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diff --git a/old/66119-0.txt b/old/66119-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index f1cf400..0000000 --- a/old/66119-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6290 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Miss Dorothy, by Martha James - -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 -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Little Miss Dorothy - The Story of the Wonderful Adventures of Two Little People - -Author: Martha James - -Illustrator: J. Watson Davis - -Release Date: August 23, 2021 [eBook #66119] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Mary Glenn Krause, Charlene Taylor, Sue Clark and the - Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by the Library of Congress) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE MISS DOROTHY *** - - - - - -[Illustration: Dorothy turned, and there stood the dearest little doll -with coal-black curls and coral-pink cheeks.--Page 78. _Little Miss -Dorothy._] - - - - - LITTLE MISS - DOROTHY - - [Illustration] - - _The Story of - the Wonderful - Adventures of - Two Little People_ - - By MARTHA - JAMES - - WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS - BY J. WATSON DAVIS - - A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER, 52-58 DUANE - STREET, NEW YORK - - - - - Copyright, 1901, by A. L. BURT. - - LITTLE MISS DOROTHY. - - - - -PREFACE. - - - O the wonderful journeys the children take - In fairy boats o’er sunset lake: - A drowsy fleet with Captain Snore, - Who lands them safely on slumber shore! - And Little Boy Blue is waiting there - To show them the road to dreamland fair. - - Over the road they float away, - Meeting their friends of every day, - Heroes of “once-upon-a-time” - And magic scenes of ev’ry clime; - Playthings and friends the same until - They reach dear Topsy-turvy Hill. - And fairies nightly frolic there - All on the road to dreamland fair. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - PAGE - CHAPTER I. - THE FUNNY PUDDING. 1 - - CHAPTER II. - THE LITTLE ROSEBUD CALENDAR. 15 - - CHAPTER III. - THE BOY IN THE TEAPOT. 30 - - CHAPTER IV. - THE BRONZE WOMAN. 42 - - CHAPTER V. - THE FAIRY BELL. 53 - - CHAPTER VI. - THE ROSE-JAR BABY. 67 - - CHAPTER VII. - THE DOLLS’ PARADISE. 76 - - CHAPTER VIII. - THE SUGAR-BOWL FAIRY. 90 - - CHAPTER IX. - A STRANGE TRIP TO TOY-LAND. 101 - - CHAPTER X. - THE LAUGHING ROCK. 115 - - CHAPTER XI. - THE TALKING CHAIR. 132 - - CHAPTER XII. - THE ENCHANTED HORSE. 147 - - CHAPTER XIII. - THE THREE BOXES. 159 - - CHAPTER XIV. - THE TWO BROTHERS. 172 - - CHAPTER XV. - LITTLE MISS HELPFUL. 194 - - CHAPTER XVI. - THE WONDERFUL JOURNEY WITH THE SCREEN GIRL. 206 - - CHAPTER XVII. - A QUEER LITTLE STOREKEEPER. 219 - - CHAPTER XVIII. - A PAIR OF OLD SHOES. 235 - - CHAPTER XIX. - JOCK O’ THE PIPES. 246 - - CHAPTER XX. - THE PROFESSOR’S SPECTACLES. 264 - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -Dorothy May was a dear little girl, whose soft eyes met yours with -a twinkle in their brown depths. She was very fond of Cousin Ray, a -bright-haired boy all curves and dimples, who lived quite near and -often came to play with her. - -These two little people wondered about the great world around them; -about the trees and flowers, the birds and the blue sky. - -Of course the fairies loved them, because fairies love all children, -and hover around them to whisper strange sounds in their childish ears -and picture wonderful sights for their innocent eyes. At least Aunt -Polly said so, and told beautiful stories to prove it. But there, if I -am going to tell you about the adventures of these two little folks, I -must begin with _The Funny Pudding_. - - - - -LITTLE MISS DOROTHY. - -CHAPTER I. - -THE FUNNY PUDDING. - - -Dorothy and Ray were making mud pastry on Aunt Polly’s back steps. “Get -me a little more water, please; this paste is too thick,” said Dorothy, -and Ray brought the water from Aunt Polly’s bright kitchen. They made -mud pies and mud cakes and took tiny sticks, with which they traced -lines, circles, and faces on them. - -“Wouldn’t it be nice to make real pies and cakes?” said Dorothy. - -“Yes,” answered Ray, “if you knew how.” - -“Why, anybody can make them!” exclaimed Dorothy. “It’s just raisins and -things!” - -“If I could make real pies and cakes I’d eat them all the time,” said -Ray. - -“So would I!” exclaimed Dorothy. - -“O no! you wouldn’t,” said a wee voice behind them. The children turned -and there stood a little old woman about as high as your twelve-inch -rule. She wore a white cap and blue apron and carried a tiny spoon in -her hand. - -“You couldn’t eat sweets all the time,” cried the little old woman. - -“Just try us,” said Ray. “I think I could.” - -“I know I could,” cried Dorothy. “I love tarts, I could live on tarts.” - -“And pudding,” said Ray; “I could eat it all day long.” - -“So could I,” replied Dorothy; “I wish I had some pudding now.” - -“You shall have all the pudding you want,” said the old woman, “if you -do as I say. Sit close together; close your eyes and when I say ‘Salt’ -open them.” - -The children did as the old woman said and sat very still with their -eyes closed while she sang these words:-- - - “Listen, children, while I tell - How to make a pudding well: - Sift your flour fine and white, - And a quart will be all right; - Sugar, just a cup--no more; - Eggs, well beaten--put in four; - Lump of butter melt, and--halt! - Don’t forget a pinch of--SALT.” - -The children opened their eyes at the magic word. The old woman had -disappeared, and instead of Aunt Polly’s back steps they were in the -kitchen of a great castle. - -“How funny you look, Ray,” said Dorothy, “with that cap and apron on -just like a baker.” - -“Well, you look funny too,” replied Ray; “there’s a big daub of flour -on your nose.” - -Dorothy tried to brush it off and asked, “Is it off?” - -“No,” replied Ray; “it looks bigger than ever.” - -“Never mind it,” said Dorothy, “let’s go to work and make a pudding, a -sweet, juicy, delicious pudding.” - -“Good,” cried Ray; “my mouth waters already. What can I do?” - -“You can help,” said his cousin; “first of all, we’ll get a large pan -to mix things in.” - -Over the fireplace in the great kitchen hung shining pans of all sorts -and sizes. - -“I’ll have that large one,” said Dorothy, pointing to one, and Ray -started to get it. But imagine their surprise when a round face -appeared on the pan that grinned at them, and all at once the pan -jumped down from its place and began to waltz around the floor. It -looked so funny with its round body and short legs that the children -laughed aloud. All of a sudden it gave a jump on to the table, where it -remained quiet, like any sensible pudding pan. - -“Now for the flour,” said Dorothy; and no sooner did she say the words -than a barrel of flour came dancing into the kitchen on long spindle -legs with the funniest face you ever saw, and with its hands folded on -its great stomach. The children laughed so heartily at this droll sight -that the tears rolled down their cheeks; and when the funny barrel made -a low bow in the middle of the floor, Dorothy was laughing so hard that -she could not speak, but Ray went to the barrel and took out a quart of -flour. Then the barrel made another bow and walked with a swagger out -of the kitchen. - -“Eggs next,” said Dorothy, “and here they are.” - -Four eggs appeared walking on stilts into the kitchen. All at once -they jumped off the stilts and began to chase each other. The children -gave peals of laughter as they watched the activity of the four eggs: -at last Ray cried out, “Let’s catch them.” The children began to run -after the eggs. Dorothy caught one and broke it in the pan, and then -the three other eggs scrambled in as fast as they could. “This is the -funniest pudding I ever heard of,” said Dorothy. “I wonder what comes -next.” Just then a voice sang-- - - “Listen, children, while I tell - How to make a pudding well: - Sift your flour fine and white, - And a quart will be all right; - Sugar, just a cup--no more; - Eggs, well beaten--put in four; - Lump of butter melt, and--halt! - Don’t forget a pinch of--SALT.” - -“Get the sugar and salt, and I’ll melt the butter,” said Dorothy; and -no sooner did she say the words than sugar, salt, and butter dropped -into the pan before their eyes. - -Then a great spoon walked up to the pan and began to mix the pudding -while Dorothy and Ray looked on in wonder. - -“I forgot raisins,” said Dorothy; and just then a shower of raisins -fell into the pudding. The children watched the wonderful pudding -making itself. “I wonder whose castle this is,” said Ray; “let us walk -around and see if we can find out who lives here.” - -“And when we come back the pudding will be all made,” exclaimed Dorothy. - -They walked out of the kitchen and came to a great dining-room where a -table was spread with all sorts of good things. There were two chairs -at the table, and it did not take the children a minute to sit in them -and sample the goodies. Ray passed Dorothy a plate that was heaped with -flaky jam tarts, and in a very few minutes there wasn’t a tart left on -the plate. - -They ate plum cake and mince pies, and when these were disposed of a -great steaming pudding appeared in the center of the table. - -“Perhaps it’s our pudding all cooked,” said Ray, “how good it smells.” - -They piled their plates with the pudding again and again, forgetting -their good manners until it was all eaten up. - -When everything on the table was eaten they arose and walked into -another room. They found a table filled with fruit, candies and -bon-bons. - -In a short time these were all eaten up and another room in the castle -explored. - -“Suppose we go outside,” cried Dorothy. “I couldn’t eat any more, could -you?” - -“No,” said Ray; “I don’t feel very well.” - -“I don’t either,” said the little girl, and they took each other’s -hands and went outside into a garden. - -There was a beautiful fountain playing in the sunlight, but the -children never noticed it. To tell the truth they had eaten so much -that they did not feel happy at all, and could not enjoy the lovely -garden. - -“I shan’t go another step,” said Ray, with a frown; “I’m going to rest -on this bench.” - -“Don’t be so cross,” cried Dorothy. “I’m going to sit down too.” - -Just as Dorothy sat down there was a loud noise, and in the distance -the children saw a great giant approaching. - -“Let’s hide,” said Dorothy, and quick as a flash the children got -behind the bench before the giant had seen them. - -There was a hole in the back of the bench and they could peek through. -The giant walked right over to the bench and sat down, while close -behind it, the children were hiding as frightened as could be. - -They didn’t dare speak, but they thought that the giant was the ugliest -monster they had ever seen. - -After a while he put up his great arms and yawned. The bench groaned -and creaked with his immense weight, and all at once it broke down and -the giant lay sprawling on the ground. The children jumped from their -hiding-places, but not before the giant had seen them. - -“What are you doing in my garden?” roared the giant, getting on his -feet. - -“If you please, we got here by mistake,” said Ray. - -“We were in the castle,” explained Dorothy, “where we ate so many tarts -and things that we had to come out here.” - -“So ho!” roared the giant. “Did you know that whoever enters my castle -belongs to me?” - -The children trembled, and the monster continued: “This is the kingdom -of the greedy, and I am the ruler; henceforth and forever you belong to -me.” - -“Oh, please let us go home,” said Dorothy; “we don’t like your castle.” - -“Silence!” roared the giant. “If you disobey me I’ll boil you in my pot -of soup.” - -The children were very quiet after that terrible threat and did not -dare raise their eyes to look at the giant. They felt very badly. -Dorothy had a pain in her stomach and Ray’s head ached. - -[Illustration: “What are you doing in my garden?” roared the giant, -getting on his feet.--Page 10. _Little Miss Dorothy._] - -Suddenly a great bell rang and the giant jumped saying: “There’s the -dinner-bell, come with me.” - -“Please, Sir Giant, we don’t want any dinner,” said Ray, timidly. - -“Silence!” roared the giant, “if you disobey me I’ll boil you in my pot -of soup.” - -Poor sick, surfeited children! They followed the giant into the castle -and sat at the very table where they had eaten so much. - -The table was all piled high with a fresh supply of pastry and the -great greedy giant soon devoured everything in sight. The table of -goodies made Ray frown, and Dorothy’s head ache. When the greedy -monster had eaten everything in sight, he leaned back in his chair, -closed his eyes, and in a few minutes began to snore. - -“Now is our chance,” whispered Ray, and he took Dorothy’s hand and they -stole on tiptoe out of the room. Just as they reached the door a voice -sang out, “I’m all ready.” - -The children turned and there stood their great pudding that had made -itself. They started to run away, but the pudding ran after them -calling: - -“Come back, come back!” On and on ran the children, and every now and -then a slice of pudding struck them on the back as they ran. - -Down the long garden, through winding paths, over hedges the children -fled from the funny pudding and the kingdom of the greedy. - -At last they reached a gate and when they were outside the very first -person they met was the little old woman with the white cap and blue -apron. “What!” she exclaimed, “you are not running away from all the -good things in the castle, are you?” - -“Yes, we are,” cried Ray, “we want to go home.” - -“But think of all the pies and tarts and puddings in there!” cried the -little woman. - -“I would rather have my nice bread and milk than all the tarts in the -world,” said Dorothy. - -“But you said you could live on sweets and eat pudding all day long,” -said the old woman. - -“We didn’t mean it,” replied Ray. “We don’t want any more pudding and -we do want to get away from the kingdom of the greedy and this terrible -giant.” - -“Well, well!” said the old woman; “I don’t blame you for that; he is -certainly a very ugly giant, and little boys and girls ought not to -belong to his kingdom.” - -“Never,” said Ray. - -“You know,” continued the old woman, “when little boys and girls are -greedy and want more than mamma thinks is good for them, they belong -to the kingdom of the greedy and this giant is their ruler.” - -“He is such a horrid giant, too,” said Dorothy, “so ugly and impolite.” - -“Yes,” cried Ray, rubbing his stomach, “he gives me a pain.” - -Then the little old woman touched them lightly with her spoon and -vanished with a smile and the children found themselves on Aunt Polly’s -back steps in the midst of their dear mud pies. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE LITTLE ROSEBUD CALENDAR. - - -When Ray was only a baby he would hold the woolly lamb that grandma had -brought him in his chubby little fists, saying, “I love oo, lamb,” and -there was a great colored ball that he liked to roll across the floor -and say, “Oo ball, tum back, tum back.” Then he would run and catch it -and hold it up to his dear little dimpled chin. - -But when he grew to be quite a little man and could walk from room to -room it pleased him to sit in the big chairs, look at the pictures -and talk to them all by himself. There was one small picture card on -his papa’s desk that Ray liked very much. It was the picture of a -golden-haired girl standing beside a large vase, with a bunch of roses -in her hand and a wreath of rosebuds on her head. - -“I think she looks just like my cousin Dorothy,” said Ray, “only she -wears her dress right down to her slippers and Dorothy’s dress is -short.” - -His mamma had told him that the picture girl was little Miss Calendar, -but Ray liked to call her Rosebud. - -One afternoon Ray was feeling rather tired. He sat all curled up in his -papa’s easy-chair at the desk. - -“Please, Rosebud, I wish you would talk to me,” said Ray wistfully, -looking at little Miss Calendar with tired eyes. - -The picture-girl smiled at him and whispered, “How do you do, Ray?” - -“I’m very well, thank you,” answered the little boy; “but I didn’t know -that you knew me.” - -“Didn’t you?” replied Rosebud. “I know you very well indeed.” - -“That seems strange,” said Ray; “how do you know me so well?” - -“I see you every day and hear your mamma talking to you,” was the -answer. - -“Yes, of course you do, I never thought of that,” said Ray. “Perhaps -you see everything I do.” - -“I do indeed,” replied the picture-girl; “that is, I see everything you -do in this room.” - -“You must excuse me for throwing all the books on top of you when I was -putting my papa’s desk in order. I hope it did not hurt you.” - -“Of course I don’t like to have books thrown at me, it hurts my -feelings,” said Rosebud sweetly. - -“I wouldn’t do that for anything and I shall be more careful,” added -Ray. - -“Do you ever play?” asked the little boy thinking what a sweet little -playmate Rosebud would be. - -“O yes, when I’m not busy.” - -“What do you do when you _are_ busy?” asked Ray with curiosity. - -“Well, you see,” said Rosebud, “all the days of the year are numbered -right under my feet, and when people come in to see my calendar I smile -and hold up my roses, so that they may know that it is a beautiful day -and smile also.” - -“But suppose it isn’t a beautiful day,” said the boy; “suppose it -happens to be dark and rainy.” - -“But every day _is_ beautiful and if it is a little dark I try to look -all the brighter.” - -“I don’t like rainy days very well,” said Ray, “but perhaps they are -nice.” - -“Indeed they are,” answered Rosebud; “how bright the flowers look after -a shower! And the dear rain washes everything, you know.” - -“Rainy days _are_ good, I forgot about the flowers and things,” said -Ray and then added quickly, “If you were not busy now you might play -with me.” - -“I’ll tell you a story,” said Rosebud, “if you would like to hear me.” - -Ray was delighted to hear a story and sat very still while Rosebud -began:-- - -Once upon a time there was a little brown mouse whose name was Nibble. -He built himself a snug house not far from the coal-bin in a nice warm -cellar. Every day he attended to his household duties, called at his -grocery store (the pantry up-stairs) and then went out for a quiet -walk. One day he met Mrs. Ratt, who lived across the street, and he -stopped to have a friendly chat with her. - -“How do you like your tenants?” asked Mrs. Ratt. - -“Very much indeed,” replied Nibble. “They are so exclusive that they -won’t even tolerate a cat. Of course that shows their good sense, -because of all creatures I do dislike cats, they are so----” - -“Grasping,” sneered Mrs. Ratt. - -“Yes,” assented Nibble, “and nosy, if I may use a vulgar expression.” - -“And sly,” quoth Mrs. Ratt, shaking her head. - -“Yes, indeed,” replied Nibble, “if those horrid cats had their way they -would drive us out of existence.” - -“Well, thank goodness, I’m not annoyed by the ill-bred creatures,” he -added with a satisfied blink. - -“No,” sighed Mrs. Ratt, “you are rich and prosperous while I have to -scratch for a bite to eat.” - -Nibble gloried in his good fortune, so he told Mrs. Ratt about all the -good things _he_ had to eat, and to crown this air of plenty he invited -Mrs. Ratt and all her family to a party the following night. Then they -parted and Nibble went home to arrange his house in neat order for his -guests. - -He had some fine old cheese and was going to make a rarebit for his -friends, but he got so hungry that he ate it all up, and on the night -of the party he found that he had but one cracker and a piece of an old -shoe. He was disappointed, because he wanted to impress Mrs. Ratt with -his abundance. He had just made up his mind to go to the grocery store -before she came when he heard a little squeal outside his house, and on -opening the door there stood Mrs. Ratt and all her children. - -“Good evening,” said Mrs. Ratt, “I’m afraid we are a little late, but -the fact is I’m rather timid, you know, and waited until it was quite -safe.” - -“You did perfectly right,” said Nibble. “I’m afraid you live in a very -dangerous locality.” - -“I should say so,” replied Mrs. Ratt, and she raised her eyes in -horror. “There have been no less than five hold-ups within the last -week, all my relations too,” she added with a squeal. - -“Who is the desperado?” asked Nibble. - -“Who should it be but our ancient enemy,” groaned Mrs. Ratt, shaking -her head. “A precious pair of rascals by name Thomas and Maria, they -are the terror of our peaceful community.” - -“Horrors!” exclaimed Nibble, “those two midnight prowlers!” - -“Yes,” sighed Mrs. Ratt, “not only committing deeds of violence, but -disturbing the whole neighborhood with their orgies.” - -“Well, well,” said Nibble, “there’ll be an end to it some time,” and -Mrs. Ratt added quickly, “Yes, if there isn’t an end to us first.” - -“I wonder people put up with their behavior!” exclaimed Nibble. - -“Put up with it!” echoed Mrs. Ratt, with scorn, “they like it and -encourage those cats in their evil doing. Why, only the other day -I happened to be peeking through the blinds and there stood a man -stroking this same notorious Maria and calling her pet names.” - -“The idea!” said Nibble, “and what did _she_ do, the pampered thing?” - -“Why, even then, she had her back up about something,” was the answer. - -“Suppose we think of something more pleasant to talk about,” ventured -Nibble, in his sweetest tones, “these cats grate on my nerves.” - -Just then the baby rat cried out, “I’m hungry,” and Nibble had to give -him the only cracker to eat. - -“Now, what shall I do?” thought Nibble; “there isn’t a thing in my -house except that old shoe, and that will only sharpen their appetites.” - -All at once a new thought struck him and he said, “I have a little -surprise in store for you, my dear Mrs. Ratt; instead of having the -party in my humble place, I thought we might go up-stairs where there -is more light and air.” - -“How delightful!” exclaimed Mrs. Ratt, while Nibble added, “Of course -we will be just as quiet as possible to show the folks that we do not -hold _our_ gatherings after the manner of those ill-bred cats.” - -“Certainly,” assented all the rats, and they followed their host out of -the cellar and up the stairs so quietly that you would never have heard -them. - -They had supper in the pantry, and a most tempting repast it was! -Crackers, cheese, apples, lump sugar and a delicious morsel of mince -pie. - -“How thoughtful your tenants must be!” said Mrs. Ratt, “this pie is -really good.” - -“Just like mother used to make,” said Nibble with a wink. - -“But what have we here?” cried Mrs. Ratt, smelling a stone jug. - -She got the stopper off and after taking a deep whiff exclaimed: -“Elderberry wine as I live!” Then she raised her eyes and said: “Ah, -Nibble, you are indeed blessed with the good things of this life!” -Nibble waved one of his front feet as much as to say, “This is really -nothing at all, you know,” when all at once those young rats knocked -over the jug of wine. It made a terrible noise and very soon footsteps -were heard approaching the pantry. In a second Nibble had started with -all his friends behind him and never stopped running until he reached -his house in the cellar quite breathless with excitement. - -No sooner did he get in bed than he heard a terrible squeal in the -street and he knew that something dreadful had happened to Mrs. Ratt -and her family. - -As he never saw them again he had strong suspicions that Thomas and -Maria had added another crime to their long list of misdeeds. - -Whether it was owing to the elderberry wine or the hasty flight, Nibble -slept very sound that night and all the next day. - -After that he felt better, and one morning he ventured to peep out. - -Imagine his surprise when there sat a bold, bad cat looking at him. - -“Good morning,” said Maria, pleasantly. - -“How do you do?” returned Nibble with great dignity. - -“O, won’t you come and play with me?” asked Maria in her most coaxing -tones. - -“No, thank you,” said Nibble, “I’m too busy.” - - “How doth the little busy mouse - Improve each shining minute. - She softly travels through the house - And gets the best that’s in it.” - -Thus sang Maria, and then laughed long and loud, but even this little -serenade would not tempt Nibble from his cosy house. - -“You are the handsomest mouse in these parts,” said the cat. - -Nibble pricked up his ears; he did love to be flattered, and whispered, -“Think so?” - -“I’m sure of it,” answered Maria; “and if it was not for the fact that -you’ve lost your tail you’d be the prince of fine fellows.” - -“But I haven’t lost my tail,” declared Nibble; “it is very long indeed.” - -“I can hardly believe that,” said Maria, “because the other day when -you went up-stairs to the pantry I could not see _any_ tail.” - -“Did you see me the other day going into the pantry?” asked Nibble in -surprise. - -“O yes, indeed!” answered the cat. - -Now this statement of Maria’s was not true, as she had never seen -Nibble until that moment, but the foolish little mouse believed it, and -thought if the cat did not hurt him on that other day she would not now. - -“I’ll just run across the cellar and then you can see for yourself what -a nice tail I have,” said the vain Nibble. - -That was all the cat wanted. She caught Nibble and that was the last -that was seen of him. - -When Rosebud had finished this story she danced all around on her -dainty toes. Then she glided slowly forward and backward, making low -courtesies to the little boy. After a while her steps became faster and -faster. She shook her pretty curls and beckoned to Ray, and before he -knew it he was dancing too. - -Rosebud took his hand, and together they danced all around the room. - -The strangest part of it was that they danced over chairs and tables as -lightly as if they were not there. O it was delightful, and Ray felt -that if there had been a window open they would have danced right out -and up to the blue sky. At last they stopped a minute, and just then -there was a step in the hall and somebody opened the door. - -It was Ray’s dear mamma who had missed her little boy and had come to -find him. - -“O mamma!” exclaimed Ray, “I want you to meet my little playmate.” - -Ray turned to find Rosebud, but she was not there. Then he looked -behind the chairs and in every corner but he could not find her. - -He was just beginning to feel very much disappointed when he happened -to looked on his papa’s desk. There was Rosebud in her old place on the -picture standing with her bunch of roses and smiling at him. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE BOY IN THE TEAPOT. - - -On Aunt Polly’s table stood a blue china teapot. Such a pretty little -teapot it was, with strange leaves and figures all over it, and right -in the center was a queer little boy with two great birds, one on each -side of him. He was dressed queerly too, not at all like the little -boys you know. He wore a loose sack with very wide sleeves and a broad -sash that went under his arms. His trousers were very wide and he had -on the dearest little slippers with curled up toes. - -Ray liked to look at Ah Lee (that was the teapot boy’s name) and -wondered about him. And as our little boy often visited Aunt Polly he -became very well acquainted with the strange little boy in the teapot. - -One afternoon his auntie had company and Ray was among the guests. -After having a cup of delicious tea, made in the blue china teapot, -everybody looked at Ray and then stole softly into the parlor. - -He was lying on his back on an old-fashioned lounge, his hands under -his head, thinking about the teapot boy. - -Imagine his surprise when all at once somebody said, “I think I’ll go -home this afternoon.” - -“Excuse me,” said Ray, who was not quite sure, “did you speak, Ah Lee?” - -“Yes,” answered the boy in the teapot, “I’m going to take a flying trip -home. Would you like to come?” - -“Thank you,” said Ray, “I would like it very much, if you don’t stay -too late.” - -“Come along then,” replied Ah Lee, stepping down from the teapot and -the two great birds with him. He jumped on the back of one of the birds -and said to Ray, “Follow me,” and almost before he knew it, Ray was -on the back of the other bird flying through the air behind the teapot -boy. They flew over houses and high church steeples, over the tree-tops -and telegraph poles, over deep woods and open green meadows. At last -they came to a very large lake. - -“Let us fly down here and water our birds,” said Ah Lee, beginning to -descend on his great bird. Ray did the same, and when they were near -enough to the water the birds put their long bills into it and took -a deep drink. Then they rose into the air again and continued their -journey over the land and over the sea. - -“Is it very far?” asked Ray, as they flew along faster and faster all -the time. - -“We are almost there,” answered Ah Lee, and in a very few minutes they -began to descend down, down, down, until they touched the ground. - -The boys got off the birds and Ray looked about him. He had never seen -such queer sights before. The people around him looked just like Ah -Lee. - -[Illustration: Almost before he knew it, Ray was on the back of the -other bird flying through the air behind the teapot boy.--Page 32. -_Little Miss Dorothy._] - -They were dressed in soft, bright-colored silks and had long braids of -straight black hair. - -Ah Lee took Ray’s hand and they walked along till they came to a queer -little house with a garden. - -“Now you sit here and wait for me,” whispered Ah Lee, and he went into -the house while Ray waited on a small black stool. He thought the -flowers were very pretty about him, and he was just going to take one -when a voice called out, “The Princess comes to the garden!” Ray turned -to see who had spoken and beheld a little girl, who smiled at him and -held a fan behind her ear. She asked him who he was and whence he came -and when he had told his story she said: - -“My name is Yan Lu and I attend the Princess.” - -“How I would like to see her!” exclaimed Ray. - -“Then follow me,” said Yan Lu. “I will hide thee behind a great plant -and thou canst see the Princess when she comes.” - -Ray followed Yan Lu and as they went along he could not help looking -at her feet. Such tiny feet he had never seen! They were so small that -she could hardly walk. She took little mincing steps and rested a great -many times, looking behind at Ray and smiling. - -“Are your shoes too tight?” asked our little boy, feeling sorry for Yan -Lu and glad that his own shoes were so comfortable. - -But Yan Lu looked down at her little feet and only laughed and then -glanced slyly at Ray and laughed again. He began to think that perhaps -they did not hurt her, she laughed so much about it. - -Ray noticed that her hair was all done up in rolls and had great pins -sticking through it. - -“She is really a very odd little girl,” thought Ray. - -They came to a large plant and Yan Lu told Ray to stand behind it. Then -she waved her fan to him and took her little mincing steps again and -walked off. In a few seconds Ray saw a procession coming. He kept very -still, and as it came nearer he saw that four tall men were carrying a -sort of chair in which a little girl was sitting. - -“That must be the Princess,” thought Ray, and just then he caught sight -of his little friend Yan Lu who walked behind the chair. - -When they reached the spot where Ray was hiding the four tall men -placed the chair on the ground and the little Princess arose and -stepped out of it. She waved her hand and the men took the chair and -walked away. Ray was not afraid of the Princess, but still he did not -want her to see him, so he kept as still as a mouse behind the great -plant. - -She looked all round and suddenly peered through the leaves at Ray. -Their eyes met and the little Princess said softly, “Peek-a-Boo!” - -Ray could not help smiling, but he quickly stepped to the other side of -the plant. The Princess did the same and, smiling through the leaves, -whispered again, “Peek-a-Boo!” Then Ray came from behind the plant and -stood face to face with the Princess and Yan Lu. - -“Won’t you please tell me your name?” asked Ray, and the little -Princess replied: - -“Why, my friend, I have told it to you twice. My name is Peek-a-Boo.” - -“Are you carried in that chair all the time?” asked Ray, and Peek-a-Boo -replied: - -“Most of the time; you see my feet are so small that I cannot walk very -well, they are smaller even than Yan Lu’s.” - -“What a pity,” cried Ray; “I hope they will grow bigger.” - -“O no, little boy; they are all bandaged up so that they cannot grow!” - -“It must hurt,” replied Ray. - -“Well, perhaps it does a little,” said Peek-a-Boo with a giggle; “but -in my country it is considered very nice for girls to have tiny feet.” - -“My cousin Dorothy is a little girl like you,” remarked Ray, “and her -feet are almost as large as mine.” - -Both girls gave a little shriek at this piece of news and Peek-a-Boo -said, “O-o-o! that must be dreadful!” - -“O, no, it isn’t,” answered Ray quickly; “I think it is fine to have -feet that you can run and jump with.” - -Yan Lu laughed aloud and Peek-a-Boo giggled behind her fan. - -“Would you like to play?” asked Peek-a-Boo suddenly. - -Before Ray could answer Yan Lu whispered something to the Princess -and she said, “Truly I forgot it is the great kite-flying day and my -grandfather flies a ship.” She turned to Ray and said, “Come quickly.” -He followed the two little girls down the garden path and all at once -he saw the queerest sight. A number of people, old and young, were -flying kites. - -They were very much interested in it and Ray had never seen such -queer-looking kites before. They were all sorts and sizes, and all at -once Peek-a-Boo clapped her hands and cried, “There is my grandfather -with his great ship.” Ray looked and saw an old man with a kite shaped -like a great ship, and he was running hither and thither with it like a -boy. - -It was fun for Ray to watch him and he grew so excited that he ran to -the old man and asked if he might help. - -After much effort the great kite rose in the air and everybody seemed -pleased. Ray watched a small boy whose kite was so far up in the air -that it looked like a tiny white speck. All at once the boy began to -draw down the kite, and when he caught it Ray saw that it was in the -shape of a great fish. - -When he had seen all the queer kites Yan Lu whispered: - -“You must be hungry, come with me and get some dinner.” - -Peek-a-Boo remained near her grandfather viewing the kites, while Ray -followed Yan Lu into the house and sat at a table right beside his old -friend Ah Lee. A small bowl was placed before him and two little wooden -sticks. Ray forgot where he was for a minute and started to drum with -them, but Ah Lee gently touched his foot and Ray remembered that it was -not polite to drum on the table. - -Ray had a dish of chop suee and a tiny cup of black tea which tasted -very good indeed. - -As they arose from the table he could hear voices singing in another -room and it sounded just like this:-- - - “Oo luck ging foo, - Chow chow wing choo, - Ah Lee chee chee, - O chee O chee.” - -It sounded so funny to Ray that he laughed aloud, but Ah Lee shook his -head and Ray said quickly, “Please excuse me.” - -“Are we going home soon?” asked Ray, as they went into the garden. - -“Yes,” answered Ah Lee, “we are going now.” He took Ray’s hand and they -ran quickly to the spot where the great birds were waiting for them. - -Just as they jumped on the birds, Ray saw Yan Lu and the little -Princess Peek-a-Boo waving their fans and saying “Good-by, come again -from the land of big feet.” - -Ray smiled at the two little girls and rose in the air on his bird. - -In another minute he was flying; over lakes and rivers, mountains -and valleys, and far over a great deep ocean where large ships were -sailing. - -Ray held on to his bird with all his might when they were flying over -the dark water so that he would not fall. - -Again they flew over steeples and house-tops and reached Ray’s country. -Right down to Aunt Polly’s house flew the birds, but how they got into -the house and how Ah Lee and his great birds got back to their old -places on the teapot, and how Ray found himself on the lounge, I leave -you, my dear little readers, to guess. - -However, it was all done so quickly that nobody knew what had happened -except Ray and the Boy in the Teapot. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE BRONZE WOMAN. - - -The bronze woman held a brown jar on her head and stood on a rug in -Dorothy’s parlor. One night just before bedtime Dorothy sat on the rug -and tried to talk to the bronze woman, but she remained very silent, so -after awhile Dorothy said “good night” and went with her nurse to bed. -When she was alone, all tucked nicely in her little white bed she felt -a draft of cold air blow right in her face and at the same time her -window opened. There stood the bronze woman on the window-sill with her -brown jar on her head looking at Dorothy. - -“Where are you going?” asked the child, watching the woman in the -moonlight. - -“I’m going for water,” was the answer almost in a whisper. - -“Can I help you?” asked Dorothy, who was a dear little maid, willing to -help everybody. - -“No, thank you,” said the bronze woman, “I am used to carrying it, but -I’ll give you a ride on my head.” - -“How good that would be!” exclaimed Dorothy, and she got into the jar -which held her nicely and away she went with the bronze woman. - -Her head came up to the top of the jar and she could look up at the -stars and moon and wondered if she were going up to them. - -But they did not seem to be going towards the sky as they passed along -through the air. After awhile it grew so very dark that Dorothy could -not see where she was going. However, she was not at all afraid, as -she was safe in the brown jar, and enjoyed the queer ride very much. -It seemed a very long time to her before it grew light again, but at -last it was brighter, and the bronze woman stopped and sat down on the -ground. - -“Now, little girl,” said the bronze woman, “you may run about and play, -while I go for the water.” - -Dorothy was very glad to come out of the jar, because her legs were a -little cramped. For several minutes she ran about, jumping and skipping -to limber them up. At last she stopped and found herself on the bank of -a very wide river. There was something that looked like a great black -fish on top of the water, and Dorothy going nearer, saw that it was a -crocodile. She had a picture of it at home, and papa had told her all -about it. - -While she was looking, a great many crocodiles, large and small, -appeared on the surface of the water, and then came to the bank and -sat in a row. Dorothy hid behind a small tree and watched them, and -very soon more crocodiles came out of the water. Last of all, a long -crocodile appeared, and he took a seat facing all the others. - -“Why, it looks just like a school,” said Dorothy to herself, and in a -few minutes she saw that it really was a school. - -“It seems so funny to see crocodiles at school,” said the little girl, -and she crept softly a little nearer. One large crocodile sat apart -from the others with a great dunce-cap on his head. - -Suddenly the teacher opened a book and said to the first crocodile, -“Spell your name.” - -“C-r-o-c-k-o-d-i-l-e,” spelled the crocodile who sat in the No. 1 seat. - -“Wrong,” said the teacher. “Who can spell it?” - -“I can,” said Dorothy, jumping up from her hiding-place. She forgot all -about being afraid, and stood before the crocodiles and spelled the -word correctly. It was Dorothy’s pet word and she often spelled it for -papa. - -“That is right,” said the teacher, “and you may stand at the head.” - -The poor little crocodile who failed had to go to the foot of the -class. He began to cry so hard that Dorothy felt very sorry for the -poor thing and almost wished that she had not taken his place, but a -great crocodile who stood beside her whispered in her ear: - -“Those are only crocodile tears, you know,” and Dorothy felt better. - -“Now tell me, what is the shape of the earth?” said the teacher to a -small crocodile. - -“Flat,” was the answer, and the teacher said, “_very_ flat.” - -This did not seem just right to Dorothy, and she was trying to think -where she had heard that the earth is round. All at once it came to her -mind that mamma had told her. - -“The earth is round like an orange,” said Dorothy, jumping out of her -place. - -“It isn’t,” shouted a great fat crocodile, “the earth is flat and I’ll -prove it.” - -When he stood the whole school groaned, and the teacher said: “Sit -down,” in a terrible voice. Somebody tried to pull the fat crocodile -down in his seat, and several mud-balls were thrown at him. There was -a great uproar for several minutes, and the teacher jumped up calling -“order.” - -“What a very unruly school,” thought Dorothy, and just then the teacher -turned to her and said: - -“How much are five and five?” - -“Five and five are ten,” answered Dorothy promptly. - -“Wrong,” said the teacher; “next.” - -But before the crocodile could answer, Dorothy said in great excitement: - -“If you please, Miss Crocodile, five and five are ten, because five and -five couldn’t be anything else, you know.” - -Then all the crocodiles giggled and the teacher looked very cross. But -Dorothy stood very straight and said: - -“Just look at my fingers,” holding up her dear little hands. “I have -five fingers on this hand, and five on the other, and now I’ll count -them.” She did it very nicely, and then said: “Now, don’t you see that -five and five are ten?” - -“But, little girl,” replied the crocodile teacher in a very solemn -voice, “perhaps to boys and girls, five and five make ten, but to -crocodiles five and five make----” - -“_Trouble_,” shouted the crocodile with the dunce-cap on, who had been -watching something else all the time. - -At this word the whole school darted into the river, and not a trace of -them could be seen. Dorothy looked around to see if she could find the -cause of their hasty flight, and she beheld five little brown men, with -long spears, dancing in the moonlight. Behind them came five others, -and they all danced up to the edge of the river, waving their spears -over their heads. Suddenly they stopped, and looking into the water -gave a deep grunt saying: - -“They have gone again.” - -Dorothy kept very quiet, and the little brown men did not seem to -notice her at all. After a while they danced away and were soon out of -sight. - -No sooner had the little men disappeared than Dorothy heard a great -noise, and almost immediately a baby elephant came running up to -her. He stared at Dorothy and began crying “boo-ho-o-oo!” in a most -heart-rending manner. Dorothy sat on the ground, and tucking her -night-dress under her toes, said: “What are you crying for?” - -“I’ve lost my mamma,” cried the elephant louder than ever. - -“You’re a big baby,” said Dorothy scornfully. - -“What do you mean?” roared the elephant in a very angry voice. - -“I mean you’re the largest baby I’ve ever seen,” answered Dorothy, -smiling. - -“Say what you mean,” said the elephant gruffly. Dorothy did not like -to see anybody crying, not even a baby elephant, so she tried to talk -to him. - -“Excuse me,” said Dorothy, “but haven’t I seen you before--at the -circus, you know.” She regretted the words as soon as spoken, because -the elephant set up such a terrible roar and cried louder than ever. - -“You never saw me at the circus,” he cried between sobs and boo-hoos, -“it was my brother.” - -“Well, never mind,” replied Dorothy cheerfully; “all babies, I mean -elephants, look alike to me.” - -Just then another elephant came along and Dorothy was glad to see that -he was laughing. He stood right beside the crying elephant and he -laughed so heartily that his sides shook. It was a very funny sight. -Dorothy did not know just what to do, so she remained perfectly quiet -and looked at them. - -After a while the laughing elephant stopped a minute and making a very -funny face, he said to the crying elephant: - -“Tan’t oo find oo mammer?” Then he gave Dorothy a very naughty wink -and laughed again. Dorothy could not help smiling at him. Suddenly -he rolled on his back and the crying elephant ran away as fast as he -could. Dorothy was very glad when he had gone and hoped he would find -his mamma. - -However, she was so very much interested in the funny elephant that -she forgot about the other. The good-natured elephant did all kinds of -wonderful tricks for her, laughing all the time. He stood on his head -and put his hind feet right up in the air. Dorothy clapped her hands, -and asked the elephant to do it again. - -All at once he caught the little girl in his trunk and placed her -carefully on his back. They trotted around and Dorothy had a splendid -ride. Then he put her on the ground and tramped away. “O do come -back!” she called after him, but just then the bronze woman with her -jar appeared. “Did you get the water?” asked Dorothy. - -“Yes, my child, and I carried it to my master’s house, now you must go -home.” Dorothy got snugly into the jar again and the woman placed it on -her head. Away they went through the still air towards home, and when -they reached it the bronze woman tucked Dorothy in her little bed and -left her. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE FAIRY BELL. - - -There was a pretty little silver bell on papa’s desk, but the children -never knew that it was a fairy bell until one summer afternoon. - -It all happened in this way. They had been playing school and Dorothy -was the teacher. She said:-- - -“When I ring this bell once you must sit up straight and when I ring it -twice you must stand!” They played all the afternoon, and the teacher -romped with the pupil and they both rang the bell until they were tired -of it. All at once, as they sat in the great leather-covered chair, the -bell began to ring itself, but instead of the little tinkle, tinkle, it -sounded just like joyous wedding-bells. - -The children rubbed their eyes and looked at the little silver bell, -and there right on the top of it stood a beautiful little fairy with -silver wings and a dress that shone like silver. - -She smiled at the children and said. “You rang for me and I am here.” - -“Who are you, please?” asked Ray. - -“I am the fairy of the silver bell and my name is Tinkle.” - -“Where do you live?” said Dorothy timidly. - -“I live in Prince Jingle’s country, but when anybody rings for me I -come to attend.” - -“How I would love to visit Prince Jingle’s country!” exclaimed Dorothy. -“Wouldn’t you, Ray?” - -“Yes, indeed,” replied Ray, “it would be fine.” - -“Very well,” said the fairy, “you shall go. Take hold of the tongue -of the bell with both hands and don’t let go till I tell you.” The -children did as the fairy told them and in a few moments they were -moving through the air under the silver dome of the bell. - -“Don’t be afraid, children,” cried the fairy, “I am sitting on the top -and will guide you safely.” - -“Thank you,” said Ray, “what fun this is! Be careful, Dorothy, to hold -on tight.” - -All at once they stopped. The children felt something hard under their -feet, and the fairy Tinkle said, “Come out, children, and go where you -please.” Then she disappeared and the children looked around to see -their new surroundings. - -“I suppose this is Prince Jingle’s country,” said Ray; “let us walk -through it.” Just as they started to walk, they heard the most -beautiful bells ringing. It was like sweet music and far clearer and -prettier than any chimes. In a short time they came in sight of a -beautiful silver castle. Silver coaches and carriages were standing -outside and lovely ladies were walking into the castle on the arms of -handsome men. - -“We must go in the castle, too,” said Ray. - -But Dorothy exclaimed, “O dear, I couldn’t, because I’m not dressed -nice enough.” - -“Never mind that,” said Ray, “come along.” - -“O, no,” cried Dorothy, “I’m _not_ going, because I’ve nothing to wear.” - -“Bother,” said Ray, “you girls are always saying that; do you ever feel -that you are dressed nice enough?” - -“N--no, I don’t think we ever do; still, if I had on my best dress, I’d -go in.” - -“Well, if you won’t come, I’m going alone,” returned Ray, and he -started off and left Dorothy standing there. - -“O Ray, come back! come back!” called Dorothy. “I’ll go with you.” But -Ray was so far ahead that he never heard his little cousin calling, and -the last Dorothy saw of him he was just going into the castle. Dorothy -felt so badly to think that she was left alone she sat on the silvery -ground and began to cry. Then a very queer thing happened. The first -tear that rolled down Dorothy’s cheeks congealed into a tiny solid -silver ball, and fell in her lap. - -Dorothy stopped crying and gazed at the tear that had become a silver -ball. She took it up in her hand, and all of a sudden it began to grow -larger and larger. Then it changed a little in shape, and almost before -Dorothy knew it her silver tear-drop had turned itself into the dearest -little silver bell you ever saw. - -“How pretty!” exclaimed Dorothy, and she rang the tiny bell that had -been made from a tear-drop in her own blue eye. - -It gave the prettiest little tinkling sound in the world and she liked -it so well that she rang it again and again. - -Suddenly there appeared before Dorothy a beautiful fairy in a -shimmering gown of silvery gray. - -“I am sorry you had to ring so many times for me,” said the fairy, “but -I was busy dressing Princess Bell and I could not get here sooner.” - -“I did not ring for you,” answered Dorothy, “but I am very glad you -came.” - -“Whenever that bell is rung I come,” said the fairy. “Pray tell me what -I can do for you?” - -The thought struck Dorothy that perhaps the fairy could give her -something pretty to wear, and then she would go into the silver castle. - -“If you please, good fairy, I would love to go to the castle, if you -would help me with a pretty dress.” - -“Certainly,” answered the fairy, and she touched Dorothy lightly on the -shoulder. Instantly Dorothy’s white pinafore changed into a silvery -robe all spangled and dazzling in its beauty. - -Then she touched Dorothy’s ankle ties and they became silver slippers -with a satin rosette on each one. - -“O, thank you,” said the happy little girl, looking down at her -beautiful dress. - -“You are very welcome,” returned the fairy, and then added, “Shall I -call a chariot?” - -“If you please,” said Dorothy, who wasn’t quite sure what it was, -but had a strong feeling that she wanted it. The fairy blew a tiny -silver horn and immediately there appeared a silver chariot drawn by -four silvery white ponies. A coachman and a footman in silver livery -attended Dorothy, and before she knew it she was sitting in the -beautiful chariot driving over silvery roads. - -She felt so happy that she wanted to sing, but just then the chariot -stopped at the entrance to the silver castle and Dorothy jumped out and -walked up to the beautiful door. - -When she was inside a scene of fairy splendor presented itself to her -astonished eyes. Beautiful ladies--each one a Princess--were dancing -with brave, handsome men,--each one a Prince, and the music was just -like sweet bells, all ringing in tune. - -Dorothy stood a minute and then the bravest Prince in the room came up -to her and said: - -“I am Prince Jingle. May I have the pleasure of dancing with the most -beautiful guest in my castle?” - -Dorothy took his arm with one of her most winning smiles, and the next -minute she was dancing around the room with the Prince. - -“It’s lovely,” thought Dorothy. “If only Ray could see me now I don’t -think he would run off and leave me.” - -“I don’t think he would either,” said the beautiful Prince. - -“O,” said Dorothy surprised, “I was only thinking--I didn’t speak, you -know.” - -“I know you didn’t speak in words,” answered the Prince, “but your face -spoke.” - -“I didn’t know I could speak with my face,” cried Dorothy, smiling to -herself, and she thought, “I don’t believe I can, either.” - -“O, yes, you can,” said the Prince, with a merry laugh, and Dorothy -blushed to think that he knew just what she thought. - -“I wonder how he can tell what is in my mind,” thought Dorothy, but she -said nothing. - -“It’s the easiest thing in the world to tell what is in a little girl’s -mind,” said the Prince, “you can see it in her face, I tell you.” - -“Will you please tell me _how_?” asked Dorothy, who was very much -surprised to find that the Prince seemed to know exactly what she was -thinking about all the time. - -They stopped dancing and the Prince said: - -“A little girl’s face is a mirror and shows all her thoughts.” - -“I don’t quite understand,” replied Dorothy; “do you mean that you can -tell what kind of little girls we are, by our faces?” - -“That is just what I mean,” answered Prince Jingle. “Come with me and -I’ll prove it to you.” - -Dorothy followed the Prince down the long hall until he stopped at a -door that opened into a road. - -“Must you go outside to prove it?” asked Dorothy, who was loath to -leave the beautiful castle. - -“Yes, indeed,” said Prince Jingle; “we don’t have anything like that in -our castle.” - -At last the Prince stopped in front of a large building. Over the -entrance it read in large letters - - POUT & CO. - -The Prince rang the bell and after waiting quite a long time, a little -girl came to the door. Before she opened her mouth to speak Dorothy -thought to herself, “O dear, what a cross little girl, she looks just -as if she were going to snap at you.” - -“How do you do?” said the Prince politely. “Are your sisters at home?” - -“Don’t know, find out for yourself.” - -Whew! how she snapped it out and then disappeared. - -“Didn’t you see it in her face before she spoke?” said the Prince -turning to Dorothy. - -“Yes, every word of it,” replied Dorothy, and then she thought, “I -don’t want to look like _that_, so I must never be cross and snappy.” - -They stepped inside, and the very first thing they saw was a little -girl standing near a table with her head down. - -She looked up a moment, and Dorothy thought how pretty she would have -been, if she didn’t look so sulky. - -“Good morning, Miss Sulk,” said the Prince, but she shrugged her -shoulders, hung her head lower, and never answered. - -“Do come away,” cried Dorothy, and in her mind she said, “I never want -to be like that, so I must _never, never_ sulk.” - -“Just a minute,” said the Prince, “that looks like Miss Temper in the -garden, we must see her.” - -Dorothy followed the Prince into the garden, where a girl was crying -and stamping her feet. - -“Oh, such a face,” thought Dorothy, while the Prince said: - -“What is the matter, Miss Temper, can I help you?” - -“No! no! no!” roared the ugly little girl, and she stamped harder than -ever. Dorothy felt ashamed to think that any little girl could act so -badly, and look so ugly. - -She wanted to run away from the dreadful sight, and she cried: - -“Goodness! Gracious! I hope that I will never give way to temper, for -it would be _awful_ to look like that.” - -“Have you seen enough?” asked the Prince. - -“Yes indeed, quite enough,” replied Dorothy. “I never knew that little -girls’ faces showed everything.” - -“It is too true,” said Prince Jingle, “when they are cross, and have -unkind thoughts, they look ugly, and nobody cares to have them around, -but when they are good and kind, obedient and happy, their faces are so -beautiful, that every one likes to see them.” - -Prince Jingle took Dorothy’s hand, and they hurried back to the castle, -and in a few minutes he brought Dorothy a dish of silvery ice-cream and -a piece of silver cake. - -Just then Ray appeared with a beautiful princess, and they came over to -Dorothy and sat down. The Prince got some cream and cake for them, and -Ray exclaimed: - -“O Dorothy, I’ve been to see such an ugly boy. His name was Temper, and -he had two brothers, Sulk and Pout.” - -“I saw their sisters,” said Dorothy. “Weren’t they homely?” - -“Yes, they were,” said Ray eating the last delicious mouthful of his -ice-cream. - -“I don’t want to hurry you, my dears,” said Prince Jingle; “but don’t -you have to catch a train or something?” - -“Of course,” answered Ray, “we have to catch a bell.” - -Then the children thanked Prince Jingle and hurried out of the castle, -where they found Fairy Tinkle waiting for them, with the little silver -bell. - -In a few minutes they were swinging through the air, holding on to the -tongue of the bell. All at once, so quick that you could not see it -done, they found themselves safe in papa’s study sitting in the big -leather chair. - -The fairy bell was in its old place on the desk, but Fairy Tinkle had -disappeared. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE ROSE-JAR BABY. - - -The rose-jar baby had tiny wings, but no one had ever seen them while -he slept on the cover of the rose-jar in mamma’s room. One drowsy -summer day Ray raised the cover from the rose-jar. Instantly there was -wafted about a faint delicious odor and the lovely little baby opened -his eyes and smiled at Ray. Then he began to fly around the room like -a great butterfly, indeed he was not any larger than one. Ray followed -him about the room and out into the garden and thence down a long path -to the edge of the woods. - -In this place some very beautiful roses were growing and the rose-jar -baby flew right into the heart of one of them. He whispered something -to the rose and all at once out of its very center peeped a bright -little face. Then other faces appeared, until every rose on the bushes -showed a lovely, smiling countenance. - -“These are my brothers and sisters,” said the rose-jar baby, -introducing them to Ray, who was delighted to meet them. - -The baby talked with his brothers and sisters about many things. -They told him about some butterflies who had been visiting them that -morning, and other friends. They spoke about the fine weather, and the -rose-jar baby said: - -“I will not stay any longer because I am on my way to Glen Fair. I -suppose I will see you there later.” - -“Yes,” answered all the roses together, “we are coming very soon.” - -The baby then started to fly into the woods and Ray followed until he -began to feel very tired. - -“Will you please rest a moment?” said Ray to the rose-jar baby, “and -tell me if it is far to Glen Fair.” - -“It is only a short distance from here,” said the baby, “we will soon -be there.” - -“And what is Glen Fair?” asked the little boy. - -“Well, my dear little friend,” said the baby, “Glen Fair is a beautiful -place, where all the flowers that live about here, and many creatures -as well, may go to enjoy themselves.” - -“What do they all do there?” asked Ray with interest. - -“That you will see for yourself,” was the answer. - -“It seems strange,” continued the child, “that I have never seen it in -these woods.” - -“It is not strange,” said the rose-jar baby, “that you have never seen -it. No mortal has ever seen it, and yet there is a Glen Fair in every -bit of woods.” - -“Why can’t we see it?” asked Ray. - -“Because it belongs to the fairies and no mortal can find it unless -guided there by one of us.” - -“You are very kind to guide me,” said Ray, and with these words the -rose-jar baby continued his flight. Ray followed him until he stopped -at some high rocks. The baby flew right over them and Ray was left -alone. “I must climb over those rocks,” said Ray to himself, “for that -must be Glen Fair.” He began to climb with hands and feet and was soon -on the other side safe and sound. He sat on the grass behind a rock and -as he looked around him, he thought Glen Fair was indeed a beautiful -place. Ray never knew that flowers had such sweet, smiling faces. - -There were ever so many buttercups standing near him laughing and -talking together, their faces shining just as if they had been washed -with soap. A group of daisies near the buttercups looked very neat with -white collars around their necks. Some beautiful butterflies were in -a constant flutter of excitement and a row of grasshoppers wore tiny -spectacles that made them look just like professors. In a few moments -Ray saw all the brothers and sisters of the rose-jar baby coming into -Glen Fair, and at their head a very large beautiful rose lady. All the -flowers bowed to her and called her queen. A handsome butterfly with -a velvet cape edged with gold flew to meet her and escorted her to a -mossy throne. - -When the queen of the roses was seated, some bees who had been buzzing -around all the flowers placed some tiny packages at her feet, saying, -“A present of our choicest honey for our beautiful queen.” - -“Thank you, my good friends,” said the queen, and bowed her stately -head. - -Just then a group of dear little violets in blue caps and white aprons, -who had kept out of sight all the time, stepped forth and spread a -white cloth on a long table. The queen of the roses took her place at -the head and all the others sat around her. Ray could not see what they -had to eat, but he heard the queen say, “This dew is so refreshing,” -and she passed her tiny cup to a bluebell to have it filled again. -The flowers nodded and chatted, and one of them, Jack-in-the-pulpit, -proposed a toast to the queen. Then all the flowers nodded, and -somebody called out, “Speech!” everybody took it up and said, “Speech, -speech!” - -Little Jack arose and said: “Ladies and gentlemen and my fat friend -the bullfrog yonder, this is a very joyous occasion, so let us all be -jolly,--if there is a croaker here” (he glanced at the bullfrog) “we -hope he may change his tune. We shall always do our best to make things -bright for mortals; all we ask of them is a little consideration and -room to grow. When we have that--well, my friends, you have only to -look at our beautiful lady to see the result. Ladies and gentlemen, I -drink to the Queen of the Roses.” - -They all raised their tiny cups and drank with nods of approval at -little Jack. When the spread was over, there was dancing and the music -was furnished by a band of bullfrogs. They played on reeds and wind -instruments, uniformed in green and yellow. Ray thought it was very -pretty to see the rose-jar baby dancing with a tiny humming-bird. -After they had danced a while some of them began to play games. Ray -was very much surprised to see some squirrels playing at baseball. -They used a round nut for a ball and a straight twig for a bat. What -fun they seemed to have! The pitcher did not seem in any hurry to -throw the ball. He rolled it round and round and then over his head -and once or twice twisted his whole body. Indeed, he had all the airs -and manners of a professional. At last Ray grew impatient and called -out from behind the rock, “Play ball!” At the same instant the pitcher -lightly tossed the ball and the gray squirrel at the bat knocked -it away over some bushes. Ray clapped his hands with delight and -watched the fun for a long time. His attention was then attracted to -some bullfrogs. Of course they were playing leap-frog. That is their -national game, and Ray laughed aloud when a great fat frog would jump -over a small one. Some spiders were playing tennis over one of their -own webs, and it was very interesting to watch them. Suddenly a jolly -circle of little brown field-mice scampered to the very rock that was -hiding Ray. Their eyes twinkled when they saw him and they began to -play ring-ring-a-ring-around, with Ray in the middle. He never enjoyed -anything so much and clapped his hands while they skipped around. All -at once they began to play tag, scampering everywhere, trying to catch -each other. Ray grew very much excited watching them, and at last -jumped to his feet, saying, “Catch me, catch me.” Then he started to -run, with all the little brown field-mice after him. They ran over -twigs and stones and in and out of winding paths. They passed tall -pine trees and dodged in among green bushes. Ray never knew before that -he could run so fast, but at last he was out of breath and had to stop. - -The mice ran right past him and were soon out of sight. Ray looked -around and found that he was at the edge of the woods quite near home. -He stretched on the warm grass to rest a minute, and while he was -looking up at the blue sky the rose-jar baby flew over his head and -straight down the garden path to the house. After resting awhile Ray -arose and followed, singing softly to himself:-- - - “Ring-a-ring-around! - A little boy was found - By some merry field-mice: - Don’t you think that was nice - Ring-a-ring-around!” - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE DOLL’S PARADISE. - - -It was a very wet day and Dorothy could not go out, so she went to her -own little playroom to have a good time with her dolls. Susan Ida was -a large wax doll with black eyes and golden hair, that is to say, she -had golden hair when Santa Claus brought her, but owing to an accident -this beautiful hair, which should have been hanging down her back, was -suspended from a hook in the closet. - -I am sorry to say Susan Ida was bald. - -Kathleen had once been a handsome china doll with black wavy hair -parted right in the middle, but, alas! Kathleen was a cripple for the -rest of her doll existence, having lost both legs. - -Dinah was a lovely colored baby, but somehow she had lost an arm and -had one eye knocked out, while Jessop, who was a clown-doll with bells -in his cap, had a broken nose and wore very ragged clothes. Dorothy set -them all in a row and looked at them with a frown on her sunny face. - -“I’m really ashamed of you all,” said Dorothy, “you look so badly with -your old torn clothes, and I am sure if you did not play so roughly you -wouldn’t break your noses and things. One would think that you were -all foot-ball players,” she continued. The dolls looked very sorry, -all except Jessop. He had a smile on his face. “You needn’t smile, -Jessop,” said Dorothy. “As for you, Susan Ida, I’m just going to whip -you, because you are such a big doll you ought to know better,” and -she shook her finger at her largest dolly. She was just going to take -Susan Ida across her knee when she heard the queerest little “squeak, -squeak,” right behind her. Dorothy turned to see who made the sound, -and just as she did the door of her play-room opened and there stood -the dearest little doll with coal black curls and coral-pink cheeks. - -All at once the strange doll began to grow larger and larger until she -towered over everything in the room and was the greatest doll Dorothy -had ever seen. Then she did a strange thing. She walked slowly to -the place where Dorothy was sitting. She raised her hands and drew -them lightly over Dorothy’s face, arms and legs, in fact over her -entire body, and a most wonderful thing happened. Dorothy felt herself -becoming hard and rigid in every joint. The stranger had turned little -Dorothy into a wax doll. At first she thought it rather nice to be a -doll, but when she tried to stand and found that she could not she -did not like it very well. She had also grown very much smaller, and -was not any larger than one of her own dolls, but she knew everything -that was going on around her. The strange doll, who had done such a -wonderful thing to Dorothy, began to skip around the room and laugh -and sing. She didn’t seem to be a doll any longer, but was just like a -little girl. - -Dorothy watched her hopping about. “O dear me,” sighed Dorothy almost -in terror, “I _do_ hope she won’t jump on me,” but no sooner did the -thought come to her, when plump came the stranger right on Dorothy’s -legs. - -“Well, I declare,” said the strange doll-girl lightly, “you are always -getting in my way,” and she continued to skip about the room. - -“O my poor feet!” said Dorothy to herself, and all at once she saw that -both her legs below the knees had been broken off. “I wish I could -scream,” sighed Dorothy, but no matter how hard she tried, she could -not open her mouth. - -All of a sudden the strange doll-girl stopped jumping and said to -Dorothy, “You bad doll, you’ve lost a leg.” - -Dorothy was just going to say “Two of them,” when she was caught up by -the stranger, and got a terrible shaking. Then she fell in a heap on -the floor, feeling utterly wretched. After a while the stranger said, -“Now you must sit up and let me braid your hair.” - -Dorothy’s hair hung in soft curls and she did not like the idea of -having it braided. But of course she could not say anything and had to -submit to another rough handling. This proved to be the hardest trial -yet, because no sooner did the combing begin than the pulling was -almost unbearable. Suddenly the doll-girl got very angry. “I never saw -such snarls,” she cried, and caught poor Dorothy by the hair of the -head and dragged her around the room. In a few moments her hair came -off and she was as bald as Susan Ida. - -“Alas!” said poor little Dorothy, “I shall be lame and bald and nobody -cares.” She tried to cry, but even that consolation was denied her. - -The stranger who had done these dreadful things was looking out of the -window, calmly watching the rain, when suddenly she turned and said, -“Would you like to look out of the window, I think it would do you -good?” She took Dorothy by one poor limp arm and carried her across the -room to the window. After she dangled Dorothy a while by one arm she -raised the window and put her outside in the rain, saying, “Out there -you can get cooled off.” She skipped around the room again clapping her -hands and having a good time. Poor little Dorothy outside the window, -as frightened as could be, but unable to stir an inch! - -The rain spattered in her face, and on her bald head and in a very -short time her dress became soaked. Suddenly a great gust of wind came -around the corner, and before Dorothy realized it she was blown from -her place and down she fell in the garden prone on her face. Then she -fainted, and did not know anything for a long time. - -When she recovered she was surprised to find that she was not in the -garden, but in a strange beautiful place. It looked like the hall of a -magnificent castle with beautiful pictures and elegant surroundings. On -a throne, at one end of the hall, sat the most beautiful doll in the -world. She was tall and stately, and in her right hand carried a golden -wand. - -But the strangest sight of all was a single file of dolls, the most -wretched, forlorn-looking things that Dorothy had ever seen. - -Standing one behind the other the line extended from the throne of the -beautiful doll away down the hall as far as the eye could see. Dorothy -was the fifth in the line, and she knew that she looked as badly as -anybody, but as she was watching the queen of the dolls she forgot -about her looks. Just then the first doll in the line limped up to the -throne and stood before the queen. - -“My poor subject,” said the queen, in a sweet, gentle voice, “how came -thee, who left this house bright and beautiful, in this sad plight? -Tell thy sad story.” - -“Alas!” said the poor doll, who had only one eye, one arm and half a -kid leg, “a little girl, who was a most careless mistress, let me fall -so often that I was completely undone and my beauty destroyed.” - -The doll bowed her head and the queen touched it with her golden wand, -saying:--“Arise, my child, and be as perfect as thou should’st,” and -immediately the doll, who had looked so badly before, arose whole and -beautiful. She bowed low to the queen and left the throne. - -Dorothy saw many beautiful dolls, waiting on the other side of the -hall. They ran up and kissed the doll who had been made beautiful and -she walked away with them. But the second doll in the line was already -before the queen telling her story, and Dorothy listened to every word. - -She was a china doll and looked something like Kathleen; she said with -sobs: - -“At first my mistress was very kind to me. She rocked me to sleep every -night, dressed me in silken frocks in the afternoon and took me out to -ride in a beautiful doll’s-carriage. After awhile she did not care for -me at all, and one day when I fell out of the carriage, her little dog -Fido caught me in his teeth and shook me so badly that I never quite -recovered from the shock, in fact I was all broken up.” - -Truly it was a sad story and Dorothy felt sorry for the poor china -doll. The golden wand touched her and she became very lovely, and went -to the other side with her happy companions. - -Now the third doll in the line was the most disreputable-looking one -that Dorothy had ever seen. She was a wax doll with just one spear of -hair on the top of her head. Her nose was broken and her front teeth -knocked out. She did not have on even a doll’s chemise, and worse than -all there was a great hole in her back. Dorothy had been looking at a -group of lovely dolls at the other side of the hall who were eating -ice-cream when her attention was called by a very familiar name. - -“I was a beautiful French doll,” said the third. “I had been well -educated and people said that I knew how to talk, I must admit that -I was clever and knew when to shut my eyes. My name was Fanchette” -(Dorothy gave a start at this name). “Well,” continued Fanchette, “to -make a long story short, bad treatment soon reduced me to my present -condition, this dreadful hole in my back was made by my cruel little -mistress, she said she wanted to see what was inside of me. After that -I was cast aside until one day a housemaid threw me into an ash-barrel, -which occasioned my death.” - -This story was strangely interesting to Dorothy and she watched -eagerly to see what the doll would be like when the wand touched her. -Imagine Dorothy’s surprise to see her own Fanchette, that Uncle John -had brought her from Paris a long time ago. Dorothy could hardly -believe her eyes, but there stood Fanchette as dainty and beautiful as -ever. She was just going to cry out “Fanchette,” but No. 4 was talking -and as she came next she was very attentive. No. 4 was a boy doll. -He wore a worsted jacket and said he was German. He did not have any -broken limbs, but seemed very much shrunken. He had fallen into a tub -of water, he said, and had been drowned. When the queen touched him he -went off smiling and happy with some other boy dolls. - -Now it was Dorothy’s turn, how she got up to the throne she did not -know. She thought of her poor bald head and her sad appearance. - -“Excuse me,” said Dorothy, “I haven’t a leg to stand on.” - -The queen smiled sadly at her and then arose from the throne tall and -beautiful, saying:-- - -“I cannot hear any more sad stories to-day, but you may all file up -and I will make you beautiful.” She touched Dorothy lightly on the -head with the golden wand and the little girl became her own dear self -again. She felt so happy she wanted to jump for very joy. She ran off -with some beautiful dolls, her brown curls brushing her smiling face -and her eyes sparkling with merriment. Down the beautiful hall she -tripped and just as she reached the door that led into a golden room, -she looked back. The queen was just in the act of touching the last one -of the poor broken dolls. Dorothy entered the golden room and found -herself amid a scene of fairy splendor with the beautifullest dolls in -the world. - -There were big dolls and little dolls, dolls in silks and satins, and -sweet tidy dolls in cap and apron who were maids to wait upon them. -Some dainty little dolls were dancing with handsome boy-dolls, and -others were sitting about in groups laughing and talking. Dorothy -passed through the golden room and out into a garden. Here there were -more dolls, some of them swinging in snug little doll-hammocks, others -were gathering flowers, and on a fine stretch of lawn was the dearest -little party playing croquet. Dorothy walked through the garden and -came to a pond. There were pretty boats on it and a little doll man, -dressed like a sailor, stepped up and touched his cap, at the same time -asking Dorothy if she would take a sail. - -“With pleasure, thank you,” answered Dorothy and she stepped into a -boat and began to sail around the pond. She was so happy and felt so -comfortable that she just fell back on the soft cushions of the boat -and closed her eyes. It was all so soft and dreamy that she drifted -into a sound sleep. When she awoke where do you think she found -herself? - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE SUGAR-BOWL FAIRY. - - -Ray was very fond of sugar. Did you ever see the boy or girl who was -not? One day he wanted a lump and asked mamma if he might have it. She -gave him permission to take just one lump, so he raised the cover of -the sugar bowl and peeped in. - -“How nice it looks in there,” said Ray, “I wish I could get inside.” - -No sooner did he say the words than he began to grow smaller and -smaller. He dwindled down until he was only as large as a lump of sugar -and he gave a little jump right into the sugar bowl. At first it seemed -quite dark in there, but after a while he grew accustomed to it and -could see very well. The first thing that surprised him was the size of -the place. He had always thought that the inside of a sugar-bowl was -very small in area, but on the contrary it “stretched away into stately -halls,” with doors and windows and numerous little people like himself -walking about. Ray sat on a little white sofa near a window and a dear -little man came and sat beside him. - -“I am the Sugar-bowl Fairy,” said the little man, “would you like to -take a walk through the house?” - -“Thank you,” replied Ray, “what do you do all day in the sugar-bowl?” - -“We play and have a good time,” answered the little man, “except when -the great giant comes, then we are all afraid and run to hide.” - -“Who is this great giant?” asked Ray. - -“I will tell you a true story about my brother and sister and then you -will know all about the great giant,” said the Sugar-bowl Fairy. - -“My sister’s name was Sweetness and my brother’s was Sugar-Boy. One day -they were put in a large barrel and taken away to the giant’s house. -They remained in the barrel for several days, when one morning they -were taken out and put in a beautiful silver sugar bowl on the giant’s -table. In a few minutes the giant sat down to breakfast with his little -daughter Mabel. - -“They talked and laughed together, and while the little girl drank her -bowl of milk the giant poured a cup of tea for himself. - -“‘Now,’ whispered Sweetness to my brother, ‘if he puts us in that cup -of tea we must surely be drowned.’ She trembled and snuggled up closer -to my brother. - -“The giant took the silver sugar-tongs and looked into the sugar bowl. -It was a moment of terrible suspense. All at once he caught Sweetness -and dropped her into his cup of tea. The last my brother saw of her she -was dissolved in tears. And that was the end of my sister Sweetness. - -“‘Won’t it be dreadful if he catches me?’ said my brother, when lo! -the tongs descended into the sugar bowl again and this time caught -Sugar-Boy, but he squirmed himself out and rolled down to the very -bottom of the bowl and the giant took another. - -“When breakfast was over and the giant and his little daughter had -risen from the table, she whispered something to her father and all -at once looked into the sugar bowl. Then she put her dear little hand -inside and caught my brother in her rosy finger tips. - -“‘There,’ said Mabel, ‘you’re the nicest looking lump of sweetness in -the sugar bowl and I am going to give you to Queen Bess.’ - -“Sugar-Boy wondered who Queen Bess could be, but he did not have much -time to think because Mabel hurried out of the room and ran after her -father. They went into a stable and Sugar-Boy could hear the tramp of -horses. At last they stood before a beautiful black horse. Mabel took -the lump of sugar (which wasn’t a lump of sugar at all, you know, but -my dear little brother) and held it up to the horse, saying, ‘See, -Queen Bess, what I have brought you.’ My poor Sugar-Boy trembled with -fear and thought his end was at hand, but just as the horse opened his -mouth to swallow him the girl let Sugar-Boy fall and down he went into -a tiny hole where it was very dark. He could hear Mabel say, ‘That is -too bad, Queen Bess, but I shall get another nice lump for you.’ - -“‘I hope I am safe here,’ said Sugar-Boy, but no sooner did he say the -words than he saw two little bright eyes peering at him. Again his -heart went pit-a-pat, and in another moment a fat brown mouse came over -to the dark hole. ‘This is a very lucky find,’ said the brown mouse, ‘I -must take this lump of sugar to my mother.’ Sugar-Boy was frightened -when the brown mouse caught him up carefully and started across the -barn floor; and he was just beginning to think that this would be the -last of him, when all at once a gray cat sprang out and the mouse -dropped Sugar-Boy and ran for his life. There was Sugar-Boy in the -middle of the floor where anybody could step on him and crush him to -death. - -[Illustration: Mabel took the lump of sugar, and held it up to the -horse, saying, “See, Queen Bess, what I have brought you.”--Page 94. -_Little Miss Dorothy._] - -“He was feeling very much worried about it when suddenly a boy came -into the barn. The boy walked around whistling a lively tune, and all -at once picked up Sugar-Boy and put him in his pocket. - -“My brother thought he was safe in the boy’s pocket, at least for a -while. He found himself in the company of a jackknife, ten marbles, -two rusty nails, a ball of twine, a bent pin, a piece of tar, an old -butternut and a few other articles that I cannot remember. - -“‘I wonder how many more things are coming into this pocket,’ said the -marbles, ‘_we_ would like a little space to roll around.’ Just then the -boy put his hand into the pocket for the jackknife and those selfish -marbles pushed Sugar-Boy out with the knife and he fell in the yard -and the boy never knew it. My brother found himself beside a small -stone, and he soon discovered that a certain Mr. Worm lived under the -stone. - -“He was very lazy, sleeping most of the time, but one day the stone -happened to get overturned by a boy, and then Mr. Worm began to squirm -around at a great rate. Sugar-Boy watched him until a dozen little -sparrows began to chirp around him, and in a remarkably short time they -had made a meal of Mr. Worm. But they had also seen Sugar-Boy, and as -soon as they had eaten Mr. Worm they tried a peck at Sugar-Boy. - -“They made a great fuss and scolded each other because they could not -carry Sugar-Boy, he was so heavy. In the height of the excitement a -great black crow flew into the midst of the sparrows, and, taking -Sugar-Boy in her beak, flew far away. Deep into the woods went the -crow and perched on a high tree, and in another minute Sugar-Boy was -in a nice warm nest with some little baby crows. They opened their -mouths very wide and the mother crow began to feed them. She tried a -peck at Sugar-Boy’s coat and he felt very badly about it. After a while -she caught him up and one of the babies tried to take a little peck. -It pleased the mother crow so much to see such a smart baby that she -wanted to kiss the little mouth. She loosened her hold on Sugar-Boy -and before she could catch him he had fallen from the nest in the high -tree-top down to the path in the woods. He was there quite a long time -when two girls came along gathering wood for their mother’s fire. - -“‘O, see,’ cried one of the girls, ‘I have found a lump of sugar! I’m -going to take it home to Gretchen!’ - -“She put Sugar-Boy in the basket with her twigs and sticks and he was -carried safely through the woods to their mother’s cottage. A plump -little maid with two long braids of golden hair came running to meet -the girls who had been gathering sticks. - -“‘See what I found for thee, Gretchen,’ said one of the girls, holding -up Sugar-Boy. Gretchen took him in her little fat hands and cried: - -“‘Ach! it is mine sugar.’ - -“‘The fairies put it in the woods for thee, Gretchen,’ said her sister; -‘take it and run away.’ - -“Gretchen ran away with Sugar-Boy, and sat in her little garden. - -“‘If it is a fairy lump I will plant it,’ said the child, ‘and then a -fairy tree will grow with lumps of sugar.’ - -“She dug a tiny hole with her hands and placed my brother in it, -covering him over with the soft earth. Then she watered her new bed and -went away to tell about her fairy sugar tree. - -“Now it so happened that not far from the spot where Sugar-Boy was -planted lived a colony of ants. One long-legged fellow chanced to see -Gretchen dispose of a nice lump of sugar and he ran to the hill where -the queen of the ants lived and told her about it. - -“She sent an army of faithful ants at once, and Sugar-Boy was removed -little by little to the queen’s palace. - -“Then the queen decided to give a grand party, inviting all her -sisters, cousins and ants and in a short time the long-legged fellow -was despatched with written invitations that read as follows: - -“‘The queen invites you to be present at a grand dinner party, given in -the courtyard of the imperial palace (Ant Hill--southwest) on Monday at -Ten A. M.’ - -“There was great excitement among the ants when they learned about -the party and they vied with each other in their efforts to thank the -queen. When the morning of the party arrived you might have seen -swarms of ants hurrying to the palace on Ant Hill. - -“Of course they all had a splendid time at the party and they actually -devoured Sugar-Boy.” - -The Sugar-bowl Fairy, who had been telling this story, stopped suddenly -and Ray asked, “Is that all?” - -“No, that is not the end,” replied the fairy, “but I hear your mamma -calling you.” He raised the cover of the sugar bowl and Ray climbed out. - -As soon as he was outside he began to grow to his normal size and -he ran to mamma and told her all about his adventure inside the -sugar-bowl. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -A STRANGE TRIP TO TOY-LAND. - - -One afternoon Mrs. Fussy, who lived next door, came to call on -Dorothy’s mamma. When they had exchanged greetings Mrs. Fussy exclaimed: - -“Dear, dear, what shall I do! Cook has left me without a moment’s -notice--the third this month. It is really discouraging.” - -Dorothy was drinking in every word that fell from the visitor’s lips, -and mamma said, “Run away, dear, and play with your dolls.” - -Dorothy ran to her play-room and took down all her dolls and toys to -have a real good time. She decided to play house, so she said, “Now I’m -going to be Mrs. Fussy.” - -She gazed earnestly at her dolls and sighed, “Dear, dear, what shall I -do! Cook has left without a moment’s notice--the third this month. It -is really ’raging.” - -Suddenly all the dolls jumped up and began to roll up their sleeves. - -“We’ll help,” they cried, and Dorothy was so surprised that she could -not speak for a minute. - -“I’m glad you are so willing,” said the little girl at last. “Suppose -you go into the kitchen and cook the dinner, Dinah.” - -“Yeth, ma’am,” replied Dinah with a sweeping bow and hurriedly left the -room. - -“Susan Ida may go into the laundry and iron, while _you_, Kathleen, had -better dust the hall.” - -“What shall _I_ do?” asked Jessop with his usual grin, and his little -mistress told him to make himself generally useful. - -When they had gone to do their work Dorothy breathed a sigh of relief -and said, “I think I’ll rest a minute.” She took out her Mother Goose -and was so very much interested in Little Bo-Peep that she did not -notice anything going on around her. But when she raised her eyes from -her book she was surprised to find herself quite alone. - -“Why, where are all my toys?” exclaimed Dorothy. “I sent the dolls to -work, but those naughty toys had no business to leave this room.” - -Then she decided to go into the kitchen and see how Dinah was getting -along with the dinner. She tripped down-stairs and the minute she -opened the kitchen door there was a strong odor of something burning. -But worse than that, there stood her tin soldier with his arm around -Dinah’s waist. Dorothy ran for the tin soldier, but he dodged her and -jumped out of the window. Dinah threw back her head and began to swing -a soup ladle, while her indignant little mistress exclaimed, “I’m -ashamed of you, Dinah, and you can go to your room at once.” Dinah -sulked out of the kitchen and Dorothy took up the burned potatoes. - -“Now I’m going to give Dinah a good whipping,” said Dorothy; but the -minute she opened the kitchen door she heard loud voices on the stairs. -Hurrying to the spot, there stood Kathleen (her quiet, gentle Kathleen) -brandishing a feather duster in the most threatening manner at Jessop. - -Dorothy was astonished. “Why, Kathleen,” she cried, “what is the -matter?” - -“Well, he isn’t going to call me doll-faced,” said Kathleen, looking -very angry at Jessop. - -“She said I was a clown,” shouted Jessop, “and I won’t stand it.” - -“Go to your room both of you; not another word,” exclaimed Dorothy -shaking her finger at Kathleen, who walked off with her head in the air. - -“Well, I declare,” sighed the mistress, “I wonder what will happen -next!” She started for the laundry to see how Susan Ida was getting -along, and found her crying bitterly and no work done. - -“Why, Susan Ida, what have you been doing all this time?” - -“Nothing, ma’am,” was the answer. “It’s all his fault. Boo-hoo-o!” and -she pointed to Dorothy’s toy rooster, who was calmly standing on the -table watching them. - -“What are you doing here, Dick?” asked Dorothy, turning to the rooster; -“the idea of coming into the laundry!” - -“He came to crow over me, ma’am,” exclaimed Susan Ida between her sobs. - -“I don’t care,” cried Dick; “she said she’d take my head off.” - -“Get out both of you,” and Dorothy made a rush for the bad toys, but -they nearly fell over each other in their efforts to get out of the -kitchen. - -“I’ll go up-stairs and give them a good whipping and put them to bed,” -said Dorothy; but when she reached the stairs she stopped in amazement. -There was Toto her toy monkey sliding down the banister, while her toy -puppy barked with all his might. A toy broom was whacking the stairs at -a grinning Jack-in-the-box, who was trying to stand on his head. - -“Toto,” cried Dorothy, and she was just going to catch him, when her -toy cat flew past chasing the toy mouse. - -“Goodness! he must not catch my mouse,” cried Dorothy, and she caught -up the toy broom and hurried after the toy cat. The toy puppy and -the monkey followed, and the Jack came out of his box and joined in -the chase. Across the hall they flew, and as the door happened to be -opened, down the steps and into the yard. It was the strangest race you -ever saw, and as they ran through the street people came to the windows -and shouted at them. A great many soldiers left their barracks in the -toy shops and hurried after the procession. - -On and on they ran through the street, into another, across vacant -lots, over stones and hedges, through the green fields, up the hills, -down the lanes, and never stopped until they came to Toy-land. - -The minute they got there the mouse was still, the cat curled himself -like a ball and went to sleep, the puppy stretched out and began to -snore, the Jack-in-the-box remained perfectly quiet, and the monkey sat -upright and scratched his head. - -Dorothy sank into a toy chair exclaiming, “Such an exciting race I -never had in my life.” - -“You must be tired,” said a voice at her elbow, and Dorothy turned and -there stood Little Bo-Peep. - -“How do you do?” said Dorothy. “Have you found the sheep that were -lost?” - -“Not yet,” replied Bo-Peep, “but I am looking for them.” - -“I will help you,” cried Dorothy, and she jumped up and taking Little -Bo-Peep’s hand walked all over Toy-land looking for the lost sheep. -Suddenly they met the old woman who lived in a shoe with her whole -brood of children hurrying along. - -“Whither away so fast, good woman?” asked Dorothy. - -“To the grand parade, my dear,” was the answer, while Little Bo-peep -exclaimed, “Sure enough, it is the first of April, the birthday of our -dear Mother Goose, you know.” - -“Let us go too,” cried Dorothy, and they hurried after the old woman. - -They passed Little Boy Blue fast asleep under a hay-mow, but Bo-Peep -gave him a little shake and he awoke and followed them. - -They reached a bridge just in time to see Mother Goose and all her -followers passing along. All Toy-land clapped and shouted; and what -with dogs barking and cocks crowing there was a merry time. - -Dorothy was delighted, and the toy soldiers who marched in the -procession were straighter than any real soldiers that she had ever -seen. - -“What beautiful times you have in Toy-land!” exclaimed Dorothy. - -But Bo-Peep did not answer, she was looking at the end of the -procession. - -“There they are now!” she cried, and Dorothy saw the lost sheep -following the crowd. “I must hide,” said Bo-Peep and she tried to stand -behind Dorothy, but the sheep spied their little friend and they all -ran to her and began to frisk about. It made Dorothy laugh to see them, -but when a great black sheep tried to stand on his head Dorothy was -afraid and ran away. - -She tripped over the fields until she came to the village green where -she found Mother Goose and the whole procession resting. - -As she approached, Dorothy saw that they were all watching something in -the center of the green. She turned to Simple Simon who was standing -near, and asked him what they were all waiting for. - -“To see the cow jump over the moon, of course,” replied Simple Simon, -grinning at Dorothy. - -Just then the cow rose in the air and gave a great jump to the sky and -right over the moon. Everybody laughed, even Dorothy’s little toy dog; -and Simple Simon rolled on the grass, he thought it was so funny. - -Dorothy ran off laughing and turned into a street that was called Doll -Avenue. Beautiful doll houses lined both sides of the street, and -Dorothy met several lovely dolls who were out taking an airing. All at -once Dorothy came to the end of Doll Avenue and found a pond where toy -swans were sailing around. The dearest little doll that Dorothy had -ever seen was all alone, throwing pebbles into the pond. - -“What is your name, dear?” asked Dorothy, walking up to the doll. - -“My name is Rosy,” said the doll; and Dorothy exclaimed, “O, you are -just lovely, I’d like to take you home with me!” - -“I can go with you,” replied Rosy, “if you don’t step on dirt.” - -“Good,” cried Dorothy, clapping her hands. “I know what you mean. You -must step on stones, if you walk on the earth you’re poisoned. I’ve -played that game very often.” - -Dorothy took Rosy in her arms and started to walk home. - -“You shall be my best doll,” whispered Dorothy, “and I’ll make you a -lovely silk dress.” She crossed and recrossed stones and rocks, being -careful not to touch the ground. She was getting along nicely when all -at once she tripped and her feet touched the earth. In a second Rosy -was on the ground running away from her as fast as she could. - -“Come back, come back,” shouted Dorothy; but Rosy only ran the faster. - -Dorothy started after the lovely little doll, but all at once she was -stopped by a great toy policeman. - -“What is the matter?” asked he of the blue coat and brass buttons. - -“I want to catch that doll. O, please let me get her,” said Dorothy. - -“Does she belong to you?” shouted the policeman in a gruff voice. - -“N-no, not exactly; that is,”--said Dorothy, beginning to explain. - -But the policeman looked very angry and said, “I arrest you for trying -to take something that does not belong to you.” - -“But please, Mr. Policeman, I didn’t know I was doing wrong,” sobbed -Dorothy. - -“Neither did I,” roared the policeman. - -“But I never was arrested before,” cried Dorothy. - -“That isn’t my fault,” said the policeman. - -Just then Little Bo-Peep came along with all her sheep. - -“Why, what is the trouble?” asked Little Bo-Peep, looking from Dorothy -to the toy policeman. - -“He’s going to arrest me,” answered Dorothy. - -“You mustn’t do that,” cried Bo-Peep; “she’s a friend of mine.” - -“But she was breaking the law,” said the policeman. - -“That’s too bad,” whispered Bo-Peep, putting her arm around Dorothy’s -neck. - -“You know, dear, that you can break everything in Toy-land except the -law.” - -“However,” she continued, “as you are a visitor you cannot be arrested.” - -“I think I had better go home now,” said Dorothy, “I wonder where all -my animals are?” - -“I’ll blow my whistle,” said the policeman, “and they will come.” - -No sooner did the whistle sound than all her animals appeared. - -The policeman locked them up in Noah’s Ark, but Dorothy stepped into a -train of toy cars and was soon safe home. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE LAUGHING ROCK. - - -One summer Ray went to the country to visit Uncle Josiah. At first he -was so much interested in everything around the farm that he did not -find time to take any walks in the pleasant fields and woods. - -He liked to watch the busy hens and the downy little chicks. Every -day he talked to a dear little bossy calf that had great soft velvety -eyes. But after a while, when he had become well acquainted with the -plump little rabbits and Bonnie Bess, a good old horse, he started in -to see some of the pretty places around him. Not far from the house was -a long shady lane path called “Lovers’ Lane,” and one summer afternoon -Ray found himself sitting on the grass in Lovers’ Lane with his back -against a large rock. It was a very warm day and Ray felt so sleepy -that his eyes began to close in spite of himself. - -Suddenly something tickled his nose and he brushed it away. He closed -his eyes again to have a little nap when something tickled his ear and -he quickly brushed that off. Once more he settled for a sleep when a -very pronounced tickling at his neck made him jump to his feet. - -“I wonder what is tickling me so?” exclaimed Ray, looking around. - -All at once he caught sight of a little man so tiny that you could have -taken him up and put him in your pocket. He stood right on the top of -the rock and as his clothes were just the color of it, you could not -see him unless you looked sharp. But there stood the tiny little fellow -with his hands in his pockets, his legs far apart and a broad smile on -his face as he winked at Ray. - -“Did you tickle me when I was trying to go to sleep?” asked Ray. - -The grin on the face of the little man broadened and he began to shake -all over, he laughed so heartily. - -“Excuse me,” he said; “I was only putting in my winter coal.” - -Ray was greatly surprised, he didn’t know just what to think of the -little fellow. He thought he had better introduce himself, so he said, - -“My name is Ray, and I live in that white house with Uncle Josiah and -Aunt Prudence.” - -“My name is Pebble and I live in this brown rock with Mrs. Pebble and -all the little Pebbles,” said the tiny man, laughing harder than ever. - -In fact he laughed so heartily that he began to slap his knee with -his little fat hands. Ray laughed too and slapped his knee and shook -all over like the little man. Every now and then in the midst of the -laughter Mr. Pebble would catch something that flashed like sunbeams -in his hand, but he did it so quickly that Ray could not make out just -what he was doing. - -“It’s really very funny,” said Ray; “but I’m not laughing at you, Mr. -Pebble.” - -“I’m not laughing at you,” returned little Mr. Pebble. - -“What are you laughing at, may I ask?” said Ray politely. - -“This is my busy season,” replied the little fellow; “that is why I -laugh.” - -Ray did not quite understand, but thinking he would find out later on -in the conversation asked, “Did you say you lived inside this rock?” - -“Yes, my boy, that is where we live.” - -“Isn’t that strange?” murmured Ray to himself. - -“Not at all,” replied Mr. Pebble, “my family--that is the entire Pebble -branch--always live in rocks.” - -“I’d like to see the inside of your house,” exclaimed Ray. - -“Well, come home to dinner with me,” said Mr. Pebble, and he gave three -little taps on the rock. - -All at once it opened and before Ray knew it he was inside. A tiny -fat woman with a crowd of children tugging at her skirts, came up -and greeted Mr. Pebble. The little Pebbles skipped and hopped about, -cutting up all sorts of capers. It was all so funny that Ray was -laughing all the time and Mr. and Mrs. Pebble and all the little -Pebbles laughed too. - -“How about the coal, my dear,” said Mrs. Pebble suddenly; “did you get -any this morning?” - -“Oh, yes,” replied her husband, “I have been very busy.” - -“Well, I hope you will get a good supply, because I think it is going -to be a hard winter. Don’t you think so, Ray?” - -“I don’t see what you want coal for,” said Ray; “inside a big rock I -should think it would be nice and warm.” - -“So it would be, my dear,” returned Mrs. Pebble; “but there are two -great cracks in this house and they let in all the cold air. Why, last -winter Tommy Pebble had the measles.” - -“Which is Tommy?” asked Ray, looking around at the brood of Pebbles. - -“I’m Tommy,” shouted a pompous little fellow standing on his tiptoes -and throwing out his chest. - -“Well, you needn’t feel so stiff about it,” said Ray, “you’re not the -only Pebble;” whereupon Mr. and Mrs. Pebble and all the children except -Tommy roared with laughter. - -Suddenly Ray noticed a coal-bin in one corner of the house, and taking -up a piece he cried, “What queer-looking coal, it doesn’t look like the -kind we use.” - -“It’s not the same kind, you know,” said Mr. Pebble; “my coal is made -from laughter.” - -“How funny!” exclaimed Ray. “I don’t quite understand.” - -“Well,” said Mr. Pebble, “if there is any laughter going around I catch -it and turn it into coal. I’ll throw a piece into my fire and you will -see what I mean.” - -The coal burned with a blue flame, and all at once Ray could see in the -midst of the flame his Uncle Josiah holding a horse and talking to a -strange farmer as plainly as if they were standing before him. - -Suddenly the farmer led the horse away and when they were out of sight -Ray could hear his uncle laugh-- - - “Haw, haw! haw, haw, haw! - Best trade I ever saw! - Haw, haw, haw, haw!” - -Ray laughed aloud, although he really didn’t know why, and all the -Pebbles shook with laughter. - -“Did my uncle sell that horse to the farmer?” asked Ray. - -“Yes,” said Mr. Pebble, “the bargain was made sitting on this rock and -I got in a good load of coal that day.” - -“But I don’t see anything to laugh about in that,” exclaimed Ray. - -“The farmer that got the horse didn’t either,” cried Mr. Pebble. - -Ray was puzzled, but he took up another piece of coal and threw it on -the fire. It burned with a beautiful rose-colored flame, and Ray could -see two lovers sitting on the rock looking into each other’s eyes. - -Suddenly he heard a giggle and then: - -“He, he, ha, ha, ha! You are, you know you are!” - -Ray was laughing again. “What does it all mean?” he asked. - -“I’m sure I don’t know,” said Mr. Pebble, who was almost doubled in two -laughing. - -“They came here last summer a great deal,” continued the little fellow. -“They’re married now and live in the village. I don’t see them so -often, but there are others, and I must say they belong to one of the -best sources of my coal supply in the world.” - -“Try this one,” said Ray, and he threw a piece of coal on the fire that -burned with the most beautiful flame of all. A group of merry children -were playing together in the bright flame, and their laughter was like -sweet music. - -“What good times they are having!” said Ray, and Mr. Pebble cried: - -“Yes, indeed, I love little children, and would rather hear their -laughter than any other sound in the world.” - -“Is that why you tickled me?” questioned Ray, and the little man -replied: - -“Well, of course, it’s my business to make people laugh. I was looking -out for some more coal, you know.” - -“You certainly have a very large family to keep warm,” remarked Ray. - -“Yes,” answered Mr. Pebble, “and it grows larger every year, and more -than all, Tommy is a great care.” - -“Is he mischievous?” said Ray. - -“O, very,” replied the happy father. “I wonder what he is doing now. -Tommy, Tommy,” called his father, “where are you?” but Tommy did not -answer, and his numerous brothers and sisters could not find him. - -“I think I had better go now,” said Ray, “I’ll stay to dinner some -other day.” - -“We’re going to have pudding,” cried one of the tiniest Pebbles, but -Ray was afraid Aunt Prudence would think he was lost, so he said -good-by to the funny Pebbles and quietly left the rock. When he was -outside on his way to the farmhouse he happened to put his hand in his -pocket and there sat Tommy Pebble as comfortable as possible. - -“Why, Tommy, how did you get into my pocket?” cried Ray. - -“Jumped in, when you weren’t looking,” replied the little fellow. - -“But what will your father say?” exclaimed Ray; “they were all looking -for you in the rock.” - -“O, I’ve taken little trips before,” said Tommy, “and when I come back -my papa always says to me, ‘Tommy, a rolling stone gathers no moss.’” - -Ray laughed because he seemed such a mischievous little fellow, and as -for Tommy he rolled all around the pocket in his mirth. - -“I don’t think you ought to leave your home,” said Ray, but Tommy -replied quickly: - -“I want to see the world, and I never had a better chance than to -travel in a boy’s pocket.” - -“Well, if you are very quiet and don’t get into mischief, I’ll let you -stay for a while.” - -Ray returned to the house with Tommy Pebble safe in his pocket, and -just then Aunt Prudence called him to dinner. - -When Ray was sitting at the table he was going to tell about his -adventure with the Laughing Rock when he felt something in his mouth. -He was eating some jam, and imagine his surprise to find that Tommy -Pebble had got into the jam and was walking around the roof of his -mouth. Ray removed Tommy as quickly and quietly as possible to his -pocket and ate the rest of his dinner in silence. - -“Now, look here, Tommy,” said Ray after dinner, “don’t you ever get -into the jam again, it’s not nice at all.” Tommy began to laugh and -shake his fat little body. But he promised to be more careful in the -future. After a while Ray thought he would go to the barn, but the -minute he started something tickled the sole of his right foot. He sat -right down on the grass and took off his shoe, and there was Tommy -Pebble in his stocking grinning at him. - -“O, you rogue!” cried Ray. “How did you ever get down there?” but Tommy -only laughed while Ray put him in his pocket again. Tommy was quiet -for a long time, and it was not till bedtime that Ray remembered his -existence. When Ray was in bed and his Auntie had said good night, he -felt something between the sheets that wiggled around his toes. - -“Is that you, Tommy Pebble?” asked Ray, but there was only the sound of -laughing and Ray knew that Tommy was up to his old tricks again. - -Ray squirmed himself down to the foot of the bed and caught Tommy -Pebble. - -“I’ve a great mind to throw you out of the window,” said Ray. - -“Do,” pleaded Tommy, “I like to be out after dark.” - -Ray caught the little fellow up between his thumb and finger and tossed -him lightly out of the window. As Tommy was a Pebble of course it did -not hurt him. Ray turned over and tried to go to sleep, but it was -impossible, as Tommy was knocking on the window pane for him. - -“Come out, come out, Ray,” cried Tommy, “there’s going to be a party -to-night.” - -“What a mischievous little rogue Tommy is,” said Ray to himself, “I -won’t mind him at all,” and he turned on the other side to have a sleep. - -“If you won’t come out, please take me in, Ray,” whispered Tommy in his -most coaxing voice. “You know I’ve had the measles and the night dews -are so bad for my chest.” - -Ray could not resist this appeal, so he jumped up and put on his -clothes as quickly as possible. He stole softly out of the window and -climbed down the low shed. - -“Where are you, Tommy?” cried Ray, when his feet touched the ground. - -“Here I am,” replied Tommy, and there he stood with a tiny lantern in -his hand. - -“Where did you get that lantern?” asked Ray. - -Tommy was laughing and his eyes twinkled as he said, “A -Will-o’-the-wisp let me take it to go to the party.” - -“What party?” asked the astonished Ray. - -“Why, there’s a grand ball to-night in Jack-o’-lantern’s Hall, and -everybody is going.” - -“You can’t go,” cried Ray; but Tommy suddenly started off and ran as -fast as he could down the hill with Ray after him. - -Ray could see the flash of light from the lantern every now and -then, and he tried hard to catch Tommy. All of a sudden the lantern -disappeared, and Ray was alone in the darkness. - -All at once he became aware of two eyes staring at him, and looking up -he saw a great owl sitting on the low branch of a tree. - -“O wise owl, will you please tell me where Jack-o’-lantern’s Hall is?” -asked Ray. - -“Go over the hill to the marsh-land and you will find it, my boy,” said -the wise owl. - -“Did you see Tommy Pebble pass by with a lantern just now?” - -“They all carry lanterns who go there,” replied the owl. - -“Why don’t _you_ go to the party?” asked Ray. - -“Because I have an engagement with another party,” was the answer. - -“I hope you have a pleasant time,” remarked the boy; but the owl said -in a very solemn voice: - -“This is a business engagement with a field mouse or two; I might say -it is business and pleasure combined.” - -Just then several lanterns went past and Ray left the wise owl to -follow the flittering light. On and on he ran and never stopped until -he was quite out of breath. He found himself at the Laughing Rock, and -on top of it was Mr. Pebble, sitting cross-legged, smiling at him. - -“Where’s Tommy?” asked the jolly papa. - -“I don’t know,” replied Ray, “he’s up to some mischief very likely.” - -Then he told Mr. Pebble about Tommy’s running off to the party. Mr. -Pebble roared with laughter, and Ray found himself sitting on the rock -laughing so hard that it shook. - -All of a sudden he saw Mr. Pebble roll up his sleeves and work very -fast, while flashes like sunbeams seemed to shoot out of the rock. - -At last Ray stopped laughing and Mr. Pebble disappeared, saying -softly:--“Good supply of coal to-day.” - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THE TALKING CHAIR. - - -You would never have thought that the chair could talk if you had seen -it, and perhaps it would not have said a word for you and me, but -it certainly did for Dorothy. It was a solid wooden chair and very -old-fashioned. It had a face quaintly carved on its straight back, -and Aunt Polly thought a great deal of this old chair because it had -belonged to her great-grandmother. One day Dorothy was visiting Aunt -Polly with her best doll, Susan Ida. The little girl sat on a hassock -and put Susan Ida in the old chair in front of her. - -“How do you do, Susan?” said a voice. “I’m real glad to see you; make -yourself comfortable.” - -Dorothy looked all around to see who had been talking, but there wasn’t -a soul in sight. Then she saw the carved face on the chair smiling at -her. - -“Were you talking just now?” asked Dorothy. - -“Yes,” answered the chair, “I like to talk to little children.” - -“Do you really,” said Dorothy; “then perhaps you could tell me a story?” - -“Nothing easier,” replied the chair, “which would you prefer to hear; -‘The Enchanted Horse,’ ‘The Three Boxes,’ or ‘The Beautiful Princess -Isabelle’?” - -“O,” said Dorothy, “tell me about the beautiful Princess Isabelle.” - -“Very well,” said the chair, “you shall hear.” - -“Excuse me,” said Dorothy, “before you begin. Do you mind Susan Ida -sitting on you? She’ll be very quiet.” - -“Not at all,” was the answer, “I don’t mind being sat on,” and the -chair began the story:-- - -Once upon a time there lived a beautiful little princess whose name -was Isabelle. She had exquisite dolls, wonderful toys and lived in a -most beautiful castle. But she was not quite happy because she had no -little brother or sister or cousin to play with. She did not have even -a little friend to visit. She lived quite alone in the great castle -with the servants and sometimes she felt very lonely. Every day she -walked in the castle garden and longed for a playmate. One day as she -sat in her little summer-house she said aloud, “O, how I would like -somebody to play with.” She tapped her foot on the ground and sighed. - -All at once as she sat there a little old woman appeared before her. - -She wore a pointed hat and carried a crooked staff, and said in a -squeaky voice: - -“Well, my dear, you tapped for me; what would you like? Think a long -time before you speak, because I cannot come again for seven years.” - -But little Isabelle did not wait a moment. She said eagerly, “Give me a -playmate.” - -“You shall have one,” said the old woman, and she struck the floor -three times with her crooked stick, saying: - - “A nick, a knock, a knack. - A beak, a beck, a back. - O blow a crow to Isabelle! - And here it comes, so now farewell.” - -The old woman disappeared with a loud laugh and immediately a great -black crow flew into the summer-house. Poor little Isabelle, she -felt so disappointed that she could have cried. She had asked for a -playmate, and the wicked old woman had given her a crow. But she was -a kind good little girl as well as a beautiful princess, and she felt -sorry for the poor black crow. It looked so lonesome as it perched on -the back of a chair that Isabelle said sweetly: - -“Poor crow, I wonder what name I had better call you?” - -“Call me Thalia,” said the crow. - -“Thalia,” repeated Isabelle. “What a pretty name, where did you hear -it?” - -“It is my right name,” answered the crow, “and that wicked old woman -calls me a crow.” - -“But, Thalia,” said Isabelle, “you _look_ just like a crow.” - -“Alas! I know it,” replied the bird; “but I was once a little princess -like yourself. That old woman turned me into a crow and kept me in her -enchanted castle, until to-day, when she called me here.” - -Isabelle was very much surprised to hear Thalia’s story and said, “I -wish I could turn you back into a princess again.” - -“O, how I wish you could!” exclaimed the crow; “but as there is only -one way to do it, I fear that I can never be changed.” - -“Tell me,” said Isabelle, “the way that it can be done.” - -“If you could get the old woman’s crooked stick you could change me -back into my right shape, but you never could get the stick,” said the -crow. - -“But why not?” asked Isabelle. “Couldn’t I go to the old woman’s -enchanted castle and take the stick while she was asleep?” - -“But she never sleeps,” said the crow, “and she never lets the stick -out of her hand.” - -“Then I don’t see how we could ever get it,” cried Isabelle -sorrowfully. The poor crow looked very sad, and Isabelle was quiet for -a long time thinking hard. “I am going to try,” she cried all at once. -“I shall go to the enchanted castle and see if I can get the crooked -staff.” - -The crow shook her head saying, “I’m afraid you’ll never find the -castle, and even if you did, you could never get the crooked staff.” - -“There is nothing like trying, you know,” replied the brave little -girl; and the next morning, bright and early, the beautiful Princess -Isabelle started out on a long journey to find the old woman’s -enchanted castle. - -She walked a long distance, then she came to a little red house. -Isabelle knocked on the door and a fox with a bushy tail opened it. - -“Will you please tell me how to find the enchanted castle of the old -woman with the pointed hat and crooked staff?” asked the Princess. - -“If I tell you,” said the fox, “will you promise to come back?” - -“I promise,” answered Isabelle. - -“Turn to your right,” said the fox, “and climb the first hill you see.” - -“Thank you,” replied Isabelle, and she did just as the fox told her to -do. - -When she climbed to the top of the hill she came to another little red -house, and on knocking at the door a goat appeared. - -“Will you please tell me how to find the enchanted castle of the old -woman with the pointed hat and the crooked staff?” - -“If I tell you,” said the goat, “will you promise to come back to me?” - -“I promise,” was the answer, and the goat said: - -“Turn to your right and go up the first hill you see.” - -Isabelle thanked the goat, and followed his directions. When the top of -the second hill was reached she stood before another little red house. - -She knocked, and a green parrot came to the door. - -“Will you please tell me how to get to the enchanted castle of the old -woman with the pointed hat and the crooked staff?” asked the little -girl. - -“If I tell you, will you promise to come back?” said the parrot. - -“I promise,” said Isabelle. - -“Then be very careful,” cried the parrot, “for you are almost there. -Walk until you come to a dense woods, take the narrow path and you will -find the enchanted castle.” - -“Thank you,” returned Isabelle, and she started off in the direction of -the woods. She found the narrow path, and after walking a long way she -came to the old woman’s castle. - -At first she hid behind some bushes and looked around, but after a -while she decided to walk boldly up to the castle. She had gone but a -few steps when somebody touched her on the shoulder, and turning around -she found herself face to face with the wicked old woman of the pointed -hat and crooked staff. - -“How do you do, Isabelle?” said the old woman in a cracked voice; “and -how do you like your new playmate? Ha! ha! ha!” and she laughed aloud -and struck the ground with her crooked staff. - -Isabelle greeted the old woman politely and said, “I have heard that -you are a very powerful fairy, is it true?” - -“Indeed it is,” said the old woman very much pleased. “I can do -wonderful things.” - -[Illustration: Isabelle greeted the old woman politely and said, “I -have heard that you are a very powerful fairy; is it true?”--Page 140. -_Little Miss Dorothy_.] - -“So I have heard,” replied Isabelle, “that you can even turn people -into different shapes and animals, but I don’t believe it.” - -“It is all true,” cried the old woman, “I can prove it to you; just ask -me to change something and you will see for yourself.” - -“Well,” said Isabelle, “if you are a powerful fairy, turn your crooked -staff into a little bird.” - -“O, that is very easy,” said the old woman, and she swung her staff -around her head three times saying:-- - - “O crooked staff, become a bird, - And let thy tuneful voice be heard; - Fly all about the trees and land, - Then light on Isabelle’s fair hand.” - -In the twinkling of an eye the crooked staff had disappeared and a -little yellow bird began to fly over their heads, singing all the time. - -Isabelle watched it as it flew over the trees and all at once it came -right down into her hand. - -“Now,” said the old woman, “do you believe my power?” - -“It is wonderful,” replied Isabelle, “but can you turn the bird back to -the crooked staff?” - -“Certainly, I have but to wet my fingers and touch the bird; see----” - -Now Isabelle was on the alert and the minute the old woman touched the -bird the little Princess held on to it with all her might. The bird -changed to the crooked staff in her hand and she had it at last. - -“You see that I am a powerful fairy,” said the old woman, “and now give -me my crooked staff.” - -“Not so fast,” replied Isabelle, “I have it and I mean to do some good -with it.” - -The old woman was terribly angry when she saw how foolishly she had -lost her crooked staff, and promised everything to Isabelle if she -would give it up. But the little Princess would not let go of the -crooked staff for anything. - -Then the wicked old woman began to threaten and Isabelle waved the -wonderful staff and said: - -“I want this old woman to return to her castle and stay there forever.” - -Instantly the old woman disappeared and was never seen again. - -Isabelle walked out of the woods and retraced her steps as fast as she -could to the green parrot’s house. - -The parrot was waiting at the door and the minute Isabelle appeared -said, “Touch me with the crooked staff.” - -Isabelle touched the green parrot lightly and all at once the bird had -disappeared and in its place stood a beautiful queen. - -“Thank you, Isabelle,” said the lovely lady. “You have saved me from a -terrible fate.” - -“I am very glad to be able to do so,” replied the Princess. “Tell me -how this dreadful thing happened.” - -“I was a queen beloved of all my people, but one day the wicked old -woman with the pointed hat and the crooked staff turned me into a -parrot. I was then transported to this little red house, and I have -never seen my husband the king or my two children since.” - -“Come with me,” said Isabelle; “perhaps we can find them.” - -They hurried to the next little red house and the goat was already -waiting for them. Without a word Isabelle touched the goat with the -crooked staff and it changed into a handsome man. - -“My husband the king,” said the happy queen, and they embraced each -other with tears of joy. - -“Now we have one more little red house to visit,” cried Isabelle, and -they all walked rapidly until they reached the third little red house. - -The instant they appeared the fox came out of the house, and in a -shorter time than I can tell you Isabelle, by means of the crooked -staff, had turned the fox into a beautiful little boy who ran to the -king and queen, calling them “papa” and “mamma.” - -“Our dear child,” cried the queen, “how glad we are to have you with us -again! If we could only see our lovely Thalia once more!” - -“‘Thalia,’ did you say?” asked Isabelle. - -“Yes,” replied the king, “she was our little daughter. But, alas! we do -not even know of her existence.” - -Isabelle smiled when she thought of the pleasant surprise she had in -store for her new friends. She waved the crooked staff and wished -that she, with the king, queen, and boy might be transported to the -summer-house in her own garden. In a second they were all there, and -the very first thing they saw was the black crow perched on the chair. - -“Dearest Thalia,” said Isabelle, at the same time waving the crooked -staff, “become thy beautiful self again.” - -O what a wonderful change! In place of the poor black crow stood a -lovely little girl. She kissed her father and mother and threw her arms -around her brother’s neck. - -Words would fail to tell how much they all loved the beautiful little -Princess Isabelle. - -But she was very happy, because she had gained two little playmates, -Thalia and her brother. - -The king and queen decided to live in Isabelle’s castle, so you see she -was never lonely again. - -“Thank you,” said Dorothy, when the Talking Chair had finished the -story. - -“Will you tell me another story some time?” - -“With pleasure, my dear,” said the chair, and the carved face smiled at -Dorothy. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -THE ENCHANTED HORSE. - - -Dorothy May had told her cousin Ray about the Talking Chair, and the -very next time he went to visit Aunt Polly, Ray sat in the chair and -asked for a story. - -“Won’t you please tell me about the enchanted horse?” said Ray. - -The Talking Chair gave a low laugh, saying: - -“How would you like to have the enchanted horse yourself, Ray?” - -“O, that would be fine!” exclaimed Ray. - -“Then do as I tell you and you will find it,” said the Talking Chair. - -“First close your eyes, now take a deep breath; when I count ten open -your eyes and go wherever you please.” - -Ray did exactly as the Talking Chair directed, and when he opened his -eyes he found himself in a strange country. He started to walk across -a field and met a beautiful little boy. - -The boy smiled at Ray and said, “My name is Stanzill, I am the keeper -of the enchanted horse.” - -“Are you?” exclaimed Ray. “How I would like to see it!” - -“You may see it and have it for your own if you can guess my riddle.” - -“Let me hear it,” said Ray, and Stanzill began: - - “I waded in the brook one day - And saw a little boy at play. - I smiled at him, he smiled at me; - I clapped my hands, and so did he. - Then out I ran, nor stopped until - I reached the round tower on the hill. - I called to him. ‘Hello!’ I said; - ‘Hello!’ he answered overhead. - His name, pray tell what can it be, - The boy who looks and talks like me.” - -Ray had heard riddles before but he was not very good at guessing them. - -“Will you please say it once more?” said Ray, and Stanzill smiled and -repeated the riddle. - -“Now be very careful,” said Stanzill, “because you only have three -guesses.” - -“Is it a fish?” asked Ray. Stanzill shook his head. - -“Is it a bird?” - -Again Stanzill shook his head and said, “Now you have just one more -guess, if you wish I can tell you the right answer, but if I do, you -can never see the enchanted horse.” - -“Then don’t tell me,” said Ray. “I’ll try very hard to guess it this -time.” - -“You may have a day to guess it,” said Stanzill. “I shall leave you -now, but to-morrow meet me at this spot; if you have the answer, you -shall have the enchanted horse; if not, you will never see me again.” - -Stanzill disappeared and Ray sat on the grass to think of the answer to -the riddle. He repeated the words of the riddle slowly. - -“What can it be?” said Ray to himself, and looking up he chanced to see -a pond of water in the center of the field. He ran over to the pond -and taking off his shoes and stockings he waded in the edge of the -pond. The water was smooth as glass, and all of a sudden Ray saw his -own image reflected in the shining surface. Ray smiled and his shadow -smiled back, then he clapped his hands and the boy in the pond did the -same. - -“Now I know,” said Ray, and he jumped out of the water and put on -his shoes and stockings. He started to run and never stopped till he -reached a stone tower on a hill. Ray ran into the tower and shouted -“Hello!” “Hello!” shouted the echo, “I am Ray,” shouted the boy “I am -Ray,” shouted the echo. - -Ray was delighted; he ran out of the tower and down the hill to -wait for Stanzill. In a few moments he saw the boy appear. Stanzill -approached and said: - - “I waded in the pond one day - And saw a little boy at play. - I smiled at him, he smiled at me; - I clapped my hands, and so did he. - Then out I ran, nor stopped until - I reached the round tower on the hill. - I called to him. ‘Hello!’ I said. - ‘Hello!’ he shouted overhead. - His name, pray tell what can it be, - The boy who looks and talks like me.” - -“Your shadow and echo, his name is Stanzill,” answered Ray. - -“You are right,” said the stranger, “and you shall have the wonderful -enchanted horse.” - -“Shall I have it to keep for my own?” asked Ray. - -“It shall be yours forever if you remember one thing,” said Stanzill. - -“It is a fairy horse, as you know, and can do all things; but when once -on its back, you must never look behind--if you do, it will be lost to -you forever.” - -So saying Stanzill disappeared and in his place stood a beautiful -white horse, just tall enough for Ray. After stroking the handsome -horse, he swung himself into the saddle. “Away to fairyland,” said Ray, -waving his hand. - -Right up into the air rose the enchanted horse, with Ray on his back, -and swift as thought he flew through the air. Over the fair land to the -other end of the earth went the horse, and then came down so that Ray -could look about. It was midday in fairyland and many of the fairies -were asleep on the bosom of the flowers. Others were sailing past on -silvery clouds, and on the leaves of an aspen tree near by Ray saw -several fairies playing see-saw. It was all very still and dreamy at -midday in fairyland and Ray was afraid he would fall asleep if he -remained, so he jumped on the enchanted horse, and said, “Away to the -Ice King’s country.” - -Again the horse rose in the air and followed the course of the north -wind. The air was sharp and cold, and sometimes they passed through -places where snow was falling. At last Ray looked down and beheld a -country of snow-fields and ice castles. He saw stretches of cold blue -water where immense icebergs moved like floating mountains. - -Great white bears roamed over the snow-fields and seals and walrus -floated on the icebergs. It was all very beautiful, but piercing cold, -and Ray did not dismount. - -“I think we had better start for a warmer climate,” said Ray, leaning -forward and stroking the horse. “I would like to go to the end of the -rainbow,” he whispered softly. - -No sooner did he say the words than the enchanted horse turned and -started south. It was a very wonderful ride, and Ray saw many strange -sights, but when he reached the country at the end of the rainbow he -dismounted and was lost in admiration. He had always heard that there -were bags full of gold at the end of the rainbow, but in reality he -found that the streets were paved with gold and silver, inlaid with -precious stones. The sun tinted the fields with the blue of the midday -sky and the hills with the rose color of the twilight. The flowers -looked like our own beautiful ones, the only difference being, that -when you plucked them from the stem, they hardened into permanent -shapes of beauty and the heart of each flower showed a beautiful gem. - -In the center of every rose a drop of dew had crystallized into a -sparkling diamond, while every lily contained a pearl of priceless -beauty hidden in its bosom. - -“The end of the rainbow is the loveliest place in the world,” exclaimed -Ray; “but now I must visit some other place. I think that I would like -to visit the clouds,” he said, and in a second he was on the back of -the horse and up he rose into the balmy air toward the clouds. - -He passed a great gray cloud castle that was moving very rapidly. He -watched its great domes and towers and suddenly a giant appeared on -the castle wall. “I am the Rain Giant,” said he, but before Ray could -speak, the giant on the castle wall had passed, and Ray remembered that -he must not look behind. - -Suddenly another castle was seen approaching and over the great -entrance it read, “Castle of the Thunder Giant.” The noise around the -castle was almost deafening, and Ray saw two great giants in the castle -garden fencing with golden swords. Every time their swords clashed a -streak of lightning went through the sky. Ray moved so fast on the -enchanted horse, that the thunder castle was soon far behind. Away in -the distance Ray could see something that looked like a ball of fire. -Suddenly the horse stopped and Ray jumped off, and stood on a cloud -hill. Just then he caught sight of a beautiful little girl who was -hiding behind a soft white cloud. Ray tried to catch her, but she ran -in and out and he had to chase her a long time before he could get her. - -“What is your name?” asked Ray. - -“They call me Sunbeam,” replied the little girl. - -“What do you do all day?” asked Ray, and little Sunbeam replied: - -“All the good I can.” - -“But were you not playing when I came along?” said Ray. - -“Yes,” replied Sunbeam, “but it was to make some one else happy. Look -down,” and she pointed to the earth. - -Ray looked and saw a little boy with a white face lying in a bed. He -was watching with sad eyes a corner of his little room. Suddenly a -smile broke over his face, and Ray saw Sunbeam playing hide-and-seek in -the very corner, and the sick boy’s face brightened and he forgot his -pain. - -“I steal into dark places to lighten them,” said Sunbeam, “and -sometimes I steal into people’s hearts that are darker than the -places.” - -“I think _I_ would like to be a sunbeam!” exclaimed Ray. - -“But you are,” said his companion. “All little children are sunbeams, -and when they show smiling faces and willing hands they bring happiness -to everybody.” - -When she said these words she darted off and Ray mounted his horse and -continued his journey. - -“Now I want to visit the country where all the bad giants live,” said -Ray, and once more the enchanted horse headed his course for a new -journey. - -This journey was very exciting, because they passed witches and goblins -on the road and some of them attempted to follow Ray. His horse went -like the wind and Ray was not afraid until all at once he saw an old -woman mounted on a broomstick coming toward him. He quickly turned -his horse’s head the other way and was soon ahead of the witch on the -broomstick. - -But Ray could hear her laugh behind him and suddenly she called out in -a cracked voice, “Come, goblins; come, witches, let us all join in the -merry chase.” - -Faster and faster flew the enchanted horse, but Ray could hear the loud -voices and laughter close behind. He grew frightened and forgot that -he should not look behind. With his horse going like mad, he suddenly -turned around and looked back. The old woman on the broomstick gave a -loud laugh, and all at once disappeared. Ray rubbed his eyes and looked -around him. The enchanted horse was gone and his rider was sitting safe -and sound in the Talking Chair. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -THE THREE BOXES. - - -Dorothy climbed on the Talking Chair and sat with her back to the -quaintly carved face. She turned her head and whispered: - -“Please tell me another story, like a good chair.” - -“Which shall it be to-day?” asked the chair. - -“O, tell me about ‘The Three Boxes’!” exclaimed Dorothy, “I have been -thinking about them.” - -“Listen, I’ll begin,” said the chair:-- - -Once upon a time in a beautiful castle lived a prince. He was honest, -brave and as wise as he was handsome. His name was Prince Charming, and -everybody loved him. There was only one thing that his people desired -him to do, and that was to give them a queen. But although beautiful -maidens lived in his country and many a lovely princess had visited -his castle, he had never seen one that he cared to make queen. - -One day at a grand fête his greatest captain said to him: - -“Ah! Prince Charming, your people love you, but they are disappointed -because there is no queen to welcome them.” - -“I must have a queen,” replied the prince, “and to-morrow I shall start -on a long journey. I will visit all the kingdoms on the earth to find a -queen that I can truly love.” - -The next morning he started out alone on his long journey. Taking the -path that led to the woods he walked quickly. He had gone but a short -distance when he was surprised by loud voices, and through an opening -in the trees he beheld two men about to rush on each other with drawn -swords. Prince Charming stepped out and stood before the angry men. - -“Halt! I command you,” he said, and the men seeing their Prince -dropped back and put up their swords. - -[Illustration: “Halt! I command you,” he said, and the men, seeing -their Prince, dropped back and put up their swords.--Page 161. _Little -Miss Dorothy._] - -“Tell me why you quarrel?” asked the Prince. - -“We were walking through the woods,” said one of the men, “and I spied -a purse of gold in the mud of yonder thicket. I told my companion and -we started to run for the purse. On the way my foot got caught in a -trap and I could not move. My friend here got the purse and then came -back and helped me out of the trap, but he will not give up the purse -to me.” - -“Nor should he do so,” said the Prince. “It is true that you saw the -purse, but it was your friend who dug it out of the mud. You must both -go to my captain and tell him about the purse. He will try to find the -owner, but if no one appears to claim the purse, you shall divide the -gold between you, and each have an equal share.” - -The men promised to obey their Prince and they went on their way in -friendship, well satisfied. - -A little farther on in the woods Prince Charming came suddenly on two -old women who were quarreling about a young goat. They stopped when -they saw the Prince approach and one of them said, “O Prince, the kid -is mine, and I must have it.” - -“Nay, good Prince,” said the other, “the kid is mine and I need it -much.” - -The Prince turned to the old woman who had spoken first and said: - -“Prove to me that the kid is thine.” - -“I live in yonder cottage,” said the old woman, “with a pig and a cow -and a brood of little chicks. This kid gives me milk and it is mine.” - -“Now,” said the Prince to the other old woman, “how canst thou prove -the kid is thine?” - -“Alas!” said the poor old woman, “I can only say that it is mine. I -live in the cottage beside this dame. I have neither pig nor cow, but a -little garden and this good kid. It feeds from my hand and comes to me -when I call its name.” - -“I shall buy the kid and carry it far away with me,” said the Prince. -“How much will you ask for it?” - -“O,” said the first old woman, rubbing her hands, “I will sell it to -thee for a piece of gold.” - -“How much do _you_ ask for it?” said Prince Charming to the second old -woman. - -She took the corner of her apron and wiped the tears from her kind -eyes. “I will not sell my kid,” she said. “It is all I have. I love the -gentle creature and rather than have it go far away I will let this -dame keep it.” - -“I see that the kid is yours and you shall have it,” said the Prince. -“Take it and go thy way.” - -“As for you, wicked old woman, tell me the truth at once.” - -Whereupon the greedy old woman began to mumble excuses, but the Prince -was very angry and said: - -“You have a pig and a cow and yet are so grasping that you would take -the kid of your neighbor; now if you are not more honest I will put -thee in my great prison.” - -The Prince continued his way and deep in the woods he met a boy -gathering fagots. He was working very hard and would not stop a second. - -“Why do you work so fast?” said the Prince. - -“Because my master is waiting,” answered the boy, “and if I am not back -at a certain time he will be angry and beat me.” - -The Prince helped the boy gather the fagots and when the basket was -filled he carried it through the woods. As they approached the cruel -master’s house the Prince said to the boy: - -“Go thou and hide behind that woodpile and I will see thy master.” - -Prince Charming knocked on the door and the cruel master appeared. - -“I want a boy,” said the Prince. “Dost thou know of one to travel with -me?” - -“No, Prince,” was the answer. “I have one, but he is lazy and does not -earn his bread and butter.” - -“Then I will take him,” said the Prince. “If he were a help I would not -rob thee of his good service, but as he is lazy I will take him off thy -hands.” - -The cruel master began to stammer and stutter. - -“Alas! Prince, I beg you to forgive me. He is a most worthy boy and -helps me very much. You would not take him away from me?” - -“Thou art a cruel master,” said the Prince, “and thou hast spoken an -untruth of the boy.” - -The master trembled when he saw the Prince angry and he begged for -mercy. - -“This much mercy I will have for thee,” said the Prince, “from this day -thou shalt treat the boy with all kindness. I will leave him here and -he will help thee fairly, but on my return I will come and if thou hast -been cruel or neglectful I will put thee in my great prison.” - -The Prince then continued his journey and was soon in the heart of the -forest. When night came he spread his cloak on the ground and slept -under a great oak, and the fairies watched over him because he was good -and they loved him. The next morning he was awakened by the joyous -singing of the birds. He took some bread and cheese from his wallet, -and when he had eaten, he arose to go on his way. Suddenly there -appeared before him a beautiful fairy. The Prince made a low courtesy -to the fairy, who smiled at him and held three small boxes in her hand. - -“Prince Charming,” said the fairy, “these boxes are a gift from -the fairies, continue thy journey until you reach a great castle -surrounded by a high wall. Stop at this high wall and open these boxes, -they will help you find your queen.” - -“Thank you, beautiful fairy,” said Prince Charming, and he took the -three boxes and carefully placed them in his pocket. - -The fairy disappeared, and the Prince walked on his way. All that day -he traveled over hill and dale, and when night came he slept in the -cottage of an old woman. The next morning he gave the old woman a piece -of gold and started out again. He had gone a long distance when he saw -before him a great castle surrounded by a wall of stone. - -The wall was so high that you could only see the top of the castle. The -Prince walked all around the stone wall, but there was no gate, and he -wondered how he was going to climb it. Suddenly he remembered the fairy -boxes and he took one out of his pocket. On opening the box he found a -tiny brown seed and under it was written in very small letters the word -“_plant_.” - -The Prince took the brown seed and put it in the ground close to the -stone wall, covering it lightly with the soft earth. All at once a -small sprout appeared, which began to grow larger and larger, coiling -itself against the stone wall and spreading like a great vine, thick -and strong. In a few minutes it had grown to the top of the great wall -and its stalk was so large that the Prince could easily climb it. - -It did not take him very long to get over the high wall by means of -the fairy vine. When he was safe on the other side he found himself in -the pathway of a beautiful garden. He walked along till he came to the -great door of the castle, where he knocked loudly, but no one came. He -knocked again and again, and still nobody opened the door. Just then -he thought of the fairy boxes, and he took the second one out of his -pocket. He opened it and found a tiny key and under it read the word -“_unlock_.” - -He immediately tried the key, and in a second the castle door flew open -and he walked in. A powerful king was sitting on the throne in a large -hall and he welcomed Prince Charming, who told his errand. - -“I have three daughters,” said the King, “and you can choose for -yourself. It would be a great honor to have you make one of them your -queen.” - -“May I see your daughters?” asked the Prince. - -“Yes,” said the King; “they are somewhere about the castle, but I -will have them here at once.” The king blew a trumpet and suddenly a -beautiful princess appeared and walked to her father’s throne. - -“This is the Princess Vanity,” said the King, and Prince Charming bowed -low to the beautiful girl, who made a graceful courtesy. - -“How lovely she is!” thought the Prince, but just then another princess -appeared and the King said, “This is the Princess Haughty.” She bowed -and held three fingers to the Prince, who was charmed with her stately -beauty. “And here is my third little daughter,” said the King, as a -beautiful golden-haired maiden tripped up to the throne, with a face as -smiling as a sunbeam, “the Princess Goodness.” - -What a pleasant greeting she gave Prince Charming and how sweet and low -her voice! - -“Now, Prince,” said the King, “I hope you will be our guest for a long -time and my daughters will entertain you.” - -The Prince thanked the King, and was soon enjoying the company of the -three beautiful daughters. As the days went on it was hard to make up -his mind which was the most beautiful of the three girls, and one night -when the Prince was sitting in his chamber he thought he was in love -with all three of them. “But I cannot marry all of them. I can only -take one for my queen,” said he, and he was puzzled. - -Suddenly he thought of the third box in his pocket, and he took it -out and quickly opened it. Inside there was a beautiful gold ring and -underneath was written - - “She whose finger I fit right - Is your queen, your heart’s delight.” - -Prince Charming smiled and placed the ring carefully in his pocket. - -The next morning as he strolled through the castle he caught sight of -Princess Vanity in her parlor. The Prince tapped gently and entered, -but she was so intently admiring herself in the glass that she never -saw the Prince. She was bedecked and beribboned with jewels and laces, -and she smirked and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. - -“Hem!” coughed Prince Charming to attract her attention, but she never -heard him. “Hem-em” coughed the Prince very loud, and Princess Vanity -turned quickly. - -“Why, Prince, how you surprised me!” and she gave him one of the -smiles that she had been practising for several minutes. - -“My beautiful Princess, I do not wish to disturb you, but will you let -me see your left hand.” - -She smilingly held up her hand and he tried on the fairy ring, but it -would not fit and the Prince bowed and left her. - -“How glad I am that it is not the Princess Vanity,” said Prince -Charming. “She is beautiful but that is all.” - -Suddenly as he walked along he saw Princess Haughty. She was just going -up-stairs and never a pleasant good morning did she say to her women -who were standing about. - -Prince Charming followed quickly and overtook Princess Haughty on the -stairs. - -“Will you please try on this ring?” asked the handsome Prince. - -She took it in her finger-tips and tried it on, but it would not fit -her at all, and she returned it to Prince Charming with a sneer on her -beautiful face. - -The Prince thanked her and hurried off, knowing in his heart that he -was glad. - -“Her heart is proud and she is cold; I do not want a queen like that,” -said the Prince to himself. - -“Now to find Goodness, and if the ring does not fit her I must continue -my journey, for I am bound to bring a queen home to my people.” - -He looked all over the castle, but could not find the Princess -Goodness. He went into the garden, and just as he turned into a path he -caught a glimpse of her. The Prince watched her through some bushes and -saw that she was helping an old woman to carry a heavy basket, and her -cheery voice was like sweet music to Prince Charming’s ear. - -The Prince stepped out and took the basket, which he carried to the -castle. When he returned to the garden the Princess Goodness was -gathering flowers. She held a beautiful rose in her hand, and said to -the Prince: “Is it not lovely?” Then she gave it to him. - -“It is not half as lovely as yourself,” whispered Prince Charming, and -he caught the little hand of the Princess. He slipped the ring out of -his pocket and on to her finger, which it fitted perfectly. - -Prince Charming bent his handsome head and kissed Princess Goodness, -saying softly:--“My Queen.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE TWO BROTHERS. - - -One afternoon the face on the Talking Chair smiled at Ray, who was -sitting on the floor. - -“A story?” whispered the Talking Chair. - -“Yes, if you please,” replied Ray, and he sat very still while the -Talking Chair began:-- - -Once upon a time in a distant land there lived two brothers whose names -were Mansur and Elrick. When they reached a certain age they wanted to -travel and see the world, so they went to their father, who was the -king, and asked him if they could go. - -“No doubt you would like to reach King Fortune’s country,” said their -father. - -“That we would, Sire,” replied Mansur; “will you please tell us how to -get there?” - -“Before I do that,” returned the king, “let me tell you that many have -started for King Fortune’s country who have never reached it.” - -“And why?” questioned the brothers. - -“Because the road is long and beset with dangers.” - -“We are not afraid to try it,” said Mansur, bravely. - -“Then, my boys, take the road straight ahead, keep going forward, and -remember these words: Be brave, honest, and never give up.” - -Then the King gave each of the brothers a sword, an ax, and a purse of -gold, and they started on their journey. - -They walked all day and towards night entered a deep forest. - -“Where can we sleep?” asked Elrick. “There is no place in these woods; -let us go back.” - -“We will never go back for such a small thing as that,” said Mansur, -and he started to make a bed of dry leaves. In a few minutes the -bed was made, and very soft and comfortable it seemed to the tired -travelers. - -The brothers slept soundly, but just as morning broke, they were -awakened by a terrible roar. They jumped to their feet and in the -distance, coming toward them, was a great lion with eyes like balls of -fire. - -“We shall be eaten by the lion,” cried Elrick, and he trembled where he -stood. - -“Draw your sword,” said Mansur. - -“What good will that do?” replied Elrick. “We are no match for a lion.” - -“I shall fight for my life,” returned Mansur, and with the words the -lion approached and made a spring, but Mansur was all ready for him, -and the brave boy plunged his good sword into the very heart of the -lion, who rolled at his feet dead. - -The brothers continued their journey and were soon out of the forest. -Suddenly they came to a great lake and there was neither boat nor -craft of any kind to take them across. - -“What shall we do?” exclaimed Elrick. “There is no way to get across -the lake.” - -“We must try,” said Mansur, and he took his ax and began to cut down -some trees. - -When he had enough he trimmed off all the branches, and tied them -together, making a very good raft. In a short time they had crossed the -lake and were on land again. - -They journeyed on until they came to a high mountain, where they sat -down to rest. They bought some bread from an old woman, and while they -were eating it Elrick said: - -“I am tired of traveling. This mountain is too high to climb, let us go -back.” - -“Never,” replied his brother, “until I have reached King Fortune’s -country.” So saying he arose and started to climb the high mountain. - -Elrick followed slowly and murmured all the way, but Mansur kept right -on without a word of complaint. They had gone about half way up -the mountain when all at once they fell, and before they could stop -themselves, they rolled over and over down the mountain side and never -stopped until they reached its base. - -“It is too bad,” exclaimed Elrick, picking himself up, “when we were -so far up the mountain, to fall. I am not going to climb it again, are -you?” - -“Yes, indeed I am,” replied Mansur, and began to climb the steep -mountain again as fast as he could. - -Elrick did not want to do it, but he felt a little ashamed when he saw -his brother, so he arose and followed him. - -On and on they struggled, it was very hard work and they were both -tired. They had almost reached the top of the mountain, when they -stumbled and once more they fell, rolling over and over, and never -stopped until they were in their old place at the very foot of the -mountain. - -“That is truly discouraging,” said Elrick, “and I for one will not try -again.” - -“Then I must climb it alone,” said Mansur. “I am bound to get over this -mountain.” - -“But I am sure you cannot,” replied Elrick. - -“I’ll try,” said Mansur, and he started all over again. - -Elrick grumbled all the way, but after a long tiresome journey they -reached the top. It did not take them very long to go down the other -side of the mountain, and they saw a river before them. - -Elrick sat on the bank and wondered how he was going to get across, -while Mansur took off his clothes and having made them into a bundle -tied it on his head and swam across the river. - -“I’m afraid,” said Elrick. “I think I’ll turn back, there are too many -hard places to go over to reach King Fortune’s country.” - -“Come on!” shouted Mansur. “You haven’t tried yet.” - -But faint-hearted Elrick turned his footsteps homeward and was soon -out of sight. Mansur continued his journey alone amid many a danger -and hardship. Sometimes it was high mountains to climb, at other times -there were wide rivers to cross. Often he met wild animals and had to -fight for his life, and very often wicked people tried to lure him from -the right path. Throughout it all Mansur was brave, honest and hopeful; -his favorite motto was, “I’ll try,” and in spite of rough places he -always succeeded. The purse of gold that his father had given him was -empty, and he had to work for his food and sleep on the roadside. - -One day as he journeyed on he met an old man, who greeted him -pleasantly. - -“Will you tell me, good sire, how far it is to King Fortune’s country?” -questioned Mansur. - -“You are almost there,” replied the old man. “You have only to travel -through that forest.” He pointed to a stretch of woods just ahead of -them and Mansur said joyfully, “I am glad it is so near, for I have -traveled far.” - -“Ah! my son,” said the old man, “the hardest part of the journey is -still before you.” - -“How can that be?” asked Mansur; “the wood is not large and I will soon -be out of it.” - -“It is the abode of three terrible giants,” said the old man, “and they -will surely kill you. It would be death to go through that wood.” - -“I’ll try,” was the answer, and the brave Mansur started for the wood. - -He walked very cautiously, looking to the right and left, but saw no -sign of the giants. When night came he slept in the midst of some -bushes and as he closed his eyes he wondered if the giants would find -him. Early the next morning he arose and when he had eaten some berries -and a slice of bread he continued his way through the wood. Suddenly he -spied in the distance an immense giant coming toward him. - -The giant was looking on the ground and had not seen Mansur, who quick -as a flash climbed a tree and was hidden among its branches. - -Mansur did not get out of the way a minute too soon, because the giant -approached with heavy steps. He passed right under the tree where -Mansur was hiding, and the boy had a good look at him. - -The most remarkable thing about the giant was his hair. It was pale -green in color and gave him a most weird and terrible aspect. - -When the giant was out of sight Mansur stole softly down from the tree. -He looked all around and suddenly his eye caught sight of a stout cord. -The boy took the cord and quickly climbed into the tree again saying, -“Now I’ve got him if he comes back.” - -In a very few minutes the terrible giant with the green hair was seen -returning. He was looking eagerly on the ground as if he saw footsteps. - -When he reached the tree where Mansur was hiding he began to sniff the -air like an animal. All at once Mansur let down the noose that he had -made in the cord and slipped it over the giant’s head. Before he knew -it the green-haired monster was caught and held fast. The boy then drew -the cord around a strong branch of the tree and the bad giant was left -hanging there. - -“There is one gone,” said Mansur to himself, and he went on his way. - -Suddenly as he walked along a strange sight met his eyes. Right before -him, stretched on the grass, asleep, was a monster with blue hair. He -was larger than the green-haired giant and so ugly even in his sleep, -that Mansur trembled. - -Our hero stood perfectly still and looked around. In order to go on -his way he would have to step over the giant. “I’ll do it,” said -Mansur; and drawing his sword he stepped on the giant’s silver belt. -The blue-haired monster opened his eyes and was just going to jump when -Mansur plunged his sword into the bad giant’s heart. “There are two of -them gone,” said Mansur; “I wonder what the third is like.” - -He traveled on till he came to a great castle, in the very heart of the -forest, and as he was hungry he went up to the great door and knocked. -A terrible voice asked: - -“Who is there?” - -“Mansur,” was the reply. - -“Enter,” said the terrible voice. - -The great door flew open and Mansur entered. He found himself in the -presence of the most fearful monster of all. His great head was covered -with a tangled mass of purple hair and he was dreadful to behold. - -The purple-haired giant was sitting on a great throne, and he glared at -Mansur, saying in a voice of thunder: “How did you pass my brothers?” - -Mansur made a low bow and said: “You had better ask them, you will find -them in the path.” - -“What!” roared the giant, “do you mean to say that my brothers saw you?” - -“Indeed they did,” replied Mansur, “as plainly as you do.” - -“Then I will kill them _first_,” said the purple-haired giant. “They -have disobeyed me and they must die.” - -“In what way have they disobeyed you?” asked the boy. - -“No human being,” roared the giant, “must pass through this forest to -King Fortune’s country. It was my command; you shall die, but I will -first destroy them.” He crossed the room with a terrible stride and -slammed the door as he went out. - -“Now is my chance,” said Mansur and he tried to open the door, but it -was locked fast. He ran to the windows but they had iron bars across -them and he knew that he was a prisoner. - -“Alas!” cried Mansur, “if he returns he will kill me in the twinkling -of an eye. I must try to get out, I must try.” - -He saw a heavy curtain at the end of the room. He drew it aside and saw -that it hid a great door. Our brave little hero opened the door and saw -a long flight of stairs, which he began to climb as fast as he could. -Higher and higher he went. It seemed as if they would never end; but at -last he reached the very top and saw a great iron door. He opened it -quickly and found himself in the giants’ treasure room filled with gold -and silver. - -“Where can I go now?” exclaimed Mansur, looking in vain for a door. - -“Here,” said a voice, and Mansur turned and beheld a beautiful fairy. - -She touched the wall and it suddenly opened and the boy was safe. - -He was in a beautiful room and the fairy said: “The purple-haired giant -does not know of this room, so he can never find you here.” - -“I thank you, beautiful fairy,” said Mansur, and he dropped on his knee -like the brave knight that he was. - -“Arise,” said the fairy; “you deserve all help, because you always -try, and are brave and honest. But you are not yet out of danger,” she -continued. “This purple-haired giant is such a powerful monster that no -one has ever escaped him. Kings and brave knights have come to fight -him with wonderful swords and battle axes only to meet defeat.” - -Mansur pointed to his own trusty sword and said: “Yet I have had -success with this.” - -“That is true,” said the fairy; “but you must know that no sword -or instrument of any kind can kill this monster, and when he has -discovered that his brothers are dead he will tear you to pieces if he -sees you.” - -“Then what can I do?” asked Mansur. - -“There is just one way to kill the purple giant.” - -“And that?” asked Mansur eagerly. - -“To let him see his own face in a mirror,” said the fairy. “There is -nothing of the kind in this castle or forest, but, if he once sees his -own terrible countenance he will be destroyed forever. - -“Now, Mansur,” continued the fairy, “you will hide in this room until -it is dark. Then steal softly out of the castle and go to the edge of -the woods, where you will find a mirror; return with it and everything -in this castle shall be yours and there is something here far more -precious than gold or silver.” - -The fairy disappeared, and all at once Mansur heard a beautiful voice -in another part of the castle, singing a sweet sad song. - -Suddenly the voice stopped, there was a terrible noise and he knew -that the giant had returned. Putting his ear to the wall, Mansur could -hear the monster climbing the stairs. Nearer and nearer sounded the -footsteps, and at last the giant stood in his treasure room. “Where is -he, where is the pigmy, till I grind him to pieces!” roared the giant. -He knocked over bags of gold in his rage, but at last he gave up the -search and went to look in other places. Mansur waited patiently until -darkness came, and then he heard three little taps, the wall opened, -and he stepped out and stole softly down the long stairs. In a few -minutes he was out of the castle and he hurried through the woods. -Early the next morning he reached the edge of it where he found a large -looking-glass. - -“Now if I only had a swift horse I would fly to the giant’s castle,” -thought Mansur, and no sooner did he have the wish than a beautiful -white horse stood beside him. Mansur mounted the noble steed and -holding the mirror before him headed for the forest. The white horse -went like the wind, and in a short time the giant’s castle appeared in -sight. - -“We will be there very soon,” said Mansur, and just then the -purple-haired giant came in sight. The monster was walking in the path, -ahead, and turning suddenly he beheld Mansur. The giant gave a terrible -roar and dashed forward to meet the boy, but just as he came up Mansur -held the mirror before the giant’s face. For a minute the monster gazed -into the glass that reflected his own horrible countenance, then he -staggered backward and fell to the ground with a groan, dead. - -“Hurrah!” shouted Mansur as he jumped off the horse and ran to the -castle. “Now I shall find out who has the sweet, sad voice.” - -He ran into every room and at last came to a beautiful chamber where he -found a princess as fair as the morning. - -“Have you come to save me?” asked the princess. - -Mansur bowed and laid his sword at her feet saying, “Command me, fair -lady, and I obey.” - -“O, take me to my father, King Fortune,” said the princess. “The wicked -giant who lives in this castle brought me here, and every year my -father has to pay him with bags of gold or the monster will kill me.” - -“He will never harm thee more,” said Mansur. “Come, fair princess,” and -he led her to his white charger that bore them safely to her father. - -King Fortune rejoiced to see his daughter. When he heard that the three -terrible giants were dead he praised Mansur for the bravest knight in -the world. King Fortune sent his men to the giant’s castle and they got -all the treasure. But he gave Mansur all the gold that he wanted, and, -what was far more precious, his beautiful daughter. - -Mansur thanked King Fortune and said, “Now I am satisfied. I have -traveled and seen the world, so I will return to my own country with -thee, my beautiful princess.” - - “And o’er the hills and far away - Beyond their utmost purple rim, - Beyond the night, across the day, - Thro’ all the world she followed him!” - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -LITTLE MISS HELPFUL. - - -“You tell such good stories,” said Dorothy, “I would like very much to -hear one to-day.” - -The chair laughed merrily and said: “I think I will tell you about -Little Miss Helpful.” - -Little Miss Helpful was a dear little girl, who lived in a dear little -cottage with a dear little grandmother. In front of the cottage was -a pretty garden, with balsams and four-o’clocks and lazy hollyhocks -basking in the sunshine. There was also a little bed of crisp lettuce, -another of tender string beans, and best of all, a strawberry patch. - -In the back of the cottage was a large yard where a busy mother hen and -a brood of twelve downy chicks scratched and chuckled all day long. -The little girl that I am going to tell you about was no larger than -yourself, but she was such an industrious little body that every one -called her Little Miss Helpful. While the chicks were just toddling -about in the yard, she would sit and watch them because a certain black -cat in the neighborhood had his eye on them and longed to get one for -his dinner. Sometimes she hemmed a kerchief, or made a little duster -while she was “minding” the chickens, and sometimes she read fairy -stories all by herself. Every day she managed to get a few minutes to -weed the garden, especially the strawberry patch. - -I cannot tell you about all the steps she saved her dear old -grandmother. It would take too long. I will merely mention the fact -that she could dust as nicely as a tidy housemaid, wipe the dishes so -carefully that none got broken and she could gather a basket of chips -for her grandma’s fire in the shortest possible time. - -One day she was sitting in the back yard “minding” the chickens. It -was dreamy summer weather, and soft white clouds floated in the blue -sky. Suddenly a bluebird lighted on a branch over her head and began -to sing. The little girl listened to the bird and when he had finished -he flew right down on her head. She was very much surprised and put up -her hand to catch the bird. But he had flown away and on her head was a -blue silk bonnet with long strings. She was so excited that she arose -from her little chair and lo! her gingham dress disappeared and she -had on the most beautiful blue silk frock and dear little blue satin -slippers. - -“Are you ready?” said a voice, and Little Miss Helpful saw a beautiful -fairy sitting in a golden chariot. - -“Please, good fairy, I cannot leave the chicks,” said the little girl; -“a cat might take one.” - -“She will watch the chickens until you return,” said the fairy, and she -pointed to a little girl in her little chair that looked just like -Miss Helpful. - -Then Little Miss Helpful stepped into the golden chariot and was soon -driving through the woodlands beside the beautiful fairy. - -“I am going to take you to a party this afternoon; would you like to -go?” - -“Very much indeed, thank you,” replied the little girl, and she looked -down at her blue silk dress and her little satin slippers and smiled -with pleasure. - -Suddenly they stopped before a great golden castle, and in a few -minutes Little Miss Helpful was walking up the steps with the beautiful -fairy. When they were inside the castle the fairy said: “Now I must -leave you, but you can find the way yourself. Go down the long hall and -open the golden door.” - -The fairy disappeared and Miss Helpful started to walk down the long -hall. As she went along she saw a pin on the floor, and being a -careful little soul she stopped and picked it up. The instant she took -the pin from the floor it turned into a beautiful fairy who said, “I -will bestow upon thee this gift, thou shalt always be clean and bright -as a new pin.” - -The fairy disappeared when she had said the words and Little Miss -Helpful continued to walk toward the golden door. - -Suddenly she saw a half-wilted rose lying in a corner. She picked it up -and it turned into a beautiful fairy who said, “Thou shalt be as lovely -as a rose, and thy helpful ways like its fragrance bring delight to all -who know thee.” This fairy also disappeared and just then the little -girl found herself before the golden door. - -She opened it and entered a magnificent room where beautiful kings and -queens were dancing. They were all dressed in spangled white robes, but -Little Miss Helpful had the most beautiful dress in the room. - -A handsome prince came forward to meet Little Miss Helpful and the -next minute she was dancing around the room with him. - -She was feeling very happy when all at once she heard a chicken squeal. -“A cat!” cried Little Miss Helpful, and she darted for the door, ran -through the hall and out into the woodlands as fast as she could go. -The wind was blowing and suddenly her blue silk bonnet fell off. She -never stopped to pick it up, but ran on toward her grandmother’s -cottage. She never noticed in her hurry that the minute her blue bonnet -came off the silk dress disappeared and she had on her old gingham -frock again. - -She was quite out of breath when she reached the back yard. She -hurriedly counted the chicks and to her dismay found only eleven. One -was missing and she could have cried she felt so disappointed. She -called, “Grandma, grandma!” - -“What is it, dearie?” said the old lady, coming to the door. - -“Alas! grandma, one of the chicks is missing,” cried the little girl, -and two big tears rolled down her cheeks. - -“Don’t cry,” said her grandmother, “but look around and see if you can -find it. I will watch the chickens till you return.” - -Little Miss Helpful walked all around the field, calling, “Chick, -chick, come chickey, chickey.” “Perhaps it strayed away,” she said -to herself and she took the path for the woods and looked behind the -bushes, but she could not find her chicken. All at once she saw a -little girl coming toward her. The girl was swinging a blue silk bonnet -in her hand and as she came nearer Little Miss Helpful saw that it was -her cousin, Nannie Worthless, who lived in the village. - -“See,” said Nannie, holding up the blue bonnet, “I found it in the -woods and I am going to keep it.” - -“It belongs to me,” cried Little Miss Helpful, “I lost it a little -while ago.” - -“You lost it,” said Nannie with scorn. “Why, you never had a bonnet -like this in your life.” - -“You may keep the bonnet, I don’t want it,” replied Miss Helpful; “but -tell me, did you see a little chick?” - -Nannie laughed loudly and said: - -“Did you lose the chick when you lost the bonnet?” - -Then Little Miss Helpful knew that Nannie was making fun of her, so she -went quietly on her way and did not answer, while her cousin continued -homeward with the beautiful bonnet. - -Little Miss Helpful looked everywhere but the chick could not be found, -so at last she turned her footsteps home, feeling very sad. - -She had almost reached her grandmother’s gate, when she met Johnny -Wander, a village lad. - -“Have you seen anything of a little chick?” asked the girl, and Johnny -rolled his eyes and said he thought he saw a chick running toward the -village. - -“Perhaps it is mine,” cried Miss Helpful, and she ran toward the -village, but not a trace of the lost chicken could be seen. Suddenly -she heard a loud trumpet call, and all the people seemed to be hurrying -to the village green. - -“What is the matter?” asked Miss Helpful of an old woman she met on the -way. - -“Why, child,” said the old woman, “don’t you know that all the village -maidens are assembled on the Green by order of the Prince. He is going -to select a princess. I must hurry to see who is the lucky maid!” - -Little Miss Helpful thought with a pang that she might have been with -all the village maidens, if it had not been for the lost chicken. - -“I will go home now to grandma,” said the little girl; “the black cat -must have caught it.” - -Just then she reached the village green and there were all the maidens -standing in a row waiting for the Prince. - -They looked very pretty, especially Nannie Worthless, who wore the blue -silk bonnet. - -In a few minutes the Prince drove up in his golden chariot and dear -Little Miss Helpful saw that it was the very Prince that she had danced -with in the golden castle. But alas! he never looked at her in her -old gingham dress. He saw Nannie Worthless, and making a low courtesy -before her, said, “Ah! I think I have seen this bonnet before.” - -Nannie blushed and smiled at the Prince, who helped her into the golden -chariot. Little Miss Helpful stood apart from the crowd and felt sad -indeed when she realized that the blue bonnet had won the Prince’s -heart. All at once a great gust of wind came along and blew the bonnet -off Nannie’s head. The handsome Prince jumped out of the chariot and -ran to catch it. Away went the bonnet with the Prince after it until -all of a sudden it dropped right on the head of Little Miss Helpful and -stayed there as nice as could be. - -Now a strange thing happened. No sooner did the blue bonnet touch -Little Miss Helpful, than her gingham dress changed to the blue silk -frock and her feet were encased in the dear little blue satin slippers -again. In fact there she stood just as she had appeared in the golden -castle. - -Everybody was very much surprised, and Nannie had to get out of the -golden chariot before all the people. - -The Prince bowed low before Little Miss Helpful, saying, “This is my -true princess,” and he helped her into his golden chariot. - -The people were all delighted because they loved Little Miss Helpful -and knew her goodness. The Prince drove through the village while -all the folks cheered and showed their good will. All except Nannie -Worthless, who was very angry. As the Prince approached Little Miss -Helpful’s cottage, there stood her dear old grandmother at the gate and -in her hand was the lost chicken. - -[Illustration: The Prince bowed low before Little Miss Helpful, saying, -“This is my true princess.”--Page 204. _Little Miss Dorothy._] - -“Why, grandma, where did you find the chicken?” asked the little girl. -Her grandmother laughed and said, “I found it sound asleep in my best -lace cap.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE WONDERFUL JOURNEY WITH THE SCREEN GIRL. - - -“Don’t you love to watch the fire?” said Dorothy. - -“Yes, I do,” answered Ray. “Just see that little fireman in the coals!” - -“But do look at that lovely tree in the coals!” exclaimed Dorothy. - -The children were sitting before a large open fire. It was two days -before Christmas, and Dorothy was on a visit to cousin Ray. - -The screen girl had been listening to them, and after a few minutes -she whispered softly:--“Stand close together, children, then draw -the screen around you and I’ll take you far away, where you will see -wonderful sights.” - -Ray drew the screen around himself and Dorothy, and in a few seconds -they were moving softly somewhere, but of course as the screen was -around them they could not see where they were going. - -After a long time they stopped moving, the screen opened and the -children looked about them. They were in a beautiful country. The -ground was covered with snow that gleamed and glistened like diamonds, -while all the trees looked just like Christmas trees. - -“Put on these jackets,” said the screen girl, “so you won’t catch -cold,” and she wrapped them up in white woolly suits that covered them -from head to foot. “Now, children, you can take a walk in Santa Claus -land,” and they started off, hand in hand, to see the sights. - -The first thing they came to was a lake all frozen over, and the ice -was a pale yellow color. “O see,” said Ray, stooping down to find two -little pairs of skates right on the edge of the lake. - -“Let’s put ’em on,” said Dorothy, “and skate around.” - -The children put on the skates, and never before did they have such -glorious skating. - -“It’s as smooth as glass,” said Ray; “you can just fly over it.” - -Just as he said the words Dorothy fell. It did not hurt her, as it was -only a jolly tumble, but it broke a little piece of the ice. - -Ray helped Dorothy up and at the same time took up the broken piece -of ice and put it in his mouth. “O Dorothy,” said Ray, taking it out -again, “take a suck of this ice, it’s perfectly lovely.” - -When Dorothy had tasted, she exclaimed, “Why, Ray, it isn’t ice at all, -it’s lovely lemon candy!” It was true; they were skating on a pond of -the most delicious lemon candy in the world. - -“Let’s not skate any longer,” said Dorothy, “let’s just sit down and -eat it.” - -Down they sat and broke off pieces of the ice, and enjoyed themselves -until they couldn’t eat any more. They arose from the pond, and -when they had taken off their skates, they started to walk over the -glistening snow. They passed several ponds of different-colored ice -and every one of them was a pond of candy. They walked on the ponds to -sample each kind and found orange, peppermint, checkerberry and many -other flavors. - -As they walked towards the beautiful trees, they came to a very large -one. - -“Isn’t it the most beautiful tree you ever saw?” exclaimed Dorothy. - -“Yes, it is,” said Ray. “I wonder who Santa Claus means it for!” - -“I don’t know,” replied Dorothy, “perhaps we’ll find out.” - -“Just see that lovely red sled up there!” cried Ray, clapping his -hands. “It’s just what I want,” he said with glee. “O Dorothy, do look, -it says on the side of it ‘Dart.’” - -“Yes, yes,” answered Dorothy, dancing about, “but look at that -beautiful doll near the top; isn’t she lovely?” - -“O Dorothy, look quick; there’s a little horse and wagon.” - -“I see it,” said the little girl, “it’s right near the gingerbread man. -And, Ray, just look at the Noah’s Ark.” - -“Did you ever see such big gingerbread hearts?” exclaimed Ray. “I’d -like to have one to eat, wouldn’t you?” - -“Yes,” replied Dorothy, “but I wonder what is in the boxes and packages -that are all tied up with ribbon?” - -“Presents,” answered Ray, who was a year older and that much wiser than -his little cousin. - -For a long time the children gazed at the beautiful tree, with all its -precious burden, and every moment new treasures were discovered. Then -they walked to the next Christmas tree and looked at that. When they -had seen many of the trees they thought that they would walk on and -see the other sights. After walking a short distance they came to a -beautiful snow castle. They opened the door, peeped in, and what do you -suppose they saw? A long row of boxes the whole length of the room. The -first box was very large, the one next to it was a little smaller, the -next still smaller, and so on until they dwindled down to a tiny box on -the end. - -“I wonder what is in them?” said Ray with curiosity. - -“Open one and see,” replied Dorothy quickly. - -Ray just touched the lid of the large box, when up it flew and there -jumped out the largest Jack-in-the-box the children had ever seen. - -The minute he jumped he grinned at them and said “Rubber.” - -It was so sudden that the children started back, but when he -disappeared in the box again, they laughed loudly and clapped their -hands. - -“I wonder what he meant?” said Ray, and just then he caught sight of -a small rubber button, on the side of the box. Ray pressed the button -and lo! every Jack in the long row of boxes bobbed up with a grin and -disappeared in the twinkling of an eye. Such a row of grinning faces -made the children laugh harder than ever. They walked into another room -in the castle and found that it was filled with toys of all sorts and -sizes. The smallest thing was a tiny rooster on a monkey’s back, and -the largest toy was a great horse with a real saddle. - -They passed through the toy-room and came to a great closet; its -shelves had stacks of cakes, pies and goodies piled high in flaky -abundance. All sorts of sweets that boys and girls love made the little -mouths water. The next room they entered was filled with picture-books. -In the center of this picture-book room stood an object that looked -something like a street hand-organ. Over it was written in large -letters these words:-- - - “MACHINE FOR RHYMES, TURN CRANK AND HAVE ONE.” - -“I like rhymes,” said Dorothy, “let’s hear one.” Ray turned the crank -and got the following:-- - - Said Tommy Tid - To Johnny Bid, - “Let’s run away forever; - We’ll go to-day - So far away - That none will find us ever.” - - So they took hands - For far-off lands, - They climbed the back fence over, - And never stayed - For man or maid, - But reached the field of clover. - - Said Tommy Tid - To Johnny Bid, - “We’ll sit and rest a minute;” - And out he took - His pocket-book-- - There were two pennies in it. - - Then down they sat, - And in his hat - Did Tommy count them over. - Until at last - These two were fast - Asleep amid the clover. - -“Turn it again,” said Dorothy, “and we’ll have another.” - -The next rhyme was this:-- - - A little dog said, “Bow-wow! - I guess that I know how - To bark and bite, - To growl and fight - And chase the spotted cow.” - - The old cow said, “I knew - This naughty dog would rue.” - So she tossed him high - Right up to the sky, - Then the old cow said, “Moo-oo-o.” - -“The poor little dog,” exclaimed Dorothy, “but he shouldn’t have teased -the cow. Let me turn the handle this time, and see what I can get.” - -Ray stepped aside, and when Dorothy took the handle she turned out the -following:-- - - A little maid was sitting on the very lowest stair - A-combing and a-braiding of her dollie’s golden hair; - Her little brother Bobbie was standing in his place - With a tub of soap and water to wash the dollie’s face. - But suddenly it happened that over went the tub, - And Bobbie ran away with it and played “rub-dubby-dub.” - - Rub-dub-a-dub-a-dub, “Come back here with my tub,” - His sister cried; but Bobby hied - Away and out with hurried feet - A soldier marching down the street - And playing on his sister’s tub, - Rub--rub--rub--rub--rub-dub-a-dub. - -“That will do for jingles,” said Ray. “Suppose we look in some other -room.” They left the picture-books and the machine for rhymes and -walked to another door. A large sign over it read:-- - - “OFFICE OF SANTA CLAUS. - NO ADMITTANCE EXCEPT ON BUSINESS. - THIS IS MY BUSY DAY.” - -“He must be terribly busy,” said Ray, “we’d better not go in; he might -not like it, you know.” - -They turned away, and as they were a little tired of the castle they -decided to go outside again. When their feet touched the sparkling snow -Ray pointed to a hill a short distance away saying, “We will climb that -hill and see the view.” - -“All ready,” said Dorothy, and away they started. - -As they were going up the hill Ray took up a handful of the snow and -put it in his mouth. What do you suppose it was? Not snow at all, _but -ice-cream, a whole hill of it_. - -Of course they had to rest right then and there, so down they sat and -refreshed themselves with as much ice-cream as they could eat. - -“What a wonderful place Santa Claus Land is,” said Dorothy, “the -ponds are candy, the trees all Christmas trees, and the hills made of -ice-cream.” - -“Well, you know,” said Ray, “Santa needs so much of everything because -he has to supply the world.” - -“This is the sweetest ice-cream I’ve ever tasted, don’t you think so?” - -“Yes,” answered Ray, “but I think I’ve had enough, haven’t you?” - -“Ye-es,” assented Dorothy, taking one more delicious mouthful. - -“Now let us climb to the top of the hill,” said Ray helping his little -cousin to rise. - -They reached the top of Ice-Cream hill and what do you think they -found! A great! red! candy! double-runner! - -“O!” said Ray clapping his hands, “let us get on it and coast -down-hill.” - -He got in front to steer, while Dorothy sat behind and held on with -both hands. The double-runner started and away they went down Ice-Cream -hill. When they reached the foot of the hill there was a candy pond -(peppermint flavor) and right across the pond swift as a bird they sped -to the other side. Here the screen girl was waiting to take them home. - -Now comes the most wonderful part of this story. - -On Christmas morning, when Dorothy and Ray went into the parlor, what -do you suppose they saw? The very Christmas tree that they had seen -away up in Santa Claus Land. The lovely doll on top was for Dorothy and -the red sled “Dart” was for Ray. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -A QUEER LITTLE STOREKEEPER. - - -“Please may I have another piece of plum-cake?” asked Ray. - -“No, dear,” answered Aunt Polly. “I am afraid you have had more than is -good for you already.” - -“Just one little, teeney, weeney piece,” pleaded Ray. - -“No, dear, not any more to-day.” - -When Aunt Polly said these last words in her firm, pleasant voice, -Ray’s sunny face clouded. I am sorry to say that he pouted and did not -look at all like the kind of boy he really was. - -You must know that he was visiting dear Aunt Polly again, and he was -very fond of her delicious plum-cake. But like many other little boys -and a great many big ones he wanted more than was good for him, and -Aunt Polly gently and wisely refused. I would not like to tell you how -he hung his head, thrust his hands into his pocket and scuffled out of -the room, because I do not like to draw disagreeable pictures. And yet, -that is just what he did, and muttered to himself as he went, “stingy.” - -Aunt Polly heard him, and looked very much hurt, but Ray did not seem -to mind. He walked out of the house, into the beautiful June sunlight -and wandered off, all by himself. - -He had walked quite a distance before he decided to sit on the warm -grass and rest a minute. - -“When I’m a man, I’ll have all the plum-cake I want,” said Ray to -himself, “and I shan’t be stingy like Aunt Polly.” - -“Poor Aunt Polly!” whispered a wee voice in Ray’s ear. - -Ray jumped to his feet to see who had spoken, but he could not see -anybody. - -“Who said ‘poor Aunt Polly’?” asked Ray, looking all around him. No one -answered, so he sat on the grass again. - -“Dear, good, kind Aunt Polly,” whispered the wee voice again. Once more -Ray jumped to his feet but could not see the least sign of anybody. - -All at once, as he looked around, he realized that he was in a strange -place. He had wandered into Aunt Polly’s old-fashioned garden with its -wealth of roses and its quaint beds of four-o’clocks and mignonette. - -At least Ray supposed he was in her garden, but, as his eyes rested on -the strange sight before him, he said to himself, “Surely this is not -Aunt Polly’s beautiful garden.” - -It looked dark and gloomy, and strangest of all, the flowers were all a -peculiar shade of blue. - -Ray walked to some rosebushes, and could scarcely believe his eyes, -when he discovered great, blue roses. - -“Who ever heard of a blue rose?” said Ray, stooping to smell of one. - -There was not the least odor, and the little boy was disappointed. - -“Old, blue roses,” muttered Ray. “I’d rather have red roses that scent -the whole garden with their perfume.” - -He tried some of the other flowers, and found the same story to be told -of them. They were blue in color, and had not the slightest odor. - -Ray walked all over the garden. He was getting very tired of the same -blue shade to everything, when he happened to spy a narrow staircase, -near the garden wall. - -It led downward and Ray, without thinking, walked down the tiny stairs. - -At the very end of the staircase he came to a small, iron door, which, -like everything else, had a bluish tinge. - -Ray opened the door and walked into a room that was fitted up with -shelves and a grand show-case. It looked very much like a store. - -In the center of the room sat a little old man, dressed in blue, with a -queer, blue cap on the top of his head. - -“Well, my boy, what can I do for you to-day,” asked the little blue -man, jumping to his feet and making a low bow to Ray. - -“Nothing, thank you,” said Ray, looking curiously around. - -“Then you don’t care to buy,” said the little blue man, and it seemed -to Ray that his whole appearance became a deeper blue, and he seemed -disappointed. - -“What have you to sell?” asked Ray. - -“Manners,” answered the little man quickly. - -“Manners!” repeated Ray, “how funny, I didn’t know that manners were -for sale.” - -“O yes, they are,” was the answer; “and some are very cheap indeed.” - -“How much?” asked Ray, wondering. - -“I have heard,” said the little blue man, “of people selling their -manners for a piece of plum-cake.” - -Ray was very quiet for several minutes, when he heard this. Suddenly -he said, “Are the manners that you have to sell in those boxes?” (Ray -pointed to the show-case, where several gaudy boxes stood in a row.) - -“Yes,” replied the little storekeeper, “that is where I keep some of -them.” - -“And when people buy them, what do they do with them,” asked the boy. - -“Well, my boy, they take them out of the boxes and put them on, very -much as they do their clothes. These manners are very cheap, they are -not the best kind, of course.” - -“Where do you keep the best kind?” asked the child. - -The little blue man’s face brightened. He walked behind the show-case -and disappeared for a minute. - -He returned with a very tiny box of no particular color. It was a sort -of brownish green, but the shade was so quiet and restful to the eyes -that one liked to look at it. - -He held it before Ray and raised the lid. It was only for a second, but -there was something so bright and beautiful in the tiny box that Ray’s -eyes sparkled and he cried: - -“O let me have this box--I’d like to buy these manners!” - -The little blue man smiled and said: - -“But this box contains good manners, and they are not for sale.” - -Ray felt terribly disappointed. There was something so pleasing and -altogether delightful about the little box that he wanted it very much. - -“Are you quite sure that you don’t want any of these other boxes?” -asked the little storekeeper. - -“No, thank you,” replied Ray. “I don’t care for them, after seeing -this little box of good manners.” - -“I’m very glad to hear you say so,” said the blue man, “because I don’t -get any profit from these boxes, and still I sell more of them in one -week than I do of the other kind in a month.” - -“I’d like to have the box of good manners,” said Ray, “but if it is not -for sale I don’t see how I can get it.” - -“I’ll tell you,” said the little man; “you can earn it. It is a fairy -box, and can do the most wonderful things. I have known this little box -to get into a boy’s pocket and thence into his very skin. It settles up -near his heart in some good place and there it remains, bringing him -all sorts of good fortune.” - -Ray looked eagerly at the little box. - -“Listen,” continued the little storekeeper, “and I’ll tell you a true -story about this wonderful little box.”-- - -Once there was a little, ragged boy named Hans, so poor that his good -mother could not afford to buy him shoes. All day long he trudged, -weary and footsore, from door to door to sell mats that he braided from -straw. - -Sometimes people were kind and smiled at his bright little face, even -though they could not buy the mats. - -A smile made Hans happy for a whole day. Sometimes people did not buy, -but they gave him a nice bowl of milk and a piece of bread. - -This made Hans happy for two whole days. And sometimes people bought -his mats and praised them as they put a piece of money in his honest -brown hands. - -This made Hans so very happy that he forgot about his poverty and his -sore, bare feet, and he would run all the way home to give the money to -his mother. - -But one weary day, Hans wandered into a strange village to sell his -mats, where the people were so poor that they could not afford a -smile; so selfish that they would not give a hungry boy a drink of -milk, and so mean that they would not look at his mats, although they -were rich and lived in grand houses. - -Poor little Hans turned homeward after a day of disappointments. He did -not feel at all happy, and his poor, bare feet were very sore. - -Just outside the village he met an old man carrying a heavy basket, who -was so feeble that he had to stop every now and then to rest. - -When Hans saw the old man he forgot all about himself and his sore bare -feet. - -“Let me help you, sir,” said Hans, and the old man was very thankful. -Hans carried the basket for the feeble man until they reached a great -castle. - -The old man stopped at its gate and said: - -“Thank you, boy, and here is a piece of gold for your trouble.” - -Hans touched his faded cap and thanked the old man. Full of joy, he put -the piece of gold in his pocket. It was more than he could earn in a -whole year selling his mats. - -“You see Hans had the little box of good manners very near his heart, -and it brought him good fortune. - -“Here is another story of the wonderful little box.”-- - -Once upon a time in a magnificent castle lived a princess. She was -so beautiful that many kings and rich lords had sought her hand in -marriage, but she had refused them all. - -One day the Princess had a grand birthday party, and everybody, rich -and poor, was invited. Many kings and rich lords came to do honor to -the beautiful Princess. - -There was beautiful music in the castle garden, and after a while the -people took hands and began a merry dance. - -The beautiful Princess, surrounded by lords and ladies, looked on, much -pleased, while the good people enjoyed themselves. - -All at once an old woman, who had been standing alone, watching the -dancers, loosened the red handkerchief that she wore on her head. In an -instant the wind blew it off and wafted it about till it fell at the -very feet of the Princess. - -Many lords and ladies had seen the old handkerchief, but not one of -them attempted to pick it up. The beautiful Princess was just going -to reach for it herself, when a certain great king saw the action and -tossed the old woman’s handkerchief aside with his foot. - -Just then a young man emerged from the crowd, and going straight to the -place where the red handkerchief was hidden, said: - -“Pardon me, Princess,” as he brushed aside her skirt. Taking up the -old woman’s handkerchief as carefully as if it were made of the finest -silk, he carried it to the owner. Bowing before the old woman, he said -gently: “Allow me, madame, it is yours, I think.” - -Many who had laughed in scorn at the poor woman’s loss now looked on in -amazement. - -When she thanked the young man, he bowed as politely as if it were the -Princess, instead of a poor old woman. - -The Princess (whose face flushed with pleasure when she saw the kindly -act), inquired the name of the gallant young man. - -“He has traveled from a distant country and is called the Prince of the -Golden Heart,” said one. - -“He is Prince of my heart,” said the Princess, and they were both happy -ever after. - -“The Prince, my boy, was a true gentleman, and he carried the magic box -of good manners inside his skin.” - -“O please tell me how I can earn it,” cried Ray, when the little blue -man had finished. - -“Well, let me think a minute,” said the little man. - -“By the way, have you said or done anything to-day to hurt anybody’s -feelings?” - -Ray’s conscience began to pinch a little as he answered: “I’m afraid I -was very rude to Aunt Polly. I wanted another piece of plum-cake, and -when she refused I scuffled my feet and said ‘stingy.’” - -“Dear, good, kind Aunt Polly,” said the little man in a wee voice, and -then Ray knew who had whispered in his ear in the blue garden. - -“Do you like blue roses?” asked the storekeeper. - -“No, sir, I do not care for them,” replied Ray. - -“Why?” asked the blue man. - -“In the first place,” said Ray, “because they have no sweet perfume.” - -“Ah!” said the little man, “that is also true of little children, who -are rude and sell their good manners. They are like blue roses and have -no perfume.” - -“Now, Ray,” continued the queer little storekeeper, “who is it that -always has a pleasant smile and a kind word for everybody?” - -“Aunt Polly,” said Ray. - -“Who is it that knits nice, warm mittens for a little boy called Ray.” - -“Aunt Polly,” was the answer. - -“Who is it makes the nicest plum-cake in the world and always gives -some to a little boy called Ray.” - -“Aunt Polly,” cried the boy. - -“Who is it tells such delightful stories and has a heart so big that -there is a little corner in it for every child in the wide world?” - -“My Aunt Polly,” shouted Ray, jumping to his feet, “and I’m going to -tell her how rude I’ve been and how sorry I am for behaving badly to -the best auntie in the world.” - -He started to run, but the little blue man cried out, “Wait a minute.” - -The queer little storekeeper put the charming little box inside Ray’s -pocket, who never stopped running until he reached Aunt Polly’s -sitting-room. - -He knocked gently and her cheery voice said, “Come in.” - -Like a little gentleman Ray walked over to Aunt Polly and said: “I’m -sorry, auntie, for having had such bad manners this morning. Will you -forgive me for being so impolite?” - -“Yes, dear,” said Aunt Polly with a kiss. And just then Ray felt so -happy that he knew the little box had settled close to his heart. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -A PAIR OF OLD SHOES. - - -“Let’s cuddle up in the Talking Chair,” said Dorothy, one wet -afternoon, “and perhaps we’ll hear a new story.” - -“I’m ready,” cried Ray squeezing in beside his little cousin. - -“You don’t look quite comfortable, children,” said Aunt Polly smiling. -“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” she continued, “let me sit in the -Talking Chair; Dorothy can sit on my lap and Ray on the little hassock -at my feet. Then perhaps the chair will whisper a new story to me.” - -“I feel something tickling my ear now,” said Aunt Polly, when they were -all settled, and she told this story about - - A PAIR OF OLD SHOES. - -Once upon a time in a far, northern country lived a little boy named -Lars. His home was a rude cottage on the seashore, but it was a very -happy one to Lars, because it contained all that he loved--his good -father, who was a great fisherman, and his thrifty mother who knitted -his warm socks. - -Day after day Lars watched the great ocean and sailed tiny ships on its -blue surface. He played hide-and-seek among the rocks and listened to -the cry of the sea-birds in their flight. - -He held beautiful shells close to his ear to hear the sound of breakers -imprisoned there by sea-fairies and every delight that a fisher-boy -loves was known to Lars. - -Among other things that he liked to do was this:--he would take a small -piece of wood and stretch fishing lines or twine of any kind from end -to end, making a sort of rude fiddle. - -Then he would play on the cords and enjoyed the sounds very much. - -One day the father of Lars found an old violin that had been saved -from a wrecked ship. He brought it home to his little boy, who danced -with delight when he saw it. From that day Lars was a very busy boy. He -sat on the rocks and played on the old violin, to his heart’s content. - -He had listened to the sea-birds so long that he could make their cries -out, and his ear was so acute that he could imitate the moaning of the -north wind. - -When Lars grew older his fame as a fiddler had spread among the -fisher-folk far and wide. - -He played for them at every marriage feast and merry-making, and the -good people rejoiced at his skill. - -But his own people were very poor. His father was growing old and his -mother’s busy fingers were not so active as they had been. - -Lars told his dear violin that he wanted to do something to help them. -He played the story on the old fiddle, one moonlight night until it -dropped out of his hands and he fell fast asleep among the rocks, on -the beach. - -Then the mermaids came and whispered wonderful murmurs in his ear and -sang of wealth and power beyond the ocean. - -They touched his ears, kissed his hands and one tuned the cords of the -old violin. - -And Lars awoke a new being. He caught up his violin and hurried to the -cottage to tell of his wonderful dream. - -“And I’m going away,” said Lars, “far away to play for strange people, -and perhaps I can earn some money for you, my father and mother.” - -The day came that Lars was to start out into the great world. When he -was ready his father and mother appeared with a pair of shoes for him. -Lars was overjoyed. - -He put on the shoes, and taking his old violin under his arm, bade his -good parents farewell. - -He had not walked very far, when he met an old woman, bent with age. - -“Where are you going, son?” asked the old woman. - -“To seek my fortune, good mother,” Lars answered. - -“And prithee where did you get the shoes?” asked the dame. - -“From my good parents,” was the reply. - -“Ah!” said the old woman, “you will never know the struggle they have -had. They did not send you out into the world barefooted. Never forget -them, my son, and never part with the shoes--if you do your good -fortune will depart forever.” - -Then she disappeared and Lars continued his journey. He traveled in -many strange cities. At first he played on the streets and the people -passing by stopped to listen to the wonderful music. They filled his -cap with pieces of money and wished him good fortune. After awhile men -came to Lars and asked him to play in a great theater. - -Crowds of people, rich and poor came to hear him. Lars played as never -before. He was a little homesick, and instead of rows of strange faces -in a grand theater he saw a group of fisher-folk near his own cottage. - -He made music for them to dance, and the heart of the great audience -before him bounded to the measure and their feet tingled to quaint -steps. When his fisher-folk grew tired he played soft music for them; -the swish of the tide lapping the rocks, the call of the sea-birds and -the moaning of the north wind. - -When he had finished, the great audience sat spellbound, while Lars -shuffled off behind the stage. Then the people jumped to their feet. -Men shouted, women wept; never had they heard such wonderful music. - -Men gave Lars so much gold that he was dazzled and wondered what he -would do with it all. But he did not forget the old folks, and a -good part of his gold found its bright way to the cottage in the far -northern country. If he did forget sometimes there was always the shoes -to remind him, and Lars wore them constantly and lovingly. - -Now it so happened that a certain rich woman heard of the wonderful -genius of Lars. - -She invited him to play in one of her numerous palaces and offered him -more money than he had ever earned. - -Lars played at her palace and was covered with new honors. Other -wealthy people followed her example, invited Lars to their mansions and -he found himself courted and admired on all sides. - -At first he did not care for it at all, and went only because it -brought him gold for the far-off cottage. - -After awhile the smiles of rich men and the soft words of beautiful -women became as precious to the great musician, as the gold. - -Then he began to feel dissatisfied with himself. He thought less of the -far-off cottage and more of the glittering palaces. - -He began to find fault with everything connected with himself, and most -of all with the pair of old shoes that his parents had given him. - -One night he was going to play in the palace of a king. When he was all -ready to start he happened to notice his shoes. - -“They are old-fashioned,” said Lars, “and people will laugh at them.” - -Poor, foolish Lars! He took them off and put them away in a corner. -Then he encased his feet in very stylish shoes and went to the palace. -But the new shoes, although very fine to look at, pinched his feet and -made Lars feel awkward and uncomfortable. - -The old shoes had always been so easy that they seemed a part of -himself and he never knew he had them on. But with the new shoes it was -all different. He could not keep his thoughts away from them, and the -night he played before the king his mind was filled with the new shoes -that pinched his feet, instead of his beloved music. - -For the first time in his career Lars was a failure. Other failures -followed, for the new shoes tried him sorely. As time went on people -became disappointed. When he first came among them, they had found Lars -charming because he was natural. That was the time he wore the old -shoes. The people had never noticed these shoes that Lars wore with -such ease and grace. Now they began to notice the new shoes. Men nudged -each other and ladies smiled behind their fans. - -One by one they dropped him out of their lives, and one morning Lars -awoke to find himself quite alone and almost as poor as when he had -left the northern cottage. - -It was a long time since he had thought of the dear, northern cottage -and a mighty longing came into his heart to see it. - -It was a long time since he had seen the pair of old shoes. He -remembered them now and he went to the corner where he had left them, -but they had disappeared. - -He searched for them everywhere, but they could not be found. - -He traveled day and night, and reached the dear, northern cottage. It -was empty. The pair of old shoes, dear old shoes that had been left in -the corner so long had disappeared. A strange loneliness crept into the -heart of Lars. He threw himself on the shore of the great ocean and -cried himself to sleep. - -The North-wind found him and kissed his cheek. She is a great, -beautiful woman with long, flowing hair and she likes well Lars’ -northern country. - -At first Lars shivered at her touch, but it did not sting like the -ridicule of the great world he had lived in. - -After a while the kiss of the North-wind was a magic touch to Lars. He -became a boy again. He nestled on the back of the North-wind and played -with her flowing hair. He drew it in shining threads to his finger-tips -and made music as he used to do on his old violin. - -“What would you like to have more than all else in the world?” -whispered the North-wind caressingly. - -“The pair of old shoes,” murmured Lars. - -The North-wind sighed, and rising in the air with Lars nestling among -her tresses, swept over the house-tops, peeking down the chimneys and -into cracks and crevices. - -And on cold nights when little boys and girls are warm in bed, and they -hear the North-wind go sweeping by, they must know that Little Lars is -playing on her hair and sighing for “a pair of old shoes.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -JOCK O’ THE PIPES. - - -One summer afternoon the Talking Chair told the following story to Aunt -Polly, who told it to Dorothy, who told it to me:-- - -Once upon a time in a bright country lived the most beautiful little -queen in all the world. She was called Content, and while she reigned, -there was great happiness among her people. - -Indeed, they were so very happy that a certain wicked old woman who -rides through the air on a broomstick grew very jealous. - -She did not like to see anybody happy, so she began to plot and plan a -way to get rid of Queen Content. - -“If I could only drive her out of the hearts of these simple people -all would be well,” said the old woman. Then she went about among the -people doing all sorts of mischief; telling stories, spoiling their -lovely gardens, and predicting all kinds of misfortune. But in spite -of all her evil doings the people cherished Queen Content, and they -scarcely noticed the wicked old woman. - -At last she grew very angry. She took her old broom and swept great -clouds of dust that filled the good people’s eyes, so that they could -not see clearly at all. Then they became dissatisfied, and one day they -sent their beautiful Queen away and put another in her place. - -The new queen began her reign with a great flourish of trumpets. She -was not beautiful at all, and was called Queen Discord. - -She found fault with everything and was never at rest. Costly -festivals, cruel wars, and foolish undertakings were all the time going -on, and the people became poorer and more unhappy every day. - -When the old woman on the broomstick saw this state of affairs, she -laughed long and loud, and sailed away to do mischief elsewhere. -In the meantime Queen Content had moved into a small cottage on the -outskirts of the village. It contained only two rooms, but in the -lovely Queen’s eyes it was as dear as any palace. The beautiful flower -fields were her gardens and she rejoiced in the still walks of the -green woods. - -Sometimes rumors reached her of the doings of Queen Discord, but they -never disturbed her peace of mind. - -One dark night a traveler knocked at Queen Content’s door. He was a -rollicking, roving merry lad, and his name was Jock. - -When Queen Content opened the door Jock made a low bow, saying, “I have -traveled far and am weary; may I enter your cottage?” - -“Whoever knocks at my door may find rest. Enter and welcome,” was the -answer. - -Jock entered and Queen Content gave him a good supper. It was only -bread and milk, to be sure, but no dainties at the table of a king -ever tasted better. And although the bed that Jock slept on was made -of straw, he had never rested so well in his life. - -The next morning Jock continued his journey to the village. He had not -been there very long when he discovered the true state of affairs. - -He realized that the foolish people had put away the most beautiful -queen in the world for the most disagreeable. - -“I’m going to help these foolish people,” said Jock to himself, and he -shook all over with merriment at the mere thought of doing them a good -turn. - -Straight he went to the palace of Queen Discord and begged an audience -with her most obnoxious majesty. - -“What do you want, good-for-nothing?” said the haughty Queen, frowning -on Jock, who stood cap in hand with a quizzical look on his merry face. - -“I have good news for your majesty,” said Jock with a grin. - -“Good news!” thundered the horrid queen. - -“It is against our laws. You shall be thrown into prison; we don’t want -people who go about telling good news.” - -Jock’s grin broadened, but he saw his mistake and quickly added: “Ah! -your majesty, I have just traveled through your uncle’s kingdom--King -Hate--and I found nothing there but strife and confusion and bitterness -of spirit. Your people are so much happier that I was only going to -remind you of the fact. Surely that is good news.” - -When Jock made this little speech the Queen’s eyes (they were great, -green jealous eyes) flashed, but she was silent for a moment. - -“Strife, confusion, and bitterness of spirit.” The words were sweet as -honey to Queen Discord’s taste, and she repeated them over and over -to herself. They are just what I want, thought the queen, and she -regarded Jock with great interest, saying: - -“Tell me how to stir up strife, confusion and bitterness of spirit in -this old kingdom and your reward shall be great.” - -“I know that it will,” thought Jock grinning all over. Aloud he said, -“Give me three days and I’ll return with something that will surely -please your most sea-green majesty.” - -So saying he almost doubled in two with laughter, and tossing his -bright cap into the air, left the presence of the frowning queen. - -Straight to the heart of the merry green woods ran Jock. He played -leap-frog with elves and danced with wood-nymphs. They all loved him -because he was so merry, and he feared no one because his heart was -innocent as that of a little child. - -By and by Jock told about his conversation with Queen Discord, and when -he had finished such a merry shout went up from every elf, wood-nymph -and fairy that the very leaves shook and an acorn fell to the ground. - -“Now you must help me,” said Jock; “you must tell me, good friends, -what to do.” - -“’Tis the pipes, ’tis the pipes that you want,” said a jolly elf, “that -is the remedy for Queen Discord.” - -Then they all whispered something in Jock’s ear, which made him shake -all over with mirth. Every elf, wood-nymph and fairy had a little -secret for him, and they told it so softly that even a gray squirrel -who listened with all his might could not hear. - -When they had told the secret they were merrier than ever. They all -took hands and with Jock in the middle, danced a jolly ring around him. - -“Jock o’ the pipes, Jock o’ the pipes,” sang the merry elves, as they -tripped round and round, stopping now and then to whisper some new -idea. Jock laughed himself to sleep. Then the fairies left him. - -When Jock awoke, he rubbed his eyes and looked around him. His late -adventure was still fresh in his mind and he laughed aloud. Just then -he spied a small bag made of skin, on the ground at his feet. - -“I know what that is for,” said Jock with a broad grin. He recalled the -secrets that the merry elves had whispered. - -Jock slung the bag across his shoulder and away he ran out of the woods -with peals of laughter waiting on his steps. - -He traveled fast and at moonlight stood near a fence in a big city -laughing softly to himself. - -Suddenly strange sounds filled the still air. - -Jock looked up and beheld a band of cats on the fence. At first he -thought they were merely giving a concert to the good people of the -neighborhood, but very soon he saw his mistake. - -As he looked they began to slap each other right in the face, with -uplifted paws and spat at each other with angry jaws. Suddenly a -battered, yellow, one-eyed, tailless Tommy got his back up about -something and cried like a baby. His granddaughter rebuked him with a -gentle scratch. Then there was a rush, and instead of thirty-two cats -in a line there were thirty-two cats in a ball. And it wasn’t football -either. - -There were howls, shrieks, moans, and cat-calls. In the very midst of -it all Jock opened his bag. - -In the twinkling of an eye the fighting cats dropped into the bag, -which shut up tight again, and Jock continued his journey. - -But he was laughing so hard that he had to stand a moment to recover -himself. - -A little farther on he heard loud barking. - -“’Tis the watch-dog’s honest bark,” quoted Jock; but just then he heard -a terrible uproar and he realized his mistake. - -He came upon a crowd of snapping, snarling, barking curs. He listened -to their disputes for three minutes. “Ha-a, now I see,” said Jock with -a chuckle; “these dogs, that I supposed were honest watch-dogs, are all -politicians. ’Tis a meeting of their common council.” - -Just then the chairman gave a fierce bark, whereupon all the others -howled in concert and made a spring for the chairman’s collar. When the -dismal yells were at the very worst Jock opened his bag. In a second -every barking, snapping, snarling dog went head first into it. Not -another sound out of them. Jock laughed heartily and hurried on. - -You must not forget, little reader, that it was a fairy bag, and no -matter how much went into it, it did not get an inch larger or an ounce -heavier. In his path Jock met many other occupants for his bag. A -scolding wife, a grouty husband, a croaking gossip all found their way -into the wonderful bag, and after each addition Jock was merrier than -ever. - -He passed a church and heard music. - -“That’s in my line,” said Jock with a grin, and he stole softly into -the choir. The female soprano had the floor and the ceiling too, while -a long-suffering congregation tried not to look grieved. - -Just as she reached a top note with a shivering little curleycue -attached, Jock saw a nervous brother clutch his seat and a sympathetic -sister gasp. That note had been issued just thirty-seven years and Jock -had come to collect it. The little bag opened and plumb into it went -the shrieking soprano. - -It was several minutes before Jock recovered from the fit of merriment -that followed the last disappearance. Then he went on. - -In the meantime he bagged the piano next door, the cornet across the -street, the concertina up-stairs and a few other simple but effective -species, including, “dot leetle German band.” - -“It is useless, I cannot go another step until I have had my laugh -out,” said Jock as he sat himself down on the steps of a great building -and shook all over for a good ten minutes. - -In the midst of his hilarity, he heard a voice. It jarred him. “That’s -a school marm addressing her pupils,” quoth Jock. For a second he made -a wry face, then his eyes twinkled, and he arose and stole into the -school-room, hiding behind a great globe. - -The teacher had forgotten how to talk in natural tones and was yelling -in an A sharp and D flat voice. - -“The poor children,” sighed Jock, looking serious for one second. Then -he grinned, opened the bag and the unnatural tones vanished right into -it. - -Continuing his journey he caught “Annie Ould R-r-rags” and all her -relations. - -Suddenly Jock found himself in a western city and was delighted to hear -that a meeting of birds was in progress, for the elation and elevation -of their sex (they were all ladies, by the way). Jock loved the ladies, -so he stole softly in to their meeting. But oh, what a shock did little -Jock get! The birds were having a terrible battle with their tongues -and Jock was so surprised that he even forgot about his bag. - -It was all on account of a poor little bird who wanted to attend the -meeting and would not be permitted to. And why? Because she was black -and the other birds were white (outside). - -“But I thought this meeting was good of _all_ birds,” ventured one -fair-minded little creature. Whereupon there was a storm of wrath and -scorn. This brought Jock to his senses. Cautious, as a good fisherman, -for birds have wings, Jock opened his bag, and every unjust, discordant -vibration was swallowed up. - -“I’m a bit weary now,” said Jock with a chuckle, “so I’ll return -without looking farther.” - -So saying, he hurried along and stopped up his ears, so that he would -not hear any more discord. - -That night Jock slept in the merry green woods with the fairy bag for a -pillow. - -The elves came when he was dreaming and examined the contents of the -bag. - -“It will do very well,” said a jolly elf, and he attached two tiny -pipes to the top of Jock’s bag. - -The elves reveled all night and whispered new secrets in Jock’s ear. -When the first streak of dawn came through the trees they hurried away -to fairyland, but not before the jolly elf dropped a small chain at -Jock’s feet. - -Bright and smiling Jock awoke. - -“It is the third day,” sang Jock as he washed his merry face in a -buttercup of dew. - -“Now I must hurry to the Castle,” said he, stooping to pick up his bag. - -All at once he noticed the pipes, which made him shake all over with -mirth. - -“It looks for all the world like bagpipes now,” cried Jock, “and maybe -it is a new kind.” - -Then he spied the chain, which he slipped into his pocket. - -“O that jolly elf, he never forgets anything,” said Jock, and just then -some merry recollection of the jolly elf flashed into Jock’s mind and -he rolled over and over with laughter. - -Suddenly he jumped to his feet, took up his pipes and was soon out of -the woods. - -When he reached the castle he found Queen Discord on her throne, -surrounded by a host of unwilling followers. - -Jock approached the throne, bowed low and said: “’Tis the pipes, ’tis -the pipes that you want. That is the remedy for Queen Discord.” So -saying he slipped the chain out of his pocket and presented it to the -Queen, who immediately fastened it around her neck. Quick as a flash -Jock’s deft fingers attached the chain to the pipes. - -Queen Discord arose from her throne and began to speak. But horrors! -no sooner did she open her mouth than the pipes began to play--and you -know what was in that bag. The most awful, horrid, harsh, discordant -sounds rent the air and the people fled in terror. - -When Queen Discord saw the effect of the pipes, she tried to pull them -off. But they were fastened around her neck by a fairy chain and no -mortal power could remove them. She hurried from the throne and ran out -of the castle, the awful pipes playing all the time. - -Women and children ran from her in horror, but a crowd of angry men -with sticks and stones chased her out of the village. - -On and on ran Queen Discord, making nature groan with her horrid pipes. -At last she was out of hearing and the people never saw her again. In a -few days they restored beautiful Queen Content and were once more happy. - -One summer evening many years later a traveler came to Queen Content’s -country. He had traveled far and was weary, but he stopped to listen to -the most beautiful music he had ever heard. - -It was Queen Content’s Symphony Orchestra playing on the Green. - -Do you know, little reader, what a symphony orchestra is? No? Then -ask papa and mamma. If you live in Boston they will tell you about -delightful Saturday evenings in winter, when they go to a concert. Or -better still ask big sister. Watch her face light up as she tells you -about “dreamy” Friday afternoons; her “magnificent” conductor, the -“perfectly exquisite” first violin, etc., etc. - -The adjectives are big sister’s--not mine. - -Well, dear, in Queen Content’s country, love was the leader of the -symphony orchestra, and he was assisted by faith, hope, peace, -industry, thrift, health and many other players. - -The traveler watched a band of laughing children on the green and the -sounds of the beautiful orchestra gladdened his ears. - -He closed his tired eyes and fell asleep. Queen Content found the -traveler on her way and kissed his bonny face. It was Jock o’ the -Pipes. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -THE PROFESSOR’S SPECTACLES. - - -My dear little readers, I have told you about dear Aunt Polly, who was -so kind to Ray and Dorothy, but I have not said a word about their -Uncle John Philip. - -Uncle John Philip was a very learned professor. He lived in a great, -gloomy house that was filled with queer-looking specimens from all -parts of the world. - -There were cabinets, the shelves of which contained stones of every -variety, besides queer-looking stuffed birds and animals. - -There were great, thick volumes on his library shelves, and strange -maps and charts on the walls. It was very seldom that the children went -to visit Uncle John Philip, but whenever they did they were so awed by -all the strange sights in the lonely house that they were always glad -to go home. - -One night there was a fire and the professor’s house with all its -strange furniture was totally destroyed. Then Uncle John Philip came to -live at Dorothy May’s for awhile, and she became better acquainted with -the great professor. - -Now it so happened that Uncle John Philip, though a very wise -professor, was a very foolish uncle. - -He had studied and could explain many wonderful laws of nature, but he -did not understand the heart of a little child. - -One day when dear little Dorothy was asking him about the man in the -moon he said, “Tut, tut, child, uninhabitable, no water, no atmosphere.” - -Dorothy did not understand in the least what he meant, but she said: - -“Don’t you like Mother Goose, where the cow jumped over the moon?” - -“Cow, sea-cow, that reminds me,” cried Uncle John Philip, and he darted -into his study. Dorothy did not see him again until supper. - -But she did not give up hopes, and the very next day she asked him for -a fairy story. - -“Fairies, nonsense,” said the great professor, “there are no fairies.” - -“O uncle,” cried Dorothy in grieved surprise, “how can you say that? -Aunt Polly says there are, and besides it tells all about them in my -Santa Claus book.” - -“Tut, tut, tut,” said the wise professor. - -“But, uncle dear, don’t you love dear old Santa Claus and Mother -Goose?” pleaded the wistful voice. - -“Rubbish, romance,” muttered the learned man. - -Dorothy waited to hear no more. She ran out of the room, and never -stopped until she reached her own little playroom. She felt terribly -disappointed. - -“My uncle doesn’t believe in the lovely fairies,” sighed poor little -Dorothy, “he’ll never have nice times, will he, Susan Ida?” - -The doll thus addressed, stared in blank amazement, and Dorothy somehow -felt better for Susan Ida’s sympathy. - -Just then from the window in her playroom Dorothy saw her uncle go down -the steps and out of the house. She watched his tall, slightly bent -form until it was out of sight. - -She left the playroom and roamed all over the house. As she walked -through the hall, she saw Uncle John Philip’s study door partly open. -At first she just took a peek, then she walked into his study. - -The first thing she noticed was that he had left his great spectacles -on the desk. - -“He’s forgotten his glasses,” said Dorothy, and her first impulse was -to run after Uncle John Philip and return them. - -But he was probably out of sight so Dorothy decided to keep them for -him. - -“What a dear little star-fish!” said Dorothy, as her eyes fell on a -small one, lying on a shelf. - -Dorothy had gathered star-fishes and sea-urchins in the summer, among -the rocks at the seashore, and she knew all about them. - -“I’ll put on Uncle John Philip’s glasses,” said the child, “and make -believe I’m a professor.” - -I’m afraid the frolicsome fairies were playing a trick on Dorothy, -because no sooner did she put on the professor’s spectacles, than the -most wonderful change occurred. - -The pretty little star-fish assumed the proportions of a gigantic -octopus, and Dorothy was so frightened that she quickly took off the -glasses, and stared in wonder. - -“O,” cried the child, “what a dreadful-looking thing!” and she backed -away as far as possible from the harmless little star-fish. - -“It’s only a star-fish,” cried Dorothy to reassure herself, and once -more put on the glasses. Again the dreadful octopus was before her and -off came the glasses with a jump. - -Just then she spied a bottle filled with water on a table. “That’s -nothing but a bottle of water,” said the little girl, “I’m not afraid -of that,” and again she clapped on the professor’s spectacles. - -But horrors! as Dorothy looked through the glasses, the bottle became -as large as a tub and right in the center was a strange, black monster, -with two eyes and a tail swimming around. - -The glasses were pulled off in a second and poor little Dorothy began -to cry. - -“Now I know why uncle doesn’t believe in the beautiful fairies,” cried -the child, “it’s all on account of these horrid spectacles--they make -him see dreadful things.” - -She ran out of the study and down the steps to the garden still holding -the professor’s glasses. - -“I’m glad I’m out of that terrible room, it’s just filled with -monsters, I’m not afraid out here,” said Dorothy seating herself on a -rustic bench. Now it so happened that a certain, plump caterpillar was -taking a walk across that very bench and Dorothy happened to see him. -On went the spectacles and up jumped Dorothy. The little caterpillar -had turned into a brown, furry snake and Dorothy ran for her life. - -She tried to take off the glasses, but they would not come, and she -walked quickly on. - -Some daisies that grew near by looked like immense sunflowers, and -their beautiful white petals were swarming with black bugs. - -Suddenly she came upon a gray, maltese monster, curled up asleep in a -corner of the garden. Of course it was Chuff, her own pussy, but she -never recognized him and ran on more frightened than ever. - -A cow dozing near a hedge became a red horned monster and Dorothy fled -in terror. - -Suddenly a giant appeared in the path before her. He was looking on the -ground to the right and left and never saw Dorothy, who ran behind -some bushes, almost frightened out of her wits. - -As he came near the bushes where Dorothy was hiding she recognized -Uncle John Philip, but she was so thoroughly frightened since he had -turned into a giant that she dared not call or make her presence known. - -When he had passed she emerged from the bushes and ran into the woods. - -At last thoroughly tired she threw herself on the ground, under a great -oak tree and cried herself to sleep with the professor’s spectacles on -her dear little nose. - -When Dorothy was fast asleep the good fairies removed the spectacles -and put them in her lap. They felt so sorry to think that Dorothy had -looked through the ugly glasses that they kissed her pretty eyelids and -whispered beautiful dreams in her little pink ears. - -They placed her on a swing, made of a single, silver spider thread, -suspended between two trees, and Dorothy swung her little feet while -the fairies sang: - - “Where the bee sucks, there lurk I, - In a cowslip’s bell I lie. - There I crouch where owls do cry; - On the bat’s back I do fly, - After summer merrily, - Merrily, merrily shall I live now - Under the blossom that hangs on the bow.” - -The song was followed by a merry dance, and Dorothy watched the fairies -with delight. - -All at once as the fairies danced a strange footstep was heard -approaching. In the twinkling of an eye, every fairy disappeared, -Dorothy’s silver swing broke in the middle, and she found herself under -the oak tree, with the professor’s spectacles in her lap. - -She looked up and there stood Uncle John Philip looking down at her, a -puzzled smile on his face. - -“My dear child,” said the professor, “how did you get here and what are -you doing with my spectacles?” - -Dorothy looked at the glasses in her lap and two big tears rolled down -her cheek. - -She began to cry bitterly, and Uncle John Philip sat beside his little -niece and tried to comfort her. - -“Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry, my dear!” said the great man over and -over. - -“O Uncle John Philip,” sobbed the little girl, “I know why you don’t -believe in the beautiful fairies. It’s all on account of these horrid -spectacles.” - -Then she told him all about her adventure in his study and questioned -him between sobs and tears. - -“That dear little star-fish isn’t a great creepy thing is it, uncle?” - -“No dear, no dear, no dear!” declared the professor. - -“And you don’t keep black monsters in bottles of water, now, do you, -uncle?” - -“No, no, no, no!” cried the great man. - -“You’re not a wicked giant and you do believe in fairies, don’t you, -uncle?” - -“Surely, surely, I do, I do.” - -“Mother Goose isn’t rubbish, is she?” pleaded Dorothy. - -“Never,” declared Uncle John. “Mother Goose is a luxury--a positive -luxury, my dear.” - -“And Santa, dear old Santa, he’s good, too, isn’t he?” coaxed the child. - -“A necessity, my pet, a real necessity, splendid fellow!” exclaimed the -man. - -“O, I’m so glad to hear you say so,” cried Dorothy, and she cuddled up -closer to the great professor and put her little hands confidingly in -his. - -“There is a man in the moon?” questioned Dorothy suddenly. - -“There is, there is, my pet,” cried Uncle John Philip, “and a lady -too, and baby stars, and--and all that sort of thing, my dear.” - -“O, goody, do tell me about it!” cried Dorothy. - -Uncle John Philip smiled at the eager little face that looked into his, -full of confidence. - -The touch of childish hands sent a thrill through the great professor. -He felt twenty years younger, and forty years happier. - -A strange something crept into his heart and stole up to his busy -brain. Something was at work brushing away dusty old facts, and -underneath them all bright fancies made themselves known. - -Uncle John Philip, the great professor began to half sing and partly -recite a song about the moon. - - Lady Moon, Lady Moon, up in the sky, - What do you do, up there so high? - Do you watch your baby stars all night - And smile into their faces bright? - Ah! Lady Moon, I’ve watched you play - At hide-and-seek with clouds in gray. - - Lady Moon, Lady Moon, in your golden car, - Do you ride on the milky way afar, - Smiling down on this great world, - Stooping to kiss the waters curled - On its breast with rippling grace, - Rising to meet your beaming face? - - Lady Moon, Lady Moon, your song I know - When the night is still; it’s sweet and low. - The drowsy tree-tops nod their heads, - The birdies dream it in their beds, - The west wind sings your lullabys, - While all the world in slumber lies. - -“There now,” said Uncle John Philip, “there’s a song about the lady, -and some time I’ll tell you the most wonderful fairy story you ever -heard.” - -“You are the best uncle in the world,” said Dorothy, now smiling and -happy. - -“Here are your spectacles. I don’t believe they’ll ever make you see -dreadful things again.” - -“Dorothy, child,” said the wise man, “my spectacles were blurred and -dim, but they have been washed in the tears of a little child, and -henceforth I shall see better.” - - -THE END. - - - - -A. L. Burt’s Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers, -52-58 Duane Street, New York - -BOOKS FOR GIRLS. - -=Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.= By LEWIS CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 42 -illustrations, price 75 cents. - - “From first to last, almost without exception, this story is - delightfully droll, humorous and illustrated in harmony with the - story.”--=New York Express.= - -=Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.= By LEWIS -CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 50 illustrations, price 75 cents. - - “A delight alike to the young people and their elders, extremely - funny both in text and illustrations.”--=Boston Express.= - -=Little Lucy’s Wonderful Globe.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “This story is unique among tales intended for children, alike for - pleasant instruction, quaintness of humor, gentle pathos, and the - subtlety with which lessons moral and otherwise are conveyed to - children, and perhaps to their seniors as well.”--=The Spectator.= - -=Joan’s Adventures at the North Pole and Elsewhere.= By ALICE CORKRAN. -12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “Wonderful as the adventures of Joan are, it must be admitted that - they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented. - Altogether this is an excellent story for girls.”--=Saturday - Review.= - -=Count Up the Sunny Days=: A Story for Girls and Boys. By C. A. JONES. -12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “An unusually good children’s story.”--=Glasgow Herald.= - -=The Dove in the Eagle’s Nest.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price $1.00. - - “Among all the modern writers we believe Miss Yonge first, not in - genius, but in this, that she employs her great abilities for a - high and noble purpose. We know of few modern writers whose works - may be so safely commended as hers.”--=Cleveland Times.= - -=Jan of the Windmill.= A Story of the Plains. By MRS. J. H. EWING. -12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “Never has Mrs. Ewing published a more charming volume, and that - is saying a very great deal. From the first to the last the book - overflows with the strange knowledge of child-nature which so - rarely survives childhood; and moreover, with inexhaustible quiet - humor, which is never anything but innocent and well-bred, never - priggish, and never clumsy.”--=Academy.= - -=A Sweet Girl Graduate.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, -price $1.00. - - “One of this popular author’s best. The characters are well - imagined and drawn. The story moves with plenty of spirit - and the interest does not flag until the end too quickly - comes.”--=Providence Journal.= - -=Six to Sixteen=: A Story for Girls. By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo, -cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “There is no doubt as to the good quality and attractiveness of - ‘Six to Sixteen.’ The book is one which would enrich any girl’s - book shelf.”--=St. James’ Gazette.= - -=The Palace Beautiful=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price $1.00. - - “A bright and interesting story. The many admirers of Mrs. L. T. - Meade in this country will be delighted with the ‘Palace Beautiful’ - for more reasons than one. It is a charming book for girls.”--=New - York Recorder.= - -=A World of Girls=: The Story of a School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price $1.00. - - “One of those wholesome stories which it does one good to read. It - will afford pure delight to numerous readers. This book should be - on every girl’s book shelf.”--=Boston Home Journal.= - -=The Lady of the Forest=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, -cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “This story is written in the author’s well-known, fresh and - easy style. All girls fond of reading will be charmed by this - well-written story. It is told with the author’s customary grace - and spirit.”--=Boston Times.= - -=At the Back of the North Wind.= By GEORGE MACDONALD. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price $1.00. - - “A very pretty story, with much of the freshness and vigor of Mr. - Macdonald’s earlier work.... It is a sweet, earnest, and wholesome - fairy story, and the quaint native humor is delightful. A most - delightful volume for young readers.”--=Philadelphia Times.= - -=The Water Babies=: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By CHARLES KINGSLEY. -12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “The strength of his work, as well as its peculiar charms, consist - in his description of the experiences of a youth with life under - water in the luxuriant wealth of which he revels with all the ardor - of a poetical nature.”--=New York Tribune.= - -=Our Bessie.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “One of the most entertaining stories of the season, full of - vigorous action, and strong in character-painting. Elder girls - will be charmed with it, and adults may read its pages with - profit.”--=The Teachers’ Aid.= - -=Wild Kitty.= A Story of Middleton School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price $1.00. - - “Kitty is a true heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as - all good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm - of humanity. One of the most attractive gift books of the - season.”--=The Academy.= - -=A Young Mutineer.= A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price $1.00. - - “One of Mrs. Meade’s charming books for girls, narrated in that - simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of - the first among writers for young people.”--=The Spectator.= - -=Sue and I.= By MRS. O’REILLY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “A thoroughly delightful book, full of sound wisdom as well as - fun.”--=Athenæum.= - -=The Princess and the Goblin.= A Fairy Story. By GEORGE MACDONALD. -12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “If a child once begins this book, it will get so deeply interested - in it that when bedtime comes it will altogether forget the moral, - and will weary its parents with importunities for just a few - minutes more to see how everything ends.”--=Saturday Review.= - -=Pythia’s Pupils=: A Story of a School. By EVA HARTNER. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price $1.00. - - “This story of the doings of several bright school girls is sure to - interest girl readers. Among many good stories for girls this is - undoubtedly one of the very best.”--=Teachers’ Aid.= - -=A Story of a Short Life.= By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price $1.00. - - “The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only - bright and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and - teaching.”--=Courier.= - -=The Sleepy King.= A Fairy Tale. By AUBREY HOPWOOD and Seymour Hicks. -12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “Wonderful as the adventures of Bluebell are, it must be - admitted that they are very naturally worked out and very - plausibly presented. Altogether this is an excellent story for - girls.”--=Saturday Review.= - -=Two Little Waifs.= By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price -75 cents. - - “Mrs. Molesworth’s delightful story of ‘Two Little Waifs’ will - charm all the small people who find it in their stockings. It - relates the adventures of two lovable English children lost in - Paris, and is just wonderful enough to pleasantly wring the - youthful heart.”--=New York Tribune.= - -=Adventures in Toyland.= By EDITH KING HALL. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, -price 75 cents. - - “The author is such a bright, cheery writer, that her stories are - always acceptable to all who are not confirmed cynics, and her - record of the adventures is as entertaining and enjoyable as we - might expect.”--=Boston Courier.= - -=Adventures in Wallypug Land.= By G. E. FARROW. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “These adventures are simply inimitable, and will delight boys - and girls of mature age, as well as their juniors. No happier - combination of author and artist than this volume presents could be - found to furnish healthy amusement to the young folks. The book is - an artistic one in every sense.”--=Toronto Mail.= - -=Fussbudget’s Folks.= A Story for Young Girls. By ANNA F. BURNHAM. -12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “Mrs. Burnham has a rare gift for composing stories for children. - With a light, yet forcible touch, she paints sweet and artless, yet - natural and strong, characters.”--=Congregationalist.= - -=Mixed Pickles.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. E. M. FIELD. 12mo, cloth, -illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “It is, in its way, a little classic, of which the real beauty and - pathos can hardly be appreciated by young people. It is not too - much to say of the story that it is perfect of its kind.”--=Good - Literature.= - -=Miss Mouse and Her Boys.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo, -cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “Mrs. Molesworth’s books are cheery, wholesome, and particularly - well adapted to refined life. It is safe to add that she is the - best English prose writer for children. A new volume from Mrs. - Molesworth is always a treat.”--=The Beacon.= - -=Gilly Flower.= A Story for Girls. By the author of “Miss Toosey’s -Mission.” 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “Jill is a little guardian angel to three lively brothers who - tease and play with her.... Her unconscious goodness brings right - thoughts and resolves to several persons who come into contact with - her. There is no goodiness in this tale, but its influence is of - the best kind.”--=Literary World.= - -=The Chaplet of Pearls=; or, The White and Black Ribaumont. By -CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that - grown-up readers may enjoy it as much as children. It is one of the - best books of the season.”--=Guardian.= - -=Naughty Miss Bunny=: Her Tricks and Troubles. By CLARA MULHOLLAND. -12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “The naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit - the book from their list of juvenile presents.”--=Land and Water.= - -=Meg’s Friend.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “One of Miss Corkran’s charming books for girls, narrated in that - simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of - the first among writers for young people.”--=The Spectator.= - -=Averil.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “A charming story for young folks. Averil is a delightful - creature--piquant, tender, and true--and her varying fortunes are - perfectly realistic.”--=World.= - -=Aunt Diana.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. - - “An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to - last. This is, both in its intention and the way the story is told, - one of the best books of its kind which has come before us this - year.”--=Saturday Review.= - -=Little Sunshine’s Holiday=: A Picture from Life. By MISS MULOCK. 12mo, -cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents. - - “This is a pretty narrative of child life, describing the simple - doings and sayings of a very charming and rather precocious child. - This is a delightful book for young people.”--=Gazette.= - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by -the publisher, =A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York=. - - - - -Transcriber’s Note: - -Punctuation has been standardised. Spelling and hyphenation has been -retained as it appears in the original publication except as follows: - - Page 27 - thought if the cat did not hurt her _changed to_ - thought if the cat did not hurt him - - Page 36 - smaller even that _changed to_ - smaller even than - - Page 82 - looked the hall of a _changed to_ - looked like the hall of a - - - Page 91 - I am the sugar-bowl fairy _changed to_ - I am the Sugar-bowl Fairy - - Page 149 - Stanzil shook his head _changed to_ - Stanzill shook his head - - Page 206 - JOURNEY WITH THE SCREEN-GIRL _changed to_ - JOURNEY WITH THE SCREEN GIRL - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE MISS DOROTHY *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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