Through the Looking Glass
” But this was more than Alice had courage to do.
“A little kindness—and putting her hair in papers—would do wonders with her—”
The White Queen gave a deep sigh, and laid her head on Alice's shoulder. “I AM so sleepy?” she moaned.
“She's tired, poor thing!” said the Red Queen. “Smooth her hair—lend her your nightcap—and sing her a soothing lullaby.”
“I haven't got a nightcap with me,” said Alice, as she tried to obey the first direction: “and I don't know any soothing lullabies.”
“I must do it myself, then,” said the Red Queen, and she began:
“Hush-a-by lady, in Alice's lap!
Till the feast's ready, we've time for a nap:
When the feast's over, we'll go to the ball—
Red Queen, and White Queen, and Alice, and all!
“And now you know the words,” she added, as she put her head down on Alice's other shoulder, “just sing it through to ME. I'm getting sleepy, too.” In another moment both Queens were fast asleep, and snoring loud.
“What AM I to do?” exclaimed Alice, looking about in great perplexity, as first one round head, and then the other, rolled down from her shoulder, and lay like a heavy lump in her lap. “I don't think it EVER happened before, that any one had to take care of two Queens asleep at once! No, not in all the History of England—it couldn't, you know, because there never was more than one Queen at a time. “Do wake up, you heavy things!” she went on in an impatient tone; but there was no answer but a gentle snoring.
The snoring got more distinct every minute, and sounded more like a tune: at last she could even make out the words, and she listened so eagerly that, when the two great heads vanished from her lap, she hardly missed them.
She was standing before an arched doorway over which were the words QUEEN ALICE in large letters, and on each side of the arch there was a bell-handle; one was marked “Visitors” Bell,” and the other “Servants” Bell.”
“I'll wait till the song's over,” thought Alice, “and then I'll ring—the—WHICH bell must I ring?” she went on, very much puzzled by the names.
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The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura
Category: Arabic folktales
Read times: 22 -
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There was once an honest journeyman tailor, by name Labakan, who learned his trade with an excellent master in Alexandria. It could not be said that Labakan was unhandy with the needle; on the contrary, he could make excellent work: moreover, one would have done him injustice to have called him lazy. Nevertheless, his companions knew not what to make of him, for he would often sew for hours together so rapidly that the needle would glow in his hand, and the thread smoke, and that none could equal him.
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