairy changed her to a crystal globe of a +jelly-fish, propelled by several tiny oars, like spun glass, that +reflected all colors of the rainbow in flashing motion. + +"'O you silly bubble!' exclaimed Small; 'I had rather be a herring than +that,' and he immediately began to swim about a pretty herring. + +"'As to that, I believe I should like to try a state of lobsterhood,' +said Perke; and his desire was at once gratified. The thoughtless +children had forgotten the importance of retaining their magic trumpets, +in case they should ever need them again; so, when they changed forms, +the godmother's gifts were carelessly allowed to sink to the bottom, and +the water spirit laughed triumphantly. + +"'Now I have you, Madam Pug,' she said to herself. 'Your pets are in the +sea; let me see you reclaim them.' + +"The trumpets lay on the bottom beside a rock, where there lived a +colony of oysters. The oysters are good-natured, save when a hungry +star-fish pokes a ray into their shells to scoop out the +delicious-flavored inmate; then they are very apt to close the doors +smartly with a sudden clap that snips off the intruder's paw, leaving +the star-fish to hobble away, and grow a new one. The grandfather of the +colony had listened to all that transpired between the fairy and her +visitors with much interest; and now that the trumpets fell to the +bottom, he began to wonder how they were to be rescued from harm. + +"Presently a cockle came skipping gayly along by means of a beautiful +scarlet foot, protruded from between the valves of the shell for the +purpose of locomotion; and the grandfather oyster hailed him for a chat. + +"'If you would only push the trumpets nearer we might swallow them,' +urged the former, when he had explained matters. + +"'Wait a bit,' said the cockle, 'until I fetch a few of my brothers, who +are prowling about here somewhere.' + +"He darted off, and soon returned with the requisite assistance. So the +cockles nimbly pushed and rolled the trumpets close to the oysters. + +"'Can you accommodate the others, my sons?' inquired the grandfather of +two no less plump children. + +"'It will be inconvenient; still'--here the little waves gathered in a +sparkling heap, and swept the trumpets into the oysters' mouths; who, +with a gulp or two, succeeded in swallowing them. None too soon was all +this labor accomplished. + +"The fairy amused herself watching the children for a while, and then +she despatched some of her attendants to search for Madam Pug's gifts. A +rare search they made of it, too. The tiny courtiers, clothed in rainbow +frills and scales, poked about everywhere, peering into the anemones' +mouths, which made the sea-flowers very angry, as they were not used to +such liberties; tumbling the crabs about, and pushing the lazy +flat-fish into motion. They even knocked on the oysters' houses with +their little knuckles; but the oysters said never a word, so they were +obliged to relinquish the search, and return to their queen. + +"Elfie and her brother splashed about, thinking it great fun to live in +the sea. One day they altered their minds; and this is how it all +happened:-- + +"Perke, the lobster, became very hungry (lobsters are generally hungry); +and he sniffed about in search of food, until he smelt a most savory +odor, which proceeded from a wicker sort of cage, that bobbed up and +down in the most tempting manner. Had Perke been born a lobster, his +mother would probably have taught him wisdom. Not knowing any better, he +now swam about until he discovered a neat tunnel just large enough to +admit him, and leading straight to the meat he coveted. In he slipped +for a nibble; but, having entered, he found to his sorrow he could not +get out again; so there he sat, looking out through the slats, as +miserable an object as one would wish to behold, when Small came darting +by. + +"'Oh! why did we ever leave home?' groaned Perke. + +"'Hulloa!' exclaimed his brother, pausing. 'How did you get there?' + +"'I am caught in a trap,' cried Perke. 'When the fisherman hauls me up, +I shall be boiled alive and eaten.' + +"Small flashed up to the surface, where Elfie was sporting with her +companions, and said, dryly,-- + +"'It is all very pleasant for you; but, in the mean while, Perke is a +captive down yonder.' + +"'I am so sorry,' said Elfie. 'How can we free him?' + +"The tender-hearted sister began to cry; and the other jelly-fish, who +were tender-hearted also, began to cry from sheer sympathy. + +"'I will go to the fairy, and beg her to change them,' sobbed Elfie. + +"'It will do no good,' sobbed the jelly-fish chorus, in reply; 'she is +so cruel.' + +"Tears made Small, the mackerel, nervous, as they would have done Small, +the boy. He determined to find the trumpets, which could alone relieve +them from the present trouble; and, accordingly, dived to the bottom, +where, of course, he did not find them. + +"At last the oysters took compassion upon his sorrow,--for he feared +Perke might be taken at any moment by the fishermen,--and opened their +shells, when out rolled the trumpets. + +"Small did not recognize them: they were covered by a coating of +mother-o'-pearl. When it was explained, he was overjoyed at his good +fortune in recovering them at all. He also thanked the oysters warmly +for their kindness. + +"'We have not eaten any thing; we were afraid to open our mouths,' said +the grandfather. 'Still a fast, now and then, does one no harm.' + +"In less time than it takes to write the fact, Small had taken one +trumpet in his mouth, and rejoined Perke, who eagerly seized it, in one +claw, through the bars of his cage. + +"'Wait five minutes for Elfie and I, then wish yourself out of the +water,' advised the zealous little brother, hastening back for his +sister's trumpet, which he presented in the same way. + +"Simultaneously the children wished themselves out of the water. The +desire was gratified certainly, for they were suspended between heaven +and earth, held by some invisible chain, the links of which bound them +firmly; yet they felt a terrible fear of being dashed headlong on the +sharp-pointed rocks below. There they swayed about, the sun laughing at +them, the winds tossing them on every breath, and the birds swooping in +giddy circles over their heads. + +"'Let us wish for land,' said Elfie. + +"They closed their eyes, blew through the trumpets, and then their feet +rested on a firm surface once more. + +"'Oh, I am so glad!' laughed Elfie. + +"Yes, they had land; but such a land! Not a tree; not a spring of fresh, +cool water; not a blade of green grass; only a barren wilderness, a +dreary waste. The children toiled along wearily, yet they seemed to make +no progress towards a fairer landscape; for as far as the eye could see +stretched the blank of earth. + +"'What shall we do next?' asked Perke, in perplexity. + +"'Let us go home. Mother will advise us,' said Small; and, with the aid +of Madam Pug's gifts, they again stood at the door of their humble +cottage, which had never looked so pleasant to them before. Their mother +was not in the house; but they saw her coming along the road, bending +under the weight of the meal-bag, from the mill. + +"They had not been absent a day, and so much had happened! The two +little sons ran to her assistance, bearing between them the bag of meal; +and, as they did so, Small inserted his trumpet into a fold of it, +whispering,-- + +"'I wish this meal might be changed into a feast for my poor mother.' + +"When they entered the door, Perke wished, 'Let us have a fine large +table, if you please.' + +"The mother looked at him in surprise; and then she saw that something +unusual had occurred during her absence, for a spacious table of +polished rosewood occupied the centre of the room. + +"'I should like an arm-chair,' said Elfie; and when it appeared, they +seated the astonished mother in it, suffering her tired frame to enjoy +luxury and ease. + +"Next, they emptied the meal-bag of its contents, and Small's bright +eyes danced with delight at the fulfilment of his wish. Such savory +viands! such puffs and tarts of delicate pastry! such delicious fruits +and sweet-perfumed flower garlands! such tempting nuts, and many-colored +candies in all manner of fantastic shapes,--pink horses, lemon castles, +green birds, and blue ships,--had never before been seen in the widow's +cottage. She did not forget those who were poor; so, reserving some of +the choice articles of the feast, the mother sent her children to many +neighbors, who would have otherwise gone to bed supperless. + +"When all this was done, the children gave a long history of their +adventures beneath the waters. The mother uttered a prayer of gratitude +for their safe return; then she said,-- + +"'Your godmother wished to test your character. One desire brings +another always. Vanity caused all your troubles; you wished to be as +handsome as the king's children, and the boat vanished, as you have +described. Give me the trumpets, and learn to be happy without them.' + +"They did as she desired, only, first, Elfie begged to have one more +wish gratified. What do you suppose it was? Why, that night the mother +slept in a soft bed of eider down, with satin curtains, and an +embroidered coverlet fit for a duchess, while the children sought their +pallets of straw, light-hearted and happy, thinking how comfortable she +was. + +"All this pleased Madam Pug, who had heard of it from her trusty allies +the gnats; and she now came flying along in the moonlight, mounted on a +moth. She crept through the keyhole leaving her moth outside; and the +water spirit changed herself into an ugly gray bat for the purpose of +devouring Madam Pug's horse: so that she had to sit on the chimney all +night, after paying the visit, until one of the gnats had flown away for +another moth. This made the water spirit, down under the waves, laugh. + +"Having entered the cottage, Madam Pug squeezed a drop of some precious +balsam out of a diminutive flask upon the eyelids of her slumbering +godchildren, which served to make their dreams pleasant, and would +prepare them for any disappointment the next day. She next looked about +to see what was to be done afterward, and espied the trumpets on the +shelf, where the careful mother had placed them. These the fairy changed +to three little boxes, one of a rusty steel, another of lead, and the +third of iron; then, placing them on the children's pillows, crept out +by the keyhole to perch on the chimney, as I have said, to await the +arrival of another moth-charger. + +"Next morning Elfie and her brothers peeped into the boxes, and found +each to contain a small cake. On the cakes were baked these words:-- + + FOR THE KING'S FESTIVAL. + +"The godmother gave them no donation of handsome clothes this time; so +the mother, after dressing them fresh and clean, sent them away on the +journey. Elfie plucked a few wild roses on the way, which Perke twined +among her curls for a head-dress. + +"They were ferried across the river in a royal barge, with other +guests, and then found themselves before the gates of the king's palace. +A vast crowd of people thronged the way, bringing rare gifts; and all +were finely robed, except the poor widow's children. The soldiers +presented the glittering points of their lances, asking rudely,-- + +"'What do you bring?' + +"'Curiosities to show the king,' replied Small, bravely. + +"'What if there should be nothing in the cakes, after all,' remarked +Perke. + +"'Let us open them and see,' proposed Elfie. + +"'No,' said Perke. 'Wait until we are in the presence of the court.' + +"The palace now rose before them, and was even more splendid than they +had supposed. Entering an archway, the children paused in a spacious +apartment, the dome of which was supported on marble pillars, wrought +with flowers. The king occupied a throne of mosaic-work, under a canopy +of crimson velvet. He wore a stiff mantle of some rich material, had a +long, yellow beard, and such fierce eyes, that little Elfie trembled +when he looked at her. Perke and Small said they did not mind it much. + +"First, there approached an old woman, black as ebony, with a gorgeous +yellow turban on her head, a broad purple sash about her waist, and red +slippers on her feet. She was a very gay old African lady indeed. In her +hand she carried a shrine of beautiful, fragrant wood; and from it she +took an idol of pure amber, carved with marvellous skill. + +"Next, came an old man, with bent form and silver hair, who drew a case +from his girdle, and displayed, to the delight of the whole court, a +ruby the size of a hen's egg of so brilliant a color that it filled the +palace with a soft, rosy glow. + +"Upon this, a young man hastened forward to hold up before the throne a +diamond chain of rare purity, that absorbed the lustre of the ruby's +splendor, and twinkled like pendent dew-drops. + +"Others brought precious stones also, sapphires, amethysts, and +emeralds, until it would seem as though the world had been sifted for +the costliest gems. Then there were urns of pungent spices, censers of +incense, keen-tempered weapons, cloth-of-gold, heavy damask, and +specimens of lace. + +"What seemed to Small the most wonderful thing, was a scroll of tapestry +upon which appeared moving figures, weaving into fantastic forms. +Whatever the king desired to see rehearsed, was there depicted. + +"Afterward approached a fair lady, wearing a green gauze mantle, from +which dripped little rills of water with a musical splash, and wherever +they fell upon the pavement there formed pearls. She displayed a snake +that twined his enamelled body about in graceful coils, at her bidding, +and even licked the king's foot,--an act of homage which made his +majesty rather nervous. The children recognized their enemy, the water +spirit. + +"It now came their turn, and they advanced, the water spirit smiling +maliciously all the time. When they opened the boxes, each cake said, in +a smothered little voice,-- + +"'Break me!' + +"This they did, when lo! out of Elfie's stepped a goat, wearing a broad +gold collar, and holding a tambourine. He walked up to the throne on his +hind legs, and made a very profound bow. At this everybody laughed; but +what was their astonishment to behold a quaint monkey emerge from +Small's box, with a smart cravat on, and carrying a cocked hat under one +paw. The monkey, instead of following the goat's ceremonious example, +leaped upon Small's shoulder, put on his hat, and winked at the king in +so droll a manner as to entirely disarm any wrath at his impertinence. + +"As for Perke, a bird was already perched upon his finger, whose plumage +resembled spun gold, relieved by an emerald green crest, and patch upon +the breast. + +"'What can your animals do to amuse me?' inquired the king. + +"'If it please your highness,' said the goat, 'the bird will sing while +we dance.' + +"The king assenting, the bird began to sing a lively air; and the other +two executed a quadrille in excellent style, the goat gracefully tapping +his tambourine with one hoof to the music. Nor was this the full extent +of their accomplishments; for the three then performed a tragedy, in +which the bird was a stern father, the goat his daughter, and the +monkey, who was naturally the best actor, took several parts, with +admirable skill. + +"All this would have been very amusing, only that the proud king could +not forget that the children belonged only to a poor widow after all. +Perhaps they might have received some prize, as a token of royal favor, +had not the water spirit's snake darted forward, hissing spitefully, and +twined about them. + +"The monkey seized the monster by the throat with his little black paws, +the bird pecked at its eyes, and the goat rapped the tambourine over its +head with a right good-will. + +"Thus defended, the children escaped from the palace safely, still +accompanied by their favorites. + +"'Dear children,' said the bird, as they approached home once more, 'do +not be disappointed that the king has treated you with no more kindness. +Madam Pug allows us to remain with you so long as you are good, and +find happiness in the home God has given you.' + +"'We can have a great deal more fun here than with those stupid people +in the palace yonder,' added the monkey, cutting a caper. 'The goat and +I can dance all day for your amusement.' + +"'As to that,' said the goat, stroking his beard gravely, 'we might do +something more profitable.' + +"These were the godmother's gifts after all, which, in course of time, +became famous throughout the country. If any thing was stolen, the +monkey could detect the thief at once. If any debate arose among the +wise men, the goat could settle the argument to their satisfaction, for +he was classically educated. If any person was ill, the bird could +prescribe for them, as he was skilled in the knowledge of medicine. + +"The king could never obtain these three with all the wealth in the +world." + +The Wasp went his way again, the Caterpillar and Spider did the same, +leaving the others alone as before. + +The Saucepan's day was over, and the Teapot was so badly cracked as to +be unfit for use. + +One day, as the Kettle was swinging lazily on the hook in the chimney, a +lovely butterfly, with wings like shaded brown velvet, poised on a +rose-spray outside the window. It was the Caterpillar transformed! + +The Kettle called to the Cricket, but he did not find his crutch in time +to hobble out (for he was growing infirm) before the butterfly had +flitted out into the sunshine again. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Cricket's Friends, by Virginia W. 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Johnson + +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 Cricket's Friends + Tales Told by the Cricket, Teapot, and Saucepan + +Author: Virginia W. Johnson + +Release Date: August 21, 2011 [EBook #37147] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + +<h1>THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS.</h1> + +<h2>Tales told</h2> + +<h1><i>BY THE CRICKET, TEAPOT, AND SAUCEPAN</i></h1> + +<h2>BY COUSIN VIRGINIA.</h2> + + +<p class="center">NEW YORK:<br /> +WORTHINGTON CO.,<br /> +747 <span class="smcap">Broadway</span>.<br /> +1888.</p> + +<p class="center">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by<br /> +NICHOLS AND NOYES,<br /> +in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p class="center">Press of J.J. Little & Co.,<br /> +Astor Place, New York.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p class="center">TO<br /> +Minnie Slack,<br /> +with all fresh young hearts and loving souls akin to her's, this<br /> +little book is dedicated,<br /> +<span class="smcap">by Cousin Virginia</span>.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<blockquote><p>My little friends, who read the first volume of the "Kettle Club" last +Christmas, will remember an allusion to the introduction of new members +this year. Their history will here be presented.</p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<table width="50%"> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_TRAVELLED_SPIDER"><span class="smcap">The Travelled Spider</span></a></td><td align="right">14</td></tr> + +<tr><td><a href="#THE_AMBITIOUS_WASP"><span class="smcap">The Ambitious Wasp</span></a></td><td align="right">41</td></tr> + +<tr><td><a href="#THE_DISAPPOINTED_CATERPILLAR"><span class="smcap">The Disappointed Caterpillar</span></a></td><td align="right">73</td></tr> + +<tr><td><a href="#THE_FOUR_SILVER_PEACHES"><span class="smcap">The Four Silver Peaches</span></a></td><td align="right">82</td></tr> + +<tr><td><a href="#GOING_MAYING"><span class="smcap">Going Maying</span></a></td><td align="right">101</td></tr> + +<tr><td><a href="#GRANDPAPA_MOUSE_AND_HIS_FAMILY"><span class="smcap">Grandpapa Mouse and his Family</span></a></td><td align="right">116</td></tr> + +<tr><td><a href="#THE_ENCHANTED_BABY-HOUSE"><span class="smcap">The Enchanted Baby-house</span></a></td><td align="right">152</td></tr> + +<tr><td><a href="#THE_STORY_OF_AN_UMBRELLA"><span class="smcap">The Story of an Umbrella</span></a></td><td align="right">179</td></tr> + +<tr><td><a href="#THE_GODMOTHERS_GIFTS"><span class="smcap">The Godmother's Gifts</span></a></td><td align="right">194</td></tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS.</h2> + + +<p>The Club were all curiosity for some time to see the new members who +were to be introduced into the select circle.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid of spiders," remarked the Teapot, with a lady-like shiver.</p> + +<p>"If a caterpillar touched me, I should run a mile," exclaimed the +Saucepan.</p> + +<p>"None of them can reach me," laughed the Kettle with a gurgle of +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>At last the Cricket marched the strangers in one night, and gave them +places about the hearth.</p> + +<p>"Allow me," said he, flourishing his right feeler in the air, "to +introduce to you, friends, some very distinguished additions to our +number,—the travelled Spider, the disappointed Caterpillar, and the +ambitious Wasp."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How do you all do?" inquired the Kettle very politely, for the Saucepan +and Teapot seemed rather stiff in their manners.</p> + +<p>"Very well, thank you," growled the Spider.</p> + +<p>"Quite so," croaked the Caterpillar.</p> + +<p>"In excellent spirits," echoed the Wasp, folding his gauzy wings in a +satisfied way.</p> + +<p>"If it is agreeable to the rest, I propose your all joining the Club," +continued the Cricket briskly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," assented the Kettle; "the more the merrier, you know."</p> + +<p>"I think we should be extremely careful about admitting strangers to our +circle, unless they bring letters of introduction," said the Teapot +primly.</p> + +<p>As for the Saucepan, she contented herself with looking sideways at the +Caterpillar, and coughing contemptuously. This was not very pleasant; so +the Cricket trotted up to the two rebellious members, and gave them a +pretty sharp lecture upon the laws of courtesy and good breeding, which +served effectually to make them ashamed of themselves. The visitors now +became angry, and began to talk together of leaving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> without delay, +which naturally distressed the good-hearted president, who was so much +affected by a desire to do something pleasant, that he swung himself +wildly upon the hook, and thereby sprinkled those below with a stream of +scalding water.</p> + +<p>"Mercy!" shrieked the Wasp, dancing on one foot in an agony.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my back!" groaned the Caterpillar, rolling himself about in a ball.</p> + +<p>"What ails you, Kettle?" cried the poor Cricket, running about with his +eye almost put out from receiving a whole drop in it. "Do keep your hot +water to yourself."</p> + +<p>The Spider alone was unhurt; so he merely shook himself, and sat +chuckling at the discomfiture of the others.</p> + +<p>After doing all this mischief, the Kettle subsided, with many meek +apologies.</p> + +<p>"We can give you references enough, if that is all you want," said the +Wasp snappishly; "but we had better leave, I think, comrades, before we +have another hot bath. My hind leg is completely disabled."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do not go," urged the Cricket. "We should enjoy your society so much, I +am sure, when we become better acquainted."</p> + +<p>The three visitors looked at each other in silence for a time; then the +Spider said,—</p> + +<p>"I have just returned home, and, as it is so near, I do not mind running +in to spend the evening; so I will join the Club."</p> + +<p>"I will also," said the Caterpillar in a dismal tone of voice, "only I +am not very good company for any one now."</p> + +<p>"Dear me," said the Wasp, airily, "I shall not promise to remain any +longer than I am amused."</p> + +<p>The Teapot and Saucepan became more amiable in their behavior as the +evening advanced, and the Cricket hastened to assure the new-comers that +references, other than their evident respectability of appearance, were +entirely unnecessary. They insisted upon producing testimony, however.</p> + +<p>The Caterpillar took from his throat, about which it was twisted like a +cravat, a bit of green rose-leaf, and handed it to the Cricket, who read +aloud,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>"I can certify that my esteemed friend, the Caterpillar, will prove +a charming addition to any circle.</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="smcap">Grasshopper</span>, Jr."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The Wasp then passed a lump of wax to the chairman, with these words +pecked upon it:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I cordially recommend our neighbor Wasp to the society of all +intelligent people, as a most refined and agreeable companion.</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="smcap">A. Titmouse</span>, Esq."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The Spider alone of the three gave no letter, but said coolly,—</p> + +<p>"I have seen plenty of the world, yet I have never troubled myself with +such nonsense as cards."</p> + +<p>"You will not find ceremonies of the kind necessary here," remarked the +Cricket, with a severe glance at the Teapot. "Perhaps you will tell us +something of your adventures, however.</p> + +<p>"I do not mind doing so at all," returned the Spider, gathering up his +long legs into a more comfortable position.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_TRAVELLED_SPIDER" id="THE_TRAVELLED_SPIDER"></a>THE TRAVELLED SPIDER.</h2> + + +<p>I was born in the cellar of this very house, and, for a delightful, +spidery residence, I know of no place to equal the dark, dust-stained +window ledge where I first drew breath. After a long period of absence, +I find my early home has lost none of its charms. This is the case with +men as well as spiders, I am told. The American thinks there is no river +in the world so grand as the great Mississippi; the Frenchman none so +beautiful as the Seine; the Englishman none so famous as the Thames; the +German as the Rhine; and the Egyptian as the sacred Nile,—because home +is represented by each.</p> + +<p>"So, too, with me the cellar window has rare attractions: there one can +spin a dainty web to snare the silly flies and gnats, when they come +dancing along, for supper. Never believe the life<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> of a spider is an +easy one, though: that is an altogether false idea. We work hard enough, +although we wear such good armor, and have such sharp, strong claws; for +we live by our wits, and a dull, stupid spider has but a poor chance of +it. First, one has to be on the watch for stray morsels of food, to be +ready for a pounce; then one's net may become torn in some way so as to +require mending; or a wandering spider comes prowling along to try and +conquer a home without the trouble of making it: so between all these +cares there is little leisure time to spare. The class to which I belong +does not have the constant labor that falls to the share of some of our +cousins, who spin their webs from trees, or festoon them about verandas +and other exposed localities, where the wind often blows them about so +roughly, that they are obliged to suspend bits of wood and stone to the +corners to maintain an equilibrium. I have some other relatives, to +think of whom alone is enough to warm any spider's heart with pride.</p> + +<p>"Foremost of these ranks the scorpion of warmer climates, where it +creeps into sheltered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> crannies under every stone or sandy bank, even +inhabiting boots and gloves. When disturbed, out it pounces, with an +angry snap of the claws and a savage whisk of the tail, ready for some +mischief, you may be sure.</p> + +<p>"Ah, I wish I was a scorpion, instead of a mere ordinary spider! But +then every one cannot be great, after all.</p> + +<p>"Well, even the scorpion is foolish sometimes, as I will presently tell +you. It lives in burrows, which it digs in the ground, the entrance +being formed to the exact size of the insect. By the shape of the hole +people discover the residence, and, when they wish to destroy the +inmate, they pour some water down, to see if the scorpion is at home. +The scorpion detests water; and it no sooner feels the stream trickling +through the opening, than out it rushes, to see what is the matter. To +drive a spade into the hole and kill the scorpion is then an easy task.</p> + +<p>"There is still another mode of destroying these princes of our race. A +circle of smouldering ashes is made around the burrow, and the scorpion, +after running for some minutes about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> the space inclosed, and seeing no +means of escape from the ring of fire, invariably bends its tail up over +the back, and inserting the point between two segments of the body, +stings itself to death.</p> + +<p>"I have another powerful relative, to be found in South America. This is +a large hairy spider, two inches long in body, and seven inches with +expanded legs. Only fancy such a size! I should be a mere pigmy in +comparison. This spider is so powerful that it can kill small birds, by +entangling them in a strong web. Think of that!" cried the Spider, +hugging himself with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"You need not turn up your broken nose, Madame Teapot: we are all +murderers; still we do any amount of good, after all, in destroying +insects that would otherwise cause much trouble."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe a word of what you say," interrupted the Saucepan. "A +spider kill a bird, indeed! Nobody ever heard of such a thing."</p> + +<p>"My dear," interposed the Teapot scornfully, feeling very much angered +at the allusion to her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> nose made by the ill-bred stranger, "great +travellers always tell fine stories."</p> + +<p>"While you stay at home, and, seeing nothing, doubt what we say," +retorted the Spider half angrily.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me!" exclaimed the Cricket impatiently, "shall we never have +peace? I was so much interested in your recital, friend, that an +interruption seems very annoying indeed."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to find you a Cricket of such large views," replied the +Spider politely; "so I will proceed, if it affords you any pleasure. My +mother had much more experience of the outside world than any of her +neighbors, and, when I was still young, she talked with my father one +night about my future prospects in life. I remember that we children +were in the nursery—a silken tube, very soft and warm for our tender +bodies—when I overheard her remarks.</p> + +<p>"'I cannot consent that my eldest son should settle down here at home, +when there is so much to be seen that will improve his mind,' she said.</p> + +<p>"'That is foolish,' returned my father wisely.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> 'He will only fall into +all manner of mischief, and he cannot make himself any thing but a house +spider after all.'</p> + +<p>"I never slept a wink afterward, that night; and soon after I gained the +consent of my parents to start on my travels.</p> + +<p>"I had an easier time than most insects would enjoy, in leaving the +shelter of their homes. When I was in danger I could generally trust +that my long legs would carry me out of harm's way; and, if I was not +able to escape, I just hid under a stone, or rolled myself up into a +snug ball among the loose soil.</p> + +<p>"I cannot begin to tell you all the curious adventures I had, or the +strange things I heard; for I have been away such a long while, I have +forgotten more than half. Still I remember a few particulars of +interest.</p> + +<p>"I was trotting about one day through a field of dry stubble, when I saw +a pleasant river winding along in the sunlight, and sought the bank. The +first object I noticed was a Kingfisher, seated motionless upon an +overhanging branch, and peering eagerly down into the water in search<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +of food. A very handsome bird is the Kingfisher, I assure you, with his +blue coat of shining feathers, and scarlet shirt front; but so still is +he when watching for prey, you would not notice him, sometimes, among +the bushes.</p> + +<p>"'How are you to-day, sir?' I cried, while still at a distance. 'Are the +fish lively, may I inquire?'</p> + +<p>"'Keep quiet, will you?' said the Kingfisher, turning his head +impatiently towards me.</p> + +<p>"'There, I have lost a splendid chance through your speaking,' he added +angrily, as a fish darted past.</p> + +<p>"'I am very sorry to have disturbed you,' I replied, crawling out upon a +twig, the better to observe his proceedings.</p> + +<p>"'I have carried every thing home to my family, and I am now as empty as +a drum,' said the Kingfisher in an aggrieved tone, and then he resumed +his watch.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly down he dropped into the water, with a rush that fairly took +my breath away, and, after splashing about furiously for a few seconds, +returned to land, having a small fish in his beak.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Ha, ha!' laughed the Kingfisher, 'I've got you at last. Yes, and there +is plenty of room left for some of your plump brothers and sisters +besides.'</p> + +<p>"So saying, he tossed the poor fish up in the air; then, opening wide +his beak, caught and swallowed it with great apparent relish. I was very +much amused by all this; so I said, as he settled upon the perch once +more,—</p> + +<p>"'Well, well, we spiders are considered terrible butchers by most +people, but we are rather more dainty than to gulp down our meals in +that fashion. I hope you may not suffer from an indigestion, Mr. +Kingfisher.'</p> + +<p>"'Do not worry over that,' returned he, cocking his bright eye at me. +Then he flew away, and I scrambled after him as fast as I could, for I +was curious to see how Madame Kingfisher and the babies fared.</p> + +<p>"I followed the flight of the bird until he disappeared on the ground +somewhere, and I arrived just in time to see him pop into a hole on the +water side of the bank. I crept into the tunnel, which was originally +made by a tiny<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> animal, the water-shrew, and which had been enlarged by +the Kingfisher to suit the size of the nest. This nest, my dear friends, +I found to be composed of dried fish-bones,—mostly those of +minnows,—and arranged in a nearly flat form, save a slight hollow +pressed by the bird's shape while laying eggs."</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh!" spurted the incredulous Saucepan, "that is a worse fib than +the account of the bird spider."</p> + +<p>"Very wonderful, indeed," bubbled the Kettle, who had not ventured to +speak since he scalded the company.</p> + +<p>"I could tell you stranger things than that," said the Wasp, hopping out +upon the hearth nimbly as the Kettle swung.</p> + +<p>"One at a time, if you please," interposed the Cricket, restoring order.</p> + +<p>"You would not doubt the truth of what I say," continued the Spider, +shrugging his shoulders, and making a comical grimace, "if you once +sniffed the horribly fishy odor of the Kingfisher's burrow. Bah! I can +smell it yet. I hid in a dark corner, watching them as long as I dared;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +for I feared I should be crushed when the bird came out again, the +entrance was so small.</p> + +<p>"'How do you find yourself, my love?' inquired the father Kingfisher +politely.</p> + +<p>"'It is rather dull, you know,' replied the mother Kingfisher. 'Hush, +nestlings, you cannot eat another morsel; so be quiet.'</p> + +<p>"They chippered together for a while; then I ran out just in time, for +the other followed quickly.</p> + +<p>"'What are you doing in my house?' he asked angrily.</p> + +<p>"'I wanted to see how pretty it might be,' I answered saucily.</p> + +<p>"Upon this the Kingfisher pounced at me; but I dodged this way and that, +and a fine race we had of it. Finally, I saw a lady and gentleman +walking along together; so I climbed upon her trailing dress, while the +bird grew shy, and flew away. I strolled about upon the lady's dress for +a while, until she saw me, and gave a shriek of alarm. This was even +better fun than the race with the Kingfisher. I cantered up and down, +the gentleman trying in vain to catch me; I pretended to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> run off upon +the grass; then I stole back, and hid inside one of her curls. Here I +remained all the evening, peering out now and then, when she returned to +the house, to watch the gay lights and people. When she retired to her +room, she combed me out of my hiding-place; but I did not care, so I +walked out the window as if nothing had happened. The stars were shining +brightly, and, as the night was so warm, I thought I would walk on a bit +farther before finding a night's lodging. Like all good travellers, I +had learned not to care much where I slept.</p> + +<p>"The bats were swooping about on the watch for mosquitos and other +insects; the owls hooted from the tree-tops, and the bull-frogs croaked +duets across the marshes with each other; while beautiful moths +fluttered on the still air, to enjoy themselves after sleeping all day.</p> + +<p>"Seated before the door of his house was a relative of yours [addressing +the Chairman], the Field-cricket, chirping briskly. I knew he was a +fierce, combative sort of fellow; still I tried to be very polite, as I +wanted to get a peep into his mansion.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'I am glad to meet so clever a house-builder, as yourself,' I said, +with a low bow.</p> + +<p>"'As to that,' returned he modestly, 'I am nothing to the Mole-cricket.'</p> + +<p>"'If I could only have a glimpse of your residence,' I sighed.</p> + +<p>"The Cricket grew affable, and offered to make a call with me upon the +Mole-cricket. Accordingly we started together; and it was fortunate I +had a guide, for otherwise I never should have discovered the abode of +this curious insect. It is very quarrelsome with its own kind, as +perhaps you are aware; and it passes nearly the whole of its life +underground, in the many winding galleries and passages, excavated by +means of the spade-like limbs.</p> + +<p>"'I hope we may find him in a good humor,' remarked the Field-cricket. +'Hulloa!'</p> + +<p>"He called several times; then, receiving no answer, pushed a blade of +grass into the opening, when out dashed the Mole-cricket, furious at the +intrusion.</p> + +<p>"'What do you want?' he asked, snapping his strong claws at us in a very +unpleasant manner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'The Field-cricket was so kind as to bring me here, hoping that you +would allow me to see something of your house,' I said boldly.</p> + +<p>"'I have just got it into a splendid state of order, so I do not mind.'</p> + +<p>"'Wait,' exclaimed the Field-cricket, as we were about to enter, 'you +must promise not to eat us up after we get in.'</p> + +<p>"'I promise,' laughed the other; 'I have already had my supper, so I am +not hungry.'</p> + +<p>"For my own part I did not fear being devoured, as I knew I was too +prickly and tough a morsel to tempt any appetite. The Field-cricket, +however, might with reason entertain apprehensions, for he was as sleek +and plump as I was lean and bristly. He took the precaution of putting +me between himself and our guide, so that he could keep on guard should +the Mole-cricket forget his promise. Well, the latter behaved very well +instead; so I have really no complaint to make. He led us through such a +number of dark passages, that I was fairly bewildered with the size and +variety of the smooth-walled tunnels.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Why do you have so many?' I inquired, when we paused, quite out of +breath, in a kind of central chamber.</p> + +<p>"'Oh!' he replied, 'one must have a large house to run about in; and +after all it is not so much work to make it. Besides, I can hide +securely here, in ever so many different places, if necessary. This is +the nursery,' he added, pausing before a really large cavity, which was +much nearer the surface of the ground than the rest of his habitation. +It was a fine apartment, nicely prepared for the reception of some two +or three hundred yellow eggs.</p> + +<p>"'I build this so much nearer the surface,' explained the Mole-cricket, +'so that the eggs may have the benefit of the sun's warmth, although I +dislike it so much myself, that I always burrow deep in the earth while +the daylight lasts.'</p> + +<p>"All this time I observed the Field-cricket grew more ill at ease,—now +giving an anxious croak, then skipping back a pace, if the Mole-cricket +only looked at him. He had some cause, sure enough. When we arrived at +the entrance once more, I saluted our host courteously, thanking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> him +for the pleasure he had given us. The Mole-cricket, instead of replying +politely, made a sudden rush at his cousin, with his large jaws wide +open. I stepped between them just in time to save the Field-cricket, who +ran away as fast as ever he could; and that is the last I ever saw of +him.</p> + +<p>"'You had better go home again,' I said to the disappointed +Mole-cricket. 'All I regret is that I should have seen you do such a +thing, for I did not suppose you were so much of a barbarian.'</p> + +<p>"'Ho, ho!' he growled, in a sulky tone. 'I would eat you up for your +impudence, were you not so tough-looking.'</p> + +<p>"'I am afraid you would have a nightmare afterward,' I rejoined; and +then we parted, never to meet again.</p> + +<p>"My attention was next attracted to a globe, about the size of a +cricket-ball, suspended from the head of a thistle by several stout +grass stems. It was woven together firmly, and presented no opening that +I could perceive; yet the walls were so delicately thin, that the forms +of some tiny animals, packed snugly together in this secure,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> though +airy nest, were to be seen. Presently I beheld a pretty little creature, +clothed in thick, soft fur, marked with white, nimbly climbing the stem +of a plant, to pounce upon an unsuspicious fly, which it did as swiftly +and accurately as a swallow.</p> + +<p>"'What do you want here?' said the Harvest-mouse suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"'I am only seeking a night's lodging; so I will creep into this +harebell, I think.'</p> + +<p>"I slept soundly; the wind rocked my cradle delightfully. The next +morning my curiosity was gratified, when I peeped out, by seeing the +Harvest-mouse pay a visit to the baby mice. Her own body was so slender, +that she could easily crawl through any space in the nest: which she +did; and, when she came out again, the opening was carefully covered by +the meshes of fine grass blades, so that the ball was apparently entire +as before.</p> + +<p>"'Ah, ha! my lady,' I cried, jumping down beside her. 'That is the way +you do it, eh?'</p> + +<p>"The mother-mouse gave a little shriek of terror; but then, seeing it +was only a Spider that spoke, she laughed good-naturedly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'I am not afraid of harm from you,' she said 'but there are so many +horrible creatures about, ready to destroy us, that my nerves are often +sadly shaken.'</p> + +<p>"'Pooh! you must not be so timid,' I urged. 'Now, for my part, I have +travelled a long distance; yet I have found no peril that I could not +easily escape from.'</p> + +<p>"'Never mind,' returned the Harvest-mouse, shaking her head. 'You will +be frightened yet, depend upon it.'</p> + +<p>"I soon found, to my sorrow, that I was to be not only frightened, but +in serious danger. I was nearly killed the next moment by the ant-lion."</p> + +<p>"What is an ant-lion?" inquired the Teapot.</p> + +<p>"Ah! I know," sighed the Wasp.</p> + +<p>"And I also," echoed the Cricket.</p> + +<p>"But what is it?" chimed in the eager Saucepan, by this time quite +interested in the Spider's narrative.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you," pursued the Spider. "The ant-lion is a beautiful kind +of insect, resembling the dragon-fly in its larval or imperfect state. +It feeds chiefly upon active insects; and, as it is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> too slow of motion +to catch them otherwise, it resorts to a very clever expedient,—it +makes all food come within reach; thus saving a world of trouble. The +head is furnished with a pair of long, curved mandibles, which gives to +the inner jaws a free play. The grub makes a pitfall to entrap any +passing prey, by tracing a shallow trench, the circle varying from one +to two inches in diameter. It then makes another round, starting just +within the first circle; and so it proceeds, continually scooping up the +sand with its head, and jerking it outside the trench. By continuing +this process, always tracing smaller and smaller circles, the ant-lion +at last completes a conical pit, buries itself in the sand, and waits.</p> + +<p>"Like many another inquisitive ant, beetle, or spider, I went along to +the edge of the pit, and peeped in to see what it might contain, when to +my horror the sand gave way, and I slid down, down, almost into the jaws +opened wide to receive me. I turned faint with fright for a moment; then +strength returned, and I scrambled up the side again. This was not easy, +as may be imagined: the sand loosened more and more every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> step I took, +and, even faster than I showered it down, the ant-lion flung it back, +endeavoring to keep the sides steep, and prevent my escape.</p> + +<p>"I just struggled to the brink, when who should come to my assistance +but the good-hearted Harvest-mouse, who had witnessed the whole affair +from her overhanging nest. She kindly extended her long tail for my +benefit, which I eagerly clutched, and so was dragged out alive.</p> + +<p>"Ugh! I never see a dragon-fly floating along, without thinking of that +dreadful pit where the ant-lion lurked in waiting for victims. I felt +too much exhausted to move after that, and, while in so miserably +helpless a state, a bird snapped me up, to carry me through the air by +three legs, as food for the young birds. They were very +hungry,—children generally are,—but they would not give me so much as +a peck of their greedy bills.</p> + +<p>"'Why did you not bring a nice, fat-bodied garden-spider, while you were +about it?' said the robin-mother reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"I was then flung out of the nest, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> fortunately caught upon a +projecting twig as I fell. I hid under a leaf to rest awhile, +congratulating myself that I was so rough and ugly.</p> + +<p>"Several pretty young squirrels were whisking about the branches, while +their parents gravely watched their sports with tails curled up over +their backs in repose; or joined in the fun, chasing to loftier perches, +where it made me giddy to watch them swaying about, and leaping from +tree to tree, then returning to my immediate vicinity again.</p> + +<p>"'Do you live out here?' I inquired, going towards them.</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' they said, 'this is our summer house, you know; and very +comfortable we find it for the heat of the season.'</p> + +<p>"'I wish you would let me look at it.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh! you can do that, certainly. It is built in sight of all the world. +This is not the case with our winter house, however.'</p> + +<p>"The cage was made of very slight materials, and placed upon the +extremity of a frail branch, that swayed with every gust of wind. 'I +should think you would be shaken out,' I remarked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Not a bit of it,' returned the mother Squirrel. 'We could not be +reached by any animal, the branch is so slender; and I am seldom +frightened by the cries of boys,—unless, indeed, a stone should rudely +strike the cage, when I take each of my young ones in my mouth, and +deposit them in a place of safety.'</p> + +<p>"'Where, then, is your winter home?' I next asked.</p> + +<p>"'Ah! that is a question,' replied the father Squirrel, rubbing his nose +with one little paw, in a knowing way.</p> + +<p>"'I do not wish to make any impertinent inquiries, but I should like +very much to know something more of your interesting family,' I said +modestly.</p> + +<p>"Upon this the two parents whispered and nodded together for a time, +then turned to me again. 'If you promise not to tell any cat afterward, +you can see it,' they said.</p> + +<p>"Of course I consented. The winter cage was located in the fork of a +tree, where the boughs concealed it from view, and served to shelter +from the wind as well. The nest was quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> large, being composed of +moss, leaves, and grass.</p> + +<p>"'Come in and see how nice and warm it is,' invited the hospitable +Squirrels.</p> + +<p>"'Do you build a new house every year?'</p> + +<p>"'No: that would be too much trouble; so we generally occupy one for +several seasons.'</p> + +<p>"Bidding the amiable Squirrel family good-by, I crawled down the tree to +the earth once more. I began to weary of this rough-and-tumble sort of +life. In the struggle with the ant-lion I had sprained my back, which +malady was severely aggravated by the rude treatment of the bird that +carried me through the air, only to throw me away when the nestlings +declined tasting of me.</p> + +<p>"I reached the bank of the stream where I had first seen the Kingfisher; +then, as the day was cloudy and cool, I sat down in a nut-shell, that +served to keep me warm. While I lazily watched the fish dart through the +crystal waters, and the birds flutter overhead, a curious object came +floating towards me. What do you suppose it was? Why, nothing less than +a snug raft<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> of dried leaves and twigs, fastened together with silken +threads, that bobbed along right merrily, bearing the sailor who +constructed it easily and securely. He was really a remarkably handsome +fellow, of a dark, chocolate-brown color, marked with a broad, orange +band, and with pale-red legs. This was the floating palace of the +Raft-spider, who not only pursues insects on shore, but trots out upon +the water after them just as well. In doing this he requires some +resting-place, and so builds the raft that excited my wonder and +admiration. When he saw me sitting in the nut-shell on the shore, he +laughed loudly; while I was only too glad to attract his attention, for +I had a favor to ask.</p> + +<p>"'Will you take me on board?' I inquired.</p> + +<p>"'Yes: run ahead to yonder large pebble; then you can jump on when I +pass by.'</p> + +<p>"I did so; and when he came alongside I sprang aboard of the raft, which +was amply large enough to receive both of us. I thought there never was +better fun than sailing down the stream in this style. We danced along +smoothly on the current when the water was calm, or we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> whirled round +eddies and rapids; but we passed through all these dangers in safety. +The Raft-spider conversed pleasantly. He frequently dashed overboard +after some unlucky insect that had fallen into the water, moths, flies, +and beetles; or he snapped up some tiny wanderer that rose to the +surface for air; sometimes even crawling down the stems of plants for +prey to the depth of several inches. He always returned to the raft with +these spoils, and cordially invited me to share them, which I did with +relish.</p> + +<p>"'Eat away,' he urged. 'I can get plenty more at any time, while you +look as thin as a starved grasshopper.'</p> + +<p>"We had already become excellent friends, when we suddenly beheld a +large boat steering swiftly towards us. The Raft-spider is extremely +cautious; so, bidding me follow, he slid overboard to hide, as he was in +the habit of doing when any danger threatened. Now this was all very +well for him, as he could live under water for some time; but what was +to become of me? The water bubbled up into my ears; I opened my jaws to +scream, only to have more gurgle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> down my throat. I sputtered and gasped +and floundered, until my companion took compassion upon me, and held my +head up until the boat had passed, when he dragged me on to the raft +again, more dead than alive.</p> + +<p>"'To be sure,' he remarked gayly, 'I forgot you were not the same kind +of a Spider as myself. You are only a landsman, after all.'</p> + +<p>"'Do you have to jump overboard in that fashion often?' I faintly asked.</p> + +<p>"'Bless you! I have done so every five minutes sometimes.'</p> + +<p>"'I should like to land, then, if you please.'</p> + +<p>"The Raft-spider made fun of my fears; but I was determined to get away +from the water as soon as possible, so he put me ashore, and went on his +way, still laughing."</p> + +<p>Here the narrator was interrupted by the entrance of Hulda, who whisked +the Teapot and Saucepan off to a high shelf across the room. The +Cricket, Wasp, and Caterpillar fled in opposite directions, but the +unfortunate Spider was not quick enough to escape. The thrifty +housekeeper espied him with her keen eyes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> and, pouncing upon him, +caught, and threw him out of the window.</p> + +<p>Here was an abrupt close to the story. The others could do nothing but +sigh over this misfortune, and finally the Cricket said,—</p> + +<p>"I propose, for one, that we do not meet again until the family have +gone to bed; as, by so doing, we will not run the risk of being thrown +out of the window."</p> + +<p>To this they agreed; and then they separated, the Wasp and Caterpillar +accepting an invitation to visit the Cricket in his mansion behind the +brick.</p> + +<p>The next night, when the household had retired, the Kettle Club resumed +their places about the hearth. The Teapot had been left beside the fire, +fortunately; but the poor Saucepan, to her great vexation, still rested +on the shelf. They had hoped to hear something of the fate of the +Spider; but, although the Cricket had been out of doors, prowling about +that day, he could find no trace of the missing member.</p> + +<p>"Such an interesting Spider as he was, too," commented the Kettle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," assented the Teapot amiably; "I did not suppose one of +his race could be so agreeable."</p> + +<p>"There is no use groaning, since it cannot bring him back again," said +the Wasp sharply. "Who is to speak to-night?"</p> + +<p>"We should be delighted to hear you," said the crafty Cricket, desirous +of keeping the Wasp in a good humor.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will not find my history interesting, after that of the +Spider," said he with affected modesty: he thought it would be much more +so all the time.</p> + +<p>"I am sure we shall," cordially returned the Cricket.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_AMBITIOUS_WASP" id="THE_AMBITIOUS_WASP"></a>THE AMBITIOUS WASP.</h2> + + +<p>"To begin then," commenced the Wasp, "I must first describe to you how I +was born. Did any of you ever see, very early in the spring, one of my +tribe flying slowly about, pausing to examine every earth bank, now +exploring the burrow of a field-mouse, or perhaps entering the tunnel of +a boring insect, all the while buzzing in a fussy way?"</p> + +<p>"I now remember watching a Wasp during my travels, that behaved in a +very curious manner," said the Cricket. "It alighted upon a wood-pile, +and gnawed off a quantity of fibres, which were kneaded together +carefully into a ball; and then the Wasp flew away with the ball to a +hole near by. I did not dare ask any questions; because I feared +receiving a sting for my curiosity, and I have heard such a wound is +most painful."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah! that is always the way," said the other in an aggrieved tone. "We +are thought by man to be good for nothing but to steal sugar, or other +sweets; and gnaw holes in fruit, to disfigure the ripe beauty of +peaches, plums, and apricots. We are called lazy fellows, going about to +give any one a sharp thrust; when in reality a sting often causes death, +by tearing the poison-bag. This belief is partly true; still not +altogether, for we are also of some good in the world. We do not live +solely upon the juices of flowers and fruits: we are very fond of the +hosts of flies that swarm about and render themselves so annoying in the +summer season. For instance, if you notice the pigs in the farm-yard any +warm day, you will observe that the flies cluster thickly over their +skins, tormenting the poor animals terribly. This torment is greatly +lessened by the wasps, who skim over the fence every now and then, and +capture a fly inevitably in their fatal grasp."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible!" exclaimed the Teapot.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," returned the Wasp complacently. "But I must tell you how +I was born. The Wasp you saw on the wood-pile was selecting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> a home, +like a careful matron, and was bundling the fibres together to use in +the construction of her nest. This she was obliged to do without any +help whatever, for all the other wasps had died the previous autumn, +while she was left to sleep through the winter in some warm nook, then +found a new colony in the spring. Having brought the fibres to her +burrow, she runs up the side of the chamber, clinging to the roof with +the last pair of legs, while with the first pair aided by the jaws, she +fixes the woody pulp to the roof, forming a little pillar. Other pellets +are attached, until this pillar, like a stalactite in a cave, is +completed. At the end of the pillar she places three very shallow cups, +lays an egg in each, and makes a roof over them. More cells are then +added, eggs laid in them, and the roof extended over the whole. By the +time all this is done, the eggs laid in the first three cells are +hatched into tiny grubs, who are terribly hungry, requiring ever so many +flies from the mother Wasp. At last they cease to feed; spin a silken +cover over their cells; and, after spending a short time in this +retirement, tear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> away the covering with their jaws, emerging perfect +insects.</p> + +<p>"They now repay the mother Wasp for her care, by assisting in all heavy +labors, so that she really has little to do, but lay eggs as fast as +cells can be made for their accommodation. Before long the first terrace +is completely filled with cells, and more room is needed. The wasps next +construct several more pillars exactly like the first one; and, by +adding cells to these, another terrace is built below the first one. +Three or four more terraces continue to form, the cells of these last +being so small, that the mother Wasp cannot put her head into them. The +inmates of these cradles are very much smaller than their parent, and +are known as the workers, their lives being devoted to labor. These +workers make excellent nurses, always feeding and tending the baby wasps +with jealous care. Towards the close of the summer their conduct +changes, however; they feel that a quick death for those nurslings who +will not have time to grow up before cold weather is best, so they pull +the helpless white things out of their beds, and carry them outside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> to +die. I am glad I was able to grow to wasphood."</p> + +<p>"Please raise your voice a trifle," said the Saucepan, in a vexed tone. +"I cannot hear half that you say, over there."</p> + +<p>"You had better use an ear-trumpet," remarked the Wasp impertinently. "I +am already as hoarse as a raven from shouting so loudly."</p> + +<p>"When the nest is abandoned the workers die; and so do almost all of the +others, save a few of the females."</p> + +<p>"How is it that you are alive, then?" interrupted the Teapot.</p> + +<p>"One thing at a time, if you please," said the Wasp pettishly; "I am +telling you as fast as ever I can. When I first spread my wings to fly +out into the warm, bright sunshine, I was half-wild with delight at my +new strength and beauty. The world seemed such a wonderful place! The +air was so fresh, the flowers so fragrant and varied in coloring, and +the hills so grand in height, that I could only flutter from place to +place, bewildered with happiness. I alighted finally upon a +catalpa-tree, whose branches were covered with splendid blossoms."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'You feel very gay,' rustled the tree.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, I am only just born; so I may well be gay.' I answered.</p> + +<p>"'Ah! dance while you may,' said the Catalpa gravely. 'Your life lasts a +few hours, but mine for years.'</p> + +<p>"My fine spirits were chilled in a moment, and I dropped to the grass, +feeling utterly miserable. I could only enjoy all this pleasure for a +few hours after all! There was so much to see, and so little time to see +it in, where should I turn first? While I sat there thinking after this +fashion, a pansy slowly unfolded, and out of it stepped a tiny figure, +no longer than one of my legs. I was not very wise, but I knew it must +be a fairy or elf that now stood before me. He wore knee-breeches, a +jacket to match, and a funny little cobweb cap.</p> + +<p>"'So we are sad, eh?' he said, winking one eye drolly.</p> + +<p>"'I have such a short time to live, that I do not know which way to turn +first,' I replied.</p> + +<p>"'That is a pity,' said the sprite, rocking himself upon a stem of +seed-grass, as if it were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> a hobby horse. 'What would you do if you +could live longer?'</p> + +<p>"'What would I not do?' I exclaimed. 'I should try to see every thing +beautiful and curious in the whole world.'</p> + +<p>"'Stop a bit,' he interposed. 'You shall do this if you desire it so +much.' He took off his cobweb cap and threw it at me, saying, 'This will +make you invisible, if you put it on your head, when any danger +threatens.'</p> + +<p>"Before I had time to thank him the elf turned a somersault in the air, +and plunged head first into his pansy mansion, which closed upon him."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment the Kettle Club was startled by a sudden thump, +thump in the room.</p> + +<p>"What was that?" whispered the Teapot; and all the others listened, +without daring to look over their shoulders, for the fire was rather +low.</p> + +<p>"It is only I," said the Saucepan. "I have jumped off the shelf to hear +better."</p> + +<p>"You must have hurt yourself," said the Kettle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, no: I only feel a trifle jarred. I am made of tin, you know."</p> + +<p>How were they to move the Saucepan nearer to the hearth?</p> + +<p>"I think I could be rolled over, if any one would be so kind as to push +me," she suggested eagerly.</p> + +<p>So the Cricket, Caterpillar, and Wasp trotted out, and by pushing +together succeeded in moving the Saucepan to the fireside.</p> + +<p>"We can never turn you over," panted the Caterpillar.</p> + +<p>"I can rest on my side," said the Saucepan cheerily.</p> + +<p>"Your lid lies out yonder on the floor," said the Cricket.</p> + +<p>"That is not the least matter. It would not stay on my head if I had it. +Go on with the story, please; I am sorry to have made so much trouble."</p> + +<p>"Where was I?" inquired the Wasp.</p> + +<p>"The pansy fairy had just disappeared," said the Kettle, who for a +wonder remembered the story.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To be sure," resumed the Wasp briskly. "I skipped with delight at my +brighter prospects, and started forward again with renewed courage. I +first encountered some of my brothers and sisters, to whom I at once +communicated my good fortune. Strange to say they none of them seemed to +appreciate my superior advantages.</p> + +<p>"'For my part I do not wish to live any longer than the sunlight lasts,' +said one; and to this sentiment the others agreed.</p> + +<p>"'My ambition leads me further,' I answered, and flew onward, never to +see them more.</p> + +<p>"I passed over the broad expanse of land, until I saw the sea glittering +like a polished mirror in the distance. How I should like to make a +voyage! I paused to rest upon a cliff that rose steep and smooth, with +the ocean foaming about the base. There were a great number of +bird-nests drilled in the surface of the rock, and by peering over the +brink I could see the young birds, that were the funniest little balls +of white down imaginable. Suddenly a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> parent bird came swooping home, +and hopped into the very nest that I was examining.</p> + +<p>"'Don't tumble me into the water,' I cried, clutching at the slippery +stone, for the rapid flutter of the bird's wings made me giddy.</p> + +<p>"'I will not hurt you,' said the other. 'I have been a long way to-day, +and I have really gained little to eat for my trouble. I followed a +great ship for hours, and only caught up a few crumbs, after all.'</p> + +<p>"'Why, I do believe you are one of Mother Carey's chickens,' I +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"'My proper name is the Stormy Petrel; still the sailors call me Mother +Carey's chicken. I do not know why, but then sailors have queer ideas. +Bless you, I can frighten them terribly by just skimming round and round +on the wind: they then reef all sails, thinking I am about to bring a +storm by my presence. Ha, ha!' laughed the bird merrily, 'only think of +little me being dreaded by great, strong men. I can generally tell when +a storm is coming,—they are right in supposing that much,—and oh! how +I enjoy it! Why, friend Wasp, you have no idea what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> life really is, +just fluttering about among the flowers and trees: I should gasp for +breath where every thing is only still sunshine. What I call life is to +see the clouds piled in dark masses overhead, the waves rearing +mountains high, and to have the wind blow a hurricane.'</p> + +<p>"'I should imagine such exposure would beat the life out of you,' I +remarked.</p> + +<p>"'Not at all,' replied the Petrel. 'I like to be tossed about, and +spread my wings on the gale, although it may nearly take my breath +away.'</p> + +<p>"'I never dreamed of such a life,' I said; 'please tell me more about +yourself.'</p> + +<p>"'First I must feed my young one, as I have been away all day. We never +lay but one egg, fortunately, for we have to feed them ourselves. We +secrete a kind of oil in the digestive organs for them. Indeed, we are +such oily birds, that in some parts of the world the natives thrust a +stick through our bodies, and use us for lamps.'</p> + +<p>"'You are gone so long,' piped the nursling.</p> + +<p>"'That is to find something to eat, my dear.'</p> + +<p>"'The time is so long, doing nothing but sit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> alone, staring out at the +sea,' clamored the nursling.</p> + +<p>"'Very true,' assented the mother Petrel quietly; 'but there is no help +for it, except to grow strong and fly for yourself.'</p> + +<p>"Upon this the young one began to strut and tumble about the nest, to +the great delight of the parent, who encouraged such exertions. We +became excellent friends, and talked over my plans of travel.</p> + +<p>"'I dare not venture upon the ocean; because, if I grew tired of flying, +I must fall into the waves and be drowned.'</p> + +<p>"'You would soon be fatigued. Supposing I carried you?' said the Petrel.</p> + +<p>"Here was a splendid idea. If I could only be taken to other lands, what +pleasures would be in store for me. The Petrel promised to bear me over +the seas, if I would wait until the nestling was able to take care of +itself. I lived inland while I waited, and visited the birds every day +in their rocky home. When the time approached for our departure, the +mother bird proposed I should take a sail, just to accustom myself to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +the voyage by way of trial. I climbed upon her back, and she made a dart +straight out into the air, that drove every particle of bravery out of +my body.</p> + +<p>"'Now, then,' said Mother Carey's chicken, 'hold on tight, and I will +show you some better fun still.'</p> + +<p>"I begged her to return to land; but the wind blew so strongly, that she +did not hear my faint voice. She whirled in circles, pattered upon the +water surface unconcernedly, and rose in the air with the rapidity of +the arrow shot from a bow. I closed my eyes, and clung about the bird's +neck, fearing every moment a fall into the great green billows that +rolled away into space, as far as sight could reach. When we landed once +more, I fainted away. The Petrel was dancing on one leg, and laughed at +me, when I opened my eyes again.</p> + +<p>"'I have a great mind to give up the journey,' I said in a pet. 'I can +never cling to you in this way. If I had been content to lead the life +of an ordinary wasp, I might have escaped all this trouble and +vexation.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'It is never well to quarrel with destiny,' remarked my companion. +'Still, I would not give up because of a first sea-sickness.'</p> + +<p>"Presently I regained my courage somewhat, and we began to ponder how I +could be fastened on. I flew to land, and procured several long +horse-hairs. These I wound about the bird's slender throat, and strapped +myself tightly to her body. What a journey we made of it! The faithful +Petrel must have carried me an immense distance. Sometimes she perched +on the rigging of a ship, sometimes we rode on the waves, or we paused +for the night at some rocky isle; yet Mother Carey's chicken never +seemed to weary of the scenery about us."</p> + +<p>"What did you have to eat?" inquired the Caterpillar, who, like all +caterpillars, had a famous appetite of his own.</p> + +<p>"Very little, indeed," said the Wasp. "A stray insect now and then, but +never a sip of honey the whole way. I took the precaution, before +starting, of fastening a blade of grass about my waist; in the same way +that Indians gird themselves before making a journey, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> prevent any +feeling of hunger. At last land was seen in the distance, and I again +stood on firm, dry ground.</p> + +<p>"'Good-by,' said Mother Carey's chicken, spreading her wings as though +ready for a fresh journey. 'I wish you good luck. Should you ever desire +to go back north, any of us will give you a passage.'</p> + +<p>"So saying the pretty, good-natured Petrel flew away, leaving me alone. +I did not feel very happy just then: I almost wished myself still a baby +wasp in my wax cradle again, with nothing to do but eat and sleep. I was +afraid at finding myself so far from home; and besides that I was very, +very hungry: there is nothing like a sea-voyage to give one an appetite. +Beyond the barren sand beach there rose a stately forest, which I +determined to visit; but just then my attention was attracted by a +beautiful object in the water. It was a flower of the most exquisite +coloring, with a rich purplish-crimson outer edge and a disk of the same +hue, the stout, short tentacles of which were marked with pellucid rings +of white and lilac. Floating<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> just beneath a crystal film of sea, it +expanded temptingly under my wistful gaze. What a wonderful place, I +thought, where delicious flowers were borne to hungry travellers! I +fluttered nearer, longing for a sip of honey; and in another moment +should have been lost, had not a little fish come along, to be stung and +devoured by the anemone before I fell into its clutches. I afterwards +learned that many a bee or wasp was enticed to death, as I had so nearly +been; for the beautiful flower was only a greedy zoophyte, after all, +swallowing every thing that came in its way.</p> + +<p>"Trembling at my narrow escape, I next flew towards the forest, taking +the precaution of assuming my magic night-cap in starting, for I did not +know what dangers might be in store. Arriving within the boundary of the +forest, I alighted upon a blade of grass to rest. The air was +delightfully fresh and pure, while the sun already slanted, in tropical +splendor, towards the western horizon. Palm trees extended about me in +every direction; the fan-leaved miriti towered to an immense height; the +graceful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> assai showed its feathery masses against the rounder foliage; +and the jupati threw its shaggy fronds into broad arches, while from the +branches swept ribbons of clinging plants, hanging air roots as ladders +to climb by. Here and there a long crimson blossom on spikes, or yellow +and violet trumpet-flowers, relieved the sombre green by their brighter +hues.</p> + +<p>"Presently I saw a slender, pale-green snake, that was twined about a +tree like a vine, with only the bright eyes sparkling and fixed upon an +unsuspicious, plump tree-frog.</p> + +<p>"'Good evening, friend,' I buzzed in the snake's ear. 'How pretty your +coat is!'</p> + +<p>"'Who speaks?' exclaimed the snake, looking complacently upon his +beautiful, frosted armor.</p> + +<p>"'Never mind,' was my wicked response, 'By your vanity you have lost +your supper.'</p> + +<p>"The snake's eyes flashed angrily. Sure enough, the tree-frog had taken +alarm, and was hobbling away out of reach.</p> + +<p>"I continued my way until I reached the brink of a broad, placid pool, +where I hoped to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> make the acquaintance of some of the many creatures I +saw congregated about the margin. Dark-striped herons, snowy egrets, and +storks stood gravely at the brink, or strode over the water-plants on +their long legs. Flocks of whistling ducks flew above my head, macaws +chattered in the trees, and a pretty canary chirped in the bushes. Upon +the surface of the water floated the magnificent Victoria water-lily, +the broad leaves extending for six or ten feet, and the flowers just +closing their alabaster cups in sleep. I now removed my cap; but I was +so small an object, that I attracted no notice whatever.</p> + +<p>"'Ahem!' I began. Whereupon some of the birds turned about and stared at +me. 'My home is very far north of your country,' I said; 'but a good +fairy has kindly given me permission to visit you all.'</p> + +<p>"'Indeed,' exclaimed an old stork. 'How extraordinary! If you was a +bird, now, it would not seem so strange.'</p> + +<p>"'A bird brought me,—Mother Carey's chicken.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Could you not find a better bearer than one of those fussy, bustling +little bodies?' said a handsome egret scornfully.</p> + +<p>"'Do not despise the petrel because she is not so strong and beautiful +as yourself,' I replied.</p> + +<p>"'Ha, ha!' laughed a macaw from his high perch. 'How fine it is to be a +water-fowl, and have such long legs.'</p> + +<p>"At this all the storks, herons, and egrets ruffled their plumes, and +prepared for an angry dispute with the saucy macaw; but I hastened to +interfere.</p> + +<p>"'I should be sorry to make any trouble among you. If you would tell me +any wonders to be seen here, or show me any of your homes, I should be +greatly obliged.'</p> + +<p>"A black nose was poked out of the water, and a turtle, in a shrill +little voice, piped,—</p> + +<p>"'Did you ever see us lay eggs? We shall be about it soon,' then sank +out of sight again.</p> + +<p>"'As to that, the world is full of wonders wherever you may turn,' said +the stork, who had first spoken. 'You should visit our ants'—</p> + +<p>"What more the stork would have said, I cannot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> tell; for just then a +crashing noise was heard in the thicket, and all my companions took +flight on the approach of the lord of the forest. Presently the jaguar +appeared close beside me, and stooped to quench his thirst in the pool, +so I had an opportunity of seeing what a fine creature he was, with his +soft striped fur, velvet paws, and glowing, cruel eyes. I did not dare +move even so much as to put on my cap, while my wings seemed paralyzed +with fear. Startled by some sound, for he is a very shy, cautious +animal, the jaguar retired again, and I only just escaped a severe +crushing from his powerful foot as he passed.</p> + +<p>"I must now describe to you my first night in a tropical land. As +darkness increased I sought shelter on a spreading shrub, and the +insects began a tremendous noise. 'They will grow sleepy by and by,' I +thought drowsily.</p> + +<p>"But not a wink of sleep did they take, or allow me, that whole long +night. The howling monkeys began the concert, the tree-frogs and +crickets trilled occasionally, and the owls hooted dismally. When I +tried to stop my ears to these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> sounds, the fire-flies, resembling +crystal drops of fire, flared their torches in my face with blinding +brilliancy.</p> + +<p>"'Don't, please,' I pleaded.</p> + +<p>"The naughty fire-flies only laughed at my misery, and danced around me +in bewildering circles of flame, until my eyes ached.</p> + +<p>"'I wish you would be quiet,' I said crossly.</p> + +<p>"'Quiet,' echoed the fire-flies. 'Not we. There is all to-morrow for +naps.'</p> + +<p>"It was not long, with such an experience, before I found I could not +live in the tropics. I never had a sound night's rest while there.</p> + +<p>"I strolled on through the cool, shady forest, which formed a delightful +contrast to the hot, sunny landscape without. What most amused me was to +see the little, striped-faced monkeys poke a cluster of inquisitive +heads out of the holes of trees where they were sleeping, if any sound +disturbed them. They paid dearly for their curiosity, as I shall +presently tell you. I had paused to admire the butterflies that +clustered in the sunlight here and there, as if desirous to display +their gorgeous coloring to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> best advantage. Some were of a velvet +blackness, relieved by rose-colored and green shadings; others were of a +blue, metallic lustre; and others floated on outspread wings, +transparent as glass, spangled with lines of violet, silver, and gold. +No wonder the lovely insects were vain of their gaudy dress! When I told +them I was a stranger, they danced and pirouetted in their giddy flight, +until they resembled the wandering petals of falling flowers. Suddenly a +handsome dragon-fly, whose armor glittered with a golden refulgence, +swooped down to capture one of the butterflies, then retired to a +neighboring branch, and prepared to devour his prey.</p> + +<p>"'Why don't you stay at home with your sober wife, instead of whisking +about where I can catch you?' said the dragon-fly, shaking his pretty +captive.</p> + +<p>"Just then there approached a very singular-looking person indeed. He +wore a broad hat, blue spectacles, and had a great many curious tin +cases slung about his belt and over his shoulder. In his hand he carried +a dip-net, which he threw cleverly over our heads, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> entangled us in +the bag. We could do nothing but stare helplessly at one another in +dismay.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, dear!' cried a young butterfly piteously, 'We shall now have pins +driven through us, and be speared to a cardboard platter for ever. I +have heard my mother say so.'</p> + +<p>"We all shivered,—even the dragon-fly, who had been captured also. Of +course the striped-faced monkeys came peeping out in the wrong time, +and, after a good deal of poking into the tree, one of them was caught. +Thus the naturalist gentleman returned home with his treasures, the +little monkey alone of us all being destined to live.</p> + +<p>"The first thing, upon taking us from the net, was to politely hold a +bottle to our noses, which caused a few feeble kicks in the air, then a +fainting fit. When I again opened my eyes, I was lying upon a board, +surrounded by my companions, who were transfixed with pins upon paper, +as the young butterfly had said. I certainly thought my end had come, +and that hereafter my body was destined to adorn some cabinet. I +pretended to be still unconscious, and so lay<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> quite motionless under +the large microscope through which the naturalist gentleman regarded me, +now poking my ribs, now turning my head to one side, and all the while +making remarks on my personal appearance.</p> + +<p>"'I don't believe that you belong here at all,' he exclaimed. 'I must +dissect what may prove a new species.'</p> + +<p>"Here seemed my last chance of escape; so, watching an opportunity, when +he was selecting a suitable knife to carve me up with, I drew my elf's +cap from under my wing. The naturalist gentleman was too quick for me: +he seized my night-cap with his tweezers, and began eagerly to examine +it. I was sorry enough for the loss. Still one had better part with the +fairy's gift than life itself: so I flew away. I dare say the naturalist +gentleman may have carefully preserved the cobweb cap, to puzzle science +with for a long time.</p> + +<p>"Journeying on, I came to the bank of one of the largest rivers in the +world. I paused to view the waves dash against the shore in foam, the +vessels flit past on the strong breeze, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> the distant villages on the +other side. There were several low strips of sand reaching out from near +where I rested, and I observed groups of natives making camp-fires, or +erecting a kind of watch-tower overlooking the land. I inquired what +they were doing, of a monkey who sat stroking his sandy whiskers with an +indolent air.</p> + +<p>"'Ah! don't you know?' he returned. 'They are waiting for the turtles to +lay their eggs.'</p> + +<p>"The next morning I beheld a curious sight. In the first gray dawn, +myriads of turtles were creeping down the sandy slope, and flapping into +the water again, their duties of depositing eggs for that season being +accomplished. No sooner had they departed, than the natives gave +signals, and from every direction crowded the boats to receive the eggs, +which would then be prepared as turtle oil, and sold in jars.</p> + +<p>"I decided to try and find the ants next, as I had been recommended to +do so by the stork. The monkey could tell me but little of them, and +advised my searching farther inland, I next encountered the iguana, who +poked his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> head out from among the creeping vines of a tree as I passed. +Any thing so monstrous in a lizard I had never dreamed of. It must have +been five feet long, was very fat, and the skin changed color like that +of a chameleon. The Indians are fond of the eggs of this species, which +they eat mixed with farinha. When I asked about the ants, the iguana +answered,—</p> + +<p>"'I do not trouble myself much about those busy fellows; still, you will +find them almost everywhere, I dare say.'</p> + +<p>"I bid him good-by hastily, for I was half afraid of such a great +creature, and left him winking lazily on the branch as before. If the +Spider was here, I could tell him of some relatives that I met,—rough, +hairy spiders, with fierce looks; soft, plump things that melt away +almost at the touch; and others of gorgeous hues, that double themselves +into cunning shapes to resemble flowers and buds. At last I came upon an +army of Saüba ants, each one carrying a bit of green leaf daintily as a +parasol. Although on the march, the whole company treated me most +cordially.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'We cannot stop now,' said one of the soldiers. 'Come with us.'</p> + +<p>"So I followed in the train, curious to know what they were about. +Presently they paused; and a detachment turned aside to overrun an +orange-tree, from which they stripped the foliage with incredible +rapidity. Having performed this duty, they rejoined the main army, and +the whole moved on to their incomplete nest. Here the leaf-bearers +merely threw down their burdens, and the workers placed them in proper +order.</p> + +<p>"'We use the bits of leaf to thatch the dome of our house, thus +preventing the loose earth from falling in,' said an ant near by, +pausing to take breath in the midst of his labors.</p> + +<p>"He then led me through the vast subterranean galleries of their +dwelling, which extended an immense distance, as may be imagined, for +the exterior of the nest must have been at least forty feet in diameter. +The ants promised, if I would return after their day's work was done, +they would give me some interesting accounts of themselves. Leaving the +busy throng, I crept into a flower-bell to take a nap. When I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> returned, +the Saüba ants were actually resting themselves,—a luxury that I did +not suppose an ant ever indulged in. Some of them were strolling about +at their ease; and others were diligently scrubbing their coats after +their work, or were assisting each other in the friendly task of +brushing such portions of the body as could not be reached by the owner. +They were very chatty and agreeable, so we enjoyed ourselves very much.</p> + +<p>"'Have you met the foraging ant?' asked one. 'They sally forth with +officers to direct the movement. They are rather hot-tempered and cross, +to be sure, attacking any one fiercely that may come in their path; yet +they do a world of good. When it is known they are approaching, people +open every closet, drawer, and box in their houses, that the ants may +search and cleanse them. What digestions they have! Scorpions, +cockroaches, lizards, rats, and snakes are devoured in a trice; while +into every crack and cranny where a stray insect may have hidden pour +the army until all is cleared: then on they go again.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'How wonderful!' I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"'I can tell you of a wiser race yet,' chimed in another. 'The +agricultural ant of Texas plants and reaps for itself. The nest is +surrounded by a mound, and then the land is cleared for several feet +beyond. A grain-bearing grass is sowed by the insect, and afterward +tended with great care, the ant cutting away all other grasses or weeds +that may spring up,—like the good farmer it is. When the small, white +seed is ripe, it is carefully harvested, and carried into the granary, +where it is cleared of the chaff, which is thrown outside as worthless. +Should the rain wet the winter stores, the ant brings the grain out into +the sun to dry, that the damp may not cause sprouting among the +provisions. What do you think of all that?' concluded the ant, with a +triumphant manner.</p> + +<p>"'I think you are the most wonderful insects in the world.'</p> + +<p>"At this the Saüba ants all looked highly pleased, and they richly +deserved the compliment; so there was really no harm in it. I found +myself exposed to so many dangers, without my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> magic cap, that I finally +concluded to fly to the seashore, and see if I could take passage +homeward again. Here I found no other a bird than the Petrel's baby, now +a handsome young fellow enough, who readily agreed to carry me +northward.</p> + +<p>"I strapped myself to my bearer with the horse-hairs, and found myself +rather a better sailor than on my first voyage. I am now on my way to +the pansy fairy, with the petition that he will give me another cap. If +he consents, I shall next visit Europe and the East," said the ambitious +Wasp pompously, in conclusion.</p> + +<p>The whole Club were so much entertained by this history, that the +Saucepan never once complained of her uncomfortable position, rolling on +her side. Hulda was much surprised to find her in this attitude next +morning; but the maid servant wisely concluded the rats must have +visited the shelf, and whisked the Saucepan off with their long tails.</p> + +<p>When it came time for the disappointed Caterpillar, they were surprised +by the entrance of a welcome guest: the Spider came sidling in,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> looking +gay as possible. Of course they all spoke at the same time, and asked a +hundred questions before he could answer one; especially the Teapot, who +had never appeared so excited on any previous occasion.</p> + +<p>"I am all right again, thank you," said the Spider gruffly. "I got a few +bruises by my fall from the window; but, being used to tumbles of all +sorts, I have now recovered somewhat, although I felt rather stiff the +next day."</p> + +<p>"I am not fond of talking," said the Caterpillar, with humility, "nor +can I do so well. In my present state of caterpillarhood, I am aware +that I do not please,—that I am not, in fact, any thing but an +uninteresting glutton. There! the Spider is laughing already."</p> + +<p>"I should be sorry to do any thing so rude," said the Spider slyly; +"only you are rather fond of leaf-salad, I have heard."</p> + +<p>"True," replied the Caterpillar, smacking his lips at the thought. "What +could be more delicious! Still I must not dwell upon topics of food, for +fear I should never have done describing such delicacies as suit my +palate. I shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> not find much in my own personal history to entertain +you this evening. Never having travelled, like my two distinguished +companions, I cannot bring to your notice the wonders of other lands, as +they have so ably done."</p> + +<p>Here the Wasp and Spider arose, laid one foreleg upon the heart, and +made a low bow in acknowledgment of the compliment.</p> + +<p>This ceremony over, the Caterpillar proceeded:—</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_DISAPPOINTED_CATERPILLAR" id="THE_DISAPPOINTED_CATERPILLAR"></a>THE DISAPPOINTED CATERPILLAR.</h2> + + +<p>"I have had no occasion to stroll farther away than the garden of this +house. I am sadly puzzled for something to talk about. The Wasp has +anticipated me, even, in a description of butterflies,—a state I am in +hopes of attaining some time, when you will not be able to recognize me. +My world has been limited, so far; yet I have seen some wonderful +things, too. Did any of you ever see a humming-bird?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Cricket, Spider, and Wasp in a breath.</p> + +<p>"Did any of you ever converse with one?"</p> + +<p>"I did not suppose they ever stopped buzzing about long enough to +speak," remarked the Spider.</p> + +<p>"I have talked with one," said the Caterpillar triumphantly. "When I was +just hatched, some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> week or more ago, I crawled for the first time out +of the soft, warm bed my good mother had made me in the curve of a leaf. +I stretched myself upon the leaf which had been my cradle, to enjoy the +warm sunlight, and looked about upon the various forms of life and +beauty to be seen on a summer morning. The buttercups and daisies +laughed up at me from the grass, the insects floated about on gauzy +wings, while the birds darted from branch to branch in merry sport.</p> + +<p>"Close beside my leaf couch was a knot, or natural excrescence in the +branch; and this tiny cavity held a nest, lined with fibres from mullein +leaves and fern-down, containing two pearly eggs no larger than peas.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly a glittering object shot up into the air until it was almost +lost to sight; then descended upon the nest I was just examining. No +wonder the eggs resembled pearls, when the parent bird could not have +been more than two inches in length. When I beheld the lovely, fragile +thing, with its diamond-bright eyes, and the plumage of the graceful +curved throat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> glittering like burnished metal in changing hues of +orange and ruby, I felt ready to cry with vexation that I was such an +ugly, worm-like creature. True, I shall be handsomer sometime; but I can +never be a humming-bird. Besides, I belong to a sober species. A robin +came hopping along jauntily from twig to twig, with a morsel of cherry +in his beak.</p> + +<p>"'Such a fright as I have had,' twittered the humming-bird. 'A great +stupid man was peering about to find my nest a long while, and to-day he +has followed me. Ah! but I gave him a long journey. I fluttered right +and left, or darted ahead; then finally rose in the air so high he could +hardly see my wee body; then dashed down here safe enough.'</p> + +<p>"'A wise plan,' commented the robin. 'Thank fortune, I am not in such +demand.'</p> + +<p>"Interested in the conversation, I crept too near the margin of the +leaf, lost my balance, and fell upon the nest.</p> + +<p>"'You awkward thing,' said the bird, giving me a contemptuous poke +aside. 'How ugly you are!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'I know it,' I replied; 'it was my admiration of your superior beauty +that caused my fall. Excuse the clumsiness of a caterpillar just born.'</p> + +<p>"'Go away with your nonsense and flattery I feared I was shot when you +fell.'</p> + +<p>"'Who would hurt you?' I asked, slowly climbing back to my leaf.</p> + +<p>"'Plenty of enemies. That man is watching below, and nothing would +delight his cruel soul so much as to carry away my family.'</p> + +<p>"'Tell me something amusing, or I will inform him where you live.'</p> + +<p>"'He would not believe a caterpillar,' laughed Madame Humming-bird. +'However, I will tell you any thing in my power.'</p> + +<p>"'If it is all about your distinguished relations in the South, I have +heard enough on that subject already,' said the spiteful robin.</p> + +<p>"At this the other grew very angry, inflating her tiny throat, and +snapping her bill. I tried to soothe her wrath, for I dislike any thing +irritating.</p> + +<p>"'I always did despise robins. My great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> family, indeed! One should +learn better than to associate with plebeians.'</p> + +<p>"'The robin was jealous of your superior beauty.'</p> + +<p>"This made the humming-bird good-natured again; so she went on:—</p> + +<p>"'Did you ever hear of my first cousin the Chimborazian hill-star? Ah! +there is a fine bird for you. Not afraid to expose his frail form to the +cold of higher latitudes, he dearly loves mountain air. I will tell you +a story about him sometime. The hermits are so clever at building nests, +they would laugh at this rude cradle of mine; still, as I cannot find +any suitable leaf to suspend my nest from, bound by elastic +spider-threads, I just use this knot, which answers the purpose after +all. Some of them form a felt-like substance of moss and bark woven +together; others use a fungus resembling buff-leather; while the Sappho +comet lines her nest with the long hairs of the clamas. My relatives can +boast the greatest variety of coloring. They have black diadems, +purple-shaded patches, or vivid scarlet, blue, and crimson aigrettes. I +do not know why<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> people need invent fairies and gnomes when they can +have us for subjects, flashing about among the flowers, as gay as the +brightest of them, or bathing in some secluded nook of the brook, under +the fern-leaves that form a tiny bower.'</p> + +<p>"We were so much interested in the subject under discussion, that we +never heeded the approach of danger. I looked up and saw a man's face +close beside me. He was climbing cautiously along, his gaze fixed upon +my pretty companion. Before I could give any warning, I was shaken to +the ground, and the humming-bird continued to talk of her great +relations, unobservant of my fall. I watched eagerly, and presently the +man came down again, with his captive and her nest uninjured.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, my dear Caterpillar!' she sighed, looking through the meshes of +the fine net which covered her little head; 'I wish you were strong +enough to help me. However, promise to find my husband, and tell him of +my sad fate.'</p> + +<p>"I have never found him," said the disappointed Caterpillar. "I presume +he has consoled himself with another wife by this time. I searched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +faithfully, crawling over whole trees in hopes of seeing him, and +exposing myself to many dangers. I met other caterpillars in plenty. +That of the looper-moth supports itself for hours on the hinder feet, +raising the body high in air, and, by a resemblance to the twigs of the +tree, succeeds in deceiving the birds that would devour it. Some I found +to be protected from injury by tufts of hair, acrid secretions, and +stinging powers. Others so closely resembled brown, crumpled leaves, or +green, fresh ones, that I should never have known them had they not +spoken; while some of the number arm their dwellings with thorns. I have +even heard of another species, called bombardiers, who fire off little +guns when pursued, accompanied by a blue smoke and disagreeable scent.</p> + +<p>"I liked to watch the ermine-moth community the best. They spin a +commodious tent; and, wherever they wander over the tree, they carry a +thread with them, so that they may not lose the way. Birds can do no +more than strike their wings against the elastic bridges thus formed: +they cannot penetrate the lines.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, all the caterpillars laughed at my folly in searching for the +humming-bird's husband; and perhaps they were right. I now have reason +to despair of ever meeting him, for he never returned to where the nest +had been; and a slow crawling caterpillar cannot hope to pursue the +flight of a bird."</p> + +<p>Here the Caterpillar paused abruptly: the Wasp, interested alone in +startling incident or romantic adventure, was yawning.</p> + +<p>"Really, I beg your pardon," he had the grace to say; "I did not sleep +well last night."</p> + +<p>But apologies or entreaties did no manner of good. The Caterpillar +steadfastly refused to continue his tale.</p> + +<p>"Very likely I was growing tiresome," he replied in an injured tone. Yet +he made no further remark; for the Caterpillar, like other slow persons, +was apt to be obstinate. This made affairs rather stiff and +uncomfortable; so they were all glad to retire for the night.</p> + +<p>The next evening, the Caterpillar was still sulky, and resisted all +attempts of the Teapot to coax him into better humor. The Cricket<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +wisely concluded to divert matters, by inviting the Spider to entertain +them.</p> + +<p>"I believe I am something of an author," said the Spider, "although I +have never written for any of the magazines of the day. I will tell you +a story I composed last summer, if you like."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FOUR_SILVER_PEACHES" id="THE_FOUR_SILVER_PEACHES"></a>THE FOUR SILVER PEACHES.</h2> + + +<p>"Beyond the Frith of Clyde, the Kyles of Bute cleaving their way among +gray cliffs, tapestried with mosses and richly clothed with lichens, +past Loch Ridan's clear waters, past the peninsula of Cantyre, on the +bosom of the Atlantic, lies a group of islets, varied in hue and +form,—the Hebrides.</p> + +<p>"To this isolated region, where the ocean hurls in winter storms against +the rock walls, or ripples in caressing waves under summer skies, we +will turn; for children have been born on that rugged shore, scenting +the heather and wild thyme with their first breath.</p> + +<p>"On the island of Iona, near Port St. Ronain, there once lived a good +man, who had three strong sons, and two ruddy, blue-eyed daughters. One +thing troubled him: little Neil, his nephew,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> did not thrive so well; +for he was a cripple, and it saddened the uncle's heart to see the boy +droop and pine away.</p> + +<p>"Little Neil was an orphan; and he missed a good mother so much, that he +was not happy, like his sturdy cousins. He could never run along the +stretch of white sand, flecked with quartz and shells from the Ross of +Mull. No: he could only creep painfully to the brink of the green, +crystal waters, to peep into their clear depths; or climb to some higher +eminence, and watch the sea-birds in their rapid flight, the distant +outline of cliffs shining in the sunlight, and the light breeze curling +the waves crisply about the bows of many a little craft that skimmed +over the azure sea only to melt into the hazy distance.</p> + +<p>"Neil loved the ocean and the sky above it, embracing between them his +island home. Everybody thought him a strange child, and this naturally +gave him very bitter feelings: it seemed to him he should like so much +to be his cousin Angus, who hunted the otter and tended the sheep, +sleeping many a night upon the open hillside, wrapped in his plaid.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The lame child had never been at school; yet he had heard the +traditions of his home often related about the winter fireside. He had +heard the grandeur of Fingal's Cave described; the stone cairn that +marks the last resting-place of the Scandinavian woman, whose wish it +was to be buried in the pathway of the Norway wind; and the castle of +Duart, where a lord of the isles left his wife to be overwhelmed by the +rising tide. Then, too, he had shuddered with fear over many a tale of +ghosts and goblins haunting ruined houses; for the Scotch people are +superstitious.</p> + +<p>"The great day of the year arrived, and all the cousins went to the fair +held at Broadford, on the Isle of Skye. Little Neil had once been there, +to see the women with smart caps and scarlet tartans grouped about their +cows and sheep, while the men and boys passed in restless, changing +crowds; but the noise and bustle wearied him, so he remained at home.</p> + +<p>"Now I am coming to the real matter of the story: the kernel shall be +ready for your appetite, if you have but the patience to crack the +shell. We will see what kind of entertainment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> was prepared for the +lonely cripple, who told his thoughts to no one, and chose the +whispering winds for companions.</p> + +<p>"When the sun sank over the broad ocean, little Neil sought a favorite +nook in which to watch the long day die. Fainter grew the rich hues of +the western sky, more distant the line of rocks, here outlined in creamy +whiteness, there abruptly riven by some black precipice, until Neil +fancied strange forms were flitting about the bases of the cliffs, and +rose to go; but he was stayed by a curious sight. The sea was glimmering +with a phosphorescent light, and the waves that broke upon the shore +were gemmed with globules of living fire, which melted away almost +imperceptibly into rosy shades. The boy had often seen the ocean thus +illuminated; but his gaze was attracted to a certain point, where the +brilliancy centred in a wave of beautiful transparency, through which +glittered emerald and golden flashes, appearing and disappearing in +rapid succession, until Neil was dazzled by the splendid sight.</p> + +<p>"The wave throne upreared slowly, creamed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> over, and deposited at the +boy's feet a casket of delicate frost-work, glittering with a wonderful +radiance. Neil reached forward and touched it, when the lid flew open, +disclosing four silver peaches, resting in separate filigree spaces of +the same precious metal. Across the fruit lay a small case-knife, the +handle studded with precious stones, and the diamond blade wearing a +keen edge.</p> + +<p>"'This casket contains four wishes, from which you may choose. They are +the gifts of the Wind Sisters,' said a water spirit; then sank in a +circle of foam bubbles.</p> + +<p>"In the sky appeared a ring of blended colors, which descended rapidly, +taking the form of four globes,—one rose pink, one gold, one green, and +the last pale blue. The radiance of these globes of light spread far +over the ocean. They parted slowly as they neared him, the outline of +the separate forms melted into soft masses, and upon the vapor rested +the Wind Sisters.</p> + +<p>"The South Wind, whose misty chariot took the shape of a magnolia +blossom with pink-tinted petals half-opened, shook her rosy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> mantle, and +a breath of balmy perfume was wafted to Neil, like the scent of a garden +after a summer shower.</p> + +<p>"The East Wind floated on a couch of golden cloud, her black hair waving +over a fleecy amber robe down to her sandalled feet, while her presence +breathed a richer odor than the delicate fragrance of the southern +sister: it came from spice-groves and orange-trees.</p> + +<p>"The West Wind stood erect upon her throne of emerald, her fair head +bound with ivy tendrils, her green mantle fluttering sparkling breaths +of health, flower-scented too, with the violet and anemone, and in her +eyes a promise not found in those of her languid companions. Lastly, on +the right rested the North Wind, her stately form supported on +snowy-white pinnacle and fret-work of vapor, sharply defined as the ice +cliffs that frown upon the Polar Sea. She wafted little Neil no perfume +of flower or shrub from her lily draperies; yet he felt a keener joy +kindle in his heart at the frosty stillness of her presence, than when +the others lavished their treasures upon his senses.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Open the first peach,' commanded the North Wind in a grave, stern +voice.</p> + +<p>"Neil raised the fruit, divided it, and found it to be lined with pure +gold.</p> + +<p>"'I can give you wealth,' said the East Wind, in a rich, soft voice. +'Look!'</p> + +<p>"A scroll of mist rolled from her chariot to the surface of the water, +taking the form of a mirror as it expanded; and upon the polished +surface little Neil fixed his eyes.</p> + +<p>"First there appeared a garden, the like of which the Highland boy had +never dreamed of. Upon lawns of velvet smoothness rose wonderful +trees,—the palm, towering into feathery crests; the lemon, drooping a +grateful shade of snowy blossoms; and the palmetto,—all interlaced by +climbing plants. In this delightful retreat, wearing robes of satin, and +reclining upon magnificent carpets, within hearing of trickling streams +or the twitter of brilliant birds, was a man resembling Neil's own self. +Servants flitted about him, bearing flagons of sherbet, or held tempting +fruits in their cool leaves,—the delicious pomegranate and juicy date; +while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> grave men, slaves only to his wealth, bowed in homage.</p> + +<p>"The scene melted gradually into a palace of splendid appearance, where +Neil still held a place, his turban spangled with diamond, his pipe-stem +encrusted with emeralds, and the dagger hilt, half concealed in a +Cashmere sash, glistened with amethyst and carbuncle. From the lofty +hall, vaulted passages and pavilion extended, each more rich in +coloring, more gorgeous in ornament, than the last; while beyond a +balustrade of delicately carved marble sloped a terrace, blooming with +roses and jasmine vines. Again the rich man was surrounded by servile +homage and flattery; but Neil saw he was nothing but a cripple, after +all.</p> + +<p>"The East Wind sat in her couch of sunshine, with a triumphant smile +upon her dark face.</p> + +<p>"'Ah! it is all very grand, lady,' said Neil sadly; 'only must I be lame +still?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes.'</p> + +<p>"'What good would the riches do me, then, with the pain also?'</p> + +<p>"'Much good. Think of the power you can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> wield. The whole world would +open her countless treasures. You could obtain knowledge; you could see +every thing that is beautiful or interesting; and you could relieve the +needy by your bounty. Better be a rich cripple than a poor one.'</p> + +<p>"Little Neil thought so, too; but he concluded to cut another peach +before he decided the question. He did so; and the interior of the +second was lined with crystals of great brilliancy, that shimmered in +points of light like a rainbow prism, yet their gleam was cold as ice.</p> + +<p>"'I can give you fame,' said the West Wind in musical tones. 'Look!'</p> + +<p>"She unfurled her green mantle, which grew into a mirror like the +previous one, only of an intense, steely brightness. Neil saw a range of +mountains, snow-capped, their steep slopes skirted by pine-trees; while +far below spread a sunny landscape, ripening vineyard, tracts of waving +grain, and olive-groves. Through the narrow defiles, down the +precipitous heights, hewing a passage for their clumsy elephants by fire +and vinegar, came an army, and in their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> midst moved a man, the master +spirit of it all.</p> + +<p>"'Hannibal,' whispered the West Wind.</p> + +<p>"The picture changed to a succession of views,—battle-fields swathed in +smoke; soldiers moving across the plain, their arms glittering in the +sunlight, their banners fluttering; a city burning in wreaths of flame +against a northern sky; a nation crowning their chief with laurels.</p> + +<p>"'Napoleon,' whispered the West Wind again.</p> + +<p>"Then the boy saw travellers exploring unknown regions, statesmen and +authors toiling over vast schemes.</p> + +<p>"'Could I be like these, lady?' he asked.</p> + +<p>"'Yes.'</p> + +<p>"'Would I be happy?'</p> + +<p>"'That is for you to decide. Fame is a greater gift than that of my +sister here: any fool can be rich. But every man cannot have what these +men possessed, because God gave them what gold never can buy,' said the +West Wind, her proud eyes brightening.</p> + +<p>"'I should only be a cripple, and men would laugh at me,' sighed Neil, +taking up the third peach, and opening it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The lining was composed of opals, quivering in tremulous rays of purple +and pink more beautiful than words can describe.</p> + +<p>"'I can grant you the love of all,' said the South Wind, in a voice like +the chime of silver bells. 'Look!'</p> + +<p>"Her scarf floated downward a mirror still retaining a rosy tinge, that +was a relief to the eye after the glitter of fame's glass, or the golden +haze of wealth's vision.</p> + +<p>"Neil saw himself on the river bank, surrounded by children, some +playing games, and others reading in the shade. Upon his shoulder +perched a white dove, which appeared to whisper wise counsel in his ear; +for, whenever dispute arose among his companions, he quieted their anger +by soothing words.</p> + +<p>"Again Neil saw himself a young man, traversing the suburbs of a great +city, where gardens bloomed with purple grapes, peaches, and golden +pears. The dove rested upon his head, seeming to attract other birds +that perched on Neil's hand to preen their feathers. Sleek-crested +horses tossed their manes at his approach, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> the dogs crouched to be +caressed. As he entered the crowded streets, children laughed, fair +women smiled; and on every face was a kindly greeting for the man with +the invisible dove.</p> + +<p>"Lastly, Neil saw himself a very old man, seated before the open door, +as the sun was setting in the west. About him were gathered kind friends +ministering to his wants, the little ones weaving a crown of tender lily +sprays to place upon his head; but the dove, instead of perching upon +his shoulder, as it had done when a boy, now hovered afar, ready to take +flight. The journey of life was almost over.</p> + +<p>"'Dear South Wind, let me have this wish,' cried Neil eagerly.</p> + +<p>"'You shall have it. Who can live without love?'</p> + +<p>"He was so sure of liking this gift, that he pushed aside the casket, +and the last peach rolled on the ground.</p> + +<p>"'Wait,' said the North Wind, 'until you know my gift. I am not sure you +will prefer it; still you must decide.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Neil severed the peach, and in it were reflected the fleeting shadows +of angel forms.</p> + +<p>"'I can grant immortality,' said the North Wind, holding up a shield of +pure ice, and Neil saw a strange spectacle.</p> + +<p>"He beheld a vast amphitheatre, crowded with cruel, hard-featured +people, all watching eagerly a boy standing in the arena alone, yet +wearing on his upturned face a light that shone upon none of the heathen +about him. Above him poised an angel, whispering words of encouragement, +as a handsome tiger sprang into the circle from an iron gateway, and +approached the boy with crouching, stealthy step. The tiger made a +sudden leap, the heathen crowd shouted, and <i>two</i> angels winged their +way above the palaces and temples of Rome.</p> + +<p>"Next there rolled a dark stream across the mirror, bearing upon the +current a woman, with hands roughly bound together. Dark figures loomed +against the eastern sky, watching her; but another watcher was there +also,—the same angel, shedding a radiance from her golden wings upon +the drowning head. Neil saw a great man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> before a haughty council,—Dr. +Martin Luther; he saw many of a humbler class teaching the poor and +ignorant, whether in the wilds of savage Africa, or the city streets, it +mattered little which; and with each hovered the angel companion. +Children, too, there were who were patient and unselfish, doing what +they could in little acts of kindness, while the angel smiled even more +tenderly upon them. Upon all their faces beamed a joy that separated +them from the world.</p> + +<p>"'Riches do not always bring happiness,' said the North Wind. 'Fame +seldom does, and mere earthly love must fade before the presence of +death.'</p> + +<p>"'Let me be like those you have shown me,' cried Neil, stretching out +his hands towards her.</p> + +<p>"The other sisters rose slowly, floating south, east, and west, until +they became balls of light again; but the North Wind took the little +cripple in her sheltering arms, and bore him swiftly away. Over the sea +they went, the North Wind sweeping gracefully along; and Neil felt no +fear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> of her, as he had done when she stood on her cloud throne.</p> + +<p>"At first he could see nothing but one vast expanse of water, domed by +the clear sky; then, at length, he noticed a dark line on the horizon, +which grew more distinct, and proved to be land.</p> + +<p>"'You must begin the journey for yourself now,' said the North Wind, +alighting on the shore.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, don't leave me!' cried the child, clinging timidly to her white +draperies.</p> + +<p>"'Do not fear: I shall still be with you;' and then she rose above, +leading him on the path he should go. She had now become the angel that +guided the others.</p> + +<p>"So Neil began the toilsome, painful journey. The way led across an +arid, desert waste, where waves of yellow sand glowed under the sun's +fierce heat. Neil hobbled along slowly, the hot earth scorching his +feet, the brazen sky without clouds, and the air stirring from a heavy, +pulseless stillness, into sultry wind puffs. The child might have +drooped and fainted by the road, had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> not the North Wind spread her cool +wings to shade him from the sun's vertical rays. She also gave him a +crystal flask of pure water, and a loaf of bread; but, although his own +lips were parched with thirst, he gave the precious draught to others +who implored the refreshment. The supply never failed; yet, when the +child looked into the flask, there never appeared to be but a few drops +remaining. So, too, with his loaf of bread. There was always more to +give when he broke a piece; yet there never seemed enough to eat any +himself.</p> + +<p>"'Never mind,' he thought bravely. 'All these poor people have not the +North Wind to shelter them, as I have.'</p> + +<p>"At last the desert plain ended, and Neil began to ascend a steep +mountain-side, that was clouded in a mist of snow at the summit. He +found the way still more difficult. Now he had to climb slopes smooth as +glass; now he trod a narrow ledge above a frightful precipice, where +many fell; or he was obliged to cross glaciers, where the rough points +hurt his feet, and the ice yawned treacherously about him. The cold air<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +whistled by; and the sleet drifted in sheets, so that he could hardly +see his way.</p> + +<p>"The North Wind gave him a fur cloak. How deliciously warm and soft it +felt! A shivering old man came by, and Neil gave him the garment.</p> + +<p>"'Never mind,' he thought, 'he is so old; and, besides, I have only to +look up into the North Wind's kind eyes, to be both warmed and fed.'</p> + +<p>"Half frozen with cold, he finally descended the other side of the +mountain, to the brink of a wide river, upon the opposite side of which +bloomed a fair country.</p> + +<p>"'You must swim the stream,' said the North Wind; so Neil plunged in +boldly. The waves curled up over his head at times; great monsters swam +towards him with fierce looks,—serpents and alligators opening their +huge jaws as if to devour him; yet he panted on until he was cast upon +the shore.</p> + +<p>"When he awoke, Neil found himself lying upon the soft grass, near a +spring of water that gurgled from a moss-grown rock, with a pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +sound, and tinkled along in mimic cascades beside him. He was surrounded +by a group of fair children, who bade him drink of the spring. Neil +drank deeply, and immediately he felt a new life. His limbs were no +longer distorted, his back bowed: he was well at last.</p> + +<p>"'Where is the North Wind?' he asked.</p> + +<p>"The children led him to the gates of a palace, which had been before +concealed from his view.</p> + +<p>"'We have brought another child,' said his companions; and the gates +flew open to admit them.</p> + +<p>"In the court of the palace stood the North Wind, looking more radiant +than the sun.</p> + +<p>"'Do you know me?' she said, kissing Neil.</p> + +<p>"'Oh yes,' he replied joyfully. 'You are my own dear mother, who died so +long ago.'</p> + +<p>"The North Wind was indeed his mother. Little Neil was in heaven."</p> + +<p>The Spider heaved a deep sigh when he had finished, although his +countenance glowed with the radiance of an inborn genius. "I wish I had +ever been able to screw up my courage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> sufficiently to attempt +publishing any of the ideas which occupy my brain," he said.</p> + +<p>"Why have you not?" buzzed the Wasp.</p> + +<p>"Ah," returned the other, "who ever heard of a Spider turning author, +and walking into the office of some magazine with a manuscript under one +arm?"</p> + +<p>"It is an age of improvement, you know," remarked the Cricket.</p> + +<p>"I perceive you have a fine mind," said the Kettle; "only we are not +much used to considering the winds in a poetical light, especially when +they howl down the chimney winter nights."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," assented the Saucepan, who had been thinking of a story +for some time. "I can tell you something plain and homely enough if—"</p> + +<p>Here the Saucepan paused, coughed, and waited to be urged.</p> + +<p>The next evening they were ready to listen, and Saucepan began:—</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="GOING_MAYING" id="GOING_MAYING"></a>GOING MAYING.</h2> + + +<p>"There was a general rising, as the teacher dismissed her section, the +pupils clicking desk-lids, dropping books, and chirping like a flock of +busy swallows, as they rushed down the broad stairway to the street. +Among the crowd were two little girls, who presently detached themselves +from the rest, and entered the Common, talking earnestly. The smaller +was listening with an air of grave attention to the animated +conversation of her companion.</p> + +<p>"'But, Nellie,' she said, with a doubtful shake of the head, as she +glanced at the bare branches of the trees, that rustled in the breeze +with rather a wintry sound, 'I think it would be too cold.'</p> + +<p>"'Too cold!' echoed Nellie, tossing her head contemptuously; 'and pray +did you ever read of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> May-day being any thing but warm and lovely, with +wild-flowers, green grass, and running brooks? Nonsense, you really know +nothing about the matter here in town.'</p> + +<p>"Finding that her prudent little schoolmate still hesitated, Miss Nellie +produced a brilliant-covered book from her satchel, which she had been +perusing behind her grammar with great relish that very morning, and so +dazzled Bessie's eyes with a pictured May-queen in white muslin and pink +ribbons, that all her scruples faded, and she agreed to an excursion +next day, in honor of the first of May.</p> + +<p>"Accordingly, at an early hour on Saturday, without the knowledge or +consent of her parents, Bessie Morton proceeded to the house of Nellie +Wray, whom she found in a state of great excitement. With their dinner +packed in a basket, and various extra receptacles wherein to carry +flowers and other treasures they might discover, they set forth bravely. +At first little Bessie ventured to suggest the propriety of taking the +cars to some suburban town, at least; but Nellie scorned such every-day +affairs, or she pretended to, although I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> am inclined to the opinion +that she had not a penny in her pocket at the time, and disliked owning +to such extreme poverty. So they trudged along, swinging their baskets; +Nellie enlivening her friend by scraps of information on the topic of +spring-time, until Bessie was warmed to an equal amount of enthusiasm on +the subject. The sky was clear, the sun shone brightly; and what matter +if the wind was a trifle frosty, causing a slight purple tinge in the +tip of their noses, so long as it was May-day. Besides, in the country +it would be different. And without doubt it was. As the blocks of houses +were succeeded by scattered dwellings, the landscape became bleak: brown +earth, sprinkled here and there with tufts of grass, budding trees, and +bare shrubs, surrounded by sombre, wind-swept hills, presented a +chilling disappointment to the children.</p> + +<p>"Nellie surveyed the scene rather blankly; then affirmed that green +valleys must be farther on. Presently she saw a little brook in a +distant meadow, and announced her firm conviction, that upon its banks +wild-flowers grew in abundance. They climbed over the fence after some +difficulty,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> and proceeded across the field, looking eagerly on all +sides for the coveted anemones and violets. They did not notice that at +the farther extremity of the pasture were some horses, quietly rubbing +their heads on the bars of a gate.</p> + +<p>"Soon the ardent little botanists were searching on the bank for floral +treasures, and were rewarded by a few sparse clumps of pale, +frozen-looking violets. With an exclamation of triumph, Nellie stooped +to pluck one bunch; while Bessie, no less delighted, pounced upon +another. In the midst of these labors, as they chatted merrily over +every tiny, dew-tipped cup that reared its fragile head, they were +alarmed by a rumbling sound, that seemed to shake the very earth under +their feet. Upon raising their heads, they discovered that the horses, +with manes and tails streaming on the breeze, were scampering over the +ground, with all the graceful movements of unrestrained freedom. A +slender-limbed, fleet-footed bay led the others in circles around the +inclosure, a world of mischievous fun sparkling in his bright eye, as he +pranced and curveted along.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The children clung together in speechless dismay, as they saw the +animals become wilder with every bound, knowing their only means of +escape was at the wall where they had entered, or the opposite gate. +While they were hesitating about what course to adopt, the leader, for +the first time apparently, noticed them, and with a wicked shake of the +head came dancing towards them. Then, without losing a moment's time, +they fled across the field, dropping flowers and gloves; conscious of +nothing but that the horses were neighing and snorting close behind +them, and that they must reach the gate soon, or be eaten alive. Nellie +arriving at it first, pushed through with frantic haste, just as the bay +thrust his nose playfully over Bessie's shoulder. Nellie rescued her +terrified companion, by dragging her over the boundary, and closing the +gate unceremoniously in their pursuer's face. With a low, +half-apologetical whinny, Master Bay began to rub his head on the bars +again, as quietly as when they had first entered his dominions.</p> + +<p>"Still panting with fright, the young pleasure-seekers next glanced +about for a means of escape<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> from present difficulties; only to discover +that the narrow lane they had entered led in quite an opposite direction +from the road they had left. What was to be done? They never could +attempt passing those awful horses again, and the lane must lead out +somewhere, so they would explore it. They found it turned into a +barnyard, which they decided to cross, hoping to find their way out +beyond.</p> + +<p>"The yard contained a lively population. There were waddling ducks, with +tufted feathers on their heads; there were noisy, cackling geese, +strutting roosters; and several large families of pigs, who strolled in +and out of their houses, the little pink ones, with their tails in a +very tight curl, peering out from amid the straw of their beds: while +pretty, brown-eyed calves lowed in adjoining sheds for their absent +mothers. Entering the place, the children cautiously picked out their +footsteps around the mud puddles, until they reached the centre, when +the ire of a turkey-cock was excited by Nellie's red cloak. His angry +note, as he flapped his wings defiantly at her, was echoed not only by +his own family, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> by the whole goose and duck tribe, until there was +a general clamor of indignation against the intruders.</p> + +<p>"At this juncture, there appeared on the scene a choleric goat, with +venerable beard and sharply curved horns, who, after surveying the field +of action for a time, advanced with bent head and glowering visage. +Again they were compelled to take refuge in flight,—this time entering +a large barn which flanked the inclosure on one side, and closing the +door after them. By this act they excluded all light from the place, +save where a few rays penetrated the chinks of the boards, throwing +vague, uncertain lines over the hay-loft and into the darkness below. +They groped about the place in search of another door, but without +success; then they returned to the entrance, and peeped through a hole +in the woodwork, to see if it was possible to retrace their steps. The +goat had assumed a warlike attitude, giving hints of unabated rancor by +butting at the closed door; while the turkey-cock still puffed with +rage, and even the little pigs had ventured forth to see what was the +matter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Oh, dear! what shall we do?' exclaimed Nellie most dismally. 'Will we +have to stay here until somebody comes?'</p> + +<p>"'We must find another door,' said Bessie resolutely, as she led her +discouraged schoolmate on a second exploring expedition. Finally, after +stumbling down unexpected steps, knocking their heads against heavy +beams, and sneezing with dust, they found a small aperture, half choked +by rubbish, through which they crawled into a shed, and so out into a +meadow. Once more they clambered over a wall into the main road, +somewhat dilapidated and dusty after their adventures.</p> + +<p>"'O Nellie! your shoes are covered with mud, your dress is torn, and +your face quite dirty,' cried Bessie.</p> + +<p>"'O Bessie! your hat is crushed on one side, and your hair covered with +hay-seed,' retorted Nellie, who could not refrain from laughing, as she +contemplated their sorry plight.</p> + +<p>"'Don't you think we had better go home?' said Bessie ruefully, +attempting to bend her disabled hat into shape.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Go home before noon, when we have had no fun yet?' replied Nellie, her +spirits reviving now that all danger was past; 'oh, no! we have our +dinner to eat, and lots of nice things to do.'</p> + +<p>"Once more yielding to her playmate's superior sagacity, little Bessie +trotted along cheerfully, until they espied a fine rock on a sloping +hillside, which they immediately proposed converting into a +dining-table. To reach the spot, they were obliged to pass through a +piece of rough, ploughed ground, recently sown, near a little cottage, +with gray, overhanging roof, and narrow, closed windows.</p> + +<p>"Spreading a napkin for table-cloth on the rock, they were soon +arranging their provisions; here a sandwich rested upon a pedestal of +apple, to prevent its tilting over a slice of custard pie; there a small +bottle, containing a mysterious fluid, suggestive of weak molasses and +water, dripped through its broken cork into a store of pickled limes. +But what matter if the gingerbread did taste of mustard, or if the +chicken was encrusted with spilled sugar, on a first of May picnic?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"After surveying the result of their labors with great satisfaction, +they were just preparing to enjoy the result, with appetites only +sharpened by previous misfortunes, when Bessie's attention was attracted +by the curtain of one of the cottage-windows being drawn aside, and a +head appearing behind the glass. It was such a hideous head, with +tangled white hair surmounted by a queer cap, and the face was so +sharp-nosed and wrinkled, that the little girl paused, with a chicken +wing elevated half-way to her mouth, to stare at the apparition fixedly.</p> + +<p>"Nellie, noticing her sudden silence, turned also; and, when she saw the +face, gave a shriek, and commenced tumbling cakes, pies, and pickles +into the basket. Then the head disappeared from the window, and a +comical little old man, in a dressing-gown, popped out of the door, like +a spider from its hole. He hobbled towards them, shaking his cane, and +croaking like a hoarse old raven.</p> + +<p>"'Get out, will ye, a-tramping of my rye, and a-bringing of your traps +under my very nose. Hullo, there! just wait till I catch ye.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He looked so wild and angry, as he came towards them, all the time +wagging his head, and tapping the ground spitefully with his cane, that +they ran away across the rye as fast as ever they could; the old man +shrieking and chattering after them all the while, until they reached +the wall and stumbled over into the highway, Bessie still clutching her +chicken wing.</p> + +<p>"Hurrying along as rapidly as possible, to escape from their dreadful +pursuer, they came to a place of cross roads, and, puzzled which +direction to take, they decided on a pleasant road turning to the right. +When they had proceeded a short distance, they noticed a high fence +running parallel with the road, in which was a door. Impelled by her +usual heedless curiosity, Nellie turned the knob and peeped into the +inclosure. The view of winding paths and shrubbery proved so inviting, +that they entered. They saw broad avenues bordered by rows of fine elms, +trim hedges, and flower parterres, all leading to a large mansion with +closed windows and doors, as if nobody lived there, while a dome of +glittering glass conservatories rose on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> one side. The children strolled +about, every moment discovering something new to admire,—now it was a +graceful-arched bridge; now it was a white statue gleaming through the +shrubbery; now it was a massive carved urn, filled with hardy, clinging +ivy vines.</p> + +<p>"Seeing no one near, they determined once more to eat their dinner; and +so, selecting a pleasant bank for the purpose, were soon discussing +their good things.</p> + +<p>"'Now you will find that May-day is nice, after all,' said Nellie +triumphantly, her mouth full of cake, as she poured some of the contents +of the bottle into a cup the size of a thimble.</p> + +<p>"Oh, false hope! There was a crackling of dry twigs behind them, and, +with an alarming growl, a large, savage-looking dog bounded directly +into their midst. To see a huge black nose appear over one's head, and a +double row of sharp, white teeth displayed within a few inches of one's +eyes, is trying to the courage,—at least our little friends found it +so; for they not only abandoned their baggage to the enemy, but beat a +hasty retreat, Nellie rushing wildly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> down one alley, while Bessie +escaped by another.</p> + +<p>"The dog, instead of following them, began to devour their repast, +selecting such dainty morsels from the <i>débris</i> as best suited his +palate.</p> + +<p>"Bessie found herself, she scarcely knew how, behind a summer-house, +where she crouched trembling for a time, until, summoning courage, she +ventured to call, in a quavering little voice, to her missing friend. +Receiving no response, she began a search, frightened that she was +alone. She peered about on every side, entreating Nellie to +appear,—first from under a bush that would not have concealed a cat; +then lifting a watering-pot left by the gardener, as though she expected +to find her companion rolled in a ball below the spout; until, with +heaving sobs, she paused by a bridge, and made a last desperate effort. +This time she heard a faint response, as Nellie presently crawled forth +from under an arch of the bridge, sadly splashed with water, her hat +gone, and her ankle sprained. What need to tell how they wandered +through avenue, grove, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> by-way, hopelessly bewildered and +lost?—how, utterly discouraged and terrified at last, as the sun began +to slant towards the western horizon, they sat down by the road-side, to +indulge in a flood of tears?</p> + +<p>"'It's not a bit like story-books,' sobbed Nellie. 'I am so hungry and +tired and cold. Oh, dear!'</p> + +<p>"Just as they were preparing to rouse themselves to try and find their +way, a gayly painted express wagon came rattling along at a smart pace. +The good-natured driver stopped readily enough to answer their questions +as to the way home; and, when he had gleaned a few particulars of their +story, he took them into his conveyance, and carried them safely within +the city limits.</p> + +<p>"When the sun had set, and the evening shadows fell cold and gray +through the narrow streets, two forlorn little forms, all travel-stained +and weary, crept along to their respective homes; ready to beg +forgiveness for their truancy, ready to acknowledge their folly, and +nestle into their soft, warm beds, to dream of the smiling woodland<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> or +pleasant meadows in the story-books first of May."</p> + +<p>"Where did you hear that?" asked the Spider.</p> + +<p>"Who knows but I may be an author, too?" responded the Saucepan airily. +"Surely it is my own affair."</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking of this story for a month," said the Spider, in a +patronizing tone. "Still I am glad you had the pleasure of telling it."</p> + +<p>This was malicious on the part of the Spider, and of course the Saucepan +was in danger of losing her temper in consequence. The Caterpillar had +by this time recovered somewhat from his low spirits, and determined to +distinguish himself, because he feared they all must consider him a +person of inferior ability. When they again met, the Cricket hoped to +talk a little, as he had not had a single opportunity to do so since the +arrival of the three travellers; but he was again doomed to +disappointment.</p> + +<p>"Allow me to speak," said the Caterpillar, with a dignified manner.</p> + +<p>Then he commenced:—</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="GRANDPAPA_MOUSE_AND_HIS_FAMILY" id="GRANDPAPA_MOUSE_AND_HIS_FAMILY"></a>GRANDPAPA MOUSE AND HIS FAMILY.</h2> + + +<p>"Grandpapa mouse was quite an old gentleman at the time of which I +write. He and his wife lived in a nice, large granary belonging to a +rich farmer, which would have made them a splendid home, but for one +reason. Do you know what that was? Why, they did not have to scamper all +about to find their living, as some mice do; for they had every thing +that was good piled up about them. They could nip a kernel from an ear +of corn here, or taste a bit of barley there; until they were so fat +they hardly knew what to do with themselves.</p> + +<p>"Grandpapa was taken with the gout, and had to sit all day with one leg +wrapped in a wisp of hay, besides having to take nothing but water +gruel, which seemed to him a very sad case indeed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"As for Grandmamma, she was so large round the waist, her grandchildren +had to nibble a hole twice the usual size for her to pass through, when +she wished to take the air.</p> + +<p>"They were seated one winter's night each side of the fire, which +consisted of some shreds of corn-husk upon a pebble, and certainly made +as bright a blaze as need be. Grandpapa was feeling better; for the +mouse doctor had been to see him that day, and had given him a new +liniment of great virtue. He was whistling quite a gay tune, and staring +at the fire, when suddenly he exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"'It is almost Christmas time, my dear.'</p> + +<p>"Grandmamma had been dozing over her knitting-work; so she rubbed her +eyes, and said,—</p> + +<p>"'What?'</p> + +<p>"'It is almost Christmas,' he repeated louder, for she was a trifle +deaf. 'I heard the farmer say so to-day, when he was counting his +turkeys out there. I think we had better give a dinner-party, and invite +all our children home.'</p> + +<p>"'Perhaps we had,' assented Grandmamma with a sigh: she knew how much +work it would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> make. 'We have not enough spare rooms, though, I am +afraid.'</p> + +<p>"'We can easily gnaw a few new ones,' said Grandpapa briskly. 'Let us +send our invitations by the postman to-morrow.'</p> + +<p>"So they wrote to all their children; and the next morning the little +servant mouse had to watch under a bush until the letter-carrier came. +Now this postman was a snow-bird, who had promised always to take +messages for the mice, if they would steal him bits of bread and cake +from the pantry.</p> + +<p>"'If you please, sir, my master has got some letters for you,' called +the little servant, in a wee, piping voice, for her nose was getting +cold out of doors.</p> + +<p>"'Put them into my bag,' said the snow-bird, hopping along jauntily.</p> + +<p>"So the little servant stood upon her hind legs to place the letters in +the tiny bag which the snow-bird carried under his left wing; then she +threw her apron over her head, and ran home.</p> + +<p>"I suppose there never was such a sweeping and scratching and gnawing in +any other mouse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> family, as went on in this one for the next two weeks. +All of them worked so hard, making new holes for their expected guests, +that the little servant had an attack of mumps at the last minute, and +had to have her head tied up in a rag of cobweb.</p> + +<p>"Christmas Eve came at last. Grandpapa had his coat of fur nicely +brushed, and Grandmamma wore a new cap with a ruffle round it.</p> + +<p>"Presently there sounded the patter of little footsteps, which announced +the arrival of the eldest son, and his family of six children. +Grandmamma had scarcely kissed them all round, when in walked the eldest +daughter, with her husband and baby. She had only just been shown to her +room to take off her bonnet, when all the rest came,—a son from the +city; a daughter from the next village; and the youngest child, who +lived in a distant town, and was an old bachelor.</p> + +<p>"What a time there was! Grandpapa grew quite hoarse with shouting at his +different sons; and as for the children, there were so many of them +tumbling about, it is only a wonder their mothers ever could tell them +apart.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At last the elder ones had their supper and were sent to bed, where +they soon forgot every thing in sound sleep. Then all the mothers began +to talk together in one corner with Grandmamma about their houses and +cook-books, while the gentlemen discussed mouse politics in another. So +the evening passed away very pleasantly; and by ten o'clock they were +all asleep, too, except Grandpapa: he was so excited, that his wife had +to give him a Dover's powder before he could shut an eye.</p> + +<p>"The next morning the children were awake bright and early, wanting all +sorts of things to eat, and poking into odd places where they should not +have gone.</p> + +<p>"'O Grandpapa! is there no ice this morning?' cried an eager young +mouse; 'I have such a prime pair of skates!'</p> + +<p>"'Can you cut a pigeon wing backwards?' asked one of the city cousins. +'I will show you how to do it in style.'</p> + +<p>"'May we go, too?' urged all the little mice in chorus.</p> + +<p>"Grandpapa consented: so the small servant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> went to show them the way; +and they soon reached the pond, which was in reality a frozen puddle, +about twelve inches square, and very smooth, on the edge of a wood.</p> + +<p>"All the country mice put on their skates, made of beech-nuts, with +crooked pins for runners, and began to caper about in a great way. The +vain young city mouse then fastened on his, which were tiny apple-seeds +beautifully polished, and strapped with gray horse-hairs.</p> + +<p>"'See,' said he, 'my skates are rockers;' and sure enough they were, for +he soon toppled over backwards, while all the others laughed to behold +his fall. If a cat had happened to spy them, what a dainty Christmas +dinner she might have had! But no cat did; so they had a splendid time, +and went home as hungry as mice can be.</p> + +<p>"As for the ladies, they had enjoyed the quiet in-doors very much +indeed. You must not suppose that all the children were able to scamper +out. There were ever so many babies, that looked just like little bits +of pink pigs. Those from the city had nurses, but those from the country +had not.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'It is time for my baby's morning nap,' said the city mouse, looking at +her watch. 'Dear me! is there no cradle?'</p> + +<p>"Then Grandmamma sent to the lumber room, and had one her children once +used brought out. It was half of a peach-pit, which, when lined with +soft paper, made an excellent bed for the fretful baby mouse.</p> + +<p>"So the day wore on, and at last they began to get sniffs of nice things +cooking. Grandmamma bustled about with her cap-strings flying, and grew +very red in the face from scolding the little servant, who was all the +while going the wrong way, because she could do nothing but stare at the +finery of the nursery maids.</p> + +<p>"At last dinner was quite ready; so Grandpapa took his place at the head +of the table, and Grandmamma hers at the foot: yet they could see +nothing but the tips of each other's noses, the pile of good things was +so high. Before the old gentleman was placed a dish of toasted cheese, +that made every mouse present smack his lips with delight; while before +his wife was a fine large egg; and the rest of the table held<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> bits of +meat, cracker, and blades of wheat. The children had a smaller table to +themselves, with just as much to eat as their parents. They behaved +pretty well at first, until one roguish little mouse thrust his nose +into the cheese, and the next one gave him a push that sent him +sprawling across the table. This made all the others frolic, too, so +that the city mouse had to come and box their ears all around.</p> + +<p>"While she was doing this, the little servant happened to come along, +carrying a nut-shell of honey; and what did she do but catch her foot in +the beautiful long tail of the city mouse, and spill the honey all down +her back. There was a regular uproar at this: the city mouse was so +angry, it seemed as though she never would take any more dinner.</p> + +<p>"Grandpapa had been very still all this time: he was eating as if he +never expected to have the gout again. If his doctor had only seen him, +I am sure I do not know what in the world he would have said.</p> + +<p>"When they had finished the meal, they made a circle around the fire; +and, the ladies not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> objecting, the gentlemen lit their cigars, which +were in reality straw tubes.</p> + +<p>"'I wish somebody would tell a story,' said a little lame mouse, who had +been obliged to stay in the house all day, because it could not run and +jump like the others, but had to hobble along on a crutch made of a +lucifer match.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, yes, Grandpapa, tell us a story,' cried all the other young mice +in a breath.</p> + +<p>"'I don't know any stories,' said Grandpapa, puffing away at his straw +cigar. 'Ask your uncle.'</p> + +<p>"So they began to clamor at the bachelor uncle, and he finally consented +to amuse them. Now, of all the family, he was the most doleful mouse +imaginable; and before he began his story Grandmamma whispered to one of +her daughters-in-law, that he had been disappointed in love, which +accounted for his melancholy. Whether this was true or not, I do not +know; but he also suffered from dyspepsia, and that is apt to make one +sad, it is said: so perhaps it was his liver, and not his heart, that +was affected. He now drew his seat closer to the fire, and began:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"'I fear I shall not be able to tell you any thing very wonderful: still +I can give you some description of my own life since I left home; and, +when I have finished, I hope some of my brothers and sisters will also +tell us what they have been about. When I was a young mouse, my health +was very delicate: the doctor feared a throat affection, so I decided to +go farther south for change of air. There was no need for me to settle +anywhere: I was not a marrying mouse.' [Here Grandmamma nodded and +winked, as much as to say, "I told you so."]</p> + +<p>"'Ordinary society did not suit me at all: to hear a mouse talk of +nothing but his dinner, seemed very tame. That reminds me it is time to +take my medicine two hours after eating. Dear, dear, I nearly forgot!'</p> + +<p>"The bachelor unfastened a bit of goose quill, corked at both ends, that +was hung about his neck with a string, and took a pill from it. He then +resumed his story:—</p> + +<p>"'I journeyed on in frequent danger, until I reached the handsome town +where I now live. I had to cross a broad beach, and saw the ocean<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +rolling in great waves of foam, before I came to the houses. It was +night, and the stars shone brightly overhead; but I was so tired with my +day's tramp, that I crawled into a stone wall, to rest. I was soon +disturbed by a squirrel's scrambling in after me.</p> + +<p>"'"Good evening, sir," I said; for my mother had always taught me to be +especially polite to strangers. "Will you tell me where I can find a +night's lodging?"</p> + +<p>"'"Do you like gay company?" replied the squirrel, peering at me with +his bright eyes.</p> + +<p>"'"I like grave people better."</p> + +<p>"'"Why, then, I know the very place," cried he. "Go to the town library, +where you can find a set of students."</p> + +<p>"'I thanked him, and went on until I arrived at the library, where I was +received most courteously by the society of literary mice, to which I +now belong. Perhaps you may have noticed the leather medal I wear upon +my left shoulder. Never shall I forget their kindness that night. They +first inquired if I was married, because they did not admit such +parties; and when I satisfied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> them I was not, they at once gave me the +hole recently occupied by a brother, who had died of brain fever, +brought on by overwork.</p> + +<p>"'What a delightful time we have of it there! We spend the day getting +in stores of provisions, strolling about out of doors, or taking a nap; +then when evening comes, and the old librarian places all the books in +order before going home, we begin to scamper about, having the place all +to ourselves.</p> + +<p>"'Our president (he has nibbled more books than any of us, and that is +why we elected him) calls us about him after a while, and asks what we +have seen that is interesting or new. This is a most agreeable +arrangement; since one of us is always appointed to be about the library +during the day, to hear what the people may say there. I have been +particularly useful in this way, and that is one reason I am so much of +a favorite.</p> + +<p>"'One thing troubles me greatly at present, so that I must make off home +again as soon as ever I can: I left the whole of the society in such a +state of mind over it, that they were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> not going to allow themselves any +Christmas dinner.'</p> + +<p>"'Pray what is the important question?' inquired Grandpapa.</p> + +<p>"'Why, about a month ago,' replied the bachelor, warming one foot at the +blaze, 'it was my turn to visit the reading-room. I had crept around +very quietly for some time, hearing old gentlemen talk over their +newspapers, or watching ladies rustle in and out, when a young man and a +little girl came in. With them was a tan terrier, which began to trot +around, snuffing such mischief as he might, when he suddenly spied me +seated at my ease upon a large book, and leaped up at me, barking +furiously. If the young man had not seized him by the collar, I do not +know what would have become of me. As it was, there he sat under his +master's chair, winking, and ready to eat me alive any minute.</p> + +<p>"'The little girl kept asking her brother strange questions about +different things, until he said,—</p> + +<p>"'"Did you know, Mimi, that the moon is made of green cheese?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'She said, "No."</p> + +<p>"'"It is," he continued. "The wise men that study the stars have just +found it out."</p> + +<p>"'I pricked up my ears at this, and as I had a chance soon after to make +my escape, I did so.'</p> + +<p>"'What!' exclaimed the whole mouse family. 'Is the moon nothing but a +big slice of cheese, then?'</p> + +<p>"'Do you believe it, my son?' inquired Grandpapa, rubbing his nose with +a puzzled air.</p> + +<p>"'Dear me, dear me!' sighed Grandmamma, wiping her spectacles, 'what +next?'</p> + +<p>"'I don't know what to believe,' continued the bachelor. 'I told the +others of it that night, and I do not believe the president has slept a +wink since. We have searched everywhere to learn if it is really true; +we have set an extra watch of four to listen in the library; and if they +have not found out something when I go back, I, for one, shall start +direct for Harvard University, to settle the matter.</p> + +<p>"'Now, you see, if the moon is really made of green cheese,' he added, +shaking his head wisely,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> 'I should suppose it would have been eaten up +long ago.'</p> + +<p>"Here he stopped suddenly. Every one of his nephews and nieces had +fallen asleep, some in their mothers' laps, and others huddled together +in little balls upon the floor. A great deal they cared about the moon!</p> + +<p>"The lame mouse, however, had listened to every word with bright eyes, +and this pleased the bachelor so much, that he patted her upon the head, +saying,—</p> + +<p>"'You are a good child, my dear; I shall leave you something in my +will.'</p> + +<p>"The others were then roused up, and trundled off to bed; but they were +so sleepy they did not once think to ask their uncle's pardon.</p> + +<p>"'I've been thinking,' said Grandpapa, 'of the time when my gray cousin +and I made a trip together. We were both very gay, and one hot summer +morning he said to me,—</p> + +<p>"'"Every one is bound to the mountains: let us go, too."</p> + +<p>"'"But," said I, "you know my father is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> away on business, and I am the +eldest son, left in charge of the family."</p> + +<p>"'"Never mind," rejoined he, "we can have such splendid fun!"</p> + +<p>"'Well, we ran away from home (my cousin lived with us, as he had been +left an orphan at a tender age). We travelled along bravely for a time, +although the sun was dreadfully hot upon our backs.'</p> + +<p>"'"Oh, dear!" I panted, "I never was so warm in my life."</p> + +<p>"'"What is easier than to carry an umbrella, then?" suggested my +companion; and with that he nibbled the stems of two toad-stools until +they separated, and carrying one above his own head, gave me the other. +This was a delightful change, for the toad-stools spread so as to +shelter our faces from the sun. We trotted along comfortably after this, +and finally came to the brink of a brook, where we paused, because we +did not know how to get across.</p> + +<p>"'"The mountains look such a little way off," said my cousin dismally; +yet the brook still whirled on, seeming to laugh at our discomfiture.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'"I believe we could skip from stone to stone," urged the gray mouse, +who was determined not to turn back, if he could possibly help it.</p> + +<p>"'So I tried the bits of stone for some distance; and then I found +myself away out where the water was ever so deep, and I was seized with +fright, not daring to move an inch either way, but clinging to the wet, +slimy rock. Presently a beautiful trout came swimming towards me, its +sides all clothed in variegated scales, and its handsome eyes sparkling +with fun.</p> + +<p>"'"What is the matter; are you sea-sick?" laughed the trout, splashing +the foam from its tail in my face.</p> + +<p>"'"Oh! don't, if you please, I am so giddy now," I cried, and then +tumbled headlong into the water.</p> + +<p>"'Ugh! what a cold bath that was: it makes me shiver only to think of +it. The wicked fish took me on his back, and gave me such a sail as I +hope I may never have again in this world. It went up and down, and up +and down again, approaching the shore occasionally only to dart<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> off for +a fresh trip, until I fairly squealed with fright, clasping its slippery +back the while. At last it flung me off, and I landed by my cousin, who +did nothing but laugh at me. I was very cross by this time; so, after +trying to dry myself upon some blades of grass, I determined to return +home. Just then a fat old bull-frog paddled lazily towards the bank.</p> + +<p>"'"Will you carry us across the brook?" inquired my cousin eagerly.</p> + +<p>"'"How much do you weigh?" asked the bull-frog, winking slowly.</p> + +<p>"Just take up this fellow, and see." He then lifted me upon the +bull-frog's back, who carried me safely across before I could say a +single word. Afterward he brought my cousin over also, and we were able +to resume our journey.</p> + +<p>"'Fortunately we overtook a field mouse soon after, who invited us to +visit his family in the stump of a tree, which we were glad enough to +do, as we were both hungry and tired. That night I was very ill with +chills and fever,—probably owing to the cold bath I had taken; and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +field mice had to give me a dose of some kind of bark that they always +kept in the house, as they lived in a swampy region, which made me +better. They none of them thought I could go on the next morning; and, +as the gray mouse was so anxious to climb the mountains, I proposed his +starting without me. This he consented to do, when one of the young +field mice offered to be his guide; and if I felt well enough, I was to +join them after a while. I had a very nice visit, indeed: the field mice +were so hospitable and kind. I spent most of my time in the house with +the ladies, and the eldest daughter was—who do you think? Why, your +mother, of course; and a prettier young mouse I never saw.'</p> + +<p>"'Don't be foolish,' interrupted Grandmamma.</p> + +<p>"'Yes; but you were just as pretty as ever you could be,' urged +Grandpapa, politely.</p> + +<p>"'I know I was considered the belle of our society;' and Grandmamma +tossed her head when she thought of the admirers of her youth.</p> + +<p>"'I concluded I would not join my cousin at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> all,' went on Grandpapa; +'but this I was finally obliged to do, for days passed on and they did +not return. At this we all began to look grave; so the father +field-mouse told me that he was afraid something had happened, and he +thought we had better search for them. We made a party of eight, and set +out towards the mountains, anticipating something dreadful must have +befallen the travellers. Ah, what a time we had!</p> + +<p>"'We came to a place where the rock rose so steep and straight before +us, that I did not consider it possible to climb it. What do you suppose +we did? We tied ourselves together, as travellers do when ascending the +Alps in Switzerland, although not with such ropes as they use; we +fastened the tips of our tails together with bits of grass, then marched +along side by side. This was an excellent arrangement, as we afterwards +found; for at one time they all slipped, obliging me to bear their +weight upon my tail. It was a terrible moment: I feared it would break, +or be pulled out from the roots entirely!</p> + +<p>"'At last we reached a shelf of rock where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> we could rest awhile. The +view from this place was splendid. The valleys lay below blooming with +verdure, many-colored flowers, and golden grain almost ready for the +harvest; the rivers sparkled under the clear sunlight in silvery +threads; and of the towns scattered along the the hillside as far as I +could see, the church steeples looked like mere arrowy spikes. When I +gazed down upon this beautiful smiling earth, and up at the blue sky +where the soft white clouds were floating idly along, it seemed to me +very wonderful that the good God, who had made such grand things, had +made also little me.</p> + +<p>"'We climbed up and up for several days, following footprints that were +certainly those of mice; and we hoped belonged to our friends. At last, +even such traces ceased; and we were fairly at our wits' end, when we +heard faint sounds behind a large leaf. Peering cautiously around the +corner, we saw the gray mouse and his companion stretched upon a bed of +moss, groaning in the most dismal manner. They were overjoyed to see us +again, for they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> supposed they must die up there alone. My cousin +had slipped, and sprained his ankle terribly; while the field-mouse had +lost his balance, in trying to assist him, and fallen down a precipice +some twenty inches high, thus injuring his spine. It was all very well +having found them; but how were we to get them away, when neither of +them could move a step? We sat for a long time looking at each other in +doubt, and then a bright idea struck me.</p> + +<p>"'"We can braid this sword-grass together, and lower them down by it," I +said.</p> + +<p>"'We soon joined a quantity in this way, then fastened one end about the +waist of my cousin, and let him down to the next ledge. In this way we +got them both to the foot of the mountain. Now it remained to carry them +across the country; so we tore a mullein leaf in two halves, and, +placing the pieces upon birch twigs, formed excellent litters for our +invalids. We reached the stump of the field-mice again, after an absence +of a month. The surgeon mended my cousin's ankle, which was broken; and, +as for the young field-mouse, I am told he has not known what it was to +feel well a day since.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'During the period that we remained, I made a proposal of marriage to +your mother, and was accepted; so, with the understanding that I should +return in the spring, we finally started home. My mother forgot to scold +us, she was so frightened by our long absence. Besides, she received +very sad news just at this time. My father, who was away on business, as +I have said, was taken with the cholera suddenly, after eating a late +supper of bacon rinds, and died. I tried to be a good son ever after,' +concluded he, wiping a tear from his left eye, 'although if I had not +been naughty this time, I should never have known your mother.'</p> + +<p>"'For my part,' remarked the city mouse, 'I have had rather a tough time +of it so far. Now, indeed, I enjoy my ease; but, as I have said, it has +been hardly earned. My desire in going to town was, first, to learn +something of life, and then aspire to belonging to the class of business +mice, which seemed to me the most enviable lot imaginable. I was very +near losing sight of this aim once; still I persevered, until now I am +reckoned among the most influential people.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> When I began my career, I +was extremely gay; that is, I enjoyed the company of a number of other +young mice, who did nothing but frolic the whole day. I might have kept +on in this way for any length of time, had I not been suddenly checked.</p> + +<p>"'I was invited to a ball given by a wealthy mouse at his country +residence, which was located in a nook of the wall of an ice-house. It +was really the finest place for the time of year I ever visited, and the +wealthy mouse had spared no expense in fitting it up nicely. The +coolness of the house was so refreshing in the sultry heat of July; for, +if one was too hot, all one had to do was to skip down where the great +blocks of ice were piled, and soon get cooled off again. Well, we were +all to attend the silver wedding of the old couple. The young mice had +the greatest time at the tailor's, wondering what to wear; for we were +expected to assume the character of some distinguished person, as it was +to be a fancy masquerade. I thought the tailor would have been crazed +with getting our costumes made, we altered our minds so often; but, +finally,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> all was ready, and, with our dresses wrapped in brown paper, +we started.</p> + +<p>"'At the entrance door,—a crack in the stonework,—we were shown by two +waiters, in white jackets and aprons, to the dressing-room, where any +number of guests were tying on their masks, made of scraps of various +colored silks, that certainly had a very stylish appearance. The +reception rooms below were truly magnificent. The walls were hung with +strips of red and blue paper, gnawed into all manner of fanciful shapes, +while a row of glow-worms, placed at intervals, lit up the place in the +most beautiful way. At one end of the room stood the host and hostess +upon a platform an inch high (she wearing her wedding-dress of lily +leaves, which had a very old-fashioned effect, because every one wears +swan's-down nowadays), to receive the company, who marched up to make a +bow, each in turn. I represented Bluebeard, with a green turban round my +head, a red sash with a dagger of a rose-thorn, and a pair of yellow +Turkish trousers. This was all very elegant; but I found I could not +dance the polka very well, I was so much bundled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> up. A friend of mine +was dressed in a long-tailed coat of scarlet plush, with gold +knee-breeches; another had on for armor half of a nutmeg-grater, with a +tin shield made of the top of a spice-box, and a thistle-cup for helmet.</p> + +<p>"'As for the ladies' toilets, I cannot begin to describe them, there was +such a variety of beauty and elegance. One lady's costume I remember +especially, however: it was so very dainty. She was equipped as a +flower-girl, with a short dress of sea-lettuce, looped by tufts of +dandelion down; she wore pink slippers, laced across the instep, a +bodice of wasp-wings, and a hat made of a silver three-cent piece, +ornamented by a flower in the side. I danced with this lady a great many +times, although, as she was masked, I could not see her face at all; and +we became quite well acquainted. The dancing-room grew very hot; and the +band played splendidly (they were katydids, and worked so hard with +their fiddles, it is only a wonder their legs were not worn out +entirely), when I proposed to the young lady-mouse to take a walk in the +moonlight. We found a good many others<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> strolling along arm in arm; and +she had just consented to give me a whisker (as mortals would exchange a +lock of hair), when we heard a shrill voice behind us in the distance.</p> + +<p>"'"Oh, that is my grandmother!" exclaimed my lovely companion in a +whisper, and then she fainted away.</p> + +<p>"'The grandmother hobbled up, and she was certainly the ugliest little +old mouse I ever saw in my life. Her nose was very long, she wore green +spectacles, and used a cane in walking. When she beheld the insensible +form of her grand-daughter, she fairly shook her cane at me.</p> + +<p>"'"What do you mean?" she said in a hoarse, croaking voice. "I came to +the ball to watch this young mouse; and now you have skipped out into +the moonlight to take cold, have you?"</p> + +<p>"'She attempted to box my ears, while I tried to dodge her sharp claws; +and, in so doing, the fair young mouse fell to the ground, thus ruining +her pretty hat. The grandmother screamed with rage to see so nice a +costume spoiled, and this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> sent all the guests out to find what was the +matter. The noise brought still another guest to the scene that we did +not expect: a great cat, with eyes like green fire, came creeping +through the grass; but we never noticed her, we were so busy bickering +and quarrelling among ourselves.</p> + +<p>"'Suddenly she gave a pounce into our midst; and we all ran for our +lives, tearing our dresses, losing caps and shoes, tumbling over each +other, until we arrived breathless under shelter. We then began to count +our number, and found that the poor flower-girl mouse was missing. I +peeped out of the crack fearfully, and sure enough the horrible cat was +stepping away lightly with our poor companion in her cruel mouth.</p> + +<p>"'Of course the ball was closed after this dreadful accident; and as for +the grandmother, I have heard she was crazy afterward, so that she had +to be confined in an egg-shell with wire bars at the entrance. This +event sobered me very much. I began to think that there was something +more to be done in the world than frisk about and dress finely.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'When I returned to the city, I went to a merchant mouse of great +reputation to seek employment. After some delay, I was shown into his +counting-room (behind the fireplace of a lawyer's office), where I found +him, as was to be expected, busily engaged at his desk. I told him I +should like to be appointed one of his clerks, as I hoped to rise, like +himself, to the rank of wealth and importance. He put his pen behind his +ear,—it was the pin-feather of a bird,—and smiled rather grimly, as +though he fancied a good many mice would enjoy growing as great as he +had. The salary I should receive was very small, he told me, and I would +have to work very hard for it; still I was not discouraged by all this, +so the next morning I entered his store.</p> + +<p>"'He was one of the most influential provision mice in the city, doing a +large wholesale business with other cities, and the country as well. I +belonged at first to the number of young clerks whose duty it was to go +about the streets and houses with bags, like rag-pickers, to find odd +scraps of bread, cheese, sugar, nuts, raisins, and starch, which we +brought to the warehouse, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> they were taken in charge by other +clerks, who packed them to be carried away, or sold them in piles at a +time.</p> + +<p>"'It was terribly fatiguing, for we were expected to bring a full bag +always by nightfall; but I determined to be industrious; so I +persevered, although the time seemed <i>so</i> long before I was promoted to +the rank of clerk in the receiving department. From this I have +progressed slowly enough, yet I have gained much knowledge. Dear me! I +could tell you where a crumb of cheese came from in the dark. Now I am +the head of the house; for my employer has retired from business, +leaving me in charge. I have also married his only daughter,' said the +city mouse, with a proud air.</p> + +<p>"'I am glad you have succeeded;' commented Grandpapa kindly; 'only be +careful that prosperity does not make you arrogant, as it is apt to.</p> + +<p>"'Now, my dear daughter;' he added, turning to the mouse who had arrived +second on Christmas Eve, 'what have you been doing this long time?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'I went to visit my cousin, as you will doubtless remember. She is a +great matchmaker, and perhaps you knew that when you sent me to her; for +I was then quite mature in age, and did not inherit any of my mother's +beauty, besides. Well, she found me plenty of suitors, and before long I +married. I enjoyed life very much at first; but sorrows in plenty +awaited me,' sighed the daughter, arranging her crape head-dress.</p> + +<p>"'I had four beautiful children; and my pride in them was so great that +I decided to take them to the mouse fair, where prizes were to be given +to the handsomest babies. The mice were flocking from all quarters to +this splendid exhibition, which was given in order to raise funds for an +orphan asylum that was much needed in the region.</p> + +<p>"'The place selected was under a rock on the margin of a wood. The tent +was made of rags joined together; and at the entrance we all paid the +admittance fee,—a kernel of corn, which was to go towards the fund. The +collection within was very fine. There were a few grains of maize +brought all the way from Egypt at immense<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> expense. There was a portrait +of one of our distinguished ancestors, painted in brickdust by a young +mouse artist of great talent; there was a scrap of bacon sent from +England; and there were two whole figs given to the fair by a wealthy +mouse of high rank. There were also a number of articles to be sold by +lottery; a work-box formed of a filbert hollowed out, and lined with +moss, besides being fitted up with needles and scissors of fish-bone; a +pony carriage made of a scallop shell upon spool wheels, the most +luxurious thing to drive in I ever beheld; a candlestick of brown sugar, +beautifully nibbled into filigree work by a blind mouse of large +experience; and a blanket composed of a sheep's tail, embroidered with +cat-whiskers.</p> + +<p>"'These are a few of the things I remember, because I nearly ruined my +husband by taking shares in them all; and I actually drew nothing, so +all that money, or corn rather, was lost.</p> + +<p>"'Behind the tables stood rows of young lady-mice, all dressed alike, +with buttercup caps upon their heads, and wearing aprons, the pockets +trimmed with gold thread. This gave them a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> very pretty appearance; and +they sold much more among the gentlemen mice than they would have done, +had they been more plainly dressed.</p> + +<p>"'At last it was time for the prizes to be given to the finest children; +and the committee of ten old mice, who were to decide the important +question took their places, and all mothers were told to come forward. +How lovely my dear babies did look! They never cried, or crumpled their +little white bibs in the least; and I felt so proud of them I could +hardly stand.</p> + +<p>"'Well, they took all the prizes: one for his large weight, one for the +size of his nose, which was very remarkable for his age; one for the +smallness of his feet; and the last for the great length of his tail. +Oh! the other mothers were so enraged and jealous, I was afraid they +would tear my eyes out.'</p> + +<p>"Here the daughter mouse began to sob and cry, while all of the family +tried to comfort her.</p> + +<p>"'I will tell the rest: she will not be able,' piped her husband, +holding a smelling-bottle to her nose.</p> + +<p>"'No, no,' she said in a faint voice, while Grandmamma fanned her: 'I +will finish.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'We started home again with the little dears, and on our way paused to +rest for the purpose of eating a few wild berries in the wood, as a +luncheon, leaving our nurse at some little distance in charge of the +children. We were startled by a sudden squeal, and beheld the nurse +trotting towards us, her eyes wild with fright.</p> + +<p>"'"Where are the babies?" I shrieked in terror.</p> + +<p>"'Alas! I soon discovered what a misfortune had befallen me. A dog had +found them as they lay asleep, and was now tossing them rudely about in +sport, and I could not defend them. I have never been the same mouse +since their sad death, and I do not expect ever to wear any thing but +mourning.</p> + +<p>"They were all very much affected by the sorrows of the eldest daughter. +When she had finished, the city mouse used her handkerchief several +times, while Grandmamma's spectacles were quite dim with tears.</p> + +<p>"'Could you give us some items of your experience, also?' inquired +Grandpapa of his eldest son, sleepily but politely.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'I have really nothing of importance to tell;' and perhaps he was +right, for he certainly had been very quiet all this time, although it +may have been because he ate so much dinner.</p> + +<p>"'I have lived a very uneventful life,' he went on, 'not having wandered +further than the next village, where I live in a barn very comfortably. +I have no learned tastes, like my bachelor brother; I do not care in the +least whether the moon is green cheese or not,—as long as I stay on +earth it need not trouble me; I am not a business mouse, like my city +brother; I have never made a journey, like my father here; and all my +children have lived to grow up, so that I have not the same misfortunes +as my poor sister.</p> + +<p>"'That is all I can say for myself; and, if it is agreeable to you all, +I propose we go to bed, as some of us will have to make an early start +in the morning,' he said, rising with a yawn of fatigue.</p> + +<p>"They consented to this last arrangement, and thus Christmas Day closed +on Grandpapa Mouse and his family."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>Public favor was universally awarded the Caterpillar after this effort.</p> + +<p>The Cricket next received a reward for all his patience and good humor, +by having an opportunity of telling—</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_ENCHANTED_BABY-HOUSE" id="THE_ENCHANTED_BABY-HOUSE"></a>THE ENCHANTED BABY-HOUSE.</h2> + + +<p>"Yes, it was a pleasant day, after all! The bright sunlight danced +through the parted crimson curtains down upon the nursery floor, down +upon curly heads nestled among the pillows, tinging the canary bird's +golden feathers, as he ruffled himself upon the perch before skipping +down to the dining-room of his cage for a stray seed or sip of water, +and blinking straight into the eyes of little Milly, as she first opened +them upon her sixth birthday. The other children were still napping; but +Hannah, the nurse, thought of it, and came to kiss the pet who had first +rested in her arms, a wee bundle of flannel, with a tiny red face. Nurse +thought Milly a great deal prettier and bonnier, as she crept out of bed +now to stand upon the warm hearth-rug in her white night-dress, warming +her little pink<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> toes at the blaze, than when she was only that little +bundle of flannel on the day of her birth.</p> + +<p>"'Come, dears,' said nurse, rousing the others: 'it is Milly's birthday, +you know; so be up bright and early.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, yes,' sang Milly, merrily whirling about the room to the step her +dancing-master had last taught her. 'Get up! I am six years old to-day: +only think; and you but four, Miss Pet,—such a little, little girl.'</p> + +<p>"'No: I aint,' answered Pet, indignantly, rolling out upon the floor +like a rosy ball of an apple: 'I am so big I can see over the table, +anyhow.'</p> + +<p>"Upon this Milly caught the small sister by both hands, and whirled her +round the room so fast, that Pet had not a particle of breath left in +her fat little body. The noise made all the other children open their +eyes, and join in the fun; while even the baby sat up in its crib, to +crow, and pat its dimpled hands together, because the rest did: babies +can never give any better reasons for their actions. Nurse Hannah and +her assistant, Sarah, never had such work to dress<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> their charges, as on +that morning. First, Tom put on his soldier's cap, which Santa Claus had +given him only a few weeks before, and strapped the sword about his +waist, which certainly made him look very funny indeed, considering that +he still wore only his night-clothes; while all the rest strutted after +him in single file, Dick beating a drum, Milly carrying a tin musket, +and Pet bringing up the rear, staggering under the weight of a knapsack. +In this way, they marched about, always slipping like eels when Nurse +Hannah touched them, and making so much noise the while, that she could +scarcely hear herself speak. At last, Sarah pounced upon Pet, and bore +her away shrieking and struggling to the bath-room, whence, after a good +deal of gurgling and splashing, she returned, looking as fresh as a +rosebud that the dew has just kissed into fragrance. Milly now began to +behave better; for she thought she must set Pet a good example, since +she was so much the elder of the two. Tom and Dick, however, grew wilder +and gayer as they dressed themselves. They hid Milly's boots so that she +could not find them; they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> whisked the baby out of his crib, where he +sat contentedly sucking one thumb, and perched him upon the bureau; and +Tom leaped upon the table with a newspaper, which he held upside down, +and pretended to read, with Nurse Hannah's steel-bowed spectacles upon +his little pug nose.</p> + +<p>"At this they all laughed so loudly that mamma came to the door to +inquire what was the matter, and tell them it was breakfast-time.</p> + +<p>"'O Sarah! please brush my hair, quick,' implored Milly. 'I want to +begin my year in season for every thing, if I possibly can.'</p> + +<p>"So Sarah brushed her hair, and smoothed down the nice new dress and +crisp muslin apron prepared for the occasion; then Milly ran downstairs, +and climbed into her high chair, just before papa was ready to ask the +blessing, feeling very gay and happy. After breakfast, mamma proposed +that they should all go out to play for a time, as the morning was so +fine.</p> + +<p>"'Then,' she said with a smile, patting her eldest daughter's soft round +cheek, 'we will see what we can do to amuse Milly in the house.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mamma then went away, and Milly turned to the window with a half sigh +of disappointment. The view from where she stood was beautiful enough to +make any child's eyes sparkle with delight. The earth was hidden by a +soft covering of fresh snow; the trees and shrubs were powdered with +icicle fringes, that gleamed and sparkled in the sun like so many +crystal pendants; and the Hudson River swept along, bearing upon its +surface, now a stately steamboat, ploughing its way swiftly along +through sheets of foam-flakes, and now a flitting sail-boat, with white +sail spread like a bird's wings upon the wind. But, for the moment, +Milly did not enjoy this splendid winter landscape; nor did she notice +the little snow-birds, hopping about the frozen ground on their +frail-looking little legs, and cocking their bright eyes up at her, as +if begging a crumb from the plenty of the table. A cloud had come over +her bright face, causing it for the time to look sullen and sad. Do you +know what she was thinking of? Precisely what you or any other little +child might in her place. She had expected a birthday gift, and now +nothing of the kind was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> presented to her from papa even down to the +baby.</p> + +<p>"'I always had one,' reflected Milly, growing more and more aggrieved as +she thought of this injustice, until a tear rolled down her cheek. 'I +always had one,'—this with a sob,—'even when I was ever so little. I +had a rag doll, and a tin horse and cart, and a picture book, and all +sorts of things; but to-day'—</p> + +<p>"Here Pet came running in with her arms full of wrappings, followed by +Sarah also carrying Milly's warm cloak, hat, and mittens.</p> + +<p>"'Come,' said Pet, 'we are to slide on the pond with the boys, and have +such fun.'</p> + +<p>"'I don't want to slide,' pouted Milly, turning away to the window +again.</p> + +<p>"'What a naughty girl!' exclaimed Sarah, as she tied on Pet's hat, who +could do nothing but stare at Milly in amazement, with big, bright eyes.</p> + +<p>"'Not do,' piped the little sister. 'Oh! I know somethin', Mil',' she +added, puffing out her cheeks with an important air. 'You are not to go +up-stairs at all, mamma said.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Oh, you silly little goose!' said Tom, overhearing the last sentence +as he entered the room: 'I shall box your ears for that, Miss.'</p> + +<p>"Then Tom pretended to carry out his threat, and Milly forgot her tears +to join in the romp; while Sarah tried to defend poor Pet, who became so +tumbled and out of breath, with her hat knocked over one eye, that she +looked very funny indeed, though I do not believe she was very much hurt +after all.</p> + +<p>"Well, they went out into the frosty air, which nipped their little +noses, stung their round cheeks into a warmer glow, and caused the blood +to course through their young veins like sparkling champagne. Tom and +Dick meant to be very good and patient to-day, because they loved their +little sister much, although they were sometimes rough and rude to her; +but then she was only a girl. Milly's uncle had sent her a beautiful +pair of skates Christmas, all buckles and straps and sharp-curved +runners. They were really splendid; but Milly did not make very much +progress in using them, after all. Her ankles <i>would</i> turn; and she felt +so helpless standing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> upon the smooth, glaring surface of ice alone, +with her two feet planted close together, while her brothers whizzed +past her in circles that made her head spin to watch, and asked her why +she did not "strike out,—so!" Then when she followed their advice, and +did strike out, her skates were sure to flash up in the air, where her +head ought to have been, while her head went down bump, bump, where her +skates should have been. This was the way Milly skated. When they +reached the pond, Tom and Dick strapped on their skates; then Dick +said,—</p> + +<p>"'Now, Milly, we will teach you real nice to-day: we are going to be +awfully good.'</p> + +<p>"'No, I thank you,' said Milly, with a grand air: 'I am not going to +tumble about, and get so vexed on my birthday. Pet and I will be ladies, +and you shall be our horses.'</p> + +<p>"At first, the two boys looked surprised; but Milly quite coolly seated +herself upon Tom's sled, tucked her little petticoats snugly about her, +and sat nodding at them both.</p> + +<p>"'Upon my word, that's cool!' cried Tom; but he harnessed himself with +the rope,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> nevertheless, and away they started, the silver bells +attached to the sled tinkling merrily. They had a grand time of it for +an hour or so, until Milly suddenly remembered what Pet had said about +not going up-stairs; and then she wondered what it all could mean. They +finally started for the house; and when they saw their mamma standing at +the dining-room window watching, Pet and Milly joined hands, and ran as +fast as they could towards home: they could not tell exactly why, except +that they felt like it.</p> + +<p>"'Can Milly go up-stairs now, mamma?' asked Pet eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Mamma assented; and Milly, wondering very much what was coming, +followed her mother into a little room that had never before been used, +and which was now furnished in the most beautiful manner. There was a +fresh muslin curtain, looped with gay ribbons, at the window; the carpet +looked as if it had just been strewn with rosebuds; the tiny bedstead, +of carved wood, had the daintiest linen and crimped hangings; while +there was a little bookcase in one corner, containing all kinds of +pretty books; upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> table bloomed a bouquet of sweet-scented +violets; and by the table was the loveliest rocking-chair imaginable, +just large enough to hold a little girl of six years old. Upon the wall, +in a wreath of evergreen, were written these words: 'Milly's room.'</p> + +<p>"Milly gazed about her, feeling as if she was in a dream. Having +examined all the fine furniture which was from this time to be all her +own, Pet pointed to a large object in a corner, concealed by a sheet +curtain.</p> + +<p>"'What's that?' dancing about with delight.</p> + +<p>"'Let her guess,' said Tom, putting his hand over foolish little Pet's +rosy lips, to keep her from telling the important secret.</p> + +<p>"'It's a ba-by,' gurgled Pet; but Tom put his jacket over her head, and +extinguished her entirely.</p> + +<p>"'Can you guess what it is?' asked mamma.</p> + +<p>"'It looks like an elephant,' said Dick.</p> + +<p>"'I should think it might be a bookcase, only there is one; and Pet said +it was a baby-house,' replied Milly hesitatingly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Right, right!' cried all the children, clapping their hands.</p> + +<p>"Then papa drew aside the curtain, and Milly's eyes fairly danced with +delight at the sight disclosed.</p> + +<p>"It was the most splendid baby-house she had ever seen in her life, +although she had always considered that of her Cousin May very fine +before. The roof reached nearly to the ceiling of the room, boasting +gables and chimneys; there was a large front door, wearing the number of +the house upon a brass plate; and the windows with the parted curtains +temptingly invited a glimpse into the interior. Mamma then told Milly to +open the door, which she did half shyly, as though she did not know what +to expect next. First, she sat down upon the carpet to look at the +kitchen, with its shining painted floor, its stove, dresser, teakettles, +saucepans, flat-irons, and other implements of that department, over +which reigned Dinah, in a yellow turban and smart red dress, with ever +so many assistant darkies, from her daughter Sue down to tiny doll +grandchildren, not more than an inch long,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> all as black as ebony. Next +came the dining-room, which was certainly as handsome as the most +fastidious doll could wish for. There were two mahogany sideboards, with +a grand array of frosted cakes, pies, and ice-cream pyramids, only they +were all made of painted wood; and there was a table with a beautiful +gilt tea-service, and a large coffee-urn upon it. On the neatly papered +wall hung several choice pictures about an inch square, and a veritable +cuckoo clock, with the bird all ready to pop out when you pulled a silk +tag. A genteel waitress, in a muslin cap and apron, stood by the table.</p> + +<p>"Milly now stood up to view the second story, and by so doing just +brought her small nose on a level with the bedroom. She found this to be +furnished exactly like her own. The same carpet was spread upon the +floor; the bureau, the bedstead, and washstand, were precisely similar. +The baby-house had many more articles of furniture, however, than did +the larger apartment; for it was not only adorned by a toilet-table, a +wee bath-tub, and a wardrobe, but there were ever so many cradles and +high-chairs for the children.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Now look at the parlor,' cried Pet.</p> + +<p>"I cannot begin to describe the magnificence of this drawing-room. Every +thing was gilt and crimson in the appointments, which is certainly very +good taste, whether doll or human being. There was a gilt chandelier, +with pink wax candles ready to light at any time, gilt chairs, and +centre-table holding vases filled with flowers, while the carpet and +walls were crimson. Before the open piano was seated a very pretty doll +in a flounced blue silk dress, trimmed with crystal drops; upon the sofa +reclined her two sisters, one wearing white with a green sash, and the +other pink barege; while the mother, in purple satin edged with white +lace, occupied a large arm-chair, with her feet upon a footstool. At the +billiard-table in the corner were several more dolls, one holding the +cue ready to play a game.</p> + +<p>"This is all that I can remember of the wonderful baby-house (it is a +long time since I saw it last); but if there was any thing else that I +have not mentioned, you may be sure Milly discovered it before +nightfall, that birthday when she was six years old. When she had seen +all these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> things, little Milly jumped up with a flush on her cheek, and +turned to all the kind faces that were watching her surprise and +pleasure. First, she gave her parents a kiss of thanks; then there was +Sarah smiling in the doorway, and Nurse Hannah holding the baby, who +looked quite solemn, with one thumb in its mouth, baby fashion. The boys +then ran away to their skating again, for they thought they were too big +and old, to show much interest in a baby-house; and the sisters were +left to their play undisturbed. Of course there was no end of fun for +the rest of that long, happy day. Milly and Pet had hardly leisure to +eat their dinner, they were so absorbed with their new playthings. Such +a confusion as they made in the neat little rooms, house-cleaning, +re-arranging furniture and dollies! Such a number of meals as were +served in that one afternoon alone! It is only a wonder that a single +doll had any digestion left, or that Dinah could still show her white +teeth in that contented smile; for any other cook would have given +warning that she was about to leave, I am sure, who had to serve the +quantities of sweetened water, scraped apple, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> chalk dishes that she +did. But Dinah did not lose her temper, although it was so severely +tried, one would think; and the day's pleasure closed with a grand +tea-party, to which Tom and Dick were invited. Then the baby-house was +arranged, and the door closed for the night.</p> + +<p>"When it was bedtime, Milly realized, for the first time, what a large +girl she had grown, to have a place all to herself. Sarah brought a +light, and prepared to put her charge to bed; but this Milly resisted +indignantly. She was going to undress, and take care of herself; so she +bade Sarah good-night very ceremoniously, and the nursery-maid went away +laughing. There was a good deal of pattering to and from the nursery, +however, after that. First, Milly ran across her mother's room, and +along the passage, to make a call upon the other children; and she +looked back with a little shiver at comfortable Miss Pet sitting on the +hearth-rug like a soft white kitten, and the baby asleep in the crib, as +she returned to her <i>own room</i> once more. Then the others made her a +call, and envied her new dignity: only Pet whispered in an awed tone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"'Wont you be afraid when the light goes out, Milly?'</p> + +<p>"'No, indeed,' said Milly bravely.</p> + +<p>"Then she blew out the candle, and sprang into bed, just to show Pet how +much she enjoyed it all. But when they had trotted back, and it was all +dark, she began to see strange shapes from out of the darkness, and to +hear rustlings all about that she had never noticed in the shelter of +the nursery, until she fell asleep. She was awakened by a noise that +made her heart leap into her throat with a single bound. It was +something between a gurgle and a groan; and so frightened grew little +Milly, that she stole out of her warm bed, and paused, trembling, on the +threshold of her mother's room to listen. What do you suppose the noise +was, after all? Milly almost laughed at herself when she discovered; it +was her papa snoring loudly. She was so glad that no one knew of her +fright, the first night she slept alone, that she nestled into bed +again, and pulled the blankets almost over her curly head. The moonlight +came peeping into the window in silvery beams; and, after looking out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +upon the clear sky, where a few stars twinkled, Milly saw a wonderful +sight. Down the moonbeam, which formed a pathway paved with sparkling +hues, floated tiny fairy figures, bearing in their midst upon a litter, +formed of a lily-cup, their queen. Milly thought she had never dreamed +of any thing half so beautiful. Shimmering colors wrapped each little +sprite in a misty glow, while their wings were frosted like those of a +butterfly. As for the queen, she was ten times more radiant than any of +her subjects, as a queen should be; and, when she moved, a faint musical +sound tinkled from the chains of turquoises, which were fastened about +her waist; from thence they twined in festoons all about her small +person. She was further distinguished from the rest by a starry crown +upon her head, and a wand tipped with the same radiance in her hand.</p> + +<p>"'Here we are, at last,' said the moonbeam fairy in the sweetest voice. +'Give me your hand, Milly.'</p> + +<p>"The little girl extended it half-fearfully, and the fairy leaped into +the outspread palm, dancing lightly over the pink-tipped fingers in +doing so.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Don't be afraid of me,' she said. 'I never hurt any child in my life, +I assure you.'</p> + +<p>"The other fairies climbed upon the bed also, some clinging to the +curtain tassels, some perched among Milly's curls, and others sat at +their ease on the footboard.</p> + +<p>"'It is Milly's birthday,' rustled the elves, like the soft patter of +raindrops among forest leaves.</p> + +<p>"'Yes: we have come a long way to see you, for we live in the moon,' +said the fairy; 'and it is only when she lowers silver ladders to the +earth, that we can make a visit down here.'</p> + +<p>"'I am so glad you all came to-night,' exclaimed Milly; 'only how did +you know, away up there, that it was my birthday?'</p> + +<p>"'Ah!' returned the fairy smiling, 'we always know every thing, you may +be sure. The angels tell us, especially about those that are good upon +the earth. Now to-night my twelve sisters are also down here somewhere; +this one flitting into the attic windows of the city streets, where +there is sickness and sorrow; that one whispering words of comfort in +dreams of warmth and plenty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> to the little wayfarer, sleeping upon a +cold doorstep; while another is hovering over the broad sea, to lead the +poor, rude sailor's thoughts home.'</p> + +<p>"'Do you live in a palace?' asked Milly.</p> + +<p>"'Yes: we live in a palace beside a silver lake; and we are called the +twelve sisters of the fairy lake, because we all sprang into life from a +single bubble of foam, blown through the reed of our Father, the water +god, who rules over rivers and fountains in the moon.'</p> + +<p>"'How wonderful!' commented Milly.</p> + +<p>"'Let us be doing something, mistress,' piped a restless elf, who had +never been at rest a moment, but who skipped and danced about like a +firefly; once, indeed, turning a summersault, and landing upon Milly's +nose.</p> + +<p>"'What shall we do?' said the queen.</p> + +<p>"'Oh! any thing else but talk, please; we can do that at home,' replied +the elf.</p> + +<p>"'Shall I show you my new baby-house?' inquired Milly, who supposed that +the fairies must find as much to interest them in it as she did +herself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At this the restless elf darted off, and was followed by the others; +while the queen waved her wand, and, to Milly's astonishment, the door, +which she had carefully locked, flew wide open. The fairy again waved +her wand; and from every tiny chandelier sprang jets of light, that +shone through the windows, and sparkled over the handsome furniture in +the most beautiful manner.</p> + +<p>"'Will you come to see the fun?' asked the fairy; and Milly, all +curiosity, followed her midnight guests across the room.</p> + +<p>"The restless elf next borrowed the queen's wand, and, stepping into the +window of the bedroom, tapped each of the sleeping dolls with it upon +the head.</p> + +<p>"'Come, come! get up, you lazy creatures!' cried the roguish elf, +enjoying himself immensely.</p> + +<p>"All the dolls began to move about and yawn, as if they were just waking +up. Milly thought she had never imagined any thing so delightfully funny +as the little babies winking their bright black eyes, and crying so that +the nurses had to rock the cradles to keep them quiet.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Now, then,' said the elf, 'you all dress yourselves as quickly as +possible, and then I will tell you what to do.'</p> + +<p>"He left them in the bedroom, roused Dinah in the kitchen, and the +genteel waitress in the dining-room; then he returned to the parlor, +tried the piano, whistling a tune, at the same time winking so drolly at +Milly, that she laughed with delight; played a round or so at the +billiard-table, and then seated himself in the large arm-chair. In the +mean while, the dolls were grumbling over the whole affair.</p> + +<p>"'I never heard of such a thing,' said the fat mamma, smoothing her hair +before the looking-glass, 'to turn us all out of bed at this time of +night, and set all babies crying, too!'</p> + +<p>"'Never mind, mamma,' said the daughter in blue silk, shaking out her +flounces: 'it is the little lady's birthday, and we can take a nap +to-morrow.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' chimed in the pink-barege sister; 'and she never has broken us, +you know.'</p> + +<p>"'I am sure I am afraid of my legs, if that Miss Pet only looks at me, +for fear they will be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> smashed,' echoed the white-muslin lady, looking +mournfully at her china boots.</p> + +<p>"'If Pet could only hear her talk!' whispered Milly to the fairy queen; +when lo! in toddled the young lady, and, putting her arm about Milly's +neck, stood looking at the wonderful sight also.</p> + +<p>"'I am so glad you can see it too, Pet!'</p> + +<p>"'By this time the dolls had made their toilets; all except the babies +that were left in charge of their nurses, some of whom trotted them upon +their knees, or fed them with pap out of tin mugs, while others still +rocked the cradles, and the seamstress stitched upon the sewing-machine.</p> + +<p>"'First, we will have a dance,' said the elf, cutting a caper in mid +air. 'You stupid dolls! why don't you act as though you were made of +something better than wood?'</p> + +<p>"'We are made of the best French china and kid,' retorted the dolls +indignantly, as they all huddled together in the corner, and stared at +the elf with their round eyes.</p> + +<p>"'They are afraid of you; join your companions on the roof,' commanded +the queen.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The elf made a wry face, for he desired to play pranks upon the +dollies; but he flew up at the royal command to where the others were +clustered about the chimneys, and hung himself by one leg from an eave, +with his queer little face and twinkling eyes close to Milly. Left to +themselves, the inmates of the baby-house felt more at their ease. The +blue-silk daughter commenced to play a lively air upon the piano, to +which all the younger dolls began to dance; and such waltzes, polkas, +and quadrilles as were performed never were seen before.</p> + +<p>"'You would think they had been to dancing-school all their lives,' said +the fairy.</p> + +<p>"'What fun we are having!' exclaimed a pretty doll, with red cheeks, +mincing along. 'I was only made last week, and I had no idea the world +was such a nice place.'</p> + +<p>"'You need not think you are to go on in this way all your life,' +snapped another, who was rather ill-natured, because her nose was +broken. 'We are all bewitched to-night.'</p> + +<p>"'Are we?' returned rosy-cheeks. 'I should like to be so always, then.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In the mean while, the stout mamma had done nothing but doze and nod +upon the sofa, with a fine lace pocket-handkerchief over her head, while +all the music and dancing had gone on so merrily about her. But no +sooner had the genteel waitress arranged every thing below stairs, and +tinkled the little silver bell, than she whisked off the covering from +her face, and rose briskly to go to supper.</p> + +<p>"Such a feast as awaited them! There was <i>real</i> tea and coffee bubbling +in the urns; the wooden cakes, pies, and ices, were wooden no longer; +or, if they were, the dolls certainly found them delicious. As for +Dinah, the cook, she was as busy as possible, not only making various +dishes over the fire, but boxing the ears of her children, and scolding +them when they did not bring her pepper or salt just to the minute. +Then, what a pet she was in when any thing burned upon the stove!</p> + +<p>"Milly watched all the busy little figures until her very eyes ached, +and the clock, upon the dining-room wall of the baby-house, struck one, +two, when out popped the bird above, without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> any one's pulling the silk +tag, and chirped 'cuckoo' quite distinctly. At this the moonbeam fairies +fluttered from their perch upon the gables, and circled in rings of +flame and purple and gold and blue, quickly succeeding each other; while +the moonlight streamed brighter and brighter, wrapping every thing in a +dazzling cloud.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose this dazzling light really was, my dear little +reader? Why, it was nothing but another day's sun kissing Milly's +eyelids and curls with golden caresses. Yes, every thing was undisturbed +in her room. The baby-house was closed; and, when she peeped in, all the +dolls were as stupid as though they never had skipped, or eaten a late +supper the previous night, while all the wooden cakes stood upon the +sideboard untouched.</p> + +<p>"'Never mind; the fairies <i>were</i> here,' thought Milly, 'for Pet saw +them, too.'</p> + +<p>"At the breakfast-table, she tried to tell her story; but Tom and Dick +laughed at her so, she did not get through with it very well.</p> + +<p>"'But the fairies were here,' cried Milly, half vexed. 'Pet saw them.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The little sister, who was eating bread and butter contentedly, +stopped, with her mouth and eyes wide open, which made everybody laugh +the more.</p> + +<p>"'I never did!' said Pet, indignantly: 'I only slept the whole time.'</p> + +<p>"Poor Milly said no more; but she never saw the moon climb her +sparkling, star-strewn pathway afterward, without wishing that the +fairies might spread their rainbow wings, and flutter down into her +little chamber again, as they did the night when she was six years old."</p> + +<p>It stormed heavily all day. The Teapot and Saucepan, sitting on the +shelf in a state of idleness, agreed together, that, if the rain dashed +against the windows in that way, the Club would not be able to hear each +other speak when night came.</p> + +<p>On the hearth stood an intruder; a dilapidated old umbrella was in the +corner, drops of dirty water trickling in streams across the hearth from +the damp folds.</p> + +<p>"I have wet my feet in this muddy river," said the Wasp.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The hearth was so clean before," sighed the Caterpillar.</p> + +<p>"I am really very sorry my master the peddler left me in your way," said +the Umbrella, meekly. "Only I cannot help it."</p> + +<p>"To be sure not," said the Kettle. "You look like an old traveller, +friend; will you tell us something of yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied the Umbrella, and began his history:—</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_STORY_OF_AN_UMBRELLA" id="THE_STORY_OF_AN_UMBRELLA"></a>THE STORY OF AN UMBRELLA.</h2> + + +<p>"You will hardly believe it when I say that I was once as handsome as an +umbrella need to be; I am so faded and stained by old age or rough +exposure now. Yet I actually was; for in the large manufactory where I +was born, no stouter whalebone frame or finely carved handle could be +found.</p> + +<p>"My ribs have been broken in several places since, and clumsily mended +again, which naturally gives me a bungling appearance. Ah, well! beauty +must fade.</p> + +<p>"I remember very well my début in life. I was standing in the rack of a +larger shop, one fine summer morning, when a very natty young gentleman +entered, and purchased me without delay.</p> + +<p>"Of course, as I was inexperienced and foolish,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> I was only too glad to +exchange the monotony of the warehouse for any novelty.</p> + +<p>"Allow me to remark, in commencing, that I have one complaint to urge +against fate for having made me what I am. The life of an umbrella is a +most aggravated form of slavery. One can never be sure of having a +moment's peace. In stormy weather, no matter how heavily the rain falls, +or the snow sleet drives, one must be on duty, shivering in wet corners +neglected, or dragged out to brave the tempest again; while on clear +days one may be under the bed, or behind the wardrobe likely +enough,—that at least was my experience, but then my master was a +bachelor.</p> + +<p>"I wondered what duty I should perform on this bright, pleasant morning; +for there was not so much as a cloud in the sky to be seen. I soon +discovered I was to be of service on an excursion of some kind; for the +gentleman walked up an avenue leading to a handsome house, and upon the +steps, under the clustering rose-vines, stood a fair lady, awaiting his +arrival apparently.</p> + +<p>"Presently they drove away in a pretty basket carriage, drawn by a fat +little pony, and I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> accompanied them, together with the luncheon parcels +and fruit baskets.</p> + +<p>"It was a pleasant route along a shady road; and I amused myself +listening to the conversation of the young people (it was of a very +interesting nature to themselves!), or I flirted with the lady's +parasol,—a dainty bit of silk that ruffled its lace flounce +coquettishly upon the breeze, and showed the pink-tinted lining to +advantage.</p> + +<p>"'You are extremely handsome,' I remarked to the Parasol.</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' she replied complacently; 'I was imported from Paris, you know, +and cost very dear, as my lace is <i>real</i>. But what are you doing here?'</p> + +<p>"'That I cannot tell myself,' I answered. 'Perhaps we shall know before +the day is over.'</p> + +<p>"At length we reached the end of our drive; the master assisted his +companion to alight; the luncheon, parasol, and myself, followed to +where the grass bank, soft as velvet, sloped to the brink of a merry +little brook, which sparkled laughingly in the sunlight for a time, then +hid among the ferns that fringed the distance.</p> + +<p>"An umbrella never was exposed to more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> contempt than I received on that +occasion. No sooner had my master brought me upon the scene, than the +company began to laugh and jest. It seemed so absurd to these silly +people, that I should be needed. Even the Parasol, resting in the lap of +her mistress, smirked contemptuously at me where I stood disconsolately +against a tree. For three long hours I remained unoccupied; while all +the gay people strolled among the trees to gather wild flowers, or +reclined in the shade to enjoy strawberries and ice-cream.</p> + +<p>"Gradually the sun became obscured behind masses of swiftly rising +cloud; but no one noticed it except myself, and, as no refreshments were +offered me, I had nothing better to do than to watch the change of the +weather. Suddenly there sounded a peal of thunder, followed by a flash +of lightning; then down pattered the rain, making delicious music among +the leaves overhead.</p> + +<p>"I never felt so wicked in my life. I longed to dance, only an umbrella +cannot do that without losing its balance. I longed to shout aloud, but +an umbrella cannot do this either for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> the want of a pair of lungs. I +spread my grateful shelter above the heads of the group to whom I +belonged, and I even took the naughty Parasol under my protection, which +was certainly a generous act, although one ought never to make a merit +of such things: I should be ashamed to suspose any of my race would have +behaved differently under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>"There was no house or shelter at hand, and all the pretty pony +carriages were no protection against the storm. How flabby the muslin +dresses of the ladies became, how limp the white coats of the gentlemen, +as they crowded under the shelter of the oak-trees pretending to think +it very funny indeed! But they did not, I could see that plainly enough. +The young ladies' hair came out of curl, and the brims of their hats +were crushed out of shape from attempting to keep them dry; while the +piles of frosted confectionery melted into a mass that might as well +have been soaked brown paper, or any thing else tough and disagreeable. +The strawberries tumbled about in crimson pyramids, followed by stray +golden lemons; and cakes, with white caps on, popped out of their place, +to join in the general ruin.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How proud I felt! Soft words and tender glances were exchanged by the +young couple I protected; for I managed to screen them from the rest, so +they could enjoy themselves the more.</p> + +<p>"'Dear Umbrella,' entreated the Parasol, 'do save my tassels; they are +growing quite wet, and the color has changed.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, indeed, Madam Butterfly: you are not good for much.'</p> + +<p>"'I am so new to be thrown aside,' sobbed the Parasol. 'All for a stupid +shower, too!'</p> + +<p>"'There, don't cry,' I urged. 'Your tassels can be changed or dyed.'</p> + +<p>"'Dyed!' shrieked the Parasol, indignantly. 'I hope I have not come to +that.'</p> + +<p>"'Do not be so proud,' I said. 'You will certainly come to grief. At +least men do, and I see no reason why the same rule should not apply to +parasols as well.'</p> + +<p>"I have never seen the parasol, lady, or any of the gay company that +laughed in the sunshine, or shivered in the rain since. I suppose my +young master must have married the lady, for I saw him slip a beautiful +diamond ring upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> her finger at the picnic. I hope they are all very +happy, and that the frail parasol is still in existence; yet I have no +means of knowing. Alas! an umbrella cannot move without being carried.</p> + +<p>"For a short time I resided in the young gentleman's apartments, where I +formed some very pleasant acquaintances. There was a porcelain standard +on the mantel-piece, holding a meerschaum pipe; and a tobacco vase, with +a little Hindoo god perched on the lid. There was an embroidered +smoking-cap with a gold tassel, hanging over the arm of a parian statue +of Juno; a bronze clock, a silver-knobbed cane, and a riding-whip on the +wall.</p> + +<p>"The smoking-cap and riding-whip were very spicy in their conversation, +and waged continual war with the tobacco vase or pipe, who were true +Germans.</p> + +<p>"'That stupid maid very nearly broke my head with the handle of her +duster,' said Juno, angrily. 'My heart flutters still with the fright it +gave me.'</p> + +<p>"'She soiled my lining with her dirty fingers, too,' said the +smoking-cap.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Thank fortune! I do not require dusting, warbled the canary bird, +spreading his golden feathers in the sunlight, and flirting a seed at +the Hindoo god on the lid of the tobacco vase, who only grinned a +broader smile at the attention.</p> + +<p>"'My face is cracked,' chimed in the pretty, good-natured clock; and at +this, the canary bird, jealous of any sound save his own voice, poured +forth a flood of music from his tiny throat.</p> + +<p>"'Hush!' rustled an ivy-plant, that drooped in graceful tendrils about +the open window. 'We have not received the new-comer politely.'</p> + +<p>"'What new-comer? Oh, the Umbrella!'</p> + +<p>"'Yah, ze Umbrella,' echoed the meerschaum, speaking very broken +English.</p> + +<p>"So they all welcomed me cordially, to my great relief; for I was +beginning to feel dreadfully shy and awkward, not being accustomed to +society. I endeavored to make myself agreeable, by describing to them +the incident of the shower, at which they all laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"My thoughts frequently revert to the life I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> led in that delightful +home, where I was surrounded by so many refinements. Alas! it was too +soon brought to a close. My master made a journey; and, although I had +not the least idea of it, I accompanied him. I was scarcely allowed time +to look farewell at the various inmates of the room; the clock and +canary chirping good-by in duet, and I was gone.</p> + +<p>"I next found myself upon a large steamboat. Any thing more wretched +than the night we passed there, I cannot imagine. I rolled about in the +most uncomfortable fashion, the lights bobbing up and down, the cabin +floor rocking giddily, and my careless master took no heed to my safety.</p> + +<p>"A tattered, rusty-looking man came prowling along, then, stooping over +me, adroitly managed to drop a clumsy, cotton umbrella, and carry me off +instead. What must have been my master's disgust, when he discovered +that horrid, faded thing, instead of my slim, genteel self!</p> + +<p>"There was no help for it, because an umbrella cannot raise any outcry; +so the thief took possession of me without struggle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We arrived in a large city; and I was carried ashore by the rusty man, +who made his way along many narrow, dirty streets, to a small dingy +shop, which he entered. It was a musty, dark place, crowded with +many strange articles of sale, from mended furniture, silver +watches, odd crockery, and picture frames, to china vases, and silk +pocket-handkerchiefs.</p> + +<p>"Here, I was sold to the owner of the shop, a wrinkled, old man, with a +white beard, who placed me in company with others of my class in a rack. +At first I was too unhappy in my altered circumstances to attempt any +conversation with those about me. The sun came peeping in the +dust-stained window; and each stray, gilded beam seemed a blessing in +that sad, gloomy place. How every thing brightened under the heavenly, +glorifying touch! The wreaths of artificial flowers took the bright hues +of life; and a gray parrot, in a battered cage, shook himself to peer +about more cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"'How pleasant the sun is!' remarked the parrot. 'If it only would shine +here all day, as it does in my native India, instead of creeping away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +over the roofs so soon, leaving us chill and dark again!'</p> + +<p>"Then I inquired, 'You have not lived here always?'</p> + +<p>"'I should rather think not,' retorted the parrot, sharply. 'Do you take +me for a common bird, sir? I belonged to one of the best families at +home; only it was my misfortune to be caught by a sailor, who brought me +over the seas to this great city, when he was taken ill, poor fellow, +and died. I heard him say I was to be a present for his sweetheart up in +the country; but I never saw her, because the lodging-house woman sold +me, with the rest of the sailor's effects, to the old Jew here.'</p> + +<p>"'As to that,' said a rosewood arm-chair, with a faded cover, 'I once +adorned a magnificent drawing-room myself.'</p> + +<p>"' And we,' sighed a wreath of artificial roses, 'once nestled among the +curls of beauty.'</p> + +<p>"'I was stolen,' said an alabaster vase, standing in graceful purity +among the surrounding common objects.</p> + +<p>"'I was, also,' echoed a velvet portmonnaie,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> an ivory fan, and a +crystal perfume-bottle, with silver top.</p> + +<p>"Then with the parrot for conductor, holding a bit of straw in his left +claw, as the leader of an orchestra wields his bâton, they all commenced +a song, the words of which were composed by the ivory fan, and set to +music by the parrot.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">'Our varnish is cracked,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Our colors are worn,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In this den we are packed,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">All our glory is gone.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Chorus</i>. We have seen better days,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Tra, la, la, tra, la, la.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"The parrot was so much affected by this sad yet beautiful composition, +that he shed tears.</p> + +<p>"Just then the old Jew shopkeeper came to show the bird to a purchaser, +but the parrot was most obstinate. He would not move or speak, although +coaxed and even threatened to do so. The customer turned away, saying,—</p> + +<p>"'What a stupid bird! he does not speak a word.'</p> + +<p>"This touched our friend's pride, who cocked his head over his shoulder, +and replied,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"'I think the more.'</p> + +<p>"The customer was so much delighted, that he at once bought the parrot, +who departed in triumph.</p> + +<p>"'I spoke because I thought I could not do worse than stay here,' he +remarked, with a sage nod of the head.</p> + +<p>"Soon after, a little beggar-boy peeped into the door, and, as I stood +near by, seized me. He did not know what to do with me; so, after riding +on me as a hobby horse a while, he exchanged me with a larger boy for a +green apple. It is said the wheel of fortune constantly revolves; and, +if such is the case, my luck must have been very low just then. I was +knocked about from one person to another. Now it was a boot-black owned +me, now it was a news-vender, or perhaps for a space I belonged to a +street sweep. At last I was taken from this miserable existence in the +most curious way.</p> + +<p>"I tumbled out of the window in an attic where I had been carelessly +left, and crashed down upon the pavement. I was severely injured in my +whalebone parts, yet my ivory handle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> remained unbroken. For a long +while I lay unnoticed; then an old lady, carrying a shawl and carpet-bag +upon her arm, came along to rescue me. She took me a journey in the +cars, and at last I saw the fresh, smiling country once more.</p> + +<p>"The old lady lived in a pretty cottage, surrounded by a pleasant +garden, where the tulips and lilies nodded in the breeze all day long. +The old lady was thrifty, so she had my ribs mended by some village +tinker; but it was not well done, which accounts for the loss of my fine +figure.</p> + +<p>"It was a delightful home,—every thing was so neat about it; and I +should have been contented to remain there all my life, had I been +consulted.</p> + +<p>"The old lady's nephew came home from school for a holiday; and, after +shocking our nerves in that quiet spot a week, he departed again, in a +rain-storm. The good aunt insisted upon my being made use of, although +the young master did not wish it at all. When the rain ceased, he +carelessly threw me out by the road-side,—then drove on to his +destination.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I remained in the ditch several days, all soaked and muddy as you now +see me. Finally the peddler, who is stopping here to-night, discovered +me, while he was driving his wagon slowly along, and raised me from my +lowly position.</p> + +<p>"I do not know where I may go next," said the Umbrella, mournfully. "We +are all born, but we are not all dead, you know."</p> + +<p>"A new thought, certainly," remarked the Kettle, drowsily. "Follow an +umbrella from the cradle to the grave."</p> + +<p>It was now time for the Wasp to distinguish himself.</p> + +<p>"I can repeat something, in the fairy-tale style, which was told me by +Mother Carey's chicken, when we were waiting for the nestling to grow +strong enough for us to make our journey. It is:—</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_GODMOTHERS_GIFTS" id="THE_GODMOTHERS_GIFTS"></a>THE GODMOTHER'S GIFTS.</h2> + + +<p>"On the edge of the wood there once lived a poor woman, and her three +children. On the opposite bank of the broad clear river rose the king's +palace of marble, with a flag floating proudly from the battlements; but +the poor woman's children never had crossed the river, or dared to +venture into the magnificent gardens which surrounded the royal +residence. Ah, no! they were too poor for that.</p> + +<p>"This made the widow's heart very heavy at times, when she watched the +setting sun gild the arched dome, and silken pennant, or make the lofty +windows flash in a thousand glittering sparkles of light, in answer to +his golden beams.</p> + +<p>"'My children are as handsome and good as any that visit there,' she +said to herself. Yes, even as brave as the king's son and daughters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +themselves, no doubt; yet I can never earn enough to give them fine +clothes, so they just have to stay alone in the woods. To-morrow is the +great festival, when all are at liberty to bring some curiosity, for +which they will receive a prize, if it prove the most worthy, from his +majesty. What have my little ones to display?'</p> + +<p>"She called them to her and said,—</p> + +<p>"'A distant relation of your father's, who is a fairy, was present at +your birth, my dears. Perhaps she may visit you again, sometime; so if +any person should call in my absence, treat them very politely. Remember +that fairies are easily vexed.'</p> + +<p>"Soon after the mother departed to the mill, and the children seated +themselves under a large tree to enjoy their breakfast of brown bread +and milk.</p> + +<p>"Across the water the king's children, all glistening in jewels and +embroidery, were plucking fruit from the laden boughs, or tossing +flowers to one another in fragrant showers.</p> + +<p>"'What fun that must be!' exclaimed the poor woman's son Small, his +little round face dimpled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> with laughter. 'I should like to marry the +princess in a blue scarf.'</p> + +<p>"'She is not so handsome as her sister with the red net over her black +curls,' said the older brother, Perke.</p> + +<p>"'For my part, the young prince seems perfection,' added Elfie.</p> + +<p>"At this they all laughed together, and finished the brown bread. A +black hawk paused on outspread wings in the air, and dropped a large +gold ring from his beak, which fell to the ground near the children. +Before they could stoop to touch it, from within the circle sprang three +tulips, rising on slender, enamelled stalks, their gorgeous variegated +buds closed.</p> + +<p>"'There is one a-piece, any way,' said Perke, plucking one.</p> + +<p>"Small and Elfie did the same.</p> + +<p>"'Let us save them until mother returns,' said the sister.</p> + +<p>"'It must be a gift from our godmother,' whispered Small, wisely.</p> + +<p>"'I shall see what mine contains,' said Perke, boldly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He pulled at the folded leaves, but they resisted all his endeavors, +and clung firmly together.</p> + +<p>"Small concluded to hold his bud under the spring that gurgled into a +mossy basin, yet it did not open for the crystal drops that fringed it +with fragrant dew.</p> + +<p>"Then little Elfie pressed her warm lips gently upon the tulip, and like +magic it flew open, disclosing a tiny gold trumpet.</p> + +<p>"Her brothers then kissed their flowers as well, and found each to +contain a similar gift.</p> + +<p>"Within the golden circle now sprang up still another tulip, which +opened of its own accord, and forth stepped a quaint little figure. She +wore a red-peaked cap, high-heeled shoes, and a tight-laced bodice. Her +hair was bright yellow, and the tip of her sharp nose had a blue tinge, +which would have been unbecoming to any other person than a fairy. Her +carriage consisted of a sweet-pea blossom, drawn by two spirited +cockchafers. The children could not but admire the skilful manner in +which she handled the ribbons and whip, made of a spider's leg, +ornamented with tassels.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Here I am at last, dears,' said Madam Pug briskly. 'Whoa! Trot is a +most vicious bug. Be still, sir!'</p> + +<p>"'Are you our godmother?' asked Elfie, timidly.</p> + +<p>"'Certainly,' answered the fairy, putting on her spectacles, the better +to examine them.</p> + +<p>"'You have grown to be nice, plump children; I hope no giant may catch +and eat you up. I am here to grant whatever you may wish, which can be +obtained by blowing the request through the trumpets to be found in the +flowers. Use the power wisely; so that, when I come again, I may find +the gift has proved a blessing instead of a curse.'</p> + +<p>"She then cracked her whip, hoisted a tiny umbrella, which served the +purpose of a sail as she rose in the air, and the cockchafers spread +their wings.</p> + +<p>"'It is slow travelling along the rough earth,' she remarked, when she +reached a level with the children's noses, 'so I will fly for a time, +especially as important business calls me to the North Pole just now.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The children were left to examine their trumpets, and look at each +other in wonder at the good fortune which had befallen them. What do you +suppose they at once did?</p> + +<p>"'First, let us wish for clothes handsomer than those of the royal +family across the water,' proposed Elfie.</p> + +<p>"They blew through the trumpets, and instantly their coarse garments +were changed to magnificent satin and velvet, with fringes of lace, +pearls, and silver tassels. They could do nothing but caper about in the +sunshine, now admiring each other's plumed caps, now comparing shoes on +which sparkled radiant jewels, until the court paused to watch their +bright forms, in amazement; for, in the distance, the poor widow's +children resembled brilliant meteors flashing about among the trees.</p> + +<p>"'Now let us wish for a boat, to visit the palace before mother +returns,' cried Small.</p> + +<p>"The next moment saw them speeding across the water in the most +beautiful little boat imaginable. It was made of ivory, lined with a +delicate pink shading, like the cavities of sea-shells,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> and a sail of +pink silk, held by gold cords, expanded like a rose-leaf to the soft +breeze. The court clapped their hands at the wonderful sight.</p> + +<p>"All at once the children looked down at themselves: they wore their +rough clothes again, which only seemed the uglier from contrast with the +elegant ship.</p> + +<p>"'We can never visit his majesty in these rags,' said Elfie. 'Let us +wish for even more splendid dresses than those we just had on the bank.'</p> + +<p>"White robes spangled with diamond drops enveloped them; but the boat +glided from beneath their feet at the same time, leaving them to sink +through the water to the very river bed. This brought them unexpectedly +into the presence of the river fairy, a sworn enemy of their godmother, +who caressed them, and coiled her floating hair about them in slender +rings, which served to bind them captives.</p> + +<p>"'Stay with me always,' coaxed the river spirit, in her sweet voice; +'life is so pleasant under the cool, clear waters here.'</p> + +<p>"'I like the sunshine better,' said Small, rubbing his eyes with two +chubby little fists.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'You can bask on the surface,' laughed the fairy. 'Come with me to the +neighboring ocean and see all the wonderful forms one can assume.'</p> + +<p>"She gathered them in her arms, and swept down the stream swiftly until +the ocean opened broad gates of welcome, and she paused on the threshold +of the great deep. She waved her fair arms, and a forest of sea-weeds, +some thick-stemmed as trees, others mere tangles of silky threads, rose +before them. In shaded nooks scuttled crabs, looking like awkward +spiders; marine worms twined about in ribbons of green or brown; and +upon the drooping fronds clung gorgeous mollusks, their variegated +shells displaying the fringed edge of no less gorgeous mantles.</p> + +<p>"'If you would rather swim about than live at the bottom, look at the +fishes,' said the water spirit.</p> + +<p>"'Forthwith approached a finny host. The whale cleaved the waters with +his powerful tail; the sword-fish flashed swiftly past followed by the +stealthy white shark, who showed his terrible teeth. Then came the +graceful dolphin, quivering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> in long tracts of silvery light, the +indolent porpoise, the handsome salmon, the greedy cod, the pretty +mackerel, and a countless multitude of beautiful fish, their scales +tinged with a golden lustre, or dyed in crimson and purple tints.</p> + +<p>"Little Elfie clapped her hands when she beheld some lovely medusæ +dancing lightly along on the surface, their feathery tentacles drifting +idly on the current; so the fairy changed her to a crystal globe of a +jelly-fish, propelled by several tiny oars, like spun glass, that +reflected all colors of the rainbow in flashing motion.</p> + +<p>"'O you silly bubble!' exclaimed Small; 'I had rather be a herring than +that,' and he immediately began to swim about a pretty herring.</p> + +<p>"'As to that, I believe I should like to try a state of lobsterhood,' +said Perke; and his desire was at once gratified. The thoughtless +children had forgotten the importance of retaining their magic trumpets, +in case they should ever need them again; so, when they changed forms, +the godmother's gifts were carelessly allowed to sink to the bottom, and +the water spirit laughed triumphantly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Now I have you, Madam Pug,' she said to herself. 'Your pets are in the +sea; let me see you reclaim them.'</p> + +<p>"The trumpets lay on the bottom beside a rock, where there lived a +colony of oysters. The oysters are good-natured, save when a hungry +star-fish pokes a ray into their shells to scoop out the +delicious-flavored inmate; then they are very apt to close the doors +smartly with a sudden clap that snips off the intruder's paw, leaving +the star-fish to hobble away, and grow a new one. The grandfather of the +colony had listened to all that transpired between the fairy and her +visitors with much interest; and now that the trumpets fell to the +bottom, he began to wonder how they were to be rescued from harm.</p> + +<p>"Presently a cockle came skipping gayly along by means of a beautiful +scarlet foot, protruded from between the valves of the shell for the +purpose of locomotion; and the grandfather oyster hailed him for a chat.</p> + +<p>"'If you would only push the trumpets nearer we might swallow them,' +urged the former, when he had explained matters.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Wait a bit,' said the cockle, 'until I fetch a few of my brothers, who +are prowling about here somewhere.'</p> + +<p>"He darted off, and soon returned with the requisite assistance. So the +cockles nimbly pushed and rolled the trumpets close to the oysters.</p> + +<p>"'Can you accommodate the others, my sons?' inquired the grandfather of +two no less plump children.</p> + +<p>"'It will be inconvenient; still'—here the little waves gathered in a +sparkling heap, and swept the trumpets into the oysters' mouths; who, +with a gulp or two, succeeded in swallowing them. None too soon was all +this labor accomplished.</p> + +<p>"The fairy amused herself watching the children for a while, and then +she despatched some of her attendants to search for Madam Pug's gifts. A +rare search they made of it, too. The tiny courtiers, clothed in rainbow +frills and scales, poked about everywhere, peering into the anemones' +mouths, which made the sea-flowers very angry, as they were not used to +such liberties; tumbling the crabs about, and pushing the lazy +flat-fish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> into motion. They even knocked on the oysters' houses with +their little knuckles; but the oysters said never a word, so they were +obliged to relinquish the search, and return to their queen.</p> + +<p>"Elfie and her brother splashed about, thinking it great fun to live in +the sea. One day they altered their minds; and this is how it all +happened:—</p> + +<p>"Perke, the lobster, became very hungry (lobsters are generally hungry); +and he sniffed about in search of food, until he smelt a most savory +odor, which proceeded from a wicker sort of cage, that bobbed up and +down in the most tempting manner. Had Perke been born a lobster, his +mother would probably have taught him wisdom. Not knowing any better, he +now swam about until he discovered a neat tunnel just large enough to +admit him, and leading straight to the meat he coveted. In he slipped +for a nibble; but, having entered, he found to his sorrow he could not +get out again; so there he sat, looking out through the slats, as +miserable an object as one would wish to behold, when Small came darting +by.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Oh! why did we ever leave home?' groaned Perke.</p> + +<p>"'Hulloa!' exclaimed his brother, pausing. 'How did you get there?'</p> + +<p>"'I am caught in a trap,' cried Perke. 'When the fisherman hauls me up, +I shall be boiled alive and eaten.'</p> + +<p>"Small flashed up to the surface, where Elfie was sporting with her +companions, and said, dryly,—</p> + +<p>"'It is all very pleasant for you; but, in the mean while, Perke is a +captive down yonder.'</p> + +<p>"'I am so sorry,' said Elfie. 'How can we free him?'</p> + +<p>"The tender-hearted sister began to cry; and the other jelly-fish, who +were tender-hearted also, began to cry from sheer sympathy.</p> + +<p>"'I will go to the fairy, and beg her to change them,' sobbed Elfie.</p> + +<p>"'It will do no good,' sobbed the jelly-fish chorus, in reply; 'she is +so cruel.'</p> + +<p>"Tears made Small, the mackerel, nervous, as they would have done Small, +the boy. He determined to find the trumpets, which could alone<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> relieve +them from the present trouble; and, accordingly, dived to the bottom, +where, of course, he did not find them.</p> + +<p>"At last the oysters took compassion upon his sorrow,—for he feared +Perke might be taken at any moment by the fishermen,—and opened their +shells, when out rolled the trumpets.</p> + +<p>"Small did not recognize them: they were covered by a coating of +mother-o'-pearl. When it was explained, he was overjoyed at his good +fortune in recovering them at all. He also thanked the oysters warmly +for their kindness.</p> + +<p>"'We have not eaten any thing; we were afraid to open our mouths,' said +the grandfather. 'Still a fast, now and then, does one no harm.'</p> + +<p>"In less time than it takes to write the fact, Small had taken one +trumpet in his mouth, and rejoined Perke, who eagerly seized it, in one +claw, through the bars of his cage.</p> + +<p>"'Wait five minutes for Elfie and I, then wish yourself out of the +water,' advised the zealous little brother, hastening back for his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +sister's trumpet, which he presented in the same way.</p> + +<p>"Simultaneously the children wished themselves out of the water. The +desire was gratified certainly, for they were suspended between heaven +and earth, held by some invisible chain, the links of which bound them +firmly; yet they felt a terrible fear of being dashed headlong on the +sharp-pointed rocks below. There they swayed about, the sun laughing at +them, the winds tossing them on every breath, and the birds swooping in +giddy circles over their heads.</p> + +<p>"'Let us wish for land,' said Elfie.</p> + +<p>"They closed their eyes, blew through the trumpets, and then their feet +rested on a firm surface once more.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, I am so glad!' laughed Elfie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they had land; but such a land! Not a tree; not a spring of fresh, +cool water; not a blade of green grass; only a barren wilderness, a +dreary waste. The children toiled along wearily, yet they seemed to make +no progress towards a fairer landscape; for as far as the eye could see +stretched the blank of earth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'What shall we do next?' asked Perke, in perplexity.</p> + +<p>"'Let us go home. Mother will advise us,' said Small; and, with the aid +of Madam Pug's gifts, they again stood at the door of their humble +cottage, which had never looked so pleasant to them before. Their mother +was not in the house; but they saw her coming along the road, bending +under the weight of the meal-bag, from the mill.</p> + +<p>"They had not been absent a day, and so much had happened! The two +little sons ran to her assistance, bearing between them the bag of meal; +and, as they did so, Small inserted his trumpet into a fold of it, +whispering,—</p> + +<p>"'I wish this meal might be changed into a feast for my poor mother.'</p> + +<p>"When they entered the door, Perke wished, 'Let us have a fine large +table, if you please.'</p> + +<p>"The mother looked at him in surprise; and then she saw that something +unusual had occurred during her absence, for a spacious table of +polished rosewood occupied the centre of the room.</p> + +<p>"'I should like an arm-chair,' said Elfie; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> when it appeared, they +seated the astonished mother in it, suffering her tired frame to enjoy +luxury and ease.</p> + +<p>"Next, they emptied the meal-bag of its contents, and Small's bright +eyes danced with delight at the fulfilment of his wish. Such savory +viands! such puffs and tarts of delicate pastry! such delicious fruits +and sweet-perfumed flower garlands! such tempting nuts, and many-colored +candies in all manner of fantastic shapes,—pink horses, lemon castles, +green birds, and blue ships,—had never before been seen in the widow's +cottage. She did not forget those who were poor; so, reserving some of +the choice articles of the feast, the mother sent her children to many +neighbors, who would have otherwise gone to bed supperless.</p> + +<p>"When all this was done, the children gave a long history of their +adventures beneath the waters. The mother uttered a prayer of gratitude +for their safe return; then she said,—</p> + +<p>"'Your godmother wished to test your character. One desire brings +another always. Vanity caused all your troubles; you wished to be as +handsome as the king's children, and the boat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> vanished, as you have +described. Give me the trumpets, and learn to be happy without them.'</p> + +<p>"They did as she desired, only, first, Elfie begged to have one more +wish gratified. What do you suppose it was? Why, that night the mother +slept in a soft bed of eider down, with satin curtains, and an +embroidered coverlet fit for a duchess, while the children sought their +pallets of straw, light-hearted and happy, thinking how comfortable she +was.</p> + +<p>"All this pleased Madam Pug, who had heard of it from her trusty allies +the gnats; and she now came flying along in the moonlight, mounted on a +moth. She crept through the keyhole leaving her moth outside; and the +water spirit changed herself into an ugly gray bat for the purpose of +devouring Madam Pug's horse: so that she had to sit on the chimney all +night, after paying the visit, until one of the gnats had flown away for +another moth. This made the water spirit, down under the waves, laugh.</p> + +<p>"Having entered the cottage, Madam Pug squeezed a drop of some precious +balsam out of a diminutive flask upon the eyelids of her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> slumbering +godchildren, which served to make their dreams pleasant, and would +prepare them for any disappointment the next day. She next looked about +to see what was to be done afterward, and espied the trumpets on the +shelf, where the careful mother had placed them. These the fairy changed +to three little boxes, one of a rusty steel, another of lead, and the +third of iron; then, placing them on the children's pillows, crept out +by the keyhole to perch on the chimney, as I have said, to await the +arrival of another moth-charger.</p> + +<p>"Next morning Elfie and her brothers peeped into the boxes, and found +each to contain a small cake. On the cakes were baked these words:—</p> + +<h4>FOR THE KING'S FESTIVAL.</h4> + +<p>"The godmother gave them no donation of handsome clothes this time; so +the mother, after dressing them fresh and clean, sent them away on the +journey. Elfie plucked a few wild roses on the way, which Perke twined +among her curls for a head-dress.</p> + +<p>"They were ferried across the river in a royal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> barge, with other +guests, and then found themselves before the gates of the king's palace. +A vast crowd of people thronged the way, bringing rare gifts; and all +were finely robed, except the poor widow's children. The soldiers +presented the glittering points of their lances, asking rudely,—</p> + +<p>"'What do you bring?'</p> + +<p>"'Curiosities to show the king,' replied Small, bravely.</p> + +<p>"'What if there should be nothing in the cakes, after all,' remarked +Perke.</p> + +<p>"'Let us open them and see,' proposed Elfie.</p> + +<p>"'No,' said Perke. 'Wait until we are in the presence of the court.'</p> + +<p>"The palace now rose before them, and was even more splendid than they +had supposed. Entering an archway, the children paused in a spacious +apartment, the dome of which was supported on marble pillars, wrought +with flowers. The king occupied a throne of mosaic-work, under a canopy +of crimson velvet. He wore a stiff mantle of some rich material, had a +long, yellow beard, and such fierce eyes, that little Elfie trembled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +when he looked at her. Perke and Small said they did not mind it much.</p> + +<p>"First, there approached an old woman, black as ebony, with a gorgeous +yellow turban on her head, a broad purple sash about her waist, and red +slippers on her feet. She was a very gay old African lady indeed. In her +hand she carried a shrine of beautiful, fragrant wood; and from it she +took an idol of pure amber, carved with marvellous skill.</p> + +<p>"Next, came an old man, with bent form and silver hair, who drew a case +from his girdle, and displayed, to the delight of the whole court, a +ruby the size of a hen's egg of so brilliant a color that it filled the +palace with a soft, rosy glow.</p> + +<p>"Upon this, a young man hastened forward to hold up before the throne a +diamond chain of rare purity, that absorbed the lustre of the ruby's +splendor, and twinkled like pendent dew-drops.</p> + +<p>"Others brought precious stones also, sapphires, amethysts, and +emeralds, until it would seem as though the world had been sifted for +the costliest gems. Then there were urns of pungent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> spices, censers of +incense, keen-tempered weapons, cloth-of-gold, heavy damask, and +specimens of lace.</p> + +<p>"What seemed to Small the most wonderful thing, was a scroll of tapestry +upon which appeared moving figures, weaving into fantastic forms. +Whatever the king desired to see rehearsed, was there depicted.</p> + +<p>"Afterward approached a fair lady, wearing a green gauze mantle, from +which dripped little rills of water with a musical splash, and wherever +they fell upon the pavement there formed pearls. She displayed a snake +that twined his enamelled body about in graceful coils, at her bidding, +and even licked the king's foot,—an act of homage which made his +majesty rather nervous. The children recognized their enemy, the water +spirit.</p> + +<p>"It now came their turn, and they advanced, the water spirit smiling +maliciously all the time. When they opened the boxes, each cake said, in +a smothered little voice,—</p> + +<p>"'Break me!'</p> + +<p>"This they did, when lo! out of Elfie's stepped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> a goat, wearing a broad +gold collar, and holding a tambourine. He walked up to the throne on his +hind legs, and made a very profound bow. At this everybody laughed; but +what was their astonishment to behold a quaint monkey emerge from +Small's box, with a smart cravat on, and carrying a cocked hat under one +paw. The monkey, instead of following the goat's ceremonious example, +leaped upon Small's shoulder, put on his hat, and winked at the king in +so droll a manner as to entirely disarm any wrath at his impertinence.</p> + +<p>"As for Perke, a bird was already perched upon his finger, whose plumage +resembled spun gold, relieved by an emerald green crest, and patch upon +the breast.</p> + +<p>"'What can your animals do to amuse me?' inquired the king.</p> + +<p>"'If it please your highness,' said the goat, 'the bird will sing while +we dance.'</p> + +<p>"The king assenting, the bird began to sing a lively air; and the other +two executed a quadrille in excellent style, the goat gracefully tapping +his tambourine with one hoof to the music.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> Nor was this the full extent +of their accomplishments; for the three then performed a tragedy, in +which the bird was a stern father, the goat his daughter, and the +monkey, who was naturally the best actor, took several parts, with +admirable skill.</p> + +<p>"All this would have been very amusing, only that the proud king could +not forget that the children belonged only to a poor widow after all. +Perhaps they might have received some prize, as a token of royal favor, +had not the water spirit's snake darted forward, hissing spitefully, and +twined about them.</p> + +<p>"The monkey seized the monster by the throat with his little black paws, +the bird pecked at its eyes, and the goat rapped the tambourine over its +head with a right good-will.</p> + +<p>"Thus defended, the children escaped from the palace safely, still +accompanied by their favorites.</p> + +<p>"'Dear children,' said the bird, as they approached home once more, 'do +not be disappointed that the king has treated you with no more kindness. +Madam Pug allows us to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> remain with you so long as you are good, and +find happiness in the home God has given you.'</p> + +<p>"'We can have a great deal more fun here than with those stupid people +in the palace yonder,' added the monkey, cutting a caper. 'The goat and +I can dance all day for your amusement.'</p> + +<p>"'As to that,' said the goat, stroking his beard gravely, 'we might do +something more profitable.'</p> + +<p>"These were the godmother's gifts after all, which, in course of time, +became famous throughout the country. If any thing was stolen, the +monkey could detect the thief at once. If any debate arose among the +wise men, the goat could settle the argument to their satisfaction, for +he was classically educated. If any person was ill, the bird could +prescribe for them, as he was skilled in the knowledge of medicine.</p> + +<p>"The king could never obtain these three with all the wealth in the +world."</p> + +<p>The Wasp went his way again, the Caterpillar and Spider did the same, +leaving the others alone as before.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Saucepan's day was over, and the Teapot was so badly cracked as to +be unfit for use.</p> + +<p>One day, as the Kettle was swinging lazily on the hook in the chimney, a +lovely butterfly, with wings like shaded brown velvet, poised on a +rose-spray outside the window. It was the Caterpillar transformed!</p> + +<p>The Kettle called to the Cricket, but he did not find his crutch in time +to hobble out (for he was growing infirm) before the butterfly had +flitted out into the sunshine again.</p> + + +<h4>THE END.</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Cricket's Friends, by Virginia W. 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Johnson + +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 Cricket's Friends + Tales Told by the Cricket, Teapot, and Saucepan + +Author: Virginia W. Johnson + +Release Date: August 21, 2011 [EBook #37147] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + + THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS. + + Tales told + + _BY THE CRICKET, TEAPOT, AND SAUCEPAN_ + + BY COUSIN VIRGINIA. + + + NEW YORK: + WORTHINGTON CO., + 747 BROADWAY. + 1888. + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by + NICHOLS AND NOYES, + in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of + Massachusetts. + + Press of J.J. Little & Co., + Astor Place, New York. + + TO + Minnie Slack, + with all fresh young hearts and loving souls akin to her's, this + little book is dedicated, + BY COUSIN VIRGINIA. + + +My little friends, who read the first volume of the "Kettle Club" last +Christmas, will remember an allusion to the introduction of new members +this year. Their history will here be presented. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + THE TRAVELLED SPIDER 14 + + THE AMBITIOUS WASP 41 + + THE DISAPPOINTED CATERPILLAR 73 + + THE FOUR SILVER PEACHES 82 + + GOING MAYING 101 + + GRANDPAPA MOUSE AND HIS FAMILY 116 + + THE ENCHANTED BABY-HOUSE 152 + + THE STORY OF AN UMBRELLA 179 + + THE GODMOTHER'S GIFTS 194 + + + + +THE CRICKET'S FRIENDS. + + +The Club were all curiosity for some time to see the new members who +were to be introduced into the select circle. + +"I am afraid of spiders," remarked the Teapot, with a lady-like shiver. + +"If a caterpillar touched me, I should run a mile," exclaimed the +Saucepan. + +"None of them can reach me," laughed the Kettle with a gurgle of +satisfaction. + +At last the Cricket marched the strangers in one night, and gave them +places about the hearth. + +"Allow me," said he, flourishing his right feeler in the air, "to +introduce to you, friends, some very distinguished additions to our +number,--the travelled Spider, the disappointed Caterpillar, and the +ambitious Wasp." + +"How do you all do?" inquired the Kettle very politely, for the Saucepan +and Teapot seemed rather stiff in their manners. + +"Very well, thank you," growled the Spider. + +"Quite so," croaked the Caterpillar. + +"In excellent spirits," echoed the Wasp, folding his gauzy wings in a +satisfied way. + +"If it is agreeable to the rest, I propose your all joining the Club," +continued the Cricket briskly. + +"Certainly," assented the Kettle; "the more the merrier, you know." + +"I think we should be extremely careful about admitting strangers to our +circle, unless they bring letters of introduction," said the Teapot +primly. + +As for the Saucepan, she contented herself with looking sideways at the +Caterpillar, and coughing contemptuously. This was not very pleasant; so +the Cricket trotted up to the two rebellious members, and gave them a +pretty sharp lecture upon the laws of courtesy and good breeding, which +served effectually to make them ashamed of themselves. The visitors now +became angry, and began to talk together of leaving without delay, +which naturally distressed the good-hearted president, who was so much +affected by a desire to do something pleasant, that he swung himself +wildly upon the hook, and thereby sprinkled those below with a stream of +scalding water. + +"Mercy!" shrieked the Wasp, dancing on one foot in an agony. + +"Oh, my back!" groaned the Caterpillar, rolling himself about in a ball. + +"What ails you, Kettle?" cried the poor Cricket, running about with his +eye almost put out from receiving a whole drop in it. "Do keep your hot +water to yourself." + +The Spider alone was unhurt; so he merely shook himself, and sat +chuckling at the discomfiture of the others. + +After doing all this mischief, the Kettle subsided, with many meek +apologies. + +"We can give you references enough, if that is all you want," said the +Wasp snappishly; "but we had better leave, I think, comrades, before we +have another hot bath. My hind leg is completely disabled." + +"Do not go," urged the Cricket. "We should enjoy your society so much, I +am sure, when we become better acquainted." + +The three visitors looked at each other in silence for a time; then the +Spider said,-- + +"I have just returned home, and, as it is so near, I do not mind running +in to spend the evening; so I will join the Club." + +"I will also," said the Caterpillar in a dismal tone of voice, "only I +am not very good company for any one now." + +"Dear me," said the Wasp, airily, "I shall not promise to remain any +longer than I am amused." + +The Teapot and Saucepan became more amiable in their behavior as the +evening advanced, and the Cricket hastened to assure the new-comers that +references, other than their evident respectability of appearance, were +entirely unnecessary. They insisted upon producing testimony, however. + +The Caterpillar took from his throat, about which it was twisted like a +cravat, a bit of green rose-leaf, and handed it to the Cricket, who read +aloud,-- + + "I can certify that my esteemed friend, the Caterpillar, will prove + a charming addition to any circle. + + "GRASSHOPPER, Jr." + +The Wasp then passed a lump of wax to the chairman, with these words +pecked upon it:-- + + "I cordially recommend our neighbor Wasp to the society of all + intelligent people, as a most refined and agreeable companion. + + "A. TITMOUSE, Esq." + +The Spider alone of the three gave no letter, but said coolly,-- + +"I have seen plenty of the world, yet I have never troubled myself with +such nonsense as cards." + +"You will not find ceremonies of the kind necessary here," remarked the +Cricket, with a severe glance at the Teapot. "Perhaps you will tell us +something of your adventures, however. + +"I do not mind doing so at all," returned the Spider, gathering up his +long legs into a more comfortable position. + + + + +THE TRAVELLED SPIDER. + + +I was born in the cellar of this very house, and, for a delightful, +spidery residence, I know of no place to equal the dark, dust-stained +window ledge where I first drew breath. After a long period of absence, +I find my early home has lost none of its charms. This is the case with +men as well as spiders, I am told. The American thinks there is no river +in the world so grand as the great Mississippi; the Frenchman none so +beautiful as the Seine; the Englishman none so famous as the Thames; the +German as the Rhine; and the Egyptian as the sacred Nile,--because home +is represented by each. + +"So, too, with me the cellar window has rare attractions: there one can +spin a dainty web to snare the silly flies and gnats, when they come +dancing along, for supper. Never believe the life of a spider is an +easy one, though: that is an altogether false idea. We work hard enough, +although we wear such good armor, and have such sharp, strong claws; for +we live by our wits, and a dull, stupid spider has but a poor chance of +it. First, one has to be on the watch for stray morsels of food, to be +ready for a pounce; then one's net may become torn in some way so as to +require mending; or a wandering spider comes prowling along to try and +conquer a home without the trouble of making it: so between all these +cares there is little leisure time to spare. The class to which I belong +does not have the constant labor that falls to the share of some of our +cousins, who spin their webs from trees, or festoon them about verandas +and other exposed localities, where the wind often blows them about so +roughly, that they are obliged to suspend bits of wood and stone to the +corners to maintain an equilibrium. I have some other relatives, to +think of whom alone is enough to warm any spider's heart with pride. + +"Foremost of these ranks the scorpion of warmer climates, where it +creeps into sheltered crannies under every stone or sandy bank, even +inhabiting boots and gloves. When disturbed, out it pounces, with an +angry snap of the claws and a savage whisk of the tail, ready for some +mischief, you may be sure. + +"Ah, I wish I was a scorpion, instead of a mere ordinary spider! But +then every one cannot be great, after all. + +"Well, even the scorpion is foolish sometimes, as I will presently tell +you. It lives in burrows, which it digs in the ground, the entrance +being formed to the exact size of the insect. By the shape of the hole +people discover the residence, and, when they wish to destroy the +inmate, they pour some water down, to see if the scorpion is at home. +The scorpion detests water; and it no sooner feels the stream trickling +through the opening, than out it rushes, to see what is the matter. To +drive a spade into the hole and kill the scorpion is then an easy task. + +"There is still another mode of destroying these princes of our race. A +circle of smouldering ashes is made around the burrow, and the scorpion, +after running for some minutes about the space inclosed, and seeing no +means of escape from the ring of fire, invariably bends its tail up over +the back, and inserting the point between two segments of the body, +stings itself to death. + +"I have another powerful relative, to be found in South America. This is +a large hairy spider, two inches long in body, and seven inches with +expanded legs. Only fancy such a size! I should be a mere pigmy in +comparison. This spider is so powerful that it can kill small birds, by +entangling them in a strong web. Think of that!" cried the Spider, +hugging himself with satisfaction. + +"You need not turn up your broken nose, Madame Teapot: we are all +murderers; still we do any amount of good, after all, in destroying +insects that would otherwise cause much trouble." + +"I don't believe a word of what you say," interrupted the Saucepan. "A +spider kill a bird, indeed! Nobody ever heard of such a thing." + +"My dear," interposed the Teapot scornfully, feeling very much angered +at the allusion to her nose made by the ill-bred stranger, "great +travellers always tell fine stories." + +"While you stay at home, and, seeing nothing, doubt what we say," +retorted the Spider half angrily. + +"Oh, dear me!" exclaimed the Cricket impatiently, "shall we never have +peace? I was so much interested in your recital, friend, that an +interruption seems very annoying indeed." + +"I am glad to find you a Cricket of such large views," replied the +Spider politely; "so I will proceed, if it affords you any pleasure. My +mother had much more experience of the outside world than any of her +neighbors, and, when I was still young, she talked with my father one +night about my future prospects in life. I remember that we children +were in the nursery--a silken tube, very soft and warm for our tender +bodies--when I overheard her remarks. + +"'I cannot consent that my eldest son should settle down here at home, +when there is so much to be seen that will improve his mind,' she said. + +"'That is foolish,' returned my father wisely. 'He will only fall into +all manner of mischief, and he cannot make himself any thing but a house +spider after all.' + +"I never slept a wink afterward, that night; and soon after I gained the +consent of my parents to start on my travels. + +"I had an easier time than most insects would enjoy, in leaving the +shelter of their homes. When I was in danger I could generally trust +that my long legs would carry me out of harm's way; and, if I was not +able to escape, I just hid under a stone, or rolled myself up into a +snug ball among the loose soil. + +"I cannot begin to tell you all the curious adventures I had, or the +strange things I heard; for I have been away such a long while, I have +forgotten more than half. Still I remember a few particulars of +interest. + +"I was trotting about one day through a field of dry stubble, when I saw +a pleasant river winding along in the sunlight, and sought the bank. The +first object I noticed was a Kingfisher, seated motionless upon an +overhanging branch, and peering eagerly down into the water in search +of food. A very handsome bird is the Kingfisher, I assure you, with his +blue coat of shining feathers, and scarlet shirt front; but so still is +he when watching for prey, you would not notice him, sometimes, among +the bushes. + +"'How are you to-day, sir?' I cried, while still at a distance. 'Are the +fish lively, may I inquire?' + +"'Keep quiet, will you?' said the Kingfisher, turning his head +impatiently towards me. + +"'There, I have lost a splendid chance through your speaking,' he added +angrily, as a fish darted past. + +"'I am very sorry to have disturbed you,' I replied, crawling out upon a +twig, the better to observe his proceedings. + +"'I have carried every thing home to my family, and I am now as empty as +a drum,' said the Kingfisher in an aggrieved tone, and then he resumed +his watch. + +"Suddenly down he dropped into the water, with a rush that fairly took +my breath away, and, after splashing about furiously for a few seconds, +returned to land, having a small fish in his beak. + +"'Ha, ha!' laughed the Kingfisher, 'I've got you at last. Yes, and there +is plenty of room left for some of your plump brothers and sisters +besides.' + +"So saying, he tossed the poor fish up in the air; then, opening wide +his beak, caught and swallowed it with great apparent relish. I was very +much amused by all this; so I said, as he settled upon the perch once +more,-- + +"'Well, well, we spiders are considered terrible butchers by most +people, but we are rather more dainty than to gulp down our meals in +that fashion. I hope you may not suffer from an indigestion, Mr. +Kingfisher.' + +"'Do not worry over that,' returned he, cocking his bright eye at me. +Then he flew away, and I scrambled after him as fast as I could, for I +was curious to see how Madame Kingfisher and the babies fared. + +"I followed the flight of the bird until he disappeared on the ground +somewhere, and I arrived just in time to see him pop into a hole on the +water side of the bank. I crept into the tunnel, which was originally +made by a tiny animal, the water-shrew, and which had been enlarged by +the Kingfisher to suit the size of the nest. This nest, my dear friends, +I found to be composed of dried fish-bones,--mostly those of +minnows,--and arranged in a nearly flat form, save a slight hollow +pressed by the bird's shape while laying eggs." + +"Oh, oh!" spurted the incredulous Saucepan, "that is a worse fib than +the account of the bird spider." + +"Very wonderful, indeed," bubbled the Kettle, who had not ventured to +speak since he scalded the company. + +"I could tell you stranger things than that," said the Wasp, hopping out +upon the hearth nimbly as the Kettle swung. + +"One at a time, if you please," interposed the Cricket, restoring order. + +"You would not doubt the truth of what I say," continued the Spider, +shrugging his shoulders, and making a comical grimace, "if you once +sniffed the horribly fishy odor of the Kingfisher's burrow. Bah! I can +smell it yet. I hid in a dark corner, watching them as long as I dared; +for I feared I should be crushed when the bird came out again, the +entrance was so small. + +"'How do you find yourself, my love?' inquired the father Kingfisher +politely. + +"'It is rather dull, you know,' replied the mother Kingfisher. 'Hush, +nestlings, you cannot eat another morsel; so be quiet.' + +"They chippered together for a while; then I ran out just in time, for +the other followed quickly. + +"'What are you doing in my house?' he asked angrily. + +"'I wanted to see how pretty it might be,' I answered saucily. + +"Upon this the Kingfisher pounced at me; but I dodged this way and that, +and a fine race we had of it. Finally, I saw a lady and gentleman +walking along together; so I climbed upon her trailing dress, while the +bird grew shy, and flew away. I strolled about upon the lady's dress for +a while, until she saw me, and gave a shriek of alarm. This was even +better fun than the race with the Kingfisher. I cantered up and down, +the gentleman trying in vain to catch me; I pretended to run off upon +the grass; then I stole back, and hid inside one of her curls. Here I +remained all the evening, peering out now and then, when she returned to +the house, to watch the gay lights and people. When she retired to her +room, she combed me out of my hiding-place; but I did not care, so I +walked out the window as if nothing had happened. The stars were shining +brightly, and, as the night was so warm, I thought I would walk on a bit +farther before finding a night's lodging. Like all good travellers, I +had learned not to care much where I slept. + +"The bats were swooping about on the watch for mosquitos and other +insects; the owls hooted from the tree-tops, and the bull-frogs croaked +duets across the marshes with each other; while beautiful moths +fluttered on the still air, to enjoy themselves after sleeping all day. + +"Seated before the door of his house was a relative of yours [addressing +the Chairman], the Field-cricket, chirping briskly. I knew he was a +fierce, combative sort of fellow; still I tried to be very polite, as I +wanted to get a peep into his mansion. + +"'I am glad to meet so clever a house-builder, as yourself,' I said, +with a low bow. + +"'As to that,' returned he modestly, 'I am nothing to the Mole-cricket.' + +"'If I could only have a glimpse of your residence,' I sighed. + +"The Cricket grew affable, and offered to make a call with me upon the +Mole-cricket. Accordingly we started together; and it was fortunate I +had a guide, for otherwise I never should have discovered the abode of +this curious insect. It is very quarrelsome with its own kind, as +perhaps you are aware; and it passes nearly the whole of its life +underground, in the many winding galleries and passages, excavated by +means of the spade-like limbs. + +"'I hope we may find him in a good humor,' remarked the Field-cricket. +'Hulloa!' + +"He called several times; then, receiving no answer, pushed a blade of +grass into the opening, when out dashed the Mole-cricket, furious at the +intrusion. + +"'What do you want?' he asked, snapping his strong claws at us in a very +unpleasant manner. + +"'The Field-cricket was so kind as to bring me here, hoping that you +would allow me to see something of your house,' I said boldly. + +"'I have just got it into a splendid state of order, so I do not mind.' + +"'Wait,' exclaimed the Field-cricket, as we were about to enter, 'you +must promise not to eat us up after we get in.' + +"'I promise,' laughed the other; 'I have already had my supper, so I am +not hungry.' + +"For my own part I did not fear being devoured, as I knew I was too +prickly and tough a morsel to tempt any appetite. The Field-cricket, +however, might with reason entertain apprehensions, for he was as sleek +and plump as I was lean and bristly. He took the precaution of putting +me between himself and our guide, so that he could keep on guard should +the Mole-cricket forget his promise. Well, the latter behaved very well +instead; so I have really no complaint to make. He led us through such a +number of dark passages, that I was fairly bewildered with the size and +variety of the smooth-walled tunnels. + +"'Why do you have so many?' I inquired, when we paused, quite out of +breath, in a kind of central chamber. + +"'Oh!' he replied, 'one must have a large house to run about in; and +after all it is not so much work to make it. Besides, I can hide +securely here, in ever so many different places, if necessary. This is +the nursery,' he added, pausing before a really large cavity, which was +much nearer the surface of the ground than the rest of his habitation. +It was a fine apartment, nicely prepared for the reception of some two +or three hundred yellow eggs. + +"'I build this so much nearer the surface,' explained the Mole-cricket, +'so that the eggs may have the benefit of the sun's warmth, although I +dislike it so much myself, that I always burrow deep in the earth while +the daylight lasts.' + +"All this time I observed the Field-cricket grew more ill at ease,--now +giving an anxious croak, then skipping back a pace, if the Mole-cricket +only looked at him. He had some cause, sure enough. When we arrived at +the entrance once more, I saluted our host courteously, thanking him +for the pleasure he had given us. The Mole-cricket, instead of replying +politely, made a sudden rush at his cousin, with his large jaws wide +open. I stepped between them just in time to save the Field-cricket, who +ran away as fast as ever he could; and that is the last I ever saw of +him. + +"'You had better go home again,' I said to the disappointed +Mole-cricket. 'All I regret is that I should have seen you do such a +thing, for I did not suppose you were so much of a barbarian.' + +"'Ho, ho!' he growled, in a sulky tone. 'I would eat you up for your +impudence, were you not so tough-looking.' + +"'I am afraid you would have a nightmare afterward,' I rejoined; and +then we parted, never to meet again. + +"My attention was next attracted to a globe, about the size of a +cricket-ball, suspended from the head of a thistle by several stout +grass stems. It was woven together firmly, and presented no opening that +I could perceive; yet the walls were so delicately thin, that the forms +of some tiny animals, packed snugly together in this secure, though +airy nest, were to be seen. Presently I beheld a pretty little creature, +clothed in thick, soft fur, marked with white, nimbly climbing the stem +of a plant, to pounce upon an unsuspicious fly, which it did as swiftly +and accurately as a swallow. + +"'What do you want here?' said the Harvest-mouse suspiciously. + +"'I am only seeking a night's lodging; so I will creep into this +harebell, I think.' + +"I slept soundly; the wind rocked my cradle delightfully. The next +morning my curiosity was gratified, when I peeped out, by seeing the +Harvest-mouse pay a visit to the baby mice. Her own body was so slender, +that she could easily crawl through any space in the nest: which she +did; and, when she came out again, the opening was carefully covered by +the meshes of fine grass blades, so that the ball was apparently entire +as before. + +"'Ah, ha! my lady,' I cried, jumping down beside her. 'That is the way +you do it, eh?' + +"The mother-mouse gave a little shriek of terror; but then, seeing it +was only a Spider that spoke, she laughed good-naturedly. + +"'I am not afraid of harm from you,' she said 'but there are so many +horrible creatures about, ready to destroy us, that my nerves are often +sadly shaken.' + +"'Pooh! you must not be so timid,' I urged. 'Now, for my part, I have +travelled a long distance; yet I have found no peril that I could not +easily escape from.' + +"'Never mind,' returned the Harvest-mouse, shaking her head. 'You will +be frightened yet, depend upon it.' + +"I soon found, to my sorrow, that I was to be not only frightened, but +in serious danger. I was nearly killed the next moment by the ant-lion." + +"What is an ant-lion?" inquired the Teapot. + +"Ah! I know," sighed the Wasp. + +"And I also," echoed the Cricket. + +"But what is it?" chimed in the eager Saucepan, by this time quite +interested in the Spider's narrative. + +"I will tell you," pursued the Spider. "The ant-lion is a beautiful kind +of insect, resembling the dragon-fly in its larval or imperfect state. +It feeds chiefly upon active insects; and, as it is too slow of motion +to catch them otherwise, it resorts to a very clever expedient,--it +makes all food come within reach; thus saving a world of trouble. The +head is furnished with a pair of long, curved mandibles, which gives to +the inner jaws a free play. The grub makes a pitfall to entrap any +passing prey, by tracing a shallow trench, the circle varying from one +to two inches in diameter. It then makes another round, starting just +within the first circle; and so it proceeds, continually scooping up the +sand with its head, and jerking it outside the trench. By continuing +this process, always tracing smaller and smaller circles, the ant-lion +at last completes a conical pit, buries itself in the sand, and waits. + +"Like many another inquisitive ant, beetle, or spider, I went along to +the edge of the pit, and peeped in to see what it might contain, when to +my horror the sand gave way, and I slid down, down, almost into the jaws +opened wide to receive me. I turned faint with fright for a moment; then +strength returned, and I scrambled up the side again. This was not easy, +as may be imagined: the sand loosened more and more every step I took, +and, even faster than I showered it down, the ant-lion flung it back, +endeavoring to keep the sides steep, and prevent my escape. + +"I just struggled to the brink, when who should come to my assistance +but the good-hearted Harvest-mouse, who had witnessed the whole affair +from her overhanging nest. She kindly extended her long tail for my +benefit, which I eagerly clutched, and so was dragged out alive. + +"Ugh! I never see a dragon-fly floating along, without thinking of that +dreadful pit where the ant-lion lurked in waiting for victims. I felt +too much exhausted to move after that, and, while in so miserably +helpless a state, a bird snapped me up, to carry me through the air by +three legs, as food for the young birds. They were very +hungry,--children generally are,--but they would not give me so much as +a peck of their greedy bills. + +"'Why did you not bring a nice, fat-bodied garden-spider, while you were +about it?' said the robin-mother reproachfully. + +"I was then flung out of the nest, and fortunately caught upon a +projecting twig as I fell. I hid under a leaf to rest awhile, +congratulating myself that I was so rough and ugly. + +"Several pretty young squirrels were whisking about the branches, while +their parents gravely watched their sports with tails curled up over +their backs in repose; or joined in the fun, chasing to loftier perches, +where it made me giddy to watch them swaying about, and leaping from +tree to tree, then returning to my immediate vicinity again. + +"'Do you live out here?' I inquired, going towards them. + +"'Yes,' they said, 'this is our summer house, you know; and very +comfortable we find it for the heat of the season.' + +"'I wish you would let me look at it.' + +"'Oh! you can do that, certainly. It is built in sight of all the world. +This is not the case with our winter house, however.' + +"The cage was made of very slight materials, and placed upon the +extremity of a frail branch, that swayed with every gust of wind. 'I +should think you would be shaken out,' I remarked. + +"'Not a bit of it,' returned the mother Squirrel. 'We could not be +reached by any animal, the branch is so slender; and I am seldom +frightened by the cries of boys,--unless, indeed, a stone should rudely +strike the cage, when I take each of my young ones in my mouth, and +deposit them in a place of safety.' + +"'Where, then, is your winter home?' I next asked. + +"'Ah! that is a question,' replied the father Squirrel, rubbing his nose +with one little paw, in a knowing way. + +"'I do not wish to make any impertinent inquiries, but I should like +very much to know something more of your interesting family,' I said +modestly. + +"Upon this the two parents whispered and nodded together for a time, +then turned to me again. 'If you promise not to tell any cat afterward, +you can see it,' they said. + +"Of course I consented. The winter cage was located in the fork of a +tree, where the boughs concealed it from view, and served to shelter +from the wind as well. The nest was quite large, being composed of +moss, leaves, and grass. + +"'Come in and see how nice and warm it is,' invited the hospitable +Squirrels. + +"'Do you build a new house every year?' + +"'No: that would be too much trouble; so we generally occupy one for +several seasons.' + +"Bidding the amiable Squirrel family good-by, I crawled down the tree to +the earth once more. I began to weary of this rough-and-tumble sort of +life. In the struggle with the ant-lion I had sprained my back, which +malady was severely aggravated by the rude treatment of the bird that +carried me through the air, only to throw me away when the nestlings +declined tasting of me. + +"I reached the bank of the stream where I had first seen the Kingfisher; +then, as the day was cloudy and cool, I sat down in a nut-shell, that +served to keep me warm. While I lazily watched the fish dart through the +crystal waters, and the birds flutter overhead, a curious object came +floating towards me. What do you suppose it was? Why, nothing less than +a snug raft of dried leaves and twigs, fastened together with silken +threads, that bobbed along right merrily, bearing the sailor who +constructed it easily and securely. He was really a remarkably handsome +fellow, of a dark, chocolate-brown color, marked with a broad, orange +band, and with pale-red legs. This was the floating palace of the +Raft-spider, who not only pursues insects on shore, but trots out upon +the water after them just as well. In doing this he requires some +resting-place, and so builds the raft that excited my wonder and +admiration. When he saw me sitting in the nut-shell on the shore, he +laughed loudly; while I was only too glad to attract his attention, for +I had a favor to ask. + +"'Will you take me on board?' I inquired. + +"'Yes: run ahead to yonder large pebble; then you can jump on when I +pass by.' + +"I did so; and when he came alongside I sprang aboard of the raft, which +was amply large enough to receive both of us. I thought there never was +better fun than sailing down the stream in this style. We danced along +smoothly on the current when the water was calm, or we whirled round +eddies and rapids; but we passed through all these dangers in safety. +The Raft-spider conversed pleasantly. He frequently dashed overboard +after some unlucky insect that had fallen into the water, moths, flies, +and beetles; or he snapped up some tiny wanderer that rose to the +surface for air; sometimes even crawling down the stems of plants for +prey to the depth of several inches. He always returned to the raft with +these spoils, and cordially invited me to share them, which I did with +relish. + +"'Eat away,' he urged. 'I can get plenty more at any time, while you +look as thin as a starved grasshopper.' + +"We had already become excellent friends, when we suddenly beheld a +large boat steering swiftly towards us. The Raft-spider is extremely +cautious; so, bidding me follow, he slid overboard to hide, as he was in +the habit of doing when any danger threatened. Now this was all very +well for him, as he could live under water for some time; but what was +to become of me? The water bubbled up into my ears; I opened my jaws to +scream, only to have more gurgle down my throat. I sputtered and gasped +and floundered, until my companion took compassion upon me, and held my +head up until the boat had passed, when he dragged me on to the raft +again, more dead than alive. + +"'To be sure,' he remarked gayly, 'I forgot you were not the same kind +of a Spider as myself. You are only a landsman, after all.' + +"'Do you have to jump overboard in that fashion often?' I faintly asked. + +"'Bless you! I have done so every five minutes sometimes.' + +"'I should like to land, then, if you please.' + +"The Raft-spider made fun of my fears; but I was determined to get away +from the water as soon as possible, so he put me ashore, and went on his +way, still laughing." + +Here the narrator was interrupted by the entrance of Hulda, who whisked +the Teapot and Saucepan off to a high shelf across the room. The +Cricket, Wasp, and Caterpillar fled in opposite directions, but the +unfortunate Spider was not quick enough to escape. The thrifty +housekeeper espied him with her keen eyes, and, pouncing upon him, +caught, and threw him out of the window. + +Here was an abrupt close to the story. The others could do nothing but +sigh over this misfortune, and finally the Cricket said,-- + +"I propose, for one, that we do not meet again until the family have +gone to bed; as, by so doing, we will not run the risk of being thrown +out of the window." + +To this they agreed; and then they separated, the Wasp and Caterpillar +accepting an invitation to visit the Cricket in his mansion behind the +brick. + +The next night, when the household had retired, the Kettle Club resumed +their places about the hearth. The Teapot had been left beside the fire, +fortunately; but the poor Saucepan, to her great vexation, still rested +on the shelf. They had hoped to hear something of the fate of the +Spider; but, although the Cricket had been out of doors, prowling about +that day, he could find no trace of the missing member. + +"Such an interesting Spider as he was, too," commented the Kettle. + +"Yes, indeed," assented the Teapot amiably; "I did not suppose one of +his race could be so agreeable." + +"There is no use groaning, since it cannot bring him back again," said +the Wasp sharply. "Who is to speak to-night?" + +"We should be delighted to hear you," said the crafty Cricket, desirous +of keeping the Wasp in a good humor. + +"Perhaps you will not find my history interesting, after that of the +Spider," said he with affected modesty: he thought it would be much more +so all the time. + +"I am sure we shall," cordially returned the Cricket. + + + + +THE AMBITIOUS WASP. + + +"To begin then," commenced the Wasp, "I must first describe to you how I +was born. Did any of you ever see, very early in the spring, one of my +tribe flying slowly about, pausing to examine every earth bank, now +exploring the burrow of a field-mouse, or perhaps entering the tunnel of +a boring insect, all the while buzzing in a fussy way?" + +"I now remember watching a Wasp during my travels, that behaved in a +very curious manner," said the Cricket. "It alighted upon a wood-pile, +and gnawed off a quantity of fibres, which were kneaded together +carefully into a ball; and then the Wasp flew away with the ball to a +hole near by. I did not dare ask any questions; because I feared +receiving a sting for my curiosity, and I have heard such a wound is +most painful." + +"Ah! that is always the way," said the other in an aggrieved tone. "We +are thought by man to be good for nothing but to steal sugar, or other +sweets; and gnaw holes in fruit, to disfigure the ripe beauty of +peaches, plums, and apricots. We are called lazy fellows, going about to +give any one a sharp thrust; when in reality a sting often causes death, +by tearing the poison-bag. This belief is partly true; still not +altogether, for we are also of some good in the world. We do not live +solely upon the juices of flowers and fruits: we are very fond of the +hosts of flies that swarm about and render themselves so annoying in the +summer season. For instance, if you notice the pigs in the farm-yard any +warm day, you will observe that the flies cluster thickly over their +skins, tormenting the poor animals terribly. This torment is greatly +lessened by the wasps, who skim over the fence every now and then, and +capture a fly inevitably in their fatal grasp." + +"Is it possible!" exclaimed the Teapot. + +"Yes, indeed," returned the Wasp complacently. "But I must tell you how +I was born. The Wasp you saw on the wood-pile was selecting a home, +like a careful matron, and was bundling the fibres together to use in +the construction of her nest. This she was obliged to do without any +help whatever, for all the other wasps had died the previous autumn, +while she was left to sleep through the winter in some warm nook, then +found a new colony in the spring. Having brought the fibres to her +burrow, she runs up the side of the chamber, clinging to the roof with +the last pair of legs, while with the first pair aided by the jaws, she +fixes the woody pulp to the roof, forming a little pillar. Other pellets +are attached, until this pillar, like a stalactite in a cave, is +completed. At the end of the pillar she places three very shallow cups, +lays an egg in each, and makes a roof over them. More cells are then +added, eggs laid in them, and the roof extended over the whole. By the +time all this is done, the eggs laid in the first three cells are +hatched into tiny grubs, who are terribly hungry, requiring ever so many +flies from the mother Wasp. At last they cease to feed; spin a silken +cover over their cells; and, after spending a short time in this +retirement, tear away the covering with their jaws, emerging perfect +insects. + +"They now repay the mother Wasp for her care, by assisting in all heavy +labors, so that she really has little to do, but lay eggs as fast as +cells can be made for their accommodation. Before long the first terrace +is completely filled with cells, and more room is needed. The wasps next +construct several more pillars exactly like the first one; and, by +adding cells to these, another terrace is built below the first one. +Three or four more terraces continue to form, the cells of these last +being so small, that the mother Wasp cannot put her head into them. The +inmates of these cradles are very much smaller than their parent, and +are known as the workers, their lives being devoted to labor. These +workers make excellent nurses, always feeding and tending the baby wasps +with jealous care. Towards the close of the summer their conduct +changes, however; they feel that a quick death for those nurslings who +will not have time to grow up before cold weather is best, so they pull +the helpless white things out of their beds, and carry them outside to +die. I am glad I was able to grow to wasphood." + +"Please raise your voice a trifle," said the Saucepan, in a vexed tone. +"I cannot hear half that you say, over there." + +"You had better use an ear-trumpet," remarked the Wasp impertinently. "I +am already as hoarse as a raven from shouting so loudly." + +"When the nest is abandoned the workers die; and so do almost all of the +others, save a few of the females." + +"How is it that you are alive, then?" interrupted the Teapot. + +"One thing at a time, if you please," said the Wasp pettishly; "I am +telling you as fast as ever I can. When I first spread my wings to fly +out into the warm, bright sunshine, I was half-wild with delight at my +new strength and beauty. The world seemed such a wonderful place! The +air was so fresh, the flowers so fragrant and varied in coloring, and +the hills so grand in height, that I could only flutter from place to +place, bewildered with happiness. I alighted finally upon a +catalpa-tree, whose branches were covered with splendid blossoms." + +"'You feel very gay,' rustled the tree. + +"'Yes, I am only just born; so I may well be gay.' I answered. + +"'Ah! dance while you may,' said the Catalpa gravely. 'Your life lasts a +few hours, but mine for years.' + +"My fine spirits were chilled in a moment, and I dropped to the grass, +feeling utterly miserable. I could only enjoy all this pleasure for a +few hours after all! There was so much to see, and so little time to see +it in, where should I turn first? While I sat there thinking after this +fashion, a pansy slowly unfolded, and out of it stepped a tiny figure, +no longer than one of my legs. I was not very wise, but I knew it must +be a fairy or elf that now stood before me. He wore knee-breeches, a +jacket to match, and a funny little cobweb cap. + +"'So we are sad, eh?' he said, winking one eye drolly. + +"'I have such a short time to live, that I do not know which way to turn +first,' I replied. + +"'That is a pity,' said the sprite, rocking himself upon a stem of +seed-grass, as if it were a hobby horse. 'What would you do if you +could live longer?' + +"'What would I not do?' I exclaimed. 'I should try to see every thing +beautiful and curious in the whole world.' + +"'Stop a bit,' he interposed. 'You shall do this if you desire it so +much.' He took off his cobweb cap and threw it at me, saying, 'This will +make you invisible, if you put it on your head, when any danger +threatens.' + +"Before I had time to thank him the elf turned a somersault in the air, +and plunged head first into his pansy mansion, which closed upon him." + +Just at this moment the Kettle Club was startled by a sudden thump, +thump in the room. + +"What was that?" whispered the Teapot; and all the others listened, +without daring to look over their shoulders, for the fire was rather +low. + +"It is only I," said the Saucepan. "I have jumped off the shelf to hear +better." + +"You must have hurt yourself," said the Kettle. + +"Oh, no: I only feel a trifle jarred. I am made of tin, you know." + +How were they to move the Saucepan nearer to the hearth? + +"I think I could be rolled over, if any one would be so kind as to push +me," she suggested eagerly. + +So the Cricket, Caterpillar, and Wasp trotted out, and by pushing +together succeeded in moving the Saucepan to the fireside. + +"We can never turn you over," panted the Caterpillar. + +"I can rest on my side," said the Saucepan cheerily. + +"Your lid lies out yonder on the floor," said the Cricket. + +"That is not the least matter. It would not stay on my head if I had it. +Go on with the story, please; I am sorry to have made so much trouble." + +"Where was I?" inquired the Wasp. + +"The pansy fairy had just disappeared," said the Kettle, who for a +wonder remembered the story. + +"To be sure," resumed the Wasp briskly. "I skipped with delight at my +brighter prospects, and started forward again with renewed courage. I +first encountered some of my brothers and sisters, to whom I at once +communicated my good fortune. Strange to say they none of them seemed to +appreciate my superior advantages. + +"'For my part I do not wish to live any longer than the sunlight lasts,' +said one; and to this sentiment the others agreed. + +"'My ambition leads me further,' I answered, and flew onward, never to +see them more. + +"I passed over the broad expanse of land, until I saw the sea glittering +like a polished mirror in the distance. How I should like to make a +voyage! I paused to rest upon a cliff that rose steep and smooth, with +the ocean foaming about the base. There were a great number of +bird-nests drilled in the surface of the rock, and by peering over the +brink I could see the young birds, that were the funniest little balls +of white down imaginable. Suddenly a parent bird came swooping home, +and hopped into the very nest that I was examining. + +"'Don't tumble me into the water,' I cried, clutching at the slippery +stone, for the rapid flutter of the bird's wings made me giddy. + +"'I will not hurt you,' said the other. 'I have been a long way to-day, +and I have really gained little to eat for my trouble. I followed a +great ship for hours, and only caught up a few crumbs, after all.' + +"'Why, I do believe you are one of Mother Carey's chickens,' I +exclaimed. + +"'My proper name is the Stormy Petrel; still the sailors call me Mother +Carey's chicken. I do not know why, but then sailors have queer ideas. +Bless you, I can frighten them terribly by just skimming round and round +on the wind: they then reef all sails, thinking I am about to bring a +storm by my presence. Ha, ha!' laughed the bird merrily, 'only think of +little me being dreaded by great, strong men. I can generally tell when +a storm is coming,--they are right in supposing that much,--and oh! how +I enjoy it! Why, friend Wasp, you have no idea what life really is, +just fluttering about among the flowers and trees: I should gasp for +breath where every thing is only still sunshine. What I call life is to +see the clouds piled in dark masses overhead, the waves rearing +mountains high, and to have the wind blow a hurricane.' + +"'I should imagine such exposure would beat the life out of you,' I +remarked. + +"'Not at all,' replied the Petrel. 'I like to be tossed about, and +spread my wings on the gale, although it may nearly take my breath +away.' + +"'I never dreamed of such a life,' I said; 'please tell me more about +yourself.' + +"'First I must feed my young one, as I have been away all day. We never +lay but one egg, fortunately, for we have to feed them ourselves. We +secrete a kind of oil in the digestive organs for them. Indeed, we are +such oily birds, that in some parts of the world the natives thrust a +stick through our bodies, and use us for lamps.' + +"'You are gone so long,' piped the nursling. + +"'That is to find something to eat, my dear.' + +"'The time is so long, doing nothing but sit alone, staring out at the +sea,' clamored the nursling. + +"'Very true,' assented the mother Petrel quietly; 'but there is no help +for it, except to grow strong and fly for yourself.' + +"Upon this the young one began to strut and tumble about the nest, to +the great delight of the parent, who encouraged such exertions. We +became excellent friends, and talked over my plans of travel. + +"'I dare not venture upon the ocean; because, if I grew tired of flying, +I must fall into the waves and be drowned.' + +"'You would soon be fatigued. Supposing I carried you?' said the Petrel. + +"Here was a splendid idea. If I could only be taken to other lands, what +pleasures would be in store for me. The Petrel promised to bear me over +the seas, if I would wait until the nestling was able to take care of +itself. I lived inland while I waited, and visited the birds every day +in their rocky home. When the time approached for our departure, the +mother bird proposed I should take a sail, just to accustom myself to +the voyage by way of trial. I climbed upon her back, and she made a dart +straight out into the air, that drove every particle of bravery out of +my body. + +"'Now, then,' said Mother Carey's chicken, 'hold on tight, and I will +show you some better fun still.' + +"I begged her to return to land; but the wind blew so strongly, that she +did not hear my faint voice. She whirled in circles, pattered upon the +water surface unconcernedly, and rose in the air with the rapidity of +the arrow shot from a bow. I closed my eyes, and clung about the bird's +neck, fearing every moment a fall into the great green billows that +rolled away into space, as far as sight could reach. When we landed once +more, I fainted away. The Petrel was dancing on one leg, and laughed at +me, when I opened my eyes again. + +"'I have a great mind to give up the journey,' I said in a pet. 'I can +never cling to you in this way. If I had been content to lead the life +of an ordinary wasp, I might have escaped all this trouble and +vexation.' + +"'It is never well to quarrel with destiny,' remarked my companion. +'Still, I would not give up because of a first sea-sickness.' + +"Presently I regained my courage somewhat, and we began to ponder how I +could be fastened on. I flew to land, and procured several long +horse-hairs. These I wound about the bird's slender throat, and strapped +myself tightly to her body. What a journey we made of it! The faithful +Petrel must have carried me an immense distance. Sometimes she perched +on the rigging of a ship, sometimes we rode on the waves, or we paused +for the night at some rocky isle; yet Mother Carey's chicken never +seemed to weary of the scenery about us." + +"What did you have to eat?" inquired the Caterpillar, who, like all +caterpillars, had a famous appetite of his own. + +"Very little, indeed," said the Wasp. "A stray insect now and then, but +never a sip of honey the whole way. I took the precaution, before +starting, of fastening a blade of grass about my waist; in the same way +that Indians gird themselves before making a journey, to prevent any +feeling of hunger. At last land was seen in the distance, and I again +stood on firm, dry ground. + +"'Good-by,' said Mother Carey's chicken, spreading her wings as though +ready for a fresh journey. 'I wish you good luck. Should you ever desire +to go back north, any of us will give you a passage.' + +"So saying the pretty, good-natured Petrel flew away, leaving me alone. +I did not feel very happy just then: I almost wished myself still a baby +wasp in my wax cradle again, with nothing to do but eat and sleep. I was +afraid at finding myself so far from home; and besides that I was very, +very hungry: there is nothing like a sea-voyage to give one an appetite. +Beyond the barren sand beach there rose a stately forest, which I +determined to visit; but just then my attention was attracted by a +beautiful object in the water. It was a flower of the most exquisite +coloring, with a rich purplish-crimson outer edge and a disk of the same +hue, the stout, short tentacles of which were marked with pellucid rings +of white and lilac. Floating just beneath a crystal film of sea, it +expanded temptingly under my wistful gaze. What a wonderful place, I +thought, where delicious flowers were borne to hungry travellers! I +fluttered nearer, longing for a sip of honey; and in another moment +should have been lost, had not a little fish come along, to be stung and +devoured by the anemone before I fell into its clutches. I afterwards +learned that many a bee or wasp was enticed to death, as I had so nearly +been; for the beautiful flower was only a greedy zoophyte, after all, +swallowing every thing that came in its way. + +"Trembling at my narrow escape, I next flew towards the forest, taking +the precaution of assuming my magic night-cap in starting, for I did not +know what dangers might be in store. Arriving within the boundary of the +forest, I alighted upon a blade of grass to rest. The air was +delightfully fresh and pure, while the sun already slanted, in tropical +splendor, towards the western horizon. Palm trees extended about me in +every direction; the fan-leaved miriti towered to an immense height; the +graceful assai showed its feathery masses against the rounder foliage; +and the jupati threw its shaggy fronds into broad arches, while from the +branches swept ribbons of clinging plants, hanging air roots as ladders +to climb by. Here and there a long crimson blossom on spikes, or yellow +and violet trumpet-flowers, relieved the sombre green by their brighter +hues. + +"Presently I saw a slender, pale-green snake, that was twined about a +tree like a vine, with only the bright eyes sparkling and fixed upon an +unsuspicious, plump tree-frog. + +"'Good evening, friend,' I buzzed in the snake's ear. 'How pretty your +coat is!' + +"'Who speaks?' exclaimed the snake, looking complacently upon his +beautiful, frosted armor. + +"'Never mind,' was my wicked response, 'By your vanity you have lost +your supper.' + +"The snake's eyes flashed angrily. Sure enough, the tree-frog had taken +alarm, and was hobbling away out of reach. + +"I continued my way until I reached the brink of a broad, placid pool, +where I hoped to make the acquaintance of some of the many creatures I +saw congregated about the margin. Dark-striped herons, snowy egrets, and +storks stood gravely at the brink, or strode over the water-plants on +their long legs. Flocks of whistling ducks flew above my head, macaws +chattered in the trees, and a pretty canary chirped in the bushes. Upon +the surface of the water floated the magnificent Victoria water-lily, +the broad leaves extending for six or ten feet, and the flowers just +closing their alabaster cups in sleep. I now removed my cap; but I was +so small an object, that I attracted no notice whatever. + +"'Ahem!' I began. Whereupon some of the birds turned about and stared at +me. 'My home is very far north of your country,' I said; 'but a good +fairy has kindly given me permission to visit you all.' + +"'Indeed,' exclaimed an old stork. 'How extraordinary! If you was a +bird, now, it would not seem so strange.' + +"'A bird brought me,--Mother Carey's chicken.' + +"'Could you not find a better bearer than one of those fussy, bustling +little bodies?' said a handsome egret scornfully. + +"'Do not despise the petrel because she is not so strong and beautiful +as yourself,' I replied. + +"'Ha, ha!' laughed a macaw from his high perch. 'How fine it is to be a +water-fowl, and have such long legs.' + +"At this all the storks, herons, and egrets ruffled their plumes, and +prepared for an angry dispute with the saucy macaw; but I hastened to +interfere. + +"'I should be sorry to make any trouble among you. If you would tell me +any wonders to be seen here, or show me any of your homes, I should be +greatly obliged.' + +"A black nose was poked out of the water, and a turtle, in a shrill +little voice, piped,-- + +"'Did you ever see us lay eggs? We shall be about it soon,' then sank +out of sight again. + +"'As to that, the world is full of wonders wherever you may turn,' said +the stork, who had first spoken. 'You should visit our ants'-- + +"What more the stork would have said, I cannot tell; for just then a +crashing noise was heard in the thicket, and all my companions took +flight on the approach of the lord of the forest. Presently the jaguar +appeared close beside me, and stooped to quench his thirst in the pool, +so I had an opportunity of seeing what a fine creature he was, with his +soft striped fur, velvet paws, and glowing, cruel eyes. I did not dare +move even so much as to put on my cap, while my wings seemed paralyzed +with fear. Startled by some sound, for he is a very shy, cautious +animal, the jaguar retired again, and I only just escaped a severe +crushing from his powerful foot as he passed. + +"I must now describe to you my first night in a tropical land. As +darkness increased I sought shelter on a spreading shrub, and the +insects began a tremendous noise. 'They will grow sleepy by and by,' I +thought drowsily. + +"But not a wink of sleep did they take, or allow me, that whole long +night. The howling monkeys began the concert, the tree-frogs and +crickets trilled occasionally, and the owls hooted dismally. When I +tried to stop my ears to these sounds, the fire-flies, resembling +crystal drops of fire, flared their torches in my face with blinding +brilliancy. + +"'Don't, please,' I pleaded. + +"The naughty fire-flies only laughed at my misery, and danced around me +in bewildering circles of flame, until my eyes ached. + +"'I wish you would be quiet,' I said crossly. + +"'Quiet,' echoed the fire-flies. 'Not we. There is all to-morrow for +naps.' + +"It was not long, with such an experience, before I found I could not +live in the tropics. I never had a sound night's rest while there. + +"I strolled on through the cool, shady forest, which formed a delightful +contrast to the hot, sunny landscape without. What most amused me was to +see the little, striped-faced monkeys poke a cluster of inquisitive +heads out of the holes of trees where they were sleeping, if any sound +disturbed them. They paid dearly for their curiosity, as I shall +presently tell you. I had paused to admire the butterflies that +clustered in the sunlight here and there, as if desirous to display +their gorgeous coloring to the best advantage. Some were of a velvet +blackness, relieved by rose-colored and green shadings; others were of a +blue, metallic lustre; and others floated on outspread wings, +transparent as glass, spangled with lines of violet, silver, and gold. +No wonder the lovely insects were vain of their gaudy dress! When I told +them I was a stranger, they danced and pirouetted in their giddy flight, +until they resembled the wandering petals of falling flowers. Suddenly a +handsome dragon-fly, whose armor glittered with a golden refulgence, +swooped down to capture one of the butterflies, then retired to a +neighboring branch, and prepared to devour his prey. + +"'Why don't you stay at home with your sober wife, instead of whisking +about where I can catch you?' said the dragon-fly, shaking his pretty +captive. + +"Just then there approached a very singular-looking person indeed. He +wore a broad hat, blue spectacles, and had a great many curious tin +cases slung about his belt and over his shoulder. In his hand he carried +a dip-net, which he threw cleverly over our heads, and entangled us in +the bag. We could do nothing but stare helplessly at one another in +dismay. + +"'Oh, dear!' cried a young butterfly piteously, 'We shall now have pins +driven through us, and be speared to a cardboard platter for ever. I +have heard my mother say so.' + +"We all shivered,--even the dragon-fly, who had been captured also. Of +course the striped-faced monkeys came peeping out in the wrong time, +and, after a good deal of poking into the tree, one of them was caught. +Thus the naturalist gentleman returned home with his treasures, the +little monkey alone of us all being destined to live. + +"The first thing, upon taking us from the net, was to politely hold a +bottle to our noses, which caused a few feeble kicks in the air, then a +fainting fit. When I again opened my eyes, I was lying upon a board, +surrounded by my companions, who were transfixed with pins upon paper, +as the young butterfly had said. I certainly thought my end had come, +and that hereafter my body was destined to adorn some cabinet. I +pretended to be still unconscious, and so lay quite motionless under +the large microscope through which the naturalist gentleman regarded me, +now poking my ribs, now turning my head to one side, and all the while +making remarks on my personal appearance. + +"'I don't believe that you belong here at all,' he exclaimed. 'I must +dissect what may prove a new species.' + +"Here seemed my last chance of escape; so, watching an opportunity, when +he was selecting a suitable knife to carve me up with, I drew my elf's +cap from under my wing. The naturalist gentleman was too quick for me: +he seized my night-cap with his tweezers, and began eagerly to examine +it. I was sorry enough for the loss. Still one had better part with the +fairy's gift than life itself: so I flew away. I dare say the naturalist +gentleman may have carefully preserved the cobweb cap, to puzzle science +with for a long time. + +"Journeying on, I came to the bank of one of the largest rivers in the +world. I paused to view the waves dash against the shore in foam, the +vessels flit past on the strong breeze, and the distant villages on the +other side. There were several low strips of sand reaching out from near +where I rested, and I observed groups of natives making camp-fires, or +erecting a kind of watch-tower overlooking the land. I inquired what +they were doing, of a monkey who sat stroking his sandy whiskers with an +indolent air. + +"'Ah! don't you know?' he returned. 'They are waiting for the turtles to +lay their eggs.' + +"The next morning I beheld a curious sight. In the first gray dawn, +myriads of turtles were creeping down the sandy slope, and flapping into +the water again, their duties of depositing eggs for that season being +accomplished. No sooner had they departed, than the natives gave +signals, and from every direction crowded the boats to receive the eggs, +which would then be prepared as turtle oil, and sold in jars. + +"I decided to try and find the ants next, as I had been recommended to +do so by the stork. The monkey could tell me but little of them, and +advised my searching farther inland, I next encountered the iguana, who +poked his head out from among the creeping vines of a tree as I passed. +Any thing so monstrous in a lizard I had never dreamed of. It must have +been five feet long, was very fat, and the skin changed color like that +of a chameleon. The Indians are fond of the eggs of this species, which +they eat mixed with farinha. When I asked about the ants, the iguana +answered,-- + +"'I do not trouble myself much about those busy fellows; still, you will +find them almost everywhere, I dare say.' + +"I bid him good-by hastily, for I was half afraid of such a great +creature, and left him winking lazily on the branch as before. If the +Spider was here, I could tell him of some relatives that I met,--rough, +hairy spiders, with fierce looks; soft, plump things that melt away +almost at the touch; and others of gorgeous hues, that double themselves +into cunning shapes to resemble flowers and buds. At last I came upon an +army of Saueba ants, each one carrying a bit of green leaf daintily as a +parasol. Although on the march, the whole company treated me most +cordially. + +"'We cannot stop now,' said one of the soldiers. 'Come with us.' + +"So I followed in the train, curious to know what they were about. +Presently they paused; and a detachment turned aside to overrun an +orange-tree, from which they stripped the foliage with incredible +rapidity. Having performed this duty, they rejoined the main army, and +the whole moved on to their incomplete nest. Here the leaf-bearers +merely threw down their burdens, and the workers placed them in proper +order. + +"'We use the bits of leaf to thatch the dome of our house, thus +preventing the loose earth from falling in,' said an ant near by, +pausing to take breath in the midst of his labors. + +"He then led me through the vast subterranean galleries of their +dwelling, which extended an immense distance, as may be imagined, for +the exterior of the nest must have been at least forty feet in diameter. +The ants promised, if I would return after their day's work was done, +they would give me some interesting accounts of themselves. Leaving the +busy throng, I crept into a flower-bell to take a nap. When I returned, +the Saueba ants were actually resting themselves,--a luxury that I did +not suppose an ant ever indulged in. Some of them were strolling about +at their ease; and others were diligently scrubbing their coats after +their work, or were assisting each other in the friendly task of +brushing such portions of the body as could not be reached by the owner. +They were very chatty and agreeable, so we enjoyed ourselves very much. + +"'Have you met the foraging ant?' asked one. 'They sally forth with +officers to direct the movement. They are rather hot-tempered and cross, +to be sure, attacking any one fiercely that may come in their path; yet +they do a world of good. When it is known they are approaching, people +open every closet, drawer, and box in their houses, that the ants may +search and cleanse them. What digestions they have! Scorpions, +cockroaches, lizards, rats, and snakes are devoured in a trice; while +into every crack and cranny where a stray insect may have hidden pour +the army until all is cleared: then on they go again.' + +"'How wonderful!' I exclaimed. + +"'I can tell you of a wiser race yet,' chimed in another. 'The +agricultural ant of Texas plants and reaps for itself. The nest is +surrounded by a mound, and then the land is cleared for several feet +beyond. A grain-bearing grass is sowed by the insect, and afterward +tended with great care, the ant cutting away all other grasses or weeds +that may spring up,--like the good farmer it is. When the small, white +seed is ripe, it is carefully harvested, and carried into the granary, +where it is cleared of the chaff, which is thrown outside as worthless. +Should the rain wet the winter stores, the ant brings the grain out into +the sun to dry, that the damp may not cause sprouting among the +provisions. What do you think of all that?' concluded the ant, with a +triumphant manner. + +"'I think you are the most wonderful insects in the world.' + +"At this the Saueba ants all looked highly pleased, and they richly +deserved the compliment; so there was really no harm in it. I found +myself exposed to so many dangers, without my magic cap, that I finally +concluded to fly to the seashore, and see if I could take passage +homeward again. Here I found no other a bird than the Petrel's baby, now +a handsome young fellow enough, who readily agreed to carry me +northward. + +"I strapped myself to my bearer with the horse-hairs, and found myself +rather a better sailor than on my first voyage. I am now on my way to +the pansy fairy, with the petition that he will give me another cap. If +he consents, I shall next visit Europe and the East," said the ambitious +Wasp pompously, in conclusion. + +The whole Club were so much entertained by this history, that the +Saucepan never once complained of her uncomfortable position, rolling on +her side. Hulda was much surprised to find her in this attitude next +morning; but the maid servant wisely concluded the rats must have +visited the shelf, and whisked the Saucepan off with their long tails. + +When it came time for the disappointed Caterpillar, they were surprised +by the entrance of a welcome guest: the Spider came sidling in, looking +gay as possible. Of course they all spoke at the same time, and asked a +hundred questions before he could answer one; especially the Teapot, who +had never appeared so excited on any previous occasion. + +"I am all right again, thank you," said the Spider gruffly. "I got a few +bruises by my fall from the window; but, being used to tumbles of all +sorts, I have now recovered somewhat, although I felt rather stiff the +next day." + +"I am not fond of talking," said the Caterpillar, with humility, "nor +can I do so well. In my present state of caterpillarhood, I am aware +that I do not please,--that I am not, in fact, any thing but an +uninteresting glutton. There! the Spider is laughing already." + +"I should be sorry to do any thing so rude," said the Spider slyly; +"only you are rather fond of leaf-salad, I have heard." + +"True," replied the Caterpillar, smacking his lips at the thought. "What +could be more delicious! Still I must not dwell upon topics of food, for +fear I should never have done describing such delicacies as suit my +palate. I shall not find much in my own personal history to entertain +you this evening. Never having travelled, like my two distinguished +companions, I cannot bring to your notice the wonders of other lands, as +they have so ably done." + +Here the Wasp and Spider arose, laid one foreleg upon the heart, and +made a low bow in acknowledgment of the compliment. + +This ceremony over, the Caterpillar proceeded:-- + + + + +THE DISAPPOINTED CATERPILLAR. + + +"I have had no occasion to stroll farther away than the garden of this +house. I am sadly puzzled for something to talk about. The Wasp has +anticipated me, even, in a description of butterflies,--a state I am in +hopes of attaining some time, when you will not be able to recognize me. +My world has been limited, so far; yet I have seen some wonderful +things, too. Did any of you ever see a humming-bird?" + +"Yes," said the Cricket, Spider, and Wasp in a breath. + +"Did any of you ever converse with one?" + +"I did not suppose they ever stopped buzzing about long enough to +speak," remarked the Spider. + +"I have talked with one," said the Caterpillar triumphantly. "When I was +just hatched, some week or more ago, I crawled for the first time out +of the soft, warm bed my good mother had made me in the curve of a leaf. +I stretched myself upon the leaf which had been my cradle, to enjoy the +warm sunlight, and looked about upon the various forms of life and +beauty to be seen on a summer morning. The buttercups and daisies +laughed up at me from the grass, the insects floated about on gauzy +wings, while the birds darted from branch to branch in merry sport. + +"Close beside my leaf couch was a knot, or natural excrescence in the +branch; and this tiny cavity held a nest, lined with fibres from mullein +leaves and fern-down, containing two pearly eggs no larger than peas. + +"Suddenly a glittering object shot up into the air until it was almost +lost to sight; then descended upon the nest I was just examining. No +wonder the eggs resembled pearls, when the parent bird could not have +been more than two inches in length. When I beheld the lovely, fragile +thing, with its diamond-bright eyes, and the plumage of the graceful +curved throat, glittering like burnished metal in changing hues of +orange and ruby, I felt ready to cry with vexation that I was such an +ugly, worm-like creature. True, I shall be handsomer sometime; but I can +never be a humming-bird. Besides, I belong to a sober species. A robin +came hopping along jauntily from twig to twig, with a morsel of cherry +in his beak. + +"'Such a fright as I have had,' twittered the humming-bird. 'A great +stupid man was peering about to find my nest a long while, and to-day he +has followed me. Ah! but I gave him a long journey. I fluttered right +and left, or darted ahead; then finally rose in the air so high he could +hardly see my wee body; then dashed down here safe enough.' + +"'A wise plan,' commented the robin. 'Thank fortune, I am not in such +demand.' + +"Interested in the conversation, I crept too near the margin of the +leaf, lost my balance, and fell upon the nest. + +"'You awkward thing,' said the bird, giving me a contemptuous poke +aside. 'How ugly you are!' + +"'I know it,' I replied; 'it was my admiration of your superior beauty +that caused my fall. Excuse the clumsiness of a caterpillar just born.' + +"'Go away with your nonsense and flattery I feared I was shot when you +fell.' + +"'Who would hurt you?' I asked, slowly climbing back to my leaf. + +"'Plenty of enemies. That man is watching below, and nothing would +delight his cruel soul so much as to carry away my family.' + +"'Tell me something amusing, or I will inform him where you live.' + +"'He would not believe a caterpillar,' laughed Madame Humming-bird. +'However, I will tell you any thing in my power.' + +"'If it is all about your distinguished relations in the South, I have +heard enough on that subject already,' said the spiteful robin. + +"At this the other grew very angry, inflating her tiny throat, and +snapping her bill. I tried to soothe her wrath, for I dislike any thing +irritating. + +"'I always did despise robins. My great family, indeed! One should +learn better than to associate with plebeians.' + +"'The robin was jealous of your superior beauty.' + +"This made the humming-bird good-natured again; so she went on:-- + +"'Did you ever hear of my first cousin the Chimborazian hill-star? Ah! +there is a fine bird for you. Not afraid to expose his frail form to the +cold of higher latitudes, he dearly loves mountain air. I will tell you +a story about him sometime. The hermits are so clever at building nests, +they would laugh at this rude cradle of mine; still, as I cannot find +any suitable leaf to suspend my nest from, bound by elastic +spider-threads, I just use this knot, which answers the purpose after +all. Some of them form a felt-like substance of moss and bark woven +together; others use a fungus resembling buff-leather; while the Sappho +comet lines her nest with the long hairs of the clamas. My relatives can +boast the greatest variety of coloring. They have black diadems, +purple-shaded patches, or vivid scarlet, blue, and crimson aigrettes. I +do not know why people need invent fairies and gnomes when they can +have us for subjects, flashing about among the flowers, as gay as the +brightest of them, or bathing in some secluded nook of the brook, under +the fern-leaves that form a tiny bower.' + +"We were so much interested in the subject under discussion, that we +never heeded the approach of danger. I looked up and saw a man's face +close beside me. He was climbing cautiously along, his gaze fixed upon +my pretty companion. Before I could give any warning, I was shaken to +the ground, and the humming-bird continued to talk of her great +relations, unobservant of my fall. I watched eagerly, and presently the +man came down again, with his captive and her nest uninjured. + +"'Oh, my dear Caterpillar!' she sighed, looking through the meshes of +the fine net which covered her little head; 'I wish you were strong +enough to help me. However, promise to find my husband, and tell him of +my sad fate.' + +"I have never found him," said the disappointed Caterpillar. "I presume +he has consoled himself with another wife by this time. I searched +faithfully, crawling over whole trees in hopes of seeing him, and +exposing myself to many dangers. I met other caterpillars in plenty. +That of the looper-moth supports itself for hours on the hinder feet, +raising the body high in air, and, by a resemblance to the twigs of the +tree, succeeds in deceiving the birds that would devour it. Some I found +to be protected from injury by tufts of hair, acrid secretions, and +stinging powers. Others so closely resembled brown, crumpled leaves, or +green, fresh ones, that I should never have known them had they not +spoken; while some of the number arm their dwellings with thorns. I have +even heard of another species, called bombardiers, who fire off little +guns when pursued, accompanied by a blue smoke and disagreeable scent. + +"I liked to watch the ermine-moth community the best. They spin a +commodious tent; and, wherever they wander over the tree, they carry a +thread with them, so that they may not lose the way. Birds can do no +more than strike their wings against the elastic bridges thus formed: +they cannot penetrate the lines. + +"Well, all the caterpillars laughed at my folly in searching for the +humming-bird's husband; and perhaps they were right. I now have reason +to despair of ever meeting him, for he never returned to where the nest +had been; and a slow crawling caterpillar cannot hope to pursue the +flight of a bird." + +Here the Caterpillar paused abruptly: the Wasp, interested alone in +startling incident or romantic adventure, was yawning. + +"Really, I beg your pardon," he had the grace to say; "I did not sleep +well last night." + +But apologies or entreaties did no manner of good. The Caterpillar +steadfastly refused to continue his tale. + +"Very likely I was growing tiresome," he replied in an injured tone. Yet +he made no further remark; for the Caterpillar, like other slow persons, +was apt to be obstinate. This made affairs rather stiff and +uncomfortable; so they were all glad to retire for the night. + +The next evening, the Caterpillar was still sulky, and resisted all +attempts of the Teapot to coax him into better humor. The Cricket +wisely concluded to divert matters, by inviting the Spider to entertain +them. + +"I believe I am something of an author," said the Spider, "although I +have never written for any of the magazines of the day. I will tell you +a story I composed last summer, if you like." + + + + +THE FOUR SILVER PEACHES. + + +"Beyond the Frith of Clyde, the Kyles of Bute cleaving their way among +gray cliffs, tapestried with mosses and richly clothed with lichens, +past Loch Ridan's clear waters, past the peninsula of Cantyre, on the +bosom of the Atlantic, lies a group of islets, varied in hue and +form,--the Hebrides. + +"To this isolated region, where the ocean hurls in winter storms against +the rock walls, or ripples in caressing waves under summer skies, we +will turn; for children have been born on that rugged shore, scenting +the heather and wild thyme with their first breath. + +"On the island of Iona, near Port St. Ronain, there once lived a good +man, who had three strong sons, and two ruddy, blue-eyed daughters. One +thing troubled him: little Neil, his nephew, did not thrive so well; +for he was a cripple, and it saddened the uncle's heart to see the boy +droop and pine away. + +"Little Neil was an orphan; and he missed a good mother so much, that he +was not happy, like his sturdy cousins. He could never run along the +stretch of white sand, flecked with quartz and shells from the Ross of +Mull. No: he could only creep painfully to the brink of the green, +crystal waters, to peep into their clear depths; or climb to some higher +eminence, and watch the sea-birds in their rapid flight, the distant +outline of cliffs shining in the sunlight, and the light breeze curling +the waves crisply about the bows of many a little craft that skimmed +over the azure sea only to melt into the hazy distance. + +"Neil loved the ocean and the sky above it, embracing between them his +island home. Everybody thought him a strange child, and this naturally +gave him very bitter feelings: it seemed to him he should like so much +to be his cousin Angus, who hunted the otter and tended the sheep, +sleeping many a night upon the open hillside, wrapped in his plaid. + +"The lame child had never been at school; yet he had heard the +traditions of his home often related about the winter fireside. He had +heard the grandeur of Fingal's Cave described; the stone cairn that +marks the last resting-place of the Scandinavian woman, whose wish it +was to be buried in the pathway of the Norway wind; and the castle of +Duart, where a lord of the isles left his wife to be overwhelmed by the +rising tide. Then, too, he had shuddered with fear over many a tale of +ghosts and goblins haunting ruined houses; for the Scotch people are +superstitious. + +"The great day of the year arrived, and all the cousins went to the fair +held at Broadford, on the Isle of Skye. Little Neil had once been there, +to see the women with smart caps and scarlet tartans grouped about their +cows and sheep, while the men and boys passed in restless, changing +crowds; but the noise and bustle wearied him, so he remained at home. + +"Now I am coming to the real matter of the story: the kernel shall be +ready for your appetite, if you have but the patience to crack the +shell. We will see what kind of entertainment was prepared for the +lonely cripple, who told his thoughts to no one, and chose the +whispering winds for companions. + +"When the sun sank over the broad ocean, little Neil sought a favorite +nook in which to watch the long day die. Fainter grew the rich hues of +the western sky, more distant the line of rocks, here outlined in creamy +whiteness, there abruptly riven by some black precipice, until Neil +fancied strange forms were flitting about the bases of the cliffs, and +rose to go; but he was stayed by a curious sight. The sea was glimmering +with a phosphorescent light, and the waves that broke upon the shore +were gemmed with globules of living fire, which melted away almost +imperceptibly into rosy shades. The boy had often seen the ocean thus +illuminated; but his gaze was attracted to a certain point, where the +brilliancy centred in a wave of beautiful transparency, through which +glittered emerald and golden flashes, appearing and disappearing in +rapid succession, until Neil was dazzled by the splendid sight. + +"The wave throne upreared slowly, creamed over, and deposited at the +boy's feet a casket of delicate frost-work, glittering with a wonderful +radiance. Neil reached forward and touched it, when the lid flew open, +disclosing four silver peaches, resting in separate filigree spaces of +the same precious metal. Across the fruit lay a small case-knife, the +handle studded with precious stones, and the diamond blade wearing a +keen edge. + +"'This casket contains four wishes, from which you may choose. They are +the gifts of the Wind Sisters,' said a water spirit; then sank in a +circle of foam bubbles. + +"In the sky appeared a ring of blended colors, which descended rapidly, +taking the form of four globes,--one rose pink, one gold, one green, and +the last pale blue. The radiance of these globes of light spread far +over the ocean. They parted slowly as they neared him, the outline of +the separate forms melted into soft masses, and upon the vapor rested +the Wind Sisters. + +"The South Wind, whose misty chariot took the shape of a magnolia +blossom with pink-tinted petals half-opened, shook her rosy mantle, and +a breath of balmy perfume was wafted to Neil, like the scent of a garden +after a summer shower. + +"The East Wind floated on a couch of golden cloud, her black hair waving +over a fleecy amber robe down to her sandalled feet, while her presence +breathed a richer odor than the delicate fragrance of the southern +sister: it came from spice-groves and orange-trees. + +"The West Wind stood erect upon her throne of emerald, her fair head +bound with ivy tendrils, her green mantle fluttering sparkling breaths +of health, flower-scented too, with the violet and anemone, and in her +eyes a promise not found in those of her languid companions. Lastly, on +the right rested the North Wind, her stately form supported on +snowy-white pinnacle and fret-work of vapor, sharply defined as the ice +cliffs that frown upon the Polar Sea. She wafted little Neil no perfume +of flower or shrub from her lily draperies; yet he felt a keener joy +kindle in his heart at the frosty stillness of her presence, than when +the others lavished their treasures upon his senses. + +"'Open the first peach,' commanded the North Wind in a grave, stern +voice. + +"Neil raised the fruit, divided it, and found it to be lined with pure +gold. + +"'I can give you wealth,' said the East Wind, in a rich, soft voice. +'Look!' + +"A scroll of mist rolled from her chariot to the surface of the water, +taking the form of a mirror as it expanded; and upon the polished +surface little Neil fixed his eyes. + +"First there appeared a garden, the like of which the Highland boy had +never dreamed of. Upon lawns of velvet smoothness rose wonderful +trees,--the palm, towering into feathery crests; the lemon, drooping a +grateful shade of snowy blossoms; and the palmetto,--all interlaced by +climbing plants. In this delightful retreat, wearing robes of satin, and +reclining upon magnificent carpets, within hearing of trickling streams +or the twitter of brilliant birds, was a man resembling Neil's own self. +Servants flitted about him, bearing flagons of sherbet, or held tempting +fruits in their cool leaves,--the delicious pomegranate and juicy date; +while grave men, slaves only to his wealth, bowed in homage. + +"The scene melted gradually into a palace of splendid appearance, where +Neil still held a place, his turban spangled with diamond, his pipe-stem +encrusted with emeralds, and the dagger hilt, half concealed in a +Cashmere sash, glistened with amethyst and carbuncle. From the lofty +hall, vaulted passages and pavilion extended, each more rich in +coloring, more gorgeous in ornament, than the last; while beyond a +balustrade of delicately carved marble sloped a terrace, blooming with +roses and jasmine vines. Again the rich man was surrounded by servile +homage and flattery; but Neil saw he was nothing but a cripple, after +all. + +"The East Wind sat in her couch of sunshine, with a triumphant smile +upon her dark face. + +"'Ah! it is all very grand, lady,' said Neil sadly; 'only must I be lame +still?' + +"'Yes.' + +"'What good would the riches do me, then, with the pain also?' + +"'Much good. Think of the power you can wield. The whole world would +open her countless treasures. You could obtain knowledge; you could see +every thing that is beautiful or interesting; and you could relieve the +needy by your bounty. Better be a rich cripple than a poor one.' + +"Little Neil thought so, too; but he concluded to cut another peach +before he decided the question. He did so; and the interior of the +second was lined with crystals of great brilliancy, that shimmered in +points of light like a rainbow prism, yet their gleam was cold as ice. + +"'I can give you fame,' said the West Wind in musical tones. 'Look!' + +"She unfurled her green mantle, which grew into a mirror like the +previous one, only of an intense, steely brightness. Neil saw a range of +mountains, snow-capped, their steep slopes skirted by pine-trees; while +far below spread a sunny landscape, ripening vineyard, tracts of waving +grain, and olive-groves. Through the narrow defiles, down the +precipitous heights, hewing a passage for their clumsy elephants by fire +and vinegar, came an army, and in their midst moved a man, the master +spirit of it all. + +"'Hannibal,' whispered the West Wind. + +"The picture changed to a succession of views,--battle-fields swathed in +smoke; soldiers moving across the plain, their arms glittering in the +sunlight, their banners fluttering; a city burning in wreaths of flame +against a northern sky; a nation crowning their chief with laurels. + +"'Napoleon,' whispered the West Wind again. + +"Then the boy saw travellers exploring unknown regions, statesmen and +authors toiling over vast schemes. + +"'Could I be like these, lady?' he asked. + +"'Yes.' + +"'Would I be happy?' + +"'That is for you to decide. Fame is a greater gift than that of my +sister here: any fool can be rich. But every man cannot have what these +men possessed, because God gave them what gold never can buy,' said the +West Wind, her proud eyes brightening. + +"'I should only be a cripple, and men would laugh at me,' sighed Neil, +taking up the third peach, and opening it. + +"The lining was composed of opals, quivering in tremulous rays of purple +and pink more beautiful than words can describe. + +"'I can grant you the love of all,' said the South Wind, in a voice like +the chime of silver bells. 'Look!' + +"Her scarf floated downward a mirror still retaining a rosy tinge, that +was a relief to the eye after the glitter of fame's glass, or the golden +haze of wealth's vision. + +"Neil saw himself on the river bank, surrounded by children, some +playing games, and others reading in the shade. Upon his shoulder +perched a white dove, which appeared to whisper wise counsel in his ear; +for, whenever dispute arose among his companions, he quieted their anger +by soothing words. + +"Again Neil saw himself a young man, traversing the suburbs of a great +city, where gardens bloomed with purple grapes, peaches, and golden +pears. The dove rested upon his head, seeming to attract other birds +that perched on Neil's hand to preen their feathers. Sleek-crested +horses tossed their manes at his approach, and the dogs crouched to be +caressed. As he entered the crowded streets, children laughed, fair +women smiled; and on every face was a kindly greeting for the man with +the invisible dove. + +"Lastly, Neil saw himself a very old man, seated before the open door, +as the sun was setting in the west. About him were gathered kind friends +ministering to his wants, the little ones weaving a crown of tender lily +sprays to place upon his head; but the dove, instead of perching upon +his shoulder, as it had done when a boy, now hovered afar, ready to take +flight. The journey of life was almost over. + +"'Dear South Wind, let me have this wish,' cried Neil eagerly. + +"'You shall have it. Who can live without love?' + +"He was so sure of liking this gift, that he pushed aside the casket, +and the last peach rolled on the ground. + +"'Wait,' said the North Wind, 'until you know my gift. I am not sure you +will prefer it; still you must decide.' + +"Neil severed the peach, and in it were reflected the fleeting shadows +of angel forms. + +"'I can grant immortality,' said the North Wind, holding up a shield of +pure ice, and Neil saw a strange spectacle. + +"He beheld a vast amphitheatre, crowded with cruel, hard-featured +people, all watching eagerly a boy standing in the arena alone, yet +wearing on his upturned face a light that shone upon none of the heathen +about him. Above him poised an angel, whispering words of encouragement, +as a handsome tiger sprang into the circle from an iron gateway, and +approached the boy with crouching, stealthy step. The tiger made a +sudden leap, the heathen crowd shouted, and _two_ angels winged their +way above the palaces and temples of Rome. + +"Next there rolled a dark stream across the mirror, bearing upon the +current a woman, with hands roughly bound together. Dark figures loomed +against the eastern sky, watching her; but another watcher was there +also,--the same angel, shedding a radiance from her golden wings upon +the drowning head. Neil saw a great man before a haughty council,--Dr. +Martin Luther; he saw many of a humbler class teaching the poor and +ignorant, whether in the wilds of savage Africa, or the city streets, it +mattered little which; and with each hovered the angel companion. +Children, too, there were who were patient and unselfish, doing what +they could in little acts of kindness, while the angel smiled even more +tenderly upon them. Upon all their faces beamed a joy that separated +them from the world. + +"'Riches do not always bring happiness,' said the North Wind. 'Fame +seldom does, and mere earthly love must fade before the presence of +death.' + +"'Let me be like those you have shown me,' cried Neil, stretching out +his hands towards her. + +"The other sisters rose slowly, floating south, east, and west, until +they became balls of light again; but the North Wind took the little +cripple in her sheltering arms, and bore him swiftly away. Over the sea +they went, the North Wind sweeping gracefully along; and Neil felt no +fear of her, as he had done when she stood on her cloud throne. + +"At first he could see nothing but one vast expanse of water, domed by +the clear sky; then, at length, he noticed a dark line on the horizon, +which grew more distinct, and proved to be land. + +"'You must begin the journey for yourself now,' said the North Wind, +alighting on the shore. + +"'Oh, don't leave me!' cried the child, clinging timidly to her white +draperies. + +"'Do not fear: I shall still be with you;' and then she rose above, +leading him on the path he should go. She had now become the angel that +guided the others. + +"So Neil began the toilsome, painful journey. The way led across an +arid, desert waste, where waves of yellow sand glowed under the sun's +fierce heat. Neil hobbled along slowly, the hot earth scorching his +feet, the brazen sky without clouds, and the air stirring from a heavy, +pulseless stillness, into sultry wind puffs. The child might have +drooped and fainted by the road, had not the North Wind spread her cool +wings to shade him from the sun's vertical rays. She also gave him a +crystal flask of pure water, and a loaf of bread; but, although his own +lips were parched with thirst, he gave the precious draught to others +who implored the refreshment. The supply never failed; yet, when the +child looked into the flask, there never appeared to be but a few drops +remaining. So, too, with his loaf of bread. There was always more to +give when he broke a piece; yet there never seemed enough to eat any +himself. + +"'Never mind,' he thought bravely. 'All these poor people have not the +North Wind to shelter them, as I have.' + +"At last the desert plain ended, and Neil began to ascend a steep +mountain-side, that was clouded in a mist of snow at the summit. He +found the way still more difficult. Now he had to climb slopes smooth as +glass; now he trod a narrow ledge above a frightful precipice, where +many fell; or he was obliged to cross glaciers, where the rough points +hurt his feet, and the ice yawned treacherously about him. The cold air +whistled by; and the sleet drifted in sheets, so that he could hardly +see his way. + +"The North Wind gave him a fur cloak. How deliciously warm and soft it +felt! A shivering old man came by, and Neil gave him the garment. + +"'Never mind,' he thought, 'he is so old; and, besides, I have only to +look up into the North Wind's kind eyes, to be both warmed and fed.' + +"Half frozen with cold, he finally descended the other side of the +mountain, to the brink of a wide river, upon the opposite side of which +bloomed a fair country. + +"'You must swim the stream,' said the North Wind; so Neil plunged in +boldly. The waves curled up over his head at times; great monsters swam +towards him with fierce looks,--serpents and alligators opening their +huge jaws as if to devour him; yet he panted on until he was cast upon +the shore. + +"When he awoke, Neil found himself lying upon the soft grass, near a +spring of water that gurgled from a moss-grown rock, with a pleasant +sound, and tinkled along in mimic cascades beside him. He was surrounded +by a group of fair children, who bade him drink of the spring. Neil +drank deeply, and immediately he felt a new life. His limbs were no +longer distorted, his back bowed: he was well at last. + +"'Where is the North Wind?' he asked. + +"The children led him to the gates of a palace, which had been before +concealed from his view. + +"'We have brought another child,' said his companions; and the gates +flew open to admit them. + +"In the court of the palace stood the North Wind, looking more radiant +than the sun. + +"'Do you know me?' she said, kissing Neil. + +"'Oh yes,' he replied joyfully. 'You are my own dear mother, who died so +long ago.' + +"The North Wind was indeed his mother. Little Neil was in heaven." + +The Spider heaved a deep sigh when he had finished, although his +countenance glowed with the radiance of an inborn genius. "I wish I had +ever been able to screw up my courage sufficiently to attempt +publishing any of the ideas which occupy my brain," he said. + +"Why have you not?" buzzed the Wasp. + +"Ah," returned the other, "who ever heard of a Spider turning author, +and walking into the office of some magazine with a manuscript under one +arm?" + +"It is an age of improvement, you know," remarked the Cricket. + +"I perceive you have a fine mind," said the Kettle; "only we are not +much used to considering the winds in a poetical light, especially when +they howl down the chimney winter nights." + +"No, indeed," assented the Saucepan, who had been thinking of a story +for some time. "I can tell you something plain and homely enough if--" + +Here the Saucepan paused, coughed, and waited to be urged. + +The next evening they were ready to listen, and Saucepan began:-- + + + + +GOING MAYING. + + +"There was a general rising, as the teacher dismissed her section, the +pupils clicking desk-lids, dropping books, and chirping like a flock of +busy swallows, as they rushed down the broad stairway to the street. +Among the crowd were two little girls, who presently detached themselves +from the rest, and entered the Common, talking earnestly. The smaller +was listening with an air of grave attention to the animated +conversation of her companion. + +"'But, Nellie,' she said, with a doubtful shake of the head, as she +glanced at the bare branches of the trees, that rustled in the breeze +with rather a wintry sound, 'I think it would be too cold.' + +"'Too cold!' echoed Nellie, tossing her head contemptuously; 'and pray +did you ever read of May-day being any thing but warm and lovely, with +wild-flowers, green grass, and running brooks? Nonsense, you really know +nothing about the matter here in town.' + +"Finding that her prudent little schoolmate still hesitated, Miss Nellie +produced a brilliant-covered book from her satchel, which she had been +perusing behind her grammar with great relish that very morning, and so +dazzled Bessie's eyes with a pictured May-queen in white muslin and pink +ribbons, that all her scruples faded, and she agreed to an excursion +next day, in honor of the first of May. + +"Accordingly, at an early hour on Saturday, without the knowledge or +consent of her parents, Bessie Morton proceeded to the house of Nellie +Wray, whom she found in a state of great excitement. With their dinner +packed in a basket, and various extra receptacles wherein to carry +flowers and other treasures they might discover, they set forth bravely. +At first little Bessie ventured to suggest the propriety of taking the +cars to some suburban town, at least; but Nellie scorned such every-day +affairs, or she pretended to, although I am inclined to the opinion +that she had not a penny in her pocket at the time, and disliked owning +to such extreme poverty. So they trudged along, swinging their baskets; +Nellie enlivening her friend by scraps of information on the topic of +spring-time, until Bessie was warmed to an equal amount of enthusiasm on +the subject. The sky was clear, the sun shone brightly; and what matter +if the wind was a trifle frosty, causing a slight purple tinge in the +tip of their noses, so long as it was May-day. Besides, in the country +it would be different. And without doubt it was. As the blocks of houses +were succeeded by scattered dwellings, the landscape became bleak: brown +earth, sprinkled here and there with tufts of grass, budding trees, and +bare shrubs, surrounded by sombre, wind-swept hills, presented a +chilling disappointment to the children. + +"Nellie surveyed the scene rather blankly; then affirmed that green +valleys must be farther on. Presently she saw a little brook in a +distant meadow, and announced her firm conviction, that upon its banks +wild-flowers grew in abundance. They climbed over the fence after some +difficulty, and proceeded across the field, looking eagerly on all +sides for the coveted anemones and violets. They did not notice that at +the farther extremity of the pasture were some horses, quietly rubbing +their heads on the bars of a gate. + +"Soon the ardent little botanists were searching on the bank for floral +treasures, and were rewarded by a few sparse clumps of pale, +frozen-looking violets. With an exclamation of triumph, Nellie stooped +to pluck one bunch; while Bessie, no less delighted, pounced upon +another. In the midst of these labors, as they chatted merrily over +every tiny, dew-tipped cup that reared its fragile head, they were +alarmed by a rumbling sound, that seemed to shake the very earth under +their feet. Upon raising their heads, they discovered that the horses, +with manes and tails streaming on the breeze, were scampering over the +ground, with all the graceful movements of unrestrained freedom. A +slender-limbed, fleet-footed bay led the others in circles around the +inclosure, a world of mischievous fun sparkling in his bright eye, as he +pranced and curveted along. + +"The children clung together in speechless dismay, as they saw the +animals become wilder with every bound, knowing their only means of +escape was at the wall where they had entered, or the opposite gate. +While they were hesitating about what course to adopt, the leader, for +the first time apparently, noticed them, and with a wicked shake of the +head came dancing towards them. Then, without losing a moment's time, +they fled across the field, dropping flowers and gloves; conscious of +nothing but that the horses were neighing and snorting close behind +them, and that they must reach the gate soon, or be eaten alive. Nellie +arriving at it first, pushed through with frantic haste, just as the bay +thrust his nose playfully over Bessie's shoulder. Nellie rescued her +terrified companion, by dragging her over the boundary, and closing the +gate unceremoniously in their pursuer's face. With a low, +half-apologetical whinny, Master Bay began to rub his head on the bars +again, as quietly as when they had first entered his dominions. + +"Still panting with fright, the young pleasure-seekers next glanced +about for a means of escape from present difficulties; only to discover +that the narrow lane they had entered led in quite an opposite direction +from the road they had left. What was to be done? They never could +attempt passing those awful horses again, and the lane must lead out +somewhere, so they would explore it. They found it turned into a +barnyard, which they decided to cross, hoping to find their way out +beyond. + +"The yard contained a lively population. There were waddling ducks, with +tufted feathers on their heads; there were noisy, cackling geese, +strutting roosters; and several large families of pigs, who strolled in +and out of their houses, the little pink ones, with their tails in a +very tight curl, peering out from amid the straw of their beds: while +pretty, brown-eyed calves lowed in adjoining sheds for their absent +mothers. Entering the place, the children cautiously picked out their +footsteps around the mud puddles, until they reached the centre, when +the ire of a turkey-cock was excited by Nellie's red cloak. His angry +note, as he flapped his wings defiantly at her, was echoed not only by +his own family, but by the whole goose and duck tribe, until there was +a general clamor of indignation against the intruders. + +"At this juncture, there appeared on the scene a choleric goat, with +venerable beard and sharply curved horns, who, after surveying the field +of action for a time, advanced with bent head and glowering visage. +Again they were compelled to take refuge in flight,--this time entering +a large barn which flanked the inclosure on one side, and closing the +door after them. By this act they excluded all light from the place, +save where a few rays penetrated the chinks of the boards, throwing +vague, uncertain lines over the hay-loft and into the darkness below. +They groped about the place in search of another door, but without +success; then they returned to the entrance, and peeped through a hole +in the woodwork, to see if it was possible to retrace their steps. The +goat had assumed a warlike attitude, giving hints of unabated rancor by +butting at the closed door; while the turkey-cock still puffed with +rage, and even the little pigs had ventured forth to see what was the +matter. + +"'Oh, dear! what shall we do?' exclaimed Nellie most dismally. 'Will we +have to stay here until somebody comes?' + +"'We must find another door,' said Bessie resolutely, as she led her +discouraged schoolmate on a second exploring expedition. Finally, after +stumbling down unexpected steps, knocking their heads against heavy +beams, and sneezing with dust, they found a small aperture, half choked +by rubbish, through which they crawled into a shed, and so out into a +meadow. Once more they clambered over a wall into the main road, +somewhat dilapidated and dusty after their adventures. + +"'O Nellie! your shoes are covered with mud, your dress is torn, and +your face quite dirty,' cried Bessie. + +"'O Bessie! your hat is crushed on one side, and your hair covered with +hay-seed,' retorted Nellie, who could not refrain from laughing, as she +contemplated their sorry plight. + +"'Don't you think we had better go home?' said Bessie ruefully, +attempting to bend her disabled hat into shape. + +"'Go home before noon, when we have had no fun yet?' replied Nellie, her +spirits reviving now that all danger was past; 'oh, no! we have our +dinner to eat, and lots of nice things to do.' + +"Once more yielding to her playmate's superior sagacity, little Bessie +trotted along cheerfully, until they espied a fine rock on a sloping +hillside, which they immediately proposed converting into a +dining-table. To reach the spot, they were obliged to pass through a +piece of rough, ploughed ground, recently sown, near a little cottage, +with gray, overhanging roof, and narrow, closed windows. + +"Spreading a napkin for table-cloth on the rock, they were soon +arranging their provisions; here a sandwich rested upon a pedestal of +apple, to prevent its tilting over a slice of custard pie; there a small +bottle, containing a mysterious fluid, suggestive of weak molasses and +water, dripped through its broken cork into a store of pickled limes. +But what matter if the gingerbread did taste of mustard, or if the +chicken was encrusted with spilled sugar, on a first of May picnic? + +"After surveying the result of their labors with great satisfaction, +they were just preparing to enjoy the result, with appetites only +sharpened by previous misfortunes, when Bessie's attention was attracted +by the curtain of one of the cottage-windows being drawn aside, and a +head appearing behind the glass. It was such a hideous head, with +tangled white hair surmounted by a queer cap, and the face was so +sharp-nosed and wrinkled, that the little girl paused, with a chicken +wing elevated half-way to her mouth, to stare at the apparition fixedly. + +"Nellie, noticing her sudden silence, turned also; and, when she saw the +face, gave a shriek, and commenced tumbling cakes, pies, and pickles +into the basket. Then the head disappeared from the window, and a +comical little old man, in a dressing-gown, popped out of the door, like +a spider from its hole. He hobbled towards them, shaking his cane, and +croaking like a hoarse old raven. + +"'Get out, will ye, a-tramping of my rye, and a-bringing of your traps +under my very nose. Hullo, there! just wait till I catch ye.' + +"He looked so wild and angry, as he came towards them, all the time +wagging his head, and tapping the ground spitefully with his cane, that +they ran away across the rye as fast as ever they could; the old man +shrieking and chattering after them all the while, until they reached +the wall and stumbled over into the highway, Bessie still clutching her +chicken wing. + +"Hurrying along as rapidly as possible, to escape from their dreadful +pursuer, they came to a place of cross roads, and, puzzled which +direction to take, they decided on a pleasant road turning to the right. +When they had proceeded a short distance, they noticed a high fence +running parallel with the road, in which was a door. Impelled by her +usual heedless curiosity, Nellie turned the knob and peeped into the +inclosure. The view of winding paths and shrubbery proved so inviting, +that they entered. They saw broad avenues bordered by rows of fine elms, +trim hedges, and flower parterres, all leading to a large mansion with +closed windows and doors, as if nobody lived there, while a dome of +glittering glass conservatories rose on one side. The children strolled +about, every moment discovering something new to admire,--now it was a +graceful-arched bridge; now it was a white statue gleaming through the +shrubbery; now it was a massive carved urn, filled with hardy, clinging +ivy vines. + +"Seeing no one near, they determined once more to eat their dinner; and +so, selecting a pleasant bank for the purpose, were soon discussing +their good things. + +"'Now you will find that May-day is nice, after all,' said Nellie +triumphantly, her mouth full of cake, as she poured some of the contents +of the bottle into a cup the size of a thimble. + +"Oh, false hope! There was a crackling of dry twigs behind them, and, +with an alarming growl, a large, savage-looking dog bounded directly +into their midst. To see a huge black nose appear over one's head, and a +double row of sharp, white teeth displayed within a few inches of one's +eyes, is trying to the courage,--at least our little friends found it +so; for they not only abandoned their baggage to the enemy, but beat a +hasty retreat, Nellie rushing wildly down one alley, while Bessie +escaped by another. + +"The dog, instead of following them, began to devour their repast, +selecting such dainty morsels from the _debris_ as best suited his +palate. + +"Bessie found herself, she scarcely knew how, behind a summer-house, +where she crouched trembling for a time, until, summoning courage, she +ventured to call, in a quavering little voice, to her missing friend. +Receiving no response, she began a search, frightened that she was +alone. She peered about on every side, entreating Nellie to +appear,--first from under a bush that would not have concealed a cat; +then lifting a watering-pot left by the gardener, as though she expected +to find her companion rolled in a ball below the spout; until, with +heaving sobs, she paused by a bridge, and made a last desperate effort. +This time she heard a faint response, as Nellie presently crawled forth +from under an arch of the bridge, sadly splashed with water, her hat +gone, and her ankle sprained. What need to tell how they wandered +through avenue, grove, and by-way, hopelessly bewildered and +lost?--how, utterly discouraged and terrified at last, as the sun began +to slant towards the western horizon, they sat down by the road-side, to +indulge in a flood of tears? + +"'It's not a bit like story-books,' sobbed Nellie. 'I am so hungry and +tired and cold. Oh, dear!' + +"Just as they were preparing to rouse themselves to try and find their +way, a gayly painted express wagon came rattling along at a smart pace. +The good-natured driver stopped readily enough to answer their questions +as to the way home; and, when he had gleaned a few particulars of their +story, he took them into his conveyance, and carried them safely within +the city limits. + +"When the sun had set, and the evening shadows fell cold and gray +through the narrow streets, two forlorn little forms, all travel-stained +and weary, crept along to their respective homes; ready to beg +forgiveness for their truancy, ready to acknowledge their folly, and +nestle into their soft, warm beds, to dream of the smiling woodland or +pleasant meadows in the story-books first of May." + +"Where did you hear that?" asked the Spider. + +"Who knows but I may be an author, too?" responded the Saucepan airily. +"Surely it is my own affair." + +"I have been thinking of this story for a month," said the Spider, in a +patronizing tone. "Still I am glad you had the pleasure of telling it." + +This was malicious on the part of the Spider, and of course the Saucepan +was in danger of losing her temper in consequence. The Caterpillar had +by this time recovered somewhat from his low spirits, and determined to +distinguish himself, because he feared they all must consider him a +person of inferior ability. When they again met, the Cricket hoped to +talk a little, as he had not had a single opportunity to do so since the +arrival of the three travellers; but he was again doomed to +disappointment. + +"Allow me to speak," said the Caterpillar, with a dignified manner. + +Then he commenced:-- + + + + +GRANDPAPA MOUSE AND HIS FAMILY. + + +"Grandpapa mouse was quite an old gentleman at the time of which I +write. He and his wife lived in a nice, large granary belonging to a +rich farmer, which would have made them a splendid home, but for one +reason. Do you know what that was? Why, they did not have to scamper all +about to find their living, as some mice do; for they had every thing +that was good piled up about them. They could nip a kernel from an ear +of corn here, or taste a bit of barley there; until they were so fat +they hardly knew what to do with themselves. + +"Grandpapa was taken with the gout, and had to sit all day with one leg +wrapped in a wisp of hay, besides having to take nothing but water +gruel, which seemed to him a very sad case indeed. + +"As for Grandmamma, she was so large round the waist, her grandchildren +had to nibble a hole twice the usual size for her to pass through, when +she wished to take the air. + +"They were seated one winter's night each side of the fire, which +consisted of some shreds of corn-husk upon a pebble, and certainly made +as bright a blaze as need be. Grandpapa was feeling better; for the +mouse doctor had been to see him that day, and had given him a new +liniment of great virtue. He was whistling quite a gay tune, and staring +at the fire, when suddenly he exclaimed,-- + +"'It is almost Christmas time, my dear.' + +"Grandmamma had been dozing over her knitting-work; so she rubbed her +eyes, and said,-- + +"'What?' + +"'It is almost Christmas,' he repeated louder, for she was a trifle +deaf. 'I heard the farmer say so to-day, when he was counting his +turkeys out there. I think we had better give a dinner-party, and invite +all our children home.' + +"'Perhaps we had,' assented Grandmamma with a sigh: she knew how much +work it would make. 'We have not enough spare rooms, though, I am +afraid.' + +"'We can easily gnaw a few new ones,' said Grandpapa briskly. 'Let us +send our invitations by the postman to-morrow.' + +"So they wrote to all their children; and the next morning the little +servant mouse had to watch under a bush until the letter-carrier came. +Now this postman was a snow-bird, who had promised always to take +messages for the mice, if they would steal him bits of bread and cake +from the pantry. + +"'If you please, sir, my master has got some letters for you,' called +the little servant, in a wee, piping voice, for her nose was getting +cold out of doors. + +"'Put them into my bag,' said the snow-bird, hopping along jauntily. + +"So the little servant stood upon her hind legs to place the letters in +the tiny bag which the snow-bird carried under his left wing; then she +threw her apron over her head, and ran home. + +"I suppose there never was such a sweeping and scratching and gnawing in +any other mouse family, as went on in this one for the next two weeks. +All of them worked so hard, making new holes for their expected guests, +that the little servant had an attack of mumps at the last minute, and +had to have her head tied up in a rag of cobweb. + +"Christmas Eve came at last. Grandpapa had his coat of fur nicely +brushed, and Grandmamma wore a new cap with a ruffle round it. + +"Presently there sounded the patter of little footsteps, which announced +the arrival of the eldest son, and his family of six children. +Grandmamma had scarcely kissed them all round, when in walked the eldest +daughter, with her husband and baby. She had only just been shown to her +room to take off her bonnet, when all the rest came,--a son from the +city; a daughter from the next village; and the youngest child, who +lived in a distant town, and was an old bachelor. + +"What a time there was! Grandpapa grew quite hoarse with shouting at his +different sons; and as for the children, there were so many of them +tumbling about, it is only a wonder their mothers ever could tell them +apart. + +"At last the elder ones had their supper and were sent to bed, where +they soon forgot every thing in sound sleep. Then all the mothers began +to talk together in one corner with Grandmamma about their houses and +cook-books, while the gentlemen discussed mouse politics in another. So +the evening passed away very pleasantly; and by ten o'clock they were +all asleep, too, except Grandpapa: he was so excited, that his wife had +to give him a Dover's powder before he could shut an eye. + +"The next morning the children were awake bright and early, wanting all +sorts of things to eat, and poking into odd places where they should not +have gone. + +"'O Grandpapa! is there no ice this morning?' cried an eager young +mouse; 'I have such a prime pair of skates!' + +"'Can you cut a pigeon wing backwards?' asked one of the city cousins. +'I will show you how to do it in style.' + +"'May we go, too?' urged all the little mice in chorus. + +"Grandpapa consented: so the small servant went to show them the way; +and they soon reached the pond, which was in reality a frozen puddle, +about twelve inches square, and very smooth, on the edge of a wood. + +"All the country mice put on their skates, made of beech-nuts, with +crooked pins for runners, and began to caper about in a great way. The +vain young city mouse then fastened on his, which were tiny apple-seeds +beautifully polished, and strapped with gray horse-hairs. + +"'See,' said he, 'my skates are rockers;' and sure enough they were, for +he soon toppled over backwards, while all the others laughed to behold +his fall. If a cat had happened to spy them, what a dainty Christmas +dinner she might have had! But no cat did; so they had a splendid time, +and went home as hungry as mice can be. + +"As for the ladies, they had enjoyed the quiet in-doors very much +indeed. You must not suppose that all the children were able to scamper +out. There were ever so many babies, that looked just like little bits +of pink pigs. Those from the city had nurses, but those from the country +had not. + +"'It is time for my baby's morning nap,' said the city mouse, looking at +her watch. 'Dear me! is there no cradle?' + +"Then Grandmamma sent to the lumber room, and had one her children once +used brought out. It was half of a peach-pit, which, when lined with +soft paper, made an excellent bed for the fretful baby mouse. + +"So the day wore on, and at last they began to get sniffs of nice things +cooking. Grandmamma bustled about with her cap-strings flying, and grew +very red in the face from scolding the little servant, who was all the +while going the wrong way, because she could do nothing but stare at the +finery of the nursery maids. + +"At last dinner was quite ready; so Grandpapa took his place at the head +of the table, and Grandmamma hers at the foot: yet they could see +nothing but the tips of each other's noses, the pile of good things was +so high. Before the old gentleman was placed a dish of toasted cheese, +that made every mouse present smack his lips with delight; while before +his wife was a fine large egg; and the rest of the table held bits of +meat, cracker, and blades of wheat. The children had a smaller table to +themselves, with just as much to eat as their parents. They behaved +pretty well at first, until one roguish little mouse thrust his nose +into the cheese, and the next one gave him a push that sent him +sprawling across the table. This made all the others frolic, too, so +that the city mouse had to come and box their ears all around. + +"While she was doing this, the little servant happened to come along, +carrying a nut-shell of honey; and what did she do but catch her foot in +the beautiful long tail of the city mouse, and spill the honey all down +her back. There was a regular uproar at this: the city mouse was so +angry, it seemed as though she never would take any more dinner. + +"Grandpapa had been very still all this time: he was eating as if he +never expected to have the gout again. If his doctor had only seen him, +I am sure I do not know what in the world he would have said. + +"When they had finished the meal, they made a circle around the fire; +and, the ladies not objecting, the gentlemen lit their cigars, which +were in reality straw tubes. + +"'I wish somebody would tell a story,' said a little lame mouse, who had +been obliged to stay in the house all day, because it could not run and +jump like the others, but had to hobble along on a crutch made of a +lucifer match. + +"'Yes, yes, Grandpapa, tell us a story,' cried all the other young mice +in a breath. + +"'I don't know any stories,' said Grandpapa, puffing away at his straw +cigar. 'Ask your uncle.' + +"So they began to clamor at the bachelor uncle, and he finally consented +to amuse them. Now, of all the family, he was the most doleful mouse +imaginable; and before he began his story Grandmamma whispered to one of +her daughters-in-law, that he had been disappointed in love, which +accounted for his melancholy. Whether this was true or not, I do not +know; but he also suffered from dyspepsia, and that is apt to make one +sad, it is said: so perhaps it was his liver, and not his heart, that +was affected. He now drew his seat closer to the fire, and began:-- + +"'I fear I shall not be able to tell you any thing very wonderful: still +I can give you some description of my own life since I left home; and, +when I have finished, I hope some of my brothers and sisters will also +tell us what they have been about. When I was a young mouse, my health +was very delicate: the doctor feared a throat affection, so I decided to +go farther south for change of air. There was no need for me to settle +anywhere: I was not a marrying mouse.' [Here Grandmamma nodded and +winked, as much as to say, "I told you so."] + +"'Ordinary society did not suit me at all: to hear a mouse talk of +nothing but his dinner, seemed very tame. That reminds me it is time to +take my medicine two hours after eating. Dear, dear, I nearly forgot!' + +"The bachelor unfastened a bit of goose quill, corked at both ends, that +was hung about his neck with a string, and took a pill from it. He then +resumed his story:-- + +"'I journeyed on in frequent danger, until I reached the handsome town +where I now live. I had to cross a broad beach, and saw the ocean +rolling in great waves of foam, before I came to the houses. It was +night, and the stars shone brightly overhead; but I was so tired with my +day's tramp, that I crawled into a stone wall, to rest. I was soon +disturbed by a squirrel's scrambling in after me. + +"'"Good evening, sir," I said; for my mother had always taught me to be +especially polite to strangers. "Will you tell me where I can find a +night's lodging?" + +"'"Do you like gay company?" replied the squirrel, peering at me with +his bright eyes. + +"'"I like grave people better." + +"'"Why, then, I know the very place," cried he. "Go to the town library, +where you can find a set of students." + +"'I thanked him, and went on until I arrived at the library, where I was +received most courteously by the society of literary mice, to which I +now belong. Perhaps you may have noticed the leather medal I wear upon +my left shoulder. Never shall I forget their kindness that night. They +first inquired if I was married, because they did not admit such +parties; and when I satisfied them I was not, they at once gave me the +hole recently occupied by a brother, who had died of brain fever, +brought on by overwork. + +"'What a delightful time we have of it there! We spend the day getting +in stores of provisions, strolling about out of doors, or taking a nap; +then when evening comes, and the old librarian places all the books in +order before going home, we begin to scamper about, having the place all +to ourselves. + +"'Our president (he has nibbled more books than any of us, and that is +why we elected him) calls us about him after a while, and asks what we +have seen that is interesting or new. This is a most agreeable +arrangement; since one of us is always appointed to be about the library +during the day, to hear what the people may say there. I have been +particularly useful in this way, and that is one reason I am so much of +a favorite. + +"'One thing troubles me greatly at present, so that I must make off home +again as soon as ever I can: I left the whole of the society in such a +state of mind over it, that they were not going to allow themselves any +Christmas dinner.' + +"'Pray what is the important question?' inquired Grandpapa. + +"'Why, about a month ago,' replied the bachelor, warming one foot at the +blaze, 'it was my turn to visit the reading-room. I had crept around +very quietly for some time, hearing old gentlemen talk over their +newspapers, or watching ladies rustle in and out, when a young man and a +little girl came in. With them was a tan terrier, which began to trot +around, snuffing such mischief as he might, when he suddenly spied me +seated at my ease upon a large book, and leaped up at me, barking +furiously. If the young man had not seized him by the collar, I do not +know what would have become of me. As it was, there he sat under his +master's chair, winking, and ready to eat me alive any minute. + +"'The little girl kept asking her brother strange questions about +different things, until he said,-- + +"'"Did you know, Mimi, that the moon is made of green cheese?" + +"'She said, "No." + +"'"It is," he continued. "The wise men that study the stars have just +found it out." + +"'I pricked up my ears at this, and as I had a chance soon after to make +my escape, I did so.' + +"'What!' exclaimed the whole mouse family. 'Is the moon nothing but a +big slice of cheese, then?' + +"'Do you believe it, my son?' inquired Grandpapa, rubbing his nose with +a puzzled air. + +"'Dear me, dear me!' sighed Grandmamma, wiping her spectacles, 'what +next?' + +"'I don't know what to believe,' continued the bachelor. 'I told the +others of it that night, and I do not believe the president has slept a +wink since. We have searched everywhere to learn if it is really true; +we have set an extra watch of four to listen in the library; and if they +have not found out something when I go back, I, for one, shall start +direct for Harvard University, to settle the matter. + +"'Now, you see, if the moon is really made of green cheese,' he added, +shaking his head wisely, 'I should suppose it would have been eaten up +long ago.' + +"Here he stopped suddenly. Every one of his nephews and nieces had +fallen asleep, some in their mothers' laps, and others huddled together +in little balls upon the floor. A great deal they cared about the moon! + +"The lame mouse, however, had listened to every word with bright eyes, +and this pleased the bachelor so much, that he patted her upon the head, +saying,-- + +"'You are a good child, my dear; I shall leave you something in my +will.' + +"The others were then roused up, and trundled off to bed; but they were +so sleepy they did not once think to ask their uncle's pardon. + +"'I've been thinking,' said Grandpapa, 'of the time when my gray cousin +and I made a trip together. We were both very gay, and one hot summer +morning he said to me,-- + +"'"Every one is bound to the mountains: let us go, too." + +"'"But," said I, "you know my father is away on business, and I am the +eldest son, left in charge of the family." + +"'"Never mind," rejoined he, "we can have such splendid fun!" + +"'Well, we ran away from home (my cousin lived with us, as he had been +left an orphan at a tender age). We travelled along bravely for a time, +although the sun was dreadfully hot upon our backs.' + +"'"Oh, dear!" I panted, "I never was so warm in my life." + +"'"What is easier than to carry an umbrella, then?" suggested my +companion; and with that he nibbled the stems of two toad-stools until +they separated, and carrying one above his own head, gave me the other. +This was a delightful change, for the toad-stools spread so as to +shelter our faces from the sun. We trotted along comfortably after this, +and finally came to the brink of a brook, where we paused, because we +did not know how to get across. + +"'"The mountains look such a little way off," said my cousin dismally; +yet the brook still whirled on, seeming to laugh at our discomfiture. + +"'"I believe we could skip from stone to stone," urged the gray mouse, +who was determined not to turn back, if he could possibly help it. + +"'So I tried the bits of stone for some distance; and then I found +myself away out where the water was ever so deep, and I was seized with +fright, not daring to move an inch either way, but clinging to the wet, +slimy rock. Presently a beautiful trout came swimming towards me, its +sides all clothed in variegated scales, and its handsome eyes sparkling +with fun. + +"'"What is the matter; are you sea-sick?" laughed the trout, splashing +the foam from its tail in my face. + +"'"Oh! don't, if you please, I am so giddy now," I cried, and then +tumbled headlong into the water. + +"'Ugh! what a cold bath that was: it makes me shiver only to think of +it. The wicked fish took me on his back, and gave me such a sail as I +hope I may never have again in this world. It went up and down, and up +and down again, approaching the shore occasionally only to dart off for +a fresh trip, until I fairly squealed with fright, clasping its slippery +back the while. At last it flung me off, and I landed by my cousin, who +did nothing but laugh at me. I was very cross by this time; so, after +trying to dry myself upon some blades of grass, I determined to return +home. Just then a fat old bull-frog paddled lazily towards the bank. + +"'"Will you carry us across the brook?" inquired my cousin eagerly. + +"'"How much do you weigh?" asked the bull-frog, winking slowly. + +"Just take up this fellow, and see." He then lifted me upon the +bull-frog's back, who carried me safely across before I could say a +single word. Afterward he brought my cousin over also, and we were able +to resume our journey. + +"'Fortunately we overtook a field mouse soon after, who invited us to +visit his family in the stump of a tree, which we were glad enough to +do, as we were both hungry and tired. That night I was very ill with +chills and fever,--probably owing to the cold bath I had taken; and the +field mice had to give me a dose of some kind of bark that they always +kept in the house, as they lived in a swampy region, which made me +better. They none of them thought I could go on the next morning; and, +as the gray mouse was so anxious to climb the mountains, I proposed his +starting without me. This he consented to do, when one of the young +field mice offered to be his guide; and if I felt well enough, I was to +join them after a while. I had a very nice visit, indeed: the field mice +were so hospitable and kind. I spent most of my time in the house with +the ladies, and the eldest daughter was--who do you think? Why, your +mother, of course; and a prettier young mouse I never saw.' + +"'Don't be foolish,' interrupted Grandmamma. + +"'Yes; but you were just as pretty as ever you could be,' urged +Grandpapa, politely. + +"'I know I was considered the belle of our society;' and Grandmamma +tossed her head when she thought of the admirers of her youth. + +"'I concluded I would not join my cousin at all,' went on Grandpapa; +'but this I was finally obliged to do, for days passed on and they did +not return. At this we all began to look grave; so the father +field-mouse told me that he was afraid something had happened, and he +thought we had better search for them. We made a party of eight, and set +out towards the mountains, anticipating something dreadful must have +befallen the travellers. Ah, what a time we had! + +"'We came to a place where the rock rose so steep and straight before +us, that I did not consider it possible to climb it. What do you suppose +we did? We tied ourselves together, as travellers do when ascending the +Alps in Switzerland, although not with such ropes as they use; we +fastened the tips of our tails together with bits of grass, then marched +along side by side. This was an excellent arrangement, as we afterwards +found; for at one time they all slipped, obliging me to bear their +weight upon my tail. It was a terrible moment: I feared it would break, +or be pulled out from the roots entirely! + +"'At last we reached a shelf of rock where we could rest awhile. The +view from this place was splendid. The valleys lay below blooming with +verdure, many-colored flowers, and golden grain almost ready for the +harvest; the rivers sparkled under the clear sunlight in silvery +threads; and of the towns scattered along the the hillside as far as I +could see, the church steeples looked like mere arrowy spikes. When I +gazed down upon this beautiful smiling earth, and up at the blue sky +where the soft white clouds were floating idly along, it seemed to me +very wonderful that the good God, who had made such grand things, had +made also little me. + +"'We climbed up and up for several days, following footprints that were +certainly those of mice; and we hoped belonged to our friends. At last, +even such traces ceased; and we were fairly at our wits' end, when we +heard faint sounds behind a large leaf. Peering cautiously around the +corner, we saw the gray mouse and his companion stretched upon a bed of +moss, groaning in the most dismal manner. They were overjoyed to see us +again, for they had supposed they must die up there alone. My cousin +had slipped, and sprained his ankle terribly; while the field-mouse had +lost his balance, in trying to assist him, and fallen down a precipice +some twenty inches high, thus injuring his spine. It was all very well +having found them; but how were we to get them away, when neither of +them could move a step? We sat for a long time looking at each other in +doubt, and then a bright idea struck me. + +"'"We can braid this sword-grass together, and lower them down by it," I +said. + +"'We soon joined a quantity in this way, then fastened one end about the +waist of my cousin, and let him down to the next ledge. In this way we +got them both to the foot of the mountain. Now it remained to carry them +across the country; so we tore a mullein leaf in two halves, and, +placing the pieces upon birch twigs, formed excellent litters for our +invalids. We reached the stump of the field-mice again, after an absence +of a month. The surgeon mended my cousin's ankle, which was broken; and, +as for the young field-mouse, I am told he has not known what it was to +feel well a day since. + +"'During the period that we remained, I made a proposal of marriage to +your mother, and was accepted; so, with the understanding that I should +return in the spring, we finally started home. My mother forgot to scold +us, she was so frightened by our long absence. Besides, she received +very sad news just at this time. My father, who was away on business, as +I have said, was taken with the cholera suddenly, after eating a late +supper of bacon rinds, and died. I tried to be a good son ever after,' +concluded he, wiping a tear from his left eye, 'although if I had not +been naughty this time, I should never have known your mother.' + +"'For my part,' remarked the city mouse, 'I have had rather a tough time +of it so far. Now, indeed, I enjoy my ease; but, as I have said, it has +been hardly earned. My desire in going to town was, first, to learn +something of life, and then aspire to belonging to the class of business +mice, which seemed to me the most enviable lot imaginable. I was very +near losing sight of this aim once; still I persevered, until now I am +reckoned among the most influential people. When I began my career, I +was extremely gay; that is, I enjoyed the company of a number of other +young mice, who did nothing but frolic the whole day. I might have kept +on in this way for any length of time, had I not been suddenly checked. + +"'I was invited to a ball given by a wealthy mouse at his country +residence, which was located in a nook of the wall of an ice-house. It +was really the finest place for the time of year I ever visited, and the +wealthy mouse had spared no expense in fitting it up nicely. The +coolness of the house was so refreshing in the sultry heat of July; for, +if one was too hot, all one had to do was to skip down where the great +blocks of ice were piled, and soon get cooled off again. Well, we were +all to attend the silver wedding of the old couple. The young mice had +the greatest time at the tailor's, wondering what to wear; for we were +expected to assume the character of some distinguished person, as it was +to be a fancy masquerade. I thought the tailor would have been crazed +with getting our costumes made, we altered our minds so often; but, +finally, all was ready, and, with our dresses wrapped in brown paper, +we started. + +"'At the entrance door,--a crack in the stonework,--we were shown by two +waiters, in white jackets and aprons, to the dressing-room, where any +number of guests were tying on their masks, made of scraps of various +colored silks, that certainly had a very stylish appearance. The +reception rooms below were truly magnificent. The walls were hung with +strips of red and blue paper, gnawed into all manner of fanciful shapes, +while a row of glow-worms, placed at intervals, lit up the place in the +most beautiful way. At one end of the room stood the host and hostess +upon a platform an inch high (she wearing her wedding-dress of lily +leaves, which had a very old-fashioned effect, because every one wears +swan's-down nowadays), to receive the company, who marched up to make a +bow, each in turn. I represented Bluebeard, with a green turban round my +head, a red sash with a dagger of a rose-thorn, and a pair of yellow +Turkish trousers. This was all very elegant; but I found I could not +dance the polka very well, I was so much bundled up. A friend of mine +was dressed in a long-tailed coat of scarlet plush, with gold +knee-breeches; another had on for armor half of a nutmeg-grater, with a +tin shield made of the top of a spice-box, and a thistle-cup for helmet. + +"'As for the ladies' toilets, I cannot begin to describe them, there was +such a variety of beauty and elegance. One lady's costume I remember +especially, however: it was so very dainty. She was equipped as a +flower-girl, with a short dress of sea-lettuce, looped by tufts of +dandelion down; she wore pink slippers, laced across the instep, a +bodice of wasp-wings, and a hat made of a silver three-cent piece, +ornamented by a flower in the side. I danced with this lady a great many +times, although, as she was masked, I could not see her face at all; and +we became quite well acquainted. The dancing-room grew very hot; and the +band played splendidly (they were katydids, and worked so hard with +their fiddles, it is only a wonder their legs were not worn out +entirely), when I proposed to the young lady-mouse to take a walk in the +moonlight. We found a good many others strolling along arm in arm; and +she had just consented to give me a whisker (as mortals would exchange a +lock of hair), when we heard a shrill voice behind us in the distance. + +"'"Oh, that is my grandmother!" exclaimed my lovely companion in a +whisper, and then she fainted away. + +"'The grandmother hobbled up, and she was certainly the ugliest little +old mouse I ever saw in my life. Her nose was very long, she wore green +spectacles, and used a cane in walking. When she beheld the insensible +form of her grand-daughter, she fairly shook her cane at me. + +"'"What do you mean?" she said in a hoarse, croaking voice. "I came to +the ball to watch this young mouse; and now you have skipped out into +the moonlight to take cold, have you?" + +"'She attempted to box my ears, while I tried to dodge her sharp claws; +and, in so doing, the fair young mouse fell to the ground, thus ruining +her pretty hat. The grandmother screamed with rage to see so nice a +costume spoiled, and this sent all the guests out to find what was the +matter. The noise brought still another guest to the scene that we did +not expect: a great cat, with eyes like green fire, came creeping +through the grass; but we never noticed her, we were so busy bickering +and quarrelling among ourselves. + +"'Suddenly she gave a pounce into our midst; and we all ran for our +lives, tearing our dresses, losing caps and shoes, tumbling over each +other, until we arrived breathless under shelter. We then began to count +our number, and found that the poor flower-girl mouse was missing. I +peeped out of the crack fearfully, and sure enough the horrible cat was +stepping away lightly with our poor companion in her cruel mouth. + +"'Of course the ball was closed after this dreadful accident; and as for +the grandmother, I have heard she was crazy afterward, so that she had +to be confined in an egg-shell with wire bars at the entrance. This +event sobered me very much. I began to think that there was something +more to be done in the world than frisk about and dress finely. + +"'When I returned to the city, I went to a merchant mouse of great +reputation to seek employment. After some delay, I was shown into his +counting-room (behind the fireplace of a lawyer's office), where I found +him, as was to be expected, busily engaged at his desk. I told him I +should like to be appointed one of his clerks, as I hoped to rise, like +himself, to the rank of wealth and importance. He put his pen behind his +ear,--it was the pin-feather of a bird,--and smiled rather grimly, as +though he fancied a good many mice would enjoy growing as great as he +had. The salary I should receive was very small, he told me, and I would +have to work very hard for it; still I was not discouraged by all this, +so the next morning I entered his store. + +"'He was one of the most influential provision mice in the city, doing a +large wholesale business with other cities, and the country as well. I +belonged at first to the number of young clerks whose duty it was to go +about the streets and houses with bags, like rag-pickers, to find odd +scraps of bread, cheese, sugar, nuts, raisins, and starch, which we +brought to the warehouse, where they were taken in charge by other +clerks, who packed them to be carried away, or sold them in piles at a +time. + +"'It was terribly fatiguing, for we were expected to bring a full bag +always by nightfall; but I determined to be industrious; so I +persevered, although the time seemed _so_ long before I was promoted to +the rank of clerk in the receiving department. From this I have +progressed slowly enough, yet I have gained much knowledge. Dear me! I +could tell you where a crumb of cheese came from in the dark. Now I am +the head of the house; for my employer has retired from business, +leaving me in charge. I have also married his only daughter,' said the +city mouse, with a proud air. + +"'I am glad you have succeeded;' commented Grandpapa kindly; 'only be +careful that prosperity does not make you arrogant, as it is apt to. + +"'Now, my dear daughter;' he added, turning to the mouse who had arrived +second on Christmas Eve, 'what have you been doing this long time?' + +"'I went to visit my cousin, as you will doubtless remember. She is a +great matchmaker, and perhaps you knew that when you sent me to her; for +I was then quite mature in age, and did not inherit any of my mother's +beauty, besides. Well, she found me plenty of suitors, and before long I +married. I enjoyed life very much at first; but sorrows in plenty +awaited me,' sighed the daughter, arranging her crape head-dress. + +"'I had four beautiful children; and my pride in them was so great that +I decided to take them to the mouse fair, where prizes were to be given +to the handsomest babies. The mice were flocking from all quarters to +this splendid exhibition, which was given in order to raise funds for an +orphan asylum that was much needed in the region. + +"'The place selected was under a rock on the margin of a wood. The tent +was made of rags joined together; and at the entrance we all paid the +admittance fee,--a kernel of corn, which was to go towards the fund. The +collection within was very fine. There were a few grains of maize +brought all the way from Egypt at immense expense. There was a portrait +of one of our distinguished ancestors, painted in brickdust by a young +mouse artist of great talent; there was a scrap of bacon sent from +England; and there were two whole figs given to the fair by a wealthy +mouse of high rank. There were also a number of articles to be sold by +lottery; a work-box formed of a filbert hollowed out, and lined with +moss, besides being fitted up with needles and scissors of fish-bone; a +pony carriage made of a scallop shell upon spool wheels, the most +luxurious thing to drive in I ever beheld; a candlestick of brown sugar, +beautifully nibbled into filigree work by a blind mouse of large +experience; and a blanket composed of a sheep's tail, embroidered with +cat-whiskers. + +"'These are a few of the things I remember, because I nearly ruined my +husband by taking shares in them all; and I actually drew nothing, so +all that money, or corn rather, was lost. + +"'Behind the tables stood rows of young lady-mice, all dressed alike, +with buttercup caps upon their heads, and wearing aprons, the pockets +trimmed with gold thread. This gave them a very pretty appearance; and +they sold much more among the gentlemen mice than they would have done, +had they been more plainly dressed. + +"'At last it was time for the prizes to be given to the finest children; +and the committee of ten old mice, who were to decide the important +question took their places, and all mothers were told to come forward. +How lovely my dear babies did look! They never cried, or crumpled their +little white bibs in the least; and I felt so proud of them I could +hardly stand. + +"'Well, they took all the prizes: one for his large weight, one for the +size of his nose, which was very remarkable for his age; one for the +smallness of his feet; and the last for the great length of his tail. +Oh! the other mothers were so enraged and jealous, I was afraid they +would tear my eyes out.' + +"Here the daughter mouse began to sob and cry, while all of the family +tried to comfort her. + +"'I will tell the rest: she will not be able,' piped her husband, +holding a smelling-bottle to her nose. + +"'No, no,' she said in a faint voice, while Grandmamma fanned her: 'I +will finish. + +"'We started home again with the little dears, and on our way paused to +rest for the purpose of eating a few wild berries in the wood, as a +luncheon, leaving our nurse at some little distance in charge of the +children. We were startled by a sudden squeal, and beheld the nurse +trotting towards us, her eyes wild with fright. + +"'"Where are the babies?" I shrieked in terror. + +"'Alas! I soon discovered what a misfortune had befallen me. A dog had +found them as they lay asleep, and was now tossing them rudely about in +sport, and I could not defend them. I have never been the same mouse +since their sad death, and I do not expect ever to wear any thing but +mourning. + +"They were all very much affected by the sorrows of the eldest daughter. +When she had finished, the city mouse used her handkerchief several +times, while Grandmamma's spectacles were quite dim with tears. + +"'Could you give us some items of your experience, also?' inquired +Grandpapa of his eldest son, sleepily but politely. + +"'I have really nothing of importance to tell;' and perhaps he was +right, for he certainly had been very quiet all this time, although it +may have been because he ate so much dinner. + +"'I have lived a very uneventful life,' he went on, 'not having wandered +further than the next village, where I live in a barn very comfortably. +I have no learned tastes, like my bachelor brother; I do not care in the +least whether the moon is green cheese or not,--as long as I stay on +earth it need not trouble me; I am not a business mouse, like my city +brother; I have never made a journey, like my father here; and all my +children have lived to grow up, so that I have not the same misfortunes +as my poor sister. + +"'That is all I can say for myself; and, if it is agreeable to you all, +I propose we go to bed, as some of us will have to make an early start +in the morning,' he said, rising with a yawn of fatigue. + +"They consented to this last arrangement, and thus Christmas Day closed +on Grandpapa Mouse and his family." + +Public favor was universally awarded the Caterpillar after this effort. + +The Cricket next received a reward for all his patience and good humor, +by having an opportunity of telling-- + + + + +THE ENCHANTED BABY-HOUSE. + + +"Yes, it was a pleasant day, after all! The bright sunlight danced +through the parted crimson curtains down upon the nursery floor, down +upon curly heads nestled among the pillows, tinging the canary bird's +golden feathers, as he ruffled himself upon the perch before skipping +down to the dining-room of his cage for a stray seed or sip of water, +and blinking straight into the eyes of little Milly, as she first opened +them upon her sixth birthday. The other children were still napping; but +Hannah, the nurse, thought of it, and came to kiss the pet who had first +rested in her arms, a wee bundle of flannel, with a tiny red face. Nurse +thought Milly a great deal prettier and bonnier, as she crept out of bed +now to stand upon the warm hearth-rug in her white night-dress, warming +her little pink toes at the blaze, than when she was only that little +bundle of flannel on the day of her birth. + +"'Come, dears,' said nurse, rousing the others: 'it is Milly's birthday, +you know; so be up bright and early.' + +"'Yes, yes,' sang Milly, merrily whirling about the room to the step her +dancing-master had last taught her. 'Get up! I am six years old to-day: +only think; and you but four, Miss Pet,--such a little, little girl.' + +"'No: I aint,' answered Pet, indignantly, rolling out upon the floor +like a rosy ball of an apple: 'I am so big I can see over the table, +anyhow.' + +"Upon this Milly caught the small sister by both hands, and whirled her +round the room so fast, that Pet had not a particle of breath left in +her fat little body. The noise made all the other children open their +eyes, and join in the fun; while even the baby sat up in its crib, to +crow, and pat its dimpled hands together, because the rest did: babies +can never give any better reasons for their actions. Nurse Hannah and +her assistant, Sarah, never had such work to dress their charges, as on +that morning. First, Tom put on his soldier's cap, which Santa Claus had +given him only a few weeks before, and strapped the sword about his +waist, which certainly made him look very funny indeed, considering that +he still wore only his night-clothes; while all the rest strutted after +him in single file, Dick beating a drum, Milly carrying a tin musket, +and Pet bringing up the rear, staggering under the weight of a knapsack. +In this way, they marched about, always slipping like eels when Nurse +Hannah touched them, and making so much noise the while, that she could +scarcely hear herself speak. At last, Sarah pounced upon Pet, and bore +her away shrieking and struggling to the bath-room, whence, after a good +deal of gurgling and splashing, she returned, looking as fresh as a +rosebud that the dew has just kissed into fragrance. Milly now began to +behave better; for she thought she must set Pet a good example, since +she was so much the elder of the two. Tom and Dick, however, grew wilder +and gayer as they dressed themselves. They hid Milly's boots so that she +could not find them; they whisked the baby out of his crib, where he +sat contentedly sucking one thumb, and perched him upon the bureau; and +Tom leaped upon the table with a newspaper, which he held upside down, +and pretended to read, with Nurse Hannah's steel-bowed spectacles upon +his little pug nose. + +"At this they all laughed so loudly that mamma came to the door to +inquire what was the matter, and tell them it was breakfast-time. + +"'O Sarah! please brush my hair, quick,' implored Milly. 'I want to +begin my year in season for every thing, if I possibly can.' + +"So Sarah brushed her hair, and smoothed down the nice new dress and +crisp muslin apron prepared for the occasion; then Milly ran downstairs, +and climbed into her high chair, just before papa was ready to ask the +blessing, feeling very gay and happy. After breakfast, mamma proposed +that they should all go out to play for a time, as the morning was so +fine. + +"'Then,' she said with a smile, patting her eldest daughter's soft round +cheek, 'we will see what we can do to amuse Milly in the house.' + +"Mamma then went away, and Milly turned to the window with a half sigh +of disappointment. The view from where she stood was beautiful enough to +make any child's eyes sparkle with delight. The earth was hidden by a +soft covering of fresh snow; the trees and shrubs were powdered with +icicle fringes, that gleamed and sparkled in the sun like so many +crystal pendants; and the Hudson River swept along, bearing upon its +surface, now a stately steamboat, ploughing its way swiftly along +through sheets of foam-flakes, and now a flitting sail-boat, with white +sail spread like a bird's wings upon the wind. But, for the moment, +Milly did not enjoy this splendid winter landscape; nor did she notice +the little snow-birds, hopping about the frozen ground on their +frail-looking little legs, and cocking their bright eyes up at her, as +if begging a crumb from the plenty of the table. A cloud had come over +her bright face, causing it for the time to look sullen and sad. Do you +know what she was thinking of? Precisely what you or any other little +child might in her place. She had expected a birthday gift, and now +nothing of the kind was presented to her from papa even down to the +baby. + +"'I always had one,' reflected Milly, growing more and more aggrieved as +she thought of this injustice, until a tear rolled down her cheek. 'I +always had one,'--this with a sob,--'even when I was ever so little. I +had a rag doll, and a tin horse and cart, and a picture book, and all +sorts of things; but to-day'-- + +"Here Pet came running in with her arms full of wrappings, followed by +Sarah also carrying Milly's warm cloak, hat, and mittens. + +"'Come,' said Pet, 'we are to slide on the pond with the boys, and have +such fun.' + +"'I don't want to slide,' pouted Milly, turning away to the window +again. + +"'What a naughty girl!' exclaimed Sarah, as she tied on Pet's hat, who +could do nothing but stare at Milly in amazement, with big, bright eyes. + +"'Not do,' piped the little sister. 'Oh! I know somethin', Mil',' she +added, puffing out her cheeks with an important air. 'You are not to go +up-stairs at all, mamma said.' + +"'Oh, you silly little goose!' said Tom, overhearing the last sentence +as he entered the room: 'I shall box your ears for that, Miss.' + +"Then Tom pretended to carry out his threat, and Milly forgot her tears +to join in the romp; while Sarah tried to defend poor Pet, who became so +tumbled and out of breath, with her hat knocked over one eye, that she +looked very funny indeed, though I do not believe she was very much hurt +after all. + +"Well, they went out into the frosty air, which nipped their little +noses, stung their round cheeks into a warmer glow, and caused the blood +to course through their young veins like sparkling champagne. Tom and +Dick meant to be very good and patient to-day, because they loved their +little sister much, although they were sometimes rough and rude to her; +but then she was only a girl. Milly's uncle had sent her a beautiful +pair of skates Christmas, all buckles and straps and sharp-curved +runners. They were really splendid; but Milly did not make very much +progress in using them, after all. Her ankles _would_ turn; and she felt +so helpless standing upon the smooth, glaring surface of ice alone, +with her two feet planted close together, while her brothers whizzed +past her in circles that made her head spin to watch, and asked her why +she did not "strike out,--so!" Then when she followed their advice, and +did strike out, her skates were sure to flash up in the air, where her +head ought to have been, while her head went down bump, bump, where her +skates should have been. This was the way Milly skated. When they +reached the pond, Tom and Dick strapped on their skates; then Dick +said,-- + +"'Now, Milly, we will teach you real nice to-day: we are going to be +awfully good.' + +"'No, I thank you,' said Milly, with a grand air: 'I am not going to +tumble about, and get so vexed on my birthday. Pet and I will be ladies, +and you shall be our horses.' + +"At first, the two boys looked surprised; but Milly quite coolly seated +herself upon Tom's sled, tucked her little petticoats snugly about her, +and sat nodding at them both. + +"'Upon my word, that's cool!' cried Tom; but he harnessed himself with +the rope, nevertheless, and away they started, the silver bells +attached to the sled tinkling merrily. They had a grand time of it for +an hour or so, until Milly suddenly remembered what Pet had said about +not going up-stairs; and then she wondered what it all could mean. They +finally started for the house; and when they saw their mamma standing at +the dining-room window watching, Pet and Milly joined hands, and ran as +fast as they could towards home: they could not tell exactly why, except +that they felt like it. + +"'Can Milly go up-stairs now, mamma?' asked Pet eagerly. + +"Mamma assented; and Milly, wondering very much what was coming, +followed her mother into a little room that had never before been used, +and which was now furnished in the most beautiful manner. There was a +fresh muslin curtain, looped with gay ribbons, at the window; the carpet +looked as if it had just been strewn with rosebuds; the tiny bedstead, +of carved wood, had the daintiest linen and crimped hangings; while +there was a little bookcase in one corner, containing all kinds of +pretty books; upon the table bloomed a bouquet of sweet-scented +violets; and by the table was the loveliest rocking-chair imaginable, +just large enough to hold a little girl of six years old. Upon the wall, +in a wreath of evergreen, were written these words: 'Milly's room.' + +"Milly gazed about her, feeling as if she was in a dream. Having +examined all the fine furniture which was from this time to be all her +own, Pet pointed to a large object in a corner, concealed by a sheet +curtain. + +"'What's that?' dancing about with delight. + +"'Let her guess,' said Tom, putting his hand over foolish little Pet's +rosy lips, to keep her from telling the important secret. + +"'It's a ba-by,' gurgled Pet; but Tom put his jacket over her head, and +extinguished her entirely. + +"'Can you guess what it is?' asked mamma. + +"'It looks like an elephant,' said Dick. + +"'I should think it might be a bookcase, only there is one; and Pet said +it was a baby-house,' replied Milly hesitatingly. + +"'Right, right!' cried all the children, clapping their hands. + +"Then papa drew aside the curtain, and Milly's eyes fairly danced with +delight at the sight disclosed. + +"It was the most splendid baby-house she had ever seen in her life, +although she had always considered that of her Cousin May very fine +before. The roof reached nearly to the ceiling of the room, boasting +gables and chimneys; there was a large front door, wearing the number of +the house upon a brass plate; and the windows with the parted curtains +temptingly invited a glimpse into the interior. Mamma then told Milly to +open the door, which she did half shyly, as though she did not know what +to expect next. First, she sat down upon the carpet to look at the +kitchen, with its shining painted floor, its stove, dresser, teakettles, +saucepans, flat-irons, and other implements of that department, over +which reigned Dinah, in a yellow turban and smart red dress, with ever +so many assistant darkies, from her daughter Sue down to tiny doll +grandchildren, not more than an inch long, all as black as ebony. Next +came the dining-room, which was certainly as handsome as the most +fastidious doll could wish for. There were two mahogany sideboards, with +a grand array of frosted cakes, pies, and ice-cream pyramids, only they +were all made of painted wood; and there was a table with a beautiful +gilt tea-service, and a large coffee-urn upon it. On the neatly papered +wall hung several choice pictures about an inch square, and a veritable +cuckoo clock, with the bird all ready to pop out when you pulled a silk +tag. A genteel waitress, in a muslin cap and apron, stood by the table. + +"Milly now stood up to view the second story, and by so doing just +brought her small nose on a level with the bedroom. She found this to be +furnished exactly like her own. The same carpet was spread upon the +floor; the bureau, the bedstead, and washstand, were precisely similar. +The baby-house had many more articles of furniture, however, than did +the larger apartment; for it was not only adorned by a toilet-table, a +wee bath-tub, and a wardrobe, but there were ever so many cradles and +high-chairs for the children. + +"'Now look at the parlor,' cried Pet. + +"I cannot begin to describe the magnificence of this drawing-room. Every +thing was gilt and crimson in the appointments, which is certainly very +good taste, whether doll or human being. There was a gilt chandelier, +with pink wax candles ready to light at any time, gilt chairs, and +centre-table holding vases filled with flowers, while the carpet and +walls were crimson. Before the open piano was seated a very pretty doll +in a flounced blue silk dress, trimmed with crystal drops; upon the sofa +reclined her two sisters, one wearing white with a green sash, and the +other pink barege; while the mother, in purple satin edged with white +lace, occupied a large arm-chair, with her feet upon a footstool. At the +billiard-table in the corner were several more dolls, one holding the +cue ready to play a game. + +"This is all that I can remember of the wonderful baby-house (it is a +long time since I saw it last); but if there was any thing else that I +have not mentioned, you may be sure Milly discovered it before +nightfall, that birthday when she was six years old. When she had seen +all these things, little Milly jumped up with a flush on her cheek, and +turned to all the kind faces that were watching her surprise and +pleasure. First, she gave her parents a kiss of thanks; then there was +Sarah smiling in the doorway, and Nurse Hannah holding the baby, who +looked quite solemn, with one thumb in its mouth, baby fashion. The boys +then ran away to their skating again, for they thought they were too big +and old, to show much interest in a baby-house; and the sisters were +left to their play undisturbed. Of course there was no end of fun for +the rest of that long, happy day. Milly and Pet had hardly leisure to +eat their dinner, they were so absorbed with their new playthings. Such +a confusion as they made in the neat little rooms, house-cleaning, +re-arranging furniture and dollies! Such a number of meals as were +served in that one afternoon alone! It is only a wonder that a single +doll had any digestion left, or that Dinah could still show her white +teeth in that contented smile; for any other cook would have given +warning that she was about to leave, I am sure, who had to serve the +quantities of sweetened water, scraped apple, and chalk dishes that she +did. But Dinah did not lose her temper, although it was so severely +tried, one would think; and the day's pleasure closed with a grand +tea-party, to which Tom and Dick were invited. Then the baby-house was +arranged, and the door closed for the night. + +"When it was bedtime, Milly realized, for the first time, what a large +girl she had grown, to have a place all to herself. Sarah brought a +light, and prepared to put her charge to bed; but this Milly resisted +indignantly. She was going to undress, and take care of herself; so she +bade Sarah good-night very ceremoniously, and the nursery-maid went away +laughing. There was a good deal of pattering to and from the nursery, +however, after that. First, Milly ran across her mother's room, and +along the passage, to make a call upon the other children; and she +looked back with a little shiver at comfortable Miss Pet sitting on the +hearth-rug like a soft white kitten, and the baby asleep in the crib, as +she returned to her _own room_ once more. Then the others made her a +call, and envied her new dignity: only Pet whispered in an awed tone,-- + +"'Wont you be afraid when the light goes out, Milly?' + +"'No, indeed,' said Milly bravely. + +"Then she blew out the candle, and sprang into bed, just to show Pet how +much she enjoyed it all. But when they had trotted back, and it was all +dark, she began to see strange shapes from out of the darkness, and to +hear rustlings all about that she had never noticed in the shelter of +the nursery, until she fell asleep. She was awakened by a noise that +made her heart leap into her throat with a single bound. It was +something between a gurgle and a groan; and so frightened grew little +Milly, that she stole out of her warm bed, and paused, trembling, on the +threshold of her mother's room to listen. What do you suppose the noise +was, after all? Milly almost laughed at herself when she discovered; it +was her papa snoring loudly. She was so glad that no one knew of her +fright, the first night she slept alone, that she nestled into bed +again, and pulled the blankets almost over her curly head. The moonlight +came peeping into the window in silvery beams; and, after looking out +upon the clear sky, where a few stars twinkled, Milly saw a wonderful +sight. Down the moonbeam, which formed a pathway paved with sparkling +hues, floated tiny fairy figures, bearing in their midst upon a litter, +formed of a lily-cup, their queen. Milly thought she had never dreamed +of any thing half so beautiful. Shimmering colors wrapped each little +sprite in a misty glow, while their wings were frosted like those of a +butterfly. As for the queen, she was ten times more radiant than any of +her subjects, as a queen should be; and, when she moved, a faint musical +sound tinkled from the chains of turquoises, which were fastened about +her waist; from thence they twined in festoons all about her small +person. She was further distinguished from the rest by a starry crown +upon her head, and a wand tipped with the same radiance in her hand. + +"'Here we are, at last,' said the moonbeam fairy in the sweetest voice. +'Give me your hand, Milly.' + +"The little girl extended it half-fearfully, and the fairy leaped into +the outspread palm, dancing lightly over the pink-tipped fingers in +doing so. + +"'Don't be afraid of me,' she said. 'I never hurt any child in my life, +I assure you.' + +"The other fairies climbed upon the bed also, some clinging to the +curtain tassels, some perched among Milly's curls, and others sat at +their ease on the footboard. + +"'It is Milly's birthday,' rustled the elves, like the soft patter of +raindrops among forest leaves. + +"'Yes: we have come a long way to see you, for we live in the moon,' +said the fairy; 'and it is only when she lowers silver ladders to the +earth, that we can make a visit down here.' + +"'I am so glad you all came to-night,' exclaimed Milly; 'only how did +you know, away up there, that it was my birthday?' + +"'Ah!' returned the fairy smiling, 'we always know every thing, you may +be sure. The angels tell us, especially about those that are good upon +the earth. Now to-night my twelve sisters are also down here somewhere; +this one flitting into the attic windows of the city streets, where +there is sickness and sorrow; that one whispering words of comfort in +dreams of warmth and plenty to the little wayfarer, sleeping upon a +cold doorstep; while another is hovering over the broad sea, to lead the +poor, rude sailor's thoughts home.' + +"'Do you live in a palace?' asked Milly. + +"'Yes: we live in a palace beside a silver lake; and we are called the +twelve sisters of the fairy lake, because we all sprang into life from a +single bubble of foam, blown through the reed of our Father, the water +god, who rules over rivers and fountains in the moon.' + +"'How wonderful!' commented Milly. + +"'Let us be doing something, mistress,' piped a restless elf, who had +never been at rest a moment, but who skipped and danced about like a +firefly; once, indeed, turning a summersault, and landing upon Milly's +nose. + +"'What shall we do?' said the queen. + +"'Oh! any thing else but talk, please; we can do that at home,' replied +the elf. + +"'Shall I show you my new baby-house?' inquired Milly, who supposed that +the fairies must find as much to interest them in it as she did +herself. + +"At this the restless elf darted off, and was followed by the others; +while the queen waved her wand, and, to Milly's astonishment, the door, +which she had carefully locked, flew wide open. The fairy again waved +her wand; and from every tiny chandelier sprang jets of light, that +shone through the windows, and sparkled over the handsome furniture in +the most beautiful manner. + +"'Will you come to see the fun?' asked the fairy; and Milly, all +curiosity, followed her midnight guests across the room. + +"The restless elf next borrowed the queen's wand, and, stepping into the +window of the bedroom, tapped each of the sleeping dolls with it upon +the head. + +"'Come, come! get up, you lazy creatures!' cried the roguish elf, +enjoying himself immensely. + +"All the dolls began to move about and yawn, as if they were just waking +up. Milly thought she had never imagined any thing so delightfully funny +as the little babies winking their bright black eyes, and crying so that +the nurses had to rock the cradles to keep them quiet. + +"'Now, then,' said the elf, 'you all dress yourselves as quickly as +possible, and then I will tell you what to do.' + +"He left them in the bedroom, roused Dinah in the kitchen, and the +genteel waitress in the dining-room; then he returned to the parlor, +tried the piano, whistling a tune, at the same time winking so drolly at +Milly, that she laughed with delight; played a round or so at the +billiard-table, and then seated himself in the large arm-chair. In the +mean while, the dolls were grumbling over the whole affair. + +"'I never heard of such a thing,' said the fat mamma, smoothing her hair +before the looking-glass, 'to turn us all out of bed at this time of +night, and set all babies crying, too!' + +"'Never mind, mamma,' said the daughter in blue silk, shaking out her +flounces: 'it is the little lady's birthday, and we can take a nap +to-morrow.' + +"'Yes,' chimed in the pink-barege sister; 'and she never has broken us, +you know.' + +"'I am sure I am afraid of my legs, if that Miss Pet only looks at me, +for fear they will be smashed,' echoed the white-muslin lady, looking +mournfully at her china boots. + +"'If Pet could only hear her talk!' whispered Milly to the fairy queen; +when lo! in toddled the young lady, and, putting her arm about Milly's +neck, stood looking at the wonderful sight also. + +"'I am so glad you can see it too, Pet!' + +"'By this time the dolls had made their toilets; all except the babies +that were left in charge of their nurses, some of whom trotted them upon +their knees, or fed them with pap out of tin mugs, while others still +rocked the cradles, and the seamstress stitched upon the sewing-machine. + +"'First, we will have a dance,' said the elf, cutting a caper in mid +air. 'You stupid dolls! why don't you act as though you were made of +something better than wood?' + +"'We are made of the best French china and kid,' retorted the dolls +indignantly, as they all huddled together in the corner, and stared at +the elf with their round eyes. + +"'They are afraid of you; join your companions on the roof,' commanded +the queen. + +"The elf made a wry face, for he desired to play pranks upon the +dollies; but he flew up at the royal command to where the others were +clustered about the chimneys, and hung himself by one leg from an eave, +with his queer little face and twinkling eyes close to Milly. Left to +themselves, the inmates of the baby-house felt more at their ease. The +blue-silk daughter commenced to play a lively air upon the piano, to +which all the younger dolls began to dance; and such waltzes, polkas, +and quadrilles as were performed never were seen before. + +"'You would think they had been to dancing-school all their lives,' said +the fairy. + +"'What fun we are having!' exclaimed a pretty doll, with red cheeks, +mincing along. 'I was only made last week, and I had no idea the world +was such a nice place.' + +"'You need not think you are to go on in this way all your life,' +snapped another, who was rather ill-natured, because her nose was +broken. 'We are all bewitched to-night.' + +"'Are we?' returned rosy-cheeks. 'I should like to be so always, then.' + +"In the mean while, the stout mamma had done nothing but doze and nod +upon the sofa, with a fine lace pocket-handkerchief over her head, while +all the music and dancing had gone on so merrily about her. But no +sooner had the genteel waitress arranged every thing below stairs, and +tinkled the little silver bell, than she whisked off the covering from +her face, and rose briskly to go to supper. + +"Such a feast as awaited them! There was _real_ tea and coffee bubbling +in the urns; the wooden cakes, pies, and ices, were wooden no longer; +or, if they were, the dolls certainly found them delicious. As for +Dinah, the cook, she was as busy as possible, not only making various +dishes over the fire, but boxing the ears of her children, and scolding +them when they did not bring her pepper or salt just to the minute. +Then, what a pet she was in when any thing burned upon the stove! + +"Milly watched all the busy little figures until her very eyes ached, +and the clock, upon the dining-room wall of the baby-house, struck one, +two, when out popped the bird above, without any one's pulling the silk +tag, and chirped 'cuckoo' quite distinctly. At this the moonbeam fairies +fluttered from their perch upon the gables, and circled in rings of +flame and purple and gold and blue, quickly succeeding each other; while +the moonlight streamed brighter and brighter, wrapping every thing in a +dazzling cloud. + +"What do you suppose this dazzling light really was, my dear little +reader? Why, it was nothing but another day's sun kissing Milly's +eyelids and curls with golden caresses. Yes, every thing was undisturbed +in her room. The baby-house was closed; and, when she peeped in, all the +dolls were as stupid as though they never had skipped, or eaten a late +supper the previous night, while all the wooden cakes stood upon the +sideboard untouched. + +"'Never mind; the fairies _were_ here,' thought Milly, 'for Pet saw +them, too.' + +"At the breakfast-table, she tried to tell her story; but Tom and Dick +laughed at her so, she did not get through with it very well. + +"'But the fairies were here,' cried Milly, half vexed. 'Pet saw them.' + +"The little sister, who was eating bread and butter contentedly, +stopped, with her mouth and eyes wide open, which made everybody laugh +the more. + +"'I never did!' said Pet, indignantly: 'I only slept the whole time.' + +"Poor Milly said no more; but she never saw the moon climb her +sparkling, star-strewn pathway afterward, without wishing that the +fairies might spread their rainbow wings, and flutter down into her +little chamber again, as they did the night when she was six years old." + +It stormed heavily all day. The Teapot and Saucepan, sitting on the +shelf in a state of idleness, agreed together, that, if the rain dashed +against the windows in that way, the Club would not be able to hear each +other speak when night came. + +On the hearth stood an intruder; a dilapidated old umbrella was in the +corner, drops of dirty water trickling in streams across the hearth from +the damp folds. + +"I have wet my feet in this muddy river," said the Wasp. + +"The hearth was so clean before," sighed the Caterpillar. + +"I am really very sorry my master the peddler left me in your way," said +the Umbrella, meekly. "Only I cannot help it." + +"To be sure not," said the Kettle. "You look like an old traveller, +friend; will you tell us something of yourself?" + +"Certainly," replied the Umbrella, and began his history:-- + + + + +THE STORY OF AN UMBRELLA. + + +"You will hardly believe it when I say that I was once as handsome as an +umbrella need to be; I am so faded and stained by old age or rough +exposure now. Yet I actually was; for in the large manufactory where I +was born, no stouter whalebone frame or finely carved handle could be +found. + +"My ribs have been broken in several places since, and clumsily mended +again, which naturally gives me a bungling appearance. Ah, well! beauty +must fade. + +"I remember very well my debut in life. I was standing in the rack of a +larger shop, one fine summer morning, when a very natty young gentleman +entered, and purchased me without delay. + +"Of course, as I was inexperienced and foolish, I was only too glad to +exchange the monotony of the warehouse for any novelty. + +"Allow me to remark, in commencing, that I have one complaint to urge +against fate for having made me what I am. The life of an umbrella is a +most aggravated form of slavery. One can never be sure of having a +moment's peace. In stormy weather, no matter how heavily the rain falls, +or the snow sleet drives, one must be on duty, shivering in wet corners +neglected, or dragged out to brave the tempest again; while on clear +days one may be under the bed, or behind the wardrobe likely +enough,--that at least was my experience, but then my master was a +bachelor. + +"I wondered what duty I should perform on this bright, pleasant morning; +for there was not so much as a cloud in the sky to be seen. I soon +discovered I was to be of service on an excursion of some kind; for the +gentleman walked up an avenue leading to a handsome house, and upon the +steps, under the clustering rose-vines, stood a fair lady, awaiting his +arrival apparently. + +"Presently they drove away in a pretty basket carriage, drawn by a fat +little pony, and I accompanied them, together with the luncheon parcels +and fruit baskets. + +"It was a pleasant route along a shady road; and I amused myself +listening to the conversation of the young people (it was of a very +interesting nature to themselves!), or I flirted with the lady's +parasol,--a dainty bit of silk that ruffled its lace flounce +coquettishly upon the breeze, and showed the pink-tinted lining to +advantage. + +"'You are extremely handsome,' I remarked to the Parasol. + +"'Yes,' she replied complacently; 'I was imported from Paris, you know, +and cost very dear, as my lace is _real_. But what are you doing here?' + +"'That I cannot tell myself,' I answered. 'Perhaps we shall know before +the day is over.' + +"At length we reached the end of our drive; the master assisted his +companion to alight; the luncheon, parasol, and myself, followed to +where the grass bank, soft as velvet, sloped to the brink of a merry +little brook, which sparkled laughingly in the sunlight for a time, then +hid among the ferns that fringed the distance. + +"An umbrella never was exposed to more contempt than I received on that +occasion. No sooner had my master brought me upon the scene, than the +company began to laugh and jest. It seemed so absurd to these silly +people, that I should be needed. Even the Parasol, resting in the lap of +her mistress, smirked contemptuously at me where I stood disconsolately +against a tree. For three long hours I remained unoccupied; while all +the gay people strolled among the trees to gather wild flowers, or +reclined in the shade to enjoy strawberries and ice-cream. + +"Gradually the sun became obscured behind masses of swiftly rising +cloud; but no one noticed it except myself, and, as no refreshments were +offered me, I had nothing better to do than to watch the change of the +weather. Suddenly there sounded a peal of thunder, followed by a flash +of lightning; then down pattered the rain, making delicious music among +the leaves overhead. + +"I never felt so wicked in my life. I longed to dance, only an umbrella +cannot do that without losing its balance. I longed to shout aloud, but +an umbrella cannot do this either for the want of a pair of lungs. I +spread my grateful shelter above the heads of the group to whom I +belonged, and I even took the naughty Parasol under my protection, which +was certainly a generous act, although one ought never to make a merit +of such things: I should be ashamed to suspose any of my race would have +behaved differently under the circumstances. + +"There was no house or shelter at hand, and all the pretty pony +carriages were no protection against the storm. How flabby the muslin +dresses of the ladies became, how limp the white coats of the gentlemen, +as they crowded under the shelter of the oak-trees pretending to think +it very funny indeed! But they did not, I could see that plainly enough. +The young ladies' hair came out of curl, and the brims of their hats +were crushed out of shape from attempting to keep them dry; while the +piles of frosted confectionery melted into a mass that might as well +have been soaked brown paper, or any thing else tough and disagreeable. +The strawberries tumbled about in crimson pyramids, followed by stray +golden lemons; and cakes, with white caps on, popped out of their place, +to join in the general ruin. + +"How proud I felt! Soft words and tender glances were exchanged by the +young couple I protected; for I managed to screen them from the rest, so +they could enjoy themselves the more. + +"'Dear Umbrella,' entreated the Parasol, 'do save my tassels; they are +growing quite wet, and the color has changed.' + +"'Yes, indeed, Madam Butterfly: you are not good for much.' + +"'I am so new to be thrown aside,' sobbed the Parasol. 'All for a stupid +shower, too!' + +"'There, don't cry,' I urged. 'Your tassels can be changed or dyed.' + +"'Dyed!' shrieked the Parasol, indignantly. 'I hope I have not come to +that.' + +"'Do not be so proud,' I said. 'You will certainly come to grief. At +least men do, and I see no reason why the same rule should not apply to +parasols as well.' + +"I have never seen the parasol, lady, or any of the gay company that +laughed in the sunshine, or shivered in the rain since. I suppose my +young master must have married the lady, for I saw him slip a beautiful +diamond ring upon her finger at the picnic. I hope they are all very +happy, and that the frail parasol is still in existence; yet I have no +means of knowing. Alas! an umbrella cannot move without being carried. + +"For a short time I resided in the young gentleman's apartments, where I +formed some very pleasant acquaintances. There was a porcelain standard +on the mantel-piece, holding a meerschaum pipe; and a tobacco vase, with +a little Hindoo god perched on the lid. There was an embroidered +smoking-cap with a gold tassel, hanging over the arm of a parian statue +of Juno; a bronze clock, a silver-knobbed cane, and a riding-whip on the +wall. + +"The smoking-cap and riding-whip were very spicy in their conversation, +and waged continual war with the tobacco vase or pipe, who were true +Germans. + +"'That stupid maid very nearly broke my head with the handle of her +duster,' said Juno, angrily. 'My heart flutters still with the fright it +gave me.' + +"'She soiled my lining with her dirty fingers, too,' said the +smoking-cap. + +"'Thank fortune! I do not require dusting, warbled the canary bird, +spreading his golden feathers in the sunlight, and flirting a seed at +the Hindoo god on the lid of the tobacco vase, who only grinned a +broader smile at the attention. + +"'My face is cracked,' chimed in the pretty, good-natured clock; and at +this, the canary bird, jealous of any sound save his own voice, poured +forth a flood of music from his tiny throat. + +"'Hush!' rustled an ivy-plant, that drooped in graceful tendrils about +the open window. 'We have not received the new-comer politely.' + +"'What new-comer? Oh, the Umbrella!' + +"'Yah, ze Umbrella,' echoed the meerschaum, speaking very broken +English. + +"So they all welcomed me cordially, to my great relief; for I was +beginning to feel dreadfully shy and awkward, not being accustomed to +society. I endeavored to make myself agreeable, by describing to them +the incident of the shower, at which they all laughed heartily. + +"My thoughts frequently revert to the life I led in that delightful +home, where I was surrounded by so many refinements. Alas! it was too +soon brought to a close. My master made a journey; and, although I had +not the least idea of it, I accompanied him. I was scarcely allowed time +to look farewell at the various inmates of the room; the clock and +canary chirping good-by in duet, and I was gone. + +"I next found myself upon a large steamboat. Any thing more wretched +than the night we passed there, I cannot imagine. I rolled about in the +most uncomfortable fashion, the lights bobbing up and down, the cabin +floor rocking giddily, and my careless master took no heed to my safety. + +"A tattered, rusty-looking man came prowling along, then, stooping over +me, adroitly managed to drop a clumsy, cotton umbrella, and carry me off +instead. What must have been my master's disgust, when he discovered +that horrid, faded thing, instead of my slim, genteel self! + +"There was no help for it, because an umbrella cannot raise any outcry; +so the thief took possession of me without struggle. + +"We arrived in a large city; and I was carried ashore by the rusty man, +who made his way along many narrow, dirty streets, to a small dingy +shop, which he entered. It was a musty, dark place, crowded with +many strange articles of sale, from mended furniture, silver +watches, odd crockery, and picture frames, to china vases, and silk +pocket-handkerchiefs. + +"Here, I was sold to the owner of the shop, a wrinkled, old man, with a +white beard, who placed me in company with others of my class in a rack. +At first I was too unhappy in my altered circumstances to attempt any +conversation with those about me. The sun came peeping in the +dust-stained window; and each stray, gilded beam seemed a blessing in +that sad, gloomy place. How every thing brightened under the heavenly, +glorifying touch! The wreaths of artificial flowers took the bright hues +of life; and a gray parrot, in a battered cage, shook himself to peer +about more cheerfully. + +"'How pleasant the sun is!' remarked the parrot. 'If it only would shine +here all day, as it does in my native India, instead of creeping away +over the roofs so soon, leaving us chill and dark again!' + +"Then I inquired, 'You have not lived here always?' + +"'I should rather think not,' retorted the parrot, sharply. 'Do you take +me for a common bird, sir? I belonged to one of the best families at +home; only it was my misfortune to be caught by a sailor, who brought me +over the seas to this great city, when he was taken ill, poor fellow, +and died. I heard him say I was to be a present for his sweetheart up in +the country; but I never saw her, because the lodging-house woman sold +me, with the rest of the sailor's effects, to the old Jew here.' + +"'As to that,' said a rosewood arm-chair, with a faded cover, 'I once +adorned a magnificent drawing-room myself.' + +"' And we,' sighed a wreath of artificial roses, 'once nestled among the +curls of beauty.' + +"'I was stolen,' said an alabaster vase, standing in graceful purity +among the surrounding common objects. + +"'I was, also,' echoed a velvet portmonnaie, an ivory fan, and a +crystal perfume-bottle, with silver top. + +"Then with the parrot for conductor, holding a bit of straw in his left +claw, as the leader of an orchestra wields his baton, they all commenced +a song, the words of which were composed by the ivory fan, and set to +music by the parrot. + + 'Our varnish is cracked, + Our colors are worn, + In this den we are packed, + All our glory is gone. + + _Chorus_. We have seen better days, + Tra, la, la, tra, la, la.' + +"The parrot was so much affected by this sad yet beautiful composition, +that he shed tears. + +"Just then the old Jew shopkeeper came to show the bird to a purchaser, +but the parrot was most obstinate. He would not move or speak, although +coaxed and even threatened to do so. The customer turned away, saying,-- + +"'What a stupid bird! he does not speak a word.' + +"This touched our friend's pride, who cocked his head over his shoulder, +and replied,-- + +"'I think the more.' + +"The customer was so much delighted, that he at once bought the parrot, +who departed in triumph. + +"'I spoke because I thought I could not do worse than stay here,' he +remarked, with a sage nod of the head. + +"Soon after, a little beggar-boy peeped into the door, and, as I stood +near by, seized me. He did not know what to do with me; so, after riding +on me as a hobby horse a while, he exchanged me with a larger boy for a +green apple. It is said the wheel of fortune constantly revolves; and, +if such is the case, my luck must have been very low just then. I was +knocked about from one person to another. Now it was a boot-black owned +me, now it was a news-vender, or perhaps for a space I belonged to a +street sweep. At last I was taken from this miserable existence in the +most curious way. + +"I tumbled out of the window in an attic where I had been carelessly +left, and crashed down upon the pavement. I was severely injured in my +whalebone parts, yet my ivory handle remained unbroken. For a long +while I lay unnoticed; then an old lady, carrying a shawl and carpet-bag +upon her arm, came along to rescue me. She took me a journey in the +cars, and at last I saw the fresh, smiling country once more. + +"The old lady lived in a pretty cottage, surrounded by a pleasant +garden, where the tulips and lilies nodded in the breeze all day long. +The old lady was thrifty, so she had my ribs mended by some village +tinker; but it was not well done, which accounts for the loss of my fine +figure. + +"It was a delightful home,--every thing was so neat about it; and I +should have been contented to remain there all my life, had I been +consulted. + +"The old lady's nephew came home from school for a holiday; and, after +shocking our nerves in that quiet spot a week, he departed again, in a +rain-storm. The good aunt insisted upon my being made use of, although +the young master did not wish it at all. When the rain ceased, he +carelessly threw me out by the road-side,--then drove on to his +destination. + +"I remained in the ditch several days, all soaked and muddy as you now +see me. Finally the peddler, who is stopping here to-night, discovered +me, while he was driving his wagon slowly along, and raised me from my +lowly position. + +"I do not know where I may go next," said the Umbrella, mournfully. "We +are all born, but we are not all dead, you know." + +"A new thought, certainly," remarked the Kettle, drowsily. "Follow an +umbrella from the cradle to the grave." + +It was now time for the Wasp to distinguish himself. + +"I can repeat something, in the fairy-tale style, which was told me by +Mother Carey's chicken, when we were waiting for the nestling to grow +strong enough for us to make our journey. It is:-- + + + + +THE GODMOTHER'S GIFTS. + + +"On the edge of the wood there once lived a poor woman, and her three +children. On the opposite bank of the broad clear river rose the king's +palace of marble, with a flag floating proudly from the battlements; but +the poor woman's children never had crossed the river, or dared to +venture into the magnificent gardens which surrounded the royal +residence. Ah, no! they were too poor for that. + +"This made the widow's heart very heavy at times, when she watched the +setting sun gild the arched dome, and silken pennant, or make the lofty +windows flash in a thousand glittering sparkles of light, in answer to +his golden beams. + +"'My children are as handsome and good as any that visit there,' she +said to herself. Yes, even as brave as the king's son and daughters +themselves, no doubt; yet I can never earn enough to give them fine +clothes, so they just have to stay alone in the woods. To-morrow is the +great festival, when all are at liberty to bring some curiosity, for +which they will receive a prize, if it prove the most worthy, from his +majesty. What have my little ones to display?' + +"She called them to her and said,-- + +"'A distant relation of your father's, who is a fairy, was present at +your birth, my dears. Perhaps she may visit you again, sometime; so if +any person should call in my absence, treat them very politely. Remember +that fairies are easily vexed.' + +"Soon after the mother departed to the mill, and the children seated +themselves under a large tree to enjoy their breakfast of brown bread +and milk. + +"Across the water the king's children, all glistening in jewels and +embroidery, were plucking fruit from the laden boughs, or tossing +flowers to one another in fragrant showers. + +"'What fun that must be!' exclaimed the poor woman's son Small, his +little round face dimpled with laughter. 'I should like to marry the +princess in a blue scarf.' + +"'She is not so handsome as her sister with the red net over her black +curls,' said the older brother, Perke. + +"'For my part, the young prince seems perfection,' added Elfie. + +"At this they all laughed together, and finished the brown bread. A +black hawk paused on outspread wings in the air, and dropped a large +gold ring from his beak, which fell to the ground near the children. +Before they could stoop to touch it, from within the circle sprang three +tulips, rising on slender, enamelled stalks, their gorgeous variegated +buds closed. + +"'There is one a-piece, any way,' said Perke, plucking one. + +"Small and Elfie did the same. + +"'Let us save them until mother returns,' said the sister. + +"'It must be a gift from our godmother,' whispered Small, wisely. + +"'I shall see what mine contains,' said Perke, boldly. + +"He pulled at the folded leaves, but they resisted all his endeavors, +and clung firmly together. + +"Small concluded to hold his bud under the spring that gurgled into a +mossy basin, yet it did not open for the crystal drops that fringed it +with fragrant dew. + +"Then little Elfie pressed her warm lips gently upon the tulip, and like +magic it flew open, disclosing a tiny gold trumpet. + +"Her brothers then kissed their flowers as well, and found each to +contain a similar gift. + +"Within the golden circle now sprang up still another tulip, which +opened of its own accord, and forth stepped a quaint little figure. She +wore a red-peaked cap, high-heeled shoes, and a tight-laced bodice. Her +hair was bright yellow, and the tip of her sharp nose had a blue tinge, +which would have been unbecoming to any other person than a fairy. Her +carriage consisted of a sweet-pea blossom, drawn by two spirited +cockchafers. The children could not but admire the skilful manner in +which she handled the ribbons and whip, made of a spider's leg, +ornamented with tassels. + +"'Here I am at last, dears,' said Madam Pug briskly. 'Whoa! Trot is a +most vicious bug. Be still, sir!' + +"'Are you our godmother?' asked Elfie, timidly. + +"'Certainly,' answered the fairy, putting on her spectacles, the better +to examine them. + +"'You have grown to be nice, plump children; I hope no giant may catch +and eat you up. I am here to grant whatever you may wish, which can be +obtained by blowing the request through the trumpets to be found in the +flowers. Use the power wisely; so that, when I come again, I may find +the gift has proved a blessing instead of a curse.' + +"She then cracked her whip, hoisted a tiny umbrella, which served the +purpose of a sail as she rose in the air, and the cockchafers spread +their wings. + +"'It is slow travelling along the rough earth,' she remarked, when she +reached a level with the children's noses, 'so I will fly for a time, +especially as important business calls me to the North Pole just now.' + +"The children were left to examine their trumpets, and look at each +other in wonder at the good fortune which had befallen them. What do you +suppose they at once did? + +"'First, let us wish for clothes handsomer than those of the royal +family across the water,' proposed Elfie. + +"They blew through the trumpets, and instantly their coarse garments +were changed to magnificent satin and velvet, with fringes of lace, +pearls, and silver tassels. They could do nothing but caper about in the +sunshine, now admiring each other's plumed caps, now comparing shoes on +which sparkled radiant jewels, until the court paused to watch their +bright forms, in amazement; for, in the distance, the poor widow's +children resembled brilliant meteors flashing about among the trees. + +"'Now let us wish for a boat, to visit the palace before mother +returns,' cried Small. + +"The next moment saw them speeding across the water in the most +beautiful little boat imaginable. It was made of ivory, lined with a +delicate pink shading, like the cavities of sea-shells, and a sail of +pink silk, held by gold cords, expanded like a rose-leaf to the soft +breeze. The court clapped their hands at the wonderful sight. + +"All at once the children looked down at themselves: they wore their +rough clothes again, which only seemed the uglier from contrast with the +elegant ship. + +"'We can never visit his majesty in these rags,' said Elfie. 'Let us +wish for even more splendid dresses than those we just had on the bank.' + +"White robes spangled with diamond drops enveloped them; but the boat +glided from beneath their feet at the same time, leaving them to sink +through the water to the very river bed. This brought them unexpectedly +into the presence of the river fairy, a sworn enemy of their godmother, +who caressed them, and coiled her floating hair about them in slender +rings, which served to bind them captives. + +"'Stay with me always,' coaxed the river spirit, in her sweet voice; +'life is so pleasant under the cool, clear waters here.' + +"'I like the sunshine better,' said Small, rubbing his eyes with two +chubby little fists. + +"'You can bask on the surface,' laughed the fairy. 'Come with me to the +neighboring ocean and see all the wonderful forms one can assume.' + +"She gathered them in her arms, and swept down the stream swiftly until +the ocean opened broad gates of welcome, and she paused on the threshold +of the great deep. She waved her fair arms, and a forest of sea-weeds, +some thick-stemmed as trees, others mere tangles of silky threads, rose +before them. In shaded nooks scuttled crabs, looking like awkward +spiders; marine worms twined about in ribbons of green or brown; and +upon the drooping fronds clung gorgeous mollusks, their variegated +shells displaying the fringed edge of no less gorgeous mantles. + +"'If you would rather swim about than live at the bottom, look at the +fishes,' said the water spirit. + +"'Forthwith approached a finny host. The whale cleaved the waters with +his powerful tail; the sword-fish flashed swiftly past followed by the +stealthy white shark, who showed his terrible teeth. Then came the +graceful dolphin, quivering in long tracts of silvery light, the +indolent porpoise, the handsome salmon, the greedy cod, the pretty +mackerel, and a countless multitude of beautiful fish, their scales +tinged with a golden lustre, or dyed in crimson and purple tints. + +"Little Elfie clapped her hands when she beheld some lovely medusae +dancing lightly along on the surface, their feathery tentacles drifting +idly on the current; so the fairy changed her to a crystal globe of a +jelly-fish, propelled by several tiny oars, like spun glass, that +reflected all colors of the rainbow in flashing motion. + +"'O you silly bubble!' exclaimed Small; 'I had rather be a herring than +that,' and he immediately began to swim about a pretty herring. + +"'As to that, I believe I should like to try a state of lobsterhood,' +said Perke; and his desire was at once gratified. The thoughtless +children had forgotten the importance of retaining their magic trumpets, +in case they should ever need them again; so, when they changed forms, +the godmother's gifts were carelessly allowed to sink to the bottom, and +the water spirit laughed triumphantly. + +"'Now I have you, Madam Pug,' she said to herself. 'Your pets are in the +sea; let me see you reclaim them.' + +"The trumpets lay on the bottom beside a rock, where there lived a +colony of oysters. The oysters are good-natured, save when a hungry +star-fish pokes a ray into their shells to scoop out the +delicious-flavored inmate; then they are very apt to close the doors +smartly with a sudden clap that snips off the intruder's paw, leaving +the star-fish to hobble away, and grow a new one. The grandfather of the +colony had listened to all that transpired between the fairy and her +visitors with much interest; and now that the trumpets fell to the +bottom, he began to wonder how they were to be rescued from harm. + +"Presently a cockle came skipping gayly along by means of a beautiful +scarlet foot, protruded from between the valves of the shell for the +purpose of locomotion; and the grandfather oyster hailed him for a chat. + +"'If you would only push the trumpets nearer we might swallow them,' +urged the former, when he had explained matters. + +"'Wait a bit,' said the cockle, 'until I fetch a few of my brothers, who +are prowling about here somewhere.' + +"He darted off, and soon returned with the requisite assistance. So the +cockles nimbly pushed and rolled the trumpets close to the oysters. + +"'Can you accommodate the others, my sons?' inquired the grandfather of +two no less plump children. + +"'It will be inconvenient; still'--here the little waves gathered in a +sparkling heap, and swept the trumpets into the oysters' mouths; who, +with a gulp or two, succeeded in swallowing them. None too soon was all +this labor accomplished. + +"The fairy amused herself watching the children for a while, and then +she despatched some of her attendants to search for Madam Pug's gifts. A +rare search they made of it, too. The tiny courtiers, clothed in rainbow +frills and scales, poked about everywhere, peering into the anemones' +mouths, which made the sea-flowers very angry, as they were not used to +such liberties; tumbling the crabs about, and pushing the lazy +flat-fish into motion. They even knocked on the oysters' houses with +their little knuckles; but the oysters said never a word, so they were +obliged to relinquish the search, and return to their queen. + +"Elfie and her brother splashed about, thinking it great fun to live in +the sea. One day they altered their minds; and this is how it all +happened:-- + +"Perke, the lobster, became very hungry (lobsters are generally hungry); +and he sniffed about in search of food, until he smelt a most savory +odor, which proceeded from a wicker sort of cage, that bobbed up and +down in the most tempting manner. Had Perke been born a lobster, his +mother would probably have taught him wisdom. Not knowing any better, he +now swam about until he discovered a neat tunnel just large enough to +admit him, and leading straight to the meat he coveted. In he slipped +for a nibble; but, having entered, he found to his sorrow he could not +get out again; so there he sat, looking out through the slats, as +miserable an object as one would wish to behold, when Small came darting +by. + +"'Oh! why did we ever leave home?' groaned Perke. + +"'Hulloa!' exclaimed his brother, pausing. 'How did you get there?' + +"'I am caught in a trap,' cried Perke. 'When the fisherman hauls me up, +I shall be boiled alive and eaten.' + +"Small flashed up to the surface, where Elfie was sporting with her +companions, and said, dryly,-- + +"'It is all very pleasant for you; but, in the mean while, Perke is a +captive down yonder.' + +"'I am so sorry,' said Elfie. 'How can we free him?' + +"The tender-hearted sister began to cry; and the other jelly-fish, who +were tender-hearted also, began to cry from sheer sympathy. + +"'I will go to the fairy, and beg her to change them,' sobbed Elfie. + +"'It will do no good,' sobbed the jelly-fish chorus, in reply; 'she is +so cruel.' + +"Tears made Small, the mackerel, nervous, as they would have done Small, +the boy. He determined to find the trumpets, which could alone relieve +them from the present trouble; and, accordingly, dived to the bottom, +where, of course, he did not find them. + +"At last the oysters took compassion upon his sorrow,--for he feared +Perke might be taken at any moment by the fishermen,--and opened their +shells, when out rolled the trumpets. + +"Small did not recognize them: they were covered by a coating of +mother-o'-pearl. When it was explained, he was overjoyed at his good +fortune in recovering them at all. He also thanked the oysters warmly +for their kindness. + +"'We have not eaten any thing; we were afraid to open our mouths,' said +the grandfather. 'Still a fast, now and then, does one no harm.' + +"In less time than it takes to write the fact, Small had taken one +trumpet in his mouth, and rejoined Perke, who eagerly seized it, in one +claw, through the bars of his cage. + +"'Wait five minutes for Elfie and I, then wish yourself out of the +water,' advised the zealous little brother, hastening back for his +sister's trumpet, which he presented in the same way. + +"Simultaneously the children wished themselves out of the water. The +desire was gratified certainly, for they were suspended between heaven +and earth, held by some invisible chain, the links of which bound them +firmly; yet they felt a terrible fear of being dashed headlong on the +sharp-pointed rocks below. There they swayed about, the sun laughing at +them, the winds tossing them on every breath, and the birds swooping in +giddy circles over their heads. + +"'Let us wish for land,' said Elfie. + +"They closed their eyes, blew through the trumpets, and then their feet +rested on a firm surface once more. + +"'Oh, I am so glad!' laughed Elfie. + +"Yes, they had land; but such a land! Not a tree; not a spring of fresh, +cool water; not a blade of green grass; only a barren wilderness, a +dreary waste. The children toiled along wearily, yet they seemed to make +no progress towards a fairer landscape; for as far as the eye could see +stretched the blank of earth. + +"'What shall we do next?' asked Perke, in perplexity. + +"'Let us go home. Mother will advise us,' said Small; and, with the aid +of Madam Pug's gifts, they again stood at the door of their humble +cottage, which had never looked so pleasant to them before. Their mother +was not in the house; but they saw her coming along the road, bending +under the weight of the meal-bag, from the mill. + +"They had not been absent a day, and so much had happened! The two +little sons ran to her assistance, bearing between them the bag of meal; +and, as they did so, Small inserted his trumpet into a fold of it, +whispering,-- + +"'I wish this meal might be changed into a feast for my poor mother.' + +"When they entered the door, Perke wished, 'Let us have a fine large +table, if you please.' + +"The mother looked at him in surprise; and then she saw that something +unusual had occurred during her absence, for a spacious table of +polished rosewood occupied the centre of the room. + +"'I should like an arm-chair,' said Elfie; and when it appeared, they +seated the astonished mother in it, suffering her tired frame to enjoy +luxury and ease. + +"Next, they emptied the meal-bag of its contents, and Small's bright +eyes danced with delight at the fulfilment of his wish. Such savory +viands! such puffs and tarts of delicate pastry! such delicious fruits +and sweet-perfumed flower garlands! such tempting nuts, and many-colored +candies in all manner of fantastic shapes,--pink horses, lemon castles, +green birds, and blue ships,--had never before been seen in the widow's +cottage. She did not forget those who were poor; so, reserving some of +the choice articles of the feast, the mother sent her children to many +neighbors, who would have otherwise gone to bed supperless. + +"When all this was done, the children gave a long history of their +adventures beneath the waters. The mother uttered a prayer of gratitude +for their safe return; then she said,-- + +"'Your godmother wished to test your character. One desire brings +another always. Vanity caused all your troubles; you wished to be as +handsome as the king's children, and the boat vanished, as you have +described. Give me the trumpets, and learn to be happy without them.' + +"They did as she desired, only, first, Elfie begged to have one more +wish gratified. What do you suppose it was? Why, that night the mother +slept in a soft bed of eider down, with satin curtains, and an +embroidered coverlet fit for a duchess, while the children sought their +pallets of straw, light-hearted and happy, thinking how comfortable she +was. + +"All this pleased Madam Pug, who had heard of it from her trusty allies +the gnats; and she now came flying along in the moonlight, mounted on a +moth. She crept through the keyhole leaving her moth outside; and the +water spirit changed herself into an ugly gray bat for the purpose of +devouring Madam Pug's horse: so that she had to sit on the chimney all +night, after paying the visit, until one of the gnats had flown away for +another moth. This made the water spirit, down under the waves, laugh. + +"Having entered the cottage, Madam Pug squeezed a drop of some precious +balsam out of a diminutive flask upon the eyelids of her slumbering +godchildren, which served to make their dreams pleasant, and would +prepare them for any disappointment the next day. She next looked about +to see what was to be done afterward, and espied the trumpets on the +shelf, where the careful mother had placed them. These the fairy changed +to three little boxes, one of a rusty steel, another of lead, and the +third of iron; then, placing them on the children's pillows, crept out +by the keyhole to perch on the chimney, as I have said, to await the +arrival of another moth-charger. + +"Next morning Elfie and her brothers peeped into the boxes, and found +each to contain a small cake. On the cakes were baked these words:-- + + FOR THE KING'S FESTIVAL. + +"The godmother gave them no donation of handsome clothes this time; so +the mother, after dressing them fresh and clean, sent them away on the +journey. Elfie plucked a few wild roses on the way, which Perke twined +among her curls for a head-dress. + +"They were ferried across the river in a royal barge, with other +guests, and then found themselves before the gates of the king's palace. +A vast crowd of people thronged the way, bringing rare gifts; and all +were finely robed, except the poor widow's children. The soldiers +presented the glittering points of their lances, asking rudely,-- + +"'What do you bring?' + +"'Curiosities to show the king,' replied Small, bravely. + +"'What if there should be nothing in the cakes, after all,' remarked +Perke. + +"'Let us open them and see,' proposed Elfie. + +"'No,' said Perke. 'Wait until we are in the presence of the court.' + +"The palace now rose before them, and was even more splendid than they +had supposed. Entering an archway, the children paused in a spacious +apartment, the dome of which was supported on marble pillars, wrought +with flowers. The king occupied a throne of mosaic-work, under a canopy +of crimson velvet. He wore a stiff mantle of some rich material, had a +long, yellow beard, and such fierce eyes, that little Elfie trembled +when he looked at her. Perke and Small said they did not mind it much. + +"First, there approached an old woman, black as ebony, with a gorgeous +yellow turban on her head, a broad purple sash about her waist, and red +slippers on her feet. She was a very gay old African lady indeed. In her +hand she carried a shrine of beautiful, fragrant wood; and from it she +took an idol of pure amber, carved with marvellous skill. + +"Next, came an old man, with bent form and silver hair, who drew a case +from his girdle, and displayed, to the delight of the whole court, a +ruby the size of a hen's egg of so brilliant a color that it filled the +palace with a soft, rosy glow. + +"Upon this, a young man hastened forward to hold up before the throne a +diamond chain of rare purity, that absorbed the lustre of the ruby's +splendor, and twinkled like pendent dew-drops. + +"Others brought precious stones also, sapphires, amethysts, and +emeralds, until it would seem as though the world had been sifted for +the costliest gems. Then there were urns of pungent spices, censers of +incense, keen-tempered weapons, cloth-of-gold, heavy damask, and +specimens of lace. + +"What seemed to Small the most wonderful thing, was a scroll of tapestry +upon which appeared moving figures, weaving into fantastic forms. +Whatever the king desired to see rehearsed, was there depicted. + +"Afterward approached a fair lady, wearing a green gauze mantle, from +which dripped little rills of water with a musical splash, and wherever +they fell upon the pavement there formed pearls. She displayed a snake +that twined his enamelled body about in graceful coils, at her bidding, +and even licked the king's foot,--an act of homage which made his +majesty rather nervous. The children recognized their enemy, the water +spirit. + +"It now came their turn, and they advanced, the water spirit smiling +maliciously all the time. When they opened the boxes, each cake said, in +a smothered little voice,-- + +"'Break me!' + +"This they did, when lo! out of Elfie's stepped a goat, wearing a broad +gold collar, and holding a tambourine. He walked up to the throne on his +hind legs, and made a very profound bow. At this everybody laughed; but +what was their astonishment to behold a quaint monkey emerge from +Small's box, with a smart cravat on, and carrying a cocked hat under one +paw. The monkey, instead of following the goat's ceremonious example, +leaped upon Small's shoulder, put on his hat, and winked at the king in +so droll a manner as to entirely disarm any wrath at his impertinence. + +"As for Perke, a bird was already perched upon his finger, whose plumage +resembled spun gold, relieved by an emerald green crest, and patch upon +the breast. + +"'What can your animals do to amuse me?' inquired the king. + +"'If it please your highness,' said the goat, 'the bird will sing while +we dance.' + +"The king assenting, the bird began to sing a lively air; and the other +two executed a quadrille in excellent style, the goat gracefully tapping +his tambourine with one hoof to the music. Nor was this the full extent +of their accomplishments; for the three then performed a tragedy, in +which the bird was a stern father, the goat his daughter, and the +monkey, who was naturally the best actor, took several parts, with +admirable skill. + +"All this would have been very amusing, only that the proud king could +not forget that the children belonged only to a poor widow after all. +Perhaps they might have received some prize, as a token of royal favor, +had not the water spirit's snake darted forward, hissing spitefully, and +twined about them. + +"The monkey seized the monster by the throat with his little black paws, +the bird pecked at its eyes, and the goat rapped the tambourine over its +head with a right good-will. + +"Thus defended, the children escaped from the palace safely, still +accompanied by their favorites. + +"'Dear children,' said the bird, as they approached home once more, 'do +not be disappointed that the king has treated you with no more kindness. +Madam Pug allows us to remain with you so long as you are good, and +find happiness in the home God has given you.' + +"'We can have a great deal more fun here than with those stupid people +in the palace yonder,' added the monkey, cutting a caper. 'The goat and +I can dance all day for your amusement.' + +"'As to that,' said the goat, stroking his beard gravely, 'we might do +something more profitable.' + +"These were the godmother's gifts after all, which, in course of time, +became famous throughout the country. If any thing was stolen, the +monkey could detect the thief at once. If any debate arose among the +wise men, the goat could settle the argument to their satisfaction, for +he was classically educated. If any person was ill, the bird could +prescribe for them, as he was skilled in the knowledge of medicine. + +"The king could never obtain these three with all the wealth in the +world." + +The Wasp went his way again, the Caterpillar and Spider did the same, +leaving the others alone as before. + +The Saucepan's day was over, and the Teapot was so badly cracked as to +be unfit for use. + +One day, as the Kettle was swinging lazily on the hook in the chimney, a +lovely butterfly, with wings like shaded brown velvet, poised on a +rose-spray outside the window. It was the Caterpillar transformed! + +The Kettle called to the Cricket, but he did not find his crutch in time +to hobble out (for he was growing infirm) before the butterfly had +flitted out into the sunshine again. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Cricket's Friends, by Virginia W. 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