Page:Christmas Fireside Stories.djvu/191

 ASHIEPATTLE AND THE KING'S HARES. 179 wood —" I must really get on with my lies if the vat is to be full,'* said Ashiepattle " Well, I think it's pretty full" said the queen. "Not at all/' said the king. At last Ashiepattle began to tell about the king, who came to him, and about the white mare down in the bog, and if the king wanted the whistle he —he would have —he would have to— " I bcg your majesty's pardon, but I must put some lies together if the vat is to be full—and—-— " " Stop, lad, stop ! It is full ! " cried the king. " Don't you see the vat is flowing over ? " So the king and queen thought they could not do any better than give him the princess and half the kingdom ; there was no help for it. " That was something like a whistle," said Ashiepattle. "^AtfiAM-^j^cf N3