The history

OF

Sir Thomas Thumb.

CHAPTER I.

HOW THE WIZARD MERLIN CAME TO THE HOUSE OF OWEN.

ONG ago, when great King Arthur reigned in Britain,' a weary traveller in humble garments, came at nightfall to the borders of a forest, not far from the mountains of Wales.

He had come from far, and was in need of rest, so that he was rejoiced to see a light burning in a cottage window, beneath the shade of the trees. Soon he found himself in a comfortable farm-yard, where the horses and cows were resting for the night, in the straw, and nothing was astir except the fierce house-dog,

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which at once began to bark, his voice echoing through

the wood.

The stranger did but look at him, and the dog crouched down and was instantly still, his ears drooping back in terror. The traveller knocked, and the door-latch was lifted by a comely country woman.

"Good Dame," quoth he, "the hour is late, and I have travelled from far to-day. Will you spare to a wayfaring man a supper and lodging for a night?"

"Come in,

"And kindly welcome," said the good woman. honest man. No one is here save Owen my husband, and gladly will we give you a share of our homely food."

The good farmer, Owen, spoke the like friendly words; he left his own carved oaken chair for the traveller, and they all sat down before the fire of blazing logs to eat their supper. It was

a hearty meal, with plenty of everything, butter and cheese, bread and milk, eggs and bacon, and good fat ale to wash it down. The hungry stranger ate with relish, and the good host did his best to make him welcome. Never had he seen a pleasanter homestead, the kitchen so wide, the chimney so glowing, the oaken and walnut presses so bright and polished with rubbing; and when the good housewife went to make his bed, he saw piles of homespun linen, well bleached, stored away in the chests. He told his kind hosts that they seemed to him the happiest people on the earth, and that they could have neither want nor wish unfulfilled.

The good woman looked at her husband, sighed, and shook her head, as if they still had something to desire. This made the stranger curious, and he asked again if there were anything lacking to them. Such homely, sensible folk as they could not be longing for riches or state, and he could well assure them that might and learning caused more toil than bliss.

Yea, truly, good stranger," said the housewife, "we are well content with what we have, and should indeed be quite happy if we had but any children to cheer up our old age, and hold our cottage after us. Had I but one child, were he no bigger than Owen's thumb, there would not be so blithe a woman in King Arthur's realm.”2

The stranger gave a low laugh within himself, and bade his hosts good-night.

Owen and his wife would not have slept quite so soundly, had they known who was the wayfarer whom they had sheltered beneath their roof.

For it was no other than the great enchanter, Merlin, the most wonderful man in all Britain.3 It was he who, when King Vortegirn could not build the tower of Mount Erir, because the earth each night devoured every stone laid by day,* discovered that far underground lay a deep pond, and beneath the pond, two hollow stones, wherein were two huge dragons, one white and one red, which, though they slept by day, by night so fought and struggled that the foundations of the tower were shaken down as fast as they were laid.

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It was he who, by his magic power, brought across the sea, from Ireland, the circle of stones which men now call Stonehenge, but which were then named the Giant's Dance, because the giants of old had brought them from Africa. He could make one knight wear the semblance of another; he could tell what passed in every dwelling, and could fly through the air as swift as thought; indeed there was nothing he could not work, by means of his wisdom and strange powers of dealing with

elves and fairies.

However, he intended only kindness to the good farmer Owen and his housewife, and yet full oft it may be that what

is eagerly wished, and compassed by doubtful means, may、 bring less joy than pain.