bridle with one hand, and with the other lifting Tom out of the horse's ear. Tom sat down to rest under a plant of lady-fern, which shaded him as well as if it had been a forest tree, and the strangers looked on and wondered. One of them took the other aside, and said, "This little mannikin would make our fortune if we could exhibit him at Court. Let us buy him." So they went up to Owen, and made him large offers, that he might intrust them with his son. "No, no," said Owen," he is my heart's delight, and not to be bought for all the coin in the world." Tom Thumb had, however, a great fancy for seeing the Court and offering his service to King Arthur, so he climbed up his father's skirt, and whispered in his ear, "Let me go, "Let me go, I will soon come back again." "What will your poor mother say?" asked Owen. "Oh! I will bring her money enough to make her fortune. Take their offer, father, and buy the miller's black horse, and I will come back and ride to the mill in its ear." Thus he wrought with his father to let him go and to take the pieces of gold which the men offered for him. So off he set with them, sending a message that he left his love for his mother, and would soon shew his old aunt whether he were good for anything. The men asked him how he chose to travel. "Put me on |