re was nobody anywhere to be seen. Jack thought
that might be because it was so early in the morning; and when the
boat ran itself up against a wooden wharf and stopped, he jumped
ashore, for he thought this must be the end of his journey. A
delightful town it was, if only there had been any people in it! The
market-place was full of stalls, on which were spread toys, baskets,
fruit, butter, vegetables, and all the other things that are usually
sold in a market.

Jack walked about in it. Then he looked in at the open doors of the
houses, and at last, finding that they were all empty, he walked into
one, looked at the rooms, examined the picture-books, rang the bells,
and set the musical-boxes going. Then, after he had shouted a good
deal, and tried in vain to make some one hear, he went back to the
edge of the river where his boat was lying, and the water was so
delightfully clear and calm, that he thought he would bathe. So he
took off his clothes, and folding them very carefully, so as not to
hurt the fairies, laid them down beside a hay-cock, and went in, and
ran about and paddled for a long time,--much longer than there was any
occasion for; but then he had nothing to do.

When at last he had finished, he ran to the hay-cock and began to
dress himself; but he could not find his stockings, and after looking
about for some time he was obliged to put on his clothes without them,
and he was going to put his boots on his bare feet, when, walking to
the other side of the hay-cock, he saw a little old woman about as
large as himself. She had a pair of spectacles on, and she was
knitting.

She looked so sweet-tempered that Jack asked her if she knew anything
about his stockings.

"It will be time enough to ask for them when you have had your
breakfast," said she. "Sit down. Welcome to our town. How do you like
it?"

[Illustration: JACK'S NEW FRIEND.

"She had a pair of spectacles on, and she was knitting."--PAGE 82.]

"I should like it very much indeed," said Jack, "if there was anybody
in it."

"I'm glad of that," said the woman. "You've seen a good deal of it;
but it pleases me to find that you are a very honest boy. You did not
take anything at all. I am honest too."

"Yes," said Jack, "of course you are."

"And as I am pleased with you for being honest," continued the little
woman, "I shall give you some breakfast out of my basket." So she took
out a saucer full of honey, a roll of bread, and a cup of milk