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one flocked round to see him, and being carried to the king, he was asked who he                   was--whence he came--and where he                    lived? Tom answered--

My name is Tom Thumb, From the fairies I've come. When King Arthur shone, This court was my home. In me he delighted, By him I was knighted: Did you never hear of Sir Thomas Thumb?

The king was so charmed with this ad- dress, that ordered a little chair to be                   made, in order that Tom might sit upon his table, and also a palace of gold, a span- high, with a door an inch wide, to live in. He also gave him a coach, drawn by six small mice. The queen was so enraged at the hon ours conferred on Sir Thomas, that she resolved to ruin him, and told the King that the little knight had been saucy to                   her. The king sent for Tom in great haste; but being fully aware of the danger of                   royal anger, he crept into an empty snail- shell, where he lay for a considerable time, until he was almoet starved with