However that may be, she straightway consented to be his bride, and,
as the preparations had already been made, the wedding took place the
very next day.
[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS--"TUFTY RIQUET"]
[Illustration]
THUMBLING
There was once a poor woodman sitting by the fire in his cottage and
his wife sat by his side spinning. "How lonely it is," said he, "for
you and me to sit here by ourselves without any children to play about
and amuse us, while other people seem so happy and merry with their
children!" "What you say is very true," said the wife, sighing, and
turning her wheel; "how happy should I be if I had but one child! and
if it were ever so small, nay, if it were no bigger than my thumb, I
should be very happy, and love it dearly." Now it came to pass that
this good woman's wish was fulfilled just as she desired; for, some
time afterwards, she had a little boy, who was quite healthy and
strong, but not much bigger than my thumb. So they said, "Well, we
cannot say we have not got what we wished for, and, little as he is,
we will love him dearly;" and they called him Thumbling.
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