In a far-away land there lived a small fellow who went by the name of little Pip. His parents died, so Pip set off into the world on his pony to seek his fortune. On the way he wandered into a beautiful city. In it there lived a crone who had a house full of cats and dogs. She took Pip into her service, and told him to look after her animals well. He was happy there, and before long all the animals liked him. His greatest friend was a lame dog.
One day the dog led little Pip into a secret chamber. The only things in it were a large pair of slippers and a stick. "The stick is magic," the dog told him, in a human voice. "Wherever there is gold to be dug, the stick will tap the ground three times. If it taps twice, you will find silver beneath." Little Pip thanked the dog and started to leave, but the dog said to him, "Do not forget the magic slippers. If you turn on your heels in them three times, they will carry you wherever you wish." The dog had spoken truly.
Before long Pip had more gold and silver than he could carry. One day, he set his pony loose, put on the magic slippers, turned three times on his heels, and ordered the slippers to take him to the royal palace. There he offered his services to the king as the swiftest runner in the land. When the king saw little Pip, he burst out laughing. But Pip pleaded so touchingly to be allowed to take part in the next races that in the end the king took pity on him.
The next day there was a great celebration at the palace. When the feasting was over, all the best runners in the world gathered in the royal gardens for a race to see who was the fastest. With a smile, little Pip put on his magic slippers, turned on his heels three times, and before the other runners knew what was happening was at the finish line. The king could not believe his eyes, but when he had got over his surprise he appointed little Pip his chief runner and messenger.
Unfortunately the boy's happiness was short-lived. It was not long before envious folk noticed that the lad had all the gold and silver he might wish for, and began spreading tales about him throughout the city. At first Pip thought he could silence them by his generosity, but the more he gave away, the more his rivals hated him. Finally, word came to the king that Pip's riches were stolen from the royal coffers. The king was enraged, and had Pip thrown in gaol. Poor little Pip. He believed the king to be a just man, and thought that if he revealed the secret of the magic stick and slippers he would be set free. Alas! The ungrateful king kept the magic gifts for himself and drove Pip from his palace without a penny to his name.
The little fellow wandered miserably about the world for a long time, until he came to a secret forest where beautiful fig trees grew. No sooner had the hungry Pip eaten a few mouthfuls of the fruit, than he found that he had grown enormous ears and a long nose. He began to cry. Bemoaning his cruel fate, he carelessly chewed the fruit of another fig tree, and to his amazement his nose and ears returned to their usual size. This gave Pip an idea as to how he might revenge himself.
He returned to the royal city and offered the palace cook the fruit of the first fig tree. The moment the king tasted the figs after his supper, he thought he would die of shame. Not even the royal elephant had such a nose and ears. What lamentation there was in the royal household! Then along came Pip, dressed as a doctor. "Sire, I will rid you of your unsightly ornaments, if I may choose from your treasures whatever I will," he told the king.
The king agreed, and led him to his treasure-house. There Pip spied his magic slippers and stick. Quickly, he picked up the stick and put on the slippers and called out, "For your treachery you shall keep your elephant's nose and ears, thankless king!" And with those words he turned three times on his heels and disappeared, no one knows where. Perhaps somewhere his faithful pony was waiting for him.
One day the dog led little Pip into a secret chamber. The only things in it were a large pair of slippers and a stick. "The stick is magic," the dog told him, in a human voice. "Wherever there is gold to be dug, the stick will tap the ground three times. If it taps twice, you will find silver beneath." Little Pip thanked the dog and started to leave, but the dog said to him, "Do not forget the magic slippers. If you turn on your heels in them three times, they will carry you wherever you wish." The dog had spoken truly.
Before long Pip had more gold and silver than he could carry. One day, he set his pony loose, put on the magic slippers, turned three times on his heels, and ordered the slippers to take him to the royal palace. There he offered his services to the king as the swiftest runner in the land. When the king saw little Pip, he burst out laughing. But Pip pleaded so touchingly to be allowed to take part in the next races that in the end the king took pity on him.
The next day there was a great celebration at the palace. When the feasting was over, all the best runners in the world gathered in the royal gardens for a race to see who was the fastest. With a smile, little Pip put on his magic slippers, turned on his heels three times, and before the other runners knew what was happening was at the finish line. The king could not believe his eyes, but when he had got over his surprise he appointed little Pip his chief runner and messenger.
Unfortunately the boy's happiness was short-lived. It was not long before envious folk noticed that the lad had all the gold and silver he might wish for, and began spreading tales about him throughout the city. At first Pip thought he could silence them by his generosity, but the more he gave away, the more his rivals hated him. Finally, word came to the king that Pip's riches were stolen from the royal coffers. The king was enraged, and had Pip thrown in gaol. Poor little Pip. He believed the king to be a just man, and thought that if he revealed the secret of the magic stick and slippers he would be set free. Alas! The ungrateful king kept the magic gifts for himself and drove Pip from his palace without a penny to his name.
The little fellow wandered miserably about the world for a long time, until he came to a secret forest where beautiful fig trees grew. No sooner had the hungry Pip eaten a few mouthfuls of the fruit, than he found that he had grown enormous ears and a long nose. He began to cry. Bemoaning his cruel fate, he carelessly chewed the fruit of another fig tree, and to his amazement his nose and ears returned to their usual size. This gave Pip an idea as to how he might revenge himself.
He returned to the royal city and offered the palace cook the fruit of the first fig tree. The moment the king tasted the figs after his supper, he thought he would die of shame. Not even the royal elephant had such a nose and ears. What lamentation there was in the royal household! Then along came Pip, dressed as a doctor. "Sire, I will rid you of your unsightly ornaments, if I may choose from your treasures whatever I will," he told the king.
The king agreed, and led him to his treasure-house. There Pip spied his magic slippers and stick. Quickly, he picked up the stick and put on the slippers and called out, "For your treachery you shall keep your elephant's nose and ears, thankless king!" And with those words he turned three times on his heels and disappeared, no one knows where. Perhaps somewhere his faithful pony was waiting for him.