little loved ones. She fell on her knees, and implored the mermaid to
tell her if she had seen the little girl who played on the sands every
day. “Yes, I certainly know where she is,” replied the mermaid, “she
grows and prospers with thousands of other children in my crystal palace
at the bottom of the deep blue sea. She is happier than any child on
earth.”
With a fresh outburst of weeping the mother begged the mermaid to
restore to her her child. The water queen answered her that she was
touched by her grief, but that the sea never returned alive the mortals
it took away. The only thing she could do for the poor mother was to
allow her to descend with her to her watery palace in order to see her
child.
“Will you have the courage,” she added doubtfully, “to follow me on the
mighty ocean for a hundred hours towards the West, and to dive with me
where the sea is deepest, far down beneath the waves?”
“I have the courage,” answered the mother; “I am ready to follow you.”
Then the mermaid swam ashore near the sand-hill. She
[Illustration: EVERY MORNING THE MERMAID LOOKED IN AT THE WINDOW]
told the widow to seat herself on her green and scaly fish’s tail, then
she swam away faster than the fastest ship over the surface of the
water. The boundless sea was soon plunged in the darkness of night as
they continued their journey towards the West.
At length a ray of light was visible on the bosom of the ocean, and
presently they came to an archway of coral, which they entered. “Here we
are,” said the mermaid, “take a deep breath into your lungs; courage, we
are going to dive.”
The dive was much quicker than the voyage over the ocean, and in a few
seconds they found themselves in the most marvellous palace that mortal
eyes have ever beheld. It was exactly as the mermaid had described it.
The roof was of sparkling water.
The building of crystal, flooded with a golden light.
The mother paid no heed to these splendours. She looked around on every
side in the hope of discovering her beloved child. The mermaid led her
into a hall framed with silver, to a glass door, behind which they saw a
number of little girls and boys playing happily together. The mother was
allowed to look as long as she pleased, but was forbidden to enter the
room.
[Illustration: A NUMBER OF LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS]
At first she could not see her child, but afterwards discovered her
among a group of merry children. She was in blooming health, and was
enjoying herself every bit as much as her companions.
The mother was very unhappy, and begged the mermaid to allow her to live
in her palace, as she could not bear to be far away from her little
girl. Her request was granted, and every day she would look with
longing eyes through the glass door. She implored the mermaid daily on
bended knee to allow her to return home with her child, but in vain.
One day she took pity on her, and said, “I will give you back your
child, but on one condition.”
“Ask what you will,” said the mother; “I am willing to do anything
possible.”
“You must weave me a cloak of your own hair,” said the mermaid. “Here is
a pot of ointment which will make your hair grow again.”
The mother immediately set to work; she continued without a pause day
and night.
Every morning the mermaid looked in at the window of her room to see
what progress she had made. She could only make half a cloak, as she had
used all her hair. She begged the mermaid to be satisfied with this, but
in vain; she was immovable and demanded that the work should be
completed.
At length, after sad years of waiting, the wonderful cloak was finished.
The mermaid was delighted with it, and the little girl, now a young
maiden, was restored to her mother.
The mermaid ordered a beautiful rounded barque, inlaid with shells, and
with a brazen pelican as figure-head. Four mermaids were harnessed to
it, and took the mother and her child across the mighty deep, back to
their own home, where they lived happily ever after.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: THE MERMAID, THE MOTHER, AND HER DAUGHTER]
[Illustration: THE HALF-COCK, THE TWO FOXES, AND THE TWO ROBBERS]
THE STORY OF THE LITTLE HALF-COCK
Johnny and Molly lived in a little hut in the forest. When their parents
died they were left quite alone in the world, and had to divide their
heritage between them. They were dreadfully poor and possessed nothing
but two hens and a cock.
The puzzle was how to divide these animals into equal shares.
At last Molly said, “Let us cut the cock in two, and have half each.”
This was done; Johnny had the part with the head, and Molly had the tail
end.
Molly plucked her portion of the cock, and put it into the saucepan.
Suddenly Johnny’s godmother, who was a fairy, appeared down the chimney.
“Listen,” she said to her godson, “you must not put your half into the
saucepan; I will enchant him, and he will do anything you wish.”
On saying which the fairy thrust her wand in the cinders, murmured some
strange words, and then touched the head of the Half-cock with her wand.
The clock struck midnight.
“Good-bye,” said the fairy, and she disappeared up the chimney.
“That is all very well,” said Johnny to his sister, “but what are we
going to do with the Half-cock now?”
Molly, who was the cleverer of the two, thought to herself, “If we had
money we should have everything we want.” She said, “Send him to Mr.
Brauncastle’s to fetch three bags of silver.”
The cock started off immediately.
On the way he met two robbers, who were much surprised, and said to him,
“Little Half-cock, where are you running to?”
“To Mr. Brauncastle’s,” he replied.
[Illustration: I WILL ENCHANT HIM]
“May we go with you?”
“Yes, hide yourselves under my wings.”
The robbers settled themselves as comfortably as they could under the
Half-cock’s wings.
A little farther on they overtook two foxes.
“Little Half-cock, where are you going?” they asked.
“To Mr. Brauncastle’s castle.”
“May we come with you?”
“Yes, hide yourselves under my wings.”
In less than a second the foxes had joined the robbers.
At length the Little Half-cock came to a large pond which was equally
inquisitive.
“Little Half-cock, where are you running so quickly?” asked the water.
“To Mr. Brauncastle’s castle.”
“May I come with you?”
“Yes, hide under my wings.” Drip, drip--the water joined the other
lodgers.
Ring-a-ding-ding! The Half-cock rang at the castle door.
[Illustration: THEY IMMEDIATELY MOUNTED TWO HORSES]
“Tell your master that I want three bags of silver.”
“What an impertinent creature!” thought the servant who answered the
door. He took the message to his master. The latter replied, “Put the
Little Half-cock into the chicken-run with the hens.” This was done.
When night fell the Half-cock said to the foxes, “My good fellows, come
out from under my wings, and eat all the hens.”
There was no need to tell them twice; they set to work with a will,
feathers flew in all directions, and before you could count three they
had eaten the lot. When the servant went to the chicken-run the next
morning, he was horrified, and said to his master in a trembling voice,
“All the hens have been eaten. The Little Half-cock is roosting on the
rafters, crying, ‘Cock-a-doodle-do! Cock-a-doodle-do!’”
“Well, put him into the stable,” said his master. The servant did so,
but the next night the Little Half-cock set the robbers at liberty. They
immediately mounted two horses, and in the twinkling of an eye they
galloped off.
“Now I know what to expect,” the servant said the next day, as he wiped
the perspiration from his brow. “This time the wretched thief shall not
escape me.”
The Little Half-cock was shut up in a red-hot oven. Now it was the
water’s turn to escape, and the fire was immediately put out.
The next day the water had risen to the first story, and the Little
Half-cock was swimming courageously on the surface, crowing as loudly as
ever he could.
“Give him three bags of silver as quickly as ever you can,” said Mr.
Brauncastle; “get rid of him or he will ruin me and all my family.”
The Little Half-cock went away and gave the money to his master.
Johnny and Molly were now rich, very rich.
They are very happy and get on well together; the Little Half-cock lives
with them, and is their best friend.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: THE WATER JOINED THE OTHER LODGERS]
[Illustration: THE BLACKSMITH, THE DWARF, AND HIS HAT]
THE DWARF AND THE BLACKSMITH
Once upon a time there was a poor blacksmith who had no possessions
other than his wife and six children. He worked like a nigger from morn
to night, and it was all he could do to make both ends meet at the end
of each year.
One day he went to see a dying friend who lived some distance from the
village, and it was very late when he returned home. On the way the road
wound round a hill, at the foot of which lay a wood. As he turned the
corner of the road he heard a strange sound. In front of him, surrounded
by an embankment crowned with willow-trees, was a field flooded by
moonlight, where several little men with long beards were disporting
themselves. They were throwing their red caps in the air, and catching
them very skilfully on their toes.
Our blacksmith, who was not the bravest of mortals, dared not go on, and
hid himself behind a large tree among the bushes. After he had been
there some time there was a sudden silence, and quick as lightning all
the little dwarfs disappeared into the hill. On peering round him, the
blacksmith discovered that one dwarf remained behind. He seemed to be
looking for something. He saw him put his arm into a crack in the rock
several times and draw it out.
“This little fellow cannot harm me,” thought the smith; “I should very
much like to know what he is looking for.” Treading cautiously, he
approached the dwarf. He discovered that the dwarf’s hat had fallen into
the crack, and that his arm was not long enough to reach it. He
immediately pulled it out and handed it to him.
The little fellow thanked the smith, and said, “You will be rewarded for
what you have done for me to-day. We had a feast here to-day, during
which we are obliged to wear our caps on our heads. If I had lost mine I
should not have been able to attend the feasts for seven years.”
[Illustration: “THIS LITTLE FELLOW CANNOT HARM ME”]
It goes without saying that the smith related his strange adventures to
his wife, and they were very curious to know how the dwarf would reward
them.
Every night before going to bed the blacksmith prepared the work which
he and his apprentice would begin the first thing in the morning.
Picture his surprise the next day, when he found that the work had been
done during the night, and by such skilled hands that there was no fault
to find with it. His assistant, still serving his apprenticeship, was
incapable of such work. Who the clever workman could be he failed to
discover.
[Illustration: THEY WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW IT WAS DONE]
When the same thing happened the following night, the smith and his wife
decided to keep watch. They wanted to find out how it was done.
The mystery was soon cleared up. Towards midnight, the smith, looking
through the chinks in the boards of the attic, saw the little dwarf
whose hat he had restored to him come in. The little fellow immediately
set to work, and worked without a pause till morning. It was splendid to
see how quickly he did it, and during this time he did more work than
the smith and his assistant could do in half a day.
This went on for some time. The smith sent away his assistant, although
his custom had increased, and he earned much money, so that he and his
wife and children enjoyed good times, and saved a large sum.
[Illustration: ANOTHER SET OF VERY FINE MATERIAL]
The smith and his wife very often watched the dwarf at his work, and
they consulted together to see in what way they could reward his
kindness. One day his wife said, “I have an idea; didn’t you notice last
time that his clothes looked rather shabby? I shall make him another set
of very fine material.” This was done. The wife made the dwarf a set of
clothes fit for a prince, and in the evening it was folded neatly and
placed on a chair in the smithy. The smith and his wife went into the
attic to see what would happen.
The dwarf was delighted with the clothes. He unfolded them and examined
them one by one, and his smiling face showed how pleased he was. He put
the garments on, and when he was dressed, he put on his little red hat
decorated with a feather.
He was as proud as a peacock, and greatly pleased with
[Illustration: THE DWARF’S FEAST]
himself. At length he turned to the door and disappeared, this time
without doing a stroke of work.
The blacksmith never saw the little imp again. The work prepared
overnight was no longer finished in the morning. The smith was obliged
to do the work himself, but his two eldest sons could help him now, and
so, thanks to the dwarf, they were always able to keep the wolf from the
door.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: THE WIZARD, THE TURKEY, AND THE COUNTESS]
PERCY THE WIZARD NICKNAMED SNAIL
Long ago, when women spun at their spinning-wheels, there lived a man
who was nicknamed Snail.
Snail was very fond of a glass, and his wife had a weakness for
hotchpotch.
Every week Percy Snail took the thread his wife had spun to market. His
wife never scolded him for losing a few pennies, or being muddle-headed
on the way back, provided he brought all the necessary ingredients for a
nice hotchpotch.
One day he sold the thread at a high price. He was in good spirits; all
the way home he rattled the money in his pocket, thinking, “To-day I
shall be able to have more than one glass.” He went into every little
wayside inn he passed, in order to see where the best liquor was sold.
Little by little his money began to disappear, until he had scarcely any
left, and he realized at the same time that he was rather intoxicated.
He stumbled along the road as well as he could, and on putting his hand
in his pocket, found, to his great surprise, that he had only five
farthings.
He counted them over and over again until he was forced to
[Illustration: THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS FOR A NICE HOTCHPOTCH]
believe his eyes. The worst of it was that he had quite forgotten his
wife’s favourite dish. He continued his way meditating and calculating,
and quite unconsciously entered another inn. In a second his last
farthing was in the innkeeper’s pocket.
He suddenly felt very tired and fell asleep with his head on the table.
When he awoke he felt better, and his head was clearer. He considered
what he had better do. He dared not return home as he knew what a warm
welcome he would have! He could not stay in the inn as he had spent all
his money, and innkeepers do not give credit. Although undecided, he was
about to leave the inn, when the innkeeper, pleased to have a chat so
early in the evening, told him that the countess who lived at the
neighbouring castle had had a ring set with diamonds stolen.
The wealthy lady, who set great value on the ring, had promised a reward
of a hundred crowns to the finder.
“Well, upon my soul,” thought Percy, contemplating his empty glass,
“that would be a stroke of luck for me; if I could discover the thief, I
should be saved.”
[Illustration: IF I COULD DISCOVER THE THIEF]
Without answering the innkeeper, he got up, went off at once to the
castle, and introduced himself as a wizard.
The countess promised him a hundred crowns if in three days he succeeded
in discovering the thief. If he failed to do so, he would be sent away
in disgrace.
The first day he searched all the nooks and crannies in the garden for
the lost jewel. He ferreted in every bush and ditch, turned over every
mole-hill, but in vain. Quite by chance, while he was feeling in the
moss and the grass, he saw three servants talking excitedly together.
Very ashamed at the thought that these men should have witnessed his
useless and ridiculous search, Snail passed by them still in a bent
position, but at the same time glanced defiantly at them.
[Illustration: ONE OF THEM WHISPERED TO THE OTHERS]
Now a strange thing happened. He had hardly turned his back on the three
men when one of them whispered to the others, so low that Percy was
unable to hear what they were saying, “Beware, my friends, be careful
what you say. This strange wizard looked at us as though he were
watching us; has he already discovered the thief?”
In the evening, after Percy Snail had had his supper, the countess
ordered a valet to show him to his room. Percy was very depressed; one
day had passed without his having discovered a single clue. He sank into
a chair with a deep sigh, and as the servant was leaving the room,
muttered under his breath, “Poor fellow! That is one of the three.”
When the servant heard this he was very frightened. He rushed downstairs
and said to his comrades, “My friends, we are lost, this stranger has
discovered everything.” He told them what he had heard. From that moment
they avoided Percy.
The second day he searched in the attics and cellars of the castle, but
could not find the ring. As chance would have it, in the evening the
countess ordered another valet to show Percy Snail to his room. He was
more depressed than ever, and flung himself down on the bed, saying to
himself, “Poor fellow, you are to be pitied! That is already the second,
and still nothing.”
The valet, who listened attentively, repeated these words to his
accomplices. “The wretch has certainly discovered all. I bet my life
that to-morrow he will tell the countess everything. We shall then be
imprisoned as well as lose our good places.”
[Illustration: TO OFFER HIM PART OF THEIR SAVINGS]
After a long discussion, they decided to confess all to the wizard, to
implore him not to betray them to the countess, and to offer him part of
their savings.
This was done. They explained their position to Percy Snail, handed him
the diamond ring, and the sum of money agreed on between them.
“Are you convinced now,” said Snail, taking leave of them, “that your
sin will always find you out? I discovered your villainy during the
first hour I passed in the castle. I will keep silence this time, but
beware if I find you out again.”
Percy Snail, full of cunning, procured a little lump of paste; in it he
concealed the ring, and threw it to some geese and turkeys which were
feeding near by.
“Ik, kih, ih-kih!” said a fat turkey, and “slok,” the little lump of
paste was swallowed.
An hour or two afterwards Percy asked for the countess.
[Illustration: THREW IT TO SOME GEESE AND TURKEYS]
“Noble lady,” he said, “disabuse your mind of all suspicion against your
servants. That black turkey is the thief.”
The bird was promptly seized and killed.
You can imagine every one’s astonishment when the ring was discovered.
Snail thought he would immediately receive the promised reward of a
hundred crowns, but he was rudely mistaken.
The countess suspected that she was dealing with a rogue. In order to be
quite satisfied on this point she decided to put him to a second test.
“I am lost in admiration at your ability,” she said in a forced manner.
“I beg you not to go without giving me another proof of your skill.”
Snail, who knew full well what she meant, was very ill at ease. However,
he boldly replied, “Madam, I am yours to command, one proof more or less
is nothing to me.”
[Illustration: THE COUNTESS HAD TWO DISHES PLACED BEFORE HIM]
In the evening, when seated at table for supper, the countess had two
dishes placed before him, one on the top of the other.
They fitted so exactly that no one could suspect that a little snail had
been placed between them.
“Wizard,” said the countess, “listen to me; if you can tell me what lies
between these two dishes, I will give you fifty crowns over and above
those you were promised! If, however, you do not know, you will be
turned out of the castle, after receiving as many lashes with the whip
as you would have received crowns.”
You can imagine how his heart sank within him. He was struck dumb, and
could not hide his confusion. He was over an hour cudgelling his brains
for an answer, but without success. He dared not open his lips for fear
of guessing wrong.
He thought of his wife, and the whipping that awaited him, and his
courage slipped away from him. He strained every nerve in his agitation.
“Well, poor Snail, poor Snail,” he sighed.
Imagine his surprise when the countess said, “I am beaten, my friend, I
am beaten. It is a snail....”
She lifted off the top dish. The insect was lying dead on the lower
dish.
Our wizard’s joy was boundless. He received the hundred and fifty
crowns, and ran home with all speed.
For a whole week he continued to indulge himself with little glasses,
and his wife ate hotchpotch every day to the honour and glory of the
worthy Snail, who by a stroke of good fortune had become such a clever
wizard.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: SIMPLE JOHN]
SIMPLE JOHN
Simple John had served his master, a cowkeeper, for seven years, when
the latter being overwhelmed by misfortunes was obliged to dismiss his
servants. Having no money with which to reward John for his faithful
service, he proposed to give him the one remaining horse in his stables.
John, who had sometimes driven in the horses from the field on Sunday
evenings when the grooms were at the inn, jumped for joy at the
suggestion. He thanked his master with all his heart, and led the beast
from the stable. He set out on his journey home to his parents’ hut,
singing:
“You set out on foot, you return on horseback.”
In about half an hour he reached a cross-road, where he saw a peasant
with a cow harnessed to a plough working in his field.
“What a strange and useful beast,” thought John, as he pulled up his
horse. “Tell me, man,” he cried to the peasant, “is that animal strong
enough for such hard work?”
“If she chooses,” replied the other. “I wager she can pull as well as
the best horse, and not only can she draw the plough, but she gives
milk, which my wife churns into excellent cheeses,
[Illustration: SIMPLE JOHN, THE HORSE, THE COW AND THE PIG]
that make one’s mouth water. If one day we wish to get rid of her we
shall take her to the Brussels market, and any one will be pleased to
give us a bag of silver for her.”
[Illustration: THE BRUSSELS MARKET]
“Good gracious,” said John, “my mother should certainly have such a
wonderful beast, but as it would cost a bag of silver, I am afraid we
shall never have one. If only I could exchange my horse for one!--but no
one would do so.”
“Oho,” thought the peasant, who already scented a bargain, “a horse in
exchange for my old worn-out cow, that would be splendid. Listen to me,
my friend,” he continued; “as you seem such a good fellow I am willing
to give you my cow in exchange for your horse. Tell me you are not
joking, and that the horse really belongs to you?”
“Certainly,” answered John, “to whom should it belong? I have served the
same master for seven years, and have received this horse in lieu of
wages.”
John was in the seventh heaven. “How pleased my mother will be,” he
cried, and went on his way without further delay.
Soon after his path lay between two fields of ripe corn; suddenly a
strange sound arrested him, “Ugh, ugh,” and immediately afterwards a
farm hand came in sight with a willow twig in his hand, driving a pig
down the winding path.
“Well, well,” said John, “what a pretty creature, what funny, roguish
eyes, and what a curious corkscrew tail! Tell me what that pretty beast
is called.”
“This one?” said the boy. “Tell me first what you call the animal you
are leading, and then I will tell you what kind of pig mine is.”
“It is a cow,” said John. “She gives milk, which is churned into
cheeses. I bought it for nothing. I only gave my horse, which I received
as reward for seven years’ service.”
“Good,” replied the other. “You only gave a horse in exchange for your
cow. Well, my beast makes its owner’s fortune, and is certainly worth
more than a cow. If he finds something to nibble he rapidly becomes as
fat as butter. Then he is slaughtered and cut open. It is incredible
what comes out of him: liver, kidneys, ears, trotters, sausages,
black-puddings, ham, bacon, and carbonades. You can make brushes with
his bristles. Of course such an animal costs more than a foolish cow.”
[Illustration: “LIVER, KIDNEYS, SAUSAGES”]
“Oh, dear!” sighed John, when he heard this, “that is a lot of money. It
is quite beyond the likes of me.”