Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/67

 "Oh, what would you have me do for you?" said Mary, beginning to cry.

"Nothing, nothing very much, child. There is an old thorn bush behind this tree of mine. Tell me, do you see if?"

"I see it," said Mary.

"There's a long thorn upon it. Tell me, do you see it?"

"I see it," said Mary.

"Break off that thorn and bring it to me here," said the hag, striking the hollow of the tree with her staff.

Mary went to the thorn bush. Mary looked and saw the long thorn growing there. And then, just behind the thorn bush she saw Tom-Tom, the piper's son.

"Run, run," said Tom.

"Oh, where can I run to?" cried Mary.

"After me," said Tom.

"Oh, but mustn't I break off the thorn?" said Mary.

"I'm going to run," said Tom. So Tom