 Chapter 38 of the Fur Tree Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Vijay Tashalma The Fur Tree Fairy Book by Clifton Johnson The Darning Needle There was once a Darning Needle which thought itself so fine that it imagined it was a sewing needle. Be careful to hold me tightly. It set to the fingers as they took it up. Do not drop me, for if I fall, I doubt if I should be found again. I'm so fine. That's what you say. Remark the fingers and began sewing. Look, I have a train. The Darning Needle set and dragged a long thread after it. The fingers belonged to a cook and they applied the needle to a slipper the upper leather of which had torn and kneaded mending. This is degrading work, said the Darning Needle. I shall never get through such course, Leather. I shall break. I shall break. Now it is good for nothing, said the fingers. But still they held it while the cook with the fingers of her other hand dropped some melted sealing wax on the broken end. When the wax cooled, she fastened her neckerchief with the needle. I have become a scarf pin, said the needle. I knew very well that I should come to honour when one is worthy, one is sure to get on in the world. Then it laughed to itself and sat there as proudly as if it was in its own carriage and it looked about in all directions. May I take the liberty to ask if you are of gold? It inquired of a pin that was its neighbour. Your outward appearance splendid and I see you have a head too. Although it is very small, you must endeavour to have it grow, for it is not everyone who can receive a sealing wax head of just the proper size. So sing! The darning needle raged itself so proudly that it fell out of the neckerchief into the sing which the cook was rinsing. Now I am going to travel, the needle said. I hope I shall not be lost. The cook did not observe it and down it went through the drain and out into a street gutter. I am too fine for this world, it said as it lay there in the mud beneath a shallow flow of water. However, I know my own work and there is always a satisfaction in that. So the darning needle kept its proud bearing and retained its cheerful temper. All sorts of things floated past over it chips, straws and bits of newspaper. How they stayed along, the needle said and they little knew what is lying here under them. There goes a chip, thinking of nothing in the world but itself. A chip! Now a piece of straw floats past. How it twists and twirls about. It ought not to think only of itself for unless it is careful it will most likely run against the stone. This was a piece of old newspaper. This printed on it has long been forgotten and you'll see what it gives itself. As for me, here I sit be siltly and quietly. I know what I am and that I shall remain. One day something glittering lay close by its side and the darning needle thought this glittering object was a diamond. Really it was only a piece of a broken bottle but because it was so bright the darning needle spoke to it and introduced itself as a scarf pin. You're a diamond I suppose said the needle. Yes, I am something of that sort responded the piece of glass. So each thought the other something very choice and it gossiped together about the arrogance and pride of the world. I have lived in a box that belonged to a young lady explained the darning needle. The young lady was a cook and she had five fingers on each hand. I was only intimate with those on her right hand and never have I seen anything else to consider as with those five fingers. Yet they were made simply to take me out of the box and put me back again. They distinguished, asked the piece of glass. Distinguished, said the darning needle. No, but they were conceited and hotty. They were five brothers and were always together, one by the side of the other though they were of different lengths. The first was Mr. Thumb. He was short and thick and had only one joint in his back so he could only make one bend when he bowed. Four men, the second, dived into all the foods, both sweet and sour, to test them, pointed to the sun and moon and pressed on the pen in writing. Middle man, the third, looked right over the heads of all the others. Ring man, the fourth, were a rounded girdle round his waist. Little man, the fifth, did nothing at all and was proud of it. The whole five were constantly ragging and boasting and therefore I lifted them. And now we lie here and shine. Said the piece of glass. Just then there was a rush of water in the gutter that carried the piece of glass away. She has risen in the world. Said the darning needle. But I remain here. I am too fine. However, that is my pride and I have good reason for it. So there it proudly lay and had many great thoughts. I am almost inclined to believe I am the child of a sunbeam. I am so fine. It said, Indeed, it seems to me as if the sun was always looking for me here under the water. But I am so fine that my own mother cannot find me. If I only had my eye which broke off, I think I should cry. But that I shall not do. It is not considered well-bred to cry. One day some boys were rummaging around in the gutter hunting for half-pence, old nails and such like treasures. It was dirty work but it gave them great pleasure. One of them pricked himself with the darning needle. Oh, he cried and took up the needle and showed it to his comrades, saying, Look at this fellow. I am no fellow at all but a young lady. The needle said but no one heard it. The sealant rats had come off and the needle had turned black but that needed look thinner and therefore it thought itself finer than ever. Here comes an angel selling along, sent the boys and they put the needle into it. White wards and I myself black, said the darning needle. That is very becoming and people cannot help seeing me now. I hope I shall not be seasick. On it drifted in the actual boat and the wards proved very enjoyable. There is no protection against seasickness like having a sealed stomach and the constant thought of one's readiness, it said. The finer one is the more one can bear. Crash went the eggshell as a wagon passed over it. Good heavens exclaimed the darning needle. How that wheel presses on me. I shall be seasick after all. I am breaking. But it did not break although the heavy wagon wheel passed over it. There it lay for length and there it may stay. End of chapter 38 Recording by Vijeta Sharma Chapter 39 of The Fur Tree Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Greg Giordano The Fur Tree Fairy Book by Clifton Johnson The Rabbit and the Greedy Monkey Once upon a time there lived in the mountains a rabbit and a monkey who were great friends. As they sat by the roadside one day hobnobbing together they saw a man approaching with a bamboo pole over his shoulder and at each end of the pole was a bundle hung by a string. There were bananas in one bundle and sugar in the other. Friend of my heart said the monkey to the rabbit, do as I tell you, go and sit in the road in front of that man and as soon as he sees you, run. He will be sure to drop his load and follow. Then I will pick up his bundles and hide them. And when you come back we will share the contents between us. So the rabbit went and sat in the road and when the man saw him away the rabbit ran and the man dropped his burden and gave chase. The monkey who had been concealed in the tall wayside grass pounced on the man's bundles, climbed a tall tree with them and began to gobble up the bananas and sugar they contained. By and by the man came back hot and empty-handed when he saw that his goods as well as the rabbit were gone he cursed loudly and went home to be scolded by his wife. The rabbit returned soon after the man left and hunted about for his friend the monkey. He searched the vicinity thoroughly but not a trace of his friend could he find till he happened to look up aloft and behold there was Mr. Monkey in a tree munching away with every sign of enjoyment. "'Hello, comrade,' said the rabbit. "'Come down out of that.' "'I am very comfortable here. Thank you,' said the monkey. "'But where is my share of our plunder?' the rabbit asked, indignantly. "'All gone, all gone,' mumbled the monkey and pelted the rabbit with banana peels and wads of paper made out of the wrappings of the sugar. Where have you been all this time? I got hungry and couldn't wait any longer.' The rabbit would not believe that the things in the bundles were all gone. He thought his friend was joking. But the truth of the matter was that the greedy creature had not left a scrap of either sugar or bananas. "'Do you really mean it?' said the poor rabbit at last. "'If you don't believe me, come and see,' said the monkey. And he descended the tree-trunk nearly to the ground, seized the rabbit by his long ears, and hauled him up into the tree. After mocking him and making great sport, he left him there and went away. The rabbit was afraid to jump down from such a height, so he remained up in the tree for a long time. Many animals passed under the tree. But not one took pity on the rabbit until an old and foolish rhinoceros came along and stopped to rub his wrinkled hide against the tree-trunk. "'Kind rhinoceros,' said the rabbit, "'let me jump down on your back.' The rhinoceros agreed, and down came the rabbit with such a thump that the creature's back was broken and he died. But the rabbit was not hurt, and he ran and he ran until he came to the king's palace. There he hid under the king's golden throne. By and by in came the king with his courtiers. All the grandees were standing around the throne in their gorgeous robes, glittering with rubies and diamonds, when they were startled by a sudden sneeze. "'God bless you,' exclaimed the courtiers. "'Who has the bad manners to sneeze in my royal presence?' cried the king. Each man looked at his neighbor and wondered who did it. "'Off with his head!' shouted the king. Another sneeze came. This time every one was alert and on the watch. And they noticed that the sound came from beneath the king's golden throne. So they reached under and dragged out the rabbit, who was so scared he looked more dead than alive. "'All right,' said the king. "'Off with his head!' The executioner ran to get his sword. But the rabbit, in spite of his fright, had his wits about him, and he sat up on his hind legs, put his two forepaws together, and said respectfully, "'Oh, great king, first hear what I have to say. If you will spare my life I will give you a dead rhinoceros, let twenty men go with me to bring the body to your palace.' The king and his courtiers laughed loud and long. However, just to see what would come of it, the king ordered twenty men to go with the rabbit. They were guided by the rabbit to the spot, for the rhinoceros lay dead, and with great exertion they dragged the body to the palace. Everyone was very glad, because the horn of a rhinoceros is good for curing many diseases. The court physician ground the horn into powder and made out of it a most wonderful medicine. And the king was so pleased that he gave the rabbit a horse to ride on, and a handsome new coat. The rabbit put on his new coat, mounted the horse, and rode off. Presently who should he meet, but his friend the monkey? Hello!" said the monkey. Where did you get all that finery? This horse and this coat were given to me by the king, replied the rabbit. And why should the king make such a present to a simpleton like you? The monkey asked. I, whom you call a simpleton, said the rabbit, got this horse and this elegant coat by sneezing under the king's golden throne. Then he rode away. The monkey fell off thinking how nice it would be if he could get a fine coat and a horse. I can sneeze, said he. Why shouldn't I try my luck? Off he scampered to the king's palace and hid beneath the king's golden throne. Soon the king and his courtiers came in, all richly arrayed, and the monkey sneezed in the most auspicious manner he could contrive. Who is that, thundered the king, glaring about him? Who has the bad manners to sneeze in the king's presence? They searched till they found the monkey hidden under the throne and hauled him out. Wily tree-climber, said the king. Have you any gift for me that might cause me not to bid the executioner to cut off your head? The monkey pondered a few moments in fear and trembling, and then stammered, oh, king, I have some banana peels and pellets of paper. This reply only increased the king's wrath, and the unfortunate monkey was led away to be executed. End of Chapter 39 Recording by Greg Giordano Newport Ritchie, Florida In China you know, the emperor is a Chinaman, and all the people around him are Chinamen too. The emperor's palace at the time of this story was more magnificent than any other in the world, for it was made entirely of the finest porcelain. In the garden bloomed the rarest flowers, and to the most beautiful ones were tied little silver bells which tinkled perpetually so that no one could pass the flowers without looking at them and admiring them. Every feature of the garden had been carefully planned, and it was so large that the gardener himself did not know where it ended. If, however, one walked straight on, one came at last to a forest of lofty trees, and beyond the forest was the sea, deep and blue. Close to the shore, amid the foliage of the trees, lived a nightingale, and it sang so sweetly that even the poor fishermen would stop and listen when they were out at night drawing in their nets. The heavens how beautiful that is, they would say, but they could not listen long, for they had to attend to their work, yet if they came that way the next night they would again exclaim, how beautifully that bird sings. Travellers came from all the countries in the world to the city of the emperor, and they admired everything very much, especially the palace and the garden, but when they heard the nightingale they would say, that is the best of all. After they got home they told of their experiences, and the learned ones wrote books about the things that they had seen and heard in the domains of the Chinese emperor, and they never failed to praise the nightingale. Those who were poets wrote very beautiful verses about the nightingale in the wood by the deep blue sea. At length some of the books came into the hands of the emperor. He sat in his golden chair and read them, and he nodded his head, well pleased by the appreciative descriptions of his city and palace and garden. Then he came to the words, but the nightingale is best of all. What is this? said he. The nightingale, why, I know nothing about it. Can there be such a bird in my realm? Yes, and in my own garden which I have never seen or heard. Fancy my having to discover this from a book. He called his chamberlain, who was so grand that when any one of the lower rank dared to speak to him or ask him a question he would only answer, poo, which means nothing at all. Chamberlain, said the emperor. These books tell of a very wonderful bird called a nightingale in the palace garden. They declared as the finest thing in my great empire. Why have I never been informed about it? This is the first time I've heard it mentioned, said the chamberlain. It has never been presented at court. My orders are that it shall appear in the palace this evening to sing to me, said the emperor. The whole world knows what I possess, while I myself do not. I have never heard it mentioned before, said the chamberlain, but I will seek it and I will find it. Yet where was it to be found? The chamberlain ran upstairs and downstairs in and out of all the rooms and corridors. But not one person among those he met had heard of the nightingale. So he ran back to the emperor and said the bird must be a myth invented by the people who wrote the books. Your Imperial Majesty ought not to believe everything that books contain, said he. They are often mere fiction and what we call the black art. But the books in which I have been reading about the nightingale, said the monarch, were sent to me by the high and mighty emperor of Japan, so there cannot be anything untrue in them. I will hear the nightingale and I insist that it must sing to me tonight. It shall have my gracious protection and if you fail to have it here the whole court shall be trampled on after supper. Sing, pay! said the chamberlain, and away he ran again up and down the stairs and in and out of all the rooms and corridors. Half the court ran with him for they none of them wished to be trampled on and there was a great inquiry after the wonderful nightingale which was known to all the outside world but to no one at court. At last they found a poor little maid in the kitchen who said, Dear me, I know the nightingale very well and it certainly can sing. Every evening I have permission to take home to my sick mother some of the scraps from the table. She lives by the seashore and on my way back when I am tired I sit down to rest a while in the wood and then I hear the nightingale. Its song makes the tears come into my eyes and I feel as if my mother were kissing me. Little maid, said the chamberlain, I will procure you a permanent position in the kitchen and permission to see the emperor dining if you will take us to the nightingale for it must appear at the court this evening. Then they all went out into the wood and the nightingale sang. As they were going along at their best pace a cow began to bellow. Oh! said the courtiers. That is it! What a wonderful power there is in the song for such a small creature and we certainly have heard it before. That is a cow bellowing, said the little maid. We are a long way yet from the place where the nightingale sings. Presently some frogs began to croak in a marsh. Beautiful, said the Chinese court chamberlain. Now I hear it. The sound is just like the tinkling of tiny church bells. Those are frogs, said the little maid. But I think we shall soon hear the nightingale now. Then the nightingale began to sing. That's it, said the little maid. Listen, listen, and look! There it sits. She pointed to a little grey bird up among the branches. Is it possible, said the chamberlain? I should never have thought the nightingale was like that. How common it looks! I suppose it has lost its colour through a faintness caused by the unexpected sight of so many grand people. Little nightingale, said the kitchen maid, our gracious emperor wishes you to sing to him. I will do so with the greatest pleasure, said the nightingale, and it warbled a song in the most delightful fashion. It's singing sounds just like crystal bells, said the chamberlain. See how it works its little throat! I wonder that we have never heard it before. It will be a great success at court. Shall I sing again to the emperor? Asked the nightingale, who thought the monarch was present. My excellent little nightingale, said the chamberlain. I have the honour to invite your attendance at a court festival tonight, when you will charm his imperial majesty with your fascinating singing. My singing sounds best among the trees, said the nightingale, but it went with them willingly when it understood that the emperor wanted it to come. The palace had been splendidly decorated for the occasion. The porcelain walls and floors reflected the light of many thousands of golden lamps. The most beautiful flowers, all of the tinkling kind, were arranged in the corridors, and there was such a running to and fro as kept the bells in constant motion, and filled one's ears full of the tinkling. In the centre of the great hall where the emperor sat, a golden perch had been fixed for the nightingale. The whole court was present, and the little kitchen maid was permitted to stand behind the door, for she had been promoted to be a real palace cook. All were dressed in their very best, and all had their eyes on the little grey bird to whom the emperor nodded. The nightingale sang so beautifully that tears came into the emperor's eyes and ran down his cheeks. Indeed the song touched the heart of everyone who heard it. The emperor was so charmed that he said the nightingale should have his golden garter to wear around its neck. But the nightingale declined with thanks, saying that it had already received sufficient reward. For I have seen tears in the emperor's eyes, it added, and I could ask for nothing more. Then again it sang its heavenly song. That is the sweetest possible sort of coquetry, said the ladies, and they took some water into their mouths to try to make the same gurgling when anyone spoke to them. Everybody expressed satisfaction, even the footmen and chambermaids, and that is saying a great deal, for they are always the most difficult people to please. In short, the nightingale was a great success. It was now to remain at court and live in a cage, twice a day and once at night it had the liberty to go out. But whenever it left its cage it was accompanied by twelve servants, each holding a silken string attached to its leg. There was not much pleasure in an outing of that sort. The whole city talked about the wonderful bird, and if two acquaintances met, one would say, by way of greeting, nighting, and the other would say, gale, and then they sighed and perfectly understood each other. Eleven tradesmen's children were named after the bird, though not one of them grew up with the least ability to sing. One day the emperor received a large parcel on which was written the nightingale. Here we have a new book about our celebrated bird, said he. It was no book, however, but a box that contained an artificial nightingale made much like the living one in size and shape, but covered all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. When the imitation bird was wound up it could sing one of the songs the real bird sang, and then it wagged its tail all glittering with silver and gold. Round its neck was tight a ribbon on which was written the emperor of Japan's nightingale is poor compared with that of the emperor of China. Everybody said, oh, how beautiful! And he who had brought the artificial bird immediately received the title of Imperial Nightingale Carrier-in-Chief. Now the two birds must sing together, said the courtiers. What a lovely duet that will be! So they had to sing together, but they did not get on very well, for the real bird sang its own way and did not keep time with the mechanical bird. The discords are not the new one's fault, said the music master, for it sings in perfect time and in every way is entirely correct. Afterward the imitation bird was made to sing alone, singing thus it was just as great a success as the real bird, and of course it was much prettier to look at, for it glittered like bracelets and breastpins. Thirty-three times it sang the same tune over and still it was not tired. The courtiers would willingly have heard it from the beginning again, but the emperor said that the live nightingale must have a turn now. Where was it? No one had noticed that it had flown out of the open window back to its own green wood. What is the meaning of this? said the emperor. The courtiers all blamed the nightingale and thought it a most ungrateful creature. Anyway, we have the best bird, they said. Then the imitation bird had to sing again, which made the thirty-fourth time they had heard the same tune, but they did not know the tune thoroughly, even then it was so difficult. The music master praised the bird exceedingly and insisted that it was much better than a live nightingale, not only as regarded its outside with all the diamonds, but the inside too. Because, said he, we never know what song is coming next from the real nightingale, but with the artificial one everything is decided beforehand. So it is and so it must remain. It can't be otherwise. You can open the bird, you can explain it, and show the ingenuity of it, how the wheels go, and how one note follows another. In my opinions, they all said, and the music master received permission to show the bird to the people on the following Sunday. So the people saw the imitation nightingale and heard it sing, and they were all very enthusiastic over it, and they all said, and stuck their forefingers up into the air and nodded their heads. But the poor fisherman who had heard the real bird said, the song of this bird is very nice, and it is much like that of the live bird, but there is something wanting. We don't know what. The real nightingale was banished from the empire, while the artificial bird was given a place on a silk cushion close to the emperor's bed. All the presents which it had received lay around it, and the title of chief imperial singer of the bed chamber on the left side was conferred on it. The emperor considered the left side where the heart is the more important, but even an emperor has his heart on the left side, just like other people. A treatise in twenty-five volumes was written by the music master about the artificial bird, and this treatise was so learned and long and so full of the most difficult Chinese words that all the people said they had read and understood it, for otherwise they would have been thought stupid. A year passed, and the emperor and his court and all the other Chinaman would do every little gurgle in the song of the artificial bird. That was why it pleased them. They could sing with it, and often did so. Even the street boys sang, Tee-tee-tee-cluck-cluck-cluck! And the emperor did just the same. It really was most enjoyable. But one evening, when the bird was singing its best and the emperor was lying in bed listening to it, something inside of the bird gave way with a sudden snap. Then whirr, went all the wheels, and the music stopped. The emperor jumped out of bed and sent for his private physicians. But what good could they do? They had a watchmaker come, and after a good deal of talking and examining and tinkering, he got the works to go again somehow. But he said the bird must be used sparingly, for the works were much worn, and he could not renew them so as to be sure that the music would go right. This caused great sorrow. The imitation bird could only be allowed to sing once a year. Each time the music master made a little speech full of difficult words, and affirmed that the singing was just as good as ever. After being thus reassured, the court listened to the bird with all their former pleasure. At the end of five years a great grief came on the nation. The Chinese were all very fond of their emperor, and now he was ill, and it was reported that he had not long to live. A new emperor had been selected, and would be proclaimed ruler of the empire as soon as the old emperor was dead. Cloth had been laid down in all the rooms and corridors to dampen the sound of footsteps, and the palace was very, very quiet. Outside about the entrance many people had gathered, and they asked the chamberlain how their emperor was getting on. Poo! he said, and shook his head. Pale and motionlessly the emperor in his great splendid bed, and presently the courtiers thought he was dead, so they all went away to pay their respects to the new emperor. The pages ran out to gossip about it, and the chambermaids had a grand tea party. But the emperor was not dead yet. There he lay on the gorgeous bed with its velvet hangings and heavy gold tassels. A window stood open, and the moon shone in on him in the artificial bird. He could hardly breathe, and he felt burdened by a weight on his chest. He opened his eyes and saw that death was sitting on his chest, and wore the emperor's golden crown on his head. In one hand he held the emperor's golden sword, and in the other the emperor's imperial banner. Round about from among the folds of the velvet hangings peered many strange faces. Some hideous, and others gentle and pleasant. These were all the emperor's bad and good deeds staring at him now that death was sitting on his heart. Do you remember this? They whispered one after the other. Do you recollect this? And they told him so many things that the perspiration ran down from his brow. Say no more! Begged the emperor, and then shouted, Music! Music! Sound the great drum so that I may not hear what these faces are saying. But they went on questioning him, and death sat nodding his approval to all that they said. Music! Music! shrieked the emperor. You precious little golden birds sing! Sing! I have given you costly jewels, and I have hung my golden guard around your neck. Sing, I tell you, sing! But the bird was silent. It could not sing without being wound up, and there was no one at hand to do that. Death continued to gaze at the emperor with the great empty sockets of his eyes, and all was still, terribly still. Suddenly through the open window there came the sound of sweetest singing. The living nightingale was perched on a bow outside. It had heard of the emperor's illness and had come to bring comfort and hope to him by its singing. As it sang the ghostly faces around became fainter and fainter, and the blood coursed with fresh vigor through the emperor's veins and strengthened his feeble limbs. Even death listened and said, Go on, little nightingale, go on. Yes, said the nightingale. I will go on if you will give me the emperor's beautiful golden sword and imperial banner and jeweled crown. I will relinquish each of the three treasures in exchange for a song, said death. So the nightingale sang three songs, and the last was about the quiet church yard where the roses bloom and the flowers of the elder sent the air, and where the grass is ever moistened by the tears of the mourners. This song made death desire to be in his own garden and like a cold grey mist he floated out through the window. Thanks, thanks, said the emperor. You heavenly little bird, I know you well. I banished you from my empire, and yet you have charmed the evil visions away from my bed by your song and removed death from my heart. How can I reward you? You have rewarded me, said the nightingale. By the tears I brought to your eyes the very first time I sang to you, those are the jewels which gladden the heart of a singer, and I shall never forget them. But sleep now that you may get well and strong. Again the nightingale sang, and the emperor fell into a refreshing slumber. When he awoke the sun was shining in on him through the window, and he found himself vigorous and well. None of his attendants had yet come back to him, for they thought he was dead, but the nightingale still sat singing. You must always stay with me, said the emperor, and I will smash the imitation bird into a thousand pieces. Don't do that, said the nightingale. It did the best it could, keep it as before. As for me, I cannot build my nest and live in the palace. Let me come when I like, and I will sit on this bow in the evening and sing to you. I will sing to cheer you and to make you think. I will sing of those who are happy and of those who suffer. I will sing of what is good and what is evil around you. The little singing bird flies far and wide to the poor fishermen, to the peasants in their humble cottages, and to many others who are distant from you and your court. I love your heart more than your crown, and I will come and sing to you, but you must grant me one request. That I will do whatever it may be, said the emperor, who had now risen from his bed and put on his imperial robes. I only ask, said the nightingale, that you let no one know that you have a little bird which tells you everything. It will be better so. Then the nightingale flew away. Immediately afterward the attendants came in to look after their dead emperor. They stood aghast at the side of him, and the emperor said, Good morning! End of Chapter 40 Recording by Jen Broda Chapter 41 of the Fur Tree Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Vijay Tashalma The Fur Tree Fairy Book by Clifton Johnson The Princes and the Giant They once lived a king and queen who ought to have been as happy as the days long, but they had a large and prosperous kingdom in which the people were contented and industrious and they had a splendid palace and plenty of horses and carriages and a treasure room which filled with gold, silver and precious stones. Yet notwithstanding all this they were sad and sorrowful because they had no children to inherit the good things they possessed. When bright winter morning the queen went out into the palace garden. The snow covered the crown and clung to the trees and bushes and it sparkled in the sunshine that such of all the jewels in the king's treasury had been scattered about on it. The queen seated herself on a stone bench beneath a huge oak tree. She had not been there long when an old man came down a garden path and stood before her. He was a wicked magician named Sardar who lived in a cave not far away. Oh Queen, he said, you have long wished for a child. Your wish shall be granted and a daughter will be born to you. But I warn you that she will cause you great unhappiness. She is destined to marry a terrible giant and she will burn your palace and the king, her father, will perish in the flames. So saying, he laughed spitefully and went away. The queen was greatly troubled for she knew that Sardar was her enemy and that he was powerful. But as time went on she got over her anxiety and seldom thought of the old magician's threat. At length, the little daughter was born and all the court agreed that she was the most beautiful child ever seen. More important still, she grew up as good as she was beautiful. Things went as well with her as could be desired year after year until there came a time when the queen told her daughter about the prophecy of the magician. From that day, a change came over the princess. She no longer laughed and danced but walked about the rooms alone, often weeping. Finally, at her request, the king built her a house in which she lived with her own attendance and there she stayed continually, fearful that if she went to the palace she would bring disaster on her father and that if she walked around outdoors the child might kidnap her. Once, when she was sitting in her room with a work that used to give her such pleasure lying idly on her lap she heard someone knocking at the door. She opened it and there stood a funny little old woman with a high peaked hat on her head. The little old woman asked if she might come in and rest. Yes, replied the princess, so the little old woman came in and they sat down and the visitor began telling some wonderful stories. At last, the princess got so interested that she looked quite bright and happy like her old self. At first, the princess declared she did not care to go but after a while she allowed herself to be persuaded and they went forth to wander on the mossy paths among the tall, straight stemmed furs and graceful beaches and feathery verges. The princess forgot her sorrow and she laughed and ran about in great enjoyment. When they were tired they sat down on a green bank and the old woman said tell me, my dear princess, why a flade you have been so sad her companion looked so kind and gentle that the princess could not refuse to answer and she told of the prophecy that she would marry a terrible giant and cause her father's death by burning his palace and oh, she cried I love my father dearly he has always been very good to me now I will see him back to my house I ought not to have left it and I never will again if I stay in it all the time I cannot possibly harm my father or marry that horrible giant. Wait a bit said the little old woman I am your godmother and I think we can find some way to avert the evils you fear you are persecuted by the wicked magician Sir Tor he wanted to marry your mother and when she would not have him and married your father he vowed he would never rest till the king was dead and she was punished but his power has its limits the king's palace I cannot say but neither your father nor mother shall be hurt nor need you fear the giant if you will do exactly as I bid you we will act at once first see your father and persuade him to go out riding in the forest with all his attendants greatly relieved by her godmother's cheering thoughts the princess hastened to do as she had been bidden dear father said she as she came into his presence the days are fine will you not go for a ride in the woods and take the courtiers will you the king leased to see her so bright interested at once said he would go and with all his courtiers in attendance started off for a great excursion in the forest as soon as they were well out of sight the little old woman joined the princess and had her send the servants away on various errands and the queen was induced to go and stay for a time in the house built for the princess when everyone was gone the little old thing helped the princess carry out and secrete all the treasure and other valuables and afterward she told the princess to take down a can of oil from the kitchen and to the shelves in doing this the girl's foot slipped and the oil spilled on the heart and into the fire and at once flashed into flames the princess and her godmother had to run for their lives and the fire spread rapidly to the palace they paused at a safe distance and looked back and the old woman said thus one part of the magician's prophecy has been fulfilled without harm to anyone I could not prevent what has happened but it might have been worse Sartor has other evil designs we will see what we can do to thwart them here is a little silver ball that rolls along it will guide you to a hut in the forest the owner of which will be away go in and await his return and whatever you do remember that you must see him before he sees you remain at the hut till I summon you when you hear me calling you do not lose an instant but hasten to where your father's palace stood your mother will need you the princess took the ball threw it down and followed it as it rolled along into the forest at last it stopped before what seemed to be a woodman's hut and she picked up the ball and put it in her pocket then she went into the hut and hid behind the half closed door she peeped out through a crack and presently saw a huge giant coming carrying on his shoulders a bear he had killed in his hunting he pushed open the door and as he threw down the burden he beheld the princess the giant looked very fierce but his voice soft and kind and he told her he wanted her to live in the hut with him and cook the food and sweep the floor and make the beds all this the princess promised to do he then showed her a little inner chamber and said here you can sleep no matter what noises you hear in my part of the hut during the night don't come out of your room three days passed early each morning the giant went forth from the hut and did not return until sunset the princess cooked the food made the beds and kept the hut tidy and clean at night she heard frightful noises in the outer room she shook and the earth trembled and she lay in her bed hardly daring to stir with the clothes pulled over her ears to deaden the terrible sounds whenever she fell asleep she dreamed that a handsome young prince instead of the giant was a fellow dweller in the hut on the third evening she retired early and was scarcely in bed when she heard faint and far away the voice of the little old woman calling her then she knew her mother needed her and immediately she jumped out of bed dressed and cautiously opened her door no one was in the next room and she ran as quickly as she could to where her father's palace had stood there before the ruins she saw her mother tied to a wooden stake driven into the ground and the servants were piling up faggots of food around her she had been condemned to death for having set the palace on fire during the king's absence and for stealing his treasure in vain she had pleaded her innocence the princess pushed her way through the crowd and threw herself on her knees before her father oh stop, stop dear father my mother is not to blame it was I who burned your palace I was forced to do so in order to save your life which was threatened by the wicked magician Sartor neither did my mother steal your treasure that and much else was taken out of the palace to a place of safety on hearing this the king ordered the queen to be released and she embraced her daughter with many words of affection as soon as possible the princess hurried back to the hut of the giant in the forest when she approached it she heard the sounds of a terrific combat she looked in and saw the giant engaged in a struggle for mastery with the magician from her pocket she hastily took the silver ball the little old woman had given to her and hurled it at the wicked Sartor her aim was true and the moment the ball hit him he changed to a hawk and with the rapid flutter of fins darted out of the door and disappeared the giant picked up the ball and to the surprise of the princess he was transformed into the handsome young prince she had seen in her dreams they went back together to the king and queen and before long after the marriage feast and the princess became the wife of the prince she had delivered from his enchantment after the death of the king the prince became the ruler of the kingdom and he and his queen lived happily all the days of their life end of chapter 41 recording by Vijeta Sharma end of the third tree fairy book by Clifton Johnson