xml record header identifier oai:www.uflib.ufl.edu.ufdc:UF0008232500001datestamp 2008-05-20setSpec [UFDC_OAI_SET]metadata oai_dc:dc xmlns:oai_dc http:www.openarchives.orgOAI2.0oai_dc xmlns:dc http:purl.orgdcelements1.1 xmlns:xsi http:www.w3.org2001XMLSchema-instance xsi:schemaLocation http:www.openarchives.orgOAI2.0oai_dc.xsd dc:title Beyond the Blue Mountainsdc:creator Meade, L. T., 1854-1914Belle Sauvage Works ( Printer )Cassell & Company. ( Contributor )dc:subject Christian life -- Juvenile fiction.Children -- Juvenile fiction. -- Conduct of lifeConduct of life -- Juvenile fiction.Children -- Juvenile fiction. -- Religious lifeBrothers and sisters -- Juvenile fiction.Orphans -- Juvenile fiction.Salvation -- Juvenile fiction.Allegories.Bldn -- 1893.dc:description Publisher's catalogue follows text.Baldwin Library copy illustrations are hand-colored: probably by young owner.dc:publisher Cassell and Company, Limiteddc:date 1893dc:type Bookdc:format 191, 1, 16 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.dc:identifier http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/ufdc/?b=UF00082325&v=00001002224260 (ALEPH)63078787 (OCLC)ALG4521 (NOTIS)dc:source University of Floridadc:language English
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BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
ON THE WAY TO THE CASTLE (p. 89)
BEYOND THE BLUE
- MOUNTAINS
BY
i. MAD An
AUTHOR OF ‘‘FOUR ON AN ISLANDâ€? “A WORLD OF GIRLSâ€
“\ SWEET GIRL GRADUATE†ETC.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
CASSELL ann COMPANY Ltimitep
LONDON PARIS & MELBOURNE
1893
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I.
Mrs. STEADFAST
CHAPTER II.
Cross CorRNERS—THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE oF TRUTH
CHAPTER III.
Mrs. Moprsty AND THE MaGNiryine Giass
CHAPTER IV.
Tue Cave aND THE Brack Door
CHAPTER V.
Tur CHILDREN’S GuIpE AND THE Narrow BripcE
CHAPTER VI.
A New Way To tHe BLuE Mountains
CHAPTER VIL.
Perer Prrxins anp Funcus THE FERRYMAN .
CHAPTER VIII.
CastLte DANGEROUS AND THE VANISHING STAIRS
CHAPTER IX.
Tur Country or THE Dark MEN
CHAPTER X.
THe Lapy IN THE GREEN Dress
PAGE
13
18
34
49
62
90
100
110
vill CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI,
PAGE
A Wreath oF WHITE Roszs . 3 E A : ; : : : . 120
CHAPTER XII.
Tue Macicat Kiss. F 3 : ; A : : : : ° . 129
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WHITE PALACE—THE Kina@’s Country anp Mrs. Discrptine’s Corrage 140
CHAPTER XIV.
In Winter Lanp ; 3 : : : ; : 4 : 3 : . 150
CHAPTER XY.
Apour FEATHERPATE AND THE Marpie Hanis—aAnp Mr. PENALTY AND
HIS Rop . i d ; 3 , i : ‘ : : ; . 159
CHAPTER XVI.
SumMER Lanp . : : : : : ‘ : : : : : . 71
CHAPTER XVII.
Tue Waite Dove witH THE Gotp Rine : : 3 : E : . 182
LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
On THE Way TO THE CASTLE. : : : ‘ : : . Frontispiece
At THE Top OF THE CASTLE. : : s ; Y : : eae
TRYING ON THE WREATHS . : : f ‘ : : : : : eae
Dancer AHEAD . : ; : g 2 : : $ i ‘ : E133
Torsy-Turvy ; : : j 4 : : ‘ f : : : . 161
In Summer LAanp ; : ; : ; : d : 3 : : . 185
BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
—++-
INTRODUCTION.
HE cottage where the children lived was in full
view of the Blue Mountains.
There were four children, and they lived
quite alone in the cottage which directly
faced the Mountains. Two were girls, and two
boys. Their ages varied from eleven to four-
teen. They were healthy and happy, and full
of good thoughts and earnest wishes to be
ready to join their father and mother when
the King of the country beyond the Mountains
sent them a message to come to him.
The father and mother of the children had gone away a little
time before to a lovely land beyond the Mountains, and the four
children had reason to believe that a message would soon come for
them to join their parents; and because they were so sure of this
they did not take a great deal of trouble about the clothes they wore,
or the cottage they lived in. They used to say to each other—
“Tt isn’t worth while to be too particular, for when we get
beyond the Mountains we can really settle down. We shall not
be really at home until we get there.â€
The children had been called by thew father and mother after
certain flowers. The eldest boy was Clover. He was fourteen
years old, and was a dark-eyed, strong-looking, resolute fellow.
Cowslip was his favourite sister; she was only twelve, and was a
10 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
pretty little slender girl, with hair as yellow as her name, and
large wide-open sky-blue eyes.
Primrose, the other sister, was thirteen, and her favourite brother
was Buttercup, the youngest of the family, a little sturdy fellow
of eleven years old, with a great deal of mischief in his face, and
a considerable amount of obstinacy in his character.
These were the four children who waited in the cottage until the
message should come to them to go to the country beyond the Mountains.
They expected it to arrive any day, but on the day when it
did come they were thinking of it less than usual, and Primrose
felt herself turning pale, and she owned to a feeling almost of
sorrow when Clover said to her—
“The King has sent us a letter by the post; and we are all four
to start for the Blue Mountains earl y to-morrow morning.â€
“T am quite ready,†said Cowslip; “I have nothing to say
good-bye to—I don’t suppose we shall be very long walking from here
to the Blue Mountains.†:
“But how do we know the road to take?†asked Primrose. “I
don’t believe those mountains are half as near as they look. I
am sure we shall take days and days going to them ; and the weather
is so hot just now.â€
“The letter which came by the post tells us all about the way,â€
said Clover.
He went out of the cottage as he spoke, and Cowslip ran
after him and slipped her hand into his.
Buttercup was lying full length on the floor munching an
apple. His cheeks were a little flushed, and his eyes heavy—he had
been half asleep while the others were talking, and when Primrose
came up to him now he turned away from her with a sullen
look on his face.
“The message has come, Buttercup,†said Primrose, “and we
are to start for the Blue Mountains to-morrow.â€
Sal samen t going!†said Buttercup, turning on his side, and
continuing to munch his apple; “that is, unless a carriage has come
for me to drive n—I can’t stand walking in hot weather.â€
INTRODUCTION. : 11
“But no carriage has come, Buttercup, dear; and what is
more, no carriage will come. We have to walk every step of the
way, and it is all up-hill, and it is sure to be horridly rough and
dusty, and disagreeable. I can’t think why the King has sent
for us to join father and mother in such hot weather.â€
“ And when does Clover mean to start?†asked Buttercup.
“arly, very early to-morrow morning, just when the sun rises.â€
“Catch me waking at that hour,†said Buttercup, taking up
another apple and beginning to eat it. “ Why, I should be quite
ill if I got up when the sun rose. I am not very well as it is.
T have no appetite for anything but apples.â€
“Perhaps you eat too many apples.â€
“No, I don’t—I know what’s good for me. I am very sleepy,
and I have got a headache, so you had better go and join the others,
Primrose.â€
Primrose did not say any more. She went and stood on the
path outside the cottage, and shading her eyes with one little brown
- hand, looked in the direction of the Mountains.
The sun had set by this time, and the blue mist which always
surrounded these strange and beautiful Mountains was pierced through
and through with opal and rose-coloured and violet rays. The
extreme tops of the Mountains, which were covered with eternal
snow, looked now in the sunset as if they were all dressed up in
jewels. Primrose could not help clasping her hands and looking
at them with sudden love and longing.
“Oh! T should like to be at the other side,†she murmured, “ but
I’m afraid of the long tiring journey.â€
As she spoke these words Clover and Cowslip came up to her.
Cowslip put her arm round her waist, and Clover looked into her eyes.
He had a wonderful strong way with him, and when he looked
at Primrose she felt new courage coming into her heart.
“We needn’t be a bit afraid,†said Clover. ‘If we obey the
directions in my letter we are certain to get safe to the Mountains
in a few days.â€
“We had better go to bed now,†said Cowslip, “for the
12 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
sun has almost set, and we must be on our road when he rises
again.â€
Clover and Cowslip went into the house, and Primrose followed
them after a moment or two.
Buttercup was already m a sound and heavy sleep. He and
Clover slept in one room in the tiny cottage, and Primrose and
Cowslip in another.
It seemed to Primrose that she had only just dropped to sleep
when she felt someone shaking her, and heard voices in her ears.
“Get up, Primrose,†said Cowslip; “the sun has risen. It is a
lovely fresh morning, and Clover says we ought to be off.â€
“Do leave me alone,†said Primrose, without opening her eyes.
“Tt is only barely the middle of the night. No one can expect me to
start at this hour.â€
“But it isn’t the middle of the night, Primrose. It is three
o'clock on a lovely summer’s morning, and you really must wake
up—you really must.â€
But though Cowslip bent over Primrose and coaxed, entreated, and
very nearly cried, she could not get the little girl to stir, and
presently she had to go out to Clover and tell him the result of
her entreaties.
“T have fared no better with Buttercup,†he said. “I can’t
get him to move. There’s nothing whatever for it, Cowslip, but for
us to start alone.â€
“Oh,†said Cowslip, beginning to cry, “how dreadfully cruel
that would be!â€
“The King said,†replied Clover, “that we were to start on
our journey this morning when the sun rose. Whatever happens,
I for one must obey the King.â€
“Oh, Clover, and so must J,†said Cowslip, springing to his
side and slipping her hand through his arm.
CHAPTER I.
MRS. STEADFAST.
HE dew was on the grass, and the exquisite
feeling of early morning was over everything,
when the two children walked down the path
which led straight to the Blue Mountains.
They both felt fresh and well, and, not-
withstanding their sorrow at leaving Prim-
rose and Buttercup behind them, could not
help singing as they went.
“Fancy the joy of seeing father and
mother so soon again,’ exclaimed Cowslip
in a cheerful tone. “Oh, how glad I am
that the summons has come for us to go to
the King’s country, although I do wish that
the others would come with us.â€
“They will follow in good time,†replied
Clover. “ That is the thought that comforts
me. And now let us walk as quickly as we
can, Cowslip, for by-and-by the day will be
very hot; the dew will have all dried up,
and we shall be so tired we shall find it
= impossible to make any progress at all.â€
The path on which the children walked was quite plainly
discernible, even amidst the long wet grass, and they had little
difficulty in following it.
After two or three hours, the heat which Clover spoke of became
intensely great, and Cowslip wanted to sit down and rest.
14 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“We must walk on until we find a little shelter,’ said Clover.
“Tf we sit under a tree we shall be all right; but it is not sate
to rest here with this burning sun beating on our heads.â€
“There’s a cottage over yonder,†said Cowslip. ‘“ Please look
in your letter, Clover, and find out if it is one of the King’s Inns
where we may rest. Oh, I should be glad of a nice comfortable
breakfast, for I am both tired and hungry.â€
“But I have something in my pocket that we can eat,’ said
her brother.
“We will keep that for the present. Let’s hurry on to the
cottage, and try to find out if it is really one of the King’s Inns.â€
Clover stood still at these words, and opened his letter, to which
was fastened a map of the roads. He traced the line of red which ran
through it, and which carefully pointed out the path on which the
children were to walk.
The next moment he gave a glad exclamation.
“That cottage is one of the King’s Inns,†he said. ‘“ We will go
to it as quickly as we can, Cowslip. I am sure they will give us
breakfast, and anyhow we can rest there for a little.â€
The children were not long coming to the door of the pretty
cottage. It stood back in a little corner, which was full of gay
lores and in the centre of which was a tiny path with a box-edge
on each side.
“What dear old-fashioned flowers!†exclaimed Cowslip. “There
are marigolds, and heaps of daisies, and Canterbury bells, and a
But Clover scarcely heard her. He walked quickly up the box-
lined path and knocked at the door.
The next moment it was opened by a tall woman dressed in grey.
“T think,†said Clover, “that this must be one of the King’s Inns.â€
“Certainly, my dear,’ she said—a smile broke out over her face as
the boy spoke the words. “If you two are going to the country
beyond the Blue Mountains, you are right welcome,†she exclaimed.
“Come in, I have breakfast waiting for you both.â€
The children ertered the cottage, which was extremely small
and: very neat. They were taken into a tiny little parlour which
MRS. STHADFAST. 15
was all decked with sea-shells, and which somehow resembled a
sea cave. There were several pictures on the walls. All these
pictures related to the sea. In some the sea was calm, in others there
was a storm. ‘The sea pictures were all put into frames covered with
seashells. There were bunches of sea-weed fastened on the walls, and
little baskets made of shells, filled with dry sea-weed, stood on the
mantelpiece. There was even a faint smell of the sea, which must
have come from the shells and sea-weed.
Cowslip uttered a pleased cry as she entered the pretty little room.
Clover went straight up to one of the pictures, and examined it
carefully.
“T always bring children into this room,†said the lady, whose
name was Mrs. Steadfast. ‘‘The children who come to me, and
who rest in this inn, are at the beginning of a dangerous journey, and
I like to bring them in here to show them these pictures of the
sea, and to assure them that if only they have courage, and don’t
go away from the right path, they will reach the haven. You see
that picture there, my little boy? That represents a ship riding
into haven. She is rather tattered, and her sails are torn, but she is
safe. You too will have dangers to go through, but you will get
safely into harbour, if only you have courage, and never leave the
right way.â€
“Oh, I am sure we never will,†replied Cowslip, looking full
into the grey eyes of the lady.
“YT think you will try to be faithful,†she replied, pushing the
hair from Cowslip’s earnest face ; “‘and now sit down and rest, both of
you, while I get breakfast.â€
_ She bustled out of the room. ‘The children seated themselves
in two little easy chairs which seemed to fit them exactly, and,
long before breakfast had arrived, tired little Cowslip fell fast asleep.
The lady presently brought in a tray which held two bowls filled
with wholesome bread and milk.
“This is the best breakfast of all for you both,†she said. ‘‘ The
bread is no ordinary bread, and the milk comes from a cow which
is sent to me every year by the King. This milk is good and sweet,
>
16 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
and has a wonderful strengthening power about it. When you have
eaten your breakfast, you will be able to go for a long time without
any other meal. In particular, you will be able to avoid the
temptations held out to you by the old man at the Cross Corners.
Ah, but I see this dear child has fallen asleep. Help me, Clover, to
lay her on the sofa. She must not have her breakfast until she
has had her sleep out, but you can eat yours, my little man.â€
“Only we ought not to delay,’ said Clover, ‘‘for the Blue
Mountains are a long way off, Mrs. Steadfast, and if we don’t
walk quickly we shall certainly be overtaken by the night before we
reach them.â€
“In no case will you reach them to-night,†said Mrs. Steadfast,
“but if you walk quickly, and, in particular, try to avoid the temptations
which will reach you at the Cross Corners, you may get to the Palace
of Truth by the evening. The sisters who keep the palace will
gladly give you beds. Yes, Cowslip had better have her sleep
out, for if she does not have it, she will drop asleep by-and-by on the
road, and that would really hinder you in your journey. Hat up
your own breakfast, Clover. When you have finished, you may go
out and look at my garden, if you like.â€
So Clover ate his bread and milk and thought that he had never
tasted such delicious food before. While he ate, every trace of fatigue
left him, and before he had finished he felt quite inclined to jump
and sing.
“J wish you would wake Cowslip,†he said; “it seems such a pity
to waste the day, and after she has eaten this nice bread and milk
she will be so strong that she won’t feel the least inclined to fall
asleep again.â€
“No, no, I won’t wake her,†replied Mrs. Steadfast. ‘She will
soon wake of her own accord, and that will be best. Now go into my
garden and look at the flowers, but one you are mae even to
pick a single leaf.â€
“ Of course not,’ replied Clover with a proud look.
He stepped out into the porch as he spoke, and then began to
wander up and down, stooping over the flowers and smelling them.
MRS. STEADFAST'. el’,
“He is a fine lad,’ muttered Mrs. Steadfast, as she watched him.
“I hope he will persevere. Other lads, as beautiful as he, have come
to this house, and I have sent them on their way with good cheer, and
with all the words of encouragement I could think of. I often
wonder, often, often, if they have reached the country beyond the
Mountains. The sad part of my life is this, that I never know
whether the children who come to this cottage have got to the end
of the journey in safety or not. Some day I suppose I shall learn
the truth, for I love all the children who come to me here.â€
She turned as she spoke to bend over Cowslip. Cowslip had a
pretty pale face. She was a very slight child, and looked as if even
a breath of rough wind might blow her away.
“But these are the sort who often come off best in the end,â€
murmured Mrs. Steadfast. “The King makes the way light to such
as these. I know I am fulfilling the wishes of the King when I
let this dear little one have her sleep out.â€
SE, E UERMORCRENITO
CHAPTER II.
THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH.
CROSS CORNERS
AS she said this Cowslip stirred in her
+ sleep, and a few moments afterwards
opened her blue eyes.
“You are rested, are you not?â€
sud Mrs. Steadfast in her firm but
gentle tone.
“ Yes, I feel ever so much better,â€
replied Cowslip cheerfully. ‘‘ Where
am I though? I don’t seem quite to
remember, anything.â€
Then she looked round the pretty little sea-
like room, and memory came back to her.
“ Now I know all about it,†she said, jump-
/ es ing to her feet as she spoke.
“Clover and I are on our way to the Blue Moun-
tains. We have begun our journey, and you are taking care of us.
You look very kind; I should lke to stay with you in this little
cottage, and to sleep in this sweet little room for several days.â€
“You must not do that,†said Mrs. Steadfast. “The King of the
country to which you are going‘does not like children to linger on the
road. Here is a little verse,’ she continued, ‘ which the King likes
all children who are coming on this journey to say over to themselves.
“T must not linger on the road,
For I have far to go,
And I should like to reach the goal,
Before the sun gets low.â€
THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 19
Here Mrs. Steadfast paused.
“The end of this verse particularly pleases the King,†she said.
Then she continued softly—
‘““T may not stay,
But will you not, oh, will you not come too?
My home is very beautiful,
And there is room for you.â€
“JT don’t quite understand the last part,†said Cowslip. “Am I
to ask other children to join me?â€
“ All true children of the IGing try to get others to joim them,â€
said Mrs. Steadfast. ‘“ Now, I must not preach any more. Jump up
and eat your bread and milk. I want you and your brother to go on
as far as you can to-day.â€
So Cowslip ate the wonderful bread and milk, and felt as Clover
had done before her: every scrap of fatigue left her.
She now longed to resume her journey, and after bidding kind
Mrs. Steadfast good-bye, the two children started down the narrow
path which led direct from the cottage in the direction where the
Mountains were showing through a soft blue mist.
They walked on for some little time. The sun was partly hidden
by clouds, so the heat was not so great as they had feared.
Now and then they spoke of Primrose and Buttercup, and
wondered if they had yet started and what time they would reach
Mrs. Stead fast’s cottage ; but as the moments passed on, a certain satis-
faction, which they could scarcely account for, took possession of
their little hearts. They were not fearful about the brother and
sister who were left behind, for something seemed to tell them that
the King would take care of them, and that they would in the end
reach the Blue Mountains in safety.
At last, some time about noon, they came to a part of the road
where two paths met.
“This must be the Cross Corners,†exclaimed Cowslip. ‘“ Now, I
do wonder which is the way to the Mountains. Both these roads
seem to lead there, don’t they ?â€
B2
20 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Yes,†said Clover. “As far as we can see, both paths seem to
wind ia and out in the direction of the mountains, but I am pretty
sure that this is the one we ought to walk on, Cowslip.â€
“Why? That does look a stupid road,†exclaimed Cowslip.
“ But if you will look again,†continued her brother, “ you will
see that it is straight and slightly uphill, and the other road goes
slightly down.â€
“ But it runs close to that lovely little house,†said Cowslip. “I
am quite certain that is the right way—and oh,†she exclaimed,
suddenly clapping her hands, “do you see that little girl standing in
the doorway ?—that little girl all in blue, with sprigs of forget-me-not
round her neck. She is beckoning us, she is pointing to the road
which leads to her cottage, and beckoning to us to come to her.â€
* We had better look in our map,†said Clover, “and see if there
is any road marked on it the least like that flowery, twisting path
which leads to that pretty house.â€
“No, no,†said Cowslip. “I am certain that is the right path.
Don’t wait to look at the map, please, dear Clover. It is so rude not
to answer that dear little girl. I for one am going to speak to her
at any rate.â€
As Cowslip spoke she ran down the flowery path, and Clover felt
obliged to follow her.
The little girl was certainly very pretty. She wore a pale blue
frock, which almost exactly matched in colour the forget-me-nots round
her head and neck. Her hair was of the palest gold and hung far
below her waist. Her eyes were of the same forget-me-not blue as
- her frock, her lips were like rosebuds, and when she smiled her little
teeth showed like white pearls.
She came out immediately to welcome the children.
“T am so glad to see you,’ she exclaimed. “Not one single
traveller has passed this house this morning. I had breakfast ready
and no one came to eat it. Now I have dinner ready. Would you
like to guess what I have got for dinner 2?â€
“Very much,†said Cowslip.
“ But I don’t think we are on the right path,†said Clover. ‘We
THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 21
ought not to waste time talking to you, for we are going to the King’s
country, and the King does not wish us to loiter. If this were one of
the King’s Inns, where travellers may rest, it would be a different
matter.â€
“ But it is one of the inns,†said the little girl, raising her eyes in
astonishment. ‘What do you mean? You are directly on the road.
Have you not a chart or a map with you?â€
aide sesame
“ Well, show it to me, and I will point out this very house marked
upon it in pale blue ink. Now, then, look for yourself.â€
Clover opened his map; the little girl came close up to him, and
pointed to a little star of forget-me-not blue on the map.
This star certainly pointed to a house which in all particulars
resembled the one at the door of which the children were standing.
“Well, itis all right then,†said Clover. He sighed, however, and
did not seem quite satisfied. Cowslip, on the other hand, was
overjoyed.
“We are quite hungry for our dinner,†she said. ‘‘I do hope you
have got something nice for us. Do you live here all alone? â€
“No, I live with my father. He is a market gardener; he will be
home presently. He brought me these flowers this morning ; are they
not pretty? He will be home to his dinner by-and-by. When he
comes home he is going to bring me wreaths of lily of the valley. I
shall throw away the forget-me-nots then, and put on the lilies of the
valley. To-night he will bring me sweet peas to wear. Is he not
good to me? Is it not pretty to be dressed up in flowers like
this?â€
“But what do you do with all the flowers when they are
withered?†asked Cowslip. “I cannot bear to throw away half-
withered flowers.â€
“But you would if you were a market gardener’s daughter,â€
retorted the little girl. ‘ Flowers would be so plentiful with you that
you would think nothing at all about them. Now do come in and see
what I have got for your dinner.†;
The two children followed the little girl into the interior of the
22 BHYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
house. They went into a little parlour which was prettily furnished,
and on the centre table of which a meal was already prepared. It
consisted of dishes of fruit of every kind and description. There
were great piles of fresh strawberries, and dishes full of large raspberries,
other dishes contained gooseberries, peaches, pears, apples, and grapes.
All the fruits, whether in season or out, seemed to be represented on
the little table.
Now Clover and Cowslip, like all children of their age, delighted in
fruit. ‘They were both of them also a little hot and thirsty.
They sat down immediately in front of the table, and when the
girl who called herself Bluebell asked them to eat, Cowslip immediately
held out her hand for a large peach, and Clover helped himself to a
bunch of grapes.
“What a wonderful market gardener your father must be,â€
exclaimed Cowslip, as she took a deep bite out of the juicy,
delicious peach; “he seems to grow all the fruits at the same time:
We have fruit in our garden at home, but we do not have straw-
berries and peaches on the table together.â€
“ My father never pays any attention to the seasons,†replied the
little girl. ‘He says that if fruit would only become accustomed to
getting ripe altogether, it would be far more profitable. Besides, it is
never cold or frosty in our garden, and it is quite easy to get all the
fruits to ripen at once.â€
“ How far is your garden from here ?†asked Cowslip.
“ About half a mile away.â€
Bluebell looked very earnestly at Cowslip as she spoke.
“Perhaps,†she said, in a slightly hesitating tone, “‘ perhaps my
father would let me take you to see our garden.â€
“Oh, no, Cowslip, there is no time for that,†said Clover, shaking
his head, and speaking in a very decided manner. His dark eyes
glowed with annoyance as he spoke.
Bluebell looked at him, and dropped her pretty lids.
“It must be as you wish, of course,†she said. “ My father would
not think of taking anyone to see his wonderful garden who did not
wish it more than anything else. I don’t know that he would take
THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 23
your sister; I only say that if he would it would be a great, great
pity for her to lose the chance of seeing so wonderful and so uncommon
a garden as ours.â€
“ And I should like to see it extremely,†said Cowslip.
Clover came up to her, and pat his arm round her neck. “ You
know,†he said, in a low voice, “that we are coming very, very soon
to see a much more wonderful garden than the one which Bluebell
speaks about. Don’t let’s loiter on the way, Cowslip.â€
‘“‘T must not linger on the road,
For I have far to go,â€
said Cowslip suddenly. She remembered Mrs. Steadfast’s little verse,
and the colour rushed into her cheeks.
‘““T have had enough fruit,†she said ; “ thank you very much, little
girl. I must go now.â€
“That is right,†said Clover.
The two children walked as far as the door of the cottage, when
Bluebell ran after them.
“T am sorry you are going away,†she said; “I am sorry you
won't stay to see my father. You have not offered to pay me for
the nice fruit I have given you.â€
“Oh, I am so sorry,†said Clover, turning, his face flushing as
he spoke. “I never thought about paying you. How very wrong
of me.â€
“ And I don’t want money payment,†said Bluebell, tears coming
into her eyes; “but I should like you both to kiss me before you
go, and here is a basket of strawberries for you, Cowslip, and a basket
of peaches and apples for you, Clover.â€
“Thank you, thank you,†said both the children.
They each stooped down, and kissed pretty little Bluebell on her
forehead. Then they hastily left the cottage, carrying each their
basket of fruit.
When they had gone up the path, and were once more standing at
Cross Corners, undecided which road to take, they looked back, and
saw Bluebell standing in the doorway watching them.
24 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
With one hand she shaded her eyes from the beams of the sun,
the other she waved to the children.
“ What a dear little girl,†said Cowslip, with a sigh. ‘“ What is
the matter with you, Clover? How cross you look.â€
“T cannot account for my feeling,†said Clover. “I think we
did wrong to go into that cottage. I am persuaded that trouble will
come of it.â€
“ But how can trouble come of it, dear Clover? The cottage was
marked in pale blue ink on the map.â€
“Yes, but the marks made by the King himself were in red. Why
should this cottage be marked in pale blue? ‘There, there, my mind
misgives me, Cowslip; but there is nothing for us now but to make
up for lost time, and go on as fast as we can. I wonder which of
these roads we had better take ? â€
“Oh, that one, of course,†said Cowslip; ‘“‘there cannot be the
smallest doubt about that. It is the road that most people walk
on, for it is wide and smooth and nicely kept, and part of it runs
through that lovely green meadow, with trees at one side, and flowers
growing on the banks. JI can see the colour of the flowers even from
here, and there’s a little stream, too. Perhaps we shall see trout in
it. Oh, Clover, there cannot be the least doubt which is the right |
path to take.â€
“JT am not so sure of that,†said Clover. “TI have always heard
that the path to the Mountains is steep and narrow. Just hold my
basket of fruit for a moment, Cowslip, while I look in the map
again.â€
“T think that map is no end ofatrouble,†said Cowslip ; “who can
possibly compare these two roads? Of course, if that lovely smooth
one led away from the Mountains, I would not have a word to say;
but it goes to them just as directly as the steep path.â€
“Yes, but the steep path is undoubtedly shorter,’ said Clover.
“Ah, I see Iam right. Here it is marked quite distinctly on the map.
Come along, Cowslip darling. We must avoid that pleasant path by
the green meadow. We must go up the hill.â€
“T hate going up a hill,†said Cowslip.
THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. — 25
Asa rule she was a most gentle child, easily led, but for some
reason she looked cross and discontented now.
“ You must carry your own basket, Clover,†she said. “I never
felt anything so heavy. Oh, how tired I am, and how the sun does
beat on my head! I don’t think I ever felt so tired before in the
whole course of my life.â€
“It is very odd,†said Clover, “ but I, too, feel fearfully tired. It
must be that fruit. We did wrong to eat it.â€
“T feel quite sick,†said Cowslip; “but it could not possibly be
the fruit. I never did taste such delicious fruit in all my life. I
know what makes me feel bad, it is the steep hill, and the hot rays of
the sun. Ah, here is a place with a tiny bit of shade. Let’s sit
down, Clover—do let’s sit down, and eat a little more of our ripe
fruit.â€
“Well, I should not object to another bite,†said Clover. ‘“ Those
peaches were delicious, but somehow I felt thirsty the moment I had
eaten them.†:
As soon as ever Cowslip sat down in a shady seat by the roadside
she fell fast asleep.
Clover put his arm round her, and she rested her head on his
shoulder. He could not help looking down at her anxiously as he did
so. Cowslip had never been a strong child, and now she looked so
frail, and there were such black lines under her eyes, and her sweet
little mouth drooped in such a tired way, that Clover wondered much
if she would be strong enough to go the whole length of the
journey.
While the child slept, the basket of strawberries and the basket of
peaches and apples lay on the ground by Clover’s side. After a time
he felt sleepy himself. There was no one in sight. As far as his eye
could travel he could only see a dusty, narrow, thorny path leading all
the way up, up—not up a steep hill, but still upwards. It is not
pleasant, although it may be very good for us, to keep walking uphill
all day, and Clover could not help feeling tired and wishing that the
road to the Blue Mountains had really been down the broader way,
where the beautiful green meadows were.
26 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, he closed his tired
eyes, and also went into the land of dreams.
It was quite dark when the children awoke, and at first they
had some difficulty in remembering where they were.
Cowslip was the first to do so, and now she said, with a bitter ery,
“Oh, Clover, we have overslept ourselves, and the whole day is gone,
and we are nowhere near the Blue Mountains.â€
Clover had to rub his own tired eyes before he could quite take in
Cowslip’s words.
“ Never mind, Cowslip,’†said Clover then, “we shall have heaps
of time, for the King never told us that we must reach the Blue
Mountains by to-night.â€
“ But we cannot stay out in this dangerous, lonely place in the
dark,†said Cowslip. “Iam always terrified in the dark. What shall
we do, Clover? Oh, dear Clover, do let us go back to the Market
Gardener’s cottage. Do let’s beg of Bluebell to give us a bed each
for the night.â€
“No,†said Clover, in a proud sort of way. “I will go forward
as much as you like, but back, never. That would be cowardly,
Cowslip. Come, give me your hand and let us start forward.â€
“ But itis pitch dark,†said the little girl, “and I don’t see a
single step of the way. I am awfully frightened. If you won’t go
back to Bluebell’s cottage, we had better stay where we are for the
night.â€
“No, we must not; there is a heavy dew falling. If you put
your hand on the grass now you will find it quite wet, and, besides,
there may be snakes and other dangerous creatures all round us. No,
we must not stay here.â€
At the word snakes poor Cowslip sprang to her feet in terror.
The next moment she tottered back again, faint and crying.
“TJ am so tired and so thirsty,†she said.
“Let us walk on a little,’ said Clover. “TI have got the map in
my pocket, and we are quite sure to meet with an inn before long.
The King has placed the inns so nicely along the road, that people are
never very long without finding one. You see, Cowslip, we are on the
THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 27
right road, so we must find one of the King’s Inns before we get a
great deal further. The cottage where the Market Gardener's little
git] lived was not one of the King’s Inns. But now if we walk on
very quickly we must find one. Then we shall be quite safe, and you
shall go to bed and have a long sleep.â€
For a moment Cowslip was comforted by Clover’s brave words, but
then she burst out crying again.
“TI cannot walk a step until I have had something to quench my
thirst,’ she said. Then she suddenly gave a cry of delight. “Oh,
Clover,†she exclaimed, “what a silly girl I was to ee the straw-
berries and the peaches. Why, of course, that cone mee fruit will
quench our thirst splendidly.â€
“Somehow,†said Clover, “I don’t want to eat it. I know it looks
very nice, and I know it smells very good, but I suspect anything that
comes out of the Market Gardener’s cottage.â€â€™
“Then I think you are very unkind,†said Cowslip. “That was
a dear little girl; what possible harm did she do us? I for one am
determined to eat one of her delicious peaches.â€
As Cowslip spoke she put down Do hand and took one of the
peaches and began to eat it.
How Gloire was the juicy fruit to her parched lips; how thank-
fully she devoured the peach, and then put down her hand to take
another. She ate three or four peaches before her thirst was at all better.
In the meantime Clover, who was also very thirsty and hungry,
helped himself to two or three strawberries.
He had not eaten nearly as much fruit as Cowslip, and was in
consequence not so much affected by it, for scarcely had the little
girl eaten the last of the peaches before, with a bitter cry, she fell on
the ground, clasping her hands to her head, and moaning as if in
dreadful pain.
“Oh, what is the matter, Cowslip?†said poor Clover, in a voice
of terror.
“T don’t know,†sobbed the child. “I only know that I ache
from head to foot, that I am more thirsty than ever, and that I cannot
possibly walk a single step.â€
28 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Clover bent over his little sister and made every effort to raise
her from the gound.
‘““Where is the pain?†he asked of her.
“Tn my head,†she answered. “I am so giddy that I cannot
possibly stand. Oh, what shall I do; what shall I do?â€
Clover’s head also ached, but slightly.
“T am sure it is that dreadful fruit,†he said. “I am certain
there must have been poison in it. I will not eat another morsel.â€
“Oh, but I long for more,’ sobbed poor Cowslip, as she rolled
about on the ground and moaned in pain.
“You shall not taste another morsel of that fruit,†said Clover.
With these words he took up the basket which contained the
peaches and apples—it was heavy as lead—with a great effort he
hurled it and its contents over the hedge. The basket with the
strawberries immediately followed them. When Clover had done this,
it seemed to him that the air felt lighter; he was not so terribly
thirsty and sleepy, and his head was less giddy.
Poor little Cowslip, however, was in a very bad way, and her
groans went right through Clover’s kind and brave heart.
“What shall I do?†he muttered, under his breath. “ If that fruit
was really poisoned, sweet little Cowslip may die. Oh, how mad I
was to allow her to go into that cottage! Oh, what a wicked, wicked
girl Bluebell is!) What shall I do? What ought a boy like me to
do in such a case as this? I cannot leave little Cowslip alone, and
yet if I do not do something for her, she may be dead before the
morning.â€
These thoughts had scarcely passed through the little fellow’s mind
before he saw coming up the path to meet him a tall, slender figure.
He could not tell in the twilight whether the person, who walked
swiftly, and seemed to keep just the very centre of the path, was a
man or a woman. He was so glad, however, to know that anyone
was near, that he called out at once in a voice full of confidence,
“Who are you? â€
“ Who are you?†was the instant reply.
The voice which came back to Clover was sweet, and belonged, he
THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 29
knew at once, to a woman. Clover felt instantly that this woman
was going to be kind to Cowslip and himself.
“Who speaks?†said the voice again; “‘ who are you who sit by
the wayside? What do you want?â€
“My name is Clover,†replied the boy, “and I am on my way to
the Blue Mountains. I have a little sister here, called Cowslip; she
is very ill. Will no one help her?â€
“J will,†said the lady. “My name is Charity, and I often come
out at night and walk along this road, for the purpose of helping
those people, whether they are children, men, or women, who are going
to the country beyond the Blue Mountains.â€
“Oh, how glad Iam!†said poor Clover. As he said these words
the lady came up to him, and he saw that she carried in her hand
_ alittle lantern. She opened the door of the lantern now, and let the
full light fall on Cowslip’s face.
“Ah,†she said, “the child is poisoned. Did you both stop at the
Market Gardener’s cottage ?â€
“Yes,†said Clover.
“ Have not you got a map of the road?â€
“ Yes,†said Clover.
“The Market Gardener’s cottage was not put into the map.â€
Clover felt himself turning crimson.
“T know now that it was not,†he said, “but the little girl who
wore forget-me-nots, and who called herself Bluebell, pointed it out
tome. It was marked very faintly with a blue cross.â€
“Yes, yes—I know her tricks. She made that cross appear. If
you look in your map now, you will not see any cross near the Market
Gardener's cottage. But even though the girl did make a cross appear,
that ought not to have deceived you; for you know that the King’s
Inns are always marked with red. She would have loved to make
a red cross appear, but that was beyond her power.â€
“T am very sorry; I know I have behaved very badly,†said
Clover.
“We will talk about that presently,†said Charity. ‘Now, the
thing is to get this child up to the palace, where I and my sisters live,
30 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
as soon as possible. She has eaten some of the poisoned fruit. I
know the wiles of that wicked little girl. It was a great mercy that
[came out to-night to see if there were any travellers in danger.
Do you know what would have happened to you two if I had not
come ?â€
“No,†said Clover. His voice trembled as he spoke.
“When your sister got a little worse, the Market Gardener and
that dreadful child called Bluebell, who looks so fair and speaks so
sweetly, would have come out to find you. They would have brought
you home; they would have put out your eyes, Clover, and made you
their slave for ever. And if Cowslip were dead, as most likely she
would have been by the time they found her, they would have taken
off her pretty clothes, and buried her here by the wayside. You see,
therefore, my boy, what a grave danger you ran when you went into
that wicked house. But now we must not lose a minute in doing
something to help dear little Cowslip.â€
As the lady spoke she went down on her knees, and desiring
Clover to kneel also by her side, and to hold the lantern so that she
could see Cowslip’s face, she pushed back the hair from oft’ her brow,
and taking a tiny flask out of her pocket, opened it and put a few
drops to the child’s nose; then mixing some of the contents with a
little water, she forced some of the mixture down: her throat.
The moment the child tasted the medicine which Charity gave her,
she opened her eyes wide, sighed heavily, and tried to get up.
“No, lie still,†said Charity. ‘“ Now, Clover,’ she continued, “I
think your sister will soon be better; but we must get her home, for
she has eaten a great deal of the fruit, and in consequence is very
much poisoned. Still she will not die, my boy, for I have an antidote
to the poison at the palace, and I shall give her that as soon as ever
we get home. Set the lantern on the ground, Clover, and then help
me to lift your sister up.â€
Clover did as he was bid, and the next moment Cowslip lay in
Charity’s strong arms.
“But you cannot possibly carry her alone,†said the boy; “let
me help you.â€
THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACK OF TRUTH. 3L
“No, you shall take the lantern, and go on in front. I will
follow with Cowslip. We have not very far to go; the palace is only
just round the next corner. Now, don’t talk any more, Clover; do
exactly as I tell you.â€
Clover walked on, just as he was bid. Charity directed him to
hold the lantern in such a way that she saw each step of the road.
Cowslip lay like a dead child in her arms, and she was extremely
anxious to get her to the palace as soon as possible.
Presently they came to iron gates. The moment the heht of the
lantern fell across the gates, they opened wide of their own accord,
and Charity desired Clover to walk up the broad steep path which was
cut in the solid rock. At the top of the path were several high steps,
and standing on the top of the steps, each of them holding a lantern,
and with smiles of welcome on their faces, stood two other sisters, who
were dressed in white from their necks to their ankles.
“Welcome, Charity,†they exclaimed. Then seeing that she
carried a child in her arms, they both ran down to meet her, and helped
her to bring Cowslip into the palace.
Poor Clover never could forget the joy and delight which came
- over him when he saw the three sisters bending over his little sister,
and giving her the healing medicine. After some patience they suc-
ceeded in getting the child into a sound and healthy sleep. When
she really slept, she was carried into a sweet little room, in which
was a white bed, a deep, comfortable arm-chair covered all over with
white, white walls, a white marble floor, and white furniture. There
was not a scrap of colour in the peaceful, pretty, soothing room—all
was whiteness, all was peace.
Cowslip was laid upon the bed, and Charity with the utmost
care took off her travel-stained clothes, and put a little white frilled
night-dress on her.
“ Now she will do,†she said; “in the morning she will feel weak,
but will be quite herself again.â€
“And you are sure she is out of danger?†asked Clover.
“Yes, my boy, the antidote has saved her. But you don’t look
well yourself—is anything the matter?â€
BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
oy
1)
“T ate four or five of the strawberries, and I am in very great
pain,†he replied. He leant up against the wall as he spoke. He
had thought nothing of his own discomfort, as long as his sister
was in danger, but now the effects of the poisoned fruit made him sick
and giddy.
“There is another white bedroom waiting for you,†said Charity.
“You are a very brave boy to have thought nothing of yourself while your
sister was ill. Now I shall ask my sister Faith to sit by Cowslip
while I attend to you. It is well you ate no more of the fruit, for I
know from old experience that that wicked little Bluebell put even
more poison into the strawberries than she did into the peaches. Stall,
you ate so very few, that you will soon be well again.â€
So Charity gave some of the antidote to Clover also, and after
giving him a refreshing warm bath, popped him into a snug white
bed, in the room which exactly faced the one in which Cowslip slept.
The tired boy had scarcely laid his head on the pillow before he fell
asleep.
All night long the children slept, and the next morning Clover
and Cowslip remembered very little of the effects of the night
before.
Clover felt perfectly well again, but Cowslip was so weak that
Charity and her sisters would not allow her to move from the palace
that day.
The little girl spent most of her time in bed, sleeping off the
effects of all the poison she had taken, but Clover wandered about the
palace, and saw the room where the armour was kept, and the room
where all the fairies of the glen used to assemble for their monthly
balls. He went into the museum too, where all kinds of curious things
were, and finally he went out on the battlements of the palace, and
taking a telescope in his hand tried hard to see the brightness which
came from the country beyond the Blue Mountains.
Look as he would, however, he could not discover it.
“ Never mind,†said Faith, looking at the boy with her deep and
wonderful eyes, “ you have not gone far enough on your journey yet,
but you will see the brightness by-and-by.â€
THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 33
“How soon are we likely to reach the country?†asked Clover,
looking hard at this lovely lady as he spoke.
. “That altogether depends on yourself,†she answered. “You
must walk straight on, you must have no fear, you must keep up a
brave heart, and you must keep your garments clean and without
stain.â€
“That is so difficult,†he said.
“Tt was difficult,†she said, “to keep the clothes which you wore
when you started from home at all nice or fresh, but when you and
Cowslip leave here to-morrow, my sisters and I are going to give you a
white dress each. We give these dresses to all children who come to
stay with us at this palace. They are not made of any stuff you have
ever seen before. They are very strong, and yet they look very light
and pretty. They are both cool for the heat of summer and warm
for the cold of winter. One thing about them is, that you can always
take them off and wash them in any water you may happen to come to,
and they will become clean. When you get these dresses on there will
be no excuse for you to have any stains, and everyone will know that
you have been to the Palace of Truth, and that you are travellers on
the road to the Blue Mountains. Some people will laugh at you
when they see these clothes, but everyone will respect you, just
because they cannot help themselves; because it is the will of the
King that travellers to his country should be held in high esteem.
Now, my boy, come down and sleep—have a good night—for my
sisters and I mean to send you away at an early hour in the morning.â€
CHAPTER III.
MRS. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS.
\
i
Bin
he “HEN the children were leaving the palace
the next morning, the three sisters came out
to see them on their way. The sisters wore
white dresses, something like those which
they now held in their hands to put on the
children. The dresses were long, and plain,
and were girdled round the waist with a narrow silver
band. Each sister also wore a silver star, fastened in
front of her shining hair.
There was something very beautiful about these
three. Their faces seemed to shine with goodness,
their smiles were both bright and brave; whenever
they spoke, good words, which strengthened those
who listened to them, dropped from their lips. ach sister wore a
different expression, however. Charity had the sort of look about her
face which seemed to say, just as plainly as if she spoke the words,
“T love everybody—the tired people, the sad people, the glad people,
and the bad people. They are all alike to me—I want to help them.â€
Faith had a different expression about her face. She had a dreamy
look, and a sort of far-away gaze in her eyes, as though she were
looking at a very beautiful sight, which those who were with her could
not see. This look became strongest and most intense at the times
when other people were sad and inclined to think the whole world
against them.
Faith was less loved than Charity, but she was a very noble
woman, and had a very noble face.
MRS. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS. 35
Hope, unlike the other two sisters, had a face which could only
be spoken of as bright lke the rising sun.
to dance in her blue eyes. It was impossible to make her feel really
sad about anything. When people told her very sorrowful tales, she
only said, ‘‘ Never mind; matters will soon be better. Cheer up, do
cheer up! Clouds never last long. The world is a very good place,
and travellers to the country beyond the Mountains have a very good
time here, and a splendid time awaiting them there.â€
So these three sisters, with the story of each written on their
faces, came out now to speed the children on their way.
Charity and Hope came forward, and slipped the long, pretty,
white dresses on each of the little travellers.
“You won’t be so tired when you wear these,†they said; “and
those who see you will know you for what you are.â€
“What are we?†asked Cowslip, raising her dear little face, and
looking full into Charity’s eyes.
“Children of the King,†she said, stooping down and kissing the
little girl. “ Don’t forget that, or your pretty white dresses will get
grey and ugly. Keep that in mind, and they will shine and be bright
and fair and white. And now go, my children, go, for we three sisters
want you to be a long way on your journey before night.â€
“ But we must give the children their gifts first,’ said Hope, her
eyes dancing as she spoke. ‘Here, my darlings, here is a bunch of
flowers from me. ‘Take it and do not lose it. These are very choice
flowers, for they do not need to be kept in water, and they do not
wither. They have a beautiful smell, too; and if you feel famt and
very hot, as soon as ever you smell these flowers you will get cool and
refreshed. If you feel very sleepy and overdone, smell the flowers and
you will become wide awake and quite refreshed, as though you had
just had a long sleep. This bunch of flowers is my gift to you
both.â€
“And this is mine,†said Faith, coming up to Clover and looking
him full m the face. ‘ Here is a little glass,†she said. “See, it is
preserved carefully im this red case. Shp it into your pocket. This
glass has the power of magnifying things, and when you want to know
oO. 2
36 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
whether it is the right road for you to take, use the magnifying glass
to look at the King’s map with. Use the glass, too, when people
speak to you whose faces you are not quite sure about. If they are
really good people, the glass will make them look still more beautiful,
but if they are ugly and bad people, with just a covering of pretended
goodness put over them, then you will be able to see through them
with this wonderful glass. In short, I could not make you a more
valuable present. Be sure you don’t lose it, Clover.â€
Clover thanked Faith very much, and put the little case into his
pocket.
“You could not possibly have given me anything I should like
better,†he said; “I am very much obliged to you.â€
« And this is my present to you both,†said Charity. ‘ Perhaps
you won't think much of it, and you will wonder what possible good
it is going to do you when you go forward on your journey. Never-
theless it is a valuable present, and when the King sees you in the
country beyond the Mountains, he will know by the look on both
your foreheads that I have given it to you.†With these words she
stooped down and kissed each child.
Tt was wonderful what a delightful and curious thrill went through
them after Charity had kissed them. A warm glow seemed to rush
through both their little hearts. Clover looked at Cowslip as if he had
never really known what love for his little sister meant before. He
felt that he would die rather than let the smallest bit of harm come to
her. And Cowslip, as she looked up at her big brave brother, thought
“ Surely there never was such a noble fellow as dear Clover. What a
lucky girl I am to have him with me,†she thought. ‘As we are
travelling together to the country beyond the Mountains I need not
possibly fear danger.â€
Then the children left the palace, and started forwardon theirjourney.
It was a beautiful morning, and the dew lay over everything.
They had been so refreshed by their pleasant stay with the three
sisters, that Cowslip felt inclined to run and skip. She could not walk
quietly and soberly. She was in the highest spirits—laughing and
chatting merrily.
MRS. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS. 37
The day was not quite so hot as yesterday, and the children made
up their minds that they would walk a long way, and try to get as
close as possible to the Mountains by night.
But one queer thing about these wonderful Mountains is that,
as you come near them, they seem to go a little bit away from
you.
The children had very few adventures that day. They came to an
inn about noon, and Clover, looking at it with his little magnifying
glass, saw that it bore a red cross just over the door. He looked in
his map too, and saw the same red cross. He was quite sure, there-
fore, that this was really one of the King’s Inns. The children went
into the house, some dinner was given them, and they went on their
way again feeling quite happy.
Cowslip got into such good spirits that she thought all the
troubles and dangers of the journey must be over. She talked a
great deal to Clover about the delightful moment when they should
see their father and mother, and wondered much if Primrose and
Buttercup had yet started on their journey.
“There is no chance now of their overtaking us,†she said, ‘“ unless
indeed they did so during the day we spent at the palace.â€
“T don’t think that is likely,†said Clover, “ for Charity told me
that they always kept a man on the towers to watch for each child as
they passed, and if they look tired, or the least bit as if they wanted
a good meal, Charity runs out herself and brings them in. As that is
the case, and as I am quite sure that nothing would make Buttercup
take a long walk without looking very, very tired, they cannot have
passed us on the journey.â€
“Oh,†said Cowslip, “I do hope they did not go near that awful
little girl with the blue forget-me-nots.â€
She looked very sad and anxious as she spoke, and Clover seeing
that she turned quite pale, made her smell the wonderful bunch of
flowers. It had an immediate effect upon her. She forgot to be
anxious, and her eyes grew full of hope.
* After all,†she said, with a smile and a tear, “ the King will take
care of them, and Charity told me that they were quite certain to get
38 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
safe to him in the end, although she was very sorry when I told her
that they would not come with us.â€
“ What did she say?†asked Clover.
“She said they would have a much harder time in coming to the
Blue Mountains, and would have much greater dangers to meet. Oh,
Clover, Iam so sorry that we did not insist on their coming with us
when we started on our journey.â€
“Don’t be unhappy about that,†said Clover, “for we could not
have done it. I asked Faith, and she said, ‘ You must not worry about
that, for no one can start on this journey without wishing to go him-
self. If your brother and sister wished to sleep, you could not possibly
by any words you said have made them go with you, she said, ‘for
everyone must go on that journey of his own free will.’ â€
As the children talked, they saw in front of them a funny little
cottage, which looked so brown, so plain, and so tiny, that at first they
thought it quite impossible for anyone to live there.
“That cannot be one of the King’s Inns,†said Cowshp. “ But,
oh, do look at that funny little woman standing by the door.â€
She was a tiny woman, and she was dressed from head to foot
all in brown just like her cottage. She was standing in the porch,
and by her side was a small dog, while a cat sat comfortably on her
shoulder.
When the dog saw the children he looked round at his mistress
as if he were winking at her, and then without barking came up to
them wagging his tail.
“ What a dear pretty little dog,†said Cowslip; “how Buttercup
would admire him.â€
“See,†said Clover, “the old woman is beckoning to us.â€
He ran forward as he spoke, but Cowslip stayed. behind to pet the
dog, who began to lick her hand.
sel nor who you are, my dear,†said the little woman—“ you are
travellers to the King’s country beyond the Mountains. I am glad
you have come, for you both look tired, and my cottage is very tiny.
I can never put up more than two at a time, so you and your
sister had better order beds at once.â€
MRS. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS. 39
“ But is this one of the King’s Inns?†asked Clover.
“Look for yourself, my dear,†replied the little woman. ‘Use
your magnifying glass.â€
Clover took the glass out of his pocket, and raising his eyes, saw
the red cross quite plainly over the tiny porch.
‘You see I am right,’ said the woman. “My name is Mrs.
Modesty. This dog’s name is Trusty. This cat’s name is Watch,
and the cottage is called the Beehive. Yes, it is very small, and I
am very plain in my ways, but I can give you each a clean bed, a
bowl of bread and milk, and a hearty welcome.â€
While the old lady was speaking Cowslip came up accompanied by
Trusty. The dog was still wagging his tail and seemed highly pleased
with the two children.
Clover turned round and told his sister what Mrs. Modesty
had said.
“T never, never saw such a funny little cottage,†said Cowslip with
a laugh. ‘ Do you think we shall be able to breathe there ?â€
“Come in and try,†said Mrs. Modesty. “ You must bend your
heads as you enter the door, but that will be good for you. It is
wonderful what a nice place the Beehive is when one is comfortably
settled in it, although every single person who comes up to this
door says at first that the house must be too small for them to live in.
Now, my dear children, come in quickly, for the night comes on so
suddenly in these parts that you would not be able to see one yard
before you in another half hour. It is, ‘first come, first served,’
in the Beehive, I can tell you; so if any other travellers come along
the road before you are safe in your beds, I may have to attend to
them first.â€
While the old lady was speaking Cowslip went up to the door
and peeped in. Mrs. Modesty came round to her back and gave her
a little shove.
That shove sent her almost head-foremost into the tiny cottage. The
little girl burst out laughing, and then standing up, found that the old
woman's words were quite true. She was perfectly comfortable and
could breathe quite easily.
40) BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Clover, who had to be pushed into the cottage even more violently
than his sister, stood by her side the next moment, and they spent a
very happy half hour exploring all the curious things in the tiny
cottage. ‘They found that Mrs. Modesty lived in the greatest comfort
although in such a small way.
A little fire in her grate made the place warm without being too
hot. She had cups and saucers, plates and dishes, basins, chairs,
tables—all the furniture of a neat little house, but on the smallest
possible scale. She was a very small woman herself, but the cat
and dog, while they remained outside, were the ordinary size of those
animals. When they got into the cottage, however, they seemed to
shrink until they quite fitted all the other small things belonging to
the place.
‘Trusty immediately took up his position at one side of the fire.
His eyes shone like coals in his little head. They seemed to dance
in every direction all at once—nothing escaped him. Watch, on
the other hand, sat on the very centre of the hearth-rug. He curled
his big tail like a feather round his legs, and blinked hard at the
glowing fire.
Cowslip was so much interested in these two animals, that she
seated herself between them on the hearth, stretching out one hand
to pet Trusty, and the other to stroke‘the cat on his soft head.
Clover, however, was greatly interested in examining a beautifully
modelled ship, and trying to find out for himself what all the different
ropes and the different sails meant.
While the children were thus amusing themselves, Mrs. Modesty
boiled some milk over the little fire, put two wee basins, which were
certainly not larger than teacups, on the table, broke some bread
into them, and then pouring the hot milk over the bread, bade the
children come and eat their suppers.
They had not eaten anything for many hours, and when they saw
the two tiny basins, Clover could not help laughing to himself.
“Poor Mrs. Modesty, she little, little knows what a big boy I am,
and what a lot I can stow away. She would not give me such a tiny
supper as that if she knew anything about boys’ appetites.â€
AT THE TOP OF THE CASTLE (p. 103.)
MRS. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS. 43
“Come and eat your good suppers, each of you,†said Mrs.
Modesty, looking at Clover as if she could read his thoughts.
_ The children drew their small chairs to the table, and sat down.
The moment they did so Trusty came and sat between them, his
tail going very hard, his eyes moist with expectation, and his tongue
watering. Watch ceased to blink at the fire, and, springing on the
table sat and looked at the nice bread and milk.
“Really,†said Cowslip to herself, “fond as I am of animals, I
cannot spare any of this “d//e supper. I am frightfully hungry now,
and I wonder how such a small meal is to keep me going until the
morning. Mrs. Modesty must feed her own animals.â€
While she was saying these thoughts to herself she heard a laugh,
and looking up, saw that Mrs. Modesty was standing watching the
two children, and the two animals.
“ My dears,†she said, “ you may be surprised at the behaviour of
Trusty and Watch, but it is a time-honoured custom in this house that
travellers always share their meals with my two friends, as I call this
very faithful dog and this nice pleasant-mannered cat. You will have
the goodness, my dears, to leave a little of the milk in each of your
saucers for Watch, and to give Trusty every second mouthful of the
soft bread.â€
“ But how hungry we shall be ourselves!†said Cowslip.
“T don’t think so, my dear. Hat up your suppers, share your good
things with others, and you will find that you have had abundance.â€
The children immediately began to eat, and Clover, following Mrs.
Modesty’s advice, gave every second mouthful of his bread and milk
to Trusty. He quickly found that the old lady’s words were true.
Their little cups of bread and milk seemed to hold a great deal more
than anyone would imagine; and although Cowslip was not at all
willing at first to share her tiny meal with the animals, she ended by
copying her brother, and finally laughed heartily when Watch tapped
her severely on the arm to remind her that she had eaten enough, and
that the rest of the milk belonged by right to him.
After supper the children went to bed, and slept soundly until
the morning.
44, BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTALNS.
Their little beds were hard and very plain, but they had neither of
them any dreams that night, and awoke strong, refreshed, and full of
happiness, when the sun shone into the room the next day.
Mrs. Modesty gave them each another thimbleful of bread
and milk for breakfast, and they started forward on their journey in
good time.
As they were leaving the house Cowslip stooped down, threw her
arms round Trusty, and kissed him several times.
“ How I do wish I could take you with me!â€
“Every child who comes to my cottage makes that remark,†said
Mrs. Modesty. “ But now go on your way, my little darlings. Did
not I tell you that the Beehive was large enough for us all, and
that you would be very happy when once you entered my tiny house ?â€
“Happy?†said Clover; “it is the queerest thing, but I never
felt so contented in all my life before. Thank you for making us so
happy, dear Mrs. Modesty. Good-bye, good-bye!â€
As they walked down the road, with the morning sun shining full
on their faces, Cowslip could not help saying to Clover, “I don’t know
what the country will be like when we get there, I don’t know what
the King will be like ; but I do know that the journey is very pleasant,
and that except for that one horrible adventure with Bluebell, I have
seldom had a better time than since I started as a traveller to the
Blue Mountains.â€
“We are not there yet,’ said Clover, “but I agree with you,
Cowslip, that we are having a splendid time. I feel so strong, too,
since dear Charity gave me this beautiful white dress ; and there is no
longer any reason for us to be afraid, for we have only to use the
magnifying glass to tell us exactly what is the right thing to do.â€
The children walked on for some time, and about noon, being very
tired, they sat down by the roadside to have a rest.
“I should like greatly to go to sleep for an hour,†said Cowslip.
** Well, do, darling,†said her brother; “ you can lean your head
on my shoulder, and I will take care of you.â€
“ But won’t you sleep, too, Clover? You look quite tired; why
may not we both sleep? No danger can possibly come to us.â€
MRS. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS. 45
“No, no,†said {Clover ; “I have always promised myself that I
will watch over you while oe sleep, for it is impossible to tell what
dangers may happenfto us.’
“Well, then, I will sleep for just half an hour, and then you will
sleep for half an hour,†said Cowslip. She settled herself comfort-
ably as she spoke, laid her head on Clover’s shoulder, and was soon in
the land of dreams.
Clover thought, as he held his sister’s head against his breast,
that nothing could possibly induce him even to feel sleepy, but he had
very little idea of the soothing influence of the soft summer air, and
the effect of the cool shade after the rays of the hot sun. Before he
knew anything about it, his own heavy eyes had closed and he was
fast asleep, dreaming that he had already reached the Blue Mountains
and was holding his father’s hand and looking into his mother’s
beloved face.
He was awakened by a ery from Cowslip, and starting to his feet,
rubbing his eyes as he did so, he saw that his sister was sitting up
isokne very white and shaken.
es Oh, have I been asleep?†exclaimed the boy. “ How very, very
sorry Lam. What is the matter, Cowslip P—you look as if somebody
had done something to terrify you.â€
“Tt must have been a dream I had,†said Cowslip. “I thought
something very terrible had come to me while I was asleep. I felt a
hot breath on my cheeks, and, although my eyes were tight closed, I
seemed to see some very terrible eyes looking right down into my heart.
Oh, I felt so frightened. I am quite sure some wicked creature came
and looked at me, but when I woke up I could not see anybody.
“You had a nightmare,†said Clover, in a tender voice. “ People
imagine all kinds of things when they have one of those bad dreams.
Of course no one could have been here, for there is no one in sight.â€
“And you were watching me all the time, were you not?†said
Cowslip.
Clover felt the colour coming into his cheeks.
“Tam ashamed of myself,†he said, “ but the fact is I fell asleep
too. I did not mean to, of course. Nothing was further from my
46 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
thoughts than to go to sleep even for a moment, and how T happened to
do so is more than I can understand. Well, we had better come on
now, Cowslip. I see by the position of the sun that it is rapidly going
towards the west. We have both been to sleep much longer than we
had any idea of.â€
The children both got up, and Cowslip shook out her white dress.
It was stained and green at the back where she had been ] ying. She
looked at it with great distress.
* Do come on,†exclaimed Clover. ‘‘ Never mind the dress now.
We will wash it at the next stream we come to. Do, do come on, how
you linger. What are you looking at?â€
“There!†said Cowslp, pointing with terror; “there, can’t you
see?â€
“TI don’t see anything,†said Clover, in quite a cross voice.
“ Now; oh, Clover, it moves, it is about to spring.â€
Clover looked very earnestly in the direction where Cowslip
pointed, and then to his horror he did see a small snake, with a
well-forked head, gazing at them with two glittering eyes.
“There it is,†said Cowslip, “almost on the very spot where I was
lying. Oh, what an escape we have had!â€
“Yes, that we have,†said Clover, “That accounts for your bad
dream, Cowslip. I did not know that the road to the King’s
country was so full of dangers, but now come on, darling.â€
The brother and sister walked on together for a couple of miles.
There was a great dreariness about the road here, it was shut in by
high rocks, and was in itself very hot and ugly. It was rough with
large stones, and as it sloped very slightly uphill, even the best walker
could not help being tired, as with the sun basking full in his face
he pursued his way.
Suddenly the high rocks opened out, and the children saw a beautiful
green meadow going in the same direction as the road on which
they found it so difficult to walk. The grass in this meadow was
very fresh, and there was a path right through it, by the side of
which grew beautiful flowers. The meadow came straight up to the
road on which the children were walking, but between it and the
MES. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS. 47
King’s highway was a turnstile, on one of the posts of which was
written,
“A short cut to the Blue Mountains.â€
When Cowslip saw this lovely tempting meadow, and the stile
with the words written on it, she could not help laughing for joy.
“How glad I am,†she said, looking at her brother; “I never
knew until my eyes rested on this lovely path how steep and un-
pleasant the road was on which we are now walking. Come along,
Clover; come through the stile, and let us walk down that path with
all the sweet flowers.â€
“T feel afraid of it somehow,†said Clover. “For all we can tell
it may not be the right road. I will take out my magnifying glass
and have a good look at it; then if I see the red cross on this stile,
and if I see the stile marked on the King’s chart, I shall be very
glad, too, to walk in this road.â€
“ Well, be quick,†said Cowslip. “Iam almost sorry, Clover, that
Faith gave you that magnifying glass, for it is such a worry never
to be able to do a pleasant thing without your using it as a sort
of test.â€
“T must,’ said Clover. ‘“ You know, Cowslip, the object of this
journey is not pleasure; it is to get home—to our beautiful home
beyond the Blue Mountains.â€
“I know that,†said Cowslip, “but I cannot help being tired of
this ugly road. Oh, dear Clover, what is the matter? How very
pale you look.â€
Clover’s face had indeed turned ghastly pale. Beads of perspira-
tion stood on his forehead, and he put up one hand to wipe them
away.
“T cannot find it,’ he exclaimed, searching in all his pockets
frantically as he spoke.
“Cannot find what? †asked his sister.
“The glass—the magnifying glass that Faith gave me, and the
map that the King sent. Oh, Cowslip, Cowslip, what shall I do?
—both the glass and the map are gone. They must have been stolen
from me while I slept.â€
48 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Then I did hear something,†exclaimed Cowslip. “ But what
a pity that we both slept. Oh, dear, dear Clover, don’t look like that.
You see, although you have lost the map and that tiresome glass of
Faith’s, here are directions on this stile: ‘Short cut to the Blue
Mountains.’ Read the words for yourself, Clover.â€
“Yes,†said Clover, “I do read them, but I mistrust them. I am
quite sure that pleasant meadow will lead us far away from the
Mountains.â€
«But not when the words are: ‘A short cut to the Mountains,’ â€
said Cowslip, her voice sounding very cross and tired.
«Yes, I am certain we must not go that way,†said Clover. “ I
did very, very wrong to sleep, and I am punished now, as I have not
got my glass, but don’t let us do any more wrong things, Cowslip.
Don’t let us go down that path.â€
“ Down?†said Cowslip, “ but it looks perfectly flat.â€
“Tt is at first,’ answered her brother, “but see where it winds
all along that valley. We must remember, Cowslip darling, that the
way to the King’s country is all uphill. There is no use whatever
in our going downhill.â€
Cowslip began to cry, but Clover, whose heart was very sad at
the loss of his glass and his map, was firm, and nothing she could
say would persuade him to take the short cut.
“No,†he said, “no; I did wrong already, but I don’t intend to
go on doing wrong. I will not cross that stile, Cowslip. Now,
darling, take my hand. This rough road is at any rate in the night
direction, and, perhaps, when we get to one of the inns we may meet
someone who will give me another glass and another map. Come on
quickly now or the night will overtake us.â€
So the children passed by the stile. As they did so they heard
some mocking laughter, which sounded as if it came from other
children’s voices. When Cowslip heard this she gave Clover her hand
and began to walk up the steep path very fast.
CHAPTER: LV:
THE CAVE AND THE BLACK DOOR.
Tis tiring to walk for many hours under the
rays of a hot sun, and the children were much
pleased when at last it went down in the
west, and the air grew cooler, and even a little
breeze sprang up to fan their hot cheeks.
They were now really on high ground, and
there was a feeling about the air which re-
freshed them and took away their fatigue.
Cowslip, too, looking back at her dirty white
dress, perceived that the stains had altogether
disappeared.
“ And I never washed it,†she said. “‘“How
did they go? Oh, how glad Iam. I cannot bear to feel that I have
on a dirty dress. Clover, too, you don’t seem at all sad at the loss of
your glass and map.â€
“T do feel sad, though,†replied Clover. “I know I did wrong, or
I should never have lost them. But I am quite certain that the King
is not angry with me now, and perhaps he will be kind enough to let
me have another glass and map by-and-by.â€
“T am beginning to be very tired and hungry, though,†said
Cowslip. “I wonder when we shall come to another inn.â€
The path upon which the children were walking was quite straight,
going almost like an arrow in front of them, until now it suddenly
took an abrupt turn. The two children stood still and uttered an
astonished exclamation. Right in front of them was a steep and high
mountain, up which the path led.
D
50 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Poor little Cowslip burst into tears at the sight. ‘“ What
am I to do?†she exclaimed. “I ama great deal too tired to go up
that hill. I never felt so tired in all my life.â€
“ What is this cave?†exclaimed Clover. “See, it is just here close
to us. It seems to have furniture in it. How very funny! Perhaps
it is one of the King’s Inns.â€
“T am sure it is not,†said Cowslip. “The King would not
use a common cave for an inn.â€
“But I have noticed,†replied Clover, “that the King does not
care a bit about grand houses for his inns. Do you remember
Mrs. Modesty’s little cottage? In fact, the only big place we were in
was the lovely palace where the three sisters lived. Oh, and look,
Cowslip, even though I have not my magnifying glass, I can see the
red cross just over the entrance to the cave. That makes it right. It
is one of the King’s Inns. Let us go in and rest ourselves. We
shall be quite safe here. Come quickly, Cowslip darling, for the sky
has got so dark that I am sure rain and storm are close at hand.â€
Cowslip hesitated for a moment, but as Clover marched boldly into
the cave, she was obliged to follow him.
It was very dark outside now, and still darker inside the cave.
There was not a soul inside, and the children both trembled for a few
moments as they sat all alone in this strange place.
“JT wish we had a light,†exclaimed Cowslip, with a sob in
her voice.
She had scarcely said the words, before in a distant part of the
cave both children observed something which resembled a glow-worm.
It shone very faintly at first, but as they looked at it, it seemed to grow
brighter and clearer, and Clover, taking hold of his sister’s hand,
walked boldly across the cave towards it. | Looking hard at the queer
little light, he saw that it was nota glow-worm, but the reflection from
a small lantern which stood on the floor of the cave. He picked it up,
and feeling about, came to a little handle, which he turned. Suddenly
the light sprang up very bright and clear, and the children could see
round them. ‘The first thing they saw was that they were all alone
in the cave, which was in reality furnished like a rough sort of bed-
THE CAVE AND THE BLACK DOOR. 51
room and sitting-room combined. There was a table with four round
logs for legs, and on this table stood half a loaf of dry -looking bread
and a pitcher of water, and on the floor in one corner were a pile of
sheepskins, which were evidently meant to do duty as beds.
“ Never mind,†said Clover; “itis a rough place, but it belongs
to the King, for none of his enemies dare to put a red cross over their
doors. It is true that Bluebell used a cross of blue to coax us into
her house, but none of the King’s enemies dare to use a red cross.
We are quite safe here, Cowslip, and what a good thing, for don’t
you hear that thunder? ‘There is evidently going to be a dreadful
storm.â€
The storm came nearer and nearer, and the children, as they sat
on the floor of the cave with the lantern placed on the rough table,
could not help quaking with terror. In all her life Cowslip had never
heard such crashing peals of thunder, and soon the poor little lantern’s
hight was scarcely needed, so incessantly did the lightning flash.
The thunder and hightning were followed by torrents of rain, which
seemed to come out of the heavens almost like a sea of water.
The terrible storm lasted for quite two hours, and all this time
Clover held Cowslip’s hand.
Not a drop of water came into this queer little Inn of the King’s,
and several times, when he could hear his own voice, Clover whispered
to his sister what a very good thing it was that they were safe in
the cave.
At last the thunder grew less frequent and less loud, the hghtning
only flashed at intervals, and the rain ceased.
Clover then went to the entrance of the cave and looked out. The
stars were shining overhead, and a nightingale began to sing very
sweetly in a tree near by. Presently he was answered by another, and
in the distance a cuckoo made his home-like call.
Clover returned to the cave.
“The storm is quite over; the air is lovely, so fresh and balmy.
Now, Cowslip, let us have some supper, and then we will go to sleep.
‘As we are going off to sleep we can listen to the song of the
nightingale.â€
D2
52 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Oh, I cannot eat that horrid bread,†exclaimed Cowslip. “See
how dry itis. It must be very stale and very old.â€
“T, for one, am hungry,†said Clover, ‘“‘and dry as the bread looks
I mean to eat a little.â€
He broke off a piece as he spoke and ate it.
“Why, Cowslip,†he exclaimed, ‘this bread is delicious. I don’t
know what it tastes like—something like honey and fresh flowers and
fruit all mixed up together. It satisfies me; it makes me feel so
strong and well. Here, let me put a morsel into your mouth,
darling.â€
As Clover spoke he held the piece of bread to his sister’s lips.
She opened her mouth to receive it unwillingly, but the moment she
had tasted it her dislike vanished. She agreed with Clover that it
was delicious, and the two children made a hearty meal.
They drank some of the cold water out of the pitcher, which
refreshed them as no milk had ever done, and then they lay down on
the sheepskins and fell fast asleep.
In this rough cave the two children had golden dreams. They
dreamt of the time when the troublesome journey would be over, and they
would have entered the land of rest and of peace-—they dreamt of meeting
their father and mother again, and they even dreamt, although that
part of the dream was a little indistinct, of seeing the King himself.
They both awoke with smiles on their lips, and with a feeling
which they could not explain, that their journey would be over soon.
Cowslip had not a discontented word this morning.
The sunlight was now pouring into the cave, and the little
lantern only glowed once again very faintly. Clover took it back into
its distant corner and then returned to Cowslip.
“There is a well of water here,†he said; ‘let us wash in it, and
let us dip our white dresses in, so that they may be quite clean
and fresh.â€
Cowslip also washed her long fair hair in the pleasant cold water.
They then ate some more of the bread and took a long draught each of
the cold water, and refreshed as they had never been before in their
lives, started uphill on their journey.
THE CAVE AND THE BLACK DOOR. 53
“Oh, Clover, look,†suddenly exclaimed Cowslip. They had been
going up the hill some little distance, and Cowslip as she spoke
pulled her brother’s arm with great eagerness and pointed downwards.
The meadow through which the little gitl had so longed to walk
the previous evening was now turned into a lake of water, so violent
had been the storm of wind and rain.
“We should have been drowned if we had taken that short
cut,†said Cowslip. “ Dear Clover, how wise you are—how much,
much wiser than I am!â€
“Let us be thankful,†said Clover, “ but when you speak of my
wisdom, Cowslip, you quite forget that I lost the precious little glass
and the map. Still, there is not the least doubt that this road does
lead to the Mountains, and that, by-and-by, if we do not turn to
the right hand or the left, we shall reach that lovely land. Now
let us walk steadily on. I for one don’t find this hill very steep—
do you, Cowslip ?â€
“No, for the water in the cave has refreshed me so much, and my
dress, now that I have washed it, feels so light, and clean, and cool.
Oh, Clover, I never spent such a night in the whole course of my life
as I did in the cave.â€
“And I had never such a delicious meal,†said Clover. “It is
very odd ; who would have thought that that ugly cave would contain
such food?â€
“ Which looked so bad,†interrupted Cowslip.
“And which was the most delicious we ever ate,†said her brother.
“ And such beds—no down was ever nicer than those sheepskins.
Oh, Clover, I did have such happy dreams.â€
“And I too,†replied Clover. ‘They strengthened me, they made
me feel as if I would go through anything to get to my father and
mother.â€
* And to the Kking himself,†said Cowslip in a low voice. “ Yes,
I do not feel at all frightened now.â€
Scarcely had she uttered the words, however, before she turned
very pale. Alas for poor little Cowslip, there was to be a test put to
her courage.
54 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTALNS.
Lying right across the road, curled up in the sun, was a huge
snake. It stretched so completely from one side of the path to the
other that the children could not possibly pass it on either side.
They must either leave the path or step over the snake’s body.
Cowslip clutched hold of her brother’s arm in terror, and even
Clover himself, brave boy as he was, shrank back from the danger
which lay so directly across their path.
“Tt is a cobra,†he exclaimed. ‘I know it by its shape. Itisa
most dangerous snake. Cowslip, what are we to do?â€
“We must turn back,†exclaimed Cowslip. ‘Those steep cliffs on
either side of the path cannot be possibly climbed by either of us,
and if we go close to the snake we meet certain death. I thought
myself brave a minute ago, but now——! Clover, what are you going
to do?â€
“Tam going on,†said Clover.
* You will be killed. Oh, Clover!â€
The little girl burst into sudden floods of tears.
“ T don’t think we shall either of us be killed; I don’t think some-
how that the danger is quite so great as we fear. I intend to go
on, for the simple reason that there is nothing whatever else to do.
This is the only road to the Blue Mountains, and as the King has
sent for us to come to him, I don’t suppose he will allow the
snake to harm us.â€
el darensts chameees itis
frightened.â€
She sat down by the side of the road as she spoke, and burst
into sudden and bitter weeping.
Clover knelt by her side, and for a long time used every means in
his power to comfort her without producing the least effect.
The little girl was trembling from head to foot, and could not for
a long time even listen to what Clover was saying. Although he spoke
very brave words, he was, it is true, very much frightened himself.
But at last, raising his head, he looked long and steadily at the horrid
black object curled up right across the path.
“The snake lies very still,’ he said to himself; “it must be
exclaimed Cowslip. “I am far too
THE CAVE AND THE BLACK DOOR. 55
sound, very sound asleep. I have read in some of the books at home
that snakes, after a good meal, often sleep for hours and hours. I
should not be a bit surprised if we could jump over its body without
awakening it.â€
“Cowslip,†he said aloud to his sister, “that snake has not moved
since we came in sight. It has probably just eaten something, and is
quite satisfied. Will you sit there just where you are and wait for
me? I am going up close to the snake. When I get to a little distance
I mean to have a short run, and then to leap over his back.â€
“You will be killed!†exclaimed Cowslip. “Oh, don’t, don’t
leave me!â€
* Listen,’ said Clover. “We always knew that we should
have to meet danger on our road to the Blue Mountains. You
remember the book father used to read out of at home, about a
pilgrim who took this journey and all the dangers he met; but how
in the end he conquered and reached the happy land. Father used
to tell us that no one—no one ever went from our country to the
lovely country beyond the Blue Mountains without having to meet
al sorts of things, which frightened them and took their courage
away; but he said if they went straight up to the dangers,
they never turned out to be half as bad as they looked, and
in the end all those who persevered got to the country safely.
Cowslip,†continued her brother, looking full at her with his dark
eyes, and tossing back his mass of curly hair as he spoke, “I for one
am not going to turn back. Stay there, Cowslip; I will go up close
to the snake. If heis sound asleep I will vault over him, just to show
you how it can be done.â€
“And what am I to do?â€
“You are to stay there, just by the side of this high cliff, until I
come back to you.â€
“Suppose the snake awakens and bites you, and tries to wrap
himself round you!â€
“J don’t think he will; but even if he does, I shall have died on
the King’s Highway, and obeying him.â€
“ But what shall I do, Clover?â€
56 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTALNS.
“Tf such a dreadful thing should happen, which I don’t believe
or expect for a single moment, you must stand in this little hollow
part of the cliff until the snake passes by. He won’t see you,
and when he has passed you can walk on. Now, don’t think of
dreadful things, Cowslip, but just watch me.â€
Without waiting for any reply from his poor little sister, Clover ran
up the road, and then lightly and skilfully leaped over the snake’s body.
It did not stir or take the faintest notice of him.
Clover vaulted back again and came to Cowslip.
“Good,†he said, in a joyous voice; “I never saw anything sleep
so soundly before. Just take my hand, and let us go close to it. You
know you can vault quite well, Cowslip.â€
“ But not so far nor so well as you.â€
“On this occasion you will be able to do so. Now, come on.â€
Clover looked so full of courage that Cowslip could not but trust
herself to him.
So they went up to the snake and lightly vaulted over it.
The dreadful creature was certainly sound asleep, for it did not
notice the children, and no more moved than if it were really carved
in stone.
They walked on very fast, however, when they got to its other
side, as Cowslip feared it might awaken any moment, and follow them.
They continued their journey for two or three miles, the path getting
narrower and steeper each moment; but still, wonderful to relate, the
freshness of the early morning seemed to linger in the air, and they
were not nearly so tired as they had been yesterday.
Suddenly, however, an unexpected stop seemed to be put to
everything.
Right across the path, shutting. them away from all that lay
beyond, was a very large and very black door—it filled the entire path.
There were heavy rocks on each side of it, and above it the mountain
towered, steep and dreadful.
“We have indeed come to the end now,†said Cowslip. “ After
all we were on the wrong path. Oh, Clover, what a pity you lost the
map and your dear little glass!â€
THE CAVE AND THE BLACK DOOR.
or
“I
“ Yes, it was certainly a pity,†said Clover.
Then he looked steadily wp at the door, and suddenly uttered a
surprised exclamation.
“There is nothing for us but to go back,†said Cowslip. “Oh, to
think that we must pass that dreadful snake again. He will be quite
certain to have awakened now. I never felt so frightened and miserable
in all my life before.â€
“ Courage, courage,†said Clover. “ You won’t let me speak. I
have discovered something.â€
Cowslip raised her tear-dimmed eyes, and looked full at her
brother.
“What is it?†she asked.
“ Look for yourself,†exclaimed the boy. ‘See what is written in
letters of gold on the door.â€
Cowslip wiped her eyes and looked up.
tight across the whole breadth of the door, the children now
read the following words :—
“WHEN YOU COME 10 THE GREAT BLACK DOOR WITH No SIDES,
COME IN AND FEAR NOTHING.â€
“ Nothing will induce me to go in,†said Cowslip. “ Besides, how
can we? J don’t see any key.â€
“Yes, we can,†said Clover. “Come, Cowslip, if you are too
frightened to go on alone, take my hand, put your arms round my
neck, and I will carry you.â€
“Oh, no, no, I will stay outside.â€
“ Darling, do you think I could go in and leave you alone? No,
let us go through the door together. I am sure the moment we touch
it, that it will yield. Put courage into your heart. Those words
put a lot of courage into mine, I know. Look here, Cowslip, our
father used to tell us that if we spoke to the King as we were taking
our journey, he would hear us. I mean to say something to him now.â€
Then Clover raised his head, looked up at the sky, which was
shining down on them both, blue and serene, and said aloud,
with great feeling and passion, “Oh, King of the beautiful country,
we are both very frightened—give us courage to go on.â€
58 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Clover had scarcely said these words before the two children heard
most distinctly a voice in the air, saying gently, “Come on and fear
nothing.â€
These words had a strange effect upon them both; as to Clover,
such a rush of courage filled his heart that he would have gone
through many doors as black as this one; and Cowslip too raised
her pale face, put her little weak hand into her brother’s, and said
bravely, “I won’t fear anything, only let us do it at once before our
courage fails.â€
The children then went up to the door, which to their amazement
opened of its own accord to receive them, and the next instant they
were at the other side, quite shut away from the steep path, the
high cliffs, the sunshine, and the fresh mountain air. They were
quite in the dark, and they felt for a moment as if they could not
breathe.
Then a very strange thing happened: they both felt themselves
taken up in very strong arms — hands, strong and tender, clasped
them, and they were carried swiftly through the air, until all of
a sudden they were once more in light and sunshine, and were
standing on. the ground in the most lovely land they had ever seen.
There were quantities of flowers of every description at their feet, and
above them, a little way off, were mountains blue and soft, with a
wonderful radiance about them.
A man with a kind, grave face was standing near the children.
“Welcome,†he said. “ You have both passed through the black
door, and your worst dangers are over. These mountains that you see
quite close to you are the Blue Mountains, up which you have to go
to reach the happy land beyond; but first of all I must take you to
my castle and ask my daughter to be kind to you, and to refresh: you
before you start on your journey.â€
“T never saw such a lovely country as this,†said Clover.
“Tt isa beautiful country,†said the man. “ But it is nothing to
the country you will reach to-morrow. Now, come with me. Do
you see that white marble castle standing at the edge of that cliff ?
That is my home, and my business is to welcome all the children
THE CAVE AND THE BLACK DOOR. © 59
who come through that black door, and to rest them and to refresh
them before I take them up to the gates of the King’s country.â€
“Are you going to take us?†said Cowslip. ‘You look very
strong ; need we come alone no longer? Will you take us?â€
“Yes, Iam called the Children’s Guide, and I will take you the
rest of your journey to-morrow. You will have some dangers and
some difficulties, but you need not fear, for no two people in all the
world are in reality safer than you are now.â€
Then lifting Cowslip to sit on his shoulder, and giving his hand
to Clover, the Guide walked up a very steep piece of rock until he
reached his own white castle.
When he came to the door, a girl, looking very little older than
Cowslip, came up to meet them. She was in white—a wonderful
kind of transparent white, through which gleams of gold and rose
colour used to flash whenever she moved. She had long golden hair
which flowed far below her waist, and a bright star shone in the
middle of her forehead.
“My name is Pearl,†she said. “I belong to the early morning,
and I am very glad to welcome you both.â€
Then she kissed Cowslip on her forehead, and Clover also on his,
and giving a hand to each of the children, she took them through
several marble halls until they came to a bath-room.
“ Now wash and refresh yourselves,†she said. “Then I will give
you something to eat and will show you over the palace.â€
Pearl went away as she spoke, and the children immediately bathed
themselves in the fresh water which was provided for them.
They were hungry after their bath, and thoroughly enjoyed the
meal which Pearl provided for them.
The Children’s Guide was not present.
“Where is your father ? †asked Cowslip.
‘“ He has gone to lie down,†replied Pearl. “ He wants to take you
on your journey to-morrow morning before the sun gets hot, and he
is resting now.â€
“Does he always take the children up the Blue Mountains ? â€
asked Cowslip.
60 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Yes, always. Did he not tell you his name is the Children’s
Guide? Is not his a happy life? You don’t know how he enjoys it.
He goes up to the gates of the country with all the children who
come through the black door. Sometimes he stays long enough at the
gates to see a child kiss its father and mother.â€
“ But does he never come in?†asked Clover.
“Not yet,’ repled Pearl, in a wonderfully grave kind of voice.
“He has his work to do here. He won’t go in until his work
is done.â€
“ And you always live in this castle?†said Cowslip. ‘‘ Don’t you
ever get tired of it?â€
“ How can I? What life can be more beautiful? Of course some
day I and my father too will go inside the gates, but not until our
work is done. Sometimes, as a great treat, I can look through a
big glass, which we have at the top of the house, and see right inside
ine gates into the country. I cannot always see, but I can some-
times.â€
“What do you see?†asked Cowslip.
‘Pearl looked at her out of her deep eyes. “I must not tell you,â€
she said. And then she added with a little sigh, “And why should
I tell you what you will soon know all about? By this time to-morrow
you will know a great deal more about the beautiful country than any
words of mine can tell you.â€
Pearl was a little girl not much older than Cowslip. She had a
wonderful eee ee way about her, and a look which seemed
to say—
“T have done with sorrow—TI never fret, I am never discontented.
No storms can visit me. I am very happy, and I wait contented here
in the white palace, until my work and my father’s is done.â€
But gentle as Pearl’s face was, with its expression of perfect peace,
rt had not the look of strength which made the Children’s Guide
quite the most wonderful person that Clover and Cowslip had ever
seen.
xs oe us one thing, Pearl,†said Clover, as they parted for the
night: “when we got inside the black gates we were lifted in
THE CAVE AND THE BLACK DOOR. 61
someone’s arms, and carried through the air, which seemed to suffocate
us, until we got out into this lovely land. Was it your father who
carried us across ? â€
“No,†said Pearl, in a whisper; ‘‘it is the Prince himself who
does that.â€
There was a tone about her voice which prevented the children
asking any more questions.
Soon afterwards she took them to two little rooms, where she said
they might go to sleep until the dawn.
“At the very early dawn my father will wake you,†said Pearl.
“ And now good-night and farewell. I shall not see you again.â€
She kissed both of them as she spoke, and then seemed to float
rather than to walk away.
CHAPTER V.
THE CHILDREN’S GUIDE AND THE NARROW BRIDGE.
yHE children were so tired that they fell
asleep the very moment Pearl left them.
Never before in the course of their lives
had they enjoyed such sleep. It was abso-
lutely dreamless. It wrapped them round,
taking all fatigue away, and filled them
with wonderful strength and a wonderful courage.
It lasted im reality for many hours, but it only
seemed to the children lke a moment or so of
time.
f They were awakened at the first dawn of day
| My ~ by a light and rather sharp tap on each of their
shoulders. They looked up startled for an in-
stant. The Children’s Guide was standing in the room. He was
dressed in a suit of chain armour, which fitted close to his body.
His face and head, however, were uncovered. In his hand he carried
a sword.
“Come,†he said to them both. He did not say another word,
but turned and walked downstairs.
The children did not take an instant in following him. He
entered a little parlour on the ground floor of the castle, and pointed
to two bowls of bread and milk.
“Kat your breakfast as quickly as you can,†he said. “We
have far to go, and the road is very steep. Hat your breakfast; you
will require all the strengthening food you can get.â€
The Guide did not eat anything himself.
THE CHILDREN’S GUIDE AND THE NARROW BRIDGE. 63
He stood upright near the window. There was not only a look of
strength about him, but also a look of sternness which caused little
Cowslip to regard him with a certain awe, and which gave her a sense
of fear.
Clover, on the contrary, felt his whole heart going out to the
Guide. He looked at him with reverence, and felt that in the
Guide’s company no possible danger could terrify him.
The children ate their breakfast as quickly as they could, and then
they went out with the Guide.
“Come this way,†he said. He led them, not by the path by
which they had come to the castle, but across a drawbridge which
seemed to be hung almost in the air, and which led direct to a certain
part of the mountains which towered up almost straight before them.
The moment they crossed this bridge a strange thing happened.
The air was sunshine and summer at the other side of the narrow
drawbridge ; but when they crossed it, it became sharp and deadly
cold.
Cowslip shivered in her thin white dress, and Clover felt his teeth
chattering.
“You will have both to work hard,†said the Guide, “so you will
not long feel cold. Do you see that narrow path ? â€
“ Where?†asked Cowslip.
“Do you see it, Clover?†asked the Guide.
“No,†replied the boy. “I only see a dreadful black mountain,
which seems as if it would fall on our heads. I see no path. I cannot
imagine where we are to go. The drawbridge leads to the foot of this
dreadful hill. I cannot imagine where we are to put our feet.â€
“Qh, and what frightful noise is that?†asked Cowslip. “It is
louder and more terrible than any thunder I have ever heard. What
is it P—what has happened ?â€
“T will tell you, my children,†said the Guide. ‘“ You are now on
the last, the very last, bit of your journey to the Blue Mountains.
Children come in many ways, and by many paths, to the wonderful
gates. The children who come through the black door have always
to come up this steep mountain. I told you yesterday that your worst
64. BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
trials were over. I said this because the last bit of the way will not
be trodden by you alone. The King kindly allows me to help the
children up this terrible mountain. You can therefore rest assured
that you are not in any danger, although the steepness of the way
will make your hearts beat as if they were going to burst, your heads
may turn giddy, and you may often feel inclined not to go on. Still
IT can faithfully promise you that if you will put your feet one step
after the other on this narrow path, no danger can happen.â€
The Guide had to stop speaking here, for the air was completely
filled with the awful thunder, which seemed to be echoed back from
one mountain to another.
“ What is it?—what can be the matter? †exclaimed poor Cowslip.
“The noise that frightens you so much,†said the Guide, “is
caused by the falling of great avalanches. That sound is very terri-
fying to children, and you will have to hear it all the way as you go
up this steep mountain. But you need not be frightened, for if you
keep on that silver shining path the avalanches will not touch you,
although some of them may come so close that you could touch ‘hem
if you put out your hand. Now, come on, my children, come on.â€
“ But I don’t see the path,†said Cowshp.
“I do,†said Clover. ‘There it is, a line of silver—very narrow,
and, oh, how steep! It seems as if we had to go up the straight walls
of a house.â€
“Look again, Clover,†said the Guide.
“Oh,†exclaimed the boy, “ how wonderful! There are little steps
all the way up the silver path.â€
“Good boy,’ said the Guide. “ Walk on just in front of us,
Clover. I will take Cowslip’s hand. Now, my children, forward,
forward—there is much to be done if you would reach the gates
before night.â€
Was there ever such a path? ach step was taken with toil.
Over and over again poor Clover felt that his heart would stop,
so loudly did it beat. Perspiration stood out on his forehead. He
clenched his teeth. He struggled with all his might and main
to go on.
THE CHILDRENS GUIDE AND THE NARROW BRIDGE. 65
As to little Cowslip, her task was not nearly so hard, for the
Guide, who was always specially kind to weakness, held her
firmly with his strong hand, and at a specially steep bit he actually
lifted her up, although he never quite carried her.
The avalanches kept on tumbling past the children, and once or
twice they heard mocking laughter, and Cowslip felt sure she saw
some wicked faces peeping at them. Whenever this happened, how-
ever, the Guide unsheathed his sword and just let it flash in the
sunshine. The moment he did this the laughter ceased, and the
children were able to breathe freely.
At last, after what seemed like hours and hours of the greatest toil
they had ever taken, they reached the summit of this terrible mountain.
“ And now our dangers and our trials must be over,’ thought poor
Clover, as he threw himself full length on the grass at the top, gasping
for breath, and so tired that he could not speak a single word.
Cowslip lay down by her brother, and placed her soft cheek against
his. She was not nearly so tired as he was, for the Guide had helped
her so wonderfully up the terrible mountain.
While the children were resting the Guide sat down near them,
and taking a letter out of his pocket he read it slowly and carefully to
himself. Once or twice he gave a compassionate look at the tired
children, and once or twice he opened his lips as if he would speak
to them. i
He uttered no words, however, but an expression of great gentle-
ness and tenderness passed over his strong face.
“The way is rough,†he murmured under his breath. ‘“ No child
could go up this terrible hill unaided. And yet, what courage that
boy showed! How splendidly he worked and grappled with the
dangers !â€
More than an hour passed away. Clover breathed quite comfort-
ably once again, and Cowslip sat wp and looked round her.
Strange to say, on the top of this mountain the air was not nearly
so cold as it had been at the foot. The sun was shining brightly in
the clear blue sky, and a breeze soft as a zephyr was fanning the
children’s hot cheeks.
5
66 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
When they sat up the Guide spoke to them at once.
“Here is a piece of bread for you both,†he said. “ Hat it quickly,
for the day is passing and we must go on.â€
« Have we much farther to go?†asked Clover.
“ Only one step further, my boy,†replied the Guide. ‘‘ Your toils
are now completely over, but there is one last test of your courage to
be gone through. You think that you are at the top of the Blue
Mountains. Do you see that peak up there ?â€
«“ That one,†said Clover—‘‘ that one quite high in the clouds ?â€
“Yes,†said the Guide, “it is at the other side of that peak that
the gates are which lead into the country plier the King lives, and
Pier your father and mother wait for you.â€
« But how are we ever to get to that peak?†said Clover. “ Are
we to go down this mountain, al then up that mountain ?â€
“Tt cannot be done,†said poor Cowslip. “It will kill me; I
cannot do it.â€
“You cannot do it, truly,†replied the Guide, putting his arm
round her. ‘‘ You are a weak little girl, and the King does not expect
you to do impossibilities. Now, my children, see, a wonderful thing is
going to happen.â€
As he spoke the Guide turned his head slightly aside and blew
a shrill piercing whistle.
The moment he did so there came a noise in the air—a noise
of feet hurrying, and people running, and of chains being moved.
Then the children heard the sltccute of horses’ hoofs, ee all the
time they saw nothing.
“ Now look again,†said the Guide.
They did look, and Clover uttered an astonished exclamation.
From the peak of the Blue Mountains, where they stopped, to that
higher peak, which was almost lost in the clouds, was now thrown a
slender and very narrow bridge, and standing by the side of the bridge
were two cream-coloured ponies, with saddles and bridles on.
“Come,†said the Guide. “Allis ready. This is our way.â€
He walked up to the ponies and desired Clover to mount one.
‘He will carry you across the bridge,†he said. “ And Cowslip,â€
THE CHILDREN’S GUIDE. AND THE NARROW BRIDGE. 67
said the Guide, “you must mount this little pony. You will be
perfectly safe, for all you have to do is to look up all the way. You
must both keep your eyes fixed on the distant peak, and then you
will not turn giddy, nor fall imto the great abyss beneath. Keep
looking up all the way.â€
“ But what will become of you?†asked Clover.
“My horse is here too. Do you not see him? Here he is, strong
and powerful, and jet black. Now, Cowslip, mount on your pretty
pony. His name is ‘Trust.’ J can assure you that you can trust
him absolutely, for he will not slip, though the bridge is so narrow,
and though the danger appears so great. Clover, your pony’s name is
‘Courage.’ When you get on his back the courage which already
fills your heart will become greater than ever. I can only say that
both these ponies deserve their names. I cannot tell you how many
children they have taken safely across this dangerous bridge, to the
highest peak of all. Once there, the last danger is past.â€
While the Guide was speaking, Clover went up to the pony called
Courage, looked into his eyes, kissed him hghtly on the forehead,
and sprang on his back. When he did so, the little creature began to
paw the ground and to struggle to get forward.
“See how eager he is to land you in safety,†said the Guide. “ He
is kept by the King himself, in his own stables, and the employment
he likes best in the world is to carry children over the bridge.â€
“ May I go on?†asked Clover, his eyes sparkling, and his cheeks
glowing with happiness and courage.
“Yes,†said the Guide. .
The next moment poor little Cowslip could not help uttering
a scream, for she saw Clover on his pony treading the bridge, which
. looked little wider than a rope. She shut her eyes and turned
deadly pale. :
“Don’t look,†said the Guide. ‘Get on your pony. When you
are seated on the back of Trust you will feel better.â€
He helped her to mount as he spoke, and the little girl certainly
did feel less afraid when she found herself on the pretty pony’s back.
“ But you will promise to stay close to me?†she said to the Guide.
BE 2
68 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“T will, my hittle girl,†he replied. “I will be close to you all
the time, but the bridge is so narrow that we cannot possibly go side
by side, and it will be better for you to go on in front, and let me
follow you.â€
“No, no, let me follow you,†gasped poor Cowslip. “I shall feel
much less frightened if I see you just in front of me.â€
“ Very well, I will do so if you wish it,†answered the Guide.
He flung himself on his splendid black horse as he spoke, and the
next moment had begun to cross the bridge, looking back over his
shoulder to encourage Cowslip as he did so.
Notwithstanding all her efforts to the contrary, the poor little girl
could not help shuddering as she felt Trust place first one foot and
then the other on the slender bridge.
At last she found there was nothing whatever to do but to shut
her eyes. She knew that if by any chance she glanced down even
once, she would become so giddy that she would fall off the pony’s
back and be lost for ever.
‘But even with her eyes shut, her terrors were so great that she
could scarcely keep from screaming aloud.
“Open your eyes, Cowslip,†said the Guide. ‘‘Open your eyes
and look up. You won't be frightened then.â€
“ But I am afraid,†she gasped.
“Trust, trust, and look up,†said the Guide again.
With a great effort Cowslip did open her eyes, and looking up
saw something which filled her with such wonder and courage that
her head ceased to feel giddy and her limbs ceased to tremble.
In the air above, looking down at her from the edges of the clouds,
looking down at her from the peaks of the mountains, were thousands
and thousands, and many, many thousands of happy, lovely children’s
faces—they smiled to her—they beckoned to her—their soft
laughter reached her.
“Oh, how wonderful!†gasped the little girl,
“All those children have already crossed the bridge,†said the
Guide. “Keep looking at them, Cowslip, and your fears will pass
away. See, we are half across now.â€
THE CHILDREN’S GUIDE AND THE NARROW BRIDGE. 69
But in the centre of the bridge the swaying motion was felt more
strongly than ever, and though Cowslip did look up, she had to hold
her pony’s mane to keep herself from falling off.
At this moment, however, and just as she felt that she could not
possibly hold on to Trust’s back another instant, a wonderful thing
happened.
Two of the children, with faces even more beautiful than the
others, suddenly flew through the air, and coming close to Cowslip
put their arms round her, and supported, her so wonderfully that she
scarcely now sat at all on Trust’s back, but leant with all her weight
against the angel children who were helping her over the bridge. And
so in safety she reached the other side. Clover was already there
before her.
Cowslip sank on the grass, and for a moment lay with closed eyes,
too tired and too happy to speak or move.
When she opened her eyes in five minutes’ time, the children had
all disappeared. She found herself lying on the ground in the midst
of a very beautiful garden. Flowers were to be seen everywhere.
There was the tender shade of tall trees over her head, and the
singing of birds filled the air.
Cowslip, still feeling weak and giddy, struggled to her feet. The
Children’s Guide was standing close to her.
“The gates are there,†he said, pointing up a narrow path. “Just
where the brightness is, there stand the gates. You have only to
walk up to them, and they will open to you of their own accord,
and you will go in and find yourself in the King’s country. Now,
farewell, my children.â€
“Oh, won’t you come with us?†asked Cowslip, tears springing
to her eyes. ‘‘ You have been so good, I cannot bear to part from
you.â€
“No,†he replied, “I cannot come with you. I must go back
immediately to the white palace at the other side of the black doors,
for there may be children already waiting for me to help them up
the mountain and across the bridge. My work for you is over.
Farewell.â€
70 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“ May I kiss you before you go?†asked Cowslip.
“Yes,†he answered.
He stooped down and kissed the little girl on her cheek.
“Shall I never see you again?†she asked.
“Some time,†he replied, “some time in the distant ages, perhaps
—who can tell?—when all the children have crossed the bridge and
climbed the mountain; but I cannot tell you when that will be, little
girl. You will not miss me, for a heart quite full up to the brim with
happiness does not need anything more. Farewell. Fareweil, Clover.
The King has put into your heart a great courage, my boy, and I
have no doubt he will have special work for you to do for him in his
own country.â€
The next moment the Guide had gone.
Neither of the children saw him go. He seemed to vanish from
before their eyes likea puff of smoke. They turned and looked at one
another. Then hand in hand they went up to the gates.
Those gates have often been spoken of as golden, and with the sun
shining full on them they seemed to dazzle the children’s happy eyes.
As they approached them they heard music inside, and very sweet
laughter, and joyous footsteps; and faces that they seemed to know
looked out at them, and hands that they seemed to remember began
to beckon to them.
And then the gates opened wide, and they went in, and the gates
were closed.
w CHAPTER VI.
A NEW WAY TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Sc an MUST mow, stelll ihesstory ofthe uwe
ay children who were left behind. After
Cowslip left her, Primrose turned on
her other side and went off into a deep
and very heavy sleep. Buttercup also,
on his little hard bed, slumbered with-
out dreaming. It was getting on for
twelve o’clock when Primrose opened
her heavy eyes.
She looked around her with a start,
wondered why the sun was streaming
into the room, and making it so hot, called Cowslip’s name, and
of course received no answer.
Then she slowly got out of bed and looked around her. It
did not take her long to remember what had really happened. This
was the day on which the children were to start on their journey
to the Blue Mountains. Primrose remembered hazily how Cowslip
had come to her hours and hours before, and had said something
about starting without her. Oh, how terrible—if this had really
happened !
Primrose ran with her little bare feet into the other room, where
Buttercup was still sound asleep. :
“Wake up, Bee, darling,†she said—for this was her pet name
for her little brother—‘‘ wake up, wake up! I am awfully afraid that
Clover and Cowslip have gone to the Mountains without us.â€
Buttercup rubbed his sleepy eyes and sat up in bed.
bo
BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
~I
“JT know they have,’ he said calmly. “Clover came to me
this morning, and tried to make me get up to go with him and
Cowslip. I wasn’t going to be so foolish, I can tell you. Why,
what’s the matter, Primrose? You look as if you were going to cry.â€
“T feel like crying,†said Primrose; ‘I feel very, very unhappy ;
IT don’t know what dreadful thing may happen to us now, for, of
course, we shall not only have to start on our journey alone, but
we shall have to go without the letter which the King sent, giving
us directions. Oh, Buttercup, no wonder I am frightened! How
naughty we both were to stay in bed this morning!â€
“Not a bit of it,’ said Buttercup. “The King wouldn’t be
kind if he punished us for a little trifle of that sort. Stop
crying, Rose, dear, and let us get something to eat. We can
start on our journey after we have had breakfast, and I am sure we
shall soon catch up the others. As to having any bother about
finding the Blue Mountains—how can we possibly go wrong when
they are staring us full in the face all the time? We shall soon
catch Clover and Cowslip up, Rose, for I know, if you don’t, what
a lazy little thing Cowslip can be. She’s sure to be fast asleep now
under the shade of some big tree. You get breakfast ready, Rose, and
let us be off.â€
Primrose allowed herself to be slightly comforted by Buttercup’s
words. He was a good deal younger than she, but hke many
obstinate though silly people, his little remarks sometimes impressed
those who listened to him as much as if they were words of wisdom.
He had a way of never being put out or frightened, and this fact
comforted poor nervous Primrose not a little.
She went out of the room, therefore, and set the kettle on to
boil. As she did so she looked at the eight-day clock which ticked so
solemnly in one corner of the old-fashioned kitchen, and a profound
sigh escaped her lips. The clock pointed to twelve. It was already
noon, therefore, and the beautiful fresh morning was over.
Primrose laid the table for breakfast. Then she went into her
bedroom, and, opening a wardrobe, took out a neat little brown
frock which her mother had made for her before she went away.
A NEW WAY TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 73
She put the brown frock on, and tied a brown straw hat over her
flowing goldy-brown hair. The hat, too, had been trimmed by her
mother. It was a sober, Quaker sort of little hat, but Primrose’s
extremely pretty face looked charming under it. She loved this
hat and this brown frock better than all the rest of her clothes,
for they had been the very last work finished for her by her mother
before she left the cottage.
“Oh, my darling, darling mother!†said the little girl, clasping
her hands; “how glad I shall be when I see you again. Oh, I
hope the King of the country beyond the Mountains won’t be very
angry with me for not beginning my journey early this morning.â€
Then Primrose returned to the kitchen, where Buttercup was
already eating hunks of thick bread and butter covered with honey.
He wore a little sailor suit, and Primrose, going to his room, brought
out a large sailor hat with a band of blue ribbon round it, to put on
his head.
“Why am I to wear that thing?†he said; “it 1s much too
large; Vd rather have my cap.â€
“No, Bee,†said Primrose, “the hat is better than the cap, for
mother trimmed it for you. She trimmed this hat for me and
this hat for you just before the King sent for her, and I think it will
be much better for us to wear these things that seem to be so full
of her.â€
Buttercup, too, had been extremely fond of his mother, and
when Primrose spoke to him about the hat she had trimmed, he
made no further objection to wearing it.
“Let us be quick now,†said Primrose. “The day is already
half over. Don’t delay too long over your breakfast, Bee.â€
“ Well, I suppose I may finish my breakfast,†said Buttercup.
“This honey is quite delicious. I am awfully fond of honey ; Vd
better eat as much of it as I can, as there’s no saying when we ll get
another meal. Would it not be well for us to take a picnic basket
with us, Rose ?â€
“No,†replied Primrose; * for in the letter which Clover received
from the King, he said there were plenty of inns on the road, and
74 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTALNS.
that we should reach the first in time for breakfast. Of course,
you and I can’t do that now, but I daresay we shall get some
dinner there.â€
This thought comforted Buttercup a good deal.
“T am very glad indeed of that,†he said. “T don’t know
what kind of girl you are, Rose, but IT never can do without my
meals. Whatever happens, I must have plenty to eat.â€
«Well, let’s start off now,†said Primrose. “Do look at the
clock, Bee—it is getting dreadfully late. Come, let us go at once.â€
Buttercup rose rather unwillingly from the breakfast table,
shook the crumbs off his neat sailor suit, and placed the broad
straw hat on his little curly head.
Then he slipped his hand into Primrose’s, and the two children
set off.
Primrose felt almost cheerful at last.
«Let us walk fast, Bee,†she said. ‘ You must be right, too,
about the road, for there are the Mountains exactly in front of us.
What a dark blue they look now. They are not so pretty as they
are in the morning and evening—there are no beautiful lghts
shining through the mist which always covers them, and I can
scarcely see the snow-peaks. I hope there is not going to be a
storm,â€
“Not a bit of it,’ said Buttercup. “The Mountains always
look like that in the middle of the day. Oh, please, Rose, I really
can’t walk so quickly.â€
“T don’t think we ought to be going down hill,†said Prim-
rose. “I remember quite well that one of the directions in Clover’s
letter said, ‘ You will be going up a very gentle and easy incline
from the very first.’ Oh, Buttercup, what shall we do if we are
taking the wrong way?â€
‘ How can we be taking the wrong way? There are the
Mountains. What we want is to get to them, and I expect there
are quite a dozen roads leading to them. Do you see that stile at
the other side of that pretty path? I am sure there was some-
thing about a stile in Clover’s letter. Let us make for Its!
A NEW WAY TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 05
“ But it is down hill,†said Primrose. “I don’t think there
was anything about the stile in the letter Clover received.â€
“IT gee someone standing there,†said Buttercup. “A lady—
oh, how pretty she looks! Let us run to her and ask her the
way to the Blue Mountains.â€
Primrose cheered up when she saw the pretty lady standing
by the stile. She took hold of Buttercup’s little hand and ran
down the beautiful flowering path which led to the rustic turn-
stile by which the lady stood.
She certainly was remarkably pretty. She was dressed in a
kind of pale violet flowing robe—a wreath of wild clematis was
twined round her head, and her long, soft, fair hair hung down
nearly to her waist.
“And do I see two little pilgrims?†she said, stretching out
a hand to each of the children, and looking at them with her
bright wonderful eyes. “Welcome, my darlings, welcome lies
“Oh, please, pretty lady,†began Primrose—then she stopped
and looked in a distressed way at her brother. “T am quite
certain we are going wrong, Bee,†she said.
“Nonsense!†said Buttercup, giving his little person a shake.
‘““T didn’t think you'd be such a silly girl, Rose. IT am not afraid.
Please, kind lady,’ he added, looking up with his dear little
confident face into that of the beautiful violet lady—“ please can
you tell us the right way to get to the Blue Mountains?â€
“Tt depends on how you want to go,†replied the lady gently.
“Do you wish to go the easy way or the difficult way?â€
“Why, the easy, of course,†replied Bee, without a moment’s
hesitation.
“Well, this is the easy way. Do you see those Rose Moun-
tains over there? ‘They are very lovely, are they not?â€
“Oh, yes! oh, yes!†said Primrose, her eyes brightening.
“Do you know, pretty lady, that T never noticed them before.â€
“They don’t look far off, either,†continued the lady, fixing
her gaze full on the child.
“No, they seem quite near.â€
76 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Well, through the Rose Mountains which you see just across
that little valley, there is a straight even road, perfectly level,
which leads directly to the Blue Mountains. It is much the
best way to go. Much, much the shortest way.â€
“Thank you,†said Buttercup. “I am very glad indeed we
met you.â€
“You needn’t thank me, my dear little boy. I stand at this
stile for an hour or two every day to show little pilgrims lke
yourself a new way to the Blue Mountains. It is a very, very
pretty, delightful way, and I am so glad that I am in time to
prevent your going that horrid up-hill path, which some children
are silly enough to take.â€
“But my brother and sister went to the Blue Mountains this
morning, and I am quite sure they went up-hill,†said Primrose.
“Well, dear,†replied the lady, in a gentle tone, “I can only
say that I am sorry for them. They will arrive, of course, but
they will take a much longer time on the road. If you go to
the Blue Mountains by way of the Rose Mountains, you will
reach the Golden Country at the other side of the Mountains
long before your brother and sister. Here, go right through this
path. You will soon find an inn where you can rest.â€
CHAPTER VIL.
PETER PIPKINS AND FUNGUS THE FERRYMAN.
| AM so glad we didn’t go with the others,â€
said Buttercup, as the two children walked
briskly along. “Oh, what a silly pair we'd
have been if we had got up at sunrise this
morning and begun to walk up those tire-
some steep hills. Now you see, Rose, who
was right? I always knew that I was the
wise one. It is much, much wiser to take
things quietly. I always do—I never excite myself.â€
“Tt certainly is much nicer to walk down hill,’ said Rose,
“and that pretty violet lady must know the right way. But
what puzzles me is this: when we lived so close to the Rose
Mountains all our lives, why did we never notice them before?â€
“Because we were silly, I suppose,†said Buttercup, in the
unconcerned sort of fashion in which he avoided any subject
which puzzled him. ‘The Rose Mountains are very pretty, are
they not, Primrose—much prettier than the Blue?â€
“They are lovely, certainly,†replied Primrose; and they looked
so at this moment.
A. golden mist was all over them, and many shifting rainbow
sort of colours came and went along their summits, until it seemed
to the little girl’s excited fancy that she saw fairy people looking
at her and beckoning to her from the tops of the mountains.
The children walked on for a couple of hours. Then they
came to a small rustic cottage, at the door of which a very small
and wrinkled old man was standing. He had a long white beard,
~I
BR
BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
and keen, deep-set black eyes, and a nose which was very much
hooked, and long silvery hair which flowed back from his high
forehead. There was something peculiar about him, but he did
not look unpleasant; and his voice was wonderfully sweet and
attractive.
“Welcome, my dear children,†he said in a cordial and affectionate
manner. “I have been standing here waiting for you for some time.
How late you are in coming !— the dinner is getting quite cold.â€
“The dinner,†said Buttercup, running forward eagerly. ‘“ What
a kind, kind man you are! Have you really got dinner for us? We
are so hungry!â€
“Of course I have got dinner for you, my little loves. You
are some of the children who are going to the Rose Mountains, are’
you not?â€
« Yes,†said Primrose, “but how could you tell? â€
“Oh, I have a way of knowing things,†said the old man, winking
one of his black eyes with great solemnity. ‘“ But come in, come in
at once, or the dinner will be cold. There are four children already
waiting for their dinner in my parlour. They are as hungry as I am,
but we none of us could begin to eat until you came.â€
The old man then held out a hand to Primrose and another to
Buttercup, and led them through the rustic porch of his house into a
pleasant, low, cool parlour, where four children about their own ages
were seated round a table.
The table had a white cloth on it, and was spread with several
small tempting-looking dishes. These dishes contained honey and
cakes, some rather foreign-looking fruits, and some puddings of various
sorts. Buttercup was very glad to perceive that there was no meat
nor anything solid on the board. He always liked the pudding and
fruit and cake much better than any other part of his dinner, and was
relieved to think that he might satisfy his appetite with these dainties
without delay.
Primrose, however, who was very fond of Buttercup, and knew that
he could at times eat more cake than was good for him, looked with
some dissatisfaction at the table.
PETER PIPKINS AND FUNGUS THE FERRYMAN. 79
“We ought to have milk and bread, and something solid of that
sort,†she said, “instead of all these messes.â€
“ Messes,†said the old man, darting a quick fiery glance at her.
“ Do you call these delicious puddings and cakes messes? You don’t
deserve to have any.â€
He spoke so fiercely and his face changed so completely while he
was speaking that poor Primrose felt alarmed, and wished that she
had not said anything.
“T know the food is very nice,†she murmured; and she slipped
into a chair by Buttercup’s side.
“ Of course, it is quite delicious!†said Buttercup.
His tone of intense approval pleased the old man; he smiled at
him, and telling the children to fall to and help themselves to any-
thing they fancied, sat down at one end of the long table, and drawing
a covered basin towards himself, took the lid off it and began to drink
up the soup which it contained.
That soup smelt delicious, and Primrose could not help looking at
it longingly, but the old man did not offer it to any of the children,
who had to content themselves with the cakes, and fruit, and dainty
little puddings which were scattered about the table.
“Are you going to the Rose Mountains?†asked one of the
strange children of Primrose.
“T am really going to the Blue Mountains,†said Primrose,
“ but i
“Oh, it’s all the same,†interrupted the child—“ so are we going
to the Blue Mountains, but we don’t talk of them much, because the
Rose Mountains are much, much prettier—don’t you think so?â€
Before Primrose could reply she was attracted by a sudden noise
at her other side. She turned her head and saw that Buttercup had
fallen fast asleep with a piece of pink cake sticking out of his
mouth.
She felt wonderfully sleepy herself, and looking down the table,
saw that two of the strange boys were also nodding their heads,
and that the little girl who sat near them was yawning.
“You are all tired,†said the old man, who was just lifting the
80 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
basin of soup to his lips to drain off the last drop of its contents.
«There are some sofas in the other room ; you can go and lie down.â€
It was still broad daylight, for the time was the middle of
summer, but the children were glad to avail themselves of this offer,
and drag their weary limbs into the inner room of the little cottage.
But Primrose had almost to carry Buttercup—he was so very sound
asleep.. ;
The sofas were broad and soft, and the moment the children laid
their tired heads on them they went off into dreamless slumber.
They all awoke about the same time, to discover that daylight had
faded, and that ‘night had come on. The old man with the white
beard and the hooked nose was standing in the middle of the room,
nodding and laughing.
“Ha! ha!†he said, “you have had a lovely sleep, haven’t
you?â€
“Oh, yes,†said Primrose, with a tremendous yawn, “ but we are
very tired still—at least, I am. Oh, how dark it looks outside!†she
added, glancing towards the window; “I think, perhaps, as it’s so
late, we might as well spend the night here, if—if you don’t mind, old
man.
“My name is Peter Pipkins, and it offends me very much when
people speak of me by any name but my right one. It shows a great
want of respect.â€
“ Well, Peter Pipkins, may we stay here, in your comfortable
house, for the night?†asked Buttercup, raising his flushed face from
the pillow, and looking at Peter Pipkins with his sleepy eyes.
“No,†said Peter, “I could not permit such a thing for a moment.
Supper is waiting on the table for some other children, and I cannot
possibly have any of you lingering about the place. I have done
with you; I have given youa good meal, and a good sleep, and you
must go now.â€
“ But please,†said Primrose, in a frightened voice, “ where are we
to spend the night? The King of the country beyond the Blue
Mountains told my brother in a letter that there would be inns on the
road—which is the next inn?â€
TRYING ON THE WREATHS (p. 127).
PETER PIPKINS AND FUNGUS THE FPERRYAMAN. 83,
“The next inn,†said the old man, with a queer wicked sort of
gleam in his black eyes, “is called Castle Dangerous ; it is a remark-
ably nice sort of place, and if you walk fast you'll all get there long
before morning. You have only to follow the winding path which
leads from my door, and it will lead you straight there. Now off, all
of you: off out of my sight at once!â€
The children tumbled to their feet, shook out their dresses, pushed
back their tossed hair, and walked all of them in a sad little group to
the door of the cottage.
“You must each of you pay me before you go,’ said Peter. “ You
don’t suppose that I give you all that good food and comfortable sleep
for nothing.â€
“ But we have no money,†said Primrose
and I haven’t got any money.â€
“ Well, well, I won’t be hard on you—all I ask is a kiss aplece.
I am fond of kissing pretty children, and you are all very taking
little dears.â€
Buttercup thought it kind of Peter Pipkins only to want a kiss.
He ran up to him and raised his chubby lips to the old man’s withered
face without an instant’s hesitation. The four strange children
did the same, but Primrose managed to push past one of the other
little girls, and to get out into the cool night air without having
kissed Peter.
“Good-bye, all of you! †he shouted; and the children ran down
the path, singing—
“at least, Buttercup
“We are off to the Mountains Blue,
Let us laugh as we go and be glad |
We will travel the whole night through,
And never be weary or sad.
Oh, joy for that Land of Delight !
Let us hasten our steps to be there,
Good-bye to all sorrow and night
When we rest in its radiance fair.â€
The children felt quite happy while they sang.
The night had certainly come, but the moon was shining brilliantly.
Â¥ 2
D
4 BEYOND THE BLUM MOUNTAINS.
it was at this moment that Primrose noticed a change in Buttercup’s
face. It looked as if it were shrunken; she also observed that the
four other children were slightly—very slightly—altered in appear-
ance ; they looked old for their small size, and the expression on each
face seemed to bear a faint—very faint—resemblance to Peter
Pipkins’s. ;
“JT am glad I did not kiss that old man,†she said to Butter-
cup.
“You were very silly not to,†replied Buttercup. “I feel much
nicer since I kissed him. I had a horrid pain in my heart when I
woke after that sleep. You'll not believe me, Rose, but I felt sorry
that I had not gone with Clover and Cowslip this morning ; but after
I kissed Peter the pain went away—I am not a bit, not a morsel,
sorry now.â€
“Well, we must walk to Castle Dangerous as fast as we can,†said
Primrose. “I do hope the night air won't give you cold, Butter-
cup.†She took his hand as she spoke, and walked on a little before
the other children.
After going very quickly for the best part of a mile the children
came to a stile marked “ Beware of the Dangerous Land.†The letters
were written in white on a black ground, and shone out clear and
distinct in the moonlight.
“Oh,†said Primrose, ‘we mustn’t go over that stile. See what
the sign-post says, ‘ Beware of the Dangerous Land.’â€
“Nonsense,†said Buttercup. “Those words must be written by
some silly person, for the land at the other side of the stile is exactly
like this, only prettier; we can see it quite plainly, and it is ever so
sweet and pretty.â€
“Just a green meadow, and a pretty little path running through
it,’ said one of the children; “what can there be to fear?â€
“JT am not afraid,†said another child; “Ill risk it.â€
“ And where are we to go if we don’t cross the stile?†asked the
tallest of the four strange children.
Primrose looked round her in fright and bewilderment.
“ T wish we had gone with Cowslip and Clover,†she said. ‘“ That
PETER PIPKINS AND FUNGUS THE FERRYMAN. 85
sign-post makes me dreadfully afraid. Oh, see!†she exclaimed, in
sudden delight, “there is another tiny path to the right of the stile—
it goes quite away from it in the opposite direction, and it is very steep
and up-hill. There is a sign-post here, too, but I can scarcely read
the writing. Oh, yes, I can now. See, see, we must go this way !
See, children, all of you, what is written on this sign-post, ‘ Break-
heart Hill—a Road to the Blue Mountains.â€
The children laughed when Primrose read the words on the other
sign-post.
“Catch us going up Break-heart Hill!†they exclaimed; “we
know better! Come, Buttercup, if that is your name, let us cross the
stile, and go into the Dangerous Land. There are lights at the other
side of the valley. Those must be the lights of Castle Dangerous,
where we are all to sleep. Come, Buttercup, don’t mind that. silly
sister of yours.†~
Buttercup was very easily persuaded; he gave his hand to one of
the strange children, and they all ran merrily together into the
Dangerous Land, leaving Primrose standing alone at the other side of
the stile.
“T can’t leave dear little Buttercup,†she exclaimed. “I know I
am doing wrong—I am quite sure we are all doing wrong—but I can’t
possibly leave Buttercup.â€
She too crossed the stile, and walked down the path which led
across the meadow through the Dangerous Land.
It was remarkably pleasant to walk in that meadow—the air which
blew on the children’s faces was warm and balmy. The moon seemed
to shine brighter than’ at the other side of the stile, and even in its
shifting and uncertain light the children could see that the path down
which they walked was bordered with many gay and exquisite
flowers.
The night was very silent at the other side of the stile, but at this
side it seemed to be all awake. Bees hummed, crickets chirped—there
were thousands of noises, some pretty, some the reverse. It is true
that Buttercup and the four strange children thought all the sounds
sweet and attractive, but Primrose fancied now and then that she
86 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUN TAINS.
heard some low mocking laughter, which might come from the lips of
those naughty people who are always trying to lead children astray.
As they walked, the lights which shone out of every window of
Castle Dangerous grew brighter and brighter.
The meadow dipped down into a lovely valley, and the Castle
stood on a high rock hanging over this valley on the farther side. Jt
was turreted all over, and even in the moonlight looked grey and
hoary with age.
Tt took the children a great deal longer than they had any idea of
to cross the valley, and they were all dreadfully tired and could scarcely
keep their eyes open when at last they reached a deep narrow stream
which ran between them and the Castle.
This stream ran right across the valley, and though the children
looked to their right and to their left, they could not perceive any
bridge by which they might cross it.
«Oh dear, dear!†exclaimed Primrose, “what are we to do
now?â€
«Tt is growing very dark, too,’ said one of the strange
children.
This was true, for the moon had not only set, but thick clouds
had come up and were covering the sky. It also wanted quite
an hour to the dawn.
«What are we to do?†said the children in a breath. ‘‘ We
are so tired, so dreadfully tired.â€
« T think Pll lie down just here in the grass, and go to sleep,â€
said Buttercup.
But he had scarcely spoken before something glided past just
over his feet. It was a snake.
The children saw it and started back with exclamations of
terror.
“ Now what’s the matter? What ails you all?†called a
voice.
It was a very welcome sound, and they all rushed forward to
see who had spoken.
A little man was sitting in a boat in the very middle of the
PETER PIPKINS AND FUNGUS THE FERRY MAN. 87
stream. It was a very small boat, and the man who sat in it
was extremely tiny. He had a humped back, and lone black hair,
and fierce eyes, and a white face. But it was too dark for the
children to see how ugly he was, and they were delighted to hear
his voice.
“Tm Fungus the ferryman,†he called to them. “Do you
want me to ferry you across to Castle Dangerous?â€
“Oh yes! oh yes!†they all exclaimed— oh, please be quick ;
we are so tired and sleepy.â€
“ And so am I,†growled the little man. “I have been wait-
ing here for you in the middle of this nasty stream the whole of
the night. I am very angry with you—very angry indeed.â€
“ Please forgive us, ferryman,†said Buttercup. “We did not
know you were waiting, or we’d have run all the way.â€
“ Children always are thoughtless,†said the ferryman, but he
did not speak quite so crossly, and rowed his boat carefully to
the edge of the stream.
“You must get in with great care,’ he said to the children.
“Only one of you at a time, please. And when you are in the
boat you must neither move nor speak, for the boat is so small
and the water so rough that the slightest thing will upset it. I
think it right to tell you that this water belongs to certain little
men who have a spite against children, and that no child ever yet
fell into this stream who was not drowned.â€
This news was terrible to the poor little travellers, and Prim-
rose felt inclined, even at the last moment, to pull Buttercup back
by force, and not allow him to enter the charmed boat; but the
little fellow did not seem to have a particle of fear. He ran down
the narrow path and was the very first to get in.
There was nothing, therefore, for Primrose to do but to
follow him.
When the six children were in the boat it sank so low in the
water that it was almost on a level with the angry rushing stream,
but the ferryman assured the children that if they remained motion-
less there was not the least fear.
88 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
He then began carefully to use his two oars and so to pilot
them across the stream.
“You are good children,†he said, “and I have not the least
doubt that if you sit motionless, and don’t even wink your eyes, I
shall be able to land you safely at the other side. The people to
whom this water belongs won’t have any power over you if you
sit quite still, and don’t even wink while you are in the boat.â€
As the ferryman spoke he fixed his black eyes in turn on each
of the children. When he did this they each felt a queer kind of
thrilling sensation passing through them, from their heads down to
their feet. Even Primrose experienced this queer thrill. It had
a strange effect on her as well as the others. It imstantly took
all fear away, and filled each little heart with a queer unaccount-
able gladness.
At last the boat grated on the pebbly shore at the other side
of the narrow stream.
The ferryman instantly jumped out, and giving one of his
fingers to each child, helped them all to alight on the narrow
shelf of beach.
“Welcome to the threshold of Castle Dangerous. Oh, what a
happy time you'll have! Welcome, welcome, welcome!†said
Fungus.
As he spoke, he looked up at the Castle, which was on such
a high and steep rock that it seemed almost to hang over the
children’s heads.
“ How are we ever to get up there?†asked Primrose. “ That
rock is as steep as the wall of a house, and I’m sure I for one
ean’t climb it.â€
“Nor I,†said Buttercup—‘“‘and I am so tired, too. Oh, I'd
give anything to go to bed. JI don’t think it is worth while
going to the Blue Mountains when it gives one so much
trouble.â€
“ Don’t say that, Buttercup,†said Primrose. “Think of father
and mother waiting to welcome us. There is no trouble too great
to take that will bring us back to them.â€
PETER PIPKINS AND FUNGUS THE FERRYMAN. 89
“Come, come,’ said the ferryman. ‘It is very natural for
little people to like to sleep, and this little man shall soon have a
bath and a snug bed, and a nice breakfast. Now you must all
come up to the Castle as fast as possible. It is quite easy if you
go the right way. Hach child must catch hold of one or two of
the hairs of my beard, and I'll pull you up without difficulty.â€
‘““ But——†began Primrose, opening her eyes very wide.
“No buts, my pretty lttle miss; trust me, and you'll soon
see that I am right. Here, grip hold of this long black hair.
Fear nothing; you'll soon be at the top.â€
As Fungus spoke he put a long hair from his flowing beard
into the hand of each child.
The moment the children’s fingers touched these hairs they
seemed to change into small steel chains or cables.
“Take a hard grip,†said the ferryman, “and now follow me.â€
He walked on in front as he spoke, and the children clinging
to the hairs of his beard, found that they could easily mount the
steep rock which led to the Castle.
They soon gained the entrance, which was all made of white
marble, and looked very lovely with the first rays of the morning
sun gilding it.
Four ladies came down to meet the children.
“My name is Dragon-flower,†said one of them; she was
dressed in many gay and rich colours and had long raven black
hair which flowed back over her shoulders—her eyes were bright,
her smile radiant. She bent over the tired children and kissed
them affectionately.
“ Dear little ones,’ she said, “let me introduce you to my
three sisters. This one in rose colour is called Poppy; this lovely
darling all in pure white is Silver-wings, and this sister in grey
with the dark eyes and the tender smile is known at Castle
Dangerous by the name of Moonlight. Here we all are, ready to
welcome you, and make you as happy as the day is long. Take
my hand, dear little Primrose—you see I know your name before-
and follow me, all of you, to the room with the marble baths.â€
hand
CHAPTER VIII.
CASTLE DANGEROUS AND THE VANISHING STAIRS.
JHE four lovely sisters seemed to float rather than to
walk.
Silver-wings, whose white dress was more dazzling
and beautiful than Dragon-flower’s many-coloured
and Poppy’s rose-tinted robe, looked earnestly from
one face to the other, as the children walked down-
stairs to the baths.
Moonlight ran on in front, and while Dragon-
flower was filling the baths, the children saw this
graver sister preparing delightful little beds in a
room just beyond. Brilliant sunshine and daylight
filled every other crevice of the Castle, but in this room it was still
night, and the children noticed with pleasure that Moonlight shook
up pillows and turned down sheets on pretty white beds in this dim
soothing room.
Poppy helped her as she did this.
“Flere are the baths,†said Dragon-flower. “ You never bathed
in water like this before. See how it sparkles. It is warm and
comforting, and when you wash in it you will forget all your fatigue,
and come out quite fresh and very beautiful. Undress, undress all of
you, my dears, and get into your lovely baths. Come, Silver-wings,
why are you standing there doing nothing? Come and help me to
undress these dear children, and remove their ugly, torn and dirty
clothes. We will put some of our own clothes on them when they
come out of the baths.â€
CASTLE DANGEROUS AND THE VANISHING STAIRS. 91
When Dragon-flower spoke, Silver-wings glided slowly for-
ward, and, opening a large cupboard in the wall, brought out a pretty
gaily-coloured dress for each child. She laid the clothes down be-
side the marble baths, and helped Dragon-flower to undress the
children.
“ Now get in, my loves,†said Dragon-flower; “the baths are quite
ready, and you do look very tired, all of you. Be sure you lie down
in the water, and cover your heads as well. You won’t get thoroughly
rested unless you dip yourselves completely under the water.â€
Primrose was the last to step into her bath. She felt happy and
excited, but all the time, deep down in her heart, was a queer sensation
of fear.
“ Dip, dip!†said Dragon-flower; “dip your heads well under the
water all of you. That’s right, my dear children, enjoy your soothing
baths ; I shall be back again presently.â€
She glided out of the room as she spoke. At the same moment
Primrose raised her eyes, and saw Silver-wings was looking at her
earnestly.
“You need not dip your head under the water unless you lke,â€
whispered Silver-wings ; “but don’t tell anyone that I said so.â€
She ran away to the other side of the room as she spoke.
“There is some meaning in her words,’ thought Primrose to
herself. “This bath is delicious—I never felt anything hke it; but
I won’t dip my head under the water—on that I am resolved.â€
Soon afterwards Dragon-flower returned. “ Now, my children,â€
she said, “you may get out of your baths and put on these lovely
clothes. Come, Silver-wings, help the dear little ones to dress. They
must then have something to eat, and afterwards go and he down in
that cool room which Poppy and Moonlight have prepared for
them.â€
Buttercup was delighted with the lovely dress that Dragon-flower
put upon him. It had a great many brilliant colours, and Buttercup
loved gay colours. When he was dressed he rushed up to his sister
Primrose, and kissed her.
“Do you know,†he said, raising his pretty blooming little face to
92 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
hers, “that there is to be a great feast here to-night, and a lot of
children are coming, and we may play, and skip, and dance, and enjoy
ourselves? Oh, I never, never, in all my life, was so happy. JI am
elad we have come to this lovely place.â€
«¢ But we can’t stay here, Buttercup,†said Primrose. “ It will be
very nice to have some breakfast, and perhaps some sleep, but then we
must start on our journey, for I do hope we shall reach the Rose
Mountains before to-night.â€
“What do you mean?†said Buttercup, looking at her in a
puzzled way. ‘“ What Rose Mountains? What journey? Aren’t
we always going to stay here? What do you mean, Primrose ?â€â€™
“What do you mean?†said Primrose, looking at her little
brother in terror; ‘‘ don’t you know that we are going to the Blue
Mountains to jom our father and mother, and Cowslip and
Clover; don’t you snow it, Buttercup—how can you possibly have
forgotten?â€
Just for an instant a queer puzzled look came over Buttereup’s
face; then he shook his little head and laughed gaily.
«“ You must be dreaming, Primrose,†he said. ‘I don’t remember
anything about a father and mother, or about Blue Mountains, or
about people called Clover and Cowslip. Ob, hurrah for the feast, the
feast, the feast! hurrah for the gay dance, and the jolly toys—
hurrah! hurrah ! â€
At this moment Dragon-flower entered the room, followed by two
or three prettily-dressed girls bearing trays which contained cups of
milk and little plates of strawberries.
“ You are to eat your strawberries, and drink your milk, and then
vo to sleep for an hour,†said Dragon-flower to each of the children.
“Why, what is the matter with you, my little girl?†she added,
coming up to Primrose, who, dressed in new and dazzling white clothes
up to her neck, had perched the old brown hat which her mother had
given her on her head.
«Take off that ugly hat,†said Dragon-flower. “ Here is a wreath
of lilies—it will suit you much better than that hideous hat.â€
«But, please, I love my hat,†said Primrose, putting up her hand
CASTLE DANGEROUS AND THE VANISHING STAIRS. 93
to hold it firmly on her head; “it was trimmed for me by mother, and
I would much rather wear it than the most lovely wreath of flowers
that was ever put together; and, please, Dragon-flower,â€â€™ said
Primrose in a gentle voice, “your bath has made me feel so nice
and fresh, that I think I can be going on my journey almost imme-
diately. Jf I may drink some of that milk, and eat some of those
strawberries, I shall be quite fresh to start, and I am sure so will
Buttercup.â€
“What are you talking about?†asked Buttercup, dancing up to
his sister. ‘‘Jam not going on any journey
Oh, hurrah for the feast, the feast, the feast!â€
He rushed up to one of the little strange girls as he spoke, and
putting his arms round her, the two began to dance up and down
the room.
Dragon-flower darted a queer look out of her bright eyes at Silver-
wings, but Silver-wings was very busy at that moment emptying
the water out of one of the baths, and did not see the glance she
gave her.
Primrose did, however, and her heart beat fast with a strange
terror.
‘“‘ Now, do let me persuade you to put on this wreath, my darling,â€
said Dragon-flower, turning again to the little girl. “ Why, what's
the matter? I see tears in those sweet eyes.â€
“Tam unhappy about Buttercup,†said Primrose. “ He seems to
have forgotten everything. He says he does not want to go on any
journey, and when I speak of father and mother, he can’t remember
them. What can be the matter?â€
“ Nothing, my love, nothing,†said Dragon-flower. “ Your dear
little brother is tired and excited, that is all. You will start on your
journey, of course, when you are properly rested; but now eat your
fruit, drink up your milk, and take off that ugly hat?â€
“No, please, I would rather wear it,†said Primrose.
“ T assure you it is the hat that makes you unhappy.â€
‘Still, I would rather wear it—I would much rather be unhappy
and remember mother, than be happy and forget her.â€
catch me, catch me!
dL BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Dragon-flower smiled, and said what a loyal little girl Primrose
was; but her eyes had a hard and glassy look, and it seemed to
Primrose as if she could read through her, and as if she knew that
she was all hollow and not really good.
The poor little girl felt thoroughly frightened, and longed to find
a quiet moment to go up to Buttereup and induce him to leave Castle
Dangerous at once.
Buttercup, however, avoided her eyes. Now that he was dressed
in the gay and lovely clothes supplied to him by the sisters, he looked
a most beautiful child, and he got so much petting that his giddy
little head was completely turned.
“Come, my children, now,†said Silver-wings, “ come into this
lovely room that Moonlight has prepared and lie down and sleep.
These beds are covered with sheets made of the finest silk—the
counterpanes spread over them are rose-coloured; and we hope that
the dreams which will visit each of your little brains will be rose-
coloured too. Come, my children, come.â€
As Silver-wings spoke she went on in advance of the children and
began to sing:
“Sleep, my little ones, sleep !
Soft blows the wind from the west ;
Far in the forest so deep
Turtle-doves coo in their nest.
Sleep, my little ones, sleep !
“Rest and be still, little feet,
Wearisome travels are 0’er ;
Here is a haven more sweet
Than ever you entered before.
Rest and be still, little feet !
“ Lullaby, lullaby, all !
Rose-coloured visions of joy
Hover around when I call,
Come to each girl and each boy.
Lullaby, lullaby, all !â€
CASTLE DANGEROUS AND THE VANISHING STAIRS. 95
Her voice was most sweet, and when the words of the chorus came,
numbers of other equally sweet voices caught up the strain, and echoed
it all around.
The children placed their tired heads on the downy pillows pro-
vided for them, and Moonlight, who looked almost as shadowy as if
she were made of air, came up and laid the slender tips of her long
fingers on each pair of eyes.
After that the children slept soundly, laughing now and then in
their sleep because of their happy dreams.
Primrose too was yielding to the soothing delicious atmosphere of
this wonderful room, when a hand was laid on her shoulder; and
raising her head she encountered the deep yet sweet gaze of Silver-
wings.
‘Don’t tell anyone,†said the sister, raising her fingers to her lips.
““T should be undone—undone for ever if it were known that I had
helped you. The only thing that I can do for you is to give you this
advice—Don’t take off your hat. No one can take it off, however hard
they try, but yourself. Whatever you do, keep it on your head ; and when
you come downstairs presently to feast with the other children, don’t
eat anything that is put before you, except a slice of bread from a hard
dry loaf which will be in the middle of the table. That is all I can
say; farewell, sleep soundly. Nothing can really injure you if you do
what I say.â€
Silver-wings glided away, but her words had banished Primrose’s
desire to sleep.
She lay very still on her little white bed, the rose-coloured
counterpane slightly pushed aside, her pale cheek resting against her
hand, her long: hair falling over the pillows, and the brown hat still
partly covering her head.
The three other sisters, Moonlight, Poppy, and Dragon-flower,
floated in their usual graceful fashion into the room. They thought
that all the children were asleep, and began to talk to one another in
low tones, which even Primrose would not have heard had she not
been very anxious and over-excited.
“What a good thing the children came when they did,’ said
96 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTALNS.
Dragon-flower. ‘“ What with these children and those who arrived
yesterday, we shall have a goodly party to take to the Dark Men
to-night. Oh, what a splendid thing for us that we have captured
them in time!â€
~ © But what about the child with the brown hat?†said Poppy.
“She could not have dipped her head under the enchanted water, for
she remembers her mother.â€
“Yes,†said Dragon-flower, ‘she spoke in a very ridiculous way,
but we can easily come round her. I offered her a wreath of lihes
instead of that hideous hat, but she declined them. Her conduct
rather puzzled me. I wonder if anyone gave her a hint?â€
“Who could?†said Moonlight; ‘‘she did not see a soul to speak
to since she entered the Castle except our four selves, and we should
not be so foolish as to injure ourselves, for unless we can supply the
Dark Men with a certain number of children every week, one of us
has to go to them instead; is it likely, therefore, that we should do
ourselves harm ?â€
“No, no, of course not,†said Dragon-flower. ‘“ Only, I cannot
tell why, I am sometimes—sometimes—not quite sure about Silver-
wings.â€
“You are too suspicious, my love,†said Poppy. ‘“‘ Silver-wings
is the most loyal of us all, and she has such an innocent, sad kind of
look, that the children cling more to her than to any of us; but now,
why should not we take that child’s old brown hat off her head while
she sleeps?â€
“T doubt if that is possible,†said Dragon-flower ; “for there are
many limits to what we are able to do, and if one of these children sets
his or her will against us it is impossible to conquer it ; but go and do
your best, Poppy.â€
Thus counselled, Poppy went over to the bed where poor little
Primrose lay with her eyes shut and her heart beating rapidly.
Poppy stretched out her hand and seized the brown hat.
She started back the next moment with a cry.
“ Tt burns—it hurts me!†she exclaimed. ‘1 dare not touch it
* a)
again.
°
CASTLE DANGEROUS AND VHE VANISHING STAIRS. 97
“You are a coward, Poppy,†said Moonlight; “let me have a
biaven
But when Moonlight laid her slender fingers on the hat it seemed
as if a cruel sword ran right up her arm, and stabbed a terrible thrust
into her heart itself. She turned white to the lips and moved two or
three paces away.
“TJ can do nothing,†she exclaimed.
“T told you so,†said Dragon-flower. “I always knew there were
limits—tremendous limits—to what we could do. Let us go away
now. When the feast comes it will be easy to induce this little girl
to eat one of the crystal cakes, or to drink some of the ruby wine.
For each sup she drinks, and each bite that passes her lips, her power
to resist us will grow less and less, until at last she will give us the hat
of her own free will.â€â€™
The sisters went away after this, and Primrose lay as still as she
could, trembling very much.
After a couple of hours Moonlight returned to the room, drew up
the blinds, and let in some brilliant sunshine. The moment she did
so each child rose like a bird from its nest, and looked round with
wondering, delighted eyes.
Primrose alone felt sad and tired, and sick with terror. She
determined, come what would, to go to Buttercup and make one last
appeal to him. Notwithstanding a very queer kind of glance which
Moonlight gave her, she ran up to him and put her arms round
his neck.
“ Buttercup,’ she said, “I want you to go away with me now; you
are quite fresh, and not at all tired, aren’t you?â€
“ Yes, of course,†said Buttercup, “I never felt better in my life.â€
“Then do come, darling ; do let us go away now. Let us go on
with our journey while the sun is high, and there is plenty of daylight;
do, darling Buttercup.â€
“What, and lose the feast!†said Buttercup ; “ besides, I don’t
know what journey you mean, Primrose. I am going to stay here, for
I would not leave the feast for anything. How queer you look,
Primrose, in that old brown hat! â€
G
98 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Don’t you remember this hat ?†asked Primrose, tears springing
to her eyes, “the hat that mother trimmed just before she went
away.â€
“TJ don’t remember anything about it,†said Buttercup; ‘and
who was mother? Mother! I can’t recall ever having had a
mother.â€
At these words poor little Primrose burst into a flood of bitter
tears.
“Oh,†she said, “you will break my heart, Buttercup! Oh, I am
so frightened and so miserable! â€
“What is it, my love?†said Moonlight. ‘“ Dry your tears, my
dear, there is nothing to be afraid of. Now we are all ready to go
downstairs to our feast, and I think we all look charming, and fit for
the splendid time which is before us. I have good news for you, my
children; there is to be a royal ball to-night held in the King’s
palace, and I have been fortunate enough to secure an invitation for
each of you.â€
“Oh, hurrah! hurrah!†shouted the children.
“There are no end of toys to be given away in the King’s
palace,†continued Moonlight, “and no end of delicious fruit,
and cakes, and sweetmeats to be eaten; but now let us come
downstairs, for I know you must each and all of you be very
hungry. Primrose, my child, would you not like to leave that
ugly hat on your bed? You can fetch it again whenever you
wish.â€
“No, thank you,†said Primrose; “I would rather wear it,-
please.â€
“ Well, come then, let us all go downstairs.â€
Moonlight walked on in front and the children followed her.
The stairs were broad and winding, and made of white marble.
The children ran down them gaily, shouting and singing as they
went; but Primrose, whose heart felt like lead, followed the others
slowly. She was conscious as she did so of a very queer sensation : it
was this—as she set her foot on each of these firm-looking marble
stairs, it seemed to give way under her.
CASTLE DANGEROUS AND THE VANISHING STAIRS. 99
This sensation became so unpleasant that she could not help
quickening her steps. The other children were so excited that
they did not dream of looking back, but Primrose turned at last
to see what could be the matter. Then, indeed, her heart stood still.
The little girl discovered that each stair as she stepped upon it
immediately vanished away. There was therefore no possibility of
going back.
CHAPTER IX.
THE COUNTRY OF THE DARK MEN.
hall’ opened into an immense saloon, which was very
lofty, and was lit by many coloured lamps.
“We are in a most awful plight,’ Primrose whis-
pered to herself. ‘‘ There is nothing at all for it but for
me to be brave and not to part with my hat, whatever
happens.â€
The feast was spread on a long low table in the middle
of this room, and several other children were also there
waiting to partake of it. They all looked pretty, and
eager, and happy. They were all beautifully dressed, and at a little
distance might have been taken for white-winged fairies. The four
lovely sisters glided about, and smiled and bade them welcome, and
the only heavy heart present was poor little Primrose’s; and the
only ugly object, the only blot on all this beauty, was the queer little
brown hat.
It comforted Primrose for a moment to see that Silver-wings
was looking at her, but this beautiful sister did not do anything
for Primrose besides bestowing upon her a quick glance, which
might have been taken for either approval or disapproval. On the
contrary, she seemed anxious to keep away from the little girl, and
busied herself at the other end of the table. There were a good
many servants, neatly and prettily dressed, standing about the room,
and amongst them Primrose noticed the queer ugly little ferryman,
Fungus. When the children sat at the table he brought the little
girl over some crystal cakes and asked her to help herself.
An marble stairs ended in a wide and long hall. This
Soren, \fl
THE COUNTRY OF THE DARK MEN. 101
“Iam not hungry,†she answered. “The only thing I feel the
least inclined for is some bread. TI see a loaf there—please give me
a slice of it.â€
“You won’t like it,†said the ferryman. “It is very dry and
mouldy. It was baked a long time ago, but it has never got eaten,
for who would choose bread to eat when he can have as much cake as
he likes? Do try one of these sweet little cakes, pretty Princess ; you
will never repent of eating one, I can assure you.â€
“T cannot touch it,†said Primrose. “I cannot, really. I can eat
nothing but bread. Please let me have a piece; and I am not a
Princess, you know that. I am only a poor little tired girl, who is
going on a long journey.â€
The ferryman had a gentle voice, but he gave Primrose a very
fierce and wicked glance now. There were limits, however, to his
power, and as she insisted on having some of the bread, he could not
refuse to give it to her.
It was certainly very dry and mouldy looking, but the moment she
put a piece between her lips it seemed to fill her with a strange
strength. She lost the great fear which had made her almost in-
capable of thinking, and felt quite brave. She made a very earnest
little vow in her heart that, come what would, she would never take
the hat off, and that she would not leave a stone unturned to save dear
little Buttercup.
Presently the ferryman brought her up some lovely red wine, in a
little pearl-handled cup.
“Drink this,†he said, “just drink one tiny drop, and it will
sweeten the bread.â€
But Primrose was just as firm in refusing the wine. The ferry-
man, who was a quick-tempered little person, suddenly lost patience
with her, and taking the cup with the ruby wine in it, dashed it into
her face. Had one drop touched her she would have been in his power,
but the brown hat seemed suddenly to get alive, for it flew down and
covered her face.
“Come away, Fungus,†called Silver-wings.
The little ferryman obeyed her at once.
102 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Silver-wings passed close to Primrose a few minutes afterwards.
The little girl felt the brush of her soft draperies, and a low, queer,
very gentle voice sounded in her ears. These were the words which
were addressed to her :
“ You are a very brave child—go on as you have begun. Iam on your
side. Fear nothing !â€
Primrose could scarcely tell from whom these comforting words
proceeded; Silver-wings was busy helping another child to some
delicious sparkling wine. She looked as if she were not speaking
at all, and yet Primrose felt convinced that the words had proceeded
from her lips, and she felt immediately quite calm and happy. She ate a
good deal of the mouldy bread, and with each mouthful felt more and
more strength and courage filling her heart. Whenever she raised
her eyes, however, the angry, flashing, deep-set eyes of the little
ferryman Fungus were fixed upon her. These eyes would have made
her almost wild with fear an hour ago, but now she felt able to return
their gaze quite calmly.
When the meal had come to an end the sisters proposed to the
children that they should all go into a large play-room downstairs
and have a good game.
“There are heaps of toys there for you all,†said Dragon-flower.
‘“‘ Baby houses of the newest fashion, dolls of every size and every kind,
Noah’s arks, balls, bricks, heaps of mechanical toys—in short, every
possible thing that can make a little boy or girl as happy as the day
is long.â€
“ But we'd like to go out,†said Buttercup. “May not we go
for a walk, Dragon-flower ?â€
‘No, my sweet little man,†she replied, stooping down and kissing
the little boy. “That is the one rule of this house: the children
who come here don’t go out. Outside are many sorrows and many
pains, but here in this pretty house, in these lovely rooms, we don’t
know the word Pain, we don’t know the word Trouble, we don’t
know that other ugly word to all children—Lessons. Here all is Play,
all is Pleasure, all is Cakes, all is Toys.†-
“Oh, hurrah, hurrah!†cried Buttercup, “how happy I am, how
THE COUNTRY OF THE DARK MEN. 103
happy Lam! Why do you look so grave, Primrose? and why do you
wear that horrid old hat ?—let me pull it from your head.â€
The little boy stretched up his hand as he spoke, his fingers just
touched the brim of the hat, then he started back with a ery.
“There is a wasp there,’ he said; “it has stung me! Oh, my
poor fingers!â€
There was no wasp, it was the hat itself which had the power of
hurting anyone who attempted to take it from Primrose’s head.
Moonlight came up, and taking Buttercup’s little hand kissed it
tenderly, and immediately the pain vanished.
“ Now come to the play-room,†she said.
The children had to go down a few more steps to do this, and
Primrose observed that these steps, too, disappeared after they had set
their feet upon them. ‘They were now so far underground that the
play-room, beautiful as it was, and prettily as it was lighted with many
fairy lamps, had quite an earthy smell, but no one noticed this
except Primrose.
The children began to run about the room and play wildly, and
Primrose was much disgusted to discover that the ugly little ferryman,
Fungus, had joined the group and was playing as wildly and merrily
as anyone else.
“ Let’s have a game of Blind Man’s Buff,†he shouted.
One of the children was immediately blindfolded, and a wild race
and chase began.
Primrose soon saw, however, that the ferryman had started this
game with a purpose. His object was not to chase the blind person, but
Primrose herself. She could not help screaming out when she found
him close to her, and in her terror she pressed both her hands upon her
hat. His ugly claw-like hands were just extended to wrench it from
her head, when suddenly a marvellous thing happened. The little girl
found herself drawn up from the floor right through the ceiling; a
moment later she had reached the top of the Castle. Here she
stood trembling, for many strange-winged creatures were flying round
her, but raising her eyes she noticed the half-shadowy form of Silver-
wings standing by her side.
104 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“You are so brave, that I am doing a great deal for you,†said the
sister. “If I am discovered I shall be ruined for ever, but I’d rather
run the risk than let such a dear brave little girl suffer. It is in your
power, Primrose, to save your brother and the other children.â€
“What must I do to save them?†asked Primrose. “I will do
anything—anything in the world, kind Silver-wings.â€
“You must get back the hats. I cannot tell you where they are;
Tam not allowed. You must find them for yourself. You must get
the five hats which the children took off their heads when they went
into the enchanted baths. When they put those hats on their heads
again they will have power to withstand my sisters, and to fight
against the dreadful Dark Men.â€
“ But how can I possibly find the hats?†asked Primrose.
“Have courage and you will succeed,†said Silver-wings. “I must
not stay with you any longer, or I shall be missed.â€
She spread out her wings as she spoke, and floated down to the
bottom of the Castle.
“ Now what shall I do?†said Primrose, clasping her hands to her
head. ‘Oh, I do hope the King of the country beyond the Mountains
will help me. Oh, Buttercup, I would do anything in the world to
rescue you! â€
The little girl now descended from the roof by a narrow iron ladder,
and began to search through the different rooms of the Castle. All
those at the top were empty; she entered one after another, and
searched in every cupboard and in every corner for the missing hats.
At last she tried to enter a tiny room near the top of one of the towers.
Here, for the first time, she met with opposition. As she tried to go
into the room numbers of invisible hands pushed her back. She held
on bravely, however—for by this time her fears had completely
vanished.
At last it occurred to her to push against the door with her head
as well as her hands. The moment the brown hat touched the door it
flew open, and Primrose entered the room without any difficulty. The
first thing she saw was a little pile of hats, one lying on top of the
other, on the floor. With a ery of delight she rushed forward and
THE COUNTRY OF THE DARK MEN. 105
picked up the large white sailor hat which her mother had trimmed
for Buttercup. She pressed her lips to the old hat and kissed it many
times; then, clasping all the hats in her hands, she ran out of the
tiny closet.
While she was searching for the hats she had discovered many
stairs, which helped her to reach first one room and then another.
Now, to her amazement, they were all gone. She was on the top of
the topmost tower of Castle Dangerous, with no means of reaching
the ground.
Brave acts, however, always give courage and coolness. Never in
all her life had Primrose felt more composed than at this moment, more
able to think calmly, more self-possessed.
“There was a wonderful power in my old hat,†she said to herself ;
“at must have been because mother trimmed it; perhaps the mothers
of the other children have also trimmed their hats. Poor and shabby
and ugly as they look, they can hurt the wicked sisters here—they are
all afraid of them. I am sure I know the reason why: some mother’s
love has touched them. I must reach the ground somehow. TI don’t
want ever again to go inside this dreadful Castle. Perhaps if I put
all the hats on my head I may be able to float down to the ground.â€
Scarcely had this theught come to Primrose before she acted on
it. The children’s hats fitted nicely one inside the other: she placed
Butterceup’s large sailor hat over all; then putting them on her head,
felt as if she was suddenly possessed of a pair of strong wings. She
let herself gently over the parapet of the tower, and floated, as if she
were a downy feather, to the ground.
“Oh, there you are,†said a voice. ‘I am quite at your service.â€
Primrose, who had shut her eyes while floating through the air,
opened them now, and started back. The httle ferryman, Fungus,
was sitting in the ferry-boat and gazing up at her.
“TI do exactly what you wish, my dear little Princess,†he said.
“ While you possess those five dreadful hats I am, I assure you, only
too anxious to obey you. Now, is there anything you want to ask
me, for whatever it is, I am bound to tell you the simple truth ?â€
““T wish to ask you this,†said Primrose, looking at the ugly little
106 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
man steadily: “at what hour do the sisters intend to conduct my
brother and the other children to the Palace of the King of the
Dark Men?â€
The little ferryman winced when Primrose asked him this. He
gave the little girl a quick glance out of his wicked eyes, and
hesitated.
“Speak!†said Primrose, stamping her foot.
“JT will. Ill speak at once, sweet little Princess. I beseech of
you don’t visit me with your anger. Those awful hats! you now possess
six of them! I—I, yes, little Princess. Ill tell you anything
you wish!â€
“You had better be quick about it,†said Primrose, ‘for I am quite
sure that if I touch you with one of these hats your life will be in
great danger.â€
“Oh, I pray of you, don’t attempt to put the hats near me!
What is it you want?â€
“At what hour are the children to go to the Palace of the
Dark Men?â€
“ At sunset. When the sun goes down we are to row in this
ferry-boat to the gates of the country where the Dark Men live.â€
“Ferryman,†said Primrose, “when the children get inside, what
will happen to them?â€
“Ah!†said the ferryman, raismg his hands, and a queer
terrified look flitting over his face, “ah, when they get inside!â€
“Tell me what will happen to them,†said Primrose, turning
white as she spoke.
‘““When the iron gates are closed, and the children get inside
the Country of the Dark Men,†replied Fungus, “they will work,
and they will weep—for there is no play in that country, and no
cakes, and no sunshine. It is a dark country, little Princess, and
bad for children to live in.†— :
“They shall never go there,†said Primrose; “not while I live.â€
She felt very strong while she spoke. She was only one child,
but it seemed to her that she had the strength of a hundred.
“Perryman,†she said, “you are a very wicked man, and you
THE COUNTRY OF THE DARK MEN. 107
are going to do a very wicked deed; but I am here to prevent
it. You have now got to obey me.â€
“Yes, little Princess, Pl do anything in the world you wish,â€
said Fungus the ferryman.
“The first thing you are to do is this. You are to take me
in your ferry-boat to the gates of the country where the Dark
Men live.â€
“But you are not going inside? I can’t promise that even
the hats will save you there.â€
“Don’t fear for me: take me to the gates—those are my
present orders—do you hear?â€
The ferryman bowed, and bringing the boat to the edge of
the stream helped Primrose to get in. She stepped lightly into
the stern and sat down, keeping her own hat on her head, and
holding the other hats firmly on her knees.
She need not have been at all afraid that Fungus would touch
them, however, for he looked at them with the greatest horror and
dread, and kept as great a distance as he possibly could between
himself and them. :
It took him nearly an hour to row down the stream ; but at
last he drew the boat to shore and told Primrose to step out.
“Do you see that wood?†he said, “about a quarter of a mile
from here. Just inside the wood, where the trees are thickest, are
the gates which lead to the Country of the Dark Men. Walk
straight from here to the woods; the minute you enter them you
will see the gates.â€
“Thank you,†said Primrose.
“And now, what else can I do for you?†asked Fungus.
“Nothing more. J’ll promise not to hurt you, and Ill keep
my word. You are not to tell anyone what you have done for me.
You are to obey the sisters in all particulars, and you are to bring
the children to the gates of the Dark Men’s Country at sunset. Now
go. Remember, if you fail me, that I have power to kall you if I like.â€
Little Fungus stepped away and pushed his boat into the middle
of the stream.
108 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“I'll remember,†he said, “you may trust meâ€; and he began
to row rapidly back to Castle Dangerous.
Primrose was not long in reaching the dark wood. At another
time she would have felt very much alarmed at finding herself
under the shadow of those thick trees. The path which led to the
wood was bright, but the moment Primrose got under the trees
she found herself in a land which, even in broadest daylight, was
grey, and at night must have been black indeed.
When she got accustomed to the gloom, Primrose noticed that
the gates of the Dark Men’s Country were exactly facing her.
These gates were very high, and had an imposing and terrifying
appearance. ‘They were made of wrought iron, which had grown
dark with age, and were so tall that not even a glimpse of the
Country could be seen from over their tops. The gates were sup-
ported by enormous pillars of stone; on the top of each pillar was
mounted a dragon, cut also out of the solid rock. A high wall ran
round the Country to right and left.
“T wonder I am not afraid,’ murmured Primrose to herself.
“This is a terrible place. Oh, to think of my sweet little Buttercup
being in danger of coming here! But he shall never go in; of that
I am determined. I feel strong—I feel brave—I will, I must
deliver him!â€
It still wanted an hour to sunset, but Primrose did not find the
time very long. She paced slowly up and down within sight of
the gates, her brown hat covering her little sunny head, the other
five hats clasped tightly in her arms.
There was perfect stillness around her: not a bird sang, not an
insect chirped or hummed. It was quite plain to Primrose that
none of the happy living creatures of earth would go near the
dreadful gates of the Dark Men.
The sun set presently, and almost immediately afterwards the
little girl heard the splashing of oars, and gay voices singing the
sweetest music as they approached. The sound of the splashing
oars, and the sweet notes of the children’s song, came nearer and
nearer, until at last Primrose could recognise each word. ‘The tears
THE COUNTRY OF THE DARK MEN.
started to her eyes, she locked her hands tightly together, and grasped
the hats very firmly within them.
distinguish Buttercup’s high sweet treble.
the children sang:
“Row, boatman, row, for the land lying yonder
Waits for our coming to welcome us home;
Above the other voices she could
These were the words
Green are the valleys through which we shall wander,
Lovely the glades where our footsteps shall roam.
“There we shall dwell in a Palace of Splendour,
Built of white marble, and gold are the walls,
Ceilings of sapphire, and amethyst tender,
Cast a soft lustre through all the wide halls.
‘*Raiment as bright as the beams of the morning
Soon shall enrobe us in princely attire ;
Clusters of flowers shall be our adorning,
Jewels bedeck us with flashings of fire.
“ Feasting and music shall fill up the daytime,
Sorrow be banished and care shall depart ;
All shall be pleasure, and laughter, and playtime,
Mirth and amusement and dancing of heart.
“Tfaste thee, O ferryman! Speed in thy rowing!
Fain would we come to that beautiful shore ;
See we but once its enchantments so glowing,
Then we shall leave it again never more!â€
CEN PAN Eine e
THE LADY IN THE GREEN DRESS.
, HE night was so still that Primrose could hear
the boat as it grated on the shore. The children
ceased singing now, and, preceded by the four
lovely sisters and followed by Fungus, the ugly
ferryman, they came dancing and running along
the path which led to the wood. They were
all dressed in flowing white garments, and wreaths
of flowers were twined round their heads.
Primrose could see them all as she stood, a
dark little shadow herself, by the black gates,
which were so soon to be opened to shut the
innocent children away from daylight and happi-
ness. ‘The sisters walked two and two, scarcely
touching the ground as they sped lightly forward. Their flowing
garments revealed the exquisite shape of their limbs, their hair floated
back over their shoulders.
Dragon-flower came first: she was dressed in many colours, and
looked like a beautiful tropical flower; Poppy was in a shining rose-
coloured dress through which the golden twilight shone ; Moonlight
was in faint pale blue; but lovely Silver-wings had nota scrap of colour
about her—she was white like the first faint streak of the dawn, her
dress rustled as she walked, and little silver sparks seemed to float
from her and fill the air with a dazzling radiance.
Buttercup was holding Silver-wings’ hand. In his white dress he
looked like a cherub ; his blue eyes were raised to Silver-wings’ face,
his lps were parted in a happy smile. ,
THE LADY IN THE GREEN DRESS. lil
Presently the sisters and the children got up to the gates.
Dragon-flower was just raising her hand to sound a large heavy
iron knocker, when Primrose stepped forward. No one had seen her
as she stood in the gloom. She was scarcely noticed as she rushed up
to Buttercup. In amoment the old sailor hat was firmly placed on
the top of his bright curls ; in another instant the four other children
were wearing the old hats and caps which had been trimmed for them
by their mothers.
The moment the hats were on the children’s heads a transformation
took place. Hach child seemed to awake as if out of a heavy sleep.
Buttercup clasped Primrose by the hand.
“Where am I?†he asked; “ what has happened ?â€
“You have got to fight, Buttercup,†she answered ; “you have got
to fight these wicked sisters. Come, get up your courage—we are
none of us going inside those gates.â€
“What gates?†asked Buttercup, raising his eyes. The four
other children now flocked round Primrose.
“What are we to do, dear Primrose?†they said; “ what is the
matter ? who are we to fight with ? â€
‘With the wicked sisters, all except Silver-wings,†she answered ;
“with that awful little ferryman, Fungus; for whatever happens we
must never go inside those dreadful gates.â€
“What gates are we not to go inside?†they replied; “ what
sisters are we to fight with ? â€
Primrose rubbed her eyes and looked up. The heavy iron gates
were gone; the sisters had all disappeared. The six children found
themselves standing at the entrance of a dark wood. They were alone.
They looked like people who had just awakened out of a heavy
sleep. Each child rubbed his or her eyes, each child yawned drowsily.
Primrose was the only one of the party who still remained broad
awake and knew exactly what she was doing.
_ “This is the strangest thing of all,†she said to herself; “the sisters
have vanished, the gates leading into the Dark Men’s land have also
disappeared. That awful little Fungus is nowhere to be found, and
Buttercup and the other four children have not the least idea of the
lie BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
danger they have escaped. A short time ago they had each of them
forgotten their mothers and the beautiful country beyond the Blue
Mountains to which we are all of us travelling. Now there is little
doubt that they have also forgotten Castle Dangerous, and the peril
they have escaped. Stay, though, when they see their lovely white
clothes, and remember the dirty dusty garments they came to the
Castle in, their memories will partly revive.â€
“What are you doing, Primrose?—why don’t we go on with
our journey?†said Buttercup, coming up to his sister and taking
her hand.
“We'll go on in a minute, darling,†said Primrose. “ Oh, Butter-
cup, such strange, such wonderful things have happened ! â€
“What a fuss you make!†said Buttercup, in a cross voice ;
“nothing wonderful has happened except that we are going tramping
along the dusty road, and that we are very tired, and haven’t had a
scrap of food or of sleep for ages.â€
“Oh, Buttercup, don’t you remember Castle Dangerous pe
“T never heard of such a place—where is it?â€
“Tf you can’t remember the place,†said Primrose, “look down at
your beautiful dress. How did you get the white dress you are
wearing? How did those other children get the dresses which shine
and sparkle and make them look like fairies ? â€
“You are certainly dreaming, Primrose,†said Buttercup; “do
wake up, and don’t talk any more nonsense. I am wearing my old
sailor’s suit, and very dirty and dusty it feels.â€
Then Primrose noticed that the white dresses had also vanished,
and that the children looked exactly as they had done before.
This sight gave her a sudden sensation of relief and pleasure.
“Tet us go on,†she said, taking her brother’s hand. ‘We havea
great, great deal to be thankful for—let us go on without a moment's
delay.â€
Although it had seemed to Primrose to be quite evening a few
minutes ago, the light in the sky now, and the position of the sun,
showed her that they could still walk a long way before night overtook
them. In front of them, misty and beautiful, were the Rose-coloured
ce
THE LADY IN THE GREEN DRESS. 113
Mountains, whose tops were shrouded in clouds, while a softened light
partly hid their outlines, and gave them a fairy and unreal sort of
look. The Rose-coloured Mountains seemed like friends to the little
girl—they were beautiful, and she felt drawn towards them—she had
a longing which was almost passionate to reach them.
“They lead to the Blue Mountains,†she murmured ; “through the
Rose Mountains to the Blue. It is the short cut—the nearest way ;
but oh! much as I love the Rose Mountains, I wish I could get even
one peep of the dear familiar mountains which used to face us when
we lived in the cottage at home.â€
“ What are you staring at?†said Buttercup. “How much longer
are we to stand at the entrance of this ugly dark wood? â€
“Tam thinking of the Blue Mountains,†said Primrose. “I wish
—I long to see them again.â€
“What a silly you are!†said one of the other children; ‘‘ who
could compare those dull Blue Mountains with the Rose-coloured
ones? Qh, do Jet us go on; I, for one, long to reach that lovely place
over there.â€
The four strange children now walked on impatiently, and Primrose
and her brother followed them. The path through which they walked
now was very pleasant. It sloped gently—very gently—down, and
ever down ; it was bordered on each side by tall grasses and bright
flowers ; butterflies and bees were seen gently floating from one to the
other of the flowers; a chirping of many happy creatures was heard
in the long grass. After a time the children came to a stream which
gurgled past them with a soothing sound. They put their little hands
into the water, drank some of it, and felt a good deal refreshed.
“T am not nearly so thirsty now,†said Buttercup, “but I am
awfully hungry. I wish we could reach one of the inns, which the
King said we should find along the road.â€
“We must be very careful where we go,†said Primrose, “for we
have got to remember that we are not going to the King’s country
by the ordinary road, so perhaps the inns are not safe for us to
stop at.â€
Lhe other children all laughed heartily when Primrose said this,
Hl
lit BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
and as they had completely forgotten Castle Dangerous, she found it
useless to argue with them.
“T see a very pretty cottage in that valley just below us,†called
out a little girl whose name was Agnes; ‘‘it is covered with flowers,
and has a lovely garden: let us go to it as fast as we can.â€
The children all quickened their steps, and presently reached the
cottage.
Standing in the porch was a tall sad-looking woman who was quite
blind; a little girl, also blind, stood near her. The woman was
knitting a long woollen stocking.
“TI hear footsteps,†she said, “many footsteps; they are so light
and gay that they must belong to the very young. I hope they will
be warned not to come in here—I hope the children with the light
footsteps and the light hearts will go by this dreadful place.â€
Her words were said in a very dreary sing-song voice. They sounded
as 1f she were uttering a sort of chant.
“What is she saying ?â€â€™ said Agnes ; “queer old body, what is
she muttering ?â€
“She looks very cross, whatever she is talking about; don’t let’s
mind her,†said Buttercup.
“ Yes, do let us mind her,†said Primrose in an earnest voice, “oh,
do let us be careful what house we go into. Children, children,
remember Castle Dangerous.â€
“ You and your Castle Dangerous,†said Agnes; “ there never was
such a place. Oh, do you see that lovely lady standing by the open
window—that window—there to the right, with the pink roses climbing
all over it—isn’t she beautiful! and she is speaking to us. Yes, lady
—what do you say?â€
“ Would you like something to eat, my little dear? †said the lady.
“You are all going to the Rose Mountains, are younot? I have been
expecting you for the last couple of hours; and I have tea ready—
tea, and fresh honey from the flowers, and fresh fruit out of my own
garden. Nothing very much, but a pleasant refreshing meal all the
same. If you are hungry, little pilgrims, come in and eat—come in
and eat.â€
THE LADY IN THH GREEN DRESS. 115
This lady was dressed from head to foot in pale green. The colour
of her dress was like that worn by the trees in the early, early spring.
The children were tired, hot, and thirsty; it was refreshing even to
look at her as she glided gently out and stood in the porch of the
cottage, and stretched out her hands in welcome, and looked at the
children with her wonderful deep eyes.
“Welcome, little pilgrims,†she said; “I can give you a simple
meal. Come into my parlour and eat, all of you.â€
“ What is your name?†asked Primrose, looking full in her face.
“My name!†replied the lady—“I am called Convolvulus, dear
little girl.â€
“What a sweet name!†exclaimed Agnes.
“And, please,†continued Primrose, “is this one of the inns which
the King allows little children like us to go into?â€
When Primrose uttered the word King a kind of shadow flitted
for an instant over the pale face of Convolvulus, her dark eyes deepened
and got still darker in hue—she gave a faint little shiver, and half
turned her head away.
“Mine is one of the inns,†she said in a steady voice. ‘‘ Come
in, come in, all of you.â€
Agnes immediately rushed forward and put one of her hands into
that of Convolvulus, Buttercup ran up to her other side, and she
entered the flower-covered cottage with the five children clinging
round her. For one instant Primrose was alone in the porch.
“You must go in now,†said the blind woman, who had been
standing quite motionless in one corner all the time. “Go in, but
eat nothing that is set before you, and do not do anything that she
tells you.â€
As she uttered these words she moved away, and Primrose saw her
walking down a side path, accompanied by the little sad girl—they
held each other’s hands, and sang in a dreary voice as they disappeared.
“Come, come, Primrose; what are you waiting for? †called Butter-
cup. He was standing at the door of a charming little parlour. .
Primrose entered the house at once when he called her. She felt
quite sure that, whatever happened, her place was by his side.
H 2
116 BHYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
This cottage did not in the least resemble Castle Dangerous. It
had a most comfortable, kindly sort of feel—the smell of the wild
flowers and of the roses that nearly covered the outside walls filled
every room. ‘The rooms themselves were ornamented with shells
gathered from the sea-shore, with cases of dry ‘sea-weeds, and with
funny little collections of butterflies and beetles, and different creatures
of the woods. Buttercup, Agnes, and the other children could not
sufficiently admire the large and brilliant butterflies and gorgeous
beetles. But Primrose turned away from them with a sort of horror,
for each of those creatures had a pin stuck through the centre of its
back, and she could not help feeling that Convolvulus was like a great .
spider, and that these were some of her prey.
She felt sorry when this thought came into her head, fer no one
could be kinder than this lovely graceful lady, and it would have been
almost impossible to find a sweeter face than hers. She loaded the
table with cream, honey, milk, cakes, and fruit, and then invited the
children to sit down and eat heartily.
They were only too anxious to obey her. Buttercup took his sister’s
hand, and seated himself near a pile of frosted cakes, which he began
to gobble up very fast and greedily.
“Oh, I am so hungry!†he exclaimed. “ Aren’t you awfully
hungry, Rose?â€
Poor Primrose felt quite faint for want of food, but she remembered .
the advice of the blind lady, and was determined that, come what
might, she would not allow bite or sup to pass her lips.
“Don’t notice me, Buttercup,†she whispered to the little fellow.
“ If you must eat, do, but don’t say anything about me.â€
Buttercup turned to gaze at his sister—he saw that her eyes
were full of tears—and he immediately nestled up to her in his sweet
confiding way to whisper in her ear—
“ Darling Rose, I love you. If you are not hungry now, [ll try
and smuggle one of these cakes into my pocket to give you by-and-by.â€
Convolvulus was standing at the other end of the table. Unlike
the sisters at Castle Dangerous, she did not attempt to force any
of the children to eat. After making the remark—
THE LADY IN THE GREEN DRESS. 117
“Take what you please, eat anything that is placed before you,
ask for anything you want,†she threw herself on a long sofa in the
corner of the room, and closed her eyes as if she were tired and wanted
to sleep.
Presently one of the children asked for a little more milk. Con-
volvulus immediately sounded a silver gong, and a pretty young girl
dressed in pale green, something the pole of her mistress’s ae
answered the summons.
“Fetch another jug of milk, Honeysuckle,†said Convolvulus.
Honeysuckle dropped a curtsey and disappeared. She returned in a
moment, and placed the milk on the table. There was something
peculiar in her walk and in the expression of her eyes. Primrose
noticed that she was blind.
After the meal was over, Convolvulus rose from her sofa and
spoke in a kind, regretful sort of voice.
“Tam so sorry that I cannot give you all beds for the night,â€
she said; “but you will see for yourselves that this cottage is
very small, and that there is little room in it to put up strangers.
You must go now, sy) children—I am glad I was able to on
you for your journey.â€
Primrose got up with great alacrity when Convolvulus said this ; she
walked towards the door of the parlour, and turning, said in a polite
voice out of which she endeavoured to take every scrap of eagerness—
“We are all very much obliged to you, kind Convolvulus.
Come, Buttercup, take my hand and let us go.â€
“One moment first,†said beautiful Convolvulus; “I expect no
money payment for the nice supper I have given you, but I just
want one little lock of hair from each of your pretty heads to
remember you by. Do you see this lovely pair of gold scissors ?
Would you not like me to cut a lock from each of your heads
with them?â€
“You shall have my very prettiest front curl,†said Buttercup,
running up to her. “Here, this one, that mother used to kiss so
often. Take your gold scissors and cut it off, for I do love you,
sweet pretty lady.â€
118 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
As Buttercup spoke he touched the lady’s green dress with one
hand, and with the other patted that special curl which his mother
used to kiss.
“No, no, not that one,†replied Convolvulus, in a queer husky
kind of voice—“it is not at all my way to interfere with mothers,
and the curl she kissed would not be so sweet to me as the curl
I kissed myself. Here, give me this one, this one that twines
round your shell-like ear.â€
She took the pair of golden scissors as she spoke and snipped
the curl from Buttereup’s yellow head.
The other four children willingly parted each with a lock of
his or her shining hair, but when Convolvulus came up to Prim-
rose the little girl put both her hands up to protect her head.
“The hair is in payment,†she said, “is it not?â€
“Yes, my dear,†replied Convolvulus, “in payment for your
good, excellent supper.â€
“ But I didn’t have any supper,’ said Primrose, “so I have
nothing to pay for. I would rather not have my hair cut, please.â€
She seized Buttercup’s hand almost roughly as she spoke, and ran
out of the cottage.
The other children followed, and immediately began to scold
Primrose for her rudeness to the lovely lady.
“Say what you like to me,†replied Primrose, “only come on
—please come on. Let us get away from that cottage, and that
‘blind woman and blind child, and that poor blind girl who
brought you the fresh jug of milk at supper-time. It’s a dan-
gerous cottage, and I’m very glad to be out of it. Do let us
walk quickly. What’s the matter with you, Buttercup? Why do
you slp back each moment? One would think there was ice on
the ground.â€
“[T don’t know whats the matter,’ said Buttercup, “I can’t
help shpping back; it seems as if there were something tangling
my legs, and pulling me back all the time.â€
“Oh, nonsense!†said Primrose ; “there is nothing whatever to
be seen. Here, take my hand, like a good boy, and let us run.â€
THE LADY IN THM GREEN DRESS. 119
“ But I feel just the same,’ exclaimed Agnes; “and, oh, look !
look! you said there was nothing to be seen; but look again :
what a queer—what a strange thing !—there are great locks of
hair thrown round my waist and round my legs.â€
“ And round mine too!†shrieked Buttercup.
“And mine! and mine!†said the other children; “the hairs
are pulling us back to the house!†exclaimed the whole five in
breathless alarm and terror; ‘‘and we don’t want to go—we don’t
want to go a bit. Save us, Primrose—save us, kind, kind
Primrose ! â€
“JT never felt anything like the strength of the hair,†said
Buttercup; “it looks so slight, but it is so strong. Oh, it’s as
strong as an iron chain. Save me, Primrose—save me!â€
He tried to catch his sister’s hand. The other four children
threw themselves on their faces and hands, and clutched hold of
the grass, or anything that came within their reach, to keep them
from slipping back towards the cottage.
“T see nothing,†said Primrose, in a bewildered tone, “I see no
hairs. Oh, children, you are just fancying it all; come on—do come
on. Buttercup, darling, let me take your hand and pull you to your
feet; I will drag you forward in spite of yourself.â€
But, alas for poor Primrose! she had no power to resist the
cruel spell which was over the children.
One by one they gradually disappeared into the cottage, and the
little girl found herself alone.
CHAPTER XT.
A WREATH OF WHITE ROSES.
<3 RIMROSE’S first eager impulse was to go back to
\, the cottage.
“I always felt that Convolvulus was wicked,â€
thought the little girl; “the moment I looked at
her I knew that she was both beautiful and wicked,
and I didn’t want to go in. How is it that the
other children could not see with my eyes? Oh,
but I will rescue them!†thought the brave little
girl, “I won’t be a bit afraid. I don’t think the lady can
hurt me, for I have not eaten her food, nor given her a
lock of my hair. I won’t take a minute reaching the
cottage, and then dear little Buttercup will be saved.â€
Primrose ran quickly back. She thought she would
reach the cottage in a moment, but to her horror it had completely
vanished. What was the matter? What dreadful, dreadful thing
had happened ?
After some little time she reached a stream which ran between two
deep banks on which no flowers grew, and which were very steep and
gloomy. The little stream which ran between them was dark in
colour, and made a melancholy sort of moaning sound as it gureled
past. Primrose, who was half distracted with fright and misery, began
to hope that if she could only cross this narrow stream she might find
the cottage and so rescue her brother. The night was coming on
now, and as she looked down into the water, which flowed so fast and
so gloomily between the steep and ugly banks, she fancied she saw
some of the same wicked faces that had looked up at her when she
A WREATH OF WHITE ROSES. 121
crossed in the ferry-boat to Castle Dangerous. The darker the night
grew, the more plainly did Primrose notice these queer faces which
bobbed up out of the water and grinned at her.
“Oh, what shall I do? How very, very frightened I am!†she
moaned. ‘Oh, I can’t stay at this side of the stream, I must get
across to the other. Something tells me that I shall find the wicked
lady’s cottage at the other side of the stream.â€
“Ha, ha, ha!†laughed some of the wicked little men down in
the water.
“And how are you going to get to the other side?†shouted
a voice.
The moment Primrose heard this voice a queer thing happened :
she began to get that cool collected sort of feeling which had helped
her so much while at Castle Dangerous.
“You had better come down to the edge of the stream by the steep
bank,†shouted one of the little men ; “it is very narrow, and you can
hop over to the other side and climb up the bank that way. There is
no other manner whatever by which you can get across. Come, come,
come: don’t be lazy! don’t be frightened! Come, come, come!â€
“Come, come, come!†shouted thousands of other little voices.
They made such a queer kind of harsh medley that Primrose put up
her hands to her ears to shut out the horrid sound. As she did so she
suddenly heard a gentle and very sweet voice say low in her ear—
‘“« Find the silver cord, walk over on it; don’t be at all afraid, it will
bear you up and bring you to the other side in safety.â€
Primrose looked round eagerly to find out who was speaking, but
she could not see anyone.
The gentle little words, however, filled her with fresh hope and
courage, and she ran eagerly along the bank looking for the silver cord.
In about ten minutes she found it; it hung like a line of light
from one side to the other of the steep embankments. The moon,
which was rising now in the sky, shone full upon it, and it certainly
looked slender enough and-frail enough to strike awe to the heart of
even a braver child than Primrose. For one minute she clasped her
hands, and great fear filled her heart.
122 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“How am I to trust myself on that narrow rope?†she
exclaimed; “any moment I may totter off, and then I shall be
at the mercy of those wicked little men in the water.â€
The thought of Buttereup, however, and of the other children
who must be reached, and the terrible thought of having to tell
her mother that she had not taken good care of Buttercup, and that
he had got lost in the journey to the King’s Country, filled the heart
of Primrose with such resolution and such noble strength that she
determined, come what would, to listen to the gentle little voice
which told her to cross the chasm on the silver bridge and not to fear.
Accordingly, she first placed one little trembling foot upon the
narrow line, and then the other, and finally began her perilous
journey.
The httle men in the stream below did everything in their
power to hinder her.- They shouted, and yelled, and cried, and
laughed, and threw dirt at her, as she crossed on the silver bridge.
But with each footstep Primrose felt her courage growing greater,
and her hold on the narrow but firm cord more steady.
When she had gone three quarters of the perilous journey, and
the little men in despair were about to hurl some great stones at
her, two hands were suddenly pushed forward out of the darkness,
and Primrose found herself lifted to the other side in a strong pair
of arms.
“That is a brave child,†said a kind voice. Primrose leant for
a minute against the arms that encircled her. She was trembling
and out of breath, but when a pair of firm cool lips kissed her he
was reminded of mother.
“You are all right now, dear Primrose,†said the voice. “ My
name is Patience. Iam rather a dull sort of person, but I am very
safe. Those who follow me have nothing really to fear, and this
humble little tent is one of the Ising’s Inns. Come in, little Primrose
—come in and eat, for I know you are very faint and hungry.â€
Primrose felt a whirling sensation in her head, a queer singing
in her ears, and a giddy Peeling which made it almost impossible
for her to reply to the kind teas
A WREATH OF WHITE ROSES. 123
When she had entered the tent, however—which was a very
poor place’ to look at—and had taken some milk out of a china bowl,
and the lady, who was all dressed in grey, and whose face looked
old and weary, for all the kindness which shone out of her eyes,
had bathed the little girl’s forehead and hands with warm water,
she felt better and began to speak eagerly.
“I must tell you my story,†she said—
good—you are not like Conyolvulus.â€
“Don’t speak to me of Convolvulus,†said Patience with a little
shiver; “she is an enemy of my Lord the King.â€
“But I must speak to you about her,†said Primrose, “ for
Buttercup is with her—little Buttercup, the youngest of us all—
mother’s pet. I couldn’t go to mother—I couldn’t really, if Butter-
cup were not with me.â€
“T know all about it,†said Patience. “ We won’t talk the matter
over just at present, for to think of Convolvulus and of that other
terrible place, Castle Dangerous, makes me act contrary to my name.
I cease to be patient, and that is a sin against my Lord the King.
Dear little Primrose, you shall sleep here to-night, and in the
morning I will show you the path which leads to the cottage
where the wicked Convolvulus lives, and I will tell you how you
may best rescue Buttercup.â€
“The wicked lady hasn’t hurt him?†asked Primrose.
“I can set your heart at rest on that point,’ said Patience,
“Buttercup is not hurt. Now eat up this nice strengthening
bread and milk, and then you must lie down on my bed and
sleep peacefully until morning.â€
“T want to ask you one more question,†said Primrose. “Why
is it so very, very hard to get to the King’s Country, and why is
the road so full of danger?â€
“Alas! my child,†said Patience, “what else can you expect?
Did the King ever ask you to travel by ¢dis road to the Blue
Mountains? Did he ever tell you anything about the Rose Moun-
tains? You must expect the road to be full of danger when you
don’t travel on the King’s highway.â€
124 BHYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Primrose felt her eyes fill with tears.
“I am dreadfully sorry,†she said.
“Don’t ery,†said Patience; “ you are a very brave dear child,
although you did wrong in the beginning. There isn’t the least
fear for you. Go to sleep, now, and I will wake you when the
morning breaks.â€
Two or three minutes later tired little Primrose was in a
dreamless slumber. The next morning she awoke feeling fresh and
strong, and with a great courage in her heart.
“Please, Patience,’ she said, “let me go back to the cottage
now, that I may rescue Buttercup.â€
“Kat your breakfast first, dear,†said Patience. “There is
no special hurry, and you cannot do good work if you feel faint
and hungry.â€
Primrose looked into the grey rather stern face of the lady who
was bending over her, and found the irritable feeling in her little
heart gradually dying out. She ate her bread and milk quickly,
and then stood by the side of Patience.
“What am I to do to rescue my brother?†she asked.
“When you get back to the cottage,†said Patience, “you will
be kindly received, and only one temptation will come to you.â€
“What is that?†asked Primrose.
“You will be asked to wear a wreath of white roses. What-
ever you do, do not allow that wreath to touch your head. Go
now, my child; fear nothing. This little path leads directly to
the cottage. Step by step you will see the right thing to do
when the moment for action arrives.â€
Primrose scarcely kissed Patience in her hurry to be off. She
ran down the narrow winding path, and in less than five minutes
found herself standing by a wicket gate which led into the rustic
garden where the cottage stood. She opened it at once, and went
straight up to the porch. Convolvulus was standing there. She
wore her pale green dress, and looked more beautiful and gentle
and sad than ever. Primrose could not help a queer flutter in her
heart when she looked into the lovely face of this lady.
A WREATH OF WHITE ROSES. 125
“T know she’s very wicked,†she murmured to herself, “ but
she’s nicer to look at than Patience. What an ugly dress Patience
wears! and what a dull grey sort of complexion she has! Of
course, I trust her and love her; but I wish she looked nice like
wicked Convolvulus.â€
“Come, in, my darling,’ said Convolvulus; “I am delighted
to welcome you. Why didn’t you come back with the others
yesterday ? Come in—come in to the cottage at once. Welcome,
welcome—thrice welcome, dear little girl!â€
“ But where is Buttercup, and where are the other children?â€
asked Primrose.
“You shall see them presently, my dear. This is a holiday,
and we are all greatly excited. Two or three of my sisters have
arrived unexpectedly, and we are making a feast. Your brother
Buttercup and the other children are having their dresses changed
just now. You will see them when you also have put on your
gay and festive robes. Oh, how dusty and travel-stained you look,
poor little Primrose. Come, I have a white dress to put on you
a simple white dress. Don’t you long to wear it?â€
“I should certainly like to have something clean on again,â€
said Primrose, “but I am more anxious to see Buttercup than
anything else in the world. Please take me to him at once.â€
“Tt is impossible for me to do so while you wear this dirty
dress. Buttercup is a little prince now, and it is against the rules
of my house that he should speak to anyone who isn’t dressed
suitably. Come, Primrose, you won’t be long putting on the simple
dress I have prepared for you.â€
All the time Convolvulus was speaking Primrose felt her
heart going out to her in the queerest, strangest way. She
struggled against the feeling which made her long to throw her
arms round the lovely green lady’s neck, and whisper to her that
she would gladly follow her to the end of the earth. She won-
dered why all her hatred and anger had been changed by one look
into those deep, sad, lovely eyes.
“T will go with you,†she said, holding out her hand; and
126 BEYOND VHiE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Convolyulus led her through the cottage to a large bedroom at
one end.
Here a simple white dress lay upon the bed, and a crown
made of ivy-leaves was placed upon it.
In a moment Primrose found her dirty torn clothes removed,
and a floating white soft robe reaching from her neck to her little
pink toes.
“There, darling, how lovely you look!†said Convolvulus.
“Now let me comb out that glistening golden hair. How I long
even for one piece! May I not have one tiny lock, Primrose?â€
“No!†said Primrose, suddenly recollecting herself, and feeling as
if a rude shake had been given to her little body, and as if a mist had
fallen from her eyes; “no, please, Convolvulus, not even one hair out
of my head.â€
“Very well, my child,†said Convolvulus, in the saddest of voices ;
“put the ivy crown over those flowing locks, and let us go downstairs.
You are the prettiest of all the children; you are even prettier than
dear little Buttercup. Come and let me show you to my sisters. How
they will love to welcome you!â€
Primrose again gave her hand to Convolvulus. They went down
the narrow stairs of the cottage, and then along a cool underground
passage, until they found themselves in a long low hall which had a
polished floor and was wreathed about with flowers, and was evidently
arranged for a great dance.
Some beautiful fairy-like women were walking about this room,
and twining their arms round each other and gently laughing. Their
laughter was sweeter than silver bells.
When they saw Primrose led into the room by Convolvulus they
ul came up and praised her, and bade her welcome.
“Only that wreath of ivy is not pretty enough for her,†said one of
the sisters. ‘‘ Here are pink roses, let me put these round her head.â€
As the sister spoke she snatched up a lovely little crown made of pink
moss rose-buds, and brought it up to Primrose.
“There, darling, wear it,†she said, “it will become you better
than the ivy.â€
A WREATH OF WHILE ROSES. 127
“T should like her to have a wreath of forget-me-nots,†said
another sister. ‘‘ Here, we will bring her up to this long mirror, and
she shall choose for herself what wreath she will wear.â€
Primrose, who felt more fascinated and more dazed each moment,
allowed the sisters to surround and to bring her up to a mirror, which
certainly reflected the image of a very beautiful child. The little girl
felt even a gentle sense of vanity as she recognised that the image in
the mirror was a reflection of herself. She snatched off the ivy wreath
and felt quite excited, as the sisters first tried the effect of pink roses
and then of blue forget-me-nots on her golden head.
Convolvulus had been standing a little apart while these different
wreaths were being tried on ; now she came forward.
“TJ must make a suggestion,†she said ; “ Primrose would look best
in white—all in white from her head to her feet. She will then look
like what she is—a princess. Here is a wreath of white roses I have
kept for her; here they are, all pure white, without a speck of colour
anywhere. Let us try the effect of this wreath, little Primrose, and if
it suits you, you shall join your brother Buttercup without a moment’s
delay.â€
“Oh, little Buttercup, dear little Buttercup,†said Primrose, with a
sudden cry ; “I had almost forgotten him for a moment. This dress
and these flowers have dazzled me, and you are very beautiful to look
at, Convolvulus, and I spent the night with Patience and, and—she
was kind, but she was dull. What’s the matter, Convolvulus ? how
queer you look!â€
“There is nothing the matter,†replied Convolvulus, “ only when
you mentioned Patience I got a stab through my heart. She is an
enemy of mine, and I don’t like to hear her spoken of. Put on the
white roses, Primrose, and let us join Buttercup.â€
While Convolvulus was speaking, however, a new sensation visited
the heart of little Primrose. It seemed to her as if she had suddenly
got a peep into the cruel heart of the lady who looked so beautiful.
The spell which had been cast over her vanished, and she remembered
the words of poor dull Patience, “ Whatever you do, don’t wear the
wreath of white roses.â€
3:
128 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Give me that wreath,†said Primrose. She took it in her hands
and, before Convolvulus or the other sisters could prevent her, threw
it on the ground and trampled on it.
**T will stand on these roses, but they shall never reach my head!â€
she exclaimed. ‘Oh, what is that?â€
A little puff of smoke suddenly sprang up at the child’s feet; she
started aside to find that the rose wreath had vanished and that
Convolvulus and her sisters were nowhere to be seen.
OJsL AIP UNIT OC ILI,
THE MAGICAL KISS.
q|RIMROSE rubbed her eyes a great many times.
She would have believed that she had just
awakened from a dream but for the fact that she
heard some pitiful wailing voices erying and
moaning†in the distance; and the next instant the
door of the low hall was opened, and the blind
lady, leading Buttercup by the hand, and followed
by her own little girl, came in.
“Thank, thank you, thank you, brave little deliverer!†she
said, coming straight up to Primrose. “ You have resisted the cruel
spell which Convolvulus casts upon everyone who comes near her, and
thus you are enabled to help us too. Dear child, you have been given
a wonderful power; use it without a moment’s delay.â€
“But what is the matter with Buttercup?†said Primrose—“ he
wears a bandage over his eyes. What is the matter with them?â€
“He is sharing the fate of all those who come under the in-
fluence of Convolvulus,†replied the blind lady. ‘‘ But never mind;
your power now is greater than hers. Use it, little Primrose, I beg
you: use it without a moment’s delay.â€
‘What am I to do?†said Primrose ; she turned very white, and
began to tremble. Buttercup’s face was pale—he not only looked as
if he suffered, but he also seemed to be more or less in a stupid state ;
he had no welcoming word for his sister, but leant against the blind
lady, whose hand he held firmly.
“There is not a moment to lose,†said the lady. ‘“ Come, Prim-
rose, use your power. Kiss me three times on each of my eyes.â€
I
130 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
As she spoke she went on her knees, and Primrose going up to
her, did what she asked.
“Those gentle kisses!†said the lady. “As I feel them I also
know that the wicked spell has been removed. Ah! my beautiful
child, what have you not done for me!â€
As she spoke she sprang to her feet, and Primrose saw that her
dark eyes were wide open, and that the gift of sight had been
restored to them.
“Now kiss your brother on his eyes,’ said the lady. She pulled
the bandage from Buttercup’s eyes as she spoke, and led him up to
Primrose. The little girl kissed him at once, and, as in the case of
the blind lady, his sight was immediately restored.
“Now you must give her eyes back to this little girl,†said the
lady; “and then I fear your power will have expired.â€
Primrose did as she was bidden, and the blind lady’s child could
also see.
“ But what about the other four children? †asked the little girl.
“Ah! my love, I know not—I know not,†replied the lady in a
voice of deep sadness. “Don’t ask me any questions. Leave this
cottage without a moment’s delay, my dear brave child, and take
little Buttercup with you.â€
“But won’t you come too, poor lady?†asked Primrose.
“No, I cannot; the spell is only partly removed from me. Con-
volvulus can never take my eyesight away again, but still, I am her
servant, and this child is also her servant.â€
“Then will Convolvulus return?†asked Primrose.
“Yes; but not until sunset. Go now; don’t stay longer in this
place than you can help.â€
Notwithstanding her delight at having rescued Buttercup, Primrose
could not help feeling very sad as she walked down the narrow path
which led through the rustic garden to the wicket-gate. The lady
and her little girl stood in the porch, and waved their hands to her as
she walked away.
A few minutes later she and Buttercup were standing in the
tent.
THE MAGICAL KISS. 131
Patience still wore her dowdy grey dress, and her face was seamed
with many lines of care, long watching, and age. When she saw the
two children, however, enter the tent, such a glow of joy covered every
feature, that Primrose knew at last what she was worth.
“Oh!†she said, running up to her, and putting her arms round
her neck, “how could I ever have thought that wicked Convolvulus
more beautiful than you!â€
“ Ah, my child!†replied Patience, “no one loves my face at first
sight, for I have no outward beauty, my dear; but I think—I do
humbly think—that it dwells in my heart.â€
“I am sure it does,†said Primrose; “and I don’t know how to
thank you for what you have done for me. Please, kind Patience, this
is dear little Buttercup. Won’t you kiss him and make him
welcome ? â€
“T will certainly do that,†said Patience. “And now, my dear, I
must tell you that I have had a message from the King. A letter
arrived for me while you were away, and my Lord the King gave me
some special directions, which must be fully obeyed.â€
“What are they?†asked Primrose. “Have they anything to do
with Buttercup and me?â€
a They have more to do with Buttercup than with you,’ replied
Patience. “I am afraid in some ways, dear Primrose, the King’s
command will give you pain, but there is no help for it.â€
“TI will obey him,†said Primrose; she stood erect, a feeling of
strength, love, and courage filled her heart. ‘Yes, I will obey the
King,†she replied, ‘“ What is it he wants me to do?â€
Patience looked at her steadily.
“ You are to part from Buttercup,†she said. “He and I have to
go away together, and you, my child, must continue your journey to
the Blue Mountains alone.â€
“ But I won’t leave you, Primrose,†said Buttercup, bursting into
tears, rushing up to his sister, and burying his curly head against her
neck; “I won’t—I can’t—leave you!â€
“You must, my little boy,†said Patience; “the King’s orders
must be obeyed. You have behaved in a very silly way, and you will
I 2
132 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
never reach the Blue Mountains nor the country at the other side
unless you undergo a certain training which my Lord the King has
ordered for you. Now, Primrose, don’t be afraid—leave Buttercup im
my care. He is safe; you will see him again some day. Hat this
nice bowl of bread and milk which I have prepared for you, and then
continue your journey.â€
“But how am I to go?†said Primrose. ‘“ How can I possibly
know the way?â€
“Come out to the door of my tent, and I will show you something.
Do you notice this narrow silver path which runs along the ground ?
You have to stoop low, or you won’t find it. There now, do you
not see it?â€
«Yes, it is very bright—it almost dazzles my eyes.â€
«Tt won’t dazzle them when you walk on it. With each step you
take on that silver winding path you will gain more strength and
courage. That path not only leads to the Blue Mountains, but straight
through them to the gates of the Golden Country at the other side ;
yes, and through those gates to the heart of the King and to the
arms of your mother, who waits and longs to fold them round you
again.â€
“Oh, Patience!†said Primrose, “what courage you give me! I
can even bear to say good-bye to Buttercup when you speak like that.â€
“Don’t have any fear about Buttercup,†said Patience ; * he is m
my care now. Hat your bread and milk, my child, and then go.â€
A. few minutes later Primrose had started on the silver path which
led to the Blue Mountains.
She followed the path for two or three miles without meeting any
difficulties or coming across any enemies, but then suddenly there came
an unexpected difficulty. Right across the path ran a thick and very
high hedge, composed of dreadful thorns.
The poor little girl stood still, and clasped her hands in conster-
nation. ;
“Tf IT push my way through that terrible hedge, I shall die,â€
thought Primrose. “ Those cruel thorns will tear me limb from limb.
Oh! what shall I do?â€
. DANGER AHEAD (p. 187).
THE MAGICAL KISS. 135
The night was beginning to fall. There were clouds in the sky,
and neither moon nor stars could be seen.
“I must be brave,†thought the poor little girl. She went up
again quite close to the hedge, then she started back and muttered a cry
of terror; the wicked faces of the little men who had haunted the
narrow stream over which she had crossed on the silver cord the night
before, peered out at her through the hedge.
“ Ha, ha, ha!†they laughed, wagging their heads and putting out
their tongues, “we have got you now; we have got you finely at last.
How are you to get over this hedge? Pray remember that that fine
silver path of yours runs right through it. How are you to get to the
Blue Mountains now? Ha, ha! tell us that, if you please.â€
Poor Primrose did not attempt to answer the wicked little
men. She was attracted at this moment by a sound of bitter
erying at her elbow.
She turned her head, and could just see through the gather-
ing darkness the figure of a girl of about her own age, who had
also come up to the hedge, and was clasping her hands and moan-
ing and crying dreadfully, and saying the same words over and over.
“What shall I do? what shall I do? I can’t get through
the hedge—I can’t get through the hedge!â€
“Take my hand,†said Primrose suddenly. She put out her
hand as she spoke; the other girl grasped it eagerly, and pressing
it to her lips, kissed it several times.
‘What is your name?†asked Primrose; “and what are you
doing here?â€
‘“My name is Martha,†said the girl, ‘and I am going to the
Blue Mountains. I have been a dreadful time, trying to get to
them; I have gone through all kinds of difficulties; I thought I
was past the worst of them until I came to this hedge. I must
vo through the hedge, for the silver path runs through it: but
how am I ever to get to the other side?â€
“IT don’t know,†said Primrose. “JI don’t know how to get
through it myself. It is very strong and very thick; and do you
notice those faces that peep at us through the thorns?†-
136 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Do I notice them?†replied Martha. “Don’t talk to me ©
about the faces; the sight of them, and the terror they have
caused me, have nearly taken my senses away.â€
“You must not allow them to do that. It is wonderful how
many things one can overcome if one is only brave.â€
“ You look very brave,†said Martha. ‘“ You have a beautiful
strong kind of look about your face. It comforts me more than
I can say to hold your hand. How are you going through the
hedge with the thorns? for whatever way you go through, I will
follow.â€
“Tet me think,†said Primrose. “Don’t speak to me for a
minute ; let me think.â€
As she spoke Primrose closed her eyes; her lips moved as
though she was speaking to someone, but Martha could not hear
a word she said. The night was getting darker and darker, and
the wicked little men were making more cruel remarks, and laugh-
ing more heartily, and saying over and over again, “ Ha, ha! we
have got you now—you are in our power at last.â€
“No, we are not,’ said Primrose suddenly. “ I know what to
do. At any rate, I'll try it. Early this morning, Martha, I could
remove a very cruel spell by a ‘iss. There was great power in
my kiss this morning. The power may not have quite left me
yet. I will try it once again on the hedge of thorns.â€
Primrose went up very close to the hedge as she spoke.
Martha walked timidly, step by step, behind her. The little
men laughed louder than ever.
“ Ha, ha!†said one; and he put out his claw-like hand, and
caught a great bunch of Primrose’s rich golden hair. Another
little man took hold of her hat, and tried to pull it from her
head.
«Now, one strong pull altogether,†they exclaimed, “and we ll
have Primrose in the middle of the thorny hedge. Brave Prim-
rose! where will your power be then? Ha, ha, ha! we thought
we should win you at last. You'll be a very useful little servant
to us all in the Dark Men’s Country. We have waited for you
THE MAGICAL KISS. 137
for a long time. Won’t Fungus be pleased with this night’s
deeds! Won't Dragon-flower rejoice! Won't Moonlight and Poppy
shout, and sing and dance for joy! Come, brothers, one strong
pull together, and brave little Primrose is ours for evermore. Ha,
ha! ha, ha, ha!â€
“No, I am not yours for evermore. I defy you—I stamp my
foot at you! Here, let me try what a kiss will do.â€
The little men were pulling with all their might, their faces
were crimson with anger and passion. But as they dragged her
forward Primrose put out her rosy lips and touched one of the
sharpest of the thorns with them. Instead of a cruel prick, as
she expected, she had a sensation of only touching empty air.
She heard a faint scream of terror and disappointment, and then
a ery of joy from Martha.
“Oh! what have you done?†said the other ous nc elles
hedge of thorns has vanished. It is gone; and there is the silver
path shining before us more brightly than ever.â€
“T thought my kiss had some power left in it,†said Primrose.
“Now take my hand, Martha, and let us go forward.â€
“You are brave!†said Martha. “Oh, how I love you and
admire you! Do you mind telling me your namie?â€
“My name is Primrose.â€
« How sweet it sounds! And you are really going to the
Blue Mountains ?â€
“Of course, of course.â€
“ Have you been long on the joumey, Primrose ? and have you
had many difficulties in getting here?â€
«“ Yes, Martha,†replied Primrose; “ the way has been full of
danger, but I have a feeling somehow as if the worst were over now.â€
“So have I,†said Martha. ‘“ When you kissed those dreadful
thorns, and they disappeared, I can’t describe to you what a
strange, lovely, strong sort of feeling rushed through my heart.
don’t think we have much more to fear now.â€
“Nor do I; but now let us walk fast. Take my hand; I will
help you along.â€
138 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“T am very tired.â€
“Never mind. Try and keep on, if you can. We shail have
lots of time for resting after we get to the end of our journey.â€
Martha was not naturally so strong or so brave as Primrose,
and she leant against her little companion a great deal.
The children followed the silver path during the greater part
of the night. Just when the morning broke they saw in front of
them a lovely palace, built of pure white marble, on which the
rays of the rising sun now shone with great brilliiancy. The
windows of the palace were burnished, so that they reflected the
rays of the sun like so many dazzling jewels. Martha clasped her
hands in delight at this sight, and Primrose laughed with joy.
“ Let us go up to the palace,†said Martha, “and ask the kind
people who live in it if we may go inside and rest for an hour or
two; for I do not think I can really walk another step, Primrose.â€
“It is very early to disturb them,†said Primrose. ‘“ Most
people are sound asleep in their beds at this hour.â€
“ But not the people in the White Palace,†exclaimed little
Martha suddenly. “ Look, Primrose, do look! There are some
ladies walking down the silver path to meet us.â€
Primrose stood still when she saw these ladies; her heart
began to beat quickly. The four lovely sisters held each other’s
hands as they floated rather than walked down the silver path to
meet the children.
“Welcome, thrice welcome, little strangers!†they exclaimed ;
and then they surrounded Primrose and Martha, and brought them
up to the palace, singing a sweet song as they went :—
“ Welcome! for the prize is won ;
Toil and travel now are done ;
Pain igs over, sorrow past:
Wanderers, you may rest at last !
“Weary was the way, and long,
But your hearts were brave and strong :
Those who truly strive aright,
They shall conquer in the tight.
THE MAGICAL KISS. 139
“ Earthly griefs, however great,
Shall not pass our mystic gate.
To the Palace of the Blest
Enter in, and take your rest.â€
When the words of the song were ended the two little girls
found themselves standing in a marble hall, in the middle of which
a fountain rose and fell with a soothing sound, birds of lovely
plumage came in and out of the open windows, and flowers of the
sweetest scent and most delightful perfume were everywhere.
The four sisters were all dressed alike in white, which yet was
not pure white, for it had a sort of golden thread running through
it, as if it were all lit up with sunshine from within, and this
sunshiny look gleamed also out of the sisters’ eyes, and a sun-
shiny feeling, restful, strong, and glad, was in the very tones of
their voices, so that the longer they were with them the more
rested Primrose and Martha grew.
“You must have a bath, each of you, and something to eat,
and then you must sleep for a little time, and afterwards we will
dress you beautifully,†said one.
« Are we really at the end of all the dangers?†asked Prim-
rose, raising her sweet eyes, and looking into the speaker’s face.
“The time of danger is nearly quite over,†said the lady. “ Let me
kiss you on the forehead, Primrose, and then take you into another
room, where you can be washed and refreshed. My name is Amethyst
—this sister is called Iris, this sister Asphodel, and this Amaranth.
You can guess, therefore, my child, that as we are called after the
Flowers and Jewels of Paradise, you have reached a very happy
place.â€
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WHITE PALACE—THE KING'S COUNTRY AND MRS. DISCIPLINE’S
COTTAGE.
1H ERE never was such a bath as that which the
| tired children now enjoyed.
Asphodel came to help Amethyst in her
care of the two little girls. Asphodel had the
gentlest look of all the sisters, and it was she who
tucked Primrose and Martha up in their little
iN white beds and told them to sleep.
"rh \ “T give you each the kiss of peace,†she said ; “ now
Neila sleep—rest—rest, and be thankful.†She glided out of the
. room as she spoke, and Amethyst followed her. Far away
in the distance the children heard the echoes of the same lovely song :
“Welcome! for the prize is won.†They slept to the sounds of the
birds, to the cooing of many doves, to the tinkling noise of crystal
water, and with the sweet scent of the flowers borne in to them on
the soft summer breeze. Their sleep was very healing and restoring,
and when they awoke they could scarcely believe they were the same
tired children who had crawled up to the White Palace at daybreak.
A few minutes after they had opened their eyes Asphodel and Iris
came into the room. They bore in their arms some dazzlingly white
dresses, of a kind which the children had never seen before.
“These arrived this morning straight from the palace of our Lord
the King,†they exclaimed; “ but before you put them on you must
eat a little of this honey and take a morsel each of this barley-cake.
Your next meal will be in the country of the King himself, therefore
all you need now is a very light refreshment to help you during the
short time that you will be here.â€
THE WHITE PALACE. 141
~“ But I don’t even see the Blue Mountains,†said Primrose.
‘No, my love,†replied Iris; ‘‘ nevertheless, the dangerous time is
nearly at anend. The King has many ways of taking his servants over
these mountains. Some have to walk step after step to the -very end
of the way, others arrive at the King’s country by a much shorter
road.â€
“ Do you mean to say,†exclaimed Primrose, her eyes glowing as
bright as stars, “that we shall reach the country beyond the Mountains
to-day—that I shall see my mother to-day 2â€
Tris bowed her lovely head; she did not speak: she looked like a
tall and dazzlingly fair lily.
“Oh!†said Primrose, the tears suddenly rushing to her happy
eyes, “it is too good news, and yet it is not quite perfect news either ;
for what about Buttercup ? â€
“Buttercup is safe,†replied Asphodel. “The King has given
special directions about him; itis your duty to trust my Lord the
King. Even a shadow of unhappiness or of fear ought not now to
visit your mind.â€
“It shall not,†said Primrose. “Let me taste the honeycomb
and eat a morsel of the cake, and then please put the beautiful
white dress upon me, Iris.†.
Inis did as she was told; she dressed each of the children in long
dazzlingly fair white garments. These dresses hung straight down
from their necks to their feet, and were girdled round the waist with
a narrow silver band. When the children were dressed and Martha’s
dark hair had been combed out and brushed, and made to look as
fresh and nice as possible, and Primrose’s lovely tresses had been
brushed until they shone like gold itself, Asphodel came into the
room, and placed a narrow crown of white flowers on the head of each
child.
“ What flowers are these?†asked Primrose. ‘I don’t seem to
know them; they look something like liles, and yet they are not lilies
at least, not lilies that I havee ver seen.†:
“They come from the King’s country,†said Iris; “ they were sent
here this morning for you both to wear. These flowers never grow on
142 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
this side of the Blue Mountains. They belong to the King’s country,
and have a great many virtues.â€
“They are most lovely,’ said Primrose, clasping her hands.
* Look at them, Martha, look at them—it rests my eyes even to see
these pure and beautiful flowers.â€
“They are meant to rest. not only the eyes, but the head,†said
Asphodel. ‘‘ The heads that wear them will never ache again; the
eyes that look at them will shed no more tears. Come, children, put
them on at once, and then follow me; for the day is passing, and we
have much to do before night comes.â€
Primrose and Martha immediately put on the wreaths of white
flowers, which resembled lilies, and yet were different, then they ate
some honey and a little cake, and feeling refreshed, and strong, and
happy, followed Iris, who led them through a wide white marble hall
and across a courtyard, in the middle of which a fountain played, into
a garden at the other side.
This garden was full of flowers, all of which were familiar, and
yet not quite familiar, to Primrose. She ran up with rejoicing to
a little patch of violets, to start away again with a cry almost of
Sorrow.
“They are different from the violets which used to grow in
mother’s garden at home,†she said, turning to Martha. “TI feel glad,
and yet I feel sorry, when I look at them.â€
“ But they are just the same,†replied Martha.
“No, they are not,†replied Primrose. ‘‘See how large they are ;
notice what a delicious smell they have; and then, they are none of
them withered : they are all perfect. I think I lke the old imperfect
flowers better than these.â€
While Primrose was speaking Amethyst came up and stood near
her. ‘ What is the matter?†she said. ‘‘ Don’t you lke my violets ?
Are you still pining, little Primrose, for the flowers which grew in
your garden at home?â€
“ Not pining,†said Primrose; “ but I can’t forget the old home,
nor the pleasure the imperfect flowers used to give me.â€
“You are never meant to forget them. But come, my sisters are
THE WHITH PALACE. 143
ready, and I am also waiting. Come with me through this field;
come, both of you.â€
Amethyst took a hand of each little girl as she spoke. She led
them through the garden into a wide open sort of plain, where the air
blew fresh, and where both children could not only hear the singing of
many birds, but the sweet sound of distant and lovely music.
“Welcome ! for the prize is won ;
Toil and travel now are done,â€
sang some voices very far away.
Primrose now for the first time noticed that the four sisters,
Amethyst, Iris, Asphodel, and Amaranth, had changed their dresses,
and were wearing strange and dazzling colours. It was impossible for
the little girl to know exactly what they had on, only each sister as
she walked seemed to shine with a wonderful light. Their fair faces
looked unearthly in loveliness, their long golden hair floated back from
their white brows, and for the first time Primrose noticed that the
sisters wore wings. As the four floated about they resembled the
different hues of the rainbow.
“ Now, my children,†said Iris, “the moment has come when we
are to be given the great honour of taking you two little girls away to
the country of the King. Put your hand on my shoulder, Primrose ;
just lay it firmly there, dear, and fear nothing. Martha, come to my
other side ; put your little trembling hand here. Jf you are afraid,
look at Primrose; see what courage shines in her eyes. Now that is
right. Amethyst, come here; Primrose, put your other arm round
Amethyst’s neck. Martha, give your hand to Asphodel; Amaranth
too will help to bear us up.â€
Iris stopped speaking. She began gently to move her wings;
Asphodel moved hers, Amethyst and Amaranth did likewise. ‘he
children soon found themselves floating softly through the air. The
four sisters bore them lightly upwards, until, looking down, Primrose
saw the White Palace and the garden where the wonderful violets
grew looking like mere specks in the distance. Then a wonderful air
fanned her cheeks and a great strength was given her, she found that
144. BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
she was floating through a cold blue mist, which slightly hurt her, and
yet at the same time filled her with pleasure.
“Don’t fear,†whispered Iris; “we shall soon be through the
shadow, and then the last pang will be over.â€
She had scarcely said the words before the blue mist began to be
slightly flecked with rose colour, then golden beams darted through
it, and the next instant it had completely faded away. The air was
full of song, and laughter, and praise, and the children found them-
selves at the gates of the King’s country.
ES * # # * *
Meanwhile, one little traveller was still very far away.
When Patience had seen Primrose well on her journey, she
returned to the gloomy little cottage, and taking Buttercup’s hand,
told him that he was now in her charge.
“But I’d rather go with Primrose,†said the little boy. “Tm
accustomed to Primrose, and I don’t like you much, Patience.â€
“T daresay not,’ said Patience. ‘Few people like me at first,
and you would be the last one to do so, but you have lost the right
to continue your journey with Primrose—you have now to go, by the
orders of the King, a different road to the country beyond the Blue
Mountains; and J may as well tell you at once, my little man, that
the way will be rough and disagreeable, and that you will have to
submit to the control of far more severe people than I am.â€
Buttercup began to sob when Patience said these words to him,
but she did not take the least notice of his tears.
At home, his mother had always petted him greatly when he
cried; she had put her arms round his neck and drawn him close to
her, and let him sob out even his little naughtiness on her breast ;
since he had started on his journey, too, Primrose had been full of
sorrow when Buttercup cried. This was the first time, therefore, in
his little life that his tears were held of no account. He was so
puzzled and amazed at this that he very soon dried them, and when
Patience took his hand and led him out of the cottage, he trotted by
her side without a word of remonstrance.
Patience walked quickly, following a narrow winding path which
MRS. DISCIPLINE’S COTTAGE. 145
led slightly'but steadily uphill. After a couple of hours of this kind
of walking, during which Buttercup felt his legs ache and his little
mouth grow dry and thirsty, they came in view of an ugly cottage
which stood at the back of a high and barren hill.
During their walk another curious thing had happened: the air,
which had been balmy and warm, had now grown cold and Jero—
the farther the two walked, the barer Teer the trees, until at last
they were quite leafless, and Buttercup, looking down, exclaimed in
atone of disgust, and with a shiver running through his little
frame—
“Why, there’s snow on the ground !â€
“OF course there is,†replied Patience. ‘ We are in Winter Land
now, and in Winter Land you have got to stay, my good little man,
for the present. Iam bringing you to pay a visit to my sister, Mrs.
Discipline: she lives in that cottage yonder.â€
“But I don’t at all want to go to stay with your sister Mrs.
Discipline,’ exclaimed Buttereup. ‘I think she has a very ugly
name, and that’s a horrid nasty looking house over there—and I don’t
like—I can’t bear Winter Land. Let us go back to you cottage,
please, Patience.â€
“No, we can’t,†replied Patience. “The King’s orders are very
plain. You are to stay in Winter Land, under Mrs. Discipline’s care,
for the present. She is not so bad as she looks, Buttercup. Let me
give you a word of advice, my poor little boy.â€
“What is it, Patience? Patience, I feel awfully frightened.â€
“Tf you follow my advice you have not the least cause to fear.
You will not be iv any danger at Mrs. Discipline’s. You were in
great peril at Castle Dangerous, and you ran a fearful risk when you
were in the Green Lady’s house, but at Mrs. Discipline’s you will be
as safe as a little boy can be, and the time will not be so bad if you
submit to Mrs. Discipline. If you obey her, and do exactly what she
tells you, the time will not be bad and the time will not be long;
but if you struggle to have your own way while you live in Winter
Land, you will be a very, very unhappy little boy indeed! Now take
my hand, and let us climb up this path to the cottage.â€
i
146 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Buttercup made a great effort to strangle the sobs which were
almost choking him.
“Come, come!†called a sharp voice in the doorway of the cottage.
“What are you two lingering for? Now, Patience, do you mean to
spoil that boy by helpmg him? Take away your hand, and let him
climb up the path by himself. What are feet made for, child, but to
use? Come, come; if you are not with me in a minute I must send
you on a visit to my father. Ha, ha! you wouldn't like that, I can
tell you. Come along this minute, you tiresome little boy !â€
‘Don’t be so hard on the child, Discipline,†said Patience. “ He
is quite new to Winter Country, and he has never seen anybody the
least like you in his life.â€
“My dear Patience, do I need you to tell me that? Just. see
how he tumbles and sprawls his legs about. Ah! that’s better !
Now then, here you both are. Come in, come in at once, and let me
shut the door.â€
It was evening in Winter Land when Buttercup reached the dreary
house of Mrs. Discipline. When they got inside the cottage he
looked up at her with round eyes full of fear.
«Come, come! none of that sort of expression on your face,†she
said, chucking him sharply under the chin. “I daresay you are
hungry, and want your supper.â€
“Yes,ma’am, I’m very, very, hungry,†said Buttercup.
“You can’t eat anything in my house without having first earned
it. Go into the scullery this minute and clean the boots. When
they are all polished and in order, you can let me know, then [ll see
if I have anything for you to eat.â€
« But, please,†began Buttercup, “I never cleaned boots in my
life.â€
“Oh, didn’t you? Well, it’s fine time you learnt how. Go
into the scullery and find the brushes and the blacking, and set
to work. here are two pairs of my father’s boots and three pairs of
mine, and those shoes you have on your own feet, and Patience’s
slippers. Now be quick; polish them all up, or youll do without
supper, and be sent on a visit to my father.â€
MES. DISCIPLINE’S COTTAGE. 147
Mrs. Discipline was a little woman, with a wrinkled face and
bright beady black eyes ; her hair was all drawn up on the top of her
head, and hidden away under a high mob-cap; her petticoats were
short and trim, she wore highly polished shoes on her feet, and she
held in her hand a small switch.
“Do you want me to show you the way to the scullery?†she
said.
“Yes, please,†answered poor Buttercup.
“Oh no, Discipline,†interrupted Patience.
“Oh yes, Patience,†laughed Discipline. “How am I to train
the boy if I can’t do it in my own way? There is the way to the
scullery, little man, and if you can’t find the blacking and brushes
and boots, you have but to let me know, and I'll show you
again.†:
With these words she gave Buttercup two sharp strokes with her
switch, that sent him flying towards a certain door, which imme-
diately opened to admit him, and then shut with a bang behind him.
He never felt so frightened in his life. He was so terrified by the
sudden change in his surroundings that he did not venture to ery, or
so throw himself on the ground, or to behave in any of the spoilt ways
with which he used to favour his family when things went wrong with
him at home.
On the contrary, he looked everywhere for the brushes and the
blacking and the boots, for he greatly feared that if he did not im-
mediately begin his task, Mrs. Discipline would come in and show
him how. Mrs. Discipline’s way of showing him how to do things
was certainly not to his taste, and he made up his mind to ask her
no questions, but to try and find out for himself.
“But how I wish I might go back with Mrs. Patience to her
cottage! he murmured. ‘‘Mrs. Patience is quite a delightful
person beside that dreadful Mrs. Discipline! Oh, what shall I do if
I have to live long with her?â€
“Shall I come in and show you where the blacking and the
brushes and the boots are?†called out Mrs. Discipline, in her rasp-
ing voice, from the other side of the closed door.
I 2
148 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Oh, no, no!†answered poor little Buttercup in a choking voice.
“T am finding them nicely, thank you †; but though he looked to
right and left, and up to the ceiling and down to the floor, he could
not see anything that in the least resembled blacking or brushes
or boots. ‘Oh dear, oh dear!†he said to himself, “what am J
CORdO Es:
At this moment a sharp, very clear little voice was heard speak-
ing up im a corner, a little head was pushed out of a cupboard,
and Buttercup, raising his eyes, saw a tiny and very thin boy look-
ing at him.
“You may as well submit at once,†he said. “I didn’t at first,
and I had an awful time; she’s terrible when you go against her.
See what she has made of me. I used to be a big boy, and look
at me now—did you ever see anyone so tiny? that is because I
have to live in this cupboard. Mr. Penalty put me in here because I
wouldn’t submit to Mrs. Discipline. You had better be careful—you
really had.â€
“ But who in the world is Mr. Penalty?†asked Buttercup.
“He is Mrs. Discipline’s father. She'll send you on a visit
to him unless you are very careful, and then you'll really know what's
what.â€.
“What is what’s what?†asked Buttercup. “You do frighten
me, little boy!â€
“Well, it’s better to warn you, isn’t it? You'll know what’s what
after you have paid a visit to Mrs. Discipline’s ‘father. Now do
begin ; clean the boots, or she’ll come and show you how.â€
“ But I can’t see them anywhere,’ said Buttercup. “ There’s not
a boot in the place, nor a brush, nor any blacking. How am I to
discover them ?â€
“ Bollow your nose,†said the boy in the cupboard, “ and youll
see plenty of them.â€
Buttercup stood still for a moment, wondering how he could
possibly follow his nose. His nose directly faced the small win-
dow of the scullery; he therefore looked on the window-ledge,
and there he saw a pile of boots covered with snow and mud, two
MRS. DISCIPLINE’S COTTAGE. 149
or three large blacking-brushes, and a platter with some blacking
on it. .
“ Are you getting on with your work?†shouted Mrs. Discipline,
“or shall I come into the scullery and show you the way?â€
“T am getting on splendidly,†called out Buttercup in quite a
lively tone. He seized one of the boots, and began to scrape the mud
and snow from it. He felt absolutely cheerful as he set to work; the
small boy in the cupboard watched him with twinkling but envious
eyes.
Cee Neal ID es) Seen
IN WINTER LAND.
JETER the boots were all cleaned, Mrs.
| Discipline called Buttercup back into
her kitchen.
“ Now,†she said, ‘‘I have got some
pots and pans for you to scrub until
they look like new.â€
“But I want my supper,’ said
Buttercup. ‘“ You promised me that I
should have it after the boots and shoes
were cleaned.â€
“You shall certainly have it after
they are cleaned—I didn’t say how soon after, did I? Now scrub those
pots and pans, take all the dirt off them, and all the rust, polish them
up until they look like new; and be quick about it! If you don’t do
it without a moment’s delay, I shall have to show you how.â€
There was something very queer about Mrs. Discipline’s face when
she said, “I shall have to show you howâ€â€”a strange tone, too, got
into her voice; both the tone and the look reminded Buttercup in the
queerest way of birch-rods and bread and water, and going supperless
to bed, and all the unpleasant things which could happen to naughty
boys, but which, somehow or other, had never yet come into his
hfe.
Without a word he went over to the corner where the pots and
pans were lying in great confusion, and set to work cleaning them ;
he had never done anything so rough and disagreeable before, and his
hunger, which had been great on his arrival, was now much sharpened
IN WINTER LAND. 151
by the violent exercise he was obliged to take to bring the pots and
pans back to that condition of newness and polish which Mrs.
Discipline considered necessary.
He was in the room with the old lady now, and he much preferred
working in the scullery, where the little boy who lived in the cupboard
. could look out and wink at him.
He worked with a will, however, and by-and-by Mrs. Discipline
told him that he might leave off and have his supper.
‘Where is it?†he asked eagerly. “Oh, I do hope—I do hope
—that it’s very, very nice.â€
“You do, do you?†replied the old lady, mimicking his tone;
“and you ask where it is. Do you expect me to cook it for you?
You have to prepare it. You'll eat nothing while you’re in my house
that you don’t first earn and then cook for yourself. No drones are
permitted to go inside my hive. We are all busy bees here. Those
who don’t choose to work must not eat; those who are not good, and
cheerful, and obedient have to pay my father a visit. The water boils
in that pot; you will find meal in that jar; pour it in and make your
porridge.â€
“But I never made porridge in my life.â€
“T daresay not. Make it for the first time to-night.â€
“T don’t know how. TI shall be sure to make it wrong.â€
“Very likely; but when you have made it wrong several times,
you will find it so disagreeable that you will set your wits-to work
and try to make it right. I’m not going to tell you how to do it, so
you needn’t think it. There’s the water boiling in the pot, and
there’s the meal in the jar. When the porridge is done you will find
a basin on this dresser into which you can pour it; you can eat as
much as you please.â€
“ But is porridge the only thing I am to have for supper ?â€
“T don’t know of anything else, but if you are capable of cooking
something nicer, do so.â€
Mrs. Discipline went out of the room as she spoke, leaving Butter-
cup in full possession of the kitchen; he felt very angry. He said: to
himself that no little boy in all the wide world had ever been treated
152 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
so disgracefully, but as no one in Mrs. Discipline’s house cared in the
least what he thought, he saw nothing for it but to turn to and make
some porridge as best he could.
He found the jar where the meal was kept, and poured some into
the pot of boiling water. He then tried to stir it round, as he had so
often seen his mother and his sisters do, but the water bubbled up
and burnt his hands, and the meal was full of lumps and would not
swell out smoothly and nicely—some of it stuck to the bottom of the
pot too, and became burnt.
Altogether, the badly-cooked porridge was anything but nice to
eat, but real. positive hunger is an excellent sauce, and Buttercup ate
the nasty supper without a word of complaint.
When he had done, Mrs. Discipline came in.
“Oh, what a disgraceful smell of burning!†she exclaimed. “You
have burnt that porridge. You can’t go to bed until you have
cleaned out the pot. You must get sand to clean it. Go and find
some immediately.â€
‘“¢T don’t know where to look for it,†said Buttercup.
“T cannot help you; I can only say that I know for certain there
is none in the house.â€
“ Well, then, I can’t clean that horrid pot to-night!†said Butter-
cup. ‘‘I’d get lost out in the snow looking for sand, and even if I
weren’t lost, I’m very apt to take cold; so of course I can’t clean the
pot until the morning.â€
“You have to clean it before you go to bed,†said Mrs. Discipline.
“ Tt is not of the least consequence to me whether you get lost in the
snow or whether you catch cold, but I am not going to have my
handsome pot injured, so you'll just have the goodness to find some
sand and take that burnt patch off it.â€
Poor little Buttercup felt perfectly wretched.
“T do think you are cruel!†he said. “I am sure the King of
the Country beyond the Blue Mountains doesn’t wish me to stay long
with you. Ill just run away, for I can’t bear you—I can’t!â€
“You can run away if you like,’ said Mrs. Discipline in her
calmest voice. ‘I promise you one thing, that I shall take no steps
Tipe
IN WINTER LAND. 153
whatever to find you again. ‘he only thing that I have to say is
this: you shall have no bed in my house until you have cleaned that
pot.â€
The tears gathered in Buttercup’s eyes; they rolled heavily down
his cheeks, making queer channels on his poor little face, which was
already smeared with blacking and dirt from the pots and pans which
he had cleaned.
“ Oh dear!†he murmured to himself. “I don’t think that awful
woman cares for anybody. Well, there is nothing for me to do but to
try and find some sand.â€
He went towards the door of the house, and opening it very gently,
let himself out into the bitter frosty air.
He had never been out in such cold before, and he shivered all
over. What would he not have given for Primrose to pet and kiss
him ? What would he not have done to feel his mother’s arms about
him? But he was far away from all who cared for him—he was a
very lonely and miserable little boy, and he thought Mrs. Discipline
quite the cruellest person in the world.
“T’d rather be with the Green Lady,†he murmured to himself,
“or in the Country of the Dark Men. Id rather be anywhere
than with Mrs. Discipline; she’s the worst old woman I ever heard
Oe ae
“Come, come, are you finding that sand?†called a sharp voice
from the cottage door. “If you are not quick about it I shall be
obliged to lock up, and then you'll have no chance of getting into my
house until the morning.â€
These words caused Buttercup to move about quickly; he felt
quite sure that if he spent the night in the bitter air he would die
before morning. The love of life was strong within him, and he
ran quickly about, trying in a distracted, aimless sort of way to find
some sand.
“Why don’t you look under the fir-trees?â€â€™ called a silver voice in
his ear. He glanced round him in bewilderment; he could not see
anyone, and felt more terrified than ever.
“To look under the fir-trees!’’ exclaimed the same voice ; and
154 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Buttercup suddenly perceived that he was standing close to a dark
wood, and that a fir-tree was almost touching him.
He stooped down, and discovered, to his delight, that a very little
silver sand was powdered about on the ground under the tree.
He took out his pocket-handkerchief, and filling it with the
precious sand, returned to the house. Mrs. Discipline was standing
by the open door.
“Twas just going to lock up,†she said. “Have you got the
sand ?â€
“T have,†said Buttercup; “and, do you know, I think your place
is haunted.â€
“Haunted!†said Mrs. Discipline; “ what next, I wonder?â€
‘“T heard a voice in the air,†said Buttercup, “and the voice told
me where to find the silver sand. Was yours the voice? Can you
throw your voice several yards away, and make it sound quite different
—like somebody else’s ?â€
“Who did it remind you of ?â€â€™ asked Mrs. Discipline suddenly.
“Tt was a kind voice, very sweet, too, like a silver bell; it had a
tone in it like mother’s.â€
“Then it was your mother’s, most likely, little boy,†said Mrs.
Discipline; “and if the King has sent your mother to help you I
have hopes of you—I have many hopes. Now clean out the pot, and
then go to bed.â€
Buttercup felt cheered, he could scarcely tell why. Of course,
Mrs. Discipline’s idea was a silly one, and yet it comforted him.
““T wonder if I shall hear the silver voice again?†he said to
himself; ‘‘it was certainly ike mother’s.â€
The next day was bitterly cold, but for some reason or other Mrs.
Discipline was less severe than she had been the night before, and
Buttercup ran about and did what she told him cheerfully enough.
She gave him a very plain breakfast, and afterwards set him to
hard work, but as she praised his efforts, he did not have nearly such
a bad time as on the previous night.
“T see I can manage you, little boy,†she said to himonce. “ It
is all the better for yourself, for the sooner you submit to me and learn
IN WINTER LAND. 155
my ways, the sooner will the time of your trial be over. After you
have quite cleaned up the cottage, and put everything in perfect order,
you may go for a little walk. It is pretty in that fir-wood, with the
snow on the ground and the icicles covering all the trees; you may
run about there for half an hour, but you must on no account be any
longer away.â€
“ Oh, thank you!†said Buttercup ; “I shall like very much to go.â€
He bustled harder than ever over his work—was highly pleased
with his own efforts, and said to himself many times, “ What a good
boy Iam becoming! How pleased mother would be if she saw me
now!†and then he danced out into the sunshine, feeling quite light-
hearted again.
Buttercup was the sort of boy whose spirits go up and down very
quickly. He had been frightened and miserable the night before; now
he felt quite jolly and happy, and ran about in the sun, singing and
shouting to himself.
Mrs. Discipline stood in the door of the cottage, and called after
him.
“ Be sure you come back in half an hour, or I shall have to send
you on a visit to my father.â€
“ All right,†called Buttercup back to her.
“You will know when the time is up by the shadow on the dial
in the garden,†she said. ‘‘ Now, you have no excuse; run about and
enjoy yourself, and be back when I told you.â€
“Of course I will,†answered Buttercup, in his confident little
tones. ‘I have promised ; isn’t that enough?â€
Mrs. Discipline laughed in a rather unbelieving way, and entering
the cottage, shut the door behind her.
Buttercup ran into the fir-wood and prepared to enjoy himself.
There were a great many fir-cones lying on the ground; he stooped
to pick them up.
Some squirrels were hopping about from tree to tree; these
attracted his attention. He made great efforts to catch some of them,
but of course utterly failed. Then his attention was arrested by a
robin whose breast was redder than any robin’s he had ever seen before.
156 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Oh, you sweet little darling!†exclaimed Buttercup, and he
followed the bird, he could not tell for how long.
Suddenly a laugh, not a silvery, but a mocking one, sounded in
his ears. The laugh was accompanied by some words:
“Ha, ha, my little man! you'll be back by the shadow on the
dial, won’t you? You'll be back in good time, quite within the
half-hour ; oh, yes! of course, my dear model little boy.â€
This voice was certainly not the least like his mother’s. He felt
a sudden pang of fear going through his heart. He stopped following
the robin, and turned towards home. But it was by no means easy
for Buttercup to retrace his steps through this queer looking fir-wood.
Every tree looked just like every other tree, and the sun too at
this very moment went behind a heavy bank of clouds, the brightness
left the air, and snow began to fall heavily. Buttercup began to feel
that he had really lost his way; he grew terrified, and could not
help crying. Just at this moment the same sweet silver voice which
had guided him last night again sounded.
“Walk along the path where the grass is still green,†it said,
“and you'll presently find yourself in Mrs. Discipline’s garden, close
to the sun-dial.â€
Again the voice, which seemed to proceed from nowhere, reminded
Buttercup of his mother; again he felt strengthened and glad.
Looking carefully on the ground, he saw that although the snow
lay thickly in almost every direction, there was one narrow green
ribbon of grass which wound in and out among: the fir-trees, on which
no snow rested. He joyfully set his feet upon it, and in the course of
an hour found himself back again by the old dial.
“Of course J am long past my time,’ he said to himself. “‘ How
silly of me to have followed that stupid little bird! What will
Mrs. Discipline say? Oh dear! oh dear! JI am sure she is just
the kind of woman who never forgives anyone. I do feel dread-
fully frightened, for of course she will send me on a visit to her
father.â€
‘Be brave,†said the silver voice in the air. ‘All will be nght im
the end if you are brave.â€
IN WINTER LAND. 157
When Buttercup heard these tones he dried the tears in his
eyes and ran into the house.
“T know I am an hour behind my time,’ he said to Mrs.
Discipline. “I followed a robin, and I got lost in the wood. I
suppose you are dreadfully, dreadfully angry!â€
“Hat your dinner,’ said Mrs. Discipline—‘“there it is—hot
potatoes and thick milk; eat as much as you please, and don’t
question me.â€
“ But aren’t you dreadfully angry with me ? â€
“ Hat your dinner, and stop talking.â€
Buttercup thought it best to obey without saying anything more.
He was so hungry that this very plain dinner tasted quite delicious
to him. He finished it all up, and then Mrs. Discipline went to
the window and looked out.
“The sky is clearing,†she said. “There is a great deal of snow
still on the ground, but I do not think much more will fall. You
had better be getting ready to go.â€
“To go where?†asked Buttercup.
“On a ae to my father. Here is a parcel which you are to
take with you.â€
Mrs. Discipline falled: to a cupboard as she spoke, opened the
door, and taking out a long and very slender packet, handed it to
the little boy. ‘There was a look about her face which caused poor
Buttercup’s heart to sink very, very low indeed.
“T don’t know where your father lives,†he faltered, ‘ and J—I—
oh! please don’t send me to him.â€
““T have no choice in the matter,’ said Mrs. Discipline. “ You
broke your word to me, and you must go—you did something
when you were out this morning which leads you straight to my
father’s house: I have no power in the matter.â€
“But where is your father’s house ?â€
“Come here to the window, and I will show you. Do you see
that steep hill over there ?â€
“That high hill with all the snow over it?â€
“Yes, that is the hill I mean. It is not quite so steep when you
IS 8 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
come up to it as it looks from here. There is a winding path up the
hill, and some steps cut here and there in the rock. It is very difficult
to get to the top of the hill, but it isnot impossible. At the top of
the hill you will see my father; he has a little house there, where he
lives year in, year out. ‘Take him this parcel from me, and tell him
that I have sent you to him; and now be quick. All you have to do
is to follow the winding path and set your feet in the steps cut in the
rock. If you fail to reach my father it will be your own fault, and
all the worse for you. Go! don’t stand mooning there; go at
Bea
once
Byctten
CisLeVPanals, OW,
ABOUT FEATHERPATE AND THE MARBLE HALLS—-AND MR.
PENALTY AND HIS ROD.
ZL 3"
VG ee,
BNE [SS
UTTERCUP felt himself pushed out of the little
cottage ; the door was slammed with a loud noise
behind him. He was alone on a bitter winter’s
afternoon, the snow lying thickly on the ground
and a dull sky overhead.
“What are you loitering for?†shouted Mrs.
Discipline from the window. “If you are not quick
the night will fall before you reach my father’s house.
It is very dangerous for little boys like you to be out
at night, for that is the time when the Wild Men of
the Woods come out. Don’t delay a moment, Butter-
cup; start on your journey, or you will be in real danger.â€
“ But am I not in danger now?†asked Buttercup.
“No; you have a disagreeable thing to do, but if you do it at
once nothing bad will happen.â€
Mrs. Discipline’s tone was quite bracing. Buttercup walked down
the path from the cottage, and saw, to his surprise, that the green
ribbon of grass was visible, also that it led straight to the foot of the
steep hull.
He placed his little feet upon this narrow ribbon, and immediately
felt cheered and comforted. Thoughts of his mother and of Primrose
visited him and filled his heart with fresh courage. At last he reached
the foot of the hill. Here, to his surprise, he saw a pretty boy,
dressed in blue and silver, waiting for him. The boy laughed when he
saw him, and said in a cheery, though somewhat impudent, tone-—
NS
160 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“What an age you have kept me!â€
“T have kept you?†replied Buttercup ; ‘ why, I never even heard
of you.â€
“My name is Featherpate,†said the boy, ‘‘and I have been waiting
for you since quite early morning. You are my new playfellow.
Come along; we shall have time for a good game of romps before the
sun sets, if we are quick.â€
‘“ But I have to go up the mountain,†said Buttercup. “ I'd like
very much to play with you, of course ’—he sighed as he spoke—“ but
there’s no time for play just now. I have to go up the mountain
with this parcel. What are you laughing at, boy? I think you are
very rude!â€
“Oh, Tean’t help it,’ said Featherpate ; “you do look so absurdly
comical, it is quite delicious to see you. Oh, my sides quite ache with
laughing! You poor little good-for-naught—and are you really going
to mind what Mrs. Discipline says? Are you really going to carry
that whip up to Mr. Penalty with your own hand?â€
“This is a parcel, not a whip,†said Buttercup, but he turned a little
pale as he spoke.
“You open it, and see if the parcel doesn’t contain a whip—and
what’s the whip for, but to lay across your shoulders, my nice little
man? Well, before Pd carry my own whip !—but you are too funny
—too funny for anything!â€
Here Featherpate rolled about on the ground, and turned topsy-
turvy, standing one minute on his feet, the next on his head, and
altogether behaving in a truly ridiculous manner. Buttercup tore off
a tiny piece of the paper which covered the slender parcel, and true
enough there was the handle of a smart riding-whip quite distinctly
visible inside.
“Come,†said Featherpate, “it is a good thing I am here to
meet you. Come down into the marble halls, and let’s have a play.â€
But †began Buttercup.
“Oh, don’t begin any more of those silly buts; come along as fast
as you can. ‘The halls are warm and gaily lit, and there’s lots to eat
and pretty playthings to amuse ourselves with.â€
TOPSY-TURVY (jp. 160).
ABOUT FEATHERPATE AND THE MARBLE HALLS. 163
i Bat I must go to Mr. Penalty’s with this parcel. Mrs. Discipline
said so.’
“You are a great fool to mind her,†said Featherpate; “but if
you must, why don’t you take the short cut to Mr. Penalty’s house ?
You know you can’t walk up this steep hill, even if you tried. Look
at it: it’s almost as straight as the walls of a house.â€
“T know,†said Buttercup, beginning to sob. “ Oh, dear! oh,
dear! what shall I do?â€
“Come with me into the marble hall. After we have played for
an hour I’ll show you some stairs which lead straight up to Mr.
Penalty’s house—you’ll get there just as soon—indeed, sooner than if
you walked up this horrid hill.â€
‘Where are the marble halls? â€
“Do you see that door in the side of the hill? Wien we knock
at it it will be opened, and then we’ll find ourselves in the halls. Oh,
it is so-lovely there, and I am so tired of waiting out in the cold.
Come along, Buttercup, come at once and play with me. What are
you lingering for?. See, the sun is setting, and the snow is beginning
to fall again. If you attempt to go up the hill now you will be lost.
Somebody will find your poor little dead body in the morning ; but of
course I can’t persuade you—I can’t force you to go with me against
your will. Good-bye, Buttercup. I am sorry for you, but it is quite
‘impossible for me to stay out any longer with this snow falling all
over me. I shall catch my own death of cold, and that will be a nice
look-out! Good-bye, Buttercup.â€
Featherpate pretended to run away as he spoke.
“Oh, do stay a minute!†said Buttercup. ‘“ You don’t know what
a pickle I am in, or you wouldn’t be so unkind as to leave me. Ever
since yesterday I have been in the house of that dreadful Mrs.
Discipline, and oh! I can tell you she is stern.â€
“T should rather think she is,†said Featherpate. ‘She tried to
take me in hand once, but it was no use. I soon got her to see that I
couldn’t black boots, and I couldn’tscrub pots and pans. Now, Butter-
cup, are you coming with me, or are you going on by yourself? â€
“J suppose I had better come with you,’ said Buttercup. “I
K 2
164 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
don’t feel very happy at doing it, but even Mrs. Discipline said that
it would be dangerous for me to be on that steep hill in the dark.
She said the Wild Men of the Woods might find me.â€
“Oh, oh, oh! You'll kill me if you say any more,†said Feather-
pate. “T’ll die of laughing! The Wild Men of the Woods! And
did she really frighten you with that bogey tale?â€
“ Tt didn’t sound at all like a bogey tale,†said Buttercup ; “andI
think it is awfully rude of you, Featherpate, to laugh the way you
do. Iam quite determined to go to Mr. Penalty’s, but if there are
stairs leading from your marble halls to his house, it may be safer for
me to go that way than to climb the steep hill all by myself in the
dark.â€
“Not a doubt on that point,†said Featherpate. ‘Here, take my
hand, and let us run to the door in the side of the hill. We'll soon
be out of all this wind and snow, and what a jolly game we’ll have in
the marble halls!â€
“Oh! I must go to Mr. Penalty’s.â€
“So you shall, but those stairs are such a short cut that we shall
have plenty of time for a game first. Now come along; be quick,
don’t loiter any more.â€
Buttercup gave his hand to Featherpate.
Oh, what a slight touch Featherpate’s seemed—not a proper grasp
at all, and yet there was a strength about it which pulled Buttercup
over the ground so quickly that he could scarcely keep his feet.
Another moment, and he would have reached the door in the side
of the hill; an instant longer, and he would have been inside it, lost
for ever to his mother and Primrose, when suddenly something
happened.
This was neither more nor less than a sharp little mocking
“Ha-ha!†It seemed to come down out of the sky, and struck with
great distinctness on the little boy’s ears.
Featherpate did not hear the mocking laugh at all, but Butter-
cup did.
In an instant he remembered the Green Lady, and the many
dangers from which he had already escaped; in an instant, too, the
ABOUT FEATHERPATH AND THE MARBLE HALLS. 165 .
memory of his mother and of Primrose came back to him—he saw
their faces, so kind, so longing, so patient.
With a violent effort he pulled his hand out of Featherpate’s.
“Tam not going with you,†he exclaimed. “I don’t believe in
that short cut and those stairs which lead to the house of Mr. Penalty.
Id rather risk going up the mountain in the dark, and meeting the
Wild Men of the Woods.â€
With each word he spoke Buttercup felt stronger and braver. He
quite expected Featherpate to oppose him; but, on the contrary, the
pretty little fellow gave a gentle, half-sorrowful sigh, and the next
instant he had disappeared.
Buttercup was once more alone. It was now almost quite dark
He felt soft little feathers of snow falling like ice morsels on his face.
He could no longer see the green ribbon of grass—even the steep hill
up which he was to climb to Mr. Penalty’s house looked vague and
indistinct.
“Oh! what shall I do?†he sobbed. He threw himself on the
ground, and cried aloud in despair, ‘‘ Oh, mother, mother, save me |
Oh, Primrose! why did you go away? Oh, what an unhappy boy I
am !—what an unhappy boy I am!â€
“Come, come, this will never do,†said a sharp, queer voice in his ear.
He sprang to his feet, and to his amazement saw Mrs. Discipline
standing by his side.
“T felt uncomfortable about you, Buttercup,†she said, “so I
followed you here. I guessed you'd be up to some mischief, and, of
course, you were. You were very nearly taken in by Featherpate—
oh yes, I know all about it—I know too that you conquered him in
the end. I am not going to praise you, but nevertheless, I am pleased.
Follow me up the hill; you must visit my father, but Pll show you
the way to his house. Come, no loitering, for if you have plenty of
time to spare, it is more than I have.â€
Mrs. Discipline went on in front as she spoke; she was dressed all
in fur, and in the uncertain light looked something like a huge “ Baby
Bunting.†She began to walk up the steep hill, and Buttercup,
stumbling, falling, and half crying, followed.
166 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Oh, what a terrible walk that was! Never to his dymg day—
never in all his future happy life—could Buttercup forget it—the cold
of it, the sharpness of it, the steep and uneven ground, the hidden
rocks and stones which hurt his feet and cut his hands. Oh, there
never was such a cruel walk as this! and surely, never before such an
unhappy little boy as the one who followed Mrs. Discipline.
“On! on!†she called; “what are you loitering for? On, on, to
the top! I have no time to spare if you have.â€
More than once during that terrible ascent poor little Buttercup
could not help wishing that he had gone into the marble halls with
Featherpate, and had risked the finding of the stairs which would lead
into Mr. Penalty’s house.
“ Anything would have been better than this,†he murmured; but
regrets were useless now, and there was nothing for him but to climb
on to the top of the mountain.
Thanks to Mrs. Discipline, he did not lose his way ; and at last—at
last the summit of the hill was reached.
“Here we are!’ she exclaimed. ‘‘Do you see that cottage with
the one little spark of light in it? that light comes from my father’s lamp.
He seldom goes to bed at night, for he never knows at what time,
either day or night, he may be required. Go to him now, Buttercup—
Pll leave you in his hands—go to him at once.â€
“ But I—I’m afraid to go,†said Buttercup. ‘“‘ Won’t you—won’t
you come with me?â€
“Ha! ha!†laughed Mrs. Discipline, ‘‘ that would be a very funny
arrangement. No, no, my child; I never interfere with my father.
Good-bye ; you'll probably be back in the evening. Good-bye, at any
- rate, for the present.â€
Buttercup turned round to say something more, but Mrs. Discipline
had vanished. There was nothing for it, therefore, but to go forward to
the tiny shining star which illumined one of Mr. Penalty’s windows.
“T must do it quickly, or I shall never do it at all,†thought the
child. He ran, therefore, along a little winding path and knocked at
a small green door. A voice inside was singing, and these were the
words of the song :—
MR. PENALTY AND HIS ROD. 167
‘Tis good to feel the rod—ho ! ho!
As little boys and girls may know
When they have naughty been.
For if they wilfully do wrong,
Their pleasure does not last them long
When I come on the scene.
“ At first their hearts are filled with glee,
Because they never think of me,
But just do what they will ;
_ But let the heedless ones beware,
For I am watching everywhere
To punish deeds of ill.
“So let them frolic as they may,
Too soon there comes a reckoning day,
And then good-bye to fun.
Let every one that hears take heed,
For he shall taste my rod with speed
Before the day is done.â€
These queer words frightened Buttercup very much; the voice
in which they were sung, too, was so deep that it sounded like an
old drum. He opened the door timidly and peeped in.
“Tt’s good to feel the rod—ho! ho!†began the same voice
again; then it stopped, for the old man, who was sitting by a
large fire, suddenly caught sight of Buttercup, and came forward
at once to meet him.
“You have brought the rod, have you?†he asked.
“I don’t know,†replied the poor little boy. “I have come
from Mrs. Discipline, and she has sent you this.â€
“Ha! ha! ho! ho! that’s the rod; you can lay it down
there on the table. You are cold—is it a bad night outside?â€
“Jt is the worst night I have ever been out in,†replied
Buttercup. “It is quite the coldest night I have ever felt.â€
“Hal ha! Well, so much the better for you. Those who
come to my house are bound to suffer. It is the path of suffering
which leads to me—the path of suffering and of——†the old man
stopped abruptly and looked hard into the face of the child.
168 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“It’s good to feel the rod,’ he began. “ You heard me singing
that when you came up to the door, didn’t you, little man?â€
“JT did,’ said Buttercup. “It was a dreadful, dreadful song!
I hope you won't sing it again, it frightened me so fearfully.â€
“Ha! ha! Dll act it next: perhaps you will lke that better;
but come to the fire first—I see you are nearly frozen. You are
not accustomed to our bracing weather; come and warm your
hands by the blaze. JI never punish anyone before six in the
morning, and it isn’t more than five o’clock now. You have been
all night coming to me, haven’t you?â€
“Tt seems to me,†replied Buttercup, “that I have been a year
coming to you; I thought I never could have got up the hill.
I couldn’t have come at all but for Mrs. Discipline.â€
“Ah! she helped you, then: that was very good-natured and
unusual of her. You must have done something to please her
very much.â€
“JT am sure I didn’t.â€
“Don’t contradict me, child! I say you must have done |
something to please her extremely. I wonder if you met that
little imp Featherpate ?â€
“A little boy dressed in blue and silver?†said Buttercup.
“Yes, I met hin.â€
“Ha! ha! And he asked you to play with him in his
marble halls ?â€
“He did.â€
“And he told you that you might come to me up the back
stairs Pâ€â€™
“ Yes, he told me that, too.â€
“Then how is it that you didn’t come to me up the back
stairs? You are wet; you are cold; you have been through a lot
of snow and ice. How is it that you didn’t do what Featherpate
asked ? â€
“T heard someone laughing up in the air,†said Buttercup,
“and I—I thought of mother, and of Primrose, and I—I was
frightened. I had been with the Green Lady, and I remembered this
{ MR. PENALTY AND HIS ROD. 169
when I heard the voice up in the air. I ran away from Featherpate
—I wouldn’t go with him.â€
“That accounts for it, then,’ said Mr. Penalty. “Sit down,
Buttercup. Here, take this easy chair of mine; it looks hard,
but it is comfortable enough when you are in it. I'll warm some
milk for you to drink, for you must be very tired.â€
‘““But—but the rod,†began Buttercup, “the dreadful rod—you
said you would use it at six o'clock.â€
“Not on you, child; the rod will be put out of sight; your
punishment was over when you reached my house. Sit there and
rest. When you conquered Featherpate you broke the power of
this rod. See, now, I am going to put the pieces in the fire.â€
With these words Mr. Penalty snapped the slender parcel in
two, and, with a deep sigh of satisfaction, Buttercup saw the
broken pieces thrust into the burning flames.
The next moment he had closed his tired eyes and had fallen
into profound slumber.
When he awoke the daylight was streaming into the cottage,
and the brilliant sunshine was covering everything. A little round
table was drawn up in front of Buttercup, and when he opened his
heavy eyes the first thing he saw was Mr. Penalty pouring some
boiling milk into a large basin full of bread.
“ Hat that,†he said to the child. ‘“ HKat—eat quickly, for a
heavy fall of snow will soon come down, and I want you to get
back to Mrs. Discipline’s as quickly as possible.â€
_ While Mr. Penalty was speaking he was bustling about the
cottage, and Buttercup could not help following him with his eyes.
He had thought Mrs. Discipline an old woman—she had grey
hair and a figure a good deal bent, and she had the slow kind of
walk children more or less associate with old age—but she looked
young indeed compared to Mr. Penalty. His long hair and flow-
ing beard were white as the snow outside; his little deep-set dark
eyes looked like beads in his withered face, his skin was brown
and hard as parchment, his hands almost resembled claws; and
yet Buttercup felt that he had seen ugher people than Mr.
170 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Penalty, for a kindly although terribly wintry smile gleamed once
or twice out of his old eyes.
“ You are on the right track, child,†he said, when Buttercup
had finished all his bread and milk. ‘The fact is, the King of
the Country beyond the Blue Mountains takes a great interest in
you, and that mother of yours is anxious about you. It is a
way mothers have. J can’t understand it, but I have always
noticed that little boys with good mothers come right in the end.
You have been a remarkably silly, naughty, troublesome little lad,
but when you conquered Featherpate you started on the nght
track. I and my rod, therefore, have nothing further to say to
you. Go back to Mrs. Discipline’s now as quickly as you can, and
tell her that I have sent you back, and that I didn’t use the rod.
Good-bye, Buttercup ; good-bye.â€
fs I'd like to kiss you Deron I go,†said Buttercup, “for you
have been very kind to me.’
“YT wouldn’t if I were you,†said Mr. Penalty; “for I can
assure you I am not at all a pleasant person to kiss.â€
“ But you have been so kind,†said Buttercup, “and that’s
the only way I can thank you.â€
He ran up to the old, old man as he spoke and pressed his
velvety rosebud lips against his withered cheek. Poor little
Buttercup never felt anything like the hardness and sharpness of
that cheek; it seemed to sting his young lips like so many nettles ;
he started away, and put up his hand to his face.
“IT told you I wasn’t pleasant to kiss,†said Mr. Penalty ;
“but never mind. When you kissed me, you in a measure kissed
the rod; that’s a good thing—that’s a capital thing; you'll be
none the worse for it, I promise you. Now go back to Mrs.
Discipline as fast as you can.â€
Crab say 12) AN Oy a D:G WE Ibe
SUMMER LAND.
HEN Buttercup arrived at the cottage he
found that Mrs. Discipline and Mrs.
Patience were both waiting for him. As
they saw him coming up the path Mrs.
Patience nodded to Mrs. Discipline, and
Mrs. Discipline nodded back to her, and
a look of pleasure—a most distinct look
of pleasure—passed over their faces.
When Buttercup reached the door
of the cottage the two old ladies were
standing there to welcome him.
“Come in! come in!†they both ex-
claimed. ‘“ We know all about it-—-we
know everything that you can possibly
tell us. You kissed the rod, didn’t you?â€
“T kissed Mr. Penalty, if that is
what you mean,†said Buttercup; “ and
I can assure you his cheek wasn’t
at all pleasant. It was like kissing
nettles—it stung my lips frightfully.â€
“All the same, you kissed the rod,†said Mrs. Patience, “and you
did it of your own accord. Come in now; there is a nice little dinner
ready for you, and afterwards you are to go to Summer Land for an
hour.â€
“Summer Land?†said Buttercup, staring, and opening his blue
eyes wide.
172 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“Yes, yes; it’s all arranged. J will take you to the stream and
show you the bridge; you will go right over to Summer Land, but
only for an hour, mind; you must come back again. You are a good
boy, but you have not quite done with Winter Land yet.â€
The two old ladies were so cheerful and pleasant that Buttercup
felt quite delighted; his spirits rose, and he ate the nice dinner which
was provided for him with considerable appetite.
“T wonder,†he said suddenly, “if the boy who lives in the
cupboard in the other room is still there. I pity that boy very much.
Mayn’t he come to Summer Land too?â€
Mrs. Discipline looked grave and stern when Buttercup said this,
and Mrs. Patience wore a distinctly sad expression.
“All in good time,†she exclaimed; “but that little boy—that
poor little boy—has yet to kiss the rod. Now, Buttercup, finish your
dinner, for I want to take you down to the stream, m order that I
may show you the bridge.â€
Buttercup was not long in concluding his meal, and taking the
hand of Mrs. Patience, he left the cottage, and walked down through
the snow and frost to where a stream, very deep, dark, and rapid, was
flowing past.
“ Here is the bridge,†said Mrs. Patience. ‘“ Put your feet on it
and walk firmly across. When you reach the other side you will be
in Summer Land.â€
“But I can’t see the other shore at all,’ said Buttercup.
“That’s the worst of it,’ replied Mrs. Patience ; “no one can see
the other shore from this side; but never fear. Long before you
reach the other side of the bridge you will see it. Good-bye. I will
come and fetch you in an hour.â€
The moment Mrs. Patience spoke she disappeared, and Buttercup
found himself standing alone by a steep bank.
A blue mist was hiding most objects from his view, but after
gazing steadily at the water for a minute or two he saw a slender
bridge spanning it. This bridge looked weak and frail, and Buttercup
had some little fear of putting his feet on it. He remembered, how-
ever, that he was only to spend one hour in Summer Land, and as he
SUMMER LAND. 173
guessed that the country to which he was going must be very beautiful
and pleasant to be in, he decided to waste no time, but to go over the
bridge without delay.
The instant he set his feet on it his fears vanished; he found that
it was much stronger than it looked, and, in high spirits, he stepped
briskly across.
At the winter side of the bridge it was dark, cold, and foggy, but
at the summer side the sun was shining, and an exquisite and balmy
_ air fanned the little fellow’s cheeks.
He had never felt anything so delicious as this air in his
life. He felt his heart beating with delight, his eyes began to
shine with joy, and a bright colour came into his cheeks.
He had scarcely set his feet on the other shore when a girl
in white, about his own age, came up to him.
“T have been waiting for you,’ she said, in a voice which
sounded like a silver bell. “I knew you would come to-day.
You will play with me, won’t you? You are to be my own
playmate, and I am so glad. I just wanted someone to play with
to make me perfectly, perfectly happy.â€
“T shall love to play with you,’ replied Buttercup. ‘“ What
a dear little girl you are! and how pretty! What is your name?
It makes me happy even to look at you.â€
“Everyone says that about me,†replied the little girl. “ But
take my hand now, for you must be tired. All the people who
come from Winter Land are tired. Come, let us sit in this bower
and eat fruit.â€
“But I should like to know your name first,†said Buttercup.
“T am called Sweet-Content. I have lived in Summer Land
for a long time, and I am often sent down to the stream to
welcome the boys and girls who come over from Winter Land.â€
“You will soon have to bid me good-bye,†said Buttercup.
“JT am only allowed to spend one hour here to-day.â€
“You will come again to-morrow, and then you will have a
longer time. Don’t let’s think about the parting yet. Come and
sit in this shady bower, and I will bring you some peaches.â€
174 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
After his hard fare with Mrs. Discipline, Buttercup thought
that no fruit could be so delicious as the peaches, all covered with
tender bloom, which Sweet-Content fetched for him.
She sat by him while he ate, and told him a good many things
about Summer Land. :
“T can’t tell you all until you are really one of us,†she said.
“Children come over from Winter Land constantly—some go
back again, some stay—some go back never to return; but I
don’t think you are one of these—I think you will soon live
altogether in Summer Land—I mean, of course, until——â€
Here Sweet-Content stopped, and looked at Buttercup with a
curious, peaceful, and yet longing expression in her eyes.
“Tt’s very queer,’ she said, “that a girl who is called Sweet-
Content should want anything further, but if there is a thing that
can make me sad in Summer Land, it is when my playmates go
away.â€
“But why should they go?†asked Buttercup. ‘ When they
are allowed to leave that horrid, horrid Winter Land, I should
think they would never want to go out of a country like this.â€
“Tt’s very odd,†continued Sweet-Content; “but they do.
When the Prince comes they often wish to leave with him. He
comes once a year, and some of the children go back with him to
his own country—the one beyond the Blue Mountains, you know.
I mustn’t tell you anything more about it to-day, however. Have
you eaten up all your peaches? then perhaps you will come and
play with me for a little.â€
“Are you the only child im this country?†asked Buttercup.
Sweet-Content laughed merrily.
“JT the only child?†she exclaimed. ‘‘There are hundreds and
thousands of other happy children here, and grown-up people too:
yes, and even old people; but I don’t think you'll see anyone
except me to-day, little boy.â€
“Well, I think you are a very nice little girl. You remind
me a tiny bit of my sister Primrose (she has gone beyond the
Blue Mountains), and you also have a very little look of my
SUMMER LAND. 175
mother (she lives in the Country beyond the Mountains too), and
yet, at the same time, you are different from either my mother
or Primrose. I shall like very much to play with you; and I
hope you will come to meet me to-morrow when I return from
that dreadful Winter Land.â€
Sweet-Content took her little companion’s hand, and they
went out into a meadow where a great many flowers grew, and
where the air was both warm and sweet.
At last the happy hour was over, and Sweet-Content took
Buttercup’s hand, and led him down to the edge of the stream.
“Tl look out for you to-morrow,†she said. ‘‘ Kiss me now,
and go. You won't find the time m Winter Land very long or
very terrible when you think of Summer Land and of me.â€
“TI was so tired,†said Buttercup, “and you have rested me.â€
He set his feet upon the bridge as he spoke and ran swiftly across
it. He felt warm and cheered; he felt also brave and determined to
do what was right; but he had not calculated on the darkness of the
other side, the severe cold, or the harsh high wind which blew against
his cheeks and brought the water into his eyes. He hoped that Mrs.
Patience would be waiting for him. She was not there, however, and
he had to climb up the steep path to Mrs. Discipline’s cottage
alone.
He pushed open the door, and went in.
“Here I am!†he exclaimed. “Oh! how cold—how very cold
ab) 1s7l te
“Come, no grumbling !’’ said Mrs. Discipline, in a sharp voice.
“ Be thankful for the kind way in which you are treated, and turn to
and clean the boots and shoes, and then come and help me to scrub
the pots.â€
Mrs. Discipline’s voice was so sharp and cross that Buttercup felt
inclined to answer her back in the same tone; but he suddenly
remembered the look in Sweet-Content’s eyes, and he seemed to feel
again her gentle kiss on his cheek. Somehow or other, without his
knowing it, a tiny bit of her spirit had got down into his heart, and
he was able to reply good-temperedly to the cross old woman, who
176 BEYOND THH BLUE MOUNTAINS.
bustled him about, and certainly worked him that evening harder than
he had ever been worked before.
He longed to tell the poor little boy in the cupboard about Summer
Land; but when he went into the scullery the cupboard was empty.
He wondered if the boy had been sent on a visit to Mr. Penalty, and
if he too would be wise enough to kiss the rod.
The next day, about the same hour, he was again sent down to
the dark narrow stream, and given a certain part of the day to spend
in Summer Land.
This state of things went on for a fortnight. Then there came a
day when Mrs. Patience returned once more to the cottage. She spoke
to Mrs. Discipline in a whisper, and Mrs. Discipline nodded at her
and whispered back, and Mrs. Patience said aloud—
“Ttis the King’s wish that he should go over to-morrow, so we
had better get his clothes ready.â€
Buttercup felt his heart beat as he heard these words, for each day
that he spent with Sweet-Content in Summer Land made him long
more and more intensely to live there always.
The next day broke with a wintry gleam in the sky, and a faint
little attempt at sunlight.
“You need not polish the boots and shoes to-day,†said Mrs.
Discipline ; “your task is over. You may kiss me, however, if you
like, for you are never likely to see me again.â€
“Am I to go to Summer Land this morning?†asked Butter-
cup.
“Yes, you are to go immediately. Mrs. Patience will take you
down to the stream.â€
‘But she needn't,†said Buttercup; “I know my way quite well
now.
“You don’t know the way to-day, little boy,†said Mrs. Patience.
“You are to cross the river in a different fashion to-day. Say good-
bye to Mrs. Discipline, and let us be off.â€
Buttercup could not help dancing for joy.
“Good-bye! good-bye!†he exclaimed. “ Will the boy in the
cupboard come too ?†:
11-93
SUMMER LAND. 177
“Some day, perhaps,†replied Mrs. Discipline, with a look of
displeasure, mixed with pain, crossing her face: “that is, if he does
not get too small first. here go, little Buttercup; you have
nothing more to do with me. Kiss me as you once kissed my father,
and go.â€
Buttercup raised his chubby lips to Mrs. Discipline’s rough cheek.
He did not enjoy the kiss, for he could not bring himself to love this
stern old woman; but after he had given it he felt somehow as if he
had taken a strong tonic, which put great life and vigour into him;
then he followed Mrs. Patience out of the cottage, and down the bank
to the river.
“T don’t see the bridge,†he exclaimed suddenly.
“No, my dear little boy,†replied Mrs. Patience ; “for those who
eross this river for the last time there is no bridge—you must go
through the flood on foot. You will be perfectly safe, and as you are
never coming back a little extra wetting can’t hurt you. Leave the
dirty clothes you wore in Winter Land with me, and put on this
long white shirt. Fear nothing, Buttercup; you have had a rather
bad time of it—you have been weak, naughty, and disobedient-—you
have seen Mr. Penalty, and you have kissed his rod—you have lived
with Mrs. Discipline and you have obeyed her stern commands—you
have had something to do with me, and you have learnt the lesson I
wished to teach you. Now you are to go into Summer Land by the
King’s orders, and you are never coming back. Good-bye, Buttercup.
How happy your mother will be to see you again! How glad your
brave and noble sister will feel when she kisses your dear little face!
Good-bye, my child, good-bye!â€
“But I’m afraid,’ said Buttercup. “I don’t like to plunge
into that deep water—I would much rather cross on the bridge.â€
“Tf you use the bridge you must come back again. If you
go through the flood on foot you need never return. Have courage,
my child—don’t fear the last trial to which you are to be put.
You have nothing to dread—the water won’t feel cold or deep
when once you are in it.â€
So Buttercup went down to the edge of the deep stream, and,
L
178 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
with some sinking of heart, and even one or two frightened little
cries, let himself be borne along on its bosom.
He had never learnt to swim, and he expected to sink each
moment; but what Mrs. Patience had said was quite true: the
water was neither so cold nor so deep as it looked. There was a
great buoyancy about it, and Buttercup felt himself borne on its
waves quite safely and easily to the shores of Summer Land.
He had scarcely landed before Sweet-Content rushed to him and
covered him with kisses, and threw a great garland of flowers over
him, and then he was met by numbers and numbers of other
children, who shouted and sang.
These were the words with which they welcomed Buttercup to
Summer Land:
“In Summer Land, in Summer Land,
How sweet the children’s song!
There is no sad or tired heart
In all our merry throng.
The golden sunbeams flood the earth,
The winds are full of glee,
The flowers laugh with fairy mirth,
The leaves dance on the tree ;
No shadows dim the blue above,
But gladness fills the air,
And all is perfect peace and love
In Summer Land so fair !
“In Summer Land, in Summer Land,
Who would not love to dwell?
For here there are a thousand joys
That tongue could never tell.
By ferny dells and woodland bowers,
Where silver fountains play,
Through fields for ever bright with flowers
The happy children stray.
Safe-sheltered from the wintry blast,
And every cloud and care,
Our days like golden dreams go past
In Summer Land so fair!â€
SUMMER LAND. 179
Long before the words of the song were finished Buttercup
found himself dancing with the others, and joining in the music,
and shouting as merrily as anyone else. Winter Land, with its
coldness and darkness and sadness, seemed miles and miles away
from him—it seemed to him already as if he had always lived
in Summer Land, and always known the beautiful children who
surrounded him now.
“Let us bring him into the bower and tell him about the
Prince,†said a beautiful little girl, who went by the name of Rose-
Bloom. “He must join us, you know, in, sending a request to the
Prince. Bring him into the Forget-me-not Bower, Sweet-Content,
and let us tell him what we must do, and how very important it is.â€
“Come with me, Buttercup,†said Sweet-Content. She took his
hand, and led him into a beautiful bower covered with blue forget-
me-nots ; and the other children followed. There were about thirty
children’ in all; but Buttercup, looking out, could see hundreds and
hundreds of others chasing each other through the meadows ; he
could hear their merry laughter and the gay tones of their young voices.
“We are what is called a ‘deputation, †said Rose-Bloom,
beginning to speak, and standing up, so that all her companions
should see her better. ‘‘ There are thousands of children in Summer
Land, and they can’t all come into Forget-me-not Bower; but we
are chosen from among them to do what is necessary, and as you
are a new-comer, Buttercup, you are allowed to joi us. This is
a most important meeting. Shall I tell you what it is about?â€
‘“ Please,†said Buttercup.
“ Sit near me, darling Buttercup, and hold my hand,†said Sweet-
Content. “Oh! I do hope that you are one of the children who will
stay a very long time in Summer Land.â€
“ Hush!†said Rose-Bloom. ‘‘ We must always leave that to the
Prince, you know, and there is a better country even than this.â€
“You mean the country beyond the Blue Mountains,†said
Buttercup. “My father and mother live there, and my _ brother
Clover and my sister Cowslip have gone there; and my dear darling
sister Primrose has reached that country before now too, I expect.â€
2
Ls
180 BHYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Happy as Buttercup felt, his eyes filled with tears when he
mentioned Primrose’s name.
“And you would like to go too?†said Rose-Bloom, looking at
him affectionately.
“Yes; but I am happy hereâ€; and he took Sweet-Content’s
hand in his own as he spoke.
“Go on, Rose-Bloom, darling, and tell us all about the Prince,â€
said a pretty little boy called Sweetbriar.
Rose-Bloom began to speak at once. She had a clear high voice,
and Buttercup could understand every word she said.
“You must know, all of you,†she began, “that once a year the
Prince—the beautiful noble Prince from the country beyond the Blue
Mountains—comes to visit us; he only stays for one day, but that
day is the crowning day of the whole year. The Prince is to visit
Summer Land very soon now; he always allows us to send him word
beforehand what present we should like him to bring tous. Last time
he brought the flowers. You must know, Buttercup, that before last
year there were no flowers in Summer Land; it was a_ beautiful
country, with tall and noble trees and exquisite grass and ferns, and
many choice kinds of mosses. There were streams running between
the meadows, and there was everything to make our country the most
perfect in the world, but there was not a single flower.
“Some of the children who had come over from Winter Land had
seen flowers even growing there, and they missed them in Summer
Land, and so when the Prince was coming we sent him a message to
beg of him to bring us the flowers. He brought them a year ago.
‘They sprang up in one night, and covered the face of the earth. This
bower in which you are sitting was nothing but a rustic bower made
of wood, but on the morning of the Prince’s arrival it was covered
with forget-me-nots, and he was standing himself by the door to bid
us welcome. Oh, I shall never forget that day, that moment; never,
never !â€â€
“And the year before—can you remember the year before, Rose-
Bloom ?†asked Sweetbriar. ‘Do you remember the gift the Prince
brought us the year before ? â€
SUMMER LAND. 181
“Yes,†said Rose-Bloom. “I had not been here very long then.
but I remember that time too he brought the butterflies, and the bees,
and the dragon-flies.â€
‘What shall we ask for this year?†inquired Sweetbriar. ‘“ We
have nearly everything—nearly everything that heart can wish.â€
‘We have quite everything,†said Sweet-Content. “I don’t long
for a thing on the face of the earth, except that my playmates should
not go away.â€
“ You are selfish when you speak like that, Sweet-Content,†said
Rose-Bloom. “I know one delightful gift we have not got—one
thing that would make Summer Land quite, quite perfect. There is
not a bird here. Let us ask the Prince to bring the birds this time:
the doves, the thrushes, the robins, the larks. Let us hear them
singing in the trees, let us watch them in the spring-time building
their nests. Oh, think what it will be to waken on the summer
mornings and hear the birds singing!â€
The others clapped their hands and cheered when Rose-Bloom
spoke about the birds.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE WHITE DOVE WITH THE GOLD RING.
CAN tell you everything now,†said
Sweet-Content to Buttercup. ‘ Come
with me, and let us walk.â€
She took his hand as she spoke
and led him down a shady path,
where lilies of the valley, blue for-
get-me-nots, cherry-pie, verbena and
other beautiful and sweet-smelling
flowers were growing. Buttercup
stopped to admire everything.
‘We used to have these flowers
at home,†he said many times. “ Oh,
is that the cherry-pie? mother was
so fond of it; and is that great tall
shrub really flowering myrtle? The first time I ever saw that I
was sitting on my father’s shoulder—he put a piece in my hand:
I remember it so well. And are those really violets? How is it,
Sweet-Content, that all the flowers seem to grow together here—
the spring flowers and the summer flowers? How is it that they are
all out at the same time?â€
“ Because there is no winter in Summer Land,†said Sweet-Content.
“Oh, it is a beautiful, beautiful country! and I only wish that my
playmates would not go away.â€
“But do they go away?†asked Buttercup, standing still and
looking earnestly at the little girl. ‘“ Aren’t they quite, quite happy
here? . J am sure I shall be.â€
THE WHITH DOVE WITH THE GOLD RING. 183
‘No, you won’t, Buttercup—I know that fact already by the look
on your face: you are not quite, quite happy even now. You are not
like me—you want something more—something better even than this.â€
“Well, of course I want my father and mother, and Primrose,
and Clover, and Cowslip. They are my very own people, so of course
I want them; but if they were to come here I should be perfectly,
perfectly happy.â€
“No, you wouldn't, Buttercup ; ; you wouldn’t be quite happy
even then, for when once you had seen the Prince you would have no
rest in your heart until you went to live with him altogether. There
are some children like that, and I am greatly, greatly afraid that you
are one of them. It is very sad for me, for I never had a playmate I
loved so well.â€
The tears sprang to Sweet-Content’s blue eyes as she spoke.
Buttercup put his arm round her neck and kissed her.
“Don’t cry, darling,†he said. “ Even if I do want to go, I can’t
go. I have got to live here, whether I like it or not; and I can
assure you that I do like it awfully, and I am going to be just as
happy as the day is long.â€
“You will be until the Prince comes,†replied Sweet-Content. ‘“ But
we won’t talk of sad things to-day—it is very wrong of me, for you
have come over the river, and I am so awfully happy to have you with
me. Do you know that you andI are to live in the same house ?
Such a kind lady takes care of our house. She is called Mrs. Myrtle,
after that darling tree you have just been admiring, and she’s ever so
dear and kind. I told her how fond I was of you, Buttercup, and she
said you should have a little bower to sleep in close to mine. We are
scarcely ever in the house, except just when we are in bed, for the
weather is always fine in Summer Land, and the days are always long.
We have all our meals out of doors, but at night we are tired from
play and from happiness, and we are glad to creep into our white beds
and go to sleep. Then Mrs. Myrtle comes herself and kisses us, and
tucks us up. Oh! she is so nice—she is like mother.â€
“Tell me more about the Prince,†said Buttercup. ‘“ What day is
he really coming ? and where does he come from?â€
184 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
“ Don’t you know where he comes from? He is the son of the
King of the Country beyond the Blue Mountains. I don’t exactly
know what day he will come, but I know it will be very soon. Itisa
very delightful and avery beautiful day when he comes. All our hearts
go out to him, and the hearts of some go out to him so completely
that he takes them away with him. Lvery year he takes my nicest
playmates away. Oh, Buttercup! it is the only sorrow which has to
be borne in Summer Land.â€
“You must not think of it, Sweet-Content,†said Buttercup. ‘‘ Tell
me everything you like about the Prince, but don’t tell me the part that
makes you sad. How lovely it will be to have the birds in Summer
Land! Iam glad Rose-Bloom thought of asking for the birds.â€
“Yes, it will be lovely,†said Sweet-Content. “I used to have a
bullfinch at home. I was so fond of him. Oh, he was a darling!
Do you know, Buttercup, that the Prince not only brings the things
the children wish, but he brings one special gift to each child in
Summer Land when he comes? He gave me white clematis last year.
I had a little bower of my own, and when I went to it I found it
covered with white clematis, and that dear flower has bloomed there
ever since. Rose-Bloom had a rose-tree in a pot. When she opened
her eyes in the morning it was standing by the foot of her bed. The
Prince does that every year; he brings a gift to Summer Land
generally, and he brings a special gift also to each child.â€
“ He will bring us a bird each this time,†said Buttercup. ‘‘ How
jolly that will be! I am so fond of the robins—I wonder what bird he
will bring to me?â€
“ Last year,†said Sweet-Content, “he brought white roses to some
of the children. Hach child who got a white rose went with him when
he went. Oh, Buttercup! don’t let us talk of it; let us run and play
together. Let us forget the only sorrow which can visit Summer
Land.â€
Sweet-Content took her little companion’s hand as she spoke, and
they ran out into a meadow where other children were playing.
They were all kind and affectionate to Buttereup—they let him.
share their toys and join in their games, and no one quarrelled and no
D.
UMMER LAN
s
ID
THE WHITE DOVE WITH THE GOLD RING. 187
one spoke roughly. The name of the Prince was often mentioned.
Some of the children looked wistful when they spoke of him; but
others were only careless and happy, and shouted more loudly and
laughed more noisily when they talked of the day when he would come
ol bring the birds with him.
Beer had never felt such happiness before in all his life, but
in spite of himself, as this day wore on and as other days followed, he
could not help feeling wistful too when the Prince was spoken of.
The Prince always paid his yearly visit at this time of year, but no
one exactly knew the hour or day of his arrival. All the children,
however, and the grown people, and even the old people, were
making preparations for him. There was an old lady named Mrs.
Lavender, in Summer Land who took a great fancy to Buttercup, and
often kissed him, and told him that he reminded her of a little boy
of her own who had gone beyond the Blue Mountains many years
before.
“T greatly hope that the Prince will want me to go back with him
this year,†she said to the little boy. “Not that. I complain, my
darling. I am intensely happy here, but still my happiness is not
quite perfect, for I want to be with my heart’s treasure, my own little
boy, whom you remind me of, again.â€
“And I want to be with mother and Primrose,†said Buttercup.
“But hush! please, Mrs. Lavender—I don’t wish Sweet-Content to
hear. She is such a dear little gu, and it does make her sad when her
playmates go.’
“She is a blessed child,†said Mrs. Lavender; “but her turn will
come some day.â€
“Come and play, Buttercup, come and play,†shouted numbers of
merry voices. ‘The little boy kissed Mrs. Lavender and ran off.
Mrs. Myrtle used to tuck Buttercup up every night in his little
white bed. She would kiss him affectionately, and say, ‘‘ Have golden
dreams, my child.â€
One summer’s night the moon looked in at his casement window,
and Buttercup, closing his happy eyes, had very golden dreams indeed.
When he awoke early on a brilliant summer’s morning he was aitracted
3?
188 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
by a sweet sound, which caused him to sit up in bed and look
inquiringly round him. The casement window was a very little
open—the sun was shining over everything outside, and a white dove
with a gold ring round its neck was perched on the foot of Buttercup’s
bed, and was cooing softly, and looking at him with its gentle
brown eyes. | :
“The Prince has come! the Prince has come!†exclaimed the
child. He started up with a cry of rapture, and opened his arms to
the dove ; it flew straight into them, and rubbed its soft head against
the little boy’s cheek.
“T must put on my clothes and go downstairs at once,†he
exclaimed. “Oh, my darling white dove, my beauty! how glad, how
very glad I am to see you!â€
The dove flew once more to perch itself on the foot of Buttercup’s
bed; and he hurriedly put on the simple white dress which he, like
all the other children in Summer Land, wore.
The dove cooed all the time he was dressing, and when he went
downstairs it flew after him, and perched on his shoulder.
The flowers in the gardens were blooming this morning as though
they had never bloomed before. There was a freshness about them,
a sort of dewy look, an absence of all withered and faded flowers,
which Buttercup, notwithstanding his present great joy and excite-
ment, could not help noticmg. The summer air was not only filled
with the scent of the flowers, but it was also filled with the
sweet songs of many birds; they perched on the branches of the
trees, and sent forth whole volumes of melody out of their full
throats.
When the dove on Buttercup’s shoulder heard the other birds
singing, he cooed more softly and sweetly than ever, and rubbed his
head once more against the little boy’s cheek.
Presently other children came out of the many houses, and joined
Buttercup where he stood. ach child was now the happy possessor
of a tame bird. Some had robins, some thrushes, some nightingales,
some swallows, but Buttercup noticed that now and then a child
appeared who walked slowly, as though under a kind of solemn weight
THE WHITH DOVE WITH THE GOLD RING. 189
of happiness, whose eyes looked wistful and yet glad, and on whose
shoulder a white dove sat, who cooed and cooed.
He was just going to mention this to one of his companions, when
Sweet-Content, against whose pretty cheek a little robin red-breast
nestled, came running out, singing as she came.
“Oh, Sweet-Content!†exclaimed Buttercup, “the Prince—the
Prince has really come; he has brought the birds. Sweet-Content,
darling, why do you look at me like that? Mave I made you un-
happy? aren’t you glad—as glad as lam? What is the matter with
you ?>—why have you tears in your eyes?â€
“ Because my playmates go away,†said Sweet-Content. “ Because
the playmate I love best in all the world is going away.â€
“What do you mean? What can you possibly mean?â€
“The Prince has brought you a white dove with a gold ring round
its neck. That is a sign that you are to go with him to the country
beyond the Blue Mountains. He has sent a white dove to other
children also, and they will all go away with him when he goes. Last
year he sent white roses to the children who were to go with him—
this year he has sent white doves.â€
“Coo, coo!†sighed the dove on Buttercup’s shoulder, in the
softest of whispers.
“The Prince is coming!†shouted some voices in the distance.
“Let us all go to meet the Prince.†Buttercup caught hold of Sweet-
Content’s hand, and drew it inside his arm.»
‘“Why don’t you come too?†he exclaimed. “Why don’t you
come to the country beyond the Blue Mountains? This home is
lovely, but that country is better. Why don’t you come?â€
“Some day I shall come,†replied Sweet-Content, “but I have a
great deal to do in Summer Land first. Kiss me once, Buttercup :
kiss me once before you go to meet the Prince.â€
Sweet-Content threw her arms round her little companion’s neck,
and then, side by side, they went down the walk in the train of many
other children who were going to meet the Prince.
The Prince was like no one else. It would be difficult to describe
him, for no one has ever lived in this world who exactly resembled
190 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
him. Perhaps the best way to get a sort of distant idea of what he
really was would be to think of all the brave knights who have fought
and conquered since the world was made, to think also of all the noble
deeds which have ever been done, and of all the kind words which
have ever been spoken, and then to try and imagine that all these
wonderful and noble things are put together in one person. If any
child can imagine this, he may get some faint idea of what the Prince
was like. He may also understand why the children to whom the
white doves were sent felt such a longing and such a drawing to the
Prince, that the most tempting sight and the most tempting gift in
all Summer Land could not keep them from him. They ran to meet
him as surely as a needle flies to the magnet; even Buttercup forgot
Sweet-Content when he saw him.
The Prince spent a whole day in Summer Land, but the next
morning he went away, and the children to whom the white doves
were sent went with him.
Buttercup wondered if there would be any more troubles before he
reached the country beyond the Blue Mountains, but he soon perceived
that where the Prince went there was no fear and no sorrow. The
Prince and his little party travelled very quickly, and on the evening
of the day on which they had left Summer Land they arrived at the
gates which led into the country beyond the Mountains.
You would like to know what went on inside that lovely
country—I cannot tell you much, but I will try to give you some
idea.
The children’s father and mother had been very happy in the
King’s country, but they knew well that perfect bliss could not be
theirs until the children came home. ‘There were four children, and
they earnestly hoped that they would soon join them. Clover and
Cowslip arrived one summer's day, then, after a long interval, little
Primrose, worn and spent from the many dangers and difficulties
she had undergone, also entered the happy country; but where was
Buttercup? Primrose told her mother that Buttercup could not come
to the happy country for some little time longer.
“T can’t do without him,†replied the mother. ‘ Home is not
THE WHITE DOVE WITH THE GOLD RING. 191
home to me until I have him with me. I will go to the King myself,
and talk to him about little Buttercup.â€
So the mother went, and the King told her that she might leave
the beautiful country where her home now was, and go into Winter
Land, to try if she could not help her child.
“You may only stay in Winter Land for a day or two,†said the
King, “and you must never really show yourself to your boy, but
doubtless you will find ways of aiding him.â€
Tt was little wonder, therefore, that when Buttercup heard that
sweet voice in the air which helped him so much when he was staying
with Mrs. Discipline, he should think of his mother, for she was
really there.
This mother knew, therefore, that Buttercup would soon come to
the golden country, and she, and her husband, and the other three
children were all waiting to welcome him when the Prince brought
him inside the gates.
It would be impossible for me to tell of the joy which filled the
little boy’s heart when he kissed his mother again—when he knew
that the time of danger and difficulty was over.
«Now you must come and see our home,†said Primrose. «We
have a house of our own here, and—and how am I to tell you all that
we have really got? Will you try, Cowslip ?â€â€™
« We have everything that we used to long for when we lived in the
cottage which faced the Blue Mountains,†began Cowslip.
« And,†continued Primrose, “ when a wish comes into our hearts
it is at once granted, for no one thinks of naughty wishes in this
country.â€
« And the flowers don’t wither,†said Buttercup’s mother, “ and
no one grows old, and there is no pain and no sorrow; but the
crowning thing of all is this: we see the King.â€
« JT will bring you to him to-morrow, Buttercup,†said his father ;
“and then you will know what it is to be perfectly satisfied. Take
my hand now, and let us go home.â€
So the four children and their father and mother went home.
THE END.
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