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could get a peep at them oftener than once in a hundred years。 As for the
Giant； being of a very lofty stature； it was easy enough to see him； but
safest to keep out of his sight。
Among the Pygmies； I suppose； if one of them grew to the height of
six or eight inches； he was reckoned a prodigiously tall man。 It must have
been very pretty to behold their little cities； with streets two or three feet
wide； paved with the smallest pebbles； and bordered by habitations about
as big as a squirrel's cage。 The king's palace attained to the stupendous
magnitude of Periwinkle's baby house； and stood in the center of a
spacious square； which could hardly have been covered by our hearth… rug。
Their principal temple； or cathedral； was as lofty as yonder bureau； and
was looked upon as a wonderfully sublime and magnificent edifice。 All
these structures were built neither of stone nor wood。 They were neatly
plastered together by the Pygmy workmen； pretty much like birds' nests；
out of straw； feathers； egg shells； and other small bits of stuff； with stiff
clay instead of mortar； and when the hot sun had dried them； they were
just as snug and comfortable as a Pygmy could desire。
The country round about was conveniently laid out in fields； the
largest of which was nearly of the same extent as one of Sweet Fern's
flower beds。 Here the Pygmies used to plant wheat and other kinds of
grain； which； when it grew up and ripened； overshadowed these tiny
people as the pines； and the oaks； and the walnut and chestnut trees
overshadow you and me； when we walk in our own tracts of woodland。 At
harvest time； they were forced to go with their little axes and cut down the
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grain； exactly as a woodcutter makes a clearing in the forest； and when a
stalk of wheat； with its overburdened top； chanced to come crashing down
upon an unfortunate Pygmy； it was apt to be a very sad affair。 If it did not
smash him all to pieces； at least； I am sure； it must have made the poor
little fellow's head ache。 And O； my stars！ if the fathers and mothers were
so small； what must the children and babies have been？ A whole family of
them might have been put to bed in a shoe； or have crept into an old glove；
and played at hide…and…seek in its thumb and fingers。 You might have
hidden a year…old baby under a thimble。
Now these funny Pygmies； as I told you before； had a Giant for their
neighbor and brother； who was bigger； if possible； than they were little。 He
was so very tall that he carried a pine tree； which was eight feet through
the butt； for a walking stick。 It took a far…sighted Pygmy； I can assure you；
to discern his summit without the help of a telescope； and sometimes； in
misty weather； they could not see his upper half； but only his long legs；
which seemed to be striding about by themselves。 But at noonday in a
clear atmosphere； when the sun shone brightly over him； the Giant
Antaeus presented a very grand spectacle。 There he used to stand； a perfect
mountain of a man； with his great countenance smiling down upon his
little brothers； and his one vast eye （which was as big as a cart wheel； and
placed right in the center of his forehead） giving a friendly wink to the
whole nation at once。
The Pygmies loved to talk with Antaeus； and fifty times a day； one or
another of them would turn up his head； and shout through the hollow of
his fists； 〃Halloo； brother Antaeus！ How are you； my good fellow？〃 And
when the small distant squeak of their voices reached his ear； the Giant
would make answer； 〃Pretty well； brother Pygmy； I thank you；〃 in a
thunderous roar that would have shaken down the walls of their strongest
temple； only that it came from so far aloft。
It was a happy circumstance that Antaeus was the Pygmy people's
friend； for there was more strength in his little finger than in ten million of
such bodies as this。 If he had been as ill…natured to them as he was to
everybody else； he might have beaten down their biggest city at one kick；
and hardly have known that he did it。 With the tornado of his breath； he
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could have stripped the roofs from a hundred dwellings and sent thousands
of the inhabitants whirling through the air。 He might have set his immense
foot upon a multitude； and when he took it up again； there would have
been a pitiful sight； to be sure。 But； being the son of Mother Earth； as they
likewise were； the Giant gave them his brotherly kindness； and loved them
with as big a love as it was possible to feel for creatures so very small。
And； on their parts； the Pygmies loved Antaeus with as much affection as
their tiny hearts could hold。 He was always ready to do them any good
offices that lay in his power； as for example； when they wanted a breeze to
turn their windmills； the Giant would set all the sails a…going with the
mere natural respiration of his lungs。 When the sun was too hot； he often
sat himself down； and let his shadow fall over the kingdom； from one
frontier to the other； and as for matters in general； he was wise enough to
let them alone； and leave the Pygmies to manage their own affairswhich；
after all； is about the best thing that great people can do for little ones。
In short； as I said before； Antaeus loved the Pygmies； and the Pygmies
loved Antaeus。 The Giant's life being as long as his body was large； while
the lifetime of a Pygmy was but a span； this friendly intercourse had been
going on for innumerable generations and ages。 It was written about in the
Pygmy histories； and talked about in their ancient traditions。 The most
venerable and white…bearded Pygmy had never heard of a time； even in his
greatest of grandfathers' days； when the Giant was not their enormous
friend。 Once； to be sure （as was recorded on an obelisk； three feet high；
erected on the place of the catastrophe）； Antaeus sat down upon about five
thousand Pygmies； who were assembled at a military review。 But this was
one of those unlucky accidents for which nobody is to blame； so that the
small folks never took it to heart； and o