ree, these shall win for thee thy
heart's desire. But remember that thou canst not keep them sharp and
shining unless they are used at least once each day in some unselfish
service." After that he had only to utter his request in rhyme, and
immediately they would shoot out to an enormous size that could cut down
forests for him, bridge chasms, and reap whole wheat fields at a single
stroke.

Many a peasant he befriended, shepherds and high-born dames, lords and
lowly beggars; and at the last, when he stood up before the Ogre to fight
for the beautiful princess kept captive in the tower, it was their voices,
shouting out their tale of gratitude to him for all these unselfish
services, that made the scissors grow long enough and strong enough to cut
the ugly old Ogre's head off.

"So he married the princess," concluded Betty at last, "and came into the
kingdom that was his heart's desire. There was feasting and merrymaking
for seventy days and seventy nights, and they all lived happily ever
after. On each gable of the house he fastened a pair of shining scissors
to remind himself that only through unselfish service to others comes the
happiness that is highest and best. Over the great entrance gate he hung
the ones that served him so valiantly, saying, 'Only those who belong to
the kingdom of loving hearts can ever enter here'; and to this day they
guard the portal of Ethelried, and only those who belong to the kingdom of
loving hearts may enter the Gate of the Giant Scissors."

"Go on," said Mr. Forbes, as Betty stopped. "What happened next? I want to
hear some more."

"So did Joyce," said Betty. "She used to climb up in the pear-tree and
watch the gate, wishing she knew what lay behind it, and one day she found
out. A poor little boy lived there with only the care-taker and another
servant. The care-taker beat him and half starved him. His uncle didn't
know how he was treated, for he was away in Algiers. Joyce found this
little Jules out in the fields one day, tending the goats, and they got to
be great friends She told him this story, and they played that he was the
prince and she was the Giant Scissors who was to rescue him from the
clutches of the Ogre. She made up a rhyme for him to say. He had only to
whisper:

"'Giant Scissors, fearless friend,
Hasten, pray, thy aid to lend,'

and she would fly to help him. She really did, too, for she played ghost
one night to frighten the old care-taker, and she