diff options
Diffstat (limited to '40154.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 40154.txt | 1239 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 1239 deletions
diff --git a/40154.txt b/40154.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a91eed3..0000000 --- a/40154.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1239 +0,0 @@ - SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE - - - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: Sing a Song of Sixpence - -Author: Mary Holdsworth - -Release Date: July 07, 2012 [EBook #40154] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover] - - - -[Transcriber's note: the illustrations in this book were originally -black and white line drawings. They appear to have been colorized by a -previous owner of the book.] - - - -[Illustration: Nellie] - - - - - SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE. - - - - BY - - MARY HOLDSWORTH. - - - - - EDINBURGH AND LONDON: - OLIPHANT, ANDERSON, & FERRIER. - 1892 - - - - - BY THE SAME AUTHOR. - - _Uniform in Pretty Cloth Binding._ - - SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE. MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY. - WHERE THE SKY FALLS. ADVENTURES OF KING CLO. A PRINCESS - IN DISGUISE. A STRANGER IN THE TEA. - - - -[Illustration: Headpiece] - - - - - Sing a Song of Sixpence. - - -A brand new sixpence fresh from the Mint! How it sparkled and glittered -in the dancing sunlight! Such a treasure for a small girl to possess! -But then, on the other hand, what a heavy responsibility! - -[Illustration: Nellie] - -All day long it had been burning a hole in her pocket, and as for -learning lessons, not an idea would enter her head. Everything went in -at one ear and out of the other, as Miss Primmer sternly remarked when -Nellie could not say her poetry. But, indeed, Nellie _did_ try hard to -learn her lessons; she squeezed her eyes together as tightly as -possible, though how shutting her eyes was to prevent the lessons from -coming out of her ears was not very clear. "But _I must_ learn them -now," she sighed, "or Miss Primmer will keep me in to-morrow, and I -shan't be able to go out with Nursie and Reggie to spend my sixpence. -Oh dear! I wish I could learn my poetry and keep it in, I guess I'd -better get a bit of cotton wool to put in my ears and then it _can't_ -come out. There, now! - - "'Mary had a little lamb, - Its fleece was white as snow, - And everywhere that Mary went - The lamb was sure to go.' - - -"That's lovely! I wish I'd a lamb. I think I'll buy one with my -sixpence. Won't it be nice? And I can keep it in the garden, and me and -Reggie can take it out for a walk. Oh, and have a blue ribbon round its -neck and a sash on! He shall have my blue sash, and I'll save it some -of my milk from breakfast. Unless it's chocolate creams. How many -should I get for sixpence? Loads, I should think! I _love_ chocs., but -I'd like a lamb too! I'll buy them both--a lamb and some chocs. Lemme -see now. What was I saying? Oh, my poetry. - - "'It followed her to school one day'-- - -Oh, and take it to school. Won't it be fun? What will Miss Primmer say -when she sees my lamb? She won't say nothing to a dear, darling little -lamb! I _love_ lambs! Me and Reggie will have some wool off it to make -some stockings for Pa. I'll make them all by myself, and Pa will think -I'm dreffle clever, won't he? And some for Ma, and Uncle Dick. Oh, and -Aunt Euphemia shall have some for her niggers. Where's my sixpence -gone? It was in my pocket. Oh, here it is! What do they put the -Queen's head on it for? And a crown. It does look funny, as though it -would tumble off. I wish I was the Queen and wore a crown. I'd have -lots of sixpences. I'd go to Miss Primmer's and give all the little -girls one each, and then they could all have a lamb each and some chocs. -And I'd have lots of chocs.--_loads_ of them. I wish it was to-morrow -to spend my sixpence." - -Nellie sat gazing dreamily into the nursery fire, with wide-open blue -eyes, "Lemme say my poetry again. - - "'Mary had a little lamb'-- - -With a blue sash on. What shall I call my lamb?" She went on gazing -with loving eyes at her bright new sixpence. "I think I'll call her the -Queen. You won't mind my calling my lamb after you, do you?" she said -to her Majesty, who was looking very dignified indeed; at least, as -dignified as it was possible to look when she had to hold her head as -stiff as possible to keep the crown from toppling off. It must have -given her a crick in her neck. - -Her Majesty smiled graciously. - -"Oh, not at all, don't mention it," she said politely. - -"Thank you so much," said Nellie, who was sitting in front of the fire -with her hands clasped across her knee. - -"Get up and make your curtsey; I suppose you know how," said her -Majesty. - -"Oh yes, Miss Primmer always makes us curtsey when we come in and go -out," answered Nellie, getting up and making the best one she could. - -"That is not very graceful. This is the way," the Queen said, coming -forward and showing her how to do it. "Only you see I have to keep my -head steady to keep the crown on, so it's rather awkward." - -Nellie bowed as she was directed, and the Queen returned the bow with -great dignity. Nellie was much impressed. Fancy the Queen bowing to -her! What lovely tales she would have to tell to-morrow! - -"What are you going to do with your new sixpence?" asked her Majesty, -when she had seated herself again. - -"I thought I'd buy a lamb, and then I could make a pair of socks for Pa -with the wool." - -The Queen smiled. "Very sensible indeed," she said, patting Nellie on -the head; "and you might make me a pair too, you know." - -Nellie's eyes sparkled. "And will you really wear them?" she asked -eagerly. - -"I _always_ wear stockings," said the Queen in an offended tone. "You -don't suppose I go about barefoot, do you?" - -"I did not mean that!" cried Nellie, aghast. The bare idea of such a -thing! - -"And don't make them too large," went on the Queen; "I am very -particular about the fit." - -"I'd like to be a queen and wear a crown," said Nellie, after a pause. - -Her Majesty smiled. "Indeed! And pray, what would you do if you were?" - -"I'd buy a lamb for all the children at Miss Primmer's. Oh, and -chocs.--such lots of chocs. And I'd put on my best frock every day, and -have cake every time I wanted it, and I'd have as many sixpences as I -liked, and----" - -"Stop, that will do," said the Queen; "if you always wore your best -frock you'd soon want a new one, and then where would all your sixpences -be? And as for the cake, I always keep _my_ cupboards locked, so that -no one can take a piece without asking for it; and the honey cupboard. -I am very fond of honey." - -"Yes, I know, we sing about it in school," said Nellie. - -"Oh, indeed? you do, do you? That's very nice. But what do you sing -about me?" - -"Oh, we sing:-- - - "'Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye, - Four and twenty blackbirds baking in a pie. - When the pie was opened the birds began to sing, - Was not that a dainty dish to set before a king? - The king was in his counting house, counting out his money, - The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey, - The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes, - There came a little blackbird and snapped off her nose.'" - - -"That's very pretty," said her Majesty; "I wish I could write poetry -like that." - -"Can't you?" asked Nellie, looking surprised; she thought queens could -do everything. - -"No," said her Majesty with a sigh; "I never could, though I've often -tried." - -"Try, try, try again," said Nellie. "We sing that in school too." - -"Well, what shall it be about?" asked the Queen. - -"Oh, about my lamb," said Nellie promptly. - -"Where is it?" asked the Queen, putting on her spectacles. "I think -I'll write about you." - -"Here I am," cried a funny squeaky little voice, and there, if you -please, was the prettiest, fleeciest little white lamb you ever saw in -your life, with a blue ribbon round its neck, and Nellie's best blue -sash tied in a bow round its tail. - -"Oh, how sweet!" cried the Queen, clapping her hands. - -The lamb tossed its head proudly. - -"Come near and let me look at you, you pretty thing," said the Queen, -patting it. "Now I'll write my poetry. Get me a bottle of ink and a -copy-book to write it in." - -"Would not a slate be better," said Nelly politely, "and then you could -copy it neatly into your book afterwards, you know. That's the way we -do at school." - -"Well, yes, perhaps that would be best. I might make a blot." - -Nellie got her slate and a piece of pencil with a nice point. The Queen -took it, and sat for about five minutes groaning and turning up her eyes -to the ceiling, but nothing came of it. Nellie watched her anxiously. - -"Have you not 'most finished?" she asked after a while. - -"_Could_ you tell me how to spell honey?" asked the Queen. "I quite -forget, it is so long since I went to school." - -"I don't know," said Nellie, "I have not learned that yet. I'll get the -dictionary. - -"There now," said the Queen triumphantly, holding up the slate for -Nellie to look at. It was written in large round letters, something -like Nellie's writing, with double lines to keep it even. - - "Oh dear, what can the matter be? - Dear, dear, what can the matter be? - Oh dear, what can the matter be? - Nellie's so long making tea! - She promised to give me some bread and some honey, - Some cake and some jam--I gave her the money, - What can she be doing? It _is_ very funny, I _do_ want - my afternoon tea." - - -"There," said the Queen with a deep sigh, "you can't say I never wrote -any poetry. By-the-by, don't you think it's nearly time the pie was -done?" - -"Pie?" asked Nellie, looking surprised. - -"Yes," said her Majesty sharply. "You said there were four and twenty -blackbirds baking in a pie, didn't you? Just go and see if it's done, -I'm getting hungry." - -"But where is the king? You can't have it without him?" - -"Never mind him. Let me have the pie." - -"Was it from the king's counting house my sixpence came?" - -"Of course," said the Queen testily. "Now go and see about that pie." - -Nellie went. It was a most delicious pie, crisp and brown. It made her -mouth water to look at it. - -"I do hope the Queen won't be greedy and want to eat it all herself," -she thought, as she took it in and put it on the table. - -"Present it on one knee," commanded the Queen. - -Nellie did so. The Queen seized the knife and cut open the pie. All the -blackbirds began singing so sweetly. It was the loveliest concert you -ever heard in your life. - -"Now that's what I call a most dainty dish," said her Majesty, looking -much pleased. - -"But you are not going to eat the dear little birds?" asked Nellie -anxiously. - -"Of course not," said the Queen pettishly. "Get me a bit of bread and -honey. You know how fond I am of it." - -One of the blackbirds flew out of the window as Nellie went to the -cupboard to get out some honey for the Queen and a piece of cake for -herself. - -"Cookey makes such nice cakes," she said, with her mouth full. - -"You should not talk with your mouth full," said the Queen. "You can -give me one to taste." - -Nellie went down on one knee and presented it the way she had been -shown. The Queen took it at once and began to eat it. Such big bites -she took too, which rather surprised Nellie, who had seen Miss Primmer -at afternoon tea daintily mincing thin wafers of bread and butter. - -"What are you staring at?" asked the Queen. "I hate to be stared -at--it's very rude. Get me my bread and honey at once." - -Nellie presented that too on one knee. - -"Have you not a drop of tea? I'm dreadfully thirsty," asked the Queen. - -"I have nothing but my doll's tea set, and they are rather tiny," -answered Nelly doubtfully, going to the cupboard and getting them out. - -"Never mind, I can drink all the more," said her Majesty, and indeed she -_did_ drink. Nellie had never seen anything like it. There was no time -for her to drink a drop herself, she was so busy waiting on the Queen. -After a bit she quite lost count of the number of cups she drank. - -"Don't you think you have drunk enough cups now?" she asked at length, -thinking it about time she had a cup of tea herself. - -"Drunk enough cups indeed," said the Queen huffily, "as if I have drunk -_any_ cups." - -Nellie was silent for a moment. - -"It's dreffel wicked to tell stories," she said, holding up one finger -warningly. "Do you know where you'll go if you tell stories?" - -"I shall go home," said the Queen, "if you are going to be rude; -besides, I have not told any stories." - -"Oh! You said you had not drunk any cups, and you have drunk -_millions_." - -The Queen drew herself up haughtily. - -"Pray, how many cups did you put out?" she asked in a very dignified -manner. - -"Six," answered Nellie promptly. - -"Well, then, count them. There they are. One, two, three, four, five, -six. How can you say I have drunk any of them? and millions too. It is -you who are telling the stories. I _never_ drink cups. I drink tea." - -Nellie did not know what to say to this. "Well, you drank plenty of -tea, then," she said. "You did not leave any for me." - -"I think it is about time I went home, if that is the way you treat your -visitors," said her Majesty, highly offended. "It is very rude to tell -people how much they eat. I shan't come to see you again. And after -letting you have that six-pence, too." - -"It was Pa who gave it to me," said Nellie, who was a very truthful -child. - -"Well, how did my head come on it then if it did not come from me in the -first place?" - -Nellie could not answer a word. - -"Well, I must be going," said the Queen, recovering her good humour now -that she had silenced Nellie. - -Nellie was just making her a grand curtsey when the door burst open and -in rushed the maid, holding her handkerchief to her face. - -"It's the blackbird," she sobbed. "He's snapped off my nose." - -"Stick it on again," said the Queen. - -Nellie ran to get some sticking plaster, and stuck it on as hard as she -could. - -It looked rather funny, she thought, but could not exactly understand -why for a little while, until she discovered it was stuck on upside -down. - -"You had better take it off again and put it on straight," said the -Queen. But nothing would induce it to come off, it was stuck on so -tight. - -"I guess she'll have to stand on her head to blow her nose," said -Nellie, thoughtfully. - -[Illustration: Nellie] - -"Of course, the very thing," assented the Queen, cheerfully. "Well, I -really must be going. Good-bye now, whatever, and don't forget my -stockings," she continued, waving her hand in token of farewell, and she -vanished, banging the door after her. - -Nellie woke up with a start. - -"Why, Miss Nellie, whatever are you doing all in the dark? And you have -let the fire out too." - -"Oh, Nursie, such lovely things have happened. The Queen has been here, -and my lamb; oh, and lots of things." - -"The Queen, indeed! Fiddle-sticks," said Nursie, with a sniff of -disbelief. - -"Yes, she was. And she had tea with me out of my doll's tea-set. And -here's my dear little lamb. Why, wherever has it gone?" asked Nellie, -rubbing her eyes and looking around. - -[Illustration: Nellie] - -"And what on earth is that wool sticking out of your ears? Have you the -ear-ache?" - -"Oh, Nursie, I only put it there to keep my poetry from coming out." - -"Well, I never did!" said Nursie, holding up her hands in surprise. "You -are the _queerest_ child!" - - -[Illustration: tailpiece] - - - - -[Illustration: headpiece] - - - - - The Story of a Robin - - -She was a strange child, and led a lonely life, shut up in the almost -deserted castle with no one but her miserly old grandfather and old -Nanny for company. It was no wonder that she grew up with curious -unchildlike fancies, which were yet not altogether unchildlike. Her -mind found food for itself in the woods with their ever-changing tints, -the sky, the clouds, the sunset, and last, but by no means least, the -restless, never-silent sea, which bathed the foot of the rock where -stood the picturesque old castle. - -[Illustration: robin] - -Of friends Elsie had none. The Squire could not afford to keep -company--he was as poor as a rat, he used to say. Old Nanny was nearly -as miserly as he--you would have said she counted the grains of oatmeal -that she put into the porridge; not a particle of anything was ever -wasted in that frugal household. Report said--but I am not responsible -for the truth of this statement--that the miser had once had a piece of -cheese which was always brought to table, not to eat, mind you, oh dear, -no! but so that the odour might give a relish to the dry bread! Elsie -had not even a dog for a companion--for that would have required, at -least, some food. She used to look out of her little turret window and -watch the clouds floating about in the sky, and the stars smiling down -at her as they twinkled merrily up above. The moon was a very great -friend of hers; she loved to see his broad cheerful face rising over the -tree tops, and peeping in at her latticed windows. - -Almost the only living creatures that she could make friends with were -the bats and owls that found an abode in the ruined walls of the castle, -and the robins that came hopping merrily around in search of the crumbs -that were not there. She loved, too, to watch the spiders that came -crawling stealthily out of their webs to catch any unwary fly that might -be so bold as to venture into such an inhospitable mansion. - -She had no toys--never in her life had she even seen a doll. Think of -that, little Dorothy, with your collection of all kinds, from the rag -baby to the beautiful wax and china ones with real hair and eyes that -open and shut, and with all the dolls' clothes a child's heart could -desire. She did not miss them--never having known the pleasure of such -possessions. - -But one real live pet she had--a robin that used to come hopping on to -her window sill every morning, and for whom she saved a few crumbs from -her scanty breakfast unknown to "gran'fer" or old Nanny, who you may be -sure would never have countenanced such waste. He was a merry little -birdie, with such a knowing twinkle in his eyes, that seemed to say he -knew all about little Elsie and her ways, and was glad to come and cheer -her up, and to make up to her for the lack of other friends by singing -to her every morning his sweetest song. Fine times they had, too, when -"gran'fer" was busy counting his money, and old Nanny was out gathering -sticks. They never bought anything at Castle Grim that they could get -without paying for. "Castle Hopeful" she called it, though why she chose -such a very inappropriate name for it, it would be hard to say. If you -come to think of it though, there was some sense in it, seeing that it -left so many things to be hoped for--things that never came. As for -such a thing as a new hat or a new frock, _that_ was too great a treat -to be ever wished for. When the frock she wore would no longer hang on -the fragile little form, when the bony arms came out half a yard below -the sleeves, and the long thin legs from under the short skirt, then old -Nanny grudgingly took out of the moth-eaten old wardrobe an old one of -Elsie's mother's, and cut it down until the child could get inside it -with something like ease. To be sure Nanny was no dressmaker, and the -frock was neither pretty nor elegant; and as for fit, why, that was a -mere trifle not worthy of serious consideration. Elsie could have -jumped into it, but it was a frock, and that was enough. The little -fisher-children who used to come gathering sea-weed and shells on the -beach used to look up with wistful eyes at the lonely little figure in -the turret-window, singing and talking to herself; but she was never -allowed to speak to them--Nanny was very strict about that. Elsie was -one of the "quality," and must not mix with the fisher-children. - -The child had learnt her letters, no one knew how. Moreover, she was -the happy possessor of a few ragged old books--minus the covers and a -few of the pages--which she had found in rummaging about in the old -lumber room amongst broken furniture that would not sell, but was too -good for firewood. - -Such treasures these books were to Elsie--strange reading for a child, -but very precious to her all the same. No "Alice in Wonderland," no -"Little Folks," no "St Nicholas," or "Fairy Tales"; but the "Pilgrim's -Progress," garnished with pictures--such pictures, enough to make your -hair stand on end,--Foxe's "Book of Martyrs," and last, but by no means -least, that most delightful of all books, "Don Quixote." How Elsie -loved the Don and his bony steed! She knew all his adventures by -heart--all that were in the book, that is--for, of course, both the -beginning and the end were lost. - -If you will promise not to mention it, I will tell you a great secret. -Elsie was writing a story herself. It was the nicest story you ever read -in your life; but it was not very easy to read, being written in large -badly-formed childish characters on odd leaves of old copy books, and -sometimes the story and the copies got rather mixed; and the spelling -was, to say the least of it, quite unique, but it was a lovely story for -all that. Perhaps some day you will read it yourself. Elsie used to -read it aloud to her little friend the robin, and he listened with his -pert little head on one side as he hopped about picking up the crumbs -she had saved with so much difficulty for him; he was a most grateful -little birdie, and never forgot a kindness. She always knew his tap! -tap! at the window, and used to run to open it for him. It is very nice -to have a little bird for a friend, for it never quarrels or sulks like -some little boys or girls do, when it cannot get its own way. - -[Illustration: Elsie] - -It was a bitterly cold day in December. The snow had been falling all -night, and when morning came the earth was covered with a beautiful soft -white carpet. It was lovely to look at. Elsie sat up in her little -turret chamber watching the happy little fisher-children snowballing -each other. She would have liked a game with them, but she knew that -Nanny would not let her go. It was so cold, too, for there was no fire -anywhere but in the kitchen, and Nanny was making what she called the -dinner, and was always very cross when Elsie got in the way, so Elsie -sat upstairs in her little turret chamber trying to warm her cold little -hands by wrapping them up in an old shawl which had certainly been a -good one in its day, but unluckily there was very little of it left. -After watching the children for a time, she crept downstairs into the -kitchen. - -"Oh, Nanny, let me help you with the dinner," she said pleadingly, "it's -so cold upstairs." - -The old woman was not a bad sort, but she was rather cross; everything -had gone wrong with her that morning. First, she could not get any -sticks on account of the snow, and the ones she had were damp and would -not burn; then the Squire had grumbled at her for extravagance. - -"Oh, get out of the way, you are more of a hindrance than a help," she -answered pettishly. - -Elsie went back again to her little room and looked out of the window at -the pure white snow. How lovely it looked! She would just run out to -see what it was like on the soft white carpet. How happy the hardy -fisher-children looked, with their fresh glowing faces and sturdy limbs, -as they pelted one another with the soft powdery snow! - -She put on her old shawl and her apology for a hat, and stole quietly -out to the enchanted land. Old Nanny saw her go, but took no notice, -muttering to herself as she went on with her household duties. The -fresh keen air made little Elsie feel quite gay and happy as she frisked -about revelling in her new-found liberty. - -"Oh, the snow! the lovely snow! I wonder who put it up in the sky? I -wish I could go up to see who is making the dear little feathers. Is it -the Man in the Moon, I wonder? I'd like to see him make the feathers. -Perhaps if I go far enough I'll get to the end of the world, and then -I'll get up into the clouds, it does not look very far," she said to -herself. - -On she went merrily, with her eyes eagerly fixed upon the near horizon; -but the way was long, and the poor little feet grew heavy and tired. -Her boots, much too large for her, and very thin, were wet through and -through, but still she struggled bravely on. The snow was falling -thickly and silently. The large flakes filled the air, blotting out the -familiar landscape. There was everywhere nothing to be seen but snow! -snow! snow! - -"I wonder if this is the right way," thought Elsie, as she plodded -painfully along. "Perhaps gran'f'er will be cross if I get lost." - -[Illustration: robin] - -She turned round to try and retrace her steps, but the little footmarks -were covered with the fast falling snow, she could not see which way she -had come. For a time she wandered on wearily and aimlessly, until she -took a false step and felt herself slipping, slipping. Where? Was it -into the middle of the earth? or was it into Snow Land? Only Snow Land -was up above, and she was going down, down, down! In vain she tried to -keep her footing; she sank down into the drift. The snow came down -blinding and choking her. The cruel cold snow that looked so soft and -gentle and yielding. She shut her eyes to try to keep it out. - -"I wonder if gran'fer will be sorry if his little girl is lost? and -Nanny? and oh! my dear little Robin, who'll save him the crumbs if I -have to stop down here? My dear little Robin! I wish gran'fer would -come! I'm getting so sleepy!" and the poor tired child lay still with -closed eyes. - -Tap! tap! tap! What was that on her forehead. - -Elsie opened her heavy eyes and looked around. There was her own dear -little Robin flapping his wings and hovering around her. Was it a dream? -Elsie rubbed her eyes. No, there he was in reality, in his warm red and -brown coat. - -"Oh dear Robin! fly home and tell gran'fer I'm lost in the snow!" she -cried entreatingly. - -Robin perched his saucy little head on one side, and looked at her with -his bright twinkling eyes as though he quite understood what she said. - -The snow had ceased falling, and the sky looked thick and yellow as -though it were lined with cotton wool. Elsie felt cold and stiff, and -her limbs ached--she felt she could not stay much longer in her snowy -bed. - -"Fly home, Robin, and tell gran'fer," she repeated, and Robin flew away. - -Elsie sighed, and half wished she had not sent him. He was company, at -any rate; she was tired of being alone. But gran'f'er would soon know, -and come to fetch her home. - -She tried to keep her eyes open to watch for his coming, but it was hard -work, and oh! she was so tired! so tired! Would gran'fer never come? -Perhaps he was so busy counting his money that he would never think of -his little girl lying out there under the cruel snow! - -At Castle Grim, in the old-fashioned kitchen, sat Nanny over the fire, -shivering, but not with the cold, though it was cold enough. - -Where could the child be? The soup was ready for the master as soon as -he should come in, but the child, little Elsie, where was she? Presently -a shuffling step outside was heard, and the miser came in. He was a -curious looking figure, with scanty grey locks hanging over his stooping -shoulders. His clothes were green with age, but well brushed and -mended. He seated himself at the table, and looked round for his little -grand-daughter. - -"Where is Elsie?" he asked with a frown. - -The old woman's voice trembled. - -"She went out into the snow, and has not come back," she answered, -putting her apron to her eyes; "and these old bones are not fit to go -out to look for her." - -The old man got up and went to the window. The dusk was beginning to -come on in the short December afternoon. - -"Which way did she go?" he asked at length. - -"I don't know. I did not watch her go," mumbled the old woman. "I was -too busy--I can't be always watching folks." - -"We must track her footsteps," said the miser, getting his greatcoat. -But in the grounds in front of the house the snow lay in an unbroken -sheet; no signs of any footmarks--they were all covered by this time. -Nanny and the miser looked at each other in consternation. - -"She is lost in the snow," muttered the old woman sitting down in front -of the fire, with her apron over her head, rocking herself to and fro. -The miser, too, sat down, and covering his face with his hands, groaned -aloud. - -What was he to do? Where to go? On one side of the castle lay the sea, -on the other the moor. It was like looking for a needle in a bottle of -hay to search for her--and there were no tracks to follow. The old man -was greatly distressed; miser though he was, he had a man's heart, and -in his own way he loved his little granddaughter, though, to be sure, he -loved money more--or thought he did. But the child was very dear to -him--she was all that was left to the lonely old man. - -The pair sat in silence for a while, plunged in thought; suddenly the -miser arose. - -"Light the lantern," he said briefly. - -"What are you going to do with it, master?" she asked in a shrill -quavering treble. - -"To search for the child. Be quick." - -Nanny groaned. "You'll go and get lost too," she whined. "And there'll -be nobody left but me." - -Tap, tap, tap, at the window pane. - -"What's that?" asked the old man sharply. - -Nanny hobbled to the window and looked out; there was nobody. - -Tap, tap, tap again at the window. The miser himself went this time and -opened it. - -In flew a robin, hopping about with his head on one side, and his keen -twinkling eyes fixed upon the miser. - -"Bless me! It's a robin! What does it want? Crumbs? Can't afford to -keep birds," said the old man gruffly. - -Robin flew to the window, and then turned as if to say, "Follow me." - -The old woman watched it curiously. - -"Birds are queer creatures; you would almost say it knew where the child -was," she said. - -"Eh! What?" asked the old man sharply, looking more attentively at the -bird. - -Robin gave a little chirp, tapped at the window with its bill, and then -turned again as if to say "Why don't you come?" - -The miser brightened up. - -"Dear me! I really think you are right," he said, again taking up the -lantern. - -Robin flew out, stopping every now and then to see if the miser was -following him. On, on they went a weary way. The moon struggled hard -to pierce through the thick clouds, and shed a pale silvery light around -to guide them on their way. - -At last, with a succession of little chirps, Robin stopped before -something that looked like a dark speck. The miser followed cautiously, -for he well knew the treacherous moors. He stood still while Robin -scraped away the snow from her face with his little bill, and there lay -poor little Elsie, fast asleep, nearly buried in the snow. Gran'f'er -very carefully lifted her out of the drift, and wrapping her in his -great coat, wended his way home with a great joy in his heart, Robin -hovering around all the way. - -Old Nanny was sitting by the dying embers with her apron over her head, -rocking herself backwards and forwards, and crooning a doleful dirge; -but she sprang up joyfully when the old man entered with the child in -his arms. - -"Make up the fire," were the first words he said. Nanny put on a small -stick. - -"A good roaring fire," added the old man. Nanny could hardly believe -her ears, but she cautiously put on another stick. - -The old man carefully laid Elsie down on the one arm-chair the room -possessed. - -"More, put on more, pile it up the chimney, let us have a bright warm -fire to bring her back to life," he said, rubbing his hands. Nanny -nearly dropped with surprise. Never, never before during the fifty odd -years that she had lived at Castle Grim had such an order been given. -In a few minutes a bright cheerful fire was blazing on the hearth, and -the kettle singing lustily. - -Restoratives were applied to the little white-faced child, and she was -well rubbed and wrapped in blankets. Soon she opened her eyes. The -first thing they lit upon was the robin, who had followed them in and -was hopping about with his head on one side, looking very proud and -clever indeed, as he had a right to be, for was it not he who had found -out where Elsie lay buried in the snow, and had brought gran'f'er to -look for her? - -"Oh, Robin! dear Robin!" cried the child in a weak voice. "Dear -gran'f'er, it was Robin who came to tell you where I was. I sent him, -you know." - -Gran'f'er, who had been sitting watching the pair, said suddenly, with -an air of great resolution--no one knew how much it cost him to say -it--"Robin is to have some crumbs every day. I am very poor, and it -will nearly ruin me, but he shall have them." - -Elsie's eyes sparkled. "Oh gran'f'er! My own dear little Robin! Do -you really mean it?" she asked, clapping her weak little hands. - -"Yes," said the old man firmly. "He shall have them." - -"Dear little Robin, do you hear what gran'fer says?" cried Elsie -joyfully. - -Robin looked very knowing indeed, as if he understood all about it, and -with a jerk of his perky little head, as much as to say, "Good-bye, I -must be off to my family, or else they'll think I'm lost in the snow -too." Off he flew. - -Who says birds have no sense? Not Elsie certainly, nor yet gran'fer, for -he thinks Elsie's robin the most wonderful bird that ever lived. - -Elsie is all right again now; and, indeed, she is not at all sorry she -was lost in the snow that day, for it has shown her how much gran'fer -loves her. And gran'fer--you would not know him--he has quite turned -over a new leaf, and is a miser no more. He now wears a good suit that -is not more than twenty years old, and has become quite liberal too, for -he no longer counts the sticks, nor the peas that are put into the soup. -He has kept his word about the crumbs; every morning a handful is thrown -out, which Robin, with his head very much on one side, and accompanied -by his family and a select circle of friends, picks up with great -relish, doing the honours in his best style. And not only that, -but--believe it or not as you will, it is certainly true--every -Christmas a sheaf of corn is nailed to the barn door for the birds, more -particularly for the robins, though all are welcome; and you never in -your life heard such a chirping and chattering as there is when this -interesting ceremony takes place. The birds come from far and near, the -fathers, the mothers, the sisters, the cousins, and the aunts, to join -in the feast; and gran'f'er, and Elsie, and old Nanny come out to watch -them eat their Christmas dinner. - - - -[Illustration: birds] - - - -[Illustration: tailpiece] - - - -[Illustration: Molly] - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40154 - -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. Special rules, set forth in the -General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and -distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the -Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a -registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, -unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything -for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may -use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative -works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and -printed and given away - you may do practically _anything_ with public -domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, -especially commercial redistribution. - - - -The Full Project Gutenberg License - - -_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ - -To protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or -any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License available with this file or online at -http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic works - - -*1.A.* By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the -terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all -copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in your possession. If -you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -*1.B.* "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things -that you can do with most Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works even -without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph -1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -*1.C.* The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of -Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works. Nearly all the individual works -in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you -from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating -derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project -Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the -Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting free access to electronic -works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg(tm) works in compliance with -the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg(tm) name -associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this -agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full -Project Gutenberg(tm) License when you share it without charge with -others. - -*1.D.* The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg(tm) work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -*1.E.* Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -*1.E.1.* The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 http://www.gutenberg.org - -*1.E.2.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating -that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can -be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying -any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a -work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on -the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs -1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -*1.E.3.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and -distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and -any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg(tm) License for all works posted -with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of -this work. - -*1.E.4.* Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License terms from this work, or any files containing a -part of this work or any other work associated with Project -Gutenberg(tm). - -*1.E.5.* Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) License. - -*1.E.6.* You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg(tm) web site -(http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or -expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a -means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include -the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -*1.E.7.* Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg(tm) works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -*1.E.8.* You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works -provided that - - - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg(tm) works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - - - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg(tm) - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) - works. - - - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - - - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) works. - - -*1.E.9.* If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3. below. - -*1.F.* - -*1.F.1.* Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection. -Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, and the -medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but -not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription -errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a -defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer -codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. - -*1.F.2.* LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. -YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, -BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN -PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND -ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR -ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES -EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. - -*1.F.3.* LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -*1.F.4.* Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -*1.F.5.* Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -*1.F.6.* INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg(tm) -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg(tm) work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg(tm) - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg(tm)'s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection will remain -freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and -permanent future for Project Gutenberg(tm) and future generations. To -learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and -how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the -Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org . - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state -of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue -Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is -64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf . Contributions to the -Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the -full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. -S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page -at http://www.pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where -we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any -statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside -the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways -including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, -please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. - - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg(tm) -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg(tm) eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg(tm) eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless -a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks -in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook -number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, -compressed (zipped), HTML and others. - -Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over -the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. -_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving -new filenames and etext numbers. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg(tm), -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |