th Wynkyn, and gave him all sorts of lovely
presents to take back to the earth.

A golden hat and a golden coat,
A golden ball and a golden boat,
A slate all covered with golden sums,
And a golden pudding with diamond plums.

So he was very happy, and thought he would stay there all his life. But
while he was running after one of the little golden boys, he tumbled off
the sun, and fell down the ladder, turning somersaults all the way. And
when he came down to the earth again he had lost all the presents except
the pudding, but he had held that all the way down. So he sold it to a
man for forty million hundred dollars; and then he was so rich that they
made him King of Siam, and he rode on a white elephant with pink ears
all the rest of his life."

"Iv dat all?" asked Downy.

"Yes, that's all," replied Fluff. "I made up the last part of it,
because I couldn't remember just what Auntie told me after he came down
the ladder. And now, Downy, pet," she continued, "I must go, for old
Margaret has promised to show me the new chickens. Finish your porridge,
and then you can come too!" and away ran Fluff, leaving the Downy mouse
alone, looking very thoughtful over his porringer. He was silent for
some time; then laying down his spoon, he said with an air of decision,
"I'm doin' to do!" With that, he slid down from the window sill, and
trotted out of the house as fast as his little fat legs would carry him.
I knew perfectly well that his intention was to go up to the sun, but I
did not think he would get very far. On the lawn he paused, and looked
about him. Plenty of sunbeams there; every blade of grass had one, for
the little sparklers, who are very vain, had come to look at themselves
and admire their own brightness in the drops of dew which lay on every
leaf and flower and spear of grass. Downy ran here and there, putting
his foot down wherever he saw a flash, and then looking expectantly up
into the air. But no golden ladder appeared, and at length I heard the
little mouse say, "Deve ivn't de right kind of funbeamv. I'll do
fomewhere elfe." So off he went, pattering over the grass and over the
gravel paths, still stamping on every spot of sunshine, and still
looking up for the golden ladder. I was just beginning to think it was
time some one came to look after the mouse, when I heard a loud scream
from the farm-yard. Turning my eyes in that direction, I saw something
that was real