w this Little Old Woman had not always lived in a Shoe. She and
her family had once dwelt in a nice house covered with ivy, and her
husband was a wood-cutter, like Strong-arm. But there lived in a huge
castle beyond the forest, a fierce giant, who one day came and laid
their house in ruins with his club; after which he carried off the
poor wood-cutter to his castle beyond the forest. When the Little Old
Woman came home, her house was in ruins and her husband was no where
to be seen.

[Illustration: Giant holding Wood-cutter.]

Night came on, and as the father did not return, the Old Lady and her
family went to search for him. When they came to that part of the
wood where the Giant had met their father, they saw an immense shoe.
They spent a long time weeping and calling out for their father, but
met with no reply. Then the Old Lady thought that they had better
take shelter in the shoe until they could build a new house. So Peter
and Strong-arm put a roof to it, and cut a door, and turned it into a
dwelling. Here they all lived happily for many years, but the Little
Old Lady never forgot her husband and his sad fate. Strong-arm, who
saw how wretched his mother often was about it, proposed to the next
eleven brothers that they should go with him and set their father
free from the Giant. Their mother knew the Giant's strength, and
would not hear of the attempt, as she feared they would be killed.
But Strong-arm was not afraid. He bought a dozen sharp swords, and
Peter made as many strong shields and helmets, as well as cross-bows
and iron-headed arrows. They were now quite ready; Strong-arm gave
the order to march, and they started for the forest. The next day
they came in sight of the Giant's Castle. Strong-arm, leaving his
brothers in a wood close by, strode boldly up to the entrance, and
seized the knocker. The door was opened by a funny little boy with a
large head, who kept grinning and laughing.

[Illustration: Strong-arm and Boy with Large Head.]

Strong-arm then walked boldly across the court-yard, and presently
met a page, who took off his hat and asked him what he wanted.
Strong-arm said he had come to liberate his father, who was kept a
prisoner by the Giant; on this the little man said he was sorry for
him, because the part of the castle in which his father was kept was
guarded by a large dragon. Strong-arm, nothing daunted, soon found
the monster, who was fast asleep, so he made short work of him by
sendi