hing, from the king himself to the mouse in the palace pantry,
stood still to listen.

No matter what he was doing, however, feasting or resting, singing or
listening to praises, he never forgot the promise that he had made to
his wife and his child and his little brown dog; and when the day
before Christmas came, he took his harp in his hand and went to bid
the king good-bye.

Now the king was loath to have the harper leave him, and he said to
him:

"I will give you a horse that is white as milk, as glossy as satin,
and fleet as a deer, if you will stay to play and sing before my
throne on Christmas day."

But the harper answered, "I cannot stay, for I have a wife and a child
and a little brown dog; and I have promised them to be at home by
Christmas day to eat my share of the Christmas pudding and sing the
Christmas songs by my own fireside."

Then the king said, "If you will stay to play and sing before my
throne on Christmas day I will give to you a wonderful tree that
summer or winter is never bare; and silver and gold will fall for you
whenever you shake this little tree."

But the harper said, "I must not stay, for my wife and my child and my
little brown dog are waiting for me, and I have promised them to be at
home by Christmas day to eat my share of the Christmas pudding and
sing the Christmas songs by my own fireside."

Then the king said, "If you will stay on Christmas day one tune to
play and one song to sing, I will give you a velvet robe to wear, and
you may sit beside me here with a ring on your finger and a crown on
your head."

But the harper answered, "I _will_ not stay, for my wife and my child
and my little brown dog are watching for me; and I have promised them
to be at home by Christmas day to eat my share of the Christmas
pudding and sing the Christmas songs by my own fireside." And he
wrapped his old cloak about him, and hung his harp upon his back, and
went out from the king's palace without another word.

He had not gone far when the little white snow-flakes came fluttering
down from the skies.

"Harper, stay," they seemed to say,
"Do not venture out to-day."

But the harper said, "The snow may fall, but I must go, for I have a
wife and a child and a little brown dog; and I have promised them to
be at home by Christmas day to eat my share of the Christmas pudding
and sing the Christmas songs by my own fireside."

Then the snow fell thick, and the snow fell fast. The hi