tales has endeavoured to bear this
principle in mind, and it is hoped that the morals--and it is of the
essence of fairy tales to have a moral--of all of them are beyond
reproach.

For the rest they are committed to the indulgence of the gentle
reader.

Hans Anderssen, perhaps the greatest writer of modern fairy tales, was
content to say:

"FAIRY TALE NEVER DIES."

J.H.E.

CONTENTS.

PAGE GOOD LUCK IS BETTER THAN GOLD

THE HILLMAN AND THE HOUSEWIFE

THE NECK, A LEGEND OF A LAKE

THE NIX IN MISCHIEF

THE COBBLER AND THE GHOSTS

THE LAIRD AND THE MAN OF PEACE

THE OGRE COURTING

THE MAGICIANS' GIFTS

THE WIDOWS AND THE STRANGERS

KIND WILLIAM AND THE WATER SPRITE

MURDOCH'S RATH

THE LITTLE DARNER

THE FIDDLER IN THE FAIRY RING

"I WON'T"

THE MAGIC JAR

THE FIRST WIFE'S WEDDING-RING

THE MAGICIAN TURNED MISCHIEF-MAKER

KNAVE AND FOOL

UNDER THE SUN

GOOD LUCK IS BETTER THAN GOLD.

There was once upon a time a child who had Good Luck for his godfather.

"I am not Fortune," said Good Luck to the parents; "I have no gifts to
bestow, but whenever he needs help I will be at hand."

"Nothing could be better," said the old couple. They were delighted.
But what pleases the father often fails to satisfy the son: moreover,
every man thinks that he deserves just a little more than he has got,
and does not reckon it to the purpose if his father had less.

Many a one would be thankful to have as good reasons for contentment
as he who had Good Luck for his godfather.

If he fell, Good Luck popped something soft in the way to break his
fall; if he fought, Good Luck directed his blows, or tripped up his
adversary; if he got into a scrape, Good Luck helped him out of it;
and if ever Misfortune met him, Good Luck contrived to hustle her on
the pathway till his godson got safely by.

In games of hazard the godfather played over his shoulder. In matters
of choice he chose for him. And when the lad began to work on his
father's farm the farmer began to get rich. For no bird or field-mouse
touched a seed that his son had sown, and every plant he planted
throve when Good Luck smiled on it.

The boy was not fond of work, but when he did go into the fields, Good
Luck followed him.

"Your christening-day was a blessed day for us all," said the old
farmer.

"He has never given m