But Hans never got his two bags of gold away from the vault, for just as he was leaving—bang! came the stone together, and caught him as though he was a mouse in the door; and that was an end of him. That happened because he left the witch-hazel behind.

That was the way in which Claus came to lose his magic staff; but that did not matter much, for he had enough to live on and to spare. So he married the daughter of the Herr Baron     (for he might marry whom he chose, now that he was rich), and after that he lived as happy as a fly on the warm chimney.

Now, this is so—it is better to take a little away at a time and carry your staff with you, than to take all at once and leave it behind.

time and carry your staff with you, than to

take all at once and leave it behind.

 

VENTURESOME BOLDNESS

A tailor came a-walking by, The fire of courage in his eye.      "Where are you going Sir?" Said I.  "I slew a mouse In our house Where other tailors live," said he, "And not a Jack Among the pack Would dare to do the like; pardie! Therefore, I'm going out to try If there be greater men that I; Or in the land As bold a hand At wielding brand as I, you see!"       The tailor came a-limping by With woful face and clothes awry And all his courage gone to pie.  "I met a knight In armor bright And bade him stand and draw," said he; "He straightaway did As he was bid, And treated me outrageously. So I shall get me home again, And probably shall there remain. A little man. Sir, always can Be great with folk of less degree!"  H. Pyle

"I slew a mouse

In our house

"And not a Jack

Among the pack

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