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weak…minded personthough good…natured； but the Jacob's Ladder； next
him； made of little squares of red wood； that went flapping and clattering
over one another； each developing a different picture； and the whole
enlivened by small bells； was a mighty marvel and a great delight。
Ah！ The Doll's house！of which I was not proprietor； but where I
visited。 I don't admire the Houses of Parliament half so much as that
stone…fronted mansion with real glass windows； and door…steps； and a real
balconygreener than I ever see now； except at watering places； and even
they afford but a poor imitation。 And though it DID open all at once； the
entire house…front （which was a blow； I admit； as cancelling the fiction of
a staircase）； it was but to shut it up again； and I could believe。 Even open；
there were three distinct rooms in it： a sitting…room and bed…room；
elegantly furnished； and best of all； a kitchen； with uncommonly soft fire…
irons； a plentiful assortment of diminutive utensilsoh； the warming…pan！…
…and a tin man…cook in profile； who was always going to fry two fish。
What Barmecide justice have I done to the noble feasts wherein the set of
wooden platters figured； each with its own peculiar delicacy； as a ham or
turkey； glued tight on to it； and garnished with something green； which I
recollect as moss！ Could all the Temperance Societies of these later days；
united； give me such a tea…drinking as I have had through the means of
yonder little set of blue crockery； which really would hold liquid （it ran out
of the small wooden cask； I recollect； and tasted of matches）； and which
made tea； nectar。 And if the two legs of the ineffectual little sugar…tongs
did tumble over one another； and want purpose； like Punch's hands； what
does it matter？ And if I did once shriek out； as a poisoned child； and
strike the fashionable company with consternation； by reason of having
drunk a little teaspoon； inadvertently dissolved in too hot tea； I was never
the worse for it； except by a powder！
Upon the next branches of the tree； lower down； hard by the green
roller and miniature gardening…tools； how thick the books begin to hang。
Thin books； in themselves； at first； but many of them； and with deliciously
smooth covers of bright red or green。 What fat black letters to begin with！
〃A was an archer； and shot at a frog。〃 Of course he was。 He was an
apple…pie also； and there he is！ He was a good many things in his time；
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was A； and so were most of his friends； except X； who had so little
versatility； that I never knew him to get beyond Xerxes or Xantippelike
Y； who was always confined to a Yacht or a Yew Tree； and Z condemned
for ever to be a Zebra or a Zany。 But； now； the very tree itself changes；
and becomes a bean…stalkthe marvellous bean…stalk up which Jack
climbed to the Giant's house！ And now； those dreadfully interesting；
double…headed giants； with their clubs over their shoulders； begin to stride
along the boughs in a perfect throng； dragging knights and ladies home for
dinner by the hair of their heads。 And Jackhow noble； with his sword
of sharpness； and his shoes of swiftness！ Again those old meditations
come upon me as I gaze up at him； and I debate within myself whether
there was more than one Jack （which I am loth to believe possible）； or
only one genuine original admirable Jack； who achieved all the recorded
exploits。
Good for Christmas…time is the ruddy colour of the cloak； in which
the tree making a forest of itself for her to trip through； with her basket
Little Red Riding…Hood comes to me one Christmas Eve to give me
information of the cruelty and treachery of that dissembling Wolf who ate
her grandmother； without making any impression on his appetite； and then
ate her； after making that ferocious joke about his teeth。 She was my first
love。 I felt that if I could have married Little Red Riding…Hood； I should
have known perfect bliss。 But； it was not to be； and there was nothing for
it but to look out the Wolf in the Noah's Ark there； and put him late in the
procession on the table； as a monster who was to be degraded。 O the
wonderful Noah's Ark！ It was not found seaworthy when put in a
washing…tub； and the animals were crammed in at the roof； and needed to
have their legs well shaken down before they could be got in； even there… …
and then； ten to one but they began to tumble out at the door； which was
but imperfectly fastened with a wire latchbut what was THAT against it！
Consider the noble fly； a size or two smaller than the elephant： the lady…
bird； the butterflyall triumphs of art！ Consider the goose； whose feet
were so small； and whose balance was so indifferent； that he usually
tumbled forward； and knocked down all the animal creation。 Consider
Noah and his family； like idiotic tobacco…stoppers； and how the leopard
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stuck to warm little fingers； and how the tails of the larger animals used
gradually to resolve themselves into frayed bits of string！
Hush！ Again a forest； and somebody up in a treenot Robin Hood；
not Valentine； not the Yellow Dwarf （I have passed him and all Mother
Bunch's wonders； without mention）； but an Eastern King with a glittering
scimitar and turban。 By Allah！ two Eastern Kings； for I see another；
looking over his shoulder！ Down upon the grass； at the tree's foot； lies
the full length of a coal…black Giant； stretched asleep； with his head in a
lady's lap； and near them is a glass box； fastened with four locks of shining
steel； in which he keeps the lady prisoner when he is awake。 I see the
four keys at his girdle now。 The lady makes signs to the two kings in the
tree； who softly descend。 It is the setting…in of the bright Arabian Nights。
Oh； now all common things become uncommon and enchanted to me。
All lamps are wonderful； all rings are talismans。 Common flower…pots
are full of treasure； with a little earth scattered on the top； trees are for Ali
Baba to hide in； beef…steaks are to throw down into the Valley of
Diamonds； that the precious stones may stick to them； and be carried by
the eagles to their nests； whence the traders； with loud cries； will scare
them。 Tarts are made； according to the recipe of the Vizier's son of
Bussorah； who turned pastrycook after he was set down in his drawers at
the gate of Damascus； cobblers are all Mustaphas； and in the habit of
sewing up people cut into four pieces； to whom they are taken blind…fold。
Any iron ring let into stone is the entrance to a cave which only waits
for the magician； and the little fire； and the necromancy； that will make the
earth shake。 All the dates imported come from the same tree as that
unlucky date； with whose shell the merchant knocked out the eye of the
genie's invisible son。 All olives are of the stock of that fresh fruit；
concerning which the Commander of the Faithful overheard the boy
conduct the fictitious trial of the fraudulent olive merchant； all apples are
akin to the apple purchased （with two others） from the Sultan's gardener
for three sequins； and which the tall black slave stole from the child。 All
dogs are associated with the dog； really a transformed man； who jumped
upon the baker's counter； and put his paw on the piece of bad money。 All
rice recalls the rice which the awful lady； who was a ghoule； could only
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peck by grains； because of her nightly feasts in the burial…place。 My very
rocking…horse；there he is； with his nostrils turned completely inside…out；
indicat