The Magic Fife; A Story of the Olden Time (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1870 Excerpt: ... bition of his skill by turning himself into a great mole and beginning to dig a passage through a considerable hill. Then he spun a great net between two oaks which stood some way apart. He climbed nimbly up and down the cords like a spider on its web, or a sailor on the shrouds. At length unfolding his wings, he took flight from the top of an oak. "How very little you are mother "he shouted down to his mother who stood looking up and clapping her hands in astonishment. After cutting a wide circle through the air, he gradually let himself down again. "Well, dear mother," said Tobias, "surely you won't refuse to let me go now, so well equipped as you see I am." "I would let you depart without fear," she answered, "were you not obliged to go into the vicinity of such an evil and mighty magician as Kockerill. I see indeed no other way to recover our little Rachel or to free your father. But I adjure you, go to work with caution. Use all possible prudence, and above all, pray to God for assistance. I, too, will pray with all my heart, for this is all I can do." She embraced her son, and took leave of him with many kisses. With a somewhat heavy heart, yet strengthened by the thought of his good purpose, Tobias set forth on his journey. His wings were the very help he needed. Had he been obliged to walk he must have traversed a ten-fold longer way. Only one circumstance disquieted him, namely his ignorance of the route. Before leavingHameln he had indeed made inquiries of several people and learned thus much, that the road lay through Upper Saxony, Bohemia, Austria and Hungary. But as his route lay through the air, where there are neither roads, cities, nor people of whom one could ask the way, he might easily get lost. But 4 he was not disheartened. Courageously...