• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 206 0

little sister of hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood; and how she would gather about her other little children, and make their eyes bright and eager with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of Wonderland of long ago; and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days.

THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS AND WHAT ALICE FOUND THERE

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

As THE CHESS-PROBLEM, given on page 124, has puzzled some of my readers, it may be well to explain that it is correctly worked out, so far as the moves are concerned. The alternation of Red and White is perhaps not so strictly observed as it might be, and the “castling” of the three Queens is merely a way of saying that they entered the palace: but the “check” of the White King at move 6, the capture of the Red Knight at move 7, and the final “checkmate” of the Red King, will be found, by any one who will take the trouble to set the pieces and play the moves as directed, to be strictly in accordance with the laws of the game.

The new words, in the poem “Jabberwocky” (see pages 136-138), have given rise to some differences of opinion as to their pronunciation: so it may be well to give instructions on that point also. Pronounce “slithy” as if it were the two words “sly, the”: make the ‘g’ hard in “gyre” and “gimble”: and pronounce “rath” to rhyme with “bath.”

Christmas, 1896.

Child of the pure unclouded brow

And dreaming eyes of wonder!

Though time be fleet, and I and thou

Are half a life asunder,

Thy lowing smile will surely hail

The love-gift of a fairy-tale.

I have not seen thy sunny face,

Nor heard thy silver laughter:

No thought of me shall find a place

In thy young life’s hereafter—

Enough that now thou wilt not fail

To listen to my fairy-tale.

A tale begun in other days,

When summer suns were glowing—

A simple chime, that served to time

The rhythm of our rowing—

Whose echoes live in memory yet,

Though envious years would say “forget.”

Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread,

With bitter tidings laden,

Shall summon to unwelcome bed

A melancholy maiden!

We are but older children, dear,

Who fret to find our bedtime near.

Without, the frost, the blinding snow,

The storm-wind’s moody madness—

Within, the firelight’s ruddy glow,

And childhood’s nest of gladness.

The magic words shall hold thee fast:

Thou shalt not heed the raving blast.

And, though the shadow of a sigh

May tremble through the story,

For “happy summer days” gone by,

And vanish’d summer glory—

It shall not touch, with breath of bale,

The pleasance of our fairy-tale.

RED

WHITE

White Pawn (Alice) to play, and win in eleven moves.

PAGE

1. Alice Meets R. Q. 143

2. Alice Through Q’s 150 3d (by railway) to Q’s 4th (Tweedle- 153 dum and Tweedledee)

3. Alice Meets W. Q. 172 (with shawl)

4. Alice to Q’s 5th 177 (shop, river, shop)

5. Alice to Q’s 6th 182 (Humpty Dumpty)

6. Alice to Q’s 7th 204 (forest)

7. W. Kt. Takes R. Kt. 207

8. Alice to Q’s 8th 219 (coronation)

9. Alice Becomes 220 Queen

10. Alice Castles (feast) 230

11. Alice Takes R. Q. 232 and Wins

PAGE

1. R. Q. to K. R.’s 148 4th

2. W. Q. to Q. B.’s 4th 172 (after shawl)

3. W. Q. to Q. B.’s 5th 177 (becomes sheep)

4. W. Q. to K. B.’s 8th 182 (leaves egg on shelf)

5. W. Q. to Q. B.’s 8th 201 (flying from R. Kt.)

6. R. Kt. to K’s 2nd (ch.)

7. W. Kt. to K. B.’s 218 5th

8. R. Q. to K’s Sq. 220 (examination)

9. Queen’s Castle 229

10. W. Q. to Q. R.’s 233 6th (soup)

CHRISTMAS-GREETINGS

[FROM A FAIRY TO A CHILD]

Lady dear, if Fairies may

For a moment lay aside

Cunning tricks and elfish play,

‘Tis at happy Christmas-tide.

We have heard the children say—

Gentle children, whom we love—

Long ago, on Christmas Day,

Came a message from above.

Still, as Christmas-tide comes round,