East O the Sun and West O the Moon | Page 5

hand and they flitted away as far
as they could from the castle that lay East o' the Sun and West o' the
Moon.

THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
Once on a time there were three Billy Goats, who were to go up to the
hillside to make themselves fat, and the family name of the goats was
"Gruff."
On the way up was a bridge, over a river which they had to cross, and
under the bridge lived a great ugly Troll with eyes as big as saucers,
and a nose as long as a poker.
First of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.
"Trip, trap; trip, trap!" went the bridge.
"_Who's that tripping over my bridge?_" roared the Troll.
"Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going up to the

hillside to make myself fat," said the Billy Goat, with such a small
voice.
"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll.
"Oh, no! pray do not take me, I'm too little, that I am," said the Billy
Goat; "wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes, he's much
bigger."
"Well! be off with you," said the Troll.
A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff across the bridge.
"Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge.
"_Who is that tripping over my bridge_?" roared the Troll.
"Oh, it's the second Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going up to the hillside to
make myself fat," said the Billy Goat. Nor had he such a small voice,
either.
"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" said the Troll.
"Oh, no! don't take me, wait a little till the big Billy Goat comes, he's
much bigger."
"Very well! be off with you," said the Troll.
But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff.
"Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge, for the Billy Goat
was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.
"_Who's that tramping on my bridge?_" roared the Troll.
"It's I! the big Billy Goat Gruff," said the Billy Goat, and he had a big
hoarse voice.
"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" roared the troll.
"_Well come! I have two spears so stout, With them I'll thrust your
eyeballs out; I have besides two great big stones, With them I'll crush
you body and bones!_"
That was what the big Billy Goat said; so he flew at the Troll, and
thrust him with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and
tossed him out into the river, and after that he went up to the hillside.
There the Billy Goats got so fat that they were scarcely able to walk
home again, and if they haven't grown thinner, why they're still fat; and
so,--
"Snip, snap, stout. This tale's told out."

TAPER TOM
Once on a time there was a King who had a daughter, and she was so

lovely that her good looks were well known far and near. But she was
so sad and serious she could never be got to laugh, and besides, she was
so high and mighty that she said "No" to all who came to woo her. She
would have none of them, were they ever so grand--lords or princes,--it
was all the same.
The King had long ago become tired of this, for he thought she might
just as well marry; she, too, like all other people. There was no use in
waiting; she was quite old enough, nor would she be any richer, for she
was to have half the kingdom,--that came to her as her mother's heir.
So he had word sent throughout the kingdom, that anyone who could
get his daughter to laugh should have her for his wife and half the
kingdom besides. But, if there was anyone who tried and could not, he
was to have a sound thrashing. And sure it was that there were many
sore backs in that kingdom, for lovers and wooers came from north and
south, and east and west, thinking it nothing at all to make a King's
daughter laugh. And gay fellows they were, some of them too, but for
all their tricks and capers there sat the Princess, just as sad and serious
as she had been before.
Now, not far from the palace lived a man who had three sons, and they,
too, had heard how the King had given it out that the man who could
make the Princess laugh was to have her to wife and half the kingdom.
The eldest was for setting off first. So he strode off, and when he came
to the King's grange, he told the King he would be glad