11. In the third task there were _three_ steps, to place the wood in a heap, to set fire to it and to burn it. 12. The Drummer supposed he had been gone _three_ days but it was _three_ years. 13. The wedding was to take place in _three_ days. 14. The princess sang her song _three_ times. _Tom, the Water Baby_ (Volume II, page 215) "This is all a fairy tale, and only fun and pretense; and therefore, you are not to believe a word of it, even if it is true." But what a wonderful tale it is; so interesting a story, such a mixture of fact and fancy, so brimming full of fun and laughter, so touching in pathos, and so rife with good lessons. Though "you are not to believe a word of it, even if it is true," there is so much truth in it that you really cannot keep from believing a great deal of it. A better comprehension of _Tom, the Water Baby_ among parents will mean a greater popularity for it among children. The tale is too long for a full interpretation, but we can offer an analysis which will help to keep the story in mind, and some illustrations of different meritorious features. [Illustration: DONALD G. MITCHELL JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY EDGAR ALLAN POE THOMAS BUCHANAN READ EUGENE FIELD JOHN HOWARD PAYNE JOHN G. SAXE] I. _Analysis._ At first Tom is a real boy, a little grimy, ignorant chimney sweep, next a water baby or eft, in which character, under the tutelage of the fairies, he gains his education. Briefly at the end he is a man, an engineer, but all that is delightfully vague, for he has ceased to be the little Tom we like so thoroughly. _Chapters I and II._