to scoop out the
water, sort the fish, and finish by night.

9. There were _three_ parts to the second task, to cut the trees, to
split them into logs and to stack them.

10. The Witch gave the Drummer _three_ tools with which to accomplish
the second task, an ax, a chopper and a wedge.

11. In the third task there were _three_ steps, to place the wood in a
heap, to set fire to it and to burn it.

12. The Drummer supposed he had been gone _three_ days but it was
_three_ years.

13. The wedding was to take place in _three_ days.

14. The princess sang her song _three_ times.

_Tom, the Water Baby_

(Volume II, page 215)

"This is all a fairy tale, and only fun and pretense; and therefore, you
are not to believe a word of it, even if it is true."

But what a wonderful tale it is; so interesting a story, such a mixture
of fact and fancy, so brimming full of fun and laughter, so touching in
pathos, and so rife with good lessons. Though "you are not to believe a
word of it, even if it is true," there is so much truth in it that you
really cannot keep from believing a great deal of it.

A better comprehension of _Tom, the Water Baby_ among parents will mean
a greater popularity for it among children. The tale is too long for a
full interpretation, but we can offer an analysis which will help to
keep the story in mind, and some illustrations of different meritorious
features.

[Illustration: DONALD G. MITCHELL
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY
EDGAR ALLAN POE
THOMAS BUCHANAN READ
EUGENE FIELD
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE
JOHN G. SAXE]

I. _Analysis._ At first Tom is a real boy, a little grimy, ignorant
chimney sweep, next a water baby or eft, in which character, under the
tutelage of the fairies, he gains his education. Briefly at the end he
is a man, an engineer, but all that is delightfully vague, for he has
ceased to be the little Tom we like so thoroughly.

_Chapters I and II._

Tom, the Chimney Sweep,
Works for Mr. Grimes;
Summoned to sweep the chimney at Hartover Place;
Overtakes the poor Irishwoman, who
Walks with Tom;
Asks about his prayers and makes him sad;
Tells about the sea and makes him wish to be clean;
Helps him pick flowers;
Frightens Grimes for beating Tom,
Warns them both to be clean;
Promises to see them again;
Disappears.
Meets the keeper who warns Grimes against poaching;
Walks up the avenue;
Sees the deer, trees, bees, and makes fri