Household Tales | Page 5

eight white
horses, which had white ostrich feathers on their heads, and were
harnessed with golden chains, and behind stood the young King's
servant Faithful Henry. Faithful Henry had been so unhappy when his
master was changed into a frog, that he had caused three iron bands to
be laid round his heart, lest it should burst with grief and sadness. The
carriage was to conduct the young King into his Kingdom. Faithful
Henry helped them both in, and placed himself behind again, and was
full of joy because of this deliverance. And when they had driven a part
of the way the King's son heard a cracking behind him as if something
had broken. So he turned round and cried, "Henry, the carriage is
breaking."
"No, master, it is not the carriage. It is a band from my heart, which
was put there in my great pain when you were a frog and imprisoned in
the well." Again and once again while they were on their way
something cracked, and each time the King's son thought the carriage
was breaking; but it was only the bands which were springing from the
heart of faithful Henry because his master was set free and was happy.
2 Cat and Mouse in Partnership
A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so
much to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at
length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together.
"But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shall suffer from
hunger," said the cat, "and you, little mouse, cannot venture
everywhere, or you will be caught in a trap some day." The good
advice was followed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they did not
know where to put it. At length, after much consideration, the cat said,
"I know no place where it will be better stored up than in the church,
for no one dares take anything away from there. We will set it beneath
the altar, and not touch it until we are really in need of it." So the pot
was placed in safety, but it was not long before the cat had a great
yearning for it, and said to the mouse, "I want to tell you something,
little mouse; my cousin has brought a little son into the world, and has

asked me to be godmother; he is white with brown spots, and I am to
hold him over the font at the christening. Let me go out to-day, and you
look after the house by yourself." "Yes, yes," answered the mouse, "by
all means go, and if you get anything very good, think of me, I should
like a drop of sweet red christening wine too." All this, however, was
untrue; the cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother.
She went straight to the church, stole to the pot of fat, began to lick at it,
and licked the top of the fat off. Then she took a walk upon the roofs of
the town, looked out for opportunities, and then stretched herself in the
sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the pot of fat, and not
until it was evening did she return home. "Well, here you are again,"
said the mouse, "no doubt you have had a merry day." "All went off
well," answered the cat. "What name did they give the child?" "Top
off!" said the cat quite coolly. "Top off!" cried the mouse, "that is a
very odd and uncommon name, is it a usual one in your family?" "What
does it signify," said the cat, "it is no worse than Crumb-stealer, as your
god-children are called."
Before long the cat was seized by another fit of longing. She said to the
mouse, "You must do me a favour, and once more manage the house
for a day alone. I am again asked to be godmother, and, as the child has
a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse." The good mouse
consented, but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church, and
devoured half the pot of fat. "Nothing ever seems so good as what one
keeps to oneself," said she, and was quite satisfied with her day's work.
When she went home the mouse inquired, "And what was this child
christened?" "Half-done," answered the cat. "Half-done! What are you
saying? I never heard the name in my life, I'll wager anything it is not
in the calendar!"
The cat's mouth soon began to water for some more licking. "All good
things go in threes," said she, "I am asked to stand godmother again.
The child is quite black, only