“ In this manner almost a year slipped away insensibly; and the prince entirely forgot his native home and the little dog he was to carry to his father. But the White Cat knew when he was to return; and one day, as they were walking together in a grove near the palace, "Do you remember, prince," said she, "the promise you made your father? Your brothers have already procured some curious little dogs, and there remain but three days for you to find one more beautiful, or lose a kingdom." These words awoke the prince from his dream of pleasure. ”

“ No sooner had he uttered these words, than the top of the box flying off, out came the Yellow Dwarf, mounted upon a large Spanish cat, who placing himself between the king and the fairy, uttered these words:—"Rash youth, thy rage should he levelled at me, not at the Desert Fairy. I am thy rival, and claim her by promise, and a single hair round her finger." ”

“ THE YELLOW DWARF.
There was once a queen, who, though she had borne many children, had but one daughter left alive, of whom she was fond to an excess, humouring and indulging her in all her ways and wishes. This princess was exceedingly beautiful, so that she I was called All-Fair, and had twenty kings courting her at one time. Her mother, being advanced in years, would fain have had her married and settled before she died, but no entreaties could prevail; whereupon she determined to go to the Desert Fairy to ask advice concerning her stubborn daughter. ”

“ Be assured, Sir, so handsome an action will not go unrewarded. You will prosper in the world, take my word for it; and will find the good effects of your generosity."
All that the crafty traveller had been saying to his host, was but a fresh piece of roguery on his part; for, in luring the innkeeper with such ostentation of generosity, he only meant to trick him as he had already done the beggars. ”

“ The cat, hearing the noise of the carriage on the drawbridge, immediately came out, saying, "Your majesty is welcome to the castle of my lord marquis of Carabas." "And is this splendid castle yours also, my lord marquis of Carabas? I never saw any thing more stately than the building, or more beautiful than the park and pleasure grounds around it; no doubt the castle is no less magnificent within than without; pray, my lord marquis, indulge me with a sight of it."
The marquis gave his hand to the young princess as she alighted, and followed the king, who went before ”

“ You might now see Jack Easy walking his hobby along the road, enjoying the seene around him, with eontentment sparkling in his eyes. If the way happened to be crowded with horsemen and carriages, you might observe him very readily taking his own side of the road, and letting them pass. ”

“ The king was convinced that nothing could be met with so beautiful; but, being unwilling yet to part with his crown, he told his children, that he must make a further trial of their love and diligence before he performed his promise; they must take another year to find out a web of cloth fine enough to go through the eye of a small needle.
This request, though unjust, they thought it best to comply with; and our prince mounted his wooden horse, and returned with speed to his White Cat, on which alone he depended for assistance. ”

“ The cat, enchanted to see how well his scheme was likely to succeed, ran before to a meadow that was reaping, and said to the reapers, "Good people, if you do not tell the king, who will soon pass this way, that the meadow you are rcaping belongs to my lord marquis of Carabas, you shall be chopped as small as minced meat." ”

“ I shall pay you fifteen-pence; now let these unfortunate men go; and know that to harass the poor is a sin of the first magnitude."
The blind men, who were terrified at the apprehension of the bastinado, made their escape with all possible haste; while Nicholas, who had reckoned on losing his tenpence, (being delighted to find a person to pay it,) launched out into the most flattering encomiums on the churchman,
"What a good man!" cried he; "that is the kind of priests we should have, and then they would be respected. But, unfortunately, there are few such! ”

“ THE THREE BEGGARS,
Three blind beggars were on their way from Compiegne, to seek alms in the neighbourhood. They kept the high road to Senlis, and walked at a great pace, each holding a cup and stick in his hand. A young ecclesiastic, well mounted, who was riding towards Compiegne, and attended by a valet on horseback, was struck at a distance with their steady and rapid strides.
"Those fellows," said he, "for men who appear blind, make very firm steps. ”

“ The fairy disappeared; and the man and his wife were much perplexed. "For my own part," said the wife, "if it were left to my choiee, I know very well what I should wish for. I do not wish yet, but I think nothing is so good as to be handsome, rieh, and to be of great quality." But the husband answered, "With all these things, one may be sick and fretful, and one may die young; it would be much wiser to wish for health, cheerfulness, and long life." "But to what purpose is long life with poverty?" says the wife, "it would only prolong your misery. ”

“ In truth, the fairy should have promised us a dozeu of gifts, for there are at least a dozen things which I want "That may be true," said the husband; "but let us take time; let us consider till morning the three things which are most necessary for us, and then wish." "I'll think all night," said the wife; "meanwhile let us warm ourselves, for it is very cold." At the same time the wife took the tongs to mend the fire; and seeing there were a great many eoals thoroughly lighted, she said without thinking on it, "Here's a niee fire; I wish we had a yard of blaek pudding for our supper ”

“ All went except these poor rags; yet still I thought if I could but get home I should do very well. I am used to hard work, and I could even do for this little ereature, who has nobody in the world but me to put a morsel of bread into its poor mouth ”

“ The churchman feigned also to proceed on his journey; but at some distance he alighted, and delivering his horse to the care of his valet, directed him to wait his arrival at the gates of Compiegne. He then gently approached the beggars, and followed them, to watch the issue of the adventure.
When they no longer heard the noise of horses, the leader of this little band halted.
"Comrades," said he, "we have made a good day's work; and I think we had best return to Compiegne, and spend the money this good Christian hath given us. It is a long time since we have had a carousal ”

“ I confess I should think this must be impossible." "Impossible! you shall see and at the same instant he ehanged himself into a mouse, and began to frisk about the room. The cat no sooner cast his eyes upon the Ogre in this form, than he sprang upon him, and devoured him in an instant.
In the meantime the king, admiring, as he came near it, the magnificent eastle of the Ogre, ordered his attendants to drive up to the gates, as he wished to take a nearer view of it. ”

“ There was once a man, not very rich, who had a very pretty woman to his wife. One winter's evening, as they sat by the fire, they talked of the happiness of their neighbours who were richer than they. ”

“ When they had sailed some time, "Now,"” said the Mermaid to the king, "we draw near the palace where your prinecss is kept by the Yellow Dwarf. You will have many enemies to fight before you can come to her; take, therefore, this sword, with which you may overcome every thing, provided you never let it go out of your hand." The king returned her all the thanks that the most grateful heart could suggest ”

“ Though the cat's master did not much depend upon these promises, yet as he had often observed the eunning tricks Puss used to catch rats and mice, such as hanging by the hind-legs, and hiding in the meal to make them believe that he was dead, he did not entirely despair of his being of some use to him in his unhappy condition. ”

“ My honour is lost for ever." "Do not afflict yourself," said the White Cat, "I will find a horse that will carry you home in less than twelve hours. And as for the little dog, take this acorn, in which there is one; put it to your ear and you will hear it bark." The prince did so, and, transported with pleasure, thanked her a thousand times. Bidding her farewell, he mounted the wooden horse, and arrived at his father's palace just as his brothers entered the court-yard. he ran to embrace them, and all three went together to the king. ”

“ My friend Jack did not despond; he consoled himself with the reflection that he was a single man; some of his misfortunes were the eonsequences of his own imprudence, others of unforeseen accidents, and most of them originated from his good nature and generosity. ”

“ He put some bran and some parsley into his bag; and then, stretching himself out at full length as if he was dead, he waited for some young rabbits, (which as yet knew nothing of the cunning tricks of the world,) to come and get into the bag, the better to feast upon the dainties he had put into it. ”

“ The two eldest presented their dogs, which were so equally beautiful that it was impossible to know in whose favour to determine. But the youngest soon put an end to the debate; for, pulling the acorn out of his pocket and opening it, they saw a little dog lying on cotton, so small that it might go through a ring ”

“ The woman, on holding the gold in her hand, whieh had never contained so much before, exelaimed, "Oh! this is too mueh, worthy sir and being desired to keep it, she added, "we shall now be rich, indeed; my own little ones, and this one, and their grandmother, we shall all be rich!"
"Good ereature!" exclaimed Walden with emotion, "you are rich, indeed, in a heart to which all other riches are dross! your humanity to this orphan will be better rewarded ”

“ Nicholas (for that was the name of the landlord) being used sometimes to see persons of their vocation spend more than such as appear to be much more in affluent circumstances, received them respectfully. ”