THE 
CHILDBEN’S HOUE. 
BY 
E. W. S. AND S. W. M. 
Between the dark and the daylight, 
When the night is beginning to lower, 
Comes a pause in the day’s occupations, 
That is known as the Children’s Hour. 
PHILADELPHIA: 
PUBLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SANITARY COMMISSION. 
1864. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by 
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., 
in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern 
District of Pennsylvania. 
Stereotyped by 
J. FAGAN & SON. 
Printed bt 
LIPPINCOTT & CO. PREFACE. 
Many and many an autumn 
Its changing leaves had shed, 
Where, thick on hill and valley, 
Calm sleep our loyal dead; 
And where the cannon thundered, 
And deepest lay the slain, 
Tall orchards blushed with fruitage, 
And yellow waved the grain. 
For fifty harvest summers, 
From South to North had swept 
In zones of gracious plenty, 
Since death one harvest kept, 
Which took with hand unsparing 
Our bravest and our best, 
And left us law and order, 
And peace, and hope, and rest. 
Beneath a bending willow, 
Which was young in sixty-four, 
A group of children gathered 
About a cottage door. 
III iv 
PREFACE. 
And in their midst a soldier 
Sat, scarred, and bent, and gray, 
And told them tales of battles, 
And charge, and scout, and fray. % 
At last a little maiden 
Beside him, bending low, 
Said, “Grandpapa, in that old time, 
So very long ago, 
Did they have folk like fairies, 
And genii good and true ? 
Or did they only kill and slay, 
And only fighting do?” 
“Ah, no!” the soldier answered, 
And shook his locks so gray,— 
“There was a Genius, grand and good, 
In that old fighting day. 
He had a greedy hand to get, 
And lavish hands to give; 
So much he got, so much he gave, 
You’d wonder he could live; 
For all the good folk in the land 
Did try to keep him rich; 
But, bless me, ’twas no use at all,— 
He might have been a witch, 
So fast he made the money fly,— 
So quickly through the land PREFACE. 
V 
He scattered wide the royal gifts 
That filled his craving hand. 
By day and night, by field and flood, 
Where dying soldiers lay, 
He knelt beside their sleepless beds, 
To charm their pains away. 
Men blessed him in a thousand camps, 
From Florida to Maine, 
Where’er his loving bounty fell, 
As sweet as summer rain; 
For, like God’s summer rain, that falls 
Where weed or grain may grow, 
His tender fingers healed alike 
The wounds of friend and foe. 
Amid the storm of shot and shell, 
And face to face with death, 
The wounded soldier, crushed and torn, 
Blessed him with dying breath. 
Oh! sweetest task, like Christopher 
Without a thought of pride, 
To bear the Christ of charity 
Through battle’s reddest tide.” 
“But, grandpapa,” the maiden said, 
“He was so very good, 
Did he know everything on earth, 
As all good genii should?” VI 
PREFACE. 
“Oh, Birdie,” said the soldier gray, 
“He had some books so grand, 
Writ full of all the soldiers’ names 
That fought throughout the land, 
And wives, and fathers, many a one, 
Came oft to have a look, 
And get some news of those they loved, 
All writ in his big book. 
The folks at home called him big names 
You wouldn’t like to spell; 
We soldiers called him old San. Com. 
And liked him mighty well.” 
The little maiden laughed aloud, 
And shook her shining head: 
“There were no fairies in your tale,— 
’Twas very short,” she said. 
March, 1864. CONTENTS. 
Preface, iii 
The Curly Fish, 9 
Bun, the Squirrel, 44 
The Bird and the Field Mouse, . . . .48 
The Wolf that Wanted a Doctor, . . .51 
Little Bobby Redbreast, 60 
To-Morrow’ll be Christmas, . . . .65 
Old Wine in a New Bottle, . . . .70 
Naughty Harry, 79 
Harry’s Birth-day, 82 
Real Magic, 88 
Careless Sophia, 98 
Tommy’s Trials, 108 
Little Mabel, 116 
The Tale of the Great Giant, Smokey Pokey, . 123 
VII THE CHILDREN’S HOUR. 
THE CURLY FISH. 
Once upon a time, there lived in Upper Persia a 
great king, called, in the language of his realm, El 
Knobb, or the Mighty. In despite of golden palaces 
and gardens populous with roses, the Caliph El Knobb 
was the most unhappy of men, because, with every 
other blessing, Allah had failed to grant to his old age 
the kindly gift of children. At last, one fine morning, 
the Caliph became the happy father of twin princes. 
Their birth was announced with sound of trumpet and 
cymbals, and all the wise men of the empire consulted 
the stars as to the future career of the little strangers. 
It was wonderful how long it took the Magi to do their 
small sums in astrology; one would really have con- 
cluded that they worked by the day. At last, when 
the larger part of these wise old men had contracted 
9 10 
THE CURLY FISH. 
severe indigestions with the Caliph’s good dinners, a 
day was fixed; and the Muftis, and Bismillahs, and 
Bashful Bazooks, and other great folk, came to hear. 
The throne was placed in the great hall of the palace; 
and the astrologers, fat with star-gazing, and all the 
officers and guards, stood up on either side. In the 
distance were the common folks, who kept up such a 
wonderful thumping of their heads on the floor, by way 
of reverence, that it sounded like a regiment of soldiers 
tumbling down stairs. 
At last the gongs sounded, and twelve slaves entered 
the hall conveying a great shield of gold; upon this 
stood four huge negroes clad in scarlet, and bearing aloft 
the ivory cradles of the young princes. On a sudden, 
the negroes leaped down with great agility, never so 
much as shaking the precious weights which they carried. 
The cradles were set at the foot of the throne, and Abou 
Ben Muff, the chief magician, having bumped his head 
on the floor many times in token of reverence, began to 
unroll the decree of the fates. 
Abou Ben Muff was an astrologer of wondrous note. 
He was tall and of goodly frame, and had a beard so 
long that the middle of its length was tucked into his THE CURLY FISH. 
11 
slippers, and the ends were carried over the arms of 
pages who never came nearer him than ten feet. His 
eyebrows were curled about his ears, and his nose was 
hooked like the scimitar of Mahomet. Having cleared 
his throat seven times, Ben Muff began : “0 most potent 
Lord! Knobbiest of Knobby, and scourge of unbelievers! 
Allah has sent thee children, and lo, we have read their 
fate in the stars wherewith Allah has sown the furrows 
of heaven. On the first night of our watch, we saw in 
the sky signs and wonders. By these, we read that 
Allah will soon take back his gifts,—thy children will die 
young.” 
Then arose a wail and a tumult. The Bashful 
Bazooks bellowed, aqd the Caliph swore high Persian, 
the people groaned, and the two little babies squealed. 
At last order was restored, and the Caliph arose with a 
troubled and sorrowful look. “ 0, Allah!” said he, “ so mean 
a thing as the grass springs, waves green in the wind of 
summer, and is gathered in its due season. The grain 
that you send us is fruitful ere it dies; it cannot be that 
I shall lose my children before they have grown into the 
ripe fruit of useful deeds. Woe is me! how can these 
things be ? Send me, 0 Allah, better counsel.” With 12 
THE CURLY FISH. 
this the Caliph and all the people bowed down in prayer 
to Allah. Suddenly a fearful roar of thunder shook the 
palace; at the far end of the great hall the people swayed 
to and fro, and at last huddled into groups against the 
walls. Then were seen in the centre of the hall two 
majestic giants, clad in flowing robes of cloudy lightness. 
With steps that sounded like the crash of the doors of 
paradise when they close against the sinful, and with 
eyes like flaming sapphires, and heads erect, they strode 
towards the Caliph’s throne. They paused beside the 
cradles of the young princes, who lay hushed for very 
fear. All was silent, no one moved. At length, one 
of the strangers said, “Speak!” and at his voice the 
walls trembled, and the plumes on the soldiers’ casques 
shook as with the blast of the north wind. “ Speak!” 
echoed the second giant. “ You have asked for counsel 
from Allah, and lo, we are here.” With this the Ca- 
liph took courage, “ Allah, il Allah,” said he, “ send us 
thy wisdom. Will my children die in their youth?” 
“ No,” said the giants, and with that the two tall figures 
knelt down beside the princes. Then each drew from 
his girdle a bright arrow which he laid upon the breast 
of one of the twins. As the giants rose up their knee- THE CURLY FISH. 
13 
joints cracked like the sound of breaking palm-trees, and 
with awful steps they walked together down the hall. In 
a moment they were gone, no man knew how or where. 
When the Caliph recovered from his great wonder a 
little, he went down from his throne, and with a trem- 
bling hand, lifted the arrows from the bosoms of the 
twins. Upon the one which was of silver, he read 
deeply graven, El Starr. On the other, which was of 
clear crystal, El Meteor was written. “ Lo!” said he, 
“these be the names which Allah hath given my chil- 
dren, but who shall read the riddle ? The arrow of El 
Meteor is keen and bright, and plumed with golden 
feathers. The arrow of El Starr is also sharp, but has 
no feathers on the shaft.” “ Give me a bow,” said a 
young magician to the Caliph, “ I will read the riddle 
of Allah.” “It is well,” said the Caliph; “a bow.” 
With that the young man ordered the hall to be cleared, 
and seizing the plumed and crystal arrow of El Meteor, 
fitted it to the bow-string. “ Most noble Caliph;” said 
he, as he raised the bow, “ I will aim at yonder pillar.” 
Upon this he drew the bow to its utmost arc, and like 
a line of light the arrow flashed through the parted air, 
and true of aim struck the pillar fair in the middle; but 14 
THE CURLY FISH. 
with a sudden crash the fragile weapon broke upon the 
hard wood, and fell in a thousand splinters on the marble 
floor. “ It is well,” said the magician, as he placed the 
arrow El Starr upon the bow, and once more drew the 
string. With a crooked leap the featherless shaft quitted 
the string. Whiz ! it flew up against the ceiling; bang! 
it came down upon the gouty toes of the great Abou Ben 
Muff, and at last with an awkward jump fell at the feet 
of the Caliph. “ I see,” said the Caliph, as it fell, “ great 
is Allah. Keen, swift, well-aimed, and fragile. Tough, 
sharp, aimless, and lucky: such shall my children be, 
Allah, il Allah.” He at once ordered the head magician 
to be choked with his own long beard, and promoted the 
wise young soothsayer to the place of head astrologer. 
The years fled away, men forgot the strange genii, and 
the royal twins grew up into stately young men. 
They were both tall and strong, but it was El Starr 
who best knew the Koran, it was El Meteor who threw 
the lance with most unerring aim. 
El Meteor was noted far and wide for his courage in 
the chase, and for the headlong and thoughtless ardour 
with which he plunged into danger. His brother, on 
the other hand, was of a wavering nature, ever doubtful THE CURLY FISH. 
15 
of success, and therefore ever unsuccessful in his pursuits, 
yet he was of so kindly a nature that to be with him 
was an endless lesson in goodness and honor. So 
gentle was he, indeed, that by some men he was thought 
to be wanting in courage. Now it so happened that 
Abou Ben Muff was yet alive, although he had been 
condemned by the lips of the Caliph himself. When 
the executioner was about to tie his long beard about 
his neck the wily old fox gave the long hair a jerk, and 
the whole huge forest of beard, whiskers, and moustaches 
came off: “ Lo,” said he, “ it is false; how can I now be 
strangled with my own beard ?” The case was so plain 
that the astrologer escaped the fate that had awaited 
him. Yery soon he regained his place in the Caliph’s 
favor, and lost no chance of poisoning the Caliph’s 
mind against the young princes, and chiefly against El 
Starr, who had been heard to assert that Astrology was 
a humbug, and of no possible value. When the twins 
were just twenty-one years old, the empire of El Knobb 
was suddenly invaded by a great army, composed of two 
populous tribes called the Kurds and Wheys. It seemed 
that the king of these tribes had a daughter of such mar- 
vellous beauty, that the flowers grew ashamed of them- 16 
THE CURLY FISH. 
selves as she passed, and the stars of heaven sung hymns 
in her praise. From neighbouring kingdoms and from 
lands beyond the sea great lords and princes came to 
woo her. Their sails of silk, and their ships with golden 
cordage, crowded every port in her father’s realm, so 
that men ceased to say Allah, il Allah, and began to 
swear by the eyes of Elula, the Beautiful. Among her 
lovers was the young prince El Meteor; every week 
he visited her father’s palace, and urged his suit with 
all the ardor of his nature; nothing so much angered 
him as the presence of other suitors. Seventeen of 
them he slew in single combats; and one fine night he 
attacked their ships as they lay at anchor, and ruth- 
lessly burned them up, silk sails, golden rigging, sailors, 
and cooks. Swiftly then he sailed away under cover 
of the darkness, and the king of the Kurds and Wheys 
had nothing to do but to growl and smoke his chibouque, 
for nobody knew who had done it. 
Before long, however, El Muff came to know of it, 
so he tucked up his robe and repaired to the study of 
the other twin, El Starr. “High and Mighty Prince,” 
said the magician, “ I am here to serve you. Do you 
not know that it was your brother El Meteor who THE CURLY FISH. 
17 
burned up the ships of the princes who came to woo 
Elula?” “It is so,” said the Prince, for he had thought 
as much. “And do you not see,” continued the star- 
gazer, “that any one who will tell this to the king of 
Kurd will ruin El Meteor’s hopes of the princess ?” “It 
is so,” cried El Starr. “Suppose,” added the astrologer, 
“ that you were to do this, would it not be a good way 
to win the princess yourself?” “IIo!” said El Starr, 
in great wrath, “ Begone!” and with this he seized a 
stick, and pursued Abou Ben Muff until he lost sight 
of him in the palace gardens. 
Shortly after this attempt to make mischief, El Starr 
warned his brother of the astrologer’s wicked plots, and 
so the affair blew over for a while. When the astrologer 
found that his efforts to cause evil blood between the 
twins had failed, he took care to make things as bad as 
he could by telling the king of Kurd who had burned the 
ships of his daughters’ suitors. Very naturally the king 
cursed in Kurdish, and El Meteor was forbidden to visit 
Elula on pain of death. No sooner did El Meteor re- 
ceive the news, than he raged like an angry hornet, and, 
calling for his horse, went fiercely away to the chase. 
The first day he did nothing but vow vengeance; but 18 
THE CURLY FISH. 
on the second, he killed eleven hippopotami, a young 
dromedary, and four lions, which so comforted him that 
he returned home in rather a pleasant humor. “Bis- 
millah,” said he, as he rode along, “ Allah has made an 
abundance of women; why should we mourn ?” Per- 
haps if the princess had returned his love he would 
have been less easily pleased. 
One fine morning not long after this, the princess 
Elula walked with her maids on the banks of the river 
which lay between the land of Kurd, and that of El 
Knobb. Like a fleet of fairy ships the purple and silver 
lily flowers floated by thousands on the water. “ These be 
shells that swim,” said Elula; “ let us wade in and gather 
them.” Her attendants begged her not to do so ; but 
the princess was wilful, and would have it that she must 
wade into the water without in the least heeding their 
words, or caring for her clothes, which were every one 
of them made in Paris. “ It is great fun,” said the girls 
who were with her, and so their white feet twinkled clear 
in the water, and trod on pebbles which actually rolled 
about in delight. “ Isn’t it nice ?” laughed the girls, and 
they waded in yet further and further, while seven 
old ladies whom they had left on shore were seized with THE CURLY FISH. 
19 
hysterics fearful to see. “Come, come,” said Elula, 
“ here be the cities of lilies.” Suddenly a cry of fear 
arose in place of mirth. From beneath a thick grove 
near by, on the margin of the stream, a black boat shot 
out into the river. On the bow, a fiery eye glared red 
on the princess, and in the stern an ugly humped-back 
dwarf sat in silence. Like a swift javelin thrown by 
unseen hand, without sail or oar it shot towards the 
princess; beside her the boat stopped, dashing foam upon 
her as she stood. “ Come! thou art mine,” cried the 
dwarf. “ Never! Allah, help me!” screamed the prin- 
cess. At the name of Allah, the dwarf scowled so 
darkly that the waves whereon his image fell flashed 
into a foam of fright. “ Allah ! Allah !” cried the lady, 
for she knew that so long as she called on Allah, the 
dwarf could not touch her. “ Allah !” cried she, pant- 
ing with fear, while the fishes nibbled and kissed her 
little white toes. “ Bosh!” said the dwarf, and on a 
sudden dashed such a handful of water in her face, that 
presently she talked nothing but mouthfuls of water, 
and could cry Allah no longer. Then with a yell, the 
dwarf seized her by the hands and drew her into his 
boat. At once the red eye on the prow glared redder, 20 
THE CURLY FISH. 
the boat almost sprung through the water, and the foam 
was dashed up so high before the cleaving prow, that it 
hung one constant arch of light above the boat, and 
fell in crystal drops far astern upon its snowy wake. 
No eagle’s flight is swifter; on and on, beyond the 
lilies, around the farthest hill, into the sunset, lost, lost, 
lost! Before the last ripple broke on the bank, seven 
and twenty maids of honor fainted. Six old nurses 
stabbed themselves with their scissors, and all the rest 
yelled murder in fine contralto voices. Who shall de- 
scribe the wrath of the King of Kurds! Troops of 
horsemen swept wildly along the river-banks, swift 
caiques fled arrowy across its bosom. Every thicket 
was searched, every house opened, and the newspapers 
were allowed to print nothing which did not begin with 
“ Lost, strayed, or stolen.” All was vain, the court went 
into mourning; and the maids of honor, having told 
all that they knew of the matter, were condemned to 
hold their tongues forever after, on pain of death. Be- 
sides this cruel punishment, all the old women in the 
harem were forbidden to knit from that day forward, 
and shopping of every kind was positively prohibited. 
Still the king was unsatisfied, and remembering how THE CURLY FISH. 
21 
Ben Muff had befriended him, with regard to the matter 
of the burned ships, he sent for that illustrious old sooth- 
sayer. “Good,” said Abou Ben Muff, as he read the 
letter, which was handed to him by a trusty messenger. 
“I will attend his highness.” That night, at a late 
hour, he wrapped himself in his cloak, and pulling 
his turban over his brow, stole into the sleeping- 
chamber of the young prince, El Meteor. With a care- 
ful hand the astrologer took the prince’s .sword from 
beside his bed, and rolling it in the folds of his cloak, 
crept silently out of the palace. With rapid steps he 
gained his horse, which was tied near by, and throwing 
himself into the saddle, galloped away through the 
darkness. For six hours he urged his rapid course, 
until he saw with joy the bright waves of the river 
shining in the moonlight. In a moment he stood upon 
the shore. With El Meteor’s sword-point he drew a 
circle on the sand, and, bowing his head, he muttered 
some mystical words. A fierce rushing sound was heard, 
a red point of growing light was seen in the distance; 
near and more near it came, until the red eye of the 
dwarf’s boat glared wildly on the wet sand at the feet 
of the soothsayer. “ It is well,” said he, and stepped 22 
THE CURLY FISH. 
into the little vessel. Whiz! and away it flew, the 
dwarf in silence scowling on the water, ■ his master 
standing erect and calm upon the prow. Midway on 
their course, Abou Ben Muff lifted the scimitar of El 
Meteor, and with a vigorous cast, threw it far away into 
the channel of the river. The bright rubies on its 
handle glittered in the soft pale light, and with a grace- 
ful curve the trusty weapon sunk into the stream. Be- 
fore the day was over, Ben Muff presented himself at 
the throne of the Kurdish king. The king without 
delay told him of his desire to gain some knowledge as to 
the wretch who had made away with the princess. “ She 
is gone,” said the astrologer; “ you will see the maiden 
no more.” “Woe is me!” cried the Kurd; “who is it 
that has taken from me the joy of my age?” “Who 
shall say ?” answered Ben Muff. “ I know not; why 
should you believe the lying tongues of your harem ? 
Doubtless the maiden is drowned, and, to save their 
necks from the bow-string, her women have sought 
to hide her fate.” “ But what to do ?” said the king. 
“ Search the river,” said Ben Muff. The king was not 
very well pleased with the answer; but hiding his cha- THE CURLY FISH. 
23 
grin, he loaded the astrologer with gifts, and so sent 
him away rejoicing. 
Before a week had passed, the humane society of the 
Kurds and Wheys had raked the river from mountain 
to sea. Four dead camels were the sole proceeds. Upon 
this the king sent word to Ben Muff that he was noth- 
ing more nor less than a cheat, and only wished he might 
just lay his hands on him. “Look again,” was the only 
reply the astrologer deigned to make. “Allah, il Allah,” 
said the king, and one hundred thousand men dug a 
new channel, and for fifty Persian miles they turned the 
tortured river from its bed. At last a lucky workman 
found the bright sword of El Meteor. It was sent to 
the king, “Is this all?” cried he. “We have found,” 
said the officers, “eleven more dead camels, six sheep, 
plenty of fish, and this scimitar.” “We have doubled 
the national debt,” said the king, “ and got some dead 
cattle, and an old blade.” With that he drew the sword 
from its jewelled sheath, and on the blade was written, 
“ I am the slave of the Prince El Meteor.” 
“ By Mahmoud! the star-gazer hath brilliant coun- 
sels,” said the king; “not content with burning the 
ships of my guests, this young rascal has stolen my 24 
THE CURLY FISH. 
daughter. So with horse and foot the king of Kurds 
invaded the hapless land of El Knobb. In vain, the 
Caliph protested, and El Meteor swore that he had not 
set eyes on the princess for a year at least. 
The king would believe no one, and the astrologer 
chuckled, while blazing villages marked the path of the 
invading army. 
Meanwhile El Meteor raised a great force, and with 
his brother went out to do battle with the angry Kurds 
and Wheys. What between El Meteor’s rash courage, 
and the wavering temper of El Starr, they lost seventeen 
pitched battles, and their line army was brought down 
to a mere handful of men. With these, they retreated 
into the hills, carrying away with them the old Caliph, 
and leaving the Kurds in possession of the Capitol. 
El Meteor, almost sick with rage, sallied out upon the 
foe from the mountain fastnesses, now by day, now by 
night, so that they began to find their conquest no very 
easy possession. 
One day, however, Abou Ben Muff sent early news 
of a projected sortie to the king of the Kurds. Accord- 
ingly, an ambush was laid, and the young princes were 
surrounded by an overwhelming force. El Starr was as THE CURLY FISH. 
usual undecided as to what should be done,—at one 
minute thinking of surrender, at the next wishing to 
fight to the death. El Meteor cut short the parley by cry- 
ing his war cry, and plunging headlong on the enemy. 
Like a great sea that closes over a sinking ship the 
waves of battle closed upon the brothers. Now up, now 
down, a thousand crooked scimitars waved and flashed 
around them. Night came on, and still faint and weary, 
entrenched behind the growing heap of dead, they fought 
despairing. At last, it \#as over, and the quiet little stars 
throbbed with sweet pity, as they looked down upon the 
desolate battle-plain. By and bye, a single wounded 
wretch dragged himself out from the sickening mass of 
hacked and bleeding men. It was the prince El Starr. 
“Woe, woe,” wailed the wounded prince, “woe is me, 
oh, brother!” At a rivulet near by, El Starr slaked his 
burning thirst; and having ' cleansed the clotted blood 
from his many wounds, began to turn over wearily the 
pile of death. At last the pale face of *E1 Meteor was 
seen by the prince. He was lying by himself, and on 
his bosom rested the shattered fragment of a crystal 
arrow. Sadly El Starr drew the body into a thicket 
near by, and covering it over with big palm leaves, 26 
THE CURLY FISH. 
took the sword of the dead man, and, leaning on its 
handle, staggered faintly and mournfully up the moun- 
tain pass. The news of his son’s death sadly affected 
the old Caliph, whose followers had all been killed, or 
else had fled away, saving only El Starr; as for Abou 
Ben Muff, he had gone over to the invader. The Caliph’s 
grief was disturbed by the sound of the Kurdish 
drums, and together the father and the son fled away 
further into the hills. At length they found refuge in 
the hut of a shepherd, and here in disguise they rested 
until the wounded prince was restored to health and 
vigour. 
One day the Caliph called his son to his side, and thus 
addressed him : “ It is plain, iny son, that until the lost 
princess he brought back to her father, we cannot hope 
for safety, and yet less for a return to our much loved 
home. I am near to death, and would not wish to die 
an exile. I have long believed that the princess wras 
spirited away by evil genii who dwell on the farther 
borders of our kingdom, in the land of A1 Mudd, or the 
Marshy. There the sun sits forever on the horizon’s 
verge, and there gigantic cranes wander in search of 
travellers, across deep morasses rarely tracked by human THE CURLY FISH. 
27 
feet. But I dread to tell you all the terrors of this fear- 
ful land. Have you the courage to seek the lost Elula ?” 
For a moment the prince paused to think, ever doubtful 
of his own prowess. At last he replied, “ I will go, but 
I fear that I shall not succeed.” u My son,” said the old 
Caliph, “ doubt is the father of failure, and the grand- 
father of disgrace. I charge you lay it aside; it has 
already proved the bane of your life. Now, as a father, 
I bid you to go.” With that, the old man kissed the 
forehead of El Starr, and placing in his girdle the sil- 
very and plumeless arrow with which the genii had fore- 
told his character, bade him adieu. “ I will go to-mor- 
row,” said El Starr. “ To-night or never,” answered 
the Caliph; “ go; and I will await your return in this 
secure and quiet retreat.” With a heavy heart the 
young prince girded on his brother’s sword, and, placing 
the Koran in his bosom, began to cross the mountain. 
Twenty days he travelled onward over huge snow-clad 
hills; many great rivers he crossed, and thus living on 
berries and roots, at last descended from the hills and 
stood on the shores of a huge ocean. All was desolate 
and barren, there was not a human home within sight. 
Before him lay only a waste of wind-worried waters. 28 
THE CURLY FISH. 
Far away he could just detect a cloudy strip of distant 
land, the wild and mysterious land of A1 Mudd. How 
was he to reach it? Full of uncertainty, he seized a 
log from the beach, proceeded to roll it into the water, 
and then, grasping one end of it, he tried doubtfully the 
depth of the shelving shore. After wading some dis- 
tance, the water came up to his neck, and his heart 
began to fail him. 
“Fool that I am!” cried he, “to think of fording the 
sea.” The doubt came too late, for the wind was blowing 
from off the land, and the unfortunate young man soon 
found himself obliged to swim. To his horror the land 
seemed to recede, and before long, he and the log, his 
sole hope, were fast drifting across the stormy surf. For 
eight long hours he held on to the mouldy trunk, and as 
night fell, and the moon rose, he saw before him the 
long low line of the enchanted land. Just as the last 
relics of strength were leaving him, his feet felt the land, 
and with a cry of joy he welcomed the huge billow that 
rolled him, crushed and bleeding, upon the sloping beach. 
How long he lay there, it were hard to say. By and by, 
however, he awakened, and drawing from his vest a 
flask of shiraz wine, he drained it to the last drop; and THE CURLY FISH. 
29 
having thus gained a little strength, got up on his 
knees, and taking out the Koran, thanked Allah for his 
saving mercy. Well may they call me “aimless and 
lucky,” said he; and thus saying, arose and began to look 
about him. It was, in truth, a fearful land. Before 
him lay one long and wide morass flecked here and there 
with pools of black and stagnant water, and patches of 
long rank grasses. Upon the far horizon sat the never- 
changing sun, an orb of fiery gold that stared through 
sullen masses of cloud, which now and then trailed long 
strips of darkness across his scarlet breadth like the 
iron-barred visor of a Frankish knight. Before the 
prince all was unutterably silent, behind him the wail- 
ing sea sobbed as it climbed unendingly the gradual 
shore. El Starr mused a little, and tightening his 
sword-belt, began cautiously to pick his steps over the 
black and oozy marsh. It was no easy task; at every 
step he plunged to the knee in the soft slime. As his 
strength failed, he sunk deeper and deeper, until at last 
he found himself waist-high and completely exhausted. 
Just then, a great shadow hid the sun, and looking to- 
wards it, he saw a sight which appalled his very soul. A 
monstrous crane, or stork, some thirty feet high, and 30 
THE CURLY FISH. 
with legs like palm-trees, was bounding over the marsh 
and rapidly nearing him. Presently, the beast saw him, 
and with a cry of delight alit beside him. 
“Well,” thought El Starr, “I had better put a good 
face on it;” so he cried out, “Halloo, there, stranger; 
help a poor fellow.” “ Boo!” said the stork, “ you are 
in a fix: come, clean yourself, I vrant to eat you;” and 
at this he hooked the prince’s neck betwixt two of his 
toes, and flirted him out on the mud with a great chi- 
plunck, like the sound of a cork coming out of a bottle. 
“You are thin,” said the stork, as he rolled El Starr 
over with his foot. “ Too thin to eat, I hope,” said the 
prince. “ I have eaten worse,” said the stork. “ Come, 
undress; I’ve no notion of digesting your clothes ; hurry 
yourself, I am almost starved.” “ You can’t eat me with- 
out salt,” cried El Starr, in perfect despair. At this moment 
the stork saw a man riding calmly over the morass. 
“ Look,” said he, “there comes the magician.” “ Who?” 
asked the prince. “ Some folks call him Ben Muff,” said 
the bird. “ He will turn you into a sheep, if he catches 
you.” “ Eat me, then,” cried the prince, “ and be done 
with it.” But the rider approached so rapidly, that the 
bird had no time for his meal; so he said, “ I’ll save you THE CURLY FISH. 
31 
up a little;” and bending down, seized El Starr, and 
whipping him under his wing, shut it down again upon 
his prisoner. 
El Starr was almost smothered; but managing to 
separate the feathers a little, he peeped through, and 
saw that the horseman was indeed our old friend Ben 
Muff. He drew rein at a short distance, and thus ad- 
dressed the stork:— 
“Well, my pet, how are you?” “Hungry!” said the 
bird, with a voice like that of a bull. “What’s the 
matter with your left wing ?” “ I’ve an indigestion,” 
answered the stork. “ I ate three babies this morning; 
they have disagreed with me.” “I always told you,” 
said Ben Muff, “ you didn’t chew your food enough; go 
to the castle now, I have a mufti there for your supper.” 
“Good,” said the bird, and instantly began to bound 
over the wet ground, with steps that measured twenty 
feet at the very least. After running thus for some 
hours, the stork came near a great flock of similar birds, 
who hailed him from a bit of dry ground near by. Our 
friend, the stork, flapped his vast wings by way of greet- 
ing, and in consequence, El Starr turned two somersets 
in mid air, and fell plump into a hospitable bed of mud, 32 
THE CURLY FISH. 
which thus broke his fall. Finding himself so happily 
forgotten, he wriggled into the marsh, and leaving his 
nose exposed, he covered one eye with a knot of grass, 
and awaited the result. After a little the stork came 
back, and took a good look for his lost dinner. Alas! 
it was gone, and the disappointed bird was forced to give 
up the search. Pretty soon he and his companions went 
away over the marsh with gigantic steps, and El Starr 
slowly crawled out of the mud, and on to the dry land 
which the birds had deserted. He soon saw that he 
was upon the only high spot of earth within view; it 
was not over a mile in breadth, and arose like an island 
above the dead level of the marshes. At the centre it 
was nearly as high as the mountains of Ming. About 
two-thirds of the way down, a rapid stream ran around 
the hill. It had no end and no beginning, and yet with 
the force of a torrent it constantly rushed onward 
through its broad and pebbly channel. El Starr soon 
climbed up to its shore, and, after some labour, succeeded 
in cleansing his face and clothes. Then seizing his sci- 
mitar, he plunged into the rapid current; so swift it was, 
that although but narrow, the prince floated a good half 
mile around the hill before he could gain the opposite THE CURLY FISH. 
33 
side. The bank was covered with a dense thicket of 
thornless roses, whose odours were so strong that El 
Starr became faint, and being moreover very weary, fell 
fast asleep. When he awoke it was night; but the red 
sun still sat on the horizon angry and crimson. Through 
the bushes he saw lights flashing, and heard such an 
awful meowing and mewing as never before was heard. 
Very cautiously El Starr dragged himself through the 
bushes, and thus coming nearer to the blaze, beheld a 
most singular sight. The mountain was belted round 
with a circle of huge watch-fires; about them were seated 
or lying innumerable cats, not one of them less than 
four feet high. Their eyes flashed in the red fire-light, 
and the most of them were hungrily gnawing the bones 
of rats and mice scarcely smaller than themselves. By 
and by, the cats fell asleep one by one, and none were 
left awake, save a solitary guard, who meowed frightfully 
at intervals. Seizing his chance, El Starr dragged him- 
self across the line, and leaving the cats behind him, 
ascended the mountain with rapid steps. The road, for 
such there was, lay over a green and grassy slope which 
was strewn with human bones. Here and there, he saw 
sheep with long fleece of floss silk. These regarded him 34 
THE CURLY FISH. 
with a curious blank look, and now and then an old ram 
would try to drive him back. 
The prince finding no greater hinderance, continued 
his march, and at last gained the summit of the mountain. 
By the dim light he saw before him a small plain, 
jewelled with a thousand pleasant flowers, and crossed 
in every direction by little streams whose softly flowing 
waters sang forever the most bewitching melodies. In 
the centre of this wonderful garden arose a little palace 
of crusted gold. It was built in the Moorish style, with 
moon-like arches, and numberless columns of porphyry 
and jasper. It was so wonderfully beautiful that the 
prince forgot his ordinary caution, and instantly ad- 
vanced to the portal. To his astonishment the vast 
ebony doors flew open before him, and with a thunder 
crash closed behind him. He now found himself in a 
hall of black marble, lighted with a multitude of ala- 
baster lamps. Perceiving no one, the prince walked on in 
no little awe, until he came to a door at the farthest end. 
It did not open like the other, and El Starr found him- 
self a captive. In vain he ran to and fro; in vain his 
hands sought for some bolt or secret spring. It was 
only too plain; El Starr, the aimless, had gotten in; El THE CURLY FISH. 
35 
Starr, the aimless, could not get out. At last, weary 
with useless trials, he sat down at the foot of a pillar, 
and awaited his certain fate. Before very long the 
young man heard a noise, and, leaping to his feet, hid 
himself behind a pillar. A light footfall was now heard, 
and a lady of the most ravishing loveliness walked by 
the hidden prince. The damsel was so exquisite, that 
the prince again forgot himself, and, springing for- 
ward, fell upon his knees at her feet. The lady started 
back in dismay; but observing the manly and noble 
features of El Starr, she subdued her terror, and thus 
addressed him:— 
“ Wretched mortal, if such you be, fly I implore you 
from this haunt of evil.” “ An hour past,” said El Starr, 
“ and I would willingly have gone; now I would wish 
to live here were it the palace of Eblis.” “Who are 
you ?” inquired the lady, not disliking the compliment. 
“ I am the prince El Starr,” he returned; “ hitherto men 
have called me the aimless, henceforth may they name 
me the blest of Allah; for surely having seen you, none 
other can be compared to me.” “ Are you, in truth, that 
same El Starr whom my cruel tyrant Abou Ben Muff, 
so earnestly hates ? fly, I pray you, or death is your fate. 36 
THE CURLY FISH. 
I am called Elulaand with this she turned her eyes 
so pleadingly upon the prince, that his whole soul 
melted in the sunlight of her glance. “Come!” cried 
he, “ let us fly together. It is you I have come to seek.” 
“ Fly!” said the princess; “ would it were possible! yet 
is there one resource. Here is an amulet; it was given 
to me by my father; useless in the hand of a woman, it 
is all powerful in the hand of a man, if he but possess 
my love ” “ Oh!” groaned the prince; “ give it to 
me.” “Ah!” said the lady; “so noble a face can but 
foretell a noble soul; I will give it to you. Men 
have called you 4 the aimless/ 4 the wavering/—know 
that this little gift will always enable you to avoid 
failure. Whenever a difficulty presents itself, place this 
upon your hand;” so saying, she held out a little fish 
made of thin leaf like tissue. “Let us question it;” 
and she laid it upon the open hand of the wondering 
prince. “ Now,” said she, “ Curly fish, curly fish, shall 
we get out ?” Instantly, the little animal began to curl 
up into the oddest possible shapes, twisting and writhing 
until it fell on the floor. “We shall,” said the princess. 
“ Good!” quoth El Starr; and no sooner did success ap- 
pear no longer doubtful, than a thousand schemes flashed THE CURLY FISH. 
37 
through his mind. “ I see/’ he cried. “ Come, the door 
at the inner end will open to you; come,” and seizing her 
hand, he walked boldly up to the portal by which she 
had entered. “Open,” said Elula, and it opened; a lofty 
room with many windows appeared. El Starr imme- 
diately opened one of these, and bidding Elula to return 
to the marble hall, he kissed her cheek, and leaped 
bravely full forty feet to the ground. Stunned but un- 
daunted, he soon reached the lofty door by which he had 
entered the palace. “ Open at once,” he cried; and, as 
before, the huge doors swung sullenly apart. Through 
this avenue of safety the nimble Elula bounded with a 
cry of delight. “ So far, so good,” said the prince, and 
he placed the magical leaf-fish on his palm. “ Shall I 
kill the cats, curly fish ?” As before, the amulet wriggled, 
and twisted, and squirmed, and twirled, and at last fell 
on the ground. Upon this, they began to descend the 
mountain. It was now broad day, and before long they 
saw the cats, who were greedily eating their breakfast. 
The prince and his sweetheart crept up as near to them 
as was possible, when suddenly El Starr drew his sci- 
mitar, and carrying the lady, sprang right in among the 
lordly pussies. “ Meyou, ow, ow,” said the biggest, as 38 
THE CURLY FISH. 
El Starr chopped off his tail. Now, in an instant, the 
lovers had reached the far side of the cat-camp, and 
pursued by ten thousand grimalkins, fled wildly down 
the hill. On they came, galloping down, with their 
backs gathered up into humps like those of the round- 
shouldered dromedaries of Abyssinia. “ Allah, save us!” 
said the princess, faintly, as they saw the swift stream 
which El Starr had crossed, wrhen climbing the hill. 
Never pausing, save to watch a moment the curly fish 
wriggle assent, without a doubt, El Starr seized Elula 
in his arms, and with a tremendous bound leaped some 
dozen feet beyond, and over the raging water. “ 0!” 
said the princess, as they rolled on the grass. “ Ha, ha!’’ 
laughed El Starr. The cats smelt the water, and would 
not go in — everybody knows that cats are very 
averse to water. Leaving the baffled cats, and the 
roaring stream behind them, El Starr and Elula peace- 
fully descended to the edge of the marshy plain. “Now,” 
said the prince, “ how shall we get over ?” “ Positively,” 
said Elula, “ I can’t walk, I’ve only my thin shoes. 
Let us ask curly fish, whether we must try it.” The 
fish was put upon El Starr’s open hand, and being ques- 
tioned, instantly doubled himself into a small bundle. THE CURLY FISH. 
39 
“ Fishy, we shall certainly sink,” said the prince; but 
the more he doubted, the more the fish wriggled, so the 
lovers at once advanced towards the marsh. As they 
turned about the corner of a dense thicket, Elula sud- 
denly seized the prince, and drawing him back, pointed 
silently towards the sleeping figure of a fat old man, 
who was snoring away like a live organ with a cold in 
its head. It was the magician Ben Muff, who, having 
finished his two bottles of shiraz wine, was dozing off 
their effects in the warm and pleasant sunshine on the 
grassy hillside. No sooner did El Starr behold his 
enemy, than he grasped his sword, determined to finish 
him, in the most effectual manner. “ No, no,” whispered 
Elula, hastily; “ steel cannot harm him. He himself has 
told me that until he is eaten alive, death cannot ap- 
proach him; therefore do not go near him: let us rather 
fly before he awakens.” “ By my father’s beard,” said 
El Starr, “if I leave him thus, may love desert me!” 
After a few moments of deep thought, the prince ex- 
claimed, “I have it! do you hide in yonder thicket, 
and if I perish in my folly, you must wait until nightfall, 
and then try to make your escape.” “ Kiss me, then,” 
said Elula; and he did. She sat down in the midst of 40 
THE CURLY FISH. 
the thickly clustered roses. El Starr now rolled up his 
sleeves, and selecting a bunch of ripe alderberries, crept 
silently alongside of Abou Ben Muff. With great care 
he squeezed the purple juice of the alders into his own 
palm, and with a knot of silk-grass painted the face of 
the astrologer. Often El Starr paused to see if Ben Muff 
still slept; but as he showed no sign of awakening, the 
prince soon succeeded in staining his face of a very fine 
purplish red. Next he removed his own cloak, and with 
it covered over the body and legs of the drunken old 
magician.' Still he slept on, and finally El Starr possessed 
himself of the sleeper’s cloak, and rapidly retreated to a 
clump of palms where the horse of Abou Ben Muff was 
quietly grazing. “ Quick!” cried the prince, and as he spoke, 
threw himself into the saddle. Then he touched the steed 
with his heel; and with a fierce and violent plunge, the 
animal snorted and set off over the morass with the speed 
of the simoon. “Good,” said the prince. In the di- 
stance were three of the huge storks who dwelt on the 
marshes. Towards these the prince rode with all pos- 
sible speed. As soon as they saw him, the monstrous 
beasts flapped their wings and shouted aloud. The 
prince gathered the magician’s red cloak about him, so THE CURLY FISH. 
41 
as to hide the lower part of his face, and thus prepared, 
drew rein beside the birds. “Well,” said he, “how are 
you, my pets ?” “ Hungry!” said all three at once; 
“ What’s for dinner ?” “ Not much,” said El Starr; 
“ only a black fellow, who has fallen asleep at the foot 
of the hill just below the palm-trees.” “ Great is Abou 
Ben Muff,” said the storks, and without delay, they 
began to bound over the soft ground with awful leaps, 
and outstretched necks. The prince followed as fast as 
he could; he was just in time to see one of the storks 
pick up Abou Ben Muff, and with a dextrous chuck, 
pitch him head foremost down his throat. “Murder!” 
cried the magician, as he went down with a gulp. 
“ Murder! help ! it’s a mistake.” “ Really,” said the 
bird, “you ought to have spoken before; bless me, how 
fat you are, ough!” By this time Elula was mounted 
safely behind the prince. “ Look!” she screamed. Well 
he might. As the bird bolted the last of Abou Ben Muff 
a noise like a great wind was heard, huge columns of 
dust arose, the ground shook, and in an instant marsh 
and ocean, hill and palace, storks and cats were gone. A 
bright yellow sun looked down from the upper sky, and 
before them lay waving corn-fields, orchards of olives, 42 
THE CURLY FISH. 
and fig-trees, festooned with vines, neat villages, and 
pleasant little merry streams. As the lovers rode along 
by cottage and palace, they saw no human face. The 
white milk-pans hung upon the fences as the good wife 
had left them, the churn stood in the door-way, and the 
very ovens stood half-open with their smouldering fires 
yet lazily smoking. “ This land, the magician en- 
chanted,” said Elula. On they rode, over the distant 
mountains by lake, stream, and village, until at last 
they entered the kingdom of El Knobb; and so El 
Starr brought back to the King of Kurds the daughter 
whom the dwarf had stolen. 
Let us pass over the rejoicings. “ I have given your 
father his kingdom again,” said the King of the Kurds 
one day to El Starr, as they sat over their pipes; “ what 
will you have for yourself?” El Starr kept silent. “ Well, 
well,” said the king, “ I seeand so he married the prin- 
cess to El Starr; and men ceased to call him the aimless, 
and thenceforth he was ever known as El Starr the 
Lucky. 
One day when the prince was walking with his wife, 
he began to talk about the curly fish. “ Let us question 
it,” said she, with a wicked twinkle in her eyes. “ Good!” THE CURLY FISH. 
43 
said El Starr, and he put the fish on his hand. “ Does 
she love me?” said he. The fish actually jumped. “Can 
he jump over the moon?” asked Elula. “What!” ex- 
claimed El Starr, for the fish still curled his back up. 
“ Nonsense, my dear, the thing is a humbug.” “ Ah !” 
said the princess. “ I begin to suspect,” said he. “ Do 
you, my dear ?” added the lady. “ I desire,” said the 
prince, who felt rather small — “I desire, that the sub- 
ject may never be spoken of again.” 
And as the years fled away, there grew golden- 
feathered plumage on the silver arrow of El Starr, the 
prince. 44 
BUN, THE SQUIRREL. 
BUN, THE SQUIRREL. 
There once was a squirrel, whose name was Bun, 
Very far he could leap, very fast he could run, 
He could go to the top of the tallest trees, 
And dance up there with the greatest ease; 
And extremely well this squirrel knew 
The places where acorns and chestnuts grew. 
A hickory-nut he could crack and pick, 
You could not have done it half so quick; 
And he did it, too, so very well 
That nothing was left but the empty shell. 
He had a nest in a great high tree, 
Which he thought no boys could climb to see; 
And there he lived all the winter through 
With chestnuts and acorns not a few; 
But as soon as the summer sun came out, 
You might see him playing all about, 
Leaping along from tree to tree 
As merry as ever a squirrel could he; BUN, THE SQUIRREL. 
45 
And if you had seen him, I’m sure that you 
Would have wanted to be a squirrel too. 
But once he met with a dreadful mishap,— 
One day on his tree he heard a rap, 
And then another, and more, and more, 
Till he wondered who knocked so loud at his door; 
He listened a while, and at last he thought 
He’d go out and see; but he found himself caught 
In a great long bag, and held so tight 
That he feared he should have been smothered quite; 
And then he heard the voice of a boy 
Call out to his brother, in tones of joy, 
“ Oh! Tommy, come here, see! I’ve caught one; 
’Tis a beautiful fellow: what splendid fun!” 
It might be fine fun for gay little Dick, 
But was not for Bun; he ran very quick 
Up and down the bag, and all about, 
Trying to find a place to get out; 
But Dicky held him so very fast 
He was forced to give it up at last. 
Then the two little fellows went home in great glee, 
That their brother and sisters the squirrel might see; 46 
BUN, THE SQUIRREL. 
And when from his bag Dick took him out 
The children all set up a joyful shout. 
“ What a lovely squirrel! what bright black eyes, 
Only see how cunning he looks, and wise, 
And how soft his fur is, just feel with your hand.” 
Poor Bun trembled so he could hardly stand, 
He longed to hide somewhere; but Tommy, to check 
Such a notion, had tied a long string round his neck. 
Then Dick from the children took him away, 
And said he must go in his box and stay: 
This box was made like a house with a door, 
To go in at behind, and a window before; 
’Twas a nice little house, but our poor little Bun 
Thought a hole in a tree was a much better one; 
For the fine painted door, and the roof of bright tin 
Only served to keep Bunny shut hopelessly in. 
He lived in this prison for weeks two or three; 
But a bright, merry squirrel, no longer was he. 
The children spent many an hour with their pet, 
But all Bunny thought of was, how he might get 
Outside of his box, and away to the wood; 
For, although Dick and Tom gave him everything good BUN, THE SQUIRREL. 
47 
That squirrels can eat, not a pin did he care 
For walnuts and shellbarks, while fastened up there. 
But Dick came to bring him his breakfast one day,— 
He gave him some chestnuts and hurried away, 
And, (how it could happen I scarcely can tell,) 
He neglected to fasten the door very well: 
So Bunny, in peeping and turning about, 
Spied the door open, and softly slipped out; 
Down from the table he quietly dropped, 
Out of the window, and never he stopped 
Till he reached the top branch of a splendid oak-tree,— 
Then a bright merry squirrel again was he. 
Oh, dear, how he capered and lept, and what fun 
He thought it to bask in the warm morning sun; 
To chase the soft shadows, the waving leaves threw 
On the branches gray, and to sip the dew 
Which hangs on the sharp-pointed blades of grass, 
For squirrels and birdies to drink as they pass. 
And now he lives as he used before; 
But if any one happens to knock at his door, 
No matter how loud, I am certain that he 
Will not step out to ask what the matter can be. 48 
THE BIRD AND THE MOUSE. 
THE BIRD AND THE MOUSE. 
The little bird said to the field-mouse, 
“ Come up here and play with me; 
You don’t know how pretty the world looks 
From out of a high green tree.” 
But the field-mouse replied to the birdie, 
“ I haven’t a doubt it is nice; 
But if I should fall from the branches, 
I should dash out my brains in a trice.” 
“ Oh, don’t be afraid,” said the birdie, 
“ You can sit here quite safe in our nest, 
My father will treat you politely, 
His name it is Bobin Redbreast. 
“ My mother is careful and gentle, 
She’ll see that you come to no harm, 
And let you creep under her feathers 
If you don’t feel sufficiently wrarm. THE BIRD AND THE MOUSE. 
49 
“ You can show me your coat of fine velvet, 
And I’ll show you my pretty new wings; 
My father’s songs, too, are so splendid, 
I should like you to hear how he sings.” 
But the field-mouse still made the same answer 
“You’re kind, but I really can’t come; 
Here’s this big grain of corn I must carry 
To my six little children at home. 
“We live under the root of a wheat-stalk, 
And have not a very fine view; 
But our house is quite cool in the summer, 
And warm in the winter-time too. 
“ I have to take care of my children, 
And stow all my harvest away; 
And so you may see, little birdie, 
I cannot have much time to play. 
“ And if I should pay you a visit 
Who have those fine songs and fine wings, 
I fear I should often be wishing 
That I could get such pretty things.” 50 
THE BIRD AND THE MOUSE. 
So the field-mouse took up her great corn-grain, 
And quietly trudged off alone; 
When next she passed under those branches, 
The pretty young robins had flown. THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
51 
THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
Once upon a time, there was a wolf who was growing 
old. lie had very bad teeth, and was fond of eating 
young lambs. One day when he could get no more 
tender food, he met a big ram, and, being hungry, gob- 
bled him up so greedily that one of his hard horns 
broke the wolf’s front tooth off, and gave him a dreadful 
aching, day and night. This made him so cross that he 
bit off the tails and ears of all the young wolves, until 
one of them said to him: “ Papa, why do you not go 
to the doctor and get cured.” “ Dear me, child,” said the 
wolf, “that’s a good idea;” and so saying, he started off. 
Presently, he met a great dog, whose business it was to 
guard the sheep. “Good-morning, sir,” said the wolf; 
“ do you know where a doctor lives ?” 
“ Yes,” said the dog, “ a good wolf-doctor lives yonder 
in that house; bow-wow and good-morning, I must see 
after my sheep,” and away he trotted. The wolf was 52 
THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
not fond of houses; but his tooth hurt him, and he 
walked up to the door, holding his handkerchief to his 
face. 
There were two little girls at the door who saw the 
wolf, and ran in crying aloud, “ Father! father! here’s 
a wolf.” Then the farmer who lived there, seized his 
gun, and, coming to the door, fired at the wolf; hut 
luckily for the wolf did not hurt him. The farmer’s 
gun was full of pills, but not the kind to cure toothache. 
“ I don’t like that doctor’s medicine,” said the wolf; and 
so saying, he ran away howling. 
By and bye, he met a monkey, who no sooner saw 
his bloody, fierce face, than he climbed up a tree as high 
as he could get. “ Come down,” said the wolf, “and show 
me where a doctor lives.” But the monkey only climbed 
up higher, for he was very much scared. Unluckily he 
climbed so high, that he got on a small branch which 
was too weak to bear his weight, and down he tumbled 
head over heels. No sooner had he reached the ground, 
than the wolf ran to him, and putting one foot on him, 
said sternly: “ Show me where a doctor lives, or I will 
kill you.” “ Sir,” said the monkey, “ you have only to 
cross the bridge, and take two turns to the left, and nine THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
53 
turns to the right, and seven to the left, and there you 
will find Dr. Duck, who is the best little quack in all the 
country.” “ Just so,” said the wolf; “ get up and show 
me the way, and look sharp, too, how you go, or I will 
eat you before you can say boo.” 
“ How can I get up, if my leg be broken,” answered 
the monkey. “ Get on my back,” cried the wolf, “ and 
that quickly.” 
So the monkey climbed up on his back slowly, as 
though he was hurt, and the wolf galloped off with great 
speed. Presently, the monkey tumbled off and tried to 
run away; but the wolf was too quick for him, and gave 
him such a nip that he was glad to get on his back again 
in a mighty great hurry. “I shall surely be eaten,” 
said the monkey to himself; and just then they came 
to a muddy place where the wolf had to go slowly, 
which gave the monkey time to think. So he said to 
the wolf, “did ever you try a mud-poultice for your 
toothache; my grandmother says it is a first-rate cure.” 
“ How do you use it,” said the wolf. “Oh, that is easy,” 
answered the monkey; and thus saying, he leaned over, 
and taking two handfuls of mud quickly plastered it 
right on to the two eyes of the wolf. While he was 54 
THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
jumping about half-blind, the monkey leaped off and 
climbed a tree. 
“ You, rascal,” said the wolf, il come down.” “ No, 
sir,” cried the monkey, “ not this time. Do you like 
my grandmother’s poultice for spectacles.” ‘‘Bother, 
your grandmother,” said the wolf, and started off once 
more to find a doctor. After a long journey he met a 
pig. “ Piggy-wiggy, my friend,” said the wolf, “ get 
on my back, and show me where the doctor lives.” “ Just 
over there,” replied the piggy, who was so much afraid 
that he shook all over. “ Get on my back,” said the 
wolf. “ I don’t know how to ride,” said piggy. “ If you 
don’t go on top of me, you shall go inside of me,” said 
the wolf, fiercely; “ some people like a stage better than 
horseback,” and at once swallowed the pig all but his 
tail, which stuck out of the wolf’s mouth and made him 
feel very uncomfortable, and much more ugly. About a 
mile further on, he came to a little pond, and on the 
far side he saw a sign with the words— 
Dr. Duck, Surgeon. 
“ Halloo!” cried the wolf. “ Doctor, doctor, come over 
here and cure me of my toothache, and I will give you THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
00 
a bag of gold. When the doctor heard this, he came out 
to the door, and began to laugh. “Ha, ha!” says he, 
“ here is a wolf with two tails and a toothache. What 
gave you a toothache ?” “ Oh,” said the wolf, “ I broke 
my tooth cracking nuts for my neighbour, the squir- 
rel.” Come over, quickly.” “No, sir,” answered the 
Duck, “ I won’t doctor you—I don’t like patients with 
two tails—your disease may be catching.” This made 
the wolf angry, and he ran away, saying: “ I will eat 
you up some day if I die for it.” In a few moments he 
met a long snake, who was one of his friends. When 
the snake heard his story, he said, “ I will help you.” 
So they waited all night, and early in the morning, they 
went to the pond where the doctor lived. Then the 
wolf took the end of the snake’s tail and tied it to the 
pig’s tail, which stuck out of his own mouth, and after- 
wards the snake swam under the water to the middle 
of the pond and lay quiet. “Halloo, Doctor Duck!” 
cried the wolf, “ come out here and help me.” But the 
Doctor Duck only looked from a window and laughed. 
“ Here’s nine worms for you, and a frog,” cried the wolf; 
“if you will only swim out a little way, and tell me 
what to do.” Now the Duck thought it would be no 56 
THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
harm to go just a little way, so he swam towards the 
wolf; but not very near. “ Come nearer,” said the wolf, 
“ I am old and deaf.” So then the Duck came a little 
closer, but presently, he cried aloud: “ Murder! what’s 
that, I have cramp in my toes.” For just then the 
snake, who had waited so quietly, came up from the 
bottom of the pond and seized the Duck by the leg, and 
then the wolf ran and pulled the snake’s tail, and the 
snake’s head held on to the duck, and the poor Doctor 
Duck was dragged to the land, where the wolf seized 
him. “ Now, sir,” cried the wolf, “ Tell me how to cure 
my toothache, or I will eat you.” “ Nothing will cure 
you,” answered the Duck, “ but a young chicken four 
days old.” “Very good,” said the wolf, “get me one, 
for I fear to go near to the barn-yards.” “ Well,” said 
Doctor Duck, “ let me go to get one.” “ If you let him 
go he will never come back,” cried the snake. “Yes,” 
said the wolf, “ that is trueand with that he bit off 
the Duck’s leg, saying, “ I will keep your leg here for 
you till you come back with the chick, and then you 
shall have your leg again.” “ Oh, dear,” moaned the 
Duck, and limped away on one leg. When he got to 
the barn-yard he got behind a hedge and tried to cluck THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
57 
like a hen, but it was a poor attempt, and the chicks did 
not come. While the Duck was trying, he heard a fox 
laughing at him; so he turned and said, “ Why do you 
laugh at me?” “I am laughing at your fine voice,” 
answered the Fox. “ What are you trying to do ?” “ I 
wish to catch a chick,” said the Duck, “to cure the 
wolf of a toothache; but I much fear he will eat me 
after all.” “ Oh, I will help you,” said the fox, for he 
was just then in a good humour. “I am glad,” cried 
Doctor Duck, “ and what a pity to have to give a poor 
little woolly chick to that wicked wolf; but I suppose I 
must, for he has bitten my leg off and will not give it 
to me until he gets a chick.” “A good joke,” cried 
foxy; “ but we will fix him; you have only to follow 
my advice and all will be well.” So saying, he went to 
his house and brought out a clock. “Now,” said the fox, 
“ I will show you how to catch chicks, and you shall 
cure me of the gout when I eat too much.” Then the 
fox wound up the clock and covered it with leaves, while 
he and the Duck hid close by. When the clock began to 
tick it made a sound like cluck, cluck, just such as an old 
hen makes. No sooner did the chicks hear it than they 58 
THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
came through the hedge, and the fox seized one of them, 
and ran away followed by the Duck. Soon they came to 
the pond, and there sat the wolf very grim with his hand- 
kerchief tied around his sore face. Now on the way, 
the fox had told the Doctor Duck what to do. When 
the wolf saw them, he said to the Duck, “you are very 
slow.” “ That’s because I have only one leg,” said the 
Duck, “and because I had to bring Dr. Fox to talk over 
your case.” So the fox felt the wolf’s pulse, and took 
hold of the pig’s tail which still stuck out of his mouth. 
“ It is very tight,” said he. “ Yes,” answered the wolf, 
“ I wish it was not. You have no idea how uncomfort- 
able it is; but quick, where’s the chick ?” “ Here,” said 
the Duck. “ I’ll hold your head,” said the fox, very ten- 
derly; and so saying, he took hold of the pig tail. 
“ Open your mouth and shut your eyes, Mr. Wolf,” cried 
the Duck, “ that I may pass the chick down your throat.” 
So the wolf shut his eyes, and as quick as could be the 
fox tied the pig tail fast to the root of a tree, and the 
Duck seized his leg and the chick, and ran off with the 
fox, leaving the wolf tied so fast that he never, never got 
away. THE WOLF THAT WANTED A DOCTOR. 
59 
And then the Duck sewed his leg on, for he was a 
clever doctor. And the fox took the chick home to its 
mother, which was the best thing I ever heard of him, 
and grew to be a good fox, and never stole any more; 
and at last went away and became a chaplain in the 
army. GO 
LITTLE BOBBY REDBREAST. 
LITTLE BOBBY REDBREAST. 
Once on a time, in a beautiful wood, 
With a great many trees, a fine chestnut-tree stood; 
So tall that it seemed to a childish eye, 
Only a step from its top to the sky. 
In this tree a fine robin had built his nest, 
A beautiful fellow, with bright red breast; 
And such a song as this robin could sing— 
Its music made all the old branches ring! 
He would sing this song, so loud and clear, 
To his sweet little mate who sat listening near; 
And when it was finished, away flew he 
To hunt up a fine fat fly for her tea. 
His little wife sat on the nest all day, 
You could not have driven her far away; 
And what do you think she had in there, 
Hidden so close with tender care ? LITTLE BOBBY REDBREAST. 
61 
They were dear little eggs, one, two, three, four, 
There would not have been any room for more; 
And she loved to keep them free from harm, 
And cover them up so nice and warm. 
She stayed there quietly day after day, 
Till two or three weeks had passed away, 
And then in the nest was the greatest rout, 
The eggs were broken, the birds were out. 
With their little red throats all open wide 
For something to eat every one of them cried, 
Giving their father, and mother too, 
Plenty of work beside singing to do. 
The parents were proud of their little brood, 
They were all very pretty and all very good, 
Except one named Bob, who was not inclined 
His father and mother always to mind. 
He thought, though he did not like to say, 
That he knew what was best, much better than they; 
The father had promised, when stronger they grew, 
He would teach them to fly, and to hop about too, 
And they thought that would be such a very fine thing, 
They could scarcely wait till ’twas time to take wing. 62 
LITTLE BOBBY REDBREAST. 
Day after day when the sun arose 
The very same question they’d all propose: 
“ Papa, don’t you think we are strong enough yet ?” 
And the very same answer they’d always get: 
“ Oh, no, I don’t think it would do at all; 
You’re too little to fly, you would certainly fall.” 
So off he would hasten their breakfast to bring, 
And then, to amuse them, a song he would sing. 
Little Bob often poked his head out of the nest, 
And thought he would go, and not wait for the rest; 
But when he looked down, he felt so much afraid, 
That his head grew quite giddy, and so there he laid. 
At last they were glad, one fine morning, to hear 
Their father observe to their mother, “ my dear, 
It is time we were teaching our young ones to fly, 
And, if you are willing, to-day they may try.” 
So out of the nest they were taken now, 
And taught how to hop from bough to bough, 
Till, after great care and some tumbles, they found 
They all had quite safely come down to the ground. 
It would take me a great deal too long to say 
What wonderful things they saw on that day; LITTLE BOBBY REDBREAST. 
63 
Their father at last thought it time to go home, 
Then Bob said to himself, “ They won’t get me to come; 
There are so many things down here to see, 
I am not going back to that old high tree.” 
So when no one was thinking where he had gone, 
He crept off, and nestled behind a great stone, 
And his father and mother called out in vain, 
4; Bob! Bobby;” but Bob would not answer again. 
So they gathered together all the rest, 
And flew, quite sorrowful, back to their nest, 
Fearing the cat, or the setter-pup, 
Had caught little Bobby, and eaten him up. 
As soon as Bob found himself all alone, 
He hopped briskly up to the top of the stone; 
And, looking around for awhile at his ease, 
Thought, “ how splendid this is; I can do as I please.” 
But just as poor Bob to himself had said that, 
He was covered all up by a great straw-hat, 
And suddenly felt himself raised in the air, 
And carried along, he didn’t know where; 
At last on a table he softly was set, 
And heard Willy say, “ I have brought you a pet, 64 
LITTLE BOBBY REDBREAST. 
Dear sister Nell; I was sorry you cried 
So much, when your yellow canary-bird died; 
And now here’s a robin, just out of the nest, 
He will soon learn to sing, and he’ll have a red breast; 
So take him, and hold him just so in your hand, 
While I run for the cage, with some water and sand.” 
So poor little Bob, in a great fright and rage, 
Was put very carefully into the cage, 
And sorry enough did he feel that night, 
That he had not done what he knew was right. 
At first master Bob would not eat a thing 
Of all that Willy and Nelly could bring; 
But after awhile he grew quite tame, 
And when Willie called him, he always came, 
And perched on his finger or Nell’s to be fed 
With blue cedar-berries, and crumbs of white-bread. 
He lived all his life with Willy and Nell; 
But though they loved him and treated him well, 
He often wished he could fly in the wood, 
As he might have done, had he only been good. TO-MORROW’LL BE CHRISTMAS. 
65 
TO-MORROW’LL BE CHRISTMAS. 
“Tomorrow’ll be Christmas!” cried Charley, with joy, 
“ To-morrow’ll be Christmas, I’ve been a good boy; 
And I’ll have a small spade, and a rake, 
A sword with a sheath, and a new painted gun, 
A fiddle and bow, and a trumpet and drum, 
And oh! what a noise I will make.” 
/ 
“ Yes, to-night’s Christmas eve,” answered sweet little Fan, 
“ I shall keep my eyes open as long as I can, 
When we are all put in bed; 
That good old St. Nick, I’m determined to see, t 
When he comes down the chimney with something for me, 
And a pack filled as high as his head.” 
“ And Til see him sister,” said dear little May; 
“ As quiet as two little mice we will stay, 
And we’ll ask Ann to leave us the light; 66 
TO-MORROW’LL BE CHRISTMAS. 
We will be covered up, and pretend we’re asleep, 
But from under the curtains we slyly will peep, 
And we won’t even wink all the night.” 
St. Nicholas heard them, and laughed in his sleeve ; 
“ Ho, neighbours,” said he, “ do you think I’ll believe 
In such little pussies as you ? 
I send Morpheus to take watching girls by surprise, 
He’ll sprinkle some poppy-juice over your eyes, 
And then we’ll see what you will do.” 
Now soon in their cribs they were tucked, and both tried 
To lie very quiet, with eyes open wide, 
For fear that asleep they should drop; 
But the poppy-juice soon made them wink very fast,— 
They both slept as sound as a top. 
And then down the chimney St. Nicholas flew, 
A glance round the chamber he hastily threw, 
And walked up to each little bed: 
“ They are good little damsels as ever I’ve seen, 
Although in a great many nurseries I’ve been, 
And I’ll give them nice play-things,” he said. TO-MORROW’LL BE CHRISTMAS. 
67 
So back to the chimney he went in great haste, 
Where the stockings on each side were carefully placed, 
And filled them as full as he could; 
A great big round orange he put in each toe, 
And all up the foot and the leg did he stow 
Cakes and candies both pretty and good. 
From his pack he brought out a great heap of nice toys, 
Such trumpets and tops, whips, and books for the boys, 
And dolls, both for Fanny and May; 
Such dear little tables, and sofas, and chairs, 
Such kettles, and gridirons, and small kitchen wares, 
’Twas enough to make grandmamma play. 
Round the tops of the stockings he hung them with care, 
And very quick, too, for he’d no time to spare, 
He had so much business to do; 
To every good child he’d a visit to pay, 
And a stocking to fill up before break of day, 
And many good children he knew. 
When just at the chimney, he turned round once more, 
(For he didn’t go out like most folks, by the door,) 
And gave a queer shake of his head; 68 
TO-MORROW’LL BE CHRISTMAS. 
“ So you thought to outwit me; well, you may be proud 
When you do that, my chicksand he laughed out so loud 
That Fanny sat straight up in bed. 
Off he went, but she just caught a glimpse of his foot, 
So neatly encased in its little fur boot, 
And heard the bells ring on the roof: 
As quick as a mouse to the window she ran, 
As she heard the gay voice of the little old man, 
And the pattering of each little hoof. 
She heard his whip crack, and she just saw him go 
O’er the tops of the houses all covered with snow, 
Which gleamed in the moon’s brilliant light; 
She saw the bright glancing of silver-shod feet, 
From his six little reindeer, so handsome and fleet, 
And then they were all out of sight. 
Fan stood looking out till Jack Frost pinched her toes, 
Then up to the chimney she hastily goes, 
At the stockings to take a sly peep; 
They were fat, and she longed to examine the toys, 
But that would not be fair, so to bed without noise 
She crept, and was soon fast asleep. TO-MORROW’LL BE CHRISTMAS. 
69 
But when she told Charlie and May what she’d seen, 
Charlie laughed, which Fan thought was exceedingly mean, 
And said she had dreamed this fine sight; 
But she was not persuaded by all he could say, 
But believed in her heart, and believes to this day, 
That she saw old St. Nick on that night. 70 
OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
Once upon a time, there was a white elephant named 
Ba Ba. He was washed all over with cream every day, 
and had nine cows all for his own use, because white 
elephants are rare. This one, you must know, was the 
Caliph’s elephant, and was a great pet with everybody. 
There also lived in the town a little tailor who had a 
witch for a wife, and, as the tailor was very lazy, she made 
him a gold needle which did any kind of work you put 
it to. All you had to do was to put the needle on the 
cloth, and at once it would dance to and fro, and through 
and through until the work was done in the very nicest 
way. To be sure it was hard to make it cease, for it was 
such a busy little one-eyed fellow that to stop it you had 
to seize hold of the thread and drop the needle in a little 
iron box, and even then it could be heard hopping about 
inside; but it could not sew the iron, you know. 
This needle brought much custom to the tailor, be- OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
71 
cause it did the work so well; for no one liked the tailor, 
who was a cross fellow, and beat his little children twice 
a day. And, indeed, but for his needle, no one would 
have given him work to do at all, though I ought to say 
that folks thought he himself did the sewing. But he 
never did do any at all. He liked to sit in his window 
with his legs crossed, and make believe to sew, while 
he smoked a long pipe. Meanwhile he would put the 
cloth to be made up on a shelf below his seat, and would 
place the needle on it, and would laugh to see how mer- 
rily it moved, and how neatly it made the stitches and 
the button holes. He had to be very quick when the 
sewing was done, because if he did not seize the needle 
ever so cleverly it would sew the coat all up into such a 
heap that no one could get the stitches out again. 
One sunny day the tailor was at the window when 
Ba Ba came by and put his trunk up to ask for an apple, 
but this crusty tailor only put his hot pipe bowl to Ba 
Ba’s trunk and burned it, which made the elephant roar 
and shake his trunk, while the tailor laughed at his 
pain. 
Next day Ba Ba came by again and put out his trunk 
as usual, for he did not think any one would be willing 72 
OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
to hurt him. This time the tailor had the smart little 
gold needle in his hand, and was about to put it away, 
for it had just done sewing a red coat for the Caliph. 
But first, he thought, I will give Ba Ba a little prick 
with it, and then he will dance with pain. So he stuck 
Ba Ba’s white trunk with the needle, which made him 
give a loud cry and jerk away his trunk so quickly that 
the needle stayed fast in his skin. “ Oh ! dear,” cried the 
tailor, “what shall I do ?” for he did not dare to tell that 
he had played ugly tricks on the white elephant, which 
was the Caliph’s pet. Meanwhile Ba Ba howled and ran 
away in great pain, because the busy little needle kept 
sewing away at the inside of his trunk. Just fancy what 
pain it must be to have a needle sewing away inside of 
you, making clever little button holes and coats, and lots 
of things to wear, out of your flesh. 
Ba Ba felt as if he had a toothache, and he was so 
angry that next day he filled his trunk full of nasty, 
muddy water, and, as he came by the tailor’s shop, 
squirted a great bucketful at least, all over that wicked 
tailor, and his wife, and his nine children, and his din- 
ner, and the cat, and, worse than all, over the red coat, 
which was ready for the Caliph to wear. “Now,” said the OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
73 
tailor, “we shall all be killed and also beaten, because the 
Caliph’s coat is spoiled.” “ Let the needle make another,” 
cried his wife. But the tailor had to tell her how he 
had lost the needle, and this made her angry enough, 
because she had been nine years making the gold needle, 
and could not make needles like that in a day, just when 
they were wanted. At last she gave her husband some 
good advice as to what he should do. She told him to 
take the coat to the Caliph and tell him that Ba Ba had 
squirted muddy water on it; “and then,” said she, “we 
will ask the Caliph to cut off Ba Ba’s trunk; and, when it 
is off, we will go and get it at night, and find the needle 
inside of it,—so Ba Ba will be made to suffer, and we 
shall escape being beaten.” The tailor liked this advice 
so well that he took the coat, and, with his wife and 
children all over mud, went to the court of the Caliph. 
When they came in the Caliph laughed to see such a 
funny-looking party; but when he saw his coat, and 
heard the tailor’s story, he was very angry, and cried 
aloud, “ Bring Ba Ba.” Now Ba Ba was very sick, because 
of that cruel little needle, which never ceased sewing 
the inside of his trunk, and, indeed, it hurt him so that 74 
OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
he had to carry his trunk in a great silk sling, and had 
no comfort, day or night. 
When Ba Ba came in sight, the Caliph said to the 
tailor, “ What shall be done to the white elephant, be- 
cause he spoiled my new coat ?” 
“ Cut off his trunk,” cried the tailor’s wife, “ and then 
he will not be able to play such nasty tricks any more.” 
“ It is j ust,” said the Caliph. “ Cut off Ba Ba’s trunk 
and bury it.” 
So soon as Ba Ba heard this sad news, and saw the 
soldiers come towards him, he moaned in a piteous way, 
and ran and put the end of his trunk in the lap of the 
Caliph’s daughter, who was a kind-hearted princess, and 
was very fond of white elephants. 
She was so sorry for Ba Ba that she begged her father 
not to harm him. So the Caliph said, “It does not 
matter much. We will wait.” 
Now the princess saw that Ba Ba was sick, so she had 
him put in a great garden of roses, and fed him with 
lumps of sugar and lady apples every day. But the 
needle still kept on sticking him, so that at last he 
fell ill and lay down and could not get up at all, on 
account of the pain. Then the princess tried all the 75 
OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
elephant doctors; but one said he had hysterics, and 
another said he was too fat, and one said he was in love. 
All the other doctors said he had a bad cold in his head, 
and must have a mustard plaster on his nose, and take 
a tubful of Castor oil. But not one of them did him any 
good, and therefore the princess made a man cry aloud 
in the streets for a magic doctor to cure her dear Ba Ba. 
So soon as the tailor’s witch wife heard this she told 
her husband to put on a tall hat, and a big beard, and a 
wig, so that no one would know him, and to go to the 
princess’s palace, reading a big book all the while he 
walked through the streets. When the princess saw 
him she said, “ What a wise magic doctor. He does not 
wish to waste his time even when he walks.” So she 
took him to the garden and told him he should have a 
great stocking full of gold if he cured Ba Ba. But the 
tailor was afraid to go near to the elephant in the day- 
time ; therefore he said to the princess, “ I must not lose 
time. At night I will cure Ba Ba.” So he walked up 
and down, as though he were reading, but really he could 
not read at all. When night came he went quietly to 
Ba Ba and said, “ I see you have a thorn in your trunk.” 
This made Ba Ba trust him and say to himself, “ This 
doctor knows a thing or two.” 76 
OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
“ I will cut it out,” said the tailor; “ but you must 
keep very still.” 
Ba Ba nodded his head, as much as to say yes. At 
this the tailor was very full of joy; for, thinks he, I shall 
soon have my needle once more. So he took hold of Ba 
Ba’s sore trunk and made ready a little knife to cut out 
the needle. But all of a sudden he gave a loud cry of 
pain; for what do you think happened? Why the 
needle was sewing away so fiercely that it sewed the 
tailor’s thumbs fast to the elephant’s trunk; and then, 
before you could turn around, it sewed all his fingers 
fast, and then his coat. This caused Ba Ba to roar with 
pain; and, as for the tailor, he howled at the top of his 
voice, and pulled to get away. But it was of no use at 
all, for that dreadful little needle sewed away until the 
tailor was stitched all over. At last Ba Ba got up and 
hoisted the tailor off of the ground and shook him in 
the air; but, dear me, you know it was of no kind of 
use, for a witch’s needle sews very tight stitches. At 
last the two made such a noise that all the guards, and 
the Caliph, and the princess came out with torches, to 
see what could be the matter. As soon as the Caliph 
saw the tailor he knew him, because his hat, and wig, OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
77 
and beard had all fallen off. The princess said this was 
no magic doctor, but only a vile little tailor. 
Now as nothing could quiet Ba Ba, who was rushing 
about all over the gardens, the Caliph sent for his head 
magician. So soon as he saw Ba Ba he called to him, 
and at once the wise elephant came and knelt down and 
held out his trunk, which was sewed fast to the tailor 
with twenty-five thousand stitches. When the magi- 
cian saw what was the trouble he cried aloud, “ This is 
witches’ work.” 
“ Yes,” said the tailor, " my wife is a witch. “ She 
got me into this scrape.” 
No sooner was this known to the Caliph than he sent 
an officer to fetch the witch wife. When she came the 
magician bade her take her witch scissors and cut the 
stitches, because nobody else could ever do it. As it 
was it took her a week, because she had to catch the 
witch needle first, and then to cut all the stitches after- 
wards. But Ba Ba was very patient, and, by-and-bye, 
he was set loose from that crusty old tailor. 
By this time the magician knew all about the witch 
needle, and how the tailor had teazed Ba Ba, the elephant; 
and, when the Caliph heard how cruel and wicked the 
tailor was, he said that he and his wife should be put to 78 
OLD WINE IN A NEW BOTTLE. 
death. It was lucky for both of them that the princess 
was near just then, because she -was so gentle that she 
could not bear to have any one killed. So she begged 
the Caliph not to kill them, but only to cut off the 
tailor’s nose, as he had wished to cut off poor Ba Ba’s 
trunk. Now the tailor’s witch wife was so very glad 
not to be killed that she went to the good princess and 
told her that Ba Ba was not a real white elephant, but 
a beautiful young prince, who had been enchanted, and, 
besides this, the witch wife went into the garden and 
cast some water on Ba Ba, and said three strange words, 
which no one knew but herself. And no sooner were 
these said than there was a great smoke, and when it 
blew away Ba Ba was gone, and there stood a handsome 
young prince. And folks do say that he married the 
princess. As to the tailor, his nose was cut off and bur- 
ied, but his witch wife dug it up and sewed it on again. 
Only she was in such a hurry that she put it on upside 
down; so that, whenever the rain fell, it got full of water, 
and the worst of it was, that whenever the tailor wanted 
to blow his nose, he had to stand on his head, because, 
you see, his nose was downside up, or, as some people 
say, upside down. NAUGHTY HARRY. 
79 
NAUGHTY HARRY. 
Little Harry said to his sister Jane, 
“ Oh, do come play with me out in the lane; 
I want to go all the way up to the wood, 
To gather some chestnuts; they’re ripe now, and good.” 
But little Jane answered, “ Dear Harry, no, no. 
You know mamma said that we never must go 
Up to the wood by ourselves to play, 
And see it is growing quite late in the day; 
Our father and mother will soon be home, 
Let us go in the garden and watch till they come.” 
But Harry was naughty, and wouldn’t wait; 
He went down the steps, and out at the gate, 
Up the green lane, away to the wood. 
Running along as fast as he could, 
For fear that his dear little sister Jane 
Should try to persuade him back again. 80 
NAUGHTY HARRY. 
Long time in the wood little Harry stayed; 
He picked up the chestnuts, and jumped and played; 
But, when he was tired of running about, 
He found that he could not tell how to get out; 
He had wandered so far that he did not know 
Either where he was, or which way to go. 
Now the sun went down, and very soon 
It grew quite dark, for there was no moon; 
The little birds had long ceased to sing, 
Each head safely tucked ’neath a sheltering wing; 
The frisky squirrels had gone to rest, 
Each snugly curled in its little nest. 
The owls, which never can bear the light, 
Came out and hooted with all their might. 
The great brown bats flew round and round 
His head, with a curious whirring sound. 
Then Harry was frightened, and cried, “ Papa! 
Oh, sister Jane ! oh, dear mamma! 
Do come and take me out of the wood, 
And, after this, I’ll be always good.” 
But nobody answered, for nobody knew 
What part of the wood he had wandered to. NAUGHTY HARRY. 
81 
And, though his father was searching all night, 
He did not find him till morning light; 
And then his poor little boy he found 
Lying alone on the cold, hard ground, 
Close to a pond, quite wide and deep, 
Where, weary, he’d cried himself to sleep. 
He took him up and carried him home, 
And glad was his mother to see him come. 
But Harry was instantly put into bed, 
He had such a dreadful pain in his head, 
And such terrible aching in all his bones, 
It made Jenny cry to hear his moans, 
With a fever that burned and troubled him so, 
That his own dear mother he did not know. 
He laid in his bed for many a week, 
So ill that he could not move nor speak; 
And the time was longer than I can tell 
Before little Harry was perfectly well. 
But then he promised Mamma and Jane 
He never would run away again. 
And if all be true that I since have heard, 
Like an honest boy, he has kept his word. 82 
harry’s birth-day. 
HARRY’S BIRTH-DAY. 
One evening, when Harry was going to bed, 
His mamma took him up in her lap and said, 
“ To-morrow’s your birth-day, you know, Harry dear; 
I’ve invited your cousins to come out here; 
And, because you have lately been gentle and good, 
We can all go together to walk in the wood. 
And Robert shall carry the kettle for tea; 
We’ll have it there under the great oak-tree.” 
You never beheld such a glad little boy 
As Harry; he clapped his hands for joy, 
And said, “ Dear mamma, how kind of you 
Such a very delightful thing to do. 
I love to go up in the wood to tea, 
Where squirrels, and rabbits, and robins we see. 
Now kiss me—good night, mother dear, I must go 
To tell sister Jane; she will like it, I know.” harry’s birth-day. 
83 
That night little Harry could scarce go to sleep 
For thinking how nicely his birth-day he’d keep. 
He was up in the morning by peep of day, 
As fresh as a lark, as bright and as gay: 
And every one in the house he told, 
“ It’s my birth-day to-day! I am six years old!” 
Mamma gave him a book with pictures in, 
And papa a humming-top to spin. 
Harry thanked them both, and he and Jane 
Looked at the pictures again and again; 
They made the new top go round and round, 
And laughed at its queer little humming-sound; 
But, when papa wound it, it hummed so loud 
That to own such a top made Harry feel proud. 
They had so much fun that the afternoon 
Seemed to the children to come quite soon; 
And then they had but a short time to wait 
Before a nice party drove up to the gate. 
There were Charley, and Fanny, and dear little May, 
Ready to dance, and to laugh, and to play. 
There were kind Uncle William, and sweet Aunt Grace 
With her gentle words and pleasant face; 84 
harry’s birth-day. 
And handsome brown Rover, so fast and so kind, 
While the little dog Carlo came frisking behind. 
When there’d been a great kissing, and “How do 
you do?” 
They all got their hats, and their light baskets too, 
And walked to the wood, where they thought it was best 
To sit in the shade some moments to rest. 
Then the children ran races, and Charley’s boat 
In the sparkling brook was set afloat. 
They feared ’twould be lost, it went so fast, 
But a great stone brought it up at last. 
A beautiful bird’s nest Harry found, 
Which had fallen down from a tree to the ground; 
Round pebbles they gathered in it to lay, 
(For the last year’s birds had flown away.) 
And Harry gave it to Fanny to keep 
With her pigeon’s eggs, and marble sheep, 
Her butterfly with the velvet wings, 
And all the rest of her pretty things. 
Now papa was calling, “ Come to me; 
There is something here you would like to see.” 
They ran where he stood, and the very first thing 
Which greeted their eyes was a nice low swing, harry’s birth-day. 
85 
With an arm chair seat, so carefully made, 
That sweet little May need not feel afraid. 
Said papa, “ You must take your turns to swing, 
And must not quarrel for anything; 
Your uncle and I have fastened the chair, 
And hung up the ropes with the greatest care. 
But, if we hear any one fret or complain, 
We shall certainly take them all down again.” 
They thanked him, and promised they all would try 
To be gentle and kind, and not swing too high. 
Now, after they’d swung a long time in great glee, 
They saw Robert coming to call them to tea. 
So up to the table, so tasteful and neat, 
They all went together, and each took a seat, 
Behaving politely, as all children should 
At the table, although it be spread in a wood. 
They’d as much bread and milk as they wanted to eat. 
And strawberries too, which they thought a fine treat 
With sponge-cake so light; and the table was graced 
With wild flowers and ferns, in a moss-basket placed, 86 
harry’s birth-day. 
Which their mother and aunt had been making, while they 
So busy had been with their talk and their play. 
Now the sun in red clouds was ready to set, 
And they thought about home; but Jane said, “ Not yet, 
Dear mamma; for, indeed, we must ask you to sing; 
We wouldn’t miss that for anything.” 
They all said, “ Oh, yes, it was not very late; 
They had plenty of time for a song to wait.” 
So they seated themselves on the grass to hear 
Mamma, with her voice so sweet and clear, 
Sing this little song, which she’d lately made 
On purpose for Harry and Jane, she said. 
“ Pleasant it is in the gay greenwood, 
Where the birds sing merrily, 
And the bright-eyed squirrels seek their food, 
Leaping from tree to tree. 
“ Where the yellow violet shyly peeps 
From the leaves by last year shed, 
And over the moss arbutus creeps, 
With its berries of glassy red. harry’s birth-day. 
87 
“ Where the little streamlets gaily run, 
Singing a joyful song, 
Splashing the old gray stones, for fun, 
As they swiftly race along. 
“ Where the sunbeams pierce through the woven trees, 
To dance on the short green grass; 
And the tall ferns bow, with graceful ease, 
Giving welcome as you pass. 
“ Then love the greenwood, sweet and wild, 
Which greets you as a friend, 
And the simple joys of the little child 
Only with life shall end.” 88 
REAL MAGIC. 
REAL MAGIC. 
A good while ago, I knew two little children, who lived 
in a nice old house in the country. There was a wood 
behind it full of squirrels, and acorns, and chestnut trees, 
and birds, and crooked sticks, which were good for shin- 
nies, and lots of jolly things, such as boys like to have. 
On one side of this wood, and around the house, flowed 
a little brook, where frogs lived, and minnows and 
speckled newts. If you had sharp eyes qnd looked 
cleverly, I should not wonder if you might also have 
found there little cray fish under the stones. It was a 
good brook to build dams across; and in one place there 
was a fine large pond, where boys could sail boats. 
I used to think the garden the nicest part of all, 
because it was full of tall box, with no end of crooked 
walks, that were first-rate for hide and seek. 
In this nice old house lived a boy and girl. Their 
names were Tommy and Annie. These children had as REAL MAGIC. 
89 
pleasant a time as any that ever I knew, because after 
their lessons there was so much to see and to do in the 
barn-yard and fields, in the wood, and by the brook. 
After they had raced and chased all day—when the au- 
tumn evenings were growing long—they most loved to 
go and see their aunt, who sat in the library at that time 
poking the wood fire, and thinking all by herself, till of 
a sudden this boy and girl would scamper in and shout 
a verse or two of poetry about “ This is the Children’s 
Hour.” I ought to say that if you are a little boy or 
girl, and have an old uncle or aunty who likes to sit 
still in the twilight, and not ever tell stories at all, 
you have only to learn those verses about “ This is the 
Children’s Hour,” and say them to that old aunty or 
uncle. And I think if you try this you will find out 
that those little verses are a kind of charm at twilight, 
to make big folks do whatever the little folks wish. 
When you all rush in and cry those nice verses, which I 
advise you to learn, saying, “This is the Children’s 
Hour,” you will be sure to get a story, and will be such 
clever fairies that you will make some of the grown 
folks feel like crying; and, I suppose, you had better not 
ask them why. 90 
REAL MAGIC. 
Whenever Tommy and Annie ran in and asked for 
stories, their aunt was always ready; and, when she 
could not think of any more, she knew all the books just 
where to find about the fairies, and giants, and witches, 
and gnomes,—and about Launcelot, and Bedivere, and 
Gawan, and Tristram, and the Seven Champions. Also 
she knew stories about the sea-gods, and mermaids, and 
flying-fish, and a long story of an ancient mariner. I 
couldn’t tell you the names of all the stories this good 
aunt knew. 
The stories Annie liked most were about those true 
knights of King Arthur; but Tommy had rather have 
heard about enchanted places, and how young princes 
were turned into dogs and horses when the sorcerers 
sprinkled them with water and said, “ Abracadabra, and 
crononhotonthologos.” 
These two children liked stories so much that when 
they were away in the woods they used to act them. 
Annie would say, “Now be a giant, and I will be Jack, 
and kill you.” Or they would go to a great rock, 
which was hollowed out beneath, and which they called 
the robber’s cave. Here Annie had their treasures, such 
as bits of broken china and looking-glass, two lame dolls, REAL MAGIC. 
91 
some shells, and an old kitchen knife, which made a fine 
scimeter for the captain of the robbers when they played 
Ali Baba. 
Now Tommy had been thinking that it would be a 
very jolly thing to try a little magic in good earnest, but 
it took him a long time to get everything ready. For 
first he must have a gold rod, and this was very hard 
to get; and then there must be candles. There was 
a certain Master Frank, who was a big brother of 
Tommy’s, and who had come home from school to stay 
for a little while. Tommy thought he would get him to 
help him, because he felt sure that all big brothers must 
know a good deal about magic, and all that kind of 
thing. So Tommy and Frank had some long talks, and 
Frank amused himself a good deal with telling Tom how 
to try real magic. 
At last, one afternoon, Tommy asked Annie to go to 
the rock with him, and when he got there he made her 
sit down, and told her that he was going to try some 
real magic. At first she was a little afraid, but, by-and- 
bye, she agreed to it,—and then he showed her that he 
had two half candles, which the cook had given him as 
a great favor. As for the gold rod, which no magician 92 
REAL MAGIC. 
can do without, he told her he had been a good deal 
puzzled; but at last he had borrowed his aunt’s gold 
pencil case. This pleased Annie very much, and they 
talked about it till it was getting to be towards dusk; 
for, as Tom said, “ it was of no use to try magic in the 
daylight.” When the woods were becoming dark, and 
full of evening shadows, Tom said it was time. So he 
took a bit of chalk and drew a circle, and told Annie 
that she must not move beyond it, or else the fairies 
would carry her off to fairy land. This frightened Annie, 
and she said they had better not try any magic this 
time, which made Tom tell her “ she was a coward, just 
like all girls.” By-and-bye he lighted his two candles, 
and stuck them in the ground, which made a big enough 
candlestick. Then he piled up some leaves in the middle 
of the circle and lighted them, so as to cause a famous 
smoke. 
Now all this while the children did not know that 
Frank was hiding behind the big rock, and was quietly 
laughing to himself, until he was almost choked. You 
may be sure he thought it funnier than ever when Tom 
said to Annie, “ Now I am going to try the real magic, 
•and don’t you be afraid.” REAL MAGIC. 
93 
“ Oh, dear,” said Annie, “ but, perhaps, when yon say 
the words, and move your wand, perhaps the great giant, 
Blunderbore, will come and—and — and gobble us up.” 
“No,” said Tom, “we will only call good fairies, and 
very, very little people.” 
This comforted Annie, and Tom began to wave his 
gold rod and say, “ Abracadabra,” and all sorts of queer 
words, out of fancy books. At last he said, “ Hop o’ my 
Thumb, — come quickly,” — for you must know he was 
just a little afraid himself; and Hop o’ my Thumb was 
the smallest one of all the fairy folk he could think of. 
As soon as he said the words, the two children almost 
held their breaths. In a moment they heard pit pat, 
pit pat, behind the rock, and this was Frank, just for 
fun tapping on the dead leaves, to make them fancy it 
was Hop o’ my Thumb walking. You may guess how 
still they kept. Pretty soon the noise ceased, and yet 
no one was seen. At this Tom grew bolder. “ I heard 
him,” said he; “ and I, too,” said Annie. “ Who shall 
we call next ?” “ Suppose you call for Whittington’s 
Cat ?” “ Cats are not fairies. It wouldn’t be any use,” 
answered Tom. 94 
REAL MAGIC. 
Just then, Frank, who was lying behind the rock, cried 
aloud, “ Meaow!” 
“ Oh, dear,” whispered Annie, “ there it is. Please be 
careful not to say any names like Cormorant, or Blunder- 
bore !” 
Now Master Frank heard her and roared out, “ Fee 
fau fum; I smell the blood of an Englishmun.” 
“Oh, my—oh, dear,” sobbed Annie; “call Jack, the 
Giant Killer, quick.” 
“We had better run,” says Tom. 
“ Boo ! I’m hungry for babies,” roared Frank. And, 
when they heard this, my goodness how they scampered. 
It was getting dark very fast, but they ran ever so fast, 
and were glad enough to get out of the wood. As to 
Frank, who was a scamp to frighten little children so 
terribly, he walked after them laughing fit to kill 
himself. 
When he came to the house he found Tom and Annie 
sitting in the corner of the library, just like two little 
mice. Frank only said to them, “You were very late 
in the wood; did you see any fairies ?” As for the chil- 
dren, they were so scared that they could hardly close 
their eyes that night. For my part I think that any- REAL MAGIC. 
95 
body but Tom would have had enough of magic by this 
time, and, I suppose, that he would never have tried it 
again if Frank had not helped him. 
One day, about a week after the fright in the wood, 
Tom wanted to roast some chestnuts at the kitchen fire; 
but, as it was near tea time, the old black cook, whose 
name was Judy, told him “ clare out.” Tom ran out of 
one door and in at another until the old cook lost all 
patience, and told him he was “ the perseverenest chile 
dat eber she seed.” 
By this time Tom was growing mischievous, so he ran 
to the dresser and took some water and sprinkled cookey, 
and cried out in a great solemn voice, “ You old black 
cookey, be a sheep right away.” 
u Dat’s pretty talk,” said Judy, and, as quick as could 
be, she seized Tom, who was waiting to see her turn into 
a sheep, and what did she do but tie a great dish-cloth 
to the tail of his jacket, and then let him go. Tom was 
so angry at this disgrace that he went and told his good 
aunty, who only smiled and said he should keep out of 
the kitchen, which was not the place for boys. Poor 
Tom was so vexed that he went away crying, to find 
Frank. 96 
REAL MAGIC. 
“Halloo, old fellow,” says Frank, “quit crying. I 
know a boy as had a grandmother as knew a boy who 
cried so hard he drowned himself. What’s the matter ?” 
“I wanted to roast chestnuts,” says Tom, “and Judy 
tied a dish-cloth to me—to my jacket—and I threw 
water on her, and told her to be a sh -— sh — sheep, and 
she didn’t.” 
“Perhaps,” said Frank, full of fun, “you did not 
sprinkle her enough; she’s a monstrous big old cookey, 
and you are a very small magician.” So he kept a grave 
face, and gave Tom some advice about magic, which, I 
fear, was rather naughty; for what do you think hap- 
pened? Tom listened to Frank, and without saying a 
word, but very, very angry at cookey, he went straight 
down to the kitchen and said, “How dy’e do, Judy? 
Please to give me a drink.” 
Now Judy was good-natured, like all fat cooks, so she 
gave him a ladle of cool water, and stooped down to tie 
his shoe, which was unlaced. As quick as could be Tom 
said, “ Be a sheep this time, you bad old cookey,” and 
poured the ladle full of water down the back of her neck. 
“ Bress us,” says Judy, and she picked up Master Tom 
and tucked him under her arm, and took him right away REAL MAGIC. 
97 
to his aunt. Tom roared and kicked, but Judy held him 
tightly; and, when she found his aunt, she told all about 
how Tom had called her a sheep. And then Tom had 
nothing to say, but to blubber and promise to be a good 
boy, until Frank came in and told his aunt how he had 
put Tom up to this last trick, and also about the magic 
in the woods. His aunt was very much vexed, and gave 
him a nice, long scolding, you may be sure. As to Tom, 
he was not told another story for six weeks, until one 
night, when he came in softly, and got behind his aunt 
and whispered, “ This is the children’s hour.” 
“ Ah!” said she; and so the two children sat down, 
one on each side of her, and she told them a long, long 
story, about the fairy Contenta, who turned rags into 
velvet, and dust into gold, and old crusts into apple 
dumplings, — one of the jolliest kind of stories that ever 
anybody heard. 98 
CARELESS SOPHIA. 
CARELESS SOPHIA. 
Sophia was a careless child 
As ever I have known, 
And she was often by this fault 
Into great trouble thrown; 
For, almost daily, sad mishaps 
This foolish girl befel, 
For want of just a little care, 
As I am going to tell. 
She often did the very thing 
Her mother told her not; 
And, when she was reproved for it, 
She’d say, “ Oh! I forgot.” 
Her toys, when she was tired of play, 
Were left upon the ground, 
And constantly were trodden on, 
Or lost, and never found. CARELESS SOPHIA. 
99 
Her dolls had neither legs nor arms, 
Their pretty clothes were torn, 
They looked like soldiers from the wars, 
Or beggars all forlorn. 
Her frock and apron she would soil, 
Or into slits would tear, 
And then she’d cry, “ Those horrid doors 
Catch every thing I wear.” 
For careless children seldom are 
Patient as they should be, 
And Sophy’s mother oft was grieved 
Her hasty ways to see. 
Once her papa came home from town, 
And from his pocket took, 
Among his other purchases, 
A pretty story-book, 
Printed in letters large and clear, 
And full of pictures too, 
Of birds, and animals, and flowers, 
And many a pretty view. 
He called Sophia from her play, 
And set her on his knee; 
With sparkling eyes she looked and said, 
“ Did you buy this for me ?” 100 
CARELESS SOPHIA. 
“Yes, dear, it is to be your own; 
’Tis full of pictures rare. 
I hope that you will value it, 
And keep it with great care.” 
“ Oh! yes, papa, ’twas very kind 
To bring me such a book; 
I’ll take it to my garden seat, 
And at the pictures look.” 
Then to her shady arbor green, 
With its seat nice and low, 
Which her papa had made for her, 
Did little Sophy go. 
And there for a long time she sat 
Upon her book intent; 
Her bright blue eyes with eagerness 
Upon the pictures bent; 
Until she heard the pattering sound 
Of little feet draw near; 
And, looking up the walk, she saw 
Her Cousin Lucy dear. 
“ Oh! Lucy, I am glad you’ve come; 
I know you’ll like to see 
The beautiful new story-book 
Papa has given me. CARELESS SOPHIA. 
101 
But I have looked at it so long 
My neck begins to ache. 
Suppose that first a little run 
Around the walks we take. 
I’ve had some very pretty books 
Before, but I declare 
This is the very best of all; 
I’ll leave it lying there 
Till we come back, — we won’t stay long. 
I’ve seen it now all through; 
But then it will be very nice 
To show the plates to you.” 
So up the garden walk they skipped 
Towards the little wood. 
But just out in the open space, 
Where the sun-dial stood, 
They met the gardener, who said, 
“Miss Sophy, did you know 
Your little ducks are all hatched out, 
And on the pond below?” 
“ My ducks ? Oh! Thomas, I’m so glad! 
Come, Lucy, let us run; 
I hope they’re like their mother, she 
Is such a pretty one.” 102 
CARELESS SOPHIA. 
Soon to the water-side they came, 
And Sophy with delight 
Counted her ducks, and thought she ne’er 
Had seen so fine a sight. 
“What funny little things they are! 
That down looks more like fur 
Than feathers, — the old duck’s quite smooth, 
They are not much like her 
■ 
Let us go in and tell mamma, 
She always went with me 
To watch the eggs; I’m sure she’ll come 
The little ducks to see.” 
Up to the house they quickly ran, 
And soon mamma was told 
Of Sophy’s treasures, in her eyes 
Each worth its weight in gold. 
“But, Sophy dear, where is your book?” 
“Oh! that I’m sure must be 
Quite safe upon the garden seat; 
I’ll get it presently. 
But we must go to see the ducks 
Before they come to land; 
We’ll take some bread to throw to them 
As on the bank we stand.” CARELESS SOPHIA. 
103 
’Twas queer to see each little duck 
Dipping its funny head, 
And turning quickly round to catch 
The little bits of bread. 
Long after her mamma had gone, 
Sophy with Lucy stilt 
Stood throwing crumbs, which soon were snatched 
By some broad golden bill. 
And when the old duck called her brood, 
And brought them all to land, 
The little girls stole quietly 
After the feathered band, 
To see what shelter she will choose 
For the dear little things. 
And now she gathers them at last 
Beneath her ample wings. 
They do not see the great black cloud 
Which o’er the heavens spreads, 
Until the first big drops of rain 
Come pattering on their heads. 
And the bright lightning’s yellow glare 
Flashes before their eyes; 
And then they turn a wondering glance 
Upon the darkened skies. 104 
CARELESS SOPHIA. 
And hand-in-hand towards the house 
They scamper with all speed; 
And, just as they had reached the door, 
The storm broke out indeed. 
The lightning flashed, the thunder rolled, 
Down came the floods of rain, 
Swept on before the gusts of wind, 
Which shook the window pane. 
Sophy and Lucy stood to watch 
How there came little rills 
Upon the walks, and how the drops 
Danced on the window-sills; 
And how the bubbles floated by 
Until knocked on the head 
By some great drop; and then there came 
Another in their stead. 
The chickens, looking all forlorn, 
Were gathered ’neath a tree; 
Their long-tail feathers, once so fine, 
Now drooping mournfully. 
But, while the girls were wondering 
If it could ever clear, 
They saw, amid the breaking clouds, 
The sun’s bright rays appear. CARELESS SOPHIA. 
105 
And in a moment all the trees 
With glittering diamonds shone, 
And every leaf and flower had 
A jewel of its own. 
Ruby and emerald were there, 
Topaz and sapphire too, 
All quivering in the golden light 
With ever-changing hue. 
But, when on the still tearful clouds, 
The rainbow’s arc was hung, 
Fresh exclamations of delight 
Burst from each little tongue. 
They watched it till the last soft tint 
Had faded quite away, 
And then they from the window turned 
To seek some pretty play. 
“The ground is wet, we can’t run out; 
Mamma, what shall we do?” 
“ Sit down dear, with your picture-book; 
You can’t have read it through.” 
But Sophy answers not a word, 
And all in vain she tries 106 
CARELESS SOPHIA. 
To choke back the fast-coming tears 
Which gather in her eyes. 
“Why Sophy, what’s the matter now? 
You do not often cry; 
And these tears come quite suddenly; 
Come here and tell me why.” 
“ Oh! dear mamma, my picture-book, 
So beautiful and new! 
I left it on the garden seat, 
And now what shall I do ? 
It has been out in all the rain, 
And ruined it must be; 
If I had only brought it in 
When you reminded me! 
How shall I ever tell papa, 
Or see him when he hears 
What I have done?” And at this thought 
Forth burst fresh floods of tears. 
The book was brought into the house 
All ruined by the rain, 
And Sophy thought she’d never be 
A careless girl again. CARELESS SOPHIA. 
107 
But it is not an easy thing 
To mend so suddenly; 
And often she would quite forget 
How good she thought to be; 
For careless children often say, 
“ Oh! dear, I quite forgot!” 
They think that is a good excuse, 
Perhaps, but I think not. 108 
tommy’s trials. 
TOMMY’S TRIALS. 
Little Eva sat under the apple tree. 
With her dear old knit doll by her side; 
“ Come, Tommy,” she said, “ let us go and see 
Where the little violets hide. 
We took dear Mamma some yesterday,— 
Sweet-scented ones, — blue and white; 
The sun’s getting low, and we’re tired of play, 
Let us take her some more to-night. 
These lovely pink blossoms, I’d like to try 
To reach, and take to her, too; 
But you must sit still; they are all too high, 
I am very sure, for you.” 
Tommy, the knit doll, had nothing to say 
Against Eva’s proposition; 
He was quite content on the grass to stay, 
Nor desired to change his condition, tommy’s trials. 
109 
Little Eva stood on her very tip-toes, 
But the blossoms were high o’er her head. 
“Well, I must go into the house, I suppose, 
For papa’s hooked cane,” she said. 
“Now don’t you stir, Tommy; sit quite still, 
And I’ll soon be back again. 
You will be delighted, I know you will, 
When you see me take the cane 
And draw the branches into my hand 
In exactly the very same way 
That Frank does; — the cane must be on the stand, 
For papa rode to town to-day.” 
So Eva ran off, up the path to the house, 
To bring back the crooked-neck stick, 
And good little Tommy sat still as a mouse; 
He never had been very quick 
In his motions; and after Miss Eva had said 
That he must on no account stir, 
It never came into his innocent head 
To be disobedient to her. 110 
tommy’s trials. 
But little pup Trip chanced to pass by that way, 
And, as soon as our Tommy he spied, 
He thought, “ That fine fellow shall come now and play.” 
And, running right up to his side, 
He gamboled around him, and poked his cold nose 
In Tom’s face, his acquaintance to make; 
But Tom’s manner said, “ You are not to suppose 
Of your tricks any notice I’ll take.” 
But Trip was an ignorant sort of a pup, 
Whose life had been spent in the stable; 
And without polished manners, so far, he’d grown up, 
Though the grooms taught him all they were able. 
So finding, at last, that he waited in vain 
For an answer to all he had said, 
He exclaimed, “Very well, I shall not speak again!” 
And picked up poor Tom by the head. 
Then Tommy, of course, was extremely alarmed, 
Beside the great pain he was in; 
He never before had been threatened nor harmed, 
And now Trip’s sharp teeth in his skin, tommy’s trials. 
111 
And the terrible doubt as to what he’d do next, 
Had frightened him nearly to death; 
And he still was quite silent, and sorely perplexed, 
When Trip, not a bit out of breath, 
Began now to toss him high up in the air, 
To catch him again, and to say, 
“You make a most excellent ball, I declare! 
I thought you would know how to play.” 
But, just at the hundred and fiftieth throw, 
Master Trip threw a little too high, 
And in the next moment poor Tommy was low 
In the depths of a fish-pond close by. 
The next, to the top of the water he came, 
Quite close to a duck, who cried, “ Quack! 
Here’s a queer-looking fellow! I don’t know his name, 
He is trying to climb on my back.” 
“ To climb on your back! what an impudent thing!” 
Cried old Dr. Gobble; “just take 
The insolent vagabond up by the wing, 
And give him a pretty hard shake.” 
On her back our poor Tom would be thankful to climb, 
But he knew it was of no use to try 
After such a remark; so he wasted no time, 
But looked round, to find something dry. 112 
tommy’s trials. 
But the water appeared to make everything wet; 
There wasn’t a creature in sight 
But the ducks, and Tom thought that he never could get 
Out of such an unfortunate plight. 
The ducklings all viewed him with curious eyes, 
(Their mother can’t knit dolls like him,) 
And one of them cried, in the greatest surprise, 
“ I really don’t think he can swim!” 
“ No, ladies,” said Tommy, “ I can’t swim a bit; 
I fear I shall drown in your sight; 
On one of your backs, if you’d just let me sit, 
You’d find me exceedingly light.” 
Not a single kind “yes” would the young ducklings say, 
But, “ He wanted to climb mamma’s back. 
He came out here, too, in a very strange way; 
We’ll have nothing to do with him, — quack!” 
Tom thought his last hour had come, when he espied 
Eva’s brother and playfellow, Frank, 
Bun down through the garden, with Trip by his side, 
And stop when he came to the bank. 
“ Why look, Trip,” said Frank, “there is something afloat 
Out there by the Muscovy duck; tommy’s trials. 
113 
I scarcely can think ’tis my snug little boat 
Which capsized, — that would be too good luck, — 
But, Trip, you shall swim out and see what it is.” 
And Frank threw a very small stone, 
Which grazed Tommy’s head, (he had meant just to 
miss, 
And so it was very well thrown.) 
Like a well-behaved spaniel, Trip followed the throw, 
And whether to laugh or to cry 
At what was now coming, our Tom didn’t know, 
As he saw his old enemy nigh. 
He had no time to choose;—when Trip came to the 
spot, 
Where he’d seen the small stone disappear, 
He dropped his wet ears and thought, “ Whom have 
we got? 
’Tis the man that I murdered! — that’s clear.” 
Whatever he felt, not a word did he say, 
For he knew that his master was Frank; 
Not a jot of his orders he dared disobey, 
So he carried Tom straight to the bank. 114 
tommy’s trials. 
His cold, dripping burden, he dropped on the grass; 
Said Frank, 44 ’Tis no boat; — I declare 
It is Eva’s old doll! Why, how came it to pass 
That it ever on earth could get there ?” 
He gave Tom a squeezing that wrung his poor heart, 
But it certainly did him great good; 
And then at full run for the house did they start, 
Trip following fast as he could. 
4 Come, Eva, and see what a wetting Tom’s got, 
Trip has just pulled him out of the pool.” 
44 Oh! did you throw him in ?” 44 No, indeed, I did not, 
I this moment have come home from school. 
And such a mean fellow I never would be, 
But how do you think he got in ?” 
441 don’t know; I left him just under the tree. 
Oh, dear, he is wet to the skin! 
Oh, Tommy! you bad, disobedient boy, 
Why didn’t you mind what I said ? 
No play for a week shall I let you enjoy; 
Come, I’ll dry you and put you to bed.” 
Poor Tom! his most sensitive feelings it stirred 
To hear himself falsely accused; tommy’s trials. 
115 
He was too much exhausted to utter a word, 
But hot brandy he coldly refused. 
Through all his long life he remembered the woes 
That befell him that terrible day; 
But the worst of them was (as you well may suppose), 
Being punished for running away. 
In vain by strict searching, by question and guess, 
Frank labored to gather a clue 
To Tommy’s adventure; Trip would not confess, 
Tom was silent, and no one else knew. 
But when Eva would Trip’s silken ringlets caress, 
And say that she owed him a debt 
For saving Tom’s life, I am obliged to confvas 
That ’twas hard to forgive and forget. 116 
LITTLE MABEL. 
LITTLE MABEL. 
In a large and pleasant garden 
A group of children played; 
Frolicked gaily in the sunshine, 
Rested, laughing, in the shade. 
All were bright, and fresh, and happy, 
All were vigorous, save one, 
Who, beneath a rustic arbor, 
Where thick vines shut out the sun, 
In a little wicker carriage, 
Propped on softest cushions lay, 
With a heart too sad for laughter, 
And with limbs too weak for play. 
As she gazed forth o’er the garden, 
The large tears she tried in vain 
To repress, came dropping slowly, 
Like first drops of summer rain. LITTLE MABEL. 
117 
Not for loneliness nor envy 
Did our little Mabel weep, 
For her mother sat beside her, 
O’er her darling watch to keep; 
And light feet and loving voices 
Oft came, bringing treasures new. 
“The last violets, Mabel darling, 
We have plucked them all for you. 
Or, the strawberries are turning, 
We have found you some quite red; 
Mabel dear, the very large ones 
All came out of my own bed. 
Or look, Mabel, this moss basket 
Maud and I have filled with flowers; 
We thought, to see them growing, 
Would beguile your lonely hours, 
When we are in the school-room, 
And mamma with little Grace. 
Shall we hang it in your window? 
Is not that the nicest place?” 
Ready smile and thanks came quickly 
From the grateful little heart; 
But soon clouds have chased the sunshine, 
And again the tear-drops start. 118 
LITTLE MABLE. 
“What is it ails my Mabel? 
Lay your head upon my breast; 
Would a mother’s love could shield it 
From all sorrow and unrest. 
Is the pain more bitter, darling? 
Or has anything occurred 
To wound that tender spirit, 
By some hasty look or word?” 
“No, dear mother, I feel better 
In this air so soft and mild; 
And none ever speak unkindly 
To the little sickly child. 
As I watched the others playing, 
I thought how all could do 
Something useful, kind, or pleasant, 
For each other and for you. 
Even baby Grace brings sunshine, 
With her pretty little ways; 
I give only care and trouble 
Through the long and painful days.” 
With a silent prayer, the mother 
Bent that pallid brow to kiss; 
“Mabel dear, our heavenly Father 
Hath left none so poor as this. LITTLE MABEL. 
119 
Each has his special blessing, 
Which with others he may share; 
Think you, my precious darling, 
That our Mabel we could spare? 
Are you not the common centre 
Where our thoughts and hopes all blend? 
When my heart is sometimes heavy, 
Are you not my little friend ? 
Is it nothing that your brothers, 
For your sake, have gentle grown? 
That your sisters seek your comfort, 
Ere they think upon their own ? 
Trust our gracious Father’s wisdom, 
He has nothing made in vain; 
Would he vainly doom my Mabel 
To a weary life of pain? 
Doubt not he has a purpose, 
A wise purpose, boon of love, 
Though he may not let you read it 
Till you reach your home above.” 
Then they talked of that bright kingdom 
Where can come no grief nor fears; 
Where, from eyes long used to weeping, 
God shall wipe away the tears; — 120 
LITTLE MABEL. 
Till the little one’s closed eyelids, 
And her breathing, soft and deep, 
Proclaimed the gentle presence 
Of the blessed soother, sleep. 
In her quiet, peaceful slumber, 
Oft unconsciously she smiled; 
And the mother’s heart grew lighter 
As she watched her sleeping child, 
Till again the dark eyes opened, 
But all quietly she lay, 
As though her thoughts were pleasant; 
At length she turned to say; 
“ Mother, while I was sleeping, 
An angel seemed to come 
And bear me, through the sunshine, 
Straight to our heavenly home. 
There were many glorious angels, 
And many children there; 
And their faces were most lovely, 
I cannot tell how fair. 
From a few forms among them 
A star-like radiance shone; LITTLE MABEL. 
121 
And, mother, much I wondered 
To see it round my own. 
I asked one of the angels, 
‘ In heaven, where all is bright, 
Why are these blest ones shining 
As with a double light?’ 
And he said, 1 It is the promise 
That those pure souls who turn 
Many unto our Father, 
Like stars for aye shall burn.’ 
He stayed no further question, 
Though I longed to ask him why 
The radiance should encircle 
Such a little one as I? 
I wandered, calm and blissful, 
Through all those heavenly scenes, 
And my dream has made me happy, 
Though I know not what it means. 
The mother thought, “Our Father 
To the child hath surely given 
The blessed task of winning 
Some precious souls to heaven. 122 
LITTLE MABEL. 
She is not one to travel 
On the upward path alone;” 
But she told not little Mabel 
How her fair example shone; 
Nor how her home was hallowed 
By her love and purity; 
For she would not rob her snow-drop 
Of its sweet humility. THE TALE OF THE 
123 
THE TALE OF THE GREAT GIANT, SMOKEY POKEY. 
Once on a time there lived in the mountains of the 
moon a great giant, who lay all day on his back, and 
smoked a pipe as big as a stove. He was so huge that 
the people brought him presents in harvest time, and 
begged him to go to sleep for a month, because if he 
stood up he got in the way of the sun, and kept the 
grain from growing ripe. 
This giant had a son who was no larger than most 
folks, but who was as vicious, and wicked, and cunning 
as a fox. One day he went away on a journey, and 
when he came back he said to his father, “ Pick me up; 
I have something to say.” Then Smokey Pokey set him 
on his hand and listened. “I have seen a beautiful 
princess,” continued his son, “ and I wish to marry her. 
I have only nine wives; I have asked the king, her father, 124 
GREAT GIANT, SMOKEY POKEY. 
to give her to me, and he will not.” “ Then,” said the 
giant, “ we will eat him. Go and tell him this.” 
Accordingly his son set off, and the next month reached 
the king’s court, where he found a young prince, who, 
having come with a great retinue to woo the Princess 
Ellera, she had promised to love him for ever and ever. 
When the king heard the message of Smokey Pokey he 
cried aloud, “I shall never give my daughter to such a 
cruel, ugly, little wretch as you. I will give her to who- 
ever is brave enough to kill the giant.” 
“ Then,” said the prince, “ I will go. Make your mind 
easy. In a year and a day I shall be with you again.” 
Thus saying, he mounted his horse and rode away swiftly, 
kissing his hand to the princess. Meanwhile the giant’s 
son also departed. So soon as they met outside of the 
city the prince said to the giant’s son, “ You are a mean 
and cruel man to carry so base a message. Prepare to 
die, for I shall surely kill you.” 
Upon this the giant’s son fled, but the prince soon over- 
took and slew him. Then he exchanged clothes with 
him and cut off his own beard, so as to be like as possible 
to the giant’s son. After a long journey he came to the 
castle of the giant, and found him sitting on the hillside, THE TALE OF THE 
125 
smoking a mighty great pipe, so that he could hardly 
be seen for the smoke. After the prince had sneezed 
for a day he was able to talk, and then he said to the 
giant, imitating his son’s voice, “ Papa, I have changed 
my mind; the princess is ugly, — I do not want her.” 
“Bah !” said the giant. “No matter: it is long since 
I ate a king; I shall eat them both.” 
At this the prince was in despair, but he concealed 
his vexation and said, “ Well, let us set out.” 
The giant arose at once and started off, leaving the 
prince to follow him. The first night the prince caught 
up to him and found him asleep; so he took his sword 
and tried to stab him, but his skin was as tough as sole 
leather, and the giant only rolled about and cried out, 
“ How bad the mosquitoes are !” 
“ I must delay his journey,” thought the prince, “ and 
get time to think a little as to what I shall do.” So he 
found the giant’s shoes near by, and built a big fire in 
them and burned them both, so that they were good for 
nothing. 
“Dear me,” cried Smokey Pokey, when he awoke, 
“ this is queer.” But in a moment he went to a river 
near by, and took two ships and tore out the masts, and 126 
GREAT GIANT, SMOKEY POKEY. 
kicked in the decks, and put one foot in each, and walked 
away with these new shoes, saying, “They fit well 
enough, but they must be full of rats, for something is 
trying to nibble my toes.” 
After another day’s journey the giant lost his way, 
and, when the prince caught up with him, he said, 
“ These hills are very steep, — which is the way ?” 
“ Here,” said the prince. So he led the giant always 
on the side of a great mountain, around and around for 
a week. 
“ At last,” said Smokey Pokey, “ it seems to me that 
my left leg is too long, and my right leg too short!” 
“What a dreadful hill, papa!” answered the prince. 
“ If you were to cut your left leg a little shorter, you 
could walk better on the hillside.” 
“ Yes,” said the giant, who was as stupid as he was 
big, “ that’s a good idea. So he cut off five yards of his 
left leg, and found he fitted the side of the hill very 
nicely. But next day the prince began to go in the 
other direction, which caused the giant to hop like a 
grasshopper, and to cry out with fatigue. At last he 
grew angry, and, seizing the prince, gave him a squeeze, 
which nearly mashed him. “ You young rascal,” said THE TALE OF THE 
127 
he, “you have lamed me for life; I shall never find my 
leg again, and I shall die without having eaten a king. 
Tell me quickly, you who are so cunning, what I shall 
do, or I will kill you!” 
“ Sire,” answered the prince, “ there lives near here a 
great sorceress, who will turn you into a dog, so that you 
can run furiously; and, when you are near the king’s 
palace, she shall turn you into a giant again.” 
“ Good,” replied Smokey Pokey; “ bring her hither.” 
Upon this the prince left him, and after a week came 
back with his fairy godmother, who was the cleverest 
little magician in the world. So soon as she heard the 
giant’s request, she told the prince, in a whisper, that he 
must be careful, because she would have to turn the 
giant into his own shape again if she promised to do so, 
“ Leave the rest to me,” answered the prince, “ only turn 
him into a dog; I ask no more.” 
By this time, Smokey Pokey, who was very impatient, 
cried out, “Promise to change me into a giant again 
when we get near the palace.” 
“ Yes,” said the fairy, “ I promise.” Then the fairy 
touched him with her wand, and cried aloud some Per- 
sian words, and instantly a dog as big as an elephant 128 
GREAT GIANT, SMOKEY POKEY. 
stood on the hill, and there was no longer a giant. Then 
they trotted along slowly, till at length the prince saw 
a swift little hare run out of the wood! As soon as the 
giant dog, Smokey Pokey, espied it, he began to bark 
awfully and to leap about. But when the prince cried 
out, “ Hist, catch him Towser,” Smokey Pokey set off 
after the hare at a great rate, and was soon lost to view. 
As to the fairy and the prince, they laughed for a week, 
because this was a magic hare, which no dog, big or 
little, ever could catch; and, I suppose, that poor Smokey 
Pokey may be hard after him yet. 
This I do know that he never came back, and that 
the young prince married the lovely Princess Ellera. 
THE END. This little book, composed in leisure hours by two lovers of 
children, is herewith dedicated to the Children’s Department 
of the Great Central Fair. 
Sanctified by the cause of our sick and wounded heroes in 
whose aid it is thus put forth, its value is in no small degree 
enhanced by the fact that patriotic hands, whose only recompense 
are unheard blessings from the Hospital and Battle-field, have 
alone brought it to the light. 
The Illustrations were designed by Mr. H. W., of Boston; 
they were transferred to and printed from stone by Mr. Thus. 
Sinclair, of this city. 
The Stereotyping was contributed by Messrs. Fagan & Son. 
The Printing by Messrs. J. B. Lippincott & Co. 
The Paper by Mr. Chas. J. Peterson and Messrs. Chas. 11a- 
GARGE & CO. 
The Dies for the cover by Messrs. Copper & Fry; and 
The Binding by the liberal aid of Messrs. Edw. Gaskill, J. A. 
SrEEL, Miller & Burrock, Wm. Rutter, and Pawson & Nich- 
olson. 
In procuring the publication of this little volume, the under- 
signed, at whose disposal the MSS. were placed, has had every- 
thing to cheer her: the greatness of the cause in all its relations, 
the prompt and generous response of the above-mentioned gen- 
tlemen, and the confidence, in which she is persuaded all who 
remember their childhood will share, that not only is our cause 
hereby assisted, but that a permanent addition is also made to 
our juvenile literature. 
A. L. W.