|
Citation |
- Permanent Link:
- https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00081959/00001
Material Information
- Title:
- A round robin
- Creator:
- Hoyer, M. A ( Maria A )
Mack, Robert Ellice ( Editor )
Nister, Ernest ( Publisher, Printer )
E.P. Dutton (Firm) ( Publisher )
- Place of Publication:
- London
New York
- Publisher:
- Ernest Nister
E.P. Dutton & Co.
- Publication Date:
- [1891?]
- Language:
- English
- Physical Description:
- 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 25 cm.
Subjects
- Subjects / Keywords:
- Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh ) Animals -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh ) Children's stories ( lcsh ) Children's stories -- 1891 ( lcsh ) Bldn -- 1891
- Genre:
- Children's stories
novel ( marcgt )
- Spatial Coverage:
- Germany -- Bavaria -- Nuremberg
- Target Audience:
- juvenile ( marctarget )
Notes
- Statement of Responsibility:
- illustrated by Harriett M. Bennett ; stories by M.A. Hoyer ; edited and arranged by Robert Ellice Mack.
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- University of Florida
- Holding Location:
- University of Florida
- Rights Management:
- This item is presumed to be in the public domain. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not claim any copyright interest in this item. Users of this work have responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions may require permission of the copyright holder. The Smathers Libraries would like to learn more about this item and invite individuals or organizations to contact The Department of Special and Area Studies Collections (special@uflib.ufl.edu) with any additional information they can provide.
- Resource Identifier:
- 026631881 ( ALEPH )
ALG4082 ( NOTIS ) 30049343 ( OCLC )
|
Downloads |
This item has the following downloads:
|
Full Text |
arrett Te Bennett
Hh
: al: z NewYork: she
Shake: oe c yon R ER Dutton. & Ce.
2 ride, Streevtic.C.. Iss :
th iX ; » j e Nie f Printed by: €. Nister at Nurembeng v it 31 West Gwenty Sbird street. if
sue
(Bavaria) vie
ee ee
brary
Universi
5
TU
a
faa}
o
&
RmB
Qbew bile Alp :
tw b & SEG.
tv
YE Nin eo SS
]
e JSntroduction }
ne op. must pes
go and Jee,
A the wie old Rook,
SG making a hook,
To send to those
children three.â€
spectacles on, was busy with pen and ink.
“Oh, please,†she said. “You know those children who have come to
stay at the Manor House?â€
“Yes, yes,’ said Mr. Rook. “I know! Staying with their Grandpapa while
their Father and Mother are away in the warm South for the Winter.â€
“Yes,†said the Princess, “And the birds have written them a Round Robin—’
“Don't I know it!†said Mr. Rook. “It was that conceited Cock Robin began
it, and he went to the Fairies to write it; but, dear me, they only knew Old
English spelling, and they actually sent the Elves to ask the Bunnies and the
Mousies—as if they could tell them. Of course they had to come back to me, and I
did it all—and signed their names.â€
“But now I want to send the children something,†said Princess Amor. “All the
children who read the Bird’s Message, and remember it, and are good and kind and
loving. Now, what have you got?â€
“Come close,’ said Mr. Rook, and then he put his beak close to Princess Amor’s
little ear and whispered something.
“Oh! oh! oh!†cried the Princess, clapping her ends And then she ran up the
Fairy stairs and looked out of the window of her Fairy Palace, and kissed her hand to all
the little children, who lay sleeping in the round dark world far below her as it
swung round on its wondrous way, and cried softly, “It is coming, dear children—at
Christmas.â€
S she trotted down the Fairy stairs to where Mr. Rook, with a new pair of
Titustrated by
Darriett a Dennett,
pStories. by
MA. Boyer.
E.dited and Arranged .by |
Robert Ellice Mack.
London: New York:
Ernest Nister E€.P Duttoné&ce |
Aa ede Street EC. Printed by € Nisten at Nuremberg (Bavaria, 31 West Twenty Third Street.
Che
Fairy Mird,,
" UT praps the dickey-birds
did do it!†said Baby.
“Flush, Baby,’ said Patty,
in a low voice. “You mustn't talk so
loud, or you will wake Grandpa.†— &
“Well,†answered Baby, relapsing into a large whisper.â€
“Why shouldn't the dickeys have done it, Alec?â€
‘’Cause they can’t write,†said Alec; “and they have “<7
no paper, no ink, nor pens, and they don’t know how.â€
“But the fairies might have helped them,†said Patty. y
“Fairies!†replied Alec, rather scornfully. “Why, you silly girl; there aren’t
such things.â€
“Oh!†cried Baby, in horror-struck tones. “Oh, Alec! not little tweety
fairies as comes at Christmas and hides in the holly, and hangs pretty things on
the Christmas tree!†“Hu-sh!†whispered Patty, “Hu-sh!â€
“Gandpa ain't asleep,’ said Baby, and getting up off the rug, where the
children were sitting in front of the fire, while Grandpapa had his afternoon nap
in his big arm-chair, she laid her fat little hands on his knees, and peered up into
the kind old face. “Ganpa ain't asleep. I can sce a bit of his eye through
his ’slashes (eyelashes she meant). Ganpa, you's only foxin’, and we want to tell
you somefin’. Alec says the dickey-birds couldn’t do it, but I fink they could. 3
“What couldn’t the dickey-birds do?†inquired Grandpapa.
“Why, write a notice—a Round Robin—and hang it on a tree!†answered Alec.
“And their dear little names all round it!†went on Baby.
“A Round Robin: on a tree,’ said Grandpapa. “Why, is there one?â€
“Yes, Grandpa,†they all cried. “On the Fairy Oak at the end of the Avenue.â€
“And it sends their love to us, and wants us to love them,†went on Alec,
“and Patty thought the fairies might have written it, but there are no fairies,
Grandpa, are there?â€
“Oh! I won't say that,’ answered Grandpapa, laughing. ‘“I have never seen
them myself, but I have known many people who quite believed in them. Besides,
this is Hallow-een. There is no knowing what might happen on Hallow-een !â€
“And some birds ave fairies,’ persisted Patty. “Why, there is that tiresome
little bird who sees everrything and tells it to Mammas, and Papas, and Aunties.’
“We seed him yes'day,†cried Baby. “I’se sure that was he. He’s a horw id
2
little bird. Me and Patty and the Gardener’s Baby were peeping round the oak,
and he came hopping along, and looked as if he had somefin’ very 'ticlar to say,
only we hadn't done nothing naughty yes’day, ’cept——†and here Baby paused.
“Except what, Baby?†asked Grandpapa.
“It was only a very, very little tweeny lump, Ganpa,†said Baby, in a small
voice, “and it fell off the sugar-basin—and Auntie didn’t see it—and I—I ate it,
Did the little bird tell you, Ganpa?â€
“No,†said Grandpapa. “But, perhaps, he told Auntie Nellie!â€
“Oh!†said Baby, in a relieved tone. “I don’t fink he did. I’ spect he had
just turned round; but, oh, Ganpa! wouldn’t you like to go and see the fairies?â€
“Yes,†cried Patty; “just to creep down behind the trees and see them
dancing in rings, and sitting round the toadstools, and drinking out of acorn-cups !â€
“T spect they did write the Round Robin,’ went on the Baby, reflectively ;
“and we do love the birds, Ganpa,-and we will try to be kind to them, and the
pussies, and everything. Oh, Ganpa,’ suddenly recollecting something, “we were
good to little Kitty. Did you hear how Mother Puss got shut up in the shed
all night, and poor tiny Kitty was left all alone and was so cold and hungry,
and Auntie Nellie asked us to try and make it drink some milk?â€
“And it was so little, it hadn’t learnt to drink properly,†Patty cried; “and
Alec told Baby to dip its nose in the milk, oh! it did splutter and sneeze and
kick, but then it did lick its little
mouth, and so it got a little.â€
‘And you should just have seen
Mother Puss,†laughed Alec. “The
gardener went to the shed, and out
she rushed and tore up the garden
like a mad thing, and bounced through
the window and on to the table, where
“we were trying to feed Kitty, and
knocked over the milk. And she
caught Kitty up by her neck and
tumbled her into her basket and
licked her so hard that poor little
Kits did squeal.â€
“But she was awful glad to see
her Mother,†said Baby, “and we will
try to be kind, and—and—Round
Robin-y,†she continued. “But, Ganpa,
I tell you what I fink. I fink that
little bird who goes and tells big people
things, might come and tell us things about other little children. He must know
such a lot of stories. I wish he’d come just in the afternoon, when it’s just half-
dark, half-light, and tell us pretty stories, when we are waiting for tea-time, and the
lamp is not lit. Don’t you fink it would be nice, Ganpa—Ganpa?†and here Baby
put her arms tight round his neck and whispered: “Couldn't you ask him, Ganpa?â€
“Well, I'll see about it!†said Grandpapa, laughing. That night Patty waked
up thinking she heard a noise in the room, and starting up she saw a small white
figure peering out of the window. “Baby!†she exclaimed, tumbling out of bed,
and running across to her little sister. “Is that you? Whatever are you doing out
here?†“Hush, Patty!†whispered Baby; “don’t make such a noise. You will
frighten him!†“Frighten who? What do you mean, Baby?†“The little bird,â€
whispered Baby. “I’se had such a funny dream, and. I’se looking to see it finish.â€
“But dreams are all nonsense,’ Patty spoke, severely. “Baby, get back into bed;
you'll get cold.†“Dreams, nonsense!†repeated Baby, in a shocked tone. “Why,
they comes true like Nevercomebezzar’s did!†“Whose, Baby ?†a
“Why, the old gentleman Ganpa read about. yes’day,†said Baby, rather
impatiently. “It’s such an awful long name, but he grew all claw’y and feathery,
and ate wet grass like an ox.â€
“Oh, I know, Nebuchadnezzar,’ said Patty. “But was your dream like his?â€
“Well, not ‘xackly,’ answered Baby, reflectively, “but it was about a bird, and
that’s got feathers, you know. The little Fairy Bird, and he came tap, tap, tapping at
the window, and he was just going to say somefin’, and then I waked up. And then
I got out to look if it was there. Can you see him here, Patty?†“No†said
Patty after peering through the frosted window panes—‘and it’s dreadfully cold. Oh
Baby—let us get back into bed. I expect’ it was only just adream.†But when Baby
saw a parcel by her plate on the breakfast table a morning or so later and got Alec
to tell her what was written on it, she felt quite: sure that her dream was “a proper
dream.†For on the parcel was written: ‘From the Fairy Bird of Twilight Time,â€
and inside were real stories. Baby wanted very much to ae
begin to read her stories then and there, but Aunt Nellie
persuaded her not to look at them till the afternoon.
“Then we will ask Patty to read one aloud while
‘we all sit round the fire. You know, Baby, you
wished the little Bird to come and tell you them just
before tea in the twilight.’ ‘Yes,’ answered Baby,
with a sigh. “Yes, Auntie, please take care of them—
only I wish it was afternoon now.†Auntie Nellie put
aside the precious packet till they were all gathered
round the fire in the afternoon. Then Patty began, and
read aloud the story of The Little Monkey.
ta
A Tittle MilR sop.
Lil, rons
UK SEY,†said Miss Lil, one morning. “Father has given me a whole large
penny.†“Has he Miss?†said Nurse. “,I wonder why he did that ?†“He
gived it me for my thoughts,’ answered Lil. “He said to me this
morning ‘A penny for your thoughts, Lil, and I was just thinking whether I’ should
put Dolly’s blue hat on when I went out, or her fur cap. And I told him, and he
laughed so, and gave me a beautiful
5 bright penny. It looks like
a gold penny, doesn’t it ?
And, now, what
shall I buy with
it, Nursey, dear ?â€
“Well, what do
you want most,
Missy ?†:
“T might buy
a little totty dolly
for Mirandato play
with,†continued
Lil. “Can I geta
dolly for a penny,
Nursey ?â€
“
| Watching fer
the Tairy Bird.
“Oh ! yes, Ithink so,†answered Nurse.
“You can buy a little china or wooden
dolly for a penny, I feel sure. When we
were children we used to get little wooden
dollies, two a penny. They were not so
pretty as the dollies now, but they had
jointed legs and arms, and you could make
. them sit down, and sometimes stand up.
I hardly know whether you can buy that
kind now.â€
“Would they really sit down?†cried
Lil, a little excited, “because that is what
Miranda won't do. She is so stiff in the
middle. Then I might buy a chair. I saw
some penny chairs in the shop yesterday, and the little dolly could sit in it.â€
“But if you buy the dolly, you won’t have any penny left to buy the chair.â€
“Oh, dear!†Lil exclaimed, rather in dismay. Her face fell a little, for a
beautiful vision of a jointed wooden doll sitting up in a chair was rising In her mind.
“But, oh, Nursey, what is that funny noise?†and Lil started up and ran to the
window.
“Oh! it is a little dark boy with a hurdy-gurdy,†she cried, “and he has a
little monkey—such a funny little monkey in a frock, with a cap on his head. And
now he plays a tune, the monkey runs about and dances and bows. Oh! Nursey,
let us go outside and see him, do, please.â€
Nurse put on Lil’s sun-bonnet, and then they went into the front garden. The
little Italian boy came just in at the gate and smiled at her with his soft dark eyes,
and turned his hurdy-gurdy and made his monkey go through all his tricks, but Lil
was a tiny bit afraid of the little creature, and shrank back close to Nurse.
“Jacko not hurt little lady,†said the boy, in his imperfect English. “ Jacko good
little monkey.†“Is he?†said Lil. ‘Won't he bite?â€
_ “No, no, not bite. See here. Come, Jacko!â€
The little creature ran back to his master, sprang on his shoulder, and rubbed his
wizened, quaint little face against the boy’s olive cheek.
“Ts he your monkey, your very own?†asked Lil. “Si, Si, now,†said the lad.
“The Padrone lets me have him. Jacko does more tricks for me.â€
“Then I expect you are kind to him,†said Nurse; “and that’s why he
obeys you.â€
“T love Jacko,†the boy answered, simply, “and Jacko loves me.â€
“Nursey,†whispered Lil, “my penny, mayn’t I give the monkey my penny ?â€
“Do, miss, if you like,†said Nurse. “I would give him one also, but I sent all
my money away yesterday to Mother, because
Father is out of work.†So Lil pulled out her
bright penny and dropped it into Jacko’s cap,
and Jacko’s master, Luigi, thanked her in soft
Italian words and smiles, which latter were
much more intelligible to Lil than his speech.
And Miss Lil was really happier in giving '
her penny to the poor little Italian than if
“she had bought half-a-dozen jointed dollies,
— and chairs for them to sit on. She would
Sie have been happier still if she could have known how her penny
was spent, for Luigi got so many pence that day—people seem in a giving mood he
thought—that the Padrone, who employed him, gave him back one for himself.
“That is the pretty little lady’s penny,†said Luigi. “I know it because it is so
bright and shining. Now, my little Jacko, what shall we buy? I know, we will
have an orange and some nuts, and it will be the little lady’s festa.â€
So Luigi spent his penny on these dainties, and he and Jacko enjoyed their little
treat on a quiet, slteltered doorstep, and then went home to sleep. :
slap? =P ubhte..
WO little children sat blowing bubbles one Midsummer Day.
“Look! look!†cried one. “See what a lovely big Bubble; so large,
and such beautiful colours. It is like a fairy-world.â€
The Bubble rose up and up quite out of sight, and then it sank down into.
the Guarded Grove: and there the birds came and looked at it.
“Tt is going to open,†said the Robin.
True enough it did, and out stepped a Fairy Prince; and, he looking round,
cried :—
“Where is the Friggety Frog who knows the Magician’s Secret ?â€
“Here,†answered a harsh voice, and the Frog hopped out of the bushes,
“but I am not going to tell it to a bit of a boy like you.â€
“Then I will make you,†said the Fairy Prince, and immediately began :to fight.
For there was trouble in Elfland. The Magician had asked a question, and if
it could not be answered, ten fairy maidens must be gobbled up by the Magician's
Dragon. Yet none could answer it, till someone said the Friggety Frog in the
Guarded Grove, knew the Secret. But the Elves had no right of way to the
Guarded Grove. Then they caught the Bubble, and sent the Fairy Prince inside.
Long the fight continued, but at last the Frog cried out, “1 surrender,â€
oe
co
“Then,†said the Prince, “tell me the
Secret.†So the Frog told
oe there are Two Kings
of F uMpunds tiefel =
— <. There was great joy in the Woodman’s
cottage. A son had come at last, and
~ such a son!
But, as time slipped past, Hans and
Margaret grew anxious. Karl was a
splendid “Baby, but, really, he grew at
such a pace, that, even in the parental
breast, dismay began to gather. One
may have too much even of a good thing.
“We grows through his clothes,’
. sobbed the Mother. “Last night I put
him on a new pair of socks and this morning his toes are right through.†“ You
must stop it,’ said Hans, the Papa. “It really can’t be allowed.â€
“But how can 1?†whimpered his Mother.
“T know,†cried Hans. “I will make him a little wooden bedstead, and we will
pack him in every night: then at least he can only grow in the day.â€
So off went Hans to the wood-yard, and set to work very busily, and at
nightfall he returned, bearing his little wooden bedstead. It was just big enough
for the Baby to le in, with good strong oaken planks all round.
“Now, wife, now!†he cried, “He can't grow through this.â€
So they packed the Baby into the wooden bedstead, and laid down to sleep
with easier hearts. But in the morning Dame Margaret gave a wild scream, which
roused her husband out of a delicious nap.
“What ever is the matter?†he cried, sitting up.
Dame Margaret could not speak, she could but point, and then her husband,
too, began to shake, and gasp, and quiver. For, behold, in the night, their son’s legs
had grown through the wooden bedstead, and there he lay, with his little feet
sticking right through the oaken planks like two handles. Sadly, sadly, Hans sawed
through the wooden bedstead, and released him. Then he sat down, and for one
whole hour remained silent, slowly shaking his head.
“Tt is of no use, wife,’ he said, at last. ‘We must let him grow as he likes.â€
So they let him grow, till at twelve years’ old his father’s clothes were much
too small for him, and at last Karl, himself, said:
“Father, I must go away. I am too big for the village.â€
So he kissed his parents, and set off to seek his fortune.
He walked all day through the forest, and at evening came out near the city
where the King lived. The gates were open, and Karl was passing through when
the sentinel shouted to him. Karl stopped, and the soldier demanded his name.
“My name is Karl,†he answered.
“And where do you come from?â€
“From the forest where my Father, Hans, the woodman, dwells.â€
“And where are you going?â€
“To seek my fortune.â€
“By my beard, it ought to be a big one, to suit your size, my friend. But,
first you must go to the Palace. Here come along with me.
“But, why am I to go?†enquired Karl. “What have I done?â€
“You have grown,†said the man Siegfried, with a grin, “and the King has a
son who won't grow; so all big folks have to go up to his Majesty, to tell him how
they managed it, so that he may try their method on the poor little Prince.â€
Karl was rather vexed, but he was obliged to obey. Presently they came to
the Palace, and entered the great hall. Then Siegfried stopped, and Karl gazed at
the brilliant scene the hall presented.
On a dais, at the upper end, sat the King and Queen, and they were receiving
Ambassadors from
the Great Khan
of Tartary, who
were proffering com-
pliments from their
Master to King
Wisakre, of Pum-
pundstiefel. And on
a stool, between the
King and Queen,
“sat the Prince of
Hochsausagerin — a
tiny boy — whose
name was Otto.
Though the
King was listening
to the Ambassadors’
address, he saw
Siegfried and Karl
enter the hall, and
as soon as_ the
forward. t
“Who have you there, Siegfried ?†ee
said, eagerly gazing at Karl.
“A pig lad, your Majesty, who was
passing through the gates, just now.â€
“Who is he?†inquired the Queen.
“His name is Karl, and he is going to seek
his fortune.†“Have your friends sent you
away?†said the King.
“Please, your Majesty,†said poor Karl,
hanging his head and blushing, “1 grow so
fast and eat so much, that Father and
Mother can’t keep me any longer.â€
“How ald are you?†“Please, your Majesty, fifteen come St. Ethelmunda’s day.â€
“Fifteen,†cried, the Queen, “on St. Ethelmunda’s day. Are you sure?â€
“Yes, please, your Majesty,†said Karl, bowing humbly to the Queen. “My Mother
had no children, so she went to the shrine of St. Ethelmunda and prayed for a son.
But when I came she got more than she bargained for, poor dear Mother!â€
“And I rather less,†said the Queen. “I, too, prayed at St. Ethelmunda’s shrine,
and fifteen years ago my poor little son came; but, there, you see, he has never
grown nearly big enough.†“And I,†said Karl, “have grown a great deal too big.
Oh, what a pity we can’t be melted down together and properly divided!â€
“Good gracious!†said the King, “what a splendid idea. How tall are you, Karl?â€
“Nine feet in my stockings, please your Majesty.â€
“The Prince is just three. Three and nine are twelve. Half twelve is six. Six
feet is exactly the height for a man. I am six feet. Would you object, Karl?â€
“Not I!†cried Karl. “I am sick of hearing how much too big I am.â€
“And I,†cried the Prince, “of hearing how much too little I am.â€
“There,†cried the King, much excited. “Let it be done at once. A thousand
pounds’ reward to any man who will manage this matter forme!†There was silence.
Then one of the foreign Ambassadors stepped forward, and, bowing profoundly, said:
“Oh, King, live for ever! I will do this deed.â€
“You think you can manage it?†said the King, all in a twitter. “Who are you?
What is your name? Where do you come from? How are you going to do it?â€
“My name,†said the stranger, who was dressed in a long black robe, and had
on his head a tall pointed cap, “is Selim ben Mahed. I come from the land of Light
and Wisdom, and I have studied the books of the Ancients—and read the secret
of the earth, and the sea, and the air, and the fire.â€
?
“And,†shouted the King, jumping up and down on his throne, in his eagerness,
“You think you can divide these two youths into decent proportions ? i
“Tf you will supply me with proper appliances. After I have consulted the stars
and listened to the murmurings of the Ancients, I will do so!â€
“Proper appliances,†screamed the King. “You shall have everything, everything,
only tell me what. Where? How?â€
It had been a very busy month. The Physician Selim required many things—
a beautiful pagoda to be built, a furnace to be constructed, a large caldron of silver
to be cast. All kinds of gums, and essences had to be procured, and the stars
had constantly to be consulted, for an auspicious moment. At last the hour drew
near. Hans and his wife had been sent for to give their consent, and then Karl and
the little Prince were committed into the hands of the Physician, and he withdrew
with them into the pagoda and shut the door, which he secured with seven locks.
Then came an anxious time. For seven days and nights, the King and Queen, and
Hans and his wife, and the courtiers, and the towns-people, waited in silence and fear.
“T can’t hear anything!†said the King, applying his ear to one keyhole.
“But I can smell something,†said the Queen, applying her nose to another.
“There is something frizzling,’ murmured Dame Margaret, at a third keyhole.
“And, and a bubbling,’ faltered Hans, at a fourth.
“Tt is like—mutton chops!†whispered one courtier, at the fifth keyhole.
“Qr, or mock-turtle soup,’ said a maid of honour, at 2
the sixth.
“No it’s roast goose,’ screamed the head nurse, who was
at the seventh.
“Oh, do be quiet,†said the King, impatiently, “ how is
one to hear anything with such a row going on outside.â€
But on the seventh day, a sound of strange and solemn
music burst upon their ears, and slowly, slowly, the seven-
locked door opened, and they rushed in.
There stood the Physician, with a proud smile curving the
comers of his mouth, and there, at the end of the chamber,
stood two young men, exactly the same size.
“My darling!†screamed the Queen, as she rushed towards
them.
“My dearest!†shrieked Mrs. Hans, as she followed.
But as they nearly reached them, both Queen and
Peasant suddenly stopped short, while a puzzled expression
crept over their faces.
“Which is Otto?†gasped the Queen. “Oh, Karl, which
is you?†clammered Margaret. But the young men were
.silent. They only smiled. “That is Karl, those
are his eyes,’ cried his Mother.
“But, but, it is Otto's nose,
Queen.
“Oh, ae to me, Karl,†sobbed Margaret ;
“tell me, which you are?â€
“We don’t know,†said one of the young
men, softly. “We have. been trying to find
out. I remember the forest hut—but so ‘does—
this one. He recollects being fed with a golden
spoon out of a silver pap-boat, but so do I.
One-of us’ is Otto-Karl, and the other Karl-
Otto, but we can’t find out which. But we are
the right size anyhow, and that’s a comfort.â€
But the two Mothers turned in one simultaneous
rage on the Physician.
““Oh, you wicked, wicked saan! they sobbed, “You have mixed them up so
that we cannot tell which is which.â€
“Well!†said the Physcian, rather crossly, “T can't help it now—you asked
‘me to melt them down and divide them, but you did not say a word about their
being kept separate. How w as I to know? Besides, it could not be done. There
was too much Karl and too little Otto—any child might see that.†;
_* “But,†said the King, trembling, “ but what zs to be done? Which, which is
my son and Prince, and heir to this great kingdom ?â€
It was a dreadful question. ~All the wise men of
the kingdom were assembled to discuss and decide it,
but they quarrelled unceasingly, for a whole month,
and could come to no agreement.
-Then,..as a last resource, the King called all the
wise women together, and, wonderful to relate, they
‘settled the matter in an hour
without any quarrelling at all.
‘Of course,’ they said,. it
‘ig.as clear as daylight. “It is
a case of Twins.. They must
both’ be king.†‘
So thus it was settled, and. :
‘thus it comes that there always « —
are two kings of Pumpundsterfel.
â€
exclaimed the
HE children were waiting to begin the afternoon story. Auntie Nellie was
just finishing a letter that must go by the afternoon post, and Grandpapa
was reading his newspaper. Baby had sat herself down on the fur rug
with Kitty on her lap, and was singing to herself, in a soft little voice—
I have a little pony,
His coat is dapple-grey,
I never whip my pony—
“Then you are not like Cousin Flossie,’ said Alec, in a low voice. Alec was
netting, an accomplishment his Aunt had succeeded in teaching him, and of which
he had become fond. “Don’t you recollect how she whipped Samson and made
him run away?â€
“Oh, yes,†said Patty. “Oh, wasn't I dreadfully frightened when I saw him
galloping along, and Flossie all of a heap on his back calling ‘out for help.â€
“Why, what was that?†asked Auntie Nellie, as she began to fold up her
letter. “Who was Samson?â€
“Samson was the pony at the farm, Auntie, where we stayed last Summer, by
the sea, you know,†explained Alec, “and Mamma had asked Flossie to stay with
us, with Jack and Trots, too, because Auntie Jessie was ill. And Floss wanted to
ride the pony, and Mr. Brown, he was the farmer, you know.â€
“Such a nice farmer,’ interjected Baby, “he had leather stockings all up his
legs,» Auntie.â€
“Those were his gaiters, Baby,’ corrected Alec. “Well, he said Samson was a
very good pony, but that he could never bear being whipped, ‘cause he was never
used to it. But as soon almost as Flossie got on his back, she began to whack
him ever so hard, and he ran away. Oh, my, didn’t he tear—and if William, the
ploughman, hadn't rushed across the field and caught him, Flossie would have been
thrown off, as sure as sure. Mr. Brown would never let her ride him again.â€
“T don't “ke Cousin Flossie,†said Baby, emphatically.
“Oh, Baby!†said Auntie, rather reprovingly.
“Well, Auntie,†cried Patty, “Cousin Floss is such a tease. Why, when we were
down on the sands—and there were such lovely, lovely sands, Auntie, and then the
sea all blue and tossing, with the ships sailing by—she was always teasing. She
would come when one was making a beautiful castle and knock it all over, just
as we had made it so pretty; or she would creep up behind and throw a piece
of wet sea-weed all round your face, or. pour some sea-water down your neck ;
and once she put a live crab down Baby’s back, and made her cry dreadfully.â€
“Qh, it was so horwid!†exclaimed Baby, with a shudder at the remembrance,
“it was so cold, so scratchy, and it must have hurt the poor little crab.â€
?
“But the worst was when she
nearly tipped Baby into the sea,â€
went on Alec.
“Tipped Baby into the sea!â€
said Grandpapa, putting down his
paper.
“Yes, Grandpa. We were out
in the boat with Nurse and Mr
Jones, the boatman, and Baby was
leaning over a little,
looking in the water,
to see if she could see
a mermaid or a water-
fairy (like those in the
gbook about poor little
“Tom, the Water Baby,
you know), and Flossie
gave her a push, and
the boat jerked a little
at the same time, and over went Baby,
and if Nurse hadn’t made a great grab
and caught her by the frock, she would
Sees have gone right into the sea. Her head
did, and all her hat and jacket were soaking wet.â€
“And my mouf was full of water,’ said Baby, “and I screamed!â€
“Father was dreadfully angry when he heard about it,†said Patty, “and said
Flossie was never to go out in the boat again. Floss was sorry then.â€
“T hardly wonder that you don’t care for Cousin Flossie, Baby,†said Grandpapa.
“She was better after that,’ said Alec. “But I do think she ought to have
seen the ‘Round Robin, for when she left off teasing us she used to worry the
poor dogs and cats, even the puppy. She would pretend she had something nice
and put some soap in his mouth. She made Ponto worry Puss one day, and
poor Puss got in the tree, and Ponto barked and jumped and made such a noise,
and Patty had to hold him tight while we coaxed Pussie down.â€
“And another time she got an old tin kettle,’ said Baby, “and tied it to the
other little doggie’s tail, and made him feel so bad and ill, that I had to nurse him
up all the afternoon. I wrapped him up in my pinafore, Ganpa, and I sung him a song,
and then he seemed much better, and ran races with me all about the garden.â€
“Well, I agree with Alec, that Floss ought to see the ‘Round Robin,’†said Auntie:
“but now, children, I have quite finished my letter, if you like to begin to read.â€
Ce a JBdurrerriyy Stor
z TJ. HEX, you cannot be a Child-soul!†she said.
“Then I will be a Butterfly-soul!†he answered.
The Wise Woman shook her head with a sigh, but she gave him
his own way, though as she waved her hand, and he was dressed all at once in
lovely wings, all purple and blue and gold, and a body like velvet, ad with two
eyes as bright as diamonds, she said:
“Even the butterflies have their work to do—even the elves and the bees.
They have to be kind to others, and help the weak and the suffering. All, all,
must take take the ill with the good, and the bitter with the sweet!â€
“T won't have any ill, or any bitter,’ he cried, as he flew away in the
sunshine. “I only want to enjoy myself.â€
And he did enjoy himself, flitting about in the beautiful sunlight, and tasting
here a flower and there a flower to see which had the sweetest honey. Presently
he saw two children playing in a garden and he thought he would like to go
and play with them. So he fluttered round and round, and at last poised himself
with quivering half-opened wings on the child’s hand.
“Oh, look!†she said. ‘Oh, brother, look how beautiful he is! Sure he
must be the Butterfly King!â€
“Tt is a Peacock Butterfly!†cried the boy. “Look at the lovely spots on
’ his wings. And see, it is as if he were covered with tiny feathers!†‘And the
fairies have powdered him with gold and diamond dust,†his sister whispered
ea east
then a voice called out: “Come in, ‘ Lt
children, dears, to your lessons !â€
“Good-bye, beautiful Butterfly,â€
cried the child, as she held up her hand
for him to fly away. “We must go
and learn our tasks, and you must go
and learn yours!â€
“T have no tasks to ap said
the Butterfly, as he darted away and
flitted about in the sunshine. But
presently he grew a little tired of that,
and then the sun went in behind a cloud,
and he felt chilly and lonely. Just then
he saw the Wise Woman standing by him.
' “Well,†she said, “Are you quite
content ?.â€
“No,†he said, rather crossly. “ Why doesn't
the sun always shine.?†:
“Tf the sun always shone,†she answered,
“there would be no rain, and if there were no rain
the flowers would die, and you would have no
honey. What did I tell you? Good and ill, and
bitter——†“Oh, bother!†said the’ Butterfly,
and flew away.
The sun came out again and warmed him,
and the flowers opened their lovely cups, and he
flew about and tried to be quite happy. Yet
something made him doubt it. And there stood
“the Wise Woman again.
“Why am I not happy?†he cried, im-
patiently. “What is the matter? The sun shines
and the flowers bloom, but I am not content.â€
But the Wise Woman was silent; she might
not speak. He would not listen when she had
ed spoken and now he must find out for himself,
which was much harder. But. at last he knew why. he was not happy, and
knowing it he looked around him, and then he saw a little baby in a cradle—a
baby so tiny that it had not yet opened its eyes and looked into its mother’s face.
Then he flew down and settled as light as an angel's’ kiss upon the baby’s lips, and
as he did so his lovely wings faded away like a crumbling moonbeam, and the
Butterfly vanished quite.away. But the baby opened its large blue eyes and gazed
up, and stretched out its little arms to be taken to its mother’s heart... _
“There's the tea-bell!†said Grandpapa, as Patty finished her story. . “ Come
along, children.â€
They went in to tea, but all the time ae was munching her bread .and
butter and drinking her milk she was unusually. silent, and her hazel eyes looked
full of thought. At last she sat down her mug with a sigh
of relief and exclaimed: “I fink I know!†“ What do
you think you know?†inquired Auntie Nellie.
“1 fink I know why the Butterfly wasn’t happy,†she
answered. “I fink it was ‘cause he didn’t want the bother
of being ‘good, but somefin’ inside him 'bliged him to be
good. I feels so, too, sometimes, Gandpa.â€
“Do you, Baby?†said Grandpapa, with a smile.
“Well, I daresay you do, and older folks than you as
fie
well, I think you have found out the riddle, Baby!
A Rowd ke World.
ACK JE says the world is round,’ said Miss
Moppets, “and if you go out one side of
the garden and walk, and walk, and walk,
side. I'll go and see!â€
So Miss Moppets put on her sun-bonnet, and took
her basket, wherein she put a bun that Mother had given
her before she went out, and then she started off by the front gate to
walk all round the world and come in at the back. And Snap the
dog wanted to go, too, but couldn’t get through the fence. It was
a very beautiful morning. The sky was washed a most lovely blue by
yesterday’s rain, and a few little white cloudlets which were floating by only made it look
bluer. The birds were singing with all their might, till the woodland rang with their
melody, and the fairies had hung dewdrops on every blade of grass and on every flower’s
tip. Even the slow old snails were running races with a sprite on their backs for a jockey,
and the Elves were flitting about on the dragon-flies’ backs, and looking after the bees,
and being as busy as possible. The fields were full of daisies and buttercups, and up
the glade the wild hyacinths were all a sheet of blue. Miss Moppets came to a stile,
and there, right over her head, she heard a lark singing clear and shrill.
“Lark, lark!†she cried, “Tell me, is the world round?â€
“Yes, yes, said the Lark. “Come up here and you will see.â€
“T wish I could,†sighed Miss Moppets, “but I haven’t any wings!â€
“Dear, dear! how sad!†said the Lark; and went on singing.
So Miss Moppets went on a little further, and saw a blackbird sitting on her nest.
“Blackbird,†she said, “tell me, is the world round?â€
“Why, of course,†said the Blackbird. “All nice things are round—nests are
round, and eggs are round, and you are round if you take yourself the short way!â€
“Why so I am,†said Miss Moppets, and trudged on again. But now she began to
feel rather tired, and her small legs ached, and she sat herself down on a sunny bank.
“Oh dear!†she said, “what a big place the world is. I wish I had brought
Snap with me, ’cause he could have run on and seen if it is much further. But I must
be nearly round by this time. I think—†But here she
forgot to think any more, and fell fast asleep. Now while
Miss Moppets was sitting there, she was being watched by
bright eyes from behind the tufts of grass; and as soon
as she was asleep, the owners of the eyes—the little grey
bunnies—came prancing out to look at her a little nearer.
<
ra ag
Il on a Jum mers Morning:
“She’s off sound,†said Papa Bunny, poking his little nose close to Miss Moppets’,
and tickling her rosy cheek with the end of his whiskers. Then he gave a frisk, and
a hop, and twitched his ears, and curled up his tail a little tighter. “Let us look in
her basket. Why, here’s a bun, I declare. Come and have a bit, children!†. But
Mrs. Bunny and her daughters were so busy trying on Miss Moppets’ bonnet, that
they could not pay any attention to Papa Bunny.
“Isn't it sweet?†said the elder Miss Bunny. “Oh, Mamma darling, you do
look lovely!†But the younger Miss Bunny was more critical. “Don’t you think,â€
she said, “it is a tweeny bit too large, and hides Mamma’s sweet soft ears!â€
“Tt is a little roomy at the back, perhaps,†answered Mrs. Bunny. “But—â€
Mrs. Bunny never finished her sentence, for just then they heard the footstep of
a man who came whistling along the woodland glade; and the bonnet, and the
basket were left, and four little grey bodies flashed through the fern, and were gone.
“TFallo!†cried the man, “why here is my little Moppets fast asleep. However
did she come here?†And he picked her up, and the basket, and carried her home.
“Father,†said Miss Moppets, when she waked up, “I have been all round the
world. I went out at the front gate and walked and walked, and now you have
carried me in at the back, so you see 1 must have been all the way round. And I
had such a funny dream—I dreamt I saw a Bunny putting on my bonnet. But, oh,
Father, you've forgotted my bonnet, and left it in the wood!†“Never mind,†said
Father, “you shall have my cap till I can go and fetch it.†So when Miss Moppets
started off again.(and this time Snap managed to
get out also), she had to wear Father's cap,
which didn’t shade her eyes so nicely as the
pretty bonnet that was left in the wood.
he “What a ‘nigorant’ little girl!†said Baby,
Fs ighily, as Patty finished reading. “How could
she walk round the world when there is such a
awful big sea in the way?â€
“Ah! Baby,†said Grandpapa, “she had not
had your advantages. 1 suppose she had not
learnt the use of the globes!†“What is a globes,
Ganpa?†inquired Baby, “Is it a sort of a ship?
But—†without waiting for an answer, “That
he was such a little totty bit of a story. Mayn’'t
Patty read the next?†“Oh! yes,†said Grand-
papa. “If she is not tired?†“I’m not a bit
tired,†answered Patty. “Fire away then,†said
Grandpapa—and Patty fired away.
‘oanp the world! How shall we go? And follow, follow over field
Why, Qe easiest ewery | And hill and dale, and Sea:
Just calth a sunbeam hy ity end Jo round the world
Jind hola it bight all day, and home again,
By morning dawn
you UW be
Fe. BD Pee RES CSARDEN.
Ts € people who lived at the Gable House had gone away, and the place was
shut up. So little Maggie raced up and down the garden paths, and
gathered roses, made herself a garland, and ran down to her Father's cottage,
where her blind Mother sat knitting. ‘You have some flowers, Maggie, she
said. “I can smell their sweetness.†“Yes, Mother,’ said Maggie, “there are such
lots up there ; the garden is lovely.†“But it won’t be lovely long,†said her Father,
who had just come in, “if no one tends them. Mr. March
asked me to see after it, but, what with the hay coming on
like this, and Master ill, I haven’t a minute of time.â€
“Father,†said Maggie, suddenly, “can’t I do a bit!â€
“You, lass, oh, I don’t know. But you can try.†:
Maggie did try, for she was very fond of flowers; and, .
after that, she went weeding, and watering, and tying up; and “SS
she kept the garden so tidily that her Father was quite pleased.
“Why, lass, this does you credit,’ he said, one day. “And
you shall have what they give for keeping the place—that’s only
fair.†And off he went. “Oh, I wonder,’ thought Maggie, “how much it will be.
I do so want that book for dear Mother. Martha says it is twelve shillings—the Gospel
of St. John—all raised up, so that Mother can read it with her fingers. I have only
three shillings in my money-box. And Martha says twelve shillings is very cheap.â€
But one day when Maggie was busy in the garden, she heard voices. Presently
she saw her Father, and Mr. March, the bailiff, and a strange gentleman coming
towards her. The latter was speaking. “I am glad the garden has not been left
to run wild,†he said. “Of course I'll pay whoever has kept it tidy. Was it you,
Hill?†turning to Maggie’s Father.
“No, sir,†said Hill, smiling, “it was my little lass here,†and he pointed to
Maggie. “And I have promised the pay to her.†“This little maid,’ said the gentle-
man, smiling. “Well, now, how much do you charge for your work, my dear?â€
“What you please, sir,†answered Maggie, with a curtsey. But the gentleman
saw an anxious, wistful look in her face. “I am sure there is something you want,â€
he said. “Tell me now, what will it cost? Is it a new dolly?â€
Maggie flushed red. “Oh, no, sir,†she stammered, “ but—but—it is a book
with raised letters, that Mother could read, because she is blind. I have three
shillings, but it will cost twelve; and nine shillings is—oh, such a deal of money!â€
The gentleman looked down, smiling at the little flushed, anxious face. Then
he pulled a sovereign out of his pocket, and put it into Maggie’s hand.
“There,†he said, “that will buy the book without the three shillings. No,
no, child; no thanks. It is not a bit too much for the work you have done!â€
/ ZJ was a wet afternoon again. The children had found a
pack of cards, and Alec was building a splendid house
with them, and Baby sat on the floor and sang in a
‘sweet little piping voicé:
We're going to build a castle,
A castle, oh, so high!
_ Whose towers and noddin’ battlements
Will almost touch the sky.
But in this wondrous castle, And in my castle liveth
Although it is so tall, A boo’ful little maid,
You cannot go upstairs, because Who in its topmost turret
‘There are no stairs at all. A prisoner long hath stayed.
‘There came a Knight a-riding,
His spear of golden straw ; 5 i
He was the very bravest Knight
That mortal ever saw.
He cried, ‘*I ve come to save thee;
Come down; oh, maiden fair!â€
The maid she sobbed, “ How can I cor
Without a single stair?†sae
_ Just’ then came by a Mousie. “Go, fetch the kitchen bellows,
_ With a mushroom for a hat, , And give a good big puff,
And’as he saw their trouble, | _ To bring the castle tumbling down,
‘ He said, “Tl settle that!†You'll find it quite enough!â€
“They followed Mousie’s counsel,
And soon that castle grand
‘Was gone, while Knight and Maiden
' Rode off to Fairyland! »
‘ “That is a wondrous ditty,†said Grandpapa, “but I think it is time for our
story.†- :
™€LL, you poor little soul, I don’t know what is to be done with you
now your foolish Mother has got killed in that rabbit-burrow,†said
Squire Stubbs, gazing down at a queer, big-headed, soft-legged puppy,
who gazed back at him with an equally mournful expression. “I just think we
had better tie a stone round your neck, and put you in the pond.â€
“Oh, no, Father!†cried little Peggy, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh, don't!
Give him to me, Father, I’ll feed him and see after him; indeed I will.’
So it was agreed that Peggy was to be a kind of little Mother to Mugs (such
was the puppy’s name), but she soon found her post to be no sinecure, for a more
unfortunate puppy, or one more apt to get into mischief, never breathed. Even as
he grew older he developed all sorts of vexatious ways; and at last, after having
nearly met his death in the preserves, and once tumbling through the thin ice of a
pond and being rescued by Peggy, at the peril of her life and the ruin of her frock,
and after every day chasing the young chickens, and dashing into the pond after the
ducks, and doing every mortal thing a little dog ought not to do, he was condemned to
exile. The Shepherd was to take him to his cottage on the moor, and see if he
could mend his manners. Poor little Peggy wept bitter tears, for, with all his faults,
she was devoted to Mugs, as Mugs was to her; but the Squire would not give
way, and Mugs was led away, looking as miserable an animal as ever was seen.
But next morning there was a grand row in the farmyard, and lo! there was
Mugs triumphant, with a broken bit of rope round his neck, chasing the ducks and
chickens as cheerfully as ever. He had managed to break loose, and find his way home.
But his joy was short-lived. Again he was captured, and again led off; and
for some days there was peace in the poultry-yard.
It was night—a still, dark night. Everyone was asleep at the Grange, when
suddenly everyone was awakened by a dreadful clamour below. Shouts, blows, barks,
x ie yells, then muffled growlings, and general
7 fi; turmoil; in the midst of which out rushed
the Squire and his men, in hasty costume.
“What is this?†shouted the Squire.
“Who is there?†But whoever was there
did not wait to reply, for two figures were
... dimly seen jumping over the gate, and fleeing
away into the darkness.
“Thieves, as I’m alive!†shouted the
old gentleman. “ Mark! Harry! follow them!
Here, bring a light. What's this?â€
For he struck his foot against
something soft, which gave a little moan. “Its a
dog! It’s Mugs!†he cried, as someone brought a
candle, “and he’s half-killed. | What is that in his
teeth?—a bit of fustian cloth. Why, the little chap
must have got loose again, and caught the thieves
here !â€
“And not too soon,†said old Tom. “They
had got the door almost open, Squire; see, here’s
their tools, and he got one of ’em by the leg.
Here let me see what can be done. He’s badly hurt!â€
But though Mugs was hai/-killed, he was not
wholly so; and with great care and nursing he
recovered. It need scarcely be said that he was
never sent away again, and, for the future, was
allowed to bark at the ducks as much as he liked.
Z had hung, that quaint Mirror, in the Banqueting Hall for generation after
generation, reflecting the faces and forms of all who came and went in the
long procession of the years.
But no one knew its mystery or guessed at its wonderful properties, till Clothilde,
that afternoon, noticed a little knob in the lower left-hand corner, and idly put her
finger upon it. Then, as she pressed it, the reflection of her own chubby visage
faded from before her, and in its place was the face of a beautiful lady, gazing at
her out of the Mirror, with deep beautiful eyes.
Astonished, Clothilde took her finger off the knob, and as she did so the lady’s
face faded, and her own came back. Then Clothilde pressed it again, and now
there was a grand gentleman, all dressed in velvet and lace, with a sword by
his side, and then a gay page, and then a solemn scholar in ruff and Genevan
gown, and then a priest in alb and cope.
For the Mirror had stored up the likenesses of all those whose images had
once been reflected on its glittering surface, and by pressing the secret spring they
passed in order before the gazer.
Now, Clothilde knelt entranced before the Mirror, seeing one after another of
these pictures and portraits, till there came the face of a Maiden with a distaff
in her hand, and the face looked at her with such loving beautiful eyes that
Clothilde longed to know her story.
H
|
i
t
So she went away and asked everyone to tell her is
about the little Maiden with the distaff. But no one knew
it, and Clothilde was quite in despair till someone said,
“Perhaps old Algith knows. She is very, very old, and
has dwelt in the castle for many, many years!â€
So Clothilde climed up the narrow stair to the turret
chamber where old Algith now always abode, and asked
about the face of the little Maiden whom she had seen in the Mirror.
“Yes, yes,’ said Algith. “I can tell you about her, and you
ought to know her story, for Elsie, the Spinning Maiden, did a
brave deed in the old day and saved the Castle. For Elsie was
a little Maiden who lived here many centuries ago when the world
was a rougher world than it is now. For in those times a great
Baron, an enemy of the Count, your ancestor, who owned the Castle then, came
with all his vassals and men-at-arms, and besieged the Castle so closely that
none could go out, and none come in, so that food began to fail, and all inside the
walls grew weak with hunger. And if help did not come soon, the soldiers
would have no strength to resist the fierce attacks which almost daily the Baron
made upon the walls.
“Then the Count and Countess remembered an ancient prediction that had been
made by a great Wizard concerning the fate of their House, and they called their
household together in the great Banqueting Hall and the Count said:
“«Will any one of you do a great deed for us?’
“And they asked what it was.
“In the turret room of the great keep,’ replied the Count, ‘There lies a
heap of fairy flax, and if anyone, in three days and nights, will spin from it a
thread long enough to go round the outer wall, then no enemy or foe can touch
us or do us any harm. But the thread must be spun without pause, and having
neither break nor knot, for if the thread should snap in the spinning, the virtue
goes from it.
“There was a silence for a few moments, and all the women and maidens looked
at one another with doubtful eyes, for who could dare to undertake so great a task.
“But, as they paused, Elsie, the fairest of the maidens, and the most beloved,
stepped forth and said:
“J will do it, my: lord!’
“But the Countess cried, ‘Oh, no, oh, no, not Elsie, for—for whoever shall do this
shall scarcely live !’ ‘
“But Elsie smiled, and said:
“¢T fear not, dear lady. Is not my life thine?’ and so she went to the Turret
Chamber and set to work on the Fairy Flax.
“Fast, fast she worked, while the sun rose and shone upon the Castle, and sank
to rest, and while the moon rose and wandered amid the tiny fleecy clouds, and
while the great stars wheeled on their courses in the heavens, never taking eye or
finger from her work, never pausing to eat or drink or sleep, lest the task should not
be finished in time, but just at sunrise on the third day the flax was all used up, and
the thread was bound around the Castle walls. Then Elsie sank down white and
still on the turret floor, for the thread she had spun was her own life, and it was
quite spun out.
“Then came a great clamour and stir beyond the Castle walls, for the great Baron
and his troops fled away in strange confusion and fear, and the Count and all his
household were free.
“But as they gazed from the walls at the tumult, they heard the sound of silver
trumpets and the chanting of solemn Psalms, and up to the Castle Gate a procession
winded, headed by one who bore aloft a mighty jewelled Cross. And there followed
singing boys and men, and the priest in his priestly robes, and last of all four youthful
knights clad in white armour, with white flowing mantles, and these had crossed their
spears and laid upon them their shields which, too, were white as the driven snow.
“ And as the Warder of the Castle asked them of their will, the Priest bade him
open wide the Castle gates, ‘for’ he said, ‘we have come to fetch the Maiden who
has given away her life.’
“Then with tears and wailing, they brought down Elsie, the Fair Spinning Maiden,
white and still with her distaff in her clasped hands, and laid her upon the snow-
white shields, and the four knights raised the bier, and bore it after the priest,
followed by all the dwellers in the Castle, to the Chapel of St. Agnes, among the
lonely hills.
“And there, as the Priest sang Mass, and
they laid Elsie to rest in the moss-grown, still
churchyard, and the people knelt with bowed
heads and weeping eyes, behold, a strange thing
happened. For the mantles of the —
youthful knights changed into great ;
white feathery wings, and as they
spread them and rose aloft, and
vanished among the flocking clouds,
it was said there was a fifth angel
with them, and the face of that
angel was like unto the face of
Elsie, the Spinning Maiden.â€
{Y was Spring-time again; bright, beau-
tiful Spring. The daffodils and the
hyacinths were blooming in the
garden, and the golden and purple crocuses
scarcely over. The woods were full of
primroses and the delicate windflower ; the
bluebells were beginning to thrust up their
flower-stalks, and the young leaves spread
their tender green out to the sunshine.
The birds sang all day in the copse, and
the cuckoo and the swallows had come
home from their Winter trip to the warm south.
One morning, while the children were playing beggar-my-neighbour, the postman
brought a thin letter, with a foreign postmark, to the Manor House, which Grand-
papa opened as they sat at breakfast.
“Good news, children,†he said. “Your Father has got quite strong and well,
and he and Mother are coming home as fast as trains and steamers can bring them.â€
“Hurrah!†cried Alec. “It will be jolly to have them home again.â€
“And they want you to go back, so as to be there when they arrive. So
you must pack up all your treasures and be off. Auntie Nellie had better go
with you, and Nurse, to take care of you all. I almost think you will have to
start to-morrow, or they will get back first. Why, Baby, what is the matter?
Are you not glad, darling?â€
“Oh, yes,†sobbed Baby, “I am dreadful glad that Father and Mother are
coming home. I wants to see them dreadfully; but—but—I don’t—want—to go
away from you, Ganpa,—and—and—†But here Baby so dissolved in tears that
she became unintelligible. :
“And I don’t want to go either,†cried Patty. “Oh, dear! Why can’t we
be altogether always?â€
“Grandpapa,†said Alec, “I wish you and Auntie would come and live next
door, then we could run in and out every day. That would be best.â€
“Oh, yes,†gurgled Baby, who was being comforted on Grandpapa’s knee, and
began to recover. “Oh, do, Ganpa!â€
“What! and leave the poor old Manor House, and the garden, and the Fairy
Oak, and the birds, Baby, and go and live in smoky London? No, I don't think
I can do that. Besides, then there would be no place for you to come to when
you want a run in the fresh air. Don’t cry, my darling, you will go home and
be so happy with Father and Mother, and
then you will come back and see us for
a little time.â€
“T know who will be glad to see us
back, besides Father and Mother,’ cried
Alec, and those are Carlo and Hector.â€
“Who are Carlo and Hector?â€
enquired Auntie Nellie.
“Why, our two dogs, Auntie,’
said Patty. “Don’t you remember
them when you came to see us,
before Father and Mother went away.
Such pretty dogs, with long silky hair
and big bushy tails. Jane said in her letter they were so low-spirited and
miserable when we went away. I expect they will jump up, and want to kiss
us all over—though I don’t like their kisses much, they are such wet kisses. And
there will be Puss, too, and the new kitten and the canary birds—they will all be
glad to see us back.â€
“Ganpa,†said Baby, after a long pause, during which she had been sitting
leaning her little head against his shoulders. “ Ganpa.â€
“Well, my pet?â€
“Ganpa, there’s somefin’ I want to ask you.’
“Go on, Baby.â€
' But Baby still hesitated. “It is somefin’ rather big,’ she said, doubtfully. “J
don’t know if—if—you will, Ganpa.â€
“Why, you can but ask me,†he replied, “and I can but say ‘No’ at the worst.â€
Baby curled her arms round the old gentleman’s neck.
“But, I don’t want you to say ‘No’†she whispered, putting her little mouth
close to his ear.
“But I cannot say either ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ till you tell me what it is, Goosey,â€â€™
laughed Grandpapa.
“Well,†went on Baby, with a little gasp, ‘All the stories—that the Fairy Bird
sent, you know!â€
“Yes—well ?â€
“Well, Ganpa, I wants you to have them all bounded up into a big book, with
pictures in it, and what we said about them, so that other little boys and girls night
read them. Oh, Ganpa! don’t you think it will be boo’ful?â€
“Oh, yes!†cried Patty and Alec. “Oh, do, do! and then Father and Mother
will see them, and we can read them all over again. Do you think you can,
Granpapa ?â€
that. ak
" Round Robin?†oo
“The Round Robin, that the birds sarotea! sud Baby, a ony †(very solemnly)
_“T fink that you, Ganpa, and Auntie Nellie: were the fairies all the ae
®
- Really Baby,†said ards, “that is a grand. iba The very next time
y) y, pay
1 go to London I will see what can be done. But what. shall we call our book 2 or
. It must have a title, you khow.†yy
“Why not call, it aN Round Robin ?’†suggested Aunt Nellie. “Tt all began-with
fi,
“Yes, yes, yes!
“Of course, they were,†said. Alec, loftily.. “ Fairies couldn't do it.â€
“But it is nice to think there are’ fairies,†said Patty, with a little sigh, ‘Anyway,
“we have had'a lovely’ time, and I hope the other Hee: girls and boys who read our
book will like it as much as we have ‘done.â€
° auerAcieN wi ai stente tw ° . ° . Piss . °
And the next a was “ Good-byeâ€. day.
“Good-bye, Ganpa,â€: sobbed. Baby.. “ Good- bye, dear Gane and we'll come
_ again soon ; and, oh, Ganpa! don't forget -
©
*
cried oS cits, Capping, oe is “Let us ‘call it ‘A
ee Hu Bt AAT en) Te
rs
ioe
peas a et Siren
iat.
ve
gioco
|
Full Text |
arrett Te Bennett
Hh
: al: z NewYork: she
Shake: oe c yon R ER Dutton. & Ce.
2 ride, Streevtic.C.. Iss :
th iX ; » j e Nie f Printed by: €. Nister at Nurembeng v it 31 West Gwenty Sbird street. if
sue
(Bavaria) vie
ee ee
brary
Universi
5
TU
a
faa}
o
&
RmB
Qbew bile Alp :
tw b & SEG.
tv
YE Nin eo SS
]
e JSntroduction }
ne op. must pes
go and Jee,
A the wie old Rook,
SG making a hook,
To send to those
children three.â€
spectacles on, was busy with pen and ink.
“Oh, please,†she said. “You know those children who have come to
stay at the Manor House?â€
“Yes, yes,’ said Mr. Rook. “I know! Staying with their Grandpapa while
their Father and Mother are away in the warm South for the Winter.â€
“Yes,†said the Princess, “And the birds have written them a Round Robin—’
“Don't I know it!†said Mr. Rook. “It was that conceited Cock Robin began
it, and he went to the Fairies to write it; but, dear me, they only knew Old
English spelling, and they actually sent the Elves to ask the Bunnies and the
Mousies—as if they could tell them. Of course they had to come back to me, and I
did it all—and signed their names.â€
“But now I want to send the children something,†said Princess Amor. “All the
children who read the Bird’s Message, and remember it, and are good and kind and
loving. Now, what have you got?â€
“Come close,’ said Mr. Rook, and then he put his beak close to Princess Amor’s
little ear and whispered something.
“Oh! oh! oh!†cried the Princess, clapping her ends And then she ran up the
Fairy stairs and looked out of the window of her Fairy Palace, and kissed her hand to all
the little children, who lay sleeping in the round dark world far below her as it
swung round on its wondrous way, and cried softly, “It is coming, dear children—at
Christmas.â€
S she trotted down the Fairy stairs to where Mr. Rook, with a new pair of
Titustrated by
Darriett a Dennett,
pStories. by
MA. Boyer.
E.dited and Arranged .by |
Robert Ellice Mack.
London: New York:
Ernest Nister E€.P Duttoné&ce |
Aa ede Street EC. Printed by € Nisten at Nuremberg (Bavaria, 31 West Twenty Third Street.
Che
Fairy Mird,,
" UT praps the dickey-birds
did do it!†said Baby.
“Flush, Baby,’ said Patty,
in a low voice. “You mustn't talk so
loud, or you will wake Grandpa.†— &
“Well,†answered Baby, relapsing into a large whisper.â€
“Why shouldn't the dickeys have done it, Alec?â€
‘’Cause they can’t write,†said Alec; “and they have “<7
no paper, no ink, nor pens, and they don’t know how.â€
“But the fairies might have helped them,†said Patty. y
“Fairies!†replied Alec, rather scornfully. “Why, you silly girl; there aren’t
such things.â€
“Oh!†cried Baby, in horror-struck tones. “Oh, Alec! not little tweety
fairies as comes at Christmas and hides in the holly, and hangs pretty things on
the Christmas tree!†“Hu-sh!†whispered Patty, “Hu-sh!â€
“Gandpa ain't asleep,’ said Baby, and getting up off the rug, where the
children were sitting in front of the fire, while Grandpapa had his afternoon nap
in his big arm-chair, she laid her fat little hands on his knees, and peered up into
the kind old face. “Ganpa ain't asleep. I can sce a bit of his eye through
his ’slashes (eyelashes she meant). Ganpa, you's only foxin’, and we want to tell
you somefin’. Alec says the dickey-birds couldn’t do it, but I fink they could. 3
“What couldn’t the dickey-birds do?†inquired Grandpapa.
“Why, write a notice—a Round Robin—and hang it on a tree!†answered Alec.
“And their dear little names all round it!†went on Baby.
“A Round Robin: on a tree,’ said Grandpapa. “Why, is there one?â€
“Yes, Grandpa,†they all cried. “On the Fairy Oak at the end of the Avenue.â€
“And it sends their love to us, and wants us to love them,†went on Alec,
“and Patty thought the fairies might have written it, but there are no fairies,
Grandpa, are there?â€
“Oh! I won't say that,’ answered Grandpapa, laughing. ‘“I have never seen
them myself, but I have known many people who quite believed in them. Besides,
this is Hallow-een. There is no knowing what might happen on Hallow-een !â€
“And some birds ave fairies,’ persisted Patty. “Why, there is that tiresome
little bird who sees everrything and tells it to Mammas, and Papas, and Aunties.’
“We seed him yes'day,†cried Baby. “I’se sure that was he. He’s a horw id
2
little bird. Me and Patty and the Gardener’s Baby were peeping round the oak,
and he came hopping along, and looked as if he had somefin’ very 'ticlar to say,
only we hadn't done nothing naughty yes’day, ’cept——†and here Baby paused.
“Except what, Baby?†asked Grandpapa.
“It was only a very, very little tweeny lump, Ganpa,†said Baby, in a small
voice, “and it fell off the sugar-basin—and Auntie didn’t see it—and I—I ate it,
Did the little bird tell you, Ganpa?â€
“No,†said Grandpapa. “But, perhaps, he told Auntie Nellie!â€
“Oh!†said Baby, in a relieved tone. “I don’t fink he did. I’ spect he had
just turned round; but, oh, Ganpa! wouldn’t you like to go and see the fairies?â€
“Yes,†cried Patty; “just to creep down behind the trees and see them
dancing in rings, and sitting round the toadstools, and drinking out of acorn-cups !â€
“T spect they did write the Round Robin,’ went on the Baby, reflectively ;
“and we do love the birds, Ganpa,-and we will try to be kind to them, and the
pussies, and everything. Oh, Ganpa,’ suddenly recollecting something, “we were
good to little Kitty. Did you hear how Mother Puss got shut up in the shed
all night, and poor tiny Kitty was left all alone and was so cold and hungry,
and Auntie Nellie asked us to try and make it drink some milk?â€
“And it was so little, it hadn’t learnt to drink properly,†Patty cried; “and
Alec told Baby to dip its nose in the milk, oh! it did splutter and sneeze and
kick, but then it did lick its little
mouth, and so it got a little.â€
‘And you should just have seen
Mother Puss,†laughed Alec. “The
gardener went to the shed, and out
she rushed and tore up the garden
like a mad thing, and bounced through
the window and on to the table, where
“we were trying to feed Kitty, and
knocked over the milk. And she
caught Kitty up by her neck and
tumbled her into her basket and
licked her so hard that poor little
Kits did squeal.â€
“But she was awful glad to see
her Mother,†said Baby, “and we will
try to be kind, and—and—Round
Robin-y,†she continued. “But, Ganpa,
I tell you what I fink. I fink that
little bird who goes and tells big people
things, might come and tell us things about other little children. He must know
such a lot of stories. I wish he’d come just in the afternoon, when it’s just half-
dark, half-light, and tell us pretty stories, when we are waiting for tea-time, and the
lamp is not lit. Don’t you fink it would be nice, Ganpa—Ganpa?†and here Baby
put her arms tight round his neck and whispered: “Couldn't you ask him, Ganpa?â€
“Well, I'll see about it!†said Grandpapa, laughing. That night Patty waked
up thinking she heard a noise in the room, and starting up she saw a small white
figure peering out of the window. “Baby!†she exclaimed, tumbling out of bed,
and running across to her little sister. “Is that you? Whatever are you doing out
here?†“Hush, Patty!†whispered Baby; “don’t make such a noise. You will
frighten him!†“Frighten who? What do you mean, Baby?†“The little bird,â€
whispered Baby. “I’se had such a funny dream, and. I’se looking to see it finish.â€
“But dreams are all nonsense,’ Patty spoke, severely. “Baby, get back into bed;
you'll get cold.†“Dreams, nonsense!†repeated Baby, in a shocked tone. “Why,
they comes true like Nevercomebezzar’s did!†“Whose, Baby ?†a
“Why, the old gentleman Ganpa read about. yes’day,†said Baby, rather
impatiently. “It’s such an awful long name, but he grew all claw’y and feathery,
and ate wet grass like an ox.â€
“Oh, I know, Nebuchadnezzar,’ said Patty. “But was your dream like his?â€
“Well, not ‘xackly,’ answered Baby, reflectively, “but it was about a bird, and
that’s got feathers, you know. The little Fairy Bird, and he came tap, tap, tapping at
the window, and he was just going to say somefin’, and then I waked up. And then
I got out to look if it was there. Can you see him here, Patty?†“No†said
Patty after peering through the frosted window panes—‘and it’s dreadfully cold. Oh
Baby—let us get back into bed. I expect’ it was only just adream.†But when Baby
saw a parcel by her plate on the breakfast table a morning or so later and got Alec
to tell her what was written on it, she felt quite: sure that her dream was “a proper
dream.†For on the parcel was written: ‘From the Fairy Bird of Twilight Time,â€
and inside were real stories. Baby wanted very much to ae
begin to read her stories then and there, but Aunt Nellie
persuaded her not to look at them till the afternoon.
“Then we will ask Patty to read one aloud while
‘we all sit round the fire. You know, Baby, you
wished the little Bird to come and tell you them just
before tea in the twilight.’ ‘Yes,’ answered Baby,
with a sigh. “Yes, Auntie, please take care of them—
only I wish it was afternoon now.†Auntie Nellie put
aside the precious packet till they were all gathered
round the fire in the afternoon. Then Patty began, and
read aloud the story of The Little Monkey.
ta
A Tittle MilR sop.
Lil, rons
UK SEY,†said Miss Lil, one morning. “Father has given me a whole large
penny.†“Has he Miss?†said Nurse. “,I wonder why he did that ?†“He
gived it me for my thoughts,’ answered Lil. “He said to me this
morning ‘A penny for your thoughts, Lil, and I was just thinking whether I’ should
put Dolly’s blue hat on when I went out, or her fur cap. And I told him, and he
laughed so, and gave me a beautiful
5 bright penny. It looks like
a gold penny, doesn’t it ?
And, now, what
shall I buy with
it, Nursey, dear ?â€
“Well, what do
you want most,
Missy ?†:
“T might buy
a little totty dolly
for Mirandato play
with,†continued
Lil. “Can I geta
dolly for a penny,
Nursey ?â€
“
| Watching fer
the Tairy Bird.
“Oh ! yes, Ithink so,†answered Nurse.
“You can buy a little china or wooden
dolly for a penny, I feel sure. When we
were children we used to get little wooden
dollies, two a penny. They were not so
pretty as the dollies now, but they had
jointed legs and arms, and you could make
. them sit down, and sometimes stand up.
I hardly know whether you can buy that
kind now.â€
“Would they really sit down?†cried
Lil, a little excited, “because that is what
Miranda won't do. She is so stiff in the
middle. Then I might buy a chair. I saw
some penny chairs in the shop yesterday, and the little dolly could sit in it.â€
“But if you buy the dolly, you won’t have any penny left to buy the chair.â€
“Oh, dear!†Lil exclaimed, rather in dismay. Her face fell a little, for a
beautiful vision of a jointed wooden doll sitting up in a chair was rising In her mind.
“But, oh, Nursey, what is that funny noise?†and Lil started up and ran to the
window.
“Oh! it is a little dark boy with a hurdy-gurdy,†she cried, “and he has a
little monkey—such a funny little monkey in a frock, with a cap on his head. And
now he plays a tune, the monkey runs about and dances and bows. Oh! Nursey,
let us go outside and see him, do, please.â€
Nurse put on Lil’s sun-bonnet, and then they went into the front garden. The
little Italian boy came just in at the gate and smiled at her with his soft dark eyes,
and turned his hurdy-gurdy and made his monkey go through all his tricks, but Lil
was a tiny bit afraid of the little creature, and shrank back close to Nurse.
“Jacko not hurt little lady,†said the boy, in his imperfect English. “ Jacko good
little monkey.†“Is he?†said Lil. ‘Won't he bite?â€
_ “No, no, not bite. See here. Come, Jacko!â€
The little creature ran back to his master, sprang on his shoulder, and rubbed his
wizened, quaint little face against the boy’s olive cheek.
“Ts he your monkey, your very own?†asked Lil. “Si, Si, now,†said the lad.
“The Padrone lets me have him. Jacko does more tricks for me.â€
“Then I expect you are kind to him,†said Nurse; “and that’s why he
obeys you.â€
“T love Jacko,†the boy answered, simply, “and Jacko loves me.â€
“Nursey,†whispered Lil, “my penny, mayn’t I give the monkey my penny ?â€
“Do, miss, if you like,†said Nurse. “I would give him one also, but I sent all
my money away yesterday to Mother, because
Father is out of work.†So Lil pulled out her
bright penny and dropped it into Jacko’s cap,
and Jacko’s master, Luigi, thanked her in soft
Italian words and smiles, which latter were
much more intelligible to Lil than his speech.
And Miss Lil was really happier in giving '
her penny to the poor little Italian than if
“she had bought half-a-dozen jointed dollies,
— and chairs for them to sit on. She would
Sie have been happier still if she could have known how her penny
was spent, for Luigi got so many pence that day—people seem in a giving mood he
thought—that the Padrone, who employed him, gave him back one for himself.
“That is the pretty little lady’s penny,†said Luigi. “I know it because it is so
bright and shining. Now, my little Jacko, what shall we buy? I know, we will
have an orange and some nuts, and it will be the little lady’s festa.â€
So Luigi spent his penny on these dainties, and he and Jacko enjoyed their little
treat on a quiet, slteltered doorstep, and then went home to sleep. :
slap? =P ubhte..
WO little children sat blowing bubbles one Midsummer Day.
“Look! look!†cried one. “See what a lovely big Bubble; so large,
and such beautiful colours. It is like a fairy-world.â€
The Bubble rose up and up quite out of sight, and then it sank down into.
the Guarded Grove: and there the birds came and looked at it.
“Tt is going to open,†said the Robin.
True enough it did, and out stepped a Fairy Prince; and, he looking round,
cried :—
“Where is the Friggety Frog who knows the Magician’s Secret ?â€
“Here,†answered a harsh voice, and the Frog hopped out of the bushes,
“but I am not going to tell it to a bit of a boy like you.â€
“Then I will make you,†said the Fairy Prince, and immediately began :to fight.
For there was trouble in Elfland. The Magician had asked a question, and if
it could not be answered, ten fairy maidens must be gobbled up by the Magician's
Dragon. Yet none could answer it, till someone said the Friggety Frog in the
Guarded Grove, knew the Secret. But the Elves had no right of way to the
Guarded Grove. Then they caught the Bubble, and sent the Fairy Prince inside.
Long the fight continued, but at last the Frog cried out, “1 surrender,â€
oe
co
“Then,†said the Prince, “tell me the
Secret.†So the Frog told
oe there are Two Kings
of F uMpunds tiefel =
— <. There was great joy in the Woodman’s
cottage. A son had come at last, and
~ such a son!
But, as time slipped past, Hans and
Margaret grew anxious. Karl was a
splendid “Baby, but, really, he grew at
such a pace, that, even in the parental
breast, dismay began to gather. One
may have too much even of a good thing.
“We grows through his clothes,’
. sobbed the Mother. “Last night I put
him on a new pair of socks and this morning his toes are right through.†“ You
must stop it,’ said Hans, the Papa. “It really can’t be allowed.â€
“But how can 1?†whimpered his Mother.
“T know,†cried Hans. “I will make him a little wooden bedstead, and we will
pack him in every night: then at least he can only grow in the day.â€
So off went Hans to the wood-yard, and set to work very busily, and at
nightfall he returned, bearing his little wooden bedstead. It was just big enough
for the Baby to le in, with good strong oaken planks all round.
“Now, wife, now!†he cried, “He can't grow through this.â€
So they packed the Baby into the wooden bedstead, and laid down to sleep
with easier hearts. But in the morning Dame Margaret gave a wild scream, which
roused her husband out of a delicious nap.
“What ever is the matter?†he cried, sitting up.
Dame Margaret could not speak, she could but point, and then her husband,
too, began to shake, and gasp, and quiver. For, behold, in the night, their son’s legs
had grown through the wooden bedstead, and there he lay, with his little feet
sticking right through the oaken planks like two handles. Sadly, sadly, Hans sawed
through the wooden bedstead, and released him. Then he sat down, and for one
whole hour remained silent, slowly shaking his head.
“Tt is of no use, wife,’ he said, at last. ‘We must let him grow as he likes.â€
So they let him grow, till at twelve years’ old his father’s clothes were much
too small for him, and at last Karl, himself, said:
“Father, I must go away. I am too big for the village.â€
So he kissed his parents, and set off to seek his fortune.
He walked all day through the forest, and at evening came out near the city
where the King lived. The gates were open, and Karl was passing through when
the sentinel shouted to him. Karl stopped, and the soldier demanded his name.
“My name is Karl,†he answered.
“And where do you come from?â€
“From the forest where my Father, Hans, the woodman, dwells.â€
“And where are you going?â€
“To seek my fortune.â€
“By my beard, it ought to be a big one, to suit your size, my friend. But,
first you must go to the Palace. Here come along with me.
“But, why am I to go?†enquired Karl. “What have I done?â€
“You have grown,†said the man Siegfried, with a grin, “and the King has a
son who won't grow; so all big folks have to go up to his Majesty, to tell him how
they managed it, so that he may try their method on the poor little Prince.â€
Karl was rather vexed, but he was obliged to obey. Presently they came to
the Palace, and entered the great hall. Then Siegfried stopped, and Karl gazed at
the brilliant scene the hall presented.
On a dais, at the upper end, sat the King and Queen, and they were receiving
Ambassadors from
the Great Khan
of Tartary, who
were proffering com-
pliments from their
Master to King
Wisakre, of Pum-
pundstiefel. And on
a stool, between the
King and Queen,
“sat the Prince of
Hochsausagerin — a
tiny boy — whose
name was Otto.
Though the
King was listening
to the Ambassadors’
address, he saw
Siegfried and Karl
enter the hall, and
as soon as_ the
forward. t
“Who have you there, Siegfried ?†ee
said, eagerly gazing at Karl.
“A pig lad, your Majesty, who was
passing through the gates, just now.â€
“Who is he?†inquired the Queen.
“His name is Karl, and he is going to seek
his fortune.†“Have your friends sent you
away?†said the King.
“Please, your Majesty,†said poor Karl,
hanging his head and blushing, “1 grow so
fast and eat so much, that Father and
Mother can’t keep me any longer.â€
“How ald are you?†“Please, your Majesty, fifteen come St. Ethelmunda’s day.â€
“Fifteen,†cried, the Queen, “on St. Ethelmunda’s day. Are you sure?â€
“Yes, please, your Majesty,†said Karl, bowing humbly to the Queen. “My Mother
had no children, so she went to the shrine of St. Ethelmunda and prayed for a son.
But when I came she got more than she bargained for, poor dear Mother!â€
“And I rather less,†said the Queen. “I, too, prayed at St. Ethelmunda’s shrine,
and fifteen years ago my poor little son came; but, there, you see, he has never
grown nearly big enough.†“And I,†said Karl, “have grown a great deal too big.
Oh, what a pity we can’t be melted down together and properly divided!â€
“Good gracious!†said the King, “what a splendid idea. How tall are you, Karl?â€
“Nine feet in my stockings, please your Majesty.â€
“The Prince is just three. Three and nine are twelve. Half twelve is six. Six
feet is exactly the height for a man. I am six feet. Would you object, Karl?â€
“Not I!†cried Karl. “I am sick of hearing how much too big I am.â€
“And I,†cried the Prince, “of hearing how much too little I am.â€
“There,†cried the King, much excited. “Let it be done at once. A thousand
pounds’ reward to any man who will manage this matter forme!†There was silence.
Then one of the foreign Ambassadors stepped forward, and, bowing profoundly, said:
“Oh, King, live for ever! I will do this deed.â€
“You think you can manage it?†said the King, all in a twitter. “Who are you?
What is your name? Where do you come from? How are you going to do it?â€
“My name,†said the stranger, who was dressed in a long black robe, and had
on his head a tall pointed cap, “is Selim ben Mahed. I come from the land of Light
and Wisdom, and I have studied the books of the Ancients—and read the secret
of the earth, and the sea, and the air, and the fire.â€
?
“And,†shouted the King, jumping up and down on his throne, in his eagerness,
“You think you can divide these two youths into decent proportions ? i
“Tf you will supply me with proper appliances. After I have consulted the stars
and listened to the murmurings of the Ancients, I will do so!â€
“Proper appliances,†screamed the King. “You shall have everything, everything,
only tell me what. Where? How?â€
It had been a very busy month. The Physician Selim required many things—
a beautiful pagoda to be built, a furnace to be constructed, a large caldron of silver
to be cast. All kinds of gums, and essences had to be procured, and the stars
had constantly to be consulted, for an auspicious moment. At last the hour drew
near. Hans and his wife had been sent for to give their consent, and then Karl and
the little Prince were committed into the hands of the Physician, and he withdrew
with them into the pagoda and shut the door, which he secured with seven locks.
Then came an anxious time. For seven days and nights, the King and Queen, and
Hans and his wife, and the courtiers, and the towns-people, waited in silence and fear.
“T can’t hear anything!†said the King, applying his ear to one keyhole.
“But I can smell something,†said the Queen, applying her nose to another.
“There is something frizzling,’ murmured Dame Margaret, at a third keyhole.
“And, and a bubbling,’ faltered Hans, at a fourth.
“Tt is like—mutton chops!†whispered one courtier, at the fifth keyhole.
“Qr, or mock-turtle soup,’ said a maid of honour, at 2
the sixth.
“No it’s roast goose,’ screamed the head nurse, who was
at the seventh.
“Oh, do be quiet,†said the King, impatiently, “ how is
one to hear anything with such a row going on outside.â€
But on the seventh day, a sound of strange and solemn
music burst upon their ears, and slowly, slowly, the seven-
locked door opened, and they rushed in.
There stood the Physician, with a proud smile curving the
comers of his mouth, and there, at the end of the chamber,
stood two young men, exactly the same size.
“My darling!†screamed the Queen, as she rushed towards
them.
“My dearest!†shrieked Mrs. Hans, as she followed.
But as they nearly reached them, both Queen and
Peasant suddenly stopped short, while a puzzled expression
crept over their faces.
“Which is Otto?†gasped the Queen. “Oh, Karl, which
is you?†clammered Margaret. But the young men were
.silent. They only smiled. “That is Karl, those
are his eyes,’ cried his Mother.
“But, but, it is Otto's nose,
Queen.
“Oh, ae to me, Karl,†sobbed Margaret ;
“tell me, which you are?â€
“We don’t know,†said one of the young
men, softly. “We have. been trying to find
out. I remember the forest hut—but so ‘does—
this one. He recollects being fed with a golden
spoon out of a silver pap-boat, but so do I.
One-of us’ is Otto-Karl, and the other Karl-
Otto, but we can’t find out which. But we are
the right size anyhow, and that’s a comfort.â€
But the two Mothers turned in one simultaneous
rage on the Physician.
““Oh, you wicked, wicked saan! they sobbed, “You have mixed them up so
that we cannot tell which is which.â€
“Well!†said the Physcian, rather crossly, “T can't help it now—you asked
‘me to melt them down and divide them, but you did not say a word about their
being kept separate. How w as I to know? Besides, it could not be done. There
was too much Karl and too little Otto—any child might see that.†;
_* “But,†said the King, trembling, “ but what zs to be done? Which, which is
my son and Prince, and heir to this great kingdom ?â€
It was a dreadful question. ~All the wise men of
the kingdom were assembled to discuss and decide it,
but they quarrelled unceasingly, for a whole month,
and could come to no agreement.
-Then,..as a last resource, the King called all the
wise women together, and, wonderful to relate, they
‘settled the matter in an hour
without any quarrelling at all.
‘Of course,’ they said,. it
‘ig.as clear as daylight. “It is
a case of Twins.. They must
both’ be king.†‘
So thus it was settled, and. :
‘thus it comes that there always « —
are two kings of Pumpundsterfel.
â€
exclaimed the
HE children were waiting to begin the afternoon story. Auntie Nellie was
just finishing a letter that must go by the afternoon post, and Grandpapa
was reading his newspaper. Baby had sat herself down on the fur rug
with Kitty on her lap, and was singing to herself, in a soft little voice—
I have a little pony,
His coat is dapple-grey,
I never whip my pony—
“Then you are not like Cousin Flossie,’ said Alec, in a low voice. Alec was
netting, an accomplishment his Aunt had succeeded in teaching him, and of which
he had become fond. “Don’t you recollect how she whipped Samson and made
him run away?â€
“Oh, yes,†said Patty. “Oh, wasn't I dreadfully frightened when I saw him
galloping along, and Flossie all of a heap on his back calling ‘out for help.â€
“Why, what was that?†asked Auntie Nellie, as she began to fold up her
letter. “Who was Samson?â€
“Samson was the pony at the farm, Auntie, where we stayed last Summer, by
the sea, you know,†explained Alec, “and Mamma had asked Flossie to stay with
us, with Jack and Trots, too, because Auntie Jessie was ill. And Floss wanted to
ride the pony, and Mr. Brown, he was the farmer, you know.â€
“Such a nice farmer,’ interjected Baby, “he had leather stockings all up his
legs,» Auntie.â€
“Those were his gaiters, Baby,’ corrected Alec. “Well, he said Samson was a
very good pony, but that he could never bear being whipped, ‘cause he was never
used to it. But as soon almost as Flossie got on his back, she began to whack
him ever so hard, and he ran away. Oh, my, didn’t he tear—and if William, the
ploughman, hadn't rushed across the field and caught him, Flossie would have been
thrown off, as sure as sure. Mr. Brown would never let her ride him again.â€
“T don't “ke Cousin Flossie,†said Baby, emphatically.
“Oh, Baby!†said Auntie, rather reprovingly.
“Well, Auntie,†cried Patty, “Cousin Floss is such a tease. Why, when we were
down on the sands—and there were such lovely, lovely sands, Auntie, and then the
sea all blue and tossing, with the ships sailing by—she was always teasing. She
would come when one was making a beautiful castle and knock it all over, just
as we had made it so pretty; or she would creep up behind and throw a piece
of wet sea-weed all round your face, or. pour some sea-water down your neck ;
and once she put a live crab down Baby’s back, and made her cry dreadfully.â€
“Qh, it was so horwid!†exclaimed Baby, with a shudder at the remembrance,
“it was so cold, so scratchy, and it must have hurt the poor little crab.â€
?
“But the worst was when she
nearly tipped Baby into the sea,â€
went on Alec.
“Tipped Baby into the sea!â€
said Grandpapa, putting down his
paper.
“Yes, Grandpa. We were out
in the boat with Nurse and Mr
Jones, the boatman, and Baby was
leaning over a little,
looking in the water,
to see if she could see
a mermaid or a water-
fairy (like those in the
gbook about poor little
“Tom, the Water Baby,
you know), and Flossie
gave her a push, and
the boat jerked a little
at the same time, and over went Baby,
and if Nurse hadn’t made a great grab
and caught her by the frock, she would
Sees have gone right into the sea. Her head
did, and all her hat and jacket were soaking wet.â€
“And my mouf was full of water,’ said Baby, “and I screamed!â€
“Father was dreadfully angry when he heard about it,†said Patty, “and said
Flossie was never to go out in the boat again. Floss was sorry then.â€
“T hardly wonder that you don’t care for Cousin Flossie, Baby,†said Grandpapa.
“She was better after that,’ said Alec. “But I do think she ought to have
seen the ‘Round Robin, for when she left off teasing us she used to worry the
poor dogs and cats, even the puppy. She would pretend she had something nice
and put some soap in his mouth. She made Ponto worry Puss one day, and
poor Puss got in the tree, and Ponto barked and jumped and made such a noise,
and Patty had to hold him tight while we coaxed Pussie down.â€
“And another time she got an old tin kettle,’ said Baby, “and tied it to the
other little doggie’s tail, and made him feel so bad and ill, that I had to nurse him
up all the afternoon. I wrapped him up in my pinafore, Ganpa, and I sung him a song,
and then he seemed much better, and ran races with me all about the garden.â€
“Well, I agree with Alec, that Floss ought to see the ‘Round Robin,’†said Auntie:
“but now, children, I have quite finished my letter, if you like to begin to read.â€
Ce a JBdurrerriyy Stor
z TJ. HEX, you cannot be a Child-soul!†she said.
“Then I will be a Butterfly-soul!†he answered.
The Wise Woman shook her head with a sigh, but she gave him
his own way, though as she waved her hand, and he was dressed all at once in
lovely wings, all purple and blue and gold, and a body like velvet, ad with two
eyes as bright as diamonds, she said:
“Even the butterflies have their work to do—even the elves and the bees.
They have to be kind to others, and help the weak and the suffering. All, all,
must take take the ill with the good, and the bitter with the sweet!â€
“T won't have any ill, or any bitter,’ he cried, as he flew away in the
sunshine. “I only want to enjoy myself.â€
And he did enjoy himself, flitting about in the beautiful sunlight, and tasting
here a flower and there a flower to see which had the sweetest honey. Presently
he saw two children playing in a garden and he thought he would like to go
and play with them. So he fluttered round and round, and at last poised himself
with quivering half-opened wings on the child’s hand.
“Oh, look!†she said. ‘Oh, brother, look how beautiful he is! Sure he
must be the Butterfly King!â€
“Tt is a Peacock Butterfly!†cried the boy. “Look at the lovely spots on
’ his wings. And see, it is as if he were covered with tiny feathers!†‘And the
fairies have powdered him with gold and diamond dust,†his sister whispered
ea east
then a voice called out: “Come in, ‘ Lt
children, dears, to your lessons !â€
“Good-bye, beautiful Butterfly,â€
cried the child, as she held up her hand
for him to fly away. “We must go
and learn our tasks, and you must go
and learn yours!â€
“T have no tasks to ap said
the Butterfly, as he darted away and
flitted about in the sunshine. But
presently he grew a little tired of that,
and then the sun went in behind a cloud,
and he felt chilly and lonely. Just then
he saw the Wise Woman standing by him.
' “Well,†she said, “Are you quite
content ?.â€
“No,†he said, rather crossly. “ Why doesn't
the sun always shine.?†:
“Tf the sun always shone,†she answered,
“there would be no rain, and if there were no rain
the flowers would die, and you would have no
honey. What did I tell you? Good and ill, and
bitter——†“Oh, bother!†said the’ Butterfly,
and flew away.
The sun came out again and warmed him,
and the flowers opened their lovely cups, and he
flew about and tried to be quite happy. Yet
something made him doubt it. And there stood
“the Wise Woman again.
“Why am I not happy?†he cried, im-
patiently. “What is the matter? The sun shines
and the flowers bloom, but I am not content.â€
But the Wise Woman was silent; she might
not speak. He would not listen when she had
ed spoken and now he must find out for himself,
which was much harder. But. at last he knew why. he was not happy, and
knowing it he looked around him, and then he saw a little baby in a cradle—a
baby so tiny that it had not yet opened its eyes and looked into its mother’s face.
Then he flew down and settled as light as an angel's’ kiss upon the baby’s lips, and
as he did so his lovely wings faded away like a crumbling moonbeam, and the
Butterfly vanished quite.away. But the baby opened its large blue eyes and gazed
up, and stretched out its little arms to be taken to its mother’s heart... _
“There's the tea-bell!†said Grandpapa, as Patty finished her story. . “ Come
along, children.â€
They went in to tea, but all the time ae was munching her bread .and
butter and drinking her milk she was unusually. silent, and her hazel eyes looked
full of thought. At last she sat down her mug with a sigh
of relief and exclaimed: “I fink I know!†“ What do
you think you know?†inquired Auntie Nellie.
“1 fink I know why the Butterfly wasn’t happy,†she
answered. “I fink it was ‘cause he didn’t want the bother
of being ‘good, but somefin’ inside him 'bliged him to be
good. I feels so, too, sometimes, Gandpa.â€
“Do you, Baby?†said Grandpapa, with a smile.
“Well, I daresay you do, and older folks than you as
fie
well, I think you have found out the riddle, Baby!
A Rowd ke World.
ACK JE says the world is round,’ said Miss
Moppets, “and if you go out one side of
the garden and walk, and walk, and walk,
side. I'll go and see!â€
So Miss Moppets put on her sun-bonnet, and took
her basket, wherein she put a bun that Mother had given
her before she went out, and then she started off by the front gate to
walk all round the world and come in at the back. And Snap the
dog wanted to go, too, but couldn’t get through the fence. It was
a very beautiful morning. The sky was washed a most lovely blue by
yesterday’s rain, and a few little white cloudlets which were floating by only made it look
bluer. The birds were singing with all their might, till the woodland rang with their
melody, and the fairies had hung dewdrops on every blade of grass and on every flower’s
tip. Even the slow old snails were running races with a sprite on their backs for a jockey,
and the Elves were flitting about on the dragon-flies’ backs, and looking after the bees,
and being as busy as possible. The fields were full of daisies and buttercups, and up
the glade the wild hyacinths were all a sheet of blue. Miss Moppets came to a stile,
and there, right over her head, she heard a lark singing clear and shrill.
“Lark, lark!†she cried, “Tell me, is the world round?â€
“Yes, yes, said the Lark. “Come up here and you will see.â€
“T wish I could,†sighed Miss Moppets, “but I haven’t any wings!â€
“Dear, dear! how sad!†said the Lark; and went on singing.
So Miss Moppets went on a little further, and saw a blackbird sitting on her nest.
“Blackbird,†she said, “tell me, is the world round?â€
“Why, of course,†said the Blackbird. “All nice things are round—nests are
round, and eggs are round, and you are round if you take yourself the short way!â€
“Why so I am,†said Miss Moppets, and trudged on again. But now she began to
feel rather tired, and her small legs ached, and she sat herself down on a sunny bank.
“Oh dear!†she said, “what a big place the world is. I wish I had brought
Snap with me, ’cause he could have run on and seen if it is much further. But I must
be nearly round by this time. I think—†But here she
forgot to think any more, and fell fast asleep. Now while
Miss Moppets was sitting there, she was being watched by
bright eyes from behind the tufts of grass; and as soon
as she was asleep, the owners of the eyes—the little grey
bunnies—came prancing out to look at her a little nearer.
<
ra ag
Il on a Jum mers Morning:
“She’s off sound,†said Papa Bunny, poking his little nose close to Miss Moppets’,
and tickling her rosy cheek with the end of his whiskers. Then he gave a frisk, and
a hop, and twitched his ears, and curled up his tail a little tighter. “Let us look in
her basket. Why, here’s a bun, I declare. Come and have a bit, children!†. But
Mrs. Bunny and her daughters were so busy trying on Miss Moppets’ bonnet, that
they could not pay any attention to Papa Bunny.
“Isn't it sweet?†said the elder Miss Bunny. “Oh, Mamma darling, you do
look lovely!†But the younger Miss Bunny was more critical. “Don’t you think,â€
she said, “it is a tweeny bit too large, and hides Mamma’s sweet soft ears!â€
“Tt is a little roomy at the back, perhaps,†answered Mrs. Bunny. “But—â€
Mrs. Bunny never finished her sentence, for just then they heard the footstep of
a man who came whistling along the woodland glade; and the bonnet, and the
basket were left, and four little grey bodies flashed through the fern, and were gone.
“TFallo!†cried the man, “why here is my little Moppets fast asleep. However
did she come here?†And he picked her up, and the basket, and carried her home.
“Father,†said Miss Moppets, when she waked up, “I have been all round the
world. I went out at the front gate and walked and walked, and now you have
carried me in at the back, so you see 1 must have been all the way round. And I
had such a funny dream—I dreamt I saw a Bunny putting on my bonnet. But, oh,
Father, you've forgotted my bonnet, and left it in the wood!†“Never mind,†said
Father, “you shall have my cap till I can go and fetch it.†So when Miss Moppets
started off again.(and this time Snap managed to
get out also), she had to wear Father's cap,
which didn’t shade her eyes so nicely as the
pretty bonnet that was left in the wood.
he “What a ‘nigorant’ little girl!†said Baby,
Fs ighily, as Patty finished reading. “How could
she walk round the world when there is such a
awful big sea in the way?â€
“Ah! Baby,†said Grandpapa, “she had not
had your advantages. 1 suppose she had not
learnt the use of the globes!†“What is a globes,
Ganpa?†inquired Baby, “Is it a sort of a ship?
But—†without waiting for an answer, “That
he was such a little totty bit of a story. Mayn’'t
Patty read the next?†“Oh! yes,†said Grand-
papa. “If she is not tired?†“I’m not a bit
tired,†answered Patty. “Fire away then,†said
Grandpapa—and Patty fired away.
‘oanp the world! How shall we go? And follow, follow over field
Why, Qe easiest ewery | And hill and dale, and Sea:
Just calth a sunbeam hy ity end Jo round the world
Jind hola it bight all day, and home again,
By morning dawn
you UW be
Fe. BD Pee RES CSARDEN.
Ts € people who lived at the Gable House had gone away, and the place was
shut up. So little Maggie raced up and down the garden paths, and
gathered roses, made herself a garland, and ran down to her Father's cottage,
where her blind Mother sat knitting. ‘You have some flowers, Maggie, she
said. “I can smell their sweetness.†“Yes, Mother,’ said Maggie, “there are such
lots up there ; the garden is lovely.†“But it won’t be lovely long,†said her Father,
who had just come in, “if no one tends them. Mr. March
asked me to see after it, but, what with the hay coming on
like this, and Master ill, I haven’t a minute of time.â€
“Father,†said Maggie, suddenly, “can’t I do a bit!â€
“You, lass, oh, I don’t know. But you can try.†:
Maggie did try, for she was very fond of flowers; and, .
after that, she went weeding, and watering, and tying up; and “SS
she kept the garden so tidily that her Father was quite pleased.
“Why, lass, this does you credit,’ he said, one day. “And
you shall have what they give for keeping the place—that’s only
fair.†And off he went. “Oh, I wonder,’ thought Maggie, “how much it will be.
I do so want that book for dear Mother. Martha says it is twelve shillings—the Gospel
of St. John—all raised up, so that Mother can read it with her fingers. I have only
three shillings in my money-box. And Martha says twelve shillings is very cheap.â€
But one day when Maggie was busy in the garden, she heard voices. Presently
she saw her Father, and Mr. March, the bailiff, and a strange gentleman coming
towards her. The latter was speaking. “I am glad the garden has not been left
to run wild,†he said. “Of course I'll pay whoever has kept it tidy. Was it you,
Hill?†turning to Maggie’s Father.
“No, sir,†said Hill, smiling, “it was my little lass here,†and he pointed to
Maggie. “And I have promised the pay to her.†“This little maid,’ said the gentle-
man, smiling. “Well, now, how much do you charge for your work, my dear?â€
“What you please, sir,†answered Maggie, with a curtsey. But the gentleman
saw an anxious, wistful look in her face. “I am sure there is something you want,â€
he said. “Tell me now, what will it cost? Is it a new dolly?â€
Maggie flushed red. “Oh, no, sir,†she stammered, “ but—but—it is a book
with raised letters, that Mother could read, because she is blind. I have three
shillings, but it will cost twelve; and nine shillings is—oh, such a deal of money!â€
The gentleman looked down, smiling at the little flushed, anxious face. Then
he pulled a sovereign out of his pocket, and put it into Maggie’s hand.
“There,†he said, “that will buy the book without the three shillings. No,
no, child; no thanks. It is not a bit too much for the work you have done!â€
/ ZJ was a wet afternoon again. The children had found a
pack of cards, and Alec was building a splendid house
with them, and Baby sat on the floor and sang in a
‘sweet little piping voicé:
We're going to build a castle,
A castle, oh, so high!
_ Whose towers and noddin’ battlements
Will almost touch the sky.
But in this wondrous castle, And in my castle liveth
Although it is so tall, A boo’ful little maid,
You cannot go upstairs, because Who in its topmost turret
‘There are no stairs at all. A prisoner long hath stayed.
‘There came a Knight a-riding,
His spear of golden straw ; 5 i
He was the very bravest Knight
That mortal ever saw.
He cried, ‘*I ve come to save thee;
Come down; oh, maiden fair!â€
The maid she sobbed, “ How can I cor
Without a single stair?†sae
_ Just’ then came by a Mousie. “Go, fetch the kitchen bellows,
_ With a mushroom for a hat, , And give a good big puff,
And’as he saw their trouble, | _ To bring the castle tumbling down,
‘ He said, “Tl settle that!†You'll find it quite enough!â€
“They followed Mousie’s counsel,
And soon that castle grand
‘Was gone, while Knight and Maiden
' Rode off to Fairyland! »
‘ “That is a wondrous ditty,†said Grandpapa, “but I think it is time for our
story.†- :
™€LL, you poor little soul, I don’t know what is to be done with you
now your foolish Mother has got killed in that rabbit-burrow,†said
Squire Stubbs, gazing down at a queer, big-headed, soft-legged puppy,
who gazed back at him with an equally mournful expression. “I just think we
had better tie a stone round your neck, and put you in the pond.â€
“Oh, no, Father!†cried little Peggy, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh, don't!
Give him to me, Father, I’ll feed him and see after him; indeed I will.’
So it was agreed that Peggy was to be a kind of little Mother to Mugs (such
was the puppy’s name), but she soon found her post to be no sinecure, for a more
unfortunate puppy, or one more apt to get into mischief, never breathed. Even as
he grew older he developed all sorts of vexatious ways; and at last, after having
nearly met his death in the preserves, and once tumbling through the thin ice of a
pond and being rescued by Peggy, at the peril of her life and the ruin of her frock,
and after every day chasing the young chickens, and dashing into the pond after the
ducks, and doing every mortal thing a little dog ought not to do, he was condemned to
exile. The Shepherd was to take him to his cottage on the moor, and see if he
could mend his manners. Poor little Peggy wept bitter tears, for, with all his faults,
she was devoted to Mugs, as Mugs was to her; but the Squire would not give
way, and Mugs was led away, looking as miserable an animal as ever was seen.
But next morning there was a grand row in the farmyard, and lo! there was
Mugs triumphant, with a broken bit of rope round his neck, chasing the ducks and
chickens as cheerfully as ever. He had managed to break loose, and find his way home.
But his joy was short-lived. Again he was captured, and again led off; and
for some days there was peace in the poultry-yard.
It was night—a still, dark night. Everyone was asleep at the Grange, when
suddenly everyone was awakened by a dreadful clamour below. Shouts, blows, barks,
x ie yells, then muffled growlings, and general
7 fi; turmoil; in the midst of which out rushed
the Squire and his men, in hasty costume.
“What is this?†shouted the Squire.
“Who is there?†But whoever was there
did not wait to reply, for two figures were
... dimly seen jumping over the gate, and fleeing
away into the darkness.
“Thieves, as I’m alive!†shouted the
old gentleman. “ Mark! Harry! follow them!
Here, bring a light. What's this?â€
For he struck his foot against
something soft, which gave a little moan. “Its a
dog! It’s Mugs!†he cried, as someone brought a
candle, “and he’s half-killed. | What is that in his
teeth?—a bit of fustian cloth. Why, the little chap
must have got loose again, and caught the thieves
here !â€
“And not too soon,†said old Tom. “They
had got the door almost open, Squire; see, here’s
their tools, and he got one of ’em by the leg.
Here let me see what can be done. He’s badly hurt!â€
But though Mugs was hai/-killed, he was not
wholly so; and with great care and nursing he
recovered. It need scarcely be said that he was
never sent away again, and, for the future, was
allowed to bark at the ducks as much as he liked.
Z had hung, that quaint Mirror, in the Banqueting Hall for generation after
generation, reflecting the faces and forms of all who came and went in the
long procession of the years.
But no one knew its mystery or guessed at its wonderful properties, till Clothilde,
that afternoon, noticed a little knob in the lower left-hand corner, and idly put her
finger upon it. Then, as she pressed it, the reflection of her own chubby visage
faded from before her, and in its place was the face of a beautiful lady, gazing at
her out of the Mirror, with deep beautiful eyes.
Astonished, Clothilde took her finger off the knob, and as she did so the lady’s
face faded, and her own came back. Then Clothilde pressed it again, and now
there was a grand gentleman, all dressed in velvet and lace, with a sword by
his side, and then a gay page, and then a solemn scholar in ruff and Genevan
gown, and then a priest in alb and cope.
For the Mirror had stored up the likenesses of all those whose images had
once been reflected on its glittering surface, and by pressing the secret spring they
passed in order before the gazer.
Now, Clothilde knelt entranced before the Mirror, seeing one after another of
these pictures and portraits, till there came the face of a Maiden with a distaff
in her hand, and the face looked at her with such loving beautiful eyes that
Clothilde longed to know her story.
H
|
i
t
So she went away and asked everyone to tell her is
about the little Maiden with the distaff. But no one knew
it, and Clothilde was quite in despair till someone said,
“Perhaps old Algith knows. She is very, very old, and
has dwelt in the castle for many, many years!â€
So Clothilde climed up the narrow stair to the turret
chamber where old Algith now always abode, and asked
about the face of the little Maiden whom she had seen in the Mirror.
“Yes, yes,’ said Algith. “I can tell you about her, and you
ought to know her story, for Elsie, the Spinning Maiden, did a
brave deed in the old day and saved the Castle. For Elsie was
a little Maiden who lived here many centuries ago when the world
was a rougher world than it is now. For in those times a great
Baron, an enemy of the Count, your ancestor, who owned the Castle then, came
with all his vassals and men-at-arms, and besieged the Castle so closely that
none could go out, and none come in, so that food began to fail, and all inside the
walls grew weak with hunger. And if help did not come soon, the soldiers
would have no strength to resist the fierce attacks which almost daily the Baron
made upon the walls.
“Then the Count and Countess remembered an ancient prediction that had been
made by a great Wizard concerning the fate of their House, and they called their
household together in the great Banqueting Hall and the Count said:
“«Will any one of you do a great deed for us?’
“And they asked what it was.
“In the turret room of the great keep,’ replied the Count, ‘There lies a
heap of fairy flax, and if anyone, in three days and nights, will spin from it a
thread long enough to go round the outer wall, then no enemy or foe can touch
us or do us any harm. But the thread must be spun without pause, and having
neither break nor knot, for if the thread should snap in the spinning, the virtue
goes from it.
“There was a silence for a few moments, and all the women and maidens looked
at one another with doubtful eyes, for who could dare to undertake so great a task.
“But, as they paused, Elsie, the fairest of the maidens, and the most beloved,
stepped forth and said:
“J will do it, my: lord!’
“But the Countess cried, ‘Oh, no, oh, no, not Elsie, for—for whoever shall do this
shall scarcely live !’ ‘
“But Elsie smiled, and said:
“¢T fear not, dear lady. Is not my life thine?’ and so she went to the Turret
Chamber and set to work on the Fairy Flax.
“Fast, fast she worked, while the sun rose and shone upon the Castle, and sank
to rest, and while the moon rose and wandered amid the tiny fleecy clouds, and
while the great stars wheeled on their courses in the heavens, never taking eye or
finger from her work, never pausing to eat or drink or sleep, lest the task should not
be finished in time, but just at sunrise on the third day the flax was all used up, and
the thread was bound around the Castle walls. Then Elsie sank down white and
still on the turret floor, for the thread she had spun was her own life, and it was
quite spun out.
“Then came a great clamour and stir beyond the Castle walls, for the great Baron
and his troops fled away in strange confusion and fear, and the Count and all his
household were free.
“But as they gazed from the walls at the tumult, they heard the sound of silver
trumpets and the chanting of solemn Psalms, and up to the Castle Gate a procession
winded, headed by one who bore aloft a mighty jewelled Cross. And there followed
singing boys and men, and the priest in his priestly robes, and last of all four youthful
knights clad in white armour, with white flowing mantles, and these had crossed their
spears and laid upon them their shields which, too, were white as the driven snow.
“ And as the Warder of the Castle asked them of their will, the Priest bade him
open wide the Castle gates, ‘for’ he said, ‘we have come to fetch the Maiden who
has given away her life.’
“Then with tears and wailing, they brought down Elsie, the Fair Spinning Maiden,
white and still with her distaff in her clasped hands, and laid her upon the snow-
white shields, and the four knights raised the bier, and bore it after the priest,
followed by all the dwellers in the Castle, to the Chapel of St. Agnes, among the
lonely hills.
“And there, as the Priest sang Mass, and
they laid Elsie to rest in the moss-grown, still
churchyard, and the people knelt with bowed
heads and weeping eyes, behold, a strange thing
happened. For the mantles of the —
youthful knights changed into great ;
white feathery wings, and as they
spread them and rose aloft, and
vanished among the flocking clouds,
it was said there was a fifth angel
with them, and the face of that
angel was like unto the face of
Elsie, the Spinning Maiden.â€
{Y was Spring-time again; bright, beau-
tiful Spring. The daffodils and the
hyacinths were blooming in the
garden, and the golden and purple crocuses
scarcely over. The woods were full of
primroses and the delicate windflower ; the
bluebells were beginning to thrust up their
flower-stalks, and the young leaves spread
their tender green out to the sunshine.
The birds sang all day in the copse, and
the cuckoo and the swallows had come
home from their Winter trip to the warm south.
One morning, while the children were playing beggar-my-neighbour, the postman
brought a thin letter, with a foreign postmark, to the Manor House, which Grand-
papa opened as they sat at breakfast.
“Good news, children,†he said. “Your Father has got quite strong and well,
and he and Mother are coming home as fast as trains and steamers can bring them.â€
“Hurrah!†cried Alec. “It will be jolly to have them home again.â€
“And they want you to go back, so as to be there when they arrive. So
you must pack up all your treasures and be off. Auntie Nellie had better go
with you, and Nurse, to take care of you all. I almost think you will have to
start to-morrow, or they will get back first. Why, Baby, what is the matter?
Are you not glad, darling?â€
“Oh, yes,†sobbed Baby, “I am dreadful glad that Father and Mother are
coming home. I wants to see them dreadfully; but—but—I don’t—want—to go
away from you, Ganpa,—and—and—†But here Baby so dissolved in tears that
she became unintelligible. :
“And I don’t want to go either,†cried Patty. “Oh, dear! Why can’t we
be altogether always?â€
“Grandpapa,†said Alec, “I wish you and Auntie would come and live next
door, then we could run in and out every day. That would be best.â€
“Oh, yes,†gurgled Baby, who was being comforted on Grandpapa’s knee, and
began to recover. “Oh, do, Ganpa!â€
“What! and leave the poor old Manor House, and the garden, and the Fairy
Oak, and the birds, Baby, and go and live in smoky London? No, I don't think
I can do that. Besides, then there would be no place for you to come to when
you want a run in the fresh air. Don’t cry, my darling, you will go home and
be so happy with Father and Mother, and
then you will come back and see us for
a little time.â€
“T know who will be glad to see us
back, besides Father and Mother,’ cried
Alec, and those are Carlo and Hector.â€
“Who are Carlo and Hector?â€
enquired Auntie Nellie.
“Why, our two dogs, Auntie,’
said Patty. “Don’t you remember
them when you came to see us,
before Father and Mother went away.
Such pretty dogs, with long silky hair
and big bushy tails. Jane said in her letter they were so low-spirited and
miserable when we went away. I expect they will jump up, and want to kiss
us all over—though I don’t like their kisses much, they are such wet kisses. And
there will be Puss, too, and the new kitten and the canary birds—they will all be
glad to see us back.â€
“Ganpa,†said Baby, after a long pause, during which she had been sitting
leaning her little head against his shoulders. “ Ganpa.â€
“Well, my pet?â€
“Ganpa, there’s somefin’ I want to ask you.’
“Go on, Baby.â€
' But Baby still hesitated. “It is somefin’ rather big,’ she said, doubtfully. “J
don’t know if—if—you will, Ganpa.â€
“Why, you can but ask me,†he replied, “and I can but say ‘No’ at the worst.â€
Baby curled her arms round the old gentleman’s neck.
“But, I don’t want you to say ‘No’†she whispered, putting her little mouth
close to his ear.
“But I cannot say either ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ till you tell me what it is, Goosey,â€â€™
laughed Grandpapa.
“Well,†went on Baby, with a little gasp, ‘All the stories—that the Fairy Bird
sent, you know!â€
“Yes—well ?â€
“Well, Ganpa, I wants you to have them all bounded up into a big book, with
pictures in it, and what we said about them, so that other little boys and girls night
read them. Oh, Ganpa! don’t you think it will be boo’ful?â€
“Oh, yes!†cried Patty and Alec. “Oh, do, do! and then Father and Mother
will see them, and we can read them all over again. Do you think you can,
Granpapa ?â€
that. ak
" Round Robin?†oo
“The Round Robin, that the birds sarotea! sud Baby, a ony †(very solemnly)
_“T fink that you, Ganpa, and Auntie Nellie: were the fairies all the ae
®
- Really Baby,†said ards, “that is a grand. iba The very next time
y) y, pay
1 go to London I will see what can be done. But what. shall we call our book 2 or
. It must have a title, you khow.†yy
“Why not call, it aN Round Robin ?’†suggested Aunt Nellie. “Tt all began-with
fi,
“Yes, yes, yes!
“Of course, they were,†said. Alec, loftily.. “ Fairies couldn't do it.â€
“But it is nice to think there are’ fairies,†said Patty, with a little sigh, ‘Anyway,
“we have had'a lovely’ time, and I hope the other Hee: girls and boys who read our
book will like it as much as we have ‘done.â€
° auerAcieN wi ai stente tw ° . ° . Piss . °
And the next a was “ Good-byeâ€. day.
“Good-bye, Ganpa,â€: sobbed. Baby.. “ Good- bye, dear Gane and we'll come
_ again soon ; and, oh, Ganpa! don't forget -
©
*
cried oS cits, Capping, oe is “Let us ‘call it ‘A
ee Hu Bt AAT en) Te
rs
ioe
peas a et Siren
iat.
ve
gioco
|
|