icannotshakethesausagepegandsay,look,hereistheskewer,andnowthesoupwillcome.thatwouldonlyproduceadishtobeservedwhenpeoplewerekeepingafast.'

"thentheelfdippedhisfingerintothecupofaviolet,andsaidtome,'lookhere,iwillanointyourpilgrim'sstaff,sothatwhenyoureturntoyourownhomeandentertheking'scastle,youhaveonlytotouchthekingwithyourstaff,andvioletswillspringforthandcoverthewholeofit,eveninthecoldestwintertime;soithinkihavegivenyoureallysomethingtocarryhome,andalittlemorethansomething.'"

butbeforethelittlemouseexplainedwhatthissomethingmorewas,shestretchedherstaffouttotheking,andasittouchedhimthemostbeautifulbunchofvioletssprangforthandfilledtheplacewithperfume.thesmellwassopowerfulthatthemouse-kingorderedthemicewhostoodnearestthechimneytothrusttheirtailsintothefire,thattheremightbeasmellofburning,fortheperfumeofthevioletswasoverpowering,andnotthesortofscentthateveryoneliked.

"butwhatwasthesomethingmoreofwhichyouspokejustnow?"askedthemouse-king.

"why,"answeredthelittlemouse,"ithinkitiswhattheycall'effect;'"andthereuponsheturnedthestaffround,andbeholdnotasingleflowerwastobeseenuponit!shenowonlyheldthenakedskewer,andlifteditupasaconductorliftshisbatonataconcert."violets,theelftoldme,"continuedthemouse,"areforthesight,thesmell,andthetouch;sowehaveonlynowtoproducetheeffectofhearingandtasting;"andthen,asthelittlemousebeattimewithherstaff,therecamesoundsofmusic,notsuchmusicaswasheardintheforest,attheelfinfeast,butsuchasisoftenheardinthekitchen-thesoundsofboilingandroasting.itcamequitesuddenly,likewindrushingthroughthechimneys,andseemedasifeverypotandkettlewereboilingover.thefire-shovelclattereddownonthebrassfender;andthen,quiteassuddenly,allwasstill,-nothingcouldbeheardbutthelight,vaporysongofthetea-kettle,whichwasquitewonderfultohear,fornoonecouldrightlydistinguishwhetherthekettlewasjustbeginningtoboilorgoingtostop.andthelittlepotsteamed,andthegreatpotsimmered,butwithoutanyregardforeach;indeedthereseemednosenseinthepotsatall.andasthelittlemousewavedherbatonstillmorewildly,thepotsfoamedandthrewupbubbles,andboiledover;whileagainthewindroaredandwhistledthroughthechimney,andatlasttherewassuchaterriblehubbub,thatthelittlemouseletherstickfall.

"thatisastrangesortofsoup,"saidthemouse-king;"shallwenotnowhearaboutthepreparation?"

"thatisall,"answeredthelittlemouse,withabow.

"thatall!"saidthemouse-king;"thenweshallbegladtohearwhatinformationthenextmayhavetogiveus."

whatthesecondmousehadtotell

"iwasborninthelibrary,atacastle,"saidthesecondmouse."veryfewmembersofourfamilyeverhadthegoodfortunetogetintothedining-room,muchlessthestore-room.onmyjourney,andhereto-day,aretheonlytimesihaveeverseenakitchen.wewereoftenobligedtosufferhungerinthelibrary,butthenwegainedagreatdealofknowledge.therumorreachedusoftheroyalprizeofferedtothosewhoshouldbeabletomakesoupfromasausageskewer.thenmyoldgrandmothersoughtoutamanuscriptwhich,however,shecouldnotread,buthadhearditread,andinitwaswritten,'thosewhoarepoetscanmakesoupofsausageskewers.'shethenaskedmeifiwasapoet.ifeltmyselfquiteinnocentofanysuchpretensions.thenshesaidimustgooutandmakemyselfapoet.iaskedagainwhatishouldberequiredtodo,foritseemedtomequiteasdifficultastofindouthowtomakesoupofasausageskewer.mygrandmotherhadheardagreatdealofreadinginherday,andshetoldmethreeprincipalqualificationswerenecessary-understanding,imagination,andfeeling.'ifyoucanmanagetoacquirethesethree,youwillbeapoet,andthesausage-skewersoupwillbequiteeasytoyou.'

"soiwentforthintotheworld,andturnedmystepstowardsthewest,thatimightbecomeapoet.understandingisthemostimportantmatterineverything.iknewthat,forthetwootherqualificationsarenotthoughtmuchof;soiwentfirsttoseekforunderstanding.wherewasitofindit?