: ee : : : : 2 The Baldwin Library University || RMB wi Florida VELL re VI frre. Mot Matron From “The Telegraph,’’ Sheffield, England: “The Froggy Fairy Book’ has reached a third edition, although only issued at Christmas. ‘The Second Froggy Fairy Book’ continues the story of the first ‘Froggy Fairy Book.’”’ AWAY WITH THE BUTTERFLIES THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK BY ANTHONY J. DREXEL BIDDLE Author of “The Froggy Fairy Book,”letc. ILLUSTRATED BY ANNE PENNOCK PHILADELPHIA DREXEL BIDDLE, Publisher, Walnut Street LONDON: GAY AND BIRD, 22 Bedford Street, Strand, W. C. 1898; ¥Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1897, by ANTHONY J. DREXEL BIDDLE, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. @) MY WIFE. Il, III. Iv. CONTENTS: Away with the Butterflies . Christmas in Grasshopper Kingdom . Under the Water Sky. . Home, in a Chariot. eee Fairyland: and How To Reach It. PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Away with the Butterflies . 2... 2... 2... 2. . Frontispiece. «« Pray smell this flow’r, as we require ”’ 17 Floating, like a kite, above the tree tops . 21 Away in a far corner Elsie espied a huge serpent . 33 ‘“They’ve been robbing a chicken coop,’”’ Froggy said . 37 Under the water sky 41 Welcoming Elsie with courtly grace . 45 *““T am to play the Hop-Toad King at checkers. See, he is over there’”’ . 53 The light was supplied from the mouth of a furnace into which three dreadful looking old women were plunging pokers 61 <“That’s Old Mother Grumble ”’ 73 Froggy the Fiddler was pursuing, upon a bicycle . 8t Believing that some Giant had her, she opened her eyes 87 I Away with the Butterflies. “Isie had not noticed that Uncle Tom q carried a brown paper parcel in his coat pocket. Uncle and niece seated themselves at the trunk of a great, big tree, near the water’s edge. Elsie leaned back against the moss-covered bark of the tree. How lovely and comfortable it felt. But she was a young lady who wanted always to be busy. She never liked sitting still unless she had a doll, a picture-book or a work-basket with which to occupy herself. She was growing: restless when Uncle Tom produced the paper parcel. It was a gift for Elsie, of course, and he handed it to her. She took it with neither seeming show of interest nor surprise, and Uncle Tom felt dis- appointed; but Elsie really wondered what the parcel contained. She got up and walked away from Uncle Tom, taking the parcel, still un- opened, with her. Uncle Tom gave her so many presents! It was very kind of him. This felt like a book. When Elsie thought Uncle Tom wasn't looking she broke the string, and tore open the paper. It was a book, and a beautiful book, too. It had a green cover, on which, in bright colors, were frogs, mice, grass- hoppers and squirrels, all dressed up in funny 14 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. little suits. The pages, too, contained many more pictures of strange creatures and happen- ings. ; A. bull-frog, in military uniform, figured in nearly every picture, and: Elsie thought that he must be the hero of the story, She went back to Uncle Tom who was still sitting where she had left him. She felt sorry she had gone away to open the present he had given her. She wanted to thank him, but, somehow, could not think of just the right words to say. So, in desperation, Elsie poked the book into her Uncle’s hands. Looking up in his face she said: “Read, please.” Uncle Tom opened the book, while Elsie seated herself once more beside him. Then he read : ‘« There once was a gay old frog, Who lived by a dismal bog ; He'd a palace grand, upon the land, Built up in a hollow log. In the night, when all was still, He croaked, and croaked, with a will: ‘ Come to my ball, there’ll be room for all ! The stork will foot up the bill!’ AWAY WITH THE BUTTERFLIES. 15 The stork was crossing the bog, And he feard this gay, old frog. ‘7 foot the bill?’ thought the stork, ‘I will!’ He footed it towards the frog. Guests to the ball scampered in: Field-mice, young, old, fat and thin ; Grasshoppers, squirrels, all brought their girls, And soon was heard a great din. The ball commenced; Froggy rose And danced on very “p-toes ; While the stork, from on high, heaved a sigh: “He deems he’s safe from all foes!’ With quick, cruel dart of head Mister Stork knocked Froggy dead ; ‘ This shocking bill,’ screamed the guests, ‘ does ill!’ And then they fearfully fled. ced There was more to the poem, and Elsie strained her ears to hear it. She was conscious that Uncle Tom was still reading. But oddly, of a sudden, she seemed to lose the power to listen. Elsie heard a cricket calling, and there were countless grass- hoppers jumping about. Her eyes became riveted Onleanspot tm the Moss at her feet. Hére a num- ber of grasshoppers were crawling along in single file. At first there seemed to be nothing unusual in this proceeding, but it gradually — ; fa Lise 16 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. dawned upon Elsie that it was unusual. To begin with, the grasshoppers seeined to increase in size as Elsie watched them. Then, when a number of them had crawled by, others appeared walking upright, and arrayed in yellow uniforms. They carried little chips of mica which sparkled in the bright sunlight. Elsie wondered what these funny little creatures could be doing, and where they were going. She longed to follow them, and started to get up, but found she could not move. What might be the matter? Elsie grew fright- ened. She looked around for Uncle Tom, but failed to see him. Still he was near-by, for she now heard him reading, plainly; it was evi- dently the last verse of the poem, and she hearkened : Listener, take heed from this tale ; Don’t trust blindly: friends oft’ fail. Avoid a long bill, lest it bring ill As to Croaker. Shall we wail? A silence followed in which Elsie tried to think over what she had just heard. The last verse seemed a stupid kind of ending to sucha funny poem Elsie felt very sleepy, so “she decided to give up “vyzug to think. She wandered, in her mind, back to the grasshoppers, and again she seemed to see .them. A tall and learned looking grasshopper He ge SACO ee «ite + hi He = eae aa SS 4 Ra it ; Saul ( i —— é “PRAY SMELL THIS FLOW’R, AS WE REQUIRE.”? AWAY WITH THE BUTTERFLIES. 1g came up toher; it wore a pair of broad-brimmed spectacles. What struck Elsie as most peculiar was that this solemn littlé animal talked. It handed a yellow daisy to Elsie, and said: “Tf you come to our ball You will have to be small.”’ Elsie recalled the poem. “What of the stork ?”” she asked. The grasshopper trembled so violently that its spectacles fell off. “The s—s—stork is away fishing, and will not t—trouble us,” it stammered nervously as it picked up and replaced its glasses. “Oh, well,” said Elsie, soothingly, “ 7 don't mind the stork any way, so I'll come with you.” The grasshopper replied : ‘“If to join us you do desire, Pray smell this flow’r as we require.”’ “Who's we?” asked Elsie, but she took the daisy and raised it to her nose. She couldn't smell anything in particular, so gave a vigorous sniff. Immediately she arose and found herself able to follow the grasshopper. It hopped sedately (if a sedate hop can be imagined) ahead of her. She had followed but a few steps before her attention was drawn to the edge of the woods. There a regular army of grass- 20 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOUK. hoppers was drawn up in line as if on parade, and in review. The insects wore yellow uni- forms. As the sun’s rays played upon them, Elsie’s eyes were dazzled, for each insect carried a quantity of mica. - What fun this was! Elsie turned to call Uncle Tom that he and she might view the grasshopper parade together. But Uncle Tom was nowhere to be seen. Elsie set about look- ing for him. She went back to the place where they had been sitting, but could not find him. Elsie caught her Bren to call him, and then —words were held back by her amazement. The leaves, covering the tree “neath which she stood, began to wave and flutter. Then they all opened out into brilliantly hued butter- fly wings. A dense cloud of insects arose from the tree. The branches were left destitute of foliage, but the air was filled with life and bright colors, A bird sang out from the topmost branch that it was the tree’s birthday. A noise of drum-beating recalled Elsie to the forest edge. Here the grasshopper regi- | ments were forming into line of march. At their front was a drum-corps of crickets, led by a huge beetle drum-miyjor. “ Cracky, cracky, what nonsense!” sounded a voice near? Elsie. She) tummeds, 7a ‘pretty j ‘rebisdan FLOATING, LIKE A KITE, ABOVE THE TREE TOPS. AWAY WITH THE BUTTERFLIES. 23 green frog stood at hand. He worea dress suit and carried a violin. “Don't you know Froggy the Fiddler ?” said he. ; “Oh my, why I should say,—” began Elsie, when she was interrupted. The butterflies gathered thickly about her, so that she could see nothing for some moments save a bewilder- ing mass of fluttering, gauzy wings. As Elsie groped about she heard the frog’s voice. It sounded far away : “ This is quite a fog,” it said, “quite a fog!” Elsie found difficulty in holding her foot- ing; the wing flapping became so violent that it created a regular whirlwind about her. She seemed to be growing lighter, and at length she rose from the ground. The butterflies kept closely round her, and continued to beat the air with their wings. Higher, higher and ever higher Elsie went into the air, and still she could see nothing; not until she ventured to look below her. Then the little girl discovered that she was floating, like a kite, above the tree-tops of the woods. This was the last Elsie knew for some little time; she became so dazed that she could neither see nor think. I]. Christmas in Grasshopper Kingdom. seemed tobe ina cavem, deep down under the ground. How she had gotten there she could not guess. The cavern shone with light, as bright as day. Myriads of grasshoppers, in gay attire, covered the floor and walls. The grass- hopper soldiers were there. They were stationed about, at intervals; and each soldier held bits of mica which flashed and were the means of reflecting light from the mouth of the cave. Elsie heard a small voice scream out, near hen: ‘©A merry Christmas to you all; Now let ’s begin the Christmas ball !’’ “ Christmas, Merry Christmas, what could it mean? It surely was not Christmas time ? If it was, where was the tree?” As if in answer to Elsie’s unspoken ques- tion, the voice again called: “Put out the lights. Light up the tree, That thus we but the tree may see.’’ Thereupon the soldiers concealed their mica reflectors, and a deep gloom extended through the cavern; in the midst of the gloom there 28 THI SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. appeared a small but spreading fir tree, to the branches of which were tied countless glow- worms and fire-flies: their uncertain lights dis- covered the tree to sight and now gave the sole illumination. The learned looking grasshopper was master of the ceremonies. It told Elsie that it had a poetical license to lead affairs of state in Grasshopper Kingdom. “Is this really Christmas?” Elsie asked, looking down at it. The versifying insect tilted back its head and glanced at her; it trembled, and spoke with evident great feeling: “* We hop o’er earth from dark till light : We are creatures of Mother Earth. We know the season’s quite aright : We are nature’s own from our birth. When damp wind sudd’nly blows the trees We know it brings thunder and rain: So we crawl ’neath the fallen ieaves And there hide till it’s clear again. We love the sunshine, bright and light : It warms, and we hop, hop with life. The insect world loves summer’s night, ’Tis with insect enjoyment rife. 3ut now the wind blows keen and chill, And the ground’s frozen cold and white ; So we’re here below, free from ill, And to celebrate Christmas night.”’ “Ts it night yet?” Elsie asked. CHRISTMAS IN GRASSHOPPER KINGDOM. 29 “No, but it soon will be,” replied the poet- ical grasshopper. “I had to say night to make the rhyme.” A great din and buzzing now arose. “Whe king. the 7king |=) orsssomething which sounded very much like “The king” was chirruped by thousands of insects, in uni- son. Such countless dry scraping noises sounded about Elsie that she began to feel very creepy and uncomfortable. She scarcely dared move for fear of trampling upon the bugs which covered the ground. discovered an enormous grass- & hopper: if it had just come z there she did not know. She 2 p i = guessed, and rightly, that it 2& was the king. It seemed. motionless, but there was a great commotion round about it. } Insects were dodging and ducking on every side as if they would escape something momentarily falling upon them. “The king’s spitting tobacco* on his sub- jects,” remarked a crackly voice, nearby. *When a grasshopper is caught and held in the hand, it emits, from its mouth, a dark brown fluid. Many children say that the grasshopper is then “spitting tobacco.” 30 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. A cry arose that caused a great excite- ment. “The king’s pitcher is broken!” The great grasshopper spread its wings, and, rising from the tree, flew blindly through the cavern: it banged into the walls and roof, fell among its fellows and again flew up, whirring, in mid-air past Elsie. She became frightened. | Wehlo: biroike «thre pitcher? Who broke the pitcher ?” arose the inquir- ing call, louder and louder, until at last there was heard a reply: “ Katy-did !” Then a great contra- diction arose. Some said Katy-did, and some, Katy- didn't : “ Katy-did, Katy-didn’t, — _ Katy broke the pitcher.’ Meanwhile the air became alive with insects.. Elsie dodged about, fearful of being covered with the crawly creatures A voice sounded from the direction of the tree : “Cracky, cracky. Where can she be? Dear amet: CHRISTMAS IN GRASSHOPPER KINGDOM. 31 A frog, standing upright, was stripping the branches of its fire-flies, and stuffing them into alittle lantern. At last all the light in the cave was held there. A strange noise arose above the many other noises. Whir-r-r | It sounded like the spinning of a watch- man’s rattle. The grasshoppers were hopping and flying past Elsie, toward the mouth of the ' Cave. Now the frog grew ill at ease: “ Cracky, cracky,” he said, “Old Stinger is waking up. It's time to go out.” Away ina far corner Elsie espied a huge Serpent; it lay, like a-coil of thick rope, but waved its awful head and tail impatiently in the air. Elsie screamed. And then—how very odd! —Froggy came beside her, and caught her hand. Together they found their way to the cave’s entrance, by the light of Froggy’s lan- tern. They stepped out into a beautiful white covered field. But it didn’t feel a bit cold. “Why isn’t it chilly if we’re in the snow?” Elsie asked. “This isn’t snow; we're in a daisy field,” Froggy replied. “ But I thought this was Christmas.” 32 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK, “So it was Christmas,” assented the Frog. “It was and therefore it zsw’2.” “Mercy,” said Elsie “What do you mean?” She was startled by another voice close by: “«” Tis the spring of the year, When the flowers appear.”’ The Learned Grasshopper perched upon a little tree, just above Elsie’s head. Froggy said, “T’ve forgotten something.” And he left Elsie abruptly. “« Hooray diddle diddle ! He’s gone for his fiddle,”’ sang out the poetical insect. Froggy soon returned with a violin. He was breathless, and he mopped his head with a big, red handker- chief. “Old Stinger nearly caught me,” he said, and he grew very fe eene a Cracky |e cried. Elsie heard a rustle near her. Hopping through the daisies came an enormous horned toad. “It’s the Hop-toad King, and he’s after you,’ whispered Froggy. The toad monster grunted and croaked horridly. “Don't let him touch you,’ Froggy said, “If a toad touches you he will give you warts.” © Let's run! cried Elsie, in great alarm: | wall l i ! Hi i i Os ool AWAY IN A FAR CORNER ELSIE ESPIED A HUGE SERPENT. CHRISTMAS [IN GRASSHOPPER KINGDOM. 35 “ Here comes the froggy guard,” her com- panion replied. Indeed, a lot of frogs, in scarlet and green uniforms, dashed out and surrounded the toad. Then such a-croaking followed that Elsie was almost deafened. Swish-swish, swish-swish, sounded, through the grass and daisies, nearer and nearer until a tall stork strode forth into the midst of the frogs. Goodness, gracious, how terrified they were! They hopped this way and that, and, in the confusion, the Hop-toad King escaped. “ High time to be moving,” Froggy said. “ The next thing Elsie knew she was stand- ing by the brink of the stream, in the woods. How she came there she could not imagine. A little animal scampered past, and Elsie looked after it to a very strange sight. Rats were assembling on the bank of the stream, a short distance from Elsie. They swam from across the water, and trooped out of the woods. ~ “Cracky, cracky! They’ve been robbing a chicken-coop,” remarked a voice at Elsie’s side. Froggy stood there, bow and violin under arm, and lantern, filled with bugs, at hand. In the lapel of his dress-coat he had a_ water-lily bouquet, The rats, coming from the woods, were pulling others along by their tails. These 36 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. - (latterly mentioned rats) lay upon their backs, each holding an egg in a close and careful embrace. “ There’s no time to be lost; we must be off to the fairy wedding,” Froggy said. “ Froggy the Prince is waiting for you.” “T thought you only dressed up, and were sociable at night time, when people are asleep,” said Elsie. But Froggy paid no heed to this remark. A great, big wave rose in the middle of the stream and rolled ever higher towards the shore, where Elsie was standing. She turned to run. But Froggy caught her by the dress in such a way that she fell flat on her face. Oh, how furious she was! She screamed. But there was a roar, and the wave curled above and broke upon her. Elsie closed her eyes, held: her breath, and clutched at the ground. She was swept-back, however, with the receding water. She judged she must have reached mid- stream when her fright and suffocation made her unconscious. ils i wl «AA a Ne | | ul WN Me Wt NG A JIN BEE Gi MS hia AG } DERG =e a — IFAD ie S PES COME LIS bly Dy BER: L94 \\ Ail / elit “THEY'VE BEEN ROBBING A CHICKEN COOP,”’ FROGGY SAID. III. Under the Water Sky. SS 2A SEE = i oe Sa 9 Ge i AI Ne S Ula te ih \ t i) \ ee SE \ 7AX. Ws : == RE \S Wi = BN HUF) S NYY , WA Vr \\ Hit { I iN IR | ret 1 a hh \ i UNDER S TBE AW ANTE RES KN J/Isie revived to find herself in the " most beautiful country she had ever seen. It seemed she was in another world. And it was a dear, dainty, little world. Why the sky was only about fifteen feet above! How oe lorgeous the sky was, too! Countless beams of light filtered through it, and caused brilliant, ever changing, color cHects in the matter resembling water rather than clouds. Indeed there were fish swimming about through the heavens, and everything was begin- ning to swim before Elsie’s eyes when a sharp odor roused and refreshed her. Froggy was reaching up and holding a salts’ bottle to her nose. Elsie gave him a hard scolding for having thrown her into the wave. Froggy peered up at her, listening patiently and sadly. When Elsie had talked herself quite out of breath, Froggy gave a low, deep croak and said slowly : “J did it all for your sake, and for Froggy the Prince. It was hard for me to do it. Here I cannot remain with you, but above, though in danger, I could be your guide and servant.” 44 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. Froggy squatted and kissed Elsie’s shoes. Then he drew from his pocket a little package, tied in pink ribbons. He handed it to Elsie, saying: “ Keep this until I’m gone, never to see you more. Then open it.” There was a noise on the garden path. ‘Tere comes Prosey the Prince; ysard Froggy, and he hopped away looking downcast and miserable. Elsie shrugged her shoulders, and laughed— it was very funny. Froggy the Prince came up. He was certainly a pretty little beast. And he was dressed in royal fashion. Welcoming Elsie with courtly grace, he told her she was under the brook in fairyland. What had seemed to her the sky was really the water closed off over- head by far-stretching panes of glass. Exquisite little fairies came flitting into the garden, and Elsie thought several of them had a familiar look. Froggy the Prince said: “These are the fairies who live in the trees. Every fairy has a private underground passage leading from her tree here, where all is safe from people, and their wrong doings. The fairies can always come here; but they dare not ven- ture out into the woods excepting at night, and when they hear the knocking of the gnomes, telling them the world’s asleep. My messenger, WELCOMING ELSIE WITH COURTLY GRACE. UNDER THE WATER SKY. 47 Froggy the Fiddler, has brought you to me. I feared the Hop-toad King might meet you; I nearly killed him in battle, but he got away. I shall play him at checkers shortly, though.” The brightly uniformed froggy guard | paraded down the garden, six abreast. At their head marched a bugler. A lovely little fairy with golden hair and silver wings flitted past. She joined a handsome, old gnome, who stood, waiting for her, upon the steps of a palace, some distance away. Froggy the Prince grew greatly excited. “Winter and Spring are going to marry!” he croaked. “ Their blending will set me free |” Elsie could not understand, but she said nothing. Everything sparkled. Elsie noticed that the garden walks were strewn with diamonds ; she stood near a clump of silver bushes. “Let's go.to the wedding,’ the Prince said ; he hopped along with Elsie. The palace shone in green light, and the Prince explained that it was built in the middle of an emerald plot. Sunbeams, shining through the watery sky, were drawn and collected by the precious stones. These flashed the light so that the palatial buildings seemed bathed in green fire. A row of gold-leaf trees lined either side of the roadway leading to the royal entrance. 48 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. Here Elsieand Froggy the Prince mingled with a large assemblage of fairies, frogs and gnomes. A handkerchief fluttered from one of the palace windows. Froggy the Prince said his old, fairy godmother was waving to him. “Now for the sign of the frogs!” he cried excitedly. “Umpy dumpy didley dee!” Instantly Elsie felt herself lifted,and whirled ‘away. The magical force conveyed her through the open window into the room of the fairy god- mother. The good lady herself stood ready to receive her. She bade the little girl be seated upon a couch of rose leaves. Froggy the Prince had come also. Him she directed to dress in a suit of boy’s clothes that she drew from a fold of her glittering gar- ments. But Froggy azdn’'t have fo put them on. They went on of themselves, in a twinkling. The old fairy waved a wand over Froggy, and sang : “« Hongy pongy wigledy wee: Froggy the Prince you are, you see. Hongy pongy wigledy woy ; And now you are a little boy.”’ It was astonishing, Froggy was gone, and in his place stood a beautiful boy of about eight years of age. Elsie became embarrassed. The youth stepped forward and took her hand. But then he said nothing, and he also seemed embarrassed. UNDER.THE WATER SKY. 49 The fairy had vanished. “Are you Froggy the Prince >” Elsie asked timidly. This question made the boy ill at ease. ‘He trembled and grew pale. So Elsie hastily added: “Oh let's do something!” “Allright, let’s play hide and seek,” the boy answered inarelieved tone. ‘“ Father Time has joined Winter and Spring in See and there he goes now.’ Elsie. looked out of the window at a tall, thin, old man who was flying away. “ Time has wings,” remarked the boy. “ The old man was some distance off, but Elsie could see that he carried a long scythe under one arm, while under the other he had a great bundle of long things that looked like reeds or sticks. Elsie’s companion said these were the years that had gone by. They grew in Father Time’s garden, in the middle of a bed of thyme, but only one at atime. And it took fifty-two weeks for the year to ripen. Then Father Time cut it down, though without de- stroying the root. There was always a sprout of a new year at the season of the cutting. It grew up when the old year was taken away. The little boy said the years would continue so long as their root lasted. Father Time kept his barn off in another world. He only visited it when his ceztury plant flowered, telling him he 50 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. had a large enough bundle of years to make the trip worth his while carrying them there. The bark of each year-stalk could be unrolled, and on it was written a complete history of every- thing, great and small, done in this worla during the time it first began to grow until it was cut down. The little boy informed Elsie that all her doings and sayings were recorded upon those scrolls that grew during the period of her life. Elsie said: “And pray, how do you know all this? My Papa never told me anything about it: so I don’t believe it.” The little boy looked sadly and wistfully at the little girl. “Perhaps the small humble animals that live close to nature know more than the proud people, about these things,” he answered. oYoure ti said) Elsie Shemhated Jong talking on one subject. The boy laughed and closed his eyes, and Elise ran off to find a hiding place. There were no doors: great rambling rooms opened into each other in bewildering fashion. And every room was just full of beautiful things. Elsie hid down behind a big Noah's Ark, and cried: “Ready!” UNDER THE WATER SKY. 51 She heard a patter of feet drawing near; quickly she was found. Then she didn’t want to be “it,” and she was very impatient to look into the Ark. Her companion was only too happy to do everything she wished. He lifted the ark’s lid; Elsie shouted with delight. There was the finest collection of animals she had ever seen. Girl and boy got upon their knees, and took out giraffes, elephants, pigs and birds by handsful. Why there was neither brown paper nor shavings in the bottom of the ark! “It’s the first ark that ve ever seen that isn't a cheat!” Elsie exclaimed earnestly. Her companion said: “Ves, and the beasts walk and run them- selves——look |” As he stood each one up he touched a spring within it, and immediately it was set in motion. Soon the floor became covered with a long procession of little woodeu animals; they walked and trotted about as the children fancied. Tiring at length of this amusement, Elsie sighed. : “Oh! we have to pick them all up and put them back again; don't we?” Sometimes she was a lazy little girl. But the boy answered: ‘“Novindéedss see? = The animals, being bidden, came running back, up and into the ark, of their own accord. 52 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. “That's the most convenient toy I ever knew,” Elsie said candidly. “Do you like games?” the boy asked. “What kinds ?” “ Checkers* for instance.” Elsie liked to look on at checkers, but not to play. Would she care to see a ue: ? Nese The boy led the way up a long flight of winding stairs. At the top landing he and Elsie stepped out into a high ceilinged, marble hall. Occupying the central space of the floor was a large swimming pool, and on the water’s surface ee floated a number of lily pads. The spread- ing leaves were arranged at regular intervals, and in such a way that Elsie could not help remarking: “Why they look like the squares of a checker-board.” “That's just what they are,” her companion made answer. “I am to play the Hop-toad King at clieckers,. Sce, le 1s: over theres Elsie looked in the direction pointed at the opposite side of the pool. Surrounded by a lot of toads, dressed in flaring yellow and brown striped bathing suits, was indeed the Hop-toad * The English call this game ‘“ Draughts.”’ “1 AM TO PLAY THE HOP-TOAD KING AT CHECKERS. SEE, HE 1S OVER THERE.” UNDER THE WATER SKY. 55 King. He towered above his retainers, and his tall fleshy horns waved on either side of a tin crown that he wore. Fat, puffy and wart covered,* he was a hideous object. Across from the toads, on the other side of the pool, was an assemblage of frogs; the frogs wore light green bathing suits that trimly fitted their comical, little figures. Proceedings seemed to be at a stand-still when Elsie came up. The little boy, however, started them in motion. “ Place your men,” he shouted to the Hop- toad King. The creature, addressed, set to making peculiar gulping noises, by way of direction to his followers. These hopped cautiously and carefully out upon the lily pads, ranging them- selves there in two rows, checker-board fashion. The frogs, meanwhile, took like position across the pool; though ¢hey plunged in and swam to their respective lily pads. Elsie got the giggles, for the froggies and hop-toads, drawn up facing each other, made a very droll spectacle. The little animals glared across at one another, and they were all of a *There is an old saying, popularly believed, that a toad has a new wart every year of his life. If this is true, the Toad King must indeed have been an ancient monster, for he had hundreds of warts. 56 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. quiver. Elsie’s companion was grave and. anxious. | I must win this @ame, he said “Is I win, I shall indeed be free.” He called: “ Shake the dice-box !” 'Therewith the toad monster lifted the half _ of an English walnut shell, and held it before his great mouth, which he opened. Disgusting to relate, a large insect crawled out and toppled over the edge of the toad’s lower jaw into the shell, “What's that?” Elsie questioned. “A bee,” the boy answered. “The King is full of them:; ~ ) Alive ©) asked) Elsie im homitied —un- belief. , “Certainly; that’s the way he eats them. He just gobbles them down whole.” “Why, the cannibal!” Elsie said indig- nantly. The Toad King was shaking the walnut shell, with clutch over the open part. “Ply or fall?” he grunted in a thick, deep voice. “Fall!” the boy answered. The toad uncovered the shell, and the bee buzzed out and flew into the air. UNDER THE WATER SKY. 57 “Its your move,” the boy called disap- pointedly. 7 There was a commotion in the pool, and Elsie looked just in time to see a toad hop out towards the frogs. The little girl’s escort flung himself down by the brink to move his frogs. Elsie never forgot the scene that followed. Frogs and toads intermingled, and whenever one hopped over another the under one was pushed into the pool, and made to swim away from the game. Now, of course, when the froggies tumbled into the water they were in their element, but the toads found swimming no easy matter. The toads had a life-boat; had it not been for this many of them might have been drowned. They were continually being rescued from watery graves, for the frogs jumped over them, and shoved them overboard with amazing rapidity. The water grew rough from the many, violent flounderings and sputterings of unfor- tunate toads. But meantime a successful toad broke through the frog ranks and reached the frog end of the lily pads. It was a repulsive looking creature, covered ‘with lumps of hair grown flesh, and rolls of spotted fat. The Hop- toad King croaked from the bank in a voice, loud, like rolling thunder : 58 \ THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. “ The first king; crown him, crown him!” He lifted his tin crown from his speckled head and flung it, out over the pond, to his retainer. Then he squatted to gloat over the game. Elsie stood near where the little boy was crouched, directing and moving his forces. He was very nervous and excited. “1 do hope you'll win,” Elsie said. And then it was astonishing what effect her words produced. The Hop-toad King started to make around the pond to Elsie. “T heard you,” he grunted. “You want the Prince to win. You love him! But I love you. And I shall have you. The Prince is hateful to me. I am losing my power; and I will kill him!” While he made these avowals a small swarm of bees poured from his throat, and flew towards Elsie. She screamed. “Cracky, cracky! Those are stinging words,” said a familiar voice. Froggy the Fiddler stood at hand, and, when the bees flew up he caught them all with lightning quickness, and poked them into his little lantern. The boy stood facing the advancing toad monster. “Umpy dumpy didley dee,” he cried. “J shall win because she wishes it. The spell you held over me is broken Umpy dumpy didley dee! So says the sign of the frogs.” UNDER THE WATER SKY. 59 The Toad King stopped, stock still. His hideous skin changed to a hue of muddy white, while he grew all of a tremble. Then he rolled over, and sprawled upon his back. “Gracious me!” the little boy exclaimed. “The poor, old monster is dying. Though the Fates now decree he shall not live, I will do my best to save him.” : And so it is that Froggy the Prince changed to and remained in that higher form of being in which he longed to exist; he had the true spirit of forgiveness. And he loved his ideal, the good, little girl. And he fought the King of Evil to protect the good. In his small way he had done what was right. He now rushed to the side of the monster ~ and spoke words of kindness to him, and he did everything in his power to revive the monster. But the pool began to seethe and bubble and to give off a thick, hot vapor. “Jt burns, it burns!” moaned the Hop-toad King. The froggies of the checker game had all clambered safely from the water; the toads’ life- boat, filled with ugly toads, was spinning round and round where the surface was most disturbed. “Oh, torment, torment!” the Toad King grunted. “The witches want us for their dinner. They will boil us!” 60 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRV BOOK. A shiver of horror passed through Elsie. “Come with me?” said the little boy to his enemy, “] Il save you.” He tried to help the monster to rise, but the latter was helpless and groaned, “The steam stifles me. I can’t-move!” The head of the creature drooped and shrank back into the body that heaved and rose about it; the whole appearance of the Toad King altered until it was as a mountain of lifeless, squalid flesh. This became round, like a ball, and, just as the toad life-boat floated near the brink where it was, it rolled off and directly into the midst of the boat’s helpless occupants. The craft upset: the toads filled the scald- ing water; the steam grew suffocating. And the little boy caught Elsie’s hand, and ran with Elsie from the scene of increasing horror. Back, down the winding stair-case by which they had come, they hurried, at the rate of two and three steps a jump. On the floor below, where were the loudest noises Elsie ever heard, she peeped through the aperture of a half open doorway into a sort of cavern; for the walls and ceiling were of rock. ‘The light was supplied from the mouth of a furnace into which three dreadful looking old women were plunging pokers. THE LIGHT WAS SUPPLIED FROM THE MOUTH OF A FURNACE INTO WHICH THREE DREADFUL LOOKING OLD WOMEN WERE PLUNGING POKERS. UNDER THE WATER. SKY. 63 In this weird place there was a table spread with a dirty, greasy cloth, and set with dishes of stewed snakes, fresh slime and sea-weed pud- ding. Elsie asked the little boy, in an awed whisper, “What are they doing with that fire ?” “Boiling the Hop-toad King and all his toads,’ was the reply. ‘Those are the witches. We call them the three Fates. They have been waiting years and years for their dinner, and they could not catch and cook the evil animals until a queen of goodness came from the people’s world to wish the hop-toads’ downfall.” Elsie burst into tears: “ But I didn’t want the toads cooked alive!” she sobbed. “I only wanted you fo win in the checker game!” There was clinking, and clanking, as of the knocking together of heavy, iron chains, and the witches turned from their work and looked at Elsie. She had never been so frightened in her life: “ They heard you; they think you begrudge them their toad food,” the little boy said. “Come, let us hurry away.” Elsie again found herself running for dear Life. 64 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. Soon she was far from the scenes of dis- turbance, and back, with her companion, in the toy rooms. A tiny voice was calling— “Mamma, mamma!” And Elsie, seeing no one but the little boy, asked if there were other children in the palace. “No. But that voice belongs to a talking doll.” “Oh, how lovely!” Elsie clapped her hands in delight. “Do let’s see dolly!” A girl doll, with long, light yellow curls, was discovered to view. The boy took it down from a shelf, and handed it carefully and gently to Elsie. He was such a little gallant! So different was he from Billy Jones, and other boys of Elsie’s acquaintance. 7/ey teased her when she played dolls, and Billy once strung Elsie's pet doll up to a gallows, and pulled off its head. As the little girl coddled dolly, it opened its eyes: they were blue as was its dress, and it had real gloves and shoes and beautiful, lace trimmed underclothing. “ What is it dolly, dear?” “You're my mamma,’ dolly answered. “Dolly want to walk ?” Sp case): Elsie placed the doll upon the floor. _Imme- diately, it toddled across the room to an open UNDER THE WATER SKY. 65 cupboard, from which it brought out along, toy train of cars. “You darling!” Elsie cried in ecstasy, running over to the doll. “Wind ’em mamma, p’ease.” Elsie didn’t know exactly how to do this, so the little boy wound up the engine's spring for her. “Tan I ride, mamma?” dolly pleaded. Elsie said, “Yes,” whereupon her compan- ion lifted the doll into an open freight car, daintily tucked its dress about it, and set the train in motion. Away it spun to the amusement of both children. And, though round and round the room it went, the engine steered clear of obsta- cles ina remarkable manner, and never stopped until Elsie tired of seeing it in motion, Then it brought dolly safely back to Elsie. She lifted dolly out,-and the train ran to the cupboard and put itself away. “Want’s to see dancin’ beah, mamma!” “ What, dear ?” “She wants to see the dancing bear,” the boy explained. . [There was a low growl under a table near by, and, at Elsie’s request, her host went to it, and took out a stuffed bear cub. He bent its paws, stood it up on its hind legs, and touched 66 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. a hidden spring. The bear shambled sideways about the floor. Girl and boy had a hearty laugh together, over the toy animal’s clumsy antics. But the doll looked on with wide open eyes and never-changing expression of counte- nance. The little bear, in passing a distant corner of the room, startled a hobby-horse ; it began rocking violently, to and fro. Elsie’s friend suggested that they take a trip through the palace. “Can you ride horseback ?” he inquired. Elsie had often ridden Uncle Tom’s farm horse. The boy put Bruin back under the table, and then he went to the hobby-horse and lifted it from its rockers. “Would you rather ride or drive?” he asked, in a matter-of-fact way. As Elsie could not guess how either the riding or driving might be undertaken, she thought the latter had the safest sound, so she said: Drives Her play-mate ran to an adjoining room, and returned, dragging after him a small chariot. “There's just room in it for you and dolly and me,” he said, as he proceeded to harness the hobby-horse to the vehicle. UNDER THE WATER SKY. 67 Elsie glanced quickly at the boy to see if he were in his right senses. It was hard to believe that a Zodéy-horse could take them any- where. But there was a pile of soft, velvet cushions in the chariot, and, on the impulse of the moment, Elsie jumped in among them. She felt tired, having been on her feet so long. In blissful comfort among the cushions, the little girl closed her eyes. She thought of Uncle Tom, and of how she had left him. And she thought of Mamma and Papa, and of what lots she would have to tell them when she got home. But would she get home? This ques- tion had not before occurred to Elsie. She . grew frightened. Of course, the little boy, now that he was no longer a frog, would return with her. In any case, though, Elsie felt that she wanted to go home, herself, right away. Elsie opened her eyes, and was greatly surprised to find the doll in her lap, and the boy seated beside her. He held a whip, the ends of a pair of reins, and—why! The scene had changed! Elsie forgot home, and indeed a/Z/ eése, in her surroundings. Numberless . chariots, each drawn by a hobby-horse, and containing a girl and boy, were dashing towards Elsie’s chariot from every imaginable and unimaginable direc- tion. Fearing a wholesale collision, Elsie 68 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. screamed. The little boy turned to her with a merry laugh. _ “We're driving foun the looking-glass room,” he said. That which had escaped Elsie’s notice, she now perceived: the walls’ were hung closely with mirrors, and it was the reflections around the room of themselves and their single turn- out that had startled Elsie. The wooden steed clattered along amaz- ingly. The boy drove from the looking-glass rvom into a low-ceilinged place filled with soft lights. These shone from above, in and through a substance that looked like water. Elsie’s host explained ; “That is the Palace aquarium.* You see the water through a glass ceiling.” So it was water, and it teemed with gold fish, and was illumined by numerous bulbs of electric light. Elsie asked: “ Whose is this palace ?” The boy blushed. “It’s mine, now that the Hop-toad King is dead,” he said modestly. The little girl could not help thinking again of Billy Jones: ‘“ How ‘stuck-up’ he was, just because his papa gave him a new goat-cart!” *A pond or a tank of glass for fishes. UNDER THE WATER SKY. 69 As the horse drew near the farther end of the room Elsie heard a rippling; she thought it might come from a running stream. But the boy said it was fairy laughter. “ The forest fairies are having a fancy-dress ball to-night, in honor of my liberation. Will you, my liberator, come to it?” Elsie nodded assent, whereupon her friend turned the horse down a long, dark corridor. The little girl thought it necessary to speak to dolly here, in order that dolly might not be frightened. Goodness, how long the passage- way was! But at last the little boy pointed ahead to its ending where there burned a bright light. Moreover, he told Elsie that the illumina- tion in the palatial buildings was made entirely © of condensed lightning, gathered, during thunder-storms, by the fairy storage batteries. “It is these that save people and their houses from being struck,’ he said. “The fairies are always busy, in a storm, catching the destructive lightning in their batteries. It is — only when a battery is out of order, or broken, that a house is burned, or a person killed. In- deed, the good forest fairies will attract a terri- ble bolt to their leafy homes rather than let it strike some unfortunate world wanderer. Of course, the tree stricken dies. And the fairy of 70 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. that tree must find another home. The fairy cannot be injured, herself, though she mourns the loss of what nature gave her.” By this time the hobby-horse had drawn the chariot up before the ball-room door. “Umpy, dumpy, didley dee,” called the boy, springing out, and helping Elsie to alight. The door opened, revealing a magnificent apartment, with highly polished floor and rich furnishings. The guests were arriv- ing through a distant door that led in from the garden. The fairies came dressed as ballet dancers and court ladies; and the gnomes, as court gentlemen and frogs. As the guests included among them vea/ frogs, it was in some instances dif- ficult to distinguish the real from the “ pretend.” Light for the entertainment shown from countless, pink, fairy lamps, ranged round about on spreading mushroom tables. The music was furnished by the frog orchestra, that occu- pied a gailery, near at hand. Indeed, Froggy the Fiddler was the first to welcome Elsie to the ball. When he saw her UNDER THE WATER SKY. 7 come in he hopped right over the gallery railing onto the floor, and hurried to meet her. Elsie was very glad to see him, and the boy said : “ My dear, good friend, how are you?” “Cracky!” Froggy answered. “Well, thank you, considering the recent hot weather experienced at the checker game.” Girl, boy and Froggy chatted together until the latter suddenly exclaimed: “T haven't officially welcomed you to your ball yet. I must do so without delay. Excuse men He went off with an air of importance and resumed his place in the oe among his musicians. Elsie asked, “What's he going to do, make a speech ?” “Yes,” her host replied. “As soon as the guests have all arrived.” The ball-room was filling, and the masque- raders gathered, at a respectful distance, about the girl and boy. Elsie still held dolly; she was wondering where she might safely leave it when a pretty fairy, in nurse’s costume, tripped up, made Elsie a courtesy, and asked, . “May I hold dolly for you: > 72 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. Elsie gave the doll into the fairy’s charge. She could not help marveling at the delightful - way her every wish was anticipated, in the little boy’s palace. : “Tl have my seat right there,” drawled a voice in the throng before Elsie. “Right there, where the dancers can’t tread on my toes.” “That's old Mother Grumble,” the boy remarked. A thin, little, elderly woman was elbowing her way after a white-headed gnome who carried a tall wooden chair. As the two came oppo- site the little girl, the gnome turned to the woman, and said, “Phwhat sitooation av locality does yer ladyship desoire ?” Elsie burst out laughing : “Why, he’s a little Irishman,” she exclaimed. The old woman stopped, cast a look of scrutiny at Elsie, and then pointed the chair to be placed where the old man held it. “Now, Michael,” she said, seating herself with much deliberation, “if you leave me, do not venture far; and be careful. For remem- ber, you're not a boy any longer. You're like me: getting old.” “Faith, an’ it’s mesilf as can still cut a foine pigeon wing*,” was the undaunted reply. *A certain step in dancing. THAT’S OLD MOTHER GRUMBLE.” “ UNDER THE WATER SKY. 75. “Neither boast nor be foolish, Michael,” the woman reproved. “ As for dancing, do not atlemipt ttl i The boy whispered: “ Her servant is the Shamrock gardener; he also plants the four-leaf clovers that, when plucked, bring good luck to people.” “Where is the Miss who freed my cousin’s father’s nephew’s uncle’s son?” queried Mother Grumble. ‘Ah, there she is,” she continued, eying Bisie, Come here: Elsie approached, thinking she might offend her host should she not do so. “What is your name?” Mother Grumble asked. ; welsicdece. “Elsie Lee. Ah, yes! I once knew a hand- some man named Lee. He was drowned in bathing, and it was said the fishes ate him. Do you know, you are under water. I should not be surprised to hear at any time that the fishes had eaten you.” This conversation made Elsie feel decidedly uncomfortable. “ Here is my domestic,” the elderly woman said, pointing at the old man. “Do you know him?” 76 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. He, designated, looked sadly sober and said: “* Do ye know ’im? Yis ye do know ’’m: Oi am a gnome!”’ A prolonged “hush” was voiced by many of the assemblage, and then every one became still. “ Fairies, Frogs and Fishes,” called a voice that Elsie recognized as Froggy the Fiddler’s. Mother Grumble interrupted in a loud drawl : “Musicians can play, but they are incapa- ble of speaking correctly. In the first place there are no fishes here; in the second place your beginning is not that which the occasion demands. I am here at the special request of that young gentleman’s (pointing to Elsie’s host) godmother. I mean to see that events pass off as they should. Pray begin therefore: Mother Grumble, the godmother’s representative, Fairies, Brownies ssl Frogs.” Elsie looked at the Fiddler, and thought he seemed annoyed. But, at any rate, he began his address over again, as Mother Grumble directed. The general disposition was to humor the old lady. Having re-delivered his introduction, Froggy the Fiddler continued: “We are here this evening to celebrate the freedom of our UNDER THE WATER SKY. 77 friend and sovereign, King Little Boy. Ever have we been his faithful followers, helping him in his battles against his oppressor, the evil Hop-toad King. Those were the times when our leader was Froggy the Prince; but now he is exalted to human form through the favor of the Queen of Beauty. “Alas, for him!—though I can’t help admit- ting, happily for us—the Fates yet hold one power here below: it is the power to retain the person of our King until the second visit of a child of the world to fairyland. So we shall have the King with us for the present.” This information was a bitter disappoint- ment to Elsie. She could scarcely help from crying, and she looked at the boy; he, too, was the picture of distress. Elsie inclined towards him. “Isn't Froggy horrid?’ she said sympa- thetically. “Of course, you can come home with me. I shall bring you.” But King Little Boy could not be com- forted. “Itisntithe: Froggy s fault; he said) “he would sacrifice everything for my sake. It is the Fates’ decree, and I must obey Come back once again, as Froggy says, and I shall be free to return with you. What is more, your second coming will rid my palace of the Fates. They 78 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK: will haunt here until then, though they can do nothing save keep me under the water sky. “T may no longer roam above in the forest, nor hold fairy gatherings by the brink of the stream, in the moonlight. “But Froggy the Fiddler will have to do these things for me,in future. And I had rather live here below in Auman form than have full liberty to go where I choose in froggy form.” — The music began, and the floor became awhirl with fancifully dressed little couples. The air the orchestra played was the Se eet Elsie had ever heard; it sounded like a composition of the best parts from all her favorite pieces. Lovely pink light was cast on the dancers from the many fairy-lamps. Again Elsie’s host addressed her: “You are going to leave me. Do please come back to me sometime, for you know I am the only child down here. I shall miss you so! Conditions have changed, and Froggy the Fiddler can’t call for you any more. The Fates decree you must come of yourself, hereafter. To get here, fall asleep, and, in your sleep, UNDER THE WATER SKY. 79 pick a four-leaved clover; instantly, you will be—” Elsie couldn't hear the rest. She was run- ning away from the little boy. “T must be crazy,’ she said to herself, and tried to stop. She could not. Her efforts only met with the result of making her prance like a horse. Elsie had heard of Saint Vitus’s Dance ; “JT wonder if I have it,” she thought. Then—it was strange—the little girl found herself outside the ball-room, and clambering into the chariot. The horse was prancing; just as she had been, a moment before. Had se been prancing, “or was it the horse all the time?” Elsie felt overcome with bewil- derment. In this state she was carried away. The hobby-horse began galloping. Elsie was all alone, but she concluded it would be dan- gerous to jump from the chariot. Indeed the steed went faster and faster until, at length, Elsie made up her mind that it was running away with her. She had never, in her life, heard of a hobby-horse running away, so she didn't know what to do. “If your pony ever runs away,’ her papa once told her, “sit quite still, and do not attempt to jump from your cart.” Elsie recalled this, so she sat still—and screamed, The long hall had been passed 80 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRV BOOK. through, as had the aquarium and looking-glass rooms, and now the horse was cantering through the toy apartments. The floors were covered with Noah’s Ark animals; they seemed to be enjoying a frolic all to themselves when the hobby-horse dashed in among them. It ruthlessly trampled over ele- phants, rhinoceros and hippopotami; when the dancing bear came near however, the horse took affright and charged away through rooms here- tofore unknown to Elsie and, from them, out into the garden. The child still called for help when the ringing of a bell caused her to look behind. Froggy the Fiddler was pursuing, upon a bicycle. “Wont eo. dont eo! he eried breath: lessly. Elsie answered : “lcant help it! Stop the horse!” But the wooden animal increased its speed until it seemed to fly. (OG NPL OP BF LEE a3 FROGGY THE FIDDLER WAS PURSUING, UPON A BICYCLE, IVE Home, in a Chariot. thicker; some of it got into Elsie’s eyes, which she closed and began to sub. 7 hen, fearing Brogey, would lose her, she called again: “Help, where are you ?” A voice—but not Froggy’s—answered : + Here 1am! Elsie strained every nerve to listen. “Come, waken up,” the voice continued. ‘You have been sleeping the entire afternoon!” Elsie felt herself shaken gently by the shoulder. ; wull sche cried excitedly: | Rally ime out of the chariot!” There was a great laugh close by her ear. This frightened Elsie more than ever and, believing that some giant had her, she opened her eyes. But she saw no giant. Uncle Tom was lifting her onto his knees. Elsie was safe, and fairyland had vanished. “Dreaming again, I do declare,” said Uncle Tom. “What a little dreamer you are!” Elsie still felt dazed, but she was sure she had really been to fairyland. This belief was 86 THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. confirmed when she looked down and found, clutched in one of her hands, a dainty little package in pink ribbons. “Why, that’s my present from Froggy the Fiddler!” she exclaimed, and she proceeded to tell Uncle Tom how Froggy had given it to her upon her arrival beneath the water sky. He had at that time requested her not to open it until she left him. And he had also asked that she keep it in remembrance of him. Elsie's uncle listened smilingly. When she had finished speaking he said, “You quaint child; I gave you that package just as you were going to sleep. It contains another book. You recollect, you unwrapped the first book I gave you, and I was reading aloud to you from it when you wandered away into dreamland. “Now you have often asked me ¢he way to go to fairyland, and as I found a_ book describing the route, I got it for you.” Elsie opened her package. It did contain a book. In large golden letters on the book’s cover was the title: Fazryland: And How To Reach It. The little girl was now wide awake; she looked eagerly inside the book. There were no pictures! But the print was so very large that Elsie had no trouble in reading the first page upon which she opened: aS id ee oa VAY BELIEVING THAT SOME GIANT HAD HER, SHE OPENED HER EYES. HIOME, IN A CHARIOT. 89 “ Listen, little girls and boys, And ev’ ryone who likes toys: ‘ Fairyland’s not far away.’ This is what the froggies say. * There’s one froggy you know well : Whom he is, I need not tell. He invites you all to come, Through the water, to his home. Down beneath a wat’ry sky, Where—you’d think it wet—’tis dry, Stands a fairy palace grand ; Now I hope you’ll understand. There is where the froggy dwells ; How to get there froggy tells. He’d take you now if he could, But you must sleep in a wood— And If, ere your slumber’s over, You pick a four-leaved clover, Froggy then shall take your hand And lead you to fairyland. “Mercy, what a time I'll have to get back again,” Elsie sighed. There was something particularly familiar to her in the last verse. She pored over it. Suddenly she remembered : “Why those were the very directions King Little Boy was trying to give me when I ran away from him.” Now there was no doubt in Elsie’s mind that she had just returned from fairyland. She knew she had, and her book was her proof. Uncle Tom could not bring Elsie to believe “i “Ly go THE SECOND FROGGY FAIRY BOOK. 7 anything to the contrary. So there was no use arguing. Uncle and niece held to their respec- tive opinions. Gentle reader, whom do you think was right, Elsie or Uncle Tom? It is left to you to decide whether the book of directions entitled, Fairyland: And Flow To Reach It, was given to Elsie by her uncle, or by Froggy the Fiddler, zz Fairyland. If the latter is the case—and it seems it must be—you have an equal chance with Elsie of visiting Fairy and Frog Land. You will see this by referring to the first two lines of the (i _. directions, which address fll! Mk all young folk. The froggies say that the little boy still awaits the coming of a second child. Whenever you see a frog be kind to it, and you-may learn something of the fairies. * co ie ok ok By ga | ya aa fl odie’ = Years have passed since Elsie’s wonder adventures with Froggy the Fiddler; she is now a beautiful young lady. But she still holds among her most valuable possessions the precious book— Fazryland : And How To Reach It A Partial list of The New Books DREXEL BIDDLE, Publisher Walnut Street Philadelphia Cable Address : “DREBID, PHILADELPHIA” fe + LONDON GAY AND BIRD 22 Bedford Street, Strand, W. C. DREXEL BIDDLE, PUBLISHER’S PUBLICATIONS. ‘“‘The Christmas books of Mr. Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, the American writer and publisher, are becoming increasingly popular.”’—London Literary World. Two Christmas Books for the Very Young: People, By A. J. D. B. Tite FROGGY PAIRY BOOK Now in its Third Thousand, Containing Nine Beautiful Full-page Illustrations. Cloth and Gold. Duodecimo, pp. 66, 50 cents. De Luxe Edition, $1.25. and THE SEQUEL, The Second Froggy Fairy Book. The heroine, Elsie Lee, is first introduced in the preceding volume. ‘‘ It is a right dainty little piece of children’s fiction, and tells about a remarkable froggy that wore a dress suit and prefaced all his conversation with ‘Cracky ! cracky !? He came and took Elsie Lee out of her dreams into frog-land, and there her troubles began. For the Froggy Prince insisted on conducting her to his palace and formally joining her in holy wedlock. ‘But I can’t marry you,’ protested Elsie. ‘You’re very nice I know, but then you’re only a frog, and I’m—a—a~—a person!’ To make the plot thicker, the Hop-toad King and Froggy the Fiddler are also smitten with Elsie’s charms. It is more than likely that there would have been some cold amphibian blood shed if things hadn’t turned out just as they did. But they did, and Mr. Biddleis the man to thank for the clever story.”’—The Chicago Tribune. The above work is for sale by all booksellers, or will be sent by Drexel Biddle, Publisher, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, Canada, or Mexico, or by Gay and Bird, to any part of Great Britain, on receipt of the price. DREXEL BIDDLE, PUBLISHER’S PUBLICATIONS. Other Literary Criticisms: From The Montreal (Canada) Daily Star, April 5, 1897. “