Oldal 202 [202]
162 GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES.
climbed up by his father’s coat tails, and, perching himself on
his shoulder, he whispered in his ear,
“Father, you might as well let me go. I will soon come
back again.” |
Then the father gave him up to the two men for a large
piece of money. ‘They asked him where he would like to sit,
‘Oh, put me on the brim of your hat,” said he. ‘ There
I can walk about and view the country, and be in no danger
of falling off.”
So they did as he wished, and when Tom Thumb had
taken leave of his father, they set off all together. And they
travelled on until it grew dusk, and the little fellow asked to be
set down a little while for a change, and after some difficulty
they consented. So the man took him down from his hat, and
set him in a field by the roadside, and he ran away directly,
and, after creeping about among the furrows, he slipped
suddenly into a mouse-hole, just what he was looking for.
‘Good evening, my masters, you can go home without
me!” cried he to them, laughing. ‘They ran up and felt
about with their sticks in the mouse-hole, but in vain. ‘Tom
Thumb crept farther and farther in, and as it was growing
dark, they had to make the best of their way home, full of
vexation, and with empty purses.
When Tom Thumb found they were gone, he crept out of
his hiding-place underground.
‘Tt is dangerous work groping about these holes in the
darkness,” said he ; "I might easily break my neck.”
But by good fortune he came upon an empty snail shell.
“'That’s all right,” said he. ‘‘ Now I can get safely through
the night ;” and he settled himself down in it. Before he had
time to get to sleep, he heard two men pass by, and one was
saying to the other,
" How can we manage to get hold of the rich parson’s
gold and silver ? ”
“ T can tell you how,” cried ‘Tom ‘Thumb.
‘“ How is this?” said one of. the thieves, quite frightened,
‘““T hear some one speak ! ”
So they stood still and listened, and Tom Thumb spoke .
again. |
“Take me with you ; I will show you how to do it!”