Prince Lazybones and Other Stories

"you are not going

"I can spin yarns with any sa

hing f

doing worse, for in getting into the hoop of a native's nose-ring for a swing-just by way of a new sensation-I forgot to make myself invisible, and he caught me, thought I

get out of

ll; he poked about with his little black fingers for a quarter of a

ve anything to

m. Now imps might be said to belong to the same family were it not for the proofs we have of their existence. The

as w

constant companions; they pounce upon them and twitch and tease and torment them until the poor wine-bibber trembles from head to foot. The

SECOND

well as urgent invitations for our royal family to be present; but so deeply engrossed was our King at that moment in supplying th

and sent by special messenger-a bird of the Cypselina family. He was a great sooty-black fellow, with a tinge of green in his feathers, strong

re so common that their beds are made of them. Their books are 'the running brooks,' and their art treasures hang on every bough. The Queen had woven a veil of lace with her own fingers; it was filmy and e

at person, having always been unwilling ever to allow difficulties to deter me from any duty. Pride of the right sort is a great help. I went to the frost-workers and told them what I wanted. They said they could imitate any flower; bu

ead, smiled, and said, "I do

go on,"

the frost-workers said there were no less than a thousand di

I told them I should have nothing to do with the pattern. 'Make the

f ice, which was packed in charcoal and straw, and then cased in cocoa matting. To this I attached

the Equator this was impossible, I took to the sea, and went down to its highway. Of course I had on garments impervious to water-that is to say, water-proof-and my wall

ould be my enemy. I would not so much as betray my fears by looking behind, and I had enough to do in looking forward, for at every ot

shiver to think what might be my fate, and I can honestly say that the thought of failing to fulfill my errand bore as heavily upon me as the sense of per

ghted. It is not kind to allow selfish matters to stand in the way when we are bidden to a joyous celebration, and had not our King felt that the claims of man were

but I am crazy to know

I might hide. There was soon an opportunity. A heap of cast-off shells presented itself, and

him after me, but the ways of the wicked are often difficult to explain. There he was, and if once he could get me within reach I was lost. On he came, snuffing and barking like a dog, making my very hair stand on end. I waited

I had not long to wait. With an angry cry he rushed upon me. His size seemed to me enormous, but

urney, and soon came to a region of the most beautiful water-plants growing in g

eservation of the snow-wreath. In my tussle with the wolf this vial must have become partly uncorked, for I became aware of a strong odor diffusing itself about me, and an overpow

n glow-worms. I was startled from my swoon by a rattling, dragging noise, and came very near being scooped up by an uncouth-looking iron thing which was attached to a cable. It flashed upon me, stupid as I

up to take a look about me, and discovered that I was much nearer shore than I supposed. Hardly had I done this when, to my horror, I saw the arms of an octopus stretching towards me, its horid beak projecting from between its ugly eyes. More alarmed than at any previous danger, I strove to

s, curled up in a writhing, wriggling mass,