第12章

InthiswayHanssuddenlybecamerich——richenoughtobuyapropertyofhisown。Butbeingaprudentman，hefinallydecidedthatitwouldbebestforhimtoleavehisoldneighbourhoodandlookforahomeinadistantpartofthecountry，wherenobodyknewanythingabouthim。Itdidnottakehimlongtofindwhathewanted，andafterhehadpaidforittherewasplentyofmoneyleftover。Whenhewassettled，hemarriedaprettygirlwholivednearby，andhadsomechildren，towhomonhisdeath—bedhetoldthestoryofthelordoftheunderworld，andhowhehadmadeHansrich。

[EhstnischeMarchen。]

THEHISTORYOFDWARFLONGNOSE

Itisagreatmistaketothinkthatfairies，witches，magicians，andsuchpeoplelivedonlyinEasterncountriesandinsuchtimesasthoseoftheCaliphHarounAl—Raschid。Fairiesandtheirlikebelongtoeverycountryandeveryage，andnodoubtweshouldseeplentyofthemnow——ifweonlyknewhow。

InalargetowninGermanytherelived，somecoupleofhundredyearsago，acobblerandhiswife。Theywerepoorandhard—working。Themansatalldayinalittlestallatthestreetcornerandmendedanyshoesthatwerebroughthim。HiswifesoldthefruitandvegetablestheygrewintheirgardenintheMarketPlace，andasshewasalwaysneatandcleanandhergoodsweretemptinglyspreadoutshehadplentyofcustomers。

ThecouplehadoneboycalledJem。Ahandsome，pleasant—facedboyoftwelve，andtallforhisage。Heusedtositbyhismotherinthemarketandwouldcarryhomewhatpeopleboughtfromher，forwhichtheyoftengavehimaprettyflower，orasliceofcake，orevensomesmallcoin。

OnedayJemandhismothersatasusualintheMarketPlacewithplentyofniceherbsandvegetablesspreadoutontheboard，andinsomesmallerbasketsearlypears，apples，andapricots。Jemcriedhiswaresatthetopofhisvoice:

’Thisway，gentlemen！Seetheselovelycabbagesandthesefreshherbs！Earlyapples，ladies;earlypearsandapricots，andallcheap。Come，buy，buy！’

AshecriedanoldwomancameacrosstheMarketPlace。Shelookedverytornandragged，andhadasmallsharpface，allwrinkled，withredeyes，andathinhookednosewhichnearlymetherchin。Sheleantonatallstickandlimpedandshuffledandstumbledalongasifsheweregoingtofallonhernoseatanymoment。

InthisfashionshecamealongtillshegottothestallwhereJemandhismotherwere，andthereshestopped。

’AreyouHannahtheherbseller？’sheaskedinacroakyvoiceasherheadshooktoandfro。

’Yes，Iam，’wastheanswer。’CanIserveyou？’

’We’llsee;we’llsee！Letmelookatthoseherbs。Iwonderifyou’vegotwhatIwant，’saidtheoldwomanasshethrustapairofhideousbrownhandsintotheherbbasket，andbeganturningoveralltheneatlypackedherbswithherskinnyfingers，oftenholdingthemuptohernoseandsniffingatthem。

Thecobbler’swifefeltmuchdisgustedatseeingherwarestreatedlikethis，butshedarednotspeak。Whentheoldhaghadturnedoverthewholebasketshemuttered，’Badstuff，badstuff;

muchbetterfiftyyearsago——allbad。’

ThismadeJemveryangry’Youareaveryrudeoldwoman，’hecriedout。’Firstyoumessallourniceherbsaboutwithyourhorridbrownfingersandsniffatthemwithyourlongnosetillnooneelsewillcaretobuythem，andthenyousayit’sallbadstuff，thoughtheduke’scookhimselfbuysallhisherbsfromus。’

Theoldwomanlookedsharplyatthesaucyboy，laughedunpleasantly，andsaid:

’Soyoudon’tlikemylongnose，sonny？Well，youshallhaveoneyourself，rightdowntoyourchin。’

Asshespokesheshuffledtowardsthehamperofcabbages，tookuponeafteranother，squeezedthemhard，andthrewthemback，mutteringagain，’Badstuff，badstuff。’

’Don’twaggleyourheadinthathorridway，’beggedJemanxiously。’Yourneckisasthinasacabbage—stalk，anditmighteasilybreakandyourheadfallintothebasket，andthenwhowouldbuyanything？’

’Don’tyoulikethinnecks？’laughedtheoldwoman。’Thenyousha’n’thaveany，butaheadstuckclosebetweenyourshoulderssothatitmaybequitesurenottofalloff。’

’Don’ttalksuchnonsensetothechild，’saidthemotheratlast。

’Ifyouwishtobuy，pleasemakehaste，asyouarekeepingothercustomersaway。’

’Verywell，Iwilldoasyouask，’saidtheoldwoman，withanangrylook。’Iwillbuythesesixcabbages，but，asyousee，I

canonlywalkwithmystickandcancarrynothing。LetyourboycarrythemhomeformeandI’llpayhimforhistrouble。’

Thelittlefellowdidn’tlikethis，andbegantocry，forhewasafraidoftheoldwoman，buthismotherorderedhimtogo，forshethoughtitwrongnottohelpsuchaweaklyoldcreature;so，stillcrying，hegatheredthecabbagesintoabasketandfollowedtheoldwomanacrosstheMarketPlace。

Ittookhermorethanhalfanhourtogettoadistantpartofthelittletown，butatlastshestoppedinfrontofasmalltumble—downhouse。Shedrewarustyoldhookfromherpocketandstuckitintoalittleholeinthedoor，whichsuddenlyflewopen。HowsurprisedJemwaswhentheywentin！Thehousewassplendidlyfurnished，thewallsandceilingofmarble，thefurnitureofebonyinlaidwithgoldandpreciousstones，thefloorofsuchsmoothslipperyglassthatthelittlefellowtumbleddownmorethanonce。

Theoldwomantookoutasilverwhistleandblewittillthesoundrangthroughthehouse。Immediatelyalotofguineapigscamerunningdownthestairs，butJemthoughtitratheroddthattheyallwalkedontheirhindlegs，worenutshellsforshoes，andmen’sclothes，whilsteventheirhatswereputoninthenewestfashion。

’Wherearemyslippers，lazycrew？’criedtheoldwoman，andhitaboutwithherstick。’HowlongamItostandwaitinghere？’

Theyrushedupstairsagainandreturnedwithapairofcocoanutslinedwithleather，whichsheputonherfeet。Nowalllimpingandshufflingwasatanend。Shethrewawayherstickandwalkedbrisklyacrosstheglassfloor，drawinglittleJemafterher。Atlastshepausedinaroomwhichlookedalmostlikeakitchen，itwassofullofpotsandpans，butthetableswereofmahoganyandthesofasandchairscoveredwiththericheststuffs。

’Sitdown，’saidtheoldwomanpleasantly，andshepushedJemintoacornerofasofaandputatablecloseinfrontofhim。

’Sitdown，you’vehadalongwalkandaheavyloadtocarry，andImustgiveyousomethingforyourtrouble。Waitabit，andI’llgiveyousomenicesoup，whichyou’llrememberaslongasyoulive。’

Sosaying，shewhistledagain。Firstcameinguineapigsinmen’sclothing。Theyhadtiedonlargekitchenaprons，andintheirbeltswerestuckcarvingknivesandsauceladlesandsuchthings。Afterthemhoppedinanumberofsquirrels。Theytoowalkedontheirhindlegs，worefullTurkishtrousers，andlittlegreenvelvetcapsontheirheads。Theyseemedtobethescullions，fortheyclamberedupthewallsandbroughtdownpotsandpans，eggs，flour，butter，andherbs，whichtheycarriedtothestove。Heretheoldwomanwasbustlingabout，andJemcouldseethatshewascookingsomethingveryspecialforhim。Atlastthebrothbegantobubbleandboil，andshedrewoffthesaucepanandpoureditscontentsintoasilverbowl，whichshesetbeforeJem。

’There，myboy，’saidshe，’eatthissoupandthenyou’llhaveeverythingwhichpleasedyousomuchaboutme。Andyoushallbeaclevercooktoo，buttherealherb——no，theREALherbyou’llneverfind。Whyhadyourmothernotgotitinherbasket？’

Thechildcouldnotthinkwhatshewastalkingabout，buthequiteunderstoodthesoup，whichtastedmostdelicious。Hismotherhadoftengivenhimnicethings，butnothinghadeverseemedsogoodasthis。Thesmelloftheherbsandspicesrosefromthebowl，andthesouptastedbothsweetandsharpatthesametime，andwasverystrong。AshewasfinishingittheguineapigslitsomeArabianincense，whichgraduallyfilledtheroomwithcloudsofbluevapour。Theygrewthickerandthickerandthescentnearlyoverpoweredtheboy。Heremindedhimselfthathemustgetbacktohismother，butwheneverhetriedtorousehimselftogohesankbackagaindrowsily，andatlasthefellsoundasleepinthecornerofthesofa。

Strangedreamscametohim。Hethoughttheoldwomantookoffallhisclothesandwrappedhimupinasquirrelskin，andthathewentaboutwiththeothersquirrelsandguineapigs，whowereallverypleasantandwellmannered，andwaitedontheoldwoman。

Firsthelearnedtocleanhercocoa—nutshoeswithoilandtorubthemup。Thenhelearnttocatchthelittlesunmothsandrubthemthroughthefinestsieves，andtheflourfromthemhemadeintosoftbreadforthetoothlessoldwoman。

Inthiswayhepassedfromonekindofservicetoanother，spendingayearineach，tillinthefourthyearhewaspromotedtothekitchen。Hereheworkedhiswayupfromunder—sculliontohead—pastrycook，andreachedthegreatestperfection。Hecouldmakeallthemostdifficultdishes，andtwohundreddifferentkindsofpatties，soupflavouredwitheverysortofherb——hehadlearntitall，andlearntitwellandquickly。

Whenhehadlivedsevenyearswiththeoldwomansheorderedhimoneday，asshewasgoingout，tokillandpluckachicken，stuffitwithherbs，andhaveitverynicelyroastedbythetimeshegotback。Hedidthisquiteaccordingtorule。Hewrungthechicken’sneck，plungeditintoboilingwater，carefullypluckedoutallthefeathers，andrubbedtheskinniceandsmooth。Thenhewenttofetchtheherbstostuffitwith。Inthestore—roomhenoticedahalf—openedcupboardwhichhedidnotrememberhavingseenbefore。Hepeepedinandsawalotofbasketsfromwhichcameastrongandpleasantsmell。Heopenedoneandfoundaveryuncommonherbinit。Thestemsandleaveswereabluishgreen，andabovethemwasalittleflowerofadeepbrightred，edgedwithyellow。Hegazedattheflower，smeltit，andfounditgavethesamestrongstrangeperfumewhichcamefromthesouptheoldwomanhadmadehim。Butthesmellwassosharpthathebegantosneezeagainandagain，andatlast——hewokeup！

Therehelayontheoldwoman’ssofaandstaredabouthiminsurprise。’Well，whatodddreamsonedoeshavetobesure！’hesaidtohimself。’Why，IcouldhaveswornIhadbeenasquirrel，acompanionofguineapigsandsuchcreatures，andhadbecomeagreatcook，too。HowmotherwilllaughwhenItellher！Butwon’tshescoldme，though，forsleepingawayhereinastrangehouse，insteadofhelpingheratmarket！’

Hejumpedupandpreparedtogo:allhislimbsstillseemedquitestiffwithhislongsleep，especiallyhisneck，forhecouldnotmovehisheadeasily，andhelaughedathisownstupidityatbeingstillsodrowsythathekeptknockinghisnoseagainstthewallorcupboards。Thesquirrelsandguineapigsranwhimperingafterhim，asthoughtheywouldliketogotoo，andhebeggedthemtocomewhenhereachedthedoor，buttheyallturnedandranquicklybackintothehouseagain。

Thepartofthetownwasoutoftheway，andJemdidnotknowthemanynarrowstreetsinitandwaspuzzledbytheirwindingsandbythecrowdofpeople，whoseemedexcitedaboutsomeshow。Fromwhatheheard，hefanciedtheyweregoingtoseeadwarf，forheheardthemcallout:’Justlookattheuglydwarf！’’Whatalongnosehehas，andseehowhisheadisstuckinbetweenhisshoulders，andonlylookathisuglybrownhands！’Ifhehadnotbeeninsuchahurrytogetbacktohismother，hewouldhavegonetoo，forhelovedshowswithgiantsanddwarfsandthelike。

Hewasquitepuzzledwhenhereachedthemarket—place。Theresathismother，withagooddealoffruitstillinherbaskets，sohefelthecouldnothavesleptsoverylong，butitstruckhimthatshewassad，forshedidnotcalltothepassers—by，butsatwithherheadrestingonherhand，andashecamenearerhethoughtshelookedpalerthanusual。

Hehesitatedwhattodo，butatlastheslippedbehindher，laidahandonherarm，andsaid:’Mammy，what’sthematter？Areyouangrywithme？’

Sheturnedroundquicklyandjumpedupwithacryofhorror。

’Whatdoyouwant，youhideousdwarf？’shecried;’getaway;I

can’tbearsuchtricks。’

’But，motherdear，what’sthematterwithyou？’repeatedJem，quitefrightened。’Youcan’tbewell。Whydoyouwanttodriveyoursonaway？’

’Ihavesaidalready，getaway，’repliedHannah，quiteangrily。

’Youwon’tgetanythingoutofmebyyourgames，youmonstrosity。’

’Ohdear，ohdear！shemustbewanderinginhermind，’murmuredtheladtohimself。’HowcanImanagetogetherhome？Dearestmother，dolookatmeclose。Can’tyouseeIamyourownsonJem？’

’Well，didyoueverhearsuchimpudence？’askedHannah，turningtoaneighbour。’Justseethatfrightfuldwarf——wouldyoubelievethathewantsmetothinkheismysonJem？’

Thenallthemarketwomencameroundandtalkedalltogetherandscoldedashardastheycould，andsaidwhatashameitwastomakegameofMrs。Hannah，whohadnevergotoverthelossofherbeautifulboy，whohadbeenstolenfromhersevenyearsago，andtheythreatenedtofalluponJemandscratchhimwellifhedidnotgoawayatonce。

PoorJemdidnotknowwhattomakeofitall。Hewassurehehadgonetomarketwithhismotheronlythatmorning，hadhelpedtosetoutthestall，hadgonetotheoldwoman’shouse，wherehehadsomesoupandalittlenap，andnow，whenhecameback，theywerealltalkingofsevenyears。Andtheycalledhimahorriddwarf！Why，whathadhappenedtohim？Whenhefoundthathismotherwouldreallyhavenothingtodowithhimheturnedawaywithtearsinhiseyes，andwentsadlydownthestreettowardshisfather’sstall。

’NowI’llseewhetherhewillknowme，’thoughthe。’I’llstandbythedoorandtalktohim。’

Whenhegottothestallhestoodinthedoorwayandlookedin。

Thecobblerwassobusyatworkthathedidnotseehimforsometime，but，happeningtolookup，hecaughtsightofhisvisitor，andlettingshoes，thread，andeverythingfalltotheground，hecriedwithhorror:’Goodheavens！whatisthat？’

’Goodevening，master，’saidtheboy，ashesteppedin。’Howdoyoudo？’

’Veryill，littlesir，repliedthefather，toJem’ssurprise，forhedidnotseemtoknowhim。’Businessdoesnotgowell。Iamallalone，andamgettingold，andaworkmaniscostly。’

’Buthaven’tyouasonwhocouldlearnyourtradebydegrees？’

askedJem。

’Ihadone:hewascalledJem，andwouldhavebeenatallsturdyladoftwentybythistime，andabletohelpmewell。Why，whenhewasonlytwelvehewasquitesharpandquick，andhadlearntmanylittlethings，andagood—lookingboytoo，andpleasant，sothatcustomersweretakenbyhim。Well，well！sogoestheworld！’

’Butwhereisyourson？’askedJem，withatremblingvoice。

’Heavenonlyknows！’repliedtheman;’sevenyearsagohewasstolenfromthemarket—place，andwehaveheardnomoreofhim。’

’SEVENYEARSAGO！’criedJem，withhorror。

’Yes，indeed，sevenyearsago，thoughitseemsbutyesterdaythatmywifecamebackhowlingandcrying，andsayingthechildhadnotcomebackallday。Ialwaysthoughtandsaidthatsomethingofthekindwouldhappen。Jemwasabeautifulboy，andeveryonemademuchofhim，andmywifewassoproudofhim，andlikedhimtocarrythevegetablesandthingstograndfolks’houses，wherehewaspettedandmademuchof。ButIusedtosay，"Takecare——thetownislarge，thereareplentyofbadpeopleinit——keepasharpeyeonJem。"Andsoithappened;foronedayanoldwomancameandboughtalotofthings——morethanshecouldcarry;somywife，beingakindlysoul，lenthertheboy，and——wehaveneverseenhimsince。’

’Andthatwassevenyearsago，yousay？’

’Yes，sevenyears:wehadhimcried——wewentfromhousetohouse。Manyknewtheprettyboy，andwerefondofhim，butitwasallinvain。Nooneseemedtoknowtheoldwomanwhoboughtthevegetableseither;onlyoneoldwoman，whoisninetyyearsold，saiditmighthavebeenthefairyHerbaline，whocameintothetownonceineveryfiftyyearstobuythings。’

Ashisfatherspoke，thingsgrewclearertoJem’smind，andhesawnowthathehadnotbeendreaming，buthadreallyservedtheoldwomansevenyearsintheshapeofasquirrel。Ashethoughtitoverragefilledhisheart。Sevenyearsofhisyouthhadbeenstolenfromhim，andwhathadhegotinreturn？Tolearntorubupcocoanuts，andtopolishglassfloors，andtobetaughtcookingbyguineapigs！Hestoodtherethinking，tillatlasthisfatheraskedhim:

’IsthereanythingIcandoforyou，younggentleman？ShallI

makeyouapairofslippers，orperhaps’withasmile——’acaseforyournose？’

’Whathaveyoutodowithmynose？’askedJem。’AndwhyshouldI

wantacaseforit？’

’Well，everyonetohistaste，’repliedthecobbler;’butImustsayifIhadsuchanoseIwouldhaveaniceredleathercovermadeforit。Hereisanicepiece;andthinkwhataprotectionitwouldbetoyou。Asitis，youmustbeconstantlyknockingupagainstthings。’

Theladwasdumbwithfright。Hefelthisnose。Itwasthick，andquitetwohandslong。So，then，theoldwomanhadchangedhisshape，andthatwaswhyhisownmotherdidnotknowhim，andcalledhimahorriddwarf！

’Master，’saidhe，’haveyougotaglassthatIcouldseemyselfin？’

’Younggentleman，’wastheanswer，’yourappearanceishardlyonetobevainof，andthereisnoneedtowasteyourtimelookinginaglass。Besides，Ihavenonehere，andifyoumusthaveoneyouhadbetteraskUrbanthebarber，wholivesovertheway，tolendyouhis。Goodmorning。’

Sosaying，hegentlypushedJemintothestreet，shutthedoor，andwentbacktohiswork。

Jemsteppedacrosstothebarber，whomhehadknowninolddays。

’Goodmorning，Urban，’saidhe;’mayIlookatmyselfinyourglassforamoment？’

’Withpleasure，’saidthebarber，laughing，andallthepeopleinhisshopfelltolaughingalso。’Youareaprettyyouth，withyourswan—likeneckandwhitehandsandsmallnose。Nowonderyouarerathervain;butlookaslongasyoulikeatyourself。’

Sospokethebarber，andatitterranroundtheroom。MeantimeJemhadsteppeduptothemirror，andstoodgazingsadlyathisreflection。Tearscametohiseyes。

’Nowonderyoudidnotknowyourchildagain，dearmother，’

thoughthe;’hewasn’tlikethiswhenyouweresoproudofhislooks。’

Hiseyeshadgrownquitesmall，likepigs’eyes，hisnosewashugeandhungdownoverhismouthandchin，histhroatseemedtohavedisappearedaltogether，andhisheadwasfixedstifflybetweenhisshoulders。Hewasnotallerthanhehadbeensevenyearsago，whenhewasnotmuchmorethantwelveyearsold，buthemadeupinbreadth，andhisbackandchesthadgrownintolumpsliketwogreatsacks。Hislegsweresmallandspindly，buthisarmswereaslargeasthoseofawell—grownman，withlargebrownhands，andlongskinnyfingers。

Thenherememberedthemorningwhenhehadfirstseentheoldwoman，andherthreatstohim，andwithoutsayingawordheleftthebarber’sshop。

Hedeterminedtogoagaintohismother，andfoundherstillinthemarket—place。Hebeggedhertolistenquietlytohim，andheremindedherofthedaywhenhewentawaywiththeoldwoman，andofmanythingsinhischildhood，andtoldherhowthefairyhadbewitchedhim，andhehadservedhersevenyears。Hannahdidnotknowwhattothink——thestorywassostrange;anditseemedimpossibletothinkherprettyboyandthishideousdwarfwerethesame。Atlastshedecidedtogoandtalktoherhusbandaboutit。Shegatheredupherbaskets，toldJemtofollowher，andwentstraighttothecobbler’sstall。

’Lookhere，’saidshe，’thiscreaturesaysheisourlostson。

Hehasbeentellingmehowhewasstolensevenyearsago，andbewitchedbyafairy。’

’Indeed！’interruptedthecobblerangrily。’Didhetellyouthis？Waitaminute，yourascal！WhyItoldhimallaboutitmyselfonlyanhourago，andthenhegoesofftohumbugyou。Soyouwerebewitched，mysonwereyou？Waitabit，andI’llbewitchyou！’

Sosaying，hecaughtupabundleofstraps，andhitoutatJemsohardthatheranoffcrying。

Thepoorlittledwarfroamedaboutalltherestofthedaywithoutfoodordrink，andatnightwasgladtoliedownandsleeponthestepsofachurch。Hewokenextmorningwiththefirstraysoflight，andbegantothinkwhathecoulddotoearnaliving。Suddenlyherememberedthathewasanexcellentcook，andhedeterminedtolookoutforaplace。

Assoonasitwasquitedaylighthesetoutforthepalace，forheknewthatthegranddukewhoreignedoverthecountrywasfondofgoodthings。

Whenhereachedthepalacealltheservantscrowdedabouthim，andmadefunofhim，andatlasttheirshoutsandlaughtergrewsoloudthattheheadstewardrushedout，crying，’Forgoodnesssake，bequiet，can’tyou。Don’tyouknowhishighnessisstillasleep？’

Someoftheservantsranoffatonce，andotherspointedoutJem。

Indeed，thestewardfoundithardtokeephimselffromlaughingatthecomicsight，butheorderedtheservantsoffandledthedwarfintohisownroom。

Whenheheardhimaskforaplaceascook，hesaid:’Youmakesomemistake，mylad。Ithinkyouwanttobethegrandduke’sdwarf，don’tyou？’

’No，sir，’repliedJem。’Iamanexperiencedcook，andifyouwillkindlytakemetotheheadcookhemayfindmeofsomeuse。’

’Well，asyouwill;butbelieveme，youwouldhaveaneasierplaceasthegrandducaldwarf。’

Sosaying，theheadstewardledhimtotheheadcook’sroom。

’Sir，’askedJem，ashebowedtillhisnosenearlytouchedthefloor，’doyouwantanexperiencedcook？’

Theheadcooklookedhimoverfromheadtofoot，andburstoutlaughing。

’Youacook！Doyousupposeourcookingstovesaresolowthatyoucanlookintoanysaucepanonthem？Oh，mydearlittlefellow，whoeversentyoutomewantedtomakefunofyou。’

Butthedwarfwasnottobeputoff。

’Whatmattersanextraeggortwo，oralittlebutterorflourandspicemoreorless，insuchahouseasthis？’saidhe。’Nameanydishyouwishtohavecooked，andgivemethematerialsIaskfor，andyoushallsee。’

Hesaidmuchmore，andatlastpersuadedtheheadcooktogivehimatrial。

Theywentintothekitchen——ahugeplacewithatleasttwentyfireplaces，alwaysalight。Alittlestreamofclearwaterranthroughtheroom，andlivefishwerekeptatoneendofit。

Everythinginthekitchenwasofthebestandmostbeautifulkind，andswarmsofcooksandscullionswerebusypreparingdishes。

WhentheheadcookcameinwithJemeveryonestoodquitestill。

’Whathashishighnessorderedforluncheon？’askedtheheadcook。

’Sir，hishighnesshasgraciouslyorderedaDanishsoupandredHamburgdumplings。’

’Good，’saidtheheadcook。’Haveyouheard，anddoyoufeelequaltomakingthesedishes？Notthatyouwillbeabletomakethedumplings，fortheyareasecretreceipt。’

’Isthatall！’saidJem，whohadoftenmadebothdishes。

’Nothingeasier。Letmehavesomeeggs，apieceofwildboar，andsuchandsuchrootsandherbsforthesoup;andasforthedumplings，’headdedinalowvoicetotheheadcook，’Ishallwantfourdifferentkindsofmeat，somewine，aduck’smarrow，someginger，andaherbcalledheal—well。’

’Why，’criedtheastonishedcook，’wheredidyoulearncooking？

Yes，thosearetheexactmaterials，butweneverusedtheherbheal—well，which，Iamsure，mustbeanimprovement。’

AndnowJemwasallowedtotryhishand。Hecouldnotnearlyreachuptothekitchenrange，butbyputtingawideplankontwochairshemanagedverywell。Allthecooksstoodroundtolookon，andcouldnothelpadmiringthequick，cleverwayinwhichhesettowork。Atlast，whenallwasready，Jemorderedthetwodishestobeputonthefiretillhegavetheword。Thenhebegantocount:’One，two，three，’tillhegottofivehundredwhenhecried，’Now！’Thesaucepansweretakenoff，andheinvitedtheheadcooktotaste。

Thefirstcooktookagoldenspoon，washedandwipedit，andhandedittotheheadcook，whosolemnlyapproached，tastedthedishes，andsmackedhislipsoverthem。’Firstrate，indeed！’heexclaimed。’Youcertainlyareamasteroftheart，littlefellow，andtheherbheal—wellgivesaparticularrelish。’

Ashewasspeaking，theduke’svaletcametosaythathishighnesswasreadyforluncheon，anditwasservedatonceinsilverdishes。TheheadcooktookJemtohisownroom，buthadhardlyhadtimetoquestionhimbeforehewasorderedtogoatoncetothegrandduke。Hehurriedonhisbestclothesandfollowedthemessenger。

Thegranddukewaslookingmuchpleased。Hehademptiedthedishes，andwaswipinghismouthastheheadcookcamein。’Whocookedmyluncheonto—day？’askedhe。’Imustsayyourdumplingsarealwaysverygood;butIdon’tthinkIevertastedanythingsodeliciousastheywereto—day。Whomadethem？’

’Itisastrangestory，yourhighness，’saidthecook，andtoldhimthewholematter，whichsurprisedthedukesomuchthathesentforthedwarfandaskedhimmanyquestions。Ofcourse，Jemcouldnotsayhehadbeenturnedintoasquirrel，buthesaidhewaswithoutparentsandhadbeentaughtcookingbyanoldwoman。

’Ifyouwillstaywithme，’saidthegrandduke，’youshallhavefiftyducatsayear，besidesanewcoatandacoupleofpairsoftrousers。YoumustundertaketocookmyluncheonyourselfandtodirectwhatIshallhavefordinner，andyoushallbecalledassistantheadcook。’

Jembowedtotheground，andpromisedtoobeyhisnewmasterinallthings。

Helostnotimeinsettingtowork，andeveryonerejoicedathavinghiminthekitchen，forthedukewasnotapatientman，andhadbeenknowntothrowplatesanddishesathiscooksandservantsifthethingsservedwerenotquitetohistaste。Nowallwaschanged。Heneverevengrumbledatanything，hadfivemealsinsteadofthree，thoughteverythingdelicious，andgrewfatterdaily。

AndsoJemlivedonfortwoyears，muchrespectedandconsidered，andonlysaddenedwhenhethoughtofhisparents。Onedaypassedmuchlikeanothertillthefollowingincidenthappened。

DwarfLongNose——ashewasalwayscalled——madeapracticeofdoinghismarketingasmuchaspossiblehimself，andwhenevertimeallowedwenttothemarkettobuyhispoultryandfruit。

Onemorninghewasinthegoosemarket，lookingforsomenicefatgeese。Noonethoughtoflaughingathisappearancenow;hewasknownastheduke’sspecialbodycook，andeverygoose—womanfelthonouredifhisnoseturnedherway。

Henoticedonewomansittingapartwithanumberofgeese，butnotcryingorpraisingthemliketherest。Hewentuptoher，feltandweighedhergeese，and，findingthemverygood，boughtthreeandthecagetoputthemin，hoistedthemonhisbroadshoulders，andsetoffonhiswayback。

Ashewent，itstruckhimthattwoofthegeeseweregobblingandscreamingasgeesedo，butthethirdsatquitestill，onlyheavingadeepsighnowandthen，likeahumanbeing。’Thatgooseisill，’saidhe;’Imustmakehastetokillanddressher。’

Butthegooseansweredhimquitedistinctly:

’SqueezetootightAndI’llbite，IfmyneckatwistyougaveI’dbringyoutoanearlygrave。’

Quitefrightened，thedwarfsetdownthecage，andthegoosegazedathimwithsadwise—lookingeyesandsighedagain。

’Goodgracious！’saidLongNose。’Soyoucanspeak，MistressGoose。Inevershouldhavethoughtit！Well，don’tbeanxious。

Iknowbetterthantohurtsorareabird。ButIcouldbetyouwerenotalwaysinthisplumage——wasn’tIasquirrelmyselfforatime？’

’Youareright，’saidthegoose，’insupposingIwasnotborninthishorridshape。Ah！nooneeverthoughtthatMimi，thedaughterofthegreatWeatherbold，wouldbekilledfortheducaltable。’

’Bequiteeasy，MistressMimi，’comfortedJem。’AssureasI’manhonestmanandassistantheadcooktohishighness，nooneshallharmyou。Iwillmakeahutchforyouinmyownrooms，andyoushallbewellfed，andI’llcomeandtalktoyouasmuchasI

can。I’lltellalltheothercooksthatIamfatteningupagooseonveryspecialfoodforthegrandduke，andatthefirstgoodopportunityIwillsetyoufree。’