And this is true; the best packages are not always wrapped up in blue paper and tied with a gay string, and there are better men in the world than kings and princes, fine as they seem to be. [Illustration] [Illustration] Three O’clock· The _Rooms_ were cold, the _Hearth_ was grey: Asleep in the ashes the _Kobold_ lay. The _Board-Floor_ creaked, [Sidenote: ○] The _Grey-Mouse_ squeaked, And the _Kobold_ dreamed its ear he tweaked. He wrinkled up His _Forehead_ and _Nose_, [Sidenote: K☊P; ☾♈︎, des.] And smiled in his sleep, And curled his _Toes_. [Sidenote: ☾] [Illustration: How One turned his Trouble to some account.] III. There was a soldier marching along the road—left, right! left, right! He had been to the wars for five years, so that he was very brave, and now he was coming home again. In his knapsack were two farthings, and that was everything that he had in the world. All the same, he had a rich brother at home, and that was something to say. So on he tramped until he had come to his rich brother’s house. “Good-day, brother,” said he, “and how does the old world treat you.” But the rich brother screwed up his face and rubbed his nose, for he was none too glad to see the other. “What!” said he, “and is the Pewter Penny back again?” That was the way that he welcomed the other to his house. “Tut! tut!” says the brave soldier; “and is not this a pretty way to welcome a brother home to be sure! All that I want is just a crust of bread and a chance to rest the soles of my feet back of the stove a little while.” Oh, well! if that was all that he wanted, he might have his supper and a bed for the night, but he must not ask for any more, and he must jog on in the morning and never come that way again. Well, as no more broth was to be had from that dish, the soldier said that he would be satisfied with what he could get; so into the house he came. Over by the fire was a bench, and on the bench was a basket, and in the basket were seven young ducks that waited where it was warm until the rest were hatched. The soldier saw nothing of these; down he sat, and the little young ducks said “peep!” and died all at once. Up jumped the soldier and over went the beer mug that sat by the fire so that the beer ran all around and put out the blaze. At this the rich brother fell into a mighty rage. “See!” said he, “you never go anywhere but you bring Trouble with you. Out of the house before I make this broom rattle about your ears!”