` Oh , ho ! ' they said , ` that is old Valentine 's pony ; it must have escaped from its stable , and is going down to drink at the horse-pond . ' ` My pretty little pony , ' said the eldest , patting the creature with his hand , ` you must n't run too far ; I 'll take you to the pond myself . ' With these words he jumped on the pony 's back and was quickly followed by his second brother , then by the third , and so on , till at last they were all astride the little beast , down to the small Richard , who did n't like to be left behind . -LSB- Illustration : The Goblin Pony -RSB- On the way to the pond they met several of their companions , and they invited them all to mount the pony , which they did , and the little creature did not seem to mind the extra weight , but trotted merrily along . The quicker it trotted the more the young people enjoyed the fun ; they dug their heels into the pony 's sides and called out , ` Gallop , little horse , you have never had such brave riders on your back before ! ' In the meantime the wind had risen again , and the waves began to howl ; but the pony did not seem to mind the noise , and instead of going to the pond , cantered gaily towards the sea-shore . Richard began to regret his thyme and blackberries , and the eldest brother seized the pony by the mane and tried to make it turn round , for he remembered the blue eyes of Jacob the rope-maker 's daughter . But he tugged and pulled in vain , for the pony galloped straight on into the sea , till the waves met its forefeet . As soon as it felt the water it neighed lustily and capered about with glee , advancing quickly into the foaming billows . When the waves had covered the children 's legs they repented their careless behaviour , and cried out : ` The cursed little black pony is bewitched . If we had only listened to old Peggy 's advice we should n't have been lost . ' The further the pony advanced , the higher rose the sea ; at last the waves covered the children 's heads and they were all drowned . Towards morning old Peggy went out , for she was anxious about the fate of her grandchildren . She sought them high and low , but could not find them anywhere . She asked all the neighbours if they had seen the children , but no one knew anything about them , except that the eldest had not been with the blue-eyed daughter of Jacob the rope-maker . As she was going home , bowed with grief , she saw a little black pony coming towards her , springing and curveting in every direction . When it got quite near her it neighed loudly , and galloped past her so quickly that in a moment it was out of her sight . -LSB- From the French , Kletke . -RSB- AN IMPOSSIBLE ENCHANTMENT There once lived a king who was much loved by his people , and he , too , loved them warmly .
He led a very happy life , but he had the greatest dislike to the idea XXXXX marrying , nor had he ever felt the slightest wish to fall in love .
On With about as by from in of past towards