Then the dwarf explained that the chair would rock no longer because the little boy overstayed his time. He said with tears in his eyes that the chair now would not rock across the room. [Illustration: “_The clown said so many funny things_”] Then the boy said, “Dry your eyes, I will tell you what to do.” He took the little dwarf by the hand and they ran to the house of the crossest giant in the land. They persuaded the giant to come and look at the rocking-chair and mend it, for he was very clever about such things. The giant made the chair as good as new; then he turned to the little boy and said fiercely, “I have not had a good meal to-day. I will just eat you up!” Then the chair grew very angry. It grew so large suddenly that the giant could sit in it, and it said, “Come have a ride, and rock to and fro; I am sure I know where you want to go!” The giant forgot how hungry he was and he sat down in the chair. The chair rocked him down to the river and threw him in. He was not drowned, of course, but he was awfully scared, and the chair rocked back to the little dwarf. The little boy had many rides in the chair after that, but he took the little dwarf with him, so that they would be sure to remember the time, and not stay out after midnight. The Ink-Bottle Babies cried, “Is that the end? Surely that is not the end. There must be more.” The little dwarf did not want to answer, so he said, “It is raining so hard the teacher may not come back to school.” “Please tell the end of the story,” begged the Babies. Then the little dwarf cried, “What! ho! Here comes the farmer to take you home!” Sure enough, there was the farmer in his big wagon. He had come to take the Ink-Bottle Babies home. “Was that the end of the story?” called Molly and Polly. The little dwarf smiled and said, “If you should ever want a ride, Come to my house and step inside!” “Oh! oh! oh!” cried the Ink-Bottle Babies clapping their hands. “Do you own the magic rocking-chair? Will you please take us to ride?” The little dwarf ran out in the rain, laughing as he went. How were the Ink-Bottle Babies to guess whether he owned the rocking-chair or not? CHAPTER IX MAY-DAY In glad springtime the birds all sing, And sweet the woodland echoes ring; Why should we not be happy too, When skies are blue? when skies are blue? I heard the Ink-Bottle Babies say, “We’ll hang May baskets up to-day!” “Oh! oh! oh!” cried the Ink-Bottle Babies. “It is May-Day! hurrah! hurrah!” Then they all got up and dressed in a hurry and said, “Oh Ma! may we go to the woods? Oh Pa! may we all go to the woods together?” Then Mamma and Papa said they might all go to the woods if they would be very careful not to get lost. The Ink-Bottle Babies each took a cute little basket, and they all went to look for flowers and berries in the woods. “I wonder if we will meet Red Riding-hood,” said Molly. “I wonder if we will meet the wolf,” cried Polly.