drop-cap
Itwas on the morning of the next day that there came through the forest, not very far from the Count Cormo’s castle, a tall young giant. As he strode along, he appeared to be talking to the forefinger of his right hand, which he held up before him. He was not, however, talking to his forefinger, but to a little fairy who was sitting on it, chatting away in a very lively manner.
“And so,” said this little creature, “you are two hundred milesfrom your own home! What in the world made you take so long a journey?”
“I don’t call it very long,” replied the giant; “and I had to take it. There was nothing else to do. You see I have nothing to eat, or almost nothing, in my castle, and a person can’t get along that way. He must go and see about things.”
“And what are you going to see about?” asked the fairy.
“I am going to see if my grandfather’s uncle is dead. He is very rich and I am one of his heirs. When I get my share of his money, I shall be quite comfortable.”
THE YOUNG GIANT WAS TALKING TO A LITTLE FAIRY PERCHED ON HIS FOREFINGER
THE YOUNG GIANT WAS TALKING TO A LITTLE FAIRY PERCHED ON HIS FOREFINGER
THE YOUNG GIANT WAS TALKING TO A LITTLE FAIRY PERCHED ON HIS FOREFINGER
“It seems to me,” said the fairy, “that it is a very poor way of living, to be waiting for other people’s money.”
“It is so,” replied the giant. “I’m tired of it. I’ve been waiting ever since I was a little boy.”
The fairy saw that her companion had not exactly understood her remark, but she said no more about it. She merely added, “It seems strange to hear you say that you once were little.”
“Oh, yes, I was,” said the giant. “At one time I was no taller than a horse.”
“Astonishing!” said the fairy,making believe to be very much surprized. “Now, when I was a baby, I was about the size of a pea.”
This made the giant laugh, but he said he supposed it must have been so, considering the present size, and then he said: “Talking of peas reminds me that I am hungry. We must stop somewhere, and ask for something to eat.”
“That will suit me very well, but don’t let us go to the same place,” said the fairy. “I expect you are dreadfully hungry.”
“All right,” replied the other. “There is a great house over inthe valley, not more than fifteen miles away. I’ll just step over there, and you can go to Count Cormo’s castle. I’ll take you to the edge of the woods. When you’ve had your dinner, come back to this oak, and I’ll meet you; I’ve heard the Count is getting very poor, but he’ll have enough for you.”
So the giant put the fairy down on the ground, and she skipped along to the castle, while he stepped over to the house in the valley.
In an hour or two they met again at the great oak, and, the giant taking up his little friendon his forefinger, they continued their journey.
“You told me that Count Cormo was poor,” she said, “but I don’t believe you know how poor he really is. When I went there, he and his wife had just finished their dinner, and were sitting before the fire-place. I didn’t notice any fire in it. They were busy talking, and so I did not disturb them, but just climbed up on the table to see what I could find to eat. You haven’t any idea what a miserable meal they must have had. Of course there was enough left for me, for I need only a few crumbs,but everything was so hard and stale that I could scarcely eat it. I don’t see how they can live in that way. But after the meal, when I heard them talking, I found out how poor they really were.”
“It wasn’t exactly the proper thing to sit there and listen to them, was it?” asked the giant.
“Perhaps not,” said the fairy, “but I did want to hear what they were saying. So I sat quite still. They were talking about the Christmas-tree, and all the other good things they give the children every year; and although they are sopoor, they are going to do just the same this year.”
“I don’t see how they can,” said the giant.
“The Count is going to sell his family bedstead,” replied his companion.
The young giant stopped short in the path.
“You don’t mean to say,” he exclaimed, “that the celebrated family bedstead of the Cormo family is to be sold to give the children a Christmas-tree!”
“That is exactly what I mean,” replied the fairy.
“Well, well, well!” said the giant,resuming his walk. “I never heard of such a thing in all my born days. It’s dreadful; it’s pitiful!”
“Indeed it is,” said the fairy.
“It ought to be stopped,” added the giant. “He shouldn’t be allowed to do such a thing.”
“Indeed he shouldn’t,” the fairy said.
And thus they went on lamenting and regretting the poor Count’s purpose, for about eleven miles. Then they came to a cross-road through the forest.
“I’ll go down here,” said the giant, “and leave you among yourfriends at Fairy Elms, where you want to go.”
“I’m not sure that I do want to go there just now,” said the fairy. “I think I should like to go with you to your grandfather’s uncle’s castle, and see what your prospects are. If you find he is still alive, shall you wait?”
“I guess not,” said the giant, laughing. “But you can come along with me, and we’ll see how things stand.”