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LITTLE THUMB
THERE was； once upon a time； a man and his wife
fagot…makers by trade； who had several children； all boys。
The eldest was but ten years old； and the youngest only
seven。
They were very poor； and their seven children incommoded
them greatly； because not one of them was able to
earn his bread。 That which gave them yet more uneasiness
was that the youngest was of a very puny constitution；
and scarce ever spoke a word； which made them take
that for stupidity which was a sign of good sense。 He
was very little； and when born no bigger than one's
thumb； which made him be called Little Thumb。
The poor child bore the blame of whatsoever was done
amiss in the house； and； guilty or not； was always in the
wrong； he was； notwithstanding； more cunning and had a
far greater share of wisdom than all his brothers put
together； and； if he spake little； he heard and thought the
more。
There happened now to come a very bad year； and the
famine was so great that these poor people resolved to rid
themselves of their children。 One evening； when they
were all in bed and the fagot…maker was sitting with his
wife at the fire； he said to her； with his heart ready to
burst with grief：
〃Thou seest plainly that we are not able to keep our
children； and I cannot see them starve to death before
my face； I am resolved to lose them in the wood to…morrow；
which may very easily be done； for； while they are busy
in tying up fagots； we may run away； and leave them；
without their taking any notice。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried his wife； 〃and canst thou thyself have the
heart to take thy children out along with thee on purpose
to lose them？〃
In vain did her husband represent to her their extreme
poverty： she would not consent to it； she was indeed poor；
but she was their mother。 However； having considered
what a grief it would be to her to see them perish with
hunger； she at last consented； and went to bed all in tears。
Little Thumb heard every word that had been spoken；
for observing； as he lay in his bed； that they were talking
very busily； he got up softly； and hid himself under his
father's stool； that he might hear what they said without
being seen。 He went to bed again； but did not sleep a
wink all the rest of the night； thinking on what he had to
do。 He got up early in the morning； and went to the
river…side； where he filled his pockets full of small white
pebbles； and then returned home。
They all went abroad； but Little Thumb never told his
brothers one syllable of what he knew。 They went into a
very thick forest； where they could not another at ten
paces distance。 The fagot…maker began to cut wood； and
the children to gather up the sticks to make fagots。 Their
father and mother； seeing them busy at their work； got
away from them insensibly； and ran away from them all
at once； along a by…way through the winding bushes。
When the children saw they were left alone； they began
to cry as loud as they could。 Little Thumb let them cry
on； knowing very well how to get home again； for； as he
came； he took care to drop all along the way the little
white pebbles he had in his pockets。 Then he said to them：
〃Be not afraid； brothers； father and mother have left
us here； but I will lead you home again； only follow me。〃
They did so； and he brought them home by the very
same way they came into the forest。 They dared not go
in； but sat themselves down at the door； listening to what
their father and mother were saying。
The very moment the fagot…maker and his wife reached
home the lord of the manor sent them ten crowns； which
he had owed them a long while； and which they never
expected。 This gave them new life； for the poor people
were almost famished。 The fagot…maker sent his wife
immediately to the butcher's。 As it was a long while since
they had eaten a bit； she bought thrice as much meat as
would sup two people。 When they had eaten； the woman
said：
〃Alas！ where are now our poor children？ they would
make a good feast of what we have left here； but it was
you； William； who had a mind to lose them： I told you we
should repent of it。 What are they now doing in the
forest？ Alas！ dear God； the wolves have perhaps already
eaten them up； thou art very inhuman thus to have lost
thy children。〃
The fagot…maker grew at last quite out of patience； for
she repeated it above twenty times； that they should repent
of it； and that she was in the right of it for so saying。
He threatened to beat her if she did not hold her tongue。
It was not that the fagot…maker was not； perhaps； more
vexed than his wife； but that she teased him； and that he
was of the humor of a great many others； who love wives to
speak well； but think those very importunate who are
continually doing so。 She was half…drowned in tears； crying out：
〃Alas！ where are now my children； my poor children？〃
She spoke this so very loud that the children； who were
at the gate； began to cry out all together：
〃Here we are！ Here we are！〃
She ran immediately to open the door； and said；
hugging them：
〃I am glad to see you； my dear children； you are very
hungry and weary； and my poor Peter； thou art horribly
bemired； come in and let me clean thee。〃
Now； you must know that Peter was her eldest son；
whom she loved above all the rest； because he was somewhat
carroty； as she herself was。 They sat down to supper；
and ate with such a good appetite as pleased both father
and mother； whom they acquainted how frightened they
were in the forest； speaking almost always all together。
The good folks were extremely glad to see their children
once more at home； and this joy continued while the ten
crowns lasted； but； when the money was all gone； they
fell again into their former uneasiness； and resolved to lose
them again； and； that they might be the surer of doing it；
to carry them to a much greater distance than before。
They could not talk of this so secretly but they were
overheard by Little Thumb； who made account to get
out of this difficulty as well as the former； but； though he
got up very early in the morning to go and pick up some
little pebbles； he was disappointed； for he found the house…
door double…locked； and was at a stand what to do。 When
their father had given each of them a piece of bread for
their breakfast； Little Thumb fancied he might make use
of this instead of the pebbles by throwing it in little bits
all along the way they should pass； and so he put the
bread in his pocket。
Their father and mother brought them into the thickest
and most obscure part of the forest； when； stealing away
into a by…path； they there left them。 Little Thumb was
not very uneasy at it； for he thought he could easily find
the way again by means of his bread； which he had scattered
all along as he came； but he was very much surprised
when he could not find so much as one crumb； t