THE MISCHIEVOUS PRANK OF THE GNOMES. II

hair he had, and the tall giants towered far
above him, but every one of them hung his
head before the stern gaze of the little man
in gray.

“Shame on ye!” exclaimed the little gray
man severely, “ again have ye broken the con-
tract and disturbed the peace.”

It was astonishing to note the change that
took place in the countenances of the giants
as the little gray man spoke. A moment be-
fore raging with the fury of wild beasts, they
had suddenly become abject and humble, not
daring to raise their downcast eyes before the
stern gaze of the little man in gray.

“Pardon, master!” cried one of the giants,
his great trembling voice sounding like rum-
bling thunder. “ Pardon, master, we were
sorely tried.”

A contemptuous smile flitted o’er the lips of
the little gray man, as he replied:

“Are yea parcel of babies that ye must
need squabble over a mess of burnt porridge?
I would that your great empty heads contained
but a small part of the brains my little gnomes
possess |”

“ Master,” said the cook humbly, “ they will