At the Back of the North Wind Illustrated - online book

A Complete Illustrated children's fantasy book by George MacDonald.

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The Hay-Loft                     17
more gentle voice now, although six times as large and loud as it had been, and he thought it sounded a little like his mother's.
" What is your name, little boy?" it asked.
" Diamond," answered Diamond, under the bed­clothes.
" What a funny name!"
" It's a very nice name," returned its owner.
" I don't know that," said the voice.
" Well, I do," retorted Diamond, a little rudely.
" Do you know to whom you are speaking?"
" No," said Diamond.
And indeed he did not. For to know a persons name is not always to know the person's self.
"Then I must not be angry with you.—You had better look and see, though."
" Diamond is a very pretty name," persisted the boy, vexed that it should not give satisfaction.
" Diamond is a useless thing rather," said the voice.
" That's not true. Diamond is very nice—as big as two—and so quiet all night! And doesn't he make a jolly row in the morning, getting up on his four great legs! It's like thunder."
" You don't seem to know what a diamond is."
" Oh, don't I just! Diamond is a great and good horse; and he sleeps right under me. He is Old Diamond, and I am Young Diamond; or, if you like it better, for you're very particular, Mr. North Wind, he's Big Diamond, and I'm Little Diamond; and I don't know which of us my father likes best."
A beautiful laugh, large but very soft and musical,
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