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diff --git a/old/56153-0.txt b/old/56153-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d8edbd0..0000000 --- a/old/56153-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5441 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Evening Tales, by Jean Baptiste Frédéric -Ortoli, Translated by Joel Chandler Harris - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Evening Tales - - -Author: Jean Baptiste Frédéric Ortoli - - - -Release Date: December 10, 2017 [eBook #56153] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVENING TALES*** - - -E-text prepared by Larry B. Harrison, David Edwards, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/cu31924027805864 - - - - - -EVENING TALES - -Done into English from the French of - -FRÉDÉRIC ORTOLI - -by - -Joel Chandler Harris - -Author of "Uncle Remus" - -Authorized Edition - - - - - - -New York -Charles Scribner's Sons -1919 - -Copyright, 1893, by -Charles Scribner's Sons - - - - -CONTENTS - - - I PAGE - A FRENCH TAR-BABY, 1 - - II - TEENCHY DUCK, 13 - - III - MR. SNAIL AND BROTHER WOLF, 34 - - IV - THE LION'S SECRET, 39 - - V - THE KING AND THE LAPWINGS, 64 - - VI - THE ROOSTER, THE CAT, AND THE REAP-HOOK, 75 - - VII - THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, 101 - - VIII - BROTHER TIGER AND DADDY SHEEP, 109 - - IX - "JUMP IN MY SACK!" 128 - - X - A SEARCH FOR A FRIEND, 155 - - XI - A CHILD OF THE ROSES, 163 - - XII - THE KING OF THE LIONS, 189 - - XIII - THE VIZIER, THE MONKEY, THE LION, AND - THE SERPENT, 198 - - XIV - THE ENCHANTED PRINCESS, 222 - - XV - LOONY JOHN, 261 - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -Once upon a time Mr. Wendell P. Garrison, the literary editor of _The -Nation_, sent me a picture he had found in a catalogue of French books. -It represented a very interesting scene. There were the Tar-Baby and -Brother Rabbit as natural as life; but Brother Fox was missing. His -place had been supplied by Brother Billy Goat, whose formidable horns -and fierce beard seemed to add to the old episode a new danger for poor -Brother Rabbit. - -The picture was an advertisement of _Les Contes de la Veillée_, by -Frédéric Ortoli. After a while the book itself came to hand, forwarded -no doubt by some thoughtful American tourist who had been interested -in the Tar-Baby in French. The volume was examined, and in some sort -relished, laid aside for future reference, and then forgotten. - -But one night after supper the children of the household were suddenly -missing. There was no romping going on in the hall. There were no -voices to be heard on the lawn. There was no rippit taking place in the -bedrooms. What could the matter be? Had the storm-centre moved in the -direction of our innocent neighbors? The silence was so unusual that it -created a sudden sense of loneliness. - -But the investigation that followed showed that the youngsters had -merely made a temporary surrender of their privileges. Their mother -was reading to them some of the stories in M. Ortoli's book, and they -were listening with an interest that childhood can neither affect nor -disguise. I begged permission to make one of the audience. - -"But you have writing to do," said one of the lads. - -"It will disturb you," said one of the girls. - -Nevertheless, the lady, who was and is the centre of this family -circle, graciously made room for one more listener; and thus it happens -that this little volume of M. Ortoli's stories is in the nature of a -family affair. The lady, for the benefit of the intruder, was pleased -to go over the stories again, and to read them more slowly, and thus -they were put in their present form. Most frequently I have preserved -the swift and piquant rendering, the fluent interpretation that fell -from the lady's lips. - -My apologies are perhaps due to M. Ortoli for a certain freedom of -treatment that has been deemed necessary in some of the stories. I -trust this has not been carried too far; but in some instances it has -been necessary to English the characters and incidents as well as the -text. Nevertheless, an effort has been made to preserve something of -the individuality of M. Ortoli, and I think that at least the flavor of -it will be found in the stories that follow. - - J. C. H. - - WEST END, ATLANTA, GA. - - - - -EVENING TALES - - - - -I - -A FRENCH TAR-BABY - - -In the time when there were hobgoblins and fairies, Brother Goat and -Brother Rabbit lived in the same neighborhood, not far from each other. - -Proud of his long beard and sharp horns, Brother Goat looked on Brother -Rabbit with disdain. He would hardly speak to Brother Rabbit when he -met him, and his greatest pleasure was to make his little neighbor the -victim of his tricks and practical jokes. For instance, he would say: - -"Brother Rabbit, here is Mr. Fox," and this would cause Brother Rabbit -to run away as hard as he could. Again he would say: - -"Brother Rabbit, here is Mr. Wolf," and poor Brother Rabbit would shake -and tremble with fear. Sometimes he would cry out: - -"Brother Rabbit, here is Mr. Tiger," and then Brother Rabbit would -shudder and think that his last hour had come. - -Tired of this miserable existence, Brother Rabbit tried to think of -some means by which he could change his powerful and terrible neighbor -into a friend. After a time, he thought he had discovered a way to make -Brother Goat his friend, and so he invited him to dinner. - -Brother Goat was quick to accept the invitation. The dinner was a -fine affair, and there was an abundance of good eating. A great many -different dishes were served. Brother Goat licked his mouth and shook -his long beard with satisfaction. He had never before been present at -such a feast. - -"Well, my friend," exclaimed Brother Rabbit, when the dessert was -brought in, "how do you like your dinner?" - -"I could certainly wish for nothing better," replied Brother Goat, -rubbing the tips of his horns against the back of his chair; "but -my throat is very dry and a little water would hurt neither the dinner -nor me." - -"Gracious!" said Brother Rabbit, "I have neither wine-cellar nor water. -I am not in the habit of drinking while I am eating." - -"Neither have I any water, Brother Rabbit," said Brother Goat. "But I -have an idea! If you will go with me over yonder by the big poplar, we -will dig a well." - -"No, Brother Goat," said Brother Rabbit, who hoped to revenge -himself—"no, I do not care to dig a well. At daybreak I drink the dew -from the cups of the flowers, and in the heat of the day I milk the -cows and drink the cream." - -"Well and good," said Brother Goat. "Alone I will dig the well, and -alone I will drink out of it." - -"Success to you, Brother Goat," said Brother Rabbit. - -"Thank you kindly, Brother Rabbit." - -Brother Goat then went to the foot of the big poplar and began to dig -his well. He dug with his forefeet and with his horns, and the well got -deeper and deeper. Soon the water began to bubble up and the well was -finished, and then Brother Goat made haste to quench his thirst. He -was in such a hurry that his beard got in the water, but he drank and -drank until he had his fill. - -Brother Rabbit, who had followed him at a little distance, hid himself -behind a bush and laughed heartily. He said to himself: "What an -innocent creature you are!" - -The next day, when Brother Goat, with his big beard and sharp horns, -returned to his well to get some water, he saw the tracks of Brother -Rabbit in the soft earth. This put him to thinking. He sat down, pulled -his beard, scratched his head, and tapped himself on the forehead. - -"My friend," he exclaimed after a while, "I will catch you yet." - -Then he ran and got his tools (for Brother Goat was something of a -carpenter in those days) and made a large doll out of laurel wood. When -the doll was finished, he spread tar on it here and there, on the -right and on the left, and up and down. He smeared it all over with the -sticky stuff, until it was as black as a Guinea negro. - -This finished, Brother Goat waited quietly until evening. At sunset he -placed the tarred doll near the well, and ran and hid himself behind -the trees and bushes. The moon had just risen, and the heavens twinkled -with millions of little star-torches. - -Brother Rabbit, who was waiting in his house, believed that the time -had come for him to get some water, so he took his bucket and went to -Brother Goat's well. On the way he was very much afraid that something -would catch him. He trembled when the wind shook the leaves of the -trees. He would go a little distance and then stop and listen; he hid -here behind a stone, and there behind a tuft of grass. - -At last he arrived at the well, and there he saw the little negro. He -stopped and looked at it with astonishment. Then he drew back a little -way, advanced again, drew back, advanced a little, and stopped once -more. - -"What can that be?" he said to himself. He listened, with his long ears -pointed forward, but the trees could not talk, and the bushes were -dumb. He winked his eyes and lowered his head: - -"Hey, friend! who are you?" he asked. - -The tar-doll didn't move. Brother Rabbit went up a little closer, and -asked again: - -"Who are you?" - -The tar-doll said nothing. Brother Rabbit breathed more at ease. Then -he went to the brink of the well, but when he looked in the water the -tar-doll seemed to look in too. He could see her reflection in the -water. This made Brother Rabbit so mad that he grew red in the face. - -"See here!" he exclaimed, "if you look in this well I'll give you a rap -on the nose!" - -Brother Rabbit leaned over the brink of the well, and saw the tar-doll -smiling at him in the water. He raised his right hand and hit her—bam! -His hand stuck. - -"What's this?" exclaimed Brother Rabbit. "Turn me loose, imp of Satan! -If you do not, I will rap you on the eye with my other hand." - -Then he hit her—bim! The left hand stuck also. Then Brother Rabbit -raised his right foot, saying: - -"Mark me well, little Congo! Do you see this foot? I will kick you in -the stomach if you do not turn me loose this instant." - -No sooner said than done. Brother Rabbit let fly his right foot—vip! -The foot stuck, and he raised the other. - -"Do you see this foot?" he exclaimed. "If I hit you with it, you will -think a thunderbolt has struck you." - -Then he kicked her with the left foot, and it also stuck like the -other, and Brother Rabbit held fast his Guinea negro. - -"Watch out, now!" he cried. "I've already butted a great many people -with my head. If I butt you in your ugly face I'll knock it into a -jelly. Turn me loose! Oho! you don't answer?" Bap! - -"Guinea girl!" exclaimed Brother Rabbit, "are you dead? Gracious -goodness! how my head does stick!" - -When the sun rose, Brother Goat went to his well to find out something -about Brother Rabbit. The result was beyond his expectations. - -"Hey, little rogue, big rogue!" exclaimed Brother Goat. "Hey, Brother -Rabbit! what are you doing there? I thought you drank the dew from the -cups of the flowers, or milk from the cows. Aha, Brother Rabbit! I will -punish you for stealing my water." - -"I am your friend," said Brother Rabbit; "don't kill me." - -"Thief, thief!" cried Brother Goat, and then he ran quickly into the -woods, gathered up a pile of dry limbs, and made a great fire. He took -Brother Rabbit from the tar-doll, and prepared to burn him alive. As he -was passing a thicket of brambles with Brother Rabbit on his shoulders, -Brother Goat met his daughter Bélédie, who was walking about in the -fields. - -"Where are you going, papa, muffled up with such a burden? Come and -eat the fresh grass with me, and throw wicked Brother Rabbit in the -brambles." - -Cunning Brother Rabbit raised his long ears and pretended to be very -much frightened. - -"Oh, no, Brother Goat!" he cried. "Don't throw me in the brambles. They -will tear my flesh, put out my eyes, and pierce my heart. Oh, I pray -you, rather throw me in the fire." - -"Aha, little rogue, big rogue! Aha, Brother Rabbit!" exclaimed Brother -Goat, exultingly, "you don't like the brambles? Well, then, go and laugh -in them," and he threw Brother Rabbit in without a feeling of pity. - -Brother Rabbit fell in the brambles, leaped to his feet, and began to -laugh. - -"Ha-ha-ha! Brother Goat, what a simpleton you are!—ha-ha-ha! A better -bed I never had! In these brambles I was born!" - -Brother Goat was in despair, but he could not help himself. Brother -Rabbit was safe. - -A long beard is not always a sign of intelligence. - - - - -II - -TEENCHY DUCK - - -Once upon a time there lived in a village in some country (I do not -know where, but certainly nowhere near here), an old man and an old -woman who were very poor indeed. They had never been able to save a -single penny. They had no farm, not even a garden. They had nothing but -a little Duck that walked around on her two feet every day, singing -the song of famine. "Quack! quack! Who will give me a piece of bread? -Quack! quack! Who will give me a piece of bread?" This little Duck was -so small that she was named Teenchy Duck. - -It so happened one day that Teenchy Duck was paddling in the water -near the river's edge when she saw a fine purse filled with gold. At -once she began to flap her wings and cry: "Quack! quack! Who has lost -his beautiful money? Quack! quack! Who has lost his beautiful money?" - -Just at that moment the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows passed along -the road. He was richer than all the kings and emperors, but he was -mean and miserly. He walked along with a stick in his hand, and as he -walked he counted in his mind the millions that he had stored away in -his strong-box. - -"Quack! quack! Who lost his beautiful money? Quack! quack! Who lost his -beautiful money?" cried Teenchy Duck. - -"I have lost it," brazenly exclaimed the Prince of the Seven Golden -Cows, and then he seized the purse full of money that Teenchy Duck -held in her bill, and went on his way. - -The poor Puddle Duck was so astonished at this that she could scarcely -stand on her feet. - -"Well, well!" she exclaimed, "that rich lord has kept all for himself -and given me nothing. May he be destroyed by a pestilence!" - -Teenchy Duck at once ran to her master, and told him what had happened. -When her master learned the value of what Teenchy Duck had found, and -the trick that had been played on her by the Prince of the Seven Golden -Cows, he went into a violent rage. - -"Why, you big simpleton!" he exclaimed, "you find money and you do not -bring it to us? You give it to a big lord, who did not lose it, when -we poor people need it, so much. Go out of this house instantly, and -don't dare to come back until you have brought me the purse of gold!" - -Unfortunate Teenchy Duck trembled in all her limbs, and made herself -small and humble; but she found voice to say: - -"You are right, my master! I go at once to find the Prince of the Seven -Golden Cows." - -But once out of doors the poor Puddle Duck thought to herself -sorrowfully: "How and where can I find the Prince who was so mean as to -steal the beautiful money?" - -Teenchy Duck was so bewildered that she began to strike her head -against the rocks in despair. Suddenly an idea came into her mind. She -would follow his tracks, and the marks that his walking-stick made in -the ground until she came to the castle of the Prince of the Seven -Golden Cows. - -No sooner thought than done. Teenchy Duck went waddling down the road -in the direction taken by the miserly Prince, crying, with all her -might: - -"Quack! quack! Give me back my beautiful money! Quack! quack! Give me -back my beautiful money!" - -Brother Fox, who was taking his ease a little way from the road, heard -Teenchy Duck's cries, and knew her voice. He went to her and said: - -"What in the world is the matter with you, my poor Teenchy Duck? You -look sad and broken-hearted." - -"I have good reason to be," said Teenchy Duck. "This morning, while -paddling in the river, I found a purse full of gold, and gave it to the -Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, thinking it was his. But now, here -comes my master and asks me for it, and says he will kill me if I do -not bring it to him pretty soon." - -"Well, where are you going in this style?" asked Brother Fox. - -"I am going straight to the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows," said -Teenchy Duck. - -"Shall I go with you?" asked Brother Fox. - -"I'd be only too glad if you would," exclaimed Teenchy Duck. - -"But how can I go?" said Brother Fox. - -"Get in my satchel," said Teenchy Duck, "and I'll carry you the best I -know how." - -"It isn't big enough," said Brother Fox. - -"It will stretch," said Teenchy Duck. So Brother Fox got in the -satchel, and Teenchy Duck went waddling along the road, crying: -"Quack! quack! Give me back my beautiful money!" - -She had not gone far when she met Brother Wolf, who was passing that way. - -"What are you crying so for?" he inquired. "One would think you were -going to die on the journey." - -"It is only too true," said Teenchy Duck, and then she told Brother -Wolf about finding the money-purse, just as she had told Brother Fox. - -"Perhaps I can be of some service to you," said Brother Wolf. "Shall I -go with you?" - -"I am willing," said Teenchy Duck. - -"But how can I go so far?" Brother Wolf asked. - -"Get in my satchel," said Teenchy Duck, "and I'll carry you as I can." - -"It is too small," said Brother Wolf. - -"It will stretch mightily," said Teenchy Duck. - -Then Brother Wolf went to keep company with Brother Fox. - -Teenchy Duck went on her way again. She didn't walk very fast, for her -satchel was heavy; but she never ceased crying: "Quack! quack! Give me -back my beautiful money." - -Now it happened, as she was going along, she came up with a Ladder, -which said, without asking after her health: - -"My poor Teenchy Duck! You do not seem to be very happy." - -"I should think not!" exclaimed Teenchy Duck. - -"What can the matter be?" the Ladder asked. - -Teenchy Duck then told her story over again. - -"I am not doing anything at present," said the Ladder; "shall I go -with you?" - -"Yes," said Teenchy Duck. - -"But how can I go, I who never walk?" inquired the Ladder. - -"Why, get in my satchel," said Teenchy Duck, "and I'll carry you the -best I know how." - -The Ladder was soon in the satchel with Brother Fox and Brother Wolf, -and Teenchy Duck went on her way, following the tracks of the Prince of -the Seven Golden Cows, and always crying: - -"Quack! quack! Give me back my beautiful money!" - -Going along and crying thus, Teenchy Duck came to her best and oldest -friend, the River. - -"What are you doing here?" said the River, in astonishment, "and why -are you crying so? When I saw you this morning you seemed to be very -happy." - -"Ah!" said Teenchy Duck, "would you believe it? I have not eaten since -yesterday." - -"And why not?" asked the sympathetic River. - -"You saw me find the purse of gold," said Teenchy Duck, "and you saw -the Prince seize it. Ah, well! my master will kill me if I do not get -it and return it to him." - -"Sometimes," the River replied, "a little help does a great deal of -good. Shall I go with you?" - -"I should be very happy," said Teenchy Duck. - -"But how can I follow you—I that have no limbs?" said the River. - -"Get in my satchel," said Teenchy Duck. "I'll carry you as I can." - -Then the River got in the satchel by the side of the other friends of -Teenchy Duck. - -She went on her journey, keeping her eyes on the ground, so as not -to lose sight of the tracks of the thief, but still crying for her -beautiful money. On her way she came to a Bee-Hive, which had a mind to -laugh because Teenchy Duck was carrying such a burden. - -"Hey, my poor Teenchy Duck! What a big, fat satchel you have there!" -said the Bee-Hive. - -"I'm not in the humor for joking, my dear," said Teenchy Duck. - -"Why are you so sad?" - -"I have been very unfortunate, good little people," said Teenchy Duck, -addressing herself to the Bees, and then she told her story. - -"Shall we go with you?" asked the Bees. - -"Yes, yes!" exclaimed Teenchy Duck. "In these days of sorrow I stand in -need of friends." - -"How shall we follow you?" asked the Bees. - -"Get in my satchel," said Teenchy Duck. "I'll carry you the best I know -how." - -Then the Bees shook their wings for joy and swarmed into the satchel -along with the other friends of Teenchy Duck. - -She resumed her journey, always crying for the return of her beautiful -money. She walked and walked without stopping to rest a moment, until -her legs almost refused to carry her. At last, just as night was coming -on, Teenchy Duck saw with joy that the tracks of the Prince of the -Seven Golden Cows stopped at the iron gate that barred the way to a -splendid castle. - -"Ah!" she exclaimed, "I have arrived at my journey's end, and I have no -need to knock on the gate. I will creep under." - -Teenchy Duck entered the grounds and cried out: "Quack! quack! Give me -my beautiful money!" - -The Prince heard her and laughed scornfully. How could a poor Teenchy -Duck compel a great lord to return the purse of gold? - -Teenchy Duck continued to cry: - -"Quack! quack! Give me back my beautiful money!" - -It was night, and the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows ordered one of -his servants to take Teenchy Duck and shut her up in the hennery with -the turkeys, the geese, and the chickens, thinking that these fowls -would kill the stranger, and that her disagreeable song would forever -be at an end. - -This order was immediately carried out by the servant, but no sooner -had Teenchy Duck entered the hennery than she exclaimed: - -"Brother Fox, if you do not come to my assistance I am lost!" - -Brother Fox came out of the satchel promptly, and worked so well at his -trade that of all the fowls he found there not one remained alive. - -At break of day the servant-girl, whose business it was to attend to -the poultry-yard, opened the door of the hennery, and was astounded to -see Teenchy Duck come out, singing the same old song: - -"Quack! quack! Give me back my beautiful money!" - -The astonished girl immediately ran and told her master, the Prince, -what had happened, and the wife of the Prince, who had at that moment -learned all, said to her husband: - -"This Duck is a Witch. Give her the money, or it will bring us bad luck." - -The Prince of the Seven Golden Cows refused to listen to any advice. -He believed that the fox had only happened to enter his hennery by -accident. - -Teenchy Duck made herself heard all day, and at night the Prince said -to his servants: - -"Take this squaller and throw her in the stable under the feet of the -mules and horses. We will see in the morning what she will say." - -The servants obeyed, and Teenchy Duck immediately cried: - -"Brother Wolf, if you do not come quickly to my aid I shall be killed." - -Brother Wolf made no delay, and it was not long before he had destroyed -the horses and the mules. Next morning, before day, the servants went -to get the animals to put them to the ploughs and wagons; but when they -saw them lying dead their astonishment was indescribable. In the stable -Teenchy Duck stood alone, singing, in her most beautiful voice: - -"Quack! quack! Give me back my beautiful money!" - -When the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows heard of this disaster he -became white with rage, and in his fury he wanted to give his servants -a thousand lashes for not having taken necessary precautions against -the Wolf. But his wife calmed him little by little, saying: - -"My husband, give back to Teenchy Duck this purse you have taken, or -else we shall be ruined." - -"No," cried the Prince, "she shall never have it!" - -All this time Teenchy Duck was promenading up and down, to the right -and to the left, singing, at the top of her voice: - -"Quack! quack! Give me back my beautiful money!" - -"Heavens!" said the Prince, stopping his ears, "I am tired of hearing -this ugly fowl squall and squawk. Quick! throw her in the well or the -furnace, so that we may be rid of her." - -"What shall we do first?" the servants asked. - -"It matters not," said the Prince, "so long as we are rid of her." - -The servants took Teenchy Duck and threw her in the well, thinking this -the easiest and the quickest way to dispose of her. - -As Teenchy Duck was falling, she cried: "Come to my assistance, good -Ladder, or I am undone." - -The Ladder immediately came out of the satchel, and leaned against the -walls of the well. Teenchy Duck came up the rounds, singing: - -"Quack, quack! Give me back my beautiful money!" - -Everybody was astonished, and the Prince's wife kept saying: "Give this -witch her money." - -"They would say that I am afraid of a Teenchy Duck," said the Prince of -the Seven Golden Cows. "I will never give it up." Then, speaking to his -servants, he said: "Heat the oven; heat it to a white heat, and throw -this witch in." - -The servants were compelled to obey, but they were so frightened that -none dared touch her. At last, one bolder than the rest seized her -by the end of the wing and threw her in the red-hot oven. Everybody -thought that this was the end of Teenchy Duck, but she had had time to -cry out: - -"Oh, my dear friend River, come to my assistance, or I shall be roasted." - -The River rushed out and quenched the fire and cooled the oven. - -When the Prince went to see what was left of Teenchy Duck, she met him, -and began to repeat her familiar refrain: - -"Quack, quack! Give me back my beautiful money!" - -The Prince of the Seven Golden Cows was furious. - -"You are all blockheads!" he cried to his servants. "You never knew -how to do anything. Get out of here! I will drive you off the place! -Hereafter I will take charge of this fiend myself." - -That night, before retiring, the Prince and his wife went and got -Teenchy Duck, and prepared to give her such a beating as they had no -doubt would cause her death. - -Fortunately, Teenchy Duck saw the danger and cried out: - -"Friend Bees! come out and help me." - -A buzzing sound was heard, and then the Bees swarmed on the Prince and -his wife, and stung them so terribly that they became frightful to -behold. - -"Return the money to this ugly witch," groaned the unfortunate wife. -"Run, or we are done for." - -The Prince did not wait to be told twice. He ran and got the purse full -of gold, and returned it to Teenchy Duck. - -"Here," said he, "I am conquered. But get out of my grounds quickly." - -Full of joy, Teenchy Duck went out into the road singing: "Quack, -quack! I have got my beautiful money! Quack, quack! Here is my -beautiful money!" - -On her way home she returned the friends that had aided her to the -places where she had found them, thanking them kindly for their -assistance in time of need. - -At break of day Teenchy Duck found herself at her master's door. She -aroused him by her loud cries. After that, the family was rich, but the -master and mistress were not happy, for they knew the money did not -belong to them. - -Teenchy Duck was well taken care of, and grew to be large and fat. If -she went to the village pond at all, it was only to take a bath with -her comrades and to tell a certain Duck of her remarkable exploit of -recovering the beautiful money. - - - - -III - -MR. SNAIL AND BROTHER WOLF - - -One night, in the season when the hawthorn flowers were blooming and -perfuming the air, Brother Wolf came out of the woods, and ran down -the hill in a brisk gallop. A little Snail saw Brother Wolf—a little -Snail, who, to accommodate himself, carried his house on his back -and his horns on his head. He was a very funny little Snail; and, as -Brother Wolf was passing, he laughed aloud— - -"Ha, ha, ha! He, he, he!" - -Hearing this, Brother Wolf paused, turned around, and said: - -"Why do you laugh, little Snail?" - -"Why do I laugh?" exclaimed Mr. Snail. - -"Yes," said Brother Wolf. "Do you see anything ridiculous about me?" - -"No, Brother Wolf," said Mr. Snail; "on the contrary, you make a very -fine appearance. You have on your Sunday clothes, and you are handsome -indeed. No, Brother Wolf, you are not at all ridiculous." - -"Why, then, this laughter?" inquired Brother Wolf. "Answer me at once, -for I am in a hurry. Speak this instant, or it will not be well for -you." - -"Do not get angry, Brother Wolf; it is not worth while. I only laughed -to see you running so fast when neither dogs nor men were pursuing you. -Where are you going in such a hurry?" - -"I am going to the city," said Brother Wolf. - -"To the city?" exclaimed Mr. Snail. "What do you propose to do there?" - -"I want to see my brother, who is sick in the menagerie. He has written -me to come to him." - -"That is very queer," said Mr. Snail. "I am going to the city also." - -"Bosh!" exclaimed Brother Wolf, contemptuously. "Hens will have teeth -and sows side-pockets before you get there." - -Mr. Snail felt himself somewhat insulted at Brother Wolf's remark, and -replied: - -"I do not know how long it takes a hen to have teeth; but one thing I -do know, and that is, that I will arrive in the city before you do." - -"You have no legs, and you carry your house on your back," said Brother -Wolf; "how will you manage to get there?" - -"Don't trouble about that," said Mr. Snail. "My house is mine, and I -do not need legs. I will be in the city before you." - -"You make me very tired with your talk," said Brother Wolf. "If you -are not joking, let us wager a breakfast that you do not get there -first—that is, if you are not joking." - -"Very well, then," said Mr. Snail, "let it be a breakfast. I even give -you three jumps in advance, and after that you may gallop." - -While Brother Wolf was making ready for the start, Mr. Snail crawled up -on his tail. When the signal was given, the Wolf hurried on, going very -rapidly and without a moment's rest. He arrived in the city the next -day; but found the gates closed. Brother Wolf knocked very hard, and -waited for some one to come and admit him. - -During this time Mr. Snail dropped on the ground and climbed on the -wall. - -"Is that you, my friend?" he exclaimed. "I have been waiting for you a -long time. I am hungry now, and want my breakfast." - - - - -IV - -THE LION'S SECRET - - -Once upon a time there were two brothers, who were orphans. The oldest -was named Mahobane and the youngest Lovallec. These unfortunate -children had been beggars since they were six years of age. They went -from house to house and from village to village, on mountains and in -valleys, but wherever they went their cry was the same: - -"Good friends! give us alms! Kind friends! help the unfortunate!" - -Their lot was a hard one, even as children, but it was harder as they -grew older, for when the oldest was twenty they discovered that they -had only succeeded, after all their efforts, in keeping soul and body -together. Finally, one day, Mahobane exclaimed: - -"I know what I shall do to make a great deal of money in a very short -time." - -"What is it?" cried Lovallec. - -"One of us," said the eldest, "will have to become blind and lead the -other by the hand, going from house to house and along the public -highways asking for alms from the people and from the travellers." - -"You are right," said Lovallec, "but, alas! neither one of us is blind." - -"It will be easy enough," said the other, "to become so." - -"How can that be?" asked Lovallec. - -"Oh, easy enough," said the elder. "One of us will have to put out his -eyes." - -"Oh, no!" exclaimed the younger; "that would make one of us suffer too -much." - -"Ah," said Mahobane, to the younger, "you are timid, you are -tender-hearted: What is a little suffering in comparison with the happy -times we should have? the soft beds we should sleep in, the fine meats -that will be offered us, and the good wines we have not tasted in so -long? But it does not follow that you are to be blind," continued -Mahobane; "the lot may fall to me instead of you." - -"So be it," said the younger; "let us draw straws." - -Mahobane prepared the straws, and arranged very cleverly to cheat his -younger brother. He had no sooner carried his point than he put out his -brother's eyes with a thorn. - -Lovallec screamed loudly under the pain of this operation, but the only -sympathy he got from his cruel brother was this: - -"Cry louder, my brother! cry louder! for here the people are passing, -and when they behold your condition they will give us money." - -It was even so. Silver and pennies fell into the wooden bowl they -carried, and this success was continued for more than a year. Then a -wicked thought entered the head of Mahobane, the eldest, and he made up -his mind to get rid of his unfortunate brother. So one day he carried -him into the great forest and left him to wander alone and find his way -out as best he could; but, being blind, this he was unable to do. - -"Where am I, my dear brother? Where are you?" But there was no answer -to his heart-rending cries. The cowardly brother, who had deserted -him, was already far away. It was long before Lovallec, the blind one, -would believe that his brother could be cruel enough to desert him. He -called and cried for the absent brother, but the only answer he heard -was in the mocking echoes. Night came, and he was tired, hungry, and -thirsty. Despair seized him and he continued his lamentations. - -"Ah, my brother! my brother! how cruel you have been to forsake me! Is -it my fate to die of hunger at the foot of this tree, or become the -prey of the ravenous beasts that roam through this forest? No! Better a -thousand times that I should die at once." - -With this the unfortunate brother climbed the tree, at the foot of -which he found himself, groping his way up the trunk, and was preparing -to throw himself to the ground to end his existence then and there, -when he heard in the forest, near at hand, the terrible roaring of a -lion. At this sound the leaves and branches of the tree trembled, and -the blind unfortunate paused. The roaring of the Lion, as it seemed, -was a call to the Wolf, who soon made his appearance at the foot of the -tree. - -"You are late, Wolf!" exclaimed the Lion; "where do you come from?" - -"I have been at Offemborough," said the Wolf, "where I have tasted -human flesh. There everyone is dying of thirst, and the people are too -weak to protect themselves. That is why I am late." At this the Lion -laughed heartily. - -"I know," said he, "how water can be procured for the inhabitants of -this city." - -"But how can this be done?" the Wolf inquired. - -"It is easy enough," said the Lion, in his positive way; "take a small -piece of the root of this very tree under which we are standing, and -strike three times on the rock in the middle of the city, saying: - - "'Come, gentle Dew, from the skies, - Refreshing Fountains rise, - Oh, Rivers! greet men's eyes!' - -and immediately water, fresh and clear as crystal will flow, and it -will flow in sufficient abundance to satisfy the needs of all." - -"You are wise," said the Wolf. "Can you not give me some other useful -information?" - -"Yes," said the lion, "I can tell you a remedy that will cure all sorts -of maladies and infirmities." - -"What is that?" said the Wolf. - -"To succeed in the art of medicine," said the Lion, shaking his mane -and beard, "one has only to take the inner bark of this same tree, and -apply it to the seat of the disease. For example, if one is blind, a -portion of the inner bark of the tree would have to be applied to the -eyes." - -"That is very strange," said the Wolf, "and I will remember it. But now -tell me from whence you come: I have not seen you for many days." - -"I have just arrived from the city of the famous King, whose beautiful -daughter now lies dangerously ill." - -"And how did the famous King's beautiful daughter come to be ill?" -inquired the Wolf. - -"Well," said the Lion, "as I was passing over the mountain of Aventin, -I met the King's daughter riding on a palfrey. She was smiling on all, -and giving alms to every unfortunate she met. She was so beautiful, -with her great blue eyes, and so simple and so good, that it made me -lonely and lovesick, so I caused to be sent her a terrible malady -which will consume her, and to-day she should be dying." - -"Do you think," said the Wolf, "that the inner bark of this tree would -cure the sick princess?" - -"No," said the Lion. "It would not be sufficient in this case, for -the princess has an evil spirit for an enemy, and she will have to be -treated differently. To be cured, she must be given the blood of a frog -mixed with muscadine wine, and the second day she must eat the frog's -heart cooked in the juice of a fig." - -Here the Lion paused, and the Wolf inquired: - -"Have you no more good news for me, good friend?" - -"No," said the Lion. - -"Then good-by until next year," said the Wolf, "when we will meet at -the same time and place." - -The Wolf and the Lion parted, each going his way through the forest. - -"So, then," exclaimed Lovallec, the blind man, who had been sitting -in the tree, "I have not been deserted by Providence after all. These -beasts have told me secrets that will surely be useful to me hereafter." - -The sun had arisen, and the birds began to sing. Lovallec came down -from the tree and took a piece of the inner bark thereof and rubbed it -on his eyes. Suddenly he found that his eyesight had been restored to -him, and the happy man danced around in a transport of joy. He saw the -skies, the birds, the flowers, and, above all, the sun. He was happy -once more. He placed the bark in his bosom and pressed it there, after -securing a quantity of the precious medicine. He did not forget, also, -to procure a piece of the root of the tree, in order that he might be -able to give water to the unfortunate inhabitants of Offemborough. - -After making these preparations the young man started on his journey. -He travelled for many days and crossed many rivers. He was nearly at -the end of his journey, but he was as poor now as when he started, and -his clothes were in tatters. He had no money, but his riches were all -in his heart. He met a priest. - -"Good-morning, parson," said he; "can I enjoy your hospitality?" - -"No," said the priest, "my house is too small and I have no place for -you." - -He met the mayor. - -"Good-day, Mr. Mayor," Lovallec exclaimed, "will you give me something -to eat?" - -"Go away, you tramp, or I will have you arrested this instant," cried -the mayor. - -He met the lord of the castle. - -"Good-day," said the traveller. "I am cold, your lordship; can you give -me some clothing to wear—something to hide my nakedness?" - -Then the lord of the castle called to his servants and directed them -to give the beggar a hundred lashes, and the unfortunate young man was -beat and left for dead on the way. - -A poor girl, passing by, saw him lying on the ground, and bent over him -tenderly. Then she called assistance, and had him carried to her home, -where she watched over him constantly, weeping and praying that he -might recover. - -At last Lovallec recovered, and said to the young girl who had rescued -him: - -"My guardian angel, what has happened since I have been ill? What is -the news in the city?" - -"There is nothing new," said the young girl. "Every one is the victim -of the water-famine." - -"What a misfortune!" cried the young man; "let us go at once to the -relief of these poor people!" - -Although Lovallec was scarcely able to walk, he leaned on the arm of -the young girl, and was preparing to go, when, all of a sudden, he -remembered the pieces of bark he had secreted in his bosom. He took a -portion of this, rubbed himself, and at once the pains in his limbs -disappeared, and he was made whole again. - -The young girl was astonished at this sudden change, as well she might -be, and her surprise continued until they had arrived in the centre of -the great city. Once there, however, the young man recognized the rock -that had been described by the Lion. Without loss of time he took the -piece of the root of the tree that he had procured, and struck the rock -three times, crying: - - "Come, gentle Dew, from the skies, - Refreshing Fountains rise, - Oh, Rivers! greet men's eyes!" - -At once there was a mysterious noise in the rock. It parted in twain, -and the water gushed forth in an abundant supply. The news of this -miracle spread abroad in the city, and the inhabitants came with their -jugs and vessels to obtain a supply of water. All quenched their -thirst, and were happy; they embraced each other and made ready for -celebrating the event with festivities. They were so grateful that -they could talk of nothing else but the miracle that had given them an -abundance of water. - -But in the midst of their congratulations and rejoicings a voice rose -above the tumult: - -"Friends, let us not be ungrateful. To whom do we owe this abundance of -water that has given us renewed strength and life?" - -When Lovallec heard these words he made an effort to escape the notice -of the crowd, but the young girl could not resist a desire to make him -known to the people. She cried out: - -"Here is the saviour of Offemborough!" - -At this the young man was surrounded by the priest, the mayor, and the -lord of the castle, and they wanted to carry him off in triumph. They -offered him great sums of money as a reward for the service he had -rendered them; but simple and modest as the young man was, he answered: - -"No, no! keep all your money. I will have none of that. I was without -a shelter, and you drove me from your door; I was dying of hunger, -and you refused me even the scraps that you fed to your dogs; I was -shivering with cold, and all the clothing you gave me was a beating, -and I was left for dead on the pavement. Ah! keep your honors; keep -your money!" - -At these sad words, and, fearing that the young man would destroy the -source of their water as quickly as he had discovered it, the men, -women, and children fell on their knees before him and begged for -mercy. He bade them rise, and he was weeping as he spoke: - -"Your kindness is my best revenge." - -Then the people asked Lovallec to make his home among them. - -"No! no!" he answered, "I have a great deal of good to do as I journey -through the world, and those who are suffering cannot afford to wait." - -The people of Offemborough, however, persuaded him to accept a -magnificent carriage and horses; they clothed him in fine linen and -gave him money to go on his way. - -"When will you return to us?" inquired the people. - -"Very soon, perhaps, my friends," cried Lovallec, and with that his -driver whipped up the horses, and the young man was soon lost to view. - -After so long a time, Lovallec, arriving at the city of the famous -King, went immediately to the palace-door and knocked. - -"What will you have?" said the King, who went to the door. - -"Living in a far-off country I heard that your daughter is sick, and I -have come to cure her." - -"Alas!" cried the King, "you have come in vain. All the great -physicians of the world have exhausted their science in her behalf, and -I am in despair." - -"You must have courage," said the young man; "your daughter will be -cured in a few days." - -"Stranger," said the famous monarch, "if you can work such a wonderful -miracle as this, all that I have is yours. The riches that will fall to -you will be beyond computation. You shall have millions of gold pieces, -a hundred towns and ten provinces shall be yours, and you may even -command my crown if you succeed in curing my daughter." - -Then Lovallec thanked the famous King and said: - -"Leave me alone a little while, as it is necessary that I should gather -some herbs that belong to the medicine which I desire to give your -daughter." - -Then the famous King went weeping to his daughter's bedside. The young -man went down into the garden and caught a frog, and went to the -apartments that had been provided for him. - -"Quick!" he exclaimed to one of the servants, "bring me a knife and a -plate and some green figs; and you," he said to another, "make a big -fire, and don't forget to fetch a frying-pan." - -Everything was ready in a short time, and Lovallec went to work, -having first made sure that there was nobody near to watch him. He -first killed the frog and mixed its blood with muscadine wine. Then he -took out the heart, and cooked it as the Lion had said. This mixture -prepared, the young man went before the King's daughter. - -"Powerful princess!" he exclaimed, "drink of this wine, for it is -renewed life that I give you." - -The princess drank one swallow, and immediately pushed the cup from her. - -"I am poisoned!" she cried; "I feel that I am dying." - -"Drink, princess, drink!" exclaimed the young man, "for it is an evil -spirit that possesses you." - -Then the young girl took the rest of the draught, and was immediately -relieved. - -"Ah! I am better," she exclaimed. "I feel my strength returning. -Thanks! thanks! my benefactor!" - -The next day Lovallec presented her with the heart of the frog, cooked -according to the Lion's directions. - -"Eat this meat," the young man said, "and all your troubles will be -over." - -Then the sick girl ate bravely of the queer morsel, and was -immediately restored to health. - -"My father! my father!" she cried, "here is your daughter who is -restored to you. See my bright eyes and my rosy cheeks." Then she -laughed and sang, and with a smile she again thanked her benefactor. - -The old King was nearly crazed with joy, and more than once he went -to the young man and embraced him; but that seemed insufficient as an -expression of the gratitude that he owed the doctor, and he was loaded -with presents of all sorts. He had caskets of gold, precious stones, -villages and castles, and more riches than he could wish for. One day -the King said to him: - -"My son, I want to give you my daughter's hand in marriage, and my -crown, if you will accept it." - -"Your Majesty," said Lovallec, "permit me to think over your -proposition. I desire to return to a foreign country to arrange my -affairs, and later I can give you an answer." - -"Go, my son," said the King, "but return quickly. The hours seem long -to those who love and wait." - -The young man went away that very day. Where he was going he alone -knew, but his horses seemed to know where his heart turned, and he soon -found himself on the way to Offemborough, where one poor woman had -had pity on him. It was not long before he had reached the end of his -journey. He stopped at the best hotel and had a magnificent dinner set -before him. After dining he said to the landlord: - -"My friend, what is new in the city?" - -"Nothing," said the landlord, "except that the marvellous palace, -built for the saviour of this city has been completed." - -"What is his name?" inquired Lovallec. - -"Alas! no one knows," said the landlord. "He was merely passing through -this land to a foreign country, where he had other good deeds to -perform. When he returns we hope to have him remain with us, and it is -our purpose to give him the most beautiful woman of the country for his -bride." - -"Good-night, good-night," said Lovallec, with a smile, and went to bed. - -But the news of his arrival spread through the village, and on all -sides the grateful people came to see him and congratulate him. The -mayor of the town called on him, made a beautiful speech, and invited -him to take possession of the marvellous palace. - -"What will I do with it?" asked Lovallec. "I am alone and have no -family." - -"Then get you a wife," said the mayor. - -"You are right," said Lovallec. "To-morrow I will choose me a wife from -the beautiful girls of this village." - -The next day the maidens were gathered on the lawn before the church. -The young man inspected them carefully, but he could not find among -them the girl who had befriended him, and for whom he was searching. - -The day after, the working-girls were ranged on the lawn, and among -these, the simplest and the most beautiful, he found the maiden who had -given him aid in the hour of need. This maiden he selected to be his -wife in preference to the princess in the far country. - -He married her and was living happily, when one day a beggar, clothed -in rags, made his appearance at the castle-door and asked for alms. - -"You seem to have seen trouble," Lovallec said. - -"Yes," said the beggar, "and I have deserved it all." - -With that he went on to relate, amid tears and sobs, how, many years -before, he had robbed a brother of his eyesight. Lovallec had already -recognized him, but he permitted the poor man to tell his story, -and then made himself known. And after that they both lived happily -together in the palace which the gratitude of the people had provided. - - - - -V - -THE KING AND THE LAPWINGS - - -One day the great King of the Magicians and Sorcerers was leaving -his country to visit a neighboring Queen. He was leaning on his -walking-stick, having been travelling since the break of day, when the -sun rose and spread his beneficent rays over all nature. The birds sang -blithely, and the little crickets in the grass made themselves noisy; -but the King, while enjoying the scene and the sounds around him, went -forward without delay. The sun shone brightly, the birds were joyous, -and all nature seemed to be happy, but the King suffered from fatigue. -Great beads of perspiration broke out on his forehead, and he longed -for a cloud that would give shade and coolness. The earth seemed to -be a furnace. The sun spread its great rays of light and the cloud -came not. The King begged for a clump of woods that he might have the -benefit of shade, and for a stream of cool and sparkling water that he -might quench his thirst. The road was long and dusty, and the wells -were dry. - -But in the air, far away, appeared the King of the Lapwings. He bore in -his beak a draught of water, and his wings were dripping wet. Faster -than the wind he made his way to the dying King. - -"Ah," said the bird, "it was indeed time that I came;" and with the end -of his wing, as tenderly as would a mother, he washed the face of the -unfortunate King, and placed between his lips the water he held in his -beak. The King revived and opened his eyes. - -"Ah, thou," he exclaimed, "who gave me back my life! I am hereafter -under all obligations to you." - -"Wait a moment, your majesty," said the King of the Lapwings; "thirst -still devours you, but have hope. Behold in the distance my faithful -subjects, who come forth, each one carrying at the end of its wings the -delightful refreshment you have longed for." - -The lapwings arrived on all sides. Each one deposited in the mouth of -the unfortunate King the fresh water for which he thirsted. - -"Ah, this is better than bread," said the King, reviving; "what can I -do to show my gratitude?" - -"Nothing," said the King of the Lapwings. "Nothing," responded the -other birds. "Continue your journey, and you will find yourself -hereafter under the shadow of our wings." - -Then the King resumed his journey. Night came, and he found himself -near the palace of the Queen whom he had intended to visit. The -lapwings still continued with him. No matter how bright the sun shone, -no matter how suffocating the heat as he journeyed on, a gentle lapwing -came to his assistance. Touched by the solicitude of these birds the -King said: - -"I cannot leave you, my friends, you who had pity on me when I was -forsaken by all, without giving you a substantial evidence of my -gratitude. Tell me, what can I do for you? How can I show you how -grateful I am?" - -At these words the King of the Lapwings advanced and spoke to the King: - -"We desire, your majesty, to be the most beautiful of birds. We want a -golden crown on our heads, so that we may be placed before the peacock, -who is so proud of his plumage, and before the gay nightingale, who is -so proud of his song." - -At these words a great sadness filled the heart of the King, who could -read the future, and he responded, shaking his head: - -"Ah! you foolish birds, larger of heart than of mind! you do not know -the weight of a crown and of the numberless dangers to which it exposes -those who possess it. A golden diadem, say you? Alas! it will bring -you misfortune; ambition without bounds is wicked and perilous. Dear -friends, demand of me something else." - -"No, no," cried the lapwings, on all sides, young and old, little and -big, "that is the only gift we desire—a crown on our heads. Ah, what -happiness! We will fly in the air and each bird will envy us." - -The King then saw that nothing he could say would convince his -companions. He had promised to satisfy their first request, and his -word was sacred. - -"Come with me," said he, "to my friend, the magician Zacchar. No one -is more expert in the working of metal. At his touch iron becomes more -supple, silver becomes malleable, and gold is mere paste. Come! and you -shall have the diadem you long for." - -During three days the magician worked pure gold. The bellows blew and -the hammers thumped. During three nights he chased the marvellous -crowns that were to adorn the heads of the lapwings. At the dawn of the -fourth day the King arrived, with a sad smile on his face. - -"Friends," said he to the birds, "my promise is fulfilled. Take these -diadems; take these diadems, which are masterpieces of art, and go -whither your destiny calls you." - -At these words the lapwings uttered loud cries of joy. - -"Go, go," cried the King, "escape from man or you are lost." - -Without understanding his warning, but obeying the command of the -powerful King, the lapwings took flight, filled with joy and happiness. -They went here and there, flying to the tops of the mountains and -descending to the depths of the valleys, telling of their good fortune -to all their friends both far and wide. - -When the other birds saw the crowns with which the heads of the -lapwings were encircled they paid due homage to the symbols. Whenever -there was a feast or an important funeral the lapwings and their -friends walked in the place of honor, before the eagles and the -peafowls, leaving far behind them the humming-bird (that living -flower), the linnet, and the nightingale. - -But, unfortunately, it happened one day that a lapwing came too near -the abode of man, and a hunter saw it and killed it. - -"What is this?" exclaimed the sportsman, perceiving the golden crown. -Seizing it, he ran quickly to the jeweller's. - -"Worker in metals!" said he, "see this marvellous diadem the lapwing -carries! Of what metal is it made?" - -The jeweller took the crown, turned it on all sides, and looking at it -with greedy eyes, exclaimed: - -"It is of pure gold, and if you will part with it I will pay you an -hundred shekels." - -When the other sportsmen found out the value of the ornament that the -lapwings wore on their heads, they made haste to go into the country, -and they pursued the lapwings, wherever they could find them. New -weapons were invented, and the hunters watched day and night, killing -all the lapwings that were so unfortunate as to appear in sight. - -"Lord, have mercy on us!" exclaimed the lapwings, "and blind the eyes -of the cruel men who are killing us!" - -But the crown of the lapwings was so brilliant that it resembled the -sun's rays, and even in the darkness it shone like the stars. There was -no rest or escape for these unfortunate birds. The dark night, even, -was as fatal to them as the day. The huntsmen pursued them with so much -vigor that only ten remained alive. - -"What shall we do?" asked the King of the Lapwings, who had not yet -been destroyed. "Let us go and implore the great King to relieve us of -these golden crowns that are the cause of all our misfortunes." - -Immediately the lapwings started on their journey in search of the -great King. Some of them stopped by the way, so that only a few reached -the King's throne, where they were welcomed, the powerful ruler talking -to them kindly as he would have talked to faithful friends. - -"Lapwings with the golden diadems! My dear companions, what can I do to -please you this day?" - -"Great Prince!" they replied, "you can give us our lives by removing -these unfortunate gifts that adorn our heads—by taking away these -golden crowns that have been the cause of all our misfortunes." - -"I will grant your desire," said the great King; "but in remembrance -of your kindness to me you shall hereafter wear a diadem of feathers; -but bear in mind that happiness is not in the gift of the great or the -rich, but that it only belongs to those who earn it." - -Thereafter the lapwings were no longer pursued by man, and they were -happier with their modest tuft of feathers than they had been with -their golden diadem. - - - - -VI - -THE ROOSTER, THE CAT, AND THE - -REAP-HOOK - - -_The Story of the Rooster_ - -Once on a time there were three brothers, who were orphans. The oldest -was called Jack, the second was called John, and the youngest was known -as Jack-John. Their father was a poor laborer, who was compelled to get -up in the morning when the roosters crew for daylight, and he worked -all day, and until very late in the night. He found it a hard matter -to earn his daily bread, and it was only with a great deal of toil and -trouble that he could provide for his little children. When the mother -was alive they could manage to make both ends meet, but after she died -it seemed that everything was changed. The ground was less fertile, and -the rains were less frequent, and the crops were smaller than they had -been. In short, matters were in such a condition that the family had -fallen into the most abject want; and to add to all this, during a very -cold winter, their father died, leaving them alone. As may be supposed, -the children cried and mourned a long time, but, at last, as is natural -with children, they ceased to grieve. After a while, when all had -ceased to mourn, the oldest said: - -"The land has been a curse to us. Let us divide the inheritance of our -father and go abroad. Perhaps we can make our fortunes elsewhere." - -"What inheritance do you speak of? What riches have we?" inquired -Jack-John. - -"I know not, my dear brother," said the eldest. "Let us make an -inventory and then we will see." - -The inventory was made without any trouble, and, after paying a -few just debts there was nothing left but a cat, a rooster, and a -reap-hook. The brothers thereupon, in order to be perfectly fair, had -to draw lots. The short straw gave the rooster to Jack, the cat to -John, and the reap-hook to Jack-John. - -Then the three brothers embraced each other affectionately, and -promised to meet at the old homestead as soon as they had made their -fortune; and each took a different road. - -After travelling a long time in the plains and on the mountains, always -keeping ahead, Jack, the eldest, reached a great kingdom belonging to -Prince Calamor. Jack's journey had been a long one, and the sun was -disappearing little by little, and the night coming on rapidly. - -"Ah, how tired I am!" exclaimed Jack. "If I could only find a tavern -where I could rest!" - -He had hardly ceased to speak when, at a turn in the road he saw a -beautiful castle, built on a rock, like an eagle's nest, and flanked on -both sides by twelve towers. - -"This is the very thing," said the tired traveller, and he announced -his arrival by lifting the heavy knocker of a brass door. - -"What do you want?" said a voice from the inside. - -"I want a lodging-place," said Jack, "for myself and my little -companion." - -"The master of this house," said the porter, opening the door, "never -refuses hospitality to those who demand shelter. Come in, and make -yourself at home." - -When Jack had entered, the friendly porter inquired: - -"My friend, have you dined this afternoon?" - -"My faith, no!" exclaimed Jack. "My wallet is empty, and it has been -empty since morning." - -"Come to the table, then," exclaimed the porter, pushing Jack along the -wide hall-way. "Eat and drink and spare nothing, for you are the guest -of his most powerful majesty King Calamor." - -Jack did not wait for a second invitation. He hurried to the -dining-room and ate his fill, and his rooster—the rooster with the -golden feathers—ate heartily of the crumbs that fell from the table. -As it was already late, the porter made haste to prepare a bed for the -wayfarer, and Jack soon fell asleep, with the rooster perched on the -headboard of his bed. - -It so happened that in that country those who served King Calamor had -to go and search for Day every morning. They not only had to search for -Day, but they had to hunt for the place where it could be found. Jack -slept but lightly, and he heard the conversation of the servants, who -were in the same room. - -"Get up!" said one; "it is time for us to be going. We must be hunting -for Day." - -"Wait a little," said the other, "I am very sleepy." - -"No, no," said the first, "we must make haste, or some one who rises -earlier might seize the Sun and carry it away, and then the King, our -master, would be very angry." - -"Is the wagon ready?" asked another. - -"Yes, and the axles are all well greased. It is early, and the wagon -will not break, as it did last week, and we will be able to go much -faster." - -All this time Jack was thinking to himself in this wise: "Truly this is -a queer country that the King's people have to go off to hunt Day." The -servants were up and ready to go, when Jack cried out: - -"Friends, get back to bed, and I will take charge of your work. I will -fetch the Day." - -"What! you!" said a servant. "Only one man! And do you pretend that you -can do what ten horses can hardly accomplish? You are making game of -us." - -"I make game of no one. You will soon see that I mean what I say," said -Jack. - -"That seems very queer," said the head-servant. - -"Fear not," said Jack, "I will help you through this by the assistance -of my little companion—my rooster with the golden feathers." - -"But, see here!" exclaimed the head-servant, with an air of sternness, -"if you do not bring Day at the appointed hour, the King will be -without mercy, and you will be hanged." - -"Nay, let me do as I wish," said Jack, sleepily; "go to bed quietly." - -With this assurance the servants and the carters did not need to be -coaxed. They returned to their beds and slept heavily. Shortly after, -the rooster with the golden feathers crew. - -"What is that?" exclaimed the sleepers arising from their couches in -surprise. - -"It is very simple," said one. "Our friend yonder is about to start on -his journey in search of Day." - -"That is very strange!" exclaimed the others as they fell back in their -beds. - -An hour afterward the rooster crew again. "_Lock-the-Dairy-door! -Lock-the-Dairy-door!_" - -The noise awoke them all. - -"What is that?" exclaimed the servants. - -"It is nothing," said Jack. "My little companion is merely telling me -that he has returned from his journey in search of the Day. Get up and -see." - -The servants at once arose, and, to the astonishment of them all, they -saw the Sun appearing over the mountain-tops more brilliant than ever. -Seeing this there was at once a contention among the servants as to -which should be the first to carry the strange news to King Calamor. - -"Master! master!" cried one, more nimble than the rest, "if you only -knew!" - -"What has happened?" exclaimed the King; "speak quickly!" - -"The horses are——" - -"Broken down like the others," the King interrupted. "Well, it can't be -helped." - -"No, no, your Majesty; the horses are still in their stalls, and the -wagons have not been out of the stables. But, get up and look! Get up -and admire the Day." - -"Ah, you rascals! Do you make game of me? Did Day come by itself -to-day?" - -"Yesterday, your Majesty," said the servant, "a stranger came and asked -for lodging for himself and a queer creature with golden feathers. It -carries a bunch of feathers in its tail and a tuft of feathers on its -head." - -"Ah, well, what did he do?" said King Calamor. - -"What has he done? What has he done?" - -"Yes," said the King, "answer me." - -"Well, then," said the servant, "this insignificant creature, that -seems as if it could be crushed by a blow of the hand, is stronger than -all your horses put together. Without wagons or assistance of any kind -it started out, about two hours ago, and has already returned, bringing -the Sun." - -"I cannot believe such a miracle!" exclaimed the King. - -"Nevertheless it is the truth," said the servant. "What fatigue and -trouble this creature would save us!" - -"Yes," said the King, "how many horses and wagons would I not save! But -what you say does not seem credible." - -"Nothing can be truer," insisted the servant, "and you can easily -satisfy yourself." - -"How can that be?" inquired the King. - -"Well," said the servant, "tell the stranger and his companion to -remain in the castle, and by watching with us to-night you can be -convinced." - -"Tell him to stay," said the King. "I am anxious to witness this queer -phenomenon." - -These directions were followed, and to the King who was waiting, the -day seemed long indeed. Never had he been so impatient. When night came -he went to bed in the granary with the servants. - -"Do not be uneasy," said Jack; "I shall take charge of these matters -again to-morrow," and everybody went to sleep with the exception of the -King, who could not close his eyes, he was so impatient. - -At three o'clock in the morning the rooster crew, -"_Lock-the-Dairy-door!_" - -"Who is that?" exclaimed the King. "Who talks in that language?" - -"It is my little companion, the rooster," said Jack. "He is preparing -to go into the country in search of Day." - -The King lay quiet. At four o'clock he heard again the sonorous voice -of the strange creature with the golden feathers. - -"Hey, my friend!" the King cried, "what is that?" - -"It is the rooster who has returned," said Jack. "His expedition has -been a prosperous one, as you can see. He has brought Day with him, and -already the light of it is shining on the mountain-tops and filling the -valleys. Rise, your Majesty, and see for yourself." - -At these words the King arose and ran to the window. The stranger had -spoken the truth. Day—clear, joyous, and resplendent—shone over the -land. Bewildered and confused, the King could hardly recover from his -astonishment. What would he not give to possess such an enchanted -rooster! And if he possessed him, how jealous and envious of his good -fortune the neighboring kings would be! Without loss of time the King -said to Jack: - -"My friend, your companion pleases me much, and he can be of great -service to me. Will you sell him?" - -"Sell him!" exclaimed Jack. "By no means! I would not sell him for gold -and silver." - -"Let us see," said the King, "for a hundred crown pieces?" - -"No," said Jack, sturdily, "not for a thousand." - -"By my kingdom!" said the ruler, "you are hard to please. What price -have you set on him?" - -"In exchange for my companion," said Jack, "I want you to give me your -most beautiful daughter for a wife." - -"What!" cried the King, "for no less?" - -"For no less," said Jack. - -"So be it," said the King. "I give you my youngest daughter, and a -hundred thousand gold crown pieces for her dowry." - -In a transport of joy Jack threw himself on the King's neck, and the -marriage was celebrated at once, in the midst of pomp becoming so great -a princess. - -From that time the good King Calamor had no occasion to send his -servants and his horses for the Day. - - -_The Story of the Cat_ - -We have seen how Jack made his fortune. Now let us see what became of -his brother John, the possessor of the cat. We shall soon know whether -he wandered over the earth in misery and misfortune. - -Satisfied with the lot that had befallen him, the poor fellow went -on his way singing and whistling, feeling no uneasiness as to his -destination. He paused only to drink the sparkling waters, or to -eat the luscious fruit that had been ripened by the golden sun. He -travelled thus for many miles, until one day he found himself in the -country where the birds speak the language of men—the country of the -Murzipouloums, where the flowers sing songs to themselves, and the -cattle fly in the air. He was astonished by these things, but presently -he came to a village where a new and a more astonishing spectacle -presented itself to his sight. More than a hundred people were abroad -in the streets, armed with sticks, chasing rats and mice that seemed to -laugh at them. At the sight of this new and peculiar war, John could -not keep his countenance. He laughed aloud. At this unseemly display of -jollity the people on all sides cried out: - -"What in the world are you laughing at?" Some were furious and some -were curious. - -"I laugh, my poor friends," said John, "because you give yourselves so -much trouble for so small a thing." - -"So small a thing!" they cried—"a small thing! One can tell you are -a stranger here, otherwise you would know that the rats and the mice -are our most terrible enemies. It would be an easier matter for us to -contend with ten thousand men." - -"Now, is this true?" exclaimed John. "Well, here is my little companion -who will aid you greatly. In one hour's time he will do more of this -kind of work than all the rest of you could do in a year." - -The people gathered around, admiring the little creature with gray -eyes. It seemed to be very mild. - -"Young man," cried they, "do you wish to have a laugh at our expense?" - -"You can see for yourselves," said John, and with that he turned the -cat loose among the rats and mice. You may be sure the cat was very -happy. A leap here, a bound there, a jump yonder—to the right and to -the left, before and behind—and the rats and the mice were destroyed -by hundreds and by thousands. The people marvelled greatly, the more so -since the cat had accomplished in a very short time a work that would -have required the aid of an army of rat-killers. - -While this work was going on, the Prince of the country happened to be -passing by. He saw the work the cat had accomplished, and cried out: - -"Hey, my friends! Where did you find such a creature as that? Where did -you discover such a warrior?" - -Thereupon John advanced politely, and said to the Prince: - -"The creature which you see so cleverly amusing itself with the mice -is called a cat. It is my faithful friend, and since it came into my -possession I have never permitted it to leave me." - -"My young friend," said the Prince, "you have there a fine fortune. My -castle is infested with rats and mice; sell me your companion, and you -shall be well paid." - -"Be separated from my best friend!" exclaimed John. "Never, never will -I do that." - -"Let us see," said the Prince; "will you not sell me your companion -for a hundred crown pieces?" - -"No," cried John; "I would die of grief." - -"I will give you a thousand then," said the Prince. - -"Never," said John, stoutly. - -"My friend," exclaimed the Prince, "be reasonable. I must have your -cat. Name the price." - -John scratched his head thoughtfully, and replied: - -"Well, give me a meadow and a mill, a vineyard and a thousand -crown-pieces, and a carriage to ride in." - -"They shall be yours," said the Prince. - -"Then," said John, "my beautiful cat is yours." - - -_The Story of the Reap-hook_ - -We have thus far followed the history of Jack, with his rooster, and -John, with his cat. What became of Jack-John, the younger brother, with -his reap-hook? - -Journeying over hills and across valleys, with his reap-hook hung over -his shoulder, stopping only to eat and to drink, the younger brother, -at the end of thirty days and thirty nights, arrived in the great -empire of Malissours. It was in the month of July, and the fields were -yellow with the golden grain, which waved lightly in the wind. For the -first time since he left home, Jack-John felt tired; his limbs refused -to carry him farther. How happy he would be, he thought, if he could -only reach the village near by, where there was an orange-grove. But -his efforts were useless, and the young fellow lay down in the shadow -of a big oak, and was soon fast asleep. - -How long he remained there he did not know; but when Jack-John awoke, -it was morning, and he was surrounded by a crowd of people who eyed him -curiously without daring to approach. - -"Hey, friends!" he cried, "I am ravenously hungry. Have you nothing to -offer me?" - -"Yes, yes," was the reply on all sides, "but on one condition." - -"And what is that?" asked Jack-John. - -"You must tell us what the half-moon in a handle, which you have -sleeping beside you, is for." - -"The half-moon that sleeps?" exclaimed Jack-John in surprise. "What do -you mean?" - -"Your companion that sleeps beside you on the green moss," said the -people. - -"You make me laugh," said Jack-John. "It is not my companion—it is not -an animal. It is simply a reap-hook." - -"A reap-hook," exclaimed the people. "What a strange name! Never before -have we seen such a thing." - -Jack-John was astonished, but in a moment he thought that the time had -arrived for him to make his fortune; so he said: - -"I see that your grain is ripe. It is time to harvest it. How do you -cut it?" - -"Like everybody else," said they, "we gnaw it with the teeth." - -"That must be tedious," said Jack-John. - -"Oh, there are hundreds of us to do the work," said the people. - -"And how long does it take you to complete the task?" asked Jack-John. - -"Two or three months only," the people replied. - -"Ah, well!" said Jack-John, "what it takes all of you three months to -accomplish my good reap-hook will do in one hour's time. A thousand of -you working together could not make as much headway. Under its magic -touch the grain falls and you have only to bind it." - -"What!" they exclaimed, "that little instrument does all the work?" - -"Yes, indeed," said Jack-John, "and if you desire it, I will prove it -to you instantly." - -Thereupon Jack-John made his way to the fields of ripe golden grain, -and in a few minutes had cut quantities of it. The spectators were -full of admiration. Never had they seen anything so extraordinary; and -to these people it was indeed a most marvellous thing for them to see -accomplished in a minute the work that would require the efforts of a -hundred men from sunrise to sunset. On all sides there were shouts of -joy and enthusiasm. - -"Oh, the beautiful machine you have there!" the people cried—"the -fairy that runs and cuts the grain. What a treasure to him who -possesses it!" - -"I see that my beautiful reap-hook pleases you," said Jack-John. "How -much are you willing to pay for it?" - -"All the gold in the world would not be sufficient to pay you," said -the spokesman of the people. "Name your price." - -"I want each one of you to give me as many gold-pieces as my reap-hook -has cut stalks of wheat." - -"Your demand is modest," they answered, "and to-day each one of us will -bring the required sum." - -After this Jack-John was lifted on the shoulders of the multitude -and carried to the neighboring village, where he was treated with -great honor, and for a little more he could have become king. Soon, on -all sides, the people brought sacks of gold, and such was its weight -that ten mules were required to carry it. Jack-John, however, did not -stay very long in this empire. He rightly thought that no country is -so beautiful as one's birthplace, and, at the end of a few weeks, he -arrived at his native village, where he found his two brothers, who had -been as successful. - -"Our good fortune," exclaimed the eldest, "has made us rich, and now it -ought to make us happy." - - - - -VII - -THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND - - -A rich lord, who was at the same time the best of men, wishing to -contribute to the happiness of one of his slaves, set him free. He -equipped a vessel with a white prow and a golden stern, and said to his -old servant: - -"Go out into the world, navigate the seas, and choose a country that -will please you, and always remember to do what good you can on the -way, and remember also to avoid evil." - -The grateful slave set sail, but he had journeyed only a few hours when -a terrible tempest arose, and it was so violent as to throw him on an -island that seemed to be deserted. The unfortunate man had lost his -vessel and all his merchandise, and he was the victim of despair. When -he landed on the island, the sole survivor of his expedition, he gave -himself up to grief, and went forward friendless, alone, and in the -direst poverty, not knowing where to direct his steps. But he was soon -to be made supremely happy, for he discovered a path that was scarcely -perceptible. He followed it with eagerness, and soon arrived at the top -of a high mountain, from which he could see a great city. - -He made haste to go in that direction, but what was his astonishment -when, on approaching the city, he found himself surrounded by a great -concourse of people, crying out in transports of joy. The drums -beat loudly and the trumpets sounded, and on all sides the heralds -exclaimed: - -"Men! here is your monarch!" - -At last the slave and his cavalcade arrived in the city, and with -great pomp he was installed in a marvellous palace, where the kings -of the country had lived. The fortunate slave was taken in charge by -the servants of the palace, and robed in fine purple garments, and his -head was crowned with a diadem. Then the principal lords of the realm, -in the name of the people, swore allegiance to him and the obedience -and fidelity due unto sovereigns. The happy monarch for a long time -believed that he was dreaming. His good fortune seemed to him to be a -whim—the result of circumstance. - -However, after a long time he realized the full measure of his -responsibility, and thought to himself—"What does all this signify? -What does Providence wish me to do? This worried him night and day, -and finally he sent for the wisest lord in his kingdom. - -"Vizier," he asked, "who made me your King? Why do the people obey me? -And what is to become of me?" - -"You must know, great King," responded the minister, "that the genii -who inhabit this island have asked the good Lord to send them each -year a child of Adam to reign over them. These vows the great Being -has deigned to answer, and every year, on the same day, a man lands on -our coast. At such time the people are filled with transports of joy; -they meet him with loud acclaim, as they met you, and crown him King; -but the extent of his reign can only be for one year. When the twelve -months are out, the King, who has been so powerful is stripped of his -honors, clothed in coarse garments, and his soldiers, unmercifully -pursuing a custom, seize and convey him on board a black ship, which -carries him away to a deserted island, which has been rendered sterile -by the winds and waves. He that was only a few days before a rich and -powerful monarch, now finds himself without subjects, friends, or -consolers. Thereafter he lives a sorrowful life, and the people who -have obeyed his will forget even his name." - -"Were my predecessors," said the King to his minister, "advised of the -fate that awaited them?" - -"None of them were ignorant of it," the minister replied; "but they -lacked the courage and the thoughtfulness to contemplate such a future. -They were dazzled by the pomp and grandeur of their position; and, -in their eagerness for passing pleasures they refused to contemplate -the sad end that awaited them. The year of their prosperity and -power passed away almost before they knew it, and when the fatal -day came they had done nothing to render their inevitable fate less -insupportable." - -At these words from his minister the King was filled with fear. He -thought with terror of the precious time that had already passed, and -with tears in his eyes he said: - -"Wise friend! you have announced to me the misfortunes that are in -store for me; who but you can tell me how to provide a remedy?" - -"Remember, your Majesty," said the minister, "that naked and in poverty -you came upon this island, and naked and in poverty you must leave it. -There is but one way for you to avoid the misfortunes that threaten -you. You must send to the island to which you are to be exiled a -number of workmen and order them to construct vast storehouses and -fill them with such provisions as seem to you necessary for sustaining -life. You must prepare for the inevitable. Go quickly to work, for -time presses. Time is approaching, time is passing away, and you must -remember that you will only find at the place of exile the treasures -you will be able to send there during the remaining few days of your -reign." - -The King thanked his minister, and resolved to follow the wise man's -advice. Workmen of experience were despatched to the Island of Exile, -and it was not long before a vast palace was built. The King conveyed -an abundance of treasure there, and a thousand men were sent to render -the island more inhabitable. - -The day came when the King was to leave his throne; but, far from -regretting it, he sighed for the hour when he would be able to take -possession of his new estates. He was banished from the throne, -divested of his royal robes, and sent on board a ship that conveyed him -to the Island of Exile. - -Having provided himself a place of refuge, he lived long and happily -there. - - - - -VIII - -BROTHER TIGER AND DADDY - -SHEEP - - -During the time when the animals could talk, Daddy Sheep was the terror -of all the plains and the woods. When he walked abroad, with his sharp -horns hanging on his head, the creatures that met him saluted him with -the utmost politeness, and then ran away, glad to escape with their -lives. In order for Daddy Sheep to have such a reputation as this, -it would seem to be necessary that he had made a great many victims, -devouring some with his teeth, and tearing others with his terrible -horns; but in regard to these matters I am not able to testify. I am -of the opinion, moreover, that old Mammy Sheep, who knew him well, -could not say any more. She and her friends, and, indeed, all the -other animals, justified the proverb that is applied to those who are -lazy and cowardly: "It is better to believe what you hear than to go -and investigate the matter." As often happens, the repetition of a -statement gives it currency, and all the creatures came to believe that -Daddy Sheep was as terrible as rumor had described him to be. - -One day, as Daddy Sheep was going out of the pasture, where he had been -grazing on wild thyme, he came to a beautiful river and concluded to -quench his thirst. He approached the water, and started to drink, but -the terrible reflection he saw there—a frowning face surrounded by -wrinkled horns frightened him to such a degree that he scampered home -as fast as his legs could carry him. - -One day a Tiger, who lived not far from this so-called king of the -forest and plain, mustered up courage, and resolved to cultivate -the good-will of his powerful neighbor by making him a visit. So he -took with him his son, the young Tiger, who was already well grown. -While yet at a distance the Tiger saw the powerful Sheep, and saluted -him very humbly. Coming nearer, the Tiger, still humble and polite, -inquired after the health of Daddy Sheep's family. - -"I came, dear neighbor," said Brother Tiger, "to pay you a visit of -respect. My good wife would have come also, but she is unavoidably -detained at home expecting a visit from a friend, and she is compelled -to postpone this pleasure to another day." - -"Come in, neighbor—come in!" exclaimed Daddy Sheep. "To whom does this -charming child belong?" - -"It is my child," said Brother Tiger. - -"Then you must accept my sincere congratulations," said Daddy Sheep. - -"And your own son?" exclaimed Brother Tiger, with effusive politeness; -"how is he?" - -"He is very well, I thank you," said Daddy Sheep, "he is in the house." - -While the two fathers were gravely discussing the affairs of the -country, the young Tiger and the young Sheep went out into the garden -to play. After a while, Brother Tiger became so uneasy that he could -scarcely keep still. - -"Excuse me a moment," he said to Daddy Sheep, "I will return directly." - -"Certainly, certainly!" exclaimed Daddy Sheep. "Do not stand on -ceremony here." - -At once Brother Tiger went out and whispered to his son: - -"Be careful, my child! You must be very polite with the little Sheep, -and do not get angry, or he will eat you up." - -The Tiger went back to the house, and the two young friends returned to -their play. Soon the young Tiger forgot the counsel of his father, and, -during their frolic, he jumped on the little Sheep and tickled him. -This made the little Sheep laugh and show his teeth. - -"Why, what small teeth you have!" cried the little Tiger. - -"They are all like that in my family," said the little Sheep, "and -those of my father are not any longer." - -This set the little Tiger to thinking, and as soon as the visit was -ended he exclaimed, almost before Daddy Sheep's door was shut: - -"Pappy, pappy! did you see the little Sheep's teeth? They are very -short, and he says that those of all his family are no longer than -his." - -"Hush!" exclaimed Brother Tiger. "Speak low, you little rascal, or -Daddy Sheep will hear you and eat us both." - -Brother Tiger, however, who had a mind of his own, thought that there -might be something in what his son had said, and the idea gave him -pleasure. Daddy Sheep was so fat, and his flesh must therefore be so -delicate and tender. For a long time the suggestion of the little Tiger -worried Brother Tiger, and he was absorbed in deep thought. Finally, -one day, he mustered up all his courage, and declared that he would -taste the flesh of Daddy Sheep. - -But, he thought to himself, how could he see Daddy Sheep's teeth? At -last the opportunity presented itself, for Daddy Sheep and his son -paid Brother Tiger a visit Brother Tiger received Daddy Sheep with -the greatest politeness, and saluted him. He invited Daddy Sheep into -his house, and begged him to make himself at home. For the refreshment -of his guests Brother Tiger set out wine. The little Sheep drank some -and went out to play; but Daddy Sheep, who was very fond of his glass, -remained inside. - -"How do you like my wine, neighbor?" asked Brother Tiger. - -"It is most excellent!" exclaimed Daddy Sheep, with enthusiasm. - -"Then have another glass," said Brother Tiger. - -"Very well," said Daddy Sheep; "I thank you and drink to your health." -Then he laughed loudly and said: "The weather is warm, and it is not -out of place to take a glass of wine to arouse one." - -"That is true," said Brother Tiger, "my wine cleans the cobwebs from -the throat and clarifies the brain." - -They drank together many times, but, in spite of all, Brother Tiger was -unable to see Daddy Sheep's teeth. He talked softly and modestly, and -minced his words in a surprising way, as you have seen a young girl -do. But Brother Tiger did not despair; he determined to accomplish his -object, and so he again called attention to the wine. - -"Wake up, Daddy Sheep!" he exclaimed; "I believe you are asleep. Arouse -yourself and help me to finish this bottle." - -"Thanks, thanks!" said Daddy Sheep, "but I am not thirsty." - -"Tut, tut, neighbor," said Brother Tiger, "that is not the way to talk. -Thirst is only for the gnomes and the sprites who seek the dew. As for -us, the kings of this country, we must drink to divert ourselves." - -Feeling himself flattered and enjoying it, Daddy Sheep extended his -glass. It was promptly filled and he emptied it. It was as promptly -filled once more, and he emptied it again. - -"Here's to your health," said Brother Tiger. - -"And to yours, my dear host," said Daddy Sheep, and he again emptied -his glass at one gulp. - -The more Daddy Sheep drank the gayer he became, and the louder he -talked. He lost his customary reserve, but he had not yet condescended -to laugh. Brother Tiger, however, continued to press wine on his guest, -and it finally came to pass that Daddy Sheep sat back in his chair, and -laughed in the foolish way common to those whose brains are befuddled -by the fumes of liquor. - -Brother Tiger saw the short teeth of his guest, and, without hesitating -a moment, he leaped on Daddy Sheep and strangled him. Hearing the loud -outcry made by his father, the little Sheep ran as quickly as he could -to his mother. - -"The wicked Tiger," he exclaimed, as he ran home, "has killed my -father, and has no doubt devoured him!" - -At these terrible words the Mother Sheep almost fainted with fright, -and her grief was pitiful to behold. The little Sheep joined his -mother in her wailings, and the mournful noise they made attracted the -attention of the Queen of the Birds, who came out of the forest and -perched herself on a tree near their house. - -"What is the matter, good Sheep?" she asked, "and what is the cause of -your grief?" - -"Alas, alas! Brother Tiger has devoured my poor husband!" - -"Ah, the infamous villain!" exclaimed the Queen of the Birds. - -"We will not dare to venture out any more," continued the Mother Sheep. -"The vile assassin will hide around here and try to devour us also." - -Touched by the tears of the Mother Sheep and her son, the Queen of the -Birds tried to console them the best she could, and promised them that -they should be revenged, and in a moment she had flown away to the -neighboring forests. She gave utterance to her well-known cry— - - "Pingle, pingle! - Dingle, dingle!" - -and in a very short time her faithful subjects could be seen coming -from all sides, birds of high and low degree, of bright plumage and -dull—the red-breast and the white-cap, the bald eagle and the green -parrots. The Queen of the Birds uttered her musical call again— - - "Pingle, pingle! - Dingle, dingle!" - -And then all the smaller birds that had wandered off into the woods -flew to her side, and begged to know what her wishes were. Their Queen -then related to them the murder of Daddy Sheep by the hypocritical and -cruel Brother Tiger. Her story was full of emotion and good feeling, -and she concluded by saying: - -"This assassin, my faithful friends, must die in his turn. Such a -monster should not be permitted to live on earth." - -All the birds applauded with their wings at these words of the Queen, -and they could not help congratulating their sovereign. - -"Go, my friends and subjects," said the Queen, "into the far countries, -and say to the birds who have not heard my call, that I am about to -give a grand ball, and that I will await them to-morrow. Meanwhile I -will go myself and invite Brother Tiger, who cannot refuse to assist at -the feast." - -"But how will you kill this odious monster?" inquired the great eagle. - -"Have confidence, my friend. Am I not the Queen? To-morrow you will be -satisfied. While you wait, aid in preparing everything for the feast." - -Singing, whistling, and screaming, all the birds began to work. The -brambles were removed, the stones thrown away, and the grass alone, -green and tender, was left in the space they had chosen for the ball. -The next day the Queen of the Birds was arrayed in the most beautiful -dress imaginable. Escorted by her pages, she went to the house of -Brother Tiger. Flattered by the visit of the Queen of the Birds, he -vowed that he would go to the grand ball in the forest. - -"I promise you a dance," said the Queen, smiling. - -"Beautiful Queen," exclaimed Brother Tiger, "all the honor will be mine." - -He could not sleep that night—not that he suffered from remorse for -his crime, but because he was carried away by the graciousness of the -great Queen of the Birds. The next morning Brother Tiger brushed his -clothes, curled his mustache, and went to the spot where the grand ball -was to be given. As soon as it was seen that he was coming, the Queen -of the Birds exclaimed: - -"Take your places for a quadrille, and let all dance with their heads -under their wings. Music, play! trumpets, sound! and you, drums, beat! -Whereupon, the orchestra began to play one of its most delightful airs -for the dance: - - "Tumpy, tumpy, tum-tum! - Tum-tum, tum-tum! - Tumpy, tumpy, tum-tum! - Tum-tum ti!" - -Then the Queen of the Birds flew and met Brother Tiger, and made him -welcome. - -"My dear friend, you are late!" she exclaimed. "The festivities have -already begun." - -"I trust your majesty will excuse me," said Brother Tiger, "my clock -stopped during the night." - -"That is nothing," said the Queen; "come!" - -Oh, what a delicious feast! what fine music! Brother Tiger was dazzled. - -"My Queen!" he exclaimed, "I am glad you thought of me. A ball like -this at your court is a rare occurrence." - -Long rows of birds stood facing each other, and birds of all degrees -danced together. - -After the quadrille the orchestra struck up a waltz, and the Queen -courteously said to her guest: - -"This time you shall be my partner!" - -Filled with pride the Tiger took his place by the side of the beautiful -Queen of the Birds. Then the birds, all with their heads under their -wings began to dance. Brother Tiger wanted to join in the first steps -of the dance, but all of a sudden the Queen of the Birds called out to -him: - -"Brother Tiger! really you are not thinking! The etiquette of my court -is that the invited guest, in order to take part in the dance, should -appear without a head. Look around you. All here would think themselves -guilty of the most unpardonable rudeness if they dared to raise -their eyes in the presence of their sovereign. The simplest rules of -politeness require that you should follow their example. Do as they are -doing, if you desire to dance with the Queen of the Birds." - -"Your Majesty," exclaimed Brother Tiger, blushing violently, "I had no -intention of wounding you, and I humbly beg you to pardon my ignorance. -I am merely a poor country person who is used to spending his days -and nights in quiet places, and I am unused to the ways and customs -of the court. Promise me another dance, I beg you, and I will return -immediately." - -"I never had any ill-will against you, Brother Tiger," said the Queen -of the Birds. "One cannot know everything. Go! I await you!" - -Brother Tiger rushed to his home, and in a very short time he arrived. - -"Wife, wife!" he exclaimed, "get an axe. In order to have the honor of -dancing with the great Queen of the Birds, one must appear before her -without a head." - -"My poor husband," said Mrs. Tiger, "I really believe you are losing -your mind or that you are making fun of me." - -"No, no!" said Brother Tiger, "it is the etiquette of the court. All -the other guests were dancing without heads. Get the axe, wife! The -Queen awaits me." - -Mrs. Tiger did not want to obey; but when she saw that her angry -husband was disposed to show his sharp claws, she took the sharp axe -and cut off his head with one blow. It is needless to say that Brother -Tiger expired instantly. The good news was carried to the Queen of the -Birds by two green paroquets, and when the announcement was made the -birds took their heads from under their wings. All the other animals -in the forest were invited to the feast, and Mother Sheep and her son -were special guests. They were still in mourning, and therefore did -not take part in the dance, but they received special attention and -consideration on all sides, and the wonderful orchestra kept up its -playing. - -Now, big sheep and little children, let me whisper something in your -ears: It is better not to open your mouths at all than to be too -familiar with people you do not know well. - - - - -IX - -"JUMP IN MY SACK!" - - -In a barren and an unproductive country there lived, a long time ago, a -father and his twelve children. A terrible famine came on the country, -and the unfortunate father said to his sons: - -"My children, I have nothing whatever to give you. Go out into the -world, knock at each door, ask for work, and perhaps you will find the -means of making your living." - -At these words the youngest of the twelve brothers, Abdallah, began to -cry, and said: - -"I am crippled, and it is difficult for me to walk. How can I gain my -livelihood?" - -"Dry your tears," said the father; "your brothers will take you along -with them. They have good hearts, and if fortune smiles on them you may -be sure that you will not be forgotten." - -Early next morning the twelve brothers started out, after having -faithfully promised their father that they would never be separated. -But the deceitful brothers did not mean what they said. After several -days of travel the eldest said to the others: - -"Our little brother Abdallah is a continual burden. He delays our -journey day by day, and if he continues to do so we will never get out -of this miserable country. Let us forsake him on the way and perhaps -some charitable person will find and take pity on him." - -This advice was followed by the brothers. The little cripple was -deserted by the way-side, and the other brothers continued on their -way, begging from every one they met. In this way they went on until -they came to a settlement of poor fishermen, where it was difficult to -find a lodging-place. Fortunately for them the night was beautiful, the -moon shone brilliantly in the sky, and a soft breeze tempered the heat -that had filled the atmosphere during the day. - -Overcome with fatigue the eleven brothers stretched themselves out at -the foot of a tree, and they were soon sound asleep. After a while the -dawn made its appearance, the brothers awoke, and the eldest said: - -"For days and weeks we have been travelling without meeting with the -good fortune we had hoped for. Let us leave this country for good and -all. Only a strip of water lies between us and a land of plenty." - -The unfortunate brothers soon saw an empty sloop. They took possession -of it, and at once began to drift out to sea. It was an unfortunate -voyage. All the hopes of the brothers were deceptive. Their cruelty -to their crippled brother Abdallah was to be severely punished. A -frightful tempest arose, and the sea overwhelmed them; the sloop was -wrecked and the cruel brothers found their graves in the cold and -creeping waters. - -Meanwhile what had become of Abdallah, the poor cripple whom the -brothers had deserted? Overwhelmed with sorrow and fatigue, he had -fallen asleep where he had been abandoned. Fortunately for him a good -fairy, who had seen all, took pity on him, and while he lay asleep -she cured his crippled leg; and then, disguising herself as a poor -beggar, the fairy sat on a stone by the roadside. Abdallah soon opened -his eyes, his heart filled with sadness. He arose for the purpose of -continuing his painful journey, but what was his astonishment to find -that he could walk without any trouble whatever. He was no longer a -cripple. He felt of himself, and ran and jumped to convince himself -that he was not dreaming. He laughed and cried at the same time, and -was filled with happiness and joy. - -All of a sudden he saw an old woman by the roadside who looked at him -smilingly. - -"Do you know, madam," he cried, "if a great physician has passed this -way?" - -"And why, my friend?" inquired the old woman. - -"It is because that, during my sleep, he has rendered me the greatest -of services. He has cured my leg that was too short, and I want to -thank him for his kindness." - -"Well, well," said the old woman, "the physician is myself. I gathered -a few herbs that I alone know, and it was easy to perform the miracle -that makes you so happy." - -Abdallah could not restrain his transports. He fell on the old woman's -neck and embraced her, and then, to prove his gratitude, he asked her: - -"My good woman, what can I do for you? I am young, but, as for you, age -has already begun to bear heavily on you. Command, and I will obey you -in all things." - -But imagine Abdallah's surprise when, instead of the old woman, he saw -before him the most charming young girl that it is possible to imagine. -Her long blond hair floated on her shoulders, and her rich garments -fell in gracious folds around her. - -Overcome with admiration and respect Abdallah fell on his knees in the -dust; but the good fairy said to him: - -"Arise! I am happy to see that you are not ungrateful. Make two wishes, -and they will be immediately granted, for I am the queen of the -fairies." - -The young man reflected a moment and said: - -"I desire above all things a bag in which everything I want will be -found in an instant." - -"Your demand is certainly original," said the fairy, smiling. "What can -you do with such a sack?" - -"A great many things," exclaimed the young man, enthusiastically; "will -you grant my request?" - -"So be it," said the fairy; "and what is your second wish?" - -"A stick that will do my bidding." - -"Very well, then," and the fairy disappeared, leaving at Abdallah's -feet a sack and a stick. - -Overcome and delighted by his good fortune, the young man hastened to -test the powers that had been conferred on him by these gifts. As he -was feeling very hungry Abdallah said: - -"Let a dozen roasted partridges get into my sack," and in an instant he -found a dozen well-cooked partridges in his sack. - -To eat without drinking was a very unusual thing in that country, so, -presently, Abdallah cried out: - -"A bottle of wine in my sack!" - -Immediately his commands were obeyed. After his meal he felt as light -as a bird, and he continued on his journey in good spirits, and the -next day he reached the end of it. At the gate of the city he paused to -rest and to gaze at the people who were continually passing, when a -beggar approached him and said: - -"Brother, we are poor; let us unite our misfortunes and live together." - -"How do you know that, my friend?" said Abdallah; "I do not solicit -alms in order to stay here." - -"Your ragged clothes and your bare feet, my brother, tell a very -different tale." - -"That is true," thought the young man, and he immediately asked his -sack to furnish him with two magnificent suits, such as were worn by -the noblemen of that country. He gave one to the unfortunate beggar at -his side and clad himself in the other, and the two went into the city -resplendent with gold and precious stones, so that everyone thought -that two rich and powerful noblemen had come into the city. - -Soon the name of Abdallah was on everybody's tongue, and the most -brilliant people of the city considered it an honor to call themselves -his friends. - -In that city Abdallah found an Evil Spirit, which presented itself to -him one day and said: - -"Magnanimous chief, the most respectful of your admirers is here before -you." - -"What do you desire?" inquired Abdallah. - -"I want nothing," said the Evil Spirit, "but your reputation at the -games is such that I desired to see you." - -"You flatter me a great deal," said Abdallah; "but, really, I cannot -play. The game is entirely unknown to me. However," he went on to say, -"I desire to make one of your party in the hope that you will teach me -something about the games." - -The Evil Spirit and Abdallah made no delay in beginning the game, and -the latter lost such large sums of money that the Evil Spirit thought -that the young man was ruined. Contented with himself and satisfied -with the results of his journey, he was making ready to depart, when -Abdallah saw the cloven foot that the Evil Spirit had not been able to -disguise. - -"Ah, ha!" exclaimed Abdallah to himself. "It is with the Evil One I -have been playing. So much the better! I will show him that he made a -mistake when he addressed himself to me." Satisfied with his discovery, -the fortunate possessor of the sack and the wonderful stick was content -to wait until the next day. - -Faithful to the engagement that had been made, the young man found -himself on the morrow face to face with the Evil One. The game began, -Abdallah lost many gold pieces, and still he continued to lose. This -time the Evil Spirit won so rapidly and so continuously that he -believed Abdallah was reduced to misery. Addressing himself to the -young man, he exclaimed: - -"Illustrious lord, the games of these last two days must have made -a considerable hole in your fortunes. Through me, however, you can -recover a good part of it; but on one condition only." - -"What condition is that?" inquired Abdallah. - -"Let us understand each other. Let us become partners, and thus we can -win all the money that the other players have." - -But Abdallah would not permit the Evil Spirit to conclude his -proposition. - -"Satan!" cried he, "your elegant disguise has not prevented me from -recognizing you, and your cloven foot has betrayed you. The gold you -have taken from me is nothing to that which I still possess. Had you -won all the money in the world, I would not be less rich. However, the -day has arrived when you must expiate all your vile crimes. The hour -has struck!" - -At these unexpected words the Evil One took on a sinister aspect, and -with a frightful laugh he began to mock Abdallah. At this exhibition -Abdallah exclaimed: - -"Jump into my sack!" and the Old Boy danced into the bag. "Stick! beat -on him!" cried the young man, and the stick began to beat on him in -fine style, so much so that the Evil One yelled: - -"Stop, or I will be dead! Let me out!" - -"What a delightful misfortune this would be!" exclaimed Abdallah. "Are -you not content with matters as they are?" - -There was great rejoicing among the people who were gathered there. At -last, after the stick had been beating the Evil One for two hours, -Abdallah said: - -"Enough! that is sufficient for to-day." - -"What!" said the Evil One, "is not that enough? Is the trouble not yet -finished? Am I to have my bones broken another time?" - -"Another time and always," said Abdallah. "I want you to perish, so -that you will not continue to cut up your capers." - -There was some further parley between Abdallah and the Evil One, -which resulted in returning many unfortunate young people to their -homes—young people who had been lost through their passion for gaming. -When these unfortunates were restored to their friends, Abdallah -permitted the Evil One to leave his sack. - -After a little, Abdallah, who was always trying to make people happy, -had a great desire to return to his own home, so that he could see -whether his father was still unfortunate. On his way thither he met a -big boy who was crying at the top of his voice and wringing his hands. - -"Well, young man," said Abdallah, "is your profession that of making -faces? If so, what do you ask for them by the dozen?" - -"I am not in a laughing humor, my good sir," said the other. - -"What are you doing, then?" exclaimed Abdallah. - -"My father," said the boy, "has fallen from a horse and broken his arm. -I ran to the village for a physician, but, knowing that we were poor no -one of them would stir themselves in my father's behalf." - -"Is that all?" said Abdallah; but the child continued to weep. "Calm -yourself," said Abdallah, "your father shall not lack for anything. -Tell me the name of the first physician you went after." - -"His name," said the boy, "is Abdel-Meddin." - -"Observe well," said Abdallah. "Dr. Abdel-Meddin, jump into my sack!" -and immediately a man appeared and fell into the wonderful sack. At the -order of its master the stick began to beat him. - -"Oh," said the boy, "what a beautiful sack you have! Will you give it -to me?" - -"I cannot," said Abdallah, "but take this purse of gold; it will do you -more good." - -All this time the doctor in the sack was yelling at the top of his -voice, and writhing and moaning. Abdallah stopped the stick, and then -said: - -"Mr. Physician, take advantage of this opportunity to rub your bruised -limbs, for you shall not come out of here until you are mashed into a -jelly. - -"Mercy," cried the doctor, "what have I done to deserve so terrible a -chastisement?" - -"Do you dare to ask me?" cried Abdallah. "Do you not recognize this -unfortunate child?" - -"Have mercy! take pity on me!" cried the physician. - -"You did not take pity on others," said Abdallah, "and I shall be -inexorable toward you. Beat him, stick!" - -The wicked physician howled with pain and fear, until finally Abdallah -said: - -"Stop, stick!" - -"I implore your mercy," cried the physician. - -"Will you give me your word to take care of this poor boy's father if I -release you?" - -"I will do whatever you say," said the unfortunate doctor! "He shall -lack for nothing." - -"Then come out of the sack," said Abdallah. - -The doctor came out, and he was so badly bruised that he could scarcely -stand on his feet, but Abdallah made him walk. - -Returning to the village, the doctor was so attentive to the poor sick -man that there could be no doubt of his recovery, and Abdallah went on -his way, anxious to see his father. - -After several days of travelling he came to a dense forest, through -which he was compelled to pass. Looking closely, he saw a pathway, -which was scarcely discernible, and it was bordered on each side by -thorns and brambles. This path led to a castle belonging to a terrible -and cruel giant. The sun had gone down and night had set in, and -Abdallah knocked at the door of the castle. - -"Who are you?" said a voice. - -"A poor traveller who begs for lodging." - -"I receive no one unless it is giants who desire to have a tilt with -me. We feast at night, and in the morning I hang them to a tree in the -forest." - -"Well," said Abdallah, "I will have a tilt with you in the morning. -Open the door and let me come in." - -"Poor fool," said the giant, "will you dare to contend with me?" - -"I will do my best," said Abdallah. "Open the door, I beg you." - -"Go away," said the giant, "I do not wish to crush you." - -"Oh, Mr. Giant! would you be afraid to-day, and have I the power to -make you tremble?" - -"Poor creature, your impudence shall have its punishment. Come in! but -to-morrow you shall be hanged." - -"While I am waiting to balance myself on a limb," said Abdallah, -cheerfully, "have my supper prepared. My appetite is large." - -The cruel giant smiled at Abdallah's pretensions, and as he was a -charming man himself, he took occasion to divert Abdallah. The supper -was fine, and the evening was very pleasant. The giant related his -exploits. He had fought a lion, and he had vanquished a sea-serpent -with seven heads which had attacked him. One day, when an army came to -attack him, he had the soldiers hung to the trees that surrounded his -castle. - -"Great giant," said Abdallah, smiling, "you make me tremble. It would -be easy for you to get satisfaction out of a poor unfortunate creature -like me." - -"Miserable creature!" said the giant, "I warned you before you came -into my castle. But eat and drink—above all, drink, for to-morrow -shall be your last day." - -"Let us drink, Mr. Giant! let us drink, since the night still belongs -to me. Here's to your health!" - -Overcome with fatigue, Abdallah left the giant and went to sleep, for -he stood greatly in need of rest, and in the morning he was still -asleep when the giant came to awake him. - -"Get up!" the giant exclaimed. "You have lived long enough. Let us -cross swords and see who will be the victor." - -"It is useless," said Abdallah; "the combat would be too unequal. Let -me go, I pray you." - -"No," said the giant, severely; "you must die. Come quickly, I am in a -hurry." - -"Well, then," said Abdallah, "since you insist on it, we will fight, -but I regret it, I assure you, for I really do not want to kill you." - -"Enough!" exclaimed the giant; "your insolence will soon be punished." - -At this the giant raised his great hand with the intention of crushing -his opponent, when Abdallah suddenly cried out: - -"Jump in my sack!" - -The giant made a horrible grimace, and seemed to hesitate, but, at -last, with a loud cry, he threw himself into the marvellous sack. - -"Stick, do your duty!" exclaimed Abdallah, and the magic stick, in a -livelier manner than ever began to whack the cruel giant with great -energy. - -"Do have mercy!" exclaimed the giant. "Take pity on me!" Abdallah had -mercy and the stick stopped. - -"What do you think of our contest?" asked Abdallah. "Have you a mind to -renew it?" - -"You are a terrible sorcerer," said the giant, "and I have never seen -one like you." - -"Then," said Abdallah, "you are conquered." - -"Have it as you will," said the giant. "What can I say to the contrary?" - -"You are right," said Abdallah. "Good-by, Mr. Giant. You should be more -hospitable another time." - -The giant was anxious to accompany Abdallah, and he persisted in going -with him until he had passed through the forest. Abdallah continued on -his journey, and it was not long before he arrived at home, where he -was gratified to embrace his old father. - -"My dear father!" he exclaimed, "I am very rich. I am powerful and I -come to you." - -"My dear child," said the old man, "you deceive yourself, or my eyes -have become very weak; for I only see a sack on your back and a stick -in your hand." - -"No, father," the son cried, "we are rich, very rich. Hereafter we -shall enjoy everything in abundance, and since the famine still -continues, our neighbors will enjoy our good fortune." - -In a few words, Abdallah told his father how he had been abandoned by -his brothers; and he told the old man also of the wonderful virtues of -his enchanted sack. - -"Your kind-heartedness, my son," said the old man, "has had its reward, -but let us not, in our prosperity, forget those who are sad and cry -because they are hungry." - -"Do not trouble yourself, my father. For such as these our table will -always be spread, and our doors will never be closed against them." - -While the famine in that country lasted, Abdallah established a tavern, -where everybody could get a meal without money and without price. The -marvellous sack was always ready to carry out the will of its master, -and it was always ready to furnish the most savory dishes and the most -exquisite wines, and this went on as long as the famine lasted. - -When the famine had subsided, Abdallah would not give any more, fearing -that he would encourage the unworthy and thus render very indifferent -service to the country. - -Abdallah ought to have been happy, but he was not. He had such a good -and tender heart that he easily forgot and forgave all the injury that -had been done him, and he was sad because he did not see around him -all the wicked brothers who had forsaken him on the way. - -He called their names daily and commanded them to jump in his sack. -Each time, however, he found in his sack only a pile of bones. His -brothers were surely dead, and when Abdallah came to understand this -fact, he shed bitter tears. - -In his turn, Abdallah's father died, and Abdallah himself grew very -old. When he felt that his end was approaching he drew a sigh of -relief, nevertheless he did not want to die without seeing the good -fairy who had been his benefactor. - -Feeling thus, Abdallah started on a journey, trembling with emotion, -and it was not long before he reached the spot where he had met the -gracious fairy. He seated himself on a stone and waited for the good -fairy to appear; but she came not. He continued to wait, and, after a -time, Death came along the road. - -"I am hunting for you," said the grim traveller. - -"Not for me, surely," said Abdallah. - -"Yes, for you," said the other. - -"I am waiting here for a friend," said Abdallah. - -"Do I seem to be an enemy?" asked Death. - -"No, no," cried Abdallah, "you are welcome, but I want an opportunity -to greet my benefactor. I cannot go with you." - -But Death fixed his eyes on Abdallah, smiled a little, and said: - -"Jump in my sack!" - - - - -X - -A SEARCH FOR A FRIEND - - -A rich merchant of Bagdad had a son that he loved most tenderly. The -child had been reared with the utmost care, and no pains were spared -to cultivate his mind as well as his affections. When the young man's -education was almost completed his father determined that he should -travel in foreign parts. - -"My son," said the old man, "I have gray hairs and a white beard, -and in my long career it has been given to me to know and appreciate -the real value of men and things. You must learn, then, my son, that -among the pressing necessities of life the greatest of all is a good -friend. Riches take wings—a touch of providence, a turn of the wheel -of fortune, throws the richest into the depths of despair; but death -alone, which carries all off, can take away a friend. - -"A true friend is the only thing in this world that is always faithful. -Find this rare pearl, my son, and you will have found the rarest of -gems. I want you, then, my son, to travel over the world, travel alone -gives the real experience. The more we see of men the better we know -how to live among them. The world is a great and a beautiful book, that -instructs those who know how to read it. It is a faithful mirror that -reflects all the objects we ought to see. - -"Go, my son," said the merchant of Bagdad; "take this travelling-stick, -and in your journeyings think, above all other things, of the necessity -of securing a true friend. In pursuing this object, sacrifice -everything else, even what is most rare and most precious." - -The young man embraced his father and took his departure. He went to a -foreign country and remained there some time, and then he returned to -his own country. When he arrived, his father, astonished at his quick -return, said: - -"I did not expect you so soon." - -"You told me to seek a friend," said the young man. "Well, I have -returned with fifty who are all that you have described." - -"My poor child!" responded the old merchant, "do not speak so -flippantly of so sacred a name. A true friend is so rare that he cannot -be found in droves, and those who pretend to be such are only so in -name. They resemble a summer-cloud that melts beneath the first rays of -the sun." - -"Father!" exclaimed the young man, "your attack is unjust, and -those that I look upon as my friends—those whom I regard as my -friends—would not see me suffering or in adversity unless their hearts -went out to me." - -"I have lived seventy years," responded the old man, "and I have been -tried by good and bad fortune. I have known a great many men, and -during these long years it has been well-nigh impossible for me to -acquire a friend. How, at your age, and in such a short time, have you -been able to find fifty friends? Learn from me, my son, to know human -nature." - -The old merchant strangled a sheep, put the carcass in a sack, and -stained his son's clothing with the blood of the animal. At night the -young man was told what he must do, and he took the carcass of the -sheep on his shoulder and went out of the city. - -Soon he arrived at the house of his first friend, and knocked at the -door, which was promptly opened to him. His friend asked him what he -wanted. - -"It is in the midst of misfortune that friendship is put to a trial," -responded the young man. "I have often told you of an old feud that has -existed between our family and that of a lord of the court. Not long -ago we met in a secluded spot. Hatred placed arms in our hands, and he -fell lifeless at my feet. For fear of being pursued by justice I seized -his body; it is in the sack you see on my shoulders. I beg you to hide -it in your house until this affair has blown over." - -"My house is so small," said the friend, with an air of sorrow and -embarrassment, "that it can scarcely contain the living who dwell in -it. How could I find room for the dead?" - -The young man begged his friend to have pity on him, but without avail, -and the ungrateful man shut the door in his face. - -"You see, my son," said the old merchant, "these are the kind of -friends on whom you were depending." - -"To tell you the truth, father," said the young man, "I have always -suspected that this particular friend was a hypocrite, but all are not -so. Wait, and you shall see." - -The younger man continued to knock at the doors of his friends. Fifty -times he met with the same reception. No one wanted to do him the -kindness to hide the body. - -"My son," said the old merchant, "you must see at last how little -you can depend on man. What has become of the friends whom you were -praising to me a little while ago? In your supposed misfortune each -one has forsaken you. I will show you the difference between the one -real friend that I have and the fifty false ones whom you have tested." - -As they talked, the father and son reached the door of the house -of the one whom the old merchant had represented as the model of -perfect friendship. The merchant related to his friend the imaginary -misfortunes that had befallen his son, and begged the friend to hide -the compromising sack. - -"Oh, happy day and blessed hour!" exclaimed the faithful friend. "My -house is large, and herein you may hide whatever you choose." - -"Think," said the young man, "of the great dangers to which you expose -yourself! Who knows but you may be accused of the murder, or, at least, -of favoring the assassin." - -"Well," said the other, smiling, "one must expose one's self to many -perils when one desires to save the son of a friend. Go to my summer -residence, where you will be safe from the clutches of the law. I -will come to you from time to time, and keep you company, and if ever -misfortune happens to you it will likewise fall on me." - -At this the merchant of Bagdad opened his arms and pressed to his heart -the devoted friend, thanking him for his generous offers, and relating -to him the simple artifice by which he had taught his son how rare true -friendship is in this world. - - - - -XI - -A CHILD OF THE ROSES - - -Once upon a time there was a King who had three daughters as beautiful -as the stars that shine in the skies, and as different in their beauty. -One day the King was sitting on his gorgeous throne, and he called his -children, and said: - -"I love you all better than I do my life. Now tell me in turn the -nature of the affection you feel for me. According to your answer -I shall give each of you the husband that you deserve. The eldest -approached, and said: - -"I love you better than I do my golden hair and my blue eyes, and I -would do anything in the world to be agreeable to you." - -"My beloved daughter," exclaimed the Monarch, "the King of Syra shall -become your husband." - -The second daughter spoke thus: - -"I love you, my father, a thousand times better than a queen loves her -crown, a thousand times better than a dove loves her young, and to -please you I would voluntarily throw myself into a burning furnace." - -"Oh, my child! let me embrace you! The Prince Miraz, the handsomest of -men, shall be your husband." - -The youngest daughter, the favorite of the fairies, the charming Mirza, -exclaimed: - -"I love you, my father, as we love the salt in the bread, as the fish -loves water, and as the May rose loves the dews of the morning." - -At these words the King turned pale with anger, and exclaimed: - -"Go away! Leave me! You are an ungrateful daughter who cares for no -one. Is it thus that you show gratitude for the pains I have taken with -you? The love you have for me goes no further than the salt in the -bread. Go away!" - -The King drove his daughter from the palace, and ordered one of the -waiting-maids to follow her everywhere, and to return only to announce -her death. The waiting-maid took with her her own daughter, Calamir, -and the three women travelled at haphazard for three days and three -nights. Finally they perceived an abandoned cabin, and the Princess -cried out: - -"Let us stop here!" whereupon the women took up their abode there. - -One day Mirza was sitting by the roadside, her head in her hands, -weeping sadly. She was thinking of the great palace where she was -born, and of her more fortunate sisters, who lacked for nothing, and -who had bracelets of gold and diamonds. She thought also of her cruel -father, whom she still loved with all her heart. Suddenly Mirza felt a -hand on her shoulder, and began to tremble with fear. It was the Queen -of the Fairies, who looked at her with a smile. - -"My beautiful child, why lament?" said the Queen. "All things are -possible to me. Make three wishes and you will be satisfied at once." - -Mirza, however, did not answer. She remained silent; she could only -weep. - -"Grief fills your heart," said the Queen of the Fairies, "and you -can only weep. You are thinking of your father, your sisters, and -the palace where you were born. Calm yourself. Hereafter you will be -as rich and as fortunate as they. Weeping or smiling, walking or -standing, no person in the wide world will be as fortunate as you." - -At these words the young girl smiled, and beautiful roses fell from her -lips. She took a few steps to embrace her benefactress, and a thousand -precious stones fell under her feet. The tears that shone in her eyes, -in falling, became pearls. - -"Kind fairy," exclaimed Mirza, beholding these things, "what wishes -could I have made that would have been comparable to these gifts you -have heaped upon me? A thousand thanks!" - -The young girl pressed the queen of the fairies to her heart, kissed -her hands and her lips, and gave full play to her happiness. Some days -afterward, the Princess Mirza said to her waiting-maid: - -"Go into the neighboring city, inquire for the best architect to be -found and tell him to bring a hundred experienced workmen." - -The maid went into the city, secured the architect, and when three days -had passed the workmen arrived. - -"Queen of women," said the architect, "what can I do to please you?" - -"I want you to build me a marvellous palace of pure gold, with ten -doors of diamonds and a thousand windows of crystal. Build me a palace -supported by a hundred columns of rubies and emeralds. I want it to be -so resplendent that the neighboring kings and princes will stand amazed -when they behold it." - -The builders went to work, and in the course of a year the masterpiece -of architecture was completed. One day the sisters of the princess -passed that way. They were going to see their parents, and a joyous -escort accompanied them, playing on a thousand instruments in order to -make the journey pleasant. - -"My gentle pages," exclaimed the eldest, perceiving the palace, "to whom -does this magnificent building belong? Is it the home of the fairies?" - -"Gracious queen," responded one of the pages, "no one knows." - -"Go, then," said the princess, "and find out, and say that we desire to -visit this wonderful palace." - -When the messengers announced to Mirza the wishes of the princess, she -exclaimed, rapturously: - -"These are my sisters—the children of my mother—who come to visit me. -Happy day! Pages, return and tell them that I await them." - -But the pages did not move. Each one seemed to be petrified with -surprise and admiration. While Mirza was speaking the most beautiful -and fragrant roses fell from her lips, and at her feet hundreds of -precious stones, pearls, rubies, amethysts, and diamonds sparkled and -glittered. Finally the messengers returned to the princesses, and when -the latter found that this beautiful palace belonged to their younger -sister, they could not refrain from shedding tears of joy. Immediately -they made their way to the palace, and soon they had the pleasure of -embracing the sister whom they had long given up for lost. - -The two princesses stayed a long time at the grand palace, their eyes -dazzled at everything they saw. They were much astonished at the -magnificent gifts showered on them by their sister. They went away from -the palace with regret, and they were very sorry they could not carry -away with them, in addition to their gifts, pieces of the precious -stones with which the courtyard was paved. - -The renown of Mirza soon spread throughout all the neighboring -kingdoms, and everyone praised her beauty and marvelled at her riches. -The prince of a strange country fell desperately in love with her, -and he sent an ambassador to sue for her hand. Mirza consented, and -promised to become the wife of the prince as soon as the orange-trees -blossomed. The ambassador was delighted, and hastened to announce the -joyous news to his master. Magnificent feasts were given at the court -of the prince, and soon everything was ready for the wedding. - -As soon as the orange-trees bloomed, Mirza started on her journey to -the home of the prince, accompanied by the waiting-maid who had served -her in her misfortune. On the way, the princess became very hungry, -and asked for something to eat. Instead of giving her sweet cakes and -luscious fruits, the maid gave her bread that was so salty and so -bitter the princess could scarcely swallow it. Soon she was seized with -a devouring thirst. - -"My good friend," she exclaimed to her maid, "what have you for me to -drink?" - -"Nothing, my amiable mistress," said the maid. - -"What! not even a glass of water?" said the princess. - -"No, your majesty." - -The princess withstood the thirst as long as she could, and finally -said: - -"I pray you, my good friend, go and find a stream, and bring me some -water to quench my thirst—only a few drops." - -At this, the waiting-maid said: - -"Alas! we are in a very strange country. Here, water is the dearest of -all beverages." - -"Well," said the princess, "take a handful of diamonds and offer them -to the charitable person who will take pity on me and give me some -water." - -The waiting-maid started out, but she did not go a hundred steps when -she hid herself behind a bush. Very soon she returned with an air of -distress, and with a sad voice she spoke thus: - -"Powerful princess, in this country, water is so dear that you will -have to pay for a single goblet-full with one of your eyes." - -In her despair, the young princess pulled out an eye, and gave it to -the waiting-maid. - -"Go," said the princess, "run quick, or I die." - -The cruel waiting-maid returned, bringing a little water, but scarcely -did it quench her thirst for an instant. Not long afterward the -princess began lamenting again: - -"I am still thirsty," said she, "and I feel that I am perishing." - -"Give me your remaining eye," said the servant, "and hereafter you -shall be satisfied." - -The bewildered young princess consented to make the sacrifice. This -time, she thought, she could drink to her heart's content. Night -came and the sun sank behind the horizon, and the perfidious servant -stripped her mistress of her fine clothes and gave them to her own -daughter, Calamir. The poor blind girl was left by the roadside, and -the waiting-maid and her daughter continued their journey toward the -city where the prince resided. - -When they arrived all the bells in the churches rang out their joyous -chimes. The people went out to meet her, and the prince tenderly -embraced the one whom he thought was his betrothed. Never had such a -scene been witnessed in that city. The wedding feast was brilliant and -splendid. One thing, however, disturbed the prince. He had been told -that a rose fell from the lips of the princess at each smile, and that -under her feet diamonds sprung. He did not see any of these things. -Puzzled at this, he inquired of his wife's mother: - -"Madam, how is it that roses do not fall from the lips of your child, -and that precious stones do not appear when she walks?" - -"My dear prince, my child is fatigued at the long journey she undertook -to come to you. Have patience, and you will soon be satisfied." - -During all this time, the poor Mirza, the real princess, wandered -alone in the frightful desert in which she had been forsaken. She -called for help, but no one came to her assistance. Her cries grew -louder, and at last they attracted the attention of an old woman who -was gathering herbs for the purpose of making medicine. - -"What do you wish, my beautiful child?" inquired the old woman. - -"Good mother, what are you doing here?" cried the princess. - -"I am looking for herbs that are necessary to make my medicine." - -"You can do better than that," said the princess. "Pick up the pearls -that you find at my feet, and go into the city and sell them." - -The old woman obeyed, and returned with an apron full of gold, saying: - -"My child, what shall I do with this fortune?" - -"It is for you, my good woman, but on one condition." - -"What is that?" - -The poor blind girl smiled, and from her lips fell a rose so beautiful -and sweet that there had been none like it before. Mirza answered: - -"Take this rose and go into the prince's city, and call out, 'Who will -buy this flower? who will buy this rose?'" - -"And in order to please you," said the old woman, "how much must I sell -it for?" - -"You must give it," said the princess, "for neither gold nor silver." - -"And for what shall I sell it?" said the old woman. - -"You shall demand an eye for it," said the princess. - -The old woman followed the directions to the letter. When she arrived -in the city of the prince, she cried out: - -"Who will buy this flower? Who will buy this rose?" - -At these words, Mirza's deceitful servant ran to the window of the -palace and asked: - -"Tell me, good woman, for what will you sell such a beautiful rose?" - -"I will sell it for an eye," said the old woman. - -"Heavens! what would you do with an eye?" said the maid-servant. - -"That is my affair," said the old woman. - -"Well, then," said the waiting-maid, "stay a moment;" and she ran to -her room; and as she had been careful enough to save the eyes of her -mistress, she took one and gave it to the old woman. - -"Take this, good woman," she exclaimed. - -"And here is your rose," said the old woman. - -At night, when the prince returned to the palace, his mother-in-law -said to him: - -"See this beautiful rose. There is none like it in the flower-gardens. -My daughter made it with a smile." - -"It came in good time," said the young prince, "but I can scarcely -believe it. A thousand times I have seen your daughter smile, and -nothing has fallen from her lips." - -All this time, the old woman, who had sold her rose for the eye, was on -her way to the Princess Mirza. But as she went along, the eye fell from -her hand and was lost. She hunted for it a long time, but meanwhile the -eye, apparently directed by the good fairies, made its way to the blind -girl, who put it in its place and immediately she saw clearly. The old -woman returned disconsolate. - -"Alas! my beautiful child," she exclaimed, weeping, "I sold your rose -as you directed me, but, unfortunately, the eye I received as the price -escaped from my hands and I could not find it, though I hunted for it -far and wide." - -"Do not trouble yourself, my good woman," and Mirza smiled, and another -rose fell from her lips. - -"Go," said she again, "and sell this flower on the same conditions." - -The rose was carried to the castle as the other had been, and sold for -the other eye. - -The princess recovered her sight, and regained her beauty. Shortly -afterward, the beautiful Mirza said to her companion: - -"Go into the towns and villages, and inquire by which road the king of -this country goes on his hunting excursions." - -This order having been obeyed, the young princess sent for a number of -workmen and an architect. On her way in search of these, the old woman -met a little gray man who had a hump on his back. - -"Where are you going, Margaret?" cried the little hunchback. - -"I am hunting for workmen and for an architect," she replied. - -"I am your man," exclaimed the dwarf. - -"Are you capable?" asked the old woman. - -"Patience, Margaret! patience!" exclaimed the little gray man. "Of that -you will have to judge later." - -Mirza accepted the dwarf as her architect, but she could not help -saying to him: - -"Little gray man, where are your workmen? Do you think to build by -yourself the palace I desire?" - -Scarcely had she finished speaking, when, at the sound of a low whistle -from the little gray man, there appeared on all sides hundreds and -thousands of brownies, who were cutting all sorts of antics and capers. -Some jumped, some ran, some walked on their hands, and some floated -in the air as light as thistle-down. But each of them, when he passed -before the little gray man, said: - -"Your Majesty, what do you wish to-day of your faithful subjects?" - -To these questions the little gray man replied: - -"Make the most beautiful palace to be found in all the world." - -Mirza, the princess, was filled with astonishment. Never before had she -seen so many brownies gathered together in one place, and she said to -herself, "Surely these must be the children of the fairies;" and, full -of happiness, she went here and there, speaking a kind word to all, and -at every step she took hundreds of precious stones were scattered under -her feet, and, at each smile a rose fell. - -At last all the brownies were set to work under the direction of the -little gray man. Some felled the great trees of the forest and trimmed -them, some delved in the mines for marble and precious stones, and -others forged the rare metals out of which the vast columns of the -palace were to be made. - -Rapidly the new palace was built, and when it was finished it shone in -the land like a rare jewel in the bosom of a beautiful woman. - -"Now, then," said the little gray man to the beautiful Mirza, "are you -satisfied with my work, and do you repent having chosen me for your -architect?" - -"Powerful and most generous King of the Brownies," she said to the -little gray man, "how can I be dissatisfied at the sight of this rare -palace, which you have built for me?" - -"This being so," said the little gray man, "what is to be my reward?" - -At this the young girl smiled, and a beautiful rose dropped from her -lips. - -"This shall be your reward," said she, giving him the flower. - -"Thanks! thanks!" exclaimed the little gray man, and he instantly -disappeared. The brownies were paid in the same way, and the young girl -soon found herself alone with the old woman. - -One day passed, then two, then three, and still the prince did not come -hunting. At this Mirza grew impatient, and she said to the old woman. - -"Go to the top of the hill and see if the prince is not coming." - -The old woman went to the top of the hill, and looked around on all -sides, but there was nothing in sight. The roads on every side were -dusty and deserted, and she returned to her mistress. - -"What did you see?" inquired the princess. - -"Nothing, your majesty, but the floating clouds and the beautiful -flowers." - -"Go, then, and look again," said Mirza. - -The old woman looked again and then returned. - -"What have you seen?" inquired the princess. - -"The waters flowing, the grasses growing, and in the limbs of the trees -I heard the breezes murmuring." - -"Return and look again." - -So the woman went, and when she had come back the princess said: - -"What have you seen?" - -"Away in the distance, on the dusty road, I saw horsemen coming." - -"It is the prince," said Mirza; and, sure enough, the prince, followed -by his retainers, his huntsmen, and his dogs, soon made his appearance. -Suddenly, the prince, seized with admiration, paused and looked around -him. Here, where there had been only briars and brambles, there arose -before his view the marvellous palace that had been erected by the -little gray man. - -"To whom does this dazzling palace belong?" asked the prince, but -no one could answer him. "Await me here," said the prince to his -followers, "I will go and inquire, but I will return immediately." - -He approached the door and knocked, but there was no response, and one -would have supposed the palace was uninhabited. He knocked again, but -everything was silent except the clamorous echoes which he himself had -aroused. Then the prince climbed up to the nearest window, opened the -blinds, and found himself in a marvellous saloon which was uninhabited. -He pursued his way through beautiful halls and apartments, until he -came to a room more beautiful than the rest. - -On a bed of gold, Mirza was reclining, and as he approached she arose -and exclaimed: - -"Who has dared enter my palace?" - -"Powerful princess," said the young man, "I am your slave. Do with me -as you will." - -"Who are you?" she cried. - -"The king of all this country—the most unfortunate of men since I have -seen you." - -At these words the young girl smiled, and from her lips fell a rose. -She took a few steps forward, and precious stones covered the carpet -where she walked. - -"What do I see?" exclaimed the prince, filled with astonishment. "Are -you not Mirza, my affianced?" - -"Yes," cried the happy girl, "I am Mirza, who loves you; I am Mirza, -whose hand you demanded in marriage through an ambassador." - -At the remembrance of her misfortunes tears shone in her eyes, and -pearls fell therefrom. - -The prince was overjoyed; he had been deceived, but he was now happy. -Mirza told him all, and he would have had the deceitful servants burned -at the stake, but the princess interceded for them and they were -banished from the country. The prince and Mirza lived long and happily -together. - - - - -XII - -THE KING OF THE LIONS - - -A Donkey one day thought that the time had come for him to go and seek -his fortune; so he broke his halter and ran away into the broad fields. -The grass was high and rank, and there was no lack of thistles. Happy -over his good fortune, Brother Donkey brayed so loud and so joyously -that Mr. Lion, who happened to be passing that way, stopped to inquire -what the matter could be. - -At the sight of Brother Donkey, Mr. Lion was paralyzed with -astonishment. Never, in all his wanderings, had he seen such a -creature. Mr. Lion looked at Brother Donkey from a distance. Then he -approached a little nearer, and finally mustered up courage to say: - -"Who are you, and what is your name?" - -"My name is Brother Donkey," replied the other, "and I am the ruler of -all Donkeydom." - -"I do not know that country," said Mr. Lion, "but I myself am a monarch, -and the most of the other animals have chosen me for their king." - -"If that is the case," said Brother Donkey, "we are brothers, and we -will continue our travels together." - -"With the greatest pleasure," responded Mr. Lion. "One can only gain by -being in good company." - -So the two started on their journey together. As they went along, Mr. -Lion thought he saw that Brother Donkey was not as formidable as he -had at first appeared. There was something in his gait, something in -his appearance, that led to this suspicion, and when he saw a tiger, he -seemed to be so frightened that the King of the Desert said: - -"Come, my friend, and let us wrestle together for fun." - -"No, no, my comrade," exclaimed Brother Donkey, "for I am so strong that -in spite of myself I should be compelled to crush you with my feet." - -Mr. Lion, thinking this was true, made a profound bow to the King -of Donkeydom, and the two continued on their journey together. It -so happened that they had to cross a river. With one bound Mr. Lion -reached the other side, but, on the contrary, Brother Donkey went down -into the water and began to swim in a very awkward manner; so awkward, -indeed, that it seemed he was in danger of drowning. - -"How is it," exclaimed Mr. Lion, in astonishment, "that you cannot -swim?" - -"What, I?" said Brother Donkey. "I split the water more rapidly than a -boat, and the fishes themselves could not beat me in a race." - -"If that is true," said Mr. Lion, "why does it take you so long to -cross a stream?" - -"Ah," exclaimed Brother Donkey, "it was because I had caught with my -tail an eel so large and heavy that I was about to sink, and I was -compelled to turn it loose in order to rejoin you." - -Mr. Lion was satisfied with this answer, and the two friends resumed -their journey. As they went along they soon came to a high stone wall. -Mr. Lion leaped over it at a bound, but Brother Donkey was unable to -get over so quickly. He raised himself on his hindlegs, placed his -forefeet on the wall, and hung suspended there. Mr. Lion, seeing this, -cried out: - -"What are you doing there?" - -"Do you not see," said Brother Donkey, "that I am weighing myself? I -want to see if the part of my body in front is as heavy as the part -that is behind." - -Brother Donkey, after great effort, at last succeeded in getting over -the wall. Mr. Lion then said to his companion: - -"Powerful King of Donkeydom, my esteemed friend! I believe that you are -making sport of me. I believe that your strength, at its best, is no -greater than that of a child." - -"Do you have such a thought as that?" said Brother Donkey, with a -smile. "You make a serious mistake, great King of Beasts. Let us make -a trial of strength right here. Let us see which of us is able to -destroy that great wall. The one that is victorious will be known as -the king of the animals." - -"This is a good idea," exclaimed Mr. Lion, heartily, "and I accept your -conditions with pleasure." - -Immediately Mr. Lion made an effort to show his power. He struck the -wall with his paws, and then with his tail. He struck it on the right -and on the left, but he only wounded himself. He did not succeed in -making one stone fall. At the end of a quarter of an hour he gave up in -despair. - -"I cannot make an impression on this strong wall," said Mr. Lion. "Let -us see if you will be more fortunate." - -At once Brother Donkey began to bray and kick, and he used his heels -with such effect that in a few minutes the wall was knocked down and -destroyed. - -"What do you think of this?" cried Brother Donkey. "Do you still think -you are stronger than I am?" - -"No," said Mr. Lion, humbly. "Until to-day I had thought myself the -king of animals, but I was mistaken, and the title belongs to you -hereafter." - -"But even yet," said Brother Donkey, "you do not know what I can do." - -"Then," said Mr. Lion, "what can you do that is so extraordinary?" - -"Well," replied Brother Donkey, "I can eat thorns." - -"Thorns!" exclaimed Mr. Lion. "Do you really mean what you say?" - -"Of course," said Brother Donkey, "I am telling you the simple truth." - -"I would not dispute your word," said Mr. Lion, "but I am really -anxious to see you perform this wonderful feat." - -"Do you see the thistles growing over there in that field?" inquired -Brother Donkey. - -"I do, indeed," said Mr. Lion. - -"Well," said Brother Donkey, "I am going to eat them." - -Then Brother Donkey, who had not eaten since morning, began to devour -the thistles. Astonished at this, Mr. Lion said to Brother Donkey: - -"I think you are the most extraordinary creature I ever saw, and I want -you to be recognized as King of the Lions. Do you consent?" - -"With pleasure," Brother Donkey replied. - -The next day, or shortly thereafter, a convention of all the lions -was held, and Brother Donkey was elected king without any opposition -whatever. He reigned over them many years, and he was the better able -to do this from the fact that he never disputed with his subjects over -their prey. Brother Donkey ate his thistles and the lions ate their -fresh meat, and all was peace in that country. - - - - -XIII - -THE VIZIER, THE MONKEY, THE - -LION, AND THE SERPENT - - -Once on a time a ruler who was the king of men, as well as the king -of beasts, called his Vizier, Rustem, to whom he had confided the -education of his only son, and said: - -"Tell me, does my son follow your advice, and does he give promise of -making a worthy successor of his father?" - -"Though he is still youthful, the young prince bids fair to become the -king of men," said Rustem; "your son is already fitted to rule both man -and beast." - -Never was a vizier so untruthful; never had a tutor so corrupted a -young prince. He had implanted in his pupil's mind the vices which -were his own. He had made him greedy, unjust, and impatient at the -least contradiction. The Vizier had made the young prince believe that -the people whom he was one day to govern were a lot of miserable cattle -who were to be imposed on at the King's will. - -It happened in those days that a merchant came to the King's palace, -having for sale a collection of rich jewels. He had them of all kinds -and all prices—diamonds, pearls, rubies, and emeralds—all heaped -together in a beautiful casket of carved cedarwood. The Prince remained -for hours admiring this marvellous collection of treasures. - -"Ah," he exclaimed, "how I wish I had money enough to buy all that I -see!" - -"Prince," said the Vizier, "are you not the master? Command, and these -treasures are yours." - -"Well, then," said the Prince, "so be it;" and with that his slaves -took possession of the casket and drove the poor merchant away from the -palace. - -The merchant, however, was not willing to submit to such an injustice. -He went about making his charges and his complaints in the public -places, until at last the matter became a scandal that could not be -overlooked. So the powerful young Prince had him whipped with such -severity that he expired not far from the palace. - -The news of this terrible crime came speedily to the ears of the King, -who became enraged with his son and with the perfidious Rustem. He -drove them both from the palace. The tutor was banished from the court, -and the young Prince was placed in a castle at some distance from -his father's palace. Forgetting the irreparable injury he had caused, -the Vizier one day went to see his former pupil. He fancied he would -be received with open arms, as in the past; but what was his surprise -to find himself loaded with reproaches. With a significant gesture -the young Prince ordered his old tutor from his presence. The Vizier -retired in confusion. It was night, and for a long time he wandered in -the forest. - -Vaguely walking about he fell in a pit that had been set as a trap -for wild animals. What was his terror to find himself in the company -of a Lion, a Monkey, and a Serpent, each of whom had fallen into the -pit. When morning came the ex-vizier found himself in the midst of sad -reflection. He was fearful that he would lose by hunger the life these -beasts had left him, when, all of a sudden, he saw a man peering over -the edge of the pitfall. Then the Vizier set up a terrible cry, and the -traveller, touched with pity, threw him a rope so that he could escape -from his perilous position. - -The Monkey, nimbler than the Vizier, seized the rope and ran up it, -much to the surprise of the traveller, who had expected a different -visitor. - -"You will not be sorry for this," said the Monkey, by way of apology. -"I know how to be grateful for a service, and I know how to cherish a -benefactor. To prove to you that I am in earnest, I will give you a -piece of advice. Do not rescue the man whose voice you heard in the -pitfall. He is a knave, and he will soon cause you to repent of your -generosity. I live at the foot of the mountain yonder, where I hope to -meet you some day and be of service to you. Farewell!" - -The traveller was not much impressed with the words of the Monkey, but -he allowed the creature to go its way, and threw the rope again into -the pitfall in the hope of rescuing his fellow-man, whose voice he had -heard. - -In a moment he felt a considerable weight on the rope, and he thought -that he was now rescuing the man, but, to his utter surprise, a -terrible Lion came climbing up. His mane was shaggy, his teeth were -white and cruel, and his claws were long and crooked. It seemed to the -traveller that he would be compelled to drop this terrible creature -back into the pitfall, but the Lion's voice reassured him. - -"Do not be afraid," said the Lion. "You have won a protector whose -services are not to be disdained. You have given me my life to-day and -perhaps I may be able to save yours. Your fellow-man, who is still in -the pitfall, will never be able to be of such service to you." - -The traveller thereupon redoubled his efforts and drew the lion to the -top. - -"Friend," said the Lion, "my den is in this forest, opposite the -mountain. Come and see me, and you will always be welcome." - -There still remained two prisoners to deliver, and the rope was thrown -back in the pit. The Serpent wound himself around it, and was drawn up. - -"Generous friend," cried the Serpent, "I want to give you a piece of -advice, and as advice is considered to be cheap, I have no idea that -you will follow it. Serpents are considered to be wise. I have left -in the bottom of this pitfall the most outrageous impostor the world -has ever seen. Leave him to his fate if you do not wish to regret your -kindness. You seem to be too kind, but on the faith of a serpent I will -deliver you out of the first difficulty into which your good heart gets -you. My house is all along the walls of the neighboring city." - -But in spite of all this advice the traveller was too generous to -permit his fellow-man to die in the pitfall, and for the fourth -time he dropped the rope. The Vizier seized it and was saved. It is -impossible to describe the joy of the Vizier at this turn of affairs. -His expressions of gratitude were effusive. He embraced his deliverer -and called him his saviour. He wanted to relate his history to the -traveller, and, in doing so began to deceive his benefactor. He spoke -only of the injustice of the King, and his discourse seemed to be so -full of truth that the traveller was grateful that it had fallen to his -lot to rescue so admirable a person. - -"I live in the adjoining village," said the deposed Vizier, "and I -offer you a home there. You shall be made welcome." - -The traveller thanked him heartily, but he had other ends in view. -He was on his way to the Ganges to purchase merchandise, and he -proceeded thither with that inward satisfaction that arises from the -accomplishment of a good deed. On the shores of the Ganges, in India, -the traveller entered into trade, and his fortunes prospered. He soon -found himself possessed of a large sum of money, and he was filled -with a desire to see his native country. He returned by the same road, -and, after travelling for some time, he found himself once more in -the forest where, on a former occasion, his rope had been of such -assistance to the unfortunates who had fallen into the pit. - -He remembered with pleasure the eloquent words of the grateful Rustem, -and he regretted that he could not see his old friend. As for the three -animals—the Monkey, the Lion, and the Snake—their remarks had made -but little impression on his mind; he was only grateful to them for not -having devoured him. - -While he was thinking of these things the rich traveller found himself -surrounded with enemies even more ferocious than the animals he had -rescued. He found himself in the midst of a band of thieves. The -robbers seized the traveller, compelled him to dismount from his horse, -took possession of his treasures, and were preparing to take his life, -when the captain of the band remarked that it would be a useless -murder. But the thieves bound the traveller at the foot of a tree, and -left him to die there of hunger. - -The cries of the unfortunate traveller reached the ears of the big -Monkey that had been rescued from the pitfall. His instinct recognized -the voice of his deliverer, and he came to the rescue of the traveller. -The Monkey seized the bonds in his strong teeth, and they soon fell -apart, and it was not long before the traveller was free to go his way. - -But the grateful Monkey took him to his home, where fresh fruits -appeased his hunger, and cool and pure water quenched his thirst. To -the Monkey the traveller related his sad adventure, and the recital -touched the heart of the grateful animal. - -The Monkey had lived in the forest so long that he was not only -familiar with the habits of the robbers, but knew where their abode -was. To that he made haste to go. He found the robbers asleep, with -many treasures by their side. He seized bags of gold and silver and -precious stones, together with a supply of rich apparel, and carried -them to his benefactor. - -Having recovered his hard-earned fortune, the traveller thanked the -Monkey, and continued on his journey. He was astonished that such a -creature could be so grateful, and reproached himself for never having -thought of the animal. He was walking along in the midst of these -reflections when he heard a terrible roaring, and a ferocious-looking -Lion appeared before him. The traveller was seized with terror. He was -so frightened that he leaned against a tree to keep from falling to the -ground. To his surprise, the King of the Forest spoke to him thus: - -"Good-day, my friend, my deliverer! It was you that saved my life. I -want to show you my gratitude. Come into my cavern and take a few -moments' rest." - -The conduct of the Monkey had somewhat reconciled the traveller to the -animals. Whatever fear he might have had in the presence of the Lion, -the traveller hoped that the King of Beasts would not be less generous -than the Monkey. - -"I am happy to tell you," said the Lion, after having heard about -the Monkey, "that gratitude ought to be the first virtue of beasts, -since it is not that of man." At the same time the Lion thought to -himself—"How can I show my gratitude to my dear deliverer, and what -can I do for him so as not to appear inferior to the Monkey?" - -He was filled with these reflections when they arrived at the -cavern. The traveller was well taken care of by the Lion. He dined -most sumptuously, drank of the best wines, and ate of the most -delicious fruits. But while they were discussing the dessert, the same -distressing thought came into the Lion's head—"What can I do to retain -my dignity and pay the sacred debt I owe my deliverer?" - -But he could not think of anything suitable, and the traveller observed -it. So he said: - -"What is the matter, my friend? You seem disconsolate." - -"Nothing," said the Lion. "But you must promise me that you will not -leave this place until I return." - -"But why?" inquired the traveller. - -"You will know later," responded the lion. - -"Very well," said the traveller, "here I will remain." - -The Lion bounded away, and he was soon in the middle of the forest, -looking this way and that, to the right and to the left, in search of -something marvellous to give to the traveller, when all of a sudden -he saw the young Prince, the Vizier's pupil, who had been exiled, -promenading in his castle grounds. On the Prince's head there was a -turban, which was ornamented with a superb cluster of diamonds. - -"That is the very thing," exclaimed the Lion, and with one bound he -seized the Prince and strangled him. Thus was the jeweller avenged, and -his diamonds were returned to him. The traveller, who had been robbed -and beaten by order of the young Prince and his Vizier, was glad to get -his jewels back, and he did not know how to be grateful enough to the -Lion, of whom he had formerly been afraid. - -The traveller then set out toward the city in hopes of finding his -excellent friend Rustem. He hoped, indeed, to spend some time with -this philosopher, whom he had rescued, and who had offered to share -his house with his benefactor. With a happy heart and a light step the -traveller went on his way, and the next morning at the break of day he -reached the city where the former Vizier had taken up his abode. In -spite of the early hour the streets were crowded, and the squares were -filled with people. On all sides the populace spoke to each other in -subdued tones, as if some dreadful calamity were pending. - -The curiosity of the traveller was excited, and he approached a group, -and listened. Some one was relating that the young Prince, who had been -exiled from the court, had been found bleeding and dead in the park of -the castle. It was thought that the murder of the Prince was the work -of some thief who desired to get possession of the beautiful jewels -that the young man wore. - -Having his curiosity satisfied, the traveller made his way to the house -of his friend, the philosopher Rustem, where he was received with open -arms. According to the wishes of his friend, the traveller related all -the particulars of his journey, which were even more wonderful than are -related here. He told, in short, his whole history. He told Rustem of -all his troubles—how he had been rescued by a Monkey, and how he was -met by a terrible Lion, who was rejoiced to see him, and who had given -a sumptuous feast in his honor; and who, thinking this not enough, had -presented him with a magnificent cluster of diamonds. - -After relating this extraordinary adventure, the traveller made bold -to exhibit to Rustem the beautiful diadem, who regarded it with a -greedy and knowing look, and who made many exclamations of surprise and -admiration. The worthy traveller did not foresee the troubles that this -unfortunate diadem was to cause him. He did not know that it had been -the cause of the death of the son of the King. - -Meanwhile, Rustem was thinking to himself, "I recognize these diamonds. -They belonged to my young master. What a reward must be in store for -the one who will inform the monarch of the murderer of his child!" - -Night came, and the traveller was fast asleep. The cluster of diamonds -was lying on a table. The cowardly Vizier seized it and ran to the -palace. The ingrate, cowardly as he was, would not hesitate to -sacrifice his benefactor, provided he could recover his lost power. - -"Here is the property of the son whom you have so rigorously punished. -Do you recognize these diamonds? I have in my power the assassin who -had possession of this diadem." - -The unfortunate King wept on seeing the familiar ornament which his -favorite son had worn. He kissed it, and pressed it to his heart as if -it had been his favorite child. - -"Let the murderer be brought before me," he exclaimed, "and he shall be -thrown into the darkest dungeon." - -The unfortunate traveller, who was ignorant of the crime of which he -was accused, was brought before the King with trouble and confusion -imprinted on his features. He saw the perfidious Rustem in the crowd -that surrounded him, and, remembering the wise counsels of the Monkey -and the Serpent, suspected that he had been made the victim of this -treacherous person. - -"I deserve," he said, sadly, "the cruel lot that is in store for me." - -The King, mistaking the true meaning of these words, thought that the -prisoner had been frightened into making a confession. He was thereupon -condemned to be burned in the public square. - -Fortunately, as this punishment was to be witnessed by the whole -populace, it was postponed until after the funeral of the young -Prince. The poor traveller was cast into the dungeon set apart for the -condemned. It was dark and clammy, and on entering it he bade farewell -to life and happiness. - -A friend, however, was watching over the poor traveller. It was the -Serpent he had delivered from the pitfall. Cautiously he crawled along -the damp walls and under the doors, and avoided the observation of the -jailers. The traveller recognized him at once. - -"Fear nothing," said the Serpent, "I come to deliver you." - -"How can you do that, my friend?" asked the traveller. - -"I have promised to redeem you from the results of your own generosity, -and I am faithful to my promise. You refused to believe that man is the -most ungrateful of the animals, and that he returns evil for good. You -have forgotten the good advice given you by the Lion and the Monkey. -However, let us forget that. I will be more cunning than the vile -wretch who is seeking your ruin." - -"What must be done?" the traveller asked. - -"Take this herb. It alone has virtue to cure the poison with which I -have inoculated the King's favorite wife. The monarch has now become -a victim of the keenest grief, and you alone can appease it. He will -soon forget the crime of which you are accused. He who can make himself -useful is always innocent. Advertise your talents; that is the way -to success. Apply the herb I have given you, and you will perform -miracles. Farewell! time presses. Here comes the King to visit you." - -The traveller took the advice of the Serpent, and it soon became known -at the court that he had an infallible remedy for all sorts of poisons, -and he was taken from the dungeon and carried to the palace, and to the -apartment of the Queen. This estimable lady was sick and pale, and it -was apparent that she was dying little by little. - -The first application of the herb revived the dying Queen, and when the -remedy was applied the second time the gracious lady found herself -fully recovered. - -"Your Majesty," said the traveller, "the Queen will never feel again -the cruel pains that she has suffered, and her life is hereafter -safe; but I am on the eve of terminating mine—a fate that I have not -deserved. You are too just to punish an innocent person, and I am not -the murderer of your son. That monster, Rustem, had contaminated the -Prince's youth, and it was through his corrupt counsels that the young -Prince was dragged into disgrace. You will know this villain better -when I prove to you that he is the most ungrateful of human beings." - -Then the traveller related to the King the adventure in the pitfall -and all that followed. Convinced that the traveller was telling the -truth, the King ordered that the ingrate Rustem should suffer all the -tortures that had been reserved for the man who was a prisoner. - -This perfidious creature, Rustem, was ignorant of all that had taken -place at the palace, and was waiting with impatience for the success -of his treasonable plots. He was aroused from his vain dreams of -greatness, seized, and hurried off to his doom. - - - - -XIV - -THE ENCHANTED PRINCESS - - -Once upon a time there lived in a far country a young Prince, who -desired nothing better than to take to himself a wife, but none of the -women who had been presented to him suited his fancy or touched his -heart. - -"How is it," he cried, "that in all my father's kingdom I am unable to -find a wife that suits me?" - -The poor young Prince became disconsolate. He shed burning tears, -refused to eat or drink, and dwindled away in the sight of the sun. The -King saw his son's despair and took pity on him. So one day he called -the young Prince to him and said: - -"My son, here is a gold key. Go to the top of the highest tower of my -castle, and there you will find a door. Open it and enter, and you will -then see before you the most beautiful and the most virtuous women in -the world. You can have your choice. I hope you will find among them -the wife you desire." - -Filled with joy, Prince Erian took the golden key, climbed the long -stairs leading to the tower, and soon arrived at the door his father -had described. But there was no lock in which he could place the key. -He searched in vain. Disappointed, he returned to his father. - -"I found the door," he said, "but the key was useless. There was no -lock." - -"All that is necessary," the King replied, "is to touch the door with -your key, and immediately it will swing back on its ruby hinges, so -that you may enter." - -The Prince made haste to return to the castle tower, and he had no -sooner touched the door with the key than it swung on its ruby hinges. - -Never since the day when the sun first shone on this poor earth of -ours, never since the golden stars sparkled in the firmament, has such -a scene been presented to the human eye as that which Prince Erian -saw before him. An immense hall, inlaid with thousands of glistening -diamonds, sapphires as blue as the sky, and opals with their changing -hues, lay spread out before the King's son, who stood dumb with -astonishment and admiration. There were soft carpets everywhere, -unmatchable pictures, and bright-colored flowers. Silver perfuming-pans -swinging from their golden chains, and filling the air with rich -incense, burned incessantly in this enchanted place. - -There were twelve windows in this wonderful hall, and in each window a -young girl stood, a living picture in a frame. All were so beautiful -and so graceful that the young Prince was dazed. Never in his wildest -dreams had he caught a glimpse of fairies quite so beautiful, and even -the water-nymphs that he had seen disporting themselves on the water's -edge were not so charming. - -Dazed and delighted as he was, there was, nevertheless, a mystery that -puzzled the young Prince. In the first of the twelve windows stood a -young girl whose head was covered with a gauze veil. She alone had not -turned when the King's son entered. Prince Erian stepped to her side -and removed the veil. - -"Why do you look at me?" she asked, sadly. - -"Because," he replied, "you are the most charming of all the -marvellous beauties that surround you; because you are like the moon -among the stars—like the rose among the flowers of a garden." - -"What do you desire of me?" the young girl asked. - -"Something that makes me tremble to say it," responded Prince Erian. "I -want to make you my Queen, and live at your side." - -"Alas! to marry me you must rescue me. I am the prisoner of the most -powerful magician of the earth. I am held captive by Magor, the King of -the Sorcerers." - -"No matter!" cried the young Prince. "I shall rescue you. I shall die -if I do not make you mine." - -"May you be victorious over my deadly enemy; but, unfortunate that I -am!" sighed the beautiful prisoner, "I fear you will share the sad -fate of the many gallant young princes who have wished to deliver me -from my bonds." - -Quite happy, Prince Erian returned to his father. - -"Well," said the King, "did you meet the lady of your dreams?" - -"Yes, my father." - -"Tell me: which did you choose?" - -"The most beautiful of all," exclaimed the Prince; "the fairest of the -stars, the rose that perfumes the gardens." - -"The stars are all brilliant," said the King, "and each flower sheds -its perfume. Answer me, my son; which is the lady of your choice?" - -"My father, it is the veiled lady." - -"Unfortunate boy, you are lost!" cried the monarch. "It is the Queen of -Golconda, the prisoner of Magor, the King of the Magicians, that you -have chosen. My poor son! to make her your queen you must take her -away from that terrible sorcerer." - -"Well, my father," cried the enthusiastic young prince, "I will be her -deliverer!" - -"Alas, my son!" said the King, "I fear you will fail, and then you will -be turned into a statue of stone." - -"The risk is mine," cried Prince Erian. "I shall overcome him." - -"Ah, my son! your defeat is certain. Remain with me." - -"It is too late, my father, I cannot." - -The princely lover lost no time in setting out to conquer Magor, the -King of the Magicians, who held the beautiful Princess in enchantment. - -Prince Erian had been travelling for several days, when he came to a -gloomy forest. Unfortunately, in passing through this dark forest, he -lost his way, and in spite of all his efforts, he could not find it -again. He wandered about in the woods for some time when, suddenly, and -as if by magic, a stranger appeared before him. - -"Good-day, friend!" exclaimed Prince Erian. "What are you doing, and -what is your name?" - -"My name is Long," replied the other; "and I am looking for a master -who needs my services." - -"The master is already found," said the young Prince. "If you give your -consent you shall serve me." - -"Agreed!" exclaimed Long. "From this day I am entirely subject to your -orders." - -"For the present," said Prince Erian. "I ask nothing of you except to -help me find my way out of this terrible forest." - -"Is that all? Wait a moment." With this, Long stretched himself to -such an amazing extent that his head was above the tallest trees of the -forest. - -"What are you doing?" asked the astonished Prince. - -"I am trying to find our way out." In a little while Long made himself -short again, no taller than an ordinary man. - -"Well, have you found the road?" the Prince inquired anxiously. - -"Surely," replied Long. "We must take the one to the right of you, and -soon we shall be out of this jungle." - -So the Prince and his companion took the road to the right and soon -found themselves clear of the impenetrable forest. As they came to its -borders they saw a stout man sitting at the foot of a tree. He was -round as any barrel, and he sat breathing heavily and wiping his face -with the back of his hand. - -"Good-day, my slim friend," said the Prince. "What are you doing here, -and what is your name?" - -"My father named me Large," replied the stout man; "and I am resting in -the shade here, waiting for some one who needs my services." - -"Your services? And what can you do, my man?" inquired the Prince. - -Large made no reply. He simply caused his body to expand to such an -extent that he filled the open field. Before Prince Erian and Long -could recover from their astonishment, Large caused himself to subside, -being careful however, not to collapse so suddenly as to create a great -storm. - -"Now, then," said he, "can I be of service to any one?" - -"I think you can," the Prince answered; "and since you possess such an -extraordinary talent, I will take you as my servant. Come with me." - -"Gladly!" exclaimed Large, and the Prince and his two servants -continued on their way. - -As the travellers drew near their journey's end, they saw a man leaning -against an immense oak. He had a bandage over his eyes, and he stood -motionless, appearing to be very much preoccupied. - -"Take this unfortunate person into your service," Long suggested to the -Prince. "Who knows but he may prove to be of great assistance to you -later on?" - -"My friend," said Prince Erian, addressing the stranger, "what is your -name?" - -"My father named me Keen Eyes," said the other. - -"A pretty neat name for a blind man," remarked the Prince. "What can -you do?" - -"My trade is to see clearly," replied Keen Eyes. "My eyes are bandaged -so that my sight may do no damage to the objects I fix my gaze on." - -"Really!" exclaimed Prince Erian; "if your power is so great, give us -an example of it." - -"Look!" cried Keen Eyes. "Do you see that immense rock yonder?" - -"Yes." - -"Keep your eyes on it! In an instant it shall fly to pieces." - -Keen Eyes removed his bandage, looked steadily upon the imposing mass -of granite, and it seemed to melt before his eyes; it crumbled and fell -to pieces. - -"My friend," said the Prince, "you are an extraordinary man. If you -will come with me, I will take you as my servant." - -Keen Eyes gladly accepted the offer. - -After travelling a little farther, Prince Erian and his servants, -Long, Large, and Keen Eyes, came upon a magnificent castle, the walls -of which were armored with iron and brass. This castle belonged to the -terrible Magor, the King of the Magicians, who held the Princess of -Golconda in the spell of his enchantment. - -"This is the end of our journey," said Prince Erian. - -He then explained to his servants the bold scheme he had in mind, and -they made an effort to enter at once into the castle, but the door was -made of brass and it was barred and locked. - -"What shall we do?" said the young Prince. - -"Wait!" answered Keen Eyes. He raised his bandage, gave the door one -glance and it crumbled into pieces. Without further ceremony, the four -travellers entered the castle. - -It was a wonderful place, this home of the King of the Sorcerers. -On every side statues of gold and silver were to be found, luminous -flowers, and amidst all the beauty, charming birds that spoke the -language of human beings. - -In one room of the castle the travellers found a table already set and -covered with the most palatable dishes and perfumed wines. The Prince -and his companions were very hungry; so they sat themselves down to the -feast spread before them, and ate a great deal and drank a great deal -more. After this excellent meal, Prince Erian and his three servants -went out to walk in the beautiful garden. They had scarcely gone ten -paces when they met Magor and his charming captive. At sight of these -unknown persons, the Sorcerer stood dumb with amazement. At last, full -of rage, he cried out: - -"Why did you come here, miserable creatures? Dare you even pretend to -take from me the pearl of pearls, the beauty without rival that I have -on my arm, my pretty prisoner, the Princess of Golconda?" - -"Yes," said the Prince; "and all your magic will serve to confound you, -if you do not use your superhuman art." - -"So be it," assented Magor. "I will not crush you like an earthworm. I -will do better. I will give you the lady of your dreams, but upon one -condition only." - -"Name it!" cried Prince Erian. - -"It is this: that during three days in succession, and precisely at -twelve o'clock, you must present the Princess of Golconda to me in the -large hall of the Castle." - -"That is an easy thing to do," said Prince Erian. - -"You are mad!" cried Magor. "Reflect before you accept the challenge, -for if you permit the Princess to escape all will be over with you. -That moment you and your companions shall be changed into statues." - -"No matter," said the Prince. "I accept." - -"If, at the appointed hour," the King of the Sorcerers explained, "you -present to me the Princess of Golconda, one of the iron rings that I -wear around my waist will fall off, and if all three should break, one -after the other, you will be victorious over me—over Magor, the King -of the Magicians." - -Then Prince Erian took the arm of the lady of his dreams, the beautiful -Princess of Golconda, and conducted her to the hall that Magor had -pointed out to him. After the three days of the trial, the charming -Princess would be his own—all his own. With what happiness, he -thought, would he present her to his father! "Here," he would say, "is -the wife I have chosen. Magor, the King of the Magicians, disputed my -right to her, and him I have overthrown!" - -But what precautions they were compelled to use! Prince Erian closed -the door carefully and then ordered Long to stretch himself all around -the hall. Large was told to expand himself so as to stop up the -windows, and Keen Eyes was made to loosen the bandage around his eyes. -When all these preparations had been made, there was only a small space -left for the beautiful Princess and Prince Erian. - -"Keen Eyes," said the young Prince, "we must be careful; we must not -fall asleep; we must watch to-night." - -"Yes, master," responded Keen Eyes, "we must drive away sleep." - -Nevertheless, worn out as they were, they soon closed their eyes, and -in a few moments they were sound asleep. - -At dawn the next day, Prince Erian was the first to awake. But the -beautiful Princess had disappeared. The young Prince, filled with -mingled grief and astonishment, called out to his companions: - -"Awake, my friends! Awake!" - -"What is the matter, master? What is the matter?" they cried: - -"An irreparable misfortune has befallen me! The Princess has -disappeared! Search and see if you can find her anywhere." - -Long, Large, and the young Prince searched everywhere, examining every -piece of furniture, but they did not find the beautiful young Princess. - -"Alas!" they cried, "what shall we do? we are lost!" - -"Wait!" said Keen Eyes; "not yet!" He had also been searching for the -Princess. - -"What!" exclaimed the young Prince, "can you have found her?" - -"Yes," replied Keen Eyes. "Four hundred leagues away there is a forest. -In this forest there is a tree. On this tree there is a limb. On this -limb there is an acorn." - -"Well—well?" cried Prince Erian. - -"And in that acorn is the Princess." - -"Then all is lost!" exclaimed the young Prince. "To travel four hundred -leagues and return by noon is an impossibility." - -"Do not give up all hope, my master," said Long. "Wait a little while." - -Keen Eyes got on Long's shoulders, and Long stretched himself out so -that with a few leaps he was in the forest and then at the tree. Keen -Eyes took possession of the precious acorn. Long drew his great length -together, and in a moment they had returned. - -Prince Erian took the acorn, broke it open, and out stepped the -Princess, more beautiful and more resplendent than ever. - -All this time, Magor, the King of the Sorcerers, was laughing to -himself and enjoying the neat trick he had played on the young Prince -and his companions. At precisely twelve o'clock he presented himself at -the door of the hall, and cried out: - -"Ah, well! faithful guardian! Can you show me the beautiful Princess?" - -"Most certainly," replied Prince Erian. "Behold her here!" - -A cry of rage broke from the Magician. A band of iron broke from his -body and fell at his feet. - -"But wait!" cried Magor. "Watch well to-night." - -"Be not uneasy," said Prince Erian. "Meanwhile permit us to promenade -in your magnificent garden." - -They inspected the palace from top to bottom and went through the -garden. They saw some very strange things, and much that they saw was -calculated to make a very serious impression on their minds. That which -most affected the friends of the young Princess was the spectacle of a -wall along which were ranged the statues of many Knights. - -Some stood with clubs uplifted as if for combat. Others were in an -attitude of supplication, while still others, with muscles strained and -eyes filled with fire, seemed to be having a hand-to-hand contest with -the terrible Sorcerer; but they had all been vanquished and turned to -stone by his power. - -"These unfortunate men," said the Princess, "have been transformed into -statues for attempting to rescue me from the King of the Magicians. I -have been the innocent cause of the misfortune of these brave men, and I -bring misery to all who interest themselves in my sad fate." - -"Then why do you not fly from this desolate palace?" Prince Erian asked. -"Are you never free from this Magician? He has such power over you?" - -"Alas!" replied the Princess, "I am not the mistress of my destiny, and -when the King of the Magicians commands me I must obey. His power over -me is boundless. He can change me into a bird that flies, into a grain -of dust blown about by the wind, or into a flower that perfumes the -garden. He can send me a million leagues away, and I can neither resist -his caprice nor oppose his cruel tyranny. Those who love me perish. He -is so powerful, the others are so weak!" - -"Ah, well!" exclaimed the Prince, "I shall not die, I will deliver you -from the talons of this cruel vulture! I will take you away from this -castle, a thousand times accursed since it is your prison!" - -"Alas!" said the Princess, "I fear that you also will suffer defeat. -Are you a magician, are you a sorcerer, that you can contend against -Magor?" - -"I am neither magician nor sorcerer," replied the enthusiastic young -Prince; "but I have all the power of both, since I love you. Do not -despair. Let me do as I wish. My friends, with their extraordinary -gifts, are your friends, and they are devoted to your cause." - -"We will deliver you!" "We will deliver you!" exclaimed Long, Large, -and Keen Eyes. - -"May you succeed!" sighed the unhappy Princess. "But my hopes have been -dashed to the ground so many times that I dare not depend on anyone." - -All day long the young Princess of Golconda and Prince Erian walked -together and were happy, forgetting for the time the terrible contest -that was to take place, the outcome of which was wrapped in so much -uncertainty. - -Suddenly the Princess disappeared. Magor, the King of the Magicians, -had called her. - -The sun was disappearing little by little below the horizon, and its -golden rays were fading before the approaching night. - -All disconsolate, Prince Erian turned his steps toward the castle. His -anxiety for the Princess was extreme, but, with joyful surprise, he -found her awaiting him at the door. - -"Welcome, my Prince!" she said, and together they entered the castle. - -An elegant repast was spread. The most delicate dishes, the most -exquisite wines, burdened the table. - -"Come, my friends!" cried the Sorcerer, "eat, drink, and be merry! This -may be your last meal." - -"Don't worry yourself, gentle sir," answered Long. "To-morrow you may -be kept busy in the kitchen again. Rest assured you will always find us -in good health and with hearty appetites." - -"We shall see about that," said Magor. "You found my prisoner in an -acorn; you travelled four hundred leagues to bring her back to this -palace; but all that is a very simple matter. To-morrow your task will -not be such an easy one. Am I not the King of the Magicians?" - -"Just so," remarked Long; "but you are one and we are four." - -When supper was over, the Princess was given into the care of Prince -Erian. - -"Good-night!" said Magor with a mocking smile. "Be sure that you watch -more faithfully to-night, or the fair lady of your dreams will elude -you." - -"Make yourself easy," replied the Prince. "Should she escape we know -how to find her." - -When they arrived at the hall where the trial was to be renewed, the -Princess said to her companions: - -"I know that you are very powerful, but the cruel Magor is still more -powerful. Redouble your precautions; remain awake and perhaps you may -succeed in rescuing me." - -"Trust to us," answered Prince Erian. - -The most extraordinary precautions were taken, but all to no purpose. -While Prince Erian and the Princess of Golconda were chatting together, -sleep fell upon the small company little by little. The wicked Sorcerer -had drugged their wine, and the effect was irresistible. - -"Keen Eyes," said the Prince, drowsily, "are you awake?" - -"Yes, my master," answered Keen Eyes with a yawn. "Fear nothing!" - -But immediately his eyelids became heavy, and every effort he made to -keep awake only made him sleep all the more soundly. - -Magor, the King of the Magicians, found it an easy matter to carry off -his lovely captive through a very small aperture that Large had left -open when he fell asleep. - -At sunrise Prince Erian awoke and discovered that the Princess of -Golconda had disappeared. He called to his companions: - -"Long! Large! Keen Eyes! where are you? Quick! the Princess has -disappeared! This is our last day if we do not find her at once!" - -They searched on all sides, but without success. - -"Do not distress yourself," said Keen Eyes, to the young Prince, who -was lamenting. "See! A thousand leagues from here—farther than the -sea, farther than the mountains—there is a broad and waving field of -wheat. In that field of wheat there is a ridge. On that ridge there is -a stalk. On that stalk there is an ear. In that ear there is a grain. -In that grain the beautiful Princess is hid." - -Once more Keen Eyes mounted the shoulders of Long, who stretched -himself again—stretched and took such long steps that in an hour's -time he had crossed seas and mountains and reached the wheatfield. The -two friends released the Princess from her floury prison, and in a -short time were back at the castle. - -Prince Erian had been awaiting their return, tortured by the agony of -suspense. It is impossible to describe his joy in beholding once more -the beautiful lady of his dreams. He laughed and sang and seemed almost -beside himself. He could scarcely keep his eyes off the Princess even -for a moment. Suddenly there came a knocking at the door. - -Blam—blam! Blam! - -"Come in!" said the Prince Erian. - -It was the King of the Magicians who entered. He smiled mockingly. - -"Ah, well, my heroes!" he exclaimed, "are you as joyous to-day as you -were yesterday at this hour, and can you present the Princess to me?" - -"It is my pleasure to do so," said Prince Erian, with mock courtesy. -"Behold the Princess here!" - -The Sorcerer grew pale with anger, and his eyes shot forth fire. A -second band of iron fell from his waist and broke. - -"One day still remains, and this time we shall see who is the -conqueror," said Magor, furious with rage. Thus speaking he retired -to an apartment in his palace, where he remained throughout the day, -scheming to outwit Prince Erian and his companions. He now realized -that he had met adversaries who were dangerous, and he knew that the -contest of the next day would be final. What could he do to hide the -beautiful captive? At last he thought he had found a way and a sigh of -relief escaped his lips. - -Meanwhile Prince Erian and his companions were taking counsel together. -They were filled with anxiety. They knew that the King of the Magicians -would use all his art to carry off and conceal the beautiful Princess. -They knew, too, that if they failed to find her their fate was sealed. -They would take their places among the unfortunate knights who had been -transformed into statues. - -That night they took unusual precautions, but all was in vain, for -when they awoke the next morning the Princess of Golconda had again -disappeared. - -"Awake, friends! Arise!" cried the young Prince, when he made the -discovery. "The Princess is gone? Let us search for her." - -Long and willingly they searched, but all in vain. Keen Eyes himself -was puzzled. He looked into the sky and on the earth, penetrated the -mountains, and looked into the bottom of the precipice. He could see -nothing that resembled the beautiful young Princess. - -"Ah, well!" cried Prince Erian. "The Sorcerer is stronger than we. This -time we are lost." - -The sun was already high up in the heavens, and the time was -approaching when the King of the Magicians was to make his appearance -and demand the Princess. - -But Keen Eyes did not despair. His keen glance searched everywhere. -Suddenly he gave a cry of joy. - -"Victory! victory! The Princess is ours! I have discovered her -hiding-place." - -"Where is it?" cried Prince Erian. "Quick! Time is precious." - -"Do you see yonder—away yonder in the Black Sea," said Keen Eyes, -pointing as eagerly as if all eyes were as keen as his—"do you see -that wave rocked by the hurricane, ascending to the surface and -descending to the depths of the abyss, pushed here and thrown there by -the storm? In the centre of that tremendous wave there is a void. In -that void is a ring. In that ring is your beautiful Princess." - -"What shall we do, my friends? What shall we do?" cried the young -Prince. - -"Large," said Keen Eyes, by way of answer, "get on Long's shoulders -with me. He will take us to the shore of the sea where the storm-tossed -wave is swimming." - -Large obeyed, and at once and swiftly they made their way to the -sea—swifter than the north wind they travelled, over plains and over -mountains, past rivers and hills. - -"Faster, faster!" cried Keen Eyes. - -They reached the sea, but their difficulty was not over. How should -they get possession of the storm-tossed wave? Long stretched himself -and pursued it, but when he thought he held it, it would slip from his -hands and disappear. - -"Wait," said Large. "I am going to get it." - -Then he began to drink, drink, drink, so rapidly that the wave with the -void in its centre was at last brought within reach, so that the ring -could be seized. - -What an extraordinary sight it was to see a man as big as the thickest -mountains, casting his shadow over the entire country, his head -reaching beyond the clouds that floated in the sky. Large's immense -size can be imagined. He had been compelled to drink the greater part -of the sea so as to get possession of the ring. - -Having found the Princess at last, Long and Keen Eyes started on their -return journey to the magician's castle. - -But they had lost so much time trying to capture the ring that -contained the Princess that the hour of noon was about to strike. - -"Courage—courage!" cried Long. His immense strides carried him over -hills and ravines, vast plains and dense forests. In a minute they will -be at the castle. Forward! Quick! Fast and still faster. - -"We are lost!" exclaimed Keen Eyes. - -"No!" cried Long, "we are here!" He made a supreme effort, and, at one -stride, reached the castle. As he came to the door, he saw the Magician -about to enter. - -"Let me pass!" demanded Keen Eyes. - -"After me, if you please," said Magor. - -"Infamous Sorcerer!" exclaimed Keen Eyes, "I must enter!" - -"After me, I said," responded Magor. - -But while they were disputing Long threw the enchanted ring through -the window, and when the King of the Magicians entered the hall, the -Princess of Golconda, more beautiful than ever, received him. - -The clock struck the hour of noon! - -At sight of the Princess, the King of the Magicians trembled and a -terrible cry burst from his lips. Then, transforming himself into a -raven, he disappeared in space. - -The third iron band had fallen from Magor's waist and broken. - -Meanwhile a marvellous change was taking place. The spell of the wicked -Sorcerer was destroyed. The statues came to life. On all sides gay -laughter and joyous songs could be heard, and one might have thought -that these people, Knights and Princes, were the invited guests at a -wedding. - -And so they were, for the marriage of the beautiful Princess of Golconda -took place at once, and the guests were the Knights and Princes who had -been restored to life. All of them took part in the festivities, and at -daybreak they were still dancing in the Sorcerer's castle. - -As soon as possible Prince Erian and his charming Princess turned -their steps in the direction of that distant city where the aged King -was waiting with impatience for his beloved son. Large had not yet -returned, but Long went after him, and, all together, they wended their -way toward the palace where Prince Erian first saw the light. - -The joy of the Prince's parents cannot be described. They were never -tired of embracing their child. They overwhelmed him with questions, -and then kissed and caressed him, and thus prevented him from talking. -Nor was the beautiful Princess forgotten; each one embraced her, and -received her as Prince Erian's wife should be received. - -The festivities lasted many days, and when they were over, Long, Large, -and Keen Eyes asked to leave the Prince. - -"Why leave me?" said Prince Erian. "You know how much I owe you, and -whether I love you. Remain with me always." - -"No," replied Keen Eyes, "the palace stifles us, and the fine clothes -we wear are uncomfortable. We are useless at this court." - -"I will make you princes," said Prince Erian; "I will make you kings, -if you will assist me in all my undertakings." - -"Men of our kind," said Long, "give kingdoms but receive none. At odd -times, dear prince, we shall visit you. May we always find you happy -and contented." - -Then bowing low to Prince Erian, Long, Large, and Keen Eyes sighed and -disappeared. - - - - -XV - -LOONY JOHN - - -When Loony John was born, his mother leaned her head sadly on her hand -and murmured: - -"What will become of this boy later? Will he be wicked or innocent, -rich or poor, intelligent or a simpleton?" - -"He will be rich," answered a little fairy. Her voice seemed to come -from the rafters. - -"He will be poor," said a second one. - -"Intelligent," said a third. - -Then a fourth voice made itself heard—"Your child will never be -anything but a simpleton." - -The unhappy mother recognized that voice. She had heard it one day -when she refused to take pity on an old beggar-woman, and now she knew -that the woman was no other than the Queen of the Fairies in disguise. - -The child grew and thrived, and when he was sixteen, his mother said: - -"My son, I have many trials. We are poor and I want you to learn a -trade. What do you want to do?" - -"Nothing." - -"You do not want to work?" - -"Oh, no," answered Loony John; "work is tiresome." - -"Ah!" thought the poor mother, "the Queen of the Fairies is taking her -revenge." - -Some days afterward the good woman needed a trivet, and sent her son to -buy it. - -Loony John ran to the city and bought a splendid one, and was -returning home contentedly, when he found that the trivet was too -heavy. So he sat it down and addressed it: - -"There is the road that leads to our home. You have three feet and I -have but two. Run on ahead and be sure not to stop on the way, for my -mother needs your services." - -Loony John put his hands in his pockets and went whistling along the -road. - -"Where is the trivet?" demanded his mother when he reached home. - -"Well, well!" exclaimed Loony John, "is it not already here? The lazy -thing must have lagged on the way. With its three feet it should have -been here a good quarter of an hour ago." - -"Alas!" said the mother, "the trivet is lost. What a simpleton you are -to talk to a piece of iron as if it had life. You should have put it -in your sack and carried it on your shoulders." - -"Well, mother," answered Loony John, "another time I shall know what to -do." - -One day Loony John's mother concluded to celebrate the birthday of -her oldest daughter, and some wine was needed for the invited guests, -and Loony John was sent after it to a neighboring village. As he was -returning, he remembered what his mother said about putting the trivet -in a sack. - -"Oh—ho!" he cried. "I was about to make a serious blunder. If I carry -this wine to the house in a jug they will scold me. If a trivet should -be put in a sack why not the wine!" - -So he poured it into his sack. - -"Where is the wine?" he was asked when he returned home. - -"I had no sooner put it in the sack than it ran away on all sides." - -"Did you not have a jug?" - -"Certainly." - -"What a misfortune!" his mother said. "You should have carried it on -your head." - -Loony John said he would do better next time. - -Not long after this, he was sent for a servant who had been engaged to -watch the young turkeys. - -"This time," said Loony John, "I shall be careful to make no mistake." - -He soon found the servant, who was a young girl, and said to her: - -"We have no time to lose. Let us be off. Come! get on my head and let's -go." - -"Oh, I thank you, sir," the young girl answered, laughingly. "You are -too good. I can walk very well on my feet." - -But Loony John was not to be put off in this way. He remembered that -he had been told to carry the wine on his head, and as the new servant -showed no inclination to obey him he gave her a terrible beating. She -fell almost lifeless by the roadside. - -"Oh—ho!" cried Loony John, "you think you will have me scolded again -to-day; but I am not so fond of a scolding, I can assure you." - -Without delay he placed the poor girl on his head and carried her home, -where he arrived well-nigh exhausted. - -"What is it you have there?" his mother cried. - -"It is our new servant I bring you." - -"Oh, what an unhappy creature I am!" exclaimed the mother. She hastened -to put the servant to bed. The poor girl's arms were broken and her -shoulders bruised. - -During the fortnight that followed, Loony John was sent on no errands. -But the servant girl grew steadily worse, and one morning the doctor -had to be sent for. There was no one to go but Loony John, and -accordingly he was sent. - -"Ask for only one," his mother cautioned him. - -"Have no fear," answered Loony John, and he went on his way yelling as -loud as he could: - -"Let only one come! Let only one come!" - -The road led by a river, and as Loony John was going along, he saw a -fisherman who, since early morning, had been throwing out his line -without success. Loony John's song did not please him. - -"Silly scamp!" he exclaimed, "say 'Let a thousand come!' if you want to -save your bones." - -Immediately Loony John cried out: - -"Let a thousand come! Let a thousand come!" - -He went on and came to a wood where a shepherd was struggling with a -fierce-looking wolf. The contest seemed to interest him. He sat down -quietly on a stone and awaited results. - -The struggle was long and furious, but the man at last overpowered -the beast, and the wolf fell mortally wounded. While the shepherd was -recovering from his exertions he heard a strange refrain. Loony John -was yelling: - -"Let a thousand come! Let a thousand come!" - -The shepherd rose to his feet, furious. - -"You young rascal! Say, rather, 'May the Imp seize him!'" - -At once Loony John took up the new refrain and went on his way crying: - -"May the Imp seize him! May the Imp seize him!" - -Presently he met a funeral procession, but he still continued his cry. - -"Will you hush?" said one in the procession. "If you must go yelling -along the road, cry out, 'May the Lord protect him!'" - -Loony John was willing—none more so—and very soon the echoes were -repeating: - -"May the Lord protect him! May the Lord protect him!" - -At the entrance of the village where the doctor lived, a house was on -fire, and a crowd of people were trying to put it out. Some wicked -person had set it on fire and he had been caught. He was safely tied, -and those who were not helping to put out the fire were engaged in -jeering and insulting the wicked incendiary. - -Loony John also wanted to see the culprit, but for fear he would forget -what he had been told to say, he kept on repeating: - -"May the Lord protect him! May the Lord protect him!" - -The crowd was indignant, and on all sides were heard cries of "Here is -his accomplice!" Immediately Loony John was seized and beaten, and, in -spite of his tears and entreaties, was thrown into prison. - -How he escaped need not be told. There is an old saying, "A fool for -luck!" and it is a true one. Loony John got back home somehow. - -Some time afterward Easter Sunday came, and when Loony John's mother -started to church she said: - -"Above all things, don't forget to put the hen in the stew-pan." - -"I will certainly do that," he answered. - -The good woman went off, leaving Loony John very much perplexed. He did -not know which hen his mother wanted. So, after thinking the matter -over, he went into the hen-house and said: - -"Which one of you is to be cooked for dinner?" - -"Cluck—cluck—cluck!" answered a setting hen. - -"Pshaw! don't talk Dutch!" protested Loony John; "I can't understand -you." - -"Cluck—cluck—cluck!" said the setting hen. - -Loony John was more puzzled than ever, but he repeated the question: - -"Answer! Which one of you is to be eaten for dinner to-day?" - -By this time the frightened chickens had all run out of the house into -the garden, leaving only the old setting hen who had been answering -Loony John in Dutch. - -"Oh! you are the one! Very well!" - -Loony John seized her and put her in the stew-pan alive. Then he began -to think, and he remembered that the eggs were not hatched and that the -nest was without a hen. - -"My mother did not think of that," said Loony John, and at once he went -and sat on the nest in the hen's place. - -When his mother returned home she called for her son. - -"John! Oh, John! where are you?" - -"Here, in a corner of the hen-house!" - -"Where?" exclaimed the mother. "I do not see you." - -"Cluck—cluck—cluck!" said Loony John. - -"Why don't you answer?" cried his mother. - -"Cluck—cluck—cluck!" said Loony John. - -His mother at last found him quietly sitting on the eggs. - -"What are you doing there?" she asked, angrily. - -"Sh—h!" replied Loony John. "Don't make any noise. I am setting." - -"Did you put the hen in the stew-pan?" - -"Cluck—cluck—cluck!" - -"What do you mean by that?" inquired the good woman. "Speak!" - -"I say that I am setting!" said Loony John, "and I will fly off the -nest and scratch in the garden if you continue to disturb me in this -manner." - -"Why do you set?" his mother asked. - -"Because the hen that sat on these eggs is about to boil." - -"Why, that is not the hen that was to be cooked for dinner to-day, but -the one that I picked yesterday and put in the cupboard!" The good -woman shook her head in despair and went away. - -How long Loony John sat on the nest cannot be told, but one day, some -time afterward, he was passing by a farm where he saw a woman picking a -chicken and carefully placing the feathers to one side. Loony John was -very much interested in this, and so he said to her: - -"Please, ma'am, tell me what you are doing with those feathers?" - -The woman was not without humor, and she replied: - -"Why do you ask such a simple question? I am going to plant the -feathers, of course. Doesn't your mother plant the feathers she picks -from chickens?" - -"My gracious! No!" - -"Well, then, it is because she doesn't own any Catchmeddler hens." - -"Why do you plant the feathers?" inquired Loony John. - -"Well, well! your country must be a very poor place, young man. Is -it possible you don't know that one of these feathers, carefully -cultivated, will yield each month a fat, frying-size chicken?" - -"If that is so," said Loony John, "sell me two hundred dollars' worth -of your largest and finest feathers." - -The woman laughed in her sleeve. She had never dreamed that an old hen -could bring her so much money. She hastened to close the trade with -Loony John, and, to show that she was not at all picayunish, she threw -in the two feet of the old hen for good measure. - -Loony John went on his way happy. When he reached home he got the hoe, -went out into the garden, and began to plant his fine feathers. - -"How everybody will admire my fine square of feathers!" he said to -himself. "I will call to every passer-by and say, 'Behold the beautiful -hen-patch! Has ever such a wonder been seen before?'" - -The next week, however, Loony John went all in tears to find the -farm-woman. - -"Well, well! my good young man!" exclaimed the woman when she saw him, -"what do you cry for? Has your house been burnt?" - -"That would be but a trifle," replied Loony John. - -"Alas! is your mother dead?" - -"That would be an irreparable misfortune, but after awhile we should -become reconciled." - -"What plague has fallen upon you?" - -"The hail!" cried Loony John; "the hail that uprooted my beautiful -chicken feathers. The wind also came among them and scattered them -over the country. Do not scold me! I have hunted for them, but I cannot -find a single one." - -"We should have thought about the possibility of a storm," said the -shrewd woman. "It was not hens you should have cultivated, my young -friend, but sausages—for sausages will withstand the wind and hail." - -"But how would the sausages grow?" asked Loony John, drying his tears. - -"Why, like apples and cherries; but the trees, instead of producing -these fruits, bear beautiful sausages. People who are not educated -think that sausages are only made by those who deal in meat. But surely -you know better," said the shrewd woman. - -Loony John tried to hide his astonishment. - -"Who would be so simple-minded as not to know that?" he replied. "For -how much, ma'am, will you sell the sausages you speak of?" - -"Twenty dollars apiece, if they are for yourself," answered the woman. - -"I'll take a dozen," said Loony John, with the air of a fine trader. "I -shall need no more to-day." - -The shrewd woman brought Loony John a dozen old sausages and carefully -wrapped them up. He paid for them on the spot, and then, forgetting his -first misfortune—the wind and the hail—he returned home singing. - -Loony John grew older as the days went by. A beard appeared on his -face. He even took to himself a wife; but he still remained Loony John. - -One day, when the sun was shining brightly, he dressed himself in his -new suit of clothes, put on his best hat and gloves, and went to -the fair in the neighboring village. He enjoyed himself, and created -a great deal of amusement for others by his queer blunders. In the -afternoon the thought occurred to him that his wife would be expecting -him at home, and so he started to return. - -Unfortunately, a shower came up, just as he was crossing a bridge. Big -drops of rain were falling on all sides. In a little while his fine -hat, his new clothes, and his gloves that he was so proud of would be -ruined. - -"Goodness gracious!" cried Loony John, "if I suffer myself to get wet -like this I shall be called a simpleton indeed, and my friends will -have good cause to laugh at me. What shall I do?" - -Suddenly he shouted for joy. A wonderful idea had struck him. - -"I will throw myself in the river!" he exclaimed. "Once in the water, -it will be impossible for the rain to wet my clothes." - -No sooner said than done. Into the water jumped Loony John. He couldn't -swim and so he was drowned. The next day the miller found the body in -the water. He drew it out, and Loony John was buried with great pomp. -On his tombstone was an inscription in Latin, which, being interpreted, -reads: - - HERE LIES - LOONY JOHN - WHO - JUMPED INTO THE WATER - TO KEEP - FROM GETTING WET. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note - -Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. - -Variations in hyphenation have been standardised but all other -spelling and punctuation remains unchanged. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVENING TALES*** - - -******* This file should be named 56153-0.txt or 56153-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/6/1/5/56153 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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