f castanets, as I hear them played in Spain by the
black-eyed dancing-girls. Another wolf came out, and he came yet nearer,
and then two more. 'If I had but my gun!' cried Hans. 'If I had but my
hunting-knife!' said Karl. 'Ah! brothers,' said Wilhelm, 'we have
nothing, so we must die. Nevertheless, let us die merrily, so take your
instruments and we will play a tune for these beasts, that we may all
dance together.'

[Illustration]

"So the three brothers took their instruments, the big fiddle, and the
little fiddle, and the trumpet, and began to play. As the first notes
sounded the wolves stopped short. Seeing this, the brothers played the
faster a merry waltz, which they had meant to play at the wedding.
'Tra-la-la! tra-la-la!' gaily rang out the notes in the clear air, while
the musicians' teeth rattled like the castanets, and their limbs
trembled, and their hands could scarcely hold the instruments; for they
were playing for their lives, you see! yes, and they won the game, for
the wolves, who were not used to concerts, did not know what to make of
this sort of thing. They began to be frightened, to wonder what strange
beasts these were, with such wild voices. They looked at each other and
drew back a step or two, it was well to be near the forest in any case.
Further and further they retired toward the shade of the trees, and
finally, as the music changed to a furious jig, and the trumpet sounded
out like the scream of a panther, the terrified wolves turned tail and
ran as fast as their fright and their four legs could carry them. Off as
fast in the opposite direction ran also Hans, Karl, and Wilhelm, playing
as they went. They played and ran, ran and played till they reached the
open fields and the houses; and then they sat down under a haystack and
did not move for the rest of the day. Ah! that was a fine concert! but
there was no music at the wedding, which is sad to think of."

With that I kissed my three mice, and bade them good-night, though it
was nearly morning; then mounting my moonbeam I whisked away, and soon
left mice and mouse-trap far behind.

[Illustration]

Wake! wake! children, wake!
Here we're singing for your sake.
Chirrup! chirrup! chirrup! chee!
Sweet a song as sweet can be.

Rise! rise! children, rise!
Shake the poppies from your eyes.
Sweet! sweet! chirrup! tweet!
Morning blossoms at your feet.