Firelight Fairy Book-Henry Beston

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1:00Plus, 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are 4.99 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal! Hurry in! These deals won't last! Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save! Forward of the Firelight Fairy Book, this is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, not a volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Beston. Forward. The Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Washington, September 7, 1922. Dear Henry. Grown ups, arrogate entirely too much children's cells. I know this is so. I discovered it for a fact when I was not more than knee-high to a grasshopper myself. I knew, for example, that a certain amount of dirt on my face and hands in no way interfered with my enjoyment of my supper.

2:01The fact that my fingernails were not all that they should have been had no bearing whatsoever upon the efficiency of those same fingers. Washing not only took time from other important pursuits, but also was mildly unpleasant. Nevertheless, my mother was not even open to reasonable argument on the matter. Arbitrarily, with the despotism of an early Roman Emperor, she rendered a dictum to the effect that I must wash and soapy and submissive I had to be before I could come to the table. Again, any reasonable child can tell you that pleasure is the main object of eating, therefore in all logic one should eat if one feels like it at ten o'clock in the morning, or at three o'clock in the afternoon, age or a guava-jelly, a pound of chocolates, a paper of ginger cookies, or whatever may appeal to one's aesthetic taste. This method of procedure, naturally, might necessitate recourse to the brown wood family

3:04medicine closet. Certain discomfort might ensue, but was not the pleasure worth it. Again, my mother, Arbitrarily, took the matter into her own hands, disagreeing with me on fundamentals. She maintained that eating was not for pleasure simply, but for nourishment, sundry unfortunate remarks were made concerning references to gluttony. The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed. Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, and there being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination. Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of grown-ups. With this awful indictment before me, you ask me a grown-up to write an introduction for the Firelight Fairy Book, and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon

4:07it. There is but one circumstance that makes me willing to do so. I believe that where any nice grown-up is concerned, if you crack the hard outer shell with which circumstances have surrounded him, beneath it you will find a child. Banking on this, I ventured to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the Firelight Fairy Book. I liked particularly the story of the poor little prince, whose sneezing had such a disastrous effect, and the lost half-hour is unquestionably an accurate historical account, because no one could have described so accurately simply from imagination what a lost temper look like. What makes me even more willing to advance my opinion is that I do not stand alone. My conclusions are supported by a jury of my peers. For I have given the book as a Christmas gift, not only to my own children, but to other people's children, and to one of the prominent senators of the United States, they have universally

5:12acclaimed it and who can question the judgment of such a jury. Good luck to the Firelight Fairy Book. May it like Scrooge's laugh in the Christmas Carol, be the father of a long, long line of brilliant books of a like nature for the enjoyment of all true children, whether they still be at day school or sitting in the high places of the world. Believe me, yours very truly, Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Buston, Toppsfield, Massachusetts. How the new fairy tales came to be written? Some twenty years ago in a pleasant old town by the sea lived a lad who was very, very fond of fairy tales. When he had read all the fairy books which his parents sent his uncles and his cousins and his sisters in his aunts had been kind enough to give him. He turned to the town library and read every single fairy tale he could find, mentioned in the catalog.

6:12But there was an end even to this treasure, and finally a day came when the fairy tale lover could find no new tales to read. Every Christmas he would peek at the new books in the bookshops, only to find the same old stories printed with new pictures, meant to please grown-ups. What could be the matter? Had the fairies all gone away or locked the doors of Fairyland? Where, where, where were the new stories? And why, why, why didn't people write them? Some years passed, one pleasant summer day, as the fairy tale lover sat reading a book beneath the low-spreading branches of an oak tree. He heard a hum of wings, and looking up startled from his book, he discovered the fairy golden wand standing close by. Are you seeking new fairy tales? Said the fairy golden wand. Yes, said the reader.

7:15Will you write them down if I tell you some really new ones? Said the fairy. Oh, yes indeed, said the reader, and I'll put them into a book, and next Saturday, Mr. Day, the artist, will come down. We shall have tea here under the oak tree. Do you like hot butter toast? And you must tell him all about the fashions in Fairyland. Oh, that will be fine, said the fairy golden wand. I knew you wouldn't mind my appearing so suddenly. There are so many things that have happened in Fairyland since the last books were written, and we all think it's a dreadful shame that children haven't heard about them. Just imagine boys and girls not knowing about the adventures of the prince in Lanternland. Shall I tell you the story? And that's the way the author heard about the shepherd of clouds, Florian, Mariana, Giles, Bobo and all the other new friends that you may long enjoy their adventures is the wish

8:16of Henry Benson, Maurice E. Day, the fairy golden wand. End of Forward. Section number one of the Firelight Fairy Book. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, author volunteer, please visit Librevox.org, recording by Shuromi Arcerio. The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Beston. The Queen of Lanternland. Once upon a time the youngest son of a king became filled with the desire to go abroad and see the world. He got his father's permission to depart, kissed his parents goodbye, mounted his black horse and galloped away down the high road. And the great hours of the old castle in which he was born hit themselves behind him. The prince journeyed on, spending the days in traveling and the nights in little wayside ins. Till one day he found himself in the hearts of the adamant mountains.

9:20The great red granite crags of the surrounding peaks rose out of the gleaming snow like ugly fingers. And the slopes of giant glaciers sparkled in the sun. Like torrets of diamonds, the prince sat down by some stunted trees, whose tops had long before been broken off by an avalanche, and began to eat the bit of bread and cheese which he had stored in his pocket. His black horse meanwhile ate the grass which grew here and there along the mountain path, and as the prince sat there in the bright sun and the silence of the mountains, he became aware of a low, continuous roaring. There must be a waterfall nearby, so the prince to himself. I'll go and see it. So casting another look at his steed who was contentedly browsing, the prince climbed up the mountain side in the direction of the sound. The prince climbed inclimbed, he went in this direction and in that, yet the sound never grew any louder or fainter. Suddenly he realized that he was hopelessly lost. The little path of which he had ridden had vanished completely, and he had not the slightest

10:22idea in which direction it lay. He called aloud but only the mountain echoes answered mockingly. Night came and the prince took shelter behind a great rock, all the next day he labored to find the path but in vain. He grew very hungry and cold. Every once in a while he would hear the roaring of the waterfall which seemed to have grown louder. Another day dawned and another day again. The prince was getting very weak. He knew that he was approaching the mysterious cataract for the noise of the water was now tremendous, and heaven and earth were full of its roar. The third night came and the full moon rose solemnly over the snow-clad summits of the lonely and mysterious mountains. Suddenly the prince, walking blindly on, staggered through a narrow passageway between two splintered crags, and found himself face to face with the mystery. He stood on the snowy floor of a vast amphitheater whose walls were the steep sides of the giant mountains. Fathersed away from him and opposite the moon, the wall of the ball appeared as a giant black precipice whose tops seemed to reach almost to the moon dimmed stars.

11:25And over this precipice a broad river was endlessly pouring, shining in the night like the overflow of an ocean of molten silver. The now very weak from lack of food and dizzy with the roaring of the cataract, the prince made his way to the shore of the foaming and eddying lake into which the water was falling. Great was his surprise to discover that the overflow of this lake disappeared into the earth through a long, low opening in the cliff behind the fall. Great still was his surprise to see a strange, many-cuddled light burning within the cave. The prince made his way toward the light, along a narrow beach of white sand, lying between the wall of the cavern and the racing waters of the mysterious river, and found that the glow came from a magnificent lantern, studded with emeralds, topazas, amethysts and rubies, which hung by a chain from the roof of the grotto. Directly under this lantern drawn upon the sand lay a little boat with a lantern fasten to the bow. The prince pushed the boat into the river and got into it, and the swift current seized him and hurried him away.

12:26At first the cabin grew higher and wider, then its shrank again in the boat, born along with incredible speed, shot down a rocky passageway into the very heart of the earth. The passageway broadened once more, and the boat rode gently through monstrous caves, whose roofs were upheld by twisted columns taller than the tallest tree. There were times when all was so still that the prince could easily have imagined himself back in the solitude of the mountains. There were times when the foaming and roaring of the underground river grew so deafening that the prince feared lest he might be approaching the brink of a subterranean cataract. Many hours passed, the prince did not know whether it was night or day. At length while the boat was gliding through a vast hall, he fell asleep. When he awoke he found that the boat was floating on the black, glassy surface of an immense underground ocean. All signs of the cavern had disappeared. Far away over the edge of this ocean, a strange, beautiful glow mounted into the starless sky of the underworld. And while the prince was gazing at the glow, the boat swung into a new current and was

13:30born swiftly toward the light. In a short time the light grew so wide and bright that one would have believed that a strange golden sun had risen. The boat passed between two giant marble pillars supporting enormous crystal globes filled with a golden fire, and the prince found himself in the harbor of Lantonland. The city lay before him, a strange golden city edging the shore of a vast semicircular bay. Because in the centre of the earth there is neither sun nor moon, the people have to be continually burning lights. And so many and so great were the Lantons of Lantonland that the town was as bright as day. The edge of the harbor was marked with a row of golden Lantons. There were immense Lantons at every six paces along the streets, a Lanton hung from every house. And the church towers instead of having bells in them had great golden lamps which allummed everything for some distance about. Moreover every inhabitant of Lantonland carried a Lanton with him wherever he went. The rich carrying golden Lantons set with transparent precious stones, the poor carrying lights

14:31of ordinary glass. Soon the prince saw a magnificent ship coming out to meet him. The prowess carved in the shape of a dragon's head, and a beautiful Lanton hung from its jaws. Overcome by hunger and fatigue, the poor prince fell insensible to the floor of his little boat. When he came to his senses again he was lying between sheets of the whitest, most delicate linen in a great four-poster bed, in a room in the royal palace. Thanks to his kind hosts, the prince soon recovered his strength. When he was completely himself again he was summoned to an audience with the queen of Lantonland. The queen, a very beautiful young woman wearing a wonderful Lanton crown sat on an ebony throne. On each side of the throne stood a tall soldier, clad in scarlet and holding a long ebony staff, surmounted by a round Lanton, lit by a golden flame. The prince dropped on his knee and thanked the queen for her kindness and hospitality. You are the first stranger to come to Lantonland for a thousand years, so the young queen.

15:32If it is not asking too much from a guest, pray, how did you happen to find the river of the underworld? So the prince told her that he was a king's son, and described his adventures in the mountains. He may be sure the queen was glad to hear of his royal birth, for she had fallen in love with him at first sight. A month passed. The prince remained a guest in the palace. All kinds of festivities were given in his honor. There were wonderful dancers, masquerades, picnics and theatricals going on all the time. One day the prince and the queen accompanied by a little group of courteous, wrote to the frontier of Lantonland. The lovers galloped ahead of the party and reached a little hill beyond which there were no more Lantons. Ahead of them the rolling land, sweeping farther and farther away from the light, grew darker and darker, till it finally plunged into the eternal night of the underworld. The prince looked at the queen and saw that she was weeping. Dear love, why do you weep? Us the prince, who felt sad to see tears in his ladies' lovely eyes. I weep to think that in spite of our love we missoon part forever, said the queen.

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17:37Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at vans and Albertsons get fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 199 per pound limit 10 pounds. And locally grown, grape-ery cotton candy grapes are 299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus 24 packs of Canada dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are 499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Part forever? Dear lady, what can you mean? Said the anxious prince. A cruel fate hangs over us. Replyed the lady. No dear prince that I impromised in marriage to the Enchanted Dragon-Dull. And that in exactly 8 days you will come here to claim my hand. The Enchanted Dragon-Dull. Who is he? Said the prince. Alas said the queen. The Enchanted Dragon-Dull is the most powerful magician of all the underworld. He is about 8 feet tall, has cruel, sunken eyes that burn like dull fires, and dresses entirely

18:40in black. We met at a ball given by the King of the Goblins. Dragon-Dull pursued me with compliments. A few days afterwards an iron boat arrived in the port of Lantonland, having onboard a giant blue dog who is Dragon-Dull's younger brother. This terrible animal from whose sight the people of Lantonland fled screaming made his way to the palace and dropped at my feet a jeweled casket which he carried between his drawers. The casket contained Dragon-Dull's request for my hand and added that, where I to refuse him, he would let loose a legion of ghosts and other winged spirits against the Lantons of Lantonland. I had a vision of Lantonland in darkness. Of my poor subjects dying of fear and starvation. Rather than let this vision come true, I accepted the Enchanted. Soon I shall never see you again for Dragon-Dull will come and take me to his awful castle, which lies on an island in the dark ocean. Nor will you ever be able to save me for Dragon-Dull has soberwitched the waves that a terrible whirlpool forms on the sea when a boat approaches the Enchanted Castle and engulfs it.

19:43But I can fight Dragon-Dull, so the prince, like the brave youth that he was. That would be a little use, replied the Queen, for you would be changed into a stone the instant you cross swords with him. Tomorrow the Blue Dog arrives to remind me of my obligation and to carry back to the island some of the palace servants who are to make Dragon-Dull's castle ready for my coming. The other members of the party now rode up and the Queen dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief and pretended not to have been crying. The prince and the Queen felt very unhappy as they rode home. On the next day, sure enough, the iron boat arrived and the Blue Dog, who was as large as a lion, went to the Queen's palace and bait her make ready for the coming wedding. A dozen of the Queen's servants were then ordered to go with the Blue Dog to Dragon-Dull's castle. Among these servants disguised as a kitchen lad was the prince, for he had determined to see if there was not some way in which the young Queen could be rescued from the wicked magician. The boat neared the island, but no terrible whirlpool formed in the Enchanted Sea. At last the boat reached Dragon-Dull's castle.

20:45It stood on the top of a high, lonely rock, against whose steep sides the waves of the underground ocean were forever foaming and breaking, and it was half in ruins and was very poorly lighted. The prince took his place in the kitchen and sought for an opportunity to prevent the marriage of Dragon-Dull and the Queen. For four days of the precious week, however, the poor prince was kept so busy, baking and making pastries for the coming of the bride that he did not have an instant to ask questions or do anything else. In the morning hours of the fifth day there was a terrible moaning and warring outside, and the cooks rushed to the kitchen windows. A unhappy fishing boat had been swept by the wind to near Dragon-Dull's castle. The Enchanted Whirlpool had formed and caught the boat in its awful circle. Now it went slowly round the outer edge, now going faster and faster, it slid down the side of the awful funnel and finally it vanished. An instant later the Whirlpool had disappeared, leaving the sea roaring and foaming. The prince shuddered. Well, you may shudder, so the chief cook, for such would have been your fate if our

21:49master's brother had not carried with him the talisman which rules the Whirlpool. Talisman, what talisman said the prince affecting stupidity? Why the little golden hand you fool said the chief cook? My, it must be a great big hand to be able to quiet that Whirlpool, so the prince. Big indeed you nanny growled the cook. Why the magic hand is only as big as a baby's hand. I've seen it many times. The master carries it in his pocket and puts it under his pillow while he sleeps. So later on when his work was done and everybody had gone to bed, the prince in the hope of stealing the talisman tried to make his way to Dragon-Dull's bed chamber. But when he reached the foot of the stairs which led to the Enchanted's room, he found it guarded by two black panthers which stared at him with insolent yellow eyes and switched their long tails. The prince went outdoors to see if there was any hope of climbing to the room along the outer wall and found that the windows of Dragon-Dull's chamber over looked a cliff falling

22:50thousands of feet sheer to the dark sea. Far, far away the prince saw the glow of Lantonland. A little short time remained to him in which to save his beloved lady of the Lantons. As he wandered about very sick at heart, he saw a little black cat running madly back and forth along the edge of a steep cliff from one of whose crevices came a persistent, unhappy muing. The poor cat was a mother cat and was trying to rescue a kitten of hers that had fallen down between the rocks. At great risk of being dashed to pieces himself, the brave prince climbed down the precipice, rescued the kitten and gave it back to its anxious mother. Thank you, brave youth, said the old cat. May it someday be within my power to help you, as you have helped me. You can help me this very moment, said the prince, and he told the cat who he was, why he had come to the castle and of his desire to get possession of the talisman. I will help you get the talisman," said the cat. The panthers will let me pass, for they are cousins of mine, but she must make another

23:52little golden hand to take the place of the one I shall steal. For if Tragon Del Misses the golden hand, he will summon his demons to find it, and we shall both lose our lives. Go now to the kitchen, carve a small hand with the fingers close together and the thumb lying close to the fingers, gild it over with the gold dust you have had given you for the pastry-ice things, and bring it to me tomorrow night this very hour. So the prince worked the rest of the night, carving and gilding the little golden hand, and on the next night he gave it to the cat. The cat took it in her mouth as she would have a mouse, walked coolly by the panthers and entered Tragon Del's room. She had just succeeded in getting the true hand out from under the magician's pillow, when Tragon Del woke up. The cat was clever enough to pretend to be engaged in a mouse hunt, so the enchanta paid no attention to her and fell asleep once more. When the cat, however, got under Tragon Del's counter-game, the two hands lay side by side and she could not remember just which one was the talisman and which one the false hand.

24:56So because she had to act quickly, she put one of the hands under the pillow, brought the other to the prince and told him her story. But so well matched were the little hands that even the prince was far from certain that he had not got his own hand back again. And now came the seventh day, the day on which Tragon Del, the blue dog, and all the wicked enchanta's friends were to sail to Lantonland for the marriage ceremony. The iron ship made gay with a thousand small scarlet lanterns, stood ready to carry them over. The enchanta and his company got in and the vessel left the island. The prince stood watching the ship from the top of the cliffs. What anxiety was in his heart? If Tragon Del still possessed the true talisman, he would cross the whirlpool safely and marry the beautiful queen of Lantonland. The vessel spared on. It was now at some distance from the island. The prince was lost, thought the prince was a sinking heart. Tragon Del has the true talisman. And in his bitterness he was about to throw the little golden hand which lay in his pocket

25:56down into the sea. Suddenly the air became filled with a terrible moaning. The sea became troubled. The whirlpool awoke. And the prince saw the red lights of the enchanta's ship, world round and round, faster and faster till they disappeared forever in the waters of the sunless sea. As for the prince, he soon found another boat and taking with him the talisman. His fellow servants and the black cat and her kittens, he returned to Lantonland, married the queen and lived happily ever after. End of The Queen of Lantonland, recording by Shiromi Arsereo. Shiromi.net Section 2 of the Firelight Fairy Book This is a Libravox Recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Eden Rayhedrick

26:58The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Beston, Section 2, the Adventures of Florian Once upon a time, there lived, in an old and ruinous house by the shore of the wild sea, a widowed nobleman and his only child, a daughter, named Isabella. They were very poor in spite of their high birth, so poor that one by one the fields and woods of their little domain had been sold in order to buy the bare necessities of life. Knowing that his death would leave Isabella quite alone in the world and practically penniless, her father brought her up more like a boy than a girl. She could ride a horse as gracefully as an Amazon, she could swim like a born mermaid, and even outdo her father in his favorite sport of fencing. Yet so sweet was the gentle nature which the girl had inherited from her mother that this strange upbringing never spoiled her in the least. Late one October evening when the fierce gusts of wind from the sea shook the old house

27:59to its very foundation and set the ragged tapestry swaying on the walls, Isabella's father died, leaving her only the ruinous house a handful of copper pints at this single gold floor. The sum of money was enough to keep body and soul together for a few weeks, but what was Isabella to do when the little pittance was gone? Her father had once counted her to go to his king and ask for his protection, but the king's castle was hundreds of miles distant and Isabella shrank from begging or the highway. At last the brave girl resolved to make her own way in the world. Taking the golden floor and with her, she went to a neighboring town and purchased a suit of clothes such as pages and squares wear who were in the service of nobleman. She then caused her black hair to be cut short, boy fashion, put on the boy's clothes she had purchased, and went into the marketplace to see if she could not find a situation in the service of some great family. Now it was the custom in those days for masters and servants to meet by a fountain in the marketplace.

29:00The masters who were in need of servants standing on one side of the fountain, the servants who were in search of masters on the other. When Isabella came into the marketplace, there was no one standing on the master's side of the fountain, but on the other side, ready for the first master who should appear, was a little group of noisy and impudent squires and pages. Isabella, or as she now called herself, Florian, strode boldly over and joined this group, her heart beating high with the thrill of the great adventure. Suddenly a black knight mounted on a black horse and leading another horse by the bridle, clad her over the cobblestones of the square, and taking his place by the fountain, called on the pages to come to him. In spite of the horseman's summons, however, the pages paid no attention to him at all. Curious to know the reason of this disdain, Florian questioned a fellow page, and was told that the knight was no other than the enchantor of the black rock, and that no page or squire would take service with him, because his castle was haunted by goblins, ghosts, and all matter of terrifying spirits. Now Florian was no coward, and as the thing is, beggars cannot

30:05be choosers. So, much to the astonishment of the pages, Florian walked over to the enchantor, who sat fuming with anger and impatience, and offered to go with him. The knight paid Florian not the horse, which he was holding, and evaded the cat calls and hooting at the pages, master and boy galloped away. All day long, they rode, and when it was near the end of the afternoon, Florian found himself at the edge of a wild and desolate moor. Within the great circle of the horizon, under the pale sky, not a tree, not a house, not a shepherd's hut even, was to be seen. Nothing but the great barren waste rolling, rising and falling to the very edge of the world. Lower and lower, sink the sun, grow cold, and the blue mist fell. Twilight came, a green, mysterious Twilight. Suddenly, from a hillock of the moor, Florian beheld afar the enchanted dwelling. A great stunken marsh lay before him, beginning at the foot of the little hill, and stretching away,

31:05league after league, till its further shore was hidden in the gathering darkness. The autumn wind stirred the dead sedges at its brim, and though the dying Twilight was still gleaming in the sky, the great abog had caught little of its glow, and lay full of coiling blue mist, pale quagmires, and islands of the mysterious darkness. A dreadful moaning cry, uttered by some demon of the moor, sounded through the mist, chilling the blood in Florian's veins, and as if to answer the cry, thousands upon thousands of will of the wisps appeared, darting and dancing. In the very heart of this terrible marsh, a great black rock uproars, and on this rock, its turrets and battlements outlined against the burning face of the moon stood the castle. Ghostly lights, now green, now blue, flickered in its windows. The enchanter rained up his horse at the brink of the mire and cried, list, list, will will of the wisp, lend me your light. Scarcely had the last word of fallen from the enchanter's mouth, when the dancing witchfires

32:08hurried toward him from all sides of the marsh. Soon a pale road leading across the bog to the castle stood revealed, an enchanted road, which melted away behind the riders as smoke melts into the winter air. To the very gates of his castle to the ghost fires accompanied the enchanter, then rising swiftly high into the air, they fled like startled birds in every direction. Doors opened of their own will, strange gallblands and ghostly creatures passed, and bright whirling globes of fire fled hissing across the castle courtyard. Just as they were about to enter the castle itself, the enchanter turned and fastened his burning eyes on Florian. Boy, he said, let nothing that you hear or see make you afraid. Be assured that no power or spirit can harm you. There is only one demon in the world whose power is greater than mine, and that is fear himself. Be brave, keep the doors of your heart locked against fear. Be faithful, and you shall never have calls to regret your coming. So Florian, who was by nature brave, felt ashamed of having allowed the demon fear to knock at the

33:12door of his heart and resolve never to let his courage fail, no matter what might happen. I drew to this resolve the lad remained, during the years he spent in the service of the enchanter. At first, to be sure, he had to struggle to conquer his fear of some of the goblands, but as time passed and no ghost or goblin ever ventured to annoy him, he grew accustomed to their presence and ended by paying no more attention to them than he paid to the great ravens, who croaking over the mire. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at vans and Albertsons, get fresh boneless, skinless chicken breast for $199 per pound limit 10 pounds, and locally grown grape-ery cotton candy grapes are $299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus, 24 packs of canada dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are $499 limit one with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Emergizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now.

34:16Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire. Try them all only at McDonald's. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at vans and Albertsons, get fresh boneless, skinless chicken breast for $199 per pound limit 10 pounds, and locally grown grape-ery cotton candy grapes are $299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus, 24 packs of canada dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are $499 limit one with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

35:21Here is a purse of gold for thy wages, and here are three gifts to reward thy courage and good will. He opened a copper casket and took forth a little golden bird without stretched wings hanging from a fine golden chain, a golden key and a scarlet sphere marked with a band of white. This little bird continued the enchanter. We'll protect you from the spells of any sorcerer whose power is less than mine, and we'll sing when you fare into hidden danger. This key will open every door in the world, and should you ever lose your way, you have but to put this sphere on the ground, and it will roll home of its own accord. Moreover, if you are ever yourself in deadly peril, call upon me, and I will come and help you. So Florian thanked the enchanter, and, taking his gifts, went back into the world again. But so gentle and kind with he, but he soon gave away to the unfortunate all the gold he had earned, and was forced to go in search of another situation. At length, he entered the service of the king and queen of the twelve

36:22towers. This royal couple, who were renounced in Fairyland as much for their goodness and generosity as for their wealth and my magnificence, had but one son, Prince Florizelle. No braver or margallant prince ever drew breath. He had driven the dragon of the blue cavern out to his father's kingdom, he had fought three wicked ogres one after the other and finished each one. He had delivered the diamond castle of a terrible spell which lay upon it. When Florian entered the service of the king and queen, these excellent parents were sending their son on a visit to his uncle, the emperor of the plain, and Florian was ordered to join the gay company of Lord the ladies, knights and soldiers, who were to make the journey. According to the gossip of the company, Prince Florizelle was being sent to his uncles in hopes that he would fall in love with his uncle's ward, the beautiful princess Rosalind. Now, in some way or other, after the company had been a few days on the road, Prince Florizelle, who watched over the company as carefully as the good captain does over his soldiers, became aware of the bravery, trustworthiness and modest bearing of

37:26Florian, the little page, and promoted him to be his own personal squire. Holas, no sooner had he been advanced than Florian, the little page, though remaining outwardly a page, became at heart the runaway girl, Isabella. Though she fought as hard as she could against her own heart, it was a little use, and she knew herself to be deeply in love with the gout with Florizelle. Yet she suffered no word or sign of her affection to escape her, for Prince Florizelle fought her only a little page, and to speak would be to betray the secret she had so long and successfully guarded. One morning, as the cavalcade was riding through a charming country, Florian, for Stoweemma still continued to call Isabella, was following close behind his master, when the prince called side of a wonderful scarlet flower, something like a scarlet lily, blooming by the roadside. At the same moment, the little golden bird the Florian warrant is neck, saying a few clear notes as if it were alive. What a pretty flower, so the prince, I must have it! And he was about to dismount and pick the flower, when Florian spurred on ahead of him,

38:29grasped the enchanted flower, and tossed it into a ditch. Fy, what a naughty page, cried the Lord's and ladies. The company rode on a few miles more, and suddenly the prince caught sight of a beautiful jewel dagger lying in the highway. At the same moment, the little golden bird sang a few clear notes of warning. Well, what a fine dagger, cried the prince, I must have it! And he was about to dismount and pick up the dagger, when Florian spurred on ahead of him, seized the dagger and tossed it into a ditch. Fy, what a naughty page, cried the Lord's and ladies. The company now rode on for a few miles more, and the prince saw by the roadside a beautiful enchanted garden. Birds of many colors sang in the branches of the trees, found in sparkle and danced in the sunlight, and the sweetest of music was heard. At the same moment, the golden bird sang louder and longer than ever. What a beautiful garden, cried the prince, let us ride in and look about! So Florian hurried to the prince's side and implored him not to enter,

39:29saying that the garden was enchanted and that some harm would certainly befall him. At this, all the lords and ladies, who were a little jealous perhaps, that a page should know more than they, laughed at poor Florian, and even Florian's all smiled at him and said, all that is only fancy little Florian, and dashed in through the garden gate. For a minute or so, nothing happened, and the first two enter mocked at Florian again. But when the whole company had entered the garden, there was a clap of thunder, and everybody except the prince and Florian, who was protected by the enchanted's charm, was turned to stone. The echoes of the thunder had hardly ceased rolling, when two frightful demons with lion's heads rushed toward them through the garden, seized the prince and hurried him away. Florian was left alone in the garden. Night was fast approaching. Now, the owner of the enchanted garden was a witch, who had a daughter so frightfully ugly that even her mother's powerful magic could not make her beautiful. In spite of her ugliness, however, the witch's daughter considered herself quite beautiful,

40:31and was always important in her mother to invite to the castle princes whom she considered worthy of her hand. So the old witch gave wonderful dances and parties, to which all the eligible young kings and princes of the neighborhood were invited, but just as soon as the witch's daughter appeared with a horrid smirk on her ugly face, the young men were sure to make their excuses and ride away. At length, the old witch, who had just had a severe turn lashing from her daughter, for not punishing the prince of Zagabondiga, after that prince had failed to ask her for a dance, could endure her daughter's scolding no longer, and resolved to catch the first prince who came past her garden and forcing Willingnilly to accept her ugly daughter. Into her trap, poor Flora's L had walked, and the witch, hoping to mend him to her will by terrifying him, had thrown him into a deep dungeon. The ugly daughter had immediately peeked through the keyhole of the prison and fallen in love with Flora's L at first sight. The witch was just considering what to do next when her lion-headed servitors and formters at one of the company had resisted her enchantment and was

41:34wandering about the garden. So the witch put on her cloak of invisibility, and going down to the garden found poor Florian wandering disconsolently under the trees. She saw at once that it was the little golden bird which had protected him from her magic, and being afraid of the charm, and yet unable to work the poor lad any harm while the bird was in his possession, she decided to get rid of Florian by transporting her castle, gardens and all, over to the other side of the world. So she uttered a spell and everything disappeared. When Florian woke the next morning and found that the castle was gone, his heart sank. Nevertheless, he did not despair, but taking from his pocket the little scarlet ball which his master at the enchanter had given him, he put it on the ground and baited guide him back to the enchanter's garden. The little ball immediately began rolling ahead at Florian's own pace, at night the glowed with a scarlet fire. Day after day, month after month, the scarlet ball rolled on. It led Florian over hill and downdale through the land of the men who have only one eye,

42:34through the country of the dwarves, and the valley of the talking trees, never stopping till it reached the gate of the witch's garden. A year, meanwhile, had gone by, and during that year, the witch had done everything she could to induce Prince Florian's ill to accept her ugly daughter. First, she had tried frightening him, then she had tried to win him by giving him splendid fates, then she had tried terrifying him again. But as the prince was neither to be terrified nor cajold, she came to her wit's end. Finally, she told the prince that, if he were not willing to accept her daughter in marriage on the very next day, she would turn him into a hare and set her dogs upon him. The prince made no answer to her terrible threat, and the witch went ahead and made preparations for the grandest of weddings. On that night, Florian arrived at the garden. When it was very late, and the moon, which was a quarter full, had disappeared behind the bank of clouds, Florian crept unobserved to the door of Flore's else prison, for the witch had locked him up so securely that she had not taken the trouble to find a watchman. Halas, the poor prince lay at the

43:36top of a high tower and twenty different doors, each one opened by a different key stood between him and the ground. But Florian was not to be daunted, and drawing from his bosom the key which the enchantor had given him, he opened one door after the other until he arrived in the cell occupied by the prince. The poor prince lay chained on a bed of straw, trying to read a book by the light of a single candle. He was very unhappy, for he had resolved to let himself be torn in pieces rather than marry the ugly witch-making. He made sure he was glad to see Florian. Dear Florian, so the unhappy prince, if I had only obeyed your counsel, all would have been well, and he begged Florian to tell him where he had been all the long year. So Florian told the prince of his adventures. Now, the chains which the prince wore were riveted cruelly upon him, and since there was no lock to them, the magic key was of no avail. At length, however, Florian's all managed to work them off, but in doing so, he injured his foot and found to be as dismayed that he could only limp along.

44:38Little by little, the freshened air and the stirs of leaves began to foretell the coming of the dawn. Finally, just as the dawn star began to pale, Florian and Florian hurried out of the prison through the twenty doors and fled to the high road. But they had traveled only a few miles when the wicked witch discovered Florazelle's flight, and dreadfully enraged, commended that her dragon car be got ready in order that she might go and pursue to him. So the car was brought forth, and into it the witch leapt and mounted into the sky. Hearing the hissing and roaring of the dragons in the air, Florian and Florazelle tried to hide under some trees, but the witch instantly saw them and pronounced a spell to turn them into hairs. But though the hate of the witch was quick, the woman's heart of Isabella was quicker, and sacrificing herself for the man she loved, she threw the chain and the golden bird over the prince's head. An instant later, she had turned into a little gray hair, crouching at Florazelle's feet. At the same moment, a cruel witch, who had arrived at her castle, let loose her pack of fierce hunting dogs, who soon took up the trail of the hair and came bounding toward her in full

45:42cry. The poor prince picked up the hair and hobbled forward as fast as he could go, forgetting the dreadful pain it caused him, but the dogs were running a hundred times faster than he. Nearer and nearer came the pack, their red tongues lolling from their black throats. By good fortune, just as the leader of the pack was no more than 50 feet away, Isabella had witted up to remember the promise which the enchanter had made her, and called upon him. Immediately, a strong glass wall, as high as a castle tower, shot up from the ground behind Isabella and the prince, and the pack, hurrying forward, found themselves bald of their prey, snarling and yelling, they threw themselves against magic wall, but in vain. In another instant, the enchanter himself stood before them, and touching the hair with his wand, restored Isabella to her human form. She still wore the garments of Florian, however, and the prince still fought her a boy. Suddenly a shadow fell on the ground with them, and looking up, all beheld the wicked witch and her ugly daughter, who had ridden out in the dragon car to enjoy Florazelle's cruel death.

46:43The enchanter immediately caused the dragon car to vanish, and the witch and her daughter fell tumbling through the air into a pond, and were changed into ugly little fishes. Then the enchanter carried Florazelle and Florian back to the witch's castle, where they found the table spread and the dinner being prepared, which was to celebrate the wedding of Florazelle and the witch's daughter. Last of all, he released Florazelle's company from the witch's spell. Now, one of the ladies, when she heard how the witch had tried to match Florazelle with her daughter and saw the preparations for the wedding, told the prince that it was a pity that the princess Rosamond was not at hand, so that there might be a wedding after all. A wedding? No, said Florazelle, not until I have found a wife who shall have proved herself as faithful and true as little Florian. She is already here, said the enchanter, and he touched Florian with his wand. Immediately there was a flash of flame and out of it, Florian no longer, but her own self appeared as a bella. Her hair had grown long again, and the enchanter had clatter in the most magnificent of gowns. Never was there a lovely or girl to be seen on earth.

47:48You may be sure that the prince stepped forward, took her by the hand and clank her for his bride. Soon the parents of Florazelle, who had been summoned by the enchanter, arrived, and there was a wedding after all. When the marry-making was over, the enchanter went back to his castle on the black rock, while Florazelle and Isabella returned to their own country and lived there happily to a good old age. End of The Adventures of Florian Section 3 of the Firelight Fairy Book This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Bustin The Cellar of Dreams Once upon a time, a mother called her only son into the kitchen,

48:48gave him a basket of fine fresh eggs, and bade him carry them to his aunt Jane, who lived a few miles down the valley. The son, a lively lad about 12 years of age, obeyed his mother with joy, and clapping his little green hat on his head, stepped forth into the road. It was a beautiful clear morning in the spring, and the earth, released from the icy chains of winter, was rejoicing in her freedom and the return of the son. A few birds, just back from the south and, rocked unto eggs swollen with bursting buds, a thousand drills flowing from everywhere, and in every direction sparkled and sang, and the air was sweet with the odor of cloud fields. The boy, whose name was Peter, walked along whistling. Suddenly, he saw a spot on the road, shining as dazzlingly as if a bit of the sun itself had fallen to the earth.

49:50A bit of glass thought Peter, but it was not a bit of glass after all, but a fine golden floren which must have dropped from somebody's purse. Peter stooped, picked up the gold piece, put it in his pocket, and walked off whistling louder than ever. In a little while, he came to a place where the road wound down a little hill. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at Vans and Albertsons, get fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $199 per pound limit 10 pounds, and locally grown grape-ery cotton candy grapes are $299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus, 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are $499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. McDonald's is putting value back on the menu. Whether you're craving a Big Mac,

50:52McNuggets are sausage egg and cheese McGrittle's, make it a meal, and save. Your favorite is now your wallet's favorite too. Extra value meals are back. Get a big something extra. With a Big Mac or 10 piece McNuggets, fries and a medium Coke all for just $9. Limited time only, promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing. Shop Vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at Vans and Albertsons, get fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $199 per pound limit 10 pounds, and locally grown grape-ery cotton candy grapes are $299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus, 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are $499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. And Peter saw, trudging up this hill, a very strange looking old man.

51:53He was a very old man. His face was puckered up into a thousand wrinkles like the skin of a shrunken apple, and he had long snow white hair and a white beard which reached almost to his waist. Moreover, he was strangely dressed in a robe of cherry scarlet and wore golden shoes. From a kind of belt hung two horns on silver chains, one an ordinary cow's horn, the other a beautiful horn carved of the whitest ivory and decorated with little figures of men and animals. Dreams to sell, dreams to sell, called out the old man as soon as he caught sight of Peter. Don't you want to buy a dream, young man? What kind of dreams have you asked, Peter? Good, bad, true, false, all kinds replied the seller of dreams. I have even a few thrilling nightmares. Dreams to sell, dreams to sell. How much does a dream cost, asked Peter?

53:02A golden florin answered the merchant. I'll have one, please, said Peter, and he handed over the florin he had found. The old man took a kind of wonderful sugar plum out of the ivory horn and gave it to Peter to eat. You will have the dream next time you sleep, said he, and trudged on. So Peter continued his journey, stopping every once in a while to look back at the strange old man who was slowly climbing the hill. At length Peter came to a little quiet grove of pines, and there he sat down on a big stone and ate the luncheon which his mother had prepared for him. The sun was high in the heavens. It was close on to high noon. Now, as Peter was contentedly munching his bread and cheese, he heard, at first far away, then quite near at hand, the clear notes of a coachman's horn. The notes of the second call died away in a great pattering of

54:08hoes and tinkling of little bells, and suddenly arriving in a great swirl of yellow dust, came a magnificent coach, drawn by twelve white horses. A lady very richly dressed in wearing many sparkling diamonds sat within the coach. To Peter's astonishment, the lady was his aunt Jane. The coach stopped with a great jingling of the twelve harnesses, and Aunt Jane leaned out of the window and said to Peter, what are you doing here, child? I was on my way to your cottage with a basket of fine fresh eggs answered Peter. Well, it's fortunate that I found you said Aunt Jane, for I have given up living in the cottage, and have now got a castle of my own. Jump in, Peter, and don't forget your basket. So Peter climbed into the coach, closed the door behind him, and was driven away. The coach went over hill and down Dale. It went through strange forests

55:10from whose branches green parrots whooped and shrieked. It rolled through valleys and strange shining mountains. Peter stole a look at Aunt Jane and saw that she was wearing a crown. Are you a queen, Aunt Jane? Yes. Indeed I am, replied his aunt. You see, Peter, two days ago, while I was looking for my white cow, who had strayed away, I came upon the magnificent castle to which we are now going. It has four beautiful towers and a door set with diamonds. Whose castle is this, I said, to the lodgekeeper. It's nobody's, Marm, said he. What, said I? Do you mean to say that nobody owns this fine castle? That's just what I mean to say, Marm, answered he. The castle belongs to anyone who wants it. So into the castle I walked, and I didn't go out, you may be sure, till I had been into every room

56:14that I could find. Then I put on these clothes and these diamonds, which I found in a cupboard, and went down and told the servants I intended to be queen. You see, Peter dear, there's nothing that a woman of determination and energy can't accomplish. The coach rolled on, and soon Peter caught sight of Aunt Jane's castle. It was rather large and had an enormous round tower at each corner, a thing which brought to Peter's mind the picture of an elephant lying on its back. Peter and Aunt Jane accompanied by a train of servants dressed in blue and buff library, walked into the castle through the diamond-studded door. Do you think you could eat a little more of something, asked Aunt Jane, taking off her white kid gloves? Because if you can, I'll have a place set for you at the luncheon table. And Peter, who, like all boys, could eat a little more anywhere and at any time, readily answered yes.

57:16So Peter and Aunt Jane sat down to a wonderful little table covered with a snow white cloth. Draw your chair nearer, Peter dear, said Aunt Jane. I can't, said Peter, it stuck to the floor. And so it was, the chair was stuck to the floor and no amount of pushing or pulling could budge it. That's odd, said Aunt Jane. But never mind, I'll push the table over to the chair. But like the chair, the table refused to budge. Peter then tried to slide his plate of soup closer to him. But the plate, which the servant had placed on the cloth but an instant before, had evidently frozen to the table in some extraordinary manner and could not be moved an inch. The soup in the plate, however, was not fastened to the dish, nor were the wonderful strawberry cakes and the delicious ices with which the dinner closed.

58:18You don't suppose this castle is enchanted, do you want Jane? Asked Peter. Not a bit of it replied Aunt Jane. And even if it were, she continued recklessly. I shouldn't mind, for there's nothing that a woman of determination and energy can't accomplish. There was a pause, and then Aunt Jane added. I'm going to have some guests over to dinner this evening, so run around and amuse yourself as well as you can. There's ever so much to see in the castle, and in the garden there's a pond with swans in it. Attended by her servants, Aunt Jane majestically walked away. Peter spent the afternoon exploring the castle. He went through room after room. He scurried through the addicts like a mouse, and was even lost for a while in the cellars. And everywhere he went, he found everything immovable.

59:18The beds, tables and chairs could neither be moved about nor lifted up, and even the clocks and vases were mysteriously fastened to their places on the shelves. The night came on. Coach after coach rolled up to the diamond door which sparkled in the moonlight. When the guests had all arrived, a silver trumpet sounded, and Aunt Jane, dressed in a wonderful gown of flowering brocade edged with pearls, came solemnly down the great stairway of the castle hall. Two little black boys dressed in oriental costume and wearing turbans held up her gorgeous train, and she looked very grand indeed. Peter, to his great surprise, found himself dressed in a wonderful suit of plum-colored velvet. Welcome, my friends, said Queen Jane, who had opened a wonderful ostrich feather fan. Are we not fortunate in having so beautiful a night for our dinner?

1:00:22And the queen, giving her arm to a splendid personage in the uniform of an officer of the King's Dragoons, led the way to the banquet hall. The wonderful party, all silks and tatans, and gleaming with jewels, swept like a peacock's tail behind her. Soon dinner was over, and the guests began to stray by twos and threes to the ballroom. Aunt Jane and the soldier led off the grand march, then came wonderful stately minuetes, quadrilles, and sweet old-fashioned waltzes. The mariment was at its height when somebody ran heavily up the great stairs leading to the ballroom, and the guests, turning round to see whence came the clatter, saw standing in the doorway a strange old man dressed in a robe of cherry-scarlet and wearing golden shoes. It was the seller of dreams. His white hair was disheveled, his robe was awry, and there was dust on his golden shoes.

1:01:24Foolish people screamed the old seller of dreams, his voice rising to a shriek, run for your lives, this castle lies under a terrible enchantment, and a few minutes it will turn upside down. Have you not seen that everything is fastened to the floor? Run for your lives! Immediately there was a great babble of voices, some shrieks and more confusion, and the guests ran pell-mell down the great stairs and out the castle door. Our 499 limit one with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vansoralbertzons.com for more deals and ways to save. Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Emergizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now.

1:02:30Who knew ice cold drinks could be so? Fire. Try them all only at McDonald's. Plus 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-Up 12-ounce cans are 499 limit one with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vansoralbertzons.com for more deals and ways to save. To Peter's dismay, Aunt Jane was not among them. So into the castle he rushed again, calling at the top of his voice, Aunt Jane, Aunt Jane. He ran through the brilliantly lit and deserted ballroom. He saw himself running in the great mirrors of the gallery. Aunt Jane, he cried, but no Aunt Jane replied.

1:03:32Peter rushed up the stairs leading to the castle tower and emerged upon the balcony. He saw the black shadow of the castle thrown upon the grass far below by the full moon. He saw the great forest so bright above and so dark and mysterious below, and the long snow-clad range of the adamant mountains. Suddenly a voice louder than the voice of any human being, a voice deep ringing in solomus the sound of a great bell cried, "'Tis time!' Immediately everything became as black as ink. People shrieked. The enchanted castle rolled like a ship at sea, and leaning far to one side began to turn upside down. Peter felt the floor of the balcony tip beneath him. He tried to catch hold of something, but could find nothing. Suddenly, with a scream he fell. He was falling, falling, falling, falling.

1:04:38When Peter came to himself, instead of its being night, it was still noon day, and he was sitting on the same stone in the same quiet roadside grove from which he had caught sight of his Aunt Jane in her wonderful coach. A blue J screamed at him from overhead. Front Jane, the coach and the enchanted castle, had been only a dream. Peter, you see, had fallen asleep under the pines, and while he slept, he had dreamed the dream he purchased from the cellar of dreams. Very glad to be still alive, Peter rubbed his eyes, took up his basket of eggs, and went down the road whistling. End of the Cellar of Dreams Section number 4 of the Firelight Fairy Book

1:05:40This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org Recording by I hear Voices, the Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Beston, the Treasure Castle. Once upon a time, a hunter was roaming through the wildwood when he heard a voice growing pitiously for aid. Following the sound, the hunter plunged ahead, and discovered a dwarf caught in a pit, which had been dug to trap wild animals. After the hunter had rescued the dwarf from his prison, the little man said to him, go ten leagues to the north till you arrive at a gigantic pine, then turn to the east and go ten leagues more till you come to a black castle. End to the castle without fear, and you will discover a round room, in which stands a round

1:06:46ebony table laden with golden jewels. Help yourself to the treasure and return home at once, and do not, now mock me well, go up into the turret of the castle. For if you do, evil will come of it. So the hunter thanked the dwarf, and after making sure that he had plenty of bread and cheese in his knapsack, hurried northwards as fast as his legs could carry him, through bramble and briar, through valley and wooded dare when he, and at dusk he came to a gigantic pine, standing solitary in a rocky field. Weared with his long journey, the hunter lay down beneath the pine and slept. When it was done, he woke refreshed, and turning his eyes towards the level rays of the rising sun, began his journey to the east. Presently, he reached a height in the forest, and from this height,

1:07:51he saw not very far away, a black turret rising over the ocean of right leaves. At high noon, he arrived at the castle. It was ruinous and quite deserted, grass grew in the courtyard and between the bricks of the terrace, and the oak and door was as soft and rotten as a log that has long been buried in my eye. Entering the castle, the hunter soon discovered the round room. A table ladened with wonderful treasures stood in the center of the chamber, directly under a shower of sunlight pouring through a half-rooned window in the mildewed wall. How the diamonds and precious stones sparkled and gleamed. Now while the hunter was filling his pockets, the flesh of a jewel lying on the floor happened to catch his eye, and looking down, he saw that a kind of trail of jewels lay along the floor leading out of the room. Following the scattered gems,

1:08:57which had the appearance of having been spilled from some treasure casket, heaped too high. The hunter came to a low door, and opening the door, he discovered a flight of stone steps leading to the turret. The steps were strewn carelessly with the finest emeralds, towpasses, barrels, moonstones, rubies and crystal diamonds. Remembering the council of his friend the dwarf, however, the hunter did not go up the stairs, but hurried home with his treasure. When the hunter returned to his country, the wonderful treasure which he had taken from the castle and the wood made him a very rich man. And in a short time, the news of his prosperity came to the ears of the king. This king was the wickedest of rogues, and his two best friends, the Chamberlain and the Chancellor, what every bit as unscrupulous as he. They oppressed the people with taxes,

1:10:02they stole from the poor, they robbed the churches. Indeed, there was no injustice which they were not ready to commit. So when the Chamberlain heard of the hunter's wealth, he, being a direct straightforward rascal, declared that the simplest thing to do would be to kill the hunter and take his money. The Chancellor, who was somewhat more cunning and worldly, declared that it would be better to throw the hunter into a foul-dog dungeon, till he was ready to buy his freedom with all his wealth. The king, who was the wickedest and wisest of the precious three, declared that the best thing to do was to find out once the hunter had gotten his treasure, so that, if there happened to be any left, they could go and get it, then of course they could kill the hunter and take his treasure too.

1:11:03Thus it came to pass, that by a royal order, the hunter was thrown into a horrible prison, and told that his only hope of release lay in revealing the origin of his riches, so after he had been slowly starved and cruelly beaten, he told of the treasure castle in the wood. On the following morning, the king, the Chamberlain and the Chancellor, taking with them some strong linen bags and some pack mules, rode forth in quest of the treasure. Great was the joy when they found the treasure castle and the treasure room just as the hunter had described. The Chancellor poured the shiny gems through his claw-like fingers and the king in the Chamberlain through their arms around each other's shoulders and danced a jig, as well as their age and dignity would permit. The first fine-calus rapture over, they began pouring the treasure

1:12:06into the linen sacks they had brought with them, and knees, filled to the brim, they carried to the castle door. Soon, not the tiniest gem was left on the table. Suddenly, the Chamberlain happened to catch sight of the gem strewn along the floor. See, see! He cried, his voice shrilling greedy. There is yet more to be had! So the three rogues got down on their hands and knees and began stuffing the stray jewels into their bulging pockets. The trail of jewels led them across the hall to the little door opening on the stairway, and up the stairway they scrambled as fast as they could. At the top of the stair, in the turret, they found another round room lit by three narrow barred windows, and in the center of this turret chamber, likewise laden, with golden jewels,

1:13:10they found another ebony table. With shrieks of delight, the king and the Chancellor and the Chamberlain ran to the second treasure. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop! This week at vans and Albertsons, get fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 199 per pound limit 10 pounds, and locally grown grape-ery cotton candy grapes are 299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus, 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are 499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Emergizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire? Try them all only at McDonald's. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop! This week at vans and Albertsons,

1:14:12get fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 199 per pound limit 10 pounds, and locally grown grape-ery cotton candy grapes are 299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus, 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are 499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. And plunge their hands in a glittering golden mass. Suddenly, a great bell rang in the castle, a great brazen bell whose deep clang beat about them in throbbing singing waves. What's that? Said the three rogues in one breath, and rushed together to the door. It was locked. An instant later there was a heavy explosion which threw them all to the floor, tossing the treasure over them, and then wonder of wonders the castle turret with the three

1:15:19rogues in prison, didn't it? Detached itself from the rest of the castle, and flew off into the air. From the barred windows, the king, the chamberlain, and the chancellor, sore league upon league of the forest rushing by beneath them. Suddenly, the flying room began to descend swiftly, and landed lightly as a bird, in the middle of the castle courtyard. Strange-looking fellows, with human bodies and heads of horses, came rushing toward the enchanted turret, and seized its prisoners. In a few moments, they were brought before the king, to whom the treasure belonged. Now this king was a brother of the dwarf, whom the hunter had rescued from the pit. He had a little gold crown on his head, and sat on a little golden throne, with cushions of crimson velvet. With what are these three charged? Said the dwarf king. With having tried to rob the

1:16:27treasure castle, your majesty, replied one of the horse-headed servitors in a firm stable tone. Then send for the Lord Chief Justice at once, said the dwarf king. The three culprits were left standing uneasily in a kind of cage. They would have tried to speak, but every time they opened their mouths, one of the guards gave them a dig in the ribs. For a space of five minutes, there was quiet in the crowded throne room. A quiet broken now and then, by a veiled corp, or the noise of shuffling feet. Presently, from far away, came the clear sweet call of silver trumpets. He's coming, he's coming! Mermed many voices. A buzz of excitement filled the room. Several people had to be revived with smelling salts. The trumpet sounded a second

1:17:27time. The excitement increased. The trumpet sounded a third time near at hand. A man's voice announced in solemn tones, the Lord Chief Justice approaches. The audience grew very still. Hardly a rustle or a flutter was heard. Suddenly, the great tapestry curtains which overhung the door parted. And they appeared, first of all, an usher, clad in red velvet and carrying a golden wand. Then came two golden haired pages. Also clad in red velvet and carrying a flat, black or box on a velvet cushion. Last of all, came an elderly man dressed in black and carrying a golden perch, on which sat a fine green parrot. On reaching the center of the hall, the parrot flapped its

1:18:28wings, arranged an upstart feather or two, and then resumed at solemn dignity for which birds and animals are so justly famous. With great ceremony, the gentle man in black placed the Lord Chief Justice on a lacquer stand, close by the throne of the dwarf king. Trumpet sounded. Two servitors hurried forward with the captive king. Your venerability spoke the dwarf king to the parrot. We watched him intently, out of its round yellow eye, and nodded its head. This rascal has been taken in the act of robbing the treasure castle. What punishment do you suggest? At these words, the two golden haired pages, advancing with immense solemnity, lifted the lacquer box to within reach of the parrot's beak. The box was full of cards. Over them, swaying from one

1:19:32leg to the other as he did so, the parrot swept his head. An icy silence fell over the throne. The king, the chancellor, and the Chamberlain quaked in their shoes. Presently, the parrot picked out a card, and the gentleman in black handed it to the dwarf king. Prisoner said the dwarf king to the other king. The Lord Chief Justice condemned you to be for the rest of your natural life, master sweeper of the palace chimneys. Discreet applause was heard. The chancellor was then hurried forward, and the bird picked out a second card. Prisoner said the dwarf king. The Lord Chief Justice condemned you to be for the rest of your natural life, master washer of the palace windows. More discreet applause was heard, and now the Chamberlain was

1:20:36brought to the bar. The parrot gave him quite a wicked eye and hesitated for some time before drawing a card. Prisoner said the dwarf king, reading the card which the parrot had finally chosen. The Lord Chief Justice condemned you for the rest of your natural life, to be master beater of the palace carpets. Great applause followed this sage judgment. So the three rogues were led away, and unless you have heard to the contrary, they are still making up for their wicked lives by enforced diligence at their tasks. The palace has 596 chimneys, 8753 windows, and 1199 large dust-gathering carpets. And the chimneys windows and carpets have to be swept, washed, and beaten, at least once a week.

1:21:43Now, when the king, the chancellor, and the Chamberlain, failed to return, the people took the hunter out of his prison, and made him king, because he was the richest and most powerful of them all. As for the treasure of the treasure castle, it is still there, packed in the linen sacks, lying just inside the great door. Perhaps someday you may find it. If you do, don't be greedy, and don't go up to the turret chamber. End of the treasure castle, the Firelike Fairy Book, section number 4. Recording by I Hear Voices, I lean risau.voices.com Section 5 of the Firelike Fairy Book This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain.

1:22:47For more information or to volunteer, please visit librevox.org. Recording by Valerie Tan The Firelike Fairy Book by Henry Beston Prince Snees Once upon a time, a king and a queen gave a magnificent party in honour of the christening of their newborn son, Prince Rolandor. To this party, the royal parents took good care to invite every single fairy in Fairland, for they knew very well the unhappy consequences of forgetting to invite fairies to christenings. When all the infotations had been sent out, the queen went down to the kitchen to superintend the cooking of the master dainty of the feast, a huge strawberry tart. The morning on which the grand ceremony was to take place, arrived. A half past ten the court astrologer, who was master of ceremonies, gave the order to form in line, and at ten minutes to eleven the splendid procession started for the church.

1:23:49The road was lined with the king's vassals shouting, hurrah, hurrah! Countless little elves with gawzy wings watched from the branches of the trees, and the great cathedral bells went clang-bang clang as merrily as could be. Just behind the royal bodyguard came the king's gold and diamond coach shining in the sunlight of June, with the king and the queen in it on one side and the court astrologer and the fairy Titania, prospective god-parents of the little prince, on the other. The prince himself swathed in a wonderful silk mantle edged with pearls and turquuses, slept in the astrologer's arms. The procession entered the church, where the venerable lord Archbishop, surrounded by a magnificent choir, was awaiting its coming. A hush went over the great assembly as the parents and the god-parents advanced to the flower-decked font, and the silence lasted until his eminence had sprinkled the prince and given him the name of Rolendor. Then the bells rang again, and the organ roared so

1:24:50that the windows shook in their casements, and the choristers sang like birds on a summer afternoon. The christening over, the procession went back to the castle, passed the waiting rows of bystanders, not one of whom had changed his place or gone away, so superb had been the spectacle. The christening banquet was laid in the great hall of the castle, and thanks to the court astrologer, things went off beautifully. It was the only large banquet ever known in the history of the world where courses were served all at one time, and while one person was finishing an ice, another was not beginning with the soup. Nor was the menu mixed, which happened so frequently today that you were apt to have soup, ice, cake, roast, soup, and a roast again. No, from soup to ice, the banquet was a huge success, but a last disaster came with the strawberry tart. As the queen was chatting with the Lord Chancellor of the Enchanted Islands, she happened to notice, for like a good hostess she had been keeping an eye to the comfort of her guests, that nobody on the right-hand side of the hall had been served with strawberry tart.

1:25:54Almost at the same moment the chief cook, looking rather pale and worried, bustled through the throng and whispered in her ear, your majesty, the strawberry tart has given out! The queen turned pale. At length she managed to ask in a weak voice, have you plenty of other pastries? Yes, your majesty replied the cook. Then let them be served at once. The cook withdrew, and the queen, though somewhat shaken, took up the conversation again. Ten minutes passed, and she was beginning to forget her start, when a voice rising clear and rasping over the hub of the hall said suddenly, where's my peace of strawberry tart? Everybody turned toward the speaker, an elderly fairy from the kingdom of the Black Mountains, named Malvolia. She stood up in her place, her arms a Kimbo, glouring at her plate, on which an attendant had just deposited a small chocolate eclair. Where's my peace of strawberry tart?

1:26:56She repeated. The queen rose. I am very sorry, Madam Malvolia, said she in her sweetest voice, but the strawberry tart has given out. Hoity-toity answered Malvolia rudely. You mean that you only baked enough for your own personal friend? At this several guests cried, and the king began to look worried. We will send for summit once, announced his majesty. Oh, yes, strawberry tart baked by the queen's own hands for her own dear friends, said Malvolia sneeringly, but for me a fairy of age and distinction, an ordinary low-bakers eclair. The kingdom of the Black Mountains has been deliberately insulted in my person. No, no, no, no, cried the king and the queen. We assure you, Madam, that it was a simple mischance. Pish and Tush replied, Malvolia, who, like a great many people, secretly enjoyed feeling

1:28:02herself aggrieved. I consider the affair in a front, a deliberate a front, and you shall pay dear for this humiliation, she screamed, quickly losing control of her temper. Every time the prince sneezes, something shall change until. At this very moment, a last, unorthy, stuinned blue, gustily through the open windows of the hall, shaking the tapestries from the walls and carrying away last of Malvolia's sentence. The angry fairy turned herself into a great black raver, and flew, calling, hoistly, over the heads of the bankwaters, and out of the window with the wind. A baby's cry was heard, and the king and the queen rushed panic stricken to where their little son lane is cradle on a raised platform at the head of the hall. The little prince's fat pink face was twisted into dreadful lines. He opened his mouth wide several times and half closed it again, then, opening at wider than ever, he sneezed, a terrible sneeze. There came a loud

1:29:02clap of thunder. When the confusion was over, the courtestrologer was found to have turned into an eight-day clock with a sun moon and stars arrangement, a planetary indicator, and a calendar calculated for two thousand years. The banquet ended rather gloomily, although the gifts of the other fairy, such as health, wealth and beauty, managed to make everyone a little more cheerful. When the guests were gone, the king and queen sent for Dr. Pill, the court physician, to consult him in regard to the measures which ought to be taken to prevent the princes sneezing. As for the poor courtestrologer, he was hung up in the sacristy of the cathedral, and every eight days his wife wound him up with tears. What shall we do, Dr? Ask the king rather mournfully. The prince must be preserved from the things which cause sneezing, said the doctor sagely. Such as drafts suggested the king. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at vans and Albertsons

1:30:03get fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for £199 per pound limit 10 pounds, and locally grown, grape-ary cotton candy grapes are £299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus, 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are £499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in! These deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for the performance of a camera, the versatility of Arab 4, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving in the BZ, there's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event and soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at Vans and Albertsons, get fresh, boneless,

1:31:05skinless chicken breasts for £199 per pound limit 10 pounds. And locally grown, grape-ary cotton candy grapes are £299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus, 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are £499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in! These deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Drafts, head cold, snuff and pepper, answer the leech. Let his little highness be put into a special suite of rooms. Admit no person to them until he has been examined for head cold, and has put on germproof garments, and as his little highness grows older, forbid the use of pepper in his food. Better still, if your majesty has a castle in the mountains, let the prince be taken there for the sake of the pure air. "'There is the tower on the golden mountain,' said the king. At this the queen began to weep again, for she, quite naturally, did not wish to part with her child. "'But my dear, we can't have him sneezing and things changing all the time,' said the king.

1:32:11"'I beg your majesty to consider the danger of a head cold,' put in the doctor. "'Yes, think of the danger of a head cold,' echoed the king, who saw clearer than the queen the chaos that might result of the prince was attacked by a prolonged fit of sneezing. People with head colds may sneezed ten or fifteen times a day. "'Or fifty,' said the doctor. "'Or fifty,' echoed the king again, shaking his head for he was torn between paternal love and kingly duty. Imagine fifty in chatments in a day, by even tied the whole kingdom would be upset, undone, and the people plotting a revolution. "'The tower on the golden mountain is in a fine, healthful locality,' said the doctor, and the prince could be brought up as happily there as in the palace. So at length the queen consented. In a few days the little prince, who had not sneezed a second time, was removed to the tower on the golden mountain. His room, designed by Dr. Pill, was completely protected from drafts, and every breath of air that entered it was try by sterilized.

1:33:16Mrs. Pill, who had been a hospital nurse, took care of him. Three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. His royal parents rode up to the tower, and after putting on germproof garments, who admitted to the nursery of their infant son. And so the years went by. Nobody was found able to break Mavolia's spell, and the clue to its undoing had been carried away by the wind. Mavolia herself had disappeared. The prince became a handsome little boy. Accomplish teachers taught him history, music, drawing, dancing, and all the other things that a prince ought to know, but a real life he knew almost nothing at all. His most faithful friend during these lonely years was a French poodle, who spoke both French and English exceedingly well. Of course he had a marked canine accent rather growling his jeez and howling the ores and the ores, but his words were well chosen and his vocabulary extensive, never was seen a more friendly, wise, and devoted animal. When the king decided to have him sent away for a while, for he feared that his son was

1:34:18getting a touch of Poldo's bachy manner of speaking from too close an association, the little prince became really ill from grief, and the king was forced to alter his decision. During his imprisonment in the tower, in spite of all precautions, the prince sneezed three times. At the first sneeze all the dogs in the kingdom except Poldo changed into cats and all the cats and into dogs. Though this was not a serious trouble, the change was certainly inconvenient. All the dog cats came out meowing at people as the dogs used to bark at them and they chased people down the street. The cat dogs on the other hand stayed in the kitchen under the stove and watched for mice in the pantry. Great St. Bernard's might be seen licking their paws and rubbing them over their foreheads, and fat, old cat-lop dogs used to try to purr. At the second sneeze all the elderly gentleman over seventy changed into elm trees, a proceeding that caused a terrible lot of trouble. At the third sneeze all the people in the pictures at the art museum became alive, and for a week the soldiers of the royal guard spent most of their time rescuing poor bewildered

1:35:20fawn, satters, nymphs, Roman senators, and long dead celebrities and historical personages from the worst destitution. The king finally had to build a special castle for them. As the prince's twenty-first birthday drew near, he began to feel very sad at the idea of having to stay shut up in the tower all his life. Though he was very brave and very manly young man, he lay down on his couch and wept in sorrow. Suddenly standing with his forepaws on the coverlet, why do you weep dear master? So the little dog. At my fate replied the poor prince, I cannot bear to think that I may have to spend all my days in this tower and never see the great wide world. The poodle was silent for a few minutes. At length he said, dear prince Rolando, do not give up hope. Have you ever thought of consulting my old master the giant of the North Pole? He is a large chest in his palace full of secrets which the winds have overheard and perhaps the key to marvel the aswellers among them. If you will have a warm fur coat and four fur boots

1:36:25made for me I will go to the giant and ask him. The prince gave his consent, and on the next day the royal tailor made the poodle a magnificent seal-skin coat and four splendid fur-lined boots. Then the king wished him good speed and the queen cried over him and the prince who could see from his height how every corner of the kingdom watched him till he disappeared over the hills and far away. Straight north the poodle ran. Soon he had left the fertile plains behind him and entered great black pine forests where never a road was to be seen. The cold wind howled through the trees and at night the brilliant stars sparkled over the dark and waving branches. Hungry wolves and savage bears often pursuit him but somehow he always managed to escape them all. At the end of the forest he found the frozen ocean lit by the shuddering light of the aurora flashing in a great fan from east to west. Past white tussed walruses and sleepy penguins he flew till on the eleventh day he saw the green icy pinnacles of the giant's palace against the waving

1:37:29curtion of the polar lights. On the evening of the twelfth day he entered the castle. The giant of the north pole was a tall strong yellow-haired fellow wearing a crown of ice and a great sweeping mantle made from the white fur of the polar bear. His servants were the gusts strange supple shadowy creatures moving quickly to and fro and his courtyers were the whirlwinds in the storms. The giant's wife sat by his side. She had dark hair and eyes of icy burning blue. Welcome little poldo, said the giant and his voice sounded like the wind in the tree tops. What seek you here? I seek some words of the fairy-mauveolia which were carried away by the northest wind at Prince Rolando's chrysaning replied the pillar. Wh cuidado whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee Whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whees whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee whee

1:38:46simple words, and sure enough in the corner of the chest lay the rest of Melvoli's spell, a row of little old-fashioned, dusty words, the words, until he finds someone brave enough to marry him. So the good-poodle loaned the words by heart, thanked the giant and hurried home with the message. When he came to the King's palace he ran, barking with joy right into the King's own room, there he saw the unhappy parents. Have you found the last of the sentence, cried the Queen. Yes, said Poldo, the spell will end when the Prince marries. That very evening the King and the Queen sent forth ambassadors to ask for the hand of the loveliest Princess of all fairyland, Princess Adata of the Adiment Mountains, but so afraid was Adata of being turned into something else that she refused the offer. The King and the Queen then made a request for the hand of Princess Alicia of the Crystal Six, but Alicia also was afraid of being turned into something else, and she too refused

1:39:47the alliance. So did the Princess of the Golden Courts, the Princess of the Seven Cities, and many others. Finally the only Princess left in all fairyland was a Princess who herself lay under an enchantment. A jealous witch had turned her golden hair bright blue, and given her a nose a foot long! This unhappy maiden was the only Princess willing to accept poor Rolando. The wedding day arrived. The Prince, though perhaps a little pale from his confined life, looked very handsome, and led his ugly bride to the altar like a man. Just exactly as the marriage ceremony was half over, a spasm contorted the muscles of the Prince's face. The poor young man felt strongly inclined to sneeze. Though he could be seen making heroic efforts to control the impulse, the audience got very nervous and panicky. All was in vain. The Prince sneezed. Couchou! A terrific clap of thunder reds the air, and everybody looked about to see what had happened.

1:40:47The effect of the sneeze was an odd one. As it had occurred, exactly at the moment when the Prince was half married, the spell had reacted upon itself. Just like a kick from a gun, Dr. Pills said the next day. The cats became dogs again, and the dogs became cats. The Elm trees became cross-eldily gentlemen looking for their families. The poor, excited Roman senators, fawns, nymphs, satis, celebrities, and historical personages went back to their pictures, and to cap the climax, the ugly bride became once more sweet and lovely self. While everybody was cheering, who should walk out of the sacristy but the court astrologer? An instant later he had fallen into the affectionate arms of the faithful wife who had wound him up for twenty-one years. After the wedding reception, the Prince and his bride went on a honeymoon to the enchanted islands. As for Poldo the Poodle, he was created Prime Minister and lived to a fine-old age. End of Prince Sneeze

1:42:08The kids are 499 limit one with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vansoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at vans and Albertsons, get fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breast for 199 per pound limit 10 pounds. And locally grown, grape-ery cotton candy grapes are 299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus 24 packs of Canada dry or 7-up 12-ounce cans are 499 limit one with digital coupon.

1:43:12Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vansoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Section 6, Mariana of the Firelight Fairy Book This is a Libravox Recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Angelia Potter, the Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Beston. Once upon a time a wicked nobleman rose and rebellion against his rightful king, and taken the royal forces by surprise, defeated them and seized the kingdom. The dethroned king, who had been severely wounded in battle, was cast in prison, where he soon died. But as widow, the queen, managed to escape from the palace before the usurper could lay hands upon her. In to the dark forest which lay behind the palace ran the queen, holding her baby daughter in her arms. It was wintertime, and a heavy snow had hidden the footpaths in the roads.

1:44:15Presently the queen realized she was lost, all afternoon, however she trudged bravely on through the silence in the cold. Her heart, sinking as mile after mile, revealed no sign of the house or a shelter, but late in the afternoon, when the red shield of the sun could scarcely be seen through the tangle of the wildwood branches, she perceived a light coming from a little grove of cedars by the shore of a frozen lake. The queen made her way toward the light, and discovered a little fetched hut in the silent wood. It was the house of one of the dwarfs of the forest. The dwarf took pity on the queen, but his efforts were vain. For the poor woman was so weak and exhausted that she died without telling the dwarf anything about herself or the child she carried. For the little dwarf, who was a good, kind, old fellow, brought the little girl up as if she were his own child. His brother, the dwarf of the mountain, made her the prettiest red leather shoes, and his cousins, the dwarfs of the pines, made the little girl dresses from cloth woven on

1:45:18fairy looms. Now, on the night her mother brought her to the hut, the little girl was wearing a golden heart-shaped locket with the crown and the letter M upon it in diamonds. So the little dwarf called the girl Mariana. Seventeen years passed, and Mariana grew to be quite the loveliest last in all the world. Her hair was as black as the Raven's wing. Her eyes were as blue as the mid-summer sea, and her skin was fair as the pedal of a rose. One spring morning, a little yellow bird flew into the cedar grove and gave the dwarf a letter which it held in its beak. The dwarf read the letter and said to Mariana, little Mariana, the emperor of the elves has bitten me come to the great assembly of the dwarfs, which is to be held next year and look on the golden mountain. Alas, what are we to do? I cannot take you with me dear child, for it is forbidden on pain of death to bring mortals to the assembly. Nor can I leave you here in this lonely wood. To this Mariana replied, do not fear dear father, give me but young crystal flask of the

1:46:18water of healing, and I shall go forth into the world until this time for you to return again. I shall discover somebody who can tell me the meaning of this locket or the history of my dear mother, so the dwarf took his knotted staff and went away over the hill, over dail to the golden mountain. Then Mariana took the crystal flask of water of healing and walked boldly out of the wood into the wide-wide world. It was the middle of the spring, and the ice and snow had all disappeared. The trees were putting forth their leaves, and there were clusters of prem roses by the roadside. In the swaying and rustling heart of the great Elm tree, a little thresh was singing, through cities and towns went lovely Mariana. Bringing good cheer to the helpless in the sick, and curing all who came to her, rich and poor, with the wonderful water of healing. But never did she find anybody who could tell her about the gold heart with the diamond crown. Now it came to pass that as Mariana was one day walking through a village in the heart of the Atomant Mountains, a ragged old woman besought her with tears to come to a hamlet,

1:47:23which stood on the head of a high and dangerous path. Touched by the old woman's supplication, Mariana followed her to the hamlet, and found in a wretched hut, lying on a wretched bed, a beautiful young peasant girl dying of a fever. So Mariana touched the girl with the water of healing, and in an instant she became well and strong. Dear lady said the peasant girl, pressing Mariana's hand to her lips, how sweet and kind that art. Great is the debt I owe thee. And as the girl poured out her things, Mariana heard a faint chirp chirp. And looking down, beheld a little yellow bird crouching on the hearthstone. Every now and then he hid his head under his wings and cried unhappily. It was a yellow bird which had brought the message from the Emperor of the Elves. Poor little bird, said Mariana, bending down and taking him up in her hands. Why cryest thou so mournfully? You had done the harm, but the bird uttered only a forlorn little cry, and hid his head again under his wings.

1:48:24I found him on the rocks at the mountain top yesterday, said the mother. Someone has wounded him. His wing is broken, and she put the bird on the floor of the house and bathe Mariana watch how he fluttered trailing a wing of the dust. Again Mariana stooped and picked up the bird, touched the wounded wing with the water of healing. Shop Vons and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at Vons and Albertsons get fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 199 per pound limit 10 pounds, and locally grown grape-ary cotton candy grapes are 299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-Up 12-ounce cans are 499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vonsoralbertons.com for more deals and ways to save. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for the performance of a camera, the versatility of her app for, the efficiency of a Corolla or all electric driving in the BZ.

1:49:25There's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event ends soon. We make it easy. Toyota. Let's go places. Scarefully had she done so when the yellow bird burst into a joyous and golden song and flying to the window beat madly against the pains. Then the peasant girl threw open the casement and the yellow bird flew out into the streaming

1:50:29sun. He has gone forever said the peasant girl, nay, he returns as Maryana gently as the yellow bird flew back and perched in the sheltering bower of Maryana's arms. Then accompanied by the peasant girl and the yellow bird, who flew singing before her, Maryana went down the dangerous path to the high road of the valley. When they reached the foot of the path, the peasant girl cried, farewell dear Maryana, may it someday be mine to repay thee. Into the world again went Maryana and with her went the yellow bird. Recently she came to the fairest land which she had ever seen. A land of rolling fields, little hills and rivers bordered with pale willow trees. This pleasant land, unknown to Maryana, was part of her father's kingdom and she was really its queen. Because her father had been the last rightful king. Now, why Maryana had been in the forest, wicked nobleman, who had stolen the kingdom from

1:51:30Maryana's father had died. And his brother, Garibon, in charge of the kingdom and of the interests of his little son, Prince Desire. This Garibon, however, taken advantage of the youth and the hopelessness of his nephew had himself assumed the state and heirs of king. For some time he had enjoyed undisturbed the possession of his stolen throne. But as Desire grew taller and stronger every year, Garibon began to fear the day when he would be compelled to resign in favor of his nephew. When the prince reached his 20th year, Garibon would certainly have killed him openly had he dared. But fearing the people, he resolved to use secret methods and bribed a cruel magician to afflict poor desire with a deadly and mysterious malady. Of this malady, Desire was slowly dying. For no medicine could cure him or even give him any relief from his constant pain. Every morning the cruel Garibon, in the hope of finding his nephew dead, would go to the

1:52:31sick room and you may be sure that his wicked heart rejoiced when he found the prince weaker and more feverish. Garibon had just returned from a visit to the prince who was rapidly failing. When the captain of the castle guard came to him, with the news that the wonderful Maryana had arrived in the kingdom, the king gave orders that she be brought before him. After Maryana, walking between two hall-bear'd ears and followed across the courtyard by crowds of curious people, was led before the king. The little yellow bird sat on Maryana's shoulder and never did maiden appear lovelier or more gentle. Scarcely had Garibon set eyes on Maryana when he caught sight of the golden locket which she wore around her neck. Had he not been very old and crafty, he would have started from his golden throne, for he knew that the little golden heart set with diamonds had been one of the crown jewels and that therefore Maryana must be the missing princess and rightful queen of the kingdom. What was he to do if he refused to let Maryana help the prince that people might begin to

1:53:36suspect him and start a revolution which would thrust him from his throne. If he allowed Maryana to cure the prince, the prince would certainly demand the kingdom on his 21st birthday. What was he to do with Maryana? Who's right to the throne was superior even to his nephews, perplexed, and with fear in his heart, the king sought the cruel magician who had cast the spell on desire. The magician lived in a gloomy tower and had an enchanted black dog that he fed with flaming coals. He listened to Garibon's story, stirring a great cauldron all the while and said, Do not fear, I will destroy both claimants to the throne at once. Garibon rubbed his hands together with Glee. Tonight I shall cast a spell of sleep on Maryana, still the crystal flask, emptied of the water of healing and refill it with a liquid which will cause death within a night and a day.

1:54:36I shall then replace the flask before Maryana wakes. You will allow Maryana to visit the prince. She will touch him with the deadly water, and the prince will die. You can then try Maryana for having killed the prince and condemn her to be thrown from the precipice. So pleased was Garibon with this horrid plot that he could have danced for joy. That very night the magician filled Maryana's flask with the poisonous water and departed, thinking that nobody had noticed him. The yellow bird however had seen everything and followed the magician to note where he had hid the real water of healing. The next morning Maryana was once more led before the king. Welcome, thrice welcome lovely maiden said Garibon with the most dreadful hypocrisy. I have long hoped that you would turn your footsteps hither. For my poor dear nephew, Prince Desire, only son of the late king, has become ill for some months of amality no physician can cure.

1:55:37Perhaps you can cure him with the water of healing. Maryana replied that she would do her best to help the prince. So the court chamberland gave her his arm and escorted her to the prince's sick room. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at vans and Albertsons, get fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breast for 199 per pound limit 10 pounds. And locally grown, grape-ery cotton candy grapes are 299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus 24 packs of Canada dry or 7-up 12 ounce cans are 499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Support is available 24-7 with verbo care. We're here day or night, ready whenever you need help. This is a great trip, starts with the right support. Shop vans and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at vans and Albertsons, get fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breast for 199

1:56:41per pound limit 10 pounds. And locally grown, grape-ery cotton candy grapes are 299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus 24 packs of Canada dry or 7-up 12 ounce cans are 499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vans or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. The king and his courtiers followed after him. Desire lay in a great old-fashioned bed. His face flushed with fever, so weak with the poor prince that he could scarcely lift his head to look at his visitors. A great pity swept over Marianna's heart the instant that she saw him. As for desire, he fell madly in love with Marianna at first sight. Now just as Marianna bent over the prince to touch his forehead with the water of healing, the yellow birds screamed and cried as madly as if he were caught in a net. Marianna looked at the crystal flask. Nothing seemed change.

1:57:43The water within seemed as pure and diamond like as ever. She touched the prince with the liquid. Alas, in a moment. So terrible was the magician's poison that the prince turned wide as the driven snow, and fell back on the pillows insensible. The lookers on, who had expected to see him spring up entirely cured began to murmur, and Marianna herself terrified at what had happened, let fall the flask which broke into a thousand sparkling pieces, suddenly garab and cried at the top of his voice, seized the witch. She has killed the prince. Presently there was a great confusion. Rough hand seized Marianna, and somebody caught the yellow bird. The prince remained insensible on the bed. At high noon a trial was held, and since the doctors declared that the prince was dying, Marianna was condemned to be thrown from the precipice. When somebody asked about the yellow bird, garab and laugh, and gave orders that the cook should ring its neck and toss it to the cat. So Marianna was hurried to a dark prison room and loaded with chains, and the yellow bird

1:58:47was taken to the castle kitchen and given to the cook. Later you ring its neck, said the cook to one of the helpers. While I go call the cat, by great good fortune the cook's helper was no other than the peasant girl who Marianna had saved. This girl recognized the yellow bird, and instead of ringing its neck, let it fly out of the window. The yellow bird flew to the window of the magician's room. The magician was in the chamber, stirring the giant cauldron. The bird flew to the window of Prince Desire's room, and saw that he was still insensible. An hour later, the castle bell began to toll, and a dismal procession was seen walking from the castle towards the frightful cliff from which condemned witches and sorcerers were thrown. First came a troop of soldiers, then Marianna weighed down with chains, and last of all, a little group in which were garab and the magician, and some of Garab and's favorites. The bell kept on sadly tolling and tolling. It roused the prince from his swoon, and with his last measure of strength, poor desire

1:59:50dragged himself to the window. The procession was then passing directly underneath the window, and Desire's eyes met the eyes of Marianna. Stop! Stop cried the poor prince wildly. I forbid an instant later he sank, fainting to the floor. The procession went on. Meanwhile the yellow bird had returned to the magician's chamber. He was empty, with a joyous cry. The bird fluttered through the window bars, and discovered the file into which the magician had poured the water of healing. Clutching it in its claws, the bird flew once more to the prince's room. Desire still lay in a heap by the window. And over him, the yellow bird poured the contents of the file. The prince sprang up, strong as a lion, seized a sword, and ran down to save Marianna. He arrived at the cliff just as the poor man was about to be pushed off in his space, and standing by her side, dared anyone to lay hands upon her. Garibon seen his precious plot Miss Carrey, grew mad with rage.

2:00:50Seize them cried he, and toss them both over the precipice, so the soldiers rushed at Marianna and the prince, and tuned into Carrey out there wicked masters orders. But even as they did so, there came a flash of flames and a little dwarf, Marianna's foster father, took his place beside the lovers. Cruel King cried the dwarf sternly, and thou wicked and perfidious magician, the hour of thy punishment is at hand. Immediately the sky grew black, the lightning crashed, and there arose a terrible howling wind, three giant guests drove fiercely by. The first one blowing the king in the magician head over heels over the precipice, the second carrying away the soldiers, and the third the rascally favorites. When the sky cleared only the dwarf, Marianna and desire were left of the company. Marianna said the dwarf, the emperor of the elves has told me all your history, and it is thanks to him that I have returned in time. With a storm at my heels, you Marianna are the rightful queen of this country.

2:01:53Dear queens and the honest and gallant desire, let me be the first of your subjects to salute you, and he knelt before her and humbly kissed her hand. Nay, prince said the young queen, answering the adoring look in the lover's eyes, your father took the kingdom. If I were you, I should take the queen, which was a bit forward of course, but nobody minded that very much in those very times. So desire and Marianna were married and lived happily ever after, the yellow bird went to the wedding, and when the ceremony was over rose, singing into the air, and flew joyously home to the land of the elves. End of section 6, recording by Angelina Potter. Section 7 of the Firelight Fairy Book. This is a Libra Box recording. All Libra Box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libra Box dot org. The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Beston.

2:02:54The Lost Half Hour. Once upon a time there was an old widow woman who had three sons. The first two were clever enough, but the third, Bobo by name, was a little better than the silly Simpleton. All his mother's folding and beatings, and she smacked the poor lad's soundly a dozen times a day, did him no good whatever. Now it came to pass that one morning Princess Zenza, the ruler of the land, happened to pass by the cottage and heard Bobo being given a terrible tongue lashing. Curious as to the cause of all the noise, the princess drew rain, and seven Bobo's mother to come near. On hearing her story, it occurred to the princess that so silly a lad might amuse her, so she gave the mother a golden flur in, and took poor silly Bobo with her to be her page. You may be sure that I did not take the wise folk with the castle long to discover how great a Simpleton her right.

2:03:56Courthier's footmen, lackeys, turnspits even, were forever sending him off on ridiculous errands. Now he would be sent to find a white cross feather or a spray of yellow blue bells. Now he was ordered to look for a square wheel or a glass of dry water. Everybody laughed at him and made fun of him. That is, everybody except little tilde, the kitchen made. When poor Bobo used to return from some wild goose chase, tired out to mud-stained, and often enough wet to the skin, instead of laughing, little tilde would find him a glass of warm milk, hang his coat by the fire to dry, and tell him not to be such a Simpleton again. Thus, after a while, Bobo learned to ask tilde's advice before going away on a wild goose chase, and was in this way saved from many a gest. Tilda, the kitchen made, was as sweet and pretty as she was kind and good.

2:04:58She was said to be the daughter of an old crane who had come to the castle one day asking for help. One pleasant midsummer morning, when Bobo had been nearly a year at the castle, Princess Zenza overslept half an hour and did not come down to breakfast at the usual time. When she did get up, she found her court waiting for her in the castle gardens. As she came down the steps of the garden terrace, the princess looked up at the castle clock to see how late she was, and said to her lady in waiting, dear me, why, I lost half an hour this morning. At these words Bobo, who was in attendance, freaked up his ears and said, please your highness, perhaps I can find it. At this idea of finding a lost half hour, the princess laughed and found herself echoed by the company. Shall we send Bobo in search of the lost half hour, said the princess to the courtyers? Yes, yes, cried the courtyers.

2:05:59Bobo shall look for the lost half hour. I'll give him a horse, said one. I'll give him my old hat, said another. He can have an old sword, I broke a last week, said still another. And so, in less time than it takes to tell about it, poor Simultan Bobo was made ready for his journey. Before he left the castle, Bobo went down to the kitchen to say goodbye to Tilda. But off again, said the little kitchen maid, where are you going now? The princess is lost a half hour, and I am going in search of it, said Bobo proudly. And he told how the princess herself had commanded him to seek the half hour through the world and promise to bring Tilda a splendid present when he returned. The good kitchen maid said little, for she feared less some misadventure overtake the poor Simultan. But when the chief cook wasn't looking, she took the fresh current bun into Bobo's pocket

2:07:00and wished him the best of good fortune. So Bobo went to the castle gate and mounted his horse, which stumbled and was blind in one eye. Goodbye, Bobo, cried the assembled courtyers, who were almost beside themselves with laughter at the Simultan and his errand. Don't fail to bring back the lost half hour. So Bobo rode over the hills and far away. Every now and then he would stop the passerby and ask him if he had seen a lost half hour. The first person whom he thus questioned was an old man who was wandering down the high road that leads from the kingdom of the east to the kingdom of the west. Shop Vons and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at Vons and Albertsons, get fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 199 per pound limit 10 pounds. And locally grown grape-ery cotton candy grapes are 299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-Up 12-ounce cans are 499 limit 1 with digital coupon.

2:08:02Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vonsoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. Shop Vons and Albertsons for fresh savings every time you shop. This week at Vons and Albertsons, get fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 199 per pound limit 10 pounds. And locally grown grape-ery cotton candy grapes are 299 per pound with digital coupon. Plus 24 packs of Canada Dry or 7-Up 12-ounce cans are 499 limit 1 with digital coupon. Enjoy fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in, these deals won't last. Visit vonsoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save. A lost half hour said the old man. I've lost something much more serious.

2:09:03I've lost my reputation. You haven't seen a lost reputation lying about here, have you? It was very dignified and wore tortoise show glasses. Look, Bobo had to answer no and the old man wandered on again. Another day the simpleton encountered a tall, dark, fierce kind of fellow who answered his polite question with a scream of rage. A half hour, he roared. No, I haven't seen your half hour. I wouldn't tell you if I had. What's more, I don't want to see it. I'm looking for something I lost myself. I've lost my temper. I lost a two years ago at home and haven't been able to find it anywhere since. Answer me, you silly. Have you seen a lost temper anywhere? It's about the size of a large melon and has sharp little points. On Bobo's answering no, this dreadful person uttered so perfectly awful a screech of rage

2:10:05that Bobo's horse took right and ran away with him. And it was all that Bobo could do to rein him in three miles farther down the road. No farther long Bobo came to seize the capital city of the kingdom of the Seven Brooks and was taken before the king himself. A lost half hour said the king. No, I am quite sure it has not been seen in my dominions. Would you mind asking as you go through the world for news of my little daughter? Here the four old king took out a great green hankerchief and wipe his eyes. He was stolen by the fairies on mid-Summery 15 years ago. Find her worthy Bobo and an immense reward will be yours. So Bobo left the proud city of Ziz and once again rode over the hills and far away. But never a sign of the lost half hour did he find, although he has thousands of people. His faithful white horse died and he continued his way on foot.

2:11:09Three long years passed and Bobo grew into a handsome lad, but remained a simpleton still. Finally after he had wandered all about Fairyland, he came to the edge of the sea. Finding a ship more than a little harbor, Bobo asked the sailors if they had seen a lost half hour. No, said the sailors, but we are going to the Isles of Iron. Suppose you go with us, the lost half hour may be there. So Bobo went to board the ship and sailed out upon the dark sea. For two days the weather was warm and clear, but on the third day there came a dreadful storm and on the third night the vessel was driven far off her course into the unknown ocean and was wrecked upon a mysterious island of rocks that shone in the night like wet matches. A great wave swept the decks and Bobo was born away from his companions and carried toward the shining land. Though pounded and battered by the foaming waves, the simpleton at length managed to reach

2:12:11the beach and took refuge in a crevice of the cliff during the stormy night. When the dawn broke all sign of the ship had disappeared. Looking about Bobo found himself on a lovely island whose heart was a high mountain mass hidden in the fog still sweeping in from the sea. There was not a house, a road, or a path to be seen. Suddenly Bobo noticed a strange little door in the bark of a great lonely tree and opening the door he discovered a little cupboard in which were a pair of wooden shoes. Above the shoes was a card saying simply, put us on. So Bobo sat down on the stone by the foot of the tree and put on the wooden shoes, which fitted him very nicely. Now these shoes were magic shoes and Bobo had hardly stepped into them before they turned his feet inland. So Bobo obediently let the shoes guide him.

2:13:13At corners the shoes always turned in the right direction and if Bobo forgot and blundered on the wrong way, the shoes swiftly began to pinch his toes. For two days Bobo walked inland toward the great mountain. A warm wind blew the clouds and rain away. The sun shone sweet and clear. On the morning of the third day the Simpleton entered a wood of tall silent trees. And as that day was drawing to a close, turrets of a magnificent castle rose far away over the leaves of the forest. Bobo arrived at twilight. He found himself in a beautiful garden lying between the castle walls and the rising slopes of a great mountain. Dranged to say, not a living creature was to be seen, and though there were lights in the castle there was not even a ward at the gate. Suddenly a great booming bell struck seven o'clock. Bobo began to hear voices and sounds, and then before the humming of the bell had died

2:14:18away, a youth mounted on a splendid black horse dashed at lightning speed out of the castle and disappeared in the wood. An old man with a white beard accompanied by eleven young men whom Bobo judged from their expressions to be brothers, stood by the gate to see the horsemen ride away. Plucking up courage Bobo came forward, fell on his knee before the old man and told his story. Truly, you should thank the storm fairy, said the old man, for had you not been wrecked upon the silent, never would you have discovered the lost half hour. I, and father time himself, and these are my twelve sons, the hours. Every day, one after the other, they ride for an hour around the whole wide world. Seven o'clock has just written forth. Yes, you shall have the lost half hour, but you must look after my sons' horses for the space of a whole year.

2:15:19To this Bobo willingly agreed. To twelve o'clock, who was the youngest of the hours, took him to the stables and showed him the little room in the turret that he was to have. And thus, for a year, Bobo served father time in his sons. He took such good care of the great black horses of the hours of the night, and the white horses of the hours of the day, that they were never more proud and strong, nor their coat smoother and more gleaming. When the year was up, Bobo again sought out father time. You have served faithfully and well, said father time. Here is your reward. And with these words, he placed in Bobo's hands a small square casket made of ebony. The half hour lies inside. Don't try to peek at it or opened the box until the right time has come. If you do, the half hour will fly away and disappear forever. Farewell Bobo said a kind young twelve o'clock who had been the simpleton's good friend.

2:16:21I too have a gift for thee. Drink this cup of water to the last drop, and the youth handed the simpleton the silver cup full to the brim of clear, shining water. Now this water was the water of wisdom, and when Bobo had drunk it, he was no longer a simpleton. And being no longer a simpleton, he remembered the man who had lost his reputation, the man who had lost his temper, and the king whose daughter had been stolen by the fairies. Bobo made so bold as to ask father time about them, for father time knows everything that has happened in the whole wide world. Tell the first, said father time, that his reputation has been broken into a thousand pieces which have been picked up by his neighbors and carried home. If he can persuade his neighbors to give them up, he should be able to piece together a pretty good reputation again. As for the man who lost his temper, tell him that it is to be found in the grass by the roadside, close by the spot where you first met him.

2:17:25As for the missing daughter, she is the kitchen maid in Princess Senses Palace, who is known as tilde. So Bobo thanked father time, and at noon, twelve o'clock placed him behind him on the white charger, and hurried away. So fast they flew that Bobo, who was holding the Ebony casket close against his heart, was in great danger of falling off. When they got to the sea shore, the white horse hesitated not an instant, but set foot upon the water, which bore him up as if it had been not water, but earth itself. Once arrived that the shore, Fairyland, twelve o'clock stopped, wished Bobo good speed, rising in the air, disappeared into the glare of the sun. Bobo, with the precious Ebony casket in his hand, continued on in the direction of Princess Senses Palace. On the second morning of his journey, he happened to see far ahead of him on the highway, the

2:18:27unfortunate aged man who had lost his reputation. To him, therefore, Bobo repeated the council of father time, and sent him hurrying home to his neighbor's houses. Of the man who had lost his temper, Bobo found no sign. In the grass by the roadside, however, he did find the lost temper. A queer sort of affair, like a melon of fiery red glass, all stuck over with uneven spines and brittle thorns. Bobo, with great goodness of heart, took along this extraordinary object in the hope of finding its angry possessor. Further on, the lad encountered till his father, the unhappy king, and delivered his message. The joy of the monarch knew no bounds, and Bobo, the one-time simpleton, became on the spot Lord Bobo of the Sapphire Hills, Mar-key of the mountains of the moon, Prince of the Valley of Gold Apples, and Lord Sensakal of the proud city of Ziz, in a word, the greatest

2:19:31nobleman in all fairyland. Then, having got together a magnificent cohort of dukes, urls and counts, all in splendid silks, and soldiers in shining armor, the delighted king rode off to claim his missing daughter from Princess Sensak. So on they rode, the harnesses jingling, the bridle bells ringing, and the breastplate of the armed men shining in the sun. After a week of almost constant progress for the king was so anxious to see his beloved daughter that he would hardly give the cavalcade times rest, they came to the frontiers of Princess Sensak kingdom. Strange to say, black morning banners hung from the trees, and every door in the first village which the traveller saw was likewise hung with black streamers. On the steps of one of the cottages sat an old woman, all alone and weeping with all her might. What is the matter, my good woman, said the king.

2:20:34Oh, sir, said the pleasant woman, evil days have fallen upon our unhappy kingdom. Three days ago a terrible dragon lighted in the garrings of the palace, and sent word to Princess Sensak that if within three days she did not provide him with someone brave enough to go home with him and cook his meals, and keep his cavern tidy, he would burn our fields with his fiery breath. And who I ask you would be housekeeper for a dragon? Suppose he didn't like the puddings you made for him why he might teach you up. All we have lost had not a brave little kitchen-made name till the volunteer to go. It is for her that we are mourning. At two o'clock she is to be carried off by the dragon. It is almost two now. Alas, alas! Quickly with the words out of her mouth when the town bell struck twice solemnly and sadly. Quick, quick, cried the king and bobo in the same breath.

2:21:34Let us hurry to the castle, we may save her yet. But they knew in their hearts that they were too late, and that poor till they had given herself to the dragon. And so it proved. In spite of his mad dash, bobo who had spurred on ahead arrived exactly half an hour late. The monstrous dragon, who had tilled in his claws, was just a little smoky speck far down the southern sky. Princess Zenza and her courts stood by, ringing their jeweled hands. Suddenly, bobo thought of the half hour. He had arrived half an hour late, but he could have that half hour back again. Things should be exactly as they were half an hour before. He opened the cover of the ebony box. Something like a winged white flame escapes from it and flew hissing through the air to the sun. As for the sun itself, turning around like a cartwheel and hissing like ten thousand rockets, it

2:22:39rolled back along the sky to the east. The hands of the clocks, which Marta has to, were it back to two o'clock in a twinkling. And sure enough, there was brave little tilled standing alone in a great field, waiting for the dragon to come and take her away. Lumbering heavily along like a monstrous turtle and snorting blue smoke, the dragon was advancing toward her. Bobo ran down into the field and stood beside Tilda, ready to defend her to the end. The dragon came nearer and nearer. Suddenly, angered by the sight of bobo and his drawn sword, he roared angrily, but continued to approach. Bobo struck at him with his sword. The blade broke upon his steely scales. The dragon roared again. Now, just as the dragon's mouth was its widest, bobo, who had been searching his pocket desperately hurled into it the lost temper.

2:23:43There was a perfectly terrific bang, as if a million balloons had blown up all at once, for the dragon had blown up. The lost temper had finished him. Only one fragment of him, a tiny bit of a claw, was ever found. Everybody you may be sure began to cry hurrah and hurray, and soon they were firing off cannon and ringing all the bells. Then Tilda's father took her in his arms and told her that she was a real princess. The grand cross of the order of the black cat was conferred upon Bobo by Princess Zenza, who also asked his pardon for having treated him so shabbly. At QVC, fall shopping is more than just checking out. It's discovering the brands you love across beauty, fashion, home and culinary, all in one place. Whether you're getting ready for crisp mornings, cozy nights, or everyday moments, QVC has

2:24:45what you need for the season ahead, with brands like Loric Eller, Philosophy, Ninja, and so many more. Shop Now at QVC.com At QVC, shopping is more than just checking out. It's discovering something new every day. Start with today's special value. Then explore exciting finds across the brands and categories you love, from beauty and fashion, to home, culinary, and outdoor living. And shop now at QVC.com At QVC, fall shopping is more than just checking out. It's discovering the brands you love across beauty, fashion, home, and culinary, all in one place. Whether you're getting ready for crisp mornings, cozy nights, or everyday moments, QVC has

2:25:45what you need for the season ahead, with brands like Loric Eller, Philosophy, Ninja, and so many more. Shop Now at QVC.com This Bobo gave readily. A wonderful fatigue was held when the rejoicings were over, Bobo until they were married and lived happily together all their days. End of the Lost Half Hour Section 8 of the Firelight Ferry Book This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org Recording by Leonard Wilson The Firelight Ferry Book by Henry Beston The Enchanted Elm

2:26:47Once upon a time while writing, a brave young prince dashed merrily ahead of his friends and after galloping across a ploughed field, turned his horse's head down a grassy road, leading to a wood. For some time he captured easily along, expecting any moment to hear the shouts and hallouuses of his friends following after. But they, by mistake, took quite another road, and no sound except the pounding of his corset-shoofs reached the prince's ear. Suddenly, an ugly snarl and a short bark broke the stillness of the pleasant forest, and looking down the prince saw a grey wolf snapping at his horse's heels. Although the horse wild with fear threatened to run away any instant, the prince leaned over and struck the wolf with his whip. Hardly had he done so, but an angry voice cried, How dare you strike by pet!

2:27:49A little distance ahead, a wicked old witch stood at one side of the road. With its tail between its legs the wolf coward close to her skirts, and showed its long yellow fangs. But indeed, quite the prince, keep him away from my horse, or I will strike him again. At your peril, prince! Answer the witch, and then as the prince turned his horses head and galloped back, she called out, You shall rule this day! You shall rule this day!" Now by the time the prince had arrived at the ploughed field and the great road again, his friends had galloped on so far that they were lost to sight. Thinking that he might overtake them by following a shorter road, he turned down a byway scurting the wood in which he had encountered the enchantress. Presently he began to feel very thirsty. Chancing to see an old peasant woman in the fields, the prince called to her and asked

2:28:51where he could find a roadside spring. Now this old peasant woman was the wicked witch under another form, overjoyed at having the prince fall so easily into her power, she curtsied, and replied that within the wood was to be found the finest spring in the country. Anxious not to lose time, the prince begged her to lead him to the water. Little did he know that the witch was leading him back into the wood, and that she had just to be witched the water. When they arrived at the pool the prince dismounted, and kneeling by the brim made a cup of his hands, and drank till his thirst was satisfied. He was about to seize his horse again by the bridle and put his foot into the stirrup. When a terrible pang shot through his body, darkness swam before his eyes, his arms lengthened and became branches, his fingers twigs, his feet shot into the ground, and

2:29:56he found himself turned into a giant elm. A giant elm he was. A giant elm, he remained, unable to find him after a long search. His friends gave him up for lost, and a new prince ruled over the land. Though the elm tried many times to tell passers-by of his plight, none ever seemed to understand his words. Again and again when simple woodcutters ventured into the great dark wood, he would tell them history and cry out, I am the prince! I am the prince! But the woodcutters heard only the wind disduring in the branches. Ah, how cold it was at winter when the skies were steely black, and the giant stars sparkled isle. And how pleasant it was when spring returned, and the gossipy birds came back again.

2:30:59The first year a pair of wood pigeons took to housekeeping in his topmost branches. The prince was glad to welcome them. For though denied human speech, he understood the language of trees and birds. On mid-summer eve the pigeon said to him, tonight the king of the trees comes through the wood. Do you not hear the stir in the forest? All the real trees are preparing for the king's coming. They are shedding dead leaves and shaking out their branches. But tell me of the kings at the prince. He is tall and dark and strong at the doves. He dwells in a great pine in the north. On mid-summer eve he goes through the world to see if all is well with the tree people. Do you think he can help me ask the prince? You might ask him to reply the doves.

2:32:01The long, long twilight of mid-summer eve came to a close. Night folded the world beneath its starry curtains. At twelve o'clock, though not a breath of air was stirring, the trees were shaken as if by a mighty wind the rustling of the leaves blending into strange and lovely music, and presently the king of the trees entered the haunted wood. Even as the wood doves had said, he was tall and dark and stately. As all well with you all my people said the king in a voice as sweet and solemn as the wind in the branches on a summer's day. He yes all is well answered the trees softly. Though some replied, I have lost a branch, and a little tree caught out unhappy, my neighbors are shuddering out all my sunlight. When fairly well my people till next mid-summer eve said the stately king, and he was above to stride onward through the dark wood.

2:33:02When the enchanted prince called aloud to him, stay o' king of the trees quite the poor prince. Hear me even though I am not of your people. I am immortal, a prince, and a wicked witch has turned me into a tree. Can you not help me? A last poor friend like and do nothing replied the king. However, do not despair. In my travels through the world I shall surely find someone who can help you. Look for me on next mid-summer eve. So the great Elm swayed his branches sadly, and the king went on his way. The winter came again silent and dark and cold. At the return of spring, a maiden who dwelt with a family of woodcutters came often to rest in the shade of the great tree. Her father had once been a rich merchant, but evil times had overtaken him, and at his

2:34:05death the only relatives who could be found to take care of the little girl were a family of rough woodcutters in the royal service. His grudging folk kept the poor maiden always hard at work, and gave her the most difficult household tasks. The prince who knew the whole story pitted her very much and ended by falling quite in love with her. As for the unhappy maiden it seemed to her that beneath the sheltering shade of the great Elm she enjoyed a peace and happiness to be found nowhere else. Now it was the custom of the woodmen to cut down during the summer such trees as would be needed for the coming winter, and one day the woodcutter in whose family the maiden dwelt announced his intention of cutting down the great Elm.

2:35:05Not the great Elm which towers above all the forest cried the maiden. Yes, that very tree answered the woodcutter roughly. Tomorrow morning we shall fill it to the ground, and tomorrow night we shall build a mid-summer fire with its smaller branches. What are you crying about, you silly girl? Oh, please don't cut the great Elm, beg the good maiden. Nonsense said the woodcutter. I wager you have been wasting your time under its branches. I shall certainly cut the tree down in the morning. All night long you may be sure the maiden pondered on the best way to save the great tree, and since she was as clever as she was good, she at length hit upon a plan. Rising early on mid-summer morn, she ran to the forest, climbed the great Elm, and concealed herself in its top-most branches. She saw the rest of the wood beneath her, and the distant peaks of the Atomat mountains,

2:36:08and she rejoiced in the dawn's songs of the birds. An hour after the sun had risen, she heard the voices of the woodcutter and his men, as they came through the wood. Soon the band arrived at the foot of the tree. Imagine the feelings of the poor prince when he saw the sharp axes at hand to cut him down. I shall strike the first blows and the chief woodcutter, and he lifted his axe in the air. Suddenly, from the treetop a warning voice sang. Throw the axe down, ham not me, I am an enchanted tree. He who strikes shall breathe has last before mid-summer eve had passed. There is a spirit in the tree cried the woodcutter's thoroughly frightened, let us hurry away from here before it does us a mischief. And in spite of all the chief woodcutter's remonstrances, they ran away as fast as their

2:37:10legs could carry them. The chief woodcutter, however, was bolder-hearted, and lifted the axe again, as the blade shone, uplifted in the sun, the maiden sang once more. Throw the axe down, ham not me, I am an enchanted tree. He who strikes shall breathe has last before mid-summer eve had passed. Hearing the voice again the chief began to feel just the littlest bit alarmed. Nevertheless he stood his ground and lifted the axe a third time once more the girl sang. Throw the axe down, ham not me, I am an enchanted tree. He who strikes shall breathe has last before mid-summer eve had passed. At the same moment the young managed to throw down a great branch which struck the rogue a sound thump on the shoulders. Now thoroughly terrified the chief woodcutter himself fled from the spot.

2:38:15Old a long for fear lest he return, the maiden remained hidden in the tree. At twilight overcome by weariness she fell into a deep sleep. Just before midnight alas she was awakened from her slumber by hearing an angry voice cry, come down from the tree wickedly seek for girl or I shall cut it down at once. Very much alarmed the poor maiden looked down through the branches and discovered the woodcutter's standing at the foot of the Elm, a lantern swung from his left hand and his sharpest axe rested on his right shoulder. He had returned home and not finding the maiden there had suspected that it was her voice which had frightened his men away. Come down, Lord the rascal, I'll teach you you minks to play tricks with me. One, two, three, and lifting the axe in the air he was about to send at crashing into the trunk of the Elm when the mysterious murmur which heralded the coming of the king of

2:39:19the trees sounded through the wood. Perplexed and frightened again the chief woodcutter let fall his axe. Presently he perceived two beings coming toward him through the solemn forest. During a howl of fear the rogue would have fled but lifting his wand the elder of the newcomers transfixed him to the spot. The two personages were the king of the trees and his friend the mighty and chatter Gorbo Doc. Decent and Phil not, maiden, said the king of the trees, you have done bravely and well, for misfortunes are over and a happier day is at hand. So the brave girl hurried down the tree and stood before the unshatter and the king. Very pretty she was too in her rustic dress and ribbons. Lifting his wand with great salinity Gorbo Doc touched the trunk of the Elm.

2:40:22There was a blinding flash of rosy fire. The great tree appeared to shrink and dissolve and presently the prince stood before them. ''Welcome, prince,' said the enchanter. ''Your enemy, the witch, will trouble you no more. I have turned her into a roul and given her to the queen of Lanternland. As for you?'' And here the enchanter turned fiercely upon the woodcutter. You shall be a green monkey until you have planted and brought to full growth as many trees as you have cut down. At QVC fall shopping is more than just checking out. It's discovering the brands you love across beauty, fashion, home and culinary, all in one place. Whether you're getting ready for crisp mornings, cozy nights or everyday moments, QVC has what you need for the season ahead, with brands like Loric Ellor, Philosophy, Ninja and

2:41:27so many more. Shop now at QVC.com At QVC, shopping is more than just checking out. It's discovering something new every day. Start with today's special value. Then explore exciting finds across the brands and categories you love. Everyday moments, QVC has what you need for the season ahead, with brands like Loric Ellor, Philosophy, Ninja and so many more.

2:42:29Shop now at QVC.com And instant later a green monkey swung off into the tree tops. Then the grateful prince thanked the king of the trees, the mighty Corbo-Doc, and the brave maiden with all his heart. I am glad to say that he got his castle back again and married the maiden who had saved his life, and they lived happily ever after. End of the Enchanted Elm, recording by Leonard Wilson of Springfield, Ohio. Number 9 of the Firelight Fairy Book. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org, recording by Adrian Besson. The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Beston.

2:43:32The Bird Boy Late one autumn night, a young queen stood by her window gazing upon the silent and deserted meadows gleaming in the moonlight. Suddenly far, far up in the sky, she heard the weird cry of birds flying southward, and lifting her eyes, the queen beheld bird after bird fly across the golden shield of the moon. Oh, lovely happy birds, said she, what that I might have a sun with wings. Now it came to pass that before the harvest moon rose again over the land, the queen became the mother of a little boy who was born with wings on his shoulders. But instead of being pleased with so strange and wonderful a little sun, the king, who was very superstitious and under the domination of a wicked Chamberlain named Melethico, took it into his head that his wife was a sorceress and gave orders that she should be imprisoned in a lonely tower and the child destroyed.

2:44:35So the queen and her baby were taken to an old and gloomy tower on a great rock overlooking the northern sea. And after they had been there a day or two, the chief jailer came to the queen's room to take the child and kill him. The queen, when she heard this terrible order, uttered a gasping scream and seizing her little sun from out his cradle, pressed him close to her breast. But although she fought for her baby with all her might, the rude strength of the jailers prevailed, and the child was torn from its mother's arms. Then before anyone could prevent her, the poor queen beat open the rotted fastening of an old-casement window, sprang upon the ledge and giving one last look of love and tenderness to her unhappy child. Leap down into the sea, surging and pounding over the rocks hundreds of feet below. He certainly would have been dashed to pieces, had not a good spirit of the ocean taken pity on her and changed her into a great, gray bird.

2:45:38Crying mournfully, the bird circled the old tower thrice and disappeared over the white capped waters. In spite of his roughness, however, the jailer was neither a brutal nor a wicked man, and he did not relish the cruel task which the king had given him. So instead of killing the bird boy, he carried him many leagues back into the dark forest which bordered the sea and gave him to a family of charcoal burners. With these rough, good people, the bird boy lived till he was five years old, and every year, on the boy's birthday a great, gray bird came flying over the forest from the distant ocean, circled thrice the charcoal burner's hut and disappeared again, crying mournfully. One mid-summer day, with a great deal of merry, hallowing and blowing of sweet voiced horns, the king of the country, accompanied by his young wife, came hunting through the wood. There was a pretty spring near the door of the hut, and the party came to a halt at its

2:46:41edge. Out ran the winged boy and his two little foster brothers to see the wonderful sight, and a wonderful sight it was indeed, to see the horses tossing their jeweled bridles, the hooded falcons riding on the saddle-bow, clutching the leather with their curving claws, the merry young pages in their dark suits, and all the gay company in rich attire. Why see, said the young queen to her husband, young little boy-hath-wings, really dear, I must have him for my page. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a winged page, besides, he will be a playmate for Rosadella? Though the king gave the charcoal burner and his wife fifty pieces of bright gold, which pleased them very much, and the charcoal burner himself lifted the birdboy up in his arms and placed him on the king's saddle. Then the birdboy waved goodbye to his two little ragged foster brothers, who were howling as if their hearts would break, and rode away with the king. In a few hours, the company came to a splendid castle of shining white stones, standing in

2:47:47beautiful green gardens running down to the sea. Once at home, the queen commanded that the little winged boy be washed and tidied, and his charcoal burner's rags replaced with a pretty black velvet suit. You may be sure that when the birdboy was washed and dressed, there was no handsomer more winning little boy in all the world. So the birdboy became the best beloved playmate of the queen's only child, her darling Rosadella. Now if the birdboy was the prettiest little boy in all the world, Rosadella was the prettiest little girl. Moreover she had a sweet disposition, which is a gift even more precious than the gift of beauty. It was a lovely picture to see the children building toy castles on the floor of the nursery in the castle tower, the sun streaming on the black brown hair and silver white wings of the little boy and on the golden curls of Rosadella. Twelve years passed. The birdboy grew into a handsome lad, Rosadella, into the loveliest of princesses.

2:48:49Twice had the birdboy saved Rosadella's life. He had saved her the first time by swooping down and catching her in his wings just as she was about to tread on a wicked yellow viper. He had saved her in the same way when she had fallen over a cliff at the edge of the sea. Every year on the birdboy's birthday, a great grey bird would fly in from over the sea, encircle the castle thrice and disappear crying mournfully. Now in the birdboy and Rosadella were in their seventeenth year. It came to pass that the king was summoned to war. His enemy was no other than the wicked Chamberlain Malefico, who had succeeded to the kingdom of the birdboy's father when that prince had died some years before. So the good king who had been a real father to the birdboy put on his shining armor, kissed his dear wife and child goodbye, and rode off to the battlefield. The birdboy begged and pleaded to be taken with him as a squire, but the king would not hear of it, and insisted that he remain in the castle to take care of the queen and

2:49:53Rosadella. There was little cheer in the castle that unhappy evening, and all night long the birdboy thought he could hear the wings of a great bird beating fiercely against the window-panes. A month passed, an unhappy month in which there were no tidings from the king. Then one rainy morning a messenger who had ridden so hard that his poor horse could scarcely stagger rode to the castle gate bearing very evil news. A great battle had been fought. The army of Rosadella's father had been completely defeated, and the troops of the wicked Malefico were hurrying toward the castle as fast as they could come. And so it was, for before the queen had had time to summon the people and gather together a few belongings the troop of the enemy burst in at the gate, and a dozen fierce soldiers surrounded the queen, Rosadella, and the birdboy and dragged them to Malefico. When Malefico saw the birdboy a look of surprise appeared on his face for he had believed that the wonderful child was dead.

2:50:54Then he fell to thinking, and as he thought wicked purposes swept over his cruel face, just as the shadows of dark clouds sweep over a gloomy pool. If it were known that the winged child is alive, he thought, the people would thrust me from my place and restore him to his father's throne. Now that the birdboy is in my hands I will destroy him and be sure of my power. So he smiled and began to think of some manner in which he could bring the birdboy to a shameful end. Had last he hit upon a plan, he would declare that the birdboy was not a human lad at all, but a witch child, and he would then accuse the good king of having protected a witch child and condemn them both to be stoned. So he threw the king and the queen Rosadella and the birdboy into an old dungeon tower and went through the mockery of having a trial. When it was over he sent a soldier to tell the king and the birdboy that they were to

2:51:58be punished the following day. And now dawned the unhappy day. The birdboy took Rosadella's hand in his and together they went to the barred window of the prison and looked out upon the world. The morning was fresh and fair, a pleasant southwest wind was blowing. The king and the birdboy were to be led forth at noon. The clock marked a quarter to twelve. Dear Rosadella said the birdboy sadly. We have forgotten that today is the day on which the great-great bird comes from the ocean and circles the castle towers. If thou shalt see the bird when I am gone, greet it in my name as we did when we were happy children. The bird may come! Said Rosadella amid her sobs. No Rosadella said the birdboy. I shall never see the gray bird again. And even if it were to come, what could it do to save us from these cruel people?

2:53:00When the clock stood at five minutes to twelve, there was a confused noise below and malefico and the judges who shared with him the guilt of the unrighteous punishment took their places on a kind of platform which overlooked the place of execution. They will soon be coming to get us. And the king to the birdboy. Ensure enough they heard the jangle of the jailer's keys at the foot of the stair. Suddenly the sunlight in the room faded swiftly into a strange gray gloom and the birdboy rushed to the window to see if a storm was at hand. A great shadowy cloud, advancing with inconceivable rapidity, already filled half the sky and as the boy gazed into this cloud, he saw to his astonishment that it was not a cloud at all, but hundreds and hundreds of thousands of great gray birds flapping their long wings. The shadow of the birds fell over the platform on which the cruel malefico sat waiting for the king and the birdboy to be brought forth and then ceased moving, even as a ship that

2:54:05has come into harbor. Far ahead of the vast swarm flew one lonely bird, and suddenly this bird uttered a shrill and piercing cry. Immediately every bird let fall a great beach-stone which he had held in his claws, and for a long minute the sky rained stones, round polished stones that fell like bolts of thunder. When the storm was over and the cloud had begun to break into rifts and speckles of light and flapping gray wings, the wicked malefico and his cruel nobles laid buried forever beneath mound upon mound of stones. The doom which malefico had intended for another had overtaken him. The king and the queen, Rosa Bella and the birdboy, rushed down the stairs and out into the sunlight, as they did so the gray bird who had led the cloud sank through the air and alighted at their feet. But scarcely had the bird's claws touched the ground when there was a flash of flame,

2:55:08and the birdboy's mother stood before them. She took her son in her arms and told them all his history and her misfortunes and how she had watched over him year after year and gathered the birds to save him. Thus it came to pass that when the troops of malefico saw their former queen and heard her story they acclaimed the birdboy as their rightful king and carried him back in triumph into his own country. So the birdboy became a king, married Rosa Bella and lived happily ever after. End of the Birdboy, recording by Adrian Besan Section 10 of the Firelight Fairy Book This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

2:56:10The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Besan The Master Mariner Once upon a time a fine young fisherman rose early in the morning and sailed alone to the fishing grounds. There was very little wind and beneath the speckled clouds and the cold pearly light of the late dawn the broad low billows went slowly and unrippled to the land. The fisherman cast anchor and through overboard his lines suddenly his boat moved uneasily and close to its side the oily surface of the pale sea broke into a tumbling mass of foam. In the heart of the troubled waters the fisherman beheld to his great astonishment a man clad in a strange garment of gleaming black scales struggling with an enormous scarlet fish. A battle of life and death they fought. The man of the sea trying to stab the fish with a short dagger of shining steel.

2:57:16The fish trying will flike, but tear at the body of its enemy. Now with a swift lash of its bright scarlet body the fish would rush at the man, now, with a long sure stroke of his powerful arms the man would escape the attack. Suddenly the fish hurled itself clear out of the water and falling against the man, struck him a terrible blow with its tail. At QVC fall shopping is more than just checking out. It's discovering the brands you love across beauty, fashion, home and culinary all in one place. Whether you're getting ready for crisp mornings, cozy nights or everyday moments, QVC has what you need for the season ahead, with brands like Lori Geller, Philosophy, Ninja and so many more. Shop now at QVC.com At QVC shopping is more than just checking out.

2:58:19It's discovering something new every day. Start with today's special value. And explore exciting finds across the brands and categories you love from beauty and fashion to home, culinary and outdoor living. Shop now at QVC.com Then the ocean man, who was stunned for a moment, would have perished, had not the young fisherman swiftly seized his spear and plunged deep into the body of the fish. Mortally wounded, the scarlet creature sank through the sunless waters, the dark blood flowing from its side.

2:59:20The man of the sea clutched the rail of the boat with his webbed hands and said to the fisherman, I am the king of the caves of the sea. I owe you my life, you shall have a reward. Take this little silver fish. It will bring you good fortune. And should you ever be in deadly peril? You have but the cast it into the sea, and it will come and find me. The fisherman thanked the king of the caves and took the silver fish. He was about the length of your little finger and had pale moonstones for its eyes. The fisherman hung the talisman on a chain and wore it round his neck. From that morning on everything prospered with the youth. His boat never leaked. He was never caught in a storm. And the fish came to his lines and nets, the instant he threw them overboard. Within a year or two he had grown so rich that he was able to buy the finest merchant ship

3:00:20in the world and became a master-mariner. Surely no more splendid fellow than this gallant young captain was ever found on the seven seas. He sailed to cold and foggy flannel land. Were the inhabitants all having curable headcolds and have no other cloth but red flannel. He traded in the ports of gorgeous velvet land, whose inhabitants stress in velvet and cover their walls with velvet hangings and their floors with velvet rugs. One pleasant morning running before a fine westerly breeze, he came to the eastern islands. Down the streets of the bazaar walked the master-mariner, followed by those who had articles to sell. Some showed him bright colored birds which they had caught in the forests. Others waved squares of figured cloth and called upon him the by-them. Others still offered strange flasks and bottles of brass and gleaming copper.

3:01:23At the end of the street the master-mariner discovered a little quiet counter on which lay some dozens of puffy and distended brown leather bags. What are these, said the master-mariner, to the tall lean man with beady brown eyes who was in charge of the shop? These are Breezes, master-captain replied the shopman. If you are going south, here is a bag of very reliable northwest wind. He picked up one of the brown bags. If you are going east, here are some of the best to sort it, westerly gusts. I am selling them at a very low price today, in fact, at less than they cost me. What will you have? I'll have a smart easterly replied the master-mariner. He put down fifty gold pieces on the counter, took the bag which the shopman gave him and walked away. Now all these leather bags look very much alike, and instead of selling the master-mariner

3:02:27of brisk easterly breeze, the shopman had made an error and sold him a frightful storm. Again the master-mariner went to sea, but luckily for him, he put the imprisoned storm away in a locker, intending to use it on some other voyage. Presently he came the silk land, loveliest of all the cloth islands. There the inhabitants stressed only in the finest silks, the roofs and walls are covered with layers of silk, the sonnoe shines, and pretty birds with silk and plumage chatter in the fern-like trees. Now the island of silk land was at this time, gruelled by the prettiest of princesses. She was about eighteen years old. She was tall for her age, and her eyes were quite the loveliest shade of brown. When the master-mariner's fine ship came into the harbor of silk land, cleaving the turquoise water with a bright sun, shining on her silvery white sails, the princes happened

3:03:34to be resting under a silken awning on the roof of her palace. Catching sight of the ship, the princes cried to her companions. See what a fine ship is coming in the port. She must be laden with many wonderful things. One word to the captain, that I intend to visit her tomorrow morning. The next morning, sure enough, the princes paid a visit to the ship, which lay at a wharf below the palace. In honor of the princes' coming, everything had been swept scrubbed and brightened, and gorgeous carpets from the eastern islands covered the decks. In shade at nooks under costly tapestries lay the treasures of the cargo. Several cloths and spices from the eastern islands, vessels of gold and silver from the adamant mountains, and jewels from the desert of the moon. Now scarcely had the master-mariner set eyes on the princes, then he began to think her

3:04:35quite the most wonderful person he had ever beheld. As for the princes, scarcely had the master-mariner directed to her three respectful and somewhat tender glances in her direction, then she began to believe him, quite the most gallant youth she had ever seen. She gave orders that several of the marbles be brought to her palace, and was looking about for something else, when her eyes chanced the fall upon the silver fish, that the master-mariner was wearing. Pray, what does that little silver fish ask the princes? The mere trifle, which a friend once gave me, replied the master-mariner, reading in the princes' eyes in demeanor, that she desired the talisman. If your majesty would only dain to accept it, it is yours. And blinded by the princes' eyes, he gallantly, but somewhat unconsciously took the silver fish from its chain and gave it to the princes, who laughed prettily and accepted the gift.

3:05:41Silver trumpet sounded, the servitors, gathered up the treasures which the princes had chosen, and the royal party returned to the palace with a good deal of chattering and laughter. In a few days the master-mariner disposed of his cargo, and went again to sea, but wherever he went, the image of the beautiful princes of Silkland went with him. After the silk awning on the wind-swept balcony, sat the princes, and the image of the young captain was often in her mind. After three months had passed, the princes took it into her head, that it was time for the master-mariner to return to Silkland, and gave orders that a sharp watch should be kept from the tower of the palace for his returning vessel. One morning just as the princes was having breakfast in her wonderful silk and bed, news was brought to her that a large ship was headed for the harbor.

3:06:41Is it the master-mariner ship asked the princes? I do not know your majesty replied the messenger. The vessel is still many miles out the sea. So the princes jumped out of bed, and without waiting for the ladies of the bed chamber to dress her, ran upstairs to her balcony. A great ship was coming in under a favoring breeze. Nearer and nearer it came, till the princes could even distinguish the men aboard. Suddenly she uttered a little scream, and ran down stairs, pale male. At the same moment the bells of Silkland all began to ring wildly, and the beating of drums sounded throughout the town. The approaching ship was a pirate ship. From the top mast flew the terrible black flag of the pirates of the northern Isles. Great confusion followed. Worn by the uproar of the bells and drums, the people came scurrying through the streets

3:07:43to the palace, some carrying children in their arms, others, the best loved of their household furnishings. The palace was hastily made ready for a siege. Soon, cursing and swearing, the black bearded pirates arrived, and began the sack to town. Into every house they went, pulling out all the bureau drawers, greeting private letters, upsetting the clocks, and leaving the water running in the kitchen sinks. They filled their pockets with cufflinks and watches. Now if the pirates had taken only cufflinks, stick pins, cameo broaches, silver candlesticks, silver-air spoons and sugar tongs, and then gone away, the raid would not have been too terrible, but the rogues, bribed by the horrid old king of the oyster mountains, a rejected suitor, were bent on getting possession of the princes. Once discovering that she had locked herself up in the strong palace, there raged new

3:08:46no bounds. They made a dozen different attempts to break open the palace door, but all in vain. Finally, they decided to besiege the fortress. For four days all went well enough with the princes and her imprisoned people, but by the sixth day most of the food had been eaten, and by the end of the eighth day the princes knew she would have to surrender the following morning. With the sinking heart she went to a turret and looked out over the ocean in the hope of catching sight of a passing sail, but she saw only the deserted town and the pirate ship riding at anchor in the bay. An hour later she went to the turret again, and again she saw no sign of anything at sea. The terrible despair seized upon her, but nevertheless once more to the turret she climbed. Far out at sea headed toward land was the brave ship of the master-mariner.

3:09:52So great was the joy of the poor princess at the sight of the gallant vessel that she almost swooned, but recovering herself, like the princess that she was, she ran down into the courtyard and told the news to her people. Immediately those who were weak or fretful from hunger began to take heart, and all who could crowd it to the barred windows. The master-mariner's vessel came riding in the port, the watcher saw her drop anchor, saw the boats being lowered, and the sailors come in ashore. Soon the pirates and sailors were at it hammer and tongs. A ceaseless clack clack of steel beating upon steel rose to the turrets of the palace. There were dreadful duels in the alleyways and battles in the public squares. Alas, just as the sailors were carrying the day, the master-mariner received the blow on the head, which knocked him insensible, and the mariners disorganized by the loss of

3:10:57their chief, who soon surrounded and taken prisoner. Then taking heart, the pirates rushed the palace and burst open the doors. When the rogues had taken everything on which they could lay their hands, they brought the prisoners and the plunder to the marketplace. Shall we bind all these people and take them aboard as the pirate? No, roared the one-eyed pirate-chief, take only the princess and that rogue of a master-mariner. The people now began to cry, oh don't take the princess, our dear princess, but all their prayers were useless. Now because the master-mariner's ship was far more swift and beautiful than the pirate's ship, the pirates, after setting fire to their own vessel, abandoned her, and put their plunder onboard the master-mariner's vessel. The following morning, leaving the people of silk land robbed and mourning, the pirates sailed away.

3:11:59Within a few hours all signs of land had disappeared. The sea was as black as ink. Against the horizon's edge the great waves were leaping and breaking into foam. Bring me the list of booty cried the pirate captain, roaring the last word. So the pirate treasurer came on deck and read a long list beginning. Fifty-three scarf pins. Ray shouted the pirate crew. 185 sterling silver berry-spones next announced the treasurer. Hurray cried the crew again. One thousand clocks cried the treasurer. How many with alarm sast the old pirate anxiously? There was a strain to silence. The treasurer consulted his list. Seven hundred and forty-nine he answered. Hurray yelled the pirate crew. When the list had been read it took very nearly half an hour to do it.

3:13:00The one I'd captain cried. Bring forth the master-mariner. So the master-mariner was brought forth and thrown brutally against the mast. The pirate chief put his arms a Kimbo, cleared his throat savagely and roared. So you thought you were going to punish me, did you? Well, I'll show you what happens to people who upset my plans. Here Hawkeye and you, Toby, throw this fellow overboard. Hearing this awful order, the prince is screamed and would have run to the master-mariner had not rude hands restrained her. Splash! The mariner fell into the Enkeys Sea. Swift as a bird, his own ship went by him. He saw the mocking face of the pirate chief, luring at him, from over the rail. In a few minutes he was alone, all all alone, in the wide, wide sea. For some time he swam about, and by great good luck, discovered a log of wood strong enough

3:14:05to bear his weight floating near at hand, upon this he climbed. At QVC, shopping is more than just checking out. It's discovering something new every day. Real and safe. Your favorite is now your wallet's favorite, too. Extra value meals are back. Sun rises, prices fall. Get a sausage McMuffin with egg or sausage egg and cheese McGrittle's small hot coffee and hash frowns for just six dollars.

3:15:05Price and participation may vary. Promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing. Ba-da-ba-ba-ba. McDonald's is putting value back on the menu. Whether you're craving a big mac, McNuggets or sausage egg and cheese McGrittle's, make it a meal and save. Your favorite is now your wallet's favorite, too. Extra value meals are back. Get a big something extra. With a big mac or 10-piece McMuffin, fries and a medium coke, all for just nine dollars. Limited time only, promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing. Ba-da-ba-ba-ba. And there we shall leave him for the present. When the captain had disappeared from sight miles behind, the pirate chief walked over to the princess and looking at her, said sneeringly, well, my beauty, are you going to make up your mind to be the wife of the king of the oyster mountains? I'm taking you to him and mine now, no fooling. The princess shrank from him with horror.

3:16:07And as she fell back, the sun gleamed on the silver fish she was wearing at her throat. The pirate chief made a rude snatch at it, the princess however, was quicker than he, and hid him a good box on the ear. I'll cry the chief, dancing up and down with rage. I'll fix you, you ill-tempered minks. Here somebody tie this girl to the mast, for the rest of the day, and give her nothing but bread and water. In obedience to his order, the princess, with her arms tied by the wrists behind her back, was lashed to the mast. When she had been securely bound, the chief, whose ear was still tingling, took the silver fish. He was looking at it, when he saw something which made him drop the fish on the deck. Out of the full castle door, fit clouds of black mist were rolling, exactly as if the hold of the ship were on fire.

3:17:08For a metalsome pirate had found the leather bag of storm-wind, and had opened it, mistaking it for a bag of wine. The strange clouds swirling round the deck grew instant by instant darker and denser. Soon the tops of the masts could no longer be distinguished. The sun took on a horrible copper hue, and the sea became a model black and green, a howling wind arose. A moment later, with a violence of an explosion, the storm burst. Mountain high rose the glassy white-capped waves. The lightning fell in violet cataracts, and thunder roared and tumbled through the caverns of the sky. An ocean of hissing rain fell into the waters. Suddenly the pirate chief, as he staggered down the stairs shouted, we are lost. Just a stern, an enormous glassy wave, higher than the masts of the ship, was about to break.

3:18:11The pirates yelled, but little good their yelling did them. An instant later, the wave broke upon the deck, crashing tons of green water swept every single pirate into the sea. Slowly and with the tense struggle of a wounded animal, the good ship lifted itself from the waves. The princes was the only human being left on board. Only the cords which bound her to the mast had saved her from being swept away. Now when the water swept the deck, the silver fish, which lay at the prince's feet, became alive, and darted over the rail into the sea. The storm continued. The helpless princes expected every minute to sink with the ship into the roaring waters. Suddenly to her horror, a high rocky island appeared a few miles ahead. Toward this island, over whose cruel reefs the ocean was foaming and breaking, the ship

3:19:13was drifting fast, tied to the mast. The princes listened to the terrible cry of the breakers, and spellbound watched the jagged rocks of the island ever drawing nearer. Now while the princes was in this terrible situation, the master Mariner, who had been blown before the storm like a feather, also came in sight of the rocky island. The instant he caught sight of the shore, and heard the roaring of the breakers, he knew that he could not hope to reach the land. He was on the edge of the reefs, when the king of the caves of the sea, who had been summoned by the silverfish, rose out of the water beside him, and taking him in his webbed hands, swam with him to a place of safety. Just as they reached the shadows, the mists of the tempest parted, and driving through the darkness in the storm headed for the reefs, came the master Mariner's ship, with the princes tied to the mast.

3:20:15Oh, saver, save the princes cry the master Mariner? The king of the caves of the sea stretched out his hand over the island, and uttered a strange and mysterious word. So awful was its power, that the rocky cliffs split open, forming a safe and sheltered harbor. Into this port came the ship, safe at last, has a bird in its nest. So the master Mariner, the princes, and the ship were all wonderfully preserved, and when the storm was over, the king of the caves saw them home to silk land. There the master Mariner found his crew waiting for him, and in a few days they had rigged new sails for the ship, which were even wider than the old. The inhabitants got back the 53 scarf-pins, the 185 sterling silver berry-spones, the thousand clocks, and the rest of the booty, which the pirates had stowed away in the

3:21:16master Mariner's ship. Great was the rejoicing. Greater still was the joy, however, when the master Mariner married the princes. End of the Master Mariner. Recording by Richard Kilmer, Real Medina, Texas. Section 11 of the Firelight Fairy Book. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org, recording by Adrian Besan. The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Beston. The marvelous dog and the wonderful cat. Once upon a time there was an old enchanter who taught magic and enchantment to the younger warriors. Year after year and morning after morning, he was to be found at his school room in the

3:22:17Ferries College, standing between his desk and a blackboard, now writing down the spell for turning noses into turnips, now changing sunflower seeds into pearls before the very eyes of his pupils. The old enchanter liked this life of quiet and study, and doubtless would have been teaching in Ferreland to this very day had he not been so unfortunate as to quarrel with the terrible sorcerer Zyduck, who was then Lord High Chancellor of the Ferries College. I have forgotten exactly what the quarrel was about, but I think that it had to do with the best spell for causing castles to fall to pieces in an instant. At any rate, Zyduck, who considered himself quite the most wonderful enchanter in Ferreland, was furious at being opposed, and told the old enchanter very angrily that he was not to have his classes anymore and must leave the college at once. So the poor old gentleman picked up his magic books, put his enchanters wand into its silver case, and went to the country one pleasant day in search of a house.

3:23:22Thanks to the advice of a friendly chimney swift, it did not take him long to find one. The dwelling was the property of the Ferries' Okapa. It stood just off the high road, close by a lane of great oaks whose shiny, fringed leaves glistened in the hot, new day sun. It had a high roof with stodds, steep as mountain slopes, and one great chimney, and its second story thrust itself out over the first, in the old fashioned way. Greenfields, little hills and pleasant meadows in which red and white cows were grazing lay behind the dwelling. Seeing the front door wide open, the enchanter walked in, it was very quiet. Only the far away, clingle clangol of a cowbell could be heard. Here I shall live, said the enchanter, and he brought his possessions to the house. Now one atominal morning, when a blue haze hung over the lonely fields from which the reapers had departed, and the golden leaves were wet underfoot, the old enchanter went for a walk down the lane, and finding the day agreeable kept on until he found himself

3:24:26in the woods. Arriving at the crest of a little hill in the woodland, he saw below him almost at the foot of the slope a countryman, with a white puppy and a black kitten following it his heels. The little dog barked merrily out of pure high spirits, whilst the kitten leaped and struck with its tiny paws at the passing white butterflies. As the old enchanter approached the countryman, he happened to hear him say to the animals, alas, my poor innocence, what a pity that I should have to abandon you. What's that, said the enchanter, halting the countryman? You intend to abandon these helpless creatures? Alas, I must! Reply the countryman, pulling a large blue bandana handkerchief from his pocket and applying it to the corners of his eyes. We are too poor to be able to feed them, and my children love them so well that I cannot find it in my heart to do them harm. I am taking them into these woods to abandon them, in the hope that, like the wild animals, they will soon learn to shift for themselves. Give them to me, said the old enchanter, I will bring them up.

3:25:27The countryman nodded his head. As for you, here is a golden flooring, made bring you better fortune. Thus did the white puppy and black kitten change hands. Once he had led the animals safely home, the enchanter resolved to make them the most wonderful animals that had ever been seen in the whole wide world, whether in fairyland or out of it. Being an enchanter, he could, of course, do this more easily than other people, so he taught the cat and the dog all the known languages, then history, arithmetic, dancing, social deportment, and a variety of the best magic and spells. The cat, as was to be expected, was particularly good on anything that had cat in it. He once catalogued all the principal catastrophes, while the dog, although a good student, had a fancy for writing dog girl. Many and many a time when the enchanter and his wonderful animals were seated in their arm chairs round a blazing fire, talking exactly as any three good friends might talk, a

3:26:28nose would flatten itself against the pains, and the three companions would see looking in at them some stranger whose curiosity had got the better of his manners. The dog, I may say, had grown up to be a fine fellow of the short-haired white bull terrier family. The cat had grown to be as aristocratic as a panther. When their education was complete, the animals came to their teacher and begged him to let them go away and see the world. Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Emergizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire? Try them all only at McDonald's. McDonald's is putting value back on the menu. Whether you're craving a big mac, McNuggets or sausage egg and cheese McGrittle's make it a meal and save. Your favorite is now your wallet's favorite too. Extra value meals are back. Sun rises, prices fall, get a sausage McMuffin with egg or sausage egg and cheese McGrittle's

3:27:31small hot coffee and hash frowns for just six dollars. Price and participation may vary. Promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing. Ba-da-ba-ba-ba. Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Emergizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire? Try them all only at McDonald's. For a long time, the Enchanter, who loved his charges very much indeed, resisted their request. But as they continued to press him, he came at length to yield. Calling them before him, he said to them, well dear pupils, if you must go, you must go. They owe the fairy Jokapa twelve months rent for this house. She is now living with her nephew, the king of the land of the runaway rivers. You will take twelve golden florins to her. Your route will take you all over the kingdoms of the whole wide world. So the white dog, who was the stronger of the two, took the purse with the twelve golden coins and put it in a large wallet which he wore at his side.

3:28:36And then both the wonderful animals said goodbye. At the corner of the lane, they turned again to look for the last time at their dwelling and saw their old master still waving at them from the little window over the door. Then they fared over the hills and far away. So wise, so well bred and good tempered were these wonderful animals that their journey across the world was a great success from the beginning. Their fame spread from kingdom to kingdom like wildfire. The universities, colleges and other learned societies fought with each other for the privilege of entertaining these distinguished students. To this very day, the address which the cat made on catapults and cataplasms before the professors of the University of Seguessa is remembered as one of the great events of the time. While the dogs address on dogma before the assembled scholars of the royal academy of fairyland was printed in a special book bound in gold leaf and waltz's leather. Both the cat and the dog were awarded countless honorary decorations.

3:29:37And so, little by little, they came to a hilly land in which all the streams raced Pell Mel to the sea, and there they knew themselves to be in the kingdom of their runaway rivers. A three days journey brought them to the royal castle, arriving in the twilight. They were somewhat surprised to find a number of torchbearers waiting for them in the castle courtyard. With great respect, these attendants conducted the cat and the dog into a little antirume and then retired leaving them alone. A few minutes later, a very old woman, who the animals noticed was stone blind, came to take them before the king. How strange whispered the cat and to rather meowee voice. Very whispered back the dog in his deeper tone. Being opened one after the other three great doors with three different iron keys, the old woman guiding herself by touching the wall with her hand, led the animals into a long, dark corridor. The cat, who could see quite well in the dark, did not mind this.

3:30:40But the dog was not particularly pleased. The echoes of the old woman's boots went rolling along in the hollow darkness. The dog could hear his heartbeat, and saw his black companion's eyes glowing like pools of flame. Then to their mutual relief the animal saw a point of light appearing far down the passage, and on reaching this they discovered a second blind old woman holding a torch. The first old woman beckoned them to follow this new guide and disappeared again into the dark corridors by which they had arrived. The second old woman, lifting high the torch, first led her charges through three more great doors, all of which she carefully locked behind her. Soon the animals found themselves at the top of a winding stair whose end was lost in darkness. Down this stair they went, turning, ever turning, down and round, down and round, till both cat and dog felt dizzyly that they must have reached the heart of the earth.

3:31:42Then little by little a pin point of light began to glow brighter, and brighter, and the animals found themselves at the foot of the stairs and opposite a little door, and there by this door stood another blind old woman who held a torch and beckoned the animals to follow. Three more doors they passed, the last one opening on a very narrow winding passage. In and out they turned, walking one behind the other, for a time that seemed very, very long. Suddenly a narrow door appeared in the winding wall which opened inward as they drew near, revealing a beautiful round chamber richly furnished and hung with the finest tapestries. Beside the fireplace, in which a wood fire was cheerily burning, sat a grey haired lady who was no other than the fairy-jokapa, and in the center of the room reading a great book by the light of many candles, sat a young man, the king. In spite of the enchantress careful training in manners, the cat and the dog, I'm sorry

3:32:44to say, almost stared for an instant at the king. Small wonder that they did so, for the unfortunate young man lay under a horrid spell, and his face and hands were not pink or white or sun-brown like yours or mine, but bright green like a parrot's wing. Welcome, oh wonderful animals, said the enchanted king. Your fame has gone before you into every land, and it is said that there is no question you cannot answer. And then, to my story, and help me if you can, you see me before you, hideously changed, until you entered here, an instant passed. No eyes but those of my aunt had beheld my horrible countenance. It was she who caused this enchanted chamber to appear in the heart of the foundations of my castle, and in this chamber I have hidden since that terrible hour when the spell was put upon me. My subjects only know that I am still alive. The Lord Chancellor rules the kingdom in my stead, but harkened to my story.

3:33:48Ten months ago, as I was driving my chariot down a narrow road, built along a riverbank close to the stream, I encountered a chariot being driven furiously in the opposite direction. The driver of the chariot was a tall, elderly man, wearing a wizard's cap. His face was red as with anger, and evil light gleamed in his small malicious eyes. In order to let him pass, I turned to one side, as near to the riverbank as I dared, but the space was too narrow, our chariot's locked wheels, and his was overthrown. Turning upon me, a face, a flame with hatred, he cried out, I will teach you what it is to offend the enchanted Zydoch. And an instant later, the wizard himself, the struggling horses, and the overturned chariot disappeared in a rumble of thunder and a great flash of flame. I turned homeward, never noticing that anything had happened to me. As I chanced to pass a roadside cottage, a little child playing about saw me in a ran,

3:34:48screaming for fear to the door. A little farther on, I stopped a drink of a spring. Judge of my horror, when I leaned over the clear pool of water, and saw that my face had turned a bright green. McDonald's is putting value back on the menu. Whether you're craving a big mac, McNuggets, or sausage egg and cheese McGrittle's, make it a meal, and save. Your favorite is now your wallet's favorite, too. Extra-value meals are back. Sun rises, prices fall, get a sausage McMuffin with egg, or sausage egg and cheese McGrittle's small hot coffee and hash frowns for just six dollars. Price and participation may vary, promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing. Ta-da-da-da-da. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for the performance of a camera, the versatility of a RAV4, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving in the BZ, there's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours.

3:35:52But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event end soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. McDonald's is putting value back on the menu. Whether you're craving a big mac, McNuggets, or sausage egg and cheese McGrittle's, make it a meal, and save. Your favorite is now your wallet's favorite, too. Extra-value meals are back. Sun rises, prices fall, get a sausage McMuffin with egg, or sausage egg and cheese McGrittle's small hot coffee and hash frowns for just six dollars. Price and participation may vary, promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing. Ta-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. I waited till nightfall, stolen to the castle, unobserved, and sought the aid of my aunt, the fairy. You know the rest. Speak a wonderful dog and wonderful cat and bid me hope a little. And the poor king hid his bright green face in his hands. The enchantress I-Doc is an old enemy of our dear master, said the white dog,

3:36:56and his power as a sorcerer is the greatest in fairy land. I have tried all my powers against him in vain, said the fairy Jo-Capa, sadly. But let us not despair, broken the cat. I-Doc is now to be found in these dominions. His castle lies on the border of the Silver Hills. The dog and I will go there and see if we can help the king. So the fairy and the unhappy king thanked the wise animals and sent for the blind old woman to lead them back to the upper world. Early next morning, the famous pair began the journey to the enchantress Den. The dog's plan was to pretend to be but an everyday stray dog. And to this end, he ruled several times in a mud puddle. The cat, too, was to appear as a stray cat and neglected his fine black coat in order to look the part. Unfortunately for their plan, Zydoch had in his chamber a little enchanted bell, which rang shrilly when danger threatened him. Hearing the bell rang late at night,

3:37:58Zydoch rose from his bed and hurrying to the turret window saw by the light of the waning moon, the dog and the cat making their way to the castle through the wood. Rubbing his hands with glee, he determined to let the two animals walk headlong into his power and then inflict upon them some terrible revenge. The first day the dog went indoors and concealed himself under a sofa while the cat remained outside. When Twilight came the dog ran out and met the cat in the castle garden. Did you discover anything? Asked the cat. Nothing, whatever, replied the dog. "'I will try tomorrow,' said the cat. And so when the morning came the dog remained outside, while the cat concealed himself behind a curtain. When the Twilight came the animals met again. "'Do you discover anything?' asked the dog. Very little replied the cat. The sorcerer Sir Penel is coming tomorrow to pay Zydoch a visit. One of us must hide in the room in which they will talk

3:38:59for perhaps we may learn something which may help us to lift the spell from the king. "'Tomorrow it is my turn,' said the dog. And so the next morning he stole into the house and hid beneath the sofa. Now Zydoch knew very well where the dog had concealed himself. Moreover, he had summoned the powerful Sir Penel to his aid in order that the dog and the cat should have no opportunity to escape. When Sir Penel arrived both the wicked enchanters went into the room in which the dog lay concealed. First Zydoch locked the only door with a great key. And then he said to Sir Penel, "'Brother, someone tells me that there is an enemy hidden under the sofa. This brother replied the dreadful Sir Penel. And something tells me that it is time to let him feel your staff.' Now Zydoch had an enchanted staff whose blows were mortal and knowing this the

3:40:01poor dog who was trapped between the wall and the two sorcerers grew cold with fear to the tip of his white tail. Just as he was about to make a bolt into the open, Zydoch dragged the sofa swiftly aside and aimed a terrible blow at him, which by the greatest good luck just missed its mark. He then ran into the room pursued by the sorcerers, who little by little forced him toward a corner. And now just as Zydoch holding the staff uplifted was about to strike the poor dog with all his force, a black shape with flaming eyes and paused outstretched to scratch, leapt through the open window and landed upon Zydoch's back. It was the brave cat who had heard the fracas from his hiding place below and had clawed his way up the castle wall to help his friend. Valiant Puss forgetting in one instant I must admit all its knowledge of languages, catastrophes, history, social deportment and agriculture plunged instantly into the fray and gave Zydoch a frightful scratch,

3:41:02which so upset him that it caused him to drop his staff, while the dog profiting by the confusion and forgetting all about geometry, mathematics, agriculture and dogma managed to give serpent a good bite just above the ankle. The wily Zydoch however was not to be so easily thwarted, uttering a magic word he caused the room to be filled with darkness, and in the cover of this darkness he transformed himself instantly into a black cat, exactly like the Learned Cat, while serpent I'll change himself into a white dog exactly like the Learned Dog. At the same moment he caused the locked door to fly open. Now thought he, I will cause the cat to follow the wrong white dog and the dog to follow the wrong cat. We shall thus separate the animals and when we have lured them far away from each other serpent L and I will resume our true forms and destroy these mettlesome creatures. When the darkness cleared the hearts of the true animals fell for fear

3:42:09lest the sorcerers' ruse be successful. But they met the challenge readily, and instead of fleeing stood their ground. The true dog battling with the false dog, the real cat with the false cat, never was such a hullabaloo herd in fairy land. Then seeing that he was in danger of being badly scratched, Zydoch brought on another darkness. The floor of the castle shook, a noise as a thunder roared and rattled through the room. When the darkness ended both the enchanters had been separated and the cats were confused. The real dog was chasing the real cat, thinking that he was following Zydoch while serpent L who had been the false white dog was pursuing Zydoch who had been the false black cat. Down the stairs over the terraces and the gardens ran the true dog pursuing the true cat while indoors up and down through the rooms and over the furniture raced the false animals. The poor cat, thinking he was being pursued by the wrong dog, grew short of breath and hearing the snapping at his heels ran up a convenient tree. Hardly had he reached a point above the dogs' jaws

3:43:15when a voice said, Why my pupils, my pupils, what a way to behave, stop your quarreling this instant! The animals turned to look and saw their master the old enchanter. He had been worried by their long absence and had gone forth to look for them. Thus, at the same moment that the poor dog saw that he had been pursuing his friend, the cat saw that he had been escaping from his comrade. Suddenly a noise from the castle arrested their attention and on looking up, all saw through the windows the false dog pursuing the false cat down the hall of state. Now if you remember the first part of this story, you will recall that Zydoch quarreled with the old enchanter over the right spell for destroying castles. A triumphant smile shown on the lips of the old teacher, he stretched forth his hand toward the castle and uttered a magic word. There was a roar as of twenty thousand cataracts and in the twinkling of an eye the castle collapsed in a cloud of dust, burying the two

3:44:16wicked magicians in its ruins. There I told him so," said the old enchanter. When the dog in the cat had recovered from the events of the day, the three friends began their journey back to the palace of the enchantered king. He came to the castle gate to meet them. For Zydoch's overthrow had broken the spell, which had so oddly disfigured him. Through the open doors a splendid banquet could be seen waiting and the sound of music was heard, so the old enchanter gave his arm to the fairy jocapa. The prince gave his to the white dog and the cat followed all by himself. Then came the host of rejoicing courteers. When the festival was over the enchanter and the wonderful animals went back loaded with royal gifts to their own little house and lived happily there to a good old age. End of the marvelous dog and the wonderful cat, recording by Adrian Basan. Section 12 of the Firelight Fairy Book

3:45:24This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org, recording by Adrian Basan. The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Basan. The Shepherd of Clouds. Once upon a time a young husband and wife named Giles and Philida lived in a cottage in the heart of a great plain. League upon League, the rich land fell away to the west, there to end at a wall of high mountains into whose fastances no one had ever ventured. Yet the mountains were very beautiful. In the cold of a clear winter's day, the snowy summits and rust-colored pinnacles shone bright and near at hand. In the spring fogs hid them and lay like gray mantles upon the lower slopes. Midway in the mountain wall, a wide chasm marked the entrance to a deep gloomy valley, out of which a roaring mountain torrent hurried, to lose itself in

3:46:26the plains below. And because somewhere in the heart of this dark valley storms were brewed, whose dark clouds laden with lightning and hail poured from between the crags of the valley out over the land. This valley was known as the Valley of Thunder, according to an old legend. Out of this valley, a king should one day come to rule over the people of the plain. Giles and Philida kept house by themselves. They had two cows, one red and white, the other black and white, a flock of hens, some hives of bees, a white horse, a dog, and a cat. All day long, Philida worked happily at the household tasks, baking the sweet white bread and marking the fresh golden butter into square pats, while Giles went out to work in the waving grain, and Philida, watching from a window, would see the sun flash on the uplifted blade of her husband's side. One day Philida said to Giles, I have made a dress for the youngest child of our cousins, Jack and Jill, and this morning I shall

3:47:28saddle the white horse and ride over to their cottage. Perhaps I may stay with them for a few days, you will find a fresh baking of bread and a meat pie in the larder. Goodbye Giles, I'll soon be home again. So Giles answered goodbye, and away rode Philida on the white horse. A few days passed, and Giles wandering here and there through the quiet house felt very lonely indeed. Finally he could stand it no longer, and said to himself, Philida must be on her way home now. I shall walk down the highway and meet her. So he turned all the animals loose in the fields, and putting a few slices of bread and cheese in his pockets set forth upon the road. Leagues ahead of him stood the mysterious mountains rising palely through the haze of the mid-summer afternoon. A pale violet light fell on their distant precipices, and the snow in the rifts upon their sides appeared of the purist and loveliest white, gusts of wind hurrying from the distant summit swept the great plain, and the fields of ripening wheat bent before them and rustled harshly.

3:48:34Suddenly down the throat of the thunder valley, Giles saw a river of lightning fall, and from far away came a low murmur of thunder. Then faster and faster, a storm poured down the chasm like a flood drowning out the light of the sun, stilling the songs of the little bird, and turning to the sky the pale underside of the leaves of the roadside trees. A darkness as of night itself covered the land. Rain began to fall in great spattering drops, now by the glare of the lightning Giles would see the endless fields drenched in waving in the rain. Now the thunder valley itself covered with a floor of on-rushing cloud unfolding, turning and sinking in continuous and multitudinous activity. Night came on amid the storm, and a flash of lightning revealed to Giles that he had lost his way, hoping to find a shelter or some friendly cottage, however he plunged on. But the road became worse and worse, and he was again and again forced to wade brooks flooded by the tempest. At length his

3:49:34steps led him into a pine wood, and there in the thickest part he found a little shelter and fell asleep. When he woke, numb, cramped, and cold, he found to his horror that in the night and darkness he had blundered on into the valley of thunder into which no living soul had ever before advanced. Worst of all, he could not find the way by which he had entered, for high crags rose on every side and held him prisoner. Presently to his amazement. He beheld a narrow flight of steps cut in the solid rock of the mountainside. Up these steps climbed Giles, and as he mounted higher, the stairs began to twist and turn amid the crags and pinnacles. At the end of an hour's ascent he found himself at a turn from which the thunder valley becasue him through which it opened into the plain, and the wide plain itself could all be seen. Giles lingered there a while, trying to see his own cottage or perhaps fill it up on her white horse. But he could see neither one nor the other. So he began to climb again, all day long he climbed and climbed and climbed,

3:50:41twilight fell. The circle of the sun dropped below the level horizon of the distant fields. One still golden star hung on the fringe of the sun-glow. The stairs began to widen, and presently Giles found himself at the summit of the mountain. Before his eyes lay a little level field surrounded by strange crags and pinnacles, looming tall and black against the fast appearing stars. And as Giles rubbed his eyes in wonder, lights shone here and there in the sides of the towering rocks, even as light shine in the windows of a village when you see it from afar. Giles rubbed his eyes again, lights? What could they mean? Presently, a great door cut in the side of a towering mass of stone opened with a burst of light, and toward Giles there hurried the two strangest creatures whom he had ever seen. These were two elves, a like as two peas, and each about three feet tall. Instead of having ears much like other elves, however,

3:51:43the first one had ears like great curved cornucopias, which projected almost a foot on each side of his enormous round head. While the other, whose ears were quite natural, had but one huge eye in the center of his forehead. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for the performance of a camera, the versatility of Arab 4, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving in the BZ. There's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the line up, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event ends soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Emergeizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so? Fire. Try them all only at McDonald's. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking

3:52:48for the performance of a camera, the versatility of Arab 4, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving in the BZ. There's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the line up, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event ends soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. Without saying a single word, these strange elves seized Giles by the hands. And after hurrying him across the open space, urged him through the open doors into the house and the crags. Still keeping silence, the elves led Giles through hundreds of splendid rooms and great halls, all lighted by hanging lamps as countless in number as the leaves upon the trees. Suddenly, a great archway rose before them, through which appeared a hall, larger and brighter than all the others seen before. At one end of it, under a canopy of rosy gray, stood a golden throne,

3:53:50and on the throne sat a being dressed in radiant blue, in blues such as the sky-wares after a rain, when the dark clouds with bright edges break us under and reveal the glory overhead. At the same moment, the countless mountain elves gathered in the hall began to sing. All hail, all hail to the shepherd of clouds, who high in his mountaintop rules or the weather, he sends the rich rain or mountain and plain, and sprinkles the dew drops afar or the hather. The elves led Giles before the shepherd. Oh, comest thou mortal to invade my mountain, said the shepherd? I went forth to seek Philida, said Giles, and lost my way in the storm. What sayest thou, I-o? said the shepherd to the elf with a single great eye in his forehead. The mortal speaks the truth! Answered I-o in the queerest, squealiest voice,

3:54:53I saw him set out yesterday from his cottage on the plane. He had not gone far when the storm, which your mightiness prepared in the morning, and sent forth in the afternoon, overtook him. He lost his way, and chance led him to your dwelling, or shepherd of clouds. What sayest thou, e'er-o? said the shepherd to the elf with the great ears? I heard him say goodbye to his wife when's they last! Replied the elf, in a voice exactly like that of his brother. Philida said to him, you will find a fresh baking of bread and a meat pie in the larder. The shepherd of clouds fixed his deep solemn gaze upon Giles and said, more to, I have harkened to your story, and to the words of my faithful i-o, who sees all things that happen in the whole wide world. I have paid heed to the words of e'er-o,

3:55:55who hears all things that are to be heard under the sun. Chance has led you to discover the secret of the weather. Nevermore must you revisit the lower world. Here you shall stay till death overtakes you. O, bay me, and I will give you happiness and honor. Seek to escape, and my lightnings will find you where so ever you may hide. Oh, no, no, no, cried poor Giles. Throwing himself down before the throne, great shepherd of clouds do not keep me here. Let me return to my cottage on the plain to Philida, who waits for me, and knows not whether I am gone, or whether I am living or dead. Oh, let me go, let me go! But the shepherd only shook his head austerely, and rising from his throne disappeared behind the rosy grey curtains. Again the mountain elves sang, and as they sang the great hall slowly grew darker than the darkest night, and cold gusts of wind arose wailing in the darkness.

3:56:58Presently Giles felt his body grow weak, strong hand seized him, and bore him up, and an instant later a deep sleep blotted out the world. When he awoke he found himself in a little room. Dawn was at hand, and the sweet cold mountain air was blowing through the eastern window. Suddenly the door swung open, and I owe an euro entered. The sun is rising, Giles, said Eero, and you're appointed task awaits you. The shepherd wishes the clouds released at once. Hurry, hurry, hurry, Giles, and open their prison door. So Giles went forth with the elves. Over the summit of the mountain they ran, along a path which wandered here and there, now dodging between huge boulders, now scurrying terrible precipices. Presently Giles saw a monstrous wall of rock rising before him, in which there were fixed two brazen doors, taller and more stately than he had ever seen in the world below. Beside these doors a flight of steps began, which led to the top of the wall.

3:58:04Curious to see what lay behind the wall, and the closed doors, Giles hurried to the top, he found himself standing at the brink of a great bowl, many miles wide, and many miles long, hollowed out of the very rock of the mountain top. Within this bowl, like a giant flock of sheep, lay hundreds of clouds on whose misty tops, the rising sun poured gold, pale lavender and rose. At first Giles thought the motionless, but as he gazed intently within the bowl, he saw that the clouds moved and swayed much like anchored ships and a tide. This bowl was the weather bowl. In it, the shepherd of clouds prepared the weather for the neighboring countries. One day he would keep the fair weather clouds at home and let the rain clouds sail over the land. On another day he would keep all the clouds in and let the sunshine. On other days he would mix together such frosts, mist and snowflly as the season required. Suddenly ringing infinitely sweet over the mountain top rose the clear music of a silver horn. It is the shepherd cried Iow and Ero.

3:59:11The hour is at hand to send the clouds over the earth, quick Giles unbar the doors. So Giles unbound the giant doors, which of their own volition opened wide. A sound as a thunder heard from far away over the sea beat upon Giles's ear as the portals turned upon their hinges. In answer to this sound the clouds rose and lifted their golden heads and hastening to the breeze and doors one by one escaped through them to the sunlit spaces of the morning sky. There they formed themselves into a fleet and sailed majestically away. Thus Giles became the servant of the shepherd of clouds. It was his task to unbar the door when the shepherd had prepared the weather. It was his to lock the clouds in once they had returned from the heavens in answer to the shepherd summoning horn. In time he came to know the rain clouds from their fair weather brothers. He learned how frosts were sent forth, how fogs were made, and he was even allowed to prepare a small storm. He saw the icy caverns in which the

4:00:13hailstones lie piled in monstrous bags, the lightning bolts in their crystal jars, and even the prison storm winds. You may be sure that when he could so arrange it, Philida's garden had quite the finest variety of weather. For Io and Iro would tell him about her. Tell me, what is Philida doing, Giles would say again and again, and Io would answer. She is out in the garden gathering plums, or she is in the kitchen making gingerbread. And then Giles would say to Iro, tell me, what is Philida saying and Io would answer. Oh, would that my lad were home? Two years passed and Giles, who had found no opportunity of escape, began to lose hope of ever doing so. Never again he feared would he see Philida. One day, with Io and Iro by his side, he sat on a great boulder and gazed glumly down on the plane.

4:01:13Spring was just ripening into early summer. The plane was at its very greenest and loveliest, and here and there a little blue wood smoke hung over the tiny villages. Giles thought of Philida far, far away, and a terrible loneliness poured into his heart. Io and Iro sitting beside him their long strange arms clasped about their knees, looked on with sympathy. Presently Iro's right ear turned itself about, and after a moment of silence the elf said, I hear voices telling of war. I hear the robber king of the black lake summoning his terrible army. He is preparing a secret attack on the people of the plane. I see him. I see him. cried Io. He is talking to the grand chamberlain, Skillerato. Listen, said Iro. He is saying we will sweep the land at dawn,

4:02:14steal the grain, and destroy every village to its foundation. I see the robbers gathering, said Io. They are hiding in the dark pine forests, lest they be seen by the people of the plane. The sunlight pierces here and there through the thick branches, and shines on the breast plates of the armed men. At this terrible news, Giles was stricken to the heart with anxiety and fear. What was to become a Philida and the people of the plane? If he could only hurry down the mountain and warn them, if he could only escape, and he looked round eagerly as he had looked a thousand times before for any avenue of escape. But his gaze met only the precipices of the mountains and the guarded stairs. What could he do? His heart became like ice, and he feared to gaze upon the plane lest he see the smoke of burning villages. All night long he never closed his eyes. At dawn he rose and hurried to the

4:03:18top of the gate which overlooked the cloud-bowl. For two whole weeks not a cloud had been allowed to roam the sky, and it seemed to Giles that the mists were angry, and that a darkness brooded upon them. Turning toward the plane Giles saw at the edge of the land a little glow of fire. The robbers had invaded the plane. Presently I.O. came clambering up the steps. I see a village in flames, said the elf. The inhabitants are fleeing down the roads. The news is spreading, and the people of the plane are hurrying to seek refuge in the mountains. Oh, where is Philida, Crigiles? She is on the highway with Jack and Jill and their children hastening toward the valley of thunder. Answered the elf, suddenly Giles stood up, and throwing his arms high over his head uttered a loud shout. I can save them, he cried, let us send a storm

4:04:19against the robbers. Hurry, let us prepare the worst tempest that was ever seen. And a way he ran to the hailstone caverns and carrying bag after bag to the brim emptied them all into the weather-bowl. He tossed in a dozen skins full of the fiercest storm winds and ended by casting in all the jars of thunderbolts that were to be found in the cavern. You should have heard the crash of the crystal-vases on the rocky floor of the weather-bowl and the hiss with which the lightning escaped and hid in the rolling edges of the clouds. The great bowl roared and trembled, the clouds massed together in grue-dark, lightning-played over the black crests of the thunder-heads, from the top of the gate Giles took one satisfied look into the prison to tempest, and then hurried down to unbar the door. Through the gates, like wild herds poured the clouds and rising in the air were caught by the spreading storm winds and whirled madly over the sky. The thunder roared as no mortal had ever before heard it or ever will hear it again,

4:05:20and the tempest sailed away to break in all its anger over the heads of the robber army. So terrible was the noise that the enchanted mountain trembled to its very foundations. Hearing the roar, the shepherd of clouds himself was roused and ran down to the cloud bowl, but so dark was the mountaintop that he lost his way and narrowly missed falling down a precipice. The mountain elves terrified by the confusion ran hither and thither like ants whose nests had been opened. Crash went the thunder, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, once he had seen the storm break over the robber army, Giles, taking advantage of the darkness, noise and confusion determined to make one more effort to escape. Down the endless stairs, he hurried splashing through the falling rain, down and down and down. Once at the bottom, he was lucky enough to find the path out of the chasm and hurried along it to the mouth of the valley of thunder. He was free! The terrible storm had spent itself, and the sun was beginning to

4:06:24shine on the thousand raindrops caught in the matted grass. A rainbow formed just as Giles approached the plain, and the little birds came out to shake the rain from their feathers. Now in the secure shelter of an overhanging cliff were to be found those people of the plain, who had fled to the valley for refuge, and when these poor worried folks saw Giles coming down the valley, they recalled the prophecy that a king should come to them out of the valley, and hailed Giles as their king. Best of all, Philida herself ran out, and threw her arms about her husband. As for the robbers, the storm had overwhelmed them and swept them all into the river. There, I am glad to say, they turned into little fishes. When the shepherd of clouds found that Giles had escaped after making all this disturbance, he was very angry and rushed to his lightning closet to hurl some thunderbolts at him. When he got to the closet, however, he found that Giles had used every single bolt, and that the cupboard was empty. Consequently, he had to wait till the end of summer before he could get some new lightning, and by that time he was so busy arranging the autumn frosts that he

4:07:29quite forgot about Giles. So Giles and Philida became king and queen of the people of the plain, and lived happily ever after. End of The Shepherd of Clouds, recording by Adrian Besson. Section 13 of The Firelight Fairy Book. This is a Libra Box recording. All Libra Box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibraBox.org. Recording by Eden Rayheadrick. The Firelight Fairy Book by Henry Besson. Section 13. The City Under The Sea. Once upon a time, in a country of mountains which bordered upon the sea, brought a rich merchant who had three sons. The eldest and the second born were his joy, for they were merchants also, and remained at his side. But the youngest often

4:08:32caused him much anxiety. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for the performance of a camera, the versatility of her app for, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving in the BZ. There's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event ends soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. At Verbo, we understand that even the best of plans sometimes need a little support. So we plan for the plot twists. Every booking is automatically backed by our Verbo care guarantee, giving you confidence from the very start. Whenever you need help, it's ready. Before you're stay, through the moments in between, and after your trip. Because a great trip starts with peace of mind. And maybe a good playlist. But we've got the peace of mind part covered. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for

4:09:36the performance of a camera, the versatility of her app for, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving in the BZ. There's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event ends soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. Not that this youngest son was a wild or a bad lad. The love of the sea and desire for an adventure ran like fire in his veins. And he could not bring himself to sit beside his father and his brothers in the counting house. Weary at length of the concert were proges of his kidsmen. He turned away one night from his father's house and joined a ship as a common sailor. Glad and sailor blue, wearing a little cap, a blast open at the throat, and trousers cut wide at the bottoms, the runaway lad sailed over the sea to foreign men and dials. And as the years passed, one by one, and brought no tidings of him, his father and his brothers gave him up for lost.

4:10:41Now, the king of the country in which the rich merchant and his sons dwelt, loved rare gems and precious stones more than anything else in the world. He had been secretly away in the deep foundation of his castle, the his treasure room. It was circular and shaped and built of black marble and its equal distance weren't from the other, along the curving wall, so the hundred statues of armed men holding ever burning lights. A hundred coffers of green stone lay on the floor, one at the base of each statue, each coffer piled high with gems. Night after night, when all was still, the king would descend to the secret chamber, and throwing open the covers of the jewel chests, he gazed long and silently at the beginning mass of him. One night, the king led his neighbor, the emperor of the seven ills, to the jewel ring, and showed him his treasures. All their fervour jewels to be found in the whole world, said the king proudly. They are indeed noble, applied the emperor, not in his grey head. But how happens at that the emerald of the sea is not among them? The emerald of the sea is the most glorious jewel in the whole

4:11:43wide world. Years ago, a fisherman of the land of the dawn found it in a strangely carved box which a storm had washed into his necks. I saw it when I was by a young prince, it hung by a change from the thoroughly princess of dawn, and shown there as if the very secreted sea were hidden in its heart. Where is this emerald to be found? As the king, who was consumed, the desire to add the jewel to his possessions, told me that I may at once send an expedition in search of it. I have not heard of it for many a long year, but I think it is still in the land of the dawn. So great was the king's impatience to become the owner of the emerald of the sea that he could scarcely wait for the morning. All night long, he slept on a wink for thinking of it, and hardly had the red shield of the morning sun risen above the thin mist, slying the edge of the sea in the sky when he sent for a rich merchant to come to the palace at once. Wondering much at the summons, the merchant made haste to the palace, and there was taken instantly before the king. When the king saw him, he said, You are the greatest and richest merchant in my dominions. Know then that I have a task worthy of you.

4:12:46In the land of the dawn there was a jewel called the emerald of the sea, it is your task to discover it and purchase it for me. To possess it, I will give all the gold in my realm. Take key that you return with it, for if you fail me, my anger shall strike you down. At these words, the merchant vowed low and replied that he would that very day sail for the land of the dawn in his fastest ship. Then returning home, he gave orders that the best vessel in all his suites be immediately prepared for the journey, and so swiftly was this done that the merchant sailed for the land of the dawn on the morning tide. Many days and many leagues he sailed, over shining seas, till he reached the harbor of the land of the dawn. Ships were entering, ships were leaving, the lovely mountain circled bay. How the brawls sails tugged that their ropes as a steady wind filled their curving-wide depths. How silver clear, shown the furrows of foam flowing back from the onward hurrying vows. Making her way out toward the great, still mirror of the summer sea, was a strange black vessel with sails as red as fire. The merchant anchored his ship in a quiet bay, and hastened to

4:13:48shore to find the Lord Treasurer of the kingdom. He found this noblemen at ease on the balcony of his castle which overlooked the sea. Upon hearing the merchant's story, the noblemen started with surprise and said, you are just too late! At the command of my royal master, the prince at the land of the dawn, I sold the enral of the sea only an hour ago to the master of a strange vessel. See you there, she is now. And the Lord Treasurer pointed out over the sea, the black ship with the red sails, which was just then disappearing over the horizon. Thenful that the other ship was still inside, the merchant hurried back to his own vessel, which gave chase. Luckily for him there was a full moon that night, by which the shadowy halt then swaying masks of mysterious ships that he sneaked. All the next day they sailed, but never an inch nearer to the other vessel that they come, so the merchant loaded his ship with all the candles she could bear. Another night, and another day found them no nearer. Finally, late in the afternoon of the third day, great storm came sailing over the edge of the sea, a blast of wind struck the merchant's ship, then a torrented rain, and night came all just as the storm was at its height. When the daylight came, the other ship had completely disappeared,

4:14:53and though the word merchant sailed here and sailed there, never a sign of a stranger could be fine. At last, with a heavy heart, he gave up the quest and returned to his king with the evil tidings. The king, I hardly need to say, was beside himself with rage and disappointment. Scowling so terribly the desire was almost met, he cried to the merchant, wretch through you I have lost the finest jewel in the world. If you do not find it within a year, your life and your possessions shall be forfeited to me. On hearing these terrible words, the merchant turned pale, free had no more idea where the emerald of the sea was to be found and had a newborn child. His two sons, however, when they heard his story, they did not despair and declared that they would that very night go forth and seek the emerald throughout the world. Now, because the poor merchant could not bear to be left quite alone, it was finally agreed that only the eldest son should go in search of the jewel, while the second born should remain at home. This, of course, was much against the will of the second son, nevertheless so it was arranged. And so the eldest son sailed away. The day is like the

4:15:56new deweaks, the weeks and the months, the months into a year, and the eldest son did not return. A guard of soldiers led the unhappy merchant to be who of the king. Well, have you found the emerald of the sea? said the king. No replied the merchant hopelessly. And now all would certainly have been over with the poor merchant, and not his second son begged and pleaded with the king for a year of respite in which he too might search for the emerald throughout the world. Though at first unwilling, the king had lengthened the ill to the plea, an exacted one half of the merchant's possessions as a prophet. And so the second son sailed away. Days lengthened into weeks, weeks lengthened into months, the months into a year, yet the second son did not return. Cruel storms wrecked so many of the merchant's ships that he lost the other half of his possessions and was forced to take refuge in a miserable cottage by the marshes the other town. On the last night of the year granted him by the king, the unhappy man sacked his poor house by a crumbling driftwood fire, listening to the surf breaking on the beach that edge the marsh.

4:16:59Far away he heard the bells of the royal city sounding within night hour. Now that the eldest son, nor the second born, had returned. The second year of respite was in an end. Nothing now could stay the anger of the king. Suddenly there came a vigorous rat-tact on the door. I am lost, remember the poor merchant to himself. The cute soldiers are already at the door, and venting unsteadily across the room he threw the door open wide. A gust of wind from the sea blew in, which bent back the flame of the taper in his hand, and then, across the threshold, stepped the young cussed son. He was still a sailor, and clad in sailor blue, and there was a cutless in his belt. So shaking with joy was the merchants that for some time he could not utter a word, merely clung to the strong shoulders of the young seamen. As for the sailor's son, he managed to let his father know that he had returned from distant lands only that very evening, and had just heard of the disasters which had overtaken his family. As they talked, steps were heard outside, and then, without waiting to knock, a sergeant of the king's guard forced open the door, and, fallen by handful of soldiers, entered the

4:18:02wretched room, and took the merchant to the son prisoners. They spent the night on the straw in the royal dungeons, and in the morning were led before the king. On seeing the merchant, the irate king scoured more angrily than ever, for the loss of the emerald of the sea had never ceased from traveling him, and said, well, have you found the emerald of the sea? No, it's a poor merchant. So am I the executioner, cried the king. And now the poor men would certainly have bade farewell to Worse, had not the youngest son, like his brothers, interceded with the king. At first, the king would not hear a word of it, and called to his guard to take the prisoners instantly away, but it being whispered that the sailor, although not much more than lad, had once fallen bravely and been sorely wounded in the royal service, he had length gave air to the youngest son's prayer and said, yes, you shall have another year, but know that this year shall be the last, if you do not return with the emerald of the sea within 12 months, nothing shall save you. I have spoken. And thus the sailor's son went in search of the emerald. What happened to him upon his search,

4:19:07and what situation he discovered in his brothers, and how he visited the city under the sea? You shall surely hear. Now, the youngest son had a little boat to his own. It was so small that when the wind no longer filled its sails, it could be rode along, and in the spout, the sailor lad began his voyage. From harbor to harbor, the nation to nation he sailed, but never a soul he found, who could tell him ought of the strange black ship of the fiery sails, oil lost in the middle of the sea. Even the people of the land of the dawn could tell him only that the jam had been sold to an unknown prince. Presently the winter of the year overtook him, and in one of the seven storms that heralds of the coming of the cold, the little boat went to shore on a rocky coast, and was soon pounded to pieces by the breakers. Throwing into the sea during the wreck, the sailor was himself so tossed and trampled by the waves that he reached the shore of far more dead than alive, indeed had it not been for a poor fisherman and his wife, there would have been no more story to tell. These good people, I am glad to say, rescued the sailor from the fury of the waters and nursed him back to health and strength again. When his strength was

4:20:10quite restored, the sailor told this good couple the story of how he had gone forth to seek through the wide world the emerald of the sea. But my poor lad, so the kind fisherman, the emerald of the sea has vanished forever from mortal eyes. What, you know the emerald, cried the sailor. Alas, yes, replied the fisherman. Two years ago the prince of the unknown aisle sent the finest vessel in his fleet to the land of the dawn to buy the jewel. A beautiful ship was she, with the holes black as night and sails his red as fire. My brother and I sailed in her crew. Jewels taken aboard, our brave ship set sail for the unknown aisles. Hardly when we three days out of sight of land when the storm over took us and sank the vessel, high chance to be tossed in the water near great frightens of the mast and clung to this until a passing vessel found me. Of all aboard, I alone survived. Forty-fathom's deep lies the emerald of the sea never more to be seen but by the dumb creatures of the waters. At these tidings the brave sailors hearted you like ice. Nevertheless, he cried, a last good friend, I know that what you say is true, yet shall I not despair.

4:21:11Four, come what will I must save my father. Hearing this, the fisherman's wife, a quiet good-bottied who had had little to say whispered that it would be well to first consult the witch of the sands. The witch of the sands? Who is she and where can I find her, cousin Sally? For which of the sands dwells a hundred leagues from here, the plight of the fisherman's wife? All the mysteries of the water are in your keeping, and she has an answer for them all. You must go to her and ask her to help you. So the sailor then is a good fisherman and his wife, and set out to walk the hundred leagues to the house of the witch of the sands. His path lay along a desolate and lonely shore, on whose rocky beaches the wooden bones of old Rex-lay rotting half-barried in stones and weeds. Just as the third day's sun was sinking in the shining waters, the sailor arrived at the witch's dwelling. The witch made her home in a deserted old ship, which a storm of long ago had cast far up on the sands. As for the witch herself, she was a woman so old that the sailor thought she must surely have been living when the

4:22:12moon and stars were made. A fringe of seashells circled the crown her high hat and round her wrists were bracing of pearly perilinkles. Just as the sailor repurchased the witch's door, a young fursealed who had been basking in a little pool left along the beach by the tide, he sent out of his puddle, and running swiftly toward him on his flappers, knuzzled his hand with his sleep wet head, just like a young dog. Down, Neptune, down, cried the witch shriely. Good evening, madam, said the sailor in his Elijah's manner. You were the third person who has come here to ask me the question you are going to ask, screened the witch of the sands whose magic powers have revealed to her the reason of the sailor's coming. I know you, you are the youngest son. Your two brothers have been here to ask me the way under the sea, and I told them, but bless me they haven't come back yet, just like young men to forget an old woman's warning, I have a good mind not to tell you the way to the underwater's, indeed, I wouldn't if you weren't a sailor in a child with the sea. Yes, I can show you the road to under the sea, but you must not ask me about the emerald because I don't know where it is myself. It was in the land of the dawn and that's the last I heard of it. When you get down to the

4:23:15underwater's, don't forget that. You'll have to hurry back like the wind, for the year which the king gave your father is almost gone. Don't ask me questions, I know you are going to ask one because I'm not a man, and I know what you are going to ask because I'm a witch. I'm strange old lady laughed and putting her hands on her waist, swayed so violently from side to side that the sea shows on her hat rattled and clinked. Then, after a pause to gather a breast, she continued. Before you can go down into the waters, I shall give you an enchanted ring. Mine, you bring it back, but there are only three of them in the whole wide world, and your brothers have the other two. Goodness me, but I don't know why I let them take my magic rings. Now that I come to think of it, I don't know what I should let you take my ring. However, it has been on my mind for some time to tell the king of the city under the sea that he has been telling the tide to come all together to near my ship. You can take the ring if you will promise to deliver my message. Promise! There was a pause, by the sailor, who had listened to the witches every word, solemnly promised to carry her message to the king under the sea. He was just about to ask a question or two when the witch of the sand's drawing another long breast. Cryed

4:24:17out again, don't ask questions. I called you once and I called you twice and I'll tell you as many times there it drops a water in the sea. The path of the city under the sea begins a hundred leagues to the north, and the high cliffs there when the tide is low. You'll find them out some great cave. Walk down this cave, down, down, down, until you feel the water rising around your feet. Then put on my ring and walk boldly ahead. In a little while you will see the city shining in the waters. Once there, seek out the king and tell them of your quest. But on no account, and here the witch solemnly turned round three times. Eat your drink anything off or two while you are in the underwater. If you do, you will forget everything of your past life, your father, your quest, and the emerald of the sea. Let one drop pass your lips and you will spend the rest of your life under the waves. Here is the enchanted ring. Put it in your pocket. With these words, the witch took herm a little leather purse, a simple golden ring, and handed it to the young son who put the ring in his pocket. Thank the witch and set off for the cap ring, which led to the city under the sea. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for the performance of the camera, the versatility of her app for, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving

4:25:21in the BZ, there's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event ends soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. Don't you wish everything was more rewarding? With Rakuten, almost everything is. You can earn cash back on those new shoes you've been wanting. You can save on the next trip, you book. You can cash in on groceries. Just join, shop your favorite brands and save. Target, Instacart, Expedia, Macy, Sephora, CBS. The list is long. Save online, in store, and at over 22,000 restaurants. And when it's time to redeem those rewards, get your money exactly how you want it. Choose PayPal, check, built points, or cash out with gift cards. Eligible American Express card members can choose to earn membership rewards points instead of cash

4:26:21back, terms and conditions supply. So go ahead, take a trip, fill a cart, order dessert. Rakuten is a world of rewards. Join today for free. Go to Rakuten.com or get the app. That's RAK-UTEN. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for the performance of a camera, the versatility of a RAV4, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving in the BZ. There's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event ends soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. You may be sure, it did not take him very long to find it. After feeling carefully in his pocket to see if the ring was still safe, the sailor plunged on into the winding cave. In a short time, the roar of the breakers on the beach, which had been loud at the mouth of the cavern, began to fade and grow faint, and the tunnel

4:27:23grew dark and cold. Feeling for the wall of a passage with one hand, the youngest son advanced into the blackness. Creatures of the sea, with round, shining eyes, stared at him from shallow pools, and now and then his hand, running along the wall, would touch and shake from its place to starfish, or a great snail. Down and down and down went sailing. Presently, he heard the laughing of wadlets in the darkness, and a few minutes after he felt himself advancing into deep in the water. Stopping for an instant, he put on the golden ring. Then, walking on a head, he felt the water rise from his ankles to his waist and from his waist to his throat. One step more, and the water closed over his head. The one-sunder-the-waves, the sailor hesitated, uncertain as to which way to turn. Little by little, however, his eyes grew accustomed to the touch of the water, and he saw, lying on the bottom of a few feet ahead of him, a small ball, blowing with a pale phosphorescent light. Stubing to touch the strange object, the sailor discovered it to be a small, round sea-plant, which had anchored itself to a stone,

4:28:27and, presently, he discovered that this light was but one of thousands, which together formed a long, straight line across the level floor of the sea. Rightly imagining these lights to be signs of a sea-world road, the sailor advanced along them. Slow walk of ten long leagues brought into the gate, with the city under the sea. There was very little light there, save for that which came through the waters from the world above, and this was but a faint, pale-green glow, which lay more like a shadow than a light on the roofs and tower tops of this submerged town. The sailor walked unchallenged through the gate and found himself in the great street of the city. Along the broad avenue grew giant sea-plants with brown leaves, sat out in rows like trees, and through the foliage which moved heavily in the currents, little fish started like birds. Many people walked slowly to and fro, strange people of the sea, all dressed alike and tight-fitting garments of shining fish-like scales. The sailor looked into their faces, and saw that a broad golden ring encircled the pupils of their eyes. Suddenly, two men of the sea, distinguished from the others by swords of red stone, moved through the water,

4:29:31and seasoned the sailor in their webbed hands hurried him before the king at the underwater. On a coral throne, in a great hall roof with a circular dome, set the king. The flowing waters within were bright, and a queer, pale-green light pierced through the hall from the kind of fountain of light in the center of the floor under the dome. Approaching this, shining fountain, the sailor discovered it to be a mass of glowing sea creatures, living flowers of the deep, which even as he looked, stirred them mysterious petals. Welcome, wherever of the enchanted ring, said the king, staring hard at the sailor with his large golden eyes. You come at a fortune at time. This is the very evening we celebrate the wedding of the second of my three daughters, that the mortal wearer was second-ring. Stand you upon the stones of the throne, for they are coming at once, at the trumpet sound. This command, two hewts of the sea, lived a huge conch shells through their mouths and sounded them. Great doors instantly opened wide, and a gorgeous procession entered. First appeared a dozen pages, then, in walked the sea king's

4:30:33second daughter, handed hand with a merry young man, in whom the sailor recognized his second eldest brother. Presently the conch shells sounded again. The prince and the princess cried to voice. The king leaned over from his throne and whispered in the sailor's ear, my eldest daughter and her husband, they were married just a year ago. The prince is the use of the world of arms and wears the first of the enchanted rings. Now entered the eldest princess of the sea, walking by the side of her husband. And in the husband, the young sailor beheld the elder of his two brothers. And though the young sailor stretched out his arms to them, neither of his brothers remembered him, for while faint and hungry they had forgotten the warning of the witch of the sands, and had eaten up the bread of the underworld. Thus had the memory of the world above, lost emerald, and their fathers' plight faded away. The conch shells sounded the third time. Come to the wedding banquet, cried the king, you shall sit beside my youngest daughter. And now the sailor lad, Willie Nilly, was hurried into the banquet hall, and seated at the royal table

4:31:35beside the king's youngest daughter, and she was quite the most beautiful of all three. Noticing that the youngest son touched no food, she said to him, why do you refuse to taste of the wedding banquet? Princess, replied the sailor, I have come to the underwater to seek the emerald of the sea, for if I return to my own country without it my father's life will be forfeited. Would you have me forget? But you will never find the emerald of the sea, cried the princess. You never find the emerald of the sea, what do you mean? So the sailor anxiously. The emerald of the sea has disappeared, continued the little princess, fixing the sailor with your golden eyes. Years ago it was stolen from my father's treasury by a wicked prince of the underwater's. My father pursued him and overthrew him, but in the struggle the emerald was lost, and rising to the surface drifted into the shores of the land of the dawn. They are remained till the prince of the unknown isle purchased it, and took it away in his black ship. The ship, overcome by a storm sank, but where at lies we know not, that we have searched far and wide through the waters, who so ever finds it shall be master of the land of the sea, for the emerald is master of us all. My father will not look to finger to help

4:32:36you find it. Indeed, if he knows that you are in search of it he will force you to eat at the bread of the underwater's, say nothing therefore of your quest. At these words, the brave sailors heart sank very low. Mindful of the witch's warning, he dared touch no morsel of food, yet he knew that hunger would soon bring weakness in its train. Either he must find the emerald of once, or he must abandon all hope of finding it. He could not live long if he touched no food, and if but one morsel touched his lips he would forget the upper world. Far away, the poor merchant, from the king and now cast in prison, watched the days pass one by one, and the last year approached it's end. Every morning he would ask for tidings of his sailor son, and ask him the name. Now, when the wedding banquet was over and the ball which followed was at its height, the eldest of the princesses called her sister, the bride, aside and said to her, he must read ourselves if once of this new comer. Do not say he is the younger brother of our husbands, I beheld him stretch out his arms to them as they passed. Who can tell but that he may need them away

4:33:38from us? Let us tell our servants to lie and wait for him and deliver us from such a danger. So said the eldest sister, the golden eyes. Alas, I fear that the people of the underwater's sometimes quite as shocking as those of the world above. Later that evening, just as the poor sailor was standing by one of the great doors, a dozen or so stout rogues in the service of the eldest sister fell upon him, bound him with cords, and dragged him through the water to the royal steeples. Now, the people of the underwater's, having no horses, for seahorses are but tiny creatures, had tamed great dolphins to carry them about. A hundred of these monsters, each with a bronze ring in his nose, arranged along the sides of the stable, and all the fiercest and angriest of them all, the princesses servants tied the sailor. How the great fish, fastened by a bar to a chain and his nose ring, pulled, rolled, swirved aside, and thrashed his tail, but all his twistings were of no avail, for the poor sailor lad was soon fastened to his back, with a rope of sheep. Then the creature was released from his chain, giving a blow to the side with a whip of shark skin and turning the

4:34:40wilds of the underwater's. For half an hour, the fish, frightened at his burden, fled at lightning speed over the roofs of the city, and sped into the lonely plain. Then, seizing his mad flight, he tried again to shake himself free of the sailor. He turned, he leaped, he dived, but all in vain, for the sailor was securely fastened to his back. Terrified and new, with a swift motion of his great fins he shocked violently to one side, and rushed on and on into the darkness. All that long night, toward the morning of the next day, however, the sailor managed to work one on three and draw the cutlass from his waist. With this, he made sure work had his bonds and rolled off the fishes back. The great animal, delivered of the weight which had laid upon it, rose on the tip of its tail and shot madly toward the surface, and the sailor tumble through the waters to the bottom. Week and hungry, the poor young seam engaged about in the half-light and found himself on the lower slopes of the sunken mountain rising from the ocean floor. In no direction could he find a sign of the city under the sea. Hoping, however, to see better from the mountain's top, he decided to

4:35:42climb it. Strange plants and shells lay in the crevices of the witty rocks, schools of bright fish fled past him like living arrows, and huge crabs scuttled away as he appeared. Suddenly, lying on your side, he little ravine the mountain, he saw a ship, the black ship of the emerald of the sea. Wearing a week ago he was, it took the sailor but a moment to clamber aboard and hurry past the broken masts into the captain's cabin. A steady green reggae had shown in one corner of the witty room, and hastening toward it, the stiller found at last the emerald of the sea. The box, which enclosed it, had rocked away and followed apart. Victory cried the sailor, victory! The emerald is mine at last, and I shall save my father. He took the reggual from the broken box and rested in the cup of his two hands. How it glowed on the pale flesh, then, thrusting it into a pocket and holding onto it with one hand, he hurried out again to the mountain's eye. In the world above, it was high new, and the level rays of the sun beat deep into the green waters. So bright at the slope become, that the sailor that felt sure he could not be far from the surface of the waves.

4:36:45Moreover, the mountain top rose above the waters, it would form an island in the upper world, and so indeed it was. Climbing on toward the top of the mountain, the sailor first scaled a steep cliff, and to the top of it, it was found a gentle slope of sand. The sun's rays now allumin the water so brightly that the air seemed only a little distance away. Presently, a beach crab ran nibbly away from the sailor's feet. The water grew very much warmer, the shore was at hand. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for the performance of a camera, the versatility of Arab 4, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving in the BZ. There's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the line up, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event ends soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. Don't you wish everything was more rewarding? With Rakuten, almost everything is. You can earn cashback on those new shoes you've been wanting.

4:37:49You can save on the next trip you book. You can cash in on groceries. Just join, shop your favorite brands and save. Target, Instacart, Expedia, Macy's Sephora, CBS. The list is long. Save online, in store, and at over 22,000 restaurants. And when it's time to redeem those rewards, get your money exactly how you want it. Choose PayPal, check, built points, or cash out with gift cards. Eligible American Express card members can choose to earn membership rewards points instead of cashback, terms and conditions apply. So go ahead, take a trip, fill a cart, order dessert. Rakuten is a world of rewards. Join today for free. Go to Rakuten.com or get the app. That's RAK-UTEN. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on. Whether you're looking for the performance of the camera, the versatility of her app for, the efficiency of a Corolla, or all electric driving in the BZ. There's a Toyota that's just right for you.

4:38:54And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event and soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. A few steps more on the youngest son emerged on the beat to a beautiful aisle. Half blinded by the sun, he walked toward the dry land. There he found some delicious fruits growing and a rippling broke of crystal water. He ate and drank, and his strength returned. himself again, the sailor took the emerald of the sea in his hand and cried, by the power of the emerald of the sea, I summon here the two elder princesses of the underwater and my true brothers, their husbands. There was a sound of far thunder underneath the clear blue sky, and a moment later, four heads rose out of the water and shaking the salt spray from their eyes, the princesses and the brothers walked through the shallows to where the sailor was standing. Now, the princesses were very much frightened when they beheld the sailor holding the old powerful emerald and falling on their knees before him begged him to forgive their misdeeds and not to

4:39:54take away their loved ones. Tears fell from their golden eyes and mingled with the drops of the salt ocean still coursing down their black scales. As for the brothers, they would have hurled themselves upon the sailor had not the magic force of the emerald prevented their approach. The merciful and forgive, so the younger of the sisters, after all, happy hour caused you to be spirited away, you never would have found the emerald. Yes, that is true, so the sailor, my brothers shall decide for themselves. Break then the spell which binds them to the underwater, restore them to their memory of the past, and if they choose to remain, I shall not try to leave them away. Reverse the spell. That is easily done, so the elder sister. Let them but touch the food and drink at the upper world and their memory will return. And in less time than it takes to tell it, the sisters offered the enchanted brothers water from the rivulet. When they had drunk of it, both became as pale as death and their eyes opened wide and they stared as strangely as men suddenly waken from sleep. Then, seeing their younger brother, they ran to him and threw their arms around him and asked the thousand questions about their father and the

4:40:55quest of the emerald. The golden-eyed brides watched them with sad faces and finally broken to white tears. Imagine their joy when their husbands returned to them and they then be of good cheer. Thus was true love found to be my year than the mightiest spell. Now, when the princesses of the sea had dried their tears, the sailor and his brothers took counsel as to how the emerald of the sea might be brought to the king in time to save their father's life. He made judge of the sailor's horror when he discovered that because of a bad error in the calendars and clocks of sixes and sevens, a city he had visited his search for the emerald, the life of his father had been forfeited to the king, three days before. But now, we must return to the poor merchant himself. All the third year, the poor man had lain in the small cell in the royal dungeons, waiting anxiously, oh so anxiously, to hear the quick step of the young sailor on the winding stairs just outside his prison door. But the gear came to an end, as you know, without his return. For the third and last time, the castle guards let the poor man before the king. Now, the king had never

4:41:57forgiven the merchant for the loss of the jewel. His chagrin, indeed, had increased with the years, and he was very glad that he could at last take his revenge. "'Hug your found the emerald of the sea,' said the king, harshly. He stood erect on the steps of his judgment seat, arms folded, eyes fixed in the fierce black frown. No,' said the merchant quietly, "'then you shall seek it for yourself,' cried the king, and he gave orders that the merchant to be tied, handed foot, and tossed into a little boat without food or drink, and then set a drift to die helplessly in lowly seas. And so this awful sentence was carried out. Bound, handed foot, scarce able to roll from side to side, the merchant lay motionless in his little craft, and stared up with the blue sky. Presently a merciful sleep overcame him, and while he slept, a wind arose which swept the little boat along with it. Meanwhile, on the beautiful island, the sailor and his companions stunned at their discovery, began preparations to return to the underwater's. Just as the twilight fell, all walked together to the margin of the darkening sea,

4:42:57and advanced into the waves. Suddenly, the sailor, whose eyes were the keenest, saw a little boat rapidly drifting ashore. Now caught in the current of the shallow beach, adrifted sideways, now propelled by the rising tide, floated on, bow pointed to the shore. The sailor hurried toward it, and seized it. Suddenly he uttered a ringing cry, the old merchant lay on the floor of the boat. He still lived for they could see him gently breathing. Lifting him up tenderly, the three sons carried him to the shore, unloosed his bonds, and brought him back to life. Now when the merchant was himself again, the sailor, through the power of the emerald, caused the waves to carry a great ship to the island, and on the ship the three sons, the two princes, and the old merchant, returned to the merchant's country. All ended secretly, however, for they knew that the angry king would seize them if he knew of their return. And so it came to pass that one night, shortly after the homecoming, word was brought to the sailor that the king had heard of the merchant's escape, it was sending guards to arrest the merchant to his companions. It was almost midnight when the

4:43:58sailor died to see the warning. Taking the emerald with him, he advanced to a window by the ocean, and cried out over the moonlit waters. Waters of the sea, rise and overwhelm the palace of the king. Now the king's palace stood apart by its sail on a tangle land running far out into the tide, and soon the rising waters were flowing over the marble floors and pouring in through the windows. One by one, the lights of the thousand rooms touched by the waves, hissed, spluttered, and expired. The servants of the palace, one and all, ran away, pale male and left the dark castle to its fate. Little by little, the advancing water crept from the walls to the bathamines, from the bathamines to the towers, and from the fruits of the towers to their very tops. Finally, all the moon could see is it shown down upon the flood with the weather rain at the highest twilight of all. You should have seen the little waves ripple and break about it, and finally, even the weather rain disappeared under the black waves. Locked in his secret treasure room, opening the jewel coffers one after the other, the king remained quite ignorant to the disaster. For some time, no sound reached him in

4:44:58his hidden retreat, because the door of the treasure room was very thick and strong. Suddenly, he heard behind the sound of falling water, and turning toward the door, beheld streams of water gushing through the passages between the door and his frame. Horror struck, he watched the door burst from its locks and hinges, a roaring cascade of cold sea water came pouring into the room, and a moment later the whole castle crumbled and felt pieces. Now, when the king had met his desserts, the people of the country, who greatly respected the merchant, offered him the crown, but he refused it and conferred it on his two elder sons. Thus it came to pass that the country had two kings. Each brother in turn rained for six months of every year, and spent the other six months under the sea with the gold-nied people of the waters. As for the sailor lad, he sailed the sea for many years, and finally married a pretty niece of the wood to the sands. Then, like all sailors, he went to the country to live. His house is built of grey stone, ivy climbs over it, and apple orchards live beneath its window, and they all look half of it ever after. End of the city under the sea.

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