The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-06-13

tion, he looked about till he found the
seven brothers. They were nearly dead
with terror, for already the ogre began to
sharpen his knife to kill them. He was at
last dissuaded from doing 30 by the entreat-
les of his wife, who represented that the
children, especially the youngest, wanted
fattenipg. So the young ones were put to
bed together, and in the same room was
second bed OF immense size, in which slept
the seven daughters of the ogre, who were
about the same size as the seven boys
They were all horribly ugly, but they each
were crown of gold, aud Hop o'-my-
Thumb, who had remarked this, instead of
going to sleep when his brothers did, slip
ped out of bed, and gently taking the
crowns from off the sisters heads, placed
them on his six brothers and himself Now
while he was thus engaged the ogre had
been indu'ging in copious draughts of wine,
and this made him feel 80 savage and mur-
derous, that he rose from the. table, and
taking his knife, stepped softly into the
sleeplDg-room intending to chop off the
heads of the seven brothers. But it was
pitch dark. and as he was stumbling about
the room, be knocked against bed. "Aha 1"
he cried, as he felt the crowns upon the
heads of those lying in it, s. was near
making fine mistake, and killing my
seven daughters instead of those seven
young rascals!" So saying, he groped about
the room till he lighted on the other bed,
duu jecIuS Ouly uISuG-CdpS on Uu6 neaQS
of the seven sleepers, he killed all his
daughters in minute. Then he lay down
and went to sleep and as soon as he began
| to snore, Hop o'my-Thumb awoke his
brothers, and led them out of the house in
| to the forest. But there they wandered up
and down for hour after hour, without ad-
| vaucing one step home ards
MEANWHILE the ogre had awoke as morn
| ing dawned, and his first words were to
| tell his wife to see after the children. She
thought he wished her to wake them, and
| went at once to the room. But hat a
sight was there for the poor woman She
was 30 overcome with grief and horror that
she fell senseiess to the floor. Presently
the ogre began to wonder what kept his
| wife, and went himself to see. The rage
| into which he went surpasses description
Instantly drawing on his seven -leagued
boots, he went in pursuit of the brothers.
| Hop-o'-m Thumb was the first to perceive
his approach. and cave being luckily
| close by, he concealed himself in it along
with his brothers. In minute or two
afterwards the ogre came up to the spot,
but without observing that the objects of
bis pursuit were SO near and the top OF
the cave offering nice situation for a nap,
the ogre threw himself down, and was soon
fast asleep. He snored away like thunder;
and while he was SO engaged, Hop o. nv.
Thumb slipped out of his hiding place, and
after great deal of tugging succeeded in
pulling eff the wonderful boots. By q
great piece of good fortune, these boots
had the faculty of contracting to the size
of their wearer's feet /; and so, when Hop
o. my-Thumb put them on, they fitted him
exactly. As soon as he was thus equipped.
he took hold with each hand of one Of his
brothers, and they in turn took the hand OF
two more, and so all six were united. By
the help of the boots they soon reached
home, where hearty welcome met them.
Here Hopo' my Thumb commended his
brothers to the care of his parents; and
saying that he would himself look after bis
own welfare, he made one stride, and was
away on the top of the hills, and with an
other stride he went quite out of sight OF
the house, his parents and all.
Hop-o'- my Thumb now made his fortune
with all the ease in the world, by the aid
several long and dangerous Journeys on be-
half of many great lords. No pursuer on
horse or foot could ever overtake him ;
and his adventures were so numerous that
a great book might be filled with an account
of them.