found Fairy Skill standing in the midst of the
workers; and when he had given her the good woman's love, she received
him kindly. Then she set him to work, bidding him sort a heap of tangled
threads that lay in a corner like a great bunch of bright-colored
flowers.

This was hard work for the giant's clumsy fingers, but he was very
patient about it. The threads would break, and he got some of them into
knots; but when Fairy Skill saw his work, she said:--

"Very good for to-day;" and touching the threads with her wand, she
changed them into a tangled heap again. The next day the giant tried
again, and after that again, until every thread lay unbroken and
untangled.

Then Fairy Skill said "Well done," and led him to a loom and showed him
how to weave.

This was harder work than the other had been; but Giant Energy was
patient, although many times before his strip of carpet was woven the
fairy touched it with her wand, and he had to begin over.

[Illustration: Then she set him to work, bidding him sort a heap of
tangled threads.]

At last it was finished, and the giant thought it was the most beautiful
carpet in the world.

Fairy Skill took him next to the potter's wheel, where cups and saucers
were made out of clay; and the giant learned to be steady, to shape the
cup as the wheel whirled round, and to take heed of his thumb, lest it
slip.

The cups and saucers that were broken before he could make beautiful
ones would have been enough to set the queen's tea table!

Fairy Skill then took him to the gold-smith, and there he was taught to
make chains and bracelets and necklaces; and after he had learned all
these things, the fairy told him that she had three trials for him.
Three pieces of work he must do; and if he did them well, he could go
again into the world, for he would then be ready to be a helper there.

"The first task is to make a carpet," said Fairy Skill, "a carpet fit
for a palace floor."

Giant Energy sprang to his loom, and made his silver shuttle glance
under and over, under and over, weaving a most beautiful pattern.

As he wove, he thought of the way by which he had come; and his carpet
became as green as the meadow grass, and lovely daffodils grew on it.
When it was finished, it was almost as beautiful as a meadow full of
flowers!

Then the fairy said that he must turn a cup fine enough for a king to
use. And the giant made a cup in the shape of a flower; and when it was
finished, he p