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FRONTISPIECE.

FAIRY REALM
A COLLECTION OF

THE FAVOURITE OLD TALES.

ILLUSTRATED BY THE PENCIL OF

GUSTAVE DORE.
TOLD
IN

VERSE BY TOM HOOD.

LONDON

WARD, LOCK, AND TYLER,

AND
107

158

FLEET STREET,

DORSET STREET, SALISBURY SQUARE.

PREFACE.

'T'HE

five

favourite
so
well

fairy

legends

which
been

M. GUSTAVE DORE
so

has
so to

illustrated

are

known,
that
it

have
was
a

often

told,

and

in

many

different

ways,
best

matter of

no

small

difficulty
I

determine

the
is

mode
the

of

treating
in

them.
metre
if

The
and

plan
in

have

adopted

to

give

tales

simple

the

most

unpretending

manner,
in

going,

in

short,

little

anything
this

beyond
task

mere
as
I

recital

easy verse.

From
have

performing

even

plain
health,

could
that

have

wished
I

been

prevented

by

ill

and
of

fear

what
with

have
of
the

written

little

deserves

the

honour

association
pictures.

works
have
I

genius
single

like

M.
of

GUSTAVE
knowing

DORE'S
that
I

But

satisfaction

have done the best

could.

TOM HOOD.
November,
1865.

CONTENTS.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

LITTLE RED RIDING
PUSS IN BOOTS

HOOD

29

CINDERELLA

HOP

O'

MY THUMB

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

TN

strange region, dim and Which lies so very far away,

that
chronicles
in

grey,

Whose
Are

dated "
a

Once
ear

prose or rhyme upon a time,"

There was

land where
it

So deep,

the

reigned almost pained

clarion
is

silence

To

hear the

gnat's

shrill

blow,

Though

he Sleep's herald

we know.

Scarce would

you deem

that

calm profound,

Unbroken by the ghost of sound, Had, like a sudden curtain, dropt

Upon
And

revel,

instant

stopt,

That laugh and shout

hunting song had
Stricken
to

and merry rout

all

died out,
at
It

silence
!

touch

A
I
'11

single

touch
it

was not

much

tell

you how

came about.

What
Of
Princess

bevies of

pages

various

ages

Prettipet's

christening

banquet engages
as

They

all

look

What To judge by

deeply important hundreds of cooks

!

as

sages.

their

looks,

They had written the very profoundest of books. (Of course, books like those by Hobbes, Bacon, or Hooker Mean not mere Kitchener's Essays on Cookery.)

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

As

to

the cartes, the

From
'T would need to

soups

to

the
a

tarts,

detail

them
to

man
item

of some

parts

While

to

eat of each

To
The
veracious
If

taste

just

bite

'em,
affright

voracious will

own would
about,
lobsters,
ice,

'em.

you want to find out

or
partridges,

The amount, Of
the

salmon,

beef,

sourcrout,
trout,

Maccaroni, potatoes, cream,

real

cutlets,

Lamb, blanc-mange, kippered

Sheep's Sole au gratin,
Jelly,
trotters,
turtle,
snails,

herring, duck,
truffles,

brocoli

sprout,

tripe,

swine's

snout,

birds'

nests,

Dutch
ale,

cheese,

whiting-pout,

plovers'

eggs,

bitters,

liqueurs,

wine,
ragout

stout,

Peas,

cheese,

fricassees,

and ragout

(say

For the sake of the rhyme)

And

have plenty of time, a knowledge of figures (which I call a crime), Because it's a feat that would puzzle beginnersMake out and declare

And

The cube
Of
twice

of the

square

twenty

thousand of Lord Mayor's grand dinners.

The invited guests begin With nobles and courtiers

They
hustle,

to

arrive

the scene

is

alive.

And
In
rich

bustle,

dresses

rustle

The

squeeze for good places is almost a tussle; Precedence depends not on birth, but on muscle.

But they're none of them

able

To

reach

the

high

table,

For the grave Major-Domo, perceiving the Babel,

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

sufficient

space

clears

With
If

the

King's
for

Musqueteers,
it

Because he well knows

will

cost

him

his

ears

when the time comes

twelve fairy

The

godmothers

soups and the cannot find seats.

the

meats

At

last

there

's

bray
say
's

Of

trumpets,

to

That His Majesty's Majesty

all

coming

this

way,

With his Ministers gorgeous array, his Council, a noble display, And the Lords of And the Queen, who's as beauteous as blossoms in May, With her Ladies in Waiting so smiling and gay, With a great many more
in
their
I

might

briefly
I

run o'er
were only mi
fait.

If

at

pageants like this

The glittering Makes stately

procession

progression
in

To

the

seats

that

the

Musqueteers hold
hall;
all

possession

At the top of the While the visitors

Are crowded to death, though the place But from wall unto wall

is

not small,

Crammed

with short folks

and

tall,

Who, as chances befall, And in various degrees

They
All
suffer

the

squeeze,
call,
fall,

bawl,

brawl,

haul,

maul, squall,

crawl,

and sprawl

The King

's

looking pleasant,

Expecting a presentSay knives, forks, and spoons that cost many a bezant

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

For
for

his

From
(A fay
a

daughter and heiress each of the fairies

;

sponsor in
fairies,

these days

quite

rare

is

1)

But

we know,
to bestow

Have

gifts

More

precious

and gold ones One gives the babe beauty, Another gives health,
than
silver

and so

This a strong sense of duty,

That plenty of
Five,
six,

wealth.
nine,

seven,

eight,

ten

Add
"
Says,
I

their

presents,

but when
last

Eleven have endowed her, the

really

of the dozen
her,

don't

know what

to give

dear cousin,"

(Addressing the Queen,) " But the courses between

I

shall

hit

upon something.
seats,

will

not be

mean
"
!

So pray take your

As, while
I

for

'm not such a sinner

am

thinking, to keep

you from dinner

The King
Beside

has

taken the highest place,

lace.

him the Queen in her diamonds and Each fairy godmother

Sits

down by

another,

the Archbishop is just saying grace, When in comes a cook, with a very white face, cries, as he straight up the hall rushes nimbly,
lord

And my

Who

"

Please

your Majesty, somebody

's

fell

down the chimbley

"
!

There

's

silence

in

the

hall

For

half

minute,

And not a word doth fall From those within it No And yet it When, lo
;
!

is

so

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

The sound

of a foot comes

Up

the

staircase

heavy and slow from down below

;

And
Walks
straight

figure

ill-grown,

Unattended, alone,

through the guests to the foot of the throne,

And

then with a squeak

Rising into a shriek, And eyes that with fury are terribly glistening, " Cries, Pray, sir, why was not / asked to the christening

"
?

'Twas old Fairy

Spite,

Whom
Was
And
besides

they did

not invite,
polite.

Because of her manners, which were not

She led a bad

addicted

life,

to
all

strife,

worst of

she

ate

peas with

knife

But 'twas

really

no joke

Her wrath
So
in

to

hopes
"

to

appease
said,

provoke. her His Majesty spoke,

affrighted,

And

sore

They both were delighted

To

see

her that

day
they was she had not been invited
fact,

Quite charmed
Couldn't think

in

how

it

Shrieked Spite, " Silence, gaby Let's look at the baby."

The Queen, Her fears to

' ;

in

tremble,

dissemble,

Said,

Here

is

the darling
'd
like,

papa

she'll

resemble.
her,

You
But
She
"
sleeps."
"

p'rhaps,

to take

Sleeps

please not to wake her, " does she said Spite, really

'11

make

her

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

Of

sleep,

(Here
" If she touches

ma'am, have plenty" -CHORUS "Attente ! ")*

a spindle

before

she

is

twenty

" For

if

she does,
all

heavy sleep
shall

Shall over

your palace creep, with your whole court, you, " Buried in leaden fetters deep

And

keep

" Until "

here
as

Fairy

Number

Twelve,
to shelve

Who,
Her
" Until

we know, was forced

gift

because the banquet waited,

Broke

in

and capped what Spite had stated

prince shall

come

to

wake

The Sleeping Beauty, and so break The spell wherewith old Spite in vain Would her young life for aye enchain

"
!

The King
Proclaiming
'Gainst

sent

heralds

through the land

spindles

contraband,

Pronouncing penalties and pains

distaffs,

treadles,

rocks,

and skeins.

And

so to spin a
sin
;

Became
Wheels were bowled

out,

and looms came

in.

No

more old women were allowed

to

meddle
or
treadle
;

With wheel
There were no
spinsters
left,

the fair deceivers

All

became weavers

The

passage

quote in
in

this

Ssuredly find

Act

I.

of

wild dithyramb you " Sonnambula."

Ml

a-

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

The

very

name and

uses

of a

spindle

To nought
The
fashion was,
folks
said,

did dwindle

Expired

past

human

Entirely dead, effort to re-kindle.

Time's wonted pace Is not a rapid race

His

motto seems to be " Festina lente"

But yet he passed away,

Until at length the day Approached on which the Princess would

be twenty.

What

preparations times for people of busy

What What

consultations
!

all

stations

What What

scouring out of rooms

!

With mops and brooms

scouring to and fro of hurried grooms No leisure, not the least,

For man or

beast,

Because His Majesty had fixed a feastAcres of eatables and seas of ale,

banquet that should make

all

others

pale,

E'en those of Heliogabalus, deceased To celebrate the day his child was quite

Beyond the malice of old Fairy

It

Spite

was

scene of
vast

bustle

and intrusion, and rare confections

And

profusionfish,
!

Such game, and meat, and

The tables and the Down- and up-stairs

chairs

Were packed away

piled

up

in

all

directions,

In chaos, which the master of a house Whose want of nous

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

Is

such that he allows

his

wife

a soiree,

Discovers

He
In

fain

round him, when tired out and sorry, would sleep, but cannot for the din dozethat

short,

plague,

" a

house turned out of windows."

wonder the Princess, so meek and quiet, Should run away from all the dust and riot.

No

No wonder, I When all the

From Were
the

repeat,
uite,

Great Seal to her

if

who made

the

beds,

hardly sure

they were on their heads,

feet
!

Or on

their

No

no soul aware, Even of those who had her in their care-

wonder the Princess

Stole

from her room, and up a winding

stair,

Up
Went

to

the

Without

highest turret's or let or stop,

the
scenery

tipmost

top,

to enjoy

and

air

In

room

at

the

top of the

An

old

dame

Merrily, with never span,

tower that day merrily turned the wheel

a
stay,

The wool was

as

Merrily, merrily turned white as the driven snow,

the wheel

Merrily,

merrily

turned the wheel

And

she

"

sang,

Merrily,

merrily,

oh

Merrily turn the wheel

"
!

The

Princess

looked in

at

the door

and

said
!

What

Merrily, merrily turned the wheel bonny white wool, and what bonny white thread Merrily, merrily turned the wheel
!

"
!

" The Princess looked in at the door and said

*

What

bontiy

white wool, and what bonny white thread !

'

"

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

'

Come

hither,

then,

and make the wheel go Merrily, merrily turned the wheel

fair

"
!

one,

Said ugly old

Spite,

who

sang,

Merrily, oh Merrily turn the wheel

!

"

"
!

She turns the wheel and wakes She

twists

its

busy hum,
;

the white wool with

call

She hears them

her, but

her whiter fingers she will not come

:

Charmed with The wheel runs

the

toy,

in

that

small

room
full,

she

lingers.

swiftly

and the

distaff's

She takes the spindle

heedless
fall

of

who
befalls

calls

her.

Two

tiny drops
all

of

blood

on the wool,
her
!

And

that

cruel

Spite foretold

ON

ONE AND ALL

!

DlD SUDDEN SLUMBER PALL

The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The

steed

that

in

the

very

bird

upon

palace courtyard cropt the roof that hopt

for

cook who mincemeat

the

banquet chopt-

gardener who the fruit tree's branches lopt huntsman who his beaded forehead mopt gay young lover who the question popt damsel who thereat her eyelids dropt councillor who fain the state had propt

anxious to adopt courtier in his new court suit be-fopt

King,

his

measures

Rhenish soptscullion wiping up the sauce he slopt

toper
his

who

beak

in

chamberlain, purblind
jester

as

wise

as

ancient

Copt
flopt-

who

peer that

who 'd
fall

in

the

fountain

with
!

mirth had topt

STOPT

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

And

over

all

there

came a change

silence

terrible

and strange
;

While

thickets
it

Enwrapt the place dense of thorn and brier

till

Grew round

the

topmost
did

spire

They

efface.

And

only aged
gather

crones
;

came nigh
passing by,
bold,

To

sticks

or,

Some huntsman
Spying a tower, would ask
its

tale,

And by

the

shepherds scared and pale Would then be told

How many
Had
striven

prince of penetrate

noble blood
the wood,

to

And

reach

the

keep

Where that Princess so passing fair, With King and Queen and courtiers
Lay wrapt
in

there,

sleep.

But how none ever yet could make

path through that thick-tangled brake

And none came

But perished miserably
there,

back,

And

left

their

bones

all

bleached and bare

In

that

dark track

was a solemn place, I ween, Wrapt in its shroud of sombre green,

It

So hushed and

still

-,

The fall Nor was

of every leaf
there
in
its

you
shades

heard,
a

bird

To

cheep

and

trill.

10

s
1
-s>

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

No No

chirped beneath the hedgereed-wren rustled in the sedgecricket

No
Only Did
at

times,

where

skylark soared round the keep

creep,

thickest

snaky

ivies

A
The The
sunlight

grey owl

snored.

slumbered on the wall

tranced

shadow did not

crawl,
;

Dreaming Above their image,

scarcely crept the white lake-lilies lay

still

Or

as

they

The hushed wave

slept

Like hermits dozing

in

their

cells,

Drowsed

in

the drooping

blossom-bells

The murmurous
All languidly the land up-clomb Around the central palace dome

bees

By
But
that

slow degrees.

embowered

pile did

seem

A
Its

cloud from

some

fantastic

dream
place
:

Some
towers were

visioned

clothed in
forests

misty sheen,
base.

And

slumbering

seemed to lean
its

About

The

branches

nodded, and the

breeze
trees,
:

Sighed ceaseless through the sleepy

Nature's

warm

long-drawn here seemed stayed, pulses

breath

Steeped in a trance that all dismayed, 'T was so like death

11

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

Only

for ever

grew and spread

branches
overhead,
leaf

The sombre
As
if

Thick
to

and bloom

make

for

Nature's
still

sleep

The brooding

silence

more deepdeep the

More

gloom

Into

the

heart

a terror sank

The

vegetation lush

and rank

On
And And

all

sides

ran,

looped and drooped

never trace or track

in

bine
sign

and twine

or

Of

living

man

Down by
The
Tra-la-la-la

the

river

that

runs

through the wood

horns
!

are

gaily winding.

That music good

deer's
!

Denotes the red

Tra-la-la-la

finding

La-la!

la-la!

The echoes The music

That
tells

repeat sweet
deer's

of the red

finding

Over the
Tra-la-la-la

river

and over the

vale,

plain,
!

Through
!

forest,

and hollow

Bids

all

That note again good huntsmen follow.

!

Tra-la-la-la

La-la!

la-la!
fail

The

sweet

notes

Along the gale, Then, all good huntsmen, follow

12

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

By many a By many
Tra-la-la-la
!

mile of moorland vast,

a

mile of forest

the

huntsman's blast
is

Tells

where the chase

Tra-la-la-la
!

sorest.

La-la!

la-la!

Oh, hapless
fate
is

deer,

near, Thy Which vainly thou deplorest.

In

vain

the flying quarry seeks

:

The dark wood's friendly branches The chase is done its race is run, The dogs are at its haunches. The Prince looks back. He rides alone,
no longer And he can hear no
suite

His

follow,

friendly cheer
!

In answer to

his

holloa

What What What

a chase

a a

race

terrible
It
's

pace

He He

's

outridden
can

his

friends.

a very queer case-

Where
'11

he have got ? What 's the name of the place never be able his steps to retrace
!

He
Not
For the poor beast
If

pulls

up

his

steed,

too early,
is

indeed,
it

finished,

shakes

like

reed.

his

home

lay quite

near,
steer,

And

he knew where to

His horse could not carry him there

that

is

clear.

13

THE

SLEEPING BEAUTY.

Meanwhile each lengthening shadow shows That day is drawing to a close.

In two more hours the glowing sun Will down the western heavens run,

And quench
In

its

glories

manifold

yon bright

sea of

molten gold.

Before

him
is

that
its

dense thicket vast

awful
silence
its

and dim

Spreads out

and seclusion,
to

And none

near to

tell

tale

him
intrusion.

And

scare

path a giant bole Rears its huge form, a rude gigantic column. That gloomy portal does not fill his soul
either
side his

On

With

fancies

solemn.

His step

is

light

on the luxuriant

sod,

dew-drops spurning. Little he dreams that path has ne'er been trod

From

the green

blades a thousand

By

foot

returning.

Heedless he views the dark nooks in the glades, Passing to spots that shafts of sunlight brighten-

Nor knows

that

human bones
Are

within those
laid

shades

to whiten.

For him there

is

no

terror

in

the
it

spot,

No

hint

of deaths
spectres

to
its

which
bright

interest

sad owes
blot,

For him no

sunshine
its

Or

fill

shadows.

14

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

For him the

Is

secret

of that
that

grove profound
tale,

locked away

tragic

and

tearful.

To him

the death-like calm

Is

that

reigns

around
fearful.

strange,

not

through sunshine and through shade, By paths that ne'er before were trod by mortal, To where the dusky forest's green arcade

So on he

fares,

Leads to a

portal.

Along
'T
is

The
Sets

avenue the young Prince gaily passes, carpeted with velvet moss beneath the nodding grasses. dreamy sunlight through the boughs upon the green sward streaming,
that
silent

here
either
as

and there with radiance

rare

a lingering dew-drop

gleaming.
;

On

hand

rise

lofty

stems

above,
in

the

branches
of some

mingle

And,

green dingle, glimpse of blue shuts of greenery where that long alley closes Framed in an arch He sees a flight of steps, a gate o'ergrown with truant roses,
a

the end

And some one who

beside

the

gate

in

that

warm

sunshine dozes.

Was

ever

there found

sleeper

so sound

He thumps him
Not Can
I

and shakes him, But that never wakes him

;

kick,
stir

tweak, or pinch

him an
stir

inch.

don't

think he

'd

if

you gave him

a- big

An immoderate

slice

of the coldest " cold

pig."

Cried the

Prince,

The
So he
left

"
page,
that

leaping o'er Qu'il s'endort .'"

sleeper

inveterate

to snore
place
to

While he ventured on

farther

the

explore.

15

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

" 'T

is

a very fine
clearly

place

As one
Though, by Jove,"
"
said
's

may

trace-

the

Prince,
it

From

the dirt
as

that

about,

and he made a wry face, don't seem they can muster

dust-brush, or
:

So much

Turk's
It
's

head, or

duster

quite

an inch thick
I

Oh, wouldn't

lick

The minions
If
I

for

playing this

slovenly

trick,

were the owner,

and had a big

stick

Look

with curtains
's

And
It
's

yet the floor

well

and carpets of plush, rooms covered with toadstools and mushrooms

of velvet

for

the

This
It
's

child,

when

parlour-maid she 'd not beside her she left that great cobweb and spider.
isn't

evident

cleanliness

their

"

hobby

With

these words

the

Prince

reached

the

end of the lobby.

From

the

To

the courtyard

lobby he passed to the guard-room, and thence and gardens, which both were immense.

The
Lies

palace,

he

sees,

back beyond these, Apparently rather too darkened by

trees

They're not trees though he finds, bringing closer But ivy and woodbine and other quick creepers,

his

peepers,

Which

with

no interference of gardeners to " worret,"

to the

Have climbed

roof of

the loftiest

turret.

have turned and twirled, Twisted, wandered, rambled, and curled

those
creepers
!

How

Such

place,

Had
From basement

never

ween, been seen

to roof in

such

greenery furled

Throughout the whole inhabited world.

16

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

Not even
For

that
its

building,

so widely

known

want of proportion
abortion,

That

vast

The Exhibition

of 'Sixty-two,
the view,

Though
Seemed

quite

half

a monstrosity to " so overgrown."

Swift

across

the

court
trips,

Now
Sees

the

young Prince
asleep
in
slips
;

around a sallyport
returned

Hounds Huntsmen
All

bold,

from

sport,

prepared Snoring, horns to

to blow
lips

a mort,
!

There they were becalmed,

like

ships

Lying with
Lifeless

all

sail

outspread,

on an ocean dead.

He

draws

near

there
are

is

no one

to

bar
a

his

way,

E'en the steeds

too

sleepy to utter
single
I
'11

"nay,"

While each
In the pack,

hound

be bound, Is so sound there 's no chance of his making a sound, Though not wanting in bark, since he 's closely bound round but then they are boughs With branches of creepers
;

That

are

not of

the

sort

to be

followed

by

"

wows."

One huntsman would have an ugly

If

fall

he were not upheld by the palace wall, Whence a stray branch of woodbine, in pitying scorn for him, Has thrown out a trailer that 's winding his horn for him.

Another one, dropt Off soundly, is propt

By

buttress

that

stands

where

his

steed

by chance

stopt.

17

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

An odd
That
unless

pillow,

vow

For you '11 surely allow of some slumber your need

is

the
rest.

utt'rest,

sleep

on a buttress seems anything but

Two men
in

in

the

doorway

Appear poor way, So closely they're bound

And wound
Around
Their
feet
;

in

fetters,

their

temples

crowned
inclinings,

By

the

snake-like

stems

in

their various

That they must appear

To
Sleeping partners
in

the

Prince,

fear,

some branch department of Twining's.

as

Past
Past

grooms
screws

unawakened
as

as

sad
as

sinners,

of hunters
fast

sound

Derby

winners,

Past

hounds

no

less

As the

express,

Through

Bedfordshire

into the

land of

Nod,

The young

Prince

trod,

And on through
Halls

corridors

and long arcades,

And

wrapt in sombre shades, anterooms wherein had Echo slept So long, it scarce awakened as he stept
Lightly

and swiftly

o'er

That

dusty floor, stood in need of sadly

The

being

swept.

And
In

ever

and anon,
on,
hall,

As he passed
room, in

on

stair,

He

Here, there, and everywhere, came on sleepers sleeping with the

air

18

" He

sees

dnd

a fight of steps, a gate o'ergrown with truant roses, some one tobo beside the gate in that warm sunshine dozes."

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

Of

folks

Whom
That
to

work by sleep nothing could awaken

at

active

o'ertaken.

Not even being

its

like

being

physic with a sediment swallowed 's an impediment

Well shaken

The housemaid, seemingly

Tripping
downstairs

in

fuss

and

fluster,

with feather-broom

and duster,

Caught unaware Upon the bottom

stair

By sudden
Sufficient

slumber,
sense
to

had quite
herself

failed

to

muster
stir,

rouse

to

any

And

so

lay dozing

up

against

the

banister.

lacquey, carrying upstairs

fallen

the coal-scuttle,
fall

Had

napping,

and

let

the whole

scuttle

A
Playing
at

giddy page
his

Was, with another youngster of

fly-the-garter
in,

age,

the hall

When

both asleep did

fall

One
Going
to

take

run,

Straining to start (as when is trained a and there gets Pointer or sporting dog

pup

any

up any
strain),

Partridge or

The

pheasant, other of

in

the

slip

he

'11

the

twain

Had

fallen

asleep while

tucking in his
the

twopenny

Within

their

barracks

several of

guards
cards
;

Were quarrelling in their slumber over The butler in the cellar at the tap

Was He 'd
And
Until

taking such
filled let

nap,

his

silver

flagon o'er
all

and

o'er,

the wine

run

about the floor

held

the cask

was

drained and

no more.

19

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

But he

'd

continued after that to snore,

Until he was
as

dusted
encrusted
'Thirty-four.

And cobwebbed and

As
rare

old

port,

bottled

in

All

these

the

Prince

passed
sped,

by with

stealthy tread

As on he
Until

he reached the grandest room of

all,

Where

The banquet-hall, the board a mighty feast was on

spread.

But

since

the day

when

first

that

cloth was

laid

Time had strange havoc made With dish and dainty on the board

arrayed

Had With

played those

strange

tricks
five

some

or

six

Who
To
In

People of station had been favoured with an invitation

the
ruler of

dinner with
short,

the

nation
to

to

no conclusion harsh
taste

jump, any

Person of

Had thought
Not
only

the

King

disgraced,
his

by

his

room, but by

company.

Vast mushrooms,

spawn of hideous dreams,

the
rotting

Had

quickened

in

seams,

And
Wherein did bloated

dusty cobwebs huge,

spiders
lie,
;

And

feign

to sleep,

were

hung on high
fly

But there was neither gnat nor

To
The very mice had
That ventured
in

catch
fallen
hall

by subterfuge.
asleep

that

to

creep.

20

THE

SLEEPING BEAUTY.

And where

the

sun athwart the gloom

lane

Poured through the pane

glittering

Like Dreamland's golden bridge, You looked for stir of life in vain, Because the very midge
Slept
in

that
as

drowsy room,
the

As

silent

tomb

The King And head

Presiding Like the

with
half
o'er
first

half-way to his lips the beaker, turning to the latest speaker

his

banquet,

slumbered there-amid,
;

Pharaoh sleeping in his pyramid While the Prime Minister, acute and wise,
Still

saw what must be done with fast-shut eyes,

as

And,

behoved him
to
his

in

the

royal

presence,

Kept nodding

Sovereign

acquiescence.

The

Treasurer and
bolt

Chancellor of
as

Exchequer
three-decker.

Was
For

upright, raising coin and

trim

as

And

borrowing he was meant, nobody could ever say he leant

To
The

right or

left,

E'en when of sense

Secretary,

bereft.

Foreign and Domestic,

stick,

Upright did

less

And, being long accustomed to

Inclined
to right.

indite,

Beside

the door
like

sentry
soldier
in

Stood

the

Roman

the entry

Discovered in the ruins of Pompeii, You (Or Herculaneum which was 't ?

see,

21

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

Have got no book

Here
in

of reference

at

all

the

For sake

country, not e'en what we'll call, of rhyme, a classical invent'ry).

At any rate, he stood There like a thing of wood

And by

his

side in

did

stand,

Salver

hand,

servitor

whose duty was to cater With flagons, flasks, and bowls

For

all

the

thirsty souls
at

(He's called a buttery-man

Alma Mater)
of liquor

Well There this Remained a sticker

!

lad

Against the

stair-foot,

with his laden

tray

Of claret, And other

Just
like

sherry,

Burgundy, Tokay,
'11

wines we

call

et

caetera

a very

image or dumb-waiter.

Another 'mid the goblets lay a-sprawl

It

made

the

young Prince think

at
all.

Which

denying, but 'T was only sleep for though the glass was cut, He was not even blown;

overcome with drink, really had not been the case O'ercome he was there's no

Him

He He
did

could

have shown
fall.

not owe to any drop his

Through every tiny crevice, nook, and Heaven knows how many

cranny,

Of

every kind of creeping plant

Till

had sprouted And grown and wandered since,

the

young Prince
of doors
half

If

he were in

or out

doubted.

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

The

clinging

tendrils,

Which Nature (as Had taught to turn

The One The
silent
trailer

an

officer

his

men

drills)

one way, enwound and bound

all

sleepers

who
of

slept

so

sound.

formed a

sort

of chain

between
the Queen,

foremost

Maid
if

Honour and

As

to

say

To
" It
's

those

who

sleeping

lay,

rise, good sirs, and go away In short, the very same remark that made

time to

"
is

By
"

stingy hosts who save their wines Of the discourteous hint,

by dint
"

Come,

don't

you think

it 's

time to join the ladies ?

The young Prince gazed Upon the scene amazed.

He

shouted

not a single head was raised

No
All

single

sound upon the

alike

silence

broke-

Nobody spoke
heads

were bowed.

He

shouted loud
to outroar

As one who wishes

But not
a

crowd

word

He

heard
stirred
:

No
The
There

creature
really

situation

seemed absurd.

lay the for

feast

Untouched

years
'd

at sat

least

And though
Not one
of

they
all

so

long.

Of

throng feeding seemed inclined to be beginner, And there was the young Prince,

the

Dropt
Since

in

some minutes
such a din
in,

since,

And making
That he became

he'd come
for

them another

dinner.

23

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

At

last

tired

out,

Of vain attempts by shout, And even shake, to rout

From

their

deep sleep the

banquet-table,

slumberers

about

The

Whether he'd be

able
in

Ever to wake them, feeling quite

doubt,

The

Prince
leave

To
And
see

made up his mind them all behind,

some one waking he could find, And so passed on through halls and quiet cloisters, But everywhere found people mute as oysters And sound as tops.
if

But yet he never stops, Though neither man nor woman, girl nor boy

stirs.

All

is

as

still

as

death,

And
Stirs

not

breath
arras
;

the

ancestral

banners or the
voice or
the

No
No
maid's

page's
in

groom's
listener's
stair,

Heard
shrill

rooms,
ear
to

tongue the

harass

No No
Not
e'en

step

upon the

footfall

anywhere,
calls

on what Jane Housemaid

the

terrace.

But

still

the

Prince

his

onward course pursued,

stept in.

Half fearing to intrude, As each fresh chamber doubtfully he

In
tiring-rooms

he views
they
're

The

ladies'

maids
for

so

tired

in

snooze.

Then

change
'11

Through sleeping-rooms he

range,

Which by some
Appear

contradiction

the only rooms

very strange that are not slept

in.

24

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

Yet onward
All

still

he strays
are

undecided,
his

And

yet
his

steps

guided

For round

head on

airy

pinion

plays

A
Who
lead

band of Fays,
still

him forward

by devious ways,
lies,

To

where the Sleeping Beauty O'er whose tender violet eyes

For such

years

the

lids

have closed,

On

her couch while she reposed.

"

Come away

"
!

sang each Fay,

the happy day shall break the
Spite
merrily,
is

Now we hail When the Prince

Spoken by

"

spell

old

the

fell.

Now
Thus

sing

we

For the destined one

all

he

"
!

gladly

sung the Fays,

lays,
as

Though he

could not hear their

in

Wandering on

maze.

Last he

reached a

silent

chamber,
clamber,

Where through all the woodbine's And the roses' red profusion, And the jasmine's silver stars,
Glowed the
Touching
all

glorious
bars,

sun's

intrusion-

Misty golden
with

amber.

But For

or

e'er

that

room he
all

entered

Where
a

the

magic
in

was centred,

space,

wonder, dumbly
figure

Gazed he on

that

comely

25

THE

SLEEPING

BEAUTY.

Sleeping in Where the

the

snowy bed,
pictured

sunshine splendour shed

From

the casement's

pane

Crimson, blue, and

In a variegated
as

yellow

stain

rain.

(Not

all

colours,

we know,
glow

That

Can
Will,

painted windows the sun contrive to

in
tints,

throwindigo,

Primal

red,

yellow,

however, through

"windy"

go.)

One moment on the thresholdOne moment and no more

So
like

And And

a thing of dreams Fairyland she seems,

till

That he must pause

he of
life

time his breath

fresh

restore,

take

hold-

One moment and no more And then across the room he bounded

To

that

white

bed by clustering bloom surroundedthe

startled
floor,

Across

Whence foot had been estranged so long The frightened echoes that his step awoke
Seemed shrieking out
In her bed, as
to

before,

hear

when

silence

broke

white

as

snow,

Softly had she slumbered, While old Time with silent flow

Had
Quiet

the
as

long years numbered. the dead she lay,

Sleeping all those years away On her pillow, woodbine-cumbered,

Wreathed with flowering may.

And

her breath
the

so

softly slips
lips,

Through

rosy-tinted

2fi

li
s;

*^

kj

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

That the white That

scarce

lace

seems to

rest

Moveless on her whiter breastit

One
That,
in

of

all

appears to stir the fluttering motes

love

to

look

at

her,

Glitter

down

the

golden lanes
panes,

That the sun pours through the

Bright with armour-coats.

Drawn by As a bee

her
to

sweet

lips'

perfume,

golden broom,
are
all

When
Stole

the the

braes

in

Prince

across

the

bloom, room.

Every

step

he nearer

set,

Oped Oped
Till

the

eyes of violeta little wider yet

!

the white

lids,

quite

asunder,

Showed the Showed the

Opening,
Till
their

beauties
soft

hidden underfull

eyes,

of wonder,

towards
radiance

From his trance And his bosom burned With the passion to outpour
All
his

him turned bent upon him of marvel won him

soul
if

her feet before,

she

Careless

spurned,

So that he might only tell That he loved her and how

well

Now

through the palace woke the Both fork and knife

in

stir

of

life

Were

the

banquet-hall with
far

vigour plied,
the quiet,
at
strife.

While

and wide
a
riot

Awoke
It

so
as

great
if

after

seemed

the

household was

27

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

Girl,

woman, boy, and man

about and ran
not one plodding
!

Bustled
All
hurried,

Because,

you
that

see,

Each thought

he or she

Had

been the only one that had been nodding,

And,

fearful

of detection,

Was bound
Meanwhile
All

to

strive

and look

alive,

In order to

escape correction. And the red sun set.

did

yet
:

The household

not into order get

was surprise and wonder, Error and blunder.

was out, the

Queen was in a fret The hunters just returned, they thought, from hunting,
feast was cold, the
;

The The

fire

cook was

in

pet,

Felt

it

affronting
;

Their game should get so very high and mite-y The housemaid, seeing all the dust and dirt,
Felt
It

hurt,

drove her almost

crazy

at

least

flighty.

But over

all

this

din

and turmoil soon

silver

Uprose the

moon,

And by

its

rays

shed on the dewy grass,

Forth from the palace that young pair did pass, And threaded the deep shades In the arcades

Of sombre forests And so they took

that
their

around them

lay.

way
legends
say,

To
They

Fairyland, wherein,

as

'Mid mirth and merry-making, song and laughter,

married, living

And

there,

happy ever after 'm told, they 're living

to this

day

LITTLE RED

RIDING HOOD.

the

side

of

wood

A
a

cottage

once stood,

who wore a red hood. Where little girl dwelt, Her father of trees in the forest was cutter, And her mother sold poultry, milk, eggs, cream, and The little red hood,
It

butter.

must be understood,
as
:

Belonged to a mantle

pretty
in

and proper a cloak

a

As e'er you set But operas ne'er,

eyes on that I

short,

red

opera cloak.

am

aware,
;

Had

been heard of by any one dwelling round there

Whereas every dame had a cloak bright as flame That she wore when out riding (which gave it its name.) For then in those parts

They
Gigs,

'd

no

chaises,

spring-carts,
as

or waggonettes,

such

a farmer
Giles,

now

starts

So Hodge, Reuben, or

Went
By
the

his

eight

or

ten

miles

dodging the stiles On his nag, grey or brown, to the next market town. And were you to meet him, I 'd bet you a crown
road
or

the

bridle

path,

You would
(If

certainly find
not,
like

him
mine, -dim,)

your sight's

A-jogging along with the goodwife behind him, Perched up on the pillion of Dobbin or Dapple, T and cheeks like an apple ith a cloak like a

poppy

hood, that was really some good, For use, not for ornament one that you could
cloak with
a

(That

is,

if

you would)

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

Draw over your face quite The sun was too warm or

closely,

in

case

the

rain

fell

apace,

hood. both-ears-protecting, eyes-shading, hair-hiding

that's

And

why

they called the child Little

Red Riding Hood.

where Red Riding Hood dwelt Was a garden, surrounded by trees The flowers were the sweetest that ever were smelt,

By

the

side

of the

cot

And

were

greatly

beloved by the bees,

led jolly
lives

Who

In a couple of hives Well sheltered from shower and from

breeze.

Beyond the small garden, whose flowers were so sweet Bees wooed them through long summer days,

The woodman had

That, as

patch for the wheat he would raise, each year came round, To grind and to bake For bread and for cakecleared
a

small

Simple wheat, not that wonder,

maize

Now

the sun

rises

and the world awakes,

;

For morning like a careless servant breaks And from house, hut, and cot,
Hind, farmer, or what not,

Each Each

villager
stride

way to labour takes. he makes a thousand dew-drops shakes

his

From

off

the

fresh

green

grass

they were besprinkling,

And makes them wink, And gleam, and glance, and

blink,

Until the peasant in great haste you think Because he walks the whole way in a twinkling.

30

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

Red Riding Hood's father has shouldered And is off to the woods again.
At the thwacks and the
cracks
;

his

axe,

as

the timber

he hacks

The echoing
But woe
For
its

shades

complain
all

to

the

stem that his

are
in

steel

attacks,

murmurs

vain.

Red Riding Hood's mother has risen with day, As soon as the hens were awake, And down to the kitchen has taken her way,

From And the

But
For

the hearth

embers to rake, butter and flour on the table to lay,

all

the

For she
little
is

's

bent upon making a cake.

's

Red Riding Hood

terribly lazy,
I

slumbering yet

She

fear

little

folks
as

up
the

in

the

As soon

light

morning should get becomes clear,

And not The best Which is six,

sleep

away
:

time of the day, as I hear. or about

When
In her

the

cake's

nice

and brown
blue

The young
little

lady comes down, white apron and little

a

gown

Has
Just

for

breakfast

bowl of fresh milk from the cow,

finished,

And when
slip

she

has

her mother says,

as

"Now,
;

on your
to

cloak,

dear,

quick
to

as

you can

Want you

carry

some things

your granny!

Red Riding Hood's

And, looking her
Is

drest,

best,

behest. only awaiting her mother's

On

the

table

is

laid

The cake that was made Ere Red Riding Hood opened her

eyes,

I'm

afraid,

31

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

And beside it Whose equal

For,
Is

a pot

could not
easily

At Fortnum and Mason's be

as

got

every one

tells

me,

fine

fragrant

fresh

honey

not always obtainable,

even for money.

[There are very few treats in the matter of sweets, Like the honey one fresh from the honeycomb eats.

But fond
I

as

am

of

a
in

little

fresh

honey,

can't

watch the bees

a
I

their

wanderings sunny
"

Without

great

risk
it
's

of a

Though
(As his

think

would
a

painful disaster, trouble the famous

Beemaster

"

real

name

secret,

we

'11

say

Dr.

Thingamy)

To
Qui

explain
tarn

to

"fellah,"

amat

mella,

How

it

is

that

the

bees

make an

object

to

sting

o'

me.J

" Little
Said

Red Riding Hood,

the

child

of

mine,"

mother to her daughter, " Through the forest of beeches, and

larches,

and pine.
cot

And down by the pool of water, And over the fields to your grandmother's With the griddle-cake and the honey-pot,
Go, and tell her what you have brought But mind what I say do not delay

her.

To

chatter with

folks

or

pick flowers

on the way

"
!

Little

Red Riding Hood promised her mother

not stop

She
"

'd

on the road to do one or the

other.

Such allurements I old enough now to withstand am., So I '11 carry the honey and cake to my grandam, And then you shall see how quick I can be. Good bye, dearest mother " And oflf hurried she.
!

3-2

LITTLE RED RIDING

HOOD.

The fields with buttercups are gold, The hedges white with' may The woodbine's trumpets manifold
;

Are bright beside the way

The foxglove rears Where hang the

In

its

lofty

spire
;

purple

bells

shady quiet nooks retire The modest pimpernels

;

The poppy the green corn-fields decks, The meads are bright with cowslips.
She
loiters

on her way, nor recks

time

How

rapidly

now

slips.

She

enters

now

glade,

Dappled with light and shade, Through which the path is to her grandam's

made;

And

as

she

strolls

along,

Singing her careless

song,

She meets a grim grey

wolf.

She

's

not

afraid,

Because close by

She hears her father ply His axe, and knows he'd to the rescue fly If Master Wolf should any treason try. And Master Wolf knows too it would not do,

Although

it 's

hard with such

so

meal

in

view

And

most laudably
pleasant,

He
Albeit

makes himself quite For the present.

his

stomach's crying "cupboard"

audibly.

"

What

nice

cloak

of
!

scarlet

How

pretty

you
or
are

are

Let
:

Me Me Me

carry

that
it,

cake

that
"
!

very big jar

it

let

carry
see

pray
safe

you taking
said

far

Let
varlet.

you

there

the

wicked old

33

LITTLE

RED RIDING HOOD.

Alas

for

Little

Red Riding Hood,

;

That she should be naughty instead of good That she should let the old wolf flatter, And allow him to walk

By

her

side

and
strictly

talk,

When
"

her mother so

forbade

her to chatter.

What
'm
I

your name
Little

is,

my

dear,"

he
"

said,

" fain
are

I 'd

be knowing.'
"
?

" I

Red Riding Hood."

Where

you going
Is
it

"

am going to my granny's, to carry this jar " Indeed And this cake from my mother."
!

"
far ?

"

Oh, you go through the wood, and

little

beyond
's

"

You And

'11

see

small

your granny She can't get out of bed and she

lives

cottage there

that
"
?

stands

by
;

" Yes

pond." but now she

so old

suffers

from
;

cold."

" Poor dear," said the wolf, with a pitying grin " " But how does she do about letting you in

"

When I reach granny's To knock at the door

'

cottage till she

always calls out

take
'

care
'

Who

's

there

Your

grandchild,

who brings you a bite and From her mother,' say I And she 's sure to reply,
;

sup

'

If

you pull at That 's how I

So

the get

bobbin the latch

in."
is

will

fly

up.'

" This
I

lane
'11

Oh my way,
!

"

"

said

wolf,

in

hurry,

And
Said

wish you good day." he vanished at once in a terrible scurry

Red Riding Hood,

"

Doesn't he seem

in

" flurry
!

Like a shot from a

rifle,

or
I
'11

faster

trifle,

Away

goes

the

wolf,

and,

wager

my

life,

'11

Be up to some mischief or other ere long, For his only delight is in doing what 's wrong.

34

'

'

I'm going

to

my

Granr.'fs to carry this

And

ttis

fake

from my

mother.'

jnr 'Indeed!

it

far?'"

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

Off through the wood

Hastening
still

(he

's

up

to

no good),
beyond

(bent

upon
to
I

ill),

Round by
(He
's

the

pond,
evil

the
'11

cottage

after

some

give

you

my

bond),

Stealing

Towards
(By
skirts
I

along (intending a wrong) the grandam's abode, by the skirts of the road,

don't

mean

either

muslin or
has
called

calico,)

He

sneaks to what

"

Shakespeare

miching mallecho."

at the door. Rap, tap In the midst of a snore

!

The old lady woke up with a start, and said, " Lor Red Riding Hood ne'er knocked so loudly before.
Oh, deary me,
I
'11

it

cannot be she
still

pretend I 'm

sleeping,

and then we

shall

see."

Rap, tap She heard

!

once more
at

the

door

The The

wolf
old

rapped

so

hard that his knuckles were

like

sore.

woman

sleeps

top

what a bore
haste,

If

she

doesn't
I

make

My
I

time
tit-bit
!

shall

waste

shall

miss

that

who's so much to
!

my

taste.'

" She

Tap, rap Rap, tap must wake from her nap,

Or
Her
foolish

the
I

child

will

be here

Before
old

can clear
scrap."

grandmother up, every

said

At
"
I

last

the

grandam,

rather

hand
I

am

know, and so Very soundly, she has waited and knocked there so long Perhaps That, in order to wake me, her tap becomes strong.
sleeping,

At

35

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

Who

's

there

"
?

then

she

cried

Said the wolf from outside,

And
'

Disguising his voice the deception to hide, whispering low with his mouth to a cranny,

It

's

no one but

Little

Red Riding Hood, granny

brought you some butter, some eggs, and a cake That mother got up in the morning to make, And she sends you besides some nice cream in a cup" " If you pull at the bobbin the latch will fly up
I 've
!

Wolf pulled And what a

at

the

bobbin,
!

sad

job

in

He

went

but no sooner had thrust his grim

(But for rhyming, instead Of "knob" I'd say "head")

knob

in

Than

the

frightened

old to

lady

sat

But before she had time

She was bolted
entire

exclaim,

bolt up " Oh

in

bed

my
;

"

gracious

by the monster voracious

pangs
of
his

Who, though
Remarked
to

the

fierce

hunger were

gratified,

himself, with a grumble dissatisfied, " Tough skinny old folks are not nice things to victual one " Here goes for the little one However, no matter
! !

Then he turned down

the

bed-clothes
tied

and quickly jumped

his

in,

And

granny's

big nightcap And he cuddled

Close

under

chin

the clothes
nose,
;

up

to

his

And
For
said

was speedily off in a very nice doze " For Red Riding Hood if I 'd have any he,
twist
I

Respectable

must

first

digest

granny.
"
!

For though at one meal I could eat child, pa, and mamma, There 's a good deal of picking somehow about grandmamma

36

Before ibe had time

to

exclaim

'

'

Ob, my gracious

She was bolted

entire ty the monster voracious."

**

5
-Si

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

Little

Red Riding Hood

to
in

loitered

along,

Stopping

hear while
the
croft

the

thrush

sang his
the

song,
whistle,

Or Or

to to

list

to the

blackbird's

clear

follow

the feathery

down of

thistle

Or blowing in flocks The seeds from the "

clocks

"

Of

the

bright

dandelions,

or

For the
Is

burrs,

searching the docks whose chief trick

to

catch

and to stick
if

To

one's

garments,

no matter
it

thin

ones

or

thick

(Though

matters

to you,

Because they come through Supposing your clothes are the former and prick).

Why,
Will
Close

foolish

butterfly,
flutter,

you

skip,

fly
fly
!

She puts

You 're an idiot utter, by the child ? down the honey and cake in a trice,
's

And

the latter

immediately stolen by the mice. But what does the latter at all to her matter
She's after that butterfly, [It's not clear to me

mad

as

hatter.

Why
Lunatico

hatter

should be
a
fit

Proverbially called
so

subject

for

De
;

runs

the writ

inquirendo

But

Must,

fancy the hatter this in the first place, to

fain

harsh
a

innuendo
friend

humorous
his

owe,

Who
Through

in

the
's

sneer

would

gratitude
for

smother

For a man who

pastures

invariably felt
as

another.]

and meads

Red Riding Hood follows, The orders and warning her mother

the butterfly leads, and little she heeds

that

morning

even her grandmother's needs. given her, But when she comes back once again to the track, And finds the cake gone, she grows frightened. " Alack
or

Had

"
!

37

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

She

cries,

" what

loss

Won't granny be

cross.

To

breakfast

off nothing

with honey for

sauce

"
?

Just

On

then a glittering dragon-fly gauzy pinion darted by.

Oh, he was clad in burnished mail, His wing a fairy galley's sail, And he was twice as big, I ween,

As the biggest butterfly she had Soon forgotten the honey 's She off with a run is

seen.

Where
By By By
pools
that

the dragon-fly

bright in the sun ditches and hedges, by rushes and sedges, ponds full of reeds and all sorts of weeds,

glancing

so

is.

are

stagnant,

and brooks

full

of waterbreaks,

She chases Libellula

Eagerly. [Well, you '11 Llow there must some
a-

When

her mother's

Awful punishment come commands in this manner a daughter breaks.] But conceive her concern
her return,
jar's
it

When, on
She
finds

that

an

empty

all

she can
a

earn.
spot,

For the

ants

had discovered
all

placed in
left

sunny

And

cleared

the

honey, and
"
she,
will

but the honey's

!

pot.

Said

Lack-a-day
scolded
for

What
And
I 'd

grandmother say

shan't
better

get

stopping to play
"
!

get on

Resolution

how
in

without further delay vain Again and again

!

She

loiters

meadow, wood, highway, and laneinto

Strays

the coppice

To
Or
climbs

up

pick bright poppies, the hedge for the nest that

the

a-top

is

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

Or

else

she emerges

Where

widely diverges

The forest's long avenues leafy green arches Of beeches, of ashes, of elms and of larches, Which she lingers beneath

To

pick for a wreath

A
Or

bright trail of ivy, that some lofty stem on is, with bluebells her apron to fill or anemones Or to watch the quaint habits
;

And ways of the rabbits, And the plans of the crows, Who, as every one knows,
Establish
their

scouts

At certain look-outs, To warn them of danger whenever they Ve

[As touching these rooks, Natural History books

doubts.

thing to their greatest eclat 's The fact which should win them the warmest applause That nothing they do is e'er done without caws.]

Declare

that

the

But now she has passed

Through
Is

the forest,

and

fast

approaching her grandmother's cottage What excuse can she make

at

last.

For the honey and cake

At the thought of

that

scrape

she's

beginning to quake.

She creeps through the garden,

Her

heart,

Attempting to harden and declare she " Don't care a brass farden."
But,
in
's

spite

of

her trying,
crying,

She

very
that

near
to

And
That

asking
is
's

her

granny

The knock
there

so

faint,

any one knocking, but

grant her a pardon. the wolf's scarce aware "

cries

out,

Who

's

there

39

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

"

Red Riding Hood

"

here
"

on her speech broke a sob

" If

in

"

Come
The And

to
latch

see
will

you."
fly

Said wolf,

you

pull

at

the

bobbin,

up

So she opened the door,

tottered

with terrified feet o'er the floor. Said wolf, " Where 's the cake

Mother promised
" Please,

to
's

make

"
r

granny, to-day she

not able
"
r

to

bake,

For love or
" "

for
is

money."

Then where

my

honey

What makes you expect any, granny ? How funny Said Little Red Riding Hood, trying to smile,
Although
"
in

"
!

terrible

fright

all

To
I

send

me no
so

breakfast,"

said

wolf,

the while. " she

was

silly

feeling hungry and faint, I 'm quite chilly. As you Ve brought me no food, you must warm me instead

'm

you So take off your

'11

take

in

place of
things,
for

my
and,

breakfast

in

bed.
to

some help
clothes,

your gran to

be,

Jump

into bed, just

once warming-pan to be."

She takes off her

And

into bed

goes.
his

Old wolf keeps the counterpane up to But the child sees with fear
That, now she 's so near, Her grandmother 's looking remarkably

nose,

queer.

She trembles with

fright,

and
brief

in

Commences
"

the

following

perturbation, conversation
:

sad

Oh, granny,
"

view
hear

your long ears with surprise

all

"
!

They They

're

to

you
all

say

to
are

the

letter."

"

Oh, granny, how

"
're

fiery

and big
the
are

"

your eyes
in

to

see

you
teeth

better."
size

"

Oh, granny, your

tremendous

"
!

"They're

to eat

you!"

AND HE ATE HER.

40

PUSS IN BOOTS.

PHERE
It
's

once was a

miller,

who
you

lived

till

he died
beside
;

been done by a good

many
see,

people

But

this

miller,

In particular he, On the brink of the grave " on the banks of the dee," " As a Scotchman would say (vide song " Annie Laurie
;

It

North-country short
articulo
arises

is

For

mortis]

Made

a will,

whence

the whole of

my

story.

Three sons had

this

miller,
siller,"*

To whom
Stock,
business,
in

all

his

"

premises,

goodwill,

and "

wilier

"-

tenure,

short,

Things he died

not to spin out my verse, on all " seised " of, both real and personal,
of
the very
seized

(Exclusive, of course,

With which he was

bad cough and which carried him

off)

He
And,

had to devise
as

you would surmise,

and
size.
! !

Would

divide

accordance with ages not a bit But no

in

He
For such a

hadn't

the wit
or
didn't
see
fit
;

division

'

Though with terms Caledonian this story is filled, You '11 find it, I hope, only scotched, and not killed.

41

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

But made
So strange

a
in

partition

condition
for

That

to one

't

was

blow

the others

hit

It

is

half

after

one,

The

funeral's

done,
the will

The

reading should

now

of

be

begun.

To

think

The youngest is crying, The others are trying who 's most colour for praising
Their
Since
loss
it

the dying

doesn't

grieve,

does

not bereave
able
to
leave.

Them

of

all

that

their

father was
says

(Though "where "There's always a

there's

a will,"

the

proverb,
a

Way" When

there's

not always

you know, Woe.)

the will

is

recited

They both
For
it

are delighted,
is

proves

their

young brother
they find
that

cruelly

slighted.

For joy they with decency scarce can

bemean them
dad

When
Has
left

their

Every thing that he had

them, the eldest, to own all between them, Save one thing and that
Is

Which

only the cat, he leaves to the youngest,

described

as

" that

brat.

The By
But

youngest, poor lad the loss of a father,

as
silent

didn't

care

what he had,

not fortune,

made

sad.

And

quite

nursing his cat, at a loss what he next should

sat,

he

be

at,

42

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

Each

brother,

addressing

him

sternly

as

Nemesis,
is,)
"'
!

(Who,
"
Said,

the Greeks say, less just

and more cruel than Themis

!

Now

then,

young Lazybones

Clear off

the

premises

He
And

asked for some bread and some

straw for

bed,
said.

he

'd

work

like

slave for

his

brothers, he
'd

But they both answered,

"

No

you

much
you
're

better

go
"

We
So,

shall

have to

assist

you along
the

if

slow

half

broken-hearted,
in

And

thus

poor lad departed, the world for himself he was started.

a

'T was

Of

that

poorish look out, there 's no doubt ;

'd

He 'd

not an idea what he

So,

best

set

about.

much

The The door gave a slam Not one pang was spared

be pitied, old mill he quitted.

to

for

him

He
He

sat

by the dam,
that

And

nobody cared

for

him
for

could not help feeling

and what was prepared

him

Thus he

sat,

while

big tear-drops
a word,

his

eyes were

suffusing,

Nor
Till

speaking he suddenly heard,

sing.

As he was a-musing, his cat, too, a mew " " Ah, Puss," he said, you
Are unfortunate too
I
;

"m inclined to think yours the more serious In having a penniless wretch for a master."
Puss,

disaster

thus

addressed,

his

master caressed,
his

And
'

Dear master,"

then in plain language " said

he,
shall
see,

feelings
it

expressed.

just

leave

to

me

You

then,

promise, what then

you

shall

see.

43

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

'11

at

once undertake
fortune
to

Your

make,
;

And And

assist
all

you
I

to wreak

your revenge on those brutes

a

that

want

is

new

pair
:

of boots

The

notion was funny

hadn't

He
But
as

much money,
he

nothing more hopeful appeared to be done,

Went off to a cobbler, who lived in a stall, And ordered the boots to be made rather small. Not shabby, old, worn-out, and New boots, too
!

holey 'uns,

But a spick-and-span pair of resplendent Napoleons.

The boots arrived, the bill was And Pussy an excursion made. Some snares he prepares,

paid,

To take dozens And a wire that

Quantum

of

hares,

will
;

grab

its

of rabbits

Without burning cartridges, Catches some partridges

And And

several

pheasants

bears

them

as
I

presents
can't
tell

To

the court

of

the

King

you

his

name,

But history reports he was

after

partial

to game.

Day day the cat brought his prey In numbers sufficient to load a big dray,
Or
the cart which

And

they call in the Crimea each single thing

of the Marquis
of

an

arabah

He
"

brought to the King

respects

With
Said

the

loyal

Carabas."

monarch one day, " Come, tell me, Whereabouts is the Marquis's property, eh ?
the

pray,

The cat, as Where the

requested,

the

quarter
fee

suggested
the

lands

lay whose

in

Marquis was

vested.

44

" His
'

cries the

whole neighbourhood round might awakenclothes

The Marjtfii of Caracas'

have been taken

'

"

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

Said
I
'11

the

monarch,
that

"

drive over

Hooray way
:

Tell

Master of Horse just to bring round the chay." In a moment at that off went the cat
the
slang
till,

At what modern
Faster

styles

"a
be

terrible

bat,"

and

faster,

reaching his
at

master,

He cried, " Of your clothes And jump in the river that

" In
the
river

once off a

runs
sir,

by the path

caster, "
!

" Don't talk,

but pray go to bath

"
!

On

the

bank Pussy

'

stayed,

while

his

master obeyed

But the Royal procession so long was delayed That he felt very cold in the stream, I 'm afraid. " At last, " Here they come " cried Pussy now,
! :

mum

Is

the word

"

Said his
teeth

master,
so,

"

With
to

cold

am numb,
;

But, while
Said the
If

my
"
it

chatter

cannot be dumb."
this

cat,

My
will

young
all

friend,

warning attend
end.

you

do,

turn

out well in

the
's

You Ve good

fortune

at

hand, and the path

very quick to

it,

So keep a look-out, Mind what you 're about,

And

whatever

say,

say

you

likewise

and

stick

to

"
it
!

Then

crafty

Puss goes
the clothes
;

And

hides

all

With grass and dead leaves and when he perceives The royal coach nearing him, loudly calls " Thieves
His
cries

"

"

neighbourhood round might awaken The Marquis of Carabas' clothes have been taken "
the whole
!

Said the

"

King,
it

Deary me
?

What

is

see

the cat up a tropical tree : " " Ah," said Puss, my dear master has had a disaster, " " Cut For some one has cut Oh, here 's some court

My

"

good

friend

plaster."

45

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

" "

No,

sire,"

said

the cat,
that.

He

doesn't

want

He

needs

no court

plaster,

but needs a court

suit

For while he was bathing some mannerless brute, Who had chosen the reeds and the rushes to lurk Cut away with his hosen, knee-breeches, and jerkin."
" "
"

in,

Is

that

all ?

said
shall

the

King

My
is

servants

bring
stockings,
in

Whatever
Gloves,

needful

cloak,

cap,

sword,

robe,

collar,

and doublet

short,

a whole wardrobe,

Each thing that he wants,

From
[Of
course,

castor

to

pants."

He 's
At

a king takes the you're to spare provided with changes of clothing

aware

when

air

least,

so

this

legend would

seem to

declare.]

The

A A A

produce for the Marquis's use rich velvet suit with gold trimmings profuse, rich velvet mantle with a lining of satin,
servants

diamond brooch stuck a

ostrich

point-lace

cravat

in,

While another the

plume
rose,

fastened

the

hat

in.

These elegant clothes

Were
With trimmings With noeuds of

couleur

de

of green
ruban,

and with apple-green hose,

his

to encase

stout

mollets

(For further particulars, please see

Le

Follet).

Our

hero,

attired

in

the

garb thus

acquired,
greatly admired,
state)

By
The

the

King's
(as

lovely daughter was

Who

sat

before

intended to
royal
to

on

right

of her pa in the

"

phe-ayton."

But

'm bound
less

confess

Our hero no

Was charmed by
For
if

her grace
his

she liked

and her beauty in turn " hern." looks, he was ravished with

40

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

Said the

King,
fall

"

My

Thus

to

in

with

Marquis, it 's really a treat one I Ve been dying to meet.

seat,

dear

Pray take a

And

let

me

repeat

How much
Of

'm obliged
rabbits,

partridges,

your numerous presents grouse, woodcocks, and pheasants.

for

We 're
Here
's

going

for

drive

my

daughter she 's Any news ? None,

pray enter the carriage. yours, if you wish it, in marriage.

I

fear dear,

Bread

's

still

getting
fine

But the weather

I

is

for

the time of the year.

"
?

suppose we are passing here through your estate

So the King But the old

rattled
miller's

on,
son,
pate,
in

Unable

to

answer,
in

sat

But Pussy cut

with,
for

scratching his " Yes !

?

And

why
it 's

though he 's Dash my wig

it

doubt of

it

Because

so
in

big
or

He

never can

tell

if

he's

out of

it.

But your Majesty, p'rhaps, Will order your chaps To drive to the castle, which certainly caps Any castles you'll meet in a long summer day; And, if you '11 allow me, 1 11 show them the way."

To
Bids

Pussy's
his

request

the

King promptly

accedes,
leads,

coachman

to follow

wherever he

On

sped ahead long way a road that was bordered by corn-land and meads.

And away

the cat

Pussy well knew

That the land they passed through

Belonged to a wizard
a

mighty one, too-

47

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

Who,
It
's

besides

with the Evil

I,

One being
" Arrah

" colloguer,"

(Don't think

in

quoting from

na Pogue,"
the
as

err

what Shaun the Post

that

says to Feeney,

Was

Middle Aged cannibal known

rogue an ogre.

urgh

!)*

But where'er

in

the

fields,

as

on they kept going,

They came upon labourers reaping or mowing, Or ploughing or harrowing, weeding or sowing The cat ran before,

And
Said

cried

out,
!

" Give o'er

"

Your master commands

Puss,

and the workmen forebore.

approach

"

He 11

In

splendid

state-coach,

And has sent me before him these tidings to broach, And to bid you, unless you wish demons to tease you, If the King, his companion, inquires who employs you, With one voice in a moment, men, women, and boys, you Must haste to declare, With a satisfied air, The Marquis of Carabas, sire, an it please you See The carriage draws near
'
'

Come,
Quit

haste
all

Do you

hear

And
And
give

occupations, haste to your stations,

lowest

him the

of low salutations

"
!

The poor
The Marquis

people,

afraid,

His orders obeyed.

himself

became

rather

dismayed,

* This

expletive,
I

used to express utter loathing,

spell
tell

scarcely can

One

really can't

How

to

put sounds

in

etymological

clothing.

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

Thinking what was to end all these funny proceedings Into which he was following Pussy's queer leadings But he felt he was sinned against rather than sinning
;

For Pussy strange fun With the clothes had begun, But what would the close be of such a beginning

And

on Pussy speeds By pastures and meads, the coachman still follows wherever he
Still

leads.

"

Your
Pray,
If
I

estates

are

enormous
us,

Marquis, inform

may

inquire,
sire
?

Did they come from your

He

must

really

have been a most

the
to

terrible

lord,

Acquiring

so
I

much by
'm
pleased

right of the
perceive,

sword.

With such

riches

to

leave,

He 'd
The

son of such
to
inherit

merit

wealth

Of

so

mighty a conqueror and enemy-killer."

"
"
Yes,"
said

To

tell

the youth, you the truth,

as

My

late

father

had quite a renown

miller."

The
As
if

Princess
to

smiled sweetly,
neatly,
-

hint

Though

she

counted the father

conqueror rather, She fancied the son

Had
In
fact,

.she

was

victory as sure

won
the
smile

would infer!

About one of
For she

his

felt

conquests, and that was of her he was lord of her bosom completely.

49

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

And now

the

fields
left

To right And seem

With

and
so

and meads they leave huge mountains rise,

their

much

lofty crests

to

heights deceive touch the skies.

Pine forests clothe their sombre

sides,

Where dark ravines and gorges frown, And many a mountain torrent glides, Or bounds from ledge to ledge adown.
Their mighty wings the eagles flap High up among the summits lone,

Whose

peaks the snows eternal

the
glacier

cap,

Or where
But
in

billows

groan.

the

plain

about the base

Of this portentous mountain chain, The signs of human toil they trace, And find men labouring again.
Here, turned by some wild torrent's force, Huge wheels revolve with busy hum
;

There some

vast

Whose

depths

stops the eye would

chasm

their

course,

vainly

plumb

Or, laden deep on shrieking wheels, Toil waggons up the steep inclines

Their load the mystery reveals, This region is a place of mines

As soon

as

Puss

Addressing the " See your master approach In the King's grand state-coach

got to this desolate spot, miners, he kept up the plot.

He

has sent

me

before

him, his orders to broach.

50

at Ci

-e
**

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

If

you don't wish the gnomes and the kobolds

to seize

you,

When
Be
'

asked
to

whom you
say,

obey,
'

certain

The Marquis

of Carabas,

sire,

an

it

please

you

When
You must bow
till

His Majesty's Grace Appears on the place,

each one touches earth with his
face
!

To
The

every word

That from Pussy they heard

miners
attended
;

Low bowed and low bended And when the King came, And asked them the name
Of
their

master,

they answered him

I 'd

all

just

the

same.

And
That

just

hint
this

to

you
should
do.

as

thus

whole crew

Of miners obeyed

minors

always

But now having passed through this wild They came to a plain greenly wooded and

tract
vast,

at

last,

And

A
A
Or
castle

spied out, thick forest amid,

half

hid

that

stood
a

on the
rock
hill

crest

of a

hill,

the

brow of

you may

choose which

you

will

For the

was so steep
the
base-

The road had to creep Round and round from

To

the

gates

of the

place,
side
at
full

Though Pussy went straight up the While slowly around

The
The
horses
royal

chase,

coach wound,
tired,
I
'11

got pretty well

will

be bound,
is

For such roads

e'en

puzzle

nag that

sound.

51

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

Boots made a stopHalf-way to the top Puss in Not because he was tired and quite ready to drop, But because he encountered a dame and her goodman the man was a woodman And child

by

And

profession wished to

inquire

Ere he went any higher If this past all doubt was the castle and dwelling Of the wizard of whom I have elsewhere been telling.
So,

making

Me

" bow, he said, Pray allow to ask you one question that struck
a

me

just

now

That

castle

that

rises
is

To
The The
abode,
I

dazzle our

eyes

of a man of position " of a " said they, mighty magician, palace," So harsh and severe he's regarded with fear
suppose,
:

"

By all the poor people who The best course, if you asked
Is

dwell

about here

us, that

we

'd

recommend

to you,

not to go near him

" Never fear,
I

he
for

may put
1 11

an end to you."

Said Puss,
Till

neighbourhood So he went on once more,

the
castle,

the

persevere of this wicked one clear."

till

reaching the door

Of Of

he gave with the knocker a score such rat-tat-tat-tats, to the blush as would put man-

-Y thundering knocks by a real London footman. The door was flung wide, and Puss stept inside,
But not an attendant there was
to

be spied

Nought but

hand

Bearing a wand,

That pointed the way with a courtesy bland,

gorgeous, up staircases grand, Through halls by arched ceilings, all painted, o'erspanned, Along galleries brilliant with lovely stained windows,

By

corridors

Whose curtains Of that Indian

Which
Great Britain,
't is

were made
brocade
the conquest of

said, to

Scinde owes

52

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

Though Not by

the wizard of course

got his
enter

curtains

by

witchcraft,
craft.

merchant-ships,

P.

and O. steamers, or

sick

At length doth Puss

hall

in

whose centre
cui

The Ogre he

spies,

Cyclopius venter.
taste,

" as a matter of (Which, translated, would mean His figure and form ran a good deal to waist.")

He
An enormous
Beef,

has

taken his
to
eat

seat,

Preparing

repast
veal,

of

all

manner of meatserved
to

mutton, and
the
different

each in separate bowl

are

And

beasts

up

him whole

And

there's

one

dish,

moreover,

That Puss can discover, That strikes him with horror and harrows his soulBabes of quite slender years (that means tender, not thin,
Piled

age)

up on a dish (and no gammon), and spinach.*

Puss,

nothing daunted (Although 'twill be granted

in

The

sight

some
the

hearts

might have
to

terror

implanted),

Walked Where
At the
servants

straight

the

board

monster abhorred

attending

him bellowed and

roared

And servants sure ne'er on their master attended With such an unwilling respect as those men did
" Rascals of mine
!

Bring

me some
in

wine,
!

Or

'11

cut

you

sunder from head-piece to chine

* In thus making spinach 'To rhyme as with Greenwich

I

'm authorised wholly

(of course

By Anthony Rowley,

Whose
-O)
spells
if

editio

princeps

it 's

foli-

the

word s.p.i.n.n.a.g-.e
to
spell
it,

And

any should know how

't

would be

he.

53

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

Alarmed

at

the
a

speaker,

One brought

big beaker

Of wine

one-tenth

part

had floored any one weaker.

glass

But the Ogre held up the great

In
"
"
!

to

his

eye

critical

way,
lips,
all

Smacked
That
'11

his

just

to

say
it

do

and then
the
so,

at
[I

And
It

set
is

down
called

goblet.

one gulp drained cannot see why

a

dry,

and count
it 's

as

regular

puzzle

it

For

since

to drink,

They

'd,

from, you'd think " instead of a gobble-it," call it

to
eat

Not

"
guzzle-it."]
air,

Drawing
" Quite

near the

huge
'm

chair

with

reverent

With knee
"

lowly bent,
I

hand on
so so
in

heart,

and head bare,

spake,
to

delighted,

sure,"

Puss

courteously

The
For
Is

acquaintance
skill

of one
gigantic

distinguished
arts

make,

that

's

necromantic,

Whose fame

not to speak it in terms sycophantic driving with envy all wizards quite frantic,
"
!

European, or Asian, or e'en Transatlantic Here Puss bowed again with a courtier-like

antic.

Even

wizards,

fear,

or

so

't

would appear,
flattery

Cannot always, unmoved,

artful

hear.

The Ogre Pray who

In
return
since
for
I

said,

"Ugh!
f

are

you
it

these compliments

what can

do

For

'm not vain,

You would
Of your
There
's

not tell me " Quite right Says Pussy,

seems pretty plain this without some hope of gain."

you
I 'd

're

On
And And

magical powers one now report says is yours, the which borders " what is impossible." Pray give your orders,
I
'11

fain

very polite have a sight.

open your eyes with

that

little

surprise,
tell

prove

report

does

not

always

lies."

"

'

The The

abode, I suppose, of a
palace,'

man of position ?

'

'

said they

'

of a mighty magician!'

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

"

Well, since you

Is

're

so

kind

what a wonderful dodge

all

call

the

power
bear,

of assuming
lion,

shapes

zoological

Ape,

elephant,

wolf,

hippopotamus
least

(The
Till

latter

beast
in

Scarcely

known

the

the

Pacha of Egypt obliging got 'em

leopard,
if

us),

Tiger,

peccary,

Or

e'en

gnu, paradoxurus you wish

fish

A
The

bird

or

penguin, for instance, or Buckland's Said the Ogre, "He! he!

silurus."

quickly shall see " That 's only child's-play to a wizard like me So without more ado, hands and knees on he sunk, His ears turned to flaps, and his nose to a trunk,
!

You

And

his

form

all

at

once took so quickly to swelling,

roof of his dwelling.
capital,

He
"

threatened to knock off the " " that 's Bravo cried the cat
! ;

that

You

big as the Heidelberg vat But can you now, please, with just as much ease Into smaller dimensions at once yourself squeeze ?
're

almost

as

Say,

from the elephant, big as the house, " Sans any embarrassment, into a mouse ?
turn

Bulk, big

legs,

and
!

trunk

Immediately shrunk In three seconds no more-

Was
Where
the

mouse on the

floor

elephant

stood but an

instant

before.

At one bound, quick as thought, That mouse Pussy caught,

any aid from his charms could be sought, Or help could be had from the spirits who followed him, Had given the magician one grip and then swallowed him
before

And

55

PUSS

IN

BOOTS.

Then back
Just
in

to

the

door

Puss hastened

once more,
state

time to receive the

carriage

and

four.

He

helped to descend His master and friend,

in

Who

was

still

bewilderment

how

it

would end,

And The

proceeded to bring
Princess
all

and the King

the

Through

Where

grand rooms, and grooms pages

Who
To

were glad with the Marquis their old situations hold in the castle made low salutations.

To
And,
since

cut

my

tale

short,

They

returned to the

court,

nobody wished their attachment to thwart, The young folks were married,

And

he

his

bride

carried
tarried
;

To

his

castle,

where happily ever they And the cat was provided

The King so decided With a cushion of silk And a gallon of milk

Every day of
I

his

life

till

the day that

he died-ed.

Ve The

only to add
fortunate lad

Sent and fetched his two brothers so cruel

and bad,

And recalling the To their mernory,

Told
his

past
at
last
;

good fortune, which made them aghast And then, bidding them better in future behave them, To be nobly revenged on them both he forgave them
present

56

CINDERELLA.

once was a Baron who dwelt

rock by the Rhine, Whence, whene'er he 'd incline,
a

at

the

top

Of

Upon

travellers

that

way he was ready

to

drop,

And lighten their purses Which brought many curses

On

the

head of the

Baron of Snitherumpopp For a practice, which now

shouldn't
allow,

We
And,
in
fact,

the

police

would immediately
the

stop.

Hard by where
These strange There
lived

tricks

Bar(i)on* did carry on

young
all,

Prince,

who by

flourish

of clarion

both great folks and small, He intended to give a great banquet and ball Or, to use modern language, a spread and a hop 'T was good news for the daughters of Snitherumpopp.
:

Proclaimed unto

For the Baron, you

see,

had daughters
can be,
!

three,

The two eldest as ugly as ugly And prouder than Lucifer (no
That through.

must scratch
so

long for a catch, It 's not true that their pride was above any match) But the youngest was fair, with beautiful hair Her sisters looked on her with rage and despair
'd
;
;

For they

waited

And

that

they 'd

" forward If that

have no chance they declared past a doubt, " " come out." young minx was allowed to

At
I

this

new mode

of spelling the word don't

!

feel

shy

hare seen a

Baron with more than one eye

57

CINDERELLA.

So

for

fear

of her

beauty their lovers bewitching,

her to stop

They compelled

In that wretched cook's-shop

Which
In
Pots,

is

clothes

own denizens christened the " kitching." very mean they compelled her to clean
by
its

kettles,

and pans
pa's

implements

de

cuisine.

In her

worn-out gloves

She polished the stoves, Poker, shovel, and tongs, and whatever belongs To the role of what Stubbs* calls " say po-vers onfongs"

The General

Servants
last
is

or

Maids-of-All-Work,
to
shirk,

Though Or at least

this

name they seem anxious

in

as

rule

advertisements
'd

burke.

Though And to

sweep and to dust, see dinner cooked, when skewered rightly or trussed,
far

from robust, she

to

(Though dining herself off a scrap and a crust, While if aught turned out wrong by her pa she was Not to mention, en passant, the fact that she must
Chairs

cussed)

See that

and tables adjust and, from all things were clean from
;

last
dirt,
is,

unto fust,
mildew, or
unless
rust.

(For

this

last

she

used paper, which

brain

memory

Deserts

poor altogether, Emery.) doubt on the point to enlighten, [N.B. Any I don't mean the actor, although he 's a bright 'un.]

this

called

When
To And
Of

was announced, off the two sisters bounced send their best dresses to have them re-flounced,
the
ball

soon became clawers from various

flowers,

drawers

fans,

gloves

(by the

shopman

"
styled

strawers "),

Trimmings, ribbons, and laces, to add to the graces Of their very poor forms and their very poor faces.

Of
But

scenes continental
once,

poor

though

he speaks of

Stubbs has been viewer his trip as " ntong two-cr."

58

CINDERELLA.

must own that they were

tradesmen
routs

(since

plain

speaking de rigueur
in

's)

What
One

denominate
scarf,

" marked

"

plain

figures

out a

one contrives to unearth

Compound of tulle And ribbons which

Hear described by your

sister

you'll or wife
for

as

Bertha.

The
With

eldest

's

inclined

to declare

tarlatane,
'un,
;

Either an
a

emerald green or a

scarlet

under-petticoat known as a slip While the second decides double skirts are "the tip." " " (What the tip means you know, though one can't see the point of I 'd not use the slang, save that rhyme makes a joint of it.)
silk

it.

At

last

draws near the

's

festal

day

The

ball

to

last

three

nights,

they say.

What

hustle

and bustle
the

oh,

dear

what a

fuss

'11

Be made when
I
'11

ball-dresses

whisper and

rustle,

warrant
noise

that

scuffle

And

quite

enough
as

'11

Be made when along the oak While the band are all playing

floors

their
as

feet

shuffle,
're

hard
the

they

able

The popular

waltz

of the

season

" Mabel."

While her unprepossessing

Two
Cinderella
to

sisters
all

are

dressing,
I

do

the work,

'm

afraid,

is

made,
store

Not only
She
lays

of general servant, but lady's maid. out the robes by which each so much

sets,

Takes things down

Cleans
Pins
their
sleeves,

to

air,

their

shoes,
their

curls

their

hair,

hooks
both

dresses,

and

laces

their

corsets.

And now
Is

they're
to
!

drest,
at

each,

looking her best,

a
guest.

prepared
're

become

the

Prince's

They

gone

And

yet

neither

her

thanks
;

has

conveyed

To

poor Cinderella

for

lending her aid

59

CINDERELLA.

They Ve not wished her good-night Though for once they've allowed

they have not even

her to act
as

kist her,

assister.

She could not but feel it, her heart being tender, So she sat down and had a good cry on the fender; When as good Mrs. Brown,

Of

Whose

figures
as

of speech

Be described

renown, may, without any bosh, "the things that come home from
of
a suddin a
"

world-wide

the wash,"

Says" All
!

The room was

flood
said,

in

Of light Cinderella, surprised, The soot must have caught and

But no
!

"
set
!

Oh, Jim'ni
to the

fire

chimney!

t'

was not so

The

beautiful

glow
quite

Was

not due to
another

an accident
affair,

the contra/ry
!

Altogether
Cinderella
often

and a

fairy

had got what now-a-day not

has
fallen

Very

to

As

fancy you

can't
it 's

any one's lot, but instantly grant

fairy

When

you

learn

This benevolent fay

by way of an aunt. has called in, in this way

a

To hear what her favourite niece has to say, And to send her, if any desire she evinces To share in the fun, to the ball at the Prince's.

When

she

said,

"Will you go?" she

I,

didn't
"
!

say,

But answered, " Just shouldn't

aunt
fit

"
adding,
a
belle

"No!" Oh
!

How

wish

I 'd

ball-dress
"
!

one
" So

for

White muslin with tucks you shall, Cinderella. But first we must get you an equipage proper. You '11 find some black-beetles down there by the copper There 's a rat in the trap, and some mice, too, mayhap,

And

there

's

also

a lizard,

little

green chap,

On

the

grass-plot

before

the

scullery door.

Bring them here, there's a dear.

Stay,

want one thing more

60

"

Now

pumpkins

But no

one before ever

some fry 'em, some boil 'em, some stew 'em made one a brougham ! "

CINDERELLA.

pumpkin

And yonder

see,

if

my

eyes
"
!

Don't deceive me, a pumpkin exactly the size Cinderella soon sought the things out, and brought

To

her

aunt,

who, by magic
to
all

as

rapid

as

thought,

Turned the

beetles

A
As

coachman,
for

pages, and made of the rat powder, bouquet, and laced hat.

they became in a trice Eight cream-coloured galloways, worth any price And the lizard she made that most active of friskers
the

mice,

footman
"
"

with

livery,

calves,

and big whiskers.

And

now, dear," said she, For a coach we must see

Now

pumpkins

some

fry 'em,

some
a

boil 'em,

some stew

'em,

But no one before ever made one

brougham.''*

At once

although

strange
a

you may fancy the change,

And think I am drawing The pumpkin (of that as

Turned
to a

bow
trick

at

long range
a

cock-sure as
in

bantam

'm)

pantomime. touched her niece's array Then the worthy old fay Rags and tatters all vanished at once quite away, in their lieu, she appeared to the view And, lo
!

coach

like

In

ball-dress

of fashion the
'd

newest of new

She

such lovely jewels

of

The thought Not

at

them

cruel

's

Hancock's, or Ryder's, or H. Emmanuel's, Or the shops of some forty more

Hunt Where on

(Say Storr and Mortimore, and Roskell, or any besides of the

things

many
a nice

of the

sort

you may spend

penny)

No

But

at

the Adelphi
carried

some

folks

"

've

heard

tell

on

Are often quite

away

by a

Mellon.

61

CINDERELLA.

Could you ever procure such pearls, diamonds, and top az the Pope has I very much doubt if their equal
;

Though there are Good many gems

But what
Polished
sort

(so

Ve read

in

a
!

newspaper

par.)

in

the

of

shoes

papal tiara had the sweet

Cinderellaor

leather,

white
those

satin,

French
her dear

kid,

prunella?
toes.

No

not

one of
can't

hid
?

little

She wore She wore

you guess

now what

do

you suppose

She wore

come, you know what she had pour ses scullers ?" " as A. Ward would remark, 't was pekoolier
glass
slippers, "
!

She wore, to be brief, then, a pair of And what vulgar rapture calls " regular

clippers

but they shan't young fancy they There 's one thing, however, I 'm anxious to mention And I beg you will give to my words your attention
'11

And And

now,"

said

her aunt,
catch

"

your

sisters

may

flaunt,
!

the

Prince

If

you stop

at

the

ball

till

the

hours

that
!

are

small,

Your jewels and finery '11 vanish that 's all So when twelve 's drawing near be careful, my

dear,

And
Yes
;

to
at

get
five

away

safely
to,

take pray

five

minutes

clear.

minutes

take
'11

Or something may happen you

Cinderella,

your adieu, long have to rue

"
!

charmed with her gorgeous array, Scarce had patience to hear what her aunt had to
quite

say,
it,

But the moment she seemed

Kissed
her, and

to

be

making an end to
attend
to
it
!

promised

she 'd

strictly

Cinderella

steps

into

her

carriage

and eight,
Tantara-tantara-ta
!

With coachman, and footmen, and

She
is

pages

of

state,

driven

away

to

the

Prince's

grand

gate.
!

Tantara-tantara-ta

Oh,

didn't

they think she was

somebody

great

Tantara-tantara-ta

62

CINDERELLA.

The

Prince's

Lord Chamberlain rushed

very low
that

to

the door,
!

Tantara-tantara-ta

And bowed
While

fair

lady

before,
score,
!

retainers

and guards crowded round by the

Tantara-tantara-ta

And
The

even

the

solemn old porter

all

said,

" Lor

"
! !

Tantara-tantara-ta
Prince,

when he heard
the

the

hubbub and
his

din,
!

Tantara-tantara-ta

Came down To the fair

grand

staircase,

and held out

in,

fin

Cinderella, and welcomed her

Tantara-tantara-ta

And

very sweet

smile

was so blest

as

to win.
!

Tantara-tantara-ta

He

leads

her
all

to

the

ball-room.

As they
centre.

enter,

At once
Desires

eyes on Cinderella
land,

Each noble of the

the

well-born

or

grand,

honour of her tiny hand. The women all are on the hooks styled

tenter
"

To

learn

who
"

she

can be,

Though

really
's

Like female jealousy there

Into
a

they can't see no fermenter

placid

For turning -tempers naturally

bitterly

corrosive

acid

"

What
They 'd

all

could find in her to praise ne'er met one more plain in all their days. Her clothes were fine,
the

men

And

did with jewels

shine,
lent

But then, you know, they'd probably been

her."

What need to To differ from

enlarge
us

It

appears

woman's duty

upon questions of beauty.

63

CINDERELLA.

The men were enchanted. More brazen-faced thing

As experience
Is

The
"
!

ladies

"
said,

Well, a

meaning poor
belles,

Cinderella.

(The dissension of
tells,

one of
Prince

the

oldest

of horrida
for

Mia.)
the

The
That

claimed

her hand

very next

dance

Cinderella
set

consented,
his

Much

faster

but gave him a glance heart dancing with passion and pleasure by far than his feet danced the measure.

"

Now 's
Miss,

your chance,
to dance.

Hark!

they play the

false

'Mabel.'

Who 'd
To

be

such a waltz, If to spin he

's

able

":

" Faster they Ought to play

Can't they do

it

"'

quicker

No,

that

ass

The

double-bass,

He 's
"

far

gone

in

liquor.

O'er

the

floor

One round more

Will not
"
tire,

trust,

you."

Only one

And now
I
'11

it 's

done
"

sit

down."

Oh, must you

"
:

For dance

after

The

Prince

asks

dance his delight to enhance her hand no one else has a chance
;

While young
Shake
their

ladies
at

and

"
old,

left

out in

the cold,"
it's

heads

such doings, and

say that

"bold!'

-.1

CINDERELLA.

But the Prince doesn't care for any one there But his own darling partner, so gentle and fair

(Which is more than his conduct is so they declare). At last Cinderella looked up at the clock, One minute to twelve What a terrible shock
! !

In

two seconds more she

wait,

is

out

at

the door,

She has no time to

It

but runs to the gate's well no one sees her, because she 's too late The clock has struck twelve. The enchantment

is

o'er

The

guards

who were

stationed

each

side

of

the

portal,

When
Had
Except
All rag,
yes
!

questioned,

said

they

seen

none pass that way

one scullery-maid, a poor mortal, patch, and tatter, but didn't look at her.
;

The porter declared he knew nought of the matter At the door as he sat he 'd seen nothing thereat
But a pumpkin,
a
'd

lizard,

some mice, and a

after

rat.

The

Prince,

who

rushed out to look

his

partner

And hand her downstairs To her carriage, declares

He

can't

make

it

out

" It
feels

"
is

quite
it's
all

disheart'ner

However, next night he When he sees her again

right
alight.

at

his

palace

Once more by

his
if

side

through
a

the

hall

she

will

glide

And

he

's

chance,

In the midst of the dance

He

'11

ask her

permission

to

make her

his

bride.

Cinderella,

taught wisdom by yesterday's scrape,

Though Watched

enjoying the ball, the clock on the wall,

from the room made escape. But the Prince, looking out very sharply, no doubt, Saw what his mysterious guest was about

And

in

plenty of time

65

CINDERELLA.

So

sent
said

for

follower

trusty and

tried,

And Of

he was yearning the name to be learning

outside
;

the lady just gone to her carriage And so he must ride

little

way on

say just

down
let

And follow the The Prince then

But
in

coach,

next turning whatever betide

the
!

conducted the
his

fair
its

to

her coach-

vain
in

did
its

vassal

await
last

To
At

ride

track,
his

so

at

approach he came back.

the

news of

failure

his

master looked black,

And The

him the sack. next night came round once more the Prince found His love at the ball and his heart gave a bound
instead

of a money-bag gave

In the midst of the hop the question to pop He determined and nought his intention should stop.

How
More More

sweet

are

first

love's

tender words

As on the

ear

they

fall!

musical than song of birds sweet than whey, more soft than
to

curds,

So welcome
And, ah! to

us

all.

Cinderella's

ear,

Who 'd
How
Which
All

heard so

little

love,

were the Prince's

her fond heart
other

accents

dear,

could plainly hear

!

sounds above

Her

aunt's

directions

to

her niece her shelve

;

Young Cupid makes

When
The

suddenly her joy must cease clock upon the mantelpiece Is on the stroke of twelve.

One

runthroughthe

Two

Three!

66

CINDERELLA.

Four
Five
!

door.

look alive

If

you do not

contrive
six,

To
I

be out of the place ere the clock strikes twice guess, Miss, you '11 be in a tall sort of a fix.
is

She

off and

away without any

his

delay,
fear

Ere the Prince can get rid of Off down the stairs
Like a

and. dismay

When
Slipt

one

thing she tears of her slippers, small blame

quite
true
to
its

mad

for
;

that

same,

off altogether,

So the Prince

name when he came

his

To

the

top of the
that
she

staircase

love

to

pursue,

Found

was

a
?

slipper

but
"

left

him

shoe.

What

was

Together

he to do " at
once,

He

put two and two

like

calculating

Babbage

And
Remarked,

as

Taylor would say

will

In adapting a play, " If that 's I

choux,
all

make

it

my

cabbage."
;

The

questioned, but nought could he glean They had carefully watched, but had nobody seen Except one poor beggar girl, ragged and mean.

guards were

''

Who,"

one observed, " from her beautiful colour, he Thought had been scrubbing the pans in the scullery." The very next day, in the usual way,
so

His nobles he

sent,

with

herald,
fair

to

say,

That the fortunate

could easily wear The slipper which they on a cushion then carried Would be by the Prince instantaneously married.
" "

Who

Pooh
Only

"
!

say
for

the

ladies,

as

each

trial

afraid, Chang's lady, that shoe, You 'd better convince that foolish young Prince, the fact not to mince If he waits till it's fitted
fit

made we 're

is,
is.

He

'11

finish

at
is

last

by not marrying

at
!

all
''

The

slipper

really

too foolishly small

67

CINDERELLA.

But

in

spite

of

their

sneers,

they were

all

half
ears
;

in

tears,

And

to

get on the
there were

slipper

had given
so

their

Indeed,

those
it

who
or

cut off their toes the tale goes.

To
And

try

and contrive

Cinderella's

were fiery as blisters, abused the young Prince and his learned

two

sisters

mim'sters,
it!

Altogether,

as

Toole would observe, "just a-goin'

if

Because,

you

please,

When
The
shoe
on,
'd

each tried to

she

squeeze her big toe in scarcely could get

sat

it.

When

they

done,

Cinderella

down

in

the

chair

Oh, didn't they stare with contemptuous air! While each to the other said, "Well, I declare!"

But when the

lords

put

The
Without any ado
Said the Prince
in

shoe
it

on her
into

foot,

slipt

the shoe
'11

"
trice,

wed none,

love,

but you

!"

What more

The good

fairy

returned

on the scene,

And, instead of the garb which was really not clean, At a touch of her wand, in a dress of rare sheen
Presented her niece to

So

faithful

and fond,
"

who had been and who made her his Queen.

the

Prince

" Post [From the

you

will

all

the

particulars

glean

Of

the
a

marriage performed

the two

parties between

By
Her

Bishop, assisted by Canon and Dean.] sisters were very near dying of spleen,
their

And thought

conduct remarkably mean, But lived as neglected old maids, spare and lean (Though they'd never acknowledge to more than nineteen).
aunt's

So there

's

no more to

tell

a-

Whose

life

-Bout sweet Cinderella, was quite happy in fact, "

"
all

serene

68

~~
llllitllli'il!

" Without any ado

It s/ipt into the shoe !

"

HOP

O'

MY THUMB.

TJPON a forest thick and A cottage, the reverse

gloomy
of roomy

To put it plainly, just a hut And nothing better did abut.

T was

built

of clay and roofed with straw

The walls had many a gap and flaw; The chimney wouldn't always draw; The floor was damp, the ceiling leaky With stains of rains the walls were streaky.
;

Around the

hearth,
fire,

where seldom smiled

piled

blazing

were faggots
for
fuel

As

if

Oh, mockery
-Ers
as

cruel

For they were heaped from

a

floor

to

raft-

check upon the draught.

that

The

used that draught to flicker to Consisted only of a stick or two, Enough to warm a mess of pottage.
fires

Pshaw

why

waste time

In spinning rhyme, When one can easily contrive

To
The

picture

it

with words just five

usual

"

English labourer's cottage."

There dwelt a goodwife, and her goodman, Who by profession was a woodman, But was so poor and so prolific

(A family of seven

's

terrific

HOP O MY THUMB.

To

one whose trade

oft

is

not

first

chop),

That

when
his

trees
lot

he'd limb and lop

did
his

He

wished

That he could cut

But while he
in

him own

appal
stick

so
also.

the woods was

the
at

hewing,
doing,

What, think you,

poor

wife was

home, and see Her children gather round her knee With looks that, plain as words could
had to
sit

Who

utter,
"

"
Said,
Please,

we want some bread and

sit

butter

What
While

could she do but

bitter

and

sigh,.
?

tears

bedewed her eye

the

His was

the " hew," but hers

duties

"
cry."
:

Her household

were but few

infant

When
The

she

had clothed the

that
as

crew,

toils

rule

belong

To

cooking, did not take her long ; They never tasted meat, to vary an
Eternal
diet

vegetarian.
to
rear

And

On
And
Is

troop broth and carrot soup, turnip ne'er taste " pieces of resistance,"

well

we know,

vegetation,

not existence

Said the

husband one night

sat

As they

by the

light

Of

a fire

that

for

"

My
One

them was uncommonly dear, we have got

carrot

bright,*

and not
into

single

scrap

more to put

the

pot.

Mow
By

it

flickered

and
artist

flared

has

been drawn

con

nmnre

that

notable

of

artists,

G. Dore.

70

HOP O MY THUMB.

We 're
Than

nothing much that we every day shall grow poorer and poorer. And what for our brats
as

poor

as

church mice, and there

's

surer

Can we

do,

my

love

That
'

's
'

The
It

question
's

like green gnaws at my heart long since we had any victuals to carve, But now we Ve no soup

that

rats

To
What
is

spoon out to be done ?

for for

the group

we

can't

see

them

starve."

The wife shook And mournfully

" If

her head,
said,
;

we have not the food, why, they cannot be fed Unless we find heart to entrust them all seven

To
And
Of
the wild

the Power
attends
to

that feeds

the

needs
of heaven."

things of earth and the winged things Said the father, "That's true!
It
's

what we must do

By And

the forest the poor little crew roundabout ways, all the more to confuse them

We'll take

to

then,

when we

find

they're not looking, we'll lose

polite
'11

them."

Here the reader

Allow the
recital
're

To

pause while they

settling

question

so

vital

And I, in requital, To make it all right,

Explain how

'11

my

story has
child

come by
that was

its

title.

The

last

born

To this couple forlorn Was tiny in figure

;

Not very much

bigger

Than

the

wee dancing

dolls

that

one

sees

in

an.

organ

Or
He'd,
I

rather,

so

small
at
all

That no
think,

figure

have been called by Professor de Morgan,

HOP

O*

MY THUMB.

But

devoted to fractions

most
is

infinitesimal

That diminutive point which

known

as

decimal.

though he was a boy, And we do not employ

So,

Says the grammar that Eton lads always For the masculine omne quod exit in urn,

enjoy

They

christened
father
his

the

little

one

Hop

o'

my Thumb.
size,

The And
That

regarded the child with surprise ; mother, poor woman, shed tears for his
as

For she
so

felt
little

looked at her babe the misgiving a boy could but make a small living.
she

And
Still

he grew older every beholder

as

That he

didn't

grow bigger

at
all

all

always

told

her

But then

as

some comfort they

Possessed

of them

found him

Though
For though he was

of great nous, the size of a mouse

little,

they couldn't get round

him.

Now it chanced on the When his parents were

night that begins

my

narration,

holding this grave Sleep would not come

o'

consultation,

To Hop

my Thumb
some
"
;

He

was on the

alert

" a remarkable

So he

sat

And
And
flickering

there
light

up in bed, by the red

around
of
the
it

that
glare

was shed,

By
She was poor

the

log
a

Saw the
as

cat
rat
;

and the doghe 'd a waist

like

frog,

Or

greyhound but due to the absence of prog, Not the presence of breed,

He

resembled, indeed,

72

" He saw

on her cheek a

tear-drop glisten,
to listen."

So be bid himself under her chair

HOP O MY THUMB.

The nags

that points

you
"

see
all

in

cab-driver's

stud,

Whose

"

are

owing
father

to

bone,

not to blood.

There

his
sat

and mother

Too

Conversing in And he saw on her cheek a tear-drop So he hid himself under her chair to

by each other, tones they seemed anxious to smother,

glisten,
listen.

What did he hear He regarded with fear

r

Being

left

in

the forest
all

so

dismal

and drear

And
Get wholly

for

no good,
he should
in

For 'twas
mislaid,

likely

like

the Babes

the

Wood,
alack
for
!

Whom
When

(see

story)
eat,

with leaves the

kind

robin,

buries,
!

they

by mistake, deadly nightshade

blackberries

In a state of despair, Hidden under the chair,

Poor

Hop
first

o'

my Thumb

heard

his

parents

declare

That the

Which,

thing next day they would make the excursion so they determined, should end in desertion. " What 's to be done ?

This
I

is

really

no fun

'm the wretchedest mortal that

's

under the sun.

To

bed

must creep
I
is

But awake For what I Ve to do

Said Hop When his

will

keep,
think,

to

not to
"

sleep,"
"
!

o'

my Thumb,
said,

father

Mum

To

his

mother, intending that she should be

dumb

On the subject that late Had formed their debate

"
I

think you had

better

get

breakfast

at

eight."

73

HOP O MY THUMB.

The boy

stole
o'er

to
in

bed,
his

To

turn

head

The things which And discover, if

As
well

his

father and
'cute

mother had
little

said,

possible,
as

chap

he can,
little

Some snug

plan
a

To

guard him and brothers against One thing was clear

:

mishap.

He
For
if

they started from here some landmarks must leave by which homeward to steer he
'd

When

the

means

to

discover

the

track

again,

Go

where they would, he

could find his way back But in vain to devise

again

Till

he

's

guide-post he tries, quite wearied out, and sleep closes

Some

his

eyes.

But while he

still

sleeps,

On

moonbeam down
all

sweeps
she
peeps,

fairy

beneath his closed eyelids

And

finding him busy on

sorts

of schemes,

To aid his escape From the morrow's

She a cunning suggestion

sad

scrape,

slips

into

his

dreams.

Where lofty oaks deep shadows make, And ceaselessly the aspens quake, Where ancient elms their branches spread, And ashes whisper overhead
;

Within the

darkest glades There flows a stream among the shades, Above its wave a hoary group
forest's

Of melancholy The kingfisher

willows
its

droop. waters loves

startled

is

haunted by the

doves

74

HOP O MY THUMB.

And,
'T
is

free

of

fear,

beside
oft

its

brink
to
drink.

The dappled fawn

fed

stops

by twenty And here and there

tinkling

rills,

where sunlight
the

spills

Through openings

in

boughs o'erhead

A A

halo,

yellow,

azure,

red

tiny rainbow bright and small

o'er

Hangs

the

mimic
the

waterfall

Where through
Bright glimpses

overarching green of the sky are seen,

as

The dancing

they go Mirror the snatch of blue below.

within
its

waters

Long mosses wave

stream,

And And
But

silvery fishes
water-lilies

glance and gleam, float and sail.

these
point,

do not concern
the

my

tale.

My
Is,

mystery to unravel,
it
is

that

the
its

bed of

gravel,

And

bays and banks abound In pebbles small, and smooth, and round.
that

By
It

the

side

of this
in
his

stream,

As he walked

dream,
set

all appeared that the pebbles " Thumb o'

up

scream,

boy, come ; If we cannot show you the way it is At the first streak of day
hither,

Hop Come

my

rum

"
!

He
He
creeps

is

up and away

out of the house through a crack in the

clay,

* At the slang the stones speak don't,

pray,

be offended

How
Just

their

schooling

's

neglected

Must be

recollected

remember how

often

roads

have to be mended

75

HOP O MY THUMB.

Off

like
fill

rocket

To
With
stones

every pocket
stones,

precious

though not

fit

for

locket.

Brooch, bracelet, or ring, Or any such thing

But precious

to

him

for

the

help

they

will

bring.

Away must he go
Like arrow from bow,

Yet

all

in

quiver,

And
The
scene
is

reaches

the
one,

river.

a taking

though

this

is

giver

Of
That
reads

peaceful delight, Full of charm for the

all

sight

On
Where
the

beauty of Nature aright. the bank of the stream

the

Rests one fleeting gleam,

bluebells

and dainty anemones teem,

rises

Of an

grey hollow stem while old pollard willow

;

And The

there

o'er

them

many

gem

From
For
't is

the waters

is

hung
sweetest

Leaf and blossom among,

here
that

the

stream's

madrigal

's
?

sung.

But what does he care for song, bluebell, or pollard There are the jockeys that have to be collared.

Down on
And Where

he went, if you please, oblivious of sunshine, and blossoms, and

his

knees

trees,

the waterfall

piped in the
filled

shrillest

of trebles

Hop

o'

my Thumb

his

pocket with pebbles.

Then homeward he
Returned through

stole,

the

hole,
;

And

crept

into

bed, not disturbing a soul

76

" Where the trebles waterfall piped in the shrillest of Thumb filed his pockets with pebbles." o" Hop my

HOP O MY THUMB.

But

danger completely forestalled, Curled up, and slept soundly until he was called
feeling

the

At eight
Lit

o'

clock the

mother

rose,

And donning
up some

mournfully her
sticks
last

clothes,

and put the

night

kettle

on,
:

As she and he did

settle
!

on

The water boiling, in goes, souse The one last carrot in the house. The hapless mother can't but feel
In

any case it 's their last meal ; For even if they now gave up The plan on which they had agreed, There 's nothing left, nor bite nor sup,

Her hungry,
Less pain
't

starving
be,

babes
feels,

to

feed.

will

she

poor mother,
another.

To

lose

them one way than

And
While
grief

so

this

poor Hagar
her.

Prepared her soupe maigre,

and perplexity harass and plague And soon as their eyes

Are open, with

Of

"

Oh, we

're

so

cries "
!

hungry
at

the

little
's

ones

rise.

While the
Very great

father,

who
plot,

not

Conceives that his plan some more treachery lacks So in order to hatch it, goes out with his axe, And makes an attempt at restoring his mind's tone

By

setting

the

edge of the blade to the grindstone.

The poor Sit down

little

souls

to

their

bowls,

And

eat

up

their

pottage without

any

rolls.

77

HOP O

MY THUMB.

It

's

not a remarkably nourishing diet, But it eases the pangs

hunger's sharp fangs, the wolf in the stomach keeps

Qf

And

partially

quiet.

But the mother

It's
far

's

afraid

from

For the

carrot's

fine

flavour
salt

And

it 's

rather

too

made, and strength haven't stopt in from the tears that have dropt

well

it,

in

it.

However, no matter

They
In
If

clear

expecting
for

share

out each platter of the soup, dog and cat err

:

they want a
as

first

And

the
'11

they must e'en lick the dish for second, they '11 have to go fish for it
course

it,

third

they

not meet with,

however they wish for

it.

So the

table

was cleared
:

The And
Said
the
I
'11

cloth

disappeared

then
father,

came what
"

Hop
me

o'

my Thumb
I

had so

feared.

Come,
all

children,

'm off to the wood,

're

And

take

you There

with
are

lots

providing you of wild fruits,

roots,

good.

Not

to

mention the

And

the

hawthorns are putting forth midsummer shoots. You '11 have plenty to eat
'T
will

be

really

treat
all

So run

to

your mother, and

be made neat

"
!

Off they ran

in

great

glee

mother, and she Did the best that she could for the boys but, you A respectable look 's not the easiest of matters To give to clothes made of shreds, patches, and tatters.
their
;

To

see,

"

And

here and there along the track

to

Dropping a pebble

guide him back."

HOP

O'

MY THUMB.

However,

They

set

inspected and passed, out 'for the forest so gloomy and

at
last,

vast.

The

father

goes first with his axe on his shoulder, The next place was the mother's,

And
First

then

all

the others

he of the brothers
rest

Who

is

than the

of the family older,

tallest

And

so

from the

On

Right down to the smallest, a scale that would greatly amuse a beholder.

And, pray, who last of all should come But the mite of the family, Hop o' my Trudging along,

Thumb

Humming
As
if

song,

he were quite unsuspecting of wrong, But keeping an eye

Very much on the

sly

On

the

various

objects

the

road took them

by,

And

here and there along the track Dropping a pebble to guide him back.

On
In

they went still, mounting a hill the sort of locality papers call "ill" That retired kind of spot

You would

look on

as

not
a

An

unsuitable

Up

place for the scene of the steep gloomy slope

;

murther

They stumble and grope They'd come to a fir wood, but

At
last

still

they went further.

the old woodcutter

Set the
children
stole

cried
play,

out a

halt,

to

And
With
his

then

away
fancied

wife

when he

they'd

all

be

at

fault.

79

HOP O MY THUMB.

And

so

they were

rather

When, weary of playing And running and straying,

They hunted
in

vain

for

their

mother and

father.

Oh, where could they be ? In bush, thicket, and tree

They

searched,

but their parents they nowhere could

of them
cried, "

see.

And some
"

Oh, where do you hide ? As young Lovell remarked to his beautiful

bride,

Who
And

" the got in wrong box," while the key was outside, suffered such pains in the chest that she died.

They

ran

to

and

fro,

And
And
O'
exerted

searched high and low, themselves till near ready to drop,

Whereupon little Hop my Thumb, who till then held his

tongue, This was done to deceive us

:

called

out " Stop

They meant
But
I,

thus leave us
let

if

you'll just
all

me manage

the job,

'11

Soon help you

out of this

queer-looking

hobble."

That night the sad

Sat

sire

And

the

down by the fire, mother sat near him in agony

Felt far

dire,

And, though they'd not dined, from inclined

loaf

To

eat

of the

they'd the good luck to find

party had
left
it

Where some gay

picnic
as

behind,

Just

they
!

Well-a-day

Had

left

(As the madrigals say) their poor children behind in

dismay.

80

HOP O MY THUMB.

" Rat-tat-tat

"
!

"What
Said

is

that?"
sire

the

as

he

sat

On

the desolate

"A
Ado,
it

hearth 'twixt the dog knock at the door."

and the

cat.

And

without any more

!

was opened and, lo on the floor Stood those desolate ones,

His seven

little

sons,

With Hop

o'

my Thumb

walking coolly before

There was nought to be They put them to bed

;

said

You

can't

solve

riddle

by scratching your head,

distrest

Or
All

that

father

Would
the
said

have certainly guessed

"

"

Family Herald's
"
wife,

most puzzling and

it 's

best.

We

our sorrow, '11 lose the young rascals once more, dear, to-morrow. But for fear that again of our scheme nought should come,

But he

to his

Though

much

to

Just

keep a sharp eye on that

Hop

o'

my Thumb."

The

very next day

led

He
In
a
different

them away,
of the
forest

part

to

stray-

Where And if

the
I

and darker, and denser, foliage was thicker, 'm permitted the term much immenser
!

Any chance, to provide From the rivulet's side

Any
pebbles,
to

Hop
easily

o'

my Thumb

was denied

But the youngster was one

Not
Said he,

done
it,

"

'11

contrive

as

sure

as

"

gun

So

into

his

pocket,

unnoticed,
for

the

crust

He

had given him

breakfast

he quietly thrust,

81

HOP O MY THUMB.

And when onward

they strode
that

By

this

different

road,

dropt crumbs all Very well the way back, But for one little fact I

He

along,
as

had
his

certainly

showed

had been
going
to

intention,
:

am

mention

That the thrush and the blackbird, the woodlark and

Discovered
this

linnet

strewing
at

of -bread in
ate

And And

alighting

once,

up

all

minute, of the crumbs,

o'

ruined this

plan

of poor

Hop

my Thumb's

boys didn't mind were left behind, they Thinking Hop o' my Thumb would the road for them find.
the
If

Now

But,
It

alas

when they thought

To

and they ought get home, and he failed to find out what he sought,
late,

was

A
Was
set

pretty
a
at

to-do
"

And
up
all

frightened

bohoo

"
!

once by the

terrified

crew.

'T was

useless

to
in

search

They
They were
lost

were
in

left

the
as

lurch,
safe
!

the
a

forest

as

the

church.

And
Wild

plight It was t'wards night, getting there might not be (so although whispered beasts in the forest about, yet there

What

terrible

their fright)
!

might

The sun adown the western sky in dying glory rolled, And turned the forest's topmost leaves to fluttering flecks The twilight shadows deepened round And filled the violet sky,
Till,

of gold

springing
stars

The

out of depths profound, were in the sky.

82

HOP O MY THUMB.

A
The
last

Fell

purple pall over all ;

faded
a
soon,

ray

And,

like

galley far

and small

Appeared the thread of moon.

All
noises

died

Save winds that sighed

Among
And

the

sombre
sad

trees,

nightingale's

song,
!

allied

In melody to these

Huddling shoulder

to

shoulder,

As the Those poor

And not growing bolder, breezes moaned louder, the

little

moon
the

shone out colder,

sorest,
forest.

brothers

in

terrors

Went

wandering on through the gloom of the Free from dismay,

Gallant

and gay,
first,

Hop

marching But they hadn't got the same

o'

my Thumb,

led

the

way
!

spirit

not they

At

last

he

espies
size
will
;

A
Said
I
''

he,
see

trunk of huge In the world this

can

by ascending it how So without wasting time

give me a rise the land lies."

He

hastes

to

the

climb.

His own elbows and knees, With some limbs of the trees,
Assisting

him up
all

to

the

top

by

degrees,
to
sit

He
And

contrives

on a bough very
the darkness

lofty

him,

views
his

While

brothers

of night will permit him, conjure him to tell what he sees.

83

HOP O MY THUMB.

But what

it

" Far away Shines a single ray, may be I can't venture

looks
since

to

say

It

rather

far,

But

here

we

are

Without any voice

In the matter or choice,

Whatever the

distance

we ought

to

rejoice

For whether the night be a melter

Or
If
it 's

pelter

muggy

as

beer
light

or

it

rains

helter-skelter

We

mustn't

make

of

light

that

means

shelter

On

went the

children,

still

shoulder to

shoulder,
vastly colder,
oft

As frightened as bricks, and than stones And much more alarmed, for a stone is
Arm-in-arm, In alarm,

boztlder

Expecting some harm, In a terror no words of their brother's could charm, They walked t'wards the light

Gleaming out through the

night,
at

And

as

fearful

to

turn

Through
Beginning

playing brake and through

to
tire,

as

if

Fright.
mire,

Trudged

the

sorrowful

sons

of a sorrowful

sire.

On

wandered they
so

In pursuit of a ray (Though girls more than boys think of

Till
at

dress,

they say)

length

at

the

great

Front-door,

(Or whatever 'twas

Of

castle,

or

postern-gate at that very vague mansion, a building gigantic,

called

date),

Designed on the model of dwellings romantic-

si.

" Far away

Shone a
single ray."

"

'

Who

are you,
little

You queer

crew

?'"

HOP O MY THUMB.

Gothic,

solid,

and strong,
so

That

lasts

ever

long
that
;

Not sham Gothic run up on

'T was terribly high It wearied the eye

very bad plan,

tick

To

follow

its

turrets

up

into

the

sky,

How many
I
1

feet

don't
at

care

to

repeat,

'm

bad hand
as

figures,

of

which to be sparing,
or

Twas

high

as

the

Grosvenor,

Langham, or Charing.*
to

They none
Till

of
o'

them knew what course

found a horn
bars,

pursue,
;

Hop

my Thumb

which he blew

Whereon some one the bolts, And came out

Very vivid and

and fastenings withdrew,

with a light
bright,
at

On

the

top

of the

steps

the head
their joy,

of the

flight,

And
Not

they saw,
a

to

man

But one of a sex

nor a boy for which terms we employ

sort
;

Of
" In
"

tenderer

In short, one to court

short
?

Not

at

all

but a
being

tall

one,

in

short

For she was a

giantess,

in

figure

Than Chang
"

the

tremendous, ^rz-actually bigger.

"
?

Who
Said

are

you, you
o'

queer

little

crew

Hop

my Thumb,

"

Madam,

pray

how

d'

ye do

The

poet

who

sighed

(he

's

depicted
find
at

as

thin)

The warmest
The

of welcomes
in

to

an inn

Might equal
sighs

panting

of a inns

Banting
are

To To

learn

that
to

these

prepared,
are

in

kind
a
lift

thrift,
!

give

those guests

who

poorest

85

HOP O

MY THUMB.

We We

people

so
for

small
a
call
:

Have come
!

want a night's lodging and supper, that " Alas " said the dame, " I can't promise that same,
lonely condition
to
pity
lays

"
's

all

Though your
But
In
to

claim.

grant

your entreaty were

!

really

sinall

receiving

"

you here, I should take you " Please, madam, do

terrified

in

Said the

crew,

Who

fancied

each

moment much
with awe,
that

darker

it

grew,

And

gazing

they saw Wild beasts coming after with ravenous maw (Not to mention such trifles as jaw, paw, or claw),
Believed

And
So

spectres
closer

enough

all

their

marrow

to

thaw

and closer together they drew, " Please, madam, do Repeating the chorus of
" "
Is

"
!

My
I

poor children
a
as

"
!

said

she,

Ve

husband, and
savage

he
can be
;

an Ogre as
's

savage

His appetite

great, and when hungry he 's sweet on boys So board, lodging, and clothing

He
Besides

'11

give

you

for
'11

no-thing,*
"
!

education

because you

be Eton, boys

These words they don't like, But the terror they strike

Not being so near As the darkness they fear, They beg her once more to their prayer

to

give

ear.

Pray pardon the

Is

rhyme, which,
the

it 's

terribly clear,

a
in

rhyme

to

eye, not a rhyme

to
I

the

ear.

If

thus fitting clothing you

fancy

fail,

or
tailor.

Am

making

botch

say

'twas

done by a

86

"

By arm,

leg, or bead,

He dragged

all the urchins

from under

the

bed?

HOP O MY THUMB.

"
Please,

madam, do
terrified

"
!

Said
"

the
to

We

're

prepared

crew; be eaten, we 're in such a stew

ma'am, you might Put us out of his sight We only want shelter and food for the night. Let our prayers, and our tears, and our woes your heart
Besides,
;

soften

Some supper And hide us

We're
quite used to
it,

provide
please

us,

hide

us,
it

father

has

done

so

often.''

Moved by their tears, And gave them some

she flung open the door,

minutes more, Ere they'd finished their bread

;

food

but in

five

And
"

Gloster,

she

said,

Here

's

the
feel

Ogre approaching
gridiron-like

get

under the bed

Unless you

or

stewpan-ish,
called
''

Or would

like

to

be

fried

with the onions

off in
if

Spanish

They were

jiffy,

As promptly as Were Colonel Stodare and had

But
scarce were

he
to

said

them,

" Vanish

"
!

All

they hidden away, I declare, Than the giant came in with a curious air. his wife's kind precautions were very well meant,

But

he,
is

like

Jew
off the
scent.

Who
A
bill,

going to do
easily

was not
"
Fee, Said

sent
!"

faw,
he,

fum

" there are some

yes,
said,
I

Little

children

about
sooner

nose

there

are,

mum

"
!

No
He
dragged
all

Than by arm,
the

leg,

or

head,

urchins
to

from under the bed.

entreat

Each began

him

To

please

not to eat him,

87

HOP O MY THUMB.

But the Ogre replied he 'd be happy So he sharpened his knife

to

meat him

To

take

every

life
it

As he would have done had

not been for

"

his

wife,
"

Who

showed him the supper she 'd got If so, she was willing

Wasn't

that

enough

To
The
children,

feed

up

for

killing

who now he could

Said
the

see

were not
true

fat

enough.

Ogre, "That's
will

The supper
We'll
fatten

do.

the

brats

for

week

or

p'rhaps

two.

Meanwhile, since late hours make them tasteless and flabby, " Let them all go to bed without waking the babby
!

Away they all sped And hurried to bed,

For But
fear
o'

his

opinion

Hop

my Thumb,

should change on that head. while his brothers were weeping,

Everywhere peeping,
Stealthily creeping,

We

young Ogrelings cozily sleeping In the very next bed on a pillow of down, And each of them wearing a little gold crown. Cried Hop o' my Thumb, on perceiving those bright caps, " Ve not been accustomed to sleep without nightcaps
!

Found

seven

away from the others, And put them instead on himself and his brothers.
So he took the gold
circlets

By and bye The Ogre so

sly

had made up his mind to a little boy-pie For his breakfast) comes up in the dead of the night With his very sharp knife, but without any light,

(Who

And

so

in

the

dark

(as

pitched

as

the

ark)

Begins fumbling and feeling about for his mark,

88

HOP o MY THUMB.

Comes
But

to

the

bed,

feels

A
And
at

on Hop's head
to
his

crown,

so
for

goes
at

off

children
see

instead,
is

once
all

He

cuts

the

slaughter throats of his

you

he a dab

(For which, since here, " Sarve him -Ate, right "--it's

slumbering babbies. Reader, you coroner are, tlictthe

usual

vardict.)

Hop
Heard

o'

my Thumb
all,

but kept
first

mum

And And
the

as

soon

as

the

streak
"

dawn " breaking

brothers
at

fast
if

in

of daylight was come, the heavens he saw

morning was raw), and they all crept downstairs, Climbed up to a window by aid of some chairs, Got easily out through a large broken pane, Jumped clown on the grass, and were free once again

(The night was quite done,

his

the

Woke

once

Off went each urchin,

And
The
Ogre,

left
still

quite
his

the

lurch
slept

in

who And
For
will

bed

like

church

in.

well
as

may
as

they run,
a
find

sure

gun
out what

The Ogre

wake and

he

's

done,

And
In

at

spite

once setting forth from his castle to catch 'em, of their start will be sure to outmatch 'em.
like

They may run

Possessed

the

wind

but the horrible brute's

of

a pair

of charmed

Seven League Boots

Yes

dread

and

fear

Already they hear

The

giant

pursuing them
try

coming more near

themselves
to
closely,

They must

to

conceal

that

's

clear.

They endeavour
Themselves
in

save
:

cave

The Ogre

approaches,

and even the brave

89

HOP O

MY THUMB.

Little

Hop o' my Thumb feels When the giant, who suffers

From
striding

tremor of dread
frightful

most
step

fatigues

across

at

each
is

seven

leagues,
;

Sits

down on

the

rock that
it 's

over their head

But

not long before

snore,

He 's
And Hop
"
o'

beginning to

my Thumb Now while he

hiding,

plucks
's

up courage once more.

asleep

We
From
our

must quietly creep

and bolt
like

parcel

of sheep

Out scramble the boys Without making a noise,

And

while
o'

this

way

Hop

my Thumb
To

way each rapidly shoots off, takes the Seven League Boots off.
or
that

finish

my
:

story

Scriptori-

more

With

the
at

boots was
full

He

returned

once in his glory. speed to the house of the giant,

our
hero
at

And finding the wife to his orders compliant, Made her hand him more treasure at once from the Than the whole Bank of England is able to offer, And took it straightway to his parents, by which

coffer

He

made,

like

'tickler

good joke, the poor

his

rich.

So

his

and

brothers'

And
Good
fortune
the
I

father's

and mother's
not to

And
I

as

for

know not

name any others. Ogre, what chanced to become of him never asked Hop o' my Thumb of him
he made
can't

But one

but suppose
as

That such

giants

those

By

On

nursery legends and stories one knows, defaming the race must inflict quite a pang the large hearts of giants like Anak and Chang,
in

Which

"

m&m

;S

HOP O MY THUMB.

(Though
Since

their

size

for

their

suffering

some remedy
giant,

gives,
lives).

one learns the more patience the longer one

So we So

'11

trust

that

this

fierce

and

defiant,

Got punished.
His gold was

Indeed, on one
all

fact

'm

reliant
!

taken by Hop o' my Thumb And so being left with a very small sum, Namely, nothing, 't is likely ere long he began

To

fall

in

arrear

and so sank to a van,

A
(E'en
the
revels
"

poor sort of coop In which he 'd to stoop

greatest

must bow

if

their

fortunes
as

will

droop).

Then
As
"

at

and
see
sides

fairs

he'd be shown
" unrivalled

sight

Giant

handbills
to

in

height,

Allowed on

all

be

taller

That ever
N.B.
In which

existed.
in

Babies
case

arms

e'en

Admission, free of charge are admitted." a monster like that 's to be pitied.

than any one penny.

L ENVOI. Five Favourite Fairy Fables old, The efforts of a muse, which eke

Are
Since

efforts

to

amuse,

are

told,

And my

farewell

't is

time to

speak,
is,

ended now

this

book of mine
for
't

With one more "f"

adding

FINIS.

91