_Remarks_.--It is doubtful how far such gruesome topics should be introduced into a book for children, but as a matter of fact the _katharsis_ of pity and terror among the little ones is as effective as among the spectators of a drama, and they take the same kind of pleasant thrill from such stories. They know it is all make-believe just as much as the spectators of a tragedy. Every one who has enjoyed the blessing of a romantic imagination has been trained up on such tales of wonder. XXV. TOM THUMB. _Source_.--From the chap-book contained in Halliwell, p. 199, and Mr. Hartland's _English Folk and Fairy Tales_. I have omitted much of the second part. _Parallels_.--Halliwell has also a version entirely in verse. “Tom Thumb” is “Le petit Poucet” of the French, “Daumling” of the Germans, and similar diminutive heroes elsewhere (_cf._ Deulin, _Contes de ma Mère l'Oye_, 326), but of his adventures only that in the cow's stomach (_cf._ Cosquin, ii. 190) is common with his French and German cousins. M. Gaston Paris has a monograph on “Tom Thumb.” XXVI. MR. FOX. _Source_.--Contributed by Blakeway to Malone's Variorum Shakespeare, to illustrate Benedick's remark in _Much Ado about Nothing_ (I. i. 146): “Like the old tale, my Lord, 'It is not so, nor 'twas not so, but, indeed, God forbid it should be so;'” which clearly refers to the tale of Mr. Fox. “The Forbidden Chamber” has been studied by Mr. Hartland, _Folk-Lore Journal_, iii. 193, _seq._ _Parallels_.--Halliwell, p. 166, gives a similar tale of “An Oxford Student,” whose sweetheart saw him digging her grave. “Mr. Fox” is clearly a variant of the theme of “The Robber Bridegroom” (Grimm, No. 40, Mrs. Hunt's translation, i. 389, 395; and Cosquin, i. 180-1). XXVII. LAZY JACK. _Source_.--Halliwell, 157. _Parallels_.--The same story occurs in Lowland Scotch as “Jock and his Mother,” Chambers, _l.c._, 101; in Ireland, as “I'll be wiser next time,” Kennedy, _l.c._, 39-42. Abroad it is Grimm's _Hans im Glück_ (No. 83). The “cure by laughing” incident is “common form” in folk-tales (_cf._ Köhler on Gonzenbach, _Sizil. Märchen_, ii. 210, 224; Jones and Kropf, _Magyar Tales_, 312). XXVIII. JOHNNY-CAKE. _Source_.--_American Journal of Folk-Lore_, ii. 60. _Parallels_.--Another variant is given in the same _Journal_, p. 277, where reference is also made to a version “The Gingerbread Boy,” in _St. Nicholas_, May 1875. Chambers gives two versions of the same story, under the title “The Wee Bunnock,” the first of which is one of the most dramatic and humorous of folk-tales. Unfortunately, the Scotticisms are so frequent as to render the droll practically untranslatable. “The Fate of Mr. Jack Sparrow” in _Uncle Remus_ is similar to that of Johnny-Cake. XXIX. EARL MAR'S DAUGHTER. _Source_.--From the ballad of the same name as given in Mr. Allingham's _Ballad Book_: it is clearly a fairy tale and not a ballad proper.