Page:Comical and merry tricks of Tom Thumb, the wonderful (2).pdf/4



4

miserable, because they had no children. The poor woman declared, with tears in her eyes, that she should be the hap- piest creature in the world, if she had a                  son; and although he was no bigger than her husband's thumb, she would be quite satisfied. Merlin was so much amused with the idea of a boy no bigger than a man's                  thumb, that he determined to pay a visit to the queen of the fairies, and request her to gratify the wishes of the poor wo- man. When he had accomplished his arney, Merlin thought on the kind treatment he had received at the cottage, and the comical whim of the little man again suggested itself; and, being on an                  intimate footing with Queen Mab, he                   told her the purpose of his visit, and re- quested her to grant the desire of the countryman's wife. The droll fancy of such a little per- sonage among the human race pleased the queen of the fairies exceedingly and she told Merlin that the wish of the poor woman should be granted. According- ly, in a short time after, the ploughman's                  wife was safely delivered of a son, who,