and getting upon a chrysanthemum that was growing
in a flower-pot in the sunshine, he took off his shoes and stockings,
and, hanging them on a branch to dry, laid down in the warm blossom; and
while he was drying, listened to the mournful tale that Aufalia was
telling her maid, about the poor Prince that was to die to-morrow. The
more he heard, the more was his tender heart touched with pity, and,
forgetting all his resentment against the Princess, he felt only the
deepest sympathy for her misfortunes, and those of her lover. When she
had finished, Ting-a-ling had resolved to assist them, or die in the
attempt!

But, as he could not do much himself, he intended instantly to lay their
case before a Giant of his acquaintance, whose good-humor and
benevolence were proverbial. So he put on his shoes and stockings, which
were not quite dry, and hastily descended to the garden by means of a
vine which grew upon the wall. The distance to the Giant's castle was
too great for him to think of walking; and he hurried around to a friend
of his who kept a livery-stable. When he reached this place, he found
his friend sitting in his stable-door, and behind him Ting-a-ling could
see the long rows of stalls, with all the butterflies on one side, and
the grasshoppers on the other.

"How do you do?" said Ting-a-ling, seating himself upon a horse-block,
and wiping his face. "It is a hot day, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir," said the livery-stable man, who was rounder and shorter than
Ting-a-ling. "Yes, it is very warm. I haven't been out to-day."

"Well, I shouldn't advise you to go," said Ting-a-ling. "But I must to
business, for I'm in a great hurry. Have you a fast butterfly that you
can let me have right away?"

"O yes, two or three of them, for that matter."

"Have you that one," asked Ting-a-ling, "that I used to take out last
summer?"

"That animal," said the livery-stable man, rising and clasping his hands
under his coat-tail, "I am sorry to say, you can't have. He's
foundered."

"That's bad," said Ting-a-ling, "for I always liked him."

"I can let you have one just as fast," said the stable-keeper. "By the
way, how would you like a real good grasshopper?"

"Too hot a day for the saddle," said Ting-a-ling; "and now please
harness up, for I'm in a dreadful hurry."

"Yes, sir, right away. But I don't know exactly what wagon to give you.
I have two first-rate new pea-pods; but they are both out. However, I
can let you have a ni