Page 154 - Child's own book

wine last night/1 He went next to the bed that his daughters
were in, and when he felt the night-caps, he said, u Ah ! here
you are, my la d s a n d so in a moment he cut the throats of
all his daughters.
He was very much pleased when he had done this, and then
went buek to his own hod. As soon ;is Hop-o'-my-thumb
heard him snore, he awoke his brothers, and told them to put
on their clothes quickly and fo llo w him. They stole down
softly into the garden, and then jumped from (he wall into the
road : they ran as fast as their legs could carry them, hut were
so much afraid all the while,, that (hey hardly knew which way
to take. When the O^re waked in the morning, lie said to his
wife, u My df-ar, go and dress (he young rogues I saw last
night/' The Ogress was quite surprised at hearing her husband
so kind to them, as she thought, and did not dream of the real
meaning of his words. She supposed he wanted her to help
them to put on their clot lies ; so she went up stairs, ami the first
thing she saw was her seven daughters with their throats cot,
and all aver Mood. This threw her into a fainting fit. The
Ogre was afraid his wife might he too long in dying what he had
set. her about, so he went himself to help her; but he was as
much shocked as she had been, at the dreadful $igh| of his
bleeding! children. u Ah ! what have I done?" ho cried ; tlhu£
the little vailels shall pay for it, 1 warrant th e m /’ He first
threw some water on his wife’s face ; and, as soon as she came
to herself, he said to h e r; M Bring me quickly my seven-league
boots, that I may go and catch the little vipers." The Ogre
then put on these boots, and set out with all speed. He strided
over many parts of the country, and at last turned into the
very road in which the poor children were on their journey
towards their father's house, and which they had almost reached.
They had seen the Ogre a good while striding from mountain