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POOR Peasant sat one evening by his hearth and poked the fire, while his Wife sat opposite spinning. He said: ‘What a sad thing it is that we have no children; our home is so quiet, while other folk’s houses are noisy and cheerful.’

‘Yes,’ answered his Wife, and she sighed; ‘even if it were an only one, and if it were no bigger than my thumb, I should be quite content; we would love it with all our hearts.’

Now, some time after this, she had a little boy who was strong and healthy, but was no bigger than a thumb. Then they said: ‘Well, our wish is fulfilled, and, small as he is, we will love him dearly’; and because of his tiny stature they called him Tom Thumb. They let him want for nothing, yet still the child grew no bigger, but remained the same size as when he was born. Still, he looked out on the world with intelligent eyes, and soon showed himself a clever and agile creature, who was lucky in all he attempted.

One day, when the Peasant was preparing to go into the forest to cut wood, he said to himself: ‘I wish I had some one to bring the cart after me.’

‘O Father!’ said Tom Thumb, ‘I will soon bring it. You leave it to me; it shall be there at the appointed time.’

Then the Peasant laughed, and said: ‘How can that be? You are much too small even to hold the reins.’

‘That doesn’t matter, if only Mother will harness the horse,’ answered Tom. ‘I will sit in his ear and tell him where to go.’

‘Very well,’ said the Father; ‘we will try it for once.’

When the time came, the Mother harnessed the horse, set Tom in his ear, and then the little creature called out ‘Gee-up’