English Fairy Tales

began once more to grow restless, and taking lea

e came, late at night, on a lonesome house set at the foot of a high mountain.

courteous, "can you lodg

elcome to my poor cotta

ng in friendly fashion. Then it was that the old man, seeing by Ja

into the castle, where they are transformed into all sorts of birds and beasts, yea, even into fishes and insects. There they live pitiably in confinement; but most of all do I grieve for a duke's daughter whom they kidnapped in her father's garden, bringing her hither in a burning chariot draw

xt morning, at dawn-time, Jack arose and put on his invisible coat and his slippers of swiftness. And in the twinkling of an eye there he was on the top of the mountain! And there wer

und a golden trumpet on a silver chain, an

all this t

the giant's

chantment he

s out of sa

e words than he put the horn

Tantivy!

ord of strength, severed his head from his body, and would doubtless have done the same to the magician, but that the latter was a coward, and, calling up a whirlwind, was swept away by it into the air, nor has he ever been seen or heard of since. The enchantments being thus broken, all the valiant knights and beautiful ladies, who had been transformed into

cked old magician transform the

ast services, however, King Arthur bestowed the hand of the duke's daughter upon honest Jack the Giant-Killer. So married they were, and the whole kingdom was filled with joy at their wedding. Fu

HREE

lived a farmer and his wife who had one daughter. And she, being a pretty

and stop to supper in the farm-house, and every evening the daug

turned the tap as usual, she happened to look up at the ceiling,

obwebs; but somehow or another she had never noticed it before, and at o

posing he were to grow up to be a man, and supposing he were to come down to draw cider like as I'

carrying and, seating herself on a cask, beg

a time her mother went down to the cellar to see what had come to her, and found her

ried her mother, "wha

we was to have a son, and supposing he was to grow up to be a man, and supposing he was to come down to draw ci

herself beside her daughter and begin

both sat

what had happened, and going down to the cellar found them seated side b

he, "whatever

and supposing they was to have a son, and supposing he was to grow to man's estate, and supposing he was to come down to dra

and, seating himself beside his wif

elf what they were all after. And there he found them seated side by side on the cask a-crying, with their feet all a-wash

there crying like babies, and let

sing we/you had a son, and supposing he was to grow to man's estate, and supposing he was to come down here to draw ci

d he shook his head and said, "I've travelled far and I've travelled fast, but never have I met with three such sillies as you three. Now I can't marry one of the three b

ain on his travels, leaving them all cryi

er did he find a bigger silly, until one day he came upon an old

or thing was afraid and durst not go. Then the old woman tried coaxing, but it wouldn't go. You never saw s

easier if you went up the ladder, cut the

there, for I'll tie a rope round her neck, pass the rope down the chimney, and fasten t'other end to my wrist, so as wh

when she got it on to the roof she tied a rope round its neck, passed the rope down the chimney, and faste

w had fallen off the roof and got strangled by the rope round its neck, while the weight of the cow had pull

th the young squire as he journ

inn was so full that he had to share a room with another traveller. Now his room-fello

what does the stranger do but carefully han

doing?" asks

with that he goes to the other end of the room, tak

he got quite hot and flustered, as the old woman had got over her cow that wouldn't go up the ladder. And

"It's very well laughing," says he, "but breeches are the most awkwardest things to get into that ever

ng, how to put on his breeches, and the stranger was ever so

n the moon was shining right overhead he came upon a village. And outside the village was a pond, and round about the pond was a great crowd of villagers. And some ha

g squire, jumping off his horse

n't 'ee see moon's fallen into the p

ads where the moon was riding broad and full. But they wouldn't, and they wouldn't believe that what they saw in the water was only a reflection. And when he insisted they began to abuse him r

lies in this world than I thought for; so I'll just go back an

live happy ever after, that has nothing t

OLDEN

door before them. They had never seen such a handsome young man before. He had gold on his cap, gold on his finger, gold on his neck, gold at hi

ent up, and up, and up, till it went fair over the paling; and when she climbed to look for it, the ball ran along the green gr

ed by the neck till she was dead

shut; then he climbed the railing, and when he got to the top of it an old woman rose up out of the ditch befo

not find it, nor any one in the house at all; but when night came on he thought he heard bogles mo

around; but seeing nothing he went to the window and bowed himself to look out; and as he bowed on his elbows to see the bogles in the yard, the lad stepped behind h

half the giant come tumbling down to them, and they called

as thou hast no eye to see with, so go join thy brother"; and he cast the lower part of

cond giant came in at the door, and as he came in the lad cut him in tw

he lad to the head, and he cast the o

he heard the bogles striving under the bed, and he wondered what they were at. So he peep

bogle thrust his arm out at t'other side of the bed, and in a twinkling the lad cuts that off too. So it went on, till at last he had maimed them all,

ht out on the scaffold, and the hangman said, "Now, lass, thou

think I see m

thou brought

to set

mother a

r brought th

to set

come to s

s gallow

lass, say thy prayers for t

think I see m

thou brought

to set

father a

r brought th

to set

come to s

s gallow

hee done thy prayers? Now, las

e sang her little verse, and the brother sang back the same words. And so wit

r brought th

to set

come to s

s gallow

op no longer, thou'rt making game

her sweetheart coming through

I see my swee

st thou brough

to set

t held up her gold

rought to thee

to set

come to s

s gallow

en and there, and they

WO SI

wo peas in a pod; but one was good, and the other was bad-tempered. Now

" said the younger sister, ever so cheerfully,

ted a girl, and she went farther afield into the country. And as she journeyed she came upon an o

! We have been baking for seven years, and no one has come

she stopped, put down her bundle, took o

e more comf

ow lowing beside an empty pa

ase milk me! Seven years have I been wa

her bundle, milked the cow into t

ll be more

en with fruit that its branches were nigh

shake my branches. The fruit is

ok the branches so that the apples fell off, and the tre

e more comf

good wages. Therefore the girl agreed to stop with her and try how she liked service. She had to sweep the floor, keep the house clean

f mine! Have you seen m

itch-service; for the witch used to have boiled babies for supper, and bury the bones under some stones in the garden. But she did not like to go home penniless; so she stayed on, sweeping, and dusting, and doing her work, just as if she was pleased.

of her witch errands; so the girl thou

way when she heard the witch-woman coming after her on her broomstick. Now the apple tre

e! Apple t

witch can

oes she'll p

under the ga

will. You helped me to stand straight

ly in its green branches; and

ine! O Tre

n my naughty

illy wag and a

n my money-

e tree a

mothe

r seve

itely, and started again. But just as she got to where the cow was standing bes

w, pleas

tch can't

she'll pic

under the ga

t you milk me and make me comfortable? Hide

ch flew by and c

mine! Co

n my naughty

illy wag and a

y money-all

t said

mothe

r seve

r way home; but just as she got to where the oven stood, she heard that horrid old w

! Oven!

witch can'

oes she'll p

under the ga

no room for you, as another batch of bread

d my last batch from being burnt; so run into the bakehouse, you

nly just in time, for there wa

mine! Ma

n my naughty

illy wag and a

e my money

ed, "Look in the ove

broomstick and peered into the

st corner," said the baker slyly

ng

en she came out with the bread she was all crisp and brown, and

little girl got safe ho

e in her turn packed up a bundle and started to seek service by the same road. But when she came to the oven, and the loaves

should burn my fingers to sav

cross the cow standing waiting to be milk

k me! Please milk me, I've wai

may wait another seven years for

overburdened by its fruit. But when it begged her to shake it

urself." And with that she went on munching the

er mind this one should not trick her. So for a long time she never went out of the house; thus the ill-tempered sister never had a chance of looki

bury her bones, she seized the moment, looked up the chimn

till she came to the apple tree, when she heard the wit

e! Apple t

witch can

oes she'll b

nder the gar

apple tr

e! I've too

the witch-woman on her brooms

mine! Tre

en a naught

illy wag and a

n my money-

le tree

mother

one dow

beating, took the bag of money away from her, and sent her home without a

AIDLY

ir mother, a fair woman, was dead, and the King mourned her long and faithfully. But, after his son Childe Wynde went to seek his fortune,

that she would have to give up keeping house for her father the King. For she had always taken a pride in her work. But she said nothing, though

r the keys of the castle chambers, knotted them on a string, and after casting them over her left shoulder for luck-more for

some of the Scots lords in attendance, she looked so fair and so sweet, that the lords

me, welco

halls an

e too, my

at's here

nd tripped into the yard,

May Margr

we have met, she

stamped her foot and her face flushed with

t have ex

ay Margret to a La

her low as

ps about

he Childe of W

witching

icked woman still more angry. So that same night she left her royal bed, and, returning to the lonely cave where she had ever done her

ye to a L

sail ye

Wynde the K

me acros

world come

d ye'll

Wynde of his

you kiss

r they found coiled up in her bed an awesome dragon, which uncoiled itself and came towards them. And when they ran away terrified, the Laidly Worm crawled and crept, and cr

country-side knew the hunger of the Laidly Worm of Spindlestone Heugh, for it drove the

lch kine every morn and every eve to the trough of stone at the foot of the Heugh, for the Laidly Worm to drink. And this they did, and after t

to Childe Wynde's ears; and the news of it angered him; for he thought perchance it had something to

land by Spindlestone, so as to q

h wood from the rowan tree. And they made masts of rowan

not to be bested; so he called out the oarsmen. Thus it came to pass that one morn the wicked Queen, looking from the Keep, saw the gallant ship in Bamborough Bay, and she sent out a

e Witch Queen laid spells

m! Go make thei

nd, and creep b

orm had no choic

pt up, the Wo

ed round

e ship came c

d as if s

d the Witch Queen, who was watching from the Keep, thought he had given up: but he was not to be bested: for he only rounded the next point to Budley sands. And there, jumping into the

y sword, un

me kiss

I seem a

I'll do

his dear sister May Margret. So he stayed hi

y sword, un

ly form

wrong and ki

of May

nd the Laidly Worm and kissed it once. And he kissed the loathly thing twice

Laidly Worm sank to the sand,

her to Bamborough Castle, where the wicked Queen, knowing her hour was come, sto

ynde looking

thee, thou

te shalt

ou dreed on

oom shalt

thou'lt be

he clay d

led thou w

world ha

shrivelled and shrivelled to a horrid wrinkled toad that

imes seen haunting Bamborough Keep; and t

argret loved each other as much as

SE AND TA

Tatty Mouse both

leaning, and Tatty M

oth went

r of corn, and Tatty Mous

gleaned an

pudding, and Tatty

oth made

ut her pudding in

he pot tumbled over, and scalded her

ed stool said, "Tat

" said Tatty,

tool, "I'll hop,"

ner of the room said, "

"Titty's dead, and Tat

, "I'll sweep," so the

oor, "Broom, wh

dead, and Tatty weeps, and th

oor, "I'll jar," s

said, "Door, w

and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops,

dow, "I'll creak," s

house, and when the window creaked, th

Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the b

gallop round the house." So the o

g by the cottage, and the tree said to the fo

d the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars,

shed my leaves." So the walnut tree

boughs of the tree, and when all the leaves fell,

ops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks,

I'll moult all my feathers," so

rothers' and sisters' supper, and when she saw the poor little bird moult a

the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form gallops rou

'll spill the milk." So she drop

he saw the little girl spill the milk, he said, "Little girl, what do you mean by

eps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form gallops round the house, the walnut

then I'll tumble off the

a crash and upset the old form and house, and the house falling knocked the window out, and the window knocked the door d

D THE B

young and folk did what they liked because all

-White, the beautiful cow, gave them without stint. For it was summer-time. But winter came on; the herbs of the fields took refuge from the frosts in the warm earth, and though his mother sent Jack to ga

no milk at all-not one drain! Then the good hard-wo

we do? What

little to help, so he said, "Cheer up! Cheer up! I'll go and get work somewhere." And he felt as

quite a good lad but your wits go a-wool-gathering. No, we must sell Milky-White

well as a hard-working woma

ever. It's an ill wind that blows no one good. So, as it is market

egan his

ps," laughed Jack. "Trust

husband was more ailing than usual, his

s," she bawled after him

made up his mind to twenty! T

fairing out of the money, when he saw a queer little o

how the queer little old man happened to know his name; t

wondered again-he was always wondering, you know-what the queer lit

sell Milky-White-and I me

little old' man. "You look the sort of chap f

mouth," answered Jack readily.

an; and as he spoke he drew out of his pocket five

ood with his mouth open as if he exp

y Milky-White for five comm

was a queer little smile on his queer little face. "If you plant these be

his time even to open his mo

ked at last; for, see you, Jack had wondered

"It's a good bargain, Jack; and, as fair play's a jewel, if they don't-why! meet me h

stopping to think, and the next moment he

aid, and what I'll do. Everything in order, and if what the queer little

udged home cheerfully, wondering what th

ng anxiously for him at the gate. "It is past sun-setting; but I see

er guess,"

an. "And I worriting all day lest they should take you in.

t the beans

what I got for her, and

rn to be flabbergasted

Them

they're magic beans. If you plant them over-night, by morning

y for all she was worth. And when she had finished scolding and beating, s

beans, thought Jack ruefully, he did

s a rule, happy, he soon fell

curtain by leaves. He was out of bed in a trice, and the next moment, without waiting to dress, was climbing up the biggest beanstalk you ever saw. For what t

re?

ky? Jack meant t

ach side was like a ladder; for all that he soon was out of breath. Then he got his second wind, and was just beginning

lked, and walked, till he came to a tall, sh

-pot in her hand. Now Jack, having had no supper, was hungry as a

wonder if you could g

u're wanting, it's breakfast you'll likely be; for I expect my man home every instant, a

and when he wanted a thing he genera

she was not, really, half as bad as she looked. But he had hardly finished the great bowl of porridg

THUMP!!

ven door was just closed when the ogre strode in. Jack could see him t

he cried, "roast me these snippets for breakfast; they are all I've been able to get this morning, worse luck! I hope

"Pooh! the little things would

g about the room. "They don't smell-mutton meat," he growle

fi-fo

blood of a

ve, or be

s bones to ma

little boy you had for supper that I'm boiling down fo

en pieces. These he put on the table, and began to count their contents while his wife cleared away the breakfast thin

, shining white road as fast as his legs would carry him till he came to the beanstalk. He couldn't climb down it w

er picking up gold pieces out of the garden as fas

. "Wherever have you been?

," began Jack.

but, lo and behold! it wasn't there at all

gs to eat; but, at last, a day came when Jack's mother showed a doleful face as she put a big yellow sovereign into Ja

't make money, he thought, at any rate he could eat less money. It was

do when they don't overeat th

in of leaves over the window! Another bean had grown in the night,

white road, and in a trice he found himself before the tall white house, where on the

g, 'm," he said. "I've come to ask you for breakfast,

st time I gave a boy breakfast my man missed a w

with a laugh. "I'll tell you true when I

gave him a big bowl full of porridge; but before

THUMP

ed the ogre's wife. "You shall te

eam peep-hole that the ogre had t

voice shook the house. "Quick! Roast these tri

andle of the door, but hi

rs before they were done! I'll broi

e. And then he began sn

fi-fo

blood of a

ve, or be

s bones to ma

only the bones of the boy you had last

ed calves, and then he said to his wife, "Bring me

hen with a shiny red comb. She plumped it down

nd it promptly laid-what do you think?-

eg as long as I've got you." Then he said, "Lay!" once more; and, l

e, he just out like a flash from the oven, seized the hen, and ran for his life! But, you see, he reckoned without his prize; for hen

Jack had got the better of them by a good start, and all they could see was a little figure right

, and leaves, and feathers, and cacklings; but get down he did,

d out, "Lay!" and the black hen ceased cackling

erything that money could buy. For, whenever they wanted anything

used his supper, and before he went to bed stole out to the garden with a big watering-can and watered the ground under his window

immering through his room, and there he was in an instant on t

him. So he just hid in some bushes beside the great white house, till he saw her in the scullery, and then

and by

THUMP

re stalk in with three huge oxen strung at his belt. But this time

fi-fo

blood of a

ve, or be

s bones to ma

fit tight like the oven door, and og

ife. "It will be that horrid boy who stole the bag

Then she laughed and said, "You and me be fools for sure. Why, it's the boy you caught last night as I was getting re

y now and then he would burst out with "Fee-fi-fo-fum," and get up and search t

s breakfast he called out to his wife, "Br

put it on the table. And the ogre lea

in

t? Why! It sang about everything! And it sang so beautifully that Jack forgot to

i

O

OR

and knees to the table, raised himself up ever so softly and

out quite loud, "Master! Master!" So the ogre

st flung himself on to the stalk and began to go down as fast as he could, while the harp kept calling, "Master! Master!" at the very top of its voice. He had only got down about a quarter of the way when there was the most awful lurch you can think of, and Jack nearly fe

fallen. Just at that moment Jack touched ground, and he flung down the harp-which immediately began to sing of all sorts of beauti

re, and he dealt that beanstalk such a shrewd blow that the whole of it, ogre and all, c

smell the blood

eryone was qu

to spareand if

, Jackjust brou

ing!"And lo

everythingu

wonderingso m

useful

beanstill has

ill inth

if it wil

d will climbit's bea

will that

dy

K BULL O

ee daughters. Now they were all pretty, and one nig

"I will have no one

, "I will have none

ead and said, with a twinkle in her eye, "Why so proud? As

ilent and not talk lightly of such a mo

easures now

lack Bull o

tapers ce

rels ceas

Bull of Norroway was hel

ugh, so she said three times that she would

in it sate an Earl who had come to ask the hand of the eldest daughter in marriage. So there wer

ing along the road; and he wanted to marry the second daughter. So they were wed, and th

she became the apple of her mother's eye. So you may imagine how the mother felt when one morning a

and hid herself in the cellar for fear, but there the Bu

k Bull of Norroway, and I must keep my word.

smoothest paths and the easiest roads, so that at last the girl grew less afraid. But she became very hung

of my l

ut of m

by what

the morro

ll of delicious things to eat, and the right was full of the most

lack Bull never paused for bite or sup, but ever the girl he carried ate out of his left ear and drank out of

d greatly the company wondered at the sight of these strange companions. And they invited the girl t

r promise, and mounted on his back, so they journeyed on, and journeyed on, and journeyed on, through many tangled woods and over many high mountains. And

, though much surprised at the strange companions, asked the girl in to supper; and the Black Bull they would have turned into the park fo

ut ever the Black Bull trod the brambles underfoot and chose the easiest paths, while she ate out of his left ear and drank out of his right, and wanted for nothing, though he had neither bite nor sup. So it came to pass that he grew tired and was limping with one foot when, just as the sun w

will stay with me!" Then seeing a large thorn in the foot with

frightful monstrous bull, but one of the most beautiful Princes ever beheld, who f

ad, he said, spelled him until a beautiful mai

er. You have broken the enchantment by ni

out together; and they rode, and they rode, and they rode, till they came to

hand nor foot whilst I am away, else I shall never find you again. If everything around you turn

endous roaring bellow, he

ed, and waited. Then at last everything turned blue. But she was so overcome with joy to think that her l

e sate, and aye she wearied; and all the time

she journeyed on, and she journeyed on, until one day in a dark wood she came to a little hut where lived an old, old woman who gave h

heart is li

gain is li

ut and in

e that suit

reat hill of glass; and though she tried all she could to climb it, she could not;

mith promised if she would serve him faithfully for seven years and seven days, that he would make her iron shoon wherewith to climb the hill of glass. So for seven long years and seve

ay's wedding. Then she passed a number of people carrying all sorts of good things which they told her were for the Duke's wedding. And at last she came to a pal

rs and cries of "Room! Room for t

had but half unspelled, and by his side was the witc

eak, so that the time had come for her to crack one of the nuts. So she broke the walnut, as it wa

erful thing she offered the girl her c

uke for a day, and let me watch in his room

he had her groom safe, that she consented; but before the Duke went to rest she gave him,

nto the Duke's chamber, and though she sp

I sought

I wrough

I brough

ke o' N

say naug

when day came the girl had to leave him w

And out of it came a wonderful wee, wee woman spinning away as fast as ever she could spin. Now when the witch-bride saw this wonderful thing she on

I sought

I wrough

I brough

ke o' N

say naug

s of his witch-bride, never stirred, and when dawn came the gi

like to break, so she cracked the last nut-the hazel nut-and out of it came the mos

nsented to put off her wedding for a day, and allow the girl to wat

ges talking amongst themselves of the strange sighing and singing they had hear

, who hated the w

aught to-night, mayhap he may also hear

posset, he made excuse it was not sweet enough, and while she went away to get honey

vy heart thinking it would be the very last time she would ever see him, the Duke

I sought

at once, and clasp

h-woman and had forgotten everything, but that now he rem

nce the witch-bride, seeing her power was gone, qu

TS

ery much wanted to have a son to be heir to them. So when his wife brought him a d

ever see

h her father never set eyes on her till she wa

said, "Say you will not take him unless they give you a coat of beaten gold." Well, they gave her a coat of beaten gold, but still she would not take the old man, but went again to the hen-wife, who said, "Say you will not take him unless they give you a coat made of the feathers of all the birds of the air." So they sent out a man with a great heap of peas; and the man cried to all the birds of the air, "Each bird take a pea and put down a feather." So each b

d went up to the castle gates and asked for work. The lady of the castle saw her, and told her, "I'm sorry I have no better place, but if you like you may be

e was to be a grand ball in honour of the occasion. And when they were speaking about i

ies with your filthy catskin? A fine figure you'd cut!" and with that she took a basin of

elf in a crystal waterfall, and put on her coat of silver cloth, and hastened away to the ball. As soon as she entered all were overcome by her beauty and grace

he young lord said, "Pray tell

n curtsied

f the truth

the 'Basin of W

d her catskin robe again, and slipped i

ent to his mother, the lady of the castle, and declared he would wed none other but the lady of the silver dress, and woul

d cut a fine figure among all the fine lords and ladies." And with that she up with a ladle and broke it across Catskin's back. But Catskin only shoo

e lady of the "Basin of Water," claimed her hand for the first dance, and did not leave her ti

f the truth

the 'Broken L

, off with her golden robe, on with her catskin,

the "Basin of Water" was, he begged his mother to have another

ure you'd cut!" and broke the skimmer across her head. But Catskin only shook her ears, and went off to the forest

but the young lord at once recognised his beautiful sweetheart, and would dance with none but her the whole

f the truth

the 'Broken Ski

young lord followed her, and watched her change her fine dress of feath

and told her that he wished to m

y of the castle-"neve

and went along

n. At last the doctor went to the mother, and said that her son would die if she did not consent to his marriage with Catskin; so she had to give way. Then she summoned Catskin to h

ears old, a beggar woman came to the door, and Lady Catskin gave some money to the little lord and told him to go and give it to the begga

ecause Catskin was too kind-hearted) was looking on, and

out what had become of her parents. So they set out in the lord's grand coach, and travelled through the forest till they came to the house of Cats

g and miserable. When the young lord came in he hardly looked up, he was so miserable. Then Catskin's husband drew a

I am a hardened sinner. But I would give all my worl

d took him to the inn, and afterwards brought his father-in-l

EE LITT

pigs, and as she had not enough for them to eat, she said t

otted along the road he met a man carrying

uld you give me that st

pig had, gave him the straw, and the little pig

pened to pass that way; and he saw th

ed at the d

ttle pig! Let m

olf's big paws through the k

the hair of my c

showed his t

I'll puff and I'll

blew the house in. Then he ate u

met a man carrying a bundle of furze,

uld you give me that fu

pig had, gave him the furze, and the little pig

finished the wolf passed that way; and he

ed at the d

ttle pig! Let m

h the keyhole and saw the wolf's

the hair of my c

showed his t

I'll puff and I'll

blew the house in. Then he ate u

arted, met a man carrying a load of br

d you give me those bric

ht up, gave him the bricks, and the little pig

nished the wolf chanced to come that way; and

ed at the d

ttle pig! Let m

ugh the keyhole and saw the wo

the hair of my c

nd I'll blow your house in!" sa

puffed, puffed; but he could not blow the house down. At last he was so out of breath

re there is ever such a

ttle piggy, "and

clock to-morrow morning, I will call round for you, and we can

e little piggy. "I will be

up at five, trotted off to Farmer Smith's field, rooted up the turnips, and wa

ittle pig! Are

you are! I've been to the field and come back again, a

t he was determined to eat little pi

; but I know of somethi

ttle piggy, "and

t apples on it! So if you will be ready at five o'clock to-morrow m

le piggy. "I will sure and be

u see, the wolf had been taken in once and wasn't going to be taken in again, so he also started at four o'clock, and t

re already! You are an earl

tle piggy; "I'll thro

f had gone to pick it up, the little pig was a

t next day to the little piggy's house an

like to give you a fairing; so if you will come wit

ys little piggy. "What

p," says the wolf, "so

n a swing, and enjoyed himself ever so much, and bought himself a butter-churn as a fairing, and trotted away towards home long before

urn; so he crept into it, and was just pulling down t

, bumpe

nd when the wolf heard the noise, and saw t

, bumpe

ned that he turned

and told the little pig how sorry he was not to have been able to keep his promise of going to the

me! I hid inside the butter-churn when I saw you coming

per. But while he was climbing on to the roof the little pig made up a blazing fire and put on a big pot full of water to boil. Then,

e cover again, boiled the wol

UGHT N

away for many long months. And, lo and behold! while he was away the Queen at long last bore him a little son. As you may imagine, she was fair delighted, and thought how pleased the King would be when he came home and found that his dearest wish had been fulfilled. And all the courtiers wer

hearty little lad; for his father did not come back fo

iver which neither he nor his army could cross, for it was flood-time and the water was fu

aid kindly, "I'll carry you all over, if you like." Now, though the giant smiled and was very polite, the King knew eno

do you take me for? Give me Nix Naught Not

generosity; so he said, "Certainly, certainly. I'll giv

King hastened homewards. If he was glad to see his dear wife, the Queen, you may i

g sir?" he asked of the chi

he boy; "that's what they call m

I done?" he cried. "I promised to give nix naught nothing to the giant wh

said to her husband the King, "If the giant comes to claim his promise, we will give him the hen-wife's youngest

rince's clothes and wept and wailed when the giant, fine and satisfied, carried his prize off on his back. But after a while he came

ge, on my s

make the t

wife's littl

mother the h

e wise Queen's

ed on him, and he threw the hen-wife's boy on the groun

gardener's boy, and wept and wailed when the giant, fine and satisfied, carried his prize off on his back. Then the same thing happen

ge, on my s

make the t

rdener's b

y father the

wise Queen's

flung the boy from him so that he was killed, and then strode back to the palace, where he cried with f

ally wept and wailed as the giant carried off the boy on his back. And this time

ge, on my s

make the t

le Princ

e King my fa

served in the b

s really a great Magician who could take any form he chose. And the reason he wanted a little prince so badly was that he had lost his wife, and had only one little daughter who nee

y in which he could quietly get rid of Nix Naught Nothing. So he said one day, "I have work for you, Nix Naught Nothing! There is a stable hard by which is seven

ain. So by breakfast-time he was in a terrible sweat; yet not one whit nearer the end of his job was he. Now the Magicia

ts," she said. So she just c

birds o' e

s stable for

, and the sky was just dark with the wings of birds, and they carried

o he said: "Shame on the wit that helped you; but I have a harder job for you to-morrow. Yonder is a lake seven miles long, seven

ugh he baled out the water without ceasing, it ever ran back, so that though h

reakfast she only laughed and said, "I'll soon m

fish of ri

s water for

ick with fishes. And they drank and

d you! Yet it betters you not, for I will give you a yet harder task than the last. If you do that, you may have my daughter. See you, yonder is a tree, seven miles high, an

lover to fetch the eggs and bring them down unbroken. So she sate with Nix Naught Nothing underneath the

mine, for

lover to cl

hemselves like the steps of a ladder up the tree; but they wer

f mine, for

lover to cl

er was tall enough. So Nix Naught Nothing climbed up it, reached the nest, and got the seven eggs. Now, as he was coming down with the last, he was so over

as

once. But first I must have my magic flask, or I shall be unable to help. It is in my room and the door is locked. Put your fingers, since I have

ngers, since I have none, into my hair, take my comb and throw it down." So Nix Naught Nothing did as he was bid, and, lo and behold! out of every one of the comb-prongs there sprang up a prickly briar, which grew so fast that the Magician found himself in the middle of a thorn hedge! You may guess how angry and scratched he was before he tore his way out. So Nix Naught Noth

iss-cross on the ground, and the Magician giant was howling with pain as he trod among them. You may guess h

ike to catch them up; for the Magician's daughter, you see, could not run fast because she had lost her toes on one foot! She did wha

flask. Take it out and sprinkle so

ve carried him away, had not the Magician's daughter's loosened veil caught him and held him fast. But the wave grew, and grew, and grew behind them, until it reached the giant's waist; then it gr

e couldn't move a step further, and she said to her lover, "Yonder are lights burning. Go and see if you can find a ni

Nothing's father and mother, the King and Queen, lived (though of course, he did not know this); so,

asked the hen-w

Nothing," repli

her boy who had been killed, so sh

you shall have a drink of milk, for you look weary. Th

very moment he saw his father and mother he should fall fast asleep, and none should be able

one was begging a night's lodging, they went down to the hall to see him. And lo, the moment Nix Naught Nothing caught sight of his father and mo

, could waken him, the King said, "A maiden will likely take more trouble to waken him than others, seeing how handsome he is. Send for

ll the pretty maidens of the realm came t

her work as usual. So she took her pitcher to the pool to fill it. Now the Magician's daughter was still hiding in the tree waiting for her lover to return. Thus

that," she cried, "I'l

some dowry. But of course she hadn't; though at the sight of Nix Naught Nothing she fell so much in love with him, that, knowing t

ng and Queen's long-lost son to a gardener's ugly daughter; so she straightway took the girl's sav

castle, and sure enough, no sooner had she s

he would prefer sleep. So she thought it wiser to put him to sleep again till the mar

work. And he took the pitcher to the pool; and he also saw the Magician's daughter's shad

up and saw the

And he told her that that very day his daughter was to marry a handsome young stranger at the castle, and to get a handsome dowry to

ng had happened to her lover; so she went to the ca

her magic had gone from her with the magic

r fingerless hands on

e stable for

lake and I c

t waken for

stirred

r and said, "She that is to marry the young man will be back ere long,

ress, and begins to sing her charm. But the Magician's daughter didn't wait for her to finish it; for the mome

the castle, he remembered his father and mother, he remembe

re was not one for the little toe, so it could not be brought back. Of course, after that there was great rejoicing, and Prince Nix Naught Nothing and the Magician's daughter were married and lived happy ever after,

D MRS.

ith a pickle-fork and grew vegetables for pickling, Mrs. Vinegar, who was a sharp, bustling, tidy woman, swept, brushed, and dusted, brushed and dusted and swept to keep the house clean as a new pin. Now one day she lost h

hese as best she might, a

es! they won't be wanted! What is the use of pickles if you haven't a pickle-jar to put t

side of things, so he said, "Accidents will happen, lovey! But there are as good pickle-bottles in the shop as

he furniture?" so

, lovey," quoth Mr. Vinegar stoutly. "Then

good wife, she held her peace. So off they trudged into the world to seek fo

ves in a dark, thick forest. Now Mrs. Vinegar, for all she was a smart, strong woman, was tired to death, and

nto a tree, fix the door firmly in a fork, and you can

was soon fast asleep. But her weight tilted the door sideways, so, after a time, Mr. Vinegar

hould meet beneath that very tree in order to divide their spoils. Mr. Vinegar could hear every word said quite disti

Mrs. Vinegar, half asleep.

back Mr. Vinegar in a quaking voice.

and trembling, till, just as the robbers were beginning to parcel out the money, he actually shook the door right

heir booty behind them. But Mr. Vinegar, who had saved himself from the fall by clinging to a branch, was far too f

rubbed her eyes, yawned,

y," answered Mr. Vin

up the door, what do

a pancake, and forty golden

Mr. and Mrs. Vine

to the next market-town and buy a cow; for, see you, money makes the mare to go, truly; but it also goes itself. Now a cow

said Mr. Vinegar admiringly,

od bargain," bawled

when I married such a clever wife, and I made a better one wh

g and jingling the forty

he saw in the market

for me. I shall be the happiest of men if I get that cow."

take for your

ng he was a simpleton, said, "

s, and led off the cow, marching her up and down the m

e bagpipes. He was followed about by a crowd of children who danced to the mus

than by driving about a beast of a cow! Then the feeding, and the milking, and

ian and said, "What will y

"it is a beautiful instrument, and I make so much money b

in a hurry, lest the man s

though he blew till he almost burst, not a sound could he make at first, and when he did at last, it was suc

save hootings and peltings, until his fingers were almost frozen with the

d to himself, "Music is impossible when one's fingers are frozen.

a very good pair of gloves." And the man replied, "Truly, s

ke for them; and the owner, seeing he was a simpleton, said, "As your hands

negar, delighted, an

ased with himself. "Warm hands, warm heart!

and at last began to limp. Then he saw a m

e use of warm hands if your feet ache!" So he said to the man with the stick, "Wh

as you are so pressing I'll oblige you, as a

tedly; and trudged off with the stick, c

sate on a branch in front of him, and chuckled and laughed

y guineas when she wasn't worth ten, you exchanged her for bagpipes you couldn't play-you changed the bagpipes for a pair of gloves, and the pair of gloves for a miser

s Mr. Vinegar trudged along, that at last he flew into a violent rage and flung his stick at the bird.

tuck in a tree, for Mrs. Vinega

n every bone in my body. I think we had better turn over a new leaf and begin afresh. I shall take service as a gardener, and you ca

story of Mr. a

story of Mr. a

TORY OF SIR

fair indeed, one of the most renowned of men was the wizard Merlin. Never before or since was there

rfully, with a big wooden bowl of fresh milk and some coarse brown bread on a wooden platter. Still, though both they and the little cottage where they dwelt w

bigger than my goodman's thumb," said th

the good couple content. This done, he went off at once to pay a visit to the Queen of the Fairies, since he felt that the little people would best be able to carr

ny babies; and all the happier because the Fairy Queen, anxious to see the little fell

hat he had f

as woven of

s a web by s

f softest feat

of red-apple

plucked from h

re made of a

he soft furry

fellow ever seen, and the Fairy Queen kissed him ov

dding, and Tom, wanting to see how it was made, climbed up to the edge of the bowl. His mother was so busy beating the batter that she didn't notice him; and when his foot slipp

than he began to struggle and kick so much that the pudding bobbed up and down, and jumped about in such str

frightened than Tom's mother had been, threw the pudding in the road, and ran away as fast as he could run. Luckily for Tom, this second fall broke the pudding string and he was able to creep out, all co

wind was high, and fearful lest he should be blown away, she tied him to a thistle-head with one of her own long hairs, and then began to milk. But the red cow, nosing a

he cow's teeth, and roa

Mother! H

ther, "where's the child got to

Tom, "in the re

than ever. Whereat the red cow, alarmed-and no wonder!-at the dreadful noise in her throat, opened her mouth

entirely to blame. This is what happened. He loved playing cherry-stones with the big boys, and when he had lost all his own he wou

om on the point of coming out of a bag with a whole fistful

have more of them than you like." And with that he gave the cherry-stone bag such a hearty shake that all Tom's body

ipped down and lay half stunned, so that a raven, happening to fly over, thought he was a frog, and picked him up intending to eat him. Not relishing the morsel, however, the bird dropped him above the battlements of a big castle that stood close to the sea. Now the castle belonged to one Grumbo, an ill-

's inside as he had done in the red cow's throat until the giant felt quite squea

nd by drowning, had not a big fish, thinking that

en the fish was opened, out popped Tom on the dresser, as spry as spry, to the astonishment of the cook and the scullions! Never had such a mite of a man been seen, while his quips and pranks kept the whole buttery

s much money as he could carry. Tom therefore chose a threepenny bit, and putting it into a purse made of a water bubbl

some measure, but had grown so thin and light that to save him the trouble of walking back to the Court, his mother tied him to a dandelion-clock, and as there was a high wind, away he went as if on wings. Unfortunately, however, just as he was flying low in order to alight, the Court cook, an ill-nature

ght to King Arthur said that Tom, at h

gh the bars. At the end of a week, however, King Arthur, having recovered the loss of the furmenty, sent for Tom and once more received him into favour. After this Tom's life was happy and successful. He became so renowned for his dexterity and wonderful activity, that he was knighted, by the King under the

g to see Tom dressed up to the

s' wings his

s of chi

nimble fa

in the tai

was well

dangled a

tired in st

ouse he us

he Round Table were ready to expire with l

ise he must have been killed by the fall. As it was he became very ill, and the doctor almost despaired of his life. However, his friend and guardian, the Queen of the Fairies, arrived in a chariot drawn by flying mice, and then and there carried Tom back with her to Fairyland, where, amongst folk of his own size, he, after a ti

ed King Thunstone. "Whence do

om replied

e is we

Fairies

ng Arth

urt was

I was k

he del

ant-Sir Th

, so that Tom might sit beside him at table. Also a little palace of gold, but a spa

honours showered on the little fellow; so she up and told the King all sorts of ba

lf in an empty snail-shell, where he lay till he was nigh starved. Then seeing a fine large butterfly on a dandelion close by, he climbed up

rgot her anger in the merriment. Hither and thither they ran, trying in vain to catch the pair, and almost expiring with laughter, until p

forgiven, because he had aff

e day attacked him, and though he fought well, the creature's poisonous breath proved too much for

of their little favourite that they went into mourning for him. And they put a f

Thumb, King Ar

a spider's f

known in Art

fforded ga

tilt and

ouse a-hun

led the Cour

sadness mus

eyes and sh

las, Tom Th

NY-

!-an acorn hit her upon the head. "Goodness gracious me!" said Hen

?" says Cocky-locky. "Oh! I'm going to tell the King the sky's a-falling," says Henny-penny. "May I come with you?" sa

ays Ducky-daddles. "Oh! we're going to tell the King the sky's a-falling," said Henny-penny and Cocky-locky. "May I come with you?" says Ducky-d

Goosey-poosey. "Oh! we're going to tell the King the sky's a-falling," said Henny-penny and Cocky-locky and Ducky-daddles. "May I come with you?" said Goosey-poosey. "

tell the King the sky's a-falling," said Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey. "May I come with you, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey?" said Turkey-lurkey. "Oh, cer

y-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey," says Foxy-woxy; "I know the proper way; shall I show it you?" "Oh, certainly, Foxy-woxy," said Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, Turkey-lurkey, and Foxy-woxy all went to tell the King the sky was a-falling. So they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they came to a narrow and dark

r Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. Now Turkey-

ump

ead and threw his body over his left sh

ump

was thrown beside Turkey-lurkey. T

ump

was thrown alongside Turkey-lurkey and Goosey-poosey. Then Cocky

ump

d so he had just time for one "Cock-a-doo-dle d-" before he went to join

got into the dark burrow, heard Coc

st be dawn. Time fo

o her nest; so she escaped, but she n

said good-bye, and sh

HEADS OF

King in Colchester, valiant, stro

iches, had a mind to marry her, though she was old, ugly, hook-nosed, and ill-tempered; and though she was, furthermore, possessed of a daughter as ugly as herself. None could give the reason why, but only a few weeks after the death of his dear Queen, the King brought th

lone in the garden, she went down on her knees, and begged and prayed him to give her some help, and let her go out into the world to seek her fortune. To this the King agreed, and t

o proud to complain; so she took it, returned her thanks, and set off on her j

mouth of which, on a stone, sate a

amsel," he said; "wh

replies she, "I go

wry, fair damsel," said he

father," says she, smiling. "Will

provisions he ate them nearly all. But once again she made

ished he gave her m

ut strike it thrice with this wand, saying each time, 'Please, hedge, let me through,' and it will open a pathway for you. Then, when y

it three times with the wand, saying, "Please, hedge, let me through," it opened a wide pathway for her. So she came to the well, on the br

omb me, lay me

tily to watch t

comb the golden hair. When she had combed it, she lifted the golden head softly, and laid it on a pr

omb me, lay me

tily to watch t

e golden hair, placed the golden head softl

out of the well, and

omb me, lay me

tily to watch t

a row on the primrose bank. And she sate down to rest herself and looked at them, they were so quaint and pretty; and as she rested she cheerfully ate and drank the

r this damsel who has been so gracious unto us? I weird her

eird her a voice that shall excee

her to be so fortunate that she shall

nk I had better put you back in the well before I go on? Re

d when they had thanked her for her kind thou

unting with his nobles, and as the gay cavalcade passed down the glade she stood back to avoi

thou, and whither goest thou

d I go to seek my fortune," says she, and h

t he felt it would be impossible to live without her, and falli

happy pair started to pay the King of Colchester a bridal visit: and you may imagine the surprise and delight with which, after so short an absence, the people of Colchester saw their beloved, beautiful, kind, and gracious princess return in a chariot all gemmed with gold, as the bride of the most powerf

d gone back to their own country, there to live happily ever after

fortune. If that drab of a girl with her mi

, and gave her as provisions sugar, almonds, and sweetmeats of every varie

er step-sister. Thus she soon came upon the old man with a w

says he. "Whith

you, old man?" s

r dowry in bag and bot

you shall not be trouble

are an old man so

ey should choke you: though that would be small m

" remarked the old man as he

got well into the middle of the hedge than the thorns closed in around her so that she was all scratched and torn before she won her way. Thus, streaming with blood,

mb me, lay me on

tily to watch t

he gave the head such a bang with her bottle that it bobbed below the w

mb me, lay me on

tily to watch t

d have my dinner." So she fetches the second head a cruel ba

raggled and dripping, the third h

mb me, lay me on

tily to watch t

d herself, and, seated on the primrose ban

"I'm not a washerwoman nor a barber. So

the Malaga sack, she flung the

h other and said, "How shall we weird this rude gi

gliness shall be added

second h

be hoarse as a crow and speak

third h

she shall be glad

he children ran from her ugly blotched face screaming with fright, and when she tried to tell them she was the King of Colchester's daughter, her vo

ld hermit; and the latter, having no money, had paid for the job by the gift of a wonderful ointmen

t of his bottle; and then understanding from her rich attire and clearer speech that she was indeed a Ki

ng!" sobbed the m

Colchester. But the bells did not ring, the drums did not beat, and the people, instead of h

d herself in wrath. Whereupon the King, really pleased at getting rid of her so soon, g

cobbler. So they went to a remote part of the kingdom and lived unhappil

.

air, and she had more lovers than she c

nd very fond of their beautiful sister, and very anxio

liked him. And he wooed Lady Mary so well that at last she promised to marry him. But though he talked much of the beautiful home to which he would take her, an

d; and, being a lass of spirit, she made

brothers, she just kilted up her skirts and set out unbeknownst-for, see you, the whole household was

building it was, with high walls and a deep moat to it. A bit frowning and gloomy,

LD-BE

ugh it and found herself in a wide, empty, open courtyard. At

BOLD; BUT

case there was a wide, empty gallery at one end of which were wide windows with the sunlight streaming thro

BOLD; BUT

HEART'S BLOOD S

pened the narrow, dark door. And there she was in a narrow, dark passage. But at the end there wa

, some seated on chairs, some lying on the floor, were the skeletons and bodies of numb

beautiful young lady across the wide courtyard! There was nothing for it, Lady Mary decided, but to hide herself as quickly and as best she might; so she fled faster down the wide stairs, and hid herself behind a big wine-butt that stood in a corner of the wide hall. She was only just in time, for there at the wide door was Mr. Fox dragging the poor young maiden along by the hair; and he dragged her across the wide ha

or, of course, he coveted the diamond ring), he continued his dreadful task of dragging the poor, beautiful young maiden up

hear the awful, dragging noise pass into the gallery, tha

BOLD; BUT

across the wide courtyar

LD-BE

ll she reached her own chamber. And all the while t

d all the neighbourhood was asked to witness it and partake of a splendid breakfast. And there was Lady Mary in bridal array, and

are this morni

nd said, "Yes, dear sir! I had a bad n

s, dear heart; but tell me your dream, and your sweet

ent yesterday to seek the castle that is to be my home, and I found it in the woods

LD-BE

a hurry. "But it is no

rtyard and went through a wi

BOLD; BUT NO

d her voice was cold; "but, of cours

d nothing; he s

e stern, "that I passed through a wide hall and up a wide stair and along

BOLD; BUT

HEART'S BLOOD S

o, of course, an

aid nothing;

he end of the passage there was a door, and the door had a chink in it. And through the chink I saw a wide saloon lit with many candles, and al

ere looking Mr. Fox-ways with all

t on, and her smi

ame in dragging a young lady by the hair. And the sunlight glittered on her diamond ring as

about him as if to escape, and his eye-teeth show

e, though his whispering vo

rt, and it was not so, and

lso, and the smile left her face,

s so, and

and ring I h

he had from the bro

d hand with the glittering ring from her

ose, and drawing their sw

him very

TINGTON A

to work, and so poor little Dick was very badly off. He was quite glad to get the parings of the potatoes to eat and a dry crust of bread now and t

o rich were they there that even the streets, they said, were paved with gold. Dick used to sit by and listen while all these strange tales of the wealth of London wer

and begged to be taken with him to London. The man felt sorry for poor little Dick when he heard that he had no father or mot

how disappointed he was when he got there. How dirty it was! And the people, how unlike the gay company, with music and singing, that he had dreamt of! He wandered up and down the streets, one after anoth

ngry, and though he asked every one he met to help him, only one or two gave him a halfpenny to buy some bread. For two or three days he lived in the streets in this w

e cook-maid, who was an unkind, bad-tempered woman, and she cried out to him to be off. "Lazy rogue," she called him; and she said she'd precious quick throw some dirty dishwater over him, boiling hot, if he didn't go. Howe

ellow, was now so weak that though he tried to stand he had to lie down again, for it was more than three days since he had had anything to eat at all. The kind mer

burden to him. Night and morning she was for ever scolding him. Nothing he did was good enough. It was "Look sharp here" and "Hurry up th

was treating poor Dick. And she told the cook that she would quickly lose her place if

sometimes he could hardly sleep a wink. One day when he had earned a penny for cleaning a gentleman's shoes, he met a little girl with a cat in her arms, and asked whether she would not sell it to him. "Yes, she would," she said, though the cat was such a good mouser that sh

that all his servants should be given a chance of good fortune as well as himself,

is reason he did not come into the room with the rest. But Miss Alice guessed what was the matter, and ordered him to be called in. She then

e nothing whatever but a cat, which

cat then," said his ma

ain. "For," he said, "I shall now be kept awake all night by the rats and mice." All the company laughe

, and she began to use him more cruelly than ever, and was always making game of him for sending his cat to se

y-and started very early in the morning, on All-hallows Day, the first of November. He walked as far as Holloway, and there he sat down t

ow Church in Cheapside began to chime, and as they ran

ain, Whi

yor of

to be Lord Mayor of London, and ride in a fine coach, when I grow to be a man! Well, I'll go back, and th

ugh to get into the house and set abo

and flocked in numbers to see the sailors, whose different colour and foreign dress were a great wonder to them. They were soon eager to buy the goods with which the ship was laden, and patterns were sent ashore for the King to see. He was so much pleased with them that he sent for the captain to come to the palace, and honoured him with an invitation to d

ats and mice she di

eed of them, for they not only spoil his dinner, but they even attack him in his be

said he had a creature on board ship that would soon do for all these vermin if she were

dreadful, and if only it will do what you say, I will l

told His Majesty how inconvenient it would be to part with her, as when she was gone the

Queen; "I, too, am all impatie

he carpet covered with rats and mice once again. When Puss saw them, she didn't wait to be told, but jumped out of the captain's arms

me running to him. Then he presented her to the Queen, who was rather afraid at first to touch a creature who had made such a havoc with her claws. However, when the captain called her, "Pussy, pussy," and began to stroke her, the Queen

k the whole country, and keep it free from rats, after bargaining with the captain for the

ry, and after a fair voyage reached London again wit

" said he. "A friend," replied a voice. "I come with good news of your ship the Unicorn." The merchant in haste opened the door, and who were there but the ship's captain

King had sent for her to poor Dick. Rejoicing on behalf of Dick as much as he had done

and we'll tell

Mr. Whitting

Dick; but Mr. Fitzwarren now showed himself the good man that he was and refused to deprive him of the v

to the room in such a plight, but the merchant made him come, and had a chair set for him. And he then began to think they must be making

ice at the news that these gentlemen have brought. For the captain has sold your cat to the King of Barbary,

ey had brought with them, saying, "There is nothing more now f

t part of it he pleased, since he owed it all to his kindness. "No, no," answered Mr.

time told him what great joy they felt at his great success. But he was far too kind-hearted to keep it all to himself; so he

et himself dressed like a gentleman, and told him he was welcome

t Mr. Fitzwarren's, and so thought fair Alice Fitzwarren, who had once been so kind to him and looked upon him with pity. And now she felt he was quite fit to be her

ily agreed. A day for the wedding was soon fixed; and they were attended to church by the Lord Mayor, the court of aldermen

, and were very happy. They had several children. He was Sheriff, and thric

en at dinner at the Mansion House in so sumptuous a manner that the King said, "Never ha

WOMAN AN

crooked sixpence. "What," said she, "shall I do with this

was coming home, she came to a stile, a

o him, "Dog! dog! bite pig; piggy won't go over the stile;

k! stick! beat dog; dog won't bite pig; piggy won't get over the s

burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite pig; pig won't get ove

nch fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite pig; pig won

won't quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite pig; p

t drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bit

l ox; ox won't drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog wo

her won't kill ox; ox won't drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog;

drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite pig; pig won't get over the stile; and I shan't get home til

fetch me a handful of hay, I'll give you the milk." So away went

e gave the old woman the milk; and away

butcher began to kill the ox; the ox began to drink the water; the water began to quench the fire; the fire began to burn the stick; the stick beg

EE BA

man looked after the cows, the cock looked after the hens, the cat looked after a mouse in the cupboard, and the two kittens looked after the old wife's spindle as it twirled and t

lling so fresh and tasty, in came the old man, and seeing them look so crisp and nice, takes up one of them and snaps a piece out of it. On this the other bannock thought it high time to be off, so up it jumps and away it trundles as fast as ever it could. And away ra

d sate itself down by the fireside quite comfortably. Now there were three tailors in the room working away on a big bench, and

is naught but a wee bit bannock. Just grip hold o' i

e apprentice, thinking to snap it with the big scissors, fell into the hot ashes and got badly burnt. Then the tailor cast the goose at it, and the other apprentice the ironing-board; but it wouldn't do. The wee bannock got out at the doorway, where the goodwife flung the ca

the weaver. "Wh

a wee bannoc

, "for the porridge was thin the

s out her hand to it. But t

ever wee bannockie! Catch it

dged. "Cast the clue at it,

door, trundling away over the hill

e to a cowherd's house where the

aw the wee bannock all crisp and fresh and

n in trying to grip it, and before she set it straight again the wee bannock was off, trundling away down the

country-side with none to look after you. But come in by. I like bannock and cheese fo

and the miller, having nothing but the meal to fling after it, just stood and stared; so the wee banno

e with a glass of ale! So come in by and I'll give you a lodgin

he just cast his hammer at it. But the hammer missed and the wee bannock was out of sight in a crack, and trundled and trundled till it came t

on is a well-toasted wee bann

dwife, and reached out a hand to grip it.

so out it trundled through the door and away was it down the road, till it came to another house where the goodwife was stir

're always crying on a well-toasted

gs again, and the goodwife cried

says he, "but w

nd the goodwife she flung the soup spoon at it, and the scalding soup fell on the goodman and scalded him, so the wee bannock ran out

s a wee well-toasted bann

ays the cautious goodman, "afo

d they after it helter-skelter. But though they threw their spoons at it, and the goodman c

lk were just away to their beds. The goodwife she was raki

says he, for i

be a wee banno

the half of

eat t'other

ied dodging. And the goodman and the goodwife tumb

the goodwife at last. "What's the use

, the goodman after it without his breeches. You never saw such a race-a real clean chase over the park, and through the whins,

ndled on till it was too dark

to spend the night there; but the fox had had no meat for three whole day

the wee bannock into halves with

T OUT TO SEE

amed Jack, and one morning he st

very far befo

going, Jack?"

g to seek

go wi

ack, "the mor

the cat. Jiggelty-jolt, ji

tle farther and

going, Jack?"

g to seek

go wi

ack, "the mor

t, and the dog! Jiggelty-jolt

tle farther and

going, Jack?"

g to seek

go wi

ack, "the mor

he dog, and the goat. Jiggelty-jo

tle farther and

going, Jack?"

g to seek

go wi

ack, "the mor

dog, the goat, and the bull. Jiggelt

le farther and t

going, Jack?" s

g to seek

go wi

ack, "the mor

the goat, the bull, and the rooster. Ji

after a bit, they came in sight of a house, and Jack told his companions to keep still while he went up and looked in through the window

uoth Jack to himself. "I hav

ave the word, and the cat mewed, and the dog barked, and the goat bleated, and the bull bellowed, and the rooster crowed, and all together they made such a terrific hubbub that the

d, and so when it came time to go to bed he put the cat in the rocking-chair, and he put the dog under the tabl

e went

man back to the house to look after their money. But before lo

sit down in the rocking-chair, and there was an old woman kni

the cat,

money, but there was a shoemaker under the t

the dog,

was a man up there threshing, and goody!

the goat,

-there was a man down there chopping wood, and he knocked

the bull,

fellow on the top of the house by the kitchen chimney, who kept a-hollering

urse, was the co

his booty. And each of the animals carried a portion of it. The cat hung a bag on its tail (a cat when it walks always carries its tail stiff), the dog

a-dood

im in

OGEY-

lived in a little bit of a cottage and earned a scant living by running errands for her neighbours, getting a bite here, a sup there,

miles as ever, along the high road to her hovel, what

thing for me if I only had something to put in it! Bu

ting the owner would not be fa

hy it has been cast away. But it would do fine to put a f

nside. "Mercy me!" she cried, fair amazed. "I

rst she simply stood stock-still, wondering if she was

o feel rich. I

treasure home. It was too heavy for her to carry, and she could see no better w

night to myself, and be able to think what I'll do! Mayhap I'll buy a grand house and just sit by the fire with a cup o' tea and do no work at all like a queen. Or

ng such a heavy weight, and, stopping to r

f gold at all! It was not

d rubbed her eyes, a

dreaming. But this is luck! Silver is far less trouble-easier to mind, and not so easy st

, until becoming a bit tired again she stopped to rest and gave a look round

an get penny pieces for old iron, and penny pieces are a deal handier for me than your gold and silver. Why! I should never have slept

pieces, till once more she stopped to rest and looked round to see h

ve been dreaming. But here's luck indeed, and me wanting a stone terrible bad to stick ope

n cottage. She unlatched the gate and then turned to unfasten her shawl from the stone which lay on the path behind her

moment was as big as a haystack. Then it let down four great lanky legs and threw out two long ears, nourished a

ill it was fairly out of sight,

ts. Fancy my seeing the Bogey-Beast all to myself; and making myself

ge and spent the evening c

chuckled, "I

RED RID

ng-Hood, because she was quite small and because she always wore a red

ho had been churning and

and take this cake and this pot of butter to your G

grandmother lived some way off, and to reach the cottage little Red Riding-Hood had to pass through a vast lonely forest. However, some wood-cutters were at work

rs he would surely have eaten little Red Riding-Hood, o

s cake and this pot of butter, and ask h

y long way off?" ask

only have to pass the mill and the first cottage on the right is Grannie's; but I am go

itely. "Give my respects to your grandmot

his ways he turned back, took the straight road t

Rap

ked the old woman

e as shrill as he could. "I've come to bring dear Grannie a p

latch will go up," says th

-oh my!-it wasn't a minute before he had gobbled up o

's nightcap, and, getting into bed, r

ho had been amusing herself by gathering nuts,

ocked at

Rap

e wolf, making his voi

oice was very gruff, but she thought h

a pot of butter and a cake fro

in, and the la

dmother in the bed; for the cottage was so dark one could not see well. Besides, the crafty wolf tur

kiss me,

-Hood took off her clo

mamma," says she, "wha

r to hug you w

Grandmamma, what b

ter to run w

randmamma, what bi

er to hear wi

Grandmamma, what b

r to see you w

randmamma, what bi

" says that wicked, wicked wolf, and with

DE R

nd and his b

ying at

, Burd Helen

dst among

t play she was ever their companion and they cared for her as brothe

nd kicked it

ht it on

e plunged am

hurch he m

est brother, and there was ever a loving rivalry b

round abo

the ball

course, and the light, shining full on her face, sent her shadow behind her. Thus that happened which will happen at times when fol

and by; meanwhile, Burd Helen's th

waited, and

ame not b

grew ala

r east, they s

ht her up

the hearts of

was not to

e-she had disappeared l

who could tell and foretell, see and foresee all things under the

ning round the church widershins; for fairies have power when folk go against the light. She will now be in the D

k," said the eldest brother, "I wil

t woe be to the man or mother's son who attempts the tas

nd what he should not do, as he was determined to go and seek his sister. And the Great Magician told him, and schooled him, and after he had learnt his

waited, and

t and muc

the hearts of

me not ba

s second brother went to Me

the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland and bring them back

Childe Rowland, his brother, and to his mother the good Queen, girt on his sword,

waited, and

le doubt

s mother's and

me not ba

wland, the youngest, the best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him also go on the quest; fo

of my children; if you are

speed, and girt about his waist his father's sword, the brand that never str

ood-bye and went to the cave

ore, tell how man or mother's son may find fair Burd Hel

e to do is this: after you have once entered the Land of Faery, whoever speaks to you, you must out with your father's brand and cut off their head. In this you must not fail. And the second

he knew them by heart; so, well schooled, he thanked the Grea

wide moorland he came upon a horse-herd feeding his horses; an

of the King of Elfland, and that at

e-herd, "Canst tell me where lies

nd my ken; but go a little farther and thou wil

and frightened the King of Elfland's horses. And he journeyed further till he came to a wide pasture where a cow-herd was herding cows. And the cows looked

lies the Dark Tower

my ken; but go a little farther and thou wilt

good sword that never struck in vain, and off went the cow-herd's head

ame to an orchard where an old woma

fire, so he knew that they were the King of Elfland

anst tell me where lies the Dar

e farther. There you will find a low green hill; green and low against the sky. And the hill

from w

in! Let

the second te

ide, op

e ins

d the third t

ast, op

in at

ing of Elfland. Only remember to go round widershins. If you go

man for her courtesy and was just going on, when, all of a sudden, he remembered his lesson. And he out with his father's sword that never yet

t the blue sky, he saw a round green hill

, not forgetting to go round widershins,

one round the thi

ast, op

in at

and let him in. Then it closed behind him with a click, and Childe Rowland was le

land. So he went on and on in the twilight that came from nowhere, till he found himself before two wide doors all barred with iron. But they flew open at his touch, and he saw a wonderful, large, and spacious hall that seemed to him to be as long and as broad as the green hill itself. The roof was supported by pillars wide and lofty beyond the pillars of a cathedral; and they were of gold and silver, fretted into foliage, and between and around them were woven

Burd Helen combing her beautiful golden hair with a golden comb. But her face was all set and wan, as if it were ma

ou, poor lu

e you he

sson which the Great Magician Merlin had taught him, and drawing his father's brand which had never yet been drawn in

, there she was her own self, her joy fighting with

this, my you

t you bid

undred thou

t spare ne

u down, my

that ye

he King of

tune is

d come to Elfland. She told him how she had been carried off, shadow and all, because she ran round a church widershins, and how her brothers had been enchant

cond lesson of the Magician Merlin, asked his sister for some food; and she, being still under the spell of Elfland, could not

y thank you with your eyes, and so just as Childe Rowland was about t

aid: "Bite no bit, sup no drop, for if in Elfland you sup one

standing square and fair, lithe and you

ot a bit will I bite, till f

a loud noise like thunder,

fi, fo

blood of a C

ve or dea

brains from h

ng of Elfland entered like a storm of wind. What he was reall

t!" he rushed to meet the foe, his good s

, and fought, and fought, while Burd Helen, with

de Rowland beat the King of Elfland to his knees. Whereupo

wilt release my sister and my brothers from all spells

th a blood-red liquor. And with this liquor he anointed the ears and the eyelids, the nostrils, the lip

and declared that their souls only

ugh the long passage of rough arches made of rock that was transparent and all encrusted with sheep-silver, rock-spar, and many bright stones, where twilight reigned, the

the light of day, than the

care never to go widers

E MEN O

ING OF

arket to Nottingham to buy sheep, and the other came from th

?" said the one who

s going to Nottingham, "

ther; "and which way wi

her, "I will bring t

that came from Nottingh

d he that was going t

not," sa

wil

ground, one against the other, as if the

"beware lest my sheep

he other; "they shal

hall," said

thou make much to do, I will

?" said t

e market with a sack of meal upon a horse, and seeing and hearing his nei

arn wisdom? Help me, and lay

e bridge, unloosened the mouth of the sack

said, "how much meal

they, "there i

uch wit as is in your two heads to stir

of these three pers

GING A

round in compass and they got a Cuckoo, and put her into it, and said, "Sing there all through the year, or thou shalt have neither meat nor water."

DING C

heeses fell out of his wallet and rolled down the hill. "Ah, gaffer," said the fellow, "can you run to market alone? I will send one after another

ket to meet his cheeses, he stayed there till the market was nearly done. Then he went about to in

them?" said one

id the fellow; "they kn

et. I am now fully persuaded that they must be now almost at York." Whereupon he forthwith hired a horse to

OWNIN

sprats, and other salt fish. One consulted with the other, and agreed that such fish should be cast into their pond (which was in t

white herring

y sprats,"

ed herrings,"

go into the pond or pool, and we

o have their fish, and there was nothing but a great eel. "Ah," said

o to him?" said

im," sa

to pieces,"

another; "let

he eel into the pond. "Lie there and shift for yourself, for no

NDING

landlord. One said to the other, "To-morrow is our pay-day

caught a hare, and he shall car

when the letters were written and the money put in a purse, they tied it round the hare's neck, saying, "First you go to

hands, ran on along the country way. Some

r; "he can tell a nearer way than

e; let her alone; she will not ke

COU

water and some on dry ground; and, as they were coming back, one of them said, "We have ven

ve of us came out." And every man did count ele

wn for him that was drowned, and made great lamentation. A courtier came riding by, and he did ask what they were seeking, and why

and one counted eleven and did not count himself. "Well," said

ey, "all the m

the shoulders that he groaned, and said, "There is one," and he served all of them that they gr

," said all the company; "yo

ORU

trange things happened, there lived a very rich gentleman whose wife had died leaving him

loved him in return, so he said to the e

s pat as may be, "

her a kiss. Then he said to the second g

t as thought, "Better th

n the cheek. Then he turned to the y

do you love me

ly pretty, she was clever. So she th

as fresh mea

was very angry, because he reall

n you, out of my house you go." So there and then he turned her out of t

corn. There she sate down and plaited herself an overall of rushes and a cap to match, so as to hide her fine clothes, and her beautiful golden hair that was all set with m

e dress and cap, and while she

air, O cap

art, O rob

answer ha

ore than he

ate and listened an

ushes, sh

ushes, ha

ords if faul

father mus

lothes, and she put on the cap and it hid all her beautiful hair, so that she look

ushes! w

ushes! wh

ean, and fi

e whate'er

he came on a great house on the edge of the fen. It had a fine front door to it; but mindful of her dress of rushes she went round to the back. And ther

lodging, I will scrub t

ly to go a-walking with my sweetheart. So if you will do my work you shall share my bed

, and the cook said to the scullion, "Who cleaned these pots? Not you, I'll swear." So the maid had to up and out with

t's lodging," she said. "So now I will stay

she would give no other name-stayed on and

hood, for the young man was a grand dancer, and loved nothing so well as a country measure. It was a very fine party,

the fiddles starting a merry jig, she might start dancing. So she excused herself by saying she was to

pen, and as she lay in her bed she could hear the f

so fine and tidy. She was in the ball-room in a trice joining in the jig, and n

content, while the whole room was agog, trying to find out who the beautiful young stranger could be. But she kept her own counsel and, making some excuse, sl

maids could talk of nothing

not a bit like the likes o' we. Her golden hair was all silvered wi' pearls, and her dres

a twinkle in her eye, "I should like to

ung master has ordered another ball to-ni

and scraping saucepans. And once more when she heard the fiddlers fiddling she said to herself, "I must have o

and robe of rushes, there he was at the door waiting for he

ball-room. It was a sight of all sights! Never were

her fellow-servants came to their beds they found her in hers, pretending to be fast asleep; but her cheek

iful young gentleman as young master! Never was such a beautiful young lady! N

er eyes, said, "I should like to se

for young master has ordered another ball in hopes the beautiful stran

h her beautiful golden hair! And once again she was in the ball-room in a trice, dancing away with young master, who never took his eyes off her, and implored her to tell him who she was. But she kept her own counsel and only told him that she never, never, never would come to dance any more, and that h

that is in an uproar searching for the beautiful stranger. Young master he tried to detain her; but she sl

men don't die of love," says s

e he might, and ask whom he would, he never heard anything about her. And day by day

nd said, "Cook the nicest dinner you c

and creams, and roast chicken, and bread

e pots and scraped the sa

for young master. Mayhap he'd take that. If not he will die for love of t

gruel, and Caporushes left scr

id, "while you fetch a c

at did she do but slips young master's

er. But when the young master saw it he waved it away,

he bottom of the cup. And when he fished it up, lo! it was his own ring! Then he sate up in be

r she was half-please

"No, you didn't! You're too stout! Tell

f you please, sir, I did make

orushes?" asked

porushes is the scullio

pillow. "Send Caporushes here," he said in a

obe of rushes and turned his face to the wall; but he asked

an so weak and worn with love for her, h

and robe of rushes, and there she was as fine and tidy as ever

of his eye, and sate up in bed as strong as may be

and near was asked to the wedding. Amongst the invited guests was Caporushes' father, who, from grief at losing his favourite daughter

e finest ever seen; but Caporushes

ish without on

ng let Caporushes stir the gruel and so saved the young master's life, she did as she

ontent, for all the dishes looked so nice and tasty; but no sooner had the gu

whom his daughter had seated

he matter?

loved me, and she replied, 'As fresh meat loves salt.' And I was angry with her and turned her out

were opened, and there beside him

the other, and laughed saying, "I love you both as fresh mea

d herself an overall of

ES IN T

well, you p

s which I

story you

ought fort

an of goo

lk dwelt

honour fa

n of hi

e was and l

is life c

y him as s

possest o

ween these

s to ot

lived, in l

two bab

fine and

ng three

girl more yo

d in beau

left his

nly did

perfect age

dred poun

little da

red pound

down on m

t not be c

children ch

to age sh

hould possess

he will

er," said t

my chil

nto my bo

else have

nd you I

ren dear

while be

his worl

father and

le, all

hat will be

m dead a

spake their

r kind,"

man must br

lth or

u keep the

will yo

otherwise s

your deed

as cold as

their chil

u both, my ch

the tear

s then their

sick cou

g of your l

ster, do

prosper me

else tha

ong your c

are laid

s being de

ren home

em straight u

h of them

kept these

month an

ir wealth, h

them b

with two ru

e of furi

ld take these

them in

s wife an

the chi

ght up in

that was

ent those p

ng at t

with a m

d on cock-

and prattle

ride on

t should the

their liv

pretty spe

er's hear

hat undert

e now di

hem, more ha

to do hi

wretch tha

him ver

won't agre

they fall

nother the

e childr

t was of m

the oth

unfreque

did quak

children b

nding in

m straightwa

they di

g miles he

y for foo

oth he, "I'll b

ome back

babes, with

ering up

more could

ing from

y lips with

besmeared

y saw the da

them down

ed these po

did end t

ther's arm

ing due

l this p

y man r

n Redbrea

them wit

e heavy wr

eir unc

fiends did ha

ience fel

e fired, his

were bar

died within

ng with h

voyage to

is sons

ude, himself

t and

d mortgaged

years ca

last this

is means

that did

ldren for

robbery ju

God's ble

nfess the

ath been

having die

for debt

executors

erseer

n that be

nts mild

xample by

to each

with such

ked mind

RED

away to seek their fortune. So she told her eldest son one day to take a can and bring her water from the well, that she might bake a cake for him; and however much

him that, if he chose rather to take the whole, he would only get it with her curse. The young man, thinking he might have to travel a far way, and not knowing when or how he might get other provisions, said he would like to have the whole cake, come of his mother's malison what might; so she gave him the whole cake, and

on the third day, in the afternoon, he came up to where a shepherd was sitting with a flock of

ed Ettin

es in B

ng Malcolm'

of fair

her, he b

her on

day he s

right si

here's one

is mort

hat man is

g may i

he beasts he should next meet, for they were of

le for shelter, and there he saw an old wife sitting beside the kitchen fire. He asked the wife if he might stay for the night, as he was tired with a long journey; and the wife said he might, but it was not a good place for him to be in, as it belonged to the Red Ettin, who was a very terrible monster with three heads, who spared no living man it could get

e, before the awful Ettin came in; and no

ut! and

smell of an

ing, or b

night shall kit

n, and pulled him from his hiding-place. And when he had got him out, he tol

ed: "A thing without

oung man

d: "The smaller the more

oung man

ked: "The dead carrying th

oung man

s, the Red Ettin took a mallet from behind the door, knoc

t at last she requested him to take the can to the well for water, that she might make a cake for him. So he went, but as he was bringing home the water, a raven over his head cried to him to look, and he would see that the water was running out. Now being a young man of s

piece of the cake. Then the old woman, who was a fairy, gave him a magic wand, that might yet be of service to him, if he took care to use it rightly; and she told him a great deal that would happen to him, and what he ought to do

ed Ettin

es in B

ng Malcolm'

of fair

her, he b

her on

day he s

right si

fear his e

is close

to be, I

of all

e came up roaring with open mouth to devour him, when he struck it with his wand, and laid it in an instant dead at his feet. He soon came to the Ettin's castle, where he found the door shut, but he kn

e monster came in

ut! and

smell of an

ing, or b

night shall kit

stand forth on the floor, and told him that if he co

sked: "What's the t

e fairy to whom he had given a piece of his

bow

d frowned, but the

e more dangerou

the younger bro

second heads frowned, b

d carry the living

man answered up

s on the sea with

n to show him where the king's daughter lay; and the old woman took him upstairs, and opened a great many doors, and out of every door came a beautiful lady who had been imprisoned there by the Red Ettin; an

r again and again. Next day they all set out for the king's court, and a gallant company they made. Then the

happily all the

H AND T

eat magician, and could tell by his arts and char

lands. So, when the little lad was about four years old, wishing to know what hi

nds and castles was to marry a low-born maiden. So the Baron was dismayed, and set to work by

n in a very poor house, where the poor pare

l he came to the poor man's house, and there he found th

y friend?" asked he; a

to our house; and we have five children already, and where th

p you: so don't be down-hearted. I am just looking for such a little lass

refore he brought out the child then and there, and the Baron, wrapping the babe in his cloak, rode away. But when he g

goes

nk. The stream was very swift, and her long clothes kept her up till s

ng for a baby; so when the goodman saw the little lass he was overcome w

of their eyes, into the most be

went a-hunting along the banks of the river and stopped to get a drink of water at the fishe

one of them said to the Baron, "She should marry well;

her fate! Some wretched yokel or other. But, to please you, I will cast

the girl, "for I was picked up in

stream, and that Fate had been stronger than he was. But he kept his own counsel and said nothing

. Take this letter to my brother, who needs a

owing old and needed help; so the girl

k to his castle saying

goes

written in the

r Br

and put her to de

ry night a gang of thieves broke into the inn, and not content with carrying off all that the innkeeper possessed, they searched the pockets of the guests, and found the

r Br

nd marry her to my

hen she arrived at the brother's castle, though rather surprised, he gave orders for a wedding feast to be prepared. And t

to his brother's and pretended to be quite pleased. And then one day, when no one was nigh, he asked the young bride to come for a walk with h

I promise that I will fight against Fate also. I will never see you or your son again until you

off his gold ring from his finger and flu

r face again till you can

that he l

leman's castle; and there, as they needed a kitchen girl, she engaged as

dinner but the Baron and his young son, her husband. At first she thought that, to keep her promise, she must run away

glad enough to see it, I can tell you; so she slipped it on to her thumb. But she went on with her work, and dr

sked the host who cooked it. And he called to his servants, "Send u

dumb by her wonderful beauty. And the young husband started up gladly; but the Baron, recognising her, jumped up angrily and looked as if he would kill her. So, without one word, the

trong for him; so he took her by the hand, and, pl

fe. Let us drink a t

home to his castle, where they all lived

AMER

ld woman, as I

e market her e

e market, all

sleep on the k

pedlar, whose na

petticoats al

etticoats up

old woman to sh

d woman firs

shiver, she

wonder, she

me! this is

e I, as I do

g at home, and s

he'll wag hi

t I, then he'll

old woman, a

tle dog, and h

ark, and she

me! this is

OF ALL

entleman engaged her and took her home to his house. When she got there, he told her th

r, "What will

or whatever you ple

of all masters.' And what would y

or whatever y

what do you call these?" said

sers, or whatever

crackers.' And what would you

r whatever you

imminy' And this now," showing th

or whatever yo

lorum'; and what this?" he w

or whatever y

d what do you call all this?" ask

e, or whatever y

it 'high topp

our barnacle and put on your squibs and crackers. For white-faced simminy has got a spark of hot cockalor

's a

AND THE DOUB

dren that they couldn't find meat for them; so, as the three youngest were girls, they just too

e house where they might get a night's lodging. So they set off through the forest, and journeyed, and journeyed, and journeyed, but never a house did they see. It began to grow dark, her sisters were faint wi

e," said the two elder gir

and knocked at a huge door, as bold as brass. It was opened by the giant's wife,

, "for my man is a giant, and when he co

craftily, "we shall have finished it before th

s, tugged at her skirts well pleased; so she took the girls in, set them by the fire, and gave them each a bowl of bre

fi-fo

mell of some

ee poor little girlies like our girlies. They were cold and hungry so I gave them some supper; but they have promised to go awa

traightforward giant. He was a do

mp

And after he had had his supper he made himself quite pleasant, and plaited chains of straw for the little strangers to wear

was a double

p like the others, she lay awake and thought, and thought, and thought; until at last she up ever so softly, took off her own and her s

ad asleep and it was pitch dark, in comes the giant, all stealthy, feels for the straw chains, twists them tight round the wearers' necks, half strangles his daught

nt's house and ran, and ran, and ran until the dawn broke and they found themselves before another great house. It was surrounded by a wide deep moat, w

they said that for aught they knew the house might b

but a King's castle. Now it so happened that the very giant whom Molly had tricked was the terror of the whole country-side, and it was to gain safety from him

a girlie who has t

ou managed very well; but if you could manage still better and steal the giant's sword, in w

ld be a very good downsitting for he

pt in behind the bed. By and by the giant came home, ate a huge supper, and came crashing up the stairs to his bed. But Molly kept very still and held her breath. So after a time he fell asleep, and soon he began to snore. Then Molly crept out from under the bed, ever so softly, and crept up the bed-clothes, and crept past his great snoring face, and laid hold of the sword that hung above it. But alas! as she jumped fro

y Whuppie! Never you

out as she sped over the One

, will I come to t

g, and, as he had promised, his el

ivities were over the King

ter and steal the giant's purse, in which part of his strength lies, I will marry my second son to y

very good downsitting, indeed, for her secon

pt in below the giant's bed. By and by the giant came home, ate a hearty supper, and then came crashing upstairs, and soon fell a-snoring. Then Molly Whuppie slipped from under the bed, and slipped up the bed-clothes, and reaching out her hand slipped it under the pillow, and got hold of the purse. But the giant's head was so heavy on it she had to tug and tug away. At last out it came, she fell b

y Whuppie! Never you

ng her head, l

er, will I come to t

he ordered a splendid marriage feast fo

g was over the King

tter yet, and steal me from his finger the giant's ring, in which all his stre

ridge as light as a feather, and ran, and ran, and ran until she came to the giant's house all lit up with the red setting sun like any castle in the air. And she sli

s he snored louder on purpose. For no sooner had Mo

his head at her and said, "Molly Whuppie, you are a main clever girl! Now, if

ith you, and I'd put a needle and thread and a pair of shears inside with you, and I'd hang you up on a nail, and I'd go to the wood an

giant gleefully, "and that'

t, and the needle and thread and the shears, and hung her on a

ike anything, and the dog joined in

e next room, and when she heard the co

the matter?

sack, laughing like anything. "Ho, ho! Ha, ha! If y

w what she saw, there never was any answer but,

ut a hole in the sack, jumped out, helped the giant's wife in, and sewed up the h

ly time to hide behind the door before he rushed at the sack, tore it

ied his wife. "I

spitting, and yelling and caterwauling you never heard! It was fair deafening, and the giant would have gone on batteri

until they came to the One Hair Bridge. And then, balancing herself with the ring like a hoop, Molly Whuppie sped over the

y Whuppie! Never you

r head back as she

, will I come to th

the handsome young prince were married, and

E TABLE, AN

his father's ill-treatment, that he made up his min

e would take him to be her servant, and would pay him well. He agreed, for he was very hungry, and she brought him to her house in the wood, where he served her for a twelvemonths and a day. When the year had passed, she called him to her, and said she

ut being paid beforehand, the boy went off to the stable, pulled the ass's ears, and obtained his pocket full of money. The host had watched all this through a crack in the door, and when

ly daughter. The lad and the maiden were fast friends and true-loves

e the money to keep

he pulled, till one of them came off in his hands; but Neddy, though he hee-hawed and he hee-hawed, le

er; "serve me for a twelvemonths and a day and I will pay you well." So he agreed, and served the carpenter for a year and a day. "Now," said the master, "I will g

t till he came to the inn. "Well, host," shouted he, puttin

ost, "but there is nothing in

med Jack. "I can do better than

eyes, but he said nothing, not he! But that night he fetched down from his attic a table very like the magic one, and e

ay I marry my l

can keep her," r

k. "Father, I have a table

it," said

son's back with it so that the boy fled howling from the house, and ran and ran till he came to a river and tumbled in. A man picked him out and bade him help in making a bridge over the river

had no children, and they w

nch from the tree, and fettled it up into a club with his knife. "There," exclaimed he; "take this s

see he had been tricked by the innkeeper, so away he went w

ck, and

l the stick belaboured the prostrate man, nor would Jack call it off till he had got back the stolen ass and table. Then he galloped home on the ass, with the table on his shoulder

d returned rolling in wealth, and accordingly a

s in the place; so to-morrow do you all come in

nd silver in them; but Jack's own sweetheart was among them, and she had n

st no silver nor gold-stand off from the rest." She obeyed, and t

rls, knocked them all on the heads and left them senseless on the pavement. Jack took all their money and po

OF THE WO

er father had married again. And her stepmother hated her because she was more beautiful than she was. And she was very cruel to her; she used to make her do all th

oe betide you." For she thought she would never be able to find the Well of th

an, all bent double, told her where it was, and how she could get to it. So she did what the old woman told her, and at last arrived at the Well of the World's End. But when she dippe

he looked up and saw a great frog with gog

matter, dear

ll this long way to fill this sieve with water from the We

e to do whatever I bid you for a whole n

reed, and then

moss and dau

ill carry the

and jump, and went flop into

and over that she put some clay, and then she dipped it once-again into the Well of

d out of the Well of the World's End

l; for, thought she, "wha

e full of water from the Well of the World's End. The st

mething tap-tapping at the door

oor, my hin

oor, my ow

words that yo

End Well but

at be?" cried ou

her all about it, and what

other, who was glad the girl would have to obey

from the Well of the World's End. And it hopped, and it hoppe

p, my hinn

r knee, my

words that yo

End Well but

ill her stepmother said, "Lift it up this insta

r lap, and it lay there comfortabl

supper, my h

me supper,

e words you

End Well but

t it a bowl of milk and bread, and fed it we

bed, my hinn

bed, my o

promise you p

End Well but

sed to do, till her st

keep their promises. Do what you're bi

as far away from her as she could. Well, just as the da

head, my hi

head, my o

promise you p

End Well but

in a pleading voice, she went and took an axe and chopped off its head, and, lo and behold! there stood before her a handsome young prince, who told her that he ha

e prince told her that he was going to marry her stepdaughter because she had unspelled him. But married they were, and went away to live in the cast

ROSE

n one had to be careful about witches, there lived a g

he baby properly, so he married a young woman wh

w up together, and loved

cherries, and when her hair, shining like golden silk, hung down to her feet so that her father and all the neighbours began to praise her looks, the stepmother fairly hated her, and did all in h

tree in the garden under which the children used to play in summer was all brow

s at the grocer's. Here is some money;

cloud, so that she could not see her steps, and, coming to a stile, had to stop and put down the bundle of candles in order to see how to get over it. And when she was climbing it a big black dog came by and ran off with the bunch of candles! Now she was so afraid of her stepmother that she durst not go home, but turned back and bought another bunch of candles at the grocer's, and when she arrived at the stile once more

er, her stepmother did not seem very angry. She only scolded her for being so late, for, see

the tangles out of your hair before you g

and, lo and behold! her beautiful yellow-silk hair roll

ous than before, so she said, "I cannot part your h

the stepmother, "Your hair is so thick I c

ild fetch

woman, "lay your head down on th

r; and lo! the beautiful little golden head

the garden, dug a hollow in the snow under the rose tree, and said to herself, "When spring comes an

for her husband's breakfast and one for the little boy's, for thus would the love they bore to the little girl become hers. Nevertheless, she was mistaken, for

"She must have lost her way that dark night going to the grocer's to buy candles." So they buried the bones u

s there sate a beautiful white bird. And it sang and sang and sang like an angel out of heaven; but what

's shop, where a myrtle bush hung over the man and his last, on which he was making a da

other

nigh

I dear

ow, I si

tock! St

in," said the cobbler. "It is

rd, "if you will give me the litt

ong once more. Then with the rose-red shoes in one foot it flew t

other

nigh

I dear

ow, I si

tock! St

tiful song!" cri

rd, it is sweeter th

e bird, "if you will give me

in one foot and the golden chain in the other, the bird flew to an oak tree which overhung the mill stream, besi

pmother

er nigh

I dear

ow, I si

ic

millers put down hi

" sang

ler put aside his

" sang

ler put aside his

that with one accord the millers

ng it again, dear bird, it is

bird, "if you will hang the mills

and, with the millstone round its neck and the little rose-red shoes in one foot, the golden chain in the other,

d the millstone about the eaves until the s

see, and down dropped the dai

hunder has brought!" he cri

out the eaves once more, and once again the

ut to see, and down dropped th

he came back. "The thunde

he eaves, and this time the stepmother said hurriedly, "Har

pped outside the door, down fell the mil

ld rose tree and listened to the white bird's song. But when winter came and the wild rose tree was all barren and bare save for snowflake flowers, the white bird

te. They were edged with rose colour like the little boy's shoes, and in the centre

ld rose you will find t