We continue the incredible fantasy story from George MacDonald read by Andy Minter. This week it's Chapter 28- Curdie's Guide!
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The Princess and the Goblin: Chapter 28- Curdie's Guide(072724)
Make this new school year an opportunity for your kids to learn important life skills with Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app for families where kids learn how to save, invest, and spend wisely. While parents keep an eye on kids' money habits, Greenlight also helps families get into their fall routine with a chores feature that lets parents assign chores and pay kids allowance when they check them off. Get your first month free at greenlight.com/spotify Welcome to Saturday's Story Circle, always on the Mutual Audio Network. The following audio drama is rated G for General Audience. Chapter 28 of The Princess and the Goblin. This liberal box recording is in the public domain. Reading by Ann Dementa. The Princess and the Goblin. By George MacDonald. Chapter 28, Curtis Guide Just as the consolation of this resolve dawned upon his mind, and he was turning away for the seller to follow the goblins into their hole, something touched his hand. It was the slightest touch, and when he looked he could see nothing. Feeling and peering about in the grave of the dawn, his fingers came upon a tight thread. He looked again and narrowly but still could see nothing. It flashed upon him that this must be the Princess's thread. Without saying a word, for he knew no one would believe him any more than he had believed the Princess. He followed the thread with his finger, contrived to give looty the slip, and was soon out of the house and on the mountainside. Surprised that if the thread were indeed the grandmother's messenger, it should have led the Princess, as he suppose it must, into the mountain, where she would be certain to meet the goblins rushing back in rage from their defeat. But he hurried on, in the hope of overtaking her first. When he arrived, however, at the place where the path turned off for the mine, he found that the thread did not turn with it but went straight up the mountain. Could it be that the thread was leading him home to his mother's cottage? Could the Princess be there? He bounded up the mountain like one of its own goats, and before the sun was up the thread had brought him indeed to his mother's door. There it vanished from his fingers, and he could not find it, such as he might. The door was on the latch, and he entered. There sat his mother by the fire, and in her arms lay the Princess, fast asleep. "Hush, Cardi," said his mother, "do not wake her. I am so glad you have come. I thought the cops must have got you again." With a heart full of delight, Cardi sat down at a corner of the hearth, on a stool opposite his mother's chair, and gazed at the Princess, who slept as peacefully as if she had been in her own bed. All at once she opened her eyes and fixed them on him. "Oh, Cardi, you've come," she said quietly. "I thought you would." Cardi rose and stood before her with downcast eyes. "Alini," he said, "I'm very sorry, I did not believe you." "Oh, never mind, Cardi," answered the Princess. "You couldn't, you know. You do believe me now, don't you?" "I can't help it now. I ought to have helped it before. Why can't you help it now?" "Just as I was going into the mountain to look for you, I got hold of your thread, and he brought me here. Then you've come from my house, have you? Yes, I have. I didn't know you were there. I've been two or three days, I believe. And I never knew it. Then perhaps you can tell me why my grandmother has brought me here. I can't think. Something woke me, I don't know what, but I was frightened, and I felt for the thread, and there it was. I was more frightened still when it brought me out on the mountain, for I thought it was going to take me into it again, and I like the outside of it best. I supposed you were in trouble again, and I had to get you out. But it brought me here instead, and, oh, Cardi, your mother has been so kind to me, just like my own grandmother." Here Cardi's mother gave the Princess a hug, and the Princess turned and gave her a sweet smile and held up her mouth to kiss her. "Then you didn't see the cobs," asked Cardi. "No, I haven't been into the mountain, I told you, Cardi. But the cobs have been into your house, all over it, and into your bedroom, making such a row. What did they want there? It was very rude of them. They wanted you to carry off into the mountain with them for a wife to their Prince Herlip. "Oh, how dreadful!" cried the Princess, shuddering. "But you needn't be afraid, you know. Your grandmother takes care of you. Ah, you do believe in my grandmother then. I am so glad she made me think you would, some day." All at once, Cardi remembered his dream and was silent, thinking. "But how did you come to be in my house and me not know it?" asked the Princess. Then Cardi had to explain everything. How he had watched for her sake, how he had been wounded and shut up by the soldiers, how he heard the noises and could not rise, and how the beautiful old lady had come to him, and all that followed. "Poor Cardi, to lie there hurt and ill and me never to know it," exclaimed the Princess, stroking his rough hand. "I would have come and nursed you if they had told me." "It didn't see you a lame," said his mother. "Am I mother?" "Yes, I suppose I ought to be." "And declare I have never thought of it since I got up to go down among the gobs." "Let me see the wound," said his mother. He pulled down his stocking. "When behold, except a great scar, his leg was perfectly sound." Cardi and his mother gazed in each other's eyes full of wonder. But Arini called out. "I thought so, Cardi. I am sure it wasn't a dream. I am sure my grandmother has been to see you. Don't you smell the roses? It was my grandmother healed your leg and sent you to help me." "No, Princess Arini," said Cardi. "I wasn't good enough to be allowed to help you. I didn't believe you. Your grandmother took care of you without me. She sent you to help my people anyhow. I wish my king papa would come. I do so want to tell him how good you've been." "But," said the mother, "we are forgetting how frightened your people must be. You must take the princess home at once, Cardi, or at least go and tell them where she is. Yes, mother, honey, I am doritfully hungry. Do let me have some breakfast first. They ought to have listened to me, and then they wouldn't have been taken by surprise as they were. It is true, Cardi, but it's not for you to blame them much. You remember? Yes, mother, I do. Only I must really have something to eat. You shall, my boy, as fast as I can get it," said his mother, rising and setting the princess on her chair. But before his breakfast was ready, Cardi jumped up so suddenly as to startle both his companions. "Mother, mother," he cried, "I was forgetting you must take the princess home yourself. I must go and wait my father." Without a word of explanation, he rushed to the place where his father was sleeping. Having thoroughly roused him with what he told him, he darted out of the cottage. End of chapter 28. Good morning. We hope you're enjoying Saturday's Story Circle. Got enough cereal? How's the coloring going? You can always join us tomorrow on Mutual with the Sunday Showcase. Original audio drama from the United Artists of Audio right here on Mutual. Subscribe to the Full Mutual Audio Network feed for exciting audio drama every day or find the Sunday Showcase feed in your favorite podcast players. (chime)