Produced by Al Haines [Illustration: Cover art] [Frontispiece: ROBIN OF CASTLE FRANK.] THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF CASTLE FRANK. BY GRANT BALFOUR, AUTHOR OF "THE MOTHER OF ST. NICHOLAS." TORONTO: THE POOLE PRINTING COMPANY, LIMITED, PUBLISHERS. Entered, according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine by A. BALFOUR GRANT, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture. Hon. G. W. Ross, LL.D., Premier of Ontario, says:--"I have read this little story by Grant Balfour, which I can cheerfully recommend to the children of Ontario. It is both interesting and instructive, and contains a useful moral lesson." CONTENTS Chapter I. Romantic Robin II. Fairyland III. The Strange School Class IV. The Advice of Hug-grippy, the Affectionate V. The Advice of the Subtle Snake VI. The Modest Medallist VII. The Fight in the Ravine VIII. Robin's Book The Snow-White Fox The Song-Sparrow List of Illustrations Robin of Castle Frank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ "How many walnuts are 2 and 4 and 6?" Fascinated Crafticus: "I have a cunning plan." King Muffler: "It is no new thing," remarked the king, "for crafty creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel." THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF CASTLE FRANK. CHAPTER I. ROMANTIC ROBIN. I've found at last the hiding place Where the fairy people dwell, And to win the secrets of their race I hold the long-sought spell. _Havergal._ One hundred years ago, in the great land of Canada, there lived a boy whose name was Robin. His home was in the grand old woods, with wapitis, wolves and bears. It was near the edge of a deep ravine that opened out on the east by a slow winding river flowing into one of the great blue lakes. And the name of his home, though built of wood, was Castle Frank. The castle was well-furnished, for Robin's father was a great man. The best rooms had comfortable carpets and carved oak furniture, while on the walls were interesting pictures, representing people of high rank, and battles on sea and land. In one room there was a fine arrangement of muskets, pistols and swords, together with Indian spears and bows and arrows. In another room there was a library, containing books of religion and science, histories and tales of adventure, and story-books for children. With the weapons and stories the boy beguiled away many a pleasant hour.