This great magician, who could assume any form he pleased, was
traveling in the disguise of a poor beggar, and being very much
fatigued, he stopped at the cottage of an honest plowman to rest
himself, and ask for some refreshment.
The countryman gave him a hearty welcome, and his wife, who was a very
good-hearted, hospitable woman, soon brought him some milk in a wooden
bowl, and some coarse brown bread on a platter.
Merlin was much pleased with this homely repast and the kindness of
the plowman and his wife; but he could not help seeing that though
everything was neat and comfortable in the cottage, they seemed both
to be sad and much cast down. He therefore questioned them on the
cause of their sadness, and learned that they were miserable because
they had no children.
The poor woman declared, with tears in her eyes, that she should be
the happiest creature in the world if she had a son; and although he
was no bigger than her husband's thumb, she would be satisfied.
Merlin was so much amused with the idea of a boy no bigger than a
man's thumb, that he made up his mind to pay a visit to the queen of
the fairies, and ask her to grant the poor woman's wish. The droll
fancy of such a little person among the human race pleased the fairy
queen too, greatly, and she promised Merlin that the wish should be
granted.
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