Tales out of school

by Frank R. Stockton

Sometimes field laborers, on going out in the morning to weed, or to reap, would find the work already done. A poor farmer’s wife coming into her kitchen in the morning to make the fire would find the wood all cut, and laid in order, and a pail of water brought from the spring. Sometimes the little people would go into the dining room, and wash the glasses, and clean the silver. Occasionally they would go to work, and drive all the mice and spiders out of a house. They washed dishes, and cleaned vegetables, and made themselves useful about the house in every possible way. All they required in return was a little food. A bowl of milk, or some nice fresh bread, was set upon the kitchen table, and that was supper enough for a kobold.

TAKING A REST.

Some of them preferred to work in stables. They would curry the horses; comb out their manes; shake down straw for the litters, and clean the stables. But this is hard work, and the little things would get very tired. So the coachmen, and the farmers used to tie knots in the manes of the horses to afford resting places for the kobolds. They would sit in these to rest their weary limbs and often take a little nap there to refresh themselves.

They visited the sheep in the fold, or on the hill-sides, and kept the fleeces white and clean.

There were many other things the kobolds did, but I have told enough to give you an idea of the busy, and helpful life they led; and will now return to the colony that lived in the old castle.

The owl looked down and watched the frolic of the dwarfs for nearly an hour. Then one of the three dwarfs, who formed the Council, blew a shrill blast upon a whistle. At this signal the whole colony gathered into a group in front of the Council. Now all were quiet, and the owl knew this was his time to speak, for the tasks of the night were to be given out, and as each one received his commission, he would go away.

The owl flapped his wings, and they all looked up. Some of them had seen him before, and knew him to be one of the king’s messengers. So they invited him to a seat on a rock near them, and listened with respectful attention while he told them of the bad behavior of the giants, and of the advice of the wise woman. He took good care not to tell them that the king at first thought this advice ridiculous, but made it appear that his majesty relied upon the good dwarfs to conquer the giants, and to make them behave peaceably. The method of accomplishing this he left entirely to their wisdom.

It was a very flattering speech, and the owl looked so grave while delivering his message that the dwarfs believed every word of it. Never in all the history of kobolds had anything like this happened. The giants were the beings that the dwarfs feared more than any other creatures, and they took very good care always to keep out of their way. And now their king thought them capable of vanquishing these gigantic enemies! The whole colony became at once puffed up with pride and vanity, and clamored to the Council to lead them forth immediately to fight the giants.

Two of the members of the Council had their wits completely carried away by the enthusiasm of the colony, and waved their hats, and shouted, “On to the giants!” But the third member sat quiet until all the company had shouted themselves hoarse, and were still once more. Then he said: