e
imagining that the giant was meditating a horrid return for all his
favours.

"Things went on in this way for some time, the giant becoming daily more
impatient to put his plan into execution. At last, an opportunity
presented itself. Your father's house was at some distance from the
sea-shore, but the giant, standing on a hill one stormy day, observed
some ships in distress off the rocks; he hastened to your father, and
requested that he would send all the people he could spare to relieve
the mariners.

"While the servants were all employed upon this service, the giant
despatched your father by stabbing him with a dagger. You were then only
three months old, and your mother, upon discovering what had happened,
fainted, but still clasping you in her arms. The giant, who intended to
murder both of you, having found her in that state, for a short time
repented of the dreadful crime he had committed, and granted your mother
and you your lives, but only upon condition that she should never inform
you who your father was, nor answer any questions concerning him,
assuring her that, if she did, he would certainly put both of you to
death in the most cruel manner. Your mother took you in her arms, and
fled as quickly as possible. Having gained your father's confidence, he
knew where to find all his treasure. He and his wife soon carried off
two large chests filled with gold, which they could not have done unless
they had been giants, and, having set the house on fire in several
places, when the servants returned it was burned quite down to the
ground.

"Your poor mother wandered with you a great many miles from this scene
of desolation; fear added to her haste; she settled in the cottage where
you were brought up, and it was entirely owing to her fear of the giant
that she never mentioned your father to you.

"I became your father's guardian at his birth; but fairies have laws to
which they are subject as well as mortals. A short time before the giant
went to your father's, I transgressed; my punishment was a suspension of
power for a limited time--an unfortunate circumstance, as it totally
prevented my succouring your father.

"The day on which you met the butcher, as you went to sell your mother's
cow, my power was restored; and, as I had been told by Oberon, the King
of the Fairies, how dreadful were the consequences to your father of my
single error, I resolved to take you under my protection, and to be more
circum