Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I am on my way to visit the sorceress Maetta," replied Timtom; "But I can not get across the River of Needles." "They are very sharp, and would make a thousand holes through you in an instant," remarked the spider, thoughtfully. "But perhaps I can help you. If you are willing to grant me a favor in return, I will gladly build a bridge, so you may cross the river in safety."
Timtom tenderly patted her bowed head, and tried to comfort her, saying: "Do not weep, sweetheart; for the bad temper has left you at last, and now every one will love you dearly." "Can you forgive me for having been so naughty?" asked Pattycake, looking up at him pleadingly from her sweet blue eyes.
Sitting down on the bank, he was wondering what he should do when to his astonishment a small but sharp and disagreeable voice said to him: "Where are you going, stranger?" Timtom looked down between his feet and saw a black spider, which sat on a blade of grass and watched him curiously.
"What is the favor?" he asked. "I have lost an eye, and you must ask the sorceress to give me a new one, for I can see but half as well as I could before." "I will gladly do this for you," said Timtom. "Very well; then I will build you a bridge," promised the spider; "but if you have not the eye with you when you return I shall destroy the bridge, and you will never be able to get home again."
His Majesty was naturally surprised at so strange a request; so he said to the young man: "What does the Princess say? Does she love you?" "I do not know," replied Timtom, "for I have never spoken with her." "Well," said the King, much amazed at the ignorance and temerity of the youth, "go and speak to my daughter about the matter, and then come and tell me what she replies."
"I do not want to be cured!" cried the Princess, angrily. "Go away at once, or I shall hurt you!" "I shall not go away until you have promised to marry me," replied Timtom, firmly. At this Pattycake began to scream with rage, and threw her shoe straight at his head. Timtom dodged the shoe and paid no attention to the naughty action, but continued to look at the pretty Princess smilingly.
Still he was not moved from his purpose, for she was so pretty he decided not to abandon the attempt to win her. "Do not be angry, for I love you," he pleaded, looking bravely into Pattycake's blue eyes. "Love me?" echoed the surprised Princess; "that is not possible! Every one else hates me." "They do not hate you," ventured Timtom; "it is your temper they hate."
Then, while the youth slumbered, unconscious of danger, the Sly Fox carefully drew the little red box from his pocket, and, taking it in his mouth, ran off into the woods with it. Soon after this the rabbit came back, and when it saw Timtom lying asleep it awakened him and asked: "Where is my new tail?" "Oh, I have brought you a fine one," replied Timtom, with a smile.
Here was an obstacle which might well dishearten the boldest traveler, and Timtom was so grieved that he sat down on the brink and wept tears of disappointment. "What is troubling you?" asked a soft voice in his ear. Turning his head the youth saw a beautiful white bird sitting beside him.
"The best thing to do," declared Timtom, "is to cut off its legs; for then it could not walk into our gardens." "The scales on its legs are too hard and thick," said the King. "We have tried that, and failed." "We might take a red-hot iron, and put the Dragon's eyes out," ventured Prince Jollikin. "Its eyes are glass," replied the King with a sigh, "and the iron would have no effect on them."
Word Of The Day