Produced by Kathie Sanchez, Lauren Rouse, Marie Rouse, Kathy Rouse,
Michael Sanchez, and Matthew Sanchez
Author of
"The Tale of Peter Rabbit", &c.
1905
For
ONCE upon a time therewas a little girl calledLucie, who lived at a farmcalled Little-town. She wasa good little girl—only shewas always losing her pocket-handkerchiefs!
One day little Lucie cameinto the farm-yard crying—oh, she did cry so! "I've lostmy pocket-handkin! Threehandkins and a pinny! Haveyou seen them, Tabby Kitten?"
THE Kitten went on washingher white paws; soLucie asked a speckled hen—
"Sally Henny-penny, haveyou found three pocket-handkins?"
But the speckled hen raninto a barn, clucking—
"I go barefoot, barefoot,barefoot!"
AND then Lucie asked Cock
Robin sitting on a twig.
Cock Robin looked sidewaysat Lucie with his bright blackeye, and he flew over a stileand away.
Lucie climbed upon the stileand looked up at the hill behindLittle-town—a hill that goesup-up—into the clouds asthough it had no top!
And a great way up the hillsideshe thought she saw somewhite things spread upon thegrass.
LUCIE scrambled up thehill as fast as her stoutlegs would carry her; she ranalong a steep path-way—upand up—until Little-town wasright away down below—shecould have dropped a pebbledown the chimney!
PRESENTLY she came toa spring, bubbling outfrom the hill-side.
Some one had stood a tincan upon a stone to catch thewater—but the water wasalready running over, for thecan was no bigger than anegg-cup! And where the sandupon the path was wet—therewere foot-marks of a verysmall person.
Lucie ran on, and on.
THE path ended under abig rock. The grass wasshort and green, and therewere clothes-props cut frombracken stems, with lines ofplaited rushes, and a heap oftiny clothes pins—but nopocket-handkerchiefs!
But there was somethingelse—a door! straight into thehill; and inside it some onewas singing—
"Lily-white and clean, oh!
With little frills between, oh!
Smooth and hot—red rusty spot
Never here be seen, oh!"
LUCIE, knocked—once—twice, and interruptedthe song. A little frightenedvoice called out "Who's that?"
Lucie opened the door: andwhat do you think there wasinside the hill?—a nice cleankitchen with a flagged floorand wooden beams—just likeany other farm kitchen. Onlythe ceiling was so low thatLucie's head nearly touched it;and the pots and pans weresmall, and so was everythingthere.
THERE was a nice hotsingey smell; and at thetable, with an iron in her handstood a very stout short personstaring anxiously at Lucie.
Her print gown was tuckedup, and she was wearing alarge apron over her stripedpetticoat. Her little blacknose went sniffle, sniffle, snuffle,and her eyes went twinkle,twinkle; and underneath hercap—where Lucie had yellowcurls—that little person hadPRICKLES!
"Who are you?" saidLucie. "Have youseen my pocket-handkins?"The little person made abob-curtsey—"Oh, yes, if youplease'm; my