Ting-a-ling | Page 6

quickly jumped in and took the reins from the hostler. "Get up!" said
he, and away they went.
It was a long drive, and it was at least three in the afternoon when
Ting-a-ling reached the Giant's castle. Drawing up before the great
gates, he tied his animal to a hinge, and walked in himself under the
gate. Going boldly into the hall, he went up-stairs, or rather he ran up
the top rail of the banisters, for it would have been hard work for him to
have clambered up each separate step. As he expected, he found the
Giant (whose name I forgot to say was Tur-il-i-ra) in his dining-room.
He had just finished his dinner, and was sitting in his arm-chair by the
table, fast asleep. This Giant was about as large as two mammoths. It
was useless for Ting-a-ling to stand on the floor, and endeavor to make
himself heard above the roaring of the snoring, which sounded louder
than the thunders of a cataract. So, climbing upon one of the Giant's
boots, he ran up his leg, and hurried over the waistcoat so fast, that,
slipping on one of the brass buttons, he came down upon his knees with
great force.
"Whew!" said he, "that must have hurt him! after dinner too!"
Jumping up quickly, he ran easily over the bosom, and getting on his
shoulder, clambered up into his ear. Standing up in the opening of this
immense cavity, he took hold of one side with his outstretched arms,
and shouted with all his might,--
"Tur-il-i! Tur-il-i! Tur-il-i-RA!"
Startled at the noise, the Giant clapped his hand to his ear with such

force, that had not Ting-a-ling held on very tightly, he would have been
shot up against the tympanum of this mighty man.
"Don't do that again!" cried the little fellow. "Don't do that again! It's
only me--Ting-a-ling. Hold your finger."
Recognizing the voice of his young friend, the Giant held out his
forefinger, and Ting-a-ling, mounting it, was carried round before the
Giant's face, where he proceeded to relate the misfortunes of the two
lovers, in his most polished and affecting style.
The Giant listened with much attention, and when he had done, said,
"Ting-a-ling, I feel a great interest in all young people, and will do
what I can for this truly unfortunate couple. But I must finish my nap
first, otherwise I could not do anything. Please jump down on the table
and eat something, while I go to sleep for a little while."
So saying, he put Ting-a-ling gently down upon the table. But this
young gentleman, having a dainty appetite, did not see much that he
thought he would like; but, cutting a grain of rice in two, he ate the half
of it, and then laid down on a napkin and went to sleep.
When Tur-il-i-ra awoke, he remembered that it was time to be off, and,
waking Ting-a-ling, he took out his great purse, and placed the little
fairy in it, where he had very comfortable quarters, as there was no
money there to hurt him.
"Don't forget my wagon when you get to the gate," said Ting-a-ling,
sleepily, rolling himself up for a fresh nap, as the Giant closed the
purse with a snap. Tur-il-i-ra, having put on his hat, went down-stairs,
and crossed the court-yard in a very few steps. When he had closed the
great gates after him, he bethought himself of Ting-a-ling's turn-out,
which the fairy had mentioned as being tied to the hinge. Not being
able to see anything so minute at the distance of his eyes from the
ground, he put on his spectacles, and getting upon his hands and knees,
peered closely about the hinges.
"O! here you are," said he, and, picking up the butterfly and wagon, he

put them in his vest pocket--that is, all excepting the butterfly's head.
That remained fast to the hinge, as the Giant forgot he was tied. Then
our lofty friend set off at a smart pace for the King's castle; but
notwithstanding his haste, it was dark when he reached it.
"Come now, young man," said he, opening his purse, "wake up, and let
us get to work. Where is that Prince you were talking about?"
"Well, I'm sure I don't know," said Ting-a-ling, rubbing his eyes. "But
just put me up to that window which has the vine growing beneath it.
That is the Princess's room, and she can tell us all about it."
So the giant took him on his finger, and put him in the window. There,
in the lighted room, Ting-a-ling beheld a sight which greatly moved
him. Although she had slept but little the night before, the Princess was
still up, and was sitting in an easy-chair, weeping profusely.