Prince Lazybones and Other Stories

er-power kept active that he was glad when they went up a long inclined plane, and came

he was not sorry to see Paz bringing out another dozen of tarts for his refreshment. As he ate t

ng; "but they are not to be

hen, do t

I may tell you that our children are bred entirely in the open air. Many an empty bird's nest is used as an elf cradle, for so highly do we esteem pure air, su

y all work

as often a pretty tale whispered in his ear to soothe his grief or passion, and your garden roses are witness to many a worm in the bud choked by the hand of an elf. But we have

Knops ceased speaking a band of elves, habited as troubadours in blue and silver, with long

ok, and appeared to be in honor of Master Knops, who lis

awaiting his presence; so, leaving Leo to Paz

pe, curiously carved from a nut; then he opened a small ivory box, showing Le

urns in my pipe, and I can

ry," said Leo, t

ou than so much tobacco-not as much, probably, f

appointed that he could not go t

and said, by way of diversion,

kitchen," said Leo,

e back by the time Master Knops returns." S

e where jets of gas gave a garden-like effect, sprouting as they did from solid rock in the form of tulips and tiger-lilies, but

ds, each wore a white bonnet of ludicrous form, which they could tip over so as to shield

r of elves testing each compound to see if it were properly prepared, and exami

fairies lived on rose leaves and honey, and

ld ask nothing better than to dine off honeysuckle and a bird's egg, or fill my pockets with gooseberries; but I must adapt myself to circumstances, and whil

uffs and tarts, and in a twinkling Leo had eaten two or three dozen of them. They were really so light and frothy that they were hardly equal to an oun

its, skinned and ready to be roasted. It took six elves to bear the weight of an ordinary mea

ill your game

ave a mode of killing the creat

y clambered, until it seemed as if they might reach the stars by going a little farther, and now Leo was really so tired that when h

ot longer-for when he awoke he was thoroughly rested and refreshed, and ready for

into hours he began to be uneasy. What should he do if they never came back? How would he ever find his way out of these caverns? The thought