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purity of his auditors。 The objectionable characteristics seem to be a
parasitical growth； having no essential connection with the original fable。
They fall away； and are thought of no more； the instant he puts his
imagination in sympathy with the innocent little circle； whose wide…open
eyes are fixed so eagerly upon him。 Thus the stories （not by any strained
effort of the narrator's； but in harmony with their inherent germ） transform
themselves； and re…assume the shapes which they might be supposed to
possess in the pure childhood of the world。 When the first poet or
romancer told these marvellous legends （such is Eustace Bright's opinion）；
it was still the Golden Age。 Evil had never yet existed； and sorrow；
misfortune； crime； were mere shadows which the mind fancifully created
for itself； as a shelter against too sunny realities； or； at most； but prophetic
dreams to which the dreamer himself did not yield a waking credence。
Children are now the only representatives of the men and women of that
happy era； and therefore it is that we must raise the intellect and fancy to
the level of childhood； in order to re…create the original myths。
I let the youthful author talk as much and as extravagantly as he
pleased； and was glad to see him commencing life with such confidence in
himself and his performances。 A few years will do all that is necessary
towards showing him the truth in both respects。 Meanwhile； it is but right
to say； he does really appear to have overcome the moral objections
against these fables； although at the expense of such liberties with their
structure as must be left to plead their own excuse； without any help from
me。 Indeed； except that there was a necessity for itand that the inner life
of the legends cannot be come at save by making them entirely one's own
propertythere is no defense to be made。
Eustace informed me that he had told his stories to the children in
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TANGLEWOOD TALES
various situationsin the woods； on the shore of the lake； in the dell of
Shadow Brook； in the playroom； at Tanglewood fireside； and in a
magnificent palace of snow； with ice windows； which he helped his little
friends to build。 His auditors were even more delighted with the contents
of the present volume than with the specimens which have already been
given to the world。 The classically learned Mr。 Pringle； too； had listened to
two or three of the tales； and censured them even more bitterly than he did
THE THREE GOLDEN APPLES； so that； what with praise； and what
with criticism； Eustace Bright thinks that there is good hope of at least as
much success with the public as in the case of the 〃WonderBook。〃
I made all sorts of inquiries about the children； not doubting that there
would be great eagerness to hear of their welfare； among some good little
folks who have written to me； to ask for another volume of myths。 They
are all； I am happy to say （unless we except Clover）； in excellent health
and spirits。 Primrose is now almost a young lady； and； Eustace tells me； is
just as saucy as ever。 She pretends to consider herself quite beyond the age
to be interested by such idle stories as these； but； for all that； whenever a
story is to be told； Primrose never fails to be one of the listeners； and to
make fun of it when finished。 Periwinkle is very much grown； and is
expected to shut up her baby house and throw away her doll in a month or
two more。 Sweet Fern has learned to read and write； and has put on a
jacket and pair of pantaloonsall of which improvements I am sorry for。
Squash Blossom； Blue Eye； Plantain； and Buttercup have had the scarlet
fever； but came easily through it。 Huckleberry； Milkweed； and Dandelion
were attacked with the whooping cough； but bore it bravely； and kept out
of doors whenever the sun shone。 Cowslip； during the autumn； had either
the measles； or some eruption that looked very much like it； but was
hardly sick a day。 Poor Clover has been a good deal troubled with her
second teeth； which have made her meagre in aspect and rather fractious
in temper； nor； even when she smiles； is the matter much mended； since it
discloses a gap just within her lips； almost as wide as the barn door。 But all
this will pass over； and it is predicted that she will turn out a very pretty
girl。
As for Mr。 Bright himself； he is now in his senior year at Williams
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College； and has a prospect of graduating with some degree of honorable
distinction at the next Commencement。 In his oration for the bachelor's
degree； he gives me to understand； he will treat of the classical myths；
viewed in the aspect of baby stories； and has a great mind to discuss the
expediency of using up the whole of ancient history； for the same purpose。
I do not know what he means to do with himself after leaving college； but
trust that； by dabbling so early with the dangerous and seductive business
of authorship； he will not bc tempted to become an author by profession。 If
so I shall be very sorry for the little that I have had to do with the matter；
in encouraging these first beginnings。
I wish there were any likelihood of my soon seeing Primrose；
Periwinkle； Dandelion； Sweet Fern； Clover Plantain； Huckleberry；
Milkweed； Cowslip； Buttercup； Blue Eye； and Squash Blossom again。 But
as I do not know when I shall re…visit Tanglewood； and as Eustace Bright
probably will not ask me to edit a third 〃WonderBook；〃 the public of little
folks must not expect to hear any more about those dear children from me。
Heaven bless them； and everybody else； whether grown people or
children！
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TANGLEWOOD TALES
THE MINOTAUR。
In the old city of Troezene； at the foot of a lofty mountain； there lived；
a very long time ago； a little boy named Theseus。 His grandfather； King
Pittheus； was the sovereign of that country； and was reckoned a very wise
man； so that Theseus； being brought up in the royal palace； and being
naturally a bright lad； could hardly fail of profiting by the old king's
instructions。 His mother's name was Aethra。 As for his father； the boy had
never seen him。 But； from his earliest remembrance； Aethra used to go
with little Theseus into a wood； and sit down upon a moss…grown rock；
which was deeply sunken into the earth。 Here she often talked with her son
about his father； and said that he was called Aegeus； and that he was a
great king； and ruled over Attica； and dwelt at Athens； which was as
famous a city as any in the world。 Theseus was very fond of hearing about
King Aegeus； and often asked his good mother Aethra why he did not
come and live with them at Troezene。
〃Ah； my dear son；〃 answered Aethra； with a sigh； 〃a monarch has his
people to take care of。 The men and women over whom he rules are in the
place of children to him； and he can seldom spare time to love his own
children as other parents do。 Your father will never be able to leave his
kingdom for the sake of seeing his little boy。〃
〃Well； but； dear mother；〃 asked the boy； 〃why cannot I go to this
famous city of Athens； and tell King Aegeus that I am his son？〃
〃That may happen by and by；〃 said Aethra。 〃Be patient； and we shall
see。 You are not yet big and strong enough to set out on such an errand。〃
〃And how soon shall I be strong enough？〃 Theseus persisted in
inquiring。
〃You are but a tiny boy as yet；〃 replied his mother。 〃See if you can lift
this rock on which we are sitting？〃
The little fellow had a great opinion of his own strength。 So； grasping
the rough protuberances of the rock； he tugged and toiled amain； and got
himself quite out of breath； without being able to stir the heavy stone。 It
seemed to be rooted into the ground。 No wonder