The Junior Classics, Volume 6: Old-Fashioned Tales
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The Junior Classics, Volume 6: Old-Fashioned Tales
Children's literature
"Cheer up your heart," said the Princess Maybloom; "if you want large
feet, there is a well in this forest that will do it. Last summer
time, I came with my father and his foresters to see a great cedar cut
down, of which he meant to make a money chest. While they were busy
with the cedar, I saw a bramble branch covered with berries. Some were
ripe and some were green, but it was the longest bramble that ever
grew; for the sake of the berries, I went on and on to its root, which
grew hard by a muddy-looking well, with banks of dark green moss, in
the deepest part of the forest. The day was warm and dry, and my feet
were sore with the rough ground, so I took off my scarlet shoes, and
washed my feet in the well; but as I washed they grew larger every
minute, and nothing could ever make them less again. I have seen the
bramble this day; it is not far off, and as you have shown me the Fair
Fountain, I will show you the Growing Well."
Up rose Fairyfoot and Princess Maybloom, and went together till they
found the bramble, and came to where its root grew, hard by the
muddy-looking well with banks of dark green moss, in the deepest dell
of the forest. Fairyfoot sat down to wash, but at that minute he heard
a sound of music, and knew it was the fairies going to their dancing
ground.
"If my feet grow large," said the boy to himself, "how shall I dance
with them?" So, rising quickly, he took the Princess Maybloom by the
hand. The fawn followed them; the maids and the chamberlain followed
it, and all followed the music through the forest. At last they came
to the flowery green. Robin Goodfellow welcomed the company for
Fairyfoot's sake, and gave every one a drink of the fairies' wine. So
they danced there from sunset till the grey morning, and nobody was
tired; but before the lark sang, Robin Goodfellow took them all safe
home, as he used to take Fairyfoot.
There was great joy that day in the palace because Princess Maybloom's
feet were made small again. The king gave Fairyfoot all manner of fine
clothes and rich jewels; and when they heard his wonderful story, he
and the queen asked him to live with them and be their son. In process
of time Fairyfoot and Princess Maybloom were married, and still live
happily. When they go to visit at Stumpinghame, they always wash their
feet in the Growing Well, lest the royal family might think them a
disgrace, but when they come back, they make haste to the Fair
Fountain; and the fairies and the nightingales are great friends to
them, as well as to the maids and the chamberlain, because they have
told nobody about it, and there is peace and quiet yet in the grove of
rose-trees.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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