Book excerpt: It has been said since ancient times that Dartmoor is the haunt of the Pixies. In this volume you will find 6 illustrated children’s stories, told in full, about the Pixies of Dartmoor which go some way to explaining who the Pixies are and what they get up to when young heads start to rest heavily on pillows and the Sandman is about spreading his sleep dust. These are the 6 most popular tales about Pixies which are being told in Cornwall and Devon to this day. They Are: Pixy Gathon; or, The Tailor's Needle The Three Trials; or, The Story of Crabby Cross The Seven Crosses of Tiverton; or, The Story of Pixy Picket Fontina; or, The Pixies' Bath The Lady of The Silver Bell The Belfry Rock; or, The Pixies' Revenge But why did they choose Dartmoor? In this most pleasant part of England, there are many hills and rivers, with plenty of woods, and fields, hedgerows, birds, and flowers - and a large tract of country called Dartmoor, where the hills are so high that some of them are like mountains, with a number of beautiful sparkling streams and waterfalls, and a great many rocks, some standing alone, and others piled on the top of the heights in such odd ways, that they look like the ruins of castles and towers built by the giants in the olden time - these are called Tors. They are so lofty that the clouds often hang upon them and hide their heads. And what with its being so large and lonely, and having very few trees, except in one or two spots near a river, Dartmoor is altogether, though a wild, a very grand place. In short it is the ideal place for Pixies to take up residence. Many a Pixy is sent out at night on works of mischief to deceive the old nurses and steal away young children, or to do them harm. This is noticed' poet Ben Jonson who wrote:-- "Under a cradle I did creep By day, and, when the childe was asleep At night, I suck'd the breath, and rose And pluck'd the nodding nurse by the nose." Many Pixies are solely bent on mischief and are sent forth to lead poor travellers a fine dance when trudging home through woods, water, bogs and quagmires. If ever you are there late at night, beware of the light from the Will-o-the Wisp, for it may be a mischievous Pixie intent on having fun at your expense. Not many have really seen a Pixie house. It is often said to be in a rock; sometimes, however, a mole hill is a palace for the elves, or a hollow nut cracked by the "joiner squirrel," will contain the majesty of Pixy-land. Drayton describes their royal dwellings thus: "The walls of spiders' legs are made, Well morticed and finely laid, He was the master of his trade It curiously that builded; The windows of the eyes of cats, And for a roof, instead of slats, Is covered with the skins of bats, With moonshine that are gilded." And now, young friends, having been told that the wild wastes of Dartmoor, are said to be much haunted by Pixies, proceed to these stories which we trust will afford you some amusement in those hours not devoted to your lessons, or to more serious studies. YESTERDAY'S BOOKS FOR TODAY'S CHARITIES 10% of the net sale from this book will be donated to Charities. ====================== KEYWORDS: fairy tales, folklore, myths, legends, children’s stories, children’s stories, bygone era, fairydom, fairy land, classic stories, children’s bedtime stories, fables, cultural, setting, Dartmoor, Devon, Cornwall, Pixies, Piskies, Tors, rocks, valleys, streams, nooks, crannies, Pixy Gathon, Tailor, Needle, Three Trials, Crabby Cross, Seven Crosses of Tiverton, Story of Pixy Picket, Fontina, Pixies' Bath, Lady, Silver Bell, Belfry Rock; Pixies' Revenge, mischievous, naughty, royal dwelling, Pixie-land, Drayton, Ben Jonson, peep at the pixies,