Little Red Riding-Hood and Other Stories (1912)

8/14/2019 Little Red Riding-Hood and Other Stories (1912)

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sI. 1

ij-SESMEjEn.: Jul-l 1 LLED RIDING HOODAND OTHER, FJtmY


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ALICE G. McOLOSKEYCOLLEGE OF AGRICULTUREPZ$J'TtfACA N Y"L2GLr

foro fork?tatc (College of j^griculUtre

At fllocnell UniuerBttj}attars. BJ. t.

Ho. Hibtanj


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The original of this book is inthe Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions inthe United States on the use of the text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924014478394


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6/112SNOW-WHITE AND BOSE-RED {seep. 22)


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LITTLE RED RIDING -HOODAND OTHER -STORIES

BASED ON THE TALES IN THE 'BLUE FAIRY BOOK'EDITED BY

ANDEEW LANGWJTE ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. J. FORD AND 0. P. JACOtfB BOOB

NEW IMPRESSIONLONGMANS, GEEEN, AND CO.

39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDONNEW YORK, BOMBAY, AND CALCUTTA

1912

All rights reservtd


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cs


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LITTLE RED RIDING-HOODPART I-

Once upon a time, there lived in a smalltown, the prettiest girl that ever was seen.

This little girl was not only verypretty, she was also kind and good.

Her mother was very fond of her, andher grandmother doted on her still more.

This good woman got made for her alittle red riding-hood, in which she lookedso well, that every body called her LittleBed Riding-Hood.

One day her mother, having made somecakes, said to her :

'Go, my dear, and see how thy grand-ma does, for I hear she has been very ill.Carry her some cakes and this little pot ofbutter.'

Little Red Riding-Hood set out at oncea


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6 LITTLE RED RIDING-HOODto go to her grandma, who lived a littleway off.

As she was going through the wood,she met with Gaffer Wolf, who had a very

great mind to eat her up, but he durstnot, because of some men who were atwork hard by.

He asked her where she was going.


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LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD iThe poor child, who did not know thatthere might be harm, in stopping to heara wolf talk, said to him

'I am going to see my grandma, andcarry her some cakes, and a little pot ofbntter from my mamma.'

'Does she live far off?' said the "Wolf.' Oh ! ay,' said Little Eed Riding-

Hood ; ' it is beyond that mill you seethere, at the first house you come to.'

'Well,' said the Wolf, ' and I'll goand see her too. I'll go this way and goyou that, and we shall see who will bethere soonest.'

The Wolf began to run as fast as hecould, taking the nearest way, and thelittle girl went by the longest way.

She played about, getting nuts, run-ning after butterflies, and making littlebunches of such flowers as she met with.

In this way she lost some time, andgave the Wolf a chance to get therefirst.


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LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD

LITTLE RED RIDING-HOODPART II

The Wolf was not long before he gotto the old woman's house. He knockedat the doortap, tap.

1 Who's there ? ''Your grandchild, Little Red Riding-

Hood,' said the Wolf, speaking as muchlike her as he could ; ' who has broughtyou some cakes and a little pot of butter,sent you by mamma.'

The good grandmother, who was inbed, because she was not very well, criedout:

'Pull the bobbin, and the latch will goup.'

The Wolf pulled the bobbin, and thedoor flew open. He sprang into the room,got hold of the good woman, and ate herup in a moment, for it was more thanthree days since he had touched a bit.


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LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD 9He then shut the door, got into the

grandmother's bed, and waited for LittleRed Riding-Hood, who came some timeafter and knocked at the doortap, tap.

'Who's there?'Little Red Riding-Hood, hearing the

big voice of the Wolf, was at first afraid;but thinking her grandmother had got acold, and was hoarse, cried out

' 'Tis your grandchild, Little Red Riding-Hood, who has brought you some cakes,and a little pot of butter mamma sendsyou.'

The Wolf cried out to her, as softly ashe could:

' Pull the bobbin, and the latch will goup.'

Little Red Riding - Hood pulled thebobbin, and the door flew open.

The Wolf, seeing her come in, said toher, hiding himself under the bed-clothes :

'Put the cakes and the little pot ofbutter upon the stool, and come and liedown with me.'


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10 LITTLE RED RIDING-HOODLittle Ked Kiding-Hood took off her

clothes, and got into bed. She openedher eyes very wide, to see how her grand-mother looked in her night-dress, andsaid to her :

Miijn

'Grandma, what great arms you havegot!'

' That is the better to hug thee, mydear.'

' Grandma, what great legs you havegot!'

'That is to run the better, my child.


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LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD ii' Grandma, what great ears you have

got !'That is to hear the better, my child.''Grandma, what great eyes you have

got!''It is to see the better, my child.'' Grandma, what great teeth you have

got !' Thai is to eat thee up.'And, saying these words, this wicked

wolf fell upon Little Red Riding-Hood,and ate her all up.


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TOADS AND DIAMONDS

TOADS AND DIAMONDSPART I

There was once upon a time a lady whohad two girls.

They lived in a pretty little housejust at the edge of a large wood.

The eldest was so much like her in theface, and in temper, that whoever lookedupon the daughter saw the mother.

They were both so nasty and so proud,that there was no living with them.

The youngest was just like her fatherfor kindness and sweetness of temper.

She was also one of the most lovelygirls that ever was seen.

As people are sure to love their ownlikeness, this mother was very fond of hereldest daughter, and at the same timehated the youngest.


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TOADS AND DIAMONDS 13She made her eat in the kitchen, and

be always hard at work.Among other things, this poor child

was forced twice a day, to draw waterabove a mile and a half from the house,and bring home a big jug full of it.


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14 TOADS AND DIAMONDSOne day, as she was at the well, there

came to her a poor woman, who beggedof her to let her drink.

' Oh ! ay, with all my heart, Goody,'said this pretty little girl ; and rinsingout the jug, she took up some waterfrom the clearest place in the well.

' Here it is,' said she, holding up thejug all the while, that she might drinkthe easier.

The good woman having drunk, saidto her

'You are so very pretty, my dear, sogood and so kind, that I cannot helpgiving you a gift.'

For this was a fairy, who had takenthe form of a poor woman, to see how farthe kindness and good manners of thispretty girl would go.

'I will give you for gift,' said theFairy, ' that, at every word you speak,there shall come out of your mouth eithera flower or a jewel.'When this pretty girl came home, her


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TOADS AND DIAMONDS 15mother was cross with her, for staying solong at the well.

'I beg your pardon, mamma,' said thepoor girl, ' for not making more haste.'And in speaking these words therecame out of her mouth two roses, twopearls, and two diamonds.'What is it I see there?' said hermother. 'I think I see pearls and dia-monds come out of the girl's mouthHow happens this, child ? '

This was the first time she had evercalled her ' child.'

The poor girl told her all the matter,not without dropping out a great numberof pearls.

' In good faith,' cried the mother, ' Imust send my child there.

' Come hither, Fanny ; look what comesout of thy sister's mouth when she speaks.Wouldst not thou be glad, my dear, tohave the same gift given to thee?

' Thou hast nothing else to do, but goand draw water out of the well, and when


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16 TOADS AND DIAMONDSa poor woman asks you to let her drink,to give it her very kindly.'

' It would be a very fine sight, indeed,'said this ill-bred girl, ' to see me go drawwater.'

' You shall go ! ' said the mother ; ' andthis minute.'

So away she went, but grumbling allthe way, taking with her the best silverjug in the house.

TOADS AND DIAMONDSPART II

She was no sooner at the well, than shesaw coming out of the wood, a lady wear-ing a most lovely dress, who came up toher, and asked for a drink.

This was, you must know, the verysame fairy who came to her sister, buthad now taken the air and dress of aprincess, to see how far this girl's rudenesswould go.


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TOADS AND DIAMONDS i7'Am I come here,' said the proud,

saucy girl, ' to serve you with water, pray ?I suppose the silver jug was brought just

for your ladyship, was it ? However, youmay drink out of it, if you like.'

'You are not over and above man-nerly,' said the Fairy, without getting angry.

'Well, then, since you have such bada -q


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18 TOADS AND DIAMONDSmanners, and are so unkind, I give youfor gift, that at every word you speak,there shall come out of your mouth, asnake or a toad.'

So soon as her mother saw her coming,she cried out

'Well, my girl?'' Well, mother ? ' said the pert girl,

throwing out of her mouth two snakesand two toads.

' Oh ! dear,' cried the mother ; ' whatis it I see ? Oh ! it is that wretch hersister who has done all this ; but she shallpay for it ; ' and away she ran to beat her.

The poor child fled away from her,and went to hide herself in the wood notfar from thence.

The King's son, who was just goinghome from hunting, met her, and seeingher so very pretty, asked her what shedid there alone, and why she cried.

' Alas ! sir, my mamma has turnedme out of doors.'The King's son, who saw five or sis


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TOADS AND DIAMONDS 19pearls and as many diamonds come outof her mouth, asked her to tell himwhy her mother had done this.

So she told him the whole story ; andthe King's son fell in love with her.He thought to himself, that such a gift

was worth more than a great deal ofmoney. So he led her to the palace ofthe King his father, and there married her.

As for her sister, she made herself somuch hated, that her own mother turnedher off.

She walked about from place to placea good while, without finding anybody totake her in, and then lay down in a cornerof the wood, and there died.

B 2


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20 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED

SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDPAET I

A poor woman once lived in a littlehouse with a garden in front of it, inwhich grew two rose trees, one bearingwhite roses and the other red.

She had two children, who were justlike the two rose trees.

One was called Snow-white and theother Rose-red, and they were the sweetestand best children in the world.

They were always willing to work hardand help their mother, and were alwayscheerful.

But Snow-white was quieter and moregentle than Rose-red.

Rose-red loved to run about the fields,and to pick flowers and catch butterflies.

But Snow-white sat at home with hermother, and helped her in the house, or


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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 21read aloud to her when there was no workto do.The two children loved each other sodearly, that they always walked abouthand-in-hand, when they went out ; andwhen Snow-white said

'We will never leave each other,'Rose-red said : ' No, not as long as welive ; ' and the mother added :

' Whatever one gets she shall sharewith the other.'

They often roamed about in the woodspicking berries, and no beast ever hurtthem.

The animals came up to them in themost trusting manner.

The little hare would eat a cabbage leaffrom their hands. The deer fed besidethem.

The stag would bound past them mer-rily, and the birds sat on the branches, andsang to them with all their might.No evil ever befell them. If they werein the wood late and night overtook them.


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22 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDthey just lay down on the moss and slepttill morning.

Their mother knew they were quitesafe, and never felt any fear about them.

Once, when they had slept the night inthe wood, and had been woke up by themorning sun, they saw a lovely child in ashining white robe, sitting close to theirresting-place.

The child got up, looked at themkindly, but said nothing, and then wentaway into the wood.

And when they looked round aboutthem, they saw that they had slept quiteclose to the edge of a great rock, overwhich they must have fallen, had they goneon a few steps further in the darkness.And when they told their mother ofthis, she said the lovely child whom theyhad seen must have been the angel, thattakes care of good children.


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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 23

SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDPART II

Snow - white and Eose - red kept theirmother's house so clean and neat, that itwas a treat to go into it.

In summer, Eose-red looked after thehouse, and every morning before her motherawoke, she placed a bunch of flowers be-side the bed, from each tree a rose.

In winter, Snow-white lit the fire andput on the kettle, which was made ofbrass, but which was so bright that itshone like gold.

In the evening, when the snow fell,their mother said :

' Snow-white, go and close the shutters.'Then they drew round the fire ; the

mother put on her glasses, and readaloud from a big book, while the twogirls sat and span.

Beside them on the ground lay a little


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24 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDlamb, and behind them was a little whitedove, with its head tucked under itswings.

One evening, as they sat thus together,someone knocked at the door, as thoughhe wished to come in.

The mother said : ' Kose-red, open thedoor quickly ; it must be someone seekingrest for the night.'

Rose-red went at once to unbar thedoor, and thought she saw a poor manstanding in the darkness outside.

But it was no such thing. It was onlya bear, who poked his thick, black headthrough the door.

Rose-red screamed aloud and sprangback, the lamb began to bleat, the doveflapped its wings, and Snow-white ran andhid behind her mother's bed.

But the bear began to speak, and said' Don't be afraid; I won't hurt you. Iam half-frozen, and only wish to warmmyself a little.'

' My poor bear,' said the mother, ' lie


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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 25down by the fire, only take care you don'tburn your fur.'Then she called out : ' Snow-white andKose-red, come out; the bear will do youno harm : he is good and gentle.'

So they both came out of their hiding-places, and soon the lamb and the dovedrew near too, and they all forgot theirfear.

The bear asked the children to beatthe snow a little out of his fur, and they


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26 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDgot a brush and rubbed him -till he wasdry. Then the beast lay down in frontof the fire, and was soon warm and happy.

SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDPART TIT

The children soon grew quite at theirease with him, and led him a fearfullife.

They pulled his fur with their hands,put their small feet on his back, and rolledhim about here and there.

They even took a small stick and beathim with it; and if he growled they onlylaughed.

The bear let them pull him about with-out ever getting angry. When they wenttoo far he cried : ' Oh ! children, spare mylife !

' Snow-white and Rose red,Don't beat your lover dead.'


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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 27When it was time to go to bed for

the night, and the others had gone, themother said to the bear :' You can lie there in front of the fire.

It will be shelter for you from the coldand wet.'

As soon as day dawned, the childrenled him out, and he trotted over the snowinto the wood.

From this time on the bear cameevery night at the same hour, and laydown by the fire, and let the childrenplay what pranks they liked with him.

They got so used to him, that the doorwas never shut, till their black friend hadcome.

When spring came, and all outside wasgreen, the bear said one morning to Snow-white :

'Now I must go away, and not comeback again the whole summer.'

1 Where are you going to, dear bear ?asked Snow-white.

' 1 must go to the wood and take care


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28 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDof my things, so that the wicked dwarfsmay not get them.

'In winter, when the earth is frozenhard, they stay under the ground, forthey can't work their way through.

' But now, when the sun has warmedthe ground and made it soft, they breakthrough and come up above to spy outthe land, and steal what they can.

'What once falls into their hands andis taken into their caves, is not easilybrought back to light.'

Snow-white was quite sad over theirfriend's going away.When she undid the door for him,the bear, stepping out, caught a pieceof his fur in the latch, and Snow-whitethought she caught sight of shining goldbeneath it, but she couldn't be sureof it.

The bear ran away as fast as he could,and was soon lost behind the trees.


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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 29

SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDPART IV

A shoet time after this, the mothersent the children into the wood to getsticks.

They came upon a big tree which layupon the ground, and on the trunkamong the long grass, they saw some-thing jumping up and down, but whatit was they could not make out.When they came nearer, they saw adwarf with a wicked old face and a bearda yard long.

The end of the beard was jammedinto a cleft of the tree, and the littleman sprang about like a dog on a chain,and didn't seem to know what he wasto do.He glared at the girls with his fieryred eyes, and called out

' What are you standing there for ?Can't you come and help me ?


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3 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED' What were you doing, little man ?

asked Eose-red.'You goose!' cried the dwarf; 'I

wanted to split the tree, in order to get

little chips of wood for our kitchenfire.'Those thick logs that serve to make

fires for coarse, greedy people like your-


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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 31selves, quite burn up all the little food weneed.

' I had driven in the wedge, and allwas going well, but the wood was soslippery that all at once the wedge sprangout, and the tree closed up so quickly,that I had no time to take my longwhite beard out.

' So here I am stuck fast, and I can'tget away ; and you silly, milk-and-watergirls just stand and laugh ! Oh ! whatwretches you are !

The children pulled as hard as theycould, but they couldn't get the beardout. It was wedged in far too firmly.

'I will run and fetch somebody,' saidRose-red.

' Crazy girls ! ' snapped the dwarf'what's the good of calling anyone else?you're already two too many for me.

'Cannot you think of anything betterthan that?'

' Don't be in such a hurry,' said Snow-white, ' I'll see you get help ; ' and taking


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32 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDher scissors out of her pocket, she cutthe end off his beard.

As soon as the dwarf felt himself free,he seized a bag full of gold, which washidden among the roots of the tree, liftedit up, and said aloud

'Curse these rude girls, cutting off apiece of my beard !

With these words he swung the bagover his back, and went off without asmuch as looking at the children again.

SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDPART V

Soon after this Snow-white and Rose-redwent out to get a dish of fish.

As they came near the stream, theysaw something which looked like a biggrasshopper, springing towards the wateras if it were going to jump in.


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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 33They ran forward, and saw at once that

it was their old friend the dwarf.' Where are you going to ? ' asked

Rose-red ; ' you're surely not going tojump into the water ?

' I'm not such a fool,' said the dwarf.' Don't you see that the fish is trying todrag me in?'

The little man had been sitting on thebank fishing, and the wind had caughthis beard in the line.

When, soon after, a big fish bit, theweak little man could not pull it out.The fish had the upper fin, and draggedthe dwarf towards him.He clung on with all his might toevery rush and blade of grass, but itdidn't help him much.

He had to follow every movement ofthe fish, and was in great danger ofbeing drawn into the water.

The girls came up just at the righttime. They held him firm, and did allthey could to get his beard clear of the line.

a c


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34 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDBut it was of no use, for beard and

line were in a hopeless muddle.The only way to set him free was to

cut off a piece of the beard, and so anotherbit had to go.When the dwarf saw what they wereabout, he yelled to them

' Do you call that manners ; to spoil thelook of a fellow's face ?

' It wasn't enough that you cut mybeard short before, but you must nowneeds cut off the best bit of it. I can'tbe seen like this by my own people. Iwish you had been sent to Bath first.'

Then he took up a sack of pearls thatlay in the grass, and without saying aword, he dragged it away, and went offbehind a big stone.

Soon after this, the mother sent thetwo girls to the town to buy needles,pins, thread, and laces.

Their road led over a heath where biglumps of rock lay here and there.

While walking along they saw a big


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THE EAGLE CAEETIMQ OFF THE DWABF {seep. 36)o2


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36 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDbird in the air, flying slowly above thembut always coming lower, till at last itflew to a rock not far from them.

Then all at once they heard a sharp,loud cry. They ran forward, and saw thatthe bird had got hold of their old friendthe dwarf, and was about to carry him off.

The kind little girls took hold of thelittle man, and held on so firmly, that thebird at last let go his prey.

When the dwarf had got over his fright,he screamed in his loud voice' Couldn't you have pulled me more

gently ? you have torn my thin little coatall to shreds. 5

Then he took up a bag of diamonds,and ran away under the rocks into hiscave.

The girls did not look to him for anythanks, and went on their way and didtheir shopping in town.


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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 37SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED

PART VIOn their way home, they had again topass the heath.

All at once they came upon the dwarfpouring out his diamonds on the grass, forhe had thought no one would pass by atso late an hour.

The sun shone on the shining stones,and they glanced and gleamed so muchthat the children stood still and gazedon them.

' What are you standing there gapingfor ? ' screamed the dwarf, and his paleface became red with rage.He was about to go off with theseangry words, when a loud growl washeard, and a black bear trotted out ofthe wood.

The dwarf jumped up in a great fright,but he hadn't time to reach his cave, forthe bear was already close to him.


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38 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDThen he cried : ' Dear Mr. Bear, spare

me ! I'll give you all my riches. Look ' atthose lovely diamonds lying there.' Spare my life ! what would you get

from a poor, weak little fellow like me?You won't feel me between your teeth.' There, lay hold of these two wicked

girls, they will make a nice supper foryou ; eat them up, and spare my life.'

But the bear, taking no heed of hiswords, gave the evil little dwarf one blowwith his paw, and he never moved again.The girls had run away, but the bearcalled after them :

' Snow-white and Rose-red, don't beafraid ; wait, and I'll come with you.'

Then they knew his voice and stoodstill.When the bear was quite close to themhis skin fell off, and a man stood besidethem, all dressed in gold.

' I am a king's son,' he said, ' and havebeen made by that wicked little dwarf,who had stolen my riches, to roam about


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SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 39the woods as a wild bear, till his deathshould set me free.

' Now he is dead, and I am free.'

They were very glad to hear this.He went home with them, and after atime Snow-white married him, and Kose-


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40 SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-REDred married his brother, and they sharedthe great riches the dwarf had in his cavebetween them.

The old mother lived for many yearswith her children.

She carried the two rose trees withher, and they stood in front of herwindow, and every year they bore thefinest red and white roses.


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 41

HANSEL AND GRETTELPAST I

Once upon a time, there dwelt on the edgeof a large forest, a poor man with his wifeand two children.

The boy was called Hansel and thegirl Grettel.

He had always very little to live on,and once, when there was a great faminein the land, he could not even find themdaily bread.

One night, as he was tossing about inbed full of cares, he said to his wife

'What's to become of us? How arewe to find food for our poor children, nowthat we have nothing more for ourselves ?

'I'll tell you what,' said the woman;'early to-morrow morning we'll take thechildren out into the thickest part ofthe wood.


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42 HANSEL AND GRETTEL'There we will light a fire for them

and give them each a piece of breadthen we'll go on to our work and leavethem alone.

' They won't be able to find their wayhome, and we shall thus be rid of them.'

' No, wife,' said her husband, ' that Iwon't do ; how could I find it in my heartto leave my children alone in the wood?The wild beasts would soon come andtear them to pieces.'

1 Oh ! you silly man,' said she, ' thenwe must all four die of hunger, and youmay just as well go and make theircoffins.'

So she left him no peace till hewas willing to do what she wanted.

'But I can't help feeling sorry for thepoor children,' said the man.

The children, too, had not been ableto sleep for hunger, and had heard whattheir mother had said to their father.

Grettel wept for a long time, and saidto Hansel:


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 43'Now it's all up with us.'' No, no, Grettel,' said Hansel, ' don'tfret yourself; I'll be able to find a way

out of the wood, no fear.'And when the old people had fallen

asleep he got up, slipped on his littlecoat, and stole out of the back door sosoftly that he was not heard.

The moon was shining clearly, and thewhite stones which lay in front of thehouse shone like bits of silver.

Hansel bent down, and filled hispocket, with as many of them, as hecould cram in.

Then he went back and said to Gret-tel

' Be of good cheer, my dear little sister,and go to sleep : God will not leave us ;and he lay down in bed again, and wassoon fast asleep.


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44 HANSEL AND GRETTELHANSEL AND GRETTEL

PART IIAt break of day, even before the sun wasup, the woman came and woke the twochildren'.Get up, you lie-a-beds, we're all goingto the forest to fetch wood.'

She gave them each a bit of bread,and said

' There's something for your dinner,but don't you eat it up before, for it'sall you'll get.'

Grettel took the bread under herapron, as Hansel had the stones in hispocket.Then they all set out on their wayto the forest.

After they had walked for a little,Hansel stood still and looked back at thehouse, and this he did again and again.His father saw him, and said :

'Hansel, what are you looking at there,


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 45and why do you always stop behind?Take care, and don't lose your footing.'

' Oh ! father,' said Hansel, ' I am look-


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46 HANSEL AND GRETTELyour kitten, that's the sun shining on theroof.'

But Hansel had not looked back athis kitten, but had always dropped one ofthe white stones out of his pocket on tothe path.

When they had got to the middle ofthe forest, the father said

' Now, children, go and fetch a lot ofwood, and I'll light a fire, that you maynot feel cold.'

Hansel and Grettel heaped up wood,till they had made a pile nearly the sizeof a small hill.

The wood was set fire to, and whenthe flames leaped high the woman said :

'Now lie down at the fire, children,and rest yourselves. We are going intothe forest to cut down wood. Whenwe have done we'll come back and fetchyou.'

Hansel and Grettel sat down besidethe fire, and at midday ate their littlebits of bread.


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 47They could hear a sound like the

strokes of an axe, so they thought theirfather was quite near.

But it was no axe they heard, but abough he hadtied on to adead tree, andwas blownabout by thewind.When theyhad sat for along time theireyes closed, forthey were verytired, and sothey fell fastasleep.When theyawoke at last,it was pitch-dark. Grettel began to cry, and said

' How are we ever to get out of thewood ?


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48 HANSEL AND GRETTELBut Hansel cheered her up, saying:

' Wait a bit till the moon is up, and thenwe'll find our way sure enough.'

And when the full moon had risen, hetook his sister by the hand and followedthe stones, which shone like new shillings,and showed them the path.

They walked all through the night,and at break of day got to their father'shouse again.

They knocked at the door, and whenthe woman opened it she cried out

'You bad children, what a time you'veslept in the wood ! we thought you werenever going to come back.'

But the father was very glad, for he-had begun to feel very sorry, that he hadleft his children behind by themselves.And so for this time they were saved.


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HANSEL AND GRETTELPART III

Not long after, there was again a greatwant of food in the land, and the childrenheard their mother say to their father inbed one night

' Everything is eaten up once more ;we have only half a loaf in the house,and when that's done it's all up with us.

' The children must be got rid of.We'll lead them deeper into the woodthis time, so that they won't be able tofind their way out again. There is noother way of saving ourselves.'

The man's heart was very sad, and hethought

' Surely it would be better to share thelast bite with one's children ! ;

But his wife wouldn't listen to whathe had to say, and did nothing but scoldhim.

If a man yields once he's done for;a d


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So HANSEL AND GRETTELand so, because he had given in the firsttime, he was forced to do so the second.But the children were awake, and hadheard all that was said.When the old people were asleepHansel got up, and wanted to go out andpick up stones again, as he had donethe first time.

But the woman had barred the door,and Hansel couldn't get out.

But he cheered his little sister bysaying

'Don't cry, Grettel, and sleep well, forGod is sure to help us.'At early dawn the woman came andmade the children get up. She gave them

each a bit of bread, but it was evensmaller than the time before.On the way to the wood Hansel brokeit up into little bits, and every now andthen he stood still and dropped a crumbon the ground. -

'Hansel, what are you stopping andlooking about you for?' said the father.


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 511 I'm looking back at my little pigeon,

which is sitting on the roof waving mea farewell,' said Hansel.' Silly boy,' said the wife ; ' that isn't

your pigeon, it's the sun shining on theroof.'

But Hansel, bit by bit, threw all hiscrumbs on to the path.

HANSEL AND GRETTELPART IV

The woman led the children still deeperinto the forest, farther than they hadever been in their lives before.

Then a big fire was lit again, and themother said :

'Just sit down there, children, and ifyou're tired you can sleep a bit.'We're going into the forest to cutdown wood, and in the evening, when we

d2


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52 HANSEL AND GRETTELhave done our work, we'll come backto fetch you.'

At noon Grettel gave half of her breadto Hansel, for he had thrown his allalong their path.

Then they fell asleep, and eveningpassed away, but nobody came to thepoor children.

They didn't awake till it was pitch-dark, and Hansel cheered his sister bysaying

' Only wait, Grettel, till the moon rises,then we shall see the bread-crumbs I threwdown along the path ; they will show usthe way back to the house.'When the moon rose they got up,but they found no crumbs, for the thou-sands of birds that fly about the woodsand fields, had picked them all up.

' Never mind,' said Hansel to Grettel' you'll see we'll still find a way out ;but all the same they did not.

They walked about the whole night,and all the next day, from morning till


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 53evening, but they could not find a pathout of the wood.

The trees were so thick that thereseemed to be no way out.

They were very hungry, too, for theyhad nothing to eat but a few berries, theyfound growing on the ground.

And at last they were so tired, thattheir legs would not carry them anylonger. So they lay down under a treeand fell fast asleep.

HANSEL AND GRETTELPART V

On the third morning after they had lefttheir father's house, they woke up andbegan again to try to find their wayhome.

But they only got deeper and deeperinto the wood, and now they felt, that if


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54 HANSEL AND GRETTELhelp did not come to them soon, theymust die.

At midday, they saw a pretty littlesnow-white bird sitting on a branch, whichsang so sweetly that they stood still tohear it.When its song was done, it flapped itswings and flew on in front of them.

They went after it and came to alittle house, on to the roof of which itflew.When they came quite near, they sawthat the house was made of bread androofed with cakes, while the window wasmade of sugar.

' Now we'll set to,' said Hansel, ' andhave a good feed.'I'll eat a bit of the roof, and you,

Grettel, can eat some of the window,which you'll find sweet and nice.'

Hansel reached .out his hand, and brokeoff a little bit of the roof to see what itwas like, and Grettel went to the windowand began to bite at it.


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 55But a shrill voice called out from the

room inside' Nibble, nibble, little mouse,Who's nibbling my house ?

The children said :' "lis Heaven's own child,The tempest wild,'

and went on eating without putting them-selves about.

Hansel, who thought the roof wasvery good to eat, tore down a big bitof it. Grettel pushed out a whole roundwindow-pane, and sat down the better toeat it.

All at once the door flew open anda very old lady, leaning on a staff, cameout.

Hansel and Grettel were so muchafraid, that she should be angry, at whatthey had done, that they let what theyhad in their hands fall.


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56 HANSEL AND GEETTELBut the old lady shook her head and

said;' Oh, ho ! you dear children, who led

you here ? Just come in and stay withme, no ill shall befall you.'

She took them both by the hand andled them into the house.

' What a pretty room,' said Grettel,


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 57'and see what a good dinner is readyfor us.'

There were nice cakes with sugar allover them, and apples and nuts.When they had done, two pretty littlewhite beds were got ready for them, andwhen Hansel and Grettel lay down inthem, they felt as if they had got intoheaven.

HANSEL AND GRETTELPART VI

The old woman had seemed to be mostkind to them.

But she was really an old witch whohad waylaid the children, and had onlybuilt the little bread house in order tolure them in.

When anyone came into her powershe killed, cooked, and ate him 3 and hada great feast.


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58 HANSEL AND GRETTELNow, witches have red eyes, and can-

not see far, but, like beasts,, they have akeen sense of smell, and know whenchildren pass by.When Hansel and Grettel fell into herhands she laughed, and said :

' I've got them now ; they shan't getaway from me.'

Early in the morning, before the chil-dren were awake, she rose up, and whenshe saw them both sleeping so nicely,with their round, rosy cheeks, she saidto hersell

'That'll be a dainty bite.'Then she took hold of Hansel with

her bony hand, and carried him into alittle stable, and barred the door on him.He might scream as much as be liked, itdid him no good.

Poor Hansel ! He felt sure he shouldnever get free again.Then she went to Grettel, shook hertill she awoke, and cried

'Get up, you lazy-bones, fetch water


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 59and cook something for your brother.When he's fat I'll eat him up.'

Grettel began to cry. But it was ofno use ; she had to do what the wickedwitch bade her.

So the best food was cooked for poorHansel, but Grettel got nothing but bitsof crust.

Every morning the old woman walkedout to the stable and cried :

' Hansel, put out your finger, that Imay feel if you are getting fat.'

But Hansel always held out a bone,and the old dame, whose eyes were dim,couldn't see it.

It seemed like Hansel's finger to her,and she could not think why he got fatso slowly.


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60 HANSEL AND GRETTEL

HANSEL AND GRETTELPAET YII

When four weeks had passed and Hanselstill kept thin, she got out of temper,and made up her mind to wait nolonger.

'Hi! Grettel,' she called to the girl,' be quick and get some water. Hanselmay be fat or thin, I'm going to killhim to-morrow, and cook him.'Oh ! how the poor little sister sobbedas she carried the water, and how thetears rolled down her cheeks !

' Kind heaven help us now ! ' she cried,' if only the wild beasts in the wood hadeaten us, then at least we should havedied together.'

'Just hold your peace,' said the oldhag; 'it won't help you.'

Early in the morning, Grettel had togo out and hang up the kettle full ofwater, and light the fire.


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 61'First we'll bake some bread,' said

the old dame; 'I've heated the oven andmade the dough.'

She pushed Grettel out to the oven,in which flames could be already seen.


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62 HANSEL AND GRETTEL' Creep in,' said the witch, ' and see if

it is quite hot, so that we can shove inthe bread.'For when she had got Grettel in, she

meant to close the oven and let the girlbake, that she might eat her up too.

But Grettel saw what the witch meantto do, and said :

'I don't know how I'm to do it;how do I get in ?

' You silly goose ! ' said the hag, ' thedoor is big enough ; see, I could get inmyself; ' and she crawled towards it, andpoked her head into the oven.

Then Grettel gave her a shove thatsent her right in, shut the iron door, anddrew the bolt.Oh ! how she yelled ! it was quitedreadful; but Grettel fled, and the wickedold witch was left to die.


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HANSEL AND GRETTELPART VIII

G-rettel ran at once to Hansel, openedthe little stable-door, and cried :

' Hansel, we are free ; the old witch isdead.'

Then Hansel sprang like a bird outof a cage, when the door is opened.How happy they were ; they fell oneach other's necks, and jumped for joy,and kissed one another!

And as they had no longer any causefor fear, they went into the old hag'shouse.

There- they found, in every corner ofthe room, boxes with pearls and lots ofgold.

' These are even better than stones,'said Hansel, and filled his pockets withthem ; and Grettel said

' I, too, will bring something home ;and she filled her apron full.


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64 HANSEL AND GRETTEL' But now,' said Hansel, ' let's go and

get well away from the witches' wood.'When they had walked about for somehours, they came to a big lake.

' We can't get over,' said Hansel ; ' Isee no bridge of any sort or kind.'

' Yes, and there's no ferry-boat either,'said Grettel ; ' but look, there swims awhite duck; if I ask her, she'll help usover ; ' and she called out

'Here are Wo children, mournful very,Seeing neither bridge nor ferryTake us up on your white back,And row us over, quack, quack !

The duck swam to them, and Hanselgot on her back and bade his little sistersit beside him.

' No,' said Grettel, ' we should be tooheavy a load for the duck ; she shallcarry us across one at a time.'

The good bird did this, and whenthey were landed safely on the otherside, and had gone on for a while, theybegan to know where they were.


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HANSEL AND GRETTEL 65At length they saw their father's

house, not very far off.Then they set off to run, and bound-

ing into the room, fell on their father'sneck.

The man had not passed a happy


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66 HANSEL AND GRETTELThus all their troubles were ended, and

they all lived happily for ever after.My story is done. See ! there runs alittle mouse ; anyone who catches it maymake himself a large fur cap out of it.


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 67

THE BRAVE UTILE TAILORPART I

One summer's day a little tailor sat on histable by the window.

He was a queer little man. His eyeswere small and very bright.

His legs were thin, and short, andbent.

He had red hair, which stood uprightall over his head. But he had a veryloud, deep voice.

He felt very happy, and sewed for dearlife.

As he was sitting thus, a poor womancame down the street, calling out: 'Goodjam to sell, good jam to sell !

This sounded sweetly in the tailor'sears. He put his little head out of thewindow, and shouted

'Up here, my good woman, and you'llfind a man who wants to buy.'

2


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68 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORSo the woman came up the three

flights of stairs, with her heavy basket tothe tailor's room.

He made her spread out all the potsin a row before him.

He looked into them all, lifted themup and smelt them, and said at last

' This jam seems good, weigh me fourounces of it, my good woman ; and evenif it's a little more than that I'll take it.'

The woman, who had hoped to sell alot to him, gave him what he wanted,but went away very angry.

' Now Heaven shall bless this jam formy use,' cried the little tailor, 'and itshall feed me and make me strong.'He took some bread out of a cupboard,cut a slice off the loaf, and spread thejam on it.

'That won't taste amiss,' he said;'but I'll finish that coat first before Itake a bite.'

He placed the bread beside him, andwent on sewing.


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 69Stitch ! Stitch ! How his needle flew

through the cloth, for the faster heworked, the sooner he would have his meal.Out of the lightness of his heart, he

kept on making his stitches bigger andbigger.

TEE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART II

In the meantime the smell of thesweet jam rose to the ceiling, where heapsof flies were sitting.

They liked the smell of it so much,that they swarmed on to it in masses.

' Ha ! who asked you to come to thefeast ? ' said the tailor, and drove them away.

But the flies, who did not know whathe said, would not be warned off, andcame back again in even greater numbers.

They were so thick, that the littletailor could not have stuck his needleinto the bread, without hurting one of them,


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7o THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORAt last the little tailor reached out

for a duster, and saying

' Wait, and I'll give it to you,' he beatthem with it.When he left off, he counted the slain.


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THE, BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 71There were no fewer than seven deadbefore him, lying on their backs withtheir feet turned up.

' What a brave fellow I am ! ' said he,and was filled with pride at his owncourage. ' The whole town must knowabout this/So in great haste the little tailor cutout a girdle, hemmed it, and sewed onsome big letters : ' Seven at a blow.'

' What did I say, the town ? no, thewhole world shall hear of it,' he saidand his heart beat for joy as a lambwags his tail.

THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART III

The tailor tied the girdle round his waist,and set out into the wide world.

He thought his workroom was too smalla place, for such a brave man as he.

Before he set forth he looked round


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72 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORabout him, to see if there was anythingin the house, he could take with him.

But he found nothing except an oldcheese, which he took with him.

In front of the house he saw a bird,that had been caught in some bushes, andthis he put into his bag beside the cheese.Then he went on his way merrily, andbeing very light he never felt tired.

His way led up a hill, on the top ofwhich sat a strong giant, who was gazingover the country that lay about him.He was big enough to eat the littletailor at a meal, or to kill him with oneblow of his big hand.

The little tailor went up to him, andsaid

'Good-day, friend; there you sit atyour ease, looking at the whole wideworld. I'm just on my way there. Whatdo you say to going with me ?

The giant looked with scorn at thetailor, and said

' What a poor little fellow you are !


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 73'That's a good joke,' said the little

tailor, and opening his coat he showedthe giant the girdle.

' There now, you can read what sortof a fellow I am.'

The giant read : ' Seven at a blow ;and thinking they were men the tailorhad slain, he began to think more of thelittle man.

But first he thought he'd test himSo taking up a stone in his band, hesqueezed it till some drops of water ran out.

' Now you do the same,' said the giant,' if you really wish to be thought strong.'

'Is that all?' said the little tailor;' that's child's play to me.'

So he dived into his bag, brought outthe cheese, and pressed it till the wheyran out.

' My squeeze was a better one thanyours,' said he.

The giant didn't know what to say, forhe did not think the little fellow couldhave done it.


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74 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR

TEE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART IV

To prove him again, the giant lifted astone and threw it so high, that the eyecould hardly follow it.

' Now, my little pigmy, let me seeyou do that.'

' Well thrown,' said the tailor ; ' butafter all, your stone fell to the ground;I'll throw one that won't come downat all.'He put his hand into his bag again,and grasping the bird in his hand, hethrew it up into the air.

The bird, only too glad to be free,flew up into the sky, never to come backagain.

You must know that the giant hadweak eyes, and could not tell a stone froma bird.

' Well, what do you think of that, myfriend ? ' asked the tailor.


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 75' You can throw, no doubt,' said the

giant ; ' but now let's see if you can carrya big weight.'With these words he led the tailor to

a huge oak-tree, which had been felled tothe ground, and said

' If you are strong enough, help me tocarry the tree out of the wood.'

' Of course I will,' said the little tailor :just you take the trunk on your back


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76 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORI'll bear the top and branches, which isthe heaviest part.'

The giant laid the trunk on his back,but the tailor sat at his ease among thebranches.

So the giant, who couldn't see whatwas going on behind him, had to carrythe whole tree, and the little tailor as well.

There he sat behind as gay as a bird,and whistling a tune, as if carrying thetree were mere sport.

' This is rare fun,' said the little tailorto himself. 'This kind of thing justsuits me.'

The giant, after dragging the heavyweight for some time, could get on nofurther, and shouted out

' Hi ! I must let the tree fall.'*The tailor sprang down, took hold of

the tree with both hands, as if he hadcarried it the whole way, and said to thegiant:

'Fancy a big lout like you not beingable to carry a tree !


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TEE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART V

So they went on their way. As theypassed by a cherry-tree the giant graspedthe top of it, where the ripest fruit hung.He gave the branches into the tailor'shand, and bade him eat.

But the little tailor was far too weakto hold the tree down, and when the giantlet go, the tree swung back into the air,bearing the little tailor with it.When he had fallen to the groundagain without hurting himself, the giantsaid :

' What ! do you mean to tell me youhaven't the strength to hold down atwig?'

1 It wasn't strength that was wanting,'said the tailor ; ' do you think that wouldhave been anything for a man who haskilled seven at a blow ?


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78 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR'I jumped over the tree because the

huntsmen are shooting among the branchesnear us. Do you do the like, if you dare.'The giant gave a big jump, but

couldn't get over the tree.He stuck fast in the branches, so that

here, too, the little tailor had the betterof him.

' Well, you are a fine fellow, after all,'said the giant ; ' come and spend a nightwith us in our cave.'

The little tailor said he would be veryglad to do so.

He went on with his friend till theyreached a cave, where six other giantswere sitting round a fire.

Each was holding a roast sheep in hishand, of which he was eating.

The little tailor looked about him, andthought

' Yes, there is more room to turn roundin here than in my workshop.'The giant showed him a bed, and badehim lie down and have a good sleep.


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 79But the bed was too big for the little

tailor, so he didn't get into it, but creptaway into the corner.Besides, the little tailor did not feel

very safe among so many giants.

At midnight, when the giant thoughtthe little tailor was fast asleep, he rose up,and taking his big iron walking-stick, hebroke the bed in two with a blow, and


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80 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORthought he had made an end of thelittle tailor.But the little tailor was quite safein his corner.

At early dawn the giants went offto the wood, and quite forgot about thelittle tailor, till all at once they met himwalking along as happy as ever.

The giants were very much afraid atthe sight, and, iearful lest he should slaythem, they all ran away as fast as theirlegs would take them.

THE BRAVE LITTLE TATLORPART VI

' Ha ! ha ! ' said the little tailor. ' Mybody is not very big, to be sure, butit's the big brain that tells most in thelong run.'

So he went on his way alone. Afterhe had gone on for a long time, he came


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 81to the courtyard of a king's palace. Feel-ing tired, he lay down on the grass andfell asleep.

While he lay there the people came, and,looking him all over, read on his girdle :

'Seven at a blow.'' Oh ! ' they said, ' what can this great

hero of a hundred fights want in ourpeaceful land? He must indeed be amighty man.'

They went and told the King abouthim, and said what a useful man he wouldbe in time of war, and that it would bewell to have him at any price.

This pleased the King. So he sentone of his men down to the little tailor,to ask him, when he awoke, if he wouldlead the army for him.

But the tailor was still asleep, and sothe man stood by his side, and waited tillhe opened his eyes.

Then he told him what the Kingwished.

' That's the very thing I came herea f


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g2 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORfor,' lie said ; 'I am quite ready to fightfor the King.'

So the King gave him an army to lead,and a fine house of his own to live in.

But the King's old friends were angry,that he should think so much of the littletailor, and wished him a thousand milesaway.

' What's to come of it all ? ' theyasked each other; 'if we quarrel withhim, he'll let out at us, and at everyblow seven will fall. There'll soon bean end of us.'

THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART VII

So they made up their minds to goin a body to the King, and to say thatthey would not fight for him, unless hesent the little tailor away.'We are not made,' they said, 'to hold


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 83out against a man who kills seven at ablow.'The King did not wish to lose all hisfaithful servants for the sake of one man.He began to wish that he had neverset eyes on him, or that he could getrid of him.But he didn't dare to send himaway, for he feared he might kill himalong with his people, and so be kingin his place.

He thought long and deeply over thematter, and at last made up his mindwhat to do.He sent to the tailor and told himthat, seeing what a great and warlike herohe was, he was about to make him anoffer.

In a great wood of his kingdom theredwelt two giants, who did much harm.

They robbed, killed, and burnt every-thing about them. No one could go nearthem without risking his life.

But if he could kill these two giants,F 2


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84 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORhe should have his only daughter for awife, and half his kingdom as well.He might have a hundred horsemen,too, to back him up.

4 That's the very thing for a man likeme,' thought the little tailor ; ' one doesn'tget the offer of a lovely princess andhalf a kingdom every day.'

' Done with you, he said ; ' I'll soonput an end to the giants. But I haven'tthe smallest need of your hundred horse-men.

'A fellow who can slay seven men ata blow need not be afraid of two.'

But the King thought that the giantswould be sure to kill the little tailor.

THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART VIII

The little tailor set out, and the hundredhorsemen rode behind him.


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 85When he came to the edge of the

wood, he said to the horsemen'You wait here; I'll kill the giants

by myself;' and he went on into thewood, casting his sharp little eyes rightand left about him.

After a while he saw the two giantslying asleep under a tree, and snoring tillthe very boughs bent with the breeze.

They were very big and ugly, andlooked so fierce that the little tailor saidsoftly to himself: 'It's a good job for methat they are fast asleep.'

The little tailor lost no time in fillinghis bag with stones, and then climbed upthe tree under which they lay.When he got to about the middle ofit, he slipped along a branch till he satjust above the sleepers.He then threw down one stone after theother, and hit the nearest giant on the nose.The giant felt nothing for a long time,but at last he woke up and said to his friend

' What did you strike me for ?


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86 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR'I didn't strike you,' said the other

' you must be dreaming.'They both lay down to sleep again.

Then the tailor threw down a stone andhit the other giant in the eye.

He at once sprang up and cried :'What's that for? Why did youthrow a stone at me?'

' I didn't throw anything,' growled thefirst one.

They talked on for a time, till, asboth were tired, they made up the matterand fell asleep again.

THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART IX

The little tailor began his game oncemore, and flung the largest stone he couldfind in his bag with all his force, andhit the first giant on the chest.

' This is too much of a good thing !he cried, and springing up like a mad-


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 87man, he dashed his friend against atree with all his might.He gave, however, as good as he got,

and they became so angry, that they toreup trees and beat each other with them, tillthey both fell dead at once on the ground.

Then the little tailor jumped down.


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88 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR'It's a mercy,' he said, 'that they

didn't root up the tree on which I wasperched.

'I should have had to jump on toanother, which, nimble though I am, wouldhave been no easy job.'

EEe drew his sword, and gave each ofthe giants a very fine thrust or two onthe- breast, and then went to the horse-men and said :

' The deed is done, I've put an endto the two of them ; but it has been noeasy,' matter, for they even tore up treesto fight me with.

' But all that's of no use against onewho < slays seven men at a blow.'

' Weren't you hurt ? ' asked the horse-men.

' No fear,' said the tailor ; ' they haven'ttouched a hair of my head.'

But the horsemen wouldn't believe himtill they rode into the wood, and foundthe giants lying in their blood, and thetrees all around torn up by the roots.


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART X

The little tailor now went to the Kingand said, that he had come to marry hisdaughter.But the King wanted to get rid ofhim all the more, and thought of anotherplan to get him killed.

' Before you have the hand of mydaughter and half my kingdom,' he saidto him, 'you must do another great deed.

' A unicorn is running about loose inthe wood, and doing much harm ; youmust first catch it/

'I'm even less afraid of one unicornthan of two giants ; " Seven at a blow,"that's my motto,' said the little tailor.

He took a piece of cord and an axewith him, went out to the wood, andagain told the men who had been sentwith him to wait outside.

He had not to hunt long, for the


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 91tree with his axe, and when everything wasin order, he led the beast before the King.

THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART XI

Still the King didn't want to give him hisdaughter, and gave him a third task to do.

The tailor was to catch a wild boarfor him, that did a great deal of harmin the wood ; and he might have thehuntsmen to help him.

'Of course I will catch him,' said thetailor ; ' that's mere child's play.'

But he didn't take the huntsmen intothe wood with him, and they were wellenough pleased to stay behind.

For the wild boar had often hurt themso much, that they did not want to gonear him again.As soon as the boar saw the tailor, itran at him with foaming mouth and gleam-ing teeth, and tried to knock him down.


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92 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORThe little tailor ran away as fast as

he could, and the boar after him.Over and over again the boar thought

he had got him, but each time the littletailor got out of his way.

At last our little friend ran into achurch that stood near, and got out ofthe window again with a jump.

The boar went after him into the


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 93church, but the tailor ran round to thedoor, and closed it fast.So the boar was caught, for it wasfar too heavy to spring out of the window.

The little tailor called the huntsmen,so that they might see the boar withtheir own eyes.Then the hero went off to the King,who was bound now, whether he liked itor not, to keep his promise, and hand himover his daughter and half his kingdom.

Had he known that it was only a littletailor who stood before him, it would havegone even more to his heart.

So the little tailor married the King'sdaughter, and the tailor became a king.

THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORPART XII

After a time the Queen heard her hus-band saying one night in his sleep


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94 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR'My lad, make that coat and patch

those trousers, or I'll box your ears.'Thus she learnt in what rank the littletailor had been born.

The next day she poured forth herwoes to her father, and begged him tohelp her to get rid of a husband, whowas nothing more nor less than atailor.

The King cheered her, and said'Leave your bedroom door open to-

night. My servants shall stand outside,and when your husband is fast asleepthey shall enter, bind him fast, and carryhim on to a ship, which shall sail awayout into the wide ocean.'

The Queen was well pleased with this.But the tailor's man, who had heardeverything, was very fond of his youngmaster.

So he went to him and told him whathe had heard.

' I'll soon put a stop to this,' said thetailor.


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THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR 95That night he and his wife went to

bed at the usual time.When she thought he had fallen asleepshe got up, opened the door, and thenlay down again.

The little tailor, who had only shuthis eyes, so as to make his wife think hewas asleep, began to call out in a clearvoice :

' My lad, make that coat and patchthose trousers, or I'll box your ears.

' I have killed seven at a blow, slaintwo giants, taken a unicorn, and caughta wild boar, then why should I beafraid of those men standing outside mydoor ?

The men, when they heard the tailorsaying these words, fled as if a wild armywas after them, and didn't dare go nearhim again.

After this no one dare say a wordagainst the little tailor, or try to harmhim in any way.


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96 THE BRAVE LITTLE TAILORSo the little tailor was a king all the

days of his life.

Spottiswoode i Co. Ltd., Printer*, ColclieaUr, London and Eton.


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APPENDIX

ask'-edbe-cause'be-yond'bunch'-es

LITTLE RED RIDING-HOODPart I.Pp. 5 to 7.

cakes Oaf'-fer near'-estcar'-ry grand'-ma pret'-ti-estdo'-teddurst

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grand'-moth-er rid'-ingharm soon'-estmam-ma' through

LITTLE RED RIDING-HOODPart II.Pp. 8 to 11.

a-fraid'


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98 LITTLE RED RIDING-HOODTOADS AND DIAMONDSPart II.Pp. 16 to 19.

an'-gry


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APPENDIX 99


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APPENDIXHANSEL AND GB.ETTELPart VI.Pp. 57 to 59.

bo'-ny


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LITTLE RED RIDING-HOODTHE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR

Part II.Pp. 69 to 71.ceil'-ing


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APPENDIX 103TEE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR

Part VI.Pp. 80 to 82.a-woke'


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104 LITTLE RED RIDING-HOODTHE BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR

Part X.Pp. 89 to 91.axe


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Documents

Little Red Riding-Hood and Other Stories (1912)