E-text prepared by Al Haines Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 20962-h.htm or 20962-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/9/6/20962/20962-h/20962-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/9/6/20962/20962-h.zip) SANDMAN'S GOODNIGHT STORIES by ABBIE PHILLIPS WALKER Illustrated by Rhoda C. Chase [Illustration: Title page art] Harper & Brothers, Publishers SANDMAN'S GOOD-NIGHT STORIES Copyright, 1921, by Harper & Brothers To My Sister MARY P. BABCOCK I Lovingly Dedicate These Little Stories CONTENTS THE EATYOUP THE TELL-TALE GOBLIN DAME CRICKET'S STORY THE PLAYROOM WEDDING MORNING-GLORY THE PEACOCK BUTTERFLIES THE REVENGE OF THE GNOMES THE LITTLE CHINA SHEPHERDESS HOW THE BUTTERCUP GREW YELLOW WAS IT THE FIELD FAIRY? THE FROGS AND THE FAIRIES JACK THE PREACHER MR. CROW GOES AND TELLS DISCONTENTED DEWDROP INQUISITIVE MR. POSSUM WHAT THE FLOWERS TOLD MARTHA WHEN JACK FROST WAS YOUNG THE REVENGE OF THE FIREFLIES SALLIE HICKS'S FOREFINGER THE RAIN ELVES MR. FOX'S HOUSEWARMING LITTLE PITCHER-MAN THE WIND-FLOWER'S STORY PUSSY WILLOW'S FURS ORIANNA OLD NORTH WIND MR. FOX CUTS THE COTTONTAILS LITTLE NEVER-UPSET THE EATYOUP [Illustration: The Eatyoup] Dicky Duck was a very wise young fellow. He swam about the pond alone long before his brothers left their mother, and such worms and bugs and things of that sort as he found made all the other young ducks quite green with envy. But one day Dicky Duck almost lost his life by thinking he was so wise, for he was swimming around the pond when he came to the woods where Mr. Fox was hiding back of some bushes. Dicky did not go near enough for Mr. Fox to catch him, but Mr. Fox could see that he was a nice plump duck and it made his eyes shine with longing to look at him. "Ah me," he sighed as Dicky swam by, "if only I knew some wise creature to ask! I am far too dull to know anything myself." When Dicky heard the word "wise" he felt sure that meant him, for was not he the wisest duck of his size and age? So he stopped swimming and looked around. Mr. Fox had hidden himself well under the bushes now. Not even the tip of his nose could be seen and he made his voice sound very weak, as if he were a very small animal. "Who is it that wants to know a wise creature?" asked Dicky Duck. "Oh, a poor little animal called Eatyoup," answered Mr. Fox, laughing so at his joke that he could hardly speak. "I am very stupid and do not know much and I have no wise friends."