Vic Parker - How the Dragon Was Tricked and Other Silly Stories

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Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Parker, Vic.

How the dragon was tricked and other silly stories / by Vic Parker.

p. cm. (Silly stories)

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-4824-4187-1 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-1-4824-4188-8 (6 pack)

ISBN 978-1-4824-4189-5 (library binding)

1. Children's stories. 2. Humorous stories.

I. Parker, Victoria. II. Title.

PZ8.P35 Dr 2016

398.2d23

Published in 2016 by

Gareth Stevens Publishing

111 East 14th Street, Suite 349

New York, NY 10003

Copyright 2016 Miles Kelly Publishing

Publishing Director | Belinda Gallagher

Creative Director | Jo Cowan

Editorial Director | Rosie McGuire

Senior Editor | Carly Blake

Editorial Assistant | Amy Johnson

Designer | Joe Jones

Production Manager | Elizabeth Collins

Reprographics | Stephan Davis, Jennifer Hunt, Thom Allaway

Acknowlegments:

The publishers would like to thank the following artists who have contributed to this book:

Beehive Illustration Agency: Rosie Brooks, Mike Phillips

The Bright Agency: Michael Garton (inc. cover)

Jan Lewis, Aimee Mappley (decorative frames)

All other artwork from the Miles Kelly Artwork Bank

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except by reviewer.

Printed in the United States of America

CPSIA compliance information: Batch # CW16GS:

For further information contact Gareth Stevens, New York, New York at 1-800-542-2595.

Contents

Buttercup

By Sir George Webbe Dasent

O nce upon a time there was an old wife who sat and baked. Now, you must know that this old wife had a little son, who was so plump and fat and so fond of good things, that they called him Buttercup. She had a dog, too, whose name was Goldtooth. One day, as she was baking, all at once Goldtooth began to bark.

Run out, Buttercup, theres a dear, said the old wife, and see what Goldtooth is barking at.

So the boy ran out, and came back crying out, Oh, heaven help us! Here comes a great big, ugly, old witch with a bag on her back.

Jump under the table and hide yourself, said his mother.

Then in came the old hag. Good day, said she.

God bless you! said Buttercups mother.

Isnt your Buttercup at home today? asked the hag.

No, that he isnt. Hes out in the forest with his father.

Oh bother, said the hag, for I had a little silver knife I wanted to give him.

Pip, pip! Here I am, said Buttercup from under the table, and out he came.

Im so old and stiff in the back, said the hag, you must creep into the bag and fetch it out for yourself.

So Buttercup opened the bag and crept inside it. But as soon as he was well inside, the hag threw the bag over her back and strode off.

When they had gone a good bit of the way, the old hag got tired and asked, How far is it to Snoring?

Half a mile, answered Buttercup.

So the hag put the sack down on the road, and went by herself into the forest and lay down to sleep. Meanwhile, Buttercup set to work and cut a hole in the sack with his knife. Then he crept out and put the great root of a fir tree into the sack, and ran home to his mother. When the hag got home and discovered what was in the sack, she was in a fine rage.

The next day the old wife sat and baked again, and her dog began to bark, just as he did the day before. Run out, Buttercup, my boy, said she, and see what Goldtooth is barking at.

Well, I never! cried Buttercup as soon as he looked outside. If it isnt that ugly old beast coming again with a great sack on her back.

Under the table with you and hide, said his mother.

Good day! said the hag. Is your Buttercup at home today?

Im sorry to say he isnt, said his mother, hes out in the wood with his father.

What a bore! said the hag, here I have a beautiful little silver spoon I want to give him.

Pip, pip! Here I am, said Buttercup, and he crept out.

Im so stiff in the back, said the old witch, you must creep into the sack and fetch it out for yourself.

So when Buttercup was well into the sack, the hag swung it over her shoulders and set off home as fast as her legs could carry her. But when they had gone a good bit she grew tired, and asked, How far is it to Snoring?

A mile and a half, answered Buttercup. So the hag set down the sack, and went into the forest to sleep a bit. While she slept, Buttercup made a hole in the sack and got out, and put a great stone into it instead.

When the old witch got home she made a great fire and put a big pot on it, and got everything ready to boil up Buttercup. But when she took the sack and thought she was going to turn out Buttercup into the pot, down plumped the stone and made a hole in the bottom, so that the water ran out and quenched the fire. Then the old hag was in a dreadful rage, and said, Even if he makes himself ever so heavy next time, he wont trick me again.

On the third day, everything went just as it had gone twice before. Goldtooth began to bark, and Buttercups mother said to him, Run and see what our dog is barking at.

So out he went, but he soon came back crying out, Heaven save us! Here comes the old hag again with a sack on her back.

Jump under the table quick and hide, said his mother.

Good day! said the old hag, as she came in at the door. Is your Buttercup at home today?

Youre very kind to ask after him, said his mother, but Buttercups out in the forest with his father.

What a bore, now, said the old hag. Here have I got such a beautiful little silver fork for him.

Pip, pip! Here I am, said Buttercup, as he came out from his hiding place.

Im so stiff in the back, said the hag, you must creep into the sack and fetch it out for yourself.

But when Buttercup was well inside the sack the old hag swung it across her shoulders, and set off as fast as she could. This time she did not stop to sleep on the way, but went straight home with Buttercup in the sack.

It was Sunday, so the old hag said to her daughter, Now you must take Buttercup and cook him up nicely till I come back, for Im off to church to ask my guests to come for dinner.

So, when all in the house had gone to church, the daughter was to kill Buttercup, but she didnt know how to do it.

Stop a bit, said Buttercup, Ill show you how to do it. Just lay your head on the chopping block, and youll soon see.

So the poor silly thing laid her head down, and Buttercup took an ax and chopped off her head, just as if she had been a chicken.

Then Buttercup took all the gold and silver that lay in the old hags house, and went home to his mother, and became a rich man.

Wishing for Wings

An extract from