PAGE 5
Ting-a-ling
by
Just as Ting-a-ling was about to execute his purpose, he happened to look before him, and saw, to his amazement, another little fairy on his knees, right in front of him. Starting back, he dropped the bundle from his hand, and the other from his shoulder. Then, upon his hands and knees, he stared steadfastly at the little man opposite to him, who immediately imitated him. And there they knelt with equal wonder in each of their countenances, bobbing at each other every time the lady winked. Then did Ting-a-ling get very red in the face, and, standing erect, he took strong hold of the Princess’s upper eyelash, to steady himself, resolved upon giving that saucy fairy a good kick, when, to his dismay, the eyelash came out, he lost his balance, and at the same moment a fresh shower of tears burst from her eyes, which washed Ting-a-ling senseless into her lap.
When he recovered, he was still sticking to the Princess’s silk apron, all unobserved, as she sat in her own room talking to one of her maids, who had just returned from a long visit into the country. Slipping down to the floor, Ting-a-ling ran all shivering to the window, to the seat of which he climbed, and getting upon a chrysanthemum that was growing in a flower-pot in the sunshine, he took off his shoes and stockings, and, hanging them on a branch to dry, laid down in the warm blossom; and while he was drying, listened to the mournful tale that Aufalia was telling her maid, about the poor Prince that was to die to-morrow. The more he heard, the more was his tender heart touched with pity, and, forgetting all his resentment against the Princess, he felt only the deepest sympathy for her misfortunes, and those of her lover. When she had finished, Ting-a-ling had resolved to assist them, or die in the attempt!
But, as he could not do much himself, he intended instantly to lay their case before a Giant of his acquaintance, whose good-humor and benevolence were proverbial. So he put on his shoes and stockings, which were not quite dry, and hastily descended to the garden by means of a vine which grew upon the wall. The distance to the Giant’s castle was too great for him to think of walking; and he hurried around to a friend of his who kept a livery-stable. When he reached this place, he found his friend sitting in his stable-door, and behind him Ting-a-ling could see the long rows of stalls, with all the butterflies on one side, and the grasshoppers on the other.
“How do you do?” said Ting-a-ling, seating himself upon a horse-block, and wiping his face. “It is a hot day, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir,” said the livery-stable man, who was rounder and shorter than Ting-a-ling. “Yes, it is very warm. I haven’t been out to-day.”
“Well, I shouldn’t advise you to go,” said Ting-a-ling. “But I must to business, for I’m in a great hurry. Have you a fast butterfly that you can let me have right away?”
“O yes, two or three of them, for that matter.”
“Have you that one,” asked Ting-a-ling, “that I used to take out last summer?”
“That animal,” said the livery-stable man, rising and clasping his hands under his coat-tail, “I am sorry to say, you can’t have. He’s foundered.”
“That’s bad,” said Ting-a-ling, “for I always liked him.”
“I can let you have one just as fast,” said the stable-keeper. “By the way, how would you like a real good grasshopper?”
“Too hot a day for the saddle,” said Ting-a-ling; “and now please harness up, for I’m in a dreadful hurry.”
“Yes, sir, right away. But I don’t know exactly what wagon to give you. I have two first-rate new pea-pods; but they are both out. However, I can let you have a nice easy Johnny-jump-up, if you say so.”
“Any thing will do,” said Ting-a-ling, “only get it out quick.”