Tales from a Boy's Fancy; A Volume of Stories and Poems (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 edition. Excerpt: ...and forbearance of the Gods, and it is justified, for whenever any of our kinsmen fall into their hands, what becomes of them we know not, but we see them no more. And yet I, knowing this full well when I was presented by the Boy to his Mother, had the absurdity to expect liberty at her command But I must go on with my story. Well, the news had no sooner gone out, and I was not slow to assist in spreading it, though I have since repented, that I had actually escaped uninjured from the hands of the Gods, than I became at once the most famous person the annals of Bugland have known for many a day. I was thronged to from far and near. Across many fields came all kinds of my countrymen to see the fortunate bug that had escaped from the Gods, and also the wonderful bit of their material that I had brought away with me. Even the busy ants and bees left their toil, and came many wingflights to see the insect that had been clasped in the hand of the young God, and yet escaped uninjured. I found myself obliged to be in company almost all the time, day and night, giving audiences, and relating my marvelous adventure, and I was compelled to keep an almost innumerable host of translators, for the benefit of all the other kinds of insects, as I only speak my own language myself. As I always carried my thread with me in a coil around one of my legs--indeed, I could not do otherwise, for no one could untie the knot, and besides I did not want it untied--I soon came to be known as the Knight of the Black Garter, and right proud I was of the title. Many and magnificent were the functions planned and carried out in my honor. Wherever I came, I was received almost like one of the Gods, except that no fear went with me. In the entire annals of Bugland there...