Page:Stories and story-telling (1915).djvu/117

 One evening as the little fellow was frisking about the farm kitchen, a shrill voice from the farmyard called three times, "Tolman Grig! Tolman Grig! Tolman Grig!"

"Ho! ho! ho! My daddy is come," cried the elf, springing up and speaking for the first time.

With that, off he flew through the keyhole.

That was the last the farmer or his wife ever saw of him. But forever after they were happy and prosperous.

—

HOW THE CAT GOT ALL THE GRAIN

Once upon a time a Cat and a Parrot owned a field together. One day the Cat said to the Parrot, "Come, friend, 'tis time to till the field."

Said the Parrot, "I can't come now, because I am whetting my bill on the branch of a mango-tree."

So the Cat went alone and plowed the field. When it was plowed the Cat went again to the Parrot and said, "Come, friend, let us sow the corn."

Said the Parrot, "I can't come now, because I am whetting my bill on the branch of a mango-tree."

So the Cat went alone and sowed the corn. The corn took root, and sprouted, and put forth the blade, and the ear, and the ripe corn in the ear.