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Cornell University Library
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Fables and fairv tales for little folk
3 1924 028 086 472
Cornell University
Library
The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028086472
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
FOR LITTLE FOLK.
Works by Captain A. J. N. TREMEARNE,
B.A., B.Anth., F.RG.S., F.R.A.L,
Lecturer and late Hausa Scholar, Cambridge.
The Niger and the West Sudan ; The West
African's Note-Book. Hodder and Stoughton,
1910. 6s.
Notes on Some Nigerian Head-hunters ; an account
of the Kagoro, Morpa and other tailed tribes of
the Narsarawa Province. To, be published by the
Royal Anthropological' Society, 1911.
Fifty Hausa Folk Tales. Being published in Folk-Lore,
the Journal of the Folk-Loi-e Society, 1910-11.
An Introduction to Hausa Folk - Lore. (In
preparation.)
^0
®ur parents.
THE ANIMALS WERE NEARLY DEAD WITH THIRST.
[See page 107.
Fables and Fairy Tales
for Little Folk
OR
UNCLE REMUS IN HAUSALAND.
(First Series.)
BY
MARY & NEWMAN TREMEARNE.
Illuslraled.
CAMBRIDGE :
W. Hbpfer and Sons Ltd.
London : Simpkin, Makshat.l & Co., Ltd.
1910.
^'^0^\0(o
PREFACE.
In oflEering this little volume to the Public we should like to
state that the following tales are part of a collection obtained
from Hausa People in Northern Nigeria. If they meet with a
favourable reception the remainder will be published later.
The literal translations have appeared in the journals of the
Folk-Lore and other Societies, but they would not have interested
children as they stood, so they have been very much simplified in
this book, care having been taken, however, to preserve the local
colour.
We feel that our versions do not do full justice to the tales,
most of which are very clever in the original Hausa — and corre-
spondingly difficult to present in a form attractive to Little Folk ;
we can only say that we have written them exactly as they have
been told to som.e children we know, for it struck us that they
might, if available, prove just as interesting to others.
M.T.
Blackheath, 1910. A. J. N. T.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
I. How THE Scorpion Saved the Goat's Life 1
II. The Spider Deceives the Hippopotamus
AND the Elephant G
III. How the Hyaena was Blamed for the
Spider's Wickedness 14
IV. The Crafty Spider Replenishes his Larder 22
V. The Fairy Baby 32
VI. Hausatu and the Enchanted Spider ... 38
VII. The Hunter and the Fairy Buffalo ... 56
VIII. How THE Thieving Spider was Caught by
THE Half-Man 73
IX. The Billy-Go at who said he was a Magician 90
X. Why Hawa Prevented the Beasts from
Drinking 103
XI. The Boy who Refused to Walk 110
XII. Why the Hare is Afraid op the Dog ... 122
ILLUSTRATIONS.
The Animals Were Nearly Dead With Thirst
(frontispiece.)
All the Markets are in Towns
"The Hyaena has Cheated us !"
He Took the Baby Home Again
The Buffalo Bellowed and Rushed off into the
Forest
The Half-Man Beat the Spider
The Hyaena Began to Cry
The Magician had Many Retainers
The Spider Came Out for a Walk
The Home of Fairy-Tale
2
20
36
71
89
96
114
119
135
Fables and Fairy Tales.
I.
HOW THE SCORPION SAVED THE GOAT'S LIFE.
NCE upon a time there was a man named
Momo, and he had a Goat. The Goat was
rather tiresome, it was always butting
people and getting Momo into trouble. I
don't know whether the goat was mis-
chievous, but I rather suspect he was, though he pretended
to be sharpening his horns in fun. Any way it was not
pleasant, and Momo decided to get rid o£ him. So he
thought he would take him to the nearest town and sell
him. You see where Momo Hved all the markets are in
towns, just as they are in England, and country folk come
in on certain days to buy and sell things. Of course
Momo hoped to drive a good bargain, so he groomed the
Goat well, and led him along very gently and carefully.
On his way he met a Scorpion, and the Scorpion said
" Good morning, Momo," for Scorpions, like other horrid
people, can be quite polite, " Good morning, Momo, let me
escort you to the town."
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Now it is safer to travel together than alone, so Momo
said " Verj^ well, but in that case you wiU have to lead the
Croat." So they went on as before, only now the Scorpion
led the Goat.
ALL THE MARKETS ARE IN TOWNS."
After they had gone on Hke this for some distance,
they met a H^^aena who, being horrid and not poHte, said
" I think I will join your party." Now the roads in the
African forests are very unsafe and lonelj', so people travel
in parties when thej^ can, and Momo thought it would be
HOW THE SCORPION SAVED THE GOAT'S LIFE.
better to have the Hyaena with them, and in any case
Hyaenas are very nasty when they're not pleased about
anything, so he said " Oh, very well, if you wish."
They reached the town quite safely, and when they
had looked about and found some lodgings, they had
supper ; the Goat meanwhile being tied up to a tree.
After supper, they felt very sleepy, having come quite a
long way, so they all decided to go to rest early.
The Hyaena said she would lie down near the Goat
so as to be a protection to htm, but Momo said he would
rather not be too near, for the Goat soon went to sleep
apd as soon as he was asleep he always began to snore.
And you see Momo wanted a good night's rest, for he had
to be astir early and find a purchaser for his Goat. He
wanted to be fresh and brisk, for he was afraid he would
have some trouble in getting a good price, and it was very
important, because he hoped to give some presents to the
people who had been ofEended by the Goat's playful
butting, and make friends of them again.
Now the Scorpion said nothing, but lay down very
near to the Goat and the Hyaena. In the middle of the
night he got up and went and settled down upon the
Goat's neck.
Presently the Hyaena called softly " Momo, Momo."
Receiving no answer, she caUed again and again, " Momo !
Momo ! Momo ! " But Momo was asleep, and did not
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
hear her, so of course she got no answer. Now what do
you think ? That "nicked old Hyaena got up and came
over, very, very softly, to where the Goat was, meaning
to kiU and eat him !
But just as she was on the point of seizing the goat
in her jaws, the Scorpion gave her such a sting on her
tongue, that she jumped away with pain. Then seeing
that the Scorpion had discovered that there was a thief
in the house, she ran back quickly to her bed and lay
down again, pretending it was not she ! And the Scorpion
went back to his bed, too.
Presentlj'' the Hyaena said " Scorpion, Scorpion, are
you asleep ? "
And the Scorpion answered " Oh ! dear no, what
made you think that ? I have not been to sleep yet."
Then the crafty Hyaena said " Oh, Scorpion, I am
feehng so iU. I must go home at once. Will you tell
Mr. Momo in the morning that I don't think that the
supper he gave us was good."
Now this was very wily of the Hyaena, because she
thought Momo would want to kill her when the Scorpion
told him how she had tried to kill the Goat. So she
thought she would pretend, in that case, that she had a
reason for wishing to punish him, and thus make him
afraid to come near her ; for, as I told you, Hyaenas can be
horrid when the^' are annoyed.
HOW THE SCORPION SAVED THE GOAT'S LIFE.
But the Scorpion said, " Oh, Mrs. Hyaena, / am
sorry. Don't go before the morning, for you know we
shall sell the Goat to-morrow, and then, of course, you will
get a share of the money. The supper was poor, perhaps,
but a good meal to-morrow will set you right."
But the Hyaena was afraid to stay, she was so horribly
deceitful herself that, of course, she could not trust anyone
else, and she suspected the Scorpion of hatching a plot
to kOl her, as she had done to kill the Goat. (Some day,
perhaps, I shall teU you why the Scorpion hated the
Hyaena and wanted to play her a mean trick.) So the
Hyaena ran off crying with pain, and no one knows where
she went, and I don't believe anyone cares ! Do you ?
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
11.
THE SPIDER DECEIVES THE HIPPOPOTAMUS
AND THE ELEPHANT.
WONDEE i£ you have ever heard that
ages and ages ago the animals held a great
council and elected the Spider king ?
They beheved him to be very wise because
his house was so much better built than
theirs, and because he used to sit so long in one place
looking so learned and never doing anything without
thinking it out well first. But I fancy that we should
call him only cunning, which shews what different ideas
people have, and accounts for many things.
The Spider was really a very wicked person, always
up to mischief, and I am going to tell you now how
he deceived the Hippopotamus ; but first you must know
that the Elephant and the Hippopotamus were always
quarrelling about who was the stronger ; and this gave
the Spider his chance to play them a nasty trick. So
when he met the Elephant one day he said " Good
morning, Mrs. Elephant, how are j'ou ? But there, I
SPIDER, HIPPOPOTAMUS, AND ELEPHANT.
really need not ask, for you look so strong and well, not
tired and stupid like Mrs. Hippopotamus who is always
half asleep."
This pleased the silly old Elephant very much, and
she puffed out her chest (and what an enormous one she
has !) and threw back her trunk and laughed for joy.
" Why of course I'm well, Mr. Spider, it is very kind
indeed of you to ask, but I never felt better, and only
wish I had a chance of shewing you how strong I am.
Why that silly Mrs. Hippopotamus pretends she could
pull me over."
" How ridiculous of her," said the wily Spider, " any
one can see that she is no match for you. Would you
really hke to show the world how very much stronger jt>u
are, because of course it isn't really of anj' use just saying
so?"
The Elephant fell head-over-heels into the trap. " I
will do anything you like," she said, " if only you give me
the chance, but Mrs. Hippopotamus is very difficult. She
is one of those people who prefer words to deeds, and I
doubt your being able to persuade her."
" We shall see," said the Spider, winking, " we shall see,"
and shook his head and said " Good-bye." He knew he
was considered very wise, and he thought it looked very
mysterious and clever to shake his head. Between you
and me it was a vain, empty, old head, full only of
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
naughtiness and deceit, but the animals never guessed that.
No, they thought him wisest of all.
Away went the Spider to the river to caU upon the
Hippopotamus. " Good morning, my dear," said he in his
nasty, oily voice, " Good morning ; what a pleasure it is to
see a young, strong, fine-looking person hke yourself. I
travel a good deal, and I am not flattering you. I said to
Mrs. Elephant only the other day when I happened to meet
her in the forest, ' I am going to call on Mrs. Hippopotamus,
for the sight of her always makes me feel strong and well.' "
" Oh ! Mr. Spider," said the Hippopotamus, blushing,
" you are a flatterer."
" Oh no I'm not," he repHed, " but what do you think
she said ? Well, between ourselves, my dear, I don't
Hke Mrs. Elephant ; no, she is not a favourite of mine.
She looks so grey and dismal always, and fanc3^ the conceit
of her ! she actually said, ' I should like to have a tug of
war with your friend Mrs. Hippopotamus ! I've no patience
with such people, always boasting of their strength and never
doing anything to show it.' Of course I told her that
you were much more powerful really, and if you challenged
her I do not beheve she would accept : I think she is afraid
of you."
So far the Hippopotamus had hardly been able to get
in a word, and had only signified her pleasure and gratifi-
cation by a series of grunts. Now, however, she broke in
8
SPIDER, HIPPOPOTAMUS, AND ELEPHANT.
excitedly, " Really, Mr. Spider, you are most kind, and i£
only you will help me to settle that horrid Mrs. Elephant,
why I shall be your friend for life. Personally, I cannot
bear her." And here, overcome by her feelings, she opened
her huge mouth, and uttered the most terrifying snorts and
grunts.
When she had become a little calmer the Spider said,
" Well, you look so fit, how would to-morrow do ? It is
of no use losing any time, a stitch in time saves nine, eh " ?
and he burst out laughing at his own wit. " Ha ! ha ! Mrs.
Elephant wiU have a very bad stitch to-morrow, Ha ! Ha."
" Oh ! Mr. Spider, how clever you are," smiled
Mrs. Hippopotamus, more pleased than ever, "Do let us
have a tug-of-war to-morrow."
" Very well," he replied, " I wUl go at once and fix it
up with Mrs. Elephant, and we shall see, my dear, we shall
see."
So the Spider called on the Elephant again, on his way
home, and told her that he had happened to meet the
Hippopotamus. " She was not looking very well," he said,
" but when I told her so she flew into a great rage, and,
capering about, she said, ' she knew that I thought you the
stronger, but that you could not pull her over in a tug-of-
war.' "
" Oh ! couldn't I," replied the Elephant, " well, I'm
quite ready to teach her a lesson, I could beat her easily."
9
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" Of course you could, my dear," said the Siiider, " I
told her it was very unwise, to say such things, but if she
really would like to try I thought that I could arrange it
with you."
The Elephant consented at once, and the Spider
having settled where they should meet, left her chortling'
to herself with glee, tearing up great trees to get into
practice, and singing : —
"Hurrah, hurrah, for to-morrow we'll see,
Who is the stronger, the Hippo, or me.
I'll leave her in such a terrible plight
She'll rue all her boasting to-morrow night."
Early next morning the Spider got a very long, stout
rope and tied one end to the Elephant, then he took the
other end to the water-side, and tied it to the Hippopota-
mus. Then he went back to the centre of the rope where it
lay slack, and gave them the word to pull, and both started
pulling as hard as they could.
Now the Spider was a wicked old thing, as I have
told you before, and he could make use of magic which
made him stronger than everything and everybody else.
So he began chanting the magic words and pulling at the
rope himself. Presently the Elephant and the Hippopota-
mus both got tired, and the Spider was able to drag them
nearer and nearer, until at last they came in sight of each
10
SPIDER, HIPPOPOTAMUS, AND ELEPHANT.
other and found that they were beuig pulled towards one
another by someone else.
Then the Hippopotamus was very angry, and said " I
believe the Spider has been playing us a trick," and she
told the Elephant that he had called on her, and the Ele-
phant told the Hippopotamus how the wicked old Spider
had met her and arranged the tug-o£-war.
The Hippopotamus screamed and danced with rage. I
am glad I wasn't there, because it must have been so very
funny ! I expect I should have laughed, and then
well, perhaps, it is better not to think of what would have
happened if Mrs. Hippopotamus had heard me. I rather
think that she and the Elephant would have had indiges-
tion!
They both raved and rampaged about, and vowed that
they woiild be avenged on the Spider. " We will kUl
him," they said, " We will kill him, and when he is quite
dead and there is no Spider to worry us we will be friends."
" Ha, ha," laughed Mr. Spider to himself, " you have
got to catch me first, you forget that I owe you a grudge
for eating up all my food at the dinner I gave you." And
then he went away and hid, giving out to his friends that
he had gone for a rest-cure, and that no letters were to be
forwarded, so he had a quiet time to make fresh plans.
Some time afterwards he found an old Hare's skin which
had become dried up. "Ho! ho!" he laughed, "just the
11
FABLES AND FAIEY TALES.
very thing I wanted," and with that he put the skin over
his back, and pulled it tight and sat in the sun until the
skin, which was sticky, stuck to him and covered him up
like an overcoat. So now he looked like a Hare, and when
he met the Elephant she said, " Hullo, Mr. Hare, you do
look ill and wrinkled, whatever have you been doing ? "
Of course, we know that it was really the Spider, but the
Elephant thought it was the Hare, and could not make out
why his skin had become so shrivelled up.
" Ah," said the Spider out of the Hare-skin, " I was
very foolish, it was all my fault, I have not long to live,"
and he pretended to cry.
" Cheer up, man, cheer up," said the Elephant, " Tell
me what has happened to you ? "
" Oh," said the disguised Spider, " Some weeks ago
I quarrelled with the Spider, and he gave me such an
awful thrashing. You can see for yourself I am nearly
dead. Oh, oh," he groaned, " I wonder if I shall live to
get home and say good-bye to my dear wife and babies.
I have been trying to crawl back all this time."
" But," said the Elephant, " Do you really mean to say
that it was the Spider who brought you to this state ? "
"Oh," replied the wicked old story-teller, "The
Spider is stronger and more cunning than all of us. Now
that he is king, he even wants to thrash the Lion, and the
Lion, who is frightened, is hiding from him."
12
SPIDER, HIPPOPOTAMUS, AND ELEPHANT.
" Good gracious," said the Elephant thoroughly-
alarmed, " I am glad I met you." And off she scampered
to the Hippopotamus to tell her the news.
" It is not very healthy in the animal's town," said the
Hippopotamus, " in future I shall always hve in the water."
She was really very much afraid, but she would not own
it to her rival.
" I beheve you are right," said the Elephant, " but I
prefer the forest, and so I shall go and see my parents who
hve there and have been inviting me for a long time."
So now you see, although there are many Spiders in
the garden, you never meet an Elephant or a Hippopota-
mus there. The Spider spins his web in peace and sings,:
" Oh, how I laugh. He ! he !
What fools these animals be.
If only they knew that my tale is untrue,
Whatever would happen to me ? "
13
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
III.
HOW THE HYAENA WAS BLAMED FOR THE
SPIDER'S WICKEDNESS.
NCE upon a time there was a dreadful
famine, and all the animals suffered very
.much from hunger and thirst, so after-
wards, when there was plenty once more,
they thought that they would store up
some grain for the winter.
Now the Spider, who, as you know, was their King,
suggested that as they had plenty for the winter it would
be a good opportunity to travel and see^ something of the
world — and also to go into other people's lands and eat their
food, but he did not say that, oh no ! he was much too wise.
So when he had called a meeting of the animals it was
decided that they should all go away until the winter came,
and then they should return and hve on what they had
stored up in their barn. The Spider made a great speech and
said, " Let us enjoy ourselves now and travel about. The
time will not be Avasted, for although Ave have never before
had to store up food for the winter, I have heard that
animals in other countries always do so. Let us try to
14
HYAENA BLAMED FOR SPIDER'S WICKEDNESS.
find out if this is true." And then he offered a prize to the
animal who should bring back the most useful piece of
information. So they all got ready — I must say it did
not take them very long, — the store-house was closed, the
Spider took the key, (it was a magic lock), and they all
said "good-bj-e," and started off.
But the Spider went only a little way with the party, and
then he remembered that his wife had a Cousin- Spider right
■on the other side of the forest, and he said that this was a
good opportunity for them to go and see her before going-
further afield. Of course the wily old thing wanted to get
rid of the others, and then it struck him that it would be a
good thing to have his wife out of the way too, in case she
should interfere with his plans, for I expect that you have
already guessed that he was up to mischief as usual !
So they went to his wife's cousin's house and rested
there for a few days. Then the Spider said to his wife,
" You are so slow, I shall never get anyAvhere at the rate
you walk, and it is very important that I should go further
than any of my subjects. A King must never be outdone,
he must always set a good example."
Then Mrs. Spider was very sad and said : " Supposing
you were to be iU, my dear, or supposing . . . ."
" Supposing fiddlesticks," said the Spider, rudelj^
That is one thing I dislike about Spiders, they are always
so nasty to each other. If the husband does not please his
15
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
wife she eats him up, and if the wife does not please her
husband he either kills her or else goes off, like this one
did ; and I don't think it is very nice, do you ?
Well, I must get on with my tale. The Spider really
went home, but by a different way so that his wife should
not know ; and when he was rested — for he always took
very good care of himself — he dug a big hole. When he ,
thought it was big enough, he went to the barn and un-
locked the door, and every day he stole as much corn as he
could carry, and for supper he used to walk back to the
store and eat up all the grain that he had spilt, so there was
no trace to shew who had stolen it.
By the time he had removed aU the corn and had
eaten as much as he could — for he really was dreadfully
greedy — the summer was over, and winter was near.
So away he went to fetch his wife — not that he cared what
became of her, but because he was always very careful of
appearances (you can see this in the care with which he
spins his web), and he did not want any remarks made. So
he made up a quite a long story about the wonderful
countries he had visited and the marvellous people he had
seen. Indeed his story nearly came to a sudden end once,
for he was so f uU of himself and his wonderful doings
that he caught one of his feet in a twig and very nearly
had to leave one of his legs behind him.
But Mrs. Spider was dead ! She had been so much upset
16
HYAENA BLAMED FOE SPIDER'S WICKEDNESS.
at his treatment that she did not mind what became of her,
and so one day at dinner she swallowed too large a piece of
fly, and a leg stuck in her throat, and she choked.
Mr. Spider cried and pretended to be very grieved,
but he soon dried his tears. "Just hke her," he said, "to
go and die because she was annoyed at being left behind.
If she had really loved me as much as I loved her she
would' have been glad to wait anywhere for me. There
is no understanding women."
" Poor Man," said the Cousin- Spider, " we did our
very best but we could not save her, and now you "wall
be so lonely."
" Of course, I had brought you a present " said the
Spider, " to repay you for your kindness to my dear wife,
but now that she is dead I have onlj'^ your word to show
how she died. I do not know that she was kindly treated,
and so I shall not give you anything. I expect the fly was
stale or too much cooked, if the truth were known." He
was as mean as he was deceitful and had never really
thought of giving her a present at all, so he was not a bit
sorry that his wife was dead, but was rejoicing to think that
now he would have all the corn at home to himself.
Meanwhile the animals had returned, but they could
not open the store-house, of course, without the King's
consent. I should have told you that when the Spider
had removed all the corn, he went to the Hyaena's den —
17
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
knowing that she was away with the other animals —
and found some of her false hair, and he put this in the
barn. " They will think Mrs, Hyaena has done it, she has
been caught stealing before, so they wiU easily believe any-
thing bad of her, and I shallibe safe," said the old rascal to
himself.
The animals waited for some time, but after a while
they became impatient — it was not like their King to be
late for a feast — and they began to call " Spider ! Spider" !
For a long time they received no reply, although he
was really quite near. Then a faint " Yes " came in
answer to their repeated calls. " Yes," and then nearer,
a breathless " Yes, Yes, I am coming," as if he were hurry-
ing from a long distance.
When he arrived the animals said, " We have been
waiting here since the morning ; a King should be punctual."
And the Spider said, " Ah ! you will forgive me when
T tell you that my dear wife is dead, and I am too heart-
broken to mind what anyone thinks. I have been a long,
long way ofE and have only just returned." Then, seeing
the Hyaena, he said, " But my dear Mrs. Hyaena what has
happened to your hair ? You used toihave such a lovely
fringe."
Then the Hyaena blushed and said, " Oh ! I don't
know ; I must have burnt it." She did not want all the
animals to know that her hair was false.
18
HYAENA BLAMED FOR SPIDER'S WICKEDNESS.
Of course the animals were all very sorry for the
Spider, but they said they were hungry and wanted their
share of the corn at once.
So the Spider said, " I am so tired and weak, I wiU
appoint a deputy to open the store for me. Here, Mr.
Monkey, I appoint you ; take the key and give us out our
corn."
So the Monkey took the key and cHmbed up into the
barn, and when he had opened it and looked in he said,
" Good gracious ! "
Then all the animals cried out, " Whatever is the
matter ? " and the Monkey said, " I cannot teU you, it is
too dreadful. Oh ! King, conmaand the Hyaena to give us
our corn."
Of course the Spider knew what had happened, but he
pretended that he did not, and that he was angry, so he
said in a very dignified manner, "It is unusual for the
King's Deputy to wish to resign his post, but you have
our royal permission to do so," and turning to the Hyaena
he said, " Ascend Madam, and report to us."
Now the poor Hyaena was very proud and pleased to
do so, but when she had looked in and had seen her false
hair there, but no corn, she knew that some one had played
her a trick, and she became very confused. " Oh dear !
Oh dear ! " she cried, " I do not know who has done this.
It was not I, it was not I."
19
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Then the Spider said in an injured tone, " It seems I
must go myself after all. What a weary thing it is to be
a King," and thereupon he climbed up slowl^^ and sadly as
if he were not used to it, and expected every step to be his
last. When he had looked in, he turned round with a very
shocked expression, and seemed ready to faint. " Oh !
Mr. Monkey," he cried, " I do not reallj'- wonder now that
you were not anxious to report. Ooh ! Ooh ! my poor
head ; this is too much," and he reeled and would have
fallen, but the Monkey caught him and propped him up
against the roof. When the Spider had recovered, he asked
THE HYAENA HAS CHEATED US ! "
20
HYAENA BLAMED FOR SPIDER'S WICKEDNESS.
the Monkey to be so kind as to look in again and shew the
animals what he saw. So the Monkey seized the Hyaena's
false fringe and held it up to the assembled company,
saying in a loud voice, " The Hyaena is a thief : she has
robbed us of all our corn. The Hyaena has cheated us ! "
Then the poor Hyeana burst into tears, and sobbed,
^' It was not I, it was not I," but none of the animals
would believe her because she had a very bad name, and
they were mad with rage. So they set upon her, and
kicked and bit, and beat her, and she would have been
kUled had she not escaped and run away into the forest,
where she is now for all I know to the contrary.
I shall have some more to tell you about the Spider
another day, and how he was paid out at last for aL. his
wickedness.
21
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
IV.
THE CRAFTY SPIDEE REPLENISHES HIS
LARDER.
OW when the Spider had eaten all the corn
that he had stolen from the animals' store-
house, he was rather at a loss, for his wife
being dead, he had no one to help
him. The King of the Animals is really-
only chief in name ; they do not work for him, and only
seem to consult him on special occasions, or in times of
trouble and anxiety. He sat for a long time pondering
in the fashion that we know had given rise to his being
elected King.
At last a brilliant idea struck him, and, as usual, it
began and ended in mischief. He delighted in taking
people in and making them work for him. Oh ! he reaUy
was not a nice person to know, that Spider ! and he
became greedier and greedier as time went on, which was
reaUj' verj?- sad, so 3'ou must not smile. So, full of his
latest plan, he sallied forth, and when no one was about,
he set fire to his house ! It makes one shudder to
remember all the poor people who have no houses, and
to think of that wicked old Spider setting fire to his, just
22
THE CRAFTY SPIDER REPLENISHES HIS LARDER.
because he was too lazy to — Oh ! but I must go on with
my tale.
When the house was quite burnt down, the Spider
ran along very quicklj' to the Fowl's house. When he
arrived, he sank down in a heap and began crying,
" Oh-oo-oo, Oh-oo-oo" — you know the way Spiders cry.
So the Fowl, who was very stupid as most fowls are,
did not stop to think whether it was a trick or not, she
got so excited, and exclaimed, "Oh, King, Oh, Mr. Spider
(silly thing to talk like that !), Oh, cluck ! cluck ! whatever
has brought you to my house ? "
But the Spider kept up the game and only wailed more
loudly, so the Fowl brought him some water and some
corn.
Now when I heard this I thought to myself, well, it
would be just like that greedy Spider i£ he were to choke
himself, he is so greedy ! But no, he ate as much as he
could, and then he pretended to be a Httle comforted.
" Oh, Mrs. Fowl," he said, " What a treat it is to
come across such a dear, kind, sympathetic soul when one
is in trouble."
Of course that flattered Mrs. Fowl aU the more, and
she said " Dear King, do teU me all your troubles. I
beHeve a Lion once helped a Mouse, so I " — and she puffed
all her feathers out — " might be so fortunate as to help
you."
23
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" Well, you see, it is just like this," said the Spider,
" Oh-oo-oo-oo, I can't speak of it," and he took another
drink. " My house has been burnt down, and Oh-oo-oo
what shall I do ? What shall I do ? "
"Will you stay here a little whUe?" said the Fowl.
Fowls are really quite kind sometimes. I knew one once —
but that is another story.
Now this did not suit Mr. Spider at all, so he said
" I could not take advantage of anyone's kindness like
that, dear, dear Mrs. Fowl, but I had thought perhaps
you would help me to rebuild my house ? I have no one
to help me now my dear wife is dead."
" Why, of course I will ; I will come to-morrow
morning," said the Fowl, "but you won't ask the Wild
Cat, will you ? "
" How could you imagine I would ask anyone of that
class ? " said the Spider indignantly, and after thanking her
again, he left the Fowl's house and went — where do you
think ? Why, as straight as he could go to the Wild Cat's
house.
" Good morning,- Mrs. Wild Cat," said he, " I am in
great trouble and I want your help."
" Dear ! dear ! how can I help you, and what may
your trouble be ?" said the Wild Cat.
" Well," said the Spider, " You- have heard of my sad
loss," and he sniffed like the hypocrite he was. " My dear
24
THE CRAFTY SPIDER REPLENISHES HIS LARDER.
wife was such a good wife, and of course now there is no
one to look after the house, and oh ! I can't tell you how
miserable I've been. Last night when I was in bed and
asleep, I was suddenly roused by a smell of fire, and a
horrible crackling sound ; it was as much as I could do to
escape. My house is burnt to a cinder. Will you come
and help me to rebuild it ? I am asking one or two friends
to-morrow morning."
So the Wild Cat said, " Of course, I will come — but
I hope you won't mind my asking you — have you asked
the Dog ? Because I am afraid of him and could not come
if he is coming."
" My dear Mrs. Wild Cat, how could you come if
the Dog came ? I have not asked him. Indeed I want
real help, not empty chattering — deeds, not words ! The
Dog is much too noisy for my taste."
" Oh ! well, then of course I shall be happy to come,"
said the Wild Cat.
Quite cheered up, the Spider frisked off, and I hardly
like to teU you where he went, but of course I must,
because it's part of the story. He went straight to the
Dog's house !
The Dog was in rather a hurry : he was just going
off, and he didn't much like the Spider at the best of times.
■" Hullo ! " was his greeting, " and what do you want,
Mr. Spider ? " The Dog thought as he was so much bigger
25
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
he need not pay- much attention- to the Spider. '"''King ! " he
was overheard to say to Mrs. Dog one night, "a pretty
King he is," and she repHed as a dutiful wife should, " I
can't think how they came to elect him King. After aU, I
think you look much wiser, and we all know you are,
but I suppose it was jealousy really, there is so much
favouritism."
The Spider saw there was no use in beating about the
bush, so he said, " I have been very unfortunate, first my
wife died, which was very inconsiderate, and now my
house is burnt down and that is even more inconvenient.
Will you come and help me to rebuild my house tomorrow ?
I am arranging a working-bee, and several friends have
promised to help."
" Oh ! well," repHed Mr. Dog, " I can't promise any-
thing just now, but any way, if I can't come, my wife shall."
" Oh ! that is most kind," said the Spider, making a
bow to Mrs. Dog, "we all know how kind and helpful
Mrs. Dog is."
" But there is one thing," said the Dog, " stay — have
you asked the Hyaena to join your party ? I do not
care to meet her myself, nor do I allow Mrs. Dog to do so."
" Why, what do you think of me ? Do you wish to
insult me?" cried the Spider. "The Hyaena, indeed!
You won't find any of that set anywhere near my house,"
and he pretended .to go off in a rage.
26
THE CRAFTY SPIDER REPLENISHES HIS LARDER.
Then Mrs. Dog — ^as the Spider well knew she would —
said to her husband, " My dear, one o£ us must certainly
go — it will never do to ofEend the Spider," and the Dog
.(of course he was a wild dog, not a dear old tame English
dog, you must remember, and was something of a coward)
said, "You are right, as usual, my dear. I quite think
you should go."
By this time you wUl have guessed that the Spider
was well on his way to the Hyaena's house. She was not
at home, but little Miss Hyaena (who the Spider rather
thought would make a nice second Mrs. Spider) said she
would teU her mother, and she felt quite sure she would be
only too pleased to help, so the Spider went on.
But he had gone only some few yards when he heard
a voice — " Mr. Spider, Mr. Spider," and turning he saw
Miss Hyaena.
" Well, well, my child, and what is it now ?" he said
in what was meant to be a very pleasing, kindly voice.
" Oh ! Mr. Spider," she panted, " I thought I would
just ask you if you had invited the Leopard, because if so,
I know my Mother would not come. She is afraid of the
Leopard, who has behaved rather badly to us since Father
died and we have only Mother to look after us aU."
" ChUd, child," said the Spider, " any wish of yours
is law to me ; don't worry your pretty head. I am not so
27
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
friendlj^ with the Leopard that I should ask him to meet
any real friends of mine."
" Thank you so much," she said, and returned home
quite content.
Presently, on his way to the Leopard's house, the
Spider met the Lion, and invited him to come to the
great working-bee for the restoration of his house. The
Lion feared no one, and he was too noble a beast to find
fault with any others who were lending a helping hand to
a friend in distress, so he made no enquiries as to who was
expected, nor did he stipulate that any special animals
should be asked or left out.
The Leopard was quite willing to help, but he said to
the Spider, " Don't ask the old Lion. He is such a
ponderous old bore ; we never agree," and you wiU have
no difficulty in picturing the sweet smUe with which the
Spider assured him that nothing was further from his
thoughts ! And he went home well pleased with his day's
work.
In the morning the Fowl came very early. " What
shall I begin upon;- Mr. Spider ? " she asked.
" Well, I want some grass tied up into thatch," he said.
So the Fowl started tying up the grass.
Presently the Wild Cat arrived, and the Fowl became
very agitated. "Oh! Spider, Spider," she cried, "and I
28
THE CRAFTY SPIDER REPLENISHES HIS LARDER.
begged you so particularly not to ask the Wild Cat. I
believe you went straight awaj^ and told her."
The Spider said, " Well, don't make such a noise or
else she will hear you. Just hide in this grass," and he
went across and told the Wild Cat, who promptly rushed
over and killed the Fowl.
" Let me put it by for you," said the Spider, and just
as the^r were putting it away the Dog arrived.
" Oh ! Spider, whatever brings the Dog here to-day ? "
asked the Wild Cat.
" How should I know ? " said the Spider, " perhaps
you'd better hide here while I ask him."
Then he went and met the Dog, and told him that
the Wild Cat was in hiding behind some grass. 0£ course
the Dog caught her without much trouble, and soon the
Spider was offering to put her body away along with that
o£ the poor Fowl she had killed a few minutes before.
When they had just started to work, who should
arrive but the Hyaena ! " Oh ! Spider, don't let her see
me," howled the Dog.
" Don't be ridiculous," retorted the Spider, " whoever
can see you in all this grass ; reaUy, some people have an
absurd idea of their own size and importance."
" Good morning, Mr. Spider, and where shall I begin ? "
said Mrs. Hj^aena, pleasantly, for a wonder.
29
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" Over there, I think," said he. " The grass looks as
i£ it would take some tying up," and he pointed directly at
the spot where the Dog was hiding.
A fearful yell announced that the Hyaena had dis-
covered why the grass looked so tumbled, and in a few
minutes she came out with the Dog hanging limply out of
her jaws.
" Well, I never ! " quoth the Spider, " you are
energetic !- Why, you will have enough food there for a
week. What luck some people. have to be sure ! Let me
put your prize aside for you." But the Hyaena said she
was hungry and would like to eat the Dog there and then.
However, just as she was preparing to begin her meal, the
Leopard arrived, and the Hyaena fled up into the place
where the new roof had been commenced.
" Good morning, sir," said the Leopard. He was
rather old-fashioned, and some people said he was afEected.
They thought he was very" conceited, for he always took
care that his spots were in the latest fashion. But then I
daresay the^^ had a grudge against him.
" Where do you wish me to help you ? I shall be
pleased to begin."
" Thank you so much," said the Spider. " What a
thing it is to have such a kind friend. I believe that is
rather a good place to begin ; shall we see ? " taking the
Leopard straight over to where the Hyaena was crouching.
30
THE CRAFTY SPIDER REPLENISHES HIS LARDER.
0£ course she had no chance, and just as the Spider
was helping the Leopard to put his booty away till the work
was finished for the day, the Lion appeared.
As the Leopard had said before, they never could
agree, and so they flew at each other at once. And whUe
they were fighting, the Spider got a big stick and began
beating them with it, and crying out, " Oh ! Leopard leave
off ! Oh ! Lion, Lion, do leave off, you are much too
great to fight hke this."
But he went on beating them all the same, and they
went on fighting, till they both dropped down dead ! Now
at last the Spider had meat enough and to spare, and as he
was collecting it aU into his house, he sang —
"Ha! Ha! He ! He !
Though little I be,
I'm wiser than all these big beast3, you see ! "
31
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
V.
THE FAIRY BABY.
ONG, long ago there lived a certain man
whose wife was very extravagant and
spent a great deal of money. He was
very good to her, and all went well for a
time, and then things began to go badly
with them, and at last he had to go and borrow money.
He was very fond of his wife and he did not want to
teU her any of his troubles until he was obliged to do so,
and I am sorr^' to say that he was quite afraid she would
be angry with him for not making enough money to
provide her with the things she thought necessarj', instead
of sympathising with him in his misfortunes.
One day God sent her a little baby, and her husband
was delighted, for he thought " Now she will not be so
fond of going out and spending money, she will stay at
home and play with the baby, and look after him."
But no, that did not suit her at aU, and so when the
baby was a few weeks old she .left him to take care of
himself, and we cannot be surprised to hear that the
fairies were so sorry for him that they came and took him
3'2
THE FAIRY BABY.
away to Fairyland, and put a changeling in his place. No
one guessed what had happened — though people thought
the Baby had suddenly become very good, for the change-
ling was really an old fairy, you see, who was glad to
have a rest from his work.
One day when the Baby (as his parents thought him)
was left all alone in the house, the Money -Lender came to
ask for his money. He knocked and knocked and knocked
but received no answer, for the changeling was just asking
the Fairy Queen what he should do.
Just as the Money-Lender had decided to go away he
heard a voice saying " My father is out, but if you will
take me to the Court I will claim the money that is due to
him from another man, and you shall have it."
" Who is speaking ? " the astonished Money-Lender
asked, and when the Baby answered him again from his
cradle he was too much surprised to argue, and for a joke
replied " Very well, we will go to the people with the
mighty mouths that they may judge between us."
So he picked up the Baby and put him on his back —
which is the way they carry babies in Hausaland — and
ofE they went towards the market'.
Now they came to some wells, and when the Baby
saw them he pulled the Money-Lender's hair to attract his
attention, and said " Put me down, if we want the people
33
D
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
-with mighty mouths here they are, where shall we find
any mouths greater than these ? "
The Money-Lender was annoyed at being outwitted
by a Baby, and said crossly " Very well, let us go to the
people who have studied so much that their eyes are red."
And off they went again.
Soon they came to a small pepper tree, with red and
^reen peppercorns on it, and when the Baby saw it he
pulled the Money-Lender's hair again. Then the man
asked angrily, "What is the matter now ? " And the Baby
replied, "You said you would take me to the red-eyed
people ; are there any whose eyes are redder than peppers ? "
So the Money-Lender saw that he must try again,
*' You are a very trying child," he said. " Let us go to
those who have large ears that they may hear our cause."
And off they went again.
Presently they came to a pond with water-lilies grow-
in it. Now, perhaps you don't know this, but the leaves
are very large, and of course the changeling had been
making fun of the Money-Lender, so he said, " Let us stop
here."
Then the man said, " Nonsense, why should we stop
here ? "
But the Baby repHed, " Surely no one in the world
has larger ears than the Water- Lily ! "
34
THE FAIRY BABY.
Now the Money-Lender had at first thought to make
fun of the Baby, but he soon found it was of no use, so he
said, " Oh well, I think we had better go to the . King.
After all he is the proper person to decide our case."
But when they arrived at the court the King said
" I am sorry, but I have no one to shave me, and I cannot
think properly imless I am shaved, so I fear you must go
away and return another day."
" Not so, King," the Baby broke in. " Let hot
water be brought that I may shave you," and the King
laughed and said, " Oh ! very well, but you are rather a
young barber ! "
Now on the way the Baby had picked some branches
of ripe red currants, and bringing them out of his pocket
ihe said to the King " If I shave you, will you strip these
currants for me, please ? I promised to have them done
lay the time my mother returned home, and if they are not
iready she will beat me. '
" Very well," replied the King, " one good turn
ideserves another," and the Baby began to shave him.
When he had finished, the King (who was lazy and
really did not want to be bothered) said " Now Baby, you
must put the hair back on my face again, and then I shall be
able to judge properly between yoti." Of course he thought
that was such an impossible thing that it would settle the
matter, and silence both the Babj*^ and the Money-Lender.
35
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" I will do that with pleasure, King," rephed the
Baby quickly, to his surprise, "but first let me see you put
back the currants on their stalks."
" Good gracious ! " exclaimed the King aghast, " there
is no arguing with that Baby. / cannot judge between
them." And then turning to the Money -Lender, he said
" I advise you to take him back to his father's house, and
not to press for the money. He is too clever for all of us,
and will do us an injury if we offend him."
So the Money -Lender had to make the best of it, for
no one was any match for the changeling, and he took the
Babj' home again.
■
M
■■
■
i
"^ ''^^IR^^^^^I
^r
,fWj
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*»r -, . ^^I^^^^H
f^
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# ^1
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^
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iH'
1^^^
^
\mk
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-•
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I
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m^
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m
ste.
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' •- ■'■■-■-• ^■^■^'^g^l^B^^B
" HE TOOK THE BABY HOME AGAIN.'
THE FAIRY BABY.
The father was very much surprised when the Money-
Lender said, " I shall not worry you any more for the
money ; as long as your son hves you need not repay me."
However, of course he was highly delighted, and said,
"What have I done to deserve such a clever son ? "
But the mother chimed in : " Don't talk nonsense.
Of course the Baby takes after me ! "
And she had the last word, for the changeUng was far
too wise to argue with her !
37
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
VI.
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
) NCE upon a time there was a very beautiful
girl. She Hved in Kano, but the fame of
her beauty spread all over the country, and
people came from near and far to see her.
All the young men feU in love with her,
and wished to marry her, but Hausatu — for that was her
name — did not wish to be married, and her parents were so
fond of her (for she was a very sweet, good girl) that they
did not like the thought of parting with her at all.
So her father said that if they gave her to any man
as his wife, he must be the cleverest in all the world,
though no mere man could possibly be worthy of their
darhng Hausatu. And he raised a great mound of earth
in front of their house, and whenever anyone came to
caU upon them, he said, " Are j^ou seeking a wife ? "
And if they said that they were, then he would reply
in a deep, gruff voice, to try and frighten them away,
" If you wish to marry Hausatu, you must prove yourself
worthy. Whoever wishes to be her husband must first
38
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
clear away this mound o£ earth that blocks up our front
path, and further, he must not eat nor drink anything until
all is cleared away, neither must he spit."
You will perhaps wonder why he said this, but in
the land where Hausatu lived it is very, very hot, and the
people are in the habit of chewing and spitting all the time
they are working to keep their Hps moist. So Hausatu' s
father wanted to make. the task very hard for any man
who wished to marry his daughter, so as to test his
character, for he thought that even if he remembered not
to eat nor drink, he would be sure to forget and spit ;
and as the suitor would not be allowed to try more than
once, his chance would be gone before he could say a word !
I could not tell you how many young men came and
saw Hausatu, and could not make up their minds to try ;
for they knew how hard a thing it was to do, and feared
lest Hausatu's father should impose a further trial of en-
durance upon them if they were lucky enough to be successful
in that one. However, many tried but failed, and Hausatu's
father went out every evening to rebuild, the n;iound and
replace what the unsuccessful suitors had removed.
Now you know how very crafty the Spider was, and
how really clever too, and when he heard of Hausatu's
beauty he thought he would like to go and see her with his
own eyes. So he changed himself into a handsome young
man, and started off on his quest.
39
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" Truly the girl is most beautiful," said he to himself,
" and what is more, she is so much beloved by her parents
that she must be a good daughter ; so she is the wife for
me." And nothing daunted by the task to be accomplished
before she could be his, the conceited Spider presented him-
self to her father.
When he had heard all that there was to be done, he
asked " If I attempt this, may I sing ? "
" Why certainly," replied the girl's father, " every
farmer's lad is allowed to sing. Sing as loudly as you will,
and as long ; if you fulfil aU the other conditions my
daughter shall be yours." So the Spider went ofE and
a,rranged to begin very early the next day.
When he was alone again, he took up his quiver, and
removing the arrows, he filled it with the remainder of the
gruel left over from his breakfast, and put it aside.
As he was going along very early next morning he
plucked several corn-stalks and he stripped the ears off, and
put the stalks into the quiver which he had slung over his
shoulder before starting out. The quiver then looked as if
it were full of arrows, and as the father had said he would
provide a spade for the work, the Spider carried only a
bow in his hand.
Hausatu had suggested that her parents should supply
the spade as she feared magic ; so that is why the Spider
did not take his own.
40
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
" Good morning, Mr. Arurururuwi," said Hausatu,
for that was the name the Spider had given himself for the
occasion, " I hope you will not find the task too difficult."
For you must remember he was now a handsome young
man, and Hausatu rather liked him.
" Good morning, Little One," said the Spider, " don't
you trouble your pretty head about that, but just get your
preparations made for the wedding ! I am sure to satisfy
your father, and I have left all prepared at home to receive
you on our return after the ceremony. Very, very soon I
shall say. Here is Mrs. Arurururuwi.' " So Hausatu
blushed and ran away into the house to tell her mother,
and just then her father came out.
" Good morning to you, Mr. Arurururuwi," he said.
^' I wonder how you will fare to-day ! "
" Why," laughed the Spider, "as I have just told your
daughter, / shall have won a vn£e before many hours are
over, and you will have gained a son-in-law."
Now wasn't it just like the Spider to say that ? If
he had said, " You will have lost a daughter," Hausatu's
father would have been in a bad temper right away !
" By the way," he added, " I shall keep my quiver on :
in these troublous times it is not safe to lay it aside for a
moment, even while one is working."
" Certainly," said Hausatu's father, " I see you are a
brave man, and a brave man is always prepared,"
41
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Then the Spider seized' the spade- and set to work,
singing :
" I am the cleverest man on earth,
I rouse the folk to music and mirth,
I'm always happy, I'm always gay,
And so I shall be on my wedding day.
Hurrah, hurrah, and a hip, hip, hip.
With a tupp, tupp, tupp, and a tip, tip, tip."
Now when he said " tupp, tupp, tupp," and " tip, tip,
tip," he was really spitting, only no one guessed. So you
can see why he asked i£ he might sing !
Hausatu and her parents were so excited when they
heard the word ' wedding-day,' that of course they aU began
talking together, and all at once, and so never heard the
Spider spitting.
Soon the sun got very hot, and the Spider's throat
became very parched and dry, and he began to feel rather
sorry for himself^ so he said aloud " This is quite a good
opportunity to dry the poison on my arrows." And he shut
one eye, and put his head down to the quiver as if he were
choosing a particular arrow, but really he was sucking up
the gTuel through the corn-stalk !
Then he sat down and rested for a few minutes, and
when he got up again he was as fresh as ever, and soon cleared
the mound right away. Hausatu and her parents could
hardly believe it when they opened the door, and saw the
42
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
ugly mound of earth had disappeared. But of course they
knew that now their happy days together had come to an
end, so there was nothing to be done but to prepare for
the parting. They were all so sad at supper, to which the
Spider had been invited, that he was very much annoyed
indeed, though he thought he had better conceal his
vexation as best he could, in case the parents should make
his bad temper an excuse for not letting their daughter go
with him even at the last moment.
However, her father stood up and told all the relatives
who had been invited to supper to meet the Spider, that as
he had accompHshed what he and his wife had thought and
hoped to be an impossibility, there was nothing for it but to
aUow him to marry their daughter.
After supper the Spider produced a sort of banjo that
he could play rather well, and he sang and made himself so
agreeable that everyone liked him, and said what a lucky
girl Hausatu was, for she had been won by a very nice
fellow after all !
The Spider had brought ever so many pats of butter
and roUs of bread with him, for where he hved the bread-fruit
and shea-butter grew upon trees, and so all he had to do was
to gather as much as ever he could carry. He gave presents
of bread, butter, salt, rice and beans, to his father and
mother-in-law, and aU sorts of lovely jewellery and fine
clothes to his bride, and so they were quite cheered up.
43
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Now when he first took her home the Spider was quite
afraid he was going to have trouble with his wiEe ; for
though such a sweet-tempered girl, she could be very dis-
agreeable when she chose. And she did not like the look
of their new home a bit at first.
" Where is your house ? " she asked.
" This is our house, my dear," replied her husband,
passing his hands over her eyes, and when she looked again
somehow the webs seemed to have changed. They did not
look quite so flimsy, in fact one big one, which covered the
two smaller ones, seemed quite Uke a strong tent. It did
not look too substantial, but the material was beautifully
soft and sUky.
" How lovely," cried Hausatu, and just then the sun
shone brightly on one corner,; and the web glistened with
all the most glorious colours you can imagine.
"Do you like it?" asked the Spider, "because I can
get you as much as ever you wish of that material."
" I don't think I ever saw anything more lovely !
Now I come to examine it, of course I can see how very
strongly it is woven," said Hausatu, apologetically. " Oh !
what an exquisite pattern, I should love to have a dress of
it ! It is too lovely for a tent ! "
The Spider was amused as well as pleased at his
wife's enthusiasm. He wondered what she would say if she
knew that he had not only made it himself, but had provided
44
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
the material out of his own body ! But he did not want
to tell her too much at once ; he was a wily old thing !
So Hausatu settled down in her new home, and all went
as merrily as wedding-beUs, and every afternoon Mr. and
Mrs. Arurururuwi sat in their best parlour to receive their
friends' congratulations, and to show them their many
lovely presents. The Spider had spun such beautiful new
webs, and he had so bewitched Hausatu that she was as
proud of them as a proper Mrs. Spider would have been,
and they were very happy. Every morning he went out to
work, and when he came home Hausatu had dinner ready,
and the web all nicely dusted and so comfortable.
Have you ever tried sleeping in a Spider's web ? It
is so soft and cosy !
After a time a little baby-daughter was born to the
Spider and his wife, and oh ! they were so pleased. She was
such a sweet little creature, and as good as gold. Her father
used to delight in spinning pretty webs for her, and she had
more frocks than any of the other babies in the neighbour-
hood, and they were far prettier too. The Spider loved to
play with her, and she would curl up into a ball, and tuck
all her little arms and legs together, and crow and laugh
back at him, and suddenly jump up and run ofE to her
newest web !
The mother and father were so devoted to the little
45
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
one that they took it in turns to work, so that one of them
should always be free to play with the baby.
They went on like this and were ever so happy, till
one day a nasty old woman from the village happened to
be passing just when Hausatu had gone down to the river.
The Spider was alone, playing and singing to his Uttle
girl, he was off his guard, and was singing : —
" Your father when he went to woo
Was set a difficult task to do,
He had to dig, he had to work —
And that is a thing all Spiders shirk.
With a tupp, tupp, tupp,
And a tip, tip, tip,
He did not go thirsty
With gruel to sip.
" For in his quiver was food and drink.
That was not fair, perhaps you think ?
But all is fair in love and war,
Love laughs at locksmith, laughs at door.
With a tupp, tupp, tupp,
And a tip, tip, tip,
He did not go thirsty
With gruel to sip."
The wicked old wretch did not say anything for a
day or two, but she kept watch every morning when it
was the spider's turn to play ijurse, and when she had
46
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
heard him singing several days running, she thought it
was time to speak. Of course she was the kind of person
who just loved making trouble.
So oflE she went to the river where Hausatu used to get
the water to fill all the jugs for the day, and when Hausatu
appeared she said, " Child, I grieve to say you have been
horribly deceived. Your husband lied to your father and
you. He did not fast aU day, as you thought, when he
was clearing the mound away. Oh ! no. He had gruel
in the quiver which he sucked up when no one was
looking, and, moreover, when he sang ' Tupp, tupp, tupp ! '
he was really spitting."
" How disgusting — besides it was forbidden ! " gasped
Hausatu. " But there, I know you ; you are old Mrs.
Busybody, and I don't believe a word of it."
"You can prove it my dear," said the other with a
sneer. " You have only to go back directly, before your
husband expects you, and you will probably hear him
telling your little daughter all about it. He was actually
singing a song to her of what he had done, and laughing
as I passed."
" The wretch," exclaimed Hausatu, and she let aU the
jugs fall, and rushed off home at once, where she arrived
just in time to hear her husband singing as he tossed the
baby up in his arms :
47
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" Your father when he -went to woo,
Was set a difficult task to do.
He had to dig, he had to work —
And that is a thing all Spiders shirk.
With a tupp, tupp, tupp,
And a tip, tip, tip,
He did not go thirsty
With gruel to sip.
" For in his quiver was food and drink.
That was not fair — — "
" It wasn't, it wasn't," shrieked Hausatu in a perfect
fury. "Horrible wretch; heartless -cruel -cold-blooded-
deceitful - wicked - nasty - disgusting - old - creatiire. You
cheat ! you cheat ! " And she threw herself on the
ground, and tore her hair, and sobbed "v\dth rage.
I've never seen anyone in such an awful passion before,
and I never want to again. Oh ! it was dreadful. Before
the Spider could say a word she had snatched up the Baby,
and drawing her hand over the web had torn it to shreds.
" There ! " she said, and stamped her foot so hard, right
on his toes. "There! there!" as she threw the baby's
toys at him. " I'm going home, I am ; all your cunning
shall not stop me. I have done with you for ever."
And she began to sob, "I could never have beHeved it,
but oh ! I heard it, I heard it myself," and away she ran,
crying and sobbing, and never stopped till she got home.
48
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
Her parents were naturally very much distressed,
when she returned to them in such a state, and could not
imagine whatever had happened to upset her so.
" There, there, there, my darling," said her mother
softly, crooning over her as if she were once more their
little child, " never mind, it will all come right."
And her father took his httle grandchild, and went
off to get her some nice warm milk, for he was so afraid
she might be cold. When Hausatu fled from the Spider,
you remember, she just picked up her baby, and never
stopped to put on its shawl or outdoor clothes.
Later on, when Hausatu was rested and comforted a
little, she told her father and mother how Arurururuwi
had wickedly deceived them.
Her mother was very indignant, and said she must
not think of going back to a man who had treated them all
so shamefully, adding that they had never wanted her to
be married, and would be only too dehghted to have
her at home again.
" Softy, softly, my good woman," said her husband,
" we must first find out how the misunderstanding and
quarrel arose. I feel sure Arurururuwi will be able to
give us a satisfactory explanation."
" Oh, he'll explain it all, never fear," retorted Hausatu
bitterly, " but it will be some time before / believe any-
thing he says again, and I won't go back ; I won't, I
49
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
won't ; " and she terrified her parents so hy screaming
^nd jumping about, that they promised her she should
return only of her own free will.
Now the Spider kept very quiet, and never went near
them. It is true he had as much as he could do to repair his
wrecked house. In fact, after looking sadly at it for some
time, he decided it would be easier to build an entirely
fresh one. So he set to work at once, for he felt so lonely
and miserable without his wife and baby, that he was
^iad of something to occupy his thoughts. It took him
several days to finish it all off, and he made it even prettier
than before, hoping Hausatu would be pleased when she
returned. For he felt sure she was so fond of him that
she would soon long to come back, and then it would be
^n easy task to persuade her to do so.
In due course the house was finished, and lovely it
looked inside and out. The web was fine and silky, just
hke gossamer, which you know is the substance that Fairies'
wings are made of, and the Spider embroidered it with fresh
•dew drops. He arranged them all round the porch, and
oh ! how they glistened when the sun was shining.
He was rather friendly with the Fire-flies, and he
arranged with them to come and serenade his wife when
he should have persuaded her to return home. They pro-
mised that they would all light up, and give her a splendid
welcome, and a torchhght procession to finish up with.
50
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
" But," said the Chief of the Fire-flies, " surely you
will punish old Mrs. Busybody for her interference ?"
"Rather," said the Spider laughing, "you need not
worry any more over her, for I went last night and spun
webs all over her best drawing-room curtains. It was
rather exhausting, but I was well repaid when I heard her
remarks this morning, and besides, my Cousin- Spider, who
dishkes her as much as I do, is staying near. He has
promised me that as soon as ever a web is dusted down he
will hurry to the spot and spin another."
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the Fire-flies, "that is a
good joke ; old Mrs. Busybody won't Hve long now, for she
can never leave a Spider's web alone, and we shall soon
hear that the worry of keeping her house free of them
has killed her."
" That's something, certainly," said the Spider, " so
much for old Mrs. Busybody, but, unfortunately, there are
dozens like her, and so there will alwaj^s be someone ready
to take her place ! "
Hausatu and her parents wondered what had happened
to the Spider, for they quite thought he would have come
very soon to take his run-a-way wife home. Hausatu was
not happy, and did not seem to take any interest in any-
thing, not even in her dear little baby.
51
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" I cannot stand this any longer," said her mother to
the father. " The child is fretting ; you must do some-
thing."
" That's all very well, but what can I do ? " he retorted.
" I've a good mind to go and see that wretched fellow and
ask him what it aU means."
" Oh ! no, don't do that,^'' said his wife, " it would be
very lowering to your dignity."
" Well, what am I to do, then ? " demanded her husband
testily. "You say ' do something,' and ' something must be
done,' yet directly I suggest anything you cry ' Oh ! no,
don't do that.' For heaven's sake propose something
yourself."
" When you have calmed down a little," said his wife,
in her most dignified tone, " I will certainly tell you what
I think would be best. Send a note to Arurururuwi and
tell him to come here to us immediately. Don't say a
word about Hausatu being with us, and don't let him
suspect that we know anything. He is verj' sharp : we
must be wary."
So they agreed to do this, and the note was sent.
" Perhaps he won't come, and I shall have to go, after
all," said Hausatu's father.
" Oh ! rubbish," said his wife. "Give the man time-
Do you expect him to fly here ? "
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
" No, but I should think he is crawling," replied her
husband, which was just what the Spider was doing, if
they'd only known.
Next day the Spider, who was overjoyed at receiving
the letter, set off to Hausatu's home, where he arrived in
the early morning. No one was up, so he began singing : —
" I was the happiest man on earth,
"Wherever I went there was music and mirth.
I was quite happy, and I was quite gay,
But I was most glad on my nuptial-day.
And now my dear wife has been lost to me.
Because of the tales of Old Busybodie."
Now when Hausatu heard this, she felt sure she must
have misjudged him, but hark ! there he goes again —
" I loved my wife, and my wife loved me.
And happy we'd be but for Busbybodie."
And she couldn't bear it any longer, especially when the
Baby -Spider sat up and uncurled itself, and began calling
and crooning " Aru-Ari," which was the nearest it could
get to its father's name. For Baby-Spiders call their parents
by name, as soon as ever they can speak.
So Hausatu snatched her up and rushed down to
welcome him. She fell into his arms, and when he began
explaining she would not let him say a single word.
Instead, she asked him to forgive her for being such a
stupid as to allow any Mrs. Busybody to interfere between
them, and spoil their happiness.
53
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Now the Spider was really overjoyed, for he loved
Hausatu as much as any Spider could love anyone. It
might not suit you, and I don't think it would suit me, but
that is beside the point ; she was quite satisfied, so they sat
down and played with the baby until Hausatu heard her
parents moving about ; and then she said she must go in
and prepare the breakfast, as she had done each morning
ever since her return.
" Stay," said Mr. Spider. I think we can really call
him " Mr. Spider " now, for it seems as if he had turned
over a fresh leaf, and really meant to be good for the
future. " Stay, my dear," and searching in his pockets —
such funny pockets they were — " I have brought you some
bread and butter from our part of the world. I gathered
it fresh out of the garden, and so you wUl not need to cook
any breakfast, for I rather think our parents will prefer
this."
The father and mother were dehghted when they
found that the quarrel had been made up. Hausatu's father
told the Spider privately that he had been on the point of
coming to see them when Hausatu arrived ; and as her parents
had never yet paid them a visit, it was arranged that, after
Hausatu and Mr. Spider and the baby were rested, they
should aU go back together.
Mr. Spider mentioned casually at supper that he had
taken advantage of his wife's absence to erect and furnish a
54
HAUSATU AND THE ENCHANTED SPIDER.
brand new house in a spot she had often admired. And
Hausatu, remembering how she had wrecked the other
one, could only look gratefully at her husband, for words
failed her, but her mother said how glad she was to hear it.
"I no longer have any fears for your happiness,"
she said, " for very few husbands are like Arurururuwi."
And I think we can all agree with her !
55
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
VII.
THE HUNTER AND THE FAIEY BUFFALO.
kNCE upon a time, long, long ago, when
men first began to hunt animals for food,
there was a clever Buffalo who understood
their language (for she had been friendly
with them before they became hunters), and
she also knew how to change herself into a beautiful girl.
Now the Chief of the town near which the Herd lived,
was a very clever man, and he had a son called Mahalbi of
whom he was very fond. When the son grew up he took
him Buffalo-hunting with him. They were such good
hunters that the Buffaloes became very' frightened, fearing
that they aU would soon be kiUed unless something
could be done to put a stop to the hunting parties. So
they held a great council to consider what was best to be
done.
The clever Buffalo-Girl said that several times when
she had been to the town, after changing herself into a
woman, she had seen the Chief and his son,
" Oh, why did you not listen and try to find out their
plans, since you alone of us understand their language ? "
demanded the Queen of the Buffaloes.
56
THE HUNTER AND THE FAIRY BUFFALO.
" Madam I did so," replied the Buffalo-Girl, " but alas !
I could not find out anything, for the Chief is so wise, he
never talks about his plans. He is, as you know, a cautious
man, and his son, who is a good youth, is content to do
as his father bids him."
"Alas! alas!" cried the Queen, "I had such hopes
when I saw yOu rise to answer me, and now they are
dashed to the ground. My poor children what can I do
for you ? "
One of the older courtiers who had known the Queen
from babyhood said " Ah, Madam, if only you had been
content to marry the Chief of the other Buffaloes, we might
have been strong enough now to withstand our enemies."
" Silence ! " snapped her majests^, " since you have no
advice to offer us, we will dispense with your remarks."
She could be very severe and dignified, couldn't she ?
But now the young Buffalo-Girl who spoke men's
language said " May it please Your Majesty I have thought
of a plan."
" Unfold it, unfold it," cried the anxious Queen,
hastily.
" Madam, as you know, I have a charm, which my
dear mother gave me, and by its aid I can transform my-
self into a woman. Now it is not permitted to a Buffalo-
Girl to go and live in a house, and so I could not get many
opportunities of overhearing Mahalbi and his father
57
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
talking together. Would it be possible for Your Majesty
to allow me to remain in their house for a few days so
that I might try again to find out their plans and " — here
she lowered her voice and looked round to see if there were
any people in the Queen's tent whom she could not quite
trust, for there is a great deal of jealousy everywhere, and
BufEaloes are not by any means free from it, " and," she
continued mysteriously, " I might be able to upset their
plans, or even to kill them as they have kUled so many
of us."
" My child, you give me hope again," cried the Queen^
" of course you shall go, When so much is at stake the
laws must be modified. Is it not so, ! People of the
Buffaloes ? " And a murmur of assent arose from the
assembly.
" Very well, then, that is settled. Come here my
child." And the young Buffalo-Girl came and knelt before
her majesty.
" We would wish you to go well provided," said the
Queen, "and since we do not ourselves wear clothes such
as these mortals wear, we must needs give you a gift to
present to them of the best that we have." And, turning to
her Chamberlain, she ordered him to bring out seven of
the best. Buffalo hides in the royal treasury.
For when Bxiffaloes die, their relatives save their skins
to wear on verj^ special occasions. That is, perhaps, one
58
THE HUNTEE AND THE FAIRY BUFFALO.
reason why they grieve so when a member of the Herd is
killed, for the hunter naturally takes the hide away, and so
it is a double loss to the relatives.
While the Chamberlain was getting the hides — and it
took him some time for he had to get the key of the
treasury where aU the skins were kept, for being those of
members of the royal family, they were very valuable
indeed — the young Buffalo-Girl craved permission to retire,
so that she might make use of the charm in secret, and
become a woman.
This being granted she went to her own cave, which
was quite near the Court as she was of very good family
herself. Having shut herself in so that no one could see
or hear anything, she took the charm out of its hiding place
and chanted the magic song. No one knows quite what
it was, but it was something like this : —
" Change me to a woman fair.
Eyes of blue and golden hair,
Cherry lips and ivory skin.
Not too fat and not too thin.
Let the Chief's son marry me
So I may his magic see."
By the time she had sung this through she had changed
into a most lovely girl. She looked so sweet and fair, and
had such an amiable expression, I'm sure you would
have loved her if you had seen her. She had on the
59
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
richest garments, and looked for all the world like a fairy
Princess, with her golden chains round her neck and wrists,
and long ear-rings in her ears.
The Queen Avas delighted when she saw her, and threw
a couple of the Buffalo-skins over her shoulders with her
own royal hands, and that was the finishing touch. She
looked quite regal. All the Buffaloes crowded round to
say " good-bye " to her as soon as the Queen had kissed
her and bidden her farewell, for it was decided that she
should go alone, so as not to arouse anyone's suspicion, lest
her secret should be discovered, and all the people guess
that she was not a real girl. So they took her as far as the
edge of the camp, and it was decided that she should rest
there for the night, and go to the town very early next
morning before it was hght, and as a further precaution the
Buffaloes went deeper into the forest. Of course being
really a Buffalo made a deal of difference, for she was much
stronger than an ordinary girl, and could run very much
faster.
In the morning when she entered the town, she went
at once to the Chief's house, and asked to see him. He was
very much surprised to see such a beautiful girl all alone at
that hour of the morning, and was curious to know what
had brought her to his town, and what she wanted hun to
do for her.
" My story is a sad one. Mighty Chief," she said.
60
THE HUNTER AND THE FAIRY BUFFALO.
" Long, long ago, I lost mj- dear father, and my mother
died when I was born. I was the child of a Chief as brave
and noble as yourself, and now I am alone and friendless,
I crave your s^'mpathy and help."
" Poor child," said the Chief, " stay here awhile and
rest. Do not attempt to tell us your story since it dis-
tresses you so much " — for she had begun to cry. " I can
see you are as noble as you are lovely ; only king's
children are dressed as you are."
" May 3'ou be repaid, Generous Chief, for your
kindness," she sobbed, pretending to be utterly worn out
and wretched, whereas her heart was nearly bursting with
rage, and she was longing to turn into a Buffalo, and
suddenly gore the Chief to death. She could not help
thinking of the many members of her tribe who had met
their fate at his hands.
" Some day perhaps, you will tell me all your
story," he replied, " and we will see what can be done, for
I am afraid you must have suffered from the treachery of
someone."
" Indeed, indeed, you speak but the truth. My Lord,"
she cried. " My father was most treacherously killed, and
dear brothers and sisters, and " Here she choked with
rage at the thought of the many relatives who had been
hunted down.
61
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" There, there, my dear," said the Chief, thinking that
her griefs were the cause of her distress, though we know it
was mostly rage, " don't try to talk now ; go and rest."
And he bade his servants do all they could for her,
and he had the best rooms prepared for her as if she were
a very honoured guest indeed. She stayed quite a long
time, and whenever anyone attempted to find out who she
was or where she had come from, she began to cry, and pre-
tended she was too much upset to talk about it.
Now Malhabi, the Chief's son, was very much in love
with the maiden, indeed he had thought of asking her to
be his wife directly he saw her, for she was really a most
beautiful woman. Day by day every one became fonder
and fonder of her, for she seemed as sweet as she was
lovely. Ah ! Had they only known her real thoughts !
At last Malhabi went to his father and told him how
much he loved the maiden, and his father sympathised with
him, and owned that he, too, thought her very charming.
But he did not wish his eldest son to marry a maiden of
wheso people they knew nothing, so he said he must think
it over ; and Malhabi went away quite sad.
Now the Chief was very fond of his son and could not
bear to see him looking so miserable. So he consulted with
the Wise- Men of the town, and they all said that they hoped
Malhabi would be allowed to marry the maiden.
62
THE HUNTER AND THE FAIRY BUFFALO.
" For," said one old man, " we are so used to seeing
her pretty face now, that we should miss it dreadfully if
she went away, but of course we cannot expect to keep her
here unless Malhabi marries her, for; aU maids become
wives when they are as good and as pretty as she is, and
one can see that she is of royal or princely family ; so since
there is no one but Malhabi to wed her here, it follows we
shall lose her to a neighbouring Chief one of these days."
This point of view had never struck the Chief, and
when someone else got up and said that the town had been
very lucky and prosperous since the maiden's arrival, he
was quite persuaded to let the marriage take place, and to
trust to luck for the future.
" When she is happy and safe in her own home here,
she will be the more ready to tell us about the events which
proved lucky to us in bringing her here, although they
were the misfortunes of a life to her, poor child," he argued
with himself.
So he sent for Malhabi and told him that he no
longer had any objections to the match, and that he should
be happy to receive the maiden as his daughter.
" We wiU try and make her so happy that she wiU for-
get all her troubles," he added, and Malhabi, overjoyed
a-t the prospect, went off at once to find the maiden.
When he told her how much he loved her and hoped
63
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
she would be his wife, she was secretly overjoyed, for as
we know, it was with that very object in view that she had
changed herself into a girl and left her people. But she
was artful and pretended to be shy.
" Oh Prince," she said to please him, for he was only
a Chief's son (I expect she knew that even better than you
and I !) you do me honour, indeed, indeed I am grateful,"
and she began to cry softly, "a poor maiden, friendless
and alone "
" Hush, hush, my love," said he, " you shall never be
friendless or alone again as long as I live, and as for the
honour — come, dry your tears and let us go and hear what
the Chief, my father, has to say. We shall be honoured
indeed Princess, if you consent to stay with us."
She was always called ' Princess,' for though she had
never actually told the people she was a Princess, she had
never corrected anyone who had so addressed her ; conse-
quently it came to be an understood thing that she really
was one, and that satisfied most people.
The old Chief gave them his blessing, and ordered
everything to be prepared immediately for the very grandest
wedding that had ever been seen in that part of the land.
There were feasts every day for a week and dances
every night, and the whole town was illuminated. In
addition to the fairy lights, which one would of course
64
THE HUNTER AND THE FAIRY BUFFALO.
expect all fairy Princesses to have at their wedding cere-
monies, this bride, who was akin to the animals, had
swarms of Fire-flies in attendance, who came out and lined
the streets on the night of the State Ball which ended
the festivities. The people thought it was because of her
sweet nature which had conquered even the insects and
made them her slaves, but we know better than that !
When they had been married a little whUe the Princess
thought she had better try to find out the secret of
Mahalbi's success when Buffalo-hunting, for not being a
real woman, life in the town did not suit her, and it was
beginning to teU upon her nerves. She longed for the
free life in the wUds once more, and she could not bear to
see the dead Buffaloes brought in after each hunt. So one
night she asked Mahalbi how he accounted for his luck.
He pretended to be very indignant. " Luck, do you
caU it ? " he said. " Why, my father and I are the best
hunters for many miles round."
" Oh ! I daresay you can hunt well," said the Princess,
" but I have always heard that the Buffalo is difficult, very
difficult to kQl. Are you never afraid, Mahalbi ? Their
horns look so cruel to me," she shivered, " I should
simply dread being gored to death."
Mahalbi laughed. " Oh ! that comes of being a woman,
you see : men are not like that, and besides, of course, we
have charms ! "
65
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
There, the secret was out !
" Charms — what are they ? " asked the Princess.
*' How odd. Do tell me all about them — I love anything
strange, and especially when it has to do with your safety,
dear husband."
Now i£ Mahalbi had been wise he would have said he
was tired and wanted to go to sleep ! But the Princess
bad such a way with her, there was no keeping a secret
once she had suspected it and wanted to know it.
" There are various charms," he said, trying to
change the subject, " I always use one to keep dry when I
go fishing for instance. If you are so interested, dearest,
won't you come with me some time and I will show you
how to work it, too ? "
" Why, of course I will, how lovely to be sure," cried
the Princess, "but I like hunting better than fishing,"
hastening to add as she saw Mahalbi's look of surprise,
■" that is, I mean, I am more interested in hunting. Of
•course I know nothing of either sport really."
" I see," said he rather doubtfully.
" Well, what do you do when you go hunting ? Do
tell me," she pleaded, "it can't make any difEerence now
that I am your wife."
" Well I suppose it cannot really," said Mahalbi rather
reluctantly, " but we don't tell our women things of that
66
THE HUNTER AND THE FAIRY BUFFALO.
kind in this town, it is not the custom. However, you are
different, aren't you ? "
" Yes, yes o£ course I am," cried the Princess eagerly,
with more truth than he kne'iv.
" When we go hunting Buffalo, we can change into
an ant-hiU or a stump in the road, or a ri " and he
broke off for he heard his father coming in late from a
Council Meeting, and he suddenly wished he had asked
him before telling the Princess about the charms. He was
a good son, and force of habit made him stiH consult his
father, and the Princess was too sensible or too indifferent
to mind as a rule.
A "few days after, the Princess proposed that they
should have a picnic. Now no one had ever heard of such
a thing before. The younger people aU thought it a
splendid idea and were most enthusiastic, but the older
■ones shook their heads and said " What a difference a
sense of security makes to a person, Princess or peasant it
is all the same." And they wondered what other outlandish
forms of amusement she would introduce now she was
Mahalbi's wife and secure in her position.
Some of the girls who had hoped Mahalbi would
■one day marry one of them, said how sorry they were for
him, for nothing is so trying to a man as a wife who
upsets his friends and cannot agree with his relations !
67
FABLES AND FAIEY TALES.
This was only spitefulness, for the Princess was really as
popular as ever.
The preparations for the picnic went on apace, and the
Chief, who was as devoted as ever to the Princess, told his
son to spare no trouble nor expense to make the first
picnic a great success.
When the day came, it was bright and warm, and just
sunny enough to be pleasant, and they started. ofE very
early in the morning, for where Mahalbi Hved it was too
hot to go about after the sun was well up. There were
several bullock-carts full of provisions, and Mahalbi took
a tent for the Princess to rest in. They went some
distance into the country, and then they stopped and had
refreshments. They played aU sorts of games, and the
Princess, who was popular before, simply won all hearts
that day, for nothing could exceed her gentleness and good
temper, and she had a kind word for everyone. The plan
was to rest in the heat of the day, returning to the town
when it became cool again.
Now while they were resting, the Princess was
suddenly seized with a desire to visit her own people and
see how they were getting on. She hoped to explain to
them why she had stayed so long without helping them —
for she was really an honest Buffalo, though a deceitful
Woman — and she was afraid the Queen of the Buffaloes
would think she was so happy in her new life that she
68
THE HUNTER AND THE FAIRY BUFFALO.
had forgotten all about them. So she got up and put the
charm in the bosom of her dress, and was slipping quietly
out of the tent when Mahalbi sprang up and asked why she
was going out into the sun.
" It won't hurt me," she said, scornfully. " What is
the use of being a King's daughter and the wife of a Chief's
son, if one has to stay in because of a little heat, just like
the comifion people ? "
" Just as you like," retorted Mahalbi. " Of course if
you go, I go too. But I should like to know where you
are going, my dear, if you don't mind."
" I am only going for a stroll towards the forest," she
answered, and, as aj plan formed in her mind, she added
quickly " do come, dear, I shall be glad of your company."
Mahalbi said, " Of course I will," and picking up his
quiver, followed her out of the tent.
" What on earth are you taking that for ? " she asked.
" One never knows in this part of the land what one
may meet : there are Lions and Hyaenas, to say nothing of
Buffaloes."
" What's the use of your charm then ? " enquired the
Princess.
" Well, it would be of no use to you, my dear," said
her husband. " However, I don't suppose I shall want
them," and he threw them down, and off they strolled.
69
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
As they passed a big tree the Princess slipped round
the far side of it, and pulling the charm out of her dress
she turned into a Buffalo.
Quick as thought Mahalbi, now defenceless, changed
himself into an ant-hill. It was not a moment too soon,
for the BufEalo charged down upon him, and he had barely
time to change into the stump of a tree.
Now the Princess forgot that Mahalbi had been about
to tell her of yet a third charm — for you will remember that
he got as far as " ri — " and stopped when his father's foot-
steps disturbed them — or else perhaps she had not noticed
it ; anyhow she rushed at the tree-stump to gore it, but
Mahalbi sprang aside and transformed himself into a ring.
" Wherever can he be now ? " wondered the Buffalo,
and she went nosing the grass, while poor Mahalbi was
shivering in his sandals — that is if he had kept them on —
and I don't suppose there was any too much room in
the ring. Suddenly — whirr ! whiz ! crash !. and down
went the Buffalo with an arrow in her side. But she
scrambled up- agaui, bellowing with rage, and rushed off
into the forest, for she had dropped the charm, and could
never again become a Princess.
One of the Chief's friends had seen Mahalbi leave his
tent with his bride, and not considering the country too
safe he had thought it best to follow them at a distance.
UnUke the Chief's son, he was on the same side of the tree
70
THE HUNTER AND THE FAIRY BUFFALO.
THE BUFFALO BELLOWED AND RUSHED OFF INTO THE FOREST.
as the Princess, and had seen her change into a BufEalo and
charge Mahalbi. At first he thought it was just a game,
and was wondering i£ he should go back, for since he had
seen her magic he said to himself "the Princess is well
able to look after herself and her husband, and i£ any wild
beast comes out I shall be the only person in danger."
But when he saw Mahalbi spring up and disappear twice
(for he had to take his natural form again each time before
changing into the stump or the ring) he thought it time to
interfere, and let fly an arrow which struck the Buffalo as
we know.
71
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
0£ course everyone was very much grieved at the loss
of their sweet Princess, but after all, as they said, things
might have been worse. She had reaUy only done them
good, though her intentions were undoubtedly evil, and had
she suceeeded in carrying them out, the consequences
would have been dreadful.
72
THE THIEVING SPIDER CAUGHT BY THE HALF-MAN.
VIIL
HOW THE THIEVING SPIDER WAS CAUGHT
BY THE HALF-MAN.
' NE day the Spider pretended that he was
going to be very busy, so he told his wife
to make him some ground-nut and pahn-
fruit sandwiches for his lunch, as he should
be away the whole day at the farm which
he had bought. So she cooked the nuts and salted them,
and put oil on them, and made some very tasty sandwiches
for her husband.
" I should hke to come down and see you at work,"
she said, " when I have finished what I have to do here,
and we could walk back together in the evening."
But that did not suit the Spider at all, he had no
intention of letting his wife know any of his plans.
" How sweet of you to think of it my dear, but I
could not let 3'^ou come all that long way by yourself, it
would never do. I should not have a minute's peace, and
I should never get any work done, for I should be
wondering all the time where you were, and how far you
73
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
had got on your way. You shall see the farm one day,
never fear," he continued, patting her softly on the back,
" but it will look much prettier when it is all in order and
the corn is sprouting. And now I must be off."
So he stowed away his sandwiches, shouldered his hoe,
and started off, singing as usual : —
" Ho, ho ! ha, ha ! ho, ho ! he, he !
A Spider's wife at home must be ;
She must not interfere -with me,
Lest she and I should not agree."
When he had gone some little way, the Spider turned
off the main road and plunged into the forest. He knew a
place where there was a pool, and he began to feel rather
thirsty, so he thought he would take a little rest, and have
a nice cool drink from the pool. " The sandwiches are
very heavy," he thought to himself. " Perhaps I might as
well eat one or two now, it is no use carrying them, and I
may meet someone who will ask me home to dinner."
The truth was that he was really a very lazy, greedy
Spider, so as he turned into the forest he found a nice leafy
spot where it would be safe to leave anything, and then he
hid his hoe there, for he had never had any idea of really
working, and only came away because he thought he could
get a better meal. The night before, Mrs. Spider had
timidly hinted that there was not very much food left,
and it was time her husband set about getting some more.
74
THE THIEVING SPIDER CAUGHT BY THE HALF-MAN.
So the wily Spider thought he would pretend to be work-
ing hard on his farm, knowing that his wife would certainly
make up something in the way of refreshment for him to
take with him.
So he strolled on leisurely, and presently he came to
the pool. It was a lovely spot, dark and cool, such as
Spiders love, and he sat and ate his sandwiches one by one
until he came to the last !
"It is certainly no use carrying one sandwich about
with me all day," he said to himself as he looked at it.
" I may as well finish it too. My wife can make sand-
wiches," and then he rolled over on his side and was soon
fast asleep.
You wiU be wondering what had become of Mrs.
Spider all this time. Poor little thing, she was rather
lonely, for when her husband had gone, she had very Uttle
to do to amuse herself. When once the babies were washed
and dressed they lay in their little webs and slept again by
the hour together. They were specially good children
when they were little, and every one loved them. Grand-
mamma and Grandpapa Spider often came over to see them,
for of course they were quite devoted to them. They were
Mrs. Spider's parents, and lived quite near their daughter,
and it happened that soon after the Spider had left home,
Mrs. Spider heard someone knocking very softly. She ran
to the door at once, for the babies were as usual fast asleep,
75
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
and she did not want them disturbed : she thought they
looked so very pretty when asleep. And who should she
find at the door but her own dear father !
" Well, this is nice," she said, and gave him a hug.
" Do come in at once and rest," and she put her arms round
him and brought him in, and spread the Spider's best web
for him to rest in.
" And how is Mamma ? I wish she had come too, for
the children are all so well, and she could have seen how
they've grown. It is a long, long time since you saw them.
When you are rested we will go and look at them." For
Mrs. Spider thought her children the most perfect in all
the world, and expected everyone else to do so.
" But, what must you think of me," she said, " chat-
tering on like this when you must be longing for some
refreshment ; I won't be a minute," and off she tripped.
She looked rather sad when she returned, for to teU
the truth there was not very much left to bring out for
her father. The Spider had never enquired what his wife
and family were going to do for their mid- day meal. If
he gave it a thought he probably decided it was wiser not
to enquire, in case he might have to leave some of his nice
sandwiches behind, which shows how abominably greedy
he was, for you know he really had more than he needed.
" I am afraid I have not very much to offer you
father dear," said poor little Mrs. Spider, when she
76
THE THIEVING SPIDER CAUGHT BY THE HALF-MAN.
returned " for you see Gizzo (that was the Spider's pet
name) went off to work m a great hurry, and I stupidly
put all the sandwiches for the family into his bag. He will
be vexed when he discovers the mistake, but there, it can-
not be helped, and so I have just made you a httle omelet
with some nuts and some flies' legs," and she hoped her
father would not guess that the Spider had gone off
mthout ever giving a thought to his wife and babies.
" How quick you've been my dear, indeed it is
delicious, nothing could be nicer. What a lucky fellow
Gizzo is to be sure. We miss you sadly at home. This is
quite a treat," and the grandfather Spider ate up all the
omelet, and then he said he would like to see the babies, for
he had not much time to spare, and must be getting home
again before the sun got too hot.
Just as he was going he said "Well, well, I am a nice
one, I was going away without ever teUing you why I came
to see you to-day, and what would your mother have said to
•me then ? I had a chance the other day of buying some
ground-nuts very cheaply, so I am sending you on a few.
I expect they will come this evening, and I hope you will
find them good my dear. I thought I would let you know,
for of course you must clear a place to store them in."
" Oh, father dear, how good of you," she cried,
" Gizzo will be pleased and "
77
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" Oh ! well remember they are for you" said her
father, for he had been hearing tales lately of the Spider's
doings which had not pleased him, and he began to be
rather anxious about his daughter. " Gizzo is well able to
get them for himself, but you have all the babies to look
after and I hope "
" Oh ! he looks after us all," said Mrs. Spider, " and he
works so hard. Why now he has this farm I don't suppose
we shall see much of him, for he went ever so early this
morning to work down there, and I don't expect him back
till late."
" There, there," said her father, " I am glad to hear
it, I'm glad to hear it" (Have you ever noticed how Spiders
repeat themselves, when they're getting old ?) " So good-
bye my child, and get Gizzo to bring you all over some
day soon, the sooner the better, ha ! ha ! the sooner the
better."
Mrs. Spider watched him a little way down the road,
and he turned and waved to her several times, then she
had to run in quickly, for one of the babies had got tied
up in its own web, and was so frightened that it was
making a fearful noise. The other babies were all roused,
and of course joined in the chorus, and succeeded in tearing
several holes in their webs.
" Dear, dear," said Mrs. Spider, " a nice afternoon's
work I can see before me ; all the webs to darn, and
78
THE THEIVING SPIDER CUAGHT BY THE HALF-MAN.
nowhere to put the babies ! " So first o£ all she cuddled
them and comforted them all, and then she spun a big
web, and put them all in it. She hung it up where she
could see them while she went on with the mending of the
torn ones, and while she was working she crooned away :
" Sleep little Spiders
For Mother .is here,
Sleep little Spiders,
You need have no fear.
Father and Mother are working away.
So rest Baby-Spiders, and sleep while you may."
And soon they were all fast asleep again !
So we will leave them all awhile, and go and see
what the Spider was doing.
He had slept on peacefully all the afternoon, and as
evening drew on he woke up, for it was getting quite
chilly. " Heigh ho ! " said he as he stretched himself, " I
am as tired as if I'd done a hard day's work " — which is
often the case, isn't it, with you and me ? I don't mean
to say we are ever intentionally lazy like the Spider,
because if you were you would not be reading now,
and if / were I should certainly not have found time to
write this story for you. But it is not always the hardest
work that is the most tiring !
Now where was I ? Oh, yes, I remember ! The lazy
Spider was just awake.
79
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
"It will never do to go home like this," he said to him-
self, " although I doubt even so if my wife would guess."
He did not give her credit for any smartness, you see,
perhaps he was mistaken, who knows ? " But," he went
on as he turned over and sat up, " I must devise something."
" Ha, ha ! I have it," he exclaimed as he shook him-
self and got up on his hmd legs — and what do you think he
did then ? Why, he scraped up some mud — ^there was plenty
aU round the pond — and plastered himself aU over with it,
you never saw such a sight as he made of himself. I
don't think any of his friends would have cared to have
walked home with him that evening. He carefully examined
his reflection in the pond, and decided that he looked a
very hard-working person, so he thought, as it was getting
dusk he had better start off for home. When he came to
the place where he had hidden his hoe, he took it out, and
shouldering it again he went ofE at a run.
He was really a great strong Spider, well able to work,
but when he got within sight of his home he commenced
to stagger, and to drag first one foot and then the other,
and hang his head as if he were quite worn out. His wife
was watching for him (as he knew she would be) and she
soon ran out to meet him and would have kissed him, but
he cried out " Oh no, my dear, I must reaUy have a wash
first, I am so very muddy, but people cannot work hard, as
I have been doing aU day long, and not show any signs of it.
80
THE THIEVING SPIDER CAUGHT BY THE HALF-MAN.
It is different with you, of course you always look neat
and nice, staying at home and having nothing much to do.
I should not expect you to receive me in a Uke untidy
state." Little he really cared whether she had much or
little to do, he certainly never worried his head about it !
" Oh ! my dear, my dear, you should not work so
hard," cried little Mrs. Spider, "you really should not,
there is no need. I must tell you all about it, but first let
me carry your hoe."
The Spider pretended to be very unwilling for her
to carry it. " It is nothing reaUy," he said, "after you've
carried it and used it as much as I have. It's aU very well
to say I shouldn't work so hard, but after aU you want
food for yourself and the children, and so I must struggle
to do what I can ! "
Poor Mrs. Spider was trying to keep up with him, for
now she had the heavy hoe to carry and he had nothing
he could easily out-strip her, and she had hardly any
breath left. " I have some news," she panted.
" Oh ! indeed," said the Spider. " Nothing very
exciting, I imagine. One of the babies has grown another
leg, I suppose ? What queer things women are."
" The Babies are quite alright," said Mrs. Spider,
rather sharply for her. She did not much like being
always teased, and sometimes when she was tired it got on
81
G
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
her nerves, and then, poor httle thing, she used to cry.
However, to-day, she was too excited to notice it very
much.
" My father came after you had gone," she said, " and
he has made us a present of some ground-nuts. Oh !
Gizzo, such a lovely lot. You need not go to the farm for
a long time, and we can enjoy them and have a little
hohday together."
" Not so fast) my dear," said the Spider, " we shall
wrant some corn again, some day, and it won't grow itself ;
but we shall see. And now get me some water that I may
wash and get ready while you prepare the supper."
After supper, the Spider said he thought after all that
if his wife would make him some more sandwiches he had
better have another long day at the farm. " There is a
great deal to be done before one can start sowing," he said,
■" I don't suppose it ever occurred to you, but so it is, and
I shall be some time getting the farm in order. If I don't
go to-morrow it will probably mean that to-day's work
will be wasted : one must keep it up, and so I think I will
go. After all, this is the best time of the year, and when
the corn is ripe and ready to cut and store away, you will
be glad you let me go."
So away he went next morning and did exactly as he
had done the day before. He slept the whole day, and
82
THE THIEVING SPIDER CAUGHT BY THE HALF-MAN.
then when night came, returned home, pretending that he
had been so very hard at work all day.
After a week, it struck him that it was rather a pity
to carry the hoe backwards and forwards for nothing, so he
told his wife that he should not need it again for some
little time and would leave it at home. This went on until
nearly all the ground-nuts were eaten, and every day as
the babies got bigger they wanted more to eat.
One day when Mrs. Spider had been spending the day
with her father and mother, she noticed that the corn on
the farms she passed on her way was nearly ripe. So that
•evening when they were sitting in the porch — all Spiders'
houses have a porch — she ventured to remark to her
husband that it would very soon be time to cut the corn.
Whereupon the Spider fell into a great rage and said he
would not put up with interference, that if women would
•only mind their own affairs, and not meddle with what was
no concern of their's, the world would be a far happier
place. Of course he was afraid that when Mrs. Spider
found him out, as she would be sure to do, she would be
very angry and tell her parents, so he pretended to get up
.and go off in a huff, thinking that when he came back she
would say^she was sorry, and that she had never meant to
interfere/ )
But Mrs/ Spider was not always so silly as she looked,
.and besides there were the babies to be thought of. So
83
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
next morning she said, " 1 think I will go with you to-day
and help cut the corn, it must be quite time, and it is too
much for one person to attempt."
" That is so kind, and just what I have been expecting
of you," said the wicked old Spider, " but, my dear, think
of the babies, what would become of them if you were not
here to keep watch all day long ? "
" Oh ! I've arranged all that," said Mrs. Spider.
She had not really done so, but from living so long with
such a deceitful person as the Spider, I am sorry to say,
she was beginning to be almost as bad herself. It was sad,
and grieved her friends very much ; still no one liked to
tell her of it.
" I asked Mrs. Fly one day, and she said she would
be only too pleased to come in. She has admired our
best web for a long, long time, and," drawing herself up,
" it is a very fine one. I thought if we were very tired on
our return," she continued, " we could cook the old thing
for supper : it would save a lot of trouble, and I don't
suppose we shall either of us be very much incHned to go
and shop at that time of night."
Now this was really horrible of Mrs. Spider, wasn't it ?
But Spiders haven't any consciences, poor things : they
don't even know what such a thing is, and in any case
have no place to keep it in.
84
THE THIEVING SPIDER CAUGHT BY THE HALF-MAN.
" That's a very fine plan, my dear, and does you
infinite credit," said the Spider, " infinite credit, but I am
afraid it is out of the question. I really could not allow
our children to be left all day with that stupid Mrs. Fly.
Why, whatever would people say ? It is not to be thought
of, but I would certainly ask Mrs. Fly to come in to see the
web, by all means. If you keep her late talking, who knows,
we may still have a good supper. He ! he ! " And he
laughed in a hideously cold-blooded way. "You must concoct
a better plan than that. Meantime, I'm off to my work, and
I will try — mind, I do not promise, I only say I will try —
to carry home some of the corn to show you to-night. If
I cannot — and you must remember I am always very tired
after my day's work — well to-morrow you shall go yourself,
and I will stay behind to look after the babies."
Now the Spider had made up his mind to steal some
grain, so he went about and looked at aU the farms to try
and decide which was the finest corn, and which looked the
easiest to steal.
Presently he came to some very rich land. It belonged
to some strange creature such as you and I have never
seen. He was a HaL£-Man, and had only one arm, one
leg, half a head, and half a body.
He was very rich, and did not do any work himself.
Of course when you come to think about it,, you will see
that it was really very difficult for him to walk about at all,
85
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
he could only hop in fact, and it was quite impossible for him
to work. So it was a lucky thing that he was rich and could
afford to pay other people to do so for him. Poor Half-
Man ! we must always be very sorry for any people who
have not got all their legs and arms. But the Half-Man's
servants, who were very well paid, got lazy and did not
look after the land properly. It was a great shame to
take advantage of him — but that is the way of the world.
So when the Spider looked about, and saw the beautiEul
ripe corn, and no one guarding it, he seized the opportunity
to help himself very liberally.
Of course his wife was very much pleased when he
came home with the corn, and she suggested that they
should keep Mrs. Fly, and eat her some other day when
they ran short of food again. But no, the Spider felt so
sure of being able to take as much as he wanted from the
Half-Man's farm, that he said " We'll have a feast to-night,
my dear, for there is plenty of corn where that came from,
as fine and as good, too. Perhaps it wiU teach you to be
more patient in future, and not so hasty in your judg-
ment ; I was really very hurt at what you said last night.
But there, there," as Mrs. Spider looked ready to cry,
" don't cry my dear woman, for pity's sake, I am tired and
want my supper." So they had supper and went off to
bed.
In the morning the Spider teased his wi£e and said "I
86
THE THIEVING SPIDEE CAUGHT BY THE HALF-MAN.
suppose you wouldn't like to go this morning, instead of
me ? The corn is rather heavy you know, and it is too
valuable to spiU."
" Oh dear, oh dear," replied his wife, " do be kind
and forgive me," for he had made her feel so thoroughly
in the wrong that she was ready to do anything. " I am
sure I never meant to interfere and I never wUl." So she
kissed her husband ' good-bye ' and away he went.
Meantime the Half- Man had been out to look at his
corn, and he soon saw that a thief had been at work. Of
course he had no idea who it was, and so he thought
the best plan was not to say a word to anyone, but just
to set a trap ; and this he did. I think he had rather more
than half -brains in his half -head, don't you ?
He got some tar and made a big doll with it, and
dressed it and set it up in the field, and then he hid behind
some trees to watch what would happen.
Presently the Spider arrived, and just as he was
beginning to fill his pockets with corn, he looked up and
saw the doll. It was so pretty he was quite taken in, and
besides the sun was in his eyes, which always makes it
difiicult to see. He thought it was a beautiful girl, and he
was always very courteous to ladies, although he treated
his own wife so badly, so he took off his hat, and holding
out his hand to her, he bowed and said " Good morning,
sweet maiden, don't be shy," and as she did not move nor
87
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
take any notice, " Come, shake hands," and he caught one
o£ her hands in his. Then he wanted to draw his hand
back again, but found that it was held fast. He pulled and
pulled, and shook and shook, but to no purpose ; of course
the tar held him tightly. Then he got very angry, for he
thought the girl was trying to catch him, and hold him till
someone came to help her.
" If you don't let me go," he said, putting a hand on
her other bare arm, " I will kick you." Still she never
uttered a word, and now both his hands were stuck fast !
"You horrible creature," he cried, "you nasty wicked
girl," and fell into a great rage and kicked her, and of
course his leg stuck fast and he was helpless. He was
bent, and doubled up, and speechless with rage by this time,
and as he let his head fall against her, that stuck as well.
He was in a plight !
Now the Half-Man had been watching all the time,
and when he saw that the Spider was really safely caught,
he took his whip and hopped to the spot and beat him. He
beat him, and beat him, and beat him, till he was quite
breathless, and the Spider's back was all raw, and his skin
peehng off. Then he loosed him from the tar trap, and
said, " Be off, be off, I can only half kill you this time, as
I'm only a Half-Man, but if I ever catch you here again, I
will half kill you again, and that will be the end of you."
88
THE THIEVING SPIDER CAUGHT BY THE HALF-MAN.
THE HALF-MAN BEAT THE SPIDER.
The Spider crawled away into the forest and lay like a
dead person for days and days. At last when he managed
to get home, he told his wife he had been set upon and
beaten by some robbers who had stolen all his corn, and had
threatened to kill him if he ever dared to show his face
there again. Of course she was very sorry for him and
beheved all he said, and they decided to move right away
and live nearer her relatives in the future, and it was not
until a long time afterwards that she found out the truth.
But that I must tell you some other time.
89
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
IX.
THE BILLY-GOAT WHO SAID HE WAS A
MAGICIAN.
/NCE upon a time there was a Billy-Goat
who was certainly rather smart, but he
'(^'l was always boasting of his cleverness, and
making himself very objectionable to the
other inhabitants of the forest, so he had
but few friends ; for animals as well as people, soon become
tired of that sort of thing.
The Hyaena, being the scape-goat of all the beasts,
disliked the Billy-Goat most of aU, and I am going to tell
you why ! But first you must know of the trick that he
played her, and perhaps another day I shall tell you of
how she thought to avenge herself, and you will see that
there is no hope of their ever being friends again.
Very early one dewy morning, the Billy-Goat set out
to go to the market, and his shaggy coat soon became very
wet, for it soaked up the moisture. So to dry his coat he
capered and frisked about (for he felt very young
although quite six years of age) and as he thought no one
90
THE BILLY-GOAT WHO SAID HE WAS A MAGICIAN.
would see him so early in the morning, he did not trouble
to look where he was going. As he danced he sang : —
" A great Magician am I,
Although the weather's so dry ;
I could bring down the rain,
Dry it all up again,
If only I were to try."
Suddenly — Bang ! — Crash ! — Smash ! — Bump ! — he
ran into the Hyaena !
" Why don't you look where you are going ? " she
snarled, very much annoyed. " One of these days you'll
get into trouble going along in that silly way, with your
head as high in the air as if you were some great personage."
" So I am," said the BiUy-Goat, " and I'll ask you to
remember it for the future."
" Eubbish," snapped the Hyaena. " You're very
absurd, Mr. Goat, very absurd indeed, and amuse me
greatly. I should really hke to know why you give your-
self such airs."
" If you must know," rephed the BiUy-Goat, " I am a
Magician."
" What ! " shrieked the Hyaena, " Oh dear. Oh dear,
that is the best joke I have heard for many a long day.
An absurd person like you, a Magician ! Well, I never. I
have a great mind to test you, Mr. BiUy-Goat."
91
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
"Pray try," replied the Billy -Goat affably, "I am
sure it is always a pleasure to serve you, Mrs. Hyaena."
" A great Magician am I,
Although the weather's so dry,'
I could bring down the rain,-
Dry it all up again,
If only I were to try."
The Hyaena could not conti-ol herself any longer but
burst out laughing. " You idiotic old animal," said she,
" your mind has given way." And then becoming angry,
she continued, " But I have had enough of your boastful,
silly chatter : since you say you can bring down the rain,
do so : if you do not I will kill you, and drink your blood !
It is a long time since breakfast, and I should very much
like a drink."
Now the BUly-Goat, although not quite as clever as
he thought himself to be, was stUl very smart, and feven if
not a real Magician he was a good imitation one, so he
bowed gravely and said in his sweet musical voice, "I wish
you had asked me something more worthy of my powers,
Mrs. Hyaena, but since you asked me for rain, why here
you are," and he shook himself so violently that the dew
flew off in every direction and spattered Mrs. Hyaena's face,
so that she thought it was real rain.
" Indeed you are a wonderful man," cried the
astonished Hyaena, who, as you know, was a very siUy
92
THE BILLY-GOAT WHO SAID HE WAS A MAGICIAN.
animal. " I will never call you stupid any more," and she
was so frightened, that she thought the BUly-Goat must be
a real Magician, so ofiE she ran as hard as she could.
But when . she had got home and had told her mother
of it, the mother said, " I do not beheve in Mr. BUly-Goat,
although he does very strange things. Go back to him
and ask him for more rain, then if he can again make it
come, he must indeed be a Magician."
So off went the Hyaena again, and met Mr. Billy-Goat
who was now coming back from the market where he had
been buying sweet cakes.
" Good morning again, great Magician," said the
Hyaena, rather nervously, for she did not want to ofEend
him if really a poAverful being. " I have been thinking of
the wonderful thing you did a couple of hours ago, and
would so much like to see it again. It is wonderful indeed
to me, but I suppose you think nothing of it, being a
Magician."
Now the Billy-Goat saw that the Hyaena was trying
to catch him, and as the sun had been up some time his
coat was nearly dry, so he was rather afraid that the trick
might not come off a second time.
" Come up close then," said he, "and open your eyes
very wide." Immediately he shook himself violently as
before, and sprinkled a few drops into the Hyaena's eyes.
93
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Then, when she could no longer see, he uncorked a flask
which he was carrying and emptied it over her back.
" That's enough, that's enough, dear Mr. Billy-Goat,"
shrieked the Hyaena, terrified, " I shall be drowned with
all this water, oh ! do dry it up again."
"Very well," said he, and when she had opened her
■eyes again, " you see aU the ground is dry once more.
Had I hked I could have drowned you."
"Oh dear, Mr. BUly-Goat. Oh Great Magician,"
whunpered the silly beast, " I wiU never doubt you any
more." And once more she scampered off home.
Now the BUly-Goat was very cunning, he knew that
the Hyaena could never take a warning, and that as she
was stronger than he, she would some day kill him unless
he taught her a lesson, and he wondered what he could do.
But he could not help laughing to think of how he had
frightened her for the present.
Just then he met the Lion. " Good morning, Mr.
Billy-Goat, you look very happy to-day, have you had
some slice of luck ? "
"Indeed I have. Sire," rephed the Billy-Goat, "I
have found a new confection that suits my taste excellently
{the BUly-Goat loved long words when speaking to a
superior), and I was wondering if Your Majesty would like
to know of it."
94
THE BILLY-GOAT WHO SAID HE WAS A MAGICIAN.
" Indeed I would," said the Lion, " have you it with
you ? "
"Yes, Sire," replied the Billy-Goat, handing him a
cake, " this is made o£ Hyaena's tears, I bought it just now
in the market ; it is a little stale if anything, the tears are
much bfetter when they are fresh, but the Hyaena is so
mean that she charges an awful price for them, and says
she will make no more at all for anyone, not even for you."
" Oh, indeed, the Hyaena said that, did she ? " asked the
Lion, munching the cake, " well I shall see whether I can
persuade her to give me some, they are very good," and
off he went, leaving the Billy-Goat roaring with laughter
at his wit so the Lion thought, but reaUy because the cakes
were not made with Hyaena tears at all, but with honey
and flour, the Billy-Goat having made up the story so as
to get the Hj'aena into trouble.
As soon as the Lion saw the Hyaena he said, " Ha !
Mrs. Hyaena, just the very person I wanted to see."
" I am honoured indeed Your Majesty," replied she,
" how can a poor Hyaena serve you ? "
" I have just tasted some Hyaena tear-cakes" said the
Lion, " and find them very agreeable. I desire some to be
sent to the Palace daily, in future."
" Some what ? " asked the Hyaena. " I have never
heard of such things."
95
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" No lies," roared the Lion, getting very angry, " make
me some at once. You can make them readily enough to
sell, for the Billy-Goat bought some only to-day."
" Indeed, indeed," faltered the Hyaena now thoroughly
alarmed, "I do not know what you mean." And she
began to cry.
When the Lion saw the tears he said, " Ah ! so you
have tears after all, have you ? I knew you were lying,"
and he went up and tasted them.
THE HYAENA BEGAN TO CRY.
When he found that they were very bitter instead of
being sweet he was fearfully angry. " How dare you ! "
96
THE BILLY-GOAT WHO SAID HE WAS A MAGICIAN.
he roared. " Do you dare to make fun o£ me ? Me, the
King of the Forest ? Unless you make me some sweet
ones at once I shall kill you."
" Oh ! what shall I do, what shall I do ? " wailed the
wretched animal, shedding more tears, " 1 have none but
these."
The Lion having found that these also were Bitter, was
furious, and beat her and thumped her, and kicked her,
until he was tired. Then seeing that a lot of her tears had
fallen into a calabash, he thought that perhaps these were
a special kind, so he went to try them.
Now the opening in the calabash was rather small,
and while the Lion was trying to get at the tears, the
Hyaena fled, and the Lion was so long in finding out that
she had gone, that it was too late to chase her, so he went
ofE home in a very angry frame of mind.
When the Hyaena got home she told her family,
and they were very much alarnled, for they thought that
the Lion might treat everyone of them in the same way.
But seeing that the Billy-Goat was at the bottom of it, they
made up their minds to pay him back, so they all went off
to his home.
Now he had been so much pleased with himself at the
result of the trick, that he had wasted a lot of time on the
homeward journey, through teUing the joke to all whom he
met on the road, and he onlj^ reached his house just as the
97
H
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Hyaenas arrived. He knew he had no time to lock up his
■doors and windows, and he guessed their errand at once, but
•once more trusted to his wits to get him out of the scrape.
" Good evening, friends," said he, smiling and wagging
his head, " you have come at a lucky moment : I am just
■off to the market to get some meat ; the Chief Butcher owes
me a lot of money which he cannot pay, and as he has killed
a Bullock only this afternoon, I and some friends are
going to seize all his meat. But it is far too much for us,
so I invite you one and all to the feast."
Now when the Hyaenas found the BUly-Goat so
friendly, they thought that perhaps they might have been
mistaken in imagining him to be the cause of all the trouble,
and besides, they were rather afraid that he had magical
powers, so they thought thej^ would pretend to be friendly
too, especially as there was a feast in view. Hyaenas are
as greedy as Spiders, and you know how greedy they are !
But one old Uncle-Hyaena, rather more suspicious
than the rest, said " Very well, but if you break your
word we shall eat you instead," and all the others shrieked
" Yes, yes, we will eat him instead."
" Oh ! certainly," said the Billy-Goat, " but I should
be a very poor meal for you all : your uncle would take
the lot, and you others would get nothing at all, whereas a
Bullock will more than satisfy every one of us."
98
THE BILLY-GOAT WHO SAID HE WAS A MAGICIAN.
" That is true, that is true," shouted the young
Hyaenas, knowing their uncle's little failings, and fearing
to lose their feast, " let us be off to the market at once."
Now on their way, they came upon a big wild-beast
trap, and a leg of a Bullock was hanging above it to tempt
the unwary. The old BiUy-Goat had led them there on
purpose. He knew very weU what it was, for his mother
had warned him of it, Mr. Billy-Goat, Senior, having lost
his life in it some years before under very sad circumstances.
" Ah, now you see," said he, turning to the Uncle-
Hyaena, " was I right or not ? "
" Yes, I see a leg," growled he, "but where is the rest,
one leg is not much good." He was afraid that he would
not get much for himself when there were so many to
divide the booty.
"The Chief Butcher has it in his house of- course,"
repUed the Billy-Goat, " you don't suppose he is going to
leave it all outside ? This is only to tempt you to buy."
Then going to the mouth of the trap he called out
" Chief Butcher, Chief Butcher, pay me your debt."
But there was no reply.
Again he called " Chief Butcher, if you do not pay
me your debt at once, we shall eat up all your meat." And
all the Hyaenas chinaed in "Yes we shall eat up every bit,"
and their tongues hung out at the idea.
99
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
!f{ow the old Uncle-Hj^aena thought that perhaps after
all there might be no more meat, and he determined that
he was going to have a feast even if no one else did, so
while the Billy-Goat had been calHng out he had edged up
nearer and nearer to the Bullock's leg hanging over the trap.
" I will go to the Butcher's house," said the BiUy-
Goat, " but you stay here and see that nobody gets that
meat whUe I am away," and off he went.
They waited, but there was no Billy-Goat, and they
shouted, but there was no reply, and at last they guessed
that the BiUy-Goat had run away.
" Chase him, chase him," they cried, " he has made
fun of us."
But the old Uncle- Hyaena could stand it no longer,
he had been gloating over the meat ever since he first
saw it.
" You can do what 3^ou like " he said, springing on to
the Bullock's leg, and immediately the trap caught him.
" Oh, Mr. Chief Butcher," he yelled (for he thought
it was he who held him) "let me go please, I did not mean
to steal your meat, I was going to save it for you, the
wicked old Billy-Goat was going to take it."
But there was no reply.
" Oh, Mr. Chief Butcher," he wailed, " have pity and I
will pay your debt for you."
But stUl there was no reply.
100
THE BILLY-GOAT WHO SAID HE WAS A MAGICIAN.
When the other Hyaenas saw their Uncle caught thus
they were terrified, and ran off home uttering hideous yells,
and crying out " The Billy-Goat has killed Uncle, the
Billy-Goat has killed Uncle."
When the Billy-Goat, who was hiding close by in the
bushes, saw what had happened he came out of his hiding
place, and remarked "What an extraordinary way to
behave, I really cannot understand any of the Hyaenas,
they are so badly brought up," and tossing his head he
went off home without even a glance at the poor Uncle -
Hyaena in the trap.
By and bye, the men who had set the trap came, and
when they saw the Uncle- Hyaena they were very angry.
They had set it for the Lion or the Leopard so as to get
his skin, but the Hyaena's skin is quite useless, so they
beat him and kicked him, and would have killed him had
he not managed to slip out of their hands and escape.
He reached home in a very sorry plight, and when he
told the others what had happened to him the5^ said, " This
is the end of our acquaintance with the Billy-Goat : he is
not respectable, he is a fraud, and we honest Hyaenas can-
not know such a person ; he is always playing tricks."
They were of course afraid of him, but they were not going
to admit that.
101
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
As for the Billy-Goat, after he had locked up his doors
and windows he could be heard singing :
'' A mighty Magician am. I,
The cowards to kill me did try ;
Ah, had they but known
They'd have left me alone."
I think that you all can guess why.
102
WHY HAWA PREVENTED THE BEASTS FROM DRINKING.
X.
WHY HAWA PKEVENTED THE BEASTS FROM
DRINKIKG.
(OW I am going to tell you a story about
a girl who was very fond of her httle
sister. She was named Hawa, while the
little one was called Zainabu. The whole
family worked on a farm.
When the father and mother started out in the
morning with Hawa, they used to hide little Zainabu in a
pot of grease ! It was not a verj'^ nice place, but Zainabu
was a dear little girl and never complained. Perhaps this
is why Hawa was so fond o£ her ? I wonder ! Of course
they had to put the pot of grease away in a safe place, too,
in case anything should upset it, and it should be spilt.
AU went well for some time, and every evening
Zainabu was delighted when her sister came home, and she
could come out of her hiding place. What games they had
together ! You would think she would have been quite
tired of hiding, but no ! "hide and seek" was one of their
favourite games.
103
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Her father and mother were looking forward to the
time when Zainabu would be big enough to go to the farm
with them. There was no school time for these little girls,
as soon as ever they were strong and big enough, they had
to do their share of hard work.
But alas ! one day they forgot to wake as early as
they usually did, and were rather late at starting, and
so Hawa, like the dear little helpful soul she was, offered to
hide her little sister. But when she had hidden her, she
was unable to lift the pot into its accustomed place, and in
their hurry to be off, the parents forgot that part of the
arrangement for Zainabu's safety.
As ill-luck would have it, no sooner had they all gone,
than wicked Mrs. Hyaena chanced to come sniffing round
the house, to see what she could pick up. Now Hyaenas, as
everybody knows, are very fond of all kinds of grease, and
what do you think ? Why this horrible old Hyaena just
swallowed the pot of grease at a mouthful, with poor Httle
Zainabu in it ! Then she scurried away back to her den as
fast as ever her legs could take her.
You can fancy what a terrible state the poor father
and mother were in when they reached home that night.
The pot of grease had disappeared as if it had never been
there — it left no traces behind. " Where is our darling
Zainabu ? Whatever could have become of her ? " they
asked each other. But their sorrow was as nothing com-
104
WHY HAWA PREVENTED THE BEASTS EROM DRINKING.
pared with Hawa's, for she blamed herself so bitterly for
not having tried to lift the pot up into a safer place. " I
shall never be happy again," she waQed. " Oh ! my sister,
my sister."
Now Hawa Avas a clever little girl, and while she was
walking up and down and round the house, she saw the
marks of foot-prints, and she wondered whose they could
be. Of course we know it was wicked Mrs. Hyaena who
had been prowUng round, but Hawa did not know this, and
so she had to examine the marks very carefully. Even then
she could not decide, but she thought out a plan, and now
you wUl see what a very clever, persevering little girl she
was.
On their way to the fann there was a stream called
" Let-me-run," and Hawa had noticed how all the beasts
of the forest came there to drink every evening when their
day's hunting was over. So she got a big calabash (or
bowl) and scooped up all the water into it ! * There was
nothing but mud left. Then she climbed up into the
Baobab tree and waited till evening came. In the evening
all the beasts came, as was their custom. When Hawa
looked, she saw the first was a Lion ! But she was not a
bit frightened,and began singmg softly : —
" Oh ! Mr. Lion, where have you been ?
Have you my dear little sister seen ? "
105
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
And the Lion answered " I am going to ' Let-me-Run,' for
my evening drink."
So Hawa said, " You cannot, for I have taken up all
the water. If you will give me back my sister, I will give
you some water to drink," and then she went on singing : —
" If you my sister will restore to me
I'll give you water which I have, you see."
Then the Lion coughed, " Hakk, hakk," and said, " You
can see I have only eaten grass."
Now the Baobab is a magical tree, and when Hawa
heard the lion's reply, she said, "Good Mrs. Tree grow up
higher," and it was as well, for the Lion began roaring and
growling. However, he soon calmed down for he did not
want to keep all the other beasts away. So the tree had
grown a little taller, and taken Hawa up with it. Presently
the Hedgehog came and Hawa sang again : —
" Mr. Hedgehog where have you been ?
Have you my dear little sister seen ? "
And the Hedgehog said he had not seen Zainabu, and that
he wanted a drink, but he could not find the stream ' Let-
me-Run.' So Hawa sang on : —
" If you my sister will restore to me,
I'll give you water, which I have, you see."
But of course the Hedgehog did not know any more
about it than the Lion,
So Hawa said " Grood Mrs. Tree, grow up higher."
106
WHY HAWA PREVENTED THE BEASTS FROM DRINKING.
Now when the Giraffe came, Hawa was glad she had
gone up a good way, for you know that the Giraffe is so
tall he can easily eat even the higher branches of some trees,
and so it was as well to be out of reach, or she herself might
have shared little Zainabu's fate and been swallowed with
a bunch of leaves !
All the animals came, and one by one Hawa asked
them the same question, and they all coughed " Hakk,
Hakk," in turn, and assured her that they had only eaten
grass.
But Hawa had no pity. She was determined to find
her sister, and now the thought of seeing her again, filled
her mth such joy that she forgot to be very miserable, for
she began to feel sure Zainabu was alive, and would soon
be with her again. So she said each time, " Good Mrs.
Tree grow up a little higher " — and the kind tree grew up.
Now we know that only the wicked old Hyaena was
guilty, so all the other poor animals had to suffer until she
came. Soon the forest resounded with their groans.
They were nearly dead, with thirst. The day had been a
hot, trjdng one, and their poor throats were parched and
dry.
StiU Hawa thought only of her sister. Perhaps little
Zainabu, too, was suffering agonies of thirst and hunger.
Perhaps she was as miserable at being parted from her
parents, as they were at losing their dear little girl. And
107
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
she hardened her heart and would not come down. She
was very, very high up by this time, for she had asked all
the animals, and as we know, they could none of them give
up her sister, and so she had risen higher and higher with
the tree.
At last the Hyaena came. She was late, for after
swallowing the pot of grease, she had had a nap, and it was
long past her usual time. Sang Hawa again :
" Mrs. Hyaena, where have you been ?
Have you my dear little sister seen ? "
" Not I ! " said the wicked beast. " I don't know and
I don't care as long as I get my evening drink." (Can you
imagine anyone as wicked as the Hyaena ?) Then Hawa
guessed that it was the Hyaena, and so she sang on quite
calmly —
"Mrs. Hyaena, what do you think,"
The Animals all are vyaiting to drink."
The Hyaena growled back, " Well, Fm not going to
wait," but she found the stream quite dry.
How frightened she must have been, knowing how
wicked she was. Hawa's song came softly down — she was
up so high now, her voice sounded quite faint and dim —
" Oh ! sister Zainabu, never you fear,
I'll not give them drink till you appear."
108
WHY HAWA PREVENTED THE BEASTS FROM DRINKING.
This was too much for the Hyaena, and in her excite-
ment she coughed, " Hakk, hakk," and up came the pot of
grease with Httle Zainabu in it !
" Oh dear, Mrs. Tree, put me down, put me down,"
cried Hawa, and the Tree who loved all good children, put
her down so quickly that she upset the calabash, and the
stream was quite full again, and all the poor animals were
able to drink.
However, they could not forgive the wicked Hyaena,
and they beat her and drove her off into the forest, where
she perished of thirst. And I think you will agree with me
that she was well puiiished.
And to return to Hawa and Zainabu, their joy was
too great for me to describe, you must try and imagine
it. But I must tell j'ou that like good little girls, they
ran home as quickly as ever they could. Hawa had not
told anyone of her plan, and the poor parents were nearly
frantic with grief when evening came, and neither of their
children was to be found. They thought of course that
the same fate had befallen Hawa that had robbed them
of Zainabu. So their joy knew no bounds. I don't think
they ever left Zainabu alone in the house any more.
109
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
XI.
THE BOY WHO REFUSED TO WALK.
'ANY years -ago there was a woman who
A A Vi lived in the forest with her husband. He
[ 1 Jj was a forester, and used to be out all day
and only come home at night. She was
such a good wife and made him so com-
fortable, that he nearly always went to sleep in his big
arm-chair.
Now it was very dull for her of course, because
although there were many foresters, their huts were some
distance away, and all the others had families of their own
to look after. The wives had no time to go visiting. She
alone had no children, and it was very, very lonely. So
she used to wish very much for a little baby of her own.
And she prayed and prayed that God would think of her
and send her one. She was a very good wife and she
worked hard, but foresters' huts are small, and there was
not enough to employ all her time. And no one can be
happy without plenty to do. They were a long way from
any village, and her husband was too busj' to take her, and
she was afraid to go alone.
110
THE BOY WHO REFUSED TO WALK.
One day she was sitting outside the hut, and the sun
was so warm : it was all so peaceful and still that she fell
fast asleep. While she slept she dreamt that the good God
had said He would send her a son. She woke up over-
joyed, and was all impatience for her husband's return, for
she knew that he would be just as pleased as she was. He
had often said how nice it would be to have a son of their
own to bring up as a forester, to take his place and look
after them when they were old.
Their joy knew no bounds Avhen the baby arrived.
He was a sweet httle fellow, and no baby ever had a
warmer welcome than this curly-headed little chap. His
father and mother made a tremendous fuss of him. He
was always so merry and happy, and he simply loved to lie
all day basking in the sun.
This went on for some long time, and he was getting
so fat and heavy that the forester said to his wife one
night " Surely it is time the boy walked now. You must
let me teach him to do so."
But his mother Avas very indignant, and said " Men
know nothing about babies. You go on chopping down
your trees, and leave me to manage him. He'll walk fast
enough when the time comes."
Every time his father said anything, it was always the
.same. She made excuses and gave him a hundred good
111
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
reasons why the boy should only crawl, that one day the
forester lost his temper and said :
" Oh, well, just as 3'-ou please ; you have to carry him,
after all, so I don't mind. Still, if anything should happen
to me and you have to leave the hut, you will wish you
had a proper son, instead of a crab." And since he really
loved his son very much and did not want to see him
spoilt, he tried to shame him into walking.
" Come Little Crab," he would say, " It's time you
were a man now. Come, try and stand by me."
But no, nothing made any difference, and the pet name
given him in fun clung to him always, and he was known
all over the forest as " Little Crab."
Now one day, when the forester was chopping down
a very big tree, it fell rather suddenly and he was badly
crushed. His poor wife came running when she heard the
sad news. She was heart-broken and sobbed most bitterly.
"Good-bye," he said to her "if only 'Little Crab'
would wake up and be a man, I should not fret so much
ta leaving you. But you must really begin to think of
yourself more now, and I want you to promise me that
when I am gone you will try to make him walk. It is
reaUy too bad for you to have to carry him everywhere
now."
So she promised, for she was devoted to her husband
and would have promised him anything. After he was
112
THE BOY WHO REFUSED TO WALK.
buried, she tried her hardest to persuade " Little Crab " to
walk. She told him that it had been his father's last wish
that he should take care of her, " And you know we must
try to do whatever we know he would have wished," she
finished.
But not a bit of it, " Little Crab " only smiled, and
springing on her back, as he was always accustomed to do,
he said with a smile, " I'm so tired mother dear, carry me
up to bed," and as he absolutely refused to get down, she
had to carry him up.
When he was safely tucked up in bed, she sat down
and pondered as to the best means of carrying out her
husband's wishes. Moreover, she saw now how fooUsh she
had been to spoil him so.
" I must make a last appeal to him in the morning,"
she thought. " He is really very good-hearted. But what-
ever shall I do if I fail ? " (You will see later on that
Little Crab could not help being obstinate. He did not
really mean to be unkind).
Suddenly the poor woman remembered a great
Magician who had many retainers, and hved quite close in
the heart of that same great forest. He was a very clever
man, and she had once been able to help him out of a
difl&culty. He had promised then to help her, if ever she
needed his aid. She never had before, so now she thought,
" I will go straight to him in the morning."
113
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
THE MAGICIAN HAD MANY RETAINERS."
When it was light she got up, made a fire, and cooked
the breakfast. Oh ! how sad she was without her dear
husband. But Little Crab had no consideration : he
never thought of his mother's loneliness. He had been
spoilt, and thought of no one but himself.
" Little Mother," he called, " is breakfast ready ? "
" Quite, my son," she answered, as cheerfully as she
could. "And I am coming to help you to walk down,"
but he would not stir a step.
114
THE BOY WHO REFUSED TO WALK.
" Then I must leave you to get down as best you can,"
she said, turning to go, but Little Crab was too quick for
her, and sprang upon her back as quick as thought. So
she gave in once more, and carried him down.
" I cannot go on like this," she said. " To-day we
mil go and visit a Magician, and see what he can do for us."
And Little Crab was quite willing, which shows he was
ready to walk, had he known how and felt able !
As soon as they had finished breakfast, and she had
cleared it all away, for she was a very tidj^ woman, and
could never bear to leave her hut unless it was quite in
order and everything in its place, she set out. Little Crab
was on her back as usual. It seemed a very long way to
the Magician's house, for Little Crab Avas no Hght weight :
he was nearly a man by this time, and her heart was heavy
too. Of course she had to take a present with her, for
Magicians do not cure people for nothing, any more than
other quack doctors wUl nowadays !
When they reached the entrance to his cave, they
heard a voice saying, " 0, Wife of the Forester, what do
you want with me ? " He really knew quite well, but this
is a way Magicians have. The cleverer they are, the more
stupid they try to look, and I can't think why ! They
certainly would not like anyone to think them so !
"0, Great Magician ! " said she, " I fear you do not
remember me ? You once promised to help me, and I
115
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
have never claimed your proiiiise, but oh, I do so want you
to tell me what to do for my son. He refuses to walk, and
now he has become so heavy, that I cannot go on carrying
him. Besides, now his father is dead, I have so much more
to do," and she began to cry.
" There, there, my dear woman, don't cry," said the
Magician, for he hated tears and had not much sj^mpathy.
I suppose he was too clever really. " Tears never helped
anyone yet, as far as I know. Anyway I have no use for
them. Put the boy down and come nearer."
So Little Crab was left outside while his mother went
into the cave.
" You must buy a goat, and drag it as far as ever you
can into the forest, away from your home, then kill it.
When j'ou have done so, say ' Little Crab, get down while
I light a fire, that I may cook the goat's flesh. So shall
we eat and be comforted.' When he is safelj' down, take
to your heels and run home as fast as ever you can. He
will follow, never fear."
So she thanked him verj'' much, and went ofE at once
tu follow his instructions.
Directly Little Crab got down, she ran away home as
quickly as ever she could, just as the Wise Man had said
she must.
Now Little Crab was too much astonished to do any-
thmg at first. He simply sat down and gazed after his
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THE BOY WHO REFUSED TO WALK.
mother's vanishing figure. When she had quite disappeared,
he looked from tree to tree as if expecting her to spring out
suddenly, as she had done to amuse him, when he was
a baby. He was stUl sitting quite contentedly where
she had left him, and never dreamt of making any effort to
follow her, when a voice said,
" Good morning, Little Crab." It was a Hyaena,
Of course all the beasts knew his name.
" Good morning," she said again, as he still sat gazing
stupidly in front of him. " Have you some nice meat for
me ? " For she had smelt the goat's blood a long way off
and tracked it to the spot.
Little Crab said, " Well I have got some, but it is only
for the person who will carry me on his back. Can you do
that, Mrs. Hyaena ? "
" Jump up, jump up," cried the greedy Hyaena, and
she began gobbHng up the meat at once !
When she had finished it, there was nothing to be
seen. She had eaten every bit.
" Get down boy," she said roughly, " I want to go to
get some water to drink."
" Softly, softly, Mrs. Hyaena," said Little Crab " you
must give me back my meat."
"Nonsense," retorted the Hyaena, "you know I
cannot. Get down ! " still more rudely this time.
117
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" Oh, no, i£ you cannot give me the meat, you must
carry me on your back for ever."
Then the Hyaena tried to bite him, but he moved his
position so quickly, that she could not reach him, and so she
had to go about with him on her back.
They went about like this for some daj^s, and Little
Crab would not get down for a single moment, for he was
so afraid that if he did, the Hyaena would not let him get
up again.
At last, however, the Hyaena got tired of this, so she
in turn bethought her of the Magician.
Now the Magician gave her the same advice as he had
given Little Crab's mother.
So she went and bought a goat, and when she had
dragged it far into the forest she killed it.
"Little Crab, Little Crab," she said, "get down and
when I have cooked the Goat, we wUl feast together, for
I'm sure you must be hungry."
Little Crab thought from the Hyaena's honeyed tones,
that he was really going to get a meal, so he got down off
her back, and immediately, the Hyaena ran up a tree. But
she was so hungry herself that she could not bear to leave
all the fresh raw meat of which she was so fond, so she
made a hook of one of the branches and hauled up a huge
piece of the Goat.
118
THE BOY WHO REFUSED TO WALK.
Now Little Crab was crying so bitterly that he did
not notice her, and so presently she thought it would be
quite safe to creep down and seize the remainder.
But Little Crab saw her, and rushed to get on her
back again, and the Hyaena was only just in time to run
away.
THE SPIDER CAME OUT FOR A WALK.
Just then the Spider came out for a walk, and saw the
Boy and the remainder of what had been the Goat, so he
said " Good morning Little Crab, why are you so sad
when there is plenty of meat to be had ? " For you see the
Spider was so greedy, that he could not imagine anyone
being sad as long as he had enough to eat — sUly old thing I
119
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" Cheer up ! let us eat," he went on.
" Oh ! no," returned Little Crab, " you may not eat
unless you will take me up on your back and carry me."
Now the Spider was very crafty and had no intention
of carrying the Boy very far, but he was quite determined
to have the meat, so he answered in the sweetest voice.
" Why, with pleasure, Little Crab, you are no weight,
jump up, jump up."
However when he had eaten all the meat, he said
rather roughly,
" Get down, Boy," just as the Hyaena had done !
But Little Crab said, " Oh, no, a bargain's a bargain,
you must carry me for ever now, unless you can restore
the meat," and try as he would the Spider could not
shake him off !
So the Spider carried Little Crab to his house, and
when they arrived there, he called to his wife to bring out
a stick and beat Little Crab with it. But Little Crab was
artful, and moved quickly from side to side to avoid the
blows, which then fell heavily upon the Spider instead, and
in a few minutes he fell down and died.
This frightened Mrs. Spider so terribly that she ran
right away into the forest, and Little Crab was left alone.
There was a pond just outside the Spider's house, and it
looked so much softer than the earth that Little Crab
120
THE BOY WHO REFUSED TO WALK.
crawled and rolled down to the edge, and managed to roll
right in.
You see he was really a Water-Baby, and not a proper
child at all. So you must make allowances and excuses
for him, for he really did not know how to walk on land.
We are all rather afraid of what we don't understand,
aren't we ?
He has lived happily in the water ever since, and
his mother was very sensible about it. She was very
very lonely at first, but as she said, she loved him so much
that she could be quite content as long as she knew he was
happy. And she knew very well he never could have been
happy in this world, which after all is made for the ordinary
people !
121
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
XII.
WHY THE HARE IS AFEAID OF THE DOG.
kANY, many years ago, long before you
were born, the Dog and the Hare were
great friends. I must teU you how it
came about that they took a dislike to each
other ; for now, you know, a Hare simply
runs as fast as ever she can if she catches sight of a Dog ;
while the Dog never loses an opportunity'' of chasing the
Hare !
One day the Hare said to the Dog : "It must be
rather wretched for you all alone, out here in the fields,"
for the dog had not made friends with man in those days,
he was only a wild dog, something like a wolf, not a bit
like the beautiful great mastiffs and others we see here
at home. " I wish you would come back to our town
with me," she continued, " you should live in my house,
it is a very nice one, and quite close to the town," and she
tossed her head with pride. " A very nice one indeed, so
cosy and comfortable. All the passages even are littered
down with hay and straw, and there is a lovely mat of
moss over the porch, which keeps out all the draught
and cold."
122
WHY THE HARE IS AFRAID OF THE DOG.
The idea rather pleased the Dog, though he was not
quite sure whether it would suit him permanently, for he
loved the free roving life in the fields. However, it was
autumn, and the wet season would soon be coming on, so he
said " That is a very kind suggestion of yours Mrs. Hare,
very kind indeed, and I should much like to see your
house. I should be very pleased indeed to pay you a
visit."
" Hurrah ! " cried the Hare, " then that is settled, I
am delighted, Mr. Dog, and when can you come ? "
So they talked for a little while, and the Dog said he
must have a day or two to get some clothes from his tailor,
" For I must be smart when I visit you, dear Mrs. Hare,"
he said, with a bow, " I should not like you to be ashamed
of me."
" Now that is very sweet of you, Mr. Dog," said the
Hare, blushing and looking very confused, as well she
might, for she had something rather awkward to say to
him, and she did not wish to offend him or hurt his feehngs
in any way, and she hesitated and- felt very uncomfortable.
" Of course my love for you is very great, and I
admire you very much, but you see — " and she hesitated
again, wondering how she should go on — "would you
mind — that is would you care to " — and she stopped.
" Well, well, madam," snapped the Dog in a moment
seeing she was unable to continue, " what has upset you ?
123
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Either you wish me to come or you do not, which is it ?
Which is it ? " he barked.
" Oh, dear Mr. Dog, do be patient," cried Mrs. Hare.
" The other Hares, who have not had the honour of seeing
you and knowing you as I do, would probably be frightened
if we were to walk straight into the town. They can
never have seen anyone so noble looking, nor so hand-
some. It would be such a pity, for you would not see
them at their best, and I do so want you to be friends,"
she continued.
" I see," said the Dog, " well, what do you propose ? "
" I was thinking it would be so much better for us to
drive there, but then my carriage is not large enough for
two people, should you mind driving
very slowly so that I could run along-
side and shew the driver where to
go? I could not let you arrive
there before me ! I must be there
to welcome you," the Hare went
on. " What, do you thmk of that plan, Mr. Dog ? Do
tell me ! "
" I don't see why that plan should not act quite well ;
but my poor little friend, surely you will be very tired,
won't you ? "
" Not at all, not at all," cried the Hare, " so shall we
say the day after to-morrow ? Will you meet me here
124
WHY THE HARE IS AFRAID OF THE DOG.
Mr. Dog ? " So it was agreed that they should meet there
m the afternoon.
Now the Hare had no carriage, but she was so
frightened of the Dog when he barked, even though they
were friends then, that she felt she must saj^ something to
pacify him. So she was rather in a fix.
Suddenly she remembered a very large bag that had
been in their family many years. She went up to the
attic and got it out and examined it carefuUy.
" Yes, I think I can manage it," she said to herself.
" The Dog is not so very wise if it comes to that ! Well,
we must see," and she went on with her Avork of preparing
the best bedroom for the Dog.
She put fresh straw in all the rooms and swept out
the passages. You wouldn't
have known the house when
she had finished, she had
made it look so different.
Then she set to work to brush her own clothes and
made herself look so smart. Just as she was ready to
start off, she turned back to look at the house, and felt very
pleased with her work. " I think next year I must have
some new sun-blinds," she mused, bhnking.
Have you ever noticed what bright eyes Hares have ?
Mrs. Hare was well aware of her charms and she blinked,
as all Hares do, to attract attention to her pretts'^ eyes, and
125
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
it became such a habit, that she even did it when she was
quite alone.
" I think it all looks very nice," she said as she tucked
a violet into her ruff and started off, dragging the huge
bag behind her.
The Dog was nowhere to be seen, for the Hare had
purposely arrived in good time, and she threw down the
bag behind the hedge. Just as she came out on to the
road the Dog appeared, and they waved paws to each other
till they were close enough to speak.
" Good-day, Mrs. Hare," said the Dog, and " how
are you ? "
" Oh, very well in health, dear Mr. Dog," replied the
Hare, "but a little worried. I daresay you'll think me
silly, but there — I will tell you all about it. Of course
you know that although I have a nice uouse, I am not
really well off, for every year my income gets less and less,
and no one can be wealthy when that is the case. It is
ahvays hard to do with less."
The Dog began to wonder what was coming next. .
" I had hoped to have had my carriage done up, but,
dear friend, I find I simply cannot afford it, the house has
swallowed up all my money. I have had to spend so
much on the repairs which I was obhged to do," she con-
tinued, " for ours is an old house, my family have lived
126
WHY THE HAEE IS AFRAID OF THE DOG.
there for ages and ages and I could not let it go to wrack
and ruin."
The Dog nodded a grave assent.
" And so, I am going to ask as a great favour, that
you will allow me to bandage your eyes before you enter
the carriage, so that you may not notice how shabby it
is," and she produced a scarf.
Now the Dog didn't much care about it, but he
thought he was so strong, that he could easUy overpower
the Hare, and so she would surely never be silly enough
to try to play him a trick,
" Of course, Mrs. Hare, as your guest, I must do as
as you wish," he said in his pohtest manner, "though
really I should never mind your carriage being shabby,
and I am sorry you should have worried so much about it."
So the Hare bandaged his eyes, and got him into the
bag, and he was so heavy, she had all her work cut out to
half drag and half carry him. Every now and again she
■spoke to him, and said how sorry she was to think that he
was missing all the lovely scenery they were passing.
On the way to Mrs. Hare's house, they came to the
town where all the Hares lived. Mrs. Hare's house was
some distance on the other side of the town. It was a
large house, as Hares' houses go, and stood by itself, some
long distance from the others in that neighbourhood.
127
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
But her mother hved in the town, and she was so
pleased to see her daughter again, that she determined to
persuade her to remain for a day or so.
" Welcome, welcome, my dear daughter," said the
Mother-Hare, " it is good to see you again, and now you
are here you must stay the night, I will not allow you to
go any further to-day."
Now the Dog was heavy, and Mrs. Hare was very
glad to rest, so she readily agreed, and went upstairs and
took off her things, telling the Dog that he must stay in
the carriage, as there was a disturbance in the Hares' town,
and it would be wiser for him not to show himself, as at
such times a stranger was apt to be suspected and treated
roughly.
" I could not bear you to be subjected to any dis-
courtesy, and so I shall bring you some supper here," said
she, pretending that the carriage had been put up in the
yard. The Dog was very comfortable, it was so warm
and cosy in the bag, and he felt rather tired after his rough
journey, so it was an easy matter to persuade him to
remain there.
Presently all the Hares crowded round Mrs. Hare.
" What have you got in the bag ? " they asked, which I
think you'll agree was very rude.
" Oh, that is a charm," she replied.
128
WHY THE HARE IS AFRAID OF THE DOG.
" Take it out and let us see it, we want to see it,"
they clamoured all at once, making a fearful din !
" If I did that, it would lose all its powers, and then
we should none of us benefit," said the Hare. But they
were so persistent in their enquiries, that she became
alarmed, and saw that she would have to be very careful
if she were to keep her secret.
When all was quiet for the night, and every Hare
safely tucked up in bed, Mrs. Hare got up again and went
out, and gave the Dog some food. As soon as he had
eaten it, she said " Now we must resume our journey, for
I am sorry to say that I find the Hares in this town so
behind the times and so superstitious, that they say that
all strangers must pay a tax if they sleep here the night.
I am quite ashamed to tell you this," she continued " but
you see we have no choice. We must escape while they
are asleep, for if the tax is not paid, and you are here in
the morning, it will mean punishment for us both."
"Dear, dear," said the Dog, "what benighted people
to be sure. How is it you are so difEerent, dear lady ? "
" Well, you see, I have travelled a good deal," replied
Mrs. Hare, " and that makes such a difEerence. I should
hate to be so prejudiced and narrow-minded." So she
closed up the bag and off they went.
Next morning as it was getting light, they came to the
Hyaena's farm, which was not very far from Mrs. Hare's
129
K
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
home, and as the Hyaena was a busy person, she was up
betimes and at work on her land.
The poor Hare was getting very, very tired, and as
they got on to the Hyaena's land, she began to find the Dog
very heavj?^, so she had to drag the bag behind her ; that
was all very well as long as she kept to the path, but she
saw a short cut which would take them home much sooner,
and away she went over Mrs. Hyaena's sprouting corn,
dragging the Dog wearily behind her.
Now when Mrs. Hj^aena heard the noise o£ the bag in
the corn, crushing and scrunching it, she called out " Who
is that destroying my corn ? ',' This terrified the Hare, and
she nearly fainted with fright, for she did not know what-
ever to do.
Of course the Dog was dreadfully anxious too, and
when he heard the Hare say, " May I present you with a
piece of meat out of m^^ bag, for luck, Mrs. Hyaena ? " he
burst the bag and jumped out with a 'boo-ooup ! ' And the
Hare ran away as quickly as she could, and hid in the grass.
" I shall go and see M'ho it is," said Mrs. Hyaena, and
when he heard that, the Dog also took to his heels and ran
away as quickly as ever he could.
He ran, and ran, and ran, and soon his tongue was
hanging out of his mouth and he was nearly done, when
suddenly he saw the porch of Mrs. Hare's house. She had
130
WHY THE HARE IS AFRAID OF THE DOG.
described it so well, that he recognised it at once, and was
only too thankful to go in and rest.
Presently he took out his needle and cotton, and put-
ting on a thimble he began to mend his clothes. He was
more vain than tidy, I am afraid, and did not wish Mrs.
Hare to s6e him with a torn coat.
The Hare meantime, waited till the Hyaena had gone,
and then she came out of hiding to pick up her bag, for she
did not want to lose that ! , And when she reached home
you can guess how much surprised she was to find the Dog
sitting in the porch mending his coat.
"It is so nice and cool out here," he said, ."I hope you
won't mind. Of course I will go in if you do."
" Oh dear no," said Mrs. Hare, relieved to find that
the Dog had apparently forgotten her treachery, " I am
only so grieved to think that your coat should have been
torn, I must mend it for you."
" Don't think of that, pray," returned the Dog, pohtely,
though rather doubtful of her sincerity.
" Oh ! but I niust insist upon finishing it for you
while you take a rest. I am quite a good needlewoman,
Mr. Dog, indeed I am," said the Hare bridling and blush-
ing.
So the Dog was persuaded to take a rest, and to give
up his seat to the Hare, who took his coat from him, and
Ijutting on her eye-glasses, commenced to darn the tear.
131
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
" Lie down, dear Mr. Dog, lie down on the moss mat,
you will find it very comfortable."
" Thank you, I will," said he, and he stretched himself
at her feet and lay there panting, as you know Dogs do.
Now the Hyaena was determined to find out who had
■spoilt her corn, so she sniffed about in the corn and grass
till she had discovered the Hare's foot-prints. " Ha ! ha !
so that's who it is," and she threw back her head and
roared with laughter. " Oh ! you silly little thing, I'll soon
settle you ! " she shrieked
But she first went and put all her babies to bed, think-
ing that they would be safer there, and this little delay gave
Mrs. Hare a good start..
When she arrived at the Hare's house, and saw the
Hare and the Dog she was so surprised that she never
stopped to say " Good morning," or " How do you do ? "
■or to make any pohte remark at all, she sunply shouted out,
" Which of you two was I chasing ? "
Then the cunning Hare said, " Well, who is panting ?
For the one who is panting is surely the one who has been
running last ! "
And the Hyaena said, " I suppose it must have been
the Dog," and she rushed at the Dog to kill him, but he
was too qiiick for her, and jumping up, made as if he meant
to seek shelter in the house. The Hyaena raced through
the porch after him, and they both stuck in the door
132
WHY THE HARE IS AFRAID OF THE DOG.
together. There they pushed, and bit, and scratched each
other, until suddenly the Hyaena caught sight of the Hare's
bag, so she pushed the Dog towards it and managed to get
him in, then tying it up securely she went off home, calling
back over her shoulder to the Hare " I'll come and settle
up with you another day."
Now as you know, the Hyaena is a very powerful
beast, and so she had no difficulty in getting her burden
home. And when she had arrived she flung the bag down
so heavily that the poor Dog lay stunned for awhile.
Presently he revived a little and happened to hear the
Hyaena talking to her babies ; her last words put him in a
terrible fright. " Whatever you do," said she, " don't
let the Dog out while I'm away ; I shall not be very long.
We shall have a splendid feast to-night." Then she went
off — I don't know where, but I rather suspect it was to
settle her little difference with Mrs. Hare.
No sooner had she gone than the Dog,"Avho was
■shivering with fright, said verj^ faintly " Good morning,
Baby-Hyaenas, have you ever seen a Dog ? "
All the Baby-Hyaenas growled and grunted together,
and I'm sure you could not have distinguished what they
Avere saying — anyway the Dog could not, so very, very
gently he said through his chattering teeth " Wouldn't you
like to see my nose ? It isn't a bit like yours, you know."
133
FABLES AND FAIRY TALES.
Nowthe Baby-Hyaenas had never seen aDog in all their
lives, though they had often heard their Mother- Hyaena
talk o£ such animals, so they were really very curious to see
him, and after a minute or two the eldest one, rubbing his
own nose, said " What is it like then ? "
" Oh, ever so much prettier than yours," replied the
Dog, and then he added quickly, fearing they might be
anno3^ed, " Mine has had special treatment. Perhaps if you
saw it and liked it, you could copy it, for I know how
clever you all are."
This pleased them immensely, and they all cried out at
once, " We must wait till mother comes back and then we
shall look at it."
Of course this did not suit the Dog at all — he did not
want to wait, so very cautiously he said " You can see
quite well if you open the bag a little."
So they were silly, as Babj^- Animals often are, and
opened the bag, but quickly pulled it together again and
pushed him further into it.
" I never saw anything," squealed the smallest of the
Babies. " I'll tell mother, I'll tell mother ; I want to see,
I want to see," and to pacify the tiresome little creature the
others opened the bag again, for they did not want her to
tell their mother. They were rather off their guard, as the
Dog had been so quiet, and quick as thought he jumped
134
WHY THE HAEE IS AFRAID OF THE DOG.
over the pack of them and scurried off as fast as ever he
could.
They were so frightened, for Mrs. Hyaena was a stern
mother, that all they could do was to stand staring stupidly
after the Dog, who called gaily to them " Ta-ta, Little
Hyaenas, have you ever seen me run ? Ha ! ha ! " And he
disappeared !
Had he not escaped that day we should never have
heard any more about him, and who knows, perhaps we
should not have had any dogs now !
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THE HOME OF FAIRY-TALE.
135
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