Section 59 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors. Section 59, The Wolf and the Fox. A wolf once upon a time caught a fox.  The fox replied, I know a farm yard where there are a couple of young lambs, which, if you wish, we will fetch. This proposal pleased the wolf, so they went, and the fox, stealing first one of the lambs, brought it to the wolf, and then ran away. The wolf devoured it quickly, but was not contented, and went to fetch the other lamb by himself.  There they found the wolf and beat him so unmercifully, that he ran howling and limping to the fox and said, You have led me to a nice place for when I went to fetch the other lamb, the peasants came and beat me terribly.  The next day, they went again into the fields, and the covetous wolf said to the fox, Get me something to eat, or I will devour you. The fox said he knew a country house where the cook was going that evening to make some pancakes, and there they went. When they arrived, the fox sneaked and crept around the house until he at last discovered where the dish was standing. Out of which he stole six pancakes and took them to the wolf saying, There is something for you to eat, and then ran away. The wolf dispatched these in a minute or two and wishing to taste some more, he went and seized the dish, but took it away so hurriedly that it broke into pieces. The noise of it falling brought out the woman, who, as soon as she saw the wolf, called her people, who, hastening up, beat him with such a good will that he ran home to the fox, howling with two lame legs.  The peasants have caught me and dressed my skin finely.   The fox said he knew a man who had just killed a pig and insulted the meat down in a cask in his cellar, and they could get at it. The wolf replied that he would go with him on the condition that he helped him if he could not escape. Oh, of course I will. On my own account, said the fox, and showed him the tricks and ways by which they could get into the cellar. When they went in, there was meat in abundance, and the wolf was enraptured at the sight. The fox, too, had a taste, but kept looking round while eating and ran frequently to the hole by which they had entered to see if his body would slip through it easily. Presently, the wolf asked, Why are you running about so, you fox, jumping in and out? I want to see if anyone is coming, replied the fox cunningly, but mind you do not eat too much. The wolf said he would not leave till the cask was quite empty, and meanwhile the peasant, who had heard the noise made by the fox, entered the cellar. The fox, as soon as he saw him, made a spring and went through the hole in a jiffy, and the wolf tried to follow his example, but he had eaten so much that his body was too big for the opening, and he stuck fast. Then came the peasant with the cudgel, and beat him sorely, but the fox leaped away into the forest, very glad to get rid of the old glutton. End of section 59, The Wolf and the Fox. Hans' mother asked, Where are you going, Hans? To Gretel's, replied he, Behave well, Hans. I will take care. Goodbye, mother. Goodbye, Hans. Hans came to Gretel. Good day, said he. Good day, replied Gretel. What treasure do you bring today? I bring nothing. Have you anything to give? Gretel presented Hans with a needle. Good day. Goodbye, Hans. Hans took the needle, stuck it in a load of hay, and walked home behind the wagon. Good evening, mother. Good evening, Hans. Where have you been? To Gretel's, and what have you given her? Nothing. She has given me something. What has Gretel given you? A needle, said Hans. And where have you put it? To behave stupidly, Hans. You should put needles on your coat sleeve. To behave better, do nothing at all, thought Hans. Where are you going, Hans? To Gretel's, mother. Behave well, Hans. I will take care. Goodbye, mother. Goodbye, Hans. Hans came to Gretel. Good day, said he. Good day, Hans. What treasure do you bring? Gretel gave Hans a knife. Goodbye, Gretel. Goodbye, Hans. Hans took the knife, put it in his sleeve, and went home. Good evening, mother. Good evening, Hans. Where have you been? To Gretel's, and what did you take to her? I took nothing. She has given to me. And what did she give you? A knife, said Hans. And where have you put it? In my sleeve. Then you have behaved foolishly again, Hans. You should put knives in your pocket. To behave better, do nothing at all, thought Hans. Where are you going, Hans? To Gretel's, mother. Behave well, Hans. I will take care. Goodbye, mother. Goodbye, Hans. Hans came to Gretel. Good day, Gretel. Hans, what treasure do you bring? I bring nothing. Have you anything to give? Gretel gave Hans a young goat. Goodbye, Gretel. Goodbye, Hans. Hans took the goat, tied its legs, and put it in his pocket. Just as he reached home it was suffocated. Good evening, mother. Good evening, Hans. Where have you been? To Gretel's. And what did you take to her? The thing she gave to me. And what did Gretel give you? A goat. Where did you put it, Hans? In my pocket. There you acted stupidly, Hans. You should have tied the goat with a rope. To behave better, do nothing, thought Hans. Wither away, Hans. To Gretel's, mother. Behave well, Hans. I'll take care. Goodbye, mother. Goodbye, Hans. Hans came to Gretel. Good day, said he. Good day, Hans. What treasure do you bring? I bring nothing. Have you anything to give? Gretel gave Hans a piece of bacon. Goodbye, Gretel. Goodbye, Hans. Hans took the bacon, tied it with a rope, and swung it to and fro so that the dogs came up and ate it up. There you acted stupidly, Hans. To Gretel's, mother. What did you take there? I took nothing she gave to me. And what did Gretel give you?  And where have you put it? I tied it with a rope, swung it about, and the dogs came up and ate it up. There you acted stupidly, Hans. You should have tied it with a rope. You should have tied it with a rope. There you acted stupidly, Hans. You should have carried the bacon on your head. To behave better, do nothing, thought Hans. Wither away, Hans. To Gretel's, mother. Behave well, Hans. I'll take care. Goodbye, mother. Goodbye, Hans. Hans came to Gretel. Good day, said he. Good day, Hans. What treasure do you bring? I bring nothing. Have you anything to give? Gretel gave Hans a calf. Goodbye, said Hans. Goodbye. Hans took the calf, set it on his head, and the calf scratched his face. Good evening, mother. Good evening, Hans. Where have you been? To Gretel's? What did you take her? I took nothing she gave to me. A calf, said Hans. And what did you do with it? I set it on my head, and it kicked my face. Then you acted stupidly, Hans. You should have led the calf home and put it in the stall. To behave better, do nothing, thought Hans. Wither away, Hans. To Gretel's, mother. Behave well, Hans. I'll take care. Goodbye, mother. Goodbye, Hans. Hans came to Gretel. Good day, said he. Good day, Hans. What treasure do you bring? I bring nothing. Have you anything to give? Gretel said, I will go with you, Hans. Hans tied a rope round Gretel, led her home, put her in the stall, and made the rope fast, and then he went to his mother. Good evening, mother. Good evening, Hans. To Gretel's. What did you take her? I took nothing. What did Gretel give you? She gave nothing. She came with me. And where have you left her, then? I tied her with a rope, put her in the stall, and threw in some graphs. Then you acted stupidly, Hans. You should have looked at her with friendly eyes. To behave better, do nothing, thought Hans. Gretel and made sheep's eyes at Gretel, and after that Gretel became Hans's wife. End of Section 60 Childhood's favourites and fairy stories by various authors Section 61 Puss in boots Once upon a time there was a miller who was so poor that at his death he had nothing to leave to his three children, but his mill, his ass, and his cat. The eldest son took the mill, and the second, the ass, nothing left for poor Jack, but to take Puss. Jack could not help thinking that he had been treated shabbily. My brothers will be able to earn an honest livelihood, he sighed. But as for me, though Puss may feed himself by catching mice, I shall certainly die of hunger. The cat who had overheard his young master jumped upon his shoulder and robbing himself gently against his cheek began to speak. Dear master, said he, do not grieve. I am not as useless as you think me and will undertake to make your fortune for you if only you will buy me a pair of boots and give me that old bag. Now Jack had very little money to spare, but knowing Puss to be a faithful old friend, he made up his mind to trust him and so spent all he possessed upon a smart pair of boots made of buff-coloured leather. They fitted perfectly, so Puss put them on, took the old bag which his master gave him, and trotted off to a neighbouring Warren in which he knew there was a great number of rabbits. Having put some bran and fresh parsley into the bag, he laid it upon the ground, hid himself, and waited. Presently two foolish little rabbits sniffing the food ran straight into the bag when the clever cat drew the strings and caught them. Then, slinging the bag over his shoulder, he hastened off to the palace where he asked to speak to the king. Having been shown into the royal presents, he bowed and said Sire, my lord the Marquis of Carabas has commanded me to present these rabbits to your Majesty with his respect. The monarch, having desired his thanks to be given to the Marquis, who, as he will guess, was really our poor Jack, then ordered his head cook to dress the rabbits for dinner and he and his daughter partook of them with great enjoyment. Day by day Pus brought home stores of good food so that he and his master lived in plenty and besides that he did not fail to keep the king and his courtiers well supplied with game. Sometimes he would lay a brace at the royal feet. Sometimes a fine large hair. But whatever it was it always came with the same message from my lord the Marquis of Carabas so that everyone at court was talking of this strange nobleman whom no one had ever seen but who sent such generous presents to his Majesty. At length Pus decided that it was time for his master to be introduced at court so one day he persuaded him to go and bathe in a river near having heard that the king would soon pass that way. Jack stood shivering up to his neck in water wondering what was to happen next when suddenly the king's carriage appeared in sight at once Pus began to call out as loudly as he could Help! Help! My lord the Marquis of Carabas is drowning. The king put his head out of the carriage window and recognising the cat ordered his attendants to go to the assistance of the Marquis. While Jack was being taken out of the water Pus ran to the king and told him that some robbers had run off as clothes whilst he was bathing the truth of the matter being that the cunning cat had hidden them under a stone. On hearing this story the king instantly dispatched one of his grooms to fetch a handsome suit of purple and gold from the royal wardrobe and a raid in this Jack, who was a fine handsome fellow looked so well that no one for a moment supposed but that he was a noble foreign lord. The king and his daughter were so pleased with his appearance that they invited him into their carriage. At first Jack hesitated for he felt a little shy about sitting next to a princess but she smiled at him so sweetly and was so kind and gentle that he soon forgot his fears and fell in love with her there and then as soon as Puss had seen his master seated in the royal carriage he whispered directions to the coachman and then ran on ahead as fast as he could trot until he came to a field of corn where the reapers were busy. Reapers said he fiercely the king will shortly pass this way if he should ask you to whom this field belongs remember that you say to the Marquis of Caraba if you dare to disobey me I will have you all chopped up as fine as mincemeat. The reapers were so afraid the cat would keep his word that they promised to obey. Puss then ran on and told all the other labourers whom he met to give the same answer threatening them with horrible punishments if they disobeyed. Now the king was in a very good humour for the day was fine and he found the Marquis a very pleasant companion so he told the coachman to drive slowly in order that he might admire the beautiful country. What a fine field of wheat he said presently to whom does it belong? Then the men answered as they had been told to our lord the Marquis of Caraba Next they met a herd of cattle and again to the king's question to whom do they belong? They were told to the Marquis of Caraba and it was the same with everything they passed the Marquis listened with the greatest astonishment and thought what a very wonderful cat Pus was and the king was delighted to find that his new friend was as wealthy as he was charming Meanwhile Pus who was well in advance of the royal party had arrived at a stately castle which belonged to a cruel ogre the richest ever known for all the land the king had admired so much belonged to him Pus knocked at the door and asked to see the ogre who received him quite civilly for he had never seen a cat in boots before and the sight amused him so he and Pus were soon chatting away together the ogre who was very conceited began to boast of what clever tricks he could play and Pus sat and listened with a smile on his face I once heard great ogre he said at last that you possessed the power of changing yourself into any kind of animal you chose a lion or an elephant for instance well so I can replied the ogre dear me how much I should like to see you do it now said Pus sweetly the ogre was only too pleased to find a chance of showing how very clever he was so he promised to transform himself into any animal Pus might mention oh I will leave the choice to you said the cat politely immediately there appeared the ogre had been seated an enormous lion roaring and lashing with its tail and looking as though it meant to gobble the cat up in a trice Pus was really very much frightened and jumping out of the window managed to scramble onto the roof though he could scarcely hold onto the tiles on account of his high hilled boots there he sat refusing to come down until the ogre changed himself into his natural form and laughingly called to him that he would not hurt him then Pus ventured back into the room and began to compliment the ogre on his cleverness of course it was all very wonderful he said but it would be more wonderful still if you who are so great and fierce could transform yourself into some timid little creature such as a mouse that I suppose would be quite impossible not at all said the vein ogre one is quite as easy to me as the other as I will show you and in a moment a little brown mouse was frisking about all over the floor whilst the ogre had vanished now or never said Pus and with a spring he seized the mouse and gobbled it up as fast as he could at the same moment all the gentlemen and ladies whom the wicked ogre had held in his castle under a spell became disenchanted they were so grateful to their deliverer that they would have done anything to please him and readily agreed to enter into the service of the Marquis of Carabas when Pus asked them to do so so now the cat had a splendid castle which he knew to be full of heaped up treasures at his command and ordering a magnificent feast to be prepared he took up his station at the castle gates to welcome his master and the royal party as soon as the castle appeared in sight the king inquired whose it was for said he I had never seen a finer then Pus bowing low threw open the castle gates and cried may it please your majesty to alight and enter the home of the most noble the Marquis of Carabas full of surprise the king turned to the Marquis is this splendid castle indeed yours he asked not even our own palace is more beautiful and doubtless it is as splendid within as without Pus then helped his majesty to alight and conducted him into the castle where a group of noble gentlemen and fair ladies were waiting to receive them Jack or the Marquis as he was now called gave his hand to the young princess and led her to the banquet long and merrily they feasted and when at length the guests rose to depart the king embraced the Marquis and called him his dear son and the princess blushed so charmingly and looked so shy and sweet that Jack ventured to lay his heart and fortune at her feet and so the miller's son married the king's daughter and there were great rejoicings throughout the land on the evening of the wedding day a great ball was given to which princes and noblemen from far and near were invited Pus opened the ball wearing for the occasion a pair of boots made of the finest leather with gold tassels and scarlet heels I only wish you could have seen him when the old king died the princess and her husband reigned in his stead and their most honoured and faithful friend at court was Pus himself for his master never forgot to whom he owed all his good fortune he lived upon the daintiest meat and most delicious cream and was petted and made much of all the days of his life and never again ran after mice and rats except for exercise and amusement End of Section 61 Recording by Ruth Golding Section 62 of Childhood's favourites and fairy stories This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Ruth Golding Childhood's favourites and fairy stories by various authors Section 62 The Elves and the Shoemaker There was once a shoemaker who through no fault of his own had become so poor that at last he had only leather enough left for one pair of shoes At evening he cut up the shoes which he intended to begin upon the next morning and since he had a good conscience he lay down quietly said his prayers and fell asleep In the morning when he had prayed as usual and was preparing to sit down to work he found the pair of shoes standing finished on his table He was amazed and could not understand it in the least he took the shoes in his hand to examine them more closely They were so neatly sewn that not a stitch was out of place and were as good as the work of a master hand Soon after a purchaser came in and as he was much pleased with the shoes he paid more than the ordinary price for them so that the shoemaker was able to buy leather for two pairs with the money he cut them out in the evening and next day with fresh courage was about to go to work but he had no need too for when he got up the shoes were finished and buyers were not lacking these gave him so much money that he was able to buy leather for four pairs of shoes Early next morning he found the four pairs finished and so it went on what he cut out at evening was finished in the morning so that he was soon again in comfortable circumstances and became a well-to-do man Now it happened one evening not long before Christmas when he had cut out shoes as usual that he said to his wife How would it be if we were to sit up tonight to see who it is who sends us such a helping hand the wife agreed lighted a candle and they hid themselves in the corner of the room behind the clothes which were hanging there at midnight came two little naked men who sat down at the shoemaker's table took up the cut out work and began with their tiny fingers to stitch, sew and hammer so neatly and quickly that the shoemaker could not believe his eyes they did not stop till everything was quite finished and stood complete on the table then they ran swiftly away the next day the wife said the little men have made us rich and we ought to show our gratitude they run about with nothing on and must freeze with cold now I will make them little shirts coats, waist coats and hoes and will even knit them stout stockings and you shall make them each a pair of shoes the husband agreed and at evening when they had everything ready they laid out the presents on the table and hid themselves to see how the little men would behave at midnight they came skipping in about to set to work but instead of the leather ready cut out they found the charming little clothes at first they were surprised then excessively delighted with the greatest speed they put on and smoothed down the pretty clothes singing then they hopped and danced about and leapt over chairs and tables and out at the door hence forward they came back no more but the shoemaker fared well as long as he lived and had good luck in all his undertakings End of Section 62 Recording by Ruth Golding For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Ralph Snelson Childhood Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors Section 63 Hands in Luck Hans had served his master seven long years so he said to him Master, my time is out and my wish is to return home to my mother to please my reward the master answered thou hast truly and faithfully served me as the service was so shall the reward be and he gave Hans a piece of gold as big as his head Hans pulled out his hanger-chief wrapped up the lump of gold in it and throwing it over his shoulder made his way home as he went on his way always putting one foot before the other he met a man galloping briskly horse said Hans, quite loud what a capital thing it is to ride there you sit as comfortably as in a chair kicking against no stones saving your shoe leather and getting to your journey's end almost without knowing it the horseman who heard this pulled up and cried hello Hans, why do you trudge on foot because I must answered he for I have this big lump to carry home it is real gold, you know but all the same I can scarcely hold up my head it weighs so terribly on my shoulders I'll tell you what said the horseman we'll just exchange I'll give you my horse and you give me your lump of gold with all my heart said Hans but I warn you you'll have a job to carry it the horseman dismounted took the gold and helped Hans up and giving the bridle into his hand and said if you want him to go at full speed you must cluck your tongue and cry Hans was hardly delighted as he sat on his horse and rode gaily along after a while he fancied he would like to go faster so he began to cluck with his tongue and cry the horse broke into a smart trot and before Hans was aware he was thrown off, splash into a ditch which divided the fields and there he lay the horse too would have run away had it not been stopped by a peasant as he came along the road driving his cow before him Hans pulled himself together and got upon his legs again he felt very downcast and said to the peasant it's a poor joke that riding especially when one lights upon such a brute as this which kicks and throws one off so that one comes near to breaking one's neck you don't catch me on his back again now there's more sense in a cow like yours behind which you can walk in peace and quietness besides having your butter milk and cheese every morning for certain what I would not give for such a cow well said the peasant if it would give you so much pleasure I will exchange my cow for your horse Hans gladly consented and the peasant flung himself on the horse and rode quickly off Hans drove the cow peacefully along thinking what a lucky fellow I am I have just to get a bit of bread that isn't a difficult matter and then as often as I like I can eat my butter and cheese with it if I'm thirsty I just melt my cow and drink what more could I desire when he came to an inn he made a stop and in his great joy ate all the food he had with him right up both dinner and supper with his two last farthings he bought himself half a glass of beer then he drove his cow towards his mother's village as the morning went on the more oppressive the heat became and Hans found himself in a field some three miles long then he felt so hot that his tongue was parched with thirst this is soon cured thought Hans I will need to melt my cow, drink fresh myself he tied the cow to a withered tree and as he had no picture he placed his leathern cap underneath her but in spite of all his trouble not a drop of milk could be got and he went to work so clumsily that the impatient brute gave him such a kick with her hind leg that he was knocked over in quite days and for a long time did not know where he was luckily a butcher came by just then wheeling a young pig in a barrel what kind of a joke is this tried he helping our friend Hans to rise Hans told him what had happened the butcher passed him his bottle and said there drink and revive yourself that cow will never give any milk she is an old animal and at the best is only fit for the plow or the butcher oh said Hans running his fingers through his hair who would have thought it it is all right indeed when you can slaughter such a beast in your own house but I don't think much of cows flesh it is not tender enough now if one had a young pig that would taste far different to say nothing of the sausages listen Hans said the butcher for your sake I will exchange and let you have my pig for your cow may heaven reward your friendship said Hans and at once gave him the cow the man untied the pig from the wheelbarrow and gave the rope with which it was found into Hans' hand Hans marched on thinking what a lucky fellow I am as soon as anything goes wrong something turns up and all's right again just then up came a youth carrying a fine white goose under his arm they were friends and Hans began to talk about his luck and how he always came off best in his exchanges the youth told him he was taking the goose to a christening feast just hold it he continued seizing it by the wings and feel how heavy it is yet it was only fattened for eight weeks it will be a rich morsel when roasted yes said Hans weighing it with his hand it is certainly heavy but my pig is by no means to be despised meanwhile the lad was looking thoughtfully around shaking his head listen he said I don't think it's all right about your pig in the village I have just come through one has lately been stolen from the magistrate's own stye I fear it is the one you have they have sent people out and it would be a bad business if they found you with the pig the least they would do would be to throw you into jail our friend Hans was downcast alas he cried help me in my need you know your way here better than I take my pig down and give me your goose I shall be running great risk said the youth but at least I will prevent your getting into trouble he took the rope in his hand and drove the pig quickly away down a bypass and Hans went on relieved of his sorrow towards home with the goose under his arm what a lucky fellow I am he said to himself first I shall have a good roast then there is the quantity of dripping that will fall out which will keep me in bread and dripping for a quarter of a year and lastly the splendid white feathers with which I will have my pillow stuffed then I shall fall asleep without rocking how glad my mother will be when he was at length come to the village there stood in the street a scissors grinder with his truck his wheel hummed and he sang the while my wheel I turned and the scissors I grind my cloak hangs flowing free in the wind Hans remained standing and watched him at length he spoke to him and said you must be doing well since you are so merry over your grinding yes said the scissors grinder the work has gold at the bottom of it a proper scissors sort of man who whenever he puts his hand in his pocket finds money there but where have you bought that fine goose I did not buy it but exchanged it for my pig and the pig I obtained him for a cow and the cow I had her for a horse and the horse for him I gave a lump of gold as big as my head and the gold why that was my reward for seven years of service you have certainly done well for yourself each time said the scissors grinder if you could only hear money rattling in your pocket every time you got up your fortune would be made how shall I said about it said Hans you must become a grinder like me all you want is a grindstone the rest comes of itself I have one which is a little damaged indeed but for which I would ask your goose would that suit you how can you ask me answered hands I shall be the luckiest fellow on earth if I have money as often as I feel in my pocket what else shall I have to care about and he handed over the goose and took the grindstone in receipt now said the grinder lifting up an ordinary heavy field stone which lay beside him there you have a capital stone which will be just the way you hammer your old nails straight upon take it and lift it up carefully hands raised the stone and marched on with a joyful heart his eyes shining with pleasure I must have been born lucky he cried out all that I desire comes to me as to a Sunday child meanwhile having been on his legs since daybreak he began to feel tired besides which he was for he had eaten up all his provision in his joy over the exchange of the cow at length he could only proceed with great trouble and must need stop every minute the stones too crushed him terribly then he could not conceal the thought how nice it would be now to have nothing to carry like a snail he crept up to a well wishing to rest himself and enjoy a refreshing drink in order not to spoil the stones in setting them down he laid them carefully on the ground one beside the other and bent himself down to drink but by an accident he gave them a little push and both stones went splashing down hands when he saw them sinking in the depths of the well jumped up with joy kneeled down and thanked God with tears in his eyes that he had shown him this grace and without troubling him to think what to do with them had relieved him of the heavy stones which would have been such a hindrance to him there is no man under the sun he cried out so lucky as I with a bright heart and free from all care he sprang upon his way until he was home at his mother's End of Section 63 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 Section 64 hire herself for a servant. At last a funny-looking old gentleman engaged her, and took her home to his house. When she got there he told her that he had something to teach her, for that in his house he had his own names for things. He said to her, What will you call me? Master or mister, or whatever you please, sir, says she. He said, You must call me master of all masters. And what would you call this, pointing to his bed? Bed or couch, or whatever you please, sir? No, that's my barnacle. And what do you call these, said he, pointing to his pantaloons? Breaches or trousers, or whatever you please, sir? You must call them squibs and crackers. And what would you call her, pointing to the cat? Cat or kit, or whatever you please, sir? You must call her white-faced simony.  You must call it hot cock-a-lorum. And what this, he went on, pointing to the water? Water or wet, or whatever you please, sir? No, pondalorum is its name. And what do you call all this, asked he, as he pointed to the house? House or cottage, or whatever you please, sir? You must call it high-topper mountain. That very night the servant woke her master up in a fright, and said, Master of all masters, get out of your barnacle and put on your squibs and crackers, for white-faced simony has got a spark of hot cock-a-lorum on its tail. And unless you get some pondalorum, high-topper mountain will be all on hot cock-a-lorum. That's all. End of Section 64. Section 65 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information on a volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Section 65. Belling the Cat. Once upon a time the mice sat in council, and talked of how they might outwit their enemy, the cat. But good advice was scarce, and in vain the president called upon all the most experienced mice present to find a way. At last a very young mouse held up two fingers, and asked to be allowed to speak. And as soon as he could get permission, he said, I've been thinking for a long time why the cat is such a dangerous enemy. Now it's not so much because of her quickness, though people make so much fuss about that. If we could only notice her in time, I've no doubt we're nimble enough to jump into our holes before she could do us any harm. It's in her velvet paws. There's where she hides her cruel claws, till she gets us in her clutches. That's where her power lies. With those paws she can tread so lightly that we can't hear her coming. And so while we are still dancing heedlessly about the place, she creeps so close. And before we know where we are, she pounces down on us, and has us in her clutches. Well then it's my opinion we ought to hang a bell around her neck to warn us of her coming while there's get time. Everyone applauded the proposal, and the council decided that it should be carried out. Now the question was to be settled, who should undertake to fasten the bell around the cat's neck? The president declared that no one could be better fitted for the task than he who had given such excellent advice. But at that the young mouse became quite confused and stammered in excuse. He was too young for the deed, he said. He didn't know the cat well enough. His grandfather, who knew her better, would be more suited to the job. But the grandfather declared that just because he knew the cat very well, he would take good care not to attempt such a task. And along in the short of it was that no other mouse would undertake the duty. And so this clever proposal was never carried out and the cat remained mistress of the situation. End of section 65 Belling the Cat. Section 66 of childhood's favorites and fairy stories. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Jennifer Stearns. Childhood's favorites and fairy stories by various authors. Section 66. Little Red Riding Hood. In a great wide forest full of beautiful trees and green glades and thorny thickets there lived a long time ago a woodcutter and his wife who had only one child, a little girl. She was so pretty and so good that the sun seemed to shine more brightly when its light fell upon her rosy little face. And the birds would seem to sing more sweetly when she was passing by. Her real name was Maisie. But the neighbors round about all called her Little Red Riding Hood because of her scarlet riding hood and cloak that her kind old grandmother had made for her and which she nearly always wore.  And so you may easily believe that everybody loved her. It was glad to catch a glimpse of her golden curls and her scarlet cloak as she tripped along singing under the green boughs. Now this let me tell you before I forget was at the time when all the birds and beasts were very nearly all could speak just as well as you or I and nobody was surprised to hear them talk as I suppose one would be nowadays. Well, as I was saying, Little Red Riding Hood lived with her parents in a little white cottage with a green door and a thatched roof and red and white roses climbing all over the walls and even putting their pretty heads in the lattice windows to peep at the child who was so like them. It was on a bright spring morning early in May when Little Red Riding Hood had just finished putting away the breakfast cups that her mother came bustling in from the dairy. Here's it to do, she said. Farmer Hodge has this very minute told me that he hears your granny isn't quite well and I can't leave the cheese making this morning for love or money. Do you go, my dear, and find out how she is and stay? Take her this little pot of sweet fresh butter and these two new laid eggs and these nice tasty pasties. Maybe they'll tempt her to eat a bit. Here's your basket and don't be too long away, honey. So Little Red Riding Hood pulled her cloak over her curls and set off down the sunny green slope with her basket in her hand at a brisk pace. But as she got deeper into the forest she walked more slowly. Everything was so beautiful. The great trees waved their huge arms over her. The birds were calling to one another from the thorns, all white with blossom, and the child began singing as she went. She could not have told why, but I think it was because the beautiful world made her feel glad. The path wound along through the trees and as it grew wider after turning a quarter Red Riding Hood saw that she was likely to have company on her walk. For where two cross paths divided there sat a big gray wolf, looking his long paws and looking sharply about him. And, good morning, Red Riding Hood, said he. Good morning, Mr. Wolf, she answered. And where may you be going, sweet laugh, said the wolf as he walked beside her. Oh, Granny isn't very well, and mother cannot leave the cheese-making this morning.  Said the child with a smile.  Through the cops and down the hollow and over the bridge. And three meadows after the mill. Does she indeed, cried he. Why, then, I do believe she's a very dear old friend of mine, whom I have not seen for years and years. Now I'll tell you what I'll do, you and I. I will go by this way, and you shall take that. And whoever gets there first shall be the winner of the game. So the wolf trotted off one way, and Red Riding Hood went the other. And I am sorry to say that she lingered and loitered more than she ought to have done on the road. Well, what with one thing and another, the sun was right up in the very midmost middle of the sky, when she crossed the last meadow from the mill and came in sight of her grandmother's cottage, and the big lilac bushes that grew by the garden gate. Oh, dear, how I must have lingered! Said the child, when she saw how high the sun had climbed since she sat out on her journey, and pattering up the garden path she tapped at the cottage door. Who's there? said a buried gruff kind of voice from inside. It's only I, Granny Deer, your little Red Riding Hood, with some goodies for you and my basket, answered the child.  What a dreadful cold poor Granny must have to be sure to make her so hoarse, thought the child. Then she pulled the bobbin and the latch went up, and Red Riding Hood pushed open the door and stepped inside the cottage. It seemed very dark in there after the bright sunlight outside, and all Red Riding Hood could see was that the window curtains and the bed curtains were still drawn, and her grandmother seemed to be lying in bed with the bed clothes pulled almost over her head, and her great white frilled nightcap nearly hiding her face. Now you and I have guessed by this time, although poor Red Riding Hood never even thought of such a thing, that it was not her Granny at all, but the wicked wolf, who would hurry to the cottage and put on Granny's nightcap and popped into her bed to pretend that he was Granny herself. And where was Granny all this time, you will say? Well, we shall see presently. Come, sit down beside me, dearie, wheeze the wolf, and let us have a little chat. Then the wolf stretched out his large hairy paws and began to unfasten the basket. Oh, said Red Riding Hood, what great arms you have, Granny. All the better to hug you with, said the wolf, and what great rough ears you have, Granny. All the better to hear you with, my little dear. In your eyes, Granny, what great yellow eyes you have. All the better to see you with, my pet, grinned the wolf.  All the better to eat you with, growled the wolf, springing up suddenly at Red Riding Hood, but just at that very moment the door flew open, and two tall woodcutters rushed in with their heavy axes and killed the wicked wolf in far less time than it takes me to tell you about it. But where is Granny, asked Little Red Riding Hood, when she had thanked the brave woodcutters? Oh, where can my poor Granny be? Can the cruel wolf have eaten her up? And she began to cry and sob bitterly when who should walk in but Granny herself as large as life and as hearty as ever with her marketing basket on her arm, for it was another old dame in the village who was not very well. And Granny had been down to visit her and give her some of her famous herb tea, so everything turned out right in the end and all lived happily ever after. But I promise you that Little Red Riding Hood never made friends with the wolf again. A tradesman had once transacted a good day's business at a fair, disposed of all his goods, and filled his purse with gold and silver. He prepared afterward to return in order to reach home by the evening, so he strapped his portmanteau with the money in it upon his horse's back and rode off. At noon he halted in a small town, and as he was about to set out again, the stable boy who brought his horse said to him, Sir, a nail is wanting in the shoe on the left hind foot of your animal. Let it be wanting, replied the tradesman, I am in a hurry, and the iron will doubtless hold the six hours I have yet to travel. Late in the afternoon he had to dismount again and feed his horse, and at this place also the boy came and told him that a nail was wanting in one of the shoes, and asked him whether he should take the horse to a farrier. No, no, let it be, replied the master, it will last out the couple of hours that I have now to travel. I am in haste. So saying he rode off, but his horse soon began to limp, and from limping it came to stumbling, and presently the beast fell down and broke its leg. Thereupon the tradesman had to leave his unfortunate horse lying on the road to unbuckle the portmanteau, and to walk home with it upon his shoulder, where he arrived at last late at night. And all this misfortune said he to himself is owing to the want of a nail, more haste, the less speed. Once upon a time there lived a poor widow who had an only son named Jack. She was very poor, for times had been hard, and Jack was too young to work. Almost all the furniture of the little cottage had been sold to buy bread, until at last there was nothing left worth selling. Only the good cow, Milky White, remained, and she gave milk every morning which they took to market and sold. But one sad day, Milky White gave no milk, and then things looked bad indeed. Never mind, mother, said Jack, we must sell Milky White. Trust me to make a good bargain. And away he went to the market. For some time he went along very sadly, but after a little he quite recovered his spirits. I may as well ride as Walk said he, so instead of leading the cow by the halter he jumped on her back, and so he went whistling along until he met a butcher. Good morning, said the butcher. Good morning, sir, answered Jack. Where are you going? said the butcher. I am going to market to sell the cow. It's lucky I met you, said the butcher. You may save yourself the trouble of going so far. With this he put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out five curious-looking beans. What do you call these, he said? Beans, said Jack. Yes, said he, beans, but they're the most wonderful beans that ever were known. If you plant them overnight, by the next morning they'll grow up and reach the sky. But to save you the trouble of going all the way to market, I don't mind exchanging them for that cow of yours. Done, cried Jack, who was so delighted with the bargain that he ran all the way home to tell his mother how lucky he had been. But oh, how disappointed the poor widow was! Off to bed with you she cried, and she was so angry that she threw the beans out of the window into the garden, so poor Jack went to bed without any supper and cried himself to sleep. When he woke up the next morning the room was almost dark, and Jack jumped out of bed and ran to the window to see what the matter was. The sun was shining brightly outside, but from the ground right up beside his window there was growing a great beanstalk which stretched up and up as far as he could see into the sky. I'll just see where it leads to, thought Jack, and with that he stepped out of the window onto the beanstalk and began to climb upwards. He climbed up and up till after a time his mother's cottage looked a mere speck below, but at last the stalk ended and he found himself in a new and beautiful country. A little way off there was a great castle, with a broad road leading straight up to the front gate. But what most surprised Jack was to find a beautiful maiden suddenly standing beside him. Good morning, ma'am, said he very politely. Good morning, Jack, said she, and Jack was more surprised than ever, for he could not imagine how she had learned his name. But he soon found that she knew a great deal more about him than his name, for she told him how, when he was quite a little baby, his father, a gallant knight, had been slain by the giant who lived in Yonder Castle, and how his mother, in order to save Jack, had been obliged to promise never to tell the secret. All that the giant has is yours, she said, and then disappeared quite a suddenly as she came. She must be a fairy, thought Jack. As he drew near to the castle he saw the giant's wife standing at the door. If you please, ma'am, said he, would you kindly give me some breakfast? I have had nothing to eat since yesterday.  So in Jack went, and the giant's wife gave him a good breakfast, but before he had half finished it there came a terrible knock at the front door, which seemed to shake even the thick walls of the castle. Dearing me that is my husband, said the giantess, in a terrible fright, we must hide you somehow, and she lifted Jack up and popped him into the empty kettle.  Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread. It's a boy, I'm sure it is, he continued. Where is he? I'll have him for my breakfast. Nonsense, said his wife, you must be mistaken. It's the ox's hide you smell. So he sat down and ate up the greater part of the ox. When he had finished he said, Wife, bring me my money-bags.    Jack and his mother were now quite rich, but it occurred to him one day that he would like to see how matters were going on at the giant's castle. So while his mother was away at market, he climbed up and up and up and up until he got to the top of the beanstalk again. The giantess was standing at the door just as before, but she did not know Jack, who, of course, was more finely dressed than on his first visit. If you please, ma'am, said he, will you give me some breakfast?   But the giantess had a kind heart, and after a time she allowed Jack to come into the kitchen, where she set before him enough breakfast to last him a week. Scarcely had he begun to eat, then there was a great rumbling like an earthquake, and the giantess had only time to bundle Jack into the oven when in came the giant.  Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread.  The giantess went out and brought in a little brown hen, which he placed on the table. Leigh said the giant, and the hen at once laid a golden egg.  Leigh said the giant a third time, and she laid a third golden egg. That will do for today, said he, and stretched himself out to go to sleep. As soon as he began to snore, Jack crept out of the oven, went on tiptoe to the table, and snatching up the little brown hen made a dash for the door. Then the hen began to cackle, and the giant began to wake up, but before he was quite awake Jack had escaped from the castle, and climbing as fast as he could down the beanstalk got safe home to his mother's cottage. The little brown hen laid so many golden eggs that Jack and his mother had now more money than they could spend. But Jack was always thinking about the beanstalk, and one day he crept out of the window again, and climbed up, and up, and up, and up, until he reached the top. This time you may be sure he was careful not to be seen, so he crept round to the back of the castle, and when the giant's wife went out he slipped into the kitchen and hid himself in the oven. In came the giant, roaring louder than ever.  Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread. But the giantess was quite sure that she'd seen no little boys that morning, and after grumbling a great deal the giant sat down to breakfast. Even then he was not quite satisfied, for every now and again he would say, Be, vi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman. And once he got up and looked in the kettle, but of course Jack was in the oven all the time. When the giant had finished he called out, Wife bring me the golden harp, so she brought in the golden harp and placed it on the table. Sing, said the giant, and the harp at once began to sing the most beautiful songs that ever were heard. It sang so sweetly that the giant soon fell fast asleep, and then Jack crept quietly out of the oven, and going on tiptoe to the table, seized hold of the golden harp. But the harp at once called out, Master, Master! and the giant woke up just in time to catch sight of Jack running out of the kitchen door. With a fearful roar he seized his oak tree club and dashed after Jack, who held the harp tight and ran faster than he had ever run before. The giant brandishing his club and taking terribly long strides, gained on Jack at every instant, and he would have been caught if the giant hadn't slipped over a boulder. Before he could pick himself up Jack began to climb down the beanstalk, and when the giant arrived at the edge he was nearly halfway to the cottage. The giant began to climb down too, but as soon as Jack saw him coming he called out, Mother, bring me an axe! and the widow hurried out with a chopper. Jack had no sooner reached the ground than he cut the beanstalk right in two. Down came the giant with a terrible crash, and that, you may be sure, was the end of him. What became of the giantess and the castle, nobody knows, but Jack and his mother grew very rich and lived happily ever after. There was once upon a time a prince who wanted to marry a princess, but she must be a true princess. So he travelled through the whole world to find one, but there was always something against each. There were plenty of princesses, but he could not find out if they were true princesses. In every case there was some little defect, which showed the genuine article was not yet found. So he came home again in very low spirits, for he had wanted very much to have a true princess. One night there was a dreadful storm. It thundered and lightened, and the rain streamed down in torrents. It was fearful. There was a knocking heard at the palace gate, and the old king went to open it. There stood a princess outside the gate, but oh, in what a sad plight she was from the rain and the storm. The water was running down from her hair and her dress into the points of her shoes and out at the heels again, and yet she said she was a true princess. Well, we shall soon find out, thought the old queen. But she said nothing, and went into the sleeping-room, took off all the bed-clothes, and laid a pee on the bottom of the bed. Then she put twenty mattresses on top of the pee, and twenty eyed-a-down quilts on top of the mattresses, and this was the bed in which the princess was to sleep. The next morning she was asked how she had slept. Oh, very badly said the princess. I scarcely close my eyes all night. I am sure I don't know what was in the bed. I lay on something so hard that my whole body is black and blue. It is dreadful. Now they perceived that she was a true princess, because she had felt the pee through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eyed-a-down quilts. No one but a true princess could be so sensitive. So the prince married her, for now he knew that at last he had got hold of a true princess, and the pee was put into the royal museum, where it is still to be seen if no one has stolen it. Now this is a true story. Once upon a time long ago, so long indeed that even the very oldest people now alive could not remember it, there lived a king and queen in a beautiful palace, a great white marble palace with wide halls and high towers, and a golden roof that flashed in the sun. And all around the palace, for miles and miles, there were lovely gardens and pleasure grounds, with terraces and green lawns, and ancient trees where the birds would sit and sing all day and all night long, and more flowers than you could ever think of if you were to think a whole summer through. There were peacocks and birds of paradise on the broad lawns, and pretty slender brown deer in the shady glades, and gold and silver fishes in the ponds and fountains, and great red and yellow fruits ripened in the orchards. There was everything there that heart could wish, except just one, and that was the one thing in all the world that this king and queen wanted to make them perfectly happy, for there was no little child to run and play about the sunny gardens, and pick the flowers and pet the birds and beasts that wandered there, and this would often make them very sad.  Now you can easily think how glad this king and queen were, and what great rejoicings were made over all the country. Bonfires as big as haystacks were kept burning all night, fat oxen were roasted whole in the marketplace of every town, the church bells were rung and rung again until the ringers were out of breath and their arms were aching, and every little child in the kingdom was given a beautiful present for the baby princess's sake. In the palace, of course, all was bustle and hurry to make ready for the christening feast, the maids were busy putting flowers all about the halls and chambers, and sprinkling the shining floors with sweet-smelling leaves and petals. For the most important guests invited to this christening were seven very powerful fairies, and you know, I am sure, how particular fairies are about what they eat and drink. Not that they are greedy, but they are used to such delicate food, that even the very best of ours seemed strange to them. So the queen was very anxious that they should be pleased, for they had been asked to be godmothers to the baby princess, and she wanted them to be in good humour, so that they should be kind to her little one. It was a beautiful summer afternoon, and the roses on the palace terrace were nodding their head sleepily in the warm breeze, when the fairies' chariots came into sight, sailing through the blue sky like a flight of bright-winged butterflies. They were all good fairies, and had known the king and queen all their lives long, and as they had not seen them for some time there was a great deal to talk about and much news to tell, and dear me how pleased they were with the baby! They all agreed that she was the prettiest little darling they had ever seen, almost as pretty as a real fairy-baby, and that was a compliment indeed, I can tell you. And when they went into the great banqueting-hall and sat down to table, they were even more delighted than at first. For each one of them there was a set of six golden dinner-things—knife, spoon, fork, cup, dish, and plate—made on purpose as a present for each, and all different. One was set with pearls, another with diamonds, the third with rubies, the fourth with opals, the fifth with amethysts, the sixth with emeralds, the seventh with sapphires, and nobody could tell which was the most beautiful. They were just going to begin, and everybody was as happy as happy could be, when all of a sudden there was a clashing of brazen claws, and a rushing of wings, and something like a black cloud seemed to pass before the tall windows, and darken all the room so that the guests could hardly see their plates.  The king turned pale, and the queen nearly fainted away, for this was the spiteful fairy, Tormantilla, who lived all alone, an immense distance away from everywhere and everyone, in a dismal black stone castle in the middle of a desert. The poor queen had been so happy and so busy that she had forgotten all about her, and never sent her an invitation. However, they all tried to make the best of it, and another chair was brought, and another place laid for Tormantilla, and both the king and queen told her over and over again how very, very sorry they were not to have asked her. It was all in vain. Nothing could please her. She would eat and drink nothing, and she sat, scowling and looking angrily at the other fairy's jeweled cups and dishes, until the feast was over, and it was time to give the presents. Then they all went into the great tapestryed room where the tiny princess lay sleeping, in her mother a pearl cradle, and the seven fairies began to say what they would each give her. The first stepped forward and said, She shall always be as good as gold. The second, she shall be the cleverest princess in the world. The third, she shall be the most beautiful. The fourth, she shall be the happiest. The fifth, she shall have the sweetest voice that was ever heard. The sixth, everyone shall love her. And then the wicked old cross-fairy strode over to the cradle with long, quick steps, and she said, shaking her black crooked stick at the king and queen, and I say that she shall prick her hand with a spindle and die of the wound.  I cannot quite undo my cousin's wicked enchantment, but I can promise you that your daughter shall not die but only fall asleep for a hundred years. And when these are past and gone, a prince shall come and awaken her with a kiss. So the king and queen dried their tears, and thanked the kind fairy heartsies for her goodness, and all the fairies went back to their homes, and things went on much as usual in the palace. But you can imagine how careful the queen was of her little girl, and the king made a law that every spindle in the country must be destroyed, and that no more should be made, and that any one who had a spindle should be heavily punished if not executed at once. Well the years went by happily enough until the princess Miranda was almost 18 years old, and all that the sixth fairies had promised came true, for she was the best and the prettiest and the cleverest princess in all the world, and everybody loved her. And indeed by this time Tormentilla's spiteful words were almost forgotten. Poor old thing the queen would sometimes say, she was so angry at having been left out that she did not know what she was saying, of course she did not really mean it. Now the king and queen had to go away for a few days to a great entertainment that one of their richest nobles was giving at his country house, and as the princess did not wish to go, they left her behind with her ladies in waiting in the beautiful old palace. For the first two days she amused herself very well, but on the third she missed her father and mother so much that to pass the time till they came back, she began exploring all the old lumber rooms and out of the way attics in the palace, and laughing at the dusty furniture and queer curiosities she found there. At last she found herself at the top of a narrow winding stairway in a tall turret that seemed even older than all the rest of the palace, and when she lifted the latch of the door in front of her she saw a little low chamber with curiously painted walls, and there sat a little old, old woman in a high white cap spinning at a wheel. For some time she stood at the door watching the old woman curiously, she could not imagine what she was doing, for the princess had never seen a spinning wheel in her life before, because, as I told you, the king had ordered them all to be destroyed. Now it happened that the poor old woman who lived in this tower had never heard the king's command, for she was so deaf that if you shouted until you were hoarse she would never have been able to understand you. What pretty work are you doing there, goodie, and why does that wheel go whir, whir, whir, said the princess? The old woman neither answered nor looked up, for, of course, she did not hear. So the princess stepped into the room and laid her hand upon the old woman's shoulder. Goodie started then, looked up and rubbed her eyes. Dearie, dearie, me cried she in a high cracked voice, and who may you be, my pretty darling? I'm the princess Miranda! screamed the maiden in her ear, but the old woman only shook her head, she could hear nothing. Then the princess pointed to the spindle and made the old woman understand that she wanted to try if she could work it. So Goodie nodded and laughed, and got up from her seat, and the princess sat down and took the spindle in her hand. But no sooner did she touch it than she pricked the palm of her hand with a point, and sank down in a swoon. Immediately a deep silence fell on all around, the little bird that only a moment before had been singing so sweetly upon the windowsill hushed his song. The distant hummer voices from the courtyard beneath ceased, even Goodie stopped short in the direction she was giving the princess, and neither moved hand nor foot towards the poor little maid, and all because she had fallen fast asleep as she stood. Below in the castle it was just the same, the king and queen who had that moment returned from their journey, and were inquiring for their daughter, fell asleep before the lady in waiting could answer them, and as to the lady herself she had begun to snore, in a ladylike manner, of course, before you could have winked your eye. The soldiers and men at arms slumbered as they stood.  Although the sun had been shining brightly when the princess took the spindle in her hand, no sooner did she prick herself with the point than deep shadows darkened the sunny rooms and gardens. It was just as though night had overtaken them, but there was no one in or near the palace to heed whether it were dark or light. This sudden darkness had been caused by a magic wood which had sprung up all around the palace and its grounds. It was at least half a mile thick, and was composed of thorns and prickly plants, through which it seemed impossible for any one to penetrate. It was so thick and high that it hid even the topmost towers of the enchanted castle, and no one outside could have dreamed that such a castle lay behind it. Well, and so the years went on and on and on, until a hundred years had passed, and the palace and the story of it were all but forgotten. And it happened that a king's son from a neighbouring country came hunting that way with his men and horses and dogs, and in the excitement of the chase he rode on and on until he became separated from his servants and attendants, and found himself in a part of the country where he had never been before. In vain he tried to retrace his steps, he only seemed to wander farther away in the wrong direction. Presently he came to a woodcutter's cottage and dismounted to ask the way. An old, old man lived in this hut, and after he had directed the princess to the best way back, the young man pointed to a thick wood ahead, and asked what lay beyond it. Then the old man told him that there was a legend that beyond the wood was an enchanted palace where a beautiful princess had lain sleeping for a hundred years and whom a prince was to awaken with a kiss. Directly the prince Florimond heard this, nothing would serve, but he must go there and see for himself if the tale were true. So he rode and he rode until he came to the edge of the wood, and there he got off his horse and began to push his way through the thorny thicket. It was hard work indeed, for the briars were so strong and so sharp that you would never believe that anyone could get past them, and they closed up behind him as he went. But he was strong and brave, and after a time the way became easier, until at last he came to the palace. There everyone was sleeping, the sentinels and soldiers in the courtyard, the cooks in the kitchen, and pages and lords and ladies and waiting in the corridors and chambers, and in the great throne room the king and queen on their golden and ivory thrones. Prince Florimond passed on, wondering more and more, till he came at length to the narrow staircase which led to the little tower in which the princess had fallen asleep. He mounted this, and then came the greatest wonder of all, the beautiful sleeping lady in her glistening white robes.  I have had such pleasant dreams. Then she sat up laughing and rubbing her eyes, and gave him her hand, and they went hand in hand together down the stairs, and along the corridors till they came to the throne room. And there were the king and queen rubbing their eyes too, and they kissed their daughter, and welcomed the prince most gladly. And all at the same time the whole palace was awake, cocks crowed, dogs barked, the cats began to mew, the spits to turn, the clocks to strike, the soldiers presented arms, the heralds blew their trumpets, the head cook boxed the little scullions ears, the butler went on drinking his half finished tankard of wine, the first lady in waiting finished winding her skein of silk. Everything, in short, went on exactly as though the spell had lasted a hundred seconds instead of years. To be sure Princess Miranda's pretty white dress was just such a one as Prince Floramon's great grandmother might have worn, but that gave them something to laugh at. And now my story is done, for I need hardly tell you that the prince and princess were married amid great rejoicings, and lived happily ever after, and that the seven fairy godmothers danced at the wedding, so all ended well, and what more could anyone wish? Section 71 The Man in the Moon Said the raggedy man on a hot afternoon, My, sakes, what a lot of mistakes some little folks makes on the man in the moon, but people that's been up to see him like me, and calls on him frequent and intimately, might drop a few hints that would interest you, clean, through, if you wanted them to, some actual facts that might interest you.  End of Section 71 The Man in the Moon, Recording by Matt Bonehoff Section 72 of Childhood Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a LibriBox Recording. All LibriBox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriBox.org. Recording by Ralph Snelson. Childhoods Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors.  I'm glad I'm not a hot and taut, but if I were with outward callum, I'd either faint upon the spot, or high me up a leafy halem. The shammy is the beast to hunt, he's fleeter than the wind, and when the shammy is in front, the hunter is behind. The tyrolese make famous cheese and hunt the shammy or the chasms. I'd choose the former, if you please, for precipices give me spasms. The polar bear will make a rug almost as white as snow, but if he gets you in his hug, he rarely lets you go. And polar ice looks very nice, with all the colors of a prism, but if you'll follow my advice, stay home and learn your catechism. End of section 72. Section 73 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Matt Bonhoff. Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. By various authors. Section 73. Limericks. There was an old man in a tree, who was horribly bored by a bee. When they said, does it buzz, he replied, yes it does, it's a regular brew to the bee.  When she said, let me out, he exclaimed, without doubt you will pass all your life in that box. There was an old man who said how, shall I flee from this horrible cow. I will sit on this style and continue to smile, which may soften the heart of that cow. There was an old man who said, hush, I perceive a young bird in this bush. When they said, is it small, he said no, not at all, it is four times as big as the bush. There was once an old man with a beard, who said it is just as I feared. Two owls and a hen, four larks and a wren have all built their nests in my beard. There was an old person of wear, who rode on the back of a bear. When they said, does it trot, he said, certainly not, it's a mobsick and flopsick and bear. There was a young lady in blue, who said, is it you, is it you? When they said, yes it is, she replied only wheeze. That ungracious young lady in blue. End of section 73, Limericks, recording by Matt Von Ha. Section 74 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Johnny J. T. Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors. Section 74. More Limericks. Number one by Rudyard Kipling.  When they said, are you frizz? He replied, yes I is, but we don't call this cold in Quebec. Number two by Anonymous. There was a young lady of Niger, who smiled as she rode on a tiger. They came back from their ride with the lady inside, and the smile on the face of the tiger. There was a young maid who said, why can't I look in my ear with my eye? If I give my mind to it, I'm sure I can do it. He never can't tell till you try. End of section 74, More Limericks. This recording by Johnny J. T. is in the public domain. Section 75 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Alana Jordan. Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors. Section 75. The Dead Doll. You'd needn't be trying to comfort me.  There's no use in saying she isn't with a crack like that in her head.   And I guess you must think I'm a baby when you say you can mend it with glue. As if I didn't know better than that. Why, just suppose it was you. You might make her look all mended. What do I care for looks? Why, glues for chairs and tables and toys in the backs of books. My dolly, my own little doller. But oh, it's the awfulest crack. It just makes me sick to think of the sound when her poor head went whack. Against that horrible brass thing that holds up the little shelf. Now, nursey, what makes you remind me? I know that I did it myself. I think you must be crazy.  What good would forty heads do her?  And to think I hadn't quite finished her elegant new spring hat. And I took a ribbon of hers last night to tie on that horrid cat. When my mama gave me that ribbon, I was playing out in the yard. She said to me most expressly, here's a ribbon for Hildegard. And I went and I put it on Tabby, and Hildegard saw me do it. But I said to myself, oh, never mind. I don't believe she knew it. But I know she knew it now. And I just believe I do. That her poor little heart was broken.  Oh, my baby, my little baby, I wish my head had been hit. For I've hit it over and over. And it hasn't cracked a bit. But since the darling is dead, she'll want to be buried, of course.  And I'll walk behind and cry. And we'll put her in this, you see, this dear little box. And we'll bury her there, out under the maple tree. And Papa will make me a tombstone like the one he made for my bird. And he'll put what I tell him on it. Yes, every single word. I shall say, here lies Hildegard, a beautiful doll who is dead. She died of a broken heart and a dreadful crack in her head. Margaret Vandergrift. End of section 75. Recording by Elana Jordan, also known as SuburbanMom at YouTube.com. Section 76 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a lever box recording. All lever box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit leverbox.org. Recording by K. L. A. K., Childhood's Favorite and Fairy Stories by various authors, section 76. Little Things. Described to Joliet A. F. Carney. Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land. Thus the little moments, humble though they be, make the mighty ages of eternity. Thus our little errors lead the soul away from the path of virtue, off and sin to stray. Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, make our earth and Eden like the heaven above. End of section 76, Little Things. This recording read by K. L. K. is in the public domain. Section 77 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a lever box recording. All lever box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit leverbox.org. Recording by Ralph Snelson. Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors, section 77. The Golden Rule. To do to others as I would that they should do to me will make me gentle, kind and good, as children ought to be. End of section 77. Section 78 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a lever box recording. All lever box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit leverbox.org. Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors, section 78. Do the best you can. If I was a cobbler it should be my pride the best of all cobblers to be. If I was a tinker no tinker beside should mend an old kettle like me. End of section 78. Section 79 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a lever box recording. All lever box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit leverbox.org. The Voice of Spring. I am coming. I am coming. Hark! The little bee is humming. See the lark is soaring high in the blue and sunny sky and the gnats are on the wing, wheeling round in airy ring. See the yellow catkins cover all the slender willows over and on the banks of mossy green star-like primrose is a scene and their clustering leaves below white and purple violets grow. Hark! The newborn lambs are bleeding and the coring looks are meeting and the elms a noisy crowd all the birds are singing loud and the first white butterfly in the sunshine dances by.  End of section 79. Section 80 of Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories. This is a LibreVox recording. All LibreVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibreVox.org. Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories by various authors. Section 80. The Lark and the Rook. Good night, Sir Rook, said a little lark. The daylight fades. It will soon be dark. I bathe my wings in the sun's last rays. I've sunned my hymn to the parting day. So now I haste to my quiet nook and yawn dewy meadow. Good night, Sir Rook. Good night, poor lark, said his titled friend, with a haughty toss and a distant bend. I also go to my rest profound but not to sleep on the cold damp ground. The fittest place for a bird like me is the topmost bow of yon tall pine-tree.   I trod the park with the princely air. I filled my crop with the richest fair.  The sun shone forth on my ebb and wing. I looked and wondered, Good night, poor thing. Good night once more, said the lark's sweet voice. I see no cause to repent my choice. You built your nest in the lofty pine, but is your slumber more sweet than mine? You make more noise in the world than I, but whose is the sweeter minstrelsy? End of Section 80. Over the river and through the wood, to grandfather's house we go, the horse knows the way to carry the sleigh through the white and drifted snow. Over the river and through the wood, oh, how the wind does blow! It stings the toes and bites the nose as over the ground we go. Over the river and through the wood to have a first-rate play. Here are the bells ring, ting a ling ding, hurrah for thanksgiving day. Over the river and through the wood, trot fast my dapple gray, spring over the ground like a hunting hound, for this is thanksgiving day. Over the river and through the wood and straight through the barnyard gate we seem to go extremely slow. It is so hard to wait. Over the river and through the wood, now grandmother's cap I spy. Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done? Hurrah for the pumpkin pie. End of section 81. Section 82 of Childhood's Favourites and Fairy Stories. This is a LibriVox recording. Old LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. The Magpie's Nest. A fable. When the arts and their infancy were, in a fable of old it's expressed, a wise Magpie constructed that rare little house for young birds called a nest. This was talk of the whole country round. You might hear it on every Baal song. Now no longer upon the rough ground will fond mothers brood over their young. For the Magpie with exquisite skill has invented a moss-covered cell within which a whole family will in the utmost security dwell. End of section 82. The Magpie's Nest. Recording by Russ Clement. Section 83 of Childhood's Favourites and Fairy Stories. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Childhood's Favourites and Fairy Stories by various authors. Section 83. The Fairies of the Calden Low. A Midsummer Legend. And where have you been my Mary? And where have you been from me? I have been to the top of the Calden Low. The Midsummer Night to see. And what did you see my Mary? All up on the Calden Low. I saw the glad sunshine come down. And I saw the merry winds blow. And what did you hear my Mary? All up on the Calden Hill. I heard the drops of the water made. And the ears of green corn fell. Oh tell me all my Mary. All that ever you know. For you must have seen the fairies last night on the Calden Low. Then take me on your knee mother. And listen mother of mine. A hundred fairies danced last night. And the harpers they were nine. And their harp strings rung so merrily to their dancing feet so small. But oh the words of their talking were merry your far than all. And what were the words my Mary? That then you heard them say. I'll tell you all my mother. But let me have my way. Some of them played with the water and rolled it down the hill. And this they said shall speedily turn the poor old miller's mill. For there has been no water ever since the first of May. And a busy man will the miller be at dawning of the day.  The jolly old miller how he will laugh till tears fill both his eyes. And someday seized the little winds that sounded over the hill. And each put a horn into his mouth and blew both loud and shrill. And there they said the merry winds go away from every horn. And they shall clear the mildew dank from the blind old widow's corn. Oh the poor blind widow though she has been blind so long. She'll be blight enough when the mildew's gone and the corn stands tall and strong. And some they brought the brown lint seed and flung it down from the low. And this they said by sunrise in the weaver's croft shall grow.  And then out spoke a brownie with a long beard on his chin. I have spun up all the toe said he and I want some more to spin.  With that I could not help but laugh and I laughed out loud and free. And then on top of the caldon low there was no one left but me. And on the top of the caldon low the mist were cold and gray. And nothing I saw but the mossy stones that round about me lay. But coming down from the hilltop I heard a far below how busy the jolly miller was and how the wheel did go. And I peeped into the widow's field and sure enough we're seeing the yellow ears of the mildewed corn all standing stout and green. And down by the weaver'scroft I stole to see if the flax were sprung and I met the weaver at his gate with the good news on his tongue. Now this is all I heard mother and all that I did see. So pretty make my bed mother for I'm tired or it can be by Mary Howard. End of section 83. Section 84 of Childhood's Favourites and Fairy Stories This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Porick. Childhood's Favourites and Fairy Stories by various authors. Section 84. The Land of Storybooks At evening when the lamp is lit around the fire my parents sit. They sit at home and talk and sing and do not play it anything. Now with my little gun I crawl all in the dark along the wall and follow round the forest track away behind the sofa back. There in the night where none can spy all in my hunter's camp I lie and play at books that I have read till it is time to go to bed. These are the hills. These are the woods. These are my starry solitudes. And there the river by whose brink the roaring lions come to drink. I see the others far away as if in farlet camp they lay and I like to an Indian scout around their party prowled about. So when my nurse comes in for me home I return across the sea and go to bed with backward looks at my dear Land of Storybooks. Robert Louis Stevenson. End of Section 84. Recording by Porick. Section 85 of Childhood's Favourites and Fairy Stories. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Chris C. Childhood's Favourites and Fairy Stories by various authors. Section 85. A visit from St. Nicholas. Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house not a creature was steering not even a mouse the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sheer plums danced in their heads and mama and her kerchief and I and my cap had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breath of the new fallen snow gave a luster of midday to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer with a little old driver so lively and quick I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.  Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen on Comet, on Cupid, on Dundur and Blitzen to the top of the porch to the top of the wall. Now Dashaway, Dashaway, Dashaway all as dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the house top the corsairs they flew with a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too and then in a twinkling I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof as I drew in my head and was turning around down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.