--no, indeed! At that rate we would be worse off than
we are now. I only mean that it is a good and pleasant thing to have
something to lend the more solid part a little savor now and then!

So, here I'll sit; and, perhaps, when you have been good children, and
have learned your lessons or done your work, your mother will let you
come and play a little while with me. I will always be ready and waiting
for you here, and I will warrant your mother that I will do you no harm
with anything that I may tell you. If I can only make you laugh and be
merry for a little while, then my work will be well done, and I will be
glad in the doing of it.

And now give me my cap and bells again, for my wits are growing cold
without them; and you will be pleased to reach me my bauble once more,
for I love to have him by me.

Will you be seated? And you, over there, seat the baby on the grass! Are
you ready? Very well; then I will tell you a story, and it shall be
about "The Skillful Huntsman."

[Illustration]

Table of Contents

THE SKILLFUL HUNTSMAN Page 1
Two Opinions Facing P. 4
Ye Song Of Ye Foolish Old Woman " 5
A Newspaper Puff " 12
Three Fortunes " 13

CLAUS AND HIS WONDERFUL STAFF Page 14
Venturesome Boldness Facing P. 16
Superficial Culture " 17

HOW DAME MARGERY TWIST SAW MORE THAN WAS Page 28
GOOD FOR HER
Ye Song Of Ye Gossips Facing P. 32
A Victim To Science " 33
Play And Earnest " 36
The Accident Of Birth " 37

CLEVER PETER AND THE TWO BOTTLES Page 43
Ye Romantic Adventures Of Three Tailors Facing P. 44
Fancy And Fact " 45
Ye Two Wishes " 48
A Verse With A Moral But Not Name " 49

HANS HECKLEMANN'S LUCK Page 57
Ye Song Of Ye Rajah And Ye Fly Facing P. 64
Pride In Distress " 65
Profession And Practice " 68
A Tale Of A Tub " 69

FARMER GRIGGS'S BOGGART Page 6