crawl through the drain into the kitchen, and there you will find cakes, ham, beef, and everything your heart can desire.”  The wolf did not want to be asked twice; so that very night he went to the house and crawled through the drain into the kitchen, and ate and drank there to his heart’s content.  As soon as he was satisfied, he wanted to get away; but he had eaten so much that he could not get out the same way that he came in.  This was just what Thumbling had reckoned upon; and he now began to set up a great shout, making all the noise he could.  “Will you be quiet?” said the wolf, “you’ll awaken everybody in the house.”  “What’s that to me?” said the little man, “you have had your frolic, now I’ve a mind to be merry myself;” and he began again singing and shouting as loudly as he could.

[Illustration:  “THE WOODMAN AND HIS WIFE, BEING AWAKENED BY THE NOISE, PEEPED THROUGH A CRACK IN THE DOOR.”]

The woodman and his wife, being awakened by the noise, peeped through a crack in the door; but when they saw that the wolf was there, you may well suppose that they were terribly frightened; and the woodman ran for his axe, and gave his wife a scythe.  “Now do you stay behind,” said the woodman; “and when I have knocked him on the head, do you cut him open with the scythe.”  Thumbling heard all this, and said, “Father, father!  I am here; the wolf has swallowed me;” and his father said, “Heaven be praised! we have found our dear child again;” and he told his wife not to use the scythe, for fear she should hurt him.  Then he aimed a great blow, and struck the wolf on the head, and killed him on the spot; and when he was dead they cut open his body and set Thumbling free.  “Ah!” said the father, “what fears we have had for you!” “Yes, father,” answered he, “I have travelled all over the world, since we parted, in one way or other; and now I am very glad to get fresh air again.”  “Why, where have you been?” said the father.  “I have been in a mouse-hole, in a snail-shell, down a cow’s throat, and inside the wolf; and yet here I am again safe and sound.”  “Well,” said they, “we will not sell you again for all the riches in the world.”  So they hugged and kissed their dear little son, and gave him plenty to eat and drink, and fetched new clothes for him, for his old ones were quite spoiled on his journey.

[Illustration:  From “THE GOOSE GIRL”]

THE RAPHAEL HOUSE LIBRARY OF GIFT BOOKS

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

THIRTY BEAUTIFUL VOLUMES

Edited by CAPTAIN EDRIC VREDENBURG

Pictorial Boards, Cloth Back.  Cloth, Bevelled Gilt Edges

A charming series of delightful volumes that have certainly taken a foremost place amongst the cherished classics for young people.  Each book embodies a distinct feature, all are carefully compiled, and appeal alike to children and their elders.  The tales are told by able authors of to-day and celebrated writers of past years, with lavish and excellent illustrations by popular artists.  The volumes are bound in attractive covers.