Lucy Hamilton Warner

“ Spider Eyes said, “He does not see us. I am going to ask him. Bird, bird! Oh, kind bird! Little brown bird, covered with red and white spots, tell, oh tell us, the way to the beautiful world. We have flown east for many days, and just as we think we are nearing the beautiful world we find it gone. Tell, oh tell us, if this is the way, the only true way, to the beautiful world.” ”

“ Dusty Cap, seeing the thistle still sticking in Spider Eyes’ wing, reached across the back of the toad to draw it out.
The more he pulled the more it hurt, and Spider Eyes groaned with pain. Pointed Toes and Chip Wing also tried to assist him.
“What is the matter now?” angrily cried Mr. Toad. “You will break my back. Every time you step, you make a dent in it. My back is surely softer than the ground. Do sit still if you want to see the beautiful world.”
“Oh, oh!” cried Spider Eyes, “I am in such pain I can go no further. With my torn, hurt wing I cannot enjoy seeing the beautiful world. ”

“ He was so big and so black!
“Suppose we ask him,” said Spider Eyes. “We have heard all about him. Everybody says he knows a great deal. It is well we met him. He is just the one to tell us the way to the beautiful world.” ”

“ This is Pointed Toes,
Who looks where he goes.
This is Dusty Cap,
Never caught taking a nap.
This is brave Chip Wing,
Who flies above everything.”
“I am glad to meet you, gentlemen,” said Mrs. Mouse, making a low courtesy. “Now, come into my house until I tidy up, and we will talk about the beautiful world. What! are you not coming in, Mr. Grasshopper?”
“No,” he answered. “I have tarried too long. I must join the cavalcade that is to escort Queen Wishtah to her southern realm. Good-by!”
And the grasshopper hopped away, leaving the elves alone with Mrs. Mouse. ”

“ The grasshopper, who stood upon the edge of the hole, answered him: “Do not be cross. Help is coming; help is here. Now all you have to do is to take hold of that straw rope and [50] kick yourself free from the wheat. Chip Wing, Dusty Cap, and Pointed Toes, fly! Pull! Fly upward and pull hard. And you, Spider Eyes, spring! jump! get free! One, two, three! Away you go! I thought that would work.”
Spider Eyes came out of the hole with a spring and a jump. He was so glad to be free he answered the grasshopper with a merry laugh.
The elves then dropped the rope and flew to the ground. ”

“ Is not Queen Wishtah the kindest and best of Queens?”
“Oh, yes,” they all said, “we love our homes, but we have heard so much of the beautiful world that we want to see it.”
“Well, well! my little men,” said the doctor, “I think you had better go back to your good homes. Home is the best place for every one.”
Then he looked at poor Spider Eyes’ wing and found it was torn very badly in three different places. ”

“ Just as they thought they were safely past her, she caught them one by one. Giving them a sharp pinch with her teeth, she sat them on the floor with a thump, saying:
“You thought you were going, did you? Why did you not go?” ”

“ She reached forth her wand and said: “Arise, go seek one of those wonderful pine groves, for therein shall my palace be built. This Norseland is too cold and bleak. I will hold court in a warmer clime.” ”

“ Dusty Cap said, “We can never dare to ask them, for there are so many of them, and they will surely do us some harm.”
“Well,” cried Spider Eyes, “I will face the danger; see, I am going.”
[34]
He flew in the air and alighted on the ground just before a large glowworm, who said to him:
“Ho, ho! ”