HEHE was one a, great big chestnut tree growing in field where a lot of hens and chiekeas lived. One, a little yellow chicken called ghicky-Wicky was sta i n -. under the tree, and a prickly green chestnut fell plop on to , .. back. "OW' thought Cnicky-Wick, "the sky is falling 1 k I run and telleveryone !" go she ran, and she ran, until she met a pretty speemed csalled Kenny-Penny. „ . ; "Henry-Penny," cried G'hAcky-Wicky, all out of br" r, .~x feel su e c ; i$ 'down t A piece of it }, . ' my ' ~u tt e must' let the King know about this at once,", returniW $may-P . 8o she Chiekp:Wieky ran, and ran, until theymet Wucky: ' ``Il y-Wueky;" cried Henry Penny, '`tbe Ay is tumbling ' . , 9 L-1 1 I %,aO L41 V V l 1 Q.1"a down-a piece of it fell on Chicky-Wieky's back just now-- d we're going to tell the King." "I'm coming too," said Ducky-Wuc. And the three birds ran, and ran, till they met GOOSey-Woose . "Goosey-Woosey," cried Heaaor- 'e iny, ` t e sk is tu b g down-a piece of it fell on Chicky-Wicky'a ,*--end we're all on our way to tell the King about it." "I'm coming too,'' said Gfoosey-Woosey. And the four birds ran, and rap, until they met Turkey- Wurkey. "Turkey-Wurkoy," cried Henny-Penny, "haven't you heard the news t The its twnbllzg down-a great big piece of it tell on Chicky-Wieky's back-and we are on our way to let the King know about iL' `I 'm coming too," said Turkey-Turkey. And. the Ave birds ran, and ran, : till they met Foxy-W. oxy. "Foxy-Waxy, s', cried Henny-Penny, "the sky is tumbling down-a great big piece fell on Chicky-Wicky just now-and we are all on our way to tell the King about it l" "Dear me," said Foxy-Woxy, i`I am sure his Majesty will be much interested. Do you know where he lives g" «dk yes," said Henny-Penny, "he lives in a silver castle with, a roof of `gold I" `R0h, no," returned Foxy-Woay, "not at all you are quite Wm, Henny-Penny. He lives in a beautiful palace under- .S moad. x often go to see him there. So I know the way well." 6d Qi,. do ahow *s the wayl'' cried the five birds. r, :. plow"," said Foxy-Woxy, smiling under his red °~c ers. "It's quite near here. " Allyou have to `do is to keep e behind rne, and, follow where: IV lead." "go the five birds and Foxy Woxy;,ran, and ran, till they came to Voxy-Woay'e own deep hole in the side of the hill. #'TW Is the way," said Foxy- Woxy; and Chicky-Wieky, and y-Penny, and Dueky=Wueky, and Gfoosey-Woosey, and 10 Turkey-Wurkey all kept close behind him, and followed where he led, as he had told them to. And Foxy-Woxy led them into his own deep hole in the side of the hill, and I am sorry to say that not one of them ever came out again. bfCE on a time there were three,,goats named Ort ;that were going to the mountain pasture to fatten. On the . , road -there was .a bridge across a watsrfa}l over which thej' had. to pass, and under which liyed a great ugly ogre with eyes as large, as tin plate, ltd a nose, as long as a broometi& i'he youngest goat came first on the bridge: "Trip trap, trop, trap," said the brie as he went over. "Who trips on my bridge i" cried the ogre. "Oh l it is only the little goat gruff. I am going ,-to the mountain pasture to get fat;" $m'd the goat in a soft voice. "I 'am coming to cater you," said the ogre. "Oh i no, pray don't e me, for I am so little; but if you will wait, the second goat Gruff is coming in a minute, and he U much bigger:A' ddBe it so," said the ogre. Soon the second goat came passing over the bridge. "TRIP TRAP, TRIP TRAP, TRIP. TRAP," said the bridge. « o,'-axi a 4' r- Y bMdge 1" cried the ogre. "Uh the s t+( ro Who is going to the mount4itt pasture to feet }' d tho goat WA 4e er voice. `r am coming to ,hatch you, l l' isid the' ogre. top b ! no, pray n take me. . Wait a moment; the big goat Cry 'is only just behind me:'he: is muct4 much bigger thank `I r. ~r .it scf," answered -tote ogre. ,. at fiat moment came the big goat Gruff upon the bridge. r RI ': TRAP,` ,TRIP TRAP; TRIP TRAP," said the he Haas so Vy that the bridge creaked and cracked un- ",P~"iw goes tramping on my bridge I" roared the ogre. ~It #a,, ; h gr*'goat Gruff V) aid the goat, who had, a very. cominto catch gout," cried the Ogre, au, jumped upon e lbar e. "Tou're welcome," said the big goat, and without more ado he rushed upon the, ogre, brake 'his bones, and with his horn thrust him over iirito the waterfall: Ile-then trotted on to the past,ure as though nothing had happened. There the three b 11y goats grew so fat, so fat, that they wire '. hatlg able to walk home from the pasture, and snip, map, now my story's out. A LITTLE old lady Once took a flat pan And made for her husband "A Gingerbread Man. The strange little man was made in this wise, He had almonds for fingers, and currants for eyes; He was dress'd in the brownest of brown little suits, With little brown trousers and tiny brown boots. As the man to her husband the old lady bore, He suddenly jumped from the pan to the floor, And scampered as fast as his little brown feet Would carry him into the quaint little street. The old lady's husband, Who wanted a bite, Ran out to prevent Mr. Gingerbread's flight: The good wife came after, But quicker than she Was a brisk little dog Who was out for a spree. ' The little brown man cared never a pin; He ran past the dog, crying out with a grin (While doggie barked loudly and on they all ran): "You cannot catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man t" The little old lady ran well in the hunt; . And so did her husband, with doggie in front; But the Gingerbread Man laughed aloud in his ,glee: "Though you all may be clever, you cannot catch me !'J A big tabby cat With a very fierce face Saw Gingerbread coming And took up the chase, to sturdy policeman, Slow pacing his beat, i _Fell in with the others And raced down the street. The little brown man ran quicker and quicker-, The crowd at his heels grew thicker and thicker; ' All shouted as loud as they could while they ran "6top thief t He's a runaway. Gingerbread Maul" They chased him.for many and many a mile, But Gingerbread Man ran in wonderful style. Sighed the p'iiceman, "I wonder if ever we can Catch up with this fleet-footed' Gingerbread Man." A dapper young soldier Neat took up this chase, Though nothing he knew Of the facts of the case. Then a horse, with a neigh, Bounded into the throng, And with clattering hoofs Galloped madly; along. Uphill and downhill the race did not pause, For all were determined to stick to the cause; With ease did the Gingerbread Man keep ahead, But many behind him were veil near dead. ' They dashed into valleys; they raced over hills; They splashed into cool little silvery rills; ' They climbed, over gates, and they leapt over stiles; They ran and they shouted for hundreds of miles. A gentle old cow, By the noise frantic sent, Rushed into the crowd, Raising dust as she went. And a cunning. old crow, Left his favourite tree To follow the chase With the greatest of glee. On through the country; and on through the towns.; On through the forests, and over the downs; .W And when he looked back at the hurrying crowd The little brown man felt exceedingly proud The dog and the eat, the horse and the ;sow, The crow and the soldier, were: all panting now; The little old lady was weary indeed,, ' Although she kept on at a marvellotV speed. A sleepy-eyed owl Woke and stared -at the sight, Then spreadlang his wings Joined Jim Crow in the flight. Some threshers at work. In a barnyard with flails Took quick to their heels And leapt over the rails. But though the crowd grew, and increased as time went, The little brown man seemed oktremely content, And laughed as he saw how tl y all ran and ran And yet couldn't catch him.-the Gingerbread Man.. He capered in frolic, he shoutcd with glee For all you're so many, peu cannot catch me E Although you are running as fast as you can, I'm faster, for I am the Gingerbread Mangy:' Some mowers were mowing A meadow hard by, But couldn't resist The hue and the cry. What shrieking and shouting arose as they sped In chase of the man made of sweet gingerbread l And when he looked back at the hurrying crowd The little brown man felt exceedingly proud The dog and the cat, the horse and the ;sow, The crow and the soldier, were: all panting now; The little old lady was weary indeed,, ' Although she kept on at a marvellotV speed. A sleepy-eyed owl Woke and stared -at the sight, Then spreadlang his wings Joined Jim Crow` in the flight. Some threshers at work. In a barnyard with flails Took quick to their heels . And leapt over the rails. But though the crowd grew, and increased as time went, The little brown man seemed oktremely content, And laughed as he saw how tl y all ran and ran And yet couldn't catch him. the Gingerbread Man.. He capered in frolic, he shouted with glee For all you're so many, pou cannot catch me E Although you are running as fast as you can, I'm faster, for I am the Gingerbread Mangy:' Some mowers were mowing A meadow hard by, But couldn't resist The hue and the cry. What shrieking and shouting arose as they sped In chase of the man made of sweet gingerbread l Rome fell on their faces, hard pushed from behind, But picked themselves up, and not one seemed to mind The threshers, the mowers, the horse, and the crow Were all out of breath, but continued to go, -~ Slit the dog and the cat, although hot, did the best, :' 1M ran, with their tongues out, in front of the rest. In fact, with such zeal and such vigour they, ran Jtey might have caught up with the Gingerbread Man; 'IPh: all of a sudden, he turned to the right, rambled over a wall, and was lost to their sight. there was a river __ rushes rocks, bish on t bank sat gunning old fox. WOh, where are you going, my Gingerbread Man 1'-' , Ated the fog. "I will help you along, if I can. Although I'm a fox I can swim, like a fish, And will take you across on my back if you wish." little brown man thanked the fog with a bow, And said : "If you're ready I'll go with you now." . No jumped on his muzzle in less than a trice . . , ant fosesPpre cunning and ginger is nice, Gingerbread vanished . less than a twink. OW where did he go to T . . . _leave you to think ! ar re ,stood stood a pretty ittle~° , . ? st ~cbou .t .s4o,`4 a doll's house, thNgh the people gF, kin't t wed not "dolls. They were a little red hen, ~~ ah _ , _~'e n r©g, (d a little bZaek c_ at. The frog was very,. was very ~a ~ but the little red hen wa# buusy ., , doeepi t and and cooking- and sewing '%4j ag s. ` .' eo g- little recT hen said, "Who w r :for Ow fe q, the fin. said he eat. pose;I -must," said the-hen. `weft the; h c~gatherpd, the sticks, she sail "Won't I&IY die 110. -1:'. r 4 ~ W z it; + t. . _ 41 d the 8re, and lit' ,and it craelled : . .r c A Mw hahse. mothe bion. VIA d. ' 1 ~' a bea~t t~ boo lid i the bid& s e wit, for bra- " y1 ` I_ J -d the ? , wa x .mv t v. `b it ~ ..a tl~ tvere 1oa'f g'irgr . ' o tq h~ a bit 6f R r~+ , : ~ tb ~.I'~. ~~ fl ee red hem . '`' A'!1`$ r ~'' ~ ' '' Cf 12''718Nt DY1t ;' ~r4f.> z Now 10 ker b,;6 it, aPpe ea" %11'1# '" nd Moto Idol, Fwadlwa.PC f6rbi, , if' -Omm dl", #t " the 9 too` 'be lyal b round ADd little red hen was terribly frightened. Then, suddenly she re membered that she had a pair of scissors in her pocket. She took out the scissors, and cut a tiny hole in the bag, and saw that Mr. Fox was drawing near his burrow in the side, of the hill. `I don't like the look of this place at all l" said the little red hen. Then she cut a bigger hole, just big enough for her to squeeze through, and jumped out, and ran and ran and ran until she came to her own dear little ho4se. She crept softly up the path and peeped in at the window. Tlie cat and the frog were sitting on either side of the fire, and they both looked very un- happy I 'I do wish the little red hen would come home 1" croaked the frog. "So do I!'t said the cat. Then the little red hen opened the window and hopped in. "Cluck, cluck, ohm*!" said the little red hen. They were de- lighted to see her. "I will gather the sticks every morning," promiped the frog. "And I will lay the fire," promised the cat. "And I will make the scone," said the little red hen. "And we will all eat said the frog and the cat and the little red hen. 8 you will guess from his name, Drakestail was a little drake. But he was not an ordinary drake,, such as you may see any fine day waddling on the grass or paddling An a pond. He was clever and 'e was rich. So rich was he that the King of the country, happening to be hard up, came and borrowed a hundred crowns f roi little DrakestaiL At first Drakestail felt very important because he had lent money to his sovereign. But when one year went by, and then another, and still the King did not pay him back, he resolved to go on a personal visit to his Majesty, and ask him about it. So he preened his feathers tall he looked very spruce and trim, and set off one morning, siipging as he went Quack, quack, quack, quack, When shall I get my money back i r He had not gono far when he met his friend Mr. Fox. "Good-day, neighbour," said the Fox, "where are you going, '-`I am going to the King, to ask him for the money he owes me.k, "May I come with you?" "Certainly you may. But you will get tired, trotting on all fours. Make yourself very tiny, pop into my beak, go down into my gizzard, and I will carry you." "That's a good idea 1" cried Mr. Fox. And in a twinkling he had vanished down Drakestail's throat. When the little drake, still quacking his little song, had gone about half-a-mile on his way, he met his friend Lady Ladder, leaning against a wall. "Good-day, Drakestail," said Lady Ladder, "where are you off to, so spruce and trim I'-'- "I am going to the King, to ask for the money he owes me." "Do take me with you 1" "By all means. But wooden legs soon grow weary: Make yourself very tiny, pop into my beak, go down into ray gizzard, and I will carry you 1" "That's an excellent ideal" cried Lady Ladder. And a moment later she had joined Mr. Fox in Drakestail's gizzard. The next friend whom Drakestail met was his dear Lady River. "Whither away, little friend I" asked Lady River. "Sweet Lady River, I am going to the King, to ask for the money he owes me:" "Then let me come with you 1" "To be sure I will. But you, who dream and sing as you go, might grow weary. Make yourself very tiny, pop into my beak, go down into my gizzard, and I shall have the honour of carrying you." "What a delightful idea 1" cried Lady River. And gurgle, gurgle, gurgle, down into his gizzard she went. The next friend whom Drakestail met was Captain Wasp-hive drilling his regiment of wasps. %ood morning, gallant Drakestail," said Captain Wasp- ylta. "Whither are you bound i" "To the King's palace, to ask him for the money he owes me." "Upon my word, I should like very much to come with , "Well, why not t But with all those wasps to drag along you would grow weary. Make yourself very small, pop into my beak, go down into my gizzard, and I will carry you:" "Bravo, that is a splendid ideal" cried Captain Wasp-hive. And down he and all his wasps went into Drakestail's magic Si:sard. Quack, quack, quack, quack, When ehall I get my money back? Still singing his little song, Drakestail reached the capital of the kingdom and waddled boldly up the principal street. When he reached the outer gate of the palace he seized the . heavy iron knocker and knocked, tap, tap. The porter peeped out of the lancet window. "Who's there I'Drakestail is here. I wish to have speech with the King." "His Majesty is at dinner." "Tell him that I have come, Mr. Porter. You need not tell him why:" . The porter went to the dining-room of the palace, where the Sing and all his-ten councillors were just sitting down to dinner. 61 Ha, ha !" laughed the King, "Oh, yes, I know why Drakes- tail has coma I Ha, ha 1" S`Is it your Majesty's wish that he should be admittedi" asked the-porter. "By all means, admit him-to his proper place-the poultry- yard l" . So the porter went back to the gate. ' S Pray come in, Drakestail, pray come in-this, way, please 1" Quite delighted, Drakestail made haste to follow the porter. But what was his astonishment and wrath when he suddenly found himself in the poultry-yard, with turkeys and chickens and geese all round him, and the door locked i . Quack, quack,, quack, quack, When shall I get my money back! Nothing daunted, he began to sing his song again. But the turkeys and the chickens and the geese had not heard such a song before, aid they did not like the sound of it. Nor had they seen a drake like Drakestail before; and they did n?t like the look of him. So, after consulting together for a moment, they resolved to fall upon him and peck him to death. Just for a moment Drakestail felt frightened. Then he began to shout, Fox, Fox, come out, come out, Or Drakestail will perish, beyond a doubt f Then out came Mr. Fox,, and before you could count, One, Two, Three, all those cross turkeys and chickens and hens were lying dead on the ground .1 So Drakestail sang again, Quack, quack, quack, quack, When shall I get my money bsekt When the King heard what had happened, he was in a fear- ful rage. "Take this wretched drake," cried he, `and throw him down the well l" Down, down, down went poor Drakestail, in the dark, muddy, mossy well. Then, suddenly, he began to whisper, If you don't help me, Ladder dear, I shall never get out, I fear! h,, w v n Tien out came Lady Ladder, and leaned her two wooden bwds against the side of the deep, steep well, and pit, pat, pit, pot, Drakestail climbed up her back and out into the sunlight spin. And then, of course, he began to sing, Quack, quack, quack, quack, When shall I get my money back? When the King, who was still sitting at table with his ten ` muncillors, heard this song, and knew that Drakestail was Mill hve, he turned red and purple with rage. "Take this wretched drake, ", hey commanded, "and throw him w bto the great big kitchen fire 1" `. But even when his pretty striped wings were scorched by the Mmes Drakestail did not lose heart. He called softly, Silver River, come forth I pray, _ Or this will be Drakestail's dying day 1 -Out came the silver River, gurgle,. gurgle, gurgle,, and put out the great big kitchen fire in a trice, and flowed round the ankles of the royal cooks, and then round their knees, and then up to their chins, and then upstairs to the dining-room where the King was still sitting with his ten councillors. And on the top of the $ood swam Drakestail, singing, Quack, quack, quack, quack, When shall I get my money back? Then the Sing turned blue and green with rage. '`Brine this wretched drake to me,'1 he roared, "and, I twill out his tbroat with my own royal hands i" Two footmen seized hold of Drakestail, and dragged him be- fore the tkrone. The King had drawn his sword, and all the ten councillors had drawn theirs. It was a, very alarming sight, and Drakestail's voice was faint and unsteady as he said, Then out rushed Captain Wasp-hive, with his whole regiment of black-axed-yellow-clad wasps. ."Fig bayonets, my lads, and let 'em have it I" buzzed the Cap- tain,sand they all fell upon the King and the ten councillors. Blinded and maddened by the wasps' bayonets, the King and the ten councillors darted hither and thither, trying to escape. At last, one after another, plop, plop, plop, they jumped out of the window. And after that they were never heard of again I Dakestail was very much astonished when he found himself all alone in the palace. "Quack, quack," said he, "I think I'd better look round me a little, and see if I can find my hundred crowns anywhere:" So he hunted high and low, in all the cupboards and on all the shelves, but though he found many precious and. wonderful things, he did not come across his hundred crowns, because the King had spent them all quite, a long time ago. Presently he felt tired, and as the throne ws the most comfortable-looking seat in sight he climbed up on to it, pit, pat, pit, pat, and there the people found him when they came streaming into the palace to see what had happened. Their leaders began to sing, MWhere is our King I We must have a King I Perhaps Heaven sent us this quaint little thing I Some of the people murmured, and said they had never heard of a drake being crowned king of a country. But others, who knew what a wise little fellow Drakestail was, declared that the cou9try.would be far better off under its new monarch than Imo: der its old one. And it was. 8o they crowned him on the spot, and then Drakestail, 1 ,, ing round the cheering crowd, said graciously, "Let us heve some supper, ladies and gentlemen-for I am so hungry, I" ~, T 'was glorious out in the country., It was summer, and the a cornfields were yellow, and the oats were green; the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother. All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes. Yes, it was really glorious out in the country. In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old = ftrm, surrounded by deep canals, and from the wall down to lbe water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could ',And upright under the loftiest of them. It was just as wild e as in the deepest wood. Here sat a duck upon her_ bar _ nest, she had to hatch her young ones; but she_ was almost tired before the little ones came; and then she so seldom had YiBiir- '` The other ducks liked better to swim in the canals `than run up to sit down under a burdock, and cackle with her. At last one egg-shell after another burst open. "Peeps peep!" cried, .and in all the eggs there were little creatures that stuck t their heads. ap! rap!" they said; and they all owe rapping~out as fast as they could, looking ,all round them under, the green leaves; and the mother let them look as much as they chose, for grei , ~n is good for the eyes.. "How wide the world isi'' said the young ones, for they cer- tainly had much more roam now than when they were in the eggs. "Do you think this is all the world i" asked the mother. '.`That extends far across the other side of the garden, quite into the parson Is,field, butI have never been there yet. I hope you are all together,'' she continued, and stood up. "No, I have not all: , The largest egg still lies there. How long is that to last f I,'= really tired of it." And she sat down again. ": WO, how goes it i" asked an old duck who had come to pay her a visit: "It lasts a long time with that one egg," said the duck who sat there. "It will not burst. Now, only look at the others; are they not the prettiest ducks one could. possibly see 4 They are all like their father: the bad fellow, by the way, never comes to see me." "Let me see the egg which will not burst," said the old visitor. "Believe me, it is a turkey's egg. I .was once cheated in that . way,, and had much anxiety and trouble with the young ones, for they are afraid of the water. I could not get them to ven- ture in. I quacked and clucked, but it was no use. Let ine see the egg. Yes, that's a turkey's egg t Let it lie there, and teach the other children to swim." 3 think 1 will sit on it a little longer," said the duck. "I've sat so long now that I can sit a few days more." "Just you please,". said the old duck; and she went away: .At last the great egg burst. ":Peepl peep!" said t~ little one, and crept forth. It was very large and very ugly. The duck looked at it. "It's a very large duckling,"-said she; "none of the others,, 'ook li ' t : can it' rely . be a I cy chick f Now we shall joon find- .t! It mint go into the water, O*en if I have to thrust it in myself. " The next day the weather was splendidly bright, and the sun ,, Ohone on all the green trees. The mother-duck went down to `' the water with all her little ones. Splash she jumped into the 7 •4 water. "Quack! "ack!"' she said, and one . duckling after an- Other plunge in. The water closed over their heads, but they came up i n an instant, and swam cap tallp; their legs went by themselves, and there they were all in the 'water. The ugly grey duckling swam with them. "y ~ "No, it's not a turkey,'.' said she; "look how well it can use Its legs, and how upright it holds itself. It is my own child 1 On the whole it's quite pretty, -if one looks at it rightly. Quick! k! come with me, and I'll lead you out into the great world,_ present you in the poultry-yard; but keep close to ms, so t mo e may tread on you; and take care of the catal" ` And so they came into the poultry-yard. There was a ,ter= ti tle riot going on in there,: for two families were quarreling about an eel's head, and the cat got it after all. "Bee, that's how it goes in the world 1" said the mother=duck; ;$ad! she whetted her beak, for she, too, wanted the eel's head. , ~~Only fuse your legs,"she said. "See that you can. bustle about, bow your heads before the old duck yonder. She's the A dent of all here;_ she's of Spanish, blood-that's why she's ' fat;, and do you see,- she has a red rag found her leg; that's ethiug partieWarly fine. Shake yourselves--don't turn toes; a well-brought up duck turns its toes quite out, just father and another, so l Now bend your necks and - say rk r ' AnPIP d they did so; but the other ducks round about looked $t and said quite boldly: Look there l Now we're to have these hanging on as if there `,alrore not enough of us already l And fie 1-how that duckling yonder looks;, we won tt d that " .A d o dn+Wk` ew ttp - me+ ately, and bit it in the neck. "tet it alone," said the mother; 'pit does no harm to any- one. `ayes, but it's too large and peculiar, » said the duck who had bit it., and therefore it must be buffeted.'' °'. "hose are pretty children that the mother has there;" said Abe' old duck with the rag round her leg. "They're all pretty, but that one; that was & "failure. I wish she could alter it." "That cannot be done, my lady," replied the mother-duck. "It is not pretty, but it has a really good disposition, and swims 1, as well as any other;,! may even say it swims better. I this it, will. grow up pretty, and become smaller in time; it has lain 'tow long in the egg, and therefore is not properly shaped:" , And then she pinched it in the neck, and smoothed its feathers: "Wreover, it is a drake," she said, "and therefore it is t of much consequence. I think he will be very strong; he makes his wad already." "The other ducklings are graceful enough," said the old' duck. "make yourself at home; and if you find an eel's head, you may bring it me." And now they were at home. But the poor duckling whiff had crept last out of the egg, and looked so ugly, was bitten and pied and jeered,, as much by the ducks as by the chickens. ', "Tt is too big t" they all said. A.nd the turkey-cock, who had been born with spurs, and therefore thought himself an emw peror, blew himself up like a ship in full sail, and bore stra*ht down upon it; them he gobbled, and grew quite red in the foooi The poor duckling did not know where it should `stand or waikl it was quite miserable because it looked ugly and was scoffed OA- by tlxo'whole yard: 00 it went' on the first day; and a . and it became wee and worse. The' poor duckling was h about by every one, even its brothers and sisters were quite angry with it, and said :. a 41If the eat w" only &tt& yo, . you ugly creature I" A.nd . the mother said, if YOU w' only.far away I" And the ducks bit it, and the chickew beat f, wA the girl who: had to feed the ." poultry kicked at it wig her foot. Then it ran and flew ovw the fence, and the little birds in the es new `up. in fear.; " . 1,• "That is be uf I am so ugly !" thought the during; and it `',Abut its-eyed, but;gevv sit farmer; thus 3f tae tanit ink the great moor, where the wild :ducks,, lived. Here it lay "the wliple night ,'W8; and it'';'vras*eary and downcast: ° ., Toward vorWaag the wild ducks new up and looked at their sort of a one axe you!" they ssked and the cl+acklix g tu eq`ery diacect on, and bowed as as it could. ` ~ eiu e rably ugly S" said the wild duck$. si t thaf 'ht very i t,4o us, ~a' long as you'do not marry into Our, f " 1. Tt certainly. slid not tb3rak of marryixagig nd o y ed o obtain leave to lie among the reeds and drink one d ~r.> Thus itaay two whole days; then came thither two wild geese, "ate, p ty speaking; two wild ganders. It was not long since each bgd,a t out of axi egg, and that's why they were so saucy. aatradp,x' said ono of thud: "You're so ugly that ,li ,:yan: w li you go with and become a bird of passage g :moo, another moor, theme are a few sweet lovely wild ;' umarrWAud all ebbs to sa~r'Rap!' You've a m , dour fortane, ugly as you. are t" a.^eeo.u ndeded throw the "air; and the two g d " , own dead in the sw p, and the water became blood-rdd: , !ry it led age and whole flocks of w?i2d "gear man-•the reeds, Aud then there was another report:; w a t ot : The hunters were 1yug in it; ire" were eves sitting up "it the t+of the tr+ , which sI)read far +aver the reeds: The Mac cane rose up like clouds among the dark trees, and was wafted far away across the water; and the hunting dogs cam6--8ptash, splash! into the swamp, and the rushes and the reeds beat down on every side.; That was a fright for the poor ducklings It turned its head, and put it under its wing; but at that moment a frightful great dog stood close,by the duckling. His tongue himg far- out of ` his mouth and his eyes `gleamed horrible and ugly; he thrust out his nose close against the duckling, owed his sharp: teeth, and--splash, splash!-on he went, without seizing it. "Oh, Heaven be thanked t" sighed the duckling, "I am so ugly that even the dog does tot like to- bite me 1" And so it lay quite quiet, while the shots rattled through the reeds and gun after gun was. fired. At last, late in the dap, si- lence was restored; but the poor duckling. did not dare to rise up it waited several hours before it looked round, and then hastened away out of the moor as fast as it could. It ran on over field and meadow; there was such a storm raging that it was difficult to get from one place to another. Toward evening the duckling came to a little miserable ppaa- ant's hut. This but was so tumble-down that it did not know on which side it should fall; and that's why it remained standing. The storm whistled round the duckling in such a way that the poor creature was obliged to sit down, to stand against it and the tempest grew worse and worse. Then the, duckling noticed that one of the hinges of the door had given way, and the door hung so slanting that the duckling could slip through the crack into the room; and it did so. Here lived a woman, with her tomcat and hgr hen. And the tomcat; whom she called Bonnie, could arch his back and pus he could even give out sparks--but for that one had to stroke k'is fur the wrong way. The hen had quite little abort legs, and therefore she was called Chickabiddy-shortshan!6~r.ehelaid,go~d' em -and the woman loved her as if she were her own eh fl& r the morir aag the-eggs duckling was at once otic r'~tnd the tomcat began to purr, and the h0i to cluck. . sx What's this t" said the woman, and looked all round;' but she could not see well, and therefore she thotght the duckling was'>a fat: duck that, had strayed. "This is a rare prize t" she said. ~`'Mdw I shall have dilek's eggs. I hope it is not a drake. ,W ,,e must try that. '3 And so the duckling was admitted one trial for three weeks; but no eggs came. And the, tomcat was master of the house, and the hen was the lady, and always said, "We and the world f" for *he thought they were half the world, and by far the better half. The duckling thought one might have a different opinion, but the hen would not allow it, "Can you lay eggs I" she -?asked: "Then you'll have the goodness to hold your tongue." And the tomcat said, xxCan you curve your back, and purr, and give out sparks !" A4.wo. » "Then you cannot have any opinion of your own when sen- sible people are speaking." And the duckling sat in a ,corner and was miserable; then the Brach air and the smshine streamed in; and it vas seized with such a strange longing to swim on. the water that it could not help telling the hen of it. "What are you thinking of V cried 'the hen. "-You have nothing to do, that's why you have these fancies. Purr or eggs and they will pass over." "But it is so charming to swim on the water V, said the duck- ling, x 'so refreshing to let it close above one's head, and to dive down to the bottom." "Yes, that must be a mighty pleasure truly," quoth the . III fancy you must have gone crazy. Ask the cat about it--he's the cleverest animal I know ask him if he likes to swim on thA water, ox to dive, down . ', U't speak about myself. Ask our mistr the old *o i - no one in the world is cleverer than she, you. 040kshe has Say d ire to swim, and to let the water oere above: ,er ,1'" «Yao doolt,,understand me,:" said the :duckling. "We don't vtndea40d youi. Then pray who is to understand Yout You shy don't pretend to,be cleverer than the tomcat and them I won't, say,a ` of: ny self, won't be con- ceited, ,ebild, and be grateful Ior an ,the kindness you have re- ceived. , Bid you not get into a warm room, and have you not fallen into CS, from which you may learn something f But you are a oba erer, and it is, not pleaeaut to swoc*te with. you. You may believe me, I speak for your. good. I ten you disagree- able tbings,:and by that one may always know. one's true friends i Only take care that you learn to lay eggs, or to ,purr and give out sparks f" off+,,think ; I :walk,go out into the wide world," said the duckling. E` `esf day gpj" replied' the hen. And the duckling went away. It swam on the water, and dived, but it was: alighted by every creature because of its, ugli- ness. . . Now came, the autumn• The leaves in the, forest turned yellow and brown; the wind caught them so that they danced about, and" up in the,w it was very cold, The clouds hung low, heavy with hail and snowflakes,-and on the fence stood the raven, crying, "Croahi eroak ",from mere cold; yes, it was enough to make one feel cold to think of this. The poor little duckling certaiinly, b not a good. time:. ,One evening-the sun was just setting, in *s tuty ere cams a whole flock of great handsome birds. out of the ; they, were da&lingly white, with long fleari'ble ne+ =, they were sw. . They uttered a very peculiar cry, fo tteir glbri4Ais great wings, and flew away from that t~o t region, to * er-.]ands, to, fair open lakes. They roo ted hiah: so.hightandthe ualv;httle duckling felt quite st ag* as ' ed them. It turned round and round.in the w ~r life a 'Wheekstretched out its neck toward them, and uttered sueh a 861"90 loud cry as frightened itself. Oh 1 it could not forget those beautiful, happy birds; and so soon as it could see them no longer, it dived down to the very bottom, and when it came Up 4$aiz4 it was quite beside itself. . It knew not the name of :tie birds, and knew not whither they were flying; but it loved totem more "than it had ever loved anyone. It was not at all en- vinuS of ahem. How could it think of wishing to possess such loveliness as they had 4 It would have been glad if only the dueks would have endured its company the poor ugly creature I A-ad the winter grew cold, very cold I The duckling was forced to swim about in the water, to prevent the surface from !freezing entirely; but every night the hole in which it swam about became smaller and smaller. It froze so hard that the icy covering crackled. again; and the duckling was obliged to use its lira tinu$11y to prevent the hole from, freezing up. At. last it, became exhausted, and lay quite still, and thus froze fast into the ice. ' Early in the morning a peasant came by, and when he saw what had happened, he took his wooden shoe, broke the ice-crust A9 Pieces, and carried the duckling home to his wife. . Then it same to itself again. The children wanted to play with it; but `the duckling thought they would do it an injury, and in its terror fluttered up into the milkpan, so that the milk spurted down info ,the room. The woman clapped her hands, at which the duckling flew down into the butter-tub, and then into the meal-barrel abd outz again. How it looked then I The woman screamed, and struck at it with the fire-tongs; the children tumbled over one another in their efforts to catch the duckling; and they laughed and screamed finely I Happily the door stood open, and the poor creature was able to slip out between the shrubs into the newly fallen snow; and there it lay quite exhausted. But it would be too sad if I were to tell all the misery and care .„which i dealing had t in the hard winter. It lay out on the dioor am mg the io4s,' wheii. tae sun began to shine again and they larks to sing: it was a beautiful spring. Then-'all at :once the du '' 'pug tad flap; its wings: they beat the air more strongly than before, and bore it strongly away; and before it well knew how air this happened, it found itself in a great garden, sphere the elder-trees smelt sweet, and bent their long. green' branches' down to the canirl: that wound through the region Oh, here it was so beautiful, such a gladness of 'spring 1 and' from the thicket came three glorious white swans; they rustled their wings, and swam lightly on the water. The duck- ling, knew the splendid creatures, and felt oppressed by a pe- culir sadness. I will fly away to them, to the royal birds l and they will kill tae, because I, that am so ugly, dare to approach them. But it is of no consequence I' Better to be killed by them than to be pursued: by du~lw, and beaten.by fowls, and pushed about by the girl who takes care of the poultry-yard, and to suffer hunger in winter l" And it flew out into the water, and swam toward the beautiful swans: these looked at it, and came sailing down upon it-with outspread wings. "Kill me l" said the poor creature, and' bent its head down upon the water, expecting nothing but death. But what was this that it saw in the dear water i It beheld its own image; °-and, to l it was no longer a clumsy dark Fey bird, ugly and hateful to look at, but--a swan l It matters nothing if one is born in a duck-yard, if one has,, only in swan's egg. It felt quite *glad at all the need and misfortune it had snf- fared, now it realised its happiness in all the splendour that rounded it. And the great swans swam round it, and stroked it with their beaks. Into the garden came little children, who threw bread and corn into the water; and the youngest cried, "There is a new nnA 1 "and the other children shouted joyously, "Yes, a mew one has arrived 1" And they clapped their bands and danced about, and ran to their father and mother; and bread and cake were thrown into the water; and they all paid, `The new one is the most beautiful of all f so young and handsome W f f and the old swans bowAd their heads before him.. Then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his ,head under his wings, for he did not know what to do; he was so happy, and yet not at all proud., IE(e,thought how he had been persecuted and de- spised; and now he heard them saying that he was the most beau- tiful of all birds.:'. Even the elder-tree bent. its branches straight down into the water before him, and the sun shone warm and mild. Then his wings tustled, he lifted his slender neck, and cried rejoicingly from the depths of his heart "I never creamed .of so much happiness when, I was still the ugly duckling Is f", N the sunxly land of Spain there once lived a handsome black hen. Like most hens, she was a kind and motherly 'bird, and very proud of her pretty yellow chicks. But once she hatched, out a very queer little fellow, not the least bit like the others of the same brood. He was only half .s chicken 1 The hen opened her beak wide, but was too startled to cluck, when he hopped out of the egg on his one leg, and waggled his one wing, and looked up at her with his one bright eye., As he grew, the Half .Chick beeame as mischievous and naughty as two whole chicks rolled into one. The poor hen de, Blared he was the most troublesome of all her many children, and got into more 'pranks in. one day than all the others could even think of in a week. None the less, she was greatly alarmed when t ie half-t hiek came hopping up to her on his one little leg acid said, "Mother, I have had enough of this stupid old farm. I~m Of to :Madrid." .,p. , "M idi id Z''' clucked the poor hen, ".What on earth do you want to do in Madrid 1" Y'I want to see the King. And no doubt. his Majesty will be pleased to see one:" "But, my poor child, have you any idea how far away Madrid "I do not care how far away it may be, ' returned the cheeky little HWChicl4 "I'm going there, and I am going to see the So off he started, hoppity-hop, in the direction where he had been told that the capital city of Spain would be found. Presently the Half-Chick came to a pretty silver brook, but its waters-were choked with thick green weeds. "mod' little Half-Chick," said the brook;' "help me, I pray you I Drag away some of these thick green weeds,- so that I may run and sing once mare t" . "I can't 'stop ;now," returned the Half-Chick, "I'm off .to Madrid to see the King." When he had hopped a little further his way led him through a deep, wood, and there he found a fire which was dying for lack of fuel. "Amiable little Half-Chick," gasped the fire, "fetch me. a few sticks, or I shall die t "I can't stop now, Ian off to Madrid to see the King," re- turned the half-Chick, who was neither amiable nor kind. By dint of long and determined hopping, the Half-Chick at last reached the outskirts of Madrid, and there he saw a great chestnut-tree in full flower. The blowoming spikes of the chest- nut were tossing and swaying to and fro, and from among the branches came the voice of the wind, calling for help. "Dear little Half-Chick," cried the wind, "I am tangled in this free, and I cannot get outdo come and set me free t" "No sgeh tbinxi" return the Half-Chick, unkindly. "Set . Voursel f free, Sir Wind--I'm going to see the King, and I can't keep his Majesty waiting for yo*!P' Then the Half=Chick-hopped and hopped till he came to the palace of the Sing, where the tall sentinels in shining helmets; and scarlet-and-yellow slashed doublets stood on guard, their great lances` in their hands. "Good," thought the conceited little Half-Chick, "very good --I am expected, I see, and these fine fellows have been set here to welcome me." . go he saluted the sentinels with his one little wing as he hopped past them, and wondered why they did not return his salute. He came to n gate in the palace-wall, and, as it stood open, he slipped quickly through. Then he found himself in a dusty courtyard, and a moment later a man in a white apron and a white cap came out of the door of the royal kitchen. The little Half-.Chick thought this must be the King himself. "Dear me," he said, "I had no idea, that a crown looked like that t" - But he dr6w himself up very straight on his one leg, and sal- uted the cook with his one little wing. The cook looked down, and saw the queer little bird standing at his feet. "Chiekeii:broth for dinner to-day," he remarked, cheerfully. "You are the very fellow I want, you funny Half-Chick-;come oni" So he seized the Half-Chick, and plumped him, just as he was, feathers and all, into the big iron pot that was bubbling on the . kitchen4re. - "Oh, kind water," squeaked the Half-Chick, you are hurt- , ing me-you are so hod--and so wet 1" '`Have you forgotten the brook that was choked with weeds l" asked the water; and it went on bubbling and boiling faster than ever. "Oh, gentle fire," squeaked the Half-Chick, "have mercy" - you are hurting me, gentle re I "Have you forgotten that when I asked you for mercy, you hd'ione 4a spare I" retorted the fire;' and it sprang up, cr&ek~ hog-And blazing more than ever.- . '° . At that moment there was a whistling sound in the kitchen.. Aimuey, and the Half-Chick called out in despair, :"'Wind, sweet Sir Wind, but out this fire, overturn this- pot, and I may still escape t" it's you, is it?" shrilled the wind. "Well, for old t acs" quaittance sake, I will do my beat for youl" , The Half-Chick was delighted, but he soon found that the wind was speaking in jest. For it whipped him up out of the * .,pot, and up the dark, sooty chimney, and then up, up, up, over ,-~t ,roof of Madrid. ~ fave you forgotten that when I was tangled in the chestnut- tre :,~you were too much izi a hurry; to help me !" shouted the .Higher and higher it carried the frightened Half-Chick, and they, at last, it swooped down from the clouds, and planted the queer** bird on the steeple of the loftiest church tower , in Madrid: "There you are," said the wind. And with the Half-Chick is to this day'i They have painted him with gold paint, but he is very unhappy on his perch so near the clouds. Sometimes the people in the streets far below will heal* a strange sound coming from'the top of the, steeple, and then they will say to each other, "How that weather-cock is croaking to-day !" 1Uy do not know that what they take for creaking is really the mournful voice of the Half-Chick, repeating again and again, "014 why. was I not a better bird when I was young $'-' A N honest farmer had once an ass that had,been ak; servant to him a great many years, but was now growing old and every day more and more unfit for work. His amaster therefore was tired of keeping him and began to think of putting an end to him; but the ass, who saw that some mial- chief was in the wind, took himself slyly off, and began his jour- ney toward the great city, "for there," thought he, "I may turn a musician." After he had travelled a little way he spied a dog lying by the roadside and panting as if he were very tired. "What makes you pant so, my friend!" said the ass. "Alas 1" said the dog, "my master was going to knock me on the head, because I am old and weak, and can no longer make " myself useful to him in hunting; so I ran away: but what, can I do to earn my livelihood !'t Hark ye 1" said the ass, "I am going to the great city to t musician: suppose you go with me, and try what you can do in the cone way!" ~ ~' r ' { Jogged on together. " ' r ~rone v. ., , +t~ t'sitting in the, s the matter, witti ~ `~ cr 4 .;~': t 1 at,'a Flldw".e out or 66e Ibe, in good spirits °'When` 'a l 'e is is d ngar'1 ecau l ginning to grow 444, d 'am, r er lie at my ease by the,file than run about to the mid my mistress laid hold of me, and was g,4- to: : We; *And though I have been lucky enough to. get w roll -do pot _know jwl t I am;, to live upon." I" d;' e ,aiss„.:"lay all meafis go with us to the great city;' ' a r, aud.may make your fortune as a ij - , iat w'ae `ilea"d', the *.tot, and joined the pa a = ward, as theyr4 p siilhg by a farmyard, t~X agate, and,sereaming out with all hismight . saWe ass; "upon my word you make a :~amqus not p , what is all this about 1 r . `tWhr,"Mid the ,rock, "I W just now saying that we should ve fine weatheiir f©r our washing-day, and yet my mistress and ,. &C* ctan't thank me for my painat but threaten to cut off R, d~ ead "Orrr*, and a broth of me for the guests that are do i ne~tlay i'r ti~ s i'x "id Ahe ass; "come with us, Master Chant ,fit ` ; `any-rate, than staying here to 3 ve . a d cut off r, Besides, who knows I If we take care';; # -716may get up some` kind of a concert: so come aloe" , ., with u& , : 'sr ," Uid%46e,eoch: so they All four , .1, ey could not, however, r , the great city, le fit dad l so when night came on, theiwent into s~ wood to sleep. The ` Ais k 'ku 4 y.4 -I t) :he ;fiOh e safer s bey l ewe U the ery top ~! ~ t e. ~ccord ig to°bis otia,~b+ lxb he went to out on a sides of Jim # aft *M *M everything was e w 4' so ~ ght and - g ~~finere-inu he ha lo no gnat ~s r o fa I +e s~ '" , ,if t ., said he~a~,, q - o t eg is not the beef in at e worii~i" added the dog," I. should not be, o 4 - bb ito!or ' o, or°whit of meat.", " , . o they -Walked air, together toward the spot where Ohaut; , clear had s the light; asldNA tl iy drew mar, it becam laaeg '3c a'ad b4' ~, tin tloy at la ct e, dogs t o house in w a e ra'6bers` ' 'he a „fig the- of the compltxiy, wed .4V, 94 Widow a cped . 1 "Fell; Doaey," said Chantieleer, "what do yon see!'-- " rr O' C d66 I : see i" replied .the ass: "Why, "I see a is wf6 all ,binds of good things, and robbers sitting rou*,..," merry, s~ ` Oat would be la noble lodgin#° for us," said the cock: . i~gesr,"'.'acid the a s,' sit, we could only get in.'s So they e6* it~ad tig er bowthey mould contrive to get the robbers up* and-at fat they t upon a plan. The ass placed himself up on h hind~ egs with" his f aa eet resting against the window; the got upon black; *6, eat gambled up *. hW dp's et"a, and the cock-law ' ° td sat upon the cat's , . ready, a signal was `given, Abd they begast t xntu ic. The brayed,-the clog barked, the cat mow4. d cock screaWea; and then they broke through: 66 At 'once, anc; eamae' tumbling into the room, amox t the 'broken class. with a most hid e clatter. The robbers, who iad been t frightened by the opening concert, and now thougbt no dogbt that some frightful hobgoblin had broken 'in upon their, xt ,wed away as fast as they could. The, coast once clear, our travellers soon sat down, and dis- patche4 what the robbers had left, with; as much eagerness as if, they had expected not to eat again for a month. As soon as they had satisfied themselves they put out the lights, and each once more sought out a resting place to his own liking. The donkey laid himself down upon a heap of straw in the yard; the "clog stretched himself upon a mat behind the door; the cat rolled herself up on the hearth before the warm ashes; and the cock perched upon a beam on the top of the house: and, as they .. were all rather tired with their journey, they soon fell into a sound sleep: But about midnight, when the robbers saw from afar that the lights Vere gut andd"that all seemed quiet, they began to think that they had;, been in too great a hurry to run away; and one of them, who was bolder than the rest, went to see what was going on. Finding everything still, he marched into the kitchen, and groped about till he found a match in order to light a candle; and then, espying the glittering fiery eyes of the cat, he mis- took them for live coals, and held the match to them to light it. But the cat, not understanding this joke, sprang at his face, and spat, and -scratched at him. This frightened him dreadfully, and away he ran to the back door; but there the dog jumped up and bit him in the leg; and as he was crossing over the yard the ass kicked him; and the cock, who had been awakened by the noise, crowed with all his might. At this the robber ran back as fast as he could to his comrades, and told the captaixk how a horrid witch had got into the house, and had spit at him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers; how a man with a knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed him in the legs-, how a black monster stood in the yard and Amok him with a elO, d how: devil sat upon the t6p of the house and cried out, "iThio"Wt ' dii up here III After this the robbers never dared tp $o back to the house; but the musicians were so pleased With their quarters that they took up their abode there; and there their a", I dare say, at this very day.. N a little cottage on the banks of a great river there once ~_ lived a poor widow who had an only son called Jack. He was not a bad boy at heart, but he disliked work very mush, and thought that it was far. better fun to. paddle or fish in the river,, or to, go bleckberry ng and bird's nesting in the woods, 4 than to chop s#eks or weed the garden. One day Jack's mother looked so sad that he asked her what was the matter. fsAlas," said the pwr ;woman, "I have no more money in the ~otise, and no more bread. What can I do! I shall have tp our good old sow." Jack was sorry to hear that the cow must be sold, but ho wo I 8 ' very anxious to be allowed to sell her himself. ~iLet one drive her to the nearest town," he urged, `~It is mar- ket day to-day. And if I call out at the top of my voice. and say that this beautiful black-and-*bite cow is for sale, all the farmers will crowd around, and offer me any price I please." tit er u%W1WMgly, the wig And then away went . J wf the eow mard&g plae Iy~;1 ore him, or pausing now and then to nibble the clover . and _long, grass that grew yon -either side of the mod. Jaaek had not gone very far before he met a quaint-looking old pw ar,,who,' instead of wearing his list upon: his head, carried it carefully between his two hands.' Good fortpne to you, father," said Jack. ` "The sum is hot-- the end. is keen--why don't you wear your hat iron your 11e~pld ff.'s "Because, my eon," replied the pedlar, "I have sometl an my, hat which I prize far more than I do my head." go, of course, Jack tried to peep into the hat, but all that 1e could see inside was a little heap of beans of many different colours. .. `Did you ever see beans like thosa!" aske& the pedlar: returned Jack, "but they are only beans." . "That's -all yon' know about it," said the pedlar. "What are you going to do, with them 4" asked Jack, beeoM- inginterested. "Are; you going to boil them f ©r are you .go- ing to plant them in the groundill "Neither. I am going to sell them for fifty-five ' pi es .'af gold:" Are they worth as much as that'!" "They are worth three times more:" Jack began to think that there must be something very un-, usual about these bean§. They were certainly pretty to loo4 at. "Harkee, father," said Jack, ~~I have no money-but T am o my way to sell this beautiful black-and-white cow. When I have sold her, I should like to buy those beans of yours." "Why wait till then 'i" replied the pedlar. "To oblige ;. . :: will take the cow in exchange." .. The bargain was soon clinched. The beans were tilted from the ms's hat into Jack's pocket, and away went the pedlar, driving Q cow, and away ran Jack, eager to tell his another hew"dever he had been. ;Oe;widow was surprised to see the boy again so soon, for she` 'did net expect him back till the evening, but when he spread the , out on the table and told her that he had taken them in. mad of money for the cow, her surprise changed to dismay, . + d'she burst into tears. azn ruined," she sobbed, "the poor cow was all I had in +}, world--and now instead of her you bring me these miserable 'Jack was sorry to see his mother in such distress; but he was full of the mysterious words of the pedlar: "Wait a little, mother," .said he, "these are not ordinary beams.'. Look, see how pretty they are I" won't look l" cried Jack's mother, getting cross.' And, with that, she jumped up, and, gathering up the beans in both her hands, threw them out of the open window onto the turf plot outside: `Jack went supperless to bed that night, but he had made up his mind that, as soon as the sun rose next morning, he would 4o a resoue his precious beans, and take them to the town, and PR them for fifty-five pieces of gold. Net morning the sun seemed: very late in 'rising. Jack opened his eyes three times, and three times he shut them again, because his lithe room wader the slope of the thatched roof was stmt' dark. The, f ourth time, however, he sat up in surprise, for he saw that the darkness was not black or grey, but green. $e ran to the window, and he found that it was completely blgeked by a gigantic beanstalk, dangling with huge green leaves each about a yard long. - The pedlar's beans had sprouted inAhe night l Evidently they we're not ordinary beans, after AU I b moment cater Jack was out in the garden, and gazing up. I WW_, at the marveUous plant, of Which- tOp: WAS lost in the clouds4 Ian 0 up I" said daek to . And when the widow followed him into the, garden all she could she of her icon was a pair of patched shoes "ppearing among the great grew leaves. Tack was a skilful climber-had he not spent many an hour in the tree-tops that a more dutiful boy would have spent helping his mother to chop, or dig, or sweep i-and, the knotted coils of the beanstalk gave him a good foot-hold; but by the time. reached the 'top, . he was out of breath,, and had to sit st d rte; for, a while on -a fat white cloud, before he felt able to explora,fi ": strange place in which he found himself. In every direction, as far as .eye could am, stretched plain of silvery-white and, broken here and there bar,, clumps ', of thistles and patches of flints and stones. Tae* hadbad neither supper the night before nor breakfast that and wos both hung and. thirsty, but he could see xaslthe c e nor pool, house nor orchard, anywhere in sight. The bvys f impulse, was to clamber down the beanstalk as fast as he h clambered up it. Then curiosity, and a boyish love of adven- ture, caused him to change his mind. "If I explore a bit," thought .Tack, "I may find a cotta, AX an apple-tree, or a hedge with some filberts in it." So he rose from his perch on, the cloud, and began to, wad' across the white sand in a northerly direction, so that the sun should not dazzle, him with its brightness, He went on and ran;, sand on, but never &cottage, nor a tree, nor a hedge, did he espyw last, just when he was beginning to lose heart, he saw, fair a the towers of a~great, grim'eastle, built all of glittering grey, , $Ae$Aek had never seen a castle before, but he thought that, it like the sort of place where there would be plenty , drink, f so he quickened his f ootsteM and soon reached the . door, at which he koocked: 'fir few moments the door swung back, and a face pere4 out, a wonderfully large face, larger than any that Jack had e , for, indeed, it was the face of a giantess. ' `WM's there t" asked the giantess, in a gruff voice, "Co*e 740er-my eyes are none of the beat." ' But Jack didn't go nearer: "Please, your ladyship," he said, politely, `~ I am only a poor, boy-and a very hungry one. Will you not give me something to eat ill : `''flee giantess liked being called `your ladyship.' So she mooned Jack to come in, with a finger at least a yard long. ~' "You shall have a white loaf and a brown loaf," she, promised 14m, but I my husband should come home, you must hide your- Wf att 0xnce, for there is nothing he likes so much for dinner as a meted boy. This sounds alarming, but Jack was a plucky youth, and fol- lowed the, giantess boldly into the castle. Hungry though he was, be could not eat even half of one of the huge loaves she set, before him; and when he had eaten about a quarter of the white l the floor began to quake, and the cups and saucers on the dresser began to rattle, and the giantess cried out in dismay, `40h, here comes my husband 1 Creep into the oven, bay,---it is.,quite cold--and when he falls asleep after dinner you can slip -Misty.". Sack crept hastily into the oven, and a moment later the giant e striding into the kitchen, sniffing loudly as he came, and r roaring, 9'ree,1i, to, fum- I smell the blood of an Englishman 1" "Nothing of the sort," returned the giantess. "What you smell is some nice roast pig that I have got ready for your sup- ,. . ' Jack remained very quiet in the oven till the giant had flniabed ~,' ` his fir, but then he mould nab re act the temptation to opf , the door about a quarter of-an- inch and peep through the smelt: "wife, "said the giant, "bring ~me my pretty little hen. '4 The giantess disappeared, and 4oon returned, carrying a hen with golden-coloured feathers. - This hen she placed on the table before her husband, who roared. the one word, "Lay !" And the obedient hen promptly laid an egg. But it was not an ordinary egg. Jack could see that it was made of solid After the hen had laid six or seven eggs, the giant and. the giantess became drowsy, and before long they were both snaving loudly, with a sound like the very deepest thunder. Then Jack crept very, very softly out of the oven, tucked the pretty : little golden hen under his arm, and ran for his life. Acrom the white sand he ran, taking flying leaps over the patches of rooks and th titles, until he came to the place where the green leaves of the beanstalk pushed up through the clouds. And then down lie clambered, as fast as he could, keeping the lien: tucked under his arm all the time. - You may imagine how glad the poor widow was to see her boy again I "Look, mother," said Jack, `~ I have brought you a hen to make. up for the loss of our, good old cow !" "It is a pretty hen," returned Jack's mother, "but I will wait and see whether it is, a good l1yer before I stop grieving for my Cow." Jack set. the hen upon the table. "Lay 1" said he. And at once the obedient hen laid one of her golden egg For a time Jack and his mother lived very contentedly upon the money which they made by Willing the eggs of the giand's p' y little hen. Then Jack was seized with a great desire to pay another vidt to the grey castle above the clouds. IW ~ dirt did his mater woep and wail, and beg him to give up so Aan- xerous. anidea: He laughed at her fears,wand promised that lie„ mom; brig b &Wwith him something at least as precious its °the g deh ham: ° ' . Jam clambered up the beazota ,3n, and soon found hi4' way to tlrwas young and nimble, and the giant was old and fat. As swiftly as a deer, he sped over the white sand to the place who the green leaves of the beanstalk pushed up through the clouds. The harp continued to make music and the giant continued to roar all the time. When Jack was half-way down the beanstalk it suddenly oc- . 4, to fist- perhaps .the harp z 'ht stop playing if he :fro h00 ai .,` Stop r't and,at once the harp obeyed. , In.,. rl uda above:- him he heard the thudding footsteps Of '. ,'ether, Oother,?I called Jack, "bring me a hatchet, quick, . ;: Cut raga Jaek's ;mother with a big hatchet in her hand. - soon he reached the ground, her son-began to hack d At the, beanstalk, and just as the giant reached the top,'tbe teslr!et cut, clean` through the foot. When he saw that he could t pc ss l~lp; a limb: down the broken beanstalk, the giant uttered a get toar'of fury, and'tnrned` and went back to his castle, rovrl ng and, groaning all the way. ,, But Jack and his mother lived happily ever afterward, sUd e prey little heir laid hundreds of golden eggs for them, and harp made music for them; whenever they told it to play. .. `; the roots of the beanstalk withered right away, and as Jack bad not kept any seeds, it could not be planted again; nor do I t that there is one like it anywhere in the world to-day: N a pretty cottage, not far from a wood, lived a fir, his wife, and their little girl. :Across the wood, in another cottage, lived the little gift's Gfrandmother. She was very fond of her little granddaughter, and to keep her warm and cosy she made her a pretty red cloak and a hood to go with it. Whenever the little girl went out she. wore the red cloak and the hood. And so all the people called her Little Red Riding Hood. One day when Little Red Riding Hood's mother was b some cakes she was told; that' *e Grandmother was ill ill bed» So she took down a basket and $fled it with dainties. Among other things she'put,into it a home-made cake Grad a little pot of butter. Then she called Little t .Riding Hood to her and d: "Little Red Riding Hood, take this basket and go. to your Gram ,.,: mother and bring. me word how she is.a' ` ,. 0o TAtU rd ; ]iding Hood set off across the wood, wearing hor red soak and her hood, and carrying on her arm the basket ' eh Y tier home-made cake and the little pot of butter. It ways a beautiful day when Little Red Riding Hood set off... ` The sum,was shining, the birds were singing, and all along the path there were fresh, sweet flowers. wry now and then tattle Red Riding Hood stopped to pick "'' tey will -:make a nice nosegay for Grandmother," _ thou~t. ... so she went on- picking flowers and quite forgot bow q ~3' ?the time was going. 'The wood across whieb; Little Red Riding Hood had to go was very wide. There were many paths in it. The trees were high and their branches were thick. But' Little Red Riding Hood had been through it many tin*, before, and so she went happily on her way, her flowers in'her hand, and her basket on her arm, to see her poor old Grate mother. By aud-by she met a Wolf. He looked at her red cloak and the basket on her arm, then he stopped and said to her politely: "Tell me, little girl, what is your name I" "I am called Little Red Riding Hood," she answered, "be- cause of my, cloak and my hood." "And where are you going, my dear t" said the Wolf. "I am going to see my Grandmother," said Little Red Riding Hood. "She is ill in bed, and so Mother has sent me with this basket to take her a home-made cake and a little pot of butter" "Then where does your Grandmother live, my dear I" asked the Wolf. "In a cottage by itself on the other side of the wood," said Little Red Riding Hood: "I see," said the Wolf. I'WeU as she is ill in bed, pefhape ,/ r 8o the wicked Wolf lay in the Old woman's bed, waiting for poor Little Red Riding Hood. All this e Little :Red Ridi ood had been walking through the' wood. But she had stopped so often to pick flowers that at last she had quite lost hdrl w4y. , . ~~Oh dear!" she cried. have lost the pathl However-shall I find the cottage where Grandmother lives !" But just then she caught sight of a Woodman. He was busy at work, chopping up a great tree. "He will tell me.the way," said Little Red Riding Hood, end po she ran up to him, saying: "Woodman, I have lost my way. )Please tell me how to go." The Woodman stopped chopping the tree and looked at Little Red Riding Hood . u What is your name, little girl g" he said kindly. "I am called Little Red Riding Hood; ' she said; "because of my cloak and my hood." "Then where are you going?'" said the Woodman. 441 am going to, See my Grandmother," she answered. "She Is ill in. bed, and so I am taking her a home-made cake and a little, pot of butter:" "And where does she, live t" said the Woodman. "In a cottage by itself 'on the other side of the wood," said Little Red Riding Hood; "But I have lost my way, and I: do ,mot know'ho0'to find it." "I show yo-al" said the Woodman. ~ ~ I know the way gtdte well.".. . he showed Little Red Riding Hood where to go, and before , arylong she found she was quite close to the cottage. Little Red Riding Hood went up to the cottage and knocked gently at the door: I "Who is there!" called out the Wolf, speaking just like her Grandmother. r "Little Red Riding Hood," answered the child. III have J brought you a basket with a home-made cake and a tattle pot of butter:'' ° "Then pull at the bobbin and lift up the latch," said the Wolf, in the Grandmother's voice. So Little Red Riding Hood pulled'at the bobbin and lifted the latch, and then she stepped inside the room. She did not dream that harm could come to her in Grand- mother's quiet cottage. She had not heard of the Wolf 'a cruel nature, and he had' seemed to be so kind. "Put down the basket and come and lie down on the bed by me," said the Wolf, pretending to be very ill;. So Little Red Riding Hood put the basket on the floor and then she went toward the bed. "Oh, Grandmother I", she cried. "What great ears you have got l" "All the better to hear you with, my dear," said the Wolf. "But, Grandmother, what big eyes you have got 1" "All the better to see you with, my dear." "And, Grandmother, dear, what a great 'nose you have got 1" "All the better to smell you with, my dear," said the cunning Wolf. "But your mouth is so big, and your teeth are so sharp 1' "All the better to eat you with, my dear 1" said the Wolf. The poor child was now very frightened, and the Wolf saw that she had found out the deceitful thing that he was, and that, his trickery was no longer of any good. So, without more ado, he sprang at poor Little Red Riding Hood, meaning to eat her up. But Little Red Riding Hood flew across the room and out at the door. As she ran she cried out with fright. The Wolf was quickly at her heels, and it seemed that nothing could save her from his cruel jaws. I will go and visit her myself. You take this path and I will take that one, and let us see who will get there first." So the Wolf took one path and Little Red Riding Hood took the other, and off they both w~ht. No sooner was the Wolf out of sight than he began to run across the forest as fast as ever he could. "I must get to that cottage first,'' he thought, and then I can eat up the Grandmother before Little Red Riding Hood gets there." So off the wicked Wolf ran to the cottage' here the poor old woman lived: Meanwhile, Little Red Riding Hood went slowly on her way. She was very happy. She did not guess what the wicked' Wolf meant to do. By-and-by the Wolf came to the edge of the wood. He looked round him and soon he saw the little cottage standing all by it- self. Within it ;lap, the Grandmother;111 in bed. The Wolf went up to the cottage and knocked softly on the door: "Who is there $" the old woman called out. #'Little Red Riding Hood," said the Wolf, in a voice just like the little girl's. "I have brought you a basket with a home-made cake and a little pot of butter." "Then pull at the bobbin and lift up the latch,'--' said the Grandmother. The Wolf pulled at the bobbin, the latch=flew up, and the door opened. Then he rushed upon the bed where the poor old woman lay ill, and with one gulp he swallowed her up before she' could say' a single word. Then the wicked Wolf put on the poor old Grandmother's cap , and her nightgown and jumped into the bed. "When Little Red. Riding Hood gets here,", he thought, ""she will think' I am her _Grandmother, and so I shall be able to eat her UP Ioo." .: HERE was once a poor woodman sitting by the fire in his ~. cottage, and his wife sat by his side spinning. "How lonely it is," said he, "for you and me to sit here by ourselves without any children to play about us and to amuse us, while other people seem so happy and merry with their children 1" "What you say is very true," said the wife, sighing and turn- iug round her wheel; "how happy should I be if I had but one child t and if it were ever so small, nay, if it were no bigger than my thumb, I should be very happy, and love it dearly." I Now it came to pass that this good woman's wish was fulfilled just as she desired, for some time afterward she had a little boy who was quite healthy and strong, but not much bigger than my thumb. So they said, "Well, we cannot say we have not got what ire wished for, and, little as he is, we will love him dearly"; and they called him Tom Thumb. r They gave him plenty of food, yet he never grew bigger, but remained just the same size as when he was born; still his eyes were sharp and sparkling, and he soon showed himself to be a clever little fellow, who always knew well what he was about. One day, as the woodman was getting ready to go into the wood to cut fuel, he said, "I wish I had some one to bring. the cart after me, for I want to make haste.'. "O father l" cried Tom, "I will take care of that; the cart shall be in the wood by the time you want it." Then the woodman laughed, and said, r How can that be I you cannot reach up to, the horse's bridle." "Never mind that, father," said Tom: "if my mother will only harness the horse, I will get into his ear, and tell him which way to go." "Well,'-' said the father, "we will try for once." When the time came, the m harnessed the horse to the cart, and put Tom into his ear; and as he sat there the little main told the beast how to go, crying out, "Go on," and I`Stop, " as he wanted; so the horse went on just as if the woodman had driven it himself into the wood. .It happened that, as the horse was go- ing a little too fast, and Tom was calling out "Gently 1 gently !" two strangers came up. "What an odd thing that is l" said one, "there is a cart going along, and I hear a carter talking to the horse, but can see no one." "That is strange," said the other; "let us follow the' cart and see where it goes." So they went on into the wood, till at last they came to the place where the woodman was. Then Tom Thumb, seeing his father, cried out, "See, father, here I am, with the cart, all right and safe; now take me down." So his father took hold of the horse with one hand, and with the other took his son out of the ear; then he put him down upon straw, where he sat as merry as you please. The two strangers *ere all this time looking on, and did not know what to say for wonder. At last one took the other aside and said, "That little urchin will make our fortune if we can get him and carry him about from town to town as a show: we must buy him.'' So they went to the woodman and asked him what he would take for the little man: `~ He will be better off with us," said they, "than with you." , "I won't sell him," said the father, "my own flesh and blood is dearer to me than all the silver and gold in the world." r' But Tom hearing of the bargain they wanted to make, crept up his father's coat to his shoulder, and whispered softly in his ear, . "Take the money, father, and let them have me, I'll soon come back to you." So the woodman at last agreed to sell Tom to the strangers for a large piece of gold. . "Where do you like to sit i" said one of the men: "Oh i put me on the rim of your hat, and that will be a nice gallery for me; I can walk about there, and see the country as we go along.'- So they did as he wished; and when Tom had taken leave of his father they took him away with them. They journeyed on till it began to be dusk and then the little man said "Let me get down: I'm tired." So the man took off his hat and set him down on a clod of earth in a ploughed field by the side of the road. But Tom ran about among the furrows, and at last slipped into an old mouse- hole. "Good night, masters," said he, "I'm off 1 mind and look sharp after me next time." They ran directly to the place, and poked the ends of their. etieks into the mouse-hole. but all in vain: Toms only crawled further and further in, and at last it became quite dark, so th4 they were obliged to go their way without their prize, as svk~ as you please. When Tom found they were gone, he came out of his hiding, place. "What dangerous walking it is," said he, "in this ploughec field 1 * If I were to fall from one of these great clods, I shouk certainly break my neck." At last by good luck, he found a large empty snail-shell. This is lucky," said he, "I can sleep here very well," and in he crept. .Just as he was falling asleep he heard two men passing, and one said to the other, "How shall we manage to steal that rich parson's silver and gold 9" "I'll tell you," cried Tom. "hat noise was that I'' said the thief, frightenedf'`I am sure heard someone speak." ... They stood still listening and Tom said, "Take me with you, and, I'll soon show you how to get the parson's money." "But where are yowl" said they. "Look about on the"ground," answered. he, "and listen where the sound comes from." At last the thieves found him, and lifted him up in their hands. "You little urchin 1" said they, "what can you. do for us t" "Why I can get between the iron window bars of the pa'rson's house and throw you out whatever you want. "That's a good idea," said the thieves, "come along, we shall see what you can do." When they came to the parson's house, Tom slipped through the window-bars into the room, and then called out as loin as he could bawl, "Will you have all that is here ?" 5 At this the thieves were frightened and said, "Softly, softly, .peak low, that you may not awaken anybody." But Tom pretended not to understand them, and bawled out "How much will you have I Shall I throw it all out g" is V. Now the `cook lay in the next room, and hearing a noise she raised herself in her bed and listened. Meantime the thieves were frightened, and ran off to a little distance; but at last they plucked up courage and said, "The little urcAin is only trying to make fools of us." ,. So they came back and whispered softly to him, saying, " ow lot us have no more of your jokes; but throw out the' mom". Then Tom called out as loud as he could, "Very well: hold your hands,Ahere it comes." The cook heard this quite plainly, so she sprang out of bed and ,'. ran to open the - door. The thieves ran off as if a wolf was at, their tails; `and the maid, having groped about and found noth- ing, went sway for a light. By the time she returned, Tom had slipped off into the barn, and when the cook had looked about and searched every hole and corner, and found nobody, she went to bed, thinking she must hava §een dreaming with her eyes open. . The little man crawled about in the hayloft, and at last found a glorious place ~ to finish his night's rest in; so he laid -himself down, meaning to sleep till daylight, and then find his way home to his father and mother. But, alas i how cruelly was he disap- pointed i what crosses and sorrows happen in this world l The cook got up, early llefore daybreak to feed the cows; she went' . straight to the. hayloft, and carried away a large bundle of hay with the little man in the middle of it fast asleep. He still, however, slept on and did not awake till he found himself inthe mouth of the cow who had taken him up with a mouthful of hay. ' "Good lAsk a=days!" said he, "how did I manage to tumble into the mill 1" _ -- - ___ J _- _ ---- But he -soon found out where he really was, and was obliged to have all hik wits about him in order that he might not get between the cow's teeth, and so be crushed to death. At last down he went into her stomach. "It is rather dark here," said he; "they forgot to build win- dows in this room to let the sun in, a candle would be no bad g.'.] Though he made the best of his bad luck, he did not like his quarters at all; and the worst of it was that more and more hay was always coming down, and the space in which he was became smaller and smaller. At last he cried out as loud as he could, "Don't bring me any more hay l Don't bring me anymore hay t" The maid happened to be just then milking the cow, and hear- ing some one speak and seeing nobody and yet being quite sure that it was the same voice that she had heard in the night, she .was so frightened that she fell off her stool and overset the milk- pail. She ran off as fast as she could to her masters the parson, and said, "Sir, sir, the cow is talking 1'' But the parson said, ``Woman, thou art surely mad 1" However, he went with her into the cowshed to see what was the matter. Scarcely had they set foot on the threshold when Cora galled out, "Don't bring me any more hay 1" Then the parson himself was frightened, and thinking the cow " ,was, surely bewitched, ordered that she should be killed directly. So the cow was -killed, and the stomach in which Torn lay was thrown out upon a dung-hill. Tom soon set himself to work to get out, which was not a very easy. task; but at last, just as he had made room to get his head out, a new misfortune befell him } a hungry wolf sprung out 'and swallowed the whole stomach, with Tom in it, at a single . gulp, and ran away.. Tom, however, was not disheartened, and g the wolf would not dislike having some chat with him :. 0 be was going along he called out, 60]Iy good friend, I can show you a famous treat." "Where's that q" said the wolf. "In such and such a house," said Tom, describing his father's ~~ "you can crawl through the drain into the kitchen and :: 1'bao you will find cakes, ham, beef, and everything your heart desire." The wolf did not want to be asked twice; so that very night be went to the house and crawled through the drain into the ~'' kitchen, and ate and drank there to his heart's content. As' soon a' p he was satisfied, he wanted to get away; but he had eaten so much that he could not get out the same way that he came in. ', This was just what Tom had reckoned upon ; and he now began to met up a great shout, making all the noise he could. "Will you be quiet i" said the wolf : "you'll awaken every- .; body in the house." "What's that to me l" said the little man : "you have had your frolic, now I've a mind to , be merry myself "; and he began again, singing and shouting as loud as he could. The woodman and his wife, being awakened by the noise, peeped through a crack in the door ; but -when they saw that the wolf was there, you may well suppose that they were terribly frightened; and the woodman ran for his age, and gave his wife a scythe. 'Now do you stay behind," said the woodman; `sand when ` I have knocked him on the' head, do you rip up his stomach for him with the scythe." Tom heard all this and said, "Father, father 1 I am here,.the wolf has swallowed me" : and his father said, ' "Heaven be praised X, we have found our dear child again"; and he told his wife: n9t to use the scythe, for fear she should Then he aimed a great blow, and struck the,wolf on the head, and killed him on the' spot; and when he was dead they cut open his body and set Tommy free. °.~ "Ah 1" said the father, "what fears we have had for you 1U "tea, father,*" answered he, "I have travelled all over the world; singe we parted, in one way or another; now I am very glad-to get fresh air-again." "Why, where have you been I" said his father. "I. have been in a mouse-hole, in a snail-shell, down a cow's throat,, and in the wolf's stomach; and yet here I am again safe and sound." "Wen,„ said they, "we will not sell you again for all the riches in the world.,-' . So they hugged and kissed their little son, and gave him plenty to eat and drink, and fetched new clothes for him, for his old ones were quite 'spoiled. . IN a red-roofed windmill on the top of a pleasant green hill there once lived a worthy miller who had three sons. The two elder sons were good, steady fellows, but the youngest ha ; ten times as much wit as they, and a fifty times better heart. He loved nothing so well as a joke, and hated nothing more than a cruel deed. So, as he was bo ~` rry and kind, he was a favourite with human beings, and ts, and fairies. When the miller died he divided his property between his three sons. To the eldest he left his red roofed windmill- the second, his grey donkey, and to the third, his beautiful golden coloured eat. He had nothing else to leave. The eldest son soon' got the sail`s of the ' turning, and had plenty of corn to grind: the second son d ed to stay with his brother, so that his donkey could carry t e sacks of flour from the mill; but there was no place at home for the youngest brother and his cat. He therefore bade his brothers farewell, made a btmdle of all. of his belongings--he had very few, so it was a-very small bundle-and set off one fine morning to seek his fortune, with his faithful cat running briskly at his side. After they had walked for several miles, the young man sat down on a milestone to rest, and as he sat there he suddenly thought what a comical thing it was that his only legacy, his only wealth, should be. the golden-coloured Puss sitting so solemnly at his feet. He burst out laughing, and exclaimed aloud, "It is really a good joke S" "It is a better joke than you know yeti" said a small voice. The young man looked behind him, he looked to the right and ,to the left, and up in the air, and there was nobody to be seen. Then he looked down, and the same voice said, "You didn't $now that I could talk, did you g" "Why, Puss, was it you?" asked the youth, amazed. "'Of course it was I," said the golden-coloured cat. "Well," said the youth, when he had recovered :a little from his astonishment, "I am very glad that you can talk, for you are the only friend I have in the wide world, and if you stick to me, I am not likely-to feel lonely or sad." "I am quite willing to stick to you," returned the cat, "but I find walking on the high road very hard work. You have a pair of spare-boots in your bag, I know. IPhy not lend them to me, if you desire'. my company so much I" You would be welcome to wear my boots if they were not too large for, you;" said the youth. "Let me see if they are so, very much too large, "urged the cat. So his master untied his undle, and gave him a huge old pair of flapping jack-boots, such as hunters used to wear in the olden days. Each boot seemed large enough , to hold the cat's whole body. Yet when he started pulling them onto, his hind-paws they shrank in size until they were an excellent fit. "That's a good joke 1" cried the young man, laughing. "It is a better joke than you know yet," returned the cat, strutting about proudly in his boots. "And now I have anothex. favour to beg of you. I want you to throw everything in your bundle into the river yonder, and let me have the big handker- ehief in which it was tied up." "But, my good Puss, this bundle contains everything in the world that I possess 1I I I 'And that's not much," said the cat. "Still, if you will do as I ask, I promise that you will gain more than you will }use." The young man now began to see that the cat was no ordinary oat, and to realize that he would do well to follow the wise ani wal's advice. So his poor little stock of clothes was dropped into the swift grey river, and Puss-in-Boots took possession of the great big red handkerchief in which they had been tied up. i "Now, master," said the cat, "will you wait here till r return 1 I shall not come back with empty paws, I promise you." The young man promised to wait, and the cat ran off into the woods, with the handkerchief over his shoulder. When he was in the depths of the wood, he knotted the handkerchief into a bag, and put some sweet white clover just inside. Then he lay down near by, and 'pretended to be asleep. A little rabbit soon came, and nibbled at the clover. "(lo away, rabbit,'"- said the cat, opening one bright green eye. After the little rabbit had gone, a larger one popped out of the bracken and began to nibble the clover. "Go away," said the cat, opening his other bright green eye. After the second rabbit had scampered off, a very big, fat, handsome rabbit arrived, and no sooner had he begun to nibble than Fuss jumped up and pulled the bag over bunny's head and then over his tail. Then he slung the bag across his shoulder and ran, and ran, till he came to the King's castle, which stood on the farther hide. of the wood. His Majesty was just going out for a ride on his favourite long-tailed charger when Puss came running up, and laid the big, fat, handsome, rabbit, very respectfully before the royal feet: "What is this t" asked the King, astonished. "Sir, it is a rabbit from the famous warren of my master, the Marquis of Carabas, which he begs you to accept." "I am much obliged to the Marquis;" said the King "I never saw a Sner rabbit in my life. Nor have I ever met a talking eat before. Take this piece of old, Mr. Puss-in-Boots, as a token of favour from yo$r sovereign." The eat thanked the King with a low bow, and then ran back as fast as he could to the milestone where his master awaited him. "Master," said the .cat, "here is a piece of ggld. You need not go supperless to bed, nor need your bed be upon the heather. And I have something else to give you." . "What is that, Nast" "A new name. Henceforth you are to be the Marquis of Casabas." The young man,burst out laughing at this .idea. "As you please, Pussy. But it seems a good joke to me!" "It-is a better joke than you know yet," said the cat. "' Melt day the cat capght two fine plump partridges, and offered " them to the King as a small present from the Marquis of Carabas. "The Marquis is. very kind," said his Majesty. "Where are these estates, upon which such splendid game is to be found!" "Does your Majesty not know V" asked the cat. "Why, the finest forests and the fairest meadows on the other side of yonder mountain are all his." "I am greatly interested to hear it," said the King, and he gave the cat two pieces of gold. The neat day Puss-in-Boots told his master, the miller's son, that he must go and bathe in the river at an hour when the Sing and the King's only daughter would be riding along the bank. 'Itmember," added the cat, "that if anyone tries to pull you out of the water, you must let them have their way." "That sounds a good joke," said the miller's son. "It is a better joke than you know yet," returned the cat. No sooner had the Marquis of Carabas (as we will now call him) plunged into the river, than Fuss-in-Boots ran toward the royal party, then cantering slowly along the bank; he mewed at the top of his voice, "Help, help-my noble master, the Marquis of Carabas: is drowning." "Two of my guards- will soon save him," said the King. And two of the royal, guards leapt from their horses, dived into the river, and brought the astonished Marquis ashore. "I should be glad to make the acquaintance of the Marquis of Carabas," remarked the King. ".Alas, Sire," returned the cat, "while the noble Marquis was bathing, some thief stole his rich raiment of silk and lawn, and left behind instead a poor patched doublet and a pair of miser- able darned hose. He cannot appear before your Majesty and her royal Highness in such a plight." "We can soon put that right;" said the King. "There is a spare suit of clothes in that hamper which my servants are carry ing. Let them take it to the Marquis, and offer him all that it contains in my name:" The hamper contained not only a suit of fine clothes which fitted the miller's son perfectly, but also a comb, with which he smoothed his rumpled locks before approaching the royal party. The King and the Princess were much struck by the good looks and the gay and yet gentle bearing of the Marquis of Qarabas. "You have wide lands and rich forests, Marquis," remarked the King. ''How many acres do your estates cover in all "I should have great difficulty in telling your Majesty," re- plied the Marquis, with a smile. "He must be very, rich," thought the King. And he invited Not long afterward the royal party came cantering through the gorge and out into the flowery meadows. I `Is this land yours i" asked the King, turning to the miller's son. "These good folk can inform your Majesty," returned the miller'''s son. So the King asked the mowers whose was the land, and whom they served, and they replied all together, "We, and everything else, belong to the noble Marquis of Carabas." "That's a good joke," murmured the miller's son. This time the cat was not at hand to make the usual answer. The wise beast had hurried ahead, and had already reached the drawbridge of the ogre's great castle. "Who knocks at my gate I" roared the ogre, poking his ter-. rible head out of the window. ",A, traveller, my lord, who has heard of your lordship's great gifts and accomplishments," returned the cat. "Oho," growled the ogre, "in that case I had better let you in." So the ogre, who lived all alone in his magnificent castle of green and white marble, came down from the tower, and pulled up the portcullis-gate, and the cat walked boldly in. "So you have heard about my gifts and accomplishments, have you g" asked the ogre. "I have heard much," said the cat, "but I could not believe all that I heard. It is said that your lordship has only to lift up your two thumbs, and immediately a table will appear, with gold and silver cups and dishes, and a banquet spread for three guests." "That's nothing," cried the ogre, "I need only lift one thumb to do that P.' So he lifted one thumb, and immediately the table appeared. 'Wonderful I said the cat, But yet I cannot believe some- thing else which I heard." "What was that'd" asked the ogre. "`ifhat your lordship, ca61d' "ch ge yourself into any art of ,, eaatJnahe twinkling of an eye ' a i. aye". `crud* the ogre. "t~YOose what beast you assvot d like me Ao top* , " ,. « Oephait '' the, eat. ~. And immediately" ogre led, ~aud, an elephant htooa In 'his place. . "Mo0 wonderfuli" said-the°cat. "Would you like me to show my skill again?" asked the ogi~e, ; proudly. "Your lordship is very kind'' said the cat. "Would it be, I,roubling your lordship too much to turn into a mount Or Aerh~ that is something your cannot'do:" "Can't t t" cried the ogre: ' And. m;, an instant the elephant was One, and; mouse4an across the floor. f t ran very fast,, but Pug was, Op. ' quick for it. - With one, blow of his" paw, the- clever "ea't kibia that mduse, 'aud that was the end of Mr. Ogre. k. A moment later there was a loud knocking at the -gate: The ting and the Princess and the miller's son had arrived. Out raft Puss-in-Boots to raise the portcullis. "Welcome, 0 King," he cried, "welcome to the castle of m '; ;aster, the noble Marquis of Carabas !" ,~ By t time the miller's son was so accustomgd to the won tiers worked by his eat that he did not show the sli test surprise. ; o hastened to dismount, and to help the King and the Princess :, to deseend, from their long-tailod~steeds. . "1f yout esty will deign to follow nee,"said the will find some reteshments in the great hall of my` ma9~'s - tle " . "' "What delightful refreshments i" exclaimed the Kbaj ; e ' , they had,oome into the great hall. "`What a xtiful castle i'-' said the Princess. , o~ tt e~t e' ~~ 1tt aua e'Very- flung in it yours , . areas:, , ttdown and unfold- That, , ing his tble napk b, w~ nted,to marry the Princep:" ttI do v laid the miller's ' "Well," 0 . shall," d+r s the his knife. and fore, 0if m~,y d ,ugmeiv'~~Fl.~' ~a they,. e, s tdeseape. Them: the little, -lylrs.Jackal. said, "Husband, Jum bar d, I feel very frightened. The Lion King is so angry he will ce ri* kill, us at once. What ean;:we do V" But he answered, " heer up; we can save ourselves yet. Come, and I'll show you how we may manage it." ,So what did these, cunning li#le Jackals,do, but they went to the great Lion's den; and when he saw them coming, :he, began to. roar and shake his mane, and he said, ""You little wretches, come and be , eaten at once I I have had no dinner for three whole days, and all that time I have been running over hill and dale to find you. ' Ro-o=ar! ' Ro-a-ar! Come and be eaten, I say l'-' and he- lashed his tail and gnashed his teeth, and looked very terrible indeed. Then Mr. Jackal, creeping quite close up to him, said,, "Oh, great Lion King, we know you are our master, and we would have come at your bidding long ago; but indeed, Sire, there is a much bigger King even'than you iu this jungle, and'he tried to catch.hold'of us and eat us up, and frightened us so, much that we were obliged to run away." ' `(What do you mean I" growled the Lion King. ".'here is n6 Xi ' n this jungle but me I" answered the Jackal, "in truth one would think so, ~r ,you are very dreadful. Four voice is death. But it is as we. y, for we, with our own eyes, have seen one,with whom 7RU cou14 nit compete; whose equal you ear no more be than we ate''ypu~ Whose face, is as flaming :fire, his step as thunder,.:and h ptiver sup reme:" .. . . "It is hxtpwible I'" interrupted the old Lion; "but, show xa e this King ©f whom you speak so much, that I may destroy him instantly i'3 , i"AU4Ab~.~~O ' ihn until tludp' 0 . k A~ , ' `k~ , and po at .iqg *n A to his own. reflection n r' ,. , they .mod, See, dire, these lies the 'terrible ` ; h i the aon in lowed dc a,~; ~t e well he became " . r3'~ `' i~or he than sawn other, Lion `there. He ros, d # uok b gr ;e, `and t~ shadow Lion shook his, d terribkl defiant. , l*0 de himself with r~ge t.t ae insolence b OPPOROIAine , 9sprang down- to kill him it, but no other LSO , s axe"=only the treacherous refled- . and the sid e the well were so step that he could got , sit a n, to pt t e: two Jack ls, who peeped over the . .'Ahterstruggling ;fct sometime in the deep water, he sank to , x a aoat And the little JackaIs threw stones down h on h',pgc,, e, ,And danced round and round the well, siu py , 1~Ao r a r .gyp! ,~a! The. ting of the forest is dead, is dead t a e l. ulrthe get Lion wba would havo,., ed. us t,. 'Aa -dim- wti Ap r'.4o r Ao r» N u ox~ a time.there lived a poor woodcutter w3 o-had a ba and,a~ girl called Hansel (irittle~ John> and GFt~etel ` ' tot e margaret) . Their mother had died when, they were quite tiny, children, and after a time their father married a second wife who was not at all kind to her stepson and step daughter. The . woodcutter, although lie worked very hard, could not earn enough money to feed the whole family, and there were often empty platters on the table and hungry faces,., xatuad it. one nigt, when .,he and his wife thought that Hansel and Gretel were fast asleep, they began to say to each other that very soon, there would be nothing give the children. `%ere is only brie thing to be done," said the cruel step-,mother. to-morrow morning we will give each child a piece bread,, aud Then we will lead them into the very heart of the ,deep' forest and leave them there. They will never able td find their y home again." "My poor children I" cried the woodcutter, "what wig b ,p- pen' to 0M I I cannot leave them, alwxe in the forest, fir' be liy wild beasts." , 5 ce is nothing else to be, done," returned the stepmother; Haw Hansel and Gretel were not asleep, and when they head what their stepmother said, Gretel apt bitterly. "Hush," whispered Hansel. '`3)on't be afraid. I have plan." Presently, when the woodcutter and his wife were snoring# the boy crept out of his little wooden bed, unbarred the door of '` ,the hut, and tiptoed out into the moonlight. The grass outside was sprinkled with pure white pebbles that shone like daps of silver. Hangel filled his pockets with these, pebbles and then went softly back to his sister. "Sleep i,n peace, Gretel," he said, "God will not forsake ua: !' Early, neat morning the stepmother came to wake the ehil- "Up, you lazy creatures,'-" she said. "Your father is going to. . the forest to chop wood, and you are going with him. Here is a piece of bread for your dinner. Mind you don't lose it, fof you will get no more." Hansei and Gretel made ready to go with their father. Gretel carried the bread in her apron, for Hansel's pockets were full of pebbles. When the whole family had gone a little way toward the forest Hansel paused and looked back; presently he did fis again; and when he did it for the third time, his father asked why, he lit-,lagging, behind. "I can see our white cat sitting on the roof ~of the }hut," answered Hansel. "It is bidding us bye." "NPnsense," said the stepmother, "that is the sun shinier ou the white chimney." , Hansel knew that quite well; but every time he looked back he had dropped a pebble from his pocket:on the path. . When they, had reached the inmost depths of the forest the father told the children to, gather some fallen branches and dry tw ,, 'so that he might make a fire. When the fire was lit, and crackling merrily, the stepmother said, "Now, you two children can sit by the flame and eat your 'dinner: ' Your father is going to out wood near by, and I am going with him." U sA and Oretel were 'a little bit frightened, but the sound of lmir father's are cheered them, for while they heard it they knew he coiAd not be far away. They grew drowsy soon, with the warmth of the fire, and"at last they fell asleep. So early had they risen, and so far had they trudged, they both slept soundly AM after the sun, had set. Then they woke up with a, start. The fire had died down, the forest was dark, and yet they heard the sound which they had thought was their father's axe. They scrambled to their feet and ran to the place whence the sound fme--arid there they found a broken branch tied against a tree. This wind made the branch swing to and fro, and, as the;. stepmother' had planned, they had mistaken the steady thudding" for the blows of the woodcutter's axe. C-fretel began to cry. `I Hush, little sister," said Hansel, I `the moon is rising. Look -there are my white pebbles. We can soon find our way home now." They set off hand-in-hand, and at daybreak they arrived at their father's hut, stiff and foot-sore and their hair drenched with dew., "`"then their stepmother saw them she tried to hide her xkger as best she could. "Wicked ones," she exclaimed, "why have you slept so long 4 Your father and I thought we should never see you again ''`` The woodcutter, however, rejoiced greatly, for his conscience had beast pricking him, and he had begun to regret that he had followed h Is wife's advice: It was not long before she returned to the plan that had fad+ and made up her mind to try again. "Those children'of yours," she said one night, "they "t the shelf bare, and yet they, ;re always t: ytng, and ;saying they.-are hungry. There is only ouc thing to be done.t, " , not do ,it," returned the woodcutter, who knew q well wl~at;.ehe Yueant: `11w~ ;'dill do' it to-morrow m(drning,'~ said the: stepmother, H *ho saps'k . must say, B too. , having consented one 1e husband had, to"content twice,-,though much against his i . 'The children heard what` was said, but this time Gretel` slid et, . the Zwas sure that Hansel would think' of a,, plat and s ' ,'.dt :em both. Hansel. was sure, too; . only his plan was the '" e as .t had been last time, and he could not' carry, it u ty be- ',"0608P when he went in quest of more white pebbles he found that the door was locked, and his stepmother had taken. the key. Wone the less he tried to comfort Gretel: ;i °N not.be afraid, little sister," he said, "the Good God will or~ake us. I shall think''of another plan." At, dawn the next day the stepmother came and woke them, and r gave theme a piece of bread. This time it was Hansel who took charge of it, and he broke it into small crumbs inside his pocket. Wben they had gone a few paces he paused and looked back, and then again, a little farther on. The third time he did this, `W& father asked him why he lagged behind. "I am looking 'at our dove," said Hansel. `She is nodding tie . `Wansense, "cried the stepmother, that is the sun shining-on. the white chimney:. y 4=el managed, to drop, a c nb from time to tams, ;; reaebed the very depths of the forest they `+ e told, 0', ather sticks as before. And when the fire was, it,.' , ' '- +~ *epm'6ther said,, "91t here till, we come back for you : wc, not be gon~ for Ion g:'' ' Hansel had strewn 211. his bre~,4 Q the path, but, + had kept a 'small piece, and this sbea . wxtl him,. y asleep, and when they awoke the forest was dark, aid. t aon bad not yet risen. GFretel began to weep, but Ain~l'said, "Wait till moon-rise. Then we shall be able to see the orb ' drat I scattered:" Why the iuaon's silver globe began to shine beyond the fir- trees the el ildren hastened to look for' the crumbs. But not a sin&.e qnb could they find. The birds had, eaten every one. three days Hansel 'and.Oretel wandered through the foreet ; Oey, had nothing but wild berries to eat, and at night they slept upon the -fired pine-needles under .the trees. At last, just aen they, were beginning to lose heart altogether, they saw and heard' a lovely little silver-moured bird which hopped .fx4am ~r"eh to branch and; sang :sweetly. It was so pretty, and' jts song was so sweet, the children followed it, and presently, to tl*ir surprise,, they came to a little house. They had nevor seen- a house like it More,: and they thought it much, more beaut fuj than if it had been built of silver and gold. F'or he walls were ,., vnade-of fte white bread and thick plum -cake, the windows were of clear yellow toffee, and the roof was of gingerbread: `What a' nice house !" said GFretel. «I am going to find out what this house .tastes like !" cried Hau"L to'. stood on tip-toe and broke a piece off the roof. :' while Oretel pulled a pane out of the window: They were f east- jng jOyously, when the door, of the house opened, and a very old „woh= . came tottering out, propped on a pair of crutches. Ham, .: s and Orietel were` so frightened that they dropped their cake 'and to, oe'on the gtound. But the old woman did not seem at all ~` l a hirex ehiMren,'l she,said. "My eyes are none'oft <: v NR.; you are very welcomes" :,, l passed bear ha over their faces once or twicei aid tired to h ,;"They are., 'bin riow-far too thin -a4 weae .. soon situ that. ,' s :said aloud, "Come in, mY ;dez~lrs,, come.1*-.7x:AW very W'of.40dren.'' sel Clretel thought they had never met anyone eo bey wished they had had a stepmother like that. g lo ved her into the house, which was later inside than, the' had e*pected, and there they saw a table spread for supper, aid vo little beds with bright-colour ceounterpanes. ,,".,Poor children," said the old woman, "I am sure you are Still hungry-' Hansel and Gretel were nearly always hungry. They :e plained to her that their father was very, poor, too poor to give them enough to eat. "It makes me angry to hear .of people who starve their chil- dren," said the old woman. 111 like to see 'little boys and girls "with. round, chubby cheeks. Have you ever tasted pancakes 4" Hansel and Gfretel shook their heads. ''' 'ou shalh have pancakes for supper," promised their new ehd.- -Never in their wildest dreams had Hansel and (betel jawoned that there could be such good things to eat- as they ~ *dt f+6r supper that night. When they were fast asleep-in the two little beds the old wom4u came and felt their thin cheeks ,',`-'boo thin," slue muttered, "but we can soon alter that. I will: -. take the boy first." . lfow this old woman, who seemed, so kind, was really a witch, and when she said that she was fond of children, she meant that she. was, fond of them for breakfast And dinner. Like all witches, she had wicked red eyes that could not see very- far, o a great, big nose with which she could smell a human being a xnile ,away: . Her gingerbread-and-toffee house was simply a trap in which' to catch children, -and as she had not caught' any for some time she was delighted to see Hansel and Gretel. e4 nsel opened his eyes next morning he found herself`` In a sort. of wicker cage, and wondered very much wit had happened to him:, GFr` etel was still asleep in her little °' tho briapht eounternane, but iust as Hansel was going to, call to her to come and set him free, the .old witch came hobble : "Wake up, child," said the old witch,. `E You must go to, the well and. draw some water. I want to cook~something.niee,, ~br ygUir.brother's breakfast." 4` I to have no breakfast I" asked: dretel. O *t such a big breakfast His r"returned the witch,, `~I wont -to make him nice and fat.'.' ``Whyl" asked dretel. `' So that he may taste good wheri j eat him for my supper returned the old witch. Poor dretel burst into tears at the idea of Hansel prondi a cuppcr for this terrible old dame, and Hansel -himself felt very much iuclined to cry. "I must think .of a,plan;" said Ha a ;; For four long weeks the witch kept:Hansel in the wicker cagey plying him with all. sorts of delicious food. Every ;morning , she vould.sy, "Boy, stretch out your finger-=I want t4 feel if are getting fat t a' and every morning Hansel would stretal .,. ou f a piece of bone which he had found in the cage. The witch W so blind, she could not see that it was not his finger,. and, a]*,' t cnndered why he was so slow in getting fat, and how many more weeks ,she would have to wait for that supper to which she wap %okixigjorward so greedily. - t; laet she became impatient.. ``dretel," she said, one morning, I will wait no longer. Har » sel w *..be cooked to-day. You must help me to make the oven hot. '~: H'e is to be baked in a pie." ``Aren't you going to knead the dough first I" asked. GTete4 t 'zng,to gain time. ' ` have kneaded it already," returned the witch. :e#4 bitter tears, poor dretel brought the wood to k - dl4,,* $re, under the oven._ Soon it was crackling and; blazin g ` ~4e'oven must be hat enough now," said the, "put. ;pnur 'head in, Oretel; and .tell me." dreteI putt her head in, and, though it was really quite warm inside the oven, she said, "It is still cold you could never bake a pie in such a cold oven." "Add some more logs to the fire," commanded. the witch. The, logs spluttered and flamed, and the oven grew fearfully hot. "Put your head in again, Oretel," said the witch. This time Gretel only pretended. She knew the witch was too blind to see what she was doing very well. . . "It. is not hot yet," declared Oret6L "You, are tricking me," cried the witch, "I will' find out the truth for myself r, ; - So, she opened the oven-door, and peered inside, and Gretel gave her a sudden sharp push so that she fell head-over-ham. Then Gretel shut the oven: door upon her, and drew the bolts. And inside the oven there was a big bang. Meanwhile the little girl had run to the cage where Hansel was still a prisoner,: and, when she unbarred the wicker, door her, brother hopped out like a' bird set f rye: : They kissed each other with tears of job, and danced. about the witch's house singing at the top of their voices, for they were sure she could not hurt them anymore. ,' Presently there was another big bang, and the oven split open, and there in the middle' stood a huge gingerbread cake in the form of an old woman. The children gazed at it in wonder. "I should not like to eat, any of that gingerbread," said Hansel. "No," agreed Gretel, "neither should I. But let us take some of the toffee window-paned home with us, and a piece of the plum-cake wall." They began to explore the little house, and they found that all the draw, and cupboards were full of gold and silver coins Hansel filled his cap and his pockets, and GFretel, filled her apron, until they could carry no more. "Now let us ao home;" said Gretel. Wa dd an dap th v tie f,6x~ :. eat, and toward, suiaet they s +av the smoke rising from the fey of their fatl $e Win, tired thO t they were, -and heavily though t y: Wste laden, they brace into a run., As they ran, the gold and silver coins came tumbling out on the grass. The woodcutter was standing very sadly by the door of the , ` ,looking tow rd thenforest where he had last beheld his dren. The cruel stepmother had die during the time 'that Hansel and Gretel were 3n the witch's house, and he was quite alone. When be saw the little boy and girl coming toward him he could hardly believe his epee. So rejoined were they all at this:undreamt-of end to their troubles, it was some time~.before they thought about gathering up ;and counting the, money, from the *itch's hoard. . There was enough of it to keep them all in comfort foar the rest of their lives. N the olden days there once lived -a country gentlemen who, being left a widower with one daughter, decided to marry again. Far his second wife he chose a widow lady, very proud and haughty, who had two daughters of her own who were just like their mother. This was most unfortunate for her step child, of whom all three soon became fearfully jealous. They made her stay at home and do all the hard work of the kitchen, while they put on them finest dresses and went out to banquets and garden parties and balls.' As her pnly refuge, when her work was done, happened to be the kitchen hearth, her steps sisters nicknamed her 'Cinderella.' But in her faded cotton gown, with bare feet and no ribbons in her hair, Cinderella looked a thousand times more charming than the two wicked sis- ters did. when they wore their gayest flowered silks, their bight ', est high-heeled shoes, and a whole forest of rainbow ribbons their stiff curls. When this unamiable family heard that the King's OW. Sn was going, to give two magnificent balky to all the fairest ladies for mile round were to be invited',they were in A gi* .. state Qt-.excitement,, and'.kept poor Cinderella busy for w before, starching a 1, aumg and embroidering and sewijng; `c she was as clever with her hands as they were clumsy with tai AM when the longed4or evening at Iasi arrived they siummoned, ber from her usual place in the kitchen so that she could help, to 1606 tip their tight- and dress their hair-which had been; kept in curling,papexa,fox a whole week. After they had driven away in a coach-and-four, poor. On-" dsrella, sii alone in the big,: echoing house, sat down on her three : legged stool. by the kitchen-fire And, burst into tears. . Then, suddenly, she heard a voice saying, "What is the matter, nmrpooraild V" To .hey stcthishruent, : Cinder lla then .-saw that she way not Alone. A'-Very, old lady, with big round spectacles `and a,.long ebony stick, was standing beside her. `"DId nobody ever tell you that you had a fairy, godmother, derella't'' asked the very old lady. ' `4:T- think my own mother told me so, when I was a tiny little giari "said Cinderella, "but I thought you had forgotten jue, "No, indeed," declared the fairy, "I lever forget my, god- children. But I choose my own time for showing them that -I remember. All fairies do. that. And now, child, tell me. Should you like to go to the Prince's ball t" ~„ , , "Oh t" cried Cinderella, clapping her hands joyfully, «I should like it more than anything in the world 1" c`'Verp, well then--run out in the garden and bring ins' the biggest pumpkin you can find." 'Much pa led, Cinderella obeyed, and returned a few mioutes Wer with a huge, fat yellow pumpkin clasped in both hpr his. "N6*,'~ said the fairy, "go to the pantry and see if there are any mice in the mouse-trap." hidek , w#b , and found that there were seven mice, six small- ,in& t e'farge. ~aV , g " said the fairy, "Now, look at the foot of the wall lehhnd`the,pumpkin pumpkin -plat. `"You will find six green lizards these. - Vateh them and bring them to me:" Once more 'Cinderella did as she was told. iONow,"'said,the fairy, ~~shut your eyes while 'I count seven." Cinderella shut her eyeitight, but she did'not stop up her ears, so she heard, some very strange sounds, first,' the 'tapping of the fairy's long,ebony, atick, and then a lot of footsteps, and then a clattering of horses' hoofs outside, and the grinding of wheels. six, et+ en! Open your eyes, child 1" .Cinderella opened her eyes, and through'Ahe kited window she, saw a most magnificent gold coach, drawn by six m white homes with long manes and tails, driven by a jolly coachman Ivvith 4 t cauliflower wig, and attended by six smart footmen in liveries of green and gold. , _ $ %et into your coach, Cinderella," commanded the fairy. Cinderella `glanced down at her shabby old frock, and at the same moment she felt the touch of the ebony wand on her shoul- der, and the faded cotton changed into cloth-of-silver, and, her bare feet were clo in stockings of finest silk and shod with the prettiest little suppers made of spun glass. a Enjoy yourself at the ball, my dear," said the fairy, but remember that you must come home before midnight, for on the strobe of twelve your coach will become a pnampldn again, and your horses and servants will be lizards and mice, azid yoyr, cloth-of-silver will -change back into striped cotton." Without waiting to be thanked, the very old lady then vaolr ished, and Cinderella jumped joyfully into her golden coach,, Now so aebody-perhaps ° eIfairy herself-had whispered In the Princes ear that among the guests at his ball would be`* - Unknown Princess who had not received an invitation. All the other guests had arrived, and the Prince was dancing a minuet )~, " r e .~~r ' ,. hard. Cinder Pd r to ether with bet ng silv abt , ` ~: ac ted sn+a ; stfir''that~ for'tho loo m the fiddlers>'cs lrdle; a6r the' dancers dance. The Princa guessed at on ' .*- =wt be the Unkubwn Princess. Very impolitelyt 4140006& the band of the ugly sister, and ran to welconne d o e r. Meters wouldhave beem %ry abgry, for the Prs oo ' d no more with them that evening, or with anyone ` the beats . stranger, but Cinderella asked that they sh , presea ther, and talked to them so kindly and cha lr ;, that their frowns soon gave way to smiles. The hours flew 'as swiftly as minutes, and, while Cindetslla" ': ' wse sitting at supper, on the right hand of the King's son, T , clock struck a quarter to twelve. Cinderella started' laid down her fork, and said that, alas i she must now taks lrt've. A,'the guests rose from the supper table and crowded' , into the ball to see her go, and the Prince himself handed her` ', Into her great golden coach, while the ugly sisters stood on the '- wbite marble staircase, waving their gold-hemmed handker- ehiefs to speed her on her way. .,,Pen Cinderella arrived back in the kitchen her , waitingodmother g for her. And the moment her pretty glass slippers;,, touOhed the kitchen Poor, they vanished, and her silver frown - turbdt.into her old frock of striped cotton. `"goad child," sand the fairy, approvingly, 141 am pleased "' you. There is another dance to morrow ght: And y+arw, theirs. But remember--if. you have-not left the paiare - 'When the clock strikes twelve-well, you know what Will p- .p'en i" ; Wia these warning words. she nished, and a moment . later .,the fanWy , bearing the two ugly sisters, rolled up to door. ' While Cinderella was helping: them to undress, her ste_ ~, - were kind emugli to tell her a great deal about the royal ball. "fuel ,a: lovely supperl" cried the,,younger, who was very greedy. ',,"You never had such a supper in your life, Cinder- ella l" Poor Cinderella, who very often had nQ supper at all and was " guito used to going hungry to bed, said that that must have been very nice. "And the Prince 1" shrieked the elder sister. "He is not only handsome--he is so gentle, and so kind 1" Poor Cinderella, to whom nobody had been gentle or kind since her father married again, said that the Prinoe'must be very,,,nice. "And then," exclaimed the younger stepsister, "that beauti- ful -Unknown Princess 1 I am sure she will be our Queen some day ~' AAd then we shall be invited often to court--for she, evi- duly- took a great liking to both my sister and me 1" . . '4What was she like l" asked Cinderella, kneeling down to re- move the satin slipper from her stepsister's large and clumsy foot. "She `is quite young," returned the younger sister, "and she dapees like a fairy l You never saw such pretty little feet- they are even smaller than miner" "And her hair," added the elder; "it is the most wood colour-.-I; suppose you would call it chestnut-or auburn." "Her hair isn't like mine, is it g" askedACinderella. "L e 'yours t I never heard of such a thing l Why, every .body who_ has e'v'er seen you knows that you have carrots 1" 1 . -. "Hurry up, Cinderella," commanded the other stepsistef. ~ t "You dust put my hair in curl-papers at once, for we are going . to the second ball to-morrow alight, and I want to look my best:" . 01 w I ,could got" mufured Cinderella. laughed the stepsister, "I never heard of eukc}~ :-fit; 4Terhaps," suggested the other, unkindly, "perhar might be given th~ remains of the servants' sUpper, if she went routed to the back door of the palace." ; ' derella smiled, and began to comb her stepsister's Y 'black hair. Tho next evening no sooner had the ugly sisters departed than {the pumpkin coach arrived to fetch Cinderella. This time her cotton gown changed into cloth-of-gold instead of into cloth-of- silver, but she found just the same pair of pretty spun-glass slippers on her feet. The Prince was waiting for Cinderella at the foot of the marble staircase, and instead of ceasing to play when she en- tered the ball-room all the fiddlers struck up their merriest tune; and so the Prince and Cinderella began the ball. The minutes flew even more quickly than they had flown the night before, but in the delightful company of the young Prince Cinderella forgot all abort her godmother's warning. He had led her out onto the -,,balcony of the ball-room, so that she might admire all the ,tolbured` lamps decorating the palace garden, when from the belfry of the distant cathedral the great bronze bell began to strike the midnight hour. Cinderella gave a little cry of alarm, gathered up her golden down in both hands, and fled. The Prince ran after her as fast s"lie could, but fear made her fleet of foot, and when he reached the main ,gateway of the palace she had vanished from sight. The Prince, panting for breath, asked the sentinels on guard if they, bad seen a lady in a golden gown drive away in a golden cQa& The sentinels shook their heads. Neither of them tho#ght it worth while to mention that a little ragged girl, prob- ably, a 'beggar who had hoped to pick up a few crumbs from the royal, feast, had sped up the road a minute or two before. Puzzled and distressed, the Prince returned to the ,ball-room, -and stepped out onto the balcony to see if, by any chance, he could catch the gleam of the golden coach on the winding high- road far below. No such' coach was to be seen. But as he turned sadly away he saw a gleam of silver at his feet. It was one of the little glass slippers which the Unknown Guest had worn that night. The Prince picked it up, and caused it to be placed most carefully in a casket of solid silver, for he' hoped that the owner would claim it, and that he might thus' learn her name. But a whole week passed, and no one claimed the little glass slipper. The Prince then became impatient, and sent his herald far and wide to proclaim that whoever could wear that pretty shoe should be-his bride. Great was the excitement of -all the unmarried ladies in the land, young and old, dark and fair, pretty and plain i Wherever the herald halted, and blew his trumpet, and displayed the glass slipper on ,a cushion of purple silk, hundreds of ladies came run- ning, all eager to see if they could squeeze one foot into Cin- derella's shoe. Among the ladies who came were the two ugly stepsisters. Everybody smiled when each one in turn kicked off her' right slipper and thrust forward her large, clumsy foot. "I could get my foot into it easily," cried the elder, "if I chopped off my toes 1" "I will chop off mine 1" shrieked the younger sister. "That would be useless, Madam," returned the herald, restor- ing the glass slipper to its silver casket, "the Prince will only marry her whom the slipper fits east7y whenever she tries it on." "May I try I" asked a timid voice, and a young girl dressed in a faded frock of striped cotton came shyly forward. "(10 away, you absurd creature 1" screamed the two ugly sis- ters. `~Go home at once, and scrub the kitchen floor 1" "Pardon me, ladies," said the herald, "but it is the wish of his royal Highness that no one should be refused permission to try to put on the glass slipper." With the herald was a younger man wrapped in a long dark cloak which completely hid his face. This young man now has- tened to take the glass slipper out of its silver casket again, to ,A *,for Cinderella, and to arrange :t e purple sib a~ush on at ~ter ~~et: Cinderella, stretched forth her foot, and the herald siip d the glass slipper onto it as easily as if. it had been five sues trio big. instead of an exact fit. And at the same moment the faded cotton gown changed into a robe of silver and gold. "Now, Prince," said a chuckling voice, "I think you, throw off your disguise 1" And there stood Cinderella's god- mother, leaning on her ebony wand. The herald's companion flung back his hood, and the crowd raised joyful cheers, mixed with shouts of "Long live our young Prince 1" "Long live our little Princess 1" "Cinderella 1" squeaked the two ugly sisters, falling on their knees with a thump, "Cinderella, forgive us 1" "Who are these ladies, dear Princess i" asked the Prince, taking Cinderella by the hand to lead her to the golden coach with six green-clad footmen which had mysteriously rolled up a moment before. "My stepsisters," said Cinderella. "Then I suppose we must ask them to our wedding," re- marked the Prince, rather ruefully. "Of course we must 1" said . Cinderella, stepping into the golden coach. THERE was not a prettier cottage on the borders of the forest than that which was the home of Clare and Laura. `A beautiful rose-tree clambered over the little house, thrusting its clusters of small pink blossoms through the open windows, and nodding to Clare as though to say: "You are as sweet as we are, and the sun shines on us all." The roses did not nod their heads at Laura, for she was as selfish and unkind as Clare was lovable. Her face wore always a heavy frown, like her mother's; for she was the favourite child, and her mother could not bear to see that her, second daughter, for whom she had no spark of love, was so much the more attractive of the two: Dame Nature had been very kind to the little Clare. The roses had given their delicate colouring to her soft cheeks, and her pretty eyes were the hue of a purple pansy. The red of the crimson berries on the evergreens when winter ,came was, not more vivid than that of her lips, and her hair had the sheen of yellow corn when the sun is smiling on it. Laura could not look, at her without a pang of envy, and longed to drive her away from home. ,One bitter day in winter, when a waste of snow surrounded the cottage, and frozen icicles hung from the roof, Laura ask her mother if Clare might pick some violets in the woods fair her. "Violets 1" exclaimed the mother, "at this time of the y~~` Why, you must be dreaming, child 1 There is not a single flower in all the forest 1" But Laura insisted that Clare should be sent to seek for the flowers, and, unable to refuse her anything, her mother did as she was asked. "Db not come back without them, or it will be the worse for you," Laura called from the doorway, as she watched her little sister go shiveringly down the pathway that led to the forest. In its depths, she knew, there lurked gaunt grey wolves, and these were fierce with hunger. Clare knew this too, and her heart was faint with fear as she . passed through the grove of fir-trees. A cheery little robin hopped down from one of the branches, and sang a few bare of his winter song as if to comfort her: she had gone but a few paces further when she saw the red of his breast repeated in a glimmer of ruddy light in the distance. She hastened toward ' this, and found it came from a huge fire, round which were sitting twelve strange men. The faces of all. were kindly, but while three had long white beards and snowy garments, three golden beards and long green garments, three had auburn beards and yellow garments, and yet another triplet, with; long- black beards, were dressed in violet. One of the three whose hair was frosted looked up as she approached. °'stay I warm myself at the fire, kind sir l" she asked hi* timidly, and making room for the child at once, the greybeard asked her why she wandered alone in the forest in suoh bitter weather. "I was sent to pluck violets for my sister," Clare explained, and I dare not go home without them." At this her questioner turned to one of the three men who were robed in purple. "Violets are your concern, Brother May. Cannot you help the poor little thing q" he asked. "She will be frozen to death otherwise, for to-night 'twill be colder than ever." "To be sure I will," said Brother May, laying a gentle hand on Clare's fair hair; and taking the staff from the white-haired man, he poked thq fire. This was the signal for a most marvellous change in the forest. Ice and snow disappeared, and the air became soft and balmy: Birds sang in 'the branches overhead, and flowers sprang up as if by magic round the path which Clare had trodden. She filled ` her hands with frakrant violets, and thanked the brothers for their help. "You are welcome, dear ppild," they cried; and the old ma took back his staff again, and in his turn poked the fire., Once more it was winter, and Clare hastened home as quickly as she could. Both Laura and her mother were surprised to see her, for they had expected that she would lose her way. Laura snatched at the violets, only to toss them aside, and was so unkind for the rest of the day that when night came Clare sobbed herself to sleep in her little bed. Next morning she was again sent out in the snow. This time it was to seek wild strawberries in the forest, and her sister's look was so full of meaning as she said, "Do not come home with- out them 1" that the poor little maiden trembled with fear as well as with cold as she entered the gloomy wood. But the same friendly robin fluttered across her path, and, fol- lowing the direction in which he flew, to her great delight she saw again the ruddy glow of the fire. The twelve men were still seated round it, and Brother January took her by the hand. "Why are you here again, poor child i" he asked gently. "It would surely be wiser for you to stay at home while King Frost reigns over the land, for you are young and tender, and his grip is very cruel." I had to come, sir," Clare explained. "My sister said she must have ettawberries. We gathered some together in June last year:" Brother January turned to a companion dressed in flowing yellow. Strawberries are your concern, Brother June," he said. ~~It is for you now to come to the aid of our little friend." I I I will, do so with pleasure," said Brother dune, taking the staff held out to him, and giving the fire a vigorous poke. Again, the winter disappeared, the trees sprang into full leaf, and crim- son berries nestled amidst the creeping tendrils of the straw- berry-plant. Clare gathered as much of the sweet fruit as she could carry, and once more thanked her friends with a grateful smile. "You are welcome," they cried in chorus, and as Brother Jan- uary took back his staff Winter once more spread its mantle over the earth. Instead of being grateful for the delicious fruit, Laura was more vexed than ever to find that Clare had not been eaten by wolves. Her mother too looked at the poor girl angrily, and sent her out of her sight. Clare was barely awake next morning when she was told that she must go to the fores4et again and bring home some apples, for Laura had a fancy for them. "But it's so dark, dear Mother," cried Clare in terror. "Make haste and go," was the only answer, and as quickly as her numbed fingers would w her, Clare finished her simple toilet and started on her way, The robin was still, asleep, with his head tucked under bb wing, but a tiny 'wood mouse poked out his head from his not in: the foot of a hollow tree, as he heard her footsteps upon the fro"1t snow. `r.If you walk straight on, you will find your friends," he squeaked, and Clare thankfully followed his directions. Before long she was once more warming herself before the glowing fire, and the brothers were asking why she had been again sent to face the cold. I "Apples 1" cried Brother January, when she had told them. "Ah ! it's your concern now, Brother September." Forthwith September poked the fire, and, to 1 it was cheery autumn, and the ground was strewn with crimson and russet leaves. A tree of wild apples close beside her was laden with fruit. Brother September turned to the child with a kindly smile. "Gather two of them," he said. Clare picked two of the largest and finest, and when she had done so September handed back his *ff to January; he stirred the fire, and ice and snow reappeared. Laura did not try to hide her disappointment when Clare brought her the two apples. She ate them, however, and finding their flavour most delicious, ordered her sister to fetch her hood and cloak. She would go to the forest and gather some for her- self, she declared. "I shall find much finer ones than those you brought met" she added as she flounced away, refusing Clare's gentle offer. to go with her. The sun shone brightly on the sparkling snow, and she took the same path that her sister had done. The robin glanced at her from his bright dark eyes, but he did not attempt to slug. He was frightened by something he saw in her face; it was the spirit of greed and envy. After wandering about for some time, and, to her great disr gust, finding no fruit whatever, Laura at last caught sight"of the fire, with the twelve little men sitting round. Without a wq d of greet g, she pushed her *ay into their midst, and held out lli)r ;hands toward the glowirt embers. ` What do you want?" asked Brother January, somewhat nettled, by her rude manners: 41.bTothing from you l" she answered - roughly, scowling as she spoke: The old man poked the fire in silence, and the sky grew dark; she could no longer see the lithe Stan nor feel the warmth of their Are. - Snow began to fall he4vily and when Laura tried to make her wag home she found that the great flakes, dropping silently one on another, had made the path she had come by impossible to tread. She stumbled at last into a great drift, and was soon buried in its dep Her mother grew more aln more anxious about her as the day wore on, and when afternoon came set out to seek her in the forest. She also found her way to the glowing fire, and pushed rudely into the circle just as her daughter had done. When asked what she. wanted, she gave the same rude answer, with the same result. The 'old man poked the fire, and snow began to fall swiftly and silently. Very soon she too was buried in a glistening bank, and Clare had neither mother nor sister left. With all their faults she had loved them, and it would have been lonely for her in the cottage now, if it' had not been for her friends of the forest. As, each month of the year came round, one paid her a visit, bringing flowers or fruit, or glorious crim- son leaves. The white-bearded men alone came empty-handed, but these sat with her beside the fire, and told her wonderful stories of winter in many lands. In the course of time she be- came a good and beautiful woman, and wedded a Prince from a distant shore. HE people of Hamelin had much to make them happy--a pleasant town, with a deep green river running through it, cosy gabled houses, fair churches of carves stone, flow- meadows, and plenty of rosy-cheeked little boys and girls to go and pick the flowers on fine days. But the people of Hame- lin :had also something to make them very far from happy, and that was the terrible multitude of rats which insisted upon char- Ing their shops and houses with them. These rats were of. all colours and sizes that rats can be, black, white, .brown, and grey; some no bigger than mice and some as large as puppies. And they did a tremendous amount of damage, for they nibbled and ' munched everything they could reach, and the luckless people of Hamelin never succeeded in a single one of the attempts which they made to get rid of these unwelcome guests. They tried putting down. traps, and they tried putting down poison; in vain 1 They tried terriers, and they tried pussy-cats, and they f tried burning candles to the patron-saint of Hamelin, but al in vain I Then one $ne day the sound of a pipe was heard in the grey open market-square before the principal church, and the mer chants who ran out to hear the music saw that the piper was i very queer-looking fellow indeed, long and lank, with a swarth, skin and mysterious, mocking green eyes. But the oddest thing about him was his dress, which was, of ~two colours, -scarlet an( yellow, like the dress of some court fool As the people gathered round him, the piper stopped pipinj and began to sing, "Who lives sh, see . That I am he, The man who can catch rats I" When they heard the words of the song, the people were mucl excited. "Take him to the Mayor and the Town Council I" they criei all together. Now at that very moment the Mayor and the Tows Council happened to be holding yet another meeting to discus the plague of rats with which Hamelin was afflicted. The piper escorted by the chattering crowd, was brought before them. "Are you a ratcatcher i" asked the Mayor. "I am he who can catch rats," returned the stranger, speak ing with a strong foreign accent. "You have come to the right place, if you want a job," sail the Councillors. "So I understand. And I am willing to clear your town every rat that is in it before the sun sets to-night." "Sorcery, sorcery I" cried the crowd. "He is a wizard-4et w have nothing to do with him 1" "Peace I" said the Xayor, looking very big. "Leave it to thi Mayor-leave it to me." 'c VOit to th mayoj','~ Murmured AU the Councillors. gt" repeated' the stranger, "to clear Hamelin of r 'before slmset: But you must pay me, a silver florin for sil rat ver Horinfor every'rat," cried the crowd. "Why that mould oean'zffluioni of florins t He is mad 1" orin a head," said the pied piper. "Those are nay terms:,' ,. "Done 1" quoth the Mayor, finely. "rA bargain's a bargain. T* receive a florin a head." `j So ;l e it. ' 'The deed will be done at moonrise. I advise the people of , u ",to ;to remain within doors while I am at work. $xit. there is no reason why they should not look out of their *iudows. Till. moonrise, good sirs i And Twill now go to y refresh myself, for I have travelled many leagues'since n the piper had retired to his room at the inn; the people f Hamelin began to discuss the Mayor's bargain with; get energy: ; ' Some said that a florin a head would come to a terribly n of money. Some said the piper was an impostor. Others said that he was Satan himself. But the Councillors ' god their heads very wisely, and said, "Leave it, to the , Mt 4hoonrise the piper appeared in the market-place ' dat ago the sound of his pips heads were thrust from every win- dow for a mile round. At first he played s1ow1y and softly; but soon the tune became swift and gay, the sort of tune that sets ' tagging their heels and longing to dance. Then tliie ilooolo people heard another sound beside the music of the pipe--a p tit- tering, crea g, scampering sound, that grew louder d louder the longer the piper played And from every house and' eellar and barn, from every cupboard and garret and,bin, . Q ~greet army of rate canoe pouring into the market-place, alithe rate of Hamelin. ; `he piper:, looked round, and saw that they were all there. . piping, he set off toward the, deep green river that ~, rough the town. The rats followed hard upon his; heels. { the brink of the river he paused, removed his pipe.,, frna lips, and pointed to the middle of the flood, where the Mr- strongest: "Jt'you go!'? said he to the rats. Amd in they, went, one after another, by ,dozens, by scores„ by hundreds. It was after midnight when the last rat of , reulaed the river's brink, and he was the first to pause before , plug in. An aged rat was he, the chieftain of the rats Of "ke, . l your tribe there, Master , Whiteskin i" asked the. ' bey are all there," answered Master Whiteskin. `~ffew many bf them i" "Afire hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred axed , S'inst r' nine. "~d,.you count carefully, Master Whiteskin~" ' q counted carefull ," answered Master Whiteskin. . . 0'1n you go, then, m3 friend-and good luck to you 1'' ,. ` .^ Master Whiteskin leapt into the river, and vanished 4 the spree spot where the rest of his tribe had gone down. The, Piper t reupon returned to his inn, and the townspeople to their beds. 'here was peace in Hamelin that night-no crunchln& no Wing, no pattering, no creaking under the floor or &bind the wainscot. , The-next, morning the Town Council assembled in the To . n Mall, rejoicing loudly at the success of the pied piper's strata- A -few of the Councillors looked rather grave; they were thinking of the silver florins l But most of them believed. in.the wisdom of the Mayor, and you may be sure that he believed in it himself, most firmly. "Trust to me 1" he said, whenOver an;- one seemed anxious. ____ _--- __r__ The Council had not long been met together when the piper presented himself before them. "The rats of Hamelin are gone," declared he, "I could tell you whither, but I will not. tell. . It is enough for you to know that there were nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine, and that not one of them will return. Now .let us.settle the score. You ]mow our bargain." "Of course I do," said the Mayor. "A silver, florin a head. By all means: - Certainly. But where are the heads?" "The heads 1" repeated the piper, angrily. "The heads! If you want them you can go and look for them. I have told you how many there were. That is all that concerns you and me now." "Dear me, no 1" cried the Mayor, "A bargain is a bargain, Master Riper 1" And all; the Councillors repeated after him, "A bargain is a bargain, you know 1" "You have broken your part of the agreement," said the Mayor, ' so, of course, you cannot hold us to ours. But we do not. wish to appear ungrateful. Here are fifty florins." "I will not take your fifty florins," returned the piper, in a stern voic'e' while his green eyes glinted fiercely. "You shall pay me yet-but not in money. Fare ye well, ye wise Coun- cillors of Hamelin 1" With these words he stalked out. of the Town Hall, and back to his inn: "Ha, hat" laughed the Councillors, "what a foolish fellow 1 We have got rid of our rats, and we have saved fifty florins l Ha, ha 1" "I told you to leave it to me 1" said the Mayor, puffing with pride. The neat day was a Sunday, and all the townsfolk set oft be- times for chureh. They did not take their children with tbm to the first service of the day, but they looked forward to being welcomed by their rosy-checked little boys and girls on their return, and to eating their first Sunday dinner for many years which had not been nibbled beforehand by those wretched -rats. The service was over and all the fathers and mothers went rustling home in their Sunday clothes, but their houses seemed strangely dull and quiet. No little faces peeping out of the, win- dows, no little feet scampering down the stairs, no little voices calling to them to make haste, for it was almost dinner time! "Where are our children I " Soon all the people were running to and fro, asking each other that question, and hunting high and low, and calling the children by name to come forth from their hiding places, for their joke had lasted long enough. But the children' were not hiding, nor were they playing a trick upon their parents. They had vanished, and no trace of them, remained. , Presently some of the people who. had gone to seek for the lost children in the meadows at the, foot of a great hill on the outskirts of the town met a little lame boy, limping,homeward ,~ on his crutch and weeping bitterly. And from him they learned what h befallen the rest. While all the own-ups were at church, he said, the children heard the sound of the pied piper's pipe in the market-place, and ran out so that they might hear the better. Never was such sweet music i Soon they all began to dance and sing, crowding round the piper, and clinging to his scarlet and yellow sleeves. Whsn he began to march toward the meadows at the foot.of the great hill, they all followed him, skipping and jumping, and keeping time. to the merry airs he played. But when he real those. meadows, he did not stop. He went straight on "toward the mountain, and all the children followed. And when Ibe reached the mountain, he did not stop. He went straight 'on, and the mountain opened, and he walked into the'mountaiu, and all the children followed. All, that is to say, except the little , a orlpple. He could not run as fast as the others, and by the time he reached the mountain, the gap had closed again. On hearing these things, the people of Hamelin seized crow- bars and mattocks and hxirried to the mountain in the hope that they might fixed some crack olr seam, and open it up, and so follow and find the,piper and the children. Foremost among them was the Mayor, who had lost three dear little daughters and two handsome little sons. Poor an, never was he heard to say again, "Leave it to the Mayor l" a For the children did not come back. And what befell them, or where they went, nobody can tell for certain. Long years after, a company of merchants from Bremen chanced to visit Hamelin, and there they were told the story which you have just read here. These merchants were on their homeward way from a journey across Hungary and Trangyl- vania. And when they heard the story of the pied piper, they looked at one another, and nodded, and said, "Surely it must be so l" The people of Hamelin asked them what they meant. And their leader then explained that far away in the Transylvania mountains they had come across a village where the inhabitants spoke nothing but German, though everyone else in the land spoke Hungarian. These villagers were also much fairer than their neighbours, and different from them in various little ways. They themselves were not quite sure how they came to this strange land, but there was a tradition among them that their forefathers, had come from Germany in some mysterious way, long, long years before. "Now," said the merchants of Bremen, "is it not quite clear that those fair-haired Transylvanians are the descendants of those children whom the pied piper'led into yonder mountain t" "It' must be so," said the people of Hamelin. .A apples King 'had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were always counted, and about the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that every night one of them was gone. The King became very angry at this, and or- tiered the gardener to keep watch all night under the tree. The gardener set his eldest son to watch; but about twelve o'clock lie fell asleep, and in the morning another of the apples was mnissing. Then the second son was ordered to watch; and at midnight he-too fell asleep, and in the morning another apple ms gone. Then the third son offered to keep watch; but 'the gardener at first "would not let him, for fear some harm 'should come to him: however, at last he consented, and the'yo=g man laid himself under the tree to watch. As the clock struck,twel~e fro heard a rustling noise in the air; a bird, came flying that v of pure gold, and as it was snapping at one of the apps with its beak, the gardener's son jumped up and shot an arrow at it. But the arrow did the bird no harm; only it dropped a golden i iiV V Viv•Vii irli r& feather from its tail as it flew away. The golden feather was brought to the King in the morning, and all the Council was called together. Every one agreed that it was worth more than all the wealth of the kingdom: but the King said, "One feather is of no use to me, I must have the whole bird." Then g dener'e eldest son set. out and -thought to find the golden bi , very easily; ; he had gone but .a little way when he came to a wood, and by the aide of the wood he saw a fox sit- ting; ao he took his bow and made ready to shoot. Then the fox I 'Do not 4oot me, for I will give you good- counsel; I know what your business is, and that you want to find the golden bird. You will reach a village in the evening, and when you get there you will see two inns opposite to each other, one of which is very `pleasant and beautiful to look at; go not in there, but rest for the night in the other, though it may appear to you to be very poor and mean.'." But the soil thought, to himself, "What can such a beast as this know about the matter g'' go he shot his arrow at the fox; but he missed it, and it set up its tail above its back and ran into the wood. Then he went his, way, and in the evening came to the village where the two inns were; in one. of these were people singing, and dancing, and feasting, but the other looked very dirty and poor. I'lshould be very silly," said he, "if I went to that shabby home, and left this charming place"; so he went into the smart house, and ate and drank at his ease, and forgot the bird and his country too. Time passed 9p; and as the eldest son did not come back, and no tiding , )vere heard, of him, the second son set out, and the sameAtlaingIappev ',t4 him. $e met the fox who gave hum the s6tpe go+ , advice when be came to the, two inns, his eldest brother, was standing at the window where the merrymaking was, and called to him to come in; and he could not withstand 4 pUtion, but went in, and forgot the golden bird and dais co ry n the same manner. . ".ape passed on again, and the youngest son too wished, to. set out into the wide world to seek for, the g+a deu bird; but his father would not listen to it for a long while; r he was very fond of his son, and was afraid that some .ill, lick might happen to h also, and prevent his coming ba4L,, Ilowever, at last , t Was agreed he should go, for he would not rest at home; and as he came to the wood, he met the fog, and heard the same good eo==_ sel. But he was thankful tp the fox, and did not attempt his life as his brothers had done; so the fox said, "Sit upon my tail, and you will travel faster." So he sat down, and the fox began to run, and away they went., over stock and stone so quick that their hair whistled.! in the wind. When they came to the village, the son follow: the fox's counsel, and without looking about him went to the shabby inn and rested there all night at his ease. In the morning eatie the fox again, as he was beginning his journey, and midi "Go straight forward till you come to a castle, before which e,, a whole troop of soldiers fast asleep and snoring: -take no . *Otice of them, but go into the castle and pass on and on till you;, to a room where the golden bird sits in a wooden car;., by it stands a beautiful golden cage; but do not try to e tai bW out of the shabby cage and put it into the handsome a~thcp wise you will repent it."' %%eu the fog stretched out his tail again, and the youhg,man. sit Saplf down, and away they went over stock and stfto flU -whistled in the wind. . More the castle gate all was as the fox had said: so e~ n went in and found the chamber where the golden bird h g 4..a; wooden cage, and below stood the golden cage, and the tee' golden apples that had been lost were lying close by it. Then thought he to himself, 11 "It will be a very droll thing to bring away such a fine bird in thi,$ shabby cage"; so he' opened the door and took hold of, it and pat it into the golden cage. But the bird set up such aloud Scream that all the soldiers awoke, and they took him prisoner ,And carried him before the King. The nest morning the court a at to: judge him; and when all was heard, it sentenced him to cam,.. unless he should bring the Wig, the golden horse which ~~~d run as swiftly as the wind; and ifle did this, he was to have the golden bird given him for his own. So he set out once more on his journey', sighing, and in great despair, when on a: sudden his good friend the fox met him, and -mod, "You see now what has:`happened on account of your not listening to my counsel. I will still, however, tell you how to find the. golden horse,, if you will do as I bid you. You must go ' straight on till you come to the castle where the horse stands in his stall: by his side will lie the groom fast asleep and snoring: ' take away the horse quietly, but be sure to put the old le athern saddle . upon him, and not the golden one that is .;close. ;by it." Then the son sat:down on the fog's tail, and away they went over 'stock and stone till their hair whistled in the wind. went right, and the groom lay snoring with his hand. upon, the golden saddle. But when the son looked' at the horse, he thought, it a great pity to put the leathern saddle upon it. "I will. give him the good one," said he; "I am sure he de- Wires it." As he took up the golden saddle the groom awoke and ,rimed out so loud that•all the guards ran in and took him prisoner, and 4 the. morning he was again brought before the court to ~ be judg4'and was sentenced to die. But it was agreed that, if he could bring thither the beautiful Princess, he should livei and have the bird and the horse given him for his own. Thf he went his way again very sorrowful; but-the old hi came and said,, "Why did not you listen to me ! If you had, you would have carried away both the bird and the horse; yet will I once more give you counsel. At twelve o'clock at night the Princess goes to the bathing-house: go up to her and give her a kiss, and she will let you lead her away; but take care you do not suffer her to go and take leave of her father and mother." Then the fog stretched out his tail, and so away they went over stock and stone till their hair whistled again. As they came to the castle all was as the fox;had said, and at twelve o'clock the young man met the Princess going to the bath and gave her the kiss, and she agreed to run away with him, but begged with many tears that he would let her take leave of her father. At first he refused, but she wept still more and more, and fell at his feet, till at last he consented; but the moiineut she came to her father's house the guards awoke and he was taken prisoner again. Then he was brought before the King, and the King said, "You shall never have my daughter unless in eight days you dig away the hill that stops the view from my window." Now this hill was so big that the whole world could not take it away and when he had worked for seven days, ari '~had done very little, the fox came and said, "Lie down and go to sleep; I will work for you." And in the morning he awoke and the hill was gone; so he, went merrily to the King, and told him that now that it was re- moved he must give him the Princess. Then the King was obliged to keep his word, and away, went the young man and the Princess: and the fox came and said to "We will have all three; the Princess, the horse, and the bird.' "Ah 1" said the young man, that would be a great thing, but h9w osu you contrive it `1" . ;, 46If you will only listen," said the fox, "it can soon be done. Who you come to the King, and he asks for the beautiful Prim= am ym must-say, `$ere she is 1' Then he will be very jowl; and you will mount the golden horse `that they, are. to 'gi#e you, and put out your hand :take leave of thin; but shake hams with the Princess last. , Then, lift her quickly on to the horse behind you; clap your spurs to his aide, and gallop away as fast as you Can' All went right: then the fox said, "When you come to the tle where the bird is, I will stay with the Princess at the door, imd ou will ride in and speak to the Wig; and when be sees that it is the right horse be will bring out the bird; but you must pit Mill, and -sap that. you want.to look at it, to see whether it the true golden bird; and when you get it into your hand, ride away." This, too, happened as the fox said; they carried off the bird, the Princess mounted again, and they rode on to a great wood. 'Then the fox came, and said, I I Pray kill me, and cut, off my head and my,feet." But the young man refused to do it : so the fox said, '':I will at any rate give you good counsel beware of fro things; ransom no one from the gallows, and sit down by the side of no river." Then away he went. ;dWell," thought the young man, ~`it is no hard matter to keep that advice." He rode on with the Princess, till at last he came to the village where he had left his two brothers. And there he heard a great noise and uproar; and when he asked what was the matter, the people said, "Two men are going to be hanged." As he came near, be saw that the two men were his brothers, who had turned robbers; so he said, "Cannot they in-any way be sated 9" t the people said "No," unless he would bestow all. money upon the rascals and buy their liberty. Then he did not stay to think about the matter, but paid what was askec, and bin brothers wen given up, and went on with him toward their home: And as they came to the wood where the fox first met them, it, was so cool and pleasant that the two brothers said, "Let us sit down by the side of the river, and,rest-awhile, to eat and drink." So he said "Yes," and forgot the-fox's counsel, and sat down on the side of the river; and: while be'suspected nothing, they came behind,nd threw him down the dank, and took the Prin- cess, the horse, and the bird, and went home to the King their master, and said„ "All this have we won by our labour." Then there was great rejoicing made; but the horse woxdd not eat, the bird would not sing, and the Princess wept. The youngest son fell to the bottom of the river's bed: luckily it was nearly dry, but his bones were almost broken, and the bank was so steep that he could find no way to get out. Then the old fox came once more, and scolded him for not following his advice; otherwise no evil would have befallen him. ~~Yet," said he, `~I cannot leave you here, so lay hold of my tail and. hold fast." Then 'he pulled him out of the river, and said to him, as he got upon the bank, "Your brothers have set watch to kill you, if they find you in the kingdom." . So he dressed himself as a poor man, and came secretly to the King's court, and was scarcely within the doors when the horse . began to eat, and the bird began to sing, and the Princess left off weeping. Then he went to tie Sing, and told him all his brothers ',roguery; and they were seized and punished, and he had the Princess given to him again; and after the King's death he was heir to his kingdom. A long while after, he went to walk one day in the wood, and the old fox met him, and besought him with tears in his eyes to kill him, and cut off his head and feet. And at last he did sog ., and in a moment the fox was changed into a man, and turned; out to be the brother of the Princess, who had been lost a great many many years: N the city of Pekin, which, as everybody knows, is the capital. of China, there once lived a poor widow who had an only s m. His name was Aladdin: Instead of being a comfort a support to his mother, he would do nothing but play pranksall day. He never found any work to do, because he did not wish to find any, and therefore did not look for It. The widow tolled at her spinning-wheel f and, Aladdin scampered , `about the,etreets with other lads as idle as himself. fl o day a dark-skinned, queer-looking stranger halted! to watch .Aladdin' and his friends at play. He was a magieien from' A.; ca, and his magic art told him that Aladdin. 1iv` s: the very bay to help him. in an important experiment, vh eh he was'a ious to w$ke. He called him aside and asked. him if ,be wore not the son of Mustapha the tailor t Aladdin'' repl ed that he was, but that his father had been dead far some pew. At this news the African magician began to weep loudly. "Alas, my poor brother t" he sobbed, "shall I never see thee again f" 'Then, turning to Aladdin, he kissed him on both cheeks, :saying, "Dear nephew, greet your mother for me, give her thi& ~urseful of money,'"and tell: her that I, her brother-in- law, willrv dt her to-morrow." Whod' Aladd n told his mother what had happened she was much: puzzled, because she knew that her ;husband had had no brothers. , But the coins in the purse were good coins, so she plucked up 'heart, and made ready for the visit of` the' stranger. Toward dusk the magician arrived, and sat down to supper with the widow and her son. He continued to shed tears for his brother Mustapha, from whom he declared that he had parted more. than forte years before, and then, after many kind and friendly, speeches, asked 'Aladdin what trade or calling he had chosen to follow At thin question Aladdin blushed, and his mother began to When,the magician heard that his "nephew" had learnt, no trade-he: looked very grave, "I will set you up in a shop of your own," he declared, "I will fill it for you with the richest silken stuffs and the finest linens. Are you not the son of my poor brother' Mustapha # And to-morrow you must come with me to the tailor's, so that you maybe clothed as fits a wealthy merchant of Pekin." Aladdin was delighted at this idea, and his mother, falling on her knees at the magician's feet, no longer doubted that he was her brother-in-law. - The magician was as. good as his word, and when the widow saw her son iri hi~ fine new clothes she hardly recognized h After taking Ala?tldin with him to see the principal shops, ; the temples and fountains and gardens of the city, the Afrit `` magician led him out into the :open country, where there we steep mountains and deep ravines. Now," said he, ' I will show you marvels. Gather some sticks, and we will light a little fire." When Aladdin had made a little pile of sticks the magician muttered some words in a strange tongue, set fire to the wood, and flung some drops of perfume on it. A huge and dark pillar of smoke rose from the fire, the earth trembled and cracked as if in an earthquake, and at the feet of the astonished Aladdin ap- peared a square stone with a brass ring in the centre. "Aladdin," said the magician, "beneath that stone lies buried a treasure which no one but yourself can make his own. . But you must promise to obey me in all things." "I promise, uncle," returned Aladdin, cheerfully.. "Take hold of that ring then, utter the names of your father . and your grandfather, and lift the stone." Aladdin did as he was bidden, and lifted the heavy stone as easily a0 if it been made of wood. He then saw a steep flight of steps at the foot of which was a narrow door. `fl eten, my nephew," said the magician. "Beyond that door you will find three great halls, in which you will see great-tames of brass brimming with gold and silver. But gird your. gar;ftenta about you, and, if you value your life, touch nothing. Beyond the third hall you will reach a pleasant garden. But do not linger' there. Beyond the garden is a marble terrace, ana:'the marble there is a niche, and in the niche there is a lighted lamp. Take this lamp, blow out the flame, pour forth the oil, then put it in your bosom and bring it to me. On your way back you may, if you please, pluck some of the fruit in the garden.: Here is a ring which will protect you from danger. Put it on your,flnger. ` And how get you gone." 41 Aladdin promptly scrambled down the steps and entered the narrow door. Beyond, everything happened ezactli as the magician had foretold. On his way back, with the lamp care- fully tucked into his silken jacket, Aladdin remembered that he might pluck some of the fruit in the garden. It was very odd looking fruit, very hard, and bright, and cold, and could not possibly, he thought, be good to eat. Still, these balls of coloured glass, for so he imagined them to be; were exceedingly pretty. So he stuffed his pockets with them, little dreaming that they were rubies and sapphires, emeralds and diamonds and amethysts. Now, the African magician had never intended to allow Alad- din to come out of the underground cave at all. He had meant, as soon as. he got hold of the lamp, to push the boy down the steps and put the.heavy stone back in its place. But this wicked plan was not to succeed. "Pray, uncle," ' the boy called, as he tried to struggle up the steps with his heavy burden of jewels, "help me up 1" "(live me the lamp first," said the magician. "Indeed, uncle,, I cannot. But as soon as I am 'up I will gladly give it to you. I pray you, give me your hand 1" Then the magician fell into a fearful rage. He threw same more perfume on the fire, uttered some more words in a strange tongue, and, at.his command, the heavy stone moved back into its old place, completely blocking the entrance to the cave. Then, having given up hope of getting hold of the wonderful lamp, he returned that same day to his own land of Africa. Poor Aladdin was now in a sad plight. The door which led, into the magic garden would not open: and over his head was a heavy stone, shutting him off from the light of day. At first he called aloud, praying his uncle to have mercy, but there was no reply. After a time he lost hope-altogether, and, sitting on the staircase, wrung his hands deVair. In wringing his hands he happened to rub the ng which the magician had given him, and immediately a gigantic and fearful Genie stood before him, saying, "I am the Slave of the Ring! Conznaud, and I shall obey." When Aladdin had recovered from his terror, he replied, "Whoever thou art, set me free 1'-" - A moment later he found himself in the open air, at the place where the African magician had wrought his spells. (hear- joyed, Aladdin hurried home as fast as his legs would carry him. The widow was greatly astonished when she heard the story of her son's adventures, but she was as ignorant as he' of the value of the `fruit' which he had brought home. So, the next morning, when Aladdin woke up and asked for something to eat, she answered, "Alas, my son, I have neither food in the house, nor money to buy any. But I .have a little cotton to sell, which I spun yesterday." "Mother," said Aladdin, "let us keep the cotton for another time. I will take that old lamp which I brought back with me yesterday, and, if I sell it, we may have enough money to get us dinner and supper as well as breakfast." Aladdin's mother went and fetched the lamp. It looked very dull and grimy, and it occurred to her that her son might get more money for it if it were a little cleaner. So she began to scour it with fine sand. No sooner had she started rubbing than & huge and fearful Genie stood before her, saying, "I am the Slave of the Lamp. - Command, and I shall obey." The poor woman was so terrified that she fell down in a.fabit. But Aladdin, with great presekce of mind, seized the lamp and said to the Genie, "I am hungry. Bring me some food." An instant later the Genie set down upon the carpet a solid silver tray laden with covered dishes of the same precious metal; on it were also two silver goblets, two flagons of wine, and six loaves of the finest white bread. He then vanished, and Aladdin hastened to sprinkle water upon his mother's face in order to revive her from the swoon. + (treat was the astonishment of the poor woman when she opened her eyes. Aladdin had removed some of the lids from the covered dishes, and a most delicious smell greeted her nose. On learning where their breakfast came from, however,- she was much alarmed, and begged her son, with many tears, to have no further dealing with magic lamp&v.: ©ir Genii.. But Aladdin did not look at the matter from the sane point 'of view. The lamp, he declared, must be a great and wonderful possession; other- wise why should the magician have taken so much trouble about it f He would keep the lamp, but, as the sight of the Genie frightened his mother, he promised her that he would never rub the lamp or call up the Genie if she were anywhere near. The widow and her son lived very comfortably for several days upon the fare thus provided by the Slave of the Lamp. When they wanted money, all that Aladdin had to do was to sell one of the silver dishes or goblets, and when their stock of food ran out it was a simple matter to rub the wonderful lamp and call for more. By frequenting the shops of silversmiths and jewellers Alad- din soon learnt a great deal about precious stones, and' then lie was not slow, in realizing the real nature and the vast value of the `fruit' which he had gathered in the magic garden under- ground. One fine day when the young man was strolling along the principal street in Pekin he heard a royal herald proclaiming that everyone must at once go indoors, and that all windows should be shuttered and all shops dosed, while the Princess Badroulboudour, the Emperor's daughter, went to the baths, - and back to the palace again. Aladdin was immediately seized with an overwhelming desire to behold the face of the Princess. So he hid himself behind the outer door of the building where the- baths were situated, and peeped through the chink. Before long the Princess Badroulboudour arrived, in a scarlet litter, with hundreds of ladies-in-waiting and slaves walking on either dde. Upon the threshold she descended, and at the same time mhe threw back her veil. And Aladdin saw that she was as beau- tiful as the daughter of a famous monarch ought to be, beautiful as a slim green willow, as a bird-of-paradise, as a branch of wis- taria. , Aladdin returned to his mother's twoe IMIY frame. of mind. "What ails you, my son'? " asked the widow. "I love the Princess Badroulboudour," replied - Aladdin, "and as I cannot possibly live without her, I have determined . ~o ask her hand in marriage." ~`'~" The poor woman laughed, pleaded, trembled, argued; all as vain. , "Not only," said Aladdin, "have your words no effect, good mother, but I count upon your aid. You must be my messenger to the Emperor." This idea alarmed the widow tremendously. "My son," she exclaimed, "you have taken leave of your senses--you, whose father was one of the poorest tailors in Pek n, would dare ask the hand of the Princess Badroulboudour in marriage i" `I would," said Aladdin, "and, if you help me, I wall." .. "But," protested his mother, "I should never dare to open my mouth in the presence of the Emperor i At the very sight of him I should fall down upon my face with terror. And- you know that nobody dares approach an Emperor without offering him a rich gift. What have we that we could offer so great a . king i'' "We have," returned Aladdin calmly, "those rare fruits from the magic garden. Bring me your largest porcelain dish. We will arrange the jewels-for jewels they are, and rare ones according to their various colours. Then you will wrap the dish in a clean napkin and bear it to the palace. And you will see that the Emperor will not scorn our gift 1" When the widow saw the, beauty of the jewels, as they lay flashing a glittering in the dish, she felt less frightened. And the ~vext morning, carefully carrying her precious burden, ehe went to the great hall of 'the palace where the Emperor was wont to give audience to his people. But she could not screw =bw eourage to draw near the throne, and had to go home performing her son's errand. This happened three but on the fourth day the Grand Vizier approached her, vld, with a wave of his hand, bade her follow him. He led her bo the Emperor himself, and when she found herself face to with the monarch, Aladdin's mother bowed herself to the hissing the many-coloured carpet before the royal foot- s" 40$1m, good woman," said the Emperor, "and tell me why ps oome so often to my audience chamber, and yet never make bequest of me." ~0 King of Kings," returned Aladdin's mother, "I have in- (W a request to make of thee, and that a strange and amazing t Only I beg that thine ears alone may hear what I have to well The Emperor commanded everyone but the Grand Vizier to withdraw, and then bade the widow tell her story. This, she AK not without trembling, and in conclusion she formally re- pasted the hand of the beautiful Princess Badroulboudour on behalf of her son, at the same time laying the porcelain dish, M of precious stones at the feet of the Emperor. The Emperor was amazed and delighted at the beauty of the jewels. For a few minutgs he remained silent and motionless with admiration. Then he exclaimed to the Grand Vizier, IOLaok, and wonder I Were there ever such rare gems before? L not such a gift worthy of-the Princess my daughter?" The Oftud Vizier could not gainsay the beauty of the jewels, but . *u by no means pleased, for he had hoped that his own Id& be the bridegroom of the Princess Badroulboudour, 06 hef Amwered, "Truly this is no unworthy gift. But your M& j . Q* kmm nothing of the giver. Grant me, O Sing, a *"Of t months, and my son shall lay a yet nobler gift at ;fir No *e Emperor said to Aladdin's mother, ' I I do not , refuse 1 your prayer. But neither can I grant it forthwith. Come again, in three months from now. Full of joy, the widow hurried home to tell her son what the Emperor had said. Two of the three months had passed, when it chanced one eve- ning that Aladdin's mother had no oil In the house. So she went to the centre of the city to buy some. There she was sur- prised to find many signs of public rejoicing, banners flying, and silken carpets and green garlands hanging on the walls of the houses. Streams of richly dressed horsemen, and dozens of brightly lacquered palanquins, were pouring in the direction of the palace. Aladdin's mother asked the oil-merchant what was the cause of all this bustle. "Why," he exclaimed in surprise, "had you not heard that to,- night the son of the Grand Vizier is to be married to the beautiful Princess Badroulboudour, the Emperor's only daughter Full of dismay, the poor woman hurried home and told Alad- din this startling and unexpected news. After he had recovered from his first alarm, her son barred himself into his own room, ' seized the wonderful lamp, and rubbed it at the same spat as before. And immediately the Genie stood there with, bowed head, saying, "I am the Slave of the Lamp. Comman, and'I aw obey." "Genie," said Aladdin, "I have asked the hand of the beauti- ful Princess Badroulboudour in marriage. The Emperor promised that in three months he would grant my 'grayer. Two months only have passed. But to-night her wedding to the son of the Grand Vizier will take place. As soon ' as ,the bride and bridegroom are alone, bring them both hither i" "!bear and obey !" exclaimed the Genie, and. vanished. The Genie flew to the palace, took up the great bed of, carved scarlet lacquer to which the Grand Vizier's son and the Princess had retired, and, after carrying it swiftly through the air; set it down in the house of Aladdin's mother. Then he seized the bridegroom and locked him into a dark cupboard. Meanwhile Aladdin had fallen on one knee before the Princess, saying very humbly, "Oh, adorable and beautiful Princess, have no fear I No one shall harm you I The Emperor your father had prom- ised you to me in marriage, and it was in order to make him keep his vow that I carried you off in this sudden fashion. Sleep well, O Princess I And when morning comes; you shall be safely restored to the palace of your father I" Next morning the Genie did not wait to be summoned. He appeared betimes, released the bridegroom, laid him down again on the scarlet. lacquered bed, and transported the bed, the bride, and the bridegroom back to the palace. Greatly alarmed the bridegroom Bung himself at the Emper- or's feet and sought permission to give up his claim to the hand of the Princess Badroulboudour. This the Emperor granted, and the festivities came suddenly; to an end. As soon as the three months expired, Aladdin sent his mother again to the audience-chamber, and when the Emperor caught sight of: her he'. guessed what her errand must be. "(food woman," said the Emperor, "a Prince should always keep his word, and I am quite ready to keep mine. But your son must first send me forty trays of solid gold laden with jewels as fine as those which he offered me before; each tray must be carried by a black slave, and each black slave must be aecom-, panied by a handsome white slave in rich attire." Now, the Emperor, who did not wish to give his only daughter in marriage to a stranger imagined that he had set Aladdin an impossible task: and Aladdin's mother thought as he did. Not so Aladdin. The Slave of the Lamp promptly fulfilled the Em- peror's demands, and in the twinkling of an eye the house, of Aladdin's mother, and the garden behind, and the little street before it were crowded with white' and black slaves. Each black slave bore on his head a tray of solid gold spread with silver cloth embroidered with golden flowers, and each tray was laden with jewels even more dazzling than those which Aladdin had gathered in the magic garden underground. Aladdin did not choose to go witki the slaves to the palace. H~, preferred to make his mother his messenger once more. So the widow set off for the palace, followed by the forty black and the forty white slaves. ' When the Emperor saw how quickly and how generously Alad- din had fulfilled his. commands, all his doubts disappeared. He said to Aladdin's mother, "Tell your son to come hither, that I may embrace him, and that his marriage with my daughter may be celebrated without, delay." When Aladdin heard this joyful'news he hastened to retire to his own room and summon the Slave of the Lamp. "Genie," said Aladdin, "bring me the most. gorgeous gar- ments ever worn by a King upon his wedding-ay, bring. me a steed more beautiful than any in the Emperor's stables, and let its saddle and bridle be worth a million pieces of ;gold.' I shall need forty slaves, richly clad, to attend upon me. For my mother, bring six female slaves, all robed more magnificently than any in the service of the Princess Badroulboudour, and each bearing a gown fit to be worn by the bride bf a great King. I shall also require ten purses, each containing a thousand pieces of gold." When the Genie had obeyed, Aladdin handed four of the ten purses to his mother, while he gave the remaining six to the same , number of slaves, whom he commanded to walk before him, three on either side, and scatter gold among the crowd as the proces- sion wended its way to the Emperor's palace. When the Emperor beheld his son-in-law he was filled with astonishment and delight. He gave orders that the wedding fes- tivities should begin at once. But Aladdin answered, I10 King of Sings, let us tarry until I have built a palace fit to be inhab- ited by the beautiful Princess Badroulboudour. Is there any space near your Majesty's own palace upon which I may be per- mitted to build?" "Build wherever you will 1" returned the Emperor. So Aladdin went home, and summoned the faithful Genie, and gave orders that a palace should be erected ear that of the Em- peror, but far more beautiful than his. It was to be built of col- oured marble and rare stones, porphyry, jasper, malachite, and lapis lazuli,. All the' windows save one were to be filled with precious jewels; that -one was to be left blank. Great was the astonishment of the, Emperor when he looked forth and beheld this dazzling sight. Hardly had he and the Grand Vizier recovered from their surprise when Aladdin's mother appeared, richly clad, and attended by her six female slaves. The good woman was led straight to the Princess Bad- roulboudour, by whom she was received with much politeness, and to whom she brought a gift of marvellous jewels from Aladdin: . That same day the `wedding of Aladdin and the Princess was celebrated with so much splendour that many scribes, writing for many weeks, could not describe it all. On the morrow, the bride- groom invited the Emperor, the Grand Vizier, and the whole court to a banquet in his palace. The Emperor uttered loud exclamations of wonder as his son- in-law led him from one gorgeous apartment to another. When they reached the window which had been left blank, Aladdin said, "O King of Kings, I gave orders that this window should be left thus, so, that your Majesty should honour me by coujg t- Ing it." M , This idea greatly pleased the Emperor. He gave orders to his most cunning jewellers that they should finish the window. But at the end of a month it was still unfinished, though the workmen had used up all the jewels the Emperor could give them, and all that he had been able to borrow, from the Grand Vizier: At the end of the month, when. the window was still only half- finished, Aladdin bade the jewellers undo all that they had done, and restore the jewels to the Emperor and the Grand Vizier. When the Emperor came to ask Aladdin why he had acted as he had, the Genie had already filled the blank window with gems as lovely as those which filled the other windows in the same hall. For several years Aladdin and the beautiful Princess Bad- roulboudour lived very happily in their splendid palace. Alad- din never rode forth without having a slave on either hand of -him who scattered gold among the people. So he soon became exceedingly popular, not only in Pekin, but throughout China, and the fame of his wealth and his kind-heartedness spread all over the world. . Now the African magician, who had returned to Africa leav- ing Aladdin buried in the underground vault, found out,- with the aid of his magic arts, what had happened to the; young man afterward. When he learnt of Aladdin's inarri4ge with the beautiful Princess Badroulboudour, and of the magnificence in which they dwelt, he became terribly angry, mount~JkhTA'.Magic horse, and never drew rein until he reached the cifp,~f Nkin. When the African magician beheld Aladdin's palace, he knew at once that it was the handiwork of the Slave of the Lamp. Greatly annoyed, he returned to the inn where he lodged, bolted himself into his room, and proceeded, bymeans of his magic arts, to find out exactly what Aladdin was doing at that moment. Aladdin chanced to be out hunting, and, of course, he had not taken the wonderful lamp with him. When the magician had learnt these facts he hastened to a coppersmith's shop and bought a dozen copper lamps. These he stowed in a basket, which he carried on his arm, and he then went straight to Alad- din's palace. As he drew near he began to cry with a loud voice, ``New- lamps: for old, new lamps for old, who will give an old lamp and take a new one for it g" Now, the beautiful Princess Badroulboudour heard this strange cry, and she suddenly remembered the tarnished-looking old lamp which her husband kept on a shelf in his room. So she bade one of the servants fetch it, and offer it to the pedlar in exchange for a new one. When the African magician saw the wonderful lamp in the servant's hand he snatched it from him, hurriedly gave him a new copper one, and made his way back to the inn as fast as his legs would carry him. There he immediately rubbed. the lamp, and when the Genie appeared, said, "I command you to transport me, and the palace which. you have built in this city, and all the people in that palace, to Africa, without delay 1" In the twinkling of an eye his command was obeyed. He, and the palace, .and everyone therein, were snatched up into the air and carried to the heart of Africa, where the Genie set them all down. Next morning, when the Emperor arose he went to the win- dow, as his custom was, to refresh himself with a peep at Alad- din's palace. But there was no palace to be seen! The Em- peror rubbed his eyes. What had happened I Where was the palace 4 He hastily, summoned the Grand Vizier, and put the question to him. "Your Majesty," returned the Grand Vizier, "asks me where the palace of Aladdin maybe. I cannot tell. It is certainly not here. But I have always expected it to vanish some day, as the works of magicians are wont to vanish 1" At the words of the Grand Vizier the Emperor became terribly angry. "Go," he said, "await the villain as he returns from hunt- ing, bind him with chains, hand and foot, and bring him hither, that I may have his head struck from his shoulders 1" Nothing loath, the Grand Vizier hurried away to carry out the royal commands. But when the people saw their beloved Aladdin being led cap- t vo tfi o e 6treets of, the cit q' hey became so much excited, . an& rde so much clamour and uproar,,,that the Emperor was wed: So he made the executioner sheathe his sword, and ^nno=eed to the crowd that Aladdin, had been' pardoned, and . t'they might therefore return peacetllg to their homes. e STst thing that Aladdin did; when he found himself face- to-face with the Emperor, was to demand indignantly why he had been thus seized and loaded.with chains. "Wretch," replied the Emperor, -"where is your palace 1. Where is my daughter g" -,Aladdin looked out of the window, and ;saw, to his dismay, that the palace had vanished s utterly. as if it had never, been. To the Emperor he said, " $.iRg df Kings, I know not, by what means my palace has been removed, neither do I know -where it may be 1 Grant me..but flirty days' grace, that I -may make enquiry. If at the end of that time I halve not discovered "' the whereabouts of theL Princess' and the palace, I will lay MY head upon your royal footstool and submit to whatever fate you, . , y decree forine." : . . "So be it," replied the Emperor, "but if you fail to find' .tpnty daughter;' do not hope to escape the consequenceq of 'My wrath lu . , _ z-- For three days Aladdin wandered up and down; and far and wile, but he found to trace of the palace or of the~Prineess ` ` . e-thirdyday, toward nightfall, he came to the banks of a br4d )Oer, and there he sat down, weeping and wringing leis han&' wring ug,liis hands he chanced to rub the magic ring, and°an tant later the same Genie whom he had seen in the cave *Wd. , w bare zaglng, "I am the Slave of the Ring. Com d; a d-I shall obey!" "Genie," cried Aladdin, ~I command you to take V#`paja,; ,Aerever it maybe, .,and set it down again in ite old p , ' . . "."To4ey is not in my power," returned the Gene; I iYt t ~ ask b rer the .8la q of-the Lamp. . r ,. "Well, then," said Aladdin, "wherever my palace may now be, take me thither, and set me down below the window of my wife, the beautiful Princess Badroulboudour." This time the Genie had no difficulty in obeying. And a mo- ment later Aladdin found himself in the heart of; Africa. It chanced that at that very moment the Princess Badroul- boudour looked out of her window. What was her astonish- ment when she beheld Aladdin standing beneath it l She opened the window, leaned over, and made'wsip to Aladdin to enter the palace, which he was only too delighted to do. After they had shed many tears of joy at `their reunion, din said, "I beg you, mgst beautiful Princess, for your own, uake, and also for the sake of the Emperor your father, to tell. ~- me what has happened to the old lamp which I left. on the shelf, in my robing-room when I went out. hunting; i" "Alas, my dear husband," answered :Badroulbotidour, ", feared that the loss of the lamp might be the cause of our rowel And the fault is mine l ~'Do not grieve, dear Princess;" said . ddin, "but tell me w into whose hands t has fallen." The Princess.then told' hire how the pedlar had offered new lamps for old, and how she had made the fatal exchange: them how, when she awoke on the following morning, she had found ; herself in the heart of Africa, The African magician carne we her every day, she added,-and tried to persuade her to forger ~Aladdin and accept him for-her husband instead. And in the innermost folds of his time: she had seen the wonderful lamp, ~x,Way, he had even drawn it forth on one occasion, and shomm to eaaultin a%autiful Princess," e imed Aladdin, "the magician a ;: rooundrel, but I wWI ow, you a way 'by which we ;V# the better of him .1 Tak :thin_ little packet of powder, it in a goblet' of wine..'. When the African arm vldt you to-night, invite bun to dank with. yott. He. wilt ~ ;k refuse an honour so great. And when he has quaffed the goblet to the dregs-you will see what will happen 1" The Princess promised to obey, and Aladdin then left her, and hid himself in the neighbourhood of the palace. That evening the African magician arrived punctually at the usual hour. No sooner was he seated than the Princess Bad- roulboudour very politely offered him a goblet of wine. De- lighted at this sign of favour, the magician hastened to drain the wine to the very last drop. A moment later he fell, backward dead. At a signal from the Princess, Aladdin now came out of his hiding-place, slipped into the palace, and, when his wife and her attendants had withdrawn to another room, approached the dead body of the African magician and recovered the wonderful lamp. The next morning the Emperor was looking sadly out of his palace window at Pekin, when suddenly he began to rub his eyes. There, where the night before there had been a'stretch of waste land, Aladdin's palace now stood again in all its former splendour. The delight of the Emperor and the dismay of the jealous Grand Vizier may be imagined. As the Emperor had no sons, Aladdin in due course succeeded him upon the throne, and ruled long and happily with his Empress, the beautiful Badroulbou- dour. History relates that they had a large family of sons and daughters as beautiful as she. ON(I ago, in the fair land of Piedmont, there lived a rich merchant who had an only son. The child was very quick-witted and intelligent, and the father was anxious to give him the best possible education. So, while he was still quite a little fellow, he sent him away to school. Ten years passed, and the merchant was delighted to think what a learned youth his son must have become, and how many languages and arts and sciences he must have mastered At the end of the ten years the head of the school wrote to the father to come and fetch his boy, as he could teach him nothing more. The mer- chant, nothing loath, obeyed, and when he and his son re- turned home, he invited many of his best friends to a noble banquet, so that they should have an opportunity of seeing for themselves how well the boy had profited by his ten years' study. After the banquet, one of the guests turned to the hero of the Lour and said, "Come now, tell us some of the fine things you Lave learnt at school l'' "81r, I have learnt the language of dogs, frogs and birds." On hearing this the whole company burst out laughing. Everyone thought this was a very good joke. Everyone, that is to say, except the merchant. So angry was he, and so much ashamed, he handed over his son .to two faithful servants, and ordered them to take him out into a lonely wood and slay him there. The servants were less cruel than their master. Warning the boy to fly as fast and as far as he could, they left him in the wood, and returned as if their task had been duly fulfilled. The poor youth would have been very solitary and sad, had he not been able to talk to the birds in the trees, and to understand what they were saying to one another. He wandered on and on till he came to a high castle, with frowning towers and massy walls. This was the home of the Treasurer to whom the Prince of the country had confided great stores of silver and gold. The boy resented himself at the portal, and begged for a night's lodging. . "Come in," said the porter, and welcome." Hardly had the boy entered the courtyard of the castle when he noticed a large number of dogs, -and heard them barking and yelping to each other. "To-Bight the robbers will attack this place," barked one of the hounds, and the others all barked back, "To-night, to-night I" Our young friend hurried to the porter and asked to have speech with the lord of the castle. At first the porter only laughed. But the lad was so earnest, he finally let him have . his way. Great was the astonishment of the Prince's Tx s- urer when he learnt what his hounds had been saying bene th his window. But he was a wise man, who knew that the world is full of wonders, and, instead of laughing, he posted two'huddred archers in ambush beyond the castle walls. When all was dark and silent, the robbers came stealing over the hill. But to their surprise and sorrow they found that the Treasuret and his men were wide awake, and waiting for them. ";~ `l what reward you will,.", said the Treasurer to the boy who had learned the language of the. beasts, I `I have an only daughter, and even if you should ask her hand in marriage, it shall be yours." "I thank you, Sir," returned the boy, "but I must not tarry now. Perhaps I may return in a year and three days." So he bade the Treasurer farewell, and journeyed on his way again, many miles over high hills and through deep forests. At last he came to a fair city, in the middle of which was a palace of many-coloured marble. Round the palace was a moat, and in the palace was a Princess, who could not sleep because the frogs in the moat kept up such a terrific croaking all night long. The King her father offered the hand of the Princess in marriage to him who could find the cause of the frogs' croaking and per- suade them to cease. Our young friend listened intently, and he heard one old frog say, "Why did the Princess drop a golden cross into the moat 9 We cannot rest while there is a golden cross in our moat 1" And all the little frogs answered, "Of course we cannot rest while there is a golden cross in our moat 1 Croak, croak, croak!" Then the boy hurried to the presence of the King, and told him that as the frogs were heathens, and not Christians, they would never cease croaking until the golden cross which the Princess had dropped into their moat should be fished out again. So men came with hooks and nets, and brought the golden cross to the light of day once more, and the frogs ceased to make the night hideous with their harsh cries. "You have won the hand of my daughter," said the King. "The wedding shall be celebrated without delay." "I thankwyour Majesty," returned the boy, "but I must not IM27 now. Perhaps--who knows l I may come back a year Wd three days hence." After that he turned his face toward & , -And as he was plodding on his way toward that famous •24py city, he fell in with two young men who were bound thither also, and who were to be ordained priests by the aged and saintly Pope. They talked together awhile, and were so well pleased with each other's company that they agreed to re- main together for the rest of their journey. One sunny day, when they were weary, they laid themselves down to rest under a great oak-tree. And immediately a vast . flock of birds flew into the green branches and sang so joyfully that the three travellers could not get one wink of sleep. "How loud those birds sing I" said one of the young men, "I wonder what they are saying I" "I can soon tell you," returned our friend. "They are re- joicing because our good old Pope is going soon to Paradise, and they say that one of us three shall be the Pope after him." When the three pilgrims reached Rome, and as they entered the gate of the city, a white dove flew down from the clouds, andi, after hovering above their heads for a moment, alighted upon the shoulder of the boy who had learned the language of the beasts. Everyone who saw it marvelled. The boy had, in the meantime, resolved to follow the example of his two fellow pilgrims and become a priest. And then it came to pass not long afterward that the aged Pope was called to Paradise, and a very young Pope was chosen to fill his place. One of the first deeds of the new Pontiff was to summon to his presence the Treasurer of the Prince of Piedmont, the King whose daughter had been kept awake by the frogs, and a certain Piedmontese .merchant, a childless and unhappy man. All three obeyed the summons tremblingly, each wondering what he had done amiss that the Pope knew about. To the first two his Holiness gave rich gifts. To the merchant he said, "Had you . not a son, once I" Weeping, the merchant replied, "Your Holiness, I had. But I lost him through my own wickedness." "How was that I" asked the Pope. `'Alas, Holy Father, I doomed him to death because instead of learoi# g lessons such as other children learn he spent ten years studying the language of beasts." "Look at me, old man," said the Pope. "Do you not remem- ber your son?" Then the merchant fell on his knees, imploring pardon. "Freely are you pardoned, Sir," said the young Pope, rais- ing up" he, old man and embracing him, "though cruelly have you, deft; by me. And," he added, with a smile, as he turned to the Treasurer of the Prince of Piedmont and the Sing whose daughter had been kept awake by frogs, "strangely enough, that learning by which you set so little store once .deserved the gratitude of these two gentlemen 1" When they had been 'royally entertained by,the Pope, the Treasurer and the King returned each to his own castle. But the old merchant remained with his son in Rome until the end of his days. IN Upland, which is a part of Sweden, there once lived a goad woman who had an only daughter. All the other girls of the village were clever with their hands, and could weave and spin and knit and sew; but the old woman's daughter would do none of these things, and liked much better to At with.folded bands, watching the clouds in summer, and in winter-time watch ing the logs sparkle on the hearth. For a longtime the mother was patient, for she was proud of her daughter's beauty as well. as being, ashamed of her idleness. But at last she decided that something must be done. So she made the girl sift with " w. her spinning-wheel on the roof of the cottage. "Now," said' she, ``spin, or the whole village will see how lazy you are." . It seemed, however, that the daughter did not care if the whole village should see how lazy she was. She found it more amusing to sit upon the roof than to sit indoors. She could see every- thing that was going on, not only in the village, but in the mead- ows which surrounded it. One dav. as she sat beside her silent spinninx-wheel, she saw some horsemen in green cloaks trotting along the highroad. Foremost rode a young man whose array was richer than that of the rest, and who had a huntingi-horn of ivory and gold slung around his shoulder. He was the King's only son, going to the chase. - As he rode through the village, the Prince:maised his eyes and saw the girl sitting on the-roof beside her spinning-wheel. Much puzzled, he-reined up his prancing steed, and demanded to know why she should sit there to spin. "My lord," answered the girl's mother, "it is so that all the world may see how clever she is. And she is very clever. She can spin gold out of clay and straw.'' The Prince, of course, did not understand that the good dame was only joking. "If that be so," said he, "she shall come home to the palace with me, and be my bride. For she is far prettier than any of the Princesses whom my father and mother want me to marry, and I am sure that none of them is as clever." So the girl came down from the roof, and combed her long hair, and put on her cleanest white smock and her brightest em- broidered apron, and her best string of amber beads, and went home with the Prince to his father's palace. The King and Queen were astonished to see her, and to hear from their son that he had chosen her for his bride. But they were still more astonished when they heard the reason for his choice. "If," said the King, "this maiden can truly spin pure gold from clay and straw, I am willing to receive her as a daughter- in-law. But not otherwise 1" "We must make sure," added the Queen. "She had better be looked up in the. highest tower of the palace, with a bucket of dV and a bundle of straw. Then, if she has spun them into odd to-morrow morning, she shall be our son's bride. But &s is an impostor, she shall die." TM Prince thought that these terms were - somewhat severe, but the wl ole;~Purt agreed with tlw Queen. And.whatever'her ~rlaj ty`~~,< s Majesty usually said, too t Whenl found herself all alone in the high tower with only a:wheel, a bucket of clay and a bundle of straw for company; she. sat and wept bitterly, for she felt sure that the next day woul 0be $er last. As she sat weeping, she heard a Ii t patter of footsteps on the floor; and a moment later a little, queaky voice asked what was amiss that she should be so sad. The girl looked up, and saw a dwarf standing before her. Dwarfs, especially fairy dwarfs, are seldom handsome. But this was the ugliest dwarf in all the ~" history of goblins, imps, and elves. "I have much reason to be sad," returned the girl, "for un- less I have spun this clay and straw into pure gold by to-morrow morning, I must die:I I "'Is that all?" said the dwarf. "Why, then,- I can help you. Do you see this pair, of gloves ? When you have put them, on you will be able to spin gold out of anything you please.'," The girl was delighted at this unexpected kindness, and began to thank the dwarf very politely, but he held up one of his little shrivelled hands to cut short the thanks. "'You must not," said he, "you must not think that I want no reward. Before I agree to lend you these gloves you must promise that, unless you can tell me my name when I return at ~nrise to-morrow, you will come with me to the forest, and be . qty bride l" . `In her.despair the girl agreed to these hard terms, and as soon as the dwarf had vanished she pulled. on the magic gloves and &gau to. spin. Long before sunrise all the clay and all the straw had been spun into great masses of glittering red gold. When the King and Queen climbed up into the tower, they, were dazzled at the sight of so much wealth. And, as the spin- ner was -fair to look upon, and good and gentle, they agreed that their son was fortunate to have found such -a bride. Preparations for the wedding were immedia ` . begun. I,+ But the bride had tears in her eyes -all the time. Pyine.0 said many gallant and polite things to her, before h ~t out hunt- ing, but he could not win a single dicker of He from her in reply. When he returned from the chase toward amset he found his bride as silent and as sorrowful as ever. "Is it,'' ~he asked her, "because you do not wish to marry me that you' are so sad I" "Oh, no t" answered the girl. And, indeed, she already loved the Prides- with all her, heart. But she had not the courage to , , tell him about her promise to the dwarf. "Well;"" said the Prince, "perhaps it may amuse you to hear about a little adventure which befell me when I was out hunting to-day.' ; The bride said that she would like very much to hear about it, and the Prince then began, "I was walking in a grove of junipers; all alone, with none of my companions anywhere near. I heard somebody singing, in a queer, squeaky voice. I tip- toed in the direction whence the voice came, and there I saw the quaintest little old man dancing round one of the juniper trees." "What &d he sings" asked the girl, eagerly; for she guessed that the littler old man was none other than the dwarf who had lent her the magic gloves the night before, and whom she dreaded so much to see again. "He sang,' ' "To-morrow is my-wedding-day, But the maiden weeps, and well she may, The maiden :seeps, and is wan with woe, For she does. not know-and how could she knowf That my name is-Titelli-Ture1" To the astonishment of the Prince, all the sadness of his young bride vanished when she had heard the words of the dwarf's y song. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and looked a hun- dred times prettier than before, and began to tally quite cheer- fully to bim And the King and Queen.' But she did not think it neceksary to tell the reason of her joy. At moonrise that night, when the girl was alone in her room in the high tower, the dwarf suddenly appeared before her: The moment she beheld him she. took the gloves and tossed _ ahem toward him, saying, "Thank you, Titelli-Ture, thank Y'ou l" When he heard his own name the dwarf uttered one loud roar of rage, ,and flew away, taking with him the whole roof of the palace l Luckily, it was fine weather, so no rain came through the ceiling and spoilt the wedding-banquet or the gay .garb of the wedding-guests. And, of course, the gold that the brlde'had spun was more than enough to pay for a new roof far . be qr than the old one which Titelli-Ture had carried away t. him. He was never heard of in that part I Sweden again. ~~ . NCE upon a time a Brahman, that is to say, a mer of the highest caste among the Hindus, who was wa1~- ing along the road, came upon an iron cage in which a;,, great Tiger had been shut up by the villagers who had caught him. As the Brahman passed by, the Tiger called out and said to .. him, "Brother Brahman, brother Brahman, have pity on me,. and let me out of this cage for one minute only, to drink a littfe * water, for I am dyipg of thirst." The Brahman .answered, "No, I will not; for if I let you out of the cage you will eat me." "Oh, father of mercy," answered the Tiger, "in truth that will I not. I will. never be so ungrateful,; only let me out, that I may drink some water and return." Then the Brahman took pity on him, and opened the cage doo:; but no sooner had he done so than the Tiger, jumping out, wid "Now, I will eat you first, and drink the water afterward." But the Brahman said, Only do nat kill me hastily. Let first ask the opinion of six, and if all of them spy it is d ;just , fair that you ;should put me to death,"then I am.willing to " «Very well," answered the Tiger, "it shall be as 7014 a' "ve will first ask the opinion of So the Brahman and the Tiger walked on till they came to a Banyan tree; and the Brahman said to it, "Banyan tree Ban- yan tree, hear and give judgment." "On what must I give judgment V asked the Banyan tree. "This Tiger," said the Brahman, "begged me to let him out of his cage to drink a little water, and he promised not to hurt me if I did so; but now that I have let him out he wishes to eat me. Is it just that he should do so, or no g" " The Banyan tree answered, "Men often come to take refuge in the cool shade under my boughs from the scorching rays of the sun; but when they have rested, they cut and break my pretty branches, and wantonly scatter the leaves that sheltered them. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are an ungrateful race." :At. these words the Tiger would have instantly killed the Brahman; ,fit the Brahman said, "Tiger, Tiger, you must not kill me" yet, for you promised that we should first hear the judg- ment of six.''- "Very well," said the Tiger, and they went on their way. After a little while they met a Camel. "Sir Camel, Sir Camel," cried the Brahman, "hear and give judgment." "On what shall I give judgment?" asked the Camel. And the Brahman related how the Tiger had begged him to open,the cage door, and promised not to eat him if he did so; and how' he had afterward determined to break his word, and asked if that were just or not The Camel replied, "When I was young and strong, and could do much work, my master took care of me and gave we good food; but now that I am old, and have lost all my strength in his service,: he overloads me, and starves me, and beats me with- out mercy. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are an unjust and cruel race." The Tiger would then have killed the Brahman, but the 1 tier said, "Stop, Tiger, for we must first hear the judgment of~~ix-" So they both went again on their way. At a little distance they found a Bullock lying by the roadside. The Brahman said to him, "Brother Bullock, brother Bullock, hear and give judg- ment." "On what must I give judgment I" asked the Bullock. The,Brahman answered, a "I found this Tiger in a cage, and he prayed me to open the door and let him out to drink a little water, and promised not to kill me if I did so; but when I had let him out he resolved to put me to death. Is it fair he should do so or not I" The Bullock said, "When I was able to work, my master fed me well and tended me carefully, but now I am old he has for- gotten all -I did for him, and left me by the roadside to die. Let „, be Tiger eat the man, for men have no pity." " k ."Three out of the six had given judgment against the Brah- n ari, but still he did not lose hope, and determined to ask the other three. They next met an Eagle flying through the air, to whom the Brahman cried, "0, Eagle, great Eagle, hear and give judg- ment." "On what must I give judgment I" asked the Eagle. The Brahman stated the case, but the Eagle answered, "Whenever men see me they try to shoot me; they climb the rocks and steal away my little ones. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are the persecutors of the earth." Then the Tiger began to roar, and said, "The judgment 'of all is against you, 0 Brahman." . But the Brahman answered, "Stay yet a little longer, for two others must first be asked." After this they saw an Alligator, and the Brahman related the v matter to him, hoping for a more favourable verdict. But the Alligator said, "Whenever I put my nose out of the water men torment me, and try to kill me. Let the Tiger eat the man, for as long as men live we shall have no rest." The Brahman gave himself up as lost; but once more he prayed the Tiger to have patience; and to let him ask the opinion of the sixth judge. Now the sixth was a Jackal. The Brahman again told his story, and said to him, "Uncle Jackal, Uncle Jackal, say what is your judgment g" The Jackal answered, "It is impossible for me to decide who is in the right and who in the wrong, unless I see the exact posi- tion in which you were when the dispute began. Show me the place." So the Brahman and the Tiger returned to the place where they first met, and the Jackal went with them. When they got there the Jackal said, "Now, Brahman, show me exactly where you stood." , "Here," said the Brahman, standing by the irou.tig6r-cwt. : "Exactly there, was it g" asked the Jackal. "Exactly here," replied the Brahman. "Where was the Tiger, then i" asked the Jackal. "In the cage," answered the Tiger. "How do you mean g" said the Jackal, how were you within the cage; which way were you looking "Why, I stood so," said the Tiger, jumping into the cage, "and my head was on this side." "Very good," said the Jackal, `but I cannot judge without . understanding the whole matter exactly. Was the cage door open or shut t" "Shut, and bolted," said the Brahman. "Then shut and bolt it," said the Jackal. When the Brahman had done this, the Jackal said, "Oh, you e wicked and ungrateful Tiger 1 The good Brahman opened Stour up door, and is to eat him the only return you would make 4 Stay there, then, for the rest of your.days, for no one `avid ever let you out again. Proceed on your journey, friend Brabman. Your road lies that way, and mine this:" So saying, the Jackal ran off in one direction, anti the Brah- man went rejoicing on his way.,in the other. THERE was once a King who had two treasures which he prized above everything else in the world-his beautiful Queen, and his pet donkey. No Queen was like his. And, certainly, no donkey was like his, either; for every morning the straw in its stable was heaped high with coins of pure gold. At last the Queen fell sick unto death, and when she was dying she made the weeping King promise that he would never marry again unless he found a Princess' as beautiful as herself. They had no children of their own, but she left in his care a little Princess whom she had loved dearly, and who was the prettiest child in the whole kingdom. For several, years the King would do nothing but weep for his lost Queen. Then his people,' and his bishops, and his coup cillors, all urged him to marry again, and heralds were sent far and wide to see if they could find a bride for him as beautiful as his bride of former days. But they could not find one. . In the meantime the little Princess had grown up into a charming girl, as clever and as good as, vas pretty: one fe day the King declared that, snce people, and his bishops, and his councillors, were all so anxious that he should marr:' he would do as they wished, provided the young Princess was *sill ing to take him for her husband. But the young Princess v~aa not willing. Far from it. In her distress, the poor girl remembered that she had a f4ity-godmother, the Fairy of the Lilacs. So she harnessed her pet lamb to a little carriage, and set off in quest of her. The lamb' knew the way to the fairy's house, and soon landed his mistress there. "My child;" said the fairy, when she had heard the Princess's story, "you are quite right not to be willing to marry, the' old King. But it might be dangerous to refuse in plain words. Set him some impossible task to perform, and say that only when it is performed will you be his Queen. For example; you might ask him to give you a new gown the colour of the sky. Great King though he be, he cannot do that." The Princess thanked her godmother warmly, and followed her advice. Most Kings would have been daunted by a request such as the fairy had invented, but this particular King was made of sterner stuff. He called together all the most famous weavers, and tailors, and embroiderers, in his dominions, and told them that every one of them should be hanged if they did not succeed in making a gown the colour of the sky. You may imagine that the weavers, and the tailors, and the embroiderers, set to work with a will l Two days later they had produced a most marvel- lour gown, all glowing blue and shimmering gold, and the King spread it out before the startled eyes of the Princess. The next morning she harnessed her pet lamb ,again, and went to-ask the advice of the Lilac Fairy. "This time," said the fairy, "let us see if he can give you a „, gown the colour of the moon l" The Press thanked her godmother warmly, and followed her advice. go all the weavers, and tailors, and embroiderers, were summoned to the palace again, and they worked with such a will, that only twenty--four hours had passed before they brought to the Princess a most marvellous gown, all shining grey and glittering white. The next morning the Princess harnessed her pet lamb again, and went to seek the counsels of the Lilac ,'airy. "This time,"' said the fairy, "you must ask for a gown the colour of the sun. Great King though he be, he cannot give you that." - - The Princess thanked her godmother politely, and followed her advice. So all the weavers, and the tailors, and the embroiderers were called together again, and all the gold thread in the kingdom, and all the diamonds and rubies from the Crown Jewels, were placed in their hands. The gown which they made was really the col our of the sun. It made one blink to look at it. Until then, nobody had thought of such things as green spectacles or smoked glass, but they were invented the first time that the Princess went for a walk in her dazzling gown. It was not necessary for her to harness the pet lamb and go in quest of her godmother's advice. The Lilac Fairy arrived at the palace the very same day that the Princess first donned her gown the colour of the sun. When she heard and saw what had happened she turned quite crimson in the face with rage. "This is too much 1' she erred. "We must put the King to a still harder test 1 Ask him for the skin of that pet donkey of his, that magic donkey whose stable is full of golden coins every morning >> The Princess thanked her godmother, but very sadly, for she w" afraid that the stubborn King might fulfil even tW demand, ad she felt sorry for the poor donkey. .And, sure enough, be- fore mother day had dawned, the magic beast had been killed and flayed, and its shaggy grey" skin spread at the feet of the Princws. . . ,At the sound of her godchild's sobs, which she could hear afar ofd, the Lilac Fairy flew to the palace. ,"Courage, -my daugh- ter, " said she, "do not despair. Your happiest days are still to come. Now you must obey me. Wrap yourself up in the don- key's hide, and run away. Go as far as you can. I will. take care of you. Your trunk, with all your pretty clothes and jewels, will be sent after you by the fairies' underground. roads. Here is my wand. Strike it upon the ground, and your trunk will appear before you. But go now, as fast and.as far as you can." The Princess thanked her godmother, and hastened to follow her advice. Nobody recognized her as she crept out of the :palace, muffed in her quaint donkey's skin. The King sent hun- dreds of policemen and thousands of musketeers to hunt for her, but the Lilac Fairy made her invisible whenever any of these pursuers drew near. And after a time the foolish, stubborn old King gave up all hope of seeing her again. In the meanwhile poor Donkey-Skin, as people soon began to call her, was plodding on foot, always trying to get as far away as I possible from the scenes of her childhood. She would have been glad to work in the kitchen or on the fields, but the sight of her shaggy, dusty garment made people drive her away when she asked for a chance to earn her bread. At last she reached the outskirts of a large and stately town, and there she came to a farmhouse where a girl was wanted to tend the turkeys and clean., out the sheep-folds. After a little hesitation, the farmer's . wife agreed to take the disguised Princess into her service, but the other farm-servants laughed unmercifully at poor Donkey Skin, as. she sat timidly in the farthest corner of the kitchen when her first day's work was done. Soon, however, she won their, goodwill, and the goodwill of the farmer and his wife, for she was so sweet-tempered and gentle, and did her rough and dirty work with so much energy, her queer, shaggy garment be- came quite a familiar object, and nobody mocked at it any more. Much of her time was :spent out of doors, in the flowery mead- ows, where 'she took the sheep and the turkeys to feed all day, bringing them safely home to their folds and pens at sunset. In the middle of their favourite pasture there was a clear, bright pool of water, and when she saw her grimy face and her donkey's skin reflected in it, the Princess .could not help shedding some very bitter tears. However, she remembered the Lilac Fairy's promise, and , one day, when there was a holiday for everyone, she laid aside her ugly disguise, bathed in the pool till she was as fresh as a My, and, after striking the ground with the magic wand and opening the trunk which suddenly appeared at her feet, she dressed herself in her gorgeous gown the colour of the sky. Of Bourse she had to take great care that no one should see her in, her brief glory. Only the sheep and the turkeys saw her, and they probably liked her just as well in her donkey-skin as in garments of azure and gold. After that, the Princess used to take off the donkey-skin and robe herself in her blue, or silver, or golden robes from time to time, when she was all alone in her tiny garret under the slop- ing roof of : the farmhouse, or when she was out in the meadows with her woolly and feathery charges. Now tho farm where Donkey-Skin lived happened to belong to the King of the country, and one day his son, a gallant young Prince, who had been hunting in the neighbourhood, paid a visit to the farmer, and accepted some refreshments in the farm- parlour. 'When the Prince had rested for a little while he be gan to explore the farm. He went to the barns and the sheep- folds and the, pig-styes, and upstairs and downstairs inside the rambling old 'house. At the end of a dark, narrow passage un- der the slope of the, roof he saw a dark, narrow door. But to his aston ahment, a ray of brilliant, ruddy-golden light was reqdn g through ' the keyhole:, Much puzzled, the Prince cropped on one knee and peeped through. And there he saw the most beautiful. girl he had ever beheld, clad in a robe of golden thre4ds, and diamonds, and rubies; a robe the colour of the sun 1 When he asked the farm-folk to whomthe attic belonged they . Oak1., "It belongs to a little drudge whom we call Donkey-akin because of the hide which she always Wears." The Prince was sure that there must be some mistake some- where. But evidently he could; learn nothing from these simple country pegpie. So he returned to his father's palace, dreaming of the wonderful vision he had beheld, dud resolved- to visit the farm, again soon. That same night he fell ill with a fewer, brought on by excitement and fatigue, and ail the. clever- eat doctors in the realm were summoned to his bedside. They all did their best to cure him, but none of them succeeded, and the poor King and Queen were in despair. Before long the Queen guessed that some secret sorrow was keeping her son from getting well again. What could it bei What would satisfy him I Would he like his father to give up the crown in his favour I No, the Prince was far too dutiful a son to desire anything of the sort. Would he care to marry some Princess i Was there one upon whom he had set his heart?, She should be his, even though his father were at war with hers. But no, he had not set his heart upon any Princess. At last, when his mother had made twenty vain, guesses, he Prince said, "Madam, I will tell you the truth. Nothing in tho world can cure me except a cake made by the hands of Donkey? "Who on earth is Donkey-Skin g" asked the astonished Queen. "I can inform your Majesty," cried the Prince's equerry, "$he is a grimy little person who tends the sheep and the tur- keys at his Majesty's farm on the outskirts of this town. You cannot imagine, Madam, what a fright she is." "Never mind," said the Queen, "my son may have tasted a cake made by her. This is an invalid's whim. But we must not disappoint the Prince." So the Prince's equerry was sent galloping to the farm with orders that Donkey-Skin was to make a cake for the sick Prince at once. Donkey-Skin was very sorry when she heard that the Prince was ill, for 'site had caught. sight of him from her attic-window as he rode away, and he was a gap and gallant youth. So she hurried upstairs, flung aside the donkey's skin, donned her silver gown, and began to make- the fateful cake. She took the finest white flour, the freshest butter, and the best new-laid eggs. And, as she stirred the cake, she dropped into it a beautiful ring from her own finger. Our history-books do not tell us whether she did this by accident or by design. Then she muffled herself in the grey hide again, ran downstairs, and, when the cake had been baked, handed it to the equerry, who set in his spurs and galloped away, not even pausing to answer her enquiries about his royal .master. When the equerry reached the palace there was great excite- ment. To the surprise, of the doctors, their patient, who had eaten nothing for a week, seized the cake and ate it so eagerly that they were afraid he might choke himself. And so he very nearly, did, upon the emerald ring which Donkey-Skin had dropped (or popped) into the cake. At first the Prince was full of joy, when he turned the beauti- ful jewel over and over on the palm of his hand. This ring, as he could see, would fit none but a slender finger. It must belong to the lovely young girl whom he had seen in the attic under the sloping, roof of the farm. Then his joy gave place to dismay. What could he do now t He was too weak to get up, and mount his horse, and go to the farm himself. And would his father and mother not think him mad if he begged them to have Donkey-Skin, the little dusty drudge, brought to the palace l The Prince puzzled his head over this question until he became eriah again, arid the doctors were more alarmed than ever. The poor Queen knelt in tears by` his bed, and promised him that. whatever he asked for, however., strange and wild : h46 re- quest might be, she and his father would try, to fulfil his desire. . The doctors had said they thought he must be in love. Was he in love I If so, he should wed the lady of his heart,. even though she were the poorest and plainest slave in the world. She whom I love," returned the Prince, "is neither poor nor plain. Nor is she .a peasant or a slave. Let it be proclaimed throughout the kingdom that I will wed her whose finger this • emerald ring will fit, and that I will wed none other." ~ So her- alds were sent east, west, south, and north, to read- the royal proclamation, and drummers- and trumpeters went with them, so that all the people should hear. :Soon a vast procession began to march toward the palace, a procession of thousands and thousands of ladies, young and old, rich and poor, all anxious to try the emerald ring upon their fingers. The Prince was now well enough to quit his bedroom, . and he himself insisted upon testing the size of their fingers by the size of the ring. Not one of them could squeeze it on 1 When all the Princesses, and duchesses, and ladies of high de- gree had striven in vain, the housemaids and kitchenmaids and shepherdesses came, but none of them had any. better fortune. At last it seemed that everyone in the whole realm had tried to get their fingers through the emerald ring. When this was told to the Prince, he said, "What about that Donkey-Skin, the one who made a cake for me 4" There was much laughter at the idea that dusty little Donkey- Skin should try her luck, but the Prince insisted, and messengers were sent to fetch her from the farm. Donkey-Skin, when she heard that she was summoned to the palace, hurried up to her, garret and donned her most beautiful gown. .But over it she flung the shaggy grey 'hide which hid her completely. The sight of this queer-looking person startled the poor Prance, and he began to wonder whether, after all, he had not made a terrible mistake. I I Tell me," he said, I `is it you who lodge in the little attic un- der the roof of my royal father's farm g" Yes, my lord," answered Donkey-Skin. "Show me your hand," commanded the Prince, in a trem- bling voim.- And thez~ao the astonishment of :every one, from beneath the dusty, shaggy hide emerged a delicate little hand, soft and white, with rose-tipped fingers. As the Prince slipped the emerald ring onto one of those fingers, Donkey Skin flung off her dis- guise. You may imagine the delight, not only of the Prince himself, but of his father and mother, when the beautiful young Princess stood before them, in her robe the colour of the sun. The Prince dropped on one knee at her feet, the King and Queen ran forward to embrace her. And then, suddenly, the ceiling opened above their heads, and the Lilac Fairy descended, in a chariot woven of her own white and purple flowers. She had Come at the right moment-as fairy-godmothers always do--in order to tell her god-daughter's story to the delighted King and Queen,, and the even more delighted Prince, their son. Never was there a more magnificent wedding than Donkey- Skin's, when she was married to the young Prince. Among the guests were all the Kings in the world, and you may imagine what a wonderful sight it was to see them arriving, some in sedan-chairs, some in chariots, many in coaches, more on horse- back, and others mounted upon eagles, elephants, and lions 1 T HE goldsmiths in the service of a certain King were once delighted to receive an order from his Majesty for seven golden dishes, seven golden cups, seven golden forks, and seven golden spoons. "The baby Princess is to be christened next week," the Lord High Chamberlain explained to the goldsmiths, "and these golden dishes and cups are for the use of the seven fairy god- mothers who have accepted invitations to the christening. °' When the Lord High Chamberlain had walked proudly away, the oldest of the King's goldsmiths said, "In 'my young days eight fairy-godmothers were always invited to every royal chris- tening. » 10 "To be sure they were," agreed the second oldest, "but the eighth- one has gone to foreign parts--some say she has `gone to the . North Pole, and some say she has gone to the South. Anyway, nobody knows where she is. So, of course, the King and Queen couldn't send her an invitation." "Hum!" said the third oldest goldsmith, that's a pity I" The day fixed for the christening came, and the seven god- mothers all arrived punctually at the palace, two in winged chariots, two on Arab steeds, two on camels and one upon an elephant. They gathered round the ivory cradle of the baby Princess and promised her all sorts of delightful things. One said that she should be the most beautiful Princess in the whole world, another that she should, be the sweetest-tempered, an- other that she should be the cleverest, another that she should sing like a, lark, another that she should dance like a blossom on the wind, another that everyone should love her, and another that she should never lack gold. The King and Queen were delighted, and the whole company had sat dawn to the christening feast in the very best of tem- pers, whet suddenly there was a sound of scratching and scrap- ing in the courtyard of the palace, and the Lord High Chamber- lain came running with a very white face to announce that a dragon had just alighted there, with yet another fairy guest. The King and Queen hastened to welcome this unexpected fairy, who was an uncommonly cross-looking old dame. They led her to a chair at the head of the table, and begged her to honour them by partaking of the christening-cake and the other good things spread forth there, but most unfortunately they could only offer her a plate, cup,. fork, and spoon of silver, as the golden ones had all been set before the seven other fairies. The, eighth fairy was exceedingly annoyed. "You had forgotten me," she said, in a gruff voice, "but I shall give you good cause to remember me hereafter. My sis- ters have promised many fair gifts to your daughter. My promise is that she shall prick her finger on a spindle and die of .. the prick I" ;At these cruel words everyone, including the seven godmoth- era, uttered a loud cry of horror. The Queen burst into tears. The King tore handfuls out of his beard. The Lord High Chamberlain sobbed aloud. Then the youngest and kindest of O Aeven godmothers stepped forward and sand, «Be comi f d, good; people. Though I have not the power to undo w t',xny mater has- done, and though the Princess must. prick her tiger 'swhas, &4n foretold, I can alter her fate this much-that she shW sot die of the prick." " At these words, the Queen wiped her eyes, the King ceased to tear his beard, and the Lord High Chamberlain stopped short in the middle of. a sob. ,- "Wait," said the fairy, "I have not finished yet. When the Princess pricks her finger she shall fall asleep-and she shall not wake again till the most gallant Prince in Christendom finds her, and kisses. her on the cheek." When the fairies had departed, the, eighth one growling and scowling to the last moment, theIrst thing that the King did was to common his Parliament and make a new law that from that day no one should spin in his dominions, and that all spin- ning-wheels, spindles, and distaffs were to be chopped in small pieces and either burned or thrown into the sea: Sateen years passed, and the hum of the spinning-wheel was never- heard in the land. The Princess grew up beautiful and clever and good, just as her godmothers had promised, and everybody, even ,the crossest and hardest-hearted people, loved her. One ,fine day, when her father was out hunting, and her mother and all the maids-of-honour were gathering cherries to` make into tarts, the Princess thought she would like to explore. some of the more ancient parts of the palace, which was a vast, - ream-.. 14ing building more than a thousand years old. She went from room, to 'room, and from tower to tower, climbing up narrow, tr iating staircases, and getting her pretty slippers very duly and cobwebby on the way. At last she came to a little door `at the very top of a high, grim-looking tower, and from behind the door came a low humming sound such as she had never heard before. "I have done all that I can. And you have at least this com- fort. When your daughter wakes, she will find her maids-of- honour,and her pages, and even her pet dogs and birds near her, for they have fallen into the same enchanted sleep as she, and when she opens her eyes they will open theirs." With'this promise the poor King and Queen had to be content. They soon saw that the fairy had spoken truly, and that they could never cut their way through the great, tangled forest of thorns and briars which had suddenly sprung up round the pal- ace where the Princess lay asleep. Very sorrowfully they made their wag'; to the nearest .of their twelve other palaces, wishing that the fairy had sent them. to sleep as well as the pages and the pet,'dogs and birds. As the King and Queen had no sons, and the sleeping Princess was their only daughter, the crown passed to a distant brae of the family after their death, and, by degrees, people began;;:,, to forget what had happened, and to say that the story of the spindle-prick and the enchanted sleep was only an old fairy- tale, without a word of truth in it. A hundred years passed, and nobody had tried to penetrate the thorn-forest, which had become a dense, tangled wilderness, dark, and mysterious, and strange. Then, one fine morning, the son of the King who then ruled over the land was out hunting, and in his eagerness he out- stripped all his companions, and galloped so far that he found himself at last in a lonely valley which he did not remember to have seen before, and on the edge of a thick, gloomy wood. No one was in sight except an old woodcutter sitting on a tree- strumpwith his age beside him. 941 amp sure I do not know this place," thought the Prince, "I must certainly have lost my way. I wonder if there is a castle anywhere about, where I could get something to eat-for I am fearfully hungry I'l He beckoned to the woodcutter to come nearer, and, when he had come, he said, "good fellow, I have left'my friends far be- hiud, and it seems to me that I have lost my way. I there castle anywhere near here, where a hungry sportsman would be kindly received I" The old man shook his head. "There be no eastles hereabouts, young Sir, nor no houses either. 'Tis as lonesome a piece o' country as any in the kingdom. My father, he did say there was a castle yonder, in that wood, and a sleeping Princess in it, too. But I don't heed those old tales, I don't. 'Tis nought but moon- shine, says 1117 Now, in his childhood the Prince had heard the story of the Sleeping Beauty, but he had forgotten all about it until this moment. As he was a brave and gallant youth, and loved ad- ventures though he seldom had any, he determined to try to force his way through the knotted and tangled branches and find out for himself whether the story were really `moonshine' or not. So he dismounted, tied his horse to a tree, and offered the wood- cutter a piece of good red gold in exchange for his axe. The offer was quickly accepted, but the Prince soon found that he did tot need the axe, for the moment he touched the knotted branches with his hand, they came unknotted and sprang apart as if to let him through. Deeper and deeper the Prince pushed his way, all the briars and trailing creepers and matted thorns dividing before him, and after he had walked about a mile he reached a great and stately palace, with walls of coloured marble, and windows of crystal, and turrets of copper and gold. The door stood open, and so he walked boldly in. Everything was silent inside the palace, but nothing was faded, or dusty, or crumbling with age, though the Prince knew at once that the furniture must be at least a hundred years old, and some of it much older. On tip-toe he passed from one beautiful room to another, some with walls of looking-glass, some with walls of mother-of-pearl, some with walls of ivory, till at last, in the very centre of the V r palace, he came to the room where the beauty lay in her en- chanted sleep. At either end of her golden bed sat a lady-in- waiting, as fast asleep as she. Across the threshold lay her page, with the lute in his hand upon which he had been playing when the spell began. At her feet slumbered a' fluffy white dog, and in the silver cage by her pillow three little birds with gaily coloured plume$ were dreaming, each with his head tucked under his wing. The Prince, if he had paused to look at the ladies and at the page, would have recognized their dress as being the costume worn by the people of that land more than a hundred years be- fore. But he could not look at anyone or at anything but the Princess. Her hair had grown, and grown, till it covered her from head to foot with a mantle more lovely than the richest cloth of gold. There was colour in her cheeks and on her lips, and as he dropped on one knee beside her, the Prince thought he could see a very faint movement of her long dark lashes. Of course, being a Prince and having heard the story of the Sleeping Beauty in his childhood, he knew exactly what to do. He bent forward and kissed her. And immediately the three little birds began to sing, and the little white dog began to bark, the, ladies-in-waiting rubbed their eyes, the page sat up and went on with his playing at the point where he had left o$ a hundred years before. And the Princess opened her eyes, and held out her hand to the Prince, saying joyfully, "Oh, I have been wait- ing such a long time for you to come and wake me up 1" HERE once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Cassim, and the other Ali Baba. Cassim mar- ried a very rich wife and became a wealthy merchant. Ali Baba married a woman as poor as himself, and lived by cut- ting wood and bringing it upon three asses into the town to se1L One day when Ali Baba was at work in the forest he,saw at a distance a troop of horsemen riding toward him. Fearing that they might be robbers, he hastily climbed a large tree. planted on a high rock and hid himself in the thick branches. The horsemen, of whom Ali Baba counted forty, came to the foot of the rock, and there dismounted. Every man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, and hung about his neck a bag of. corn. Then each took off his saddle-bag, which seemed to Ali Baba to be full of gold and silver from its weight. One, whom he took to be their captain, came under the tree in, which .Ali Baba was concealed, and making his way through same shrubs, said loudly: "Open, Sesame i" Apparently a door opened in the rock. for the robbers disappeared. Before every long the men came out again in single file, and as the espy went in last, so he came out first and stood to see them `allpass. by him Ali Baba heard him say: "Shut, Ses- amel" °after which the troop. mounted their horses and rode off 1y the way they had come: It was- a long time ere Ali Baba could summon up courage to desr d from'the tree. When at last he did so,he determined to try whether the word he had heard the captain use would en- able him to open the door. Accordingly he went among the shrubs and finding a concealed door, stood before it and said, "Open, Sesame l" Immediately the door flew wide open and Ali Baba, who ex- pected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see a large well= lighted chamber, in which were all. sorts of provisions, rich bales of silk stuff, brocade, and valuable carpeting, piled upon one another, gold and silver ingots in great heaps, and money in bags. Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and when he had collected as much of the gold coin, which was in bags, as he thought he could remove, he fetched his three asses to the door and loaded them with the' bags. Covering these with fagots of wood he pronounced the words, "Shut, Sesame 1" and the' door closed of itself. He then made the best of his way to town. When Ali Baba got home he drove his asses into a little yard, shut the gates very carefully, threw off the fagots that covered the panniers, carried the bags into his house, and ranged them in order before his wife. He then emptied the bags, which raised such a great heap of gold as dazzled his wife's eyes, and then he told her the whole adventure- from beginning to end, and, above all, warned her to keep it secret. His wife rejoiced greatly, and made as if to count all the gold piece by piece. "Wife," said Ali Baba, "you do not know what you undertake, you will. never have done. I will dig a hole, and bury it. There is no time to be lost. "- "You are in the right, Before every long the men came out again in single file, and as the espy went in last, so he came out first and stood to see them `allpass. by him Ali Baba heard him say: "Shut, Ses- amel" °after which the troop. mounted their horses and rode off 1y the way they had come: It was- a long time ere Ali Baba could summon up courage to desr d from'the tree. When at last he did so,he determined to try whether the word he had heard the captain use would en- able him to open the door. Accordingly he went among the shrubs and finding a concealed door, stood before it and said, "Open, Sesame l" Immediately the door flew wide open and Ali Baba, who ex- pected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see a large well= lighted chamber, in which were all. sorts of provisions, rich bales of silk stuff, brocade, and valuable carpeting, piled upon one another, gold and silver ingots in great heaps, and money in bags. Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and when he had collected as much of the gold coin, which was in bags, as he thought he could remove, he fetched his three asses to the door and loaded them with the' bags. Covering these with fagots of wood he pronounced the words, "Shut, Sesame 1" and the' door closed of itself. He then made the best of his way to town. When Ali Baba got home he drove his asses into a little yard, shut the gates very carefully, threw off the fagots that covered the panniers, carried the bags into his house, and ranged them in order before his wife. He then emptied the bags, which raised such a great heap of gold as dazzled his wife's eyes, and then he told her the whole adventure- from beginning to end, and, above all, warned her to keep it secret. His wife rejoiced greatly, and made as if to count all the gold piece by piece. "Wife," said Ali Baba, "you do not know what you undertake, you will. never have done. I will dig a hole, and bury it. There is no time to be lost. "- "You are in the right, "I expect more than that,'' replied Cassim coldly; Y i Y must know exactly where this treasure is, and how I may visit it my- self; otherwise I will inform against you, and then you will not only get no more, but will lose all you have, and I shall have a sham for, my information." So Ali Baba told him all. C sim rose the neat morning long before the sun and set out for the forest with ten mules bearing great chests, and followed the road which Ali Baba had pointed out to him. He was not ,; long before he reached the rock and found out the place, by the tree' and other marks which his brother had described. When he reached the entrance of the cavern, he said boldly, "Open, ' Sesame 1" The door immediately opened, and when he was in, closed upon him. He was amazed to find even more riches than his brother had led him to expect. He quickly laid as many bags of gold as he could carry at the door of the cavern; but thoughts of the great riches he should possess had so filled his mind that he now forgot the necessary word to make it open. Instead of "Sesame," he said, "Open; Barley 1" and of course the door remained fast shut. He named every grain but the right one and the door remained` immovable. Cassim was now very much alarmed. He threw down the bags he had piled at the door and walked in despair up and down the cave, without having the least regard to the riches that were round him. At about noon he heard the sound of horses' hoofs. Return- ing to their cave the robbers had seen Cassim's mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on their backs. Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the cave. With their naked swords in their hands, they went directly to the door, which, as their captain pronounced the proper words, immediately Casdm-resolved to make one desperate effort for his life. He rushed thorough the open door and hurled himself at the Mader, tat the next instant he was out down by the other rob- The robbers now hastened to examine the cave. They found the bags which Cassim had brought to the, door and carried then again to their places, but they did not miss what All Baba had taken away before. They then held a council, but though they guessed that Cassim, when he was in, could not get out again, they could not imagine how he had learned the secret words by which alone he could enter. At length, in order to terrify, any others who should make similar attempts upon their hoard, they cut Cassim's body into four quarters and hung these within the cave. Cassim's wife was very uneasy when night came and her hus- band had not returned. She spent all the night in weeping; and as soon as it was day went to Ali Baba in great grief and told 'him that Cassim had gone to the forest cave and had not .re- turned: Ali Baba, greatly concerned, immediately saddled his three asses and set off to the cave. On the way he saw no signs of his brother or the mules, but when he reached the rock he was alarmed at finding blood spilt near the door. Worse was to follow, for when the door opened he saw the gruesome remains of his brother's body. In the deepest grief he took down the quarters-and having loaded one of his asses with them, covered the remains with fagots. The other asses he loaded with bags of gold, covering these also with fagots. He stopped some time in the forest, that he might not go through the town before night. When at last he reached his house he drove the two asses loaded with gold into his little yard, leaving his wife to unload them while he led the other to his sister-in-law's house. The door was opened by MorgiAna, a clever, intelligent slave, whom Ali Baba took aside. "Your master's body," mid he, I'is contained in these two panniers. We must bury him as if he died a natural death. Go now and tell your mistress. i leave the matter to your wit and, above all, not a word to any but your mistress." Early next morning Morgiana went -out to an apothecary's and asked for a certain drug which she said was for her master, who lay dangerously ill. In the evening she went again to the same apothecary's, and, with tears in-her eyes, asked for an essence, which was given to sick people only when at the last extremity. "Alasi" said she, :taking it from the apothecary, "I am afraid that I shall lose my, good master." Thus, the news of Cassim's illness; spread through the neigh- bourhood and nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the shrieks and cries of Morgiana and her mistress, who gave out everywhere that Cassim was dead. The next question was, how to dispose of the body. But Morgiana had already thought of a plan, and the next morning at -daybreak she went to an old cobbler, whom she knew to be always early at his stall, and bidding him good-morrow, put a piece of gold into his hand, saying, "Mustapha, you must bring needle and thread and come with me; but you must let me blindfold you." Mustapha hesitated, but when Morgiana put another piece of gold into-his hand he made no further demur. When he had arrived at Cassim's house Morgiana took him at once to the room where she had put the corpse together and unloosed the bandage from his eyes. "Mustapha," said she, "you must make haste and sew the parts of this body together; when you have done, I will give you another piece of gold."11 After.Mustapha had finished his task Morgiana blindfolded him again, gave him a third piece of gold, and pledging him to secrecy, led him back to his stall. She then returned home and made the neeessary preparations for the funeral, which was conducted with due solemnity a few hours later. In this manner Cassim's death was hushed up by Ali Baba; his widow, and Morgiana, so that nobody in the city had the least suspicion-. for the cause of it. Three or four days after the funeral Ali Baba removed his furniture openly to his sister-in- law's house, in which it was agreed that he should in future live, but` the money he had taken from the robbers he conveyed thither by night. WMe these things were being done, the forty robbers again ;visited their hoard in the forest. (Treat was their surprise to find Cassim's body taken away, with some of their bags of _, gold. "We are certainly discovered," said the captain. "The removal of the body, and the loss of some of our money, plainly shows that the man whom we killed had an accomplice, and we shall be ruined if we do not find him. One of us, the boldest and most skilful among us, must go into the town, disguised as a traveller, and try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we have killed, and endeavour to find out who he was, and where he lived. But to prevent treachery, whoever undertakes this business without success, even though the failure arises only from an error of judgment, shall suffer death." One of the boldest of the troop immediately offered, himself, and having put on the clothes of a respectable traveller he entered the town at daybreak, and happened to come to *Mus- tapha's stall, which was always open before any of the shops. The cobbler was seated, awl in hand, at his work, and the robber greeted him with: "Honest man, you begin to work very early; is, it possible that one of your age can see so well!" "You do not know me," replied Mustapha; "for old as I am, I have wonderfully good eyes; you will not doubt it when I tell you that I sewed the quarters of a dead man tbgether in a place :where ,I had not so much light as I have now." "A dead body I" exclaimed the robber, with pretended amaze- ment. "You mean you sewed up the winding sheet." "No, no," answered Mustapha, "I see you want to have me speak out, but you shall learn no more from me." The robber felt sure that he was upon the right, went. I pulled out a piece of gold, and putting it into Mustapha's hand said to him, "I do not want to learn your secret. The only thing I desire of you is to show me the house where you stitched up the dead body." "That," replied Mustapha, "I cannot do. I was led blind- fold to the house, and afterward brought back again in the same manner. 'r "Well," replied the robber, "you may, however, remember a little of the way that you were led. Come, let me bind your eyes at the same place. We will walk together; perhaps you may recognize some part of the road, and as everybody ought to be paid for his trouble, there is another piece of gold for you." So saying, he -put another piece of gold into his hand. "Well," said Mustapha, "since you desire, I will try what I can do." At these words he rose up, and led the robber to the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes. "It was here," he said, "I was blindfolded, and I turned this way." The robber tied his handkerchief over the cobbler's eyes, and walked by him till he stopped directly at Cassim's house. Be- fore Aremoving the bandage he marked the door with a piece of chalk, and then asked Mustapha if he knew whose house it was; to which Mustapha replied, that as he did not live in that neigh- bourhood, he could not tell. Shortly after the robber and Mustapha had parted, Morgiana, returning from'some errand, saw the mark the robber had made. Suspecting that something was wrong, she fetched a piece of chalk and marked two or three doors on each side, in the same manner, without saying a word to Ali Baba or her mistress. Meantime the robber had returned to the forest and reported what he had learned. His comrades were very pleased and they decided to go singly into the city, well-armed, and meet in the square at evening, while meantime the captain, together with the robber who had discovered the house, would endeavour to learn more about it. This Plan was carried out and the captain was led to Ali Baba's house: Of coin they found;that more than one house bore the chalk mark and the spy was unable to say which of these he had marked. He assured the captain that he had': marked but one, and could not explain the mystery. "There was nothing further to be done so they made their way to the square; where they found the rest of the band, and after- ward all -returned singly to the cave. When the robbers had age assembled the captain told them the reason of their return- ing and with the approval of all the spy was condemned to die. Another of,"the band now presented himself, and was accepted. He, too, bribed Mustapha, as the other had done, and being taken to the house, marked it with red chalk in a place which was not very, noticeable. But Morg ana, whose eyes nothing could escape, saw this mark also, and she marked their neighbours' houses in the same place and manner. The robber, on his return, took much credit for the cunning manner in which he had distinguished Ali Baba's house, and all thought it must succeed. They conveyed themselves into the town with the same precautions as before; but when the robber and his captain came to the street, they found the same difficulty; at which the captain ordered all to return at once to the forest, and the second spy was put to death. The captain, having lost two of his band, concluded that his followers' heads,were not so good as their hands; he therefore resolved to see what he himself could accomplish. Accordingly, lie went into the town alone, and Mustapha did him the same service he had done to the other robbers. He, how- ever, did not set any particular mark on the house, but examined and observed it so carefully that it was impossible for him to .mistake it. Well satisfied with his attempt, and having obtained the in- formation he needed, the captain returned to the forest and ordered his men to go into the villages about, and buy nineteen mules, with thirty-eight large leather jars, one full of oil and the others empty. In two or three days the robbers had purchased the mules and jars, and after having put one of his men, properly armed, into each of the latter, leaving open a portion of the seam which had been undone to give them room to breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil from the full vessel. When the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty--seven rob- bers in jars, and the jar of oil, the captain disguising himself as a respectable merchant, set out with them, and reached the town in the dusk of the evening. He led them through the streets till he came to Ali Baba's house, outside of which Ali Baba was sitting to take the air. He stopped his mules and said to Ali ; Baba, "I have brought some oil a great way to sell at to-morrow's market, and it is now so late that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not be troublesome to you, do me the favour to let me lodge with-you, and I. shall be very, much obliged by your hospitality." Ali Baba, suspecting nothing, made the pretended oil-mer- chant welcome, and immediately opened his gates for the mules to go into the yard. At the same time, he called to a slave, and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, to put them into the stable and to feed them. He then provided a good supper for his guest, after which,. charging Morgiana to prepare his bathing linen for the following morning, he retired to rest. For his part, the captain of the robbers went into the yard and took off the lid of each jar, and beginning at the first jar, and so on to the last, he said to each man: "As soon as I throw some stones out of my window, do not fail to come out, and I will immediately join you." He then returned into the house, wen Morgiana, taking up a light, conducted him to his chamber, and he, to avoid suspicion, put the light out soon after, and laid himself down without undressing. It happened that Morgiana'a lamp went out and no more o4 could be found in the house. Presently she thought of merchant's oil and went into the yard with her pot. She Vks preparing to dip this into the first jar, when the robber wil au said softly, "Is it time g" Morgiana realized at once that Ali Baba, his family, and her- self were in danger, and, without showing surprise, she answered, "Not yet, but presently." She went quietly in this manner to all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil. By this means Morgiana found that her master had admitted thirty-seven robbers into his house, and that this pretended oil- merchant was their captain. She returned ` into her kitchen, and when she had lighted her lamp she took a great kettle and, filling this with oil from the merchant's oil-jar, set it on a, large wood fire. Then, as soon as the kettle boiled, she went-and poured enough oil into each jar to destroy the robber within. The brave Morgiana now returned to the kitchen and ex- tinguished her lamp, resolving not to go to rest till she had ob- served what might follow. She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, opened his window, and seeing no light and hearing no noise, gave the appointed signal by throwing little stones upon the jars. When after a pause he could not detect the sound of any movements he went softly down into the yard, and going, to the first jar smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent forth a ;steam. He ran hastily to the other jars, only to find that all of, his gang were dead. It was clear that his plot had been discovered, and without more ado he forced the lock of a door that led from the. yard to the garden, and climbing over the wall made his escape. Morgiana saw all this through a window which opened into the yard, -and, she went to bed very well pleased at the success of her plan. Men Ali Baba returned from the baths next mornins he was surprised, to see the oil-jars, as he had expected that the xae chant would have departed. Morgiana opened the door,; d she Soon informed her master of what she, had seen and' e. At first Ali Baba could hardly believe her tale, but when she took him to the jars and he saw the dead robbers, he exclaimed: "God, by your means, has delivered me from the snares, these robbers laid for my destruction. I owe, therefore, my, 'life to you; and, for the first token of my gratitude, I give YOU. your liberty from this moment." . Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the farther end by a great number of large trees. That night he. and a trusted slave dug a trench," long and wide enough to hold; the bodies of the robbers. When this was done, All Baba hid the jars and weapons; as for the mules, he sent them at different times to be sold in the market. While Ali Baba took these measures, the captain of the forty thieves returned to the forest in despair and rage. But the loneliness of the gloomy cavern soon became frightful to him and, resolved to revenge himself upon Ali Baba, he disguised himself as a merchant in silks and took a lodging in an inn. He gradually conveyed a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen to his lodging from the cavern, and in order to dispose of the merchandise he took, a warehouse,. which happened to be opposite to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's son had occupied since the death of his uncle. Ile took the name of Cogia Hassan, and, as a newcomer, was, according to custom, extremely civil to his neighbours. A1i Baba's son was soon attracted to him, and two or three, days after he was settled, Ali Baba came to see his son, and the captain of the robbers recognized him at once, and soon learned ,who he was. After this he became even more friendly and often asked him to dine and sup with him. Not long after, Ali Baba's son and Cogia Hassan were walk- ing together and the young man led his friend through the street where his father lived. When they came to the house he stopped and knocked at the door. "This, sir," said he, "is my father's house; pray let me have the pleasure of introducing you to him." Though Cogia Hassan desired nothing better, he pretended hesitation and did not follow until Ali Baba's son took him by the hand. Ali Baba received Cogia Hassan very graciously and thanked him for all the favours he had done his son. He then pressed him to stay to supper, and as they sat at meat Morgiana, curious to see the guest, carried in one of the dishes herself. Immediately she entered the room she recognized the pre- tended merchant, and looking at him very carefully, perceived that he had a dagger under his garment. The supper proceeded with much friendly laughter and conversation and in due course the vine and dessert were placed upon the table. Morgiana then retired with the slaves and donning the garments of a dancing- girl she said to the slave Abdalla, `Take your tabor, and let us go and divert our master and his son's friend, as we do, some- times when he is alone." Abdalla took his tabor and played all the way into the hall before Morgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low curtsey by way of asking leave to dance, while Abdalla left off playing. "Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Cogia Hassan see what you can do. II Abdalla at once began to play again on the tabor, to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced in such a manner as would have created admiration in any company. After she had danced several dances with much grace, she drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance in which she outdid herself by agile movements and occasional surprising leaps. Sometimes she presented the poniard to one breast, sometimes to another, and oftentimes feigned to strike her own. At last she snatched the tabor from Abdalla with her l ft,hand, and holding the dagger in her right, presented the other aide of the tabor, after the manner of professional dancers who invite, the liberality of the spectators. Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as did also his son; and Cogia Hassan, seeing that she was coming to him, had pulled his: purse out of his bosom to do the same; but while he was taking out a coin, Morgiana plunged the poniard into his heart. Immediately there was a wild hubbub. "Unhappy woman I" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done to ruin me and my family I" "I have preserved, not ruined you," answered Morgiana ; "for see here," continued she, opening the pretended Cogia Hassan's garment, and showing the dagger, "what an enemy you have entertained I Look well at him, and you will find him to be both the pretended oil-merchant and the captain of the gang of forty robbers who came once before to murder you." Ali Baba was filled with gratitude to Morgiana for saving his life a second time. He embraced her warmly and vowed that he would make her his daughter-in-law. Then, turning to his son, he said," "I believe you will not refuse Morgiana for your wife. You see that Cogia Hassan sought your friendship merely that he might take away my life; if he had succeeded, there is no doubt that you would have been his next victim." The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to -the marriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but also because he had long felt an affection for her. They next buried the captain of the robbers with his comrades, and a few days afterward Ali Baba celebrated the marriage of his son and Morgiana with great splendour. At the year's end Ali Baba had the curiosity to make another journey to the cave. He mounted his horse, and when he came to the rock he alighted, tied his horse to a tree, and approaching the entrance, pronounced the words, Open, Sesame I" As before, the door opened and from the condition of the interior Ali Baba judged that nobody had been there since the captain had fetched the goods for his shop. He had now good reason to believe that he was the only person in the world who had the secret of opening the cave, and that all the treasure was at his sole disposaL He put as much gold into his saddle-bag as his horse would carry, and returned to town. Some years later he carried his son to the cave and taught him the secret, and Ali Baba's posterity, using their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honour and splendour during many generations. N the palace of a King and Queen was born, a very long time ago, a little Prince who was so terribly ugly that his father and mother could hardly bear to look at him. Their one hope was that a good-natured fairy-godmother might come to the rescue, and change the queer-looking little fellow with the tuft of red hair on his forehead into an ordinary pink, plump baby. But even the fairy who came to the christening couldn't do that. To comfort the poor Queen, she promised that Riquet with the Tuft, as the Prince was called, should be very, very-' clever, and that he should possess the magic power of making the person whom he loved best as clever as himself. And the Queen felt less unhappy when her son began to speak, and astonished the whole court with his quick wit, and his quaint, ply saying's. When Riquet was about seven years old, in the palace of a neighbouring Swung and Queens a little :Princess was born, who was As beautiful. as Riquet was, ugly. They 'happened to ,lave the same godmother, but this time,instead of $nding it necessary to comfort the new baby's mother, the fairy'l ad to throw a little cold water on her delight. She warned the Queen that this lovely. Princess should be very, very stupid. This news alarmed the Queen, who begged the fairy to give even a little intelligence to the child. But all the fairy would promise was that the Princess should possess the magic power of making the person whom she loved best as beautiful as herself. As she grew up the Princess became more and more beautiful, sand more and more stupid. She could not remember any of her lessons, not even the simplest ones, and the Princes who came to woo her, though they were charmed by her beauty, were much disappointed when they discovered that she had not a solitary thought in her pretty head, and that her only idea of conversa- tion-was to answer `Yes' or `No' to whatever they said to her. Now the poor Princess knew quite well that she was dreadfully dull and stupid, and what made it harder for her to .bear was the cleverness of her twin-sister, who was not beautiful at was but, who won much admiration by her brilliant wit. The stupid Princess was sometimes very, unhappy, and then she would walk alone in a wood near the palace, and shed tears. over her lack of brains. One day when she was thus walking and weeping in her, favourite wood she saw a young man coming toward her. Never had the Princess seen such a dreadfully ugly young man. He was gprgeously clad, but when he raised his hat at her approach she saw that on his forehead there grew an odd-looking tuft of bright red hair. 11, It was our old friend, Riquet with the Tuft, who had fallen in love with the portrait of the Princess, and had, arrived to ask her hand in marriage. When he had been talking to her for a few minutes, Riquet noticed that she seemed very sad. "Madam," he said, "I cannot understand how anyone, as beautiful as you, can possibly be as unhappy as you seem to be. I have seen thousands of beauties, but never one to compare with you." It is very good of you to'say so, Sir," returned the Princess. But she said nothing more, because she could think of nothing more to say. "Beauty," Riquet went on, rather wistfully, "is such a great gift, I cannot see why anyone who possesses it should be sad." "I would rather," confessed the Princess, "be a~ ugly as you, and be clever, than be as beautiful-and as stupid--as I am." "The surest sign of cleverness is to think oneself stupid," declared Riquet, gallantly. "I don't know,anything about that," said the Princess, "I only, know that I am a dunce, and that is the cause of all my sorrow." "It that is the cause," cried Riquet, "I can remove it 1" "How could you do that `l" 'Madam," replied Riquet with the tuft, "I possess the magic power of making the person whom I love best as clever as myself. ' And since you are the person whom I love best, all you need do is to promise to marry me.?' ' The Princess was so astonished that Ahe could think of nothing to say. "I can see,':' said Riquet, regretfully, `-`that you do not like the idea. There is nothing strange in that. But I will give you a whole yeat'in which to make up your mind." The Princess was so stupid that she thought a year was a very long time inched, and that, perhaps, the end of the year' would never come at all. Therefore, in her eagerness to become clever; she promised readily enough to be the bride of Riquet with the Tuft. No sooner was the promise made than she felt like a different creature. And the whole world seemed like a different plAe. All sorts of brilliant and amusing ideas came crowding into her mind, and she began to talk to Riquet so cleverly, and to say so many witty things, that he soon wondered whether his magic power had not made her even more clever than :him- Her father and mother and, indeed, the whole, court, quickly perceived the marvellous change that had come over the stupid Princess. Her sayings were admired and quoted on all sides. Sometimes the Sing her father would ask her advice upon affairs of state, and he always found it excellent. Princes Rocked from far and near to woo this lady who was as clever as she was beautiful. The only person who did not share in the general delight was the twin-sister, who now found herself left out in the cold. The Princess would listen to none of her wooers at first. This was not because she remembered her promise to Riquet with the Tuft, but simply because she was too wise to make up her mind in haste. At last a. Prince appeared who was rich, handsome, and clever. Her father told her that she was free to choose whom she pleased for her husband. And the Princess, said that she would think it over. In order to have leisure and solitude for her thoughts, she went alone into the wood where she had met Riquet, with the Tuft almost a year before. She had not only forgotten poor Riquet himself, she had also forgotten that.it was to him alone that she owed the magical change in her own life. Presently she became aware of queer, mined sounds in the grass at her feet. She stopped to listen, and heard tiny voices saying, "Give me that saucepanI" "Where is my frying pan?" "Put some more wood on, the fire t" And then the earth opened, and ahe.saw a fairy kitchen, an underground .kitchen, where hundreds, of elfin cooks and scullions and turnspits were bustling and dartng about, and tiny saucepans were bubbling, and tiny joints -of meat turning on spits no bigger than knitting-pins. It was quite clear that a truly royal banquet was being made ready. "Tell me," said the Princess to the fairy-cooks, "for whom are you preparing this feast f" "For the wedding. of Prince Riquet with the Tuft," they answered. "He is to be married to-morrow." And then the Princess remembered I It was just a year oiuce, in that very wood, she had pledged her word to marry 12iquet. Before she could recover from her dismay, whom should she see but Riquet himself drawing near, in garments as splendid as ever a Prince wore on his wedding-day I "Madam," said the Prince, dropping on one knee before her, "I have come to keep my promise. You, I am sure, have come to keep yours." "To be quite frank with you," returned the Princess, "I have not quite decided yet. And I am afraid that when I do decide, you will not be pleased." "You amaze me, Madam," said Riquet with the Tuft. "Very likely I do," returned the Princess, calmly, "and if you were a dunce instead of a man of the world I should feel alarmed. But, dear me, you know how stupid.I was when I promised to marry you I You surely will not hold me to my word l" Riquet was'both hurt and surprised at her ingratitude, and he protested that it was very unfair that she should reject him simply because she,was now clever instead of stupid. "I am now more difficult to please," returned the Princm, but her conscience began_ to prick when she saw how much pain she had given him. "Madam," said Riquet, earnestly, "is it only my ugly face that you dislike t Doss my mind please you l Are you satisfied with my rank, and my fortune, and my manners t" "Oh, yes," declared the Princess, good-humouredly, "all those things please me very well." happy after,, all t" v "How so V' asked the Princess: - `6Because," said Riquet, "if only you could love Me enough to wish`. that I were a handsome fellow, you, would change n* into one on the spot I" `< How so I" asked the Princess, again. "Because," said Riquet, "the same fairy who gave me the magic power to make you clever, gave you the magic power to make me handsome--but only if you love me well enough to wish that I were." "Is that all 9" cried the Princess, holding out her hand, "then I wish it with all my heart I" No sooner had she uttered these words than Riquet seemed in her;,eyes to be the most beautiful creature she had ever be- held. They returned to the palace hand-in-hand, and the .nest day the fairy banquet was set forth at their wedding. Some of the courtiers, and some of the rejected suitors, declared that the bridegroom was little, if at all, less ugly than before, and that it *a$ only because the Princess loved him that he appeared a handsome fellow to her. But the two lived happily for many years, and as they loved . each other faithfully to the last, you may be sure that he always found her the cleverest Princess in the world, and that she :al- ways believed most firmly that there never was a better-looking Prince than Riquet with the Tuft. NE clay three tall fellows were walking along the hiih road, talking as cheerfully as three very poor and rather 0 hungry fellows could. They were,soldiers, who had seen much hard fighting in their time, but who had been dis- charged from the army because, for the moment, the King, of their country was not at war with any other King. The road ran through a deep wood, and when dusk fell, the three comrades. agreed that two of them should sleep while the third kept guard, and so, turn about, till dawn. No sooner had the two begun to snore, than their friend made bimrelf a fire of a heap of dry sticks. And no sooner had the fits- begun to crackle, than a little dwarf in a bright scarlet 4t came hopping up, B asked leave to warm his little withered hands. "And welcome l" said the soldier. So the dwarf net down cross-legged on the turf beside him, and began, t0 ask questions about him acid his sleeping comrades. WheA. "- bo heard that they were three poor soldiers, who had no friends '.0 bot each other in the world, and no money, and no means of earaiV Wy, as ,they understood no trade but war, he sud- d r produced a short cloak of russet-brown cloth, saying, «.yotr are a stout fellow I Keep this, cloak earef y. Mile you are ,wearing it all your wishes will be granted':" With that he vanished. When it was the turn of the second soldier to mount guard by the fire, back came the dwarf. Everything passed exactly as before, except that it was a purse and not a cloak that the kind- hearted elf gave to the surprised man "You are a stout fellow," said he. "Keep this puree care- fully. You will never find it empty." And with that he vanished. When it was the turn of the third soldier to mount guard, back came the dwarf. And again everything :happened exactly as before, except that it was a silver horn that the amiable creature gave to his new friend. "You area stout fellow," said he. "Keep this horn carefully. At the first blast everyone will begin to dance, at the secoW blast an army will rise up, with horse and foot, bows and, gul* acid whatever you bid that army do will be done. Farewelll" And with that, for the third and last time, he vanished. You may imagine how excited the three soldiers were the next morning, when each showed his gift to the other two l History does not relate whether the very first thing that he with the cloak -wished for -was a good breakfast for all three, but it seems very likely that it was, for they had had neither dinner nor supper on the previous day. Before many more days had passed, the three soldiers were comfortably settled in a large and beautiful castle, with or- chards, and, parks, and fish-ponds, and a stable full of piebald horses,, and any number of cooks and footmen,, gardeners and grooms. There they lived happily for a time, and, thanks to the cloak and the purse, they were able to do much good, so that there were soon no really poor and miserable people within ten miles of their castle. Occasionally they Would in- vita all their neighbours to a garden-party or a ball, and then the fairy horn was useful, for nobody ever seemed to get tired who danced to its gay summons and--what is even more curi- ous--everybody, including the fat, the aged, and the awkward, seemed to dance well. But this merry life began to weary the three comrades after a little while. So they gave orders that their six piebald horses should be harnessed to their great gilded coach, and off they went to pay a visit to that very King in whose army they had endured so many dangers and hardships. Now this King had a daughter who, was beautiful, as every Princess should be, but who was also a witch, which no Princess should be. With the aid of her magic art she soon learnt all about he past history of, these three strangers whom her father, dazzled by their wealth, treated with such favour. To him who had the purse she gave some drugged wine, and while he slept he :robbed him of his treasure; but she was careful to leave in its place a purse which looked exactly, the same. When the three soldiers, after taking a polite leave of their monarch; returned to their castle they soon discovered their loss and guessed the cause. Then he who had the cloak bade his . comrades be of good cheer, and, hey, presto 1 by the mere wishing of the wish he found himself in the turret-chamber where the Princess was sitting playing with the gold coins that showered from the magic purse. She looked up and saw him, and ,uttered a loud cry. And immediately the seven sentries mounting guard outside her door rushed in, and tried to seize the intruder. Instead of wishing, himself safely out of the castle, the foolish fellow, made a,_ dash' for the window, , and scrambled hastily down the ivy-clad wall outside. But alas t the cloak, the precious cloak, remained caught in the iron frame . of the window, and the wicked Princess clapped her hands with joy. When the soldier reached the castle, where his friends were -waiting impatiently for him, and told his story, the owner of the. fairy horn ; decided that it was time for him to use his inagie possession for a, more serious purpose than making people dance.. So he went out into the park, and blew two loud and long blasts. Neat morning, when the king and the Princess looked `Out pf their windows they saw, as far as eye could reach on every side, a mighty army , epcamped, with tents and pavilious, cavalry and artillery. The three soldiers were laying siege to the royal palace 1 "These men are very stupid," ' said the Princess. "They deserve to lose the fairy horn as' well as the fairy purse and cloak:'' With the aid of her magic art she changed her chestnut locks : . . to pale gold and her silken gown into a cotton smock. And then, taking her maid-who was in the secret-with her, she made 1ter way out of the castle and into the besiegers' camp. 'On her arm she carried a basket full of little odds and ends such as pedlars sell, and she moved to and fro among the tents'.'" singing so sweetly that all the soldiers ran to listen. Among then was the owner of the fairy horn. And while he stood listening to the pedlar-girl's song, the maid slipped into his' tent, unhooked the horn which hung there, and hastened back to the castle, where she was soon rejoined by her mistress. The' ,:next morning the besieging army had -melted away as suddenly as it had come, and three poor soldiers were plodding ; very sadly through the woods more than fifty miles away."'' Where to go they knew not. They did not even know where they` were. Regretfully they decided to separate, two going, one way and one the other, in the hope of finding some work to do The second soldier, he who had had the purse, felt ex- eeed ngly sad when he found himself, all alone on the edge of 1.`` the wood.. But, sad though he was, the sight of, a tree laden ,with bright red apples brought a sparkle of pleasure to his eyes. $e ate two, and. then three, And then he became aware that