But as she did this,
down came her husband out of the chimney; and so when his old dame
came inside the kitchen, there she found him standing on his head in
the porridge-pot.
* * * * *
BUTTERCUP
BY GEORGE WEBBE DASENT
Once on a time there was an old wife who sat and baked. Now you must
know that this old wife had a little son, who was so plump and fat,
and so fond of good things, that they called him Buttercup; she had a
dog, too, whose name was Goldtooth, and as she was baking, all at once
Goldtooth began to bark.
"Run out, Buttercup, there's a dear!" said the old wife, "and see what
Goldtooth is barking at."
So the boy ran out, and came back crying out,--
"Oh, Heaven help us! here comes a great big witch, with her head under
her arm, and a bag at her back."
"Jump under the kneading-trough and hide yourself," said his mother.
So in came the old hag.
"Good day," said she.
"God bless you!" said Buttercup's mother.
"Isn't your Buttercup at home to-day?" asked the hag.
"No, that he isn't. He's out in the wood with his father, shooting
grouse."
"Plague take it," said the hag, "for I had such a nice little silver
knife I wanted to give him.
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