NEW HISTORY
OF THE
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
TOM THUMB.

His shirt was made of a butterfly’s wing,

His boots were made of a mouse’s skin,

His coat was wove of thistle down,

An oak-leaf hat he had for his crown,

A tailor’s needle hung by his side,

And a mouse for a horse he used to ride.

NEW HAVEN.
PUBLISHED BY S. BABCOCK.
1849.

[2]

MERLIN AT THE COTTAGE.

[3]

NEW HISTORY
OF THE
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
TOM THUMB.

When I was a little boy, children’sbooks were not quite as plenty, or ascheap, or as good as they are now.In those days, children did not oftenhave a present of a pretty book withbeautiful pictures; but when theydid get one, it was highly prized.

We had Cock Robin, and Jack theGiant Killer, and Blue Beard, andThe Forty Thieves, and many otheramusing but not very instructive tales.Tom Thumb was one of the number,and was a favorite book of mine, althoughI knew the story was not true,and that there were no such beings asmagicians and fairies. Perhaps mylittle readers would like to knowwhat kind of stories we old folks readwhen we were such little bodies asyou are now. I think I rememberenough of Tom Thumb to be able totell you the story.

[4]

MERLIN AND THE FAIRY QUEEN.

[5]Once on a time, Merlin, a famousmagician, was traveling, and beingweary, he stopped at a plowman’scottage to ask for some refreshment.The plowman’s wife kindly broughthim a bowl of milk, and a woodenplate of good brown bread, which sheurged him to partake of.

Merlin could not help seeing, thatthe honest couple looked quite sadand sorrowful; so he asked the cause,and learned that they had no children;the wife declaring, with tearsin her eyes, that she should be happyif she had a son, even if he were nobigger than his father’s thumb!

Merlin was much amused with theidea of a boy no bigger than a man’sthumb, and sending for the queen ofthe fairies, he told her of the desireof the plowman’s wife. The queenwas no less pleased than Merlin, andshe said the wish should be granted.Accordingly, the plowman’s wifehad a son, who was just the size ofhis father’s thumb, and was namedby the queen, Tom Thumb.

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