 An Electrical Era by John Kendrick Banks This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings can be found in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org An Electrical Era Jimmy Boy's father and mother had occasion to go to the city for a couple of days recently. And in so much as Jimmy Boy is such a very moving young person, they did not deem it well to leave him at home in the care of the nurse, who had as much as she could do taking care of his brothers, until they took him along with them. One evening, having to go out to dinner, they invited a young man and Jimmy Boy's father's employee to come up to the hotel and stay about and keep the little father amused until his bedtime, and to look out for him as well after that time until the return, which Fred was very willing to do since he received $2 reward for his trouble. He said afterward that he earned the $2 in the first 10 minutes, playing Waterloo with Jimmy Boy, in which pleasing game Jimmy Boy was Wellington and Fred was Napoleon, but once a year he didn't mind earning a dollar or two extra in that way. After the game of Waterloo was over, and the Napoleonic Fred had managed to collect the buttons, which had been removed from his vest in the first half of the game, the Wellingtonian Jimmy Boy decided that he was tired enough to go to bed, and in so much as Fred didn't oppose him very hard, to bed he went. And a half hour later, both the boys, young and old, were snoring away as though their lives depended on it. It was quite evident that neither of them was as yet sufficiently strong to stand the game of Waterloo for more than an hour, and I don't really wonder at it, for my own experience has led me to believe that even Bonaparte and Wellington themselves would have been wearied beyond endurance by an hour's play of that diversion. However well they may have stood up under the anxieties of the original battle. In my first game with Jimmy Boy, I lost five pounds, eight buttons, a necktie, two handfuls of hair, and a portion of my temper. So, as I say, I do not wonder that they were exhausted by their efforts and willing to rest after them, though how either of them could sleep with the other snoring as loud as a factory whistle I could never understand. Fred must have been unusually weary, for, as you will see, he slept more than Jimmy Boy did. In fact, it wasn't later than nine o'clock when the latter waked up. Say, Fred, he cried. Fred answered with a deeper snore than ever. Fred, cried Jimmy Boy. I want a drink of water. Ah, snored Fred. Stop your growling and ring the telephone for some ice water, said Jimmy Boy. And again, Fred answered with a snore, and in his sleep muttered something that sounded like, it'll cost you ten dollars next time. The meaning of which Jimmy Boy didn't understand, but which I think had some reference to what it would cost his father to stick your Fred as a companion for Jimmy Boy on another occasion. Guess I'll have to ring it up myself, said Jimmy Boy. And with that, he jumped out of bed and rushed to that delightful machine, which is now to be found in most of the modern hotels, by means of which you can ring up anything you may happen to want by turning a needle about on a dial until it points to the printed description of the thing you desire and pushing a red button. Wonder how they spell ice water, said Jimmy Boy. E, Y, E spells I, and S, E spells size. Ice. But he looked in vain for any such thing on the dial. Oh well, he said after searching and searching. I'll ring up anything, and when the boy comes with it, I'll order the ice water. So he gave the needle an airy twist, pushed the button, and sat down to wait for the boy. Meanwhile, he threw a pillow at Fred, who's still lay snoring away on the sofa. Only now, he was puffing like a freight train when its wheels slip on an icy railway track. Lazy bones snick in Jimmy Boy as the pillow landed on Fred's curly head. But Fred answered never a word, which so exasperated Jimmy Boy that he caught up with the intention of throwing himself at his sleeping companion when he heard a queer noise over by the fireplace. Hello down there, 521, is that you? cried somebody. Jimmy Boy stared at the chimney in Plank Amazement. Hurry up below there, 521, is that you? came the voice again. This room is 521, replied Jimmy Boy, realizing all of a sudden that it was no doubt to him that these words were addressed. Well then, look sharp, will you? Turn off the fire, put it out, do something with it. You can't expect me to come down there with the fire burning, can you? I'm not fireproof, you know, return the voice. There isn't any fire here, said Jimmy Boy. Nonsense, cried the voice. What's that roaring I hear? Oh, that, Jimmy Boy answered. That's Fred, he's snoring. Ah, then I will come down, came the voice, and in an instant there was a small full of soot, a rustling in the chimney, and a round-faced, fat stomach, white beard and little old gentleman with a twinkling eye appeared, falling like a football into the grate and bounding like a tennis ball out into the middle of the floor. Santa Claus, at your service, he said, bowing low to Jimmy Boy. The boy looked at him breathless with astonishment for a moment. Well, well, put in the old man impatiently. What is it you want with me? I'm very busy, so pray don't detain me. Is it one of my new conversational brownies you are after? If so, say so. Find things, these conversational brownies. I've never heard of them, said Jimmy Boy. Cos why? laughed Santa Claus, twirling eerily about in the toes of his left foot. Cos why? Because there ain't never been any for you to hear about. I invented them all by myself. You have brownies in books that don't move. I like him, you like him, we all like him. You have brownies out of books. Better, but they can't talk and all because they're stuffed with cotton. It isn't their fault, it's the cotton's fault. Take a man and stuff him with cotton and he wouldn't be able to say a word, but stuff him with wit and ansidotes and he'll talk. Wherefore, I have invented a conversational brownie. He's made of calico, but he's stuffed with remarks and he has a little metal hole in his mouth and when you squeeze him, remarks oozes out between his lips and there you are. Eh? Fine? Bully, said Jimmy Boy. What was that you rang for? Quick, hurry up. I haven't any time to waste at this season of the year. Well, no, Jimmy Boy answered. Not having ever heard of him, of course. Oh, then you wanted one of my live wood doll babies, said Santa Claus. Of course, they're rather better than the conversational brownies perhaps. I guess, I don't know. Still, they last longer, as long as you're watering. Was it one of those you wanted? What is a live wood doll, baby? Asked Jimmy Boy. One of my newest, new, new things, replied Santa Claus. Instead of making wooden dolls out of dead wood, I make some out of live wood. Keep some of the roots alive, make your doll, plant it proper, water it and it'll grow just like a man. My live oak dolls that I'm making this year, a hundred years from now, will be great giants. Splendid idea, said Jimmy Boy. But how about the leaves? Don't they sprout out and hide the doll? Of course they do. If you don't see that they're pulled off, retorted Santa Claus, you don't expect me to give you toys and look after them all at the same time, do you? No, said Jimmy Boy. Well, it's good you don't, said Santa Claus, turning a somersault backward. It's very good you don't. For should you had have, you have been disappointed. But I say, was that what you wanted? Or were you after one of my new patent typewriters that you wind up? Don't keep me waiting all night. I never heard of your new patent typewriters that you wind up, Jimmy Boy answered. That isn't the question, interrupted Santa Claus nervously. Though I suppose it's the answer. For if you had heard of my windable writer, it would have been the thing you wanted. It's a grand invention, that machine. You take a key, wind the thing up, having first loaded it with paper, and what do you suppose it does? Writes? Asked Jimmy Boy? Exactly, replied Santa Claus. It writes stories and poems and jokes. There are five keys, goes with each machine. One poetry key, one joke key, one fairy tale key, a story of adventure key, and a solemn Sunday school story key, that writes morals and makes you wonder whether you're as good as you ought to be. Well, said Jimmy Boy, now that I know about that, that's what I want. In fact, I rang you up for a glass of ice water. What? Cried Santa Claus indignantly, bouncing about in the room like a tennis ball. Me? Do you mean to say you've summoned me away from my work at this season of the year just to bring you a glass of ice water? I didn't mean for you to bring it, said Jimmy Boy meekly. I must have made a mistake. It's outrageous, said Santa Claus, stamping his foot. You hadn't ought to make mistakes. I won't bring you anything on Christmas. Not a thing, you. I knock at the door and interrupted the little old man, and Jimmy Boy, ongoing to see who was there, discovered the whole boy with the picture of water. What's that? asked Santa as Jimmy Boy returned. It's the water, replied the little fellow, so I couldn't have made a mistake after all. Hum! said Santa Claus, stroking his beard slowly and thoughtfully. I guess. I guess the wires must be crossed, so it wasn't your fault, and I will bring you something. But the man who ought to have looked after those wires and didn't, won't find anything in the stocking, but a big hole in the toe on Christmas. The old fellow then shook hands, goodbye with the boy, and walked to the chimney. Let's see. What shall I bring you? He asked, pausing. The windable rider, said Jimmy Boy. All right, returned Santa, starting up the chimney. You can have one if I get it finished in time, but I am afraid this annoying delay will compel me to put off the distribution of those machines until some other year. And with that, he was gone. Meanwhile, Jimmy Boy is anxiously waiting for Christmas to see if it will bring him the windable rider. I don't myself believe that it will, for the last day her and Santa had not returned to his workshop. But whether he got stuck in the hotel chimney or not, nobody seems to know. End of an Elitical Era by John Kindred Banks. Read by Anna Pinter. Cinderella. Or the little glass slipper. By an anonymous author. Read by Mickey Lee Rich. This is a LibraVox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. There was, many years ago, a gentleman who had a charming lady for his wife. They had one daughter only who was very dutiful to her parents. But while she was still very young, Mama died to the grief of her husband and daughter. After a time, the little girl's papa married another lady. Now, this lady was proud and haughty and had two grown-up daughters as discreable as herself. So the poor girl found everything at home changed for the worse. But she bore all her troubles with patience, not even complaining to her father. And in spite of her hard toil, she grew more lovely in face and figure every year. Now, the king's son gave a grand ball and all persons of quality were invited to it. Our two young ladies were not overlooked. Nothing was now talked of, but the rich dresses they were to wear. At last, the happy day arrived. The two proud sisters set off in high spirits. Cinderella followed them with her eyes until the coach was out of sight. And then she began to cry bitterly. While she was sobbing, her godmother, who was a fairy, appeared before her. Cinderella said the fairy, I am your godmother and for the sake of your dear mama, I am come to cheer you up, so dry your tears. You shall go to the grand ball tonight, but you must do just as I bid you. Go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin. Cinderella brought the finest that was there. Her godmother scooped it out very quickly and then struck it up with her wand, upon which it was changed into a beautiful coach. Afterwards, the old lady peeped into the mouse trap where she found six mice. She tapped them lightly with her wand and each mouse became a fine horse. The rat trap contained two large rats. One of these, she turned into a coachman and the other into a postillion. The old lady then told Cinderella to go into the garden and seek for half a dozen lizards. These she changed into six footmen dressed in the gayest livery. When all these things had been done, the kind godmother touching her with her wand changed her worn out clothes into a beautiful ball dress embroidered with pearls and silver. She then gave her a pair of glass slippers. That is, they were woven of the most delicate spun glass fine as the web of a spider. When Cinderella was thus attired, her godmother made her get into her splendid coach, giving her a caution to leave the ball before the clock struck twelve. On her arrival, her beauty struck everybody with wonder. The gallant prince gave her a courteous welcome and led her into the ballroom. And the king and queen were as much enchanted with her as the prince conducted her to the supper table and was too much occupied in waiting upon her to partake of anything himself. While seated, Cinderella heard the clock strike three-quarters past eleven. She rose to leave, the prince pressing her to accept an invitation for the ball on the following evening. On reaching home, her godmother praised her for being so punctual and agreed to let her go to the next night's ball. Although she seemed to be tired, her sisters and set of showing pity teased her with glowing accounts of the splendid scene they had just left and spoke particularly of the beautiful princess. Cinderella was delighted to hear all of this and asked them the name of the princess, but they replied nobody knew her. So much do they say and praise the lady that Cinderella expressed a desire to go to the next ball to see the princess. But this only served to bring out their dislike of poor Cinderella still more and they would not lend her the meanest of their dresses. The next evening, the two sisters went to the ball and Cinderella also, who was still more splendidly dressed than before. Her enjoyment was even greater than that of the first ball and she was so occupied with the princess' tender sayings that she was not so quick in marking the progress of time. To her alarm, she heard the clock strike twelve. She fled from the ballroom, but in a moment the coach changed again to a pumpkin, the horses to mice, the coachmen and pastelion to rats and footmen to lizards and Cinderella's beautiful dress to her old shabby clothes. In her haste, she dropped one of her glass slippers and reached home out of breath with none of her godmother's fairy gifts, but one glass slipper. When her sisters arrived after the ball, they spoke in terms of rapture of the unknown princess and told Cinderella about the little glass slipper she had dropped and the prince picked it up. It was evident to all at the court that the prince was determined, if possible, to find out the owner of the slipper. And a few days afterwards, a royal herald proclaimed that the king's son would marry her whose foot the glass slipper should be found exactly to fit. This proclamation caused a great sensation. Ladies of all ranks were permitted to make a trial of the slipper, but it was of no use. Cinderella now said, let me try. Perhaps it may fit me. It slipped on in a moment. Great was the vexation of her two sisters at this, but what was their astonishment when Cinderella took the fellow slipper out of her pocket? At that moment, the godmother appeared and touched Cinderella's clothes with her wand. Her sisters then saw that she was the beautiful lady they had met at the ball and throwing themselves at her feet craved her forgiveness. A short time after, she was married to the prince to the intense gratification of the whole court. End of Cinderella. By an anonymous author. You saw him die. I said the fly. With my little eye, I saw him die. Who caught his blood? I said the fish. With my little dish, I caught his blood. He'll make his shroud. I said the bee. With my thread and needle, I'll make his shroud. He'll dig his grave. I said the oil. With my spade and trial, I'll dig his grave. He'll bear the paw. We said the wren. Both the cock and the hen. We'll bear the paw. He'll carry him to the grave. I said the kite. If it's not in the night, I'll carry him to the grave. He'll be the portion. I said the rook. With my little book, I'll be the portion. He'll sing a psalm. I said the thrush. As he sat in the bush, I'll sing a psalm. He'll be the clerk. I said the lark. If it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk. He'll be chief mourner. I said the dog, because I mourned for my love. I'll be chief mourner. He'll carry the link. I said the linnet. I'll fetch it in a minute. I'll carry the link. He'll toll the bell. I said the bull, because I can pull. I'll toll the bell. All the birds in the air fell to singing and sobbing when they heard the bell for Percock robin, while the cruel cock sparrow, because of their grief, was hung on a gibbet, next day like a thief. End of Death and Burial of Percock robin by H. L. Stevens. This recording is in the public domain. How the Fairies Barled the Moon by Abby Phillips Walker This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit LibriVox.org. How the Fairies Barled the Moon I don't suppose that everybody knows why it is that sometimes when you look up at the sky at night you see only a part of the moon and perhaps nobody would have ever known if the goblins had not spied on the fairies festival one night and found out and told it. The fairies had for a long time held festivals in the spring and summer and in the fall, but they had never had a winter festival, although one would have thought that the white snow would have made an especially pretty setting for one of their dances. But one night at a gathering of the fairies it was proposed to hold a winter festival, and after it had been talked over a little every fairy there was enthusiastically planning what to do. Finally one of the fairies said, I think it would be nicest to have the festival on the lake and then we will have the smooth ice to dance on. And said another fairy, we can build a fire over on the side of the lake so that we can warm ourselves if we get cold. And said another, those who do not wish to dance can skate by tying their wands on the bottom of their shoes. The gnomes said they would look after the polishing of the ice by going to Jack Frost and getting him to help them. And they planned to ask North Wind to blow and send some clean white snow and every fairy was to have her dress trimmed with fur and each was to wear a little bonnet made of swans down and tied with a red ribbon. Altogether the festival was planned to be one of the most elaborate fairies ever had given. But just as the meeting was breaking up one of the fairies said, what are we going to do for light? In the summer we have always had the fireflies to help us but now they are all fast to sleep and we cannot wake them up and anyway their lights are all out at this time of the year. Why, we have the moon said one of the fairies. Yes, said another, but while the moon is bright enough on ordinary nights we certainly need more light than she will give for so great a festival as we are going to have. That's so said the first fairy but I do not see how we can get anything brighter. The moon would be all right if only it was nearer so that its light would shine better said another fairy and after thinking a minute she said I wonder if we could not borrow the moon. Borrow the moon I have a dozen fairies in chorus why what would people think? Well said the fairy if we couldn't borrow the whole of it perhaps we could borrow a piece of it and then if we left the rest of it to shine in the sky perhaps the people wouldn't notice it. That's not such a bad idea said the queen of the fairies and I will appoint a committee to try and arrange it so she named three of the fairies to borrow the moon. The day before the festival was to take place the three fairies all got a stride of a broomstick which a witch loaned them and sailed away up into the sky and when the man in the moon saw them coming toward him he was very much surprised and was more surprised when he heard the curious request that they had to make. Will I lend you the moon he said? Why what a strange thing to ask me what do you think all the people down on the earth would say if they found out that I had done such an unheard of thing they might even make me move out of the moon and go somewhere else and I have lived here so long that I would never be happy anywhere else. But said the fairies if we do not have some life our festival will be a failure and this is the first winter festival we have ever had and Jack Frost has been just splendid in helping us and he might help too if you won't loan us the whole of the moon couldn't you loan a part of it? We will be sure to bring it back just as good as it was when we took it. How big a piece would you want asked the man just as big as you can spare said the fairies. Well he said after thinking a minute you have come a long way and I would like to help you and I certainly want your festival so I am going to let you take a piece off the edge but so as to be sure that you return it I am going to make one of your fairies stay here all the time the piece is gone and when it is returned the fairies can go home so the fairies drew lots as to which one should stay and the man took a big saw and sawed off a piece of the moon right near the edge it was gone and the two fairies took it with them on the broomstick back to the earth and such a festival as the first winter festival was everybody voted it the best they had ever had and all agreed that the piece of the moon which they borrowed gave the finest light after the festival was over the two fairies took it back to the sky and returned with their sister the man in the moon was so pleased with the visit of the fairies that he told them that they could borrow a part of the moon any time they liked and so when you look up in the sky and see only a part of the moon there why perhaps the fairies are holding another festival and have borrowed another piece of the moon end of How the Fairies Borrowed the Moon by Abby Phillips Walker read by Anita Sloma Martinez How Ode in Lost His Eye From in Days of Giants This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org In the beginning of things before there was any world or sun, moon and stars there were the giants for these were the oldest creatures who ever breathed they lived in Jotunheim the land of frost and darkness and their hearts were evil next came the gods the good Asia who made earth and sky and sea and who dwelt in Asgard above the heavens then were created the queer little dwarfs who lived underground in the cabins of the mountains working at their minds of metal and precious stones last of all the gods made men to dwell in Midgard in the glorious home of the Asia stretched by frost, the bridge of rainbows in those days, folks say there was a mighty ashtray named Ygrasil so vast that its branches shaded the whole earth and stretched up into heaven where the Asia dwelt while its roots sag far down below the lowest depth in the branches of the big ashtray lived a queer family of creatures first there was a great eagle who was wiser than any bird that ever lived except the two ravens thought and memory who sat upon father Odin's shoulders and told him the secrets which they learned in their flight over the wide world near the great eagle perched a hawk and four antlered deer browsed among the buds of Ygrasil at the foot of the tree he called a huge serpent who was always gnawing hungry at its roots with a whole colony of little snakes to keep in company so many that they could never be counted the eagle at the top of the tree and the serpent at its foot were enemies always saying hard things of each other between the two skipped up and down a little squirrel a tail bearer and a gothic who repeated each unkind remark and like the malicious neighbour that he was kept their quarrel ever fresh and green in one place at the roots of Ygrasil was a fair fountain called the Ur-Darwell where the three gnawn maidens who knew the past, present and future dwelt with their pets the two white swans this was magic water in the fountain which the gnawn sprinkled every day upon the giant tree to keep it green water so sacred that everything which entered it became white as the film of an eggshell close beside this sacred well the Aesir had their council hall to which they galloped every morning over the rainbow bridge but father Odin the king of all the Aesir knew of another fountain more wonderful still the two ravens whom he sent forth to bring him news had told him this also was below the roots of Ygrasil in the spot where the sky and ocean met here for centuries and centuries the great Mima had sat keeping guard over his hidden well in the bottom of which lay such a treasure of wisdom as was to be found nowhere else in the world every morning Mima dipped his glittering horn Gheol into the fountain and drew out a draught of the wondrous water which he drank to make him wise every day he grew wiser and wiser and as this had been going on ever since the beginning of things you can scarcely imagine how wise Mima was now it did not seem right to father Odin that a giant should have all this wisdom to himself for the giants were the enemies of the Aesir and the wisdom which they had been hoarding for ages before the gods were made was generally used for evil purposes moreover Odin longed and longed to become the wisest being in the world so he resolved to win a draught from Mima as well if in any way that could be done one night when the sun had set behind the mountains of Midgard Odin put on his broad brined tat and his striped cloak and taking his famous staff in his hands trudged down the long bridge to where it ended by Mima's secret grotto Good day Mima said Odin entering I have come for a drink from your well the giant was sitting with his knees drawn up to his chin his long white beard falling over his folded arms and his head nodding for Mima was very old and he often fell asleep while watching over his precious spring he woke with a frown at Odin's words you want to drink from my well do you he growled hey I let no one drink from my well nevertheless you must let me have a draught from your glittering horn insisted Odin and I will pay you for it oh you will pay me for it will you echoed Mima eyeing his visitor keenly I know that he was wide awake his wisdom taught him that this was no ordinary stranger what will you pay for a drink from my well and why do you wish it so much I can see with my eyes all that goes on in heaven and upon earth said Odin but I cannot see into the depths of the ocean I lack the hidden wisdom of the deep the whip that lies at the bottom of your fountain my ravens tell me many secrets but I would know all and as the payment I ask what you will reach anything in return for the draught of wisdom then Mima's keen glance grew keener you are Odin of the race of gods he cried we giants are centuries older than you and our wisdom which we have treasured during these ages when we were the only creatures in all space is a precious thing if I grant you a draught from my well you will become as one of us a wise and dangerous enemy is a goodly price Odin which I shall demand for a boon so great now Odin was growing impatient for the sparkling water ask your price he frowned I have promised that I will pay what say you then to leaving one of those far-seeing eyes of yours at the bottom of my well asked Mima hoping that he would refuse to bargain this is the only payment I will take Odin hesitated it was indeed a heavy price he thought that he could ill afford for he was proud of his noble beauty but he glanced at the magic fountain bubbling mysteriously in the shadow and he knew that he must have the draught give me the glittering horn he answered I pledge you my eyes for a draught to the brim very unwillingly Mima filled the horn from the fountain of wisdom and handed it to Odin drink then he said drink and grow wise this hour is the beginning of trouble between your race and mine and wise Mima for told the truth Odin thought merely of the wisdom which was to be his he seized the horn eagerly and emptied it without delay from that moment he became wiser than anyone else in the world except Mima himself now he had the price to pay which was not so pleasant when he went away from the grotto he left at the bottom of the dark pool one of his fiery eyes taking depth like the reflection of a star this is how Odin lost his eye and why from that day he was careful to pull his grey hat low over his face when he wanted to pass unnoticed for by this oddity folk could easily recognise the wise lord of Asgard in the bright morning when the sun rose over the mountains of Midgard old Mima drank from his bubbly well a draught of the wise water that flowed over Odin's pledge doing so from his underground grotto he saw all that befell in heaven and on earth so that he also was wiser by the bargain Mima seemed to have secured rather the best of it for he lost nothing that he could not spare while Odin lost what no man can well part with one of the good windows where through his heart looks out upon the world but there was a sequel to these doings which made the balance swing down in Odin's favour not long after this the Asir quarrelled with the Vanir wild enemies of theirs and there was a terrible battle but in the end the two sides made peace and to prove that they meant never to quarrel again they exchanged hostages the Vanir gave to the Asir old Njord the rich the lord of the sea and the ocean wind with his two children Frey and Freyre this was indeed a gracious gift for Freyre was the most beautiful maid in the world and the twin brother was almost as fair to the Vanir in return father Odin gave his own brother Honir and with Honir he sent Mima the wise whom he took from his lonely well now the Vanir made Honir their chief thinking that he must be very wise because he was the brother of great Odin who had lately become famous for his wisdom they did not know the secret of Mima's well how the hoary old giant was far more wise than anyone who had not quaffed of the magic water it is true that in the assemblies of the Vanir Honir gave excellent counsel but this was because Mima whispered in Honir's ear all the wisdom that he uttered Witless Honir was quite helpless without his aid and he did not know what to do or say whenever Mima was absent he would look nervous and frightened and if folk questioned him he always answered yes, ah yes now go and consult someone else of course the Vanir soon grew very angry at such silly answers from their chief and presently they began to suspect the truth Odin has deceived us they said he has sent us his foolish brother with a witch to tell him what to say ah, we will show him that we understand the trick so they cut off poor old Mima's head and sent it to Odin as a present the tales do not say what Odin thought of the gift he was glad that now there was no one in the whole world who could be called so wise as himself perhaps he was sorry for the danger into which he had thrust a poor old giant who had never done him any wrong except to be a giant of the race which the Aesir hated perhaps he was a little ashamed of the trick which he had played on the Vanir Odin's new wisdom showed him how to prepare Mima's head with herbs and charms so that it stood up by itself quite naturally thenceforth Odin kept it near him and learned from it many useful secrets which it had not forgotten so in the end Odin fared better than the unhappy Mima whose worst fault was that he knew more than most folk that is a dangerous fault as others have found though it is not one for which many of us need fear being punished end of how Odin lost his eye Jack and the Beanstalk from favourite fairy tales by Logan Marshall this is a LibriWox recording all LibriWox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriWox.org Jack was an idle lazy boy who would do no work to support his widowed mother and at last they both came to such poverty that the poor woman had to sell her cow to buy food to keep them from starving she sent Jack to market with the cow telling him to be sure and sell it for a good price as Jack was going along the road to market he met a butcher the butcher offered to buy the cow in exchange for a hat full of coloured beans Jack thought the beans looked very pretty and he was glad to be saved the long hot walk to market so he struck the bargain on the spot and ran back to his mother with the beans while the butcher went off with the cow but the poor widow was very disappointed she scolded her son for an idle lazy good for nothing boy and flung the beans out of the window in a passion now the beans were magic beans in the next morning when Jack awoke he found some of them had taken root in the night and had grown so tall that they reached right up into the sky Jack was full of wonder and curiosity and being fond of adventure and excitement he set out at once to climb the bean stock to see what was up at the top of it and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed until at last he climbed right up to the very tip top of the bean stock then he found himself standing in a strange country in the distance he could see a big castle and as he was hot and tired with his long climb he thought he would go and ask for something to eat and drink he had not gone very far before he met a fairy who told him that the castle belonged to a wicked ogre who had killed and eaten a great number of people it was he who killed your father she said and it is your duty to do your utmost to destroy the wicked monster go now and see what you can do if you can carry off any of his treasures you are at liberty to do so for none of them really belongs to him he has taken them all by force from the people whom he has robbed and killed Jack was delighted at the idea of this adventure and set off in high spirits towards the castle the castle was farther off than he had thought and by the time he reached the gates it was so late that he made up his mind to ask for a night's lodging there was a woman standing in the doorway but when Jack made his request she was very frightened and said indeed, I dare not take you in and give you food and lodging my husband is an ogre who lives on human flesh if he were to find you here he would think nothing of eating you up in three mouthfuls I advise you to go away at once before he comes home but when she saw how tired and hungry Jack really was she took him in the house and gave him plenty to eat and drink while Jack was eating his food in the kitchen there came a loud knocking at the door the ogre's wife in a great flurry hit Jack in the oven and then hurried to let her husband in Jack peeped through the oven door and saw a terrible looking ogre who came stamping into the kitchen and sat in a voice like thunder wife, I smell fresh meat it is only the people who are fattening in the dungeon said the wife so the ogre sat down and ate his supper after supper he commanded his wife to bring him his money bags he then began to count his money thousands and thousands of pieces of gold and silver Jack wished he could take some of this money home to his mother and presently when the ogre fell asleep he crept out of his hiding place and hoisting the bags upon his shoulder slipped quietly away with them the ogre was snoring so loudly that it sounded like the wind and the chimney on a stormy night so he never heard the little noise Jack made and Jack got safely away and escaped down the beanstalk his mother was overjoyed to see him for she had been very anxious about him when he did not come home the night before and she was delighted with the bags of money which were enough to keep them in comfort and luxury for some time for many months Jack and his mother lived happily together but after a while the money came to an end and Jack made up his mind to climb the beanstalk again and carry off some more of the ogre's treasures so one morning he got up early put on a different suit of clothes so that the ogre's wife should not recognize him and set out to climb the beanstalk and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed until at last he climbed to the very top and found himself in the ogre's country again when he reached the castle the ogre's wife was again standing in the doorway but when Jack asked for a night's lodging she said she dared not give him one for only a few months before she had taken in a poor boy who seemed half-dead with fatigue and hunger and in return for her kindness he had stolen some of her husband's money and run away in the night but Jack begged so hard that at last she relented she gave him a good supper and hid him in a closet before her husband came home presently there was a great noise outside in heavy footsteps that shook the castle to its foundations it was the ogre come home as soon as he entered the kitchen he sniffed suspiciously and said I smell meat it is only the crows on the house tops said his wife they have brought home a piece of carrion for their young after supper the ogre told his wife to fetch his hen this hen was a very wonderful bird whenever the ogre said lay she laid an egg of solid gold Jack thought that if he could only get this wonderful hen to take home to his mother they would never want anymore so when the ogre fell asleep as he did after a little while he came out of the closet and seizing the hen in the arms made off with her the hen squawked but the ogre snoring was like the roaring of the sea when the tide is coming in and Jack got safely down the beanstalk the hen laid so many golden eggs that Jack and his mother became quite rich and prosperous and there was really no need for Jack to go again to the ogre's country but he liked the danger and excitement and he remembered that the fairy had told him to take as many of the ogre's treasures as he could and at last without saying a word to anybody he started off once more to climb the magic beanstalk and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed until at last he reached the very tip top and stood in the ogre's country this time when he reached the castle he began to be afraid that the ogre's wife really would not let him in indeed and indeed I dare not she said twice lately have I given shelter to a wayfaring youth and each time he stole some of my husband's treasures and made off with them now my husband has forbidden me on pain of instant death to give food or lodging to any traveller but Jack pleaded and pleaded and at last the good-natured woman moved to pity by his travel-stained appearance gave way and led him into the castle when the ogre came home the wife hit Jack in the copper as usual the ogre's first words were wife, wife I smell fresh meat and in spite of all his wife could say he insisted upon searching all round the room Jack was in terrible fright whilst he was hunting but fortunately he forgot to look in the copper and after a time he sat down to his supper when supper was over the ogre told his wife to fetch his harp Jack peeped out of the copper and saw the harp brought in and sat down before the ogre it was marvelously made and when the ogre said play it played the finest music without being touched Jack was enchanted for he had never before heard such wonderful music and he felt that he must have the harp for his own the ogre was soon lulled to sleep by the sweet sound of the harp and when he was snoring heavily Jack crept out of the copper and taking up the harp was about to make off with it but the harp was a fairy harp and it called out loudly master, master, master and although the ogre was snoring so noisily that it was like the sound of a hundred dragons roaring at once yet to Jack's dismay and horror he heard the voice of his harp and starting to his feet with the blow of anger rushed after the daring thief Jack ran faster than he had ever run in his life before still carrying the precious harp while the ogre ran after him shouting and roaring and making such a noise that it sounded like a thousand thunderstorms all going at once if he had not drunk so much wine for supper the ogre must very soon have caught Jack but as it was the wine had got into his head and so he could not run nearly so fast as usual and Jack reached the beanstalk just in front of him it was a very close shave Jack slid down the beanstalk at his top speed calling at the top of his voice for his mother to fetch him an axe the ogre came tumbling down the beanstalk after him but Jack seized the axe and chopped the beanstalk off close to the root down came the beanstalk down came the ogre and head long into the garden he was killed on the spot after this Jack quite gave up his lazy idle ways and he and his mother with the magic hen and the wonderful harp lived in happiness and prosperity the rest of their life end of Jack and the Beanstalk from Favourite Fairy Tales by Logan Marshall read by Aparna Bhatt from Journey Through Bookland by Charles H. Sylvester this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Wayne Cook the following pretty little story comes from Japan where it may be found in a collection of tales for children a long time ago a young couple lived in the country with their only child a beautiful little girl whom they loved tenderly the names of the parents cannot be told now for they have long been forgotten but we know that the place where they lived was Matsiana in the province of Ichigo now it happened when the child was still very little that her father was obliged to go to the capital of the kingdom as it was so long a journey neither his wife nor his child could go with them and he departed alone promising to bring them many pretty gifts on his return the mother had never been away from the neighborhood and was not able to get rid of some fear when she thought of the long journey her husband must take at the same time however she could not but feel pride and satisfaction it was her husband who was the first man in all that region to go to the rich city where the king and the nobles lived and where there were so many beautiful and marvelous things to be seen and last when the good wife knew that her husband would return she dressed her child gaily in the best clothes she had and herself in the blue dress that she knew he liked very much it is not possible to describe the joy of the good woman when she saw her husband return safe and sound the little one clapped her hands and laughed with delight when she saw the toys her father had brought and he never tired of telling of the wonderful things he had seen on his journey and at the capital to you he said to his wife I have brought a thing of wonderful power called a mirror look and tell me what you see inside he handed her a little flat box of white wood and when she opened it she saw a metal disc one side was white as frosted silver and ornamented with birds and flowers raised from the surface the other side was shining and polished like a window pane into this the young wife gazed with pleasure and astonishment for from the depths she saw looking out at her a smiling face with parted lips and animated eyes what do you see repeated the husband charmed by her amazement and proud to prove that he had remembered her in his absence I see a pretty young woman who looks at me and moves her lips as if talking and who wears a blue dress exactly like mine silly one what you see is your own sweet face replied the man delighted to know that his wife did not recognize herself this circle of metal is called a looking glass in the city every woman has one although here in the country no one has seen one until today enchanted with her gift the woman passed several days in wonderment because as I have said this was the first time she had seen a mirror and consequently the first time she had seen the image of her own pretty face this wonderful jewel she thought too precious to be used every day and the little box she guarded carefully concealing it among her most precious treasures years passed the good man happily living happily through them all the delight of his life was the child who was growing into the living image of her dear mother and who was so good and affectionate that everybody loved her the mother remembering her own passing vanity over her beauty kept the mirror hidden to protect her daughter from any chance of vanity as for the father no one had spoken of the glass all about it thus the child grew up frank and guileless as her mother wished knowing nothing of her own beauty or what the mirror might reflect but there came a day of terrible misfortune to this family till then so happy the devoted and loving mother fell sick and although her daughter watched her with affectionate and tender devotion the dear woman grew worse and worse each day when she knew that she must soon pass away she was very sad grieving for husband and daughter that she must leave behind on earth and especially was she anxious for the future of her loving daughter calling the girl to the bedside she said my beloved child you see that I am so very sick that soon I must die and leave you and your father alone promise me that when I am gone every morning when you get up and every night when you go to bed you will look into the mirror which your father gave me long ago in it you will see me smiling back at you and you will know that I am ever near to protect you having spoken these words she pointed to the place where the mirror was hidden and the girl with tears on her cheeks promised to do as her mother wished tranquil and resigned the mother then passed quickly away the dutiful daughter never forgetting her mother's wishes each morning and evening took the glass from the place where it was hidden and gazed at it intently for a long time there she saw the face of her dead mother brilliant and smiling not pallid and ill as it was in her last days but young and beautiful to this vision each night she confided the troubles and little faults of the day looking to it for help and encouragement in doing her duty in this manner the girl grew up watched over and helped by a living presence trying always to do nothing that could grieve or annoy her sainted mother her greatest pleasure was to look into the mirror and feel that she could truthfully say mother today I have been as you wished that I should be after a time the father observed that his daughter looked lovingly into the mirror every morning and every evening she appeared to converse with it wondering he asked her the cause of her strange behavior the girl replied father I look every day into the glass to see my dear mother and to speak with her she then related to him the last wishes of her dying mother and assured him that she had never failed to comply with them wondering at such simplicity and loving obedience she had tears of pity and affection nor did he ever find the heart to explain to the loving daughter that the image she saw in the mirror was but the reflection of her own beautiful face thus by the pure white bond of her filial love each day the charming gruel grew more and more like her dead mother end of The Mirror of Masayana my lord bag of rice from Japanese fairy tales by Yi Theodora Ozaki read by Mickey Lee Rich this is a Leaprevox recording all Leaprevox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Leaprevox.org long long ago he lived in Japan a brave warrior known to all as Tuwara Tota or my lord bag of rice his true name was Fujiwara Hidesato and there is a very interesting story of how he came to change his name one day he saluted forth in search of adventure for he had the nature of a warrior and could not bear to be idle so he pulled on his two swords took his huge bow much taller than himself in his hand and slinging his quiver on his back started out he had not gone far when he came to the bridge of Setonokorashi spanning one end of the beautiful lake Biwa no sooner had he set foot on the bridge than he saw lying right across his path a huge serpent dragon its body was so big that it looked like the trunk of a large pine tree and it took up the whole width of the bridge one of his huge claws rested on a parapet of one side of the bridge while its tail lay right against the other the monster seemed to be asleep and as it breathed fire and smoke came out of its nostrils at first Hidasato could not help feeling alarmed at the sight of this horrible reptile lying in his path for he must either turn back or walk right by over its body he was a brave man however and putting aside all fear went forward dauntlessly crunch crunch he stepped now on the dragon's body now between its coils and without even one glance backward he went on his way he had only gone a few steps when he heard someone calling him from behind on turning back he was much surprised to see that the monster dragon had entirely disappeared and in its place was a strange looking man who was bowing most ceremoniously to the ground his red hair streamed over his shoulders and he was surmounted by a crown in the shape of a dragon's head and his sea-green dress was patterned with shells Hidasato knew at once that this was no ordinary mortal and he wondered much at the strange currents where had the dragon gone in such a short space of time or had it transformed itself into this man and what did the whole thing mean while these thoughts passed through his mind he had come up to the man on the bridge and now addressed him was it you that called me just now yes it was I answered the man I have an earnest request to make to you do you think you can grant it to me if it is in my power to do so I will answered Hidasato but first tell me who you are I am the dragon king of the lake and my home is in these waters just under this bridge and what is it you have to ask of me said Hidasato I want you to kill my mortal enemy the centipede who lives on the mountain beyond and the dragon king pointed to a high peak on the opposite shore of the lake I have lived now for many years in this lake and I have a large family of children and grandchildren for some time past we have lived in terror for a monster centipede has discovered our home and night after night it comes and carries off one of my family I am powerless to save them if it goes on much longer like this not only shall I lose all of my children but I myself must fall a victim to the monster I am therefore very unhappy and in my extremity I determined to ask the help of a human being for days with this intention I have waited on the bridge in the shape of the horrible serpent dragon that you saw in the hopes that some strong brave man would come along but all who came this way as soon as they saw me were terrified and ran away as soon as they could you are the first man I have found able to look at me without fear so I knew at once that you were a man of great courage I beg you to have pity on me will you not help me and kill my enemy the centipede Hitasato felt very sorry for the dragon king on hearing his story and readily promised to do what he could to help him the warrior asked where the centipede lived so that he might attack the creature at once the dragon king decided that its home was on the mountain Mikami but that as it came every night at a certain hour to the palace of the lake it would be better to wait till then so Hitasato was conducted to the palace of the dragon king under the bridge strange to say as he followed his host downwards the waters parted to let him pass and his clothes did not even feel damp as he passed to the flood never had Hitasato seen anything so beautiful as this palace built of white marble beneath the lake he had often heard of the sea kings palace at the bottom of the sea where all of the servants and retainers were salt water fishes but here was a magnificent building in the heart of Lake Biwa the dainty gold fishes red carp and silvery trout waited upon the dragon king and his guest Hitasato was astonished at the feast that was spread for him the dishes were crystallized lotus leaves and flowers and the chopsticks were of the rarest ebony as soon as they sat down the sliding doors opened and ten lovely goldfish dancers came out and behind them followed the men red carp musicians with the koto and the samisen thus the hours flew by till midnight and the beautiful music and dancing had banished all thoughts of the centipede the dragon king was about to pledge the warrior in a fresh cup of wine when the palace was suddenly shaken by a tramp tramp as if the mighty army had begun to march far away Hitasato and his host both rose to their feet and rushed to the balcony and the warrior saw on the opposite mountain two great balls of glowing fire coming nearer and nearer the dragon king stood by the warrior's side trembling with fear the centipede the centipede those two balls of fire are its eyes it is coming for its prey now it is time to kill it Hitasato looked where his host pointed and in the dim light of the starlit evening behind the two balls of fire he saw the long body of an enormous centipede winding round the mountains and the lights in its hundred feet glowed like distant lanterns moving slowly towards the shore Hitasato showed not the least sign of fear he tried to calm the dragon king don't be afraid I shall surely kill the centipede just bring me my bow and arrows the dragon king did as he was bid and the warrior noticed that he had only three arrows left in his quiver he took the bow and fitting an arrow to the notch took careful aim and let fly the arrow hit the centipede right in the middle of its head but instead of penetrating it glanced off harmless and fell to the ground nothing daunted Hitasato took another arrow fitted it to the notch and let fly again the arrow hit the mark it struck the centipede right in the middle of its head only to glance off and fall to the ground the centipede was invulnerable to weapons when the dragon king saw that even this brave warrior's arrows were powerless to kill the centipede he lost heart and began to tremble with fear the warrior saw that he had now only one arrow left in his quiver and if this one failed he could not kill the centipede he looked across the waters the huge reptile had wound its horrid body seven times round the mountain and would soon come down to the lake nearer and nearer gleamed fireballs of eyes and the light of its hundred feet began to throw reflections in the still waters of the lake then suddenly the warrior remembered that he had heard that human saliva was deadly to centipedes but this was no ordinary centipede this was so monstrous that even to think of such a creature made one creep with horror he de sato determined to try his last chance so taking his last arrow and first putting the end of it in his mouth he fitted the notch to his bow took careful aim once more and let fly this time the arrow again hit the centipede right in the middle of its head but instead of glancing off harmlessly as before it struck home to the creature's brain then with a convulsive shutter the serpentine body stopped moving and the fiery light of its great eyes and hundred feet darkened to a dull glare like the sunset of a stormy day and then went out a great darkness now overspread the heavens the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed and the wind roared in fury and it seemed as if the world were coming to an end the dragon king and his children and retainers all crouched in different parts of the palace frightened to death for the building was shaken to its foundation at last the dreadful night was over day dawned beautiful and clear the centipede was gone from the mountain then Hedasato called to the dragon king to come out with him on the balcony for the centipede was dead and he had nothing more to fear then all the inhabitants of the palace came out with joy and Hedasato pointed to the lake there lay the body of the dead centipede floating on the water which was dyed red with its blood the gratitude of the dragon king knew no bounds the whole family came and bowed down before the warrior calling him their preserver and the bravest warrior in all Japan another feast was prepared more sumptuous than the first all kinds of fish were prepared in every imaginable way raw steamed boiled and roasted served on coral trays and crystal dishes were put before him and the wine was the best that Hedasato had ever tasted in his life to add to the beauty of everything the sun shone brightly the lake glittered like a liquid diamond and the palace was a thousand times more beautiful by day than by night his host tried to persuade the warrior to stay a few days but Hedasato insisted on going home saying that he had now finished what he had come to do and must return the dragon king and his family were all very sorry to have him leave so soon but since he would go they begged him to accept a few small presents so they said in token of their gratitude to him for delivering them forever from their horrible enemy the cinnabede as the warrior stood on the porch taking leave a train of fish was suddenly transformed into a retinue of men all wearing ceremonial robes and dragons crowns on their head to show that they were servants of the great dragon king the presents that they carried were as follows first a large bronze bell second a bag of rice third a roll of silk fourth a cooking pot fifth a bell Hedasato did not want to accept all these presents but as the dragon king insisted he could not well refuse the dragon king himself accompanied the warrior as far as the bridge and then took leave of him with many bows and good wishes leaving the procession of servants to accompany Hedasato to his house with the presents the warriors household and servants had been very much concerned when they found that he did not return the night before but they finally concluded that he had been kept by the violent storm and taken shelter somewhere when the servants on the watch for his return caught sight of him they called to everyone that he was approaching and the whole household turned out to meet him wondering much what the retinue of men bearing presents and banners that followed him could mean as soon as the dragon king's retainers had put down the presents they vanished and Hedasato told all that had happened to him the presents which he had received from the grateful dragon king were found to be of magic power the bell only was ordinary and as Hedasato had no use for it he presented it to the temple nearby where it was hung up to boom out the hour of day over the surrounding neighborhood the single bag of rice which was taken from it day after day for the meals of the night and his whole family never grew less the supply in the bag was inexhaustible the roll of silk too never grew shorter though time after time long pieces were cut off to make the warrior a new suit of clothes to go to court in at the new year the cooking pot was wonderful too no matter what was put into it it cooked deliciously whatever was wanted without any firing truly a very economical saucepan the fame of Hedasato's fortune spread far and wide and as there was no need for him to spend money on rice or silk or firing he became very rich and prosperous and was henceforth known as my lord bag of rice this is the end of my lord bag of rice from Japanese fairy tales by he Theodora Ozaki read by Mickey Lee Rich Solomon John goes for Apples by Lucretia P. Hale this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Weiss Cook Solomon John agreed to ride to Farmer Jones's for a basket of Apples and he decided to go on horseback the horse had brought round to the door now he had not ridden for a great while and though the little boys were there to help him he had great trouble in getting on the horse he tried a great many times but always found himself facing the wrong way at the horse's tail they turned the horse's head first up the street then down the street it made no difference he always made some mistake and found himself sitting the wrong way well he said at last I don't know as I care if the horse has his head in the right direction that is the main thing sometimes I ride this way in cars because I like it better I can turn my head easily enough so off he went and the little boys said he looked like a circus rider and they were much pleased he rode along out of the village under the Elms very quietly pretty soon he came to a bridge where the road went across a little stream there a road at the side leading down to the stream because sometimes wagoners watered their horses there Solomon John's horse turned off too to drink of the water very well said Solomon John I don't blame him for wanting to wet his feet and to take a drink this hot day when he reached the middle of the stream the horse bent over his head how far his neck comes into his back exclaimed Solomon John and at that very moment he found he had slid down over the horse's head and was sitting on a stone looking into the horse's face there were two frogs one on each side of him sitting just as he was which pleased Solomon John so he began to laugh instead of cry but the two frogs jumped into the water it's time for me to go on said Solomon John so he gave a jump as he had seen the frogs do and this time he came all right on the horse's back facing the way he was going it is a little pleasanter he said the horse wanted to nibble a little of the grass by the side of the way but Solomon John remembered what a long neck he had and would not let him stop at last he reached Farmer Jones who gave him his basket of apples next he was to go on to the cider mill up a little lane by Farmer Jones's house to get a jug of cider but as soon as the horse was turned into the lane he began to walk very slowly so slowly that Solomon John thought he would not get there before night he whistled and shouted and thrust his knees into the horse but still he would not go perhaps the apples are too heavy for him he said so he began by throwing one of the apples out of the basket by the side of the road and that started up the horse and he went on merrily that was the trouble said Solomon John that apple was too heavy for him but very soon the horse began to go slower and slower so Solomon John thought he would try another apple this hit a large rock and bounced back under the horse's feet and sent him off at a great pace but very soon he fell again into a slow walk Solomon John had to try another apple this time it fell into a pool of water and made a great splash and set the horse out again for a little while he soon returned to a slow walk so slow that Solomon John thought it would be tomorrow morning before he got to the cider mill it is rather a waste of apples thought he but I can pick them up as I come back because the horse will be going home at a quick pace so he flung out another apple that fell among a party of ducks and they began to make such a quacking and waddling that it frightened the horse into a quick trot so the only way Solomon John could make his horse go was by flinging his apples now on one side now on the other one time he frightened a cow that rang along by the side of the road while the horse raced with her another time he started up a brood of turkeys that gobbled and strutted enough to startle twenty horses in another place he came near hitting a boy who gave such a scream that it sent the horse off at a furious rate and Solomon John got quite excited himself and he did not stop till he had thrown away all his apples and had reached the corner of the cider mill very well said he if the horse is so lazy he won't mind my stopping to pick up the apples on the way home and I am not sure but I shall prefer walking a little to riding the beast the man came out to meet him from the cider mill and reached him the jug he was just going to take it when he turned his horse's head round and delighted at the idea of going home the horse set off at a full run without waiting for the jug Solomon John clung to the reins and his knees held fast to the horse he called out whoa whoa but the horse would not stop he went galloping on past the boy who stopped and flung an apple at him past the turkeys that came and gobbled at him by the cow that turned and ran back in a race with them until her breath gave out by an old donkey that braided over the wall at him by some hens that ran into the road under the horse's feet and clucked at him by a great rooster that stood up on a fence and crowed at him by farmer Jones who looked out to see what had become of him down the village street and he never stopped until he reached the door of the house out came Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin Agamemnon Elizabeth Eliza Solomon John got off his horse a lot of breath where is the jug of cider? asked Mrs. Peterkin it's at the cider mill said Solomon John at the mill exclaimed Mrs. Peterkin yes said Solomon John the little boys had better walk out for it they will enjoy it and they'd better take a basket for along the way they will find plenty of apples scattered all along on either side of the lane and hens and ducks and turkeys and a donkey the little boys looked at each other and went but they stopped first and put on their India rubber boots end of Solomon John goes for apples by Lucretia P. Hale here is new clothes by Hans Christian Andersen read by Mira Eagle this is a LibraVox recording all LibraVox recordings are in public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org many years ago there was an emperor who was so excessively fond of new clothes that he spent all his money in dress he did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers nor did he care to go to either the theater or the chase except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his new clothes he had a different suit for each hour of the day and as of any other king or emperor one is accustomed to say he is sitting in council it was always said to him the emperor is sitting in his wardrobe time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital strangers arrived every day at the court one day two rogues calling themselves weavers made their appearance they gave out that they knew how to weave stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who is unfit for the office he held or who was extraordinary simple in character these must indeed be splendid clothes thought the emperor that I such a suit I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit for their office and also be able to distinguish the wise from the foolish this stuff must be woven for me immediately and he caused large sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order that they might begin their work directly so the two pretended weavers set up two looms and affected to work very busily though in reality they did nothing at all they asked for the most delicate silk and the purest gold thread put both into their own knapsacks and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late at night I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth said the emperor himself after some little time had elapsed he was however rather embarrassed when he remembered that a simpleton for his office would be unable to see the manufacture to be sure he thought he had nothing to risk in his own person but yet he would prefer sending somebody else to bring him intelligence about the weavers and their work before he troubled himself in the affair all the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful property the cloth was to possess and all were anxious to learn how wise or how ignorant their neighbors might prove to be I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers said the emperor at last after some deliberation he will be best able to see how the cloth looks for he is a man of sense and no one can be more suitable for his office than he is so the faithful old minister went into the hall where the knaves were working with all their might at their empty looms what can be the meaning of this thought the old man opening his eyes very wide I cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms however he did not express his thoughts aloud the imposters requested him very courteously to be so good as to come nearer their looms and then asked him whether the design pleased him and whether the colors were not very beautiful at the same time pointing to the empty frames the poor old minister looked and looked he could not discover anything on the looms for a very good reason there was nothing there what? thought he again is it possible that I am a simpleton I have never thought so myself and no one must know it now if I am so can it be that I am fit for my office no that must not be said either I will never confess that I could not see the stuff well sir minister said one of the knaves still pretending to work you do not say whether this stuff pleases you oh it is excellent replied the old minister looking at the loom through his spectacles this pattern the colors yes I will tell the emperor without delay how very beautiful I think them we shall be much obliged to you said the imposters and then they name the different colors and describe the pattern of the pretended stuff the old minister listened attentively to their words in order that he might repeat them to the emperor and then the knaves asked for more silk and gold saying it was necessary to complete what they had begun however they put all that was given them into their knapsacks and continued to work with as much apparent diligence as before at their empty looms the emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how them were getting on and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be ready it was just the same with his gentleman as with the minister he surveyed the looms on all sides but could see nothing at all but the empty frames does the stuff appear as beautiful to you as it did to my lord the minister asked the imposters of the emperor's second ambassador at the same time making the same gestures as before and talking of the design and colors which were not there I'm certainly not stupid thought the messenger it must be that I am not fit for my good profitable office that is very odd however no one shall know anything about it and accordingly he praised the stuff he could not see and declared that he was delighted with both colors and patterns indeed please your imperial majesty said he to his sovereign when he returned the cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinary magnificent the whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the emperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense and now the emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture while it was still in the loom accompanied by a select number of officers at the court among whom were the two honest men who had already admired the cloth he went to the crafty imposters who as soon as they were aware of the emperor's approach went on working more diligently than ever although they still did not pass a single thread through the looms is not the work absolutely magnificent so the two officers the crown already mentioned if your majesty will only be pleased to look at it what a splendid design what glorious colors at the same time they pointed to the empty frames for they imagined that everyone else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship how is this said the emperor to himself I can see nothing this is indeed a terrible affair am I a simpleton am I unfit to be an emperor that would be the worst thing that could happen oh the cloth is charming he said aloud it has my complete approbation and he smiled most graciously and looked closely at the empty looms for on no account would he say that he could not see what two of the officers of his court had praised so much all his retinue now strained their eyes hoping to over something on the looms but they could see no more than the others nevertheless they all exclaimed oh how beautiful and advised his majesty to have some new cloths made from this splendid material for the approaching procession magnificent charming excellent resounded on all sides and everyone was uncommonly gay the emperor shared in the general satisfaction and presented the imposters with the ribbon of an order of knighthood to be worn in their buttonholes and the title of gentlemen weavers the rogue sat up the whole of the night before the day on which the procession was to take place and had 16 lights burning so that everyone might see how anxious they were to finish the emperor's new suit they pretended to roll the cloth off the looms cut the air with their scissors and sewed with needles without any threat in them see cried they at last the emperor's new clothes are ready and now the emperor with all the grandies of his court came to the weavers and the rogues raised their arms as if in the act of holding something up saying here are your majesty's trousers here is the scarf, here is the mantel the whole suit is as light as a cobweb one might fancy one has nothing at all on one dressed in it that however is the great virtue of this delicate cloth yes indeed said all the quarters although not one of them could see anything of this exquisite manufacture if your imperial majesty will be graciously pleased to take off your clothes we will fit on the new suit in front of the looking glass the emperor was accordingly undressed and the rogues pretended to array him in his new suit the emperor turning round from side to side before the looking glass how splendid his majesty looks in his new clothes and how well they fit everyone cried out what a design what colors these are indeed royal robes the canopy which is to be born over your majesty in the procession is waiting announced the chief master of the ceremonies light ready answered the emperor do my new clothes fit well as he turning himself round again before the looking glass in order that he might appear to be examining his handsome suits the lords of the bed chamber who were to carry his majesty's train felt about on the ground as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle and pretended to be carrying something for they would by no means betray anything like simplicity or unfitness for their office now the emperor walked under his high canopy in the midst of the procession through the streets of his capital and all the people standing by and those in the windows cried out oh how beautiful are our emperor's new clothes what a magnificent train there is to the mantle and how gracefully the scarf hangs in short no one would allow that he could not see these much admired clothes because in doing so he would have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit for his office certainly none of the emperor's various suits had ever made so great an impression as these invisible ones but the emperor has nothing at all on said a little child listen to the voice of innocence exclaimed his father and what the child had said was whispered from one to another but he has nothing at all on at last cried out all the people the emperor was vexed for he knew that the people were right but he thought the procession must go on now and the lords of the bedchamber took greater pains than ever to appear holding up a train although in reality there was no train to hold end of the emperor's new clothes by Hans Christian Anderson the giant builder from science this is a liberal box recording all liberal box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liberal box dot org ages and ages ago when the world was first made the god decided to build a beautiful city high above the heavens the most glorious and wonderful city that ever was known as God was to be its name and it was to stand on either plane under the shade of the great tree whose roots were underneath the earth first of all they built a house with a silver roof where there were seats for all the 12 chiefs in the mid and high above the rest was the wonder throne of Odin the all father when she could see everything that happened in the sky or on the earth or in the sea next they made a fair house for big and her lovely daughters then they built a smithy with its great hammers tongs and bells and bellows where the gods could work at their favorite trade the making of beautiful things out of gold which they did so well that folk named that time the golden age afterwards as they had more leisure they built separate houses for all the Asia each more beautiful than the proceeding for of course there were continually growing more skillful they saved father Odin's palace until the last for they meant this to be the largest and the most splendid of all glad time the home of joy was the name of Odin's house and it was built all of gold set in the midst of a wood where of the trees had leaves of ready gold like an autumn gilded forest for the safety of the all father it was surrounded by a roaring river and by a high picket fence and there was a great courtyard within the glory of glad time was its wondrous hall with gold the most lovely room that time has ever seen Valhalla the hall of heroes was the name of it and it was roofed with the mighty shields of warriors the ceiling was made of interlacing spears and there was a portal at the west end before which hung a great grey wolf while over him a fierce eagle hovered the hall was so huge that it had 540 gates through each of which 800 men could march abreast indeed there needed to be room for this was the hall where every morning Odin received all the brave warriors who had died in battle on the earth below and there were many heroes in those days this was the reward which gods gave to courage when a hero had gloriously lost his life the Valkyries the nine warrior daughters of Odin brought his body up to Valhalla on their white horses that galloped the clouds there they lived forever after in happiness enjoying the things that they had most loved upon earth every morning they armed themselves and went out to fight one another in a great courtyard it was a wondrous game wondrously played no matter how often a hero was killed he became alive again in time to return perfectly well to Valhalla where he ate a delicious breakfast with the jissair while the beautiful Valkyries who had first brought him thither waited at table and poured the blessing mead which only the immortal taste a happy life it was for the heroes and a happy life for all who dwelt in Asgard for this was before trouble had come among the gods following the mischief of Loki this is how the trouble began from the beginning of time the giants had been friendly to the Asir because the giants were older and huge and more wicked they were jealous because the good Asir were fast gaining more wisdom and power than the giants had ever known it was the Asir who set the fair brother and sister son and moon in the sky to give light to men and it was they also who made the dueled stars out of sparks from the place of fire the giants hated the Asir and tried all in their power to injure them and the men of the earth below whom the Asir loved and cared for the gods had already built a wall around Midgard the world of men to keep the giants out built it of the bushy eyebrows of Ymir the oldest and hugest of giants between Asgard and the giants flowed I think the great river on which ice never formed and which the gods crossed on the rainbow bridge but this was not protection enough their beautiful new city needed a fortress so the word went forth in Asgard we must build those fortress against the giants the huge strongest finest fortress that ever was built now one day soon after they had announced this decision there came a mighty man stalking up the rainbow bridge that led to Asgard city who goes there cried Heimdall the watchman whose eyes were so keen that he could see for a hundred miles around and whose ears were so sharp that he could hear the grass growing in the meadow and the wool on the backs of the sheep who goes there no one can enter Asgard if I say no I am a builder said the stranger who was a huge fellow with sleeves rolled up to show the iron muscles of his arms I am a builder of strong towers and I have heard that the fork of Asgard need one to help them raise a fair fortress in their city Heimdall looked to the stranger narrowly for there was that about him which his sharp eyes did not like but he made no answer only blue on his golden horn which was so loud that it sounded through all the world at this signal all the Asir came running to the rainbow bridge from wherever they happened to be to find out who was coming to Asgard for it was Heimdall's duty to ever to warn them of the approach of the unknown this fellow says he is a builder quote Heimdall and he would feign builders of fortress in the city I, that I would nodded to stranger look at my iron arm look at my broad back look at my shoulders am I not the workman you need truly he is a mighty figure Vowdoading looking at him approvingly how long will it take you alone to build our fortress we can allow but one stranger at a time within our city for safety's sake in three half years would fly to stranger I will undertake to build for you a castle so strong that not even the giants should they swarm Higa over Midgard not even they could enter without your leave cried father Odin well pleased at this offer and what reward do you ask friend for help so timely the stranger hummed and hoared and pulled his long beard while he thought then he spoke suddenly as if the idea had just come into his mind I will name my price friends he said a small price for a soul greater deed I ask you to give me Freya for my wife and those two sparkling jewels the sun and the moon at this demand the gods look grave for Freya was their dearest treasure she was the most beautiful maid who ever lived the light and life of heaven and if she should leave Asgard joy would go with her while the sun and moon were the light and life of the Aesir's children men who lived in the little world below but Loki the sly whispered that they would be safe enough if they made another condition on their part so hard that the builder could not fulfil it but unconsciously he spoke for them all magic man we are willing to agree to your price upon one condition it is too long a time that you ask we cannot wait three half years for our castle that is equal to three centuries when one is in a hurry see that you finish the fort without help in one winter one short winter and you shall have fair Freya with the sun and the moon but if on the first day of summer one stone is wanting to the walls or if anyone has given you aid in the building then your reward is lost and you shall depart without payment so spoke Loki in the name of all the gods but the plan was his own at first the stranger shook his head and frowned saying that in so short a time no one could complete the undertaking at last he made another offer let me have but my good horse to help me and I will try he urged let me bring the useful Zvalor Thori with me to the task and I will finish the work in one winter of short days or lose my reward surely you will not deny me this little help from one four footed friend he said he consulted and the wiser of them were doubtful whether it were best to accept the stranger's offer so strangely made but again Loki urged them to accept surely there is no harm he said even with his old horse to help him he cannot build the castle in the promised time we shall gain a fortress without trouble and with never a price to pay Loki was so eager that although the other Acer did not like this crafty way of making bargains they finally consented then in the presence of the heroes with the Valkyries and the Miner's head for witnesses the stranger and the Acer gave solemn promise that the bargains should be kept on the first day of winter the strange builder began his work and wonderous was the way he set about it his strength seemed as a strength of a hundred men as for his horse Svadil Thori he did more work by half than even the mighty builder in the night he dragged the enormous rocks that were to be used in building the castle rocks as big as mountains while in the daytime the stranger piled them into place with his iron arms the Acer watched him with amazement never was seen such strength in Asgard neither Tyra the Stout nor Thor the Strong could match the power of the stranger the gods began to look at one another uneasily who was this mighty one who had come among them and what if after all he should win his reward Freyja trembled in her palace and the sun and moon grew dim with fear still the work went on and the fort was piling higher and higher by day and by night there were but three days left before the end of winter and already the building was so tall that it was safe from the attacks of any giant the Acer were delighted with their fine new castle but their pride was dimmed by their fear that it must be paid for at all too costly a price for only the gateway remained to be completed and unless the stranger should fail to finish that in the next three days they must give him Freyja with the sun and moon the Acer held a meeting upon Ida Plain a meeting full of fear and anger at last they realized what they had done they had made a bargain with one of the giants their enemies and if he won the prize it would mean sorrow and darkness in heaven and upon earth how did we happen to agree to so mad a bargain they asked one another who suggested that we could plan which bids fair to cost us all that we most cherish then they remembered that it was Loki who had planned it was he who had insisted that it be carried out and they blamed him for all the trouble it is your council's Loki that have brought this danger upon us quote Father Odin frowning you chose the way of Gael which is not our way it now remains for you to help us by Gael if you can but if you cannot say for us Freyja and the sun and moon this is my word all the other Aesir agreed that this was just Thor alone was away hunting evil demons at the other end of the world so he did not know what was going on and what dangers were threatening Asgard Loki was much frightened at the word of your father it was my fault he cried but how was I to know he was a giant he had disguised himself he seemed but a strong man and that's where his horse it looks much like that of other folk if it were not for the horse he could not finish this work ha I have a thought the builder shall not finish the gate the giant shall not receive his payment I will cheat the fellow now it was the last night of winter and there remained but a few stones to put in place on top of the wondrous gateway the giant was sure of his price and chuckled to himself as he went out with his horse to drag the remaining stones but he did not know that the Aesir had guessed at last who he was and that Loki was plotting to out with him hardly had he gone to work when out of the wood came running a pretty little mare who made to Svaldifori as if inviting the tired horse to leave his work and come to the green fields for a holiday Svaldifori, you must remember had been working hard all winter with never a sight of forfeited creature of his kind and he was very lonesome and tired of dragging stones giving a snort of disobedience off he ran after this new friend towards the glassy meadows off went the giant after him howling with rage and running for dear life as he saw not only his horse but his chance of success but of reach it was a mad chase and all Asgard thundered with the noise of galloping hooves and the giant's mighty tread the mare who raced ahead was Loki in disguise and he led Svaldifori far out of reach to a hidden meadow that he knew so that the giant held and panted up and down all night long without catching even a sight of his horse now when the morning came the gateway was still unfinished the asir had ended at the same hour the giant's time was over and he had forfeited his reward the asir came flocking to the gateway and how they laughed and triumphed when they found three stones wanting to complete the gate you have failed, Velo Judge Father Odin stonly and no price shall we pay for work that is still undone you have failed leave Asgard quickly we have seen all we want of you and your race then the giant knew that he was discovered and he was mad with rage it was a trick, he bellowed assuming his own proper form which was huge as a mountain and towered high beside the fortress that he had built it was a wicked trick you shall pay for this in one way or another I cannot tear down the castle which, on grateful ones I have built for you stronger than the strength of any giant but I will demolish the rest of your shining city indeed he would have done so in his mighty rage but at this moment Thor whom Heimdall had called from the end of the earth by one blast to the golden horn came rushing to the rescue drawn in his chariots of goats Thor jumped to the ground close beside the giant and before that huge fellow knew what had happened he was rolling upon the ground at Father Odin's feet for with one blow Thor had put an end to the giant's wickedness and had saved Asgard this is the reward you deserve Thor cried not flayer nor the sun and moon but the deaths I have in store for all the enemies of the Asia in this extraordinary way the noble city of Asgard was made safe and complete by the addition of a fortress which no one not even the giant who built it could injure it was so wonder strong but always at the top of the gate were lacking three great stones that no one was mighty enough to lift this was a reminder to the Asia that now they had the race of giants for their everlasting enemies and though Loki's trick had saved them Freya and for the world the sun and moon it was the beginning of trouble in Asgard which lasted long as Loki lived to make mischief with his guile end of The Giant Builder