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 Volume 2 more Apr-Jun 2002 March 17-He Is Risen 16-50 years ago 15-St. Patrick 14-A Song of Drake's Men 13-Cleopatra's Needle February 12-Ankle Sprains 11-Ski Jumping 10-The Original Tom Thumb 9-Happy Birthday Mom January 8-Lustron Homes 7-Thinking About Motion Pictures 6-BNSF Rail Yard 5-Petrified Forest 4-Wake Up Jacob 3-Free Throw Specialist 2-House Numbers for Bees 1-Sloppy Joe's Bar Volume 1 December 2001 Fascinatum Main |
Vol. 2 - February - No. 10
The Original Tom Thumb
adapted from a miniature booklet by Solomon King, New York City, about 1830.Tom Thumb was born in the reign of King Arthur. He was thus called because he never grew any taller than his father's thumb, which was not a very big thumb either. One day his mother made a batter pudding and that he might see how she mixed it, he climbed up to the edge of the bowl, but his foot slipping, he fell overhead and ears into the batter. The hot water made Tom struggle; and his mother seeing the pudding jump about, gave it to a poor tinker who was passing by, who put it in his pocket and walked on. As soon as Tom could get the batter out of his mouth he began to bawl lustily, which scared the tinker so much that he threw the pudding, Tom and all, over the fence, and ran away. One windy day his mother tied him fast with a needleful of thread to a thistle, that he might not be blown from her. The cow took up the thistle and Tom at a mouthful; but he screamed, and the cow was glad to drop him. King Arthur sent for Tom to court, where he went riding on a fine mouse. The king gave him a purse and a silver three-penny piece, which, after much labour, he got on his back, and rode home. Not long after this, the Queen of the Fairies came to see him, in a chariot drawn by flying mice, and made Tom her coachman, who drove her through the air to her palace. She then made a fair wind to blow, and placing Tom on a beautiful painted butterfly, sent them away. On arriving at the drawbridge, Tom was opposed by a large spider. Tom drawing his sword fought the whole day; but alas, the spider finally overcame and killed him. Tom Thumb lies dead, King Arthur's knight, Who died by a spider's cruel bite. Wipe, wipe your eyes, and shake your head, And cry, Alas! Sir Tom is dead! |
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Leslie Brook's Little Books: Tom Thumb |
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