Chapter I: Front Matter

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PUCK'S BROOM

I am sent, with
Broom before,
To sweep the Dust
behind the Door
]

_Fr._
]

Puck's Broom

The wonderful adventures
of George Henry & his dog Alexander
who went to seek their fortunes in
the ONCE UPON A TIME Land....

By
E. Gordon Browne

Illustrated by
Kathleen I. Nixon

New York
Moffat Yard & Company
1923

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY THE RIVERSIDE PRESS LIMITED
EDINBURGH

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

PAGE

=GEORGE ARRIVES= 17

_How George Henry came into the world, and what Puck and the
fairies thought about it. Some wise words about nurses and
parents. Alexander the Greatest appears for the first time.
Why George did not believe in the fairies._

CHAPTER II

=GEORGE GROWS UP= 29

_All about the birthday party. A particularly jolly tea with
special games and fireworks. All about the other fireworks,
which were quite a surprise. How the fairies meant to invite
George to their party, and what the old frog said._

CHAPTER III

=MIDSUMMER EVE= 41

_The fairy invitation arrives. George's first pair of trousers.
Midsummer Eve and the preparations for the fairy party.
Puck's anger, and the nasty things that the old frog said.
What happened at the party in the wood._

CHAPTER IV

=DREAM-MUSIC= 53

_George is ill and very cross. His wonderful dream. What_
was _it all about? What the doctor said to him about the
fairies. "Perhaps there is and perhaps there isn't." The
fairies listen to a story. "To-night!" George hears the
dream-music._

CHAPTER V

=THE LAND OF DREAMS= 65

_George and Alexander set out in search of adventure. The
dream-music calls to him again. Can dogs talk? "Wish as
hard as ever you can!" Just like a bit of a story-book!
The little green gate. The delightful little house in the wood,
and the tea waiting there for George and Alexander. The
Land of Dreams._

CHAPTER VI

=FATHER TIME= 77

_George's house. The twisty-curly paths which led to the sea.
The old man sitting on the seashore. The hour-glass. "Are you
Father Time, please?" "A stitch in time saves nine." "Follow
your fortune, little George!" And it was Puck after all!_

CHAPTER VII

=MORE ADVENTURES= 89

_Alexander could_ really _talk, for barking_ is _talking. George
learns more about the little house. The golden weathercock
guides them on their way. Everything and everybody can talk.
This way to Once-upon-a-Time!_

CHAPTER VIII

=A NICE DRAGON= 99

_All about the wonders in this strange country. "She lives not
far from here." Oh, it was_ ever _so much bigger than one
expected! A game at 'catch-my-tail.' The dragon who went
to look for his fortune. George is told that he is not real. A
ride on the dragon's back._

CHAPTER IX

=THE WITCH= 113

_The witch's kitchen. What a witch really looks like. Her
curious smile. Wonders will never cease! What happened
when the kettle boiled. "Will you ride on your catoplane?"
George guesses again. It is all_ very _puzzling_.

CHAPTER X

=THE HIGH MOUNTAINS= 121

_The tower which came to life. "Who's 'Him,' please?" How
witches can read your thoughts. Why the giant was so sad.
They fly toward the glowing mountains, and George sings a song._

CHAPTER XI

=TOM TIDDLER'S GROUND= 129

_The funny little man who told George all about it. "Ask for
what you want." The wonderful meal. Picking up gold and
silver. Tom Tiddler's sack. Alexander is George's best
friend after all. George's fortune grows heavier and heavier,
then lighter and lighter. The story of the golden sausage._

CHAPTER XII

=OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY= 143

_The path which was like the letter S. At the top of the
mountain. "Where does that music come from?" The
little weathercock again. Home once more. What George
found in his sack. Never throw your fortune away!_

CHAPTER XIII

=SIR TRISTRAM= 153

_Topsy-turvy thoughts. Fancy a giant with an umbrella!
George finds a new suit, and Alexander disappears. To the
Castle of the Thousand Towers. The knight who was bound
on a quest. They arrive at the castle._

CHAPTER XIV

=AT COURT= 163

_About the wonders they saw in the castle. "The King bids you
welcome." George becomes a squire. They see the King.
Why he was so lonely and sad. What happened to the beautiful
Princess Fortunata._

CHAPTER XV

=THE QUEST BEGINS= 173

_The quest to free the enchanted princess. "The weathercock
knows the way." They lose their way in the great forest. The
mysterious voices in the air, and how George heard about
the magician's castle. The greatest adventure of all._

CHAPTER XVI

=THE GIANT AGAIN= 181

_On the shores of the black lake. The giant appears again.
How they came safely across the lake. The giant begins
another story. The prince and his bicycle._

CHAPTER XVII

=THE ARRIVAL AT THE CASTLE= 189

_The castle on the glass hill._ 'Whizz' _once more! "Don't
forget to ask for what you want!" The terrible guardians of
the gate and how they were utterly vanquished. "Don't forget
the password!"_

CHAPTER XVIII

=WHAT THE WEATHERCOCK SAID= 195

_How George learned the password which was a magic charm.
"Nobody but you may hear it." How Sir Tristram and the
dragon fought, but it was not anything to bother about. George
fares on his quest alone._

CHAPTER XIX

=PRINCESS FORTUNATA= 203

_What happened to George in the magician's castle. A story
which is like a patchwork counterpane. How difficult it was to
remember the charm! Alexander barks just in time. The
Chinese box-trick. The Princess Fortunata! "The magician
is coming!"_

CHAPTER XX

=ANOTHER PARTY= 211

_What had become of everybody? The dream-music again.
The little house changes. "George is home at last!" The
party and supper which George had never heard about before.
How each of the guests gave him a present, and the beautiful
Queen gave him the best of all. "Of course, you've guessed
it, too!"_

CHAPTER XXI

=BACK TO THE WORLD= 223

_Alexander's bark again. How George and the doctor talked
about Fairyland. What they all said about George's adventures.
How Mother has a little house in the wood, too, and why
she goes there. How George began to understand why his
fortune lay right under his very nose._