Part 2

Chapter 24,283 wordsPublic domain

It all seemed just like a fairy tale, and Squeedinks became wildly excited. He could now stand erect and walk about inside the Crow’s Nest, and just here he noticed that the big tree had a hollow center, and that this hollow ran all the way up, just like a chimney. He started to climb up the inside of the tree, and quite unexpectedly found himself in the front parlor of old Umbrella-Tail, a big gray squirrel. All the squirrels were just as amazed as Squeedinks at finding their homes grown suddenly large and roomy, and they were all chattering excitedly together. Squeedinks was greatly surprised to find that he could understand everything the squirrels said. Mrs. Umbrella-Tail was saying, “Well! If you expect me to keep house in _this_ enormous place you’ll just have to get little Nutty Red squirrel for a servant! And that’s that!” Then they all saw Squeedinks, and asked him how he had got there. When he told them, they said that _they_ had always used the inside of the tree for a stairway, but it had never before been big enough for a boy to get through, and they had felt safe from molestation. Squeedinks assured them that he loved squirrels and, indeed, all the animals that lived in the woods, and wouldn’t hurt them for the world. And now he only wanted to get down and go home, for it was getting dark.

Old Umbrella-Tail said he would show him the way, and started down inside the hollow tree. Squeedinks followed more slowly, for it was as black as ink in there. Finally they discovered they couldn’t go any farther, and then found they were inside of one of the tree’s great roots, way down under the ground. Then Squeedinks despaired of ever seeing his home again, but Umbrella-Tail nosed about and discovered an opening in the end of the root, through which they could see a dark tunnel leading away through the moist earth. But they were afraid to follow it for they didn’t know where it led, and were just about to turn back in despair, when they heard something thumping along with dull, rhythmic bumps. It turned out to be old Grandfather Mole, who lived down there. He was quite blind, and had to walk with a cane, but his front feet were big and strong, with sharp little claws to help him dig his tunnels here and there and everywhere under the ground. When Grandfather Mole learned that Umbrella-Tail was trying to get Squeedinks home in time for supper, he turned slowly around in his tunnel, handed the little boy a flashlight out of his vest pocket, and called out in a deep bass voice that sounded very much as if the damp earth had given him chronic bronchitis, “Follow me!” So Squeedinks bade Umbrella-Tail good-bye, and started to wriggle along the tunnel on his stomach behind Grandfather Mole. In a marvelously short time they came out into the air, and Squeedinks was delighted to find himself at home underneath his own front porch. He thanked Grandfather Mole politely for leading him safely home, and watched the old fellow disappear down his tunnel again. Then Squeedinks ran into the house and told his aunt all that had happened to him, and what strange things the Cod Liver Oil had accomplished.

TOM NOW-YOU-SEE-HIM-NOW-YOU-DON’T

It was a cold, snowy day just before the Christmas holidays, and little Tom was standing near one of the shop windows, gazing longingly in at the beautiful gay toys. He was wondering whether he would find the wonderful red sled, shining skates and bright, brisk-looking wagon under _his_ tree on Christmas morning, or if Santa Claus would hold it against him that he had been naughty in refusing, at first, to take his cough medicine, and pass him by without leaving him any gifts at all. Of course, he had taken the medicine later, when his mother had insisted. But he had heard that Santa Claus sometimes punished children when they refused to obey promptly.

While he was pondering over this, selecting the gifts he would like best and hoping to be forgiven for his naughtiness, a huge snowball sang by his head and crashed through the great glass window. He turned quickly, in time to see his playmate, Teddy, disappear around the corner. Just then he felt strong hands grasp his coat collar roughly and heard an angry policeman exclaim, “That’s the time I caught you!”

Poor Tom! He knew that Teddy had thrown the snowball, but he didn’t want to be a tattle-tale, so he allowed himself to be hauled away to the nearest jail. He was thrust into a dark cell, not much larger than a clothes closet, where he trembled with the cold and dampness, utterly heart-broken over his sad plight. Trying to be brave, he forced back the tears, and settled down to wait until his father should come to his rescue.

Suddenly he saw a great cloud of smoke rising from one corner of his cell. It circled ’round and ’round until it disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a tiny brown elf, who stood blinking knowingly at him and nodding his head like a wise little old man. Now Tom had often heard of goblins and fairies and wished that he might know them, so he smiled at his little visitor, told him how glad he was to see him and began to relate to him the story of his misfortune. “Yes, Tom,” said the little elf, “I know all about your troubles, and because you have been a good, honest lad I am willing to grant any wish you may make.” This was jolly good luck for Tom, and he laughed to think how worried he had been a few short moments ago, and how the little brown elf had transformed all his sorrow into wonderful joy.

“O dear Mr. Fairy, what I want most of all in the world is the power to become invisible,” cried Tom. “I have always wished that I could make myself invisible whenever I wanted to do so.”

Now the little brown elf thought this a most unusual wish, but he told Tom he would grant it for one day, and instantly Tom felt a sudden gust of air and found himself entirely alone. Just then he heard the turnkey coming with his bread and water and he hurriedly wished himself invisible, and when the door was opened he walked right out of his cell between the big man’s bow legs! He chuckled in glee to himself when he saw the turnkey looking all about for him, not being able to find him anywhere, and then he set about finding his way to the street.

On his way home Tom passed a lake that the frost had converted into a solid sheet of gleaming ice, where all the boys and girls were skating. He spied a pair of skates lying on the bank, and quick as a thought, he had them on his feet and had darted off across the ice. There were loud shouts of surprise from everyone, and he saw all the boys and girls looking after him in amazement. Of course, all _they_ could see was the skates, which they thought must have been bewitched to go skating off by themselves. A dozen boys set out in pursuit of them, and Tom quite enjoyed the sport of eluding them. Teddy, who was in the crowd, almost caught up with him, but, hearing a voice that seemed to come from the skates themselves, saying, “You _know_ you broke the window!” he became so frightened that he stumbled and fell, slithered over the thin ice around a “Danger” sign, broke through and plunged headlong into the cold water.

Before the other boys and girls could reach him, Invisible Tom had pulled him out. When Teddy felt hands helping him out but could see no one, he cried aloud in fear, but Tom just chuckled to himself and glided off, quite satisfied with his first adventure. By this time he was tired of skating, so, leaving the skates where he had found them, he went merrily and invisibly on his way.

A poor little homeless dog whose leg had been injured by a passing truck was limping painfully along ahead of Tom, and at last tumbled into a pathetic little heap, unable to drag himself further. A rough boy, whom Tom did not know, came by just at that moment and began tormenting the poor little animal. ’Twas then Tom thought he could have some fun by befriending the dog and playing a trick on the boy. So he dashed over, picked the dog up in his invisible arms, and carried him safely down the street. When he looked back and saw the boy standing with his mouth wide open in amazement at seeing a dog floating away in the air, he laughed aloud. This was indeed great fun! Tom went out of his way to pass the Dog Hospital, where he dropped his little charge carefully in through an open window just high enough from the ground for him to reach.

Then Tom went on his invisible way. Soon he arrived in front of Betty Brown’s house, where he heard sounds of laughter and music, reminding him that she was giving a party and that he had been invited. He looked down at himself. He had on his oldest suit, and he knew he hadn’t time to go home to dress, so he decided to attend the party as Invisible Tom. The guests were just eating ice cream and cake as Tom entered and he watched until he saw the maid put down a big plate of chocolate ice cream in front of Billy Bon. Before Billy had a chance to notice it, Tom reached out and snatched the dish, vanishing with it behind the piano. Betty’s mother, the hostess, was surprised to find that Billy had no ice cream, and brought him another plate, but Tom had eaten the first one quickly, and was already standing invisible beside Billy’s chair, waiting to play the trick again. This practical joke was repeated several times, and poor Billy might have gone ice cream-less if Tom had not reached the very limit of his capacity at last.

During the games which followed refreshments, Tom played many pranks on his little friends and then, politely saying good-bye to Betty, who started at hearing a voice when she couldn’t see anyone near, he skipped out the door.

As it was now getting late, Tom knew he had better hurry on home. He had enjoyed being invisible so much that he decided to remain that way as a surprise for his Mother and Daddy. Upon reaching the house he saw an enormous airplane, which had landed in a field near his home and which was about to take flight. Tom saw that it was piloted by a famous aviator of whom he had often heard his father talk, and he could not resist the temptation of climbing invisibly in beside him. Instantly there was a great roar, and they were off up into the clouds, with Tom leaning over the side of the plane to see the cities below, which looked very tiny and very far away. This was the greatest experience that Tom had ever had, and in his excitement he forgot that the aviator couldn’t see him, and shouted in his ear, “Let’s go call on the Man in the Moon!” This startled the aviator so that he lost control of the plane, which shot toward earth, twisting and turning in its terrible fall.

Over and over it went, with Tom clinging to his seat with all his might, when all of a sudden he lost his grip, and the next thing he knew he had landed flop! in the middle of a big, soft snowbank. A kindly old farmer who was traveling along on the road nearby, hurried to him, picked him up and offered to take him home in his mulecart.

“O what a day!” thought Tom, and in his heart he thanked the little elf for all his thrilling adventures.

COLETTE, THE LITTLE DANCING GIRL

Far away in a distant city where all the people love music and dancing, there was a hurdy-gurdy man whom all the children knew as Uncle Antoine. Uncle Antoine had a pet monkey called Monko, who went with him every day on his round of music-making. One day, when the sun was shining brightly, they chanced upon a pretty little blue-eyed girl with golden curls, who was sitting on a doorstep weeping. When Uncle Antoine asked her why she was crying so bitterly, she replied that she was all alone in the world and had no place to live. Poor Uncle Antoine had a great, big heart and he felt very sorry for her, so he told her that he would be her uncle and that she might join him and Monko.

Now Colette, for that was the little girl’s name, was as good as she was pretty, and when she found someone to love her and look after her, she proceeded to dance for joy. A crowd soon gathered, and everyone was so enchanted with the music and the dancing that they threw shining heaps of gold pennies into Monko’s cup. At the end of the day they had collected more gold pennies than Uncle Antoine had ever seen in his life before, and the three partners dreamed dreams of a beautiful future, where pennies would be so plentiful that they could afford to buy a nice little house of their very own and live happily ever after.

So each night found Uncle Antoine, Colette, and Monko ’way off in the country falling asleep under some nice big tree, tired but happy in their dreams of the future. And every morning they were awakened by little leaves fluttering down upon their faces, and by the chirping of the tiny birds above them. One day Colette suggested going to the Zoo to entertain the people who were watching the animals, and since Uncle Antoine and Monko were always ready to please her, they hurried across the city, pushing the big hurdy-gurdy before them.

When they arrived at the Zoo they found that great crowds were there before them, and when Uncle Antoine started to play and Colette to dance, not only did the boys and girls and grown-ups turn to look and listen, but all the animals began to cut capers. The monkeys started to two-step, and one old Grandfather Ape did a loop-the-loop of joy. Old Leo Lion whistled the _Star Spangled Banner_ and the big clumsy elephants sang _Yankee Doodle_ all at the same time; old Uncle Hippopotamus humped about his cage, trying his best to waltz.

Little Colette danced as she had never danced before, with her lovely golden curls flying in the breeze. Monko dashed around through the crowd at a great rate, not knowing what to make of the heavy silver dollars that rattled merrily in his cup, taking the places of the usual pennies. He emptied his cup so often at Uncle Antoine’s feet that very soon the hurdy-gurdy was surrounded by enormous piles of gleaming silver dollars and when it was dark, and all the people had hurried home to their dinners, laughing and chattering about their wonderful afternoon, Uncle Antoine, Colette, and Monko were left behind with so much money that they had to borrow an elephant from the Keeper of the Zoo, strap a trunk on his broad back, and carry it all away.

At last their dreams of wealth had come true, and they set out in search of a little house. They found a dear little vine-covered cottage surrounded by shrubs and kindly trees like the ones that had sheltered them in their poverty. Colette had lots of fun making curtains and preparing dinner for Uncle Antoine and Monko, but the three friends missed their old life. They missed it so sadly that at last they decided that they would be happier if they were still giving happiness to others, so they began a round of visits to the orphan asylums and the hospitals, and played and danced for the poor little children and the sick and distressed.

One day while Colette was busily planting seeds in her tiny garden, Prince Charming rode by that way on his splendid white horse, and he was so struck with her beauty and goodness that he asked her to marry him on the spot and become the Princess of his marvelous castle.

Now Prince Charming was a wonderful Prince and Colette loved him, but she couldn’t bear to leave her good Uncle Antoine and Monko, who had befriended her when she was sad and lonely. So she shook her head and told the Prince that she must remain in the cottage and watch over her family. Whereupon the Prince laughed, and replied that his palace was large enough for fifty families, and that he would love hers as she did and look after them always. And so there was a big wedding, with Colette the most beautiful little bride in all the world, dressed in glistening white satin and creamy lace and carrying a huge bouquet of the most exquisite flowers. And Prince Charming was the handsomest groom imaginable, in his uniform of gold and white. Then, as soon as the ceremony was over, Colette, Uncle Antoine and Monko all moved into the Prince’s castle. It was a big, white castle, built entirely of gleaming marble, with fountains of diamonds and rubies playing in the midst of gardens of rare flowers and trees so large that they reached right up into the sky.

Uncle Antoine was the proudest and happiest man alive, for the Prince had given him a brand new hurdy-gurdy which played every tune that had ever been composed, and had brought tears of joy into the old man’s eyes by telling him that he might spend all his time in the garden, playing his music, watching the flowers, and listening to the birds, of which there were millions, so tame that they would sing any song you requested of them, and perch on your hand to be fed. Monko was given all the peanuts he could possibly eat, a whole grove of cocoanut trees, and best of all, a kiddy-car on which he could ride all over the grounds.

In the midst of all this glory they lived very happily until Uncle Antoine grew to be an old, old man, and Monko acquired a long, white beard, which trailed behind him for some three blocks. In fact, his beard was so very long that when he went out walking with the Princess Colette it looked like the train of her gown. One day, when Uncle Antoine and the Prince and Princess were all sitting out in the garden listening to a large black crow singing _Mammy’s Little Coal-Black Rose_, they heard cries of anguish from high up among the trees. They discovered that Monko’s beard had become twisted around a tree trunk, and that in trying to scramble down he had jerked so hard that he had pulled out all but a tiny little bunch of white whiskers. Poor, poor Monko! He was terribly distressed, until Colette assured him that his beard would grow again, or, if it did not, she would paste the old one on with molasses and he would be as handsome as ever.

So you see, because little Colette and Uncle Antoine and Monko had always done their very best to make everyone about them as happy as they could, they were allowed to spend the rest of their days in the beautiful palace with the good Prince.

JERRY AND THE WISHING-RING

Jerry was a handsome little boy, and had just celebrated his fifth birthday. His Uncle Jack, who was a Naval Officer on one of Uncle Sam’s battleships, was expected home from a trip around the world, and Jerry was so thrilled and excited that he could scarcely wait for the actual time to arrive. He remembered sitting on his Uncle Jack’s knee when he was a wee little chap, listening to stories of the sea, and he had not forgotten his Uncle’s promise to take him on a voyage when he was five years old. And then one day he heard the old familiar whistle sounding on the garden walk and, sure enough, there was his big Uncle looking brown and strong, greeting them all with smiles and kisses. He was to be home for just one day, but that was time enough to have Jerry fitted out with a smart sailor suit and made ready to take the next trip with him. Jerry had never known so much excitement, and when he bade good-bye to his mother and daddy and went aboard the battleship there was not a prouder or happier boy in the whole world.

It didn’t take him long to make friends with the men aboard, and to learn about the big guns and all the other fascinating things. There was one huge sailor named Jim Seaweed to whom Jerry was devoted because he was not only the best boxer but the strongest man on the ship. On the second day, when they were far out at sea, Jerry came on deck just in time to see old Billy Goat, who belonged to his friend Jim and was also the ship’s mascot, thrown from his feet by the lurching of the vessel, and start sliding toward the rail, overboard. Jerry dashed across the deck in a great hurry, seized old Billy by his horns, braced his feet against the rail and held him firmly until some sailors came to their rescue. Jim Seaweed was immediately informed of Jerry’s deed and quick wit, and was so grateful to him for saving his pet that he gave Jerry a wonderful ring which had been a gift to him from a Persian king. He explained that it was a wishing-ring, with the wonderful power to bring true your every wish.

Soon the ship was sailing far away through tropical waters, and Uncle Jack gave orders to anchor. In the distance they could see a group of little islands set like tiny jewels in the blue sea, and a party of sailors got permission to take Jerry and go ashore in a small boat, to explore. When they landed they found quantities of tropical fruits and birds, but no signs of human life. Tired of the company of the others, Jerry set off by himself through a wooded stretch, and had gone some distance when he suddenly beheld a beautiful little girl standing in the doorway of a tiny hut. Her clothes were tattered and torn, but her hair was the color of spun gold and her eyes were the loveliest he had ever seen. She smiled at Jerry and told him her name was Pam, and that she had been shipwrecked and cast ashore on this deserted island.

It was then Jerry thought of the wishing-ring on his finger, so taking hold of it he said, “Wishing-ring! Wishing-ring! Please dress Pam in the clothes of a princess and change her hut into a lovely palace!”

It was no sooner said than done, and both children danced for joy at the transformation. Pam’s clothes were of silk and lace, and the palace was of white marble, complete with everything the heart could wish. Then it was that Jerry learned that Pam was indeed a real princess, who had been taking a trip with her governess when they were shipwrecked, and that her father and mother believed she had drowned.

By this time the sailors had joined them, and stood blinking their eyes in astonishment at the wonderful sight. Jerry told them that he liked the island and intended to remain there for a while. He sent word back to Uncle Jack on the ship that they should sail without him, as the wishing-ring would take good care of him.

Pam and Jerry waved good-bye to the big ship as it sailed away, and then turned about to make a complete tour of their island home. It was indeed an island of wonders, full of strange and wonderful beasts and flowers and fruits. They tied knots in the giraffes’ necks, and taught the ostriches to prance around the island drawing the beautiful chariot which the good old wishing-ring had brought them.

One day when Jerry was up in the tower of the palace looking out over the ocean he heard Pam calling, “Jerry! Jerry! Come quickly and save me! Some savages have just landed on our island!”

Jerry was down in a jiffy, to find that their castle was being besieged by a band of cannibals from a nearby island. Thinking fast, he wished on his ring that he might be turned into an enormous elephant with three long trunks. Instantly, his wish was granted, and the savages ran for their canoes in terror as they saw this terrible animal charging at them, shooting streams of water in their faces from one trunk, followed by clouds of sand from the second trunk, and succeeded by mammoth rocks from the third. All this was great fun for our two little friends, and when Jerry changed back into himself, he and Pam laughed with glee to think of how easily they had routed the enemy.