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Page 25
At last it was finished, and the giant thought it was the most beautiful
carpet in the world.
Fairy Skill took him next to the potter's wheel, where cups and saucers
were made out of clay; and the giant learned to be steady, to shape the
cup as the wheel whirled round, and to take heed of his thumb, lest it
slip.
The cups and saucers that were broken before he could make beautiful
ones would have been enough to set the queen's tea table!
Fairy Skill then took him to the gold-smith, and there he was taught to
make chains and bracelets and necklaces; and after he had learned all
these things, the fairy told him that she had three trials for him.
Three pieces of work he must do; and if he did them well, he could go
again into the world, for he would then be ready to be a helper there.
"The first task is to make a carpet," said Fairy Skill, "a carpet fit
for a palace floor."
Giant Energy sprang to his loom, and made his silver shuttle glance
under and over, under and over, weaving a most beautiful pattern.
As he wove, he thought of the way by which he had come; and his carpet
became as green as the meadow grass, and lovely daffodils grew on it.
When it was finished, it was almost as beautiful as a meadow full of
flowers!
Then the fairy said that he must turn a cup fine enough for a king to
use. And the giant made a cup in the shape of a flower; and when it was
finished, he painted birds upon it with wings of gold. When she saw it,
the fairy cried out with delight.
"One more trial before you go," she said. "Make me a chain that a queen
might be glad to wear."
So Giant Energy worked by day and by night and made a chain of golden
links; and in every link was a pearl as white as the shining pebbles in
the brook. A queen might well have been proud to wear this chain.
After he had finished, Fairy Skill kissed him and blessed him, and sent
him away to be a helper in the world, and she made him take with him
the beautiful things which he had made, so that he might give them to
the one he loved best.
The young giant crossed the brook, passed the willow, found the mullein
stalk, and counted the daffodils.
When he had counted a hundred, he stepped over the meadow fence and came
to the good woman's house.
The good woman was at home, so he went in at the door and spread the
carpet on the floor, and the floor looked like the floor of a palace.
He set the cup on the table, and the table looked like the table of a
king; and he hung the chain around the good woman's neck, and she was
more beautiful than a queen.
And this is the way that young Giant Energy learned to be a helper in
the world.
_THE SEARCH FOR A GOOD CHILD_
MOTTO FOR THE MOTHER
_Teach your child that every one
Loves him when he's good and true,
But that though so dear to others,
He is doubly dear to you_.
--_Miss Blow's Mottoes and Commentaries_.
Long, long ago there lived, in a kingdom far away, five knights who were
so good and so wise that each one was known by a name that meant
something beautiful.
The first knight was called Sir Brian the Brave. He had killed the great
lion that came out of the forest to frighten the women and children, had
slain a dragon, and had saved a princess from a burning castle; for he
was afraid of nothing under the sun.
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