GAMMER GRETHEL was an honest, good-humoured farmer's wife, who, a while ago, lived far off in Germany.

She knew all the good stories that were told in that country; and every evening about Christmas time the boys and girls of the neighbourhood gathered round her to hear her tell them some of her budget of strange stories.

One Christmas, being in that part of the world, I joined the party; and begged her to let me write down what I heard, for the benefit of my young friends in England. And so, for twelve merry evenings, beginning with Christmas eve, we met and listened to her budget.

Many a time have my acquaintances, of both sexes, called for a chapter out of my Tale-book: and as I have reason to think that there may be a great many more-not only of boys and girls, but of men and women too-than I know, or should like the trouble of reading to, who would be glad to have been of Gammer Grethel's party, or at least would like to know how it was that she so much amused her friends, I at last resolved to print the collection, for the benefit of all those who may wish to read it.

"And so, Gentle Reader," as a worthy old writer has said with regard to some similar matter of amusement, "craving thy kind acceptance, I wish thee as much willingness to the reading, as I have been forward in the printing and so I end,-Farewell."

THE GOLDEN GOOSE.*

THERE was a man who had three sons. The youngest was called Dummling-which is much the same as Dunderhead, for all thought he was more than

*Die Goldene Gans" of Grimm; from Hesse and Paderborn. 'The manner in which Loke, in the Edda, hangs to the eagle is," MM Grimm observe, "better understood after a perusal of the story of the Golden Goose, to which the lads and lasses who touch it adhere." -Quart. Rev. XLI. They add that the Golden Goose, buried at the root of an oak, and fated to be the reward of virtue, and to bring

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