4 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

have taken care of themselves, but strange as
it may seem, they were no match for the wary
little dwarfs, who, having ten times more
brains in their little heads than the giants had
in their great empty noddles, drove the giants
almost to distraction by their impish and in-
genious tricks.

Early one morning, the giants departed for a
day’s tramp. From the summit of Blue Hill,
on clear days, they could see the snowy peaks
of the mountain now known as Mt. Washing-
ton, and they were curious to know if it were
as large as their own Blue Hill, for it looked
very small in the distance. So off they set,
leaving behind one of their number, with in-
structions to have plenty of hot oatmeal por-
ridge for them on their return, for a hundred
miles was quite a little walk for them, and
they knew that the exercise would give them
an appetite.

As soon as the giants were gone, the cook
stepped over to the next town and collected
dry sticks suitable for his fire, piling them up
in a great heap, all ready to be lighted. Then,
as jit was a warm day, and it would not be
necessary for him to cook his porridge for