ead
with this claw. Sickness, suffering and old age will disappear. This
miraculous claw will have the same virtue for all that you love and all
who love you."

Henry thanked the Cat most warmly, took the precious claw and wished to
try its powers immediately, as he felt painfully weary. The claw had
scarcely touched his brow when he felt as fresh and vigorous as if he
had just left his bed.

The Cat looked on smiling, and said: "Now get on my tail."

Henry obeyed. He was no sooner seated on the Cat's tail than he saw the
tail lengthen itself till it reached across the ditch.

THE PLANT OF LIFE

When he had saluted the Cat respectfully, Henry ran towards the garden
of the plant of life, which was only a hundred steps from him. He
trembled lest some new obstacle should retard him but he reached the
garden lattice without any difficulty. He sought the gate and found it
readily, as the garden was not large. But, alas! the garden was filled
with innumerable plants utterly unknown to him and it was impossible to
know how to distinguish the plant of life. Happily he remembered that
the good fairy Bienfaisante had told him that when he reached the summit
of the mountain he must call the Doctor who cultivated the garden of the
fairies. He called him then with a loud voice. In a moment he heard a
noise among the plants near him and saw issue from them a little man, no
taller than a hearth brush. He had a book under his arm, spectacles on
his crooked little nose and wore the great black cloak of a doctor.

[Illustration: "_What are you seeking little one?_"]

"What are you seeking, little one?" said the Doctor; "and how is it
possible that you have gained this summit?"

"Doctor, I come from the fairy Bienfaisante, to ask the plant of life to
cure my poor sick mother, who is about to die."

"All those who come from the fairy Bienfaisante," said the little
Doctor, raising his hat respectfully, "are most welcome. Come, my boy, I
will give you the plant you seek."

The Doctor then buried himself in the botanical garden where Henry had
some trouble in following him, as he was so small as to disappear
entirely among the plants. At last they arrived near a bush growing by
itself. The Doctor drew a little pruning-knife from his pocket, cut a
bunch and gave it to Henry, saying:

"Take this and use it as the good fairy Bienfaisante directed but do not
allow it to leave your hands. If you lay it down under any circumsta