So they all agreed he must be forgiven, because he had afforded them so much amusement.

[Illustration:  A spider one day attacked him]

Thus Tom was once more in favour; but he did not live long to enjoy his good luck, for a spider one day attacked him, and though he fought well, the creature’s poisonous breath proved too much for him; he fell dead on the ground where he stood, and the spider soon sucked every drop of his blood.

Thus ended Sir Thomas Thumb; but the King and the Court were so sorry at the loss of their little favourite that they went into mourning for him.  And they put a fine white marble monument over his grave whereon was carven the following epitaph: 

  Here lyes Tom Thumb, King Arthur’s Knight,
  Who died by a spider’s fell despite. 
  He was well known in Arthur’s Court,
  Where he afforded gallant sport. 
  He rode at tilt and tournament,
  And on a mouse a-hunting went. 
  Alive he filled the Court with mirth,
  His death to sadness must give birth. 
  So wipe your eyes and shake your head,
  And say, “Alas, Tom Thumb is dead!”

HENNY-PENNY

One day Henny-penny was picking up corn in the rickyard when—­whack!—­an acorn hit her upon the head.  “Goodness gracious me!” said Henny-penny, “the sky’s a-going to fall; I must go and tell the King.”

So she went along, and she went along, and she went along, till she met Cocky-locky.  “Where are you going, Henny-penny?” says Cocky-locky.  “Oh!  I’m going to tell the King the sky’s a-falling,” says Henny-penny.  “May I come with you?” says Cocky-locky.  “Certainly,” says Henny-penny.  So Henny-penny and Cocky-locky went to tell the King the sky was falling.

They went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met Ducky-daddles.  “Where are you going to, Henny-penny and Cocky-locky?” says Ducky-daddles.  “Oh! we’re going to tell the King the sky’s a-falling,” said Henny-penny and Cocky-locky.  “May I come with you?” says Ducky-daddles.  “Certainly,” said Henny-penny and Cocky-locky.  So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles went to tell the King the sky was a-falling.

So they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met Goosey-poosey.  “Where are you going to, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles?” said Goosey-poosey.  “Oh! we’re going to tell the King the sky’s a-falling,” said Henny-penny and Cocky-locky and Ducky-daddles.  “May I come with you?” said Goosey-poosey.  “Certainly,” said Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles.  So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey went to tell the King the sky was a-falling.