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OLD WOMAN THAT LIVES IN THE SHOE. 29
As the Chimney-Elf and Rhoda walked away they
heard the Man from the South cry out :
" Oh ! oh ! oh ! oh ! I've burnt my month oh, my
mouth
"
!
Hhoda was going to say something pitiful, and the
Chimney-Elf was just beginning to scold, when both of
them were stopped by such a chorus of yells and screams
and shrieks, all in childish tones, that Rhoda stood still,
looking as if she would begin to cry herself.
u What's the matter t
w
"That noise? Oh, it's only
the Old Woman that
lives in the Shoe putting her babies to bed. They cry
that way just for fun, you know : she only pretends to
whip them ;
she's as good-natured as she can be. Here's
where she lives, just at the foot of the hill."
And turning a corner in the road, Rhoda found herself
close beside a monstrous shoe, with a ladder leaning
against its side. Upon the ground close by stood a
great kettle with a little broth in the bottom, and about
fifty iron spoons lay scattered around.
"They eat right out of the kettle," explained the
Chimney-Elf.
" Poor thing, she has so many children
she don't know what to do ;
and as for baking bread
enough for such a family, it is quite out of the question ,
so they never have any. Run up and look into the
shoe, if you like."
So Rhoda ran up the ladder, and peeping over the
edge of the shoe, saw a stout red-faced woman, with a