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and the very trees swayed as if they wanted to
dance。 The fauns laughed aloud for joy as the
melody tickled their furry little ears。 And
Midas thought it the sweetest music in the
world。
Then Apollo rose。 His hair shook drops of
light from its curls； his robes were like the
edge of the sunset cloud； in his hands he held
a golden lyre。 And when he touched the
strings of the lyre； such music stole upon the
air as never god nor mortal heard before。 The
wild creatures of the wood crouched still as
stone； the trees kept every leaf from rustling；
earth and air were silent as a dream。 To hear
such music cease was like bidding farewell to
father and mother。
When the charm was broken； the hearers
fell at Apollo's feet and proclaimed the victory
his。 All but Midas。 He alone would not
admit that the music was better than Pan's。
〃If thine ears are so dull； mortal；〃 said
Apollo； 〃they shall take the shape that suits
them。〃 And he touched the ears of Midas。
And straightway the dull ears grew long；
pointed； and furry； and they turned this way
and that。 They were the ears of an ass！
For a long time Midas managed to hide
the tell…tale ears from everyone； but at last a
servant discovered the secret。 He knew he
must not tell； yet he could not bear not to；
so one day he went into the meadow； scooped
a little hollow in the turf； and whispered the
secret into the earth。 Then he covered it up
again； and went away。 But； alas； a bed of
reeds sprang up from the spot； and whispered
the secret to the grass。 The grass told it to
the tree…tops； the tree…tops to the little birds；
and they cried it all abroad。
And to this day； when the wind sets the
reeds nodding together； they whisper； laughing；
〃Midas has the ears of an ass！ Oh； hush；
hush！〃
WHY THE SEA IS SALT＇1＇
＇1＇ There are many versions of this tale； in different
collections。 This one is the story which grew up in my mind；
about the bare outline related to me by one of Mrs Rutan's
hearers。 What the original teller said； I never knew； but
what the listener felt was clear。 And in this form I have
told it a great many times。
Once there were two brothers。 One was
rich； and one was poor； the rich one was
rather mean。 When the Poor Brother used
to come to ask for things it annoyed him； and
finally one day he said； 〃There； I'll give it to
you this time； but the next time you want
anything； you can go Below for it！〃
Presently the Poor Brother did want something；
and he knew it wasn't any use to go to
his brother； he must go Below for it。 So he
went； and he went； and he went； till he came
Below。
It was the queerest place！ There were red
and yellow fires burning all around； and kettles
of boiling oil hanging over them； and a queer
sort of men standing round； poking the fires。
There was a Chief Man； he had a long curly
tail that curled up behind； and two ugly little
horns just over his ears； and one foot was very
queer indeed。 And as soon as anyone came
in the door； these men would catch him up
and put him over one of the fires； and turn
him on a spit。 And then the Chief Man； who
was the worst of all； would come and say；
〃Eh； how do you feel now？ How do you
feel now？〃 And of course the poor people
screamed and screeched and said； 〃Let us out！
Let us out！〃 That was just what the Chief
Man wanted。
When the Poor Brother came in； they picked
him up at once； and put him over one of the
hottest fires； and began to turn him round and
round like the rest； and of course the Chief
Man came up to him and said； 〃Eh； how do
you feel now？ How do you feel now？〃 But
the Poor Brother did not say； 〃Let me out！
Let me out！〃 He said； 〃Pretty well； thank
you。〃
The Chief Man grunted and said to the
other men； 〃Make the fire hotter。〃 But the
next time he asked the Poor Brother how he
felt； the Poor Brother smiled and said。 〃Much
better now； thank you。〃 The Chief Man did
not like this at all； because； of course； the whole
object in life of the people Below was to make
their victims uncomfortable。 So he piled on
more fuel and made the fire hotter still。 But
every time he asked the Poor Brother how he
felt； the Poor Brother would say； 〃Very much
better〃； and at last he said； 〃Perfectly
comfortable； thank you； couldn't be better。〃
You see when the Poor Brother was on
earth he had never once had money enough
to buy coal enough to keep him warm； so he
liked the heat。
At last the Chief Man could stand it no
longer。
〃Oh； look here；〃 he said； 〃you can go
home。〃
〃Oh no； thank you；〃 said the Poor Brother；
〃I like it here。〃
〃You MUST go home；〃 said the Chief Man
〃But I won't go home；〃 said the Poor
Brother。
The Chief Man went away and talked with
the other men； but no matter what they did
they could not make the Poor Brother uncomfortable；
so at last the Chief Man came back
and said；
〃What'll you take to go home？〃
〃What have you got？〃 said the Poor
Brother。
〃Well；〃 said the Chief Man； 〃if you'll go
home quietly I'll give you the Little Mill that
stands behind my door。〃
〃What's the good of it？〃 said the Poor
Brother。
〃It is the most wonderful mill in the world；〃
said the Chief Man。 〃Anything at all that you
want； you have only to name it； and say； ‘Grind
this； Little Mill； and grind quickly；' and the
Mill will grind that thing until you say the
magic word； to stop it。〃
〃That sounds nice；〃 said the Poor Brother。
〃I'll take it。〃 And he took the Little Mill
under his arm； and went up； and up； and up；
till he came to his own house。
When he was in front of his little old hut； he
put the Little Mill down on the ground and
said to it； 〃Grind a fine house； Little Mill； and
grind quickly。〃 And the Little Mill ground；
and ground； and ground the finest house that
ever was seen。 It had fine big chimneys； and
gable windows； and broad piazzas； and just as
the Little Mill ground the last step of the last
flight of steps； the Poor Brother said the magic
word； and it stopped。
Then he took it round to where the barn was；
and said； 〃Grind cattle； Little Mill； and grind
quickly。〃 And the Little Mill ground； and
ground； and ground； and out came great fat
cows； and little woolly lambs； and fine little
pigs； and just as the Little Mill ground the
last curl on the tail of the last little pig； the
Poor Brother said the magic word； and it
stopped。
He did the same thing with crops for his
cattle； pretty clothes for his daughters； and
everything else they wanted。 At last he had
everything he wanted； and so he stood the
Little Mill behind his door。
All this time the Rich Brother had been
getting more and more jealous； and at last he
came to ask the Poor Brother how he had
grown so rich。 The Poor Brother told him all
about it。 He said； 〃It all comes from that
Little Mill behind my door。 All I have to do
when I want anything is to name it to the
Little Mill； and say； ‘Grind that； Little Mill；
and grind quickly；' and the Little Mill will
grind that thing until〃
But the Rich Brother didn't wait to hear any
more。 〃Will you lend me the Little Mill？〃 he
said。
〃Why； yes；〃 said the Poor Brother； 〃I will。〃
So the Rich Brother took the Little Mill
under his arm and started across the fields to
his house。 When he got near home he saw the
farm…hands coming in from the fields for their
luncheon。 Now； you remember； he was rather
mean。 He thought to himself； 〃It is a waste
of good time for them to come into the house；
they shall have their porridge where they are。〃
He called all the men to him； and made
them bring their porridge…bowls。 Then he set
the Little Mill down on the ground； and said
to it； 〃Grind oatmeal porridge； Little Mill； and
grind quickly！〃 The Litt