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+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
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+
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+status under the laws that apply to them.
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #63383 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63383)
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-Project Gutenberg's The Wonder Clock, by Howard Pyle and Katharine Pyle
-
-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 Wonder Clock
-       or four & twenty marvellous Tales, being one for each hour of the day
-
-Author: Howard Pyle
-        Katharine Pyle
-
-Release Date: October 5, 2020 [EBook #63383]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDER CLOCK ***
-
-
-
-
-Produced by Richard Tonsing, David Edwards, and the Online
-Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
-file was produced from images generously made available
-by The Internet Archive)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Wonder Clock]
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                                  The
-                              WONDER CLOCK
-                                   OR
-             _four & twenty marvellous Tales, being one for
-              each hour of the day; written & illustrated_
-
-
-                                   By
-                              Howard Pyle.
-
-                      _Embellished with Verses by
-                            Katharine Pyle._
-
-
-                         _New York_, printed by
-                           Harper & Brothers.
-
-
-
-
-                                BOOKS BY
-
-                              HOWARD PYLE
-
-               MEN OF IRON. Illustrated. Post 8vo
-               A MODERN ALADDIN. Illustrated. Post 8vo
-               PEPPER AND SALT. Illustrated. Post 8vo
-               REJECTED OF MEN. Post 8vo
-               THE ROSE OF PARADISE. Illustrated. 12mo
-               THE RUBY OF KISHMOOR. Illustrated. 8vo
-               STOLEN TREASURE. Illustrated. 12mo
-               TWILIGHT LAND. Illustrated. Post 8vo
-               THE WONDER CLOCK. Illustrated. Square 8vo
-
-                      HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK
-
-
-                 Copyright, 1887, by HARPER & BROTHERS
-
-                  Copyright, 1915, by ANNE POOLE PYLE
-
-                Printed in the United States of America
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                                PREFACE.
-
-
-I put on my dream-cap one day and stepped into Wonderland.
-
-Along the road I jogged and never dusted my shoes, and all the time the
-pleasant sun shone and never burned my back, and the little white clouds
-floated across the blue sky and never let fall a drop of rain to wet my
-jacket. And by and by I came to a steep hill.
-
-I climbed the hill, though I had more than one tumble in doing it, and
-there, on the tip top, I found a house as old as the world itself.
-
-That was where Father Time lived; and who should sit in the sun at the
-door, spinning away for dear life, but Time’s Grandmother herself; and
-if you would like to know how old she is you will have to climb to the
-top of the church steeple and ask the wind as he sits upon the
-weather-cock, humming the tune of Over-yonder song to himself.
-
-“Good-morning,” says Time’s Grandmother to me.
-
-“Good-morning,” says I to her.
-
-“And what do you seek here?” says she to me.
-
-“I come to look for odds and ends,” says I to her.
-
-“Very well,” says she; “just climb the stairs to the garret, and there
-you will find more than ten men can think about.”
-
-“Thank you,” says I, and up the stairs I went. There I found all manner
-of queer forgotten things which had been laid away, nobody but Time and
-his Grandmother could tell where.
-
-Over in the corner was a great, tall clock, that had stood there
-silently with never a tick or a ting since men began to grow too wise
-for toys and trinkets.
-
-But I knew very well that the old clock was the
-
-                            _Wonder Clock_;
-
-so down I took the key and wound it—gurr! gurr! gurr!
-
-Click! buzz! went the wheels, and then—tick-tock! tick-tock! for the
-Wonder Clock is of that kind that it will never wear out, no matter how
-long it may stand in Time’s garret.
-
-Down I sat and watched it, for every time it struck it played a pretty
-song, and when the song was ended—click! click!—out stepped the drollest
-little puppet-figures and went through with a dance, and I saw it all
-(with my dream-cap upon my head).
-
-But the Wonder Clock had grown rusty from long standing, and though now
-and then the puppet-figures danced a dance that I knew as well as I know
-my bread-and-butter, at other times they jigged a step I had never seen
-before, and it came into my head that maybe a dozen or more puppet-plays
-had become jumbled together among the wheels back of the clock-face.
-
-So there I sat in the dust watching the Wonder Clock, and when it had
-run down and the tunes and the puppet-show had come to an end, I took
-off my dream-cap, and—whisk!—there I was back home again among my books,
-with nothing brought away with me from that country but a little dust
-which I found sticking to my coat, and which I have never brushed away
-to this day.
-
-Now if you also would like to go into Wonderland, you have only to hunt
-up your dream-cap (for everybody has one somewhere about the house), and
-to come to me, and I will show you the way to Time’s garret.
-
-That is right! Pull the cap well down about your ears.
-
-                  *       *       *       *       *
-
-Here we are! And now I will wind the clock. Gurr! gurr! gurr!
-
-                        _Tick-tock! tick-tock!_
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                           Table of Contents.
-
-
-                                                                       PAGE
-
-     I. Bearskin                                                          1
-
-    II. The Water of Life                                                15
-
-   III. How One Turned his Trouble to Some Account                       27
-
-    IV. How Three Went out into the Wide World                           39
-
-     V. The Clever Student and the Master of Black Arts                  49
-
-    VI. The Princess Golden-Hair and the Great Black Raven               63
-
-   VII. Cousin Greylegs, the Great Red Fox, and Grandfather Mole         77
-
-  VIII. One Good Turn Deserves Another                                   89
-
-    IX. The White Bird                                                  105
-
-     X. How the Good Gifts were Used by Two                             121
-
-    XI. How Boots Befooled the King                                     135
-
-   XII. The Step-mother                                                 149
-
-  XIII. Master Jacob                                                    161
-
-   XIV. Peterkin and the Little Grey Hare                               175
-
-    XV. Mother Hildegarde                                               189
-
-   XVI. Which is Best                                                   203
-
-  XVII. The Simpleton and his Little Black Hen                          217
-
- XVIII. The Swan Maiden                                                 229
-
-   XIX. The Three Little Pigs and the Ogre                              241
-
-    XX. The Staff and the Fiddle                                        253
-
-   XXI. How the Princess’s Pride was Broken                             267
-
-  XXII. How Two Went into Partnership                                   279
-
- XXIII. King Stork                                                      291
-
-  XXIV. The Best that Life has to Give                                  305
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                         List of Illustrations.
-
-
-                                                                  _Page_
-     _Frontispiece._
-
- _Head-piece—Preface_                                                  v
- _Head-piece—Table of Contents_                                      vii
- _Head-piece—List of Illustrations_                                   ix
-
-
-                          _ONE O’CLOCK_                                1
-
- _Head-piece—Bearskin_                                                 3
-     _The Baby drifts to the River’s Bank in the Basket_               5
-     _Bearskin parts from the Princess_                                9
-     _The Princess weeps_                                             10
-     _Bearskin and the Swineherd feast together_                      12
-
-
-                          _TWO O’CLOCK_                               15
-
- _Head-piece—The Water of Life_                                       17
-     _The King gazes upon the Picture_                                19
-     _The North Wind flies with the Faithful Servant_                 21
-     _The King brings the Water of Life to the Princess_              23
-     _The Faithful Servant gives the King his Golden Bracelet_        25
-
-
-                         _THREE O’CLOCK_                              27
-
- _Head-piece—How One Turned his Trouble to Some Account_              29
-     _The Soldier takes Trouble to Town_                              31
-     _The Soldier brings Trouble to the King_                         33
-     _The Giants fight one another_                                   35
-     _The Rich Man takes Trouble home_                                37
-
-
-                          _FOUR O’CLOCK_                              39
-
- _Head-piece—How Three went out into the Wide World_                  41
-     _The Grey Goose meets the Sausage_                               43
-     _The Great Red Fox calls upon the Cock_                          45
-     _The Great Red Fox calls upon the Sausage_                       46
-     _The Great Red Fox rests softly_                                 47
-
-
-                          _FIVE O’CLOCK_                              49
-
- _Head-piece—The Clever Student and the Master of Black Arts_         51
-     _A Princess walks beside the River_                              53
-     _The Clever Student and the Princess_                            55
-     _The Master of Black Arts and the Little Black Hen_              57
-     _The Master of Black Arts is caught in his Tricks_               60
-
-
-                          _SIX O’CLOCK_                               63
-
- _Head-piece—The Princess Golden-Hair and the Great Black Raven_      65
-     _The King meets the Great Black Raven_                           67
-     _The Princess Golden-Hair drinks_                                69
-     _Princess Golden-Hair comes to Death’s Door_                     71
-     _The Princess finds the Prince_                                  75
-
-
-                         _SEVEN O’CLOCK_                              77
-
- _Head-piece—Cousin Greylegs, the Great Red Fox, and Grandfather
-   Mole_                                                              79
-     _Cousin Greylegs and the Great Red Fox go to the Fair_           81
-     _Cousin Greylegs runs away with the Bag_                         83
-     _The Great Red Fox meets Grandfather Mole_                       85
-     _The Great Red Fox tries the Fire_                               87
-
-
-                         _EIGHT O’CLOCK_                              89
-
- _Head-piece—One Good Turn Deserves Another_                          91
-     _The Young Fisherman catches a Strange Fish_                     93
-     _The Young Fisherman and the Grey Master_                        97
-     _The Grey Master is caught in the Water_                        101
-     _The Princess finds the Young Fisherman_                        103
-
-
-                          _NINE O’CLOCK_                             105
-
- _Head-piece—The White Bird_                                         107
-     _The Prince knocks at the Door of the Poor Little House_        109
-     _The Prince finds the Three Giants sleeping_                    111
-     _The Prince finds the Sword of Brightness_                      115
-     _The White Bird knows the Prince_                               119
-
-
-                          _TEN O’CLOCK_                              121
-
- _Head-piece—How the Good Gifts were used by Two_                    123
-     _St. Nicholas knocks at the Rich Man’s Door_                    125
-     _St. Nicholas in the Poor Man’s House_                          127
-     _The Poor Man welcomes St. Christopher_                         129
-     _The Saints feast in the Rich Man’s House_                      131
-
-
-                         _ELEVEN O’CLOCK_                            135
-
- _Head-piece—How Boots befooled the King_                            137
-     _Peter goes to the King’s Castle_                               139
-     _Paul comes Home again_                                         141
-     _The Old Woman smashes her Pots and Crocks_                     143
-     _The Councillor finds a Wisdom-sack_                            145
-
-
-                         _TWELVE O’CLOCK_                            149
-
- _Head-piece—The Step-mother_                                        151
-     _The Step-daughter follows the Golden Ball_                     153
-     _The Young King brings the Maiden up from the Pit_              155
-     _The Step-mother bewitches the Young Queen_                     157
-     _The Young King caresses the White Dove_                        159
-
-
-                          _ONE O’CLOCK_                              161
-
- _Head-piece—Master Jacob_                                           163
-     _Master Jacob brings his Fat Pig to Town_                       165
-     _Master Jacob and his Black Goat_                               167
-     _The Three Cronies and the Black Goat_                          171
-     _Master Jacob meets the Three Cronies_                          173
-
-
-                          _TWO O’CLOCK_                              175
-
- _Head-piece—Peterkin and the Little Grey Hare_                      177
-     _Peterkin in his Fine Clothes_                                  179
-     _Peterkin carries away the Giant’s Goose_                       183
-     _Peterkin brings the Silver Bell to the King_                   185
-     _Peterkin combs the Giant’s Hair_                               187
-
-
-                         _THREE O’CLOCK_                             189
-
- _Head-piece—Mother Hildegarde_                                      191
-     _The Princess comes to Mother Hildegarde’s Door_                193
-     _The Princess looks into the Jar_                               195
-     _The Wood-pigeons feed the Princess_                            197
-     _Mother Hildegarde carries away the Baby_                       199
-
-
-                          _FOUR O’CLOCK_                             203
-
- _Head-piece—Which is Best?_                                         205
-     _The Rich Brother leaves the Poor Brother in Blindness_         207
-     _The Poor Man finds the Little Door_                            209
-     _The Poor Man finds that which is the Best_                     211
-     _The Rich Man finds that which he Deserves_                     213
-
-
-                          _FIVE O’CLOCK_                             217
-
- _Head-piece—The Simpleton and his Little Black Hen_                 219
-     _Caspar starts to Town with his Little Black Hen_               221
-     _Caspar finds a Bag of Money_                                   223
-     _Three of them share the Money_                                 225
-     _Caspar rides to the King’s Castle_                             227
-
-
-                          _SIX O’CLOCK_                              229
-
- _Head-piece—The Swan Maiden_                                        231
-     _The Swan carries the Prince on its Back_                       233
-     _The Prince comes to the Three eyed Witch’s House_              235
-     _The Swan Maiden helps the Young Prince_                        237
-     _The Witch and the Woman of Honey and Meal_                     239
-
-
-                         _SEVEN O’CLOCK_                             241
-
- _Head-piece—The Three Little Pigs and the Ogre_                     243
-     _The Ogre meets the Three Little Pigs in the Forest_            245
-     _The Ogre climbs the Tree_                                      247
-     _The Ogre shuts his Eyes and counts_                            249
-     _The Ogre sticks fast in the Window_                            251
-
-
-                         _EIGHT O’CLOCK_                             253
-
- _Head-piece—The Staff and the Fiddle_                               255
-     _The Fiddler helps the Old Woman_                               257
-     _The Fiddler and the Dwarf_                                     259
-     _The Fiddler finds the Princess_                                261
-     _The Fiddler and the Little Black Mannikin_                     263
-
-
-                          _NINE O’CLOCK_                             267
-
- _Head-piece—How the Princess’s Pride was broken_                    269
-     _The Gooseherd plays with the Golden Ball_                      271
-     _The King peeps over the Hedge_                                 273
-     _The Princess takes her Eggs to Market_                         275
-     _The Princess knows the Young King_                             277
-
-
-                          _TEN O’CLOCK_                              279
-
- _Head-piece—How Two Went into Partnership_                          281
-     _The Great Red Fox goes to the Store-house_                     283
-     _The Great Red Fox frightens Father Goat_                       285
-     _The Great Red Fox and Uncle Bear at the Store-house_           287
-     _The Bear and the Fox go to Farmer John’s again_                289
-
-
-                         _ELEVEN O’CLOCK_                            291
-
- _Head-piece—King Stork_                                             293
-     _The Drummer helps the Old Man_                                 295
-     _The Princess comes forth from the Castle at Night_             297
-     _The Drummer helps himself_                                     299
-     _The Drummer catches the One-eyed Raven_                        303
-
-
-                         _TWELVE O’CLOCK_                            305
-
- _Head-piece—The Best that Life has to Give_                         307
-     _The Blacksmith steals the Dwarf’s Pine-cones_                  309
-     _The Blacksmith chooses the Raven_                              311
-     _The Blacksmith brings the Little Bird to the Queen_            315
-     _The Young Blacksmith Forges the Ring_                          317
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                              One O’clock·
-
-
-           One of the _Clock_, and silence deep [Sidenote: ☾]
-           Then up the _Stairway_, black and steep
-           The old _House-Cat_ comes creepy-creep
-           With soft feet goes from room to room
-           Her green eyes shining through the gloom,
-           And finds all fast asleep. [Sidenote: ○]
-
-                                                                    K.P.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: Bearskin.]
-
-                                   I.
-
-
-There was a king travelling through the country, and he and those with
-him were so far away from home that darkness caught them by the heels,
-and they had to stop at a stone mill for the night, because there was no
-other place handy.
-
-While they sat at supper, they heard a sound in the next room, and it
-was a baby crying.
-
-The miller stood in the corner, back of the stove, with his hat in his
-hand. “What is that noise?” said the king to him.
-
-“Oh! it is nothing but another baby that the good storks have brought
-into the house to-day,” said the miller.
-
-Now there was a wise man travelling along with the king, who could read
-the stars and everything that they told as easily as one can read one’s
-A B C’s in a book after one knows them, and the king, for a bit of a
-jest, would have him find out what the stars had to foretell of the
-miller’s baby. So the wise man went out and took a peep up in the sky,
-and by and by he came in again.
-
-“Well,” said the king, “and what did the stars tell you?”
-
-“The stars tell me,” said the wise man, “that you shall have a daughter,
-and that the miller’s baby, in the room yonder, shall marry her when
-they are old enough to think of such things.”
-
-“What!” said the king, “and is a miller’s baby to marry the princess
-that is to come! We will see about that.” So the next day he took the
-miller aside and talked and bargained, and bargained and talked, until
-the upshot of the matter was that the miller was paid two hundred
-dollars, and the king rode off with the baby.
-
-As soon as he came home to the castle he called his chief forester to
-him. “Here,” says he, “take this baby and do thus and so with it, and
-when you have killed it bring its heart to me, that I may know that you
-have really done as you have been told.”
-
-So off marched the forester with the baby; but on his way he stopped at
-home, and there was his good wife working about the house.
-
-“Well, Henry,” said she, “what do you do with the baby?”
-
-“Oh!” said he, “I am just taking it off to the forest to do thus and so
-with it.”
-
-“Come,” said she, “it would be a pity to harm the little innocent, and
-to have its blood on your hands. Yonder hangs the rabbit that you shot
-this morning, and its heart will please the king just as well as the
-other.”
-
-Thus the wife talked, and the end of the business was that she and the
-man smeared a basket all over with pitch and set the baby adrift in it
-on the river, and the king was just as well satisfied with the rabbit’s
-heart as he would have been with the baby’s.
-
-But the basket with the baby in it drifted on and on down the river,
-until it lodged at last among the high reeds that stood along the bank.
-By and by there came a great she-bear to the water to drink, and there
-she found it.
-
-Now the huntsmen in the forest had robbed the she-bear of her cubs, so
-that her heart yearned over the little baby, and she carried it home
-with her to fill the place of her own young ones. There the baby throve
-until he grew to a great strong lad, and as he had fed upon nothing but
-bear’s milk for all that time, he was ten times stronger than the
-strongest man in the land.
-
-One day, as he was walking through the forest, he came across a woodman
-chopping the trees into billets of wood, and that was the first time he
-had ever seen a body like himself. Back he went to the bear as fast as
-he could travel, and told her what he had seen. “That,” said the bear,
-“is the most wicked and most cruel of all the beasts.”
-
-[Illustration: The Baby drifts in the basket down the river to the reeds
-beside the bank where the she-bear finds it. ):(]
-
-“Yes,” says the lad, “that may be so, all the same I love beasts like
-that as I love the food I eat, and I long for nothing so much as to go
-out into the wide world, where I may find others of the same kind.”
-
-At this the bear saw very well how the geese flew, and that the lad
-would soon be flitting.
-
-“See,” said she, “if you must go out into the wide world you must. But
-you will be wanting help before long; for the ways of the world are not
-peaceful and simple as they are here in the woods, and before you have
-lived there long you will have more needs than there are flies in
-summer. See, here is a little crooked horn, and when your wants grow
-many, just come to the forest and blow a blast on it, and I will not be
-too far away to help you.”
-
-So off went the lad away from the forest, and all the coat he had upon
-his back was the skin of a bear dressed with the hair on it, and that
-was why folk called him “Bearskin.”
-
-He trudged along the high-road, until he came to the king’s castle, and
-it was the same king who thought he had put Bearskin safe out of the way
-years and years ago.
-
-Now, the king’s swineherd was in want of a lad, and as there was nothing
-better to do in that town, Bearskin took the place and went every
-morning to help drive the pigs into the forest, where they might eat the
-acorns and grow fat.
-
-One day there was a mighty stir throughout the town; folk crying, and
-making a great hubbub. “What is it all about?” says Bearskin to the
-swineherd.
-
-What! and did he not know what the trouble was? Where had he been for
-all of his life, that he had heard nothing of what was going on in the
-world? Had he never heard of the great fiery dragon with three heads
-that had threatened to lay waste all of that land, unless the pretty
-princess were given up to him? This was the very day that the dragon was
-to come for her, and she was to be sent up on the hill back of the town;
-that was why all the folk were crying and making such a stir.
-
-“So!” says Bearskin, “and is there never a lad in the whole country that
-is man enough to face the beast? Then I will go myself if nobody better
-is to be found.” And off he went, though the swineherd laughed and
-laughed, and thought it all a bit of a jest. By and by Bearskin came to
-the forest, and there he blew a blast upon the little crooked horn that
-the bear had given him.
-
-Presently came the bear through the bushes, so fast that the little
-twigs flew behind her. “And what is it that you want?” said she.
-
-“I should like,” said Bearskin, “to have a horse, a suit of gold and
-silver armor that nothing can pierce, and a sword that shall cut through
-iron and steel; for I would like to go up on the hill to fight the
-dragon and free the pretty princess at the king’s town over yonder.”
-
-“Very well,” said the bear, “look back of the tree yonder, and you will
-find just what you want.”
-
-Yes; sure enough, there they were back of the tree: a grand white horse
-that champed his bit and pawed the ground till the gravel flew, and a
-suit of gold and silver armor such as a king might wear. Bearskin put on
-the armor and mounted the horse, and off he rode to the high hill back
-of the town.
-
-By and by came the princess and the steward of the castle, for it was he
-that was to bring her to the dragon. But the steward stayed at the
-bottom of the hill, for he was afraid, and the princess had to climb it
-alone, though she could hardly see the road before her for the tears
-that fell from her eyes. But when she reached the top of the hill she
-found instead of the dragon a fine tall fellow dressed all in gold and
-silver armor. And it did not take Bearskin long to comfort the princess,
-I can tell you. “Come, come,” says he, “dry your eyes and cry no more;
-all the cakes in the oven are not burned yet; just go back of the bushes
-yonder, and leave it with me to talk the matter over with Master
-Dragon.”
-
-The princess was glad enough to do that. Back of the bushes she went,
-and Bearskin waited for the dragon to come. He had not long to wait
-either; for presently it came flying through the air, so that the wind
-rattled under his wings.
-
-Dear, dear! if one could but have been there to see that fight between
-Bearskin and the dragon, for it was well worth the seeing, and that you
-may believe. The dragon spit out flames and smoke like a house afire.
-But he could do no hurt to Bearskin, for the gold and silver armor
-sheltered him so well that not so much as one single hair of his head
-was singed. So Bearskin just rattled away the blows at the dragon—slish,
-slash, snip, clip—until all three heads were off, and there was an end
-of it.
-
-After that he cut out the tongues from the three heads of the dragon,
-and tied them up in his pocket-handkerchief.
-
-Then the princess came out from behind the bushes where she had lain
-hidden, and begged Bearskin to go back with her to the king’s castle,
-for the king had said that if any one killed the dragon he should have
-her for his wife. But no; Bearskin would not go to the castle just now,
-for the time was not yet ripe; but, if the princess would give them to
-him, he would like to have the ring from her finger, the kerchief from
-her bosom, and the necklace of golden beads from her neck.
-
-The princess gave him what he asked for, and a sweet kiss into the
-bargain, and then Bearskin mounted upon his grand white horse and rode
-away to the forest. “Here are your horse and armor,” said he to the
-bear, “and they have done good service to-day, I can tell you.” Then he
-tramped back again to the king’s castle with the old bear’s skin over
-his shoulders.
-
-“Well,” says the swineherd, “and did you kill the dragon?”
-
-“Oh, yes,” says Bearskin, “I did that, but it was no such great thing to
-do after all.”
-
-At that, the swineherd laughed and laughed, for he did not believe a
-word of it.
-
-And now listen to what happened to the princess after Bearskin had left
-her. The steward came sneaking up to see how matters had turned out, and
-there he found her safe and sound, and the dragon dead. “Whoever did
-this left his luck behind him,” said he, and he drew his sword and told
-the princess that he would kill her if she did not swear to say nothing
-of what had happened. Then he gathered up the dragon’s three heads, and
-he and the princess went back to the castle again.
-
-“There!” said he, when they had come before the king, and he flung down
-the three heads upon the floor, “I have killed the dragon and I have
-brought back the princess, and now if anything is to be had for the
-labor I would like to have it.” As for the princess, she wept and wept,
-but she could say nothing, and so it was fixed that she was to marry the
-steward, for that was what the king had promised.
-
-At last came the wedding-day, and the smoke went up from the chimneys in
-clouds, for there was to be a grand wedding-feast, and there was no end
-of good things cooking for those who were to come.
-
-“See now,” says Bearskin to the swineherd where they were feeding their
-pigs together, out in the woods, “as I killed the dragon over yonder, I
-ought at least to have some of the good things from the king’s kitchen;
-you shall go and ask for some of the fine white bread and meat, such as
-the king and princess are to eat to-day.”
-
-[Illustration: Bearskin slayeth y^e Dragon but will not go with y^e
-Princess to y^e castle.]
-
-Dear, dear, but you should have seen how the swineherd stared at this
-and how he laughed, for he thought the other must have gone out of his
-wits; but as for going to the castle—no, he would not go a step, and
-that was the long and the short of it.
-
-[Illustration: Thus the Princess sits and weeps and weeps.]
-
-“So! well, we will see about that,” says Bearskin, and he stepped to a
-thicket and cut a good stout stick, and without another word caught the
-swineherd by the collar, and began dusting his jacket for him until it
-smoked again.
-
-“Stop, stop!” bawled the swineherd.
-
-“Very well,” says Bearskin; “and now will you go over to the castle for
-me, and ask for some of the same bread and meat that the king and
-princess are to have for their dinner?”
-
-Yes, yes; the swineherd would do anything that Bearskin wanted him.
-
-“So! good,” says Bearskin; “then just take this ring and see that the
-princess gets it; and say that the lad who sent it would like to have
-some of the bread and meat that she is to have for her dinner.”
-
-So the swineherd took the ring, and off he started to do as he had been
-told. Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door. Well, and what did he want?
-
-Oh! there was a lad over in the woods yonder who had sent him to ask for
-some of the same bread and meat that the king and princess were to have
-for their dinner, and he had brought this ring to the princess as a
-token.
-
-But how the princess opened her eyes when she saw the ring which she had
-given to Bearskin up on the hill! For she saw, as plain as the nose on
-her face, that he who had saved her from the dragon was not so far away
-as she had thought. Down she went into the kitchen herself to see that
-the very best bread and meat were sent, and the swineherd marched off
-with a great basket full.
-
-“Yes,” says Bearskin, “that is very well so far, but I am for having
-some of the red and white wine that they are to drink. Just take this
-kerchief over to the castle yonder, and let the princess know that the
-lad to whom she gave it upon the hill back of the town would like to
-have a taste of the wine that she and the king are to have at the feast
-to-day.”
-
-Well, the swineherd was for saying “no” to this as he had to the other,
-but Bearskin just reached his hand over toward the stout stick that he
-had used before, and the other started off as though the ground was hot
-under his feet. And what was the swineherd wanting this time—that was
-what they said over at the castle.
-
-“The lad with the pigs in the woods yonder,” says the swineherd, “must
-have gone crazy, for he has sent this kerchief to the princess and says
-that he should like to have a bottle or two of the wine that she and the
-king are to drink to-day.”
-
-When the princess saw her kerchief again, her heart leaped for joy. She
-made no two words about the wine, but went down into the cellar and
-brought it up with her own hands, and the swineherd marched off with it
-tucked under his coat.
-
-“Yes, that was all very well,” said Bearskin, “I am satisfied so far as
-the wine is concerned, but now I would like to have some of the
-sweetmeats that they are to eat at the castle to-day. See, here is a
-necklace of golden beads; just take it to the princess and ask for some
-of those sweetmeats, for I will have them,” and this time he had only to
-look towards the stick, and the other started off as fast as he could
-travel.
-
-[Illustration: Bearskin and y^e swineherd have a grand feast.]
-
-The swineherd had no more trouble with this asking than with the others,
-for the princess went down-stairs and brought the sweetmeats from the
-pantry with her own hands, and the swineherd carried them to Bearskin
-where he sat out in the woods with the pigs.
-
-Then Bearskin spread out the good things, and he and the swineherd sat
-down to the feast together, and a fine one it was, I can tell you.
-
-“And now,” says Bearskin, when they had eaten all that they could, “it
-is time for me to leave you, for I must go and marry the princess.” So
-off he started, and the swineherd did nothing but stand and gape after
-him, with his mouth open, as though he were set to catch flies. But
-Bearskin went straight to the woods, and there he blew upon his horn,
-and the bear was with him as quickly this time as the last.
-
-“Well, what do you want now,” said she.
-
-“This time,” said Bearskin, “I want a fine suit of clothes made of gold
-and silver cloth, and a horse to ride on up to the king’s house, for I
-am going to marry the princess.”
-
-Very well; there was what he wanted back of the tree yonder; and it was
-a suit of clothes fit for a great king to wear, and a splendid
-dapple-gray horse with a golden saddle and bridle studded all over with
-precious stones. So Bearskin put on the clothes and rode away, and a
-fine sight he was to see, I can tell you.
-
-And how the folks stared when he rode up to the king’s castle. Out came
-the king along with the rest, for he thought that Bearskin was some
-great lord. But the princess knew him the moment she set eyes upon him,
-for she was not likely to forget him so soon as all that.
-
-The king brought Bearskin into where they were feasting, and had a place
-set for him alongside of himself.
-
-The steward was there along with the rest. “See,” said Bearskin to him,
-“I have a question to put. One killed a dragon and saved a princess, but
-another came and swore falsely that he did it. Now, what should be done
-to such a one?”
-
-“Why this,” said the steward, speaking up as bold as brass, for he
-thought to face the matter down, “he should be put in a cask stuck all
-round with nails, and dragged behind three wild horses.”
-
-“Very well,” said Bearskin, “you have spoken for yourself. For I killed
-the dragon up on the hill behind the town, and you stole the glory of
-the doing.”
-
-“That is not so,” said the steward, “for it was I who brought home the
-three heads of the dragon in my own hand, and how can that be with the
-rest?”
-
-Then Bearskin stepped to the wall, where hung the three heads of the
-dragon. He opened the mouth of each. “And where are the tongues?” said
-he.
-
-At this the steward grew as pale as death, nevertheless he still spoke
-up as boldly as ever: “Dragons have no tongues,” said he. But Bearskin
-only laughed; he untied his handkerchief before them all, and there were
-the three tongues. He put one in each mouth, and they fitted exactly,
-and after that no one could doubt that he was the hero who had really
-killed the dragon. So when the wedding came it was Bearskin, and not the
-steward, who married the princess; what was done to him you may guess
-for yourselves.
-
-And so they had a grand wedding, but in the very midst of the feast one
-came running in and said there was a great brown bear without, who would
-come in, willy-nilly. Yes, and you have guessed it right, it was the
-great she-bear, and if nobody else was made much of at that wedding you
-can depend upon it that she was.
-
-As for the king, he was satisfied that the princess had married a great
-hero. So she had, only he was the miller’s son after all, though the
-king knew no more of that than my grandfather’s little dog, and no more
-did anybody but the wise man for the matter of that, and he said nothing
-of it, for wise folk don’t tell all they know.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                              Two O’clock·
-
-
-                   The _Black Cock_ crowed;
-                     The _Moon_ was bright;
-                   The _Red Cock_ answered
-                     Through the night. [Sidenote: ●]
-
-                   _Big Gretchen_, sleeping,
-                     Turned in bed,
-                   And tossed her arms
-                     Above her head. [Sidenote: ☽]
-
-                   The old _Hound_ stretched.
-                     And, breathing deep,
-                   He settled down
-                     Again to sleep. [Sidenote: ○]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Water of Life.]
-
-                                  II.
-
-
-Once upon a time there was an old king who had a faithful servant. There
-was nobody in the whole world like him, and this was why: around his
-wrist he wore an armlet that fitted as close as the skin. There were
-words on the golden band; on one side they said:
-
-               “WHO THINKS TO WEAR ME ON HIS ARM
-               MUST LACK BOTH GUILE AND THOUGHT OF HARM.”
-
-And on the other side they said:
-
-                   “I AM FOR ONLY ONE AND HE
-                   SHALL BE AS STRONG AS TEN CAN BE.”
-
-At last the old king felt that his end was near, and he called the
-faithful servant to him and besought him to serve and aid the young king
-who was to come as he had served and aided the old king who was to go.
-The faithful servant promised that which was asked, and then the old
-king closed his eyes and folded his hands and went the way that those
-had travelled who had gone before him.
-
-Well, one day a stranger came to that town from over the hills and far
-away. With him he brought a painted picture, but it was all covered with
-a curtain so that nobody could see what it was.
-
-He drew aside the curtain and showed the picture to the young king, and
-it was a likeness of the most beautiful princess in the whole world; for
-her eyes were as black as a crow’s wing, her cheeks were as red as
-apples, and her skin as white as snow. Moreover, the picture was so
-natural that it seemed as though it had nothing to do but to open its
-lips and speak.
-
-The young king just sat and looked and looked. “Oh me!” said he, “I will
-never rest content until I have such a one as that for my own.”
-
-“Then listen!” said the stranger, “this is a likeness of the princess
-that lives over beyond the three rivers. A while ago she had a wise bird
-on which she doted, for it knew everything that happened in the world,
-so that it could tell the princess whatever she wanted to know. But now
-the bird is dead, and the princess does nothing but grieve for it day
-and night. She keeps the dead bird in a glass casket, and has promised
-to marry whoever will bring a cup of water from the Fountain of Life, so
-that the bird may be brought back to life again.” That was the story the
-stranger told, and then he jogged on the way he was going, and I, for
-one, do not know whither it led.
-
-But the young king had no peace or comfort in life for thinking of the
-princess who lived over beyond the three rivers. At last he called the
-faithful servant to him. “And can you not,” said he, “get me a cup of
-the Water of Life?”
-
-“I know not, but I will try,” said the faithful servant, for he bore in
-mind what he had promised to the old king.
-
-So out he went into the wide world, to seek for what the young king
-wanted, though the way there is both rough and thorny. On he went and
-on, until his shoes were dusty, and his feet were sore, and after a
-while he came to the end of the earth, and there was nothing more over
-the hill. There he found a little tumbled-down hut, and within the hut
-sat an old, old woman with a distaff, spinning a lump of flax.
-
-“Good-morning, mother,” said the faithful servant.
-
-“Good-morning, son,” says the old woman, “and where are you travelling
-that you have come so far?”
-
-“Oh!” says the faithful servant, “I am hunting for the Water of Life,
-and have come as far as this without finding a drop of it.”
-
-“Hoity, toity,” says the old woman, “if that is what you are after, you
-have a long way to go yet. The fountain is in the country that lies east
-of the Sun and west of the Moon, and it is few that have gone there and
-come back again, I can tell you. Besides that there is a great dragon
-that keeps watch over the water, and you will have to get the better of
-him before you can touch a drop of it. All the same, if you have made up
-your mind to go you may stay here until my sons come home, and perhaps
-they can put you in the way of getting there, for I am the Mother of the
-Four Winds of Heaven, and it is few places that they have not seen.”
-
-[Illustration: The young king looks upon y^e beautiful picture which the
-stranger showeth him.]
-
-So the faithful servant came in and sat down by the fire to wait till
-the Winds came home.
-
-The first that came was the East Wind; but he knew nothing of the Water
-of Life and the land that lay east of the Sun and west of the Moon; he
-had heard folks talk of them both now and then, but he had never seen
-them with his own eyes.
-
-The next that came was the South Wind, but he knew no more of it than
-his brother, and neither did the West Wind for the matter of that.
-
-Last of all came the North Wind, and dear, dear, what a hubbub he made
-outside of the door, stamping the dust off of his feet before he came
-into the house.
-
-“And do you know where the Fountain of Life is, and the country that
-lies east of the Sun and west of the Moon?” said the old woman.
-
-Oh, yes, the North Wind knew where it was. He had been there once upon a
-time, but it was a long, long distance away.
-
-“So; good! then perhaps you will give this lad a lift over there
-to-morrow,” said the old woman.
-
-At this the North Wind grumbled and shook his head; but at last he said
-“yes,” for he is a good-hearted fellow at bottom, is the North Wind,
-though his ways are a trifle rough perhaps.
-
-So the next morning he took the faithful servant on his back, and away
-he flew till the man’s hair whistled behind him. On they went and on
-they went and on they went, until at last they came to the country that
-lay east of the Sun and west of the Moon; and they were none too soon
-getting there either, I can tell you, for when the North Wind tumbled
-the faithful servant off his back he was so weak that he could not have
-lifted a feather.
-
-“Thank you,” said the faithful servant, and then he was for starting
-away to find what he came for.
-
-“Stop a bit,” says the North Wind, “you will be wanting to come away
-again after a while. I cannot wait here, for I have other business to
-look after. But here is a feather; when you want me, cast it into the
-air, and I will not be long in coming.”
-
-Then away he bustled, for he had caught his breath again, and time was
-none too long for him.
-
-The faithful servant walked along a great distance until, by and by, he
-came to a field covered all over with sharp rocks and white bones, for
-he was not the first by many who had been that way for a cup of the
-Water of Life.
-
-[Illustration: The North Wind flies with y^e Faithful Servant.]
-
-There lay the great fiery dragon in the sun, sound asleep, and so the
-faithful servant had time to look about him. Not far away was a great
-deep trench like a drain in a swampy field; that was a path that the
-dragon had made by going to the river for a drink of water every day.
-The faithful servant dug a hole in the bottom of this trench, and there
-he hid himself as snugly as a cricket in the crack in the kitchen floor.
-By and by the dragon awoke and found that he was thirsty, and then
-started down to the river to get a drink. The faithful servant lay as
-still as a mouse until the dragon was just above where he was hidden;
-then he thrust his sword through its heart, and there it lay, after a
-turn or two, as dead as a stone.
-
-After that he had only to fill the cup at the fountain, for there was
-nobody to say nay to him. Then he cast the feather into the air, and
-there was the North Wind, as fresh and as sound as ever. The North Wind
-took him upon its back, and away it flew until it came home again.
-
-The faithful servant thanked them all around—the Four Winds and the old
-woman—and as they would take nothing else, he gave them a few drops of
-the Water of Life, and that is the reason that the Four Winds and their
-mother are as fresh and young now as they were when the world began.
-
-Then the faithful servant set off home again, right foot foremost, and
-he was not as long in getting there as in coming.
-
-As soon as the king saw the cup of the Water of Life he had the horses
-saddled, and off he and the faithful servant rode to find the princess
-who lived over beyond the three rivers. By and by they came to the town,
-and there was the princess mourning and grieving over her bird just as
-she had done from the first. But when she heard that the king had
-brought the Water of Life she welcomed him as though he were a flower in
-March.
-
-They sprinkled a few drops upon the dead bird, and up it sprang as
-lively and as well as ever.
-
-But now, before the princess would marry the king she must have a talk
-with the bird, and there came the hitch, for the Wise Bird knew as well
-as you and I that it was not the king who had brought the Water of Life.
-“Go and tell him,” said the Wise Bird, “that you are ready to marry him
-as soon as he saddles and bridles the Wild Black Horse in the forest
-over yonder, for if he is the hero who found the Water of Life he can do
-that and more easily enough.”
-
-The princess did as the bird told her, and so the king missed getting
-what he wanted after all. But off he went to the faithful servant. “And
-can you not saddle and bridle the Wild Black Horse for me?” said he.
-
-“I do not know,” said the faithful servant, “but I will try.”
-
-So off he went to the forest to hunt up the Wild Black Horse, the saddle
-over his shoulder and the bridle over his arm. By and by came the Wild
-Black Horse galloping through the woods like a thunder gust in summer,
-so that the ground shook under his feet. But the faithful servant was
-ready for him; he caught him by the mane and forelock, and the Wild
-Black Horse had never had such a one to catch hold of him before.
-
-[Illustration: The young King bringeth y^e cup of water of life to the
-beautiful Queen.]
-
-But how they did stamp and wrestle: Up and down and here and there,
-until the fire flew from the stones under their feet. But the Wild Black
-Horse could not stand against the strength of ten men, such as the
-faithful servant had, so by and by he fell on his knees, and the
-faithful servant clapped the saddle on his back and slipped the bridle
-over his ears.
-
-“Listen now,” says he; “to-morrow my master, the king, will ride you up
-to the princess’s house, and if you do not do just as I tell you, it
-will be the worse for you; when the king mounts upon your back you must
-stagger and groan, as though you carried a mountain.”
-
-The horse promised to do as the other bade, and then the faithful
-servant jumped on his back and away to the king, who had been waiting at
-home for all this time.
-
-The next day the king rode up to the princess’s castle, and the Wild
-Black Horse did just as the faithful servant told him to do; he
-staggered and groaned, so that everybody cried out, “Look at the great
-hero riding upon the Wild Black Horse!”
-
-And when the princess saw him she also thought that he was a great hero.
-But the Wise Bird was of a different mind from her, for when the
-princess came to talk to him about marrying the king he shook his head.
-“No, no,” said he, “there is something wrong here, and the king has
-baked his cake in somebody else’s oven. He never saddled and bridled the
-Wild Black Horse by himself. Listen, you must say to him that you will
-marry nobody but the man who wears such and such a golden armlet with
-this and that written on it.”
-
-So the princess told the king what the Wise Bird had bidden her to say,
-and the king went straightway to the faithful servant.
-
-“You must let me have your armlet,” said he.
-
-“Alas, master,” said the faithful servant, “that is a woful thing for
-me, for the one and only way to take the armlet off of my wrist is to
-cut my hand from off my body.”
-
-“So!” says the king, “that is a great pity, but the princess will not
-have me without the armlet.”
-
-“Then you shall have it,” says the faithful servant; but the king had to
-cut the hand off, for the faithful servant could not do it himself.
-
-[Illustration: The Faithful Servant gives y^e young Kind y^e golden
-bracelet from his wrist as the other desires. ¶]
-
-But, bless your heart! the armlet was ever so much too large for the
-king to wear! Nevertheless he tied it to his wrist with a bit of ribbon,
-and off he marched to the princess’s castle.
-
-“Here is the armlet of gold,” said he, “and now will you marry me!”
-
-But the Wise Bird sat on the princess’s chair. “Hut! tut!” says he, “it
-does not fit the man.”
-
-Yes, that was so; everybody who was there could see it easily enough;
-and as for marrying him, the princess would marry nobody but the man who
-could wear the armlet.
-
-What a hubbub there was then! Every one who was there was sure that the
-armlet would fit him if it fitted nobody else. But no; it was far too
-large for the best of them. The faithful servant was very sad, and stood
-back of the rest, over by the wall, with his arm tied up in a napkin.
-“You shall try it too,” says the princess; but the faithful servant only
-shook his head, for he could not try it on as the rest had done, because
-he had no hand. But the Wise Bird was there and knew what he was about;
-“See now,” says he, “maybe the Water of Life will cure one thing as well
-as another.”
-
-Yes, that was true, and one was sent to fetch the cup. They sprinkled it
-on the faithful servant’s arm, and it was not twice they had to do it,
-for there was another hand as good and better than the old.
-
-Then they gave him the armlet; he slipped it over his hand, and it
-fitted him like his own skin.
-
-“This is the man for me,” says the princess, “and I will have none
-other;” for she could see with half an eye that he was the hero who had
-been doing all the wonderful things that had happened, because he said
-nothing about himself.
-
-As for the king—why, all that was left for him to do was to pack off
-home again; and I, for one, am glad of it.
-
-And this is true; the best packages are not always wrapped up in blue
-paper and tied with a gay string, and there are better men in the world
-than kings and princes, fine as they seem to be.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Three O’clock·
-
-
-         The _Rooms_ were cold, the _Hearth_ was grey:
-         Asleep in the ashes the _Kobold_ lay.
-               The _Board-Floor_ creaked, [Sidenote: ○]
-               The _Grey-Mouse_ squeaked,
-         And the _Kobold_ dreamed its ear he tweaked.
-
-         He wrinkled up
-           His _Forehead_ and _Nose_, [Sidenote: K☊P; ☾♈︎, des.]
-         And smiled in his sleep,
-           And curled his _Toes_. [Sidenote: ☾]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: How One turned his Trouble to some account.]
-
-                                  III.
-
-
-There was a soldier marching along the road—left, right! left, right! He
-had been to the wars for five years, so that he was very brave, and now
-he was coming home again. In his knapsack were two farthings, and that
-was everything that he had in the world. All the same, he had a rich
-brother at home, and that was something to say.
-
-So on he tramped until he had come to his rich brother’s house.
-
-“Good-day, brother,” said he, “and how does the old world treat you.”
-
-But the rich brother screwed up his face and rubbed his nose, for he was
-none too glad to see the other. “What!” said he, “and is the Pewter
-Penny back again?” That was the way that he welcomed the other to his
-house.
-
-“Tut! tut!” says the brave soldier; “and is not this a pretty way to
-welcome a brother home to be sure! All that I want is just a crust of
-bread and a chance to rest the soles of my feet back of the stove a
-little while.”
-
-Oh, well! if that was all that he wanted, he might have his supper and a
-bed for the night, but he must not ask for any more, and he must jog on
-in the morning and never come that way again.
-
-Well, as no more broth was to be had from that dish, the soldier said
-that he would be satisfied with what he could get; so into the house he
-came.
-
-Over by the fire was a bench, and on the bench was a basket, and in the
-basket were seven young ducks that waited where it was warm until the
-rest were hatched. The soldier saw nothing of these; down he sat, and
-the little young ducks said “peep!” and died all at once. Up jumped the
-soldier and over went the beer mug that sat by the fire so that the beer
-ran all around and put out the blaze.
-
-At this the rich brother fell into a mighty rage. “See!” said he, “you
-never go anywhere but you bring Trouble with you. Out of the house
-before I make this broom rattle about your ears!”
-
-And so the brave soldier had to go out under the blessed sky again.
-“Well! well!” said he, “the cream is all sour over yonder for sure and
-certain! All the same it will better nothing to be in the dumps, so
-we’ll just sing a bit of a song to keep our spirits up.” So the soldier
-began to sing, and by and by he heard that somebody was singing along
-with him.
-
-“Halloa, comrade!” said he, “who is there?”
-
-“Oh!” said a voice beside him, “it is only Trouble.”
-
-“And what are you doing there, Trouble?” said the soldier.
-
-Oh! Trouble was only jogging along with him. They had been friends and
-comrades for this many a bright day, for when had the soldier ever gone
-anywhere that Trouble had not gone along with him?
-
-The brave soldier scratched his head. “Yes, yes,” says he; “that is all
-very fine; but there must be an end of the business. See! yonder is one
-road and here is another; you may go that road and I will go this, for I
-want no Trouble for a comrade.”
-
-“Oh, no!” says Trouble, “I will never leave you now; you and I have been
-comrades too long for that!”
-
-Very well! the soldier would see about that. They should go to the king,
-for things had come to a pretty pass if one could not choose one’s own
-comrades in this broad world, but must, willy-nilly, have Trouble always
-jogging at one’s heels.
-
-So off they went—the soldier and Trouble—and by and by they came to the
-great town and there they found the king.
-
-“Well, and what is the trouble now?” said the king.
-
-Trouble indeed! Why, it was thus and so, here was that same Trouble
-tramping around at the soldier’s heels and would go wherever he went.
-Now, the soldier would like to know whether one had no right to choose
-one’s own comrades—that was the business that had brought him to the
-king!
-
-[Illustration: The Brave Soldier bringeth his Trouble to y^e town along
-with him.]
-
-Well, the king thought and thought and puzzled and puzzled, but that nut
-was too hard for him to crack, so he sent off for all of his wise
-councillors to see what they had to say about the matter.
-
-So, when they had all come together the king told them that things were
-thus and so, and thus and so, and now he would like to know what they
-all thought about it.
-
-Then the wise councillors began to talk and talk, and one said one thing
-and another another. After a while they fell to arguing with loud
-voices, and then they grew angry and began talking all at once, and last
-of all they came to fisticuffs. Then you should have heard what a racket
-they made! for they buffeted and cuffed one another until the hair flew
-as thick as dust in the mill.
-
-That was the kind of prank that Trouble played them.
-
-Now the king had a daughter, and the princess was as pretty a lass as
-one could find were he to hunt for seven summer days. When she heard all
-the hubbub she came to see what it was about, for that is the way with
-all of us, and of women folk more than any. And the king told her all
-about it; how the soldier had come to that town to get rid of Trouble,
-and how he had done nothing but bring it with him.
-
-“Perhaps,” said she, “Trouble might leave him if he were married.”
-
-At this the king fell into a mighty fume, for no man likes to have a
-woman tell him to do thus and so when things are in a pickle. He should
-like to know what the princess meant by coming and pouring her broth
-into their pot! If that was her notion she might help the soldier
-herself. Married he should be, and _she_ should be his wife—that was
-what the king said.
-
-So the soldier and the princess were married, and then the king had them
-both put into a great chest and thrown into the sea—but there was room
-in the chest for Trouble, and he went along with them.
-
-Well, they floated on and on and on for a great long time, until, at
-last, the chest came ashore at a place where three giants lived.
-
-The three giants were sitting on the shore fishing. “See, brothers,”
-said the first one of them, “yonder is a great chest washed up on the
-shore.” So they went over to where it was, and then the second giant
-took it on his shoulder and carried it home. After that they all three
-sat down to supper.
-
-Just then the soldier’s nose began to itch and tickle, so that, for the
-life of him, he could not help sneezing.
-
-“At-tchew!”—and there it was.
-
-[Illustration: Here^† the Brave Soldier brings his trouble before the
-king to find if it shall follow him wherever he goes.]
-
-“Hark, brothers!” said the third giant, “yonder is somebody in the
-chest!”
-
-So the three giants came and opened the chest, and there were the
-soldier and the princess. Trouble was there too, but the giants saw
-nothing of him.
-
-They bound the soldier with strong cords so that they might have him to
-eat for breakfast in the morning.
-
-And now what was to be done with the princess?
-
-“See, brothers,” said the first giant, “I am thinking that a wife will
-about fit my needs. This lass will do as well as any, and, as I found
-her, I will just keep her.”
-
-“Prut! how you talk!” said the second giant, “do you think that nobody
-is to marry in the wide world but you? Who was it brought the lass to
-the house I should like to know! No; I will marry her myself.”
-
-“Stop!” said the third giant. “You are both going too fast on that road.
-I thought of a wife long before either of you. Who was it found that the
-lass was in the house, I should like to know!”
-
-And so they talked and talked until they fell to quarrelling, and then
-to blows. Over they rolled, cuffing and slapping, until each one killed
-the other two, so that they all lay as dead as fishes. And that was an
-end of them.
-
-“See, now,” said Trouble to the soldier, “who can say that I have done
-nothing for you? I tell you, comrade, that I am a good friend of yours,
-and love you as though you were my born brother. Listen! over yonder in
-the field is a great stone under which the giants have hidden stacks and
-stacks of money. Go and borrow a cart and two horses, and I will go with
-you and show you where it is.”
-
-Well, you may guess that that was a song that pleased the soldier. Off
-he went and borrowed a cart and two horses. Then he and Trouble went
-into the field together, and Trouble showed him where the stone was
-where the treasure lay.
-
-The soldier rolled the stone over, and there, sure enough, lay bags and
-bags, all full of gold and silver money.
-
-Down he went into the pit and began bringing up the money and loading it
-into the cart. After a while he had brought it all but one bag full.
-
-“See, Trouble,” said he, “my back is nearly broken with carrying the
-money. There is still one bag down there yet; go down like a good lad
-and bring it up for me.”
-
-[Illustration: The three Giants fight one another like fury.]
-
-Oh, yes! Trouble would do that much for the soldier, for had they not
-been comrades for many and one bright, blessed days? Down he went into
-the pit, and then you may believe that the soldier was not long in
-rolling the stone into its place. So there was Trouble as tight as a fly
-in a bottle.
-
-After that the soldier went back home again with great contentment—as I
-would have done had I ridden home upon a cart full of gold and silver,
-all of which belonged to me. He had left one bag of money, but then it
-was worth that much to be rid of Trouble.
-
-After that the soldier built a ship and loaded it with the money. Then
-he and the princess sailed away to the king’s house, for they thought
-that maybe the king would like them better now that Trouble had left
-them and money had come.
-
-When the king saw what a great boatload of gold and silver the soldier
-had brought home with him he was as pleased as pleased could be. He
-could not make enough of the brave soldier; he called him son, and
-walked about the streets with him arm in arm, so that the folks might
-see how fond he was of his son-in-law. Besides that he gave him half of
-the kingdom to rule over, so that the soldier and the princess lived
-together as snugly as a couple of mice in the barn when threshing is
-going on.
-
-Well, one day a neighbor came to the rich brother and said, “Dear! dear!
-but the world is easy with your brother, the soldier!”
-
-At this the rich brother pricked up his ears. “How is that?” said he—“my
-brother, the soldier? How comes the world to be easy with him, I should
-like to know?”
-
-Oh, the neighbor could not tell him that; all that he knew was that the
-soldier was living over yonder with a princess for his wife, and more
-gold and silver money than a body could count in a week.
-
-Well, well, this would never do! The rich brother must pick up
-acquaintance with the soldier again, now that he was rising in the
-world. So he put on his blue Sunday coat and his best hat, and away he
-went to the soldier’s house.
-
-Well, the soldier was a good-natured fellow, and bore grudges against
-nobody, so he shook hands with his brother, and they sat down together
-by the stove. Then the rich brother wanted to know all about
-everything—how came it that the other was so well off in the world?
-
-Oh, there was no secret about that; it happened thus and so. And then
-the soldier told all about it. After that the other went home, but there
-was a great buzzing in his head, I can tell you!
-
-“Now,” says he to himself, “I will go over yonder to the giants’ house,
-and will let Trouble out from under the stone. Then he will come here to
-my brother and will turn things topsy-turvy, and I will get the bag of
-money that was left there.”
-
-So, off he went until he came to the place where Trouble lay under the
-stone. He rolled the stone over, and—whisk! clip!—out popped Trouble
-from the hole. “And so you were leaving me here to be starved, were
-you?” said he.
-
-“Oh, dear friend Trouble! it was not I, it was my brother, the soldier!”
-
-Oh, well, that was all one to Trouble; now that he was out he would stay
-with the man who let him out, and there was an end of it. “So bring
-along the bag of gold,” says he, “for it is high time that we were going
-home.”
-
-[Illustration: The rich man takes home money and trouble.]
-
-So the rich brother took the bag of gold over his shoulder, and the two
-went home together; and if anybody was down in the mouth, it was the
-rich brother.
-
-And now everything went wrong with him, for Trouble dogged his heels
-wherever he went. At last his patience could hold out no longer, and he
-began to cudgel his brains to find some way to get rid of the other. So
-one day he says,
-
-“Come, Trouble, we will go out into the forest this morning and cut some
-wood.”
-
-Well, that suited Trouble as well as anything else, so off they went
-together, arm in arm. By and by they came to the forest, and there the
-man cut down a great tree. Then he split open the stump, and drove a
-wedge into it. So it came dinner-time, and then Trouble and he ate
-together.
-
-“See now, Trouble,” said the man, “they tell me that you can go anywhere
-in all of the world.”
-
-“Yes,” said Trouble, “that is so.”
-
-“And could you go into that tree that I have split yonder?”
-
-Oh, yes; Trouble could do that well enough.
-
-If that was so the man would like to see him do it, that he would.
-
-Oh, Trouble would do that and more, too, for a friend’s asking. So he
-made himself small and smaller, and so crept into the cleft in the log
-as easily as though he had been a mouse. But, no sooner was he snugly
-there than the man seized his axe and knocked out the wedge, and there
-was Trouble as safe as safe could be. He might beg and beg, but no, the
-man was deaf in that ear. He shouldered his axe and off he went, leaving
-Trouble where he was.
-
-Dear me! that was a long time ago; or else some busybody must have let
-Trouble out of that log, for I know very well that he is stumping about
-the world nowadays.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-                             Four O’clock·
-
-
- The _Air_ grew chill, the _Sky_ was grey; [Sidenote: K☊P. ♊︎ des.]
-    [Sidenote: ●] [Sidenote: ☽]
-   The _Black Cock_ crowed, and far away
-   Another answered. In a dream
-   The _Kobold_ drank thick clotted _Cream_,
-   And chased _Roast-Goose_. He woke and sighed,
-   And turned upon his other side.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: How three went out into the Wide World. HP:—]
-
-                                  IV.
-
-
-There was a woman who owned a fine grey goose. “To-morrow,” said she, “I
-will pluck the goose for live feathers, so that I may take them to
-market and sell them for good hard money.”
-
-This the goose heard, and liked it not. “Why should I grow live feathers
-for other folks to pluck?” said she to herself. So off she went into the
-wide world with nothing upon her back but what belonged to her.
-
-By and by she came up with a sausage.
-
-“Whither away, friend?” said the Grey Goose.
-
-“Out into the wide world,” said the Sausage.
-
-“Why do you travel that road?” said the Grey Goose.
-
-“Why should I stay at home?” said the Sausage. “They stuff me with good
-meat and barley-meal over yonder, but they only do it for other folk’s
-feasting. That is the way with the world.”
-
-“Yes, that is true,” said the Grey Goose; “and I too am going out into
-the world, for why should I grow live feathers for other folk’s
-plucking? So let us travel together, as we are both of a mind.”
-
-Well, that suited the Sausage well enough, so off they went, arm in arm.
-
-By and by they came up with a cock.
-
-“Whither away, friend?” said the Grey Goose and the Sausage.
-
-“Out into the wide world,” said the Cock.
-
-“Why do you travel that road?” said the Grey Goose and the Sausage.
-
-“Why should I stay at home?” said the Cock. “Every day they feed me with
-barley-corn, but it is only that I may split my throat in the mornings,
-calling the lads to the fields and the maids to the milking. That is the
-way with the world.”
-
-“Yes, that is true,” said the Grey Goose; “why should I grow live
-feathers for other folk’s picking?”
-
-And—
-
-“Yes, that is true,” said the Sausage, “why should I be stuffed with
-meat and barley-meal for other folk’s feasting?”
-
-So the three being all of a mind, they settled to travel the same road
-together.
-
-Well, they went on and on and on, until, at last, they came to a deep
-forest, and, by and by, whom should they meet but a great red fox.
-
-“Whither away, friends?” said he.
-
-“Oh, we are going out into the wide world,” said the Grey Goose, the
-Sausage, and the Cock.
-
-“And why do you travel that road?” said the Fox.
-
-Oh, there was nothing but tangled yarn at home: the Grey Goose grew live
-feathers for other folk’s picking, the Sausage was stuffed for other
-folk’s feasting, and the Cock crowed in the morn for other folk’s
-waking. That was the way of the world over yonder, and so they had left
-it.
-
-“Yes,” said the Fox, “that is true; so come with me into the deep
-forest, for there every one can live for himself! and nobody else.”
-
-So they all went into the forest together, for the Fox’s words pleased
-them very much.
-
-“And now,” said the Fox to the Grey Goose, “you shall be my wife,” for
-he had never had a sweetheart before, and even a Grey Goose is better
-than none.
-
-“And what is to become of us?” said the Sausage and the Cock.
-
-“You and I shall be dear friends,” said the Great Red Fox. Thereat the
-Cock and the Sausage were content, for it took but little to satisfy
-them.
-
-Well, everything was just as the Great Red Fox had said it should be:
-the Goose kept her own feathers, the Sausage was stuffed for its own
-good, the Cock crowed for its own ears, and everything was as smooth as
-rich cream. Moreover, the Great Red Fox and the Grey Goose were husband
-and wife, and the Great Red Fox and the Sausage and the Cock were dear
-friends.
-
-[Illustration: The Grey Goose goes out into the wide world, where she
-and a discontented Sausage meet the Cock and the Fox.]
-
-One morning says the Great Red Fox to the Grey Goose, “Neighbor Cock
-makes a mighty hubbub with his crowing!”
-
-“Yes, that is so,” said the Grey Goose; for she always sang the same
-tune as the Great Red Fox, as a good wife should.
-
-“Then,” said the Great Red Fox, “I will go over and have a talk with
-him.”
-
-So off he packed, and by and by he came to Neighbor Cock’s house. Rap!
-tap! tap! he knocked at the door, and who should look out of the window
-but the Cock himself.
-
-“See, Neighbor Cock,” said the Great Red Fox, “you make a mighty hubbub
-with that crowing of yours.”
-
-“That may be so, and that may not be so,” said the Cock; “all the same,
-the hubbub is in my own house.”
-
-“That is good,” said the Great Red Fox, “but one should not trouble
-one’s neighbors, even in one’s own house; so, if it suits you, we will
-have no more crowing.”
-
-“I was made for crowing, and crow I must,” said the Cock.
-
-“You must crow no more,” said the Great Red Fox.
-
-“I must crow,” said the Cock.
-
-“You must not crow,” said the Great Red Fox.
-
-“I must crow,” said the Cock. And that was the last of it for—snip!—off
-went its head, and it crowed no more. Nevertheless, he had the last
-word, and that was some comfort. After that the Great Red Fox ate up the
-Cock, body and bones, and then he went home again.
-
-“Will Neighbor Cock crow again?” said the Grey Goose.
-
-“No; he will crow no more,” said the Fox; and that was true.
-
-By and by came hungry times, with little or nothing in the house to eat.
-“Look!” said the Great Red Fox, “yonder is Neighbor Sausage, and he has
-plenty.”
-
-“Yes, that is true,” said the Grey Goose.
-
-“And one’s friend should help one when one is in need,” said the Great
-Red Fox.
-
-“Yes, that is true,” said the Grey Goose again.
-
-So off went the Great Red Fox to Neighbor Sausage’s house. Rap! tap!
-tap! he knocked at the door, and it was the Sausage himself who came.
-
-“See,” said the Fox, “there are hungry times over at our house.”
-
-[Illustration: The Great Red Fox goes to call on neighbour Cock at his
-house because he will crow in the morn. ¶]
-
-[Illustration: The Great Red Fox calls upon the Sausage.]
-
-“I am sorry for that,” said the Sausage; “but hungry times will come to
-the best of us.”
-
-“That is so,” said the Great Red Fox, “but, all the same, you must help
-me through this crack. One would be in a bad pass without a friend to
-turn to.”
-
-“But see,” said the Sausage, “all that I have is mine, and it is inside
-of me at that.”
-
-“Nevertheless, I must have some of it,” said the Great Red Fox.
-
-“But you can’t have it,” said the Sausage.
-
-“But I must have it,” said the Great Red Fox.
-
-“But you can’t have it,” said the Sausage.
-
-And so they talked and talked and talked, but the end came at last, for
-one cannot talk forever to an empty stomach. Snip! snap! and the Sausage
-was down the Great Red Fox’s throat, and there was an end of it. And now
-the Fox had all that his friend had to give him, and so he went back
-home again.
-
-[Illustration: The Great Red Fox rests softly at home.]
-
-“Did Neighbor Sausage give you anything?” said the Grey Goose.
-
-“Oh, yes; he gave me all that he had with him,” said the Great Red Fox;
-and that also was very true.
-
-After that the world went around for a while as easily as a greased
-wheel. But one day the Great Red Fox said to the Grey Goose: “See now,
-my bones grow sore by lying on the hard stones.”
-
-“That is a great pity,” said the Grey Goose; “and if the hard stones
-were only soft, I, for one, would be glad.”
-
-“Yes,” said the Great Red Fox, “that is good; but soft talking makes
-them none the easier to lie upon. Could you not spare me a few of your
-feathers?”
-
-“A few feathers indeed!” said the Grey Goose, “it was not for this that
-I left the ways of the world over yonder. If you must have feathers you
-must pluck them from your own back.”
-
-“Prut!” said the Great Red Fox, “how you speak! A wife should do all
-that she can to make the world soft for her husband.”
-
-Then you should have heard the Grey Goose talk and talk. But it was no
-use; when times are hard with one, one’s wife should help to feather the
-nest—that was what the Great Red Fox said.
-
-Snip! snap! crunch! cranch! and off went the Grey Goose’s head. After
-that the Fox ate her up, body and bones, and there was an end of her.
-Then he lay upon soft feathers and slept easily.
-
-Now this is true that I tell you: when a great red fox and a grey goose
-marry, and hard times come, one must make it soft for the other—mostly
-it is the grey goose who does that.
-
-Also I would have you listen to this: some folks say that it is not so,
-but _I_ tell you that the ways of the world are the ways of the world,
-even in the deep forest.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: K. P.]
-
-
-                             Five O’clock·
-
-
- The sleepy _Maid_ comes stumbling down
- The _Stairs_, while buttoning her _Gown_,
- And pokes the fire with a frown.
-
- Up in a rage the _Kobold_ flies, [Sidenote: ○]
- And blows the _Ashes_ in her eyes;
- “_Plague on the Fire!_” poor _Gretchen_ cries. [Sidenote: Sol. below]
-
-        ·       ·       ·       ·       ·
-
- The _Goodman_ turned about in _Bed_, [Sidenote: ☾]
- And from the _Pillow_ raised his _Head_
- “_Wife, Wife, its five o’clock!_” he said.
-                                     K.P.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Clever Student and the Master of Black Arts ¶: HP:]
-
-                                   V.
-
-
-The wood-chopper’s son was not content to follow in the steps of his
-father, and to do nothing better than make fagots all the days of his
-life. So off he went to the great school at the capital, and there he
-studied and studied until he became the cleverest student in all of the
-world. But of this his father thought nothing, for he had no care to
-know more than he could see in front of his nose.
-
-“I can speak sixteen languages,” said the Clever Student, “I am a
-master-hand at geometry and astronomy, and I know quite as much of black
-art as the Great Master himself.”
-
-“But can you chop wood?” said the wood-chopper, “and can you bind the
-fagots?”
-
-No; the Clever Student knew nothing of that trade, but there were better
-eggs in Luck’s nest than wood-chopping. He knew enough of the black art
-to be able to change himself into a fine, dapple-gray nag whenever he
-chose, and by no more than the turning of a word or two. That he would
-do, and the old wood-chopper should take him to the town and sell him
-for fifty dollars.
-
-“But there is one thing you must remember,” said the Clever Student,
-“you must take the bridle from off my head when you sell me, for so long
-as it is on me I must, willy-nilly, remain a horse. The Great Master of
-Black Arts would like nothing better than to catch me in such a trap as
-that, for his books tell him that he is to have bad luck through me, and
-he has been after me for this many a day.”
-
-The wood-chopper promised to remember all that the Clever Student told
-him, and then the other went around back of the house and changed
-himself into a fine, dapple-gray horse. The wood-chopper slipped a
-bridle over the nag’s nose and a leg over his back, and then off he rode
-towards the town.
-
-On and on they jogged till they came to where two roads crossed, and
-there stood one who looked no better than he should. This was the Great
-Master of Black Arts himself; but of that the wood-chopper knew nothing
-at all.
-
-“How do you find yourself, friend?” said the Master of Black Arts to the
-wood-chopper; “that is a fine horse that you have there, to be sure. Is
-he for sale now?”
-
-“Yes,” said the wood-chopper, “the nag is for sale, and fifty dollars
-will buy him—only the bridle does not go along with the horse.”
-
-Good! The wood-chopper might keep the bridle and welcome; but palm to
-palm for a true sale, and here was the money.
-
-So they shook hands, and then the Master of Black Arts counted out the
-money, and the wood-chopper pocketed it, and he had never rubbed his
-fingers over so much in all of his life before.
-
-Then, as quick as a wink, the Master of Black Arts drew a bridle out of
-his pocket. It was as thin as a wire and as light as silk, yet I tell
-you the truth when I say that if he had ever slipped it over the nose of
-the Clever Student it would have been an ill thing for him.
-
-But the Student had his eyes open, and his wits about him. No sooner had
-his father taken the bridle off of him than—whisk! pop!—he changed
-himself into a pigeon and away he flew till the wind whistled behind
-him.
-
-But the Master of Black Arts knew a trick as good as that, that he did.
-Whisk! pop!—and he became a hawk, and away he flew after the pigeon, and
-all that the wood-chopper could do was to stand and look after them—But
-he had the fifty dollars in his pocket, and that was something and more
-or less.
-
-On and on flew the two, and if the pigeon flew fast, why, the hawk flew
-faster.
-
-[Illustration: A Princess walks beside y^e water, into whose basket
-leaps y^e ring.]
-
-By and by they came to the shore of a great sea. And that was a good
-thing for the Clever Student, for, just as the hawk was about to grip
-him, he dropped to the water and became a little fish, and away he swam.
-
-But the Master of Black Arts knew a trick as good as that. Down to the
-water he dropped and became a pike, and after the little fish he swam
-till the water boiled behind him.
-
-On and on they swam, and if the little fish swam fast, why, the great
-pike swam faster. On and on they swam till they came to a place where a
-beautiful princess, as white and as red as milk and rose leaves, was
-walking along beside the shore gathering pretty shells into a little
-basket. And that was a good thing for the Clever Student, for just as
-the Master of Black Arts was about to catch him he changed himself into
-a ruby ring and jumped out of the sea and into the basket of the
-princess, and there he was safe and sound.
-
-Presently the princess looked down into the basket, and there lay the
-ring. “What a pretty ring!” said she. “And how came it here?”
-
-She slipped it upon her finger, and it fitted as though it had been made
-for nobody in the world but her. As for the Clever Student, he liked to
-be there, I can tell you, for he thought that he had never seen such a
-pretty lass.
-
-Well, by and by the princess had gathered all of the shells that she
-wanted, and then she went back home again.
-
-When she had come there and to her own little room, all of a sudden a
-tall, good-looking young fellow stood before her. That was the Clever
-Student, who had changed himself back into his own true shape again. At
-first the princess was ever so frightened, but the Student talked to her
-so pleasantly that she began after a while to think that she had never
-seen such a nice, clever young fellow. So they passed the time very
-pleasantly together until evening drew near, and then the Student had to
-go.
-
-But the Master of Black Arts was not at the end of his tricks yet.
-
-And the Clever Student knew that as well as he knew anything.
-
-“See, now,” said he to the princess, “the Master will be coming after me
-before long. When he comes he will ask for the ruby ring, and he must
-have it, but I have a trick in my head to meet that.”
-
-He cut off a lock of his hair and then pricked his arm till it bled.
-With the blood he wet the hair, and by his arts he made of it a ruby
-ring so like what he himself had been that even the princess herself
-could not have told the one from the other. After that he changed
-himself into a necklace of carbuncles, and the princess was just as fond
-of it as she had been of the ring.
-
-[Illustration: The Clever Scholar remains a Ruby Ring no longer, having
-regained his own true shape. ¶]
-
-Sure enough, it happened just as the Clever Student had foretold. Before
-a great while the Master of Black Arts came along and on his arm he
-carried a basket. Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door of the king’s
-house. Down went one and asked him what he wanted.
-
-Oh! he only wanted to see the king; he had something for him here in the
-basket. So he was shown up to where the king was, and then he opened the
-basket and in it was a little black hen.
-
-“Only a little black hen!” you say? Wait; you should hear all before you
-speak!
-
-The Master of Black Arts stood the little black hen on the table.
-“Hickety-pickety!” said he, and before the king knew what to think of it
-the little black hen had laid an egg all of pure silver. And that hen
-was worth the having.
-
-As for the king, bless me! but he was glad to have such a hen as that.
-If the master wanted anything that the king could give him, he had only
-to ask for it and it was as good as his.
-
-“So; good!” says the Black Master, “then there is a little ruby ring
-that the princess wears and that I have taken a fancy to; if I may have
-that it will be all that I ask for.”
-
-Oh! if that was all that he wanted he should have it and welcome, that
-was what the king said. So the pretty princess was sent for, and the
-king asked her if she would give the Master of Black Arts the ruby ring
-that she wore.
-
-“Oh, yes!” says the princess, “he shall have that and welcome, for I
-have grown tired of it long ago.” So she gave it to him, and off he went
-on the same path that he had come.
-
-As soon as he had reached home, he put the ring into a mortar and ground
-it up until it was as fine as flour in the mill.
-
-“There!” said he to himself, “that is an end of the Clever Student at
-any rate.”
-
-After that he went back to his books again and began to read them, and
-then he soon found how he had been tricked by the Clever Student.
-
-The princess and the Clever Student were sitting together. “See, now,”
-said the Student, “the Master of Black Arts will be coming this way
-again in a little while. He will be wanting the necklace of carbuncles,
-and you will have to let him have it. But I have a trick for his trick
-yet, so that perhaps we will get the better of him in the end.”
-
-[Illustration: The Master of Black Arts bringeth a curious little Black
-Hen to the King. ¶⁋]
-
-So the Clever Student did as he had done before; he pricked his arm till
-it bled, and with the blood he wet a lock of his hair. Then by his arts
-he changed the lock of hair into just such a necklace of carbuncles as
-he himself had been. After that he changed himself into a pearl
-ear-drop, and the princess hung him in her ear, and there he dangled.
-
-Sure enough; by and by came along the Master of Black Arts with another
-basket. And you may believe that they did not let him cool his toes by
-long standing outside the door. He opened his basket, and in it was a
-white drake.
-
-“Only a white drake!” you say? Yes, yes; but just wait for a little!
-
-The Master of Black Arts stood the drake on the table and said,
-“Spickety-lickety!”
-
-“Quack! quack!” said the drake, and every time it said “quack” a gold
-piece dropped from its mouth.
-
-Hui! if the king was pleased with the little black hen, you can guess
-how glad he was to have such a drake as that! All that the Master of
-Black Arts had to do was to ask for what he wanted, and he might have it
-if the king had it to give.
-
-“Good!” says the Master of Black Arts; “then the princess has a necklace
-of carbuncles that I have taken a fancy to; if I may have that I will be
-satisfied.”
-
-So the princess was sent for without waiting any longer, and would she
-let the Master have the necklace of carbuncles that she wore around her
-neck?
-
-“Yes, indeed!” says the princess, “that I will! I have grown sick and
-tired of it long ago.” So she took it off of her neck and gave it to the
-Master of Black Arts, and off he went with it.
-
-When he came home he put the necklace into the mortar, just as he had
-done the ring, and ground it up and ground it up until it was as fine as
-the dust on the shelf. There! he thought, that is an end of the Clever
-Student at any rate.
-
-Then he went back to his books, and it was not long before he found that
-he had been tricked again.
-
-“I can make no more changes,” said the Student, “for I am nearly at the
-end of my arts. The Black Master will be wanting your ear-drop when he
-comes, but, instead of giving it to him, throw it against the wall as
-hard as you can. After that we shall have to trust to good Mother Luck.”
-
-It was not long before the Master of Black Arts came with his basket on
-his arm, just as he had done twice before; he opened the basket, and
-there was a grey goose.
-
-“Only a grey goose!” you say? Wait a moment, and you shall see that it
-was not like any grey goose in our town!
-
-The Master of Black Arts stood the grey goose on the table;
-“Flickety-whickety!” said he.
-
-“Cackle! cackle!” said the grey goose, and every time it said “cackle” a
-bright diamond dropped on the table.
-
-When the king saw that he rubbed his hands and rubbed his hands, and
-could not say enough of thanks to the Master of Black Arts. And what
-would the Master have now? He had only to ask and it was his.
-
-“Oh!” says the Master of Black Arts, “the princess has a pearl ear-drop
-that I have taken a liking to; if I may have that I will be quite
-satisfied.”
-
-So the princess was sent for, and this time she was not so willing to
-let the Master have what he wanted. She wept and begged, and begged and
-wept; but it was all to no purpose; the Master of Black Arts wanted the
-pearl ear-drop, and the Master of Black Arts must have it—that was what
-the king said. So at last the princess took the pearl ear-drop out of
-her ear, but, instead of giving it to the Master, she threw it against
-the wall as hard as she was able, just as the Clever Student had told
-her to do.
-
-And then what do you think happened? Why, the Student turned himself
-into a ripe melon, so that when it struck the wall it burst open and the
-seeds that were inside were scattered all over the floor.
-
-But the Master of Black Arts knew a trick as good as that. He changed
-himself into a great red cock, and began pecking away at the seeds,
-gobbling them up as fast as he could. By and by he looked around, and
-not another seed could he see, whereupon he hopped up on a chair and,
-shutting his eyes and flapping his wings, he crowed “cock-a-doodle-do!”
-
-But listen! One melon-seed had rolled into a crack in the floor, and the
-cock had not seen it. That was a bad thing for him, for while his eyes
-were shut and he was crowing “cock-a-doodle-do!” the Clever Student
-changed himself from the melon-seed into a great fox. Up he jumped—snip!
-snap!—and off flew the cock’s head, and there was an end of it and of
-the Master of Black Arts.
-
-After that the Student turned himself into his own true shape again.
-Then he and the princess told the king all about the business, and when
-the king heard how fond the princess was of the lad, he said that there
-was only one thing to be done, and that was to call in the minister.
-
-[Illustration: What happened to the Master of Black Arts after all his
-tricks.]
-
-So the Student was married to his dear princess, and that is what comes
-of book-learning.
-
-After the wedding was all over, and the fiddlers had gone home, the
-Clever Student set out for his father’s house in a fine coach drawn by
-six beautiful horses. There was the old man, making fagots in the forest
-back of the house, just as he had always done. At first he would not
-believe that the great lord in the coach was his own son. “No, no,” says
-he; “and is it becoming in a fine spark from the great town to come here
-and make sport of a poor old wood-chopper. I know very well that my son
-is nothing but a poor student.” But at last he got the whole matter
-through his head, and then he was so glad that he kissed his son on both
-cheeks, and asked him whether he had not always said that it was better
-for his boy to study books than to make fagots. For this is true:
-everything happens for the best when Luck strokes one the right way.
-
-So the fagot-maker went back with his son to the fine house that the lad
-lived in, now that he had married a princess.
-
-There everything was made easy for him, and he always had a warm corner
-to sit in back of the stove.
-
-And that is the end of this story.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                              Six O’clock·
-
-
-                                 K. P.
-
-
-               The _Door_ is open, [Sidenote: Sol above.]
-                 The _Dew_ is bright;
-               Forgotten now [Sidenote: ●]
-                 Is the lonesome _Night_,
-               And the _Starling_ whistles,
-                 “_All is right_.”
-
-               The _House-wife_ moves
-                 With her briskest tread
-               The _Chairs_ are set,
-                 And the _Table_ spread [Sidenote: ☽]
-               With _Honey_ and _Eggs_
-               And _Cream_ and _Bread_.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Princess Golden-Hair _and the_ Great Black Raven.]
-
-                                  VI.
-
-
-Once upon a time there was a king who had three daughters, the two elder
-were handsome enough, but the youngest, whose name was Golden-Hair, was
-the prettiest maiden to be found within the four ends of the earth.
-
-One day the king went out hunting with all his people. Towards evening
-he found himself in the forest at a place where he had never been
-before, and where he was not able to tell the north from the south, nor
-the east from the west, for he was lost. He wandered up and down and
-here and there, but the farther he went the less able he was to find the
-road home again. As he wandered thus he came to a place where a great
-raven, as black as the soot in the chimney, and with eyes that glowed
-like two coals of fire, sat in the middle of the path in front of him.
-
-“Whither away, king?” said the Great Black Raven.
-
-“That I cannot tell,” said the king, “for I am lost.”
-
-“See now,” said the Raven, “I will show you the way out of the forest,
-if you will give me your youngest daughter to be my wife.”
-
-“Oh, no,” said the king, “I can never do such a thing as that, for my
-daughter is as dear to me as the apple of my eye.”
-
-“Very well, then,” said the Raven, “off I go, and then there will be no
-getting out of the forest for you, but here you will have to stay as
-long as you live.”
-
-Now one will do much before one will stay in a dark forest forever, and
-though it was a bad piece of business to be sure, the king promised at
-last that if the Raven would show him the way home again, it should have
-the Princess Golden-Hair for its wife, though it was a pity for the
-girl, and that was the truth. So the Raven flapped on ahead of the king,
-and showed him the way out of the forest.
-
-“To-morrow,” it said, “I will come for my bride.”
-
-Sure enough, when the next morning came, there was the Great Black Raven
-sitting outside of the castle gateway waiting for the Princess
-Golden-Hair to be sent to him.
-
-But it was not the princess whom he got after all; for the king had bade
-them dress the swineherd’s daughter in the princess’s dress, and it was
-she who went to the Great Black Raven. “A Great Black Raven,” said the
-king to himself, “will never be able to tell a swineherd’s daughter from
-a real princess.”
-
-Well, the Raven took the swineherd’s daughter on its back and away it
-flew over woods and meadows, hills and valleys, until by and by it came
-to a rude little hut that stood on the tip top of a great bleak hill.
-And not a living soul was there, only a great number of birds of
-different kinds.
-
-In the hut was a table, and on the table stood a golden goblet of red
-wine, a silver cup of white wine, and an earthenware jug full of bitter
-beer.
-
-“This is our home,” said the Raven; “and now will my dear one drink
-refreshment after her long journey?”
-
-Yes, indeed; the swineherd’s daughter would do that, for she was weary
-after her ride through the air. So she went to the table and took a good
-drink of the beer, “for,” said she to herself, “the golden goblet and
-the silver cup are too fine for the likes of me.”
-
-Then the Raven knew that she was no true princess to be contented with
-bitter beer out of an earthenware jug when she could have good red wine
-from a golden goblet. “Come,” said he, “home we go again, for you are
-not the bride I seek!” Therewith he took her upon his back once more,
-and away they flew over hill and valley till they had come back to the
-king’s castle again.
-
-“See,” said the Raven, “this is not the one I want. Let me have my true
-bride or you will suffer for it.”
-
-At this the king was frightened. “Very well,” said he, “come to-morrow
-and you shall have your true bride.”
-
-[Illustration: The King being lost in y^e Forest meets with the Great
-Black Raven.]
-
-Well, when the next morning came, there was the Raven waiting outside of
-the castle gateway. But, after all, it was not the princess that he got,
-for the king had ordered that the steward’s daughter should be dressed
-in the princess’s dress, “for surely,” said he to himself, “she is a
-good enough bride for a Great Black Raven.”
-
-So the Raven took her on his back and away he flew till he had come to
-the little hut on top of the bleak hill. There stood the golden goblet,
-the silver cup, and the earthenware jug just as they had done before.
-And now would not the dear maiden drink a drop after her long journey?
-
-Yes, indeed, that she would; so she took a good, hearty drink of the
-white wine in the silver cup, “for,” said she to herself, “silver is
-none too good for a steward’s daughter.”
-
-But the Raven saw very well that she was no true princess, or she would
-never have been contented with the silver cup. “Come,” said he, “home we
-go again, for you are not the bride I seek.” So he took her on his back
-once more and away he flew to the king’s castle. “See how you treat me,”
-said he to the king, “you promise me one bride and give me another.
-To-morrow morning I will come for the true one again, and if I do not
-get her this time you will suffer for it, for I will pick out your eyes
-and tear down your castle about your ears!” And away he flew.
-
-And now the king was terribly frightened, and saw that there must be no
-trickery this time. So the next morning when the Raven came it was the
-Princess Golden-Hair herself whom he got and none other. Up he took her
-on his back and away he flew with her. As for the princess, she did
-nothing but weep and weep, so that when they came to the little hut on
-top of the bleak hill, she was glad enough to drink a drop for
-refreshment’s sake. She never looked at the earthen jug or the silver
-cup, but going straight to the golden goblet she wet her lips with the
-good red wine.
-
-And then what do you think happened? Why, the hut grew and grew until it
-changed into a splendid castle all built of pure silver and gold, and
-all of the many birds outside changed into men and women servants. As
-for the Great Black Raven, it was a Raven no longer, but the handsomest
-prince in all of the world, and the only thing black about him was the
-long curling locks of his hair. He kissed the Princess Golden-Hair and
-said: “Now, indeed, have I found my true bride and none other. You have
-freed me and my castle and all of my people from enchantment, which no
-one but a real princess could do. For my wicked step-mother laid spells
-upon us which could only be broken when a real princess drank out of the
-golden goblet.”
-
-[Illustration: Princess Golden-Hair, being a true princess, drinketh
-from the golden cup & touches neither y^e silver nor y^e clay. ¶]
-
-Then they were married, and a fine wedding they had of it, I can tell
-you.
-
-Well, a year passed by, and the princess was as happy as the days were
-long; but at the end of the twelve months she began to long to see her
-father and her sisters again. So she spoke of her longing to the Raven
-prince, but he only shook his head. No; he would not hear of her going,
-for he felt that nothing but misfortune would come of it.
-
-But the princess begged and begged so prettily that at last the prince
-said she might go if she would be contented to stay only three days.
-Then he gave her a napkin of the finest linen, and told her that
-whenever she wanted anything, she had only to spread the napkin and wish
-and it would be there. But there was one thing she must not wish for,
-and that was for him himself, for of that misfortune would come for sure
-and certain.
-
-So off the princess went to her father’s house, and a fine sight she
-made of it, I can tell you; for she rode in a golden coach drawn by four
-milk-white horses, so that every one she passed stopped and looked after
-her, and the little boys cried “Hi!” and ran along beside.
-
-Her father and her sisters wondered what fine lady it was that was
-coming to the castle, and when the coach stopped they came out to look.
-Dear, dear, but the king was glad to see her; as for her two sisters,
-they grew as green as grass with envy, for when they heard where she
-dwelt, and what a fine castle it was, all built of pure gold and silver,
-and what a handsome prince it was that she had for a husband, they were
-ready to burst with spite, for each felt that she might have had all
-this for herself if the Raven prince had only chosen her instead of
-Golden-Hair. So when the princess had told them all about what had
-happened, they only nodded and winked at one another as though they did
-not believe a word of it.
-
-“Yes, yes,” said they, “it is all very well to talk about your handsome
-prince; but why did he not come along with you, we should like to know?”
-
-The princess could not tell them that; but she could bring him quickly
-enough whenever she chose, for all that she had to do was to spread her
-napkin and wish and he would be there. She would show them that what she
-had said was true, had her prince not forbidden her.
-
-But the envious sisters only jeered and laughed as though all that the
-princess said was the best jest in the world.
-
-Now one can bear anything better than laughter. So the end of the matter
-was that the princess spread the linen napkin on the floor and wished
-that the Raven prince might be with them.
-
-[Illustration: Princess Golden-Hair cometh to Death’s door where sits
-Death’s aged Grandmother spinning flax within.]
-
-No sooner had she wished it than there he stood; but he looked at no one
-but her. “Did I not tell you that misfortune would come of it if you
-wished for me?” said he. “Now, I must leave you and go where you are not
-likely ever to see me again.”
-
-Then the princess would have spoken, but he gave her no time for that.
-He snatched up the napkin, and, becoming a Raven once more, he flew
-through the open window and across the tree-tops and was gone. At the
-same time her golden coach vanished, and, the coachman and footmen
-became so many birds and flew away, so that not one of her fine things
-was left.
-
-The poor princess wept and cried for a whole day and a whole night. But
-at the end of that time she dried her eyes, and, tucking up her skirts,
-started off into the wide world to find her dear prince again.
-
-Well, she travelled on and on and on for more days than she could count,
-and till she had been over nearly all of the world, but in all that time
-she could learn no news of the prince nor of whither he had gone. At
-last one day, about nightfall, she came to a little hut in a deep
-forest, and in the hut sat an old woman with hair as white as snow.
-
-“What do you want, child?” said the old woman; “do you not know that
-this is Death’s house, and that if he returns and finds you here he will
-kill you? I tell you that he spares neither the young nor the old, the
-plain nor the handsome. As for me, I am his grandmother.”
-
-But all this was one to the princess, and went in at one ear and out of
-the other; she could no longer drag one foot after the other, so there
-she must stay even if Death should find her when he came home.
-
-Then she told Death’s grandmother all that had happened to her, and
-Death’s grandmother took pity on her because she was so pretty and so
-tired. She gave the princess something to eat and then hid her in the
-tall clock that stood in the corner, so that Death might not find her
-when he came home.
-
-By and by in came Death and hung up his great scythe behind the door.
-“Hu-u-u-u!” cried he, “I smell Christian blood in the house for sure.”
-
-“Christian blood, indeed!” said his grandmother, “as though a Christian
-would come to this house if he had anywhere else to go! But now I think
-of it, a crow flew overhead to-day, and dropped a bone down the chimney.
-I threw it out as soon as I could, but perhaps that is what you smell.”
-
-So Death said nothing more, but sat down to supper and ate heartily, for
-he had had a long journey that day.
-
-“See,” said his grandmother, “I had a dream to-day. A princess is out in
-the world hunting for her Raven sweetheart, and cannot tell where to
-find him.”
-
-“That is easy enough to tell,” said Death; “he lives in a great castle
-that stands at the end of the earth on a high hill of smooth glass.”
-
-“That is good,” said Death’s grandmother, “but I dreamed that after she
-found where he lived, she was too weary to journey thither.”
-
-“That is easy enough, too,” said Death; “out in the forest yonder stands
-my pale horse tied to an oak-tree. If she could only find the horse and
-loose the bridle and mount his back he would take her there quickly
-enough, for he can travel more rapidly than the north wind.”
-
-“Yes, yes, that is all very well,” said Death’s grandmother, “but I had
-a third dream; I thought that when she came to the smooth hill of glass
-she did not know how to climb to the top; what is the answer to that?”
-
-“Prut!” said Death, “that is easy to tell. Over by the glass hill are
-seven birds fighting in the tree-top for an old hat. If she will throw a
-stone in the midst of them they will drop the hat and fly away. It is
-Wish’s own hat, and if she will put it on her head and wish herself at
-the top of the hill, she will be there quickly enough, I can tell you.”
-
-After that Death put on his cloak and took up his scythe and was off
-like a whirlwind, for he has little time to spare for talking, folks
-say. Then Death’s grandmother opened the clock, and the princess came
-out and thanked her and went her way.
-
-She hunted here and there through the forest until, sure enough, she
-found Death’s great pale horse tied to an oak-tree. She loosened the
-bridle and mounted upon his back, and away they went till the chips and
-the stones flew behind them. So they soon came to the high hill of
-smooth glass that stood at the end of the earth, and there, on top of
-it, was the castle of the prince.
-
-The princess dismounted from the pale horse, and away he galloped home
-again.
-
-Then the princess hunted for the birds that Death said fought for Wish’s
-hat, and presently she heard them making a great hubbub, and, looking
-up, saw them in the tree-top above her, fighting for the old hat, just
-as Death said they would be doing. She picked up a stone and threw it in
-the midst of them, and they dropped the hat and flew away screaming.
-Then she put on the hat and wished herself at the top of the hill, and
-there she was as quick as a wink.
-
-Now, her shoes were worn into holes by long journeying, and her clothes
-were torn to threads and tatters by the brambles through which she had
-passed, and hung fluttering all about her, and she looked for all the
-world like nothing else than a common beggar-maid, except for her golden
-hair. So it was that when she knocked at the door of the prince’s
-castle, and the porter came and opened it and heard that she wanted to
-see the prince, he snapped his fingers and laughed. All the same he told
-her that the cook wanted a serving wench in the kitchen, and that she
-might have the place if she liked; if that did not suit her she might be
-jogging the way that she had come.
-
-Well, there was nothing for it but for the princess to serve in the
-kitchen or to go away again. So she bound up her hair in a tattered
-kerchief so that the beautiful golden tresses might not be seen, and
-down she went to serve the cook.
-
-The prince’s dinner was cooking at the fire, and the princess was to
-watch it so that it might not be burned. So she watched it, and as she
-watched it she wept.
-
-“Why do you weep, hussy?” said the cook.
-
-“Ah me!” said the princess, “once I ate with my love and drank with my
-love and lived by his side. If he did but know to what I have come how
-his heart would ache!”
-
-After that the dinner was served, but, while nobody was looking, the
-princess plucked a strand of her golden hair and laid it upon a white
-napkin and the napkin upon an empty plate. Over all she placed a silver
-cover, and when the Raven prince lifted it there lay the strand of
-golden hair. “Where did this come from?” said he. But nobody could tell
-him that.
-
-The next day the same thing happened; the princess watched the dinner,
-and as she watched she wept.
-
-“Why do you weep, hussy?” said the cook. And thereto the princess
-answered as she had done before: “Ah me! once I ate with my love and
-drank with my love and lived by his side. If he did but know to what I
-have come, how his heart would ache!”
-
-Then, while nobody was looking, she plucked another strand of golden
-hair and the prince found it as he had done the other, and no one could
-tell him whence it came.
-
-[Illustration: The Princess finds her Prince.]
-
-The third day the same thing happened as had happened twice before: the
-princess watched and wept, and when nobody was looking plucked a third
-strand of golden hair and sent it to the prince as she had the others.
-
-Then the prince sent for the cook. “Who has been serving this and that
-with my dinner?” said he.
-
-The cook shook his head, for he knew nothing, but perhaps the new
-serving wench could tell, for she wept and said things that none of them
-understood. When the prince heard this he sent for her, and the princess
-came and stood before him. He looked at her and knew her, for her golden
-hair shone through a hole in the ugly head-dress that she wore. Then he
-reached out his hand and snatched it off of her head, and her golden
-hair fell down all about her shoulders until it reached the floor. Then
-he took her in his arms and kissed her, and that was the end of all of
-her troubles.
-
-After that they had a grand time at the castle; every one who came had
-all that he could eat, and wine and beer flowed like water. I, too, was
-there, but I brought nothing away with me in my pockets.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Seven O’clock·
-
-
-            Around about, [Sidenote: ☉☌⊕E3°26′.]
-            Around about,
-    The _Kobold_ played and in and out;
-    He peeped in every _Pot_ and _Pail_,
-    And grinned, and pulled the _Pussy’s_ tail.
-
-    Big clumsy _Gretchen_, washing up [Sidenote: _Clear, pleasant._]
-    The _Breakfast-dishes_, dropped a _Cup_;
-    It fell upon the _Kobold’s Toe_,
-    And made him hop it hurt him so.
-
-      K.P. del.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: Cousin Greylegs, y^e Great Red Fox and Grandfather Mole.]
-
-                                  VII.
-
-
-In those days the Great Red Fox and Cousin Greylegs, the wolf, were
-great cronies, and whenever you would see one you might be sure the
-other was not far away. The Great Red Fox was a master-hand at roguery,
-and Cousin Greylegs, the wolf, came close behind him. That was how they
-made their living.
-
-By and by they fell out, so that they were never good friends again, and
-this was how it happened.
-
-There was to be a great fair, and the world and his wife and the little
-dog behind the stove were to be there.
-
-“We will go too,” says the pair of scamps; so off they went.
-
-By and by they came to an inn where the windows were red with the good
-things cooking in the kitchen—green geese and ducks and chickens, and
-sausages, and cabbage, and onions, and all the nice things you can think
-of. But the two rogues had no money, and one cannot buy something with
-nothing out in the wide world. But they found a ladder against the side
-of the wall, and climbed up into the loft above and lay in the hay.
-
-Dear, dear, how nice the good things did smell down in the kitchen! “My
-goodness!” says Cousin Greylegs, “but I would like to have a taste of
-them.”
-
-As for the Great Red Fox, he had been nursing his wits all the time, and
-now he had a trick hatched. So down he climbed from the loft the same
-way he had climbed up; and nobody saw him, for he took good care of
-that. Over he went to the stables where the horses stood munching away
-at the corn in the mangers. He loosened a bridle here and a bridle there
-until not one of the nags was fastened where he belonged; then he
-slipped back into the loft once more. By and by began the kicking and
-the squealing over at the stable; out ran the landlord and all the other
-folks with him, and not a soul was left in the kitchen. Then brother
-Greylegs and the Great Red Fox came down and helped themselves, and
-while they were about it the Great Red Fox stuffed a fistful of
-hazel-nuts into his pocket.
-
-After a while the landlord and the rest of them came from the stable;
-but nothing was left for them of the good things but the leavings.
-
-As for Cousin Greylegs and the Great Red Fox, why, they lay up in the
-loft among the straw, and ate and ate until they could eat no more.
-
-By and by there came along somebody else on his way to the fair, and it
-was a rich corn-factor who made his money by buying corn cheap, and
-selling it dear to poor folks, so that he was as great a rogue as the
-two scamps up yonder in the loft. With him he brought a whole bag of
-money; but it bought him no supper that night, for all the good things
-had been stolen, and the corn-factor had to be contented with what
-pickings he could get. As for the bag of money, he put that in a great
-chest in the corner, and there he left it for safe-keeping.
-
-Now up in the loft where the two rogues lay was a cowhide, which the
-landlord used for making straps and thongs and such like things. What
-does the Great Red Fox do but whip out his needle and thread and sew the
-cowhide fast to Cousin Greylegs’ Jacket, though Cousin Greylegs knew no
-more of that than a mouse in a barrel. Then by and by the Great Red Fox
-was up to another of his tricks. “See,” says he, “here I have a
-pocketful of hazel-nuts, and I am for cracking one.”
-
-“Tut, tut, brother,” says Cousin Greylegs, “you must crack no nuts
-here.”
-
-“But I must crack a nut,” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“But you must not,” says Cousin Greylegs.
-
-“But I must,” says the Great Red Fox, and so he did.
-
-“Hark!” says the landlord; “yonder is somebody up in the loft cracking
-the nuts that we were to have had for supper; it is a good beating he
-shall have for the trick he has been playing upon us.”
-
-[Illustration: Cousin Greylegs and the Great Red Fox go together to y^e
-fair. ¶ ):(]
-
-When Cousin Greylegs heard this he did not stop to tarry or to think;
-down he jumped from the loft, and away he scampered as fast as he could
-lay foot to the ground; but with him went the cowhide which the Great
-Red Fox had sewed fast to his jacket.
-
-“Hi!” bawled the landlord, “there is the thief who stole our supper, and
-he is taking my cowhide into the bargain.”
-
-Off they all scampered after Cousin Greylegs and the cowhide. The
-corn-factor first of all.
-
-As for Cousin Greylegs, why, he laid down to the running as though he
-had never been born for anything else. But it is hard work running with
-a cowhide flapping about one’s legs, so they caught him just over the
-hill, and then, dear, dear, what a drubbing they gave him.
-
-But as soon as everybody was safe away after Cousin Greylegs and the
-cowhide, the Great Red Fox came down from the loft, and marched off with
-the corn-factor’s money without anybody being about to say “No” to him.
-
-Off he went as happy as a cricket, until he came to the cross-roads over
-the hill and back of the woods, and who should he see sitting there but
-Cousin Greylegs rubbing the places that smarted the most.
-
-“Hi!” says the Great Red Fox, “and is that you, Cousin Greylegs? Why, I
-have been looking up and down, over hill and over hollow for you. Here
-is a whole bag of money that I found at the inn over yonder, and if it
-wasn’t for the trick that I played you, there was never a penny of it
-that would have come into our pockets.”
-
-“So!” says Cousin Greylegs. “Well, that was a different matter;” and he
-swallowed the drubbing he had had, for it was to be share and share
-alike with the money, and that was a salve for sore bones. So off they
-went together arm in arm.
-
-By and by they came to another inn. “We’ll stop here,” says Cousin
-Greylegs, “and have another bite to eat before we go any farther.” And
-that suited the Great Red Fox well enough, so in they went, and gave the
-bag of money into the landlord’s keeping, and Cousin Greylegs ordered a
-supper fit for a lord.
-
-But the Great Red Fox had his wits about him all this time, for he was
-not one to be caught napping when the sun was up. “Yes, yes,” says he to
-himself, “Cousin Greylegs is up to some of his tricks, sure enough;
-we’ll put a stopper in the bottle before the luck has dribbled out.” So
-while Cousin Greylegs was pottering about in the kitchen down-stairs,
-seeing that the cooking was done to his mind, the Great Red Fox took a
-bag like the one they brought with them, and filled it full of old rusty
-nails and bits of iron. Off he marched with it to the landlord. “See,”
-says he, “Cousin Greylegs will come asking for a bag by and by; here it
-is, give it to him and he will be satisfied.”
-
-[Illustration: Cousin Greylegs steals away from the inn, carrying off a
-bag full of this & that with him.]
-
-Sure enough, when the supper was over and the Great Red Fox was snoring
-in front of the fire, for all the world as though he were sound asleep,
-off packed Cousin Greylegs to the landlord. “Look,” says he, “that bag
-that the Great Red Fox left here, just hand it over to me, will you? for
-I must be jogging. As for the Great Red Fox, you may let him have his
-sleep out.”
-
-Yes, that was all right, and the landlord knew nothing about the tricks
-of the two rogues, so he handed over the bag of rusty nails and bits of
-iron. And Cousin Greylegs never once thought of looking to see, for the
-bits of iron jingled, and the sound was enough for him, for that is the
-way with folks out in the world.
-
-As for the Great Red Fox, he waited until Cousin Greylegs was well away
-on his own business, then off he stepped along the road that led the
-other way, and it was the bag of gold and silver money he carried with
-him.
-
-
-But that is not all of the story; for listen: There was a poor old blind
-mole who lived in the ground because he had nowhere else to go, and that
-was his home. But the Great Red Fox thought nothing of him. On he
-came—tramp! tramp! tramp!—and would have trodden right on the roof of
-the mole’s house. “Brother Fox,” cried Grandfather Mole, “look where you
-are treading, or you will have the roof down about my ears.”
-
-“Pooh!” says the Great Red Fox, “when one has been sharp enough to trick
-such a keen blade as Cousin Greylegs, one is not going to step out of
-one’s way for a little gray mole as blind as charity:” and so he was for
-going straight ahead.
-
-But up jumped Grandfather Mole and caught hold of him, and then he felt
-the bag of gold and silver money the Great Red Fox carried. “Hi!” says
-he, “and here is a new card in the game.” So he held on to the Great Red
-Fox and began to bawl with all his might and main, “Help, good folks!
-help! here is the Great Red Fox stealing my bag of gold and silver
-money!”
-
-“Hush! hush!” said the Great Red Fox, for he was for having as little
-said about the bag of money as need be, “let me go and I will promise to
-tread on nobody’s house.” But no, it was easier to get into that hole
-than it was to get out again, for Grandfather Mole held on and bawled
-for help louder than ever. “Help! help! here is one robbing a poor blind
-mole of all he has in the world!” That was the way he kept up the song,
-and he made such a hubbub that the folks came running and hauled them
-both up before the Master Judge to see what he had to say about the
-business.
-
-[Illustration: The Great Red Fox meets y^e old, blind Mole.]
-
-“The bag of money is mine,” said the Great Red Fox.
-
-“Yes, good! but where did you get it?” says the judge, and that was a
-question easier asked than answered.
-
-“See now,” says Grandfather Mole, “it is easy enough to talk, for breath
-is cheap in this town, but the thing is to put it to trial and find out
-who is telling the truth. We’ll build a fire and try who can stand it
-the longest, and that will show the right in this matter as clear as a
-morning in hay-season.”
-
-Well, that suited the fox well enough, “for,” says he to himself, “it is
-a pretty business if I can’t stand a scorching as long as an old blind
-mole;” and so that business was settled.
-
-Out they all went, and it was Grandfather Mole who was to try the
-burning first of all. So they fetched sticks and twigs and covered him
-all over with them, and then set fire to them.
-
-Dear, dear, but it was a fine blaze that went up, but the mole had his
-wits about him; for as soon as he felt the heat of the fire he began
-digging down into the ground with all his might and main, so that not a
-spark touched him.
-
-“Do you burn, Grandfather Mole?” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“No!” bawled Grandfather Mole. So they just threw on another armful of
-twigs.
-
-By and by the Great Red Fox says again: “Do you burn, Grandfather Mole?”
-for he thought by this time that the mole must be as scorched as an old
-shoe under the stove.
-
-But Grandfather Mole was ready for him. “_No!!_” he bawled, louder than
-ever.
-
-Dear, dear, but here was a strange happening; all the same, the Great
-Red Fox threw on wood and threw on wood, until the blaze went up like a
-chimney afire. “And _now_ do you burn, Grandfather Mole?” says he.
-
-“NO!!!” bawled Grandfather Mole until you might have thought his throat
-would have split with the noise he made.
-
-So they let the fire go out, and up came Grandfather Mole out of the
-ground looking as fresh and as sharp as a green gooseberry.
-
-And now it was the Great Red Fox’s turn; and they heaped the sticks and
-twigs over him as they had done over Grandfather Mole, and then set fire
-to them.
-
-“Do you burn?” says Grandfather Mole after a bit.
-
-“NO!!!” bawled the Great Red Fox, as though his throat was made of
-leather.
-
-So they threw on more sticks and twigs, but the Great Red Fox just shut
-his teeth and grinned, for he was bound that he would stand as much of a
-burning as an old blind mole.
-
-[Illustration: The Great Red Fox beareth all that he can.]
-
-“Do you burn now?” says Grandfather Mole.
-
-“No,” says the Great Red Fox, but his voice was as small as peas in
-March. So they threw on another armful of wood, and the fire grew hotter
-and hotter.
-
-“And do you burn now?” says Grandfather Mole.
-
-“_Thunder and lightning, yes!_” bawled the Great Red Fox, and out he
-jumped and away he scampered, smoking like a charcoal kiln.
-
-So all he gained by his roguery was a burnt skin and nothing to show for
-it; and that has happened more than once to rogues whose wits are so
-sharp that they cut their own fingers with them.
-
-Now in our town we do not make puddings without plums, or tell a story
-without rhyme or reason, but if you wish to find any meaning in these
-words, you must put on your spectacles and look for it for yourself,
-even though the tale stands all legs and no head, as the man in the moon
-said about his grandmother’s tongs.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Eight O’clock·
-
-
-              The _Sun_ in the _Sky_ [Sidenote: _Grows warmer_]
-              Is not yet high,
-        And the _Grasses_ are wet by the _Pool_.
-              With hop and jump,
-              By _Hedge_ and _Stump_, [Sidenote: ♈︎]
-        The _Children_ are going to _School_.
-
-                                    K. P.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: One Good Turn Deserves Another.]
-
-                                 VIII.
-
-
-Once upon a time there was a lad who was a fisherman, and every morning
-he shouldered his net, and went down to the river to catch fish to sell
-in the town.
-
-One morning as he walked beside the edge of the water, he came upon a
-great tall stork caught in a trap that had been set for the water-rats.
-
-It was a tender heart that the young fisherman had under his jacket, so
-when he saw Father Longlegs in such a pickle he waded out into the
-water, among the reeds and arrowheads to where the other was, and
-loosened the noose from about his leg.
-
-The storks bring good-luck to folks some people say, and that was what
-happened to the young fisherman.
-
-“One good turn deserves another,” says Father Longlegs; “cross your
-heart three times, cast your net into the water yonder, and see what you
-catch.” So the lad did as he was told, and when he drew his net to the
-shore, there was just one fish in it.
-
-Yes; just one fish, but that was worth the catching, I can tell you, for
-the scales were all of pure silver and gold, so that it glistened like
-the moon on smooth ice, and it was most wonderful to see.
-
-“There,” says the stork; “and now if you have your wits about you, it is
-your fortune that you have caught out of the water. Take the fish up to
-the king’s castle and show it to nobody but the king. When he sees it he
-will want to have it for his own and will be for buying it, but there is
-only one price you must ask for it, and that is to have the princess for
-your wife.” That was what the stork said, and then he spread his wings
-and flew away over the house-tops.
-
-So the lad wrapped the fish up in a clean white napkin and laid it in a
-wicker basket, and then off he marched to the king’s castle to try his
-luck there, as the stork had said.
-
-Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door.
-
-Well, and what did he want?
-
-Oh, he had brought a fish that he had caught over at the river yonder,
-but he would show it to nobody but the king himself.
-
-No, it did no good for them to ask and to question and to talk; what he
-had said he had said. So at last they had to take him up-stairs, and
-there was the king sitting upon a golden throne with a golden crown upon
-his head and a golden sceptre in his hand.
-
-“Well, and why do you wish to see me?” That was what the king said.
-
-It was no word that the lad spoke with his tongue, but he just unfolded
-the napkin, and showed the king what he had brought in the wicker
-basket.
-
-When the king saw the gold and silver fish, he thought he had never seen
-anything so wonderful in all of his life before. Then it was just as the
-stork had said. He must and would have the fish, no matter what it cost;
-and what would the lad take for it?
-
-Why, the body over at the river yonder, who had put the lad up to
-catching the fish, had told him that there was only one price to be
-asked for it. Now, if the king would let him have the princess for his
-wife, he might have the fish and welcome; for _that_ was the price, and
-the long and the short of it.
-
-Well, the king hemmed and hawed, but he did not speak the little word
-“no;” and after a while he said he would send for the princess, and see
-what she had to say about it. So the princess came, and she was a beauty
-I can tell you, for the very sight of her was enough to make one’s heart
-melt inside of one, like a lump of butter in the oven. And as for the
-wits of her, why, she was just as smart as she was pretty (which is
-saying much and a little over), and that is why the king had sent for
-her, for he wanted to get the gold and silver fish without paying the
-price for it.
-
-“Yes,” says the princess when the king had told her all. “I am ready
-enough to marry the lad, only he must promise to do one thing first.”
-
-[Illustration: Father Longlegs, the Stork, puts the Fisher Lad in y^e
-way of catching a strange fish in his nets. ¶]
-
-Dear, dear, how the lad’s heart jumped inside of him at that. He was
-willing enough to promise whatever was asked, for he would do anything
-to marry the princess, now that he had seen how pretty she was.
-
-“Very well, then,” said the princess, “just bring me the key of
-wish-house and I will marry you.”
-
-“There,” said the king, “that is a bargain; go and bring the key of
-wish-house and you shall marry the princess; and you may just leave the
-fish here until you come back again. And don’t show your face about here
-without the key, if you wish to keep your head upon your shoulders.”
-
-So off went the lad from the king’s castle, with nothing at all in his
-pocket and ill-luck astride of his back. Down he went to the river as
-straight as he could walk, and there stood Father Stork gazing down into
-the water and looking as wise as our minister on Sunday. See now, thus
-and so and thus and so had happened, and the stork had gotten him into a
-pretty scrape over at the castle by putting him up to asking such a
-price for his herring; that was what the lad said.
-
-“Prut!” says the stork, “break no bones over that furrow; ill-luck
-always comes before good-luck, and rain before the little flowers; what
-is worth having is worth working for. Just get upon my back and I will
-carry you to where the queen of the birds lives; if anybody can put you
-in the way of finding the key of wish-house she will be the one.” So the
-stork bent his red legs and up the lad got upon his back. Then Father
-Longlegs spread his wings and away he flew, and on and on, over field
-and fallow, over valley and mountain, over forest and over stream.
-
-After they had gone so far that the lad thought the end of the world
-could not be a great way off, they came to a grand house, all built of
-red brick, that stood on a high hill, and that was where the queen of
-the birds lived. The stork flew straight to the house, and there was the
-queen of the birds walking in the garden.
-
-The stork told everything from first to last, and that now what they
-wanted to know was, whether the queen of the birds could tell them where
-the key of wish-house was to be found.
-
-No, the queen did not know that herself, but she would call all of the
-birds of the heavens and of the earth, and perhaps there would be some
-one among them that could tell.
-
-A little silver whistle hung about her neck; she put it to her lips and
-blew upon it so shrilly that it made a body’s ear ring to listen to it,
-and the birds of the heavens and of the earth came flying from far and
-near until the air was as full of them as a sunbeam is full of motes on
-sweeping-day.
-
-The queen of the birds asked them one and all, from tom-tit to the wild
-swan, if they could tell where the key of wish-house was to be found;
-but not a single one of them knew.
-
-After all the rest had spoken there came flying an old eagle, so old
-that he was as grey as the ashes upon the hearth, and he was six times
-as big as any of the rest. He had come from the other end of nowhere,
-and that is a long way off, as even simple Jack can tell you; that was
-what had kept him such a time in the coming.
-
-And was it the key of wish-house that they were talking about? Oh, yes;
-the old eagle knew where the key of wish-house was as well as he knew
-his bread-and-butter, for the old Grey Master that lives on the iron
-mountain had it hanging back of the kitchen door, and the eagle had seen
-it there more than once.
-
-“Very well,” says the queen of the birds; “then here is a lad who has
-come out into the world hunting for that key, a good-hearted fellow who
-helped Father Stork out of a tight place over at the river yonder, where
-he had been caught in a trap set for the water-rats. Now can you not
-help him to find what he wants?”
-
-Well, the old eagle did not say no, for one good turn deserves another;
-so he took the lad on his back at the root of his wings and away he
-flew.
-
-One would have thought that the red-legged stork had flown far, but it
-was nothing at all to the journey that the eagle took. On and on he flew
-for such a long way that I, for one, could never find words to tell you
-how far away it was.
-
-All the same, every journey must have an ending. And at last they came
-to a great iron mountain the sides of which were as smooth as the face
-of a looking-glass; so it was a good thing for the lad that he had a
-great grey eagle to carry him up to the top, and that is the truth.
-
-There on the top of the mountain lay a green meadow, so wide that the
-eye could not see to the other end of it. And in the middle of the
-meadow stood a tall castle; that was where the Grey Master lived who
-kept the key of wish-house back of the kitchen door.
-
-“This is all the farther I can carry you just now,” says the eagle; “but
-here is a feather, when you are ready to come away just throw it up into
-the air, and I will not be long in coming.”
-
-The lad thanked the eagle for the help he had had, and then he put the
-feather in the lining of his hat.
-
-After that the eagle went one way and the lad went the other, and that
-was towards the castle where the Grey Master lived.
-
-Off he stepped right foot foremost, and by and by he came to a little
-stream of water that ran along through the meadow. But just in the
-middle of the brook lay a great stone, that choked the stream so that it
-could hardly crawl around it.
-
-“Here is a body in trouble as well as myself,” said the lad, and he
-stooped and rolled away the great round stone so that the brook might
-flow smoothly and freely.
-
-“One good turn deserves another,” said the brook. “Look in the place
-where the great round stone lay and you will find a little red pebble;
-so long as you keep that pebble in your mouth you will be as strong as
-ten common men.”
-
-Well, the lad hunted until he found the pebble, and then he thanked the
-brook and jogged along the way he was going.
-
-By and by he came to an apple-tree, and it was so loaded down with
-apples that the branches were bent to the very ground.
-
-“Here is another body weighed down by the cares of the world,” said the
-lad. So he shook some of the apples off and cut props to put under the
-branches, that they might not be broken by the load.
-
-“One good turn deserves another,” said the apple-tree. “Look under my
-roots and you will find a golden apple; while you keep that in your
-bosom neither fire nor water can harm you, for it is an apple from the
-tree of life.”
-
-Well, the lad found the apple under the roots of the tree, and then he
-said “thank you,” and went on his way.
-
-By and by he came to a place where he heard a great hubbub over the
-hedge; he looked and there he saw that it was a black cock and a red
-cock fighting for dear life, and the red cock was having the worst of
-it, for it was nearly dead already.
-
-“Here is another who is having the worst of the fight,” said the lad,
-and he jumped over the hedge, and drove away the black cock with the
-staff he held in his hand.
-
-“One good turn deserves another,” said the red cock. “I know what you
-have come hither to find, and I will give you a bit of advice that will
-be worth the having. When the Grey Master asks you what you want, tell
-him it is to watch his black cattle for one night. If you do that he
-must give you whatsoever you ask for. And listen; this is what you must
-do to watch the cattle. When you open the stable door there will come
-out three-and-twenty black cows, and after them a black bull breathing
-fire and smoke. Him you must catch by the horns and must hold him fast
-until the cock crows in the morning. But you must have the strength of
-ten men to do that.”
-
-[Illustration: The Fisher Lad cometh to the Grey Master’s house.]
-
-Well, the lad thanked the cock for the advice he had given, and then he
-went on his way and up to the castle where the Grey Master lived.
-
-He knocked at the door, and it was the Grey Master himself who came and
-opened it. He was a head and shoulders taller than other men, was the
-Grey Master, and he had but one eye, which gleamed and glistened like
-the dog-star in January. Beside him flew two black ravens with eyes as
-red as coals of fire.
-
-“And what is it that you want?” said the Grey Master.
-
-“Oh!” said the lad, “I have come from over in the brown world yonder,
-and I want to watch your black cattle for one night, that is all I am
-after.”
-
-When the Grey Master heard what the lad said, he frowned until his one
-eye shone like lightning. “Very well,” said he, “you shall have a chance
-and a try at what you want, but if you fail your head shall be cut off
-and hung up over the gate yonder.”
-
-“That is not so pleasant to think of,” said the lad; “all the same, I
-will have a try and see what I can do.” So in he came, and he and the
-Grey Master sat down to supper together.
-
-By and by, when the lad had eaten all that he wanted the Grey Master
-told him it was time to go about the business he had come for. So off
-went the lad to the stable where the four-and-twenty black cattle stood
-all in a row. He opened the door, and out they ran helter-skelter and as
-fast as they could push, and—whisk! pop!—soon as they came out of the
-door each cow changed into a black crow and flew around and around the
-lad’s head as though it would beat his eyes out. Last of all came the
-black bull, and the lad was ready and waiting for him.
-
-He clapped the red pebble into his mouth, and then he was as strong as
-ten common men. He caught the bull by the horns, and it might puff out
-fire and smoke, as it chose, for it could do him no harm because of the
-apple of life which he carried in his bosom.
-
-How the bull did pitch and toss, and bellow and roar, to be sure, but it
-was all for no use, the lad held on like hunger, until by and by the
-bull stopped struggling and stood as quiet as a lamb. But the lad held
-fast to the bull’s horns, and all the time the black crows flew about
-his head, but never once so much as touched him.
-
-At last a cock crew, and then they all changed again into cows, and the
-lad drove them back into the stable once more, and there they were.
-
-By and by came the Grey Master. “Well,” said he, “and did you watch the
-black cattle?”
-
-Oh, yes, the lad had watched them, and it was no such hard task to do;
-there they were in the stable yonder, safe and sound.
-
-Then you should have seen what a sour face the Master pulled over the
-business! All the same, he had to pay the lad; so what did he want for
-his wages?
-
-“Oh!” said the lad, “it is little that I want. If you will let me have
-the key that hangs back of the kitchen door I will be satisfied.” So the
-Grey Master had to go and get it for him, though he would rather have
-given him one of his eye-teeth.
-
-Off marched the lad with what he had come for, and that is more than
-most of us get. But the Grey Master was not for letting him off so easy
-as all that, I can tell you, for the more he thought over the business
-the less he liked to give up the key of wish-house.
-
-So after a while he took down the Sword of Sharpness which hung against
-the wall, slipped his feet into the Shoes of Speed that stood in the
-corner, took a peep into the Book of Knowledge which lay upon the shelf,
-to see which way the lad had gone, and then set off after him hot-foot,
-to get back what he had given away.
-
-Just as the lad got to where the apple-tree stood he looked over his
-shoulder, and there he saw the Grey Master coming over the hills.
-
-“And where shall I go now,” says he.
-
-“One good turn deserves another,” said the apple-tree; “just come under
-my branches.”
-
-The lad did as he was told, and the apple-tree drooped its branches
-about him, until one could see neither hide nor hair of him.
-
-By and by up came the Grey Master puffing and blowing. “Apple-tree,”
-says he, “did you see the fisher-lad come by this way?”
-
-No, the apple-tree had seen nobody go past that place. So back went the
-Master home again to have another look into his Book of Knowledge. There
-he saw as clear as day what sort of trick had been played upon him. Off
-he started again after the lad at such a rate that the ground smoked
-under his feet.
-
-But the lad had lost no time either, so that when he looked over his
-shoulder and saw the Grey Master coming across the hills behind him, he
-had gone as far as the brook.
-
-“One good turn deserves another,” said the brook, and it made itself
-small and smaller, so that the lad stepped over without wetting so much
-as the sole of his foot. Then it spread itself out again three times as
-broad as before. Presently up came the Master, fuming like a pot on the
-fire.
-
-“Brook,” says he, “did you see the fisher-lad go by this way?”
-
-“Yes,” said the brook; “there he is just on the other side.” And there
-he was sure enough.
-
-The Grey Master never stopped to take off his shoes and stockings, but
-into the water he splashed as fast as he could go. Just as he reached
-the middle of the stream the brook began to swell, and grew large and
-larger until it carried away the Grey Master like a cork in the gutter,
-and there was an end of him.
-
-After that the lad went on without hurrying any more than he chose,
-until he came to the side of the mountain. He took the eagle’s feather
-from out his cap and threw it up in the air, and there was the eagle
-before he had time to grow tired of waiting.
-
-He sat him upon the eagle’s back, and away they flew, and on and on
-without stopping until they came to the house where the queen of the
-birds lived. There was Father Longlegs (the stork) waiting for them. He
-took his turn of carrying the lad, and when they stopped it was just
-over beyond the king’s castle.
-
-But the lad had been out into the world, and had learned a thing or two.
-
-“See now,” says he, “it was hasty cooking that burned the broth;” and so
-he would not go up to the castle with his key of wish-house without
-first trying what door he could unlock with it himself. He took it out
-of his pocket and struck it a rap or two upon the ground.
-
-“I should like,” says he, “to have golden clothes upon my back, and to
-have a golden horse and a golden greyhound that shall chase a golden
-hare.” That was what he said, and he did not have to say it twice; for
-before he could wink there they were standing beside him just as he
-wanted. He leaped upon his horse and away he rode after the greyhound
-and the golden hare.
-
-How the people in the castle did stare when they saw him riding past!
-The princess herself ran to the window to see the fine sight, and as for
-the king, he sent six of his knights posting after the fisher-lad, for
-he thought that it was some great lord who had come into those parts.
-
-[Illustration: The Grey Master is caught in the stream and is swept
-away, but y^e Fisher Lad crosses it dry-shod. ):(]
-
-By and by the lad came to a thicket, and there he jumped off of his
-horse and rapped upon the ground with his key.
-
-“I wish to be as I was before,” says he, and then he was the poor
-fisher-lad and nothing else. As for the golden clothes, the golden
-horse, the golden greyhound, and the golden hare, they went back to
-Nomansland whither they had come; and when the king’s people came riding
-up there was nobody but a lad in rags and tatters whistling into a key.
-
-They hunted up and they hunted down, but they could find neither sign
-nor trace of the golden rider and the golden horse. So after a while
-they had to ride back to the castle without them.
-
-“You should have brought the lad who blew upon the key,” said the
-princess.
-
-The next day the lad rapped upon the ground with his key again.
-
-“I should like to have,” says he, “a golden coach drawn by six
-milk-white horses, with coachman and footman and out-riders dressed in
-clothes of gold and silver.”
-
-That was what he said; and there they were just as he wanted. Into the
-coach he got, and off he rode down by the king’s castle.
-
-Dear, dear, how the folks did stare, to be sure! This time the king sent
-twelve knights after the golden coach, for he thought it must be a king
-or a prince for certain who rode by in such style.
-
-Pretty soon the lad came to a woods, and there he jumped out of the
-coach and rapped upon the ground with his key.
-
-“I want to be just as I was before,” says he; and, sure enough, he was.
-
-Up clattered the twelve knights on their horses, and there sat the lad
-in rags and tatters whistling upon his key.
-
-The twelve knights hunted high and hunted low, and not another soul
-could they find, and so they had to ride back to the castle again.
-
-“See now,” said the princess, “did I not say that you should have
-brought the lad who blew upon the key?”
-
-The next day the lad went out and rapped upon the ground for the third
-time.
-
-“I should like,” said he, “to have a splendid castle all built of silver
-and gold, such as nobody ever saw before.”
-
-That was what he said, and before the words had left his tongue just
-such a great castle grew up out of nothing like a soap-bubble.
-
-[Illustration: The Princess finds the Fisher Lad with the key of Luck’s
-house. ¶]
-
-The king chanced to look out of the window just then, and there was the
-great splendid gold and silver castle. He took off his spectacles and
-rubbed them and rubbed them, but there was the castle just the same as
-ever.
-
-He bade them saddle the horses, and he and the princess, and all of the
-court besides, rode away to find out who it was that had built such a
-fine castle all in one night.
-
-But the lad saw them coming, and rapped upon the ground with his key. “I
-should like,” said he, “for things to be just as they were before;” and
-puff! away went the castle like the light of a candle when one blows it
-out.
-
-Up came the king and the princess and all the court, and not a speck of
-the grand castle could they find, but only a lad in rags and tatters who
-sat upon a great round stone and whistled upon a key.
-
-But the princess was a lass who could see through a millstone with a
-hole in it. So soon as she set eyes upon him she knew the whole business
-from beginning to end. Up she marched to him, before them all, and took
-him by the hand. “Now I will marry you,” said she, “for I see that you
-have brought the key of wish-house with you;” and there she was as wise
-as ever. For there be many kings and princes in the world, but I have
-never yet heard of any one except the fisher-lad who had the key of
-wish-house. Have you?
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Nine O’clock·
-
-
-         The _School-bell_ rings; [Sidenote: ☉]
-           The _Children_ all
-         Must answer to
-           The _Master’s_ call. [Sidenote: _Cloudy and warm._]
-
-         The _Master_ has
-           A crooked _Nose_;
-         He whips the _Boys_,
-           And puffs, and blows;
-
-         He makes them stand
-           And walk by _Rule_,
-         And bow before
-           They leave the _School_.
-
-                 K.P.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The White Bird.]
-
-                                  IX.
-
-
-Once there was a king, who, as time went on, found himself waxing old in
-years and feeble in body, so he began to think of giving up the cares of
-government and of taking his ease for as much of life as was left him.
-But here was the trouble: there were three princes, and each one of them
-was just as clever as the other two, so that the old king could not tell
-which to choose as the right one to sit in his place. He thought and
-thought and thought, until at last he plucked an apple off of his
-thinking-tree, as folks say. All three of the princes should go out into
-the world, and whichever of them should fetch back an apple from the
-Tree of Happiness should rule over all of the kingdom. And I speak the
-truth when I say that the apple was cheap enough even at that price.
-
-So off went the three to seek for what they wanted. They travelled along
-without let or stay until towards evening they came to a place where two
-houses stood, the one on the one side of the road and the other on the
-other.
-
-One of them was as fine a house as a body ever saw. Every window was lit
-up by the warm fires and the bright lights within, and even out on the
-high-road one could hear the merry times the folks were having; laughing
-and singing and clinking their glasses together. As for the good things
-cooking in the kitchen, why it was enough to make one hungry just to
-smell the steam of them. Over the door was a sign, and on the sign was
-written,
-
-                   “WHO ENTERS HERE SHALL HAVE WHAT
-                   HE LIKES AND PAY NOTHING FOR IT.”
-
-The other house was a poor, mean, little, tumble-down hut, as silent as
-death, and with never a spark of light or fire shining at the windows.
-There was also a sign over the door, and on the sign was written,
-
-                  “WHO ENTERS HERE SHALL HAVE WHAT HE
-                  NEEDS AND PAY WHAT HE CAN.”
-
-“Yonder is the place for us,” said the older brothers, and they pointed
-with their thumbs to the grand house, where there was good company with
-plenty to eat and drink and nothing to pay.
-
-“Yes,” says the youngest of the three, “that is all very well, but I
-would rather pay for what I need than get what I like for nothing.”
-
-Dear, dear, how the two did laugh at the one to be sure! but all the
-same, the one held to what he had said, and so at last the two flew into
-a huff. “Go your way,” said they, “and we will go ours.” And into the
-grand house they went. There they gave themselves up to ease and
-comfort, and it was a merry time they had of it, I can tell you.
-
-But the youngest brother went over to the little dark house and knocked
-upon the door, and it was opened by a poor old man whose head and beard
-were as white as the snow, and whose clothes hung about him all in tags
-and tatters.
-
-“Come in and welcome,” said he, “for you are the first who has been here
-for twenty-seven ages;” and that is a long time, as anybody knows
-without the telling.
-
-But in the little house there was no wood to make a fire, and there was
-no water to boil in the pot. So the prince took the axe and went out and
-chopped an armful of wood, and then he took the pot and filled it at the
-well.
-
-Out in the stable stood a white cow with silver horns; but there was
-never a straw for it to lie upon, and never a bit of hay for it to eat.
-So the prince shook down a bed for it, and then he filled the rack with
-hay and left it munching away for dear life.
-
-Out in the yard was a red cock and a white hen, but though they
-scratched and scratched it was never a grain that they found. So the
-prince threw them a handful of barley and left them pecking away at it,
-as though they had not seen the like for a week of Sundays.
-
-[Illustration: The Prince knocks at the door of the poor, mean, little
-house and not the great, rich one. ¶]
-
-After he had done all these things, he and the old man sat down to
-supper together, and, if it was not of the finest, why the prince had a
-good appetite, and one can have no better sauce to a crust than that.
-
-The prince stayed all night, and the next morning he was for jogging on
-his way. But before he went he offered the old man what money he had,
-because anybody could read the sign over the door.
-
-But the old man shook his head. “No, no,” said he, “you have paid your
-score. You have given what you can, and you shall have what you need.
-Here is a little book, and in it you may read whatever you wish to know.
-Go out into the stable and you will find a barley straw back of the
-white cow’s ear. Take that with you, for you will need it. Look in the
-manger and you will find an egg that the white hen has laid; take it
-with you also, for it is worth the having.”
-
-Then he said good-bye and shut the door, and that was the last the
-prince saw of him.
-
-The prince went to the stable, and there he found the barley straw and
-the egg, just as the old man had said, and off he marched with them.
-
-He went to the grand house over the way and called his brothers, but
-they only came to the windows and laughed and jeered at him. “No, no,”
-said they, “we are going no farther along the road, for we know very
-well when the world is smooth with us. The Fruit of Happiness can bring
-us nothing better than what we have at hand.”
-
-And so the young prince had to trudge away by himself. But what to do
-with the straw and the egg he knew no more than my grandmother’s cat. So
-he opened his little book, and this was what it said between the leaves:
-
-“_Mount the straw and ride it whither it takes you._”
-
-“So,” said the prince; “that would be a strange thing to do for sure and
-certain. All the same, an easy task is worth the trying;” so he just
-flung his leg over the straw and—whisk! pop!—there he was, astride of a
-great splendid horse with smooth hair as yellow as gold.
-
-That straw was a straw worth having!
-
-And the best part of the matter was that the prince had no need to draw
-the bridle-rein either to the right or to the left; for the yellow horse
-took the bit in his teeth and away he pounded so that the ground smoked
-under his hoofs, and the wind whistled back of the prince’s ears. By and
-by they came to a great sandy desert place where not a twig or a leaf
-was to be seen, but only white bones scattered here and there, for the
-prince was not the first by many who had tried to cross that desert to
-the Tree of Happiness.
-
-[Illustration: The Prince finds y^e three giants sleeping under the tree
-of life & snoring away like everything. ¶]
-
-But he had better luck than the others, for the yellow horse carried him
-along like the wind, and on and on until at last he came within sight of
-the Tree of Happiness. There sat three terrible giants, an old giant and
-his two sons, and alongside of each lay a great iron club with sharp
-spikes in the end of it. But all three sat with their eyes shut,
-sleeping away as though they would never awaken. And that was a good
-thing for the prince, for he had never seen such terrible,
-wicked-looking creatures as the old giant and his two sons. He leaped
-from off the back of the yellow horse, and there it was, nothing but a
-barley straw. He put it in his pocket and took out his Book of Knowledge
-and opened it. This was what it said:
-
-“_Fear not the giants, for they will not awake; but touch neither the
-golden fruit nor the silver fruit, for they are not for you._”
-
-When the prince read what the Book of Knowledge said, he knew that it
-was so. Up he marched to the Tree of Happiness as bold as bold could be,
-and the giants snored away so that the leaves shook.
-
-There hung three apples; the first was of gleaming gold, the second was
-of shining silver, and the third was just a poor, weazened, shrivelled
-thing, that looked as though there were not three drops of juice in it.
-
-“Prut!” says the prince, “it can never be that I have travelled all this
-way for nothing in the world but a dead apple. After all, it must be the
-golden fruit that I am to take, in spite of what the Book of Knowledge
-said; for if happiness is to be found in anything, it is to be found in
-such as it.”
-
-So he reached up his hand and plucked the golden apple, and then—hi!
-what a hubbub, for the Tree of Happiness began to clamor and call as
-though every leaf on it had become a tongue to speak with.
-
-“Help! help!” it cried. “Here is one coming to rob us of our golden
-fruit!”
-
-Up jumped the three giants, and each one snatched up his iron club and
-came at the prince as though to put an end to him without any more talk
-over the business. But the prince begged and prayed and prayed and
-begged that they would spare his life.
-
-“Listen,” said the old giant; “if you will promise to bring us the Sword
-of Brightness that shines in the darkness and cuts whatsoever the edge
-is turned against, we will not only spare your life, but give you the
-Fruit of Happiness into the bargain.” That was what the old giant said,
-and the others agreed to it; for if they could once lay hand upon such a
-sword as that they would be masters of all the world.
-
-Well, the prince promised that he would get them the Sword of
-Brightness, for one will promise much before one will be knocked on the
-head with an iron club; and then the giant let him go, and glad enough
-he was to get away.
-
-Off he went back of the hill. He drew out his barley straw and threw his
-leg over it, and there he sat astride of his yellow horse again.
-
-“I should like,” said he, “to be carried to where I can find the Sword
-of Brightness that shines in the darkness and cuts whatever its edge is
-turned against.” That was all that he had to say, and away clattered the
-yellow horse over stock and stone so that the ground smoked beneath his
-hoofs. On they went and on they went for a great long while, until at
-last they came to a tall castle as black as your hat, and there was
-where the Sword of Brightness was to be found. In front of the castle
-gate lay two great fiery dragons, with smoke coming up out of their
-nostrils instead of the breath of life, and all over their bodies were
-brazen scales that shone like gold in the sunlight. But both dragons
-were sound asleep.
-
-Inside of the court-yard were many and one fierce soldiers armed in
-shining armor and each with a battle-axe or a sword or an iron club
-lying beside him; but they too were as sound asleep as the dragon.
-
-Down jumped the prince from the great yellow horse, and there was the
-barley straw again. He took out the Book of Knowledge from his pocket,
-and this was what it said:
-
-“_Fear not the dragons nor the fierce soldiers, for they will not
-awaken; but take only the old leathern scabbard with the sword._”
-
-So up walked the prince as bold as brass, and the soldiers and the
-dragons said never a word, but just snored away so that the windows
-rattled. Into the castle he walked, and nobody said “No” to him. There
-sat an old man, as wicked as sin and as grey as the ashes in the hearth.
-He never moved a hair, only his little red eyes turned here and there,
-and were never still for a wink. A great keen sword lay on the table in
-front of him, and the light on the blade was like the bright flash of
-lightning. The prince took the sword up from the table, and the little
-old man looked at him, but said never a word, good or bad.
-
-On the wall hung three scabbards; one was of gold studded all over with
-precious stones; another of silver that gleamed like the light of the
-moon in frosty weather; and the third was of nothing but old, shabby,
-worm-eaten leather that looked as though they had just fetched it down
-from the dusty garret.
-
-“It would be a pity,” said the prince, “to put such a fine sword into
-such a poor scabbard. I’ll not choose the gold because of what happened
-to me over at the Tree of Happiness yonder, but surely silver is none
-too good for the Sword of Brightness.”
-
-So he took down the silver scabbard and thrust the sword into it, and
-therewith dipped his spoon into the wrong pot again; for, no sooner had
-he sheathed the sword in the silver scabbard than the old gray man began
-to thump on the table in front of him and to bawl at the top of his
-voice, “Help! help! here is one come to steal our Sword of Brightness.”
-
-At this the soldiers outside woke up and began to clash and rattle with
-their battle-axes and swords and iron clubs, and the dragons began to
-roar and send up clouds of smoke like a chimney afire.
-
-In ran the soldiers, and were for putting an end to the prince without
-another word being said, but he begged and prayed and prayed and begged
-that his life might be spared, just as he had done with the giants over
-yonder at the Tree of Happiness.
-
-“Listen,” says the old grey man at last; “if you will promise to bring
-me the White Bird from the black mountain, I will not only spare your
-life, but will give you the Sword of Brightness into the bargain.”
-
-Yes, the prince would get the White Bird if anybody in the world could
-get it. And thereupon they let him go, and glad enough he was to get
-away.
-
-Back of the hedge he threw his leg over the barley straw.
-
-“I would like,” said he, “to be taken to where I can find the White Bird
-that lives on the black mountain;” and away thundered the yellow horse,
-like a storm in June.
-
-If it was far that they travelled before, it was farther that they
-travelled this time. But at last they came to the black mountain, and
-the prince jumped off the nag and thrust the straw into his pocket.
-
-There was not a blade of grass nor a bit of green to be seen on the
-hill, but only a great lot of round, black stones scattered from top to
-bottom. That was all that was left of the lads who had come that way
-before to find the White Bird.
-
-[Illustration: The Prince finds the sword of brightness where sits an
-old man. ∥]
-
-On the top of the mountain sat an old witch with golden hair, and in her
-hand was the White Bird. The prince opened his Book of Knowledge, and
-there he read that if one would gain the White Bird one would have to
-catch the witch by her golden hair, for then she would be compelled to
-grant whatever was asked of her; only he would have to be very careful
-in his doings, for if the witch caught sight of him upon the black hill
-she would change him into a stone just as she had all the rest who had
-come that way.
-
-But how was he to climb the hill without the witch seeing him? That was
-what the prince would like to know. So he turned over another leaf of
-the Book of Knowledge, and there it was all in plain black and white.
-This was what it said:
-
-“_Crack the egg of the white hen and put on the cap._”
-
-The prince cracked the egg, and, sure enough, inside of it was a little
-cap of feathers. He put on the feather cap and—whisk!—as quick as a wink
-he was changed into a titmouse, which is the least of all the birds in
-that land.
-
-He spread his wings and flew and flew and flew, until he was close
-behind the witch where she sat on the black mountain. He took off his
-cap and there he was in his own shape again. He caught the old witch by
-her golden hair and held her fast. And you should have heard how she
-screamed and scolded, and you should have seen how she twisted and
-turned!
-
-But the prince just held fast, and she could make nothing of it for all
-her trying.
-
-“And what do you want, that you come here to torment me?” said she at
-last.
-
-“I want the White Bird,” said the prince; “and I will be satisfied with
-nothing else.” It was all to no purpose that the old witch stormed and
-scolded, for what he had said he had said, and he would be satisfied
-with nothing else. So at last, willy-nilly, she had to give him what he
-asked for.
-
-The prince took it in his hands, and it was a white bird no longer, but
-the prettiest lass that ever a body’s eyes looked upon, with cheeks as
-red as roses and a skin as white as snow.
-
-But still the prince held tight to the old witch’s hair, and now what
-else was it he was wanting.
-
-Why, before he would let her go, she must change all the round stones
-back again into the lads of flesh and blood they had been before.
-
-So the old witch had to do that also, and there stood so many good stout
-lads in the place of the hard, round stones.
-
-But still the prince held fast to her golden hair. And what else was it
-he was wanting?
-
-Why, this! The old witch must promise to do no harm to him or to anybody
-else who should come that way. The old witch had to promise. And then he
-let go of her hair, and you can guess what a rage she was in.
-
-But the prince cared nothing for that, for he had found what he came
-for.
-
-He took the barley straw out of his pocket and threw his leg over it.
-Then he took the princess up behind him on the great yellow horse, and
-away he clattered, leaving the witch scolding behind him.
-
-After a while he came to the black castle; there he took out his Book of
-Knowledge, for now that he had the White Bird he could not bear to think
-of giving her up; and this was what the book said:
-
-“_Take the White Bird to the old grey man and he will give you the Sword
-of Brightness, turn the edge against him and against the fierce soldiers
-and against the two dragons, and then ride away with your White Bird._”
-
-So up he rode to the black castle, and the fiery dragons let him pass
-when they saw that the White Bird rode behind him. The old grey man gave
-the lad the Sword of Brightness quickly enough, for the White Bird was
-worth that and a great deal more, I can tell you.
-
-As soon as the prince had hold of the Sword of Brightness, he turned the
-keen edge of the blade against the wicked old man and the soldiers and
-the dragons; off flew their heads, and there they lay as dead as red
-herrings in a box.
-
-Then he thrust the Sword of Brightness into the leathern scabbard, for
-he had learned a grain or two of wisdom by this time, and away he rode
-with the White Bird sitting behind him.
-
-On they rode and on they rode until they came to the desert place and
-the Tree of Happiness. And then the prince took out his Book of Wisdom
-and turned over the leaves, for he was of no mind to give up the Sword
-of Brightness if he could help doing so.
-
-“_Turn the edge of the blade against the three giants._”
-
-Thus said the book, and the lad did so, and there they lay all three of
-them as dead as stocks.
-
-I know that this is true which I tell, because since then there have
-been no cruel giants to keep a body from getting a taste of the Fruit of
-Happiness now and then, if a body chooses to travel that far to find it.
-But that is neither here nor there, and what I have to tell is this:
-
-The young prince rode away towards home with the White Bird sitting
-behind him, the Sword of Brightness hanging by his side, and the Fruit
-of Happiness in his pocket.
-
-By and by he came to the place where the two houses stood, the one on
-the one side of the road, and the one on the other, and there he took
-out his Book of Knowledge to have a peep at it, and this was what it
-said:
-
-“_Buy no black sheep._”
-
-“Prut!” says the prince, “what should I want with black sheep I should
-like to know?”
-
-By and by he met a great crowd, and in the midst of all the rest were
-his two brothers with their hands tied behind them with stout ropes.
-
-And what were they going to do with the two? That was what the prince
-would like to know.
-
-“Why,” said those who held them, “they have spent all their money at the
-great house over yonder, and have run up a score for good things
-besides, and now they are packing off to prison because they cannot pay
-what they owe.”
-
-“Come, come,” says the prince, “let them go and I will pay their
-reckoning;” and so he did, and that was what the Book of Wisdom meant by
-buying black sheep.
-
-After that they all stepped away homeward, right foot foremost; for
-since the young prince had brought the Fruit of Happiness along with
-him, there was no need of the other brothers going to look for it.
-
-By and by they felt weary and sat down by the roadside to rest, and as
-they sat there the youngest prince fell asleep. While he slept the elder
-brothers stole away the Sword of Brightness and the Fruit of Happiness.
-Then they wakened him and made him strip off his fine clothes, and gave
-him a parcel of rags and tatters fit for no one but a beggar, and he had
-to put them on or go without.
-
-As for the White Bird, they made her vow and swear that she would say
-nothing of all this. Then off they marched with her and with the Sword
-of Brightness, and left the prince with never a stitch or a thread that
-was worth the having.
-
-“See,” said they, as soon as they came home, “not only have we brought
-the Fruit of Happiness, but the Sword of Brightness and the White Bird
-into the bargain.”
-
-As for the youngest brother, they told the king that he had stopped over
-at the tavern yonder, and had spent all his money in eating and
-drinking, just as they themselves had really done.
-
-[Illustration: The Prince sits down beside y^e garden-gate and only one
-knoweth him.]
-
-But the White Bird did nothing but weep and weep, and neither this
-brother nor that could draw the Sword of Brightness from its leathern
-scabbard. And when the king came to taste the Fruit of Happiness, it was
-as bitter as gall. So, after all, the two gained nothing by what they
-had done.
-
-But the young prince was not for giving up all that he had lost, without
-trying to get what he could back again. Off he marched in his rags and
-tatters until he came to the castle where the king, his father, lived.
-Up he stepped to the door and knocked, but nobody would let him in
-because he looked like nothing but a beggar. So down he sat beside the
-gate of the castle garden, since he could not come into the house.
-
-After a while the folks came out, one by one and two by two, to walk in
-the garden and take the air, and all the time the prince sat there and
-nobody knew him.
-
-Last of all came the old king, and with him walked the White Bird. The
-king was for passing the lad by as all the rest had done. But as soon as
-the White Bird saw him, she knew who he was and ran to him and threw her
-arms around his neck and kissed him.
-
-“Here is my own sweetheart,” said she, “and he has come back to me
-again.”
-
-The prince told the king all that had happened from beginning to end,
-and how it really was he who had found the White Bird, the Sword of
-Brightness, and the Fruit of Happiness.
-
-“Yes, yes,” says the king, “that is all very well, but it is just the
-tale that your brothers tell; now can you draw the Sword of Brightness
-from the leathern scabbard?”
-
-“Oh, yes,” said the prince, “I can do that easily enough.” So the sword
-was brought and—whisk!—he whipped the blade out of the scabbard so that
-the light of it dazzled the eyes of everybody that looked upon it.
-
-Then the king saw what had happened as plain as the nose on his face,
-and was for punishing the elder brothers as they deserved, but nobody
-could find them, for as soon as they heard that the youngest prince had
-come home again they packed off without waiting to learn more news.
-
-And why do I call this the story of the White Bird? Listen: any Tom or
-Jake or Harry might have found the Sword of Brightness or the Fruit of
-Happiness; but you may depend upon it that nobody but a real prince
-could ever have found the White Bird.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                              Ten O’clock·
-
-
-        The _Children_ drone [Sidenote: ♓︎]
-        In sing-song tone,
-  The _Master’s_ shoes creak on the _Floor_.
-        They’re baking _Pies_
-        At _Home_, and _Flies_ [Sidenote: _Good weather for farming._]
-  Buzz in and out the open _Door_.
-
-        The _Beds_ are made;
-        The _Pans_ are laid
-  Out in the pleasant _Sun_ to dry.
-        Good _Gretchen_ takes
-        Some _Dough_, and makes,
-  For little _John_, a _Saucer Pie_. [Sidenote: KP]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: How the Good Gifts were used by Two.]
-
-                                   X.
-
-
-This is the way that this story begins:
-
-Once upon a time there was a rich brother and a poor brother, and the
-one lived across the street from the other.
-
-The rich brother had all of the world’s gear that was good for him and
-more besides; as for the poor brother, why, he had hardly enough to keep
-soul and body together, yet he was contented with his lot, and
-contentment did not sit back of the stove in the rich brother’s house;
-wherefore in this the rich brother had less than the poor brother.
-
-Now these things happened in the good old times when the saints used to
-be going hither and thither in the world upon this business and upon
-that. So one day, who should come travelling to the town where the rich
-brother and the poor brother lived, but Saint Nicholas himself.
-
-Just beside the town gate stood the great house of the rich brother;
-thither went the saint and knocked at the door, and it was the rich
-brother himself who came and opened it to him.
-
-Now, Saint Nicholas had had a long walk of it that day, so that he was
-quite covered with dust, and looked no better than he should. Therefore
-he seemed to be only a common beggar; and when the rich brother heard
-him ask for a night’s lodging at his fine, great house, he gaped like a
-toad in a rain-storm. What! Did the traveller think that he kept a free
-lodging-house for beggars? If he did he was bringing his grist to the
-wrong mill; there was no place for the likes of him in the house, and
-that was the truth. But yonder was a poor man’s house across the street,
-if he went over there perhaps he could get a night’s lodging and a crust
-of bread. That was what the rich brother said, and after he had said it
-he banged to the door, and left Saint Nicholas standing on the outside
-under the blessed sky.
-
-So now there was nothing for good Saint Nicholas to do but to go across
-the street to the poor brother’s house, as the other had told him to do.
-Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door, and it was the poor brother who
-came and opened it for him.
-
-“Come in, come in!” says he, “come in and welcome!”
-
-So in came Saint Nicholas, and sat himself down behind the stove where
-it was good and warm, while the poor man’s wife spread before him all
-that they had in the house—a loaf of brown bread and a crock of cold
-water from the town fountain.
-
-“And is that all that you have to eat?” said Saint Nicholas.
-
-Yes; that was all that they had.
-
-“Then, maybe, I can help you to better,” said Saint Nicholas. “So bring
-me hither a bowl and a crock.”
-
-You may guess that the poor man’s wife was not long in fetching what he
-wanted. When they were brought the saint blessed the one and passed his
-hand over the other.
-
-Then he said, “Bowl be filled!” and straightway the bowl began to boil
-up with a good rich meat pottage until it was full to the brim. Then the
-saint said, “Bowl be stilled!” and it stopped making the broth, and
-there stood as good a feast as man could wish for.
-
-Then Saint Nicholas said, “Crock be filled!” and the crock began to
-bubble up with the best of beer. Then he said, “Crock be stilled!” and
-there stood as good drink as man ever poured down his throat.
-
-Down they all sat, the saint and the poor man and the poor man’s wife,
-and ate and drank till they could eat and drink no more, and whenever
-the bowl and the crock grew empty, the one and the other became filled
-at the bidding.
-
-[Illustration: Saint Nicholas knocks at the rich man’s door but finds
-only a chill welcome & cold faring.]
-
-The next morning the saint trudged off the way he was going, but he left
-behind him the bowl and the crock, so that there was no danger of hunger
-and thirst coming to that house.
-
-Well, the world jogged along for a while, maybe a month or two, and life
-was as easy for the poor man and his wife as an old shoe. One day the
-rich brother said to _his_ wife. “See now, Luck seems to be stroking our
-brother over yonder the right way; I’ll just go and see what it all
-means.”
-
-So over the street he went, and found the poor man at home. Down he sat
-back of the stove and began to chatter and talk and talk and chatter,
-and the upshot of the matter was that, bit by bit, he dragged out the
-whole story from the poor man. Then nothing would do but he must see the
-bowl and the crock at work. So the bowl and the crock were brought and
-set to work and—Hui!—how the rich brother opened his eyes when he saw
-them making good broth and beer of themselves.
-
-And now he must and would have that bowl and crock. At first the poor
-brother said “No,” but the other bargained and bargained until, at last,
-the poor man consented to let him have the two for a hundred dollars. So
-the rich brother paid down his hundred dollars, and off he marched with
-what he wanted.
-
-When the next day had come, the rich brother said to his wife, “Never
-you mind about the dinner to-day. Go you into the harvest-field, and I
-will see to the dinner.” So off went the wife with the harvesters, and
-the husband stayed at home and smoked his pipe all the morning, for he
-knew that dinner would be ready at the bidding. So when noontide had
-come he took out the bowl and the crock, and, placing them on the table,
-said, “Bowl be filled! crock be filled!” and straightway they began
-making broth and beer as fast as they could.
-
-In a little while the bowl and the crock were filled, and then they
-could hold no more, so that the broth and beer ran down all over the
-table and the floor. Then the rich brother was in a pretty pickle, for
-he did not know how to bid the bowl and the crock to stop from making
-what they were making. Out he ran and across the street to the poor
-man’s house, and meanwhile the broth and beer filled the whole room
-until it could hold no more, and then ran out into the gutters so that
-all the pigs and dogs in the town had a feast that day.
-
-“Oh, dear brother!” cried the rich man to the poor man, “do tell me what
-to do or the whole town will soon be smothered in broth and beer.”
-
-But, no; the poor brother was not to be stirred in such haste; they
-would have to strike a bit of a bargain first. So the upshot of the
-matter was that the rich brother had to pay the poor brother another
-hundred dollars to take the crock and the bowl back again.
-
-[Illustration: Saint Nicholas blesses the poor man’s crock and bowl with
-food and drink.]
-
-See, now, what comes of being covetous!
-
-As for the poor man, he was well off in the world, for he had all that
-he could eat and drink, and a stockingful of money back of the stove
-besides.
-
-Well, time went along as time does, and now it was Saint Christopher who
-was thinking about taking a little journey below. “See, brother,” says
-Saint Nicholas to him, “if you chance to be jogging by yonder town, stop
-at the poor man’s house, for there you will have a warm welcome and
-plenty to eat.”
-
-But when Saint Christopher came to the town, the rich man’s house seemed
-so much larger and finer than the poor man’s house, that he thought that
-he would ask for lodging there.
-
-But it fared the same with him that it had with Saint Nicholas. Prut!
-Did he think that the rich man kept free lodgings for beggars?
-And—bang!—the door was slammed in his face, and off packed the saint
-with a flea in his ear.
-
-Over he went to the poor man’s house, and there was a warm welcome for
-him, and good broth and beer from the bowl and the crock that Saint
-Nicholas had blessed. After he had supped he went to bed, where he slept
-as snug and warm as a mouse in the nest.
-
-Then the good wife said to the husband, “See, now, the poor fellow’s
-shirt is none too good for him to be wearing. I’ll just make him another
-while he is sleeping, so that he’ll have a decent bit of linen to wear
-in the morning.”
-
-So she brought her best roll of linen out of the closet, and set to work
-stitching and sewing, and never stopped till she had made the new shirt
-to the last button. The next morning, when the saint awoke, there lay
-the nice, new, clean shirt, and he put it on and gave thanks for it.
-
-Before he left the house the poor man took him aside, and emptied the
-stockingful of silver money on the table, and bade the saint take what
-he wanted, “for,” says he, “a penny or two is never amiss in the great
-world.”
-
-After that it was time for the traveller to be jogging; but before he
-went he said, “See, now, because you have been so kind and so good to a
-poor wayfarer, I will give you a blessing; whatever you begin doing this
-morning, you shall continue doing till sunset.” So saying, he took up
-his staff and went his way.
-
-[Illustration: The Poor Man welcomes Saint Christopher to his house.]
-
-After Saint Christopher had gone the poor man and his wife began talking
-together as to what would be best for them to be doing all of the day,
-and one said one thing and the other said the other, but every plug was
-too small for the hole, as we say in our town, for nothing seemed to fit
-the case.
-
-“Come, come,” said the good woman, “here we are losing time that can
-never be handled again. While we are talking the matter over I will be
-folding the linen that is left from making the shirt.”
-
-“And I,” said the good man, “will be putting the money away that the
-holy man left behind him.”
-
-So the wife began folding the linen into a bundle again, and the man
-began putting away the money that he had offered in charity. Thus they
-began doing, and thus they kept on doing; so that by the time that the
-evening had come the whole house was full of fine linen, and every tub
-and bucket and mug and jug about the place was brimming with silver
-money. As for the good couple, their fortune was made, and that is the
-heart of the whole matter in four words.
-
-That night who should come over from across the street but the rich
-brother, with his pipe in his mouth and his hands in his pockets. But
-when he saw how very rich the poor man had become all of a sudden, and
-what a store of fine linen and silver money he had, he was so
-wonder-struck that he did not know whither to look and what to think.
-
-Dear heart’s sake alive! Where did all these fine things come from? That
-was what he should like to know.
-
-Oh! there was nothing to hide in the matter, and the poor man told all
-about what had happened.
-
-As for the rich brother, when he found how he had shut his door in the
-face of good-fortune, he rapped his head with his knuckles because he
-was so angry at his own foolishness. However, crying never mended a torn
-jacket, so he made the poor brother promise that if either of the saints
-came that way again, they should be sent over to his house for a night’s
-lodging, for it was only fair and just that he should have a share of
-the same cake his brother had eaten.
-
-So the poor brother promised to do what the other wanted, and after that
-the rich brother went back home again.
-
-Well, a year and a day passed, and then, sure enough, who should come
-along that way but both the saints together, arm in arm. Rap! tap! tap!
-they knocked at the poor man’s door, for they thought that where they
-had had good lodging before they could get it again. And so they could
-and welcome, only the poor brother told them that his rich brother
-across the street had asked that they should come and lodge at the fine
-house when they came that way again.
-
-[Illustration: The rich man spreads a feast for the Saints.]
-
-The saints were willing enough to go to the rich brother’s house, though
-they would rather have stayed with the other. So over they went, and
-when the rich brother saw them coming he ran out to meet them, and shook
-each of them by the hand, and bade them to come in and sit down back of
-the stove where it was warm.
-
-But you should have seen the feast that was set for the two saints at
-the rich brother’s house! I can only say that I never saw the like, and
-I only wish that I had been there with my legs under the table. After
-supper they were shown to a grand room, where each saint had a bed all
-to his very own self, and before they were fairly asleep the rich man’s
-wife came and took away their old shirts, and laid a shirt of fine
-cambric linen in the place of each. When the next morning came and the
-saints were about to take their leave, the rich brother brought out a
-great bag of golden money, and bade them to stuff what they would of it
-into their pockets.
-
-Well, all this was as it should be, and before the two went on their way
-they said that they would give the same blessing to him and his wife
-that they had given to the other couple—that whatsoever they should
-begin doing that morning, that they should continue doing until sunset.
-
-After that they put on their hats and took up their staffs, and off they
-plodded.
-
-Now the rich brother was a very envious man, and was not contented to do
-only as well as his brother had done, no indeed! He would do something
-that would make him even richer than counting out money for himself all
-day. So down he sat back of the stove and began turning the matter over
-in his mind, and rubbing up his wits to make them the brighter.
-
-In the meantime the wife said to herself, “See, now, I shall be folding
-fine cambric linen all day, and the pigs will have to go with nothing to
-eat. I have no time to waste in feeding them, but I’ll just run out and
-fill their troughs with water at any rate.”
-
-So out she went with a bucketful of water which she began pouring into
-the troughs for the pigs. That was the first thing she did, and after
-that there was no leaving off, but pour water she must until sunset.
-
-All this while the man sat back of the stove, warming his wits and
-saying to himself, “Shall I do this? shall I do that?” and answering
-“No” to himself every time. At last he began wondering what his wife was
-doing, so out he went to find her. Find her he did, for there she was
-pouring out water to the pigs. Then if anybody was angry it was the rich
-man. “What!” cried he, “and is this the way that you waste the gifts of
-the blessed saints?”.
-
-So saying, he looked around, and there lay a bit of a switch on the
-ground near by. He picked up the bit of a switch and struck the woman
-across the shoulders with it, and that was the first thing that he began
-doing. After that he had to keep on doing the same.
-
-So the woman poured water and poured water, and the man stood by and
-beat her with the little switch until there was nothing left of it, and
-that was what they did all day.
-
-And what is more, they made such a hubbub that the neighbors came to see
-what was going forward. They looked and laughed and went away again, and
-others came, and there stood the two—the woman pouring water and the man
-beating her with the bit of a switch.
-
-When the evening came, and they left off their work, they were so weary
-that they could hardly stand; and nothing was to show for it but a
-broken switch and a wet sty, for even the blessed saints cannot give
-wisdom to those who will have none of it, and that is the truth.
-
-And such is the end of this story, with only this to tell: Tommy Pfouce
-tells me that there are folks, even in these wise times, who, if they
-did all day what they began in the morning, would find themselves at
-sunset doing no better work than pouring pure water to pigs.
-
-That is the small kernel to this great nut.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                            Eleven O’clock·
-
-
-    The _Cook_ undoes the _Oven Door_; [Sidenote: _Hot and dusty._]
-      The _Kobold_ smells the baking _Pies_;
-      Licking his _Lips_, with glistening _Eyes_,
-    He hops across the _Floor_. [Sidenote: K⊕P.]
-
-    Our fat, old _Betty_ sweats and blows;
-      She does not see how near he stands,
-      And when she bangs the _Door, Good Lands_!
-    It’ most cuts off his _Nose_.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: How Boots befooled the King.]
-
-                                  XI.
-
-
-Once upon a time there was a king who was the wisest in all of the
-world. So wise was he that no one had ever befooled him, which is a rare
-thing, I can tell you. Now, this king had a daughter who was as pretty
-as a ripe apple, so that there was no end to the number of the lads who
-came asking to marry her. Every day there were two or three of them
-dawdling around the house, so that at last the old king grew tired of
-having them always about.
-
-So he sent word far and near that whoever should befool him might have
-the princess and half of the kingdom to boot, for he thought that it
-would be a wise man indeed who could trick him. But the king also said,
-that whoever should try to befool him and should fail, should have a
-good whipping. This was to keep all foolish fellows away.
-
-The princess was so pretty that there was no lack of lads who came to
-have a try for her and half of the kingdom, but every one of these went
-away with a sore back and no luck.
-
-Now, there was a man who was well off in the world, and who had three
-sons; the first was named Peter, and the second was named Paul. Peter
-and Paul thought themselves as wise as anybody in all of the world, and
-their father thought as they did.
-
-As for the youngest son, he was named Boots. Nobody thought anything of
-him except that he was silly, for he did nothing but sit poking in the
-warm ashes all of the day.
-
-One morning Peter spoke up and said that he was going to the town to
-have a try at befooling the king, for it would be a fine thing to have a
-princess in the family. His father did not say no, for if anybody was
-wise enough to befool the king, Peter was the lad.
-
-So, after Peter had eaten a good breakfast, off he set for the town,
-right foot foremost. After a while he came to the king’s house and—rap!
-tap! tap!—he knocked at the door.
-
-Well; what did he want?
-
-Oh! he would only like to have a try at befooling the king.
-
-Very good; he should have his try. He was not the first one who had been
-there that morning, early as it was.
-
-So Peter was shown in to the king.
-
-“Oh, look!” said he, “yonder are three black geese out in the
-court-yard”
-
-But no, the king was not to be fooled so easily as all that. “One goose
-is enough to look at at a time,” said he; “take him away and give him a
-whipping!”
-
-And so they did, and Peter went home bleating like a sheep.
-
-One day Paul spoke up. “I should like to go and have a try for the
-princess, too,” said he.
-
-Well, his father did not say no, for, after all, Paul was the more
-clever of the two.
-
-So off Paul went as merrily as a duck in the rain. By and by he came to
-the castle, and then he too was brought before the king just as Peter
-had been.
-
-“Oh, look!” said he, “yonder is a crow sitting in the tree with three
-white stripes on his back!”
-
-But the king was not so silly as to be fooled in that way. “Here is a
-Jack,” said he, “who will soon have more stripes on his back than he
-will like. Take him away and give him his whipping!”
-
-Then it was done as the king had said, and Paul went away home bawling
-like a calf.
-
-One day up spoke Boots. “I should like to go and have a try for the
-pretty princess, too,” said he.
-
-[Illustration: Peter goes to the castle to befool the king, dressed in
-his finest clothes.]
-
-At this they all stared and sniggered. What! he go where his clever
-brothers had failed, and had nothing to show for the trying but a good
-beating? What had come over the lout! Here was a pretty business, to be
-sure! That was what they all said.
-
-But all of this rolled away from Boots like water from a duck’s back. No
-matter, he would like to go and have a try like the others. So he begged
-and begged until his father was glad to let him go to be rid of his
-teasing, if nothing else.
-
-Then Boots asked if he might have the old tattered hat that hung back of
-the chimney.
-
-Oh, yes, he might have that if he wanted it, for nobody with good wits
-was likely to wear such a thing.
-
-So Boots took the hat, and after he had brushed the ashes from his shoes
-set off for the town, whistling as he went.
-
-The first body whom he met was an old woman with a great load of
-earthenware pots and crocks on her shoulders.
-
-“Good-day, mother,” said Boots.
-
-“Good-day, son,” said she.
-
-“What will you take for all of your pots and crocks?” said Boots.
-
-“Three shillings,” said she.
-
-“I will give you five shillings if you will come and stand in front of
-the king’s house, and do thus and so when I say this and that,” said
-Boots.
-
-Oh, yes! she would do that willingly enough.
-
-So Boots and the old woman went on together, and presently came to the
-king’s house. When they had come there, Boots sat down in front of the
-door and began bawling as loud as he could—“No, I will not! I will not
-do it, I say! No, I will not do it!”
-
-So he kept on, bawling louder and louder until he made such a noise
-that, at last, the king himself came out to see what all of the hubbub
-was about. But when Boots saw him he only bawled out louder than ever,
-“No, I will not! I will not do it, I say!”
-
-“Stop! stop!” cried the king, “what is all this about?”
-
-“Why,” said Boots, “everybody wants to buy my cap, but I will not sell
-it! I will not do it, I say!”
-
-“But, why should anybody want to buy such a cap as that?” said the king.
-
-“Because,” said Boots, “it is a fooling cap and the only one in all of
-the world.”
-
-[Illustration: Paul comes home again from the king’s castle with no
-luck. ¶]
-
-“A fooling cap!” said the king. For he did not like to hear of such a
-cap as that coming into the town. “Hum-m-m-m! I should like to see you
-fool somebody with it. Could you fool that old body yonder with the pots
-and the crocks?”
-
-“Oh, yes! that is easily enough done,” said Boots, and without more ado
-he took off his tattered cap and blew into it. Then he put it on his
-head again and bawled out, “Break pots! break pots!”
-
-No sooner had he spoken these words than the old woman jumped up and
-began breaking and smashing her pots and crocks as though she had gone
-crazy. That was what Boots had paid her five shillings for doing, but of
-it the king knew nothing. “Hui!” said he to himself, “I must buy that
-hat from the fellow or he will fool the princess away from me for sure
-and certain.” Then he began talking to Boots as sweetly as though he had
-honey in his mouth. Perhaps Boots would sell the hat to him?
-
-Oh, no! Boots could not think of such a thing as selling his fooling
-cap.
-
-Come, come; the king wanted that hat, and sooner than miss buying it he
-would give a whole bag of gold money for it.
-
-At this Boots looked up and looked down, scratching his head. Well, he
-supposed he would have to sell the hat some time, and the king might as
-well have it as anybody else. But for all that he did not like parting
-with it.
-
-So the king gave Boots the bag of gold, and Boots gave the king the old
-tattered hat, and then he went his way.
-
-After Boots had gone the king blew into the hat and blew into the hat,
-but though he blew enough breath into it to sail a big ship, he did not
-befool so much as a single titmouse. Then, at last, he began to see that
-the fooling cap was good on nobody else’s head but Boots’s; and he was
-none too pleased at that, you may be sure.
-
-As for Boots, with his bag of gold he bought the finest clothes that
-were to be had in the town, and when the next morning had come he
-started away bright and early for the king’s house. “I have come,” said
-he, “to marry the princess, if you please.”
-
-At this the king hemmed and hawed and scratched his head. Yes; Boots had
-befooled him sure enough, but, after all, he could not give up the
-princess for such a thing as that. Still, he would give Boots another
-chance. Now, there was the high-councillor, who was the wisest man in
-all of the world. Did Boots think that he could fool him also?
-
-Oh, yes! Boots thought that it might be done.
-
-[Illustration: The old woman smashes pots and things at Boots’ bidding.
-)(]
-
-Very well; if he could befool the high-councillor so as to bring him to
-the castle the next morning against his will, Boots should have the
-princess and the half of the kingdom; if he did not do so he should have
-his beating.
-
-Then Boots went away, and the king thought that he was rid of him now
-for good and all.
-
-As for the high-councillor, he was not pleased with the matter at all,
-for he did not like the thought of being fooled by a clever rogue, and
-taken here and there against his will. So when he had come home, he
-armed all of his servants with blunderbusses, and then waited to give
-Boots a welcome when he should come.
-
-But Boots was not going to fall into any such trap as that! No indeed!
-not he! The next morning he went quietly and bought a fine large
-meal-sack. Then he put a black wig over his beautiful red hair, so that
-no one might know him. After that he went to the place where the
-high-councillor lived, and when he had come there he crawled inside of
-the sack, and lay just beside the door of the house.
-
-By and by came one of the maid servants to the door, and there lay the
-great meal-sack with somebody in it.
-
-“Ach!” cried she, “who is there?”
-
-But Boots only said, “Sh-h-h-h-h!”
-
-Then the serving maid went back into the house, and told the
-high-councillor that one lay outside in a great meal-sack, and that all
-that he said was, “Sh-h-h-h-h!”
-
-So the councillor went himself to see what it was all about. “What do
-you want here?” said he.
-
-“Sh-h-h-h-h!” said Boots, “I am not to be talked to now. This is a
-wisdom-sack, and I am learning wisdom as fast as a drake can eat peas.”
-
-“And what wisdom have you learned?” said the councillor.
-
-Oh! Boots had learned wisdom about everything in the world. He had
-learned that the clever scamp who had fooled the king yesterday was
-coming with seventeen tall men to take the high-councillor, willy-nilly,
-to the castle that morning.
-
-When the high-councillor heard this he fell to trembling till his teeth
-rattled in his head. “And have you learned how I can get the better of
-this clever scamp?” said he.
-
-Oh, yes! Boots had learned that easily enough.
-
-[Illustration: The Councilor finds one in the Sack who teaches him
-wisdom. ¶]
-
-So, good! then if the wise man in the sack would tell the
-high-councillor how to escape the clever rogue, the high-councillor
-would give the wise man twenty dollars.
-
-But no, that was not to be done; wisdom was not bought so cheaply as the
-high-councillor seemed to think.
-
-Well, the councillor would give him a hundred dollars then.
-
-That was good! A hundred dollars were a hundred dollars. If the
-councillor would give him that much he might get into the sack himself,
-and then he could learn all the wisdom that he wanted, and more besides.
-
-So Boots crawled out of the sack, and the councillor paid his hundred
-dollars and crawled in.
-
-As soon as he was in all snug and safe, Boots drew the mouth of the sack
-together and tied it tightly. Then he flung sack, councillor, and all
-over his shoulder, and started away to the king’s house, and anybody who
-met them could see with half an eye that the councillor was going
-against his will.
-
-When Boots came to the king’s castle he laid the councillor down in the
-goose-house, and then he went to the king.
-
-When the king saw Boots again, he bit his lips with vexation. “Well,”
-said he, “have you fooled the councillor?”
-
-“Oh, yes!” says Boots, “I have done that.”
-
-And where was the councillor now?
-
-Oh, Boots had just left him down in the goose-house. He was tied up safe
-and sound in a sack, waiting till the king should send for him.
-
-So the councillor was sent for, and when he came the king saw at once
-that he had been brought against his will.
-
-“And now may I marry the princess?” said Boots.
-
-But the king was not willing for him to marry the princess yet; no! no!
-Boots must not go so fast. There was more to be done yet. If he would
-come to-morrow morning he might have the princess and welcome, but he
-would have to pick her out from among fourscore other maids just like
-her; did he think that he could do that?
-
-Oh, yes! Boots thought that that might be easy enough to do.
-
-So, good! then come to-morrow; but he must understand that if he failed
-he should have a good whipping, and be sent packing from the town.
-
-So off went Boots, and the king thought that he was rid of him now, for
-he had never seen the princess, and how could he pick her out from among
-eighty others?
-
-But Boots was not going to give up so easily as all that! No, not he! He
-made a little box, and then he hunted up and down until he had caught a
-live mouse to put into it.
-
-When the next morning came he started away to the king’s house, taking
-his mouse along with him in the box.
-
-There was the king, standing in the doorway, looking out into the
-street. When he saw Boots coming towards him he made a wry face. “What!”
-said he, “are you back again?”
-
-Oh, yes! Boots was back again. And now if the princess was ready he
-would like to go and find her, for lost time was not to be gathered
-again like fallen apples.
-
-So off they marched to a great room, and there stood eighty-and-one
-maidens, all as much alike as peas in the same dish.
-
-Boots looked here and there, but, even if he had known the princess, he
-could not have told her from the others. But he was ready for all that.
-Before any one knew what he was about, he opened the box, and out ran
-the little mouse among them all. Then what a screaming, and a hubbub
-there was! Many looked as though they would have liked to swoon, but
-only one of them did so. As soon as the others saw what had happened,
-they forgot all about the mouse, and ran to her and fell to fanning her
-and slapping her hands and chafing her temples.
-
-“This is the princess,” said Boots.
-
-And so it was.
-
-After that the king could think of nothing more to set Boots to do, so
-he let him marry the princess as he had promised, and have half of the
-kingdom to boot.
-
-That is all of this story.
-
-Only this: It is not always the silliest one that sits kicking his feet
-in the ashes at home.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                            Twelve O’clock·
-
-
-   The _Dial_ marks the hour of _Noon_; [Sidenote: ☉ enters]
-   The _Men_ will come to _Dinner_ soon,
-   And _Gretchen_ takes the _Beer-Mugs_ down
-   Into the _Cellar_, cool and brown.
-
-   The _Bread_ is cut, the _Soup_ is hot, [Sidenote: _Dry and Hot._]
-   The _Cabbage_ simmers in the _Pot_;
-   The _Mistress_ scolds a clumsy _Maid_,
-   And _Towzer_ dozes in the _Shade_.
-
-                                 K.P.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Step-mother.]
-
-                                  XII.
-
-
-Once upon a time there was a man who was well off in the world so far as
-good things were concerned; but all the flesh and blood that belonged to
-him was a daughter, for his wife was dead, and he lived alone.
-
-One day he went away from home and was gone for a long, long time, and
-when he came back again he brought a new wife with him, for that was the
-business that he had been about. As for the woman, she was as wicked as
-she was handsome, and as handsome as she was wicked, and whichever of
-the two one said of her one spoke the truth; for, though she was the
-most beautiful woman in all of the land, she was as great a witch as
-ever turned over the leaves of the black book with the red letters in
-it.
-
-At first things went as smoothly in the rich man’s house as butter and
-eggs, for the Step-mother was forever petting and caressing the man’s
-daughter, and could not make enough of her. But that was only for a
-while, for as the maid grew in years she grew prettier and prettier,
-until there was none like her in all of that land.
-
-One day the Step-mother and the step-daughter walked together in the
-fields, for it was in the spring-time, the weather was pleasant, and the
-grass was fresh and green. Two crows sat on a flowering thorn.
-
-“Look,” says one crow, “yonder go two beauties.”
-
-“Yes,” says the other, “but when you talk of good looks, the old one is
-to the young one as a cabbage is to a rose.”
-
-Then, “Caw! caw!” they both cried, and flapped their wings and flew
-away.
-
-That was what the two crows said; and though the maiden knew nothing,
-the Step-mother could tell what passed between them as well as could be,
-for she had eaten a bite of the white snake, and knew all that the birds
-and the beasts said to one another. So her heart grew bitter with hatred
-and envy, and she began to cudgel her brains for some means to put the
-girl out of the way. That night she made a ball of hollow gold and wrote
-this and that upon it, which nobody but herself could read. The next day
-she and the girl walked in the fields again, and when nobody was near
-the wicked Step-mother took the golden ball out of her pocket.
-
-“See,” said she, “here is a new plaything for you.” She threw it upon
-the ground, and it rolled and rolled and rolled, and, whether she liked
-it or not, the maiden had to follow wherever it went. On and on rolled
-the ball, for no matter how fast the girl ran she could not catch it. By
-and by she came to a dark, lonesome place, where was a great, deep pit.
-Into the pit rolled the golden ball, and the poor girl had to follow. So
-into the pit she fell, and there she lay, for the sides were as smooth
-as glass, and one would have to have feet like a fly to climb from the
-bottom to the top.
-
-As for the witch Step-mother, she was well content with what she had
-done, for the two crows sat on the thorn-tree. And—
-
-“Look,” said the first, “yonder goes the beauty.”
-
-“It is the truth that you speak,” said the second. “For the other
-followed the golden ball and fell into the deep pit!” And then they
-clapped their wings and away they flew.
-
-But the poor girl lay in the deep pit all alone, and cried and cried.
-
-Suddenly a little door opened—click! clack!—and there was a little grey
-man no higher than a body’s knee, but with a long white beard that
-touched the ground.
-
-“Hi!” says he to the step-daughter, “and how came you here in the pit?”
-
-The girl told him all from beginning to end, and the little man listened
-to every word.
-
-“See, now,” said he, when she had ended her story. “Since you are here
-in the deep pit and cannot get out, you shall be the queen of all the
-little men like myself, and we shall serve you, for you are the most
-beautiful maiden that ever my eyes looked upon.”
-
-[Illustration: The Step-daughter follows y^e golden ball in spite of
-herself. )(]
-
-So there the maiden lived for many a long day, and the little man and
-others like him brought her rich food and wine, and covered all the
-inside of the pit with jewels and with gold, so that it was most
-splendid to see. And every day the maiden grew more and more beautiful.
-
-One day the young king of that country went a-hunting, and all of his
-court with him, and four-and-twenty hounds besides. They came riding by
-the pit where the maiden sat, and there the hounds stopped and began to
-whimper and to howl, for they knew very well that human flesh and blood
-was down below.
-
-“Listen to the hounds,” says the king; “there is somebody fallen into
-the pit; now who will go down and bring the unfortunate up again?”
-
-At this everybody looked at his neighbor, but nobody said, “I will go.”
-
-“Very well,” said the king, “then I myself will go down into the pit, if
-no one else dares to venture.”
-
-So the others lowered the king into the pit, and when he reached the
-bottom you can guess how he stared and how he wondered; but he had no
-eyes for the jewels and gold that covered the walls; he had often seen
-the like of them, but never in all of his days had he beheld such a
-beauty as the maiden he found there.
-
-Then the people above hauled them up together, and the king set her upon
-a milk-white horse, and then they all rode away to the palace, for that
-was where he was to take her. There they dressed her in splendid clothes
-and put a golden crown upon her head, and then she and the king were
-married. Around her neck he hung a golden chain and a locket, and in the
-locket was a picture of himself; on her finger he slipped a ring, and
-within were secret words which nobody but he and she knew.
-
-One day the wicked Step-mother was walking in the fields, and the two
-crows sat on the thorn-tree.
-
-“Look,” says the first crow, “yonder goes the beauty.”
-
-“Yes,” says the second, “but she is only as a cabbage to a rose when
-compared to the lass who followed the golden ball down into the pit, and
-who has married the handsome young king over at the castle yonder.”
-
-Then, “Caw! caw!” they cried, and flapped their wings and flew away.
-
-As for the Step-mother, her heart was ready to burst with anger and with
-spite. Home she went and began to think of what she should do to put her
-step-daughter out of the way again.
-
-[Illustration: The Young King goeth down into the pit and bringeth up
-y^e maiden.]
-
-She took some dough and some feathers, and of them she made an old hen
-and six chicks. She put them in the oven and baked them, and when she
-drew them out again they were all of pure gold. But the strangest of all
-was, that when she set them upon the table the little golden hen
-strutted and clucked, and the chicks cried, “Peep! peep!” and followed
-at her heels.
-
-Then the woman clad herself in a strange dress, so that no one might
-know who she was. She hid a long, keen silver pin in her bosom, and off
-she set for the castle with the golden hen and the golden chickens in a
-basket wrapped up in a white napkin.
-
-She set her basket on the ground under the palace window, and when the
-folks within saw the little clucking hen and her chicks, all made of
-pure gold that shone in the sunlight, they could not look enough.
-
-Off ran one and told the queen, who came and looked and looked, and
-wondered and wondered, until by and by she longed for the golden hen and
-the golden chickens as she had never longed for anything in all of her
-life before. So she called one of her maids, and sent her down to ask
-the strange woman the price of her golden chickens.
-
-“Prut!” says the wicked witch of a Step-mother, “who are you that you
-should come to talk with me? If the young queen would buy my wares she
-must come and bargain with me herself.”
-
-So down went the young queen to the wicked Step-mother; “And what is the
-price of your hen and chicks, my good woman,” said she, for she did not
-know the other, because of the strange dress in which she was clad.
-
-“Oh! it is little or nothing I ask for my hen and chickens,” said the
-wicked Step-mother to the beautiful queen. “If you will give me a kiss
-down in the garden back of the rose-tree yonder, you may have the
-chickens and welcome.”
-
-Oh, yes; the queen was willing enough to pay the price, if that was all
-the woman wanted. So off they went back of the rose-tree, she and the
-Step-mother. There the witch drew out the silver pin from her bosom, and
-as she kissed the queen she thrust the pin deep into her head. Then
-quick as a wink the queen was changed into a white dove and flew away
-over the tree-tops.
-
-Off went the Step-mother, and was as pleased with what she had done this
-time as with what she had done that time; for the two crows sat on the
-thorn-tree, and the first crow said to the second crow, “Yonder goes the
-beauty.” And the second crow said to the first, “Yes, there is none to
-compare with her now that the young queen has been changed to a white
-dove.”
-
-[Illustration: The Step-mother bringeth mischief upon the Young Queen by
-sundry magic spells.]
-
-At the king’s castle they hunted for the queen high, and they hunted for
-the queen low, but could find neither thread nor hair of her. As for the
-white dove, it had flown in at a window, and there the little cook-boy
-found it, and caught it and sold it to the cook for a penny. So the
-beautiful white dove sat over the kitchen window, and did nothing but
-mourn from the dawn to the gloaming.
-
-One day the folk in the kitchen were talking together. The king was
-lying sick abed and dying of a broken heart because his beautiful young
-queen was nowhere to be found. That was what they said, and the white
-bird heard every word of it.
-
-The next morning when they came to the kitchen there was a beautiful
-sweet cake lying upon a white napkin, and on the cake were written these
-words:
-
-“Break this, my king, and ease thy sorrow.”
-
-They took the sweet cake to the king where he lay, and he broke it as
-the words told him to. Within it he found the ring which he had given to
-the queen, inside of which were written words which no one but he and
-she knew.
-
-“Where did this come from?” said he; but nobody could tell him.
-
-“Where the ring came from,” said he, “there will the queen be found.”
-And up he got from his bed and dressed himself, and ate his breakfast
-with a cheerful face.
-
-They talked about what had happened down in the kitchen, and the white
-dove heard it all.
-
-Next morning there, on a fine linen napkin, lay another cake like the
-first, and on it was written:
-
-“Break this, my king, and be comforted.”
-
-They took it up to the king as they had done the first. And the king
-snatched it like a hungry man. He broke the cake, and there was the
-necklace and the locket that he had given the queen.
-
-“Where did this come from?” said he.
-
-But they could tell him no more about that than about the other.
-
-All the same, they talked about it down in the kitchen, and the white
-dove heard what was said.
-
-But that night the little cook-boy hid in the closet to watch, for he
-wanted to see who it was that brought the cakes that they took up-stairs
-to the king. So he watched and watched, and by and by the clock struck
-twelve. And when the last stroke sounded the dove flew down from over
-the window, and as soon as it lit upon the floor it was the white dove
-no longer, but the queen herself. She made a sweet cake of sugar and of
-flour, and in it she put a feather as white as silver. Then she became
-the white dove again, and flew back over the window where she had sat
-before.
-
-[Illustration: The Young King caresses y^e white dove.]
-
-The next morning they found the third cake lying upon a white napkin,
-and on the cake was written:
-
-“Break this, my king, for the time has come.”
-
-They took it up to the king and he broke it, and there was the white
-feather.
-
-Then the king called everybody that was in the castle, and asked each
-one in turn if he or she could tell where the sweet cake had come from.
-But no; nobody knew, until last of all they questioned the kitchen-boy.
-
-“Oh, yes,” said he, “I know who it was that brought the cake. Last night
-the white dove in the kitchen flew down from over the window and became
-the queen herself; she made the sweet cake and laid it upon the white
-napkin, for I saw her do it with my own eyes.”
-
-Up they brought the white dove from the kitchen, and the king took it in
-his own hands and held it up to his bosom, and stroked it and caressed
-it.
-
-“If thou art my queen,” said he, “why dost thou not speak to me?”
-
-But the dove answered never a word, and the king stroked it and stroked
-it.
-
-By and by he felt something, and when he came to look it was the head of
-the silver pin. He drew it forth, and there stood the young queen again
-in her own true shape.
-
-She told everything that had happened to her from the first to the last,
-and how her Step-mother had treated her. Then, hui! but the king was
-angry! He sent a great lot of soldiers off to the father’s house to
-bring the Step-mother to the castle so that she might be punished for
-her wickedness. But she was not to be caught as easily as a sparrow in a
-rain-storm; she jumped upon a broom straw, and—puff!—away she flew up
-the chimney, and that was the last that anybody saw of her so far as
-ever I heard.
-
-But they brought the father over to the king’s castle, where he sat in
-the warmest corner and had the best that was to be had.
-
-That is all of this story, and if you see a blind mouse run across the
-floor throw your cap over it and catch it, for it is yours.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                              One O’clock·
-
-
-           The _Kobold_ lies, [Sidenote: _Hazy. Very pleasant._]
-           And blinks his _Eyes_,
-       Under the _Grape-vine_ leaves.
-           The _Chickens_ scratch
-           In a sunny _Patch_,
-       And the _Sparrows_ fight on the _Eaves_.
-
-           The _Bee-Hive_ hums;
-           The _House-wife_ comes,
-       And looks outside the _Door_.
-           The speckled _Chick_
-           Hops in, to pick [Sidenote: K.P. des.]
-       The _Crumbs_ from off the _Floor_.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: Master Jacob.]
-
-                                 XIII.
-
-
-Once upon a time there was a man whose name was just Master Jacob and
-nothing more.
-
-All that Master Jacob had in the world was a good fat pig, two black
-goats, a wife, and a merry temper—which was more than many a better man
-than he had, for the matter of that.
-
-“See, now,” says Master Jacob, “I will drive the fat pig to the market
-to-morrow; who knows but that I might strike a bit of a sale.”
-
-“Do,” says Master Jacob’s wife, for she was of the good sort, and always
-nodded when he said “yes,” as the saying goes.
-
-Now there were three rogues in the town over the hill, who lived in
-plenty; one was the priest, one was the provost, and one was the master
-mayor; and which was the greatest rogue of the three it would be a hard
-matter to tell, but perhaps it was the priest.
-
-“See, now,” says the priest to the other two, “Master Jacob, who lives
-over yonder way, is going to bring his fat pig to market to-morrow. If
-you have a mind for a trick, we will go snacks in what we win, and each
-of us will have a rib or two of bacon hanging in the pantry, and a
-string or so of sausages back in the chimney without paying so much as a
-brass button for them.”
-
-Well, of course that was a tune to which the others were willing to
-dance. So the rogue of a priest told them to do thus and so, and to say
-this and that, and they would cheat Master Jacob out of his good fat pig
-as easily as a beggar eats buttered parsnips.
-
-So the next morning off starts Master Jacob to the market, driving his
-fat pig before him with a bit of string around the leg of it. Down he
-comes into the town, and the first one whom he meets is the master
-priest.
-
-“How do you find yourself, Master Jacob?” says the priest, “and where
-are you going with that fine, fat dog?”
-
-“Dog!” says Master Jacob, opening his eyes till they were as big and as
-round as saucers. “Dog! Prut! It is as fine a pig as ever came into this
-town, I would have you know.”
-
-“What!” says the priest. “Do you try to tell me that that is a pig, when
-I can see with both of my ears and all of my eyes that it is a great,
-fat dog?”
-
-“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.
-
-“I say it is a dog!” says the priest.
-
-“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.
-
-“I say it is a dog!” says the priest.
-
-“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.
-
-Just then who should come along but the provost, with his hands in his
-pockets and his pipe in his mouth, looking as high and mighty as though
-he owned all of that town and the sun and the moon into the bargain.
-
-“Look, friend,” says the priest. “We have been saying so and so and so
-and so, just now. Will you tell me, _is_ that a pig, or _is_ it a dog?”
-
-“Prut!” says the provost, “how you talk, neighbor! Do you take me for a
-fool I should like to know? Why, it is as plain as the nose on your face
-that it is a great, fat dog.”
-
-“I say it is a pig!” bawled Master Jacob.
-
-“I say it is a dog!” says the provost.
-
-“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.
-
-“I say it is a dog!” says the provost.
-
-“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.
-
-“Come, come,” says the priest, “let us have no high words over the
-matter. No, no; we will take it to the mayor. If he says that it is a
-pig we two will give you ten shillings; and if he says it is a dog, you
-will give the animal to us as a penance.”
-
-Well, Master Jacob was satisfied with that, for he was almost certain
-that it was a pig. So off they marched to the mayor’s house. There the
-priest told all about the matter, for he was used to talking. “And now,”
-says he, “_is_ it a pig, or _is_ it a dog?”
-
-[Illustration: Master Jacob comes to y^e town with his fine, fat pig and
-there falls in with the Priest and the Provost.]
-
-“Why,” says the mayor, “I wish I may be choked to death with a string of
-sausages if it is not a dog, and a big dog and a fat dog into the
-bargain.”
-
-So there was an end of the matter, and Master Jacob had to march off
-home without his pig and with no more in his pockets than he had before.
-All the same, he saw what kind of trick had been played on him, and,
-says he to himself, “What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the
-gander. If one can pipe another can whistle; I’ll just try a bit of a
-trick myself.” So he went to his wife and told her that he had a mind to
-do thus and so, and that she must do this and that; for he thought of
-trying his hand at a little trickery as well as other folks.
-
-Now, as I told you before, Master Jacob had two goats, both of them as
-black as the inside of your hat at midnight; moreover, they were as like
-as two spoons in the same dish; for no one could have told them apart
-unless he had lived with them year in and year out, rainy weather and
-clear, as Master Jacob had done.
-
-Well, the next day Master Jacob tied a rope around the neck of one of
-the goats, took down a basket from the wall, and started off to the town
-over the hill, leading his goat behind him. By and by he came to the
-market place and began buying many and one things, until his basket was
-as full as it could hold. After a while whom should he see coming along
-but the priest and the provost and the mayor, walking arm in arm as bold
-as you please.
-
-“Halloa, Master Jacob,” said they, “and what have you there?”
-
-“The blessed saints only know that,” said Master Jacob. “It may be a
-black cat for all that I know; it _was_ a black goat when I left home
-this morning.”
-
-And what was Master Jacob going to do with his little black goat? That
-was what they should like to know.
-
-“Oh,” said Master Jacob, “I am about to send my little black goat on an
-errand; if you will wait you shall see for yourselves.”
-
-Then what did he do but hang the basket around the goat’s neck. “Go home
-to your mistress,” said he, “and tell her to boil the beef and cabbage
-for dinner to-day; and, stop! tell her to go to Neighbor Nicholas’s
-house and borrow a good big jug of beer, for I have a masterful thirst
-this morning.” Then he gave the goat a slap on the back, and off it went
-as though the ground were hot under it. But whether it ever really went
-home or not, I never heard.
-
-[Illustration: Master Jacob takes his black goat to town.]
-
-As for the priest, the provost, and the mayor, you may guess how they
-grinned at all of this. Good land sake’s alive! And did Master Jacob
-really mean to say that the little black goat would tell the mistress
-all that?
-
-Oh, yes; that it would. It was a keen blade, that little black goat, and
-if they would only come home with him, Master Jacob would show them.
-
-So off they all went, Master Jacob and the priest and the provost and
-the mayor, and after a while they came to Master Jacob’s house. Yes,
-sure enough, there was a black goat feeding in the front yard, and how
-should the priest and the provost and the mayor know that it was not the
-same one that they had seen at the market-place! And just then out came
-Master Jacob’s wife. “Come in, Jacob,” says she, “the cabbage and the
-meat are all ready. As for the beer, Neighbor Nicholas had none to
-spare, so I just borrowed a jugful of Neighbor Frederick, and it is as
-good as the other for certain and sure.”
-
-Dear, dear! how the three cronies did open their eyes when they heard
-all of this! They would like to have such a goat as that, indeed they
-would. Now, if Master Jacob had a mind to sell his goat, they would give
-as much as twenty dollars for it.
-
-Oh, no; Master Jacob could not think of selling his nice little, dear
-little black goat for twenty dollars.
-
-For thirty, then.
-
-No; Master Jacob would not sell his goat for thirty dollars, either.
-
-Well, they would give as much as forty.
-
-No; forty dollars was not enough for such a goat as that.
-
-So they bargained and bargained till the upshot of the matter was that
-they paid Master Jacob fifty dollars, and marched off with the goat as
-pleased as pleased could be.
-
-Well, the three rogues were not long in finding out what a trick had
-been played upon them, I can tell you. So, in a day or two, whom should
-Master Jacob see coming down the road but the priest, the provost, and
-the master mayor, and anybody could see with half an eye that they were
-in an awful fume.
-
-“Hi!” says Master Jacob, “there will be hot water boiling presently.” In
-he went to his good wife. “Here,” says he, “take this bladder of blood
-that we were going to make into pudding, and hide it under your apron,
-and then when I do this and that, you do thus and so.”
-
-Presently in came the priest, the provost, and the mayor, bubbling and
-sizzling like water on slake lime. “What kind of a goat was that that
-you sold us?” bawled they, as soon as they could catch their breaths.
-
-“My black goat,” says Master Jacob.
-
-Then look! He would run on no errands, and would do nothing that it was
-told. It was of no more use about the house than five wheels to a wagon.
-Now Master Jacob might just go and put his hat on and come along with
-them, for they were about to take him away to prison.
-
-“But stop a bit,” says Master Jacob. “Did you say ‘by the great horn
-spoon,’ when you told the goat to do this or that?”
-
-No; the cronies had done nothing of the kind, for Master Jacob had said
-nothing about a great horn spoon when he sold them the goat.
-
-“Why didn’t you remind me?” says Master Jacob to his good wife.
-
-“I didn’t think of it,” says she.
-
-“You didn’t?” says he.
-
-“No,” says she.
-
-“Then take that!” says he, and he out with a great sharp knife and
-jabbed it into the bladder under her apron, so that the blood ran out
-like everything.
-
-“Ugh!” says the good wife, and then fell down and lay quite still, just
-for all the world as though she were dead.
-
-When the three cronies saw this, they gaped like fish out of water. Just
-look now! Master Jacob had gone and killed his good wife, and all for
-nothing at all. Dear, dear! what a hasty temper the man had. Now he had
-gotten himself into a pretty scrape, and would have to go before the
-judge and settle the business with him.
-
-“Tut! tut!” says Master Jacob, “the broth is not all in the ashes yet.
-Perhaps I am a bit hasty, but we will soon mend this stocking.”
-
-So he went to the closet in the corner of the room, and brought out a
-little tin horn. He blew a turn or two over his wife, whereat she
-sneezed, and then sat up as good and as sound as ever.
-
-As for the priest and the provost and the mayor, they thought that they
-had never seen anything so wonderful in all of their lives before. They
-must and would have that tin horn if it was to be had; now, how much
-would Master Jacob take for it, money down?
-
-Oh, Master Jacob did not want to part with his horn; all the same, if he
-had to sell it, he would just as lief that they should buy it as
-anybody. So they bargained and bargained, and the end of the matter was
-that they paid down another fifty dollars and marched off with the
-little tin horn, blowing away at it for dear life.
-
-By and by they came home, and there stood the goat, nibbling at the
-grass in front of the house and thinking of no harm at all. “So!” says
-the provost, “was it you that would do nothing for us without our
-saying, ‘By the great horn spoon?’ Take that then!” And he fetched the
-goat a thwack with his heavy walking-staff so that it fell down, and lay
-with no more motion than a stone. “There,” says he, “that business is
-done; and now lend me the horn a minute, brother, till I fetch him back
-again.”
-
-Well, he blew and he blew, and he blew and he blew, till he was as red
-in the face as a cherry, but the goat moved never so much as a single
-hair. Then the priest took a turn at the horn, but he had no better luck
-than the provost. Last of all the mayor had a try at it; but he might as
-well have blown the horn over a lump of dough for all the answer he had
-for his blowing.
-
-Then it began to work into their heads that they had been befooled
-again. Phew! what a passion they were in. I can only say that I am glad
-that I was not in Master Jacob’s shoes. “We’ll put him in prison right
-away,” said they, and off they went to do as they said.
-
-But Master Jacob saw them coming down the road, and was ready for them
-this time too. He took two pots and filled them with pitch, and over the
-top of the pitch he spread gold and silver money, so that if you had
-looked into the pots you would have thought that there was nothing in
-them but what you saw on the top. Then he took the pots off into the
-little woods back of the house. Now in the woods was a great deep pit,
-and all around the pit grew a row of bushes, so thick that nothing was
-to be seen of the mouth of the hole.
-
-By and by came the priest and the mayor and the provost to Master
-Jacob’s house, puffing and blowing and fuming.
-
-Rap! rap! tap! they knocked at the door, but nobody was there but Master
-Jacob’s wife.
-
-Was Master Jacob at home? That was what they wanted to know, for they
-had a score to settle with him.
-
-Oh, Master Jacob’s wife did not know just where he was, but she thought
-that he was in the little woods back of the house yonder, gathering
-money.
-
-Phew! and did money grow so near to the house as all that? This was a
-matter to be looked into, for if money was to be gathered they must have
-their share. So off they went to the woods, hot-foot.
-
-Yes; there was Master Jacob, sure enough, and what was more, he was
-carrying two pots, one on each arm.
-
-“Hi! Master Jacob, and what have you there?” said they.
-
-“Oh, nothing much,” says Master Jacob.
-
-Yes; that was all very good, but they would like to look into those pots
-that he was carrying; that was what the three cronies said.
-
-[Illustration: The Priest, the Provost and the Master Mayor blow and
-blow the little tin trumpet over y^e black goat. ¶]
-
-“Well,” says Master Jacob, “you may look into the pots if you choose;
-all the same, I will tell you that they are both full of pitch, and that
-there is only just a little money scattered over the top.”
-
-Yes, yes; that was all very well, but the three cronies knew the smell
-of money from the smell of pitch. See now, they had been fooled twice
-already, and were not to be caught again. Now, where did Master Jacob
-get that money, that was what they wanted to know.
-
-“Oh,” says Master Jacob, “I cannot tell you that; if you want to gather
-money you will have to look for it yourselves. But you must not go too
-near to those thick bushes yonder, for there is a deep pit hidden there,
-and you will be sure to fall into it.”
-
-When the priest and the provost and the mayor heard this, they nudged
-one another with their elbows and winked with one eye. They knew how
-much of that cheese to swallow. They would just take a look at this
-wonderful pit, for they thought that the money was hidden in the bushes
-for sure and certain. So off they went as fast as they could lay foot to
-the ground.
-
-“Just you stay here,” said the priest to the others, “while I go and see
-whether there really is a pit as he said.” For he thought to himself
-that he would go and gather a pocketful of the money before it would be
-share and share with his comrades. So, into the thicket he jumped,
-and—plump!—he fell into the great, deep pit; and there was an end of
-number one.
-
-By and by the others grew tired of tarrying. “I’ll go and see what he is
-waiting for,” says the provost. For he thought to himself, “He is
-filling his pockets, and I might as well have my share.” So, into the
-thicket he jumped, and—plump!—he fell into the great, deep pit; and
-there was an end of number two.
-
-As for the mayor, he waited and waited. “What a fool am I,” said he at
-last, “to sit here twiddling my thumbs while the two rogues yonder are
-filling their pockets without me. It is little or nothing but the scraps
-and the bones that I will come in for.”
-
-So the upshot of the matter was that he too ran and jumped into the
-thicket, and heels over head into the great, deep pit, and there was an
-end of number three. And if Master Jacob ever helped them out, you may
-depend upon it that he made them promise to behave themselves in time to
-come.
-
-[Illustration: Master Jacob with his two pots meets the three cronies in
-the woods.]
-
-And this is true that I tell you: it would have been cheaper for them to
-have bought their pork in the first place, for, as it was, they paid a
-pretty penny for it.
-
-As for Master Jacob and his good wife, they had a hundred dollars in
-good hard money, and if they did not get along in the world with that,
-why I, for one, want nothing more to do with them.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                              Two O’clock·
-
-
- They shake the _Bread-Crumbs_
-   Out of the _Door_,
- They scrub the _Table_,
-   And sand the _Floor_; [Sidenote: _Some thunder._] [Sidenote: _Clear._]
-
- They shoo out the _Chickens_,
-   And _Cats_, and all,
- And say “_Run, Johnnie,
-   And play with your Ball_.”
-
-                         K.P.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: Peterkin and the Little Grey Hare.]
-
-                                  XIV.
-
-
-There was a man who died and left behind him three sons, and nothing but
-two pennies to each. So, as there was little to be gained by scraping
-the dish at home, off they packed to the king’s house, where they might
-find better faring. The two elder lads were smart fellows enough; as for
-Peterkin, he was the youngest—why, nobody thought much of him.
-
-So off they went—tramp! tramp! tramp!—all three together. By and by they
-came to a great black forest where little was to be seen either before
-or behind them.
-
-There old Father Hunger met them, and that was the worse for them, for
-there was nothing at all to eat. They looked here and there, and, after
-a while, what should they come across but a little grey hare caught in a
-snare.
-
-Then, if anybody was glad, it was the two elder brothers. “Here is
-something to stay our stomachs,” said they.
-
-But Peterkin had a soft heart in his breast. “See, brothers,” said he,
-“look how the poor thing turns up its eyes. Sure it would be a pity to
-take its life, even though our stomachs do grumble a bit.”
-
-But the two elder brothers were deaf in that ear. They had gone without
-their dinners long enough, and they were no such foolish fellows as to
-throw it away, now that it had come to them.
-
-But Peterkin begged and begged, until, at last, the two said that they
-would let the Little Grey Hare go free if he would give them the two
-pennies that he had in his pocket.
-
-Well, Peterkin let them have the pennies, and they let the hare go, and
-glad enough it was to get away, I can tell you.
-
-“See, Peterkin,” it said, speaking as plainly as a Christian, “you shall
-lose nothing by this. When you are in a tight place, whistle on your
-fingers—thus—and perhaps help will come to you.”
-
-Then it thumped its feet on the ground and away it scampered.
-
-As for Peter’s brothers, they laughed and laughed. A fool and his money
-were soon parted, said they. How could a little grey hare help him, they
-should like to know?
-
-After a while they came to the town, where Peterkin’s brothers took up
-their lodgings at a good inn. As for Peterkin, he had to go and sleep in
-the straw, for one cannot spend money and have it both. So while the
-brothers were eating broth with meat in it, Peterkin went with nothing.
-
-“I wonder,” said he, “if the Little Grey Hare can help me now.” So he
-whistled on his fingers, just as it had told him.
-
-Then who should come hopping and skipping along but the Little Grey Hare
-itself. “What do you want, Peterkin?” it said.
-
-“I should like,” said Peterkin, “to have something to eat.”
-
-“Nothing easier than that,” said the Little Grey Hare; and before one
-could wink twice a fine feast, fit for a king, was spread out before
-him, and he fell to as though he had not eaten a bite for seven years.
-
-After that he slept like a flat stone, for one can sleep well even in
-the straw, if one only has a good supper within one.
-
-When the next morning had come, the two elder brothers bought them each
-a good new coat with brass buttons. Peterkin they said would have to go
-as he was, for patches and tatters were good enough for such a
-spendthrift.
-
-But Peterkin knew a way out of that hole. Back of the house he went, and
-there he blew on his fingers.
-
-“What will you have?” said the Little Grey Hare.
-
-“I should like,” said Peterkin, “to have a fine new suit of clothes, so
-that I can go to the king’s house with my brothers and not be ashamed.”
-
-“If that is all that you want,” said the Hare, “it is little enough;”
-and there lay the finest suit of clothes that Peterkin had ever seen,
-for it was all of blue silk sewed with golden threads. So Peterkin
-dressed himself in his fine clothes, and you may guess how his brothers
-stared when they saw him.
-
-[Illustration: Peterkin’s brothers marvel at the fine clothes that the
-hare gave him.]
-
-Off they all went to the king’s house, and there was the king feeding
-his chickens; for that was all the work he had upon his hands, and an
-easy life he led of it. The king looked at Peterkin, and thought that he
-had never seen such fine clothes. Did they want service? Well, the king
-thought that he might give it to them. The oldest brother might tend the
-pigs, the second might look after the cows. But as for Peterkin, he was
-so spruce and neat that he might stay in the house and open the door
-when folks knocked. That was what his fine clothes did for him.
-
-So Peterkin had the soft feathers in that nest, for he sat in the warm
-chimney all day, and had the scraping of the pipkins when good things
-had been cooked.
-
-Well, things went quietly enough for a while, but the elder brothers
-kept up a great buzzing in their heads, I can tell you; for one does not
-like to see another step in front of one, and that is the truth.
-
-So, one day, who should come to the king but the two elder brothers.
-Perhaps, said they, the king did not know it, but there was a giant over
-yonder who had a grey goose that laid a golden egg every day of her
-life. Now Peterkin had said more than once, and over and over again,
-that he was man enough to get the grey goose for the king whenever the
-king wanted it. You can guess how this tickled the king’s ears. Off he
-sent for Peterkin, and Peterkin came.
-
-Hui! how Peterkin opened his eyes when he heard what the king wanted. He
-had never said that he could get the giant’s goose; he vowed and swore
-that he had not. But it was to no purpose that he talked, the king
-wanted the grey goose, and Peterkin would have to get it for him. He
-might have three days for the business, and that was all. Then, if he
-brought the grey goose, he should have two bags of gold money; if he did
-not bring it he should pack off to the prison.
-
-So Peterkin left the king, and if anybody was down in the mouth in all
-of the world it was Peterkin.
-
-“Perhaps,” said he, “the Little Grey Hare can help me.” So he blew a
-turn or two on his fingers, and the Little Grey Hare came hopping and
-skipping up to him.
-
-What was Peterkin in the dumps about now? That was what it wanted to
-know.
-
-Why, the king wanted him to get such and such a grey goose from over at
-the giant’s house, and Peterkin knew no more about it than a red herring
-in a box; that was the trouble.
-
-“Oh, well,” says the Little Grey Hare, “maybe that can be cured; just go
-to the king and ask for this and that and the other thing, and we will
-see what can be done about the business.”
-
-So off went Peterkin to the king; perhaps he could get the grey goose
-after all, but he must have three barrels of soft pitch, and a bag of
-barley-corn, and a pot of good tallow.
-
-The king let him have all that he wanted, and then the Little Grey Hare
-took Peterkin and the three barrels of soft pitch and the bag of
-barley-corn and the pot of good tallow on its back, and off it went till
-the wind whistled behind Peterkin’s ears.
-
-(Now that was a great load for a little grey hare; but I tell the story
-to you just as Time’s Clock told it to me.)
-
-After a while they came to a river, and then the Little Grey Hare said:
-
-“Brother Pike! Brother Pike! Here are folks would like to cross the wide
-river.”
-
-Then up came a great river pike, and on his back he took Peterkin and
-the Little Grey Hare and the three barrels of pitch and the sack of
-barley-corn and the pot of good tallow, and away he swam till he had
-brought them from this side to that.
-
-(Now that was a great load for a river pike to carry; but as Time’s
-Clock told the story to me I tell it to you.)
-
-Then the Little Grey Hare went on and on again until it came to a high
-hill, and on the top of the high hill was a great house; that was where
-the giant lived.
-
-Then Peterkin took the soft pitch and made a wide pathway of it. After
-that he smeared his feet all over with the tallow, so that he stuck to
-the soft pitch no more than water sticks to a cabbage leaf. Then he
-shouldered his bag of barley-corn and went up to the giant’s castle, and
-hunted around and hunted around until he had found where the grey goose
-was; and it was in the kitchen and would not come out. But Peterkin had
-a way to bring it; he scattered the barley-corn all about, and when the
-grey goose saw that, it came out quickly enough and began to eat the
-grains as fast as it could gobble. But Peterkin did not give it much
-time for this, for up he caught it, and off he went as fast as he could
-scamper.
-
-Then the grey goose flapped its wings and began squalling. “Master!
-master! Here I am! here I am! It is Peterkin who has me!”
-
-Out ran the giant with his great iron club, and after Peterkin he came
-as fast as he could lay foot to the ground. But Peterkin had the
-buttered side of the cake this time, for he ran over the pitch road as
-easily as though it were made of good stones; that was because his boots
-were smeared with tallow. As for the giant, he stuck to it as a fly
-sticks to the butter, so that it was very slow travelling that he made
-of it.
-
-Then the hare took Peterkin up on its back, and away it scampered till
-the wind whistled behind his ears. When it had come to the river it
-said:
-
-“Brother Pike! Brother Pike! Here are folks would like to cross the wide
-river.”
-
-Then the pike took them on its back and away they went. But it was a
-tight squeeze through that crack, I can tell you, for they had hardly
-left the shore when up came the giant, fuming and boiling like water in
-the pot.
-
-“Is that you, Peterkin?” said he.
-
-“Yes; it is I,” said Peterkin.
-
-“And did you steal my grey goose?” said the giant.
-
-“Yes; I stole your grey goose,” said Peterkin.
-
-“And what would you do if you were me and I were you?” said the giant.
-
-“I would do what I could,” said Peterkin.
-
-After that the giant went back home, shaking his head and talking to
-himself.
-
-So the king got the grey goose, and was as glad as glad could be. And
-Peterkin got the bags of gold, and was glad also. Thus there were two in
-the world pleased at the same time.
-
-And now the king could not make too much of Peterkin. It was Peterkin
-here and Peterkin there, till Peterkin’s brothers were as sour as bad
-beer over the matter.
-
-So, one day, they came buzzing in the king’s ear again; perhaps the king
-did not know it, but that same giant had a silver bell, and every time
-that the bell was rung a good dinner was spread ready for the eating.
-Now, Peterkin had been saying to everybody that he could get that bell
-for the king just as easily as he had gotten the grey goose. At this the
-king pricked up his ears, for it tickled them to hear such talk. He sent
-for Peterkin to come to him, and Peterkin came. He vowed and swore that
-he had said nothing about getting the giant’s bell. But it was of no
-use; he only wasted his breath. The king wanted the silver bell, and the
-king must have it. Peterkin should have three days in which to get it.
-If he brought it at the end of that time, he should have half of the
-kingdom to rule over. If he did not bring it he should have his ears
-clipped; so there was an end of that talk.
-
-[Illustration: Peterkin, with y^e help of the hare, carries off the
-Giant’s goose. —(]
-
-It was a bad piece of business, but off Peterkin went and blew on his
-fingers, and up came the Little Grey Hare.
-
-“Well,” said the Little Grey Hare, “and what is the trouble with us
-now?”
-
-Why, the king wanted a little silver bell that was over at the giant’s
-house, and he had to go and get it for him; that was the trouble with
-Peterkin.
-
-“Well,” says the Little Grey Hare, “there is no telling what one can do
-till one tries; just get a little wad of tow and come along, and we will
-see what we can make of it.”
-
-So Peterkin got the wad of tow, and then he sat him on the Little Grey
-Hare’s back, and away they went till the wind whistled behind his ears.
-When they came to the river the Little Grey Hare called on the pike, and
-up it came and carried them over as it had done before. By and by they
-came to the giant’s house, and this time the giant was away from home,
-which was a lucky thing for Peterkin.
-
-Peterkin climbed into the window, and hunted here and there till he had
-found the little silver bell. Then he wrapped the tow around the
-clapper, but, in spite of all that he could do, it made a jingle or two.
-Then away he scampered to the Little Grey Hare. He mounted on its back,
-and off they went.
-
-But the giant heard the jingle of the little silver bell, and home he
-came as fast as his legs could carry him.
-
-He hunted here and there till he found the track of Peterkin, then after
-him he went, three miles at a step.
-
-When he came to the river, there was Peterkin, just out of harm’s way.
-
-“Is that you, Peterkin?” bawled the giant.
-
-“Yes; it is I,” said Peterkin.
-
-“And have you stolen my silver bell?” said the giant.
-
-“Yes; I have stolen your silver bell,” said Peterkin.
-
-“And have you stolen my grey goose too?” said the giant.
-
-Yes; Peterkin had stolen that too.
-
-“And what would you do if you were me and I were you?” said the giant.
-
-“I would do what I could,” said Peterkin.
-
-At this the giant went back home, grumbling and muttering to himself,
-and if Peterkin had been by it would have been bad for Peterkin.
-
-[Illustration: Peterkin bringeth y^e little silver bell of the Giant to
-the King. |]
-
-Dear, dear! but the king was glad to get the silver bell; as for
-Peterkin, he was a great man now, for he ruled over half of the kingdom.
-
-But now the two elder brothers were less pleased than ever before; they
-grumbled and talked together until the upshot of the matter was that
-they went to the king for the third time. Peterkin had been bragging and
-talking again. This time he had said that the giant over yonder had a
-sword of such a kind that it gave more light in the dark than fourteen
-candles, and that he could get the sword as easily as he had gotten the
-grey goose and the little silver bell.
-
-After that nothing would satisfy the king but for Peterkin to go and get
-the sword. Peterkin argued and talked, and talked and argued, but it was
-for no good; he might have talked till the end of all things. The king
-wanted the sword, and the king must have it. If Peterkin could bring it
-to him in three days’ time he might have the princess for his wife; if
-he came back empty-handed he should have a good thong of skin cut off of
-his back from top to bottom; that was what the king said.
-
-So there was nothing for it but for Peterkin to whistle on his fingers
-for the Little Grey Hare once more.
-
-“And what is it this time?” said the Little Grey Hare.
-
-Why, the king wanted such and such a kind of sword, and Peterkin must go
-and get it for him; that was the trouble.
-
-Well, well; there might be a hole in this hedge as well as another. But
-this time Peterkin must borrow one of the princess’s dresses and her
-golden comb; then one might see what could be done.
-
-So Peterkin went to the king and said that he must have the dress and
-the comb, and the king let him have them. Then he mounted on the Little
-Grey Hare and—whisk!—away they went as fast as before.
-
-Well, they crossed the river and came to the giant’s house once more.
-There Peterkin dressed himself in the princess’s dress, and combed his
-hair with her golden comb; and as he combed his hair it grew longer and
-longer, and the end of the matter was that he looked for all the world
-like as fine and strapping a lass as ever a body saw. Then he went up to
-the giant’s house, and—rap! tap! tap!—he knocked at the door as bold as
-brass. The giant was in this time, and he came and opened the door
-himself. But when he saw what he thought was a fine lass, he smiled as
-though he had never eaten anything in all his life but soft butter.
-
-Perhaps the pretty lass would come in and sit down for a bit; that was
-what he said to Peterkin.
-
-[Illustration: Peterkin as a girl combs the Giant’s hair.]
-
-Oh, yes! that suited Peterkin; of course he would come in. So in he
-came, and then he and the giant sat down to supper together. After they
-had eaten as much as they could the giant laid his head in Peterkin’s
-lap, and Peterkin combed his hair and combed his hair, until he fell
-fast asleep and began to snore so that he made the cinders fly up the
-chimney.
-
-Then Peterkin rose up softly and took down the Sword of Light from the
-wall. After that he went out on tiptoes and mounted the Little Grey
-Hare, and away they went till the chips flew behind them.
-
-By and by the giant opened his eyes and saw that Peterkin was gone, and,
-what was more, his Sword of Light was gone also. Then what a rage he was
-in! Off he went after Peterkin and the Little Grey Hare, seven miles at
-a step. But he was just a little too late, though there was no room to
-spare between Peterkin and him, and that is the truth.
-
-“Is that you, Peterkin?” said he.
-
-“Yes; it is I,” said Peterkin.
-
-“And have you stolen my Sword of Light?” said the giant.
-
-Oh, yes; Peterkin had done that.
-
-“And what would you do if you were me and I were you?” said the giant.
-
-“I would drink the river dry and follow after,” said Peterkin.
-
-“That is good,” said the giant. So he laid himself down and drank and
-drank and drank, until he drank so much that he burst with a great
-noise, and there was an end of him!
-
-The king was so pleased with the Sword of Light that it seemed as though
-he could not look at it and talk about it enough. As for Peterkin, he
-got the princess for his wife, and that pleased him also, you may be
-sure. The princess was pleased too, for Peterkin was a good, smart,
-tight bit of a lad, and that is what the girls like. So it was that
-everybody was pleased except the two elder brothers, who looked as sour
-as green gooseberries. But now Peterkin was an apple that hung too high
-for them to reach, and so they had to let him alone.
-
-The next day after the wedding, whom should Peterkin come across but the
-Little Grey Hare.
-
-“See, Peterkin,” it said, “I have done much for you; will you do a
-little for me?”
-
-“Yes, indeed, that I will,” said Peterkin.
-
-“Then take the Sword of Light and cut off my head and feet,” said the
-Little Grey Hare.
-
-No, no; Peterkin could never do such a thing as that; that would be a
-pretty way to treat a good friend.
-
-But the Little Grey Hare begged and begged and begged, until at last
-Peterkin did as he asked; he cut off his head and his feet. Then who
-should stand before him but a handsome young prince, with yellow hair
-and blue eyes. That was what the Little Grey Hare had been all the time,
-only the giant had bewitched him.
-
-As for Peterkin—well, this is the way of it; the youngest will step
-ahead of the others sometimes.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Three O’clock·
-
-
- The _Peddler-Man_ is at the _Door_;[Sidenote: _Make hay._] [Sidenote:
-    ☐♆☉]
- It’s _Weeks_ since he was here before.
- He gives our little _John_ a _Toy_,
- And says he is a fine, big _Boy_.
- The _Mistress_ buys some _Flower Seeds_,
- And _Gretchen_ gets some _Pins_ and _Beads_.
-
-                             K.P.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: Mother Hildegarde.]
-
-                                  XV.
-
-
-Once upon a time there lived a king who had an only daughter, and the
-princess was more handsome than I can tell you. But the queen had been
-dead for so long that the king began to think about marrying a second
-time. So the upshot of the matter was that by and by there came a
-step-mother into the house, and a step-sister besides, for the new queen
-had a daughter of her own. And that was a sorrowful thing for the
-princess.
-
-At first the new queen was kind enough to the poor girl; but before long
-there were other cakes baking in that oven, for the step-mother began
-saying to herself: “See, now, if this hussy were out of the way my own
-dear girl would be the first in the land, and might, in time, have the
-kingdom for her very own.” So, in the end, the poor princess found but
-little peace in the same house with the woman and her daughter.
-
-One day the step-mother, the step-sister, and the pretty princess sat
-together in the castle garden beside a deep cistern of water. By the
-cistern hung a silver cup for the use of those who wished to drink. And
-as they sat there the princess grew thirsty, and would have taken the
-cup to quench her thirst, but the step-mother stopped her.
-
-“See, now,” said she, “if you must drink you will have to stoop to the
-water, for the silver cup is too good for such as you.”
-
-“Alas!” said the poor princess, “the time was when a cup of gold was not
-too good for me!” And thereupon she began to weep as though her heart
-would break. But there was no help for it; if she would drink she must
-stoop for it; so down she knelt and began to drink from the deep water
-without any thought or fear of harm.
-
-But as the princess thus stooped and drank, the wicked step-mother came
-behind her without her knowing it, and gave her a push so that she fell
-headlong into the cistern and sank to the bottom. After that the
-step-mother and the step-sister went back to the castle again, rejoicing
-and thinking that now they were rid of the princess for good and all,
-and that the step-sister would be the first in all of the land.
-
-But in this they counted black chicks before they were hatched; for when
-the princess sank down to the bottom of the cistern, she found herself
-in a great wide meadow, all covered over with bright flowers, as many as
-there are stars in the sky at night.
-
-Across this meadow she went on and on and on; but never a single soul
-did she see until at last she came to a great, fine house that stood all
-alone by itself, without another to be seen, near or afar. In the
-doorway of the house stood an old woman, whom the princess saw very
-plainly was not like common folk.
-
-And she was right, for the old woman was none other than Mother
-Hildegarde, who is so wise that she knows almost as much as Father Time
-himself. Thus it was that she knew all about the princess, and who she
-was and whence she came, without the asking. “Listen,” said she, “I will
-give you food and lodging, and will pay you well if you will serve me
-faithfully for the space of a year and a day.”
-
-That the princess was willing enough to do, for she was both tired and
-hungry; so into the house she went to serve Mother Hildegarde for a year
-and a day.
-
-But it was no common work that the princess did, I can tell you; for
-listen: When she blew the bellows that the fire might blaze the
-brighter, the wind swept over the great brown world so that every
-windmill turned around and around from Jacob Pfennigdrummel’s to the
-shores of the great black sea at the north end of the earth; and when
-she sprinkled the clothes, the blessed rain came tumbling down till all
-the gutters ran with water so that little folk had either to stay home
-from school or to go thither under great, wide umbrellas.
-
-[Illustration: The Princess cometh into a wonderful country and to the
-house of a strange old woman. ¶]
-
-But of all this the pretty princess knew nothing whatever, but only
-thought that she blew the fire and sprinkled the clothes. And that is
-often the way of the world—at least, so Tommy Pfouce tells me.
-
-Well, one day Mother Hildegarde said to the princess: “See, now; I am
-going off on a journey, and it may be a while before I am back again.
-Here are the keys of all of the house, and you are free to go wherever
-you choose. Only here is a black key that unlocks a little room into
-which you must not go; for if you do I will be sure to know it, and
-ill-luck will be certain to happen to you.” Then off she went, and the
-princess was left all alone.
-
-The first day the lass went here, and the second day she went there, and
-the third day she had gone everywhere except into the little room where
-Mother Hildegarde had told her not to go; and she never wanted anything
-in all of her life as much as she wanted just to peep into that little
-room.
-
-“I wonder,” said she to herself—“I wonder what harm there could be in it
-if I were only to take one little peep?” So the upshot of the matter was
-that she went there just to look at the outside of the door.
-
-“I wonder,” said she, “if the key will fit the lock?”
-
-Yes; it did fit it.
-
-“I wonder,” said she, “if the key will turn the bolt?”
-
-Yes; it did turn it.
-
-“I wonder,” said she, “whether it would do any harm just to peep into
-the room?”
-
-And she did peep into it.
-
-Believe me or not, all the same I tell you the truth when I say that
-there was not one thing in the room but a covered jar, that stood in the
-middle of the floor. Of course the princess must have just one peep into
-the jar, for as she had gone as far as she had, there could be no more
-harm in this than in the other. So she went to the jar and took off the
-lid and peeped into it.
-
-And what do you think was in it? Nothing but water!
-
-But as the princess looked into the water she saw Mother Hildegarde as
-though she were a great way off, and the Mother Hildegarde whom she saw
-in the water was looking at nobody in all of the world but her. As soon
-as the princess saw what she saw, she clapped down the lid of the jar
-again; but she clapped it down just a moment too late, for a lock of
-hair fell down over her face, and one single hair touched the water in
-the jar.
-
-[Illustration: The Princess looks into that which she should not have
-done.]
-
-Yes; only one single hair. But when the princess looked she saw that
-every lock upon her head was turned to pure gold. Then if anybody in all
-of the world was frightened it was the poor princess. She twisted up the
-hair upon the top of her head and bound her kerchief about it so that it
-was all hidden; but all the same the hair was there, and could never be
-changed from the gold again.
-
-Just then who should come walking into the house but Mother Hildegarde
-herself. “Have you obeyed all that I have told you?” said she.
-
-“Yes,” said the princess, but all the same she was so frightened that
-her knees knocked together.
-
-“Did you go into the little room?” said Mother Hildegarde.
-
-“No,” said the princess; but her heart beat so that she could hardly
-speak.
-
-Then Mother Hildegarde snatched the kerchief off of the princess’s head,
-and her golden hair came tumbling down all about her shoulders,
-glittering, so that it was the finest sight that you could see between
-here and Nomansland.
-
-“Then how came your hair to be like that?” said Mother Hildegarde.
-
-“I do not know,” said the princess; and then she began crying and
-sobbing as though her heart would break.
-
-“See now,” said Mother Hildegarde; “you have served me well for all of
-the time that you have been with me, therefore I will have pity upon
-you, only you must tell me the truth. Did you go into the little room
-while I was away?”
-
-But for all that Mother Hildegarde spoke ever so kindly the princess
-could not bring herself to speak the truth.
-
-“No,” said she.
-
-“Then how came your hair to be like that?” said Mother Hildegarde.
-
-“I do not know,” said the princess.
-
-At this Mother Hildegarde frowned till her eyes burned like sparks of
-fire. She caught the princess by the arm and struck her staff upon the
-ground, and away they flew through the air till the wind whistled behind
-them. So by and by they came to a great forest, out of which there was
-no path to be found either to the east or the west or the north or the
-south.
-
-[Illustration: The Princess dwells in the oak-tree where y^e wild
-pigeons come to feed her.]
-
-“See now,” said Mother Hildegarde, “because you have been faithful in
-your labor with me I will give you still another chance. But if you do
-not answer me truthfully this time, I will leave you alone here in the
-forest, and will take away your speech so that you will be as dumb as
-the beasts of the field. Did you go into the little room?”
-
-But still the princess hardened her heart and answered “No.”
-
-“Then how came your hair to be like that?” said Mother Hildegarde.
-
-“I do not know,” said the princess.
-
-Then Mother Hildegarde went away, and left the princess alone in the
-forest as she had promised to do; and not only that, but she took away
-the princess’s speech, so that she was quite dumb. So in the forest the
-princess dwelt for a long, long time, and there she would have died of
-hunger, only that Mother Hildegarde still cared for her and sent the
-wood-pigeons to feed her, which they did from day to day and from week
-to week and from month to month. As for the princess, she lived in the
-branches of the trees, for she was afraid of the wild beasts that roamed
-through the wood.
-
-By and by her clothes became nothing but rags and tatters, and then she
-had to weave her beautiful hair about her, so that she was clad all from
-head to foot in her golden tresses, and in them alone.
-
-Well, one time it happened that a young king came riding into the forest
-to hunt the wild boars, and many of his people came along with him. Some
-of those who rode on before came suddenly to where a great flock of
-wood-pigeons flew about in the tree-tops above them. But when they
-looked up, you may guess how wonder-struck they were when they saw that
-the pigeons were feeding a beautiful maiden who sat in the branches
-above, clad all in her golden hair. Back they rode to the young king and
-told him all that they had seen, and up he came as fast as he could
-ride. There he saw the maiden and how beautiful she was, and he called
-to her to come down. But she only shook her head, for she could not
-speak, and she was ashamed of being found where she was. Then the young
-king, seeing that she would not come down from the branches to him,
-climbed up himself and brought her.
-
-He wrapped his cloak about her and set her on his horse in front of him,
-and then he and all that were with him rode away out of the dark forest
-and under the blue sky, until they had come to the king’s castle. But
-all the time the princess did nothing but weep and weep, for she could
-not speak a single word. The young king gave her to his mother to care
-for, who was none too glad to have such a dumb maiden brought into the
-house, even though the lass was as pretty as milk and rose leaves.
-
-[Illustration: Mother Hildegarde carries ye baby away from the castle of
-the king.]
-
-But the young king cared nothing whatever for what his mother thought
-about the matter, for the more he looked at the princess, the more
-beautiful she appeared in his eyes. So the end of the matter was that he
-married her, even though she had not a word to say for herself.
-
-Well, time went on and on, till one day the storks that lived on the
-castle roof brought a baby boy to the poor dumb princess, whereat
-everybody was as glad as glad could be.
-
-But their gladness was soon changed to sadness, for that night, when
-every one in the king’s house was fast and sound asleep, Mother
-Hildegarde came softly into the princess’s room. She gave her back her
-speech for the time being, and then she said, “I will still have pity
-upon you. If you will only tell me the truth you shall have your speech
-again, and all will go well with you. But if you tell me a falsehood
-once more, still greater troubles will come upon you. Now tell me, did
-you go into the little room?”
-
-“No,” said the princess, for still she could not bring herself to
-confess to Mother Hildegarde.
-
-“Then how came your hair to be like that?”
-
-“I do not know,” said the princess.
-
-So Mother Hildegarde took away her speech once more.
-
-After that she smeared the mouth of the princess with blood, and then,
-wrapping the baby in her mantle, she carried it away with her, leaving
-the mother weeping alone.
-
-You can guess what a hubbub there was the next morning in the castle,
-when they came and found that the baby was gone, and that the princess’s
-mouth was smeared with blood. “See,” said the king’s mother, “what did I
-tell you from the very first. Do you not see that you have brought a
-wicked witch into the house, and that she has killed her own child?”
-
-But the king would listen to no such words as these, for it seemed to
-him that the princess was too beautiful and too good to do such a wicked
-thing.
-
-After a time there came another baby to the princess, and once more
-Mother Hildegarde came to her and said, “Did you go into the little
-room?”
-
-“No,” said the princess.
-
-“Then how came your hair to be like that?”
-
-“I do not know,” said the princess.
-
-So Mother Hildegarde took this baby away as she had done the other, and
-left the princess with her lips smeared with blood.
-
-And now every one of the king’s household began to mutter and to whisper
-to his neighbor, and the king had nothing to say, but only left the room
-silently, for his heart was like heavy lead within his breast. Still he
-would not hear of harm coming to the princess, no matter what had
-happened.
-
-In time there came a third baby, but still the princess could not soften
-her heart, and Mother Hildegarde took it away as she had done the
-others. This time the king could do nothing to save the princess, for
-every one cried out upon her that she was a wicked witch who killed her
-children, and that she should be burned at the stake, as was fitting for
-such a one. So a great pile of fagots was built out in the castle
-court-yard, and the princess was brought out and tied to a stake that
-stood in the midst. Then they lit the pile of fagots, and it began to
-crackle and burn around her where she stood.
-
-Then suddenly, Mother Hildegarde stood beside her in the midst of the
-fire. In her arms she held the princess’s youngest baby, and the others
-stood, one upon one side and the other upon the other, and held on to
-her skirts.
-
-She gave the princess her speech again, and then she said, “Now, tell
-me, did you go into the little room?”
-
-Even yet the princess would have answered “No;” but when she saw her
-children standing in the midst of the fire with her, her heart melted
-away within her.
-
-“Yes!” she cried, “I went in and I saw.”
-
-“And how came your hair to be like that?” said Mother Hildegarde.
-
-“Alas!” said the princess, “I gazed upon that which I should not have
-gazed upon, and looked into that which I should not have looked into,
-and one hair touched the water and all was turned to gold.”
-
-Then Mother Hildegarde smiled till her face shone as white as the moon.
-“The truth is better late than not at all,” said she; “and if you had
-but spoken in the first place, I would have freely forgiven you.” As she
-spoke a shower of rain fell down from the sky, and the fire of the
-fagots was quenched.
-
-And now you can guess what joy there was in the king’s castle when every
-one knew all that had happened, and it was seen how the right thing had
-come about at last, though it was the toss of a farthing betwixt this
-and that. Even the king’s mother was glad enough when she came to know
-that it was a real princess whom her son had married after all.
-
-And now listen to what happened in the end.
-
-They gave a great feast, and everybody was asked to come from far and
-near. Then who should come travelling along with the others, as grand as
-you please, but the wicked step-mother and step-sister of the princess.
-
-Dear, dear, how they stared and goggled when they saw who the young
-queen really was, and that the poor princess had married the richest and
-greatest king in all of the land!
-
-Their hearts were so filled with envy that they swelled and swelled
-until they burst within them, and they fell down dead, and there was an
-end of them.
-
-Thus it is that everything turns out right in the long run—that is in
-fairy tales.
-
-But, after all, if the princess had only told the truth in the first
-place, she would never have gotten in all this peck of trouble.
-
-And then who knows what Mother Hildegarde would have done for her, for
-she is a strange woman, is Mother Hildegarde.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Four O’clock·
-
-
- Bare-necked _Gretchen_ combs her hair [Sidenote: ☉K.P.☋ _Warm and
-    Dusty._]
-   At the _Looking-Glass_.
- This is _Grease_, and these are _Beads_
-   She takes to early _Mass_.
-
- Her _Water-Pitcher_, blue and white,
-   Has got a broken _Nose_,
- And both the _Stockings_ that she wears
-   Are ravelled at the _Toes_.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: Which is Best?]
-
-                                  XVI.
-
-
-There was a rich man who lived on a hill, and a poor man who lived down
-in the valley, and they were brothers, the one was older and the other
-younger. The one lived in a grand house and the other in a little,
-rickety, tumble-down hut, and the one was covetous and greedy and the
-other was kind and merciful. All the same, it was a merry life that the
-poor brother led of it, for each morning when he took a drink he said,
-“Thank Heaven for clear water;” and when the day was bright he said,
-“Thank Heaven for the warm sun that shines on us all;” and when it was
-wet it was, “Thank Heaven for the gentle rain that makes the green grass
-grow.”
-
-One day the poor brother was riding in the forest, and there he met the
-rich brother, and they jogged along the way together. The one rode upon
-a poor, old, spavined, white horse, and the other rode upon a fine,
-prancing steed.
-
-By and by they met an old woman, and it was all that she could do to
-hobble along the way she was going.
-
-“Dear, good, kind gentlemen,” said she, “do help a poor old body with a
-penny or two, for it is nothing I have in the world, and life sits heavy
-on old shoulders.”
-
-The rich brother was for passing along as though he heard never a word
-of what she said, but the poor brother had a soft heart, and reined in
-his horse.
-
-“It is only three farthings that I have in the world,” said he; “but
-such as they are you are welcome to them,” and he emptied his purse into
-her hand.
-
-“You shall not have the worst of the bargain,” said the old woman; “here
-is something that is worth the having,” and she gave him a little black
-stone about as big as a bean. Then off she went with what he had given
-her.
-
-“See, now,” said the rich brother, “that is why you are so poor as
-hardly to be able to make both ends meet in the world.”
-
-“That may be so, or may not be so,” said the poor brother; “all the
-same, mercy is better than greed.”
-
-How the elder did laugh at this, to be sure! “Why, look,” says he, “here
-I am riding upon a grand horse with my pockets full of gold and silver
-money, and there you are astride of a beast that can hardly hobble along
-the road, and with never a copper bit in your pocket to jingle against
-another.”
-
-Yes; that was all true enough; nevertheless, the younger brother stuck
-to it that mercy was better than greed, until, at last, the other flew
-into a mighty huff.
-
-“Very well,” says he, “I will wager my horse against yours that I am
-right, and we will leave it to the first body we meet to settle the
-point.”
-
-Well, that suited the poor brother, and he was agreed to do as the other
-said.
-
-So by and by they met a grand lord riding along the road with six
-servants behind him; and would he tell whether mercy or greed were the
-best for a body in this world?
-
-The rich lord laughed and laughed. “Why,” said he, “greed is the best,
-for if it were otherwise, and I had only what belonged to me, I should
-never be jogging along through the world with six servants behind me.”
-
-So off he rode, and the poor brother had to give up his horse to the
-other, who had no more use for it than I have for five more fingers.
-“All the same,” says the poor brother, “mercy is better than greed.”
-Goodness! what a rage the rich brother fell into, to be sure! “There is
-no teaching a simpleton,” said he; “nevertheless, I will wager all the
-money in my purse against your left eye that greed is better than mercy,
-and we will leave it to the next body we meet, since you are not content
-with the other.”
-
-[Illustration: Having been thrice adjudged in the wrong, the poor man is
-left by the rich man blind upon the highway.]
-
-That suited the younger brother well enough, and on they jogged until
-they met a rich merchant driving a donkey loaded with things to sell.
-And would he judge between them whether mercy or greed were the best for
-a body?
-
-“Poof!” says the merchant, “what a question to ask! All the world knows
-that greed is the best. If it were not for taking the cool end of the
-bargain myself, and leaving the hot end for my neighbor to hold, it is
-little or nothing that I should have in the world to call my own.” And
-off he went whither he was going.
-
-“There,” says the rich brother, “now perhaps you will be satisfied;” and
-he put out the poor man’s left eye.
-
-But no, the other still held that mercy was better than greed; and so
-they made another wager of all the rich man had in the world against the
-poor man’s right eye.
-
-This time it was a poor ploughman whom they met, and would he tell
-whether mercy or greed were the best?
-
-“Prut!” said he, “any simpleton can tell that greed is the best, for all
-the world rides on the poor man’s shoulders, and he is able to bear the
-burden the least of all.”
-
-Then the rich man put out the poor man’s right eye; “for,” says he, “a
-body deserves to be blind who cannot see the truth when it is as plain
-as a pikestaff.”
-
-But still the poor man stuck to it that mercy was the best. So the rich
-man rode away and left him in his blindness.
-
-As all was darkness to his eyes, he sat down beside the road at the
-first place he could find, and that was underneath the gallows where
-three wicked robbers had been hung. While he sat there two ravens came
-flying, and lit on the gallows above him. They began talking to one
-another, and the younger brother heard what they said, for he could
-understand the speech of the birds of the air and of the beasts of the
-field, just as little children can, because he was innocent.
-
-And the first raven said to the second raven, “Yonder, below, sits a
-fellow in blindness, because he held that mercy was better than greed.”
-
-And the second raven said to the first, “Yes, that is so, but he might
-have his sight again if he only knew enough to spread his handkerchief
-upon the grass, and bathe his eyes in the dew which falls upon it from
-the gallows above.”
-
-And the first raven said to the second, “That is as true as that one and
-one make two; but there is more to tell yet, for in his pocket he
-carries a little black stone with which he may open every door that he
-touches. Back of the oak-tree yonder is a little door; if he would but
-enter thereat he would find something below well worth the having.”
-
-[Illustration: The poor man touches the door with y^e stone.]
-
-That was what the two ravens said, and then they flapped their wings and
-flew away.
-
-As for the younger brother, you can guess how his heart danced at what
-he heard. He spread his handkerchief on the grass, and by and by, when
-night came, the dew fell upon it until it was as wet as clothes on the
-line. He wiped his eyes with it, and when the dew touched the lids they
-were cured, and he could see as well and better than ever.
-
-By and by the day broke, and he lost no time in finding the door back of
-the oak-tree. He touched the lock with the little black stone, and the
-door opened as smoothly as though the hinges were greased. There he
-found a flight of steps that led down into a pit as dark as a beer
-vault. Down the steps he went, and on and on until, at last, he came to
-a great room, the like of which his eyes had never seen before. In the
-centre of the room was a statue as black as ink; in one hand it held a
-crystal globe which shone with a clear white light, so that it dazzled
-one’s eyes to look upon it; in the other hand it held a great diamond as
-big as a hen’s egg. Upon the breast of the statue were written these
-words in letters of gold:
-
-                         “WHAT THOU DESERVEST
-                         THAT THOU SHALT HAVE.”
-
-On three sides of the room sat three statues, and at the feet of each
-statue stood a heavy chest:
-
-The first statue was of gold, and over its head were written these
-words:
-
-     “WHO CHOOSES HERE TAKES THE BEST THAT THE EARTH HAS TO GIVE.”
-
-The second statue was of silver, and over its head was written these
-words:
-
-           “WHO CHOOSES HERE TAKES WHAT THE RICH MAN LOVES.”
-
-The third statue was of dull lead, and over its head was written:
-
-             “WHO CHOOSES HERE TAKES WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE.”
-
-The man touched the chest at the feet of the golden statue with the
-little black stone. And—click! clack!—up flew the lid, and the chest was
-full of all kinds of precious stones.
-
-“Pugh!” says the younger brother; “and if this is the best that the
-world has to give, it is poor enough.” And he shut down the lid again.
-
-He touched the chest at the feet of the silver statue with his little
-black stone, and it was full of gold and silver money.
-
-“Pish!” says he; “and if this is what the rich man loves, why, so do not
-I.” And he shut down the lid again.
-
-Last of all he touched the chest at the feet of the leaden statue.
-
-[Illustration: The poor man finds that which is the best. ¶]
-
-In it was a book, and the letters on it said that whoever read within
-would know all that was worth the knowing. Beside the book was a pair of
-spectacles, and whoever set them astride of his nose might see the truth
-without having to rub the glasses with his pocket-handkerchief. But the
-best of all in the chest was an apple, and whoever ate of it would be
-cured of sorrow and sickness.
-
-“Hi!” said the younger brother, “but these are worth the having, for
-sure and certain.” And he put the spectacles upon his nose and the apple
-and the book in his pocket. Then off he went, and the spectacles showed
-him the way, although it was as crooked as sin and as black as night.
-
-So by and by he came out into the blessed sunlight again, and at the
-same place where he had gone in.
-
-Off he went to his own home as fast as his legs could carry him, and you
-can guess how the rich brother stared when he saw the poor brother back
-in that town again, with his eyesight as good as ever.
-
-As for the poor brother, he just turned his hand to being a doctor; and
-there has never been one like him since that day, for not only could he
-cure all sickness with his apple, but he could cure all sorrow as well.
-Money and fame poured in on him; and whenever trouble lit on his
-shoulders he just put on his spectacles and looked into the business,
-and then opened the book of wisdom and found how to cure it. So his life
-was as happy as the day was long; and a body can ask for no more than
-that in this world here below.
-
-One day the rich brother came and knocked at the other’s door. “Well,
-brother,” says he, “I am glad to see you getting along so well in the
-world. Let us let bygones be bygones and live together as we should, for
-I am sorry for what I did to you.”
-
-Well, that suited the younger brother well enough; he bore no malice
-against the other, for all that had been done had turned out for the
-best. All the same, he was more sure than ever now that mercy was better
-than greed.
-
-The elder brother twisted up his face at this, as though the words were
-sour; all the same, he did not argue the question, for what he had come
-for was to find why the world had grown so easy with the other all of a
-sudden. So in he came, and they lit their pipes and sat down by the
-stove together.
-
-He was a keen blade, was the elder brother, and it was not long before
-he had screwed the whole story out of the other.
-
-[Illustration: The rich man findeth that which he deserveth.]
-
-“Dear, dear, dear!” said he, “I only wish I could find a black pebble
-like that one of yours.”
-
-“It would do you no good if you had it,” said the younger brother, “for
-I have brought away all that is worth the having. All the same, if you
-want my black pebble now you are welcome to it.”
-
-Did the elder brother want it! Why, of course he wanted it, and he could
-not find words enough to thank the younger.
-
-Off he went, hot-foot, to find the door back of the oak-tree; “For,”
-said he to himself, “I will bring something back better worth the having
-than a musty book, an old pair of spectacles, and a red apple.”
-
-He touched the door with the black stone, and it opened for him just as
-it had for the younger brother.
-
-Down the steps he went, and on and on and on, until by and by he came to
-the room where the statues were. There was the black statue holding out
-the crystal ball and the diamond as big as a hen’s egg, and there sat
-the golden statue and the silver statue and the leaden statue, just as
-they had sat when the younger brother had been there, only there was
-nothing in the chest at the feet of the leaden statue.
-
-The rich brother touched the lock of the chest in front of the silver
-statue. Up flew the lid, and there lay all the gold and silver money.
-
-“Yes,” says he, “that is what the rich man loves, sure enough.
-Nevertheless, there may be something else that is better worth the
-having.” So he let the money lay where it was.
-
-He touched the chest in front of the golden statue. Up flew the lid, and
-he had to blink and wink his eyes because the precious stones dazzled
-them so.
-
-“Yes,” says he, “this is the best the world has to give, and there is no
-gainsaying that; all the same, there may be something better worth the
-having than these.”
-
-So he looked all about the room, until he saw the golden letters on the
-breast of the black statue that stood in the middle. First he read the
-words:
-
-                         “WHAT THOU DESERVEST
-                         THAT THOU SHALT HAVE.”
-
-And then he saw the great diamond that the statue held in its left hand.
-
-“Why,” said he, “it is as plain as daylight that I deserve this precious
-stone, for not being so simple as my brother, and taking what I could
-find without looking for anything better.”
-
-So up he stepped and took the diamond out of the statue’s hand.
-
-Crash!—and all was darkness, darker than the darkest midnight; for, as
-quick as a wink, the black statue let the crystal globe of light fall
-from its right hand upon the stone floor, where it broke into ten
-thousand pieces.
-
-And now the rich brother might wander up and wander down, but wander as
-he chose he could never find his way out of that place again, for the
-darkness shut him in like a blanket.
-
-So, after all, mercy and temperance were better in the long run than
-greed and covetousness, in spite of what the great lord and the rich
-merchant and the poor ploughman had said.
-
-Maybe I have got this story twisted awry in the telling; all the same,
-Tommy Pfouce says that it is a true-enough story, if you put on your
-spectacles and look at it from the right side.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Five O’clock·
-
-
- _Pussy-Cat_, _Pussy-Cat_ what do you dream,
-   Sleeping out there in the _Sun_?
- The _Red Cow_ and _White Cow_ are out in the _Lane_;
-   I guess that the _Milking_ is done. [Sidenote: ☾’s pl. Const.]
-      [Sidenote: ☉ K.P. ⊕]
-
- _Pussy-Cat_, _Pussy-Cat_ open your _Eyes_,
-   And see what your _Kitten_’s about;
- She’s found a great _Rat-Hole_ that’s close to the _Step_,
- And is watching for him to come out.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Simpleton _and his_ Little Black Hen.]
-
-                                 XVII.
-
-
-There were three brothers left behind when the father died. The two
-elder, whose names were John and James, were as clever lads as ever ate
-pease with a fork.
-
-As for the youngest, his name was Caspar, he had no more than enough
-sense to blow his potatoes when they were hot. Well, when they came to
-divide things up between themselves, John and James contrived to share
-all of the good things between them. As for Caspar, “why, the little
-black hen is enough for him,” says John and James, and that was all the
-butter he got from that churn.
-
-“I’ll take the little black hen to the fair,” says Caspar, “and there
-I’ll sell her and buy me some eggs. I’ll set the eggs under the
-minister’s speckled hen, and then I’ll have more chicks. Then I’ll buy
-me more eggs and have more chicks, and then I’ll buy me more eggs and
-have more chicks, and after that I’ll be richer than Uncle Henry, who
-has two cows and a horse, and will marry my sweetheart into the
-bargain.” So off he went to the fair with the black hen under his arm,
-as he had promised himself to do.
-
-“There goes a goose to the plucking,” says John and James, and then they
-turned no hairs grey by thinking any more about the case.
-
-As for him, why, he went on and on until he came to the inn over the
-hill not far from the town, the host of which was no better than he
-should be, and that was the long and the short of it.
-
-“Where do you go with the little black hen, Caspar?” says he.
-
-“Oh,” says Caspar, “I take it to the fair to sell it and buy me some
-eggs. I’ll set the eggs under the minister’s speckled hen, and then I’ll
-have more chicks. Then I’ll buy me more eggs and have more chicks, and
-then I’ll buy me more eggs and have more chicks, and after that I’ll be
-richer than Uncle Henry, who has two cows and a horse, and will marry my
-sweetheart into the bargain.”
-
-Prut! And why should Caspar take his hen to the fair? That was what the
-landlord said. It was a silly thing to tramp to the river for water
-before the well was dry at home. Why, the landlord had a friend over
-yonder who would give ten pennies to one that he could get at the fair
-for his black hen. Now, had Caspar ever heard tell of the little old
-gentleman who lived in the old willow-tree over yonder?
-
-No, Caspar had never heard tell of him in all of his life. And there was
-no wonder in that, for no more had anybody else, and the landlord was
-only up to a bit of a trick to get the little black hen for himself.
-
-But the landlord sucked in his lips—“_tsch_”—so! Well, that was a pity,
-for the little old gentleman had said, time and time again, that he
-would give a whole bagful of gold and silver money for just such a
-little black hen as the one that Caspar carried under his arm.
-
-Dear, dear! How Caspar’s eyes did open at this, to be sure. Off he
-started for the willow-tree. “Here’s the little black hen,” said he,
-“and I’ll sell her for a bagful of gold and silver money.” But nobody
-answered him; and you may be sure of that, for there was nobody there.
-
-“Well,” says Caspar, “I’ll just tie the hen to the tree here, and you
-may pay me to-morrow.” So he did as he had said, and off he marched.
-Then came the landlord and took the hen off home and had it for his
-supper; and there was an end of that business.
-
-An end of that business? No, no; stop a bit, for we will not drive too
-fast down the hill. Listen: there was a wicked robber who had hidden a
-bag of gold and silver money in that very tree; but of that neither
-Caspar nor the landlord knew any more than the chick in the shell.
-
-“Hi!” says Caspar, “it is the wise man who gets along in the world.” But
-there he was wrong for once in his life, Tommy Pfouce tells me.
-
-“And did you sell your hen?” says John and James.
-
-Oh, yes; Caspar had done that.
-
-And what had he got for it?
-
-[Illustration: The cunning landlord telleth Caspar where to take his hen
-to sell it for a good price.]
-
-Oh, just a bag of gold and silver money, that was all. He would show it
-to them to-morrow, for he was to go and get it then from the old
-gentleman who lived in the willow-tree over yonder by the inn over the
-hill.
-
-When John and James heard that they saw as plain as the nose on your
-face that Caspar had been bitten by the _fool dog_.
-
-But Caspar never bothered his head about that; off he went the next day
-as grand as you please. Up he marched to the willow-tree, but never a
-soul did he find there; for why, there was nobody.
-
-Rap! tap! tap! He knocked upon the tree as civil as a beggar at the
-kitchen door, but nobody said, “Come in!”
-
-“Look,” says he, “we will have no dilly-dallying; I want my money and I
-will have it,” and he fetched a kick at the tree that made the bark fly.
-But he might as well have kicked my grandfather’s bedpost for all the
-good he had of it. “Oh, very well!” says he, and off he marched and
-brought the axe that stood back of the stable door.
-
-Hui! how the chips flew! for Caspar was bound to get to the bottom of
-the business. So by and by the tree lay on the ground, and there was the
-bag of gold and silver money that the wicked robber had hidden. “So!”
-says Caspar, “better late than never!” and off he marched with it.
-
-By and by whom should he meet but John and James. Bless me, how they
-stared! And did Caspar get all of that money for one little black hen?
-
-Oh, yes; that he had.
-
-And where did he get it?
-
-Oh! the little old man in the willow-tree had paid it to him.
-
-So, good! that was a fine thing, and it should be share and share alike
-among brothers; that was what John and James said, and Caspar did not
-say “No;” so down they all sat on the grass and began counting it out.
-
-“This is mine,” said John.
-
-“And this is mine,” said James.
-
-“And this is mine,” said John.
-
-“And this is mine,” said James.
-
-“And where is mine?” says Caspar. But neither of the others thought of
-him because he was so simple.
-
-Just then who should come along but the rogue of a landlord. “Hi! and
-where did you get all that?” says he.
-
-[Illustration: Caspar findeth money in the willow-tree.]
-
-“Oh,” says Caspar, “the little old man in the willow-tree paid it to me
-for my little black hen.”
-
-Yes, yes, the landlord knew how much of that cake to eat. He was not to
-have the wool pulled over his eyes so easily. See, now, he knew very
-well that thieving had been done, and he would have them all up before
-the master mayor for it. So the upshot of the matter was that they had
-to take him in to share with them.
-
-“This is mine,” says the landlord.
-
-“And this is mine,” says John.
-
-“And this is mine,” says James.
-
-“And where do I come in?” says poor Caspar. But nobody thought of him
-because he was so simple.
-
-Just then came along a company of soldiers—tramp! tramp! tramp!—and
-there they found them all sharing the money between them, except Caspar.
-
-“Hi!” says the captain, “here are a lot of thieves, and no mistake!” and
-off he marched them to the king’s house, which was finer than any in our
-town, and as big as a church into the bargain.
-
-And how had they come by all that money? that was what the king would
-like to know.
-
-As for the three rogues, they sang a different tune now than they had
-whistled before.
-
-“It’s none of mine, it’s his,” said the landlord, and he pointed to
-John.
-
-“It’s none of mine, it’s his,” said John, and he pointed to James.
-
-“It’s none of mine, it’s his,” said James, and he pointed to Caspar.
-
-“And how did you get it?” says the king.
-
-“Oh!” says Caspar, “the little old man in the willow-tree gave it to me
-for my little black hen;” and then he told the whole story without
-missing a single grain.
-
-Beside the king sat the princess, who was so serious and solemn that she
-had never laughed once in all her life. So the king had said, time and
-time again, that whoever should make her laugh should have her for his
-wife. Now, when she heard Caspar’s story, and how he came in behind all
-the rest, so that he always had the pinching, like the tail of our cat
-in the crack of the door, she laughed like everything, for she could not
-help it. So there was the fat in the fire, for Caspar was not much to
-look at, and that was the truth. Dear, dear, what a stew the king was
-in, for he had no notion for Caspar as a son-in-law. So he began to
-think about striking a bargain. “Come,” says he to Caspar, “how much
-will you take to give up the princess instead of marrying her?”
-
-Well, Caspar did not know how much a princess was worth. So he scratched
-his head and scratched his head, and by and by he said that he would be
-willing to take ten dollars and let the princess go.
-
-At this the king boiled over into a mighty fume, like water into the
-fire. What! did Caspar think that ten dollars was a fit price for a
-princess!
-
-Oh, Caspar had never done any business of this kind before. He had a
-sweetheart of his own at home, and if ten dollars was too much for the
-princess he would be willing to take five.
-
-Sakes alive! what a rage the king was in! Why, I would not have stood in
-Caspar’s shoes just then—no, not for a hundred dollars. The king would
-have had him whipped right away, only just then he had some other
-business on hand. So he paid Caspar his five dollars, and told him that
-if he would come back the next day he should have all that his back
-could carry—meaning a whipping.
-
-[Illustration: The three share the money amongst them.]
-
-As for Caspar and his brothers and the rogue of a landlord, they thought
-that the king was talking about dollars. So when they had left the
-king’s house and had come out into the road again, the three rogues
-began to talk as smooth and as soft as though their words were buttered.
-
-See, now, what did Caspar want with all that the king had promised him;
-that was what they said. If he would let them have it, they would give
-him all of their share of the money he had found in the willow-tree.
-
-“Ah, yes,” says Caspar, “I am willing to do that. For,” says he to
-himself, “an apple in the pocket is worth three on the tree.” And there
-he was right for once in his life.
-
-Well, the next day back they all tramped to the king’s house again to
-get what had been promised to Caspar.
-
-So! Caspar had come back for the rest, had he?
-
-Oh, yes, he had come back again; but the lord king must know that he had
-sold all that had been promised to him to these three lads for their
-share of the money he had found in the willow-tree over yonder.
-
-“Yes,” says the landlord, “one part of what has been promised is mine.”
-
-“And one part of it is mine,” says John.
-
-“Stop a bit, brother,” says James; “remember, one part of it is mine
-too.”
-
-At this the king could not help laughing, and that broke the back of his
-anger.
-
-First of all he sent the landlord for his share, and if his back did not
-smart after he had it, why, it was not the fault of those who gave it to
-him. By and by he came back again, but he said nothing to the others of
-what had been given to him; but all the same he grinned as though he had
-been eating sour gooseberries. Then John went, and last of all James,
-and what they got satisfied them, I can tell you.
-
-After that the king told Caspar that he might go into the other room and
-fill his pockets with money for what he had given up to the others; so
-he had the cool end of that bargain, and did not burn his fingers after
-all.
-
-But the three rogues were not satisfied with this. No, indeed! Caspar
-should have his share of the smarting, see if he shouldn’t! So back they
-went to the king’s house one fine day, and said that Caspar had been
-talking about the lord king, and had said that he was no better than an
-old hunks. At this the king was awfully angry. And so off he sent the
-others to fetch Caspar along so that he might settle the score with him.
-
-When the three came home, there was Caspar lying on a bench in the sun,
-for he could take the world easy now, because he was so rich.
-
-“Come along, Caspar,” said they, “the king wants to see you over at his
-house yonder.”
-
-Yes, yes, but there was too much hurrying in this business, for it was
-over-quick cooking that burned the broth. If Caspar was to go to the
-king’s house he would go in fitting style, so they would just have to
-wait till he found a horse, for he was not going to jog it afoot; that
-was what Caspar said.
-
-[Illustration: The three rogues lend Caspar sundry things so that he may
-go to the king’s castle.]
-
-“Yes,” says the landlord, “but sooner than you should lose time in the
-waiting, I will lend you my fine dapple-grey.”
-
-But where was the bridle to come from? Caspar would have them know that
-he was not going to ride a horse to the king’s house without a good
-bridle over the nag’s ears.
-
-Oh, John would lend him the new bridle that he bought in the town last
-week; so that was soon settled.
-
-But how about the saddle?—that was what Caspar wanted to know—yes, how
-about the saddle? Did they think that he was going to ride up to the
-king’s house with his heels thumping against the horse’s ribs as though
-he were no better than a ploughman?
-
-Oh, James would lend him a saddle if that was all he wanted.
-
-So off they went, all four of them, to the king’s house.
-
-There was the king, walking up and down, and fussing and fuming with
-anger till he was all of a heat.
-
-“See, now,” says he, as soon as he saw Caspar, “what did you call me an
-old hunks for?”
-
-“I didn’t call you an old hunks,” said Caspar.
-
-“Yes, you did,” said the king.
-
-“No, I didn’t,” said Caspar.
-
-“Yes, you did,” said the king, “for these three lads told me so.”
-
-“Prut!” said Caspar, “who would believe what they say? Why, they would
-just as lief tell you that this horse and saddle and bridle belong to
-them.”
-
-“And so they do!” bawled the three rogues.
-
-“See there, now,” said Caspar.
-
-The king scratched his head, for here was a tangled knot, for certain.
-“Yes, yes,” said he, “these fellows are fooling either Caspar or me, and
-we are both in the same tub, for the matter of that. Take them away and
-whip them!” So it was done as he said, and that was all that they got
-for their trouble.
-
-Wit and Luck are not always hatched in the same nest, says Tommy Pfouce,
-and maybe he is right about it, for Caspar married his sweetheart, and
-if she did not keep his money for him, and himself out of trouble, she
-would not have been worth speaking of, and I, for one, would never have
-told this story.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                              Six O’clock
-
-
-        Little _John_ and _Eliza_ [Sidenote: K.P. des.]
-          Went down to the _Mill_,
-        But now it has stopped,
-          And the _Hopper_ is still;
-
-        So _John_ and _Eliza_ [Sidenote: _Cool for the season._]
-          Come _Home_ to their _Tea_,
-        And both are as hungry,
-          As hungry can be.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Swan Maiden. H.P.]
-
-                                 XVIII.
-
-
-Once there was a king who had a pear-tree which bore four-and-twenty
-golden pears. Every day he went into the garden and counted them to see
-that none were missing.
-
-But, one morning, he found that a pear had been taken during the night,
-and thereat he was troubled and vexed to the heart, for the pear-tree
-was as dear to him as the apple of his eye. Now, the king had three
-sons, and so he called the eldest prince to him.
-
-“See,” said he, “if you will watch my pear-tree to-night, and will find
-me the thief who stole the pear, you shall have half of my kingdom now,
-and the whole of it when I am gone.”
-
-You can guess how the prince was tickled at this: oh, yes, he would
-watch the tree, and if the thief should come he should not get away
-again as easily.
-
-Well, that night he sat down beside the tree, with his gun across his
-knees, to wait for the coming of the thief.
-
-He waited and waited, and still he saw not so much as a thread or a
-hair. But about the middle of the night there came the very prettiest
-music that his ears had ever heard, and before he knew what he was about
-he was asleep and snoring until the little leaves shook upon the tree.
-When the morning came and he awoke, another pear was gone, and he could
-tell no more about it than the man in the moon.
-
-The next night the second son set out to watch the pear-tree. But he
-fared no better than the first. About midnight came the music, and in a
-little while he was snoring till the stones rattled. When the morning
-came another pear was gone, and he had no more to tell about it than his
-brother.
-
-The third night it was the turn of the youngest son, and he was more
-clever than the others, for, when the evening came, he stuffed his ears
-full of wax, so that he was as deaf as a post. About midnight, when the
-music came, he heard nothing of it, and so he stayed wide awake. After
-the music had ended he took the wax out of his ears, so that he might
-listen for the coming of the thief. Presently there was a loud clapping
-and rattling, and a white swan flew overhead and lit in the pear-tree
-above him. It began picking at one of the pears, and then the prince
-raised his gun to shoot at it. But when he looked along the barrel it
-was not a swan that he saw up in the pear-tree, but the prettiest girl
-that he had ever looked upon.
-
-“Don’t shoot me, king’s son! Don’t shoot me!” cried she.
-
-But the prince had no thought of shooting her, for he had never seen
-such a beautiful maiden in all of his days. “Very well,” said he, “I
-will not shoot, but, if I spare your life, will you promise to be my
-sweetheart and to marry me?”
-
-“That may be as may be,” said the Swan Maiden. “For listen! I serve the
-witch with three eyes. She lives on the glass hill that lies beyond the
-seven high mountains, the seven deep valleys, and the seven wide rivers;
-are you man enough to go that far?”
-
-“Oh, yes,” said the prince, “I am man enough for that and more too.”
-
-“That is good,” said the Swan Maiden, and thereupon she jumped down from
-the pear-tree to the earth. Then she became a swan again, and bade the
-king’s son to mount upon her back at the roots of her wings. When he had
-done as she had told him, she sprang into the air and flew away, bearing
-him with her.
-
-On flew the swan, and on and on, until, by and by, she said, “What do
-you see, king’s son?”
-
-“I see the grey sky above me and the dark earth below me, but nothing
-else,” said he.
-
-After that they flew on and on again, until, at last, the Swan Maiden
-said, “What do you see now, king’s son?”
-
-[Illustration: The Swan carries the Prince over the hills and far away.
-HP.]
-
-“I see the grey sky above me and the dark earth below me, but nothing
-else,” said he.
-
-So once more they flew on until the Swan Maiden said, for the third
-time, “And what do you see by now, king’s son?”
-
-But this time the prince said, “I see the grey sky above me and the dark
-earth below me, and over yonder is a glass hill, and on the hill is a
-house that shines like fire.”
-
-“That is where the witch with three eyes lives,” said the Swan Maiden;
-“and now listen: when she asks you what it is that you came for, ask her
-to give you the one who draws the water and builds the fire; for that is
-myself.”
-
-So, when they had come to the top of the hill of glass, the king’s son
-stepped down to the ground, and the swan flew over the roof.
-
-Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door, and the old witch herself came
-and opened it.
-
-“And what do you want here?” said she.
-
-“I want the one who draws the water and builds the fire,” said the
-prince.
-
-At this the old witch scowled until her eyebrows met.
-
-“Very well,” said she, “you shall have what you want if you can clean my
-stables to-morrow between the rise and the set of the sun. But I tell
-you plainly, if you fail in the doing, you shall be torn to pieces body
-and bones.”
-
-But the prince was not to be scared away with empty words. So the next
-morning the old witch came and took him to the stables where he was to
-do his task. There stood more than a hundred cattle, and the stable had
-not been cleaned for at least ten long years.
-
-“There is your work,” said the old witch, and then she left him.
-
-Well, the king’s son set to work with fork and broom and might and main,
-but—prut!—he might as well have tried to bale out the great ocean with a
-bucket.
-
-At noontide who should come to the stable but the pretty Swan Maiden
-herself.
-
-“When one is tired, one should rest for a while,” said she; “come and
-lay your head in my lap.”
-
-The prince was glad enough to do as she said, for nothing was to be
-gained by working at that task. So he laid his head in her lap, and she
-combed his hair with a golden comb till he fell fast asleep. When he
-awoke the Swan Maiden was gone, the sun was setting, and the stable was
-as clean as a plate. Presently he heard the old witch coming, so up he
-jumped and began clearing away a straw here and a speck there, just as
-though he were finishing the work.
-
-[Illustration: The Prince comes to the old, three eyed Witch’s house.]
-
-“You never did this by yourself!” said the old witch, and her brows grew
-as black as a thunder-storm.
-
-“That may be so, and that may not be so,” said the king’s son, “but you
-lent no hand to help; so now may I have the one who builds the fire and
-draws the water?”
-
-At this the old witch shook her head. “No,” said she, “there is more to
-be done yet before you can have what you ask for. If you can thatch the
-roof of the stable with bird feathers, no two of which shall be of the
-same color, and can do it between the rise and the set of sun to-morrow,
-then you shall have your sweetheart and welcome. But if you fail your
-bones shall be ground as fine as malt in the mill.”
-
-Very well; that suited the king’s son well enough. So at sunrise he
-arose and went into the fields with his gun; but if there were birds to
-be shot, it was few of them that he saw; for at noontide he had but two,
-and they were both of a color. At that time who should come to him but
-the Swan Maiden.
-
-“One should not tramp and tramp all day with never a bit of rest,” said
-she; “come hither and lay your head in my lap for a while.”
-
-The prince did as she bade him, and the maiden again combed his hair
-with a golden comb until he fell asleep. When he awoke the sun was
-setting, and his work was done. He heard the old witch coming, so up he
-jumped to the roof of the stable and began laying a feather here and a
-feather there, for all the world as though he were just finishing his
-task.
-
-“You never did that work alone,” said the old witch.
-
-“That may be so, and that may not be so,” said the prince; “all the
-same, it was none of your doing. So now may I have the one who draws the
-water and builds the fire?”
-
-But the witch shook her head. “No,” said she, “there is still another
-task to do before that. Over yonder is a fir-tree; on the tree is a
-crow’s nest, and in the nest are three eggs. If you can harry that nest
-to-morrow between the rising and the setting of the sun, neither
-breaking nor leaving a single egg, you shall have that for which you
-ask.”
-
-Very well; that suited the prince. The next morning at the rising of the
-sun he started off to find the fir-tree, and there was no trouble in the
-finding I can tell you, for it was more than a hundred feet high, and as
-smooth as glass from root to tip. As for climbing it, he might as well
-have tried to climb a moonbeam, for in spite of all his trying he did
-nothing but slip and slip. By and by came the Swan Maiden as she had
-come before.
-
-[Illustration: The Swan Maiden helps y^e young Prince.]
-
-“Do you climb the fir-tree?” said she.
-
-“None too well,” said the king’s son.
-
-“Then I may help you in a hard task,” said she.
-
-She let down the braids of her golden hair, so that it hung down all
-about her and upon the ground, and then she began singing to the wind.
-She sang and sang, and by and by the wind began to blow, and, catching
-up the maiden’s hair, carried it to the top of the fir-tree, and there
-tied it to the branches. Then the prince climbed the hair and so reached
-the nest. There were the three eggs; he gathered them, and then he came
-down as he had gone up. After that the wind came again and loosed the
-maiden’s hair from the branches, and she bound it up as it was before.
-
-“Now, listen,” said she to the prince: “when the old witch asks you for
-the three crow’s eggs which you have gathered, tell her that they belong
-to the one who found them. She will not be able to take them from you,
-and they are worth something, I can tell you.”
-
-At sunset the old witch came hobbling along, and there sat the prince at
-the foot of the fir-tree. “Have you gathered the crow’s eggs?” said she.
-
-“Yes,” said the prince, “here they are in my handkerchief. And now may I
-have the one who draws the water and builds the fire?”
-
-“Yes,” said the old witch, “you may have her; only give me my crow’s
-eggs.”
-
-“No,” said the prince, “the crow’s eggs are none of yours, for they
-belong to him who gathered them.”
-
-When the old witch found that she was not to get her crow’s eggs in that
-way, she tried another, and began using words as sweet as honey. Come,
-come, there should be no hard feeling between them. The prince had
-served her faithfully, and before he went home with what he had come for
-he should have a good supper, for it is ill to travel on an empty
-stomach.
-
-So she brought the prince into the house, and then she left him while
-she went to put the pot on the fire, and to sharpen the bread-knife on
-the stone door-step.
-
-While the prince sat waiting for the witch, there came a tap at the
-door, and whom should it be but the pretty Swan Maiden.
-
-“Come,” said she, “and bring the three eggs with you, for the knife that
-the old witch is sharpening is for you, and so is the great pot on the
-fire, for she means to pick your bones in the morning.”
-
-[Illustration: The witch and y^e woman of honey & meal.]
-
-She led the prince down into the kitchen; there they made a figure out
-of honey and barley-meal, so that it was all soft and sticky; then the
-maiden dressed the figure in her own clothes and set it in the
-chimney-corner by the fire.
-
-After that was done, she became a swan again, and, taking the prince
-upon her back, she flew away, over hill and over dale.
-
-As for the old witch, she sat on the stone door-step, sharpening her
-knife. By and by she came in, and, look as she might, there was no
-prince to be found.
-
-Then if anybody was ever in a rage it was the old witch; off she went,
-storming and fuming, until she came to the kitchen. There sat the woman
-of honey and barley-meal beside the fire, dressed in the maiden’s
-clothes, and the old woman thought that it was the girl herself. “Where
-is your sweetheart?” said she; but to this the woman of honey and
-barley-meal answered never a word.
-
-“How now! are you dumb?” cried the old witch; “I will see whether I
-cannot bring speech to your lips.” She raised her hand—_slap!_—she
-struck, and so hard was the blow that her hand stuck fast to the honey
-and barley-meal. “What!” cried she, “will you hold me?”—_slap!_—she
-struck with the other hand, and it too stuck fast. So there she was,
-and, for all that I know, she is sticking to the woman of honey and
-barley-meal to this day.
-
-As for the Swan Maiden and the prince, they flew over the seven high
-mountains, the seven deep valleys, and the seven wide rivers, until they
-came near to the prince’s home again. The Swan Maiden lit in a great
-wide field, and there she told the prince to break open one of the
-crow’s eggs. The prince did as she bade him, and what should he find but
-the most beautiful little palace, all of pure gold and silver. He set
-the palace on the ground, and it grew and grew and grew until it covered
-as much ground as seven large barns. Then the Swan Maiden told him to
-break another egg, and he did as she said, and what should come out of
-it but such great herds of cows and sheep that they covered the meadow
-far and near. The Swan Maiden told him to break the third egg, and out
-of it came scores and scores of servants all dressed in gold and silver
-livery.
-
-That morning, when the king looked out of his bedroom window, there
-stood the splendid castle of silver and gold. Then he called all of his
-people together, and they rode over to see what it meant. On the way
-they met such herds of fat sheep and cattle that the king had never seen
-the like in all of his life before; and when he came to the fine castle,
-there were two rows of servants dressed in clothes of silver and gold,
-ready to meet him. But when he came to the door of the castle, there
-stood the prince himself. Then there was joy and rejoicing, you may be
-sure! only the two elder brothers looked down in the mouth, for since
-the young prince had found the thief who stole the golden pears, their
-father’s kingdom was not for them. But the prince soon set their minds
-at rest on that score, for he had enough and more than enough of his
-own.
-
-After that the prince and the Swan Maiden were married, and a grand
-wedding they had of it, with music of fiddles and kettle-drums, and
-plenty to eat and to drink. I, too, was there; but all of the good red
-wine ran down over my tucker, so that not a drop of it passed my lips,
-and I had to come away empty.
-
-And that is all.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Seven O’clock·
-
-
- The _Work_ is over for the _Day_; [Sidenote: K.P. del. ⌣ _Grows cool._]
- The _Sky_ is pale, and far away
- The _Village Children_ shout at _Play_.
-
- Now from his _Hole_ the _Toad_ comes out,
- And blinks his _Eyes_, and hops about,
- And likes the pleasant _Air_, no doubt.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Three Little Pigs _and the_ OGRE.]
-
-                                  XIX.
-
-
-There were three nice, fat little pigs. The first was small, the second
-was smaller, and the third was the smallest of all. And these three
-little pigs thought of going out into the woods to gather acorns, for
-there were better acorns there than here.
-
-“There’s a great ogre who lives over yonder in the woods,” says the
-barn-yard cock.
-
-“And he will eat you up, body and bones,” says the speckled hen.
-
-“And there will be an end of you,” says the black drake.
-
-“If folks only knew what was good for them, they would stay at home and
-make the best of what they had there,” said the old grey goose who laid
-eggs under the barn, and who had never gone out into the world or had
-had a peep of it beyond the garden-gate.
-
-But no; the little pigs would go out into the world, whether or no;
-“for,” said they, “if we stay at home because folks shake their heads,
-we will never get the best acorns that are to be had;” and there was
-more than one barley-corn of truth in that chaff, I can tell you.
-
-So out into the woods they went.
-
-They hunted for acorns here and they hunted for acorns there, and by and
-by whom should the smallest of all the little pigs meet but the great,
-wicked ogre himself.
-
-“Aha!” says the great, wicked ogre, “it is a nice, plump little pig that
-I have been wanting for my supper this many a day past. So you may just
-come along with me now.”
-
-“Oh, Master Ogre,” squeaked the smallest of the little pigs in the
-smallest of voices—“oh, Master Ogre, don’t eat me! There’s a bigger pig
-back of me, and he will be along presently.”
-
-So the ogre let the smallest of the little pigs go, for he would rather
-have a larger pig if he could get it.
-
-By and by came the second little pig. “Aha!” says the great, wicked
-ogre, “I have been wanting just such a little pig as you for my supper
-for this many a day past. So you may just come along with me now.”
-
-“Oh, Master Ogre,” said the middle-sized pig, in his middle-sized voice,
-“don’t take me for your supper; there’s a bigger pig than I am coming
-along presently. Just wait for him.”
-
-Well, the ogre was satisfied to do that; so he waited, and by and by,
-sure enough, came the largest of the little pigs.
-
-“And now,” says the great, wicked ogre, “I will wait no longer, for you
-are just the pig I want for my supper, and so you may march along with
-me.”
-
-But the largest of the little pigs had his wits about him, I can tell
-you. “Oh, very well,” says he; “if I am the shoe that fits there is no
-use in hunting for another; only, have you a roasted apple to put in my
-mouth when I am cooked? for no one ever heard of a little pig brought on
-the table without a roast apple in its mouth.”
-
-No; the ogre had no roasted apple.
-
-Dear, dear! that was a great pity. If he would wait for a little while,
-the largest of the little pigs would run home and fetch one, and then
-things would be as they should.
-
-Yes, the ogre was satisfied with that. So off ran the little pig, and
-the ogre sat down on a stone and waited for him.
-
-Well, he waited and he waited and he waited and he waited, but not a tip
-of a hair of the little pig did he see that day, as you can guess
-without my telling you.
-
-And Tommy Pfouce tells me that the great, wicked ogre is not the only
-one who has gone without either pig or roast apple, because when he
-could get the one he would not take it without the other.
-
-[Illustration: The Ogre meets the three little pigs in the forest,
-whither they went to gather acorns.]
-
-“And now,” says the cock and the speckled hen and the black drake and
-the old grey goose who laid her eggs under the barn, and had never been
-out into the world beyond the garden-gate—“and now perhaps you will run
-out into the world and among ogres no more. Are there not good enough
-acorns at home?”
-
-Perhaps there were; but that was not what the three little pigs thought.
-“See, now,” said the smallest of the three little pigs, “if one is
-afraid of the water, one will never catch any fish. I, for one, am going
-out into the woods to get a few acorns.”
-
-So out into the woods he went, and there he found all of the acorns that
-he wanted. But, on his way home, whom should he meet but the great,
-wicked ogre.
-
-“Aha!” says the ogre, “and is that you?”
-
-Oh, yes, it was nobody else; but had the ogre come across three fellows
-tramping about in the woods down yonder?
-
-No, the ogre had met nobody in the woods that day.
-
-“Dear, dear,” says the smallest little pig, “but that is a pity, for
-those three fellows were three wicked robbers, and they have just hidden
-a meal-bag full of money in that hole up in the tree yonder.”
-
-You can guess how the ogre pricked up his ears at this, and how he
-stared till his eyes were as big as saucers.
-
-“Just wait,” said he to the smallest little pig, “and I will be down
-again in a minute.” So he laid his jacket to one side and up the tree he
-climbed, for he wanted to find that bag of money, and he meant to have
-it.
-
-“Do you find the hole?” says the smallest of the little pigs.
-
-Yes; the ogre had found the hole.
-
-“And do you find the money?” says the smallest of the little pigs.
-
-No; the ogre could find no money.
-
-“Then good-bye,” says the smallest of the little pigs, and off he
-trotted home, leaving the ogre to climb down the tree again as he chose.
-
-“And now, at least, you will go out into the woods no more,” says the
-cock, the speckled hen, the black drake, and the grey goose.
-
-Oh, well, there was no telling what the three little pigs would do yet,
-they would have to wait and see.
-
-One day it was the middle-sized little pig who would go out into the
-woods, for he also had a mind to taste the acorns there.
-
-So out into the woods the middle-sized little pig went, and there he had
-all the acorns that he wanted.
-
-But by and by the ogre came along. “Aha!” says he. “Now I have you for
-sure and certain.”
-
-[Illustration: The Ogre climbs the tree for the money that he believes
-to be there.]
-
-But the middle-sized little pig just stood and looked at a great rock
-just in front of him, with all of his might and main. “Sh-h-h-h-h-h!”
-says he, “I am not to be talked to or bothered now!”
-
-Hoity-toity! Here was a pretty song, to be sure! And why was the
-middle-sized pig not to be talked to? That was what the ogre should like
-to know.
-
-Oh, the middle-sized little pig was looking at what was going on under
-the great rock yonder, for he could see the little folk brewing more
-beer than thirty-seven men could drink.
-
-So! Why, the ogre would like to see that for himself.
-
-“Very well,” says the middle-sized little pig, “there is nothing easier
-than to learn that trick! just take a handful of leaves from yonder bush
-and rub them over your eyes, and then shut them tight and count fifty.”
-
-Well, the ogre would have a try at that. So he gathered a handful of the
-leaves and rubbed them over his eyes, just as the middle-sized pig had
-said.
-
-“And now are you ready?” said the middle-sized little pig.
-
-Yes; the ogre was ready.
-
-“Then shut your eyes and count,” said the middle-sized little pig.
-
-So the ogre shut them as tightly as he could and began to count, “One,
-two, three, four, five,” and so on; and while he was counting, why, the
-little pig was running away home again.
-
-By and by the ogre bawled out “_Fifty!!!_” and opened his eyes, for he
-was done. Then he saw not more, but less, than he had seen before, for
-the little pig was not there.
-
-And now it was the largest of the three little pigs who began to talk
-about going out into the woods to look for acorns.
-
-“You had better stay at home and take things as they come. The crock
-that goes often to the well gets broken at last;” that was what the
-cock, the speckled hen, the black drake, and the grey goose said; and
-they thought themselves very wise to talk as they did.
-
-But no; the little pig wanted to go out into the woods, and into the
-woods the little pig would go, ogre or no ogre.
-
-After he had eaten all of the acorns that he wanted he began to think of
-going home again, but just then the ogre came stumping along. “Aha!”
-says he, “we have met again, have we?”
-
-“Yes,” said the largest of the three little pigs, “we have. And I want
-to say that I could find no roast apple at home, and so I did not come
-back again.”
-
-[Illustration: The Ogre shuts his eyes and counts fifty]
-
-Yes, yes, that was all very fine; but they should have a settling of old
-scores now. The largest of the three little pigs might just come along
-home with the ogre, and to-morrow he should be made into sausages; for
-there was to be no trickery this time, so there was an end of the
-matter.
-
-Come, come! the ogre must not be too testy. There was such a thing as
-having too much pepper in the pudding—that was what the largest of the
-little pigs said. If it were sausages that the ogre was after, maybe the
-pig could help him. Over home at the farm yonder was a storehouse filled
-with more sausages and good things than two men could count. There was a
-window where the ogre could just squeeze through. Only he must promise
-to eat what he wanted and to carry nothing away with him.
-
-Well, the ogre promised to eat all he wanted in the storehouse, and then
-off they went together.
-
-By and by they came to the storehouse at the farm, and there, sure
-enough, was a window, and it was _just_ large enough for the ogre to
-squeeze through without a button to spare in the size.
-
-Dear, dear! how the ogre did stuff himself with the sausages and
-puddings and other good things in the storehouse.
-
-By and by the little pig bawled out as loud as he could, “_Have you had
-enough yet?_”
-
-“Hush-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh!” says the ogre, “don’t talk so loud, or you’ll
-be rousing the folks and having them about our ears like a hive of
-bees.”
-
-“No,” bawled the little pig, louder than before, “but tell me, _have_
-you had enough yet?”
-
-“Yes, yes,” says the ogre, “I have had almost enough, only be still
-about it!”
-
-“Very well!” bawled the little pig, as loud as he could, “if you have
-had enough, and if you have eaten all of the sausages and all of the
-puddings you can stuff, it is about time that you were going, for here
-comes the farmer and two of his men to see what all the stir is about.”
-
-And, sure enough, the farmer and his men were coming as fast as they
-could lay foot to the ground.
-
-But when the ogre heard them coming, he felt sure that it was time that
-he was getting away home again, and so he tried to get out of the same
-window that he had gotten in a little while before. But he had stuffed
-himself with so much of the good things that he had swelled like
-everything, and there he stuck in the storehouse window like a cork in a
-bottle, and could budge neither one way nor the other; and that was a
-pretty pickle to be in.
-
-“Oho!” says the farmer, “you were after my sausages and my puddings,
-were you? Then you will come no more.”
-
-And that was so; for when the farmer and his men were done with the ogre
-he never went into the woods again, for he could not.
-
-As for the three little pigs, they trotted away into the woods every day
-of their lives, for there was nobody nowadays to stop them from
-gathering all the acorns that they wanted.
-
-[Illustration: The Ogre sticks fast in the window.]
-
-Now, don’t you believe folks when they say that this is _all_ stuff and
-nonsense that I have been telling you; for if you turn it upside down
-and look in the bottom of it you will find that there is more than one
-grain of truth there; that is if you care to scratch among the chaff for
-it. And that is the end of this story.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Eight O’Clock·
-
-
-           The little _Bats_ fly [Sidenote: _Cooler winds._]
-                 About in the _Sky_,
-           And the _Kobold_’s wide awake.
-                 The great black _Trees_ [Sidenote: ●]
-                 Are stirred in the _Breeze_,
-           And a curious _Sound_ they make.
-
-           The _Plays_ are done, [Sidenote: ☽]
-             And the _Prayers_ are said,
-           And the _Children_ are snugly
-             Tucked in _Bed_. [Sidenote: K.P.]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Staff and The Fiddle.]
-
-                                  XX.
-
-
-_The wind of heaven blows the chips and the straws together._
-
-There was a fiddler, a tinker, and a shoemaker jogging along the road,
-but whatever brought them in company is more than I am able to tell you.
-All the same, there they were, and, after all, that is the kernel of the
-nut.
-
-The fiddler was as merry a little toad as ever a body could wish to see;
-as for the tinker and the shoemaker, why, they were as sour as bad beer.
-
-Well, they plodded along, all three of them, until by and by they came
-to a cross-road, and there sat an old body begging; “Dear, good, kind
-gentlemen, give a poor old woman a penny or two. Do now.”
-
-“Pooh!” says the tinker and the shoemaker, and off they walked with
-their noses in the air as though they were hunting for flies up yonder.
-
-As for the fiddler, he had another kind of a heart under his jacket;
-“Come,” says he, “we are all chicks in the same puddle.” So he gave the
-old woman all that he had, which was only two pennies.
-
-“A cake for a pie,” said the old woman; “and what would you like to have
-in the way of a wish? for all that you have to do is to ask, and it
-shall be granted.”
-
-This old woman was a famous wise one, I can tell you, though the fiddler
-knew nothing of that.
-
-The fiddler thought and thought, but there was little that he had to
-wish for; nevertheless, since they were in the way of asking and giving,
-and seeing that his body was none of the largest, he would like to have
-it for a wish that whenever he should say, “Rub-a-dub-dub,” the staff in
-his hand would up and fight for him.
-
-So! and was that all that he wanted? Then it was granted and welcome,
-for it was little enough.
-
-After that they said, “Good-morning,” and the fiddler went one way and
-the old woman the other.
-
-So the three companions plodded along together until, by and by, night
-came, and there they were, in a deep forest, with branches over their
-heads and not a peep out from under the trees, no matter where they
-might look; and that was not the pleasantest thing for them, I can tell
-you. But by and by they saw a light, and then the world looked up with
-them again. So they hurried along more rapidly, and presently came to
-the house where the light was shining; and, after all, it was not much
-to look at.
-
-Rap, tap, tap! they knocked at the door, but nobody came; so they opened
-it for themselves and walked in.
-
-No; there was no one at home, but there was a table spread with a
-smoking hot supper, and places for three. Down they sat without waiting
-for the bidding, for their hunger was as sharp as vinegar.
-
-Well, they ate and they ate and they ate until they could eat no more,
-and then they turned around and roasted their toes at the warm fire.
-
-That was all very well and good, but by and by all the wood was burned,
-and then who was to go out into the dark forest and fetch another
-armful?
-
-“Not I,” says the tinker.
-
-“Not I,” says the shoemaker.
-
-And so it fell to the lot of the fiddler, and off he went.
-
-But many a one spills the milk-mug to save the water-jug, and so it was
-with the tinker and the shoemaker; for, while they sat warming their
-shins at the fire and rubbing their hands over their knees, in walked an
-ugly little troll no taller than a yard-stick, but with a head as big as
-a cabbage, and a good stout cudgel twice as long as himself in his hand;
-as for his eyes, why, they were as big as your mother’s teacups.
-
-[Illustration: The Fiddler gives the old woman all that he has in his
-purse. ¶):(⁋]
-
-“I want something to eat,” says he.
-
-“You’ll get nothing here,” says the tinker and the shoemaker.
-
-“Yes, but I will,” says the little manikin.
-
-“No, but you will not,” says the tinker and the shoemaker.
-
-“That we’ll see,” says the manikin; whereupon he spat upon his hands,
-snatched up his club, and, without more ado, fell upon the tinker and
-the shoemaker, and began beating them with all his might and main. My
-goodness, you should have seen how they hopped about like two peas on a
-drum-head, and you should have heard how they bellowed and bawled for
-mercy! But the little ugly troll never stopped until he was too tired to
-drub them any more; then he went away whither he had come, and all that
-the two fellows could do was to rub the places that smarted the most.
-
-By and by in came the fiddler with his armful of wood, but never a word
-did the tinker and the shoemaker say, for they had no notion of telling
-how such a little manikin had dusted the coats of two great hulking
-fellows like themselves; only the next day they thought that it would be
-well to rest where they were, for their bones were too sore to be
-jogging. So they lolled around the house all day, and found everything
-that they wanted to eat in the cupboards.
-
-After supper there was more wood to be brought in from the forest, and
-this time it was the tinker and the shoemaker who went to fetch it, for
-they had settled it between them that the fiddler was to have a taste of
-the same broth that they had supped.
-
-Sure enough, by and by in came the ugly little troll with the great long
-cudgel.
-
-“I want something to eat,” says he.
-
-“There it is, brother,” says the fiddler, “help yourself.”
-
-“It is you who shall wait on me,” says the ugly little troll.
-
-“Tut!” says the fiddler, “how you talk, neighbor; have you no hands of
-your own?”
-
-“You shall wait on me,” says the manikin.
-
-“I shall not,” says the fiddler.
-
-“That we will see,” says the manikin, and he spat upon his hands and
-gripped his cudgel.
-
-“Hi!” says the fiddler, “and is that the game you are playing? Then,
-rub-a-dub-dub!” says he.
-
-[Illustration: The Fiddler gives the word & the staff falls to drubbing
-the Dwarf as he deserves.]
-
-Pop!—up jumps his staff from the corner where he had stood it, and then
-you should have seen the dust fly! This time it was the manikin who
-hopped over the chairs and begged and bawled for mercy. As for the
-fiddler, he stood by with his hands in his pockets and whistled. By and
-by the manikin found the door, and out he jumped with the fiddler at his
-heels. But the fiddler was not quick enough, for, before he could catch
-him, the little troll popped into a great hole in the ground like a frog
-into a well; and there was an end to that business.
-
-After a while the tinker and the shoemaker came back from the forest
-with their load of wood, and then how the fiddler did laugh at them, for
-he saw very well how the wind had been blowing with them. As for him, he
-was all for following the little manikin into the hole in the ground; so
-they hunted here and they hunted there, until they found a great basket
-and a rope, and then the tinker and the shoemaker lowered the fiddler
-and his staff down into the pit.
-
-Down he went ever so deep until he reached the bottom, and there he
-found a great room. The first body whom he saw was a princess as pretty
-as a ripe apple, but looking, oh, so sad! at being in such a place. The
-next he saw was the ugly little troll, who sat in the corner and growled
-like our cat when the dog comes into the kitchen.
-
-“So!” says the fiddler, “there you are, are you? Then it is
-rub-a-dub-dub again.” And this time before the drubbing was stopped it
-was all over with the troll.
-
-And then who was glad but the pretty princess. She flung her arms around
-the merry little fiddler’s neck, and gave him a right good smacking kiss
-or two, and that paid a part of the score, I can tell you. Then they sat
-down and the pretty princess told him all about how the troll had
-carried her off a year and more ago, and had kept her in this place ever
-since. After that she took a pure gold ring off of her finger and broke
-it in two; half of it was for the fiddler and half of it was for her;
-for they were sweethearts now, and the ring was to be a love-token.
-
-Then the fiddler put the princess into the basket, and the two fellows
-above hauled her up. By and by down came the basket again, and now it
-was the fiddler’s turn. “Suppose,” says he, “that they are up to some of
-their tricks!” So he tumbled a great stone into the basket in the place
-of himself. Sure enough, when the basket was about half-way up, down it
-came tumbling, for the rogues above had cut the rope, and if the fiddler
-had been there in the place of the stone, it would have been all over
-with him.
-
-[Illustration: The Fiddler finds y^e Princess in the cavern of the
-Dwarf.]
-
-Then if anybody was ever down in the dumps the fiddler was the fellow.
-For there he was down in the pit, and he could no more get out of his
-pickle than a toad out of the cellar window. After he had been there for
-ever so long a time, he saw a pretty little fiddle that hung back of the
-cupboard. “Aha!” says he, “there is some butter to the crust after all;
-and now we will just have a bit of a jig to cheer us up a little.” So
-down he sat and began to play.
-
-And then what do you think happened? Why, up popped a little fellow no
-higher than your knee and as black as your hat!
-
-“What do you want, master?” said he.
-
-“So,” said the fiddler, “and is that the tune we play? Well, I should
-like to get out of this pit, that I should.”
-
-No sooner said than done, for he had hardly time to pick up his staff
-and tuck the fiddle under his arm, when—whisk!—he was up above as quick
-as a wink.
-
-“Hi!” said he, “but this is a pretty fiddle to own and no mistake!” and
-off he went, right foot foremost.
-
-After a while he came to the town where the king lived, and there was a
-great buzzing and gossip, and this was why: all the folks were talking
-about how the tinker and the shoemaker had brought back the princess
-from the ugly little troll, and of how the king had promised that
-whoever did that was to have her for his wife and half of the kingdom to
-boot; but here were two lads, and the question was who was to have her.
-For before they had left the pit over yonder, the tinker and the
-shoemaker had made the princess vow and promise that she would say
-nothing about how they had treated the fiddler, and now each fellow was
-saying that he had brought her up out of the troll’s den.
-
-And the princess did nothing but sit and cry and cry; but, as for
-marrying, she vowed and declared that she would not do that till she had
-a pair of slippers of pure gold, and a real diamond buckle on each
-slipper; and nobody in all of the town was able to make the kind that
-she wanted.
-
-When the fiddler heard all this he went straight to a shoemaker’s shop.
-“Will you take a journeyman shoemaker?” says he.
-
-“What can you do?” says the master shoemaker.
-
-“I can make a pair of slippers such as the princess wants, only I must
-have a room all to myself to make them in,” says the fiddler.
-
-When the master shoemaker heard this, he was not long in making up his
-mind, so the bargain was closed and that settled the business.
-
-[Illustration: The Fiddler and the little, black mannikin.]
-
-As soon as the fiddler was alone he drew out his fiddle and began to
-play a bit of a jig, and there stood the little black fellow, just as he
-had done before.
-
-“What do you want?” says he.
-
-“I should like,” said the fiddler, “to have a pair of slippers such as
-the princess asks for, but I only want one buckle to the pair, and that
-must be made of real diamonds.”
-
-Oh! that was an easy thing to have, and there were the slippers just as
-the fiddler had ordered.
-
-“But there is only one buckle,” says the master shoemaker.
-
-“Tut!” says the fiddler, “turn no hairs grey for that, brother. Just
-tell the princess that the fiddler has the other, and matters will be as
-smooth as cream.”
-
-Well, the master shoemaker did as the fiddler said, and you may guess
-how the princess opened her pretty eyes when she heard that her
-sweetheart was thereabouts. Nothing would suit her but that she must see
-that journeyman shoemaker. But when they sent to fetch him, he was gone.
-
-And now the shoemaker and the tinker began to talk again; the princess
-had been promised to the man who saved her from the troll, and so she
-must and should choose one of them. But no; the princess was not ready
-yet; she would never marry till she had a pair of gloves of the finest
-silk, all embroidered with silver and pearls and with a ruby clasp at
-the wrist of each.
-
-And now came the same dance with a different tune, for nobody was to be
-found in all of the town who could make such a pair of gloves as she
-wanted. By and by the matter came to the fiddler’s ears, and off he set
-to the glover’s shop. And did the glover want an apprentice?
-
-Yes, the glover wanted an apprentice, but he must know first what the
-other could do.
-
-“Well,” said the fiddler, “if I have a room all to myself, I can make a
-pair of gloves such as the princess asks for.” And after that he was not
-left to kick his toes in the cold.
-
-As soon as he was alone, he drew out his fiddle and struck up an air,
-and there stood the little black man again.
-
-“I would like,” said the fiddler, “to have a pair of gloves such as the
-princess asks for. But there must be only one clasp to the wrist, and
-that made all of pure rubies.” That is what he said, and there were the
-gloves without his having to ask twice for them.
-
-“But there is only one clasp,” said the glover.
-
-“Never mind that,” said the wonderful apprentice; “just tell the
-princess that the fiddler had the other, and she will be satisfied.”
-
-As for the princess, she sent off post-haste for the lad who had made
-her gloves. But she was behindhand this time too, for, when those whom
-she sent came to the glover’s house, they found nobody there but the cat
-and the kettle, and the master glover, for the fiddler was gone.
-
-And now the tinker and the shoemaker began again; the princess had her
-gloves, and she must and should choose one or the other of them.
-
-But no. First of all the princess must have a fine dress all of white
-silk with both sleeves looped up with pearls as big as marbles.
-
-But there was nobody to make such a dress as that in all of the town,
-till the fiddler went to the master tailor and offered himself as a
-journeyman workman. Then the dress came quickly enough, and with only
-the tune of a fiddle. But the loop of pearls on one sleeve was missing.
-
-“And that will never do in the wide world,” says the tailor.
-
-“Oh,” says the fiddler, “that is nothing; just tell the princess that
-the fiddler has the other, and she will be satisfied.”
-
-Well, the tailor did as he said, and when the princess heard who had the
-pearl loop, she was satisfied, just as the fiddler had said she would
-be.
-
-By and by the tinker and the shoemaker began again; the princess must
-choose one or the other of them. And now there was nothing left for her
-to do but to say “Yes.” She felt sure that the fiddler would be on hand
-at the right time, and so a day was fixed for choosing whom she would
-marry.
-
-It was not long before the fiddler heard of that, for news flies fast.
-Off he went by himself and played a turn or two on his fiddle.
-
-“And what do you want now?” says the little manikin.
-
-“This time,” said the fiddler, “I want a splendid suit of clothes for
-myself, all of silver and gold; besides that, I want a hat with a great
-feather in it and a fine milk-white horse.”
-
-So; good! Well, he could have those things easily enough, and there they
-were.
-
-So the fiddler dressed himself in his fine clothes, and then, when it
-was about time for the princess to make her choice, he mounted upon his
-great milk-white horse and set off for the king’s house with his staff
-across the saddle in front of him.
-
-But you should have seen how the people looked as he rode along the
-street, for they had never laid eyes upon such a fine sight in all of
-their lives before. Up he rode to the castle, and when he knocked at the
-door they did not keep him waiting long out in the cold, I can tell you.
-
-There they all sat at dinner, the tinker on one side of the princess and
-the shoemaker on the other. But when they saw the fiddler in his grand
-clothes, they thought that he was some great nobleman for sure and
-certain, for neither the princess nor the two rogues knew who he was.
-The folks squeezed together along the bench and made room for him; so he
-leaned his staff in the corner and down he sat, just across the table
-from the princess.
-
-By and by he asked the princess if she would drink a glass of red wine
-with him.
-
-Yes, the princess would do that.
-
-So the fiddler drank, and then what did he do but drop his half of the
-ring that the princess had given him into the cup, before he passed it
-across to her.
-
-Then the princess drank, but something bobbed against her lips; and when
-she came to look—lo and behold!—there was the half of her ring.
-
-And if anybody in all of the world was glad, it was the princess at that
-very moment. Up she stood before them all; “There is my sweetheart,”
-says she, “and I will marry him and no one else.”
-
-As for the fiddler, he just said, “Rub-a-dub-dub,” and up jumped the
-staff and began to thump and bang the tinker and the shoemaker until
-they scampered away for dear life, and there was an end of them so far
-as I know, for if you would like to know what happened to them
-afterwards, you will have to ask some one else.
-
-The king was ever so glad to have the fiddler for a son-in-law in the
-place either of the tinker or the shoemaker, for he was a much
-better-looking lad. Besides, the others had done nothing but brew
-trouble and worriment ever since they had come into the house.
-
-After that there was a grand wedding. I too was there at the feasting,
-but I got nothing but empty sausage and wind pudding, and so I came away
-again.
-
-And that is the end of this story.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                             Nine O’clock·
-
-
-        When all are wrapped in _Slumbers_ sweet, [Sidenote: ○]
-          About the _House_, with stealthy _Tread_,
-          With flowered _Gown_, and night-capped _Head_,
-        _Dame Margery_ goes, in _Stocking Feet_.
-
-        She stops and listens at the _Doors_; [Sidenote: ☾]
-          She sees that every thing is right,
-          And safe, and quiet for the _Night_,
-        Then goes to _Bed_, and sleeps, and snores.
-
-                                            K.P.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: How the Princess’s Pride was broken.]
-
-                                  XXI.
-
-
-There was a princess who was as pretty as a picture, and she was so
-proud of that that she would not so much as look at a body; all the
-same, there was no lack of lads who came a-wooing, and who would have
-liked nothing so much as to have had her for a sweetheart because she
-was so good-looking. But, no, she would have nothing to do with any of
-them; this one was too young and that one was too old; this one was too
-lean and that one was too fat; this one was too little and that one was
-too big; this one was too dark and that one was too fair. So there was
-never a white sheep in the whole flock, as one might say.
-
-Now there was one came who was a king in his own country, and a fine one
-at that. The only blemish about him was a mole on his chin; apart from
-that he was as fresh as milk and rose leaves.
-
-But when the princess saw him she burst out laughing; “Who would choose
-a specked apple from the basket?” said she; and that was all the cake
-the prince bought at that shop, for off he was packed.
-
-But he was not for giving up, not he; he went and dressed himself up in
-rags and tatters; then back he came again, and not a soul knew him.
-
-Rap! tap! rap!—he knocked at the door, and did they want a stout lad
-about the place?
-
-Well, yes; they were wanting a gooseherd, and if he liked the place he
-might have it.
-
-Oh, that fitted his wants like a silk stocking, and the next day he
-drove the geese up on the hill back of the king’s house, so that they
-might eat grass where it was fresh and green. By and by he took a golden
-ball out of his pocket and began tossing it up and catching it, and as
-he played with it the sun shone on it so that it dazzled one’s eyes to
-look at it.
-
-The princess sat at her window, and it was not long before she saw it, I
-can tell you. Dear, dear, but it was a pretty one, the golden ball. The
-princess would like to have such a plaything, that she would; so she
-sent one of the maids out to ask whether the gooseherd had a mind to
-sell it.
-
-Oh, yes, it was for sale, and cheap at that; the princess should have it
-for the kerchief which she wore about her neck.
-
-Prut! but the lad was a saucy one; that was what the princess said. But,
-after all, a kerchief was only a kerchief; fetch the gooseherd over and
-she would give it to him, for she wanted the pretty golden ball for her
-own, and she would have it if it were to be had.
-
-But, no; the gooseherd would not come at the princess’s bidding. If she
-wanted to buy the golden ball she must come up on the hill and pay him,
-for he was not going to leave his flock of geese, and have them waddling
-into the garden perhaps; that is what the gooseherd said. So the upshot
-of the matter was that the princess went out with her women, and gave
-the lad the kerchief up on the hill behind the hedge, and brought back
-the golden ball with her for her own.
-
-As for the gooseherd he just tied the kerchief around his arm so that
-everybody might see it; and all the folks said, “Hi! that is the
-princess’s kerchief.”
-
-The next day, when he drove his flock of geese up on the hill, he took a
-silver looking-glass and a golden comb out of his pocket and began to
-comb his hair, and you should have seen how the one and the other
-glistened in the sun.
-
-It took the princess no longer to see the comb and the looking-glass
-than it had the golden ball, and then she must and would have them. So
-she sent one to find whether the lad was of a mind to sell them, for she
-thought that she had never seen anything so pretty in all of her life
-before.
-
-[Illustration: The Royal gooseherd playeth with the golden ball.]
-
-“Yes,” said he, “I will sell them, but the princess must come up on the
-hill back of the hedge and give me the necklace she wears about her
-neck.”
-
-The princess made a sour enough face at this, but, as the gooseherd
-would take nothing more nor less than what he had said, she and her
-maids had to tuck up their dresses and go up on the hill; there she paid
-him his price, and brought home the silver looking-glass and the golden
-comb.
-
-The lad clasped the necklace about his throat, and, dear, dear, how all
-the folks did goggle and stare. “See,” said they, “the princess has been
-giving the gooseherd the necklace from about her own throat.”
-
-The third day it was a new thing the gooseherd had, for he brought out a
-musical box with figures on it, dressed up, and looking for all the
-world like real little men and women. He turned the handle, and when the
-music played it was sweeter than drops of honey. And all the while the
-little men and women bowed to one another and went through with a dance,
-for all the world as though they knew what they were about, and were
-doing it with their own wits.
-
-Good gracious! how the princess did wonder at the pretty musical box!
-She must and would have it at any price; but this time it was
-five-and-twenty kisses that the lad was wanting for his musical box, and
-he would take nothing more nor less than just that much for it.
-Moreover, she would have to come up on the hillside and give them to
-him, for he could not leave his geese even for five-and-twenty kisses.
-
-But you should have seen what a stew the princess was in at this!
-Five-and-twenty kisses, indeed! And did the fellow think that it was for
-the likes of her to be kissing a poor gooseherd? He might keep his
-musical box if that was the price he asked for it; that was what she
-said.
-
-As for the lad, he just played the music and played the music, and the
-more the princess heard and saw the more she wanted it. “After all,”
-said she, at last, “a kiss is only a kiss, and I will be none the poorer
-for giving one or two of them; I’ll just let him have them, since he
-will take nothing else.” So off she marched, with all of her maidens, to
-pay the gooseherd his price, though it was a sour face she made of it,
-and that is the truth.
-
-Now, somebody had been buzzing in the king’s ear, and had told him that
-the gooseherd over yonder was wearing the princess’s kerchief and her
-golden necklace, and folks said she had given them to him of her own
-free will.
-
-[Illustration: The King peeps over the hedge and sees what is going on
-upon the other side.]
-
-“What!” says the king, “is that so? her kerchief! golden necklace! we
-will have to look into this business.” So off he marched, with his
-little dog at his heels, to find out what he could about it. Up the hill
-he went to where the gooseherd watched his flock; and when he came near
-the hedge where the kissing was going on, he heard them
-counting—“Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three—” and he wondered what in
-the world they were all about. So he just peeped over the bushes, and
-there he saw the whole business.
-
-Mercy on us! what a rage he was in! So; the princess would turn up her
-nose at folks as good as herself, would she? And here she was kissing
-the gooseherd back of the hedge. If he was the kind she liked she should
-have him for good and all.
-
-So the minister was called in, and the princess and the gooseherd were
-married then and there, and that was the end of the business. Then off
-they were packed to shift for themselves in the wide world, for they
-were not to live at the king’s castle, and that was the long and the
-short of it.
-
-But the lad did nothing but grumble and growl, and seemed as sore over
-his bargain as though he had been trying to trick a Jew. What did he
-want with a lass for a wife who could neither brew nor bake nor boil
-blue beans? That is what he said. All the same, they were hitched to the
-same plough, and there was nothing for it but to pull together the best
-they could. So off they packed, and the poor princess trudged after him
-and carried his bundle.
-
-So they went on until they came to a poor, mean little hut. There she
-had to take off her fine clothes and put on rags and tatters; and that
-was the way she came home.
-
-“Well,” said the gooseherd one day, “it’s not the good end of the
-bargain that I have had in marrying; all the same, one must make the
-best one can of a crooked stick when there is none other to be cut in
-the hedge. It is little or nothing you are fit for; but here is a basket
-of eggs, and you shall take them to the market and sell them.”
-
-So off the poor princess went to the great town, and stood in the corner
-of the market with her eggs. By and by there came along a tipsy
-countryman—tramp! tramp! tramp! As for the basket of eggs, he minded
-them no more than so many green apples. Smash! and there they lay on the
-ground, and were fit for nothing but to patch broken promises, as we say
-in our town.
-
-Then how the poor princess did wring her hands and cry and cry, for she
-was afraid to go home to her husband, because of the hard words he would
-be sure to fling at her. All the same, there was no other place for her
-to go; so back she went.
-
-[Illustration: The Princess taketh her eggs to the market.]
-
-“There!” said he, “I always knew that you were good for nothing but to
-look at, and now I am more sure of it than ever. The china pitcher was
-never fit to send to the well, and it was a rainy day for me when I
-married such a left-handed wife;” that was what the gooseherd said. All
-the same, the princess should try again; this time she should take a
-basket of apples to the market to sell; for whatever happened she could
-not break them; so off she went again.
-
-Well, by and by came a fellow driving swine, and there sat the princess
-in the way; that was bad luck for her, for over tumbled the basket, and
-the apples went rolling all about the street. When the drove had passed
-there was not a single apple to be seen, for the pigs had eaten every
-one of them. So there was nothing for the princess but to go home
-crying, with her apron to her eyes.
-
-“Yes, yes,” said the gooseherd, “it is as plain as reading and writing
-and the nose on your face that you are just fit for nothing at all! All
-the same, we’ll make one more try to mend the crack in your luck. The
-king up in the castle yonder is married and is going to give a grand
-feast. They are wanting a body in the kitchen to draw the water and chop
-the wood; and you shall go and try your hand at that; and see, here is a
-basket; you shall take it along and bring home the kitchen scrapings for
-supper.”
-
-So off went the princess to the castle kitchen, and there she drew the
-water and chopped the wood for the cook. After her work was done she
-begged so prettily for the kitchen scrapings that the cook filled her
-basket full of the leavings from the pots and the pans, for they were
-about having a grand dinner up-stairs and the king was going to bring
-home his wife that day.
-
-By and by it was time for her to be going home, so she picked up her
-basket and off she went. Just outside stood two tall soldiers. “Halt!”
-said they. And was she the lass who had been chopping the wood and
-drawing the water for the cook that day? Yes? Then she must go along
-with them, for she was wanted up-stairs. No; it did no good for her to
-beg and to pray and to cry and to wring her hands, and it mattered
-nothing if her good man was waiting for her at home. She had been sent
-for, and she must go, willy-nilly. So she had only just time to fling
-her apron over her basket of kitchen scrapings, and off they marched
-her.
-
-There sat the king on his golden throne, dressed all in splendid golden
-robes, and with a golden crown glittering upon his head. But the poor
-princess was so frightened that she neither looked at anything nor saw
-anything, but only stood there trembling.
-
-“What have you under your apron?” said the king. But to this the
-princess could not answer a single word. Then somebody who stood near
-snatched away her apron, and there was the basket full of kitchen
-scrapings, and all the time the princess stood so heart-struck with
-shame that she saw nothing but the cracks in the floor.
-
-But the king stepped down from his golden throne, dressed all in his
-golden robes, just as he was, and took the princess by the hand. “And do
-you not know me?” said he; “look! I am the gooseherd.”
-
-[Illustration: The Princess knoweth the Young King.]
-
-And so he was! She could see it easily enough now, but that made her
-more ashamed than ever.
-
-And listen: the king had more to tell her yet. He was the tipsy
-countryman and had knocked over her basket of eggs himself, and more
-than that he was the swineherd who had driven his pigs over her basket
-of apples so that they were spilled on the ground. But the princess only
-bowed her head lower and lower, for her pride was broken.
-
-“Come,” says the king, “you are my own sweetheart now;” and he kissed
-her on the cheek and seated her beside himself, and if the princess
-cried any more the king wiped away her tears with his own
-pocket-handkerchief. As for the poor and rough clothes in which she was
-dressed, he thought nothing of them, for they were nothing to him.
-
-That is the end of this story, for everything ends aright in a story
-worth the telling.
-
-But if the princess was proud and haughty before, she never was again;
-and that is the plain truth, fresh from the churn and no hairs in it,
-and a lump of it is worth spreading your bread with, I can tell you.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                              Ten O’clock·
-
-
-   Out of the _Cupboard_ [Sidenote: ○]
-     The _Kobold_ takes
-   Some bits of the _Morning
-     Griddle-Cakes_.
-
-   The _Windows_ rattle, [Sidenote: _Cold and windy._] [Sidenote: ☾]
-     The _North Wind_ blows,
-   But the _Ashes_ are warm
-     Between his _Toes_. [Sidenote: K.P.]
-
-   The little grey _Mouse_ [Sidenote: ●]
-     Looks out of the _Wall_,
-   And wishes he had
-     The _Crumbs_ that fall.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: How Two _went into_ Partnership.]
-
-                                 XXII.
-
-
-This was the way of it.
-
-Uncle Bear had a pot of honey and a big cheese, but the Great Red Fox
-had nothing but his wits.
-
-The fox was for going into partnership, for he says, says he, “a head
-full of wits is worth more than a pot of honey and a big cheese,” which
-was as true as gospel, only that wits cannot be shared in partnership
-among folks, like red herring and blue beans, or a pot of honey and a
-big cheese.
-
-All the same, Uncle Bear was well enough satisfied, and so they went
-into partnership together, just as the Great Red Fox had said. As for
-the pot of honey and the big cheese, why, they were put away for a rainy
-day, and the wits were all that were to be used just now.
-
-“Very well,” says the fox, “we’ll rattle them up a bit;” and so he did,
-and this was how.
-
-He was hungry for the honey, was the Great Red Fox. “See, now,” said he,
-“I am sick to-day, and I will just go and see the Master Doctor over
-yonder.”
-
-But it was not the doctor he went to; no, off he marched to the
-storehouse, and there he ate part of the honey. After that he laid out
-in the sun and toasted his skin, for that is pleasant after a great
-dinner.
-
-By and by he went home again.
-
-“Well,” says Uncle Bear, “and how do you feel now?”
-
-“Oh, well enough,” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“And was the medicine bitter?” says Uncle Bear.
-
-“Oh, no, it was good enough,” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“And how much did the doctor give you?” says Uncle Bear.
-
-“Oh, about one part of a pot full,” says the Red Fox.
-
-Dear, dear! thinks Uncle Bear, that is a great deal of medicine to take,
-for sure and certain.
-
-Well, things went on as smoothly as though the wheels were greased,
-until by and by the fox grew hungry for a taste of honey again; and this
-time he had to go over yonder and see his aunt. Off he went to the
-storehouse, and there he ate all the honey he wanted, and then, after he
-had slept a bit in the sun, he went back home again.
-
-“Well,” says Uncle Bear, “and did you see your aunt?”
-
-“Oh, yes,” says the Great Red Fox, “I saw her.”
-
-“And did she give you anything?” says Uncle Bear.
-
-“Oh, yes, she gave me a trifle,” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“And what was it she gave you?” says Uncle Bear.
-
-“Why, she gave me another part of a pot full, that was all,” says the
-Great Red Fox.
-
-“Dear, dear! but that is a queer thing to give,” says Uncle Bear.
-
-By and by the Great Red Fox was thinking of honey again, and now it was
-a christening he had to go to. Off he went to the pot of honey, and this
-time he finished it all and licked the pot into the bargain.
-
-And had everything gone smoothly at the christening? That was what Uncle
-Bear wanted to know.
-
-“Oh, smoothly enough,” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“And did they have a christening feast?” says Uncle Bear.
-
-“Oh, yes, they had that,” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“And what did they have?” says Uncle Bear.
-
-“Oh, everything that was in the pot,” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“Dear, dear,” says Uncle Bear, “but they must have been a hungry set at
-that christening.”
-
-Well, one day Uncle Bear says, “We’ll have a feast and eat up the pot of
-honey and the big cheese, and we’ll ask Father Goat over to help us.”
-
-That suited the Great Red Fox well enough, so off he went to the
-storehouse to fetch the pot of honey and the cheese; as for Uncle Bear
-he went to ask Father Goat to come and help them eat up the good things.
-
-[Illustration: The Great Red Fox goeth to the storehouse and helps
-himself to the good things. ¶]
-
-“See, now,” says the Great Red Fox to himself, “the pot of honey and the
-big cheese belong together, and it is a pity to part them.” So down he
-sat without more ado, and when he got up again the cheese was all inside
-of him.
-
-When he came home again there was Father Goat toasting his toes at the
-fire and waiting for supper; and there was Uncle Bear on the back
-door-step sharpening the bread-knife.
-
-“Hi!” says the Great Red Fox, “and what are you doing here, Father
-Goat?”
-
-“I am just waiting for supper, and that is all,” says Father Goat.
-
-“And where is Uncle Bear?” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“He is sharpening the bread-knife,” says Father Goat.
-
-“Yes,” says the Great Red Fox, “and when he is through with that he is
-going to cut your tail off.”
-
-Dear, dear! but Father Goat was in a great fright; that house was no
-place for him, and he could see that with one eye shut; off he marched,
-as though the ground was hot under him. As for the Great Red Fox, he
-went out to Uncle Bear; “That was a pretty body you asked to take supper
-with us,” says he; “here he has marched off with the pot of honey and
-the big cheese, and we may sit down and whistle over an empty table
-between us.”
-
-When Uncle Bear heard this he did not tarry, I can tell you; up he got
-and off he went after Father Goat. “Stop! stop!” he bawled, “let me have
-a little at least.”
-
-But Father Goat thought that Uncle Bear was speaking of his tail, for he
-knew nothing of the pot of honey and the big cheese; so he just knuckled
-down to it, and away he scampered till the gravel flew behind him.
-
-And this was what came of that partnership; nothing was left but the
-wits that the Great Red Fox had brought into the business; for nobody
-could blame Father Goat for carrying the wits off with him, and one
-might guess that without the telling.
-
-Now, as the pot of honey and big cheese were gone, something else must
-be looked up, for one cannot live on thin air, and that is the truth.
-
-“See, now,” says the Great Red Fox, “Farmer John over yonder has a
-storehouse full of sausages and chitterlings and puddings, and all sort
-of good things. As nothing else is left of the partnership we’ll just
-churn our wits a bit, and see if we can make butter with them, as the
-saying goes;” that was what the Great Red Fox said, and it suited Uncle
-Bear as well as anything he ever heard; so off they marched arm in arm.
-
-[Illustration: The Fox tells Father Goat a strange story.]
-
-By and by they came to Farmer John’s house, and nobody was about, which
-was just what the two rogues wanted; and, yes, there was the storehouse
-as plain as the nose on your face, only the door was locked. Above was a
-little window just big enough for the Great Red Fox to creep into,
-though it was up ever so high. “Just give me a lift up through the
-window yonder,” says he to Uncle Bear, “and I will drop the good things
-out for you to catch.”
-
-So Uncle Bear gave the Great Red Fox a leg up, and—pop!—and there he was
-in the storehouse like a mouse in the cheese-box.
-
-As soon as he was safe among the good things he bawled out to Uncle
-Bear, “What shall it be first, sausages or puddings?”
-
-“Hush! hush!” said Uncle Bear.
-
-“Yes, yes,” bawled the Red Fox louder than ever, “only tell me which I
-shall take first, sausages or puddings?”
-
-“Sh-h-h-h!” said Uncle Bear, “if you are making such a noise as that you
-will have them about our ears; take the first that comes and be quick
-about it.”
-
-“Yes, yes,” bawled the fox as loud as he was able; “but one is just as
-handy as another, and you must tell me which I shall take first.”
-
-But Uncle Bear got neither pudding nor sausage, for the Great Red Fox
-had made such a hubbub that Farmer John and his men came running, and
-three great dogs with them.
-
-“Hi!” said they, “there is Uncle Bear after the sausages and puddings;”
-and there was nothing for him to do but to lay foot to the ground as
-fast as he could. All the same, they caught him over the hill, and gave
-him such a drubbing that his bones ached for many a long day.
-
-But the Great Red Fox only waited until all the others were well away on
-their own business, and then he filled a bag with the best he could lay
-his hands on, opened the door from the inside, and walked out as though
-it were from his own barn; for there was nobody to say “No” to him. He
-hid the good things away in a place of his own, and it was little of
-them that Uncle Bear smelt. After he had gathered all this, Master Fox
-came home, groaning as though he had had an awful drubbing; it would
-have moved a heart of stone to hear him.
-
-“Dear, oh dear! what a drubbing I have had,” said he.
-
-“And so have I,” said Uncle Bear, grinning over his sore bones as though
-cold weather were blowing snow in his teeth.
-
-“See, now,” said the Great Red Fox, “this is what comes of going into
-partnership, and sharing one’s wits with another. If you had made your
-choice when I asked you, your butter would never have been spoiled in
-the churning.”
-
-[Illustration: Uncle Bear and the Great Red Fox visit the farmer’s
-storehouse.]
-
-That was all the comfort Uncle Bear had, and cold enough it was too. All
-the same, he is not the first in the world who has lost his dinner, and
-had both the drubbing and the blame into the bargain.
-
-But things do not last forever, and so by and by the good things from
-Farmer John’s storehouse gave out, and the Great Red Fox had nothing in
-the larder.
-
-“Listen,” says he to Uncle Bear, “I saw them shaking the apple-trees at
-Farmer John’s to-day, and if you have a mind to try the wits that belong
-to us, we’ll go and bring a bagful apiece from the storehouse over
-yonder at the farm.”
-
-Yes, that suited Uncle Bear well enough; so off they marched, each of
-them with an empty bag to fetch back the apples. By and by they came to
-the storehouse, and nobody was about. This time the door was not locked,
-so in the both of them went and began filling their bags with apples.
-The Great Red Fox tumbled them into his bag as fast as ever he could,
-taking them just as they came, good or bad; but Uncle Bear took his time
-about it and picked them all over, for since he had come there he was
-bound to get the best that were to be had.
-
-So the upshot of the matter was that the Great Red Fox had his bag full
-before Uncle Bear had picked out half a score of good juicy apples.
-
-“I’ll just peep out of the window yonder,” says the Great Red Fox, “and
-see if Farmer John is coming.” But in his sleeve he said to himself,
-“I’ll slip outside and turn the key of the door on Uncle Bear, for
-somebody will have to carry the blame of this, and his shoulders are
-broader and his skin tougher than mine; he will never be able to get out
-of that little window.” So up he jumped with his bag of apples, to do as
-he said.
-
-But listen! A hasty man drinks hot broth. And so it was with the Great
-Red Fox, for up in the window they had set a trap to catch rats. But he
-knew nothing of that; out he jumped from the window—click! went the trap
-and caught him by the tail, and there he hung.
-
-“Is Farmer John coming?” bawled Uncle Bear, by and by.
-
-“Hush! hush!” said the Great Red Fox, for he was trying to get his tail
-out of the trap.
-
-But the boot was on the other leg now. “Yes, yes,” bawled Uncle Bear,
-louder than before, “but tell me, is Farmer John coming?”
-
-“Sh-h-h-h!” says the Great Red Fox.
-
-“No, no,” bawled Uncle Bear, as loud as he could, “what I want to know
-is, is Farmer John coming?”
-
-[Illustration: The Bear & the Fox go to farmer John’s again.]
-
-Yes, he was, for he had heard the hubbub, and here he was with a lot of
-his men and three great dogs.
-
-“Oh, Farmer John,” bawled the Great Red Fox, “don’t touch me, I am not
-the thief. Yonder is Uncle Bear in the pantry, he is the one.”
-
-Yes, yes, Farmer John knew how much of that cake to eat; here was the
-rogue of a fox caught in the trap, and the beating was ready for him.
-That was the long and the short of it.
-
-When the Great Red Fox heard this, he pulled with all his might and
-main. Snap! went his tail and broke off close to his body, and away he
-scampered with Farmer John, the men and the dogs close to his heels. But
-Uncle Bear filled his bag full of apples, and when all hands had gone
-racing away after the Great Red Fox, he walked quietly out of the door
-and off home.
-
-And that is how the Great Red Fox lost his tail in the trap.
-
-What is the meaning of all this? Why, here it is: When a rogue and
-another cracks a nut together, it is not often the rogue who breaks his
-teeth by trying to eat the hulls. And this too: But when one sets a trap
-for another, it is a toss of a copper whether or no it flies up and
-pinches his own fingers.
-
-If there is anything more left in the dish you may scrape it for
-yourself.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                            Eleven O’clock·
-
-
-            Who goes about the _House_ when all
-              Are sleeping but the _Clock_,
-            And no one hears it, all alone, [Sidenote: ☽]
-              Still saying tick-a-tock? [Sidenote: ⚲☊ K.P.]
-
-            It is not _Gretchen_ goes about,
-              She’s snoring in her _Bed_;
-            It’s not the _Hound_ that goes about
-              He never lifts his _Head_;
-
-            It is the _Wind_ that goes about, [Sidenote: ☾]
-              And sighs around the _House_,
-            And never wakes the toothless _Hound_,
-              Or stops the gnawing _Mouse_.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: King Stork.]
-
-                                 XXIII.
-
-
-There was a drummer marching along the high-road—forward march!—left,
-right!—tramp, tramp, tramp!—for the fighting was done, and he was coming
-home from the wars. By and by he came to a great wide stream of water,
-and there sat an old man as gnarled and as bent as the hoops in a cooper
-shop. “Are you going to cross the water?” said he.
-
-“Yes,” says the drummer, “I am going to do that if my legs hold out to
-carry me.”
-
-“And will you not help a poor body across?” says the old man.
-
-Now, the drummer was as good-natured a lad as ever stood on two legs.
-“If the young never gave a lift to the old,” says he to himself, “the
-wide world would not be worth while living in.” So he took off his shoes
-and stockings, and then he bent his back and took the old man on it, and
-away he started through the water—splash!
-
-But this was no common old man whom the drummer was carrying, and he was
-not long finding that out, for the farther he went in the water the
-heavier grew his load—like work put off until to-morrow—so that, when he
-was half-way across, his legs shook under him and the sweat stood on his
-forehead like a string of beads in the shop-window. But by and by he
-reached the other shore, and the old man jumped down from his back.
-
-“Phew!” says the drummer, “I am glad to be here at last!”
-
-And now for the wonder of all this: The old man was an old man no
-longer, but a splendid tall fellow with hair as yellow as gold. “And who
-do you think I am?” said he.
-
-But of that the drummer knew no more than the mouse in the haystack, so
-he shook his head, and said nothing.
-
-“I am king of the storks, and here I have sat for many days; for the
-wicked one-eyed witch who lives on the glass hill put it upon me for a
-spell that I should be an old man until somebody should carry me over
-the water. You are the first to do that, and you shall not lose by it.
-Here is a little bone whistle; whenever you are in trouble just blow a
-turn or two on it, and I will be by to help you.”
-
-Thereupon King Stork drew a feather cap out of his pocket and clapped it
-on his head, and away he flew, for he was turned into a great, long,
-red-legged stork as quick as a wink.
-
-But the drummer trudged on the way he was going, as merry as a cricket,
-for it is not everybody who cracks his shins against such luck as he had
-stumbled over, I can tell you. By and by he came to the town over the
-hill, and there he found great bills stuck up over the walls. They were
-all of them proclamations. And this is what they said:
-
-The princess of that town was as clever as she was pretty; that was
-saying a great deal, for she was the handsomest in the whole world.
-(“Phew! but that is a fine lass for sure and certain,” said the
-drummer.) So it was proclaimed that any lad who could answer a question
-the princess would ask, and would ask a question the princess could not
-answer, and would catch the bird that she would be wanting, should have
-her for his wife and half of the kingdom to boot. (“Hi! but here is luck
-for a clever lad,” says the drummer.) But whoever should fail in any one
-of the three tasks should have his head chopped off as sure as he lived.
-(“Ho! but she is a wicked one for all that,” says the drummer.)
-
-That was what the proclamation said, and the drummer would have a try
-for her; “for,” said he, “it is a poor fellow who cannot manage a wife
-when he has her”—and he knew as much about that business as a goose
-about churning butter. As for chopping off heads, he never bothered his
-own about that; for, if one never goes out for fear of rain one never
-catches fish.
-
-Off he went to the king’s castle as fast as he could step, and there he
-knocked on the door, as bold as though his own grandmother lived there.
-
-[Illustration: The Drummer carries the Old Body across the River.]
-
-But when the king heard what the drummer had come for, he took out his
-pocket-handkerchief and began to wipe his eyes, for he had a soft heart
-under his jacket, and it made him cry like anything to see another
-coming to have his head chopped off, as so many had done before him. For
-there they were, all along the wall in front of the princess’s window,
-like so many apples.
-
-But the drummer was not to be scared away by the king’s crying a bit, so
-in he came, and by and by they all sat down to supper—he and the king
-and the princess. As for the princess, she was so pretty that the
-drummer’s heart melted inside of him, like a lump of butter on the
-stove—and that was what she was after. After a while she asked him if he
-had come to answer a question of hers, and to ask her a question of his,
-and to catch the bird that she should set him to catch.
-
-“Yes,” said the drummer, “I have come to do that very thing.” And he
-spoke as boldly and as loudly as the clerk in church.
-
-“Very well, then,” says the princess, as sweet as sugar candy, “just
-come along to-morrow, and I will ask you your question.”
-
-Off went the drummer; he put his whistle to his lips and blew a turn or
-two, and there stood King Stork, and nobody knows where he stepped from.
-
-“And what do you want?” says he.
-
-The drummer told him everything, and how the princess was going to ask
-him a question to-morrow morning that he would have to answer, or have
-his head chopped off.
-
-“Here you have walked into a pretty puddle, and with your eyes open,”
-says King Stork, for he knew that the princess was a wicked enchantress,
-and loved nothing so much as to get a lad into just such a scrape as the
-drummer had tumbled into. “But see, here is a little cap and a long
-feather—the cap is a dark-cap, and when you put it on your head one can
-see you no more than so much thin air. At twelve o’clock at night the
-princess will come out into the castle garden and will fly away through
-the air. Then throw your leg over the feather, and it will carry you
-wherever you want to go; and if the princess flies fast it will carry
-you as fast and faster.”
-
-“Dong! Dong!” The clock struck twelve, and the princess came out of her
-house; but in the garden was the drummer waiting for her with the
-dark-cap on his head, and he saw her as plain as a pikestaff. She
-brought a pair of great wings which she fastened to her shoulders, and
-away she flew. But the drummer was as quick with his tricks as she was
-with hers; he flung his leg over the feather which King Stork had given
-him, and away he flew after her, and just as fast as she with her great
-wings.
-
-[Illustration: Thus the Princess cometh forth from the Castle at twelve
-o’clock at night.]
-
-By and by they came to a huge castle of shining steel that stood on a
-mountain of glass. And it was a good thing for the drummer that he had
-on his cap of darkness, for all around outside of the castle stood fiery
-dragons and savage lions to keep anybody from going in without leave.
-
-But not a thread of the drummer did they see; in he walked with the
-princess, and there was a great one-eyed witch with a beard on her chin,
-and a nose that hooked over her mouth like the beak of a parrot.
-
-“Uff!” said she, “here is a smell of Christian blood in the house.”
-
-“Tut, mother!” says the princess, “how you talk! do you not see that
-there is nobody with me?” For the drummer had taken care that the wind
-should not blow the cap of darkness off of his head, I can tell you. By
-and by they sat down to supper, the princess and the witch, but it was
-little the princess ate, for as fast as anything was put on her plate
-the drummer helped himself to it, so that it was all gone before she
-could get a bite.
-
-“Look, mother!” she said, “I eat nothing, and yet it all goes from my
-plate; why is that so?” But that the old witch could not tell her, for
-she could see nothing of the drummer.
-
-“There was a lad came to-day to answer the question I shall put to him,”
-said the princess. “Now what shall I ask him by way of a question?”
-
-“I have a tooth in the back part of my head,” said the witch, “and it
-has been grumbling a bit; ask him what it is you are thinking about, and
-let it be that.”
-
-Yes; that was a good question for sure and certain, and the princess
-would give it to the drummer to-morrow, to see what he had to say for
-himself. As for the drummer, you can guess how he grinned, for he heard
-every word that they said.
-
-After a while the princess flew away home again, for it was nearly the
-break of day, and she must be back before the sun rose. And the drummer
-flew close behind her, but she knew nothing of that.
-
-The next morning up he marched to the king’s castle and knocked at the
-door, and they let him in.
-
-There sat the king and the princess, and lots of folks besides. Well,
-had he come to answer her question? That was what the princess wanted to
-know.
-
-Yes; that was the very business he had come about.
-
-Very well, this was the question, and he might have three guesses at it;
-what was she thinking of at that minute?
-
-[Illustration: The Drummer helps himself to the good things, though no
-one can see him.]
-
-Oh, it could be no hard thing to answer such a question as that, for
-lasses’ heads all ran upon the same things more or less; was it a fine
-silk dress with glass buttons down the front that she was thinking of
-now?
-
-No, it was not that.
-
-Then, was it of a good stout lad like himself for a sweetheart, that she
-was thinking of?
-
-No, it was not that.
-
-No? Then it was the bad tooth that had been grumbling in the head of the
-one-eyed witch for a day or two past, perhaps.
-
-Dear, dear! but you should have seen the princess’s face when she heard
-this! Up she got and off she packed without a single word, and the king
-saw without the help of his spectacles that the drummer had guessed
-right. He was so glad that he jumped up and down and snapped his fingers
-for joy. Besides that he gave out that bonfires should be lighted all
-over the town, and that was a fine thing for the little boys.
-
-The next night the princess flew away to the house of the one-eyed witch
-again, but there was the drummer close behind her just as he had been
-before.
-
-“Uff!” said the one-eyed witch, “here is a smell of Christian blood, for
-sure and certain.” But all the same, she saw no more of the drummer than
-if he had never been born.
-
-“See, mother,” said the princess, “that rogue of a drummer answered my
-question without winking over it.”
-
-“So,” said the old witch, “we have missed for once, but the second time
-hits the mark; he will be asking you a question to-morrow, and here is a
-book that tells everything that has happened in the world, and if he
-asks you more than that he is a smart one and no mistake.”
-
-After that they sat down to supper again, but it was little the princess
-ate, for the drummer helped himself out of her plate just as he had done
-before.
-
-After a while the princess flew away home, and the drummer with her.
-
-“And, now, what will we ask her that she cannot answer?” said the
-drummer; so off he went back of the house, and blew a turn or two on his
-whistle, and there stood King Stork.
-
-“And what will we ask the princess,” said he, “when she has a book that
-tells her everything?”
-
-King Stork was not long in telling him that; “Just ask her so and so and
-so and so,” said he, “and she would not dare to answer the question.”
-
-Well, the next morning there was the drummer at the castle all in good
-time; and, had he come to ask her a question? that was what the princess
-wanted to know.
-
-Oh, yes, he had come for that very thing.
-
-Very well, then, just let him begin, for the princess was ready and
-waiting, and she wet her thumb, and began to turn over the leaves of her
-Book of Knowledge.
-
-Oh, it was an easy question the drummer was going to ask, and it needed
-no big book like that to answer it. The other night he dreamed that he
-was in a castle all built of shining steel, where there lived a witch
-with one eye. There was a handsome bit of a lass there who was as great
-a witch as the old woman herself, but for the life of him he could not
-tell who she was; now perhaps the princess could make a guess at it.
-
-There the drummer had her as tight as a fly in a bottle, for she did not
-dare to let folks know that she was a wicked witch like the one-eyed
-one; so all she could do was to sit there and gnaw her lip. As for the
-Book of Knowledge, it was no more use to her than a fifth wheel under a
-cart.
-
-But if the king was glad when the drummer answered the princess’s
-question, he was twice as glad when he found she could not answer his.
-
-All the same, there is more to do yet, and many a slip betwixt the cup
-and the lip. “The bird I want is the one-eyed raven,” said the princess;
-“Now bring her to me if you want to keep your head off of the wall
-yonder.”
-
-Yes; the drummer thought he might do that as well as another thing. So
-off he went back of the house to talk to King Stork of the matter.
-
-“Look,” said King Stork, and he drew a net out of his pocket as fine as
-a cobweb and as white as milk; “take this with you when you go with the
-princess to the one-eyed witch’s house to-night, throw it over the
-witch’s head, and then see what will happen; only when you catch the
-one-eyed raven you are to wring her neck as soon as you lay hands on
-her, for if you don’t it will be the worse for you.”
-
-Well, that night off flew the princess just as she had done before, and
-off flew the drummer at her heels, until they came to the witch’s house,
-both of them.
-
-“And did you take his head this time?” said the witch.
-
-No, the princess had not done that, for the drummer had asked such and
-such a question, and she could not answer it; all the same, she had him
-tight enough now, for she had set it as a task upon him that he should
-bring her the one-eyed raven, and it was not likely he would be up to
-doing that. After that the princess and the one-eyed witch sat down to
-supper together, and the drummer served the princess the same trick that
-he had done before, so that she got hardly a bite to eat.
-
-“See,” said the old witch when the princess was ready to go, “I will go
-home with you to-night, and see that you get there safe and sound.” So
-she brought out a pair of wings, just like those the princess had, and
-set them on her shoulders, and away both of them flew with the drummer
-behind. So they came home without seeing a soul, for the drummer kept
-his cap of darkness tight upon his head all the while.
-
-“Good-night,” said the witch to the princess, and “Good-night” said the
-princess to the witch, and the one was for going one way and the other
-the other. But the drummer had his wits about him sharply enough, and
-before the old witch could get away he flung the net that King Stork had
-given him over her head.
-
-“Hi!” but you should have been there to see what happened; for it was a
-great one-eyed raven, as black as the inside of the chimney, that he had
-in his net.
-
-Dear, dear, how it flapped its wings and struck with its great beak! But
-that did no good, for the drummer just wrung its neck, and there was an
-end of it.
-
-The next morning he wrapped it up in his pocket-handkerchief and off he
-started for the king’s castle, and there was the princess waiting for
-him, looking as cool as butter in the well, for she felt sure the
-drummer was caught in the trap this time.
-
-“And have you brought the one-eyed raven with you?” she said.
-
-“Oh, yes,” said the drummer, and here it was wrapped up in this
-handkerchief.
-
-But when the princess saw the raven with its neck wrung, she gave a
-great shriek and fell to the floor. There she lay and they had to pick
-her up and carry her out of the room.
-
-But everybody saw that the drummer had brought the bird she had asked
-for, and all were as glad as glad could be. The king gave orders that
-they should fire off the town cannon, just as they did on his birthday,
-and all the little boys out in the street flung up their hats and caps
-and cried, “Hurrah! Hurrah!”
-
-But the drummer went off back of the house. He blew a turn or two on his
-whistle, and there stood King Stork. “Here is your dark-cap and your
-feather,” says he, “and it is I who am thankful to you, for they have
-won me a real princess for a wife.”
-
-[Illustration: The Drummer catches y^e one-eyed raven.]
-
-“Yes, good,” says King Stork, “you have won her, sure enough, but the
-next thing is to keep her; for a lass is not cured of being a witch as
-quickly as you seem to think, and after one has found one’s eggs one
-must roast them and butter them into the bargain. See now, the princess
-is just as wicked as ever she was before, and if you do not keep your
-eyes open she will trip you up after all. So listen to what I tell you.
-Just after you are married, get a great bowl of fresh milk and a good,
-stiff switch. Pour the milk over the princess when you are alone
-together, and after that hold tight to her and lay on the switch, no
-matter what happens, for that is the only way to save yourself and to
-save her.”
-
-Well, the drummer promised to do as King Stork told him, and by and by
-came the wedding-day. Off he went over to the dairy and got a fresh pan
-of milk, and out he went into the woods and cut a stout hazel switch, as
-thick as his finger.
-
-As soon as he and the princess were alone together he emptied the milk
-all over her; then he caught hold of her and began laying on the switch
-for dear life.
-
-It was well for him that he was a brave fellow and had been to the wars,
-for, instead of the princess, he held a great black cat that glared at
-him with her fiery eyes, and growled and spat like anything. But that
-did no good, for the drummer just shut his eyes and laid on the switch
-harder than ever.
-
-Then—puff!—instead of a black cat it was like a great, savage wolf, that
-snarled and snapped at the drummer with its red jaws; but the drummer
-just held fast and made the switch fly, and the wolf scared him no more
-than the black cat had done.
-
-So out it went, like a light of a candle, and there was a great snake
-that lashed its tail and shot out its forked tongue and spat fire. But
-no; the drummer was no more frightened at that than he had been at the
-wolf and the cat, and, dear, dear! how he dressed the snake with his
-hazel switch.
-
-Last of all, there stood the princess herself. “Oh, dear husband!” she
-cried, “let me go, and I will promise to be good all the days of my
-life.”
-
-“Very well,” says the drummer, “and that is the tune I like to hear.”
-
-That was the way he gained the best of her, whether it was the bowl of
-milk or the hazel switch, for afterwards she was as good a wife as ever
-churned butter; but what did it is a question that you will have to
-answer for yourself. All the same, she tried no more of her tricks with
-him, I can tell you. And so this story comes to an end, like everything
-else in the world.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-                            Twelve O’clock·
-
-
-        _Hist! Hark!_ [Sidenote: ●]
-        The _Watch-dogs_ bark.
-        The _Fire_ is covered.
-          The _Bricks_ grow cold;
-        In the warmest _Corner’s_
-          The brown _Kobold_. [Sidenote: ☽]
-        He sits quite still,
-          And his _Eyes_ are bright.
-        The _Clock_ strikes twelve;
-          ’Tis the dead of _Night_.
-        Snuggle down closer [Sidenote: ♓︎ _Look out for frost._]
-          Into your _Bed_,
-        And pull the _Coverlets_
-          Over your _Head_.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: The Best that Life has to give.]
-
-                                 XXIV.
-
-
-There was a blacksmith who lived near to a great, dark pine forest. He
-was as poor as charity soup; but dear knows whether that was his fault
-or not, for he laid his troubles upon the back of ill-luck, as everybody
-else does in our town.
-
-One day the snow lay thick all over the ground, and hunger and cold sat
-in the blacksmith’s house. “I’ll go out into the forest,” says he, “and
-see whether I cannot get a bagful of pine-cones to make a fire in the
-stove.” So off he stumped, but could find no cones, because they were
-all covered up with white. On into the woods he went, farther and
-farther and deeper and deeper, until he came to a high hill, all of bare
-rock. There he found a clear place and more pine-cones scattered over
-the ground than a body could count. He filled his basket, and it did not
-take him long to do that.
-
-But he was not to get his pine-cones for nothing: click! clack!—a great
-door opened in the side of the hill, and out stepped a little dwarf, as
-ugly as ugly could be, for his head was as big as a cabbage, his hair as
-red as carrots, and his eyes as green as a snake’s.
-
-“So,” said he, “you are stealing my pine-cones, are you? And there are
-none in the world like them. Look your last on the sunlight, for now you
-shall die.”
-
-Down fell the blacksmith on his knees. “Alas!” said he, “I did not know
-that they were your pine-cones. I will empty them out of my sack and
-find some elsewhere.”
-
-“No,” said the dwarf, “it is too late to do that now. But listen, you
-might hunt the world over, and find no such pine-cones as these; so we
-will strike a bit of a bargain between us. You shall go in peace with
-your pine-cones if you will give me what lies in the bread-trough at
-home.”
-
-“Oh, yes,” said the blacksmith, “I will do that gladly.”
-
-“Very well,” said the dwarf, “I will come for my pay at the end of seven
-days,” and back he went into the hill again, and the door shut to behind
-him.
-
-Off went the blacksmith, chuckling to himself. “It is the right end of
-the bargain that I have this time,” said he.
-
-But, bless you! he talked of that horse before he had looked into its
-mouth, as my Uncle Peter used to say. For, listen: while his wife sat at
-home spinning, she wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid it in the
-bread-trough, because it was empty and as good as a cradle. And that was
-what the dwarf spoke of, for he knew what had been done over at the
-blacksmith’s house.
-
-But the blacksmith was as happy as a cricket under the hearth; on he
-plodded, kicking up the soft snow with his toes; but all the time the
-basket of pine-cones kept growing heavier and heavier.
-
-“Come,” said he, at last, “I can carry this load no farther, some of the
-pine-cones must be left behind.” So he opened the basket to throw a
-parcel of them out. But—
-
-Hi! how he did stare! for every one of those pine-cones had turned to
-pure silver as white as the frost on the window-pane. After that he was
-for throwing none of them away, but for carrying all of them home, if he
-broke his back at it, and upon that you may depend.
-
-“And I had them all for nothing,” said he to his wife; “for the dwarf
-gave them to me for what was in the bread-trough, and I knew very well
-that there was nothing there.”
-
-“Alas,” said she, “what have you done! the baby is sleeping there, and
-has been sleeping there all the morning.”
-
-When the blacksmith heard this he scratched his head, and looked up and
-looked down, for he had burned his fingers with the hot end of the
-bargain after all. All the same, there was nothing left but to make the
-best that he could of it. So he took two or three of the silver
-pine-cones to the town and bought plenty to eat, and plenty to drink,
-and warm things to wear into the bargain.
-
-[Illustration: The blacksmith takes y^e dwarf’s pine-cones.]
-
-At the end of seven days up came the dwarf and knocked at the
-blacksmith’s house.
-
-“Well, and is the baby ready?” said he, “for I have come to fetch it.”
-
-But the blacksmith’s wife begged and prayed and prayed and begged that
-the baby might be spared to her. “Let us keep it for seven years at
-least,” said she, “for what can you want with a young baby in the
-house?”
-
-Yes, that was very true. Young babies were troublesome things to have
-about the house, and the woman might keep it for seven years since she
-was anxious to do so. So off went the dwarf, and the woman had what she
-wanted, for seven years is a long time to put off our troubles.
-
-But at the end of that time up came the dwarf a second time.
-
-“Well, is the boy ready now?” said he, “for I have come to take him.”
-
-“Yes, yes,” says the woman, “the boy is yours, but why not leave him for
-another seven years, for he is very young to be out in the world yet?”
-
-Yes, that was true, and so the dwarf put off taking him for seven years
-longer.
-
-But when it had passed, back he came again, and this time it did no good
-for his mother and father to beg and pray, for he had put off his
-bargain long enough, and now he was for having what was his.
-
-“All the same,” says he to the blacksmith, “if you will come after five
-years to the place in the woods where you saw me, you shall have your
-son, if you choose to take him.” And off he went with the lad at his
-heels.
-
-Well, after five years had passed, the blacksmith went into the forest
-to find the dwarf and to bring back his son again.
-
-There was the dwarf waiting for him, and in his hand he held a basket.
-“Well, neighbor,” says he, “and have you come to fetch your son again?”
-
-Yes, that was what the blacksmith wanted.
-
-“Very well,” says the dwarf, “here he is, and all that you have to do is
-to take him.” He opened the basket, and inside was a wren, a thrush, and
-a dove.
-
-“But which of the three is the lad?” says the blacksmith.
-
-“That is for you to tell, neighbor,” says the dwarf.
-
-The blacksmith looked and looked, and first he thought it might be the
-wren, and then he thought it might be the thrush, and then he thought it
-might be the dove. But he was afraid to choose any one of the three,
-lest he should not be right in the choosing. So he shook his head and
-sighed, and was forced at last to go away with empty hands.
-
-Out by the edge of the forest sat an old woman spinning flax from a
-distaff.
-
-“Whither away, friend?” said she, “and why do you wear such a sorrowful
-face?”
-
-The blacksmith stopped and told her the whole story from beginning to
-end. “Tut!” said the old woman, “you should have chosen the dove, for
-that was your son for sure and certain.”
-
-“There!” said the blacksmith, “if I had only known that in the first
-place it would have saved me so much leg wear,” and back he went,
-hot-foot, to find the dwarf and to get his son again.
-
-There was the dwarf waiting for him with a basket on his arm, but this
-time it was a sparrow and a magpie and a lark that were in it, and the
-blacksmith might take which of the three he liked, for one of them was
-his own son.
-
-[Illustration: The blacksmith chooses y^e raven and runs away with it.
-¶):(⁋]
-
-The man looked and looked, and could make nothing of it, so all that he
-could do was to shake his head and turn away again with empty hands.
-
-Out by the edge of the forest sat the old woman spinning. “Prut!” says
-she, “you should have chosen the lark, for it was your son for sure and
-certain. But listen; go back and try again; look each bird in the eyes,
-and choose where you find tears; for nothing but the human soul weeps.”
-
-Back went the man into the forest for the third time, and there was the
-dwarf just as before, only this time it was a sparrow and a jackdaw and
-a raven that he had in his basket.
-
-The man looked at each of the three in turn, and there were tears in the
-raven’s eyes.
-
-“This is the one I choose,” said he, and he snatched it and ran. And it
-was his son and none other whom he held.
-
-As for the dwarf, he stood and stamped his feet and tore his hair, but
-that was all he could do, for one must abide by one’s bargain, no matter
-what happens.
-
-You can guess how glad the father and the mother were to have their son
-back home again. But the lad just sat back of the stove and warmed his
-shins, and stared into the Land of Nowhere, without doing a stroke of
-work from morning till night. At last the father could stand it no
-longer, for, though one is glad to have one’s own safe under the roof at
-home, it is another thing to have one’s own doing nothing the livelong
-day but sit back of the stove and eat good bread and meat; for the
-silver pine-cones were gone by this time, and good things were no more
-plentiful in the blacksmith’s house than they had been before.
-
-“Come!” says he to lazy-boots one day, “is there nothing at all that you
-can do to earn the salt you eat?”
-
-“Oh, yes,” said the lad, “I have learned many things, and one over at
-the dwarf’s house yonder, for the dwarf is a famous blacksmith.” So out
-he came from behind the stove, and brushed the ashes from his hair, and
-went out into the forge.
-
-“Give me a piece of iron,” says he, “and I will show you a trick or two
-worth the knowing.”
-
-“Yes,” says the blacksmith, “you shall have the iron; all the same I
-know that it is little or nothing that you know about the hammer and the
-tongs.”
-
-But the young fellow answered nothing. He made a bed of hot coals, and
-laid the iron in it.
-
-“Here,” said he to his father, “do you blow the bellows till I come
-back, and be sure that you do not stop for so much as a wink, or else
-all will be spoiled.” So he gave the handle into the blacksmith’s hand
-and off he went.
-
-The old man blew the bellows and blew the bellows, but the dwarf over in
-the forest knew what was being done as well as though he stood in the
-forge. He was not for letting the lad steal his tricks if he could help
-it. So he changed himself into a great fly, and came and lit on the
-blacksmith’s neck, and bit him till the blood ran; but the blacksmith
-just shut his eyes tight, and grinned and bore it, and blew the bellows
-and blew the bellows.
-
-By and by the lad came in, and the fly flew away. He drew the iron out
-of the fire, and dipped it in the water, and what do you think it was?
-Why, a golden tree with a little golden bird sitting in the branches,
-with bright jewels for its eyes.
-
-The lad drew a little silver wand from his pocket, and gave the tree a
-tap, and the bird began to hop from branch to branch, and to sing so
-sweetly that it made one’s heart stand still to listen to it.
-
-As for the blacksmith, he just stood and gaped and stared, with his
-mouth and eyes as wide open as if they never would shut again.
-
-Now there was no king in that country, but a queen who lived in a grand
-castle on a high hill, and was as handsome a one as ever a body’s eyes
-looked upon.
-
-“Here,” says the lad to his father, “take this up to the queen at the
-castle yonder, and she will pay you well for it.” Then he went and sat
-down back of the stove again, and toasted his shins and stared at
-nothing at all.
-
-Up went the blacksmith to the queen’s castle with the golden bird and
-the golden tree wrapped up in his pocket-handkerchief. Dear, dear, how
-the queen did look and listen and wonder, when she saw how pretty it
-was, and heard how sweetly the little golden bird sang. She called her
-steward and bade him give the blacksmith a whole bag of gold and silver
-money for it, and off went the man as pleased as pleased could be.
-
-And now they lived upon the very best of good things over at the
-blacksmith’s house; but good things cost money, and by and by the last
-penny was spent of what the queen had given him, and nothing would do
-but for the lad to go out and work a little while at the forge. So up he
-got from back of the stove, and out he went into the forge. He made a
-bed of coals and laid the iron upon it.
-
-“Now,” says he to his father, “do you blow the bellows till I come
-back,” and off he went.
-
-Well, the old man took the handle and blew and blew, but the dwarf knew
-what was going on this time, just as well as he had done before. He
-changed himself into a fly, and came and lit on the blacksmith’s neck,
-and dear, dear, how he did bite! The blacksmith shut his eyes and
-grinned, but at last he could bear it no longer. He raised his hand and
-slapped at the fly, but away it flew with never a hair hurt.
-
-In came the lad and drew the iron out of the fire and plunged it into
-the water, and there it was a beautiful golden comb that shone like
-fire. But the lad was not satisfied with that. “You should have done as
-I told you,” said he, “and have stopped at nothing; for now the work is
-spoiled.”
-
-The blacksmith vowed and declared that he had not stopped from blowing
-the bellows, but the lad knew better than that; for there should have
-been a golden looking-glass as well as the comb. The one was of no use
-without the other, for when one looked in the golden looking-glass, and
-combed one’s hair with the golden comb, one grew handsomer every day,
-and the lad had intended both for the queen.
-
-“All the same,” said the old man, “I will take the golden comb up to the
-castle;” and it did no good for the lad to shake his head and say no.
-“For,” says the father, “old heads are wise heads; and the queen will
-like this as well as the other.” So up to the castle he would go, and up
-to the castle he went.
-
-But when the queen saw the golden comb her brows grew as black as a
-thunder-storm. “Where is the looking-glass?” said she; and though the
-old man vowed and declared that no looking-glass belonged with the comb,
-she knew a great deal better. So, now, the blacksmith might have his
-choice; he should either bring her the looking-glass that belonged to
-the golden comb or bring her that which was the best in all the world.
-If he did neither of these he should be thrown into a deep pit full of
-toads and vipers.
-
-Back went the old man home again and told the lad all that had happened
-from beginning to end. And then he wanted to know what he should do to
-get himself out of his pickle.
-
-[Illustration: The blacksmith brings y^e wonderful little bird and tree
-to y^e Queen.]
-
-Well, it was no easy task to make what the queen wanted; all the same,
-the lad would try what he could do. So he rolled up his sleeves and out
-he went into the forge and laid a piece of iron upon the bed of hot
-coals.
-
-This time he would not trust the old man to blow the bellows for him,
-but took the handle into his own hand and blew and blew.
-
-The dwarf knew what was happening this time as well as before. He
-changed himself into a fly and came and sat on the lad’s forehead, and
-bit until the blood ran down into his eyes and blinded him; but the lad
-blew the bellows and blew the bellows.
-
-First the fire burned red, and then it burned white, and then it burned
-blue, and after that the work was done.
-
-Then the young man raised his hand and struck the fly and killed it, and
-that was an end of the dwarf for good and all.
-
-What he had made he dipped into the water and it was a gold ring,
-nothing less nor more. He took a sharp knife and drew charms upon it,
-and inside of the circle he wrote these words:
-
-                  “WHO WEARS THIS SHALL HAVE THE BEST
-                      THAT THE WORLD HAS TO GIVE.”
-
-“Here,” said the lad to his father, “take this up to the queen, for it
-is what she wants, and there is nothing better in the world.”
-
-Off marched the old man and gave the ring to the queen, and she slipped
-it on her finger.
-
-That was how the blacksmith saved his own skin; but the poor queen did
-nothing but just sit and look out of the window, and sigh and sigh.
-
-After a while she called her steward to her and bade him go over and
-tell the blacksmith’s son to come to her.
-
-There sat the lad back of the stove. “Prut!” said he, “she must send a
-better than you if she would have me come to her.” So the steward had
-just to go back to the castle again and tell the queen what the lad had
-said.
-
-Then the queen called her chief minister to her. “Do you go,” said she,
-“and bid the lad come to me.”
-
-There sat the lad back of the stove. “Prut!” said he, “she must send a
-better than you if she would have me come to her.”
-
-[Illustration: The Young Smith forges the best that Life has to give.]
-
-Off went the minister and told the queen what he had said, and the queen
-saw as plain as the nose on her face that she must go herself if she
-would have the lad come at her bidding.
-
-There sat the lad back of the stove. And would he come with her now?
-
-Yes, indeed, that he would. So he slipped from behind the stove and took
-her by the hand, and they walked out of the house and up to her castle
-on the high hill, for that was where he belonged now. There they were
-married, and ruled the land far and near. For it is one thing to be a
-blacksmith of one kind, and another thing to be a blacksmith of another
-kind, and that is the truth, whether you believe it or not.
-
-And did the queen really get the best in the world? Bless your heart, my
-dear, wait until you are as old as I am, and have been married as long,
-and you will be able to answer that question without the asking.
-
-
-[Illustration: The End.]
-
-
-           HIC LIBER CAPITE NOSTRO FACTUS EST MANUQUE NOSTRA
-
-                 RIDEANT HOMINUM STULTITIAS STULTI, SED
-                     NE, QUOD IN STULTITIIS HOMINUM
-                          HOMINIS ALIQUID EST,
-                             OMNIA IN LEVI
-                                HABEAMUS
-                                   *
-
-[Illustration]
-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
-
-                          TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
-
-
- 1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.
- 2. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed.
- 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
- 4. Superscripts are denoted by a caret before a single superscript
-      character, e.g. M^r.
-
-
-
-
-
-End of Project Gutenberg's The Wonder Clock, by Howard Pyle and Katharine Pyle
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-<pre>
-
-Project Gutenberg's The Wonder Clock, by Howard Pyle and Katharine Pyle
-
-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 Wonder Clock
-       or four & twenty marvellous Tales, being one for each hour of the day
-
-Author: Howard Pyle
-        Katharine Pyle
-
-Release Date: October 5, 2020 [EBook #63383]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDER CLOCK ***
-
-
-
-
-Produced by Richard Tonsing, David Edwards, and the Online
-Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
-file was produced from images generously made available
-by The Internet Archive)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-</pre>
-
-
-<div class='tnotes covernote'>
-
-<p class='c000'><b>Transcriber’s Note:</b></p>
-
-<p class='c000'>The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p>
-
-</div>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_endpapera.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id002'>
-<img src='images/i_f001.jpg' alt='The Wonder Clock' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div id='Frontispiece'  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_f002.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='titlepage chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_f003.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-<div class='w40'>
-
-<div>
-  <h1 class='c001'><span class='xlarge'>The</span><br /> WONDER CLOCK<br /> <span class='large'>OR<br /> <i>four &amp; twenty marvellous Tales, being one for each hour of the day; written &amp; illustrated</i></span></h1>
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c002'>
-    <div><span class='large'>By</span></div>
-    <div><span class='large'>Howard Pyle.</span></div>
-    <div class='c003'><span class='large'><i>Embellished with Verses by</i></span></div>
-    <div><span class='large'><i>Katharine Pyle.</i></span></div>
-    <div class='c002'><span class='large'><i>New York</i>, printed by</span></div>
-    <div><span class='large'>Harper &amp; Brothers.</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c004'>
-    <div><span class='sc'>Books by</span></div>
-    <div class='c003'>HOWARD PYLE</div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c005'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>MEN OF IRON. Illustrated. Post 8vo</div>
-      <div class='line'>A MODERN ALADDIN. Illustrated. Post 8vo</div>
-      <div class='line'>PEPPER AND SALT. Illustrated. Post 8vo</div>
-      <div class='line'>REJECTED OF MEN. Post 8vo</div>
-      <div class='line'>THE ROSE OF PARADISE. Illustrated. 12mo</div>
-      <div class='line'>THE RUBY OF KISHMOOR. Illustrated. 8vo</div>
-      <div class='line'>STOLEN TREASURE. Illustrated. 12mo</div>
-      <div class='line'>TWILIGHT LAND. Illustrated. Post 8vo</div>
-      <div class='line'>THE WONDER CLOCK. Illustrated. Square 8vo</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c005'>
-    <div>HARPER &amp; BROTHERS, NEW YORK</div>
-    <div class='c002'>Copyright, 1887, by <span class='sc'>Harper &amp; Brothers</span></div>
-    <div class='c003'>Copyright, 1915, by <span class='sc'>Anne Poole Pyle</span></div>
-    <div class='c003'>Printed in the United States of America</div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id003'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span>
-<img src='images/i_f005.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>PREFACE.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_f005.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-I put on my dream-cap one day and stepped into Wonderland.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Along the road I jogged and never dusted my shoes,
-and all the time the pleasant sun shone and never
-burned my back, and the little white clouds floated
-across the blue sky and never let fall a drop of rain
-to wet my jacket. And by and by I came to a steep hill.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>I climbed the hill, though I had more than one tumble in doing
-it, and there, on the tip top, I found a house as old as the world itself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was where Father Time lived; and who should sit in the sun
-at the door, spinning away for dear life, but Time’s Grandmother herself;
-and if you would like to know how old she is you will have to climb
-to the top of the church steeple and ask the wind as he sits upon the
-weather-cock, humming the tune of Over-yonder song to himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Good-morning,” says Time’s Grandmother to me.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Good-morning,” says I to her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what do you seek here?” says she to me.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I come to look for odds and ends,” says I to her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” says she; “just climb the stairs to the garret, and there
-you will find more than ten men can think about.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Thank you,” says I, and up the stairs I went. There I found all
-manner of queer forgotten things which had been laid away, nobody
-but Time and his Grandmother could tell where.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span>Over in the corner was a great, tall clock, that had stood there silently
-with never a tick or a ting since men began to grow too wise for toys
-and trinkets.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But I knew very well that the old clock was the</p>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-  <div class='nf-center'>
-    <div><i>Wonder Clock</i>;</div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>so down I took the key and wound it—gurr! gurr! gurr!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Click! buzz! went the wheels, and then—tick-tock! tick-tock! for the
-Wonder Clock is of that kind that it will never wear out, no matter
-how long it may stand in Time’s garret.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Down I sat and watched it, for every time it struck it played a pretty
-song, and when the song was ended—click! click!—out stepped the
-drollest little puppet-figures and went through with a dance, and I saw
-it all (with my dream-cap upon my head).</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Wonder Clock had grown rusty from long standing, and
-though now and then the puppet-figures danced a dance that I knew as
-well as I know my bread-and-butter, at other times they jigged a step
-I had never seen before, and it came into my head that maybe a dozen
-or more puppet-plays had become jumbled together among the wheels
-back of the clock-face.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So there I sat in the dust watching the Wonder Clock, and when it
-had run down and the tunes and the puppet-show had come to an end,
-I took off my dream-cap, and—whisk!—there I was back home again
-among my books, with nothing brought away with me from that country
-but a little dust which I found sticking to my coat, and which I have
-never brushed away to this day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now if you also would like to go into Wonderland, you have only
-to hunt up your dream-cap (for everybody has one somewhere about the
-house), and to come to me, and I will show you the way to Time’s garret.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That is right! Pull the cap well down about your ears.</p>
-
-<hr class='c010' />
-
-<p class='c008'>Here we are! And now I will wind the clock. Gurr! gurr! gurr!</p>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-  <div class='nf-center'>
-    <div><i>Tick-tock! tick-tock!</i></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id003'>
-<img src='images/i_f007.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>Table of Contents.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<table class='table0' summary='Table of Contents'>
-<colgroup>
-<col width='8%' />
-<col width='83%' />
-<col width='8%' />
-</colgroup>
-  <tr>
-    <th class='c011'></th>
-    <th class='c012'>&nbsp;</th>
-    <th class='c013'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></th>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>I.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>Bearskin</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>II.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The Water of Life</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_15'>15</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>III.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>How One Turned his Trouble to Some Account</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_27'>27</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>IV.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>How Three Went out into the Wide World</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_39'>39</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>V.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The Clever Student and the Master of Black Arts</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_49'>49</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>VI.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The Princess Golden-Hair and the Great Black Raven</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_63'>63</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>VII.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>Cousin Greylegs, the Great Red Fox, and Grandfather Mole</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_77'>77</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>VIII.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>One Good Turn Deserves Another</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_89'>89</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>IX.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The White Bird</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_105'>105</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>X.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>How the Good Gifts were Used by Two</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_121'>121</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XI.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>How Boots Befooled the King</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_135'>135</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XII.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The Step-mother</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_149'>149</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XIII.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>Master Jacob</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_161'>161</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XIV.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>Peterkin and the Little Grey Hare</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_175'>175</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XV.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>Mother Hildegarde</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_189'>189</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XVI.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>Which is Best</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_203'>203</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_viii'>viii</span>XVII.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The Simpleton and his Little Black Hen</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_217'>217</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XVIII.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The Swan Maiden</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_229'>229</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XIX.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The Three Little Pigs and the Ogre</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_241'>241</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XX.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The Staff and the Fiddle</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_253'>253</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XXI.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>How the Princess’s Pride was Broken</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_267'>267</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XXII.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>How Two Went into Partnership</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_279'>279</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XXIII.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>King Stork</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_291'>291</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c011'>XXIV.</td>
-    <td class='c012'>The Best that Life has to Give</td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_305'>305</a></td>
-  </tr>
-</table>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id002'>
-<img src='images/i_f008.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_ix'>ix</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id003'>
-<img src='images/i_f009.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>List of Illustrations.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<table class='table0' summary='List of Illustrations'>
-<colgroup>
-<col width='4%' />
-<col width='86%' />
-<col width='8%' />
-</colgroup>
-  <tr>
-    <th class='c012'></th>
-    <th class='c012'>&nbsp;</th>
-    <th class='c013'><span class='small'><i>Page</i></span></th>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i><a href='#Frontispiece'>Frontispiece.</a></i></td>
-    <td class='c013'>&nbsp;</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—Preface</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_v'>v</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—Table of Contents</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_vii'>vii</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—List of Illustrations</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_ix'>ix</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>ONE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—Bearskin</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_3'>3</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Baby drifts to the River’s Bank in the Basket</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_5'>5</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Bearskin parts from the Princess</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_9'>9</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Princess weeps</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_10'>10</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Bearskin and the Swineherd feast together</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_12'>12</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>TWO O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_15'>15</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The Water of Life</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_17'>17</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The King gazes upon the Picture</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_19'>19</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The North Wind flies with the Faithful Servant</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_21'>21</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The King brings the Water of Life to the Princess</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_23'>23</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Faithful Servant gives the King his Golden Bracelet</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_25'>25</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>THREE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_27'>27</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—How One Turned his Trouble to Some Account</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_29'>29</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Soldier takes Trouble to Town</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_31'>31</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Soldier brings Trouble to the King</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_33'>33</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Giants fight one another</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_35'>35</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Rich Man takes Trouble home</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_37'>37</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><span class='pageno' id='Page_x'>x</span><i>FOUR O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_39'>39</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—How Three went out into the Wide World</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_41'>41</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Grey Goose meets the Sausage</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_43'>43</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Great Red Fox calls upon the Cock</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_45'>45</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Great Red Fox calls upon the Sausage</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_46'>46</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Great Red Fox rests softly</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_47'>47</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>FIVE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_49'>49</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The Clever Student and the Master of Black Arts</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_51'>51</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>A Princess walks beside the River</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_53'>53</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Clever Student and the Princess</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_55'>55</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Master of Black Arts and the Little Black Hen</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_57'>57</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Master of Black Arts is caught in his Tricks</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_60'>60</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>SIX O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_63'>63</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The Princess Golden-Hair and the Great Black Raven</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_65'>65</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The King meets the Great Black Raven</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_67'>67</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Princess Golden-Hair drinks</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_69'>69</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Princess Golden-Hair comes to Death’s Door</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_71'>71</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Princess finds the Prince</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_75'>75</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>SEVEN O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_77'>77</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—Cousin Greylegs, the Great Red Fox, and Grandfather Mole</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_79'>79</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Cousin Greylegs and the Great Red Fox go to the Fair</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_81'>81</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Cousin Greylegs runs away with the Bag</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_83'>83</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Great Red Fox meets Grandfather Mole</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_85'>85</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Great Red Fox tries the Fire</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_87'>87</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>EIGHT O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_89'>89</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—One Good Turn Deserves Another</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_91'>91</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Young Fisherman catches a Strange Fish</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_93'>93</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Young Fisherman and the Grey Master</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_97'>97</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Grey Master is caught in the Water</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_101'>101</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Princess finds the Young Fisherman</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_103'>103</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xi'>xi</span><i>NINE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_105'>105</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The White Bird</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_107'>107</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Prince knocks at the Door of the Poor Little House</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_109'>109</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Prince finds the Three Giants sleeping</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_111'>111</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Prince finds the Sword of Brightness</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_115'>115</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The White Bird knows the Prince</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_119'>119</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>TEN O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_121'>121</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—How the Good Gifts were used by Two</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_123'>123</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>St. Nicholas knocks at the Rich Man’s Door</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_125'>125</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>St. Nicholas in the Poor Man’s House</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_127'>127</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Poor Man welcomes St. Christopher</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_129'>129</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Saints feast in the Rich Man’s House</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_131'>131</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>ELEVEN O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_135'>135</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—How Boots befooled the King</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_137'>137</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Peter goes to the King’s Castle</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_139'>139</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Paul comes Home again</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_141'>141</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Old Woman smashes her Pots and Crocks</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_143'>143</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Councillor finds a Wisdom-sack</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_145'>145</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>TWELVE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_149'>149</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The Step-mother</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_151'>151</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Step-daughter follows the Golden Ball</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_153'>153</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Young King brings the Maiden up from the Pit</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_155'>155</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Step-mother bewitches the Young Queen</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_157'>157</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Young King caresses the White Dove</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_159'>159</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>ONE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_161'>161</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—Master Jacob</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_163'>163</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Master Jacob brings his Fat Pig to Town</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_165'>165</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Master Jacob and his Black Goat</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_167'>167</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Three Cronies and the Black Goat</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_171'>171</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Master Jacob meets the Three Cronies</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_173'>173</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xii'>xii</span><i>TWO O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_175'>175</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—Peterkin and the Little Grey Hare</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_177'>177</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Peterkin in his Fine Clothes</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_179'>179</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Peterkin carries away the Giant’s Goose</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_183'>183</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Peterkin brings the Silver Bell to the King</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_185'>185</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Peterkin combs the Giant’s Hair</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_187'>187</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>THREE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_189'>189</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—Mother Hildegarde</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_191'>191</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Princess comes to Mother Hildegarde’s Door</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_193'>193</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Princess looks into the Jar</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_195'>195</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Wood-pigeons feed the Princess</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_197'>197</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Mother Hildegarde carries away the Baby</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_199'>199</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>FOUR O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_203'>203</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—Which is Best?</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_205'>205</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Rich Brother leaves the Poor Brother in Blindness</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_207'>207</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Poor Man finds the Little Door</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_209'>209</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Poor Man finds that which is the Best</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_211'>211</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Rich Man finds that which he Deserves</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_213'>213</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>FIVE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_217'>217</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The Simpleton and his Little Black Hen</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_219'>219</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Caspar starts to Town with his Little Black Hen</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_221'>221</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Caspar finds a Bag of Money</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_223'>223</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Three of them share the Money</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_225'>225</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>Caspar rides to the King’s Castle</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_227'>227</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>SIX O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_229'>229</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The Swan Maiden</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_231'>231</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Swan carries the Prince on its Back</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_233'>233</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Prince comes to the Three eyed Witch’s House</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_235'>235</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Swan Maiden helps the Young Prince</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_237'>237</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Witch and the Woman of Honey and Meal</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_239'>239</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xiii'>xiii</span><i>SEVEN O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_241'>241</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The Three Little Pigs and the Ogre</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_243'>243</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Ogre meets the Three Little Pigs in the Forest</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_245'>245</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Ogre climbs the Tree</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_247'>247</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Ogre shuts his Eyes and counts</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_249'>249</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Ogre sticks fast in the Window</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_251'>251</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>EIGHT O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_253'>253</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The Staff and the Fiddle</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_255'>255</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Fiddler helps the Old Woman</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_257'>257</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Fiddler and the Dwarf</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_259'>259</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Fiddler finds the Princess</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_261'>261</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Fiddler and the Little Black Mannikin</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_263'>263</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>NINE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_267'>267</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—How the Princess’s Pride was broken</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_269'>269</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Gooseherd plays with the Golden Ball</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_271'>271</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The King peeps over the Hedge</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_273'>273</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Princess takes her Eggs to Market</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_275'>275</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Princess knows the Young King</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_277'>277</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>TEN O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_279'>279</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—How Two Went into Partnership</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_281'>281</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Great Red Fox goes to the Store-house</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_283'>283</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Great Red Fox frightens Father Goat</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_285'>285</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Great Red Fox and Uncle Bear at the Store-house</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_287'>287</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Bear and the Fox go to Farmer John’s again</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_289'>289</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><i>ELEVEN O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_291'>291</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—King Stork</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_293'>293</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Drummer helps the Old Man</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_295'>295</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Princess comes forth from the Castle at Night</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_297'>297</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Drummer helps himself</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_299'>299</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Drummer catches the One-eyed Raven</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_303'>303</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c014' colspan='2'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xiv'>xiv</span><i>TWELVE O’CLOCK</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_305'>305</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012' colspan='2'><i>Head-piece—The Best that Life has to Give</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_307'>307</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Blacksmith steals the Dwarf’s Pine-cones</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_309'>309</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Blacksmith chooses the Raven</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_311'>311</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Blacksmith brings the Little Bird to the Queen</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_315'>315</a></td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class='c012'>&nbsp;</td>
-    <td class='c012'><i>The Young Blacksmith Forges the Ring</i></td>
-    <td class='c013'><a href='#Page_317'>317</a></td>
-  </tr>
-</table>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id002'>
-<img src='images/i_f014.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_1'>1</span>
-<img src='images/i_001.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>One O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>One of the <i>Clock</i>, and silence deep <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☾<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>Then up the <i>Stairway</i>, black and steep</div>
-      <div class='line'>The old <i>House-Cat</i> comes creepy-creep</div>
-      <div class='line'>With soft feet goes from room to room</div>
-      <div class='line'>Her green eyes shining through the gloom,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And finds all fast asleep. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>○<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='c016'>K.P.</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id003'>
-<img src='images/i_003.jpg' alt='Bearskin.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>I.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_003.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There was a king travelling through the country, and
-he and those with him were so far away from home
-that darkness caught them by the heels, and they had
-to stop at a stone mill for the night, because there
-was no other place handy.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>While they sat at supper, they heard a sound in
-the next room, and it was a baby crying.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The miller stood in the corner, back of the stove,
-with his hat in his hand. “What is that noise?” said the king to him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh! it is nothing but another baby that the good storks have brought
-into the house to-day,” said the miller.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now there was a wise man travelling along with the king, who could
-read the stars and everything that they told as easily as one can read one’s
-A B C’s in a book after one knows them, and the king, for a bit of a jest,
-would have him find out what the stars had to foretell of the miller’s baby.
-So the wise man went out and took a peep up in the sky, and by and by he
-came in again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well,” said the king, “and what did the stars tell you?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“The stars tell me,” said the wise man, “that you shall have a daughter,
-and that the miller’s baby, in the room yonder, shall marry her when they
-are old enough to think of such things.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>“What!” said the king, “and is a miller’s baby to marry the princess
-that is to come! We will see about that.” So the next day he took the
-miller aside and talked and bargained, and bargained and talked, until the
-upshot of the matter was that the miller was paid two hundred dollars, and
-the king rode off with the baby.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As soon as he came home to the castle he called his chief forester to
-him. “Here,” says he, “take this baby and do thus and so with it, and
-when you have killed it bring its heart to me, that I may know that you
-have really done as you have been told.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off marched the forester with the baby; but on his way he stopped
-at home, and there was his good wife working about the house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well, Henry,” said she, “what do you do with the baby?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh!” said he, “I am just taking it off to the forest to do thus and so
-with it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come,” said she, “it would be a pity to harm the little innocent, and
-to have its blood on your hands. Yonder hangs the rabbit that you
-shot this morning, and its heart will please the king just as well as the
-other.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Thus the wife talked, and the end of the business was that she and the
-man smeared a basket all over with pitch and set the baby adrift in it on
-the river, and the king was just as well satisfied with the rabbit’s heart as he
-would have been with the baby’s.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the basket with the baby in it drifted on and on down the river,
-until it lodged at last among the high reeds that stood along the bank. By
-and by there came a great she-bear to the water to drink, and there she
-found it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now the huntsmen in the forest had robbed the she-bear of her cubs, so
-that her heart yearned over the little baby, and she carried it home with her
-to fill the place of her own young ones. There the baby throve until he
-grew to a great strong lad, and as he had fed upon nothing but bear’s milk
-for all that time, he was ten times stronger than the strongest man in the
-land.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day, as he was walking through the forest, he came across a woodman
-chopping the trees into billets of wood, and that was the first time he
-had ever seen a body like himself. Back he went to the bear as fast as he
-could travel, and told her what he had seen. “That,” said the bear, “is the
-most wicked and most cruel of all the beasts.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>
-<img src='images/i_005.jpg' alt='The Baby drifts in the basket down the river to the reeds beside the bank where the she-bear finds it. ):(' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>“Yes,” says the lad, “that may be so, all the same I love beasts like that
-as I love the food I eat, and I long for nothing so much as to go out into
-the wide world, where I may find others of the same kind.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the bear saw very well how the geese flew, and that the lad
-would soon be flitting.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See,” said she, “if you must go out into the wide world you must.
-But you will be wanting help before long; for the ways of the world are not
-peaceful and simple as they are here in the woods, and before you have lived
-there long you will have more needs than there are flies in summer. See,
-here is a little crooked horn, and when your wants grow many, just come to
-the forest and blow a blast on it, and I will not be too far away to help you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off went the lad away from the forest, and all the coat he had upon
-his back was the skin of a bear dressed with the hair on it, and that was
-why folk called him “Bearskin.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He trudged along the high-road, until he came to the king’s castle, and
-it was the same king who thought he had put Bearskin safe out of the way
-years and years ago.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now, the king’s swineherd was in want of a lad, and as there was
-nothing better to do in that town, Bearskin took the place and went every
-morning to help drive the pigs into the forest, where they might eat the
-acorns and grow fat.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day there was a mighty stir throughout the town; folk crying, and
-making a great hubbub. “What is it all about?” says Bearskin to the
-swineherd.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>What! and did he not know what the trouble was? Where had he
-been for all of his life, that he had heard nothing of what was going on in
-the world? Had he never heard of the great fiery dragon with three heads
-that had threatened to lay waste all of that land, unless the pretty princess
-were given up to him? This was the very day that the dragon was to come
-for her, and she was to be sent up on the hill back of the town; that was
-why all the folk were crying and making such a stir.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So!” says Bearskin, “and is there never a lad in the whole country
-that is man enough to face the beast? Then I will go myself if nobody
-better is to be found.” And off he went, though the swineherd laughed
-and laughed, and thought it all a bit of a jest. By and by Bearskin came
-to the forest, and there he blew a blast upon the little crooked horn that
-the bear had given him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Presently came the bear through the bushes, so fast that the little twigs
-flew behind her. “And what is it that you want?” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>“I should like,” said Bearskin, “to have a horse, a suit of gold and silver
-armor that nothing can pierce, and a sword that shall cut through iron and
-steel; for I would like to go up on the hill to fight the dragon and free the
-pretty princess at the king’s town over yonder.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” said the bear, “look back of the tree yonder, and you will
-find just what you want.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; sure enough, there they were back of the tree: a grand white
-horse that champed his bit and pawed the ground till the gravel flew, and a
-suit of gold and silver armor such as a king might wear. Bearskin put on
-the armor and mounted the horse, and off he rode to the high hill back of
-the town.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by came the princess and the steward of the castle, for it was he
-that was to bring her to the dragon. But the steward stayed at the bottom
-of the hill, for he was afraid, and the princess had to climb it alone, though
-she could hardly see the road before her for the tears that fell from her
-eyes. But when she reached the top of the hill she found instead of the
-dragon a fine tall fellow dressed all in gold and silver armor. And it did
-not take Bearskin long to comfort the princess, I can tell you. “Come,
-come,” says he, “dry your eyes and cry no more; all the cakes in the oven
-are not burned yet; just go back of the bushes yonder, and leave it with me
-to talk the matter over with Master Dragon.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess was glad enough to do that. Back of the bushes she went,
-and Bearskin waited for the dragon to come. He had not long to wait
-either; for presently it came flying through the air, so that the wind rattled
-under his wings.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear! if one could but have been there to see that fight between
-Bearskin and the dragon, for it was well worth the seeing, and that you may
-believe. The dragon spit out flames and smoke like a house afire. But he
-could do no hurt to Bearskin, for the gold and silver armor sheltered him so
-well that not so much as one single hair of his head was singed. So Bearskin
-just rattled away the blows at the dragon—slish, slash, snip, clip—until
-all three heads were off, and there was an end of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that he cut out the tongues from the three heads of the dragon,
-and tied them up in his pocket-handkerchief.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the princess came out from behind the bushes where she had lain
-hidden, and begged Bearskin to go back with her to the king’s castle, for the
-king had said that if any one killed the dragon he should have her for his
-wife. But no; Bearskin would not go to the castle just now, for the time
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>was not yet ripe; but, if the princess would give them to him, he would like
-to have the ring from her finger, the kerchief from her bosom, and the necklace
-of golden beads from her neck.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess gave him what he asked for, and a sweet kiss into the
-bargain, and then Bearskin mounted upon his grand white horse and rode
-away to the forest. “Here are your horse and armor,” said he to the
-bear, “and they have done good service to-day, I can tell you.” Then
-he tramped back again to the king’s castle with the old bear’s skin over
-his shoulders.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well,” says the swineherd, “and did you kill the dragon?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes,” says Bearskin, “I did that, but it was no such great thing to
-do after all.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At that, the swineherd laughed and laughed, for he did not believe a
-word of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now listen to what happened to the princess after Bearskin had
-left her. The steward came sneaking up to see how matters had turned
-out, and there he found her safe and sound, and the dragon dead.
-“Whoever did this left his luck behind him,” said he, and he drew his
-sword and told the princess that he would kill her if she did not swear
-to say nothing of what had happened. Then he gathered up the
-dragon’s three heads, and he and the princess went back to the castle
-again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There!” said he, when they had come before the king, and he flung
-down the three heads upon the floor, “I have killed the dragon and I have
-brought back the princess, and now if anything is to be had for the labor I
-would like to have it.” As for the princess, she wept and wept, but she
-could say nothing, and so it was fixed that she was to marry the steward,
-for that was what the king had promised.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At last came the wedding-day, and the smoke went up from the chimneys
-in clouds, for there was to be a grand wedding-feast, and there was no
-end of good things cooking for those who were to come.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See now,” says Bearskin to the swineherd where they were feeding
-their pigs together, out in the woods, “as I killed the dragon over yonder,
-I ought at least to have some of the good things from the king’s kitchen;
-you shall go and ask for some of the fine white bread and meat, such as the
-king and princess are to eat to-day.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>
-<img src='images/i_009.jpg' alt='Bearskin slayeth ye Dragon but will not go with ye Princess to ye castle.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>Dear, dear, but you should have seen how the swineherd stared at this
-and how he laughed, for he thought the other must have gone out of his
-wits; but as for going to the castle—no, he would not go a step, and that
-was the long and the short of it.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_010.jpg' alt='Thus the Princess sits and weeps and weeps.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So! well, we will see about that,” says Bearskin, and he stepped to a
-thicket and cut a good stout stick, and without another word caught the
-swineherd by the collar, and began dusting his jacket for him until it
-smoked again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Stop, stop!” bawled the swineherd.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” says Bearskin; “and now will you go over to the castle for
-me, and ask for some of the same bread and meat that the king and
-princess are to have for their dinner?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>Yes, yes; the swineherd would do anything that Bearskin wanted him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So! good,” says Bearskin; “then just take this ring and see that the
-princess gets it; and say that the lad who sent it would like to have some
-of the bread and meat that she is to have for her dinner.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the swineherd took the ring, and off he started to do as he had been
-told. Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door. Well, and what did he
-want?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh! there was a lad over in the woods yonder who had sent him to
-ask for some of the same bread and meat that the king and princess were
-to have for their dinner, and he had brought this ring to the princess as a
-token.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But how the princess opened her eyes when she saw the ring which she
-had given to Bearskin up on the hill! For she saw, as plain as the nose on
-her face, that he who had saved her from the dragon was not so far away as
-she had thought. Down she went into the kitchen herself to see that the
-very best bread and meat were sent, and the swineherd marched off with a
-great basket full.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says Bearskin, “that is very well so far, but I am for having
-some of the red and white wine that they are to drink. Just take this
-kerchief over to the castle yonder, and let the princess know that the lad
-to whom she gave it upon the hill back of the town would like to have a
-taste of the wine that she and the king are to have at the feast to-day.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the swineherd was for saying “no” to this as he had to the other,
-but Bearskin just reached his hand over toward the stout stick that he had
-used before, and the other started off as though the ground was hot under
-his feet. And what was the swineherd wanting this time—that was what
-they said over at the castle.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“The lad with the pigs in the woods yonder,” says the swineherd,
-“must have gone crazy, for he has sent this kerchief to the princess and
-says that he should like to have a bottle or two of the wine that she and
-the king are to drink to-day.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the princess saw her kerchief again, her heart leaped for joy. She
-made no two words about the wine, but went down into the cellar and
-brought it up with her own hands, and the swineherd marched off with it
-tucked under his coat.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, that was all very well,” said Bearskin, “I am satisfied so far as the
-wine is concerned, but now I would like to have some of the sweetmeats
-that they are to eat at the castle to-day. See, here is a necklace of golden
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>beads; just take it to the princess and ask for some of those sweetmeats,
-for I will have them,” and this time he had only to look towards the stick,
-and the other started off as fast as he could travel.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_012.jpg' alt='Bearskin and ye swineherd have a grand feast.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>The swineherd had no more trouble with this asking than with the
-others, for the princess went down-stairs and brought the sweetmeats from
-the pantry with her own hands, and the swineherd carried them to Bearskin
-where he sat out in the woods with the pigs.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Bearskin spread out the good things, and he and the swineherd sat
-down to the feast together, and a fine one it was, I can tell you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>“And now,” says Bearskin, when they had eaten all that they could, “it
-is time for me to leave you, for I must go and marry the princess.” So off
-he started, and the swineherd did nothing but stand and gape after him,
-with his mouth open, as though he were set to catch flies. But Bearskin
-went straight to the woods, and there he blew upon his horn, and the bear
-was with him as quickly this time as the last.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well, what do you want now,” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“This time,” said Bearskin, “I want a fine suit of clothes made of gold and silver
-cloth, and a horse to ride on up to the king’s house, for I am
-going to marry the princess.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Very well; there was what he wanted back of the tree yonder; and it
-was a suit of clothes fit for a great king to wear, and a splendid dapple-gray
-horse with a golden saddle and bridle studded all over with precious stones.
-So Bearskin put on the clothes and rode away, and a fine sight he was to
-see, I can tell you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And how the folks stared when he rode up to the king’s castle. Out
-came the king along with the rest, for he thought that Bearskin was some
-great lord. But the princess knew him the moment she set eyes upon him,
-for she was not likely to forget him so soon as all that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The king brought Bearskin into where they were feasting, and had a
-place set for him alongside of himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The steward was there along with the rest. “See,” said Bearskin to
-him, “I have a question to put. One killed a dragon and saved a princess,
-but another came and swore falsely that he did it. Now, what should be
-done to such a one?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why this,” said the steward, speaking up as bold as brass, for he
-thought to face the matter down, “he should be put in a cask stuck all
-round with nails, and dragged behind three wild horses.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” said Bearskin, “you have spoken for yourself. For I killed
-the dragon up on the hill behind the town, and you stole the glory of the
-doing.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is not so,” said the steward, “for it was I who brought home the
-three heads of the dragon in my own hand, and how can that be with the
-rest?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Bearskin stepped to the wall, where hung the three heads of the
-dragon. He opened the mouth of each. “And where are the tongues?”
-said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the steward grew as pale as death, nevertheless he still spoke up
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>as boldly as ever: “Dragons have no tongues,” said he. But Bearskin only
-laughed; he untied his handkerchief before them all, and there were the
-three tongues. He put one in each mouth, and they fitted exactly, and
-after that no one could doubt that he was the hero who had really killed
-the dragon. So when the wedding came it was Bearskin, and not the
-steward, who married the princess; what was done to him you may guess
-for yourselves.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And so they had a grand wedding, but in the very midst of the feast
-one came running in and said there was a great brown bear without, who
-would come in, willy-nilly. Yes, and you have guessed it right, it was the
-great she-bear, and if nobody else was made much of at that wedding you
-can depend upon it that she was.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the king, he was satisfied that the princess had married a great
-hero. So she had, only he was the miller’s son after all, though the king
-knew no more of that than my grandfather’s little dog, and no more did
-anybody but the wise man for the matter of that, and he said nothing of it,
-for wise folk don’t tell all they know.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_014.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_015.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Two O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Black Cock</i> crowed;</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Moon</i> was bright;</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Red Cock</i> answered</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Through the night. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>●<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'><i>Big Gretchen</i>, sleeping,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Turned in bed,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And tossed her arms</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Above her head. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☽<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The old <i>Hound</i> stretched.</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And, breathing deep,</div>
-      <div class='line'>He settled down</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Again to sleep. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>○<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id003'>
-<img src='images/i_017.jpg' alt='The Water of Life.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>II.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_017.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-Once upon a time there was an old king who had a
-faithful servant. There was nobody in the whole
-world like him, and this was why: around his wrist
-he wore an armlet that fitted as close as the skin.
-There were words on the golden band; on one side
-they said:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“WHO THINKS TO WEAR ME ON HIS ARM</div>
-      <div class='line'>MUST LACK BOTH GUILE AND THOUGHT OF HARM.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>And on the other side they said:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“I AM FOR ONLY ONE AND HE</div>
-      <div class='line'>SHALL BE AS STRONG AS TEN CAN BE.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>At last the old king felt that his end was near, and he called the faithful
-servant to him and besought him to serve and aid the young king who
-was to come as he had served and aided the old king who was to go. The
-faithful servant promised that which was asked, and then the old king
-closed his eyes and folded his hands and went the way that those had
-travelled who had gone before him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, one day a stranger came to that town from over the hills and far
-away. With him he brought a painted picture, but it was all covered with
-a curtain so that nobody could see what it was.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He drew aside the curtain and showed the picture to the young king,
-and it was a likeness of the most beautiful princess in the whole world; for
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>her eyes were as black as a crow’s wing, her cheeks were as red as apples,
-and her skin as white as snow. Moreover, the picture was so natural that
-it seemed as though it had nothing to do but to open its lips and speak.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The young king just sat and looked and looked. “Oh me!” said he, “I
-will never rest content until I have such a one as that for my own.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then listen!” said the stranger, “this is a likeness of the princess that
-lives over beyond the three rivers. A while ago she had a wise bird on
-which she doted, for it knew everything that happened in the world, so
-that it could tell the princess whatever she wanted to know. But now
-the bird is dead, and the princess does nothing but grieve for it day and
-night. She keeps the dead bird in a glass casket, and has promised to
-marry whoever will bring a cup of water from the Fountain of Life, so
-that the bird may be brought back to life again.” That was the story the
-stranger told, and then he jogged on the way he was going, and I, for one,
-do not know whither it led.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the young king had no peace or comfort in life for thinking of the
-princess who lived over beyond the three rivers. At last he called the
-faithful servant to him. “And can you not,” said he, “get me a cup of
-the Water of Life?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I know not, but I will try,” said the faithful servant, for he bore in
-mind what he had promised to the old king.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So out he went into the wide world, to seek for what the young king
-wanted, though the way there is both rough and thorny. On he went and
-on, until his shoes were dusty, and his feet were sore, and after a while he
-came to the end of the earth, and there was nothing more over the hill.
-There he found a little tumbled-down hut, and within the hut sat an old,
-old woman with a distaff, spinning a lump of flax.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Good-morning, mother,” said the faithful servant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Good-morning, son,” says the old woman, “and where are you travelling
-that you have come so far?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh!” says the faithful servant, “I am hunting for the Water of Life,
-and have come as far as this without finding a drop of it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hoity, toity,” says the old woman, “if that is what you are after, you
-have a long way to go yet. The fountain is in the country that lies east of
-the Sun and west of the Moon, and it is few that have gone there and come
-back again, I can tell you. Besides that there is a great dragon that keeps
-watch over the water, and you will have to get the better of him before you
-can touch a drop of it. All the same, if you have made up your mind to
-go you may stay here until my sons come home, and perhaps they can put
-you in the way of getting there, for I am the Mother of the Four Winds of
-Heaven, and it is few places that they have not seen.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>
-<img src='images/i_019.jpg' alt='The young king looks upon ye beautiful picture which the stranger showeth him.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>So the faithful servant came in and sat down by the fire to wait till the
-Winds came home.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The first that came was the East Wind; but he knew nothing of the
-Water of Life and the land that lay east of the Sun and west of the Moon;
-he had heard folks talk of them both now and then, but he had never seen
-them with his own eyes.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next that came was the South Wind, but he knew no more of it
-than his brother, and neither did the West Wind for the matter of that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Last of all came the North Wind, and dear, dear, what a hubbub he
-made outside of the door, stamping the dust off of his feet before he came
-into the house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And do you know where the Fountain of Life is, and the country that
-lies east of the Sun and west of the Moon?” said the old woman.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes, the North Wind knew where it was. He had been there once
-upon a time, but it was a long, long distance away.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So; good! then perhaps you will give this lad a lift over there to-morrow,”
-said the old woman.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the North Wind grumbled and shook his head; but at last he
-said “yes,” for he is a good-hearted fellow at bottom, is the North Wind,
-though his ways are a trifle rough perhaps.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the next morning he took the faithful servant on his back, and away
-he flew till the man’s hair whistled behind him. On they went and on they
-went and on they went, until at last they came to the country that lay east
-of the Sun and west of the Moon; and they were none too soon getting
-there either, I can tell you, for when the North Wind tumbled the faithful
-servant off his back he was so weak that he could not have lifted a feather.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Thank you,” said the faithful servant, and then he was for starting
-away to find what he came for.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Stop a bit,” says the North Wind, “you will be wanting to come away
-again after a while. I cannot wait here, for I have other business to look
-after. But here is a feather; when you want me, cast it into the air, and I
-will not be long in coming.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then away he bustled, for he had caught his breath again, and time was
-none too long for him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The faithful servant walked along a great distance until, by and by, he
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>came to a field covered all over with sharp rocks and white bones, for he
-was not the first by many who had been that way for a cup of the Water
-of Life.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_021.jpg' alt='The North Wind flies with ye Faithful Servant.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>There lay the great fiery dragon in the sun, sound asleep, and so the
-faithful servant had time to look about him. Not far away was a great
-deep trench like a drain in a swampy field; that was a path that the dragon
-had made by going to the river for a drink of water every day. The
-faithful servant dug a hole in the bottom of this trench, and there he hid
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>himself as snugly as a cricket in the crack in the kitchen floor. By and by
-the dragon awoke and found that he was thirsty, and then started down to
-the river to get a drink. The faithful servant lay as still as a mouse until
-the dragon was just above where he was hidden; then he thrust his sword
-through its heart, and there it lay, after a turn or two, as dead as a stone.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that he had only to fill the cup at the fountain, for there was
-nobody to say nay to him. Then he cast the feather into the air, and there
-was the North Wind, as fresh and as sound as ever. The North Wind
-took him upon its back, and away it flew until it came home again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The faithful servant thanked them all around—the Four Winds and
-the old woman—and as they would take nothing else, he gave them a few
-drops of the Water of Life, and that is the reason that the Four Winds
-and their mother are as fresh and young now as they were when the world
-began.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the faithful servant set off home again, right foot foremost, and
-he was not as long in getting there as in coming.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As soon as the king saw the cup of the Water of Life he had the horses
-saddled, and off he and the faithful servant rode to find the princess who
-lived over beyond the three rivers. By and by they came to the town, and
-there was the princess mourning and grieving over her bird just as she had
-done from the first. But when she heard that the king had brought the
-Water of Life she welcomed him as though he were a flower in March.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>They sprinkled a few drops upon the dead bird, and up it sprang as
-lively and as well as ever.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But now, before the princess would marry the king she must have a
-talk with the bird, and there came the hitch, for the Wise Bird knew as well
-as you and I that it was not the king who had brought the Water of Life.
-“Go and tell him,” said the Wise Bird, “that you are ready to marry him
-as soon as he saddles and bridles the Wild Black Horse in the forest over
-yonder, for if he is the hero who found the Water of Life he can do that and
-more easily enough.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess did as the bird told her, and so the king missed getting
-what he wanted after all. But off he went to the faithful servant. “And
-can you not saddle and bridle the Wild Black Horse for me?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I do not know,” said the faithful servant, “but I will try.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off he went to the forest to hunt up the Wild Black Horse, the
-saddle over his shoulder and the bridle over his arm. By and by came the
-Wild Black Horse galloping through the woods like a thunder gust in
-summer, so that the ground shook under his feet. But the faithful servant
-was ready for him; he caught him by the mane and forelock, and the Wild
-Black Horse had never had such a one to catch hold of him before.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>
-<img src='images/i_023.jpg' alt='The young King bringeth ye cup of water of life to the beautiful Queen.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>But how they did stamp and wrestle: Up and down and here and
-there, until the fire flew from the stones under their feet. But the Wild
-Black Horse could not stand against the strength of ten men, such as the
-faithful servant had, so by and by he fell on his knees, and the faithful
-servant clapped the saddle on his back and slipped the bridle over his ears.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Listen now,” says he; “to-morrow my master, the king, will ride you
-up to the princess’s house, and if you do not do just as I tell you, it will
-be the worse for you; when the king mounts upon your back you must
-stagger and groan, as though you carried a mountain.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The horse promised to do as the other bade, and then the faithful
-servant jumped on his back and away to the king, who had been waiting
-at home for all this time.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next day the king rode up to the princess’s castle, and the Wild
-Black Horse did just as the faithful servant told him to do; he staggered
-and groaned, so that everybody cried out, “Look at the great hero riding
-upon the Wild Black Horse!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And when the princess saw him she also thought that he was a great
-hero. But the Wise Bird was of a different mind from her, for when the
-princess came to talk to him about marrying the king he shook his head.
-“No, no,” said he, “there is something wrong here, and the king has baked
-his cake in somebody else’s oven. He never saddled and bridled the Wild
-Black Horse by himself. Listen, you must say to him that you will marry
-nobody but the man who wears such and such a golden armlet with this
-and that written on it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the princess told the king what the Wise Bird had bidden her to
-say, and the king went straightway to the faithful servant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You must let me have your armlet,” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Alas, master,” said the faithful servant, “that is a woful thing for me,
-for the one and only way to take the armlet off of my wrist is to cut my
-hand from off my body.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So!” says the king, “that is a great pity, but the princess will not
-have me without the armlet.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then you shall have it,” says the faithful servant; but the king had
-to cut the hand off, for the faithful servant could not do it himself.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>
-<img src='images/i_025.jpg' alt='The Faithful Servant gives ye young Kind ye golden bracelet from his wrist as the other desires. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>But, bless your heart! the armlet was ever so much too large for the
-king to wear! Nevertheless he tied it to his wrist with a bit of ribbon, and
-off he marched to the princess’s castle.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Here is the armlet of gold,” said he, “and now will you marry me!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Wise Bird sat on the princess’s chair. “Hut! tut!” says he, “it
-does not fit the man.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, that was so; everybody who was there could see it easily enough;
-and as for marrying him, the princess would marry nobody but the man
-who could wear the armlet.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>What a hubbub there was then! Every one who was there was sure
-that the armlet would fit him if it fitted nobody else. But no; it was far
-too large for the best of them. The faithful servant was very sad, and
-stood back of the rest, over by the wall, with his arm tied up in a napkin.
-“You shall try it too,” says the princess; but the faithful servant only
-shook his head, for he could not try it on as the rest had done, because he
-had no hand. But the Wise Bird was there and knew what he was about;
-“See now,” says he, “maybe the Water of Life will cure one thing as well
-as another.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, that was true, and one was sent to fetch the cup. They sprinkled
-it on the faithful servant’s arm, and it was not twice they had to do it, for
-there was another hand as good and better than the old.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then they gave him the armlet; he slipped it over his hand, and it fitted
-him like his own skin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“This is the man for me,” says the princess, “and I will have none
-other;” for she could see with half an eye that he was the hero who had
-been doing all the wonderful things that had happened, because he said
-nothing about himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the king—why, all that was left for him to do was to pack off
-home again; and I, for one, am glad of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And this is true; the best packages are not always wrapped up in blue
-paper and tied with a gay string, and there are better men in the world than
-kings and princes, fine as they seem to be.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_026.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_027.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Three O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Rooms</i> were cold, the <i>Hearth</i> was grey:</div>
-      <div class='line'>Asleep in the ashes the <i>Kobold</i> lay.</div>
-      <div class='line in6'>The <i>Board-Floor</i> creaked, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>○<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in6'>The <i>Grey-Mouse</i> squeaked,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And the <i>Kobold</i> dreamed its ear he tweaked.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>He wrinkled up</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>His <i>Forehead</i> and <i>Nose</i>, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>K☊P; ☾♈︎, des.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>And smiled in his sleep,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And curled his <i>Toes</i>. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☾<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_029.jpg' alt='How One turned his Trouble to some account.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>III.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_029.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There was a soldier marching along the road—left,
-right! left, right! He had been to the wars
-for five years, so that he was very brave, and
-now he was coming home again. In his knapsack
-were two farthings, and that was everything
-that he had in the world. All the same, he had a
-rich brother at home, and that was something to
-say.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So on he tramped until he had come to his rich brother’s house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Good-day, brother,” said he, “and how does the old world treat you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the rich brother screwed up his face and rubbed his nose, for he
-was none too glad to see the other. “What!” said he, “and is the Pewter
-Penny back again?” That was the way that he welcomed the other to his
-house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Tut! tut!” says the brave soldier; “and is not this a pretty way to
-welcome a brother home to be sure! All that I want is just a crust of bread
-and a chance to rest the soles of my feet back of the stove a little while.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, well! if that was all that he wanted, he might have his supper and a
-bed for the night, but he must not ask for any more, and he must jog on in
-the morning and never come that way again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, as no more broth was to be had from that dish, the soldier said
-that he would be satisfied with what he could get; so into the house he
-came.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Over by the fire was a bench, and on the bench was a basket, and in the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>basket were seven young ducks that waited where it was warm until the rest
-were hatched. The soldier saw nothing of these; down he sat, and the little
-young ducks said “peep!” and died all at once. Up jumped the soldier
-and over went the beer mug that sat by the fire so that the beer ran all
-around and put out the blaze.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the rich brother fell into a mighty rage. “See!” said he, “you
-never go anywhere but you bring Trouble with you. Out of the house before
-I make this broom rattle about your ears!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And so the brave soldier had to go out under the blessed sky again.
-“Well! well!” said he, “the cream is all sour over yonder for sure and certain!
-All the same it will better nothing to be in the dumps, so we’ll just
-sing a bit of a song to keep our spirits up.” So the soldier began to sing,
-and by and by he heard that somebody was singing along with him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Halloa, comrade!” said he, “who is there?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh!” said a voice beside him, “it is only Trouble.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what are you doing there, Trouble?” said the soldier.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh! Trouble was only jogging along with him. They had been friends
-and comrades for this many a bright day, for when had the soldier ever
-gone anywhere that Trouble had not gone along with him?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The brave soldier scratched his head. “Yes, yes,” says he; “that is all
-very fine; but there must be an end of the business. See! yonder is one
-road and here is another; you may go that road and I will go this, for I
-want no Trouble for a comrade.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, no!” says Trouble, “I will never leave you now; you and I have
-been comrades too long for that!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Very well! the soldier would see about that. They should go to the
-king, for things had come to a pretty pass if one could not choose one’s
-own comrades in this broad world, but must, willy-nilly, have Trouble always
-jogging at one’s heels.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off they went—the soldier and Trouble—and by and by they came
-to the great town and there they found the king.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well, and what is the trouble now?” said the king.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Trouble indeed! Why, it was thus and so, here was that same Trouble
-tramping around at the soldier’s heels and would go wherever he went.
-Now, the soldier would like to know whether one had no right to choose
-one’s own comrades—that was the business that had brought him to the
-king!</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>
-<img src='images/i_031.jpg' alt='The Brave Soldier bringeth his Trouble to ye town along with him.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>Well, the king thought and thought and puzzled and puzzled, but that
-nut was too hard for him to crack, so he sent off for all of his wise councillors
-to see what they had to say about the matter.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So, when they had all come together the king told them that things
-were thus and so, and thus and so, and now he would like to know what
-they all thought about it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the wise councillors began to talk and talk, and one said one thing
-and another another. After a while they fell to arguing with loud voices,
-and then they grew angry and began talking all at once, and last of all they
-came to fisticuffs. Then you should have heard what a racket they made!
-for they buffeted and cuffed one another until the hair flew as thick as dust
-in the mill.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was the kind of prank that Trouble played them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now the king had a daughter, and the princess was as pretty a lass as
-one could find were he to hunt for seven summer days. When she heard
-all the hubbub she came to see what it was about, for that is the way with
-all of us, and of women folk more than any. And the king told her all
-about it; how the soldier had come to that town to get rid of Trouble,
-and how he had done nothing but bring it with him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Perhaps,” said she, “Trouble might leave him if he were married.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the king fell into a mighty fume, for no man likes to have a
-woman tell him to do thus and so when things are in a pickle. He should
-like to know what the princess meant by coming and pouring her broth
-into their pot! If that was her notion she might help the soldier herself.
-Married he should be, and <i>she</i> should be his wife—that was what the king
-said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the soldier and the princess were married, and then the king had
-them both put into a great chest and thrown into the sea—but there was
-room in the chest for Trouble, and he went along with them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, they floated on and on and on for a great long time, until, at last,
-the chest came ashore at a place where three giants lived.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The three giants were sitting on the shore fishing. “See, brothers,”
-said the first one of them, “yonder is a great chest washed up on the shore.”
-So they went over to where it was, and then the second giant took it on
-his shoulder and carried it home. After that they all three sat down to
-supper.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Just then the soldier’s nose began to itch and tickle, so that, for the life
-of him, he could not help sneezing.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“At-tchew!”—and there it was.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>
-<img src='images/i_033.jpg' alt='Here† the Brave Soldier brings his trouble before the king to find if it shall follow him wherever he goes.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>“Hark, brothers!” said the third giant, “yonder is somebody in the
-chest!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the three giants came and opened the chest, and there were the
-soldier and the princess. Trouble was there too, but the giants saw
-nothing of him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>They bound the soldier with strong cords so that they might have him
-to eat for breakfast in the morning.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now what was to be done with the princess?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, brothers,” said the first giant, “I am thinking that a wife will
-about fit my needs. This lass will do as well as any, and, as I found her, I
-will just keep her.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut! how you talk!” said the second giant, “do you think that
-nobody is to marry in the wide world but you? Who was it brought
-the lass to the house I should like to know! No; I will marry her
-myself.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Stop!” said the third giant. “You are both going too fast on that
-road. I thought of a wife long before either of you. Who was it found
-that the lass was in the house, I should like to know!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And so they talked and talked until they fell to quarrelling, and then to
-blows. Over they rolled, cuffing and slapping, until each one killed the
-other two, so that they all lay as dead as fishes. And that was an end of
-them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, now,” said Trouble to the soldier, “who can say that I have done
-nothing for you? I tell you, comrade, that I am a good friend of yours, and
-love you as though you were my born brother. Listen! over yonder in the
-field is a great stone under which the giants have hidden stacks and stacks
-of money. Go and borrow a cart and two horses, and I will go with you
-and show you where it is.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, you may guess that that was a song that pleased the soldier. Off
-he went and borrowed a cart and two horses. Then he and Trouble went
-into the field together, and Trouble showed him where the stone was where
-the treasure lay.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The soldier rolled the stone over, and there, sure enough, lay bags and
-bags, all full of gold and silver money.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Down he went into the pit and began bringing up the money and
-loading it into the cart. After a while he had brought it all but one
-bag full.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, Trouble,” said he, “my back is nearly broken with carrying the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>money. There is still one bag down there yet; go down like a good lad
-and bring it up for me.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_035.jpg' alt='The three Giants fight one another like fury.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes! Trouble would do that much for the soldier, for had they not
-been comrades for many and one bright, blessed days? Down he went into
-the pit, and then you may believe that the soldier was not long in rolling
-the stone into its place. So there was Trouble as tight as a fly in a bottle.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the soldier went back home again with great contentment—as
-I would have done had I ridden home upon a cart full of gold and silver,
-all of which belonged to me. He had left one bag of money, but then it
-was worth that much to be rid of Trouble.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the soldier built a ship and loaded it with the money. Then
-he and the princess sailed away to the king’s house, for they thought that
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>maybe the king would like them better now that Trouble had left them
-and money had come.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the king saw what a great boatload of gold and silver the soldier
-had brought home with him he was as pleased as pleased could be. He
-could not make enough of the brave soldier; he called him son, and
-walked about the streets with him arm in arm, so that the folks might see
-how fond he was of his son-in-law. Besides that he gave him half of the
-kingdom to rule over, so that the soldier and the princess lived together as
-snugly as a couple of mice in the barn when threshing is going on.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, one day a neighbor came to the rich brother and said, “Dear!
-dear! but the world is easy with your brother, the soldier!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the rich brother pricked up his ears. “How is that?” said he—“my
-brother, the soldier? How comes the world to be easy with him, I
-should like to know?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, the neighbor could not tell him that; all that he knew was that the
-soldier was living over yonder with a princess for his wife, and more gold
-and silver money than a body could count in a week.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, well, this would never do! The rich brother must pick up acquaintance
-with the soldier again, now that he was rising in the world. So
-he put on his blue Sunday coat and his best hat, and away he went to the
-soldier’s house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the soldier was a good-natured fellow, and bore grudges against
-nobody, so he shook hands with his brother, and they sat down together
-by the stove. Then the rich brother wanted to know all about everything—how
-came it that the other was so well off in the world?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, there was no secret about that; it happened thus and so. And
-then the soldier told all about it. After that the other went home, but
-there was a great buzzing in his head, I can tell you!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Now,” says he to himself, “I will go over yonder to the giants’ house,
-and will let Trouble out from under the stone. Then he will come here to
-my brother and will turn things topsy-turvy, and I will get the bag of
-money that was left there.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So, off he went until he came to the place where Trouble lay under the
-stone. He rolled the stone over, and—whisk! clip!—out popped Trouble
-from the hole. “And so you were leaving me here to be starved, were
-you?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, dear friend Trouble! it was not I, it was my brother, the soldier!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, well, that was all one to Trouble; now that he was out he would
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>stay with the man who let him out, and there was an end of it. “So bring
-along the bag of gold,” says he, “for it is high time that we were going
-home.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_037.jpg' alt='The rich man takes home money and trouble.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the rich brother took the bag of gold over his shoulder, and the two
-went home together; and if anybody was down in the mouth, it was the
-rich brother.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now everything went wrong with him, for Trouble dogged his heels
-wherever he went. At last his patience could hold out no longer, and he
-began to cudgel his brains to find some way to get rid of the other. So
-one day he says,</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come, Trouble, we will go out into the forest this morning and cut
-some wood.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, that suited Trouble as well as anything else, so off they went together,
-arm in arm. By and by they came to the forest, and there the man
-cut down a great tree. Then he split open the stump, and drove a wedge
-into it. So it came dinner-time, and then Trouble and he ate together.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>“See now, Trouble,” said the man, “they tell me that you can go anywhere
-in all of the world.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said Trouble, “that is so.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And could you go into that tree that I have split yonder?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes; Trouble could do that well enough.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>If that was so the man would like to see him do it, that he would.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, Trouble would do that and more, too, for a friend’s asking. So he
-made himself small and smaller, and so crept into the cleft in the log as
-easily as though he had been a mouse. But, no sooner was he snugly there
-than the man seized his axe and knocked out the wedge, and there was
-Trouble as safe as safe could be. He might beg and beg, but no, the man
-was deaf in that ear. He shouldered his axe and off he went, leaving
-Trouble where he was.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear me! that was a long time ago; or else some busybody must have
-let Trouble out of that log, for I know very well that he is stumping about
-the world nowadays.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_038.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_039.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Four O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Air</i> grew chill, the <i>Sky</i> was grey;  <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>K☊P. ♊︎ des.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>●<span class='hidev'>|</span></span> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span> ☽<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Black Cock</i> crowed, and far away</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Another answered. In a dream</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Kobold</i> drank thick clotted <i>Cream</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And chased <i>Roast-Goose</i>. He woke and sighed,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And turned upon his other side.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_041.jpg' alt='How three went out into the Wide World. HP:—' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>IV.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_041.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There was a woman who owned a fine grey goose.
-“To-morrow,” said she, “I will pluck the goose for
-live feathers, so that I may take them to market and
-sell them for good hard money.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>This the goose heard, and liked it not. “Why
-should I grow live feathers for other folks to pluck?”
-said she to herself. So off she went into the wide
-world with nothing upon her back but what belonged
-to her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by she came up with a sausage.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Whither away, friend?” said the Grey Goose.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Out into the wide world,” said the Sausage.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why do you travel that road?” said the Grey Goose.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why should I stay at home?” said the Sausage. “They stuff me with
-good meat and barley-meal over yonder, but they only do it for other folk’s
-feasting. That is the way with the world.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, that is true,” said the Grey Goose; “and I too am going out into
-the world, for why should I grow live feathers for other folk’s plucking?
-So let us travel together, as we are both of a mind.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, that suited the Sausage well enough, so off they went, arm in arm.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by they came up with a cock.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Whither away, friend?” said the Grey Goose and the Sausage.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>“Out into the wide world,” said the Cock.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why do you travel that road?” said the Grey Goose and the Sausage.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why should I stay at home?” said the Cock. “Every day they feed
-me with barley-corn, but it is only that I may split my throat in the mornings,
-calling the lads to the fields and the maids to the milking. That is
-the way with the world.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, that is true,” said the Grey Goose; “why should I grow live
-feathers for other folk’s picking?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And—</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, that is true,” said the Sausage, “why should I be stuffed with
-meat and barley-meal for other folk’s feasting?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the three being all of a mind, they settled to travel the same road
-together.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, they went on and on and on, until, at last, they came to a deep
-forest, and, by and by, whom should they meet but a great red fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Whither away, friends?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, we are going out into the wide world,” said the Grey Goose, the
-Sausage, and the Cock.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And why do you travel that road?” said the Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, there was nothing but tangled yarn at home: the Grey Goose grew
-live feathers for other folk’s picking, the Sausage was stuffed for other folk’s
-feasting, and the Cock crowed in the morn for other folk’s waking. That
-was the way of the world over yonder, and so they had left it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said the Fox, “that is true; so come with me into the deep
-forest, for there every one can live for himself! and nobody else.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So they all went into the forest together, for the Fox’s words pleased
-them very much.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And now,” said the Fox to the Grey Goose, “you shall be my wife,”
-for he had never had a sweetheart before, and even a Grey Goose is better
-than none.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what is to become of us?” said the Sausage and the Cock.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You and I shall be dear friends,” said the Great Red Fox. Thereat
-the Cock and the Sausage were content, for it took but little to satisfy
-them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, everything was just as the Great Red Fox had said it should be:
-the Goose kept her own feathers, the Sausage was stuffed for its own good,
-the Cock crowed for its own ears, and everything was as smooth as rich
-cream. Moreover, the Great Red Fox and the Grey Goose were husband
-and wife, and the Great Red Fox and the Sausage and the Cock were dear
-friends.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>
-<img src='images/i_043.jpg' alt='The Grey Goose goes out into the wide world, where she and a discontented Sausage meet the Cock and the Fox.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>One morning says the Great Red Fox to the Grey Goose, “Neighbor
-Cock makes a mighty hubbub with his crowing!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, that is so,” said the Grey Goose; for she always sang the same
-tune as the Great Red Fox, as a good wife should.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then,” said the Great Red Fox, “I will go over and have a talk with
-him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off he packed, and by and by he came to Neighbor Cock’s house.
-Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door, and who should look out of the
-window but the Cock himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, Neighbor Cock,” said the Great Red Fox, “you make a mighty
-hubbub with that crowing of yours.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That may be so, and that may not be so,” said the Cock; “all the
-same, the hubbub is in my own house.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is good,” said the Great Red Fox, “but one should not trouble
-one’s neighbors, even in one’s own house; so, if it suits you, we will have
-no more crowing.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I was made for crowing, and crow I must,” said the Cock.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You must crow no more,” said the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I must crow,” said the Cock.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You must not crow,” said the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I must crow,” said the Cock. And that was the last of it for—snip!—off
-went its head, and it crowed no more. Nevertheless, he had the last
-word, and that was some comfort. After that the Great Red Fox ate up
-the Cock, body and bones, and then he went home again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Will Neighbor Cock crow again?” said the Grey Goose.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No; he will crow no more,” said the Fox; and that was true.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by came hungry times, with little or nothing in the house to eat.
-“Look!” said the Great Red Fox, “yonder is Neighbor Sausage, and he
-has plenty.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, that is true,” said the Grey Goose.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And one’s friend should help one when one is in need,” said the Great
-Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, that is true,” said the Grey Goose again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off went the Great Red Fox to Neighbor Sausage’s house. Rap!
-tap! tap! he knocked at the door, and it was the Sausage himself who came.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See,” said the Fox, “there are hungry times over at our house.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>
-<img src='images/i_045.jpg' alt='The Great Red Fox goes to call on neighbour Cock at his house because he will crow in the morn.  ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>
-<img src='images/i_046.jpg' alt='The Great Red Fox calls upon the Sausage.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I am sorry for that,” said the Sausage; “but hungry times will come
-to the best of us.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is so,” said the Great Red Fox, “but, all the same, you must help
-me through this crack. One would be in a bad pass without a friend to
-turn to.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But see,” said the Sausage, “all that I have is mine, and it is inside of
-me at that.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Nevertheless, I must have some of it,” said the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But you can’t have it,” said the Sausage.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But I must have it,” said the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But you can’t have it,” said the Sausage.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And so they talked and talked and talked, but the end came at last, for
-one cannot talk forever to an empty stomach. Snip! snap! and the
-Sausage was down the Great Red Fox’s throat, and there was an end of
-it. And now the Fox had all that his friend had to give him, and so he
-went back home again.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>
-<img src='images/i_047.jpg' alt='The Great Red Fox rests softly at home.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Did Neighbor Sausage give you anything?” said the Grey Goose.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes; he gave me all that he had with him,” said the Great Red
-Fox; and that also was very true.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the world went around for a while as easily as a greased
-wheel. But one day the Great Red Fox said to the Grey Goose: “See
-now, my bones grow sore by lying on the hard stones.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is a great pity,” said the Grey Goose; “and if the hard stones
-were only soft, I, for one, would be glad.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said the Great Red Fox, “that is good; but soft talking makes
-them none the easier to lie upon. Could you not spare me a few of your
-feathers?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“A few feathers indeed!” said the Grey Goose, “it was not for this that
-I left the ways of the world over yonder. If you must have feathers you
-must pluck them from your own back.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut!” said the Great Red Fox, “how you speak! A wife should do
-all that she can to make the world soft for her husband.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>Then you should have heard the Grey Goose talk and talk. But it was
-no use; when times are hard with one, one’s wife should help to feather the
-nest—that was what the Great Red Fox said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Snip! snap! crunch! cranch! and off went the Grey Goose’s head.
-After that the Fox ate her up, body and bones, and there was an end of
-her. Then he lay upon soft feathers and slept easily.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now this is true that I tell you: when a great red fox and a grey
-goose marry, and hard times come, one must make it soft for the other—mostly
-it is the grey goose who does that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Also I would have you listen to this: some folks say that it is not so,
-but <i>I</i> tell you that the ways of the world are the ways of the world, even in
-the deep forest.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_048.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_049.jpg' alt='K. P.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Five O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The sleepy <i>Maid</i> comes stumbling down</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Stairs</i>, while buttoning her <i>Gown</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And pokes the fire with a frown.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>Up in a rage the <i>Kobold</i> flies, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>○<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>And blows the <i>Ashes</i> in her eyes;</div>
-      <div class='line'>“<i>Plague on the Fire!</i>” poor <i>Gretchen</i> cries. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>Sol. below<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>       ·       ·       ·       ·       ·</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Goodman</i> turned about in <i>Bed</i>, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☾<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>And from the <i>Pillow</i> raised his <i>Head</i></div>
-      <div class='line'>“<i>Wife, Wife, its five o’clock!</i>” he said.</div>
-      <div class='line in36'>K.P.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_051.jpg' alt='The Clever Student and the Master of Black Arts ¶: HP:' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>V.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_051.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-The wood-chopper’s son was not content to follow in
-the steps of his father, and to do nothing better than
-make fagots all the days of his life. So off he went
-to the great school at the capital, and there he
-studied and studied until he became the cleverest
-student in all of the world. But of this his father
-thought nothing, for he had no care to know more
-than he could see in front of his nose.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I can speak sixteen languages,” said the Clever Student, “I am a master-hand
-at geometry and astronomy, and I know quite as much of black art
-as the Great Master himself.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But can you chop wood?” said the wood-chopper, “and can you bind
-the fagots?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No; the Clever Student knew nothing of that trade, but there were
-better eggs in Luck’s nest than wood-chopping. He knew enough of the
-black art to be able to change himself into a fine, dapple-gray nag whenever
-he chose, and by no more than the turning of a word or two. That he
-would do, and the old wood-chopper should take him to the town and sell
-him for fifty dollars.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But there is one thing you must remember,” said the Clever Student,
-“you must take the bridle from off my head when you sell me, for so long
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>as it is on me I must, willy-nilly, remain a horse. The Great Master of
-Black Arts would like nothing better than to catch me in such a trap as
-that, for his books tell him that he is to have bad luck through me, and he
-has been after me for this many a day.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The wood-chopper promised to remember all that the Clever Student
-told him, and then the other went around back of the house and changed
-himself into a fine, dapple-gray horse. The wood-chopper slipped a bridle
-over the nag’s nose and a leg over his back, and then off he rode towards
-the town.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>On and on they jogged till they came to where two roads crossed, and
-there stood one who looked no better than he should. This was the Great
-Master of Black Arts himself; but of that the wood-chopper knew nothing
-at all.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“How do you find yourself, friend?” said the Master of Black Arts to
-the wood-chopper; “that is a fine horse that you have there, to be sure. Is
-he for sale now?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said the wood-chopper, “the nag is for sale, and fifty dollars will
-buy him—only the bridle does not go along with the horse.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Good! The wood-chopper might keep the bridle and welcome; but
-palm to palm for a true sale, and here was the money.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So they shook hands, and then the Master of Black Arts counted out the
-money, and the wood-chopper pocketed it, and he had never rubbed his fingers
-over so much in all of his life before.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then, as quick as a wink, the Master of Black Arts drew a bridle out of
-his pocket. It was as thin as a wire and as light as silk, yet I tell you the
-truth when I say that if he had ever slipped it over the nose of the Clever
-Student it would have been an ill thing for him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Student had his eyes open, and his wits about him. No sooner
-had his father taken the bridle off of him than—whisk! pop!—he changed
-himself into a pigeon and away he flew till the wind whistled behind him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Master of Black Arts knew a trick as good as that, that he did.
-Whisk! pop!—and he became a hawk, and away he flew after the pigeon,
-and all that the wood-chopper could do was to stand and look after them—But
-he had the fifty dollars in his pocket, and that was something and more
-or less.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>On and on flew the two, and if the pigeon flew fast, why, the hawk flew
-faster.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>
-<img src='images/i_053.jpg' alt='A Princess walks beside ye water, into whose basket leaps ye ring.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>By and by they came to the shore of a great sea. And that was a good
-thing for the Clever Student, for, just as the hawk was about to grip him,
-he dropped to the water and became a little fish, and away he swam.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Master of Black Arts knew a trick as good as that. Down to
-the water he dropped and became a pike, and after the little fish he swam
-till the water boiled behind him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>On and on they swam, and if the little fish swam fast, why, the great pike
-swam faster. On and on they swam till they came to a place where a beautiful
-princess, as white and as red as milk and rose leaves, was walking along
-beside the shore gathering pretty shells into a little basket. And that was a
-good thing for the Clever Student, for just as the Master of Black Arts was
-about to catch him he changed himself into a ruby ring and jumped out of
-the sea and into the basket of the princess, and there he was safe and sound.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Presently the princess looked down into the basket, and there lay the
-ring. “What a pretty ring!” said she. “And how came it here?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>She slipped it upon her finger, and it fitted as though it had been made
-for nobody in the world but her. As for the Clever Student, he liked to be
-there, I can tell you, for he thought that he had never seen such a pretty
-lass.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, by and by the princess had gathered all of the shells that she
-wanted, and then she went back home again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When she had come there and to her own little room, all of a sudden a
-tall, good-looking young fellow stood before her. That was the Clever
-Student, who had changed himself back into his own true shape again. At
-first the princess was ever so frightened, but the Student talked to her so
-pleasantly that she began after a while to think that she had never seen
-such a nice, clever young fellow. So they passed the time very pleasantly
-together until evening drew near, and then the Student had to go.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Master of Black Arts was not at the end of his tricks yet.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And the Clever Student knew that as well as he knew anything.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, now,” said he to the princess, “the Master will be coming after
-me before long. When he comes he will ask for the ruby ring, and he must
-have it, but I have a trick in my head to meet that.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He cut off a lock of his hair and then pricked his arm till it bled. With
-the blood he wet the hair, and by his arts he made of it a ruby ring so like
-what he himself had been that even the princess herself could not have told
-the one from the other. After that he changed himself into a necklace of
-carbuncles, and the princess was just as fond of it as she had been of the
-ring.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>
-<img src='images/i_055.jpg' alt='The Clever Scholar remains a Ruby Ring no longer, having regained his own true shape.  ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>Sure enough, it happened just as the Clever Student had foretold. Before
-a great while the Master of Black Arts came along and on his arm he
-carried a basket. Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door of the king’s
-house. Down went one and asked him what he wanted.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh! he only wanted to see the king; he had something for him here
-in the basket. So he was shown up to where the king was, and then he
-opened the basket and in it was a little black hen.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Only a little black hen!” you say? Wait; you should hear all before
-you speak!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The Master of Black Arts stood the little black hen on the table.
-“Hickety-pickety!” said he, and before the king knew what to think of it
-the little black hen had laid an egg all of pure silver. And that hen was
-worth the having.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the king, bless me! but he was glad to have such a hen as that.
-If the master wanted anything that the king could give him, he had only to
-ask for it and it was as good as his.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So; good!” says the Black Master, “then there is a little ruby ring
-that the princess wears and that I have taken a fancy to; if I may have
-that it will be all that I ask for.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh! if that was all that he wanted he should have it and welcome, that
-was what the king said. So the pretty princess was sent for, and the king
-asked her if she would give the Master of Black Arts the ruby ring that she
-wore.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes!” says the princess, “he shall have that and welcome, for I
-have grown tired of it long ago.” So she gave it to him, and off he went
-on the same path that he had come.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As soon as he had reached home, he put the ring into a mortar and
-ground it up until it was as fine as flour in the mill.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There!” said he to himself, “that is an end of the Clever Student at
-any rate.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that he went back to his books again and began to read them,
-and then he soon found how he had been tricked by the Clever Student.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess and the Clever Student were sitting together. “See, now,”
-said the Student, “the Master of Black Arts will be coming this way again
-in a little while. He will be wanting the necklace of carbuncles, and you
-will have to let him have it. But I have a trick for his trick yet, so that
-perhaps we will get the better of him in the end.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>
-<img src='images/i_057.jpg' alt='The Master of Black Arts bringeth a curious little Black Hen to the King. ¶⁋' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>So the Clever Student did as he had done before; he pricked his arm
-till it bled, and with the blood he wet a lock of his hair. Then by his arts
-he changed the lock of hair into just such a necklace of carbuncles as he
-himself had been. After that he changed himself into a pearl ear-drop, and
-the princess hung him in her ear, and there he dangled.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Sure enough; by and by came along the Master of Black Arts with
-another basket. And you may believe that they did not let him cool his
-toes by long standing outside the door. He opened his basket, and in it
-was a white drake.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Only a white drake!” you say? Yes, yes; but just wait for a little!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The Master of Black Arts stood the drake on the table and said,
-“Spickety-lickety!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Quack! quack!” said the drake, and every time it said “quack” a gold
-piece dropped from its mouth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Hui! if the king was pleased with the little black hen, you can guess
-how glad he was to have such a drake as that! All that the Master of
-Black Arts had to do was to ask for what he wanted, and he might have it
-if the king had it to give.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Good!” says the Master of Black Arts; “then the princess has a necklace
-of carbuncles that I have taken a fancy to; if I may have that I will be
-satisfied.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the princess was sent for without waiting any longer, and would she
-let the Master have the necklace of carbuncles that she wore around her
-neck?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, indeed!” says the princess, “that I will! I have grown sick and
-tired of it long ago.” So she took it off of her neck and gave it to the
-Master of Black Arts, and off he went with it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When he came home he put the necklace into the mortar, just as he had
-done the ring, and ground it up and ground it up until it was as fine as the
-dust on the shelf. There! he thought, that is an end of the Clever Student
-at any rate.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then he went back to his books, and it was not long before he found
-that he had been tricked again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I can make no more changes,” said the Student, “for I am nearly
-at the end of my arts. The Black Master will be wanting your ear-drop
-when he comes, but, instead of giving it to him, throw it against the wall
-as hard as you can. After that we shall have to trust to good Mother
-Luck.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>It was not long before the Master of Black Arts came with his basket on
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>his arm, just as he had done twice before; he opened the basket, and there
-was a grey goose.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Only a grey goose!” you say? Wait a moment, and you shall see
-that it was not like any grey goose in our town!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The Master of Black Arts stood the grey goose on the table; “Flickety-whickety!”
-said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Cackle! cackle!” said the grey goose, and every time it said “cackle”
-a bright diamond dropped on the table.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the king saw that he rubbed his hands and rubbed his hands, and
-could not say enough of thanks to the Master of Black Arts. And what
-would the Master have now? He had only to ask and it was his.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh!” says the Master of Black Arts, “the princess has a pearl ear-drop
-that I have taken a liking to; if I may have that I will be quite satisfied.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the princess was sent for, and this time she was not so willing to let
-the Master have what he wanted. She wept and begged, and begged and
-wept; but it was all to no purpose; the Master of Black Arts wanted the
-pearl ear-drop, and the Master of Black Arts must have it—that was what
-the king said. So at last the princess took the pearl ear-drop out of her
-ear, but, instead of giving it to the Master, she threw it against the wall as
-hard as she was able, just as the Clever Student had told her to do.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And then what do you think happened? Why, the Student turned himself
-into a ripe melon, so that when it struck the wall it burst open and the
-seeds that were inside were scattered all over the floor.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Master of Black Arts knew a trick as good as that. He
-changed himself into a great red cock, and began pecking away at the
-seeds, gobbling them up as fast as he could. By and by he looked around,
-and not another seed could he see, whereupon he hopped up on a chair and,
-shutting his eyes and flapping his wings, he crowed “cock-a-doodle-do!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But listen! One melon-seed had rolled into a crack in the floor, and
-the cock had not seen it. That was a bad thing for him, for while his
-eyes were shut and he was crowing “cock-a-doodle-do!” the Clever Student
-changed himself from the melon-seed into a great fox. Up he jumped—snip!
-snap!—and off flew the cock’s head, and there was an end of it and
-of the Master of Black Arts.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the Student turned himself into his own true shape again.
-Then he and the princess told the king all about the business, and when the
-king heard how fond the princess was of the lad, he said that there was only
-one thing to be done, and that was to call in the minister.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>
-<img src='images/i_060.jpg' alt='What happened to the Master of Black Arts after all his tricks.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>So the Student was married to his dear princess, and that is what comes
-of book-learning.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After the wedding was all over, and the fiddlers had gone home, the
-Clever Student set out for his father’s house in a fine coach drawn by six
-beautiful horses. There was the old man, making fagots in the forest back
-of the house, just as he had always done. At first he would not believe
-that the great lord in the coach was his own son. “No, no,” says he; “and
-is it becoming in a fine spark from the great town to come here and make
-sport of a poor old wood-chopper. I know very well that my son is nothing
-but a poor student.” But at last he got the whole matter through his head,
-and then he was so glad that he kissed his son on both cheeks, and asked
-him whether he had not always said that it was better for his boy to study
-books than to make fagots. For this is true: everything happens for the
-best when Luck strokes one the right way.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the fagot-maker went back with his son to the fine house that the
-lad lived in, now that he had married a princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There everything was made easy for him, and he always had a warm
-corner to sit in back of the stove.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And that is the end of this story.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_061.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-<div  class='figcenter id002'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>
-<img src='images/i_062.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_063.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Six O’clock·</span></div>
-    <div class='c002'>K. P.</div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Door</i> is open, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>Sol above.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Dew</i> is bright;</div>
-      <div class='line'>Forgotten now <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>●<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Is the lonesome <i>Night</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And the <i>Starling</i> whistles,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>“<i>All is right</i>.”</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>House-wife</i> moves</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>With her briskest tread</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Chairs</i> are set,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And the <i>Table</i> spread <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☽<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>With <i>Honey</i> and <i>Eggs</i></div>
-      <div class='line'>And <i>Cream</i> and <i>Bread</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_065.jpg' alt='The Princess Golden-Hair _and the_ Great Black Raven.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>VI.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_065.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-Once upon a time there was a king who had three
-daughters, the two elder were handsome enough,
-but the youngest, whose name was Golden-Hair, was
-the prettiest maiden to be found within the four ends
-of the earth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day the king went out hunting with all his
-people. Towards evening he found himself in the
-forest at a place where he had never been before,
-and where he was not able to tell the north from the south, nor the east
-from the west, for he was lost. He wandered up and down and here and
-there, but the farther he went the less able he was to find the road home
-again. As he wandered thus he came to a place where a great raven,
-as black as the soot in the chimney, and with eyes that glowed like two
-coals of fire, sat in the middle of the path in front of him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Whither away, king?” said the Great Black Raven.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That I cannot tell,” said the king, “for I am lost.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See now,” said the Raven, “I will show you the way out of the forest,
-if you will give me your youngest daughter to be my wife.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, no,” said the king, “I can never do such a thing as that, for my
-daughter is as dear to me as the apple of my eye.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well, then,” said the Raven, “off I go, and then there will be no
-getting out of the forest for you, but here you will have to stay as long as
-you live.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>Now one will do much before one will stay in a dark forest forever, and
-though it was a bad piece of business to be sure, the king promised at last
-that if the Raven would show him the way home again, it should have the
-Princess Golden-Hair for its wife, though it was a pity for the girl, and that
-was the truth. So the Raven flapped on ahead of the king, and showed
-him the way out of the forest.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“To-morrow,” it said, “I will come for my bride.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Sure enough, when the next morning came, there was the Great Black
-Raven sitting outside of the castle gateway waiting for the Princess Golden-Hair
-to be sent to him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But it was not the princess whom he got after all; for the king had
-bade them dress the swineherd’s daughter in the princess’s dress, and it was
-she who went to the Great Black Raven. “A Great Black Raven,” said
-the king to himself, “will never be able to tell a swineherd’s daughter from
-a real princess.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the Raven took the swineherd’s daughter on its back and away it
-flew over woods and meadows, hills and valleys, until by and by it came to
-a rude little hut that stood on the tip top of a great bleak hill. And not a
-living soul was there, only a great number of birds of different kinds.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>In the hut was a table, and on the table stood a golden goblet of red
-wine, a silver cup of white wine, and an earthenware jug full of bitter beer.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“This is our home,” said the Raven; “and now will my dear one drink
-refreshment after her long journey?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, indeed; the swineherd’s daughter would do that, for she was weary
-after her ride through the air. So she went to the table and took a good
-drink of the beer, “for,” said she to herself, “the golden goblet and the
-silver cup are too fine for the likes of me.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the Raven knew that she was no true princess to be contented
-with bitter beer out of an earthenware jug when she could have good red
-wine from a golden goblet. “Come,” said he, “home we go again, for you
-are not the bride I seek!” Therewith he took her upon his back once more,
-and away they flew over hill and valley till they had come back to the
-king’s castle again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See,” said the Raven, “this is not the one I want. Let me have my
-true bride or you will suffer for it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the king was frightened. “Very well,” said he, “come to-morrow
-and you shall have your true bride.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>
-<img src='images/i_067.jpg' alt='The King being lost in ye Forest meets with the Great Black Raven.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>Well, when the next morning came, there was the Raven waiting outside
-of the castle gateway. But, after all, it was not the princess that he got, for
-the king had ordered that the steward’s daughter should be dressed in the
-princess’s dress, “for surely,” said he to himself, “she is a good enough
-bride for a Great Black Raven.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the Raven took her on his back and away he flew till he had come to
-the little hut on top of the bleak hill. There stood the golden goblet, the
-silver cup, and the earthenware jug just as they had done before. And now
-would not the dear maiden drink a drop after her long journey?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, indeed, that she would; so she took a good, hearty drink of the
-white wine in the silver cup, “for,” said she to herself, “silver is none too
-good for a steward’s daughter.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Raven saw very well that she was no true princess, or she would
-never have been contented with the silver cup. “Come,” said he, “home
-we go again, for you are not the bride I seek.” So he took her on his back
-once more and away he flew to the king’s castle. “See how you treat
-me,” said he to the king, “you promise me one bride and give me another.
-To-morrow morning I will come for the true one again, and if I do not get
-her this time you will suffer for it, for I will pick out your eyes and tear
-down your castle about your ears!” And away he flew.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now the king was terribly frightened, and saw that there must be
-no trickery this time. So the next morning when the Raven came it was
-the Princess Golden-Hair herself whom he got and none other. Up he took
-her on his back and away he flew with her. As for the princess, she did
-nothing but weep and weep, so that when they came to the little hut on
-top of the bleak hill, she was glad enough to drink a drop for refreshment’s
-sake. She never looked at the earthen jug or the silver cup, but going
-straight to the golden goblet she wet her lips with the good red wine.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And then what do you think happened? Why, the hut grew and grew
-until it changed into a splendid castle all built of pure silver and gold, and
-all of the many birds outside changed into men and women servants. As
-for the Great Black Raven, it was a Raven no longer, but the handsomest
-prince in all of the world, and the only thing black about him was the long
-curling locks of his hair. He kissed the Princess Golden-Hair and said:
-“Now, indeed, have I found my true bride and none other. You have freed
-me and my castle and all of my people from enchantment, which no one
-but a real princess could do. For my wicked step-mother laid spells upon
-us which could only be broken when a real princess drank out of the
-golden goblet.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>
-<img src='images/i_069.jpg' alt='Princess Golden-Hair, being a true princess, drinketh from the golden cup &amp; touches neither ye silver nor ye clay. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>Then they were married, and a fine wedding they had of it, I can tell
-you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, a year passed by, and the princess was as happy as the days were
-long; but at the end of the twelve months she began to long to see her
-father and her sisters again. So she spoke of her longing to the Raven
-prince, but he only shook his head. No; he would not hear of her going,
-for he felt that nothing but misfortune would come of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the princess begged and begged so prettily that at last the prince
-said she might go if she would be contented to stay only three days. Then
-he gave her a napkin of the finest linen, and told her that whenever she
-wanted anything, she had only to spread the napkin and wish and it would
-be there. But there was one thing she must not wish for, and that was for
-him himself, for of that misfortune would come for sure and certain.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off the princess went to her father’s house, and a fine sight she made
-of it, I can tell you; for she rode in a golden coach drawn by four milk-white
-horses, so that every one she passed stopped and looked after her, and the
-little boys cried “Hi!” and ran along beside.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Her father and her sisters wondered what fine lady it was that was
-coming to the castle, and when the coach stopped they came out to look.
-Dear, dear, but the king was glad to see her; as for her two sisters, they
-grew as green as grass with envy, for when they heard where she dwelt, and
-what a fine castle it was, all built of pure gold and silver, and what a handsome
-prince it was that she had for a husband, they were ready to burst
-with spite, for each felt that she might have had all this for herself if the
-Raven prince had only chosen her instead of Golden-Hair. So when the
-princess had told them all about what had happened, they only nodded and
-winked at one another as though they did not believe a word of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes,” said they, “it is all very well to talk about your handsome
-prince; but why did he not come along with you, we should like to know?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess could not tell them that; but she could bring him quickly
-enough whenever she chose, for all that she had to do was to spread her
-napkin and wish and he would be there. She would show them that what
-she had said was true, had her prince not forbidden her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the envious sisters only jeered and laughed as though all that the
-princess said was the best jest in the world.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now one can bear anything better than laughter. So the end of the
-matter was that the princess spread the linen napkin on the floor and
-wished that the Raven prince might be with them.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>
-<img src='images/i_071.jpg' alt='Princess Golden-Hair cometh to Death’s door where sits Death’s aged Grandmother spinning flax within.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>No sooner had she wished it than there he stood; but he looked at no
-one but her. “Did I not tell you that misfortune would come of it if you
-wished for me?” said he. “Now, I must leave you and go where you are
-not likely ever to see me again.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the princess would have spoken, but he gave her no time for that.
-He snatched up the napkin, and, becoming a Raven once more, he flew
-through the open window and across the tree-tops and was gone. At the
-same time her golden coach vanished, and, the coachman and footmen became
-so many birds and flew away, so that not one of her fine things was
-left.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The poor princess wept and cried for a whole day and a whole night.
-But at the end of that time she dried her eyes, and, tucking up her skirts,
-started off into the wide world to find her dear prince again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, she travelled on and on and on for more days than she could
-count, and till she had been over nearly all of the world, but in all that time
-she could learn no news of the prince nor of whither he had gone. At last
-one day, about nightfall, she came to a little hut in a deep forest, and in the
-hut sat an old woman with hair as white as snow.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“What do you want, child?” said the old woman; “do you not know
-that this is Death’s house, and that if he returns and finds you here he will
-kill you? I tell you that he spares neither the young nor the old, the plain
-nor the handsome. As for me, I am his grandmother.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But all this was one to the princess, and went in at one ear and out of
-the other; she could no longer drag one foot after the other, so there she
-must stay even if Death should find her when he came home.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then she told Death’s grandmother all that had happened to her, and
-Death’s grandmother took pity on her because she was so pretty and so
-tired. She gave the princess something to eat and then hid her in the tall
-clock that stood in the corner, so that Death might not find her when he
-came home.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by in came Death and hung up his great scythe behind the door.
-“Hu-u-u-u!” cried he, “I smell Christian blood in the house for sure.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Christian blood, indeed!” said his grandmother, “as though a Christian
-would come to this house if he had anywhere else to go! But now I
-think of it, a crow flew overhead to-day, and dropped a bone down the
-chimney. I threw it out as soon as I could, but perhaps that is what you
-smell.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>So Death said nothing more, but sat down to supper and ate heartily,
-for he had had a long journey that day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See,” said his grandmother, “I had a dream to-day. A princess is out
-in the world hunting for her Raven sweetheart, and cannot tell where to
-find him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is easy enough to tell,” said Death; “he lives in a great castle
-that stands at the end of the earth on a high hill of smooth glass.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is good,” said Death’s grandmother, “but I dreamed that after
-she found where he lived, she was too weary to journey thither.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is easy enough, too,” said Death; “out in the forest yonder stands
-my pale horse tied to an oak-tree. If she could only find the horse and
-loose the bridle and mount his back he would take her there quickly
-enough, for he can travel more rapidly than the north wind.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes, that is all very well,” said Death’s grandmother, “but I had a
-third dream; I thought that when she came to the smooth hill of glass she
-did not know how to climb to the top; what is the answer to that?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut!” said Death, “that is easy to tell. Over by the glass hill are
-seven birds fighting in the tree-top for an old hat. If she will throw a stone
-in the midst of them they will drop the hat and fly away. It is Wish’s own
-hat, and if she will put it on her head and wish herself at the top of the hill,
-she will be there quickly enough, I can tell you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that Death put on his cloak and took up his scythe and was off
-like a whirlwind, for he has little time to spare for talking, folks say. Then
-Death’s grandmother opened the clock, and the princess came out and
-thanked her and went her way.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>She hunted here and there through the forest until, sure enough, she
-found Death’s great pale horse tied to an oak-tree. She loosened the bridle
-and mounted upon his back, and away they went till the chips and the
-stones flew behind them. So they soon came to the high hill of smooth
-glass that stood at the end of the earth, and there, on top of it, was the
-castle of the prince.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess dismounted from the pale horse, and away he galloped
-home again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the princess hunted for the birds that Death said fought for
-Wish’s hat, and presently she heard them making a great hubbub, and,
-looking up, saw them in the tree-top above her, fighting for the old hat, just
-as Death said they would be doing. She picked up a stone and threw it
-in the midst of them, and they dropped the hat and flew away screaming.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>Then she put on the hat and wished herself at the top of the hill, and
-there she was as quick as a wink.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now, her shoes were worn into holes by long journeying, and her clothes
-were torn to threads and tatters by the brambles through which she had
-passed, and hung fluttering all about her, and she looked for all the world
-like nothing else than a common beggar-maid, except for her golden hair.
-So it was that when she knocked at the door of the prince’s castle, and the
-porter came and opened it and heard that she wanted to see the prince, he
-snapped his fingers and laughed. All the same he told her that the cook
-wanted a serving wench in the kitchen, and that she might have the place
-if she liked; if that did not suit her she might be jogging the way that
-she had come.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, there was nothing for it but for the princess to serve in the kitchen
-or to go away again. So she bound up her hair in a tattered kerchief so
-that the beautiful golden tresses might not be seen, and down she went to
-serve the cook.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The prince’s dinner was cooking at the fire, and the princess was to
-watch it so that it might not be burned. So she watched it, and as she
-watched it she wept.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why do you weep, hussy?” said the cook.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Ah me!” said the princess, “once I ate with my love and drank with
-my love and lived by his side. If he did but know to what I have come
-how his heart would ache!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the dinner was served, but, while nobody was looking, the
-princess plucked a strand of her golden hair and laid it upon a white napkin
-and the napkin upon an empty plate. Over all she placed a silver cover,
-and when the Raven prince lifted it there lay the strand of golden hair.
-“Where did this come from?” said he. But nobody could tell him that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next day the same thing happened; the princess watched the
-dinner, and as she watched she wept.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why do you weep, hussy?” said the cook. And thereto the princess
-answered as she had done before: “Ah me! once I ate with my love and
-drank with my love and lived by his side. If he did but know to what I
-have come, how his heart would ache!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then, while nobody was looking, she plucked another strand of golden
-hair and the prince found it as he had done the other, and no one could tell
-him whence it came.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>
-<img src='images/i_075.jpg' alt='The Princess finds her Prince.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>The third day the same thing happened as had happened twice before:
-the princess watched and wept, and when nobody was looking plucked a
-third strand of golden hair and sent it to the prince as she had the others.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the prince sent for the cook. “Who has been serving this and
-that with my dinner?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The cook shook his head, for he knew nothing, but perhaps the new
-serving wench could tell, for she wept and said things that none of them
-understood. When the prince heard this he sent for her, and the princess
-came and stood before him. He looked at her and knew her, for her
-golden hair shone through a hole in the ugly head-dress that she wore.
-Then he reached out his hand and snatched it off of her head, and her
-golden hair fell down all about her shoulders until it reached the floor.
-Then he took her in his arms and kissed her, and that was the end of all of
-her troubles.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that they had a grand time at the castle; every one who came had
-all that he could eat, and wine and beer flowed like water. I, too, was there,
-but I brought nothing away with me in my pockets.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_076.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_077.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Seven O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in8'>Around about, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☉☌⊕E3°26′.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in8'>Around about,</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Kobold</i> played and in and out;</div>
-      <div class='line'>He peeped in every <i>Pot</i> and <i>Pail</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And grinned, and pulled the <i>Pussy’s</i> tail.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>Big clumsy <i>Gretchen</i>, washing up <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Clear, pleasant.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Breakfast-dishes</i>, dropped a <i>Cup</i>;</div>
-      <div class='line'>It fell upon the <i>Kobold’s Toe</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And made him hop it hurt him so.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in2'>K.P. del.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_079.jpg' alt='Cousin Greylegs, ye Great Red Fox and Grandfather Mole.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>VII.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_079.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-In those days the Great Red Fox and Cousin Greylegs,
-the wolf, were great cronies, and whenever you would
-see one you might be sure the other was not far
-away. The Great Red Fox was a master-hand at
-roguery, and Cousin Greylegs, the wolf, came close
-behind him. That was how they made their living.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by they fell out, so that they were never
-good friends again, and this was how it happened.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There was to be a great fair, and the world and his wife and the little
-dog behind the stove were to be there.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“We will go too,” says the pair of scamps; so off they went.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by they came to an inn where the windows were red with the
-good things cooking in the kitchen—green geese and ducks and chickens,
-and sausages, and cabbage, and onions, and all the nice things you can think
-of. But the two rogues had no money, and one cannot buy something with
-nothing out in the wide world. But they found a ladder against the side of
-the wall, and climbed up into the loft above and lay in the hay.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear, how nice the good things did smell down in the kitchen!
-“My goodness!” says Cousin Greylegs, “but I would like to have a taste of
-them.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the Great Red Fox, he had been nursing his wits all the time,
-and now he had a trick hatched. So down he climbed from the loft the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>same way he had climbed up; and nobody saw him, for he took good care
-of that. Over he went to the stables where the horses stood munching
-away at the corn in the mangers. He loosened a bridle here and a bridle
-there until not one of the nags was fastened where he belonged; then he
-slipped back into the loft once more. By and by began the kicking and
-the squealing over at the stable; out ran the landlord and all the other
-folks with him, and not a soul was left in the kitchen. Then brother
-Greylegs and the Great Red Fox came down and helped themselves, and
-while they were about it the Great Red Fox stuffed a fistful of hazel-nuts
-into his pocket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while the landlord and the rest of them came from the stable;
-but nothing was left for them of the good things but the leavings.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for Cousin Greylegs and the Great Red Fox, why, they lay up in the
-loft among the straw, and ate and ate until they could eat no more.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by there came along somebody else on his way to the fair, and
-it was a rich corn-factor who made his money by buying corn cheap, and
-selling it dear to poor folks, so that he was as great a rogue as the two
-scamps up yonder in the loft. With him he brought a whole bag of
-money; but it bought him no supper that night, for all the good things
-had been stolen, and the corn-factor had to be contented with what pickings
-he could get. As for the bag of money, he put that in a great chest in
-the corner, and there he left it for safe-keeping.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now up in the loft where the two rogues lay was a cowhide, which the
-landlord used for making straps and thongs and such like things. What
-does the Great Red Fox do but whip out his needle and thread and sew
-the cowhide fast to Cousin Greylegs’ Jacket, though Cousin Greylegs knew
-no more of that than a mouse in a barrel. Then by and by the Great Red
-Fox was up to another of his tricks. “See,” says he, “here I have a pocketful
-of hazel-nuts, and I am for cracking one.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Tut, tut, brother,” says Cousin Greylegs, “you must crack no nuts
-here.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But I must crack a nut,” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But you must not,” says Cousin Greylegs.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But I must,” says the Great Red Fox, and so he did.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hark!” says the landlord; “yonder is somebody up in the loft cracking
-the nuts that we were to have had for supper; it is a good beating he
-shall have for the trick he has been playing upon us.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>
-<img src='images/i_081.jpg' alt='Cousin Greylegs and the Great Red Fox go together to ye fair. ¶ ):(' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>When Cousin Greylegs heard this he did not stop to tarry or to think;
-down he jumped from the loft, and away he scampered as fast as he could
-lay foot to the ground; but with him went the cowhide which the Great
-Red Fox had sewed fast to his jacket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” bawled the landlord, “there is the thief who stole our supper, and
-he is taking my cowhide into the bargain.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off they all scampered after Cousin Greylegs and the cowhide. The
-corn-factor first of all.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for Cousin Greylegs, why, he laid down to the running as though
-he had never been born for anything else. But it is hard work running
-with a cowhide flapping about one’s legs, so they caught him just over the
-hill, and then, dear, dear, what a drubbing they gave him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But as soon as everybody was safe away after Cousin Greylegs and the
-cowhide, the Great Red Fox came down from the loft, and marched off
-with the corn-factor’s money without anybody being about to say “No” to
-him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off he went as happy as a cricket, until he came to the cross-roads over
-the hill and back of the woods, and who should he see sitting there but
-Cousin Greylegs rubbing the places that smarted the most.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” says the Great Red Fox, “and is that you, Cousin Greylegs?
-Why, I have been looking up and down, over hill and over hollow for you.
-Here is a whole bag of money that I found at the inn over yonder, and if it
-wasn’t for the trick that I played you, there was never a penny of it that
-would have come into our pockets.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So!” says Cousin Greylegs. “Well, that was a different matter;” and
-he swallowed the drubbing he had had, for it was to be share and share
-alike with the money, and that was a salve for sore bones. So off they
-went together arm in arm.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by they came to another inn. “We’ll stop here,” says Cousin
-Greylegs, “and have another bite to eat before we go any farther.” And
-that suited the Great Red Fox well enough, so in they went, and gave the
-bag of money into the landlord’s keeping, and Cousin Greylegs ordered a
-supper fit for a lord.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Great Red Fox had his wits about him all this time, for he was
-not one to be caught napping when the sun was up. “Yes, yes,” says he
-to himself, “Cousin Greylegs is up to some of his tricks, sure enough; we’ll
-put a stopper in the bottle before the luck has dribbled out.” So while
-Cousin Greylegs was pottering about in the kitchen down-stairs, seeing that
-the cooking was done to his mind, the Great Red Fox took a bag like the
-one they brought with them, and filled it full of old rusty nails and bits of
-iron. Off he marched with it to the landlord. “See,” says he, “Cousin
-Greylegs will come asking for a bag by and by; here it is, give it to him
-and he will be satisfied.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>
-<img src='images/i_083.jpg' alt='Cousin Greylegs steals away from the inn, carrying off a bag full of this &amp; that with him.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>Sure enough, when the supper was over and the Great Red Fox was
-snoring in front of the fire, for all the world as though he were sound asleep,
-off packed Cousin Greylegs to the landlord. “Look,” says he, “that bag
-that the Great Red Fox left here, just hand it over to me, will you? for I
-must be jogging. As for the Great Red Fox, you may let him have his
-sleep out.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, that was all right, and the landlord knew nothing about the tricks
-of the two rogues, so he handed over the bag of rusty nails and bits of
-iron. And Cousin Greylegs never once thought of looking to see, for the
-bits of iron jingled, and the sound was enough for him, for that is the way
-with folks out in the world.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the Great Red Fox, he waited until Cousin Greylegs was well
-away on his own business, then off he stepped along the road that led the
-other way, and it was the bag of gold and silver money he carried with
-him.</p>
-
-<p class='c007'>But that is not all of the story; for listen: There was a poor old blind
-mole who lived in the ground because he had nowhere else to go, and that
-was his home. But the Great Red Fox thought nothing of him. On he
-came—tramp! tramp! tramp!—and would have trodden right on the roof
-of the mole’s house. “Brother Fox,” cried Grandfather Mole, “look where
-you are treading, or you will have the roof down about my ears.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Pooh!” says the Great Red Fox, “when one has been sharp enough to
-trick such a keen blade as Cousin Greylegs, one is not going to step out of
-one’s way for a little gray mole as blind as charity:” and so he was for going
-straight ahead.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But up jumped Grandfather Mole and caught hold of him, and then he
-felt the bag of gold and silver money the Great Red Fox carried. “Hi!”
-says he, “and here is a new card in the game.” So he held on to the Great
-Red Fox and began to bawl with all his might and main, “Help, good
-folks! help! here is the Great Red Fox stealing my bag of gold and silver
-money!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hush! hush!” said the Great Red Fox, for he was for having as little
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>said about the bag of money as need be, “let me go and I will promise to
-tread on nobody’s house.” But no, it was easier to get into that hole
-than it was to get out again, for Grandfather Mole held on and bawled for
-help louder than ever. “Help! help! here is one robbing a poor blind
-mole of all he has in the world!” That was the way he kept up the song,
-and he made such a hubbub that the folks came running and hauled them
-both up before the Master Judge to see what he had to say about the
-business.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_085.jpg' alt='The Great Red Fox meets ye old, blind Mole.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“The bag of money is mine,” said the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, good! but where did you get it?” says the judge, and that was a
-question easier asked than answered.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See now,” says Grandfather Mole, “it is easy enough to talk, for
-breath is cheap in this town, but the thing is to put it to trial and find
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>out who is telling the truth. We’ll build a fire and try who can stand it
-the longest, and that will show the right in this matter as clear as a morning
-in hay-season.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, that suited the fox well enough, “for,” says he to himself, “it is a
-pretty business if I can’t stand a scorching as long as an old blind mole;”
-and so that business was settled.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Out they all went, and it was Grandfather Mole who was to try the
-burning first of all. So they fetched sticks and twigs and covered him all
-over with them, and then set fire to them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear, but it was a fine blaze that went up, but the mole had his
-wits about him; for as soon as he felt the heat of the fire he began digging
-down into the ground with all his might and main, so that not a spark
-touched him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Do you burn, Grandfather Mole?” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No!” bawled Grandfather Mole. So they just threw on another armful
-of twigs.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by the Great Red Fox says again: “Do you burn, Grandfather
-Mole?” for he thought by this time that the mole must be as scorched as an
-old shoe under the stove.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Grandfather Mole was ready for him. “<i>No!!</i>” he bawled, louder
-than ever.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear, but here was a strange happening; all the same, the Great
-Red Fox threw on wood and threw on wood, until the blaze went up
-like a chimney afire. “And <i>now</i> do you burn, Grandfather Mole?”
-says he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“NO!!!” bawled Grandfather Mole until you might have thought his
-throat would have split with the noise he made.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So they let the fire go out, and up came Grandfather Mole out of the
-ground looking as fresh and as sharp as a green gooseberry.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now it was the Great Red Fox’s turn; and they heaped the sticks
-and twigs over him as they had done over Grandfather Mole, and then set
-fire to them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Do you burn?” says Grandfather Mole after a bit.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“NO!!!” bawled the Great Red Fox, as though his throat was made of
-leather.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So they threw on more sticks and twigs, but the Great Red Fox just
-shut his teeth and grinned, for he was bound that he would stand as much
-of a burning as an old blind mole.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>
-<img src='images/i_087.jpg' alt='The Great Red Fox beareth all that he can.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Do you burn now?” says Grandfather Mole.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No,” says the Great Red Fox, but his voice was as small as peas in
-March. So they threw on another armful of wood, and the fire grew hotter
-and hotter.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And do you burn now?” says Grandfather Mole.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“<i>Thunder and lightning, yes!</i>” bawled the Great Red Fox, and out he
-jumped and away he scampered, smoking like a charcoal kiln.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So all he gained by his roguery was a burnt skin and nothing to show
-for it; and that has happened more than once to rogues whose wits are so
-sharp that they cut their own fingers with them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>Now in our town we do not make puddings without plums, or tell a
-story without rhyme or reason, but if you wish to find any meaning in these
-words, you must put on your spectacles and look for it for yourself, even
-though the tale stands all legs and no head, as the man in the moon said
-about his grandmother’s tongs.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_088.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_089.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Eight O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in6'>The <i>Sun</i> in the <i>Sky</i> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Grows warmer</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in6'>Is not yet high,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And the <i>Grasses</i> are wet by the <i>Pool</i>.</div>
-      <div class='line in6'>With hop and jump,</div>
-      <div class='line in6'>By <i>Hedge</i> and <i>Stump</i>, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>♈︎<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Children</i> are going to <i>School</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in28'>K. P.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_091.jpg' alt='One Good Turn Deserves Another.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>VIII.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_091.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-Once upon a time there was a lad who was a fisherman,
-and every morning he shouldered his net, and
-went down to the river to catch fish to sell in the
-town.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One morning as he walked beside the edge of the
-water, he came upon a great tall stork caught in a
-trap that had been set for the water-rats.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>It was a tender heart that the young fisherman
-had under his jacket, so when he saw Father Longlegs in such a pickle he
-waded out into the water, among the reeds and arrowheads to where the
-other was, and loosened the noose from about his leg.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The storks bring good-luck to folks some people say, and that was what
-happened to the young fisherman.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“One good turn deserves another,” says Father Longlegs; “cross your
-heart three times, cast your net into the water yonder, and see what you
-catch.” So the lad did as he was told, and when he drew his net to the
-shore, there was just one fish in it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; just one fish, but that was worth the catching, I can tell you, for
-the scales were all of pure silver and gold, so that it glistened like the moon
-on smooth ice, and it was most wonderful to see.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There,” says the stork; “and now if you have your wits about you, it
-is your fortune that you have caught out of the water. Take the fish up
-to the king’s castle and show it to nobody but the king. When he sees it
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>he will want to have it for his own and will be for buying it, but there is
-only one price you must ask for it, and that is to have the princess for your
-wife.” That was what the stork said, and then he spread his wings and
-flew away over the house-tops.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the lad wrapped the fish up in a clean white napkin and laid it in a
-wicker basket, and then off he marched to the king’s castle to try his luck
-there, as the stork had said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, and what did he want?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, he had brought a fish that he had caught over at the river yonder,
-but he would show it to nobody but the king himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No, it did no good for them to ask and to question and to talk; what
-he had said he had said. So at last they had to take him up-stairs, and
-there was the king sitting upon a golden throne with a golden crown upon
-his head and a golden sceptre in his hand.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well, and why do you wish to see me?” That was what the king said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>It was no word that the lad spoke with his tongue, but he just unfolded
-the napkin, and showed the king what he had brought in the wicker basket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the king saw the gold and silver fish, he thought he had never
-seen anything so wonderful in all of his life before. Then it was just as
-the stork had said. He must and would have the fish, no matter what it
-cost; and what would the lad take for it?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Why, the body over at the river yonder, who had put the lad up to
-catching the fish, had told him that there was only one price to be asked
-for it. Now, if the king would let him have the princess for his wife, he
-might have the fish and welcome; for <i>that</i> was the price, and the long and
-the short of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the king hemmed and hawed, but he did not speak the little word
-“no;” and after a while he said he would send for the princess, and see
-what she had to say about it. So the princess came, and she was a beauty
-I can tell you, for the very sight of her was enough to make one’s heart
-melt inside of one, like a lump of butter in the oven. And as for the wits
-of her, why, she was just as smart as she was pretty (which is saying much
-and a little over), and that is why the king had sent for her, for he wanted
-to get the gold and silver fish without paying the price for it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says the princess when the king had told her all. “I am ready
-enough to marry the lad, only he must promise to do one thing first.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>
-<img src='images/i_093.jpg' alt='Father Longlegs, the Stork, puts the Fisher Lad in ye way of catching a strange fish in his nets. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>Dear, dear, how the lad’s heart jumped inside of him at that. He was
-willing enough to promise whatever was asked, for he would do anything to
-marry the princess, now that he had seen how pretty she was.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well, then,” said the princess, “just bring me the key of wish-house
-and I will marry you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There,” said the king, “that is a bargain; go and bring the key of
-wish-house and you shall marry the princess; and you may just leave the
-fish here until you come back again. And don’t show your face about here
-without the key, if you wish to keep your head upon your shoulders.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off went the lad from the king’s castle, with nothing at all in his
-pocket and ill-luck astride of his back. Down he went to the river as
-straight as he could walk, and there stood Father Stork gazing down into
-the water and looking as wise as our minister on Sunday. See now, thus
-and so and thus and so had happened, and the stork had gotten him into a
-pretty scrape over at the castle by putting him up to asking such a price
-for his herring; that was what the lad said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut!” says the stork, “break no bones over that furrow; ill-luck always
-comes before good-luck, and rain before the little flowers; what is
-worth having is worth working for. Just get upon my back and I will
-carry you to where the queen of the birds lives; if anybody can put you in
-the way of finding the key of wish-house she will be the one.” So the stork
-bent his red legs and up the lad got upon his back. Then Father Longlegs
-spread his wings and away he flew, and on and on, over field and
-fallow, over valley and mountain, over forest and over stream.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After they had gone so far that the lad thought the end of the world
-could not be a great way off, they came to a grand house, all built of red
-brick, that stood on a high hill, and that was where the queen of the birds
-lived. The stork flew straight to the house, and there was the queen of the
-birds walking in the garden.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The stork told everything from first to last, and that now what they
-wanted to know was, whether the queen of the birds could tell them where
-the key of wish-house was to be found.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No, the queen did not know that herself, but she would call all of the
-birds of the heavens and of the earth, and perhaps there would be some one
-among them that could tell.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>A little silver whistle hung about her neck; she put it to her lips and
-blew upon it so shrilly that it made a body’s ear ring to listen to it, and the
-birds of the heavens and of the earth came flying from far and near until
-the air was as full of them as a sunbeam is full of motes on sweeping-day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>The queen of the birds asked them one and all, from tom-tit to the wild
-swan, if they could tell where the key of wish-house was to be found; but
-not a single one of them knew.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After all the rest had spoken there came flying an old eagle, so old
-that he was as grey as the ashes upon the hearth, and he was six times as
-big as any of the rest. He had come from the other end of nowhere, and
-that is a long way off, as even simple Jack can tell you; that was what had
-kept him such a time in the coming.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And was it the key of wish-house that they were talking about? Oh,
-yes; the old eagle knew where the key of wish-house was as well as he
-knew his bread-and-butter, for the old Grey Master that lives on the iron
-mountain had it hanging back of the kitchen door, and the eagle had seen
-it there more than once.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” says the queen of the birds; “then here is a lad who has
-come out into the world hunting for that key, a good-hearted fellow who
-helped Father Stork out of a tight place over at the river yonder, where he
-had been caught in a trap set for the water-rats. Now can you not help
-him to find what he wants?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the old eagle did not say no, for one good turn deserves another;
-so he took the lad on his back at the root of his wings and away he
-flew.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One would have thought that the red-legged stork had flown far, but it
-was nothing at all to the journey that the eagle took. On and on he flew
-for such a long way that I, for one, could never find words to tell you how
-far away it was.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>All the same, every journey must have an ending. And at last they
-came to a great iron mountain the sides of which were as smooth as the
-face of a looking-glass; so it was a good thing for the lad that he had a
-great grey eagle to carry him up to the top, and that is the truth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There on the top of the mountain lay a green meadow, so wide that the
-eye could not see to the other end of it. And in the middle of the meadow
-stood a tall castle; that was where the Grey Master lived who kept the key
-of wish-house back of the kitchen door.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“This is all the farther I can carry you just now,” says the eagle; “but
-here is a feather, when you are ready to come away just throw it up into
-the air, and I will not be long in coming.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The lad thanked the eagle for the help he had had, and then he put the
-feather in the lining of his hat.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>After that the eagle went one way and the lad went the other, and that
-was towards the castle where the Grey Master lived.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off he stepped right foot foremost, and by and by he came to a little
-stream of water that ran along through the meadow. But just in the middle
-of the brook lay a great stone, that choked the stream so that it could
-hardly crawl around it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Here is a body in trouble as well as myself,” said the lad, and he
-stooped and rolled away the great round stone so that the brook might
-flow smoothly and freely.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“One good turn deserves another,” said the brook. “Look in the place
-where the great round stone lay and you will find a little red pebble; so
-long as you keep that pebble in your mouth you will be as strong as ten
-common men.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the lad hunted until he found the pebble, and then he thanked
-the brook and jogged along the way he was going.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by he came to an apple-tree, and it was so loaded down with
-apples that the branches were bent to the very ground.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Here is another body weighed down by the cares of the world,” said
-the lad. So he shook some of the apples off and cut props to put under
-the branches, that they might not be broken by the load.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“One good turn deserves another,” said the apple-tree. “Look under
-my roots and you will find a golden apple; while you keep that in your
-bosom neither fire nor water can harm you, for it is an apple from the
-tree of life.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the lad found the apple under the roots of the tree, and then he
-said “thank you,” and went on his way.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by he came to a place where he heard a great hubbub over
-the hedge; he looked and there he saw that it was a black cock and a
-red cock fighting for dear life, and the red cock was having the worst of
-it, for it was nearly dead already.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Here is another who is having the worst of the fight,” said the lad,
-and he jumped over the hedge, and drove away the black cock with the
-staff he held in his hand.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“One good turn deserves another,” said the red cock. “I know what
-you have come hither to find, and I will give you a bit of advice that
-will be worth the having. When the Grey Master asks you what you
-want, tell him it is to watch his black cattle for one night. If you do
-that he must give you whatsoever you ask for. And listen; this is what
-you must do to watch the cattle. When you open the stable door there
-will come out three-and-twenty black cows, and after them a black bull
-breathing fire and smoke. Him you must catch by the horns and must
-hold him fast until the cock crows in the morning. But you must have
-the strength of ten men to do that.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>
-<img src='images/i_097.jpg' alt='The Fisher Lad cometh to the Grey Master’s house.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>Well, the lad thanked the cock for the advice he had given, and then
-he went on his way and up to the castle where the Grey Master lived.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He knocked at the door, and it was the Grey Master himself who came
-and opened it. He was a head and shoulders taller than other men, was
-the Grey Master, and he had but one eye, which gleamed and glistened
-like the dog-star in January. Beside him flew two black ravens with eyes
-as red as coals of fire.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what is it that you want?” said the Grey Master.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh!” said the lad, “I have come from over in the brown world yonder,
-and I want to watch your black cattle for one night, that is all I am
-after.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the Grey Master heard what the lad said, he frowned until his
-one eye shone like lightning. “Very well,” said he, “you shall have a
-chance and a try at what you want, but if you fail your head shall be cut off
-and hung up over the gate yonder.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is not so pleasant to think of,” said the lad; “all the same, I will
-have a try and see what I can do.” So in he came, and he and the Grey
-Master sat down to supper together.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by, when the lad had eaten all that he wanted the Grey Master
-told him it was time to go about the business he had come for. So off
-went the lad to the stable where the four-and-twenty black cattle stood all
-in a row. He opened the door, and out they ran helter-skelter and as fast
-as they could push, and—whisk! pop!—soon as they came out of the door
-each cow changed into a black crow and flew around and around the lad’s
-head as though it would beat his eyes out. Last of all came the black
-bull, and the lad was ready and waiting for him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He clapped the red pebble into his mouth, and then he was as strong as
-ten common men. He caught the bull by the horns, and it might puff out
-fire and smoke, as it chose, for it could do him no harm because of the apple
-of life which he carried in his bosom.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>How the bull did pitch and toss, and bellow and roar, to be sure, but
-it was all for no use, the lad held on like hunger, until by and by the bull
-stopped struggling and stood as quiet as a lamb. But the lad held fast to
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>the bull’s horns, and all the time the black crows flew about his head, but
-never once so much as touched him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At last a cock crew, and then they all changed again into cows, and the
-lad drove them back into the stable once more, and there they were.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by came the Grey Master. “Well,” said he, “and did you
-watch the black cattle?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes, the lad had watched them, and it was no such hard task to do;
-there they were in the stable yonder, safe and sound.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then you should have seen what a sour face the Master pulled over the
-business! All the same, he had to pay the lad; so what did he want for
-his wages?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh!” said the lad, “it is little that I want. If you will let me have the
-key that hangs back of the kitchen door I will be satisfied.” So the Grey
-Master had to go and get it for him, though he would rather have given
-him one of his eye-teeth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off marched the lad with what he had come for, and that is more than
-most of us get. But the Grey Master was not for letting him off so easy as
-all that, I can tell you, for the more he thought over the business the less he
-liked to give up the key of wish-house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So after a while he took down the Sword of Sharpness which hung
-against the wall, slipped his feet into the Shoes of Speed that stood in the
-corner, took a peep into the Book of Knowledge which lay upon the shelf,
-to see which way the lad had gone, and then set off after him hot-foot, to
-get back what he had given away.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Just as the lad got to where the apple-tree stood he looked over his
-shoulder, and there he saw the Grey Master coming over the hills.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And where shall I go now,” says he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“One good turn deserves another,” said the apple-tree; “just come
-under my branches.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The lad did as he was told, and the apple-tree drooped its branches
-about him, until one could see neither hide nor hair of him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by up came the Grey Master puffing and blowing. “Apple-tree,”
-says he, “did you see the fisher-lad come by this way?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No, the apple-tree had seen nobody go past that place. So back went
-the Master home again to have another look into his Book of Knowledge.
-There he saw as clear as day what sort of trick had been played upon him.
-Off he started again after the lad at such a rate that the ground smoked
-under his feet.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>But the lad had lost no time either, so that when he looked over his
-shoulder and saw the Grey Master coming across the hills behind him, he
-had gone as far as the brook.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“One good turn deserves another,” said the brook, and it made itself
-small and smaller, so that the lad stepped over without wetting so much as
-the sole of his foot. Then it spread itself out again three times as broad as
-before. Presently up came the Master, fuming like a pot on the fire.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Brook,” says he, “did you see the fisher-lad go by this way?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said the brook; “there he is just on the other side.” And there
-he was sure enough.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The Grey Master never stopped to take off his shoes and stockings,
-but into the water he splashed as fast as he could go. Just as he reached
-the middle of the stream the brook began to swell, and grew large and
-larger until it carried away the Grey Master like a cork in the gutter, and
-there was an end of him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the lad went on without hurrying any more than he chose,
-until he came to the side of the mountain. He took the eagle’s feather
-from out his cap and threw it up in the air, and there was the eagle before
-he had time to grow tired of waiting.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He sat him upon the eagle’s back, and away they flew, and on and on
-without stopping until they came to the house where the queen of the
-birds lived. There was Father Longlegs (the stork) waiting for them.
-He took his turn of carrying the lad, and when they stopped it was just
-over beyond the king’s castle.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the lad had been out into the world, and had learned a thing or
-two.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See now,” says he, “it was hasty cooking that burned the broth;”
-and so he would not go up to the castle with his key of wish-house without
-first trying what door he could unlock with it himself. He took it out of
-his pocket and struck it a rap or two upon the ground.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I should like,” says he, “to have golden clothes upon my back, and
-to have a golden horse and a golden greyhound that shall chase a golden
-hare.” That was what he said, and he did not have to say it twice; for
-before he could wink there they were standing beside him just as he
-wanted. He leaped upon his horse and away he rode after the greyhound
-and the golden hare.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>How the people in the castle did stare when they saw him riding past!
-The princess herself ran to the window to see the fine sight, and as for the
-king, he sent six of his knights posting after the fisher-lad, for he thought
-that it was some great lord who had come into those parts.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>
-<img src='images/i_101.jpg' alt='The Grey Master is caught in the stream and is swept away, but ye Fisher Lad crosses it dry-shod. ):(' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>By and by the lad came to a thicket, and there he jumped off of his
-horse and rapped upon the ground with his key.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I wish to be as I was before,” says he, and then he was the poor
-fisher-lad and nothing else. As for the golden clothes, the golden horse,
-the golden greyhound, and the golden hare, they went back to Nomansland
-whither they had come; and when the king’s people came riding up
-there was nobody but a lad in rags and tatters whistling into a key.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>They hunted up and they hunted down, but they could find neither
-sign nor trace of the golden rider and the golden horse. So after a while
-they had to ride back to the castle without them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You should have brought the lad who blew upon the key,” said the
-princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next day the lad rapped upon the ground with his key again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I should like to have,” says he, “a golden coach drawn by six milk-white
-horses, with coachman and footman and out-riders dressed in clothes
-of gold and silver.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was what he said; and there they were just as he wanted. Into
-the coach he got, and off he rode down by the king’s castle.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear, how the folks did stare, to be sure! This time the king
-sent twelve knights after the golden coach, for he thought it must be a
-king or a prince for certain who rode by in such style.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Pretty soon the lad came to a woods, and there he jumped out of the
-coach and rapped upon the ground with his key.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I want to be just as I was before,” says he; and, sure enough, he was.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Up clattered the twelve knights on their horses, and there sat the lad
-in rags and tatters whistling upon his key.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The twelve knights hunted high and hunted low, and not another
-soul could they find, and so they had to ride back to the castle again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See now,” said the princess, “did I not say that you should have
-brought the lad who blew upon the key?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next day the lad went out and rapped upon the ground for the
-third time.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I should like,” said he, “to have a splendid castle all built of silver
-and gold, such as nobody ever saw before.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was what he said, and before the words had left his tongue just
-such a great castle grew up out of nothing like a soap-bubble.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>
-<img src='images/i_103.jpg' alt='The Princess finds the Fisher Lad with the key of Luck’s house. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>The king chanced to look out of the window just then, and there was
-the great splendid gold and silver castle. He took off his spectacles and
-rubbed them and rubbed them, but there was the castle just the same as
-ever.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He bade them saddle the horses, and he and the princess, and all of
-the court besides, rode away to find out who it was that had built such
-a fine castle all in one night.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the lad saw them coming, and rapped upon the ground with his
-key. “I should like,” said he, “for things to be just as they were before;”
-and puff! away went the castle like the light of a candle when one blows
-it out.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Up came the king and the princess and all the court, and not a speck
-of the grand castle could they find, but only a lad in rags and tatters who
-sat upon a great round stone and whistled upon a key.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the princess was a lass who could see through a millstone with
-a hole in it. So soon as she set eyes upon him she knew the whole business
-from beginning to end. Up she marched to him, before them all,
-and took him by the hand. “Now I will marry you,” said she, “for I see
-that you have brought the key of wish-house with you;” and there she
-was as wise as ever. For there be many kings and princes in the world,
-but I have never yet heard of any one except the fisher-lad who had the
-key of wish-house. Have you?</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_104.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_105.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Nine O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>School-bell</i> rings; <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☉<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Children</i> all</div>
-      <div class='line'>Must answer to</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Master’s</i> call. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Cloudy and warm.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Master</i> has</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>A crooked <i>Nose</i>;</div>
-      <div class='line'>He whips the <i>Boys</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And puffs, and blows;</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>He makes them stand</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And walk by <i>Rule</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And bow before</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>They leave the <i>School</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in8'>K.P.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_107.jpg' alt='The White Bird.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>IX.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_107.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-Once there was a king, who, as time went on, found
-himself waxing old in years and feeble in body, so he
-began to think of giving up the cares of government
-and of taking his ease for as much of life as was left
-him. But here was the trouble: there were three
-princes, and each one of them was just as clever as
-the other two, so that the old king could not tell
-which to choose as the right one to sit in his place.
-He thought and thought and thought, until at last he plucked an apple
-off of his thinking-tree, as folks say. All three of the princes should go
-out into the world, and whichever of them should fetch back an apple
-from the Tree of Happiness should rule over all of the kingdom. And I
-speak the truth when I say that the apple was cheap enough even at that
-price.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off went the three to seek for what they wanted. They travelled
-along without let or stay until towards evening they came to a place where
-two houses stood, the one on the one side of the road and the other on the
-other.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One of them was as fine a house as a body ever saw. Every window
-was lit up by the warm fires and the bright lights within, and even out on
-the high-road one could hear the merry times the folks were having; laughing
-and singing and clinking their glasses together. As for the good things
-cooking in the kitchen, why it was enough to make one hungry just to
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>smell the steam of them. Over the door was a sign, and on the sign was
-written,</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“WHO ENTERS HERE SHALL HAVE WHAT</div>
-      <div class='line'>HE LIKES AND PAY NOTHING FOR IT.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>The other house was a poor, mean, little, tumble-down hut, as silent
-as death, and with never a spark of light or fire shining at the windows.
-There was also a sign over the door, and on the sign was written,</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“WHO ENTERS HERE SHALL HAVE WHAT HE</div>
-      <div class='line'>NEEDS AND PAY WHAT HE CAN.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yonder is the place for us,” said the older brothers, and they pointed
-with their thumbs to the grand house, where there was good company with
-plenty to eat and drink and nothing to pay.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says the youngest of the three, “that is all very well, but I would
-rather pay for what I need than get what I like for nothing.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear, how the two did laugh at the one to be sure! but all the
-same, the one held to what he had said, and so at last the two flew into a
-huff. “Go your way,” said they, “and we will go ours.” And into the
-grand house they went. There they gave themselves up to ease and
-comfort, and it was a merry time they had of it, I can tell you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the youngest brother went over to the little dark house and
-knocked upon the door, and it was opened by a poor old man whose
-head and beard were as white as the snow, and whose clothes hung about
-him all in tags and tatters.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come in and welcome,” said he, “for you are the first who has been
-here for twenty-seven ages;” and that is a long time, as anybody knows
-without the telling.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But in the little house there was no wood to make a fire, and there was
-no water to boil in the pot. So the prince took the axe and went out and
-chopped an armful of wood, and then he took the pot and filled it at the well.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Out in the stable stood a white cow with silver horns; but there was
-never a straw for it to lie upon, and never a bit of hay for it to eat. So the
-prince shook down a bed for it, and then he filled the rack with hay and
-left it munching away for dear life.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Out in the yard was a red cock and a white hen, but though they
-scratched and scratched it was never a grain that they found. So the
-prince threw them a handful of barley and left them pecking away at it,
-as though they had not seen the like for a week of Sundays.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>
-<img src='images/i_109.jpg' alt='The Prince knocks at the door of the poor, mean, little house and not the great, rich one. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>After he had done all these things, he and the old man sat down to supper
-together, and, if it was not of the finest, why the prince had a good
-appetite, and one can have no better sauce to a crust than that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The prince stayed all night, and the next morning he was for jogging on
-his way. But before he went he offered the old man what money he had,
-because anybody could read the sign over the door.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the old man shook his head. “No, no,” said he, “you have paid
-your score. You have given what you can, and you shall have what you
-need. Here is a little book, and in it you may read whatever you wish
-to know. Go out into the stable and you will find a barley straw back of
-the white cow’s ear. Take that with you, for you will need it. Look in the
-manger and you will find an egg that the white hen has laid; take it with
-you also, for it is worth the having.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then he said good-bye and shut the door, and that was the last the
-prince saw of him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The prince went to the stable, and there he found the barley straw and
-the egg, just as the old man had said, and off he marched with them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He went to the grand house over the way and called his brothers, but
-they only came to the windows and laughed and jeered at him. “No, no,”
-said they, “we are going no farther along the road, for we know very well
-when the world is smooth with us. The Fruit of Happiness can bring us
-nothing better than what we have at hand.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And so the young prince had to trudge away by himself. But what to
-do with the straw and the egg he knew no more than my grandmother’s
-cat. So he opened his little book, and this was what it said between the
-leaves:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“<i>Mount the straw and ride it whither it takes you.</i>”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So,” said the prince; “that would be a strange thing to do for sure and
-certain. All the same, an easy task is worth the trying;” so he just flung
-his leg over the straw and—whisk! pop!—there he was, astride of a great
-splendid horse with smooth hair as yellow as gold.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That straw was a straw worth having!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And the best part of the matter was that the prince had no need to
-draw the bridle-rein either to the right or to the left; for the yellow horse
-took the bit in his teeth and away he pounded so that the ground smoked
-under his hoofs, and the wind whistled back of the prince’s ears. By and
-by they came to a great sandy desert place where not a twig or a leaf was
-to be seen, but only white bones scattered here and there, for the prince was
-not the first by many who had tried to cross that desert to the Tree of
-Happiness.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>
-<img src='images/i_111.jpg' alt='The Prince finds ye three giants sleeping under the tree of life &amp; snoring away like everything. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>But he had better luck than the others, for the yellow horse carried him
-along like the wind, and on and on until at last he came within sight of the
-Tree of Happiness. There sat three terrible giants, an old giant and his two
-sons, and alongside of each lay a great iron club with sharp spikes in the
-end of it. But all three sat with their eyes shut, sleeping away as though
-they would never awaken. And that was a good thing for the prince, for
-he had never seen such terrible, wicked-looking creatures as the old giant
-and his two sons. He leaped from off the back of the yellow horse, and
-there it was, nothing but a barley straw. He put it in his pocket and took
-out his Book of Knowledge and opened it. This was what it said:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“<i>Fear not the giants, for they will not awake; but touch neither the
-golden fruit nor the silver fruit, for they are not for you.</i>”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the prince read what the Book of Knowledge said, he knew that
-it was so. Up he marched to the Tree of Happiness as bold as bold could
-be, and the giants snored away so that the leaves shook.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There hung three apples; the first was of gleaming gold, the second was
-of shining silver, and the third was just a poor, weazened, shrivelled thing,
-that looked as though there were not three drops of juice in it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut!” says the prince, “it can never be that I have travelled all this
-way for nothing in the world but a dead apple. After all, it must be the
-golden fruit that I am to take, in spite of what the Book of Knowledge
-said; for if happiness is to be found in anything, it is to be found in such
-as it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So he reached up his hand and plucked the golden apple, and then—hi!
-what a hubbub, for the Tree of Happiness began to clamor and call as
-though every leaf on it had become a tongue to speak with.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Help! help!” it cried. “Here is one coming to rob us of our golden
-fruit!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Up jumped the three giants, and each one snatched up his iron club and
-came at the prince as though to put an end to him without any more talk
-over the business. But the prince begged and prayed and prayed and
-begged that they would spare his life.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Listen,” said the old giant; “if you will promise to bring us the Sword
-of Brightness that shines in the darkness and cuts whatsoever the edge is
-turned against, we will not only spare your life, but give you the Fruit of
-Happiness into the bargain.” That was what the old giant said, and the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>others agreed to it; for if they could once lay hand upon such a sword as
-that they would be masters of all the world.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the prince promised that he would get them the Sword of Brightness,
-for one will promise much before one will be knocked on the head
-with an iron club; and then the giant let him go, and glad enough he was to
-get away.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off he went back of the hill. He drew out his barley straw and threw
-his leg over it, and there he sat astride of his yellow horse again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I should like,” said he, “to be carried to where I can find the Sword
-of Brightness that shines in the darkness and cuts whatever its edge is
-turned against.” That was all that he had to say, and away clattered the
-yellow horse over stock and stone so that the ground smoked beneath his
-hoofs. On they went and on they went for a great long while, until at last
-they came to a tall castle as black as your hat, and there was where the
-Sword of Brightness was to be found. In front of the castle gate lay two
-great fiery dragons, with smoke coming up out of their nostrils instead of
-the breath of life, and all over their bodies were brazen scales that shone
-like gold in the sunlight. But both dragons were sound asleep.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Inside of the court-yard were many and one fierce soldiers armed in
-shining armor and each with a battle-axe or a sword or an iron club lying
-beside him; but they too were as sound asleep as the dragon.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Down jumped the prince from the great yellow horse, and there was the
-barley straw again. He took out the Book of Knowledge from his pocket,
-and this was what it said:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“<i>Fear not the dragons nor the fierce soldiers, for they will not awaken;
-but take only the old leathern scabbard with the sword.</i>”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So up walked the prince as bold as brass, and the soldiers and the
-dragons said never a word, but just snored away so that the windows
-rattled. Into the castle he walked, and nobody said “No” to him. There
-sat an old man, as wicked as sin and as grey as the ashes in the hearth. He
-never moved a hair, only his little red eyes turned here and there, and were
-never still for a wink. A great keen sword lay on the table in front of him,
-and the light on the blade was like the bright flash of lightning. The
-prince took the sword up from the table, and the little old man looked at
-him, but said never a word, good or bad.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>On the wall hung three scabbards; one was of gold studded all over
-with precious stones; another of silver that gleamed like the light of the
-moon in frosty weather; and the third was of nothing but old, shabby,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>worm-eaten leather that looked as though they had just fetched it down
-from the dusty garret.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“It would be a pity,” said the prince, “to put such a fine sword into
-such a poor scabbard. I’ll not choose the gold because of what happened
-to me over at the Tree of Happiness yonder, but surely silver is none too
-good for the Sword of Brightness.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So he took down the silver scabbard and thrust the sword into it, and
-therewith dipped his spoon into the wrong pot again; for, no sooner had
-he sheathed the sword in the silver scabbard than the old gray man began
-to thump on the table in front of him and to bawl at the top of his voice,
-“Help! help! here is one come to steal our Sword of Brightness.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the soldiers outside woke up and began to clash and rattle with
-their battle-axes and swords and iron clubs, and the dragons began to roar
-and send up clouds of smoke like a chimney afire.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>In ran the soldiers, and were for putting an end to the prince without
-another word being said, but he begged and prayed and prayed and begged
-that his life might be spared, just as he had done with the giants over yonder
-at the Tree of Happiness.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Listen,” says the old grey man at last; “if you will promise to bring
-me the White Bird from the black mountain, I will not only spare your life,
-but will give you the Sword of Brightness into the bargain.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, the prince would get the White Bird if anybody in the world could
-get it. And thereupon they let him go, and glad enough he was to get
-away.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Back of the hedge he threw his leg over the barley straw.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I would like,” said he, “to be taken to where I can find the White
-Bird that lives on the black mountain;” and away thundered the yellow
-horse, like a storm in June.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>If it was far that they travelled before, it was farther that they travelled
-this time. But at last they came to the black mountain, and the prince
-jumped off the nag and thrust the straw into his pocket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There was not a blade of grass nor a bit of green to be seen on the hill,
-but only a great lot of round, black stones scattered from top to bottom.
-That was all that was left of the lads who had come that way before to find
-the White Bird.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>
-<img src='images/i_115.jpg' alt='The Prince finds the sword of brightness where sits an old man. ∥' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>On the top of the mountain sat an old witch with golden hair, and in
-her hand was the White Bird. The prince opened his Book of Knowledge,
-and there he read that if one would gain the White Bird one would have
-to catch the witch by her golden hair, for then she would be compelled
-to grant whatever was asked of her; only he would have to be very
-careful in his doings, for if the witch caught sight of him upon the black
-hill she would change him into a stone just as she had all the rest who
-had come that way.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But how was he to climb the hill without the witch seeing him? That
-was what the prince would like to know. So he turned over another leaf
-of the Book of Knowledge, and there it was all in plain black and white.
-This was what it said:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“<i>Crack the egg of the white hen and put on the cap.</i>”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The prince cracked the egg, and, sure enough, inside of it was a little
-cap of feathers. He put on the feather cap and—whisk!—as quick as a
-wink he was changed into a titmouse, which is the least of all the birds
-in that land.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He spread his wings and flew and flew and flew, until he was close
-behind the witch where she sat on the black mountain. He took off his
-cap and there he was in his own shape again. He caught the old witch
-by her golden hair and held her fast. And you should have heard how
-she screamed and scolded, and you should have seen how she twisted and
-turned!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the prince just held fast, and she could make nothing of it for all
-her trying.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what do you want, that you come here to torment me?” said she
-at last.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I want the White Bird,” said the prince; “and I will be satisfied with
-nothing else.” It was all to no purpose that the old witch stormed and
-scolded, for what he had said he had said, and he would be satisfied with
-nothing else. So at last, willy-nilly, she had to give him what he asked
-for.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The prince took it in his hands, and it was a white bird no longer, but
-the prettiest lass that ever a body’s eyes looked upon, with cheeks as red
-as roses and a skin as white as snow.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But still the prince held tight to the old witch’s hair, and now what else
-was it he was wanting.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Why, before he would let her go, she must change all the round stones
-back again into the lads of flesh and blood they had been before.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the old witch had to do that also, and there stood so many good
-stout lads in the place of the hard, round stones.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>But still the prince held fast to her golden hair. And what else was it
-he was wanting?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Why, this! The old witch must promise to do no harm to him or to
-anybody else who should come that way. The old witch had to promise.
-And then he let go of her hair, and you can guess what a rage she was in.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the prince cared nothing for that, for he had found what he came for.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He took the barley straw out of his pocket and threw his leg over it.
-Then he took the princess up behind him on the great yellow horse, and
-away he clattered, leaving the witch scolding behind him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while he came to the black castle; there he took out his Book
-of Knowledge, for now that he had the White Bird he could not bear to
-think of giving her up; and this was what the book said:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“<i>Take the White Bird to the old grey man and he will give you the Sword
-of Brightness, turn the edge against him and against the fierce soldiers and
-against the two dragons, and then ride away with your White Bird.</i>”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So up he rode to the black castle, and the fiery dragons let him pass
-when they saw that the White Bird rode behind him. The old grey man
-gave the lad the Sword of Brightness quickly enough, for the White Bird
-was worth that and a great deal more, I can tell you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As soon as the prince had hold of the Sword of Brightness, he turned
-the keen edge of the blade against the wicked old man and the soldiers
-and the dragons; off flew their heads, and there they lay as dead as red
-herrings in a box.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then he thrust the Sword of Brightness into the leathern scabbard, for
-he had learned a grain or two of wisdom by this time, and away he rode
-with the White Bird sitting behind him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>On they rode and on they rode until they came to the desert place
-and the Tree of Happiness. And then the prince took out his Book of
-Wisdom and turned over the leaves, for he was of no mind to give up the
-Sword of Brightness if he could help doing so.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“<i>Turn the edge of the blade against the three giants.</i>”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Thus said the book, and the lad did so, and there they lay all three of
-them as dead as stocks.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>I know that this is true which I tell, because since then there have
-been no cruel giants to keep a body from getting a taste of the Fruit of
-Happiness now and then, if a body chooses to travel that far to find it.
-But that is neither here nor there, and what I have to tell is this:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The young prince rode away towards home with the White Bird sitting
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>behind him, the Sword of Brightness hanging by his side, and the Fruit of
-Happiness in his pocket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by he came to the place where the two houses stood, the one
-on the one side of the road, and the one on the other, and there he took
-out his Book of Knowledge to have a peep at it, and this was what it said:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“<i>Buy no black sheep.</i>”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut!” says the prince, “what should I want with black sheep I should
-like to know?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by he met a great crowd, and in the midst of all the rest were
-his two brothers with their hands tied behind them with stout ropes.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And what were they going to do with the two? That was what the
-prince would like to know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why,” said those who held them, “they have spent all their money
-at the great house over yonder, and have run up a score for good things
-besides, and now they are packing off to prison because they cannot pay
-what they owe.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come, come,” says the prince, “let them go and I will pay their
-reckoning;” and so he did, and that was what the Book of Wisdom meant
-by buying black sheep.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that they all stepped away homeward, right foot foremost; for
-since the young prince had brought the Fruit of Happiness along with
-him, there was no need of the other brothers going to look for it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by they felt weary and sat down by the roadside to rest, and
-as they sat there the youngest prince fell asleep. While he slept the elder
-brothers stole away the Sword of Brightness and the Fruit of Happiness.
-Then they wakened him and made him strip off his fine clothes, and gave
-him a parcel of rags and tatters fit for no one but a beggar, and he had to
-put them on or go without.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the White Bird, they made her vow and swear that she would
-say nothing of all this. Then off they marched with her and with the
-Sword of Brightness, and left the prince with never a stitch or a thread
-that was worth the having.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See,” said they, as soon as they came home, “not only have we
-brought the Fruit of Happiness, but the Sword of Brightness and the
-White Bird into the bargain.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the youngest brother, they told the king that he had stopped
-over at the tavern yonder, and had spent all his money in eating and
-drinking, just as they themselves had really done.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>
-<img src='images/i_119.jpg' alt='The Prince sits down beside ye garden-gate and only one knoweth him.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>But the White Bird did nothing but weep and weep, and neither this
-brother nor that could draw the Sword of Brightness from its leathern
-scabbard. And when the king came to taste the Fruit of Happiness, it
-was as bitter as gall. So, after all, the two gained nothing by what they
-had done.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the young prince was not for giving up all that he had lost, without
-trying to get what he could back again. Off he marched in his rags and
-tatters until he came to the castle where the king, his father, lived. Up
-he stepped to the door and knocked, but nobody would let him in because
-he looked like nothing but a beggar. So down he sat beside the gate of
-the castle garden, since he could not come into the house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while the folks came out, one by one and two by two, to walk
-in the garden and take the air, and all the time the prince sat there and
-nobody knew him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Last of all came the old king, and with him walked the White Bird.
-The king was for passing the lad by as all the rest had done. But as
-soon as the White Bird saw him, she knew who he was and ran to him
-and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Here is my own sweetheart,” said she, “and he has come back to
-me again.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The prince told the king all that had happened from beginning to end,
-and how it really was he who had found the White Bird, the Sword of
-Brightness, and the Fruit of Happiness.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes,” says the king, “that is all very well, but it is just the tale
-that your brothers tell; now can you draw the Sword of Brightness from
-the leathern scabbard?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes,” said the prince, “I can do that easily enough.” So the
-sword was brought and—whisk!—he whipped the blade out of the scabbard
-so that the light of it dazzled the eyes of everybody that looked upon it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the king saw what had happened as plain as the nose on his
-face, and was for punishing the elder brothers as they deserved, but
-nobody could find them, for as soon as they heard that the youngest
-prince had come home again they packed off without waiting to learn
-more news.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And why do I call this the story of the White Bird? Listen: any
-Tom or Jake or Harry might have found the Sword of Brightness or the
-Fruit of Happiness; but you may depend upon it that nobody but a real
-prince could ever have found the White Bird.</p>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_121.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Ten O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in6'>The <i>Children</i> drone <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>♓︎<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in6'>In sing-song tone,</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Master’s</i> shoes creak on the <i>Floor</i>.</div>
-      <div class='line in6'>They’re baking <i>Pies</i></div>
-      <div class='line in6'>At <i>Home</i>, and <i>Flies</i> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Good weather for farming.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>Buzz in and out the open <i>Door</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in6'>The <i>Beds</i> are made;</div>
-      <div class='line in6'>The <i>Pans</i> are laid</div>
-      <div class='line'>Out in the pleasant <i>Sun</i> to dry.</div>
-      <div class='line in6'>Good <i>Gretchen</i> takes</div>
-      <div class='line in6'>Some <i>Dough</i>, and makes,</div>
-      <div class='line'>For little <i>John</i>, a <i>Saucer Pie</i>. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>KP<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_123.jpg' alt='How the Good Gifts were used by Two.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>X.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_123.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-This is the way that this story begins:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Once upon a time there was a rich brother and a
-poor brother, and the one lived across the street from
-the other.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The rich brother had all of the world’s gear that
-was good for him and more besides; as for the poor
-brother, why, he had hardly enough to keep soul and
-body together, yet he was contented with his lot,
-and contentment did not sit back of the stove in the rich brother’s house;
-wherefore in this the rich brother had less than the poor brother.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now these things happened in the good old times when the saints
-used to be going hither and thither in the world upon this business and
-upon that. So one day, who should come travelling to the town where
-the rich brother and the poor brother lived, but Saint Nicholas himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Just beside the town gate stood the great house of the rich brother;
-thither went the saint and knocked at the door, and it was the rich brother
-himself who came and opened it to him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now, Saint Nicholas had had a long walk of it that day, so that he was
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>quite covered with dust, and looked no better than he should. Therefore
-he seemed to be only a common beggar; and when the rich brother heard
-him ask for a night’s lodging at his fine, great house, he gaped like a toad in
-a rain-storm. What! Did the traveller think that he kept a free lodging-house
-for beggars? If he did he was bringing his grist to the wrong mill;
-there was no place for the likes of him in the house, and that was the truth.
-But yonder was a poor man’s house across the street, if he went over
-there perhaps he could get a night’s lodging and a crust of bread. That
-was what the rich brother said, and after he had said it he banged to the
-door, and left Saint Nicholas standing on the outside under the blessed sky.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So now there was nothing for good Saint Nicholas to do but to go
-across the street to the poor brother’s house, as the other had told him to
-do. Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door, and it was the poor brother
-who came and opened it for him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come in, come in!” says he, “come in and welcome!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So in came Saint Nicholas, and sat himself down behind the stove where
-it was good and warm, while the poor man’s wife spread before him all that
-they had in the house—a loaf of brown bread and a crock of cold water
-from the town fountain.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And is that all that you have to eat?” said Saint Nicholas.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; that was all that they had.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then, maybe, I can help you to better,” said Saint Nicholas. “So
-bring me hither a bowl and a crock.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>You may guess that the poor man’s wife was not long in fetching what
-he wanted. When they were brought the saint blessed the one and passed
-his hand over the other.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then he said, “Bowl be filled!” and straightway the bowl began to boil
-up with a good rich meat pottage until it was full to the brim. Then the
-saint said, “Bowl be stilled!” and it stopped making the broth, and there
-stood as good a feast as man could wish for.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Saint Nicholas said, “Crock be filled!” and the crock began to
-bubble up with the best of beer. Then he said, “Crock be stilled!” and
-there stood as good drink as man ever poured down his throat.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Down they all sat, the saint and the poor man and the poor man’s wife,
-and ate and drank till they could eat and drink no more, and whenever the
-bowl and the crock grew empty, the one and the other became filled at the
-bidding.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>
-<img src='images/i_125.jpg' alt='Saint Nicholas knocks at the rich man’s door but finds only a chill welcome &amp; cold faring.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>The next morning the saint trudged off the way he was going, but he
-left behind him the bowl and the crock, so that there was no danger of
-hunger and thirst coming to that house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the world jogged along for a while, maybe a month or two, and
-life was as easy for the poor man and his wife as an old shoe. One day the
-rich brother said to <i>his</i> wife. “See now, Luck seems to be stroking our
-brother over yonder the right way; I’ll just go and see what it all means.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So over the street he went, and found the poor man at home. Down he
-sat back of the stove and began to chatter and talk and talk and chatter,
-and the upshot of the matter was that, bit by bit, he dragged out the whole
-story from the poor man. Then nothing would do but he must see the
-bowl and the crock at work. So the bowl and the crock were brought and
-set to work and—Hui!—how the rich brother opened his eyes when he saw
-them making good broth and beer of themselves.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now he must and would have that bowl and crock. At first the
-poor brother said “No,” but the other bargained and bargained until, at
-last, the poor man consented to let him have the two for a hundred dollars.
-So the rich brother paid down his hundred dollars, and off he marched with
-what he wanted.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the next day had come, the rich brother said to his wife, “Never
-you mind about the dinner to-day. Go you into the harvest-field, and I
-will see to the dinner.” So off went the wife with the harvesters, and
-the husband stayed at home and smoked his pipe all the morning, for he
-knew that dinner would be ready at the bidding. So when noontide had
-come he took out the bowl and the crock, and, placing them on the table,
-said, “Bowl be filled! crock be filled!” and straightway they began making
-broth and beer as fast as they could.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>In a little while the bowl and the crock were filled, and then they could
-hold no more, so that the broth and beer ran down all over the table and
-the floor. Then the rich brother was in a pretty pickle, for he did not
-know how to bid the bowl and the crock to stop from making what they
-were making. Out he ran and across the street to the poor man’s house,
-and meanwhile the broth and beer filled the whole room until it could
-hold no more, and then ran out into the gutters so that all the pigs and
-dogs in the town had a feast that day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, dear brother!” cried the rich man to the poor man, “do tell me
-what to do or the whole town will soon be smothered in broth and beer.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But, no; the poor brother was not to be stirred in such haste; they
-would have to strike a bit of a bargain first. So the upshot of the matter
-was that the rich brother had to pay the poor brother another hundred
-dollars to take the crock and the bowl back again.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>
-<img src='images/i_127.jpg' alt='Saint Nicholas blesses the poor man’s crock and bowl with food and drink.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>See, now, what comes of being covetous!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the poor man, he was well off in the world, for he had all that
-he could eat and drink, and a stockingful of money back of the stove
-besides.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, time went along as time does, and now it was Saint Christopher
-who was thinking about taking a little journey below. “See, brother,”
-says Saint Nicholas to him, “if you chance to be jogging by yonder town,
-stop at the poor man’s house, for there you will have a warm welcome and
-plenty to eat.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But when Saint Christopher came to the town, the rich man’s house
-seemed so much larger and finer than the poor man’s house, that he
-thought that he would ask for lodging there.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But it fared the same with him that it had with Saint Nicholas. Prut!
-Did he think that the rich man kept free lodgings for beggars? And—bang!—the
-door was slammed in his face, and off packed the saint with a
-flea in his ear.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Over he went to the poor man’s house, and there was a warm welcome
-for him, and good broth and beer from the bowl and the crock that Saint
-Nicholas had blessed. After he had supped he went to bed, where he slept
-as snug and warm as a mouse in the nest.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the good wife said to the husband, “See, now, the poor fellow’s
-shirt is none too good for him to be wearing. I’ll just make him another
-while he is sleeping, so that he’ll have a decent bit of linen to wear in
-the morning.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So she brought her best roll of linen out of the closet, and set to work
-stitching and sewing, and never stopped till she had made the new shirt to
-the last button. The next morning, when the saint awoke, there lay the
-nice, new, clean shirt, and he put it on and gave thanks for it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Before he left the house the poor man took him aside, and emptied the
-stockingful of silver money on the table, and bade the saint take what he
-wanted, “for,” says he, “a penny or two is never amiss in the great world.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that it was time for the traveller to be jogging; but before he
-went he said, “See, now, because you have been so kind and so good
-to a poor wayfarer, I will give you a blessing; whatever you begin doing
-this morning, you shall continue doing till sunset.” So saying, he took
-up his staff and went his way.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>
-<img src='images/i_129.jpg' alt='The Poor Man welcomes Saint Christopher to his house.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>After Saint Christopher had gone the poor man and his wife began
-talking together as to what would be best for them to be doing all of the
-day, and one said one thing and the other said the other, but every plug
-was too small for the hole, as we say in our town, for nothing seemed to
-fit the case.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come, come,” said the good woman, “here we are losing time that
-can never be handled again. While we are talking the matter over I will
-be folding the linen that is left from making the shirt.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And I,” said the good man, “will be putting the money away that
-the holy man left behind him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the wife began folding the linen into a bundle again, and the man
-began putting away the money that he had offered in charity. Thus they
-began doing, and thus they kept on doing; so that by the time that the
-evening had come the whole house was full of fine linen, and every tub and
-bucket and mug and jug about the place was brimming with silver money.
-As for the good couple, their fortune was made, and that is the heart of the
-whole matter in four words.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That night who should come over from across the street but the rich
-brother, with his pipe in his mouth and his hands in his pockets. But when
-he saw how very rich the poor man had become all of a sudden, and what
-a store of fine linen and silver money he had, he was so wonder-struck that
-he did not know whither to look and what to think.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear heart’s sake alive! Where did all these fine things come from?
-That was what he should like to know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh! there was nothing to hide in the matter, and the poor man told all
-about what had happened.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the rich brother, when he found how he had shut his door in the
-face of good-fortune, he rapped his head with his knuckles because he was
-so angry at his own foolishness. However, crying never mended a torn
-jacket, so he made the poor brother promise that if either of the saints came
-that way again, they should be sent over to his house for a night’s lodging,
-for it was only fair and just that he should have a share of the same cake
-his brother had eaten.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the poor brother promised to do what the other wanted, and after
-that the rich brother went back home again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, a year and a day passed, and then, sure enough, who should come
-along that way but both the saints together, arm in arm. Rap! tap! tap!
-they knocked at the poor man’s door, for they thought that where they had
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>had good lodging before they could get it again. And so they could and
-welcome, only the poor brother told them that his rich brother across the
-street had asked that they should come and lodge at the fine house when
-they came that way again.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_131.jpg' alt='The rich man spreads a feast for the Saints.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>The saints were willing enough to go to the rich brother’s house, though
-they would rather have stayed with the other. So over they went, and
-when the rich brother saw them coming he ran out to meet them, and
-shook each of them by the hand, and bade them to come in and sit down
-back of the stove where it was warm.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But you should have seen the feast that was set for the two saints at
-the rich brother’s house! I can only say that I never saw the like, and I
-only wish that I had been there with my legs under the table. After
-supper they were shown to a grand room, where each saint had a bed all to
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>his very own self, and before they were fairly asleep the rich man’s wife
-came and took away their old shirts, and laid a shirt of fine cambric linen
-in the place of each. When the next morning came and the saints were
-about to take their leave, the rich brother brought out a great bag of golden
-money, and bade them to stuff what they would of it into their pockets.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, all this was as it should be, and before the two went on their way
-they said that they would give the same blessing to him and his wife that
-they had given to the other couple—that whatsoever they should begin
-doing that morning, that they should continue doing until sunset.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that they put on their hats and took up their staffs, and off they
-plodded.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now the rich brother was a very envious man, and was not contented to
-do only as well as his brother had done, no indeed! He would do something
-that would make him even richer than counting out money for
-himself all day. So down he sat back of the stove and began turning the
-matter over in his mind, and rubbing up his wits to make them the brighter.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>In the meantime the wife said to herself, “See, now, I shall be folding
-fine cambric linen all day, and the pigs will have to go with nothing to eat.
-I have no time to waste in feeding them, but I’ll just run out and fill their
-troughs with water at any rate.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So out she went with a bucketful of water which she began pouring into
-the troughs for the pigs. That was the first thing she did, and after that
-there was no leaving off, but pour water she must until sunset.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>All this while the man sat back of the stove, warming his wits and
-saying to himself, “Shall I do this? shall I do that?” and answering “No”
-to himself every time. At last he began wondering what his wife was
-doing, so out he went to find her. Find her he did, for there she was
-pouring out water to the pigs. Then if anybody was angry it was the rich
-man. “What!” cried he, “and is this the way that you waste the gifts of
-the blessed saints?”.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So saying, he looked around, and there lay a bit of a switch on the
-ground near by. He picked up the bit of a switch and struck the woman
-across the shoulders with it, and that was the first thing that he began
-doing. After that he had to keep on doing the same.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the woman poured water and poured water, and the man stood by
-and beat her with the little switch until there was nothing left of it, and
-that was what they did all day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And what is more, they made such a hubbub that the neighbors came
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>to see what was going forward. They looked and laughed and went away
-again, and others came, and there stood the two—the woman pouring water
-and the man beating her with the bit of a switch.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the evening came, and they left off their work, they were so weary
-that they could hardly stand; and nothing was to show for it but a broken
-switch and a wet sty, for even the blessed saints cannot give wisdom to
-those who will have none of it, and that is the truth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And such is the end of this story, with only this to tell: Tommy Pfouce
-tells me that there are folks, even in these wise times, who, if they did all
-day what they began in the morning, would find themselves at sunset doing
-no better work than pouring pure water to pigs.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That is the small kernel to this great nut.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_133.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-<div  class='figcenter id002'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>
-<img src='images/i_134.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_135.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Eleven O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Cook</i> undoes the <i>Oven Door</i>; <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Hot and dusty.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Kobold</i> smells the baking <i>Pies</i>;</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Licking his <i>Lips</i>, with glistening <i>Eyes</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>He hops across the <i>Floor</i>. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>K⊕P.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>Our fat, old <i>Betty</i> sweats and blows;</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>She does not see how near he stands,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And when she bangs the <i>Door, Good Lands</i>!</div>
-      <div class='line'>It’ most cuts off his <i>Nose</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_137.jpg' alt='How Boots befooled the King.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XI.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_137.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-Once upon a time there was a king who was the wisest
-in all of the world. So wise was he that no one
-had ever befooled him, which is a rare thing, I can
-tell you. Now, this king had a daughter who was
-as pretty as a ripe apple, so that there was no end
-to the number of the lads who came asking to
-marry her. Every day there were two or three of
-them dawdling around the house, so that at last
-the old king grew tired of having them always about.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So he sent word far and near that whoever should befool him might
-have the princess and half of the kingdom to boot, for he thought that
-it would be a wise man indeed who could trick him. But the king also
-said, that whoever should try to befool him and should fail, should have
-a good whipping. This was to keep all foolish fellows away.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess was so pretty that there was no lack of lads who came
-to have a try for her and half of the kingdom, but every one of these went
-away with a sore back and no luck.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now, there was a man who was well off in the world, and who had three
-sons; the first was named Peter, and the second was named Paul. Peter
-and Paul thought themselves as wise as anybody in all of the world, and
-their father thought as they did.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>As for the youngest son, he was named Boots. Nobody thought anything
-of him except that he was silly, for he did nothing but sit poking in
-the warm ashes all of the day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One morning Peter spoke up and said that he was going to the town
-to have a try at befooling the king, for it would be a fine thing to have
-a princess in the family. His father did not say no, for if anybody was
-wise enough to befool the king, Peter was the lad.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So, after Peter had eaten a good breakfast, off he set for the town, right
-foot foremost. After a while he came to the king’s house and—rap! tap!
-tap!—he knocked at the door.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well; what did he want?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh! he would only like to have a try at befooling the king.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Very good; he should have his try. He was not the first one who had
-been there that morning, early as it was.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Peter was shown in to the king.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, look!” said he, “yonder are three black geese out in the court-yard”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But no, the king was not to be fooled so easily as all that. “One goose
-is enough to look at at a time,” said he; “take him away and give him a
-whipping!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And so they did, and Peter went home bleating like a sheep.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day Paul spoke up. “I should like to go and have a try for the
-princess, too,” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, his father did not say no, for, after all, Paul was the more clever
-of the two.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off Paul went as merrily as a duck in the rain. By and by he came
-to the castle, and then he too was brought before the king just as Peter
-had been.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, look!” said he, “yonder is a crow sitting in the tree with three
-white stripes on his back!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the king was not so silly as to be fooled in that way. “Here is
-a Jack,” said he, “who will soon have more stripes on his back than he
-will like. Take him away and give him his whipping!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then it was done as the king had said, and Paul went away home
-bawling like a calf.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day up spoke Boots. “I should like to go and have a try for the
-pretty princess, too,” said he.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>
-<img src='images/i_139.jpg' alt='Peter goes to the castle to befool the king, dressed in his finest clothes.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>At this they all stared and sniggered. What! he go where his clever
-brothers had failed, and had nothing to show for the trying but a good
-beating? What had come over the lout! Here was a pretty business, to
-be sure! That was what they all said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But all of this rolled away from Boots like water from a duck’s back.
-No matter, he would like to go and have a try like the others. So he
-begged and begged until his father was glad to let him go to be rid of his
-teasing, if nothing else.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Boots asked if he might have the old tattered hat that hung back
-of the chimney.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes, he might have that if he wanted it, for nobody with good wits
-was likely to wear such a thing.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Boots took the hat, and after he had brushed the ashes from his
-shoes set off for the town, whistling as he went.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The first body whom he met was an old woman with a great load of
-earthenware pots and crocks on her shoulders.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Good-day, mother,” said Boots.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Good-day, son,” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“What will you take for all of your pots and crocks?” said Boots.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Three shillings,” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I will give you five shillings if you will come and stand in front of the
-king’s house, and do thus and so when I say this and that,” said Boots.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes! she would do that willingly enough.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Boots and the old woman went on together, and presently came to
-the king’s house. When they had come there, Boots sat down in front of
-the door and began bawling as loud as he could—“No, I will not! I will
-not do it, I say! No, I will not do it!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So he kept on, bawling louder and louder until he made such a noise
-that, at last, the king himself came out to see what all of the hubbub was
-about. But when Boots saw him he only bawled out louder than ever,
-“No, I will not! I will not do it, I say!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Stop! stop!” cried the king, “what is all this about?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why,” said Boots, “everybody wants to buy my cap, but I will not
-sell it! I will not do it, I say!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But, why should anybody want to buy such a cap as that?” said the
-king.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Because,” said Boots, “it is a fooling cap and the only one in all of
-the world.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>
-<img src='images/i_141.jpg' alt='Paul comes home again from the king’s castle with no luck.  ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>“A fooling cap!” said the king. For he did not like to hear of such
-a cap as that coming into the town. “Hum-m-m-m! I should like to see
-you fool somebody with it. Could you fool that old body yonder with the
-pots and the crocks?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes! that is easily enough done,” said Boots, and without more
-ado he took off his tattered cap and blew into it. Then he put it on his
-head again and bawled out, “Break pots! break pots!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No sooner had he spoken these words than the old woman jumped up
-and began breaking and smashing her pots and crocks as though she had
-gone crazy. That was what Boots had paid her five shillings for doing,
-but of it the king knew nothing. “Hui!” said he to himself, “I must
-buy that hat from the fellow or he will fool the princess away from me
-for sure and certain.” Then he began talking to Boots as sweetly as
-though he had honey in his mouth. Perhaps Boots would sell the hat
-to him?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, no! Boots could not think of such a thing as selling his fooling cap.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Come, come; the king wanted that hat, and sooner than miss buying
-it he would give a whole bag of gold money for it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this Boots looked up and looked down, scratching his head. Well,
-he supposed he would have to sell the hat some time, and the king might
-as well have it as anybody else. But for all that he did not like parting
-with it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the king gave Boots the bag of gold, and Boots gave the king the
-old tattered hat, and then he went his way.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After Boots had gone the king blew into the hat and blew into the hat,
-but though he blew enough breath into it to sail a big ship, he did not
-befool so much as a single titmouse. Then, at last, he began to see that
-the fooling cap was good on nobody else’s head but Boots’s; and he was
-none too pleased at that, you may be sure.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for Boots, with his bag of gold he bought the finest clothes that
-were to be had in the town, and when the next morning had come he
-started away bright and early for the king’s house. “I have come,” said
-he, “to marry the princess, if you please.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the king hemmed and hawed and scratched his head. Yes;
-Boots had befooled him sure enough, but, after all, he could not give up
-the princess for such a thing as that. Still, he would give Boots another
-chance. Now, there was the high-councillor, who was the wisest man in
-all of the world. Did Boots think that he could fool him also?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes! Boots thought that it might be done.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>
-<img src='images/i_143.jpg' alt='The old woman smashes pots and things at Boots’ bidding. )(' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>Very well; if he could befool the high-councillor so as to bring him
-to the castle the next morning against his will, Boots should have the
-princess and the half of the kingdom; if he did not do so he should have
-his beating.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Boots went away, and the king thought that he was rid of him
-now for good and all.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the high-councillor, he was not pleased with the matter at all,
-for he did not like the thought of being fooled by a clever rogue, and
-taken here and there against his will. So when he had come home, he
-armed all of his servants with blunderbusses, and then waited to give
-Boots a welcome when he should come.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Boots was not going to fall into any such trap as that! No indeed!
-not he! The next morning he went quietly and bought a fine
-large meal-sack. Then he put a black wig over his beautiful red hair,
-so that no one might know him. After that he went to the place where
-the high-councillor lived, and when he had come there he crawled inside
-of the sack, and lay just beside the door of the house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by came one of the maid servants to the door, and there lay
-the great meal-sack with somebody in it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Ach!” cried she, “who is there?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Boots only said, “Sh-h-h-h-h!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the serving maid went back into the house, and told the high-councillor
-that one lay outside in a great meal-sack, and that all that
-he said was, “Sh-h-h-h-h!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the councillor went himself to see what it was all about. “What
-do you want here?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Sh-h-h-h-h!” said Boots, “I am not to be talked to now. This is
-a wisdom-sack, and I am learning wisdom as fast as a drake can eat
-peas.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what wisdom have you learned?” said the councillor.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh! Boots had learned wisdom about everything in the world. He had
-learned that the clever scamp who had fooled the king yesterday was
-coming with seventeen tall men to take the high-councillor, willy-nilly, to
-the castle that morning.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the high-councillor heard this he fell to trembling till his teeth
-rattled in his head. “And have you learned how I can get the better of
-this clever scamp?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes! Boots had learned that easily enough.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>
-<img src='images/i_145.jpg' alt='The Councilor finds one in the Sack who teaches him wisdom. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>So, good! then if the wise man in the sack would tell the high-councillor
-how to escape the clever rogue, the high-councillor would give the
-wise man twenty dollars.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But no, that was not to be done; wisdom was not bought so cheaply as
-the high-councillor seemed to think.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the councillor would give him a hundred dollars then.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was good! A hundred dollars were a hundred dollars. If the
-councillor would give him that much he might get into the sack himself,
-and then he could learn all the wisdom that he wanted, and more besides.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Boots crawled out of the sack, and the councillor paid his hundred
-dollars and crawled in.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As soon as he was in all snug and safe, Boots drew the mouth of the
-sack together and tied it tightly. Then he flung sack, councillor, and all
-over his shoulder, and started away to the king’s house, and anybody who
-met them could see with half an eye that the councillor was going against
-his will.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When Boots came to the king’s castle he laid the councillor down in the
-goose-house, and then he went to the king.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the king saw Boots again, he bit his lips with vexation. “Well,”
-said he, “have you fooled the councillor?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes!” says Boots, “I have done that.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And where was the councillor now?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, Boots had just left him down in the goose-house. He was tied up
-safe and sound in a sack, waiting till the king should send for him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the councillor was sent for, and when he came the king saw at once
-that he had been brought against his will.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And now may I marry the princess?” said Boots.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the king was not willing for him to marry the princess yet; no! no!
-Boots must not go so fast. There was more to be done yet. If he would
-come to-morrow morning he might have the princess and welcome, but he
-would have to pick her out from among fourscore other maids just like
-her; did he think that he could do that?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes! Boots thought that that might be easy enough to do.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So, good! then come to-morrow; but he must understand that if he
-failed he should have a good whipping, and be sent packing from the town.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off went Boots, and the king thought that he was rid of him now, for
-he had never seen the princess, and how could he pick her out from among
-eighty others?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>But Boots was not going to give up so easily as all that! No, not he!
-He made a little box, and then he hunted up and down until he had caught
-a live mouse to put into it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the next morning came he started away to the king’s house,
-taking his mouse along with him in the box.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There was the king, standing in the doorway, looking out into the
-street. When he saw Boots coming towards him he made a wry face.
-“What!” said he, “are you back again?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes! Boots was back again. And now if the princess was ready he
-would like to go and find her, for lost time was not to be gathered again
-like fallen apples.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off they marched to a great room, and there stood eighty-and-one
-maidens, all as much alike as peas in the same dish.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Boots looked here and there, but, even if he had known the princess, he
-could not have told her from the others. But he was ready for all that.
-Before any one knew what he was about, he opened the box, and out ran the
-little mouse among them all. Then what a screaming, and a hubbub there
-was! Many looked as though they would have liked to swoon, but only
-one of them did so. As soon as the others saw what had happened, they
-forgot all about the mouse, and ran to her and fell to fanning her and
-slapping her hands and chafing her temples.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“This is the princess,” said Boots.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And so it was.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the king could think of nothing more to set Boots to do, so
-he let him marry the princess as he had promised, and have half of the
-kingdom to boot.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That is all of this story.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Only this: It is not always the silliest one that sits kicking his feet in
-the ashes at home.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_147.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-<div  class='figcenter id002'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>
-<img src='images/i_148.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_149.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Twelve O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Dial</i> marks the hour of <i>Noon</i>; <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☉ enters<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Men</i> will come to <i>Dinner</i> soon,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And <i>Gretchen</i> takes the <i>Beer-Mugs</i> down</div>
-      <div class='line'>Into the <i>Cellar</i>, cool and brown.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Bread</i> is cut, the <i>Soup</i> is hot, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Dry and Hot.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Cabbage</i> simmers in the <i>Pot</i>;</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Mistress</i> scolds a clumsy <i>Maid</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And <i>Towzer</i> dozes in the <i>Shade</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in30'>K.P.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_151.jpg' alt='The Step-mother.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XII.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_151.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-Once upon a time there was a man who was well off in
-the world so far as good things were concerned; but
-all the flesh and blood that belonged to him was a
-daughter, for his wife was dead, and he lived alone.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day he went away from home and was gone
-for a long, long time, and when he came back again
-he brought a new wife with him, for that was the
-business that he had been about. As for the woman,
-she was as wicked as she was handsome, and as handsome as she was
-wicked, and whichever of the two one said of her one spoke the truth;
-for, though she was the most beautiful woman in all of the land, she was
-as great a witch as ever turned over the leaves of the black book with
-the red letters in it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At first things went as smoothly in the rich man’s house as butter and
-eggs, for the Step-mother was forever petting and caressing the man’s
-daughter, and could not make enough of her. But that was only for a
-while, for as the maid grew in years she grew prettier and prettier, until
-there was none like her in all of that land.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day the Step-mother and the step-daughter walked together in the
-fields, for it was in the spring-time, the weather was pleasant, and the grass
-was fresh and green. Two crows sat on a flowering thorn.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Look,” says one crow, “yonder go two beauties.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>“Yes,” says the other, “but when you talk of good looks, the old one
-is to the young one as a cabbage is to a rose.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then, “Caw! caw!” they both cried, and flapped their wings and flew
-away.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was what the two crows said; and though the maiden knew
-nothing, the Step-mother could tell what passed between them as well as
-could be, for she had eaten a bite of the white snake, and knew all that
-the birds and the beasts said to one another. So her heart grew bitter
-with hatred and envy, and she began to cudgel her brains for some means
-to put the girl out of the way. That night she made a ball of hollow
-gold and wrote this and that upon it, which nobody but herself could
-read. The next day she and the girl walked in the fields again, and when
-nobody was near the wicked Step-mother took the golden ball out of her
-pocket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See,” said she, “here is a new plaything for you.” She threw it upon
-the ground, and it rolled and rolled and rolled, and, whether she liked it or
-not, the maiden had to follow wherever it went. On and on rolled the ball,
-for no matter how fast the girl ran she could not catch it. By and by she
-came to a dark, lonesome place, where was a great, deep pit. Into the pit
-rolled the golden ball, and the poor girl had to follow. So into the pit she
-fell, and there she lay, for the sides were as smooth as glass, and one would
-have to have feet like a fly to climb from the bottom to the top.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the witch Step-mother, she was well content with what she had
-done, for the two crows sat on the thorn-tree. And—</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Look,” said the first, “yonder goes the beauty.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“It is the truth that you speak,” said the second. “For the other
-followed the golden ball and fell into the deep pit!” And then they
-clapped their wings and away they flew.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the poor girl lay in the deep pit all alone, and cried and cried.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Suddenly a little door opened—click! clack!—and there was a little
-grey man no higher than a body’s knee, but with a long white beard that
-touched the ground.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” says he to the step-daughter, “and how came you here in the
-pit?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The girl told him all from beginning to end, and the little man listened
-to every word.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, now,” said he, when she had ended her story. “Since you are
-here in the deep pit and cannot get out, you shall be the queen of all the
-little men like myself, and we shall serve you, for you are the most beautiful
-maiden that ever my eyes looked upon.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>
-<img src='images/i_153.jpg' alt='The Step-daughter follows ye golden ball in spite of herself. )(' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>So there the maiden lived for many a long day, and the little man and
-others like him brought her rich food and wine, and covered all the inside
-of the pit with jewels and with gold, so that it was most splendid to see.
-And every day the maiden grew more and more beautiful.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day the young king of that country went a-hunting, and all of his
-court with him, and four-and-twenty hounds besides. They came riding by
-the pit where the maiden sat, and there the hounds stopped and began to
-whimper and to howl, for they knew very well that human flesh and blood
-was down below.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Listen to the hounds,” says the king; “there is somebody fallen into
-the pit; now who will go down and bring the unfortunate up again?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this everybody looked at his neighbor, but nobody said, “I will go.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” said the king, “then I myself will go down into the pit,
-if no one else dares to venture.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the others lowered the king into the pit, and when he reached the
-bottom you can guess how he stared and how he wondered; but he had
-no eyes for the jewels and gold that covered the walls; he had often seen
-the like of them, but never in all of his days had he beheld such a beauty
-as the maiden he found there.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the people above hauled them up together, and the king set her
-upon a milk-white horse, and then they all rode away to the palace, for
-that was where he was to take her. There they dressed her in splendid
-clothes and put a golden crown upon her head, and then she and the king
-were married. Around her neck he hung a golden chain and a locket, and
-in the locket was a picture of himself; on her finger he slipped a ring, and
-within were secret words which nobody but he and she knew.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day the wicked Step-mother was walking in the fields, and the two
-crows sat on the thorn-tree.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Look,” says the first crow, “yonder goes the beauty.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says the second, “but she is only as a cabbage to a rose when
-compared to the lass who followed the golden ball down into the pit, and
-who has married the handsome young king over at the castle yonder.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then, “Caw! caw!” they cried, and flapped their wings and flew away.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the Step-mother, her heart was ready to burst with anger and
-with spite. Home she went and began to think of what she should do to
-put her step-daughter out of the way again.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>
-<img src='images/i_155.jpg' alt='The Young King goeth down into the pit and bringeth up ye maiden.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>She took some dough and some feathers, and of them she made an old
-hen and six chicks. She put them in the oven and baked them, and when
-she drew them out again they were all of pure gold. But the strangest
-of all was, that when she set them upon the table the little golden hen
-strutted and clucked, and the chicks cried, “Peep! peep!” and followed at
-her heels.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the woman clad herself in a strange dress, so that no one might
-know who she was. She hid a long, keen silver pin in her bosom, and off
-she set for the castle with the golden hen and the golden chickens in a
-basket wrapped up in a white napkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>She set her basket on the ground under the palace window, and when
-the folks within saw the little clucking hen and her chicks, all made of
-pure gold that shone in the sunlight, they could not look enough.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off ran one and told the queen, who came and looked and looked, and
-wondered and wondered, until by and by she longed for the golden hen
-and the golden chickens as she had never longed for anything in all of her
-life before. So she called one of her maids, and sent her down to ask the
-strange woman the price of her golden chickens.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut!” says the wicked witch of a Step-mother, “who are you that
-you should come to talk with me? If the young queen would buy my
-wares she must come and bargain with me herself.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So down went the young queen to the wicked Step-mother; “And
-what is the price of your hen and chicks, my good woman,” said she, for
-she did not know the other, because of the strange dress in which she
-was clad.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh! it is little or nothing I ask for my hen and chickens,” said the
-wicked Step-mother to the beautiful queen. “If you will give me a kiss
-down in the garden back of the rose-tree yonder, you may have the
-chickens and welcome.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes; the queen was willing enough to pay the price, if that was all
-the woman wanted. So off they went back of the rose-tree, she and the
-Step-mother. There the witch drew out the silver pin from her bosom,
-and as she kissed the queen she thrust the pin deep into her head. Then
-quick as a wink the queen was changed into a white dove and flew away
-over the tree-tops.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off went the Step-mother, and was as pleased with what she had done
-this time as with what she had done that time; for the two crows sat on
-the thorn-tree, and the first crow said to the second crow, “Yonder goes
-the beauty.” And the second crow said to the first, “Yes, there is none to
-compare with her now that the young queen has been changed to a white
-dove.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>
-<img src='images/i_157.jpg' alt='The Step-mother bringeth mischief upon the Young Queen by sundry magic spells.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>At the king’s castle they hunted for the queen high, and they hunted
-for the queen low, but could find neither thread nor hair of her. As for
-the white dove, it had flown in at a window, and there the little cook-boy
-found it, and caught it and sold it to the cook for a penny. So the
-beautiful white dove sat over the kitchen window, and did nothing but
-mourn from the dawn to the gloaming.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day the folk in the kitchen were talking together. The king was
-lying sick abed and dying of a broken heart because his beautiful young
-queen was nowhere to be found. That was what they said, and the white
-bird heard every word of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next morning when they came to the kitchen there was a beautiful
-sweet cake lying upon a white napkin, and on the cake were written these
-words:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Break this, my king, and ease thy sorrow.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>They took the sweet cake to the king where he lay, and he broke it as
-the words told him to. Within it he found the ring which he had given
-to the queen, inside of which were written words which no one but he and
-she knew.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Where did this come from?” said he; but nobody could tell him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Where the ring came from,” said he, “there will the queen be found.”
-And up he got from his bed and dressed himself, and ate his breakfast with
-a cheerful face.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>They talked about what had happened down in the kitchen, and the
-white dove heard it all.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Next morning there, on a fine linen napkin, lay another cake like the
-first, and on it was written:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Break this, my king, and be comforted.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>They took it up to the king as they had done the first. And the king
-snatched it like a hungry man. He broke the cake, and there was the
-necklace and the locket that he had given the queen.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Where did this come from?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But they could tell him no more about that than about the other.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>All the same, they talked about it down in the kitchen, and the white
-dove heard what was said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But that night the little cook-boy hid in the closet to watch, for he
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>wanted to see who it was that brought the cakes that they took up-stairs
-to the king. So he watched and watched, and by and by the clock struck
-twelve. And when the last stroke sounded the dove flew down from over
-the window, and as soon as it lit upon the floor it was the white dove
-no longer, but the queen herself. She made a sweet cake of sugar and
-of flour, and in it she put a feather as white as silver. Then she became
-the white dove again, and flew back over the window where she had sat
-before.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_159.jpg' alt='The Young King caresses ye white dove.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next morning they found the third cake lying upon a white napkin,
-and on the cake was written:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Break this, my king, for the time has come.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>They took it up to the king and he broke it, and there was the white
-feather.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the king called everybody that was in the castle, and asked each
-one in turn if he or she could tell where the sweet cake had come from.
-But no; nobody knew, until last of all they questioned the kitchen-boy.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes,” said he, “I know who it was that brought the cake. Last
-night the white dove in the kitchen flew down from over the window and
-became the queen herself; she made the sweet cake and laid it upon the
-white napkin, for I saw her do it with my own eyes.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Up they brought the white dove from the kitchen, and the king took
-it in his own hands and held it up to his bosom, and stroked it and
-caressed it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“If thou art my queen,” said he, “why dost thou not speak to me?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the dove answered never a word, and the king stroked it and
-stroked it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by he felt something, and when he came to look it was the head
-of the silver pin. He drew it forth, and there stood the young queen again
-in her own true shape.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>She told everything that had happened to her from the first to the last,
-and how her Step-mother had treated her. Then, hui! but the king was
-angry! He sent a great lot of soldiers off to the father’s house to bring
-the Step-mother to the castle so that she might be punished for her
-wickedness. But she was not to be caught as easily as a sparrow in a
-rain-storm; she jumped upon a broom straw, and—puff!—away she flew
-up the chimney, and that was the last that anybody saw of her so far as
-ever I heard.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But they brought the father over to the king’s castle, where he sat in
-the warmest corner and had the best that was to be had.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That is all of this story, and if you see a blind mouse run across the
-floor throw your cap over it and catch it, for it is yours.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_160.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_161.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>One O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in4'>The <i>Kobold</i> lies, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Hazy. Very pleasant.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in4'>And blinks his <i>Eyes</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>Under the <i>Grape-vine</i> leaves.</div>
-      <div class='line in4'>The <i>Chickens</i> scratch</div>
-      <div class='line in4'>In a sunny <i>Patch</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And the <i>Sparrows</i> fight on the <i>Eaves</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in4'>The <i>Bee-Hive</i> hums;</div>
-      <div class='line in4'>The <i>House-wife</i> comes,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And looks outside the <i>Door</i>.</div>
-      <div class='line in4'>The speckled <i>Chick</i></div>
-      <div class='line in4'>Hops in, to pick <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>K.P. des.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Crumbs</i> from off the <i>Floor</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_163.jpg' alt='Master Jacob.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XIII.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_163.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-Once upon a time there was a man whose name was
-just Master Jacob and nothing more.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>All that Master Jacob had in the world was a
-good fat pig, two black goats, a wife, and a merry
-temper—which was more than many a better man
-than he had, for the matter of that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, now,” says Master Jacob, “I will drive the
-fat pig to the market to-morrow; who knows but
-that I might strike a bit of a sale.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Do,” says Master Jacob’s wife, for she was of the good sort, and always
-nodded when he said “yes,” as the saying goes.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now there were three rogues in the town over the hill, who lived in
-plenty; one was the priest, one was the provost, and one was the master
-mayor; and which was the greatest rogue of the three it would be a hard
-matter to tell, but perhaps it was the priest.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, now,” says the priest to the other two, “Master Jacob, who lives
-over yonder way, is going to bring his fat pig to market to-morrow. If you
-have a mind for a trick, we will go snacks in what we win, and each of us
-will have a rib or two of bacon hanging in the pantry, and a string or so of
-sausages back in the chimney without paying so much as a brass button for
-them.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, of course that was a tune to which the others were willing to
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>dance. So the rogue of a priest told them to do thus and so, and to say
-this and that, and they would cheat Master Jacob out of his good fat pig as
-easily as a beggar eats buttered parsnips.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the next morning off starts Master Jacob to the market, driving his
-fat pig before him with a bit of string around the leg of it. Down he comes
-into the town, and the first one whom he meets is the master priest.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“How do you find yourself, Master Jacob?” says the priest, “and where
-are you going with that fine, fat dog?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Dog!” says Master Jacob, opening his eyes till they were as big and
-as round as saucers. “Dog! Prut! It is as fine a pig as ever came into
-this town, I would have you know.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“What!” says the priest. “Do you try to tell me that that is a pig,
-when I can see with both of my ears and all of my eyes that it is a great,
-fat dog?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a dog!” says the priest.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a dog!” says the priest.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Just then who should come along but the provost, with his hands in his
-pockets and his pipe in his mouth, looking as high and mighty as though he
-owned all of that town and the sun and the moon into the bargain.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Look, friend,” says the priest. “We have been saying so and so and
-so and so, just now. Will you tell me, <i>is</i> that a pig, or <i>is</i> it a dog?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut!” says the provost, “how you talk, neighbor! Do you take me
-for a fool I should like to know? Why, it is as plain as the nose on your
-face that it is a great, fat dog.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a pig!” bawled Master Jacob.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a dog!” says the provost.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a dog!” says the provost.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I say it is a pig!” says Master Jacob.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come, come,” says the priest, “let us have no high words over the
-matter. No, no; we will take it to the mayor. If he says that it is a pig
-we two will give you ten shillings; and if he says it is a dog, you will give
-the animal to us as a penance.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, Master Jacob was satisfied with that, for he was almost certain
-that it was a pig. So off they marched to the mayor’s house. There the
-priest told all about the matter, for he was used to talking. “And now,”
-says he, “<i>is</i> it a pig, or <i>is</i> it a dog?”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>
-<img src='images/i_165.jpg' alt='Master Jacob comes to ye town with his fine, fat pig and there falls in with the Priest and the Provost.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>“Why,” says the mayor, “I wish I may be choked to death with a
-string of sausages if it is not a dog, and a big dog and a fat dog into the
-bargain.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So there was an end of the matter, and Master Jacob had to march off
-home without his pig and with no more in his pockets than he had before.
-All the same, he saw what kind of trick had been played on him, and,
-says he to himself, “What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
-If one can pipe another can whistle; I’ll just try a bit of a trick myself.”
-So he went to his wife and told her that he had a mind to do thus and so,
-and that she must do this and that; for he thought of trying his hand at a
-little trickery as well as other folks.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now, as I told you before, Master Jacob had two goats, both of them as
-black as the inside of your hat at midnight; moreover, they were as like as
-two spoons in the same dish; for no one could have told them apart unless
-he had lived with them year in and year out, rainy weather and clear, as
-Master Jacob had done.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the next day Master Jacob tied a rope around the neck of one of
-the goats, took down a basket from the wall, and started off to the town
-over the hill, leading his goat behind him. By and by he came to the market
-place and began buying many and one things, until his basket was as
-full as it could hold. After a while whom should he see coming along but
-the priest and the provost and the mayor, walking arm in arm as bold as
-you please.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Halloa, Master Jacob,” said they, “and what have you there?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“The blessed saints only know that,” said Master Jacob. “It may be a
-black cat for all that I know; it <i>was</i> a black goat when I left home this
-morning.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And what was Master Jacob going to do with his little black goat?
-That was what they should like to know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh,” said Master Jacob, “I am about to send my little black goat on
-an errand; if you will wait you shall see for yourselves.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then what did he do but hang the basket around the goat’s neck.
-“Go home to your mistress,” said he, “and tell her to boil the beef and
-cabbage for dinner to-day; and, stop! tell her to go to Neighbor Nicholas’s
-house and borrow a good big jug of beer, for I have a masterful thirst
-this morning.” Then he gave the goat a slap on the back, and off it went
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>as though the ground were hot under it. But whether it ever really went
-home or not, I never heard.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_167.jpg' alt='Master Jacob takes his black goat to town.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the priest, the provost, and the mayor, you may guess how they
-grinned at all of this. Good land sake’s alive! And did Master Jacob
-really mean to say that the little black goat would tell the mistress all
-that?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes; that it would. It was a keen blade, that little black goat,
-and if they would only come home with him, Master Jacob would show
-them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off they all went, Master Jacob and the priest and the provost and
-the mayor, and after a while they came to Master Jacob’s house. Yes, sure
-enough, there was a black goat feeding in the front yard, and how should
-the priest and the provost and the mayor know that it was not the same
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>one that they had seen at the market-place! And just then out came
-Master Jacob’s wife. “Come in, Jacob,” says she, “the cabbage and the
-meat are all ready. As for the beer, Neighbor Nicholas had none to spare,
-so I just borrowed a jugful of Neighbor Frederick, and it is as good as the
-other for certain and sure.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear! how the three cronies did open their eyes when they heard
-all of this! They would like to have such a goat as that, indeed they would.
-Now, if Master Jacob had a mind to sell his goat, they would give as much
-as twenty dollars for it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, no; Master Jacob could not think of selling his nice little, dear little
-black goat for twenty dollars.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>For thirty, then.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No; Master Jacob would not sell his goat for thirty dollars, either.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, they would give as much as forty.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No; forty dollars was not enough for such a goat as that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So they bargained and bargained till the upshot of the matter was that
-they paid Master Jacob fifty dollars, and marched off with the goat as
-pleased as pleased could be.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the three rogues were not long in finding out what a trick had
-been played upon them, I can tell you. So, in a day or two, whom should
-Master Jacob see coming down the road but the priest, the provost, and the
-master mayor, and anybody could see with half an eye that they were in an
-awful fume.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” says Master Jacob, “there will be hot water boiling presently.”
-In he went to his good wife. “Here,” says he, “take this bladder of blood
-that we were going to make into pudding, and hide it under your apron,
-and then when I do this and that, you do thus and so.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Presently in came the priest, the provost, and the mayor, bubbling and
-sizzling like water on slake lime. “What kind of a goat was that that you
-sold us?” bawled they, as soon as they could catch their breaths.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“My black goat,” says Master Jacob.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then look! He would run on no errands, and would do nothing that
-it was told. It was of no more use about the house than five wheels
-to a wagon. Now Master Jacob might just go and put his hat on
-and come along with them, for they were about to take him away to
-prison.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But stop a bit,” says Master Jacob. “Did you say ‘by the great horn
-spoon,’ when you told the goat to do this or that?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>No; the cronies had done nothing of the kind, for Master Jacob had
-said nothing about a great horn spoon when he sold them the goat.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why didn’t you remind me?” says Master Jacob to his good wife.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I didn’t think of it,” says she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You didn’t?” says he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No,” says she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then take that!” says he, and he out with a great sharp knife and
-jabbed it into the bladder under her apron, so that the blood ran out like
-everything.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Ugh!” says the good wife, and then fell down and lay quite still, just
-for all the world as though she were dead.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the three cronies saw this, they gaped like fish out of water. Just
-look now! Master Jacob had gone and killed his good wife, and all for
-nothing at all. Dear, dear! what a hasty temper the man had. Now he
-had gotten himself into a pretty scrape, and would have to go before the
-judge and settle the business with him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Tut! tut!” says Master Jacob, “the broth is not all in the ashes yet.
-Perhaps I am a bit hasty, but we will soon mend this stocking.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So he went to the closet in the corner of the room, and brought out a
-little tin horn. He blew a turn or two over his wife, whereat she sneezed,
-and then sat up as good and as sound as ever.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the priest and the provost and the mayor, they thought that they
-had never seen anything so wonderful in all of their lives before. They
-must and would have that tin horn if it was to be had; now, how much
-would Master Jacob take for it, money down?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, Master Jacob did not want to part with his horn; all the same, if
-he had to sell it, he would just as lief that they should buy it as anybody.
-So they bargained and bargained, and the end of the matter was that they
-paid down another fifty dollars and marched off with the little tin horn,
-blowing away at it for dear life.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by they came home, and there stood the goat, nibbling at the
-grass in front of the house and thinking of no harm at all. “So!” says
-the provost, “was it you that would do nothing for us without our saying,
-‘By the great horn spoon?’ Take that then!” And he fetched the
-goat a thwack with his heavy walking-staff so that it fell down, and lay
-with no more motion than a stone. “There,” says he, “that business is
-done; and now lend me the horn a minute, brother, till I fetch him back
-again.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>Well, he blew and he blew, and he blew and he blew, till he was as red
-in the face as a cherry, but the goat moved never so much as a single hair.
-Then the priest took a turn at the horn, but he had no better luck than the
-provost. Last of all the mayor had a try at it; but he might as well have
-blown the horn over a lump of dough for all the answer he had for his
-blowing.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then it began to work into their heads that they had been befooled
-again. Phew! what a passion they were in. I can only say that I am glad
-that I was not in Master Jacob’s shoes. “We’ll put him in prison right
-away,” said they, and off they went to do as they said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Master Jacob saw them coming down the road, and was ready
-for them this time too. He took two pots and filled them with pitch,
-and over the top of the pitch he spread gold and silver money, so that
-if you had looked into the pots you would have thought that there was
-nothing in them but what you saw on the top. Then he took the pots off
-into the little woods back of the house. Now in the woods was a great
-deep pit, and all around the pit grew a row of bushes, so thick that nothing
-was to be seen of the mouth of the hole.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by came the priest and the mayor and the provost to Master
-Jacob’s house, puffing and blowing and fuming.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Rap! rap! tap! they knocked at the door, but nobody was there but
-Master Jacob’s wife.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Was Master Jacob at home? That was what they wanted to know,
-for they had a score to settle with him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, Master Jacob’s wife did not know just where he was, but she
-thought that he was in the little woods back of the house yonder, gathering
-money.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Phew! and did money grow so near to the house as all that? This was
-a matter to be looked into, for if money was to be gathered they must have
-their share. So off they went to the woods, hot-foot.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; there was Master Jacob, sure enough, and what was more, he was
-carrying two pots, one on each arm.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi! Master Jacob, and what have you there?” said they.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, nothing much,” says Master Jacob.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; that was all very good, but they would like to look into
-those pots that he was carrying; that was what the three cronies
-said.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>
-<img src='images/i_171.jpg' alt='The Priest, the Provost and the Master Mayor blow and blow the little tin trumpet over ye black goat. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>“Well,” says Master Jacob, “you may look into the pots if you choose;
-all the same, I will tell you that they are both full of pitch, and that
-there is only just a little money scattered over the top.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, yes; that was all very well, but the three cronies knew the
-smell of money from the smell of pitch. See now, they had been
-fooled twice already, and were not to be caught again. Now, where
-did Master Jacob get that money, that was what they wanted to
-know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh,” says Master Jacob, “I cannot tell you that; if you want to
-gather money you will have to look for it yourselves. But you must not
-go too near to those thick bushes yonder, for there is a deep pit hidden
-there, and you will be sure to fall into it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the priest and the provost and the mayor heard this, they nudged
-one another with their elbows and winked with one eye. They knew how
-much of that cheese to swallow. They would just take a look at this wonderful
-pit, for they thought that the money was hidden in the bushes for
-sure and certain. So off they went as fast as they could lay foot to the
-ground.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Just you stay here,” said the priest to the others, “while I go and
-see whether there really is a pit as he said.” For he thought to himself
-that he would go and gather a pocketful of the money before it would be
-share and share with his comrades. So, into the thicket he jumped, and—plump!—he
-fell into the great, deep pit; and there was an end of number
-one.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by the others grew tired of tarrying. “I’ll go and see what he
-is waiting for,” says the provost. For he thought to himself, “He is filling
-his pockets, and I might as well have my share.” So, into the thicket he
-jumped, and—plump!—he fell into the great, deep pit; and there was an
-end of number two.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the mayor, he waited and waited. “What a fool am I,” said he
-at last, “to sit here twiddling my thumbs while the two rogues yonder are
-filling their pockets without me. It is little or nothing but the scraps and
-the bones that I will come in for.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the upshot of the matter was that he too ran and jumped into the
-thicket, and heels over head into the great, deep pit, and there was an end
-of number three. And if Master Jacob ever helped them out, you may
-depend upon it that he made them promise to behave themselves in time
-to come.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>
-<img src='images/i_173.jpg' alt='Master Jacob with his two pots meets the three cronies in the woods.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>And this is true that I tell you: it would have been cheaper for them to
-have bought their pork in the first place, for, as it was, they paid a pretty
-penny for it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for Master Jacob and his good wife, they had a hundred dollars in
-good hard money, and if they did not get along in the world with that, why
-I, for one, want nothing more to do with them.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_174.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_175.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Two O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>They shake the <i>Bread-Crumbs</i></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Out of the <i>Door</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>They scrub the <i>Table</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And sand the <i>Floor</i>; <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Some thunder.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Clear.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>They shoo out the <i>Chickens</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And <i>Cats</i>, and all,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And say “<i>Run, Johnnie,</i></div>
-      <div class='line in2'><i>And play with your Ball</i>.”</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in24'>K.P.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_177.jpg' alt='Peterkin and the Little Grey Hare.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XIV.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_177.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There was a man who died and left behind him three
-sons, and nothing but two pennies to each.  So, as
-there was little to be gained by scraping the dish at
-home, off they packed to the king’s house, where
-they might find better faring. The two elder lads
-were smart fellows enough; as for Peterkin, he was
-the youngest—why, nobody thought much of him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off they went—tramp! tramp! tramp!—all three together. By and
-by they came to a great black forest where little was to be seen either
-before or behind them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There old Father Hunger met them, and that was the worse for them,
-for there was nothing at all to eat. They looked here and there, and, after
-a while, what should they come across but a little grey hare caught in a
-snare.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then, if anybody was glad, it was the two elder brothers. “Here is
-something to stay our stomachs,” said they.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Peterkin had a soft heart in his breast. “See, brothers,” said he,
-“look how the poor thing turns up its eyes. Sure it would be a pity to
-take its life, even though our stomachs do grumble a bit.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the two elder brothers were deaf in that ear. They had gone
-without their dinners long enough, and they were no such foolish fellows
-as to throw it away, now that it had come to them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Peterkin begged and begged, until, at last, the two said that they
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>would let the Little Grey Hare go free if he would give them the two
-pennies that he had in his pocket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, Peterkin let them have the pennies, and they let the hare go, and
-glad enough it was to get away, I can tell you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, Peterkin,” it said, speaking as plainly as a Christian, “you shall
-lose nothing by this. When you are in a tight place, whistle on your
-fingers—thus—and perhaps help will come to you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then it thumped its feet on the ground and away it scampered.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for Peter’s brothers, they laughed and laughed. A fool and his
-money were soon parted, said they. How could a little grey hare help him,
-they should like to know?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while they came to the town, where Peterkin’s brothers took up
-their lodgings at a good inn. As for Peterkin, he had to go and sleep in
-the straw, for one cannot spend money and have it both. So while the
-brothers were eating broth with meat in it, Peterkin went with nothing.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I wonder,” said he, “if the Little Grey Hare can help me now.” So
-he whistled on his fingers, just as it had told him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then who should come hopping and skipping along but the Little Grey
-Hare itself. “What do you want, Peterkin?” it said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I should like,” said Peterkin, “to have something to eat.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Nothing easier than that,” said the Little Grey Hare; and before one
-could wink twice a fine feast, fit for a king, was spread out before him, and
-he fell to as though he had not eaten a bite for seven years.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that he slept like a flat stone, for one can sleep well even in the
-straw, if one only has a good supper within one.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the next morning had come, the two elder brothers bought them
-each a good new coat with brass buttons. Peterkin they said would have
-to go as he was, for patches and tatters were good enough for such a spendthrift.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Peterkin knew a way out of that hole. Back of the house he went,
-and there he blew on his fingers.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“What will you have?” said the Little Grey Hare.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I should like,” said Peterkin, “to have a fine new suit of clothes, so
-that I can go to the king’s house with my brothers and not be ashamed.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“If that is all that you want,” said the Hare, “it is little enough;” and
-there lay the finest suit of clothes that Peterkin had ever seen, for it was all
-of blue silk sewed with golden threads. So Peterkin dressed himself in his
-fine clothes, and you may guess how his brothers stared when they saw him.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>
-<img src='images/i_179.jpg' alt='Peterkin’s brothers marvel at the fine clothes that the hare gave him.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>Off they all went to the king’s house, and there was the king feeding
-his chickens; for that was all the work he had upon his hands, and an easy
-life he led of it. The king looked at Peterkin, and thought that he had
-never seen such fine clothes. Did they want service? Well, the king
-thought that he might give it to them. The oldest brother might tend
-the pigs, the second might look after the cows. But as for Peterkin, he
-was so spruce and neat that he might stay in the house and open the door
-when folks knocked. That was what his fine clothes did for him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Peterkin had the soft feathers in that nest, for he sat in the warm
-chimney all day, and had the scraping of the pipkins when good things had
-been cooked.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, things went quietly enough for a while, but the elder brothers
-kept up a great buzzing in their heads, I can tell you; for one does not
-like to see another step in front of one, and that is the truth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So, one day, who should come to the king but the two elder brothers.
-Perhaps, said they, the king did not know it, but there was a giant over
-yonder who had a grey goose that laid a golden egg every day of her life.
-Now Peterkin had said more than once, and over and over again, that he
-was man enough to get the grey goose for the king whenever the king
-wanted it. You can guess how this tickled the king’s ears. Off he sent
-for Peterkin, and Peterkin came.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Hui! how Peterkin opened his eyes when he heard what the king
-wanted. He had never said that he could get the giant’s goose; he vowed
-and swore that he had not. But it was to no purpose that he talked, the
-king wanted the grey goose, and Peterkin would have to get it for him.
-He might have three days for the business, and that was all. Then, if he
-brought the grey goose, he should have two bags of gold money; if he
-did not bring it he should pack off to the prison.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Peterkin left the king, and if anybody was down in the mouth in
-all of the world it was Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Perhaps,” said he, “the Little Grey Hare can help me.” So he blew
-a turn or two on his fingers, and the Little Grey Hare came hopping and
-skipping up to him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>What was Peterkin in the dumps about now? That was what it wanted
-to know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Why, the king wanted him to get such and such a grey goose from
-over at the giant’s house, and Peterkin knew no more about it than a red
-herring in a box; that was the trouble.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>“Oh, well,” says the Little Grey Hare, “maybe that can be cured;
-just go to the king and ask for this and that and the other thing, and we
-will see what can be done about the business.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off went Peterkin to the king; perhaps he could get the grey goose
-after all, but he must have three barrels of soft pitch, and a bag of barley-corn,
-and a pot of good tallow.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The king let him have all that he wanted, and then the Little Grey
-Hare took Peterkin and the three barrels of soft pitch and the bag of
-barley-corn and the pot of good tallow on its back, and off it went till the
-wind whistled behind Peterkin’s ears.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>(Now that was a great load for a little grey hare; but I tell the story
-to you just as Time’s Clock told it to me.)</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while they came to a river, and then the Little Grey Hare said:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Brother Pike! Brother Pike! Here are folks would like to cross the
-wide river.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then up came a great river pike, and on his back he took Peterkin and
-the Little Grey Hare and the three barrels of pitch and the sack of barley-corn
-and the pot of good tallow, and away he swam till he had brought
-them from this side to that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>(Now that was a great load for a river pike to carry; but as Time’s
-Clock told the story to me I tell it to you.)</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the Little Grey Hare went on and on again until it came to a
-high hill, and on the top of the high hill was a great house; that was
-where the giant lived.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Peterkin took the soft pitch and made a wide pathway of it.
-After that he smeared his feet all over with the tallow, so that he stuck
-to the soft pitch no more than water sticks to a cabbage leaf. Then he
-shouldered his bag of barley-corn and went up to the giant’s castle, and
-hunted around and hunted around until he had found where the grey
-goose was; and it was in the kitchen and would not come out. But
-Peterkin had a way to bring it; he scattered the barley-corn all about,
-and when the grey goose saw that, it came out quickly enough and began
-to eat the grains as fast as it could gobble. But Peterkin did not give it
-much time for this, for up he caught it, and off he went as fast as he could
-scamper.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the grey goose flapped its wings and began squalling. “Master!
-master! Here I am! here I am! It is Peterkin who has me!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Out ran the giant with his great iron club, and after Peterkin he came
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>as fast as he could lay foot to the ground. But Peterkin had the buttered
-side of the cake this time, for he ran over the pitch road as easily as though
-it were made of good stones; that was because his boots were smeared with
-tallow. As for the giant, he stuck to it as a fly sticks to the butter, so that
-it was very slow travelling that he made of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the hare took Peterkin up on its back, and away it scampered till
-the wind whistled behind his ears. When it had come to the river it said:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Brother Pike! Brother Pike! Here are folks would like to cross the
-wide river.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the pike took them on its back and away they went. But it was
-a tight squeeze through that crack, I can tell you, for they had hardly left
-the shore when up came the giant, fuming and boiling like water in the pot.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Is that you, Peterkin?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes; it is I,” said Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And did you steal my grey goose?” said the giant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes; I stole your grey goose,” said Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what would you do if you were me and I were you?” said the
-giant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I would do what I could,” said Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the giant went back home, shaking his head and talking to
-himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the king got the grey goose, and was as glad as glad could be. And
-Peterkin got the bags of gold, and was glad also. Thus there were two in
-the world pleased at the same time.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now the king could not make too much of Peterkin. It was
-Peterkin here and Peterkin there, till Peterkin’s brothers were as sour as
-bad beer over the matter.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So, one day, they came buzzing in the king’s ear again; perhaps the king
-did not know it, but that same giant had a silver bell, and every time that
-the bell was rung a good dinner was spread ready for the eating. Now,
-Peterkin had been saying to everybody that he could get that bell for the
-king just as easily as he had gotten the grey goose. At this the king
-pricked up his ears, for it tickled them to hear such talk. He sent for
-Peterkin to come to him, and Peterkin came. He vowed and swore that
-he had said nothing about getting the giant’s bell. But it was of no use;
-he only wasted his breath. The king wanted the silver bell, and the king
-must have it. Peterkin should have three days in which to get it. If he
-brought it at the end of that time, he should have half of the kingdom to
-rule over. If he did not bring it he should have his ears clipped; so there
-was an end of that talk.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>
-<img src='images/i_183.jpg' alt='Peterkin, with ye help of the hare, carries off the Giant’s goose. —(' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>It was a bad piece of business, but off Peterkin went and blew on his
-fingers, and up came the Little Grey Hare.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well,” said the Little Grey Hare, “and what is the trouble with us
-now?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Why, the king wanted a little silver bell that was over at the giant’s house,
-and he had to go and get it for him; that was the trouble with Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well,” says the Little Grey Hare, “there is no telling what one can do
-till one tries; just get a little wad of tow and come along, and we will see
-what we can make of it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Peterkin got the wad of tow, and then he sat him on the Little Grey
-Hare’s back, and away they went till the wind whistled behind his ears.
-When they came to the river the Little Grey Hare called on the pike, and
-up it came and carried them over as it had done before. By and by they
-came to the giant’s house, and this time the giant was away from home,
-which was a lucky thing for Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Peterkin climbed into the window, and hunted here and there till he
-had found the little silver bell. Then he wrapped the tow around the
-clapper, but, in spite of all that he could do, it made a jingle or two. Then
-away he scampered to the Little Grey Hare. He mounted on its back,
-and off they went.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the giant heard the jingle of the little silver bell, and home he came
-as fast as his legs could carry him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He hunted here and there till he found the track of Peterkin, then after
-him he went, three miles at a step.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When he came to the river, there was Peterkin, just out of harm’s way.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Is that you, Peterkin?” bawled the giant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes; it is I,” said Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And have you stolen my silver bell?” said the giant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes; I have stolen your silver bell,” said Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And have you stolen my grey goose too?” said the giant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; Peterkin had stolen that too.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what would you do if you were me and I were you?” said the
-giant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I would do what I could,” said Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the giant went back home, grumbling and muttering to himself,
-and if Peterkin had been by it would have been bad for Peterkin.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>
-<img src='images/i_185.jpg' alt='Peterkin bringeth ye little silver bell of the Giant to the King. |' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>Dear, dear! but the king was glad to get the silver bell; as for Peterkin,
-he was a great man now, for he ruled over half of the kingdom.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But now the two elder brothers were less pleased than ever before; they
-grumbled and talked together until the upshot of the matter was that they
-went to the king for the third time. Peterkin had been bragging and talking
-again. This time he had said that the giant over yonder had a sword
-of such a kind that it gave more light in the dark than fourteen candles,
-and that he could get the sword as easily as he had gotten the grey goose
-and the little silver bell.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that nothing would satisfy the king but for Peterkin to go and
-get the sword. Peterkin argued and talked, and talked and argued, but it
-was for no good; he might have talked till the end of all things. The
-king wanted the sword, and the king must have it. If Peterkin could bring
-it to him in three days’ time he might have the princess for his wife; if he
-came back empty-handed he should have a good thong of skin cut off of his
-back from top to bottom; that was what the king said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So there was nothing for it but for Peterkin to whistle on his fingers for
-the Little Grey Hare once more.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what is it this time?” said the Little Grey Hare.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Why, the king wanted such and such a kind of sword, and Peterkin must
-go and get it for him; that was the trouble.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, well; there might be a hole in this hedge as well as another.
-But this time Peterkin must borrow one of the princess’s dresses and her
-golden comb; then one might see what could be done.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Peterkin went to the king and said that he must have the dress and
-the comb, and the king let him have them. Then he mounted on the Little
-Grey Hare and—whisk!—away they went as fast as before.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, they crossed the river and came to the giant’s house once more.
-There Peterkin dressed himself in the princess’s dress, and combed his hair
-with her golden comb; and as he combed his hair it grew longer and longer,
-and the end of the matter was that he looked for all the world like as fine
-and strapping a lass as ever a body saw. Then he went up to the giant’s
-house, and—rap! tap! tap!—he knocked at the door as bold as brass. The
-giant was in this time, and he came and opened the door himself. But
-when he saw what he thought was a fine lass, he smiled as though he had
-never eaten anything in all his life but soft butter.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Perhaps the pretty lass would come in and sit down for a bit; that was
-what he said to Peterkin.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>
-<img src='images/i_187.jpg' alt='Peterkin as a girl combs the Giant’s hair.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes! that suited Peterkin; of course he would come in. So in he
-came, and then he and the giant sat down to supper together. After they
-had eaten as much as they could the giant laid his head in Peterkin’s lap,
-and Peterkin combed his hair and combed his hair, until he fell fast asleep
-and began to snore so that he made the cinders fly up the chimney.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Peterkin rose up softly and took down the Sword of Light from
-the wall. After that he went out on tiptoes and mounted the Little Grey
-Hare, and away they went till the chips flew behind them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by the giant opened his eyes and saw that Peterkin was gone,
-and, what was more, his Sword of Light was gone also. Then what a rage
-he was in! Off he went after Peterkin and the Little Grey Hare, seven
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>miles at a step. But he was just a little too late, though there was no
-room to spare between Peterkin and him, and that is the truth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Is that you, Peterkin?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes; it is I,” said Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And have you stolen my Sword of Light?” said the giant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes; Peterkin had done that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what would you do if you were me and I were you?” said the giant.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I would drink the river dry and follow after,” said Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is good,” said the giant. So he laid himself down and drank and
-drank and drank, until he drank so much that he burst with a great noise,
-and there was an end of him!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The king was so pleased with the Sword of Light that it seemed as
-though he could not look at it and talk about it enough. As for Peterkin,
-he got the princess for his wife, and that pleased him also, you may be sure.
-The princess was pleased too, for Peterkin was a good, smart, tight bit of a
-lad, and that is what the girls like. So it was that everybody was pleased
-except the two elder brothers, who looked as sour as green gooseberries.
-But now Peterkin was an apple that hung too high for them to reach, and
-so they had to let him alone.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next day after the wedding, whom should Peterkin come across but
-the Little Grey Hare.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, Peterkin,” it said, “I have done much for you; will you do a little
-for me?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, indeed, that I will,” said Peterkin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then take the Sword of Light and cut off my head and feet,” said the
-Little Grey Hare.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No, no; Peterkin could never do such a thing as that; that would be a
-pretty way to treat a good friend.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Little Grey Hare begged and begged and begged, until at last
-Peterkin did as he asked; he cut off his head and his feet. Then who
-should stand before him but a handsome young prince, with yellow hair and
-blue eyes. That was what the Little Grey Hare had been all the time, only
-the giant had bewitched him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for Peterkin—well, this is the way of it; the youngest will step ahead
-of the others sometimes.</p>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_189.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Three O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Peddler-Man</i> is at the <i>Door</i>;<span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Make hay.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☐♆☉<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>It’s <i>Weeks</i> since he was here before.</div>
-      <div class='line'>He gives our little <i>John</i> a <i>Toy</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And says he is a fine, big <i>Boy</i>.</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Mistress</i> buys some <i>Flower Seeds</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And <i>Gretchen</i> gets some <i>Pins</i> and <i>Beads</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in28'>K.P.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_191.jpg' alt='Mother Hildegarde.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XV.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_191.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-Once upon a time there lived a king who had an only
-daughter, and the princess was more handsome than I
-can tell you. But the queen had been dead for so
-long that the king began to think about marrying
-a second time. So the upshot of the matter was
-that by and by there came a step-mother into the
-house, and a step-sister besides, for the new queen
-had a daughter of her own. And that was a sorrowful
-thing for the princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At first the new queen was kind enough to the poor girl; but before
-long there were other cakes baking in that oven, for the step-mother
-began saying to herself: “See, now, if this hussy were out of the way
-my own dear girl would be the first in the land, and might, in time,
-have the kingdom for her very own.” So, in the end, the poor princess
-found but little peace in the same house with the woman and her
-daughter.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day the step-mother, the step-sister, and the pretty princess sat
-together in the castle garden beside a deep cistern of water. By the cistern
-hung a silver cup for the use of those who wished to drink. And as
-they sat there the princess grew thirsty, and would have taken the cup to
-quench her thirst, but the step-mother stopped her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>“See, now,” said she, “if you must drink you will have to stoop to the
-water, for the silver cup is too good for such as you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Alas!” said the poor princess, “the time was when a cup of gold was
-not too good for me!” And thereupon she began to weep as though her
-heart would break. But there was no help for it; if she would drink she
-must stoop for it; so down she knelt and began to drink from the deep
-water without any thought or fear of harm.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But as the princess thus stooped and drank, the wicked step-mother
-came behind her without her knowing it, and gave her a push so that
-she fell headlong into the cistern and sank to the bottom. After
-that the step-mother and the step-sister went back to the castle again,
-rejoicing and thinking that now they were rid of the princess for good
-and all, and that the step-sister would be the first in all of the
-land.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But in this they counted black chicks before they were hatched; for
-when the princess sank down to the bottom of the cistern, she found herself
-in a great wide meadow, all covered over with bright flowers, as many as
-there are stars in the sky at night.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Across this meadow she went on and on and on; but never a single soul
-did she see until at last she came to a great, fine house that stood all alone
-by itself, without another to be seen, near or afar. In the doorway of the
-house stood an old woman, whom the princess saw very plainly was not
-like common folk.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And she was right, for the old woman was none other than Mother
-Hildegarde, who is so wise that she knows almost as much as Father Time
-himself. Thus it was that she knew all about the princess, and who she
-was and whence she came, without the asking. “Listen,” said she, “I will
-give you food and lodging, and will pay you well if you will serve me faithfully
-for the space of a year and a day.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That the princess was willing enough to do, for she was both tired and
-hungry; so into the house she went to serve Mother Hildegarde for a year
-and a day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But it was no common work that the princess did, I can tell you; for
-listen: When she blew the bellows that the fire might blaze the brighter,
-the wind swept over the great brown world so that every windmill turned
-around and around from Jacob Pfennigdrummel’s to the shores of the great
-black sea at the north end of the earth; and when she sprinkled the clothes,
-the blessed rain came tumbling down till all the gutters ran with water so
-that little folk had either to stay home from school or to go thither under
-great, wide umbrellas.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>
-<img src='images/i_193.jpg' alt='The Princess cometh into a wonderful country and to the house of a strange old woman. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>But of all this the pretty princess knew nothing whatever, but only
-thought that she blew the fire and sprinkled the clothes. And that is often
-the way of the world—at least, so Tommy Pfouce tells me.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, one day Mother Hildegarde said to the princess: “See, now; I
-am going off on a journey, and it may be a while before I am back again.
-Here are the keys of all of the house, and you are free to go wherever you
-choose. Only here is a black key that unlocks a little room into which
-you must not go; for if you do I will be sure to know it, and ill-luck will be
-certain to happen to you.” Then off she went, and the princess was left
-all alone.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The first day the lass went here, and the second day she went there,
-and the third day she had gone everywhere except into the little room
-where Mother Hildegarde had told her not to go; and she never wanted
-anything in all of her life as much as she wanted just to peep into that little
-room.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I wonder,” said she to herself—“I wonder what harm there could be
-in it if I were only to take one little peep?” So the upshot of the matter
-was that she went there just to look at the outside of the door.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I wonder,” said she, “if the key will fit the lock?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; it did fit it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I wonder,” said she, “if the key will turn the bolt?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; it did turn it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I wonder,” said she, “whether it would do any harm just to peep into
-the room?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And she did peep into it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Believe me or not, all the same I tell you the truth when I say that there
-was not one thing in the room but a covered jar, that stood in the middle
-of the floor. Of course the princess must have just one peep into the jar,
-for as she had gone as far as she had, there could be no more harm in this
-than in the other. So she went to the jar and took off the lid and peeped
-into it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And what do you think was in it? Nothing but water!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But as the princess looked into the water she saw Mother Hildegarde
-as though she were a great way off, and the Mother Hildegarde whom she
-saw in the water was looking at nobody in all of the world but her. As
-soon as the princess saw what she saw, she clapped down the lid of the jar
-again; but she clapped it down just a moment too late, for a lock of hair
-fell down over her face, and one single hair touched the water in the jar.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>
-<img src='images/i_195.jpg' alt='The Princess looks into that which she should not have done.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>Yes; only one single hair. But when the princess looked she saw that
-every lock upon her head was turned to pure gold. Then if anybody in all
-of the world was frightened it was the poor princess. She twisted up the
-hair upon the top of her head and bound her kerchief about it so that it
-was all hidden; but all the same the hair was there, and could never be
-changed from the gold again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Just then who should come walking into the house but Mother Hildegarde
-herself. “Have you obeyed all that I have told you?” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said the princess, but all the same she was so frightened that her
-knees knocked together.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Did you go into the little room?” said Mother Hildegarde.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No,” said the princess; but her heart beat so that she could hardly
-speak.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Mother Hildegarde snatched the kerchief off of the princess’s
-head, and her golden hair came tumbling down all about her shoulders,
-glittering, so that it was the finest sight that you could see between here
-and Nomansland.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then how came your hair to be like that?” said Mother Hildegarde.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I do not know,” said the princess; and then she began crying and sobbing
-as though her heart would break.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See now,” said Mother Hildegarde; “you have served me well for all of
-the time that you have been with me, therefore I will have pity upon you,
-only you must tell me the truth. Did you go into the little room while I
-was away?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But for all that Mother Hildegarde spoke ever so kindly the princess
-could not bring herself to speak the truth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No,” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then how came your hair to be like that?” said Mother Hildegarde.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I do not know,” said the princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this Mother Hildegarde frowned till her eyes burned like sparks of
-fire. She caught the princess by the arm and struck her staff upon the
-ground, and away they flew through the air till the wind whistled behind
-them. So by and by they came to a great forest, out of which there was no
-path to be found either to the east or the west or the north or the south.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>
-<img src='images/i_197.jpg' alt='The Princess dwells in the oak-tree where ye wild pigeons come to feed her.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>“See now,” said Mother Hildegarde, “because you have been faithful in
-your labor with me I will give you still another chance. But if you do not
-answer me truthfully this time, I will leave you alone here in the forest, and
-will take away your speech so that you will be as dumb as the beasts of the
-field. Did you go into the little room?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But still the princess hardened her heart and answered “No.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then how came your hair to be like that?” said Mother Hildegarde.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I do not know,” said the princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Mother Hildegarde went away, and left the princess alone in the
-forest as she had promised to do; and not only that, but she took away the
-princess’s speech, so that she was quite dumb. So in the forest the princess
-dwelt for a long, long time, and there she would have died of hunger, only
-that Mother Hildegarde still cared for her and sent the wood-pigeons to
-feed her, which they did from day to day and from week to week and from
-month to month. As for the princess, she lived in the branches of the
-trees, for she was afraid of the wild beasts that roamed through the wood.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by her clothes became nothing but rags and tatters, and then she
-had to weave her beautiful hair about her, so that she was clad all from
-head to foot in her golden tresses, and in them alone.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, one time it happened that a young king came riding into the
-forest to hunt the wild boars, and many of his people came along with him.
-Some of those who rode on before came suddenly to where a great flock
-of wood-pigeons flew about in the tree-tops above them. But when they
-looked up, you may guess how wonder-struck they were when they saw that
-the pigeons were feeding a beautiful maiden who sat in the branches above,
-clad all in her golden hair. Back they rode to the young king and told him
-all that they had seen, and up he came as fast as he could ride. There he
-saw the maiden and how beautiful she was, and he called to her to come
-down. But she only shook her head, for she could not speak, and she
-was ashamed of being found where she was. Then the young king, seeing
-that she would not come down from the branches to him, climbed up
-himself and brought her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He wrapped his cloak about her and set her on his horse in front of
-him, and then he and all that were with him rode away out of the dark
-forest and under the blue sky, until they had come to the king’s castle.
-But all the time the princess did nothing but weep and weep, for she
-could not speak a single word. The young king gave her to his mother
-to care for, who was none too glad to have such a dumb maiden brought
-into the house, even though the lass was as pretty as milk and rose leaves.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>
-<img src='images/i_199.jpg' alt='Mother Hildegarde carries ye baby away from the castle of the king.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>But the young king cared nothing whatever for what his mother thought
-about the matter, for the more he looked at the princess, the more beautiful
-she appeared in his eyes. So the end of the matter was that he married
-her, even though she had not a word to say for herself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, time went on and on, till one day the storks that lived on the
-castle roof brought a baby boy to the poor dumb princess, whereat everybody
-was as glad as glad could be.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But their gladness was soon changed to sadness, for that night, when
-every one in the king’s house was fast and sound asleep, Mother Hildegarde
-came softly into the princess’s room. She gave her back her speech
-for the time being, and then she said, “I will still have pity upon you.
-If you will only tell me the truth you shall have your speech again, and
-all will go well with you. But if you tell me a falsehood once more, still
-greater troubles will come upon you. Now tell me, did you go into the
-little room?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No,” said the princess, for still she could not bring herself to confess
-to Mother Hildegarde.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then how came your hair to be like that?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I do not know,” said the princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Mother Hildegarde took away her speech once more.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that she smeared the mouth of the princess with blood, and then,
-wrapping the baby in her mantle, she carried it away with her, leaving the
-mother weeping alone.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>You can guess what a hubbub there was the next morning in the castle,
-when they came and found that the baby was gone, and that the princess’s
-mouth was smeared with blood. “See,” said the king’s mother, “what did
-I tell you from the very first. Do you not see that you have brought a
-wicked witch into the house, and that she has killed her own child?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the king would listen to no such words as these, for it seemed to
-him that the princess was too beautiful and too good to do such a wicked
-thing.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a time there came another baby to the princess, and once more
-Mother Hildegarde came to her and said, “Did you go into the little
-room?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No,” said the princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then how came your hair to be like that?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I do not know,” said the princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Mother Hildegarde took this baby away as she had done the other,
-and left the princess with her lips smeared with blood.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>And now every one of the king’s household began to mutter and to
-whisper to his neighbor, and the king had nothing to say, but only left
-the room silently, for his heart was like heavy lead within his breast.
-Still he would not hear of harm coming to the princess, no matter what
-had happened.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>In time there came a third baby, but still the princess could not soften
-her heart, and Mother Hildegarde took it away as she had done the others.
-This time the king could do nothing to save the princess, for every one
-cried out upon her that she was a wicked witch who killed her children,
-and that she should be burned at the stake, as was fitting for such a one.
-So a great pile of fagots was built out in the castle court-yard, and the
-princess was brought out and tied to a stake that stood in the midst.
-Then they lit the pile of fagots, and it began to crackle and burn around
-her where she stood.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then suddenly, Mother Hildegarde stood beside her in the midst of the
-fire. In her arms she held the princess’s youngest baby, and the others
-stood, one upon one side and the other upon the other, and held on to her
-skirts.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>She gave the princess her speech again, and then she said, “Now, tell
-me, did you go into the little room?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Even yet the princess would have answered “No;” but when she saw
-her children standing in the midst of the fire with her, her heart melted
-away within her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes!” she cried, “I went in and I saw.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And how came your hair to be like that?” said Mother Hildegarde.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Alas!” said the princess, “I gazed upon that which I should not have
-gazed upon, and looked into that which I should not have looked into, and
-one hair touched the water and all was turned to gold.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then Mother Hildegarde smiled till her face shone as white as the
-moon. “The truth is better late than not at all,” said she; “and if you
-had but spoken in the first place, I would have freely forgiven you.” As
-she spoke a shower of rain fell down from the sky, and the fire of the
-fagots was quenched.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now you can guess what joy there was in the king’s castle when
-every one knew all that had happened, and it was seen how the right
-thing had come about at last, though it was the toss of a farthing betwixt
-this and that. Even the king’s mother was glad enough when she came
-to know that it was a real princess whom her son had married after all.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>And now listen to what happened in the end.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>They gave a great feast, and everybody was asked to come from far and
-near. Then who should come travelling along with the others, as grand as
-you please, but the wicked step-mother and step-sister of the princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear, how they stared and goggled when they saw who the young
-queen really was, and that the poor princess had married the richest and
-greatest king in all of the land!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Their hearts were so filled with envy that they swelled and swelled until
-they burst within them, and they fell down dead, and there was an end of
-them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Thus it is that everything turns out right in the long run—that is in
-fairy tales.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But, after all, if the princess had only told the truth in the first place,
-she would never have gotten in all this peck of trouble.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And then who knows what Mother Hildegarde would have done for
-her, for she is a strange woman, is Mother Hildegarde.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_202.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_203.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Four O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>Bare-necked <i>Gretchen</i> combs her hair <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☉K.P.☋ <i>Warm and Dusty.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>At the <i>Looking-Glass</i>.</div>
-      <div class='line'>This is <i>Grease</i>, and these are <i>Beads</i></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>She takes to early <i>Mass</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>Her <i>Water-Pitcher</i>, blue and white,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Has got a broken <i>Nose</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And both the <i>Stockings</i> that she wears</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Are ravelled at the <i>Toes</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_205.jpg' alt='Which is Best?' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XVI.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_205.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There was a rich man who lived on a hill, and a poor
-man who lived down in the valley, and they were
-brothers, the one was older and the other younger.
-The one lived in a grand house and the other in a
-little, rickety, tumble-down hut, and the one was
-covetous and greedy and the other was kind and
-merciful. All the same, it was a merry life that the
-poor brother led of it, for each morning when he took
-a drink he said, “Thank Heaven for clear water;” and when the day was
-bright he said, “Thank Heaven for the warm sun that shines on us all;”
-and when it was wet it was, “Thank Heaven for the gentle rain that makes
-the green grass grow.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day the poor brother was riding in the forest, and there he met the
-rich brother, and they jogged along the way together. The one rode upon
-a poor, old, spavined, white horse, and the other rode upon a fine, prancing
-steed.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by they met an old woman, and it was all that she could do to
-hobble along the way she was going.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Dear, good, kind gentlemen,” said she, “do help a poor old body with
-a penny or two, for it is nothing I have in the world, and life sits heavy on
-old shoulders.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The rich brother was for passing along as though he heard never a word
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>of what she said, but the poor brother had a soft heart, and reined in his
-horse.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“It is only three farthings that I have in the world,” said he; “but
-such as they are you are welcome to them,” and he emptied his purse
-into her hand.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You shall not have the worst of the bargain,” said the old woman;
-“here is something that is worth the having,” and she gave him a little
-black stone about as big as a bean. Then off she went with what he had
-given her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, now,” said the rich brother, “that is why you are so poor as
-hardly to be able to make both ends meet in the world.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That may be so, or may not be so,” said the poor brother; “all the
-same, mercy is better than greed.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>How the elder did laugh at this, to be sure! “Why, look,” says he,
-“here I am riding upon a grand horse with my pockets full of gold and
-silver money, and there you are astride of a beast that can hardly hobble
-along the road, and with never a copper bit in your pocket to jingle against
-another.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; that was all true enough; nevertheless, the younger brother stuck
-to it that mercy was better than greed, until, at last, the other flew into a
-mighty huff.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” says he, “I will wager my horse against yours that I am
-right, and we will leave it to the first body we meet to settle the point.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, that suited the poor brother, and he was agreed to do as the
-other said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So by and by they met a grand lord riding along the road with six
-servants behind him; and would he tell whether mercy or greed were the
-best for a body in this world?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The rich lord laughed and laughed. “Why,” said he, “greed is the
-best, for if it were otherwise, and I had only what belonged to me, I should
-never be jogging along through the world with six servants behind me.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off he rode, and the poor brother had to give up his horse to the
-other, who had no more use for it than I have for five more fingers. “All
-the same,” says the poor brother, “mercy is better than greed.” Goodness!
-what a rage the rich brother fell into, to be sure! “There is no teaching a
-simpleton,” said he; “nevertheless, I will wager all the money in my purse
-against your left eye that greed is better than mercy, and we will leave it
-to the next body we meet, since you are not content with the other.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>
-<img src='images/i_207.jpg' alt='Having been thrice adjudged in the wrong, the poor man is left by the rich man blind upon the highway.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>That suited the younger brother well enough, and on they jogged until
-they met a rich merchant driving a donkey loaded with things to sell.
-And would he judge between them whether mercy or greed were the best
-for a body?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Poof!” says the merchant, “what a question to ask! All the world
-knows that greed is the best. If it were not for taking the cool end of
-the bargain myself, and leaving the hot end for my neighbor to hold, it is
-little or nothing that I should have in the world to call my own.” And
-off he went whither he was going.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There,” says the rich brother, “now perhaps you will be satisfied;”
-and he put out the poor man’s left eye.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But no, the other still held that mercy was better than greed; and so
-they made another wager of all the rich man had in the world against the
-poor man’s right eye.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>This time it was a poor ploughman whom they met, and would he tell
-whether mercy or greed were the best?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut!” said he, “any simpleton can tell that greed is the best, for all
-the world rides on the poor man’s shoulders, and he is able to bear the
-burden the least of all.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the rich man put out the poor man’s right eye; “for,” says he, “a
-body deserves to be blind who cannot see the truth when it is as plain as
-a pikestaff.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But still the poor man stuck to it that mercy was the best. So the
-rich man rode away and left him in his blindness.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As all was darkness to his eyes, he sat down beside the road at the
-first place he could find, and that was underneath the gallows where three
-wicked robbers had been hung. While he sat there two ravens came flying,
-and lit on the gallows above him. They began talking to one another, and
-the younger brother heard what they said, for he could understand the
-speech of the birds of the air and of the beasts of the field, just as little
-children can, because he was innocent.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And the first raven said to the second raven, “Yonder, below, sits a
-fellow in blindness, because he held that mercy was better than greed.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And the second raven said to the first, “Yes, that is so, but he might
-have his sight again if he only knew enough to spread his handkerchief
-upon the grass, and bathe his eyes in the dew which falls upon it from the
-gallows above.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And the first raven said to the second, “That is as true as that one and
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>one make two; but there is more to tell yet, for in his pocket he carries
-a little black stone with which he may open every door that he touches.
-Back of the oak-tree yonder is a little door; if he would but enter thereat
-he would find something below well worth the having.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_209.jpg' alt='The poor man touches the door with ye stone.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was what the two ravens said, and then they flapped their wings
-and flew away.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the younger brother, you can guess how his heart danced at
-what he heard. He spread his handkerchief on the grass, and by and by,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>when night came, the dew fell upon it until it was as wet as clothes on
-the line. He wiped his eyes with it, and when the dew touched the lids
-they were cured, and he could see as well and better than ever.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by the day broke, and he lost no time in finding the door back
-of the oak-tree. He touched the lock with the little black stone, and the
-door opened as smoothly as though the hinges were greased. There he
-found a flight of steps that led down into a pit as dark as a beer vault.
-Down the steps he went, and on and on until, at last, he came to a great
-room, the like of which his eyes had never seen before. In the centre of
-the room was a statue as black as ink; in one hand it held a crystal globe
-which shone with a clear white light, so that it dazzled one’s eyes to look
-upon it; in the other hand it held a great diamond as big as a hen’s egg.
-Upon the breast of the statue were written these words in letters of gold:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“WHAT THOU DESERVEST</div>
-      <div class='line'>THAT THOU SHALT HAVE.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>On three sides of the room sat three statues, and at the feet of each
-statue stood a heavy chest:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The first statue was of gold, and over its head were written these
-words:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“WHO CHOOSES HERE TAKES THE BEST THAT THE EARTH HAS TO GIVE.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>The second statue was of silver, and over its head was written these
-words:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“WHO CHOOSES HERE TAKES WHAT THE RICH MAN LOVES.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>The third statue was of dull lead, and over its head was written:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“WHO CHOOSES HERE TAKES WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>The man touched the chest at the feet of the golden statue with the
-little black stone. And—click! clack!—up flew the lid, and the chest
-was full of all kinds of precious stones.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Pugh!” says the younger brother; “and if this is the best that the
-world has to give, it is poor enough.” And he shut down the lid again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He touched the chest at the feet of the silver statue with his little black
-stone, and it was full of gold and silver money.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Pish!” says he; “and if this is what the rich man loves, why, so do not
-I.” And he shut down the lid again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Last of all he touched the chest at the feet of the leaden statue.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>
-<img src='images/i_211.jpg' alt='The poor man finds that which is the best. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>In it was a book, and the letters on it said that whoever read within
-would know all that was worth the knowing. Beside the book was a pair
-of spectacles, and whoever set them astride of his nose might see the truth
-without having to rub the glasses with his pocket-handkerchief. But the
-best of all in the chest was an apple, and whoever ate of it would be cured
-of sorrow and sickness.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” said the younger brother, “but these are worth the having, for
-sure and certain.” And he put the spectacles upon his nose and the
-apple and the book in his pocket. Then off he went, and the spectacles
-showed him the way, although it was as crooked as sin and as black as
-night.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So by and by he came out into the blessed sunlight again, and at the
-same place where he had gone in.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off he went to his own home as fast as his legs could carry him, and you
-can guess how the rich brother stared when he saw the poor brother back in
-that town again, with his eyesight as good as ever.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the poor brother, he just turned his hand to being a doctor; and
-there has never been one like him since that day, for not only could he cure
-all sickness with his apple, but he could cure all sorrow as well. Money
-and fame poured in on him; and whenever trouble lit on his shoulders he
-just put on his spectacles and looked into the business, and then opened
-the book of wisdom and found how to cure it. So his life was as happy as
-the day was long; and a body can ask for no more than that in this world
-here below.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day the rich brother came and knocked at the other’s door. “Well,
-brother,” says he, “I am glad to see you getting along so well in the world.
-Let us let bygones be bygones and live together as we should, for I am
-sorry for what I did to you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, that suited the younger brother well enough; he bore no malice
-against the other, for all that had been done had turned out for the best.
-All the same, he was more sure than ever now that mercy was better than
-greed.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The elder brother twisted up his face at this, as though the words were
-sour; all the same, he did not argue the question, for what he had come for
-was to find why the world had grown so easy with the other all of a sudden.
-So in he came, and they lit their pipes and sat down by the stove together.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He was a keen blade, was the elder brother, and it was not long before
-he had screwed the whole story out of the other.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>
-<img src='images/i_213.jpg' alt='The rich man findeth that which he deserveth.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>“Dear, dear, dear!” said he, “I only wish I could find a black pebble like
-that one of yours.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“It would do you no good if you had it,” said the younger brother, “for
-I have brought away all that is worth the having. All the same, if you want
-my black pebble now you are welcome to it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Did the elder brother want it! Why, of course he wanted it, and he
-could not find words enough to thank the younger.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off he went, hot-foot, to find the door back of the oak-tree; “For,” said
-he to himself, “I will bring something back better worth the having than
-a musty book, an old pair of spectacles, and a red apple.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He touched the door with the black stone, and it opened for him just
-as it had for the younger brother.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Down the steps he went, and on and on and on, until by and by he came
-to the room where the statues were. There was the black statue holding
-out the crystal ball and the diamond as big as a hen’s egg, and there sat the
-golden statue and the silver statue and the leaden statue, just as they had
-sat when the younger brother had been there, only there was nothing in the
-chest at the feet of the leaden statue.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The rich brother touched the lock of the chest in front of the
-silver statue. Up flew the lid, and there lay all the gold and silver
-money.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says he, “that is what the rich man loves, sure enough. Nevertheless,
-there may be something else that is better worth the having.” So
-he let the money lay where it was.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He touched the chest in front of the golden statue. Up flew the lid,
-and he had to blink and wink his eyes because the precious stones dazzled
-them so.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says he, “this is the best the world has to give, and there is
-no gainsaying that; all the same, there may be something better worth
-the having than these.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So he looked all about the room, until he saw the golden letters on
-the breast of the black statue that stood in the middle. First he read
-the words:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“WHAT THOU DESERVEST</div>
-      <div class='line'>THAT THOU SHALT HAVE.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>And then he saw the great diamond that the statue held in its left
-hand.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why,” said he, “it is as plain as daylight that I deserve this precious
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>stone, for not being so simple as my brother, and taking what I could find
-without looking for anything better.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So up he stepped and took the diamond out of the statue’s hand.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Crash!—and all was darkness, darker than the darkest midnight; for, as
-quick as a wink, the black statue let the crystal globe of light fall from its
-right hand upon the stone floor, where it broke into ten thousand pieces.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now the rich brother might wander up and wander down, but
-wander as he chose he could never find his way out of that place again,
-for the darkness shut him in like a blanket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So, after all, mercy and temperance were better in the long run than
-greed and covetousness, in spite of what the great lord and the rich
-merchant and the poor ploughman had said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Maybe I have got this story twisted awry in the telling; all the same,
-Tommy Pfouce says that it is a true-enough story, if you put on your
-spectacles and look at it from the right side.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_215.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id002'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>
-<img src='images/i_216.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_217.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Five O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'><i>Pussy-Cat</i>, <i>Pussy-Cat</i> what do you dream,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Sleeping out there in the <i>Sun</i>?</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Red Cow</i> and <i>White Cow</i> are out in the <i>Lane</i>;</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>I guess that the <i>Milking</i> is done. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☾’s pl. Const.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☉ K.P. ⊕<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'><i>Pussy-Cat</i>, <i>Pussy-Cat</i> open your <i>Eyes</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And see what your <i>Kitten</i>’s about;</div>
-      <div class='line'>She’s found a great <i>Rat-Hole</i> that’s close to the <i>Step</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And is watching for him to come out.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_219.jpg' alt='The Simpleton _and his_ Little Black Hen.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XVII.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_219.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There were three brothers left behind when the father
-died. The two elder, whose names were John and
-James, were as clever lads as ever ate pease with a
-fork.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the youngest, his name was Caspar, he
-had no more than enough sense to blow his potatoes
-when they were hot. Well, when they came to
-divide things up between themselves, John and
-James contrived to share all of the good things between them. As for
-Caspar, “why, the little black hen is enough for him,” says John and
-James, and that was all the butter he got from that churn.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I’ll take the little black hen to the fair,” says Caspar, “and there
-I’ll sell her and buy me some eggs. I’ll set the eggs under the minister’s
-speckled hen, and then I’ll have more chicks. Then I’ll buy me more
-eggs and have more chicks, and then I’ll buy me more eggs and have more
-chicks, and after that I’ll be richer than Uncle Henry, who has two cows
-and a horse, and will marry my sweetheart into the bargain.” So off he
-went to the fair with the black hen under his arm, as he had promised
-himself to do.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There goes a goose to the plucking,” says John and James, and then
-they turned no hairs grey by thinking any more about the case.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for him, why, he went on and on until he came to the inn over the
-hill not far from the town, the host of which was no better than he should
-be, and that was the long and the short of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>“Where do you go with the little black hen, Caspar?” says he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh,” says Caspar, “I take it to the fair to sell it and buy me some
-eggs. I’ll set the eggs under the minister’s speckled hen, and then I’ll
-have more chicks. Then I’ll buy me more eggs and have more chicks, and
-then I’ll buy me more eggs and have more chicks, and after that I’ll be
-richer than Uncle Henry, who has two cows and a horse, and will marry
-my sweetheart into the bargain.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Prut! And why should Caspar take his hen to the fair? That was
-what the landlord said. It was a silly thing to tramp to the river for
-water before the well was dry at home. Why, the landlord had a friend
-over yonder who would give ten pennies to one that he could get at the
-fair for his black hen. Now, had Caspar ever heard tell of the little old
-gentleman who lived in the old willow-tree over yonder?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No, Caspar had never heard tell of him in all of his life. And there
-was no wonder in that, for no more had anybody else, and the landlord
-was only up to a bit of a trick to get the little black hen for himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the landlord sucked in his lips—“<i>tsch</i>”—so! Well, that was a pity,
-for the little old gentleman had said, time and time again, that he would
-give a whole bagful of gold and silver money for just such a little black
-hen as the one that Caspar carried under his arm.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear! How Caspar’s eyes did open at this, to be sure. Off he
-started for the willow-tree. “Here’s the little black hen,” said he, “and
-I’ll sell her for a bagful of gold and silver money.” But nobody answered
-him; and you may be sure of that, for there was nobody there.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well,” says Caspar, “I’ll just tie the hen to the tree here, and you
-may pay me to-morrow.” So he did as he had said, and off he marched.
-Then came the landlord and took the hen off home and had it for his
-supper; and there was an end of that business.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>An end of that business? No, no; stop a bit, for we will not drive too
-fast down the hill. Listen: there was a wicked robber who had hidden a
-bag of gold and silver money in that very tree; but of that neither Caspar
-nor the landlord knew any more than the chick in the shell.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” says Caspar, “it is the wise man who gets along in the world.”
-But there he was wrong for once in his life, Tommy Pfouce tells me.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And did you sell your hen?” says John and James.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes; Caspar had done that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And what had he got for it?</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>
-<img src='images/i_221.jpg' alt='The cunning landlord telleth Caspar where to take his hen to sell it for a good price.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>Oh, just a bag of gold and silver money, that was all. He would show
-it to them to-morrow, for he was to go and get it then from the old
-gentleman who lived in the willow-tree over yonder by the inn over the
-hill.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When John and James heard that they saw as plain as the nose on
-your face that Caspar had been bitten by the <i>fool dog</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Caspar never bothered his head about that; off he went the next
-day as grand as you please. Up he marched to the willow-tree, but never
-a soul did he find there; for why, there was nobody.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Rap! tap! tap! He knocked upon the tree as civil as a beggar at the
-kitchen door, but nobody said, “Come in!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Look,” says he, “we will have no dilly-dallying; I want my money
-and I will have it,” and he fetched a kick at the tree that made the bark
-fly. But he might as well have kicked my grandfather’s bedpost for all
-the good he had of it. “Oh, very well!” says he, and off he marched and
-brought the axe that stood back of the stable door.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Hui! how the chips flew! for Caspar was bound to get to the bottom
-of the business. So by and by the tree lay on the ground, and there was
-the bag of gold and silver money that the wicked robber had hidden.
-“So!” says Caspar, “better late than never!” and off he marched
-with it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by whom should he meet but John and James. Bless me, how
-they stared! And did Caspar get all of that money for one little black
-hen?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes; that he had.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And where did he get it?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh! the little old man in the willow-tree had paid it to him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So, good! that was a fine thing, and it should be share and share alike
-among brothers; that was what John and James said, and Caspar did
-not say “No;” so down they all sat on the grass and began counting it
-out.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“This is mine,” said John.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And this is mine,” said James.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And this is mine,” said John.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And this is mine,” said James.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And where is mine?” says Caspar. But neither of the others thought
-of him because he was so simple.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Just then who should come along but the rogue of a landlord. “Hi!
-and where did you get all that?” says he.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>
-<img src='images/i_223.jpg' alt='Caspar findeth money in the willow-tree.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh,” says Caspar, “the little old man in the willow-tree paid it to
-me for my little black hen.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, yes, the landlord knew how much of that cake to eat. He was
-not to have the wool pulled over his eyes so easily. See, now, he knew
-very well that thieving had been done, and he would have them all up
-before the master mayor for it. So the upshot of the matter was that
-they had to take him in to share with them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“This is mine,” says the landlord.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And this is mine,” says John.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And this is mine,” says James.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And where do I come in?” says poor Caspar. But nobody thought
-of him because he was so simple.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>Just then came along a company of soldiers—tramp! tramp! tramp!—and
-there they found them all sharing the money between them, except
-Caspar.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” says the captain, “here are a lot of thieves, and no mistake!”
-and off he marched them to the king’s house, which was finer than any in
-our town, and as big as a church into the bargain.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And how had they come by all that money? that was what the king
-would like to know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the three rogues, they sang a different tune now than they had
-whistled before.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“It’s none of mine, it’s his,” said the landlord, and he pointed to John.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“It’s none of mine, it’s his,” said John, and he pointed to James.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“It’s none of mine, it’s his,” said James, and he pointed to Caspar.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And how did you get it?” says the king.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh!” says Caspar, “the little old man in the willow-tree gave it to
-me for my little black hen;” and then he told the whole story without
-missing a single grain.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Beside the king sat the princess, who was so serious and solemn that
-she had never laughed once in all her life. So the king had said, time
-and time again, that whoever should make her laugh should have her for
-his wife. Now, when she heard Caspar’s story, and how he came in
-behind all the rest, so that he always had the pinching, like the tail of our
-cat in the crack of the door, she laughed like everything, for she could
-not help it. So there was the fat in the fire, for Caspar was not much to
-look at, and that was the truth. Dear, dear, what a stew the king was in,
-for he had no notion for Caspar as a son-in-law. So he began to think
-about striking a bargain. “Come,” says he to Caspar, “how much will
-you take to give up the princess instead of marrying her?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, Caspar did not know how much a princess was worth. So he
-scratched his head and scratched his head, and by and by he said that
-he would be willing to take ten dollars and let the princess go.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the king boiled over into a mighty fume, like water into the
-fire. What! did Caspar think that ten dollars was a fit price for a
-princess!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, Caspar had never done any business of this kind before. He had
-a sweetheart of his own at home, and if ten dollars was too much for the
-princess he would be willing to take five.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Sakes alive! what a rage the king was in! Why, I would not have
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>stood in Caspar’s shoes just then—no, not for a hundred dollars. The
-king would have had him whipped right away, only just then he had some
-other business on hand. So he paid Caspar his five dollars, and told him
-that if he would come back the next day he should have all that his back
-could carry—meaning a whipping.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_225.jpg' alt='The three share the money amongst them.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for Caspar and his brothers and the rogue of a landlord, they
-thought that the king was talking about dollars. So when they had
-left the king’s house and had come out into the road again, the three
-rogues began to talk as smooth and as soft as though their words were
-buttered.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>See, now, what did Caspar want with all that the king had promised
-him; that was what they said. If he would let them have it, they would
-give him all of their share of the money he had found in the willow-tree.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Ah, yes,” says Caspar, “I am willing to do that. For,” says he to
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>himself, “an apple in the pocket is worth three on the tree.” And there
-he was right for once in his life.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the next day back they all tramped to the king’s house again to
-get what had been promised to Caspar.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So! Caspar had come back for the rest, had he?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes, he had come back again; but the lord king must know that
-he had sold all that had been promised to him to these three lads for
-their share of the money he had found in the willow-tree over yonder.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says the landlord, “one part of what has been promised is mine.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And one part of it is mine,” says John.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Stop a bit, brother,” says James; “remember, one part of it is mine
-too.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the king could not help laughing, and that broke the back of
-his anger.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>First of all he sent the landlord for his share, and if his back did not
-smart after he had it, why, it was not the fault of those who gave it to
-him. By and by he came back again, but he said nothing to the others
-of what had been given to him; but all the same he grinned as though
-he had been eating sour gooseberries. Then John went, and last of all
-James, and what they got satisfied them, I can tell you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the king told Caspar that he might go into the other room
-and fill his pockets with money for what he had given up to the others; so
-he had the cool end of that bargain, and did not burn his fingers after all.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the three rogues were not satisfied with this. No, indeed! Caspar
-should have his share of the smarting, see if he shouldn’t! So back they
-went to the king’s house one fine day, and said that Caspar had been talking
-about the lord king, and had said that he was no better than an old hunks.
-At this the king was awfully angry. And so off he sent the others to fetch
-Caspar along so that he might settle the score with him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the three came home, there was Caspar lying on a bench in the
-sun, for he could take the world easy now, because he was so rich.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come along, Caspar,” said they, “the king wants to see you over at
-his house yonder.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, yes, but there was too much hurrying in this business, for it was
-over-quick cooking that burned the broth. If Caspar was to go to the
-king’s house he would go in fitting style, so they would just have to wait
-till he found a horse, for he was not going to jog it afoot; that was what
-Caspar said.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>
-<img src='images/i_227.jpg' alt='The three rogues lend Caspar sundry things so that he may go to the king’s castle.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>“Yes,” says the landlord, “but sooner than you should lose time in the
-waiting, I will lend you my fine dapple-grey.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But where was the bridle to come from? Caspar would have them know
-that he was not going to ride a horse to the king’s house without a good
-bridle over the nag’s ears.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, John would lend him the new bridle that he bought in the town
-last week; so that was soon settled.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But how about the saddle?—that was what Caspar wanted to know—yes,
-how about the saddle? Did they think that he was going to ride up to
-the king’s house with his heels thumping against the horse’s ribs as though
-he were no better than a ploughman?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, James would lend him a saddle if that was all he wanted.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off they went, all four of them, to the king’s house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There was the king, walking up and down, and fussing and fuming with
-anger till he was all of a heat.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, now,” says he, as soon as he saw Caspar, “what did you call me
-an old hunks for?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I didn’t call you an old hunks,” said Caspar.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, you did,” said the king.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No, I didn’t,” said Caspar.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, you did,” said the king, “for these three lads told me so.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Prut!” said Caspar, “who would believe what they say? Why, they
-would just as lief tell you that this horse and saddle and bridle belong to
-them.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And so they do!” bawled the three rogues.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See there, now,” said Caspar.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The king scratched his head, for here was a tangled knot, for certain.
-“Yes, yes,” said he, “these fellows are fooling either Caspar or me, and we
-are both in the same tub, for the matter of that. Take them away and
-whip them!” So it was done as he said, and that was all that they got for
-their trouble.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Wit and Luck are not always hatched in the same nest, says Tommy
-Pfouce, and maybe he is right about it, for Caspar married his sweetheart,
-and if she did not keep his money for him, and himself out of trouble, she
-would not have been worth speaking of, and I, for one, would never have
-told this story.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_228.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_229.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Six O’clock</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>Little <i>John</i> and <i>Eliza</i> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>K.P. des.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Went down to the <i>Mill</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>But now it has stopped,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And the <i>Hopper</i> is still;</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>So <i>John</i> and <i>Eliza</i> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Cool for the season.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Come <i>Home</i> to their <i>Tea</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And both are as hungry,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>As hungry can be.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_231.jpg' alt='The Swan Maiden. H.P.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XVIII.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_231.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-Once there was a king who had a pear-tree which bore
-four-and-twenty golden pears. Every day he went
-into the garden and counted them to see that none
-were missing.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But, one morning, he found that a pear had been
-taken during the night, and thereat he was troubled
-and vexed to the heart, for the pear-tree was as dear
-to him as the apple of his eye. Now, the king had
-three sons, and so he called the eldest prince to him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See,” said he, “if you will watch my pear-tree to-night, and will find
-me the thief who stole the pear, you shall have half of my kingdom now,
-and the whole of it when I am gone.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>You can guess how the prince was tickled at this: oh, yes, he would
-watch the tree, and if the thief should come he should not get away again
-as easily.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, that night he sat down beside the tree, with his gun across his
-knees, to wait for the coming of the thief.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He waited and waited, and still he saw not so much as a thread or a
-hair. But about the middle of the night there came the very prettiest
-music that his ears had ever heard, and before he knew what he was about
-he was asleep and snoring until the little leaves shook upon the tree.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>When the morning came and he awoke, another pear was gone, and he
-could tell no more about it than the man in the moon.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next night the second son set out to watch the pear-tree. But he
-fared no better than the first. About midnight came the music, and in a
-little while he was snoring till the stones rattled. When the morning came
-another pear was gone, and he had no more to tell about it than his
-brother.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The third night it was the turn of the youngest son, and he was more
-clever than the others, for, when the evening came, he stuffed his ears full of
-wax, so that he was as deaf as a post. About midnight, when the music
-came, he heard nothing of it, and so he stayed wide awake. After the music
-had ended he took the wax out of his ears, so that he might listen for the
-coming of the thief. Presently there was a loud clapping and rattling, and
-a white swan flew overhead and lit in the pear-tree above him. It began
-picking at one of the pears, and then the prince raised his gun to shoot at
-it. But when he looked along the barrel it was not a swan that he saw up
-in the pear-tree, but the prettiest girl that he had ever looked upon.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Don’t shoot me, king’s son! Don’t shoot me!” cried she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the prince had no thought of shooting her, for he had never seen
-such a beautiful maiden in all of his days. “Very well,” said he, “I will
-not shoot, but, if I spare your life, will you promise to be my sweetheart and
-to marry me?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That may be as may be,” said the Swan Maiden. “For listen! I serve
-the witch with three eyes. She lives on the glass hill that lies beyond the
-seven high mountains, the seven deep valleys, and the seven wide rivers;
-are you man enough to go that far?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes,” said the prince, “I am man enough for that and more too.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is good,” said the Swan Maiden, and thereupon she jumped down
-from the pear-tree to the earth. Then she became a swan again, and bade
-the king’s son to mount upon her back at the roots of her wings. When
-he had done as she had told him, she sprang into the air and flew away,
-bearing him with her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>On flew the swan, and on and on, until, by and by, she said, “What do
-you see, king’s son?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I see the grey sky above me and the dark earth below me, but nothing
-else,” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that they flew on and on again, until, at last, the Swan Maiden
-said, “What do you see now, king’s son?”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>
-<img src='images/i_233.jpg' alt='The Swan carries the Prince over the hills and far away. HP.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>“I see the grey sky above me and the dark earth below me, but nothing
-else,” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So once more they flew on until the Swan Maiden said, for the third
-time, “And what do you see by now, king’s son?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But this time the prince said, “I see the grey sky above me and the
-dark earth below me, and over yonder is a glass hill, and on the hill is a
-house that shines like fire.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is where the witch with three eyes lives,” said the Swan Maiden;
-“and now listen: when she asks you what it is that you came for, ask her to
-give you the one who draws the water and builds the fire; for that is myself.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So, when they had come to the top of the hill of glass, the king’s son
-stepped down to the ground, and the swan flew over the roof.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Rap! tap! tap! he knocked at the door, and the old witch herself came
-and opened it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what do you want here?” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I want the one who draws the water and builds the fire,” said the
-prince.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the old witch scowled until her eyebrows met.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” said she, “you shall have what you want if you can clean
-my stables to-morrow between the rise and the set of the sun. But I tell you
-plainly, if you fail in the doing, you shall be torn to pieces body and bones.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the prince was not to be scared away with empty words. So the
-next morning the old witch came and took him to the stables where he
-was to do his task. There stood more than a hundred cattle, and the
-stable had not been cleaned for at least ten long years.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There is your work,” said the old witch, and then she left him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the king’s son set to work with fork and broom and might and
-main, but—prut!—he might as well have tried to bale out the great ocean
-with a bucket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At noontide who should come to the stable but the pretty Swan
-Maiden herself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“When one is tired, one should rest for a while,” said she; “come and
-lay your head in my lap.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The prince was glad enough to do as she said, for nothing was to be
-gained by working at that task. So he laid his head in her lap, and she
-combed his hair with a golden comb till he fell fast asleep. When he
-awoke the Swan Maiden was gone, the sun was setting, and the stable was
-as clean as a plate. Presently he heard the old witch coming, so up he
-jumped and began clearing away a straw here and a speck there, just as
-though he were finishing the work.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>
-<img src='images/i_235.jpg' alt='The Prince comes to the old, three eyed Witch’s house.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>“You never did this by yourself!” said the old witch, and her brows
-grew as black as a thunder-storm.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That may be so, and that may not be so,” said the king’s son, “but
-you lent no hand to help; so now may I have the one who builds the
-fire and draws the water?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At this the old witch shook her head. “No,” said she, “there is more
-to be done yet before you can have what you ask for. If you can thatch
-the roof of the stable with bird feathers, no two of which shall be of the
-same color, and can do it between the rise and the set of sun to-morrow,
-then you shall have your sweetheart and welcome. But if you fail your
-bones shall be ground as fine as malt in the mill.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Very well; that suited the king’s son well enough. So at sunrise he
-arose and went into the fields with his gun; but if there were birds to be
-shot, it was few of them that he saw; for at noontide he had but two,
-and they were both of a color. At that time who should come to him
-but the Swan Maiden.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“One should not tramp and tramp all day with never a bit of rest,”
-said she; “come hither and lay your head in my lap for a while.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The prince did as she bade him, and the maiden again combed his
-hair with a golden comb until he fell asleep. When he awoke the sun was
-setting, and his work was done. He heard the old witch coming, so up
-he jumped to the roof of the stable and began laying a feather here and
-a feather there, for all the world as though he were just finishing his task.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You never did that work alone,” said the old witch.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That may be so, and that may not be so,” said the prince; “all the
-same, it was none of your doing. So now may I have the one who draws
-the water and builds the fire?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the witch shook her head. “No,” said she, “there is still another
-task to do before that. Over yonder is a fir-tree; on the tree is a crow’s
-nest, and in the nest are three eggs. If you can harry that nest to-morrow
-between the rising and the setting of the sun, neither breaking nor leaving
-a single egg, you shall have that for which you ask.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Very well; that suited the prince. The next morning at the rising of
-the sun he started off to find the fir-tree, and there was no trouble in the
-finding I can tell you, for it was more than a hundred feet high, and as
-smooth as glass from root to tip. As for climbing it, he might as well have
-tried to climb a moonbeam, for in spite of all his trying he did nothing but
-slip and slip. By and by came the Swan Maiden as she had come before.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>
-<img src='images/i_237.jpg' alt='The Swan Maiden helps ye young Prince.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>“Do you climb the fir-tree?” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“None too well,” said the king’s son.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then I may help you in a hard task,” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>She let down the braids of her golden hair, so that it hung down all
-about her and upon the ground, and then she began singing to the wind.
-She sang and sang, and by and by the wind began to blow, and, catching
-up the maiden’s hair, carried it to the top of the fir-tree, and there tied
-it to the branches. Then the prince climbed the hair and so reached the
-nest. There were the three eggs; he gathered them, and then he came
-down as he had gone up. After that the wind came again and loosed
-the maiden’s hair from the branches, and she bound it up as it was
-before.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Now, listen,” said she to the prince: “when the old witch asks you
-for the three crow’s eggs which you have gathered, tell her that they
-belong to the one who found them. She will not be able to take them
-from you, and they are worth something, I can tell you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>At sunset the old witch came hobbling along, and there sat the prince
-at the foot of the fir-tree. “Have you gathered the crow’s eggs?” said she.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said the prince, “here they are in my handkerchief. And now
-may I have the one who draws the water and builds the fire?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said the old witch, “you may have her; only give me my crow’s
-eggs.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No,” said the prince, “the crow’s eggs are none of yours, for they
-belong to him who gathered them.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the old witch found that she was not to get her crow’s eggs
-in that way, she tried another, and began using words as sweet as honey.
-Come, come, there should be no hard feeling between them. The prince
-had served her faithfully, and before he went home with what he had
-come for he should have a good supper, for it is ill to travel on an empty
-stomach.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So she brought the prince into the house, and then she left him while
-she went to put the pot on the fire, and to sharpen the bread-knife on the
-stone door-step.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>While the prince sat waiting for the witch, there came a tap at the door,
-and whom should it be but the pretty Swan Maiden.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come,” said she, “and bring the three eggs with you, for the knife
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>that the old witch is sharpening is for you, and so is the great pot on the
-fire, for she means to pick your bones in the morning.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_239.jpg' alt='The witch and ye woman of honey &amp; meal.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>She led the prince down into the kitchen; there they made a figure
-out of honey and barley-meal, so that it was all soft and sticky; then the
-maiden dressed the figure in her own clothes and set it in the chimney-corner
-by the fire.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that was done, she became a swan again, and, taking the prince
-upon her back, she flew away, over hill and over dale.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the old witch, she sat on the stone door-step, sharpening her
-knife. By and by she came in, and, look as she might, there was no prince
-to be found.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then if anybody was ever in a rage it was the old witch; off she went,
-storming and fuming, until she came to the kitchen. There sat the woman
-of honey and barley-meal beside the fire, dressed in the maiden’s clothes,
-and the old woman thought that it was the girl herself. “Where is your
-sweetheart?” said she; but to this the woman of honey and barley-meal
-answered never a word.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>“How now! are you dumb?” cried the old witch; “I will see whether I
-cannot bring speech to your lips.” She raised her hand—<i>slap!</i>—she struck,
-and so hard was the blow that her hand stuck fast to the honey and barley-meal.
-“What!” cried she, “will you hold me?”—<i>slap!</i>—she struck with
-the other hand, and it too stuck fast. So there she was, and, for all that I
-know, she is sticking to the woman of honey and barley-meal to this day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the Swan Maiden and the prince, they flew over the seven high
-mountains, the seven deep valleys, and the seven wide rivers, until they
-came near to the prince’s home again. The Swan Maiden lit in a great
-wide field, and there she told the prince to break open one of the crow’s
-eggs. The prince did as she bade him, and what should he find but the
-most beautiful little palace, all of pure gold and silver. He set the palace
-on the ground, and it grew and grew and grew until it covered as much
-ground as seven large barns. Then the Swan Maiden told him to break
-another egg, and he did as she said, and what should come out of it but
-such great herds of cows and sheep that they covered the meadow far and
-near. The Swan Maiden told him to break the third egg, and out of it
-came scores and scores of servants all dressed in gold and silver livery.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That morning, when the king looked out of his bedroom window, there
-stood the splendid castle of silver and gold. Then he called all of his
-people together, and they rode over to see what it meant. On the way
-they met such herds of fat sheep and cattle that the king had never seen
-the like in all of his life before; and when he came to the fine castle, there
-were two rows of servants dressed in clothes of silver and gold, ready to
-meet him. But when he came to the door of the castle, there stood the
-prince himself. Then there was joy and rejoicing, you may be sure! only
-the two elder brothers looked down in the mouth, for since the young
-prince had found the thief who stole the golden pears, their father’s kingdom
-was not for them. But the prince soon set their minds at rest on
-that score, for he had enough and more than enough of his own.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that the prince and the Swan Maiden were married, and a grand
-wedding they had of it, with music of fiddles and kettle-drums, and plenty
-to eat and to drink. I, too, was there; but all of the good red wine ran
-down over my tucker, so that not a drop of it passed my lips, and I had
-to come away empty.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And that is all.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_240.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_241.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Seven O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Work</i> is over for the <i>Day</i>; <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>K.P. del. ⌣ <i>Grows cool.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Sky</i> is pale, and far away</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Village Children</i> shout at <i>Play</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>Now from his <i>Hole</i> the <i>Toad</i> comes out,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And blinks his <i>Eyes</i>, and hops about,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And likes the pleasant <i>Air</i>, no doubt.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_243.jpg' alt='The Three Little Pigs _and the_ OGRE.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XIX.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_243.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There were three nice, fat little pigs. The first was
-small, the second was smaller, and the third was the
-smallest of all. And these three little pigs thought
-of going out into the woods to gather acorns, for
-there were better acorns there than here.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There’s a great ogre who lives over yonder in
-the woods,” says the barn-yard cock.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And he will eat you up, body and bones,” says
-the speckled hen.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And there will be an end of you,” says the black drake.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“If folks only knew what was good for them, they would stay at home
-and make the best of what they had there,” said the old grey goose who
-laid eggs under the barn, and who had never gone out into the world or
-had had a peep of it beyond the garden-gate.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But no; the little pigs would go out into the world, whether or no;
-“for,” said they, “if we stay at home because folks shake their heads,
-we will never get the best acorns that are to be had;” and there was more
-than one barley-corn of truth in that chaff, I can tell you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So out into the woods they went.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>They hunted for acorns here and they hunted for acorns there, and by
-and by whom should the smallest of all the little pigs meet but the great,
-wicked ogre himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>“Aha!” says the great, wicked ogre, “it is a nice, plump little pig
-that I have been wanting for my supper this many a day past. So you
-may just come along with me now.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, Master Ogre,” squeaked the smallest of the little pigs in the
-smallest of voices—“oh, Master Ogre, don’t eat me! There’s a bigger pig
-back of me, and he will be along presently.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the ogre let the smallest of the little pigs go, for he would rather
-have a larger pig if he could get it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by came the second little pig. “Aha!” says the great, wicked
-ogre, “I have been wanting just such a little pig as you for my supper for
-this many a day past. So you may just come along with me now.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, Master Ogre,” said the middle-sized pig, in his middle-sized voice,
-“don’t take me for your supper; there’s a bigger pig than I am coming
-along presently. Just wait for him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the ogre was satisfied to do that; so he waited, and by and by,
-sure enough, came the largest of the little pigs.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And now,” says the great, wicked ogre, “I will wait no longer, for
-you are just the pig I want for my supper, and so you may march along
-with me.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the largest of the little pigs had his wits about him, I can tell you.
-“Oh, very well,” says he; “if I am the shoe that fits there is no use in
-hunting for another; only, have you a roasted apple to put in my mouth
-when I am cooked? for no one ever heard of a little pig brought on the
-table without a roast apple in its mouth.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No; the ogre had no roasted apple.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear! that was a great pity. If he would wait for a little while,
-the largest of the little pigs would run home and fetch one, and then things
-would be as they should.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, the ogre was satisfied with that. So off ran the little pig, and
-the ogre sat down on a stone and waited for him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, he waited and he waited and he waited and he waited, but not a
-tip of a hair of the little pig did he see that day, as you can guess without
-my telling you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And Tommy Pfouce tells me that the great, wicked ogre is not the
-only one who has gone without either pig or roast apple, because when he
-could get the one he would not take it without the other.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>
-<img src='images/i_245.jpg' alt='The Ogre meets the three little pigs in the forest, whither they went to gather acorns.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>“And now,” says the cock and the speckled hen and the black drake
-and the old grey goose who laid her eggs under the barn, and had never
-been out into the world beyond the garden-gate—“and now perhaps you
-will run out into the world and among ogres no more. Are there not
-good enough acorns at home?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Perhaps there were; but that was not what the three little pigs thought.
-“See, now,” said the smallest of the three little pigs, “if one is afraid of
-the water, one will never catch any fish. I, for one, am going out into
-the woods to get a few acorns.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So out into the woods he went, and there he found all of the acorns
-that he wanted. But, on his way home, whom should he meet but the
-great, wicked ogre.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Aha!” says the ogre, “and is that you?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes, it was nobody else; but had the ogre come across three fellows
-tramping about in the woods down yonder?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No, the ogre had met nobody in the woods that day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Dear, dear,” says the smallest little pig, “but that is a pity, for those
-three fellows were three wicked robbers, and they have just hidden a meal-bag
-full of money in that hole up in the tree yonder.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>You can guess how the ogre pricked up his ears at this, and how he
-stared till his eyes were as big as saucers.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Just wait,” said he to the smallest little pig, “and I will be down again
-in a minute.” So he laid his jacket to one side and up the tree he climbed,
-for he wanted to find that bag of money, and he meant to have it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Do you find the hole?” says the smallest of the little pigs.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; the ogre had found the hole.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And do you find the money?” says the smallest of the little pigs.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No; the ogre could find no money.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then good-bye,” says the smallest of the little pigs, and off he trotted
-home, leaving the ogre to climb down the tree again as he chose.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And now, at least, you will go out into the woods no more,” says the
-cock, the speckled hen, the black drake, and the grey goose.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, well, there was no telling what the three little pigs would do yet,
-they would have to wait and see.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day it was the middle-sized little pig who would go out into the
-woods, for he also had a mind to taste the acorns there.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So out into the woods the middle-sized little pig went, and there he had
-all the acorns that he wanted.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But by and by the ogre came along. “Aha!” says he. “Now I have
-you for sure and certain.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>
-<img src='images/i_247.jpg' alt='The Ogre climbs the tree for the money that he believes to be there.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>But the middle-sized little pig just stood and looked at a great rock
-just in front of him, with all of his might and main. “Sh-h-h-h-h-h!” says
-he, “I am not to be talked to or bothered now!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Hoity-toity! Here was a pretty song, to be sure! And why was the
-middle-sized pig not to be talked to? That was what the ogre should
-like to know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, the middle-sized little pig was looking at what was going on under
-the great rock yonder, for he could see the little folk brewing more beer
-than thirty-seven men could drink.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So! Why, the ogre would like to see that for himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” says the middle-sized little pig, “there is nothing easier
-than to learn that trick! just take a handful of leaves from yonder bush
-and rub them over your eyes, and then shut them tight and count
-fifty.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the ogre would have a try at that. So he gathered a handful of
-the leaves and rubbed them over his eyes, just as the middle-sized pig had
-said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And now are you ready?” said the middle-sized little pig.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; the ogre was ready.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Then shut your eyes and count,” said the middle-sized little pig.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the ogre shut them as tightly as he could and began to count,
-“One, two, three, four, five,” and so on; and while he was counting, why,
-the little pig was running away home again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by the ogre bawled out “<i>Fifty!!!</i>” and opened his eyes, for
-he was done. Then he saw not more, but less, than he had seen before,
-for the little pig was not there.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now it was the largest of the three little pigs who began to talk
-about going out into the woods to look for acorns.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You had better stay at home and take things as they come. The
-crock that goes often to the well gets broken at last;” that was what the
-cock, the speckled hen, the black drake, and the grey goose said; and they
-thought themselves very wise to talk as they did.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But no; the little pig wanted to go out into the woods, and into the
-woods the little pig would go, ogre or no ogre.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After he had eaten all of the acorns that he wanted he began to think
-of going home again, but just then the ogre came stumping along. “Aha!”
-says he, “we have met again, have we?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said the largest of the three little pigs, “we have. And I want
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>to say that I could find no roast apple at home, and so I did not come back
-again.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_249.jpg' alt='The Ogre shuts his eyes and counts fifty' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, yes, that was all very fine; but they should have a settling of old
-scores now. The largest of the three little pigs might just come along
-home with the ogre, and to-morrow he should be made into sausages;
-for there was to be no trickery this time, so there was an end of the
-matter.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Come, come! the ogre must not be too testy. There was such a thing
-as having too much pepper in the pudding—that was what the largest of
-the little pigs said. If it were sausages that the ogre was after, maybe the
-pig could help him. Over home at the farm yonder was a storehouse
-filled with more sausages and good things than two men could count.
-There was a window where the ogre could just squeeze through. Only
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>he must promise to eat what he wanted and to carry nothing away with
-him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the ogre promised to eat all he wanted in the storehouse, and then
-off they went together.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by they came to the storehouse at the farm, and there, sure
-enough, was a window, and it was <i>just</i> large enough for the ogre to squeeze
-through without a button to spare in the size.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear! how the ogre did stuff himself with the sausages and
-puddings and other good things in the storehouse.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by the little pig bawled out as loud as he could, “<i>Have you had
-enough yet?</i>”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hush-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh!” says the ogre, “don’t talk so loud, or you’ll
-be rousing the folks and having them about our ears like a hive of
-bees.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No,” bawled the little pig, louder than before, “but tell me, <i>have</i> you
-had enough yet?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes,” says the ogre, “I have had almost enough, only be still
-about it!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well!” bawled the little pig, as loud as he could, “if you have
-had enough, and if you have eaten all of the sausages and all of the puddings
-you can stuff, it is about time that you were going, for here comes
-the farmer and two of his men to see what all the stir is about.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And, sure enough, the farmer and his men were coming as fast as they
-could lay foot to the ground.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But when the ogre heard them coming, he felt sure that it was time
-that he was getting away home again, and so he tried to get out of the
-same window that he had gotten in a little while before. But he had
-stuffed himself with so much of the good things that he had swelled like
-everything, and there he stuck in the storehouse window like a cork in a
-bottle, and could budge neither one way nor the other; and that was a
-pretty pickle to be in.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oho!” says the farmer, “you were after my sausages and my puddings,
-were you? Then you will come no more.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And that was so; for when the farmer and his men were done with the
-ogre he never went into the woods again, for he could not.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the three little pigs, they trotted away into the woods every day
-of their lives, for there was nobody nowadays to stop them from gathering
-all the acorns that they wanted.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>
-<img src='images/i_251a.jpg' alt='The Ogre sticks fast in the window.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now, don’t you believe folks when they say that this is <i>all</i> stuff and
-nonsense that I have been telling you; for if you turn it upside down and
-look in the bottom of it you will find that there is more than one grain of
-truth there; that is if you care to scratch among the chaff for it. And
-that is the end of this story.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_251b.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id002'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>
-<img src='images/i_252.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_253.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Eight O’Clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The little <i>Bats</i> fly <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Cooler winds.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in6'>About in the <i>Sky</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And the <i>Kobold</i>’s wide awake.</div>
-      <div class='line in6'>The great black <i>Trees</i> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>●<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in6'>Are stirred in the <i>Breeze</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And a curious <i>Sound</i> they make.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Plays</i> are done, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☽<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And the <i>Prayers</i> are said,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And the <i>Children</i> are snugly</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Tucked in <i>Bed</i>. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>K.P.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_255.jpg' alt='The Staff and The Fiddle.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XX.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_255.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-<i>The wind of heaven blows the chips and the straws together.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There was a fiddler, a tinker, and a shoemaker
-jogging along the road, but whatever brought them
-in company is more than I am able to tell you.
-All the same, there they were, and, after all, that is
-the kernel of the nut.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The fiddler was as merry a little toad as ever a
-body could wish to see; as for the tinker and the shoemaker, why, they
-were as sour as bad beer.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, they plodded along, all three of them, until by and by they came
-to a cross-road, and there sat an old body begging; “Dear, good, kind
-gentlemen, give a poor old woman a penny or two. Do now.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Pooh!” says the tinker and the shoemaker, and off they walked
-with their noses in the air as though they were hunting for flies up
-yonder.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the fiddler, he had another kind of a heart under his jacket;
-“Come,” says he, “we are all chicks in the same puddle.” So he gave the
-old woman all that he had, which was only two pennies.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“A cake for a pie,” said the old woman; “and what would you like to
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>have in the way of a wish? for all that you have to do is to ask, and it
-shall be granted.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>This old woman was a famous wise one, I can tell you, though the
-fiddler knew nothing of that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The fiddler thought and thought, but there was little that he had to
-wish for; nevertheless, since they were in the way of asking and giving,
-and seeing that his body was none of the largest, he would like to have it
-for a wish that whenever he should say, “Rub-a-dub-dub,” the staff in his
-hand would up and fight for him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So! and was that all that he wanted? Then it was granted and welcome,
-for it was little enough.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that they said, “Good-morning,” and the fiddler went one way
-and the old woman the other.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the three companions plodded along together until, by and by,
-night came, and there they were, in a deep forest, with branches over
-their heads and not a peep out from under the trees, no matter where
-they might look; and that was not the pleasantest thing for them, I can
-tell you. But by and by they saw a light, and then the world looked up
-with them again. So they hurried along more rapidly, and presently came
-to the house where the light was shining; and, after all, it was not much to
-look at.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Rap, tap, tap! they knocked at the door, but nobody came; so they
-opened it for themselves and walked in.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No; there was no one at home, but there was a table spread with a
-smoking hot supper, and places for three. Down they sat without waiting
-for the bidding, for their hunger was as sharp as vinegar.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, they ate and they ate and they ate until they could eat no more,
-and then they turned around and roasted their toes at the warm fire.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was all very well and good, but by and by all the wood was
-burned, and then who was to go out into the dark forest and fetch another
-armful?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Not I,” says the tinker.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Not I,” says the shoemaker.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And so it fell to the lot of the fiddler, and off he went.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But many a one spills the milk-mug to save the water-jug, and so it
-was with the tinker and the shoemaker; for, while they sat warming their
-shins at the fire and rubbing their hands over their knees, in walked an
-ugly little troll no taller than a yard-stick, but with a head as big as a
-cabbage, and a good stout cudgel twice as long as himself in his hand; as
-for his eyes, why, they were as big as your mother’s teacups.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>
-<img src='images/i_257.jpg' alt='The Fiddler gives the old woman all that he has in his purse. ¶):(⁋' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>“I want something to eat,” says he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You’ll get nothing here,” says the tinker and the shoemaker.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, but I will,” says the little manikin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No, but you will not,” says the tinker and the shoemaker.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That we’ll see,” says the manikin; whereupon he spat upon his hands,
-snatched up his club, and, without more ado, fell upon the tinker and the
-shoemaker, and began beating them with all his might and main. My
-goodness, you should have seen how they hopped about like two peas on
-a drum-head, and you should have heard how they bellowed and bawled
-for mercy! But the little ugly troll never stopped until he was too tired
-to drub them any more; then he went away whither he had come, and all
-that the two fellows could do was to rub the places that smarted the most.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by in came the fiddler with his armful of wood, but never a
-word did the tinker and the shoemaker say, for they had no notion of
-telling how such a little manikin had dusted the coats of two great hulking
-fellows like themselves; only the next day they thought that it would be
-well to rest where they were, for their bones were too sore to be jogging.
-So they lolled around the house all day, and found everything that they
-wanted to eat in the cupboards.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After supper there was more wood to be brought in from the forest,
-and this time it was the tinker and the shoemaker who went to fetch it,
-for they had settled it between them that the fiddler was to have a taste
-of the same broth that they had supped.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Sure enough, by and by in came the ugly little troll with the great
-long cudgel.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I want something to eat,” says he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There it is, brother,” says the fiddler, “help yourself.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“It is you who shall wait on me,” says the ugly little troll.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Tut!” says the fiddler, “how you talk, neighbor; have you no hands
-of your own?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“You shall wait on me,” says the manikin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I shall not,” says the fiddler.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That we will see,” says the manikin, and he spat upon his hands and
-gripped his cudgel.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” says the fiddler, “and is that the game you are playing?
-Then, rub-a-dub-dub!” says he.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>
-<img src='images/i_259.jpg' alt='The Fiddler gives the word &amp; the staff falls to drubbing the Dwarf as he deserves.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>Pop!—up jumps his staff from the corner where he had stood it, and
-then you should have seen the dust fly! This time it was the manikin
-who hopped over the chairs and begged and bawled for mercy. As for
-the fiddler, he stood by with his hands in his pockets and whistled. By
-and by the manikin found the door, and out he jumped with the fiddler
-at his heels. But the fiddler was not quick enough, for, before he could
-catch him, the little troll popped into a great hole in the ground like a
-frog into a well; and there was an end to that business.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while the tinker and the shoemaker came back from the forest
-with their load of wood, and then how the fiddler did laugh at them, for
-he saw very well how the wind had been blowing with them. As for him,
-he was all for following the little manikin into the hole in the ground; so
-they hunted here and they hunted there, until they found a great basket
-and a rope, and then the tinker and the shoemaker lowered the fiddler
-and his staff down into the pit.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Down he went ever so deep until he reached the bottom, and there he
-found a great room. The first body whom he saw was a princess as pretty
-as a ripe apple, but looking, oh, so sad! at being in such a place. The next
-he saw was the ugly little troll, who sat in the corner and growled like our
-cat when the dog comes into the kitchen.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So!” says the fiddler, “there you are, are you? Then it is rub-a-dub-dub
-again.” And this time before the drubbing was stopped it was all
-over with the troll.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And then who was glad but the pretty princess. She flung her arms
-around the merry little fiddler’s neck, and gave him a right good smacking
-kiss or two, and that paid a part of the score, I can tell you. Then they
-sat down and the pretty princess told him all about how the troll had
-carried her off a year and more ago, and had kept her in this place ever
-since. After that she took a pure gold ring off of her finger and broke
-it in two; half of it was for the fiddler and half of it was for her; for they
-were sweethearts now, and the ring was to be a love-token.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the fiddler put the princess into the basket, and the two fellows
-above hauled her up. By and by down came the basket again, and now it
-was the fiddler’s turn. “Suppose,” says he, “that they are up to some of
-their tricks!” So he tumbled a great stone into the basket in the place of
-himself. Sure enough, when the basket was about half-way up, down it
-came tumbling, for the rogues above had cut the rope, and if the fiddler had
-been there in the place of the stone, it would have been all over with him.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>
-<img src='images/i_261.jpg' alt='The Fiddler finds ye Princess in the cavern of the Dwarf.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>Then if anybody was ever down in the dumps the fiddler was the
-fellow. For there he was down in the pit, and he could no more get out
-of his pickle than a toad out of the cellar window. After he had been there
-for ever so long a time, he saw a pretty little fiddle that hung back of the
-cupboard. “Aha!” says he, “there is some butter to the crust after all;
-and now we will just have a bit of a jig to cheer us up a little.” So down
-he sat and began to play.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And then what do you think happened? Why, up popped a little fellow
-no higher than your knee and as black as your hat!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“What do you want, master?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So,” said the fiddler, “and is that the tune we play? Well, I should
-like to get out of this pit, that I should.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No sooner said than done, for he had hardly time to pick up his staff
-and tuck the fiddle under his arm, when—whisk!—he was up above as
-quick as a wink.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” said he, “but this is a pretty fiddle to own and no mistake!”
-and off he went, right foot foremost.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while he came to the town where the king lived, and there was
-a great buzzing and gossip, and this was why: all the folks were talking
-about how the tinker and the shoemaker had brought back the princess
-from the ugly little troll, and of how the king had promised that whoever
-did that was to have her for his wife and half of the kingdom to boot;
-but here were two lads, and the question was who was to have her. For
-before they had left the pit over yonder, the tinker and the shoemaker had
-made the princess vow and promise that she would say nothing about how
-they had treated the fiddler, and now each fellow was saying that he had
-brought her up out of the troll’s den.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And the princess did nothing but sit and cry and cry; but, as for marrying,
-she vowed and declared that she would not do that till she had a pair
-of slippers of pure gold, and a real diamond buckle on each slipper; and
-nobody in all of the town was able to make the kind that she wanted.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the fiddler heard all this he went straight to a shoemaker’s shop.
-“Will you take a journeyman shoemaker?” says he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“What can you do?” says the master shoemaker.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I can make a pair of slippers such as the princess wants, only I must
-have a room all to myself to make them in,” says the fiddler.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the master shoemaker heard this, he was not long in making up
-his mind, so the bargain was closed and that settled the business.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>
-<img src='images/i_263.jpg' alt='The Fiddler and the little, black mannikin.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>As soon as the fiddler was alone he drew out his fiddle and began to
-play a bit of a jig, and there stood the little black fellow, just as he had
-done before.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“What do you want?” says he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I should like,” said the fiddler, “to have a pair of slippers such as the
-princess asks for, but I only want one buckle to the pair, and that must be
-made of real diamonds.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>Oh! that was an easy thing to have, and there were the slippers just as
-the fiddler had ordered.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But there is only one buckle,” says the master shoemaker.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Tut!” says the fiddler, “turn no hairs grey for that, brother. Just tell
-the princess that the fiddler has the other, and matters will be as smooth as
-cream.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the master shoemaker did as the fiddler said, and you may guess
-how the princess opened her pretty eyes when she heard that her sweetheart
-was thereabouts. Nothing would suit her but that she must see that
-journeyman shoemaker. But when they sent to fetch him, he was gone.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now the shoemaker and the tinker began to talk again; the
-princess had been promised to the man who saved her from the troll, and
-so she must and should choose one of them. But no; the princess was not
-ready yet; she would never marry till she had a pair of gloves of the finest
-silk, all embroidered with silver and pearls and with a ruby clasp at the
-wrist of each.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now came the same dance with a different tune, for nobody was to
-be found in all of the town who could make such a pair of gloves as she
-wanted. By and by the matter came to the fiddler’s ears, and off he set to
-the glover’s shop. And did the glover want an apprentice?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, the glover wanted an apprentice, but he must know first what the
-other could do.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well,” said the fiddler, “if I have a room all to myself, I can make
-a pair of gloves such as the princess asks for.” And after that he was not
-left to kick his toes in the cold.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As soon as he was alone, he drew out his fiddle and struck up an air,
-and there stood the little black man again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I would like,” said the fiddler, “to have a pair of gloves such as the
-princess asks for. But there must be only one clasp to the wrist, and that
-made all of pure rubies.” That is what he said, and there were the gloves
-without his having to ask twice for them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But there is only one clasp,” said the glover.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Never mind that,” said the wonderful apprentice; “just tell the princess
-that the fiddler had the other, and she will be satisfied.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the princess, she sent off post-haste for the lad who had made
-her gloves. But she was behindhand this time too, for, when those whom
-she sent came to the glover’s house, they found nobody there but the cat
-and the kettle, and the master glover, for the fiddler was gone.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>And now the tinker and the shoemaker began again; the princess had
-her gloves, and she must and should choose one or the other of them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But no. First of all the princess must have a fine dress all of white silk
-with both sleeves looped up with pearls as big as marbles.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But there was nobody to make such a dress as that in all of the town,
-till the fiddler went to the master tailor and offered himself as a journeyman
-workman. Then the dress came quickly enough, and with only the tune of
-a fiddle. But the loop of pearls on one sleeve was missing.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And that will never do in the wide world,” says the tailor.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh,” says the fiddler, “that is nothing; just tell the princess that the
-fiddler has the other, and she will be satisfied.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the tailor did as he said, and when the princess heard who had
-the pearl loop, she was satisfied, just as the fiddler had said she would be.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by the tinker and the shoemaker began again; the princess must
-choose one or the other of them. And now there was nothing left for her
-to do but to say “Yes.” She felt sure that the fiddler would be on hand at
-the right time, and so a day was fixed for choosing whom she would marry.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>It was not long before the fiddler heard of that, for news flies fast. Off
-he went by himself and played a turn or two on his fiddle.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what do you want now?” says the little manikin.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“This time,” said the fiddler, “I want a splendid suit of clothes for
-myself, all of silver and gold; besides that, I want a hat with a great feather
-in it and a fine milk-white horse.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So; good! Well, he could have those things easily enough, and there
-they were.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the fiddler dressed himself in his fine clothes, and then, when it was
-about time for the princess to make her choice, he mounted upon his great
-milk-white horse and set off for the king’s house with his staff across the
-saddle in front of him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But you should have seen how the people looked as he rode along the
-street, for they had never laid eyes upon such a fine sight in all of their lives
-before. Up he rode to the castle, and when he knocked at the door they
-did not keep him waiting long out in the cold, I can tell you.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There they all sat at dinner, the tinker on one side of the princess and
-the shoemaker on the other. But when they saw the fiddler in his grand
-clothes, they thought that he was some great nobleman for sure and certain,
-for neither the princess nor the two rogues knew who he was. The folks
-squeezed together along the bench and made room for him; so he leaned
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>his staff in the corner and down he sat, just across the table from the
-princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by he asked the princess if she would drink a glass of red wine
-with him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, the princess would do that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the fiddler drank, and then what did he do but drop his half of the
-ring that the princess had given him into the cup, before he passed it across
-to her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the princess drank, but something bobbed against her lips; and
-when she came to look—lo and behold!—there was the half of her ring.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And if anybody in all of the world was glad, it was the princess at that
-very moment. Up she stood before them all; “There is my sweetheart,”
-says she, “and I will marry him and no one else.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the fiddler, he just said, “Rub-a-dub-dub,” and up jumped the
-staff and began to thump and bang the tinker and the shoemaker until they
-scampered away for dear life, and there was an end of them so far as I
-know, for if you would like to know what happened to them afterwards, you
-will have to ask some one else.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The king was ever so glad to have the fiddler for a son-in-law in the
-place either of the tinker or the shoemaker, for he was a much better-looking
-lad. Besides, the others had done nothing but brew trouble and
-worriment ever since they had come into the house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that there was a grand wedding. I too was there at the feasting,
-but I got nothing but empty sausage and wind pudding, and so I came
-away again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And that is the end of this story.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_266.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_267.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Nine O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>When all are wrapped in <i>Slumbers</i> sweet, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>○<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>About the <i>House</i>, with stealthy <i>Tread</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>With flowered <i>Gown</i>, and night-capped <i>Head</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'><i>Dame Margery</i> goes, in <i>Stocking Feet</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>She stops and listens at the <i>Doors</i>; <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☾<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>She sees that every thing is right,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And safe, and quiet for the <i>Night</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>Then goes to <i>Bed</i>, and sleeps, and snores.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line in36'>K.P.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_269.jpg' alt='How the Princess’s Pride was broken.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XXI.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_269.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There was a princess who was as pretty as a picture,
-and she was so proud of that that she would not so
-much as look at a body; all the same, there was
-no lack of lads who came a-wooing, and who would
-have liked nothing so much as to have had her for
-a sweetheart because she was so good-looking. But,
-no, she would have nothing to do with any of them;
-this one was too young and that one was too old;
-this one was too lean and that one was too fat; this one was too little
-and that one was too big; this one was too dark and that one was too
-fair. So there was never a white sheep in the whole flock, as one might
-say.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now there was one came who was a king in his own country, and a fine
-one at that. The only blemish about him was a mole on his chin; apart
-from that he was as fresh as milk and rose leaves.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But when the princess saw him she burst out laughing; “Who would
-choose a specked apple from the basket?” said she; and that was all the
-cake the prince bought at that shop, for off he was packed.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But he was not for giving up, not he; he went and dressed himself up
-in rags and tatters; then back he came again, and not a soul knew him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>Rap! tap! rap!—he knocked at the door, and did they want a stout
-lad about the place?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, yes; they were wanting a gooseherd, and if he liked the place he
-might have it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, that fitted his wants like a silk stocking, and the next day he drove
-the geese up on the hill back of the king’s house, so that they might eat
-grass where it was fresh and green. By and by he took a golden ball out
-of his pocket and began tossing it up and catching it, and as he played
-with it the sun shone on it so that it dazzled one’s eyes to look at it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess sat at her window, and it was not long before she saw it,
-I can tell you. Dear, dear, but it was a pretty one, the golden ball. The
-princess would like to have such a plaything, that she would; so she sent
-one of the maids out to ask whether the gooseherd had a mind to sell it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes, it was for sale, and cheap at that; the princess should have it
-for the kerchief which she wore about her neck.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Prut! but the lad was a saucy one; that was what the princess said.
-But, after all, a kerchief was only a kerchief; fetch the gooseherd over and
-she would give it to him, for she wanted the pretty golden ball for her own,
-and she would have it if it were to be had.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But, no; the gooseherd would not come at the princess’s bidding. If
-she wanted to buy the golden ball she must come up on the hill and pay
-him, for he was not going to leave his flock of geese, and have them waddling
-into the garden perhaps; that is what the gooseherd said. So the
-upshot of the matter was that the princess went out with her women, and
-gave the lad the kerchief up on the hill behind the hedge, and brought
-back the golden ball with her for her own.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the gooseherd he just tied the kerchief around his arm so that
-everybody might see it; and all the folks said, “Hi! that is the princess’s
-kerchief.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next day, when he drove his flock of geese up on the hill, he took
-a silver looking-glass and a golden comb out of his pocket and began to
-comb his hair, and you should have seen how the one and the other
-glistened in the sun.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>It took the princess no longer to see the comb and the looking-glass
-than it had the golden ball, and then she must and would have them.
-So she sent one to find whether the lad was of a mind to sell them, for
-she thought that she had never seen anything so pretty in all of her life
-before.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span>
-<img src='images/i_271.jpg' alt='The Royal gooseherd playeth with the golden ball.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>“Yes,” said he, “I will sell them, but the princess must come up on the
-hill back of the hedge and give me the necklace she wears about her neck.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess made a sour enough face at this, but, as the gooseherd
-would take nothing more nor less than what he had said, she and her
-maids had to tuck up their dresses and go up on the hill; there she paid
-him his price, and brought home the silver looking-glass and the golden
-comb.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The lad clasped the necklace about his throat, and, dear, dear, how all
-the folks did goggle and stare. “See,” said they, “the princess has been
-giving the gooseherd the necklace from about her own throat.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The third day it was a new thing the gooseherd had, for he brought
-out a musical box with figures on it, dressed up, and looking for all the
-world like real little men and women. He turned the handle, and when
-the music played it was sweeter than drops of honey. And all the while
-the little men and women bowed to one another and went through with
-a dance, for all the world as though they knew what they were about, and
-were doing it with their own wits.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Good gracious! how the princess did wonder at the pretty musical box!
-She must and would have it at any price; but this time it was five-and-twenty
-kisses that the lad was wanting for his musical box, and he would
-take nothing more nor less than just that much for it. Moreover, she
-would have to come up on the hillside and give them to him, for he could
-not leave his geese even for five-and-twenty kisses.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But you should have seen what a stew the princess was in at this!
-Five-and-twenty kisses, indeed! And did the fellow think that it was for
-the likes of her to be kissing a poor gooseherd? He might keep his
-musical box if that was the price he asked for it; that was what she said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the lad, he just played the music and played the music, and the
-more the princess heard and saw the more she wanted it. “After all,” said
-she, at last, “a kiss is only a kiss, and I will be none the poorer for giving
-one or two of them; I’ll just let him have them, since he will take nothing
-else.” So off she marched, with all of her maidens, to pay the gooseherd
-his price, though it was a sour face she made of it, and that is the truth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now, somebody had been buzzing in the king’s ear, and had told him
-that the gooseherd over yonder was wearing the princess’s kerchief and her
-golden necklace, and folks said she had given them to him of her own free
-will.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>
-<img src='images/i_273.jpg' alt='The King peeps over the hedge and sees what is going on upon the other side.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>“What!” says the king, “is that so? her kerchief! golden necklace!
-we will have to look into this business.” So off he marched, with his little
-dog at his heels, to find out what he could about it. Up the hill he went to
-where the gooseherd watched his flock; and when he came near the hedge
-where the kissing was going on, he heard them counting—“Twenty-one,
-twenty-two, twenty-three—” and he wondered what in the world they were
-all about. So he just peeped over the bushes, and there he saw the whole
-business.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Mercy on us! what a rage he was in! So; the princess would turn up
-her nose at folks as good as herself, would she? And here she was kissing
-the gooseherd back of the hedge. If he was the kind she liked she should
-have him for good and all.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the minister was called in, and the princess and the gooseherd were
-married then and there, and that was the end of the business. Then off
-they were packed to shift for themselves in the wide world, for they were
-not to live at the king’s castle, and that was the long and the short of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the lad did nothing but grumble and growl, and seemed as sore over
-his bargain as though he had been trying to trick a Jew. What did he want
-with a lass for a wife who could neither brew nor bake nor boil blue beans?
-That is what he said. All the same, they were hitched to the same plough,
-and there was nothing for it but to pull together the best they could. So
-off they packed, and the poor princess trudged after him and carried his
-bundle.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So they went on until they came to a poor, mean little hut. There
-she had to take off her fine clothes and put on rags and tatters; and that
-was the way she came home.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well,” said the gooseherd one day, “it’s not the good end of the
-bargain that I have had in marrying; all the same, one must make the
-best one can of a crooked stick when there is none other to be cut in
-the hedge. It is little or nothing you are fit for; but here is a basket of
-eggs, and you shall take them to the market and sell them.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off the poor princess went to the great town, and stood in the corner
-of the market with her eggs. By and by there came along a tipsy
-countryman—tramp! tramp! tramp! As for the basket of eggs, he minded
-them no more than so many green apples. Smash! and there they lay on
-the ground, and were fit for nothing but to patch broken promises, as we
-say in our town.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then how the poor princess did wring her hands and cry and cry, for
-she was afraid to go home to her husband, because of the hard words he
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>would be sure to fling at her. All the same, there was no other place for
-her to go; so back she went.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_275.jpg' alt='The Princess taketh her eggs to the market.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There!” said he, “I always knew that you were good for nothing but
-to look at, and now I am more sure of it than ever. The china pitcher
-was never fit to send to the well, and it was a rainy day for me when I
-married such a left-handed wife;” that was what the gooseherd said. All
-the same, the princess should try again; this time she should take a basket
-of apples to the market to sell; for whatever happened she could not break
-them; so off she went again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, by and by came a fellow driving swine, and there sat the princess
-in the way; that was bad luck for her, for over tumbled the basket, and the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>apples went rolling all about the street. When the drove had passed there
-was not a single apple to be seen, for the pigs had eaten every one of
-them. So there was nothing for the princess but to go home crying, with
-her apron to her eyes.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes,” said the gooseherd, “it is as plain as reading and writing
-and the nose on your face that you are just fit for nothing at all! All
-the same, we’ll make one more try to mend the crack in your luck. The
-king up in the castle yonder is married and is going to give a grand feast.
-They are wanting a body in the kitchen to draw the water and chop the
-wood; and you shall go and try your hand at that; and see, here is a
-basket; you shall take it along and bring home the kitchen scrapings for
-supper.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So off went the princess to the castle kitchen, and there she drew the
-water and chopped the wood for the cook. After her work was done she
-begged so prettily for the kitchen scrapings that the cook filled her basket
-full of the leavings from the pots and the pans, for they were about having
-a grand dinner up-stairs and the king was going to bring home his wife
-that day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by it was time for her to be going home, so she picked up her
-basket and off she went. Just outside stood two tall soldiers. “Halt!”
-said they. And was she the lass who had been chopping the wood and
-drawing the water for the cook that day? Yes? Then she must go
-along with them, for she was wanted up-stairs. No; it did no good for
-her to beg and to pray and to cry and to wring her hands, and it mattered
-nothing if her good man was waiting for her at home. She had
-been sent for, and she must go, willy-nilly. So she had only just time
-to fling her apron over her basket of kitchen scrapings, and off they
-marched her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There sat the king on his golden throne, dressed all in splendid golden
-robes, and with a golden crown glittering upon his head. But the poor
-princess was so frightened that she neither looked at anything nor saw
-anything, but only stood there trembling.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“What have you under your apron?” said the king. But to this the
-princess could not answer a single word. Then somebody who stood near
-snatched away her apron, and there was the basket full of kitchen scrapings,
-and all the time the princess stood so heart-struck with shame that she
-saw nothing but the cracks in the floor.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the king stepped down from his golden throne, dressed all in his
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>golden robes, just as he was, and took the princess by the hand. “And
-do you not know me?” said he; “look! I am the gooseherd.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_277.jpg' alt='The Princess knoweth the Young King.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>And so he was! She could see it easily enough now, but that made her
-more ashamed than ever.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And listen: the king had more to tell her yet. He was the tipsy countryman
-and had knocked over her basket of eggs himself, and more than
-that he was the swineherd who had driven his pigs over her basket of
-apples so that they were spilled on the ground. But the princess only
-bowed her head lower and lower, for her pride was broken.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come,” says the king, “you are my own sweetheart now;” and he
-kissed her on the cheek and seated her beside himself, and if the princess
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>cried any more the king wiped away her tears with his own pocket-handkerchief.
-As for the poor and rough clothes in which she was dressed, he
-thought nothing of them, for they were nothing to him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That is the end of this story, for everything ends aright in a story worth
-the telling.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But if the princess was proud and haughty before, she never was again;
-and that is the plain truth, fresh from the churn and no hairs in it, and a
-lump of it is worth spreading your bread with, I can tell you.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_278.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_279.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Ten O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>Out of the <i>Cupboard</i> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>○<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Kobold</i> takes</div>
-      <div class='line'>Some bits of the <i>Morning</i></div>
-      <div class='line in2'><i>Griddle-Cakes</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Windows</i> rattle, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span><i>Cold and windy.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☾<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>North Wind</i> blows,</div>
-      <div class='line'>But the <i>Ashes</i> are warm</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Between his <i>Toes</i>. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>K.P.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>The little grey <i>Mouse</i> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>●<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Looks out of the <i>Wall</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And wishes he had</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Crumbs</i> that fall.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_281.jpg' alt='How Two _went into_ Partnership.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XXII.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_281.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-This was the way of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Uncle Bear had a pot of honey and a big cheese,
-but the Great Red Fox had nothing but his wits.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The fox was for going into partnership, for he
-says, says he, “a head full of wits is worth more than
-a pot of honey and a big cheese,” which was as true
-as gospel, only that wits cannot be shared in partnership
-among folks, like red herring and blue beans,
-or a pot of honey and a big cheese.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>All the same, Uncle Bear was well enough satisfied, and so they went
-into partnership together, just as the Great Red Fox had said. As for
-the pot of honey and the big cheese, why, they were put away for a
-rainy day, and the wits were all that were to be used just now.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” says the fox, “we’ll rattle them up a bit;” and so he did,
-and this was how.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>He was hungry for the honey, was the Great Red Fox. “See, now,”
-said he, “I am sick to-day, and I will just go and see the Master Doctor
-over yonder.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But it was not the doctor he went to; no, off he marched to the storehouse,
-and there he ate part of the honey. After that he laid out in the
-sun and toasted his skin, for that is pleasant after a great dinner.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by he went home again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>“Well,” says Uncle Bear, “and how do you feel now?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, well enough,” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And was the medicine bitter?” says Uncle Bear.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, no, it was good enough,” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And how much did the doctor give you?” says Uncle Bear.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, about one part of a pot full,” says the Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear! thinks Uncle Bear, that is a great deal of medicine to take,
-for sure and certain.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, things went on as smoothly as though the wheels were greased,
-until by and by the fox grew hungry for a taste of honey again; and this
-time he had to go over yonder and see his aunt. Off he went to the
-storehouse, and there he ate all the honey he wanted, and then, after he
-had slept a bit in the sun, he went back home again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well,” says Uncle Bear, “and did you see your aunt?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes,” says the Great Red Fox, “I saw her.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And did she give you anything?” says Uncle Bear.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes, she gave me a trifle,” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what was it she gave you?” says Uncle Bear.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Why, she gave me another part of a pot full, that was all,” says the
-Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Dear, dear! but that is a queer thing to give,” says Uncle Bear.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by the Great Red Fox was thinking of honey again, and now
-it was a christening he had to go to. Off he went to the pot of honey,
-and this time he finished it all and licked the pot into the bargain.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And had everything gone smoothly at the christening? That was
-what Uncle Bear wanted to know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, smoothly enough,” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And did they have a christening feast?” says Uncle Bear.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes, they had that,” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what did they have?” says Uncle Bear.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, everything that was in the pot,” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Dear, dear,” says Uncle Bear, “but they must have been a hungry
-set at that christening.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, one day Uncle Bear says, “We’ll have a feast and eat up the
-pot of honey and the big cheese, and we’ll ask Father Goat over to
-help us.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That suited the Great Red Fox well enough, so off he went to the
-storehouse to fetch the pot of honey and the cheese; as for Uncle Bear
-he went to ask Father Goat to come and help them eat up the good
-things.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>
-<img src='images/i_283.jpg' alt='The Great Red Fox goeth to the storehouse and helps himself to the good things. ¶' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>“See, now,” says the Great Red Fox to himself, “the pot of honey
-and the big cheese belong together, and it is a pity to part them.” So
-down he sat without more ado, and when he got up again the cheese was
-all inside of him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When he came home again there was Father Goat toasting his toes at
-the fire and waiting for supper; and there was Uncle Bear on the back
-door-step sharpening the bread-knife.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” says the Great Red Fox, “and what are you doing here, Father
-Goat?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I am just waiting for supper, and that is all,” says Father Goat.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And where is Uncle Bear?” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“He is sharpening the bread-knife,” says Father Goat.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says the Great Red Fox, “and when he is through with that
-he is going to cut your tail off.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear! but Father Goat was in a great fright; that house was no
-place for him, and he could see that with one eye shut; off he marched,
-as though the ground was hot under him. As for the Great Red Fox, he
-went out to Uncle Bear; “That was a pretty body you asked to take
-supper with us,” says he; “here he has marched off with the pot of honey
-and the big cheese, and we may sit down and whistle over an empty table
-between us.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When Uncle Bear heard this he did not tarry, I can tell you; up he got
-and off he went after Father Goat. “Stop! stop!” he bawled, “let me
-have a little at least.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Father Goat thought that Uncle Bear was speaking of his tail,
-for he knew nothing of the pot of honey and the big cheese; so he
-just knuckled down to it, and away he scampered till the gravel flew
-behind him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And this was what came of that partnership; nothing was left but the
-wits that the Great Red Fox had brought into the business; for nobody
-could blame Father Goat for carrying the wits off with him, and one might
-guess that without the telling.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now, as the pot of honey and big cheese were gone, something else
-must be looked up, for one cannot live on thin air, and that is the truth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, now,” says the Great Red Fox, “Farmer John over yonder has
-a storehouse full of sausages and chitterlings and puddings, and all sort
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>of good things. As nothing else is left of the partnership we’ll just
-churn our wits a bit, and see if we can make butter with them, as the
-saying goes;” that was what the Great Red Fox said, and it suited
-Uncle Bear as well as anything he ever heard; so off they marched arm
-in arm.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_285.jpg' alt='The Fox tells Father Goat a strange story.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by they came to Farmer John’s house, and nobody was about,
-which was just what the two rogues wanted; and, yes, there was the
-storehouse as plain as the nose on your face, only the door was locked.
-Above was a little window just big enough for the Great Red Fox to
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>creep into, though it was up ever so high. “Just give me a lift up through
-the window yonder,” says he to Uncle Bear, “and I will drop the good
-things out for you to catch.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So Uncle Bear gave the Great Red Fox a leg up, and—pop!—and there
-he was in the storehouse like a mouse in the cheese-box.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As soon as he was safe among the good things he bawled out to Uncle
-Bear, “What shall it be first, sausages or puddings?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hush! hush!” said Uncle Bear.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes,” bawled the Red Fox louder than ever, “only tell me which
-I shall take first, sausages or puddings?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Sh-h-h-h!” said Uncle Bear, “if you are making such a noise as that
-you will have them about our ears; take the first that comes and be quick
-about it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes,” bawled the fox as loud as he was able; “but one is just as
-handy as another, and you must tell me which I shall take first.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But Uncle Bear got neither pudding nor sausage, for the Great Red Fox
-had made such a hubbub that Farmer John and his men came running,
-and three great dogs with them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” said they, “there is Uncle Bear after the sausages and puddings;”
-and there was nothing for him to do but to lay foot to the ground as fast
-as he could. All the same, they caught him over the hill, and gave him
-such a drubbing that his bones ached for many a long day.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the Great Red Fox only waited until all the others were well away
-on their own business, and then he filled a bag with the best he could lay
-his hands on, opened the door from the inside, and walked out as though
-it were from his own barn; for there was nobody to say “No” to him.
-He hid the good things away in a place of his own, and it was little of them
-that Uncle Bear smelt. After he had gathered all this, Master Fox came
-home, groaning as though he had had an awful drubbing; it would have
-moved a heart of stone to hear him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Dear, oh dear! what a drubbing I have had,” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And so have I,” said Uncle Bear, grinning over his sore bones as
-though cold weather were blowing snow in his teeth.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, now,” said the Great Red Fox, “this is what comes of going into
-partnership, and sharing one’s wits with another. If you had made your
-choice when I asked you, your butter would never have been spoiled in
-the churning.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>
-<img src='images/i_287.jpg' alt='Uncle Bear and the Great Red Fox visit the farmer’s storehouse.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>That was all the comfort Uncle Bear had, and cold enough it was too.
-All the same, he is not the first in the world who has lost his dinner, and
-had both the drubbing and the blame into the bargain.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But things do not last forever, and so by and by the good things from
-Farmer John’s storehouse gave out, and the Great Red Fox had nothing
-in the larder.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Listen,” says he to Uncle Bear, “I saw them shaking the apple-trees
-at Farmer John’s to-day, and if you have a mind to try the wits that belong
-to us, we’ll go and bring a bagful apiece from the storehouse over yonder
-at the farm.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, that suited Uncle Bear well enough; so off they marched, each of
-them with an empty bag to fetch back the apples. By and by they came to
-the storehouse, and nobody was about. This time the door was not locked,
-so in the both of them went and began filling their bags with apples. The
-Great Red Fox tumbled them into his bag as fast as ever he could, taking
-them just as they came, good or bad; but Uncle Bear took his time about
-it and picked them all over, for since he had come there he was bound to
-get the best that were to be had.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So the upshot of the matter was that the Great Red Fox had his
-bag full before Uncle Bear had picked out half a score of good juicy
-apples.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I’ll just peep out of the window yonder,” says the Great Red Fox,
-“and see if Farmer John is coming.” But in his sleeve he said to himself,
-“I’ll slip outside and turn the key of the door on Uncle Bear, for somebody
-will have to carry the blame of this, and his shoulders are broader and his
-skin tougher than mine; he will never be able to get out of that little
-window.” So up he jumped with his bag of apples, to do as he said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But listen! A hasty man drinks hot broth. And so it was with the
-Great Red Fox, for up in the window they had set a trap to catch rats.
-But he knew nothing of that; out he jumped from the window—click!
-went the trap and caught him by the tail, and there he hung.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Is Farmer John coming?” bawled Uncle Bear, by and by.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hush! hush!” said the Great Red Fox, for he was trying to get his tail
-out of the trap.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the boot was on the other leg now. “Yes, yes,” bawled Uncle Bear,
-louder than before, “but tell me, is Farmer John coming?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Sh-h-h-h!” says the Great Red Fox.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“No, no,” bawled Uncle Bear, as loud as he could, “what I want to
-know is, is Farmer John coming?”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span>
-<img src='images/i_289.jpg' alt='The Bear &amp; the Fox go to farmer John’s again.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, he was, for he had heard the hubbub, and here he was with a lot of
-his men and three great dogs.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, Farmer John,” bawled the Great Red Fox, “don’t touch me, I
-am not the thief. Yonder is Uncle Bear in the pantry, he is the one.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, yes, Farmer John knew how much of that cake to eat; here was
-the rogue of a fox caught in the trap, and the beating was ready for him.
-That was the long and the short of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the Great Red Fox heard this, he pulled with all his might and
-main. Snap! went his tail and broke off close to his body, and away he
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>scampered with Farmer John, the men and the dogs close to his heels. But
-Uncle Bear filled his bag full of apples, and when all hands had gone
-racing away after the Great Red Fox, he walked quietly out of the door
-and off home.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And that is how the Great Red Fox lost his tail in the trap.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>What is the meaning of all this? Why, here it is: When a rogue and
-another cracks a nut together, it is not often the rogue who breaks his teeth
-by trying to eat the hulls. And this too: But when one sets a trap for
-another, it is a toss of a copper whether or no it flies up and pinches his own
-fingers.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>If there is anything more left in the dish you may scrape it for yourself.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_290.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_291.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Eleven O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>Who goes about the <i>House</i> when all</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Are sleeping but the <i>Clock</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And no one hears it, all alone, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☽<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Still saying tick-a-tock? <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>⚲☊ K.P.<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>It is not <i>Gretchen</i> goes about,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>She’s snoring in her <i>Bed</i>;</div>
-      <div class='line'>It’s not the <i>Hound</i> that goes about</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>He never lifts his <i>Head</i>;</div>
-    </div>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>It is the <i>Wind</i> that goes about, <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☾<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And sighs around the <i>House</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And never wakes the toothless <i>Hound</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Or stops the gnawing <i>Mouse</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_293.jpg' alt='King Stork.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XXIII.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_293.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There was a drummer marching along the high-road—forward
-march!—left, right!—tramp, tramp, tramp!—for
-the fighting was done, and he was coming home
-from the wars. By and by he came to a great wide
-stream of water, and there sat an old man as gnarled
-and as bent as the hoops in a cooper shop. “Are
-you going to cross the water?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says the drummer, “I am going to do that
-if my legs hold out to carry me.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And will you not help a poor body across?” says the old man.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now, the drummer was as good-natured a lad as ever stood on two legs.
-“If the young never gave a lift to the old,” says he to himself, “the wide
-world would not be worth while living in.” So he took off his shoes and
-stockings, and then he bent his back and took the old man on it, and away
-he started through the water—splash!</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But this was no common old man whom the drummer was carrying, and
-he was not long finding that out, for the farther he went in the water the
-heavier grew his load—like work put off until to-morrow—so that, when he
-was half-way across, his legs shook under him and the sweat stood on his
-forehead like a string of beads in the shop-window. But by and by he
-reached the other shore, and the old man jumped down from his back.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Phew!” says the drummer, “I am glad to be here at last!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span>And now for the wonder of all this: The old man was an old man no
-longer, but a splendid tall fellow with hair as yellow as gold. “And who do
-you think I am?” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But of that the drummer knew no more than the mouse in the haystack,
-so he shook his head, and said nothing.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I am king of the storks, and here I have sat for many days; for the
-wicked one-eyed witch who lives on the glass hill put it upon me for a spell
-that I should be an old man until somebody should carry me over the
-water. You are the first to do that, and you shall not lose by it. Here is a
-little bone whistle; whenever you are in trouble just blow a turn or two on
-it, and I will be by to help you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Thereupon King Stork drew a feather cap out of his pocket and clapped
-it on his head, and away he flew, for he was turned into a great, long, red-legged
-stork as quick as a wink.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the drummer trudged on the way he was going, as merry as a
-cricket, for it is not everybody who cracks his shins against such luck as he
-had stumbled over, I can tell you. By and by he came to the town over
-the hill, and there he found great bills stuck up over the walls. They were
-all of them proclamations. And this is what they said:</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The princess of that town was as clever as she was pretty; that was saying
-a great deal, for she was the handsomest in the whole world. (“Phew!
-but that is a fine lass for sure and certain,” said the drummer.) So it was
-proclaimed that any lad who could answer a question the princess would
-ask, and would ask a question the princess could not answer, and would
-catch the bird that she would be wanting, should have her for his wife and
-half of the kingdom to boot. (“Hi! but here is luck for a clever lad,” says
-the drummer.) But whoever should fail in any one of the three tasks
-should have his head chopped off as sure as he lived. (“Ho! but she is a
-wicked one for all that,” says the drummer.)</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was what the proclamation said, and the drummer would have a
-try for her; “for,” said he, “it is a poor fellow who cannot manage a wife
-when he has her”—and he knew as much about that business as a goose
-about churning butter. As for chopping off heads, he never bothered his
-own about that; for, if one never goes out for fear of rain one never catches
-fish.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off he went to the king’s castle as fast as he could step, and there he
-knocked on the door, as bold as though his own grandmother lived there.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>
-<img src='images/i_295.jpg' alt='The Drummer carries the Old Body across the River.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span>But when the king heard what the drummer had come for, he took out
-his pocket-handkerchief and began to wipe his eyes, for he had a soft heart
-under his jacket, and it made him cry like anything to see another coming
-to have his head chopped off, as so many had done before him. For there
-they were, all along the wall in front of the princess’s window, like so many
-apples.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the drummer was not to be scared away by the king’s crying a bit,
-so in he came, and by and by they all sat down to supper—he and the king
-and the princess. As for the princess, she was so pretty that the drummer’s
-heart melted inside of him, like a lump of butter on the stove—and that
-was what she was after. After a while she asked him if he had come to
-answer a question of hers, and to ask her a question of his, and to catch the
-bird that she should set him to catch.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” said the drummer, “I have come to do that very thing.” And
-he spoke as boldly and as loudly as the clerk in church.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well, then,” says the princess, as sweet as sugar candy, “just
-come along to-morrow, and I will ask you your question.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off went the drummer; he put his whistle to his lips and blew a turn or
-two, and there stood King Stork, and nobody knows where he stepped from.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what do you want?” says he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The drummer told him everything, and how the princess was going to
-ask him a question to-morrow morning that he would have to answer, or
-have his head chopped off.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Here you have walked into a pretty puddle, and with your eyes open,”
-says King Stork, for he knew that the princess was a wicked enchantress,
-and loved nothing so much as to get a lad into just such a scrape as the
-drummer had tumbled into. “But see, here is a little cap and a long feather—the
-cap is a dark-cap, and when you put it on your head one can see you
-no more than so much thin air. At twelve o’clock at night the princess
-will come out into the castle garden and will fly away through the air.
-Then throw your leg over the feather, and it will carry you wherever you
-want to go; and if the princess flies fast it will carry you as fast and faster.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Dong! Dong!” The clock struck twelve, and the princess came out
-of her house; but in the garden was the drummer waiting for her with the
-dark-cap on his head, and he saw her as plain as a pikestaff. She brought a
-pair of great wings which she fastened to her shoulders, and away she flew.
-But the drummer was as quick with his tricks as she was with hers; he
-flung his leg over the feather which King Stork had given him, and away he
-flew after her, and just as fast as she with her great wings.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>
-<img src='images/i_297.jpg' alt='Thus the Princess cometh forth from the Castle at twelve o’clock at night.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span>By and by they came to a huge castle of shining steel that stood on a
-mountain of glass. And it was a good thing for the drummer that he had
-on his cap of darkness, for all around outside of the castle stood fiery
-dragons and savage lions to keep anybody from going in without leave.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But not a thread of the drummer did they see; in he walked with the
-princess, and there was a great one-eyed witch with a beard on her chin,
-and a nose that hooked over her mouth like the beak of a parrot.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Uff!” said she, “here is a smell of Christian blood in the house.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Tut, mother!” says the princess, “how you talk! do you not see that
-there is nobody with me?” For the drummer had taken care that the wind
-should not blow the cap of darkness off of his head, I can tell you. By and
-by they sat down to supper, the princess and the witch, but it was little
-the princess ate, for as fast as anything was put on her plate the drummer
-helped himself to it, so that it was all gone before she could get a bite.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Look, mother!” she said, “I eat nothing, and yet it all goes from my
-plate; why is that so?” But that the old witch could not tell her, for she
-could see nothing of the drummer.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There was a lad came to-day to answer the question I shall put to
-him,” said the princess. “Now what shall I ask him by way of a
-question?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“I have a tooth in the back part of my head,” said the witch, “and it
-has been grumbling a bit; ask him what it is you are thinking about, and
-let it be that.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; that was a good question for sure and certain, and the princess
-would give it to the drummer to-morrow, to see what he had to say for
-himself. As for the drummer, you can guess how he grinned, for he heard
-every word that they said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while the princess flew away home again, for it was nearly the
-break of day, and she must be back before the sun rose. And the
-drummer flew close behind her, but she knew nothing of that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next morning up he marched to the king’s castle and knocked at
-the door, and they let him in.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There sat the king and the princess, and lots of folks besides. Well,
-had he come to answer her question? That was what the princess wanted
-to know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; that was the very business he had come about.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Very well, this was the question, and he might have three guesses at
-it; what was she thinking of at that minute?</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>
-<img src='images/i_299.jpg' alt='The Drummer helps himself to the good things, though no one can see him.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>Oh, it could be no hard thing to answer such a question as that, for
-lasses’ heads all ran upon the same things more or less; was it a fine silk
-dress with glass buttons down the front that she was thinking of now?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No, it was not that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then, was it of a good stout lad like himself for a sweetheart, that she
-was thinking of?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No, it was not that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No? Then it was the bad tooth that had been grumbling in the head
-of the one-eyed witch for a day or two past, perhaps.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear! but you should have seen the princess’s face when she
-heard this! Up she got and off she packed without a single word, and
-the king saw without the help of his spectacles that the drummer had
-guessed right. He was so glad that he jumped up and down and snapped
-his fingers for joy. Besides that he gave out that bonfires should be lighted
-all over the town, and that was a fine thing for the little boys.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next night the princess flew away to the house of the one-eyed
-witch again, but there was the drummer close behind her just as he had
-been before.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Uff!” said the one-eyed witch, “here is a smell of Christian blood, for
-sure and certain.” But all the same, she saw no more of the drummer
-than if he had never been born.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See, mother,” said the princess, “that rogue of a drummer answered
-my question without winking over it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So,” said the old witch, “we have missed for once, but the second
-time hits the mark; he will be asking you a question to-morrow, and
-here is a book that tells everything that has happened in the world, and
-if he asks you more than that he is a smart one and no mistake.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After that they sat down to supper again, but it was little the princess
-ate, for the drummer helped himself out of her plate just as he had done
-before.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while the princess flew away home, and the drummer with her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And, now, what will we ask her that she cannot answer?” said the
-drummer; so off he went back of the house, and blew a turn or two on
-his whistle, and there stood King Stork.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And what will we ask the princess,” said he, “when she has a book
-that tells her everything?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>King Stork was not long in telling him that; “Just ask her so and so
-and so and so,” said he, “and she would not dare to answer the question.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span>Well, the next morning there was the drummer at the castle all in
-good time; and, had he come to ask her a question? that was what the
-princess wanted to know.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, yes, he had come for that very thing.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Very well, then, just let him begin, for the princess was ready and
-waiting, and she wet her thumb, and began to turn over the leaves of
-her Book of Knowledge.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Oh, it was an easy question the drummer was going to ask, and it
-needed no big book like that to answer it. The other night he dreamed
-that he was in a castle all built of shining steel, where there lived a witch
-with one eye. There was a handsome bit of a lass there who was as
-great a witch as the old woman herself, but for the life of him he could
-not tell who she was; now perhaps the princess could make a guess at it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There the drummer had her as tight as a fly in a bottle, for she did
-not dare to let folks know that she was a wicked witch like the one-eyed
-one; so all she could do was to sit there and gnaw her lip. As for the
-Book of Knowledge, it was no more use to her than a fifth wheel under a
-cart.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But if the king was glad when the drummer answered the princess’s
-question, he was twice as glad when he found she could not answer his.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>All the same, there is more to do yet, and many a slip betwixt the cup
-and the lip. “The bird I want is the one-eyed raven,” said the princess;
-“Now bring her to me if you want to keep your head off of the wall
-yonder.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes; the drummer thought he might do that as well as another thing.
-So off he went back of the house to talk to King Stork of the matter.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Look,” said King Stork, and he drew a net out of his pocket as fine
-as a cobweb and as white as milk; “take this with you when you go
-with the princess to the one-eyed witch’s house to-night, throw it over
-the witch’s head, and then see what will happen; only when you catch the
-one-eyed raven you are to wring her neck as soon as you lay hands on her,
-for if you don’t it will be the worse for you.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, that night off flew the princess just as she had done before, and
-off flew the drummer at her heels, until they came to the witch’s house,
-both of them.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And did you take his head this time?” said the witch.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>No, the princess had not done that, for the drummer had asked such
-and such a question, and she could not answer it; all the same, she had
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span>him tight enough now, for she had set it as a task upon him that he should
-bring her the one-eyed raven, and it was not likely he would be up to
-doing that. After that the princess and the one-eyed witch sat down to
-supper together, and the drummer served the princess the same trick that
-he had done before, so that she got hardly a bite to eat.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“See,” said the old witch when the princess was ready to go, “I will
-go home with you to-night, and see that you get there safe and sound.”
-So she brought out a pair of wings, just like those the princess had, and
-set them on her shoulders, and away both of them flew with the drummer
-behind. So they came home without seeing a soul, for the drummer kept
-his cap of darkness tight upon his head all the while.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Good-night,” said the witch to the princess, and “Good-night” said
-the princess to the witch, and the one was for going one way and the
-other the other. But the drummer had his wits about him sharply enough,
-and before the old witch could get away he flung the net that King Stork
-had given him over her head.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Hi!” but you should have been there to see what happened; for it
-was a great one-eyed raven, as black as the inside of the chimney, that he
-had in his net.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Dear, dear, how it flapped its wings and struck with its great beak!
-But that did no good, for the drummer just wrung its neck, and there was
-an end of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The next morning he wrapped it up in his pocket-handkerchief and off
-he started for the king’s castle, and there was the princess waiting for him,
-looking as cool as butter in the well, for she felt sure the drummer was
-caught in the trap this time.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And have you brought the one-eyed raven with you?” she said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes,” said the drummer, and here it was wrapped up in this
-handkerchief.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But when the princess saw the raven with its neck wrung, she gave a
-great shriek and fell to the floor. There she lay and they had to pick
-her up and carry her out of the room.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But everybody saw that the drummer had brought the bird she had
-asked for, and all were as glad as glad could be. The king gave orders
-that they should fire off the town cannon, just as they did on his birthday,
-and all the little boys out in the street flung up their hats and caps
-and cried, “Hurrah! Hurrah!”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the drummer went off back of the house. He blew a turn or two
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>on his whistle, and there stood King Stork. “Here is your dark-cap and
-your feather,” says he, “and it is I who am thankful to you, for they have
-won me a real princess for a wife.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_303.jpg' alt='The Drummer catches ye one-eyed raven.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, good,” says King Stork, “you have won her, sure enough, but
-the next thing is to keep her; for a lass is not cured of being a witch as
-quickly as you seem to think, and after one has found one’s eggs one must
-roast them and butter them into the bargain. See now, the princess is just
-as wicked as ever she was before, and if you do not keep your eyes open
-she will trip you up after all. So listen to what I tell you. Just after you
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>are married, get a great bowl of fresh milk and a good, stiff switch. Pour
-the milk over the princess when you are alone together, and after that hold
-tight to her and lay on the switch, no matter what happens, for that is
-the only way to save yourself and to save her.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the drummer promised to do as King Stork told him, and by and
-by came the wedding-day. Off he went over to the dairy and got a fresh
-pan of milk, and out he went into the woods and cut a stout hazel switch,
-as thick as his finger.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As soon as he and the princess were alone together he emptied the
-milk all over her; then he caught hold of her and began laying on the
-switch for dear life.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>It was well for him that he was a brave fellow and had been to the
-wars, for, instead of the princess, he held a great black cat that glared at
-him with her fiery eyes, and growled and spat like anything. But that
-did no good, for the drummer just shut his eyes and laid on the switch
-harder than ever.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then—puff!—instead of a black cat it was like a great, savage wolf, that
-snarled and snapped at the drummer with its red jaws; but the drummer
-just held fast and made the switch fly, and the wolf scared him no more
-than the black cat had done.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>So out it went, like a light of a candle, and there was a great snake that
-lashed its tail and shot out its forked tongue and spat fire. But no; the
-drummer was no more frightened at that than he had been at the wolf and
-the cat, and, dear, dear! how he dressed the snake with his hazel switch.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Last of all, there stood the princess herself. “Oh, dear husband!” she
-cried, “let me go, and I will promise to be good all the days of my life.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” says the drummer, “and that is the tune I like to hear.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was the way he gained the best of her, whether it was the bowl of
-milk or the hazel switch, for afterwards she was as good a wife as ever
-churned butter; but what did it is a question that you will have to answer
-for yourself. All the same, she tried no more of her tricks with him, I can
-tell you. And so this story comes to an end, like everything else in the
-world.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id004'>
-<img src='images/i_304.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span></div>
-<div class='section'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_305.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div><span class='xlarge'>Twelve O’clock·</span></div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c002'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'><i>Hist! Hark!</i> <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>●<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Watch-dogs</i> bark.</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Fire</i> is covered.</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The <i>Bricks</i> grow cold;</div>
-      <div class='line'>In the warmest <i>Corner’s</i></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>The brown <i>Kobold</i>. <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>☽<span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line'>He sits quite still,</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>And his <i>Eyes</i> are bright.</div>
-      <div class='line'>The <i>Clock</i> strikes twelve;</div>
-      <div class='line in2'>’Tis the dead of <i>Night</i>.</div>
-      <div class='line'>Snuggle down closer <span class='sni'><span class='hidev'>|</span>♓︎ <i>Look out for frost.</i><span class='hidev'>|</span></span></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Into your <i>Bed</i>,</div>
-      <div class='line'>And pull the <i>Coverlets</i></div>
-      <div class='line in2'>Over your <i>Head</i>.</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span></div>
-<div class='chapter'>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_307.jpg' alt='The Best that Life has to give.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div>
-  <h2 class='c006'>XXIV.</h2>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-<div class='c007'>
-  <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di_307.jpg' width='100' alt='' />
-</div><p class='drop-capi_8'>
-There was a blacksmith who lived near to a great,
-dark pine forest. He was as poor as charity soup;
-but dear knows whether that was his fault or not, for
-he laid his troubles upon the back of ill-luck, as
-everybody else does in our town.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>One day the snow lay thick all over the ground,
-and hunger and cold sat in the blacksmith’s house.
-“I’ll go out into the forest,” says he, “and see
-whether I cannot get a bagful of pine-cones to make a fire in the stove.”
-So off he stumped, but could find no cones, because they were all covered
-up with white. On into the woods he went, farther and farther and deeper
-and deeper, until he came to a high hill, all of bare rock. There he found a
-clear place and more pine-cones scattered over the ground than a body
-could count. He filled his basket, and it did not take him long to do that.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But he was not to get his pine-cones for nothing: click! clack!—a great
-door opened in the side of the hill, and out stepped a little dwarf, as ugly as
-ugly could be, for his head was as big as a cabbage, his hair as red as
-carrots, and his eyes as green as a snake’s.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“So,” said he, “you are stealing my pine-cones, are you? And there
-are none in the world like them. Look your last on the sunlight, for now
-you shall die.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Down fell the blacksmith on his knees. “Alas!” said he, “I did not
-know that they were your pine-cones. I will empty them out of my sack
-and find some elsewhere.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>“No,” said the dwarf, “it is too late to do that now. But listen, you
-might hunt the world over, and find no such pine-cones as these; so we
-will strike a bit of a bargain between us. You shall go in peace with
-your pine-cones if you will give me what lies in the bread-trough at
-home.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes,” said the blacksmith, “I will do that gladly.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” said the dwarf, “I will come for my pay at the end of
-seven days,” and back he went into the hill again, and the door shut to
-behind him.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off went the blacksmith, chuckling to himself. “It is the right end of
-the bargain that I have this time,” said he.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But, bless you! he talked of that horse before he had looked into its
-mouth, as my Uncle Peter used to say. For, listen: while his wife sat at
-home spinning, she wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid it in the bread-trough,
-because it was empty and as good as a cradle. And that was what
-the dwarf spoke of, for he knew what had been done over at the blacksmith’s
-house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the blacksmith was as happy as a cricket under the hearth; on he
-plodded, kicking up the soft snow with his toes; but all the time the basket
-of pine-cones kept growing heavier and heavier.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come,” said he, at last, “I can carry this load no farther, some of the
-pine-cones must be left behind.” So he opened the basket to throw a
-parcel of them out. But—</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Hi! how he did stare! for every one of those pine-cones had turned to
-pure silver as white as the frost on the window-pane. After that he was for
-throwing none of them away, but for carrying all of them home, if he broke
-his back at it, and upon that you may depend.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“And I had them all for nothing,” said he to his wife; “for the dwarf
-gave them to me for what was in the bread-trough, and I knew very well
-that there was nothing there.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Alas,” said she, “what have you done! the baby is sleeping there, and
-has been sleeping there all the morning.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>When the blacksmith heard this he scratched his head, and looked up
-and looked down, for he had burned his fingers with the hot end of the
-bargain after all. All the same, there was nothing left but to make the best
-that he could of it. So he took two or three of the silver pine-cones to the
-town and bought plenty to eat, and plenty to drink, and warm things to
-wear into the bargain.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span>
-<img src='images/i_309.jpg' alt='The blacksmith takes ye dwarf’s pine-cones.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>At the end of seven days up came the dwarf and knocked at the blacksmith’s
-house.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Well, and is the baby ready?” said he, “for I have come to fetch it.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But the blacksmith’s wife begged and prayed and prayed and begged
-that the baby might be spared to her. “Let us keep it for seven years at
-least,” said she, “for what can you want with a young baby in the house?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, that was very true. Young babies were troublesome things to have
-about the house, and the woman might keep it for seven years since she
-was anxious to do so. So off went the dwarf, and the woman had what she
-wanted, for seven years is a long time to put off our troubles.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But at the end of that time up came the dwarf a second time.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_310'>310</span>“Well, is the boy ready now?” said he, “for I have come to take him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes, yes,” says the woman, “the boy is yours, but why not leave him
-for another seven years, for he is very young to be out in the world yet?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, that was true, and so the dwarf put off taking him for seven years
-longer.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But when it had passed, back he came again, and this time it did no
-good for his mother and father to beg and pray, for he had put off his
-bargain long enough, and now he was for having what was his.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“All the same,” says he to the blacksmith, “if you will come after five
-years to the place in the woods where you saw me, you shall have your son,
-if you choose to take him.” And off he went with the lad at his heels.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, after five years had passed, the blacksmith went into the forest to
-find the dwarf and to bring back his son again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There was the dwarf waiting for him, and in his hand he held a basket.
-“Well, neighbor,” says he, “and have you come to fetch your son again?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, that was what the blacksmith wanted.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Very well,” says the dwarf, “here he is, and all that you have to do is
-to take him.” He opened the basket, and inside was a wren, a thrush, and
-a dove.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“But which of the three is the lad?” says the blacksmith.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“That is for you to tell, neighbor,” says the dwarf.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The blacksmith looked and looked, and first he thought it might be the
-wren, and then he thought it might be the thrush, and then he thought it
-might be the dove. But he was afraid to choose any one of the three, lest
-he should not be right in the choosing. So he shook his head and sighed,
-and was forced at last to go away with empty hands.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Out by the edge of the forest sat an old woman spinning flax from a
-distaff.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Whither away, friend?” said she, “and why do you wear such a sorrowful
-face?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The blacksmith stopped and told her the whole story from beginning to
-end. “Tut!” said the old woman, “you should have chosen the dove, for
-that was your son for sure and certain.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“There!” said the blacksmith, “if I had only known that in the first
-place it would have saved me so much leg wear,” and back he went, hot-foot,
-to find the dwarf and to get his son again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There was the dwarf waiting for him with a basket on his arm, but this
-time it was a sparrow and a magpie and a lark that were in it, and the
-blacksmith might take which of the three he liked, for one of them was his
-own son.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_311'>311</span>
-<img src='images/i_311.jpg' alt='The blacksmith chooses ye raven and runs away with it. ¶):(⁋' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_312'>312</span>The man looked and looked, and could make nothing of it, so all that
-he could do was to shake his head and turn away again with empty hands.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Out by the edge of the forest sat the old woman spinning. “Prut!”
-says she, “you should have chosen the lark, for it was your son for sure
-and certain. But listen; go back and try again; look each bird in the eyes,
-and choose where you find tears; for nothing but the human soul weeps.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Back went the man into the forest for the third time, and there was the
-dwarf just as before, only this time it was a sparrow and a jackdaw and a
-raven that he had in his basket.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The man looked at each of the three in turn, and there were tears in the
-raven’s eyes.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“This is the one I choose,” said he, and he snatched it and ran. And
-it was his son and none other whom he held.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the dwarf, he stood and stamped his feet and tore his hair, but
-that was all he could do, for one must abide by one’s bargain, no matter
-what happens.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>You can guess how glad the father and the mother were to have their
-son back home again. But the lad just sat back of the stove and warmed
-his shins, and stared into the Land of Nowhere, without doing a stroke of
-work from morning till night. At last the father could stand it no longer,
-for, though one is glad to have one’s own safe under the roof at home, it
-is another thing to have one’s own doing nothing the livelong day but sit
-back of the stove and eat good bread and meat; for the silver pine-cones
-were gone by this time, and good things were no more plentiful in the
-blacksmith’s house than they had been before.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Come!” says he to lazy-boots one day, “is there nothing at all that
-you can do to earn the salt you eat?”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Oh, yes,” said the lad, “I have learned many things, and one over at
-the dwarf’s house yonder, for the dwarf is a famous blacksmith.” So out
-he came from behind the stove, and brushed the ashes from his hair, and
-went out into the forge.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Give me a piece of iron,” says he, “and I will show you a trick
-or two worth the knowing.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Yes,” says the blacksmith, “you shall have the iron; all the same I
-know that it is little or nothing that you know about the hammer and
-the tongs.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span>But the young fellow answered nothing. He made a bed of hot coals,
-and laid the iron in it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Here,” said he to his father, “do you blow the bellows till I come
-back, and be sure that you do not stop for so much as a wink, or else
-all will be spoiled.” So he gave the handle into the blacksmith’s hand and
-off he went.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The old man blew the bellows and blew the bellows, but the dwarf
-over in the forest knew what was being done as well as though he
-stood in the forge. He was not for letting the lad steal his tricks if he
-could help it. So he changed himself into a great fly, and came and
-lit on the blacksmith’s neck, and bit him till the blood ran; but the
-blacksmith just shut his eyes tight, and grinned and bore it, and blew the
-bellows and blew the bellows.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>By and by the lad came in, and the fly flew away. He drew the iron
-out of the fire, and dipped it in the water, and what do you think it was?
-Why, a golden tree with a little golden bird sitting in the branches, with
-bright jewels for its eyes.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The lad drew a little silver wand from his pocket, and gave the tree
-a tap, and the bird began to hop from branch to branch, and to sing so
-sweetly that it made one’s heart stand still to listen to it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>As for the blacksmith, he just stood and gaped and stared, with his
-mouth and eyes as wide open as if they never would shut again.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Now there was no king in that country, but a queen who lived in a
-grand castle on a high hill, and was as handsome a one as ever a body’s
-eyes looked upon.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Here,” says the lad to his father, “take this up to the queen at the
-castle yonder, and she will pay you well for it.” Then he went and sat
-down back of the stove again, and toasted his shins and stared at nothing
-at all.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Up went the blacksmith to the queen’s castle with the golden bird and
-the golden tree wrapped up in his pocket-handkerchief. Dear, dear, how
-the queen did look and listen and wonder, when she saw how pretty it
-was, and heard how sweetly the little golden bird sang. She called her
-steward and bade him give the blacksmith a whole bag of gold and silver
-money for it, and off went the man as pleased as pleased could be.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And now they lived upon the very best of good things over at the
-blacksmith’s house; but good things cost money, and by and by the last
-penny was spent of what the queen had given him, and nothing would do
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_314'>314</span>but for the lad to go out and work a little while at the forge. So up he
-got from back of the stove, and out he went into the forge. He made a
-bed of coals and laid the iron upon it.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Now,” says he to his father, “do you blow the bellows till I come
-back,” and off he went.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Well, the old man took the handle and blew and blew, but the dwarf
-knew what was going on this time, just as well as he had done before. He
-changed himself into a fly, and came and lit on the blacksmith’s neck, and
-dear, dear, how he did bite! The blacksmith shut his eyes and grinned,
-but at last he could bear it no longer. He raised his hand and slapped at
-the fly, but away it flew with never a hair hurt.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>In came the lad and drew the iron out of the fire and plunged it into
-the water, and there it was a beautiful golden comb that shone like fire.
-But the lad was not satisfied with that. “You should have done as I
-told you,” said he, “and have stopped at nothing; for now the work is
-spoiled.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The blacksmith vowed and declared that he had not stopped from
-blowing the bellows, but the lad knew better than that; for there should
-have been a golden looking-glass as well as the comb. The one was of no
-use without the other, for when one looked in the golden looking-glass, and
-combed one’s hair with the golden comb, one grew handsomer every day,
-and the lad had intended both for the queen.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>“All the same,” said the old man, “I will take the golden comb up to
-the castle;” and it did no good for the lad to shake his head and say no.
-“For,” says the father, “old heads are wise heads; and the queen will
-like this as well as the other.” So up to the castle he would go, and up
-to the castle he went.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>But when the queen saw the golden comb her brows grew as black as
-a thunder-storm. “Where is the looking-glass?” said she; and though the
-old man vowed and declared that no looking-glass belonged with the comb,
-she knew a great deal better. So, now, the blacksmith might have his
-choice; he should either bring her the looking-glass that belonged to the
-golden comb or bring her that which was the best in all the world. If he
-did neither of these he should be thrown into a deep pit full of toads and
-vipers.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Back went the old man home again and told the lad all that had
-happened from beginning to end. And then he wanted to know what
-he should do to get himself out of his pickle.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span>
-<img src='images/i_315.jpg' alt='The blacksmith brings ye wonderful little bird and tree to ye Queen.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_316'>316</span>Well, it was no easy task to make what the queen wanted; all the
-same, the lad would try what he could do. So he rolled up his sleeves
-and out he went into the forge and laid a piece of iron upon the bed of
-hot coals.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>This time he would not trust the old man to blow the bellows for him,
-but took the handle into his own hand and blew and blew.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>The dwarf knew what was happening this time as well as before. He
-changed himself into a fly and came and sat on the lad’s forehead, and
-bit until the blood ran down into his eyes and blinded him; but the lad
-blew the bellows and blew the bellows.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>First the fire burned red, and then it burned white, and then it burned
-blue, and after that the work was done.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the young man raised his hand and struck the fly and killed it,
-and that was an end of the dwarf for good and all.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>What he had made he dipped into the water and it was a gold ring,
-nothing less nor more. He took a sharp knife and drew charms upon it,
-and inside of the circle he wrote these words:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c017'>
-  <div class='linegroup'>
-    <div class='group'>
-      <div class='line'>“WHO WEARS THIS SHALL HAVE THE BEST</div>
-      <div class='line in4'>THAT THE WORLD HAS TO GIVE.”</div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'>“Here,” said the lad to his father, “take this up to the queen, for it is
-what she wants, and there is nothing better in the world.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Off marched the old man and gave the ring to the queen, and she
-slipped it on her finger.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>That was how the blacksmith saved his own skin; but the poor queen
-did nothing but just sit and look out of the window, and sigh and
-sigh.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>After a while she called her steward to her and bade him go over and
-tell the blacksmith’s son to come to her.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There sat the lad back of the stove. “Prut!” said he, “she must send
-a better than you if she would have me come to her.” So the steward
-had just to go back to the castle again and tell the queen what the lad
-had said.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Then the queen called her chief minister to her. “Do you go,” said
-she, “and bid the lad come to me.”</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There sat the lad back of the stove. “Prut!” said he, “she must send
-a better than you if she would have me come to her.”</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_317'>317</span>
-<img src='images/i_317.jpg' alt='The Young Smith forges the best that Life has to give.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_318'>318</span>Off went the minister and told the queen what he had said, and the
-queen saw as plain as the nose on her face that she must go herself if
-she would have the lad come at her bidding.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>There sat the lad back of the stove. And would he come with her
-now?</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>Yes, indeed, that he would. So he slipped from behind the stove and
-took her by the hand, and they walked out of the house and up to her
-castle on the high hill, for that was where he belonged now. There they
-were married, and ruled the land far and near. For it is one thing to
-be a blacksmith of one kind, and another thing to be a blacksmith of
-another kind, and that is the truth, whether you believe it or not.</p>
-
-<p class='c008'>And did the queen really get the best in the world? Bless your heart,
-my dear, wait until you are as old as I am, and have been married as
-long, and you will be able to answer that question without the asking.</p>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id002'>
-<img src='images/i_318.jpg' alt='The End.' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c002'>
-    <div><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">HIC LIBER CAPITE NOSTRO FACTUS EST MANUQUE NOSTRA</span></div>
-    <div class='c003'><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">RIDEANT HOMINUM STULTITIAS STULTI, SED</span></div>
-    <div><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">NE, QUOD IN STULTITIIS HOMINUM</span></div>
-    <div><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">HOMINIS ALIQUID EST,</span></div>
-    <div><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">OMNIA IN LEVI</span></div>
-    <div><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">HABEAMUS</span></div>
-    <div>*</div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<div  class='figcenter id001'>
-<img src='images/i_endpaperb.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-
-<div class='pbb'>
- <hr class='pb c003' />
-</div>
-<div class='tnotes'>
-
-<div class='section ph2'>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c0'>
-<div class='nf-center c015'>
-    <div>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</div>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
- <ol class='ol_1 c002'>
-    <li>Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.
-
-    </li>
-    <li>Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed.
-    </li>
-  </ol>
-
-</div>
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-<pre>
-
-
-
-
-
-End of Project Gutenberg's The Wonder Clock, by Howard Pyle and Katharine Pyle
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