Once there was a miller who was poor, but who had a beautifuldaughter. Now it happened that he had to go and speak to theking, and in order to make himself appear important he saidto him, I have a daughter who can spin straw into gold. Theking said to the miller, that is an art whichpleases me well, if your daughter is as clever as you say, bringher to-morrow to my palace, and I will put her to the test.And when the girl was brought to him he took her into a roomwhich was quite full of straw, gave her a spinning-wheel and areel, and said, now set to work, and if by to-morrow morningearly you have not spun this straw into gold during the night,you must die. Thereupon he himself locked up 　

FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTHE FLAXby Hans Christian AndersenTHE flax was in full bloom; it had pretty little blue flowers asdelicate as the wings of a moth, or even more so. The sun shone, andthe showers watered it; and this was just as good for the flax as itis for little children to be washed and then kissed by their mother.They look much prettier for it, and so did the flax."People say that I look exceedingly well," said the flax, "andthat I am so fine and long that I shall make a beautiful piece oflinen. How fortunate I am; it makes me so happy, it is such a pleasant...　

The Death of the Lionby Henry JamesCHAPTER I.I HAD simply, I suppose, a change of heart, and it must have begunwhen I received my manuscript back from Mr. Pinhorn. Mr. Pinhornwas my "chief," as he was called in the office: he had the highmission of bringing the paper up. This was a weekly periodical,which had been supposed to be almost past redemption when he tookhold of it. It was Mr. Deedy who had let the thing down sodreadfully: he was never mentioned in the office now save inconnexion with that misdemeanour. Young as I was I had been in amanner taken over from Mr. Deedy, who had been owner as well aseditor; forming part of a promiscuous lot, mainly plant and office-...　

Marquise de Brinvilliersby Alexandre Dumas, PereTowards the end of the year 1665, on a fine autumn evening, there was a considerable crowd assembled on the Pont-Neuf where it makes a turn down to the rue Dauphine. The object of this crowd and the centre of attraction was a closely shut, carriage. A police official was trying to force open the door, and two out of the four sergeants who were with him were holding the horses back and the other two stopping the driver, who paid no attention to their commands, but only endeavoured to urge his horses to a gallop. The struggle had been going on same time, when suddenly one of the doors violentiy pushed open, and a young officer in the uniform 　

THE BLUE MOUNTAINSThere were once a Scotsman and an Englishman and an Irishmanserving in the army together, who took it into their heads to runaway on the first opportunity they could get. The chance cameand they took it. They went on travelling for two days through agreat forest, without food or drink, and without coming across asingle house, and every night they had to climb up into the treesthrough fear of the wild beasts that were in the wood. On thesecond morning the Scotsman saw from the top of his tree a greatcastle far away. He said to himself that he would certainly dieif he stayed in the forest without anything to eat but the roots...　

1781THE CRITIQUE OF PURE REASONby Immanuel Kanttranslated by J. M. D. MeiklejohnPREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION, 1781Human reason, in one sphere of its cognition, is called upon toconsider questions, which it cannot decline, as they are presentedby its own nature, but which it cannot answer, as they transcend everyfaculty of the mind.It falls into this difficulty without any fault of its own. Itbegins with principles, which cannot be dispensed with in the field ofexperience, and the truth and sufficiency of which are, at the same...　

Lecture VIThe Chief and the LandThe Brehon law-tracts strongly suggest that, among the thingswhich we in modern times have most forgotten, is the importanceof horned cattle, not merely in the infancy of society, but at aperiod when it had made some considerable advance towardsmaturity It is scarcely possible to turn over a page withoutfinding some allusion to beeves, to bulls, cows, heifers, andcalves. Horses appear, sheep, swine, and dogs; and bees, theproducers of the greatest of primitive luxuries, have a place...　

Anabasisby XenophonTranslation by H. G. DakynsDedicated To Rev. B. Jowett, M.A. Master of Balliol College Regius Professor of Greek in the University of OxfordXenophon the Athenian was born 431 B.C. He was a pupil of Socrates. He marched with the Spartans, and was exiled from Athens. Sparta gave him land and property in Scillus, where he lived for many years before having to move once more, to settle in Corinth. He died in 354 B.C.The Anabasis is his story of the march to Persia to aid Cyrus, who enlisted Greek help to try and take the throne from Artaxerxes, and the ensuing return of the Greeks, in which Xenophon played a leading role. This occurred between 401 B.C. and March 399 B.C....　

TRUSTY JOHNONCE upon a time there was an old king who was soill that he thought to himself, "I am most likely on mydeath-bed." Then he said, "Send Trusty John to me."Now Trusty John was his favorite servant, and was socalled because all his life he had served him so faithfully.When he approached the bed the King spake to him:"Most trusty John, I feel my end is drawing near, and Icould face it without a care were it not for my son. Heis still too young to decide everything for himself, andunless you promise me to instruct him in all he shouldknow, and to be to him as a father, I shall not close myeyes in peace." Then Trusty John answered: "I will...　

BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIESBUTTERCUP GOLDAND OTHER STORIESEllen Robena Field1- Page 2-BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIESThe Little New YearOne cold morning Maurice awoke from his dreams and sat up in bedand listened. He thought he heard a knock at his window; but though themoon was shining brightly, Jack Frost had been so busily at work thatMaurice could not see through the thickly painted panes. So he creptsleepily out of bed, and opened the window, and whispered: "Who is...　

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF NAPOLEON, V7BY CONSTANTPREMIER VALET DE CHAMBRETRANSLATED BY WALTER CLARKCONTENTS:CHAPTER XIII. to CHAPTER XXI.CHAPTER XIII.His Majesty remained only ten days at Saint-Cloud, passed two or three ofthese in Paris at the opening of the session of the Corps Legislatif, andat noon on the 29th set out a second time for Bayonne.The Empress, who to her great chagrin could not accompany the Emperor,sent for me on the morning of his departure, and renewed in most touchingaccents the same recommendations which she made on all his journeys, forthe character of the Spaniards made her timid and fearful as to his...　

STORIESSTORIESby English Authors in Africa1- Page 2-STORIESTHE MYSTERY OF SASASSAVALLEYBY A. CONAN DOYLEDo I know why Tom Donahue is called "Lucky Tom"? Yes, I do; andthat is more than one in ten of those who call him so can say. I haveknocked about a deal in my time, and seen some strange sights, but nonestranger than the way in which Tom gained that sobriquet, and his fortunewith it. For I was with him at the time. Tell it? Oh, certainly; but it is a...