For similar “surprise packets” see Cosquin, ii. 77.
Remarks.–It is doubtful how far such gruesome topics should be introduced into a book for children, but as a matter of fact the katharsis of pity and terror among the little ones is as effective as among the spectators of a drama, and they take the same kind of pleasant thrill from such stories. They know it is all make- believe just as much as the spectators of a tragedy. Every one who has enjoyed the blessing of a romantic imagination has been trained up on such tales of wonder.
XXV. TOM THUMB.
Source.–From the chap-book contained in Halliwell, p. 199, and Mr. Hartland’s English Folk and Fairy Tales. I have omitted much of the second part.
Parallels.–Halliwell has also a version entirely in verse. "Tom Thumb” is “Le petit Poucet” of the French, “Daumling” of the Germans, and similar diminutive heroes elsewhere ( cf. Deulin, Contes de ma Mère l’Oye, 326), but of his adventures only that in the cow’s stomach ( cf. Cosquin, ii. 190) is common with his French and German cousins. M. Gaston Paris has a monograph on “Tom Thumb.”
XXVI. MR. FOX.
Source.–Contributed by Blakeway to Malone’s Variorum Shakespeare, to illustrate Benedick’s remark in Much Ado about Nothing (I. i. 146): “Like the old tale, my Lord, ’It is not so, nor ’twas not so, but, indeed, God forbid it should be so;’” which clearly refers to the tale of Mr. Fox. “The Forbidden Chamber” has been studied by Mr. Hartland, Folk-Lore Journal, iii. 193, seq.
Parallels.–Halliwell, p. 166, gives a similar tale of “An Oxford Student,” whose sweetheart saw him digging her grave. “Mr. Fox" is clearly a variant of the theme of “The Robber Bridegroom” (Grimm, No. 40, Mrs. Hunt’s translation, i. 389, 395; and Cosquin, i. 180-1).
XXVII. LAZY JACK.
Source.–Halliwell, 157.