HAVE you ever seen an old wooden cupboard
quite black with age, and ornamented with carved foliage and curious
figures? Well, just such a cupboard stood in a parlor, and had been
left to the family as a legacy by the great-grandmother. It was
covered from top to bottom with carved roses and tulips; the most
curious scrolls were drawn upon it, and out of them peeped little
stags’ heads, with antlers. In the middle of the cupboard door was
the carved figure of a man most ridiculous to look at.
He grinned at you, for no one could call it laughing. He had
goat’s legs, little horns on his head, and a long beard; the
children in the room always called him, “Major
general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s-legs.” It was
certainly a very difficult name to pronounce, and there are very few
who ever receive such a title, but then it seemed wonderful how he
came to be carved at all; yet there he was, always looking at the
table under the looking-glass, where stood a very pretty little
shepherdess made of china. Her shoes were gilt, and her dress had a
red rose or an ornament. She wore a hat, and carried a crook, that
were both gilded, and looked very bright and pretty. Close by her
side stood a little chimney-sweep, as black as coal, and also made
of china.
He was, however, quite as clean and neat as any other china
figure; he only represented a black chimney-sweep, and the china
workers might just as well have made him a prince, had they felt
inclined to do so. He stood holding his ladder quite handily, and
his face was as fair and rosy as a girl’s; indeed, that was rather a
mistake, it should have had some black marks on it. He and the
shepherdess had been placed close together, side by side; and, being
so placed, they became engaged to each other, for they were very
well suited, being both made of the same sort of china, and being
equally fragile.
Close to them stood another figure, three times as large as they
were, and also made of china. He was an old Chinaman, who could nod
his head, and used to pretend that he was the grandfather of the
shepherdess, although he could not prove it. He however assumed
authority over her, and therefore when
“Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s-legs” asked for
the little shepherdess to be his wife, he nodded his head to show
that he consented. “You will have a husband,” said the old Chinaman
to her, “who I really believe is made of mahogany. He will make you
a lady of Major-general-field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s-legs.
He has the whole cupboard full of silver plate, which he keeps
locked up in secret drawers.” |