 Chapter 0 of English fairy tales. 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 Jacqueline Harp. English fairy tales by Ernest Ries. Introduction The tales in this book have been chosen from many sources, which represent the old haunts of people, fairy tale people, like Mother Hubbard and Simple Simon, who figure in rhyme or legend. Some of these tales have been forgotten, and some have been lost or long buried, and there are several that may seem new to you who read them here today. Such a story is that of the Elfin Green Knight, which is a case of a delightful old fairy tale that grew into as a delightful romance. A romance indeed is little else than a fairy tale for older folk. The romanzers swapped, as schoolboys say. They're good things, and in this way we get a story like that of King Arthur and the Giant of St. Michael's Mount, which comes from the noble old romanzer Sir Thomas Mallory. For a fairy tale, like a cat, has nine lives. It can pass into many queer shapes, and yet not die. You may cut off its head, or drown it in sentiment, or sea water, or tie a moral to its tale, but it will still survive, and be found sitting safe by the fire some winter night. In some cases, North Country and other friends have helped me to find new versions of old favorites. Like the Lampton Worm, every change in these tales has been made with a real regard for the jealous love that children feel for their favorites. And so the literary touches added by some earlier collectors have been got rid of here, and the simpler colors of folklore and nursery lore restored. That old favorite, Jack the Giant Killer, has been included in a version collected by Mrs. Grace Rise from sundry old chapbooks. ER In the reign of King Arthur, there lived in the country of Cornwall, near the land's end of England, a wealthy farmer who had one only son called Jack. He was brisk and of a ready, lively wit, so that whatever he could not perform by force and strength, he did by his quick wit and cleverness. Never was any person heard of that could worst him, and he very often even baffled wise men by his sharp and ready invention. In those days the mountain of Cornwall was kept by a huge and monstrous giant of eighteen feet in height, and about three yards in girth, of a fierce and grim face, the terror of all the towns and villages near. He lived in a cave in the midst of the mount, and would not suffer anyone else to live near him. His food was other men's cattle, which often became his prey, for whensoever he wanted food he would wade over to the mainland where he would furnish himself with whatever came his way. The good folk at his approach forsook their homes while he seized on their cattle, making nothing of carrying half a dozen oxen on his back at a time, and as for their sheep and hogs, he would tie them around his waist like a bunch of bandoliers. This course he had followed for many years, so that all Cornwall had become poor through his robberies. One day Jack, happening to be present at the town hall when the magistrates were sitting in council about the giant, asked what reward would be given to the person who destroyed him. The giant's treasure, they said, was the reward, quote Jack, then let me undertake it. So he took a horn, shovel, and pickaxe, and went over to the mount in the beginning of a dark winter's evening, when he fell to work, and before morning had dug a pit twenty-two feet deep and nearly as broad, covering it over with long sticks and straw, then strewing a little mold upon it it appeared like plain ground. This done Jack placed himself on the contrary side of the pit, farthest from the giant's lodging, and just at the break of day he put the horn to his mouth and blew, tentivity, tentivity. The unexpected noise aroused the giant, who rushed from his cave crying, You bold villain, are you come here to disturb my rest? You shall pay dearly for this. Satisfaction I will have, and this it shall be. I will take you whole and broil you for breakfast." Which he had no sooner uttered, then tumbling into the pit he made the very foundations of the mount shake. O giant, quilt Jack, where are you now? O faith, you are gotten now into lob's pound, where I will surely plague you for your wicked words. What do you think now of broiling me for your breakfast? Will no other diet serve you but poor Jack? Thus having teased the giant for a while he gave him a most weighty knock with his pickaxe on the very crown of his head, and killed him on the spot. This done Jack filled up the pit with earth and went to search the cave which he found contained much treasure. When the magistrates heard of this they said he should henceforth be called Jack the Giant Killer, and gave him a sword and an embroidered belt, on which were written these words in letters of gold. Here's the right valiant Cornish man, who slew the giant Cormelian. The news of Jack's victory soon spread over all the west of England, so that another giant named Blunderbore, hearing of it, vowed to be revenged on the little hero, if ever it was his fortune to light on him. This giant was the lord of an enchanted castle, standing in the midst of a lonesome wood. Now Jack, about four months afterwards, walking near this wood in his journey to Wales, being weary, seated himself near a pleasant fountain, and fell fast asleep. While he was enjoying his repose, the giant, coming for water, there found him, and knew him to be the far famed Jack by the lines written on the belt. Without ado, he took Jack on his shoulders and carried him towards his enchanted castle. Now as they passed through a thicket, the rustling of the bow's awakened Jack, who was strangely surprised to find himself in the clutches of the giant. His terror was not yet begun. For on entering the castle, he saw the ground strewed with human bones. The giant telling him his own would ere long be there also. After this, the giant locked poor Jack in an immense chamber, leaving him there while he went to fetch another giant living in the same wood, to help him put an end to Jack. While he was gone, dreadful shrieks and cries of frighted Jack, especially a voice which said, many times, Do what you can to get away, or you will become the giant's prey. He's gone to fetch his brother who will kill likewise devour you too. This dreadful noise had almost distracted Jack, who going to the window beheld a far off the two giants coming towards the castle. Now, gulped Jack to himself, my death or my escape is at hand. Now there were strong cords in the corner of the room in which Jack was, and two of these he took, and made a strong noose at the end. And while the giants were unlocking the iron gate of the castle, he threw the ropes over each of their heads, then drawing the other ends across a beam, and pulling with all his might, he throttled them. Then, seeing that they were black in the face, and sliding down the rope, he came to their heads, when they could not defend themselves, and drawing his sword slew them both. Then taking the giants' keys and unlocking the rooms, he found three fair ladies tied by the hair of their heads, almost starved to death. Sweet ladies, gulped Jack, I have killed this monster and his brutish brother, and so set you free. This said, he gave them the keys, and so went on his journey to Wales. Having but little money, Jack found it well to make the best of his way by travelling as fast as he could, but losing his road, he was benighted, and could not get a place to rest in until, coming into a narrow valley, he found a large house, and by reason of his present needs took courage to knock at the gate. But what was his surprise when there came forth a monstrous giant with two heads? Yet he did not appear so fiery as the others were, for he was a Welsh giant, and what he did was by private and secret malice, under the false show of friendship. Jack, having told his state to the giant, was shown into a bedroom where, in the dead of night, he heard the host muttering, Though here you lodge with me this night you shall not see the morning light, my club shall dash your brains outright. Sayest thou so, quote Jack, that is like one of your Welsh tricks, yet I hope to be cunning enough for you. Then getting out of the bed he laid a billet of wood in the bed in his stead, and hid himself in a corner of the room. At the dead time of the night in came the Welsh giant, who struck several heavy blows on the bed with his club, thinking he had broken every bone in Jack's skin. The next morning Jack, laughing in his sleeve, gave him hearty thanks for his night's lodging. How have you rested, quote the giant? Did you not feel anything in the night? No, quote Jack, nothing but a rat who gave me two or three slaps with her tail. With that, greatly wondering, the giant led Jack to breakfast, bringing him a bowl containing four gallons of hasty pudding. Being loath to let the giant think it too much for him, Jack put a large leather bag under his loose coat in such a way that he could convey the pudding into it without its being seen. Then telling the giant he would show him a trick, taking a knife, Jack ripped open the bag and out came all the hasty pudding, whereupon saying, God sputters, her can do that trick herself. The monster took the knife and ripping open his body fell down dead. Now it fell in those days that King Arthur's only son begged his father to give him a large sum of money in order that he might go and seek his fortune in the country of Wales, where lived a beautiful lady possessed with seven evil spirits. The king did his best to persuade his son from it, but in vain. After the request he granted the request and the prince set out with two horses, one loaded with money and the other for himself to ride upon. Now after several days' travel he came to a market town in Wales where he beheld a vast crowd of people gathered together. The prince asked the reason of it and was told that they had arrested a corpse for several large sums of money which the dead man owed when he died. The prince replied that it was a pity that his creditors should be so cruel and said, Go, bury the dead and let his creditors come to my lodging and there their debts shall be paid. So they came, but in such great numbers that before night he had almost left himself moneyless. Now Jack the giant killer, coming that way, was so taken with the generosity of the prince that he wished to be his servant. This being agreed upon, the next morning they set forward on their journey together when, as they were riding out of the town, an old woman called after the prince saying, He has owed me two pence these seven years. Pray pay me as well as the rest. Putting his hand to his pocket the prince gave the woman all he had left so that after their day's refreshment which cost what small spell Jack had by him they were without a penny between them. When the sun began to grow low the king's son said, Jack, since we have no money where can we lodge this night? But Jack replied, Master, we'll do well enough. For I have an uncle lives within two miles of this place. He is a huge and monstrous giant with three heads. He'll fight five hundred men in armor and make them to fly before him. Alas, quoth the prince, what shall we do there? He'll certainly chop us up at a mouthful. Nay, we are scarce enough to fill one of his hollow teeth. It is no matter for that, quoth Jack. I myself will go before and prepare the way for you. Therefore tarry and wait till I return. Jack then rode away at full speed and coming to the gate of the castle he knocked so loud that he made the hills around to echo. The giant roared out at this like thunder. Who's there? He was answered, None but your poor cousin Jack. Quoth he, What news with my poor cousin Jack? He replied, Dear uncle heavy news, God what? Prithee, quoth the giant, What heavy news can come to me? I am a giant with three heads and besides, thou knowest I can fight five hundred men in armor and make them fly like chaff before the wind. Oh, but, quoth Jack, Here's the king's son a-coming with a thousand men in armor to kill you and destroy all that you have. Oh, cousin Jack, said the giant, This is heavy news indeed. I will immediately run and hide myself and thou shalt lock, bolt, and bar me in and keep the keys until the prince is gone. Having secured the giant, Jack fetched his master when they made themselves heartily merry whilst the poor giant lay trembling in a vault under the ground. Early in the morning Jack furnished his master with a fresh supply of gold and silver and then sent him three miles forward on his journey, at which time the prince was pretty well out of the smell of the giant. Jack then returned and let the giant out of the vault, who asked what he should give him for keeping the castle safe. Why, quoth Jack, I desire nothing but the old coat and cap together with the old rusty sword and slippers which are at your bed's head. Quoth the giant, Thou shalt have them and pray keep them well for my sake for they are things of excellent use. The coat will keep you invisible, the cap will furnish you with knowledge, the sword cuts asunder whatever you strike and the shoes are of extraordinary swiftness. These may be useful to you, therefore take them with all my heart. Taking them, Jack thanked his uncle, and then having overtaken his master quickly arrived at the house of the lady the prince sought, who, finding the prince to be a suitor, prepared a splendid banquet for him. After the feasting was done she wiped his mouth with a handkerchief saying, you must show me that handkerchief tomorrow morning or else you will lose your head. With that she put it in her bosom. The prince went to bed in great sorrow, but Jack's cap of knowledge taught him how it was to be got. In the middle of the night she called upon her familiar spirit to carry her to Lucifer. But Jack put on his coat of darkness and his shoes of swiftness, and he was there as soon as she. When she entered the place of the evil one she gave the handkerchief to old Lucifer who laid it upon a shelf, whence Jack took it and brought it to his master who showed it to the lady the next day and so saved his life. On that day she saluted the prince, telling him he must show her the lips tomorrow morning that she had kissed last night or else lose his head. Ah, he replied, if you kiss none but mine I will. That is neither here nor there, said she. If you do not, death's your portion. At midnight she went as before and was angry with old Lucifer for letting the handkerchief go. But now, quotes she, I will be too hard for the king's son for I will kiss thee and he is to show me thy lips. Which she did, and Jack, who was standing by, cut off the devil's head and brought it under his invisible coat to his master, who the next morning pulled it out by the horns before the lady. The enchantment thus broken, the evil spirit left her and she appeared in all her beauty. They were married the next morning and soon after went to the court of King Arthur where Jack for his many great deeds was made one of the knights of the round table. Having been successful in all he did, Jack resolved not to remain idle but to do what he could for the honour of his king and country and begged King Arthur to fit him out with a horse and money to help him travel in search of strange and new adventures. For, said he, there are many giants yet living in the farthest part of Wales to the great damage of your Majesty's liege subjects. Wherefore, please you to encourage me. I do not doubt but in a short time to cut them off root and branch and so rid all the realm of those giants and monsters of nature. When the king had heard this noble request, he furnished Jack with all he had need of and Jack started on his pursuit, taking with him the cap of knowledge, the sword of sharpness, the shoes of swiftness, and the invisible coat, the better to succeed in the dangerous adventures which now lay before him. Jack travelled over vast hills and wonderful mountains and on the third day came to a large wood which he had no sooner entered than he heard dreadful shrieks and cries. Casting his eyes around, he beheld with terror a huge giant dragging along a fair lady and a knight by the hair of their heads with as much ease as if they had been a pair of gloves. At this sight Jack shed tears of pity and then getting off from his horse he put on his invisible coat and taking with him his sword of sharpness at length with a swinging stroke cut off both the giant's legs below the knee so that his fall made the trees to tremble. At this the courteous knight and his fair lady, after returning Jack their hearty thanks, invited him home, there to refresh his strength after the battle and receive some ample reward for his good services. But Jack vowed he would not rest until he had found out the giant's den. The knight, hearing this, was very sorrowful and replied, Noble stranger, it is too much to run a second risk. This monster lived in a den under Yonder Mountain with a brother more fierce and fiery than himself. Therefore if you should go thither and perish in the attempt of the heart-breaking to me and my lady, let me persuade you to go with us and assist from any further pursuit. Nay, quote Jack, were there twenty not one should escape my fury. But when I have finished my task I will come and pay my respects to you. Jack had not ridden more than a mile and a half when the cave mentioned by the knight appeared to view near the entrance of which he beheld the giant on a block of timber with a knotted iron club by his side, waiting, as he supposed, for his brother's return with his prey. His goggle eyes were like flames of fire, his face grim and ugly, and his cheeks like a couple of large flitches of bacon, with the bristles of his beard resembling rods of iron wire and the locks that hung down upon his brawny shoulders were like curled snakes or hissing adders. Jack alighted from his horse and, putting on the cloak of darkness, approached the giant, saying softly, Oh, are you there? It will not be long ere I shall take you fast by the beard. The giant all this while could not see him on account of his invisible coat, so that Jack, coming up close to the monster, struck a blow with his sword at his head, but missing his aim he cut off the nose instead. At this the giant roared like collapse of thunder and began to lay about him with his iron club like one stark mad, but Jack, running behind, drove his sword up to the hilt in the giant's back which caused him to fall down dead. This done Jack cut off the giant's head and sent it with his brother's head also to King Arthur by a wagon ear he had hired for that purpose. Jack now resolved to enter the giant's cave in search of his treasure, and passing along through a great many windings and turnings he came at length to a large room paved with freestone, at the upper end of which was a boiling cauldron, and on the right hand a large table at which the giants used to dine. Then he came to a window, barred with iron, through which he looked and beheld a vast crowd of happy captives, who, seeing him, cried out, Alas, young man, art thou come to be one among us in this miserable den? I, quote Jack, but pray tell me, why is it you are so imprisoned? We are kept here, said one, till such time as the giants have a wish to feast, and then the fattest among us is killed, and many are the times they have dined upon murdered men. Say you so, quote Jack, and straight away unlock the gate and let them free, who all rejoiced like condemned men at the sight of a preve, then, searching the giants' coffers, he shared the gold and silver equally amongst them. It was about sunrise the next day when Jack, after seeing the captives on their way to their homes, mounted his horse to go on his journey, and by the help of his directions reached the night's house about noon. He was received here with all signs of joy by the night and his lady, who in respect to Jack prepared a feast which lasted many days, all the gentry in the neighborhood being of the company. The worthy night was likewise pleased to present him with a beautiful ring, on which was engraved a picture of the giant dragging the distressed night and his lady with this motto, We are in sad distress, you see, under a giant's fierce command, but gained our lives and liberty by valiant Jack's victorious hand. But in the midst of all this mirth a messenger brought the dismal tidings that one thunder-dell, a giant with two heads, having heard of the death of his two kinsmen, came from the northern dales to be revenged on Jack, and was within a mile of the night's seat, the country people flying before him like chaff. But Jack was no wit daunted, and said, Let him come, I have a tool to pick his teeth, and you, ladies and gentlemen, walk, but forth into the garden, and you shall witness this giant thunder-dell's death and destruction. The house of this night was in the midst of a small island with a moat thirty feet deep and twenty feet wide around it, over which lay a drawbridge, wherefore Jack employed men to cut through this bridge on both sides, nearly to the middle, and then, dressing himself in his invisible coat, he marched against the giant with his sword of sharpness. Although the giant could not see Jack, he smelt his approach, and cried out in these words, Fee, fie, foe, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make me bread. Sayest thou so, said Jack, Then thou art a monstrous miller indeed, at which the giant cried out again, Art thou that villain that killed my kinsman, Then I will tear thee with my teeth, Suck thy blood and grind thy bones to powder. You will catch me first, quote Jack, and throwing off his invisible coat, so that the giant might see him, and putting on his shoes of swiftness, he ran from the giant, followed like a walking castle, so that the very earth seemed to shake at every step. Jack led him along dance, in order that the knights and ladies might see, and at last, to end the matter, ran lightly over the drawbridge, the giant, in full speed, pursuing him with his club. Then, coming to the middle of the bridge, the giant's great weight broke it down, and he tumbled headlong into the water, where he rolled and wallowed like a whale. Jack, standing by the moat, laughed at him all the while. But though the giant foamed to hear him scoff, and plunged from place to place in the moat, yet he could not get out to be revenged, Jack at length got a cart-rope and cast it over the two heads of the giant, and drew him ashore by a team of horses, and then cut off both his heads with his sword of sharpness, and sent them to King Arthur. After some time spent in mirth and pastime, Jack, taking leave of the knights and ladies, set out for new adventures. Through many woods he passed, and came at length to the foot of a high mountain. Here, late at night, he found a lonesome house, and knocked at the door, which was opened by an ancient man with a head as white as snow. Father, said Jack, have you any place where a traveler may rest that has lost his way? Yes, said the old man, you are right welcome to my poor cottage, whereupon Jack entered, and down they sat together, and the old man began to speak as follows. Son, I know you are the great conqueror of giants, and behold, my son, on the top of this mountain is an enchanted castle, kept by a giant named Gallagantas, who by the help of an old conjurer betrays knights and ladies into his castle, where, by magic art, they are transformed into many shapes and forms. But above all, I weep the fate of a duke's daughter, whom they fetched from her father's garden, carrying her through the air in a burning chariot drawn by fiery dragons, and then shut her up within the castle, and transformed her into the shape of a white hind. And though many knights have tried to break the enchantment and set her free, yet no one could do it on account of two dreadful griffons which are placed at the castle gate, and which destroy everyone who comes near. But you, my son, having an invisible coat, may pass by them unseen. There you will find written on the gates of the castle in large letters by what means the enchantment may be broken. The old man having ended, Jack gave him his hand and promised that in the morning he would venture his life to free the lady. In the morning, Jack arose and put on his invisible cloak and magic cap and shoes and prepared himself for the task. When he had reached the top of the mountain, he soon saw the two fiery griffons, but passed them without fear because of his invisible coat, and having passed beyond them, he found upon the gates of the castle a golden trumpet, hung by a silver chain under which these lines were written. Whoever shall this trumpet blow shall soon the giant overthrow and break the black enchantment straight, so all shall be in happy state. Jack had no sooner read this but he blew the trumpet, at which the castle trembled to its vast foundations, and the giant and the conjurer were in horrid fear, biting their thumbs and tearing their hair, knowing their wicked reign was at an end. Then the giant, stooping to take up his club, Jack at one blow cut off his head, whereupon the conjurer, mounting up into the air, was carried away in a whirlwind. Thus was the enchantment broken, and all the lords and ladies who had so long been transformed into birds and beasts returned to their proper shapes, and the castle vanished away in a cloud of smoke. This being done, the head of Galagantis was likewise, in the usual manner, brought to the court of King Arthur, where, the very next day, Jack followed with the knights and ladies who had been so happily set free, whereupon, as a reward for his good services, the king bade the duke give his daughter in marriage to Honest Jack. So married they were, and the whole kingdom was filled with joy at the wedding. Furthermore, the king bestowed on Jack a noble dwelling, with very beautiful lands there too belonging, where he and his lady lived in great joy and happiness all the rest of their days. It is said that in the days of the famed Prince Arthur, who was the king of Britain in the year 516, there lived a great magician called Merlin, the most learned and skillful enchanter in the world at that time. This great magician, who could assume any form he pleased, was truly a great magician, and a great magician, and a great magician, and a great magician, who could assume any form he pleased, was travelling in the disguise of a poor beggar, and being very much fatigued, he stopped at the cottage of an honest plowman to rest himself and asked for some refreshment. The countryman gave him a hearty welcome, and his wife, who was a very good-hearted, hospitable woman, soon brought him some milk and a wooden bowl and some coarse brown bread on a platter. Merlin was much pleased with this homely repast and the kindness of the plowman and his wife, but he could not help seeing that though everything was neat and comfortable in the cottage, they seemed both to be sad and much cast down. He therefore questioned them on the cause of their sadness and learned that they were miserable because they had no children. The poor woman declared, with tears in her eyes, that she should be the happiest creature in the world if she had a son, and although he was no bigger than her husband's thumb, she would be satisfied. Merlin was so much amused with the idea of a boy no bigger than a man's thumb that he made up his mind to pay a visit to the queen of the fairies and asked her to grant the poor woman's wish. The drool fancy of such a little person among the human race pleased the fairy queen, too, greatly, and she promised Merlin that the wish should be granted. Accordingly, in a short time after, the plowman's wife had a son, who, wonderful to relate, was not a bit bigger than his father's thumb. The fairy queen, wishing to see the little fellow, thus born into the world, came in at the window while the mother was sitting up in bed admiring him. The queen kissed the child and giving it the name of Tom Thumb for some of the fairies who dressed her little favorite as she bade them. An oak leaf hat he had for his crown, his shirt of web by spider's spun with jacket-woeve of thistles down. His trousers were of feathers done, his stockings of apple-rind they tie, with eyelash from his mother's eye. His shoes were made of mouse's skin, tanned with the downy hair within. It is remarkable that Tom never grew any larger than his father's thumb, which was only of an ordinary size. But as he got older he became very cunning and full of tricks. When he was old enough to play with the boys and had lost all of his own cherry stones, he used to creep into the bags of his play-fellows, fill his pockets and getting out unseen would again join in the game. One day, however, as he was coming out of a bag of cherry stones, where he had been pilfering, as usual, the boy to whom it belonged chance to see him. Ah-ha, my little Tommy, said the boy, so I have caught you stealing my cherry stones at last and you shall be rewarded for your thievish tricks. On saying this, he drew the string tight round his neck and gave the bag such a hearty shake that poor little Tom's legs, thighs, and body were sadly bruised. He roared out with pain and begged to be let out, promising never to be guilty of such bad practices again. A short time afterwards his mother was making a batter pudding and Tom, being very anxious to see how it was made, claimed up to the edge of the bowl. But unfortunately his foot slipped and he plumbed overhead and ears into the batter, unseen by his mother, who stirred him into the pudding-bag and put him in the pot to boil. The batter had filled Tom's mouth and prevented him from crying. But on feeling the hot water he kicked and struggled so much in the pot that his mother thought that the pudding was bewitched and instantly pulling it out of the pot she threw it to the door. A poor tinker who was passing by lifted up the pudding and, putting it into his budget, he then walked off. As Tom had now got his mouth clear of the batter he then began to cry aloud, which so frightened the tinker that he flung down the pudding and ran away. The pudding being broke to pieces by the fall, Tom crept out covered over with the batter and with difficulty walked home. His mother, who was very sorry to see her darling in such a woeful state, put him into a teacup and soon washed off the batter after which she kissed him and laid him in bed. Soon after the adventure of the pudding Tom's mother went to milk her cow in the meadow and she took him along with her. As the wind was very high, fearing last he should be blown away, she tied him to a thistle with a piece of fine thread. The cow soon saw the oak leaf hat and, liking the look of it, took poor Tom and the thistle at one mouthful. While the cow was chewing the thistle Tom was afraid of her great teeth which threatened to crush him into pieces and he roared out as loud as he could. Mother, mother! Where are you, Tommy, my dear Tommy? said his mother. Here, mother, replied he, in the cow's mouth. His mother began to cry and wring her hands, but the cow, surprised at the odd noise in her throat, opened her mouth and let Tom drop out. Fortunately his mother caught him in her apron as he was falling to the ground or he would have been dreadfully hurt. She then put Tom in her bosom and ran home with him. Tom's father made him a whip of a barley straw to drive the cattle with and, having one day gone into the fields, he slipped a foot and rolled into the furrow. A raven, which was flying over, picked him up and flew with him to the top of a giant's castle that was near the seaside and there left him. Tom was in a dreadful state and did not know what to do, but he was soon more dreadfully frightened. For old Grumbo the giant came up to the walk on the terrace and seeing Tom he took him up and swallowed him like a pill. The giant had no sooner swallowed Tom than he began to repent what he had done, for Tom began to kick and jump about so much that he felt very uncomfortable and at last threw him up again into the sea. A large fish swallowed Tom the moment he fell into the sea which was soon after caught and bought for the table of King Arthur. When they opened the fish in order to cook it everyone was astonished at finding such a little boy and Tom was quite delighted to be out again. They carried him to the king who made Tom his dwarf and he soon grew a great favorite at court. For by his tricks and gambles he not only amused the king and queen, but also all the knights of the round table. It is said that when the king rode out on horseback he often took Tom along with him and if a shower came on he used to creep into his majesty's waistcoat pocket where he slept till the rain was over. King Arthur one day asked Tom about his parents wishing to know if they were as small as he was and whether rich or poor. Tom told the king that his father and mother were as tall as any of the sons about court but rather poor. On hearing this the king carried Tom to his treasury the place where he kept all his money and told him to take as much money as he could carry home to his parents which made the poor little fellow caper with joy. Tom went immediately to fetch a purse which was made of a water bubble and then returned to the treasury where he got a silver three-penny piece to put into it. Our little hero had some trouble in lifting the burden upon his back but he at last succeeded in getting it placed to his mind and set forward on his journey. However, without meeting with any accident and after resting himself more than a hundred times by the way in two days and two nights he reached his father's house in safety. Tom had traveled forty-eight hours with a huge silver piece on his back and was almost tired to death when his mother ran out to meet him and carried him into the house. Tom's parents were both happy to see him and the more so as he had brought such an amazing sum of money with him but the poor little fellow was excessively wearied having traveled half a mile in forty-eight hours with a huge silver three-penny piece on his back. His mother, in order to recover him, placed him in a walnut shell by the fireside and feasted him for three days on a hazelnut which made him very sick for a whole nut used to serve him a month. Tom was soon well again but as there had been a fall of rain and the ground was very wet he could not travel back to King Arthur's court. Therefore his mother, one day when the wind was blowing in that direction made a little parasol of cambered paper and tying Tom to it she gave him a puff into the air with her mouth which soon carried him to the king's palace. Just at the time when Tom came flying across the courtyard the cook happened to be passing with the king's great bowl of firmenty which was a dish his majesty was very fond of. But unfortunately the poor little fellow fell plum into the middle of it and splashed the hot firmenty about the cook's face. The cook, who was an ill-natured fellow being in a terrible rage at Tom for frightening and scalding him with the firmenty went straight to the king and said that Tom had jumped into the royal firmenty and thrown it down out of mere mischief. The king was so enraged when he heard this that he ordered Tom to be seized and tried for high treason. And there being no person who dared to plead for him he was condemned to be beheaded immediately. On hearing this dreadful sentence pronounced poor Tom fell a trembling with fear but seeing no means of escape and observing a miller close to him gaping with his great mouth as country boobies do at a fair he took a leap and fairly jumped down his throat. This exploit was done with such activity that not one person present saw it and even the miller did not know the trick which Tom had played upon him. Now as Tom had disappeared the court broke up and the miller went home to his mill. When Tom heard the mill at work he knew he was clear of the court and therefore he began to roll and tumble about so that the poor miller could get no rest thinking he was bewitched so he sent for a doctor. When the doctor came Tom began to dance and sing and the doctor being as much frightened as the miller sent in haste for five other doctors and twenty learned men. When they were debating about this extraordinary case the miller happened to yawn when Tom, seizing the chance made another jump and alighted safely upon his feet on the middle of the table. The miller who was very much provoked at being tormented by such a little pygmy creature fell into a terrible rage and, laying hold of Tom, ran to the king with him but his majesty being engaged with state affairs ordered him to be taken away and kept in custody till he sent for him. The cook was determined that Tom should not slip out of his hands this time so he put him in a mousetrap and left him to peep through the wires. Tom had remained in the trap a whole week when he was sent for by King Arthur who pardoned him for throwing down the Firmity and took him again into favor. On account of his wonderful feats of activity Tom was knighted by the king and went under the name of the renowned Sir Thomas Thumb. As Tom's clothes had suffered much in the batter-putting, the Firmity and the insides of the giant, miller and fishes his majesty ordered that he should have a new suit of clothes and be mounted as a knight. Of butterfly's wings his shirt was made his boots of chickens hide and by a nimble fairy blade well learned in the tailoring trade his clothing was supplied a needle dangled by his side a dapper mouse he used to ride a shredded Tom in stately pride. It was certainly very diverting to see Tom in this dress and mounted on the mouse as he rode out a hunting with the king and nobility who were all ready to expire with laughter at Tom and his fine prancing charger. One day as they were riding by a farmhouse a large cat which was lurking about the door made a spring and seized both Tom and his mouse she then ran up a tree with them and was beginning to devour the mouse but Tom boldly drew his sword and attacked the cat so fiercely that she let them both fall when one of the nobles caught him in his hat and laid him on a bed of down in a little ivory cabinet. The queen of the fairies came soon after to pay Tom a visit and carried him back to Fairyland where he lived several years. During his residence there King Arthur and all the persons who knew Tom had died and as he was desirous of being again at court the fairy queen after dressing him in a suit of clothes sent him flying through the air to the palace in the days of King Thunstone the successor of Arthur. Everyone flocked round to see him and being carried to the king he was asked who he was whence he came and where he lived. Tom answered my name is Tom Thum from the fairies I've come when King Arthur shone his court was my home in me he delighted by him I was knighted did you never hear of Sir Thomas Thum? The king was so charmed with this address that he ordered a little chair to be made in order that Tom might sit upon his table and also a palace of gold to live in a span high with a door an inch wide he also gave him a coach drawn by six small mice. The queen was so enraged at the honour paid to Sir Thomas that she resolved to ruin him and told the king that the little knight had been saucy to her. The king sent for Tom in great haste but being fully aware of the danger of royal anger he crept into an empty snail-shell where he lay for a long time until he was almost starved with hunger but at last he ventured to peep out and seeing a fine large butterfly on the ground near his hiding place he approached very cautiously and getting himself placed astride on it was immediately carried up into the air the butterfly flew with him from tree to tree and from field to field and at last returned to the court where the king and nobility all strove to catch him but at last poor Tom fell from his seat into a watering-pot in which he was almost drowned when the queen saw him she was in a rage and said he should be beheaded and he was again put into a mousetrap until the time of his execution however a cat observing something alive in the trap patted it about till the wires broke which set Tom at liberty the king received Tom again into favour which he did not live to enjoy for a large spider one day attacked him and although he drew his sword and fought well yet the spider's poisonous breath at last overcame him he fell dead on the ground where he stood and the spider sucked every drop of his blood King Thunstone and his court were so sorry at the loss of their little favourite that they wane into mourning and raised a fine white marble monument over his grave End of Section 2 Chapter 3 of English Fairy Tales 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 Melissa Jane Memphis, Tennessee English Fairy Tales by Ernest Ries The Imp Tree Once there was a king of Winchester called Orpheo and dearly he loved his queen, Herodys She happened one hot afternoon in summertime to be walking in the orchard when she became very drowsy and she lay down under an imp tree and there she fell fast asleep While she slept she had a strange dream She dreamt that two fair knights came to her side and bade her come quickly with them to speak to their lord and king but she answered them right boldly that she neither dared nor cared to go with them so the two knights went away but very quickly they returned bringing their king with them and a thousand knights in his train and many beauteous ladies dressed in pure white riding on snow white steeds The king had a crown on his head not of silver or red gold but all of precious stones that shone like the sun By his side was led a ladies white palfry that seemed to be prepared for some rider for its saddle was empty He commanded that Herodys to be placed upon this white steed and there upon the king of fairy and his train of knights and white dames and Herodys beside him rode off through a fair country with many flowery meads, fields, forests and pleasant waters where stood castles and towers amid the green trees Ferris of all on a green terrace overlooking many orchards and rose gardens stood the fairy king's palace When he had shown these things to Herodys he brought her back safe to the empty tree but he bade her on pain of death meet him under the same tree on the morrow Orpheo, when told the dream resolved that on the morrow he and a thousand knights should stand armed round the empty tree to protect her from the fairy king and when the time came there they stood like a ring of living steel or a hedge of spears to guard Herodys but in spite of all she was snatched away under their very eyes and in vain were all their efforts to see which way she and her fairy captors were gone Orpheo made search for his lost queen everywhere during many days but no footstep of her was to be found in upper earth and then in sorrow for her and in utter despair he left his palace at Winchester gave up his throne and went into the wilderness carrying only a harp for companion with its tunes as he sang to it sorrowing for Herodys the wild beasts were enchanted and often came round about him yay wolf and fox bear and little squirrel to hear him play and there in the forest Orpheo as the old storybook says often in hot under tides would see the fairy king besides the king of fairy with his route hunt and ride all round about with calls and elfin horns that blew and hounds that did reply there too but never pulled down heart or doe and never arrow left the bow and sometimes he saw the fairy host pass as if to war the knights with their swords drawn stout and fears of face and their banners flying other times he saw these fairy knights and ladies dance dressed like geysers with tabers beating and joyous trumpets blowing and one day Orpheo saw 60 lovely ladies ride out to the riverside for falconry each with her falcon on her bare hand and in the very midst of them oh wonder rode his lost queen Herodos he determined at once to follow them and after flying their falcons they returned through the forest at evening to a wild rocky place where they ride into the rock through a rude cleft overhung with brambles they ride in a league and more till they come to the fairest country ever seen where it is high mid-summer and broad sunlight in its mist stands a palace of an hundred towers with walls of crystal and windows coped and arched with gold all that land was light because when the night should come the precious stones in the palace walls gave out a light as bright as noonday into this palace hall Orpheo entered in the train of the ladies and saw there the king of fairy on his throne the king was enraged at first when he saw the strange man enter with his harp but Orpheo offers to play upon it and Herodos when she hears is filled with longing while the fairy king is so enchanted that he promises to Orpheo any gift he likes to ask out of all the riches of the fairy regions but Orpheo to this has only one word to reply Herodos the king of fairy thereupon gives her back to Orpheo and they return in great joy hand in hand together through the wilderness to Winchester where they live and reign together forever afterwards in peace and happiness but let none who would not be carried away like Herodos to the fairy king's country dare to sleep in the undertide beneath the imp tree End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of English Fairy Tales This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org English Fairy Tales by Ernest Rice Chapter 4 Once upon a time there were three bears who lived together in a house of their own in a wood one of them was little, small, wee-bear and one was a middle-sized bear and the other was a great huge bear They had each a pot for their porridge a little pot for the little small wee-bear and a mid-sized pot for the middle-bear and a great pot for the great huge bear and they had each a chair to sit in a little chair for the little small wee-bear and a middle-sized chair for the middle-bear and a great chair for the great huge bear and they had each a bed to sleep in a little bed for the little small wee-bear and a middle-sized bed for the middle-bear bear, and a great bed for the great huge bear. One day, after they made the porridge for their breakfast, and poured it into their porridge pots, they walked into the wood while the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths by beginning too soon to eat it. And while they were walking, a little old woman came to the house. She could not have been a good, honest old woman, for first she looked in at the window, and then she peeped in at the keyhole, and seeing nobody in the house, she lifted the latch. The door was not fastened, because the bears were good bears, who did nobody any harm and never suspected that anybody would harm them. So the little old woman opened the door and went in, and well pleased she was when she saw the porridge on the table. If she had been a good little old woman, she would have waited till the bears came home, and then perhaps they would have asked her to breakfast, for they were good bears, a little rough or so, as the manner of bears are, but for all that very good-natured and hospitable. But she was an impudent, bad old woman, and said about helping herself. So first she tasted the porridge of the great huge bear, and that was too hot for her, and she said a bad word about that. And then she tasted the porridge of the middle bear, and that was too cold for her, and she said a bad word about that too. And then she went to the porridge of the little small wee bear, and tasted that, and that was neither too hot nor too cold, but just right. And she liked it so well that she ate it all up. But the naughty old woman said a bad word about the little porridge pot, because it did not hold enough for her. Then the little woman sat down in the chair of a great huge bear, and that was too hard for her. And then she sat down in the chair of the middle bear, and that was too soft for her. And then she sat down in the chair of the little small wee bear, and that was neither too hard nor too soft, but just right. So she seated herself in it, and there she sat till the bottom of the chair came out, and down came she plump upon the ground. And the naughty old woman said a wicked word about that too. Then the little old woman went upstairs into the bed-chamber, in which the three bear slept. And first she lay down upon the bed of the great huge bear. But that was too high at the head for her. And next she lay down upon the bed of the middle bear. And that was too high at the foot for her. And then she lay down upon the bed of the little small wee bear. And that was neither too high at the head nor at the foot, but just right. So she covered herself up comfortably, and fell fast asleep. By this time the three bears thought their porridge would be cool enough, so they came home to breakfast. Now the little old woman had left the spoon of the great huge bear standing in the porridge. Somebody has been at my porridge, said the great huge bear in his great rough, gruff voice. And when the middle bear looked at his, he saw that the spoon was standing in it too. They were wooden spoons. If they had been silver ones, the naughty old woman would have put them in her pocket. Somebody has been at my porridge, said the middle bear in his middle voice. Then the little small wee bear looked at his, and there was the spoon in the porridge pot. But the porridge was all gone. Somebody has been at my porridge, and has eaten it all up, said the little small wee bear in his little small wee voice. Upon this the three bears, seeing that some one had entered their house, and eaten up the little small wee bear's breakfast, began to look about them. Now the little old woman had not put the hard cushion straight, when she rose from the chair of the great huge bear. Somebody's been sitting in my chair, said the great huge bear in his great rough, gruff voice. And the little old woman had squatted down the soft cushion of the middle bear. Somebody has been sitting in my chair, said the middle bear in his middle voice. And you know what the little old woman had done to the third chair. Somebody has been sitting in my chair, and has sate the bottom of it out, said the little small wee bear in his little small wee voice. Then the three bears thought it necessary that they should make farther search. So they went upstairs into their bed-chamber. Now the little old woman had pulled the pillow of the great huge bear out of its place. Somebody has been lying in my bed, said the great huge bear in his great rough, gruff voice. And the little old woman had pulled the bolster of the middle bear out of its place. Somebody has been lying in my bed, said the middle bear in his middle voice. And when the little small wee bear came to look at his bed, there was the bolster in its place, and the pillow in its place upon the bolster. And upon the pillow was the little old woman's ugly, dirty head, which was not in its place, for she had no business there. Somebody has been lying in my bed. And here she is, said the little small wee bear in his little small wee voice. The little old woman had heard in her sleep the great, rough, gruff voice of the great huge bear, but she was so fast asleep that it was no more to her than the roaring of wind, or the rumbling of thunder. And she had heard the middle voice of the middle bear, but it was only as if she had heard someone speaking in a dream. But when she heard the little small wee bear, it was so sharp and so shrill that it awakened her at once. Up she started, and when she saw the three bears on one side of the bed, she tumbled herself out at the other, and ran to the window. Now the window was open, because the bears, like good, tidy bears, as they were, always opened their bed chamber window when they got up in the morning. Out the little old woman jumped, and whether she broke her neck in the fall, or ran into the wood, and was lost there, or found her way out of the wood, and was taken up by the constable, and sent to the house of correction for a vagrant as she was, I cannot tell. But the three bears never saw anything more of her. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recorded by Melanie Jensen. English Fairy Tales by Ernest Rees. Tom Tit Tot. Once upon a time there were a woman, and she baked five pies, and when they come out the oven, they was that ore baked the crust were just too hard to eat. So she says to her daughter, Marr, says she, put you them their pies on the shelf, and leave them there a little, and they'll come again. She meant, you know, the crust would get soft. But the gal, she says to herself, while if they'll come again, I'll ate them now. And she said to work, and ate them all, first and last. Well, comes up her time, the woman, she said, go you, and get one of them their pies. I daresay they've come again now. The gal, she went, and she looked. But there weren't nothing but the dishes. Go back, she came, and says she, no, they didn't come again. Not none on them, says the mother. Not none on them, says she. Well, come again or not come again, says the woman. I'll have one for supper. But she can't if they ain't come, says the gal. But I can, says she, go you, and bring the best of them. Best or worst, says the gal. I ate them all, and you can't have one tell us come again. Well, the woman, she were holy bait. And she took her spin into the door to spin. And as she spanned, she sang, my daughter, I ate five, five pies today. My daughter, I ate five, five pies today. The king, he were coming down the street. And he heard her sing. But what she sang, he couldn't hear. So he stopped, and said, what were that you was a singing of, Maurer? The woman, she were ashamed to let him hear what her daughter had been a-doin'. So she sang, stits of that. My daughter has spun five, five skines today. My daughter has spun five, five skines today. Stars of mine, says the king. I never hear tell of anyone else could do that. Then he said, look you here. I want a wife, and I'll marry your daughter. But look you here, says he. 11 months out of the year, she shall have all the veils she likes to eat, and all the gown she likes to get, and all the company she likes to have. But the last month of the year, she'll have to spin five skines every day. And if she don't, I shall kill her. All right, says the woman, for she thought what a grand marriage that was. And as for them five skines, when it came to time, there'd be plenty of ways to get out of it. And likeliest, he'd have forgotten about it. Well, so they was buried. And for 11 months, the gal had all the veils she liked to eat, and all the gowns she liked to get, and all the company she liked to have. But when the time was getting to her, she began to think about them their skines, and to wonder if he had them in mind. But not one word did he say about them. And she wholly thought he'd forgot them. But the last day of the last month, he takes her to a room she'd never set eyes on before. There weren't nothing in it but a spinning wheel and a stool. And says he, no, my dear, here y'all will be shot in tomorrow with some vitals and some flax. And if you hate spun five skines by the night, your head will go off. And a while he went about his business. Well, she were that frightened. She'd always been such a useless milder that she didn't so much as know how to spin. And what were she to do tomorrow with no one to come night to help her? She sat down on a stool in the kitchen and look how she did cry. However, on a sudden, she heard a sort of a knocking low on the door. She upped and upped it. And what would she see but a small little black thing with a long tail that looked up at her, right curious? And that said, what are you crying for? What's that to you? Says she, never you mind, that said. But tell me what you're crying for. That won't do me no good if I do. Says she, you don't know that, that said. And twirl that tail around. Well, says she, that won't do no harm if that don't do no good. And she upped and told about the pies in the skines and everything. This is what I'll do, says the little black thing. I'll come to your window every morning and take the flax and bring it spun at night. What's your pay? Says she, that looked out by the corner of that size. And that said, I'll give you three guesses every night to guess my name. And if you hadn't guessed it before the month's up, you shall be mine. Well, she thought she'd sure be to guess that's name before the month was up. All right, she says, I agree. All right, that says. And look how that twirl that's tail. Well, the next day, the king he took her into the room and there was that the flax and the day's vitals. Now there's the flax, says he. And if it ain't spun up this night, off goes your head. And then he went out and locked the door. He'd hardly gone when there was a knocking on the window. She upped and she upped it. And there sure enough was the little old thing is sitting on the ledge. Where's the flax, says he. Here it be, says she. And she gond it to him. Well, in the evening a knocking came again to the window. She upped and she upped it. And there were the little old thing with five skines of flax on his arm. Here it be, says he. And he gond it to her. Now, what's my name, says he. Well, is that Bill, says she. No, I didn't, says he. And he twirled his tail. Is it Med, says she. No, I didn't, says he. And he twirled his tail. Well, is that Mark, says she. No, I didn't, says he. And he twirled his tail harder. And away he flew. Well, when her husband he come in, there was the five skines ready for him. I see I shan't have four to kill you tonight, my dear, says he. You'll have your vitals and your flax in the morning, says he. And away he goes. Well, every day the flax and the vitals they was brought, and every day that their little black impot used for to come to mornings and evenings. And all the days and all there she sat to try and for to think of names to say to it when to come at night. But she never hit on the right one. And as it got toward the end of the month, the impot that began for to look so maliceful, and that twirled that's tail faster and faster each time she gave a guess. At last it came to the last day but one, the impot that came at night along with the five skines. And that said, well, ain't you got my name yet? Is that Nicodemus? Says she. No, I didn't. That says, is that Sambul? Says she. No, I didn't. That says, well, is it Methuselum? Says she. No, I didn't that neither. That says, then that looks at her with that size like a coal fire. And that says, woman, there's only tomorrow night and then you'll be mine. On away it flew. Well, she felt that horrid. Howsome ever, she heard the king a coming along the passage. In he came, and when he see the five skines, he says, says he. Well, my dear, says he. I don't see but what you'll have your skines ready tomorrow night as well. And as I reckon, I shan't have to kill you. I'll have supper in here tonight. So they brought supper and another stool for him and down the two they set. Well, he had indeed but a mouthful or so when he stops and begin to laugh. What is it? Says she. Who I? Says he. I was out hunting today and I got to a place in the wood I'd never seen before. And there was an old chuck pit. And I heard a sort of a humming, kinda. So I got off my hobby and I went right quiet to the pit and I looked down. Well, what should there be but the funniest little black thing you ever set your eyes on? And what was that a doing on? But that a little spinning wheel and that were a spinning wonderful vast and a twirl in that tail. And as that span, that saying, name me, name me not. My name's Tom Titut. Well, when the mother heard this, she feared as if she could have jumped out of her skin for joy, but she didn't say a word. Next day, that their little thing looked so maliceful when he came for the flax. And when night came, she heard that knocking on the window panes. She opened the window and that come right in on the ledge that were grinning from ear to ear. And oh, that tail were twirling round so fast. What's my name? That says, as that gonder the skines. Is it Solomon? Said she, pretending to be a feared. No, it ain't. That say, and that come further into the room. Well, is that Zippity? Said she again. No, it ain't. Says the impot. And then that laughed and twirled that tail till you couldn't hardly see it. Take time, woman, that says. Next guess and you're mine. And that stretched out that's black hands at her. Well, she backed a step or two and she looked at it. And then she laughed out and says she a point in of her finger at it. Nimme, nimme, not your name's Tom Tit Tot. Well, when that heard her, that shrieked offal and away that flew into the dark. And never she saw it no more. End of Tom Tit Tot, recording by Melanie Jensen. Chapter Six of English Fairy Tales. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer. Please visit LibriVox.org. English Fairy Tales by Ernest Hriss. The Lampton Worm. Long, long ago, I cannot say how long, the young heir of Lampton Castle led a careless, profane life regardless of God and man. All his Saturday nights he spent in drinking and all his Sunday mornings in fishing. One Sunday he had cast his line into the water of Weir many times without a bite, and at last in a rage he let loose his tongue in curses loud and deep to the great scandal of the servants and country folk as they passed by to the old chapel at Brugesford, which was not in ruins then. Soon afterwards he felt something tugging at his line and, trusting he had at last hooked a fine fish, he used all his skill to play it and bring it safe to land. But what were his horror and dismay on finding that instead of a fish he had only caught a lowly worm of most evil appearance? He hastily tore the foul thing from his hook and flung it into a well close by, which is still known by the name of the Wormwell. The young heir had scarcely thrown his line again into the stream when a stranger of venerable appearance, passing by, asked him what sport he had met with. He replied, why, truly I think I have caught the evil one himself. Look in and judge. The stranger looked and remarked that he had never seen the like of it before, that it resembled an eft, only it had nine holes on each side of its mouth and finally that he thought it boded no good. The worm remained there unheeded in the well till it outgrew so confined a dwelling place. It then emerged and betook itself by day to the river where it lay coiled round a rock in the middle of the stream and by night to a neighboring hill round whose base it would twine itself while it continued to grow so fast that it soon could encircle the hill three times. This eminence is still called the Worm Hill. It is oval in shape on the north side of the weir and about a mile and a half from old Lampton Hall. The Lampton worm now became the terror of the whole countryside. It sucked the cow's milk, worried the cattle, devoured the lambs and committed every sort of depredation on the helpless peasantry. Having laid waste the district on the north side of the river, it crossed the stream and approached Lampton Hall where the old lord was living alone and desolate. His son had repented of his evil life and had gone to the wars in a distant country. Some people say he had gone as a crusader to the Holy Land. On hearing of the dreaded worms' approach the terrified household assembled in council. Much was said, but to little purpose, till the steward, a man of age and experience, advised that the large trough which stood in the courtyard should immediately be filled with milk. This was done without delay. The monster approached, drank the milk and, without doing further harm, returned across the weir to wrap his giant form around his favourite hill. The next day he was seen recrossing the river. The trough was hastily filled again and with the same results. It was found that the milk of nine kai was needed to fill the trough and if this quantity was not placed there every day, regularly and in full measure, the worm would break out into a violent rage lashing its tail round the trees in the park and tearing them up by the roots. The Lampedon worm was now, in fact, the terror of the whole country. Many a night had come out to fight with it, but all to no purpose, for it possessed the marvellous power of reuniting itself after being cut asunder and thus was more than a match for all the knighthood of the north. So, after many a vain conflict and the loss of many a brave man, the creature was left in possession of its favourite hill. After seven long years, however, the air of Lampedon returned home to find the broad lands of his ancestors' waste and his people terror-stricken or in hiding, his father sinking into the grave, overwhelmed with care and anxiety. He took no rest, we are told, till he had crossed the river and surveyed the worm as it lay coiled round the foot of the worm hill. Then hearing how every other night and man at arms had failed, he took counsel in the matter from the wise woman of Chesterley Street. At first the wise woman of Chesterley Street did nothing but abrade him for having brought this scourge upon his house and neighbourhood. But when she saw that he was indeed penitent and eager at any cost to remove the evil he had caused, she made him get his best suit of mail, studded thickly with spearheads, to put it on, and thus armed, to take his stand on the rock in the middle of the river weir. There he must meet the worm face to face, trusting the issue to Providence and his good sword. But she charged him before going to the encounter to take a vow that if successful he would slay the first living thing that met him on his way homewards. Should he fail to fulfil this vow, she warned him that for nine generations no lord of Lampton would die in his bed. The air, now a belted night, made the vow in Brugesford Chapel. He studded his armour back and breastplate, greaves and armlets with the sharpest spearheads, and unsheathing his trusty sword took his stand on the rock in the middle of the weir. At the accustomed hour the worm uncoiled its snaky twine and wound its way towards the hall, crossing the river close by the rock on which the knight was standing eager for the combat. He struck a violent blow upon the monster's head as it passed, on which the creature turned on him and writhing and lashing the water in its rage flung its tail round him as if to strangle him in its coils. But the closer the worm wrapped him in its folds the more deadly were its self-inflicted wounds till at last the river ran crimson with its blood. As its strength diminished the knight redoubled his strokes and he was able at last with his good sword to cut the serpent fold by fold and piece by piece asunder. Each severed part was immediately borne away by the swiftness of the current and the worm unable to reunite itself was utterly destroyed. During this long and terrible combat in the river the household of Lampton had shut themselves within doors to pray for their young lord he having promised that when it was over he would if conqueror blow a blast on his bugle this would assure his father of his safety and warn them to let loose a favourite hound which they had destined as the victim according to the wise woman's word and the young lord's vow. When however the bugle notes were heard within the hall the old lord of Lampton forgot everything but his son's safety and rushing out of doors ran to meet and embrace him. The air of Lampton felt his heart turned sick as he saw his old father come. What could he do? He could not lift his hand against his beloved father yet how else could he fulfil his vow? In his perplexity he blew another blast the hound was let loose it bounded to its master the sword yet reeking with the Lampton worm's blood was plunged into its heart but it was all in vain the vow was broken what the wise woman of Chesterley Street had foretold came true the curse lay upon the house of Lampton for nine generations. END OF CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN OF ENGLISH FAIRYTAILS This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org ENGLISH FAIRYTAILS by Ernest Riz THE FAIRYHORN Once upon a time a knight was riding in the country beyond Gloucester and came to a forest abounding in boars, stags and every kind of wild beast. Now in a grove-vulon of this forest there was a little mount rising in a point to the height of a man on which knights and other hunters were used to ascend when fatigued with heat and thirst to seek some relief. The nature of the place, for it is a fairy place, is such that whoever ascends the mount must leave his companions and go quite alone. As a knight rode in the wood and came nigh this fairy knoll he met with a woodcutter and questioned him about it. He must go tither alone, the woodcutter told him, and say, as if speaking to some other person, I thirst. Immediately there would appear a cup-bearer in a rich crimson dress with a shining face, bearing in his stretched out hand a large horn, adorned with golden gems, such as was the custom among the most ancient English. The cup was full of nectar, of an unknown but most delicious flavor, and when it was drunk, all heat and weariness fled from those who drank of it, so that they became ready to toil anew, instead of being tired from having toiled. Moreover, when the nectar was drunk, the cup-bear offered a towel to the drinker to wipe his mouth with, and then having done this he waited neither for a silver penny for his services, nor for any question to be asked. The knight laughed to himself when he heard this. Who, thought he, would be full enough having within his grasp such a drinking-horn ever to let it go again from him? Later, that very same day, as he rode back, caught in tired and thirsty from his hunting, he bethought him of the fairy knoll and the fairy-horn. Sending away his followers, he repaired thither and alone, and did as the woodcutter had told him. He ascended the little hill and said in a bold voice, I thirst. Instantly there appeared as the woodcutter had foretold, a cup-bearer in a crimson dress, bearing in his hand a drinking-horn. The horn was ritually beset with precious gems, and the knight was filled with envy at the sight of it. No sooner had he seized upon it and tasted of its delicious nectar than he determined to make off with the horn. So having gotten the horn and drunk of it every drop, instead of returning it to the cup-bear, as in good manners he should have done, he stepped down from the knoll and rudely made off with it in his hand, but learned what fate overtook this knight. The good Earl of Gloucester, standing on the fairy knoll, when he heard of the wicked knight had destroyed the kind custom of the horn, attacked the robber in his stronghold, and forthright slew him and carried off the horn. But alas! The Earl did not return it to the fairy cup-bearer, but gave it to his master and lord, King Henry the Elder. Since then you may stand all day at the fairy knoll, and many times cry, I thirst, but you may not taste of the fairy horn. End of chapter seven. The pixie flower of English fairy tales. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recorded by Melanie Jensen. English Fairy Tales by Ernest Rees. The Pixie Flower. Once upon a time they lived in Devonshire, two serving damsels called Molly and Sabina, who were very fond of ribbons and finery, when their mistress scolded them for spending more money than they ought upon such things. They said the pixies were very kind to them, and would often drop silver for their pleasure into a bucket of fair water, which they placed for the accommodation of those little beings in the chimney corner every night before they went to bed. Once, however, it was forgotten, and the pixies, finding themselves disappointed by an empty bucket, whisked upstairs to the maid's bedroom, popped through the keyhole, and began to exclaim aloud against the laziness and neglect of the damsels. Now Sabina, who lay awake and heard all this, jogged her fellow servant and proposed getting up immediately to put things straight. But Molly, lazy girl, who liked not being disturbed out of a comfortable nap, pettishly declared that for her part, she would not stir out of bed to please all the pixies in Devonshire. The good-humored Sabina, however, got up, filled the bucket, and was rewarded by a handful of silver pennies found in it the next morning. But long ere that time had arrived, what was her alarm as she crept towards the bed to hear all the elves buzzing like so many angry bees and consulting us to what should be done to the lazy, lazy lass who would not stir out of bed for their pleasure. Some proposed, pinchers, nips, and bobs. Others wanted to spoil her new cherry-coloured bonnet and ribbons. One talked of sending her the toothache, another of giving her a red nose. But this lass was voted much too bad a punishment for a pretty young lass. So, tempering mercy with justice, the pixies were kind enough to let her off with a lame leg, which was to plank her for seven years and was only to be cured by a certain herb growing on Dartmoor. It's long and learned and very queer and difficult name the elven judge pronounced in a high and shrill voice. It was a name of seven syllables, seven being also the number of years decreed for Molly's lameness. Sabina, good-natured maid, wished to save her fellow damsel so long a suffering, tried with might and main to bear in mind the name of this strange herb. She said it over and over again, tied a knot in a garter at every syllable as to help to memory and thought she had the word just as safe and sure as her own name and very possibly felt much more anxious about retaining the one than the other. At length she dropped a sleep and did not wake until the morning. Now, whether Sabina's head was like a sieve that lets out as fast as it takes in or if the overexertion to remember only caused her to forget cannot be determined, but certain it is that when she opened her eyes she knew nothing at all about the matter except that Molly was to go lame on her right leg for seven long years and thus an herb with a strange name could be got to cure her. And lame Molly went for nearly the whole of those seven years. At length, about the end of that time Sabina and Molly went out into the fields only one morning to pick mushrooms when a merry, squint-eyed, queer-looking boy started up all of a sudden just as Molly went to pluck a fine big one and came tumbling head over heels towards her. He held in his hand a green herb with a tiny yellow flower which some say was called Inula Hellenium and he insisted upon striking Molly with it on the lame lake. From that very moment she got well and lame Molly became the best dancer in the whole town when she and Sabina danced at the feast of May Day on the green end of the pixie flower. Recorded by Melanie Jensen. Chapter nine of English fairy tales. 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 John Paul Nelson. English Fairy Tales by Ernest Rees. Tom Hickathrift. Long before William the Conqueror, there dwelt a man in the Isle of Eli named Thomas Hickathrift, a poor laboring man but so strong that he was able to do in one day the ordinary work of two. He had an only son whom he christened Thomas after his own name. The old man put his son to good learning but he would take none for he was none of the wisest but something soft and had no docility at all in him. God calling this good man, the father, to his rest, his mother, being tender of him, kept him by her hard labor as well as she could. But this was no easy matter. For Tom would sit all day in the chimney corner instead of doing anything to help her. And although at the time we are speaking of he was only 10 years old, he would eat more than four or five ordinary men and was five feet and a half in height and two feet and a half broad. His hand was more like a shoulder of mutton than a boy's hand and he was altogether like a little monster. But yet his great strength was not known. Tom's strength came to be known in this manner. His mother, it seems as well as himself, for they lived in the days of merry old England, slept upon straw. Now being a tidy old creature, she must every now and then have a new bed. And one day, having been promised a bottle of straw by a neighboring farmer, after much begging, she got her son to fetch it. Tom, however, made her borrow a cart rope first before he would budge a step without saying what he wanted it for. But that poor woman, too glad to gain his help upon any terms, let him have it at once. Tom, swinging the rope around his shoulders, went to the farmers and found him with two men threshing in a barn. Having told what he wanted, the farmer said he might take as much straw as he could carry. Tom at once took him at his word and placing the rope in a right position, rapidly made up a bundle containing at least a cart load, the men jeering at him all the while. Their merry men, however, did not last long. For Tom flung the enormous bundle over his shoulders and walked away with it without any difficulty and left them all gaping after him. After this exploit, Tom was no longer allowed to be idle. Everyone tried to secure his services and we are told many tales of his mighty strength. On one occasion, having been offered as great a bundle of firewood as he could carry, he marched off with one of the largest trees in the forest. Tom was also extremely fond of attending fairs and in cuddling, wrestling, or throwing the hammer, there was no one who could compete with him. He thought nothing of flinging a huge hammer into the middle of a river a mile off and in fact performed such extraordinary feats that the folk began to have a fear of him. At length, a brewer at Linn, who required a strong, lusty fellow to carry his beer to the marsh and to Whispeach, after much persuasion and promising him a new suit of clothes and as much as he liked to eat and drink, secured Tom for his business. The distance he daily traveled with the beer was upwards of 20 miles, for although there was a shorter cut through the marsh, no one durst go that way for the fear of a monstrous giant who was lord of a portion of the district and who killed or made slaves of everyone he could lay his hands upon. Now in the course of time, Tom was thoroughly tired of going such a roundabout way and without telling his plan to anyone, he resolved to pass through the giant's domain or lose his life in the attempt. This was a bold undertaking, but good living had so increased Tom's strength and courage that venturesome as he was before, his hardiness was so much increased that he would have faced a still greater danger. He accordingly drove his cart in the forbidden direction, flinging the gates wide open as if for the purpose of making his daring more plain to be seen. At length, he was despised by the giant who was in a rage at his boldness, but consoled himself by thinking that Tom and the beer would soon become his prey. Saraw, said the monster, who gave you permission to come this way? Do you not know how I make all stand in fear of me? And you, like an impudent rogue, must come and fling my gates open at your pleasure? Are you careless of your life? Do you not care what you do? But I will make you an example for all rogues under the sun. Does thou not see how many thousand heads hang upon yonder tree? Heads of those who have offended against my laws? But thy head shall hang higher than all the rest for an example. But Tom made him answer, a dishclout in your teeth for your news, for you shall not find me to be one of them. No, said the giant in astonishment and indignation. And what a fool you must be if you come to fight with such as one as I am and bring never a weapon to defend yourself. Quote Tom, I have a weapon here that'll make you know you are a traitorly rogue. This speech highly incents the giant who immediately ran to his cave for his club intending to dash out Tom's brains at one blow. Tom was now much distressed for a weapon, as by some chance he had forgot one and he began to reflect how very little his whip would help him against a monster 12 feet in height and six feet round the waist. But while the giant was gone for his club, Tom bethought himself and turning his cart upside down, a droidly takes out the axel tree which would serve him for a staff and removing a wheel fits it to his arm instead of a shield. Very good weapons indeed in time of trouble and worthy of Tom's wit. When the monster returned with his club, he was amazed to see the weapons with which Tom had armed himself. But uttering a word of defiance, he bore down upon the poor fellow with such heavy strokes that it was as much as Tom could do to defend himself with his wheel. Tom however at length cut the giant a heavy blow with the axel tree on the side of his head that he nearly reeled over. What said Tom? Have you drunk of my strong beer already? This inquiry did not, as we may suppose, mollify the giant who laid on his blows so sharply and heavily that Tom was obliged to defend himself. By and by, not making any impression on the wheel, he got almost tired out and was obliged to ask Tom if he would let him drink a little and then he would fight again. No, said Tom, my mother did not teach me that wit. Who would be fool then? The end may readily be imagined. Tom, having beaten the giant, cut off his head and entered the cave which he found completely filled with gold and silver. The news of this victory rapidly spread throughout the country for the giant had been a common enemy to the people about. They made bonfires for joy and showed their respect to Tom by every means in their power. A few days afterwards, Tom took possession of the cave and all the giant's treasure. He pulled down the former and built a magnificent house on the spot. But as for the land stolen by the giant, part of it he gave to the poor for their common, merely keeping enough for himself and his good old mother, Jane Hiccathrift. Tom was now a great man and a hero with all the country folk so that when anyone was in danger or difficulty, it was to Tom Hiccathrift he must turn. It chanced that about this time, many idol and rebellious persons drew themselves together in and about the Isle of Eli and set themselves to defy the king and all his men. By this time, you must know, Tom Hiccathrift had secured to himself a trusty friend and comrade, almost his equal and strength and courage, for though he was but a tinker, yet he was a great and lusty one. Now the sheriff of the county came to Tom under cover of night full of fear and trembling and begged his aid and protection against the rebels. Else, said he, we be all dead men. Tom, nothing loath, called his friend the tinker and as soon as it was day, led by the sheriff, they went out armed with their clubs to the place where the rebels were gathered together. When they were got thither, Tom and the tinker marched up to the leaders of the band and asked them why they were set upon breaking the king's peace. To this, they answered loudly, our will is our law and by that alone we will be governed. Nay, quote Tom, if it be so, these trusty clubs are our weapons and by them alone you shall be chastised. These words were no sooner uttered than they madly rushed on the throng of men, bearing all before them and laying 20 or 30 sprawling with every blow. The tinker struck off heads with such violence that they flew like balls for miles about and when Tom had slain hundreds and so broken his trusty club, he laid hold of a lusty raw-boned miller and made use of him as a weapon till he had quite cleared the field. If Tom Hiccathrift had been a hero before, he was twice a hero now. When the king heard of it all, he sent for him to be knighted and when he was Sir Thomas Hiccathrift, nothing would serve him but that he must be married to a great lady of the county. So married he was and a fine wedding they had of it. There was a great feast given to which all the poor widows for miles round were invited because of Tom's mother and rich and poor feasted together. Among the poor widows who came was an old woman called Stumbleup who with much ingratitude stole from the great table a silver tankard but she had not got safe away before she was caught and the people were so enraged at her wickedness that they had nearly hanged her. However, Sir Tom had her rescued and commanded that she should be drawn on a wheelbarrow through the streets and lanes of Cambridge holding a placard in her hand on which was written, I am the naughty Stumbleup who tried to steal the silver cup. End of chapter nine, recording by John Paul Nelson. Chapter 10 of English Fairy Tales, the Black Bull of Norway. 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 Melanie Jensen. English Fairy Tales by Ernest Rees. The Black Bull of Norway. Once upon a time there lived a king who had three daughters. The two eldest were proud and ugly but the youngest was the gentlest and most beautiful creature ever seen and the pride not only of her father and mother but of all in the land. As it fell out, the three princesses were talking one night of whom they would marry. I would have no one lower than a king, said the eldest princess. The second would take a prince or a great duke even. Said the youngest, laughing, you both are so proud. Now I would be content with the Black Bull of Norway. Well, they thought no more of the matter till the next morning when as they sat at breakfast they heard the most dreadful bellowing at the door and what should it be but the Black Bull come for his bride. You may be sure they were all terribly frightened at this for the Black Bull was one of the most horrible creatures ever seen in the world and the king and queen did not know how to save their daughter. At last they determined to send him off with the old henwife. So they put her on his back and away he went with her till he came to a great black forest when throwing her down he returned roaring louder and more frightfully than ever. Then sent they one by one all the servants then the two eldest princesses but not one of them met with any better treatment than the old henwife and at last they were forced to send their youngest and favorite child. Far she traveled upon the Black Bull through many dreadful forests and lowly wastes till they came at last to a noble castle where a large company was assembled. The Lord of the castle pressed them to stay though much he wandered at the lovely princess and her strange companion but as they went in among the guests the princess aspired a pin sticking in the Black Bull's hide which she pulled out and to the surprise of all there appeared not a frightful wild beast but one of the most beautiful princes ever beheld. You may believe how delighted the princess was to see him fall at her feet and thank her for breaking his cruel enchantment. There were great rejoicings in the castle at this but at last in the midst of them he suddenly disappeared and though every place was sought he was nowhere to be found. The princess from being filled with happiness was all but broken hearted. She determined however to seek through all the world for him and many weary ways she went but for a long, long while nothing could she hear of her lover. Traveling once through a dark wood she lost her way and as night was coming on she thought she must now certainly die of cold and hunger but seeing a light through the trees she went on till she came to a little hut where an old woman lived who took her in and gave her both food and shelter. In the morning the old wifey gave her three nuts and she was not to break until her heart was like to break and or again like to break. So showing her the way she bade God speed her and the princess once more sat out on her weary some journey. She had not gone far when a company of lords and ladies rode past her all talking merrily of the fine doolings they expected at the Duke of Norway's wedding. Then she came up to a number of people carrying all sorts of fine things and they too were going to the Duke's wedding. At last she came to a castle where nothing was to be seen but cooks and bakers some running one way and some another and all so busy that they did not know what to do first. While she was looking at this she heard a noise of hunters behind her and someone cried out make way for the Duke of Norway and who should ride past but the prince and a beautiful lady. You may be sure her heart was now like to break and or again like to break and at this sad sight so she broke one of the nuts and out came a wee wifey carding wool. The princess then went into the castle and asked to see the lady who no sooner saw the wee wifey so hard at work then she offered the princess anything in her castle for it. I will give it to you said she only on condition that you put off for one day your marriage with the Duke of Norway that I may go into his room alone tonight. So anxious was the lady for the nut that she consented and when dark night was come and the Duke fast asleep the princess was put alone into his chamber. Sitting down by his bedside she began singing for have I sought he near am I brought to he did Duke of Norway will he no turn and speak to me. Though she's saying this over and over again the Duke never wakened and in the morning the princess had to leave him without his knowing she had ever been there. She then broke the second nut and out came a wee wifey spinning which so delighted the lady that she readily agreed to put off her marriage another day for it but the princess came no better speed the second night than the first and almost in despair she broke the last nut which contained a wee wifey reeling and on the same condition as before the lady got possession of it. When the Duke was dressing in the morning his man asked him what the strange singing and moaning that had been heard from his room for two nights meant. I heard nothing said the Duke it could only have been your fancy take no sleeping drought tonight and be sure to lay aside your pillow of heaviness said the man and you also were here what for two nights has kept me awake. The Duke did so and the princess coming in sat down sighing at his bedside thinking this the last time she might ever see him. The Duke started up when he heard the voice of his dearly loved princess and with many endearing expressions of surprise and joy explained to her that he had long been in the power of a witch wife whose spells over him were now happily ended by their once again meeting. The princess happy to be the means of breaking his second evil spell consented to marry him and the wicked witch wife who fled that country afraid of the Duke's anger has never since been heard of. All was hurry in preparation in the castle and the marriage which took place happily ended the adventures of the black bull in Norway and the wanderings of the king's daughter. End of the black bull of Norway. Recorded by Melanie Jensen.