itor the best!' So saying, he turned his pockets inside out, and
threw the mud right in his face.

'That was neatly done!' said the Princess. 'I couldn't have done it; but
I will soon learn how to!'

Blockhead-Hans became King, got a wife and a crown, and sat on the
throne; and this we have still damp from the newspaper of the editor and
the reporters--and they are not to be believed for a moment.

A STORY ABOUT A DARNING-NEEDLE

There was once a Darning-needle who thought herself so fine that she
believed she was an embroidery-needle. 'Take great care to hold me
tight!' said the Darning-needle to the Fingers who were holding her.
'Don't let me fall! If I once fall on the ground I shall never be found
again, I am so fine!'

'It is all right!' said the Fingers, seizing her round the waist.

'Look, I am coming with my train!' said the Darning-needle as she drew a
long thread after her; but there was no knot at the end of the thread.

The Fingers were using the needle on the cook's shoe. The upper leather
was unstitched and had to be sewn together.

'This is common work!' said the Darning-needle. 'I shall never get
through it. I am breaking! I am breaking!' And in fact she did break.
'Didn't I tell you so!' said the Darning-needle. 'I am too fine!'

'Now she is good for nothing!' said the Fingers; but they had to hold
her tight while the cook dropped some sealing-wax on the needle and
stuck it in the front of her dress.

'Now I am a breast-pin!' said the Darning-needle. 'I always knew I
should be promoted. When one is something, one will become something!'
And she laughed to herself; you can never see when a Darning-needle is
laughing. Then she sat up as proudly as if she were in a State coach,
and looked all round her.

'May I be allowed to ask if you are gold?' she said to her neighbour,
the Pin. 'You have a very nice appearance, and a peculiar head; but
it is too small! You must take pains to make it grow, for it is
not everyone who has a head of sealing-wax.' And so saying the
Darning-needle raised herself up so proudly that she fell out of the
dress, right into the sink which the cook was rinsing out.

'Now I am off on my travels!' said the Darning-needle. 'I do hope I
sha'n't get lost!' She did indeed get lost.

'I am too fine for this world!' said she as she lay in the gutter; 'but
I know who I am, and that is always a little satisfaction!'

And the Darning-needle kept her proud bearing and did