The Complete Works of Lewis Carroll (Illustrated). Lewis Carroll

his way through the neighbouring pool—she could hear the rattle of the teacups as the March Hare and his friends shared their never-ending meal, and the shrill voice of the Queen ordering off her unfortunate guests to execution—once more the pig-baby was sneezing on the Duchess’s knee, while plates and dishes crashed around it—once more the shriek of the Gryphon, the squeaking of the Lizard’s slate-pencil, and the choking of the suppressed guinea-pigs, filled the air, mixed up with the distant sobs of the miserable Mock Turtle.

      So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and all would change to dull reality—the grass would be only rustling in the wind, and the pool rippling to the waving of the reeds—the rattling teacups would change to tinkling sheep-bells, and the Queen’s shrill cries to the voice of the shepherd boy—and the sneeze of the baby, the shriek of the Gryphon, and all the other queer noises, would change (she knew) to the confused clamour of the busy farm-yard—while the lowing of the cattle in the distance would take the place of the Mock Turtle’s heavy sobs.

      Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood: and how she would gather about her other little children, and make their eyes bright and eager with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of Wonderland of long ago: and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days.

       The End

      Through the Looking-Glass,

       and What Alice Found There

      Main TOC

Contents

        Dramatis Personæ

        Preface to the 1896 Edition

        Chapter 1

        Chapter 2

        Chapter 3

        Chapter 4

        Chapter 5

        Chapter 6

        Chapter 7

        Chapter 8

        Chapter 9

        Chapter 10

        Chapter 11

        Chapter 12

      Child of the pure unclouded brow

      And dreaming eyes of wonder!

      Though time be fleet, and I and thou

      Are half a life asunder,

      Thy loving smile will surely hail

      The love-gift of a fairy-tale.

      I have not seen thy sunny face,

      Nor heard thy silver laughter;

      No thought of me shall find a place

      In thy young life’s hereafter—

      Enough that now thou wilt not fail

      To listen to my fairy-tale.

      A tale begun in other days,

      When summer suns were glowing—

      A simple chime, that served to time

      The rhythm of our rowing—

      Whose echoes live in memory yet,

      Though envious years would say ‘forget.’

      Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread,

      With bitter tidings laden,

      Shall summon to unwelcome bed

      A melancholy maiden!

      We are but older children, dear,

      Who fret to find our bedtime near.

      Without, the frost, the blinding snow,

      The storm-wind’s moody madness—

      Within, the firelight’s ruddy glow,

      And childhood’s nest of gladness.

      The magic words shall hold thee fast:

      Thou shalt not heed the raving blast.

      And though the shadow of a sigh

      May tremble through the story,

      For ‘happy summer days’ gone by,

      And vanish’d summer glory—

      It shall not touch with breath of bale

      The pleasance of our fairy-tale.

Dramatis Personæ

      Table of Contents

      (As arranged before commencement of game)

      White

      pieces

      pawns

      ♖ Tweedledee

      Daisy ♙

      ♘ Unicorn

      Haigha ♙

      ♗ Sheep

      Oyster ♙

      ♕ W. Queen

      ‘Lily’ ♙

      ♔ W. King

      Fawn ♙

      ♗ Aged man

      Oyster ♙

      ♘ W. Knight

      Hatta ♙

      ♖ Tweedledum

      Daisy ♙

      Red

      pawns

      pieces

      ♟ Daisy

      Humpty Dumpty ♜

      ♟