ay cut off
my head, or he may hang me on a greenwood tree. Little do I care
to live,' moaned Etin, 'now that I have lost my lady Margaret.'

'The lady Margaret is in her father's hall, Hynde Etin,' said the
hunters, 'nor food will she eat until ye do come to her. There is
a pardon for you here sealed by the earl's own hand.'

Then Hynde Etin smoothed his yellow locks, and gay was he as he
went with the hunters to the castle.

Down on his knee before the earl fell Hynde Etin. 'Rise, Etin,
rise!' cried the earl. 'This day shall ye dine with me.'

Around the earl's table sat the lady Margaret, her husband dear,
and her seven little wee sons. And the little Etin looked and
looked and never a tear did he see on his mother's face.

'A boon I have to ask,' cried then the little wee boy; 'I would
we were all in the holy church that the good priest might
christen me and my six little brothers. For in the greenwood gay
never a church did we see, nor the sound of church bells did we
hear.'

'Soon shall your boon be granted,' cried the earl, 'for this very
day to the church shall ye go, and your mother and your six
little wee brothers shall be with you.'

To the door of the holy church they came, but there did the lady
Margaret stay.

'For twelve long years and more,' she cried, and bowed her head,
'for twelve long years have I never been within the holy church,
and I fear to enter now.'

Then out to her came the good priest, and his smile was sweet to
see. Come hither, come hither, my lily-white flower,' said he,
'and bring your babes with you that I may lay my hands upon their
heads.'

Then did he christen the lady Margaret's seven little wee sons.
And their names, beginning with the tiniest, were these--Charles,
Vincent, Sam, Dick, James, John. And the eldest little wee son
was, as you already know, named after his father, Etin.

And back to the earl's gay castle went the lady Margaret with
Hynde Etin and her seven little new-christened sons. And there
they lived happy for ever after.

[Illustration: 'For twelve long years have I never been within
the Holy Church, and I fear to enter now']

HYNDE HORN

Hynde Horn was a little prince. It was because he was so
courteous, so kind a little lad that Prince Horn was always
called Hynde Horn. For hend or hynde in the days of long ago
meant just all the beautiful things which these words, courteous,
kind, mean in these days.

Hynde Horn lived a happy life