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mermaid forever。〃
As soon as the magic pearl comb touched Mary Louise's hair her tail
changed into her own little pair of legs。
〃Now kiss me good…by；〃 said the little Mermaid Princess； and； with a
splash； she disappeared in the ocean。
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Wonderland
For a few minutes Mary Louise felt quite lonely。 Presently she
asked the Polar Bear to be kind enough to land her on the nearest shore。
At once the big kind animal trimmed in his sail and before long they
entered a beautiful bay whose dark waters were dotted with the white sails
of the fisher boats； and directly in front； climbing up to the sky； a high
mountain on which stood a castle； where from a tall tower all night long
shone a light that could hardly be told from the stars around it。
Mary Louise jumped from the boat to the beach； and then turned to
wave good…by to the Polar Bear as he sailed away to the North Pole。
Nearby sat an old fisherman on a bench mending his net。
〃Hello； little girl；〃 he said； as Mary Louise hesitated。 〃Moor your
little hulk 'longside o' me an' I'll spin you a yarn！〃
Then he began to tell how； many hundred years ago； all the land
around about was covered with a thick forest instead of the deep blue
water of the bay。
Then came the great giant Cormoran； who was 18 feet high and 3
yards wide； and his wife Cormelian； who was just as big； and they brought
from the hills great gray rocks which they piled up； one on the other；
hundreds of feet high； until they had made a mountain。 And on the top of
this they built their castle； where they lived until the giant's wife died and
was buried under the Chapel rock。
Then Jack the Giant Killer climbed up the mountain； and after a hard
fight Cormoran was killed； and there were no more giants in the land。
Next came the Small People； who cut down most of the forest； and
built cottages for themselves； ploughed the fields and made gardens。
But one day a great enchanter came that way； and his strange dress and
long gray beard frightened the women and children； and they shut their
doors in his face whenever he asked for a drink； for he had walked far and
was tired and thirsty。
At last he found the principal man of the Small People； a little old
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The Iceberg Express
crusty fellow and very miserly。 And when the great enchanter asked him
for a drink of water； the Small Man told him he didn't keep a hotel for
beggars。 And this made the great enchanter so angry that he struck the
ground with his staff； so that it made a deep hole； and then he went upon
his journey。
Soon a little spring of water bubbled up through the hole； and by and
by a stream burst forth that swelled to a river； and after a time the whole
land was drowned； and only the high mountain remained above the water。
But the Small People who were buried under the water didn't die。 They
lived on just the same； waiting for the enchanter to return and lift the spell；
and the land to rise； again with all the people on it。
When the old fisherman had finished his story； he said； 〃I will take you
in my boat to see the Small People deep down in the water。
〃Yes； come with me in my boat and you shall see the Wonderland
under the Sea。〃
As soon as the old fisherman had hoisted the sail； away they went out
to sea over a wide path of moonlight like a silver road leading straight out
to the sky where it dipped down to the water。
All of a sudden Mary Louise noticed something come close up under
the side of the boat； and remain there staring straight at her。 She bent
over until she nearly touched the water； when what she had taken for a fish
appeared to be a very odd…looking little man。 He was even shorter than
she； very broad about the shoulders； with funny little arms and feet that
were brought together at the heels； with the toes turned straight out when
he stood up； making them look like a fish's tail。 His eyes were big and
round； without any eyelids or eyebrows。 But his mouth was the funniest
part； and when he opened it； he looked like a fish trying to talk。 He was
dressed in silvery white； shaded to blue and green。
With a sudden nod； he pointed to the road which opened behind him
down through the depths of the water until lost in the distance。
Little Mary Louise could not take her eyes from him； and； forgetting
all about the old fisherman and the boat； she bent over more and more； so
as to look closer at the funny little old man； until； splash！ down she went
into the water。
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Then came a tremendous ringing in her ears and she felt her breath go
and she knew nothing more until she found herself standing with the
strange little fish man by the side of a splendid carriage made of a scallop
shell； burnished until it shone with pearl and silver； and drawn by two
beautiful gold…fish and two silver…fish harnessed with the silken threads of
the finest sea…mosses； and driven by an old coachman that looked like a
mackerel。
〃We are the sea…horses of the deep； And we race through the waters
blue； Faster than wind and swifter than tide We gallop the ocean
through。〃
〃Jump in；〃 said the little old fish man； and without a question Mary
Louise stepped into the carriage and sat down on the beautiful pea…green
cushions。
Then the little man got in； the mackerel…faced coachman cracked his
whip； the gold and the silver fishes darted ahead； and away they went。
Great trees waved their long branches as the carriage swept past； and
odd…looking shapes came out from behind them。 Huge mouths opened
and shut； long arms waved about trying to catch anything in their reach；
and fierce looking monsters with fishes' heads came rushing in from all
sides； to stare at little Mary Louise with their great savage eyes。
Presently the little old man stood up and bowing politely； told them
that Mary Louise had never caught a fish with a cruel h