diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-02 19:49:38 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-02 19:49:38 -0800 |
| commit | dcac585473855af0f7848697d63eb3f6321af86b (patch) | |
| tree | 5dc9da333af0a4da4d146d496774dbf597b7e24f | |
| parent | a76803f526c2793ae83dfe27c549b3bdc59f39e4 (diff) | |
32 files changed, 17 insertions, 10238 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..283948d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #68589 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68589) diff --git a/old/68589-0.txt b/old/68589-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 357d870..0000000 --- a/old/68589-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4869 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sandman's rainy day stories, by Abbie -Phillips Walker - -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: Sandman's rainy day stories - -Author: Abbie Phillips Walker - -Illustrator: Rhoda C. Chase - -Release Date: July 22, 2022 [eBook #68589] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Charlene Taylor, Amber Black and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SANDMAN'S RAINY DAY -STORIES *** - - - - - - SANDMAN’S - RAINY DAY STORIES - -[Illustration] - - - - -_Books by_ - -ABBIE PHILLIPS WALKER - - - SANDMAN’S STORIES OF DRUSILLA DOLL - SANDMAN’S RAINY DAY STORIES - SANDMAN’S CHRISTMAS STORIES - SANDMAN’S TWILIGHT STORIES - TOLD BY THE SANDMAN - SANDMAN’S TALES - THE SANDMAN’S HOUR - - -_Harper & Brothers Publishers_ - -ESTABLISHED 1817 - - - - - Sandman’s - Rainy Day - Stories - - [Illustration] - - _By_ Abbie Phillips Walker - _Illustrated by_ Rhoda C. Chase - - Harper & Brothers, Publishers - - - - - SANDMAN’S RAINY DAY STORIES - - Copyright, 1920, by Harper & Brothers - Printed in the United States of America - Published September, 1920 - G--U - - - - - _This book is lovingly dedicated - to the memory of - my father - THOMAS PHILLIPS_ - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - PRINCESS CANTILLA 3 - - THE TREE OF SWORDS 18 - - THE SILVER HORSESHOES 28 - - THE BLUE CASTLE 37 - - NARDO AND THE PRINCESS 50 - - OLD THREE HEADS 59 - - THE ENCHANTED BOAT 73 - - NICKO AND THE OGRE 83 - - THE GINGERBREAD ROCK 91 - - PRINCE ROUL’S BRIDE 100 - - SUNEV 109 - - CILLA AND THE DWARF 117 - - GRETA AND THE BLACK CAT 123 - - THE KNIGHT OF THE BRIGHT STAR 132 - - THE DOLPHIN’S BRIDE 138 - - PRINCESS DIDO AND THE PRINCE OF THE ROSES 144 - - CATVILLE GOSSIP 151 - - HOW THE ELEPHANT GOT HIS TRUNK 154 - - WHY RABBITS HAVE SHORT TAILS 160 - - THE HUNTER’S FRIEND, JOHNNIE BEAR 166 - - PLAID TROUSERS 170 - - THE THREE RUNAWAYS 177 - - - - - SANDMAN’S - RAINY DAY STORIES - - - - -[Illustration] - -PRINCESS CANTILLA - - -Princess Cantilla lived in a castle like most princesses, but she was -not a rich princess, for her father had lost all his lands and money by -quarreling with other kings about the length and breadth of his kingdom -and theirs. - -So poor little Cantilla had to work just like any common peasant girl -and cook the meals for herself and her father. - -The old castle where Cantilla and her father lived had fallen into -decay, and only a few rooms at one end were now used, so that the bats -and owls had taken possession of the towers and once gorgeous halls on -the opposite side of the castle, where beautiful ladies and courtly -gentlemen were once seen in gay and festive pleasures. A kitchen and a -bedroom apiece were all the rooms that Cantilla and her father, the old -King, used, and the furniture was so old it hardly held together. - -One day Cantilla was cooking soup for dinner, and as the steam rolled -up from the kettle Cantilla thought she saw a face with a long beard -looking at her. She drew her hand across her eyes to make her sight -more clear, and the next time she looked she did see a face, and a -form, too. - -A little man with a misshapen back and a long white beard, the ends of -which he carried over one arm, stepped from the cover of the boiling -pot and hopped to the floor. - -“Princess,” he said, bowing low before Cantilla, “I am an enchanted -dwarf. I can give you back your once beautiful home and make your -father a rich king again. - -“I can cause all the rooms of the old castle to become new and filled -with beautiful hangings and furniture, as they were before your father -became so poor.” - -Cantilla began to smile at the thought of all the luxury and comfort -the dwarf pictured, and she lost sight of his ugly-looking body and -face for a minute, but she was brought to her senses by what the dwarf -next said. - -“All this will I give you, Princess Cantilla, if you will become my -wife,” he said, taking a step closer to Cantilla. - -“Oh no, no! I cannot do that,” said Cantilla, holding up both hands as -if to ward off even the thought of such a thing. - -“Wait,” said the dwarf. “Do not be so hasty, my Princess. I will come -again for your reply to-night at the fountain in the garden where the -honeysuckle grows.” - -Before Cantilla could reply to this he swung his beard over his head -and disappeared in a cloud of what looked like steam or smoke. - -Cantilla looked about her and pinched herself to make sure she had not -dreamed all she had just seen, and by and by she believed it was a -dream--that she must have fallen asleep in her chair by the fire. - -That night while she was sleeping she was awakened by feeling some one -touch her on the face. - -Cantilla had been awakened so many times by the little mice that -overran the old castle that she only brushed her face with her hand -without opening her eyes and went to sleep again. - -“Cantilla, open your eyes! Open your eyes!” she heard some one whisper -close to her ear, and again she felt the touch of something on her face. - -Cantilla opened her eyes and sat up in bed. The room was quite bright, -and a beautiful lamp with a pink silk shade gave everything in the room -a rose tint. - -Cantilla was sure she was dreaming, for it was not her old shabby room -at all she was looking at. - -She looked down at the covering of her bed--that was pink silk, too; -she felt of it and found it was filled with the softest down; she also -noticed that she wore a beautiful night-robe of pink silk and lace. - -On the floor beside the bed on a soft, pink rug stood two little satin -slippers, trimmed with swan’s-down. - -“I am dreaming,” said Cantilla, “but I will enjoy it while it lasts,” -and she looked about her. - -The furniture was white and gold, and soft pink rugs covered the floor. -Her bed had little gold Cupids on each post, and they held in their -hands the ends of pink silk that formed a beautiful canopy; little -frills of lace fell from the bottom of the silk, making it look very -soft and pretty in the lamplight. - -On the table beside her bed, which held her lamp, Cantilla saw a -big gold-and-glass bottle. She reached for it and took out the gold -stopper, then she tipped the bottle and bathed her face and hands with -the delicious perfume it held. - -Cantilla put her little feet out of bed and slipped them into the -slippers and walked over to the gold-and-white dressing-table at the -other side of the room. - -Everything was so beautiful she just looked at first, then she picked -up a gold brush and smoothed her hair. She took up each of the gold -toilet articles and saw that on each was the letter “C.” - -“They must belong to me,” said Cantilla. “But, of course, it is all a -dream,” as she opened a drawer of a big gold-and-white chest. - -What she saw made Cantilla gasp with wonder, for the drawer was filled -with beautiful clothes, and as she opened the others she found they all -were filled with silk and lace-trimmed clothes. - -Cantilla forgot all about her dream and ran, just as though she were -awake, to a closet door that was open. She swung it back and looked; -there hung before her astonished gaze pink silk dresses and blue silk -dresses and white and dainty green and yellow silk dresses. - -Now, I did not tell you that Cantilla had black hair which hung in long -curls about her pretty face and over her pretty white shoulders, and -her eyes were as deep-blue as the deepest blue of a violet, and when -she put on one of the pink silk dresses and stepped in front of a long -mirror she forgot all else for a moment. Then suddenly she heard her -name called softly. “Cantilla, Cantilla,” the voice said. - -Cantilla looked up, and on the top of the mirror stood a little fairy -dressed in pink gauze. - -“Oh! you have a pretty pink dress, too,” said Cantilla, forgetting to -be surprised at seeing a fairy in her room. - -“Yes, but it is the only dress I own,” said the little creature, with a -smile, “while you have a closet full; but then mine never wear out, and -yours will.” - -“You mean I will wake up in a minute, I suppose,” said Cantilla. “Yes, -I know it is a dream, but I am having a good time. I wish I could have -a dream like this every night. I wouldn’t mind being poor through the -day.” - -“Ah! but you are not dreaming at all, Princess Cantilla,” said the -fairy, “and if you will follow me I will show you more of your -beautiful home. Come along.” - -Cantilla did not answer, but walked after the fairy, who skimmed along -before Cantilla like a little pink bird. - -The fairy touched a door with her wand and it flew open. Cantilla -looked about her in wonder, for the hall, which had been hung with -tatters of faded tapestry, now looked like the hall of a king. - -The tapestry hung whole and rich-looking upon the walls, which were of -deep-blue and gold. The old armor that had been broken and covered with -dust and mold was erect as though its former wearer was inside it. - -The fairy touched the door of the room where the old King was sleeping, -and again Cantilla looked in wonder, for her father slept beneath a -canopy of red and gold upon a bed of gold, and all the furnishings of -his room were such as a king would have. - -Cantilla looked at her father. He was smiling in his sleep, and the -care-worn look had gone from his face. - -The fairy beckoned to her and Cantilla, with one backward glance at her -sleeping father, followed. - -Next the old dining-hall was opened for Cantilla to see. The once faded -and torn draperies were whole, and bats and owls were gone from the -corners of the room where they had often made their nests. - -The beautiful table of onyx and silver was covered with dishes of -silver, and dainty lace napkins lay beside each place as though ready -for the coming guests. But the fairy led her away, and next Cantilla -saw the beautiful halls where the old King held his grand balls and -kings and queens and princes and princesses had danced. - -The lights burned in the gold-and-glass fixtures fastened to the walls -and made the place look like fairyland. - -The blue damask curtains with their edge of priceless lace hung from -the windows, whole and shimmering with richness, and chairs of gold -stood upright and bright against the walls, and the floor shone with -polish. - -And so through the whole castle the fairy led the wondering little -Princess to look at her old ruined home, now beautiful and whole. - -Then the fairy took Cantilla to the gardens. The once dry fountains -were playing in the moonlight, the nightingales could be heard among -the roses, and the air was filled with rich perfume. - -When they reached the lower end of the garden Cantilla suddenly stopped -and stood very still. She was beside a fountain, and honeysuckle grew -over an arbor close beside it. - -Cantilla remembered the words of the dwarf she had seen in her dream, -and his words, “I will come for your reply to-night at the fountain -where the honeysuckle grows.” - -The fairy stood on a bush beside her. “You remember now, do you not?” -she asked. “You see it was not a dream this morning, and you are not -dreaming now, my Princess, but I cannot help you. I have finished my -work and must return to my Queen. Farewell!” - -Cantilla watched the fairy disappear without uttering a single word. -She saw in her mind’s eye only the ugly features of the dwarf and heard -his words. - -In another minute she saw what looked like a cloud near the -honeysuckle arbor, and in another minute the dwarf of the morning stood -before her with the ends of his long white beard thrown over one arm. - -“I have come, Princess Cantilla, for my answer,” said the dwarf. “Marry -me and all you have seen shall be yours.” - -Cantilla threw out her hands as she had in the morning and started to -reply, but the dwarf checked her. “Before you give your answer,” he -said, “think of your old father and how contented and happy he looked -surrounded by the comforts of his former days of prosperity.” - -Cantilla let her hands fall by her side, her head bent low, and she -stood lost in thought. She saw again her old father in his bed of gold, -and the face that looked so happy, then she raised her head without -looking at the ugly creature before her and said: “I consent; I will -become your wife; I cannot love you, but I will wed you if that will -content you.” - -“Follow me, then,” said the dwarf, throwing his long beard over his -head and letting it fall over Cantilla as he spoke. - -Cantilla saw only a fleecy cloud closing all about her, and the next -thing she knew she was on a little island in the middle of a deep blue -ocean, with the dwarf standing beside her. - -The dwarf, with his beard still over one arm, held his hands to his -mouth and gave a long, loud call, which seemed to descend to the depths -of the ocean. - -Up from the water came an arm and hand holding a twisted shell, and -then Cantilla saw a head appear and blow a long, loud blast from the -shell. - -A splashing was heard, and out of the water came an old man in a -chariot of mother-of-pearl. - -The chariot was drawn by two horses with feet and manes of gold, and in -one hand the old man carried a long wand with three prongs at one end. - -The old man struck the water with the queer-looking wand, and from all -over the surface of the water come the sea nymphs and all sorts of -monsters and creatures that live at the bottom of the ocean. - -But when the mermaids appeared the old man sent them back quickly and -drove his chariot toward Cantilla and the dwarf. - -Cantilla by this time was beyond being frightened or surprised, and she -stood beside the dwarf waiting for the next thing to happen. - -“My Lord Neptune,” said the dwarf, bowing low as the old man drove -close to the island on which Cantilla and the dwarf stood, “I have come -with my Princess for you to perform the ceremony. She has consented to -become my wife.” - -“What!” cried the old man, in an angry voice, “do you mean you have -found a Princess who will consent to have such a husband as you -are--ugly and misshapen wretch?” - -“Answer him, my Princess,” said the dwarf. “Tell my Lord Neptune you -consent to marry me.” - -“I do consent to marry the dwarf,” Cantilla managed to say, and again -the old man struck the water, this time in anger, and the water spouted -about them like huge fountains throwing up rivers. - -Cantilla felt the dwarf take her hand, and he said, “Fear not, my -Princess; it will soon be over.” - -In a few minutes the water was calm again, and the old man in the -chariot stood a little way off, surrounded by the nymphs and other -creatures, holding the three-pronged wand high over his head. - -“I release you; you are wed; be gone from my sight,” said the old man, -and as the trumpet-bearer sounded his loud call, the old man and his -chariot passed into the deep water, followed by all his nymphs and the -others. - -Cantilla looked toward the dwarf, wondering if ever any one had such a -strange wedding, but to her surprise he was gone and by her side stood -a handsome man, who said: “My Princess, behold in me your husband. I am -free from the spell of the old man of the sea, who wanted me to become -a sea monster and live under the ocean. - -“I was changed into the shape of the ugly dwarf because I would not -marry a mermaid who happened to fall in love with me one day while I -was bathing, and she called upon a sea witch to change me into a sea -monster, but I escaped before I took on the sea shape, but not before I -was changed into the ugly dwarf you saw this morning. - -“A kind fairy interceded with her Queen to save me, and she went to the -old man, who is Neptune, the God of the Waters. He told the Queen if I -could find a princess who would consent to marry me he would release -me from the spell the sea witch had cast over me. - -“You know how that was accomplished, my Princess, and if you think you -can accept me in place of the dwarf for your husband we will return -to the castle, where your father is still sleeping, I expect, for the -Fairy Queen said she would watch until sunrise for our return.” - -Cantilla, no longer looking sad, but smiling and happy, put her hand in -her husband’s and told him she was the happiest girl in the world. - -“And I am the happiest man in the world,” said her husband, “for I not -only am freed from the spell of the sea witch, but I have won the one -woman in the world I could ever love for my wife.” - -Three times he clapped his hands together, and the little fairy in the -pink gauze dress appeared. - -“The Queen sends her love to you and this message, ‘Bless you, my -children,’ and now I will take you home to the castle.” - -She touched the Princess and her husband on the cheek with her wand, -and Cantilla found herself back in the castle garden by the fountain -and honeysuckle arbor, with her handsome husband standing by her side. - -“Come, my dear, we must go in to breakfast,” said her husband; “your -father will be waiting for us.” - -“How will we explain about our wedding and the changed appearance of -the castle?” asked Cantilla. - -“Oh! the Fairy Queen has arranged all that,” said Cantilla’s husband. -“Your father will not remember he ever lost his fortune; he will ask no -questions.” - -Cantilla and her husband went hand in hand into the castle to their -breakfast, and from that day Cantilla never knew another sorrow or -unhappy moment. - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE TREE OF SWORDS - - -Once there lived a king who had a daughter that had been changed by a -wicked witch into a brindle cow. - -The witch had wanted the King to invite her to the feast when the -Princess was born, and because he invited her only into the servants’ -hall and not to the feast of the royal family the old witch had thrown -a spell over the baby, and when she grew to womanhood she suddenly one -day changed into the brindle cow. Great was the surprise of the King -and Queen when they went to the room of the Princess one morning and -found in her dainty lace bed a cow in place of their pretty daughter. - -They sent for the old witch at once, for they knew that some magic -spell must have caused this terrible change, but the old witch sent -back word that the only thing that would change the Princess back to -her own shape was a pear from the tree which grew by the mountain of -ice. - -Now this mountain of ice all the people knew was controlled by a -three-headed troll, and the tree which grew near by was the chimney to -his home under the mountain. - -There was nothing to do but to offer money to the one who would get the -pear which would restore the little Princess to her own form. - -There was another thing that made it very dangerous to try to get the -pear, and this was that no sooner did one attempt to touch the tree -than all its branches changed to sharp swords. - -To reach the tree the mountain must be climbed, and this being of ice, -the ones who tried were in danger of slipping and being killed as they -fell, sliding down the mountain and striking on the tree, which would -be filled with swords as soon as they struck it. - -After a while all those who tried gave it up as too dangerous, and the -King then sent out word that to the one who would bring the pear, -be he rich or poor, of high or low degree, he would give to him the -Princess for a wife, as well as a barrel of gold. - -But no one would risk his life for that offer, for they thought perhaps -the Princess would not regain her shape even after eating the pear, and -who would wish to marry a cow, even if she were royal? - -But one day a poor youth came to the palace and told the King and Queen -that he would try to get a pear if they would give him the brindle cow -before he ventured up the mountain of ice. “For if I fail,” he said, “I -wish to leave my poor mother something, and a cow is always useful.” - -The King offered money, but the youth would have nothing but the -brindle cow, so they led away the cow to the peasant’s barn, while the -King and Queen watched her go with sad hearts. - -On her back was a velvet blanket trimmed with gold, and the Queen tried -to make the peasant take a soft bed for her to sleep on, but this he -would not do. “No, she is a cow, and must sleep in the barn like other -cows,” he said. - -The King and Queen had all this time been feeding the cow on dainty -fruit and all sorts of good things, and the youth had heard that the -pear she was to eat to save her would be bitter and bad to taste, and -he wanted to get her used to eating anything that was given her. - -The peasant youth began his climb up the mountain of ice, but each day -for a month he only went one step ahead, for while he sometimes went -far up, each time he would slip back. - -And all this time the poor little cow was growing thinner and thinner, -for she would not eat the food that was put before her. - -One day when the peasant youth was about discouraged and thought he -would have to give up trying for the pear, he felt the ice under him -suddenly grow soft and his feet seemed to stick and not slip any more. - -To his surprise, when he looked at his feet he saw a little fairy -standing on each foot and touching them with her wand. - -Up he went swiftly now, and soon was at a place on the mountain where -he could touch the magic tree, and there the little fairies told him -they were powerless to help him further. - -“We can only tell you that if you can get from the three-headed troll -the belt he wears you can get the pear, but we fairies cannot throw a -spell over trolls,” they told him. - -When the fairies disappeared the peasant felt more discouraged than -before, for there he was in danger of slipping, and before him was the -dreadful tree. - -But while he stood thinking the tree opened and out came the troll, -leaving the tree wide open behind him. - -He did not look up or down, to right or left, but walked down the -mountain, and the youth, sitting flat upon the ice, slid into the open -tree. - -Down, down he went! And then suddenly he found himself in a big room, -in one corner of which was a huge bed, in another a big stove, in -another a big chair and table, and in the fourth corner stood a large -sword so tall that the peasant could easily hide behind it. - -And lucky it was for him that it was big, for at that moment in came -the three-headed troll and rolled all six of his eyes about the room. - -“He, hi, ho, hun! I smell the flesh of a mortal son,” he said. “You -cannot escape me, so come out from wherever you are hiding!” The -frightened youth was trembling so that the sword tipped over, and there -he stood before the three-headed troll, who jumped to catch him. - -But though he had three heads, he had only two feet, and, tripping over -the sword, he fell sprawling on the floor. - -Now his three heads were so heavy that, once he was down, it was hard -work to get up, and while he struggled his belt became unfastened and -lay under him on the floor. - -The peasant saw this and, knowing he was in danger anyway, thought he -would risk a little more. - -So he ran over to the troll and with both hands tugged at the belt, and -as the troll rolled over out from under him it came. - -Quickly as he could he put the belt about his waist, and, to his -surprise, he felt so strong that the size of the sword on the floor -seemed no longer to frighten him. - -He picked it up and found that it was as light as a tin one, and then -the troll, rolling over again, saw his belt around the peasant’s waist -and his sword in his hand, and he cried out, “My power is gone!” as he -tried to crawl away. - -“Tell me how to get a pear from the tree and I will spare your life,” -said the peasant. - -The troll managed to get upon his feet, but he was no longer the -powerful creature he had been a few moments before. - -“Follow me,” he said, as he led the peasant out of the door of the -tree, which was still open. - -The tree was filled with swords, all shiny and sharp-looking, as the -sun fell upon them, for as soon as the peasant had slid in the door the -swords had appeared and had warned the troll before he entered that -some mortal was near by. - -“If you will promise to do as I ask you after you have the pear, I will -tell you the secret of getting it,” said the troll. “It will not harm -any one to grant my last wish.” - -So the youth promised and the troll said: “You must strike the swords -on the tree with the sword you hold until the sparks fly. Then the -pears which you see hanging from the swords will fall to the ground, -but the tree will burn up. - -“And then there will be nothing for me. My magic power will be gone -forever. So I ask that you will then strike me with the sword on my -middle head, and that will change me into a shape which will never harm -any one again.” - -This the youth said he would do and began to strike the swords on the -tree, making the sparks fly and the pears drop, and then all at once -the tree began to burn. - -Keeping the sword still in his grasp, the youth looked for the largest -of the green pears and picked it up, putting it in his pocket. - -“Don’t forget your promise,” said the troll as the youth started to go -away. “You need not be afraid,” he said as the youth drew back. “The -blow will not hurt me.” - -So the youth lifted the sword and brought it down on the troll’s middle -head with such force that the sword fell from his hands and struck the -mountain of ice with such a bang that the ice began to crack. - -At first the youth did not see what had happened, the noise had -startled him so, but the next minute he saw that in place of the troll -stood a beautiful tree filled with pears, and the mountain was no -longer ice, but covered with soft, green moss. - -He did not stop, but down the mountain he ran and to his home, where -the brindle cow stood in the barn, so hungry she opened her mouth at -once and ate the pear, thinking it would be sweet and juicy, but it -was far from that. It was so bitter and bad that had she not been so -hungry she could not have eaten it, but it was swallowed before she -knew it, and there in the stall of the peasant’s barn stood the pretty -Princess looking about her in astonishment. - -“How did I come in this horrid place, and what a dirty-looking man you -are!” she said. “Take me home at once! My father is the King, and he -will punish you if you do not obey me!” - -It did not take the peasant long to take her home, and when the Queen -and the King saw their daughter in her own form again they fell on -their knees before the peasant youth and thanked him. - -But the Princess did not understand what it all meant, and said: “Why -do you kneel to him? He should kneel to you! Are you not King and Queen -of this land, and this man a poor peasant?” - -Before the King could explain to the Princess the youth said: “I have -brought you your daughter, but you must keep her. I could never marry a -maid who thought herself above me. Give me gold and let me go back to -my home!” - -He was wise enough to see that a poor peasant and a princess could not -be happy together and a peasant girl was a more fitting bride for him. - -The Princess was very sorry for all she had said when she found out the -peasant had saved her, and when he was married she sent to his wife -a chest of linen and silver which made her the envy of all the other -peasants for miles around. - -The troll was never heard of again, and only the peasant youth knows -that the pear-tree on the side of the mountain which bears such juicy -fruit was once the three-headed troll who lived under the tree of -swords. - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE SILVER HORSESHOES - - -Once upon a time there lived a king who wanted a son-in-law who would -be a good soldier as well as a good husband, so he put his daughter, -the Princess, who, of course, was very beautiful, in a tower on top of -a high mountain. Then he sent out word all over his kingdom and to all -the other kingdoms that to the youth who could get to the top of the -tower he would give the Princess for a wife. - -But when the youths came from far and near they found the mountain was -slippery as glass, and their horses slipped back faster than they could -climb. - -In a kingdom far from where the King lived was a poor prince whose -father had lost all his lands and money in wars, so that when he died -he left the Prince nothing but the castle and a black horse. - -One day the Prince was feeding his horse and thinking of the Princess -on top of the high mountain in the tower, and he spoke his thought out -loud. - -“If only I had some clothes fit to be seen,” he said, “I would try to -reach the Princess in the tower, and this poverty would be at an end. -And you, my beauty, would have oats in plenty then,” patting the horse -on the neck. - -“Why don’t you try, master?” said the horse. - -The Prince was surprised to hear the horse speak, but still he had -heard of such things happening, and he answered, saying: “I have no -clothes; besides, many others have tried, and no horse is able to climb -the mountain.” - -“Master, go to the witch that lives in a cave in the middle of the -woods at midnight and get my shoes,” said the horse. And then he fell -to eating his scanty dinner and said no more. - -The Prince thought there was nothing to lose by doing as the horse told -him, so that night he went to the woods to find the witch. The woods -he found easily, but to find the cave was a different matter. First he -met a fox, and he asked the way to the cave of the witch. - -“Oh, master,” said the fox, “take my advice and go home; no good will -come to you if you find it.” - -But the Prince would not give up the quest, so he asked a wolf that he -met next where the cave was located in the woods. - -The wolf ran away, saying: “You better go home. That cave will bring -only harm to any one who finds it.” - -The Prince was not to be frightened and on he went, and an owl was the -next one he saw. “Where is the cave the old witch lives in?” he asked. - -“Hoot! hoot!” said the owl, flapping his wings. “Be off, man, while -there is time. Don’t go near that cave if you value your life,” and off -flew the owl, leaving the Prince no wiser than before. - -After going deep into the woods--in fact, he was at the very center and -did not know it--the Prince stood still and listened. - -A sound reached his ear which seemed like the clatter of horses’ -hoofs, and the Prince went in the direction from which the sound came. - -All at once he found himself in front of the cave for which he had -searched so long, and, looking in, he saw the old witch prancing about -in the craziest manner. - -She would climb the side of her cave with as much ease as she could -walk across the floor, and then, giving a spring, she would walk on the -top of the cave, her head hanging down toward the floor. - -While the Prince was looking and wondering at this strange performance -he noticed something shining on her feet, and when he looked closer, to -his surprise he saw that the witch had on her feet silver horseshoes. -Then he knew what his black horse had said was worth listening to--he -was to get the shoes the old witch was wearing. - -But then he thought: “She has on only two; I must have four. I wonder -where are the other two.” - -Just then a black cat came dancing into the cave, and on her hind feet -the Prince saw the other two shoes he wanted. Such dancing and climbing -the Prince had never seen as was done by the old witch and her black -cat. The silver shoes seemed to take them anywhere and they could do -anything while they wore them. - -After a while the witch and the black cat grew weary and took off the -shoes, and the Prince saw them lift up a stone in the middle of the -cave and drop the four silver horseshoes into a hole and then drop the -stone again. - -After the witch and the black cat were fast asleep in one corner of the -cave the Prince crept in softly and lifted the stone. At the bottom of -a deep hole he saw the horseshoes, and he was wondering how he could -get them when he felt a push from behind and down he went into the -hole, landing at the bottom where the shoes were. - -The old witch had awakened and had pushed him in, and the Prince could -hear her and the cat jumping about and laughing with glee that they had -trapped him. - -When the Prince found himself in the hole under the cave where the old -witch lived he thought his end had come. It was as dark as a dungeon. -The only thing he could see was the glitter of the silver horseshoes. - -While he stood looking at them and thinking how the old witch and her -cat jumped about, and wondering what she would do with him, he suddenly -was struck with an idea. - -He would put on the shoes, one on each foot, and take the other two in -his hands. - -No sooner did he think it than he did it, and, giving a spring, up he -went, the stone flying off the top of the hole as he touched it with -his hands holding the silver horseshoes. - -Into the cave he jumped, and the old witch and her black cat sprang at -him, but he had only to run, and, without touching the ground, away he -flew through the forest, the old witch and her cat after him. - -Sometimes they would almost catch him, for the witch had jumped on her -broomstick and the cat sat on behind her, and they flew over trees and -bushes as well as the Prince. - -The Prince knew he was lost if they caught him, and finally decided to -turn around and run toward them, thinking he might be able to knock the -witch off her broomstick and so stop their flight. - -No sooner did he turn than the shining silver shoes cast a ray of light -on the old witch and her cat and like magic they tumbled off the -broomstick, and away went the stick higher and higher in the air until -it disappeared; and on the ground where the cat and the old witch fell -the Prince saw two stones, one big and the other smaller and almost -black, so he knew he was rid of his enemies and could get out of the -forest safely with the silver horseshoes. - -The black horse danced with delight when he saw the shoes, and stood -still until they were fastened on his feet; then he pranced about and -shook his head in a very knowing manner, though he did not speak again, -and the Prince mounted him and rode away, forgetting all about his -shabby coat. - -The black horse trotted along like any other horse until they came to -the mountain on top of which the Princess lived in the tower; then the -Prince felt himself gliding up the mountain, past all the other youths -who were vainly trying to climb to the top. - -Up and up they went until the Prince found himself by the tower. When -he looked at the height he knew his troubles were not at an end. He -looked around for some way to scale the wall, but it was as smooth as -glass. While he stood looking at the top he saw something white slowly -coming down the wall from a little window. - -Down it came until the Prince could see that it was a piece of white -thread, and on the end of it was a little golden curl. - -The Prince untied it and kissed it, then, looking up at the window, he -kissed his hand, for he knew that somewhere in the tower the Princess -had been looking for the Prince who was to come for her, and had seen -him. - -He was more anxious than ever to reach the Princess, but how could he -climb those slippery walls? - -How? And then he thought of the silver shoes that the witch had walked -on the top of the cave with, and he took them off his horse and tied -one on each foot and took one in each hand. - -Placing his hands on the wall of the tower, he walked up as easily -as if he were walking on the ground, and in a few minutes was at the -little window above. - -The Princess smiled when she saw him, and then he saw that the window -which looked so small to him from the ground was really a door. - -He stepped in and knelt at the feet of the blushing Princess, who -said, “I shall be glad to leave here, but how can I get to the ground?” - -“In my arms,” answered the bold Prince, and, picking her up, he stepped -out on the smooth wall again, easily reaching the ground with the -Princess. - -He placed her in front of him on his horse and rode down the mountain, -at the bottom of which a crowd was waiting for him, and the King also, -for it had been noised abroad that a youth had been seen to climb the -mountain and the people wanted to see him. - -“Well done, my son,” said the King, riding up to greet them. “You will -make a good soldier, for you have shown that you can overcome obstacles -to gain that which you desire. Come home; the wedding feast is -prepared.” So the Prince gained a princess for a wife, a father-in-law -who admired his courage, and was happy ever after. - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE BLUE CASTLE - - -Once upon a time in a far-off country there lived a witch on top of a -high mountain, and every year she came down into the country about and -appeared at the palace of the King and asked for a bag of gold. - -One night when the King and his Queen were making merry and having a -big feast in honor of the birth of their little daughter, the Princess -Lily, the old witch came to the palace and asked for her bag of gold. - -“Tell her to begone,” said the King to his servant. “I have used all -the gold in the vaults for the feast; she will have to come next year.” - -Now the old witch was very angry when she heard this message, and she -hid in the grounds of the palace until all were asleep that night, and -then she entered the palace and carried off the baby Princess. - -The Queen and the King were beside themselves with grief when they -discovered their loss, and they offered big rewards for the return of -their daughter, but she could not be found. - -“Find the old witch who came here the night of the feast,” said one of -the King’s wise men, “and you will find the Princess.” - -They hunted far and near, but the witch could not be found, for when -any one attempted to climb the mountain where the old witch lived the -insects would become as thick as mist and clouds and they could not see -where to go. - -One after another gave up the attempt, and so after a while the King -and Queen mourned their daughter as dead and the old witch never came -to the palace again. - -The Queen and King never had any more children, and every day they -grieved because there would be no one to reign after they were gone. - -One day one of the King’s wise men said to him: “In a cave in the -forest lives an ogre who has a wonderful horse; it is kept in a stable -made of marble, and its stall is of gold, and it is fed on corn grown -in a field of pearls. - -“If we could get this horse we might be able to climb the mountain -where the old witch lives, and perhaps the Princess is still alive.” - -“But how can we get this horse?” asked the King. - -“Ah! that is the hard part,” answered the wise man. “The enchanted -creature can only be caught and mounted by one who can feed him with -the magic corn, and it is said that any one who tries to gather the -corn from the field of pearls finds himself sinking, and has to run for -his life, so that only the ogre, who knows the magic words that keep -the pearls from drawing him down, can gather the corn.” - -When the King heard this he sent for all the princes in the land to -come to his palace, and when they came he told them he would give -to the one who could catch and mount the ogre’s enchanted horse his -kingdom if he could find the lost Princess Lily, and she should become -his wife. - -But all the princes were rich enough, and did not care to take such a -risk, especially as they had never seen the Princess Lily. - -Then the King sent out word to all the poor young men in his kingdom -to come to him, and he made them the same offer, but one by one they -turned away, and at last there was only a poor peasant youth left. - -“I will try, Your Majesty,” he said, “but I will not marry the Princess -unless I can love her, and if she does not wish to marry me I will -not hold you to that part of the bargain, either, but I will take the -kingdom if I bring back your child.” - -So that night the peasant boy went to a fairy that lived in the woods -and asked her to help him. - -“You can only enter the field of magic corn by wearing the magic shoes -belonging to the ogre, and he sleeps with them under his bed. They are -tied to the big toe of his right foot by a silken thread, and no one -can cut it or break it without awakening the ogre. - -“I will give you a feather, and if you are fortunate enough to enter -his chamber without being caught, for he is guarded well by a dog with -two heads, use this feather to tickle his left foot and you can cut the -silken thread without the ogre knowing it. This is all I can do to help -you. The two-headed dog is not in my power to control.” - -So the peasant took the magic feather and that night he went to the -ogre’s castle in the woods and waited until he heard his snore, and -then he took from his pocket two big bones. - -He opened the door to the castle, for the ogre was afraid of no one and -did not lock his door at night. - -The two-headed dog growled and sprang toward the peasant, but he -quickly thrust the bones in the mouth of each and that quieted them. - -The two heads began to eat, and while they were eating the peasant -crept softly into the room of the sleeping ogre and tickled his left -foot, which was sticking out from under the bedclothes. - -The old ogre began to laugh, and he laughed so hard and loudly that -no other sound could be heard; and the peasant had time to break the -slender thread which was tied to the magic shoes with one hand while he -kept tickling the ogre’s left foot with the feather held in the other -hand. - -When he had the shoes under his arm he crept softly away from the bed, -leaving the ogre still laughing. - -The two-headed dog was still eating the bones, and the peasant went out -and sat on the steps of the castle to put on the magic shoes. - -He had just drawn the shoes on when the two-headed dog finished the -bones and set up a bark that the peasant thought at first was thunder. - -He ran to the field of pearls where grew the magic corn, and was just -pulling the ears when the ogre came dashing out of his castle, followed -by the two-headed dog, with both mouths wide open and looking as though -he would devour him. - -Out of the field ran the peasant, but not before the ogre had entered, -and down went the ogre out of sight, the pearls closing over his -head, for, of course, he forgot all about his shoes when he heard the -two-headed dog bark, and anyway he thought they were tied to the big -toe of his right foot. - -But though he was rid of the ogre he was not of the two-headed dog, -which ran after him, showing his two sets of big teeth and barking all -the while. But the peasant was far ahead of the dog, so he reached the -stable and fed the magic corn to the enchanted horse, who neighed in -the most friendly manner and let the peasant mount him. - -He wore a bridle of gold and silver trimmed with rubies, and he was -pure white, with a saddle of purple velvet, with gold and silver -trimmings. - -He was a horse fit for a king to ride, and the poor peasant looked -strangely out of place on his back. - -Just as the peasant rode into the yard of the castle the two-headed dog -dashed at the hind feet of the enchanted horse to bite him, but the -horse kicked at him and over he rolled. - -The peasant looked back to see what had happened to the dog, but he -was nowhere to be seen; in the place where he had lain was a big -black-looking rock with a ragged-looking top like a set of huge teeth. - -The peasant was rid of both his pursuers now, and he rode off toward -the mountain where the King had told him the witch lived. - -Up the mountain dashed the enchanted white horse, as though he had -wings instead of feet, and in a few minutes he had carried the peasant -to the top. - -The peasant looked about him, expecting to see a cave, but to his -surprise he saw only a grove of trees with something glistening -through their leaves which looked like a house. - -When he rode nearer to the grove he saw a deep-blue castle of glass -without doors or windows, and inside he could see a girl spinning. - -She looked up as the shadow of the horse and rider fell on the glass -castle, and her eyes grew big with surprise, but before the peasant -could jump from his horse an old woman came up through the floor of the -house and tapped the girl on the head with her cane, and she turned -into a mouse. - -The peasant was too astonished to move for a minute, but the laugh of -the old woman brought him to his senses and he knew she must be the -witch. - -“Ha, ha! you caught the horse, but you cannot bring back the Princess -until I will it!” she screamed, and then disappeared through the floor. - -The peasant walked around the blue castle, but no door or window could -he find, or an opening of any kind. - -He was leading the horse by his gold bridle when suddenly it lifted one -of its front feet and struck the blue castle. - -Crash! went the blue glass, and the peasant saw an opening large enough -for him to enter. - -He was about to do so, leaving the enchanted horse outside, when he -heard another crash--the enchanted horse was following him in; it had -broken a place large enough for both of them to enter. - -The mouse was crouching in one corner of the room and the peasant -picked it up carefully and put it in his pocket. - -The horse went to the spot where the old witch had disappeared, and -tapped on the glass floor three times with one of his front feet, -and up from the floor came the old witch. But this time she was not -laughing; she looked frightened, and trembled so she had to lean on her -cane to keep from falling. - -The enchanted horse took her by the dress and shook her three times, -and out from her pocket fell a black bean with a white spot on it. - -As it dropped the old witch screamed and fell on the floor, and the -horse picked up the bean and swallowed it. - -The peasant all this time was standing watching all the strange -happenings, not daring to move for fear of breaking the spell, and -wondering what would happen next. - -As the horse swallowed the bean he seemed to shrink away from sight -and a blue mist filled the room. When it cleared the peasant beheld a -handsome young man where the horse had stood, and where the witch had -been was a deep hole. - -“Did she fall into it?” asked the peasant, not knowing what else to say. - -“No; in that hole we will find the magic charm that will restore the -Princess to her own form,” said the young man. “The witch disappeared -in the blue mist.” - -“Let us hurry and find the magic charm,” he said, dropping into the -hole, and the peasant followed him. - -There was a ladder down which they climbed, and down they went until it -seemed they would never reach the bottom. - -But at last their feet touched something firm and soft and they stood -in a beautiful room on a carpet of blue velvet. - -The room was hung with velvet the color of sapphire, and the chairs -were of burnished gold with velvet seats. - -A gold fountain played in the middle of the room and the water fell -into a basin of sapphire. - -“This is the magic fountain,” said the youth. “You must throw the -little mouse into it if you wish to bring back the Princess.” - -The peasant took from his pocket the trembling little mouse. “It is -frightened,” he said. “I hate to throw it into that deep water.” - -Without replying the youth grabbed the mouse from the peasant and threw -it with great force into the fountain and it disappeared from sight. - -“Oh, you have killed it!” said the peasant, looking into the deep-blue -water with frightened eyes. - -Then he saw a head rise slowly from the bottom of the blue basin; then -it came above the water; and then a beautiful girl stepped from the -fountain, her golden hair all wet and glistening. - -A soft warm breeze came through the windows and soon her hair and -clothes were dry, and the peasant thought he had never seen any one so -beautiful as the Princess. - -“I am the Prince who was changed into the horse for the ogre,” said -the youth, addressing the Princess. “I was stolen at the same time you -were and the ogre who was the husband of the witch took me and the -witch took you, but this youth has rescued us, for it was here that -the magic bean was kept that restored me to my own form, and if it had -not been for a fairy who came to me one night and told me the secret I -never should have regained my own form.” - -All the time the Prince was speaking the peasant saw the Princess -looking at him with loving glance, and he knew the Princess was not for -him, and besides that he knew he never would be happy in a palace. - -They began to look about and found they were in a beautiful palace that -the old witch had lived in, but, now that she was gone for good, the -peasant said he would take it as his reward and let the Prince and the -Princess return to her father. - -In the stables they found beautiful white horses, and on one of them -the Prince and Princess rode away after making the peasant promise to -come to their wedding and to dance with the bride. “For we will never -forget you,” said the Princess, “and we must always be friends.” - -The father and mother of the Princess listened to the story the Prince -told, and then the Queen said: “I can tell whether this is my lost -child or not. Let me see your left shoulder; she bears her name on -that shoulder if she be our child.” - -The Princess bared her shoulder and there the Queen saw a tiny lily -which proved she was her child. - -The King gave a great feast in honor of his daughter’s return, and the -Prince and Princess were married; and the peasant danced at the wedding -as he promised. - - - - -[Illustration] - -NARDO AND THE PRINCESS - - -Once there lived a king who had two sons, and, though they were twins, -they were as different as if they had been strangers. - -Nardo was kind and good, while his brother Stephen was greedy and -selfish, never doing any one kindness. - -One day there came to the King’s gates an old beggar man who asked for -a night’s lodging and food. - -The brothers were standing near and Stephen told the servants to close -the gates, that a palace was no place for beggars. - -“Stop,” said Nardo to the servant; “a palace is just the place for -beggars. Brother, we have a plenty and to spare; let the poor man -enter.” - -The beggar thanked Nardo and said: “You shall never regret your -kindness. Wear this ring, and whenever you wish for something money -cannot buy you shall have your wish.” - -Nardo put the ring in his pocket and forgot all about it until he fell -in love with a beautiful princess, and, like all lovers, he was afraid -she did not love him. - -Then he remembered the old beggar man and the ring, and put it on and -wished for the love of the beautiful Princess. - -It happened that Stephen also loved the Princess, but he knew she did -not love him, and, seeing the ring the old beggar had given Nardo on -his hand one day, he remembered what the beggar had said when he gave -his brother the ring. - -“I must have the ring,” said Stephen. “Then I will have the love of the -Princess; besides that, her father, the King, is old, and when he dies -I shall be king in his place.” - -But it was no easy matter to possess the ring, for Nardo was as big and -strong as Stephen. There was no way to get the ring from off his finger -unless he took it by force or could get some witch to weave a spell -over him. - -And all this time the beautiful Princess was in love with Nardo. Had he -only known it, he needed no magic ring to win her love for him. - -One night after trying in vain to get the ring Stephen went to an old -witch who lived in a cave by the sea and asked her to get the ring for -him, promising to make her rich if she would get it. - -The witch was greedy for gold, so one night while Nardo slept she -crept into the palace, aided by the wicked Stephen, and cast a spell -over Nardo, which made him forget the ring and also his love for the -beautiful Princess. - -Stephen, with the ring on his finger, felt that all was easy now, and -he promptly forgot all about the old witch and the gold he promised her. - -The beautiful Princess looked with sad eyes upon the now cold and -indifferent Nardo, and, while she did not love Stephen, she felt each -day that she was being drawn to him, though she knew well enough she -did not love any one but Nardo. - -The old witch, however, helped the Princess out of part of her -troubles, for when she found that Stephen did not intend to give her -the gold, she waited for him one day in the palace grounds, hidden -behind a clump of bushes, and when he came out for a walk she pointed -her lean fingers at him and placed him under a spell which made him -follow her to her cave by the sea. - -Here she chained him to a rock and put a dragon to watch that he did -not escape; but while the Princess escaped marrying Stephen, he still -possessed the ring which kept Nardo from remembering he had ever loved -the Princess. - -One night when the Princess was sitting in her window looking at the -moon and sighing over her lost lover and his love she saw a nightingale -caught by its wing in a tree. - -The tree was so close that the Princess had only to reach out and -rescue the poor bird and set it free. - -The nightingale, in gratitude for its life, began to sing so sweetly -that the Princess exclaimed, “Oh, sing each night by my window, -beautiful bird, that I may for a little while at least forget my -sorrow.” - -The hour of midnight was just then striking, and as the last stroke of -twelve died away the nightingale changed into a fairy. - -“I am powerless to use my magic until the hour of midnight strikes,” -said the little fairy. “I have chosen to become a nightingale until -then, and the Queen will not give me the power of a fairy until I -change my form to one. - -“If it had not been for your kindness I might never have become a -fairy again, for the nightingale’s wing would have been broken, and no -imperfect creature can reclaim its form, once it has changed from a -fairy. - -“If I can help you, tell me and I will go to the Queen and ask to -remain a fairy, and then no matter how hard the task you set I am sure -I can make you happy.” - -Of course, the Princess did not know about the magic ring, and she -could only tell the fairy how once she had felt sure that Nardo loved -her and then suddenly he had changed and would not notice her at all. - -The fairy listened to the Princess and told her not to worry; that she -was sure there was something wrong; that Nardo still loved her, and at -midnight the next night she would return, and away she flittered in the -moonlight, leaving the Princess happier than she had been for many a -day. - -It took the fairy but a short time to unravel the mystery, and the next -night when the Princess went to her window she found the little fairy -waiting for her, perched on the sill. - -“Do not grieve, my Princess,” said the fairy. “Nardo still loves you; -it is all the work of his wicked brother Stephen, who loved you, too.” - -Then she told the Princess the story of the ring and how Stephen had -got the old witch to get it for him, and that if he had given her the -gold he would have married the Princess in spite of all she could have -done. - -“But if Nardo still loves me, why does he keep away? Why does he not -tell me of his love?” asked the Princess. - -“He will, my dear Princess, when he remembers,” said the fairy, “and -there is where the difficult part comes in. - -“We must get the ring or the stone. It is only the stone that holds the -charm, but that is still on Stephen’s finger, and to get near to him -the dragon must be overpowered.” - -“Oh! I will send all my father’s soldiers,” said the Princess; “they -can kill the dragon, I am sure.” - -“Not a dragon that belongs to a witch,” said the fairy, “and if my plan -works, and I think it will, we shall not need soldiers. I will be back -before the sun rises. Wait for me.” - -Away went the fairy to her Queen and again asked to be changed into a -nightingale. “It is to help some one in trouble, dear Queen,” she said, -“and never again will I ask to change my form.” - -The Queen granted her wish and away flew the nightingale toward the -sea, where lived the witch and the dragon. - -When she was near the cave she began her sweetest song, and as she flew -nearer she sang more sweetly and softly until she alighted on a tree -right over the rock where lay the dragon and the sleeping Stephen. - -The eyes of the dragon were wide open, watching on all sides for any -one who might dare attempt to rescue Stephen. - -When he heard the sweet tones of the nightingale the dragon raised its -head and looked around, but, seeing only a bird perched over his head, -he had no fear. Softly, sweetly, the nightingale trilled and sang its -soothing song until at last the dragon began to nod its head, and after -a while it dropped to the ground, fast asleep. - -The poor nightingale was so worn out with singing so long that it -hardly had strength to fly down to where Stephen was sleeping. - -Very carefully it did so with only a soft waving of its wings, and then -its bill plucked from the ring on Stephen’s hand the red stone, and off -it flew with the stone held tightly in its bill. - -Only once did it stop, and that was to sip a drop of dew from a -rose-bush where it alighted to rest, and then on it went to the palace -where Nardo was sleeping and flew through the window of his bedroom. - -Nardo’s hand was open on the pillow beside his face, and into his hand -the nightingale placed the red stone and flew away to the Princess. - -“Your lover will be here with the sun,” she said, “and as it is not far -from that time I must fly to my Queen. - -“Farewell, my kind Princess. May you be happy with your Prince, and if -you are as good and kind as a Queen as you were when a Princess I shall -never regret my night’s work.” - -The Princess thanked her again and again, but the fairy was away before -she had finished, and just then the sun peeped through the trees and -at the same time the sound of horses’ hoofs was heard coming along the -road. - -The Princess’s cheeks grew red, for she knew it was her lover, and when -she reached the palace door there he was just riding up. - -When the spell was broken for Nardo it released poor Stephen from the -power of the witch; the sea rolled in and the wind shrieked among the -trees and the next thing Stephen knew he was running through the forest -toward his home. - -Of course, he was too much ashamed to tell of all that had happened to -him and said he had been hunting in the forest and lost his way; and -Nardo and the Princess kept his secret and did not let him know they -were aware of his treachery, and as he grew to be a better man as the -years went by, they were glad they did. - - - - -[Illustration] - -OLD THREE HEADS - - -Once upon a time there was a little girl named Lucy. She was always -opening doors and looking into rooms that did not belong to her, and it -made her appear very rude. - -One day Lucy was sent to the woods to gather berries, but instead of -filling her basket as she should have done she walked about, looking -behind rocks and trees, thinking that she might find an opening in some -of them. - -“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” said a squirrel, as he ran past -her. - -“I wonder what he means,” she said. “I must keep on looking, for -somewhere around here Old Three Heads must live, or the squirrel would -not have said ‘look out,’ and I want to see what he is like.” - -“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” called a bird from the limb of a -tree. - -“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” called a rabbit as he ran into -his hole. - -“I wish some one would tell me where Old Three Heads lives,” said Lucy, -“instead of just saying look out for him.” - -Just then she came to a path which led through thick bushes. - -“I will see where this leads,” she said. “Perhaps it leads to Old Three -Heads’ house.” - -Lucy walked along the path and soon she saw a castle standing among -the trees. Most little girls would have hesitated about going into a -strange house, but Lucy’s curiosity was so great she thought only of -seeing the inside of the castle. She walked up the steps and opened the -door. The hall was long and dark, but she was not afraid. So she closed -the door and walked along. - -There were many doors on each side of the hall, and Lucy opened one -and looked in. In one corner of the room was a horse with three heads. -“What a queer place to keep a horse!” thought Lucy. - -“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” said the horse, shaking all -three heads and looking sad. - -“How did you get three heads?” asked Lucy. - -“I looked in the window one day when Old Three Heads was eating his -dinner, and he saw me. You better look out,” he warned her again. - -Lucy thought of the other doors and decided to keep on, for she was -very anxious to see what was behind all of them. - -She opened another door and a three-headed cat ran toward her. “You -have only one head!” said the cat, in a tone of surprise. “You better -look out for Old Three Heads.” - -“I am not afraid,” said Lucy, as she left the room and opened another -door. In this room was a three-headed dog. He looked at her and said, -“Better look out for Old Three Heads; you will find him if you keep on -opening doors.” - -“I want to see him,” answered Lucy. “Where is he?” - -“You better run while you can,” said the dog, “but you will find him if -you keep on, and then you will wish you had taken my advice.” - -But Lucy only laughed and went to another door. In that room she saw a -three-headed cow. - -“What a queer place!” she said. “I never saw animals living in a house -before. Why are the animals kept in the house?” she asked the cow. - -“We belong to Old Three Heads,” replied the cow, “and every creature -that comes in this castle has three heads. You better look out for Old -Three Heads,” she warned her. - -“Why did you come in, if you knew you had to wear three heads?” asked -Lucy. - -“We wanted to see what was in here, just as you did,” replied the cow. -“The cat found the door open and she walked in to look about; the dog -saw her enter and he followed. Old Three Heads saw them. You better -look out,” she warned Lucy again. - -But Lucy was more curious than ever, and she kept on with her questions. - -“How did you and the horse get three heads?” she asked. “You did not -walk in the door, did you?” - -“Not at first,” answered the cow. “The horse put his head in the window -one day when it was open and Old Three Heads saw him.” - -“And you,” asked Lucy again, for the cow stopped and hung her three -heads, “what did you do?” - -“I saw some green corn on the window-sill,” the cow confessed, very -slowly, “and I put my head in the window to get it and Old Three Heads -saw me.” - -“What happens when he sees you?” she asked. - -“Wait and see,” replied the cow. “But I have warned you; you’d better -look out for Old Three Heads and run while you can.” - -As that was all the information she could get from the cow, Lucy told -her she would find out for herself how they all got their three heads, -and she went to the next door and opened it. - -The room was dark, and at first Lucy could not see anything, but some -one said, “Who-who,” and as the sound came from a corner of the room -Lucy went in and looked about. - -As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness she saw perched on the -back of a chair an owl with three heads. - -“Well, of all things!” exclaimed Lucy. “How did so wise a bird as you -happen to be caught by Old Three Heads?” she asked. - -“Who-who are you?” stuttered the owl. “You-you better look out for Old -Three Heads,” he warned Lucy. - -“Tell me how it happened that you have three heads,” asked Lucy, -ignoring the warning as she had before. - -“Who-who are you?” stuttered the owl again. - -“I am a girl,” said Lucy. “Can’t you see?” - -“Bet-bet-better look out,” warned the owl again. - -“Oh dear!” said Lucy. “You are worse than the others. I am going to -find Old Three Heads and find out, if I can, how all of you got three -heads.” - -“Who-who,” said the owl as she went out of the room. - -Lucy opened another door, and there on the throne in this room sat a -giant with three heads. She had found Old Three Heads at last. - -For the first time since she entered the castle Lucy was frightened -when she saw the curious-looking creature; but there was no chance to -escape; it was too late. - -The giant looked at her a second, and then he called out to his -attendants, who all had three heads but were much smaller men: “Bring -the intruder before me.” - -“Bring two heads,” he said, when Lucy stood before him. - -When the heads were brought one had black hair and one red. - -“I do not want those heads,” said Lucy; “they do not match my hair. -Can’t I have two golden-haired heads?” - -“Those are all I have,” said the giant, “and you will have to wear -them. On with them,” he said, and the attendants fastened the heads on -Lucy’s shoulders, one on each side of her own head. - -“I wish I could see myself,” said Lucy, still curious. - -“Take her to her room,” said the giant, and Lucy was taken to one of -the rooms that opened out of the long hall. - -When she was alone she looked around the room and saw a mirror hanging -on the wall. She ran and looked into it. The new heads looked very -cross. - -“What is the matter with you?” asked Lucy. - -“I do not like red hair or light hair,” said the dark-haired head. - -“And I do not like dark hair or light hair,” said the head with red -hair. - -“I cannot help that,” said Lucy. “I did not want either of you.” - -“I will not stay here,” said the dark-haired head. - -“Neither will I,” said the head with the red hair. - -And they began to pull away. Lucy bent first to one side and then to -the other, with the pulling of the quarrelsome heads. - -“Do keep quiet,” she said at last. “I am sorry I said anything about -the color of your hair. If you will be good I’ll try to get you -something nice to eat.” - -This plan quieted the heads, and Lucy went to the door. It was not -locked, and she opened it and went out. - -First she went to the room where the horse was. - -“Horse, can you tell me where I can get something to eat?” she asked. - -“Yes,” said the horse. “Go to the fireplace and call up the chimney.” - -“I want my dinner,” Lucy called. - -Down came a table with food upon it and a chair standing beside it. -Lucy seated herself and began to eat. - -Then the trouble began; every time she raised the fork to her mouth the -dark head or the head with red hair would stretch out their necks and -take the food from the fork before Lucy could get a chance. - -The new heads quarreled because each thought the other was getting more -than its share. - -Lucy put her fork and knife on the table in despair. “You are a pair of -greedy heads,” she said. “I have not had a bite.” - -“It is all your fault,” said one; “you should not have got us.” - -Lucy went into the room where the cat was and asked her if she would -tell her where she could get something to drink. - -“Rap three times on the wall,” said the cat. - -Lucy tried this and a cup appeared filled with water. Lucy tried to put -it up to her lips, but the head with the red hair reached it and drank -all the water. - -Lucy rapped again, and another cup appeared, and this time the head -with dark hair reached it and drank every drop of water before Lucy -could stop it. - -She tried several times, but each time the greedy heads drank it -before she could get her lips to the cup. - -She went into the room where the dog was kept. - -“Where can I find a comfortable chair and a book?” she asked. - -“Tap on the floor three times,” the dog said. - -Lucy did as he said, and a chair appeared, and beside it a table filled -with books. Lucy opened one of the books and looked at the pictures. - -“I cannot see them,” said the head with the red hair. Lucy moved the -book to one side. - -“I should think you would remember that you have three heads,” said the -head with the dark hair. “How do you expect me to see if you keep the -book over that side?” - -Lucy moved the book to the other side, and then the head with the red -hair began to fuss again. - -“Oh dear!” said Lucy. “You are the most selfish heads I ever saw. I -will go to the cow and see if she can help me,” she said. - -“Where can I find a bed?” she asked the cow. “These heads have just -tired me out.” - -“I will get you one,” said the cow. “Moo, moo!” she called up and from -the floor came a bed. - -Lucy lay down upon it. “I do not want to go to sleep,” said the head -with dark hair. “I do,” said Lucy. “I am tired and I am going to sleep; -you can stay awake if you wish to.” - -“I do not feel tired,” said the head with red hair; “I feel like -singing,” and it began to sing so loudly that Lucy had to get up. - -“I’ll go to the owl and see if he can help me,” she said, as she went -out of the room. - -She went into the room where the owl was and opened the window. The owl -hid its three heads. - -“You are such a wise bird,” she said to the owl, “I wish you would tell -me what to do with these new heads; they quarrel all the time.” - -“Who-who!” said the owl. - -“I cannot understand how any one could ever think you were wise,” said -Lucy; “all you can say is who-who. I wish I could be rid of these -troublesome heads.” - -“Why don’t you, then?” said the head with red hair. “We come off if you -pull hard.” - -“I never thought of that,” said Lucy, pulling at the head with red -hair. - -Off it came and flew through the window. - -Then she tried the other and it came off and followed the other through -the window. - -“Would you like to be rid of your extra heads?” Lucy asked the owl. - -“Who-who,” answered the owl. - -“You silly bird!” said Lucy, pulling at his extra heads. Off they came -and followed Lucy’s heads. - -“Let’s go to the cow,” said Lucy, “and take off her heads.” - -The owl tried to follow her, but bumped against the wall and fell to -the floor. - -“Oh, I forgot that you could not see in the daytime,” said Lucy. “I’ll -put you on my shoulder,” she said, picking him up from the floor. - -“Would you like to get rid of your extra heads?” Lucy asked the cow. - -“Of course I would,” she said. “How did you get rid of yours?” - -“I will show you,” said Lucy, pulling at the cow’s extra heads. Off -they came and out the window they flew. - -“Well, I never should have thought of that,” said the cow. - -“Let us go to the cat and the dog and the horse,” said Lucy, “and help -them to get rid of their troubles.” - -Each of them said they had never thought to try pulling the extra heads -off, and they were very grateful to Lucy for helping them. - -The heads all flew out of the window and that was the last that was -ever seen of them. - -“I think we should get out of this place as soon as we can,” said Lucy. -“Old Three Heads might get us again.” - -They hurried out of the house and soon were in the woods a long way -from the castle. - -“Did Old Three Heads get you?” asked the animals they met in the woods. - -Lucy told them he did. “But he will not bother you,” she said, “if -you keep away from his house, and I warn you that three heads are a -nuisance, and you may not be so fortunate as we have been in escaping -from them.” - -“Did you have to feed them all?” asked a squirrel. - -“Yes,” answered Lucy, “or at least I tried to, but they quarreled so -that I had to go without.” - -“I will never go near Old Three Heads,” said the squirrel. “I have all -I can do to take care of one head.” - -“I have had my lesson,” said Lucy. “I shall never look into rooms again -when the door is closed, for one head is all I care to have.” - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE ENCHANTED BOAT - - -Once there was a King who had a very beautiful daughter, and when the -Queen died the King married a woman who had a son named Tito because he -thought this new Queen would be kind and good to the Princess. - -But in this the King was greatly mistaken, for the Queen thought only -of her son and wished to make him King. - -She told the King that if he would make the Princess marry Tito that he -need have no fear about the future of his kingdom, for he could be sure -her son would make a good king. - -“And a woman should not be Queen and rule alone such a big kingdom as -you possess,” said the scheming Queen. - -The King, who thought more of his daughter’s happiness than anything in -the world, called the Princess and told her of his plan. “Marry your -stepmother’s son and all will be well with you and I can die happy,” he -told the Princess. - -But the Princess did not want to marry Tito, for she did not love him, -and when she found that her father would not listen to her pleadings, -but told her that very night she should wed Tito, the little Princess -ran out of the palace and threw herself face down on the grass and wept. - -When it came time for the wedding she was nowhere to be found, and -though the palace and the gardens were searched, it was all in vain. -The Princess had disappeared. - -What had happened was that while the Princess was crying and bemoaning -her sad lot she heard a sound, and when she looked up there was a lake -she had never seen at the foot of the garden, and on it a beautiful -boat with a sail of silk the color of gold. - -There was no one in the boat, and the Princess, forgetting her sorrow -in her wonderment at this strange sight, ran down to the water’s edge, -where another surprise awaited her. For the boat came sailing straight -to the place where she stood. - -The Princess stepped in, and away went the boat out over the blue -water, and in a few minutes she was in a country she had never seen -before. - -The little Princess was not frightened, for she felt sure nothing worse -could befall her than if she stayed at the palace and had to marry -Tito, and, while she was sorry to leave her father, she could not be -happy with a man she did not love. - -The lake led to a river, along the banks of which were high hills and -beautiful woods, and the Princess was so lost in admiring the beauty of -the scene she did not notice they were approaching a castle until her -boat sailed under a white marble bridge, which soon brought her at the -steps which led into the garden of the castle. - -Here the strange boat stopped and the Princess knew she was expected to -get out. - -She walked up the steps into a garden filled with pink and white roses, -with a fountain of pearl and gold in the center which threw a perfumed -spray all about, which filled the air with fragrance. - -There were no paths in the garden, but the grass was like green velvet -and yellow birds flittered among the small green trees and sang sweet -songs. - -Through the roses and trees the Princess saw the entrance to the -castle, and on the broad steps of marble and gold came a queer-looking -creature followed by more servants than the Princess had ever seen in -her father’s palace. - -The Princess did not feel at all afraid, although the strange-looking -creature had the body of a beautiful leopard, while his head was that -of the handsomest youth the Princess had ever beheld. - -His hair was dark and as he came nearer to her the Princess saw that -his eyes were deep blue, the kindest eyes she had ever seen. - -He held out one huge paw toward her and then withdrew it and said, “I -fear you will not care to take the paw of such a beast as I am, but I -can assure you I will not harm you, Princess.” - -“I am not afraid,” said the Princess, putting out her hand, “but tell -me how you know that I am a princess?” - -After the leopard-man had taken her hand he led her up the steps, -and as they walked along he told her that no one but a princess could -have entered the boat. “It had sailed for many a year in quest of the -princess who would be willing to sail away in it,” he told her, “and as -only a princess can help me, no one but a princess could get into the -enchanted boat.” - -When the Princess and the leopard-man entered the castle he told her -his strange story. He was a prince who had been changed by a witch into -the shape she saw, and the only thing that could save him was a gold -root which grew far up on a blue mountain-peak. - -“But that root must be brought to me by a princess and no one else,” -said the leopard-man, “so you see how impossible it is that I shall -ever regain my own shape.” - -“If you will tell me where this blue mountain-peak can be found,” said -the Princess, “I will undertake the task, for I do not wish to return -to my father’s palace, and I would like to help you.” - -“The enchanted boat will take you if you really wish to try,” said -the leopard-man, “but I fear it is a task you are far from fitted to -undertake, for no one can go with you; that would break the spell.” - -The Princess, however, told him she would try, and at once set out on -the strange errand, the boat sailing along the river and then out into -the open sea. - -By and by the Princess saw on the side of a high mountain, the top of -which was blue, something growing which shone like gold, and she knew -it must be the golden root for which she was seeking. - -The enchanted boat sailed close to the foot of the mountain and -stopped, and the Princess knew she was to get out, but how was she to -reach the golden root which grew far up on the mountain? - -The Princess stepped out of the boat on the rocks and sat down to -think what she could do, for to climb up the steep, smooth side of the -mountain was out of the question; if only she could fly she thought she -might reach it. - -Just then she heard a swishing sound, and, looking up, she saw a big -eagle coming toward her with a broken leg. - -The bird fell at her feet, and, as so many strange things had already -happened, the Princess did not feel afraid of the big creature, for -she felt sure that in some way he would help her. - -“Oh, you poor hurt bird!” she said, tearing off a piece of her dress -to bind up its leg; then from a stream falling from the mountain she -brought in the hollow of her hand water for him to drink. - -At night the Princess took off her cloak and covered the eagle, while -she huddled close to the mountain and behind a rock to keep the cold -from herself. - -In the morning she was surprised to find the eagle had flown away, but -on the rocks was her cloak, and two feathers from the wings of the bird -lay beside it. - -The Princess put on her cloak and took up one of the feathers, and to -her surprise the hand that held the feather flew up over her head. - -She picked up the other feather with the other hand and up she was -carried, her cloak spreading out like a pair of wings. - -With the feathers she guided herself until she alighted on the top of -the blue-peaked mountain. - -She laid the feathers down and began to dig for the root which the -Prince had said was the only thing that could save him. - -When she had enough of the golden root she again took the feathers, one -in each hand, and flew down to the water, where the enchanted boat, -which had sailed away when she left it, now stood waiting. - -The feathers from the eagle she put carefully on the rocks, but the -bird was nowhere to be seen, and, knowing that it must have been a part -of the magic plan to help her, the Princess sailed away, feeling sure -the eagle was safe and his broken leg quite well. - -When she reached the castle of the leopard-man he was on the steps to -meet her and without waiting to enter the castle he took the golden -root from her and tasted it. - -The leopard body disappeared and there he stood before her, a tall, -handsome youth whom any maiden, even a princess, would fall in love -with. - -The Princess told him her story and the Prince told her they would go -at once to her father and he would ask for her hand, for he had already -asked for her heart and found that it was his. - -The enchanted boat took them back to the garden of the King, where -they found that the Queen, when she knew that her son had lost the -chance of becoming King when the Princess disappeared, had put the King -in a dungeon under the palace and she and her son had become the rulers -of the kingdom. - -The Prince quickly undid all this mischief by setting the King free, -and when he found out how treacherous his Queen really was he sent her, -with her son, away from the palace and told them never to return or -they would both be put in prison. - -He was a kind-hearted King and gave them gold to care for them the rest -of their days, and it did not take them long to leave the palace, you -may be sure, for already the wedding feast was being made ready for the -marriage of the Princess and her Prince. - -The enchanted boat now was not needed, and that with the lake -disappeared, but when the Princess set out with her husband to go to -the castle she found that it was within her father’s kingdom that the -Prince had lived. - -At the end of the castle garden where the Prince and the Princess live -is a long stone seat, and at one end grows a bush of golden flowers, -the like of which no one ever saw before, and at the other is the -figure of a big eagle made of gold and bronze, but only the Princess -and her husband know what these things mean. - - - - -[Illustration] - -NICKO AND THE OGRE - - -Once upon a time there lived on the banks of a deep, wide river an ogre -who ate all the fish in the river, never letting the people who lived -in the town come near the river to fish. - -And this was not all the ogre did. He would make such a noise when he -slept that all the children were frightened so they could not sleep at -night, and the people decided at last that something must be done. - -One day a youth named Nicko said he would go to an old witch who lived -in the forest and ask her what could be done. - -So to this witch the youth went. “There is only one way to get rid -of the ogre,” she told Nicko, “and that secret is known only to a -mermaid, who comes up from the river every night and sings to the ogre.” - -Of course the ogre would see Nicko if he went to the mermaid when she -was singing, so he decided to have a suit made of green and silver that -would make him look like a huge fish and dive into the river, hoping in -that way to find the home of the mermaid and learn the secret she knew. - -One night after the mermaid had finished her song to the ogre, Nicko -slipped from behind a rock where he was hidden, dressed in his -green-and-silver suit, and swam to the place he had seen the mermaid go -under the water. - -Down, down he went, and just before he reached the bottom of the river -the mermaid turned around and saw him. - -She had never seen such a beautiful big fish before and the silver -glistened and shone so in the moonlight that the mermaid was filled -with envy. - -“Oh, beautiful fish, tell me where you got your shining coat! I must -have a dress like it at once,” she said, swimming along beside Nicko. - -“I will tell you, beautiful mermaid, willingly, and I will bring you a -dress of wonderful brightness,” said Nicko, “if you will tell me how -the people who live in the river town can get rid of the ogre you sing -to every night.” - -The mermaid no longer smiled when she heard this; her face looked sad -and unhappy. - -“That can never be done; for the way to be rid of the ogre is beyond -my power, although I know the secret,” answered the mermaid; “but you -cannot help me.” - -“Well, if I cannot help you, at least tell me how it could be brought -about that the river folk could be rid of their trouble.” - -“A mortal must come to this river and live here,” said the mermaid. -“And he must marry me. Now you see how impossible it is for any one to -learn the rest of the secret, for who would marry a mermaid and live at -the bottom of the river?” - -Nicko had fallen in love with the pretty mermaid at first sight, and -when he heard this he said: “Show me your home, pretty maid. Perhaps I -can help you, even if I am only a fish.” - -To the very bottom of the river the mermaid took Nicko, and when they -stood on the white sand before her home of crystal Nicko said: - -“Mermaid, I love you! Behold your mortal lover. Will you be my wife?” - -As he spoke he threw off the green-and-silver costume he wore, and -there stood the mortal who had come to woo her. - -The pretty little mermaid blushed and hung her head. “I did not know; I -could never have guessed you were a mortal,” she stammered. - -“Of course you couldn’t,” said Nicko, almost forgetting why he was -there, he was so very much in love with the pretty creature. “Now where -shall I find your father?” he asked. - -The little mermaid clapped her tiny hands, and from under the rock came -many little silver-colored fish, swimming all around her. - -“Run quickly and tell the dolphin to find Father Neptune,” said the -mermaid. - -Soon the water began to roll and tumble about, and Nicko saw swimming -toward them two sea-horses drawing a chariot in which stood a man -carrying in one hand a curious and big three-pronged fork. - -“He is Father Neptune,” said the mermaid. “Ask him for me if you wish.” - -“Well, young mortal, what do you wish here at the bottom of my river?” -asked Father Neptune. - -At first Nicko did not know what to say, for Father Neptune was very -big and stern-looking; but when he saw the little mermaid swim up to -him and lean her head against his shoulder he took courage and spoke. - -“I wish to marry your daughter,” he said, “and live at the bottom of -the river.” - -Father Neptune began to smile. “The spell is broken for you, my dear,” -he said to the little mermaid, “and I am glad. I would have helped you -before this if I could, but it was not in my power. - -“She is yours, mortal youth,” said Neptune. “I pronounce you man and -wife. And now we will see what can be done to get rid of that awful -ogre on the bank of the river. He has bothered me so much, I shall be -glad to have him gone.” - -“Now we are married,” said the mermaid to Nicko, “I can tell you I -am not a mermaid at all, but a king’s daughter who was changed into -a mermaid to sing for the ogre because my father did not invite the -dreadful ogre to a feast at his palace one night. - -“The ogre cast a spell over me which could be broken only when a mortal -should come to the bottom of the river and ask me to marry him, which -the ogre thought never could happen. - -“Now it is my turn to have the ogre changed into another form, and if -Father Neptune will consent I will ask the old forest witch to change -him into a big rock in the middle of the river.” - -“Very well, my dear,” said Father Neptune, “a big rock will be an -addition to my river, and when I run in here to rest my sea-horses will -have a place to play and my dolphins a place to sit.” - -“Good-by, Father Neptune,” said the mermaid. “I shall no longer wear -this form after to-night, for when I touch the land I shall be a mortal -again.” - -“I will take you to the shore,” said Father Neptune; “jump in, both of -you.” It took only a minute for the sea-horses to dash to the top of -the river, and another for them to bring the chariot to the bank of the -river near the forest. - -Nicko jumped out and lifted the little mermaid to the ground, which she -no sooner touched than before him stood a beautiful young girl on two -dainty feet. - -When he looked around Father Neptune was gone and the Princess (for we -must call her so now) said: “We must hurry to the witch and tell her -before sunrise, or the ogre will have another day in which to bother -the river-town people.” - -When the old witch saw the Princess she began to laugh. “Ha-ha!” she -said. “Now the ogre will be in my power. Leave him to me, my dear. I -will change him into any shape you wish.” - -The Princess told her she wished him changed into a huge rock to be -placed in the middle of the river. - -“Come along, my pretties; you shall see it done,” said the old witch, -clapping her hands as she spoke. - -Up from behind the cave jumped a big broomstick, and on it hopped the -witch and the Princess and Nicko, and off they flew to the place where -the ogre sat fishing by the river. - -When they were near enough for the old witch to touch him with her -crooked cane she leaned over and tapped him on the head and said: - - “In the middle of the river, - To dwell there forever, - A rock you shall be - So all folks may see.” - -A peal of thunder that shook the woods around was heard, and then a -loud splash. - -When the mist of the splashing water cleared Nicko and the Princess saw -a huge black rock in the middle of the river, and the next thing they -knew they were flying through the air with the old witch again. - -“Here is your home, Princess,” said the witch at last. “They will be -waiting for you and your husband, for I sent word you had been rescued, -and a feast is being made in honor of your marriage.” - -Before Nicko or his bride could thank the witch she was far above their -heads and flying away. - -The King and the Queen were overjoyed to have their daughter again and -gave Nicko such a welcome that he quite forgot his home by the river -and never returned. - -But this did not matter, as he was an orphan, but no one thought of him -as being the cause of the ogre’s disappearance. The people in the river -town knew the ogre had gone, and they cared not who brought it about. - -Nicko and the Princess lived happily ever after, and one day became the -King and Queen in the country where they lived. - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE GINGERBREAD ROCK - - -Once there lived near a forest a little boy named Hans and his sister, -whose name was Lisbeth. - -Their parents had died when they were tiny and their uncle had taken -them because he thought they could do all the work and so save the -money he would have to pay for a servant. - -But this uncle was a miser and gave Hans and Lisbeth very little to -eat, so very little that often they went to bed very hungry. - -One night when they were more hungry than usual, for they had worked -hard all day, Hans whispered from his cot in one corner of the room: -“Lisbeth, let us get up and go into the woods. It is bright moonlight -and we may be able to find some berries. I am so hungry I cannot go to -sleep.” - -So out of the house they went, making sure their uncle was sound -asleep, and soon they were running along the path through the woods. - -Suddenly Hans stopped and drew Lisbeth back of a tree. “Look!” he said, -in a whisper, “there is smoke coming from the side of that great rock.” - -Lisbeth looked and, sure enough, a tiny curling smoke was coming from a -little opening in the rock. - -Very cautiously the children crept up to the rock and Hans stood on -tiptoe and sniffed at the smoke. - -“It is a pipe,” he whispered into Lisbeth’s ear. “Some one is inside -the rock, smoking.” - -“No one could live inside a rock,” said Lisbeth, creeping closer and -standing on a stone that she, too, might sniff at the curling smoke. - -Lisbeth became curious when she discovered it was the smoke from a -pipe. “You could boost me, Hans,” she said, “and I could peep in and -see if some one is inside.” - -Hans told her he did not think it was nice to peek, but Lisbeth told -him it was very different from peeking into a house, and so Hans -boosted her, for he was just as curious as his sister. - -Lisbeth grasped the edge of the opening in the big rock with both her -little hands, when, to the surprise of both children, it crumbled and -Lisbeth lost her balance. - -Over went both of them on the soft moss, and when they sat up Lisbeth -held something in both her little hands. - -“It’s cake!” she said, with wide open eyes. “No; it is gingerbread!” -she corrected, as she tasted it. - -And, sure enough, it was gingerbread; the rock, instead of being stone, -was all gingerbread. - -Hans and Lisbeth forgot the smoke and their curiosity in the joy of -their discovery, and soon both of them were eating as fast as they -could big pieces of the Gingerbread Rock. - -Hans and Lisbeth were not greedy children. So when they had satisfied -their hunger they ran off home without taking even a piece of the -gingerbread with them to eat the next day. - -They were soon in bed and asleep, and if each had not told to the other -the same story the next morning they would have been sure they had -dreamed it all. - -The next night they were hungry, as usual, and when the moon was well -up in the sky out they crept again and ran into the woods. - -But this time there was no curling smoke to guide them, and they tried -several rocks before they found the gingerbread. For, strange to say, -the place they had broken away did not show at all and there were so -many rocks the children could not find it. - -But at last Hans cried out with joy, “Here it is, Lisbeth!” and held up -a big piece of gingerbread he had broken off. - -Lisbeth, in her hurry to get a piece, broke off much more than she -intended, and, to the surprise of both children, a big opening was -made, large enough for them to step through. - -“Perhaps we may find out where the smoke came from,” said Lisbeth, -suddenly remembering the smoke they had seen the night before. - -Eating as they went, both of them stepped inside the rock and walked -into a big room where, by the table, sat an old man asleep. - -His glasses had tumbled off his nose and the pipe he had been smoking -was on the floor beside him, where it had tumbled. His lamp had gone -out and his paper had slipped from his hand. - -Lisbeth and Hans looked at him and then at the gingerbread they held. -“It is his house,” said Hans. - -“And we are eating it up! What shall we do?” asked Lisbeth, looking -very much frightened. - -“Better wake him up and tell him,” said Hans, “and perhaps he will let -us bake some more and mend the place we have broken.” - -“I’ll pick up his paper and pipe and brush up the ashes,” said tidy -little Lisbeth, “and you light his lamp, and perhaps he will forgive us -when we tell him we did not know it was his house we were eating.” - -But instead of being cross when he awoke, the old man smiled at them -and asked, “Did you eat all you wanted of the gingerbread?” - -Hans told him they were very sorry and that they did not know any one -lived inside when they ate the gingerbread. - -“We will bake you some more and patch the place we made,” said Lisbeth. - -“Right through that door you will find the kitchen,” said the old man. -“Run along, if you like, and bake it.” - -And such a kitchen as Hans and Lisbeth found, for Hans went along, you -may be sure, to fix the fire for his sister! - -The shelves and cupboards were filled with flour and butter and eggs -and milk and cream and meat and pies, cookies, puddings, but no -gingerbread. - -“We will get breakfast first for the man,” said Lisbeth, “for I am sure -he must be hungry and it is growing light. Look out the window.” - -To Hans’s surprise there was a window. Then he saw a door, and when he -looked out he found they were in a pretty white house with green blinds -and not a rock, as he had supposed. - -Hans and Lisbeth became so interested in cooking they quite forgot -their own home or the unkind uncle who almost starved them, and when -the breakfast was ready they put it on the table beside the old man. - -“I thought you would like your breakfast,” explained Lisbeth, “and now -we will make the gingerbread and repair your house.” - -“After breakfast you may, if you like,” said the old man, “but first -both of you must eat with me.” - -My, how Hans and Lisbeth did eat, for while Lisbeth had cooked only -ham and eggs enough for the old man’s breakfast, there seemed to be -quite enough for them all. - -And while they are eating we will see what the miser uncle was doing, -for he had called the children at break of day and they were not to be -found. - -It happened that the ground was damp and the uncle saw the prints of -their feet from the door to the road and along the road to the path in -the woods, and then the soft leaves and moss did not show where they -went. - -Thinking they had run away and gone into the woods, their uncle hurried -along, calling their names at the top of his voice. - -As he came near the Gingerbread Rock the children heard him and began -to tremble. “It is uncle,” said Hans. “He will be very angry because we -have not done our work.” - -“Sit still,” said the old man as the children started to leave the -table, and, taking his pipe, the old man sat down under a little -opening like a tiny window and began to smoke. - -Soon the children could hear their uncle climbing up outside, and they -knew he had seen the smoke just as they had the night before, and was -trying to look in. - -Then they heard him tumble just as Lisbeth had when the Gingerbread -Rock broke off in her hands, and they knew he had discovered it was -good to eat, for all was still for a few minutes. - -Nothing was heard again for a long time, and then the sound of some one -breaking off big pieces was heard, and when Hans and Lisbeth climbed -up, as the old man told them to do, and looked out of the opening they -saw their uncle with a shovel and a wheelbarrow. - -He was breaking off big pieces of gingerbread and filling the barrow as -fast as he could. - -But when he had filled it he could not move it, for it was no longer -gingerbread, but stone he had to carry. - -The old man motioned to the children to keep quiet, and he opened a -door they had not noticed and went out. - -Just what he said the children never knew. But they soon found out that -instead of being poor, as they had thought, their miser uncle had taken -all the silver and gold their parents had left and hidden it in his -cellar under the stones. - -The miser uncle disappeared and was never seen again, and the old man, -who was really a wizard, told them where to go and what to do with -their wealth. So they were happy ever after. - -Of course, they never forgot the Gingerbread Rock or the kind old man. -But because he was a wizard they knew they would never see him again, -for fairies and witches and wizards are all enchanted and disappear in -a very strange manner. - -“Our good fortune came to us because we tried to be kind to the old -man, I am sure,” said Hans one day, when they were talking about the -Gingerbread Rock. - -“Yes, and because we wanted to repair the damage we had done he knew -we did not mean to do any harm,” said Lisbeth; “but I shall never eat -gingerbread again without thinking of him.” - -“Nor I,” said Hans. - - - - -[Illustration] - -PRINCE ROUL’S BRIDE - - -Once upon a time in a far-off land there lived by an ocean an ogre and -his wife. - -Their home was a cave in a big white rock which was so white it shone -like a light even in the darkest night, and many a ship had thought it -a harbor in a storm and been wrecked by the shore where the ogre lived. - -And this was the way he lived, because the ships carried rich cargoes -and the ogre lost no time in helping himself to all that he could find, -while the sailors were glad to escape in lifeboats when they saw the -dreadful-looking ogre, who was so big and strong he could lift a ship. - -In the same country, miles and miles away from the ogre’s cave, lived -a rich king, who had a son named Roul, and one day while the Prince -was out hunting he passed in the woods a cabin where lived a poor girl -named Leta. - -But while Leta was very poor she was also very pretty, and as the -Prince rode past he saw her at the window and raised his plumed hat and -smiled. - -The next day Prince Roul again rode to the woods and this time he did -not pass Leta’s cabin. He stopped his horse in front of her door and -asked for a drink of water. - -He had thought Leta pretty through the window, but when he beheld her -this time he completely lost his heart, and day after day he went to -the cottage and talked to pretty Leta. - -After a while the King told his son it was time he was looking for a -wife, as he wanted to see him married before he died and know that his -wife was worthy to be a queen. - -So the King gave a feast which lasted for weeks, and princesses from -far and near were asked that Prince Roul might choose for himself a -wife, for, as I said before, the King was very rich and all the kings -in the other countries were anxious, of course, to have Prince Roul for -a son-in-law. - -But Prince Roul did not choose a wife from among the beautiful -princesses, for he was already in love with pretty Leta, and while -he knew full well his father would never give his consent to their -marriage, he was determined he would wed no one else. - -On the last day of the feast the King told him he would have to choose. -“You have before you the beautiful women of the land,” said the King. -“Make your choice at once, and the wedding shall take place this night.” - -“Father, you have not brought to me the most beautiful woman in the -world,” replied Prince Roul. “If you had I should have asked her to be -my wife before this.” - -“What do you mean?” asked the King. “All the princesses in the land are -here.” - -“Ah yes, that is true,” replied the Prince, “but the most beautiful -woman in the world is not a princess, as you think of them, but she is -a Princess for all that. Father, she is the Princess of my heart and I -cannot marry any other woman.” - -Then the King made the Prince tell him who she was that he loved so -dearly, and when he learned Leta was a poor girl who lived in the woods -close by, he was very angry and told the Prince he should never wed -her. - -All the beautiful princesses were sent home, and the angry King called -his servants to him and commanded that they should go to the woods and -find this girl who had upset his plans for his son. - -“Find her and chase her out of the woods; drive her into another land -where the Prince will never find her,” he told them. - -But the King had forgotten one very important thing, and that was his -son, for he should have made him a prisoner before he gave such an -order. This he did not do, and Prince Roul, who overheard what his -father had said, lost no time in jumping on his horse and making his -way to the woods ahead of the servants of the King. - -“Jump up behind me,” he said to Leta when she came out of the cabin, -and away they rode, the feet of Prince Roul’s horse scarcely touching -the ground as they fled. - -The King’s servants were not long in discovering that the Prince had -outwitted them, but they gave chase and away they went through the -woods, while poor frightened little Leta clung to the Prince, wondering -what it was all about. - -On and on they rode, but to Leta clinging to her lover, it seemed they -flew over the ground and through the woods. She could see the bright -trimmings of the servants’ coats glistening in the sun, and she knew -they were gaining on them. - -By this time Prince Roul had told her that his father, the King, had -tried to make him marry a princess, but that he would marry no one but -the girl he loved and that was herself. - -When Leta heard this she was more frightened than ever, for she knew -now that she was the cause of all this trouble and that the servants -must be chasing them to take Roul from her. - -Leta put her hand to her breast. Yes; it was there--the little paper -with the powder a fairy had given her a long time ago, because Leta -had left a beautiful rose on its stem she was about to pick when she -discovered a little fairy sleeping inside the rose. - -“If you ever are in trouble, open this paper and throw the powder -around you,” the fairy had told her. “It will protect you from all -harm.” - -Leta had never before needed protection, and she was not thinking so -much of herself now as of her lover, wondering what the King would do -if he did not obey him. - -Just then the horse on which they were riding came to a full stop with -such force that Leta was thrown to the ground and the next thing she -knew over the side of a cliff leaped the horse with the Prince on his -back. - -The ocean was below, but before the horse and his rider had reached it -Leta drew from her dress the magic powder and threw it over the cliff. - -“Make the ocean dry,” she screamed as she threw the powder, and, to her -surprise, as she threw it over she went, too, and the next instant she -stood beside Prince Roul on dry land before a beautiful white castle -and the ocean was miles away. - -The cliff over which they had gone was the white rock where the ogre -and the ogress lived, but when Leta threw the powder she had also -summoned the little fairy who had given it to her and she had changed -the big white cave into a castle. - -When the King’s servants came dashing up to the cliff they saw nothing -of the Prince or his horse, and the bottom of the cliff was so far -below that they felt sure they had been destroyed, and they rode home -to the King with the sad news. - -The King’s grief was deep and bitter, for he really loved his son very -much, and now when it was too late he cried out that he wished he had -let the Prince marry the girl he loved; if only he had him alive that -would be all he would ask. - -The little fairy did not make herself visible to either Leta or -the Prince, but if they could have seen with fairy eyes they would -have seen the fairy flying ahead of them into the castle, touching -everything with her magic wand as she went. - -When Leta entered the door, which was open, for they had called and no -one answered, she stood spellbound by what she saw. - -The long white marble hall had a floor of silver and marble and the -doors were silver also. - -The Prince, who was used to beautiful things, was quite surprised at -all the splendor, too. - -Opening a big silver door, they entered a room hung with silver -and deep-blue curtains, and on a silver table Leta saw a big white -envelop. When she looked at it she read her own name. - -Wondering who could have left it, she opened it and read: “Princess -Leta, this is your castle; it is the gift of the fairies who love -roses.” - -“Your father will not object now to having me for the wife of his son,” -she said, with a blush, as she gave the note to the Prince, and then -they ran like two happy children through the beautiful castle that had -come to them so strangely. - -In the deep dungeons under the castle they found all the wealth that -the ogre had taken from the ships, and after they had become used to -their new home they gave it all to the poor, and so the ogre’s stolen -wealth did not help him, and while it could not be given back to those -who had lost it, it did much good. - -And what became of the old ogre and his wife, you are wondering. I will -tell you. When the fairy changed the cave into a castle she changed the -ogre and ogress into two big silver statues in the big hall, one at -each end, like huge mummies, holding a big light in their hands, which -lighted the long hall of the castle. - -Then one day Prince Roul and Princess Leta rode away to the palace of -the old King, and when he saw his son he wept for joy and hugged him to -his heart, and Leta’s pretty face won the old King’s heart at once, so -they all lived happily ever after. - -But while the old King wanted them to make the palace their home, -Prince Roul and Leta could not give up their white castle by the sea, -so part of the year they lived in the white castle, and when Prince -Roul grew old and his grandchildren begged for a story, the King told -them of Prince Roul’s bride and the wonderful leap they took over the -cliff which forms the back of the castle. - - - - -[Illustration] - -SUNEV - - -There was once a poor peasant and his wife who had a very beautiful -daughter named Sunev. So beautiful was she that her hair rivaled the -sun in its golden brightness. Her eyes were like the blue sky and her -lips were so red that the roses beheld her with envy. Her skin was so -white and fair that the winter snow was not whiter. Her teeth were like -the pearls. And when an old witch named Zitna, who lived in the forest -near by, saw Sunev one day she became enraged because she was more -beautiful than her own daughter. - -Witch Zitna had thought till then that her own daughter was the most -beautiful creature in the world, for the witch child was as dark as -Sunev was fair, and Witch Zitna wished the Prince of Esor, who was -looking for a wife, to wed her. - -She knew that the Prince had sent out his servants far and near to look -for the most beautiful lady in the country for his wife, and if Sunev -were brought before the Prince of Esor her daughter would never be -chosen. - -There was only one thing to do, and that was to entice the lovely Sunev -into the forest and there change her into the shape of an animal and -leave her to her fate. - -The wicked Witch Zitna watched her chance, and one day, when Sunev -was sent into the forest to gather wood, Witch Zitna slipped out from -behind a tree and touched her with her magic stick, changing her into a -tiger. - -Poor little Sunev was so frightened when she beheld her paws she fell -on the ground and began to moan and cry and all the birds and animals -of the forest came running to see what had happened. - -The witch, in her haste, forgot to deprive Sunev of her power to talk, -so when the birds and animals wanted to know what was the matter she -told them she did not know, but something dreadful had happened and she -was no longer a girl, but a tiger, and was afraid to go home. - -The birds and animals can understand any language, and, being now part -animal herself, Sunev had no trouble in understanding them. - -“Do not cry,” they told her. “It must be the work of Witch Zitna, but -we will protect you, and when the hunters come we will warn you so you -may hide until they go. Eat the berries and nuts and we will find you -a nice place to sleep, so dry your eyes and some way may be found to -restore you to your own shape.” - -Sunev did as the birds and animals told her, for there was no other -way, and soon she became fond of her forest home and all her new -friends. - -Witch Zitna now proceeded to have her beautiful daughter seen by the -messengers of the Prince of Esor, and they carried her off to his -palace, sure they had found at last a wife that would suit their royal -master. - -Of course the parents of little Sunev looked everywhere for her, but -she could not be found, and when they saw the tiger coming toward -them they fled, for they did not know that the beautiful and graceful -tiger-skin held their own child. - -The Prince of Esor, when he saw the witch child, thought that she was -beautiful, but he had wished for a wife that was as fair, so he decided -to wait, and sent out his servants again to look for a lady with golden -hair. - -Witch Zitna was enraged when she heard this, for she knew that until -her daughter was safely married to the Prince she was not safe. - -The reason for this was that every night Venus, the goddess of beauty, -came to the forest to look for the graceful tiger the fairies had told -her about, for, while Sunev looked like a tiger, she had more grace and -beauty than a real tiger, though they are graceful, too. - -Venus did not wish even a tiger to rival her in being graceful, so she -wanted to see this wonderful animal that she might learn from it more -charm. - -One night Sunev was walking through the forest in the moonlight when -Venus, in the form of a tree, beheld her. - -Knowing at once that the graceful tiger was a mortal changed, she -called her attendants, who were not far away, and, changing herself -back to her own beautiful form, she spoke to Sunev. - -“What is your name, beautiful creature, and why are you in this form?” -she asked. - -It was the first time any one but the birds and animals had spoken to -her since Witch Zitna had changed her, and poor little Sunev began to -cry for joy. - -Venus soothed her and soon Sunev told her all she knew of her sad -plight. But when she told the goddess her name a flash of anger came to -the eyes of Venus. - -“Old Witch Zitna has done this,” said the goddess. “She shall pay for -it, for, my dear, your name is mine spelled backward and you are my -godchild. Zitna knew she had much to fear in the beauty you possess. -Come with me!” - -It did not take long to reach the cave of Zitna, for Venus had the -power of witches and fairies when she wished to use it. - -“Come forth!” called Venus, when they reached the cave of Zitna. “Undo -your cruel work,” she commanded, when the trembling witch appeared in -the doorway of her cave. - -In another minute Sunev stood in her own lovely shape before Venus, -who, instead of being jealous of the wonderful beauty she beheld, drew -Sunev to her and kissed her on her brow. - -“You will always be the most beautiful woman in the land,” she said. -“Be you old or young, none shall compare with you. - -“As for your daughter, Witch Zitna, you will never see her again, for -a mother who would treat the daughter of another as you have done this -beautiful girl is not the sort to have a daughter. I will claim your -daughter as well as Sunev for my godchild.” - -Sunev did not know how they reached the door of her parents’ home, but -she stood there a short time after, and with trembling hands opened the -door. - -Oh, how happy her father and mother were to have her again! The joy of -seeing her safe made them forget the time, and it was the trumpeting of -the Prince of Esor’s messengers that told them the day was far gone. - -The messengers knocked at the door, and when Sunev opened it they knew -they had found the wife of their Prince. - -Sunev’s father and mother were overcome with sorrow when the messengers -told their errand. They thought they had found their child, only to -lose her again, but the messengers told them they might go along to -the palace. So they all set out. - -When the Prince of Esor saw the beauty of Sunev he knew she was the one -woman in the world for him, and without delay he ordered the wedding -feast to be prepared. - -A wonderful gown of white and gold was brought from the royal -clothes-room, and a crown of pearls and diamonds was placed upon her -beautiful golden hair, and upon her dainty feet golden slippers and -silk stockings. - -Her father and mother were not forgotten by the Prince, either. They -were dressed in clothes they had never even dreamed of and given a -palace near where Sunev and Prince Esor were to live. - -But what had become of the beautiful witch child all this time, for, of -course, she was not to blame for the bad deed of Witch Zitna and should -not be made to suffer? - -She was safe and happy, you may be sure, for she was surrounded by -every comfort and luxury in another part of the palace, and she did not -wish to become the wife of the Prince. - -Instead, she loved one of the friends of the Prince, a noble lord who -had fallen in love with her, but did not dare speak his love because -he knew the Prince might choose her for his bride. - -But when this noble lord heard a wife had been found for his Prince and -it was not the beautiful girl he loved, he told the witch child of his -love and they were married the very night that the Prince and Sunev -were married. - -And it turned out that the witch child was not a witch child at -all, but had been stolen when a baby from a stork who was carrying -her through the forest to the home of a nobleman, for the goddess -Venus, true to her promise, took both of the beautiful girls for her -godchildren and had the fairies see that they were both made happy. - -The witch child was given a pretty name, but her husband best loved to -call her the Queen of Night, because of her wonderful dark beauty. - -Sunev was the Princess of Esor, of course, but the Prince called her -Princess Rose, and if you will spell Esor backward you will learn why. - - - - -[Illustration] - -CILLA AND THE DWARF - - -Once upon a time there lived a king who had a very beautiful daughter, -and her suitors came from far and near. - -Among them was a dwarf with a huge head and a very long nose. Of -course, no one expected the Princess to marry the ugly creature, but -the dwarf did, and when the Princess refused he flew into a rage and -said he would have her in spite of all she said. - -At last the Princess gave her hand to a prince, but the night the -wedding was to take place the Princess was nowhere to be found. They -hunted high and low all over the palace, but no trace could they find -of her; even her wedding-dress disappeared, too. The Prince was in -despair and wrung his hands and cried out he would give to any one who -would find the Princess half of his fortune. - -The King also said he would give half of his kingdom to the one who -would bring back the lost Princess. - -Now, there was among the servants a little kitchen-maid named Cilla, -who loved the Princess because she always spoke kindly to her, and when -she knew her mistress was lost she resolved to find her at any cost. - -So one night when all the people in the palace were sound asleep Cilla -stole out and went to a witch who lived in the woods and asked her to -help her to find the Princess. - -“I can only help you a little,” said the witch, “as she is in the power -of one who is more powerful than I am, but this much I can do: Here -is a bean that will do magic work if used in the right way; whether -it will help you to find your Princess I cannot tell. The dwarf has -carried her off, and where he is I do not know.” - -Cilla said she would take the bean. She thanked the witch and started -off through the woods to look for the dwarf, for she was sure he must -live in a cave. - -For days she wandered until she was in the deep forest, and at last -she came to a high rock over which she could not climb. - -Cilla sat down and leaned against the rock to rest, when, to her -surprise, she heard the sound of weeping. She looked all around, but -could see no opening except a big crack in one side, and this was too -small for her to get through. - -She was just about to call out and ask who was inside weeping when she -heard some one coming through the bushes. - -Cilla ran behind the rock and watched, and in a minute the dwarf came -bounding out of the bush and briers. - -He carried in his hand an iron bar, and with this he opened the crack -in the rock, which was a door, and entered the rock, leaving the door -open behind him. - -Cilla was a very brave girl or she would have stayed where she was, but -no sooner had the dwarf disappeared than she ran in after him. - -He was standing beside a poor, half-starved-looking little white -rabbit, and Cilla heard him say, “Do you consent or will you starve?” - -The little white rabbit only blinked and turned away, and then Cilla -saw something that made her start, for hanging on a ragged bit of rock -was the wedding-dress the Princess was to have worn the night she -disappeared. - -Cilla did not wait to see more. She dashed toward the dwarf and grabbed -him by his long nose, and, giving it a hard twist, she cried out: -“Where is my mistress, you wretch? Where is she, I say?” - -A very strange thing happened when Cilla gave the long nose a twist; -the dwarf howled like the sound of thunder, and instead of the dwarf -there stood before Cilla a huge toad that hopped away so fast she could -not see where it disappeared. - -“You poor half-starved little rabbit,” said Cilla. “I wish I had -something to give you to eat, but I must hunt for my mistress first, -for I know she must be here.” - -Then Cilla thought of the bean. “I’ll give you this,” she said to the -rabbit. “I am sure I shall have no use for it.” - -When the rabbit swallowed the bean Cilla’s eyes popped wide open, for -there stood her mistress, safe and sound. - -“Oh, Cilla, you have saved me! How ever did you think of twisting his -nose?” asked the Princess. - -“Because it looked as if it were made to be twisted,” said Cilla, “but -how did you know the bean would change you back to your own form?” - -“I didn’t, but I was hungry; that dreadful dwarf was trying to make me -say I would marry him by starving me. Some powerful witch had given him -the form of a dwarf, and if he could get a princess to marry him she -would change him into a man,” said the Princess. - -“Was he a toad at first?” asked Cilla. - -“Yes, it seems he was a toad in the cave of a powerful witch, and for -something he did for her she made him a dwarf; then he wanted to become -a man, and the witch told him if he would marry a princess and take her -into the palace to live she would grant his wish. - -“He told me this before he had me changed into a rabbit, for he first -carried me off to the cave of this witch, who lives somewhere in this -forest, and I think we better hurry away before the toad gets to her -and tells her I have escaped.” - -It took a long time to get out of the forest, but Cilla and the -Princess found the way and the Prince and the King told Cilla she -should have the promised reward. - -“Now, what would I do with all that gold and half of a kingdom?” asked -Cilla. “All I ask is to have a nice little cottage and a cow near by -the palace where I can see my mistress every day.” - -Of course Cilla’s wish was granted, and there she lived and was happy, -for she married the King’s gardener and became the mother of many boys -and girls who never tired of hearing how their mother rescued the -Princess from the bad dwarf. - - - - -[Illustration] - -GRETA AND THE BLACK CAT - - -One day a woodsman named Peter was chopping down a tree when he saw -swinging from one of the branches a bundle. Dropping his ax, he climbed -up, and to his surprise, when he opened the bundle, he found in it a -baby girl asleep. Peter hurried home with the baby to his wife. “Look, -Martha,” he said. “I have found a baby girl to be a sister to our son -Robert. We will name her Greta and they shall grow up as brother and -sister.” - -But Martha did not want the baby. “We have three mouths to feed now,” -she grumbled. “Why should we care for a child we know nothing of?” - -But Peter would not hear of putting the child out-of-doors and so Greta -lived with Peter and Martha and grew up with Robert. - -Poor little Greta had anything but a happy life, for Martha treated her -kindly only when Peter was in sight, and that was seldom. - -Robert, seeing that his mother did not treat Greta well, began to order -her to wait upon him as soon as he was old enough and treated her as a -servant. - -Greta had to weed the garden and bring in the water and the wood. She -had to wash the dishes and make the beds and do all the work excepting -when Peter was at home. - -One day when Peter was going to the woods he told Robert to chop a pile -of wood in the yard and have it finished by the time he came home. - -When Peter was out of sight Robert told Greta to chop the wood. “That -is what you are here for--to do the work,” said Robert. “You would have -been eaten up by the bears if we had not taken you in. Now go to work -and chop that wood.” - -Greta began to cry and said she could not handle the ax; she was too -small. But Martha boxed her ears and told her she should not have any -dinner if she did not do as Robert told her. - -Greta went to the woodpile and picked up the ax, but it was no use. She -could not chop the wood. And fearing a beating if she did not do it, -Greta ran away. On and on she ran until she came to a turn in the road -which led into a forest. Here she decided to stop for the night, and -she was just lying down by a rock when she heard a pitiful “me-ow.” - -Looking in the bushes close by, Greta saw a big black cat holding up -one paw as though it was hurt. “Poor pussy!” said Greta, taking the cat -in her arms. “You look as unhappy as I feel. Let me bind up your paw.” - -Greta tore off a piece of her dress and bound up the cat’s paw, and -then, to her surprise, the black cat spoke to her. - -“Come with me and I will show you where to sleep. You will have to -carry me, for my paw is very painful,” said the cat. - -Greta picked up the cat, too surprised to be frightened, and went -through the woods as the cat directed her. - -When they reached a big rock with an opening in it the cat said: “Here -is my home. Take me in and you will find a place to sleep and food as -well.” - -Creeping in on her hands and knees with the cat under her arm, Greta -found herself in a big room with a table in the center and on it plenty -of food. - -In one corner of the room was a bed and on this Greta saw a -queer-looking old woman with a hooked nose. - -She was asleep and did not notice them until the cat said, “Eat your -supper.” - -Up jumped the queer-looking old woman when she heard this, for she was -the witch. - -“You, and a mortal with you,” she screamed, as she reached for her -crooked stick. - -Greta ran to the door, for she thought the old witch was about to -strike her; but the black cat, who was sitting on the floor near by -where Greta had put it, said: “Don’t you dare touch this girl; she has -saved my life, and from this hour you are in my power, for a mortal has -held me in her arms. - -“If you would live call the good fairy that has been looking for me all -these years. I shall find her, anyway, but it will save time if you use -your magic power, and you will regret it if you do not obey me.” - -When the old witch heard this she began to tremble and hobbled to the -door of the cave and tapped it three times with her crooked stick. - -The rock opened so she could walk out, and Greta followed to see what -she did, for she was no longer afraid; she knew the black cat would -protect her. - -The old witch gave a peculiar cry when she was outside, and Greta saw -the next instant a tiny creature dressed in pink gauze, holding a wand -of gold in one little hand, standing on a bush beside the old witch. - -“Here I am, Witch Terrible,” said the fairy. “What can I do for you? -You must be in great danger or you would not have called for one of us.” - -The cat when it heard the fairy speak ran out of the cave, limping, -and lay down in front of the fairy. “Help me, my good fairy,” said the -black cat. “I am the Prince for whom you have looked so long. The old -witch changed me into a black cat and took away my power to speak until -I was held in the arms of a mortal. - -“I know her secret, and, though she dared not kill me, she wanted me -to die, so she turned me into the forest to starve, and if it had not -been for this girl, good fairy, the old witch would have had her wish -granted. - -“When she changed me into a black cat she said I should never speak -until a mortal held me, and that I could not regain my own shape until -a fairy changed me, but something has happened since then, and to save -herself she obeyed me and called you, for I know her secret, and that -is why I did not have to hunt for you, my good fairy.” - -The fairy touched the black cat with her wand and Greta saw in place -of the big black cat a handsome man dressed in black velvet, with gold -trimmings. “Now tell me the secret you know about the witch,” said the -fairy. - -The old witch threw up her arms and cried for mercy. “Remember, I -called the fairy,” she said; “you would have hunted a long time if I -had not. Be merciful!” - -“I shall not forget,” said the Prince. “This woman is only half a -witch,” he said. “She is part mortal, and every night at twelve o’clock -she has to become a mortal for an hour because she tried to change -a water nymph into a frog. The river god, the water nymph’s father, -called on a very powerful ogre, who was his friend, and the ogre was -about to change her into a rock, but she begged so hard he made her -half mortal and left her to her fate.” - -“Which means she can never leave this forest,” said the fairy, “and as -she does many of her magic deeds at night when she rides abroad on her -broomstick she is not a very powerful witch.” - -“Yes, that is it,” said the Prince, “and she does not want it known -among the fairies or the goblins or any of the magic-power folks. That -is the mercy for which she begs. - -“I hope you will keep her secret, good fairy, for she saved me so much -time and trouble in calling you.” - -“I will keep her secret from all but the fairies, but one of the fairy -family will come here every night to make sure no mortal has been -harmed by her, for some one might stray in here just as this girl did -and be changed into some other form.” - -“I have one more favor to ask of you, good fairy,” said the Prince. “I -wish to make this girl my wife if she will marry me, and I would like -to have the proper clothes for a princess, so that I may take her to my -palace at once.” - -“What do you say, my dear?” asked the fairy. “Will you marry the -Prince?” - -Greta felt she must be dreaming, but she was sure she would love the -handsome Prince if she were awake, so she told the fairy she would, -and the next instant her ragged clothes dropped from her and she stood -before the Prince in a beautiful green velvet riding-habit, with a long -feather in her hat, looking every inch a princess. - -That night a great feast was held at the palace of the Prince in honor -of his return and to celebrate their wedding, and the very next day -Greta and the Prince rode to the home where she had once lived to give -Peter a bag of gold. - -“He was the only person who ever treated me kindly until I met you,” -Greta told the Prince, “and I shall never forget him.” - -Greta was not recognized by Martha or her son Robert, for they little -thought the beautiful Princess was the poor girl that had once been -their slave. But Peter, who had loved her, looked after the coach as it -rolled away. “It looked a little like her,” he said, “but, of course, -it could not be.” Many gifts did Greta and the Prince send to Peter, -and in his old age he was given a comfortable house and plenty to eat, -and, though Martha and Robert shared his good fortune, they never knew -who sent it. - -The Prince told Peter who the Princess really was one day, because the -poor old man had never ceased to sorrow because Greta could not be -found, but not a word did he tell of this to Robert or Martha, but kept -his secret all to himself as long as he lived. - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE KNIGHT OF THE BRIGHT STAR - - -Once upon a time there lived a prince named Lorenzo. Although he was a -prince, he was quite poor and lived with his mother and one servant in -a mountain far from the land of his birth. - -His father, the King, had been killed in a battle with another king, -who took away the wealth and the castles of the defeated King, leaving -Prince Lorenzo and his mother nothing of their former grandeur. - -Prince Lorenzo grew up with a longing for vengeance in his heart, and -often at night his mother would find him gazing in the direction of his -old home as he stood alone under the stars. - -“Son,” said the Queen-mother one night, “why do you gaze so intently -into the distance? Why are you so sad?” - -“There is bitterness in my heart for my father’s enemy who has robbed -me of all the happiness and pleasure in the great world outside,” -replied the Prince. - -“Let me go, mother, and seek my fortune, and I may be able to avenge -the wrongs done to you and me.” - -“Vengeance does not belong to us, my son,” said the Queen-mother. “You -must not take upon yourself that which is not your right. - -“Go out in the world and taste its pleasures, but keep your Star of -Hope as bright as those shining in the heavens over your head if you -wish for happiness.” - -The next morning Prince Lorenzo started on his journey. He was dressed -in a shining suit of mail and sat upon a white horse with trappings of -silver. In the center of his helmet was a little silver star which his -mother gave him with these words: - -“My son, may your armor protect you from all evil and may this star be -your guide. It is enchanted, for it was given to me by a fairy when I -was Queen and your father King. - -“If ever it grows dim look into your own heart to find the cause, and, -finding it, cast it from you if you wish for happiness.” - -Prince Lorenzo promised to look to the brightness of the little star -and rode away to seek his happiness. - -After several days he came to a big city, the City of Pleasure it was -called, and those who lived there told him his armor was much too heavy -for one so young to wear. - -“Cast it aside,” they told the Prince, “and we will show you the joys -of living.” - -So the Prince listened and followed the people in the City of Pleasure -to a beautiful palace where merriment reigned, and laid aside his armor -for a lighter garb. One day Prince Lorenzo looked from the Palace -of Merriment and saw all around the castle men, women, and children -working, and on their faces the look of misery. - -“Who are these creatures?” he asked his gay companions. - -“Those are the toilers who make the money for us to spend,” was the -reply. “Look at us and forget these creatures and be merry.” - -But the Prince could no more be merry; he remembered his Star of Hope -his mother had given him and hurried to find it. - -Instead of the shining star he had left he found it dim and dull, and -then he remembered his mother’s words, “Look into your own heart to -find the cause.” His love of wealth and pleasure had driven out all -thoughts of others, and he had cared not how he gained these things, so -long as he had them. - -“My selfishness has dimmed my Star of Hope,” said the Prince; “I must -leave the City of Pleasure and the Palace of Merriment, for this is not -happiness.” - -He buckled on the cast-off armor and rode away. As he rode past the -toilers he threw among them all the gold he had gained while in the -City of Pleasure. - -Far away from the city he rode, and found himself in the midst of -sickness and suffering. - -Dismounting, the Prince ministered to the sufferers’ needs and forgot -all else until he fell asleep from exhaustion. - -When he awoke his horse stood beside him, and in the moonlight the -little star shone brightly from its place in his helmet on the ground -at his side. Prince Lorenzo jumped to his feet and placed the helmet on -his head. He had tasted the joy of good deeds. He no longer looked for -pleasure in selfishness, and the bitterness of vengeance had gone from -his heart. - -Back to his mother he rode with the little star shining. “You have won, -my son!” she cried as she met him. “All my love for you could not teach -you how to gain real happiness; selfish pleasure and love of vengeance -dull our Star of Hope, but only those who have learned the lesson for -themselves can know this.” - -Prince Lorenzo was surprised one morning to see coming up the mountain, -where he and his mother lived, an army of brightly dressed soldiers. -When they came nearer he saw they were the soldiers that once had -served his father, the King. - -“The King who wronged you is dead,” they told Prince Lorenzo, “and -before he died he made us promise to find you and the Queen and bring -you back to your kingdom, which he wrongfully took from you.” - -Of course Prince Lorenzo and his mother rejoiced to know that once more -they would live in their former home, and lost no time in starting out -on the journey. - -“Your Star of Hope has brought you through tribulations into peace and -happiness,” said his mother, “and all wrongs are righted, but if it had -become dulled by selfishness and vengeance, my son, we still might be -in the darkness of despair.” - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE DOLPHIN’S BRIDE - - -One day there came through the woods that bordered on a big ocean a -poor little beggar girl named Nitta. - -Nitta was crying; she was hungry and she did not know where to go, for -her aunt, who had a daughter of her own, did not want to support Nitta -and had turned her out-of-doors that very day. - -“I am too poor to support you,” said the hard-hearted aunt. “You must -take care of yourself.” - -Nitta’s father and mother were dead and there seemed to be no place for -her but the woods, so she wandered along until she came to the ocean, -and there she sat down to cry out her grief. - -While she was crying a big dolphin poked his head out of the water. -“What are you crying for, little girl?” he asked. - -Nitta was so surprised to hear the dolphin speak that she stopped -crying at once. “I am crying because I have no home,” she replied. - -“I will give you a home if you will come with me,” said the dolphin. “I -need some one to take care of my house.” - -“But I cannot live in the water; I should drown,” said Nitta. - -“I would not ask you to come if you would drown,” answered the dolphin. -“But you must decide for yourself whether you could keep house for a -fish. There are no children to play with at the bottom of the ocean.” - -“I shall starve if I stay on land, and I may find a good home,” thought -Nitta as the dolphin waited for his answer. - -“I’ll go with you,” she said. - -“Then jump on my back,” said the dolphin, “and close your eyes; there -is nothing to fear. I promise you that.” - -Nitta jumped on his back and closed her eyes. Over the waves they went, -and then suddenly Nitta felt the dolphin plunge under the water, and -down, down they went, and then next thing she knew the dolphin stopped -and said, “Here we are.” - -Nitta opened her eyes, and instead of being in the water, as she -thought, she was in a beautiful garden in front of a beautiful house. -Up the steps the dolphin flopped, for, of course, he could not walk, -having no feet, and Nitta followed him. - -He led her into a big hall hung with beautiful pictures and soft -carpets upon the floor upon which Nitta was almost afraid to step. - -Nitta almost forgot her queer companion, she was so overcome with all -the grandeur she beheld. - -On both sides of the long hall were many rooms, one of gold, one of -silver, one of marble, and the dolphin told Nitta she was to choose -which room she would care to have for her own. - -“But you said I was to keep your house,” said Nitta; “a servant cannot -live in one of these beautiful rooms.” - -“I did not say I wanted you to be a servant,” said the dolphin. “I want -some one to live here and care for the house, but not to do the work.” - -Nitta chose a beautiful room hung in blue silk, with chairs of blue -damask and beautiful rosewood frames. - -The ceiling was a darker blue, and all over it were dotted diamonds -that twinkled like stars. - -The floor was covered with a blue velvet carpet, soft and thick, and -over it were scattered big pink roses which looked as if they would -crush when stepped upon, they seemed so natural. - -There was a piano of rosewood at one end of the room, and upon this -Nitta was surprised to see the dolphin jump and with its fins begin -to play. Music such as Nitta never heard came from the keys, and so -enchanted was she that when the dolphin stopped playing Nitta ran to -him and put her hand upon his head. - -“You poor fish,” she said, “it is too bad you are not a man. I wish I -were a fairy and could change you into a prince. This place is far too -beautiful for a fish to live in, and besides, you play such wonderful -music. How is it possible?” - -“There is only one way you can help me, and since you wished to be a -fairy and change me into a prince,” said the dolphin, “I will see if -you will keep your word. - -“Look behind the door and bring the sword you will find there, and I -will tell you the only way I can be freed from the spell of a witch who -hates me.” - -From behind the door Nitta brought the sword. She found it had a -beautiful handle of gold and set with diamonds and pearls, but the -blade looked sharp and pointed and Nitta trembled as she held it. - -“Now if you really are sorry for me,” said the dolphin, “and wish to -make me a prince, strike off my head.” - -Nitta dropped the sword at the very thought of anything so terrible. “I -cannot do that,” she said. “You have been too kind to me.” - -“That is the only way you can repay me,” said the dolphin, with a sigh. -“I see you did not mean what you said about wishing to be a fairy.” - -“Oh yes, I do, indeed I do!” said Nitta. “I do not want to kill you, -but I will put you out of misery if that is what you want.” - -She picked up the sword and swung it over her head; then she looked at -the dolphin, closed her eyes, and brought down the sword. - -As it fell Nitta felt herself slipping away, it seemed to her into the -bottom of the ocean. - -When she opened her eyes she saw a very handsome man bending over her. -“You are a brave girl,” he said. “You have saved me from a terrible -fate.” - -“Where is the good dolphin?” asked Nitta. “Oh, I will never forgive -myself for killing him!” - -“He is gone forever. I was the poor dolphin,” said the handsome man -at her side. “You broke the spell that held me, for the old witch who -changed me into the dolphin said I must remain one until a pretty woman -should strike off my head.” - -“But why should a witch change you into a fish?” asked Nitta. - -“Because I would not marry her daughter and make her a princess,” -replied the handsome man. “You see, I am a prince and I was waiting for -the girl I could love to appear before I would take my princess. - -“And now I have found her. Will you become my princess?” - -Nitta was already in love with the handsome man who had fallen in love -with her, and so they were married that very day in the wonderful -castle of beautiful rooms and lived happily ever after. - - - - -[Illustration] - -PRINCESS DIDO AND THE PRINCE OF THE ROSES - - -Little Princess Dido ran away from her attendants every time she could, -and one day when she was walking in the forest with her servants she -hid behind a tree while they were talking, and before they had missed -her she ran down another path and was out of their sight. - -When Princess Dido found herself alone she began to look about to see -if she could find any flowers, for she was very fond of flowers and was -never allowed to pick them herself; her servants did that for her. - -“I can pick them myself now,” she said, laughing to herself to think -she had escaped from the servants, and she began picking all the wild -flowers she could find, walking along all the time and going farther -into the forest. - -When it was sunset the Princess Dido found herself in the thick of the -trees and bushes, and she began to wonder why her attendants did not -find her and take her home; but the sun set and the stars came out and -still no one came, and Princess Dido felt tired and lay down among the -leaves and mosses and went to sleep. - -When she awoke the moon was shining, and although she was in the forest -alone she was not afraid, for she did not think any one would harm a -princess, so she rolled over on her soft bed, thinking she would go to -sleep again, when something cold touched her cheek. - -Princess Dido opened her eyes very wide then and sat up, and on a bush -beside her she saw a very small gold key hanging by a thread which -swung back and forth and half touched her face. - -“I wonder what this cunning little key can fit,” said the Princess. “I -do wish I knew! I am sure I should find something nice. I believe I -will look about. I am not a bit sleepy, and the moon is as bright as -day.” - -Princess Dido hunted everywhere among the bushes and rocks, and nothing -could she find, when, just as she had decided to go to sleep again, she -saw something shining on a tree, and there was a tiny keyhole that the -key just fitted. - -She put the key in the lock and the tree opened like a door, and -Princess Dido stepped inside and closed the door after her. - -She walked along a road which seemed to be just behind the tree, -but when she looked about she was not in the forest at all, but in -a beautiful country filled with flowers and tall trees, and in the -distance she saw a beautiful castle. - -When Princess Dido came to the castle she saw fountains and more -beautiful flowers growing around, and there were birds of all kinds -singing in the trees. - -“I suppose I must go to the door of the castle and let them know who I -am,” thought the Princess. “A princess ought to do that, I know, but I -would much rather stay in this beautiful garden and hear the birds sing -and look at the flowers.” - -When the Princess knocked at the door no one answered, and after -waiting a short time the Princess opened the door and stepped inside. -All was still and she sat down and waited. - -“I expect everybody is at breakfast,” thought the Princess. “I wish I -had something to eat. I didn’t have any supper, and I have not had my -breakfast, either. - -“Yes, I am hungry and want my breakfast,” said Princess Dido, and, -though she did not know it, she had spoken right out loud, and as she -did so a table appeared beside her with her breakfast on it and a -bouquet of beautiful pink roses. - -“I wonder where this came from. I didn’t see or hear any one,” said the -Princess. - -But she did not wonder about it; she was too hungry. When she had -finished she walked along the hall, for, being a princess, she was in -the habit of going where she liked, and as she saw no one she did the -same here. - -But there was no room opening out of the hall she was in, so the -Princess went up the stairs, and here again she found herself in a -large hall, but this was so beautiful she looked about her in wonder, -for it was a much more beautiful place than her own castle. The floor -was of opals and the walls were the same; the sunlight shining through -the windows made the most wonderful colors wherever it fell, and all -around the place were white roses, making the air sweet with their -fragrance. - -There was another flight of stairs, and up these the Princess went. The -stairs were of silver, and on the next floor the Princess found herself -in a hall of crystal with roses all around; beautiful pink roses such -as she had never before beheld. - -“Oh, how I wish I could pick them!” said the Princess as she went from -bush to bush, and to her surprise the roses nodded as if to tell her -she could if she liked. - -Princess Dido broke one from its stem, and then another, and as the -roses still nodded she picked more until her arms were full. - -But there was another flight of stairs, and these were of gold. So the -Princess walked up these and found herself in another beautiful room, -which was blue, the color of sapphires, and around this room grew red -roses. - -But there was still another flight of stairs, and the Princess did not -stop long here, with her arms filled with the pink roses. She went up -the last flight and found herself in a hall filled with red, pink, and -white roses, but the walls were hung with soft gray silk and the floor -covered with velvet of the same color. - -“Oh, how beautiful! I wish I could live here among the roses,” she said. - -“You can, my Princess of the Roses,” said a voice, and from behind a -curtain stepped a handsome prince, dressed in a suit of gray velvet, -with trimmings of silver and pink. - -He took from his head a hat with a long plume of pink and bowed low -before the Princess Dido, who had dropped her roses and stood blushing -as pink as the roses she had dropped. - -“This is my castle, the Castle of the Roses,” explained the Prince, -“and I vowed I would never marry until I found a princess who loved my -roses as well as me, and you have proved you do by coming into all of -my rose-garden. Others have been here, but when they found only roses -in each room they never came to this floor. - -“Behind these curtains is my palace. These halls of roses are but a -part of my private rooms. Will you stay, Princess, or shall I call the -fairies to take you back to your own castle?” asked the Prince. - -“You may call the fairies to take the news to my people that I will -live in the Castle of Roses, with the Prince of Roses,” said Princess -Dido. - -“But who hung the little gold key on the bush?” she asked the Prince. - -“Oh! I asked the fairies to help me find a wife,” said the Prince. -“They hung it there. You see, we shall live in an enchanted castle, -as well as in the Castle of Roses, so there is nothing for us but -happiness.” - - - - -[Illustration] - -CATVILLE GOSSIP - - -Mr. Tommy Kat was in love with Tabby Gray--at least so all the gossips -in Catville say, for Tabby was as graceful as a little kit can be. Said -Tommy, when he saw her, “She’s just the wife for me.” - -But Tabby Gray was fickle, as sometimes kittens are; so she giggled -and told Tommy he would have to ask her pa. For there was big white -Tom Cat, with coat as smooth as silk, who often took her walking and -treated her to milk. He had told her he would give her a ribbon bright -of red, if she would only promise no other cat to wed. - -Then there was Tommy Mouser, who by all was called a sport. He had told -her that he loved her, and once for her had fought. - -And there was Tommy Black, the dandy of the town, who was called by -all who watched him the best dancer to be found. - -He often danced with Tabby Gray, and frightened all the rest away; for -when he danced they all stood by and looked on him with jealous eye. - -And Tiger Tom, another swain, who always said he felt a pain around his -heart when any other danced with her except her brother. - -An admirer, too, was Tommy Buff; he said and vowed it was no bluff when -he declared he loved Miss Gray and in his heart she held full sway. - -And there was Tommy Black-and-White, who said he sat up many a night to -serenade Miss Tabby Gray on the back-yard fence till break of day. - -And Tommy, who was nicknamed Slim, said she was the only girl for him -and that his eyes had turned to green because another cat was seen to -walk with Tabby down the road. Since that his heart was like a load. - -And so, you see, Miss Tabby Gray needed time these things to weigh, and -that was why she told Tom Kat her pa would have to answer that question -he had asked that night on the back-yard fence in the bright moonlight. - -Said Tommy Kat as he looked at a star: “I don’t want to marry your pa. -Now why do you keep me here a-guessing when we might go round and get -pa’s blessing?” - -Miss Tabby stretched and heaved a sigh, then on Tommy Kat she cast her -eye. He was handsomer, far, than all the rest, and she felt quite sure -she loved him best. But, like all others of her kind, she pretended to -make up her mind. - -But Tommy Kat was a hasty fellow. He knew present time was always -mellow; so he told Miss Tabby ’twas getting late, and whisked her over -the back-yard gate. And before she knew where she was at they stood at -the door of Minister Cat. - -In a minute more they came out married, for Minister Cat he never -tarried. He married off couples quick as scat, and for his fee he took -a rat. - -The reception they held was a howling success, as all who came to it -had to confess. And all the way through Catville Town bottles and shoes -were strewn up and down. And when Old Sun Man o’er the hill did peep -every kit in the town was fast asleep. - - - - -[Illustration] - -HOW THE ELEPHANT GOT HIS TRUNK - - -One night in the Zoo when the keepers were asleep the other animals -were awakened by the chattering in the monkey cage. - -“I have heard that Mr. Lion can be made very tame,” said Jocko, “and -while I doubt very much if he really can bite, his growl is most -unpleasant to hear.” - -“Oh, well, it may be worse than his bite,” said Tito. “Those who make -the most noise are not always to be feared, I have been told.” - -“There is Hippo; he is much bigger than Mr. Lion, and he doesn’t make -as much noise all the time as Mr. Lion.” - -“Oh, dear me, but what a big mouth Hippo has!” laughed Tito. “I wonder -how he happened to get such a big one. He must have been the first one -there when they gave out mouths.” - -“I have heard something about almost every animal here,” said Jocko. -“Want to hear it?” - -“Yes, tell me,” said Tito, moving close to Jocko. “Where did Mr. Lion -get his long hair?” - -“Oh dear! don’t you know?” laughed Jocko, “Mrs. Lion pulled it so much -it made it long. She hasn’t any, you see. Oh dear, yes, Mr. Lion is a -henpecked husband if ever there was one.” - -“You don’t tell me so,” said Tito. “What about Hippo? How did it happen -he is so big and clumsy?” - -“Oh, don’t you know?” said Jocko. “When the animals were being made -there was a lot of each animal left and it was all stirred together, -and that made Hippo. They made his body first and then they did not -have enough to give him a long tail or fill in his mouth. That is the -reason it is so large.” - -“Ho, ho, ho!” laughed Tito, and Jocko laughed, too, until they nearly -fell off the place where they were sitting. - -“Where did old Reynard get his bushy tail, Jocko?” - -“Oh, don’t you know that either?” replied Jocko. “He was caught trying -to steal chickens by the farmer’s wife, and she threw the brush she was -using at him with such force that it struck him handle first, and there -it stuck right on his back, and he never could be rid of it.” - -“Ho, ho, ho!” laughed Tito. “And where did the giraffe get his long -neck?” - -“Oh, that is easy,” said Jocko. “He was so big-feeling and so haughty -he would not look at the other animals, and it stretched his neck until -now he can’t see the ground, so I have been told. I don’t know, of -course.” - -“He has a very little head, anyway,” said Tito. - -“There is very little in it, my dear Tito,” said Jocko. And then they -both laughed again. - -One by one the animals had awakened, but, hearing what was being said, -they each hoped to hear something about the other that would offset the -fun Jocko was making of them, so they kept still. - -“Where did the elephant get his trunk? That is what I should most like -to hear about,” said Tito. - -“Well, that is a long story,” said Jocko. “It seems that it really was -only a nose to begin with, and not much of a nose at that, so I have -heard it said, but because he was so big he thought he was the boss -of the jungle, where he lived, and he went about poking his nose into -every place he could find to see what was going on. They used to call -him Old Nosey, I have been told, and he had such big ears that what he -did not see he heard, so every one disliked him, but it took Old Man -Crocodile to cure him of his bad habit.” - -“What did he do to Mr. Elephant?” asked Tito, excitedly. - -“I’ll tell you,” said Jocko. “One day Mr. Elephant was walking by the -water when he saw something queer-looking sticking out of the water. - -“Mr. Elephant had to know what it was, so he poked it with his nose, -and, zip! it had him right by the nose, and held him, too. - -“My, how he did yell, I was told, but Old Man Crocodile would not let -go. He held right on tight. - -“Mr. Elephant pulled and cried, ‘Let go!’ and the harder he pulled the -harder Old Man Crocodile pulled, until Mr. Elephant had that nose you -see on him now called a trunk. - -“By and by Old Man Crocodile had to catch his breath, and he let go, -and down sat Mr. Elephant on the ground with a bang. - -“Old Man Crocodile began to cry and say how sorry he was that he had -grabbled Mr. Elephant--that he had no idea he was hurting a friend. He -thought it was a hunter, and would Mr. Elephant please forgive him this -once!--he would never do it again.” - -“Is there where Old Man Crocodile got his tears?” asked Tito. - -“That is how he began to cry,” said Jocko. - -“Ho, ho, ho!” they both laughed, and then a terrible roar and -trumpeting and all sorts of cries went up from the animals, for Mr. -Elephant could not keep quiet when he heard what Jocko said about his -trunk. - -When Mr. Elephant began to trumpet Mr. Lion began to roar, and Jocko -and Tito fled to the back of their cage and huddled together, trembling -with fright. - -“They can’t get us,” said Jocko. “Let them talk and scream. I guess we -woke them up talking and laughing.” - -The other animals made such a noise that the keepers came running to -see what had happened, but, of course, they did not understand a thing -they told them about the awful stories Jocko had told about them, and -so all they could do was to give them a drink of water or a biscuit, -hoping they would be quiet. - -Far into the morning the animals scolded and told Jocko what they -thought of him, but Tito and Jocko fell asleep in spite of the noise -and Tito laughed in his dreams about the funny things Jocko had told -him. - - - - -[Illustration] - -WHY RABBITS HAVE SHORT TAILS - - -Bunny Rabbit was sitting in his yard one day, thinking very hard, when -his grandfather came along. - -“Why are you so quiet and sober, grandson?” he inquired. - -“I am wondering, grandfather,” said Bunny, “why we have such long ears -and so short a tail. I should think it would be much better if it were -just the other way about.” - -“Of course; of course,” said Grandfather Rabbit, bobbing his ears back -and forth. “We all think we could have made a better rabbit if we had -been consulted. But let me tell you why your tail is short and your -ears are long, and then you will learn you are better off now than was -your great-grandfather’s great-grandfather, who had a long tail and -short ears.” - -It did not take Bunny Rabbit long to find a nice soft seat for his -grandfather and to sit close and very still, with his ears sticking up -to listen, for he dearly loved the stories his grandfather told. - -“Once upon a time,” began Grandfather Rabbit, just as all grandfathers -begin a story--“a long, long time ago there lived in some woods a -rabbit. He had a long tail and short ears, just as all the rabbits in -those days had. - -“One day he ran over the hill to the garden where Mr. Man lived. He -should have been very careful, but he wasn’t, and when he was crawling -under the rail fence around the garden didn’t Mr. Dog see him and begin -to bark and chase Short Ears, as he was called. - -“Short Ears was a good runner, and it was lucky he was or there would -be an end to this story right here. Through the garden he ran under -cover of the vegetable leaves, and when he got out he was a good bit -ahead of Mr. Dog. - -“Over the field they ran, and under the stone wall went Short Ears and -over it went Mr. Dog. Down the road they ran lickety split, and into -his house ran Short Ears just as Mr. Dog came into the yard. - -“Short Ears had no time to lose, I can tell you. He slammed the door, -and what do you suppose happened?” - -Bunny Rabbit was so interested in his grandfather’s story he only -started; he did not answer at all. So his grandfather went on. - -“Why, Short Ears slammed that door right on his long tail, and there he -was held fast, with his tail hanging outside.” - -“Oh! Oh! Oh!” cried Bunny Rabbit, feeling of his stubby little tail, to -be sure it was safe behind him. - -“What did poor Short Ears do then?” he asked. - -“He could not do a thing, for there was Mr. Dog right in the yard and -running straight for the door,” said Grandfather Rabbit. - -Bunny Rabbit sat closer to his grandfather and his ears grew longer as -he listened. - -“Yes,” said Grandfather Rabbit, “Short Ears was in a bad fix, as you -can see. He could not open the door to get his tail out, because Mr. -Dog would come in and catch him. - -“He did not have long to think about it, for the very next thing he -knew Mr. Dog grabbed at his tail and off it came right up to the door. -And off he ran. For, you see, he thought he had Short Ears on the end -of the tail, and he did not stop to look. He just ran. - -“When his tail broke off, over went Short Ears on the floor, for that -set him free. ‘Oh dear! Oh dear! What shall I do?’ he cried, when he -jumped up and looked in the mirror and saw that his long tail was gone -and all that remained was a little stubby tail, just like yours. - -“First he ran to the medicine-closet and got some salve and a soft -piece of cloth. But he found he could not reach the end of his tail--it -was too short. - -“His first thought was to run over to his cousin Rabbit’s house, not -far-off, but when he started toward the door he remembered Mr. Dog. - -“Short Ears leaned his head to the crack in the door and listened hard. -His ears were short, you remember, but not so short but that he heard -Mr. Dog barking. - -“Nearer and nearer came the bark. Short Ears locked the door and ran to -the windows and fastened them and drew the shades, and then he ran into -the closet and closed the door. - -“Away back he crept under his Sunday clothes, where he was sure no one -would find him, and there he sat and listened and listened and listened. - -“Mr. Dog barked and jumped about outside the house, for he was very -much upset when he found that he did not have Short Ears on the end of -the tail he carried off. - -“But it was no use. He could not get into Short Ears’s house, and at -last he gave it up and ran off home, barking all the way. - -“Short Ears listened, and though Mr. Dog’s tones grew fainter and -fainter, Short Ears was surprised to find he could hear the barking, -though it was a long way off. - -“After it was dark he came out of the closet and crept into his bed -without even thinking of the end of his tail, he was so tired and worn -out listening. - -“And now what do you think had happened to him, and what do you think -he saw when he looked in the mirror in the morning to brush his hair?” - -Bunny Rabbit shook his head. “I don’t know, grandfather,” he said. -“What had happened to Short Ears?” - -“His ears had grown long, he had listened so hard to the barking of -Mr. Dog,” said Grandfather Rabbit. “And from that day all the Rabbit -family have had short tails and long ears, which is just as it should -be, for we can hear Mr. Dog a long way off, and we do not have the -bother of looking after a long tail when we run to cover. So don’t wish -to have yours changed again, for you see now that you are better off -than poor Short Ears was, don’t you?” - -Bunny Rabbit said he did, and that he should never wish for a long tail -and short ears again. And he didn’t. - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE HUNTER’S FRIEND, JOHNNIE BEAR - - -In a hut on the side of a mountain lived an old hunter all alone. He -had only one room, which was very scantily furnished, and he cooked his -meals in a fireplace. In the fireplace was a big hook where he hung his -kettle, and he cooked his meat by holding it between two sticks over -the coals. - -You need not pity this old man, for he would rather eat his food cooked -in this way than in any other. He had a bunk built in the room about -half-way up the wall, where he had to climb a ladder to reach it, and -when he went to bed he covered himself with a big bearskin. Beside the -bunk a gun hung on the wall where he could quickly reach it if it were -needed. Across the door at night he fastened a big bar, for he did not -intend that any one should enter while he was asleep. - -The old hunter had set a trap by his door, and one morning he found a -baby bear caught in it by the left hind paw. He very carefully opened -the trap and took the little fellow out. Then he took Johnnie Bear, as -he named him, into his cabin and very carefully washed the poor cut -foot and bound it up with some healing salve. - -Johnnie Bear seemed to know that the hunter was helping him, and he -did not bite or try to get away. He made a funny little noise like a -baby when it is hurt. Then the hunter warmed some milk and put it in a -bottle, which he gave to the bear. Johnnie Bear took the bottle in both -his paws and held it to his mouth and drank the milk very greedily. -Then the hunter fixed a bed for him and put a log on the fire to keep -the place warm while he went for a hunting trip. - -Johnnie Bear slept all day, and when the hunter returned at night he -tried to run to meet him, but his poor foot hurt him so he had to lie -down again. Several weeks passed before Johnnie Bear’s foot became -quite well, and he always limped, because the trap had cut so deep. - -The little fellow became very fond of the hunter and would run to meet -him at night, and when the hunter brought in his game Johnnie Bear -would poke it over with his nose and paw, as though to tell the hunter -that he had done well. - -One day he did not run to meet the hunter, and when night came he did -not come to his supper. The old hunter began looking around the cabin -and he found the footprints of two bears. One was Johnnie Bear’s, which -he could tell by the light mark which the lame foot made, and the other -was of a big bear, which had enticed Johnnie back into the woods. The -hunter felt very lonely and looked for Johnnie every day for a long -time, but after a year had gone by he gave up all hope of ever seeing -Johnnie again. - -A long time after this the hunter was going through a part of the wood -that was filled with bushes and vines and in some way his foot became -entangled and he fell, breaking his arm. His gun fell some distance -from him, and as he went to pick it up he saw a big mother bear with -two cubs coming toward him. She was growling and showing her teeth and -the hunter felt that he had little chance for escape from a fight, and -with his right arm broken he wondered how the fight might come out. - -He braced himself against a tree and waited for the bear to come up. -He held his gun in his left hand, intending to use it to beat her off -as long as possible. Just then another bear came in sight and the poor -hunter gave up all hope. But all at once the first bear stopped and -looked at the other bear, then suddenly walked toward him. Both stood -and looked at the hunter, who did not move. Suddenly the second bear -growled strangely and the first bear walked away with the two cubs. -Then the second bear came nearer, and as he walked the hunter saw that -he limped. It was Johnnie Bear, and in some unknown tongue he had sent -the other bear away and saved the hunter’s life. He did not come any -nearer the hunter, but only looked at him, as though to say, “You saved -my life once, now I have paid my debt to you.” Then he limped away in -the direction the other bears had gone. Perhaps the mother bear was -Johnnie’s wife and the cubs were their children. - -Who can tell? - - - - -[Illustration] - -PLAID TROUSERS - - -Mr. Tim Coon had a pair of red-and-green plaid trousers and that was -what made everybody in the woods envious. - -But there was one who not only was envious--he was very jealous of his -rights--and that one was Mr. Fox. - -For Mr. Fox thought, and so did every one else in the woods, that he -was the very smartest and nattiest fellow around until Tim Coon came -along with those red-and-green plaid trousers. - -Mr. Fox at first did not bother much about the trousers, for he felt -sure that in a short time he could persuade Tim Coon to part with them, -but here he was mistaken, as time proved. - -Mr. Fox had called on Tim every day. He had carried the fattest hen or -duck, and even two fat chickens, and each time he hinted that he might -part with each or any of them if he were offered the right thing. - -But Tim Coon was well supplied with the season’s good things to eat and -would not offer anything worth having. - -And that was the reason that Mr. Fox sat on his steps one morning in -deep thought while he smoked his old corncob pipe. - -While he was thinking his eyes happened to alight upon a piece of paper -on which there was some printing, and then he saw the word WOOL in big -letters. - -“Wool?” thought Mr. Fox; “that is what those red-and-green trousers -are; all wool, Tim Coon says.” - -Mr. Fox got up from the steps and picked up the paper. He began to -read, and as he read his eyes grew big. The more he read the bigger -they grew, and at last he became so interested he dropped his pipe from -his mouth without noticing it. - -Mr. Fox read all the printing. Then he crumpled up the paper and threw -it into the bushes. - -“If he only would get them soiled,” he said, “the rest would be easy; -he would be sure to ask my advice. - -“I know what I will do,” he said, starting for his barn. “I’ll paint -the seat of my rocking-chair; he loves to sit in that.” - -Pretty soon Mr. Fox had his rocking-chair painted a nice shiny black, -and then he sat down to watch for Tim Coon, who always passed by about -that time. He did not have to wait long before Tim came along, wearing -the plaid trousers. “Come in, Tim, and have a smoke,” said Mr. Fox, in -his most polite manner. - -Mr. Fox went to the closet to get a pipe for Tim, and, just as he -expected, down sat Tim Coon in the rocking-chair right on the wet paint. - -“Oh dear, oh dear, how sorry I am!” said Mr. Fox, hurrying to Tim. - -“Get up quick, Tim! I just painted that chair. I hope you have not got -it on your plaid trousers.” - -Mr. Fox’s eyes twinkled as he got behind poor Tim to look at the seat -of his trousers, but that, of course, Tim Coon did not see, and when -Mr. Fox told him there was a big black spot, but that he felt sure he -could tell him just how to get it out, Tim thought he was a very kind -fellow. - -“Don’t you bother at all, Tim. I read the other day just how to wash -woolen garments. It said it was sure and safe, so I will help you, for -I really feel to blame; I ought to have remembered that rocker was -freshly painted. - -“First, I must get you some white soap, and as I have none in the house -I shall have to run over to Mr. Man’s and get some; he has everything -in his house.” - -Tim Coon thought Mr. Fox was the very kindest fellow he knew, and he -ran right home to take off the trousers and wait for Mr. Fox to return. - -“Oh, you might put on a kettle of water,” called Mr. Fox as Tim was -hurrying away, “and have it boiling; it must boil hard.” - -Mr. Fox had a harder time than he expected getting the soap from Mr. -Man’s, for Mr. Dog had gone to sleep right in the doorway of the barn, -and that was where Mr. Fox wanted to go. - -He had seen a piece of white soap on a box in the barn one day, where -Mr. Man had been washing his best harness, and he hoped very much he -would find it there now. - -After a while Mr. Dog awoke and went away and Mr. Fox crept in. He was -lucky enough to find the soap, and off he ran for Tim Coon’s house just -as the sun was going down. - -“I risked a good deal, Tim, to get this soap,” he said. “I do not like -to go over the hill in the daytime--too risky. - -“Now we must put the trousers in a pail,” explained Mr. Fox, “and then -very slowly pour the water on them. Are you sure the water is boiling -hard?” - -Tim said he was, and so Mr. Fox told him to bring it along, and as Tim -poured it in the pail Mr. Fox shaved up the soap and dropped it in. - -“Now get me a stick,” he said, “so I can stir it and make a good suds, -and now I will leave you, for I am sure you can do the rest, and I must -get home, as it is getting dark. - -“All you have to do is to let them soak overnight and take them out in -the morning and hang them in the sun, and if that recipe for washing -woolen is good for anything your trousers will be as good as new.” - -Off ran Mr. Fox for home, chuckling to himself all the way. “Yes, they -will be as good as new,” he said, “but not for you to wear, my friend -Tim. They may fit a very young coon, but not a full-grown-up coon like -you. Oh no.” - -Poor Tim Coon viewed his trousers as they hung on the line the next day -with a sinking heart, for the black stain of the paint was of course -still to be seen, but later when they were dry and he tried to put them -on it was not a feeling of sadness which came over him. It was anger. - -Tim looked at himself in the looking-glass and saw that his handsome -plaid trousers were no longer fit for him to wear. They were well up to -his knees, and so snugly did they fit him he could not bend, let alone -walk. - -It took some time to get out of them, but when he did he took them over -to Mr. Fox’s house and showed him the remains of what had once been his -plaid trousers. - -“It did not work right. That is all I can say,” said Mr. Fox, trying -hard to look sad. “You never can tell about those recipes you read in -papers and magazines until you have tried them.” - -“I wish some one else had tried it first,” said Tim, with a sigh, as he -looked at his trousers. - -“I might have worn a long-tailed coat and covered up the paint spot, -but there is nothing I can do with these short legs.” - -“You could wear a skirt or put some lace on the bottom of the legs,” -suggested Mr. Fox. - -“Are you sure the water had to boil?” asked Tim. - -“Sure as I am that the sun will shine!” replied Mr. Fox. “Are you sure, -Tim, those trousers are all wool?” - -“I thought they were,” said Tim. - -“I know they are,” said Mr. Fox, looking after Tim down the path. - -Of course the plaid trousers were of no use to any one, but Mr. Fox was -satisfied so long as he did not have to see Tim Coon wearing them. - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE THREE RUNAWAYS - - -Mr. Dog sat in front of his house, looking very sad; Mr. Tom Cat came -along with his head hanging down, very sad, too. - -“Hello, Tommie!” said Mr. Dog. “You look as sad as I feel. What is the -matter?” - -“Matter enough, Mr. Dog,” said Mr. Tom Cat. “I have just been driven -out of the house with a broom by cook, who says I am of no use; that I -am too fat and too well fed to catch the mice. - -“Mr. Dog, I have caught all the mice in that house for years, and just -because I slept one night--that was last night--that cook forgets -all about all the good work I have done in the past and puts me out, -and with a broom, too. Oh, it is too terrible, and I have not had my -breakfast, either.” - -“Tommie, dear fellow,” said Mr. Dog, “you certainly have a hard time -of it, but let me tell you what has happened to me after all my years -of service to the master. Last night a fox got into the hen-house, and -just because I did not keep awake all night and catch him the master -took me up to the hen-house and put my nose right down on the floor -where that fox had walked, and then he boxed my ears. Think of it, -Thomas, he boxed my ears before all the hens and chickens and said I -was getting old and good for nothing, and I have not had a bite to eat -this morning. I wonder what this place is coming to when such good -fellows as we are get such treatment. That is what I would like to -know, Thomas Cat.” - -Mr. Tom Cat licked his mouth and stretched himself before he answered: -“I think, Mr. Dog, we better give the master and cook a chance to think -over what they have done to us and perhaps they may remember all the -good things we have done all these years and think that one little -mistake was not so bad, after all. I am for running away, I am. What do -you say?” - -“Now I never thought of that, Thomas,” said Mr. Dog, standing up and -looking very serious. “I believe that is a good plan, Thomas. I do, -indeed; but where shall we run?” - -“Oh, we can walk; you know we don’t have to run at all, only they call -it running away if you go off where people can’t find you,” said Mr. -Tom Cat. “I know a place we can go. Come with me.” - -“I’ll go with you,” said Mr. Dog. “Lead the way, Thomas.” - -Just as they were passing the barn-yard they saw Mr. Rooster scrooged -under the fence. - -“Hello, Mr. Rooster!” said Mr. Dog. “What has happened to you that you -look so unhappy this morning?” - -“Why wouldn’t I look unhappy?” replied Mr. Rooster. “Here I have been -on this farm and looking after all those silly hens these long years, -and this morning the master said he wished the fox had got me last night -instead of the hen he carried off. I tell you it is hard luck, after -all I have done for the master.” - -“Come with us,” said Mr. Tom Cat. “We are running away; the cook chased -me out this morning because I happened to sleep all night and didn’t -catch the mice, and Mr. Dog was blamed because the fox got into your -house last night. We are not appreciated around here, that is plain. -Will you come along?” - -“I had never thought of running away,” said Mr. Rooster, getting out -from under the fence and flapping the dust from his wings, “but I think -I like the idea of running away. I will go along with you. Perhaps the -master and those foolish hens of mine will begin to think what a fine -fellow I am and wish I had not gone. Where are you going?” - -“Oh, to a place I know where no one will find us,” said Mr. Tom Cat, -running ahead. - -Mr. Dog and Mr. Rooster followed Mr. Tom Cat, and soon they were in the -woods where the bushes grew thick and the trees shut out the sun. - -“Here we are,” said Mr. Tom Cat; “now no one will find us and we can -rest in ease.” - -“I have not had my breakfast,” said Mr. Rooster, scratching the ground. - -“Neither have we,” said Mr. Tom Cat, “but I have heard somewhere that -you should not think of your troubles and they will not bother you, -so suppose we each tell a story to take up the time and also take our -minds off the thought that we have not had our breakfast. You begin, -Mr. Dog, because you are such a good story-teller and have had so many -adventures.” - -Mr. Dog looked very wise and scratched his head as if he was thinking -very hard. - -“Did I ever tell you about how I treed a coon?” he asked. - -Mr. Rooster and Mr. Tom Cat said they never had heard it, but they -should like to hear about it very much indeed. - - -MR. DOG’S STORY - -Mr. Dog cleared his throat and then he said: “I have always had the -reputation of being a good hunter, especially when coons were in -season, but this story which I am about to tell will show that I had -the hardest time a dog ever had getting a coon. - -“One moonlight night the master came out of the house and whistled to -me; he had his gun over his shoulder and I knew pretty well what was -going to happen; we were going coon-hunting. - -“So I wagged my tail and gave two or three sharp barks because I knew I -could not bark again until I had something to bark about. - -“Oh, it was a beautiful night, and just as we got out in the road a -little way from the barn I saw something moving. I wasn’t sure at first -whether it was a fox or a coon, both of them being equally fond of -visiting the poultry-yard; but I kept very still and pretty soon I saw -him right in the full moonlight. It was as fat a coon as I ever saw, -and he didn’t see me and I made a run for him. - -“Well, you may have seen a coon run, my friends, but believe me when I -tell you that you never saw one run as this one did. He gave a bound -and away he went, and I went after him, and Mr. Man followed, for I was -barking now, for there was reason for it. - -“Well, that coon got to the tree first, and up he went, for I saw him, -and I can tell you I was some tickled, for I knew that the master would -be pleased enough when he saw the size of that coon. - -“After he got into the tree I stood under it and looked up and barked -with all my might, and Mr. Man was coming a-running as fast as he could -in the distance. - -“But while I saw that coon go up the tree as plainly as I ever saw -anything, I couldn’t see hide nor hair of him when I looked up. - -“Mr. Man came up to me after a while and said, ‘Where is he, Rover?’ - -“I kept looking up in the tree and barking to keep up my courage, -though I could see nothing but tree. - -“‘You are fooled, old fellow,’ said the master; ‘he got away from you. -Go after him, old boy.’ - -“But I knew I wasn’t fooled, though for the life of me I could not see -that coon. - -“I kept on barking and jumping about and the master took another look, -but he did not see that coon and pretty soon he got tired. - -“‘You are a fake, Rover,’ he said to me. ‘I am going home. We will try -it another night and see if you can see straight.’ And off he went. - -“But I didn’t leave that tree. I knew that coon couldn’t have jumped -out of the tree and I also knew he went up the tree, so I was sure he -was in the tree right then. - -“I barked louder than ever, and though the master whistled and called, -I still barked and jumped about. - -“Suddenly I thought if I kept very still a minute that coon might show -his head, so I stepped close to the tree and stood in the shadow and -kept quiet. It wasn’t more than a minute before, just as I thought, out -poked the head of that coon to see if I had gone. - -“Well, I just barked some then and I danced, and pretty soon master -came running back and I jumped and barked right under the place where I -had seen the head of Mr. Coon. - -“‘Ah, you are right, boy,’ I heard the master say, softly, and then -bang went his gun and Mr. Coon dropped to the ground. - -“‘Good old boy, you can’t be fooled, can you, Rover?’ said master, -patting me on the head; ‘you can’t be beat for coon-hunting. Come along -home and show what we got.’ - -“The next night they had a great time at the master’s house. He told -them all how I treed that coon and how I stuck to it in spite of his -going away and calling to me to go along. - -“I was patted on the head and made a great deal of, and every time I -see the master with that coon cap he wears I feel very happy.” - -Mr. Dog stopped and looked sad again, and Mr. Tom Cat said: “Oh, cheer -up, Mr. Dog, the master will soon be wearing that cap again, and he -will remember how you caught the coon. That is a good story to tell. -Now we will listen to what Mr. Rooster has to tell us.” - -Mr. Rooster said he would tell them about the new rooster that came to -the barn-yard one day. - - -MR. ROOSTER’S STORY - -Mr. Rooster straightened himself and said he was proud to say he was -raised on the master’s farm. He was proud, too, to say he had succeeded -the old rooster that had gone to a dinner one day and did not return. - -“I have always taken good care of my family, and, if I do say it, there -is not a better-looking family than mine around these parts,” said Mr. -Rooster. - -“There have been many young roosters in the barn-yard, but they have -gone away to other farms to live, for the master has an eye for beauty, -and he has always decided that I was too--er--valuable to lose.” - -Mr. Dog and Mr. Tom Cat smiled a little on the side at this last -remark, for they well knew how vain Mr. Rooster was, and then he really -did have fine feathers and a beautiful comb. - -“I have never had any trouble with my family until one morning Madam -Blackie came running to me,” continued Mr. Rooster, “to tell me a new -rooster had come in the barn-yard to live.” - -“‘It is shameful the way all those silly hens are running around him,’ -she said. ‘He isn’t noticing them a little bit and they strut back and -forth, eying him as if they had never seen a handsome rooster before. - -“‘For my part, I think the old friends are the best, though of course -you are not old, my dear Mr. Rooster, only old in acquaintance I mean.’ - -“I had always thought Madam Blackie an old busybody, but now, if this -was all true, I had found her my only friend. - -“‘You are most kind, Madam Blackie,’ I said, ‘and I thank you, but -I feel sure that the master will not have a new rooster here. This -new-comer will probably leave in a few days.’ - -“I expected he would, too, for I had as fine a set of spurs as I had -ever seen, and I intended to show them to this new rooster. - -“As soon as I could get away from Madam Blackie I took a stroll around -by the barn-yard, and sure enough there were all my family, even the -chickens, walking around and clucking and cackling as hens will at a -handsome red-and-black rooster that stood by the barn door. - -“I felt pretty queer for a minute, for that new rooster had a very -shiny-looking set of feathers, and I knew he would be very popular for -a while at least, and with the whole family against me, even my spurs -might not make me king. - -“I held my head very high, and with my light step I walked past them -some distance from the barn, but still I knew they all saw me. - -“There was a little flutter at first, and they ran toward me, but they -gave a look at the new rooster. I could see them out of the corner -of my eyes, and back the whole silly lot went and began their silly -cackling and clucking. - -“I went behind a wall and watched them through a hole. First they would -scratch the ground near the new rooster and talk away to one another, -and then they would walk by him, but not once did he turn his head. - -“‘He isn’t going to let them think he sees them,’ I thought; but the -longer I watched the stranger it seemed to me that with all those -fine-looking hens and chickens cackling about him he should not look -once their way; and then a thought came to me which made me jump up, so -I crawled under the gate and walked into the barn-yard. - -“I walked right up to that family of mine and looked at them, and then -I looked at the new rooster. I was right close to him then. - -“Every hen opened her eyes and mouth, for they thought right then and -there was to be a settlement of rights, but one glance at the new -rooster told me what I had thought was true, and I just turned my -back on him and said: ‘When you silly hens and chickens get tired of -admiring the new weather-cock you better come over in the lot back of -the barn. There is some corn and grain on the ground. I am surprised -that my family cannot tell a tin weather-cock from a real rooster,’ and -away I walked with my head held higher than ever. - -“After that I never had the least trouble with them, but of course I -found out that Madam Blackie had been the first one to see the tin -rooster and had gone right up to him and found it out, and then waited -to see if the others would be fooled. When she found they were she ran -away to tell me. - -“Oh, it takes all kinds of hens to make a barn-yard family!” sighed the -rooster. - -“I guess they will miss you,” said Mr. Dog, “and the master will, too, -for all the hens are likely to run away, with no one to keep them at -home.” - -“Tommie Cat, we will hear what you have to tell. I bet it will be about -a mouse.” - -“You win the bet,” said Mr. Tom Cat. - - -MR. TOM CAT’S STORY - -“My story,” said Mr. Tom Cat, “is about a mouse, the only mouse that -ever got away from me--that is, the only one that I ever saw. Of -course, I did not see the ones that cook thought I should have caught. - -“I came to live at the master’s house when I was a very little kitten, -and right away I began to catch the mice. - -“I have heard it said that my mother and father were the best mousers -anywhere around, and I expect I take after them. Anyway, I could catch -mice, so I became a great pet in the house. - -“And while I always had plenty of milk--and sometimes cream--to eat, I -never failed to catch a mouse each night, and sometimes more, for a cat -had not lived in the house for years, and those mice thought they owned -it until I came. - -“They ran about everywhere, on the pantry shelves and all over the -rooms at night, and they would even run over me sometimes when I was -taking forty winks; but I soon stopped that. I played I was asleep when -I wasn’t and caught those silly mice until the others began to learn -that I was a thing to be feared and not to be taken as a joke. - -“But there was one mouse I could not catch. He was larger than the -others and had a little piece taken out of one ear, so I always knew -him, and it gave me no end of worry to think he always escaped me. - -“The others called him Tip, because it was the tip of his ear that was -gone; and Tip was some runner, I can tell you. He could get through the -smallest hole in the wall and he could get away from you when you had -your paw right over him. I made up my mind to get Tip if I had to let -the other mice have the house, and so for a week I laid for Tip. - -“One night he came out of his hole and jumped right over my head and I -chased him around the kitchen, when all at once right before my eyes he -disappeared. - -“I sniffed and hunted. I knew he was there, but I could not see him or -find him. All at once I saw a shoe of the master’s, that stood near the -stove, move, and as quick as a wink I flew at it and put in my paw. - -“Did I get Tip? No, sir; that slick little fellow crawled out of a hole -in the side of that shoe and ran for his hole in the wall, laughing and -giggling to think he had fooled me again. - -“I did not sleep for two days after that, sitting by that hole in the -wall, and I was thinking how hungry Tip must be, having to stay in -there without any food and feeling sure he would have to come out soon -or starve, when I felt something touch my tail. - -“I turned around and there was Tip. How he got out I never knew, but I -expect he gnawed a hole in another part of the wall. Anyway, there he -was sitting on his hind legs and making funny motions with his front -paws. - -“I jumped, but he was ready for that, and away he scampered into the -pantry and I after him. - -“Over the shelves he went, and I went, too. Back of the boxes, and I -went, too, tins and dishes falling with clatter and smash, but I did -not care. I was after that Tip mouse and I knew it was now or never. - -“He knew it was a fight to the death, I think, by the mad dash he made -behind dishes and tins, but after a while he grew tired and made for -his hole in the wall. I knew that was my chance to get him in the open, -and I flew after him and reached him with the tip of my paw, but it was -only his tail I had. Tip was in the hole. I grabbed at the tail with my -teeth and off it came. I have that tail yet, for I never got Tip, and I -like to look at it sometimes just to get up my fighting spirit.” - -“Didn’t you ever see Tip again?” asked Mr. Rooster and Mr. Dog. - -“Oh yes, I saw him once after that,” said Mr. Tom Cat, with a yawn. - -“Why didn’t you catch him?” they asked, together. - -“Oh, Tip was in a trap when I saw him,” said Mr. Tom Cat. - -“Was it one of those traps that catch them by the head?” asked Mr. Dog. - -“No, it was a little wire affair,” said Mr. Tom Cat, “and I looked in -and saw him running about.” - -“Why didn’t you catch him then when the master opened the trap? Didn’t -they give you a chance at him?” - -“No, Mr. Dog,” said Mr. Tom Cat, looking very lofty. “I am a sportsman -and no true sportsman ever touches a caged mouse. Tip was let out of -the trap, and the master thought I would catch him, but I didn’t even -run after him, and for all I know Tip may be living yet. I will do my -own hunting and catching; none of those traps can ever help me to get a -mouse.” - -“Some of his grandchildren might go back there to live, even if Tip did -not return to the hole in the wall,” said Mr. Dog. - -“It might be that those very mice that were running about last night -were some of his relations.” - -“I never thought of that,” said Mr. Tom Cat. “I will watch for them -to-night, and whether they are or not I will remember Tip and catch -them all.” - -“I guess I will go along with you,” said Mr. Dog. “I am pretty hungry, -and it must be dinner-time.” - -“If you all are going home, I guess I better get back in time for -dinner, too,” said Mr. Rooster; “my family will think I am lost.” - -So all three started off for their home, forgetting all about their -grievances in listening to the story each had told, and if nothing has -happened to them I expect they are living there yet. - - -THE END - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes: - - -Minor errors and omissions in punctuation have been fixed - -Page 55: Changed “but that it still” to “but that is still” - -Page 124: Changed “Martha did not treat her” to “Martha treated her” - -Page 155: Changed “‘Oh, don’t you know?’ said Jacko” to “‘Oh, don’t - you know?’ said Jocko” - -Page 179: Changed “the master he wished” to “the master said he - wished” - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SANDMAN'S RAINY DAY -STORIES *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where - you are located before using this eBook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/68589-0.zip b/old/68589-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 63dcfe1..0000000 --- a/old/68589-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h.zip b/old/68589-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a22d379..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/68589-h.htm b/old/68589-h/68589-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 99bae4d..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/68589-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5369 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<head> - <meta charset="UTF-8" /> - <title> - Sandman’s Rainy Day Stories, by Abbie Phillips Walker—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover" /> - <style> /* <![CDATA[ */ - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } - -hr.r10 {width: 10%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left:45%; margin-right: 45%;} -hr.r10 {width: 10%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left:45%; margin-right: 45%;} -hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - width: 70%; -} -table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } -table.autotable td, -table.autotable th { padding: 4px; } -.x-ebookmaker table {width: 95%} - -.tdl {text-align: left;} -.tdr {text-align: right;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; - text-indent: 0; -} /* page numbers */ - -.advert {margin-left: 30%; - margin-right: 30%;} - -.bbox {border: 2px solid;} - -.center {text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.small {font-size: 0.8em;} - -.vbig {font-size: 1.4em;} - -.ind2 {text-indent: 2em;} -.mt0 {margin-top: 0em;} -.mb0 {margin-bottom: 0em;} - -/* Images */ - -img { - max-width: 100%; - height: auto; -} -img.w75 {width: 75%;} -img.tiny {width: 5%} -img.pb {page-break-before: always;} -.x-ebookmaker table {max-width: 95%;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - -/*Drop Caps*/ -p.drop-cap { - text-indent: 0em; -} -p.drop-cap:first-letter -{ - float: left; - margin: 0.15em 0.1em 0em 0em; - font-size: 250%; - line-height:0.85em; -} - -/* Poetry */ -.poetry-container {text-align: center;} -.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; text-indent: 0em; display: inline-block;} -.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} -.poetry p {margin:0em;} -.poetry p.ind2 {text-indent: 2em;} -/* large inline blocks don't split well on paged devices */ -@media print { .poetry {display: block;} } -.x-ebookmaker .poetry {display: block;} - -.title-page -{ - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - - /* ]]> */ </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sandman's rainy day stories, by Abbie Phillips Walker</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. 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. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Sandman's rainy day stories</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Abbie Phillips Walker</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Rhoda C. Chase</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: July 22, 2022 [eBook #68589]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Charlene Taylor, Amber Black and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SANDMAN'S RAINY DAY STORIES ***</div> - -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="cover"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" class="w75" alt="cover" /> -</span></p> - -<h1> -<span class="center">SANDMAN’S</span><br /> -<span class="center">RAINY DAY STORIES</span><br /> -</h1> - -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="acorns"> -<img src="images/acorns.jpg" class="tiny" alt="acorns" /> -</span></p> - -<hr class="r65" /> - -<div class="title-page"> -<div class="bbox advert"> -<p class="center"><i>Books by</i></p> -<p class="center">ABBIE PHILLIPS WALKER</p> -</div> -<div class="bbox advert"> -<p class="ind2 mb0">SANDMAN’S STORIES OF DRUSILLA DOLL</p> -<p class="ind2 mt0 mb0">SANDMAN’S RAINY DAY STORIES</p> -<p class="ind2 mt0 mb0">SANDMAN’S CHRISTMAS STORIES</p> -<p class="ind2 mt0 mb0">SANDMAN’S TWILIGHT STORIES</p> -<p class="ind2 mt0 mb0">TOLD BY THE SANDMAN</p> -<p class="ind2 mt0 mb0">SANDMAN’S TALES</p> -<p class="ind2 mt0">THE SANDMAN’S HOUR</p> -</div> -<div class="bbox advert"> -<p class="center"><i>Harper & Brothers Publishers</i></p> - -<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Established 1817</span></p> -</div> - -<hr class="r65" /> -</div> - -<div class="title-page"> -<p class="center vbig">Sandman’s Rainy Day Stories</p> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="title"> -<img src="images/title.jpg" class="w75" alt="title" /> -</span></p> -<br /> -<p class="center vbig"> -<i>By</i> Abbie Phillips Walker<br /> -<i>Illustrated by</i> Rhoda C. Chase<br /></p> -<hr class="r10" /> -<p class="center vbig">Harper & Brothers, Publishers</p> - -<hr class="r65" /> -</div> - -<p class="center small"> -<span class="smcap">Sandman’s Rainy Day Stories</span><br /></p> -<hr class="r10" /> -<p class="center small">Copyright, 1920, by Harper & Brothers<br /> -Printed in the United States of America<br /> -Published September, 1920<br /> -G—U<br /> -</p> - -<hr class="r65" /> - -<p class="center"> -<i>This book is lovingly dedicated</i><br /> -<i>to the memory of</i><br /> -<i>my father</i><br /> -<i>THOMAS PHILLIPS</i><br /><br /> -</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - - -<table class="autotable"> -<tr><td></td><td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Princess Cantilla</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Tree of Swords</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Silver Horseshoes</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Blue Castle</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Nardo and the Princess</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Old Three Heads</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Enchanted Boat</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Nicko and the Ogre</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Gingerbread Rock</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Prince Roul’s Bride</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Sunev</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Cilla and the Dwarf</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Greta and the Black Cat</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Knight of the Bright Star</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Dolphin’s Bride</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Princess Dido and the Prince of the Roses</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Catville Gossip</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">How the Elephant Got His Trunk</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Why Rabbits Have Short Tails</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Hunter’s Friend, Johnnie Bear</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Plaid Trousers</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Three Runaways</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - -<hr class="r65" /> - -<p class="center vbig"> -SANDMAN’S<br /> -RAINY DAY STORIES<br /><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop1"> -<img src="images/pagetop1.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop1" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="PRINCESS_CANTILLA">PRINCESS CANTILLA</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">P</span>rincess Cantilla lived in a castle like most princesses, but she was -not a rich princess, for her father had lost all his lands and money by -quarreling with other kings about the length and breadth of his kingdom -and theirs.</p> - -<p>So poor little Cantilla had to work just like any common peasant girl -and cook the meals for herself and her father.</p> - -<p>The old castle where Cantilla and her father lived had fallen into -decay, and only a few rooms at one end were now used, so that the bats -and owls had taken possession of the towers and once gorgeous halls on -the opposite side of the castle, where beautiful ladies and courtly -gentlemen were once seen in gay<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span> and festive pleasures. A kitchen and a -bedroom apiece were all the rooms that Cantilla and her father, the old -King, used, and the furniture was so old it hardly held together.</p> - -<p>One day Cantilla was cooking soup for dinner, and as the steam rolled -up from the kettle Cantilla thought she saw a face with a long beard -looking at her. She drew her hand across her eyes to make her sight -more clear, and the next time she looked she did see a face, and a -form, too.</p> - -<p>A little man with a misshapen back and a long white beard, the ends of -which he carried over one arm, stepped from the cover of the boiling -pot and hopped to the floor.</p> - -<p>“Princess,” he said, bowing low before Cantilla, “I am an enchanted -dwarf. I can give you back your once beautiful home and make your -father a rich king again.</p> - -<p>“I can cause all the rooms of the old castle to become new and filled -with beautiful hangings and furniture, as they were before your father -became so poor.”</p> - -<p>Cantilla began to smile at the thought of all the luxury and comfort -the dwarf pictured, and she lost sight of his ugly-looking body and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span> -face for a minute, but she was brought to her senses by what the dwarf -next said.</p> - -<p>“All this will I give you, Princess Cantilla, if you will become my -wife,” he said, taking a step closer to Cantilla.</p> - -<p>“Oh no, no! I cannot do that,” said Cantilla, holding up both hands as -if to ward off even the thought of such a thing.</p> - -<p>“Wait,” said the dwarf. “Do not be so hasty, my Princess. I will come -again for your reply to-night at the fountain in the garden where the -honeysuckle grows.”</p> - -<p>Before Cantilla could reply to this he swung his beard over his head -and disappeared in a cloud of what looked like steam or smoke.</p> - -<p>Cantilla looked about her and pinched herself to make sure she had not -dreamed all she had just seen, and by and by she believed it was a -dream—that she must have fallen asleep in her chair by the fire.</p> - -<p>That night while she was sleeping she was awakened by feeling some one -touch her on the face.</p> - -<p>Cantilla had been awakened so many times by the little mice that -overran the old castle that she only brushed her face with her hand -without opening her eyes and went to sleep again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span></p> - -<p>“Cantilla, open your eyes! Open your eyes!” she heard some one whisper -close to her ear, and again she felt the touch of something on her face.</p> - -<p>Cantilla opened her eyes and sat up in bed. The room was quite bright, -and a beautiful lamp with a pink silk shade gave everything in the room -a rose tint.</p> - -<p>Cantilla was sure she was dreaming, for it was not her old shabby room -at all she was looking at.</p> - -<p>She looked down at the covering of her bed—that was pink silk, too; -she felt of it and found it was filled with the softest down; she also -noticed that she wore a beautiful night-robe of pink silk and lace.</p> - -<p>On the floor beside the bed on a soft, pink rug stood two little satin -slippers, trimmed with swan’s-down.</p> - -<p>“I am dreaming,” said Cantilla, “but I will enjoy it while it lasts,” -and she looked about her.</p> - -<p>The furniture was white and gold, and soft pink rugs covered the floor. -Her bed had little gold Cupids on each post, and they held in their -hands the ends of pink silk that formed a beautiful canopy; little -frills of lace<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span> fell from the bottom of the silk, making it look very -soft and pretty in the lamplight.</p> - -<p>On the table beside her bed, which held her lamp, Cantilla saw a -big gold-and-glass bottle. She reached for it and took out the gold -stopper, then she tipped the bottle and bathed her face and hands with -the delicious perfume it held.</p> - -<p>Cantilla put her little feet out of bed and slipped them into the -slippers and walked over to the gold-and-white dressing-table at the -other side of the room.</p> - -<p>Everything was so beautiful she just looked at first, then she picked -up a gold brush and smoothed her hair. She took up each of the gold -toilet articles and saw that on each was the letter “C.”</p> - -<p>“They must belong to me,” said Cantilla. “But, of course, it is all a -dream,” as she opened a drawer of a big gold-and-white chest.</p> - -<p>What she saw made Cantilla gasp with wonder, for the drawer was filled -with beautiful clothes, and as she opened the others she found they all -were filled with silk and lace-trimmed clothes.</p> - -<p>Cantilla forgot all about her dream and ran, just as though she were -awake, to a closet<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span> door that was open. She swung it back and looked; -there hung before her astonished gaze pink silk dresses and blue silk -dresses and white and dainty green and yellow silk dresses.</p> - -<p>Now, I did not tell you that Cantilla had black hair which hung in long -curls about her pretty face and over her pretty white shoulders, and -her eyes were as deep-blue as the deepest blue of a violet, and when -she put on one of the pink silk dresses and stepped in front of a long -mirror she forgot all else for a moment. Then suddenly she heard her -name called softly. “Cantilla, Cantilla,” the voice said.</p> - -<p>Cantilla looked up, and on the top of the mirror stood a little fairy -dressed in pink gauze.</p> - -<p>“Oh! you have a pretty pink dress, too,” said Cantilla, forgetting to -be surprised at seeing a fairy in her room.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but it is the only dress I own,” said the little creature, with a -smile, “while you have a closet full; but then mine never wear out, and -yours will.”</p> - -<p>“You mean I will wake up in a minute, I suppose,” said Cantilla. “Yes, -I know it is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span> a dream, but I am having a good time. I wish I could have -a dream like this every night. I wouldn’t mind being poor through the -day.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! but you are not dreaming at all, Princess Cantilla,” said the -fairy, “and if you will follow me I will show you more of your -beautiful home. Come along.”</p> - -<p>Cantilla did not answer, but walked after the fairy, who skimmed along -before Cantilla like a little pink bird.</p> - -<p>The fairy touched a door with her wand and it flew open. Cantilla -looked about her in wonder, for the hall, which had been hung with -tatters of faded tapestry, now looked like the hall of a king.</p> - -<p>The tapestry hung whole and rich-looking upon the walls, which were of -deep-blue and gold. The old armor that had been broken and covered with -dust and mold was erect as though its former wearer was inside it.</p> - -<p>The fairy touched the door of the room where the old King was sleeping, -and again Cantilla looked in wonder, for her father slept beneath a -canopy of red and gold upon a bed of gold, and all the furnishings of -his room were such as a king would have.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></p> - -<p>Cantilla looked at her father. He was smiling in his sleep, and the -care-worn look had gone from his face.</p> - -<p>The fairy beckoned to her and Cantilla, with one backward glance at her -sleeping father, followed.</p> - -<p>Next the old dining-hall was opened for Cantilla to see. The once faded -and torn draperies were whole, and bats and owls were gone from the -corners of the room where they had often made their nests.</p> - -<p>The beautiful table of onyx and silver was covered with dishes of -silver, and dainty lace napkins lay beside each place as though ready -for the coming guests. But the fairy led her away, and next Cantilla -saw the beautiful halls where the old King held his grand balls and -kings and queens and princes and princesses had danced.</p> - -<p>The lights burned in the gold-and-glass fixtures fastened to the walls -and made the place look like fairyland.</p> - -<p>The blue damask curtains with their edge of priceless lace hung from -the windows, whole and shimmering with richness, and chairs of gold -stood upright and bright against the walls, and the floor shone with -polish.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> - -<p>And so through the whole castle the fairy led the wondering little -Princess to look at her old ruined home, now beautiful and whole.</p> - -<p>Then the fairy took Cantilla to the gardens. The once dry fountains -were playing in the moonlight, the nightingales could be heard among -the roses, and the air was filled with rich perfume.</p> - -<p>When they reached the lower end of the garden Cantilla suddenly stopped -and stood very still. She was beside a fountain, and honeysuckle grew -over an arbor close beside it.</p> - -<p>Cantilla remembered the words of the dwarf she had seen in her dream, -and his words, “I will come for your reply to-night at the fountain -where the honeysuckle grows.”</p> - -<p>The fairy stood on a bush beside her. “You remember now, do you not?” -she asked. “You see it was not a dream this morning, and you are not -dreaming now, my Princess, but I cannot help you. I have finished my -work and must return to my Queen. Farewell!”</p> - -<p>Cantilla watched the fairy disappear without uttering a single word. -She saw in her mind’s eye only the ugly features of the dwarf and heard -his words.</p> - -<p>In another minute she saw what looked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> like a cloud near the -honeysuckle arbor, and in another minute the dwarf of the morning stood -before her with the ends of his long white beard thrown over one arm.</p> - -<p>“I have come, Princess Cantilla, for my answer,” said the dwarf. “Marry -me and all you have seen shall be yours.”</p> - -<p>Cantilla threw out her hands as she had in the morning and started to -reply, but the dwarf checked her. “Before you give your answer,” he -said, “think of your old father and how contented and happy he looked -surrounded by the comforts of his former days of prosperity.”</p> - -<p>Cantilla let her hands fall by her side, her head bent low, and she -stood lost in thought. She saw again her old father in his bed of gold, -and the face that looked so happy, then she raised her head without -looking at the ugly creature before her and said: “I consent; I will -become your wife; I cannot love you, but I will wed you if that will -content you.”</p> - -<p>“Follow me, then,” said the dwarf, throwing his long beard over his -head and letting it fall over Cantilla as he spoke.</p> - -<p>Cantilla saw only a fleecy cloud closing all about her, and the next -thing she knew she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span> was on a little island in the middle of a deep blue -ocean, with the dwarf standing beside her.</p> - -<p>The dwarf, with his beard still over one arm, held his hands to his -mouth and gave a long, loud call, which seemed to descend to the depths -of the ocean.</p> - -<p>Up from the water came an arm and hand holding a twisted shell, and -then Cantilla saw a head appear and blow a long, loud blast from the -shell.</p> - -<p>A splashing was heard, and out of the water came an old man in a -chariot of mother-of-pearl.</p> - -<p>The chariot was drawn by two horses with feet and manes of gold, and in -one hand the old man carried a long wand with three prongs at one end.</p> - -<p>The old man struck the water with the queer-looking wand, and from all -over the surface of the water come the sea nymphs and all sorts of -monsters and creatures that live at the bottom of the ocean.</p> - -<p>But when the mermaids appeared the old man sent them back quickly and -drove his chariot toward Cantilla and the dwarf.</p> - -<p>Cantilla by this time was beyond being frightened or surprised, and she -stood beside<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> the dwarf waiting for the next thing to happen.</p> - -<p>“My Lord Neptune,” said the dwarf, bowing low as the old man drove -close to the island on which Cantilla and the dwarf stood, “I have come -with my Princess for you to perform the ceremony. She has consented to -become my wife.”</p> - -<p>“What!” cried the old man, in an angry voice, “do you mean you have -found a Princess who will consent to have such a husband as you -are—ugly and misshapen wretch?”</p> - -<p>“Answer him, my Princess,” said the dwarf. “Tell my Lord Neptune you -consent to marry me.”</p> - -<p>“I do consent to marry the dwarf,” Cantilla managed to say, and again -the old man struck the water, this time in anger, and the water spouted -about them like huge fountains throwing up rivers.</p> - -<p>Cantilla felt the dwarf take her hand, and he said, “Fear not, my -Princess; it will soon be over.”</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the water was calm again, and the old man in the -chariot stood a little way off, surrounded by the nymphs and other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span> -creatures, holding the three-pronged wand high over his head.</p> - -<p>“I release you; you are wed; be gone from my sight,” said the old man, -and as the trumpet-bearer sounded his loud call, the old man and his -chariot passed into the deep water, followed by all his nymphs and the -others.</p> - -<p>Cantilla looked toward the dwarf, wondering if ever any one had such a -strange wedding, but to her surprise he was gone and by her side stood -a handsome man, who said: “My Princess, behold in me your husband. I am -free from the spell of the old man of the sea, who wanted me to become -a sea monster and live under the ocean.</p> - -<p>“I was changed into the shape of the ugly dwarf because I would not -marry a mermaid who happened to fall in love with me one day while I -was bathing, and she called upon a sea witch to change me into a sea -monster, but I escaped before I took on the sea shape, but not before I -was changed into the ugly dwarf you saw this morning.</p> - -<p>“A kind fairy interceded with her Queen to save me, and she went to the -old man, who is Neptune, the God of the Waters. He told the Queen if I -could find a princess who would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span> consent to marry me he would release -me from the spell the sea witch had cast over me.</p> - -<p>“You know how that was accomplished, my Princess, and if you think you -can accept me in place of the dwarf for your husband we will return -to the castle, where your father is still sleeping, I expect, for the -Fairy Queen said she would watch until sunrise for our return.”</p> - -<p>Cantilla, no longer looking sad, but smiling and happy, put her hand in -her husband’s and told him she was the happiest girl in the world.</p> - -<p>“And I am the happiest man in the world,” said her husband, “for I not -only am freed from the spell of the sea witch, but I have won the one -woman in the world I could ever love for my wife.”</p> - -<p>Three times he clapped his hands together, and the little fairy in the -pink gauze dress appeared.</p> - -<p>“The Queen sends her love to you and this message, ‘Bless you, my -children,’ and now I will take you home to the castle.”</p> - -<p>She touched the Princess and her husband on the cheek with her wand, -and Cantilla found herself back in the castle garden by the fountain -and honeysuckle arbor, with her handsome husband standing by her side.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span></p> - -<p>“Come, my dear, we must go in to breakfast,” said her husband; “your -father will be waiting for us.”</p> - -<p>“How will we explain about our wedding and the changed appearance of -the castle?” asked Cantilla.</p> - -<p>“Oh! the Fairy Queen has arranged all that,” said Cantilla’s husband. -“Your father will not remember he ever lost his fortune; he will ask no -questions.”</p> - -<p>Cantilla and her husband went hand in hand into the castle to their -breakfast, and from that day Cantilla never knew another sorrow or -unhappy moment.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop2"> -<img src="images/pagetop2.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop2" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_TREE_OF_SWORDS">THE TREE OF SWORDS</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce there lived a king who had a daughter that had been changed by a -wicked witch into a brindle cow.</p> - -<p>The witch had wanted the King to invite her to the feast when the -Princess was born, and because he invited her only into the servants’ -hall and not to the feast of the royal family the old witch had thrown -a spell over the baby, and when she grew to womanhood she suddenly one -day changed into the brindle cow. Great was the surprise of the King -and Queen when they went to the room of the Princess one morning and -found in her dainty lace bed a cow in place of their pretty daughter.</p> - -<p>They sent for the old witch at once, for they knew that some magic -spell must have caused<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span> this terrible change, but the old witch sent -back word that the only thing that would change the Princess back to -her own shape was a pear from the tree which grew by the mountain of -ice.</p> - -<p>Now this mountain of ice all the people knew was controlled by a -three-headed troll, and the tree which grew near by was the chimney to -his home under the mountain.</p> - -<p>There was nothing to do but to offer money to the one who would get the -pear which would restore the little Princess to her own form.</p> - -<p>There was another thing that made it very dangerous to try to get the -pear, and this was that no sooner did one attempt to touch the tree -than all its branches changed to sharp swords.</p> - -<p>To reach the tree the mountain must be climbed, and this being of ice, -the ones who tried were in danger of slipping and being killed as they -fell, sliding down the mountain and striking on the tree, which would -be filled with swords as soon as they struck it.</p> - -<p>After a while all those who tried gave it up as too dangerous, and the -King then sent out word that to the one who would bring the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> pear, -be he rich or poor, of high or low degree, he would give to him the -Princess for a wife, as well as a barrel of gold.</p> - -<p>But no one would risk his life for that offer, for they thought perhaps -the Princess would not regain her shape even after eating the pear, and -who would wish to marry a cow, even if she were royal?</p> - -<p>But one day a poor youth came to the palace and told the King and Queen -that he would try to get a pear if they would give him the brindle cow -before he ventured up the mountain of ice. “For if I fail,” he said, “I -wish to leave my poor mother something, and a cow is always useful.”</p> - -<p>The King offered money, but the youth would have nothing but the -brindle cow, so they led away the cow to the peasant’s barn, while the -King and Queen watched her go with sad hearts.</p> - -<p>On her back was a velvet blanket trimmed with gold, and the Queen tried -to make the peasant take a soft bed for her to sleep on, but this he -would not do. “No, she is a cow, and must sleep in the barn like other -cows,” he said.</p> - -<p>The King and Queen had all this time been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span> feeding the cow on dainty -fruit and all sorts of good things, and the youth had heard that the -pear she was to eat to save her would be bitter and bad to taste, and -he wanted to get her used to eating anything that was given her.</p> - -<p>The peasant youth began his climb up the mountain of ice, but each day -for a month he only went one step ahead, for while he sometimes went -far up, each time he would slip back.</p> - -<p>And all this time the poor little cow was growing thinner and thinner, -for she would not eat the food that was put before her.</p> - -<p>One day when the peasant youth was about discouraged and thought he -would have to give up trying for the pear, he felt the ice under him -suddenly grow soft and his feet seemed to stick and not slip any more.</p> - -<p>To his surprise, when he looked at his feet he saw a little fairy -standing on each foot and touching them with her wand.</p> - -<p>Up he went swiftly now, and soon was at a place on the mountain where -he could touch the magic tree, and there the little fairies told him -they were powerless to help him further.</p> - -<p>“We can only tell you that if you can get from the three-headed troll -the belt he wears<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> you can get the pear, but we fairies cannot throw a -spell over trolls,” they told him.</p> - -<p>When the fairies disappeared the peasant felt more discouraged than -before, for there he was in danger of slipping, and before him was the -dreadful tree.</p> - -<p>But while he stood thinking the tree opened and out came the troll, -leaving the tree wide open behind him.</p> - -<p>He did not look up or down, to right or left, but walked down the -mountain, and the youth, sitting flat upon the ice, slid into the open -tree.</p> - -<p>Down, down he went! And then suddenly he found himself in a big room, -in one corner of which was a huge bed, in another a big stove, in -another a big chair and table, and in the fourth corner stood a large -sword so tall that the peasant could easily hide behind it.</p> - -<p>And lucky it was for him that it was big, for at that moment in came -the three-headed troll and rolled all six of his eyes about the room.</p> - -<p>“He, hi, ho, hun! I smell the flesh of a mortal son,” he said. “You -cannot escape me, so come out from wherever you are hiding!” The -frightened youth was trembling so that the sword tipped over, and there -he stood before<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span> the three-headed troll, who jumped to catch him.</p> - -<p>But though he had three heads, he had only two feet, and, tripping over -the sword, he fell sprawling on the floor.</p> - -<p>Now his three heads were so heavy that, once he was down, it was hard -work to get up, and while he struggled his belt became unfastened and -lay under him on the floor.</p> - -<p>The peasant saw this and, knowing he was in danger anyway, thought he -would risk a little more.</p> - -<p>So he ran over to the troll and with both hands tugged at the belt, and -as the troll rolled over out from under him it came.</p> - -<p>Quickly as he could he put the belt about his waist, and, to his -surprise, he felt so strong that the size of the sword on the floor -seemed no longer to frighten him.</p> - -<p>He picked it up and found that it was as light as a tin one, and then -the troll, rolling over again, saw his belt around the peasant’s waist -and his sword in his hand, and he cried out, “My power is gone!” as he -tried to crawl away.</p> - -<p>“Tell me how to get a pear from the tree and I will spare your life,” -said the peasant.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span></p> - -<p>The troll managed to get upon his feet, but he was no longer the -powerful creature he had been a few moments before.</p> - -<p>“Follow me,” he said, as he led the peasant out of the door of the -tree, which was still open.</p> - -<p>The tree was filled with swords, all shiny and sharp-looking, as the -sun fell upon them, for as soon as the peasant had slid in the door the -swords had appeared and had warned the troll before he entered that -some mortal was near by.</p> - -<p>“If you will promise to do as I ask you after you have the pear, I will -tell you the secret of getting it,” said the troll. “It will not harm -any one to grant my last wish.”</p> - -<p>So the youth promised and the troll said: “You must strike the swords -on the tree with the sword you hold until the sparks fly. Then the -pears which you see hanging from the swords will fall to the ground, -but the tree will burn up.</p> - -<p>“And then there will be nothing for me. My magic power will be gone -forever. So I ask that you will then strike me with the sword on my -middle head, and that will change me into a shape which will never harm -any one again.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span></p> - -<p>This the youth said he would do and began to strike the swords on the -tree, making the sparks fly and the pears drop, and then all at once -the tree began to burn.</p> - -<p>Keeping the sword still in his grasp, the youth looked for the largest -of the green pears and picked it up, putting it in his pocket.</p> - -<p>“Don’t forget your promise,” said the troll as the youth started to go -away. “You need not be afraid,” he said as the youth drew back. “The -blow will not hurt me.”</p> - -<p>So the youth lifted the sword and brought it down on the troll’s middle -head with such force that the sword fell from his hands and struck the -mountain of ice with such a bang that the ice began to crack.</p> - -<p>At first the youth did not see what had happened, the noise had -startled him so, but the next minute he saw that in place of the troll -stood a beautiful tree filled with pears, and the mountain was no -longer ice, but covered with soft, green moss.</p> - -<p>He did not stop, but down the mountain he ran and to his home, where -the brindle cow stood in the barn, so hungry she opened her mouth at -once and ate the pear, thinking it would be sweet and juicy, but it -was far from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> that. It was so bitter and bad that had she not been so -hungry she could not have eaten it, but it was swallowed before she -knew it, and there in the stall of the peasant’s barn stood the pretty -Princess looking about her in astonishment.</p> - -<p>“How did I come in this horrid place, and what a dirty-looking man you -are!” she said. “Take me home at once! My father is the King, and he -will punish you if you do not obey me!”</p> - -<p>It did not take the peasant long to take her home, and when the Queen -and the King saw their daughter in her own form again they fell on -their knees before the peasant youth and thanked him.</p> - -<p>But the Princess did not understand what it all meant, and said: “Why -do you kneel to him? He should kneel to you! Are you not King and Queen -of this land, and this man a poor peasant?”</p> - -<p>Before the King could explain to the Princess the youth said: “I have -brought you your daughter, but you must keep her. I could never marry a -maid who thought herself above me. Give me gold and let me go back to -my home!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> - -<p>He was wise enough to see that a poor peasant and a princess could not -be happy together and a peasant girl was a more fitting bride for him.</p> - -<p>The Princess was very sorry for all she had said when she found out the -peasant had saved her, and when he was married she sent to his wife -a chest of linen and silver which made her the envy of all the other -peasants for miles around.</p> - -<p>The troll was never heard of again, and only the peasant youth knows -that the pear-tree on the side of the mountain which bears such juicy -fruit was once the three-headed troll who lived under the tree of -swords.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop3"> -<img src="images/pagetop3.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop3" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SILVER_HORSESHOES">THE SILVER HORSESHOES</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce upon a time there lived a king who wanted a son-in-law who would -be a good soldier as well as a good husband, so he put his daughter, -the Princess, who, of course, was very beautiful, in a tower on top of -a high mountain. Then he sent out word all over his kingdom and to all -the other kingdoms that to the youth who could get to the top of the -tower he would give the Princess for a wife.</p> - -<p>But when the youths came from far and near they found the mountain was -slippery as glass, and their horses slipped back faster than they could -climb.</p> - -<p>In a kingdom far from where the King lived was a poor prince whose -father had lost all his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span> lands and money in wars, so that when he died -he left the Prince nothing but the castle and a black horse.</p> - -<p>One day the Prince was feeding his horse and thinking of the Princess -on top of the high mountain in the tower, and he spoke his thought out -loud.</p> - -<p>“If only I had some clothes fit to be seen,” he said, “I would try to -reach the Princess in the tower, and this poverty would be at an end. -And you, my beauty, would have oats in plenty then,” patting the horse -on the neck.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you try, master?” said the horse.</p> - -<p>The Prince was surprised to hear the horse speak, but still he had -heard of such things happening, and he answered, saying: “I have no -clothes; besides, many others have tried, and no horse is able to climb -the mountain.”</p> - -<p>“Master, go to the witch that lives in a cave in the middle of the -woods at midnight and get my shoes,” said the horse. And then he fell -to eating his scanty dinner and said no more.</p> - -<p>The Prince thought there was nothing to lose by doing as the horse told -him, so that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span> night he went to the woods to find the witch. The woods -he found easily, but to find the cave was a different matter. First he -met a fox, and he asked the way to the cave of the witch.</p> - -<p>“Oh, master,” said the fox, “take my advice and go home; no good will -come to you if you find it.”</p> - -<p>But the Prince would not give up the quest, so he asked a wolf that he -met next where the cave was located in the woods.</p> - -<p>The wolf ran away, saying: “You better go home. That cave will bring -only harm to any one who finds it.”</p> - -<p>The Prince was not to be frightened and on he went, and an owl was the -next one he saw. “Where is the cave the old witch lives in?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Hoot! hoot!” said the owl, flapping his wings. “Be off, man, while -there is time. Don’t go near that cave if you value your life,” and off -flew the owl, leaving the Prince no wiser than before.</p> - -<p>After going deep into the woods—in fact, he was at the very center and -did not know it—the Prince stood still and listened.</p> - -<p>A sound reached his ear which seemed like<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span> the clatter of horses’ -hoofs, and the Prince went in the direction from which the sound came.</p> - -<p>All at once he found himself in front of the cave for which he had -searched so long, and, looking in, he saw the old witch prancing about -in the craziest manner.</p> - -<p>She would climb the side of her cave with as much ease as she could -walk across the floor, and then, giving a spring, she would walk on the -top of the cave, her head hanging down toward the floor.</p> - -<p>While the Prince was looking and wondering at this strange performance -he noticed something shining on her feet, and when he looked closer, to -his surprise he saw that the witch had on her feet silver horseshoes. -Then he knew what his black horse had said was worth listening to—he -was to get the shoes the old witch was wearing.</p> - -<p>But then he thought: “She has on only two; I must have four. I wonder -where are the other two.”</p> - -<p>Just then a black cat came dancing into the cave, and on her hind feet -the Prince saw the other two shoes he wanted. Such dancing and climbing -the Prince had never seen as was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> done by the old witch and her black -cat. The silver shoes seemed to take them anywhere and they could do -anything while they wore them.</p> - -<p>After a while the witch and the black cat grew weary and took off the -shoes, and the Prince saw them lift up a stone in the middle of the -cave and drop the four silver horseshoes into a hole and then drop the -stone again.</p> - -<p>After the witch and the black cat were fast asleep in one corner of the -cave the Prince crept in softly and lifted the stone. At the bottom of -a deep hole he saw the horseshoes, and he was wondering how he could -get them when he felt a push from behind and down he went into the -hole, landing at the bottom where the shoes were.</p> - -<p>The old witch had awakened and had pushed him in, and the Prince could -hear her and the cat jumping about and laughing with glee that they had -trapped him.</p> - -<p>When the Prince found himself in the hole under the cave where the old -witch lived he thought his end had come. It was as dark as a dungeon. -The only thing he could see was the glitter of the silver horseshoes.</p> - -<p>While he stood looking at them and thinking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> how the old witch and her -cat jumped about, and wondering what she would do with him, he suddenly -was struck with an idea.</p> - -<p>He would put on the shoes, one on each foot, and take the other two in -his hands.</p> - -<p>No sooner did he think it than he did it, and, giving a spring, up he -went, the stone flying off the top of the hole as he touched it with -his hands holding the silver horseshoes.</p> - -<p>Into the cave he jumped, and the old witch and her black cat sprang at -him, but he had only to run, and, without touching the ground, away he -flew through the forest, the old witch and her cat after him.</p> - -<p>Sometimes they would almost catch him, for the witch had jumped on her -broomstick and the cat sat on behind her, and they flew over trees and -bushes as well as the Prince.</p> - -<p>The Prince knew he was lost if they caught him, and finally decided to -turn around and run toward them, thinking he might be able to knock the -witch off her broomstick and so stop their flight.</p> - -<p>No sooner did he turn than the shining silver shoes cast a ray of light -on the old witch and her cat and like magic they tumbled<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span> off the -broomstick, and away went the stick higher and higher in the air until -it disappeared; and on the ground where the cat and the old witch fell -the Prince saw two stones, one big and the other smaller and almost -black, so he knew he was rid of his enemies and could get out of the -forest safely with the silver horseshoes.</p> - -<p>The black horse danced with delight when he saw the shoes, and stood -still until they were fastened on his feet; then he pranced about and -shook his head in a very knowing manner, though he did not speak again, -and the Prince mounted him and rode away, forgetting all about his -shabby coat.</p> - -<p>The black horse trotted along like any other horse until they came to -the mountain on top of which the Princess lived in the tower; then the -Prince felt himself gliding up the mountain, past all the other youths -who were vainly trying to climb to the top.</p> - -<p>Up and up they went until the Prince found himself by the tower. When -he looked at the height he knew his troubles were not at an end. He -looked around for some way to scale the wall, but it was as smooth as -glass. While he stood looking at the top he saw something<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> white slowly -coming down the wall from a little window.</p> - -<p>Down it came until the Prince could see that it was a piece of white -thread, and on the end of it was a little golden curl.</p> - -<p>The Prince untied it and kissed it, then, looking up at the window, he -kissed his hand, for he knew that somewhere in the tower the Princess -had been looking for the Prince who was to come for her, and had seen -him.</p> - -<p>He was more anxious than ever to reach the Princess, but how could he -climb those slippery walls?</p> - -<p>How? And then he thought of the silver shoes that the witch had walked -on the top of the cave with, and he took them off his horse and tied -one on each foot and took one in each hand.</p> - -<p>Placing his hands on the wall of the tower, he walked up as easily -as if he were walking on the ground, and in a few minutes was at the -little window above.</p> - -<p>The Princess smiled when she saw him, and then he saw that the window -which looked so small to him from the ground was really a door.</p> - -<p>He stepped in and knelt at the feet of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span> blushing Princess, who -said, “I shall be glad to leave here, but how can I get to the ground?”</p> - -<p>“In my arms,” answered the bold Prince, and, picking her up, he stepped -out on the smooth wall again, easily reaching the ground with the -Princess.</p> - -<p>He placed her in front of him on his horse and rode down the mountain, -at the bottom of which a crowd was waiting for him, and the King also, -for it had been noised abroad that a youth had been seen to climb the -mountain and the people wanted to see him.</p> - -<p>“Well done, my son,” said the King, riding up to greet them. “You will -make a good soldier, for you have shown that you can overcome obstacles -to gain that which you desire. Come home; the wedding feast is -prepared.” So the Prince gained a princess for a wife, a father-in-law -who admired his courage, and was happy ever after.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop4"> -<img src="images/pagetop4.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop4" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_BLUE_CASTLE">THE BLUE CASTLE</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce upon a time in a far-off country there lived a witch on top of a -high mountain, and every year she came down into the country about and -appeared at the palace of the King and asked for a bag of gold.</p> - -<p>One night when the King and his Queen were making merry and having a -big feast in honor of the birth of their little daughter, the Princess -Lily, the old witch came to the palace and asked for her bag of gold.</p> - -<p>“Tell her to begone,” said the King to his servant. “I have used all -the gold in the vaults for the feast; she will have to come next year.”</p> - -<p>Now the old witch was very angry when she heard this message, and she -hid in the grounds of the palace until all were asleep that night,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> and -then she entered the palace and carried off the baby Princess.</p> - -<p>The Queen and the King were beside themselves with grief when they -discovered their loss, and they offered big rewards for the return of -their daughter, but she could not be found.</p> - -<p>“Find the old witch who came here the night of the feast,” said one of -the King’s wise men, “and you will find the Princess.”</p> - -<p>They hunted far and near, but the witch could not be found, for when -any one attempted to climb the mountain where the old witch lived the -insects would become as thick as mist and clouds and they could not see -where to go.</p> - -<p>One after another gave up the attempt, and so after a while the King -and Queen mourned their daughter as dead and the old witch never came -to the palace again.</p> - -<p>The Queen and King never had any more children, and every day they -grieved because there would be no one to reign after they were gone.</p> - -<p>One day one of the King’s wise men said to him: “In a cave in the -forest lives an ogre who has a wonderful horse; it is kept in a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span> stable -made of marble, and its stall is of gold, and it is fed on corn grown -in a field of pearls.</p> - -<p>“If we could get this horse we might be able to climb the mountain -where the old witch lives, and perhaps the Princess is still alive.”</p> - -<p>“But how can we get this horse?” asked the King.</p> - -<p>“Ah! that is the hard part,” answered the wise man. “The enchanted -creature can only be caught and mounted by one who can feed him with -the magic corn, and it is said that any one who tries to gather the -corn from the field of pearls finds himself sinking, and has to run for -his life, so that only the ogre, who knows the magic words that keep -the pearls from drawing him down, can gather the corn.”</p> - -<p>When the King heard this he sent for all the princes in the land to -come to his palace, and when they came he told them he would give -to the one who could catch and mount the ogre’s enchanted horse his -kingdom if he could find the lost Princess Lily, and she should become -his wife.</p> - -<p>But all the princes were rich enough, and did not care to take such a -risk, especially as they had never seen the Princess Lily.</p> - -<p>Then the King sent out word to all the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> poor young men in his kingdom -to come to him, and he made them the same offer, but one by one they -turned away, and at last there was only a poor peasant youth left.</p> - -<p>“I will try, Your Majesty,” he said, “but I will not marry the Princess -unless I can love her, and if she does not wish to marry me I will -not hold you to that part of the bargain, either, but I will take the -kingdom if I bring back your child.”</p> - -<p>So that night the peasant boy went to a fairy that lived in the woods -and asked her to help him.</p> - -<p>“You can only enter the field of magic corn by wearing the magic shoes -belonging to the ogre, and he sleeps with them under his bed. They are -tied to the big toe of his right foot by a silken thread, and no one -can cut it or break it without awakening the ogre.</p> - -<p>“I will give you a feather, and if you are fortunate enough to enter -his chamber without being caught, for he is guarded well by a dog with -two heads, use this feather to tickle his left foot and you can cut the -silken thread without the ogre knowing it. This is all I can do to help -you. The two-headed dog is not in my power to control.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span></p> - -<p>So the peasant took the magic feather and that night he went to the -ogre’s castle in the woods and waited until he heard his snore, and -then he took from his pocket two big bones.</p> - -<p>He opened the door to the castle, for the ogre was afraid of no one and -did not lock his door at night.</p> - -<p>The two-headed dog growled and sprang toward the peasant, but he -quickly thrust the bones in the mouth of each and that quieted them.</p> - -<p>The two heads began to eat, and while they were eating the peasant -crept softly into the room of the sleeping ogre and tickled his left -foot, which was sticking out from under the bedclothes.</p> - -<p>The old ogre began to laugh, and he laughed so hard and loudly that -no other sound could be heard; and the peasant had time to break the -slender thread which was tied to the magic shoes with one hand while he -kept tickling the ogre’s left foot with the feather held in the other -hand.</p> - -<p>When he had the shoes under his arm he crept softly away from the bed, -leaving the ogre still laughing.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span></p> - -<p>The two-headed dog was still eating the bones, and the peasant went out -and sat on the steps of the castle to put on the magic shoes.</p> - -<p>He had just drawn the shoes on when the two-headed dog finished the -bones and set up a bark that the peasant thought at first was thunder.</p> - -<p>He ran to the field of pearls where grew the magic corn, and was just -pulling the ears when the ogre came dashing out of his castle, followed -by the two-headed dog, with both mouths wide open and looking as though -he would devour him.</p> - -<p>Out of the field ran the peasant, but not before the ogre had entered, -and down went the ogre out of sight, the pearls closing over his -head, for, of course, he forgot all about his shoes when he heard the -two-headed dog bark, and anyway he thought they were tied to the big -toe of his right foot.</p> - -<p>But though he was rid of the ogre he was not of the two-headed dog, -which ran after him, showing his two sets of big teeth and barking all -the while. But the peasant was far ahead of the dog, so he reached the -stable and fed the magic corn to the enchanted horse, who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span> neighed in -the most friendly manner and let the peasant mount him.</p> - -<p>He wore a bridle of gold and silver trimmed with rubies, and he was -pure white, with a saddle of purple velvet, with gold and silver -trimmings.</p> - -<p>He was a horse fit for a king to ride, and the poor peasant looked -strangely out of place on his back.</p> - -<p>Just as the peasant rode into the yard of the castle the two-headed dog -dashed at the hind feet of the enchanted horse to bite him, but the -horse kicked at him and over he rolled.</p> - -<p>The peasant looked back to see what had happened to the dog, but he -was nowhere to be seen; in the place where he had lain was a big -black-looking rock with a ragged-looking top like a set of huge teeth.</p> - -<p>The peasant was rid of both his pursuers now, and he rode off toward -the mountain where the King had told him the witch lived.</p> - -<p>Up the mountain dashed the enchanted white horse, as though he had -wings instead of feet, and in a few minutes he had carried the peasant -to the top.</p> - -<p>The peasant looked about him, expecting to see a cave, but to his -surprise he saw only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> a grove of trees with something glistening -through their leaves which looked like a house.</p> - -<p>When he rode nearer to the grove he saw a deep-blue castle of glass -without doors or windows, and inside he could see a girl spinning.</p> - -<p>She looked up as the shadow of the horse and rider fell on the glass -castle, and her eyes grew big with surprise, but before the peasant -could jump from his horse an old woman came up through the floor of the -house and tapped the girl on the head with her cane, and she turned -into a mouse.</p> - -<p>The peasant was too astonished to move for a minute, but the laugh of -the old woman brought him to his senses and he knew she must be the -witch.</p> - -<p>“Ha, ha! you caught the horse, but you cannot bring back the Princess -until I will it!” she screamed, and then disappeared through the floor.</p> - -<p>The peasant walked around the blue castle, but no door or window could -he find, or an opening of any kind.</p> - -<p>He was leading the horse by his gold bridle when suddenly it lifted one -of its front feet and struck the blue castle.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span></p> - -<p>Crash! went the blue glass, and the peasant saw an opening large enough -for him to enter.</p> - -<p>He was about to do so, leaving the enchanted horse outside, when he -heard another crash—the enchanted horse was following him in; it had -broken a place large enough for both of them to enter.</p> - -<p>The mouse was crouching in one corner of the room and the peasant -picked it up carefully and put it in his pocket.</p> - -<p>The horse went to the spot where the old witch had disappeared, and -tapped on the glass floor three times with one of his front feet, -and up from the floor came the old witch. But this time she was not -laughing; she looked frightened, and trembled so she had to lean on her -cane to keep from falling.</p> - -<p>The enchanted horse took her by the dress and shook her three times, -and out from her pocket fell a black bean with a white spot on it.</p> - -<p>As it dropped the old witch screamed and fell on the floor, and the -horse picked up the bean and swallowed it.</p> - -<p>The peasant all this time was standing watching all the strange -happenings, not daring to move for fear of breaking the spell, and -wondering what would happen next.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span></p> - -<p>As the horse swallowed the bean he seemed to shrink away from sight -and a blue mist filled the room. When it cleared the peasant beheld a -handsome young man where the horse had stood, and where the witch had -been was a deep hole.</p> - -<p>“Did she fall into it?” asked the peasant, not knowing what else to say.</p> - -<p>“No; in that hole we will find the magic charm that will restore the -Princess to her own form,” said the young man. “The witch disappeared -in the blue mist.”</p> - -<p>“Let us hurry and find the magic charm,” he said, dropping into the -hole, and the peasant followed him.</p> - -<p>There was a ladder down which they climbed, and down they went until it -seemed they would never reach the bottom.</p> - -<p>But at last their feet touched something firm and soft and they stood -in a beautiful room on a carpet of blue velvet.</p> - -<p>The room was hung with velvet the color of sapphire, and the chairs -were of burnished gold with velvet seats.</p> - -<p>A gold fountain played in the middle of the room and the water fell -into a basin of sapphire.</p> - -<p>“This is the magic fountain,” said the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> youth. “You must throw the -little mouse into it if you wish to bring back the Princess.”</p> - -<p>The peasant took from his pocket the trembling little mouse. “It is -frightened,” he said. “I hate to throw it into that deep water.”</p> - -<p>Without replying the youth grabbed the mouse from the peasant and threw -it with great force into the fountain and it disappeared from sight.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you have killed it!” said the peasant, looking into the deep-blue -water with frightened eyes.</p> - -<p>Then he saw a head rise slowly from the bottom of the blue basin; then -it came above the water; and then a beautiful girl stepped from the -fountain, her golden hair all wet and glistening.</p> - -<p>A soft warm breeze came through the windows and soon her hair and -clothes were dry, and the peasant thought he had never seen any one so -beautiful as the Princess.</p> - -<p>“I am the Prince who was changed into the horse for the ogre,” said -the youth, addressing the Princess. “I was stolen at the same time you -were and the ogre who was the husband of the witch took me and the -witch took you, but this youth has rescued<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> us, for it was here that -the magic bean was kept that restored me to my own form, and if it had -not been for a fairy who came to me one night and told me the secret I -never should have regained my own form.”</p> - -<p>All the time the Prince was speaking the peasant saw the Princess -looking at him with loving glance, and he knew the Princess was not for -him, and besides that he knew he never would be happy in a palace.</p> - -<p>They began to look about and found they were in a beautiful palace that -the old witch had lived in, but, now that she was gone for good, the -peasant said he would take it as his reward and let the Prince and the -Princess return to her father.</p> - -<p>In the stables they found beautiful white horses, and on one of them -the Prince and Princess rode away after making the peasant promise to -come to their wedding and to dance with the bride. “For we will never -forget you,” said the Princess, “and we must always be friends.”</p> - -<p>The father and mother of the Princess listened to the story the Prince -told, and then the Queen said: “I can tell whether this is my lost -child or not. Let me see your left<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> shoulder; she bears her name on -that shoulder if she be our child.”</p> - -<p>The Princess bared her shoulder and there the Queen saw a tiny lily -which proved she was her child.</p> - -<p>The King gave a great feast in honor of his daughter’s return, and the -Prince and Princess were married; and the peasant danced at the wedding -as he promised.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop5"> -<img src="images/pagetop5.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop5" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="NARDO_AND_THE_PRINCESS">NARDO AND THE PRINCESS</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce there lived a king who had two sons, and, though they were twins, -they were as different as if they had been strangers.</p> - -<p>Nardo was kind and good, while his brother Stephen was greedy and -selfish, never doing any one kindness.</p> - -<p>One day there came to the King’s gates an old beggar man who asked for -a night’s lodging and food.</p> - -<p>The brothers were standing near and Stephen told the servants to close -the gates, that a palace was no place for beggars.</p> - -<p>“Stop,” said Nardo to the servant; “a palace is just the place for -beggars. Brother, we have a plenty and to spare; let the poor man -enter.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p> - -<p>The beggar thanked Nardo and said: “You shall never regret your -kindness. Wear this ring, and whenever you wish for something money -cannot buy you shall have your wish.”</p> - -<p>Nardo put the ring in his pocket and forgot all about it until he fell -in love with a beautiful princess, and, like all lovers, he was afraid -she did not love him.</p> - -<p>Then he remembered the old beggar man and the ring, and put it on and -wished for the love of the beautiful Princess.</p> - -<p>It happened that Stephen also loved the Princess, but he knew she did -not love him, and, seeing the ring the old beggar had given Nardo on -his hand one day, he remembered what the beggar had said when he gave -his brother the ring.</p> - -<p>“I must have the ring,” said Stephen. “Then I will have the love of the -Princess; besides that, her father, the King, is old, and when he dies -I shall be king in his place.”</p> - -<p>But it was no easy matter to possess the ring, for Nardo was as big and -strong as Stephen. There was no way to get the ring from off his finger -unless he took it by force or could get some witch to weave a spell -over him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> - -<p>And all this time the beautiful Princess was in love with Nardo. Had he -only known it, he needed no magic ring to win her love for him.</p> - -<p>One night after trying in vain to get the ring Stephen went to an old -witch who lived in a cave by the sea and asked her to get the ring for -him, promising to make her rich if she would get it.</p> - -<p>The witch was greedy for gold, so one night while Nardo slept she -crept into the palace, aided by the wicked Stephen, and cast a spell -over Nardo, which made him forget the ring and also his love for the -beautiful Princess.</p> - -<p>Stephen, with the ring on his finger, felt that all was easy now, and -he promptly forgot all about the old witch and the gold he promised her.</p> - -<p>The beautiful Princess looked with sad eyes upon the now cold and -indifferent Nardo, and, while she did not love Stephen, she felt each -day that she was being drawn to him, though she knew well enough she -did not love any one but Nardo.</p> - -<p>The old witch, however, helped the Princess out of part of her -troubles, for when she found that Stephen did not intend to give her -the gold, she waited for him one day in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span> palace grounds, hidden -behind a clump of bushes, and when he came out for a walk she pointed -her lean fingers at him and placed him under a spell which made him -follow her to her cave by the sea.</p> - -<p>Here she chained him to a rock and put a dragon to watch that he did -not escape; but while the Princess escaped marrying Stephen, he still -possessed the ring which kept Nardo from remembering he had ever loved -the Princess.</p> - -<p>One night when the Princess was sitting in her window looking at the -moon and sighing over her lost lover and his love she saw a nightingale -caught by its wing in a tree.</p> - -<p>The tree was so close that the Princess had only to reach out and -rescue the poor bird and set it free.</p> - -<p>The nightingale, in gratitude for its life, began to sing so sweetly -that the Princess exclaimed, “Oh, sing each night by my window, -beautiful bird, that I may for a little while at least forget my -sorrow.”</p> - -<p>The hour of midnight was just then striking, and as the last stroke of -twelve died away the nightingale changed into a fairy.</p> - -<p>“I am powerless to use my magic until the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> hour of midnight strikes,” -said the little fairy. “I have chosen to become a nightingale until -then, and the Queen will not give me the power of a fairy until I -change my form to one.</p> - -<p>“If it had not been for your kindness I might never have become a -fairy again, for the nightingale’s wing would have been broken, and no -imperfect creature can reclaim its form, once it has changed from a -fairy.</p> - -<p>“If I can help you, tell me and I will go to the Queen and ask to -remain a fairy, and then no matter how hard the task you set I am sure -I can make you happy.”</p> - -<p>Of course, the Princess did not know about the magic ring, and she -could only tell the fairy how once she had felt sure that Nardo loved -her and then suddenly he had changed and would not notice her at all.</p> - -<p>The fairy listened to the Princess and told her not to worry; that she -was sure there was something wrong; that Nardo still loved her, and at -midnight the next night she would return, and away she flittered in the -moonlight, leaving the Princess happier than she had been for many a -day.</p> - -<p>It took the fairy but a short time to unravel the mystery, and the next -night when the Princess<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> went to her window she found the little fairy -waiting for her, perched on the sill.</p> - -<p>“Do not grieve, my Princess,” said the fairy. “Nardo still loves you; -it is all the work of his wicked brother Stephen, who loved you, too.”</p> - -<p>Then she told the Princess the story of the ring and how Stephen had -got the old witch to get it for him, and that if he had given her the -gold he would have married the Princess in spite of all she could have -done.</p> - -<p>“But if Nardo still loves me, why does he keep away? Why does he not -tell me of his love?” asked the Princess.</p> - -<p>“He will, my dear Princess, when he remembers,” said the fairy, “and -there is where the difficult part comes in.</p> - -<p>“We must get the ring or the stone. It is only the stone that holds the -charm, but that is still on Stephen’s finger, and to get near to him -the dragon must be overpowered.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I will send all my father’s soldiers,” said the Princess; “they -can kill the dragon, I am sure.”</p> - -<p>“Not a dragon that belongs to a witch,” said the fairy, “and if my plan -works, and I think it will, we shall not need soldiers. I will be back -before the sun rises. Wait for me.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> - -<p>Away went the fairy to her Queen and again asked to be changed into a -nightingale. “It is to help some one in trouble, dear Queen,” she said, -“and never again will I ask to change my form.”</p> - -<p>The Queen granted her wish and away flew the nightingale toward the -sea, where lived the witch and the dragon.</p> - -<p>When she was near the cave she began her sweetest song, and as she flew -nearer she sang more sweetly and softly until she alighted on a tree -right over the rock where lay the dragon and the sleeping Stephen.</p> - -<p>The eyes of the dragon were wide open, watching on all sides for any -one who might dare attempt to rescue Stephen.</p> - -<p>When he heard the sweet tones of the nightingale the dragon raised its -head and looked around, but, seeing only a bird perched over his head, -he had no fear. Softly, sweetly, the nightingale trilled and sang its -soothing song until at last the dragon began to nod its head, and after -a while it dropped to the ground, fast asleep.</p> - -<p>The poor nightingale was so worn out with singing so long that it -hardly had strength to fly down to where Stephen was sleeping.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> - -<p>Very carefully it did so with only a soft waving of its wings, and then -its bill plucked from the ring on Stephen’s hand the red stone, and off -it flew with the stone held tightly in its bill.</p> - -<p>Only once did it stop, and that was to sip a drop of dew from a -rose-bush where it alighted to rest, and then on it went to the palace -where Nardo was sleeping and flew through the window of his bedroom.</p> - -<p>Nardo’s hand was open on the pillow beside his face, and into his hand -the nightingale placed the red stone and flew away to the Princess.</p> - -<p>“Your lover will be here with the sun,” she said, “and as it is not far -from that time I must fly to my Queen.</p> - -<p>“Farewell, my kind Princess. May you be happy with your Prince, and if -you are as good and kind as a Queen as you were when a Princess I shall -never regret my night’s work.”</p> - -<p>The Princess thanked her again and again, but the fairy was away before -she had finished, and just then the sun peeped through the trees and -at the same time the sound of horses’ hoofs was heard coming along the -road.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> - -<p>The Princess’s cheeks grew red, for she knew it was her lover, and when -she reached the palace door there he was just riding up.</p> - -<p>When the spell was broken for Nardo it released poor Stephen from the -power of the witch; the sea rolled in and the wind shrieked among the -trees and the next thing Stephen knew he was running through the forest -toward his home.</p> - -<p>Of course, he was too much ashamed to tell of all that had happened to -him and said he had been hunting in the forest and lost his way; and -Nardo and the Princess kept his secret and did not let him know they -were aware of his treachery, and as he grew to be a better man as the -years went by, they were glad they did.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop6"> -<img src="images/pagetop6.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop6" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="OLD_THREE_HEADS">OLD THREE HEADS</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce upon a time there was a little girl named Lucy. She was always -opening doors and looking into rooms that did not belong to her, and it -made her appear very rude.</p> - -<p>One day Lucy was sent to the woods to gather berries, but instead of -filling her basket as she should have done she walked about, looking -behind rocks and trees, thinking that she might find an opening in some -of them.</p> - -<p>“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” said a squirrel, as he ran past -her.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what he means,” she said. “I must keep on looking, for -somewhere around here Old Three Heads must live, or the squirrel would -not have said ‘look out,’ and I want to see what he is like.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> - -<p>“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” called a bird from the limb of a -tree.</p> - -<p>“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” called a rabbit as he ran into -his hole.</p> - -<p>“I wish some one would tell me where Old Three Heads lives,” said Lucy, -“instead of just saying look out for him.”</p> - -<p>Just then she came to a path which led through thick bushes.</p> - -<p>“I will see where this leads,” she said. “Perhaps it leads to Old Three -Heads’ house.”</p> - -<p>Lucy walked along the path and soon she saw a castle standing among -the trees. Most little girls would have hesitated about going into a -strange house, but Lucy’s curiosity was so great she thought only of -seeing the inside of the castle. She walked up the steps and opened the -door. The hall was long and dark, but she was not afraid. So she closed -the door and walked along.</p> - -<p>There were many doors on each side of the hall, and Lucy opened one -and looked in. In one corner of the room was a horse with three heads. -“What a queer place to keep a horse!” thought Lucy.</p> - -<p>“Better look out for Old Three Heads,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> said the horse, shaking all -three heads and looking sad.</p> - -<p>“How did you get three heads?” asked Lucy.</p> - -<p>“I looked in the window one day when Old Three Heads was eating his -dinner, and he saw me. You better look out,” he warned her again.</p> - -<p>Lucy thought of the other doors and decided to keep on, for she was -very anxious to see what was behind all of them.</p> - -<p>She opened another door and a three-headed cat ran toward her. “You -have only one head!” said the cat, in a tone of surprise. “You better -look out for Old Three Heads.”</p> - -<p>“I am not afraid,” said Lucy, as she left the room and opened another -door. In this room was a three-headed dog. He looked at her and said, -“Better look out for Old Three Heads; you will find him if you keep on -opening doors.”</p> - -<p>“I want to see him,” answered Lucy. “Where is he?”</p> - -<p>“You better run while you can,” said the dog, “but you will find him if -you keep on, and then you will wish you had taken my advice.”</p> - -<p>But Lucy only laughed and went to another<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span> door. In that room she saw a -three-headed cow.</p> - -<p>“What a queer place!” she said. “I never saw animals living in a house -before. Why are the animals kept in the house?” she asked the cow.</p> - -<p>“We belong to Old Three Heads,” replied the cow, “and every creature -that comes in this castle has three heads. You better look out for Old -Three Heads,” she warned her.</p> - -<p>“Why did you come in, if you knew you had to wear three heads?” asked -Lucy.</p> - -<p>“We wanted to see what was in here, just as you did,” replied the cow. -“The cat found the door open and she walked in to look about; the dog -saw her enter and he followed. Old Three Heads saw them. You better -look out,” she warned Lucy again.</p> - -<p>But Lucy was more curious than ever, and she kept on with her questions.</p> - -<p>“How did you and the horse get three heads?” she asked. “You did not -walk in the door, did you?”</p> - -<p>“Not at first,” answered the cow. “The horse put his head in the window -one day when it was open and Old Three Heads saw him.”</p> - -<p>“And you,” asked Lucy again, for the cow<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> stopped and hung her three -heads, “what did you do?”</p> - -<p>“I saw some green corn on the window-sill,” the cow confessed, very -slowly, “and I put my head in the window to get it and Old Three Heads -saw me.”</p> - -<p>“What happens when he sees you?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“Wait and see,” replied the cow. “But I have warned you; you’d better -look out for Old Three Heads and run while you can.”</p> - -<p>As that was all the information she could get from the cow, Lucy told -her she would find out for herself how they all got their three heads, -and she went to the next door and opened it.</p> - -<p>The room was dark, and at first Lucy could not see anything, but some -one said, “Who-who,” and as the sound came from a corner of the room -Lucy went in and looked about.</p> - -<p>As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness she saw perched on the -back of a chair an owl with three heads.</p> - -<p>“Well, of all things!” exclaimed Lucy. “How did so wise a bird as you -happen to be caught by Old Three Heads?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“Who-who are you?” stuttered the owl.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> “You-you better look out for Old -Three Heads,” he warned Lucy.</p> - -<p>“Tell me how it happened that you have three heads,” asked Lucy, -ignoring the warning as she had before.</p> - -<p>“Who-who are you?” stuttered the owl again.</p> - -<p>“I am a girl,” said Lucy. “Can’t you see?”</p> - -<p>“Bet-bet-better look out,” warned the owl again.</p> - -<p>“Oh dear!” said Lucy. “You are worse than the others. I am going to -find Old Three Heads and find out, if I can, how all of you got three -heads.”</p> - -<p>“Who-who,” said the owl as she went out of the room.</p> - -<p>Lucy opened another door, and there on the throne in this room sat a -giant with three heads. She had found Old Three Heads at last.</p> - -<p>For the first time since she entered the castle Lucy was frightened -when she saw the curious-looking creature; but there was no chance to -escape; it was too late.</p> - -<p>The giant looked at her a second, and then he called out to his -attendants, who all had three heads but were much smaller men: “Bring -the intruder before me.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span></p> - -<p>“Bring two heads,” he said, when Lucy stood before him.</p> - -<p>When the heads were brought one had black hair and one red.</p> - -<p>“I do not want those heads,” said Lucy; “they do not match my hair. -Can’t I have two golden-haired heads?”</p> - -<p>“Those are all I have,” said the giant, “and you will have to wear -them. On with them,” he said, and the attendants fastened the heads on -Lucy’s shoulders, one on each side of her own head.</p> - -<p>“I wish I could see myself,” said Lucy, still curious.</p> - -<p>“Take her to her room,” said the giant, and Lucy was taken to one of -the rooms that opened out of the long hall.</p> - -<p>When she was alone she looked around the room and saw a mirror hanging -on the wall. She ran and looked into it. The new heads looked very -cross.</p> - -<p>“What is the matter with you?” asked Lucy.</p> - -<p>“I do not like red hair or light hair,” said the dark-haired head.</p> - -<p>“And I do not like dark hair or light hair,” said the head with red -hair.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p> - -<p>“I cannot help that,” said Lucy. “I did not want either of you.”</p> - -<p>“I will not stay here,” said the dark-haired head.</p> - -<p>“Neither will I,” said the head with the red hair.</p> - -<p>And they began to pull away. Lucy bent first to one side and then to -the other, with the pulling of the quarrelsome heads.</p> - -<p>“Do keep quiet,” she said at last. “I am sorry I said anything about -the color of your hair. If you will be good I’ll try to get you -something nice to eat.”</p> - -<p>This plan quieted the heads, and Lucy went to the door. It was not -locked, and she opened it and went out.</p> - -<p>First she went to the room where the horse was.</p> - -<p>“Horse, can you tell me where I can get something to eat?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said the horse. “Go to the fireplace and call up the chimney.”</p> - -<p>“I want my dinner,” Lucy called.</p> - -<p>Down came a table with food upon it and a chair standing beside it. -Lucy seated herself and began to eat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span></p> - -<p>Then the trouble began; every time she raised the fork to her mouth the -dark head or the head with red hair would stretch out their necks and -take the food from the fork before Lucy could get a chance.</p> - -<p>The new heads quarreled because each thought the other was getting more -than its share.</p> - -<p>Lucy put her fork and knife on the table in despair. “You are a pair of -greedy heads,” she said. “I have not had a bite.”</p> - -<p>“It is all your fault,” said one; “you should not have got us.”</p> - -<p>Lucy went into the room where the cat was and asked her if she would -tell her where she could get something to drink.</p> - -<p>“Rap three times on the wall,” said the cat.</p> - -<p>Lucy tried this and a cup appeared filled with water. Lucy tried to put -it up to her lips, but the head with the red hair reached it and drank -all the water.</p> - -<p>Lucy rapped again, and another cup appeared, and this time the head -with dark hair reached it and drank every drop of water before Lucy -could stop it.</p> - -<p>She tried several times, but each time the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> greedy heads drank it -before she could get her lips to the cup.</p> - -<p>She went into the room where the dog was kept.</p> - -<p>“Where can I find a comfortable chair and a book?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“Tap on the floor three times,” the dog said.</p> - -<p>Lucy did as he said, and a chair appeared, and beside it a table filled -with books. Lucy opened one of the books and looked at the pictures.</p> - -<p>“I cannot see them,” said the head with the red hair. Lucy moved the -book to one side.</p> - -<p>“I should think you would remember that you have three heads,” said the -head with the dark hair. “How do you expect me to see if you keep the -book over that side?”</p> - -<p>Lucy moved the book to the other side, and then the head with the red -hair began to fuss again.</p> - -<p>“Oh dear!” said Lucy. “You are the most selfish heads I ever saw. I -will go to the cow and see if she can help me,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Where can I find a bed?” she asked the cow. “These heads have just -tired me out.”</p> - -<p>“I will get you one,” said the cow. “Moo,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span> moo!” she called up and from -the floor came a bed.</p> - -<p>Lucy lay down upon it. “I do not want to go to sleep,” said the head -with dark hair. “I do,” said Lucy. “I am tired and I am going to sleep; -you can stay awake if you wish to.”</p> - -<p>“I do not feel tired,” said the head with red hair; “I feel like -singing,” and it began to sing so loudly that Lucy had to get up.</p> - -<p>“I’ll go to the owl and see if he can help me,” she said, as she went -out of the room.</p> - -<p>She went into the room where the owl was and opened the window. The owl -hid its three heads.</p> - -<p>“You are such a wise bird,” she said to the owl, “I wish you would tell -me what to do with these new heads; they quarrel all the time.”</p> - -<p>“Who-who!” said the owl.</p> - -<p>“I cannot understand how any one could ever think you were wise,” said -Lucy; “all you can say is who-who. I wish I could be rid of these -troublesome heads.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you, then?” said the head with red hair. “We come off if you -pull hard.”</p> - -<p>“I never thought of that,” said Lucy, pulling at the head with red -hair.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> - -<p>Off it came and flew through the window.</p> - -<p>Then she tried the other and it came off and followed the other through -the window.</p> - -<p>“Would you like to be rid of your extra heads?” Lucy asked the owl.</p> - -<p>“Who-who,” answered the owl.</p> - -<p>“You silly bird!” said Lucy, pulling at his extra heads. Off they came -and followed Lucy’s heads.</p> - -<p>“Let’s go to the cow,” said Lucy, “and take off her heads.”</p> - -<p>The owl tried to follow her, but bumped against the wall and fell to -the floor.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I forgot that you could not see in the daytime,” said Lucy. “I’ll -put you on my shoulder,” she said, picking him up from the floor.</p> - -<p>“Would you like to get rid of your extra heads?” Lucy asked the cow.</p> - -<p>“Of course I would,” she said. “How did you get rid of yours?”</p> - -<p>“I will show you,” said Lucy, pulling at the cow’s extra heads. Off -they came and out the window they flew.</p> - -<p>“Well, I never should have thought of that,” said the cow.</p> - -<p>“Let us go to the cat and the dog and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> horse,” said Lucy, “and help -them to get rid of their troubles.”</p> - -<p>Each of them said they had never thought to try pulling the extra heads -off, and they were very grateful to Lucy for helping them.</p> - -<p>The heads all flew out of the window and that was the last that was -ever seen of them.</p> - -<p>“I think we should get out of this place as soon as we can,” said Lucy. -“Old Three Heads might get us again.”</p> - -<p>They hurried out of the house and soon were in the woods a long way -from the castle.</p> - -<p>“Did Old Three Heads get you?” asked the animals they met in the woods.</p> - -<p>Lucy told them he did. “But he will not bother you,” she said, “if -you keep away from his house, and I warn you that three heads are a -nuisance, and you may not be so fortunate as we have been in escaping -from them.”</p> - -<p>“Did you have to feed them all?” asked a squirrel.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” answered Lucy, “or at least I tried to, but they quarreled so -that I had to go without.”</p> - -<p>“I will never go near Old Three Heads,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> said the squirrel. “I have all -I can do to take care of one head.”</p> - -<p>“I have had my lesson,” said Lucy. “I shall never look into rooms again -when the door is closed, for one head is all I care to have.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop7"> -<img src="images/pagetop7.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop7" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_ENCHANTED_BOAT">THE ENCHANTED BOAT</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce there was a King who had a very beautiful daughter, and when the -Queen died the King married a woman who had a son named Tito because he -thought this new Queen would be kind and good to the Princess.</p> - -<p>But in this the King was greatly mistaken, for the Queen thought only -of her son and wished to make him King.</p> - -<p>She told the King that if he would make the Princess marry Tito that he -need have no fear about the future of his kingdom, for he could be sure -her son would make a good king.</p> - -<p>“And a woman should not be Queen and rule alone such a big kingdom as -you possess,” said the scheming Queen.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span></p> - -<p>The King, who thought more of his daughter’s happiness than anything in -the world, called the Princess and told her of his plan. “Marry your -stepmother’s son and all will be well with you and I can die happy,” he -told the Princess.</p> - -<p>But the Princess did not want to marry Tito, for she did not love him, -and when she found that her father would not listen to her pleadings, -but told her that very night she should wed Tito, the little Princess -ran out of the palace and threw herself face down on the grass and wept.</p> - -<p>When it came time for the wedding she was nowhere to be found, and -though the palace and the gardens were searched, it was all in vain. -The Princess had disappeared.</p> - -<p>What had happened was that while the Princess was crying and bemoaning -her sad lot she heard a sound, and when she looked up there was a lake -she had never seen at the foot of the garden, and on it a beautiful -boat with a sail of silk the color of gold.</p> - -<p>There was no one in the boat, and the Princess, forgetting her sorrow -in her wonderment at this strange sight, ran down to the water’s edge, -where another surprise awaited her. For<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span> the boat came sailing straight -to the place where she stood.</p> - -<p>The Princess stepped in, and away went the boat out over the blue -water, and in a few minutes she was in a country she had never seen -before.</p> - -<p>The little Princess was not frightened, for she felt sure nothing worse -could befall her than if she stayed at the palace and had to marry -Tito, and, while she was sorry to leave her father, she could not be -happy with a man she did not love.</p> - -<p>The lake led to a river, along the banks of which were high hills and -beautiful woods, and the Princess was so lost in admiring the beauty of -the scene she did not notice they were approaching a castle until her -boat sailed under a white marble bridge, which soon brought her at the -steps which led into the garden of the castle.</p> - -<p>Here the strange boat stopped and the Princess knew she was expected to -get out.</p> - -<p>She walked up the steps into a garden filled with pink and white roses, -with a fountain of pearl and gold in the center which threw a perfumed -spray all about, which filled the air with fragrance.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> - -<p>There were no paths in the garden, but the grass was like green velvet -and yellow birds flittered among the small green trees and sang sweet -songs.</p> - -<p>Through the roses and trees the Princess saw the entrance to the -castle, and on the broad steps of marble and gold came a queer-looking -creature followed by more servants than the Princess had ever seen in -her father’s palace.</p> - -<p>The Princess did not feel at all afraid, although the strange-looking -creature had the body of a beautiful leopard, while his head was that -of the handsomest youth the Princess had ever beheld.</p> - -<p>His hair was dark and as he came nearer to her the Princess saw that -his eyes were deep blue, the kindest eyes she had ever seen.</p> - -<p>He held out one huge paw toward her and then withdrew it and said, “I -fear you will not care to take the paw of such a beast as I am, but I -can assure you I will not harm you, Princess.”</p> - -<p>“I am not afraid,” said the Princess, putting out her hand, “but tell -me how you know that I am a princess?”</p> - -<p>After the leopard-man had taken her hand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span> he led her up the steps, -and as they walked along he told her that no one but a princess could -have entered the boat. “It had sailed for many a year in quest of the -princess who would be willing to sail away in it,” he told her, “and as -only a princess can help me, no one but a princess could get into the -enchanted boat.”</p> - -<p>When the Princess and the leopard-man entered the castle he told her -his strange story. He was a prince who had been changed by a witch into -the shape she saw, and the only thing that could save him was a gold -root which grew far up on a blue mountain-peak.</p> - -<p>“But that root must be brought to me by a princess and no one else,” -said the leopard-man, “so you see how impossible it is that I shall -ever regain my own shape.”</p> - -<p>“If you will tell me where this blue mountain-peak can be found,” said -the Princess, “I will undertake the task, for I do not wish to return -to my father’s palace, and I would like to help you.”</p> - -<p>“The enchanted boat will take you if you really wish to try,” said -the leopard-man, “but I fear it is a task you are far from fitted to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> -undertake, for no one can go with you; that would break the spell.”</p> - -<p>The Princess, however, told him she would try, and at once set out on -the strange errand, the boat sailing along the river and then out into -the open sea.</p> - -<p>By and by the Princess saw on the side of a high mountain, the top of -which was blue, something growing which shone like gold, and she knew -it must be the golden root for which she was seeking.</p> - -<p>The enchanted boat sailed close to the foot of the mountain and -stopped, and the Princess knew she was to get out, but how was she to -reach the golden root which grew far up on the mountain?</p> - -<p>The Princess stepped out of the boat on the rocks and sat down to -think what she could do, for to climb up the steep, smooth side of the -mountain was out of the question; if only she could fly she thought she -might reach it.</p> - -<p>Just then she heard a swishing sound, and, looking up, she saw a big -eagle coming toward her with a broken leg.</p> - -<p>The bird fell at her feet, and, as so many strange things had already -happened, the Princess<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> did not feel afraid of the big creature, for -she felt sure that in some way he would help her.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you poor hurt bird!” she said, tearing off a piece of her dress -to bind up its leg; then from a stream falling from the mountain she -brought in the hollow of her hand water for him to drink.</p> - -<p>At night the Princess took off her cloak and covered the eagle, while -she huddled close to the mountain and behind a rock to keep the cold -from herself.</p> - -<p>In the morning she was surprised to find the eagle had flown away, but -on the rocks was her cloak, and two feathers from the wings of the bird -lay beside it.</p> - -<p>The Princess put on her cloak and took up one of the feathers, and to -her surprise the hand that held the feather flew up over her head.</p> - -<p>She picked up the other feather with the other hand and up she was -carried, her cloak spreading out like a pair of wings.</p> - -<p>With the feathers she guided herself until she alighted on the top of -the blue-peaked mountain.</p> - -<p>She laid the feathers down and began to dig<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span> for the root which the -Prince had said was the only thing that could save him.</p> - -<p>When she had enough of the golden root she again took the feathers, one -in each hand, and flew down to the water, where the enchanted boat, -which had sailed away when she left it, now stood waiting.</p> - -<p>The feathers from the eagle she put carefully on the rocks, but the -bird was nowhere to be seen, and, knowing that it must have been a part -of the magic plan to help her, the Princess sailed away, feeling sure -the eagle was safe and his broken leg quite well.</p> - -<p>When she reached the castle of the leopard-man he was on the steps to -meet her and without waiting to enter the castle he took the golden -root from her and tasted it.</p> - -<p>The leopard body disappeared and there he stood before her, a tall, -handsome youth whom any maiden, even a princess, would fall in love -with.</p> - -<p>The Princess told him her story and the Prince told her they would go -at once to her father and he would ask for her hand, for he had already -asked for her heart and found that it was his.</p> - -<p>The enchanted boat took them back to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span> garden of the King, where -they found that the Queen, when she knew that her son had lost the -chance of becoming King when the Princess disappeared, had put the King -in a dungeon under the palace and she and her son had become the rulers -of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>The Prince quickly undid all this mischief by setting the King free, -and when he found out how treacherous his Queen really was he sent her, -with her son, away from the palace and told them never to return or -they would both be put in prison.</p> - -<p>He was a kind-hearted King and gave them gold to care for them the rest -of their days, and it did not take them long to leave the palace, you -may be sure, for already the wedding feast was being made ready for the -marriage of the Princess and her Prince.</p> - -<p>The enchanted boat now was not needed, and that with the lake -disappeared, but when the Princess set out with her husband to go to -the castle she found that it was within her father’s kingdom that the -Prince had lived.</p> - -<p>At the end of the castle garden where the Prince and the Princess live -is a long stone seat, and at one end grows a bush of golden<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span> flowers, -the like of which no one ever saw before, and at the other is the -figure of a big eagle made of gold and bronze, but only the Princess -and her husband know what these things mean.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop8"> -<img src="images/pagetop8.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop8" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="NICKO_AND_THE_OGRE">NICKO AND THE OGRE</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce upon a time there lived on the banks of a deep, wide river an ogre -who ate all the fish in the river, never letting the people who lived -in the town come near the river to fish.</p> - -<p>And this was not all the ogre did. He would make such a noise when he -slept that all the children were frightened so they could not sleep at -night, and the people decided at last that something must be done.</p> - -<p>One day a youth named Nicko said he would go to an old witch who lived -in the forest and ask her what could be done.</p> - -<p>So to this witch the youth went. “There is only one way to get rid -of the ogre,” she told Nicko, “and that secret is known only to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> a -mermaid, who comes up from the river every night and sings to the ogre.”</p> - -<p>Of course the ogre would see Nicko if he went to the mermaid when she -was singing, so he decided to have a suit made of green and silver that -would make him look like a huge fish and dive into the river, hoping in -that way to find the home of the mermaid and learn the secret she knew.</p> - -<p>One night after the mermaid had finished her song to the ogre, Nicko -slipped from behind a rock where he was hidden, dressed in his -green-and-silver suit, and swam to the place he had seen the mermaid go -under the water.</p> - -<p>Down, down he went, and just before he reached the bottom of the river -the mermaid turned around and saw him.</p> - -<p>She had never seen such a beautiful big fish before and the silver -glistened and shone so in the moonlight that the mermaid was filled -with envy.</p> - -<p>“Oh, beautiful fish, tell me where you got your shining coat! I must -have a dress like it at once,” she said, swimming along beside Nicko.</p> - -<p>“I will tell you, beautiful mermaid, willingly, and I will bring you a -dress of wonderful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> brightness,” said Nicko, “if you will tell me how -the people who live in the river town can get rid of the ogre you sing -to every night.”</p> - -<p>The mermaid no longer smiled when she heard this; her face looked sad -and unhappy.</p> - -<p>“That can never be done; for the way to be rid of the ogre is beyond -my power, although I know the secret,” answered the mermaid; “but you -cannot help me.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if I cannot help you, at least tell me how it could be brought -about that the river folk could be rid of their trouble.”</p> - -<p>“A mortal must come to this river and live here,” said the mermaid. -“And he must marry me. Now you see how impossible it is for any one to -learn the rest of the secret, for who would marry a mermaid and live at -the bottom of the river?”</p> - -<p>Nicko had fallen in love with the pretty mermaid at first sight, and -when he heard this he said: “Show me your home, pretty maid. Perhaps I -can help you, even if I am only a fish.”</p> - -<p>To the very bottom of the river the mermaid took Nicko, and when they -stood on the white sand before her home of crystal Nicko said:</p> - -<p>“Mermaid, I love you! Behold your mortal lover. Will you be my wife?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span></p> - -<p>As he spoke he threw off the green-and-silver costume he wore, and -there stood the mortal who had come to woo her.</p> - -<p>The pretty little mermaid blushed and hung her head. “I did not know; I -could never have guessed you were a mortal,” she stammered.</p> - -<p>“Of course you couldn’t,” said Nicko, almost forgetting why he was -there, he was so very much in love with the pretty creature. “Now where -shall I find your father?” he asked.</p> - -<p>The little mermaid clapped her tiny hands, and from under the rock came -many little silver-colored fish, swimming all around her.</p> - -<p>“Run quickly and tell the dolphin to find Father Neptune,” said the -mermaid.</p> - -<p>Soon the water began to roll and tumble about, and Nicko saw swimming -toward them two sea-horses drawing a chariot in which stood a man -carrying in one hand a curious and big three-pronged fork.</p> - -<p>“He is Father Neptune,” said the mermaid. “Ask him for me if you wish.”</p> - -<p>“Well, young mortal, what do you wish here at the bottom of my river?” -asked Father Neptune.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> - -<p>At first Nicko did not know what to say, for Father Neptune was very -big and stern-looking; but when he saw the little mermaid swim up to -him and lean her head against his shoulder he took courage and spoke.</p> - -<p>“I wish to marry your daughter,” he said, “and live at the bottom of -the river.”</p> - -<p>Father Neptune began to smile. “The spell is broken for you, my dear,” -he said to the little mermaid, “and I am glad. I would have helped you -before this if I could, but it was not in my power.</p> - -<p>“She is yours, mortal youth,” said Neptune. “I pronounce you man and -wife. And now we will see what can be done to get rid of that awful -ogre on the bank of the river. He has bothered me so much, I shall be -glad to have him gone.”</p> - -<p>“Now we are married,” said the mermaid to Nicko, “I can tell you I -am not a mermaid at all, but a king’s daughter who was changed into -a mermaid to sing for the ogre because my father did not invite the -dreadful ogre to a feast at his palace one night.</p> - -<p>“The ogre cast a spell over me which could be broken only when a mortal -should come to the bottom of the river and ask me<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span> to marry him, which -the ogre thought never could happen.</p> - -<p>“Now it is my turn to have the ogre changed into another form, and if -Father Neptune will consent I will ask the old forest witch to change -him into a big rock in the middle of the river.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, my dear,” said Father Neptune, “a big rock will be an -addition to my river, and when I run in here to rest my sea-horses will -have a place to play and my dolphins a place to sit.”</p> - -<p>“Good-by, Father Neptune,” said the mermaid. “I shall no longer wear -this form after to-night, for when I touch the land I shall be a mortal -again.”</p> - -<p>“I will take you to the shore,” said Father Neptune; “jump in, both of -you.” It took only a minute for the sea-horses to dash to the top of -the river, and another for them to bring the chariot to the bank of the -river near the forest.</p> - -<p>Nicko jumped out and lifted the little mermaid to the ground, which she -no sooner touched than before him stood a beautiful young girl on two -dainty feet.</p> - -<p>When he looked around Father Neptune was gone and the Princess (for we -must call<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span> her so now) said: “We must hurry to the witch and tell her -before sunrise, or the ogre will have another day in which to bother -the river-town people.”</p> - -<p>When the old witch saw the Princess she began to laugh. “Ha-ha!” she -said. “Now the ogre will be in my power. Leave him to me, my dear. I -will change him into any shape you wish.”</p> - -<p>The Princess told her she wished him changed into a huge rock to be -placed in the middle of the river.</p> - -<p>“Come along, my pretties; you shall see it done,” said the old witch, -clapping her hands as she spoke.</p> - -<p>Up from behind the cave jumped a big broomstick, and on it hopped the -witch and the Princess and Nicko, and off they flew to the place where -the ogre sat fishing by the river.</p> - -<p>When they were near enough for the old witch to touch him with her -crooked cane she leaned over and tapped him on the head and said:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="stanza"> -<p>“In the middle of the river,</p> -<p>To dwell there forever,</p> -<p class="ind2">A rock you shall be</p> -<p class="ind2">So all folks may see.”</p></div></div> -</div><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span> - -<p>A peal of thunder that shook the woods around was heard, and then a -loud splash.</p> - -<p>When the mist of the splashing water cleared Nicko and the Princess saw -a huge black rock in the middle of the river, and the next thing they -knew they were flying through the air with the old witch again.</p> - -<p>“Here is your home, Princess,” said the witch at last. “They will be -waiting for you and your husband, for I sent word you had been rescued, -and a feast is being made in honor of your marriage.”</p> - -<p>Before Nicko or his bride could thank the witch she was far above their -heads and flying away.</p> - -<p>The King and the Queen were overjoyed to have their daughter again and -gave Nicko such a welcome that he quite forgot his home by the river -and never returned.</p> - -<p>But this did not matter, as he was an orphan, but no one thought of him -as being the cause of the ogre’s disappearance. The people in the river -town knew the ogre had gone, and they cared not who brought it about.</p> - -<p>Nicko and the Princess lived happily ever after, and one day became the -King and Queen in the country where they lived.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop9"> -<img src="images/pagetop9.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop9" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_GINGERBREAD_ROCK">THE GINGERBREAD ROCK</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce there lived near a forest a little boy named Hans and his sister, -whose name was Lisbeth.</p> - -<p>Their parents had died when they were tiny and their uncle had taken -them because he thought they could do all the work and so save the -money he would have to pay for a servant.</p> - -<p>But this uncle was a miser and gave Hans and Lisbeth very little to -eat, so very little that often they went to bed very hungry.</p> - -<p>One night when they were more hungry than usual, for they had worked -hard all day, Hans whispered from his cot in one corner of the room: -“Lisbeth, let us get up and go into the woods. It is bright moonlight -and we may<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span> be able to find some berries. I am so hungry I cannot go to -sleep.”</p> - -<p>So out of the house they went, making sure their uncle was sound -asleep, and soon they were running along the path through the woods.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Hans stopped and drew Lisbeth back of a tree. “Look!” he said, -in a whisper, “there is smoke coming from the side of that great rock.”</p> - -<p>Lisbeth looked and, sure enough, a tiny curling smoke was coming from a -little opening in the rock.</p> - -<p>Very cautiously the children crept up to the rock and Hans stood on -tiptoe and sniffed at the smoke.</p> - -<p>“It is a pipe,” he whispered into Lisbeth’s ear. “Some one is inside -the rock, smoking.”</p> - -<p>“No one could live inside a rock,” said Lisbeth, creeping closer and -standing on a stone that she, too, might sniff at the curling smoke.</p> - -<p>Lisbeth became curious when she discovered it was the smoke from a -pipe. “You could boost me, Hans,” she said, “and I could peep in and -see if some one is inside.”</p> - -<p>Hans told her he did not think it was nice<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span> to peek, but Lisbeth told -him it was very different from peeking into a house, and so Hans -boosted her, for he was just as curious as his sister.</p> - -<p>Lisbeth grasped the edge of the opening in the big rock with both her -little hands, when, to the surprise of both children, it crumbled and -Lisbeth lost her balance.</p> - -<p>Over went both of them on the soft moss, and when they sat up Lisbeth -held something in both her little hands.</p> - -<p>“It’s cake!” she said, with wide open eyes. “No; it is gingerbread!” -she corrected, as she tasted it.</p> - -<p>And, sure enough, it was gingerbread; the rock, instead of being stone, -was all gingerbread.</p> - -<p>Hans and Lisbeth forgot the smoke and their curiosity in the joy of -their discovery, and soon both of them were eating as fast as they -could big pieces of the Gingerbread Rock.</p> - -<p>Hans and Lisbeth were not greedy children. So when they had satisfied -their hunger they ran off home without taking even a piece of the -gingerbread with them to eat the next day.</p> - -<p>They were soon in bed and asleep, and if each had not told to the other -the same story<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span> the next morning they would have been sure they had -dreamed it all.</p> - -<p>The next night they were hungry, as usual, and when the moon was well -up in the sky out they crept again and ran into the woods.</p> - -<p>But this time there was no curling smoke to guide them, and they tried -several rocks before they found the gingerbread. For, strange to say, -the place they had broken away did not show at all and there were so -many rocks the children could not find it.</p> - -<p>But at last Hans cried out with joy, “Here it is, Lisbeth!” and held up -a big piece of gingerbread he had broken off.</p> - -<p>Lisbeth, in her hurry to get a piece, broke off much more than she -intended, and, to the surprise of both children, a big opening was -made, large enough for them to step through.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps we may find out where the smoke came from,” said Lisbeth, -suddenly remembering the smoke they had seen the night before.</p> - -<p>Eating as they went, both of them stepped inside the rock and walked -into a big room where, by the table, sat an old man asleep.</p> - -<p>His glasses had tumbled off his nose and the pipe he had been smoking -was on the floor beside him, where it had tumbled. His<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> lamp had gone -out and his paper had slipped from his hand.</p> - -<p>Lisbeth and Hans looked at him and then at the gingerbread they held. -“It is his house,” said Hans.</p> - -<p>“And we are eating it up! What shall we do?” asked Lisbeth, looking -very much frightened.</p> - -<p>“Better wake him up and tell him,” said Hans, “and perhaps he will let -us bake some more and mend the place we have broken.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll pick up his paper and pipe and brush up the ashes,” said tidy -little Lisbeth, “and you light his lamp, and perhaps he will forgive us -when we tell him we did not know it was his house we were eating.”</p> - -<p>But instead of being cross when he awoke, the old man smiled at them -and asked, “Did you eat all you wanted of the gingerbread?”</p> - -<p>Hans told him they were very sorry and that they did not know any one -lived inside when they ate the gingerbread.</p> - -<p>“We will bake you some more and patch the place we made,” said Lisbeth.</p> - -<p>“Right through that door you will find the kitchen,” said the old man. -“Run along, if you like, and bake it.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span></p> - -<p>And such a kitchen as Hans and Lisbeth found, for Hans went along, you -may be sure, to fix the fire for his sister!</p> - -<p>The shelves and cupboards were filled with flour and butter and eggs -and milk and cream and meat and pies, cookies, puddings, but no -gingerbread.</p> - -<p>“We will get breakfast first for the man,” said Lisbeth, “for I am sure -he must be hungry and it is growing light. Look out the window.”</p> - -<p>To Hans’s surprise there was a window. Then he saw a door, and when he -looked out he found they were in a pretty white house with green blinds -and not a rock, as he had supposed.</p> - -<p>Hans and Lisbeth became so interested in cooking they quite forgot -their own home or the unkind uncle who almost starved them, and when -the breakfast was ready they put it on the table beside the old man.</p> - -<p>“I thought you would like your breakfast,” explained Lisbeth, “and now -we will make the gingerbread and repair your house.”</p> - -<p>“After breakfast you may, if you like,” said the old man, “but first -both of you must eat with me.”</p> - -<p>My, how Hans and Lisbeth did eat, for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span> while Lisbeth had cooked only -ham and eggs enough for the old man’s breakfast, there seemed to be -quite enough for them all.</p> - -<p>And while they are eating we will see what the miser uncle was doing, -for he had called the children at break of day and they were not to be -found.</p> - -<p>It happened that the ground was damp and the uncle saw the prints of -their feet from the door to the road and along the road to the path in -the woods, and then the soft leaves and moss did not show where they -went.</p> - -<p>Thinking they had run away and gone into the woods, their uncle hurried -along, calling their names at the top of his voice.</p> - -<p>As he came near the Gingerbread Rock the children heard him and began -to tremble. “It is uncle,” said Hans. “He will be very angry because we -have not done our work.”</p> - -<p>“Sit still,” said the old man as the children started to leave the -table, and, taking his pipe, the old man sat down under a little -opening like a tiny window and began to smoke.</p> - -<p>Soon the children could hear their uncle climbing up outside, and they -knew he had seen the smoke just as they had the night before, and was -trying to look in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span></p> - -<p>Then they heard him tumble just as Lisbeth had when the Gingerbread -Rock broke off in her hands, and they knew he had discovered it was -good to eat, for all was still for a few minutes.</p> - -<p>Nothing was heard again for a long time, and then the sound of some one -breaking off big pieces was heard, and when Hans and Lisbeth climbed -up, as the old man told them to do, and looked out of the opening they -saw their uncle with a shovel and a wheelbarrow.</p> - -<p>He was breaking off big pieces of gingerbread and filling the barrow as -fast as he could.</p> - -<p>But when he had filled it he could not move it, for it was no longer -gingerbread, but stone he had to carry.</p> - -<p>The old man motioned to the children to keep quiet, and he opened a -door they had not noticed and went out.</p> - -<p>Just what he said the children never knew. But they soon found out that -instead of being poor, as they had thought, their miser uncle had taken -all the silver and gold their parents had left and hidden it in his -cellar under the stones.</p> - -<p>The miser uncle disappeared and was never seen again, and the old man, -who was really<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span> a wizard, told them where to go and what to do with -their wealth. So they were happy ever after.</p> - -<p>Of course, they never forgot the Gingerbread Rock or the kind old man. -But because he was a wizard they knew they would never see him again, -for fairies and witches and wizards are all enchanted and disappear in -a very strange manner.</p> - -<p>“Our good fortune came to us because we tried to be kind to the old -man, I am sure,” said Hans one day, when they were talking about the -Gingerbread Rock.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and because we wanted to repair the damage we had done he knew -we did not mean to do any harm,” said Lisbeth; “but I shall never eat -gingerbread again without thinking of him.”</p> - -<p>“Nor I,” said Hans.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop10"> -<img src="images/pagetop10.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop10" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="PRINCE_ROULS_BRIDE">PRINCE ROUL’S BRIDE</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce upon a time in a far-off land there lived by an ocean an ogre and -his wife.</p> - -<p>Their home was a cave in a big white rock which was so white it shone -like a light even in the darkest night, and many a ship had thought it -a harbor in a storm and been wrecked by the shore where the ogre lived.</p> - -<p>And this was the way he lived, because the ships carried rich cargoes -and the ogre lost no time in helping himself to all that he could find, -while the sailors were glad to escape in lifeboats when they saw the -dreadful-looking ogre, who was so big and strong he could lift a ship.</p> - -<p>In the same country, miles and miles away from the ogre’s cave, lived -a rich king, who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span> had a son named Roul, and one day while the Prince -was out hunting he passed in the woods a cabin where lived a poor girl -named Leta.</p> - -<p>But while Leta was very poor she was also very pretty, and as the -Prince rode past he saw her at the window and raised his plumed hat and -smiled.</p> - -<p>The next day Prince Roul again rode to the woods and this time he did -not pass Leta’s cabin. He stopped his horse in front of her door and -asked for a drink of water.</p> - -<p>He had thought Leta pretty through the window, but when he beheld her -this time he completely lost his heart, and day after day he went to -the cottage and talked to pretty Leta.</p> - -<p>After a while the King told his son it was time he was looking for a -wife, as he wanted to see him married before he died and know that his -wife was worthy to be a queen.</p> - -<p>So the King gave a feast which lasted for weeks, and princesses from -far and near were asked that Prince Roul might choose for himself a -wife, for, as I said before, the King was very rich and all the kings -in the other countries were anxious, of course, to have Prince Roul for -a son-in-law.</p> - -<p>But Prince Roul did not choose a wife from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span> among the beautiful -princesses, for he was already in love with pretty Leta, and while -he knew full well his father would never give his consent to their -marriage, he was determined he would wed no one else.</p> - -<p>On the last day of the feast the King told him he would have to choose. -“You have before you the beautiful women of the land,” said the King. -“Make your choice at once, and the wedding shall take place this night.”</p> - -<p>“Father, you have not brought to me the most beautiful woman in the -world,” replied Prince Roul. “If you had I should have asked her to be -my wife before this.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” asked the King. “All the princesses in the land are -here.”</p> - -<p>“Ah yes, that is true,” replied the Prince, “but the most beautiful -woman in the world is not a princess, as you think of them, but she is -a Princess for all that. Father, she is the Princess of my heart and I -cannot marry any other woman.”</p> - -<p>Then the King made the Prince tell him who she was that he loved so -dearly, and when he learned Leta was a poor girl who lived in the woods -close by, he was very angry and told the Prince he should never wed -her.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p> - -<p>All the beautiful princesses were sent home, and the angry King called -his servants to him and commanded that they should go to the woods and -find this girl who had upset his plans for his son.</p> - -<p>“Find her and chase her out of the woods; drive her into another land -where the Prince will never find her,” he told them.</p> - -<p>But the King had forgotten one very important thing, and that was his -son, for he should have made him a prisoner before he gave such an -order. This he did not do, and Prince Roul, who overheard what his -father had said, lost no time in jumping on his horse and making his -way to the woods ahead of the servants of the King.</p> - -<p>“Jump up behind me,” he said to Leta when she came out of the cabin, -and away they rode, the feet of Prince Roul’s horse scarcely touching -the ground as they fled.</p> - -<p>The King’s servants were not long in discovering that the Prince had -outwitted them, but they gave chase and away they went through the -woods, while poor frightened little Leta clung to the Prince, wondering -what it was all about.</p> - -<p>On and on they rode, but to Leta clinging to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span> her lover, it seemed they -flew over the ground and through the woods. She could see the bright -trimmings of the servants’ coats glistening in the sun, and she knew -they were gaining on them.</p> - -<p>By this time Prince Roul had told her that his father, the King, had -tried to make him marry a princess, but that he would marry no one but -the girl he loved and that was herself.</p> - -<p>When Leta heard this she was more frightened than ever, for she knew -now that she was the cause of all this trouble and that the servants -must be chasing them to take Roul from her.</p> - -<p>Leta put her hand to her breast. Yes; it was there—the little paper -with the powder a fairy had given her a long time ago, because Leta -had left a beautiful rose on its stem she was about to pick when she -discovered a little fairy sleeping inside the rose.</p> - -<p>“If you ever are in trouble, open this paper and throw the powder -around you,” the fairy had told her. “It will protect you from all -harm.”</p> - -<p>Leta had never before needed protection, and she was not thinking so -much of herself now as of her lover, wondering what the King would do -if he did not obey him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p> - -<p>Just then the horse on which they were riding came to a full stop with -such force that Leta was thrown to the ground and the next thing she -knew over the side of a cliff leaped the horse with the Prince on his -back.</p> - -<p>The ocean was below, but before the horse and his rider had reached it -Leta drew from her dress the magic powder and threw it over the cliff.</p> - -<p>“Make the ocean dry,” she screamed as she threw the powder, and, to her -surprise, as she threw it over she went, too, and the next instant she -stood beside Prince Roul on dry land before a beautiful white castle -and the ocean was miles away.</p> - -<p>The cliff over which they had gone was the white rock where the ogre -and the ogress lived, but when Leta threw the powder she had also -summoned the little fairy who had given it to her and she had changed -the big white cave into a castle.</p> - -<p>When the King’s servants came dashing up to the cliff they saw nothing -of the Prince or his horse, and the bottom of the cliff was so far -below that they felt sure they had been destroyed, and they rode home -to the King with the sad news.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> - -<p>The King’s grief was deep and bitter, for he really loved his son very -much, and now when it was too late he cried out that he wished he had -let the Prince marry the girl he loved; if only he had him alive that -would be all he would ask.</p> - -<p>The little fairy did not make herself visible to either Leta or -the Prince, but if they could have seen with fairy eyes they would -have seen the fairy flying ahead of them into the castle, touching -everything with her magic wand as she went.</p> - -<p>When Leta entered the door, which was open, for they had called and no -one answered, she stood spellbound by what she saw.</p> - -<p>The long white marble hall had a floor of silver and marble and the -doors were silver also.</p> - -<p>The Prince, who was used to beautiful things, was quite surprised at -all the splendor, too.</p> - -<p>Opening a big silver door, they entered a room hung with silver -and deep-blue curtains, and on a silver table Leta saw a big white -envelop. When she looked at it she read her own name.</p> - -<p>Wondering who could have left it, she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span> opened it and read: “Princess -Leta, this is your castle; it is the gift of the fairies who love -roses.”</p> - -<p>“Your father will not object now to having me for the wife of his son,” -she said, with a blush, as she gave the note to the Prince, and then -they ran like two happy children through the beautiful castle that had -come to them so strangely.</p> - -<p>In the deep dungeons under the castle they found all the wealth that -the ogre had taken from the ships, and after they had become used to -their new home they gave it all to the poor, and so the ogre’s stolen -wealth did not help him, and while it could not be given back to those -who had lost it, it did much good.</p> - -<p>And what became of the old ogre and his wife, you are wondering. I will -tell you. When the fairy changed the cave into a castle she changed the -ogre and ogress into two big silver statues in the big hall, one at -each end, like huge mummies, holding a big light in their hands, which -lighted the long hall of the castle.</p> - -<p>Then one day Prince Roul and Princess Leta rode away to the palace of -the old King, and when he saw his son he wept for joy and hugged him to -his heart, and Leta’s pretty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span> face won the old King’s heart at once, so -they all lived happily ever after.</p> - -<p>But while the old King wanted them to make the palace their home, -Prince Roul and Leta could not give up their white castle by the sea, -so part of the year they lived in the white castle, and when Prince -Roul grew old and his grandchildren begged for a story, the King told -them of Prince Roul’s bride and the wonderful leap they took over the -cliff which forms the back of the castle.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop11"> -<img src="images/pagetop11.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop11" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="SUNEV">SUNEV</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">T</span>here was once a poor peasant and his wife who had a very beautiful -daughter named Sunev. So beautiful was she that her hair rivaled the -sun in its golden brightness. Her eyes were like the blue sky and her -lips were so red that the roses beheld her with envy. Her skin was so -white and fair that the winter snow was not whiter. Her teeth were like -the pearls. And when an old witch named Zitna, who lived in the forest -near by, saw Sunev one day she became enraged because she was more -beautiful than her own daughter.</p> - -<p>Witch Zitna had thought till then that her own daughter was the most -beautiful creature in the world, for the witch child was as dark<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span> as -Sunev was fair, and Witch Zitna wished the Prince of Esor, who was -looking for a wife, to wed her.</p> - -<p>She knew that the Prince had sent out his servants far and near to look -for the most beautiful lady in the country for his wife, and if Sunev -were brought before the Prince of Esor her daughter would never be -chosen.</p> - -<p>There was only one thing to do, and that was to entice the lovely Sunev -into the forest and there change her into the shape of an animal and -leave her to her fate.</p> - -<p>The wicked Witch Zitna watched her chance, and one day, when Sunev -was sent into the forest to gather wood, Witch Zitna slipped out from -behind a tree and touched her with her magic stick, changing her into a -tiger.</p> - -<p>Poor little Sunev was so frightened when she beheld her paws she fell -on the ground and began to moan and cry and all the birds and animals -of the forest came running to see what had happened.</p> - -<p>The witch, in her haste, forgot to deprive Sunev of her power to talk, -so when the birds and animals wanted to know what was the matter she -told them she did not know, but something dreadful had happened and she -was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span> no longer a girl, but a tiger, and was afraid to go home.</p> - -<p>The birds and animals can understand any language, and, being now part -animal herself, Sunev had no trouble in understanding them.</p> - -<p>“Do not cry,” they told her. “It must be the work of Witch Zitna, but -we will protect you, and when the hunters come we will warn you so you -may hide until they go. Eat the berries and nuts and we will find you -a nice place to sleep, so dry your eyes and some way may be found to -restore you to your own shape.”</p> - -<p>Sunev did as the birds and animals told her, for there was no other -way, and soon she became fond of her forest home and all her new -friends.</p> - -<p>Witch Zitna now proceeded to have her beautiful daughter seen by the -messengers of the Prince of Esor, and they carried her off to his -palace, sure they had found at last a wife that would suit their royal -master.</p> - -<p>Of course the parents of little Sunev looked everywhere for her, but -she could not be found, and when they saw the tiger coming toward -them they fled, for they did not know that the beautiful and graceful -tiger-skin held their own child.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p> - -<p>The Prince of Esor, when he saw the witch child, thought that she was -beautiful, but he had wished for a wife that was as fair, so he decided -to wait, and sent out his servants again to look for a lady with golden -hair.</p> - -<p>Witch Zitna was enraged when she heard this, for she knew that until -her daughter was safely married to the Prince she was not safe.</p> - -<p>The reason for this was that every night Venus, the goddess of beauty, -came to the forest to look for the graceful tiger the fairies had told -her about, for, while Sunev looked like a tiger, she had more grace and -beauty than a real tiger, though they are graceful, too.</p> - -<p>Venus did not wish even a tiger to rival her in being graceful, so she -wanted to see this wonderful animal that she might learn from it more -charm.</p> - -<p>One night Sunev was walking through the forest in the moonlight when -Venus, in the form of a tree, beheld her.</p> - -<p>Knowing at once that the graceful tiger was a mortal changed, she -called her attendants, who were not far away, and, changing herself -back to her own beautiful form, she spoke to Sunev.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> - -<p>“What is your name, beautiful creature, and why are you in this form?” -she asked.</p> - -<p>It was the first time any one but the birds and animals had spoken to -her since Witch Zitna had changed her, and poor little Sunev began to -cry for joy.</p> - -<p>Venus soothed her and soon Sunev told her all she knew of her sad -plight. But when she told the goddess her name a flash of anger came to -the eyes of Venus.</p> - -<p>“Old Witch Zitna has done this,” said the goddess. “She shall pay for -it, for, my dear, your name is mine spelled backward and you are my -godchild. Zitna knew she had much to fear in the beauty you possess. -Come with me!”</p> - -<p>It did not take long to reach the cave of Zitna, for Venus had the -power of witches and fairies when she wished to use it.</p> - -<p>“Come forth!” called Venus, when they reached the cave of Zitna. “Undo -your cruel work,” she commanded, when the trembling witch appeared in -the doorway of her cave.</p> - -<p>In another minute Sunev stood in her own lovely shape before Venus, -who, instead of being jealous of the wonderful beauty she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span> beheld, drew -Sunev to her and kissed her on her brow.</p> - -<p>“You will always be the most beautiful woman in the land,” she said. -“Be you old or young, none shall compare with you.</p> - -<p>“As for your daughter, Witch Zitna, you will never see her again, for -a mother who would treat the daughter of another as you have done this -beautiful girl is not the sort to have a daughter. I will claim your -daughter as well as Sunev for my godchild.”</p> - -<p>Sunev did not know how they reached the door of her parents’ home, but -she stood there a short time after, and with trembling hands opened the -door.</p> - -<p>Oh, how happy her father and mother were to have her again! The joy of -seeing her safe made them forget the time, and it was the trumpeting of -the Prince of Esor’s messengers that told them the day was far gone.</p> - -<p>The messengers knocked at the door, and when Sunev opened it they knew -they had found the wife of their Prince.</p> - -<p>Sunev’s father and mother were overcome with sorrow when the messengers -told their errand. They thought they had found their child, only to -lose her again, but the messengers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span> told them they might go along to -the palace. So they all set out.</p> - -<p>When the Prince of Esor saw the beauty of Sunev he knew she was the one -woman in the world for him, and without delay he ordered the wedding -feast to be prepared.</p> - -<p>A wonderful gown of white and gold was brought from the royal -clothes-room, and a crown of pearls and diamonds was placed upon her -beautiful golden hair, and upon her dainty feet golden slippers and -silk stockings.</p> - -<p>Her father and mother were not forgotten by the Prince, either. They -were dressed in clothes they had never even dreamed of and given a -palace near where Sunev and Prince Esor were to live.</p> - -<p>But what had become of the beautiful witch child all this time, for, of -course, she was not to blame for the bad deed of Witch Zitna and should -not be made to suffer?</p> - -<p>She was safe and happy, you may be sure, for she was surrounded by -every comfort and luxury in another part of the palace, and she did not -wish to become the wife of the Prince.</p> - -<p>Instead, she loved one of the friends of the Prince, a noble lord who -had fallen in love with her, but did not dare speak his love because<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> -he knew the Prince might choose her for his bride.</p> - -<p>But when this noble lord heard a wife had been found for his Prince and -it was not the beautiful girl he loved, he told the witch child of his -love and they were married the very night that the Prince and Sunev -were married.</p> - -<p>And it turned out that the witch child was not a witch child at -all, but had been stolen when a baby from a stork who was carrying -her through the forest to the home of a nobleman, for the goddess -Venus, true to her promise, took both of the beautiful girls for her -godchildren and had the fairies see that they were both made happy.</p> - -<p>The witch child was given a pretty name, but her husband best loved to -call her the Queen of Night, because of her wonderful dark beauty.</p> - -<p>Sunev was the Princess of Esor, of course, but the Prince called her -Princess Rose, and if you will spell Esor backward you will learn why.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop12"> -<img src="images/pagetop12.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop12" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CILLA_AND_THE_DWARF">CILLA AND THE DWARF</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce upon a time there lived a king who had a very beautiful daughter, -and her suitors came from far and near.</p> - -<p>Among them was a dwarf with a huge head and a very long nose. Of -course, no one expected the Princess to marry the ugly creature, but -the dwarf did, and when the Princess refused he flew into a rage and -said he would have her in spite of all she said.</p> - -<p>At last the Princess gave her hand to a prince, but the night the -wedding was to take place the Princess was nowhere to be found. They -hunted high and low all over the palace, but no trace could they find -of her; even her wedding-dress disappeared, too. The Prince was in -despair and wrung his hands and cried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span> out he would give to any one who -would find the Princess half of his fortune.</p> - -<p>The King also said he would give half of his kingdom to the one who -would bring back the lost Princess.</p> - -<p>Now, there was among the servants a little kitchen-maid named Cilla, -who loved the Princess because she always spoke kindly to her, and when -she knew her mistress was lost she resolved to find her at any cost.</p> - -<p>So one night when all the people in the palace were sound asleep Cilla -stole out and went to a witch who lived in the woods and asked her to -help her to find the Princess.</p> - -<p>“I can only help you a little,” said the witch, “as she is in the power -of one who is more powerful than I am, but this much I can do: Here -is a bean that will do magic work if used in the right way; whether -it will help you to find your Princess I cannot tell. The dwarf has -carried her off, and where he is I do not know.”</p> - -<p>Cilla said she would take the bean. She thanked the witch and started -off through the woods to look for the dwarf, for she was sure he must -live in a cave.</p> - -<p>For days she wandered until she was in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span> deep forest, and at last -she came to a high rock over which she could not climb.</p> - -<p>Cilla sat down and leaned against the rock to rest, when, to her -surprise, she heard the sound of weeping. She looked all around, but -could see no opening except a big crack in one side, and this was too -small for her to get through.</p> - -<p>She was just about to call out and ask who was inside weeping when she -heard some one coming through the bushes.</p> - -<p>Cilla ran behind the rock and watched, and in a minute the dwarf came -bounding out of the bush and briers.</p> - -<p>He carried in his hand an iron bar, and with this he opened the crack -in the rock, which was a door, and entered the rock, leaving the door -open behind him.</p> - -<p>Cilla was a very brave girl or she would have stayed where she was, but -no sooner had the dwarf disappeared than she ran in after him.</p> - -<p>He was standing beside a poor, half-starved-looking little white -rabbit, and Cilla heard him say, “Do you consent or will you starve?”</p> - -<p>The little white rabbit only blinked and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span> turned away, and then Cilla -saw something that made her start, for hanging on a ragged bit of rock -was the wedding-dress the Princess was to have worn the night she -disappeared.</p> - -<p>Cilla did not wait to see more. She dashed toward the dwarf and grabbed -him by his long nose, and, giving it a hard twist, she cried out: -“Where is my mistress, you wretch? Where is she, I say?”</p> - -<p>A very strange thing happened when Cilla gave the long nose a twist; -the dwarf howled like the sound of thunder, and instead of the dwarf -there stood before Cilla a huge toad that hopped away so fast she could -not see where it disappeared.</p> - -<p>“You poor half-starved little rabbit,” said Cilla. “I wish I had -something to give you to eat, but I must hunt for my mistress first, -for I know she must be here.”</p> - -<p>Then Cilla thought of the bean. “I’ll give you this,” she said to the -rabbit. “I am sure I shall have no use for it.”</p> - -<p>When the rabbit swallowed the bean Cilla’s eyes popped wide open, for -there stood her mistress, safe and sound.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Cilla, you have saved me! How ever<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span> did you think of twisting his -nose?” asked the Princess.</p> - -<p>“Because it looked as if it were made to be twisted,” said Cilla, “but -how did you know the bean would change you back to your own form?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t, but I was hungry; that dreadful dwarf was trying to make me -say I would marry him by starving me. Some powerful witch had given him -the form of a dwarf, and if he could get a princess to marry him she -would change him into a man,” said the Princess.</p> - -<p>“Was he a toad at first?” asked Cilla.</p> - -<p>“Yes, it seems he was a toad in the cave of a powerful witch, and for -something he did for her she made him a dwarf; then he wanted to become -a man, and the witch told him if he would marry a princess and take her -into the palace to live she would grant his wish.</p> - -<p>“He told me this before he had me changed into a rabbit, for he first -carried me off to the cave of this witch, who lives somewhere in this -forest, and I think we better hurry away before the toad gets to her -and tells her I have escaped.”</p> - -<p>It took a long time to get out of the forest,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span> but Cilla and the -Princess found the way and the Prince and the King told Cilla she -should have the promised reward.</p> - -<p>“Now, what would I do with all that gold and half of a kingdom?” asked -Cilla. “All I ask is to have a nice little cottage and a cow near by -the palace where I can see my mistress every day.”</p> - -<p>Of course Cilla’s wish was granted, and there she lived and was happy, -for she married the King’s gardener and became the mother of many boys -and girls who never tired of hearing how their mother rescued the -Princess from the bad dwarf.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop13"> -<img src="images/pagetop13.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop13" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="GRETA_AND_THE_BLACK_CAT">GRETA AND THE BLACK CAT</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>ne day a woodsman named Peter was chopping down a tree when he saw -swinging from one of the branches a bundle. Dropping his ax, he climbed -up, and to his surprise, when he opened the bundle, he found in it a -baby girl asleep. Peter hurried home with the baby to his wife. “Look, -Martha,” he said. “I have found a baby girl to be a sister to our son -Robert. We will name her Greta and they shall grow up as brother and -sister.”</p> - -<p>But Martha did not want the baby. “We have three mouths to feed now,” -she grumbled. “Why should we care for a child we know nothing of?”</p> - -<p>But Peter would not hear of putting the child out-of-doors and so Greta -lived with Peter and Martha and grew up with Robert.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> - -<p>Poor little Greta had anything but a happy life, for Martha treated her -kindly only when Peter was in sight, and that was seldom.</p> - -<p>Robert, seeing that his mother did not treat Greta well, began to order -her to wait upon him as soon as he was old enough and treated her as a -servant.</p> - -<p>Greta had to weed the garden and bring in the water and the wood. She -had to wash the dishes and make the beds and do all the work excepting -when Peter was at home.</p> - -<p>One day when Peter was going to the woods he told Robert to chop a pile -of wood in the yard and have it finished by the time he came home.</p> - -<p>When Peter was out of sight Robert told Greta to chop the wood. “That -is what you are here for—to do the work,” said Robert. “You would have -been eaten up by the bears if we had not taken you in. Now go to work -and chop that wood.”</p> - -<p>Greta began to cry and said she could not handle the ax; she was too -small. But Martha boxed her ears and told her she should not have any -dinner if she did not do as Robert told her.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p> - -<p>Greta went to the woodpile and picked up the ax, but it was no use. She -could not chop the wood. And fearing a beating if she did not do it, -Greta ran away. On and on she ran until she came to a turn in the road -which led into a forest. Here she decided to stop for the night, and -she was just lying down by a rock when she heard a pitiful “me-ow.”</p> - -<p>Looking in the bushes close by, Greta saw a big black cat holding up -one paw as though it was hurt. “Poor pussy!” said Greta, taking the cat -in her arms. “You look as unhappy as I feel. Let me bind up your paw.”</p> - -<p>Greta tore off a piece of her dress and bound up the cat’s paw, and -then, to her surprise, the black cat spoke to her.</p> - -<p>“Come with me and I will show you where to sleep. You will have to -carry me, for my paw is very painful,” said the cat.</p> - -<p>Greta picked up the cat, too surprised to be frightened, and went -through the woods as the cat directed her.</p> - -<p>When they reached a big rock with an opening in it the cat said: “Here -is my home. Take me in and you will find a place to sleep and food as -well.”</p> - -<p>Creeping in on her hands and knees with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span> the cat under her arm, Greta -found herself in a big room with a table in the center and on it plenty -of food.</p> - -<p>In one corner of the room was a bed and on this Greta saw a -queer-looking old woman with a hooked nose.</p> - -<p>She was asleep and did not notice them until the cat said, “Eat your -supper.”</p> - -<p>Up jumped the queer-looking old woman when she heard this, for she was -the witch.</p> - -<p>“You, and a mortal with you,” she screamed, as she reached for her -crooked stick.</p> - -<p>Greta ran to the door, for she thought the old witch was about to -strike her; but the black cat, who was sitting on the floor near by -where Greta had put it, said: “Don’t you dare touch this girl; she has -saved my life, and from this hour you are in my power, for a mortal has -held me in her arms.</p> - -<p>“If you would live call the good fairy that has been looking for me all -these years. I shall find her, anyway, but it will save time if you use -your magic power, and you will regret it if you do not obey me.”</p> - -<p>When the old witch heard this she began to tremble and hobbled to the -door of the cave and tapped it three times with her crooked stick.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span></p> - -<p>The rock opened so she could walk out, and Greta followed to see what -she did, for she was no longer afraid; she knew the black cat would -protect her.</p> - -<p>The old witch gave a peculiar cry when she was outside, and Greta saw -the next instant a tiny creature dressed in pink gauze, holding a wand -of gold in one little hand, standing on a bush beside the old witch.</p> - -<p>“Here I am, Witch Terrible,” said the fairy. “What can I do for you? -You must be in great danger or you would not have called for one of us.”</p> - -<p>The cat when it heard the fairy speak ran out of the cave, limping, -and lay down in front of the fairy. “Help me, my good fairy,” said the -black cat. “I am the Prince for whom you have looked so long. The old -witch changed me into a black cat and took away my power to speak until -I was held in the arms of a mortal.</p> - -<p>“I know her secret, and, though she dared not kill me, she wanted me -to die, so she turned me into the forest to starve, and if it had not -been for this girl, good fairy, the old witch would have had her wish -granted.</p> - -<p>“When she changed me into a black cat<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span> she said I should never speak -until a mortal held me, and that I could not regain my own shape until -a fairy changed me, but something has happened since then, and to save -herself she obeyed me and called you, for I know her secret, and that -is why I did not have to hunt for you, my good fairy.”</p> - -<p>The fairy touched the black cat with her wand and Greta saw in place -of the big black cat a handsome man dressed in black velvet, with gold -trimmings. “Now tell me the secret you know about the witch,” said the -fairy.</p> - -<p>The old witch threw up her arms and cried for mercy. “Remember, I -called the fairy,” she said; “you would have hunted a long time if I -had not. Be merciful!”</p> - -<p>“I shall not forget,” said the Prince. “This woman is only half a -witch,” he said. “She is part mortal, and every night at twelve o’clock -she has to become a mortal for an hour because she tried to change -a water nymph into a frog. The river god, the water nymph’s father, -called on a very powerful ogre, who was his friend, and the ogre was -about to change her into a rock, but she begged so hard he made her -half mortal and left her to her fate.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span></p> - -<p>“Which means she can never leave this forest,” said the fairy, “and as -she does many of her magic deeds at night when she rides abroad on her -broomstick she is not a very powerful witch.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that is it,” said the Prince, “and she does not want it known -among the fairies or the goblins or any of the magic-power folks. That -is the mercy for which she begs.</p> - -<p>“I hope you will keep her secret, good fairy, for she saved me so much -time and trouble in calling you.”</p> - -<p>“I will keep her secret from all but the fairies, but one of the fairy -family will come here every night to make sure no mortal has been -harmed by her, for some one might stray in here just as this girl did -and be changed into some other form.”</p> - -<p>“I have one more favor to ask of you, good fairy,” said the Prince. “I -wish to make this girl my wife if she will marry me, and I would like -to have the proper clothes for a princess, so that I may take her to my -palace at once.”</p> - -<p>“What do you say, my dear?” asked the fairy. “Will you marry the -Prince?”</p> - -<p>Greta felt she must be dreaming, but she was sure she would love the -handsome Prince<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span> if she were awake, so she told the fairy she would, -and the next instant her ragged clothes dropped from her and she stood -before the Prince in a beautiful green velvet riding-habit, with a long -feather in her hat, looking every inch a princess.</p> - -<p>That night a great feast was held at the palace of the Prince in honor -of his return and to celebrate their wedding, and the very next day -Greta and the Prince rode to the home where she had once lived to give -Peter a bag of gold.</p> - -<p>“He was the only person who ever treated me kindly until I met you,” -Greta told the Prince, “and I shall never forget him.”</p> - -<p>Greta was not recognized by Martha or her son Robert, for they little -thought the beautiful Princess was the poor girl that had once been -their slave. But Peter, who had loved her, looked after the coach as it -rolled away. “It looked a little like her,” he said, “but, of course, -it could not be.” Many gifts did Greta and the Prince send to Peter, -and in his old age he was given a comfortable house and plenty to eat, -and, though Martha and Robert shared his good fortune, they never knew -who sent it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p> - -<p>The Prince told Peter who the Princess really was one day, because the -poor old man had never ceased to sorrow because Greta could not be -found, but not a word did he tell of this to Robert or Martha, but kept -his secret all to himself as long as he lived.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop14"> -<img src="images/pagetop14.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop14" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_KNIGHT_OF_THE_BRIGHT_STAR">THE KNIGHT OF THE BRIGHT STAR</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>nce upon a time there lived a prince named Lorenzo. Although he was a -prince, he was quite poor and lived with his mother and one servant in -a mountain far from the land of his birth.</p> - -<p>His father, the King, had been killed in a battle with another king, -who took away the wealth and the castles of the defeated King, leaving -Prince Lorenzo and his mother nothing of their former grandeur.</p> - -<p>Prince Lorenzo grew up with a longing for vengeance in his heart, and -often at night his mother would find him gazing in the direction of his -old home as he stood alone under the stars.</p> - -<p>“Son,” said the Queen-mother one night,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span> “why do you gaze so intently -into the distance? Why are you so sad?”</p> - -<p>“There is bitterness in my heart for my father’s enemy who has robbed -me of all the happiness and pleasure in the great world outside,” -replied the Prince.</p> - -<p>“Let me go, mother, and seek my fortune, and I may be able to avenge -the wrongs done to you and me.”</p> - -<p>“Vengeance does not belong to us, my son,” said the Queen-mother. “You -must not take upon yourself that which is not your right.</p> - -<p>“Go out in the world and taste its pleasures, but keep your Star of -Hope as bright as those shining in the heavens over your head if you -wish for happiness.”</p> - -<p>The next morning Prince Lorenzo started on his journey. He was dressed -in a shining suit of mail and sat upon a white horse with trappings of -silver. In the center of his helmet was a little silver star which his -mother gave him with these words:</p> - -<p>“My son, may your armor protect you from all evil and may this star be -your guide. It is enchanted, for it was given to me by a fairy when I -was Queen and your father King.</p> - -<p>“If ever it grows dim look into your own<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span> heart to find the cause, and, -finding it, cast it from you if you wish for happiness.”</p> - -<p>Prince Lorenzo promised to look to the brightness of the little star -and rode away to seek his happiness.</p> - -<p>After several days he came to a big city, the City of Pleasure it was -called, and those who lived there told him his armor was much too heavy -for one so young to wear.</p> - -<p>“Cast it aside,” they told the Prince, “and we will show you the joys -of living.”</p> - -<p>So the Prince listened and followed the people in the City of Pleasure -to a beautiful palace where merriment reigned, and laid aside his armor -for a lighter garb. One day Prince Lorenzo looked from the Palace -of Merriment and saw all around the castle men, women, and children -working, and on their faces the look of misery.</p> - -<p>“Who are these creatures?” he asked his gay companions.</p> - -<p>“Those are the toilers who make the money for us to spend,” was the -reply. “Look at us and forget these creatures and be merry.”</p> - -<p>But the Prince could no more be merry; he remembered his Star of Hope -his mother had given him and hurried to find it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span></p> - -<p>Instead of the shining star he had left he found it dim and dull, and -then he remembered his mother’s words, “Look into your own heart to -find the cause.” His love of wealth and pleasure had driven out all -thoughts of others, and he had cared not how he gained these things, so -long as he had them.</p> - -<p>“My selfishness has dimmed my Star of Hope,” said the Prince; “I must -leave the City of Pleasure and the Palace of Merriment, for this is not -happiness.”</p> - -<p>He buckled on the cast-off armor and rode away. As he rode past the -toilers he threw among them all the gold he had gained while in the -City of Pleasure.</p> - -<p>Far away from the city he rode, and found himself in the midst of -sickness and suffering.</p> - -<p>Dismounting, the Prince ministered to the sufferers’ needs and forgot -all else until he fell asleep from exhaustion.</p> - -<p>When he awoke his horse stood beside him, and in the moonlight the -little star shone brightly from its place in his helmet on the ground -at his side. Prince Lorenzo jumped to his feet and placed the helmet on -his head. He had tasted the joy of good deeds. He no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span> longer looked for -pleasure in selfishness, and the bitterness of vengeance had gone from -his heart.</p> - -<p>Back to his mother he rode with the little star shining. “You have won, -my son!” she cried as she met him. “All my love for you could not teach -you how to gain real happiness; selfish pleasure and love of vengeance -dull our Star of Hope, but only those who have learned the lesson for -themselves can know this.”</p> - -<p>Prince Lorenzo was surprised one morning to see coming up the mountain, -where he and his mother lived, an army of brightly dressed soldiers. -When they came nearer he saw they were the soldiers that once had -served his father, the King.</p> - -<p>“The King who wronged you is dead,” they told Prince Lorenzo, “and -before he died he made us promise to find you and the Queen and bring -you back to your kingdom, which he wrongfully took from you.”</p> - -<p>Of course Prince Lorenzo and his mother rejoiced to know that once more -they would live in their former home, and lost no time in starting out -on the journey.</p> - -<p>“Your Star of Hope has brought you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span> through tribulations into peace and -happiness,” said his mother, “and all wrongs are righted, but if it had -become dulled by selfishness and vengeance, my son, we still might be -in the darkness of despair.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop15"> -<img src="images/pagetop15.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop15" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_DOLPHINS_BRIDE">THE DOLPHIN’S BRIDE</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>ne day there came through the woods that bordered on a big ocean a -poor little beggar girl named Nitta.</p> - -<p>Nitta was crying; she was hungry and she did not know where to go, for -her aunt, who had a daughter of her own, did not want to support Nitta -and had turned her out-of-doors that very day.</p> - -<p>“I am too poor to support you,” said the hard-hearted aunt. “You must -take care of yourself.”</p> - -<p>Nitta’s father and mother were dead and there seemed to be no place for -her but the woods, so she wandered along until she came to the ocean, -and there she sat down to cry out her grief.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> - -<p>While she was crying a big dolphin poked his head out of the water. -“What are you crying for, little girl?” he asked.</p> - -<p>Nitta was so surprised to hear the dolphin speak that she stopped -crying at once. “I am crying because I have no home,” she replied.</p> - -<p>“I will give you a home if you will come with me,” said the dolphin. “I -need some one to take care of my house.”</p> - -<p>“But I cannot live in the water; I should drown,” said Nitta.</p> - -<p>“I would not ask you to come if you would drown,” answered the dolphin. -“But you must decide for yourself whether you could keep house for a -fish. There are no children to play with at the bottom of the ocean.”</p> - -<p>“I shall starve if I stay on land, and I may find a good home,” thought -Nitta as the dolphin waited for his answer.</p> - -<p>“I’ll go with you,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Then jump on my back,” said the dolphin, “and close your eyes; there -is nothing to fear. I promise you that.”</p> - -<p>Nitta jumped on his back and closed her eyes. Over the waves they went, -and then suddenly Nitta felt the dolphin plunge under<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span> the water, and -down, down they went, and then next thing she knew the dolphin stopped -and said, “Here we are.”</p> - -<p>Nitta opened her eyes, and instead of being in the water, as she -thought, she was in a beautiful garden in front of a beautiful house. -Up the steps the dolphin flopped, for, of course, he could not walk, -having no feet, and Nitta followed him.</p> - -<p>He led her into a big hall hung with beautiful pictures and soft -carpets upon the floor upon which Nitta was almost afraid to step.</p> - -<p>Nitta almost forgot her queer companion, she was so overcome with all -the grandeur she beheld.</p> - -<p>On both sides of the long hall were many rooms, one of gold, one of -silver, one of marble, and the dolphin told Nitta she was to choose -which room she would care to have for her own.</p> - -<p>“But you said I was to keep your house,” said Nitta; “a servant cannot -live in one of these beautiful rooms.”</p> - -<p>“I did not say I wanted you to be a servant,” said the dolphin. “I want -some one to live here and care for the house, but not to do the work.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> - -<p>Nitta chose a beautiful room hung in blue silk, with chairs of blue -damask and beautiful rosewood frames.</p> - -<p>The ceiling was a darker blue, and all over it were dotted diamonds -that twinkled like stars.</p> - -<p>The floor was covered with a blue velvet carpet, soft and thick, and -over it were scattered big pink roses which looked as if they would -crush when stepped upon, they seemed so natural.</p> - -<p>There was a piano of rosewood at one end of the room, and upon this -Nitta was surprised to see the dolphin jump and with its fins begin -to play. Music such as Nitta never heard came from the keys, and so -enchanted was she that when the dolphin stopped playing Nitta ran to -him and put her hand upon his head.</p> - -<p>“You poor fish,” she said, “it is too bad you are not a man. I wish I -were a fairy and could change you into a prince. This place is far too -beautiful for a fish to live in, and besides, you play such wonderful -music. How is it possible?”</p> - -<p>“There is only one way you can help me, and since you wished to be a -fairy and change me into a prince,” said the dolphin, “I will see if -you will keep your word.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span></p> - -<p>“Look behind the door and bring the sword you will find there, and I -will tell you the only way I can be freed from the spell of a witch who -hates me.”</p> - -<p>From behind the door Nitta brought the sword. She found it had a -beautiful handle of gold and set with diamonds and pearls, but the -blade looked sharp and pointed and Nitta trembled as she held it.</p> - -<p>“Now if you really are sorry for me,” said the dolphin, “and wish to -make me a prince, strike off my head.”</p> - -<p>Nitta dropped the sword at the very thought of anything so terrible. “I -cannot do that,” she said. “You have been too kind to me.”</p> - -<p>“That is the only way you can repay me,” said the dolphin, with a sigh. -“I see you did not mean what you said about wishing to be a fairy.”</p> - -<p>“Oh yes, I do, indeed I do!” said Nitta. “I do not want to kill you, -but I will put you out of misery if that is what you want.”</p> - -<p>She picked up the sword and swung it over her head; then she looked at -the dolphin, closed her eyes, and brought down the sword.</p> - -<p>As it fell Nitta felt herself slipping away, it seemed to her into the -bottom of the ocean.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span></p> - -<p>When she opened her eyes she saw a very handsome man bending over her. -“You are a brave girl,” he said. “You have saved me from a terrible -fate.”</p> - -<p>“Where is the good dolphin?” asked Nitta. “Oh, I will never forgive -myself for killing him!”</p> - -<p>“He is gone forever. I was the poor dolphin,” said the handsome man -at her side. “You broke the spell that held me, for the old witch who -changed me into the dolphin said I must remain one until a pretty woman -should strike off my head.”</p> - -<p>“But why should a witch change you into a fish?” asked Nitta.</p> - -<p>“Because I would not marry her daughter and make her a princess,” -replied the handsome man. “You see, I am a prince and I was waiting for -the girl I could love to appear before I would take my princess.</p> - -<p>“And now I have found her. Will you become my princess?”</p> - -<p>Nitta was already in love with the handsome man who had fallen in love -with her, and so they were married that very day in the wonderful -castle of beautiful rooms and lived happily ever after.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop16"> -<img src="images/pagetop16.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop16" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="PRINCESS_DIDO_AND_THE_PRINCE_OF_THE_ROSES">PRINCESS DIDO AND THE PRINCE OF THE ROSES</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">L</span>ittle Princess Dido ran away from her attendants every time she could, -and one day when she was walking in the forest with her servants she -hid behind a tree while they were talking, and before they had missed -her she ran down another path and was out of their sight.</p> - -<p>When Princess Dido found herself alone she began to look about to see -if she could find any flowers, for she was very fond of flowers and was -never allowed to pick them herself; her servants did that for her.</p> - -<p>“I can pick them myself now,” she said, laughing to herself to think -she had escaped<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span> from the servants, and she began picking all the wild -flowers she could find, walking along all the time and going farther -into the forest.</p> - -<p>When it was sunset the Princess Dido found herself in the thick of the -trees and bushes, and she began to wonder why her attendants did not -find her and take her home; but the sun set and the stars came out and -still no one came, and Princess Dido felt tired and lay down among the -leaves and mosses and went to sleep.</p> - -<p>When she awoke the moon was shining, and although she was in the forest -alone she was not afraid, for she did not think any one would harm a -princess, so she rolled over on her soft bed, thinking she would go to -sleep again, when something cold touched her cheek.</p> - -<p>Princess Dido opened her eyes very wide then and sat up, and on a bush -beside her she saw a very small gold key hanging by a thread which -swung back and forth and half touched her face.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what this cunning little key can fit,” said the Princess. “I -do wish I knew! I am sure I should find something nice. I believe I -will look about. I am not a bit sleepy, and the moon is as bright as -day.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span></p> - -<p>Princess Dido hunted everywhere among the bushes and rocks, and nothing -could she find, when, just as she had decided to go to sleep again, she -saw something shining on a tree, and there was a tiny keyhole that the -key just fitted.</p> - -<p>She put the key in the lock and the tree opened like a door, and -Princess Dido stepped inside and closed the door after her.</p> - -<p>She walked along a road which seemed to be just behind the tree, -but when she looked about she was not in the forest at all, but in -a beautiful country filled with flowers and tall trees, and in the -distance she saw a beautiful castle.</p> - -<p>When Princess Dido came to the castle she saw fountains and more -beautiful flowers growing around, and there were birds of all kinds -singing in the trees.</p> - -<p>“I suppose I must go to the door of the castle and let them know who I -am,” thought the Princess. “A princess ought to do that, I know, but I -would much rather stay in this beautiful garden and hear the birds sing -and look at the flowers.”</p> - -<p>When the Princess knocked at the door no one answered, and after -waiting a short time<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> the Princess opened the door and stepped inside. -All was still and she sat down and waited.</p> - -<p>“I expect everybody is at breakfast,” thought the Princess. “I wish I -had something to eat. I didn’t have any supper, and I have not had my -breakfast, either.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am hungry and want my breakfast,” said Princess Dido, and, -though she did not know it, she had spoken right out loud, and as she -did so a table appeared beside her with her breakfast on it and a -bouquet of beautiful pink roses.</p> - -<p>“I wonder where this came from. I didn’t see or hear any one,” said the -Princess.</p> - -<p>But she did not wonder about it; she was too hungry. When she had -finished she walked along the hall, for, being a princess, she was in -the habit of going where she liked, and as she saw no one she did the -same here.</p> - -<p>But there was no room opening out of the hall she was in, so the -Princess went up the stairs, and here again she found herself in a -large hall, but this was so beautiful she looked about her in wonder, -for it was a much more beautiful place than her own castle. The floor -was of opals and the walls were the same; the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span> sunlight shining through -the windows made the most wonderful colors wherever it fell, and all -around the place were white roses, making the air sweet with their -fragrance.</p> - -<p>There was another flight of stairs, and up these the Princess went. The -stairs were of silver, and on the next floor the Princess found herself -in a hall of crystal with roses all around; beautiful pink roses such -as she had never before beheld.</p> - -<p>“Oh, how I wish I could pick them!” said the Princess as she went from -bush to bush, and to her surprise the roses nodded as if to tell her -she could if she liked.</p> - -<p>Princess Dido broke one from its stem, and then another, and as the -roses still nodded she picked more until her arms were full.</p> - -<p>But there was another flight of stairs, and these were of gold. So the -Princess walked up these and found herself in another beautiful room, -which was blue, the color of sapphires, and around this room grew red -roses.</p> - -<p>But there was still another flight of stairs, and the Princess did not -stop long here, with her arms filled with the pink roses. She went up -the last flight and found herself in a hall filled with red, pink, and -white roses, but the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span> walls were hung with soft gray silk and the floor -covered with velvet of the same color.</p> - -<p>“Oh, how beautiful! I wish I could live here among the roses,” she said.</p> - -<p>“You can, my Princess of the Roses,” said a voice, and from behind a -curtain stepped a handsome prince, dressed in a suit of gray velvet, -with trimmings of silver and pink.</p> - -<p>He took from his head a hat with a long plume of pink and bowed low -before the Princess Dido, who had dropped her roses and stood blushing -as pink as the roses she had dropped.</p> - -<p>“This is my castle, the Castle of the Roses,” explained the Prince, -“and I vowed I would never marry until I found a princess who loved my -roses as well as me, and you have proved you do by coming into all of -my rose-garden. Others have been here, but when they found only roses -in each room they never came to this floor.</p> - -<p>“Behind these curtains is my palace. These halls of roses are but a -part of my private rooms. Will you stay, Princess, or shall I call the -fairies to take you back to your own castle?” asked the Prince.</p> - -<p>“You may call the fairies to take the news<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> to my people that I will -live in the Castle of Roses, with the Prince of Roses,” said Princess -Dido.</p> - -<p>“But who hung the little gold key on the bush?” she asked the Prince.</p> - -<p>“Oh! I asked the fairies to help me find a wife,” said the Prince. -“They hung it there. You see, we shall live in an enchanted castle, -as well as in the Castle of Roses, so there is nothing for us but -happiness.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop17"> -<img src="images/pagetop17.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop17" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CATVILLE_GOSSIP">CATVILLE GOSSIP</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">M</span>r. Tommy Kat was in love with Tabby Gray—at least so all the gossips -in Catville say, for Tabby was as graceful as a little kit can be. Said -Tommy, when he saw her, “She’s just the wife for me.”</p> - -<p>But Tabby Gray was fickle, as sometimes kittens are; so she giggled -and told Tommy he would have to ask her pa. For there was big white -Tom Cat, with coat as smooth as silk, who often took her walking and -treated her to milk. He had told her he would give her a ribbon bright -of red, if she would only promise no other cat to wed.</p> - -<p>Then there was Tommy Mouser, who by all was called a sport. He had told -her that he loved her, and once for her had fought.</p> - -<p>And there was Tommy Black, the dandy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span> of the town, who was called by -all who watched him the best dancer to be found.</p> - -<p>He often danced with Tabby Gray, and frightened all the rest away; for -when he danced they all stood by and looked on him with jealous eye.</p> - -<p>And Tiger Tom, another swain, who always said he felt a pain around his -heart when any other danced with her except her brother.</p> - -<p>An admirer, too, was Tommy Buff; he said and vowed it was no bluff when -he declared he loved Miss Gray and in his heart she held full sway.</p> - -<p>And there was Tommy Black-and-White, who said he sat up many a night to -serenade Miss Tabby Gray on the back-yard fence till break of day.</p> - -<p>And Tommy, who was nicknamed Slim, said she was the only girl for him -and that his eyes had turned to green because another cat was seen to -walk with Tabby down the road. Since that his heart was like a load.</p> - -<p>And so, you see, Miss Tabby Gray needed time these things to weigh, and -that was why she told Tom Kat her pa would have to answer that question -he had asked that night on the back-yard fence in the bright moonlight.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p> - -<p>Said Tommy Kat as he looked at a star: “I don’t want to marry your pa. -Now why do you keep me here a-guessing when we might go round and get -pa’s blessing?”</p> - -<p>Miss Tabby stretched and heaved a sigh, then on Tommy Kat she cast her -eye. He was handsomer, far, than all the rest, and she felt quite sure -she loved him best. But, like all others of her kind, she pretended to -make up her mind.</p> - -<p>But Tommy Kat was a hasty fellow. He knew present time was always -mellow; so he told Miss Tabby ’twas getting late, and whisked her over -the back-yard gate. And before she knew where she was at they stood at -the door of Minister Cat.</p> - -<p>In a minute more they came out married, for Minister Cat he never -tarried. He married off couples quick as scat, and for his fee he took -a rat.</p> - -<p>The reception they held was a howling success, as all who came to it -had to confess. And all the way through Catville Town bottles and shoes -were strewn up and down. And when Old Sun Man o’er the hill did peep -every kit in the town was fast asleep.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop18"> -<img src="images/pagetop18.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop18" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="HOW_THE_ELEPHANT_GOT_HIS_TRUNK">HOW THE ELEPHANT GOT HIS TRUNK</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">O</span>ne night in the Zoo when the keepers were asleep the other animals -were awakened by the chattering in the monkey cage.</p> - -<p>“I have heard that Mr. Lion can be made very tame,” said Jocko, “and -while I doubt very much if he really can bite, his growl is most -unpleasant to hear.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, it may be worse than his bite,” said Tito. “Those who make -the most noise are not always to be feared, I have been told.”</p> - -<p>“There is Hippo; he is much bigger than Mr. Lion, and he doesn’t make -as much noise all the time as Mr. Lion.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, dear me, but what a big mouth Hippo has!” laughed Tito. “I wonder -how he happened to get such a big one. He must have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span> been the first one -there when they gave out mouths.”</p> - -<p>“I have heard something about almost every animal here,” said Jocko. -“Want to hear it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, tell me,” said Tito, moving close to Jocko. “Where did Mr. Lion -get his long hair?”</p> - -<p>“Oh dear! don’t you know?” laughed Jocko, “Mrs. Lion pulled it so much -it made it long. She hasn’t any, you see. Oh dear, yes, Mr. Lion is a -henpecked husband if ever there was one.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t tell me so,” said Tito. “What about Hippo? How did it happen -he is so big and clumsy?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t you know?” said Jocko. “When the animals were being made -there was a lot of each animal left and it was all stirred together, -and that made Hippo. They made his body first and then they did not -have enough to give him a long tail or fill in his mouth. That is the -reason it is so large.”</p> - -<p>“Ho, ho, ho!” laughed Tito, and Jocko laughed, too, until they nearly -fell off the place where they were sitting.</p> - -<p>“Where did old Reynard get his bushy tail, Jocko?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t you know that either?” replied Jocko. “He was caught trying -to steal chickens by the farmer’s wife, and she threw the brush she was -using at him with such force that it struck him handle first, and there -it stuck right on his back, and he never could be rid of it.”</p> - -<p>“Ho, ho, ho!” laughed Tito. “And where did the giraffe get his long -neck?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that is easy,” said Jocko. “He was so big-feeling and so haughty -he would not look at the other animals, and it stretched his neck until -now he can’t see the ground, so I have been told. I don’t know, of -course.”</p> - -<p>“He has a very little head, anyway,” said Tito.</p> - -<p>“There is very little in it, my dear Tito,” said Jocko. And then they -both laughed again.</p> - -<p>One by one the animals had awakened, but, hearing what was being said, -they each hoped to hear something about the other that would offset the -fun Jocko was making of them, so they kept still.</p> - -<p>“Where did the elephant get his trunk? That is what I should most like -to hear about,” said Tito.</p> - -<p>“Well, that is a long story,” said Jocko. “It<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span> seems that it really was -only a nose to begin with, and not much of a nose at that, so I have -heard it said, but because he was so big he thought he was the boss -of the jungle, where he lived, and he went about poking his nose into -every place he could find to see what was going on. They used to call -him Old Nosey, I have been told, and he had such big ears that what he -did not see he heard, so every one disliked him, but it took Old Man -Crocodile to cure him of his bad habit.”</p> - -<p>“What did he do to Mr. Elephant?” asked Tito, excitedly.</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you,” said Jocko. “One day Mr. Elephant was walking by the -water when he saw something queer-looking sticking out of the water.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Elephant had to know what it was, so he poked it with his nose, -and, zip! it had him right by the nose, and held him, too.</p> - -<p>“My, how he did yell, I was told, but Old Man Crocodile would not let -go. He held right on tight.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Elephant pulled and cried, ‘Let go!’ and the harder he pulled the -harder Old Man Crocodile pulled, until Mr. Elephant had that nose you -see on him now called a trunk.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span></p> - -<p>“By and by Old Man Crocodile had to catch his breath, and he let go, -and down sat Mr. Elephant on the ground with a bang.</p> - -<p>“Old Man Crocodile began to cry and say how sorry he was that he had -grabbled Mr. Elephant—that he had no idea he was hurting a friend. He -thought it was a hunter, and would Mr. Elephant please forgive him this -once!—he would never do it again.”</p> - -<p>“Is there where Old Man Crocodile got his tears?” asked Tito.</p> - -<p>“That is how he began to cry,” said Jocko.</p> - -<p>“Ho, ho, ho!” they both laughed, and then a terrible roar and -trumpeting and all sorts of cries went up from the animals, for Mr. -Elephant could not keep quiet when he heard what Jocko said about his -trunk.</p> - -<p>When Mr. Elephant began to trumpet Mr. Lion began to roar, and Jocko -and Tito fled to the back of their cage and huddled together, trembling -with fright.</p> - -<p>“They can’t get us,” said Jocko. “Let them talk and scream. I guess we -woke them up talking and laughing.”</p> - -<p>The other animals made such a noise that the keepers came running to -see what had happened, but, of course, they did not understand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span> a thing -they told them about the awful stories Jocko had told about them, and -so all they could do was to give them a drink of water or a biscuit, -hoping they would be quiet.</p> - -<p>Far into the morning the animals scolded and told Jocko what they -thought of him, but Tito and Jocko fell asleep in spite of the noise -and Tito laughed in his dreams about the funny things Jocko had told -him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop19"> -<img src="images/pagetop19.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop19" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WHY_RABBITS_HAVE_SHORT_TAILS">WHY RABBITS HAVE SHORT TAILS</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">B</span>unny Rabbit was sitting in his yard one day, thinking very hard, when -his grandfather came along.</p> - -<p>“Why are you so quiet and sober, grandson?” he inquired.</p> - -<p>“I am wondering, grandfather,” said Bunny, “why we have such long ears -and so short a tail. I should think it would be much better if it were -just the other way about.”</p> - -<p>“Of course; of course,” said Grandfather Rabbit, bobbing his ears back -and forth. “We all think we could have made a better rabbit if we had -been consulted. But let me tell you why your tail is short and your -ears are long, and then you will learn you are better off now than was -your great-grandfather’s great-grandfather, who had a long tail and -short ears.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span></p> - -<p>It did not take Bunny Rabbit long to find a nice soft seat for his -grandfather and to sit close and very still, with his ears sticking up -to listen, for he dearly loved the stories his grandfather told.</p> - -<p>“Once upon a time,” began Grandfather Rabbit, just as all grandfathers -begin a story—“a long, long time ago there lived in some woods a -rabbit. He had a long tail and short ears, just as all the rabbits in -those days had.</p> - -<p>“One day he ran over the hill to the garden where Mr. Man lived. He -should have been very careful, but he wasn’t, and when he was crawling -under the rail fence around the garden didn’t Mr. Dog see him and begin -to bark and chase Short Ears, as he was called.</p> - -<p>“Short Ears was a good runner, and it was lucky he was or there would -be an end to this story right here. Through the garden he ran under -cover of the vegetable leaves, and when he got out he was a good bit -ahead of Mr. Dog.</p> - -<p>“Over the field they ran, and under the stone wall went Short Ears and -over it went Mr. Dog. Down the road they ran lickety split, and into -his house ran Short Ears just as Mr. Dog came into the yard.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span></p> - -<p>“Short Ears had no time to lose, I can tell you. He slammed the door, -and what do you suppose happened?”</p> - -<p>Bunny Rabbit was so interested in his grandfather’s story he only -started; he did not answer at all. So his grandfather went on.</p> - -<p>“Why, Short Ears slammed that door right on his long tail, and there he -was held fast, with his tail hanging outside.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! Oh! Oh!” cried Bunny Rabbit, feeling of his stubby little tail, to -be sure it was safe behind him.</p> - -<p>“What did poor Short Ears do then?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“He could not do a thing, for there was Mr. Dog right in the yard and -running straight for the door,” said Grandfather Rabbit.</p> - -<p>Bunny Rabbit sat closer to his grandfather and his ears grew longer as -he listened.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Grandfather Rabbit, “Short Ears was in a bad fix, as you -can see. He could not open the door to get his tail out, because Mr. -Dog would come in and catch him.</p> - -<p>“He did not have long to think about it, for the very next thing he -knew Mr. Dog grabbed at his tail and off it came right up to the door. -And off he ran. For, you see, he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span> thought he had Short Ears on the end -of the tail, and he did not stop to look. He just ran.</p> - -<p>“When his tail broke off, over went Short Ears on the floor, for that -set him free. ‘Oh dear! Oh dear! What shall I do?’ he cried, when he -jumped up and looked in the mirror and saw that his long tail was gone -and all that remained was a little stubby tail, just like yours.</p> - -<p>“First he ran to the medicine-closet and got some salve and a soft -piece of cloth. But he found he could not reach the end of his tail—it -was too short.</p> - -<p>“His first thought was to run over to his cousin Rabbit’s house, not -far-off, but when he started toward the door he remembered Mr. Dog.</p> - -<p>“Short Ears leaned his head to the crack in the door and listened hard. -His ears were short, you remember, but not so short but that he heard -Mr. Dog barking.</p> - -<p>“Nearer and nearer came the bark. Short Ears locked the door and ran to -the windows and fastened them and drew the shades, and then he ran into -the closet and closed the door.</p> - -<p>“Away back he crept under his Sunday<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span> clothes, where he was sure no one -would find him, and there he sat and listened and listened and listened.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Dog barked and jumped about outside the house, for he was very -much upset when he found that he did not have Short Ears on the end of -the tail he carried off.</p> - -<p>“But it was no use. He could not get into Short Ears’s house, and at -last he gave it up and ran off home, barking all the way.</p> - -<p>“Short Ears listened, and though Mr. Dog’s tones grew fainter and -fainter, Short Ears was surprised to find he could hear the barking, -though it was a long way off.</p> - -<p>“After it was dark he came out of the closet and crept into his bed -without even thinking of the end of his tail, he was so tired and worn -out listening.</p> - -<p>“And now what do you think had happened to him, and what do you think -he saw when he looked in the mirror in the morning to brush his hair?”</p> - -<p>Bunny Rabbit shook his head. “I don’t know, grandfather,” he said. -“What had happened to Short Ears?”</p> - -<p>“His ears had grown long, he had listened so hard to the barking of -Mr. Dog,” said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> Grandfather Rabbit. “And from that day all the Rabbit -family have had short tails and long ears, which is just as it should -be, for we can hear Mr. Dog a long way off, and we do not have the -bother of looking after a long tail when we run to cover. So don’t wish -to have yours changed again, for you see now that you are better off -than poor Short Ears was, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>Bunny Rabbit said he did, and that he should never wish for a long tail -and short ears again. And he didn’t.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop20"> -<img src="images/pagetop20.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop20" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_HUNTERS_FRIEND_JOHNNIE_BEAR">THE HUNTER’S FRIEND, JOHNNIE BEAR</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">I</span>n a hut on the side of a mountain lived an old hunter all alone. He -had only one room, which was very scantily furnished, and he cooked his -meals in a fireplace. In the fireplace was a big hook where he hung his -kettle, and he cooked his meat by holding it between two sticks over -the coals.</p> - -<p>You need not pity this old man, for he would rather eat his food cooked -in this way than in any other. He had a bunk built in the room about -half-way up the wall, where he had to climb a ladder to reach it, and -when he went to bed he covered himself with a big bearskin. Beside the -bunk a gun hung on the wall where he could quickly reach it if it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> were -needed. Across the door at night he fastened a big bar, for he did not -intend that any one should enter while he was asleep.</p> - -<p>The old hunter had set a trap by his door, and one morning he found a -baby bear caught in it by the left hind paw. He very carefully opened -the trap and took the little fellow out. Then he took Johnnie Bear, as -he named him, into his cabin and very carefully washed the poor cut -foot and bound it up with some healing salve.</p> - -<p>Johnnie Bear seemed to know that the hunter was helping him, and he -did not bite or try to get away. He made a funny little noise like a -baby when it is hurt. Then the hunter warmed some milk and put it in a -bottle, which he gave to the bear. Johnnie Bear took the bottle in both -his paws and held it to his mouth and drank the milk very greedily. -Then the hunter fixed a bed for him and put a log on the fire to keep -the place warm while he went for a hunting trip.</p> - -<p>Johnnie Bear slept all day, and when the hunter returned at night he -tried to run to meet him, but his poor foot hurt him so he had to lie -down again. Several weeks passed before Johnnie Bear’s foot became -quite well,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span> and he always limped, because the trap had cut so deep.</p> - -<p>The little fellow became very fond of the hunter and would run to meet -him at night, and when the hunter brought in his game Johnnie Bear -would poke it over with his nose and paw, as though to tell the hunter -that he had done well.</p> - -<p>One day he did not run to meet the hunter, and when night came he did -not come to his supper. The old hunter began looking around the cabin -and he found the footprints of two bears. One was Johnnie Bear’s, which -he could tell by the light mark which the lame foot made, and the other -was of a big bear, which had enticed Johnnie back into the woods. The -hunter felt very lonely and looked for Johnnie every day for a long -time, but after a year had gone by he gave up all hope of ever seeing -Johnnie again.</p> - -<p>A long time after this the hunter was going through a part of the wood -that was filled with bushes and vines and in some way his foot became -entangled and he fell, breaking his arm. His gun fell some distance -from him, and as he went to pick it up he saw a big mother bear with -two cubs coming toward him.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span> She was growling and showing her teeth and -the hunter felt that he had little chance for escape from a fight, and -with his right arm broken he wondered how the fight might come out.</p> - -<p>He braced himself against a tree and waited for the bear to come up. -He held his gun in his left hand, intending to use it to beat her off -as long as possible. Just then another bear came in sight and the poor -hunter gave up all hope. But all at once the first bear stopped and -looked at the other bear, then suddenly walked toward him. Both stood -and looked at the hunter, who did not move. Suddenly the second bear -growled strangely and the first bear walked away with the two cubs. -Then the second bear came nearer, and as he walked the hunter saw that -he limped. It was Johnnie Bear, and in some unknown tongue he had sent -the other bear away and saved the hunter’s life. He did not come any -nearer the hunter, but only looked at him, as though to say, “You saved -my life once, now I have paid my debt to you.” Then he limped away in -the direction the other bears had gone. Perhaps the mother bear was -Johnnie’s wife and the cubs were their children.</p> - -<p>Who can tell?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop21"> -<img src="images/pagetop21.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop21" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="PLAID_TROUSERS">PLAID TROUSERS</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">M</span>r. Tim Coon had a pair of red-and-green plaid trousers and that was -what made everybody in the woods envious.</p> - -<p>But there was one who not only was envious—he was very jealous of his -rights—and that one was Mr. Fox.</p> - -<p>For Mr. Fox thought, and so did every one else in the woods, that he -was the very smartest and nattiest fellow around until Tim Coon came -along with those red-and-green plaid trousers.</p> - -<p>Mr. Fox at first did not bother much about the trousers, for he felt -sure that in a short time he could persuade Tim Coon to part with them, -but here he was mistaken, as time proved.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span></p> - -<p>Mr. Fox had called on Tim every day. He had carried the fattest hen or -duck, and even two fat chickens, and each time he hinted that he might -part with each or any of them if he were offered the right thing.</p> - -<p>But Tim Coon was well supplied with the season’s good things to eat and -would not offer anything worth having.</p> - -<p>And that was the reason that Mr. Fox sat on his steps one morning in -deep thought while he smoked his old corncob pipe.</p> - -<p>While he was thinking his eyes happened to alight upon a piece of paper -on which there was some printing, and then he saw the word WOOL in big -letters.</p> - -<p>“Wool?” thought Mr. Fox; “that is what those red-and-green trousers -are; all wool, Tim Coon says.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Fox got up from the steps and picked up the paper. He began to -read, and as he read his eyes grew big. The more he read the bigger -they grew, and at last he became so interested he dropped his pipe from -his mouth without noticing it.</p> - -<p>Mr. Fox read all the printing. Then he crumpled up the paper and threw -it into the bushes.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span></p> - -<p>“If he only would get them soiled,” he said, “the rest would be easy; -he would be sure to ask my advice.</p> - -<p>“I know what I will do,” he said, starting for his barn. “I’ll paint -the seat of my rocking-chair; he loves to sit in that.”</p> - -<p>Pretty soon Mr. Fox had his rocking-chair painted a nice shiny black, -and then he sat down to watch for Tim Coon, who always passed by about -that time. He did not have to wait long before Tim came along, wearing -the plaid trousers. “Come in, Tim, and have a smoke,” said Mr. Fox, in -his most polite manner.</p> - -<p>Mr. Fox went to the closet to get a pipe for Tim, and, just as he -expected, down sat Tim Coon in the rocking-chair right on the wet paint.</p> - -<p>“Oh dear, oh dear, how sorry I am!” said Mr. Fox, hurrying to Tim.</p> - -<p>“Get up quick, Tim! I just painted that chair. I hope you have not got -it on your plaid trousers.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Fox’s eyes twinkled as he got behind poor Tim to look at the seat -of his trousers, but that, of course, Tim Coon did not see, and when -Mr. Fox told him there was a big black<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> spot, but that he felt sure he -could tell him just how to get it out, Tim thought he was a very kind -fellow.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you bother at all, Tim. I read the other day just how to wash -woolen garments. It said it was sure and safe, so I will help you, for -I really feel to blame; I ought to have remembered that rocker was -freshly painted.</p> - -<p>“First, I must get you some white soap, and as I have none in the house -I shall have to run over to Mr. Man’s and get some; he has everything -in his house.”</p> - -<p>Tim Coon thought Mr. Fox was the very kindest fellow he knew, and he -ran right home to take off the trousers and wait for Mr. Fox to return.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you might put on a kettle of water,” called Mr. Fox as Tim was -hurrying away, “and have it boiling; it must boil hard.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Fox had a harder time than he expected getting the soap from Mr. -Man’s, for Mr. Dog had gone to sleep right in the doorway of the barn, -and that was where Mr. Fox wanted to go.</p> - -<p>He had seen a piece of white soap on a box in the barn one day, where -Mr. Man had been washing his best harness, and he hoped very much he -would find it there now.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span></p> - -<p>After a while Mr. Dog awoke and went away and Mr. Fox crept in. He was -lucky enough to find the soap, and off he ran for Tim Coon’s house just -as the sun was going down.</p> - -<p>“I risked a good deal, Tim, to get this soap,” he said. “I do not like -to go over the hill in the daytime—too risky.</p> - -<p>“Now we must put the trousers in a pail,” explained Mr. Fox, “and then -very slowly pour the water on them. Are you sure the water is boiling -hard?”</p> - -<p>Tim said he was, and so Mr. Fox told him to bring it along, and as Tim -poured it in the pail Mr. Fox shaved up the soap and dropped it in.</p> - -<p>“Now get me a stick,” he said, “so I can stir it and make a good suds, -and now I will leave you, for I am sure you can do the rest, and I must -get home, as it is getting dark.</p> - -<p>“All you have to do is to let them soak overnight and take them out in -the morning and hang them in the sun, and if that recipe for washing -woolen is good for anything your trousers will be as good as new.”</p> - -<p>Off ran Mr. Fox for home, chuckling to himself all the way. “Yes, they -will be as good as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span> new,” he said, “but not for you to wear, my friend -Tim. They may fit a very young coon, but not a full-grown-up coon like -you. Oh no.”</p> - -<p>Poor Tim Coon viewed his trousers as they hung on the line the next day -with a sinking heart, for the black stain of the paint was of course -still to be seen, but later when they were dry and he tried to put them -on it was not a feeling of sadness which came over him. It was anger.</p> - -<p>Tim looked at himself in the looking-glass and saw that his handsome -plaid trousers were no longer fit for him to wear. They were well up to -his knees, and so snugly did they fit him he could not bend, let alone -walk.</p> - -<p>It took some time to get out of them, but when he did he took them over -to Mr. Fox’s house and showed him the remains of what had once been his -plaid trousers.</p> - -<p>“It did not work right. That is all I can say,” said Mr. Fox, trying -hard to look sad. “You never can tell about those recipes you read in -papers and magazines until you have tried them.”</p> - -<p>“I wish some one else had tried it first,” said Tim, with a sigh, as he -looked at his trousers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span></p> - -<p>“I might have worn a long-tailed coat and covered up the paint spot, -but there is nothing I can do with these short legs.”</p> - -<p>“You could wear a skirt or put some lace on the bottom of the legs,” -suggested Mr. Fox.</p> - -<p>“Are you sure the water had to boil?” asked Tim.</p> - -<p>“Sure as I am that the sun will shine!” replied Mr. Fox. “Are you sure, -Tim, those trousers are all wool?”</p> - -<p>“I thought they were,” said Tim.</p> - -<p>“I know they are,” said Mr. Fox, looking after Tim down the path.</p> - -<p>Of course the plaid trousers were of no use to any one, but Mr. Fox was -satisfied so long as he did not have to see Tim Coon wearing them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"><span class="figcenter" id="pagetop22"> -<img src="images/pagetop22.jpg" class="w75" alt="pagetop22" /> -</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_THREE_RUNAWAYS">THE THREE RUNAWAYS</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">M</span>r. Dog sat in front of his house, looking very sad; Mr. Tom Cat came -along with his head hanging down, very sad, too.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Tommie!” said Mr. Dog. “You look as sad as I feel. What is the -matter?”</p> - -<p>“Matter enough, Mr. Dog,” said Mr. Tom Cat. “I have just been driven -out of the house with a broom by cook, who says I am of no use; that I -am too fat and too well fed to catch the mice.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Dog, I have caught all the mice in that house for years, and just -because I slept one night—that was last night—that cook forgets -all about all the good work I have done in the past and puts me out, -and with a broom, too. Oh, it is too terrible, and I have not had my -breakfast, either.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span></p> - -<p>“Tommie, dear fellow,” said Mr. Dog, “you certainly have a hard time -of it, but let me tell you what has happened to me after all my years -of service to the master. Last night a fox got into the hen-house, and -just because I did not keep awake all night and catch him the master -took me up to the hen-house and put my nose right down on the floor -where that fox had walked, and then he boxed my ears. Think of it, -Thomas, he boxed my ears before all the hens and chickens and said I -was getting old and good for nothing, and I have not had a bite to eat -this morning. I wonder what this place is coming to when such good -fellows as we are get such treatment. That is what I would like to -know, Thomas Cat.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Tom Cat licked his mouth and stretched himself before he answered: -“I think, Mr. Dog, we better give the master and cook a chance to think -over what they have done to us and perhaps they may remember all the -good things we have done all these years and think that one little -mistake was not so bad, after all. I am for running away, I am. What do -you say?”</p> - -<p>“Now I never thought of that, Thomas,” said Mr. Dog, standing up and -looking very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span> serious. “I believe that is a good plan, Thomas. I do, -indeed; but where shall we run?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we can walk; you know we don’t have to run at all, only they call -it running away if you go off where people can’t find you,” said Mr. -Tom Cat. “I know a place we can go. Come with me.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll go with you,” said Mr. Dog. “Lead the way, Thomas.”</p> - -<p>Just as they were passing the barn-yard they saw Mr. Rooster scrooged -under the fence.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Mr. Rooster!” said Mr. Dog. “What has happened to you that you -look so unhappy this morning?”</p> - -<p>“Why wouldn’t I look unhappy?” replied Mr. Rooster. “Here I have been -on this farm and looking after all those silly hens these long years, -and this morning the master said he wished the fox had got me last night -instead of the hen he carried off. I tell you it is hard luck, after -all I have done for the master.”</p> - -<p>“Come with us,” said Mr. Tom Cat. “We are running away; the cook chased -me out this morning because I happened to sleep all night and didn’t -catch the mice, and Mr. Dog was blamed because the fox got into your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span> -house last night. We are not appreciated around here, that is plain. -Will you come along?”</p> - -<p>“I had never thought of running away,” said Mr. Rooster, getting out -from under the fence and flapping the dust from his wings, “but I think -I like the idea of running away. I will go along with you. Perhaps the -master and those foolish hens of mine will begin to think what a fine -fellow I am and wish I had not gone. Where are you going?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, to a place I know where no one will find us,” said Mr. Tom Cat, -running ahead.</p> - -<p>Mr. Dog and Mr. Rooster followed Mr. Tom Cat, and soon they were in the -woods where the bushes grew thick and the trees shut out the sun.</p> - -<p>“Here we are,” said Mr. Tom Cat; “now no one will find us and we can -rest in ease.”</p> - -<p>“I have not had my breakfast,” said Mr. Rooster, scratching the ground.</p> - -<p>“Neither have we,” said Mr. Tom Cat, “but I have heard somewhere that -you should not think of your troubles and they will not bother you, -so suppose we each tell a story to take up the time and also take our -minds off the thought that we have not had our breakfast.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> You begin, -Mr. Dog, because you are such a good story-teller and have had so many -adventures.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Dog looked very wise and scratched his head as if he was thinking -very hard.</p> - -<p>“Did I ever tell you about how I treed a coon?” he asked.</p> - -<p>Mr. Rooster and Mr. Tom Cat said they never had heard it, but they -should like to hear about it very much indeed.</p> - - -<h3 class="center">MR. DOG’S STORY</h3> - -<p>Mr. Dog cleared his throat and then he said: “I have always had the -reputation of being a good hunter, especially when coons were in -season, but this story which I am about to tell will show that I had -the hardest time a dog ever had getting a coon.</p> - -<p>“One moonlight night the master came out of the house and whistled to -me; he had his gun over his shoulder and I knew pretty well what was -going to happen; we were going coon-hunting.</p> - -<p>“So I wagged my tail and gave two or three sharp barks because I knew I -could not bark again until I had something to bark about.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, it was a beautiful night, and just as we got out in the road a -little way from the barn I saw something moving. I wasn’t sure at first -whether it was a fox or a coon, both of them being equally fond of -visiting the poultry-yard; but I kept very still and pretty soon I saw -him right in the full moonlight. It was as fat a coon as I ever saw, -and he didn’t see me and I made a run for him.</p> - -<p>“Well, you may have seen a coon run, my friends, but believe me when I -tell you that you never saw one run as this one did. He gave a bound -and away he went, and I went after him, and Mr. Man followed, for I was -barking now, for there was reason for it.</p> - -<p>“Well, that coon got to the tree first, and up he went, for I saw him, -and I can tell you I was some tickled, for I knew that the master would -be pleased enough when he saw the size of that coon.</p> - -<p>“After he got into the tree I stood under it and looked up and barked -with all my might, and Mr. Man was coming a-running as fast as he could -in the distance.</p> - -<p>“But while I saw that coon go up the tree as plainly as I ever saw -anything, I couldn’t see hide nor hair of him when I looked up.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span></p> - -<p>“Mr. Man came up to me after a while and said, ‘Where is he, Rover?’</p> - -<p>“I kept looking up in the tree and barking to keep up my courage, -though I could see nothing but tree.</p> - -<p>“‘You are fooled, old fellow,’ said the master; ‘he got away from you. -Go after him, old boy.’</p> - -<p>“But I knew I wasn’t fooled, though for the life of me I could not see -that coon.</p> - -<p>“I kept on barking and jumping about and the master took another look, -but he did not see that coon and pretty soon he got tired.</p> - -<p>“‘You are a fake, Rover,’ he said to me. ‘I am going home. We will try -it another night and see if you can see straight.’ And off he went.</p> - -<p>“But I didn’t leave that tree. I knew that coon couldn’t have jumped -out of the tree and I also knew he went up the tree, so I was sure he -was in the tree right then.</p> - -<p>“I barked louder than ever, and though the master whistled and called, -I still barked and jumped about.</p> - -<p>“Suddenly I thought if I kept very still a minute that coon might show -his head, so I stepped close to the tree and stood in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> shadow and -kept quiet. It wasn’t more than a minute before, just as I thought, out -poked the head of that coon to see if I had gone.</p> - -<p>“Well, I just barked some then and I danced, and pretty soon master -came running back and I jumped and barked right under the place where I -had seen the head of Mr. Coon.</p> - -<p>“‘Ah, you are right, boy,’ I heard the master say, softly, and then -bang went his gun and Mr. Coon dropped to the ground.</p> - -<p>“‘Good old boy, you can’t be fooled, can you, Rover?’ said master, -patting me on the head; ‘you can’t be beat for coon-hunting. Come along -home and show what we got.’</p> - -<p>“The next night they had a great time at the master’s house. He told -them all how I treed that coon and how I stuck to it in spite of his -going away and calling to me to go along.</p> - -<p>“I was patted on the head and made a great deal of, and every time I -see the master with that coon cap he wears I feel very happy.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Dog stopped and looked sad again, and Mr. Tom Cat said: “Oh, cheer -up, Mr. Dog, the master will soon be wearing that cap again, and he -will remember how you caught the coon. That is a good story to tell. -Now<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span> we will listen to what Mr. Rooster has to tell us.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Rooster said he would tell them about the new rooster that came to -the barn-yard one day.</p> - - -<h3 class="center">MR. ROOSTER’S STORY</h3> - -<p>Mr. Rooster straightened himself and said he was proud to say he was -raised on the master’s farm. He was proud, too, to say he had succeeded -the old rooster that had gone to a dinner one day and did not return.</p> - -<p>“I have always taken good care of my family, and, if I do say it, there -is not a better-looking family than mine around these parts,” said Mr. -Rooster.</p> - -<p>“There have been many young roosters in the barn-yard, but they have -gone away to other farms to live, for the master has an eye for beauty, -and he has always decided that I was too—er—valuable to lose.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Dog and Mr. Tom Cat smiled a little on the side at this last -remark, for they well knew how vain Mr. Rooster was, and then he really -did have fine feathers and a beautiful comb.</p> - -<p>“I have never had any trouble with my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span> family until one morning Madam -Blackie came running to me,” continued Mr. Rooster, “to tell me a new -rooster had come in the barn-yard to live.”</p> - -<p>“‘It is shameful the way all those silly hens are running around him,’ -she said. ‘He isn’t noticing them a little bit and they strut back and -forth, eying him as if they had never seen a handsome rooster before.</p> - -<p>“‘For my part, I think the old friends are the best, though of course -you are not old, my dear Mr. Rooster, only old in acquaintance I mean.’</p> - -<p>“I had always thought Madam Blackie an old busybody, but now, if this -was all true, I had found her my only friend.</p> - -<p>“‘You are most kind, Madam Blackie,’ I said, ‘and I thank you, but -I feel sure that the master will not have a new rooster here. This -new-comer will probably leave in a few days.’</p> - -<p>“I expected he would, too, for I had as fine a set of spurs as I had -ever seen, and I intended to show them to this new rooster.</p> - -<p>“As soon as I could get away from Madam Blackie I took a stroll around -by the barn-yard, and sure enough there were all my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span> family, even the -chickens, walking around and clucking and cackling as hens will at a -handsome red-and-black rooster that stood by the barn door.</p> - -<p>“I felt pretty queer for a minute, for that new rooster had a very -shiny-looking set of feathers, and I knew he would be very popular for -a while at least, and with the whole family against me, even my spurs -might not make me king.</p> - -<p>“I held my head very high, and with my light step I walked past them -some distance from the barn, but still I knew they all saw me.</p> - -<p>“There was a little flutter at first, and they ran toward me, but they -gave a look at the new rooster. I could see them out of the corner -of my eyes, and back the whole silly lot went and began their silly -cackling and clucking.</p> - -<p>“I went behind a wall and watched them through a hole. First they would -scratch the ground near the new rooster and talk away to one another, -and then they would walk by him, but not once did he turn his head.</p> - -<p>“‘He isn’t going to let them think he sees them,’ I thought; but the -longer I watched<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> the stranger it seemed to me that with all those -fine-looking hens and chickens cackling about him he should not look -once their way; and then a thought came to me which made me jump up, so -I crawled under the gate and walked into the barn-yard.</p> - -<p>“I walked right up to that family of mine and looked at them, and then -I looked at the new rooster. I was right close to him then.</p> - -<p>“Every hen opened her eyes and mouth, for they thought right then and -there was to be a settlement of rights, but one glance at the new -rooster told me what I had thought was true, and I just turned my -back on him and said: ‘When you silly hens and chickens get tired of -admiring the new weather-cock you better come over in the lot back of -the barn. There is some corn and grain on the ground. I am surprised -that my family cannot tell a tin weather-cock from a real rooster,’ and -away I walked with my head held higher than ever.</p> - -<p>“After that I never had the least trouble with them, but of course I -found out that Madam Blackie had been the first one to see the tin -rooster and had gone right up to him and found it out, and then waited -to see if the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> others would be fooled. When she found they were she ran -away to tell me.</p> - -<p>“Oh, it takes all kinds of hens to make a barn-yard family!” sighed the -rooster.</p> - -<p>“I guess they will miss you,” said Mr. Dog, “and the master will, too, -for all the hens are likely to run away, with no one to keep them at -home.”</p> - -<p>“Tommie Cat, we will hear what you have to tell. I bet it will be about -a mouse.”</p> - -<p>“You win the bet,” said Mr. Tom Cat.</p> - - -<h3 class="center">MR. TOM CAT’S STORY</h3> - -<p>“My story,” said Mr. Tom Cat, “is about a mouse, the only mouse that -ever got away from me—that is, the only one that I ever saw. Of -course, I did not see the ones that cook thought I should have caught.</p> - -<p>“I came to live at the master’s house when I was a very little kitten, -and right away I began to catch the mice.</p> - -<p>“I have heard it said that my mother and father were the best mousers -anywhere around, and I expect I take after them. Anyway, I could catch -mice, so I became a great pet in the house.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span></p> - -<p>“And while I always had plenty of milk—and sometimes cream—to eat, I -never failed to catch a mouse each night, and sometimes more, for a cat -had not lived in the house for years, and those mice thought they owned -it until I came.</p> - -<p>“They ran about everywhere, on the pantry shelves and all over the -rooms at night, and they would even run over me sometimes when I was -taking forty winks; but I soon stopped that. I played I was asleep when -I wasn’t and caught those silly mice until the others began to learn -that I was a thing to be feared and not to be taken as a joke.</p> - -<p>“But there was one mouse I could not catch. He was larger than the -others and had a little piece taken out of one ear, so I always knew -him, and it gave me no end of worry to think he always escaped me.</p> - -<p>“The others called him Tip, because it was the tip of his ear that was -gone; and Tip was some runner, I can tell you. He could get through the -smallest hole in the wall and he could get away from you when you had -your paw right over him. I made up my mind to get Tip if I had to let -the other mice have the house, and so for a week I laid for Tip.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span></p> - -<p>“One night he came out of his hole and jumped right over my head and I -chased him around the kitchen, when all at once right before my eyes he -disappeared.</p> - -<p>“I sniffed and hunted. I knew he was there, but I could not see him or -find him. All at once I saw a shoe of the master’s, that stood near the -stove, move, and as quick as a wink I flew at it and put in my paw.</p> - -<p>“Did I get Tip? No, sir; that slick little fellow crawled out of a hole -in the side of that shoe and ran for his hole in the wall, laughing and -giggling to think he had fooled me again.</p> - -<p>“I did not sleep for two days after that, sitting by that hole in the -wall, and I was thinking how hungry Tip must be, having to stay in -there without any food and feeling sure he would have to come out soon -or starve, when I felt something touch my tail.</p> - -<p>“I turned around and there was Tip. How he got out I never knew, but I -expect he gnawed a hole in another part of the wall. Anyway, there he -was sitting on his hind legs and making funny motions with his front -paws.</p> - -<p>“I jumped, but he was ready for that, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span> away he scampered into the -pantry and I after him.</p> - -<p>“Over the shelves he went, and I went, too. Back of the boxes, and I -went, too, tins and dishes falling with clatter and smash, but I did -not care. I was after that Tip mouse and I knew it was now or never.</p> - -<p>“He knew it was a fight to the death, I think, by the mad dash he made -behind dishes and tins, but after a while he grew tired and made for -his hole in the wall. I knew that was my chance to get him in the open, -and I flew after him and reached him with the tip of my paw, but it was -only his tail I had. Tip was in the hole. I grabbed at the tail with my -teeth and off it came. I have that tail yet, for I never got Tip, and I -like to look at it sometimes just to get up my fighting spirit.”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t you ever see Tip again?” asked Mr. Rooster and Mr. Dog.</p> - -<p>“Oh yes, I saw him once after that,” said Mr. Tom Cat, with a yawn.</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you catch him?” they asked, together.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Tip was in a trap when I saw him,” said Mr. Tom Cat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span></p> - -<p>“Was it one of those traps that catch them by the head?” asked Mr. Dog.</p> - -<p>“No, it was a little wire affair,” said Mr. Tom Cat, “and I looked in -and saw him running about.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you catch him then when the master opened the trap? Didn’t -they give you a chance at him?”</p> - -<p>“No, Mr. Dog,” said Mr. Tom Cat, looking very lofty. “I am a sportsman -and no true sportsman ever touches a caged mouse. Tip was let out of -the trap, and the master thought I would catch him, but I didn’t even -run after him, and for all I know Tip may be living yet. I will do my -own hunting and catching; none of those traps can ever help me to get a -mouse.”</p> - -<p>“Some of his grandchildren might go back there to live, even if Tip did -not return to the hole in the wall,” said Mr. Dog.</p> - -<p>“It might be that those very mice that were running about last night -were some of his relations.”</p> - -<p>“I never thought of that,” said Mr. Tom Cat. “I will watch for them -to-night, and whether they are or not I will remember Tip and catch -them all.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span></p> - -<p>“I guess I will go along with you,” said Mr. Dog. “I am pretty hungry, -and it must be dinner-time.”</p> - -<p>“If you all are going home, I guess I better get back in time for -dinner, too,” said Mr. Rooster; “my family will think I am lost.”</p> - -<p>So all three started off for their home, forgetting all about their -grievances in listening to the story each had told, and if nothing has -happened to them I expect they are living there yet.</p> - - -<p class="center vbig">THE END</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - - -<div class="chapter transnote"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="TranscribersNotes">Transcriber’s Notes:</h2> - -<p>Minor errors and omissions in punctuation have been fixed</p> - -<p><a href="#Page_55">Page 55</a>: Changed “but that it still” to “but that is still”</p> - -<p><a href="#Page_124">Page 124</a>: Changed “Martha did not treat her” to “Martha treated her”</p> - -<p><a href="#Page_155">Page 155</a>: Changed “‘Oh, don’t you know?’ said Jacko” to “‘Oh, don’t you know?’ said Jocko”</p> - -<p><a href="#Page_179">Page 179</a>: Changed “the master he wished” to “the master said he wished”</p> -</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SANDMAN'S RAINY DAY STORIES ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. -</div> - -<div style='margin-top:1em; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE</div> -<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE</div> -<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person -or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the -Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when -you share it without charge with others. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work -on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the -phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: -</div> - -<blockquote> - <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> - 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. 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. - </div> -</blockquote> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg™ License. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format -other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain -Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -provided that: -</div> - -<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation.” - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ - works. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. - </div> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right -of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread -public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. -</div> - -</div> -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/acorns.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/acorns.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a204d78..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/acorns.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 31d00b1..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop1.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 283d646..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop10.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop10.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2a37f53..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop10.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop11.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop11.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 0463c80..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop11.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop12.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop12.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4747ded..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop12.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop13.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop13.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7ffd9e3..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop13.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop14.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop14.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5e17195..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop14.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop15.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop15.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 61f7d21..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop15.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop16.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop16.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d87fb8e..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop16.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop17.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop17.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index dac129f..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop17.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop18.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop18.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7ab2caa..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop18.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop19.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop19.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3b0e986..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop19.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop2.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d1100ea..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop20.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop20.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2d5c439..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop20.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop21.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop21.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4a57932..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop21.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop22.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop22.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 840cd10..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop22.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop3.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop3.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 05bb0e2..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop3.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop4.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop4.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 43bddbb..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop4.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop5.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop5.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3e2161a..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop5.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop6.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop6.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6386b4c..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop6.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop7.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop7.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 9974635..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop7.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop8.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop8.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e1e32b8..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop8.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop9.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/pagetop9.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f32ed98..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/pagetop9.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68589-h/images/title.jpg b/old/68589-h/images/title.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6032084..0000000 --- a/old/68589-h/images/title.jpg +++ /dev/null |
