So Fuzzy Fox carried the three little gnomes and the little boy almost to the castle gate and shook hands with him.

“I will remember the way to your home,” the boy told the three little gnomes, “and I will be back to see you soon!”

The next day when the three little gnomes were preparing dinner they again heard the little boy’s horn, and ran along the trunk of the tree until they came to where they could see across the open space.

Soon there came a great many people, and riding upon a fine horse in front of his Daddy was the little boy, but this day he wore fine silk and satin clothes and they were not torn by the brambles and bushes.  Near him rode a beautiful lady.  She was the little boy’s Mamma.

So the three little gnomes went out to meet them, and the little boy slid from the horse and ran to them and threw his arms around them.  “This is my Daddy, and this is my Mamma!” he told them.

The little boy’s Mamma and the little boy’s Daddy dismounted and came to the three little gnomes and thanked them for returning the little boy to them.  “We will give you anything you wish for!” said the little boy’s Mamma and Daddy.

“We wish for nothing!” said the three little gnomes, “We live happily here in the forest and our wants are simple, but if you could send us some clean white cloths to bind up the wounds you give our forest friends we would be very grateful!”

“I told Daddy of the wounded creatures!” said the little boy.  “Yes,” his Daddy said, “and I have given orders that no one in my country shall hunt through this forest, and from now on your forest friends will be unmolested and can always live here in peace and happiness.”  For the great king was sorry that he or his men had ever caused any of the forest creatures any sorrow.  And after that the creatures of the forest were never harmed and they grew up so tame they would wander right up to the castle, where the king’s men would feed them.

The tiny thread of smoke still curls up over the trunk of the fallen tree, and the voices of the little boy and his Daddy mingle with the tiny voices of the three little gnomes as they prepare their dinner; for the great King and the little Prince come often to visit their friends, the three little gnomes.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE HAPPY RATTLE

Willie Woodchuck sat at the entrance of his burrow home whittling upon a tiny dried gourd.

“What are you making?” asked Timothy Toad, as he hopped through the grass and sat in front of Willie.

“Oh, I am just whittling because I have nothing else to do!” replied Willie Woodchuck.

So Timothy Toad hopped on down the path until he met Eddie Elf.

“Willie Woodchuck is whittling because he has nothing else to do!” said Timothy Toad.

“I will stop by and see him!” said Eddie Elf.  So Timothy Toad hopped along the path until he met Gerty Gartersnake.