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their native country。 But here； I am grieved to tell you； happened a sad
misfortune。
You will remember （what Theseus unfortunately forgot） that his father；
King Aegeus； had enjoined it upon him to hoist sunshiny sails； instead of
black ones； in case he should overcome the Minotaur； and return
victorious。 In the joy of their success； however； and amidst the sports；
dancing； and other merriment； with which these young folks wore away
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the time； they never once thought whether their sails were black； white； or
rainbow colored； and； indeed； left it entirely to the mariners whether they
had any sails at all。 Thus the vessel returned； like a raven； with the same
sable wings that had wafted her away。 But poor King Aegeus； day after
day； infirm as he was； had clambered to the summit of a cliff that
overhung the sea； and there sat watching for Prince Theseus； homeward
bound； and no sooner did he behold the fatal blackness of the sails； than he
concluded that his dear son； whom he loved so much； and felt so proud of；
had been eaten by the Minotaur。 He could not bear the thought of living
any longer； so； first flinging his crown and sceptre into the sea （useless
baubles that they were to him now）； King Aegeus merely stooped forward；
and fell headlong over the cliff； and was drowned； poor soul； in the waves
that foamed at its base！
This was melancholy news for Prince Theseus； who； when he stepped
ashore； found himself king of all the country； whether he would or no； and
such a turn of fortune was enough to make any young man feel very much
out of spirits。 However； he sent for his dear mother to Athens； and； by
taking her advice in matters of state； became a very excellent monarch；
and was greatly beloved by his people。
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THE PYGMIES。
A great while ago； when the world was full of wonders； there lived an
earth…born Giant； named Antaeus； and a million or more of curious little
earth…born people； who were called Pygmies。 This Giant and these
Pygmies being children of the same mother （that is to say； our good old
Grandmother Earth）； were all brethren； and dwelt together in a very
friendly and affectionate manner； far； far off； in the middle of hot Africa。
The Pygmies were so small； and there were so many sandy deserts and
such high mountains between them and the rest of mankind； that nobody
could get a peep at them oftener than once in a hundred years。 As for the
Giant； being of a very lofty stature； it was easy enough to see him； but
safest to keep out of his sight。
Among the Pygmies； I suppose； if one of them grew to the height of
six or eight inches； he was reckoned a prodigiously tall man。 It must have
been very pretty to behold their little cities； with streets two or three feet
wide； paved with the smallest pebbles； and bordered by habitations about
as big as a squirrel's cage。 The king's palace attained to the stupendous
magnitude of Periwinkle's baby house； and stood in the center of a
spacious square； which could hardly have been covered by our hearth… rug。
Their principal temple； or cathedral； was as lofty as yonder bureau； and
was looked upon as a wonderfully sublime and magnificent edifice。 All
these structures were built neither of stone nor wood。 They were neatly
plastered together by the Pygmy workmen； pretty much like birds' nests；
out of straw； feathers； egg shells； and other small bits of stuff； with stiff
clay instead of mortar； and when the hot sun had dried them； they were
just as snug and comfortable as a Pygmy could desire。
The country round about was conveniently laid out in fields； the
largest of which was nearly of the same extent as one of Sweet Fern's
flower beds。 Here the Pygmies used to plant wheat and other kinds of
grain； which； when it grew up and ripened； overshadowed these tiny
people as the pines； and the oaks； and the walnut and chestnut trees
overshadow you and me； when we walk in our own tracts of woodland。 At
harvest time； they were forced to go with their little axes and cut down the
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grain； exactly as a woodcutter makes a clearing in the forest； and when a
stalk of wheat； with its overburdened top； chanced to come crashing down
upon an unfortunate Pygmy； it was apt to be a very sad affair。 If it did not
smash him all to pieces； at least； I am sure； it must have made the poor
little fellow's head ache。 And O； my stars！ if the fathers and mothers were
so small； what must the children and babies have been？ A whole family of
them might have been put to bed in a shoe； or have crept into an old glove；
and played at hide…and…seek in its thumb and fingers。 You might have
hidden a year…old baby under a thimble。
Now these funny Pygmies； as I told you before； had a Giant for their
neighbor and brother； who was bigger； if possible； than they were little。 He
was so very tall that he carried a pine tree； which was eight feet through
the butt； for a walking stick。 It took a far…sighted Pygmy； I can assure you；
to discern his summit without the help of a telescope； and sometimes； in
misty weather； they could not see his upper half； but only his long legs；
which seemed to be striding about by themselves。 But at noonday in a
clear atmosphere； when the sun shone brightly over him； the Giant
Antaeus presented a very grand spectacle。 There he used to stand； a perfect
mountain of a man； with his great countenance smiling down upon his
little brothers； and his one vast eye （which was as big as a cart wheel； and
placed right in the center of his forehead） giving a friendly wink to the
whole nation at once。
The Pygmies loved to talk with Antaeus； and fifty times a day； one or
another of them would turn up his head； and shout through the hollow of
his fists； 〃Halloo； brother Antaeus！ How are you； my good fellow？〃 And
when the small distant squeak of their voices reached his ear； the Giant
would make answer； 〃Pretty well； brother Pygmy； I thank you；〃 in a
thunderous roar that would have shaken down the walls of their strongest
temple； only that it came from so far aloft。
It was a happy circumstance that Antaeus was the Pygmy people's
friend； for there was more strength in his little finger than in ten million of
such bodies as this。 If he had been as ill…natured to them as he was to
everybody else； he might have beaten down their biggest city at one kick；
and hardly have known that he did it。 With the tornado of his breath； he
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could have stripped the roofs from a hundred dwellings and sent thousands
of the inhabitants whirling through the air。 He might have set his immense
foot upon a multitude； and when he took it up again； there would have
been a pitiful sight； to be sure。 But； being the son of Mother Earth； as they
likewise were； the Giant gave them his brotherly kindness； and loved them
with as big a love as it was possible to feel for creatures so very small。
And； on their parts； the Pygmies loved Antaeus with as much affection as
their tiny hearts could hold。 He was always ready to do them any good
offices that lay in his power； as for example； when they wanted a breeze to
turn their windmills； the Giant would set all the sails a…going with the
mere natural respiration of his lungs。 When the sun was too hot； he often
sat himself down； and let his shadow fall over the kingdom； from one
frontier to the other； and as for matters in general； he was wise enough to
let them alone； and leave the Pygmies to manage their own affairswhich；
after all；