 CHAPTER 1 THE PRINCESS OF THE GOLDEN CASEL Teddy was all alone, for his mother had been up with him so much the night before, that at about four o'clock in the afternoon she said that she was going to lie down for a little while. The room where Teddy lay was very pleasant, with two big windows, and the furniture covered with gay old fashioned India calico. His mother had set a glass of milk on the table beside his bed, and left the stair door ajar so he could call Hannah the cook if he wanted anything, and then she had gone over to her own room. The little boy had always enjoyed being ill, for then he was read aloud to and had lemonade. But this had been a real illness, and though he was better now, the doctor still would not let him have anything but milk and gruel. He was feeling rather lonely too, though the fire crackled cheerfully, and you could hear Hannah singing to herself in the kitchen below. Teddy turned over the leaves of Robinson Crusoe for a while, looking at the gaily colored pictures, and then he closed it and called, Hannah! The singing in the kitchen below ceased, and Teddy knew that Hannah was listening. Hannah! He called again. At the second call Hannah came hurrying up the stairs and into the room. What do you want, Teddy? She asked. Hannah, I want to ask Mama something, said Teddy. Oh, said Hannah, you wouldn't want me to call your poor mother, would you, when she was up with you the whole of last night, and has just gone to lie down a bit? I want to ask her something, repeated Teddy. You asked me what you want to know, suggested Hannah. Your poor mother is so tired that I'm sure you are too much of a man to want me to call her. Well, I want to ask her if I may have a cracker, said Teddy. Oh, no, you couldn't have that, said Hannah. Don't you know that the doctor said you mustn't have anything but milk and gruel? Would you want to ask her anything else? No, said Teddy, and his lip trembled. After that Hannah went downstairs to her work again, and Teddy lay staring out of the window at the windy gray clouds that were sweeping across the April sky. He grew lonelier and lonelier, and a lump rose in his throat, presently a big tear trickled down his cheek and dripped off his chin. Oh, dear, oh, dear, said a little voice just back of the hill, his knees made, as he lay with him drawn up in bed. What a hill to climb! Teddy stopped crying and gazed wonderingly toward where the voice came from, and presently over the top of his knees appeared a brown-peaked hood, a tiny withered face, a flapping brown cloak, and last of all two small feet and buckled shoes. It was a little old woman, so weasened and brown that she looked more like a dried leaf than anything else. She seated herself on Teddy's knees and gazed down at him solemnly, and she was so light that he felt her weight no more than if she had been a feather. Teddy lay staring at her for a while, then he asked, Who are you? I'm the canner-pane fairy, said the little figure in a thin little voice. I don't know what that is, said Teddy. Well, said the canner-pane fairy, it's a sort of fairy that lives in houses and watches out for the children. I used to be one of the court fairies, but I grew tired of that. There was nothing in it, you know. Nothing in what, asked Teddy? Nothing in the court life. All day the fairies were swinging in spider webs and sipping honeydew, or playing games hide-and-go-seek. The only comfort I had was with an old field mouse who lived at the edge of the wood, and I used to spend a great deal of time with her. I used to take care of her babies when she was out hunting for something to eat. Kind of little things they were, five of them all fat and soft and with such funny little tails. What became of them? Oh, they moved away. They left before I did. As soon as they were old enough, mother field mouse went. She said she couldn't stand the court fairies. They were always playing tricks on her, stopping up the door of her house with sticks and acorns, and making faces at her babies until they almost drove them in defense. So after that, I left too. Where'd you go? Oh, hither and yawn. Mostly where they were sick little boys and girls. Do you like little boys? Yes. When they don't cry, said the counterpain fairies, staring at him very hard. Well, I was lonely, said Teddy. I wanted my mama. Yes, I know, but you oughtn't to have cried. I came to you, though, because you were lonely and sick. And I thought maybe you would like me to show you a story. Do you mean tell me a story, asked Teddy? No, said the fairy. I mean show you a story. It's a game I invented after I joined the counterpain fairies. Choose any one of the squares of the counterpain, and I will show you how to play it. That's all you have to do to choose a square. Teddy looked the counterpain over carefully. I think I'll choose that yellow square, he said, because it looks so nice and bright. Very well, said the counterpain fairy. Look straight at it, and don't turn your eyes away till I count seven times seven. And then you shall see the story of it. Teddy fixed his eyes on the square, and the fairy began to count. One, two, three, four, she counted. Teddy heard her voice, then unclear as the hissing of the logs on the hearth. Don't look away from the square, she cried. Five, six, seven. It seemed to Teddy that the yellow silk square was turning to a mist before his eyes, and wrapping everything about him in a golden glow. 13, 14, the fairy counted on and on. 46, 47, 48, 49. 49. At the words 49, the counterpain fairy clapped her hands, and Teddy looked about him. He was no longer in a golden mist. He was standing in a wonderful, enchanted garden. The sky was like the golden sky at sunset, and the grass was so thickly set with tiny yellow flowers that it looked like a golden carpet. From this garden stretched a long flight of glass steps. They reached up and up to a great golden castle with shining domes and turrets. Listen, said the counterpain fairy. In that golden castle there lies an enchanted princess. For more than a hundred years, she's been lying there, waiting for the hero who is to come and rescue her. And you are the hero who can do it, if you will. With that, the fairy led him to a little pool close by and bathe in look in the water. When Teddy looked, he saw himself standing there in the golden garden, and he did not appear as he ever had before. He was tall and strong and beautiful, like a hero. Yes, said Teddy, I will do it. At these words, from the grass, the bushes, and the trees around, suddenly started a flock of golden birds. They circled about him and over him, clapping their wings and singing triumphantly. Their song reminded Teddy of the blackbirds that sang on the lawn at home in the early spring when the daffodils were up. Then in a moment they were all gone and the garden was still again. Their song had filled his heart with a longing for great deeds, and without pausing longer, he ran to the glass steps and began to mount them. Up and up and up he went. Once he turned and waved his hand to the counterpain fairy in the golden garden far below, she waved her hand and answered, and he heard her voice faint and clear. Goodbye, goodbye, be brave and strong and beware of that that is little and gray. Then Teddy turned his face toward the castle and in a moment he was standing before the great shining gates. He raised his hand and struck bravely upon the door. There was no answer. Again he struck upon it and his blow rang through the hall inside. Then he opened the door and went in. The hall was five-sided and all of pure gold as clear and shining as glass, upon three sides of it were three arched doors. One was of emerald, one was of ruby, and one was of diamond. They were arched and tall and wide, fit for a hero to go through. The question was, behind which one lay the enchanted princess? While Teddy stood there looking at them and wondering, he heard a little thin voice that seemed to be singing to itself. And this is what it sang. In and out and out and in, which is the flash I weave and spin. Some may mistake and some will forget, but I'll have my spider web finished yet. When Teddy heard the song, he knew that someone must be awake in the enchanted castle, so he began looking about him. On the fourth side of the wall, there hung a curtain of silvery gray spider web and the voice seemed to come from it. The hero went toward it, but he saw nothing for the spider that was spinning it moved so fast that no eyes could follow it. Presently, it paused up in the left-hand corner of the web and then Teddy saw it. It looked very little to have spun all that curtain of silvery web. As Teddy stood looking at it, it began to sing again. Here in my shining web, I said to look about and rest a bit. I rest myself a bit and then, which is the flash I begin again. Mr. Spinner? Mr. Spinner, Craig Teddy, can you tell me where to find the enchanted princess who lies asleep waiting for me to come and rescue her? The spider sat quite still for a while and then it said in the voice, as thin as a hair, you must go through the Emerald Door. You must go through the Emerald Door. What so fit is the Emerald Door for the hero who would do great deeds? Teddy did not so much as stay to thank the little gray spinner. He was in such a hurry to find the princess, but turning, he sprang to the Emerald Door, flung it open and stepped outside. He found himself standing on the glass steps and as his foot touched the topmost one, the whole flight closed up like an umbrella. And in a moment, Teddy was sliding down the smooth glass pane, faster and faster and faster until he could hardly catch his breath. The next thing he knew, he was standing in the golden garden and there was the counterpane fairy beside him looking at him sadly. You should have known better than to try the Emerald Door, she said. And now shall we break the story? Oh, no, no, cried Teddy and he was still the hero. Let me try once more, for it may be I can yet save the princess. Then the counterpane fairy smiled. Very well, she said. You shall try again. But remember what I told you, beware of that that is little and great. And take this with you for it may be of use. Stooping, she picked up a blade of grass from the ground and handed it to him. The hero took it, wondering, and in his hands it was changed to a sword that shone so brightly that it dazzled his eyes. Then he turned and there was the long flight of glass steps leading up to the golden castle just as before. So, thrusting the magic sword into his belt, he ran nimbly up and up and up, and not until he reached the very topmost step did he turn and look back to wave farewell to the counterpane fairy below. She waved her hand to him. Remember, she called, beware of what is little and gray. He opened the door and went into the five-sided golden hall, and there were the three doors just as before, and the spider spinning and singing on the fourth side. Now the brave hero is wiser and deep, once that he still may succeed. The love of him moves, diamonds wisdom that shines as the light. A diamond door cried Teddy. Yes, that is the door that I should have tried. How could I have thought the emerald door was it? And opening the diamond door, he stepped through it. He hardly had time to see that he was standing at the top of the glass steps before. Blblblblbl. They had shut up again into a smooth glass hill, and there he was, spinning down them so fast that the wind whistled past his ears. And less time than it takes to tell, he was back again for the third time in the golden garden, with the counterpain fairy standing before him, and he was ashamed to raise his eyes. So, said the counterpain fairy, did you know no better than to open the diamond door? No, said Teddy, I knew no better. Then, said the fairy, if you can pay no better heed to my warnings than that, the princess must wait for another hero, for you are not the one. Let me try but once more, cried Teddy, for this time I shall surely find her. Then you may try once more and for the last time, said the fairy, but beware of what is little and gray. Stooping, she picked from the grass beside her a fallen acorn cup and handed it to him. Take this with you, she said, for it may serve you well. As he took it from her, it was changed in his hand to a goblet of gold, set round with precious stones. He thrust it into his bosom, for he was in haste, and turning he ran for the third time up the flight of glass steps. This time so eager was he that he never once paused to look back, but all the time he ran on up and up he was wondering what it was that she meant about her warning. She had said, beware of what is little and gray. What had he seen that was little and gray? As soon as he reached the great golden hall, he walked over to the curtain of spiderweb. The spider was spinning so fast that it was little more than a gray streak, but presently it stopped up in the left hand corner of the web. As the hero looked at it, he saw that it was little and gray. Then it began to sing to him in its little thin voice. Eyes are thin ever before, red door, try the red door, open the door that is ruby and search for the princess again. No, I will not open the ruby door, cried Teddy. Twice have you sent me back to the golden garden, and now you shall fool me no more. As he said this, he saw that one corner of the spider web curtain was still unfinished in spite of the spider's haste, and underneath was something that looked like a little yellow door. Then suddenly he knew that that was a door he must go through. He caught hold of the curtain and pulled, but it was as strong as steel. Quick as a flash, he snatched from his belt the magic sword, and with one blow the curtain was cut in two and fell at his feet. He heard the little gray spider calling to him in its thin voice, but he paid no heed, for he had opened the little yellow door and stooped his head and entered. Beyond was a great courtyard, all of gold, and with a fountain leaping and splashing back into a golden basin in the middle. But what he saw first of all was the enchanted princess, who lay stretched out as if asleep upon a couch, all covered with cloth of gold. He knew she was a princess, because she was so beautiful, and because she wore a golden crown. He stood looking at her without stirring, and at last he whispered, "'Princess, princess, I have come to save you.'" Still she did not stir. He bent and touched her, but she lay there and her enchanted sleep and her eyes did not open. Then Teddy looked about him and sing the fountain. He drew the magic cup from his bosom and filling it, sprinkled the hands and face of the princess with the water. Then her eyes opened, and she raised herself upon her elbow and smiled. "'Have you come at last?' she cried. "'Yes,' answered Teddy. "'I have come.'" The princess looked about her. But what became of a spider, she said. Then Teddy too looked about, and there was a spider running across the floor toward where the princess lay. Quickly he sprang from her side and set his foot upon it. There was a thin squeak, and then there was nothing left of the little gray spinner and tiny gray smudge on the floor. Instantly the golden castle was shaken from top to bottom, and there was a sound of many voices shouting outside. The princess rose to her feet and caught the hero by the hand. "'You have broken the enchantment,' she cried, "'and now you shall be king of the golden castle "'and reign with me.'" "'Oh, but I can't,' said Teddy. "'Because—' "'But the princess drew him out with her through the hall, "'and there they were at the head of the flight of glass steppes. "'A great host of soldiers and courtiers were running up it. "'They were dressed in cloth of gold, "'and they shouted at the sight of Teddy, "'Hail to the hero! Hail to the hero!' "'And Teddy knew them by their voices "'for the golden birds that had fluttered around him "'in the garden below.' "'And all this is yours,' said the beautiful princess, "'turning toward him with—' "'So that is the story of a yellow square,' said the counter-paying fairy. Teddy looked about him. The golden castle was gone, and the stairs and the shouting courtiers. He was lying in bed with a silk coverlet over his little knees, and Hannah was still singing in the kitchen below. "'Did you like it?' asked the fairy. Teddy heaved a deep sigh. "'Oh, wasn't it beautiful?' he said. Then he lay for a while, thinking and smiling. "'Wasn't the princess lovely?' He whispered half to himself. The counter-paying fairy got up slowly and stiffly and picked up the staff that she had laid down beside her. "'Well, I must be journeying on,' she said. "'Oh, no, no,' cried Teddy. "'Please don't go yet.' "'Yes, I must,' said the counter-paying fairy. "'I hear your mother coming.' "'But will you come back again?' cried Teddy. The counter-paying fairy made no answer. She was walking down the other side of the bed-quilt hill, and Teddy heard her voice, little and thin, dying away in the distance. "'Oh, dear, dear, dear, what a hill to go down! What a hill it is! Oh, dear, dear, dear!' Then the door opened and his mother came in. She was looking rested, and she smiled at him lovingly. But the little brown counter-paying fairy was gone. CHAPTER II. The owls and the gamblesome elf. The next morning, when Teddy awoke, it was still very early, so early that even Hannah was not yet stirring. Outside everything was wrapped in a silvery mist, and now and then a drop of moisture plumped down on the porchroof. Teddy lay still for a while, growing wider and wider awake, and then he began to stir restlessly and wished that his mother would come. After a while he called her, but the house was so silent that he didn't like to call very loudly, and there was no answer. He thought he would call again, and then suddenly he remembered the counter-paying fairy and wondered if she would like little boys who called their mothers so early. He turned over in bed and raising his knees into a hill, stared at the yellow silk square and thought of the wonderful golden castle where she had taken him the day before. He wished he knew what all the burb people would have done when they reached the top of the stairs. He thought they would have put a golden crown on his head and made him king. And the princess was so beautiful he longed to see her again. How surprised Hannah would have been if she had heard voices and had come upstairs to see who it was and had found the beautiful princess sitting with him and had seen the golden crown on his head. If she only knew about it she would never call him a mischievous boy again. He had done a great deal more than Hannah could. Oh, dear! Oh, dear! said a little voice just back of his knees. Almost at the top, anyway. Teddy knew the voice. It was that of the counter-paying fairy. And there was the top of her brown hood showing over his knees. He watched breathless with eagerness until he saw her face appear above them. And then he cried out, I wondered whether you would come. I'm so glad. Are you going to show me another story? And will you stay a long while? The counter-paying fairy said nothing until she had sat down on top of his knees for a while and caught her breath. And then she said, Well, well, it's steeper than it was yesterday. I thought I should never get across that set and square it was so slippery. Shall I put my knees down? asked Teddy, moving them. For mercy's sake! No, said the fairy, clutching at the quilt. You might upset me. Keep right still, and I'll show you another story. Oh, yes, cried Teddy, please do. And let me go to the golden castle again. No, I can't do that, said the counter-paying fairy. For that was yesterday's story, and this will be another. But what became of the princess? asked Teddy. Oh, she married the hero, of course, said the fairy. But I thought I was the hero. There, there, said the fairy impatiently. I told you that was yesterday's story. And if you want to see any more, you must choose another square. Well, I will, said Teddy. May I choose that green square? Yes, said the fairy. Now fix your eyes on it while I count. Teddy began to stare at the green square, so hard that he scarcely winked. But he heard the counter-paying fairy counting on in her thin little voice until she reached 49. The green square spread and grew just as the yellow one had done while she counted, until Teddy seemed drifting off into endless green spaces. Then the counter-paying fairy clapped her hands, and he saw that he was hovering over a grassy hillside. Now you're an elf, you know, he heard the fairy say. At the bottom of the green hill there was a brook, and at the top was a line of shady green woods. Overhead the sky was very blue, with shining heaps of cottony white clouds. A soft wind was blowing, but the sun was warm, and insects were buzzing past and tent on business. A brown bird whirred by and dropped out of sight among the grasses. Teddy floated through the air, lighter than a feather. And he felt so happy that he clapped the feather and turned head over heels in the air. As he came right side up again he saw a bit of thistle down drifting on up the hill, and he was so little that when he flew after it and set himself astride of it it seemed as big as a barrel to him. He floated on up the hill with it and the wind was like a cushion behind him. As they reached the edge of the hill the thistle down caught on a bush, and Teddy almost had his leg wedged between it and the leaf. He jumped off in a hurry looking about him and wondering what he should do next. Suddenly he saw something that made him open his eyes wide in astonishment. Four large black and yellow butterflies were tied to a knot on an old tree close by. But it was not at the butterflies themselves that he wondered, for he had often seen them flitting about the fields. It was at the way they were loaded down with the strangest things, all sorts of fairy household furniture, little chairs and tables, bedsteads, tiny pots and pans, a great soup-cattle almost as large as a huckleberry, two thistle-down mattresses and a number of other things. All these were very neatly packed and tied between the butterflies' wings with spider web ropes. In the middle of the knot was a hole, but instead of being round as a knot hole generally is it was square and there was a little door fitted into it. Suddenly this door opened and on the threshold of it stood a beautiful little fairy. She stood there looking about and then she drew from her pocket a handkerchief thin and delicate as gossamer and wiped her eyes. After that she began to sob and Teddy knew that what he had thought was the buzzing of a bee inside the knot had really been the sound of her weeping. Hello! called the elf. The fairy stopped sobbing and looked about her. When she saw Teddy she stared at him for a moment to wipe her eyes and sob again. Teddy climbed up the branch of a blackberry bush until he was quite close to the knot hole and sat down on the stem and stared at her. What makes you cry, he asked. Still the fairy said nothing but she folded her little handkerchief though it was quite wet and put it carefully back into her pocket. Just then in the doorway at her side appeared another fairy. He was quite different from her though he too was very small. He looked as though he must be at least a hundred years old. Is everything packed up? He asked in a quarrelous voice then his eyes fell on Teddy the elf. He scowled until his little pimprix of eyes almost disappeared. There's one of those nasty gamblesome elves, he said. Now mischief's sure to follow. I'm not a gamblesome elf, cried Teddy. Yes you are! said the withered old fairy. Tell me, look at your red cap and the way your toes turn down. I say you are a gamblesome elf. Teddy looked at his toes and sure enough they did turn down. I wonder if I am a gamblesome elf, he thought. But the old fairy paid no more attention to him. He seemed to be in a great hurry and very cross. He bustled in and out of the knot hole bringing a broom and an old coat of cotton and packed them on the butterflies and then he helped the lady fairy on to one and clambered on another himself. After they were all ready to start he found that he had forgotten to unhitch the butterflies and grumbling and scolding he clambered down again and untied them. Then he climbed back once more and away they flew down the hillside and out of sight the lady fairy weeping all the time as though her heart would break. I wonder what she was crying about, said the gamblesome elf to himself as he stared after them. I can tell you that easily enough, said a little voice so close to his elbow that it made him jump. He looked around and saw close to him a brown beetle sitting on a blackberry leaf. Teddy looked at the beetle for a while in silence and then he said, Well, why is it they're going? It's all because of old Mrs. Owl, said the beetle. She and old father Owl used to live deep in the woods in a hollow tree but one time they determined to move out to the edge of the hill because the air was better and what trees should they choose for their home but this fairy one where Grand Daddy Thistle Top has been living as long as I can remember. Then when the Owls were all settled they began to complain. They said that Grand Daddy Thistle Top and Rosine were so noisy all day that they couldn't sleep. After the little Owl's hatched out it was worse than ever for the old mother said that every time Rosine cooked the dinner it made the little Owl sneeze and so the fairies must go. I wouldn't have gone, cried Teddy. Oh yes she would, said the beetle. The Owls would have stopped at the doors and windows or they could well they could have done almost anything they're so big. You may go in and look at the house if you want to. I have to go down the bush and see old Mrs. Aunt. Goodbye, I'll see you again after a while. When the beetle had gone Teddy climbed up to the knot hole there was a long entry as narrow and dark as a mousehole and with doors opening off from it here and there. At the end of the hall was a room that must have been the kitchen. It was very bare and lonely now and there was a fireplace at one end with a streak of light shining down through the chimney. While Teddy was standing by the chimney he heard a rustling and stirring about overhead. One of the little Owls clicked its beak in its sleep and he heard a sleepy whining voice. Oh you just stop scorching me! Screacher is scorching me! Then he heard the mother Owl. Hush! Hush! Go to sleep it's broad daylight yet. After that all was still again. I wish, thought Teddy to himself that I could do something to make the Owls go away. Then he began to giggle to himself and put both hands over his mouth so that the Owls up above wouldn't hear him. He tiptoed back to the door in the knot hole and looked down at a bush with long thorns on it that grew close by. I'll do it he said to himself. I'll break off the thorns and put them in the nest so that the Owls just can't stay there. In a moment he was down on the bush and tugging at a tough thorn. As soon as it broke off he lifted it on his shoulder and clambered up the rough bark of the tree to the great black hole where the Owls lived. When he looked down into it there they were in the nest fluffy and gray and fast asleep. Very quietly he slipped down and set the thorn in the side of the nest with the point sticking out. After that he softly clambered out again. Up and down up and down the tree he climbed again and again carrying thorns and quietly setting them in the nest and as he went up and down he kept whispering to himself I'm a gamblesome elf oh yes indeed I am a gamblesome elf After he thought he had put enough in the nest he went into old granddaddy thistle tops kitchen and crouching down by the fireplace he listened. It was getting to be twilight now and the Owls were beginning to stir presently he heard a voice cry out ouch! Flippity is sticking his toes into me No I ain't neither said another voice it's Penny Winnie Ow! just you stop Taint me! cried a little squeaky voice it's Screacher himself Ow! Ow! I'm going to tell and she began to cry You naughty little Owls cried the mother Owls voice What do you mean by digging your little sister? I didn't cried Screacher and Flippity together ouch! ouch! There's something sharp in the nest My dear said old Father Owl's voice from the branch outside Can't you keep those children quiet? Quiet indeed cried old Mother Owl Here is the nest all set full of thorns and you expect them to be quiet No wonder the poor children making noise Just you come here and help me get the thorns out Thorns cried Father Owl How did they get in there? Father Owl said the Mother Owl Perhaps it's old Grand Daddy Thistle-top's doings I thought those fairies had gone away but they must be down there still I'll just fly down and see and if they are I'll make them sorry enough With that down flew the Mother Owl and putting one big yellow eye at the kitchen window she looked in ouch! You fairies! she cried Are you in there still? She looked so very big and yellow that Teddy was frightened Then he remembered that he was a gamblesome elf so he made a face at her and began to hop up and down and twirl about on his toes singing I won't go away I won't go away I'll stay all night and I'll stay all day Oh my cap and toes I am a gamblesome elf Old Owl you would better look out for yourself The old Owl looked in for a moment and then without a word she flew back to her nest as fast as she could Teddy ran over to the chimney and listened He heard the old Owl brush into the hollow above and then he heard her sing in a frightened voice Husband, husband, what do you think? A gamblesome elf has come to live in old Grand Daddy Thistle-top's house Oh my tail feathers cried Old Father Owl aghast This is bad business You'll be having trouble and mischief all the time now It would have been better if we had let old Thistle-top stay What shall we do? Do? Do? cried Old Mother Owl in an exasperated voice What is there to do I should like to know but to get the children away I wouldn't keep them in the same tree with that gamblesome elf No, not a night longer for all the mice you could offer me But how can we get them away Asked Old Father Owl They can't fly No, we can't fly cried all the little owls Oh, what shall we do? Ow! Can't fly? They've got to fly said Mother Owl and you and I must help them Back to the old tree we go this very night After that there was a great to-do up in the hollow Teddy watched it all lying on a stomach in the door of the knothole for it was moonlight by this time in almost as bright as day The little owls got up on the edge of the hollow and there they sat teetering and flapping and afraid to fly Their mother grew crosser and crosser and at last she got back at them and gave them a push and then down they went fluttering and tumbling and bumping into the tree trunks The Father Owl sailed about from branch to branch calling Who? Who? Come on spread your wings and go like this Who? And then he would sail on to another bush flew down beside them and showed them how to spread their wings and push them with their beak and gradually they flutter farther and farther into the darkling woods their cries growing fainter and then dying away until all teddy could hear was the Father Owl's voice very faint and far away Who? Who? Then it too died away and the woods were still After a while the moon set and teddy began to feel very sleepy Then a little breeze sprang up the light grew clearer and the east was red and at last the sun peeped over the top of the hill opposite As the first beam struck Old Granddaddy Thistle Top's tree Teddy started to his knees gazing out down the hill slope There were the four black and yellow butterflies flying directly toward the tree as fast as their wings could carry them and on the two foremost ones were Old Granddaddy Thistle Top himself and the beautiful Roseane They drew rain at the knot hole in the old fairy skipping from his butterfly After pausing to fasten it tottered straight to Teddy and threw his arms about his neck Our preserver he cried and to think I should have called you a gamblesome elf But never mind I will make it up to you Suddenly he turned and caught the blushing Roseane by the hand Here he cried She is yours and you should live with us and learn to turn your toes up and we will all be happy together But put Craig Teddy back Don't you know I'm not enough at all I'm Well Well Here we are back again to the counterpain fairy and stiff enough I feel after all that journey in Oh Wasn't it funny said Teddy and his knees shook with laughter They really thought I was a gamblesome elf Take care cried the fairy There you are shaking your knees again I think my dear that if you were a fairy very carefully the hill would not be quite so steep Yes ma'am I'll be careful said Teddy but getting very slowly to slide his feet down in the bed Suddenly the doorknob turned and Teddy gave a start Quick as a flash the counterpain fairy had disappeared His mother was coming in carrying his breakfast and a little vase of violets on a tray Why my darling what a bright happy face she said Little boy must be feeling better this morning End of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 of the counterpain fairy This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Counterpain Fairy by Katherine Pyle Chapter 3 Starline and Silverling Ms. Thomas Amit Finney is downstairs to see you about that sewing you said she could do for you said Hanna putting her head in at the door Mama was sitting close to the bed playing a game of Old Made with Teddy Very well Hanna tell her I'll be there in a moment she said Oh please don't go yet said Teddy It's my draw Match You're the Old Made Oh Mama You're an Old Made and he pointed his finger at her and laughed said Mama Now you can shuffle the cards and when I come back we'll have another game Don't stay long beg Teddy I'll come back as soon as I can said Mama and then she went out Teddy lay propped up on the pillow and shuffled and shuffled the cards and wished his mother would hurry He did not like Amit Finney for when she came she always cried and wiped her eyes in the corner of her apron and told how her husband was out of work and the children needed shoes Mama came back and when she did she had her bonnet on Darling she said I have to go out for a while Mrs. McFinney's baby's sick and I promise the poor thing to come over and see it I won't be gone long and when I come back I'll bring you a sheet of paper soldiers to cut out I'd rather have a paper circus said Teddy Very well said Mama I'll bring you a circus instead Then she gave him some picture books to look at telling him to be a good boy She went out through the next room and he heard her pause to wind the music box and set it playing There she called back to him you'll have the music to keep you company and then she went on downstairs After she had gone Teddy lay fingering the books not caring to open them he knew them so well Oh dear he sighed I wish the counter pain fairy was here Oh dear dear dear how steep this hill is said a little voice just back of his knees Don't break my little staff or down I'll go head over heels to the bottom Teddy knew the voice well and his heart gave a leap of pleasure There was a pointed cap and the withered face of the counter pain fairy just appearing above the counter pain hill Oh Mrs. fairy I'm so glad you came and I have the loveliest square picked out cried Teddy I hadn't seen it before because it was on the other side with the silver leaves on it and my mama says it was a scrap left from her wedding dress Wait wait said the fairy till the body gets a breath Now which one is it It's that one said Teddy Will you tell me about it Yes said the fairy if that's the one you want Now fix your eyes on it while I count Then the counter pain fairy began to count He heard her voice Forty Nine She cried When Teddy looked about him he saw that he was standing in a long hall of white marble veined with silver There were arches and pillars of silver and all the walls were carved with lilies Teddy walked slowly down this hall and as he walked a rosy glow seemed to move with him He looked down to see what made it and found that he was dressed in a tunic He laughed about the waste with a golden girdle His feet were bare but the air was so mildly warm that the marble did not chill him After a while as he walked slowly and wonderingly down the hall he turned a corner and found himself in another hall just like the first Only at one side there was a great crystal window and sitting there he looked as if it was the counterpain fairy for it looked like her though she was quite large now she looked as large as a real woman Teddy stood looking at her for a while and waiting for her to see him but she paid no attention and so at last he whispered counterpain fairy Hush said she I'm listening and fainted her it seemed to come from outside the crystal window and looking through it Teddy saw the outside was the most beautiful garden he had ever seen the grass of the garden was a silvery green and the paths were white the leaves of the trees were lined with silver and the branches hung with shining fruit there were lilies growing beside the paths and as Teddy listened he knew that the music he heard was the voice of the fountain presently it ceased and then the fairy turned to him and smiled oh counterpain fairy cried Teddy may I go out into that garden that I don't know said the fairy but if you want to get there the best thing for you to do is find them somewhere in the halls I'll go find them cried Teddy and without waiting any longer he turned and ran down the hall as fast as he could he was in such haste to find them and get them to show him the way into the garden on and on he ran through one hall after another through arched doorways and along everything was still he was so out of breath that he had begun to walk when turning another corner he suddenly saw before him a little girl who he somehow felt sure was star-lying her hair was of a silvery yellow and was like a mist about her head she was very beautiful and was dressed from head to foot and silver that shone and sparkled as she moved around her oh it's a little child and running down the hall to him with her doves flying about her she put her little hands on his cheeks and kissed him then she stood back and looked at him with her hands clasped you dear little boy she said where did you come from I came through the white square said Teddy I don't know the white square said the little girl but I'm glad you came I haven't had anyone to play with since Silverling the little girl shook her head I don't know she said we quarreled once and he went away he must be in some of the halls but I've been hunting and hunting ever since and I can't find him then Teddy told her how the counterpane fairy had said that he must find Silverling and Starline and that then perhaps he could get into the garden where the singing fountain was the little girl shook her head again she ran the gate into it since Silverling went away and she went over and sat down on a marble bench beside the wall and all the doves settled about her on her knees and shoulders never mind cried Teddy bravely you wait here and I'll go and find him I found you and I'll find him too turning he ran down the hall and threw an arched way into another hall and there far far down at the other end up into the air and catching it again when he saw Teddy he slipped the ball into his pocket and ran to meet him leaping with the light and clapping his hands oh little boy little boy he cried will you come and play with me are you Silverling cried Teddy breathlessly yes said the little boy then come come quick cried Teddy Starline is just around the corner and she is waiting for you to come and show us the way into the garden with a hand and without another word they ran as fast as they could up the hall and around the corner through the silvery arch way and into the other hall there Teddy stopped short looking blankly about him Starline was gone Silverling shook his head sadly I knew how it would be he said I've been hunting for ever since we quarreled but I can't find her and I can't find the way into the garden of the singing fountain either what did you quarrel about Teddy we quarreled about this said the little boy touching a slender golden chain that hung around his neck we found it in the garden and we quarreled about who should wear it but I'd be so glad to give it to Starline now she would only come back again well wait said Teddy she can't be far away and I'll go and find her no no cried Silverling you can't find her and I'll lose you too look let's play with my Silver ball and taking it from his pocket he tossed it to Teddy Teddy caught it and threw it back to him and so they played together in the marble hall tossing the Silver ball and shouting with laughter at last Silverling missed the ball and as it rolled on down the hall he ran after it stooping and trying to catch it but always just missing Teddy shouted and clapped his hands jumping up and down with his bare feet and then he stood still watching Silverling as he ran far far down the hall as he stood thus suddenly he heard from just around the corner the cooing of Starline's doves he did not stop a moment but turning ran around into the next hall and there sure enough was Starline with her doves about her oh little boy she cried I was afraid I had lost you but Teddy caught her by the hand come quick he cried I have found Silverling they ran together into the hall Silverling had been playing with a silver ball but it was vacant now Silverling was gone well I never said Teddy then he turned to Starline Starline you shouldn't have gone away when I told you not to I didn't said Starline I stayed right there Teddy thought a while then it must have been the wrong hall he said but never mind I'll find him again and this time I'll surely bring him to you only wait here no matter how long it is stop oh stop cried Starline she caught one of her doves in her hands and held it out to Teddy here little boy she said take this with you and if you can't find me again give it to Silverling and tell him he is to keep it for his very own yes I will said Teddy and he took the dove and put it in the bosom of his tunic and it nestled there all warm and soft and still then he turned and walked quietly down the hall and into another he went on and on but he did not run and jump now for he was thinking after a while when he turned into another hall he once more saw Silverling at play with his Silver ball did you find her cried Silverling eagerly yes said Teddy I found her and she sent you a dove for your very own but Silverling I think this I think the only way for us ever to find her together is for us to set the dove free and to follow it when it flies back to her but we couldn't follow it said Silverling it would fly so fast that it would be out of sight in a minute I know said Teddy but we could tie something to it what could we pass into it asked Silverling the two little boys stood looking about them and wondering what they could use suddenly Teddy clapped his hands so the dove and his tunic started we'll fasten the end of your golden chain to it he cried no sooner said than done in a moment Silverling had taken the chain from his neck and unfastened the ends it was so long that it had been twisted several times around his neck very gently they took the dove and fastened the chain to its leg and then they let it go it fluttered up over their heads and circled about them once or twice and then it flew on down the hall with the little boys following it they turned many a corner and went through many a door and at last they came into a hall and there there was Starline waiting for them with their doves about her oh Starline cried Silverling oh Silverling cried Starline they ran to each other and threw their arms about each other's necks and kissed while the white doves flew circling about them then they told each other how sorry they were that they had quarreled and that they would never do it anymore and then they kissed again and you may have the golden chain Starline said Silverling no no you must keep it said Starline oh I know what we'll do cried Silverling we'll give it to this little boy because if it hadn't been for him we wouldn't have found each other oh yes said Starline but Teddy held up his hand hush he whispered don't you hear it then they all listened and sweeter and clearer than ever before they heard the voice of the singing fountain in a beautiful garden it is a fountain cried Starline and Silverling half fearfully they each caught Teddy by the hand and all ran down the hall together and the very first corner that they turned they found themselves at the door of the garden the wind was blowing the lilies the fruit on the wonderful trees shone and glistened in the sunlight the fountain ah the fountain was no longer singing for the music box and the nursery had run down Teddy looked about him instead of the garden there was the flowery India room the clock ticked the fire crackled he was back in bed once more and he heard mama speaking to Hannah in the hall outside so he knew she was home again that was the end of that story said the fairy of the counter pain end of chapter 3 chapter 4 of the counter pain fairy this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the counter pain fairy by Catherine Pyle chapter 4th the magic circus Teddy was still in bed though the doctor had said that very soon he might have the big chair wheeled up to the window and sit there a while now he was propped up against the pillows playing with the paper circus his mother had brought to him the day before his little cousin Harriet had come in yesterday to spend the afternoon with him and together they had cut out the figures the clown the ring master the pretty lady on the white horse the acrobat on his cold black steed and all the rest this morning he had put some large books under the bed quilt and smoothed over them so as to make a flat plane and was amusing himself setting the circus out and arranging his soldiers in a long procession as if they were the audience coming to see it he seemed so well entertained that his mother said she would go over to the sewing room for a little while to run up some scenes on the machine when Teddy was left alone he still went on playing very happily but as he set out the soldiers two by two he was really thinking of the counter pain fairy and her wonderful stories the evening before he had fallen asleep while his mother was reading something to his father for they both sat in Teddy's room in the evenings now that he was ill and when he woke they were talking together about him they did not see that his eyes were open so they went on with what they were saying it was his mother who was speaking he's such an odd child she was saying just now he is full of this idea of the counter pain fairy and her stories and he talks of her just as though she were real I don't know where he got the idea it isn't in any of his books and I thought you must have been telling him about it no some papa I didn't tell him perhaps it was Harriet said mama and then she saw that he was awake and began to speak of something else Teddy wished his mother could see the counter pain fairy herself and then she would know that it was a real fairy and not a make-believe when he saw the counter pain fairy again he was going to ask her if he might and take his mother into one of the stories with him he was thinking of her so hard voice just back of the counter pain hill oh dear dear and the worst of it is that I hardly get to the top before I have to come down again is that you counter pain fairy called teddy yes it is said the fairy I'll be there in a minute and soon she appeared above the top of the hill and seated herself on it to rest and catch her breath dear dear she said but it's a steep hill Mrs. fairy said teddy I want to ask you something you know my mother yes said the counter pain fairy I know who she is well said teddy she's just gone over into the sewing room and I want to know whether you won't let me take her into a square sometime my mercy no said the fairy have you forgotten what I told you the first time I came what was that I told you I went to see little boys and girls I don't go to see grown people they wouldn't believe in me my mother would said teddy she plays with me and she likes my books and I tell her all about you no no cried the counter pain fairy I couldn't think of it I'm very glad to take you into my stories but if you don't care to go by yourself and she picked up her staff and rose oh I do I do cried teddy please don't go away well I won't said the fairy sitting down again if you really want me to show you another have you chosen a square no I haven't yet said teddy he looked the squares over very carefully and at last he chose the black and white one where the circus was standing very good and count teddy fixed his eyes on the square and she commenced gradually he began to feel as though the white silk of the square was a pale cloudy sky before him stretched a white streak and in the distance were some things like black squares he did not know quite what forty nine cried the fairy when teddy looked about him he and the counter pain fairy walked the white road together and the fairy looked just as any little old woman might except that her eyes were so bright behind her spectacles before them lay a city with black roofs and spires there was a sound of drums and music in the distance and a faint noise as though a crowd of people were shouting a great way off what are they doing over there as teddy hurrying his steps a lot of pride but it is a grand merrymaking and it's because of it that I've brought you here but I'm tired and hungry for we've come a long way so let us sit down by the road side a bit and while we rest I'll tell you all about the goings on and what we have to do with them teddy was quite willing so he and the counter pain fairy sat down together she broke it in half and one part she gave to teddy it seemed to him that he had never tasted anything so good for as the fairy remarked they were both of them hungry after they had finished it all to the very last bit the fairy brushed the crumbs from her lap and sitting there with the soft wind blowing about them and the black roofs of the city in the distance the counter pain fairy told him the story of the king of the black country and the princess far off yonder toward the east where the sky looked so pale and bright began the fairy there lives a king who was called king white beard because his beard is as white as snow he had only one child a daughter named the princess Aralene and she was as beautiful as a day and as good as she was beautiful because she was so good and beautiful princess used to come from all over the world seeking her hand and among them came the king of the black country the richest and most powerful of them all the princess Aralene would have nothing to say to him however because he was wicked as well as rich and so at last the king of the black country gathered his army together and marching against king white beard he conquered him and carried off the princess Aralene captive now there in the black king's country but the princess Aralene sits and grieves all the time and nothing the king can do can make her smile the more the black king does the more she grieves but she is so very beautiful that the king would deny her nothing except to let her go home to her father I should like to see a princess said Teddy so you shall said the fairy for you are a great magician you have come here to do what no other hero in the world dares to do you have come to rescue the princess Aralene and carry her back to her own country do you mean I am a real magician asked Teddy oh yes said the fairy don't you see you are dressed in a magician's robe and there is your magic chest on the grass beside you look so saying a polished steel from under her cloak and held it up before Teddy and as he looked into it he hardly knew himself he was dressed in a black hood and a long black robe strangely woven about the hem with characters in white and he held a white staff in his hand beside him on the grass was a box bound round with iron and that was his magic box after he had looked in the mirror for a while the fairy had come she said for it is time we were journeying on but what have I in my box asked Teddy as he picked it up and joined the fairy who was already hobbling along toward the city don't you remember said the fairy it's your circus oh yes I remember now said Teddy after a while he and the fairy reached the city and everywhere along the street were people laughing and dancing and feasting along with white and black flags the black flags were for the king of the black country and the white flags were for the princess oraleen everywhere they came the people made way for them and whispered look look that is a great magician who has come to show his magic before the princess oraleen at last they reached an open square and there was the greatest crowd of all on a raised platform covered with silver cloth and with steps there were two thrones upon one of the thrones sat a tall fierce-looking man dressed in black velvet and with a crown upon his head cut entirely from one great black diamond upon the other throne sat a beautiful young princess she was as pale as a lily and as beautiful as a day and was dressed in shimmering white her hands were clasped in her lap and her face was very sad on the steps and her face stood two heralds in black and white with trumpets in their hands and all about were ranged soldiers two and two they made teddy think of the toy soldiers he had been playing with only they were as big as men and instead of being gay with red paint they were in black as soon as teddy and the king drew the crowd to the foot of the steps the king of the black country stared at him and his eyes were so black and piercing that teddy felt afraid are you the great magician he asked yes I am answered teddy bowing then let us see some of this magic that we have been hearing about teddy bowed again and then he set the chest on the ground and drawing from his girdle an iron key he unlocked it and put back the lid there was the paper circus just as he and Harriet had cut it out the acrobat and the lovely lady the horses the clown the ringmaster not one of them was left out with his magic wand teddy drew up on the ground a circle and then while everybody he took out the figures and set them one by one in the ring then he waved his wand over them and cried abracadabracadee all the people stood on tiptoes and the king himself leaned forward to see but nothing happened abracadabracadee cried teddy again still nothing happened he looked around at the crowd of people at the grim king and his heart sank abracadabracadee he cried for the third time striking the ground with his wand then a wonderful thing happened the circle he had drawn up on the ground began to spread just as a circle does in the water after one has thrown a stone into it now it was a great circus ring and the paper circus itself had changed to a real circus the clown walked about joking with his hands in his pockets the ringmaster cracked his whip paper horses were two magnificent steeds one as black as night and one as white as milk that cantered round and round while the music sounded and all the people far away on the outside of the ring clapped and applauded wonderful wonderful cried the king and now there was something more that was wonderful as the black horse candored around Teddy ran to him and leaped upon his back light as a feather and there he rode his black robe with the white figures flying and fluttering around him then still riding around he unfastened his gown and threw it from him and there he was dressed in white and silver and his magic wand was changed to a little silver whip after that he leaped up with a somersault lighting again upon his horse while the music played louder and louder Teddy rode round and round now riding backward now forward now on one foot now on his hands with his feet in the air then he leaped up right and putting his fingers to his mouth he gave a shrill whistle at that the white steed suddenly dashed into the ring and galloped up beside the black one and now Teddy rode with a foot on each foot crying hoopla and even the king clapped his hands once and twice he rode around the ring and passed the platform but as they came round for the third time Teddy waved his whip in the air hoopla he cried up up with that his steed suddenly leaped from the ring and up the steps of the platform to the very top there Teddy sprang from them and caught his hand I have come to rescue you he cried and before the king could move or speak he had set her up on the white horse he had sprung up on the black and with a clatter of hoots they were dashing down the steps and across the square then the king of the black country started to his feet stop them stop them he cried the soldiers had been standing as though turned to stone but at the king's voice they started but again Teddy raised his magic whip abracadabracadee as you were once you shall be he cried at the magic words every soldier's arms fell by his side their eyes changed to little black dots their faces grew rounder their legs stiffened and there they stood nothing more nor less than wooden soldiers just like the one were they his own soldiers and the princess was she only the doll that Harriet had forgotten the night before and that Teddy had set up against his knees to watch the show were the streets only black and white silk there he was back in his own room with the little wooden soldiers in the paper circus there was the square of silk with the book under it and the counterpain what became of us did we get away oh I didn't want to come out of the story just yet well of course you escaped said the fairy how could the king stop you after you had changed his soldiers into wood and what became of you asked Teddy oh I took the clown's cap said the fairy for it was the wishing cap and fast as you and the princess rode back to the country a king white beard I was there before Teddy thought for a while and then he heaved a deep sigh I wish I really had a circus horse he said and could ride round and have all the people watching and shouting but what did the princess say when she found I had rescued her hark said the fairy isn't that your mother coming along the hall I must be going oh my poor bones what a hill it is to go down oh dear dear dear end of chapter four chapter five of the counterpane fairy this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the counterpane fairy by Katherine Pyle chapter fifth at the edge of the polar sea the crocuses are up on the lawn said Teddy's mother who was standing at the window and looking out and just hear that blackbird I always feel as though spring were really here when I hear the blackbird sing Teddy was still in bed it seemed to him sometimes that he had spent his whole life lying there in the India room under the silk counterpane and that it was some other Teddy who used to go to school and shout and play with the boys in the street I wish I could go out of doors the way I used to so do I said mama but never mind darling the doctor says it won't be so very long now before you can be out again and this afternoon we'll play some nice game or other that you can play in bed now what would you like it to be but before Teddy could answer she added oh dear there comes Aunt Mariah Aunt Mariah lived down at the other end of the village and she generally came every fortnight to spend an afternoon with Teddy's mother she always brought her knitting in a bag and a white net cap that she put on before the glass as soon as she had taken her bonnet off Teddy liked to have her come her needles flew so fast and she used to recite to him A was an archer and shot at a frog B was a butcher and had a great dog then when he was tired of sitting with her and mama he could run out of doors and play but he found it was different today from what it had been before he was still weak he was still in his illness and after she had told him all the verses that she knew he grew weary of hearing her talk of cousin George's wife and Mrs. Applebee's rheumatism his mother saw that he was growing restless and that his cheeks were flushed so she asked Aunt Mariah to come over to her room to look at some calico she had been buying when they had gone Teddy lay for a time enjoying the silence of the room but after a while it began to seem too still and the clock ticked with a strange loud sound he wished Aunt Mariah would go away and let mama come back again it was so lonely and he was tired of his books he was lying on his back and presently he drew up his knees and then over the tops of them he could only see the upper half of the window and the tips of the pine trees against the still blue sky outside oh dear, dear, dear said the counter-paying fairy's voice just behind the hill steeper than ever today I ever get to the top a minute after he saw her little figure standing on the hill dark against the sky and the staff in her hand like a thin black line oh dear, counter-paying fairy cried Teddy have you come to show me another story are you sure you want to see one asked the counter-paying fairy oh yes, yes I do cried Teddy your stories don't make me feel tired the way Aunt Mariah's do the fairy shook her head I thought her stories were very pleasant she said so they are said Teddy but I like her stories best when I'm all well and I like your stories best when I'm sick besides I only hear her stories and I see yours the fairy smiled well then which square would you choose this time she said I think I would like that one said Teddy pointing to a square of watered ribbon that shaded from white to a sea green that's rather a long story said the fairy doubtfully oh please show it beg Teddy well said the fairy fix your eyes on it while I count then she began and he heard her voice going on and on forty nine she cried Teddy was floating on a block of ice across the wide green polar sea the counter-paying fairy was with him and all around were great fields of ice and floating white birds the air was very still and cold but Teddy liked it all the better for that for now he was an ice fairy he was dressed from head to foot in a suit that shone and sparkled like woven frost and in his belt was a knife as shining as an icicle something kept bobbing and tickling his forehead and when he caught hold of it he found it was the end of the long capy war as they drifted along sometimes they saw a walrus with long tusks lying on the ice or a soft-eyed seal once some strange little beings that looked like dwarves with goggle eyes and straggling black hair caught hold of the block of ice and lifting themselves out of the water made faces at Teddy but the moment they saw the counter-paying fairy their look changed to one of fear and with a queer gurgling cry they dropped from the ice and were gone what were those things asked Teddy there were ice merman said the counter-paying fairy naughty mischievous things they are I'd like to pack them all off to the north pole if I could oh look look Teddy just look at those little bears playing over there they had drifted in quite near to the shore and in among the blocks of ice three white bear cubs were playing together like fat little boys they were climbing to the top of an ice hillock and then sliding down again as soon as they saw Teddy in the counter-paying fairy they began to call oh father bear just come look at these funny things floating in the shore on a block of ice in a moment from behind the ice hill came a great white father bear galloping up as fast as he could to see what the matter was he came over toward teddy growling grrr grrrr who are you coming and frightening my little bears this way but as soon as he saw the counter-paying fairy he grew quite humble oh excuse me he said he didn't know it was a friend of yours yes it is said the fairy and I have brought him here to stay a while will you take good care of him yes I will said father bear he shall sleep in the cave with us and have part of our meat if he will and I'll be as careful of him as though he were one of my own cubs very well said the fairy mind you do then turning to teddy she baited him to step on shore but aren't you coming too as teddy no said the counter-paying fairy I can't come but father bear will take good care of you so teddy stepped onto the shore and the fairy pushed the block of ice out into the water and waving her hand to him she drifted away across the open sea the father bear stood watching her until she was out of sight and then he turned to teddy now you fairy you may climb up onto my back and I'll carry you to my wife she'll take good care of you for as long as the counter-paying fairy chooses to leave you here the three little bear cubs had disappeared but as soon as the father bear carried teddy around the hill of ice he saw what had become of them they were sitting with the mother bear at the door of a cave one of them was sucking its paws and the other two were talking as fast as they could the mother bear looked worried and anxious what's all this dumpy and sprawly or telling me she said and what's that you have on your back it's an ice fairy growled old father bear and the counter-paying fairy wants us to take care of it for a while you don't mind my dear do you oh dear dear said the mother bear I suppose not but what shall we give it to eat and how shall we keep it oh it'll do just as the other cubs do I suppose says the father bear then turning to teddy he said you eat meat don't you yes sir answered teddy timidly then that's all right said the father bear here you children take this fairy off and let him play with you two of the little bears fatty who was the one who had been sucking his paws and dumpy were delighted to have a new playmate and they told him he might come over and slide down their hill but the third one sprawly scowled and grumbled another one to be eating up our meat he said just as if there weren't enough of us without still he went over with them to the ice hill and they all began sliding down after a while sprawly said I know a great deal nicer hill than this one it's just a little further on come on and I'll show it to you oh said fatty but suppose we should see some ice merman poo said sprawly I ain't afraid it's a great deal nicer than this come on so the three little bears and teddy trotted on to another hill and it really was much longer and steeper than the other it went down almost to the edge of the sea they had slid down it only a few times when dumpy cried out oh look look there are some ice merman and they're making faces at me there they were sure enough looking over the edge of the ice ugly little gray things with mouths like fishes and they were making faces and presently they began to sing bear cubs bear cubs look at their toes look at their ears and their hair and their nose the great big walrus will surely come to eat up the bear cubs and give us some dumpy growled at them though he was frightened but fatty began to cry just then one of the mermen sent a piece of ice sliding across at them and it hit fatty's paws and upset her she was so fat that she rolled over and over before she could get up dumpy ran to her and as soon as she was on her feet again they began galloping toward home as fast as they could followed by sprawley and teddy as they ran along teddy saw that sprawley was shaking all over and he thought it was because he was afraid until he caught up to him then he saw that he was laughing what are you laughing at he asked but sprawley only showed his teeth and growled in answer when they reached the cave and told the mother bear about the mermen she scolded them well for going so near the edge of the water and said it was time for them to go to bed father bear was going on a hunt the next day and he was going to let the cubs go part of the way with them so they must have a good rest the mother bear gave them each their share of seal meat and then she went into the cave oh fatty said sprawley just look behind you and see if you don't see a mermen fatty turned her head but there was nothing there when she looked back again she burst into a loud whine oh oh she cried sprawley stole my nicest piece of meat so he did oh out shuffled mother bear in a hurry you naughty cubs she cried aiming a blow at sprawley's ear but quick as a wink sprawley slipped behind dumpy and it was upon dumpy that the blow fell and now dumpy joined in with his sister oh he cried the haired there cried the poor mother bear don't you cry anymore and I'll give you each an extra piece of meat so they stopped crying and ate their suppers contentedly and after that they all went to bed and the little cubs had hardly laying down before they were fast asleep teddy did not go to sleep however he lay looking at the ice roof of the cave and thinking how strange it was to be there presently he heard the mother bear say very softly husband husband are you awake yes I am said the father bear what do you want the mother bear sighed I don't know how it is husband she said but I never had a cub like sprawley before he is so naughty and mischievous that he keeps his little brother and sister whining all the time you ought to box him said the father bear that's all very well said the mother bear but when I try to box him he slips behind the others and pushes them forward and he is so quick that twice I have boxed dumpy instead of him by mistake the father bear grunted and they were silent for a while but presently the mother bear began again more softly than ever do you know husband sometimes I wonder whether sprawley can really be my cub if there were only one and one I could count them but there are more than one and one well the father bear I should think that would be easy let's see there's dumpy and he's one and fatty and she's one and sprawley and he's one and now how many does that make oh dear said the mother bear don't ask me my head's all over world already then you better go to sleep my dear said her husband the next thing you know you'll be having a headache tomorrow you think too much yes said the mother bear saying that's so I suppose I do think too much but then I can't help it I always was thinking ever since I was a cub it's the way I made good night good night said the father bear and then they too went to sleep teddy seemed to be the only one awake dumpy kept crowding up against him and snoring with his nose close to teddy's ear teddy pushed him once or twice but it didn't seem to make any difference once he poked him so hard that the little bear gave a snort and stopped snoring for a while but soon he began again but after all teddy found he was not the only one in the cave who was not asleep sprawley who was lying on the other side of fatty had begun to stir and sit up he looked about at the sleeping bears and then very quietly began to edge himself toward the mouth of the cave once the mother bear gave a low growl in her sleep and sprawley stopped still to listen but she didn't waken teddy wondered what sprawley was going to do and so as soon as the cub disappeared through the mouth of the cave he too crawled over to the opening when he looked out he saw sprawley shuffling over the fields of ice in the distance and already quite far away so let by his curiosity teddy too crept out of the cave and set off running after the bear cub he ran on and on until he was quite close to sprawley and then he saw the cub pause at the edge of a strip of open water and turn to look behind him to make sure that he was not followed he did not see teddy for the fairy had hidden quickly behind a block of ice sprawley turned toward the water again and gave a long quavering cry that sounded like a call he listened but everything was silent except for the rumbling and crackling of the ice in the distance again he called and this time there was an answering cry and another and another sprawley stood up and waved his pause and then teddy saw that the open water was dotted with heads of ice merman there must have been ten or twelve of them at least they swam over to where sprawley stood and climbing out on the ice they seemed to be welcoming him hopping and sliding about and pulling at his hair and claws now that teddy saw them quite close they were uglier than ever with goggle eyes and rough, fishy looking skins they all sat on the edge of the ice and now and then one of them would dive off to reappear again all wet and glistening and then it would climb up and sit on the ice again in a row with the others they all talked together and their voices were so queer and husky that teddy could not understand what they were saying at first at last he made out that they were asking sprawley about him, where he had come from and how well, I'll tell you how he came, said sprawley and all the merman stopped to listen sprawley too was silent for a moment and then he said in a low, impressive voice the counter pain fairy brought him there was a long, quavering cry from the merman and several of them dived off into the water and did not reappear again for some minute when they did their faces were all wrinkled up with anxiety they climbed up onto the edge of the ice and sat there blinking at the sky for a while in silence then one of them said in a trembling voice well, we haven't been doing anything but just frightening the bear cubs a little how about knocking fatty down with a piece of ice asked sprawley derisively scritchie did that cried all the merman but one we didn't do it, scritchie did that the merman who hadn't spoken and who was scritchie still did not say a word he looked at the others with his goggle eyes and then he tumbled off into the water and swam away as fast as he could and did not come back any more all the other merman looked after him in silence until he had disappeared then one of them said in an awestruck voice it's bad for you sprawley ain't it just think what you've been doing poo said sprawley pretending he was not frightened what do I care I can fix it all right how asked all the merman together well listen and I'll tell you said sprawley tomorrow father and mother bear are going hunting and all of us little cubs are to go with them I suppose this strange fairy cub will go with us and when we stop to rest I'll get him away from the others and near the edge of the water you must come under the ice and break off the piece he is standing on and float him far, far away toward the south until he melts yes yes we'll do it cried all the merman jumping up out and shouting then they turned to sprawley they cried let's have a game in the water before you go back that I will said sprawley and with that what should he do but strip off his bear skin just as though it were a coat and there he was nothing more nor less than a merman who had been dressed up in an old skin pretending to be a bear cub sprawley and all the other merman dived off into the water and began splashing and shrieking and pulling at each other getting farther and farther away all the same I don't think you'll float me off said teddy to himself very quietly he crept to where the bear skin lay out on the ice and taking out his knife he cut a long slit up the back of it then not waiting for the merman to come back he hurried home again over the ice to the bear's cave and crawling in he laid himself down again between the sleeping cubs the little bears were beginning to stir themselves and the mother bear was yawning and stretching when sprawley came sneaking into the cave again what what said the mother bear where have you been I ain't been anywhere said sprawley I just thought I heard a sea lion roaring and I went out to see well there's no use you're going to sleep again said the father bear for we have to go a long ways today and it's time we were getting ready to start now with that he shuffled out of the cave followed by the mother bear and stood looking about him presently the cubs came out too still blinking with sleep oh mother cried dumpy just look at sprawley's back why what's the matter with it asked the mother bear there ain't nothing the matter with it growled sprawley twisting his head around and trying to see yes there is two cried fatty oh my sprawley splitting off all down the back why why cried the father bear what's this he shuffled over and looked at sprawley's back and then without a word he began to tear and pull at the bear skin in another minute he had it off and there stood the merman shivering and blinking at them with his mouth open like a gasping fish oh dear oh dear cried the mother bear turning wider than ever he's not my cub after all and she sat down and began to whine and cry but father bear gave a growl and rising on his hind legs he fetched the merman a cuff that sent him tumbling head over heels across the ice father bear was after him but before he could reach him the merman was up and running for the open strip of water in the distance father bear chased him the whole way sometimes he caught him and gave him a cuff that sent him flying but at last the merman reached the water and dived into it he must have had a sore head for days afterward however when the father bear came back again he was panting and growling there said he I guess that's the last time any of the merman will try to play their tricks on us come come he went on it's time we were off for our hunting but the mother bear only shook her head she had been doing nothing since she saw that sprawley was an ice merman but sit and rock herself backward and forward and whine I couldn't go my dear I couldn't engage you said I'm all of a trumble now to think how that dreadful merman has been playing with fatty and dumpy day after day and I never knew it then I'll go by myself said father bear gruffly and leave the children home with you but you can go fairy he said to teddy I'll carry you on my back if you like and maybe you'll see me catch a young walrus I suppose it was you who split him down the back as the counter pain fairy brought you yes sir it was said teddy timidly but I'm afraid I can't go with you I'm afraid I'm going back for the bears the fields of ice the far off green water were all wavering and growing misty before his sight faintly he heard the voices of the bear cubs oh don't go away for they had grown fond of him the day before then their voices died away he was back in the old familiar room with the counter pain fairy perched upon his knees and a bunch of snow drops in the vase beside the bed the door opened and his mother stood holding the knob in her hand speaking to Hannah outside and in that moment the counter pain fairy was gone end of chapter 5 chapter 6 of the counter pain fairy this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the counter pain fairy by Catherine Pyle chapter 6 the ruby ring the next day in spite of the doctor's promises Teddy was not allowed to sit up it was a raw blustering day and every feeling of spring seemed gone from the air the wind rattled at the windows and Hannah billed up the fire until it roared Teddy did not feel much disappointed at not being allowed to sit up for Harriet came over with her paint box and they began coloring the pictures that Mama gave them the bed was littered with the pages after a while Mama left them and went down into the kitchen to bake a cake I wish I had brought my best apron over said Harriet for then I could have stayed for dinner if you wanted me to why can't you stay anyhow asked Teddy oh I can't said Harriet I must go to dancing class right after dinner and I have to wear my apron with the embroidered ruffles why don't you go home and get it and then perhaps you could have dinner up here with me wouldn't you like that yes but maybe Aunt Alice doesn't want me to stay yes she does said Teddy I know she does because she said she was so glad to have you come and amuse me well I'll go home and ask my mother I don't know whether she'll let me you won't stay long will you no I won't promise Harriet then she put on her jacket and hat on the stairs Teddy went on with his painting by himself for a while but it seemed to him Harriet was gone a long time he called his mother once and she came to the foot of the stairs and told him she couldn't come up just yet then Teddy began thinking of the counterpaying fairy and the stories she had shown him he wondered if she wouldn't come to see him today she always came when he was lonely and he was quite sure he was getting lonely now yes he knew he was well said a little voice just back at the counterpane hill it's not quite so steep today and that's a comfort there was a little fairy just appearing above the tops of his knees brown hood, brown cloak, brown staff and all she sat down with her staff in her hand and nodded to him smiling good morning she said good morning said Teddy Mrs. Fairy I was wondering whether you wouldn't like it if I kept my knees down there wouldn't be any hill oh said the fairy I like to be a pie so that I can look about me only it's hard climbing sometimes now how about a story would you like to see one today oh yes great Teddy indeed I would then which square will you choose make haste for I haven't much time I think I'll take that red one said Teddy very good said the fairy and then she began to count as she counted the red square spread and glowed until it seemed to Teddy that he was wrapped in a mist of ready light through it he heard the voice of the counterpane fairy counting on and on and as she counted he heard with her voice another sound at first very faintly then more and more clearly clink clank clink clank it reminded him a little of the ticking of the clock on the mantle only it was more metallic 49 cried the counterpane fairy clapping her hands and now the sound rang loud and clear in Teddy's ears it was the beating of hammers upon anvils when Teddy looked about him he was standing on a road that ran along the side of a mountain all along this road were openings that looked like the mouths of caverns and from these openings poured the ceaseless sound of beating and a ruddy glow that reddened all the air and sky it all seemed very familiar to Teddy and he had a feeling that he had seen it before stepping to the nearest cavern he looked in and there he saw the whole inside of the mountain was hollowed out into forges that opened into each other by means of rocky arches and every forge there were little dwarves dressed in leather and hammering at pieces of red hot iron that lay on the anvils as Teddy stood looking in he was so tall that his head almost touched the top of the doorway he was dressed in a long red cloak and under that he wore a robe fastened about the waist with a girdle of rubies that shone and sparkled in the light upon his hand was a ruby ring the stone of the ring but it was so bright that the light shone through his fingers and he drew his cloak over his hand that the dwarves might not see it for it was not yet time for them to know that he was King Fireheart after a while the iron that the little men were beating had to be put in the fire again to heat and then they turned and looked at Teddy good day said he good day answered the dwarves staring hard at him what are you making there Teddy a link answered the dwarves a link Teddy what for for a chain answered the dwarves and then the iron was hot and they took it out again and laid it on the anvil clink clank clink clank clink clank with their hammers Teddy watched them at their work for a while and then he went on to the next forge and there it was the same thing more little dwarves hammering away at their anvils as if their lives depended on it good day said Teddy as soon as they paused to heat the iron good day said the dwarves what are you making there asked Teddy a link answered the dwarves what for said Teddy for a chain answered the dwarves and then they set to work again Teddy went on and on through the forges and in every one of them were little dwarves hammering away on links when he came to the last forge of all they were just finishing a link and as they threw it into a tank of water a cloud of steam rose almost hiding them from view they were so busy that they paid no attention to Teddy when he spoke make haste make haste they cried to each other it is growing late and she will soon be here in a great hurry the dwarves caught up the link from the water and laid it on the anvil again and then they all stood back from it every noise had ceased through all the forges and the dwarves were waiting in breathless stillness as though for something to happen suddenly in the silence Teddy heard a faint tinkling as though of icicles struck lightly together and at the same moment he saw that a woman all in white had entered the forge down at the other end her dress shown with all different colors just as icicles do when they hang in the sunlight and as the light of the fire caught it here and there it almost looked as though it were on fire her hair was very black and she wore a crown she stepped up to the anvil that was in the forge and laid her hand upon it she was too far away for Teddy to see what she did but there was a clink as if something breaking and a low wail rose from the dwarves that stood nearby then she passed on to the next anvil and to the next and to the next and at each one she paused and touched the link that lay upon it and always at that there was a clink and a wail rose from the dwarves at last she came to the very forge where Teddy was but he had drawn back behind the stone archway and she did not see him gliding to the anvil she stretched out her white finger and laid it upon the link that the dwarves had made and instantly as soon as she touched it the iron flew into pieces with a clink the dwarves burst into a low wail but the woman with the crown struck her hands together and stamped her foot in a rage fools, fools she cried not yet one link that will not fly into pieces at a touch but you shall make the chain though it should take your very hearts to do it then still scowling until her beautiful face was like a thunder cloud and without a single glance at the trembling dwarves she glided from the forge and was gone the dwarf who held the pincers drew his arm across his forehead to wipe off the sweat come, Teddy let us sit to work for now it's all to be done over again but tell me first, Teddy what does this all mean and who is this woman with a crown who comes and breaks your links with a touch as soon as you have finished them that is a long sad story said the dwarf who held the pincers yes it is a long sad story echoed the others you tell them, Leatherkin, they added well said Leatherkin sitting down on a rock that lay close by it's this way this mountain where we live is only one of many they are called the fire mountains because their rocks are so red and because they are all full of forges here we dwarves used to live happily enough for our good King Fireheart was so rich and strong that no one dared to make war on us and we were left in peace to do what we would King Fireheart however was not contented for he wanted to see the world so one day he set out on a journey no one knew with her leaving the country in the charge of his foster brother while he was away the ice queen came with all her right spearsmen and attacked the country and conquered it she set us all to work for she knew that in all the world there were no such snids as the dwarves of the Fire King's country and not until we have forged her the magic chain that binds all but one self will she set us free to go about our own affairs again that is why we are all working to forge the links and if we could but make one that would stand so much as a touch of her finger we would have hopes of making it but so far not one has been but what flies into pieces at her lightest touch but there he added we must set to work for the days are all too short for what we have to do wait a bit said Teddy I should like to have a stroke at that chain myself will you lend me a hammer and let me try no no cried the dwarves shaking their heads we have no time to waste and lending out hammers and anvil look said Teddy looking off his ruby girdle and holding it out to them you shall have this if you will let me try the dwarves eyes glittered and they took the girdle and all crowded around to look and handle it for they had never seen such fine rubies before not even down in the middle of the earth and at last they told Teddy that they would lend him their hammers a while in exchange for the ruby girdle though what can you do with them they said they are white and smooth and not hairy and strong like ours never you mind for sometimes white smooth hands can do the work that others can't and he took one of their hammers in his hand as he spoke what will you have to work with they asked if it is no more than an old nail so that it is something to begin with the dwarves laughed and picking up an old nail that was on the floor they laid it upon the anvil then Teddy raised the hammer and the ruby of the ring he wore throbbed and burned until his hand was hot and his arm was so strong that the hammer was like a feather in his grasp as he beat and turned the nail he sang and it seemed to him that the fire sang with him clear and thin and sounding like the voice of the counter-paying fairy hammer and turn the fire must burn the coals must glow the bellows blow be good hammer loud and fast so the chain will be made at last clankity clank we forge the length my hammer bolt this chain must hold the snow shall melt for the magic chain is wrought at last with these words Teddy threw down the hammer and lifted the chain he had made and it was as thin as a hair as a breath and yet so strong that no power on earth could break it the dwarves sprang forward with a shout and caught the chain in their crooked fingers wonderful wonderful they cried it is indeed the magic chain that we have been trying to make for all these years who are you wonderful stranger for there is no smith among all the dwarves who can do what you have done then without a word Teddy raised his hand and held it up with a palm turned toward them so that they saw the ruby in its ring and when they saw it they shouted again in their wonder and joy is King Fireheart himself come back to rule the country then all the dwarves even from the farthest forges came running up and they gathered about the archway of the forge where Teddy stood and when they saw that it was indeed King Fireheart they shouted and leaped up into the air when they had grown quieter Teddy bade them take him to the ice queen so all the dwarves led him out and up the mountain on and on until they came to a great castle build of ice but ruddy with the cold light of the aurora borealis that shone behind it they went into the hall past the rows of white spearsmen and when the spearsmen would have stopped them the dwarves told them that they were carrying the magic chain that binds all but himself to the queen and so they let the little men pass on but all the while Teddy kept the ruby ring hidden under his cloak at last they came to the great chamber where the queen sat on a magnificent throne of ice and when she saw the crowd she started to her feet have you brought it have you brought it she cried eagerly have you brought me the magic chain yes shouted the dwarves all together we have brought it then they stood still and Teddy went on up the steps alone where is it asked the queen and she stretched out her hands it is here Teddy very slowly he drew it out from under his cloak and then suddenly he threw it over her and now take it he cried it was in vain that the queen struggled and cried the more she strove the closer the chain drew about her for it was a magic chain yes she stood still panting who are you she asked then Teddy raised his hand holding it open so that she could see the ruby I am King Fireheart he cried and now take your own real shape wicked enchantress that you are at these words the black-browed queen gave a cry that changed even as she uttered it to a croak and a moment after she was nothing but a great black raven that spread its wings and flew away over the heads of the dwarves out of the window and on out of sight then Teddy turned and walked out of the great ice chamber and down the hall followed in silence by the dwarves as he went the spearsmen started forward to lay hands upon him but as soon as they saw the ruby ring they stood every man stiffen just as he was some leaning forward with outstretched arm some with their mouths open but all of them turned to ice when Teddy and the dwarves had reached the mountain road again they turned and looked back toward the castle a warm south wind was blowing and the aurora borealis had faded away already the castle was beginning to melt the spears and turrets were softening and dripping down there was a warm red light over everything like the light of the rising sun and now cried the dwarves will your majesty come up to your own royal castle yes answered Teddy I will come quick quick cried the counter pain fairy it's time to come back Teddy was at home once more there was a flowered furniture and a fire burning red upon the hearth tick tock tick tock tick tock said the clock I must go cried the fairy hastily for I heard your little cousin opening and shutting the side door oh wait cried Teddy won't you wait and let her see you too but the fairy was already disappearing behind the counter pain hill all he could see was the top of her pointed hood then that too disappeared the door was thrown open and Harriet came running in bringing a breath of fresh out of door's air with her red and she looked very pretty in her