diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/60923-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60923-0.txt | 3255 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 3255 deletions
diff --git a/old/60923-0.txt b/old/60923-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3682253..0000000 --- a/old/60923-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3255 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rainbow Cat, by -Rose Fyleman and Thelma Cudlipp Grosvenor - -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: The Rainbow Cat - -Author: Rose Fyleman - Thelma Cudlipp Grosvenor - -Release Date: December 14, 2019 [EBook #60923] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RAINBOW CAT *** - - - - -Produced by Tim Lindell, Belk Library (Appalachian State -University), David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - -THE RAINBOW CAT - -ROSE FYLEMAN - - - - -BY ROSE FYLEMAN - - -VERSE - - _Fairies and Chimneys_ - _The Fairy Green_ - _The Fairy Flute_ - - -TALES - - _The Rainbow Cat_ - - -[Illustration: TO HIS GREAT ASTONISHMENT, HE SAW NO GIANTESS, BUT A -VERY NASTY-LOOKING OLD WIZARD WITH A LONG GREY BEARD AND AN ENORMOUSLY -TALL HAT, WHO SAT IN A LARGE ROOM IN FRONT OF A GREAT OPEN FIRE.] - - - - - [Illustration] - - _The_ RAINBOW CAT - - BY - ROSE FYLEMAN - - - _Illustrated by_ - THELMA CUDLIPP GROSVENOR - - [Illustration] - - NEW YORK - GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1923, - BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY - - [Illustration] - - - THE RAINBOW CAT. 1 - - PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - ONE: The First Adventure of the Rainbow Cat 11 - - TWO: The Princess Who Could Not Cry 19 - - THREE: The Prince and the Baker’s Daughter 27 - - FOUR: Why Pigs Have Curly Tails 36 - - FIVE: The Second Adventure of the Rainbow Cat 42 - - SIX: Mellidora 49 - - SEVEN: The Clock 55 - - EIGHT: The Moon 60 - - NINE: The Third Adventure of the Rainbow Cat 63 - - TEN: Almond Blossom 76 - - ELEVEN: The Rondel 79 - - TWELVE: Jan and the Magic Pencil 89 - - THIRTEEN: The Lamb That Went to Fairyland 99 - - FOURTEEN: The Magic Umbrella 103 - - FIFTEEN: The Fourth Adventure of the Rainbow Cat 109 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - TO HIS GREAT ASTONISHMENT, HE SAW NO GIANTESS, BUT - A VERY NASTY-LOOKING OLD WIZARD WITH A LONG GREY - BEARD AND AN ENORMOUSLY TALL HAT, WHO SAT IN A - LARGE ROOM IN FRONT OF A GREAT OPEN FIRE _Frontispiece_ - - PAGE - - HE RODE AWAY ON HIS WHITE HORSE AND TURNED TO - WAVE HIS HAND TO HIS MOTHER AND FATHER BEFORE - HE WENT OVER THE HILL-TOP 32 - - SHE PULLED A TINY DANDELION-CLOCK FROM HER POCKET - AND BEGAN TO BLOW AND TO COUNT 58 - - “IF YOU WILL MARRY ME,” HE SAID, “I WILL SPEND MY - DAYS MAKING VERSES ABOUT YOU” 84 - - - - -THE RAINBOW CAT - - - - -THE RAINBOW CAT - - - - -ONE - -The First Adventure of the Rainbow Cat - - -There was once a cat which was not in the least like any cat you have -ever seen, or I either, for the matter of that. It was a fairy cat, you -see, and so you would rather expect it to be different, wouldn’t you? -It had a violet nose, indigo eyes, pale blue ears, green front legs, a -yellow body, orange back legs and a red tail. In fact, it was coloured -with all the colours of the rainbow, and on that account it was known -as the Rainbow Cat. - -It lived, of course, in Fairyland, and it had all sorts of strange -adventures. I am going to tell you some of them, and I think you will -agree with me that it really had a very thrilling time, one way or -another. - -This is the first. - - * * * * * - -The Rainbow Cat was sitting quietly at the door of his house one sunny -day. He felt rather bored. Fairyland had been very quiet lately. “I -think it’s time I set out on a voyage of adventure,” he said suddenly. -“I shall get fat and stupid if I don’t do something of the sort.” So -he shut up his house, put a notice on the door to say that he hoped to -be back some day, if not sooner, and that letters and parcels were to -be thrown down the chimney, and started off on his journey with a nice -little wallet of assorted oddments tied to his tail, together with a -neat parcel containing his party bow and his dancing-slippers. “For -one never knows,” said the Rainbow Cat, “whom one may meet, and it is -always well to be prepared for anything.” - -He went on and on until he came to the edge of Fairyland, where the -clouds begin. - -“I may as well pay the cloud-folk a visit,” thought he, and he began -climbing up the clouds. - -The people who live in the clouds are quite pleasant creatures. They -don’t do very much, but being idle doesn’t seem to make them unhappy. -They live in splendid cloud-palaces that are even more beautiful on the -side which can’t be seen from earth than on the side which can. - -Often one may see them drifting across the sky in companies, or driving -their pearly chariots, or sailing in their light boats. They live on -air, and the only thing they are really afraid of is the Thunder Giant, -who, when he gets angry--which he rather often does--goes stamping -over the sky, shouting and knocking their houses about. - -They greeted the Rainbow Cat kindly and were pleased to see him, for he -was an old friend and they were always glad to welcome visitors from -Fairyland. - -“You have come just at the right moment,” they said. “There is a grand -party at the Weather Clerk’s. His eldest son, the North Wind, is to -be married to-day to Princess Pearl, the daughter of the King of the -Enchanted Isles.” - -[Illustration] - -The Rainbow Cat was pleased that he had brought his party bow and his -best shoes. His bag of oddments might also come in useful, he thought. - -It was a wonderful wedding. - -Everybody went. Among the guests there was even a comet, and comets -attend none but the smartest gatherings. - -The Aurora Borealis looked magnificent, so did the bride’s father, the -King of the Enchanted Isles, who was there with his lovely wife, Mother -o’ Pearl. - -There were one or two Bores present who had to be asked because they -were connected with somebody or other, and another aged relation, -Anti Cyclone, a most disagreeable old lady; but on the whole it was a -charming affair. - -Just as the merriment was at its height and they were all happily -feasting and rejoicing, a friendly swallow came flying in with the news -that the Thunder Giant was tearing across the sky in a terrible rage -because a passing Trade Wind, who was in a hurry, had trodden on his -toe. - -“What shall we do?” said every one. “He’ll spoil the party. He’ll upset -everything.” And they all ran about in great confusion and distress. - -But the Rainbow Cat remained quite calm. He was a very resourceful -creature. - -He retired under a table and opened his little bag and examined its -contents, thinking hard all the time. - -Presently he came out. - -“I think I can manage the Thunder Giant,” he said. “Pray go on with -the party. I will go and meet him and see what can be done.” - -They were all greatly astonished at his courage and coolness, but they -were delighted to think that their party might not be spoiled after -all, and they crowded round to watch him go sailing off to meet the -giant, whose shoutings and mutterings could by this time be clearly -heard in the distance. - -When the Rainbow Cat had gone some way and could already see the giant -from afar, he stopped, opened his bag, and drew out a large black -cloak. This he put on, pulling the hood well over his ears. He then sat -down and appeared to be lost in deep thought. - -When the Thunder Giant came up he stood still for a moment to look at -this strange object all alone in the middle of the sky. - -“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” he roared. - -“I’m the celebrated wizard Mewpus,” replied the cat in a very deep and -impressive voice. “Mind my bag, there’s black magic in it. I have heard -of you, O great Thunder Giant.” And he got up and bowed three times. - -The giant felt rather flattered, but he was still very cross and his -foot hurt. - -“I don’t think much of wizards,” he said. “What can you do?” - -“I can tell your thoughts, O Giant,” was the reply. - -“Oho!” laughed the giant, “and pray what am I thinking at this moment, -Mr. Mewpus?” - -“That is quite easy,” said the Rainbow Cat. “You are thinking how -your foot is hurting you, and how you would like to get hold of the -person who trod on your corns.” For the cat had heard all this from the -swallow. - -The giant was astonished. - -“You’re a rather wonderful fellow,” he said. “It must be useful to be -able to do that. Can’t you teach me?” - -“I dare say I might be able to,” said the Rainbow Cat. “I’ll see if you -show any promise. Sit down, please.” - -The giant sat down and the Rainbow Cat walked three times round him, -muttering to himself. - -“Now, tell me what I am thinking,” said he when he had done. - -The Thunder Giant sat looking at him rather stupidly. He wasn’t a very -clever person. - -“I suppose you’re thinking what a fool I look, sitting here,” he said. - -“Wonderful--wonderful,” said the cat. “You show immense promise, sir. -I have never had such an apt pupil.” - -“May I try again?” said the giant, who began to think himself very -clever. - -“Certainly,” said the Rainbow Cat. “What am I thinking of now?” - -The giant tried to put on a very wise look and stared again at the -Rainbow Cat with his stupid little eyes. - -“Beefsteak and onions,” he said suddenly. - -The Rainbow Cat fell back and pretended to be lost in admiration. - -“Perfectly right,” he said. “How did you guess such a thing?” - -“Oh, it just came into my mind,” said the giant modestly. - -“You know,” said the cat seriously, “you ought to cultivate this gift. -It’s most unusual.” - -“How can I do it?” said the giant eagerly, for he thought it would be -very delightful to be able to read people’s thoughts. Which shows how -stupid he was. - -“Go home,” said the cat, “and lie down for a couple of hours. Then -take these three little pink comfits and lie down for another couple of -hours. After that you may get up and have a cup of tea. But keep very -quiet. Before going to bed eat this other little white comfit, and when -you wake up in the morning you will be able to read people’s thoughts.” - -The giant was all impatience to be gone, but he did not quite forget -his manners. - -“I am very much obliged to you,” he said. “Can’t I do anything for you -in exchange, Professor Mewpus?” - -The Rainbow Cat pondered for a moment. - -“I should like a bit of lightning,” he said, “a nice jumpy bit.” - -The giant put his hand in his pocket. “Here’s a bundle of it,” he said. -“If you cut the string you can have quite a jolly little display at any -moment.” - -The Rainbow Cat thanked him, and they parted most amicably. - -The giant went back to his castle and did as he had been told. Ever -since that day he believes he knows what people are thinking. This -makes him feel very superior and it really doesn’t do any one else any -harm. - -The Rainbow Cat returned to the party with the bundle of lightning -stowed carefully away in his bag. Every one was most grateful for what -he had done, and he was quite overwhelmed with attentions. He enjoyed -himself very much in Cloud-land, and stayed for seven days. At the end -of that time he packed up his little bag and set off once more on his -travels, and you shall presently hear what next befell him. - - - - -TWO - -The Princess Who Could Not Cry - - -There was once a little princess who could not cry. - -That wouldn’t have mattered so very much, but the trouble was that she -laughed at everything, often on the most unsuitable occasions, and this -was an extremely vexing and awkward habit, especially for a princess. - -Her parents were very troubled about it, and they called in a wise old -fairy in order to get her advice. She went into the matter thoroughly, -and finally told them that if the princess could only once be made to -cry, the spell would be broken for ever and she would thenceforward be -just like other people. - -This wasn’t particularly helpful, but it gave them some hope, and they -immediately set about the task of making the princess weep. Of course -it was a rather difficult matter, because naturally they didn’t want -her to be really miserable, and they hardly knew how to begin. Finally -they offered a reward of five hundred crowns to anybody who should -succeed in making their daughter cry without doing her any harm. - -Wise men came from all over the kingdom to see what they could do, and -many things were tried, but all to no purpose. - -One of them suggested that she should be shut up in a room by herself -and fed on bread and water for a whole week. The queen thought this -very cruel, but the king persuaded her to try it. She insisted, -however, that at any rate it should be bread and _milk_. But every time -they came to bring the princess her basin of bread and milk they found -her laughing, and at the end of the week she was still as cheerful as -ever. - -“Look,” she said, “my feet have grown so thin that I can’t keep my -slippers on.” And she kicked her foot into the air and sent her slipper -flying across the room, and laughed to see the scandalised face of the -butler. - -But her mother burst into tears. “My poor starved lamb,” she said, -“they shall not treat you so any longer.” And she rushed into the -kitchen and ordered soup and chicken and pink jelly to be sent up to -the princess for her next meal. - -Another wise man came who said that for six months he had been -practising pulling the most awful faces and making the most terrible -noises imaginable, in order to be able to cure the princess. Children, -he said, were so frightened by him that they had to be carried -shrieking and howling from the room, and even grown-up people were -so terrified that they wept aloud. He requested that he might be left -alone with the princess; but the queen waited outside the door and -listened. - -[Illustration] - -She trembled with anxiety as she stood there, for the noises the wise -man made were so bloodcurdling that she could hardly bear to hear them -herself, and it seemed dreadful that her child should be left alone to -endure such a trial. But in a few minutes she heard peals of laughter -coming from inside the room, and presently the wise man opened the -door. He was quite done up, and blue in the face, with the efforts he -had been making. “It’s no use,” he said rather crossly. “No use at -all,” and went away looking much annoyed. - -The princess came running out to her mother. - -“Oh, he _was_ a funny man,” she said. “Can’t he come and do it again?” - -Another wise man suggested that all her favourite toys should be broken -up. But when he went into the nursery and began smashing her beautiful -dolls and playthings, the princess clapped her hands and jumped about -and laughed more heartily than ever. - -“What fun, what fun,” she said, and she too began throwing the things -about. So that plan had to be given up also. - -Other wise men came, but as many of their suggestions were cruel and -unkind ones, naturally the king and queen would not hear of them, and -at last they began to fear that nothing could be done. - -Now in a small village on the borders of the king’s great park, there -lived a widow with her little daughter Marigold. - -They were very poor, and the mother earned what she could by doing odd -jobs of washing, sewing, or cleaning for her neighbours. But she fell -ill, and poor Marigold was in great trouble, for she had no money to -buy comforts for her mother. - -Their little savings had to go for food to keep them alive, and every -day these grew less and less. - -Marigold knew all about the little princess at the castle. She had -often heard speak of her, and had even seen her sometimes riding about -the roads on her white pony. And one day as she was cooking the midday -meal an idea came into her head. - -As soon as dinner was over, she put on her hat and cloak and told her -mother that she was going up to the king’s palace to see if she could -make the princess cry and so earn the five hundred crowns. - -Her mother did her best to persuade her not to go. - -“How can you hope to succeed,” she said, “when so many clever people -have tried and failed? You are my own dear little Marigold, but it is -useless for you to attempt such a task. Give it up, my child.” - -But Marigold was determined, and when her mother saw this she said no -more, but lay and watched her rather sadly as she set bravely off for -the castle with her little basket over her arm. - -When Marigold came to the castle gates she felt frightened. The gates -were so big and she was so small. But she thought of her mother and of -the five hundred crowns which would buy her everything she needed, and -she stood on tiptoe on the top step and pulled the bell handle so hard -that she was quite frightened at the noise it made. - -A very grand footman opened the door, and when he saw Marigold standing -there in her woollen frock and cloak with her little basket, he said, -“Back entrance!” in a loud, cross voice, and shut the door in her face. - -So she went round to the back entrance. This time the door was opened -by a red-faced kitchen-maid. “We’ve no dripping to give away to-day,” -she said, and she too was about to shut the door. - -But the queen happened to be in the kitchen giving her orders for the -day, and she saw Marigold through the window. She came to the window -and called to her. - -“What is it, my child?” she asked, for Marigold stood there looking the -picture of unhappiness. - -“I’ve come to make the princess cry, please your Majesty,” she said, -and made a curtsey, for the queen looked very magnificent with her -crown on her head and her lovely ermine train held up over her arm to -keep it off the kitchen floor. - -When the queen heard what Marigold had come for, she smiled and shook -her head, for how could a little country girl hope to do what so many -wise men had been unable to accomplish? But Marigold was so earnest and -so sure that she could make the princess cry that at last the queen -promised to let her attempt it. - -“You won’t hurt her?” she said. But she smiled as she said it. Marigold -had such a kind little face; she did not look as if she could hurt any -one. - -She was taken to the princess’s apartments, and the queen went with her -into the nursery and introduced her to the princess and explained why -she had come. - -The princess was delighted to see a nice little rosy-cheeked girl -instead of the dull old men who so often came to visit her. The queen -shut the door and left them alone together. - -By this time the news of the little village girl who had come to make -the princess cry, had spread all over the palace; and presently a whole -crowd of people were standing anxiously waiting outside the nursery -door. - -“It’s such nonsense,” said the Chamberlain to the Prime Minister. “A -village child. I don’t suppose she’s ever been outside the village.” - -“Quite ridiculous,” whispered the ladies-in-waiting to the court pages. -“Do you think she knows how to make a correct curtsey?” - -At last the king and queen could stand the suspense no longer. They -quietly opened the door and peeped in. And what do you think they saw? -The princess, standing at the table in the middle of the room with -Marigold’s basket in front of her, busily peeling onions as hard as she -could go, while the tears streamed down her face all the while. She was -crying at last! - -The king and queen rushed in and clasped her in their arms, onions and -all. The ladies-in-waiting stood with their perfumed handkerchiefs -pressed to their noses, the pages tittered, and the cook, who was -standing at the bottom of the stairs, muttered to himself when he -heard the news, “Well, _I_ could have done that,” while the Prime -Minister rushed about the room with his wig on one side and shook -everybody violently by the hand, exclaiming, “Wonderful, wonderful! -And so simple! We must get out a proclamation at once. Where are my -spectacles? Where is my pen?” - -And so the princess was cured, and from that time she became like -everybody else and cried when she was unhappy and laughed when she was -glad, though I am pleased to say that she always laughed a great deal -more than she cried. - -As for Marigold, she got her five hundred crowns, of course, and was -able to give her mother everything she needed, so that she was soon -quite well. The king and queen were most grateful, and often invited -her up to the palace to play with their little daughter, and loaded her -with presents. - -Because she was sweet and modest she didn’t get spoiled, but grew up -charming, kind and beautiful. I did hear that in the end she married a -king’s son and that they had an onion for their crest, but I’m not at -all sure about that. - - - - -THREE - -The Prince and the Baker’s Daughter - - -There was once a prince who was very brave, good and handsome. He was -quite young, too, and before he settled down to learning how to rule -the kingdom which would one day be his, he was sent by his father out -a-travelling into the world. - -The king gave his son a beautiful white horse and a bagful of big gold -pieces, and told him to come back when the money was all spent. - -His mother made him a blue velvet mantle embroidered with silver, and -she also gave him a hat with a blue feather in it. - -“I want my son to look nice when he goes out riding into the world,” -she said. - -He rode away on his white horse and turned to wave his hand to his -mother and father before he went over the hill-top. - -“How handsome he looks,” said his mother, wiping away a tear or two. - -“Well, that’s nothing to cry about,” said his father, and blew his -nose. Then they went back into the palace and continued ruling. - -The prince rode on and on. - -Wherever he went people were very nice to him, even when he got beyond -the borders of his own kingdom where he was no longer known. - -It is not every day that a handsome prince comes riding along on a -white horse, and moreover with a bagful of fine gold pieces to spend. - -All the girls ran out to look at him as he passed, and when he stayed -anywhere, even for a short time, people seemed to get to know about it -at once and asked him to their houses and gave grand parties in his -honour and made so much of him altogether that he was in some danger of -getting thoroughly spoiled. - -But he had been very well brought up, and he had a naturally amiable -disposition. - -Besides, he had always been told by his mother that if you are a -prince you must try hard to behave as a prince should, and be modest, -considerate, and very polite to every one. - -One morning close on midday, he came to a tiny village which he did not -know at all. - -He was rather hungry after his ride, and as he passed down the narrow -little street he became aware of a delicious smell of new bread. - -It came from the open door of the village baker’s, and as he glanced in -he saw a pile of beautiful, crisp new rolls heaped up in a big white -basket. - -He got down off his horse and went in. - -“I should like to buy one of those nice little rolls,” he said to the -baker’s daughter, who stood behind the counter. - -She was very pretty. She had blue, shining eyes and fair smooth hair, -and when she smiled it was like sunshine on a flowery meadow. - -[Illustration] - -The prince ate up his roll and then another and yet another, and while -he ate he talked to the baker’s daughter. But no one can eat more than -three rolls one after another, and at last he felt that the time had -come to pay for what he had had and ride on his way. - -But, as it happened, he had no small change, nothing but a gold piece -such as those which he had in his bag. - -The baker’s daughter hadn’t enough money in the whole shop to change -such a big gold piece, her father having set off that very morning with -all the money in the till in order to buy a sack of flour from the -miller in the next village. - -She had never even seen so large a gold coin before. She wanted to give -him the rolls for nothing, but of course he wouldn’t hear of that, and -when he said it didn’t matter about the change she wouldn’t hear of -that either. - -“Then there’s nothing for it,” said the prince, “but for me to stay in -the village until I have eaten as much as my gold piece will pay for.” - -As a matter of fact he was really quite glad of an excuse to stay, the -baker’s daughter was so very pretty, and he was getting a little tired -of travelling. - -He pottered about in the bakehouse all the afternoon and watched her -making the dough for her delicious rolls. - -He even offered to help her. - -His blue mantle got rather floury, but he didn’t mind that in the least. - -The baker’s daughter was rather worried that such a fine gentleman -should get in such a mess. - -She didn’t know he was a prince, otherwise she might have been more -worried still. - -In the evening, when the baker returned, the prince asked if he could -put him up for a couple of nights. - -The baker was a kindly and simple old soul. “Gladly, gladly,” he said, -rubbing his hands together and smiling, for the village was a small one -and they were very poor, and he was glad to make a little extra money. - -The prince stayed a whole week at the baker’s house. By that time, what -with the bread he had eaten--though he was careful not to eat much and -always to choose the cheapest--and the price of his lodging, about half -of the gold piece was spent, and the baker’s daughter was able to give -him the change from the money she had taken in the shop. - -So he had no excuse for staying any longer, which grieved him because -he had grown very fond of the baker’s daughter and did not like leaving -her. - -But he had an idea that his mother and father would not think her a -very suitable bride for him, for princes cannot always marry whom they -please, and so he rode sadly away. - -But the farther he went the sadder he became, and at the end of two -months he could bear it no longer, and so one fine morning he turned -his horse’s head round and rode back again the way he had come. - -“She is good and clever and beautiful,” he said. “What more can one -want in a wife? When my mother and father see her they will love her as -much as I do and will be quite willing that I should marry her.” Which -really was very optimistic of him. - -But alas, when he came to the village and sought the baker’s shop, he -was met by strange faces. - -The baker had died a month since, he was told, and his daughter had -left the village and gone out into the world to work for her living, -for she could not manage the bakehouse by herself and there was none to -help her now that her father was gone. - -The prince was very, very troubled and unhappy. He tried to find out -something more about her, but his efforts were fruitless; no one seemed -to know what had become of her. - -“I will search the world over till I find her,” he said, “even if it -take me the whole of my life.” - -He wandered on and on, always making fresh inquiries, always hoping to -hear something of his lost love, but always in vain. - -And at last he got back to his own kingdom. - -When his mother and father saw him they were horrified to find how pale -and thin he had grown. - -[Illustration: HE RODE AWAY ON HIS WHITE HORSE AND TURNED TO WAVE HIS -HAND TO HIS MOTHER AND FATHER BEFORE HE WENT OVER THE HILL-TOP.] - -“Travelling doesn’t seem to suit you, my son,” said his father, looking -at him rather seriously and stroking his beard. - -“The poor boy is tired out,” said his mother. “He’ll look better when -he’s had a good rest and some proper food. I don’t suppose he’s ever -had a really wholesome meal in those foreign parts.” - -But the prince remained thin and sad and listless, and at last he told -his father and mother the cause of his unhappiness. At first they were -a little upset at the idea of his wanting to marry so humble a person -as the daughter of a village baker--“But that of course,” thought the -prince, “is only because they don’t know her.” - -And after a time, when they saw how unhappy he was and that all the -distractions with which they provided him were unavailing, and that his -one idea was to go out into the world again and search for the baker’s -daughter, they were so troubled that they felt they would be only too -glad if he could have the wish of his heart fulfilled. - -And then one day as the prince was sitting quietly at breakfast with -his parents he jumped up suddenly with an expression of the greatest -excitement and joy. - -“What is it, my son?” said his astonished mother. - -The prince couldn’t speak for a moment. For one thing he was too -excited, and for another his mouth was full of bread, and I told you -before how well brought up he was. - -But he pointed to the dish of breakfast rolls and kept on nodding his -head and swallowing as hard as he could. - -The king and queen thought at first that sorrow had affected his brain, -but the prince was able to explain very soon. “The rolls, the rolls,” -he said. “Her rolls, _hers_. No one else could make them so good. She -must be here.” And he rushed off to the kitchen without further ado. - -And there, sure enough, he found the baker’s daughter, peeling potatoes -over the sink. - -By the merest chance she had taken a place as kitchen-maid in the -king’s palace, though she hadn’t the faintest idea, when she did so, -that the king’s son was the same person as the handsome stranger who -had once stayed in her father’s house. - -And though she had been there a month she had never seen him. How -should she? King’s palaces are big places, and the kitchen-maids -stay in the kitchen premises, so that she and the prince might never -have come face to face at all if it had not happened that, owing to -the illness of the royal roll-maker, she had undertaken to make the -breakfast rolls that morning. - -When the king and queen saw how sweet and beautiful she was they made -no objection to her as a bride for their son, and so he asked her at -once to marry him, which she consented to do, for she loved him as much -as he loved her. - -“I don’t know that I should have _chosen_ a baker’s daughter for our -son’s wife,” said the queen to her husband when they talked it over -that evening. “But she’s certainly a charming girl, and quite nice -people go into business nowadays.” - -“She’ll make him an excellent wife,” said the king. “Those rolls were -delicious.” - -So they got married quite soon after. The wedding was a rather quiet -one because the bride was in mourning for her father, whom she had -loved dearly. All the same, it was a very nice affair, and everybody -was most jolly and gay. The prince and his wife had a beautiful house -not very far from the palace, and I think it is extremely likely that -they lived happily ever after. - - - - -FOUR - -Why Pigs Have Curly Tails - - -There was once a fairy who fell into a bramble-bush. It was a very -closely grown bush, and she could not get out. She was sadly scratched, -and the thorns caught her tiny delicate wings and tore her pretty frail -dress into shreds. - -The bramble-bush formed part of a hedge which ran along the side of an -orchard, and presently a horse came sauntering up to the hedge. - -“Oh, please help me, sir,” said the fairy. “I’m caught in a -bramble-bush, and can’t get out.” - -The horse came and looked at her. “That’s a nasty place to be in,” he -said. “What will you give me if I get you out?” - -“I’ll give you a golden halter and a silver bit,” said the fairy. - -The horse shook his head. “It’s not worth it,” he said. “I should -scratch my face. My master loves me for my beautiful satin skin, and -I really can’t risk spoiling my appearance. Besides, I have some very -nice harness of my own. He sees to that. Sorry I can’t be of any -assistance.” And he ambled away. - -A little later a robin perched on the bramble-bush. “Oh, please, Mr. -Robin, won’t you come and help me?” said the fairy. “I can’t get out.” - -“What will you give me,” said the robin, “if I help you out?” - -[Illustration] - -“I’ll give you a jacket of gold and slippers of silver,” said the fairy. - -“Thank you very much,” said the robin, “but I don’t think that’s quite -my style. I have a nice red waistcoat already and I should hate to look -gaudy. Besides, I’m tremendously busy. I’ve got a young family to look -after, and my wife doesn’t like me to be away long.” And he flew off. - -There were sheep grazing in the field on the other side of the hedge, -and one of them came munching close to the bramble-bush. - -“Oh, please, Mrs. Sheep,” said the fairy, “can you help me out of here?” - -“What will you give me if I do?” said the sheep. - -“I will teach you to sing as the fairies sing,” said the fairy. “I will -also give you wisdom.” For she was getting more and more anxious, and -she thought such lovely gifts would tempt the sheep. - -But the sheep stared stupidly with her glassy eyes. “That’s all very -well,” she replied, “but I happen to have a very nice voice naturally -and can already sing rather well. As for wisdom, I don’t quite know -what that is, but I don’t think it sounds very interesting. I’d help -you gladly, but the thorns would tear my fine woollen coat, and that -would never do. Surely a fine woollen coat is worth much more than -wisdom.” And she moved away. - -The fairy was beginning to despair; she thought she would never, never -be able to get back to Fairyland. But just as she had given up hope, -a pig came wandering past, making ugly noises and staring about with -his little blue eyes. He spied the fairy sitting in the midst of the -bramble-bush with her head down on her knees. - -“What’s the matter?” said the pig. - -The fairy raised her head and saw the pig’s ugly pink snout poking in -between the bramble-twigs. - -“I think I can get you out,” he said, when she had told him her -trouble. “I’m not much to look at, but I’ve got a good tough hide, -and at any rate I shan’t be afraid of a few scratches spoiling my -beauty.” So with a good many snuffles and grunts he pushed his head and -shoulders well into the middle of the bush and made a clear way for the -fairy to get out. - -She gave a sigh of relief when she found herself once more free and in -the clear sunshine, and the pig stood and looked at her admiringly, for -she was a dear little thing. He was so conscious of his ugliness beside -her pretty grace that he turned away and started off down the orchard. - -“Don’t go--oh, don’t go,” said the fairy. - -The pig turned round. - -“You’ve not had your reward,” said the fairy. - -“I don’t want any reward, thank you,” grunted the pig, and moved on. - -But the fairy persisted. She flew after him. “You must have a reward,” -she said. “I shall be most unhappy if you don’t.” - -“But I don’t want anything, thank you,” said the pig. “I have been -very glad to help you.” - -The fairy stood in front of him, anxiously pondering as to what she -could possibly give him that might be of any use. Nobody seemed to want -her fairy gifts. She looked him up and down. - -“Wouldn’t you like something--something to make you more beautiful?” -she said. - -She really meant less ugly, but she was so grateful to the pig that she -was very anxious not to hurt his feelings, and so she put it that way. - -“I’m afraid it’s rather hopeless,” said the pig, with half a smile. -“You see, I’m such an ugly fellow. You’d have to alter me all over.” - -“But surely--a little something ...” said the fairy, and she looked at -him more thoughtfully than ever. - -Now all this happened a very long time ago, when pigs had quite -straight tails like most of the other animals, and suddenly, looking -at his tail, the fairy had an idea. “I know, I know,” she said. “You -shall have a curly tail. It will be an immense improvement, and _so_ -uncommon.” - -The pig looked rather pleased. “Well, have your own way,” he said. “I -can’t see my own tail, in any case, but I dare say it wouldn’t look -bad.” - -So the fairy touched the pig’s tail with her wand, and it instantly -curled up into nice little rings. - -Ever since that day pigs have had curly tails, and now you know how -they came by this beautiful adornment. - - - - -FIVE - -The Second Adventure of the Rainbow Cat - - -The Rainbow Cat went on and on until at last he came to the country of -the Tree-goblins. The Tree-goblins are happy people; they live in the -trees like birds, though they can’t fly. They are indeed very friendly -with the birds, and they understand the bird language, so that they are -able to send one another messages without any need of the post--which -is very convenient! - -When winter comes the goblins go and live in their caves underground. -It is a great change after the trees, and they are always delighted -when spring returns again. - -There are no animals in Tree-goblin-land, but the Rainbow Cat was an -old friend here too, and was received as kindly as in Cloud-land. - -The Tree-goblins are rather funny little creatures; they like to keep -themselves _to_ themselves, as the saying goes, and there are not even -any fairies living in their country. But they are on very friendly -terms with the fairy folk, and their principal occupation is making -fairy clothes. - -These are the tiniest, finest little garments imaginable, and they -are made of all sorts of pretty things. Spider thread, of course, -and moonbeams, and softest silk from silk-worms, and flower-petals -dipped in magic wells so that they cannot fade, and thistledown, and -moss-velvet, and foam, and lichen--oh, there is no end to the things -that are used to make clothes for the fairies. - -[Illustration] - -And when they are finished the birds carry them to the fairies and -bring back orders. Sometimes, when it’s a very special occasion, the -fairies come to be fitted or to choose the stuffs and the styles, but -not often. - -They are easy to fit and easy to suit, and the birds do the ordering -most satisfactorily. - -The Rainbow Cat liked being in Tree-goblin-land very much indeed. - -He lived in a beautiful copper-beech. When the morning sun shone -through the leaves his little house was filled with a lovely rosy -light which was most pleasing and becoming. Every morning a chorus of -little birds sang songs to him for his delight, and every evening they -lulled him to sleep with soft lullabies. - -They thought him a very grand and beautiful person, and so indeed he -was. - -When he had been in Tree-goblin-land for two or three days the Chief of -the Goblins came to see him one morning early. He was in great trouble. - -The Queen of the Fairies had sent an order for rose-coloured shoes, -dozens and dozens of pairs. She wanted all the Court to wear -rose-coloured shoes at her next party, and her next party was to take -place in three days. - -“We could get the work done,” said the Chief Goblin anxiously, “it -isn’t that. But we haven’t got the material. You see, the roses aren’t -out yet. There’s been a great run on pink lately and we’ve used up -all the pink flowers and all our other stuffs of that colour. We’ve -scarcely got an inch of rose-colour of any kind, and we ought to start -at once. It’ll take us all our time to get them made. It would be -dreadful to disappoint the Queen. What are we to do?” - -The Rainbow Cat was more than willing to help, but he felt that it was -a difficult matter. - -“How soon must you have the stuff?” he asked. - -“This afternoon would be the very latest,” said the goblin. - -“I’ll see what I can do,” said the Rainbow Cat. “I have an idea or two. -Don’t worry, it’ll be all right. Meet me here at noon, and I’ll let you -know what I’ve done.” - -The Chief Goblin went away feeling considerably relieved. The Rainbow -Cat seemed so wise, just the kind of person to think of something -helpful in an emergency. - -And sure enough at twelve o’clock he came to meet the Chief of the -Goblins with a cheerful twinkle in his dark blue eye. - -“I’ve been making a few inquiries,” he said. “But I want to make sure -that my information is correct. Sit down, and let us have a little -quiet talk.” - -The Chief of the Goblins sat down and waited eagerly. He felt more and -more hopeful. - -“Is it true,” said the Rainbow Cat, “is it true that the crooked -hawthorn tree in the Weeshy Glen is very bad-tempered?” - -“Quite true,” said the Chief Goblin. “Nobody dares go near him, -he’s such a cross, cantankerous creature. Lots of the hawthorns are -very nice indeed, and we’re very fond of them. But he’s unbearable. -He’ll give any one a nasty scratch if he gets half a chance, he’s so -spiteful.” - -“Is it true,” continued the Rainbow Cat, “that he’s jealous of the -other trees because he can’t grow tall and big like them, and reach up -to the sky?” - -“Quite true,” said the Chief Goblin. “He makes every one round him -miserable with his grumbling and scolding.” - -“H’m,” said the Rainbow Cat, and he folded his arms and sat lost in -thought for a few minutes. - -“Would the petals of the hawthorn tree do to make fairy shoes of?” he -said at last. - -“Beautifully,” said the Chief Goblin. “But they’re white.” (For at that -time all hawthorn blossom was white, both in Fairyland and everywhere -else.) - -“Quite true,” said the Rainbow Cat. “Can you lend me a mandolin?” - -“Yes, I think I can,” said the goblin, and he ran off and came back -very soon with a beautiful mandolin all inlaid with silver and ivory -and mother-of-pearl. - -“Thank you,” said the Rainbow Cat. “I think that in half an hour or so -I shall be able to let you have all the rose-coloured petals you want.” -And he hung the mandolin round his neck and set off into the forest. - -Presently he came to the Weeshy Glen, sat down a little way off from -the hawthorn tree where its thorns could not possibly touch him, tuned -up his mandolin, and began to sing this little song: - - “The oak tree raises his arms on high, - The pine tree reaches up to the sky, - The slender birch is a lady fair, - The poplar has a most elegant air. - But tell, oh tell me now, who is this - Small and stunted and all amiss? - Who can he be? oh, who can he be? - This squat little, odd little, strange little tree?” - -It wasn’t very kind of the Rainbow Cat, but the hawthorn tree was a -very disagreeable fellow, you must remember, and nobody could ever do -anything to punish him because every one was so afraid of his sharp -thorns. - -Anyway, by the time the Rainbow Cat had got to the end of the first -verse, the hawthorn tree was very angry. He could hardly contain -himself, and he trembled all over with the temper he was in. - -The cat hardly looked at him, but went cheerfully on with his song. - -This was the second verse: - - “The elm tree stands like a stately king, - The leaves of the alder dance and sing, - My lady beech is a courtly dame, - The chestnut’s lamps are a shining flame. - But tell me, tell me, who can he be - That scarcely reaches up to their knee? - Hoary of head and crooked of limb, - What on earth is the matter with him?” - -The hawthorn tree had grown more and more furious as the song went on. -The Rainbow Cat finished up with a beautiful trill when he got to “the -matter with him,” but the hawthorn tree was in no mood to admire his -fine singing. So great was his rage that he grew pinker and pinker and -pinker, and he shook so violently that all his petals were shaken down. -They fell all round him like a shower of rosy rain. - -The Rainbow Cat waited no longer. He ran off as hard as he could to the -Chief of the Goblins, still singing as he went, and told him that he -would find all the stuff he wanted in the Weeshy Glen. - -So the Queen got the rose-coloured shoes after all, and the -Tree-goblins were most grateful to the Rainbow Cat, and begged him to -stay with them as long as he liked. - -But he thanked them and said he must continue his travels. - -They wanted to load him with presents, but all he would take was a -little bottle of water from the magic well. This water has fairy -powers. If you rub it on your eyes you can see through stone walls, -which is sometimes very convenient, and the Rainbow Cat was quite -pleased to have some. - -They also insisted that he should keep the mandolin. This he finally -consented to do. And ever since that time there have always been pink -hawthorn trees as well as white. - - - - -SIX - -Mellidora - - -There was once a young prince who wished to take a wife. So he went to -consult his aunt, who was by way of being a Wise Woman. - -“Next week,” he said, “the King of the -Land-on-the-other-side-of-the-Mountains is holding a great festival -in honour of the coming of age of his son, and he has invited me to -stay at the Court. There will be many beautiful ladies there, and I am -hoping that I may be able to find a wife among them. But how shall I -know which to choose?” - -“You shall have my advice and welcome,” said his aunt. “Choose a maiden -who laughs when others cry, and cries when others laugh, and you will -not go far wrong.” - -The prince thanked his aunt for her counsel and went back home. He -thought the advice she had given him rather strange, but he had great -confidence in her wisdom. “And in any case,” he said, “I can but go to -the festival and see what comes of it.” - -There were indeed many lovely ladies at the Court of the King of the -Land-on-the-other-side-of-the-Mountains. The prince was quite dazzled -by their beauty and their wit. Each of them seemed more charming than -the last. - -On the second day of the fête a picnic had been arranged which was to -take place in a woodland glade some little way from the palace. - -The road thither was rough and very muddy, for there had been much rain -the week before. - -The princes and knights rode on horseback; the ladies were conveyed in -carriages gaily decked with flowers and drawn by beautiful prancing -horses. - -But it so happened that the horses of one of the carriages became -unmanageable. It turned over, and the six ladies who rode in it were -all tumbled into the ditch at the side of the road. - -It was a rather deep ditch, and there was water at the bottom of it, so -that it was quite a business getting them all out, though fortunately -none of them was seriously hurt. The prince, who happened to be riding -beside the carriage, helped to rescue them, and escorted them one by -one, weeping, to a seat on the bank, where they presented a sorry -spectacle with their pretty frocks all muddy and bedraggled and their -pretty hats all on one side. - -But when the prince came to the sixth lady he found her, to his great -astonishment, sitting at the bottom of the ditch, laughing. - -Her hat had come off, her hair had come down, she was bedaubed with mud -from head to foot, and her poor little hands were covered with nettle -stings. - -But she laughed all the same. - -“We must have looked so funny all tumbling into the ditch,” she said. -“I wish I could have seen it. We’re still rather a funny sight, aren’t -we?”--and she looked down at herself and up at the weeping ladies on -the bank, and laughed again. - -[Illustration] - -There was so much mud on her face that the prince could not see what -she really looked like, but he remembered the words of his aunt. - -“What is the name of the sixth lady?” he asked, when they had all been -bundled off home. “The one who laughed?” - -“Her name is Mellidora,” he was told. - -So in the evening he sought out Mellidora and found that she was a most -beautiful and charming person, so much so that he lost his heart to her -forthwith. - -“But I must do nothing in a hurry,” he said to himself. “After all, -there is the other half of my aunt’s counsel to be considered. In any -case, it would perhaps seem a little strange if I asked her to marry me -quite so soon. We will see what happens to-morrow.” - -On the next day all the ladies and gentlemen who were staying in the -castle were to go out riding in the early morning. - -The prince had slept late, and he stood for a moment at his window -looking down on the courtyard, where there was a great bustling and -prancing and making ready. - -Through the midst of all this an old peasant woman was making her way. - -She had a basket of eggs on her arm, and carefully laid on the top of -it was a round flat cake, brown and spicy-looking, with a sugar heart -in the middle of it, surrounded by pink and white sugar roses. - -She had made it for a birthday gift for the King’s son. But she was a -little confused by all the bustle in the courtyard, and scurried hither -and thither among the horses and people like a frightened hen. - -Presently one of the King’s servants pushed her out of the way. Her -foot caught on the edge of a stone; she tripped and fell. - -The eggs rolled out of the basket. Plop! Plop! they went on the stones. - -There was a fine mess, and the beautiful cake lay in the midst of it, -in fragments. - -The old woman was so vexed and upset that she forgot everything but the -misfortune that had befallen her, and she stood in the middle of the -courtyard surrounded by her broken eggs, scolding away at the top of -her voice and shaking her old umbrella at the whole gay crowd. - -Everybody laughed; and indeed she was a rather comical sight as she -stood there shouting and storming. Somebody threw her a gold piece, -which was kindly meant. But a gold piece wouldn’t make her beautiful -cake whole again. - -Presently the whole party rode away through the courtyard gates--all -excepting one, and that one no other than Mellidora. - -She slipped down from her horse and went swiftly across to where the -old woman sat upon the stone steps leading up to the big castle doors. -All her anger was gone, but she looked the picture of misery. - -The prince could see how Mellidora stooped to pick up the broken cake -and tried to put it together again, and how kindly she put her arm -round the old woman’s shoulder, coaxing her with friendly words. - -And when presently he came down into the courtyard to see what more -might be done, the sun shone upon Mellidora’s gentle face, and he saw -that her eyes were full of tears. - -Then the prince knew that he had indeed found the one whom he sought, -for here was a maiden who not only laughed when others cried, but who -also cried when others laughed. - -The old woman was taken to the King’s son, where she was so kindly -received that she forgot all her troubles. - -But the prince waited no longer. - -That very same day he asked Mellidora to marry him, and as she loved -him as much as he did her they got married very soon and lived happily -ever after. - - - - -SEVEN - -The Clock - - -There was once a little clock which had gone steadily for years and -years. - -It was a good, conscientious little thing, pretty too, but very modest, -and it had always kept splendid time. - -Then it stopped suddenly one day exactly at eleven. Its works were worn -out, and the clock-maker to whom it was sent for repairs returned it -with the message that it was not possible to make it go again. - -The people to whom it belonged decided to leave it on the mantelshelf -where it had always stood. “It’s such a nice little thing,” they said, -“and some day we can have new works put into it.” So there it stood -without making a movement or uttering the faintest tick. But it was -very unhappy. It felt that it was of no real use in the world. - -The other things in the room weren’t very nice about it. They used to -whisper to one another, and the little clock caught an unkind word now -and then that made it unhappier than ever. - -“I don’t know why they keep it there. What on earth’s the good of it -if it doesn’t go?” said the big grandfather clock. “It never was much -use anyway. No chime, and a very poor tick. Of course it’s got no -constitution to speak of.” And his brazen face grew even shinier than -it had been before, and he gave a self-satisfied little cough and then -sang out his quarters as loudly as ever he could. - -The cuckoo clock, which lived in the hall, and used to join in the talk -when the door was open, actually went so far as to make up a little -rhyme about it. - -“Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo,” it sang. “What’s the use of you? What’s the -use of you? Cuckoo, cuckoo.” - -The chairs, which were Chippendale, and tremendously proud of the fact, -were quite as rude. - -“There’s no doubt about it,” they said, “quality is what tells. You -can’t expect a thing to last unless it is really well made, inside and -out. Perfect workmanship will wear practically for ever.” And they held -up their backs as straight as could be and curved their shapely arms -and legs into the most elegant lines imaginable. - -The little Chelsea flower-seller and flute-player, who stood on each -side of the clock on the mantelshelf, were much kinder, and did their -best to console it. - -They had always been on friendly terms with it, and they used to peep -round it and smile and wave to one another. - -[Illustration] - -“The Fairy Queen is probably coming to see us soon,” said the -flower-seller. “Perhaps she may be able to help you.” - -The little clock felt happier; it would be wonderful to be introduced -to the Fairy Queen, who had often been to see the Chelsea figures but -had so far never taken notice of any of the other things. - -You see, those two were old friends of hers. They came from Fairyland -originally, but the tale went that a wicked witch had cast a spell -over them which was to last for seven hundred and seventy-seven years. -At the end of that time they would be able to go back to Fairyland, -but meanwhile the Queen used to come and visit them now and then in -order to cheer them up. Sure enough, the very next time she came, -the flower-seller remembered about the little clock and told her how -unhappy it was. - -The Queen came and stood in front of it and stroked its face with her -tiny hand and patted its pretty ormolu pillars. - -Finally she sat down on the little green marble slab on which it stood, -and asked it to tell her all its troubles. - -And the little clock opened its heart to her and told her how miserable -it was to think that it would never, never be able to tell the time -again. - -“But you _will_,” said the Queen. “Every day and every night at eleven -o’clock you will be exactly right. None of the other clocks”--she -glanced round almost contemptuously at the grandfather--“can be quite -sure of ever being perfectly right. But you will be. Why, it must be -about eleven now.” She pulled a dandelion-clock from her pocket and -began to blow and to count. “One, two, three, four....” The white -darts floated away and went drifting about the room. At last only one -remained. - -[Illustration: SHE PULLED A TINY DANDELION-CLOCK FROM HER POCKET AND -BEGAN TO BLOW AND TO COUNT] - -At that moment the cuckoo clock was heard striking in the hall. The -Queen stopped blowing to listen. - -“He’s fast,” she said, and waited till he had finished. “Five, six, -seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven,” she went on, and, as she ended, the -last white morsel of down rose in the air. She glanced at the little -clock. “You see, you’re quite right,” she said triumphantly. “And -to-morrow morning you’ll be right again at eleven o’clock.” - -The little clock beamed, and it beamed still more when the Fairy Queen -opened its glass door and gently clasped its hands in hers and said how -much she looked forward to seeing it again. - -Just then the grandfather cleared his throat and went through his -pompous performance of chiming out the quarters and hour. - -“You’re five minutes slow,” said the Queen, and she waved her hand and -vanished through the ventilator. - - - - -EIGHT - -The Moon - - -The moon, of course, is a big golden penny hung up in the sky. Every -month when it is at the full the fairies stand in the fields and gaze -at it and feel in their empty pockets. There are so many things they -want to buy. Rainbow ribbon from the weather clerk for sashes, silken -thread from the spider for weaving into shawls, pearl varnish from the -snail for doing up their wings, and little red feathers from the robin -for wearing in their Sunday bonnets. - -At last they can bear it no longer. They all go flying into the sky and -unhook the moon and carry it off to go marketing with. And when they’re -tired of spending they hang what is left of it up again in the sky and -go home to bed. But the next night they fetch it again and spend a -little more. - -They go on doing this night after night for nearly a fortnight, and the -moon gets smaller and smaller, till at last there’s nothing left of -it at all. And when the fairies realise what they have done, they get -frightened. - -“We’ve spent all the moon,” they say. “Suppose it never grew again! -Wouldn’t it be dreadful?” And they all hide away in the forest and -don’t come out for several nights. - -But at last one of them takes courage and puts his head out, and he -sees a little tiny bit of moon shining in the sky. Whereupon he gives a -shout and claps his hands and goes running round to the houses of all -the other fairies to tell them the good news. - -[Illustration] - -“The moon’s growing again,” he says. “Come quick and look.” And they -all come out to look at it, and caper about and are as pleased as -pleased can be. - -“We’ll never take it again,” they say. “It might not grow next time.” -But at the end of a fortnight they have worn all their pretties a -little shabby, and they want some more. And by that time the moon has -grown so big that they feel that they _must_ spend a little of it. -And--would you believe it?--they end up by doing all over again just -exactly what they did before. - -They’ve been going on like this for ages, and what’s more, they’re -beginning to take it for granted that the moon will grow again, and so -I don’t suppose they’ll ever get cured. But it’s very tiresome of them. - -We could quite well do with all the moon always. Besides, some day it -really might not grow again. And what then...? - - - - -NINE - -The Third Adventure of the Rainbow Cat - - -When the Rainbow Cat left the land of the Tree-goblins he travelled for -some time until he came to a delightful country called the Bountiful -Land. - -It was a marvellous country. - -There were deep forests there, and great meadows full of the loveliest -flowers, such as only grow in gardens in other countries; the sky was -nearly always blue, and the people who lived in that land were happy -and contented. That is to say, they would have been but for one thing. - -In the very middle of the country there was a great castle built high -upon a rock, and in this castle--so the inhabitants of the place told -the Rainbow Cat--there lived a cruel and wicked giantess who tyrannised -over the people and constantly took away their goods, sometimes even -their children. - -The Rainbow Cat did not meet with any one who had actually seen the -giantess face to face, but terrible tales were told of her doings and -of her horrible appearance. She was three times the height of an -ordinary man, it was said. Her hair was like knotted ropes, her eyes -flamed fire; when she blew her nose, the sound was like thunder; when -she sneezed, forests swayed as beneath a hurricane; when she stamped -her foot, whole villages collapsed. - -Besides being a giantess she was reported to be able to work magic, and -that frightened the people more than anything else. - -On dark nights she would come down from her castle, they told him, in -a chariot drawn by six dragons, and when the people heard the noise -of it they fled into their houses and locked the doors and barred the -windows. From within they could hear their barns and granaries being -ransacked, and the opening of the doors of sheds and stables, whence -their best cattle and horses were carried off. - -But sometimes a great voice would be heard shouting in the dark, “Throw -out your treasures or I will take your children.” Then the terrified -people opened their windows and threw out their treasures in fear and -trembling. - -And notices would mysteriously appear in the villages, threatening -that unless certain things were delivered up at the castle gates, the -giantess would come down and take a terrible revenge. - -The things were conveyed up the rocky path by terrified villagers, who -left them in front of the gates as commanded. They always came back -with most alarming stories of what they had observed. - -One man had seen the giantess’s shoes being cleaned by a servant in the -courtyard. They were as big, he said, as a hay waggon. - -[Illustration] - -Another was so frightened by the sight of her washing hanging out on -the line that he ran all the way home and did not get over it for weeks. - -But the worst thing of all was that children who had wandered a little -way from home disappeared and never came back. - -Others who escaped would tell how an enormous cloaked figure had -suddenly sprung out from behind a tree, seized one of their comrades, -and made off into the woods. - -The thing had grown so bad that people dare not let their children out -of their sight for a moment, and they were growing so afraid of the -visits of the giantess that all happiness was rapidly vanishing out of -the land. - -The fame of the Rainbow Cat’s wisdom had already reached this country, -and the people were delighted to see him and implored him to come to -their assistance. The Rainbow Cat felt that this was a very serious -matter indeed, but he was exceedingly sorry for the people and promised -to do all he could to help them. - -So on the evening of the second day after his arrival, he took his -little bag, which contained, among other things, the lightning which -the Thunder Giant had given him and the bottle of fairy water from -Tree-goblin-land, and quietly set off for the castle of the giantess. - -He said nothing of his purpose to the kind folk with whom he was -staying--he knew it would only make them fearfully anxious. - -He just said he was going out for a little walk in order to think the -matter over. - -He climbed lightly and softly up the rocky path until he came right -under the castle walls. - -There were two immense stone towers, one at each end of the castle, -and from the high chimney of one of them great clouds of evil-looking -smoke were pouring forth--green and purple and black. - -“Aha,” said the Rainbow Cat to himself, “that’s where she’s busy at her -horrible tricks, is it?” - -So he sat down outside the tower, opened his bag, and dabbed his eyes -with water from his little bottle, so that he was able to see right -through the wall into the inside of the tower. - -To his great astonishment, he saw no giantess, but a very nasty-looking -old wizard with a long grey beard and an enormously tall hat, who sat -in a large room in front of a great open fire. - -All manner of strange and terrible-looking things hung upon the walls -of the room or were stowed away in cupboards, and the floor and tables -were piled with books of magic. - -A great bunch of keys hung from the girdle of the wizard, who was -busily stirring something which was bubbling over the fire in a big -black pot, from which came the smoke that the Rainbow Cat had noticed -pouring from the chimney. - -The firelight shone on the labels of the keys, so that the Rainbow Cat -was able to read what was written on them. - -“Gold Chest--Silver Chest--Jewel Chest--Giantess’s Room--Prisoners’ -Room--Giantess’s Garden”: these were some of the names he read on the -labels, and he began to understand things a little better. But he -thought he would make a few more investigations. So he picked up his -little bag and walked softly off to the other end of the castle, sat -down on the ground at the foot of the tower there, and again bathed his -eyes with fairy water. - -This time he found himself looking into a big room full of children. - -They were all very busy. - -Some of them were sorting strange-looking herbs, some of them were -grinding queer substances with heavy stones, some of them were -anxiously measuring out liquids drop by drop from one bottle into -another. - -They all looked pale and tired; they did not laugh and talk over their -work as one would expect children to do. - -And then the door of the room opened and in walked--who but the -giantess herself! - -But imagine the surprise of the Rainbow Cat upon discovering that, -although she was indeed immensely tall, she was otherwise by no means a -terrible-looking person, but had, on the contrary, a sweet and charming -face and beautiful golden hair. - -The children all came running up to her as soon as she appeared, and -seemed delighted to see her. She bent down and lifted some of them up -into her arms, and was so gentle and sweet with them all that it was a -joy to see her. - -The Rainbow Cat lost no further time; he took his mandolin, and sitting -there at the foot of the tower, he began playing a little tune. - -He daren’t play very loud for fear the wizard should hear him in the -other tower, but fortunately the wind was in the right direction, and -in any case he felt pretty certain that the wizard was too much taken -up with his enchantments to pay attention to anything else. - -But the giantess heard, for of course giantesses have very much larger -ears than ordinary people and hear much better, and she put her head -out of the window and saw the Rainbow Cat sitting there in the dusk and -asked him who he was and what he was doing. - -“I am a friend,” said the Rainbow Cat. “Help me to come up.” - -So the giantess let down her ribbon waist-belt with the bag she kept -her handkerchief in tied to the bottom of it, and this was so large -that the Rainbow Cat was easily able to get into it together with his -precious bag and mandolin. - -The giantess hauled him up to the window-sill and asked him to come -in and sit down and tell her what he was doing there and all about -himself, for she saw that he was no ordinary creature. And when he -had explained to her why he was there and what he had learnt in the -Bountiful Country, she told him her own tale. - -How the wicked magician had stolen her away from home when she was -quite young and had brought her to this castle, and how he kept her -shut up, while with his magic spells he did all sorts of evil things. - -“I know the people think it is all my doing,” said the poor giantess. -“He can turn an old wash-tub and six beans into a chariot drawn by -flaming dragons, and when he flies out he wears a great cloak over his -tall hat, so that every one takes him for me. - -“He makes these poor children help him in his wicked work, and keeps -them prisoners just as he does me. - -“He does not even give us enough to eat. If we are not soon rescued we -shall all die. He grows worse every day.” - -Big tears fell from the giantess’s eyes. - -Each one made a little pool where it fell. - -“Don’t cry,” said the Rainbow Cat, “all will yet be well. My magic is -stronger than his. When once I get at him I’ll soon finish him off. -Will you take me to him?” - -But the giantess was afraid; she said she dare not disturb him. -“Besides,” she said, “he would never let you in, he is so suspicious.” - -“It’s got to be done somehow,” said the Rainbow Cat, “if you’re to be -set free.” - -He sat softly strumming on his mandolin and thinking, and suddenly the -giantess had an idea. - -“He loves music,” she said. “He says it helps his brain to work. If you -could pretend to be a wandering musician----” - -The Rainbow Cat leapt with joy. - -“The very thing, my dear,” he said. “Have you by any chance got a -peacock’s feather to lend me?” - -This the giantess was able to provide. - -“Thank you very much,” said the Rainbow Cat. “You will see; in an -hour’s time you will all be free. Good-bye for the present.” - -He was so excited that he jumped clean out of the window--mandolin, bag -and all. - -But he was quite all right. - -You know, even ordinary cats are supposed always to fall on their feet, -and of course a fairy cat----! - -When he reached the ground he wrapped himself in his cloak, pulled his -hat well over his eyes and stuck the peacock’s feather in the front of -it. - -“Now I look just like a wandering musician,” he said, and he went -boldly up to the door of the wizard’s tower and pulled the bell. - -The magician himself came to the door, but he opened it only the -tiniest little bit. - -“Who are you, and what do you want?” he said in a very gruff voice. - -“I am a poor wandering musician,” said the cat. “May I come in and give -you a tune?” - -The wizard looked at him suspiciously. “What have you got in that -bag?” he asked, giving it a kick with his foot, so that the bundle of -lightning made a rattling noise. - -“I’ve got all the major and minor keys in there,” said the Rainbow -Cat. “A bunch of them. That’s what makes such a rattle. But I can’t do -without them.” - -“Sing me a song,” said the wizard, “and then I’ll see whether I’ll let -you in or not.” - -So the Rainbow Cat sat down on the doorstep and sang this little song, -and the wizard stood just inside the door and listened. - - THE SONG OF THE GOOSE - - “There once was a goose who lived on a green, - Gold was his beak and his feathers were clean, - A handsomer creature there never was seen, - Heydiddle ho, never was seen; - He lived on a green and he waddled about, - For he said, ‘To be sure I don’t want to get stout, - And, anyway, exercise keeps off the gout; - Heydiddle ho, keeps off the gout.’” - -“I don’t think much of that song,” said the wizard. - -“The next verse is very good,” said the Rainbow Cat. “But I’m not -going to sing it out here in the cold night air. I shall ruin my voice.” - -“Well, come in,” said the wizard, for he wanted to hear the end of the -song, and he let the Rainbow Cat in. - -But no sooner were they inside the wizard’s room than the Rainbow Cat -opened his bag and pulled out the bundle of lightning and let it loose -all over the place. You never heard such a commotion! - -Meanwhile he threw off his cloak, leapt upon the table, and stood -there with his hair all standing on end and his eyes darting green and -blue fire, while the lightning flashed all round him and round the -terrified wizard, who threw himself down on his knees, crying “Mercy, -Mercy!”--for he had never seen anything like it before and he was -anyway but a cowardly creature at heart. - -Presently the wizard’s attendants came running to see what was the -matter. - -They dare not come into the room, but stood trembling in the doorway. - -“Tie him up,” commanded the Rainbow Cat in a great loud voice. - -The attendants were not at all fond of their master, but in any case -they were so frightened of the strange and terrible creature on the -table that they did not dare to disobey. - -So the wizard was tied to the table, and the Rainbow Cat took all -his wicked books and his pots and pans and the rest of his nasty -paraphernalia and threw them out of the window on to the ground below, -where they were burnt later on in a great bonfire. - -By this time the news had spread all over the castle, and presently the -giantess came in, with the children trooping behind her. - -The wizard had grown black in the face with rage; he knew that even if -he were set free he would be utterly powerless. - -For he had lost all his magic books, and he was truly rather a stupid -wizard and could do absolutely nothing without them. - -As a matter of fact the gentle giantess didn’t want him to be punished, -and in the end he was conducted to the borders of the country and -threatened with instant death if ever he returned. But that, of course, -was later. - -You can imagine what excitement there was in the land when the Rainbow -Cat appeared the next day walking down the road from the castle with -the giantess by his side and all the children running in front, and the -wicked magician led behind in chains. - -The Rainbow Cat, having finished his task, soon bade his friends -good-bye and set out once more on his travels. - -The giantess made him a present of the gold ring which she wore on her -little finger. He would take nothing else. He wore it as a collar round -his neck, where it was always greatly admired. - -She herself soon became a great favourite among the people of the -Bountiful Land. They loved her dearly and were very proud of her. But -she always had to be very careful not to sneeze or stamp. - -People even came from other countries to see her, so that in the end it -grew quite embarrassing. - -But, in time, a giant who had heard much of her beauty and gentleness -travelled all the way from Giant-land to visit her, and he married her -and took her away to his own home. - -Her trousseau took some making, I can tell you! - -All the women in the district sewed at it for six months--and even then -she was able to have only six of everything. - - - - -TEN - -Almond Blossom - - -Long ago the leaves and blossoms of the almond-tree came out together -like those on other trees. But now the blossoms come out first. Shall I -tell you why? - -One day in early spring the Fairy Queen was riding about the country. - -“Oh, dear,” she said, “I’m so tired of this wintry weather. I wish the -flowers were out. And next week is my birthday”--the Fairy Queen, you -must know, has birthdays much oftener than ordinary people--“my first -spring birthday this year, and there are still only a few primroses and -violets. How I should love to see some pink flowers! I’m so fond of -pink.” - -The little buds of the almond-tree heard her. - -“Can’t we manage it?” they said to their mother, the tree. “Can’t we be -out in time for the Queen’s birthday next week?” - -“You can try,” said their mother. “But what about your brothers, the -leaves? You know how lazy they are. And you can’t come out without -them. You _would_ look funny.” - -The little pink buds did all they could. They caught every bit of -sunshine, they sucked up every drop of moisture, they grew and grew. -But their lazy brothers would not bestir themselves. They kept tight -folded in their winter jackets. - -[Illustration] - -“It’s too cold,” they said. “Br-r-r. Why should we hurry?” And so, -when the Queen’s birthday came, of course they were not ready, though -the pink blossoms were all waiting to burst into bloom. Presently the -Queen came riding through the forest on her white rabbit. The sun was -shining and the sky was blue. She halted under the almond-tree and -sighed a little. - -“I’ve had some lovely presents,” she said. “A necklace of dewdrops from -the early morning, a blue velvet cloak from the night, and a basketful -of perfumed kisses from the south wind, who came such a long, long way -to bring them. I should be perfectly happy if only I had some pink -flowers.” - -The buds of the almond blossom heard her and quivered with excitement. -They could wait no longer. With one accord they all burst forth into -full bloom. The scent of them was like the smell of honey. - -The Queen looked up. - -“Oh, you darlings,” she said. “You darlings. I’ll have my birthday -party under your tree. It will be the prettiest spring party I have -ever had.” - -And ever since that day the pink blossoms have always come out in time -for the Queen’s first spring birthday without waiting for their lazy -little brothers. And every year the fairies hold their earliest revels -under the blossoming boughs of the almond-tree. - - - - -ELEVEN - -The Rondel - - -There was once a princess who dwelt in a castle in the midst of a great -park. She lived hidden away from the world in her quiet home and was -scarcely ever seen by strangers. - -Rumours of her charm and loveliness, and of her wonderful golden hair, -spread far and wide over the land, and she was always known and spoken -of as Princess Golden-bright. But her real name was Gentle. - -All round the castle were lovely pleasure-gardens in which were -gay flower-beds and slender, dancing fountains. But the princess’s -favourite spot was a circle of ash-trees which stood in the park some -small distance away from the castle on a little grassy hill with a path -leading up to it. - -It was called the Rondel. - -In the middle of the circle of trees stood a table with a seat running -round it; the ground was carpeted with soft moss, and the tree-trunks -stood up straight and tall like marble pillars. - -The princess loved nothing better than to sit in the Rondel in the warm -weather with her books and embroidery. - -It was like being in a little house with a high green roof to it. - -Moreover it was a fairy place, and the ash-trees would often tell her -the most delightful stories of what was going on outside the walls of -the park, for they were so tall that they could see a long way. - -They learnt many things, too, from the birds, who loved to perch -among their branches and to chatter away to one another about their -adventures in the big world. - -The princess very rarely went beyond the walls of the park, for she -was quite happy among the birds and flowers. But because the beauty of -Princess Golden-bright was famed throughout the land, many princes sent -to ask for her hand in marriage. - -Some of them even came in person, but the princess would have nothing -to do with any of them. - -“I am quite happy,” she said; “I do not want a husband.” However, when -she was twenty years old, her fairy god-mother came to pay her a visit, -and talked to her most earnestly upon this very subject of getting -married, telling her that it was exceedingly foolish of her to refuse -to see any of these suitors. “My dear Gentle,” she said, “whoever -heard of a princess who was an old maid? I don’t say you need choose -in a hurry, but I certainly think you ought at least to see these -gentlemen. You may very possibly find one among them whom you like, and -the ash-trees will help you to choose if you should be in doubt.” - -[Illustration] - -So the princess promised to do as her god-mother wished, and after her -departure she made it known by proclamation that Princess Golden-bright -was willing to receive any suitable person who might wish to pay her -his addresses. - -The day after this was done she went as usual to sit in the Rondel, -and while she busied herself with her embroidery she talked over this -matter of the suitors with her beloved ash-trees. - -“How shall I know whom to choose?” said the princess. “I have no -experience at all. If I must have a husband I should like to be sure -that he is the right one.” - -“Do not be afraid, dear princess,” replied the ash-trees. “You know -that whosoever stands beneath our boughs is bound to speak the truth. -You need ask but one question of each of the suitors. According to his -answer you will be able to judge of his suitability as a husband.” - -“What shall I ask him?” said the princess. - -“Ask him,” replied the ash-trees, “what he most desires in a wife. That -will be quite sufficient.” - -So the princess sat and waited. - -Presently she heard a whispering among the leaves over her head. - -“There’s one coming,” they said. “We can see him riding along the high -road.” - -“Oh, what is he like?” said the princess. - -“He is a very fine-looking gentleman indeed,” said the ash-trees. “He -rides on a great black prancing horse, and a company of twenty knights -rides behind him. He wears shining armour. The harness of his horse is -studded with jewels and the hilt of his sword blazes in the sunshine.” - -“It sounds very exciting,” said the princess, and she put down her -stitching and smoothed her golden hair and spread out the folds of her -flower-embroidered gown, for naturally she wanted to look her best. - -Before long the prince arrived at the castle gates, and a messenger -came out into the park to tell the princess that he had come from a -neighbouring kingdom to seek her hand. - -“I will see him here,” said the princess. - -So the prince came riding through the park with his knights all -jingling behind him, each of them bearing a golden casket containing a -present for the princess. - -When the prince reached the foot of the little hill on which the Rondel -stood and saw the princess under the trees, he dismounted from his -horse and came on foot to where she sat. - -The knights waited at the bottom of the hill. - -The princess received him graciously, and he stood before her in the -shadow of the ash-trees and asked if she would marry him. - -“I have a great kingdom,” said he, “great riches and great power, and -my enemies all fear me.” - -“I am much honoured,” said the princess, “but I should like to ask you -one question. What do you most desire in a wife?” - -“Obedience,” said the prince without an instant’s hesitation, for he -was obliged to speak the truth. - -The princess smiled a little. - -“And what would you do if your wife disobeyed you?” she asked. - -“Whip her,” said the prince. - -“I am much obliged to you,” said the princess, “but I am afraid that -I might not always be obedient, and I should not like to be whipped. -Good-day.” - -So the prince rode away home again with his knights, and the princess -went on with her sewing. - -Before long she again heard a whispering among the trees. - -“Another suitor is riding along the road,” they said. - -“Oh, and what is _he_ like?” said the princess. - -“He rides on a white horse,” said the ash-trees, “and he wears a blue -velvet cap with a white feather in it. He carries a bunch of roses in -his hand, and behind him ride six gentlemen in gaily coloured mantles -with guitars slung over their shoulders. He has auburn hair and blue -eyes. They ride at the trot.” - -“He sounds rather pleasing,” said the princess, and she picked a flower -from the syringa bush which grew at the entrance to the Rondel and -stuck it in her hair. - -[Illustration: “IF YOU WILL MARRY ME,” HE SAID, “I WILL SPEND MY DAYS -MAKING VERSES ABOUT YOU.”] - -The blue-eyed prince was also bidden to come out to the Rondel, and -he too dismounted from his horse at the foot of the little hill and -came gaily walking up the path till he stood beneath the branches of -the ash-trees. - -He bowed low before the princess and laid his bunch of roses on the -table in front of her. - -She smiled graciously, for he was a comely young man, and he thereupon -offered her his hand in exceedingly beautiful language. - -“If you will marry me,” he said, “I will spend my days making verses -about you. They will be sung throughout my kingdom. I will make a whole -book of them. It shall be called ‘Songs of Queen Golden-bright.’” The -princess thought this sounded rather attractive. One does not so often -come across a prince who is also a poet. - -But the ash-trees rustled softly above her head, and she remembered the -question that she was to ask. - -“Will you tell me what you most desire in a wife?” she said. - -“Beauty,” said the prince promptly. - -“But supposing,” said the princess, “that your wife fell downstairs and -broke her nose, so that her beauty was spoilt. What then?” - -“Oh, then of course I shouldn’t be able to make up any more verses -about her,” said the prince. “I should get very irritable. How could I -bear to look at a wife with a crooked nose? She would certainly have to -be most careful not to break her nose.” - -The princess laughed. - -“I think you’d better get married to a waxen lady,” she said. “If you -kept her in a glass case out of the sun she would remain beautiful for -ever, and there would be no fear of her nose getting broken. Thank -you very much for coming. I fear that we are not quite suited to one -another. Good-day.” - -The prince bowed low, picked up his bunch of roses, and rode off again -through the park with his white feather streaming behind him in the -wind. - -“I’m sorry,” said the princess. “He looked so very nice, and I’m sure -he must make lovely songs. But I should always have been afraid of -breaking my nose.” And she laughed again and took up her embroidery. - -Several more suitors came during the day to ask for the hand of the -princess, but not one of them gave a satisfactory answer to the -question. - -One of them thought it above all things desirable in a wife that she -should be able to make a good pudding; another required that she should -talk very little--“which I _certainly_ couldn’t promise,” said the -princess; another considered it most important that she should have -twelve bags full of gold pieces! They all had to tell the truth when -they stood under the branches of the ash-trees, and some of them really -had the most curious ideas. - -At last, just as the sun was going down, there came a prince riding on -a chestnut horse and attended only by one squire. He had come a long -way, from a far-off country, and he had ridden hard, for he had heard -much about the lovely Princess Golden-bright and was afraid that he -might be too late. - -In spite of his dusty and travel-stained appearance the princess was -pleased with the look of him, for he was tall and slender and had dark -curling hair and pleasant grey eyes, and she hoped very much that he -would answer the question satisfactorily. - -When he came to the top of the little hill and saw the princess he -fell on his knee and could find no word to say, she was so much more -beautiful than he could ever have imagined. - -But she smiled kindly at him, and he took courage and told her how for -a long time he had wanted to come to see her, and that now he feared he -had come too late. - -The princess asked him many questions, but she hesitated to ask the -most important of all, for she liked him better every minute and was -afraid he might not give the right answer. - -The ash-trees rustled and rustled as if a wind were blowing through -them, and at last she felt she must wait no longer. - -“Will you tell me,” she said softly, “what it is that you most desire -in a wife?” - -The prince was perplexed; truly he had never thought about the matter. -He looked down at the ground and then he looked up at the trees, and as -he did so they all began to whisper softly. “Gentle, Gentle, Gentle,” -they said. - -“Why, of course,” said the prince, and he looked again at the princess -and smiled. “There is one thing I desire above all else in a wife. _She -must be Gentle._” - -And what better answer could he have given? For Gentle indeed she was. - -The princess stood up and held out her hands to him. Her embroidery -fell to the ground. - -“He’ll do, he’ll do,” rustled the ash-trees. - -But the princess didn’t even hear them. She had already made up her -mind. - - - - -TWELVE - -Jan and the Magic Pencil - - -There was once a little boy called Jan, who lived in a country village. -One day he had the good luck to be able to help a fairy out of a ditch, -where she had got stuck in the mud. - -The fairy was very grateful to Jan, and promised him, as a reward for -his kindness, that he should have what he most wished for in the world. - -Jan was not a very clever boy, and at first he couldn’t think of -anything to wish for. His father was a farmer, and Jan had a good home -and plenty to eat and drink; his only real trouble was that he was -always at the bottom of his class at school. His father scolded and his -mother wept, but Jan always stopped at the bottom. He wasn’t so bad at -reading and writing, but he simply could not do arithmetic. His sums -were always wrong, even the quite easy ones. - -So when he had thought for a few minutes and the fairy was beginning to -grow impatient, he decided that the best thing for him to wish for was -that he might be able to get his sums right. The fairy accordingly gave -him a magic slate pencil which possessed the power of being able to do -any kind of arithmetic without ever making any mistake. You simply held -it in your hand and it would write down the answer on your slate almost -before you had time to read over the figures. - -Jan was delighted with his present, which he put carefully away in his -pencil-box. He could hardly believe that it would do such wonderful -things; but, sure enough, he found he could do all his sums without the -slightest effort, and that every one of them was right. - -Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication--it made nothing of them all. -Even those dreadful Long Division sums were no trouble to the magic -pencil: it danced nimbly down the slate without stopping even for a -second, and the answers were always right. Jan’s schoolmaster was -astonished, so were his parents, and delighted too, when by the end of -the week Jan had risen to the top of the school. - -“What a good teacher I am, after all!” said the schoolmaster to -himself. “I have even been able to teach arithmetic to a boy who was -so hopelessly stupid over it that he couldn’t add up two and two -correctly.” - -He was so proud of this that he actually invited the principal people -in the neighbourhood to come in and see his wonderful scholar. - -And so it happened that the doctor, the lawyer, the priest, the mayor -and one or two other important folk from round about arrived at the -schoolhouse one fine day, all agog to see the schoolmaster’s wonderful -pupil. - -[Illustration] - -“Come here, Jan,” said the schoolmaster, “and show these gentlemen what -you can do.” And he wrote out a long sum on the blackboard--an addition -sum in twenty rows, all bristling with eights and nines. Poor Jan came -forward in fear and trembling. - -“I’d rather do it on my slate,” he said. - -But his schoolmaster wouldn’t hear of that. - -So Jan had to stand up in front of the blackboard with a piece of chalk -in his hand. Of course he couldn’t do the sum at all. It took him a -dreadfully long time and not one figure was right. - -“The boy’s nervous,” said the doctor. “You’ve been overtaxing him.” - -The lawyer smiled and took a pinch of snuff. “I had an idea that our -friend the schoolmaster was rather drawing the long bow,” he whispered -to the mayor. The priest came and patted Jan’s head. - -“Try again, my child,” he said. “You’ll do better next time.” - -But Jan did no better the next time. If anything, he did even worse. -The schoolmaster was much annoyed. It made him look so foolish. When -the visitors had gone he gave Jan a good caning and sent him home in -disgrace. - -His father and mother were very disappointed, too, when they heard what -had happened. - -“I always knew the lad was a dullard,” said his father. - -Jan wandered disconsolately out into the sunshine. It’s not nice to be -called a dullard, particularly when you’ve been top of your school for -a whole month. His mother came after him. - -“You shall have a hot apple pasty for your supper,” she said; “it’s in -the oven now.” - -But even apple pasty couldn’t console Jan. - -He went into the lane and sat down near the place where he had seen the -fairy. He rather hoped he might see her again. Sure enough, he hadn’t -been there five minutes when he felt a light touch on his shoulder, and -there she was, perched on a swaying wild-rose spray in the hedge close -beside him. - -“Oh, come,” she said when Jan had told her his trouble, “we can -soon remedy that.” And she gave him a piece of chalk to keep in his -pencil-box together with his fairy slate pencil. “Now you will be able -to do sums on the blackboard as well as on your slate,” she said. - -Jan thanked her and went home feeling quite happy, so that he was able -thoroughly to enjoy his supper and his apple pasty. - -Things went swimmingly for a while. Jan did more wonderful sums than -ever, both on the blackboard and on his slate. The schoolmaster -was more careful this time; but he called in first one person and -then another to see what Jan could do, and now he was no longer -disappointed. Even the lawyer had to acknowledge that the boy was -indeed a marvel. - -But alas and alas! After a little time Jan became so conceited that he -was quite unbearable. He gave himself the most extraordinary airs. He -would hardly condescend to speak to the other boys. He even patronised -his own father and mother. - -“No boy in the whole country is as clever as I,” he said. “The King -ought to see what I can do. I must certainly go to the Court. How they -will open their eyes!” - -And so one fine day he prepared to set off to the Court to show the -King what he could do. - -Now the King of that country was a rather cantankerous old gentleman, -and made short work of any one who displeased him. Jan’s mother didn’t -very much like the idea of his going, but Jan would not be dissuaded. - -“You will see, mother,” he said, “I shall come home with a bagful of -gold, and perhaps the King will want me to stay at his Court. When I -am grown up I shall marry one of the Princesses, and you will be able -to ride in a golden coach and to wear a mantle of blue velvet trimmed -with ermine. All the neighbours will curtsey to you and call you Madam. -Wouldn’t you like that?” - -His mother couldn’t imagine that she would like that very much, but she -thought it was rather sweet of Jan to think so much of his mother, and -she gave him a kiss and one of his father’s best linen shirts, and bade -him be sure not to get his feet wet. - -So Jan set off to the palace, and when he got there he sent in a -message by the beautiful footman who opened the door that Jan, the -Arithmetical Wonder, had come to show the Royal Family what he could -do. It was a dull rainy afternoon, and it so happened that the King, -Queen, and the two Princesses were sitting at home in their State -apartments feeling rather bored. The Lord Chamberlain, who generally -amused them on wet days by asking them riddles, had gone to bed with a -very bad cold in his head, and they had nothing to do. - -“Shall we have him in?” said the King to the Queen. - -“He sounds very dull,” said the younger Princess, who was busy making -pale blue rosettes for her bedroom slippers. - -“Better than nothing,” said her sister, who had just finished reading -all the love-letters that had come by the morning’s post, and was -pasting the prettiest ones into an album which she kept for that -purpose. - -So Jan was ushered into the royal apartments, and he told the King and -Queen of his attainments--how he could do any sum, however difficult, -as quickly as it could be written down, almost more quickly, indeed. He -was a nice-looking lad and he had no end of assurance, and brought with -him, moreover, letters from all manner of important personages who had -tested his wonderful powers. - -An attendant was sent to fetch the great Court account tablets, which -were made of ivory inlaid with silver, and the King offered Jan his own -golden pencil with rubies and diamonds round the top. - -“Thank you very much,” said Jan, “I prefer a plain slate or a -blackboard, and I always use my own pencil.” - -“_Prefer_, indeed,” said the King, with a great black frown. “What -business have you to prefer anything? Slates and blackboards! I’d have -you know that this is the King’s Palace and not a village schoolhouse. -If a gold pencil and ivory tablets are not good enough for you, you can -go and do your sums on the dungeon walls.” - -Jan was very frightened. He didn’t at all like the idea of a dungeon, -so there was nothing for it but to brave it out as best he might. - -One of the lords-in-waiting was bidden to write down the sums, and poor -miserable Jan wildly scribbled down the answers as fast as he could, -with the eyes of the King, the Queen and of their two lovely daughters -and all the lords- and ladies-in-waiting riveted upon him. - -But as it happened, the only person at the Court who was any good at -arithmetic was the Lord Chamberlain, and he, as you know, was in bed -with a cold. It is much easier to put down sums than to work them out, -and not one member of the Royal Family had the faintest idea as to -whether Jan’s answers were right or wrong. - -The King looked as wise as he could. “Very good, very good,” he kept -saying. The Princesses clapped their hands. _They_ had never been able -to get their sums right; but after all, what does it matter whether a -princess can do arithmetic or not? - -If one or two of the Court ladies and gentlemen had a suspicion that -the figures were not quite correct they daren’t suggest such a thing. -If the King said the answers were right it was as much as their lives -were worth to say they were wrong. But of course Jan knew nothing of -all this. He wrote on and on, and all the time only one thought was in -his mind. - -“How wonderful, how wonderful!” he kept saying to himself. “I have -grown so clever that I can do the sums by myself. I shall never need -to bother again about the stupid old pencil and chalk. I really am the -cleverest boy in the whole kingdom.” - -He did not stay very long at the palace, and he was a little -disappointed to find that no one offered him a post at Court and that -he was not even presented with a bag of gold pieces. - -Every one thanked him politely and he was given a good tea in the -housekeeper’s room, and the King and Queen shook hands with him -and gave him a pretty silver brooch to wear in his cap, while the -Princesses smiled pleasantly and wished him a good journey. - -But he was buoyed up by his wonderful discovery. He went singing along -the road, and when he presently came to a deep pond he threw his slate -pencil and his bit of chalk into the middle of it, and continued gaily -on his way. - -You may imagine how badly he wanted them back again the next day, and -for many, many days after: for of course he was as bad as ever at -arithmetic, and went straight to the bottom of the class, where he -stayed. Many times he went to the place where he had met the fairy, but -she never came again, for if you once throw away fairy gifts you never, -never get them back again. - - - - -THIRTEEN - -The Lamb that Went to Fairyland - - -There was once a fairy who took a great fancy to a tiny white lamb. He -really was a dear little creature, and I don’t wonder she fell in love -with him. She used often to come and visit him in the meadow where he -lived with his mother, and she was very anxious to take him to a fairy -party some evening. - -The little lamb was shy. “What do you do at the parties?” he asked. - -“Oh, dance mostly,” said the fairy. - -But the little lamb explained that he didn’t know how to dance. - -“I will soon teach you,” said the fairy. - -So she came every evening when her day’s work was done and showed the -little lamb how to dance, and he soon learned to skip about quite -nicely. - -At last a day came when the fairy took him off to the party, but his -mother made him promise to come back the next morning. She knew the -ways of the fairies. - -He enjoyed himself tremendously. - -All the fairies admired him very much. They thought his coat so -beautifully white and soft, they loved his little black nose and quaint -woodeny legs. He gave them all rides on his back in turn (even the -Fairy Queen had one), and when the time for dancing came he did very -well indeed and astonished them all with his pretty steps. When he -left, the Fairy Queen presented him with a garland of daisies. “They -are fairy flowers,” she said. “They will never fade, and so long as you -wear them you will remain young.” - -When the lamb got home he had great tales to tell about his happy -adventures, so that he became quite a celebrity, and every one made -such a fuss of him that he got rather proud and silly, and after a very -short time would hardly speak to his friends. - -Of course this vexed them very much, and the wicked old rat who lived -in the mill-pond and was always ready to do any one an ill turn, -suggested a way to pay him out for his pride. “While he is asleep I -will gnaw through his gay garland that he is so proud of,” she said, -“and when he goes out walking he will lose it.” All of which happened -just as she had planned. And so the foolish lamb lost his fairy garland -and grew older like any other lamb. - -His friend the fairy did not come to see him for some time. She -was very busy helping on all the spring things, and had no time -for visiting. When she did come again she was very disappointed to -find that the lamb had grown into quite a good-sized sheep, fat and -comfortable. His wool was no longer downy and white, and he had -entirely forgotten how to dance. - -[Illustration] - -“Where is your magic garland?” said the fairy. And he had to confess -that he had lost it. - -The fairy went back to her friends. She really did not feel that a big -solemn sheep would be very welcome at their revels. But every year -in early spring when the new lambs are born, their mothers tell them -the story of the lamb that was invited to Fairyland, and they all go -skipping about in the meadows practising their dancing steps. - -Each of them hopes that he may one day find the magic garland, and -never grow old and staid, and be able to go a-visiting to Fairyland. -After all, it must be lying about somewhere, so if you find it, you’ll -know what to do with it, won’t you? But be sure to give it to a lamb -with a black nose. They’re so much the prettiest. - - - - -FOURTEEN - -The Magic Umbrella - - -There was once a wizard who possessed a magic umbrella; and, being -rather careless in his habits, he had the misfortune to leave it behind -him in a small country town where he had had an appointment to meet a -friend in the market-place at midnight. He left it standing against one -of the wooden market stalls, and there it was found next morning by a -farmer’s wife who had come into town to sell her butter and eggs. - -“That’s a good, strong-looking umbrella,” she said to herself; “if no -one comes to claim it I shall keep it.” No one made any inquiries, so -she took possession of it, and when she went home in the evening, the -umbrella went with her. - -Now, as I said before, this was no ordinary umbrella, but was possessed -of magic powers. - -If you held it open in your hand and counted three and then stopped, -you found yourself in your own house. - -If you counted five, however, you found yourself where you most desired -to be. - -But if you counted up to seven, you were immediately carried away to -the top of the nearest church spire. - -Now of all this the farmer’s wife was quite unaware, and you shall hear -what befell her in consequence. - -It chanced to be very wet on the next market day, and when presently -the rain began to drip upon her bonnet through the canvas roof of the -stall, she was very glad to be able to put up the umbrella and shelter -beneath it. - -It was about three o’clock in the afternoon and she had sold most of -her eggs and butter. - -A little boy came along and asked for three fresh eggs. - -“There you are, my love,” she said. “The last three.” - -She held the umbrella in one hand and with the other put the eggs into -the boy’s basket. - -“One, two, three,” she said. And instantly she found herself standing -in the middle of her own pleasant kitchen, with her basket on her arm -and the open umbrella still firmly held in her hand. - -You can imagine how surprised and puzzled she was. She hadn’t the -faintest idea how she had got there, but she decided to say nothing -about it to any one. - -When presently her husband came in for his tea he asked why she had -come home so early. - -“I had a bit of a headache,” she said. “I think the sun was too strong -for me.” - -The farmer gave a great guffaw. “Come, come, mother,” he said, “you -must have been dreaming. There’s been no sun to-day, neither in town -nor country.” - -[Illustration] - -“Well, maybe it was the damp that got into my head,” said his wife. “I -think I’ll go to bed and have a basin of hot gruel.” So she went to bed -and had the hot gruel, and by the next morning she had almost forgotten -all about her queer adventure. - -Nothing more happened for some time. The weather was warm and sunny, -and the umbrella stood unused in the corner of the kitchen. - -But one day the farmer’s wife decided to go and see her daughter, who -was married and lived in a village a few miles away. It was a very hot -day and she thought it would be a good plan to take the umbrella with -her to shade her from the sun. - -After dinner she and her daughter went for a walk upon a neighbouring -common, and when they had gone a little way they sat down for a rest -on a warm dry bit of grass by the side of the road that ran across the -heath, for they were hot and rather tired. - -“What a lot of motor-cars there are on this road, to be sure,” said -the farmer’s wife, who held the open umbrella over her head. “One, -two, three, four, five.... I wish I was in one of them.” No sooner -had she uttered these words than she found herself plumped right into -the middle of the nearest car, in which were sitting an old lady and -gentleman and a fat spaniel, all fast asleep. - -You can imagine what a scene there was. The dog barked, the old lady -and gentleman were furious. - -“Stop, stop,” they cried to the chauffeur, who was driving on quite -calmly and taking no notice at all of the noise going on behind him. - -As for the farmer’s wife, she was so astonished that she could not say -anything at all. - -“What next?” stormed the old gentleman, foaming with rage. “What -next, I should like to know? How dare you get into our car? How dare -you, madam? What are we coming to? A pretty state of affairs when -a man can’t go for a ride in his own car without being molested by -impertinent strangers! Scandalous, scandalous! I shall report it to the -police.” - -The farmer’s wife had by this time managed to get out of the car, but -she was so bewildered that she was still unable to speak, and long -after the angry gentleman had driven off with his wife and his dog, she -stood silent and motionless in the middle of the road with the umbrella -in her hand, wide open, and with her mouth wide open too. Her daughter, -who came hurrying up, was also very much astonished. - -“What on earth made you do that, mother?” she said. “I couldn’t believe -my own eyes.” - -But her mother could only shake her head. She couldn’t make it out at -all. Never, never had such an extraordinary thing befallen her. - -“I am afraid I can’t be very well,” she said at last. “I think I’ll -go and see the doctor to-morrow.” So the next day she went to see the -doctor. It was rather showery and she took the umbrella again, for she -had never thought of connecting it with the strange things which had -occurred. The doctor felt her pulse and looked at her tongue. - -“You’ve got a touch of Thingumabobitis,” he said. “You must be very -careful. I’ll write you a few prescriptions. You must take a pill every -three hours, and a pink powder every two hours, and a blue powder half -an hour before every meal, and you must never on any account let your -nose get cold. It’s not dangerous so long as you are careful. Come -again next week.” - -By this time the sun had come out, and as she was much taken up with -wondering how she was going to keep her nose warm, the farmer’s wife -forgot all about the umbrella. Next day, when she went to fetch it, it -was gone. I don’t know what happened to it, nor who has it now. But let -me give you a word of warning. If you come across a stray umbrella, -pray be careful not to do any counting while you have it open in your -hand. It wouldn’t be very pleasant to find yourself suddenly hanging -from the top of the nearest church steeple, now would it? - - - - -FIFTEEN - -The Fourth Adventure of the Rainbow Cat - - -By this time the Rainbow Cat was getting a little tired of travelling -about, and decided that he would go home and have a good rest after his -many exertions. But on the way back he had to pass through the Ever -After country, and the people who lived there were most pressing in -their request that he should spend a little time with them. - -The Ever After country is inhabited by all the Fairy Tale and Nursery -Rhyme people, who go to live there when their adventures are over. - -Cinderella and her prince have a beautiful castle there, where the -glass slipper is kept on a red velvet cushion in a little gilt cabinet, -and shown to distinguished visitors. Cinderella never had another pair; -she said they were very uncomfortable, and of course she was always -afraid some one might tread on her toes. - -Her two disagreeable sisters have a little house of their own. They -have taken to gardening, and keep bees and chickens, and are altogether -immensely improved, so that everybody is quite fond of them. - -They are rather sensitive about their past, and are both, alas! a -little lame, because, as you will remember, they cut pieces off their -feet in order to make them smaller. - -Snow-White, too, lives in a castle with her husband. The seven dwarfs -have a fine carpenter’s shop on the estate, where they are kept very -busy indeed. - -They make the most lovely little chairs and tables for Snow-White’s -children, and do most of the work of that kind required by the dwellers -in the Ever After land. - -Red-Riding-Hood and her grandmother have a pretty cottage close to that -of Cinderella’s sisters. Red-Riding-Hood often runs in to have a chat -with them, and they are very kind about sending in honey and eggs for -the old lady. - -Of course, there are many, many more people. Jack the Giant-Killer, who -has grown rather fat and lazy, but loves to talk about all his great -fights; Little Miss Muffet, who is still a bit afraid of spiders; Boy -Blue, Mother Hubbard, Aladdin--it would take me all day to mention half -of them, but they are all there, not one is missing. - -The Rainbow Cat stayed with Fatima, Bluebeard’s last wife, who lives -with the two brothers who saved her life by their valour. - -Poor Fatima has never quite got over the dreadful shock she had when -she discovered the other wives all hanging up, and she can’t so much as -bear the sight of a bunch of keys. - -As usual, the Rainbow Cat was most kindly welcomed and was introduced -to all the important people in the place. - -[Illustration] - -They are always delighted to see strangers, as sometimes they feel that -things are a little dull after the exciting adventures many of them -have been through. - -On the third day after his arrival he was invited to a great banquet at -the palace of the Queen of Hearts. - -It was a most wonderful banquet. - -The Rainbow Cat wore his best bow, his dancing-shoes, and the gold -collar which the giantess had given him. He took his mandolin with him; -it had been most useful to him on several occasions, and it seemed a -pity to leave it behind. - -He met a number of friends at the party. - -Puss-in-Boots, for instance, and the Pussy-cat who went to London to -visit the Queen. - -Dick Whittington’s cat was there too, but he gave himself great airs. -It seems it wasn’t really quite certain whether he was a fairy-tale cat -at all. Some people thought he was real. - -It was silly of him to be so stuck-up about it, but it only amused the -Rainbow Cat. - -They were about half-way through the banquet when there was a slight -pause. The meat course was finished, and everybody was waiting for the -sweets. At that moment a servant came quietly in and whispered to the -Queen. She became deadly pale, and half rose in her seat. - -“What is the matter, your Majesty?” said the Rainbow Cat, who sat in -the place of honour at her right hand. - -“He’s done it again,” said the Queen in a low, horrified whisper, -sinking weakly down again into her chair. - -“Who has done what?” said the Rainbow Cat. - -“The Knave--stolen the tarts!” said the Queen with an agonised look. -“They’re nowhere to be found. It’s all my fault. He begged so hard to -be taken on again that I gave him another chance. Oh! why did I trust -him?” - -“Isn’t there anything else?” asked the Rainbow Cat. - -“Nothing ready,” replied the Queen. “You see, they’re very special -tarts. I make them myself. Every one thinks so much of them. What shall -I do?” - -“Don’t worry,” said the Rainbow Cat. “Send round to all the -pastry-cooks’ for anything they have ready, and meanwhile I’ll sing a -song to fill up the time.” - -The Queen was much relieved at this suggestion, and gave orders that -messengers should be dispatched immediately to buy up all the available -tarts in the place. - -Meanwhile the Master of Ceremonies was bidden to announce that their -distinguished visitor, the Rainbow Cat, had kindly promised to sing a -song, and wished to know whether the guests would like to hear it at -this moment or later on. - -This was a very clever idea, for of course people were bound in -politeness to say they wished to hear the song immediately. - -Thereupon the Rainbow Cat took his mandolin and prepared to sing, the -whole company being requested to join in the chorus after each verse. - -They were all delighted with this suggestion, and they all sang, -whether they had any voice or not. - -They enjoyed it so much that they quite forgot that they hadn’t -finished the banquet. At least they _almost_ forgot. - -Here is the song: - - THE RHYME OF THE GNOME WITH A SCOLDING WIFE - - Once upon a time, - When guinea-pigs had tails, - And people talked in rhyme, - And rivers ran on rails, - There lived a little gnome - Who’d such a scolding wife, - At last he ran away from home, - He couldn’t stand the life. - - _Chorus._ There lived a little gnome, etc. - - She scolded all day long - From morning until night, - And she was never wrong - And he was never right. - Oh! she could bake and bile, - And she could clean and mend, - But since she scolded all the while, - He left her in the end. - - _Chorus._ Oh! she could bake and bile, etc. - - He thought he’d found a way - At last to be at peace, - But still, to his dismay, - His troubles did not cease. - He didn’t like his meals, - His washing wasn’t right, - His socks were always out at heels, - His shirts a fearful sight. - - _Chorus._ He didn’t like his meals, etc. - -By the end of the third verse the Queen was looking very strained and -anxious, and the Rainbow Cat himself was beginning to feel rather -nervous. His song had only four verses, and he wasn’t at all sure that -he would be asked to sing another. He was afraid that people would -remember their unfinished dinner as soon as he stopped. - -So he began the fourth verse very slowly. But before he had got -half-way through, he saw three servants standing between the curtains -of the great doorway of the banqueting hall with enormous golden dishes -piled up with most magnificent-looking tarts. - -“My tarts,” he heard the Queen murmur in an excited voice, and then he -knew that everything was well. - -So he finished his song at a great pace, and the last chorus was sung -with much enthusiasm, for the other guests had also seen the waiting -tarts, and were eager to begin on them. - -This is the last verse of his song: - - “Assuredly,” thought he, - “Her temper is a curse, - And yet it seems to me - That this is rather worse.” - So home he went once more - In philosophic mood, - And though his wife still vexed him sore, - _He did enjoy his food_. - - _Chorus._ So home he went once more, etc. - -The song was very much applauded, and every one then fell upon the -tarts with an appetite which the slight delay had pleasantly renewed. - -It turned out afterwards that it was all a mistake about the Knave. - -The head cook had put the tarts away on the top shelf of the larder -for safety. But he was a poet as well as a cook, and just before the -moment arrived when the tarts should have been served up, a perfectly -beautiful little verse came into his head, and he rushed off to a quiet -spot to write it down, quite confident that the under-cook would be -able to look after the rest of the banquet. - -And that’s how it came about that suspicion fell upon the poor Knave; -for when the tarts could not be found, every one naturally supposed -that he had stolen them again. - -When the cook had written down his verse and made a few little -improvements in it, he returned to the kitchen and found everything in -an uproar because of the missing tarts. - -He arrived in the nick of time, for the messengers were returning -almost empty-handed from the pastry-cooks’ shops. They had made very -little pastry that day because they knew that every one would be at the -banquet and that they would have no sale for their wares. - -Of course, later on, the cook had to give an explanation of his -carelessness, and he was removed from his position. - -But as his verses were even better than his dishes, he was made Court -Poet instead, and he liked that much better, though he occasionally -lent a hand in the kitchen when they were very busy. - -The Queen was most grateful to the Rainbow Cat for his timely help; and -every year, on his birthday, she sent him a box of tarts made by her -own hands especially for him. - -He stayed only a day or two in the Ever After land after the banquet. -Then he packed up his belongings, bade good-bye to all his kind -friends, and set off for his home. - -He was glad to be back in his own little house, and delighted all his -friends with his account of his travels. - -But he had no intention of settling down for ever, and I hope to be -able some day to tell you more of the adventures that befell him upon -his further journeyings. - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rainbow Cat, by -Rose Fyleman and Thelma Cudlipp Grosvenor - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RAINBOW CAT *** - -***** This file should be named 60923-0.txt or 60923-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/9/2/60923/ - -Produced by Tim Lindell, Belk Library (Appalachian State -University), David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - -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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |