him into
the stove. He gave no reason for doing so, but no doubt the Goblin in
the snuffbox had something to do with it.

The Tin Soldier stood now in a blaze of red light. The heat he felt was
terrible, but whether it proceeded from the fire or from the love in his
heart, he did not know. He saw that the colors were quite gone from his
uniform, but whether that had happened on the journey or had been caused
by grief, no one could say. He looked at the little lady, she looked at
him, and he felt himself melting; still he stood firm as ever, with his
bayonet on his shoulder. Then suddenly the door flew open; the wind
caught the Dancer, and she flew straight into the stove to the Tin
Soldier, flashed up in a flame, and was gone! The Tin Soldier melted
into a lump; and in the ashes the maid found him next day, in the shape
of a little tin heart, while of the Dancer nothing remained save the
tinsel rose, and that was burned as black as a coal.

[Illustration]

LITTLE THUMBELINA

THERE was once a woman who wished very much to have a little child. She
went to a fairy and said: "I should so very much like to have a little
child. Can you tell me where I can find one?"

"Oh, that can be easily managed," said the fairy. "Here is a barleycorn;
it is not exactly of the same sort as those which grow in the farmers'
fields, and which the chickens eat. Put it into a flowerpot and see what
will happen."

"Thank you," said the woman; and she gave the fairy twelve shillings,
which was the price of the barleycorn. Then she went home and planted
it, and there grew up a large, handsome flower, somewhat like a tulip in
appearance, but with its leaves tightly closed, as if it were still a
bud.

"It is a beautiful flower," said the woman, and she kissed the red and
golden-colored petals; and as she did so the flower opened, and she
could see that it was a real tulip. But within the flower, upon the
green velvet stamens, sat a very delicate and graceful little maiden.
She was scarcely half as long as a thumb, and they gave her the name of
Little Thumb, or Thumbelina, because she was so small.

A walnut shell, elegantly polished, served her for a cradle; her bed was
formed of blue violet leaves, with a rose leaf for a counterpane. Here
she slept at night, but during the day she amused herself on a table,
where the peasant wife had placed a plate full of water.

Round this plate were wreaths of flowers with their stems i