(1845)
Have you ever seen an old wooden cupboard quite black with age, and
ornamented with carved foliage and curious figures? Well, just such a
cupboard stood in a parlor, and had been left to the family as a legacy by the
great-grandmother. It was covered from top to bottom with carved roses and
tulips; the most curious scrolls were drawn upon it, and out of them peeped
little stags’ heads, with antlers. In the middle of the cupboard door was the
carved figure of a man most ridiculous to look at. He grinned at you, for no
one could call it laughing. He had goat’s legs, little horns on his head, and a
long beard; the children in the room always called him, “Major general-
field-sergeant-commander Billy-goat’s-legs.” It was certainly a very
difficult name to pronounce, and there are very few who ever receive such a
title, but then it seemed wonderful how he came to be carved at all; yet
there he was, always looking at the table under the looking-glass, where
stood a very pretty little shepherdess made of china. Her shoes were gilt,
and her dress had a red rose or an ornament. She wore a hat, and carried a
crook, that were both gilded, and looked very bright and pretty. Close by
her side stood a little chimney-sweep, as black as coal, and also made of
china. He was, however, quite as clean and neat as any other china figure;
he only represented a black chimney-sweep, and the china workers might
just as well have made him a prince, had they felt inclined to do so. He
stood holding his ladder quite handily, and his face was as fair and rosy as a
girl’s; indeed, that was rather a mistake, it should have had some black
marks on it. He and the shepherdess had been placed close together, side by
side; and, being so placed, they became engaged to each other, for they
were very well suited, being both made of the same sort of china, and being
equally fragile. Close to them stood another figure, three times as large as
they were, and also made of china. He was an old Chinaman, who could
nod his head, and used to pretend that he was the grandfather of the
