A Picture-book of Merry Tales Read online

  "Dear Father," Jackey said, "my dear, good mother, who is in heaven,forgives you now. Oh, if she were but here to share our happiness!"

  "Play me that tune once more," his Father said, "and then we will go toyour step-mother, and I will beg and pray of her to send you to school,for I can do nothing, my poor Boy."

  They went to that amiable lady, with whom, however, all prayers were invain. She said she would not spend a farthing of her money on father orson, but that Jackey should be a shoemaker; that she would send him toher brother, who was a shoemaker in a neighbouring village, where hewould soon be broken of his idle habits. Jackey said he would not be ashoemaker; whereupon she gave him a slap on the face, which made hisears sing and bright spots dance before his eyes, promising at the sametime to break his fiddle over his head.

  Jackey, however, was none the less determined not to be a shoemaker,and his only trouble was how to keep the dear fiddle out of her way.The next morning very early he was waked by a kiss from his father, whosaid--

  "Get up quickly, my Boy, and dress yourself, for I cannot do anythingfor you here, not even protect you, and it will be better to trustto the kindness of strangers than go to that cruel woman's brother,who no doubt is as bad as herself. We must part, my dear Jackey, butI do not fear for you, for wherever you play the airs you played meyesterday, you will be sure to find friends. Take your fiddle then, andwander forth into the world, and if you remain a good boy, as you havehitherto been, God will watch over you and protect you. Make haste; andin the meantime I will see what I can find to eat for you to take withyou."

  Jackey was ready when his father returned with some provisions done upin a bag. "Now follow me," he said, "and take care that you do not makeany noise, so that no one may hear us." They got out safely and wentstraight to the forest, where Jackey's Father stopping, said to him,"You are now safe out of the clutches of your wicked stepmother, and wemust part; but, my dear Boy, we will put our trust in Providence, and,if my life is spared a few years longer, I shall see you again, forwhen you prosper in the world, and prosper you will, my Son, you willnot forget your old father."

  "Let me remain with you, my dear Father," Jackey said, "for you are nothappy, and I will try to cheer you with my fiddle. I do not mind mystepmother's cruelty."

  "No, my Child, it must not be," his Father answered, "I have deservedmy fate, and will try and bear it with resignation; but fortune awaitsyou in the world, far from here. Do not cry; and now, with my blessingon you, we must part." He pressed his son to his breast, and turnedback without uttering another word.

  Jackey watched him till he was out of sight, and then sadly went onhis way into the forest, he knew and cared not whither. After a timehe reached the very spot, by the side of the rivulet, where he hadfirst sat with the violin and listened to the voices of the forest; andas he seated himself, the rustling in the trees and the murmuring ofthe stream joined with the different notes of the birds in forming theharmony of music. The sadness of his heart gradually became softened,and, taking the violin out of the bag in which he always kept it, heagain imitated the various sounds he heard, the birds vieing with eachother to teach him something new.

  Returning cheerfulness and the freshness of the air reminded Jackeythat he had not yet eaten anything, so he made a good breakfast off theprovisions put up by his father, not forgetting to give some crumbs tothe birds that gathered about him; and with a light heart he continuedhis journey deeper into the forest. He thus wandered on all day, andneither found the time long, nor was he weary; for there was constantlysomething new to see, and hear, and imitate upon his dear fiddle. Thesun had sunk below the horizon, tingeing a few feathery clouds with abeautiful pink, and the little wanderer saw no end to the forest; butthat did not trouble him, and he chose a soft mossy spot for a bed,on which he lay down, and was soon fast asleep, forgetful of time andeverything else.

  Nothing disturbed his quiet slumbers till about midnight, when a suddenlight flashing across his eyes awakened him. He started up, and sawit as light as day all around. Yet it was not daylight; it was morelike the light of the moon, but milder and warmer. He looked throughsome bushes, where the light seemed strongest, and stood transfixedwith amazement at what he saw. Hundreds of the most lovely beings weredancing in a circle, whilst thousands of others seemed to fill theair around. Some were sitting, swinging backwards and forwards, onthe different flowers, whilst others, in countless numbers, appearedgliding up and down the rays of light. He thought he had never seenanything so beautiful as the little aerial beings before him. Though sovery small--for they were not nearly the size of Jackey--their formswere fully developed, and of the most exquisite elegance and grace.The maidens in particular, who seemed all of the age of seventeen oreighteen, were lovely in the extreme.

  Jackey knew they must be fairies; and two of the number who were alittle taller, and, if possible, more beautiful than the rest, besidesthat they wore silver crowns, he judged to be the king and the queen.Dazzled by the light and the beauty of the scene before him, he wasfor a time lost in admiration; but gradually the sweet tones, as thefairies sang, gained the ascendancy, and all the other senses seemedabsorbed by that of hearing. As the fairies danced, they sang, andwere joined by thousands of other voices--in sounds, now of the mostlively merriment, then softly till they became solemn, when again theyburst forth in the wildest strains. The dance never ceased; but as somewithdrew from the ring their places were taken by others, who began thesong anew.

  Jackey had no knowledge of time, whether the music continued forminutes only or for hours; however, it became fainter and fainter tillit melted away, and he found himself in darkness; but long, long afterhe lay down again it seemed as if he still heard the fairy song, andwhen he awoke in the morning it still sounded in his ears.

  _The Sight Jackey saw._]

  "How lovely!" Jackey exclaimed; "oh, could I but imitate those sweetsounds!" "Try," the violin said from its bag. "Well thought," Jackeycried; and taking it out, immediately began to play the fairy song. Heplayed it over and over again, and each time better, till at length hesaid, kissing his dear violin, "Well done, Fiddle, we can do it now."Then Jackey ate his breakfast, and having tried the song once more, heresumed his wanderings through the forest. He stopped several times toplay the fairy song again, trying also his other tunes, to see thatthey had not been driven out of his memory by these still sweetersounds; and having had his breakfast very early, had made a finish ofhis stock of provisions, but that did not trouble him, though thereseemed no end to the forest.

  About mid-day, however, he began to feel hungry again, and hastened hissteps, in hopes of finding some outlet from the forest, or at leastsome woodman's hut. He began to feel some anxiety for the future;but he did not despair, for he was a good boy, and put his trust inProvidence. The birds sang merrily, as if to cheer him; and soon hesaw that the forest became lighter, nor was it long before he foundhimself on the highway, and at no great distance stood a village.

  Anxious as he was to reach some human habitations, when he was outsidethe forest he turned round to bid it farewell, and thank his dear birdsfor their kindness to him. A farewell sounded back, and cheerfully hewent on his way to the village. He remembered his father having saidthat wheresoever he played he would be sure to find friends; and nosooner did he reach the first houses, than he took out his violin andbegan to play. First he played the voices of the forest, and soon allthe people were at their windows and their doors, listening to him; butwhen he played the fairy song, they came out and surrounded him, and hehad to begin again and again.

  There was now a contest amongst the principal inhabitants of thevillage who should take the wonderful boy to their home, when theclergyman and his wife carried him off.

  Jackey would not accept their kindness without telling them that hecould not stay long, for his father had sent him to seek his fortunein the world, that his father was not happy at home, and that he wasgoing back to fetch him as soon as he had made his fortune.

  The
good people promised that they would not keep him longer than hefelt inclined to remain with them. They were, however, so kind thatweek after week still found him there, and he was so intelligentand docile that every one loved him. Living now with people of goodeducation, Jackey soon felt his ignorance, and applied himself sodiligently to his studies, in which he was assisted both by theclergyman and his wife, that he made rapid progress.

  He did not neglect his music, and frequently went back into theforest--no one interfering with his wanderings. Neither did he forgethis father, nor give up the intention of seeking his fortune in theworld, though he was delayed by the persuasion of his kind protectors,who, however, gave their consent to his departure after he had beenwith them about a year, providing him with every necessary for hisjourney, as also with a small supply of money.

  Jackey had improved as much in person as in mind, but retained hisformer innocent simplicity of heart and kindly feelings, so that hisfeathered friends loved him still, and he was as happy as the day waslong.

  He visited one country after another, passing from village to village,and from town to town; and wherever he played, both old and youngsurrounded him, and every one was ready to befriend him. Thus yearafter year passed away, and Jackey had grown to be a tall, handsomeyouth of about nineteen, with flowing black hair, large dark eyes,and an expression of cheerfulness and good humour. His playing wascelebrated far and wide, but, more particularly, when he played thefairy song every one was carried away by admiration and surprise.

  In each country he visited many inducements had been held out to detainhim; but a secret impulse drew him on till he came to a large andpowerful kingdom, which he found plunged in the deepest mourning; fornot only had the queen just died, but the most beautiful of princesses,her daughter, was brought to the very verge of death by grief at theloss of her beloved mother.

  Her royal father, whose only child she was, in the utmost despair,had promised half his kingdom to the physician who should save her;but the only remedy the most learned could propose was any excitementthat would distract her from her grief, for it was that alone thatwas consuming her. This remedy was beyond their art, and the kingproclaimed that whoever cured the princess should be the inheritor ofhis throne and the husband of his daughter, if she consented to marryhim.

  Jackey, on hearing this proclamation, determined to try what his artcould do to cure the princess, since all that was required was toenliven her, and make her forget her grief. He trusted that, withthe help of Providence, he should succeed; and that, if even theprincess would not marry him, which he scarcely dared to hope, he mightstill receive a reward sufficient to secure his old father's futurehappiness, besides having the consolation of saving the life of a younglady universally beloved.

  He went boldly to the palace, where he was immediately admitted,on stating what his errand was; for the king had given orders not torefuse admittance to any one, however humble, who came to cure hisdaughter.

  _Jackey playing to the Princess._]

  The king was much surprised and disappointed when he saw Jackey; butafter he had received an explanation of the means intended to beemployed, he became more reconciled, and ordered him to be conducted tothe princess's apartment.

  Jackey gazed with admiration at the beautiful form before him; and tothe interest he before felt was added pity, for the princess lay inbed with closed eyes and so pale as if death had already laid its icyhand upon her. He felt that he would willingly lay down life itself torestore colour and animation to that lovely face, and determined toexert his utmost skill in her behalf.

  First he played the voices of the forest--the soft breeze glidingthrough the leaves, the low murmur of the stream, and the gentlewarbling of the birds; then, as the princess's attention was attracted,he made his violin speak louder and louder, and the Princess exclaimed,"How came I into the forest? Oh! how delightful it is! Sing on, youdarling birds!" At length she opened her eyes, and sitting up in thebed, looked about her in amazement.

  Jackey now played the fairy song; and when he had finished, shesaid--"Go on, gentle Youth, I entreat you. You have been sent by heavento call me back to life." She sank back upon her pillow, and as Jackeycontinued to play, she fell into a soft sleep, with a smile on herlovely face.

  The king, having been informed of all that had happened, hastened tohis daughter's room; and the calm expression of her features, togetherwith the assurance of the head physician that all danger had now passedover, made him, for the moment, forget all his sorrow; and embracingJackey, he assured him of his everlasting gratitude.

  The next day the princess awoke, restored to health; and when herpreserver was presented to her by the king, she received him with thesweetest smile, and thanked him in the kindest terms. But that was notall Jackey's reward; for when the princess was told of the promise madeby her royal father to whoever should save her life, she declaredherself ready to fulfil that promise, as soon as the time of mourningfor her departed mother had passed.

  They were, however, betrothed before the whole court, and the kingpublicly proclaimed that, next to himself, Jackey should be the firstin the land. An establishment in every way befitting a prince of theroyal blood was appointed him, and he lived in the closest intimacywith the king and his amiable daughter.

  Jackey, however, in all his splendour, and by the side of his futurebride, did not forget his old father, nor the promise he had made him;so he begged permission of the king to go and visit him, which wasimmediately granted.

  He set out on his journey to the village where he was born, attended bya numerous retinue, travelling day and night till he reached the forestwhere he had learned the first notes of music, the foundation of allhis fortune. He remembered all the trees, but the whole generation ofbirds that had known him had long since died. In his heart, however, hethanked them for their kindness, and in remembrance of them he passedon in silence, having left his attendants at the beginning of theforest.

  His heart beat with anxiety and fear, lest his father should no longerbe living, for it was more than ten years since he had left his home;but when he reached the stream where he had first sat in the forest hesaw an old man sitting by its side. Jackey immediately recognized hisfather, but the old man did not see him, for he was plunged in sorrow.

  Wiping a tear from his eyes, he said, "Am I never to see my dear Jackeyagain? For how many years have I come here every day, till graduallyall his friends have died off--and he, too, I am afraid, must be dead;and I am the cause of his death, for it was I persuaded him to go outinto the world."

  Jackey now took out his violin, which he had carried with him, andplayed the tune with which he had first soothed his father's grief. Theold man recognized the notes, and he cried out, "That is my own Jackey!Come to my arms, my dear Boy!"

  It was long before either could find words; but then the old mantold him that his stepmother was dead; and Jackey related all hisadventures, and his present happiness and splendour. Jackey went withhis father to the village; but the next day he had him removed to wherehe had left his followers, and they all returned, without loss of time,to the king, and Jackey's future wife.

  Jackey and his father were received with great rejoicings, and when thetime of mourning for the late queen was over, Jackey was married to thelovely princess, with whom he spent a long life of happiness and peace,reigning with justice and wisdom over the kingdom after the king andhis own old father were dead.

  [Decoration]

  XXXII.

  _Teeny-Tiny._[1]

  [1 From Halliwell's "Nursery Stories."]

  Once upon a time there was a teeny-tiny woman, who lived in ateeny-tiny house in a teeny-tiny village. Now one day this teeny-tinywoman put on her teeny-tiny bonnet, and went out of her teeny-tinyhouse to take a teeny-tiny walk. And when this teeny-tiny woman hadgone a teeny-tiny way she came to a teeny-tiny gate, and went into ateeny-tiny church-yard.

  And when this teeny-tiny woman had got into the teeny-tiny churchyardshe saw a teeny-tiny b
one on a teeny-tiny grave, and the teeny-tinywoman said to her teeny-tiny self, "This teeny-tiny bone will make mesome teeny-tiny soup for my teeny-tiny supper." So the teeny-tiny womanput the teeny-tiny bone into her teeny-tiny pocket, and went home toher teeny-tiny house.

  Now when the teeny-tiny woman got home to her teeny-tiny house shewas a teeny-tiny tired; so she went up her teeny-tiny stairs to herteeny-tiny bed, and put the teeny-tiny bone into a teeny-tiny cupboard.And when this teeny-tiny woman had been to sleep a teeny-tiny time shewas awakened by a teeny-tiny voice from the teeny-tiny cupboard, whichsaid--"Give me my bone!"

  At this the teeny-tiny woman was a teeny-tiny frightened, so she hidher teeny-tiny head under the teeny-tiny clothes, and went to sleepagain.

  And when she had been asleep a teeny-tiny time the teeny-tiny voiceagain cried out from the teeny-tiny cupboard a teeny-tiny louder--"Giveme my bone!"

  This made the teeny-tiny woman a teeny-tiny more frightened, and shehid her teeny-tiny head a teeny-tiny further under the teeny-tinyclothes. And when the teeny-tiny woman had been to sleep again ateeny-tiny time the teeny-tiny voice from the teeny-tiny cupboardsaid again a teeny-tiny louder--"Give me my bone!"

  _The Teeny-tiny Woman's Fright._]

  And this teeny-tiny woman was a teeny-tiny bit more frightened, but sheput her teeny-tiny head out of the teeny-tiny clothes, and said in herloudest teeny-tiny voice--"Take it!"

  [Decoration]