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

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 to try to make the Princess laugh.
"All very well, my man," said the King, "but it's sure to be of no use, for so many have been here and tried. My daughter is so sorrowful it's no use trying, and it's not my wish that anyone should come to grief."
But the lad thought he would like to try. It couldn't be such a very hard thing for him to get the Princess to laugh, for so many had laughed at him, both gentle and simple, when he enlisted for a soldier and was drilled by Corporal Jack.
So he went off to the courtyard, under the Princess's window, and began to go through his drill as Corporal Jack had taught him. But it was no good, the Princess was just as sad and serious and did not so much as smile at