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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:09:16 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:09:16 -0700 |
| commit | a1ccea8b134db474a115100cc48d889d78aa0f17 (patch) | |
| tree | 6149772412d127242f4c748b270dc5a05917641b /37995-h | |
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diff --git a/37995-h/37995-h.htm b/37995-h/37995-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2873213 --- /dev/null +++ b/37995-h/37995-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8517 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Diamond Fairy Book, by Various. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body {margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%;} + +h1,h2,h3 {text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ clear: both;} + +p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em; } +.in {text-indent: 1em;} +p.initialMarginTop:first-letter {float: left; +clear: left; margin-top: -0.1em; margin-right: 0em; padding: 0; +font-size: 300%;line-height: .75em;} + +hr {width: 33%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: auto; +margin-right: auto; clear: both; } +hr.full {width: 100%; margin-top: 2.5em; margin-bottom: 2.5em; margin-left: auto; +margin-right: auto; clear: both; visibility: hidden; } +hr.l65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em; visibility: hidden;} + +table { margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ +/* visibility: hidden; */ /* define the position */ +position: absolute; right: 3%; margin-right: 0em; +text-align: right; /* remove any special formating that could be inherited */ +font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; +letter-spacing: 0em; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0em; +font-size: x-small; /* never wrap this */ white-space: nowrap;} +.pagenum span { /* do not show text that is meant for non-css version*/ +visibility: hidden;} +.pagenum a { display: inline-block; color: #808080; border: 1px solid silver; +padding: 1px 4px 1px 4px;} + +.right {text-align: right;} +.center {text-align: center;} +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} +.small {font-size: 80%;} +.caption {font-weight: normal; text-align: center; font-size: 80%;} +.tnote {max-width: 90%; border: 1px dashed #808080; + background-color: #fafafa;text-align: justify; + padding: 0 0.75em;margin: 120px auto 120px auto;} +.figcenter {margin-left: 3%; margin-right: 3%; padding-bottom: 1em; padding-right: 1em; +padding-top: 1em; text-align: center;} + +.footnotes {border: none;} +.footnote {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; font-size: 0.9em;} +.footnote .label {position: relative; bottom: 0.4em; + vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 80%; text-decoration: none;} +.fnanchor {vertical-align: baseline; + position: relative; bottom: 0.4em; font-size: 80%; text-decoration: none;} + +.poem { margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} +.poem br {display: none;} +.poem.stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} +.poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + +ul {list-style-type: none;} +li {margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom:0;line-height: 1.2em; /* a bit closer than p's */} + +table { /* these affect all table elements */ + margin-top: 1em; /* space above the table */ + caption-side: /* top; or */ bottom ; + empty-cells: show; /* no need for nbsp's in empty cells */} +@media handheld { + +body {margin-left: 1.5%; margin-right: 1.5%; +margin-top: 1%; margin-bottom: 1%;} + +p { margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; +text-align: justify; text-indent: 2em; } + +.poem {margin-left:3%; margin-right:3%; text-align: left; } +.poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 1.5em; + text-indent: -1.5em; } + +} /* end media handheld */ + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Diamond Fairy Book, by Various + +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 Diamond Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Illustrator: Frank Pape + H. R. Millar + +Release Date: November 12, 2011 [EBook #37995] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DIAMOND FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Eleni Christofaki and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class='tnote'> +<h3>Transcriber's notes:</h3> + +<p>Some illustrations of this work have been moved from the original +sequence to enable the contents to continue without interruption. Their page numbering remains unaltered and is placed within (brackets). +Obvious punctuation errors have been silently repaired and hyphenation +was normalised. A list of the corrections made can be found at the end of the book.</p></div> +<hr class="l65" /> +<h1>THE DIAMOND FAIRY BOOK.</h1> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<p class="center"><i>UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME</i></p> +<p><br /><br /></p> +<p class="center"> +Each in square 8vo, richly bound in cloth gilt<br /> +and gilt edges, <b>3s. 6d.</b><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>THE RUBY FAIRY BOOK</b></p> +<p class="center">With 8 beautiful coloured plates by Frank Papé and<br /> +77 drawings by H. R. Millar.<br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>THE GOLDEN FAIRY BOOK</b></p> +<p class="center">With 8 beautiful coloured plates by Frank Papé and<br /> +110 drawings by H. R. Millar.<br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>THE SILVER FAIRY BOOK</b></p> +<p class="center">With 8 beautiful coloured plates by Norman Little<br /> +and 83 illustrations by H. R. Millar. +</p> + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="50%" alt="Upon the back of his noble steed the Prince gallantly lifted +his beautiful charge." title="Upon the back of his noble steed the Prince gallantly lifted +his beautiful charge." /> +<p class="caption">"Upon the back of his noble steed the Prince gallantly lifted +his beautiful charge."</p> + +<p class="small"><span class="smcap">Frontispiece.</span> <span style="margin-left: 70%"><i>page 273</i></span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="l65" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="70%" alt="The Diamond Fairy Book" title="The Diamond Fairy Book" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +With 8 Coloured Plates by FRANK PAPÉ<br /> +and 82 Drawings by H. R. MILLAR</p> +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">London</span><br /> +HUTCHINSON & CO.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Paternoster Row</span> +</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> + +<p class="center"> +PRINTED BY<br /> +HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.,<br /> +LONDON AND AYLESBURY. +</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<table summary="contents"> +<tr><td> </td><td class="right"> +PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Princess_Crystal_or_the_Hidden_Treasure">Princess Crystal, or the Hidden Treasure</a></span></td> +<td class="right">1</td> </tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>By Isabel Bellerby.</i></td></tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Story_of_the_Invisible_Kingdom">The Story of the Invisible Kingdom</a></span></td> +<td class="right">15</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the German of Richard Leander.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#How_Sampo_Lappelill_saw_the">How Sampo Lappelill saw the Mountain King</a></span></td> +<td class="right">35</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the Swedish of Z. Topelius.</i></td></tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Witch-Dancers_Doom">The Witch-Dancer's Doom</a></span></td> +<td class="right">51</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>A Breton Legend.</i></td></tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Three_Valleys">The Three Valleys</a></span></td> +<td class="right">61</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the German.</i></td></tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Springtide_of_Love">The Spring-tide of Love</a></span></td> +<td class="right">77</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>By Pleydell North (Mrs. Egerton Eastwick).</i></td></tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Ringfalla_Bridge">Ringfalla Bridge</a></span></td> +<td class="right">97</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>By K. E. Sutter.</i></td></tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Childrens_Fairy">The Children's Fairy</a></span></td> +<td class="right">113</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the French of Saint-Juirs.</i></td></tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Wittysplinter">Wittysplinter</a></span></td> +<td class="right">127</td> </tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the German of Clemens Brentano.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Mid-day_Rock">The Mid-day Rock</a></span></td> +<td class="right">143</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the French of J. Jarry.</i></td> </tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Lillekort">Lillekort</a></span></td> +<td class="right">157</td> </tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the French of Xavier Marmier.</i></td> </tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Ten_Little_Fairies">The Ten Little Fairies</a></span></td> +<td class="right">169</td> </tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the French of Georges Mitchell.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Magician_and_his_Pupil">The Magician and his Pupil</a></span></td> +<td class="right">185</td> </tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the German of A. Godin.</i></td> </tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Strawberry_Thief">The Strawberry Thief</a></span></td> +<td class="right">201</td> </tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the German of Pauline Schanz.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Adventures_of_Said">The Adventures of Said</a></span></td> +<td class="right">217</td> </tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the German of W. Hauff.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Little_Blue_Flower">Little Blue Flower</a></span></td> +<td class="right">241</td> </tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the German of Miss F. E. Hynam.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td>"<span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Princess_Who_Despised_all_Men">The Princess Who Despised all Men</a></span>"</td> +<td class="right">257</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>By Charles Smith Cheltnam.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Necklace_of_Tears">The Necklace of Tears</a></span></td> +<td class="right">277</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>By Mrs. Egerton Eastwick.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#The_Prince_and_the_Lions">The Prince and the Lions</a></span></td> +<td class="right">297</td></tr> +<tr><td class="in"><i>From the Persian.</i></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="Princess_Crystal_or_the_Hidden_Treasure" id="Princess_Crystal_or_the_Hidden_Treasure"></a>Princess Crystal, or the Hidden Treasure.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" width="70%" alt="Princess Crystal or the Hidden Treasure. A story by Isabell Bellerby." title="Princess Crystal or the Hidden Treasure. A story by Isabell Bellerby." /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop first">THERE were the four Kings: the King of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">3</a></span> +North, the region of perpetual snow; the King +of the South, where the sun shines all the year +round; the King of the East, from whence the cold +winds blow; and the King of the West, where the gentle +zephyrs breathe upon the flowers, and coax them to +open their petals while the rest of the world is still +sleeping.</p> + +<p class="in">And there was the great Dragon, who lived on top of +a high mountain in the centre of the universe. He could +see everything that happened everywhere by means of +his magic spectacles, which enabled him to look all ways +at once, and to see through solid substances; but he could +only see, not hear, for he was as deaf as a post.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">4</a></span>Now the King of the North had a beautiful daughter +called Crystal. Her eyes were bright like the stars; her +hair was black like the sky at night; and her skin was as +white as the snow which covered the ground outside the +palace where she lived, which was built entirely of crystals +clear as the clearest glass.</p> + +<p class="in">And the King of the South had a son who had been +named Sunshine on account of his brightness and warmth +of heart.</p> + +<p class="in">The King of the East had a son who, because he was +always up early and was very industrious, had been given +the name of Sunrise.</p> + +<p class="in">The King of the West also had a son, perhaps +the handsomest of the three, and always magnificently +dressed; but as it took him all day to make his toilette, +so that he was never seen before evening, he received +the name of Sunset.</p> + +<p class="in">All three Princes were in love with the Princess +Crystal, each hoping to win her for his bride. When +they had the chance they would go and peep at her as +she wandered up and down in her glass palace. But +she liked Prince Sunshine best, because he stayed longer +than the others, and was always such excellent company. +Prince Sunrise was too busy to be able to spare her +more than half an hour or so; and Prince Sunset never +came until she was getting too tired and sleepy to care +to see him.</p> + +<p class="in">It was of no use, however, for her to hope that Sunshine +would be her husband just because she happened +to prefer him to the others. Her father—the stern, +blusterous old King, with a beard made of icicles so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span>long that it reached to his waist and kept his heart +cold—declared that he had no patience for such nonsense +as likes and dislikes; and one day he announced, +far and wide, in a voice that was heard by the other +three Kings, and which made the earth shake so that +the great green Dragon immediately looked through +his spectacles to see what was happening:</p> + +<p class="in">"He who would win my daughter must first bring +me the casket containing the Hidden Treasure, which +is concealed no man knows where!"</p> + +<p class="in">Of course the Dragon was none the wiser for looking +through his spectacles, because the words—loud though +they were—could not be heard by his deaf ears.</p> + +<p class="in">But the other Kings listened diligently; as did the +young Princes. And poor Princess Crystal trembled in +her beautiful palace lest Sunrise, who was always up so +early, should find the treasure before Sunshine had a +chance: she was not much afraid of the indolent Sunset, +except that it might occur to him to look in some spot +forgotten by his rivals.</p> + +<p class="in">Very early indeed on the following morning did +Prince Sunrise set to work; he glided along the surface +of the earth, keeping close to the ground in his anxiety +not to miss a single square inch. He knew he was +not first in the field; for the Northern King's proclamation +had been made towards evening on the previous +day, and Prince Sunset had bestirred himself for once, +and had lingered about rather later than usual, being +desirous of finding the treasure and winning the charming +Princess.</p> + +<p class="in">But the early morning was passing, and very soon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">6</a></span>the cheery, indefatigable Sunshine had possession of the +entire land, and flooded Crystal's palace with a look +from his loving eyes which bade her not despair.</p> + +<p class="in">Then he talked to the trees and the green fields and +the flowers, begging them to give up the secret in return +for the warmth and gladness he shed so freely on +them. But they were silent, except that the trees +sighed their sorrow at not being able to help him, and +the long grasses rustled a whispered regret, and the +flowers bowed their heads in grief.</p> + +<p class="in">Not discouraged, however, Prince Sunshine went to +the brooks and rivers, and asked their assistance. But +they, too, were helpless. The brooks gurgled out great +tears of woe, which rushed down to the rivers, and so +overcame them—sorry as they were on account of their +own inability to help—that they nearly overflowed their +banks, and went tumbling into the sea, who, of course, +wanted to know what was the matter; but, when told, +all the sea could do was to thunder a loud and continuous +"No!" on all its beaches. So Prince Sunshine +had to pass on and seek help elsewhere.</p> + +<p class="in">He tried to make the great Dragon understand; but +it could not hear him. Other animals could, though, +and he went from one to another, as cheerful as ever, +in spite of all the "Noes" he had met with; until, at +last, he knew by the twittering of the birds that he +was going to be successful.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span> +<img src="images/i004.jpg" width="50%" alt="My robe is of snow" title="My robe is of snow" /> +<p class="caption">"'MY ROBE IS OF SNOW,' SHE FALTERED" (<i>p.</i> 8).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"We go everywhere and learn most things," said the +swallows, flying up and down in the air, full of excitement +and joy at being able to reward their beloved +Sunshine for all his kindness to them. "And we know +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span>this much, at any rate: the Hidden Treasure can only +be found by him who looks at its hiding-place through +the Dragon's magic spectacles."</p> + +<p class="in">Prince Sunshine exclaimed that he would go at once +and borrow these wonderful spectacles; but a solemn-looking +old owl spoke up:</p> + +<p class="in">"Be not in such a hurry, most noble Prince! The +Dragon will slay any one—even so exalted a personage +as yourself—who attempts to remove those spectacles +while he is awake; and, as is well known, he never +allows himself to sleep, for fear of losing some important +sight."</p> + +<p class="in">"Then what is to be done?" asked the Prince, beginning +to grow impatient at last, for the afternoon +was now well advanced, and Prince Sunset would soon +be on the war-path again.</p> + +<p class="in">A majestic eagle came swooping down from the +clouds.</p> + +<p class="in">"There is only one thing in all the world," said he, +"which can send the Dragon to sleep, and that is a +caress from the hand of the Princess Crystal."</p> + +<p class="in">Sunshine waited to hear no more. Smiling his thanks, +he hastened away to put his dear Crystal's love to the +test. She had never yet ventured outside the covered +gardens of her palace. Would she go with him now, +and approach the great Dragon, and soothe its savage +watchfulness into the necessary repose?</p> + +<p class="in">As he made the request, there stole into the Princess's +cheeks the first faint tinge of colour that had ever +been seen there.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span> +<img src="images/i005.jpg" width="50%" alt="He learned the secret at once" title="He learned the secret at once" /> +<p class="caption">"HE LEARNED THE SECRET AT ONCE" (<i>p.</i> 11).</p></div> +<p class="in">"My robe is of snow," she faltered; "if I go outside +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span>these crystal walls into your radiant presence it will +surely melt."</p> + +<p class="in">"You look as if you yourself would melt at my first +caress, you beautiful, living snowflake," replied the +Prince; "but have no fear: see, I have my own mantle +ready to enfold you. Come, Princess, and trust yourself +to me."</p> + +<p class="in">Then, for the first time in her life, Princess Crystal +stole out of her palace, and was immediately wrapped +in Prince Sunshine's warm mantle, which caused her +to glow all over; her face grew quite rosy, and she +looked more than usually lovely, so that the Prince +longed to kiss her; but she was not won yet, and she +might have been offended at his taking such a liberty.</p> + +<p class="in">Therefore, he had to be content to have her beside +him in his golden chariot with the fiery horses, which +flew through space so quickly that they soon stood on +the high mountain, where the Dragon sat watching +them through his spectacles, wondering what the Princess +was doing so far from home, and what her father would +think if he discovered her absence.</p> + +<p class="in">It was no use explaining matters to the Dragon, +even had they wished to do so; but of course nothing +was further from their intention.</p> + +<p class="in">Holding Prince Sunshine's hand to give her courage, +the Princess approached the huge beast and timidly +laid her fingers on his head.</p> + +<p class="in">"This is very nice and soothing," thought the Dragon, +licking his lips; "very kind of her to come, I'm sure; +but—dear me!—this won't do! I'm actually—going—to—sleep!"</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span>He tried to rise, but the gentle hand prevented that. +A sensation of drowsiness stole through all his veins, +which would have been delightful but for his determination +never to sleep. As it was, he opened his +mouth to give a hiss that would surely have frightened +the poor Princess out of her wits; but he fell asleep +before he could so much as begin it; his mouth remained +wide open; but his eyes closed, and his great +head began to nod in a very funny manner.</p> + +<p class="in">Directly they were satisfied that he really slept, +Prince Sunshine helped himself to the Dragon's spectacles, +requesting the Princess not to remove her hand, lest +the slumber should not last long enough for their +purpose.</p> + +<p class="in">Then he put on the spectacles, and Princess Crystal +exclaimed with fear and horror when—as though in +result of his doing so—she saw her beloved Prince +plunge his right hand into the Dragon's mouth.</p> + +<p class="in">Prince Sunshine had stood facing the huge beast +as he transferred the spectacles to his own nose, and, +naturally enough, the first thing he saw through them +was the interior of the Dragon's mouth, with the tongue +raised and shot forward in readiness for the hiss which +sleep had intercepted; and under the tongue was the +golden casket containing the Hidden Treasure!</p> + +<p class="in">The spectacles enabled the Prince to see through +the cover; so he learned the secret at once, and knew +why the King of the North was so anxious to possess +himself of it, the great treasure being a pair of spectacles +exactly like those hitherto always worn by the Dragon, +and by him alone—which would keep the King +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span>informed of all that was going on in every corner of +his kingdom, so that he could always punish or reward +the right people and never make mistakes; also +he could learn a great deal of his neighbours' affairs, +which is pleasant even to a King.</p> + +<p class="in">The Princess was overjoyed when she knew the +casket was already found; she very nearly removed +her hand in her eagerness to inspect it; but, fortunately, +she remembered just in time, and kept quite still until +Prince Sunshine had drawn his chariot so close that +they could both get into it without moving out of +reach of the Dragon's head.</p> + +<p class="in">Then, placing the spectacles, not in their accustomed +place, but on the ground just beneath, and laying the +golden casket on the Princess's lap, the Prince said, +as he gathered up the reins:</p> + +<p class="in">"Now, my dearly beloved Crystal—really mine at +last—take away your hand, and let us fly, without an +instant's delay, to the Court of the King, your royal +father."</p> + +<p class="in">It is well they had prepared for immediate departure. +Directly the Princess's hand was raised from the Dragon's +head his senses returned to him, and, finding his mouth +open ready for hissing, he hissed with all his angry +might, and looked about for his spectacles that he +might pursue and slay those who had robbed him; for, +of course, he missed the casket at once.</p> + +<p class="in">But he was a prisoner on that mountain and unable +to leave it, though he flapped his great wings in terrible +wrath when he saw the Prince and Princess, instead +of driving down the miles and miles of mountain side +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span>as he had hoped, being carried by the fiery horses +right through the air, where he could not reach them.</p> + +<p class="in">They only laughed when they heard the hiss and +the noise made by the useless flapping of wings. +Prince Sunshine urged on his willing steeds, and they +arrived at the Court just as the King, Crystal's father, +was going to dinner; and he was so delighted at +having the treasure he had so long coveted, that he +ordered the marriage to take place at once.</p> + +<p class="in">Prince Sunset called just in time to be best man, +looking exceedingly gorgeous and handsome, though +very disappointed to have lost the Princess; and the +festivities were kept up all night, so that Prince Sunrise +was able to offer his good wishes when he came +early in the morning, flushed with the haste he had +made to assure Prince Sunshine that he bore him no +ill-will for having carried off the prize.</p> + +<p class="in">Princess Crystal never returned to her palace, except +to peep at it occasionally. She liked going everywhere +with her husband, who, she found, lived by no means +an idle life, but went about doing good—grumbled at +sometimes, of course, for some people will grumble +even at their best friend—but more generally loved +and blessed by all who knew him.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Story_of_the_Invisible_Kingdom" id="The_Story_of_the_Invisible_Kingdom"></a>The Story of the Invisible Kingdom.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0061.jpg" width="70%" alt="The Story of an Invisible Kingdom. From the German of Richard Leander." +title="The Story of an Invisible Kingdom. From the German of Richard Leander." /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">IN a little house half-way up the mountain-side, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> +about a mile from the other houses of the village, +there lived with his old father a young man called +George. There was just enough land belonging to the +house to enable the father and son to live free from +care.</p> + +<p class="in">Immediately behind the house the wood began, the +oak trees and beech trees in which were so old that +the grandchildren of the people who had planted them +had been dead for more than a hundred years, but in +front of the house there lay a broken old mill-stone—who +knows how it got there? Any one sitting on the +stone would have a wonderful view of the valley down +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span>below, with the river flowing through it, and of the +mountains rising on the other side of the river. In the +evening, when he had finished his work in the fields, +George often sat here for hours at a time dreaming, +with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands; +and because he cared little for the villagers, but generally +went about silent and absorbed like one who is thinking +of all sorts of things, the people nicknamed him "George +the Dreamer." But he did not mind it at all.</p> + +<p class="in">The older he grew, the more silent he became, and +when at last his old father died, and he had buried +him under a great old oak tree, he became quite silent. +Then, when he sat on the broken mill-stone, as he did +more often than before, and looked down into the lovely +valley, and saw how the evening mists came into the +valley at one end and slowly climbed the mountains, +and how it then became darker and darker, until at +last the moon and the stars appeared in the sky in +their full glory, a wonderful feeling came into his heart. +The waves of the river began to sing, quite softly at +first, but gradually louder, until they could be heard +quite plainly; and they sang of the mountains, down +from which they had come, and of the sea, to which +they wished to go, and of the nixies who lived far +down at the bottom of the river. Then the forest began +to rustle, quite differently from an ordinary forest, and +it used to relate the most wonderful tales. The old +oak tree especially, which stood at his father's grave, +knew far more than all the other trees. The stars, high +up in the sky, wanted so much to tumble down into the +green forest and the blue water, that they twinkled and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span>sparkled as if they could not bear it any longer. But +the angels who stand behind the stars held them firmly +in their places, and said: "Stars, stars, don't be foolish! +You are much too old to do silly things—many thousand +years old, and more. Stay quietly in your places."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">(19)</a></span> +<img src="images/i0071.jpg" width="50%" alt="In the swing sat a charming princess" title="In the swing sat a charming princess" /> + +<p class="caption">"IN THE SWING SAT A CHARMING PRINCESS" (<i>p.</i> 20).</p></div> + +<p class="in">It was truly a wonderful valley! But it was only +George the Dreamer who heard and saw all that. The +people who lived in the valley had not a suspicion of +it, for they were quite ordinary people. Now and then +they hewed down a huge old tree, cut it up into firewood, +and made a high stack, and then they said: "Now +we shall be able to make our coffee again for some +time." In the river they washed their clothes; it was +very convenient. And even when the stars sparkled +most beautifully, they only said, "It will be very cold +to-night: let us hope our potatoes won't freeze." Once +George the Dreamer tried to bring them to see differently, +but they only laughed at him. They were just quite +ordinary people.</p> + +<p class="in">Now, one day as he was sitting on the mill-stone and +thinking that he was quite alone in the world, he fell +asleep. Then he dreamt that he saw, hanging down +from the sky, a golden swing, which was fastened to +two stars by silver ropes. In the swing sat a charming +Princess, who was swinging so high that each time she +touched the sky, then the earth, and then the sky again. +Each time the swing came near the earth, the Princess +clapped her hands with joy and threw George the +Dreamer a rose. But suddenly the ropes broke, and +the swing, with the Princess, flew far into the sky, farther +and farther, until at last he could see it no longer.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span>Then he woke up, and when he looked round, he saw +a great bunch of roses lying beside him on the mill-stone.</p> + +<p class="in">The next day he went to sleep again, and dreamt +the same thing, and when he woke up the roses were +lying on the stone by his side.</p> + +<p class="in">This happened every day for a whole week. Then +George said to himself that some part of the dream +must be true, because he always dreamt exactly the +same thing. So he shut up his house, and set out to +seek the Princess.</p> + +<p class="in">After he had travelled for many days, he saw in the +distance a country where the clouds touched the earth. +He hastened towards it, but came, on his way, to a large +forest. Here he suddenly heard fearful groans and cries, +and on approaching the place from which they seemed +to come, he saw a venerable old man with a silver-grey +beard lying on the ground. Two horribly ugly, naked +fellows were kneeling on him, trying to strangle him. +Then George the Dreamer looked round to see whether +he could find some sort of weapon with which to run +the two fellows through the body; but he could find +nothing, so, in mortal terror, he tore down a huge tree-trunk. +He had scarcely seized it when it changed in +his hands into a mighty halberd. Then he rushed at +the two monsters, and ran them through the body, and +they let go the old man and ran away howling.</p> + +<p class="in">Then George lifted the old man up and comforted +him, and asked him why the two fellows had wanted +to choke him. The old man said that he was the King +of Dreams, and had come by mistake into the kingdom +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span>of his greatest enemy, the King of Realities. The latter, +as soon as he noticed this, had sent two of his servants +to lie in wait for him and kill him.</p> + +<p class="in">"Have you then done the King of Realities any +harm?" asked George the Dreamer.</p> + +<p class="in">"God forbid!" the old man assured him. "He is +always very easily provoked, that is his character. And +me he hates like poison."</p> + +<p class="in">"But the fellows he sent to strangle you were quite +naked!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Yes, indeed," said the King, "stark naked. That is +fashion in the land of Realities; all the people, even the +King, go about naked, and are not at all ashamed. They +are an abominable nation. But now, since you have +saved my life, I will prove my gratitude to you by +showing you my country. It is the most glorious country +in the whole world, and Dreams are my subjects."</p> + +<p class="in">Then the Dream-King went on in front and George +followed him. When they came to the place where the +clouds touched the earth, the King showed him a trap-door +that was so well hidden in the thicket that not +even a person who knew it was there would have been +able to find it. He lifted it up and led his companion +down five hundred steps into a brightly lighted grotto +that stretched for miles in undiminished splendour. It +was unspeakably beautiful. There were castles on islands +in the midst of large lakes, and the islands floated about +like ships. If you wished to go into one of them, all +you had to do was to stand on the bank and call out:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Little castle, swim to me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That I may get into thee.<br /></span> +</div></div> +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> +<img src="images/i0081.jpg" width="45%" alt="George could do nothing but wonder and admire" title="George could do nothing but wonder and admire" /> +<p class="caption">"GEORGE COULD DO NOTHING BUT WONDER AND ADMIRE" (<i>p.</i> 24).</p> +</div> +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span>Then it came to the shore by itself. Farther on were +other castles, on clouds, floating slowly in the air. But +if you said:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Float down, little castle in the air,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Take me up to see thy beauties rare,<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="in">they slowly floated down. Besides these, there were +gardens with flowers which gave out a sweet smell by +day, and a bright light by night; beautifully tinted birds, +which told stories; and a host of other wonderful things. +George could do nothing but wonder and admire.</p> + +<p class="in">"Now I will show you my subjects, the Dreams," +said the King. "I have three kinds—good Dreams +for good people, bad Dreams for bad people, and also +Dream-goblins. With the last I amuse myself now and +then, for a King must sometimes have a joke."</p> + +<p class="in">So he took George into one of the castles, which +was so queerly built that it looked irresistibly comical.</p> + +<p class="in">"Here the Dream-goblins live: they are a tiny, high-spirited, +roguish lot—never do any harm, but love to +tease." Then he called to one of the goblins: "Come +here, little man, and be serious a moment for once in +your life. Do you know," he continued, addressing +George, "what this rogue does if I, once in a way, +allow him to go down to the earth? He runs to the +next house, drags the first man he comes across, who +is sound asleep, out of bed, carries him to the church +tower, and throws him down, head over heels. Then +he rushes down the stairs so as to reach the bottom +first, catches the man, carries him home, and flings him +so roughly into bed that the bedstead creaks horribly. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span>Then the man wakes up, rubs the sleep out of his +eyes, and says: 'Dear me! I thought I was falling +from the church tower. What a good thing it was +only a dream.'"</p> + +<p class="in">"Is that the one?" cried George. "Look here, he +has been to me before; but if he comes again, and I +catch him, it will be the worse for him." He had +scarcely finished speaking when another goblin sprang +out from under the table. He looked like a little dog, +for he had a very ragged waistcoat on, and he let his +tongue hang out of his mouth.</p> + +<p class="in">"He is not much better," said the King. "He barks +like a dog, and is as strong as a giant. When people +in their dreams are frightened at something, he holds +their hands and feet so that they cannot move."</p> + +<p class="in">"I know him, too," interrupted George. "When you +want to run away, you feel as stiff and stark as a piece +of wood. If you want to move your arms or your +legs, you can't do it. But often it is not a dog, but a +bear, or a robber, or some other horrid thing."</p> + +<p class="in">"I will never allow them to come to you again, +George the Dreamer," the King assured him. "Now +come and see the bad Dreams. But don't be afraid, +they won't do you any harm—they are only for bad +people."</p> + +<p class="in">Then they passed through a great iron door into a +vast space, inclosed by a high wall. Here the most +terrible shapes and most horrible monsters were crowded +together; some looked like men, others like animals, +others were half men and half animals. George was +terrified, and made his way back to the iron door. But +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span>the King spoke kindly to him, and persuaded him to +see more closely what wicked people have to dream. +Beckoning to a Dream that stood near—a hideous +giant, with a mill-wheel under each arm—he commanded +him to tell them what he was going to do that night.</p> + +<p class="in">Then the monster raised his shoulders, wriggled about +with joy, grinned until his mouth met his ears, and +said: "I am going to the rich man, who has let his +father starve. One day, when the old man was sitting +on the stone steps before his son's house, begging for +bread, the son came and said to the servants: 'Drive +away that fellow.' So I go to him at night and pass +him through my mill-wheels, until all his bones are +broken into tiny pieces. When he is properly soft and +quivering, I take him by the collar and shake him and +say, 'See how you tremble now, you fellow!' Then +he wakes up with his teeth chattering, and calls to his +wife to bring him another blanket, for he is freezing. +And when he has fallen asleep once more, I begin it +all again."</p> + +<p class="in">When George the Dreamer heard this, he rushed out +through the door, dragging the King after him, and +crying out that he would not stay a moment longer +with the bad Dreams. They were too horrible!</p> + +<p class="in">The King next led him into a lovely garden where +the paths were of silver, the beds of gold, and the flowers, +beautifully cut precious stones. Here the good Dreams +were walking up and down. The first he saw was a +pale young woman, with a Noah's Ark under one arm, +and a box of bricks under the other.</p> + +<p class="in">"Who is that?" asked the Dreamer.</p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0091.jpg" width="50%" alt="George cried out that he would not stay a moment longer" title="George cried out that he would not stay a moment longer" /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> +<p class="caption"> "GEORGE CRIED OUT THAT HE WOULD NOT STAY A MOMENT +LONGER" (<i>p.</i> 26).</p></div> + +<p class="in">"She goes every evening to a little sick boy, whose +mother is dead. He is quite alone all day, and no one +troubles about him, but towards evening she goes to +him, plays with him, and stays the whole night. She +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span>goes early, because he goes to sleep early. The other +Dreams go much later. Let us proceed; if you want +to see everything, we must make haste."</p> + +<p class="in">Then they went farther into the garden, into the +midst of the good Dreams. There were men, women, +old men, and children, all with dear, good faces, and +most beautifully dressed. Many of them were carrying +all sorts of things: everything that the heart can possibly +wish for. Suddenly George stood still and cried out so +loudly that all the Dreams turned round to look.</p> + +<p class="in">"What is the matter?" said the King.</p> + +<p class="in">"There is my Princess—she who has so often appeared +to me, and who gave me the roses," George the Dreamer +answered, in an ecstasy.</p> + +<p class="in">"Certainly, certainly, it is she," said the King. "Have +I not sent you a very pretty Dream? It is almost the +prettiest I have."</p> + +<p class="in">Then George ran up to the Princess, who was sitting +swinging in her little golden swing. As soon as she +saw him coming she sprang down into his arms. But +he took her by the hand and led her to a golden bench, +on which they both sat down, telling one another how +sweet it was to meet again! And when they had +finished saying so, they began again. The King of +Dreams meanwhile walked up and down the broad path +which goes straight through the garden, with his hands +behind his back. Now and then he took out his watch, +to see how the time was getting on; for George the +Dreamer and the Princess never came to an end of +what they had to say to one another. At length he +went to them, and said:</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span>"That's enough, children. You, Dreamer, are far from +your home, and I cannot keep you here over-night, for +I have no beds. You see, the Dreams never sleep, but +have to go up every night to men on the earth. And +you, Princess, must make yourself ready; dress yourself +all in pink, and then come to me, so that I may tell +you to whom you must appear to-night, and what you +must say."</p> + +<p class="in">When George the Dreamer heard this, he felt more +courageous than ever before in his life. Standing up, +he said firmly: "My lord the King, I will never more +leave my Princess. You must either keep me here below +or let her go up with me to the earth: I love her much +too much to live without her." Then a tear big as a +hazel-nut came into each of his eyes.</p> + +<p class="in">"But George, George," answered the King, "it is the +prettiest dream I have. Still, you saved my life; so +have your own way; take your Princess up with you. +But as soon as you have got on to the earth take +off her silver veil, and throw it down to me through +the trap-door. Then she will be of flesh and blood +like every other child of man; now she is only a +Dream."</p> + +<p class="in">George the Dreamer thanked the King most heartily, +and then said: "Dear King, because you are so very +good I should like to ask for one thing more. I have +a Princess now—but no kingdom. A Princess without +a kingdom is impossible. Cannot you get me one, if +it is only a small one?"</p> + +<p class="in">Then the King answered: "I have no visible kingdoms +to give away, Dreamer, only invisible ones; one of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span>latter you shall have, one of the biggest and best that +I possess."</p> + +<p class="in">Then George asked what invisible kingdoms were +like. The King told him he would find that out, and +would be amazed at their beauty and magnificence.</p> + +<p class="in">"You see," he said, "it is often very unpleasant to +have anything to do with ordinary, visible kingdoms. +For example: suppose you are an ordinary King, and +early one morning your Minister comes to your bedside +and says: 'Your Majesty, I want a hundred pounds +for the kingdom.' Then you open your treasury and +find not even a farthing in it! What are you to do? +Or again, you wage war and lose, and the King who +has conquered you marries your Princess, and shuts you +up in a tower. Such things cannot happen in invisible +kingdoms."</p> + +<p class="in">"But if we cannot see it, of what use would our +kingdom be to us?" asked George, still somewhat puzzled.</p> + +<p class="in">"You strange man," said the King, and pointing to +his forehead, he continued: "You and your Princess +see it well enough. You see the castles and gardens, +the meadows and forests which belong to your kingdom. +You live in it, walk in it, do what you like with it. It +is only other people who do not see it."</p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i010.jpg" width="50%" alt="THEY LIFTED UP THE CLOTH AND BEGAN TO SPREAD IT OUT" title="THEY LIFTED UP THE CLOTH AND BEGAN TO SPREAD IT OUT" /> +<p class="caption">"THEY LIFTED UP THE CLOTH AND BEGAN TO SPREAD IT OUT" (<i>p.</i> 32).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Then the Dreamer was highly delighted, for he was +beginning to be afraid lest the village people should +look enviously at him if he came home with his Princess +and was King. He took a very touching leave of the +King of Dreams, climbed the five hundred steps with +his Princess, took the silver veil off her head and threw +it down. Then he wanted to shut the trap-door, but +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span>it was so heavy that he could not hold it. So he let +it fall, and the noise it made was as great as the noise +of many cannons shot off at the same time, and for a +moment he became unconscious. When he came to +himself again he was sitting in front of his cottage with +the Princess sitting on the mill-stone at his side, and +she was of flesh and blood like any other person. She +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span>was holding his hand, stroking it, and saying: "You +dear, good, stupid man, you have not dared tell me +how much you love me for such a long time. Have +you been very much afraid of me?"</p> + +<p class="in">And the moon rose and illumined the river, the waves +beat against the banks, and the forest rustled, but they +still sat there and talked. Suddenly it seemed as if a +small black cloud was passing over the moon, and all +at once something like a large folded shawl fell at their +feet; then the moon stood out again in her full glory. +They lifted up the cloth and began to spread it out. +But they took a long time over this, for it was very +fine and folded many hundred times. When it was +quite spread out, it looked like a large map; in the +middle was a river, and on both sides were towns, +forests, and lakes. Then they noticed that it was a +kingdom, and knew that the good Dream-King must +have sent it down to them from the sky. And when +they looked at their little cottage it had become a +beautiful castle, with glass stairs, marble walls, velvet +carpets, and pointed blue-tiled towers. Then they took +hands and went into the castle, where their subjects +were already assembled. The servants bowed low, drums +and trumpets sounded, and little pages went before them +strewing flowers. They were King and Queen.</p> + +<p class="in">The next morning the news that George the Dreamer +had come back, and had brought a wife with him, ran +like wildfire through the village. "She is probably +very clever," the people said. "I saw her early this +morning, when I went into the forest," said a peasant; +"she was standing at the door with him. She is nothing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span>special, quite an ordinary person, small and delicate-looking, +and rather shabbily dressed. What did he see +in her? He has nothing, and she probably has nothing!"</p> + +<p class="in">So the stupid people chattered, for they could not see +that she was a Princess; and in their stupidity they +did not see that the house had changed into a great, +wonderful castle—for the kingdom that had come down +from the sky for George the Dreamer was an invisible +one. So he did not trouble about the stupid people, +but lived happily and contentedly in his kingdom with +his Princess, who presented him with six children, each +one more beautiful than the other, and they were all +six Princes and Princesses. But no one in the village +knew it, for they were quite ordinary people, and much +too silly to notice it.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="How_Sampo_Lappelill_saw_the" id="How_Sampo_Lappelill_saw_the"></a>How Sampo Lappelill saw the +Mountain King.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i011.jpg" width="70%" alt="HOW SAMPO LAPPELILL +SAW THE MOUNTAIN KING. From the Swedish of Z. Topelius" title="HOW SAMPO LAPPELILL +SAW THE MOUNTAIN KING. From the Swedish of Z. Topelius" /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop first">FAR away in Lapland, at a place called Aďmďo,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> +near the River Jana, there lived, in a little hut, a +Laplander and his wife, with their small son, Sampo.</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo Lappelill was now between seven and eight +years of age. He had black hair, brown eyes, a snub +nose, and a wide mouth, which last is considered a mark +of beauty in curious Lapland. Sampo was a strong child +for his age; he delighted to dance down the hills in his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span>little snow-shoes, and to drive his own reindeer in his own +little sledge. The snow whirled about him as he passed +through the deep drifts, until nothing of him could be +seen except the tuft of his black forelock.</p> + +<p class="in">"I shall never feel comfortable while he is from home!" +said the mother. "He may meet Hisü's reindeer with +the golden antlers."</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo overheard these words, and wondered what +reindeer it could be that had golden antlers. "It must +be a splendid animal!" said he; "how much I should +like to drive to Rastekaďs with it!" Rastekaďs is a high, +dreary mountain, and can be seen from Aďmďo, from which +it is five or six miles distant.</p> + +<p class="in">"You audacious boy!" exclaimed the mother; "how +dare you talk so? Rastekaďs is the home of the trolls, +and Hisü dwells there also."</p> + +<p class="in">"Who is Hisü?" inquired Sampo.</p> + +<p class="in">"What ears that boy has!" thought the Lapp-wife. +"But I ought not to have spoken of such things in his +presence; the best thing I can do now is to frighten +him well." Then she said aloud: "Take care, Lappelill, +that you never go near Rastekaďs, for there lives Hisü, +the Mountain King, who can eat a whole reindeer at one +mouthful, and who swallows little boys like flies."</p> + +<p class="in">Upon hearing these words, Sampo could not help +thinking what good fun it would be to have a peep at +such a wonderful being—from a safe distance, of course!</p> + +<p class="in">Three or four weeks had elapsed since Christmas, +and darkness brooded still over Lapland. There was no +morning, noon, or evening; it was always night. Sampo +was feeling dull. It was so long since he had seen the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span>sun that he had nearly forgotten what it was like. Yet +he did not desire the return of summer, for the only thing +he remembered about that season was that it was a time +when the gnats stung very severely. His one wish was +that it might soon become light enough for him to use +his snow-shoes.</p> + +<p class="in">One day, at noon (although it was dark), Sampo's father +said: "Come here! I have something to show you."</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo came out of the hut. His father pointed towards +the south.</p> + +<p class="in">"Do you know what that is?" asked he.</p> + +<p class="in">"A southern light," replied the boy.</p> + +<p class="in">"No," said his father, "it is the herald of the sun. +To-morrow, maybe, or the day after that, we shall see +the sun himself. Look, Sampo, how weirdly the red light +glows on the top of Rastekaďs!"</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo perceived that the snow upon the gloomy +summit, which had been so long shrouded in darkness, +was coloured red. Again the idea flashed into his mind +what a grand sight the terrible Mountain King would be—from +a distance. The boy brooded on this for the +remainder of the day, and throughout half the night, when +he should have been asleep.</p> + +<p class="in">He thought, and thought, until at length he crept +silently out of the reindeer skins which formed his bed, +and then through the door-hole. The cold was intense. +Far above him the stars were shining, the snow scrunched +beneath his feet. Sampo Lappelill was a brave boy, who +did not fear the cold. He was, moreover, well wrapped +up in fur. He stood gazing at the stars, considering what +to do next.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span>Then he heard a suggestive sound. His little reindeer +pawed the ground with its feet. "Why should I not take +a drive?" thought Sampo, and proceeded straightway to +put his thought into action. He harnessed the reindeer +to the sledge, and drove forth into the wilderness of +snow.</p> + +<p class="in">"I will drive only a little way towards Rastekaďs," said +Sampo to himself, and off he went, crossing the frozen +River Jana to the opposite shore, which—although the +child was unaware of this fact—belonged to the kingdom +of Norway.</p> + +<p class="in">As Sampo drove, he sang a bright little song. The +wolves were running round his sledge like grey dogs, but +he did not mind them. He knew well that no wolf could +keep pace with his dear, swift little reindeer. Up hill +and down dale he drove on, with the wind whistling in +his ears. The moon seemed to be racing with him, and +the rocks to be running backwards. It was thoroughly +delightful!</p> + +<p class="in">Alas! at a sudden turning upon the downward slope +of a hill the sledge overturned, and Sampo was pitched +into a snow-drift. The reindeer did not observe this, and, +in the belief that its master was still sitting behind it, +it ran on. Sampo could not cry "Stop!" for his mouth +was stuffed with snow.</p> + +<p class="in">He lay there in the darkness, in the midst of the vast +snowy wilderness, in which was no human habitation for +miles around.</p> + +<p class="in">At first, he naturally felt somewhat bewildered. He +scrambled unhurt out of the big snow-drift. Then, by the +wan moonlight, he saw that he was surrounded on all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span>sides by snow-drifts and huge mountains. One mountain +towered above the others, and this he knew must be +Rastekaďs, the home of the fierce Mountain King, who +swallowed little boys like flies!</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0121.jpg" width="50%" alt="THEY WENT OFF AT A GALLOP" title="THEY WENT OFF AT A GALLOP" /> +<p class="caption">"THEY WENT OFF AT A GALLOP" (<i>p.</i> 42).</p></div> + +<p class="in">Sampo Lappelill was frightened now, and heartily wished +himself safe at home. But how was he to get there?</p> + +<p class="in">There sat the poor child, alone in the darkness, amongst +the desolate, snow-covered rocks, with the big, black +shadow of Rastekaďs frowning down upon him. As he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span>wept his tears froze immediately, and rolled down over +his jacket in little round lumps like peas; so Sampo +thought that he had better leave off crying, and run about +in order to keep himself warm.</p> + +<p class="in">"Rather than freeze to death here," he said to himself, +"I would go straight to the Mountain King. If he has +a mind to swallow me, he must do so, I suppose; but +I shall advise him to eat instead some of the wolves in +this neighbourhood. They are much fatter than I, and +their fur would not be so difficult to swallow."</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo began to ascend the mountain. Before he had +gone far, he heard the trotting of some creature behind +him, and a moment after a large wolf overtook him. +Although inwardly trembling, Sampo would not betray +his fear. He shouted:</p> + +<p class="in">"Keep out of my way! I am the bearer of a message +to the King, and you hinder me at your peril!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Dear me!" said the wolf (on Rastekaďs all the animals +can speak). "And, pray, what little shrimp are you, +wriggling through the snow?"</p> + +<p class="in">"My name is Sampo Lappelill," replied the boy. "Who +are you?"</p> + +<p class="in">"I," answered the wolf, "am first gentleman-usher to +the Mountain King. I have just been all over the +kingdom to call together his subjects for the great sun +festival. As you are going my way, you may, if +you please, get upon my back, and so ride up the +mountain."</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo instantly accepted the invitation. He climbed +upon the shaggy back of the wolf, and they went off +at a gallop.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span>"What do you mean by the sun festival?" inquired +Sampo.</p> + +<p class="in">"Don't you know <i>that</i>?" said the wolf. "We celebrate +the sun's feast the day he first appears on the horizon +after the long night of winter. All trolls, goblins, and +animals in the north then assemble on Rastekaďs, and on +that day they are not permitted to hurt each other. +Lucky it was for you, my boy, that you came here to-day. +On any other day, I should have devoured you long +ago."</p> + +<p class="in">"Is the King bound by the same law?" asked Sampo +anxiously.</p> + +<p class="in">"Of course he is," answered the wolf. "From one hour +before sunrise until one hour after sunset he will not +dare to harm you. If, however, you are on the mountain +when the time expires, you will be in great danger. For +the King will then seize whoever comes first, and a +thousand bears and a hundred thousand wolves will also +be ready to rush upon you. There will soon be an end +of Sampo Lappelill!"</p> + +<p class="in">"But perhaps, sir," said Sampo timidly, "you would +be so kind as to help me back again before the danger +begins?"</p> + +<p class="in">The wolf laughed. "Don't count on any such thing, +my dear Sampo; on the contrary, I mean to seize you +first myself. You are such a very nice, plump little boy! +I see that you have been fattened on reindeer milk and +cheese. You will be splendid for breakfast to-morrow +morning!"</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo began to think that his best course might be +to jump off the wolf's back at once. But it was too late. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span>They had now arrived at the top of Rastekaďs. Many +curious and marvellous things were there to be seen. +There sat the terrible Mountain King on his throne of +cloudy rocks, gazing out over the snow-fields. He wore +on his head a cap of white snow-clouds; his eyes were +like a full moon; his nose resembled a mountain-ridge. +His mouth was an abyss; his beard was like tufts of +immense icicles; his arms were as thick and strong as +fir trees; his coat was like an enormous snow-mountain. +Sampo Lappelill had a good view of the King and his +subjects, for a bow of dazzling northern lights shone +in the sky and illuminated the scene.</p> + +<p class="in">All around the King stood millions of goblins, trolls, +and brownies; tiny, grey creatures, who had come from +remotest parts of the world to worship the sun. This +they did from fear, not from love; for trolls and goblins +hate the sun, and always hope that he will never +return when they see him disappear at the end of +summer.</p> + +<p class="in">Farther off stood all the animals of Lapland, thousands +and thousands of them of all sizes; from the bear, the +wolf, and the glutton, to the little mountain-rat, and +the brisk, tiny reindeer-flea. No gnats appeared, however; +<i>they</i> had all been frozen.</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo was greatly astonished at what he saw. Unobserved, +he slipped from the wolf's back, and hid behind +a ponderous stone, to watch the proceedings.</p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i013.jpg" width="50%" alt="THE TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN KING" title="THE TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN KING" /> +<p class="caption">"THE TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN KING (<i>p.</i> 44)."</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The Mountain King shook his head, and the snow +whirled about him. The northern lights shone around +his head like a crown of glory, sending long, red streamers +across the deep blue sky; they whizzed and sparkled, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span>expanded and drew together, fading sometimes, then again +darting out like lightning over the snow-clad mountains. +This performance amused the King. He clapped with +his icy hands until the sound echoed like thunder, causing +the trolls to scream with joy, and the animals to howl +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span>with fear. At this the King was still more delighted, +and he shouted across the desert:</p> + +<p class="in">"This is to my mind! Eternal darkness! Eternal +night! May they never end!"</p> + +<p class="in">"May they never end!" repeated all the trolls at the +top of their voices. Then arose a dispute amongst the +animals. All the beasts of prey agreed with the trolls, +but the reindeer and other gentle creatures felt that they +should like to have summer back again, although they +disliked the gnats that would certainly return with it. +One creature alone was ready to welcome summer quite +unreservedly. This was the reindeer-flea. She piped out +as loudly as she could:</p> + +<p class="in">"If you please, your Majesty, have we not come here +to worship the sun, and to watch for his coming?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Nonsense!" growled a polar bear. "Our meeting +here springs from a stupid old custom. The sooner it +ends the better! In my opinion, the sun has set for +ever; he is dead!"</p> + +<p class="in">At these words the animals shuddered, but the trolls +and goblins were much pleased with them, and reiterated +them gaily, shaking with laughter to such an extent that +their tiny caps fell off their heads. Then the King roared, +in a voice of thunder:</p> + +<p class="in">"Yea! Dead is the sun! Now must the whole world +worship me, the King of Eternal Night and Eternal +Winter!"</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo, sitting behind the stone, was so greatly enraged +by this speech that he came forth from his hiding-place, +exclaiming:</p> + +<p class="in">"That, O King, is a lie as big as yourself! The sun +is <i>not</i> dead, for only yesterday I saw his forerunner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> +He will be here very shortly, bringing sweet summer +with him, and thawing the icicles in your funny, frozen +beard!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i014.jpg" width="50%" alt="'That, O King, is a lie as big as yourself!' exclaimed Sampo." title="'That, O King, is a lie as big as yourself!' exclaimed Sampo." /> +<p class="caption">"'That, O King, is a lie as big as yourself!' exclaimed Sampo." <span style="margin-left: 70%"><i>page 46</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The King's brow grew black as a thunder-cloud. +Forgetful of the law, he lifted his tremendous arm to strike +Sampo; but at that moment the northern light faded. +A red streak shot suddenly across the sky, shining with +such brilliancy into the King's face that it entirely dazzled +him. His arm fell useless at his side. Then the golden +sun rose in slow stateliness on the horizon, and that flood +of glorious light caused even those who had rejoiced in +his supposed death to welcome his re-appearance.</p> + +<p class="in">But the goblins were considerably astonished. From +under their red caps they stared at the sun with their +little grey eyes, and grew so excited that they stood on +their heads in the snow. The beard of the Mountain King +began to melt and drip, until it was flowing down +his jacket like a running stream.</p> + +<p class="in">By-and-by, Sampo heard a reindeer say to her little +one:</p> + +<p class="in">"Come, my child, we must be going, or we shall be +eaten by the wolves."</p> + +<p class="in">"Such will be <i>my</i> fate also if I linger longer," thought +Sampo. So he sprang upon the back of a beautiful +reindeer with golden antlers, which started off with him +at once, darting down the rocks with lightning speed.</p> + +<p class="in">"What is that rustling sound that I hear behind us?" +asked the boy presently.</p> + +<p class="in">"It is made by the thousand bears; they are pursuing +us in order to eat us up," replied the reindeer. "You + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span>need not fear, however, for I am the King's own enchanted +reindeer, and no bear has ever been able as yet to nibble +my heels!"</p> + +<p class="in">They went on in silence for a time, then Sampo put +another question.</p> + +<p class="in">"What," asked he, "is that strange panting I hear +behind us?"</p> + +<p class="in">"That," returned the reindeer, "is made by the hundred +thousand wolves; they are at full gallop behind us, and +wish to tear us in pieces. But fear nothing from them! +No wolf has ever beaten me in a race yet!"</p> + +<p class="in">Again Sampo spoke:</p> + +<p class="in">"Is it not thundering over there amongst the rocky +mountains?"</p> + +<p class="in">"No," answered the now trembling reindeer; "that noise +is made by the King, who is chasing us. Now, indeed, +all hope has fled, for no one can escape <i>him</i>!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Can we do nothing?" asked Sampo.</p> + +<p class="in">"There is no safety to be found here," said the reindeer, +"but there is just one chance for us. We must try to +reach the priest's house over yonder by Lake Enare. +Once there, we shall be safe, for the King has no power +over Christians."</p> + +<p class="in">"Oh, make haste! make haste! dear reindeer!" cried +Sampo, "and you shall feed on golden oats, and out of +a silver manger."</p> + +<p class="in">On sped the reindeer. As they entered the priest's +house, the Mountain King crossed the courtyard, and +knocked at the door with such violence that it is a wonder +he did not knock the house down.</p> + +<p class="in">"Who is there?" called the priest from within.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> +<img src="images/i015.jpg" width="50%" alt="the King flew into such a violent passion +that he exploded in a great storm of snow and wind" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="in">"It is I!" answered a thundering voice; "it is the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> +mighty Mountain King! Open the door! You have +there a child, whom I claim as my prey."</p> + +<p class="in">"Wait a moment!" cried the priest. "Permit me to +robe myself, in order that I may give your Majesty a +worthier reception."</p> + +<p class="in">"All right!" roared the King; "but be quick about +it, or I may break down your walls!" A moment later +he raised his enormous foot for a kick, yelling: "Are you +not ready yet?"</p> + +<p class="in">Then the priest opened the door, and said solemnly, +"Begone, King of Night and Winter! Sampo Lappelill +is under my protection, and he shall never be yours!"</p> + +<p class="in">Upon this, the King flew into such a violent passion +that he exploded in a great storm of snow and wind. +The flakes fell and fell, until the snow reached the roof +of the priest's house, so that every one inside it expected +to be buried alive. But as soon as the sun rose, the +snow began to melt, and all was well. The Mountain +King had completely vanished, and no one knows exactly +what became of him, although some think that he is +still reigning on Rastekaďs.</p> + +<p class="in">Sampo thanked the priest heartily for his kindness, +and begged, as an additional favour, the loan of a sledge. +To this sledge the boy harnessed the golden-antlered +reindeer, and drove home to his parents, who were +exceedingly glad to see him.</p> + +<p class="in">How Sampo became a great man, who fed his reindeer +with golden oats out of a silver manger, is too lengthy +a story to tell now.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Witch-Dancers_Doom" id="The_Witch-Dancers_Doom"></a>The Witch-Dancer's Doom.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0161.jpg" width="70%" alt="The Witch-Dancer's Doom. A BRETON LEGEND." title="The Witch-Dancer's Doom. A BRETON LEGEND." /> + +</div> +<p class="center">I.</p> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">LONG, long ago, in the days of good King Arthur,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> +Count Morriss dwelt in the old château of La +Roche Morice, near Landerneau, in Brittany. +With him lived his beautiful niece, Katel. Although +charming in face and figure, this maiden had a somewhat +uncanny reputation. For it was said—and with +reason—that she was a witch.</p> + +<p class="in">The Count had often urged Katel to marry, but in +vain. The lady had no mind to lose her freedom. +Dancing was the one passion of her life. "When," said +she, "I can find a knight who shall be able to dance +continuously with me for twelve hours, with no break, +to him I promise to give my hand!"</p> + +<p class="in">This scornful challenge was proclaimed by heralds in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span>every neighbouring town and hamlet. In response came +many wooers to attempt the impossible task. Those +whom Katel favoured she made her partners at the +rustic fętes and open-air dances which were then in +vogue. In the soft-swarded meadows, by sunlight or +starlight, the dancers would meet, and, to the dreamy +music of the pipes, eager couples would whirl until the +hills around began to blush in the light of the early +dawn. The wildest, giddiest, yet most graceful of the +throng was Katel, who danced madly on until one by +one her partners sank fainting upon the ground, and +death released them from the heartless sorceress who had +lured them into her toils.</p> + +<p class="in">Thus perished many suitors, until the cruel maiden +became an object of general hatred and horror. When +her doings came to the ears of the Count, he sternly +forbade her to attend any more of the dances. In +order to enforce her obedience, he shut her up in a +tower, where, said he, she was to remain until she should +choose a husband from among such suitors as still persisted +in offering her marriage.</p> + +<p class="in">Now, Katel had a wizened little page, no bigger than +a leveret, and as black as a raven's wing. This creature +she summoned to her one morning before dawn, and, +with her finger at her lips, she said to him: "Be swift +and silent! My uncle still slumbers. Get thee gone by +the ladder, and his thee to the castle of Salaün, who is +waiting for a message from her he loves. The guards +will allow thee to pass; take horse, ride like the wind, +and tell Salaün that Katel calls him to deliver her +from this tower before the day dawns."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> +<img src="images/i017.jpg" width="50%" alt="KATEL TURNED COLDLY AWAY" title="KATEL TURNED COLDLY AWAY" /> +<p class="caption">"KATEL TURNED COLDLY AWAY" (<i>p.</i> 57).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span>The infatuated young knight obeyed the summons +immediately. In an hour's time he was assisting the +lady to mount his horse, after having got her in safety +down the rope-ladder. As, from the window of the +donjon, the dwarf watched them ride away, he chuckled +to himself:</p> + +<p class="in">"Ha! ha! And so they are off to the great ball +held to-day in the Martyrs' Meadow! Ah, my dear +Salaün! before another sun shall rise your death-knell +will be tolled!"</p> + +<p class="center">II.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="smcap">When</span> Katel and her gallant cavalier arrived at the +Martyrs' Meadow, they excited general surprise and +admiration. Some, however, shook their heads forebodingly, +as they heard that Salaün, now Katel's +affianced lover, was to be her partner, for they knew +that the brave young knight must needs fall a victim +to her spell.</p> + +<p class="in">The ball began. Some of the most skilful pipers in +the land had been engaged for the occasion, and they +played gavottes, rondes, courantes, and many other +dances, without intermission. But Katel waited until +night came and the torches were lit. Then she took +Salaün's hand and they began to dance together.</p> + +<p class="in">"Round again! Once more! Ha! ha!" laughed the +witch-maiden, as they spun along. "What! are you +tired already? Do you give in so soon as this?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Never—while I am with <i>you</i>!" was the fervent +reply. The fatal spell had begun to work.</p> + +<p class="in">Thus on they whirled, yet more swiftly than before, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span>so that the other dancers stood aside to watch them. +After a time, however, Katel observed that her partner +was gradually becoming weaker, and that he would soon +be unable to keep pace with her.</p> + +<p class="in">"Courage!" exclaimed she, in a bantering tone. +"We cannot stop yet; it wants but a very short time +to midnight, and then I shall be yours!"</p> + +<p class="in">Salaün, although almost exhausted, strained every +nerve and muscle in a frantic, final effort to continue the +dance. Round the field they flew, at lightning speed; +but it was for the last time. The knight's knees shook—his +breath came more quickly—then with difficulty +he gasped out the words:</p> + +<p class="in">"Oh, Katel! have mercy! I can do no more! Katel, +my love, have I not won you yet?"</p> + +<p class="in">But as he sank lifeless upon the grass Katel turned +coldly away. His fate was nothing to her. At that +moment the clock in a neighbouring tower struck +twelve. All the lights flickered and expired; darkness +reigned supreme. And through the darkness, shrilling +high above every other sound, rang the mocking laugh +of the impish dwarf.</p> + +<p class="center">III.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="smcap">"What!"</span> exclaimed Katel derisively, glancing angrily +at the worn-out pipers, who had at last paused in their +wild music, "exhausted already by such slight exertions? +I wish the Evil One would send me some musicians +and dancers worthy of me! Of what use are these +miserable, puny creatures?"</p> + +<p class="in">As she uttered the words, stamping her foot in her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span>fury, a weird, red light gleamed in the sky; there was +a terrible peal of thunder, and a strange stir in the trees. +Then suddenly, in the centre of the field, appeared two +phantom forms, at the sight of whom the panic-stricken +by-standers would fain have fled. To their horror, +however, they found flight impossible; they were rooted +to the spot!</p> + +<p class="in">One of the phantoms was attired in a red garment, +covered with a black cloak. Beneath his arm he held +a large double pipe, coiled around which were five +hissing, writhing serpents. The other stranger, who was +exceedingly tall, was dressed in a tightly fitting black +suit, and heavy, red mantle, while upon his head waved +an imposing tuft of vultures' plumes.</p> + +<p class="in">The ghostly piper began at once to play an unearthly +dance-tune, so wild and maddening that it made all the +hearers tremble. His tall, grim companion seized Katel +by the waist, and the couple whirled round to the mad +measure, which grew ever faster and more furious. In +an instant the torches were relit. A few others joined +in the dance; not for long, however. Katel and her +phantom were soon the only dancers. Shriller still +shrieked the pipes, faster yet grew the music, more and +more swiftly spun the feet. Ere long the witch-maiden +felt that her strength was deserting her; the torches +swam before her eyes, and, in the last extremity of +terror, she struggled to release herself from the iron grip +which held her so relentlessly.</p> + +<p class="in">"What! so soon tired?" cried the spectre, jeering at +her. "Do you give in so soon as this? Come! round +once more! Ha! ha!"</p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0181.jpg" width="60%" alt=""THE COUPLE WHIRLED ROUND TO THE MAD MEASURE"" title=""THE COUPLE WHIRLED ROUND TO THE MAD MEASURE"" /> +<p class="caption">"THE COUPLE WHIRLED ROUND TO THE MAD MEASURE" (<i>p.</i> 58).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span>Thus was Katel treated as she had treated others. +She had no breath left wherewith to answer; her last +hour had come. She made one more wild, despairing +bound, then fell to the ground in the throes of death. +At the same moment, the phantoms vanished. There +was a vivid lightning-blaze, a terrific crash of thunder; +then fell black darkness hiding everything. A tempestuous +wind arose, and rain fell in torrents.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p class="in">When the storm had cleared, and the morning sun +shone out, those who found courage to visit the spot +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span>beheld the forms of Katel and her lover Salaün lying +dead upon the shrivelled turf.</p> + +<p class="in">Ever since that time, the spot has been shunned by +all, and still, by their firesides on the winter nights, the +peasants tell the tale of Katel, the witch-dancer, and her +fearful fate.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Three_Valleys" id="The_Three_Valleys"></a>The Three Valleys.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0191.jpg" width="70%" alt="The three valleys. From the German." title="The three valleys. From the German." /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">IN olden days there lived a Count, who had many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> +castles and estates, and a most beautiful daughter, +but no one would associate with him, for it was +rumoured he was in league with the Evil One; indeed, +from time to time one or other of his servants most +mysteriously disappeared.</p> + +<p class="in">The last who disappeared was the shepherd. One +evening he did not return to the castle. Search was +made for him throughout the village, but in vain; no +trace of him could be found. After this no one would +enter the Count's service as shepherd; but at last, a +bold, handsome youth presented himself; he had +travelled far as a soldier, and cared nothing for evil +spirits. The Count immediately engaged him, and said +he could take the sheep to feed wherever he liked, only +he must never go into the three valleys to the east of +the castle. For a time all went well; the young man +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span>drove the sheep into the rich meadows around the castle +as his master had ordered, and led a very comfortable +life. But he was always thinking of the three valleys, +and being a brave youth who did not fear evil spirits, +he one day took the cross-bow and bolts he had used +when soldiering, put a new string to his bow, and said, +as he struck his rusty spear against the ground:</p> + +<p class="in">"I will see who will venture to harm me in the three +valleys; it will fare badly with him, I think."</p> + +<p class="in">Going towards the east, he soon arrived with his +sheep in the first valley, where he found beautiful +meadows in which he could safely leave his flock. He +looked carefully around, but, except the butterflies +fluttering to and fro, and the humming of the bees, there +was neither sound nor movement. Then he sat down +beneath an oak and began to play on his pipe; suddenly, +in the wood near, arose a crashing and cracking as if +some mighty animal were breaking through the bushes, +and, before our shepherd could fix a bolt in his cross-bow, +a powerful giant stood before him and cried:</p> + +<p class="in">"What are you doing here with your grass-eaters, destroying +my meadows, you insolent fellow? You shall +answer for this."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i020.jpg" width="50%" alt="A WELL-DIRECTED THRUST SOON QUIETED HIM" title="A WELL-DIRECTED THRUST SOON QUIETED HIM" /> + +<p class="caption">"A WELL-DIRECTED THRUST SOON QUIETED HIM" (<i>p.</i> 67).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">He did not wait for an answer, but threw his spear +with fearful force at the shepherd, who saved himself +by springing behind the oak, into which the spear sank +so deep that the point stuck out on the other side. +Then, fixing a bolt into his cross-bow, the shepherd +took aim, and struck the giant so skilfully in the centre +of the forehead that he fell with a deep groan to the +earth. Before he had time to rise, the shepherd bounded +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span>forward and ran his spear through his adversary's neck, +nailing him to the ground, and his spirit soon fled. +The shepherd took the giant's sword and armour, and +was about to return home, when in an opening of the +forest he saw a stately castle. The doors were wide +open; he entered. In the spacious hall stood a stone +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span>table on which was a cup covered with a silver plate +bearing these words:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who drinks of this cup<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall overcome the Evil One.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="in">The young man had no confidence in the words or +the drink, and left the cup untouched. He laid the +dead giant's armour in the hall; then, taking the key +of the door with him, he returned home with his flock, +and went to rest without mentioning his adventure to +any one. The next day he tended his sheep on the +mountain slopes surrounding the castle, but the second +day he could not rest; so, girding on the sword he had +taken from the dead giant, he started with his flock for +the second valley, in hopes of fresh adventure. Here +also were beautiful pastures, if possible richer and more +luxuriant than in the first valley; the flowers breathed +forth their fragrance, the birds sang sweetly, and through +the meadows meandered a stream clear as crystal, by +whose bank the shepherd lay down to rest. He was +just thinking that all adventure and danger were past +when an enormous block of rock fell on the ground +near him, and a voice rough and wild, like that of a +bear, said: "What are you doing here with your grass-eaters, +you insolent fellow?" And from behind a wall +of rock stepped a mighty giant, brandishing a ponderous +stone club. He aimed a blow at the shepherd, who +ducked behind the rock which the giant had thrown as +his first greeting, and the club descending on the stone, +it broke in pieces from the force of the blow.</p> + +<p class="in">Quick as lightning the youth drew his sword, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span>with one stroke cut through the sinews in the bend of +the giant's knee, who fell to the earth with a loud roar. +He struck out wildly with his fists, but a well-directed +thrust through the heart soon quieted him. The shepherd +left him lying there, and turned towards the wall +of rock; here he found a massive door concealed +amongst the thicket. Through this he passed, and +entered a hall-like cavern, in which, at a stone manger, +stood a snow-white horse ready saddled, and over the +manger was engraved this saying:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who springs on this white horse<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall overcome the Evil One.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="in">Now, the shepherd thought: "I am strong enough to +take care of myself, and I do not want to overcome +the Evil One, he has always left me in peace; but I +will remember that here stands a fine horse on which I +can ride forth into the wide world." He threw fresh +oats into the manger, shut the door, and returned home. +The next few days he remained very quiet, lest his +movements might have been observed; then, as no one +questioned him, he one fine morning drove his sheep +into the third valley. Beautiful meadows glittered in +the sunshine; from a hill of rock a waterfall plashed +down, forming a small sea in which sported innumerable +fish. The shepherd looked carefully around, searched +under every bush, but found nothing. No sound was +heard save the continued plash, plash, of the cool water. +The day was very sultry, and the shepherd was just +preparing for a bathe in the fresh, clear water, when +from out a ravine near the sea appeared a horrible +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span>human head, with one eye, as large as a plate, in the +centre of the forehead, and a voice loud as the roll of +thunder shouted: "What do you want here, you insolent +earth-worm?"</p> + +<p class="in">The head rose higher and higher, until a giant as +high as a tower stood before the shepherd, who with a +sure aim sent his lance into the eye of his adversary. +The monster, thus blinded, groped wildly about with +his hands, in hopes to strangle his enemy, but he only +seized an oak, which he tore up by the roots and threw +it high into the air. Now the victory was easy, for +though the giant could no longer be hurt by cuts and +thrusts, which slipped off from his body as from a +mossy stone, the shepherd soon found other means. +He mocked and insulted the blind giant, and by the +sound of his voice drew him ever nearer and nearer to +the sea, at the side where the cliff overhung the water. +At last he sprang for a moment on the edge of the +precipice, and gave a loud, mocking cry, then silently +concealed himself behind a tree. The giant, deceived +by the shout, pursued him eagerly, lost his footing, and +fell heavily into the sea.</p> + +<p class="in">Then the shepherd went down into the ravine from +which the monster had appeared. Here lay a meadow +full of beautiful flowers, in the midst of which rose a +spacious mansion, built of the trunks of trees. The +shepherd entered the hall and saw a mighty spear, on +whose shaft these words were cut:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who throws this lance<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall overcome the Evil One.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="in">He seized the spear, but his arms were too weak to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span>raise it, and he wearily laid the mighty weapon back +in the corner; at the same time he thought, since he +had conquered three giants, he could surely overcome +the Evil One without this lance. As the day drew to +a close he gathered his sheep together and returned to +the castle. Arrived there, he was immediately summoned +before the Count, who asked him angrily where he had +been. The shepherd then truthfully related all that +had happened in the three valleys, and how he had +that day slain the giant as tall as a tower.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i021.jpg" width="50%" alt=""'WHAT DO YOU WANT HERE?'"" title=""'WHAT DO YOU WANT HERE?'"" /> +<p class="caption">"'WHAT DO YOU WANT HERE?'" (<i>p.</i> 68).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"Woe to you and to me," replied the Count, with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span>pale lips. "I heard the giants' cries of rage, and hoped +you were paying for your disobedience with your life. +But it has happened otherwise, and now I and my +daughter must suffer because you, you insolent fellow, +disobeyed my commands and entered the giants' territories; +for it has been made known to me that to-morrow +the mighty lord of the giants, the Prince of +the Infernal Regions, will appear, and demand my +daughter or me as a sacrifice; but before that you, +you miserable fellow, shall suffer all the agonies of +torture, as a punishment for bringing me into this +trouble.</p> + +<p class="in">"Seize him!" he cried to the servants who were +standing in the entrance-hall. His command was +at once obeyed, when the Count's daughter, who +had listened with glowing cheeks to the shepherd's +story, threw herself on her knees and implored for +delay.</p> + +<p class="in">"Dearest father," she cried, "should you not rather +endeavour to make use of this brave youth for our +deliverance than put him to the torture? He has +overcome three giants; surely he will be able to +vanquish the Prince of the Infernal Regions."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> +<img src="images/i0221.jpg" width="50%" alt=""SHE IMPLORED FOR DELAY"" title=""SHE IMPLORED FOR DELAY"" /> +<p class="caption">"SHE IMPLORED FOR DELAY" (<i>p.</i> 70).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The Count remained for a few moments in deep +thought, and then acknowledged that his daughter's +suggestion was both good and clever. He asked the +shepherd if he were willing to expiate his crime by a +combat with the Evil One, and the young man, with a +grateful look at his deliverer, at once agreed. With +the first dawn of morning he rose from his couch, for +he now recalled the words about overcoming the Evil +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span>One, and hastened to the first valley, where in the +castle stood the cup with the inscription:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who drinks of this cup<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall overcome the Evil One.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="in">He seized the cup and emptied it at one draught, +and—wonderful—the magic draught flowed through his +veins like fire, and he felt courage and strength enough +to combat a whole army. With sparkling eyes he +hastened to the second valley, mounted the white horse, +who greeted him with a joyful neigh, and then galloped +as if in flight to the third valley, in which stood the +mighty lance. Yesterday he could scarcely move it; +to-day, with one hand, he swung it high over his head, +as if it had been a small arrow.</p> + +<p class="in">By sunrise he was again at the Count's castle, +waiting eagerly for what would happen, but the day +passed and no one appeared. The sun had sunk to +rest, and the moon had just risen in all her splendour, +when in the north of the heavens was seen what appeared +to be a dark storm-cloud. With the speed of lightning +it approached the castle, and a voice, as of a bassoon, +sounded from out the cloud: "Where are my propitiatory +sacrifices?" At the same time a gigantic eagle, with +greenish-grey wings, like the storm-cloud, hovered high +over the castle, ready to swoop down on his prey. +Then the young man set spurs into his white horse, +and shaking his lance high above his head, cried with +a loud voice: "There are no sacrifices here for you, +you robber! Begone instantly, or you shall feel my +arrows!" On hearing these words, the eagle swooped +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span>down with a wild cry, before the shepherd could take +his cross-bow, and the young man would certainly +have perished had it not been for his presence of mind +and the strength and activity of his steed. A touch +with the spur, and it flew swift as the wind under a +very old and thickly leaved linden tree, whose branches +hung down almost to the ground, so that the eagle +could only break in through the side.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i023.jpg" width="50%" alt=""The eagle swooped down with a wild cry."" title=""The eagle swooped down with a wild cry."" /> +<p class="caption">"The eagle swooped down with a wild cry." +<span style="margin-left: 70%"><i>page 72</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="in">This the bird at once attempted, and it caused his +death, for his outspread wings became entangled in the +branches, and the brave rider, with one powerful blow +of his sword, severed the head from the body. But, +oh, horror! instead of blood there came forth from +the headless body of the eagle a huge serpent, who, +with wide-open jaws, approached the shepherd and +tried to enfold him in the rings of its flexible body. +By a skilful movement, it encircled the horse and +rider, and crushed them until the young man thought +he should be forced into the body of his steed; but +the horse pressed himself so close against the tree that +the head of the serpent came round on the other side +of the trunk, and thus it was hindered from harming +the shepherd with its poisonous bite or breath. One +stroke of the shepherd's sharp dagger, and the body of +the serpent fell in two pieces to the ground; the horse +immediately trampled on the head. But the hinder +part of the serpent swelled and swelled, the cut became +a frightful mouth, which spurted out smoke and flames, +while from the rings of the serpent's body grew forth +claws and wings, and at last a horrible monster in the +form of a dragon threw itself on the shepherd, whose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span>strength had already begun to fail through the dreadful +pressing of the serpent. But in his greatest need a +saving thought occurred to him—he turned his horse +round: it broke through the branches of the linden +tree into the open field, and sped with its rider to the +nearest stream, in whose waters they both cooled themselves. +The dragon snorted after them, spitting forth +fire and smoke. But as the head of the serpent, from +whose body the dragon had grown, had been destroyed, +there was no deadly poison in its breath, and the rider +was safe from the flames through bathing in the stream. +So he rode boldly towards the approaching dragon with +lance in rest, and tried to approach it from the side; +but all his blows glanced off from its scaly body as +from a coat of mail. Suddenly it occurred to him to +thrust his lance down the monster's throat. He turned +his horse and spurred him straight towards the dragon, +and thrusting his lance through the smoke and flame, +stuck it right into the creature's throat. He was obliged +to leave his lance, for his horse, singed by the fiery +breath of the dragon, bounded far to one side; but the +monster did not attempt to follow them, the lance had +stuck deep into its body. It struck wildly with its +tail on the ground, until the earth burst, then it shivered +and fell over, first on its side, then on its back, a +stream of fire poured forth from its wide-open jaws, +and with the flames its life passed away.</p> + +<p class="in">Thus was the combat ended and the Evil One +subdued. Joyfully the shepherd rode back to the Count +and his daughter, and told them all that had happened. +The Count, embracing him, said: "You are our deliverer, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span>to you I owe my life and all that I possess: take the +half of whatever is mine, or choose from it whatever +pleases you."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0241.jpg" width="50%" alt=""WITH THE FLAMES ITS LIFE PASSED AWAY"" title=""WITH THE FLAMES ITS LIFE PASSED AWAY"" /> +<p class="caption">"WITH THE FLAMES ITS LIFE PASSED AWAY" (<i>p.</i> 74).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The shepherd gazed earnestly into the eyes of the +Count's lovely daughter, and replied:</p> + +<p class="in">"I know of nothing, Sir Count, in the whole world +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span>which is dearer to me than your daughter. Give her +to me for my wife, if she be willing."</p> + +<p class="in">The Count smiled. "Are you willing, my child?"</p> + +<p class="in">"I love him more than words can express," said the +maiden, and sank on the breast of the shepherd.</p> + +<p class="in">The next day the marriage was celebrated with +great splendour, and when Heaven had blessed their +union with children, and these were grown up, the hero +of this story, a shepherd no longer, used to say to his +sons when telling them of his adventures: "There are +three things by which one can subdue giants and evil +spirits, and become great: courage, perseverance, and +presence of mind."</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Springtide_of_Love" id="The_Springtide_of_Love"></a>The Spring-tide of Love.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i025.jpg" width="70%" alt="The Springtide of Love. By Pleydell North" title="The Springtide of Love. By Pleydell North" /> + +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">THE mists of the early twilight were falling, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> +Elsa, the little girl who lived at the woodman's +cottage, was still far from home. She +had wandered out in the spring sunshine in search of +the bluebells and wild anemones with which the wood +abounded, for the child loved the company of the birds +and flowers better than the rough play of the boys +who were called her brothers.</p> + +<p class="in">The woodman and his wife said she was strange and +dreamy, full of curious fancies which they found it +hard to understand; but, then, they were not Elsa's +real parents, which might account for their difficulty. +They were kind to her, however, in their fashion, and +Elsa always tried to remember to obey them; but +sometimes she forgot. She had forgotten to-day—for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span>although the good wife had told her to remain near +the cottage, the eagerness of her search for the flowers +she loved had led her farther into the wood than she +had ever been before.</p> + +<p class="in">The sunlight disappeared, and the darkness seemed +to come quite suddenly under the thick branches of +the trees; the birds had chanted their last evening +song and gone to their nests—only a solitary thrush +sang loudly just overhead; Elsa thought it was warning +her to hurry homewards. She turned quickly, +taking as she thought the direction of the cottage; but +as she was barely seven years old, and felt a little +frightened, it is not surprising that she only plunged +deeper into the wood.</p> + +<p class="in">Now she found herself in the midst of a great +silence; the beautiful tracery of young green leaves +through which she had hitherto caught glimpses of +the sky had disappeared, and over her head stretched +only bare brown branches, between which she saw the +shining stars, clear as on a frosty winter's night. The +stars looked friendly, and she was glad to see them, +but it was growing dreadfully cold. The plucked +flowers withered and fell from her poor little numbed +hands, and she shivered in her thin cotton frock.</p> + +<p class="in">Ah! what would she not have given for a sight of +the open door and the fire in the woodman's cottage, +and a basin of warm bread and milk, even though it +was given with a scolding from the woodman's wife! +She struggled on, with her poor little tired feet, for +it seemed to her that the wood was growing thinner—perhaps +there might be a house hereabouts.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span>But, oh! how terribly cold. Now there was frost +upon the ground at her feet, frost upon dead leaves +and blades of grass, frost upon the bare tree branches. +The moon had risen, and she could see that all the +world around her was white and chill and dead. +Surely she had wandered back into the cruel bitter +winter, frost-bound and hard.</p> + +<p class="in">It was strange that she had strength to go on, but +she looked up at the stars, and thought that they were +guiding her. At length she came to the border of +the wood, and there stretched before her a wide, open +space, with only a few trees scattered here and there, +and through an opening of the trees the cold moon +shone down upon a white, silent house.</p> + +<p class="in">The house looked as dead and winter-bound as +everything else; but still it <i>was</i> a house, and Elsa +said to herself that surely some one must live in it. +So she thanked the friendly stars for leading her aright, +and with what remaining strength she had, dragged +her poor little numbed feet up the broad path or road +between the trees. At the end of the road an iron +gate hung open upon its hinges, and Elsa found herself +in what once had been a garden. Now the lawns +and flower-beds were all alike one blinding sheet of +ice and frozen snow.</p> + +<p class="in">But, oh, joy! there was the great white house, and +from one window shone a light, surely the light of a +fire. All the rest was dark. Up a flight of stone steps +the child dragged her weary feet, across a terrace that +had surely once been gay with flowers, until she stood +before a huge door, brown and black, except where +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span>the frost gleamed, closed and barred with iron bars. +The great knocker hung high above her reach; but +with her poor little hands she beat against the woodwork. +Surely, if some one did not let her in soon, she +must fall down there and sleep and die upon the step. +But at the sound of her faint knocking there came +from within the deep baying of a hound, and Elsa +was terrified anew, but could not run away; then in a +few moments a heavy bar seemed to be withdrawn +and the great door opened slowly.</p> + +<p class="in">A tall man stood within—a man in the dress of a +hunter, pale-faced in the moonlight, but strong and +powerful, and wearing a long, dark beard that reached +almost to his waist. His was a figure to fill any child +with fear, but Elsa saw only the scene behind him. A +great blazing wood fire upon an open hearth, with +rugs in front of it upon which were stretched two large +hounds; a third, shaking himself slowly, had followed +his master to the door. Elsa stretched out her little +hands to the blazing warmth, with the cry of a perishing +child.</p> + +<p class="in">"Take me in—oh! take me in!" she pleaded. +"Please let me come in!"</p> + +<p class="in">She ran forward. Then with a strange hoarse sound, +that she did not understand, the man stooped and +lifted her in his arms, and carried her forward and +laid her gently down upon the rugs in the grateful +warmth, and the hounds sniffed round her and seemed +well pleased, and ready to welcome her—and—for a +little while she remembered no more.</p> + +<p class="in">When Elsa came to herself (she thought she must +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span>have been asleep, but the waking was a little strange +and difficult) she found that she was propped up among +soft cushions still upon the rugs; the dogs now lay +at a respectful distance, each with his forepaws +stretched out and his nose held between them, while +with gleaming eyes he watched with keenest interest +all that going was on.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i026.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HER NEW FRIEND WAS OBLIGED TO FEED HER"" title=""HER NEW FRIEND WAS OBLIGED TO FEED HER"" /> +<p class="caption">"HER NEW FRIEND WAS OBLIGED TO FEED HER" (<i>p.</i> 84).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span>The rough-looking man with the long, dark beard +and the pale face knelt beside her, holding a basin of +warm, steaming broth. Then Elsa sat up and tried to +drink, but she was so weak with fatigue and cold that +her new friend was obliged to feed her with a spoon, +which he did rather awkwardly. After she had swallowed +the broth, the warm blood flowed once more +freely through her veins, and she sank into a deep, +sweet sleep, her little head falling serenely against the +stranger's breast and her hair spreading out in golden +waves over the arm that held her.</p> + +<p class="in">When Elsa once more opened her eyes, the cold +grey light of morning fell through the uncurtained +windows into the hall. She found herself lying on a +couch covered with rugs of warm fur, at the side of +the hearth, where logs of pine wood, newly kindled, +leapt and blazed, filling the air with sweet, pungent +odours.</p> + +<p class="in">For a while she was bewildered, wondering how she +came to be there, instead of in her little room at the +woodman's cottage. Then she saw her friend of the +night before kneeling in front of the fire, evidently +preparing food, while the dogs, grouped around, sat +on their haunches with ears erect, keen and observant, +watching his movements. Then Elsa remembered; and +she clapped her hands with a merry laugh, the laugh +of a happy, waking child. The man kneeling by the +fire started at the sound, and then turned his grave +face towards her with a wistful expression strange to +see.</p> + +<p class="in">"I want to get up," said Elsa promptly. "If you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span>please, I can wash and dress myself; I've been taught +how."</p> + +<p class="in">"Wait a few minutes, little lady, then you shall have +all you want."</p> + +<p class="in">The voice sounded strangely, and the man seemed +listening to its tones as though surprised to hear himself +speak. But the rough, halting accents seemed less +out of keeping with the old house than Elsa's laugh. +The dogs came and licked her hands, and she played +with them until the man rose from his place before +the fire, and lifting her up bade her come with him.</p> + +<p class="in">He led her to a small room off the hall, which was +indeed curious in its arrangements. A toilet-table +stood there with most costly fittings; brushes with +silver and ivory handles were lying upon the faded +silk; a little pair of satin shoes had been thrown carelessly +upon the floor; a cloak of crimson satin was +flung over a chair. All these things looked as though +a hand had cast them aside but yesterday—yet all +were faded and soiled, and the dust lay thick as though +that yesterday had been many years ago.</p> + +<p class="in">And among these relics of an unknown past the +child made her simple toilet. She had never seen such +magnificence, or felt, she thought, so sad. But when +she returned to the hall ten minutes later, the sadness +was forgotten.</p> + +<p class="in">She looked a quaint little figure, indeed, clad in a +silken wrapper provided by her host, which trailed far +behind on the ground, greatly to her delight; her little +feet were cased in dainty slippers which, small as they +were, yet were many sizes too large. In spite of misfits, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span>however, she contrived to walk with a stately grandeur +quite amazing to behold, until the dogs jumped and +fawned upon her, when she forgot her finery in a game +of play and lost her slippers in the rug.</p> + +<p class="in">On the table, a breakfast was rudely spread: cold +meats for the master of the house, who fed his dogs +from his own plate, while for Elsa was provided a bowl +of goat's milk and some crisp cakes, which she thought +delicious.</p> + +<p class="in">When the meal was over, Elsa pleaded to be allowed +to do for her new friend the household duties she had +been taught to fulfil by the woodman's wife; and soon, +with the wrapper deftly pinned about her waist, and +the silken sleeves tucked up from bare and dimpled +arms, she stood before a bowl of steaming water, washing +plates and dishes. Only the table was rather high, +and she was forced to stand upon a stool.</p> + +<p class="in">From that day a strange new life began for little +Elsa.</p> + +<p class="in">The rough-looking man who had given her shelter +seemed to be living quite alone with his dogs. Every +morning he went out with them and his gun, apparently +to hunt and shoot in the forest, for he usually +returned laden with game, which served to keep the +larder stocked.</p> + +<p class="in">Of other kinds of provisions there seemed to be a +plentiful supply on the premises; the granaries were +well stocked with corn, which the master ground himself, +while some goats tethered in the outhouses gave +a sufficient quantity of milk for the daily needs of the +little household.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span>Of Elsa's return to the woodman's cottage there +seemed to be no question. She was terrified at the +thought of being again lost in the wood, and pleaded +hard to remain with her new friend, who, on his side, +was equally loth to part with her.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0271.jpg" width="50%" alt=""SHE LOOKED A QUAINT LITTLE FIGURE"" title=""SHE LOOKED A QUAINT LITTLE FIGURE"" /> +<p class="caption">"SHE LOOKED A QUAINT LITTLE FIGURE" (<i>p.</i> 85).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Soon, having learned many useful ways from the +woodman's wife, she became a clever little housekeeper, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span>and could make a good stew, while Ulric, as the master +of the house bade her call him, was out with his dogs +in the forest, though now only two of the hounds +accompanied him in his expeditions; one was always +left as Elsa's companion and guardian. Then, too, she +could milk and feed the goats, and keep the house-place +clean and tidy. But all the day was not given +to such work as this.</p> + +<p class="in">When Ulric had returned, and they had dined together, +he would bring the great carved wooden chair +with the huge back up to the fire, and Elsa would +fetch a stool to his side and busy herself with needle +and thread, while he told her strange stories; or sometimes +he would fetch a ponderous volume from a library +the house contained and read, either to himself or aloud +to her, such things as she could understand.</p> + +<p class="in">Now, if you wonder where Elsa found the needle +and thread which I have mentioned, I must tell you +that Ulric had given her a little work-basket neatly +fitted, but the silk lining of which was much faded, and +some of the needles were rusty. There was in it also a +golden thimble, which Elsa found a little too large.</p> + +<p class="in">And as for the clothes she worked at, one day he +brought her a quantity of beautiful garments, some of +silk and satin, and some of fine cloth, and in these, +having nothing of her own but her one poor little +cotton frock, the child managed to dress herself, till +she looked like a quaint little fairy princess. Her +stitches were awkward and badly done at first, but as +time went on, instinct helped her small knowledge, and +she grew handy with her needle.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span>When she was cooking and feeding the goats, she +wore a woollen petticoat and an apron, a costume more +suited to the occasion.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0281.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HE WOULD READ ALOUD TO HER"" title=""HE WOULD READ ALOUD TO HER"" /> +<p class="caption">"HE WOULD READ ALOUD TO HER" (<i>p.</i> 88).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">In the evenings Ulric taught her many things: to +read and to write, and even to speak in strange +languages, so that her education was by no means +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span>neglected. He let her wander over the great mansion +where she would, and showed her many of the rooms +himself. All bore signs of having been used quite +recently, and yet a long time ago. Dust was thick +everywhere, and soon Elsa grew to understand that +the dust must remain and accumulate; no hand was +to be allowed to touch anything in that strange, silent +house beyond the hall and the little room which Ulric +had arranged for her sleeping apartment. One part +of the mansion, however, she never penetrated. At +the end of a long passage hung a heavy velvet curtain, +and behind this was a door, always securely locked. +Only Ulric passed beyond it, at stated times, and when +he returned from these visits he was more than usually +sad for many hours.</p> + +<p class="in">The weeks slipped into months, and Elsa dwelt on +in this strange home. Every day at first she looked +eagerly for the breaking of the frost—for the promise +of the sunshine and flowers she had left behind her in +the wood. But the spring never came. The bitter +cold and the frost continued, and in time the child's +heart must have frozen too, but for the strong, warm +love which had sprung up within it for Ulric.</p> + +<p class="in">Old and thoughtful she grew, beyond her years, but +never unhappy. Ulric needed her, was glad of her +presence; she could minister to his wants and brighten +his sad life.</p> + +<p class="in">So Ulric's love grew more to her than the flowers +and sunshine of the outer world; to think of leaving +him now would break her heart, but she wondered +often over the mystery that shadowed his life and hers. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span>And the months grew to years, and Elsa was twelve +years old.</p> + +<p class="in">Then one evening Ulric came in from one of his visits +to the closed chamber, more sad and thoughtful even +than usual, and taking Elsa's hand in his, bade her +sit beside him for a little while and put aside her +work. She came obediently, looking anxiously into +his face.</p> + +<p class="in">"Little Elsa," he said, "I have counted the time, +and it is now five years since you came to me. You +told me then you were seven years old, now you are +therefore twelve, and will soon be growing into a +maiden. The time has come——"</p> + +<p class="in">Instinctively the child clasped his hand closer.</p> + +<p class="in">"Not to part us, father?" (for so she had learned to +call him.)</p> + +<p class="in">"That, my child, must rest with you."</p> + +<p class="in">"Then it is soon settled," said Elsa, trying to laugh, +"for I will never leave you."</p> + +<p class="in">Something like the light of hope shone in the +man's clouded eyes—eyes in which Elsa had never +seen a smile, although his lips had smiled at her +often.</p> + +<p class="in">"Listen," he said; "before you speak rash words, I +must tell you all. Then you shall decide.</p> + +<p class="in">"It is a little more than eleven years since the curse +fell upon me. I was a hard man then, Elsa—hard +and cruel and strong—it was my boast that I never +forgave a debt, or pardoned an enemy.</p> + +<p class="in">"I had married a young and beautiful wife, and her +I loved passionately, but in my own hard and selfish +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span>fashion. Often I refused to heed even her gentle +pleadings for the suffering, the sinful, and the poor. +And we had one child—a girl—then only a few months +old.</p> + +<p class="in">"It was a New Year's Eve that I decided upon +giving a great entertainment to all the country round. +I did it for my own glorification. Among the rich I +was disliked, but tolerated on account of my position; +by the poor far and wide I was feared and hated.</p> + +<p class="in">"Every one invited came to my ball. My wife looked +exquisitely lovely, more lovely I thought than on our +bridal day—everything ministered to my pride and +satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="in">"We had mustered here, here in this hall, to drink the +health of the dying year and welcome the incoming +of the new, when above the sounds of laughter and +good cheer was heard from without a pitiful, feeble +wail—the wail of a child in pain. That feeble cry +rang then above every other sound—it rings in my +heart still.</p> + +<p class="in">"Before I could interfere, my wife, with her own +hands, had flung wide the great barred door, and I +saw a sight which I alone could explain.</p> + +<p class="in">"Upon the step was huddled a woman, with a child +in her arms. A man, gaunt and hunger-stricken, towered +behind her in the darkness; two other children clung +to her, shivering and weeping. We were in the midst +of the cruel, bitter winter; the earth was frost-bound, +hard and cold, even as now. That day I had given +orders that these people, poor and starving as they +were, should be turned from their home. The man I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span>had suspected of being a poacher, and he was doing no +work—a good-for-nothing—but <i>she</i>, my wife, had pleaded +for them that I would wait, at least, until the summer. +Now she bent down to that poor creature on the step, +who was striving to nurse and warm her babe in her +chill arms, and whispered something—I guessed it was +a promise of shelter.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0291.jpg" width="50%" alt=""'MOTHER, AWAKE!' SHE SAID"" title=""'MOTHER, AWAKE!' SHE SAID"" /> +<p class="caption">"'MOTHER, AWAKE!' SHE SAID" (<i>p.</i> 95).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"In my fierce pride and anger I laid my hand upon +her arm, and with a strong grip drew her back—then +without a word I closed the door and barred it. But +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span>within there was no more laughter. A voice rose upon +the still night air—the sound of a bitter curse—a curse +that should rest upon me and mine, the chill of winter +and of death, of pitiless desolation and remorse, until +human love should win me back to human pity and +God's forgiveness.</p> + +<p class="in">"One by one, with cold good-nights, my guests departed. +My wife stole away to her own apartments +without a word; upon her arm I saw the mark of my +cruel hand.</p> + +<p class="in">"In the morning the curse had fallen. The woman +I had turned away had been found at my gates, dead, +her child still clasped to her breast.</p> + +<p class="in">"The servants fled and left me alone, taking with +them our child; my wife—that night—she, too—died—to +me."</p> + +<p class="in">The man's head drooped upon his hands. For a +moment there was silence in the hall.</p> + +<p class="in">Elsa stood—her child's heart grieved at the terrible +story, her whole nature sorrowing, pitiful, shocked.</p> + +<p class="in">Presently Ulric recovered himself and continued: +"Now, Elsa, you know all. My child, if you will return +to the world and leave me to work out my fate, you +shall not go penniless. I have wealth. For your sake +I will venture once more among the haunts of men and +see you placed in a safe home, then—I will try to +forget. It is right that you should shrink."</p> + +<p class="in">"Father, dear father, I love you—you are sorry—I +will not leave you—do not send me away."</p> + +<p class="in">A look almost of rapture changed the worn and tear-stained +face of the man who had owned his sin—and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span>the child's arms closed once more around his neck, +and her golden head nestled to his breast. A few +minutes later he led her to the closed chamber. Together +they passed beyond it, and Elsa found herself +standing in a richly furnished room.</p> + +<p class="in">Near a window was a couch covered with dark velvet, +and upon the couch a figure lay stretched as if in quiet, +death-like sleep, or carved in marble. The figure was +that of a young and very fair woman. Her dress of +white satin had yellowed with time; her hands were +clasped upon her breast as though in prayer; her golden +hair lay unbound upon the pillow.</p> + +<p class="in">"It is fitting now," said Ulric, "that you should come +here."</p> + +<p class="in">Softly Elsa advanced. She stood beside the couch, +gazing down upon the still, white face, so sweet in its +settled grief, but which in this long silence seemed to +have lost its first youth. Elsa bent lower, lower. What +new instinct filled her warm, young heart, and made +her speak?</p> + +<p class="in">"Mother, awake!" she said. "Mother!" and kissed +the cold, quiet lips.</p> + +<p class="in">Was it a ray of sunlight that stole through the open +window and trembled upon the mouth, curving it into +a smile? Slowly the dark eyes opened and rested with +a look of ineffable love upon Elsa's face.</p> + +<p class="in">And so the curse and the shadows of eternal winter +passed away from the house of Ulric, and his young +bride came back from her long slumber. In due time +the garden, too, awoke to the touch of spring, and the +flowers bloomed, and the birds mated once more and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span>sang in budding trees, and the sun shone. And Elsa's +love bound closely together the hearts of her father +and mother; for perhaps you have been clever enough +to find out that the woodman's wife was the nurse who +had carried away with her in her flight Ulric's little +daughter on the night of the New Year's ball.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="Ringfalla_Bridge" id="Ringfalla_Bridge"></a>Ringfalla Bridge.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i030.jpg" width="70%" alt="Ringfalla Bridge. By K. E. Sutter" title="Ringfalla Bridge. By K. E. Sutter" /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">ONCE upon a time there lived a King who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> +two kingdoms to govern—his own always the +perfection of law and order, while the other +was given over to confusion and rebellion, which, strive +as he would, got ever worse instead of better.</p> + +<p class="in">It had been the worry of his life ever since he began +to reign—and as he had no son to help him, he was +obliged to find a ruler for it among his Ministers, but +not one of them, however clever, could manage to +control its unruly inhabitants.</p> + +<p class="in">Sometimes, at long intervals, he even went to live +there himself, on which occasions his troubles in regard +to it multiplied so exceedingly that he swore they +were half demons, as the name of their kingdom, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span>Nokkëland, proved, and for his part he wished they +could find an evil spirit like themselves to govern them +in his stead, as no mere mortal could. And then, as he +could think of nothing else, he called a council of his +most trusted chiefs, and conferred with them; but as +they had all given their best consideration to the subject +many times before, none of them could come to any +more brilliant conclusion than formerly.</p> + +<p class="in">Therefore King Kaftan said he would hunt on the +morrow to distract his mind, so a great party set forth +at daybreak, and scoured the woods far and near, but no +sport could they get; no fourfooted beast could they +find excepting rabbits, and they were everywhere.</p> + +<p class="in">Unwilling to return empty-handed, and hoping for +better luck on the morrow, the King gave the order +to camp in the wood. Some of the men were catching +rabbits for supper, whilst others were making fires to +cook them, when just as the last rim of the sinking sun +disappeared below the horizon, a beautiful hart as white +as snow with antlers and hoofs of gold, suddenly +appeared, and walked leisurely down the glade towards +the sunset.</p> + +<p class="in">Instantly, with one accord, King, courtiers, huntsmen, +and servants rushed off in hot pursuit, helter-skelter +over each other, on foot, on horseback, armed or +unarmed, just as they found themselves when it first +appeared. The King, who had not dismounted, was +ahead of the others, and urged his steed with whip +and spur; but poor Rolf was very weary, and do as +he would, his master could get no nearer to his +quarry.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span>Night was rapidly closing in when the King found +himself far ahead of his attendants, and alone with a +spent horse in a part of the forest where he had never +been before, and miles from any human habitation.</p> + +<p class="in">More and more faltering grew Rolf's jaded pace, and +in proportion as it slackened, slower went the hart. +The King's pulses quivered with excitement. He leapt +from the saddle, drew his dagger, and prepared to follow +on foot; but, to his astonishment, the beast had turned +and was coming slowly towards him, the moonlight +turning his antlers to silver, and gleaming on his milk-white +coat.</p> + +<p class="in">Half instinctively, the King had raised his dagger, +when the hart stopped and spoke in courteous, but +authoritative tones.</p> + +<p class="in">"Stay thy hand and know that I also am a King in +my own country. I have much to say to thee, therefore +follow me and fear nothing."</p> + +<p class="in">So King Kaftan followed, wondering, until the hart +stopped before a great rock, overhung with a tangle +of eglantine and honeysuckle—and pushing aside the +fragrant curtain dexterously with his horns, disclosed +what appeared to be the mouth of a cave. Entering +this, closely followed by the King, they proceeded for +some way in almost total darkness. Gradually it grew +lighter and the path wider, when the King perceived, to +his amazement, that the illumination proceeded from +countless numbers of bats, ridden by small imps carrying +lighted glow-worms.</p> + +<p class="in">Presently they came to a spacious garden, where all +the trees were lighted by coloured lamps hanging among +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span>the branches, and the air was filled with music and +perfume.</p> + +<p class="in">Within the garden was a great pavilion of purple silk, +most gorgeously emblazoned with scarlet and gold, and +having a Royal banner floating from the roof.</p> + +<p class="in">Within was a table, covered with every variety of food +and wine, lavishly decorated with flowers and gold +plate, and laid for two. Here the hart entertained his +Royal guest to supper, and after he was completely +refreshed and rested, handed him an enamelled box, +which, on being opened, disclosed a clay pipe, blackened +with much use, a tinder, and a flint.</p> + +<p class="in">"Smoke, O King!" said the host; "unfortunately I +cannot join you; and now to explain why I have lured +you from your own people to my enchanted land.</p> + +<p class="in">"I know your difficulties in Nokkëland, because for +one reason we are very near neighbours, though +probably you are unaware of it. The people who +inhabit that kingdom are descended from a water fiend, +and the turbulent instincts inherited from him can never +be quelled until the power of the Neck, who rules the +river between your kingdom and theirs, is broken. Now, +the Neck is my enemy as well as yours, and if you +will ally yourself with me and follow my counsels, you +will have peace, honour, and happiness for the rest of +your life in all probability."</p> + +<p class="in">"I am ready," said the King, "only tell me what to +do; the Klavs are the plague of my life, but from what +you say success even then is by no means a certainty."</p> + +<p class="in">"Much depends on luck," said the hart, "and to +neither your Majesty nor myself is it given to do much. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span>You have three daughters, Solveig, Ulva, and little +Kirsten; one of them must go over Ringfalla Bridge +without stumbling and without speaking one word. +This done, your troubles and my own are at an +end."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i031.jpg" width="50%" alt=""AN ENAMELLED BOX"" title=""AN ENAMELLED BOX"" /> +<p class="caption">"AN ENAMELLED BOX" (<i>p.</i> 102).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Now, Ringfalla Bridge it was that spanned the river +between King Kaftan's own territory and that of the +Klavs, and what between the Klavs themselves and the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span>Neck who inhabited the river, it had a very evil +reputation indeed.</p> + +<p class="in">The King looked grave, and then he laughed rather +grimly. "There won't be much difficulty about that," he +said. "To cross it has been the desire of their hearts +ever since they were babies; it is only my strict orders +that keep them from it."</p> + +<p class="in">"She who undertakes it must go of her own free will, +and if she accomplishes it without stumbling and without +speaking, the kingdom is saved." Those were the last +words of the hart ere bidding the King good-night, and +they were ringing in his ears when he awoke in the +morning. But he was no longer lying on the silken +cushions on which he had rested the night before. +Pavilion, garden, and hart had vanished, the sun was +high in the heavens, he was lying on a heap of moss +and ferns in the wood, with Rolf standing over him +and thrusting his soft nozzle into his face.</p> + +<p class="in">The King was greatly perplexed as to whether all +the events of the preceding night had actually happened, +or if he had only dreamt them, and was rather inclined +to the latter belief. Mounting Rolf, and leaving that +good steed to find his own way back to the camp, he +pondered deeply over all the hart had told him, and +resolved at least to try what he had suggested.</p> + +<p class="in">When at last he came to the camp it was nearly +deserted, as most of the party had gone to hunt for the +King, but after much blowing of horns the company +was collected, and, abandoning all further idea of sport, +rode back to the capital.</p> + +<p class="in">There they found everything silent, except that the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span>bells were mournfully tolling, and the flag over the +palace hanging half-mast high. "What is this? Who +is dead?" asked the King, but no one seemed inclined +to explain.</p> + +<p class="in">At last the captain of the guard, who could not run +away, was forced to salute and answer the King.</p> + +<p class="in">"Sire," he said, "your Majesty's daughter, the Princess +Solveig, was drowned yesterday in trying to cross +Ringfalla Bridge."</p> + +<p class="in">Greatly to the captain's surprise, however, the King +inquired no further on the subject, but went straight +up to the tower where the apartments of the three +Princesses were situated.</p> + +<p class="in">There he found the two youngest overwhelmed with +grief for their sister's loss, but overjoyed to see him and +give an account of the catastrophe.</p> + +<p class="in">On the previous day, after seeing the King start at +the head of a great cavalcade on his hunting expedition, +the three Princesses cast about in their minds how they +might amuse themselves, and finally agreed to go down +and picnic by the river. Now, although the river itself +was not absolutely forbidden, they were quite aware +that the King disapproved of their going there, but they +pacified their consciences by taking a strong escort, +their old nurse, and a very large variety of hampers +containing lunch.</p> + +<p class="in">Poor old Nurse Gerda was as much averse to the expedition +as King Kaftan himself could have been, and told +gruesome tales of the evil water spirit and his doings; +but the Princesses only laughed, and enjoyed preparing +their own lunch, and eating it afterwards, extremely. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span>Then they wandered along the banks, gathering +primroses and long grasses, all the while drawing near to +the forbidden bridge; but it looked so inviting with its +stone parapet and curious wooden pavement, and the +water flowed so peacefully beneath the arches, that they +there and then made up their minds to cross it, and +drew lots to decide which should venture first. The lot +fell to Solveig, the eldest, and she set out boldly with +six archers to guard her—three before and three behind, +walking abreast—a last precaution insisted upon by +Gerda, the nurse, who watched the proceeding in terror.</p> + +<p class="in">All went well till they had almost reached the middle, +then she tripped, and in falling touched the parapet, +which instantly gave way, and the Princess fell into the +river. As she touched the water a great pair of hairy +arms caught and drew her under, so that she was seen +no more. "And," continued Ulva, who up till now had +done most of the talking, "the wall closed up again, with +no sign of a break, directly she disappeared, and though +two of the guard jumped in after her, the Neck took no +notice of them, and they swam ashore in the end quite +safely."</p> + +<p class="in">"The bridge is enchanted," said the King gloomily; +and then he told them his adventure with the white +hart.</p> + +<p class="in">"Then," said Ulva, with great decision, "I will go: +it is very simple. Solveig talked to Ulf, the archer, +all the time, and was looking at the river when she +stumbled. Now, I know what is required of me: I will +look at my feet and say nothing, not a word. Do, +father, let me go." And she gave the King no peace +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span>till he consented; but she fared no better than her +sister.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0321.jpg" width="50%" alt=""A GREAT PAIR OF HAIRY ARMS CAUGHT AND DREW +HER UNDER"" title=""A GREAT PAIR OF HAIRY ARMS CAUGHT AND DREW +HER UNDER"" /> +<p class="caption">"A GREAT PAIR OF HAIRY ARMS CAUGHT AND DREW +HER UNDER" (<i>p.</i> 106).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Boldly and silently she marched in the very centre +of the fatal bridge, till suddenly she saw in front of her +an enormous serpent with fiery eyes and forked tongue, +with head up ready to spring. Poor Ulva's chief fear in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span>life was a snake. She recoiled in terror, calling to +warn the archers, who had seen nothing. And then +the flooring gave way beneath her, and she too sank +into the flood, a great pair of hairy hands clutching +her as she fell.</p> + +<p class="in">Then there was great mourning throughout the land. +The people clothed themselves in black, and the King +reviled the hart and his own folly in acting on his advice, +and refused to be comforted.</p> + +<p class="in">Then little Kirsten, the youngest sister, and the fairest +maiden in the land, put her white arms about his neck +and told him to be of good cheer; "for I will ride +across," she said, "and if Freyja my mare stumble, it +will be her fault, not mine, and I will neither speak nor +scream, for they will tie a scarf over my lips so that I +cannot. So, father, let me go, for it is I who will save +the kingdom."</p> + +<p class="in">But the King swore a great oath, and vowed she should +not, and for three days nothing could move him. Then, +the Princess prevailed, and the whole city came out to +see her ride over Ringfalla Bridge.</p> + +<p class="in">This time neither guards nor soldiers attempted to +cross—a dozen courtiers, richly apparelled and mounted, +accompanied the youngest Princess, who, dressed in +white and all her pet jewels, with diamond fireflies +glistening in the golden hair that floated to her little +shoes, and her small, red mouth bound fast with a silken +scarf, rode gaily upon Freyja till she had crossed the +middle of the bridge, when, once again, appeared a +wonder on the verge of the forest—a great white hart, +with horns and hoofs of burnished gold. And straightway +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span>all the courtiers were tearing after it helter-skelter +in hot haste, entirely forgetful of the poor little Princess +and everything else.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0331.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THE YOUNGEST PRINCESS RODE GAILY UPON FREYJA"" title=""THE YOUNGEST PRINCESS RODE GAILY UPON FREYJA"" /> +<p class="caption">"THE YOUNGEST PRINCESS RODE GAILY UPON FREYJA" (<i>p.</i> 108).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">And Freyja that morning was very frisky; she minced +along sideways on her golden shoes, coquetting with +her own shadow, and making little playful snaps at her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span>bridle. So she, too, stumbled at last on the treacherous +planks, throwing her mistress over the parapet into the +swiftly running stream; but this time no demon hands +were stretched out to receive their prey—only a flash +of white and gold ere the water closed over her head, +and then all was still.</p> + +<p class="in">Meantime the white hart was giving the truant +courtiers a lively time of it; he bounded, trotted, +and doubled, keeping all the time close to the +bridge, but eluding all their efforts to come near him. +When, however, the maiden fell, a marvellous thing +chanced—the beautiful beast vanished, and in his place +stood the handsomest knight that had ever been seen +in that or any other land. His armour was of gold, +curiously inlaid with silver; on his helmet was a crown +of emeralds, and his long purple mantle was lined with +ermine, so there could be no doubt about his being a +King.</p> + +<p class="in">Then all the courtiers doffed their plumed caps, and +did obeisance to him; but the stranger, after acknowledging +their homage, called aloud for "Asaph," and +out of the wood, running as fast as he could, came a +beautiful little page, clothed in green, and carrying a +golden harp.</p> + +<p class="in">Then the strange knight crossed the bridge and +saluted King Kaftan, who was standing on the bank +looking at the river like one dazed.</p> + +<p class="in">"Be of good cheer, Sir King," he cried; "the Princess +Kirsten has broken the charm, and I am no longer the +white hart, but the rightful King of your troublesome +Klavs—me they obey and no other; and now, thanks +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span>for your courtesy." So saying, he took the harp from +his little foot-page, and, seating himself on the bank, +began to play.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i034.jpg" width="50%" alt=""And then little Kirsten came smiling out of the water." +" title=""And then little Kirsten came smiling out of the water." +" /> +<p class="caption">"And then little Kirsten came smiling out of the water." +<span style="margin-left: 70%"><i>page 111</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Very softly at first, but so wondrous were the +magic notes that all the assembled people listened +silent and motionless, for never before had they +heard the like. First the sound was like the distant +echo of silver trumpets when they welcomed the +host back from battle; and then coming, as it were, +nearer, like the ripple of waves on a pebbly beach, +and all the fishes swam up to listen, while out of the +wood flocked bird and beast also. So wondrous was +the strain.</p> + +<p class="in">And then little Kirsten came smiling out of the +water and sat upon the harper's knee, and one arm he +put about her to hold her fast, but still he kept on +playing. And now the music waxed fierce and terrible, +like the roll of thunder among the mountains, or the +crash of armies when they meet in battle. And the +waves grew black and angry and lashed themselves +into foam, for the Neck, the evil water spirit, was furious, +but he could not fight against his master, and so at the +last he also came forth, black and hideous, but subdued, +leading the two Princesses Solveig and Ulva, who +looked more beautiful than ever, and none the worse +for their sojourn below the river.</p> + +<p class="in">So there were great rejoicings in both kingdoms, for +the youngest Princess had broken the spell laid on Sir +Sigurd by the Neck, who caught him in the forest alone +without his harp, and condemned him to wander as a +white hart until a Royal Princess should of her own +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span>free will cross Ringfalla Bridge without stumbling and +without talking.</p> + +<p class="in">This little Kirsten did, and she had her reward, for +she married Sigurd and reigned over the Klavs, who +were turbulent no more, because their King and Queen +had been born for the special purpose of ruling over +them.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Childrens_Fairy" id="The_Childrens_Fairy"></a>The Children's Fairy.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i035.jpg" width="70%" alt="The children's Fairy. From the French of Saint-Juirs" title="The children's Fairy. From the French of Saint-Juirs" /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">IT was a dull, heavy afternoon, and the long, dusty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> +road looked quite deserted, not a horse or even +a foot-passenger in sight. The birds were taking +their afternoon siesta, and the leaves were hanging down +languidly from the poor trees, which were dying with +thirst. There were three solitary-looking, tumble-down +cottages on one side of the road, and presently the door +of one of them opened, and a woman's voice called out:</p> + +<p class="in">"Come, Yvette, come, go out and play."</p> + +<p class="in">In answer to this summons a little girl of some three +or four years old soon appeared, and with great difficulty +on all fours began to descend the steep steps from the +house to the footpath. It was quite a piece of work, +that perilous descent, and it was accomplished slowly, +carefully, and very awkwardly by what looked like +nothing but a bundle of clothes.</p> + +<p class="in">The child had on a little bonnet made of two pieces +of figured muslin sewn together, and from which a few +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span>tresses of fair hair which had escaped fell over her +forehead and down the back of her neck. Her little +frock had been lengthened many times, and, consequently, +the waist was now up under the arms, like one sees in +the Empire dresses. As to shoes and stockings—well, +it was not very cold, and so they were put away for a +future occasion.</p> + +<p class="in">When once she had reached the bottom of the steps, +the child stood upright and looked round for a minute +or two, evidently deep in thought, with her little finger +pressed against her face. Play! Yes, it was all very +well, but what should she play at?</p> + +<p class="in">At the very time when the poor little mite was turning +this question over in her mind, hundreds of other children, +accompanied by their mother or by their nurse, would +be all out in the gardens or parks, and they would have +with them all kinds of games and toys, from the favourite +spade and bucket to a real little steam-boat, which would +sail along on the ponds. They would have cannons, +skipping-ropes, reins (all covered with little bells), hoops, +battledores and shuttlecocks, bowls, marbles, balls, balloons, +dolls of every description, pistols, guns, swords, +and, in fact, everything that the heart of a child can +desire.</p> + +<p class="in">Then, too, those other children nearly always had little +playmates, so that it was easy enough to organise a +game.</p> + +<p class="in">But, Yvette—on that deserted road, what could she +do? Her father, a poor road-mender, earned only just +enough to make a bare living for his wife and child, +and certainly not a halfpenny could be spared for toys.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0361.jpg" width="50%" alt=""DEEP IN THOUGHT"" title=""DEEP IN THOUGHT"" /> +<p class="caption">"DEEP IN THOUGHT" (<i>p</i>. 116).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span>Yvette sat down just near a great heap of stones, +which her father had to break into small pieces in +order to fill in the ruts. When she was comfortably +installed, she began to fumble in her pocket, and there +she certainly found all kinds of wonderful things: two +cherry-stones, a piece of string, a small carrot, a shoe-button, +a small penny knife, a little bit of blue braid +and some crumbs of bread. Now, these were all very +nice in their way, and were indeed very valuable articles, +but somehow they did not appeal to Yvette at all just +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span>then. She put them all very carefully back one by +one in her pocket.</p> + +<p class="in">Then there was a profound silence. Yvette was not +happy. The little face puckered itself up into a significant +grimace—the little nose was all screwed up, and the +mouth was just opening—tears were surely on the +way! Just at that moment, fortunately, the Children's +Fairy was passing by.</p> + +<p class="in">Now you, perhaps, do not know about this Fairy, +for no one ever sees her, but it is the very one which +makes children smile in their dreams, and gives them +all kinds of pretty thoughts. There is no limit to the +power of this Fairy, for, with a stroke of her magic +wand, she can transform things just as she wishes. She +is very good and kind-hearted, and the proof is that she +bestows her favours more generally on the poor and +unfortunate than on others.</p> + +<p class="in">Well, this good Fairy saw that Yvette was just going +to cry. She stretched her golden wand out over the +heap of stones and then flew away again, laughing, for +she was just as light and as gay as a ray of sunshine.</p> + +<p class="in">Now, directly the Fairy had gone, it seemed to the +road-mender's little daughter that one of the big stones +near her had a face, and that it was dressed just like a +little baby. Oh, it was really just like a little baby! +Yvette stretched out her hand, took the stone up, and +immediately began to feel for it all the love which a +mother feels for her child.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0371.jpg" width="50%" alt=""SHE STRETCHED HER GOLDEN WAND OVER THE HEAP OF +STONES"" title=""SHE STRETCHED HER GOLDEN WAND OVER THE HEAP OF +STONES"" /> +<p class="caption">"SHE STRETCHED HER GOLDEN WAND OVER THE HEAP OF +STONES" (<i>p.</i> 118).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"Ah!" she said to it, cuddling it up in her arms; +"do you want to be my little girl? You don't speak—oh! +but that is because you are too young—but I see +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span>you would like to. Very well, then; I will be your +mother, and I shall love you and never whip you. You +must be good, though, and then I shall never scold +you. Oh! but if you are not good—you know, I've +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span>got a birch rod. Now, come, I'm going to dress you +better: you look dreadful in that frock." Hereupon +Yvette rolled her child up in her pinafore, so that there +was nothing to be seen of the stone but what was +supposed to be the baby's head.</p> + +<p class="in">"Oh! how pretty she is, dear little thing. There, +now, she shall have something to eat. Ah! you are +crying—but you must not cry, my pretty one—there, +there." And the hard stone was rocked gently in the +soft little arms of its fond mother.</p> + +<p class="in">"Bye-bye, baby—bye-bye-bye." Yvette sang with all +her might, tapping her little daughter's back energetically, +but evidently all to no purpose, for the stone refused +to go to sleep. "Ah! naughty girl; you won't go to +sleep? Oh no, I won't tell you any more stories. I +have told you Tom Thumb, and that's quite enough for +to-night. Go to sleep—quick—quick, I say. Oh, dear, +dear, naughty child—I've got a knife—what! you are +crying again! If you only knew how ugly you are +when you cry! There! now I'm going to slap you—take +that, and that, and that, to make you quiet. Oh +dear, how dreadful it is to have such a child. I believe +I'll change you, and have a boy. Now, just say you +are sorry for being so naughty——What! you won't? +I'll give you another chance. Now—one—two—three. +Oh, very well. I know what I shall do. I shall just +go and take you back. I shall say: 'If you please, I've +got a dreadful little girl, and I want to change her for +a nice little boy, named Eugene.' And then they'll say: +'Yes, ma'am; will you have him with light hair or +dark?' 'Oh,' I shall say, 'I don't mind, as long as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span>he is good.' 'He'll be very dear, though, ma'am,' they'll +say; 'good little boys are very rare, and they cost a +great deal.' 'How much?' I shall ask. 'Why, one +penny, ma'am.' And then I shall think about it——Now, +then, are you going to be good, and say you are +sorry? No? Oh! very well—it's too late now—I've +changed you. I have no little girl now, but a very +pretty little boy, named Zizi."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0381.jpg" width="50%" alt=""OH! HOW PRETTY SHE IS"" title=""OH! HOW PRETTY SHE IS"" /> +<p class="caption">"OH! HOW PRETTY SHE IS" (<i>p.</i> 120).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The stone immediately underwent a complete transformation. +Just now, when it was a little girl, it had +been very quiet and gentle, and had kept quite still on +Yvette's lap. Now that it was a boy there was no +more peace: it would jump about, and it would try to +get away, for boys are always so restless.</p> + +<p class="in">"Zizi, will you be still, and will you stay on my lap +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span>instead of tumbling about in the road? There, let me +lift you up! Oh, dear! how heavy boys are. There, +now, don't you stir, but just eat your bread and milk. +It will make you grow, and then when you are big +you'll have beautiful grey whiskers, like father. You +shall have a sword, too, and perhaps you shall be a +policeman. It's very nice to be a policeman, you know, +because they are never put in prison—they take other +people there if the people make a noise in the street. +Oh, Zizi, do keep still. If you don't, I'll call the wolf—you +know, the big wolf that runs off with little +children and takes them into the woods to eat them +up. Wolf, wolf, where are you?"</p> + +<p class="in">Just at that moment a dog appeared—a large, well-fed, +happy-looking dog, impudent too, and full of fun. He +belonged to a carrier who was always moving about +from place to place, and the dog, accustomed as he +was to these constant journeys, had got rather familiar, +like certain commercial travellers, who, no matter where +they are, always make themselves quite at home.</p> + +<p class="in">Now, the dog had got tired of following his master's +cart, and when he saw something in the distance which +was moving about, he bounded off to discover what it +was. This something was Yvette and her little boy.</p> + +<p class="in">"Look, look!" exclaimed the small mother, and there +was a tremor in her voice. "You see, he is coming—the +big wolf!"</p> + +<p class="in">He <i>was</i> coming, there was no doubt about that, for +he was tearing along, and his tongue was hanging out +and his ears were pricked up.</p> + +<p class="in">The little stone boy was not at all frightened, but +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span>Yvette began to regret having called the dreadful animal. +Oh! if she could only get away now; but, alas! she +did not dare to move or even to speak.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0391.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THE IMPERTINENT DOG CAME STRAIGHT TO THEM"" title=""THE IMPERTINENT DOG CAME STRAIGHT TO THEM"" /> +<p class="caption">"THE IMPERTINENT DOG CAME STRAIGHT TO THEM" (<i>p.</i> 123).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The impertinent dog came straight to them. Poor +Yvette, half frightened to death, threw away the precious +stone baby she had been fondling, and, picking herself +up, began to run, calling out: "Mother! Mother!"</p> + +<p class="in">The dog was quite near her, jumping up at her, and +then suddenly he turned to go and sniff at the little +stone boy. He probably thought it was a bone or a +piece of bread, but he was soon undeceived, and then +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span>he rushed to the hedge to bark and wake up all the +birds.</p> + +<p class="in">As to Yvette, she was hurrying along as fast as her +little legs could carry her, for she was in despair, as she +thought the wolf was just behind her, and she imagined +that she still felt his hot breath on her little hand. She +stopped when she got to the steps of her home, for she +was out of breath and all trembling with terror, and +she felt sure that if she tried to scramble up the steps +the wolf would bite her legs. Suddenly the inspiration, +which the ostrich once had, came to her, and she rushed +into the corner which was formed by the front of the +house and the stone steps, and holding her face close +to the wall, so that she could not see the dreadful animal, +she was convinced that she too was out of his sight.</p> + +<p class="in">She stayed there some minutes in perfect anguish, +thinking: "Oh! if I move, he'll eat me up!" She was +quite surprised even that he did not find her, and that +his great teeth did not bite her, for she always thought +wolves were so quick to eat up little girls. Whatever +could he be doing? And then, not hearing any sound +of him, she thought she would risk one peep round. +Very slowly she turned her head, and then, as nothing +dreadful happened, she grew bolder and bolder.</p> + +<p class="in">The wolf was not in sight, and instead of the barking +which had terrified her, she now heard a lot of little +bells tinkling, and in the distance she saw a waggon +with four horses coming along.</p> + +<p class="in">The sound of the bells was so fascinating that Yvette +forgot her duty as a mother, and stood there watching +the waggon as it approached.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span>The horses were all grey, and they were coming so +fast. Suddenly the child uttered an awe-struck cry.</p> + +<p class="in">Her child, her little son, was under the heavy wheels! +Crunch! crunch! and it had gone by, the horrible waggon. +Yvette went on to the horse-road, and her little heart +was very full; for there, where poor Zizi had been lying, +there was only some yellowish crunched stone. Zizi +had been ground into powder by the huge wheels. The +poor child was in despair, and, with tears in her eyes, +she shook her little fists at the carrier, who was whipping +up his horses.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0401.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HER CHILD, HER LITTLE SON, WAS UNDER THE HEAVY WHEELS!"" title=""HER CHILD, HER LITTLE SON, WAS UNDER THE HEAVY WHEELS!"" /> +<p class="caption">"HER CHILD, HER LITTLE SON, WAS UNDER THE HEAVY WHEELS!"</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"Cruel, wicked man!" she cried, and then her eyes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span>happening to fall on the heap of stones which had +supplied her with a family, she saw another stone smiling +at her now. She ran quickly to it, picked it up and +kissed it affectionately, and then, happy in her new +treasure, she cried out defiantly to the carrier, whom +she could still see in the distance: "Ah! I don't care! +I've got another—there, then! and it's a girl this time. +I won't have any more dreadful boys to be afraid of +wolves, and to go and get themselves killed just to +make their poor mother unhappy."</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p class="in">Oh! kind, good Fairy, you who watch over the +children, and who give them their happiness and console +them in sorrow when they are playing at life—oh, good +Fairy, do not forget your big children.</p> + +<p class="in">Older men tell me that I am young, but the younger +ones do not think so; and I, myself, saw, only this +morning, a silver thread in my hairs. Oh, kind Fairy, +Fairy of the children, help me, too, to believe that the +moon is made of green cheese; for, after all, our happiness +here below consists in our faith and in our +illusions.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="Wittysplinter" id="Wittysplinter"></a>"Wittysplinter."</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0411.jpg" width="70%" alt="Wittysplinter. From the German of Clemens Brentano" title="Wittysplinter. From the German of Clemens Brentano" /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">ONCE upon a time there was a King of Roundabout<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> +who had, among many other servants, a +page-boy who was called Wittysplinter, and +he preferred him above all the others, and showered upon +him honours and presents, because of his uncommon skill +and cleverness, and because everything the King gave +him to do he always accomplished successfully. Now, +because of the great favour which the King showed to +Wittysplinter, all the other page-boys and servants were +jealous of him; for, if his cleverness were rewarded +with money, they generally received nothing but scoldings +for their stupidity; if Wittysplinter received praise +from the King, they generally received a blowing-up; +when Wittysplinter got a new coat to his back, they +got instead the application of a stick to theirs; and if +Wittysplinter were permitted to kiss the King's hand, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span>they were only allowed to touch it when they got a +smack from it.</p> + +<p class="in">On account of all these things, therefore, they got +very angry with Wittysplinter, and went about murmuring +and whispering the whole day long, and putting their +heads together and plotting how best they could deprive +Wittysplinter of the love of the King. One of them +scattered a lot of peas on the steps up to the throne, so +that Wittysplinter might stumble and break the glass +sceptre which he always had to present to the King; +another nailed pieces of melon skin to his shoes, so that +he might slide along and make a dreadful mess of the +King's gown when he was handing him the soup; a +third put all sorts of horrid flies in a straw, and blew +them into the King's wig when Wittysplinter was dressing +it; a fourth played some other nasty trick, and every one +sought to do something to deprive Wittysplinter of the +King's favour. Wittysplinter was so cautious, however, +and so clever and watchful, that everything they did was +in vain, and he brought all the commands of the King +to a successful issue.</p> + +<p class="in">Well, when they found that all these manœuvres were +quite useless, they determined to try something else. Now, +the King had an enemy, whom he could never get the +better of, and who was always doing him some mischief. +This was a giant who was called Sleepyhead, and who +lived in a large mountain, where he had a splendid palace +surrounded by a thick, gloomy wood; and with the +exception of his wife, Thickasmud, no human being lived +with him; but a lion who was called Hendread, and a bear +called Honeybeard, and a wolf called Lambsnapper, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span>a dog called Harescare, acted as his servants. He had +also in the stables a horse called Flyinglegs.</p> + +<p class="in">Now, there dwelt in the neighbourhood of Roundabout +a very beautiful Queen, Madam Flosk, who had a daughter, +Miss Flink, and the King of Roundabout, who wanted to +possess all the land adjoining his own, was very anxious +to marry Madam Flosk. But she was proud, and let him +know that many other Kings were also anxious to marry +her, and that she would accept in marriage that King only +who was most expeditious, and that he who was first by +her side when she went into church next Monday morning +at half-past ten should have her as his wife, and all her +possessions into the bargain.</p> + +<p class="in">Thereupon the King summoned all his household, and +put the question to them: "How am I to manage to be +first in the church on Monday morning next, and so gain +Queen Flosk for my wife?"</p> + +<p class="in">Then his servants answered him, and said: "You must +gain possession of the horse Flyinglegs, belonging to the +giant Sleepyhead; if you once get astride of it, no one can +possibly get there before you; and to get this horse for +you no one is more suited than Wittysplinter, who is so +successful in all he undertakes."</p> + +<p class="in">Thus spoke the wicked servants, in the hope that the +Giant Sleepyhead would kill Wittysplinter. The King, +accordingly, commanded Wittysplinter to bring the horse +Flyinglegs to him.</p> + +<p class="in">Wittysplinter got a hand-barrow, and placed a bees +hive on it, then a sack into which he thrust a cock, a hare, +and a lamb, and laid it on the barrow; he took with him, +also, a long piece of rope, and a large box full of snuff; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span>slung round him a riding whip, fastened a pair of good +spurs to his boots, and quietly set off, pushing his barrow +in front of him.</p> + +<p class="in">Towards evening he had reached the summit of the +high mountain, and when he had traversed the wood he +saw before him the castle of the giant Sleepyhead. Night +drew on, and very soon he heard the giant Sleepyhead +and his wife, Thickasmud, and his lion, Hendread, and his +bear, Honeybeard, and his wolf, Lambsnapper, and his +dog, Harescare, all snoring loudly; only the horse, Flyinglegs, +was still awake, and stamping the floor of the stable +with its hoofs.</p> + +<p class="in">Then Wittysplinter took the long piece of rope very +quietly from the sack, and stretched it across in front of +the door of the castle from one tree to another, and placed +the box of snuff in the middle; next he took the beehive +and placed it in a tree by the side of the path, and then +went into the stable and undid the fastenings of Flyinglegs. +He placed the sack with the lamb, the hare, and the cock +on its back, and jumping up himself and using his spurs, +he rode out of the stable.</p> + +<p class="in">But the horse Flyinglegs could speak, and screamed out +quite loudly:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Thickasmud and Sleepyhead!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Honeybeard and Hendread!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lambsnapper and Harescare!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm being stolen, so pray beware!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="in">and then it galloped off as hard as it could, because, with +Wittysplinter on its back, it couldn't help itself. Then +Thickasmud and Sleepyhead woke up and heard the cry +of the horse Flyinglegs. Quickly they awakened the bear +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span>Honeybeard, the lion Hendread, the wolf Lambsnapper, +and the dog Harescare, and all together they rushed pell-mell +out of the house, to try and catch Wittysplinter with +the horse Flyinglegs.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0421.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THEY RUSHED PELL-MELL OUT OF THE HOUSE."" title=""THEY RUSHED PELL-MELL OUT OF THE HOUSE."" /> +<p class="caption">"THEY RUSHED PELL-MELL OUT OF THE HOUSE."</p> +</div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span>But in the darkness the giant Sleepyhead and his wife +Thickasmud stumbled over the rope which Wittysplinter +had tied in front of the castle door, and, splosh!—they fell +with their eyes and noses right into the box of snuff which +he had placed there. They rubbed their eyes and sneezed +one time after another, and Sleepyhead said: "Your good +health,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Thickasmud." "I thank you," answered Thickasmud, +and then said: "Good health to you, Sleepyhead." +"I thank you," answered he; and so on, until they had +wept the snuff out of their eyes and sneezed it out of their +noses, and by the time this had happened Wittysplinter +was clear of the wood.</p> + +<p class="in">The bear Honeybeard was the first after him, but when +he came to the bees' hive the smell of the honey enticed +him, and he wanted to eat it; then the bees came buzzing +out, and stung him all over the face to such an extent +that he ran back half blind to the castle. Wittysplinter +had already got some distance out of the wood when he +heard the lion Hendread coming bounding after him, so +he quickly took the cock out of his sack, and when it flew +up into a tree and began to crow, the lion got so dreadfully +frightened that it ran back again.</p> + +<p class="in">Now Wittysplinter heard the wolf Lambsnapper behind +him. He quickly let loose the lamb out of his sack, and +the wolf galloped after it, and let him ride off in safety. +He was by this time quite near the town when he heard a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span>bark behind him, and looking round, saw the dog Harescare +coming tearing after him. Quickly he let loose the +hare out of the sack, and the dog ran after it, and he +arrived safely in the town.</p> + +<p class="in">The King thanked Wittysplinter very much for the +horse, but the wicked servants of the Court were very +much annoyed that he had come off with a whole skin. +On the following Monday the King mounted upon his +horse Flyinglegs and rode off to Queen Flosk, and the +horse galloped so quickly that he was there long before +any of the other Kings, and had already danced several +of his wedding dances when they arrived. Just when +he was about to start off home with his Queen, his +servants said to him: "Your Majesty has indeed the +giant Sleepyhead's horse, but how much more splendid +it would be if you had his clothes as well, which are +said to surpass anything that man has ever seen. The +clever Wittysplinter would, no doubt, very soon bring +them to you if you commanded him to do so."</p> + +<p class="in">The King was at once possessed with a great desire +for Sleepyhead's clothes, and again gave the commission +to Wittysplinter. When the latter had started off upon +the road the wicked servants rejoiced, and thought that +this time he would surely not escape the clutches of the +giant Sleepyhead.</p> + +<p class="in">On this occasion Wittysplinter took nothing with him +but a few good strong sacks. On arriving at the giant's +castle he climbed up into a tree, and lay hid until every +one was in bed. When everything had become quiet +he climbed down again. Just then he heard Madam +Thickasmud calling out: "Sleepyhead, my pillow is very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span>low; fetch me a bundle of straw from outside." Thereupon +Wittysplinter quickly slipped into a bundle of +straw, and Sleepyhead carried him, along with the straw, +into his room, shoved him under the pillow, and then +lay down in bed again.</p> + +<p class="in">As soon as they had fallen asleep Wittysplinter packed +all Sleepyhead's and Thickasmud's clothes into his sack, +and very quietly and very carefully tied it to the tail +of the lion Hendread; then he tied the wolf Lambsnapper, +and the bear Honeybeard, and the dog Harescare, who +were lying about asleep, fast to the giant's bed, and +opened the door very wide. So far he had managed +everything just as he would have wished, but he wanted +to take away the giant's beautiful bed-cover as well. +So he gave the corner of it a slight tug, then another, +and another, and so on, until it fell on the floor. He +immediately wrapped himself up in it, and seated himself +on the sack containing the giant's clothes, which he had +tied to the lion's tail. Soon the cool night wind began +to blow through the open door and over Thickasmud's +legs, and waking up, she cried, "Sleepyhead, you've +pulled all the bed-clothes off me. I've nothing at all +over me." "Thickasmud, <i>you've</i> pulled all the clothes +off <i>me</i>," and thereupon they began to belabour each +other, so that Wittysplinter began to laugh loudly at +them. As soon as they heard this they called out +"Thieves, thieves! Up, Hendread! Up, Lambsnapper! +Up, Honeybeard and Harescare! Thieves, thieves!" At +this all the animals woke up, and the lion sprang forth +out of the door. Now Wittysplinter, wrapped up in the +bed-cover, was sitting on the bundle of clothes tied to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span>the lion's tail; and as soon as the lion began to run, +he was driven along just as if he was in a carriage. +He began to cry out several times "kikriki-ki-kri-ki,' +just like a cock, and the lion got such a fright at this +that he ran in mad terror right up to the gates of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span>city. When quite near to the gates, Wittysplinter took +out his knife and cut the string, and the lion, who was +going at such a rate that he couldn't stop himself, ran +his head full bang against the gates and fell down +dead.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0431.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HE COULDN'T STOP HIMSELF"" title=""HE COULDN'T STOP HIMSELF"" /> +<p class="caption">"HE COULDN'T STOP HIMSELF" (<i>p.</i> 138).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The other animals, who had been bound to the bedstead +of Sleepyhead and Thickasmud, could not get it +out of the door because it was too wide, and they dragged +it and pulled it about the room so much that both +Sleepyhead and Thickasmud fell out, and became so +angry that they beat the wolf, the bear, and the dog to +death, although the poor animals really couldn't help it.</p> + +<p class="in">When the watch in the city heard the noise of the +great blow which the lion had given to the gates, they +opened them, and Wittysplinter carried the clothes of +Sleepyhead and Thickasmud in triumph to the King, who +nearly jumped out of his skin with joy, for such clothes had +never before been seen. There was, among other things, +a hunting-coat, made of the skins of all the fourfooted +animals, and so beautifully sewn together that one could +see the whole story of Reynard the Fox depicted on +it. Also a bird-catcher's coat, made of feathers from all +the birds in the world, an eagle in front and an owl +behind; and in the pockets there were a musical box +and a peal of bells, which made music just like all kinds +of birds singing together. Further, there was a bathing-dress +and a fisher's-dress, made from the skins of all +the fish in the world, sewn together so that one saw a +whale-hunt and a great catch of herrings on it. Then +a garden-dress of Madam Thickasmud's, on which all +sorts of flowers and fruits, salads and vegetables, were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span>embroidered. But what surpassed everything else was +the bed-cover; it was made entirely of the skins of bats, +and all the stars of heaven were represented on it by +means of diamonds.</p> + +<p class="in">The Royal family were quite dumb with astonishment +and wonder. Wittysplinter was kissed and embraced, +and his enemies nearly exploded with rage to see that +he had again escaped without hurt from the hands of +Sleepyhead.</p> + +<p class="in">Even yet they did not despair, and put the idea into +the King's head that nothing was now wanting to his +dignity but that he should possess the castle of Sleepyhead +itself, and the King, who was a very child in these +matters and always wanted to have whatever took his +fancy, said immediately to Wittysplinter that he wanted +Sleepyhead's castle, and that as soon as he got it for him +he would be rewarded.</p> + +<p class="in">Wittysplinter did not take much time to think about +it, and for the third time ran off to the abode of Sleepyhead. +When he arrived there, the giant was not at +home, and he heard something in the room crying like +a calf. Then he looked through the window, and saw +Dame Thickasmud chopping wood, and at the same +time nursing a little giant on her arm, who was showing +his teeth and bleating like a calf.</p> + +<p class="in">Wittysplinter went in, and said: "Good-day, my +great and beautiful, broad and portly dame! How is +it that you have got to do so much work and have to +nurse your child at the same time? Have you no +maids or grooms? Where is your husband, then?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Ach," said Madam Thickasmud, "my husband has +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span>gone out to invite all his relations to a feast we are +going to hold. And I have to cook everything for myself +now, for my husband killed the bear, and the wolf, and +the dog, that used to help us; and the lion has run +off, too."</p> + +<p class="in">"That is certainly very hard lines on you," said +Wittysplinter. "If I could do anything to help you, +I should be only too glad."</p> + +<p class="in">Then Thickasmud asked him to chop up four logs +of wood into small pieces for her; and Wittysplinter +took the axe and said to the giantess: "You might hold +the wood for me a moment, please," and the giantess +bent down and caught hold of the wood. Wittysplinter +raised the axe in the air, and swish! down it came, +and cut Thickasmud's head off and Mollakopp's at the +same time, and there they lay.</p> + +<p class="in">The next thing he proceeded to do was to dig a large, +deep hole right in front of the castle door, into which +he threw Thickasmud and Mollakopp, and then covered +over the opening with a thin layer of branches and +leaves. Then he proceeded to light up all the rooms of +the castle with candles and torches, and took a large +copper kettle, and beat upon it with soup ladles. Then +he got a tin funnel, and blew a blast on it just like +a trumpet, and between each performance he shouted, +"Hurrah! Long live His Majesty the King of Roundabout."</p> + +<p class="in">When Sleepyhead was returning home towards evening, +and saw all the lights in the windows and heard the +shouting, he was mad with rage, and ran with such +fury against the door that he fell through the hole covered +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span>with branches and lay there a prisoner, shouting and +making a great noise. Wittysplinter immediately ran +down and threw large stones on him, until he had filled +up the hole.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0441.jpg" width="50%" alt=""WITTYSPLINTER THREW LARGE STONES ON HIM."" title=""WITTYSPLINTER THREW LARGE STONES ON HIM."" /> +<p class="caption">"WITTYSPLINTER THREW LARGE STONES ON HIM."</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">And now Wittysplinter took the key of the castle +and ran with it to King Roundabout, who immediately +betook himself to the castle, along with his wife Flosk +and her daughter Flink and Wittysplinter, and inspected +all there was to be seen there. After they had spent +fourteen whole days in looking at an immense number +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span>of rooms, chambers, cellars, look-out towers, bakeries, +furnaces, kitchens, wood-stove houses, dining-rooms, +smoking-rooms, wash-houses, etc., the King asked Wittysplinter +what he would like as a reward for his faithful +services. And Wittysplinter replied that he would like +to marry the Princess Flink, if it were agreeable to her. +The Princess very readily consented, and they were +married and lived in the giant's castle, where they are +to be found to this day.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="in"><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The custom of wishing one "Good Health" after a sneeze, +prevalent in Germany and other European countries, is supposed to +have origin in the fact that the crisis, or turning-point for better or +worse of a certain fever, is indicated by a sneeze from the patient, +and hence the natural expression of a hope for a favourable +recovery.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Mid-day_Rock" id="The_Mid-day_Rock"></a>The Mid-day Rock.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0451.jpg" width="70%" alt="Mid-day Rock. From the french of J. Jarry" title="Mid-day Rock. From the french of J. Jarry" /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">ONCE upon a time there was a poor man, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> +lived somewhere in the middle of the woods near +a place called Gâtines de Treigny. Everybody +called him Father Rameau. Not that he had any children—he +had not even ever been married; nor that he was +very old, for he was barely fifty; but he had always had +such a hard time of it that his hair had grown grey very +early, and his back had been bent and bowed long before +its time.</p> + +<p class="in">He was generally to be seen toiling along under a +big bundle of brooms, which he made with the greatest +skill from young birch branches, selling them on market +days to the housewives of Saint-Amand or Saint-Sauveur.</p> + +<p class="in">Father Rameau was not ambitious, far from it; if he +had been alone in the world, without relations depending +on him, he would have been quite content to live on +black bread every day of the week, with an occasional +glass of wine from the charitable folk of the neighbourhood. +But Father Rameau had a younger sister married to a +vine-dresser of Perreuse, and he was god-father to their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span>daughter; she was just growing up into a woman, and +was so pretty and modest and intelligent, that every +one had a good word for her, and now she was engaged +to be married to a young man called George, a capital +worker, but without a penny in the world. The wedding +was to take place as soon as she was twenty; and they +had given each other engagement rings—common leaden +rings, bought from one of the pedlars who visit the hamlets +of the district.</p> + +<p class="in">Humble as he was where he himself only was concerned, +Father Rameau was proud indeed in matters +connected with his niece.</p> + +<p class="in">"A leaden ring," he murmured, "when so many other +girls, not half as good as my god-daughter, have a gold +one! How I wish Madeleine could choose the one she +liked best from the jeweller's shop in Saint-Sauveur! +Ah, it's not much use wishing. If I put by every penny +I could spare for years and years I could never afford it. +Madeleine's poor, George is poor, I am poor, and always +shall be. Well, we're honest, that's one comfort, and +we needn't be jealous, at any rate."</p> + +<p class="in">As the old broomseller was thinking all this, he met +George, who was driving a pair of oxen, their nostrils +steaming in the first rays of the morning sun. "Good-day, +lad," said he.</p> + +<p class="in">"Good-day, Father Rameau."</p> + +<p class="in">"Off to work already?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Yes, father. I'm just going over the master's fields +for the last time before seed sowing; we shall begin next +week. We're rather behind hand you know."</p> + +<p class="in">"So you are; October's nearly over."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span>"Can you guess what I was thinking of as I came +along?"</p> + +<p class="in">"<i>What</i> you were thinking of? You mean <i>who</i>," said +Father Rameau, rather crossly.</p> + +<p class="in">"Well, yes, you're right. Madeleine is never out of +my mind," answered George thoughtfully. "I was saying +to myself that, if there are plenty of weeds over there" +(and he pointed to the uncultivated moor with his goad), +"there is good soil as well, and that any one who had +time to clear even a corner of it might buy the girl he +was engaged to——"</p> + +<p class="in">"A gold ring!"</p> + +<p class="in">"How <i>did</i> you guess what I meant? You don't come +from Chęneau, where all the wizards live," laughed George.</p> + +<p class="in">"No witchcraft in that, nephew. The other day I saw +how unhappy you were that you could only give Madeleine +a leaden ring, and I was just as sorry myself that I +couldn't buy her a better one ... and ever since I've +been trying to think of a way...."</p> + +<p class="in">"And have you found one, father?"</p> + +<p class="in">"<i>You've</i> found it for me, lad. I shall make a clearing +of a bit of the moor."</p> + +<p class="in">Even at the risk of offending his future uncle, the +young labourer could not help smiling.</p> + +<p class="in">"That's a task for stronger arms than yours, father," +he said. "No one can beat you at cutting birch branches +and making them into brooms. But that doesn't need +so much muscle as digging up soil like this, pulling up +the great roots out of it, or smashing and carrying away +huge boulders of rock. Ah, if only I had not given my +word to stay with my master till I am married!"</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span>"You may laugh at me, lad, but I won't bear malice," +said the old man. "If the old are not so strong as +the young, they are more persevering. I shall clear a +bit of the moor, and with the money from my first harvest +we will go and buy the ring. Good-bye, lad."</p> + +<p class="in">"Good-bye, father; we shall see you doing wonders +before long, I know."</p> + +<p class="in">"I shall be working for Madeleine," he said, "and your +patron saint (George means cultivator of the soil) will +help me."</p> + +<p class="in">At twelve precisely, Father Rameau came back to the +moor with a heavy pick on his shoulder; he meant to set +to work without delay.</p> + +<p class="in">Bang went the first stroke of the pick, accompanied +with the significant grunt diggers, woodmen, and such folk +give over their work. But just as he was raising his arm +for another try, he stood suddenly stock-still, with eyes +staring wide in a white, terrified face.</p> + +<p class="in">From the midst of the boulders scattered about, which +were trembling like Celtic monuments, had arisen an +apparition, which the old man knew was supernatural +and divine, though its form was human.</p> + +<p class="in">Imagine a tiny little lady, ethereal rather than thin, +youthfully lovely and dainty, a kind of dream beauty, +attired in a silvery tunic embroidered with gorse blossoms. +On her head a wreath of heather; in her hand a wand +of the broom plant in blossom; all around the holly, ferns, +and junipers, all the wild plants and shrubs, were bowing +down as if in homage to a Sovereign. A ray of sunlight +was playing round her head like an aureole. She was +the Fairy of the Moor.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span>"You are a bold man," she said to the old workman, +"to dare thus to encroach on my domains." There was +a thrill of anger in her clear voice, and her blue eyes +sparkled.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0461.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HE STOOD SUDDENLY STOCK-STILL"" title=""HE STOOD SUDDENLY STOCK-STILL"" /> +<p class="caption">"HE STOOD SUDDENLY STOCK-STILL" (<i>p.</i> 148).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"Lady Fairy," stammered the old man, "be merciful +to a wretched labourer who never meant to wrong you. +Your domains are so vast, I hoped there would be no +harm if I took the liberty of borrowing just a little corner +from you."</p> + +<p class="in">"What do you want it for?"</p> + +<p class="in">"To cultivate it," answered old Rameau, who was +beginning to feel less frightened.</p> + +<p class="in">"To cultivate it!" cried the fairy. "You mean to dig +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span>it up, turn it over, and upset it all round! Do you +not see how lovely it is now, and are you so presumptuous +as to think you can do better for it than Nature has +done already?" Her voice grew softer as she went on: +"What could you find anywhere that is as beautiful +as this spot in spring-time, when, under a sky of the +tenderest blue, the little leaves are beginning to bud on +the branches, the tufts of narcissus are opening among +the marshes, and everywhere in the woods around the +blackbirds are beginning to whistle their first notes, the +doves keep up a gentle cooing, and the jays are chattering +like parrots?"</p> + +<p class="in">"A couple of partridges calling to each other," answered +the old man, "a quail uttering its three sonorous +cries, or a lark soaring into the sky with its breathless +melody, make a pleasanter sound, to my way of +thinking. But these are birds that like to build their +nests among the corn. They are not found near your +kingdom."</p> + +<p class="in">"In summer," went on the fairy, "when the moors +are flooded with sunshine, and the heat brings out a +delicious odour of resin from my favourite shrubs, I love +to look on the purple of the heather, and the gold of gorse +and broom."</p> + +<p class="in">"I prefer the pink clover with the drowsy bees humming +over it," answered the old man, "and the ripening harvest, +yellow like your beautiful hair, Lady Fairy."</p> + +<p class="in">Fairy as she was, the queen of the moors was not +displeased at the compliment. Father Rameau saw this +from her face, and said to himself his cause was half +won.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span>"In autumn," she retorted, though, "even here, there +comes to me, out of the depths of the thickets near, +the baying of the pack when the hunt is out, and often +they traverse my domains to get from one part of the +forest to another. The poor, hunted stag, whose tongue +is hanging out of his mouth with weariness, makes for +this very heap of rocks sometimes; then I help him to +elude his cruel foes and to get away safely."</p> + +<p class="in">"Yes," said the old man, as if he liked this idea, "the +dogs get their noses pricked on the thorn-bushes and +lose trace of their prey. That is indeed a kind action. +I, too, like to put the pack on a wrong scent. The stags +are such dear things, with their soft brown eyes. Those +in this neighbourhood know me, and when I sit down +to make my brooms right in the middle of a copse, +as I do sometimes, they come quite close up to me. If +only there were wheat growing on your moor, you would +be able to protect the hares, too, for they would then take +refuge in the shelter of your park."</p> + +<p class="in">"But when you have pulled up my holly and junipers +and broom-bushes, how shall I be able to make fires for +the long winter evenings? I shall die, pierced by the cruel +breath of the keen north wind, and be buried under a +shroud of white snow."</p> + +<p class="in">"Oh, gracious fay, if you fear the cold, will there not +always be the place of honour kept for you by our +chimney-corner, in the little home I mean to build on +the moor? You will come and get warm whenever you +like by our fireside. My god-daughter, Madeleine, will +keep you company, and some day, perhaps, I shall entreat +you to be god-mother to her first baby."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span>Thus Father Rameau had his answer ready for all her +objections. These last words of his touched the fairy, +and the expression of her face became very soft and kind. +"I know Madeleine well," she said; "I know how fair +she is to see, in her snowy white caps. I know how her +goodness is spoken of far and wide; and I have even +heard that she is to marry that hard-working lad I saw +talking with you this morning. They will be a charming +pair, and their home will be a delightful place. And you, +dear old man, who have no ambition for yourself, but +only care for your dear ones, you will have your reward +for your cheerful faith in the future. Take up your pick +and have courage over your digging. I grant you this +corner of my domain. The rest I am sure you will +respect, for you are not greedy; will the others who come +after you spare it, too? Alas, when once the moor has +been cleared all over and cultivated, I shall have to +die! But we will only think of the happiness of your +young folk; and, silence! not a word of all this to +any one!"</p> + +<p class="in">And with a finger on her lips, she vanished.</p> + +<p class="in">By the end of October Father Rameau had dug over, +cleared, and prepared two acres of ground. All by himself? +With his pickaxe and spade? Yes, quite by +himself, and with his pickaxe and spade. He had worked +as if by magic, for the fairy, always present and always +invisible, had endowed him with some of her magic power. +She helped him to split the hardest boulders, to haul +up the most tenacious roots, to collect in bundles the old +tree-stumps and weeds, and every kind of rubbish, and +set fire to it, and so make the very first dressing the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span>soil had ever had on it. Will you believe it? By seed-sowing +time the ground was ready, and was sown with +oats, which began to grow in no time, came well through +all the frosts, and by the following April was waving +abroad in a luxuriant mass of green. A lark built its +nest in it, and every morning nodded its little tufted head +at Father Rameau, who was watching over its nest, as +if out of gratitude for what he had done.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0471.jpg" width="50%" alt="FATHER RAMEAU CLEARS THE PATCH." title="FATHER RAMEAU CLEARS THE PATCH." /> +<p class="caption">FATHER RAMEAU CLEARS THE PATCH.</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The harvest was splendid, and fetched a high price.</p> + +<p class="in">George could no longer smile at Father Rameau's old +arms, and had to confess he had found his master: Father +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span>Rameau smiled slily when he said, "After all, nephew, +we shall have a gold ring for Madeleine." But when the +time came for getting it, Madeleine would not allow it. +"No, father," she said, "you have toiled and moiled this +year at your digging; buy a plough: any one will lend +you a plough-horse for a few days, and it won't be nearly +such hard work for you."</p> + +<p class="in">So when autumn came again, the old man cleared +another two acres, and next summer his harvest was +twice as big—and so were his profits.</p> + +<p class="in">Madeleine still refused the precious ring. "Buy a pair +of oxen," she said; "you will be independent then of +every one."</p> + +<p class="in">Next year the old man's field was bigger than ever; +and Madeleine advised him to use the profit of his harvest +for building a little house. Her modest, sensible advice +was acted upon every time, and, in fact, when the wedding-day +arrived, the gold ring had still not been bought +and at the marriage ceremony, in the church at Treigny, +it was over the old leaden rings of their betrothal that +the curé pronounced his blessing. "We have given our +hearts to each other," said the young wife; "what do +we want with gold rings after that? What do you think, +George?"</p> + +<p class="in">"I mean to spend the money on a christening robe, +then," said Father Rameau gaily. "Bless me, things'll +have to be just so then, if ever they are! If you only +knew what kind of a god-mother——"</p> + +<p class="in">But he stopped short just in time, remembering the +fairy's injunction about silence; and Madeleine, whom he +had made very inquisitive, could not get another word +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span>out of him. She never found out what he meant till +her first baby was born, when on the day of the christening +there stepped into the cottage, surrounded by a circle +of bright light, the marvellous god-mother, the Fairy of +the Moor.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0481.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THE FAIRY OF THE MOOR."" title=""THE FAIRY OF THE MOOR."" /> +<p class="caption">"THE FAIRY OF THE MOOR."</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Many tried to follow Father Rameau's example and +cultivate a portion of the moor; but very few succeeded, +because the fairy could see into the very bottom of +their hearts, and would only help the true-hearted—rare +folk, alas! in this world. There is much left still to be +cleared. And she yet lives on, the little fairy of the +silvery tunic embroidered with gorse blossoms, with her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span>crown of heather bells, and her wand a verdant broom +branch. But if ever you want to see her, as old Father +Rameau did, you must arrive at the Mid-day Rock on +the first stroke of twelve, and have a conscience perfectly +clear; two conditions which seem easy enough, and which +are really very difficult of fulfilment.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="Lillekort" id="Lillekort"></a>Lillekort.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0491.jpg" width="70%" alt="Lillekort. From the French of Xavier Marmier" title="Lillekort. From the French of Xavier Marmier" /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">THERE was once a man and his wife who were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> +very, very poor, and had a great many children. +Each year added one to the number. One day +the wife gave birth to a beautiful boy, who, on opening +his eyes, cried:</p> + +<p class="in">"Dearest mother, give me some of my brother's old +clothes, and food for two days, and I will go into the +world and seek my fortune, for I see you have enough +children here without me."</p> + +<p class="in">"Heaven forbid, my child!" exclaimed the mother. +"You are much too young to leave the house."</p> + +<p class="in">But the little one insisted; so at length his mother +gave him some clothes and some food, and he departed, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span>full of joy. Lillekort (for so he named himself) travelled +towards the east. Presently he met an old, one-eyed +woman, and took away her eye.</p> + +<p class="in">"Alas!" she cried, "I can no longer see. What will +become of me?"</p> + +<p class="in">"What will you give me for your eye?" asked +Lillekort.</p> + +<p class="in">"A sword that will slay a whole army, no matter +how numerous."</p> + +<p class="in">"So be it."</p> + +<p class="in">Lillekort took the sword and continued his journey. +A little farther on he met another old, one-eyed woman, +took away her eye, and asked what she would give him +for returning it.</p> + +<p class="in">The old woman said she would give him a ship +that would sail over land and sea, over mountains and +valleys, and on his agreeing, she gave him a little ship +so small and light that he could carry it about in his +pocket.</p> + +<p class="in">As soon as he was quite alone Lillekort stopped to +examine his little vessel. He drew it from his pocket +and put one foot in it. Immediately it grew larger. +He put in the second foot. It grew yet larger. He +sat down in it. It increased yet more. Then he said:</p> + +<p class="in">"Go over the waves of the ocean, over mountains +and through valleys, until you reach the palace of the +King."</p> + +<p class="in">The ship immediately sped through space with the +rapidity of a bird, and stopped in front of a magnificent +palace. From one of the windows of this palace several +persons beheld, with astonishment and interest, this boy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span>who travelled in a manner so strange, and they hastened +out to obtain a nearer view of the wonder. But Lillekort +had already put his ship in his pocket. They asked +who he was and whence he came. To these different +questions he knew not how to reply; but in a firm +voice said he wished to enter the service of the King, +no matter in what capacity; if need be, as a servant +of the servants.</p> + +<p class="in">His humble request was granted. He was ordered to +fetch wood and water for the kitchen. Arriving at the +palace he saw with surprise that all the walls were hung +with black, both without and within.</p> + +<p class="in">"Wherefore," he asked the cook, "this appearance of +mourning?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Alas!" she replied, "the only daughter of our King +has been promised to three trolls, enormous ogres, and +Thursday next the first comes to claim her. A knight, +whose name is Rend, has undertaken to defend her. +But how should he succeed? In the meantime we are +all plunged in anguish and affliction."</p> + +<p class="in">Thursday evening Rend led the Princess to the sea-shore. +It was here he had to defend her. But he was +not very brave, so instead of waiting near her he climbed +a tree and hid among the branches. In vain the Princess +begged him to assist her.</p> + +<p class="in">"No, no," said he; "why two victims? One is sufficient."</p> + +<p class="in">At that moment Lillekort asked the cook's permission +to go to the sea-shore.</p> + +<p class="in">"Go," said she, "but be sure you return by the time +I prepare supper, and do not forget to bring me a good +load of wood."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span>Lillekort promised, and ran toward the beach. At +the same time the troll appeared, making a noise like +thunder. His body was of enormous dimensions and +he had five frightful heads.</p> + +<p class="in">"Madman!" he cried, on seeing the little kitchen-boy.</p> + +<p class="in">"Madman!" repeated Lillekort.</p> + +<p class="in">"Do you know how to fight?"</p> + +<p class="in">"If I do not know I will learn."</p> + +<p class="in">The troll then threw a bar of iron at Lillekort, +which, falling on the ground, raised a pile of sand and +dust.</p> + +<p class="in">"A beautiful tower of strength," cried Lillekort. "Now, +see mine."</p> + +<p class="in">With these words he drew his sword, and with one +blow smote off the monster's five heads.</p> + +<p class="in">Finding herself delivered, the Princess began to dance +and sing gaily, then she said to the young boy: "Rest, +lay your head on my knees."</p> + +<p class="in">Whilst he thus rested she placed on him a suit of +golden armour.</p> + +<p class="in">All danger being over, Rend came down from the +tree, took the tongues and lungs of the monster, and +then told the Princess he would kill her unless she +promised to acknowledge him publicly as her deliverer. +She yielded to his threats, and he returned with her +in triumph to the palace. The King loaded him with +honours, and at supper seated him at his right hand. +Meanwhile, Lillekort entered the giant's ship, and brought +from thence a quantity of gold and silver trinkets.</p> + +<p class="in">"From whence all these riches?" asked the cook +anxiously, for she feared he had stolen them.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span>"Reassure yourself," he replied. "I went home for a +moment; these trinkets fell from an old piece of furniture, +so I brought them back for you."</p> + +<p class="in">"What beautiful things! A thousand thanks!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0501.jpg" width="50%" alt=""WHILST HE THUS RESTED SHE PLACED ON HIM A SUIT OF GOLDEN +ARMOUR"" title=""WHILST HE THUS RESTED SHE PLACED ON HIM A SUIT OF GOLDEN +ARMOUR"" /> +<p class="caption">"WHILST HE THUS RESTED SHE PLACED ON HIM A SUIT OF GOLDEN +ARMOUR" (<i>p.</i> 162).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The Thursday following, fresh grief, fresh anguish. +However, Rend said as he had vanquished the first +troll, he reckoned he could conquer the second. But +this time also he took refuge among the branches of a +tree, saying: "Why two victims? One is surely sufficient."</p> + +<p class="in">Lillekort again obtained the cook's permission to go +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span>out, he said to play with some children on the sea-shore; +so he hastened forth, after promising to return +by the time she prepared supper, and bring a good +load of wood.</p> + +<p class="in">As he reached the shore he saw the troll approaching. +He was twice as colossal as the first, and had ten +heads.</p> + +<p class="in">"Madman!" exclaimed the troll, on seeing Lillekort.</p> + +<p class="in">"Madman!" repeated the valiant boy, and on the +troll asking if he could fight, replied, as on the former +occasion, that he could learn.</p> + +<p class="in">The giant then threw a bar of iron at him, which, +falling on the ground, raised a column of dust thirty +feet high.</p> + +<p class="in">"A beautiful tower of strength," said the boy. "Now, +see mine." And drawing his sword, he, with one blow, +smote off the monster's ten heads.</p> + +<p class="in">Again the Princess desired him to rest his head on +her knees, and this time she placed on him a suit of +silver armour.</p> + +<p class="in">Rend now came down from the tree, took the tongues +and lungs of the troll, and returned with the Princess +in triumph to the palace, after having declared he would +kill her if she did not acknowledge him publicly as her +deliverer. The King received him with enthusiasm, and +knew not how to show his gratitude.</p> + +<p class="in">Lillekort returned to the kitchen, carrying a quantity +of gold and silver he had taken from the troll's ship.</p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> +<img src="images/i0511.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HE HAD FIFTEEN HEADS"" title=""HE HAD FIFTEEN HEADS"" /> +<p class="caption">"HE HAD FIFTEEN HEADS" (<i>p.</i> 166).</p></div> + +<p class="in">The third Thursday, the palace was again hung with +black, and the people were plunged in grief. But Rend +said he had already conquered two formidable monsters +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span>and would overcome the third. +But, as on the preceding +Thursdays, he hid in the tree, and when the Princess +implored him to remain with her, said one victim was +sufficient.</p> + +<p class="in">Lillekort, who had again obtained the cook's permission +to go out, reached the shore at the same time as the +monster, who was much more terrible than either of the +two former. He had fifteen heads, and the bar of iron +he threw at his brave little adversary raised a column +of earth forty feet high. Lillekort, however, with +his magic sword, struck off the fifteen heads at one +blow.</p> + +<p class="in">"Rest," said the Princess; "rest your head on my +knees."</p> + +<p class="in">Whilst he thus rested, she put on him a suit of bronze +armour, and said:</p> + +<p class="in">"How can we make it known that it is you who +saved me?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Listen," replied Lillekort, "this is my idea. Rend +will go without scruple to claim the reward promised +to your deliverer: your hand and the half of your +father's kingdom. When the day for your marriage +arrives say you wish to be served at table by the +boy who carries wood and water to the kitchen. I will +let a few drops of wine fall on Rend's plate. He will +strike me. A second and a third time I will do the +same, and again he will strike me; then you shall say: +'For shame to strike him whom I love—he who saved +me—he whom I should wed!'"</p> + +<p class="in">Seeing the troll was dead, Rend came down from +the tree and led the Princess back to the palace, after +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span>having made her swear a third time to proclaim him as +her deliverer.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i052.jpg" width="50%" alt=""Lillekort with his magic sword struck off the fifteen heads +at one blow."" title=""Lillekort with his magic sword struck off the fifteen heads +at one blow" /> +<p class="caption">"Lillekort with his magic sword struck off the fifteen heads at one blow." + +<span style="margin-left: 70%"><i>page 166</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The King announced that his daughter's deliverer +should receive in the most splendid manner the reward +he had so well deserved. The cowardly knight was +betrothed to the Princess, and half the kingdom was +given him. The day of the Princess's marriage she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span>would be served by the boy who carried wood and +water to the kitchen.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0531.jpg" width="50%" alt=""IN ARMOUR OF GLITTERING GOLD"" title=""IN ARMOUR OF GLITTERING GOLD"" /> +<p class="caption">"IN ARMOUR OF GLITTERING GOLD" (<i>p.</i> 168).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"What!" exclaimed Rend, in disgust, "you wish that +dirty, hideous little varlet to come near you?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Yes, I wish it."</p> + +<p class="in">Lillekort was summoned, and, as he had said, he +once, twice, thrice let some drops of wine fall in Rend's +plate.</p> + +<p class="in">The first time he was struck the coarse garments he +wore fell off, and the valiant boy appeared in a suit of +bronze armour, the second time in silver armour, and +the third time in armour of glittering gold.</p> + +<p class="in">Then the Princess cried: "For shame to strike him +whom I love—he who saved me—he whom I should +wed!"</p> + +<p class="in">Rend swore loudly that it was he who had saved +her.</p> + +<p class="in">"Let us see the proofs of the victors," said the King.</p> + +<p class="in">The knight immediately showed the tongues and lungs +of the trolls.</p> + +<p class="in">Lillekort fetched the treasures he had taken from the +monsters' ships. At the sight of the gold, silver, and +diamonds, no one had the slightest doubt.</p> + +<p class="in">"The trolls alone have such treasures," said the King, +"and only he who kills them can obtain possession of +their riches."</p> + +<p class="in">Rend, the coward and impostor, was thrown into a +ditch full of serpents, and the Princess's hand was given +to Lillekort, together with half of the kingdom.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Ten_Little_Fairies" id="The_Ten_Little_Fairies"></a>The Ten Little Fairies.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0541.jpg" width="70%" alt="The Ten little fairies. From the french of George Mitchell" title="The Ten little fairies. From the french of George Mitchell" /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">VAINLY I try to recall from my recollections of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> +yesterday, still vividly remembered, and from +those of the long past, grown tenderly dim +in the mists of intervening time, from whom I learned +the powerfully moral story I am here going to repeat +to children great and small, to men and their companions: +I cannot determine from whom it was I learned it.</p> + +<p class="in">Did I first read it in some old book laden with the +dust of ages? Was it told to me by my mother, by +my nurse, one evening when I would not go to sleep—or +one night when, sleeping soundly, a fairy came and +sang it to me in my slumber? I cannot tell. I cannot +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span>remember. I have forgotten all the details, of which +there only remains with me the subtle perfume—too fine +and evanescent for me to seize it in its passage through +my mind. But I retain—perfectly retain—the moral, +which is the daughter of all things healthy and strong.</p> + +<p class="in">The things which I am going to recount happened in +a charming country—one of those bright lands which we +see only in delightful dreams, where the men are all +good and the women all as amiable as they are beautiful.</p> + +<p class="in">In that happy country there lived a great nobleman +who, left a widower early in life, had an only daughter +whom he loved more than anything in the whole +world.</p> + +<p class="in">Rosebelle was seventeen years old—a pure marvel of +grace and beauty; gay as a joyous heart, good as a +happy one. For ten leagues round she was known to +be the most beautiful and best. She was simple and +gentle, and her exquisite ingenuousness caused her +everywhere—in the mansion and the cottage—to be +beloved.</p> + +<p class="in">Her father, fearful lest the least of the distresses of +our poor existence should overtake her, watched over +her with jealous care, so that no harm should come to +her; while she passed her days in calmly thinking of +the time before her, sure that it would not be other +than delightful.</p> + +<p class="in">When she was eighteen, her father consented to her +being betrothed to the son of a Prince—to Greatheart, +a handsome youth, who had been carefully reared, and +detested the false excitements and factitious pleasures +of cities loving enthusiastically the fresh charms of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span>Nature—of the common mother who claims us all, the +Earth.</p> + +<p class="in">Rosebelle loved her <i>fiancé</i>, married, and adored him.</p> + +<p class="in">With him she went to live in the admirable calm of +the country, in the midst of great trees that gave back +the plaint of winds, by a river with its ever-flowing song, +winding under willowy banks, and overshadowed by tall +poplars.</p> + +<p class="in">She lived in a very old, old castle, where the sires of +her husband had been born—a great castle reached by +roads hewn out of the solid rock; a great castle, with +immense, cold halls, where echo answered echo mysteriously; +where the night-owl drearily replied to the +early thrush's song to the rising sun, and the other +awakened birds singing and chirping on the borders of +the deep woods, where the sun enters timidly—almost +with the hesitation of a trespasser.</p> + +<p class="in">When the time for parting came, her father had said +to her, through his tears:</p> + +<p class="in">"You are going from me—your happiness claims that +I should let you go: go, therefore, but take all care of +yourself for love of me, who have only you in the world +to love."</p> + +<p class="in">To his son-in-law he said:</p> + +<p class="in">"Watch over her, I intrust her to you. Surround her +with a thousand safeguards; screen her from the least +chance of harm or pain. Remember that even in stooping +to pluck a flower she may fall and wound herself, that +in gathering a fruit she may tear her hand. See that all +is done for her that can be done, keep her for me ever +beautiful."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span>Absorbed in her love for her husband, Rosebelle realised +the sweet dreams of her young girlhood. Then she +dreamed—languorously—Heaven knows what! The delightful +future which she had seen in the visions of the +past was still present with her, however.</p> + +<p class="in">Her husband, tender and good, wished that she should +do nothing but live and love. He had surrounded her +with numerous servants, all ready to obey the least of +her desires, the slightest of her fancies, to comprehend +the most trivial of her wants. She had nothing to do +but to let time glide slowly by her.</p> + +<p class="in">At length she wearied—languished mysteriously.</p> + +<p class="in">Her father, to whom she communicated this strange +experience, was astounded. He reminded her of all the +sources of happiness which ought to have existed in +her case. He took her in his arms and said all he +could think of in laudation of the husband who so greatly +loved her; gave her innumerable reasons why her happiness +ought to have been unparalleled; offered money—more +money—wishful to give all the felicities in the world.</p> + +<p class="in">She wished for nothing of all that; it only tired, +enervated her.</p> + +<p class="in">He besought her to be happy; she replied:</p> + +<p class="in">"I wish I could be so, for your sake and for that of +my husband, whom I love so dearly."</p> + +<p class="in">And she struggled against the strange evil which so +weighed upon her, against the deadly <i>ennui</i> that was +sapping her young life. But the mysterious ill which +tormented her soul grew and grew until it became overwhelming.</p> + +<p class="in">Greatheart speedily detected her distress, and sought +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span>to discover its cause, but ineffectually; and from alarm +he passed into despair.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0551.jpg" width="50%" alt=""SHE VOWED FOR HIM A BOUNDLESS LOVE"" title=""SHE VOWED FOR HIM A BOUNDLESS LOVE"" /> +<p class="caption">"SHE VOWED FOR HIM A BOUNDLESS LOVE" (<i>p.</i> 176).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Now, when he returned from the plain, the fields, or +the camp, when he embraced her he pressed against his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span>bosom a bosom cold and filled with sadness and tears—a +bosom so cold that it might have been thought to contain +a block of ice in place of a heart—and he redoubled +his tenderness towards her. Seeing how much he was +suffering on her account, she vowed for him a boundless +love.</p> + +<p class="in">Courageous, energetic even, she tried to shake off the +languor which possessed her, endeavouring to intoxicate +her soul and drown her self-consciousness in the love +of her adored husband; but all her efforts were made +in vain; she became more and more oppressed with +weariness, and the crowd of servants about her, all eager +to realise her wishes, were utterly unable to mitigate her +condition by anything they could do.</p> + +<p class="in">At last she fell into a state of the deepest melancholy. +The rose-tints faded from her cheeks, her beauty paled +like that of a languishing flower; the light in her eyes +grew each day more dim. She was very ill.</p> + +<p class="in">The most learned doctors in the healing art were called +to her, brought, regardless of cost, from the most distant +countries, only to confess their complete inability; excusing +themselves by affirming that there was no remedy +for an indefinable ailment—an ailment impalpable, incomprehensible.</p> + +<p class="in">Then, one day, an old, white-haired shepherd, with a +long, snowy beard, who had learned to understand men +from having always lived alone with his sheep and +thinking, thinking, while he led them to their pasture—an +old philosopher—came to Greatheart, of whom he +was one of the vassals, and said to him:</p> + +<p class="in">"I know where there lives, close by here, an old +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span>grand-dame, with one foot in the grave, she is so old +People call her a sorceress; but never mind that; she, +and she alone, can cure our lady, our mistress, whom +you love so well."</p> + +<p class="in">Knowing not what to do in his suffering, Greatheart +believed what the old shepherd told him.</p> + +<p class="in">He took Rosebelle far away from the castle along the +bank of the river, to a spot where the path ran between +high rocks, leading to a deep and profoundly dark cavity, +within which they found the old, old woman of whom +the shepherd had spoken, crouching by the side of a +scanty fire of pine-branches, warming herself in their +fitful light, in the midst of owls and ravens, cats and +rats with phosphorescent eyes, showing green in the +obscurity when lit by the intermittent sparkle of the +crackling branches on the hearth.</p> + +<p class="in">"Ho, there! sorceress!" cried the young Prince. +"Cure my wife, and I will give you the half of all I +possess!"</p> + +<p class="in">The very old woman looked for a long time at Rosebelle +out of her little bright eyes, meeting those of the young +Princess, and holding her as if by a spell. For awhile +longer she remained silent, as if in contemplation; then, +suddenly, she rose to her feet, raised her long arms +towards the herbs suspended from the rocky roof of her +dwelling-place, spread out her fleshless fingers and cried:</p> + +<p class="in">"I see! I see! I understand it all! Yes, my lord, +I will cure your wife, your adored one; and presently in +your arms, on your heart, shall sleep a heart beating +with great joy for love of you!"</p> + +<p class="in">As they both sprang nearer to her, the better to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span>hear her wonderful words, the old woman retreated, +saying:</p> + +<p class="in">"Yes, I will cure her; but to aid me in the task, I +need the assistance of ten little fairies—ten friends who +have ever been dear to me, ever faithful to me, and who, +by an unfortunate chance, have not visited me to-day. +To-morrow I shall be sure to have them with me, my +tiny comrades; so come back to me to-morrow, my dear, +when I will detain them until you arrive, and will take +measures for enabling them to cure you."</p> + +<p class="in">The sun, next day, had hardly risen, hardly caressed +the earth with its earliest beam, when Rosebelle re-entered +the old sorceress's murky dwelling-place.</p> + +<p class="in">Over the still crackling fire of pine-branches she extended +her white hands by direction of the old woman, +who raised her arms and uttered some curious words, +accompanied by some strange gestures.</p> + +<p class="in">Then, from a small cavity in the rocky wall she +appeared to draw forth an invisible something, which +she carefully conveyed to the shelter of her bare bosom. +And when she had repeated these actions ten times, she +cried:</p> + +<p class="in">"I have them!—I have them all!—all warm in my +bosom—my faithful little fairies! Oh!—do not attempt +to see them, or they will at once fly away. They desire +to serve you—to cure you. Here they are!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> +<img src="images/i0561.jpg" width="50%" alt="THE SORCERESS." title="THE SORCERESS." /> +<p class="caption">THE SORCERESS.</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">And laughing, dancing, and singing, the old, old woman +tapped with the crooked thumb of her right hand the +young Princess's ten extended fingers, while the quaint +song she sang was gaily given back by the echo of the +rocky vault above her. This was the song she sang, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span>holding the Princess's delicate fingers caressingly in her +left hand:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ten good little fairies hie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To these ten good fingers nigh:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each of you reside in one<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Until your kindly task is done,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Until by certain signs you're sure<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That you have made a perfect cure.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Potent fairies, from this hour<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Exercise your utmost pow'r;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Drive away the evil spell<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cast on one who'll love you well!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="in">Then, still laughing heartily, she pressed Rosebelle's +fingers tightly, and went on:</p> + +<p class="in">"They are all here, the wonderful little doctors! Guard +them preciously; do not weary them; keep them by you +and, to do all that, never give them a moment's rest so +long as the sun shines in the sky. Keep on moving +them—actively, rapidly—so long as you are awake. Now +go, and come back to me when you are quite cured, +returning me my trusty little fairies."</p> + +<p class="in">With her hands filled with this precious load, Rosebelle +hurried home, and told Greatheart of her dear hope of +a renewal of life.</p> + +<p class="in">Of an evening, thenceforth, for a long time, she would +even refrain from eating, so as to leave herself more time +to exercise her unresting fingers, in which the ten little +fairies were tenderly housed. As soon as the sun had +sunk beneath the earth she went to sleep, and as soon +as daylight returned, she at once rose and began once +again to move her fairy-laden fingers.</p> + +<p class="in">During many, many days she continued to move her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span>fingers in every way she could devise; but at length, +growing tired of this useless play, she went back to her +old friend the sorceress.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0571.jpg" width="50%" alt=""ROSEBELLE DREW HER HARP FORM ITS CASE AND PLAYED ON IT"" title=""ROSEBELLE DREW HER HARP FORM ITS CASE AND PLAYED ON IT"" /> +<p class="caption">"ROSEBELLE DREW HER HARP FORM ITS CASE AND PLAYED ON IT" (<i>p.</i> 182).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"Nobody ever taught you to use your fingers usefully?" +replied the old woman. "Go on moving them, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span>still moving them, but in some employment that interests +you. Don't let my fairies go to sleep—that is all they +desire in their imprisonment."</p> + +<p class="in">On returning home, Rosebelle drew her long-neglected +harp from its case and played on it. Then, to occupy +her fingers more usefully, she had needles brought to her +and employed them in dainty sewing.</p> + +<p class="in">But, growing weary of the dull monotony of these +labours, she sought more varied employment for her +fingers—gathered flowers in the garden and arranged +them in charming bouquets; plucked fruit from the +trees in the orchard; attended to the sick and ailing; +consoled the poor—exercising her fingers constantly by +slipping gold pieces into their grateful hands.</p> + +<p class="in">One by one, she sent away her crowd of obsequious +servants, who had now nothing left for them to do but +to go to sleep at their posts.</p> + +<p class="in">She would not allow anybody to do anything for her +which she could do for herself, but threw her whole +soul and being into the things God intended to be done +by them.</p> + +<p class="in">Every day, and all the while the sun shone in the +sky, she found active employment for her beautiful fingers. +And the roses came back to her cheeks and health to +all her being, and songs and laughter to her lips; and +she could, once again, give to her beloved one a heart +filled with ineffable tenderness.</p> + +<p class="in">Perfectly cured, she went to the sorceress and gave +her back her wonderful little fairy doctors.</p> + +<p class="in">"Ah, my child!" said the old dame, "they are very +proud of having saved you. Give them to me, for I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span>have every day great need of them—can never have too +much of them. Indeed, if I had enough of them to +serve all the idlers in the world, I should want as many +as there are stars in the heavens at night. But I will +keep those I have for the service of those who are +pining from <i>ennui</i>—and there are enough of <i>them</i>, goodness +knows!"</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Magician_and_his_Pupil" id="The_Magician_and_his_Pupil"></a>The Magician and his Pupil.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0581.jpg" width="70%" alt="The magician and his pupil. From the German of A. Godin" title="The magician and his pupil. From the German of A. Godin" /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">THERE was once a poor shoemaker renowned far<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span> +and wide as a drunkard. He had a good wife +and many daughters, but only one son. As +soon as this son was old enough his mother dressed him +in his best clothes, combed his hair until it shone, and +then led him far, far away; for she wished to take him +to the capital, and there apprentice him to a master +who would teach him a really good trade.</p> + +<p class="in">When they had accomplished about half their journey +they met a man in black, who asked whither they were +going and the object of their journey. On being told, +he offered to take the boy as his apprentice, but as he +had not given the customary Christian greeting, and +would not mention the name of his trade, also because +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span>the mother thought there was a wicked gleam in his +eyes, she declined to trust him with her son. As he +persisted in his offer they were rude, then he troubled +them no further.</p> + +<p class="in">Shortly after leaving the old man they came to a +wide stretch of land, solitary and barren as a desert, +over which they journeyed until hunger, thirst, and +fatigue compelled them to rest. Exhausted, they sank +on the sandy ground and wept bitterly. Suddenly, at +a short distance from them arose a large stone, on whose +surface stood a dish of smoking roast beef, a loaf of +white bread, and a jug of foaming ale.</p> + +<p class="in">Eagerly the weary travellers hastened forward. Alas! +the moment they moved, meat and drink vanished, +leaving the stone bare and barren; but as soon as they +stepped back, the food again made its appearance. +After this had happened several times the shoemaker's +son guessed what was at the bottom of it. Pointing +his stick of aspen wood—a wood, by the way, very +powerful against enchantment—he cautiously approached +the stone, and thrust his stick into that place on the +earth where the shadow of the stone rested.</p> + +<p class="in">Immediately the stone with everything on it disappeared, +and in the place where the shadow had lain +stood the stranger in black who had met them earlier +in the day. He bowed politely to the youth and requested +him to remove his stick.</p> + +<p class="in">"No, that I will not do! This time the stone has +met its match! You are a magician, or at least a necromancer. +You locked us in this desert and amused +yourself with our misery. Now you shall be treated +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span>as you deserve. You shall stand here for a year and +six weeks, until you are as dry as the stick with which +I have nailed you to the earth."</p> + +<p class="in">"Loose me, I entreat you."</p> + +<p class="in">"Yes, on certain conditions! First, you must once +more become a stone, and on the stone must appear +everything we have already seen."</p> + +<p class="in">The magician immediately vanished, and in his stead +appeared the stone covered with a white cloth, and +bearing the hot roast beef, white bread, and foaming +ale, of which the travellers ate and drank to their hearts' +content. When they had finished the stone became +the man in black, who entreated piteously to be unnailed.</p> + +<p class="in">"I will unnail you directly," said the youth, "but +only on one condition. You must take me as apprentice +for three years, as you yourself formerly proposed, and +give me a pledge that you will really teach me all +your art."</p> + +<p class="in">The magician bowed himself to the earth, dug his +fingers into the sand, and drew forth a handful of +ducats, which he threw into the boy's cap.</p> + +<p class="in">"Thanks," replied the youth; "this money will be +very useful to my mother, but you must give me a +better pledge than that. I must have a piece of your +ear."</p> + +<p class="in">"Will nothing else serve?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Nothing!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Well, then," said the magician, "take your knife."</p> + +<p class="in">"I have no knife with me," replied the youth; "you +must lend me yours."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span>The magician obediently lent his knife, and bent his +right ear towards the youth.</p> + +<p class="in">"No, no, I want the left ear; you offer the right +far too willingly."</p> + +<p class="in">The magician then offered his left ear; and the +youth cut off a slant piece, laid it in his wallet, and +then drew his stick out of the ground. The magician +groaned, rubbed his mutilated ear, then, turning a +somersault, changed himself into a black cock, ordered +the youth to take his mother back, and return at midnight +and await his arrival at the cross-road where +they now stood, when he would take him home and +teach him for three years. The cock then flapped his +wings, changed into a magpie, and flew away.</p> + +<p class="in">When the youth had accompanied his mother to the +next village he kissed her hands and feet, shook the +gold into her apron, and begged her to call for him in +three years at the place where he had made his agreement +with the magician. He then hastened back and +reached the cross-road just at midnight.</p> + +<p class="in">Being very tired he leaned against the mile-stone to +await the arrival of his master. He waited long, then +as no one came, he drew the piece of the magician's +ear from his wallet and bit it hard. At this the mile-stone +staggered, cracked, and roared. The youth sprang +quickly aside, looked at the inscription, and cried: "Ho! +ho! Is that you, master?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Of course, it is! But why did you bite me?" asked +the magician.</p> + +<p class="in">"Take human form instantly!" replied the youth.</p> + +<p class="in">"I have done so!" With this the man in black +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span>stood on the cross-road. "Now we will go home," said +he. "I take you as my pupil, but remember, from this +moment you remain my pupil and servant, until, the +three years ended, your mother fetches you away."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0591.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THE MILE-STONE STAGGERED, CRACKED, AND ROARED"" title=""THE MILE-STONE STAGGERED, CRACKED, AND ROARED"" /> +<p class="caption">"THE MILE-STONE STAGGERED, CRACKED, AND ROARED" (<i>p.</i> 190).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Thus the youth became the magician's pupil. You +wish to know how he taught him his art? Well, so +be it. He stretched his hands and feet, turned him +into a paper bag, and then left him to return to his +proper shape as best he could. Or else, he thrust his +hand and arm up to the shoulder down the youth's +throat, turned him inside out, and left him to turn himself +right.</p> + +<p class="in">The youth learnt so well, that at the end of the three +years his skill in magic surpassed even that of his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span>master. During this time many parents had come to +fetch their children, for the magician had quite a crowd +of pupils; but the cunning old man always contrived +that they went away without them. Three days before +the time appointed for the shoemaker's wife to fetch +her son, the youth met her on the road and told her +how to recognise him.</p> + +<p class="in">"Remember, dearest mother," said he, "when the +magician calls his horses together, a fly will buzz over +my ear; when the doves fly down, I shall not eat of +the peas; and when the maidens stand around you, a +brown mole will make its appearance above my eyebrow! +Be sure you remember this, or you will destroy +us both."</p> + +<p class="in">When the shoemaker's wife demanded her son of the +magician, he blew a brazen trumpet towards all four +corners of the world. Immediately a crowd of coal-black +horses rushed forward; they were not, however, +real horses, but enchanted scholars.</p> + +<p class="in">"Find your son—then you can take him with you!" +said the magician.</p> + +<p class="in">The mother went from horse to horse, trying hard +to recognise her son; she trembled at the mere thought +that she might make a mistake, and thus destroy both +herself and her beloved child. At length she noted a +fly buzzing over the ear of one of the horses, and cried +joyfully: "That is my son!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Right," said the magician; "now guess again." So +saying he blew a silver trumpet towards the corners of +the earth, and threw on the ground half a bushel of +peas. Then like some vast cloud down flew a flock +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span>of doves, and began eagerly picking up the peas. The +shoemaker's wife looked at dove after dove, until she +found one that only appeared to eat. "That is my +son!" said she.</p> + +<p class="in">"Right again! Now comes the third and last trial. +Guess right, and your son goes with you; guess wrong, +and he remains with me for ever." The magician then +blew his trumpet, and immediately beautiful songs resounded +through the air. At the same time lovely +maidens approached and surrounded the shoemaker's +wife. They were all crowned with cornflowers, and wore +white robes with rose-coloured girdles.</p> + +<p class="in">The shoemaker's wife examined each carefully, and +saw a brown mole over the right eye of the most +beautiful. "This is my son!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="in">Scarcely had she spoken than the maiden changed +into her son, threw himself into her arms, and thanked +her for his deliverance. The other maidens flew away, +and the mother and son returned home.</p> + +<p class="in">The student of magic had not been long at home +before he discovered that in his father's house Want +was a constant guest. The money given by the magician +had long since come to an end, for the shoemaker had +spent it all in drink.</p> + +<p class="in">"What have you learnt in foreign parts?" he asked +his son. "What help am I to expect from you."</p> + +<p class="in">"I have learned magic, and will give you help enough. +I can at your wish change myself into all possible +shapes, to-day into a falcon, to-morrow into a greyhound, +a nightingale, a sheep, or any other form. Lead me as +an animal to market, and there sell me, but be sure +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span>always to bring back the rope with which you led me +thither, and never desire me to become a horse: the +money thus acquired would be useless to you, and you +would make me, and through me yourself, unhappy."</p> + +<p class="in">Thereupon the shoemaker demanded a falcon for sale; +his son at once disappeared, and a splendid falcon sat +on the father's shoulder. The shoemaker took the bird +to market, where he sold it to a hunter for a good price, +but on returning home, he found his son seated at the +table enjoying a good dinner.</p> + +<p class="in">When the money thus gained had been spent to the +last farthing, the shoemaker required a greyhound, which +he again sold to a hunter, and on his return home found +his son had arrived there before him.</p> + +<p class="in">Thus the father led his son to market again and +again, as an ox, a cow, a sheep, a goose, a turkey, and +in many other animal forms. One day he thought: "I +should very much like to know why my son does not +wish to become a horse! Surely he takes me for a fool, +and grudges me the best prize!" He was half drunk +when he thought this, and then and there desired his +son to become a horse. Hardly had he spoken than +his wish was gratified: a splendid horse stood before +the window; he dug his hoofs deep into the ground, +whilst his eyes shot forth lightning, and flames issued +from his nostrils.</p> + +<p class="in">The shoemaker mounted and rode into the town. +Here a merchant stopped him, admired the horse, and +offered to give the animal's weight in gold if his master +would only sell him. They went together to a pair of +scales: the merchant shook gold from a sack on one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span>of the wooden scales, whilst the shoemaker made his +horse mount on the other. As he was staring in amazement +at the heap of gold in the scales, one of the +chains broke, and the gold pieces rolled over the street. +The shoemaker threw himself on the ground to pick +them up, and forgot both the horse and bridle.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0601.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE LOOKED AT DOVE AFTER DOVE"" title=""THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE LOOKED AT DOVE AFTER DOVE"" /> +<p class="caption">"THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE LOOKED AT DOVE AFTER DOVE" (<i>p.</i> 193).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The merchant meanwhile mounted the horse, and +galloped out of the town, digging his spurs into the +poor animal's sides until the blood flowed, and beating +him cruelly with a steel riding-whip; for this merchant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span>was none other than the magician, who thus revenged +himself for the piece cut from his ear.</p> + +<p class="in">The poor horse was quite exhausted when the magician +arrived with him at his invisible dwelling; this house, +it is true, stood in an open field, yet no one could see +it. The horse was then led to the stable, whilst the +magician considered how he might best torture him.</p> + +<p class="in">But while the magician was considering, the horse, +who knew what a terrible fate awaited him, succeeded +in throwing the bridle over a nail, on which it remained +hanging, thus enabling him to draw his head out. He +fled across the field, and changing into a gold ring, +threw himself before the feet of a beauteous Princess just +returning from bathing.</p> + +<p class="in">The Princess stooped, picked up the gold circle, +slipped it on her finger, and then looked around in +wonder. In the meantime, the magician—changed into +a Grecian merchant—came up and courteously asked +the Princess to return the gold ring he had lost. Terrified +at the sight of his black beard and gleaming eyes, the +Princess screamed aloud, and pressed the ring to her +breast.</p> + +<p class="in">Alarmed by her cries, her attendants and playmates, +who were waiting near, hastened up and formed a circle +round their beloved Princess. But as soon as they +understood the cause of her distress, they threw themselves +on the importunate stranger, and began tickling +him in such a manner that he laughed, cried, giggled, +coughed, and at length danced over the ground like +a maniac, forgetting through sheer distress that he was +still a magician.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span>When, however, he did remember it, he changed himself +into a hedgehog, and stuck his bristles into the +maidens until their blood flowed, and they were glad +to leave him alone.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0611.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HE DANCED OVER THE GROUND LIKE A MANIAC"" title=""HE DANCED OVER THE GROUND LIKE A MANIAC"" /> +<p class="caption">"HE DANCED OVER THE GROUND LIKE A MANIAC" (<i>p.</i> 196).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Meanwhile the Princess hastened home and showed +her father the ring, which pleased her so much that +she wore it on her heart-finger night and day. Once +when playing with it, the ring slipped from her hand, +fell to the ground and sprang in pieces, when, oh, wonder! +before her stood a handsome youth, the magician's pupil.</p> + +<p class="in">At first the Princess was very troubled, and did not +venture to raise her eyes, but when the scholar had told +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span>her everything she was satisfied, conversed with him a +long while, and promised to ask her father to have the +magician driven away by the dogs should he ever come +to demand the ring. When in the course of the day +the magician came, the King, in spite of all his daughter's +entreaties, ordered the ring to be given up.</p> + +<p class="in">With tears in her eyes the Princess took the ring +(the scholar had resumed this form immediately after +relating his adventures) and threw it at the merchant's +feet. It shivered into little pearls.</p> + +<p class="in">Trembling with rage, the merchant threw himself on +the ground in the shape of a hen, picked up the pearls, +and when he saw no more, flew out of the window, +flapped his wings, cried, "Kikeriki! Scholar, are you +here?" and then soared into the air.</p> + +<p class="in">Having been told by the scholar what to do should +she be compelled to return the ring, the Princess had +let her handkerchief fall at the same moment she threw +the ring on the ground, and two of the largest pearls +had rolled beneath it. She now took out these pearls, +and they immediately called, in mocking imitation of +the hen's voice:</p> + +<p class="in">"Kikeriki! I am here!"</p> + +<p class="in">They then changed into a hawk and chased after the +hen. Seizing it with his sharp talons, he bit its left +wing with such force that all the feathers cracked, and +the hen fell like a stone into the water, where it was +drowned.</p> + +<p class="in">The hawk then returned to the Princess, perched on +her shoulder, gazed fondly into her eyes, and then +became once more the young and handsome scholar. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span>The Princess had grown so fond of him that she chose +him as her husband, and from that moment he gave up +magic for ever. In his prosperity he did not forget his +relations—his mother lived with him and the Princess +in their magnificent palace, his sisters married wealthy +merchants, and even his father was content.</p> + +<p class="in">When the old King died the magician's pupil became +King over the land, and lived so happily with his wife +and children, and all his subjects, that no pen can write, +no song sing, and no story tell of half their happiness.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Strawberry_Thief" id="The_Strawberry_Thief"></a>The Strawberry Thief.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i062.jpg" width="70%" alt="The Strawbery thief. From the German by Pauline Schanz" title="The Strawbery thief. From the German by Pauline Schanz" /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">THE mid-day sun was shining brightly as two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> +children ran merrily down the steep grassy slope +leading from the little village to the neighbouring +forest. Their loose, scanty clothing left head, neck, and +feet bare. But this did not trouble them, for the sun's +rays kissed their little round limbs, and the children liked +to feel their warm kisses.</p> + +<p class="in">They were brother and sister; each carried a small jar +to fill with strawberries, which their mother would sell +in the town on the morrow. They were very poor, almost +the poorest people in the village. Their mother, a widow, +had to work hard to procure bread for herself and children.</p> + +<p class="in">When strawberries or nuts were in season, or even the +early violets, the children went into the forest to seek +them, and by the fruit or flowers they gathered helped +to earn many a groschen. The happy children ran +joyously along as though they were the rulers of the +beautiful world that stretched so seductively before them. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span>The forest berries were still scarce, and would fetch a +high price in the town; this is why they started so early +in the afternoon, whilst other people still rested in their +cool rooms.</p> + +<p class="in">Deep in the forest was many a spot, well known to +the children, where large masses of strawberry plants +flourished and bloomed, covering the ground with a +luxurious carpet. White star-like blossoms in profusion +looked roguishly out from the ample foliage; the little +green and bright-red berries were there in crowds, but the +ripe, dark-red fruit was difficult to find.</p> + +<p class="in">Very slowly the work proceeded, and as the gathered +treasures in their small jars grew higher and higher the +sun sank lower and lower. Busy with their task, the +children forgot laughter and chattering; they tasted none +of the lovely berries, scarcely looked at the violets and +anemones; the sun's rays peeping through the branches +the cock-chafers and butterflies were alike unheeded.</p> + +<p class="in">"Lorchen," cried Fried, at length, throwing back his +sunburnt, heated face; "look, Lorchen, my jar is full!"</p> + +<p class="in">Lorchen looked up, her face flushed with toil; her poor +little jar was scarcely half-full. Oh, how she envied her +brother his full jar! Fried was a good boy—he loved his +little sister dearly. He made her sit down on the soft +grass, placed his jar beside her, and did not cease his +work until Lorchen's jar was likewise filled. Their day's +work was now ended. But it was so beautiful in the +forest. The birds sang so joyfully among the leaves, +everything exhaled the fragrance of the dewy evening +that crept slowly between the trembling branches.</p> + +<p class="in">At a little distance a small stretch of meadow shimmered +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span>through the trees. The bright sunshine still rested on the +fresh, green grass, and thousands of daffodils, bluebells, +pinks, and forget-me-nots unfolded there their varied +beauties. It was a delightful play-place for the children. +They hastened thither, placed their jars carefully behind +a large tree-trunk, and soon forgot their hard afternoon's +work in a merry game. Greyer grew the shadows, closer +the dusk of evening veiled the lonely forest. Then the +brother and sister thought of returning—the rest had +strengthened their weary limbs, and their game in the +flowery meadow had made them cheerful and merry.</p> + +<p class="in">Now the dew that wetted their bare feet, and hunger +that began to make itself felt, urged them to return home. +They ran to the tree behind which they had placed their +jars, but oh, horror! the jars had vanished. At first the +children thought they had mistaken the place; they +searched farther, behind every trunk, behind every bush, +but no trace of the jars could they find.</p> + +<p class="in">They had vanished, together with the precious fruit. +What would their mother say when they returned home, +their task unfulfilled? With the price of the berries she +intended to buy meal to make bread. They had been +almost without bread for several days, and now they had +not even the jars in which to gather other berries.</p> + +<p class="in">Lorchen began to sob loudly; Fried's face grew crimson +with rage, and his eyes sparkled, he did not weep. The +darkness increased, the tree-trunks looked black and +spectral, the wind rustled in the branches. Who could +have stolen their berries? No one had come near the +meadow. Squirrels and lizards could not carry away +jars. The poor children stood helpless beside the old +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span>tree-trunk. They could not return to their mother empty-handed; +they feared she would reproach them for losing +sight of their jars.</p> + +<p class="in">The little maiden shivered in her thin frock, and wept +with fear, hunger, and fatigue. Fried took his little +sister's hand, and said: "Listen, Lorchen: you must run +home, it is night now in the forest. Tell mother our jars +have disappeared, eat your supper, and go to bed and +to sleep. I will remain here and search behind every +tree and everywhere, until I find the jars. I am neither +hungry nor tired, and am not afraid to pass the night +alone in the forest, in spite of all the stories our grand-mother +used to tell of wicked spirits in the forest, +hobgoblins who tease children, will-o'-the-wisps, and +mountain-demons who store their treasures beneath the +earth."</p> + +<p class="in">Lorchen shuddered and looked fearfully around—she +was a timid, weakly child. Wrapping her little arms in +her apron, she wept bitterly.</p> + +<p class="in">"Come home with me, Fried," she pleaded. "I am +afraid to go through the gloomy forest alone!"</p> + +<p class="in">Fried took her hand and went with her until they saw +the lights of the village. Then he stopped and said: +"Now run along alone; see, there is the light burning in +our mother's window. I shall turn back, I cannot go +home empty-handed."</p> + +<p class="in">He turned quickly into the forest. Lorchen waited a +moment, and cried, "Fried, Fried!" Then, receiving no +answer, she fled swiftly up the grassy slope she had +descended so merrily a few hours previously.</p> + +<p class="in">Their mother, who had grown uneasy at their prolonged +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span>absence, was standing at the door when Lorchen returned, +weeping and breathless. Poor child, she had scarcely +strength enough left to tell that they had lost strawberries +and jars, and that Fried had remained behind.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i063.jpg" width="50%" alt=""LORCHEN BEGAN TO SOB"" title=""LORCHEN BEGAN TO SOB"" /> +<p class="caption">"LORCHEN BEGAN TO SOB" (<i>p.</i> 205).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The mother grew sad as she listened—she had scarcely +any bread left, and knew not whence to procure more; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span>but Fried remaining in the forest was worse than all, +for she, like all the villagers, firmly believed in hobgoblins. +Sadly she lay down to rest beside her little +daughter.</p> + +<p class="in">Fried ran ever farther and farther into the forest, +through whose thick foliage the stars looked down timidly. +He said his evening prayer, and no longer feared the +rustling of the leaves, the cracking of the branches, or the +whisper of the night wind in the trees.</p> + +<p class="in">Soon the moon arose, and it was light enough for Fried +to seek his jars. In vain his search—the hours passed +and he found nothing. At length he saw a small mountain +overgrown with shrubs. Then the moon crept behind a +thick cloud, and all was dark. Tired out, Fried sank +down behind a tree and almost fell asleep. Suddenly he +saw a bright light moving about close to the mountain, +He sprang up and hastened towards it.</p> + +<p class="in">Coming closer, he heard a peculiar noise, as of groans +uttered by a man engaged in heavy toil. He crept softly +forward, and beheld, to his astonishment, a little dwarf, +who was trying to push some heavy object into a hole, +that apparently led into the mountain. The little man +wore a silver coat and a red cap with points, to which the +wonderful light, a large, sparkling precious stone, was +fastened.</p> + +<p class="in">Fried soon stood close behind the dwarf, who in his +eagerness had not observed the boy's approach, and saw +with indignation that the object the little man was striving +so hard to push into the hole was his jar of strawberries. +In great wrath Fried seized a branch that lay near, and +gave the little man a mighty blow. Thereupon the dwarf +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span>uttered a cry very like the squeak of a small mouse, +and tried to creep into the hole.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i064.jpg" width="50%" alt=""But Fried held him fast." +" title=""But Fried held him fast." +" /> +<p class="caption"><span style="margin-left: 25%">"But Fried held him fast."</span> +<span style="margin-left: 25%"><i>page 209</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="in">But Fried held him fast by his silver coat, and angrily +demanded where he had put his other jar of strawberries. +The dwarf replied he had no other jar, and strove to +free himself from the grasp of the little giant.</p> + +<p class="in">Fried again seized his branch, which so terrified the +dwarf that he cried: "The other jar is inside; I will fetch +it for you."</p> + +<p class="in">"I should wait a long time," said Fried, "if I once let +you escape; no, I will go with you and fetch my own +jar."</p> + +<p class="in">The dwarf stepped forward, the light in his cap shining +brighter than the brightest candle. Fried followed, his +jar in one hand, and the branch in the other. Thus they +journeyed far into the mountain. The dwarf crept along +like a lizard, but Fried, whose head almost touched the +roof, could scarcely get along.</p> + +<p class="in">At length strains of lovely music resounded through the +vaulted passages: a little farther on their journey was +stopped by a grey stone wall. Taking a silver hammer +from his doublet, the little dwarf gave three sounding +knocks on the wall; it sprang asunder, and as it opened +such a flood of light streamed forth that Fried was obliged +to close his eyes. Half-blinded, with hand shading his +face, he followed the dwarf, the stone door closed behind +them, and Fried was in the secret dwellings of the gnomes.</p> + +<p class="in">A murmur of soft voices, mingled with the sweet strains +of the music, sounded in his ears. When at length he +was able to remove his hand from his eyes, he saw a +wondrous sight. A beauteous, lofty hall, hewn out of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span>rock, lay before him; on the walls sparkled thousands of +precious stones such as his guide had worn in his cap. +They served instead of candles, and shed forth a radiance +that almost blinded human eyes.</p> + +<p class="in">Between them hung wreaths and sprays of flowers such +as Fried had never before seen. All around crowds of +wonderful little dwarfs stood gazing at him full of +curiosity.</p> + +<p class="in">In the centre of the hall stood a throne of green transparent +stone, with cushions of soft mushrooms. On this +sat the gnome-King; around him was thrown a golden +mantle, and on his head was a crown cut from a flaming +carbuncle. Before the throne the dwarf, Fried's guide, +stood relating his adventure.</p> + +<p class="in">When the dwarf ceased speaking, the King rose, +approached the boy, who still stood by the door, surrounded +by the gnomes, and said: "You human child, +what has brought you to my secret dwelling?"</p> + +<p class="in">"My Lord Dwarf," replied Fried politely, "I desire +my strawberries which yonder dwarf has stolen. I pray +you order them to be restored to me, and then suffer +me to return to my mother."</p> + +<p class="in">The King thought for a few moments, then he said: +"Listen, to-day we hold a great feast, for which your +strawberries are necessary. I will, therefore, buy them. +I will also allow you to remain with us a short time, +then my servants shall lead you back to the entrance +of the mountain."</p> + +<p class="in">"Have you money to buy my strawberries?" asked the +boy.</p> + +<p class="in">"Foolish child, know you not that the gold, silver, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span>and copper come out of the earth? Come with me and +see my treasure-chambers."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i065.jpg" width="50%" alt=""I WILL GO WITH YOU"" title=""I WILL GO WITH YOU"" /> +<p class="caption">"I WILL GO WITH YOU" (<i>p.</i> 209).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">So saying, the King led him from the hall through long +rooms, in which mountains of gold, silver, and copper +were piled; in other rooms lay like masses of precious +stones. Presently they came to a grotto, in the centre +of which stood a large vase. From out this vase poured +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span>three sparkling streams, each of a different colour: they +flowed out of the grotto and discharged themselves into +the veins of the rocks.</p> + +<p class="in">Beside these streams knelt dwarfs, filling buckets with +the flowing gold, silver, and copper, which other dwarfs +carried away and stored in the King's treasure-chambers. +But the greatest quantity flowed into the crevices of +the mountain, from whence men dig it out with much +toil.</p> + +<p class="in">Fried would have liked to fill his pockets with the +precious metals, but did not dare ask the gnome-King's +permission. They soon returned to the hall where the +feast was prepared. On a long white marble table stood +rows of golden dishes filled with various dainties, prepared +from Fried's strawberries. In the background sat the +musicians, bees and grasshoppers, that the dwarfs had +caught in the forest. The dwarfs ate off little gold plates, +and Fried ate with them. But the pieces were so tiny, +they melted on his tongue before he could taste them.</p> + +<p class="in">After the feast came dancing. The gnome-men were +old and shrivelled, with faces like roots of trees; all +wore silver coats and red caps. The gnome-maidens were +tall and stately, and wore on their heads wreaths of flowers +that sparkled as though wet with dew. Fried danced +with them, but because his clothes were so poor, his +partner took a wreath of flowers from the wall and placed +it on his head. Very pretty it looked on his bright, brown +hair—but he could not see this, for the dwarfs have no +looking-glasses. The bees buzzed and hummed like flutes +and trombones, the grasshoppers chirped like fiddles.</p> + +<p class="in">The dancing ended, Fried approached the King, who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span>was resting on his green throne, and said: "My Lord +King, be so good as to pay for my berries, and have +me guided out of the mountain, for it is time I returned +to my mother."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0661.jpg" width="50%" alt=""IT IS TIME I RETURNED TO MY MOTHER."" title=""IT IS TIME I RETURNED TO MY MOTHER."" /> +<p class="caption">"IT IS TIME I RETURNED TO MY MOTHER."</p> +</div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span>The King nodded his carbuncle crown, and wrapping +his golden mantle around him, departed to fetch the +money. How Fried rejoiced at the thought of taking +that money home! Being very tired, he mounted the +throne, seated himself on the soft mushroom cushion +from which the gnome-King had just risen, and, ere +that monarch returned, Fried was sleeping sound as a +dormouse.</p> + +<p class="in">Day was dawning in the forest when he awoke. His +limbs were stiff, and his bare feet icy cold. He rubbed +his eyes and stretched himself. He still sat beneath +the tree from whence, on the previous evening, he had +seen the light moving. "Where am I?" he muttered; +then he remembered falling asleep on the gnome-King's +mushroom cushion. He also remembered the +money he had been promised, and felt in his pockets—they +were empty. Yes, he remembered it all. This +was the morning his mother should have gone to town, +and he had neither berries nor money. Tears flowed from +his eyes, and he reviled the dwarfs who had carried +him sleeping from the mountain, and cheated him out +of his money. Rising sorrowfully, he went to the mountain, +but though he searched long and carefully, no +opening could he find.</p> + +<p class="in">There was nothing for it but to return home, and +this he did with a heavy heart. No one was stirring +when he reached the village. Gently he knocked on +the shutter of the room where his mother slept. "Wake +up, mother," he cried. "It is I, your Fried."</p> + +<p class="in">Quickly the door of the little house opened.</p> + +<p class="in">"Thank Heaven you have returned," said his mother, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span>embracing him. "But has nothing happened to you all +night alone in the forest?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Nothing, mother," he replied; "I only had a foolish +dream about the gnomes who dwell in the mountain."</p> + +<p class="in">And whilst his mother lit the stove, Fried related +his dream. She shook her head on hearing it, for she +believed her boy had really seen and heard these wonderful +things.</p> + +<p class="in">Then Lorchen came in, and her mother told her to +unfasten the shutters. The child obeyed, but on re-entering +the room, she cried aloud, and placed her hands +on her brother's head.</p> + +<p class="in">Something heavy and sparkling fell to the ground. +They picked it up. It was the wreath of many-coloured +flowers Fried's partner had given him at the dance. But +the flowers were not like those that grow in the fields +and meadows: they were cold, and sparkling, like those +that adorned the walls of the mountain hall, and which +the gnome-maidens wore in their hair.</p> + +<p class="in">It was now clear that Fried had really spent the night +with the dwarfs. They all thought the flowers were +only coloured glass; but as they sparkled so brilliantly, +and filled the cottage with indescribable splendour, the +mother determined to ask advice about them. She therefore +broke a tiny branch from the wreath and took it +to the town to a goldsmith, who told her, to her great +astonishment, that the branch was composed of the most +costly gems, rubies, diamonds, and sapphires. In exchange +for it, he gave her a sack of gold so heavy she could +scarcely carry it home.</p> + +<p class="in">Want was now at an end for ever, for the wreath +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span>was a hundred times more valuable than the tiny branch. +Great excitement prevailed in the village when the +widow's good fortune was made known, and all the +villagers ran into the forest to search for the wonderful +hole. But their searching was vain—none ever found +the entrance to the mountain. From henceforth the widow +and her children lived very happily; they remained pious +and industrious in spite of their wealth, did good to +the poor, and were contented to the end of their lives.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Adventures_of_Said" id="The_Adventures_of_Said"></a>The Adventures of Said.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0671.jpg" width="70%" alt="The adventures of Said. From the German of W. Hauff." title="The adventures of Said. From the German of W. Hauff." /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">IN the time of Haroun Al-Raschid, ruler of Bagdad,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> +there lived in Balsora a man Benezar by name. +His means enabled him to live quietly and comfortably, +without carrying on a business or trade; and +when a son was born to him he made no change in his +manner of living, "For," said he, "what will feed two will +feed three." Said, for so they called the boy, soon made +a name for himself among his playmates as a lusty +fighter, and was surpassed by none in riding or swimming.</p> + +<p class="in">When he was eighteen, his father sent him on a +pilgrimage to Mecca, and before he started gave him +much good advice, and provided him with money for +his journey. Lastly he said:</p> + +<p class="in">"There is something more I must tell you, my boy. +I am not the man to believe that fairies and enchanters, +whatever they may be, have any influence over the fate +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span>of mankind; that sort of nonsense is only good for +whiling away the time; but your mother believed in +them as firmly as in the Koran. She even told me, +after making me swear never to reveal the secret except +to her child, that she herself was under the protection +of a fairy. I always laughed at her, but still I must +confess that some very strange events happened at your +birth. It rained and thundered all day, and the heavens +were black with clouds.</p> + +<p class="in">"When they told me that I had a little son, I hastened +to see and bless my first-born, but I found my wife's door +shut, and all her attendants standing outside. I knocked, +but with no result. While I was waiting there, the sky +cleared just over Balsora, although the lightning still +flashed and writhed round the blue expanse. As I was +gazing in astonishment at this spectacle, your mother's +door flew open and I went in alone. On entering the +room, I perceived a delicious odour of roses, carnations, +and hyacinths. Your mother Zemira showed me a +tiny silver whistle, that was hanging round your neck +by a gold chain as fine as silk. 'This is the fairy's gift +to our boy,' she said. 'Well,' I laughed, 'I think she +might have given him something better than that—a +purse of gold, for instance, or a horse.'</p> + +<p class="in">"But Zemira begged me not to anger the good fairy, +for fear she might turn her blessing to a curse; so, to +please her, the matter was never mentioned again till +she was dying. Then she gave me the whistle, telling +me never to part with you till you were twenty, when +the whistle was to be yours. But I see no objection +to your going away now. You have common sense, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span>and can defend yourself as well as any man of four-and-twenty. +Go in peace, my son. Think ever of your +father in good fortune or in ill, and may Heaven defend +you from that last."</p> + +<p class="in">Said took an affectionate farewell of his father, and +placing the chain round his neck, sprang lightly into +his saddle, and went off to join the caravan for +Mecca. At last they were all assembled, and Said +rode gaily out of Balsora. Just at first the novelty of +his position and surroundings occupied his thoughts, but +as they drew near to the desert he began to consider +his father's words. He drew out the whistle and put it +to his lips, but wonder of wonders, no matter how hard +he blew, not a sound came out! This was disappointing, +and Said impatiently thrust the whistle back into his +girdle; still the marvellous had a strange attraction for +him, and he spent the whole day in building his airy +castles.</p> + +<p class="in">Said was a fine-looking fellow, with a distinguished +face, and a bearing which, young as he was, marked him +out as one born to command. Every one was attracted +to him, and especially was this the case with an elderly +man, who rode near him. They entered into conversation, +and it was not long before the mysterious power +of fairies was mentioned.</p> + +<p class="in">"Do you believe in fairies?" asked Said, at last.</p> + +<p class="in">"Well," replied the other, stroking his beard thoughtfully, +"I should not like to say that there are no such +beings, although I have never seen one." And then he +began to relate such wonderful stories, that Said felt +that his mother's words must have been true, and when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span>he went to sleep was transported to a veritable +fairyland.</p> + +<p class="in">The next day the travellers were dismayed to see a +band of robbers swooping down on them. All was +confusion in an instant, and they had scarcely had time +to place the women and children in the centre, when the +Arabs were upon them. Bravely as the men acquitted +themselves, all was in vain, for the robbers were more +than four hundred strong. At this dreadful moment +Said bethought him of his whistle; but, alas! it remained +dumb as before, and poor Said, dropping it hastily, fired +on a man, who seemed from his dress to be of some +importance.</p> + +<p class="in">"What have you done?" cried the old man, who +was fighting at his side. "There is no hope for us +now."</p> + +<p class="in">And so, indeed, it seemed—for the robbers, maddened +by the death of the man, pressed so closely on the youth +that they broke down even his sturdy resistance. The +others were soon overcome or slain, and Said found +himself on horseback, bound and guarded by armed men. +These treated him with roughness, and the only drop of +comfort in his cup was that his old friend was riding +near. You may be sure his thoughts were not very +pleasant—slavery or death was all he had to look +forward to.</p> + +<p class="in">After riding for some time, they saw in the far distance +trees and tents, and in a short time they were met by +bands of women and children, who had no sooner heard +the news than they began to throw sticks and clods of +earth at Said, shrieking, "That is the man who killed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span>the great Almansor, bravest of men; he must die, and +we will throw his body to the jackals."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0681.jpg" width="50%" alt=""AFTER SEVERAL HOURS HE AWOKE"" title=""AFTER SEVERAL HOURS HE AWOKE"" /> +<p class="caption">"AFTER SEVERAL HOURS HE AWOKE" (<i>p.</i> 225).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">They became so threatening that the bandits interfered +and, bearing off their prisoner, led him bound into one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span>of the tents. Here was seated an old man, evidently +the leader of the band. His head was bent.</p> + +<p class="in">"The weeping of the women has told me all—Almansor +is dead," said he.</p> + +<p class="in">"Almansor is dead," answered the robbers, "O Mighty +One of the Desert, but here is his murderer. Only +speak the word. Shall his doom be to be shot, or to be +hanged from the nearest tree?"</p> + +<p class="in">But the aged Selim questioned Said, and found that +his son had been slain in fair fight. "He has done, +then, no more than we ourselves should have done. +Loose his bonds. The innocent shall not die," cried +Selim, in his sternest tones, seeing his men's reluctance +and discontent. As for Said, the very fulness of his +heart closed his lips, and he could not find words in +which to thank his deliverer. From this time he lived +in Selim's tent, almost taking the place of that son +whose death he had caused.</p> + +<p class="in">But sedition was rife among the robbers. Their +beloved Prince had been murdered, and his murderer was +shielded by the father! Many were the execrations hurled +at Said, as he walked in the camp; indeed, several +attempts were made on his life. At length Selim perceived +that soon even his influence would not be sufficient +to guard the young man, and so he sent him away +with an escort, saying that his ransom had been paid. +But before they started he bound the robbers by a +dreadful oath that they would not kill Said.</p> + +<p class="in">It was indeed a terrible ride! Said saw that his guides +were performing their task with great reluctance, and soon +they began to whisper together. He nerved himself to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span>listen, and what he heard did not tend to reassure +him.</p> + +<p class="in">"This is the very spot," said one. "I shall never +forget it."</p> + +<p class="in">"And to think that his murderer still lives!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Ah! if his father had not made us take that +oath!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Stay," cried the most forbidding-looking of all, +"we have not sworn to bring this fellow to the end +of his journey. We will leave him his life, but the +scorching sun and the sharp teeth of the jackal shall +perform our vengeance. Let us bind him and leave +him here."</p> + +<p class="in">Said, hearing this brutal suggestion, made a +desperate effort for his life. Spurring his horse, he rode off at +full speed; but the bandits soon recovered from their +amazement, and, giving chase, had him at their mercy. +Tears, prayers, even bribes were of no avail, and the +wretched Said was left to face death in its most painful +form. Higher and higher mounted the sun, and Said +tried to roll over to obtain some small relief. In doing +this the whistle attracted his notice, and he contrived to +get it between his lips; but for the third time it refused +its office, and Said, overcome by the heat and the +horror of his situation, fainted. After several hours +he awoke to see, not the dreaded beast of prey but a +human being.</p> + +<p class="in">This was a little man with small eyes and a long +beard, who informed Said, when the latter had somewhat +recovered, that he was Kalum Bek, a merchant, +and that he was on a business expedition when he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span>found him lying half dead in the sand. Said thanked +the little man, and gratefully accepted a seat on his +camel. As they were journeying the merchant related +many stories in praise of the justice and acuteness of +the Father of the Faithful.</p> + +<p class="in">"My cousin Messour," he said, "is his Lord +Chamberlain, and he has often told me how the Caliph +is wont to sally forth at night, attended by himself alone, +to see how his people are cared for. And so, when we +go about the streets at night, we have to be polite to +every idiot we meet, for it is as likely to be the +Caliph as some dog of an Arab from the desert."</p> + +<p class="in">Hearing such accounts as these, Said thought himself +a lucky fellow to have the chance of seeing Bagdad and +the renowned Al-Raschid. When they arrived in the +city, Kalum invited Said to accompany him home. The +next day the youth had just dressed himself in his +most magnificent clothes, thinking of the sensation he +would cause, when the merchant entered, and, looking +at him scornfully, said: "That is all very fine, my +young sir, but it seems to me you are a great dreamer. +Have you the money to keep up that style?"</p> + +<p class="in">"It is true, sir," said Said, blushing, "that I have no +money; but perhaps you will be kind enough to lend me +sufficient to travel home with, for my father is sure to +repay you."</p> + +<p class="in">"Your father, boy," laughed the merchant. "I really +think the sun must have affected your brain. You +don't suppose, do you, that I believe the fable you made +up for my benefit? I know all the rich men in Balsora, +but no Benezar. Besides, do you think the disappearance +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span>of a whole caravan would pass unnoticed? And then, +you bare-faced liar, that story about Selim! Why, that +man is noted for his cruelty; and do you mean to tell +me that he allowed the murderer of his son to go free—and +that, too, without ransom? Oh, you shameless +liar!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Indeed, I have spoken the truth," cried Said. "I have +no proof of my words, and can only swear to you that +I have spoken no falsehood. If you will not help me +then I must appeal to the Caliph."</p> + +<p class="in">"Really!" scoffed the little man; "you will beg, then, +from no less exalted a person than our gracious ruler! +Just consider that the Caliph can only be approached +through my cousin Messour, and that with a word I +could——But I pity your youth. You are not too old +yet for reformation. You shall serve in my shop for a +year, and then, if you wish to leave me, I will pay you +your wages, and let you go whither you will. I give +you till mid-day to think over it. If you refuse, I will +seize your clothes and possessions to pay myself for your +passage, and throw you on the streets."</p> + +<p class="in">Said was indeed in difficulties; bad luck seemed to +press upon him at every turn. There was no escaping +from the room, for the windows were barred and the +door locked. After cudgelling his brains for some time, +he saw that he must submit to the indignity imposed upon +him by the villainous little man, and so the next day +he followed him to the shop in the bazaar. His duty +was to stand (his gallant attire a thing of the past) in +the doorway, a veil or a shawl in either hand, and cry +his wares to the passers-by.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span>Said soon saw why Kalum had been so anxious to +retain him as a servant. No one wished to do business +with the hateful old man, but when the salesman was +a handsome youth it was a different matter altogether. +One especially busy day all the porters were employed, +when an elderly lady entered and made some purchases. +After she had bought all she wanted she +demanded some one to carry her parcels home for her. +In vain did the merchant promise to send them in half +an hour—she would have them then or never; and her +eye falling on Said, she wanted to know why he should +not accompany her. After much remonstrance Kalum +had to give in, and Said found himself following in the +wake of the lady, who stopped at last before a magnificent +house. She knocked and they were admitted, +and after mounting a wide marble staircase, Said found +himself in a lofty hall, far grander than he had ever seen +before. Here he was relieved of his burden, and was +just going out at the door, when—</p> + +<p class="in">"Said," cried a sweet voice behind him. He turned +round quickly, and saw to his amazement a daintily +beautiful lady surrounded by attendants, instead of the +old lady he had followed.</p> + +<p class="in">"Said, my dear boy," she said, "it is a great +misfortune that you left Balsora before you were twenty; +but here in Bagdad there is some chance for you. Have +you still your little whistle?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Indeed I have," he cried gladly; "perhaps you are +the kindly fairy who befriended my mother?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span> +<img src="images/i0691.jpg" width="50%" alt=""A DAINTILY BEAUTIFUL LADY"" title=""A DAINTILY BEAUTIFUL LADY"" /> +<p class="caption">"A DAINTILY BEAUTIFUL LADY" (<i>p.</i> 228).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"Yes, and as long as you are good I will help you. +But, alas! I cannot even deliver you from that wretch, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span>Kalum Bek, for he is protected by your most powerful +enemy."</p> + +<p class="in">"But can we do nothing? Can I not go to the +Caliph? He is a just man and will help me."</p> + +<p class="in">"Haroun is indeed just, but he is greatly influenced +by Messour, who, a model of uprightness himself, has +been already primed by Kalum with his version of your +story. But there are other ways of getting at the +Caliph, and it is written in the stars that you will +obtain his favour."</p> + +<p class="in">"I am to be pitied if I have to stay much longer +with that rascal of a shopkeeper. But there is one +favour I beg of you, most gracious of fairies. Jousts are +held every week, but only for the freeborn. Couldn't +you manage to give me equipments, and make my face +so that no one would know me?"</p> + +<p class="in">"That is a wish worthy of a brave man, and I will +grant it. Come here each week, and you will find everything +you want. And now, farewell. Be cautious and +virtuous. In six months your whistle will sound, and +Zulima will answer its appeal."</p> + +<p class="in">Said took leave of his protectress, and, taking note +of the position of the house, made his way back to the +shop. He arrived there in the very nick of time, for +Kalum was surrounded by a crowd of jeering neighbours, +and was literally dancing with rage. This was what had +happened. Two men had asked the merchant if he could +direct them to the shop of the handsome salesman.</p> + +<p class="in">"Well! well!" said the old man, smiling, "Heaven +has guided you to the right place this time. What do +you want, a shawl or a veil?"</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span>This to the men seemed nothing short of insolence, +and they fell upon him tooth and nail, the neighbours +refusing to help the old skinflint. But Said, seeing his +master in such distress, strode to the rescue, and one of +the assailants soon found himself on the ground. Under +the influence of his flashing eyes the crowd soon melted +away, for violence on the wrong side was not to their +taste.</p> + +<p class="in">"Oh, you prince of shopmen, that is what I call interfering +to some purpose! Didn't he lie on the ground +as if he had never used his legs? I should have lost +my beard for ever if you had not come up. How shall +I reward you?"</p> + +<p class="in">Said had only acted upon the impulse of the moment; +indeed, he now felt rather sorry that he had deprived +the scoundrel of a well-deserved thrashing. He seized +the opportunity, however, and asked for an evening a +week in which to take a walk. This was granted him, +and the next Wednesday he set out for the fairy's house. +Here he found everything as Zulima had promised. +First the servants gave him a wash, which changed him +from a stripling to a black-bearded man, whose face +was bronzed by exposure to the sun. Then he was +led into a second room, where he saw a dress that would +not have been put to shame by the State robes of the +Caliph. He hastily donned this, and, magnificently +equipped, descended the stairs. As he reached the door, +a servant handed him a silk handkerchief with which to +wipe his face when he wished to rid himself of his disguise. +In the court were standing three horses; two +were ridden by squires, but the most magnificent was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span>for his own use. When Said arrived on the plain set +apart for the jousts, all eyes turned on him, and curiosity +was rife as to who the unknown knight could be; that +he was distinguished and of high family none doubted.</p> + +<p class="in">When Said entered the lists he gave his name as +Almansor of Cairo, and said that he had come to Bagdad +because of the fame of the youths of that city. The +sides were chosen, and the opposing parties charged. +Said's horse was as swift as an eagle, and his prowess +with the sword was so great that even the bravest +shunned meeting him, and the Caliph's brother, who +had been on his side, challenged him to single combat. +The two fought, but were so equal that the contest had +to be postponed till the next meeting. On the following +day all Bagdad was ringing with the praises of the +gallant young knight; and little did the people guess +that he was then serving in a shop in the bazaar.</p> + +<p class="in">At the next tournament Said carried all before him, +and received from the Caliph a golden medallion hanging +from a gold chain. This aroused the envy of the other +youths. Was a stranger to come to Bagdad and rob +them of their honour? Said noticed the signs of discontent, +and observed that all viewed him askance, +except the brother and son of the Caliph. By a strange +chance the one most bitter against him was the man he +had knocked down before Kalum Bek's shop. Led by +this man, the others made a sudden attack on Said, who +must have fallen if the Royal combatants had not rushed +to his aid.</p> + +<p class="in">For more than four months he continued to fight in +the lists, but one night as he was going home he noticed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span>four men who were walking slowly before him. To his +astonishment, he found they were speaking in the dialect +used by Selim's band. He suspected that they were +after no good, and so he crept nearer to hear what they +were saying.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i070.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THE TWO FOUGHT"" title=""THE TWO FOUGHT"" /> +<p class="caption">"THE TWO FOUGHT" (<i>p.</i> 232).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"He will be in the street to the right of the bazaar +to-night, attended by the Grand Vizier," said one.</p> + +<p class="in">"That is good," answered the other; "there is no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span>fear of the Grand Vizier, but I am not so sure of the +Caliph—there might be some of his guard near."</p> + +<p class="in">"No, there won't," broke in a third; "he is always +alone at night."</p> + +<p class="in">"I think it would be best to throw a lasso over his +head," said the first.</p> + +<p class="in">"Very well, an hour after midnight;" and with these +words they separated.</p> + +<p class="in">"Well, I have discovered a pretty plot," thought Said, +and his first idea was to go at once to the Caliph; but +he remembered how Kalum had maligned him to +Messour, and stopped. No, the only way was for him +to defend the Caliph in person. Accordingly, when night +came on, he betook himself to the appointed street, and +waited to see what was going to happen. Soon the +men came and concealed themselves in different parts +of the street. All was quiet for half an hour, and at +the end of that time one of the robbers gave a sign, +for the Caliph was in sight. With one accord the band +rushed upon him, but Said rose from his hiding-place, +and laid about him with such hearty goodwill that they +were soon glad to take to their heels with all speed.</p> + +<p class="in">"My rescue," said the Caliph, "is no less wonderful +than the attack made upon me. How did you know +who I was? How did you get to know of the plot?"</p> + +<p class="in">Said then told how he had followed the men, and, +hearing their plans, determined to frustrate their villainous +intention.</p> + +<p class="in">"Receive my thanks," said the Caliph, "and accept +this ring. Present it to-morrow at the palace, and we +will see what can be done for you."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span>The Vizier, too, gave him a ring, together with a heavy +purse.</p> + +<p class="in">Mad with joy, Said hurried home, but here Kalum +was awaiting him, anxious lest he should have lost his +handsome servant. The little man raved at Said, but +the latter had seen that his purse was full of money, +and told him flatly that he would stay there no longer. +He strode out at the door, leaving Kalum staring after +him in open-mouthed astonishment. The next morning +the merchant set the police on his track, and they +brought him word that his quondam servant, dressed +in a most magnificent fashion, was just setting out with +a caravan.</p> + +<p class="in">"He has stolen money from me, the thief!" Kalum +shrieked, and ordered the constable to arrest Said. As +Kalum was known to be related to Messour, his commands +were promptly attended to, and poor Said found himself +condemned, unheard, as having stolen the purse +from his master. He was sentenced to life-long banishment +on a desert island, and all his protestations of +innocence were of no avail. The poor fellow was in +despair, and even the stony-hearted merchant put in a +plea for him. He was thrown into a filthy dungeon, +together with nineteen others. He comforted himself +with the thought that his life would be more endurable +on board ship, but here he was mistaken. The atmosphere +was foul, and the men fought like wild beasts +for the best places. Food and water were handed out +to them once a day, and at the same time the men +who had died were hauled out.</p> + +<p class="in">A fortnight was passed in this misery, but one day +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span>they felt the ship was tossing more than usual, and their +discomfort was increased. At last the survivors burst +the hatches open, but to their despair they saw that +the ship had been deserted by all the crew. The storm +raged even more wildly, the ship rocked and settled +deeper into the water. At last it went to pieces, and +Said managed to cling to the mast. After he had floated +for about half an hour, he suddenly remembered his +whistle. It still hung round his neck, and holding on +well with one hand to the mast, he put it to his mouth, +and this time it did not fail him. At the sound of the +clear, sweet note, the storm ceased as if by magic, and +the sea became like glass, and, what was more wonderful +still, the mast by which Said was supported was changed +into a huge dolphin, to his no small terror. But he soon +found there was no need for him to be afraid, for the +fish bore him as swiftly as an arrow through the water.</p> + +<p class="in">After some time Said, remembering tales of enchanters, +drew out his whistle, and blowing a shrill blast, wished +for a meal. At once a table rose from the depths of +the sea, and Said enjoyed the much-needed refreshment. +The sun was just sinking, when he saw a large town +in the distance which reminded him of Bagdad. The +thought of Bagdad was not so very pleasant, but still +he trusted that the fairy, who had guarded him so far, +would not let him fall into the hands of Kalum Bek. +As he drew nearer he noticed a large house on the bank +of the river, the roof of which was crowded with men, +who were all gazing in astonishment at himself. No +sooner had Said set foot on the land, than the fish +vanished, and at the same time the servants appeared +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span>to lead him before their master. On the roof were +standing three men, who questioned him in a friendly +way. Said at once began to relate his story, from the +time when he left Balsora, and his listeners declared +that they believed him; still, they asked if he could +produce the golden chain and the rings of which he had +spoken.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0711.jpg" width="50%" alt=""A TABLE ROSE FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA"" title=""A TABLE ROSE FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA"" /> +<p class="caption">"A TABLE ROSE FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA" (<i>p.</i> 236).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span>"Here they are," said Said. "I determined not to +part with them while I had life to defend them."</p> + +<p class="in">"By the beard of the Prophet, this is my ring, Grand +Vizier—our deliverer stands before us!"</p> + +<p class="in">Said was overcome by finding in whose presence +he was, and flung himself at the Caliph's feet. But +Haroun raised him, and overwhelmed him with praise +and thanks. Nothing would do but that Said must +return with them to the palace, where they would +conceive some plan to bring the merchant Kalum to +book. On the next day Kalum himself begged for +admittance to the presence of Haroun. A dispute had +arisen between himself and a man of Balsora, and he +asked for judgment.</p> + +<p class="in">"I will hear him," said the Caliph. "Said," turning +to the youth as the servant left the room, "this is no +other than your father. Do you hide behind that curtain, +and you, Grand Vizier, fetch the magistrate who condemned +Said."</p> + +<p class="in">In a short time Kalum entered, accompanied by +Benezar, and, after the Caliph had mounted his throne, +began his complaint.</p> + +<p class="in">"I was standing at my door a few days ago, when +this man Benezar came down the street, offering a purse +of gold for news of Said. I at once claimed the money, +and told him how his son, for so I found him to be, +had suffered the penalty for stealing a purse from +me. Then the madman demanded his money back, +and wanted to make me responsible for his rascal of +a son."</p> + +<p class="in">"Bring the magistrate who condemned the youth," +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span>commanded Haroun. He was produced as if by magic. +After much questioning, the justice confessed that +no witness had been brought forward except the +purse.</p> + +<p class="in">"Why," shouted the Grand Vizier, "that is my purse, +you scoundrel; and I gave it to the gallant youth who +saved me."</p> + +<p class="in">"Then," thundered the Caliph, "you swore falsely, +Kalum Bek. What was done to Said?"</p> + +<p class="in">"I sent him to a desert island," stammered the magistrate.</p> + +<p class="in">"Oh, Said, my son, my son!" wept the unhappy +father.</p> + +<p class="in">"Stand forth, Said," said the Caliph.</p> + +<p class="in">Confronted by this apparition, Kalum and the justice +flung themselves on their knees, crying, "Mercy! mercy!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Did you have mercy on the misfortunes of this +unhappy boy? You, my best of judges, shall retire to +a desert island, so that you may have an opportunity of +studying justice. But, Kalum Bek, what am I to say +to you? You shall pay Said for all the time he has +served you, and," as Kalum was beginning to congratulate +himself on coming so well out of the business, "for the +perjury you shall receive a hundred strokes on the soles +of your feet. Take the men away and carry out their +sentence."</p> + +<p class="in">The wretched beings were led away, and the Caliph +took Said and his father into another apartment. Here +their conversation was interrupted by the yells of Kalum, +who was undergoing punishment in the court outside. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span>The Caliph invited Benezar to bring his goods +and settle in Bagdad. He gladly consented, and +Said spent his life in the palace built for him by the +grateful Caliph—indeed, the proverb ran in Bagdad, +"May I be as good and fortunate as Said, the son of +Benezar."</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="Little_Blue_Flower" id="Little_Blue_Flower"></a>Little Blue Flower.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0721.jpg" width="70%" alt="Little Blue Flower. From the German by Miss F. E. Hynam." title="Little Blue Flower. From the German by Miss F. E. Hynam." /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">A STORK swept high over the Bohemian forest.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span> +It was a most important duty that had brought +him from his own marshes into this mountainous +region, where far and wide no croak of frog could be +heard. In his beak he carried two little children, a boy +and a girl, both intended for the knight who dwelt in +the gloomy fortress below. Smaller and smaller grew +the circles made by the stork in his flight. Lower and +lower he sank towards the earth, until at length he rested +on the highest chimney of the castle.</p> + +<p class="in">But before letting the children slip down the narrow +black hole he paused and looked carefully around. While +in the air, this old castle, with its round turrets glittering +in the rising sun, had appeared to him a most stately +edifice. But now, when quite close, the stork discovered +many things that did not please him. The walls were +sadly out of repair, there were holes in the roof, whilst +the courtyard was overgrown with weeds.</p> + +<p class="in">"I do not like this," said the stork, looking thoughtfully +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span>down his long, red beak. "This place seems to +have a very bad landlord. A knight who cannot keep +his castle in proper repair certainly does not deserve two +children. I will take one away with me."</p> + +<p class="in">"Which should he have now, the boy or the girl?" +thought the stork. He looked once more thoughtfully +down his long beak, and on the two children smiling +happily in their dreams. "I think I will give him the +boy," he said at length. "He will push his way in this +wretched place better than the girl." With these words +he made a movement to throw the little boy down the +chimney.</p> + +<p class="in">This, however, was not so easy as the stork had thought. +In their sleep the little ones had embraced each other, and +would not let go. "I have never had two such obstinate +little creatures in my beak before," exclaimed the stork +angrily. Then he began to shake them, at first gently, +then harder, and at last so roughly that the children half +awoke from their dreams, and looked at each other with +blinking eyes. After this the boy would not let go his +companion, and no wonder, for the little girl had shown +him a pair of blue eyes of such wondrous beauty, that +there were not many like them in the world. But the +stork, now thoroughly angry, gave the poor little fellow a +kick that sent him head first down the castle chimney.</p> + +<p class="in">"Now, what shall I do with the other little thing?" +said the stork thoughtfully, scratching the back of his +ear. "Ah! I have it," he cried—the little girl had kept +on blinking her eyes, and the stork had also seen their +beautiful blue—"I have it!" he repeated. "Such eyes +can only belong to Norway."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span>High overhead soared the stork. Powerfully his wings +clove the air as he sailed away towards the north.</p> + +<p class="in">In the midst of the blue Baltic Sea a little wooded +island lay sparkling like a green jewel. Here dwelt Bjorn, +a grim old sea-king of Norwegian blood. Every year he +and his men ploughed the sea with their swift ships, +and very rich was the spoil he brought home to his +strong castle that stood in the centre of the island, +defended by wall and moat.</p> + +<p class="in">To this castle the stork bore the little maiden on his +strong wings.</p> + +<p class="in">Bjorn and his men were sitting in the spacious hall, +quaffing from golden cups the sweet wine they had +brought back in their ships from the sunny land of +Greece. Very wild was their joy when the little maiden +came down the chimney, and throughout the whole +night their boisterous songs could be heard far across +the wide sea.</p> + +<p class="in">And the little, sparkling waves sang in reply a rushing +murmuring song, to celebrate the arrival of the young +child. "To our sea-king a little daughter has been +born," they sang. "A beauteous little maiden, with eyes +blue as the sea, locks fair as the sea foam, and lips rosy +as the morning red when it gilds the crests of the waves." +Even the stupid fishes rejoiced, but as they could not +sing they leapt into the air, high up out of the waves, +and their scales glittered in the moonlight like gold and +silver.</p> + +<p class="in">Many days and many nights Bjorn and his crew drank +of the pearly wine. Then he could rest at home no +longer, so ordered his ships and sailed away, leaving +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span>the child, to whom he had given the name of Swanhild, +in charge of a faithful nurse.</p> + +<p class="in">On this voyage Bjorn encountered more storms and +enemies than he had ever done before. Often, whilst +on the tossing billows, he thought with longing of the +little one at home. Yet many long years passed ere he +could at length return home laden with rich spoil.</p> + +<p class="in">As he set foot on the little island he was greeted by +a beautiful maiden, with deep blue eyes, rosy lips, and +the fair hair of Norway. Full of joy, Bjorn clasped his +lovely child to his heart. Then he sat with his men in the +castle hall, feasting and quaffing the costly Grecian wine.</p> + +<p class="in">Swanhild had never before seen such noisy feasts. +Often, on moonlight nights, she would leave the castle +and wander alone on the sea-shore.</p> + +<p class="in">But one evening, as she thus wandered, clad in her +white garments, and with her fair head bent towards +the waves, she was seen by a wicked magician, who +had flown thither through the air on a black goat. He +came from the cliffs of Norway, where he had been sent +to seize the soul of a poor Laplander who had stolen his +neighbour's reindeer, and he was now travelling to Blocksberg +to take this soul to his master, a powerful evil spirit.</p> + +<p class="in">When the magician saw Swanhild he was much delighted. +He had never before beheld any one so lovely. +But alas! while he was lost in contemplation of her +beauty the soul of the little Laplander escaped, and flew +away. He let it go. Seeking a secluded spot, he at +once summoned a number of crabs and water-beetles, +which he placed in three shining mussel-shells. One +touch of his staff changed these shells filled with crabs +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span>and water-beetles into magnificent vessels full of well-armed +men. His black goat became a skald, and played +the harp. Then transforming himself into a handsome +young Viking, he ordered the sails to be hoisted, and +rounding a wooded promontory, sailed into the bay where +Bjorn's vessel lay.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">(247)</a></span> +<img src="images/i0731.jpg" width="50%" alt=""WHEN THE MAGICIAN SAW SWANHILD HE WAS MUCH +DELIGHTED"" title=""WHEN THE MAGICIAN SAW SWANHILD HE WAS MUCH +DELIGHTED"." /> +<p class="caption">"WHEN THE MAGICIAN SAW SWANHILD HE WAS MUCH +DELIGHTED" (<i>p.</i> 246).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Loudly the sentries on Bjorn's ship blew their horns. +Louder yet rang out the answering blast from the castle. +Wildly Bjorn and his men broke through the forest. +Furious was their war-cry, shrilly clanged their weapons.</p> + +<p class="in">The strange Viking stepped forward boldly, and extending +his hand to Bjorn in token of friendship, besought +hospitality for himself and his men.</p> + +<p class="in">Bjorn let himself be persuaded. He led the strangers +into his splendid halls, and drank and feasted with them +many days and many nights. Then the strange hero +ordered rich presents to be brought from his ships: +garments studded with gold, gold ornaments, and shining +swords. This completely deceived Bjorn and his followers, +and when the stranger asked for Swanhild in marriage, +the Viking readily gave his consent. That Swanhild +turned pale no one heeded. Nor did they heed that she +wept nightly in the solitude of her chamber.</p> + +<p class="in">The marriage day at length arrived. But when everything +was ready, and Swanhild, in glittering array, was +being led towards the stranger, she, with a quick movement, +turned her back on him and fled to her chamber.</p> + +<p class="in">Loudly raged the father, his eyes glowing with fury. +But wilder still rolled the eyes of the stranger. He broke +into a laugh, and cried, with mocking voice, "You shall +all pay for this."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span>One look from those fierce eyes, and his men became +a crowd of crabs and water-beetles. The skald threw +away his harp, and stood there a black goat with fiery +eyes. The stranger shook off his armour, and was a +horrible old man.</p> + +<p class="in">Bjorn grew pale with terror, his followers began to +tremble and shake. Another look from the magician: +they all shrank together, and a crawling mass of frogs +covered the floor. Bjorn was the largest of them all. +Then opening door and gate, the magician drove them +out into the marshy moat. Here they dived.</p> + +<p class="in">The magician then locked the door and threw the +key into the moat. At her chamber windows Swanhild +sat weeping. He looked up at her furiously, but she +was so good and pure, his glance had no power over +her. He shook his fist threateningly.</p> + +<p class="in">"Now sit there all alone," he cried, "since you will +not marry me. You cannot escape, and no one can +deliver you, for my goat keeps guard."</p> + +<p class="in">He flew away whistling. The black goat walked round +and round the moat, his eyes gleaming like living coals. +The frogs croaked in the evening light, and above, in +her chamber, Swanhild wept solitary and forsaken.</p> + +<p class="in">In the meantime, the boy left by the stork at the +gloomy castle in the Bohemian forest had become a +valiant knight, who knew well how to use his sword. Yet +so strange a knight as he had never before sat in Walnut-tree +Castle. This was the name of his ancestral home.</p> + +<p class="in">Since his father's death Wulf had lived quite alone +in the ruined castle, for none of the servants would stay +after the old knight died. But this did not trouble +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span>Wulf. He did not care to hunt the wild boar through +the thicket, or kill the frightened stag. His chief pleasure +was to stretch himself on the thick, soft moss, and gaze +through the green branches of the forest trees at the +blue heavens that smiled here and there in little flocks +through the thick foliage. He also loved to seek for +forest flowers—the blue were his favourites. Whence +this preference he knew not, but he dreamt he had once +looked into Swanhild's blue eyes. Or, when tired of +these things, he would stand at one of the castle +windows, gazing thoughtfully out into the blue distance. +"Far away yonder," so ran his thoughts at these times, +"where the blue heaven bends down to touch the earth, +should I not find happiness there? Were it not better +to journey abroad in search of happiness than to remain +alone in this solitary castle, through whose walls the +wind whistles, whilst owls and bats are now the only +occupants of its once stately halls?"</p> + +<p class="in">But though longing to go out into the world, Wulf +remained in the ruined castle, in obedience to an old +command of one of his ancestors.</p> + +<p class="in">In the middle of the castle court there grew in the +cleft of a rock a gigantic walnut tree. From it the castle had received its name. The nut from which +this tree had sprung had been planted in olden times by +one of Wulf's ancestors, who at the same time had +carved these words on the rock:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Where flourishes this tree, there shall my house remain.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While it stands, forsake it not to search abroad for fame;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But should the ancient glory from these halls e'er disappear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Life from this tree shall make it shine once more quite bright and clear.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span>Their splendour had long since disappeared, and how +the tree could restore it Wulf could not imagine; still, +he remained obedient to the command.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0741.jpg" width="50%" alt=""A CRAWLING MASS OF FROGS COVERED THE FLOOR"" title=""A CRAWLING MASS OF FROGS COVERED THE FLOOR"" /> +<p class="caption">"A CRAWLING MASS OF FROGS COVERED THE FLOOR" (<i>p.</i> 249).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">One evening a mighty storm arose. Black clouds +obscured the sky. The lightning flashed; the thunder +rolled. The storm raged through the forest. The +mouldering stones of the old castle slipped from their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">252</a></span>places, and the wind whistled through the gaps, and +raged through the old rooms and passages. Then a flash +of lightning! a clap of thunder! The castle was in ruins! +Wulf escaped into the open air; before him lay the +walnut tree, shivered by the lightning.</p> + +<p class="in">He immediately saddled his horse. What need to +remain here longer? Hastily snatching a few ripe nuts +that lay among the shattered branches, he concealed them +in his doublet as a remembrance, and then rode away +through the gloomy forest.</p> + +<p class="in">Far and wide, Wulf wandered over the green earth +beneath the blue heavens, encountering many enemies. +But in spite of all he kept courageously on his way.</p> + +<p class="in">One day his path led through a thick forest of beech +trees. He looked around thoughtfully as his horse +scattered the fallen leaves at every step. Suddenly he +looked up. What was it that shimmered so blue through +the trees? Wulf urged his horse forward, but beneath +a giant beech at the edge of the forest he halted; the +endless sea lay before him.</p> + +<p class="in">"Here is blue heaven above and beneath, surely I shall +find happiness here?" thought Wulf, as he swung himself +to earth. Without a thought he left his horse, and +hastened to the shore. On the soft waves a small bark +was rocking. Wulf sprang in and loosed the chain. +Lightly the waves bore the boat out into the blue +distance.</p> + +<p class="in">For a long time Wulf lay contentedly in the bottom +of the boat. He felt as though he were a little child +folded into his mother's arms, safe from all want and +danger. And he thought the waves wished to tell him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">253</a></span>something, but he could not understand their language. +Yet he saw that they bore his bark ever more swiftly +forward, and he rejoiced at the increasing speed.</p> + +<p class="in">There was a grating sound under the keel: Wulf had +reached land at last. Before him lay a wooded island. +Above the tops of the trees rose the turrets of a stately +castle. He hastened forward and arrived at the castle +moat. An unearthly stillness reigned over all around. +Nothing moved save a swarm of frogs. These swam +round and round in the moat, or sat on the leaves of +the water-lilies, and croaked in what seemed to Wulf +most sorrowful tones. But the largest amongst them +behaved in a most extraordinary manner. He was for +ever trying to climb up the castle wall, but if after much +trouble he managed to get up a little way, he always +fell back again. Then he would seat himself on a water-lily, +look upwards, and wipe his eyes as though he were +weeping.</p> + +<p class="in">Wulf also looked up.</p> + +<p class="in">"Happiness at last!" he exclaimed. "The blue eyes!" +But he got no further. A violent push from an angry +goat sent him flying into the middle of the moat.</p> + +<p class="in">Wulf felt himself sinking fast. His feet got entangled +among the twisted roots of the water-lilies. With great +difficulty he managed to keep his head above the water.</p> + +<p class="in">"And here I must die," said he in anguish.</p> + +<p class="in">Then from out his doublet sounded soft little voices:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The blessing of Urahn to you is near.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Do not despair, for help is present here."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="in">And behold! all around him now began a wonderful +rustling and moving. He groped about with his hands, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">254</a></span>and felt that tender little roots had forced their way +through his doublet and were taking root in the slime. +And all around him he saw little green walnut tree leaves +rising out of the water. Twigs followed the leaves, and +these again became branches. Wulf felt he was being +forced upwards; soon he was safely out of the water. +Looking up, he saw Swanhild's blue eyes. He stretched +out his arms towards her and she smiled.</p> + +<p class="in">Higher and higher Wulf was borne. Five strong +walnut trees grew beneath him, and bore him up on +their branches. Now he could reach up and touch +Swanhild's hands. Now he sat by her at the window, +and gazed into her blue eyes.</p> + +<p class="in">"What is your name?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="in">"Swanhild," she replied.</p> + +<p class="in">"It is a very beautiful name," said Wulf. "But for +my sake you must now be called Little Blue Flower. +When I was quite a child I saw your eyes in my dreams. +They appeared to me like little blue flowers, and every +day I searched for these flowers in the forest, but they +were never sufficiently beautiful. Now you shall be my +Little Blue Flower." And then he gave her a kiss.</p> + +<p class="in">But now a fresh movement began in the moat below. +The stout frog was able to scramble up the crooked, +rough stems of the walnut tree, better than up the smooth +castle wall. Boldly he climbed, and the whole army of +frogs followed him. At length he reached the top. +Swanhild gently laid her hand on his head, and instead +of the frog old Bjorn sat on one of the branches of the +walnut tree, and embraced and kissed both his daughter +and Wulf. Then the other frogs came, and Swanhild +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span>laid her hand on them all. Soon all Bjorn's followers +were sitting in crowds on the branches, dangling their +legs for joy. Full of anger, the black goat ran round +and round the castle moat, rolling his great fiery eyes.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i075.jpg" width="50%" alt=""Now he could reach up and touch Swanhild's hands." +" title=""Now he could reach up and touch Swanhild's hands." +" /> +<p class="caption">"Now he could reach up and touch Swanhild's hands." +<span style="margin-left: 70%"><i>Page 254</i></span></p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">(255)</a></span> +<img src="images/i0761.jpg" width="50%" alt=""SOON ALL BJORN'S FOLLOWERS WERE SITTING ON THE +BRANCHES"" title=""SOON ALL BJORN'S FOLLOWERS WERE SITTING ON THE +BRANCHES"" /> +<p class="caption">"SOON ALL BJORN'S FOLLOWERS WERE SITTING ON THE +BRANCHES" (<i>p.</i> 256).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Just as the last frog was changed, a mighty rushing +noise was heard. The magician flew raging through +the air. With his magic staff he struck the poor goat +a fierce blow, and then rode back on him to Blocksberg. +Here it went very badly with him, because he came +without the soul of the little Laplander, and he was +severely punished.</p> + +<p class="in">Bjorn, with Wulf and all his men, joyfully entered the +castle through Swanhild's window. A few days later +Swanhild's marriage with Wulf was celebrated with great +splendour, and they lived together in peace and happiness +to the end of their days.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Princess_Who_Despised_all_Men" id="The_Princess_Who_Despised_all_Men"></a>"The Princess Who Despised all Men."</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0771.jpg" width="70%" alt="The Princess who despised all men. By Charles Smith Cheltnam." title="The Princess who despised all men. By Charles Smith Cheltnam." /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">THERE was once a King and Queen who, having<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">259</a></span> +everything a King and Queen could reasonably +desire, might have been as happy as the day +was long—if they had only taken the right means for +making the best of their good fortune.</p> + +<p class="in">The King was a pattern of amiability, and, as to +wisdom, could have held his own in comparison with +any crowned potentate on earth; but of the Queen not +half as much could be said in praise. As a girl, her +beauty had been renowned, and had brought to her +Princes by the score as wooers; but to their suits she +had, as the phrase is, turned a deaf ear, regarding men +as creatures made wholly of ill qualities, and marriage +with them a debasement of herself in every sense; and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">260</a></span>it was not until her father threatened to imprison her +for the rest of her life in a town built of steel and +adamant, that she could be induced to accept a husband.</p> + +<p class="in">The amiability of her spouse was often sorely tried +by her constant disparagement of men; but, being founded +upon exceptional goodness of character, he did not allow +it to be overcome, and schooled himself to bear with her +fantastic ideas, rewarding himself for his leniency by +sometimes laughing in his sleeve at the more preposterous +of her pretensions.</p> + +<p class="in">A great many years passed without their having any +family until, one day, the Queen had a baby girl, and +consoled herself by reflecting that that, at least, was +better than having a boy, "to grow up into a horrid +man," as she expressed herself.</p> + +<p class="in">It happened that, at the moment of the little Princess's +birth, the fairy Gaieia was passing the palace, and, as +she had no particularly pressing business on hand, slipped +in, and, after congratulating the Queen on the beauty +of her offspring, constituted herself the infant's god-mother—as +was the fairy custom at that period—at the +same time laughingly predicting that she would prove +to be "the joy of her parents."</p> + +<p class="in">It hardly needs to be recorded that, with her very +peculiar views as to what a woman's conduct in life +ought to be, the Queen did not permit her daughter to +receive instruction of any kind from anybody but herself; +the King, consequently, rarely saw his child, and knew +nothing of the character which had been made for her +by her mother, rather than allowed to come to her and +develop itself in the natural order of things. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">261</a></span>In this way the Princess Disdainana—so her mother +had insisted on naming her—was brought up until she +had reached her seventeenth year. If the youthful beauty +of her mother had been renowned, that of the Princess +was celebrated far and near as being nothing less than +marvellous, and a hundred of the richest and handsomest +Kings and Princes in the world vied with each other +in their endeavours to obtain her hand; but to not one +of them would she deign to listen even for a moment, +regarding all men as a sort of natural excrescence, whose +only fitting place in the world was in companionship +with the horses and dogs, or, at most, as ugly and +repulsive creatures necessary for the performance of the +most unpleasant labours. It was on this account that +she had become universally known as "The Princess Who +Despised All Men."</p> + +<p class="in">This state of things became, at last, a cause of extreme +uneasiness to the King. By the time she had +arrived at a marriageable age, the fact that he, too, +was year by year growing older began to recur to +his mind with disquieting persistency; for, having no +son to succeed him, he saw that, if his daughter's disinclination +to marry were maintained, his dynasty was +in danger of coming to an end—and that is a prospect +which no King can be expected to contemplate with +equanimity.</p> + +<p class="in">One day, therefore, when the subject was worrying him +very much, he sent for his wife and daughter and explained +to them the extreme discomforts of the situation +which had been brought about by the obduracy of the +Princess.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">262</a></span>"My daughter, I am happy to say, knows her duty +to herself," replied the Queen proudly.</p> + +<p class="in">The King was about to retort, "But she does not +appear to know anything whatever about her duty to +her father;" but, as it was a rule of conduct with him +never to use that form of contradiction in any discussion +he had with his wife, he held his peace.</p> + +<p class="in">"Rather than become the wife of an ugly, coarse, +bearded man, I would die a hundred deaths!" cried +the Princess vehemently.</p> + +<p class="in">As the last syllable left her lips, a gay laugh rippled +through the air of the room.</p> + +<p class="in">"May I ask what you find to laugh at in what my +daughter has said?" demanded the Queen of her husband, +indignantly.</p> + +<p class="in">"Nothing whatever, my dear—and, consequently, I did +not laugh," replied the King mildly.</p> + +<p class="in">"What! Perhaps you will say that it was <i>I</i> who +uttered that insolent sound?" cried the Queen.</p> + +<p class="in">"Now I come to recall the fact, I don't think I ever +heard you laugh, my dear; but I am sure the voice that +laughed a moment ago was not in the least like yours," +said the King.</p> + +<p class="in">"It was more like my daughter's, perhaps you will +say?" remarked the Queen sarcastically.</p> + +<p class="in">"Not in the least—I should imagine, for I never had +the advantage of hearing her laugh any more than yourself," +replied the King.</p> + +<p class="in">Again the gay sound of a musical voice, laughing +lightly, rang through the room.</p> + +<p class="in">"Oh! This is too insulting!" cried the Queen. "Come +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">263</a></span>with me, my love—out of such an unendurable atmosphere +of coarseness."</p> + +<p class="in">And, without deigning to listen to a word of remonstrance +from the King, she hurried the Princess back to +her own apartment—followed by another silvery peal +of laughter.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i078.jpg" width="50%" alt=""SHE HURRIED THE PRINCESS BACK TO HER OWN APARTMENT."" title=""SHE HURRIED THE PRINCESS BACK TO HER OWN APARTMENT."" /> +<p class="caption">"SHE HURRIED THE PRINCESS BACK TO HER OWN APARTMENT."</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">The King was equally puzzled and vexed by the abrupt +termination of what he had hoped would have been a +conference resulting in relief to himself from pressing +anxieties. Now—knowing his wife's absolute and unyielding +temper, and the complete control she exercised +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">264</a></span>over her daughter—he saw no way but one (that of +using his extreme parental authority) to bring the Princess +to obedience; but that measure he was too kind-hearted +to resolve upon applying.</p> + +<p class="in">In the utmost perplexity of mind he had paced his +study for several minutes, without noticing that he was +grasping in his right hand a scroll of parchment. On +becoming aware of this fact, he stopped suddenly and +gazed on the document with bewildered astonishment. +It was absolutely certain that he had never seen it before, +that it was not in his hand when the Queen and Princess +quitted his presence, and that nobody else had entered +the room.</p> + +<p class="in">While he was thinking of all this, the gay laugh, +which had been heard three times before, rang through +the study again, only more gaily than ever—for a moment +angering the King, though he was one of the most +placable of Sovereigns, and causing him to ferret in +every possible hiding-place in his study in search of the +daring jester. But not a trace of an intruder was discoverable. +When he had perfectly assured himself of this, +he unfolded the mysteriously conveyed parchment.</p> + +<p class="in">The opening words of the document caused him to +turn pale, and the sight of the signature at the end of +it sent a thrill of terror through his frame. It was +nothing less than a formal demand for the hand of the +Princess Disdainana, on the part of Kloxoxskin the +Ninety-ninth—one of the ugliest and most belligerent +monarchs in the world—the document being drawn in +the form of an ultimatum, calling upon the King to +give his daughter to the said Kloxoxskin in marriage, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">265</a></span>within two hours of the receipt of this demand, or, +failing compliance therewith, to surrender his throne to +the said Kloxoxskin, who would, at the time specified, +come, supported by his invincible army of one million +nine hundred and ninety-nine veteran warriors, to receive +the said King's answer.</p> + +<p class="in">In his moments of worst apprehension, the King had +never thought of anything so terrible as this. He called +his wife and daughter back to him, and made them +clearly understand the crisis that had come to him and +them; but though the Queen was inclined to save her +share of the throne by submission, the Princess declared +that no consideration would induce her to give herself +to any man—to such a human monster as Kloxoxskin +least of all.</p> + +<p class="in">From that resolution her father tried to move her, +but she was inflexible against all his arguments and +prayers; and when the two hours' grace was spent, the +King found himself in the presence of the redoubtable +Kloxoxskin the Ninety-ninth, a prisoner in his palace, +and wholly at the mercy of his all-powerful conqueror.</p> + +<p class="in">Realising the peril in which she stood, the Queen +did her best to persuade her daughter to submit to the +inevitable; but the Princess quickly silenced her by +giving her back the arguments that had all her life +been used in the cultivation of her detestation of all +men.</p> + +<p class="in">But though she had no misgiving as to her moral +strength, the Princess could not but contemplate with +alarm the danger of a personal encounter with King +Kloxoxskin, so she determined to seek safety in flight +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">266</a></span>and, as soon as dusk came, contrived to slip unperceived +from the palace into a dense forest which grew at no +great distance from the walls of her father's capital.</p> + +<p class="in">For a long time she pressed farther and farther into +the depths of the forest, growing every moment more +and more relieved from the apprehension that she might +be pursued.</p> + +<p class="in">Pausing at length to rest, she noticed that night had +thoroughly set in, and that it would be impossible for +her to go any farther in the darkness. At the same +moment a terrible sound fell upon her ears—the roaring +of wild beasts of some kind, coming rapidly nearer and +nearer. For an instant her heart stood still, but she +was not wanting in courage or resource, and, observing +that she was at the foot of a giant oak tree, she lost not +a moment in climbing to the shelter of its spreading +boughs.</p> + +<p class="in">Choosing the securest position she could find, her +alarm of the moment subsided; but though she was +greatly fatigued, the memory of the peril from which +she was endeavouring to escape, coupled with anxiety +as to the trials which might be awaiting her all night, +prevented her from going to sleep; and, when morning +dawned, she prepared, tired and hungry, to descend to +the ground and continue her undefined journey.</p> + +<p class="in">But she found that climbing was a far easier matter +than descending from her place of refuge; for she now +observed that the tree sent out, on nearly all sides of +its gnarled trunk, the remains of huge jagged and lifeless +branches, to avoid which would require a skill which +she did not possess. She had no choice, however, but +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">267</a></span>to make an attempt to get down, and had nearly succeeded +in reaching the ground when, to her consternation, +the full skirt of her splendid dress caught upon an +enormous splinter, and held her hanging helpless some +feet in the air, all her efforts to free herself proving +unavailing.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i079.jpg" width="50%" alt=""AT THE MERCY OF HIS ALL-POWERFUL CONQUEROR"" title=""AT THE MERCY OF HIS ALL-POWERFUL CONQUEROR"" /> +<p class="caption">"AT THE MERCY OF HIS ALL-POWERFUL CONQUEROR" (<i>p.</i> 265).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Hours passed by. The sunlight pierced some of the +neighbouring tree-tops; but the return of day brought +her neither comfort nor the hope of release, and she +was giving way to the horrible idea that she would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">268</a></span>have to endure all the torments of a lingering death, +when she heard the voice of a woodman, whistling on +his way to his work, and called to him.</p> + +<p class="in">The man came towards her out of the underwood.</p> + +<p class="in">"Assist me down," said the Princess, in her habitual +tone of disdain.</p> + +<p class="in">"Not I," replied the woodman. "I recognise you: +you are the Princess Who Despises All Men! Ho! +ho!—<i>I'm</i> a man, remember!"</p> + +<p class="in">That said, he went on his way, whistling cheerfully, +leaving the Princess to think, for a moment, that her +rooted antipathy to men was amply justified by the +brutal conduct of this coarse and ugly wretch.</p> + +<p class="in">But the distress of her position became every moment +more and more acute, and, seeing that it was hopeless +to anticipate the assistance of any chance passer, she +made one more effort to free herself, and by exerting +all her remaining strength, succeeded in tearing herself +from the offensive bough—at the cost of a great rent +in her beautiful dress and a fall, which left her for a +few minutes lying insensible on the ground at the foot +of the tree.</p> + +<p class="in">After returning to consciousness, and sitting for a +while to recover her presence of mind, she rose and +continued her blind way through the forest, always +hungry and many times faint with fatigue, all day +long, until once again she found the shades of evening +closing about her.</p> + +<p class="in">Just before night had actually come, she reached a +spot at which a party of charcoal-burners were seated +about a cheerful fire in front of their hut, eating their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">269</a></span>supper of bread and potatoes, roasted in the embers at +their feet. The appetising scents of these well-cooked +roots provoked the starving Princess's hunger in an +almost unendurable degree.</p> + +<p class="in">"Give me one of your potatoes," she said, still unable +to modify the disdainful tone of her voice.</p> + +<p class="in">"Not we!" replied the head charcoal-burner. "I +recognise you: you are the Princess Who Despises All +Men! Ho! ho! <i>We</i> are men, remember!"</p> + +<p class="in">More than ever disgusted with men, the Princess +wandered all night through the forest, afraid to lie down, +lest she might fall asleep and become a prey to some +prowling wild beast.</p> + +<p class="in">As the dawn of another day was becoming visible, +she found herself on the border of a meadow, and saw +a young farmer drawing water from a well for some +horses which were waiting near him.</p> + +<p class="in">"Give me some of that water—I'm thirsty!" she +said imperiously.</p> + +<p class="in">"Aha," said the young farmer, "I recognise you: +you are the Princess Who Despises All Men! If you +want water, dig a well for yourself, as I have had +to do."</p> + +<p class="in">"Loathsome creatures, one and all!" the Princess +said to herself, as she turned away from the spot. "My +good mother was right in teaching me to despise +them."</p> + +<p class="in">She presently reached a more open part of the country, +though she was still near the forest through which she +had passed, and, towards noon, when she was almost +overcome by the sun's heat, she came upon a rising +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">270</a></span>ground, whence she beheld, afar off, a great stretch of +water, and, on what seemed its most distant reach, an +opalesque haze.</p> + +<p class="in">Then there suddenly came to her mind a story she +had heard of the existence of an island-kingdom peopled +by women who, like herself, held all men in disdain, +and would never permit one of them to set foot where +they were. And she was overtaken by a burning desire +to reach that island, which she fancied must be hidden +in the midst of the opalesque haze on which she was +gazing.</p> + +<p class="in">So she hurried on and on, sustained wholly by the +intensity of her desire, till she came upon the sea-shore—for +the great water she had looked upon was the +wide ocean.</p> + +<p class="in">Alongside his boat, and busy with his nets, she found +a fisherman, and at once accosted him.</p> + +<p class="in">"Is yonder mist-enveloped island the kingdom of +Diaphanosia?" she asked him.</p> + +<p class="in">"Yes," he answered.</p> + +<p class="in">"Then row me over to it in your boat," she said +eagerly.</p> + +<p class="in">"Not I," he replied. "I recognise you: you are the +Princess Who Despises All men, and <i>I</i> am a man, you +know. If you want a boat, make one for yourself, as +I had to do. Over there, in the forest, you will find +plenty of wood for your purpose, only you will have +to cut it down."</p> + +<p class="in">To get out of the sun's burning rays, and to give +herself time for reflection, the Princess retired into the +forest and sat down at the foot of a hollow tree, by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">271</a></span>the side of which a rusty axe was lying, as if it had +been left there by some woodman and forgotten.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0801.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THE DISTRESS OF HER POSITION BECAME EVERY MOMENT +MORE ACUTE"" title=""THE DISTRESS OF HER POSITION BECAME EVERY MOMENT +MORE ACUTE"" /> +<p class="caption">"THE DISTRESS OF HER POSITION BECAME EVERY MOMENT +MORE ACUTE" (<i>p.</i> 268).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">Strange! A merry laugh came out of the thicket +near to her; but though she searched with her eyes in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">272</a></span>every direction she could discover nobody who could +have given it utterance.</p> + +<p class="in">Strange again! It flashed upon her mind that the +mere expression of disdain for men was wanting in force +if it were not emphasised by the demonstration of woman's +power to do absolutely without them.</p> + +<p class="in">Upon the strength of this reasoning, she at once +seized the axe, and after many days of hard work, +succeeded in felling the hollow tree and giving to it +something of the shape of a boat, in which, by the aid +of a roughly fashioned pair of oars, she rowed herself +across to the island-kingdom, where she hoped to find +the realisation of all her aspirations for a state of existence +in which men were wholly ignored.</p> + +<p class="in">Not once or twice, but over and over again, she +succeeded in reaching the border of the opalesque haze +in which the kingdom of Diaphanosia was perpetually +veiled; but she was as often beaten back by an irresistible +current which set towards the shore from which she +had started.</p> + +<p class="in">On one of these fruitless voyages her strength utterly +left her, and she sank down in the bottom of her boat +insensible, the oars dropping from her nerveless hands +and drifting away; so that, even if she had immediately +returned to consciousness, she would have found herself +helplessly at the mercy of the sea.</p> + +<p class="in">When she <i>did</i> recover from her state of insensibility, +it was to discover herself lying upon a mossy bank +on the skirt of the forest, a handsome and superbly +dressed young man tending her with delicately eager +solicitude.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">273</a></span>She did not attempt to rise or to speak; she thought +she was sleeping and dreaming—the only thing strange +in her state of feeling being that the near presence of a +man provoked no sense of repugnance or resentment.</p> + +<p class="in">"Thank Heaven!" said the young gentleman, in a +tone of intense relief, as he saw her open her eyes. +"For awhile I have been terribly afraid that my efforts +to rescue you had been unavailing."</p> + +<p class="in">Still held by the idea that she was dreaming, the +Princess only continued to look into his face without +replying to his words.</p> + +<p class="in">"Rest here for a short time, and sleep if you can, +while I watch over you," he continued. "When you +have become strong enough to travel, my horse shall +carry you to my father's palace, which stands not very +far from this spot: once there, my mother will be +delighted to tend upon you as if you were her own +daughter."</p> + +<p class="in">"Take me to your kind mother," she said, rising, the +soft tones of her own voice sounding in her ears as if +they came from the lips of some other person than +herself.</p> + +<p class="in">The handsome young Prince—for he was no less—blew +a golden whistle suspended to his neck by a +jewelled chain, and in a few moments a splendidly +caparisoned horse came to him from out the forest.</p> + +<p class="in">Upon the back of this noble steed the Prince +gallantly lifted his beautiful charge, and taking the +bridle on his hand, led him through the forest openings, +walking by the Princess's side and relating to her how, +while hunting, it had been his blest fortune to see her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">274</a></span>helpless condition in her boat, and, by swimming out +to her, rescue her at the moment when her rude vessel +was on the point of sinking with her beneath the +waves.</p> + +<p class="in">She listened silently to all he said to her, filled with +an inexplicable sense of wonder at herself in finding +that ever the voice of a man could fall sympathetically +on her ears! "I <i>must</i> be dreaming!" she said to herself +again and again.</p> + +<p class="in">At last, on reaching an eminence, the Prince pointed +to a noble pile of buildings on the outskirts of a great +city, and said—something of sadness coming into the +tone of his voice:</p> + +<p class="in">"Yonder is my father's palace; we shall reach it in +a very little time—and then the happy privilege of these +delightful moments will cease to be mine, never to be +renewed, perhaps."</p> + +<p class="in">All things about her seemed, at the sound of those +words, to melt into a roseate mist, carrying with them +all sense of herself. Apart from her will, unconsciously, +she held out her hand to her preserver, who pressed it +to his lips with tender gratitude.</p> + +<p class="in">Clearly and with wonderful sweetness of intonation, +the gay laugh which had greeted her on so many +eventful moments of her life once more rang in the +Princess's ears.</p> + +<p class="in">"Ah! I recognise it now!" she cried—"the sweet +voice of my fairy god-mother! Oh, wise and kind Gaieia, +still be my guardian, as you have ever been, and make +me in the future all that I have failed to make myself +in the past!"</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">275</a></span>The laugh that answered her entreaty was as gay +and sweet as ever, but came from afar; for, in fact, the +good fairy had sped away, having a great deal still to +do for her froward godchild, and that without delay: +amongst other things to make King Kloxoxskin immediately +evacuate the palace and dominions of the Princess's +father, under the idea that he was escaping from a great +peril which would certainly have overwhelmed him if +he had persisted in forcing the Princess Disdainana to +marry him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0811.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HER RUDE VESSEL WAS ON THE POINT OF SINKING"" title=""HER RUDE VESSEL WAS ON THE POINT OF SINKING"" /> +<p class="caption">"HER RUDE VESSEL WAS ON THE POINT OF SINKING" (<i>p.</i> 274).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">More than that—a task much more difficult to accomplish—the +merry fairy had to overcome the prejudice of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">276</a></span>the Queen, whose obstinacy had returned in full force +as soon as she was once again able to exercise it on +the side of her anti-matrimonial fancies. But, as everybody +knows, nothing can permanently withstand the +power and strategy of a good fairy; so it came about—really +as a matter of course—that, her daughter having +accepted for her husband the charming Prince who had +saved her life, the Queen consented to receive him as her +son-in-law; and it is a well-attested matter of history, +that nobody ever heard her utter a single word in +dissent from her husband's freely-expressed delight at +the saving of his dynasty from what had, for awhile, +seemed its inevitable extinction.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Necklace_of_Tears" id="The_Necklace_of_Tears"></a>The Necklace of Tears.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i082.jpg" width="70%" alt="The Necklace of Tears. By Mrs. Egerton Eastwick." title="The Necklace of Tears. By Mrs. Egerton Eastwick." /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">ONCE, many years ago, there lived in Ombrelande<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">279</a></span> +a most beautiful Princess. Now, Ombrelande +is a country which still exists, and in which many +strange things still happen, although it is not to be found +in any map of the world that I know of.</p> + +<p class="in">The Princess, at the time the story begins, was little +more than a child, and while her growing beauty was +everywhere spoken of, she was unfortunately still more +noted for her selfish and disagreeable nature. She cared +for nothing but her own amusement and pleasure, and +gave no thought to the pain she sometimes inflicted on +others in order to gratify her whims. It must be mentioned, +however, as an excuse for her heartlessness, that, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">280</a></span>being an only child, she had been spoilt from her babyhood, +and always allowed to have her own way, while +those who thwarted her were punished.</p> + +<p class="in">One day the Princess Olga, that was her name, escaped +from her governess and attendants, and wandered into +the wood which joined the gardens of the palace. It +was her fancy to be alone; she would not even allow +her faithful dachshund to bear her company.</p> + +<p class="in">The air was soft with the coming of spring; the sun +was shining, the songs of the birds were full of gratitude +and joy; the most lovely flowers, in all imaginable hues, +turned the earth into a jewelled nest of verdure.</p> + +<p class="in">Olga threw herself down on a bank, bright with green +moss and soft as a downy pillow. The warmth and her +wanderings had already wearied her. She had neglected +her morning studies, and left her singing-master waiting +for her in despair in the music-room of the palace, that +she might wander into the wood, and already the pleasure +was gone.</p> + +<p class="in">She threw herself down on the bank and wished she +was at home. There was one thing, however, of which +she never tired, and that was her own beauty; so now, +having nothing to do, and finding the world and the +morning exceedingly tiresome and tame and dull, she +unbound her long golden hair, and spread it all around +her like a carpet over the moss and the flowers, that +she might admire its softness and luxuriance, by way of +a change.</p> + +<p class="in">She held up the yellow meshes in her hands and drew +them through her fingers, laughing to see the golden +lights that played among the silky waves in the sunlight; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">281</a></span>then she fell to admiring the small white hands which +held the treasure, holding them up against the light to +see their almost transparent delicacy, and the pretty rose-pink +lines where the fingers met. Certainly she made +a charming picture, there in the sunshine among the +flowers: the picture of a lovely innocent child, if she +had been less vain and self-conscious.</p> + +<p class="in">Presently she heard a slight rustle of boughs behind her, +and looking round she saw that she was no longer alone. +Not many paces away, gazing at her with admiring +wonder, stood a youth in the dress of a beggar, and +over his shoulder looked the face of a young girl, which +Olga was forced to acknowledge as lovely as her own. +Now, the forest was the private property of the King, +and the presence of these poor-looking people was certainly +an intrusion.</p> + +<p class="in">"What are you doing here?" said Olga haughtily. +"Don't you know that you are trespassing? This wood +belongs to the King, and is forbidden to tramps and +beggars."</p> + +<p class="in">"We are no beggars, lady," said the youth. He spoke +with great gentleness, but his voice was strong and sweet +as a deep-toned bell. "To us no land is forbidden—and +we own allegiance to no one."</p> + +<p class="in">"My father will have you put in prison," said Olga +angrily. "What is your name?"</p> + +<p class="in">"My name is Kasih."</p> + +<p class="in">"And that girl behind you—she is hiding—why does +she not come forward?"</p> + +<p class="in">"It is Kasukah—my sister," he said, looking round with +a smile; "she is shy, and frightened, perhaps."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">282</a></span>"What outlandish names! You must be gypsies," +said Olga rudely, "and perhaps thieves."</p> + +<p class="in">"Indeed, lady, you are mistaken; on the contrary, it +is in our power to bestow upon you many priceless gifts. +But we have travelled far to find you, and are weary; +only bid us welcome—let us go with you to the castle +to rest—Kasukah——"</p> + +<p class="in">"How dare you speak so to me?" interrupted Olga, +in a fury. "To the castle, indeed—what are you thinking +of? There is a poor-house somewhere, I have heard the +people say, maintained by my father's bounty out of +the taxes, you can go there. Go at once—or——"</p> + +<p class="in">She raised the little silver-handled dog-whip which hung +at her girdle. To do her justice, she was no coward. +Kasukah had quite disappeared; the boy stood alone +looking at Olga with sad, reproachful eyes. For a moment, +she thought what a pity he was so poor and shabby; +he had the face and bearing of a king. But she was +too proud to change her tone.</p> + +<p class="in">"Or what?" he said.</p> + +<p class="in">"I will drive you away," she said defiantly. Still +Kasih did not move, and the next moment she had struck +him smartly across the cheek with the whip.</p> + +<p class="in">He made no effort at self-defence or retaliation, only +it seemed to her that she herself felt the pain of the +wound. For a few instants she saw his sorrowful face +grown white and stern, and the red, glowing scar which +her whip had caused; then, like Kasukah, he seemed +to vanish, and disappeared among the trees, while where +he had stood a sunbeam crossed the grass.</p> + +<p class="in">Olga felt rather scared. She had been certainly very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">283</a></span>audacious, and it was odd that the boy should have shown +no resentment. After all, she rather wished she had +asked both him and his sister to stay, they might have +proved amusing.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0831.jpg" width="50%" alt=""GO AT ONCE"" title=""GO AT ONCE"" /> +<p class="caption">"GO AT ONCE" (<i>p.</i> 282).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">However, it was too late now; she could not call them +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">284</a></span>back; so she thought she would return to the castle; +she was beginning to feel hungry. So she went leisurely +home, and, for the remainder of the day, proved a little +more tractable than usual. She did not forget Kasih +and his sister, and for a time wondered if they would +ever seek her again; but the months went by and she +saw them no more.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p class="in">Now, as Olga grew older, of course the question arose +of finding for her a desirable husband. And one suitor +came and another, but none pleased her; and, indeed, +more than one highly eligible young Prince was frightened +away by her haughty manners and violent temper.</p> + +<p class="in">The truth was, that in secret she had not forgotten +the face of Kasih, and she sometimes told herself that +if she could find among her suitors one who was at all +like him, and was also rich and powerful enough to +give her all she desired in other ways, him she would +choose. Kasih was certainly very handsome, in spite of +his beggar's clothes; and, suitably dressed, he would have +been quite adorable. Also, it would be delightful to find +a husband with such a gentle, yielding disposition, who +never thought of resenting anything she said or did.</p> + +<p class="in">And one day a suitor came to the palace who really +made her heart beat a little faster than usual at first; +he was so like the lost Kasih. But unfortunately he was +only the younger son of a Royal Duke, and could offer +her nothing better than a small, insignificant Principality +and an income hardly sufficient to pay her dressmaker's +bills. So it was no use thinking about him, and he was +dismissed with the others. Olga's father began to think +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">285</a></span>his daughter would never find all she required in a +husband, but would remain for ever in the ancestral +castle: as every year she grew more disagreeable, the +prospect did not afford him entire satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="in">At length, however, appeared a very powerful Prince, +who peremptorily demanded her hand. He was a big, +strong man, and carried on his wooing in such a masterful +manner that even Olga was a little afraid of him. At +the same time he loaded her with jewels and beautiful +presents of all kinds, brought from his own country. He +was said to possess fabulous wealth; and, partly because +she feared him, and partly because of her pride and +ambition, haughty Olga surrendered and promised to +become his wife. Having once gained her consent, Hazil +would brook no delay.</p> + +<p class="in">The date was immediately fixed, and the grandest +possible preparations made for the wedding. No expense +was spared, innumerable guests were invited, while those +less favoured among the people came from far and near +to see the bride's wedding clothes and to bring her +presents. Indeed, the King of Ombrelande was forced +to add a new suite of rooms to the castle to contain +the wedding gifts and display them to the best advantage.</p> + +<p class="in">Such a sight as the bridal train had never been seen +before, for it was spangled all over with diamonds so +closely that Olga when she moved looked like a living +jewel—and her veil was sprinkled with diamond dust, +which sparkled like myriads of tiny stars.</p> + +<p class="in">The evening before the wedding day Olga sat alone +in her chamber, thinking of the magnificence that awaited +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">286</a></span>her, also a little of Hazil, the bridegroom. She had +that day seen Hazil, in a passion, punish, with his own +hands, a servant for disobedience, and the sight had +displeased her. It had been an ugly and unpleasant +exhibition, but worse than all, the sight of the poor +man's wounds had recalled that livid mark across the +fair cheek of Kasih which she herself had wrought. The +boy's gentle face, which had become so stern when they +parted, the laughing eyes of Kasukah, quite haunted her +to-night. She thought she would like to make amends +for her rudeness; if she knew where they were, she would +ask brother and sister to her wedding. And just as +she was so thinking, a soft tap sounded at the door, +and before she could ask who was there (she thought it +must surely be the Queen, her mother, come to bid +her a last good-night, and felt rather displeased at the +interruption) the door opened, and a stranger entered +the room.</p> + +<p class="in">Olga saw a tall figure, draped from head to foot in +a soft darkness that shrouded her like a cloud, obscuring +even her face.</p> + +<p class="in">"Who are you?" said Olga, "and what do you want +in my private apartments? Who dared admit you without +my leave?"</p> + +<p class="in">"I asked admittance of no one, for none can refuse me +or bar my way," answered the stranger, in a voice like +the sighing of soft winds at night. "My name is +Kasuhama—I am the foster-sister of Kasukah and Kasih, +of whom you were just now thinking, and I come to +bring you a wedding gift."</p> + +<p class="in">She withdrew her veil slightly as she spoke, and Olga +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">287</a></span>saw a pale, serene face, sorrowful in expression, and +framed with snow-white hair, but yet bearing a likeness, +that was like a memory, to Kasih and Kasukah.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0841.jpg" width="50%" alt=""I COME TO BRING YOU A WEDDING GIFT"" title=""I COME TO BRING YOU A WEDDING GIFT"" /> +<p class="caption">"I COME TO BRING YOU A WEDDING GIFT" (<i>p.</i> 286).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"I wish," said Olga petulantly, "that Kasih had brought +it to-morrow and been present at our feast. I would +have seen that he was properly attired for the occasion. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">288</a></span>Your sad face is hardly suitable for a wedding feast. +Shall I ever see him again?"</p> + +<p class="in">"As to that, I cannot answer," said Kasuhama gravely; +"but your wedding is no place either for him or Kasukah. +As for me—I go everywhere. I am older in appearance +than the others, you see, though, in reality, it is not so. +But that is because they have immortal souls and I have +none. The time will come when I must bid them farewell. +We but journey together for a time."</p> + +<p class="in">The air of the room seemed to have become strangely +chill and cold, and Olga shivered. "I am tired," she +said, "and I wish to rest. Will you state your business +and leave me?"</p> + +<p class="in">Experience had made her less abruptly rude than when +she dismissed Kasih in the wood; also this cold, pale, +soulless woman struck her with something like awe.</p> + +<p class="in">"Yes,—I will say farewell to you now. In the future +you will know me better and perhaps learn not to fear +me—but I will leave with you the present I came to +bring."</p> + +<p class="in">She held out a necklace of pearls more wonderful than +even Olga had ever seen. They were large and round, +lustrous and fair; but as Olga took them in her hands +it seemed to her that, in their mysterious depths, each +jewel held imprisoned a living soul.</p> + +<p class="in">"Wear them," said Kasuhama; "by them you will +remember me."</p> + +<p class="in">Almost involuntarily Olga raised her hands and fastened +the necklace around her slender throat. The clasps just +met, and the pearls glistened like dewdrops on her bosom—or +were they tears?</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">289</a></span>But in the centre of the necklace was a vacant space.</p> + +<p class="in">"There is one lost!" she said.</p> + +<p class="in">"Not lost, but missing," answered Kasuhama softly. +"One day the place will be filled, and the necklace will +be complete." And with these words she waved her +hand to Olga, and, drawing her dusky veil around her, +quitted the room as quietly as she had entered.</p> + +<p class="in">The ceremonies of the following day passed off without +let or hindrance, and Olga, dazzled by her grandeur, +would have thought little of her visitor of the previous +night—would indeed have believed the incident a dream, +a trick of the imagination—but for the necklace. It +still encircled her throat, for her utmost efforts proved +unavailing to unfasten the clasps, and every one stared +and marvelled at the wonderful pearls which seemed +endowed with a curious fascination.</p> + +<p class="in">Only Prince Hazil was displeased; for he could not +bear his bride to wear jewels not his gift, and that +outshone by their lustre any he could produce; also, +he was jealous of the unknown giver. When the wedding +was over, and they were travelling away to the distant +castle where the first weeks of Olga's new life were to +be spent, he tried to take the jewels from their resting-place. +Olga smiled, for she knew that even his great +strength would be unavailing, and so it proved; and +although on reaching their destination Hazil sent for all +the Court jewellers, neither then nor at any other time +could the most experienced among them loosen Kasuhama's +magic gift from its place.</p> + +<p class="in">The months rolled by, and Olga reigned a Queen in her +husband's country, but her life was a sad one. Hazil was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">290</a></span>often cruel, and it seemed as though he were bent upon +heaping upon her all the contumely and harshness she had +shown to others. Still her proud spirit refused to yield. +She met him with defiance in secret, and openly bore herself +with so much cold haughtiness that no one dared to +hint at her trouble, much less to offer her any sympathy.</p> + +<p class="in">But when alone in her chamber she saw again the +faces of Kasih and Kasukah; but more often that of +Kasuhama. For the necklace was still there to remind +her; the pearls still shone with mysterious, undimmed +lustre; indeed, they seemed to grow more numerous, +and to be woven into more delicate and intricate designs, +as time went on. Still, however, the place for the central +jewel remained unfilled. Often Olga herself tried with +passionate, almost agonising, effort to break their fatal +chain, for every day their weight grew heavier, until +she seemed to bear fetters of iron about her fair throat, +and when the pearls touched her they burned as though +the iron were molten.</p> + +<p class="in">Still, in public, they were universally admired, and +gratified vanity enabled her to bear the pain and inconvenience +without open complaint.</p> + +<p class="in">But one day was placed in her arms another treasure—a +beautiful living child, and she was so fair that they +called her Pearl, but the Queen hated the name. The +child, however, found a soft place in Hazil's rough nature; +indeed, he idolised her; but Olga rarely saw her little +daughter, and left her altogether to the care of the +nurses and attendants.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">291</a></span> +<img src="images/i0851.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HE TRIED TO TAKE THE JEWELS FROM THEIR RESTING-PLACE"" title=""HE TRIED TO TAKE THE JEWELS FROM THEIR RESTING-PLACE"" /> +<p class="caption">"HE TRIED TO TAKE THE JEWELS FROM THEIR RESTING-PLACE" (<i>p.</i> 289).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">So little Pearl grew very fragile, and had a wistful +look in her blue eyes, as though waiting for something +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">292</a></span>that never came; for in her grand nurseries and among +all her beautiful playthings she found no mother-love to +perfect and nourish her life.</p> + +<p class="in">And all this time Olga had seen no more of Kasih or +Kasukah; had, indeed, almost forgotten what their faces +were like. But one night, at the close of a grand entertainment, +she was summoned in haste to the nursery. The +Court physician came to tell her that little Pearl was ill.</p> + +<p class="in">Olga was very weary. Never had the necklace seemed +so heavy a burden as that night, or the Court functions +so endless. She rose, however, and followed the physician +at once. Hazil, the King, was far away, visiting a distant +part of his great territory; he would be terribly angry if +anything went wrong with little Pearl during his absence.</p> + +<p class="in">She reached the room where the child lay on her lace-covered +pillows, very white and small, but with a happy +smile on her tiny face, a happy light in her blue eyes, +which looked satisfied at last. But Olga knew that +the smile was not for her, that the child did not recognise +her, would never know her any more.</p> + +<p class="in">Some one else stood beside the couch: a stranger with +bent head and loving, out-stretched arms, and little Pearl +prattled in baby language of playthings and flowers and +sunlight and green fields. Olga drew near and watched, +helpless and terrified, with a strange despair at her heart. +And soon the little voice grew weaker—but the happy +smile deepened as the blue eyes closed.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p class="in">And there was a great silence in the nursery. The +stranger lifted the little form in his arms, and as he +raised his head Olga saw his face, and she knew that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">293</a></span>it was Kasih come at last, for across his cheek still glowed +the red line of the wound which her hand had dealt +many years before. His eyes met hers with the same +stern sadness of reproach as when they had parted—then +she remembered no more.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0861.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THE STRANGER LIFTED THE LITTLE FORM IN HIS ARMS"" title=""THE STRANGER LIFTED THE LITTLE FORM IN HIS ARMS"" /> +<p class="caption">"THE STRANGER LIFTED THE LITTLE FORM IN HIS ARMS" (<i>p.</i> 292).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">When the Queen recovered from her swoon they told +her that her little daughter was dead; but she knew that +Kasih had taken her. She said no word and showed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">294</a></span>few signs of grief, but remained outwardly proud and +cold, though her heart was wrung with a pain and fear +she could not understand. She was full of wrath against +Kasih, who, she thought, had taken this way of avenging +the old insult she had offered him. Yet the sorrowful +look in his eyes haunted her.</p> + +<p class="in">The pearls about her neck pressed upon her with a +heavier weight, and in her sleep she saw them as in +a vision, and in their depths she discerned strange +pictures: faces she had known years ago and long since +forgotten, the faces of those whom her pride and harshness +had caused to suffer, who had appealed to her for love +and pity and were denied.</p> + +<p class="in">And then in her dream she understood that the pearls +were in truth the tears of those she had made sorrowful, +kept and guarded by Kasih in his treasure-house, but +given to her by Kasuhama to be her punishment.</p> + +<p class="in">Before many days had passed, the King Hazil returned, +and when he learned that his little daughter was dead, +he summoned the Queen to his presence. Olga went +haughtily, for she dared not altogether disobey. Then +Hazil loaded her with reproaches, and in his anger he +told her many, many hard things, and the words sank +deep into her heart. It seemed, presently, that she could +bear no more, and hardly knowing what she did, she +cast herself at his feet and prayed for mercy.</p> + +<p class="in">She asked him to remember that the child had been +hers also—that she had loved it. But Hazil, in his +bitterness, laughed in her face and told her she was a +monster, that it was for lack of her love that the child +had died, that she had never loved anything—not even +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">295</a></span>herself. He turned away to nurse his own grief, and +Olga dragged herself up and went away to the silent +room, and knelt by the little couch where she had seen +Kasih take away her child.</p> + +<p class="in">And there at length the blessed tears fell, for she was +humbled at last, and sorry, and quite desolate and alone. +And it seemed to her that through her tears she once +more saw Kasih, and that he held towards her the little +Pearl, more beautiful than ever, and the child put its arms +about her neck, and she was comforted.</p> + +<p class="in">Well, from that day the life of the Queen was changed. +When next she looked at the pearl necklace she found +that a jewel, more beautiful than any of the others, had +been added to it; and she knew that the tear of her +humiliation had filled the vacant place.</p> + +<p class="in">And henceforth she often saw the face of Kasih: near +the bed of the dying, beside all who needed consolation, +kindness, and love, there she met him constantly. Near +him sometimes she caught a glimpse of bright Kasukah, +but for a while, more often of Kasuhama.</p> + +<p class="in">The face of the white-haired sister, however, had grown +very gentle and kind, and she whispered of a time when +Kasukah should take her place for ever—for Love and +Joy are eternal, but Sorrow has an end. And with every +act of unselfish kindness and love that the Queen Olga +performed the weight and burden of the necklace grew +less, until the day that it fell from her of its own accord, +and she was able to give it back to Kasuhama. And +Hazil, the King, seeing how greatly Olga was changed, +in time grew gentle towards her, and loved her; for +Kasuhama softened his heart.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2><a name="The_Prince_and_the_Lions" id="The_Prince_and_the_Lions"></a>The Prince and the Lions.</h2> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0871.jpg" width="70%" alt="The Prince and the Lions. From the Persian." title="The Prince and the Lions. From the Persian." /> +</div> + +<p class="initialMarginTop">IN an Eastern city there once lived a young Prince<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">299</a></span> +named Azgid. He was virtuous and accomplished, +but had one fault—he was a bit of a coward!</p> + +<p class="in">Prince Azgid's father had recently died, and he was +looking forward to his coronation. A few days before +the day fixed for the ceremony, the old Vizier called +upon the Prince and informed His Royal Highness that +before he could ascend the throne he must in accordance +with an ancient custom, fight a certain huge red lion +which was kept in a den within the precincts of the +palace.</p> + +<p class="in">The Prince, upon hearing this, was so frightened that +he made up his mind to run away. He rose in the night, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">300</a></span>dressed himself hastily, mounted his horse, and left the +city. Thus he journeyed for three days.</p> + +<p class="in">In the course of the third day, as he rode through a +beautiful thickly-wooded country, he heard the sound of +exquisite music, and presently overtook a handsome +youth, who was leading a few sheep, and playing upon +a flute.</p> + +<p class="in">The young man having courteously saluted the +stranger, Prince Azgid begged him to go on playing, for +never in his life before, said the Prince, had he listened +to such enchanting strains.</p> + +<p class="in">The player then told Azgid that he was the slave of +the wealthy shepherd named Oaxus, to whose abode, +which was close at hand, he offered to conduct the +traveller.</p> + +<p class="in">The Prince gladly accepted this invitation, and in a +few moments was entering the house of Oaxus, who +accorded him a hearty welcome, and placed food and +drink before him. When Azgid had finished his meal, +he felt it incumbent upon him to make some sort of explanation +to his host.</p> + +<p class="in">"Doubtless," said he, "you wonder who I am, and +what is my errand in coming hither? I can tell you this +much—that I am a Prince whom trouble has driven from +home. Pardon me if I do not divulge my name; that +is a secret which must be securely locked within my own +breast. If convenient to you, I would gladly remain in +this delightsome spot. I have ample means, and can +remunerate you for your kindness."</p> + +<p class="in">Oaxus assured his guest that nothing would give him +greater pleasure than to entertain him for as long a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">301</a></span>period as he cared to stay, and he begged him not to +think of offering any remuneration.</p> + +<p class="in">"And now, Isdril," added Oaxus, addressing his +slave, "show the Prince our fountains and waterfalls, our +rocks and vales, for I perceive that he is one who can +appreciate Nature's beauties."</p> + +<p class="in">The youth took up his flute and went out with the +Prince.</p> + +<p class="in">After wandering awhile amidst romantic scenery, the +two young men sat down to rest upon a rock in a shady +valley. The slave put his flute to his lips, and began to +play. The prince loved music passionately, and the +idea had already occurred to him that, if he ever left this +fair retreat, he would like to purchase from Oaxus his +accomplished slave.</p> + +<p class="in">Suddenly Isdril broke the spell of the Prince's enjoyment +by rising to his feet, with the words: "It is time +for us to be going."</p> + +<p class="in">"Wherefore?" queried the Prince. "Why should we +quit this delicious spot so soon?"</p> + +<p class="in">"Because," replied the other, "the neighbourhood is +infested with lions. It is well, therefore, to retire early +within our abodes, and close the gates. Upon one +occasion I lagged behind, and see the consequence!"</p> + +<p class="in">He rolled up his sleeve and revealed a big scar upon +his arm. Azgid turned pale, and upon reaching the +house, informed his host that he had changed his mind +and found himself obliged to ride on farther. He +thanked Oaxus, bade farewell to him and to Isdril, and +galloped off.</p> + +<p class="in">Again he journeyed for three days, and came to a vast +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">302</a></span>desert, in the midst of which he beheld an Arab encampment.</p> + +<p class="in">Thankfully he rode up to the black tents, for both +he and his horse were worn out with hunger and +fatigue.</p> + +<p class="in">He was received by a dignified Sheik, to whom he +made the same speech that he had addressed to the +kindly Oaxus.</p> + +<p class="in">Sheik Hajaar, like the shepherd, answered to the +effect that he desired no other remuneration than the +pleasure of the Prince's society, and that he should be +delighted to keep his guest for ever, if so it might be. +He introduced Azgid to a large number of his friends, +and provided for his use a magnificent steed.</p> + +<p class="in">A week passed. Day by day the Prince accompanied +the Sheik in his antelope-hunting expeditions, which he +enjoyed exceedingly. He quite thought that he was +now happily settled for life, when one night, after he +had retired to rest, Sheik Hajaar approached his couch, +and said:</p> + +<p class="in">"My son, I have come to tell you how pleased my +people are with you, more especially with the spirit you +have shown in the chase. But our life is not wholly +taken up in such easy recreations; we frequently engage +in hard fighting with other tribes. All my men are +seasoned warriors, and before they can have perfect +confidence in you it is necessary that they should have +some proof of your prowess. Two leagues to the south +is a range of hills infested with lions. Go, then, early +in the morning, mounted upon your horse, and armed +with sword and spear. Slay one of these fierce beasts +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">303</a></span>and bring us his skin; so shall we know that we may +rely upon you in the day of battle."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0881.jpg" width="50%" alt=""HE ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVE AND REVEALED A BIG SCAR"" title=""HE ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVE AND REVEALED A BIG SCAR"" /> +<p class="caption">"HE ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVE AND REVEALED A BIG SCAR" (<i>p.</i> 301).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">When the Sheik had left him, Azgid rose, dressed +himself, slipped quietly out of his tent, and bade a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">304</a></span>sorrowful, affectionate farewell to the horse which the +Sheik had allowed him to use, now tethered with the +others. Then he mounted his own steed, and rode forth +into the night.</p> + +<p class="in">By the middle of the next day, he was rejoiced to find +that he was leaving the desert, and entering a fair region +of hill and dale, meadows and streams. Soon he came +to a splendid palace, built of porphyry, and standing in +the midst of a magnificent garden.</p> + +<p class="in">The owner of the palace, a rich Emir, was sitting in +the porch, with his golden-haired daughter, Perizide.</p> + +<p class="in">Here, again, the Prince was most kindly received. +The interior of the building proved to be even more +beautiful than the exterior. The rooms blazed with +gold and precious stones; walls and ceilings were covered +with valuable paintings; the windows were of the costliest +stained glass. The Emir set before his guest a collection +of delicate viands.</p> + +<p class="in">The Prince made his accustomed speech, avowing his +rank, but concealing his name. He added also his +customary request, that he might be allowed to remain +for a time in the house of his present entertainer.</p> + +<p class="in">The Emir replied politely that the prince was heartily +welcome to remain until the end of his life, if he chose to +do so. Then he begged his guest to excuse him for a +few minutes, as he was expecting some friends, and +wished to make preparations for their reception.</p> + +<p class="in">Thus Azgid was left alone with Perizide, with whom he +was already in love. She took him into the garden, +after exploring the beauties of which the pair returned +to the house.</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">305</a></span>The palace, now illuminated from top to bottom, was +full of company. The evening passed merrily. Observing +a lute which lay upon a couch, the music-loving +young Prince begged Perizide to play to him. In the +midst of his enjoyment, however, he was startled by a +strange, loud sound, and asked his fair companion what +it might be.</p> + +<p class="in">"Oh!" replied she, with a laugh, "that is only Boulak, +our black porter, indulging in a yawn."</p> + +<p class="in">"Good gracious!" exclaimed Azgid; "what uncommonly +good lungs he must have!"</p> + +<p class="in">After the other guests had left, and Perizide had +gone to bed, the Emir and the Prince chatted and smoked +together for some time. By-and-by, the former offered +to conduct the latter to his sleeping apartment. When +they came to the foot of the grand staircase, which was +of white marble, Azgid, looking up, was horrified to +behold an enormous black lion stretched upon the topmost +landing.</p> + +<p class="in">"What is that?" faltered he.</p> + +<p class="in">"That," returned his host, "is Boulak, our black +porter. He is a tame lion, and will not harm you, if you +are not afraid of him. He knows when any one fears +him and then becomes ferocious."</p> + +<p class="in">"I fear him greatly!" whispered the Prince.</p> + +<p class="in">As he could not be persuaded to mount the stairs, +he had to return to the saloon, and repose upon one of +the divans.</p> + +<p class="in">After the Emir had left him, Azgid carefully locked +the door and fastened the windows. Then he lay down, +but not to sleep. For he could hear the lion walking +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">306</a></span>about, and once the beast actually came to the door, and +uttering a terrific roar, sprang against it with his forepaws.</p> + +<p class="in">The poor Prince made sure that the door would burst +open, and that he should be devoured. Nothing of the +kind happened, however. In a few moments Boulak +went upstairs, and came down no more that night.</p> + +<p class="in">Azgid lay thinking. Evidently he had flown in the +face of Providence when he had fled from the lion at +home. Since then, lions had met him at every turn. +He resolved to submit to what was so clearly his +destined duty—to return home and fulfil the condition +required.</p> + +<p class="in">In the morning, therefore, he told the Emir the whole +truth. The kind old man had been acquainted with +Azgid's father, the King Almamoun. He highly +approved of the young man's resolution, and, with a +parting blessing, sped him on his way. But the Prince +had no opportunity of making his adieux to the fair +Perizide.</p> + +<p class="in">Then Azgid rode back to the Arab camp, and confessed +all to the good Sheik Hajaar. He also inquired +after the beautiful horse.</p> + +<p class="in">"He is well," replied the other, "and I should be +gratified if you could stay with us and use him again +But it would be wrong to hinder you from your pious, +undertaking. Return to your home, and do your duty +like a man."</p> + +<p class="in">Azgid next visited Oaxus, to whom, as to the others, +he revealed his name and parentage, confessed his fault, +and expressed his repentance.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">307</a></span> +<img src="images/i0891.jpg" width="50%" alt=""I FEAR HIM GREATLY!"" title=""I FEAR HIM GREATLY!"" /> +<p class="caption">"I FEAR HIM GREATLY!" (<i>p.</i> 305).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">308</a></span>"Go, my friend!" said the kindly shepherd, "and may +Heaven give you strength to persevere in your laudable +resolution!"</p> + +<p class="in">"Farewell!" answered Azgid; "greet Isdril from me, +and tell him that I hope some day to return and listen +to his sweet music in spite of the lions."</p> + +<p class="in">Without further interruption, the Prince rode straight +home, and announced to the old Vizier his intention to +fight the lion.</p> + +<p class="in">The old man wept tears of joy at his Prince's return, +and it was arranged that the combat should take place +in a week's time.</p> + +<p class="in">When the hour came, and the Prince entered the +arena, the lion gave a loud roar, and approached his +opponent slowly, with fierce looks. Azgid did not quail. +With steady gaze he advanced, spear in hand. Suddenly +the lion bounded forward, and, with another roar, sprang +clean over the Prince's head. Then he ran joyously up +to him, and began licking his hands with every demonstration +of affection.</p> + +<p class="in">The Vizier called out to the Prince that he had +conquered, and bade him leave the arena. The lion +followed like a dog.</p> + +<p class="in">"As you now see, Prince Azgid," said the old Minister, +"the lion is a tame one, and would injure no one. You, +however, were ignorant of this fact, and have satisfactorily +proved your courage and valour by your readiness to +fight him. Now all will know that you are worthy to +ascend the throne of your heroic ancestors."</p> + +<p class="in">Two men—one old, the other very young—came forward +to congratulate the Prince. They were Oaxus and Isdril.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i090.jpg" width="50%" alt=""With steady gaze he advanced, spear in hand."" title=""With steady gaze he advanced, spear in hand."" /> +<p class="caption">"With steady gaze he advanced, spear in hand." +<span style="margin-left: 70%"><i>page 308</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">309</a></span>"Prince Azgid," said the old shepherd, "as a memento +of this happy day, allow me to make you a present." +So saying, he pushed forward his slave, Isdril.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i0911.jpg" width="50%" alt=""THE LION SPRANG CLEAN OVER THE PRINCE'S HEAD"" title=""THE LION SPRANG CLEAN OVER THE PRINCE'S HEAD" (p. 308)." /> +<p class="caption">"THE LION SPRANG CLEAN OVER THE PRINCE'S HEAD" (<i>p.</i> 308).</p> +</div> + +<p class="in">"I heartily thank you, Oaxus!" said the Prince, +"and you, Isdril, are no longer a slave. From this +moment you are free; but you shall be my companion, +and delight me with your skill upon the flute."</p> + +<p class="in">Presently another little group presented itself. It +was composed of Sheik Hajaar, some of his Arabs, and +the horse which the Prince had learned to love.</p> + +<p class="in">"Azgid!" said the Sheik, "I congratulate you heartily, +and beg your acceptance of this steed."</p> + +<p class="in"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">310</a></span>The Prince thanked and embraced the Sheik, and +kissed the beautiful creature, who returned his caresses.</p> + +<p class="in">The Emir was the next person to appear upon the +scene. He was surrounded by a brilliant retinue, with +music and banners.</p> + +<p class="in">"I have come to congratulate you," said he to the +Prince. "I have brought you no present, but I and all +my belongings are yours."</p> + +<p class="in">"I am rejoiced to see you, noble Emir!" replied +Azgid. "And how is your lovely daughter? As soon +as I am crowned, I intend to set off at lightning speed +to visit her!"</p> + +<p class="in">"That will be needless," said the Emir; "come with +me." And he led the young man to a veiled lady, who +sat upon a white horse. It was Perizide!</p> + +<p class="in">Then, by order of the Vizier, the whole procession +wended its way towards the palace.</p> + +<p class="in">Many thoughts and emotions stirred within the breast +of the young Prince. "When I fled from duty," reflected +he, "everything went against me; now that I have +fulfilled it, fresh happiness meets me at every step."</p> + +<p class="in">The coronation—and also a wedding—took place on +the same day. Azgid and Perizide reigned long and +happily. By the King's command, his adventures were +recorded in the annals of the kingdom. And over the +door of his palace were inscribed, in golden letters, these +words: "<i>Never run from the lion.</i>"</p> +<hr /> + +<p class="center">Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.</p> + +<hr class="l65" /> +<h2>THE FIFTY-TWO +LIBRARY</h2> + +<p class="center">Edited by ALFRED H. MILES</p> + +<p class="center"><i>In large crown 8vo, 400—500 pp., cloth, bevelled boards, richly +gilt, gilt edges, well illustrated.</i></p> + +<p class="center"><b>5s. each</b></p> + +<p class="center">The "Fifty-two Series" forms an excellent library of fiction for +young people. The stories are by the best writers for boys and +girls, including:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table summary="authors" width="100%"> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span><br /></td> +<td><span class="smcap">F. C. Selous</span><br /></td> +</tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">W. Clark Russell</span><br /></td> +<td><span class="smcap">Robert Chambers</span><br /></td> +</tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">G. Manville Fenn</span><br /></td> +<td><span class="smcap">R. E. Francillon</span><br /></td> +</tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">W. H. G. Kingston</span><br /></td> +<td><span class="smcap">David Ker</span><br /></td> +</tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">R. M. Ballantyne</span><br /></td> +<td><span class="smcap">Mrs. G. Linnćus Banks</span><br /></td> +</tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Captain Mayne Reid</span><br /></td> +<td><span class="smcap">Rosa Mulholland</span><br /></td> +</tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Gordon Stables, M.D., R.N.</span><br /></td> +<td><span class="smcap">Alice Corkran</span><br /></td> +</tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Ascott Hope</span><br /></td> +<td><span class="smcap">Sarah Doudney</span><br /></td> +</tr></table></div> +<p class="center">and <span class="smcap">Many Other Well-known Writers</span>.</p> + +<p class="in"><i>The Guardian</i> says: "Such volumes are invaluable for young people, and all +thanks are due to those who have brought them within easy reach of every child +in the three kingdoms."</p> + +<p class="center">Over half a million volumes sold.</p> + +<p class="in">The following are the volumes:</p> + +<ul> +<li>1. Fifty-two Stories for Boys.</li> + +<li>2. Fifty-two Stories for Girls.</li> +<li>3. Fifty-two more Stories for Boys.</li> + +<li>4. Fifty-two more Stories for Girls.</li> + +<li>5. Fifty-two further Stories for Boys.</li> + +<li>6. Fifty-two further Stories for Girls.</li> + +<li>7. Fifty-two other Stories for Boys.</li> + +<li>8. Fifty-two other Stories for Girls.</li> + +<li>9. Fifty-two Fairy Tales.</li> + +<li>10. Fifty-two Stories for Boyhood and Youth.</li> + +<li>11. Fifty-two Stories for Girlhood and Youth.</li> + +<li>12. Fifty-two Stories for Children.</li> + +<li>13. Fifty-two Stories of Boy Life.</li> + +<li>14. Fifty-two Stories of Girl Life.</li> + +<li>15. Fifty-two Stories of Life and Adventure for Boys.</li> + +<li>16. Fifty-two Stories of Life and Adventure for Girls.</li> + +<li>17. Fifty-two Stories of the Indian Mutiny and the Men who +saved India. Edited by A. H. Miles and A. J. Pattle.</li> + +<li>18. Fifty-two Stories of Pluck and Peril for Boys.</li> + +<li>19. Fifty-two Stories of Pluck, Peril, and Romance for Girls.</li> + +<li>20. Fifty-two Stories of the British Navy.</li> + +<li>21. Fifty-two Stories of Duty and Daring for Boys.</li> + +<li>22. Fifty-two Stories of Duty and Daring for Girls.</li> + +<li>23. Fifty-two Stories of the British Army.</li> + +<li>24. Fifty-two Holiday Stories for Boys.</li> + +<li>25. Fifty-two Holiday Stories for Girls.</li> + +<li>26. Fifty-two Sunday Stories for Boys and Girls.</li> + +<li>27. Fifty-two Stories of Heroism in Life and Action for Boys.</li> + +<li>28. Fifty-two Stories of Heroism in Life and Action for Girls.</li> + +<li>29. Fifty-two Stories of the Wide, Wide World.</li> + +<li>30. Fifty-two Stirring Stories for Boys.</li> + +<li>31. Fifty-two Stirring Stories for Girls.</li> + +<li>32. Fifty-two Stories of the British Empire.</li> + +<li>33. Fifty-two Stories of Courage and Endeavour for Boys.</li> + +<li>34. Fifty-two Stories of Courage and Endeavour for Girls.</li> + +<li>35. Fifty-two Stories of Greater Britain.</li> + +<li>36. Fifty-two Stories of the Brave and True for Boys.</li> + +<li>37. Fifty-two Stories of the Brave and True for Girls.</li> + +<li>38. Fifty-two Stories for the Little Ones.</li> + +<li>39. Fifty-two Stories of School Life and After for Boys.</li> + +<li>40. Fifty-two Stories of School Life and After for Girls.</li> + +<li>41. Fifty-two Stories of Animal Life and Adventure.</li> + +<li>42. Fifty-two Stories of Grit and Character for Boys.</li> + +<li>43. Fifty-two Stories of Grit and Character for Girls.</li> + +<li>44. Fifty-two Stories of Wild Life, East and West.</li> + +<li>45. Fifty-two Stories of Head, Heart, and Hand for Boys.</li> + +<li>46. Fifty-two Stories of Head, Heart, and Hand for Girls.</li> + +<li>47. Fifty-two Thrilling Stories of Life at Home and Abroad.</li> + +<li>48. Fifty-two New Stories for Boys.</li> + +<li>49. Fifty-two New Stories for Girls.</li> + +<li>50. Fifty-two Pioneer Stories all round the Compass.</li> + +<li>51. Fifty-two Excelsior Stories for Boys.</li> + +<li>52. Fifty-two Excelsior Stories for Girls.</li> +</ul> + +<div class='tnote'> +<h3>List of corrections:</h3> + +<p>p. <a href="#Page_160">160</a>: "It inceased yet more" was changed to "It increased yet more."</p> + +<p>p. <a href="#Page_225">225</a>: "made a despeate effort" was changed to "made a desperate + effort."</p> + +<p>p. <a href="#Page_250">250</a>: "From it the the castle had received its name" was changed to + "From it the castle had received its name."</p> +<h3>Errata:</h3> + +<p>Some chapter titles do not match exactly with the corresponding titles +in the contents' page. The original wording has been retained.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Diamond Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DIAMOND FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 37995-h.htm or 37995-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/9/9/37995/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Eleni Christofaki and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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