Little Willie sits by the fire thinking. He lives in this cottage alone with his mother, who is out just now, and I will tell you what Willie is thinking about so earnestly. He is a clever good boy, and is making up his mind that he ought to go out into the world and seek for work, and try to earn his own living, instead of being dependent on his mother, who is very poor. He determines he will tell her so directly she comes in, and ask her leave to go.
Scene II.
Here is Willie, with his little bundle at his back, on his first day’s journey to seek his fortune. As he walks along he is startled to observe a white cloud resting on the ground, directly in his path. From this cloud come forth two enormous hands, and a voice from the cloud says:—“Don’t be afraid, Willie; I come to be your friend. No eyes but yours will be able to see me, but only persevere in your wish to work, and I will be ever near to help you.”
Willie, somehow, does not feel frightened, but says:—“Thank you, good hands.” And then they vanish.
Scene III.
The help promised to Willie by the hands makes him so happy that he runs and leaps with joy; but as evening draws on he feels very tired. He lies down under some trees, and eats some bread and cheese brought with him in his wallet. He is in a forest now, and thinks he hears the howling of wolves in the distance; still he is so tired that he must go to sleep. Presently he sees the giant hands spread themselves over him, forming a sort of tent. His heart is full of gratitude as he says his prayers, and falls asleep, feeling how safe he is beneath those giant hands.
