Part 20 (1/2)

The boat aze is fixed above,

Till over boat and boating, The Lorelei has done!

A was ”Little Mook,”

by Hauff, and a poetic account of a ”Queer Old Lady ent to College”

LITTLE MOOK

There once lived a dwarf in the town of Niceu, whoht to be rich He had a very se head, and he wore an enormous turban

He seldom went into the streets, for the reason that ill-bred children there followed and annoyed him They used to cry after him,--

”Little Mook, O Little Mook, Turn, oh, turn about and look!

Once a month you leave your room, With your head like a balloon: Try to catch us, if you can; Turn and look, my little man”

[Illustration: ENTRANCE TO HEIDELBERG CASTLE]

I will tell you his history

His father was a hard-hearted man, and treated him unkindly because he was deformed The old man at last died, and his relatives drove the dwarf away froe world with a cheerful spirit, for the strange world was more kind to hie town, and looked around for some face that should seem pitiful and friendly He saw an old house, into whose door a great nuood to cats, they ht, and so he followed them He was met by an old woman, who asked him what he wanted

He told his sad story

”I don't cook any but forpussy cats,” said the beldame; ”but I pity your hard lot, and you may make your home with me until you can find a better”

So Little Mook was employed to look after the cats and kittens

[Illustration: LITTLE MOOK]

The kittens, I am sorry to say, used to behave very badly when the old dame went abroad; and when she came home and found the house in confusion, and bowls and vases broken, she used to berate Little Mook for what he could not help

While in the old lady's service he discovered a secret roo them a pair of enormous slippers

One day when the old lady was out the little dog broke a crystal vase Little Mook knew that he would be held responsible for the accident, and he resolved to escape and try his fortune in the world again He would need good shoes, for the journeyslippers and ran away

Ran? What wonderful slippers those were! He had only to say to them, ”Go!” and they would impel him forith the rapidity of the wind They sees

”I will become a courier,” said Little Mook, ”and so make my fortune, sure”

So Little Mook went to the palace in order to apply to the king