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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2435-0.txt b/2435-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e1d9e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/2435-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10441 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Crimson Fairy Book, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Crimson Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: December, 2000 [eBook #2435] +[Most recently updated: March 4, 2023] + +Language: English + +Produced by: J.C. Byers and David Widger + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK + +By Various + +Edited by Andrew Lang + + + + +Preface + + +Each Fairy Book demands a preface from the Editor, and these +introductions are inevitably both monotonous and unavailing. A sense of +literary honesty compels the Editor to keep repeating that he is the +Editor, and not the author of the Fairy Tales, just as a distinguished +man of science is only the Editor, not the Author of Nature. Like +nature, popular tales are too vast to be the creation of a single +modern mind. The Editor’s business is to hunt for collections of these +stories told by peasant or savage grandmothers in many climes, from New +Caledonia to Zululand; from the frozen snows of the Polar regions to +Greece, or Spain, or Italy, or far Lochaber. When the tales are found +they are adapted to the needs of British children by various hands, the +Editor doing little beyond guarding the interests of propriety, and +toning down to mild reproofs the tortures inflicted on wicked +stepmothers, and other naughty characters. + +These explanations have frequently been offered already; but, as far as +ladies and children are concerned, to no purpose. They still ask the +Editor how he can invent so many stories—more than Shakespeare, Dumas, +and Charles Dickens could have invented in a century. And the Editor +still avers, in Prefaces, that he did not invent one of the stories; +that nobody knows, as a rule, who invented them, or where, or when. It +is only plain that, perhaps a hundred thousand years ago, some savage +grandmother told a tale to a savage granddaughter; that the +granddaughter told it in her turn; that various tellers made changes to +suit their taste, adding or omitting features and incidents; that, as +the world grew civilised, other alterations were made, and that, at +last, Homer composed the “Odyssey,” and somebody else composed the +Story of Jason and the Fleece of Gold, and the enchantress Medea, out +of a set of wandering popular tales, which are still told among +Samoyeds and Samoans, Hindoos and Japanese. + +All this has been known to the wise and learned for centuries, and +especially since the brothers Grimm wrote in the early years of the +Nineteenth Century. But children remain unaware of the facts, and so do +their dear mothers; whence the Editor infers that they do not read his +prefaces, and are not members of the Folk Lore Society, or students of +Herr Kohler and M. Cosquin, and M. Henri Guidoz and Professor Child, +and Mr. Max Muller. Though these explanations are not attended to by +the Editor’s customers, he makes them once more, for the relief of his +conscience. Many tales in this book are translated, or adapted, from +those told by mothers and nurses in Hungary; others are familiar to +Russian nurseries; the Servians are responsible for some; a rather +peculiarly fanciful set of stories are adapted from the Roumanians; +others are from the Baltic shores; others from sunny Sicily; a few are +from Finland, and Iceland, and Japan, and Tunis, and Portugal. No doubt +many children will like to look out these places on the map, and study +their mountains, rivers, soil, products, and fiscal policies, in the +geography books. The peoples who tell the stories differ in colour; +language, religion, and almost everything else; but they all love a +nursery tale. The stories have mainly been adapted or translated by +Mrs. Lang, a few by Miss Lang and Miss Blackley. + + + + +CONTENTS + + Preface + Lovely Ilonka + Lucky Luck + The Hairy Man + To Your Good Health! + The Story of the Seven Simons + The Language of Beasts + The Boy Who Could Keep A Secret + The Prince And The Dragon + Little Wildrose + Tiidu The Piper + Paperarelloo + The Gifts Of The Magician + The Strong Prince + The Treasure Seeker + The Cottager And His Cat + The Prince Who Would Seek Immortality + The Stone-Cutter + The Gold-Bearded Man + Tritill, Litill, And The Birds + The Three Robes + The Six Hungry Beasts + How The Beggar Boy Turned Into Count Piro + The Rogue And The Herdsman + Eisenkopf + The Death Of Abu Nowas And Of His Wife + Motiratika + Niels And The Giants + Shepherd Paul + How The Wicked Tanuki Was Punished + The Crab And The Monkey + The Horse Gullfaxi And The Sword Gunnfoder + The Story Of The Sham Prince, Or The Ambitious Tailor + The Colony Of Cats + How To Find Out A True Friend + Clever Maria + The Magic Kettle + + + + +Lovely Ilonka + + +There was once a king’s son who told his father that he wished to +marry. + +“No, no!” said the king; “you must not be in such a hurry. Wait till +you have done some great deed. My father did not let me marry till I +had won the golden sword you see me wear.” + +The prince was much disappointed, but he never dreamed of disobeying +his father, and he began to think with all his might what he could do. +It was no use staying at home, so one day he wandered out into the +world to try his luck, and as he walked along he came to a little hut +in which he found an old woman crouching over the fire. + +“Good evening, mother. I see you have lived long in this world; do you +know anything about the three bulrushes?” + +“Yes, indeed, I’ve lived long and been much about in the world, but I +have never seen or heard anything of what you ask. Still, if you will +wait till to-morrow I may be able to tell you something.” + +Well, he waited till the morning, and quite early the old woman +appeared and took out a little pipe and blew in it, and in a moment all +the crows in the world were flying about her. Not one was missing. Then +she asked if they knew anything about the three bulrushes, but not one +of them did. + +The prince went on his way, and a little further on he found another +hut in which lived an old man. On being questioned the old man said he +knew nothing, but begged the prince to stay overnight, and the next +morning the old man called all the ravens together, but they too had +nothing to tell. + +The prince bade him farewell and set out. He wandered so far that he +crossed seven kingdoms, and at last, one evening, he came to a little +house in which was an old woman. + +“Good evening, dear mother,” said he politely. + +“Good evening to you, my dear son,” answered the old woman. “It is +lucky for you that you spoke to me or you would have met with a +horrible death. But may I ask where are you going?” + +“I am seeking the three bulrushes. Do you know anything about them?” + +“I don’t know anything myself, but wait till to-morrow. Perhaps I can +tell you then.” So the next morning she blew on her pipe, and lo! and +behold every magpie in the world flew up. That is to say, all the +magpies except one who had broken a leg and a wing. The old woman sent +after it at once, and when she questioned the magpies the crippled one +was the only one who knew where the three bulrushes were. + +Then the prince started off with the lame magpie. They went on and on +till they reached a great stone wall, many, many feet high. + +“Now, prince,” said the magpie, “the three bulrushes are behind that +wall.” + +The prince wasted no time. He set his horse at the wall and leaped over +it. Then he looked about for the three bulrushes, pulled them up and +set off with them on his way home. As he rode along one of the +bulrushes happened to knock against something. It split open and, only +think! out sprang a lovely girl, who said: “My heart’s love, you are +mine and I am yours; do give me a glass of water.” + +But how could the prince give it her when there was no water at hand? +So the lovely maiden flew away. He split the second bulrush as an +experiment and just the same thing happened. + +How careful he was of the third bulrush! He waited till he came to a +well, and there he split it open, and out sprang a maiden seven times +lovelier than either of the others, and she too said: “My heart’s love, +I am yours and you are mine; do give me a glass of water.” + +This time the water was ready and the girl did not fly away, but she +and the prince promised to love each other always. Then they set out +for home. + +They soon reached the prince’s country, and as he wished to bring his +promised bride back in a fine coach he went on to the town to fetch +one. In the field where the well was, the king’s swineherds and +cowherds were feeding their droves, and the prince left Ilonka (for +that was her name) in their care. + +Unluckily the chief swineherd had an ugly old daughter, and whilst the +prince was away he dressed her up in fine clothes, and threw Ilonka +into the well. + +The prince returned before long, bringing with him his father and +mother and a great train of courtiers to escort Ilonka home. But how +they all stared when they saw the swineherd’s ugly daughter! However, +there was nothing for it but to take her home; and, two days later, the +prince married her, and his father gave up the crown to him. + +But he had no peace! He knew very well he had been cheated, though he +could not think how. Once he desired to have some water brought him +from the well into which Ilonka had been thrown. The coachman went for +it and, in the bucket he pulled up, a pretty little duck was swimming. +He looked wonderingly at it, and all of a sudden it disappeared and he +found a dirty looking girl standing near him. The girl returned with +him and managed to get a place as housemaid in the palace. + +Of course she was very busy all day long, but whenever she had a little +spare time she sat down to spin. Her distaff turned of itself and her +spindle span by itself and the flax wound itself off; and however much +she might use there was always plenty left. + +When the queen—or, rather, the swineherd’s daughter—heard of this, she +very much wished to have the distaff, but the girl flatly refused to +give it to her. However, at last she consented on condition that she +might sleep one night in the king’s room. The queen was very angry, and +scolded her well; but as she longed to have the distaff she consented, +though she gave the king a sleeping draught at supper. + +Then the girl went to the king’s room looking seven times lovelier than +ever. She bent over the sleeper and said: “My heart’s love, I am yours +and you are mine. Speak to me but once; I am your Ilonka.” But the king +was so sound asleep he neither heard nor spoke, and Ilonka left the +room, sadly thinking he was ashamed to own her. + +Soon after the queen again sent to say that she wanted to buy the +spindle. The girl agreed to let her have it on the same conditions as +before; but this time, also, the queen took care to give the king a +sleeping draught. And once more Ilonka went to the king’s room and +spoke to him; whisper as sweetly as she might she could get no answer. + +Now some of the king’s servants had taken note of the matter, and +warned their master not to eat and drink anything that the queen +offered him, as for two nights running she had given him a sleeping +draught. The queen had no idea that her doings had been discovered; and +when, a few days later, she wanted the flax, and had to pay the same +price for it, she felt no fears at all. + +At supper that night the queen offered the king all sorts of nice +things to eat and drink, but he declared he was not hungry, and went +early to bed. + +The queen repented bitterly her promise to the girl, but it was too +late to recall it; for Ilonka had already entered the king’s room, +where he lay anxiously waiting for something, he knew not what. All of +a sudden he saw a lovely maiden who bent over him and said: “My dearest +love, I am yours and you are mine. Speak to me, for I am your Ilonka.” + +At these words the king’s heart bounded within him. He sprang up and +embraced and kissed her, and she told him all her adventures since the +moment he had left her. And when he heard all that Ilonka had suffered, +and how he had been deceived, he vowed he would be revenged; so he gave +orders that the swineherd, his wife and daughter should all be hanged; +and so they were. + +The next day the king was married, with great rejoicings, to the fair +Ilonka; and if they are not yet dead—why, they are still living. + +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] + + + + +Lucky Luck + + +Once upon a time there was a king who had an only son. When the lad was +about eighteen years old his father had to go to fight in a war against +a neighbouring country, and the king led his troops in person. He bade +his son act as Regent in his absence, but ordered him on no account to +marry till his return. + +Time went by. The prince ruled the country and never even thought of +marrying. But when he reached his twenty-fifth birthday he began to +think that it might be rather nice to have a wife, and he thought so +much that at last he got quite eager about it. He remembered, however, +what his father had said, and waited some time longer, till at last it +was ten years since the king went out to war. Then the prince called +his courtiers about him and set off with a great retinue to seek a +bride. He hardly knew which way to go, so he wandered about for twenty +days, when, suddenly, he found himself in his father’s camp. + +The king was delighted to see his son, and had a great many questions +to ask and answer; but when he heard that instead of quietly waiting +for him at home the prince was starting off to seek a wife he was very +angry, and said: “You may go where you please but I will not leave any +of my people with you.” + +Only one faithful servant stayed with the prince and refused to part +from him. They journeyed over hill and dale till they came to a place +called Goldtown. The King of Goldtown had a lovely daughter, and the +prince, who soon heard about her beauty, could not rest till he saw +her. + +He was very kindly received, for he was extremely good-looking and had +charming manners, so he lost no time in asking for her hand and her +parents gave her to him with joy. The wedding took place at once, and +the feasting and rejoicings went on for a whole month. At the end of +the month they set off for home, but as the journey was a long one they +spent the first evening at an inn. Everyone in the house slept, and +only the faithful servant kept watch. About midnight he heard three +crows, who had flown to the roof, talking together. + +“That’s a handsome couple which arrived here tonight. It seems quite a +pity they should lose their lives so soon.” + +“Truly,” said the second crow; “for to-morrow, when midday strikes, the +bridge over the Gold Stream will break just as they are driving over +it. But, listen! whoever overhears and tells what we have said will be +turned to stone up to his knees.” + +The crows had hardly done speaking when away they flew. And close upon +them followed three pigeons. + +“Even if the prince and princess get safe over the bridge they will +perish,” said they; “for the king is going to send a carriage to meet +them which looks as new as paint. But when they are seated in it a +raging wind will rise and whirl the carriage away into the clouds. Then +it will fall suddenly to earth, and they will be killed. But anyone who +hears and betrays what we have said will be turned to stone up to his +waist.” + +With that the pigeons flew off and three eagles took their places, and +this is what they said: + +“If the young couple does manage to escape the dangers of the bridge +and the carriage, the king means to send them each a splendid gold +embroidered robe. When they put these on they will be burnt up at once. +But whoever hears and repeats this will turn to stone from head to +foot.” + +Early next morning the travellers got up and breakfasted. They began to +tell each other their dreams. At last the servant said: + +“Gracious prince, I dreamt that if your Royal Highness would grant all +I asked we should get home safe and sound; but if you did not we should +certainly be lost. My dreams never deceive me, so I entreat you to +follow my advice during the rest of the journey.” + +“Don’t make such a fuss about a dream,” said the prince; “dreams are +but clouds. Still, to prevent your being anxious I will promise to do +as you wish.” + +With that they set out on their journey. + +At midday they reached the Gold Stream. When they got to the bridge the +servant said: “Let us leave the carriage here, my prince, and walk a +little way. The town is not far off and we can easily get another +carriage there, for the wheels of this one are bad and will not hold +out much longer.” + +The prince looked well at the carriage. He did not think it looked so +unsafe as his servant said; but he had given his word and he held to +it. + +They got down and loaded the horses with the luggage. The prince and +his bride walked over the bridge, but the servant said he would ride +the horses through the stream so as to water and bathe them. + +They reached the other side without harm, and bought a new carriage in +the town, which was quite near, and set off once more on their travels; +but they had not gone far when they met a messenger from the king who +said to the prince: “His Majesty has sent your Royal Highness this +beautiful carriage so that you may make a fitting entry into your own +country and amongst your own people.” + +The prince was so delighted that he could not speak. But the servant +said: “My lord, let me examine this carriage first and then you can get +in if I find it is all right; otherwise we had better stay in our own.” + +The prince made no objections, and after looking the carriage well over +the servant said: “It is as bad as it is smart”; and with that he +knocked it all to pieces, and they went on in the one that they had +bought. + +At last they reached the frontier; there another messenger was waiting +for them, who said that the king had sent two splendid robes for the +prince and his bride, and begged that they would wear them for their +state entry. But the servant implored the prince to have nothing to do +with them, and never gave him any peace till he had obtained leave to +destroy the robes. + +The old king was furious when he found that all his arts had failed; +that his son still lived and that he would have to give up the crown to +him now he was married, for that was the law of the land. He longed to +know how the prince had escaped, and said: “My dear son, I do indeed +rejoice to have you safely back, but I cannot imagine why the beautiful +carriage and the splendid robes I sent did not please you; why you had +them destroyed.” + +“Indeed, sire,” said the prince, “I was myself much annoyed at their +destruction; but my servant had begged to direct everything on the +journey and I had promised him that he should do so. He declared that +we could not possibly get home safely unless I did as he told me.” + +The old king fell into a tremendous rage. He called his Council +together and condemned the servant to death. + +The gallows was put up in the square in front of the palace. The +servant was led out and his sentence read to him. + +The rope was being placed round his neck, when he begged to be allowed +a few last words. “On our journey home,” he said, “we spent the first +night at an inn. I did not sleep but kept watch all night.” And then he +went on to tell what the crows had said, and as he spoke he turned to +stone up to his knees. The prince called to him to say no more as he +had proved his innocence. But the servant paid no heed to him, and by +the time his story was done he had turned to stone from head to foot. + +Oh! how grieved the prince was to lose his faithful servant! And what +pained him most was the thought that he was lost through his very +faithfulness, and he determined to travel all over the world and never +rest till he found some means of restoring him to life. + +Now there lived at Court an old woman who had been the prince’s nurse. +To her he confided all his plans, and left his wife, the princess, in +her care. “You have a long way before you, my son,” said the old woman; +“you must never return till you have met with Lucky Luck. If he cannot +help you no one on earth can.” + +So the prince set off to try to find Lucky Luck. He walked and walked +till he got beyond his own country, and he wandered through a wood for +three days but did not meet a living being in it. At the end of the +third day he came to a river near which stood a large mill. Here he +spent the night. When he was leaving next morning the miller asked him: +“My gracious lord, where are you going all alone?” + +And the prince told him. + +“Then I beg your Highness to ask Lucky Luck this question: Why is it +that though I have an excellent mill, with all its machinery complete, +and get plenty of grain to grind, I am so poor that I hardly know how +to live from one day to another?” + +The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way. He wandered about +for three days more, and at the end of the third day saw a little town. +It was quite late when he reached it, but he could discover no light +anywhere, and walked almost right through it without finding a house +where he could turn in. But far away at the end of the town he saw a +light in a window. He went straight to it and in the house were three +girls playing a game together. The prince asked for a night’s lodging +and they took him in, gave him some supper and got a room ready for +him, where he slept. + +Next morning when he was leaving they asked where he was going and he +told them his story. “Gracious prince,” said the maidens, “do ask Lucky +Luck how it happens that here we are over thirty years old and no lover +has come to woo us, though we are good, pretty, and very industrious.” + +The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way. + +Then he came to a great forest and wandered about in it from morning to +night and from night to morning before he got near the other end. Here +he found a pretty stream which was different from other streams as, +instead of flowing, it stood still and began to talk: “Sir prince, tell +me what brings you into these wilds? I must have been flowing here a +hundred years and more and no one has ever yet come by.” + +“I will tell you,” answered the prince, “if you will divide yourself so +that I may walk through.” + +The stream parted at once, and the prince walked through without +wetting his feet; and directly he got to the other side he told his +story as he had promised. + +“Oh, do ask Lucky Luck,” cried the brook, “why, though I am such a +clear, bright, rapid stream I never have a fish or any other living +creature in my waters.” + +The prince said he would do so, and continued his journey. + +When he got quite clear of the forest he walked on through a lovely +valley till he reached a little house thatched with rushes, and he went +in to rest for he was very tired. + +Everything in the house was beautifully clean and tidy, and a cheerful +honest-looking old woman was sitting by the fire. + +“Good-morning, mother,” said the prince. + +“May Luck be with you, my son. What brings you into these parts?” + +“I am looking for Lucky Luck,” replied the prince. + +“Then you have come to the right place, my son, for I am his mother. He +is not at home just now, he is out digging in the vineyard. Do you go +too. Here are two spades. When you find him begin to dig, but don’t +speak a word to him. It is now eleven o’clock. When he sits down to eat +his dinner sit beside him and eat with him. After dinner he will +question you, and then tell him all your troubles freely. He will +answer whatever you may ask.” + +With that she showed him the way, and the prince went and did just as +she had told him. After dinner they lay down to rest. + +All of a sudden Lucky Luck began to speak and said: “Tell me, what sort +of man are you, for since you came here you have not spoken a word?” + +“I am not dumb,” replied the young man, “but I am that unhappy prince +whose faithful servant has been turned to stone, and I want to know how +to help him.” + +“And you do well, for he deserves everything. Go back, and when you get +home your wife will just have had a little boy. Take three drops of +blood from the child’s little finger, rub them on your servant’s wrists +with a blade of grass and he will return to life.” + +“I have another thing to ask,” said the prince, when he had thanked +him. “In the forest near here is a fine stream but not a fish or other +living creature in it. Why is this?” + +“Because no one has ever been drowned in the stream. But take care, in +crossing, to get as near the other side as you can before you say so, +or you may be the first victim yourself.” + +“Another question, please, before I go. On my way here I lodged one +night in the house of three maidens. All were well-mannered, +hard-working, and pretty, and yet none has had a wooer. Why was this?” + +“Because they always throw out their sweepings in the face of the sun.” + +“And why is it that a miller, who has a large mill with all the best +machinery and gets plenty of corn to grind is so poor that he can +hardly live from day to day?” + +“Because the miller keeps everything for himself, and does not give to +those who need it.” + +The prince wrote down the answers to his questions, took a friendly +leave of Lucky Luck, and set off for home. + +When he reached the stream it asked if he brought it any good news. +“When I get across I will tell you,” said he. So the stream parted; he +walked through and on to the highest part of the bank. He stopped and +shouted out: + +“Listen, oh stream! Lucky Luck says you will never have any living +creature in your waters until someone is drowned in you.” + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the stream swelled and +overflowed till it reached the rock up which he had climbed, and dashed +so far up it that the spray flew over him. But he clung on tight, and +after failing to reach him three times the stream returned to its +proper course. Then the prince climbed down, dried himself in the sun, +and set out on his march home. + +He spent the night once more at the mill and gave the miller his +answer, and by-and-by he told the three sisters not to throw out all +their sweepings in the face of the sun. + +The prince had hardly arrived at home when some thieves tried to ford +the stream with a fine horse they had stolen. When they were half-way +across, the stream rose so suddenly that it swept them all away. From +that time it became the best fishing stream in the country-side. + +The miller, too, began to give alms and became a very good man, and in +time grew so rich that he hardly knew how much he had. + +And the three sisters, now that they no longer insulted the sun, had +each a wooer within a week. + +When the prince got home he found that his wife had just got a fine +little boy. He did not lose a moment in pricking the baby’s finger till +the blood ran, and he brushed it on the wrists of the stone figure, +which shuddered all over and split with a loud noise in seven parts and +there was the faithful servant alive and well. + +When the old king saw this he foamed with rage, stared wildly about, +flung himself on the ground and died. + +The servant stayed on with his royal master and served him faithfully +all the rest of his life; and, if neither of them is dead, he is +serving him still. + +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] + + + + +The Hairy Man + + +Somewhere or other, but I don’t know where, there lived a king who +owned two remarkably fine fields of rape, but every night two of the +rape heaps were burnt down in one of the fields. The king was extremely +angry at this, and sent out soldiers to catch whoever had set fire to +the ricks; but it was all of no use—not a soul could they see. Then he +offered nine hundred crowns to anyone who caught the evil-doer, and at +the same time ordered that whoever did not keep proper watch over the +fields should be killed; but though there were a great many people, +none seemed able to protect the fields. + +The king had already put ninety-nine people to death, when a little +swineherd came to him who had two dogs; one was called “Psst,” and the +other “Hush”; and the boy told the king that he would watch over the +ricks. + +When it grew dark he climbed up on the top of the fourth rick, from +where he could see the whole field. About eleven o’clock he thought he +saw someone going to a rick and putting a light to it. “Just you wait,” +thought he, and called out to his dogs: “Hi! Psst, Hush, catch him!” +But Psst and Hush had not waited for orders, and in five minutes the +man was caught. + +Next morning he was brought bound before the king, who was so pleased +with the boy that he gave him a thousand crowns at once. The prisoner +was all covered with hair, almost like an animal; and altogether he was +so curious to look at that the king locked him up in a strong room and +sent out letters of invitation to all the other kings and princes +asking them to come and see this wonder. + +That was all very well; but the king had a little boy of ten years old +who went to look at the hairy man also, and the man begged so hard to +be set free that the boy took pity on him. He stole the key of the +strong room from his mother and opened the door. Then he took the key +back, but the hairy man escaped and went off into the world. + +Then the kings and princes began to arrive one after another, and all +were most anxious to see the hairy man; but he was gone! The king +nearly burst with rage and with the shame he felt. He questioned his +wife sharply, and told her that if she could not find and bring back +the hairy man he would put her in a hut made of rushes and burn her +there. The queen declared she had had nothing to do with the matter; if +her son had happened to take the key it had not been with her +knowledge. + +So they fetched the little prince and asked him all sorts of questions, +and at last he owned that he had let the hairy man out. The king +ordered his servants to take the boy into the forest and to kill him +there, and to bring back part of his liver and lungs. + +There was grief all over the palace when the king’s command was known, +for he was a great favourite. But there was no help for it, and they +took the boy out into the forest. But the man was sorry for him, and +shot a dog and carried pieces of his lungs and liver to the king, who +was satisfied, and did not trouble himself any more. + +The prince wandered about in the forest and lived as best he could for +five years. One day he came upon a poor little cottage in which was an +old man. They began to talk, and the prince told his story and sad +fate. Then they recognised each other, for the old fellow was no other +than the hairy man whom the prince had set free, and who had lived ever +since in the forest. + +The prince stayed here for two years; then he wished to go further. The +old man begged him hard to stay, but he would not, so his hairy friend +gave him a golden apple out of which came a horse with a golden mane, +and a golden staff with which to guide the horse. The old man also gave +him a silver apple out of which came the most beautiful hussars and a +silver staff; and a copper apple from which he could draw as many foot +soldiers as ever he wished, and a copper staff. He made the prince +swear solemnly to take the greatest care of these presents, and then he +let him go. + +The boy wandered on and on till he came to a large town. Here he took +service in the king’s palace, and as no one troubled themselves about +him he lived quietly on. + +One day news was brought to the king that he must go out to war. He was +horribly frightened for he had a very small army, but he had to go all +the same. + +When they had all left, the prince said to the housekeeper: + +“Give me leave to go to the next village—I owe a small bill there, and +I want to go and pay it”; and as there was nothing to be done in the +palace the housekeeper gave him leave. + +When he got beyond the town he took out his golden apple, and when the +horse sprang out he swung himself into the saddle. Then he took the +silver and the copper apples, and with all these fine soldiers he +joined the king’s army. + +The king saw them approach with fear in his heart, for he did not know +if it might not be an enemy; but the prince rode up, and bowed low +before him. “I bring your Majesty reinforcements,” said he. + +The king was delighted, and all dread of his enemy at once disappeared. +The princesses were there too, and they were very friendly with the +prince and begged him to get into their carriage so as to talk to them. +But he declined, and remained on horseback, as he did not know at what +moment the battle might begin; and whilst they were all talking +together the youngest princess, who was also the loveliest, took off +her ring, and her sister tore her handkerchief in two pieces, and they +gave these gifts to the prince. + +Suddenly the enemy came in sight. The king asked whether his army or +the prince’s should lead the way; but the prince set off first and with +his hussars he fought so bravely that only two of the enemy were left +alive, and these two were only spared to act as messengers. + +The king was overjoyed and so were his daughters at this brilliant +victory. As they drove home they begged the prince to join them, but he +would not come, and galloped off with his hussars. + +When he got near the town he packed his soldiers and his fine horse all +carefully into the apple again, and then strolled into the town. On his +return to the palace he was well scolded by the housekeeper for staying +away so long. + +Well, the whole matter might have ended there; but it so happened that +the younger princess had fallen in love with the prince, as he had with +her. And as he had no jewels with him, he gave her the copper apple and +staff. + +One day, as the princesses were talking with their father, the younger +one asked him whether it might not have been their servant who had +helped him so much. The king was quite angry at the idea; but, to +satisfy her, he ordered the servant’s room to be searched. And there, +to everyone’s surprise, they found the golden ring and the half of the +handkerchief. When these were brought to the king he sent for the +prince at once and asked if it had been he who had come to their +rescue. + +“Yes, your Majesty, it was I,” answered the prince. + +“But where did you get your army?” + +“If you wish to see it, I can show it you outside the city walls.” + +And so he did; but first he asked for the copper apple from the younger +princess, and when all the soldiers were drawn up there were such +numbers that there was barely room for them. + +The king gave him his daughter and kingdom as a reward for his aid, and +when he heard that the prince was himself a king’s son his joy knew no +bounds. The prince packed all his soldiers carefully up once more, and +they went back into the town. + +Not long after there was a grand wedding; perhaps they may all be alive +still, but I don’t know. + + + + +To Your Good Health! + + +Long, long ago there lived a king who was such a mighty monarch that +whenever he sneezed every one in the whole country had to say “To your +good health!” Every one said it except the shepherd with the staring +eyes, and he would not say it. + +The king heard of this and was very angry, and sent for the shepherd to +appear before him. + +The shepherd came and stood before the throne, where the king sat +looking very grand and powerful. But however grand or powerful he might +be the shepherd did not feel a bit afraid of him. + +“Say at once, ‘To my good health!’” cried the king. + +“To my good health!” replied the shepherd. + +“To mine—to mine, you rascal, you vagabond!” stormed the king. + +“To mine, to mine, your Majesty,” was the answer. + +“But to mine—to my own,” roared the king, and beat on his breast in a +rage. + +“Well, yes; to mine, of course, to my own,” cried the shepherd, and +gently tapped his breast. + +The king was beside himself with fury and did not know what to do, when +the Lord Chamberlain interfered: + +“Say at once—say this very moment: ‘To your health, your Majesty’; for +if you don’t say it you’ll lose your life, whispered he. + +“No, I won’t say it till I get the princess for my wife,” was the +shepherd’s answer. Now the princess was sitting on a little throne +beside the king, her father, and she looked as sweet and lovely as a +little golden dove. When she heard what the shepherd said she could not +help laughing, for there is no denying the fact that this young +shepherd with the staring eyes pleased her very much; indeed he pleased +her better than any king’s son she had yet seen. + +But the king was not as pleasant as his daughter, and he gave orders to +throw the shepherd into the white bear’s pit. + +The guards led him away and thrust him into the pit with the white +bear, who had had nothing to eat for two days and was very hungry. The +door of the pit was hardly closed when the bear rushed at the shepherd; +but when it saw his eyes it was so frightened that it was ready to eat +itself. It shrank away into a corner and gazed at him from there, and, +in spite of being so famished, did not dare to touch him, but sucked +its own paws from sheer hunger. The shepherd felt that if he once +removed his eyes off the beast he was a dead man, and in order to keep +himself awake he made songs and sang them, and so the night went by. + +Next morning the Lord Chamberlain came to see the shepherd’s bones, and +was amazed to find him alive and well. He led him to the king, who fell +into a furious passion, and said: “Well, you have learned what it is to +be very near death, and now will you say ‘To my good health’?” + +But the shepherd answered: “I am not afraid of ten deaths! I will only +say it if I may have the princess for my wife.” + +“Then go to your death,” cried the king; and ordered him to be thrown +into the den with the wild boars. The wild boars had not been fed for a +week, and when the shepherd was thrust into their don they rushed at +him to tear him to pieces. But the shepherd took a little flute out of +the sleeve of his jacket and began to play a merry tune, on which the +wild boars first of all shrank shyly away, and then got up on their +hind legs and danced gaily. The shepherd would have given anything to +be able to laugh, they looked so funny; but he dared not stop playing, +for he knew well enough that the moment he stopped they would fall upon +him and tear him to pieces. His eyes were of no use to him here, for he +could not have stared ten wild boars in the face at once; so he kept on +playing, and the wild boars danced very slowly, as if in a minuet, then +by degrees he played faster and faster till they could hardly twist and +turn quickly enough, and ended by all falling over each other in a +heap, quite exhausted and out of breath. + +Then the shepherd ventured to laugh at last; and he laughed so long and +so loud that when the Lord Chamberlain came early in the morning, +expecting to find only his bones, the tears were still running down his +cheeks from laughter. + +As soon as the king was dressed the shepherd was again brought before +him; but he was more angry than ever to think the wild boars had not +torn the man to bits, and he said: “Well, you have learned what it +feels to be near ten deaths, now say ‘To my good health!’” + +But the shepherd broke in with, “I do not fear a hundred deaths, and I +will only say it if I may have the princess for my wife.” + +“Then go to a hundred deaths!” roared the king, and ordered the +shepherd to be thrown down the deep vault of scythes. + +The guards dragged him away to a dark dungeon, in the middle of which +was a deep well with sharp scythes all round it. At the bottom of the +well was a little light by which one could see if anyone was thrown in +whether he had fallen to the bottom. + +When the shepherd was dragged to the dungeons he begged the guards to +leave him alone a little while that he might look down into the pit of +scythes; perhaps he might after all make up his mind to say “To your +good health” to the king. So the guards left him alone and he stuck up +his long stick near the well, hung his cloak round the stick and put +his hat on the top. He also hung his knapsack up inside the cloak so +that it might seem to have some body within it. When this was done he +called out to the guards and said that he had considered the matter but +after all he could not make up his mind to say what the king wished. +The guards came in, threw the hat and cloak, knapsack and stick all +down the well together, watched to see how they put out the light at +the bottom and came away, thinking that now there really was an end of +the shepherd. But he had hidden in a dark corner and was laughing to +himself all the time. + +Quite early next morning came the Lord Chamberlain, carrying a lamp and +he nearly fell backwards with surprise when he saw the shepherd alive +and well. He brought him to the king, whose fury was greater than ever, +but who cried: + +“Well, now you have been near a hundred deaths; will you say: ‘To your +good health’?” + +But the shepherd only gave the same answer: + +“I won’t say it till the princess is my wife.” + +“Perhaps after all you may do it for less,” said the king, who saw that +there was no chance of making away with the shepherd; and he ordered +the state coach to be got ready, then he made the shepherd get in with +him and sit beside him, and ordered the coachman to drive to the silver +wood. When they reached it he said: “Do you see this silver wood? Well, +if you will say, ‘To your good health,’ I will give it to you.” + +The shepherd turned hot and cold by turns, but he still persisted: + +“I will not say it till the princess is my wife.” + +The king was much vexed; he drove further on till they came to a +splendid castle, all of gold, and then he said: + +“Do you see this golden castle? Well, I will give you that too, the +silver wood and the golden castle, if only you will say that one thing +to me: ‘To your good health.’” + +The shepherd gaped and wondered and was quite dazzled, but he still +said: + +“No; I will not say it till I have the princess for my wife.” + +This time the king was overwhelmed with grief, and gave orders to drive +on to the diamond pond, and there he tried once more. + +“Do you see this diamond pond? I will give you that too, the silver +wood and the golden castle and the diamond pond. You shall have them +all—all—if you will but say: ‘To your good health!’” + +The shepherd had to shut his staring eyes tight not to be dazzled with +the brilliant pond, but still he said: + +“No, no; I will not say it till I have the princess for my wife.” + +Then the king saw that all his efforts were useless, and that he might +as well give in, so he said: + +“Well, well, it’s all the same to me—I will give you my daughter to +wife; but, then, you really and truly must say to me: ‘To your good +health.’” + +“Of course I’ll say it; why should I not say it? It stands to reason +that I shall say it then.” + +At this the king was more delighted than anyone could have believed. He +made it known all through the country that there were to be great +rejoicings, as the princess was going to be married. And everyone +rejoiced to think that the princess, who had refused so many royal +suitors, should have ended by falling in love with the staring-eyed +shepherd. + +There was such a wedding as had never been seen. Everyone ate and drank +and danced. Even the sick were feasted, and quite tiny new-born +children had presents given them. + +But the greatest merry-making was in the king’s palace; there the best +bands played and the best food was cooked; a crowd of people sat down +to table, and all was fun and merry-making. + +And when the groomsman, according to custom, brought in the great +boar’s head on a big dish and placed it before the king so that he +might carve it and give everyone a share, the savoury smell was so +strong that the king began to sneeze with all his might. + +“To your very good health,” cried the shepherd before anyone else, and +the king was so delighted that he did not regret having given him his +daughter. + +In time, when the old king died, the shepherd succeeded him. He made a +very good king and never expected his people to wish him well against +their wills; but, all the same, everyone did wish him well, for they +all loved him. + +[From Russische Mährchen.] + + + + +The Story of the Seven Simons + + +Far, far away, beyond all sorts of countries, seas and rivers, there +stood a splendid city where lived King Archidej, who was as good as he +was rich and handsome. His great army was made up of men ready to obey +his slightest wish; he owned forty times forty cities, and in each city +he had ten palaces with silver doors, golden roofs, and crystal +windows. His council consisted of the twelve wisest men in the country, +whose long beards flowed down over their breasts, each of whom was as +learned as a whole college. This council always told the king the exact +truth. + +Now the king had everything to make him happy, but he did not enjoy +anything because he could not find a bride to his mind. + +One day, as he sat in his palace looking out to sea, a great ship +sailed into the harbour and several merchants came on shore. Said the +king to himself: “These people have travelled far and beheld many +lands. I will ask them if they have seen any princess who is as clever +and as handsome as I am.” + +So he ordered the merchants to be brought before him, and when they +came he said: “You have travelled much and visited many wonders. I wish +to ask you a question, and I beg you to answer truthfully. + +“Have you anywhere seen or heard of the daughter of an emperor, king, +or a prince, who is as clever and as handsome as I am, and who would be +worthy to be my wife and the queen of my country?” + +The merchants considered for some time. At last the eldest of them +said: “I have heard that across many seas, in the Island of Busan, +there is a mighty king, whose daughter, the Princess Helena, is so +lovely that she can certainly not be plainer than your Majesty, and so +clever that the wisest greybeard cannot guess her riddles.” + +“Is the island far off, and which is the way to it?” + +“It is not near,” was the answer. “The journey would take ten years, +and we do not know the way. And even if we did, what use would that be? +The princess is no bride for you.” + +“How dare you say so?” cried the king angrily. + +“Your Majesty must pardon us; but just think for a moment. Should you +send an envoy to the island he will take ten years to get there and ten +more to return—twenty years in all. Will not the princess have grown +old in that time and have lost all her beauty?” + +The king reflected gravely. Then he thanked the merchants, gave them +leave to trade in his country without paying any duties, and dismissed +them. + +After they were gone the king remained deep in thought. He felt puzzled +and anxious; so he decided to ride into the country to distract his +mind, and sent for his huntsmen and falconers. The huntsmen blew their +horns, the falconers took their hawks on their wrists, and off they all +set out across country till they came to a green hedge. On the other +side of the hedge stretched a great field of maize as far as the eye +could reach, and the yellow ears swayed to and fro in the gentle breeze +like a rippling sea of gold. + +The king drew rein and admired the field. “Upon my word,” said he, +“whoever dug and planted it must be good workmen. If all the fields in +my kingdom were as well cared for as this, there would be more bread +than my people could eat.” And he wished to know to whom the field +belonged. + +Off rushed all his followers at once to do his bidding, and found a +nice, tidy farmhouse, in front of which sat seven peasants, lunching on +rye bread and drinking water. They wore red shirts bound with gold +braid, and were so much alike that one could hardly tell one from +another. + +The messengers asked: “Who owns this field of golden maize?” And the +seven brothers answered: “The field is ours.” + +“And who are you?” + +“We are King Archidej’s labourers.” + +These answers were repeated to the king, who ordered the brothers to be +brought before him at once. On being asked who they were, the eldest +said, bowing low: + +“We, King Archidej, are your labourers, children of one father and +mother, and we all have the same name, for each of us is called Simon. +Our father taught us to be true to our king, and to till the ground, +and to be kind to our neighbours. He also taught each of us a different +trade which he thought might be useful to us, and he bade us not +neglect our mother earth, which would be sure amply to repay our +labour.” + +The king was pleased with the honest peasant, and said: “You have done +well, good people, in planting your field, and now you have a golden +harvest. But I should like each of you to tell me what special trades +your father taught you.” + +“My trade, O king!” said the first Simon, “is not an easy one. If you +will give me some workmen and materials I will build you a great white +pillar that shall reach far above the clouds.” + +“Very good,” replied the king. “And you, Simon the second, what is your +trade?” + +“Mine, your Majesty, needs no great cleverness. When my brother has +built the pillar I can mount it, and from the top, far above the +clouds, I can see what is happening: in every country under the sun.” + +“Good,” said the king; “and Simon the third?” + +“My work is very simple, sire. You have many ships built by learned +men, with all sorts of new and clever improvements. If you wish it I +will build you quite a simple boat—one, two, three, and it’s done! But +my plain little home-made ship is not grand enough for a king. Where +other ships take a year, mine makes the voyage in a day, and where they +would require ten years mine will do the distance in a week.” + +“Good,” said the king again; “and what has Simon the fourth learnt?” + +“My trade, O king, is really of no importance. Should my brother build +you a ship, then let me embark in it. If we should be pursued by an +enemy I can seize our boat by the prow and sink it to the bottom of the +sea. When the enemy has sailed off, I can draw it up to the top again.” + +“That is very clever of you,” answered the king; “and what does Simon +the fifth do?” + +“My work, your Majesty, is mere smith’s work. Order me to build a +smithy and I will make you a cross-bow, but from which neither the +eagle in the sky nor the wild beast in the forest is safe. The bolt +hits whatever the eye sees.” + +“That sounds very useful,” said the king. “And now, Simon the sixth, +tell me your trade.” + +“Sire, it is so simple I am almost ashamed to mention it. If my brother +hits any creature I catch it quicker than any dog can. If it falls into +the water I pick it up out of the greatest depths, and if it is in a +dark forest I can find it even at midnight.” + +The king was much pleased with the trades and talk of the six brothers, +and said: “Thank you, good people; your father did well to teach you +all these things. Now follow me to the town, as I want to see what you +can do. I need such people as you about me; but when harvest time comes +I will send you home with royal presents.” + +The brothers bowed and said: “As the king wills.” Suddenly the king +remembered that he had not questioned the seventh Simon, so he turned +to him and said: “Why are you silent? What is your handicraft?” + +And the seventh Simon answered: “I have no handicraft, O king; I have +learnt nothing. I could not manage it. And if I do know how to do +anything it is not what might properly be called a real trade—it is +rather a sort of performance; but it is one which no one—not the king +himself—must watch me doing, and I doubt whether this performance of +mine would please your Majesty.” + +“Come, come,” cried the king; “I will have no excuses, what is this +trade?” + +“First, sire, give me your royal word that you will not kill me when I +have told you. Then you shall hear.” + +“So be it, then; I give you my royal word.” + +Then the seventh Simon stepped back a little, cleared his throat, and +said: “My trade, King Archidej, is of such a kind that the man who +follows it in your kingdom generally loses his life and has no hopes of +pardon. There is only one thing I can do really well, and that is—to +steal, and to hide the smallest scrap of anything I have stolen. Not +the deepest vault, even if its lock were enchanted, could prevent my +stealing anything out of it that I wished to have.” + +When the king heard this he fell into a passion. “I will not pardon +you, you rascal,” he cried; “I will shut you up in my deepest dungeon +on bread and water till you have forgotten such a trade. Indeed, it +would be better to put you to death at once, and I’ve a good mind to do +so.” + +“Don’t kill me, O king! I am really not as bad as you think. Why, had I +chosen, I could have robbed the royal treasury, have bribed your judges +to let me off, and built a white marble palace with what was left. But +though I know how to steal I don’t do it. You yourself asked me my +trade. If you kill me you will break your royal word.” + +“Very well,” said the king, “I will not kill you. I pardon you. But +from this hour you shall be shut up in a dark dungeon. Here, guards! +away with him to the prison. But you six Simons follow me and be +assured of my royal favour.” + +So the six Simons followed the king. The seventh Simon was seized by +the guards, who put him in chains and threw him in prison with only +bread and water for food. Next day the king gave the first Simon +carpenters, masons, smiths and labourers, with great stores of iron, +mortar, and the like, and Simon began to build. And he built his great +white pillar far, far up into the clouds, as high as the nearest stars; +but the other stars were higher still. + +Then the second Simon climbed up the pillar and saw and heard all that +was going on through the whole world. When he came down he had all +sorts of wonderful things to tell. How one king was marching in battle +against another, and which was likely to be the victor. How, in another +place, great rejoicings were going on, while in a third people were +dying of famine. In fact there was not the smallest event going on over +the earth that was hidden from him. + +Next the third Simon began. He stretched out his arms, once, twice, +thrice, and the wonder-ship was ready. At a sign from the king it was +launched, and floated proudly and safely like a bird on the waves. +Instead of ropes it had wires for rigging, and musicians played on them +with fiddle bows and made lovely music. As the ship swam about, the +fourth Simon seized the prow with his strong hand, and in a moment it +was gone—sunk to the bottom of the sea. An hour passed, and then the +ship floated again, drawn up by Simon’s left hand, while in his right +he brought a gigantic fish from the depth of the ocean for the royal +table. + +Whilst this was going on the fifth Simon had built his forge and +hammered out his iron, and when the king returned from the harbour the +magic cross-bow was made. + +His Majesty went out into an open field at once, looked up into the sky +and saw, far, far away, an eagle flying up towards the sun and looking +like a little speck. + +“Now,” said the king, “if you can shoot that bird I will reward you.” + +Simon only smiled; he lifted his cross-bow, took aim, fired, and the +eagle fell. As it was falling the sixth Simon ran with a dish, caught +the bird before it fell to earth and brought it to the king. + +“Many thanks, my brave lads,” said the king; “I see that each of you is +indeed a master of his trade. You shall be richly rewarded. But now +rest and have your dinner.” + +The six Simons bowed and went to dinner. But they had hardly begun +before a messenger came to say that the king wanted to see them. They +obeyed at once and found him surrounded by all his court and men of +state. + +“Listen, my good fellows,” cried the king, as soon as he saw them. +“Hear what my wise counsellors have thought of. As you, Simon the +second, can see the whole world from the top of the great pillar, I +want you to climb up and to see and hear. For I am told that, far away, +across many seas, is the great kingdom of the Island of Busan, and that +the daughter of the king is the beautiful Princess Helena.” + +Off ran the second Simon and clambered quickly up the pillar. He gazed +around, listened on all sides, and then slid down to report to the +king. + +“Sire, I have obeyed your orders. Far away I saw the Island of Busan. +The king is a mighty monarch, but full of pride, harsh and cruel. He +sits on his throne and declares that no prince or king on earth is good +enough for his lovely daughter, that he will give her to none, and that +if any king asks for her hand he will declare war against him and +destroy his kingdom.” + +“Has the king of Busan a great army?” asked King Archidej; “is his +country far off?” + +“As far as I could judge,” replied Simon, “it would take you nearly ten +years in fair weather to sail there. But if the weather were stormy we +might say twelve. I saw the army being reviewed. It is not so very +large—a hundred thousand men at arms and a hundred thousand knights. +Besides these, he has a strong bodyguard and a good many cross-bowmen. +Altogether you may say another hundred thousand, and there is a picked +body of heroes who reserve themselves for great occasions requiring +particular courage.” + +The king sat for some time lost in thought. At last he said to the +nobles and courtiers standing round: “I am determined to marry the +Princess Helena, but how shall I do it?” + +The nobles, courtiers and counsellors said nothing, but tried to hide +behind each other. Then the third Simon said: + +“Pardon me, your Majesty, if I offer my advice. You wish to go to the +Island of Busan? What can be easier? In my ship you will get there in a +week instead of in ten years. But ask your council to advise you what +to do when you arrive—in one word, whether you will win the princess +peacefully or by war?” + +But the wise men were as silent as ever. + +The king frowned, and was about to say something sharp, when the Court +Fool pushed his way to the front and said: “Dear me, what are all you +clever people so puzzled about? The matter is quite clear. As it seems +it will not take long to reach the island why not send the seventh +Simon? He will steal the fair maiden fast enough, and then the king, +her father, may consider how he is going to bring his army over here—it +will take him ten years to do it!—-no less! What do you think of my +plan?” + +“What do I think? Why, that your idea is capital, and you shall be +rewarded for it. Come, guards, hurry as fast as you can and bring the +seventh Simon before me.” + +Not many minutes later, Simon the seventh stood before the king, who +explained to him what he wished done, and also that to steal for the +benefit of his king and country was by no means a wrong thing, though +it was very wrong to steal for his own advantage. + +The youngest Simon, who looked very pale and hungry, only nodded his +head. + +“Come,” said the king, “tell me truly. Do you think you could steal the +Princess Helena?” + +“Why should I not steal her, sire? The thing is easy enough. Let my +brother’s ship be laden with rich stuffs, brocades, Persian carpets, +pearls and jewels. Send me in the ship. Give me my four middle brothers +as companions, and keep the two others as hostages.” + +When the king heard these words his heart became filled with longing, +and he ordered all to be done as Simon wished. Every one ran about to +do his bidding; and in next to no time the wonder-ship was laden and +ready to start. + +The five Simons took leave of the king, went on board, and had no +sooner set sail than they were almost out of sight. The ship cut +through the waters like a falcon through the air, and just a week after +starting sighted the Island of Busan. The coast appeared to be strongly +guarded, and from afar the watchman on a high tower called out: “Halt +and anchor! Who are you? Where do you come from, and what do you want?” + +The seventh Simon answered from the ship: “We are peaceful people. We +come from the country of the great and good King Archidej, and we bring +foreign wares—rich brocades, carpets, and costly jewels, which we wish +to show to your king and the princess. We desire to trade—to sell, to +buy, and to exchange.” + +The brothers launched a small boat, took some of their valuable goods +with them, rowed to shore and went up to the palace. The princess sat +in a rose-red room, and when she saw the brothers coming near she +called her nurse and other women, and told them to inquire who and what +these people were, and what they wanted. + +The seventh Simon answered the nurse: “We come from the country of the +wise and good King Archidej,” said he, “and we have brought all sorts +of goods for sale. We trust the king of this country may condescend to +welcome us, and to let his servants take charge of our wares. If he +considers them worthy to adorn his followers we shall be content.” + +This speech was repeated to the princess, who ordered the brothers to +be brought to the red-room at once. They bowed respectfully to her and +displayed some splendid velvets and brocades, and opened cases of +pearls and precious stones. Such beautiful things had never been seen +in the island, and the nurse and waiting women stood bewildered by all +the magnificence. They whispered together that they had never beheld +anything like it. The princess too saw and wondered, and her eyes could +not weary of looking at the lovely things, or her fingers of stroking +the rich soft stuffs, and of holding up the sparkling jewels to the +light. + +“Fairest of princesses,” said Simon. “Be pleased to order your +waiting-maids to accept the silks and velvets, and let your women trim +their head-dresses with the jewels; these are no special treasures. But +permit me to say that they are as nothing to the many coloured +tapestries, the gorgeous stones and ropes of pearls in our ship. We did +not like to bring more with us, not knowing what your royal taste might +be; but if it seems good to you to honour our ship with a visit, you +might condescend to choose such things as were pleasing in your eyes.” + +This polite speech pleased the princess very much. She went to the king +and said: “Dear father, some merchants have arrived with the most +splendid wares. Pray allow me to go to their ship and choose out what I +like.” + +The king thought and thought, frowned hard and rubbed his ear. At last +he gave consent, and ordered out his royal yacht, with 100 cross-bows, +100 knights, and 1,000 soldiers, to escort the Princess Helena. + +Off sailed the yacht with the princess and her escort. The brothers +Simon came on board to conduct the princess to their ship, and, led by +the brothers and followed by her nurse and other women, she crossed the +crystal plank from one vessel to another. + +The seventh Simon spread out his goods, and had so many curious and +interesting tales to tell about them, that the princess forgot +everything else in looking and listening, so that she did not know that +the fourth Simon had seized the prow of the ship, and that all of a +sudden it had vanished from sight, and was racing along in the depths +of the sea. + +The crew of the royal yacht shouted aloud, the knights stood still with +terror, the soldiers were struck dumb and hung their heads. There was +nothing to be done but to sail back and tell the king of his loss. + +How he wept and stormed! “Oh, light of my eyes,” he sobbed; “I am +indeed punished for my pride. I thought no one good enough to be your +husband, and now you are lost in the depths of the sea, and have left +me alone! As for all of you who saw this thing—away with you! Let them +be put in irons and lock them up in prison, whilst I think how I can +best put them to death!” + +Whilst the King of Busan was raging and lamenting in this fashion, +Simon’s ship was swimming like any fish under the sea, and when the +island was well out of sight he brought it up to the surface again. At +that moment the princess recollected herself. “Nurse,” said she, “we +have been gazing at these wonders only too long. I hope my father won’t +be vexed at our delay.” + +She tore herself away and stepped on deck. Neither the yacht nor the +island was in sight! Helena wrung her hands and beat her breast. Then +she changed herself into a white swan and flew off. But the fifth Simon +seized his bow and shot the swan, and the sixth Simon did not let it +fall into the water but caught it in the ship, and the swan turned into +a silver fish, but Simon lost no time and caught the fish, when, quick +as thought, the fish turned into a black mouse and ran about the ship. +It darted towards a hole, but before it could reach it Simon sprang +upon it more swiftly than any cat, and then the little mouse turned +once more into the beautiful Princess Helena. + +Early one morning King Archidej sat thoughtfully at his window gazing +out to sea. His heart was sad and he would neither eat nor drink. His +thoughts were full of the Princess Helena, who was as lovely as a +dream. Is that a white gull he sees flying towards the shore, or is it +a sail? No, it is no gull, it is the wonder-ship flying along with +billowing sails. Its flags wave, the fiddlers play on the wire rigging, +the anchor is thrown out and the crystal plank laid from the ship to +the pier. The lovely Helena steps across the plank. She shines like the +sun, and the stars of heaven seem to sparkle in her eyes. + +Up sprang King Archidej in haste: “Hurry, hurry,” he cried. “Let us +hasten to meet her! Let the bugles sound and the joy bells be rung!” + +And the whole Court swarmed with courtiers and servants. Golden carpets +were laid down and the great gates thrown open to welcome the princess. + +King Archidej went out himself, took her by the hand and led her into +the royal apartments. + +“Madam,” said he, “the fame of your beauty had reached me, but I had +not dared to expect such loveliness. Still I will not keep you here +against your will. If you wish it, the wonder-ship shall take you back +to your father and your own country; but if you will consent to stay +here, then reign over me and my country as our queen.” + +What more is there to tell? It is not hard to guess that the princess +listened to the king’s wooing, and their betrothal took place with +great pomp and rejoicings. + +The brothers Simon were sent again to the Island of Busan with a letter +to the king from his daughter to invite him to their wedding. And the +wonder-ship arrived at the Island of Busan just as all the knights and +soldiers who had escorted the princess were being led out to execution. + +Then the seventh Simon cried out from the ship: “Stop! stop! I bring a +letter from the Princess Helena!” + +The King of Busan read the letter over and over again, and ordered the +knights and soldiers to be set free. He entertained King Archidej’s +ambassadors hospitably, and sent his blessing to his daughter, but he +could not be brought to attend the wedding. + +When the wonder-ship got home King Archidej and Princess Helena were +enchanted with the news it brought. + +The king sent for the seven Simons. “A thousand thanks to you, my brave +fellows,” he cried. “Take what gold, silver, and precious stones you +will out of my treasury. Tell me if there is anything else you wish for +and I will give it you, my good friends. Do you wish to be made nobles, +or to govern towns? Only speak.” + +Then the eldest Simon bowed and said: “We are plain folk, your Majesty, +and understand simple things best. What figures should we cut as nobles +or governors? Nor do we desire gold. We have our fields which give us +food, and as much money as we need. If you wish to reward us then grant +that our land may be free of taxes, and of your goodness pardon the +seventh Simon. He is not the first who has been a thief by trade and he +will certainly not be the last.” + +“So be it,” said the king; “your land shall be free of all taxes, and +Simon the seventh is pardoned.” + +Then the king gave each brother a goblet of wine and invited them to +the wedding feast. And what a feast that was! + +[From Ungarischen Mährchen.] + + + + +The Language of Beasts + + +Once upon a time a man had a shepherd who served him many years +faithfully and honestly. One day, whilst herding his flock, this +shepherd heard a hissing sound, coming out of the forest near by, which +he could not account for. So he went into the wood in the direction of +the noise to try to discover the cause. When he approached the place he +found that the dry grass and leaves were on fire, and on a tree, +surrounded by flames, a snake was coiled, hissing with terror. + +The shepherd stood wondering how the poor snake could escape, for the +wind was blowing the flames that way, and soon that tree would be +burning like the rest. Suddenly the snake cried: “O shepherd! for the +love of heaven save me from this fire!” + +Then the shepherd stretched his staff out over the flames and the snake +wound itself round the staff and up to his hand, and from his hand it +crept up his arm, and twined itself about his neck. The shepherd +trembled with fright, expecting every instant to be stung to death, and +said: “What an unlucky man I am! Did I rescue you only to be destroyed +myself?” But the snake answered: “Have no fear; only carry me home to +my father who is the King of the Snakes.” The shepherd, however, was +much too frightened to listen, and said that he could not go away and +leave his flock alone; but the snake said: “You need not be afraid to +leave your flock, no evil shall befall them; but make all the haste you +can.” + +So he set off through the wood carrying the snake, and after a time he +came to a great gateway, made entirely of snakes intertwined one with +another. The shepherd stood still with surprise, but the snake round +his neck whistled, and immediately all the arch unwound itself. + +“When we are come to my father’s house,” said his own snake to him, “he +will reward you with anything you like to ask—silver, gold, jewels, or +whatever on this earth is most precious; but take none of all these +things, ask rather to understand the language of beasts. He will refuse +it to you a long time, but in the end he will grant it to you.” + +Soon after that they arrived at the house of the King of the Snakes, +who burst into tears of joy at the sight of his daughter, as he had +given her up for dead. “Where have you been all this time?” he asked, +directly he could speak, and she told him that she had been caught in a +forest fire, and had been rescued from the flames by the shepherd. The +King of the Snakes, then turning to the shepherd, said to him: “What +reward will you choose for saving my child?” + +“Make me to know the language of beasts,” answered the shepherd, “that +is all I desire.” + +The king replied: “Such knowledge would be of no benefit to you, for if +I granted it to you and you told any one of it, you would immediately +die; ask me rather for whatever else you would most like to possess, +and it shall be yours.” + +But the shepherd answered him: “Sir, if you wish to reward me for +saving your daughter, grant me, I pray you, to know the language of +beasts. I desire nothing else”; and he turned as if to depart. + +Then the king called him back, saying: “If nothing else will satisfy +you, open your mouth.” The man obeyed, and the king spat into it, and +said: “Now spit into my mouth.” The shepherd did as he was told, then +the King of the Snakes spat again into the shepherd’s mouth. When they +had spat into each other’s mouths three times, the king said: + +“Now you know the language of beasts, go in peace; but, if you value +your life, beware lest you tell any one of it, else you will +immediately die.” + +So the shepherd set out for home, and on his way through the wood he +heard and understood all that was said by the birds, and by every +living creature. When he got back to his sheep he found the flock +grazing peacefully, and as he was very tired he laid himself down by +them to rest a little. Hardly had he done so when two ravens flew down +and perched on a tree near by, and began to talk to each other in their +own language: “If that shepherd only knew that there is a vault full of +gold and silver beneath where that lamb is lying, what would he not +do?” When the shepherd heard these words he went straight to his master +and told him, and the master at once took a waggon, and broke open the +door of the vault, and they carried off the treasure. But instead of +keeping it for himself, the master, who was an honourable man, gave it +all up to the shepherd, saying: “Take it, it is yours. The gods have +given it to you.” So the shepherd took the treasure and built himself a +house. He married a wife, and they lived in great peace and happiness, +and he was acknowledged to be the richest man, not only of his native +village, but of all the country-side. He had flocks of sheep, and +cattle, and horses without end, as well as beautiful clothes and +jewels. + +One day, just before Christmas, he said to his wife: “Prepare +everything for a great feast, to-morrow we will take things with us to +the farm that the shepherds there may make merry.” The wife obeyed, and +all was prepared as he desired. Next day they both went to the farm, +and in the evening the master said to the shepherds: “Now come, all of +you, eat, drink, and make merry. I will watch the flocks myself +to-night in your stead.” Then he went out to spend the night with the +flocks. + +When midnight struck the wolves howled and the dogs barked, and the +wolves spoke in their own tongue, saying: + +“Shall we come in and work havoc, and you too shall eat flesh?” And the +dogs answered in their tongue: “Come in, and for once we shall have +enough to eat.” + +Now amongst the dogs there was one so old that he had only two teeth +left in his head, and he spoke to the wolves, saying: “So long as I +have my two teeth still in my head, I will let no harm be done to my +master.” + +All this the master heard and understood, and as soon as morning dawned +he ordered all the dogs to be killed excepting the old dog. The farm +servants wondered at this order, and exclaimed: “But surely, sir, that +would be a pity?” + +The master answered: “Do as I bid you”; and made ready to return home +with his wife, and they mounted their horses, her steed being a mare. +As they went on their way, it happened that the husband rode on ahead, +while the wife was a little way behind. The husband’s horse, seeing +this, neighed, and said to the mare: “Come along, make haste; why are +you so slow?” And the mare answered: “It is very easy for you, you +carry only your master, who is a thin man, but I carry my mistress, who +is so fat that she weights as much as three.” When the husband heard +that he looked back and laughed, which the wife perceiving, she urged +on the mare till she caught up with her husband, and asked him why he +laughed. “For nothing at all,” he answered; “just because it came into +my head.” She would not be satisfied with this answer, and urged him +more and more to tell her why he had laughed. But he controlled himself +and said: “Let me be, wife; what ails you? I do not know myself why I +laughed.” But the more he put her off, the more she tormented him to +tell her the cause of his laughter. At length he said to her: “Know, +then, that if I tell it you I shall immediately and surely die.” But +even this did not quiet her; she only besought him the more to tell +her. + +Meanwhile they had reached home, and before getting down from his horse +the man called for a coffin to be brought; and when it was there he +placed it in front of the house, and said to his wife: + +“See, I will lay myself down in this coffin, and will then tell you why +I laughed, for as soon as I have told you I shall surely die.” So he +lay down in the coffin, and while he took a last look around him, his +old dog came out from the farm and sat down by him, and whined. When +the master saw this, he called to his wife: “Bring a piece of bread to +give to the dog.” The wife brought some bread and threw it to the dog, +but he would not look at it. Then the farm cock came and pecked at the +bread; but the dog said to it: “Wretched glutton, you can eat like that +when you see that your master is dying?” The cock answered: “Let him +die, if he is so stupid. I have a hundred wives, which I call together +when I find a grain of corn, and as soon as they are there I swallow it +myself; should one of them dare to be angry, I would give her a lesson +with my beak. He has only one wife, and he cannot keep her in order.” + +As soon as the man understood this, he got up out of the coffin, seized +a stick, and called his wife into the room, saying: “Come, and I will +tell you what you so much want to know”; and then he began to beat her +with the stick, saying with each blow: “It is that, wife, it is that!” +And in this way he taught her never again to ask why he had laughed. + + + + +The Boy Who Could Keep A Secret + + +Once upon a time there lived a poor widow who had one little boy. At +first sight you would not have thought that he was different from a +thousand other little boys; but then you noticed that by his side hung +the scabbard of a sword, and as the boy grew bigger the scabbard grew +bigger too. The sword which belonged to the scabbard was found by the +little boy sticking out of the ground in the garden, and every day he +pulled it up to see if it would go into the scabbard. But though it was +plainly becoming longer and longer, it was some time before the two +would fit. + +However, there came a day at last when it slipped in quite easily. The +child was so delighted that he could hardly believe his eyes, so he +tried it seven times, and each time it slipped in more easily than +before. But pleased though the boy was, he determined not to tell +anyone about it, particularly not his mother, who never could keep +anything from her neighbours. + +Still, in spite of his resolutions, he could not hide altogether that +something had happened, and when he went in to breakfast his mother +asked him what was the matter. + +“Oh, mother, I had such a nice dream last night,” said he; “but I can’t +tell it to anybody.” + +“You can tell it to me,” she answered. “It must have been a nice dream, +or you wouldn’t look so happy.” + +“No, mother; I can’t tell it to anybody,” returned the boy, “till it +comes true.” + +“I want to know what it was, and know it I will,” cried she, “and I +will beat you till you tell me.” + +But it was no use, neither words nor blows would get the secret out of +the boy; and when her arm was quite tired and she had to leave off, the +child, sore and aching, ran into the garden and knelt weeping beside +his little sword. It was working round and round in its hole all by +itself, and if anyone except the boy had tried to catch hold of it, he +would have been badly cut. But the moment he stretched out his hand it +stopped and slid quietly into the scabbard. + +For a long time the child sat sobbing, and the noise was heard by the +king as he was driving by. “Go and see who it is that is crying so,” +said he to one of his servants, and the man went. In a few minutes he +returned saying: “Your Majesty, it is a little boy who is kneeling +there sobbing because his mother has beaten him.” + +“Bring him to me at once,” commanded the monarch, “and tell him that it +is the king who sends for him, and that he has never cried in all his +life and cannot bear anyone else to do so.” On receiving this message +the boy dried his tears and went with the servant to the royal +carriage. “Will you be my son?” asked the king. + +“Yes, if my mother will let me,” answered the boy. And the king bade +the servant go back to the mother and say that if she would give her +boy to him, he should live in the palace and marry his prettiest +daughter as soon as he was a man. + +The widow’s anger now turned into joy, and she came running to the +splendid coach and kissed the king’s hand. “I hope you will be more +obedient to his Majesty than you were to me,” she said; and the boy +shrank away half-frightened. But when she had gone back to her cottage, +he asked the king if he might fetch something that he had left in the +garden, and when he was given permission, he pulled up his little +sword, which he slid into the scabbard. + +Then he climbed into the coach and was driven away. + +After they had gone some distance the king said: “Why were you crying +so bitterly in the garden just now?” + +“Because my mother had been beating me,” replied the boy. + +“And what did she do that for?” asked the king again. + +“Because I would not tell her my dream.” + +“And why wouldn’t you tell it to her?” + +“Because I will never tell it to anyone till it comes true,” answered +the boy. + +“And won’t you tell it to me either?” asked the king in surprise. + +“No, not even to you, your Majesty,” replied he. + +“Oh, I am sure you will when we get home,” said the king smiling, and +he talked to him about other things till they came to the palace. + +“I have brought you such a nice present,” he said to his daughters, and +as the boy was very pretty they were delighted to have him and gave him +all their best toys. + +“You must not spoil him,” observed the king one day, when he had been +watching them playing together. He has a secret which he won’t tell to +anyone.” + +“He will tell me,” answered the eldest princess; but the boy only shook +his head. + +“He will tell me,” said the second girl. + +“Not I,” replied the boy. + +“He will tell me,” cried the youngest, who was the prettiest too. + +“I will tell nobody till it comes true,” said the boy, as he had said +before; “and I will beat anybody who asks me.” + +The king was very sorry when he heard this, for he loved the boy +dearly; but he thought it would never do to keep anyone near him who +would not do as he was bid. So he commanded his servants to take him +away and not to let him enter the palace again until he had come to his +right senses. + +The sword clanked loudly as the boy was led away, but the child said +nothing, though he was very unhappy at being treated so badly when he +had done nothing. However, the servants were very kind to him, and +their children brought him fruit and all sorts of nice things, and he +soon grew merry again, and lived amongst them for many years till his +seventeenth birthday. + +Meanwhile the two eldest princesses had become women, and had married +two powerful kings who ruled over great countries across the sea. The +youngest one was old enough to be married too, but she was very +particular, and turned up her nose at all the young princes who had +sought her hand. + +One day she was sitting in the palace feeling rather dull and lonely, +and suddenly she began to wonder what the servants were doing, and +whether it was not more amusing down in their quarters. The king was at +his council and the queen was ill in bed, so there was no one to stop +the princess, and she hastily ran across the gardens to the houses +where the servants lived. Outside she noticed a youth who was handsomer +than any prince she had ever seen, and in a moment she knew him to be +the little boy she had once played with. + +“Tell me your secret and I will marry you,” she said to him; but the +boy only gave her the beating he had promised her long ago, when she +asked him the same question. The girl was very angry, besides being +hurt, and ran home to complain to her father. + +“If he had a thousand souls, I would kill them all,” swore the king. + +That very day a gallows was built outside the town, and all the people +crowded round to see the execution of the young man who had dared to +beat the king’s daughter. The prisoner, with his hands tied behind his +back, was brought out by the hangman, and amidst dead silence his +sentence was being read by the judge when suddenly the sword clanked +against his side. Instantly a great noise was heard and a golden coach +rumbled over the stones, with a white flag waving out of the window. It +stopped underneath the gallows, and from it stepped the king of the +Magyars, who begged that the life of the boy might be spared. + +“Sir, he has beaten my daughter, who only asked him to tell her his +secret. I cannot pardon that,” answered the princess’s father. + +“Give him to me, I’m sure he will tell me the secret; or, if not, I +have a daughter who is like the Morning Star, and he is sure to tell it +to her.” + +The sword clanked for the third time, and the king said angrily: “Well, +if you want him so much you can have him; only never let me see his +face again.” And he made a sign to the hangman. The bandage was removed +from the young man’s eyes, and the cords from his wrists, and he took +his seat in the golden coach beside the king of the Magyars. Then the +coachman whipped up his horses, and they set out for Buda. + +The king talked very pleasantly for a few miles, and when he thought +that his new companion was quite at ease with him, he asked him what +was the secret which had brought him into such trouble. “That I cannot +tell you,” answered the youth, “until it comes true.” + +“You will tell my daughter,” said the king, smiling. + +“I will tell nobody,” replied the youth, and as he spoke the sword +clanked loudly. The king said no more, but trusted to his daughter’s +beauty to get the secret from him. + +The journey to Buda was long, and it was several days before they +arrived there. The beautiful princess happened to be picking roses in +the garden, when her father’s coach drove up. + +“Oh, what a handsome youth! Have you brought him from fairyland?” cried +she, when they all stood upon the marble steps in front of the castle. + +“I have brought him from the gallows,” answered the king; rather vexed +at his daughter’s words, as never before had she consented to speak to +any man. + +“I don’t care where you brought him from,” said the spoilt girl. “I +will marry him and nobody else, and we will live together till we die.” + +“You will tell another tale,” replied the king, “when you ask him his +secret. After all he is no better than a servant.” + +“That is nothing to me,” said the princess, “for I love him. He will +tell his secret to me, and will find a place in the middle of my +heart.” + +But the king shook his head, and gave orders that the lad was to be +lodged in the summer-house. + +One day, about a week later, the princess put on her finest dress, and +went to pay him a visit. She looked so beautiful that, at the sight of +her, the book dropped from his hand, and he stood up speechless. “Tell +me,” she said, coaxingly, “what is this wonderful secret? Just whisper +it in my ear, and I will give you a kiss.” + +“My angel,” he answered, “be wise, and ask no questions, if you wish to +get safely back to your father’s palace; I have kept my secret all +these years, and do not mean to tell it now.” + +However, the girl would not listen, and went on pressing him, till at +last he slapped her face so hard that her nose bled. She shrieked with +pain and rage, and ran screaming back to the palace, where her father +was waiting to hear if she had succeeded. “I will starve you to death, +you son of a dragon,” cried he, when he saw her dress streaming with +blood; and he ordered all the masons and bricklayers in the town to +come before him. + +“Build me a tower as fast as you can,” he said, “and see that there is +room for a stool and a small table, and for nothing else. The men set +to work, and in two hours the tower was built, and they proceeded to +the palace to inform the king that his commands were fulfilled. On the +way they met the princess, who began to talk to one of the masons, and +when the rest were out of hearing she asked if he could manage to make +a hole in the tower, which nobody could see, large enough for a bottle +of wine and some food to pass through. + +“To be sure I can,” said the mason, turning back, and in a few minutes +the hole was bored. + +At sunset a large crowd assembled to watch the youth being led to the +tower, and after his misdeeds had been proclaimed he was solemnly +walled up. But every morning the princess passed him in food through +the hole, and every third day the king sent his secretary to climb up a +ladder and look down through a little window to see if he was dead. But +the secretary always brought back the report that he was fat and rosy. + +“There is some magic about this,” said the king. + +This state of affairs lasted some time, till one day a messenger +arrived from the Sultan bearing a letter for the king, and also three +canes. “My master bids me say,” said the messenger, bowing low, “that +if you cannot tell him which of these three canes grows nearest the +root, which in the middle, and which at the top, he will declare war +against you. + +The king was very much frightened when he heard this, and though he +took the canes and examined them closely, he could see no difference +between them. He looked so sad that his daughter noticed it, and +inquired the reason. + +“Alas! my daughter,” he answered, “how can I help being sad? The Sultan +has sent me three canes, and says that if I cannot tell him which of +them grows near the root, which in the middle, and which at the top, he +will make war upon me. And you know that his army is far greater than +mine.” + +“Oh, do not despair, my father,” said she. “We shall be sure to find +out the answer”; and she ran away to the tower, and told the young man +what had occurred. + +“Go to bed as usual,” replied he, “and when you wake, tell your father +that you have dreamed that the canes must be placed in warm water. +After a little while one will sink to the bottom; that is the one that +grows nearest the root. The one which neither sinks nor comes to the +surface is the cane that is cut from the middle; and the one that +floats is from the top.” + +So, the next morning, the princess told her father of her dream, and by +her advice he cut notches in each of the canes when he took them out of +the water, so that he might make no mistake when he handed them back to +the messenger. The Sultan could not imagine how he had found out, but +he did not declare war. + +The following year the Sultan again wanted to pick a quarrel with the +king of the Magyars, so he sent another messenger to him with three +foals, begging him to say which of the animals was born in the morning, +which at noon, and which in the evening. If an answer was not ready in +three days, war would be declared at once. The king’s heart sank when +he read the letter. He could not expect his daughter to be lucky enough +to dream rightly a second time, and as a plague had been raging through +the country, and had carried off many of his soldiers, his army was +even weaker than before. At this thought his face became so gloomy that +his daughter noticed it, and inquired what was the matter. + +“I have had another letter from the Sultan,” replied the king, “and he +says that if I cannot tell him which of three foals was born in the +morning, which at noon, and which in the evening, he will declare war +at once.” + +“Oh, don’t be cast down,” said she, “something is sure to happen”; and +she ran down to the tower to consult the youth. + +“Go home, idol of my heart, and when night comes, pretend to scream out +in your sleep, so that your father hears you. Then tell him that you +have dreamt that he was just being carried off by the Turks because he +could not answer the question about the foals, when the lad whom he had +shut up in the tower ran up and told them which was foaled in the +morning, which at noon, and which in the evening.” + +So the princess did exactly as the youth had bidden her; and no sooner +had she spoken than the king ordered the tower to be pulled down, and +the prisoner brought before him. + +“I did not think that you could have lived so long without food,” said +he, “and as you have had plenty of time to repent your wicked conduct, +I will grant you pardon, on condition that you help me in a sore +strait. Read this letter from the Sultan; you will see that if I fail +to answer his question about the foals, a dreadful war will be the +result.” + +The youth took the letter and read it through. “Yes, I can help you,” +replied he; “but first you must bring me three troughs, all exactly +alike. Into one you must put oats, into another wheat, and into the +third barley. The foal which eats the oats is that which was foaled in +the morning; the foal which eats the wheat is that which was foaled at +noon; and the foal which eats the barley is that which was foaled at +night.” The king followed the youth’s directions, and, marking the +foals, sent them back to Turkey, and there was no war that year. + +Now the Sultan was very angry that both his plots to get possession of +Hungary had been such total failures, and he sent for his aunt, who was +a witch, to consult her as to what he should do next. + +“It is not the king who has answered your questions,” observed the +aunt, when he had told his story. “He is far too stupid ever to have +done that! The person who has found out the puzzle is the son of a poor +woman, who, if he lives, will become King of Hungary. Therefore, if you +want the crown yourself, you must get him here and kill him.” + +After this conversation another letter was written to the Court of +Hungary, saying that if the youth, now in the palace, was not sent to +Turkey within three days, a large army would cross the border. The +king’s heart was sorrowful as he read, for he was grateful to the lad +for what he had done to help him; but the boy only laughed, and bade +the king fear nothing, but to search the town instantly for two youths +just like each other, and he would paint himself a mask that was just +like them. And the sword at his side clanked loudly. + +After a long search twin brothers were found, so exactly resembling +each other that even their own mother could not tell the difference. +The youth painted a mask that was the precise copy of them, and when he +had put it on, no one would have known one boy from the other. They set +out at once for the Sultan’s palace, and when they reached it, they +were taken straight into his presence. He made a sign for them to come +near; they all bowed low in greeting. He asked them about their +journey; they answered his questions all together, and in the same +words. If one sat down to supper, the others sat down at the same +instant. When one got up, the others got up too, as if there had been +only one body between them. The Sultan could not detect any difference +between them, and he told his aunt that he would not be so cruel as to +kill all three. + +“Well, you will see a difference to-morrow,” replied the witch, “for +one will have a cut on his sleeve. That is the youth you must kill.” +And one hour before midnight, when witches are invisible, she glided +into the room where all three lads were sleeping in the same bed. She +took out a pair of scissors and cut a small piece out of the boy’s +coat-sleeve which was hanging on the wall, and then crept silently from +the room. But in the morning the youth saw the slit, and he marked the +sleeves of his two companions in the same way, and all three went down +to breakfast with the Sultan. The old witch was standing in the window +and pretended not to see them; but all witches have eyes in the backs +of their heads, and she knew at once that not one sleeve but three were +cut, and they were all as alike as before. After breakfast, the Sultan, +who was getting tired of the whole affair and wanted to be alone to +invent some other plan, told them they might return home. So, bowing +low with one accord, they went. + +The princess welcomed the boy back joyfully, but the poor youth was not +allowed to rest long in peace, for one day a fresh letter arrived from +the Sultan, saying that he had discovered that the young man was a very +dangerous person, and that he must be sent to Turkey at once, and +alone. The girl burst into tears when the boy told her what was in the +letter which her father had bade her to carry to him. “Do not weep, +love of my heart,” said the boy, “all will be well. I will start at +sunrise to-morrow.” + +So next morning at sunrise the youth set forth, and in a few days he +reached the Sultan’s palace. The old witch was waiting for him at the +gate, and whispered as he passed: “This is the last time you will ever +enter it.” But the sword clanked, and the lad did not even look at her. +As he crossed the threshold fifteen armed Turks barred his way, with +the Sultan at their head. Instantly the sword darted forth and cut off +the heads of everyone but the Sultan, and then went quietly back to its +scabbard. The witch, who was looking on, saw that as long as the youth +had possession of the sword, all her schemes would be in vain, and +tried to steal the sword in the night, but it only jumped out of its +scabbard and sliced off her nose, which was of iron. And in the +morning, when the Sultan brought a great army to capture the lad and +deprive him of his sword, they were all cut to pieces, while he +remained without a scratch. + +Meanwhile the princess was in despair because the days slipped by, and +the young man did not return, and she never rested until her father let +her lead some troops against the Sultan. She rode proudly before them, +dressed in uniform; but they had not left the town more than a mile +behind them, when they met the lad and his little sword. When he told +them what he had done they shouted for joy, and carried him back in +triumph to the palace; and the king declared that as the youth had +shown himself worthy to become his son-in-law, he should marry the +princess and succeed to the throne at once, as he himself was getting +old, and the cares of government were too much for him. But the young +man said he must first go and see his mother, and the king sent him in +state, with a troop of soldiers as his bodyguard. + +The old woman was quite frightened at seeing such an array draw up +before her little house, and still more surprised when a handsome young +man, whom she did not know, dismounted and kissed her hand, saying: +“Now, dear mother, you shall hear my secret at last! I dreamed that I +should become King of Hungary, and my dream has come true. When I was a +child, and you begged me to tell you, I had to keep silence, or the +Magyar king would have killed me. And if you had not beaten me nothing +would have happened that has happened, and I should not now be King of +Hungary.” + +[From the Folk Tales of the Magyars.] + + + + +The Prince And The Dragon + + +Once upon a time there lived an emperor who had three sons. They were +all fine young men, and fond of hunting, and scarcely a day passed +without one or other of them going out to look for game. + +One morning the eldest of the three princes mounted his horse and set +out for a neighbouring forest, where wild animals of all sorts were to +be found. He had not long left the castle, when a hare sprang out of a +thicket and dashed across the road in front. The young man gave chase +at once, and pursued it over hill and dale, till at last the hare took +refuge in a mill which was standing by the side of a river. The prince +followed and entered the mill, but stopped in terror by the door, for, +instead of a hare, before him stood a dragon, breathing fire and flame. +At this fearful sight the prince turned to fly, but a fiery tongue +coiled round his waist, and drew him into the dragon’s mouth, and he +was seen no more. + +A week passed away, and when the prince never came back everyone in the +town began to grow uneasy. At last his next brother told the emperor +that he likewise would go out to hunt, and that perhaps he would find +some clue as to his brother’s disappearance. But hardly had the castle +gates closed on the prince than the hare sprang out of the bushes as +before, and led the huntsman up hill and down dale, till they reached +the mill. Into this the hare flew with the prince at his heels, when, +lo! instead of the hare, there stood a dragon breathing fire and flame; +and out shot a fiery tongue which coiled round the prince’s waist, and +lifted him straight into the dragon’s mouth, and he was seen no more. + +Days went by, and the emperor waited and waited for the sons who never +came, and could not sleep at night for wondering where they were and +what had become of them. His youngest son wished to go in search of his +brothers, but for long the emperor refused to listen to him, lest he +should lose him also. But the prince prayed so hard for leave to make +the search, and promised so often that he would be very cautious and +careful, that at length the emperor gave him permission, and ordered +the best horse in the stables to be saddled for him. + +Full of hope the young prince started on his way, but no sooner was he +outside the city walls than a hare sprang out of the bushes and ran +before him, till they reached the mill. As before, the animal dashed in +through the open door, but this time he was not followed by the prince. +Wiser than his brothers, the young man turned away, saying to himself: +“There are as good hares in the forest as any that have come out of it, +and when I have caught them, I can come back and look for you.” + +For many hours he rode up and down the mountain, but saw nothing, and +at last, tired of waiting, he went back to the mill. Here he found an +old woman sitting, whom he greeted pleasantly. + +“Good morning to you, little mother,” he said; and the old woman +answered: “Good morning, my son.” + +“Tell me, little mother,” went on the prince, “where shall I find my +hare?” + +“My son,” replied the old woman, “that was no hare, but a dragon who +has led many men hither, and then has eaten them all.” At these words +the prince’s heart grew heavy, and he cried, “Then my brothers must +have come here, and have been eaten by the dragon!” + +“You have guessed right,” answered the old woman; “and I can give you +no better counsel than to go home at once, before the same fate +overtakes you.” + +“Will you not come with me out of this dreadful place?” said the young +man. + +“He took me prisoner, too,” answered she, “and I cannot shake off his +chains.” + +“Then listen to me,” cried the prince. “When the dragon comes back, ask +him where he always goes when he leaves here, and what makes him so +strong; and when you have coaxed the secret from him, tell me the next +time I come.” + +So the prince went home, and the old woman remained in the mill, and as +soon as the dragon returned she said to him: + +“Where have you been all this time—you must have travelled far?” + +“Yes, little mother, I have indeed travelled far.” answered he. Then +the old woman began to flatter him, and to praise his cleverness; and +when she thought she had got him into a good temper, she said: “I have +wondered so often where you get your strength from; I do wish you would +tell me. I would stoop and kiss the place out of pure love!” The dragon +laughed at this, and answered: + +“In the hearthstone yonder lies the secret of my strength.” + +Then the old woman jumped up and kissed the hearth; whereat the dragon +laughed the more, and said: + +“You foolish creature! I was only jesting. It is not in the +hearthstone, but in that tall tree that lies the secret of my +strength.” Then the old woman jumped up again and put her arms round +the tree, and kissed it heartily. Loudly laughed the dragon when he saw +what she was doing. + +“Old fool,” he cried, as soon as he could speak, “did you really +believe that my strength came from that tree?” + +“Where is it then?” asked the old woman, rather crossly, for she did +not like being made fun of. + +“My strength,” replied the dragon, “lies far away; so far that you +could never reach it. Far, far from here is a kingdom, and by its +capital city is a lake, and in the lake is a dragon, and inside the +dragon is a wild boar, and inside the wild boar is a pigeon, and inside +the pigeon a sparrow, and inside the sparrow is my strength.” And when +the old woman heard this, she thought it was no use flattering him any +longer, for never, never, could she take his strength from him. + +The following morning, when the dragon had left the mill, the prince +came back, and the old woman told him all that the creature had said. +He listened in silence, and then returned to the castle, where he put +on a suit of shepherd’s clothes, and taking a staff in his hand, he +went forth to seek a place as tender of sheep. + +For some time he wandered from village to village and from town to +town, till he came at length to a large city in a distant kingdom, +surrounded on three sides by a great lake, which happened to be the +very lake in which the dragon lived. As was his custom, he stopped +everybody whom he met in the streets that looked likely to want a +shepherd and begged them to engage him, but they all seemed to have +shepherds of their own, or else not to need any. The prince was +beginning to lose heart, when a man who had overheard his question +turned round and said that he had better go and ask the emperor, as he +was in search of some one to see after his flocks. + +“Will you take care of my sheep?” said the emperor, when the young man +knelt before him. + +“Most willingly, your Majesty,” answered the young man, and he listened +obediently while the emperor told him what he was to do. + +“Outside the city walls,” went on the emperor, “you will find a large +lake, and by its banks lie the richest meadows in my kingdom. When you +are leading out your flocks to pasture, they will all run straight to +these meadows, and none that have gone there have ever been known to +come back. Take heed, therefore, my son, not to suffer your sheep to go +where they will, but drive them to any spot that you think best.” + +With a low bow the prince thanked the emperor for his warning, and +promised to do his best to keep the sheep safe. Then he left the palace +and went to the market-place, where he bought two greyhounds, a hawk, +and a set of pipes; after that he took the sheep out to pasture. The +instant the animals caught sight of the lake lying before them, they +trotted off as fast as their legs would go to the green meadows lying +round it. The prince did not try to stop them; he only placed his hawk +on the branch of a tree, laid his pipes on the grass, and bade the +greyhounds sit still; then, rolling up his sleeves and trousers, he +waded into the water crying as he did so: “Dragon! dragon! if you are +not a coward, come out and fight with me!” And a voice answered from +the depths of the lake: + +“I am waiting for you, O prince”; and the next minute the dragon reared +himself out of the water, huge and horrible to see. The prince sprang +upon him and they grappled with each other and fought together till the +sun was high, and it was noonday. Then the dragon gasped: + +“O prince, let me dip my burning head once into the lake, and I will +hurl you up to the top of the sky.” But the prince answered, “Oh, ho! +my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor’s daughter were +only here, and would kiss me on the forehead, I would throw you up +higher still!” And suddenly the dragon’s hold loosened, and he fell +back into the lake. + +As soon as it was evening, the prince washed away all signs of the +fight, took his hawk upon his shoulder, and his pipes under his arm, +and with his greyhounds in front and his flock following after him he +set out for the city. As they all passed through the streets the people +stared in wonder, for never before had any flock returned from the +lake. + +The next morning he rose early, and led his sheep down the road to the +lake. This time, however, the emperor sent two men on horseback to ride +behind him, with orders to watch the prince all day long. The horsemen +kept the prince and his sheep in sight, without being seen themselves. +As soon as they beheld the sheep running towards the meadows, they +turned aside up a steep hill, which overhung the lake. When the +shepherd reached the place he laid, as before, his pipes on the grass +and bade the greyhounds sit beside them, while the hawk he perched on +the branch of the tree. Then he rolled up his trousers and his sleeves, +and waded into the water crying: + +“Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, come out and fight with me!” +And the dragon answered: + +“I am waiting for you, O prince,” and the next minute he reared himself +out of the water, huge and horrible to see. Again they clasped each +other tight round the body and fought till it was noon, and when the +sun was at its hottest, the dragon gasped: + +“O prince, let me dip my burning head once in the lake, and I will hurl +you up to the top of the sky.” But the prince answered: + +“Oh, ho! my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor’s +daughter were only here, and would kiss me on the forehead, I would +throw you up higher still!” And suddenly the dragon’s hold loosened, +and he fell back into the lake. + +As soon as it was evening the prince again collected his sheep, and +playing on his pipes he marched before them into the city. When he +passed through the gates all the people came out of their houses to +stare in wonder, for never before had any flock returned from the lake. + +Meanwhile the two horsemen had ridden quickly back, and told the +emperor all that they had seen and heard. The emperor listened eagerly +to their tale, then called his daughter to him and repeated it to her. + +“To-morrow,” he said, when he had finished, “you shall go with the +shepherd to the lake, and then you shall kiss him on the forehead as he +wishes.” + +But when the princess heard these words, she burst into tears, and +sobbed out: + +“Will you really send me, your only child, to that dreadful place, from +which most likely I shall never come back?” + +“Fear nothing, my little daughter, all will be well. Many shepherds +have gone to that lake and none have ever returned; but this one has in +these two days fought twice with the dragon and has escaped without a +wound. So I hope to-morrow he will kill the dragon altogether, and +deliver this land from the monster who has slain so many of our bravest +men.” + +Scarcely had the sun begun to peep over the hills next morning, when +the princess stood by the shepherd’s side, ready to go to the lake. The +shepherd was brimming over with joy, but the princess only wept +bitterly. “Dry your tears, I implore you,” said he. “If you will just +do what I ask you, and when the time comes, run and kiss my forehead, +you have nothing to fear.” + +Merrily the shepherd blew on his pipes as he marched at the head of his +flock, only stopping every now and then to say to the weeping girl at +his side: + +“Do not cry so, Heart of Gold; trust me and fear nothing.” And so they +reached the lake. + +In an instant the sheep were scattered all over the meadows, and the +prince placed his hawk on the tree, and his pipes on the grass, while +he bade his greyhounds lie beside them. Then he rolled up his trousers +and his sleeves, and waded into the water, calling: + +“Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, come forth, and let us have +one more fight together.” And the dragon answered: “I am waiting for +you, O prince”; and the next minute he reared himself out of the water, +huge and horrible to see. Swiftly he drew near to the bank, and the +prince sprang to meet him, and they grasped each other round the body +and fought till it was noon. And when the sun was at its hottest, the +dragon cried: + +“O prince, let me dip my burning head in the lake, and I will hurl you +to the top of the sky.” But the prince answered: + +“Oh, ho! my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor’s +daughter were only here, and she would kiss my forehead, I would throw +you higher still.” + +Hardly had he spoken, when the princess, who had been listening, ran up +and kissed him on the forehead. Then the prince swung the dragon +straight up into the clouds, and when he touched the earth again, he +broke into a thousand pieces. Out of the pieces there sprang a wild +boar and galloped away, but the prince called his hounds to give chase, +and they caught the boar and tore it to bits. Out of the pieces there +sprang a hare, and in a moment the greyhounds were after it, and they +caught it and killed it; and out of the hare there came a pigeon. +Quickly the prince let loose his hawk, which soared straight into the +air, then swooped upon the bird and brought it to his master. The +prince cut open its body and found the sparrow inside, as the old woman +had said. + +“Now,” cried the prince, holding the sparrow in his hand, “now you +shall tell me where I can find my brothers.” + +“Do not hurt me,” answered the sparrow, “and I will tell you with all +my heart.” Behind your father’s castle stands a mill, and in the mill +are three slender twigs. Cut off these twigs and strike their roots +with them, and the iron door of a cellar will open. In the cellar you +will find as many people, young and old, women and children, as would +fill a kingdom, and among them are your brothers.” + +By this time twilight had fallen, so the prince washed himself in the +lake, took the hawk on his shoulder and the pipes under his arm, and +with his greyhounds before him and his flock behind him, marched gaily +into the town, the princess following them all, still trembling with +fright. And so they passed through the streets, thronged with a +wondering crowd, till they reached the castle. + +Unknown to anyone, the emperor had stolen out on horseback, and had +hidden himself on the hill, where he could see all that happened. When +all was over, and the power of the dragon was broken for ever, he rode +quickly back to the castle, and was ready to receive the prince with +open arms, and to promise him his daughter to wife. The wedding took +place with great splendour, and for a whole week the town was hung with +coloured lamps, and tables were spread in the hall of the castle for +all who chose to come and eat. And when the feast was over, the prince +told the emperor and the people who he really was, and at this everyone +rejoiced still more, and preparations were made for the prince and +princess to return to their own kingdom, for the prince was impatient +to set free his brothers. + +The first thing he did when he reached his native country was to hasten +to the mill, where he found the three twigs as the sparrow had told +him. The moment that he struck the root the iron door flew open, and +from the cellar a countless multitude of men and women streamed forth. +He bade them go one by one wheresoever they would, while he himself +waited by the door till his brothers passed through. How delighted they +were to meet again, and to hear all that the prince had done to deliver +them from their enchantment. And they went home with him and served him +all the days of their lives, for they said that he only who had proved +himself brave and faithful was fit to be king. + +[From Volksmarehen der Serben.] + + + + +Little Wildrose + + +Once upon a time the things in this story happened, and if they had not +happened then the story would never have been told. But that was the +time when wolves and lambs lay peacefully together in one stall, and +shepherds dined on grassy banks with kings and queens. + +Once upon a time, then, my dear good children, there lived a man. Now +this man was really a hundred years old, if not fully twenty years +more. And his wife was very old too—how old I do not know; but some +said she was as old as the goddess Venus herself. They had been very +happy all these years, but they would have been happier still if they +had had any children; but old though they were they had never made up +their minds to do without them, and often they would sit over the fire +and talk of how they would have brought up their children if only some +had come to their house. + +One day the old man seemed sadder and more thoughtful than was common +with him, and at last he said to his wife: “Listen to me, old woman!” + +“What do you want?” asked she. + +“Get me some money out of the chest, for I am going a long journey—all +through the world—to see if I cannot find a child, for my heart aches +to think that after I am dead my house will fall into the hands of a +stranger. And this let me tell you: that if I never find a child I +shall not come home again.” + +Then the old man took a bag and filled it with food and money, and +throwing it over his shoulders, bade his wife farewell. + +For long he wandered, and wandered, and wandered, but no child did he +see; and one morning his wanderings led him to a forest which was so +thick with trees that no light could pass through the branches. The old +man stopped when he saw this dreadful place, and at first was afraid to +go in; but he remembered that, after all, as the proverb says: “It is +the unexpected that happens,” and perhaps in the midst of this black +spot he might find the child he was seeking. So summoning up all his +courage he plunged boldly in. + +How long he might have been walking there he never could have told you, +when at last he reached the mouth of a cave where the darkness seemed a +hundred times darker than the wood itself. Again he paused, but he felt +as if something was driving him to enter, and with a beating heart he +stepped in. + +For some minutes the silence and darkness so appalled him that he stood +where he was, not daring to advance one step. Then he made a great +effort and went on a few paces, and suddenly, far before him, he saw +the glimmer of a light. This put new heart into him, and he directed +his steps straight towards the faint rays, till he could see, sitting +by it, an old hermit, with a long white beard. + +The hermit either did not hear the approach of his visitor, or +pretended not to do so, for he took no notice, and continued to read +his book. After waiting patiently for a little while, the old man fell +on his knees, and said: “Good morning, holy father!” But he might as +well have spoken to the rock. “Good morning, holy father,” he said +again, a little louder than before, and this time the hermit made a +sign to him to come nearer. “My son,” whispered he, in a voice that +echoed through the cavern, “what brings you to this dark and dismal +place? Hundreds of years have passed since my eyes have rested on the +face of a man, and I did not think to look on one again.”. + +“My misery has brought me here,” replied the old man; “I have no child, +and all our lives my wife and I have longed for one. So I left my home, +and went out into the world, hoping that somewhere I might find what I +was seeking.” + +Then the hermit picked up an apple from the ground, and gave it to him, +saying: “Eat half of this apple, and give the rest to your wife, and +cease wandering through the world.” + +The old man stooped and kissed the feet of the hermit for sheer joy, +and left the cave. He made his way through the forest as fast as the +darkness would let him, and at length arrived in flowery fields, which +dazzled him with their brightness. Suddenly he was seized with a +desperate thirst, and a burning in his throat. He looked for a stream +but none was to be seen, and his tongue grew more parched every moment. +At length his eyes fell on the apple, which all this while he had been +holding in his hand, and in his thirst he forgot what the hermit had +told him, and instead of eating merely his own half, he ate up the old +woman’s also; after that he went to sleep. + +When he woke up he saw something strange lying on a bank a little way +off, amidst long trails of pink roses. The old man got up, rubbed his +eyes, and went to see what it was, when, to his surprise and joy, it +proved to be a little girl about two years old, with a skin as pink and +white as the roses above her. He took her gently in his arms, but she +did not seem at all frightened, and only jumped and crowed with +delight; and the old man wrapped his cloak round her, and set off for +home as fast as his legs would carry him. + +When they were close to the cottage where they lived he laid the child +in a pail that was standing near the door, and ran into the house, +crying: “Come quickly, wife, quickly, for I have brought you a +daughter, with hair of gold and eyes like stars!” + +At this wonderful news the old woman flew downstairs, almost tumbling +down ill her eagerness to see the treasure; but when her husband led +her to the pail it was perfectly empty! The old man was nearly beside +himself with horror, while his wife sat down and sobbed with grief and +disappointment. There was not a spot round about which they did not +search, thinking that somehow the child might have got out of the pail +and hidden itself for fun; but the little girl was not there, and there +was no sign of her. + +“Where can she be?” moaned the old man, in despair. “Oh, why did I ever +leave her, even for a moment? Have the fairies taken her, or has some +wild beast carried her off?” And they began their search all over +again; but neither fairies nor wild beasts did they meet with, and with +sore hearts they gave it up at last and turned sadly into the hut. + +And what had become of the baby? Well, finding herself left alone in a +strange place she began to cry with fright, and an eagle hovering near, +heard her, and went to see what the sound came from. When he beheld the +fat pink and white creature he thought of his hungry little ones at +home, and swooping down he caught her up in his claws and was soon +flying with her over the tops of the trees. In a few minutes he reached +the one in which he had built his nest, and laying little Wildrose (for +so the old man had called her) among his downy young eaglets, he flew +away. The eaglets naturally were rather surprised at this strange +animal, so suddenly popped down in their midst, but instead of +beginning to eat her, as their father expected, they nestled up close +to her and spread out their tiny wings to shield her from the sun. + +Now, in the depths of the forest where the eagle had built his nest, +there ran a stream whose waters were poisonous, and on the banks of +this stream dwelt a horrible lindworm with seven heads. The lindworm +had often watched the eagle flying about the top of the tree, carrying +food to his young ones and, accordingly, he watched carefully for the +moment when the eaglets began to try their wings and to fly away from +the nest. Of course, if the eagle himself was there to protect them +even the lindworm, big and strong as he was, knew that he could do +nothing; but when he was absent, any little eaglets who ventured too +near the ground would be sure to disappear down the monster’s throat. +Their brothers, who had been left behind as too young and weak to see +the world, knew nothing of all this, but supposed their turn would soon +come to see the world also. And in a few days their eyes, too, opened +and their wings flapped impatiently, and they longed to fly away above +the waving tree-tops to mountain and the bright sun beyond. But that +very midnight the lindworm, who was hungry and could not wait for his +supper, came out of the brook with a rushing noise, and made straight +for the tree. Two eyes of flame came creeping nearer, nearer, and two +fiery tongues were stretching themselves out closer, closer, to the +little birds who were trembling and shuddering in the farthest corner +of the nest. But just as the tongues had almost reached them, the +lindworm gave a fearful cry, and turned and fell backwards. Then came +the sound of battle from the ground below, and the tree shook, though +there was no wind, and roars and snarls mixed together, till the +eaglets felt more frightened than ever, and thought their last hour had +come. Only Wildrose was undisturbed, and slept sweetly through it all. + +In the morning the eagle returned and saw traces of a fight below the +tree, and here and there a handful of yellow mane lying about, and here +and there a hard scaly substance; when he saw that he rejoiced greatly, +and hastened to the nest. + +“Who has slain the lindworm?” he asked of his children; there were so +many that he did not at first miss the two which the lindworm had +eaten. But the eaglets answered that they could not tell, only that +they had been in danger of their lives, and at the last moment they had +been delivered. Then the sunbeam had struggled through the thick +branches and caught Wildrose’s golden hair as she lay curled up in the +corner, and the eagle wondered, as he looked, whether the little girl +had brought him luck, and it was her magic which had killed his enemy. + +“Children,” he said, “I brought her here for your dinner, and you have +not touched her; what is the meaning of this?” But the eaglets did not +answer, and Wildrose opened her eyes, and seemed seven times lovelier +than before. + +From that day Wildrose lived like a little princess. The eagle flew +about the wood and collected the softest, greenest moss he could find +to make her a bed, and then he picked with his beak all the brightest +and prettiest flowers in the fields or on the mountains to decorate it. +So cleverly did he manage it that there was not a fairy in the whole of +the forest who would not have been pleased to sleep there, rocked to +and fro by the breeze on the treetops. And when the little ones were +able to fly from their nest he taught them where to look for the fruits +and berries which she loved. + +So the time passed by, and with each year Wildrose grew taller and more +beautiful, and she lived happily in her nest and never wanted to go out +of it, only standing at the edge in the sunset, and looking upon the +beautiful world. For company she had all the birds in the forest, who +came and talked to her, and for playthings the strange flowers which +they brought her from far, and the butterflies which danced with her. +And so the days slipped away, and she was fourteen years old. + +One morning the emperor’s son went out to hunt, and he had not ridden +far, before a deer started from under a grove of trees, and ran before +him. The prince instantly gave chase, and where the stag led he +followed, till at length he found himself in the depths of the forest, +where no man before had trod. + +The trees were so thick and the wood so dark, that he paused for a +moment and listened, straining his ears to catch some sound to break a +silence which almost frightened him. But nothing came, not even the +baying of a hound or the note of a horn. He stood still, and wondered +if he should go on, when, on looking up, a stream of light seemed to +flow from the top of a tall tree. In its rays he could see the nest +with the young eaglets, who were watching him over the side. The prince +fitted an arrow into his bow and took his aim, but, before he could let +fly, another ray of light dazzled him; so brilliant was it, that his +bow dropped, and he covered his face with his hands. When at last he +ventured to peep, Wildrose, with her golden hair flowing round her, was +looking at him. This was the first time she had seen a man. + +“Tell me how I can reach you?” cried he; but Wildrose smiled and shook +her head, and sat down quietly. + +The prince saw that it was no use, and turned and made his way out of +the forest. But he might as well have stayed there, for any good he was +to his father, so full was his heart of longing for Wildrose. Twice he +returned to the forest in the hopes of finding her, but this time +fortune failed him, and he went home as sad as ever. + +At length the emperor, who could not think what had caused this change, +sent for his son and asked him what was the matter. Then the prince +confessed that the image of Wildrose filled his soul, and that he would +never be happy without her. At first the emperor felt rather +distressed. He doubted whether a girl from a tree top would make a good +empress; but he loved his son so much that he promised to do all he +could to find her. So the next morning heralds were sent forth +throughout the whole land to inquire if anyone knew where a maiden +could be found who lived in a forest on the top of a tree, and to +promise great riches and a place at court to any person who should find +her. But nobody knew. All the girls in the kingdom had their homes on +the ground, and laughed at the notion of being brought up in a tree. “A +nice kind of empress she would make,” they said, as the emperor had +done, tossing their heads with disdain; for, having read many books, +they guessed what she was wanted for. + +The heralds were almost in despair, when an old woman stepped out of +the crowd and came and spoke to them. She was not only very old, but +she was very ugly, with a hump on her back and a bald head, and when +the heralds saw her they broke into rude laughter. “I can show you the +maiden who lives in the tree-top,” she said, but they only laughed the +more loudly. + +“Get away, old witch!” they cried, “you will bring us bad luck”; but +the old woman stood firm, and declared that she alone knew where to +find the maiden. + +“Go with her,” said the eldest of the heralds at last. “The emperor’s +orders are clear, that whoever knew anything of the maiden was to come +at once to court. Put her in the coach and take her with us.” + +So in this fashion the old woman was brought to court. + +“You have declared that you can bring hither the maiden from the wood?” +said the emperor, who was seated on his throne. + +“Yes, your Majesty, and I will keep my word,” said she. + +“Then bring her at once,” said the emperor. + +“Give me first a kettle and a tripod,” asked the old w omen, and the +emperor ordered them to be brought instantly. The old woman picked them +up, and tucking them under her arm went on her way, keeping at a little +distance behind the royal huntsmen, who in their turn followed the +prince. + +Oh, what a noise that old woman made as she walked along! She chattered +to herself so fast and clattered her kettle so loudly that you would +have thought that a whole campful of gipsies must be coming round the +next corner. But when they reached the forest, she bade them all wait +outside, and entered the dark wood by herself. + +She stopped underneath the tree where the maiden dwelt and, gathering +some dry sticks, kindled a fire. Next, she placed the tripod over it, +and the kettle on top. But something was the matter with the kettle. As +fast as the old woman put it where it was to stand, that kettle was +sure to roll off, falling to the ground with a crash. + +It really seemed bewitched, and no one knows what might have happened +if Wildrose, who had been all the time peeping out of her nest, had not +lost patience at the old woman’s stupidity, and cried out: “The tripod +won’t stand on that hill, you must move it!” + +“But where am I to move it to, my child?” asked the old woman, looking +up to the nest, and at the same moment trying to steady the kettle with +one hand and the tripod with the other. + +“Didn’t I tell you that it was no good doing that,” said Wildrose, more +impatiently than before. “Make a fire near a tree and hang the kettle +from one of the branches.” + +The old woman took the kettle and hung it on a little twig, which broke +at once, and the kettle fell to the ground. + +“If you would only show me how to do it, perhaps I should understand,” +said she. + +Quick as thought, the maiden slid down the smooth trunk of the tree, +and stood beside the stupid old woman, to teach her how things ought to +be done. But in an instant the old woman had caught up the girl and +swung her over her shoulders, and was running as fast as she could go +to the edge of the forest, where she had left the prince. When he saw +them coming he rushed eagerly to meet them, and he took the maiden in +his arms and kissed her tenderly before them all. Then a golden dress +was put on her, and pearls were twined in her hair, and she took her +seat in the emperor’s carriage which was drawn by six of the whitest +horses in the world, and they carried her, without stopping to draw +breath, to the gates of the palace. And in three days the wedding was +celebrated, and the wedding feast was held, and everyone who saw the +bride declared that if anybody wanted a perfect wife they must go to +seek her on top of a tree. + +[ Adapted from file Roumanian.] + + + + +Tiidu The Piper + + +Once upon a time there lived a poor man who had more children than +bread to feed them with. However, they were strong and willing, and +soon learned to make themselves of use to their father and mother, and +when they were old enough they went out to service, and everyone was +very glad to get them for servants, for they worked hard and were +always cheerful. Out of all the ten or eleven, there was only one who +gave his parents any trouble, and this was a big lazy boy whose name +was Tiidu. Neither scoldings nor beatings nor kind words had any effect +on him, and the older he grew the idler he got. He spent his winters +crouching close to a warm stove, and his summers asleep under a shady +tree; and if he was not doing either of these things he was playing +tunes on his flute. + +One day he was sitting under a bush playing so sweetly that you might +easily have mistaken the notes for those of a bird, when an old man +passed by. “What trade do you wish to follow, my son?” he asked in a +friendly voice, stopping as he did so in front of the youth. + +“If I were only a rich man, and had no need to work,” replied the boy, +“I should not follow any. I could not bear to be anybody’s servant, as +all my brothers and sisters are.” + +The old man laughed as he heard this answer, and said: “But I do not +exactly see where your riches are to come from if you do not work for +them. Sleeping cats catch no mice. He who wishes to become rich must +use either his hands or his head, and be ready to toil night and day, +or else—” + +But here the youth broke in rudely: + +“Be silent, old man! I have been told all that a hundred times over; +and it runs off me like water off a duck’s back. No one will ever make +a worker out of me.” + +“You have one gift,” replied the old man, taking no notice of this +speech, “and if you would only go about and play the pipes, you would +easily earn, not only your daily bread, but a little money into the +bargain. Listen to me; get yourself a set of pipes, and learn to play +on them as well as you do on your flute, and wherever there are men to +hear you, I promise you will never lack money.” + +“But where am I to get the pipes from?” asked the youth. + +“Blow on your flute for a few days,” replied the old man, “and you will +soon be able to buy your pipes. By-and-by I will come back again and +see if you have taken my advice, and whether you are likely to grow +rich.” And so saying he went his way. + +Tiidu stayed where he was a little longer, thinking of all the old man +had told him, and the more he thought the surer he felt that the old +man was right. He determined to try whether his plan would really bring +luck; but as he did not like being laughed at he resolved not to tell +anyone a word about it. So next morning he left home—and never came +back! His parents did not take his loss much to heart, but were rather +glad that their useless son had for once shown a little spirit, and +they hoped that time and hardship might cure Tiidu of his idle folly. + +For some weeks Tiidu wandered from one village to another, and proved +for himself the truth of the old man’s promise. The people he met were +all friendly and kind, and enjoyed his flute-playing, giving him his +food in return, and even a few pence. These pence the youth hoarded +carefully till he had collected enough to buy a beautiful pair of +pipes. Then he felt himself indeed on the high road to riches. Nowhere +could pipes be found as fine as his, or played in so masterly a manner. +Tiidu’s pipes set everybody’s legs dancing. Wherever there was a +marriage, a christening, or a feast of any kind, Tiidu must be there, +or the evening would be a failure. In a few years he had become so +noted a piper that people would travel far and wide to hear him. + +One day he was invited to a christening where many rich men from the +neighbouring town were present, and all agreed that never in all their +lives had they heard such playing as his. They crowded round him, and +praised him, and pressed him to come to their homes, declaring that it +was a shame not to give their friends the chance of hearing such music. +Of course all this delighted Tiidu, who accepted gladly, and left their +houses laden with money and presents of every kind; one great lord +clothed him in a magnificent dress, a second hung a chain of pearls +round his neck, while a third handed him a set of new pipes encrusted +in silver. As for the ladies, the girls twisted silken scarves round +his plumed hat, and their mothers knitted him gloves of all colours, to +keep out the cold. Any other man in Tiidu’s place would have been +contented and happy in this life; but his craving for riches gave him +no rest, and only goaded him day by day to fresh exertions, so that +even his own mother would not have known him for the lazy boy who was +always lying asleep in one place or the other. + +Now Tiidu saw quite clearly that he could only hope to become rich by +means of his pipes, and set about thinking if there was nothing he +could do to make the money flow in faster. At length he remembered +having heard some stories of a kingdom in the Kungla country, where +musicians of all sorts were welcomed and highly paid; but where it was, +or how it was reached, he could not recollect, however hard he thought. +In despair, he wandered along the coast, hoping to see some ship or +sailing boat that would take him where he wished to go, and at length +he reached the town of Narva, where several merchantmen were lying at +anchor. To his great joy, he found that one of them was sailing for +Kungla in a few days, and he hastily went on board, and asked for the +captain. But the cost of the passage was more than the prudent Tiidu +cared to pay, and though he played his best on his pipes, the captain +refused to lower his price, and Tiidu was just thinking of returning on +shore when his usual luck flew to his aid. A young sailor, who had +heard him play, came secretly to him, and offered to hide him on board, +in the absence of the captain. So the next night, as soon as it was +dark, Tiidu stepped softly on deck, and was hidden by his friend down +in the hold in a corner between two casks. Unseen by the rest of the +crew the sailor managed to bring him food and drink, and when they were +well out of sight of land he proceeded to carry out a plan he had +invented to deliver Tiidu from his cramped quarters. At midnight, while +he was keeping watch and everyone else was sleeping, the man bade his +friend Tiidu follow him on deck, where he tied a rope round Tiidu’s +body, fastening the other end carefully to one of the ship’s ropes. +“Now,” he said, “I will throw you into the sea, and you must shout for +help; and when you see the sailors coming untie the rope from your +waist, and tell them that you have swum after the ship all the way from +shore.” + +At first Tiidu did not much like this scheme, for the sea ran high, but +he was a good swimmer, and the sailor assured him that there was no +danger. As soon as he was in the water, his friend hastened to rouse +his mates, declaring that he was sure that there was a man in the sea, +following the ship. They all came on deck, and what was their surprise +when they recognised the person who had bargained about a passage the +previous day with the captain. + +“Are you a ghost, or a dying man?” they asked him trembling, as they +stooped over the side of the ship. + +“I shall soon indeed be a dead man if you do not help me,” answered +Tiidu, “for my strength is going fast.” + +Then the captain seized a rope and flung it out to him, and Tiidu held +it between his teeth, while, unseen by the sailors; he loosed the one +tied round his waist. + +“Where have you come from?” said the captain, when Tiidu was brought up +on board the ship. + +“I have followed you from the harbour,” answered he, “and have been +often in sore dread lest my strength should fail me. I hoped that by +swimming after the ship I might at last reach Kungla, as I had no money +to pay my passage.” The captain’s heart melted at these words, and he +said kindly: “You may be thankful that you were not drowned. I will +land you at Kungla free of payment, as you are so anxious to get there. +So he gave him dry clothes to wear, and a berth to sleep in, and Tiidu +and his friend secretly made merry over their cunning trick. + +For the rest of the voyage the ship’s crew treated Tiidu as something +higher than themselves, seeing that in all their lives they had never +met with any man that could swim for as many hours as he had done. This +pleased Tiidu very much, though he knew that he had really done nothing +to deserve it, and in return he delighted them by tunes on his pipes. +When, after some days, they cast anchor at Kungla, the story of his +wonderful swim brought him many friends, for everybody wished to hear +him tell the tale himself. This might have been all very well, had not +Tiidu lived in dread that some day he would be asked to give proof of +his marvellous swimming powers, and then everything would be found out. +Meanwhile he was dazzled with the splendour around him, and more than +ever he longed for part of the riches, about which the owners seemed to +care so little. + +He wandered through the streets for many days, seeking some one who +wanted a servant; but though more than one person would have been glad +to engage him, they seemed to Tiidu not the sort of people to help him +to get rich quickly. At last, when he had almost made up his mind that +he must accept the next place offered him, he happened to knock at the +door of a rich merchant who was in need of a scullion, and gladly +agreed to do the cook’s bidding, and it was in this merchant’s house +that he first learned how great were the riches of the land of Kungla. +All the vessels which in other countries are made of iron, copper, +brass, or tin, in Kungla were made of silver, or even of gold. The food +was cooked in silver saucepans, the bread baked in a silver oven, while +the dishes and their covers were all of gold. Even the very pigs’ +troughs were of silver too. But the sight of these things only made +Tiidu more covetous than before. “What is the use of all this wealth +that I have constantly before my eyes,” thought he, “if none of it is +mine? I shall never grow rich by what I earn as a scullion, even though +I am paid as much in a month as I should get elsewhere in a year.” + +By this time he had been in his place for two years, and had put by +quite a large sum of money. His passion of saving had increased to such +a pitch that it was only by his master’s orders that he ever bought any +new clothes, “For,” said the merchant, “I will not have dirty people in +my house.” So with a heavy heart Tiidu spent some of his next month’s +wages on a cheap coat. + +One day the merchant held a great feast in honour of the christening of +his youngest child, and he gave each of his servants a handsome garment +for the occasion. The following Sunday, Tiidu, who liked fine clothes +when he did not have to pay for them, put on his new coat, and went for +a walk to some beautiful pleasure gardens, which were always full of +people on a sunny day. He sat down under a shady tree, and watched the +passers-by, but after a little he began to feel rather lonely, for he +knew nobody and nobody knew him. Suddenly his eyes fell on the figure +of an old man, which seemed familiar to him, though he could not tell +when or where he had seen it. He watched the figure for some time, till +at length the old man left the crowded paths, and threw himself on the +soft grass under a lime tree, which stood at some distance from where +Tiidu was sitting. Then the young man walked slowly past, in order that +he might look at him more closely, and as he did so the old man smiled, +and held out his hand. + +“What have you done with your pipes?” asked he; and then in a moment +Tiidu knew him. Taking his arm he drew him into a quiet place and told +him all that had happened since they had last met. The old man shook +his head as he listened, and when Tiidu had finished his tale, he said: +“A fool you are, and a fool you will always be! Was there ever such a +piece of folly as to exchange your pipes for a scullion’s ladle? You +could have made as much by the pipes in a day as your wages would have +come to in half a year. Go home and fetch your pipes, and play them +here, and you will soon see if I have spoken the truth.” + +Tiidu did not like this advice—he was afraid that the people would +laugh at him; and, besides, it was long since he had touched his +pipes—but the old man persisted, and at last Tiidu did as he was told. + +“Sit down on the bank by me,” said the old man, when he came back, “and +begin to play, and in a little while the people will flock round you.” +Tiidu obeyed, at first without much heart; but somehow the tone of the +pipes was sweeter than he had remembered, and as he played, the crowd +ceased to walk and chatter, and stood still and silent round him. When +he had played for some time he took off his hat and passed it round, +and dollars, and small silver coins, and even gold pieces, came +tumbling in. Tiidu played a couple more tunes by way of thanks, then +turned to go home, hearing on all sides murmurs of “What a wonderful +piper! Come back, we pray you, next Sunday to give us another treat.” + +“What did I tell you?” said the old man, as they passed through the +garden gate. “Was it not pleasanter to play for a couple of hours on +the pipes than to be stirring sauces all day long? For the second time +I have shown you the path to follow; try to learn wisdom, and take the +bull by the horns, lest your luck should slip from you! I can be your +guide no longer, therefore listen to what I say, and obey me. Go every +Sunday afternoon to those gardens; and sit under the lime tree and play +to the people, and bring a felt hat with a deep crown, and lay it on +the ground at your feet, so that everyone can throw some money into it. +If you are invited to play at a feast, accept willingly, but beware of +asking a fixed price; say you will take whatever they may feel inclined +to give. You will get far more money in the end. Perhaps, some day, our +paths may cross, and then I shall see how far you have followed my +advice. Till then, farewell”; and the old man went his way. + +As before, his words came true, though Tiidu could not at once do his +bidding, as he had first to fulfil his appointed time of service. +Meanwhile he ordered some fine clothes, in which he played every Sunday +in the gardens, and when he counted his gains in the evening they were +always more than on the Sunday before. At length he was free to do as +he liked, and he had more invitations to play than he could manage to +accept, and at night, when the citizens used to go and drink in the +inn, the landlord always begged Tiidu to come and play to them. Thus he +grew so rich that very soon he had his silver pipes covered with gold, +so that they glistened in the light of the sun or the fire. In all +Kungla there was no prouder man than Tiidu. + +In a few years he had saved such a large sum of money that he was +considered a rich man even in Kungla, where everybody was rich. And +then he had leisure to remember that he had once had a home, and a +family, and that he should like to see them both again, and show them +how well he could play. This time he would not need to hide in the +ship’s hold, but could hire the best cabin if he wished to, or even +have a vessel all to himself. So he packed all his treasures in large +chests, and sent them on board the first ship that was sailing to his +native land, and followed them with a light heart. The wind at starting +was fair, but it soon freshened, and in the night rose to a gale. For +two days they ran before it, and hoped that by keeping well out to sea +they might be able to weather the storm, when, suddenly, the ship +struck on a rock, and began to fill. Orders were given to lower the +boats, and Tiidu with three sailors got into one of them, but before +they could push away from the ship a huge wave overturned it, and all +four were flung into the water. Luckily for Tiidu an oar was floating +near him, and with its help he was able to keep on the surface of the +water; and when the sun rose, and the mist cleared away, he saw that he +was not far from shore. By hard swimming, for the sea still ran high, +he managed to reach it, and pulled himself out of the water, more dead +than alive. Then he flung himself down on the ground and fell fast +asleep. + +When he awoke he got up to explore the island, and see if there were +any men upon it; but though he found streams and fruit trees in +abundance, there was no trace either of man or beast. Then, tired with +his wanderings he sat down and began to think. + +For perhaps the first time in his life his thoughts did not instantly +turn to money. It was not on his lost treasures that his mind dwelt, +but on his conduct to his parents: his laziness and disobedience as a +boy; his forgetfulness of them as a man. “If wild animals were to come +and tear me to pieces,” he said to himself bitterly, “it would be only +what I deserve! My gains are all at the bottom of the sea—well! lightly +won, lightly lost—but it is odd that I feel I should not care for that +if only my pipes were left me.” Then he rose and walked a little +further, till he saw a tree with great red apples shining amidst the +leaves, and he pulled some down, and ate them greedily. After that he +stretched himself out on the soft moss and went to sleep. + +In the morning he ran to the nearest stream to wash himself, but to his +horror, when he caught sight of his face, he saw his nose had grown the +colour of an apple, and reached nearly to his waist. He started back +thinking he was dreaming, and put up his hand; but, alas! the dreadful +thing was true. “Oh, why does not some wild beast devour me?” he cried +to himself; “never, never, can I go again amongst my fellow-men! If +only the sea had swallowed me up, how much happier it had been for me!” +And he hid his head in his hands and wept. His grief was so violent, +that it exhausted him, and growing hungry he looked about for something +to eat. Just above him was a bough of ripe, brown nuts, end he picked +them and ate a handful. To his surprise, as he was eating them, he felt +his nose grow shorter and shorter, and after a while he ventured to +feel it with his hand, and even to look in the stream again! Yes, there +was no mistake, it was as short as before, or perhaps a little shorter. +In his joy at this discovery Tiidu did a very bold thing. He took one +of the apples out of his pocket, and cautiously bit a piece out of it. +In an instant his nose was as long as his chin, and in a deadly fear +lest it should stretch further, he hastily swallowed a nut, and awaited +the result with terror. Supposing that the shrinking of his nose had +only been an accident before! Supposing that that nut and no other was +able to cause its shrinking! In that case he had, by his own folly, in +not letting well alone, ruined his life completely. But, no! he had +guessed rightly, for in no more time than his nose had taken to grow +long did it take to return to its proper size. “This may make my +fortune,” he said joyfully to himself; and he gathered some of the +apples, which he put into one pocket, and a good supply of nuts which +he put into the other. Next day he wove a basket out of some rushes, so +that if he ever left the island he might be able to carry his treasures +about. + +That night he dreamed that his friend the old man appeared to him and +said: “Because you did not mourn for your lost treasure, but only for +your pipes, I will give you a new set to replace them.” And, behold! in +the morning when he got up a set of pipes was lying in the basket. With +what joy did he seize them and begin one of his favourite tunes; and as +he played hope sprang up in his heart, and he looked out to sea, to try +to detect the sign of a sail. Yes! there it was, making straight for +the island; and Tiidu, holding his pipes in his hand, dashed down to +the shore. + +The sailors knew the island to be uninhabited, and were much surprised +to see a man standing on the beach, waving his arms in welcome to them. +A boat was put off, and two sailors rowed to the shore to discover how +he came there, and if he wished to be taken away. Tiidu told them the +story of his shipwreck, and the captain promised that he should come on +board, and sail with them back to Kungla; and thankful indeed was Tiidu +to accept the offer, and to show his gratitude by playing on his pipes +whenever he was asked to do so. + +They had a quick voyage, and it was not long before Tiidu found himself +again in the streets of the capital of Kungla, playing as he went +along. The people had heard no music like his since he went away, and +they crowded round him, and in their joy gave him whatever money they +had in their pockets. His first care was to buy himself some new +clothes, which he sadly needed, taking care, however, that they should +be made after a foreign fashion. When they were ready, he set out one +day with a small basket of his famous apples, and went up to the +palace. He did not have to wait long before one of the royal servants +passed by and bought all the apples, begging as he did so that the +merchant should return and bring some more. This Tiidu promised, and +hastened away as if he had a mad bull behind him, so afraid was he that +the man should begin to eat an apple at once. + +It is needless to say that for some days he took no more apples back to +the palace, but kept well away on the other side of the town, wearing +other clothes, and disguised by a long black beard, so that even his +own mother would not have known him. + +The morning after his visit to the castle the whole city was in an +uproar about the dreadful misfortune that had happened to the Royal +Family, for not only the king but his wife and children, had eaten of +the stranger’s apples, and all, so said the rumour, were very ill. The +most famous doctors and the greatest magicians were hastily summoned to +the palace, but they shook their heads and came away again; never had +they met with such a disease in all the course of their experience. +By-and-bye a story went round the town, started no one knew how, that +the malady was in some way connected with the nose; and men rubbed +their own anxiously, to be sure that nothing catching was in the air. + +Matters had been in this state for more than a week when it reached the +ears of the king that a man was living in an inn on the other side of +the town who declared himself able to cure all manner of diseases. +Instantly the royal carriage was commanded to drive with all speed and +bring back this magician, offering him riches untold if he could +restore their noses to their former length. Tiidu had expected this +summons, and had sat up all night changing his appearance, and so well +had he succeeded that not a trace remained either of the piper or of +the apple seller. He stepped into the carriage, and was driven post +haste to the king, who was feverishly counting every moment, for both +his nose and the queen’s were by this time more than a yard long, and +they did not know where they would stop. + +Now Tiidu thought it would not look well to cure the royal family by +giving them the raw nuts; he felt that it might arouse suspicion. So he +had carefully pounded them into a powder, and divided the powder up +into small doses, which were to be put on the tongue and swallowed at +once. He gave one of these to the king and another to the queen, and +told them that before taking them they were to get into bed in a dark +room and not to move for some hours, after which they might be sure +that they would come out cured. + +The king’s joy was so great at this news that he would gladly have +given Tiidu half of his kingdom; but the piper was no longer so greedy +of money as he once was, before he had been shipwrecked on the island. +If he could get enough to buy a small estate and live comfortably on it +for the rest of his life, that was all he now cared for. However, the +king ordered his treasure to pay him three times as much as he asked, +and with this Tiidu went down to the harbour and engaged a small ship +to carry him back to his native country. The wind was fair, and in ten +days the coast, which he had almost forgotten, stood clear before him. +In a few hours he was standing in his old home, where his father, three +sisters, and two brothers gave him a hearty welcome. His mother and his +other brothers had died some years before. + +When the meeting was over, he began to make inquiries about a small +estate that was for sale near the town, and after he had bought it the +next thing was to find a wife to share it with him. This did not take +long either; and people who were at the wedding feast declared that the +best part of the whole day was the hour when Tiidu played to them on +the pipes before they bade each other farewell and returned to their +homes. + +[From Esthnische Mährchen.] + + + + +Paperarelloo + + +Once upon a time there lived a king and a queen who had one son. The +king loved the boy very much, but the queen, who was a wicked woman, +hated the sight of him; and this was the more unlucky for, when he was +twelve years old, his father died, and he was left alone in the world. + +Now the queen was very angry because the people, who knew how bad she +was, seated her son on the throne instead of herself, and she never +rested till she had formed a plan to get him out of the way. +Fortunately, however, the young king was wise and prudent, and knew her +too well to trust her. + +One day, when his mourning was over, he gave orders that everything +should be made ready for a grand hunt. The queen pretended to be +greatly delighted that he was going to amuse himself once more, and +declared that she would accompany him. “No, mother, I cannot let you +come,” he answered; “the ground is rough, and you are not strong.” But +he might as well have spoken to the winds: when the horn was sounded at +daybreak the queen was there with the rest. + +All that day they rode, for game was plentiful, but towards evening the +mother and son found themselves alone in a part of the country that was +strange to them. They wandered on for some time, without knowing where +they were going, till they met with a man whom they begged to give them +shelter. “Come with me,” said the man gladly, for he was an ogre, and +fed on human flesh; and the king and his mother went with him, and he +led them to his house. When they got there they found to what a +dreadful place they had come, and, falling on their knees, they offered +him great sums of money, if he would only spare their lives. The ogre’s +heart was moved at the sight of the queen’s beauty, and he promised +that he would do her no harm; but he stabbed the boy at once, and +binding his body on a horse, turned him loose in the forest. + +The ogre had happened to choose a horse which he had bought only the +day before, and he did not know it was a magician, or he would not have +been so foolish as to fix upon it on this occasion. The horse no sooner +had been driven off with the prince’s body on its back than it galloped +straight to the home of the fairies, and knocked at the door with its +hoof. The fairies heard the knock, but were afraid to open till they +had peeped from an upper window to see that it was no giant or ogre who +could do them harm. “Oh, look, sister!” cried the first to reach the +window, “it is a horse that has knocked, and on its back there is bound +a dead boy, the most beautiful boy in all the world!” Then the fairies +ran to open the door, and let in the horse and unbound the ropes which +fastened the young king on its back. And they gathered round to admire +his beauty, and whispered one to the other: “We will make him alive +again, and will keep him for our brother.” And so they did, and for +many years they all lived together as brothers and sisters. + +By-and-by the boy grew into a man, as boys will, and then the oldest of +the fairies said to her sisters: “Now I will marry him, and he shall be +really your brother.” So the young king married the fairy, and they +lived happily together in the castle; but though he loved his wife he +still longed to see the world. + +At length this longing grew so strong on him that he could bear it no +more; and, calling the fairies together, he said to them: “Dear wife +and sisters, I must leave you for a time, and go out and see the world. +But I shall think of you often, and one day I shall come back to you.” + +The fairies wept and begged him to stay, but he would not listen, and +at last the eldest, who was his wife, said to him: “If you really will +abandon us, take this lock of my hair with you; you will find it useful +in time of need.” So she cut off a long curl, and handed it to him. + +The prince mounted his horse, and rode on all day without stopping +once. Towards evening he found himself in a desert, and, look where he +would, there was no such thing as a house or a man to be seen. “What am +I to do now?” he thought. “If I go to sleep here wild beasts will come +and eat me! Yet both I and my horse are worn out, and can go no +further.” Then suddenly he remembered the fairy’s gift, and taking out +the curl he said to it: “I want a castle here, and servants, and +dinner, and everything to make me comfortable tonight; and besides +that, I must have a stable and fodder for my horse.” And in a moment +the castle was before him just as he had wished. + +In this way he travelled through many countries, till at last he came +to a land that was ruled over by a great king. Leaving his horse +outside the walls, he clad himself in the dress of a poor man, and went +up to the palace. The queen, who was looking out of the window, saw him +approaching, and filled with pity sent a servant to ask who he was and +what he wanted. “I am a stranger here,” answered the young king, “and +very poor. I have come to beg for some work.” “We have everybody we +want,” said the queen, when the servant told her the young man’s reply. +“We have a gate-keeper, and a hall porter, and servants of all sorts in +the palace; the only person we have not got is a goose-boy. Tell him +that he can be our goose-boy if he likes.” The youth answered that he +was quite content to be goose-boy; and that was how he got his nickname +of Paperarello. And in order that no one should guess that he was any +better than a goose-boy should be, he rubbed his face and his rags over +with mud, and made himself altogether such a disgusting object that +every one crossed over to the other side of the road when he was seen +coming. + +“Do go and wash yourself, Paperarello!” said the queen sometimes, for +he did his work so well that she took an interest in him. “Oh, I should +not feel comfortable if I was clean, your Majesty,” answered he, and +went whistling after his geese. + +It happened one day that, owing to some accident to the great flour +mills which supplied the city, there was no bread to be had, and the +king’s army had to do without. When the king heard of it, he sent for +the cook, and told him that by the next morning he must have all the +bread that the oven, heated seven times over, could bake. “But, your +Majesty, it is not possible,” cried the poor man in despair. “The mills +have only just begun working, and the flour will not be ground till +evening, and how can I heat the oven seven times in one night?” “That +is your affair,” answered the King, who, when he took anything into his +head, would listen to nothing. “If you succeed in baking the bread you +shall have my daughter to wife, but if you fail your head will pay for +it.” + +Now Paperarello, who was passing through the hall where the king was +giving his orders, heard these words, and said: “Your Majesty, have no +fears; I will bake your bread.” “Very well,” answered the king; “but if +you fail, you will pay for it with your head!” and signed that both +should leave his presence. + +The cook was still trembling with the thought of what he had escaped, +but to his surprise Paperarello did not seem disturbed at all, and when +night came he went to sleep as usual. “Paperarello,” cried the other +servants, when they saw him quietly taking off his clothes, “you cannot +go to bed; you will need every moment of the night for your work. +Remember, the king is not to be played with!” + +“I really must have some sleep first,” replied Paperarello, stretching +himself and yawning; and he flung himself on his bed, and was fast +asleep in a moment. In an hour’s time, the servants came and shook him +by the shoulder. “Paperarello, are you mad?” said they. “Get up, or you +will lose your head.” “Oh, do let me sleep a little more, answered he. +And this was all he would say, though the servants returned to wake him +many times in the night. + +At last the dawn broke, and the servants rushed to his room, crying: +“Paperarello! Paperarello! get up, the king is coming. You have baked +no bread, and of a surety he will have your head.” + +“Oh, don’t scream so,” replied Paperarello, jumping out of bed as he +spoke; and taking the lock of hair in his hand, he went into the +kitchen. And, behold! there stood the bread piled high—four, five, six +ovens full, and the seventh still waiting to be taken out of the oven. +The servants stood and stared in surprise, and the king said: “Well +done, Paperarello, you have won my daughter.” And he thought to +himself: “This fellow must really be a magician.” + +But when the princess heard what was in store for her she wept +bitterly, and declared that never, never would she marry that dirty +Paperarello! However, the king paid no heed to her tears and prayers, +and before many days were over the wedding was celebrated with great +splendour, though the bridegroom had not taken the trouble to wash +himself, and was as dirty as before. + +When night came he went as usual to sleep among his geese, and the +princess went to the king and said: “Father, I entreat you to have that +horrible Paperarello put to death.” “No, no!” replied her father, “he +is a great magician, and before I put him to death, I must first find +out the secret of his power, and then—we shall see.” + +Soon after this a war broke out, and everybody about the palace was +very busy polishing up armour and sharpening swords, for the king and +his sons were to ride at the head of the army. Then Paperarello left +his geese, and came and told the king that he wished to go to fight +also. The king gave him leave, and told him that he might go to the +stable and take any horse he liked from the stables. So Paperarello +examined the horses carefully, but instead of picking out one of the +splendid well-groomed creatures, whose skin shone like satin, he chose +a poor lame thing, put a saddle on it, and rode after the other +men-at-arms who were attending the king. In a short time he stopped, +and said to them: “My horse can go no further; you must go on to the +war without me, and I will stay here, and make some little clay +soldiers, and will play at a battle.” The men laughed at him for being +so childish, and rode on after their master. + +Scarcely were they out of sight than Paperarello took out his curl, and +wished himself the best armour, the sharpest sword, and the swiftest +horse in the world, and the next minute was riding as fast as he could +to the field of battle. The fight had already begun, and the enemy was +getting the best of it, when Paperarello rode up, and in a moment the +fortunes of the day had changed. Right and left this strange knight +laid about him, and his sword pierced the stoutest breast-plate, and +the strongest shield. He was indeed “a host in himself,” and his foes +fled before him thinking he was only the first of a troop of such +warriors, whom no one could withstand. When the battle was over, the +king sent for him to thank him for his timely help, and to ask what +reward he should give him. “Nothing but your little finger, your +Majesty,” was his answer; and the king cut off his little finger and +gave it to Paperarello, who bowed and hid it in his surcoat. Then he +left the field, and when the soldiers rode back they found him still +sitting in the road making whole rows of little clay dolls. + +The next day the king went out to fight another battle, and again +Paperarello appeared, mounted on his lame horse. As on the day before, +he halted on the road, and sat down to make his clay soldiers; then a +second time he wished himself armour, sword, and a horse, all sharper +and better than those he had previously had, and galloped after the +rest. He was only just in time: the enemy had almost beaten the king’s +army back, and men whispered to each other that if the strange knight +did not soon come to their aid, they would be all dead men. Suddenly +someone cried: “Hold on a little longer, I see him in the distance; and +his armour shines brighter, and his horse runs swifter, than +yesterday.” Then they took fresh heart and fought desperately on till +the knight came up, and threw himself into the thick of the battle. As +before, the enemy gave way before him, and in a few minutes the victory +remained with the king. + +The first thing that the victor did was to send for the knight to thank +him for his timely help, and to ask what gift he could bestow on him in +token of gratitude. “Your Majesty’s ear,” answered the knight; and as +the king could not go back from his word, he cut it off and gave it to +him. Paperarello bowed, fastened the ear inside his surcoat and rode +away. In the evening, when they all returned from the battle, there he +was, sitting in the road, making clay dolls. + +On the third day the same thing happened, and this time he asked for +the king’s nose as the reward of his aid. Now, to lose one’s nose, is +worse even than losing one’s ear or one’s finger, and the king +hesitated as to whether he should comply. However, he had always prided +himself on being an honourable man, so he cut off his nose, and handed +it to Paperarello. Paperarello bowed, put the nose in his surcoat, and +rode away. In the evening, when the king returned from the battle, he +found Paperarello sitting in the road making clay dolls. And +Paperarello got up and said to him: “Do you know who I am? I am your +dirty goose-boy, yet you have given me your finger, and your ear, and +your nose.” + +That night, when the king sat at dinner, Paperarello came in, and +laying down the ear, and the nose, and the finger on the table, turned +and said to the nobles and courtiers who were waiting on the king: “I +am the invincible knight, who rode three times to your help, and I also +am a king’s son, and no goose-boy as you all think.” And he went away +and washed himself, and dressed himself in fine clothes and entered the +hall again, looking so handsome that the proud princess fell in love +with him on the spot. But Paperarello took no notice of her, and said +to the king: “It was kind of you to offer me your daughter in marriage, +and for that I thank you; but I have a wife at home whom I love better, +and it is to her that I am going. But as a token of farewell, I wish +that your ear, and nose, and finger may be restored to their proper +places.” So saying, he bade them all goodbye, and went back to his home +and his fairy bride, with whom he lived happily till the end of his +life. + +[From Sicilianisohen Mährchen.] + + + + +The Gifts Of The Magician + + +Once upon a time there was an old man who lived in a little hut in the +middle of a forest. His wife was dead, and he had only one son, whom he +loved dearly. Near their hut was a group of birch trees, in which some +black-game had made their nests, and the youth had often begged his +father’s permission to shoot the birds, but the old man always strictly +forbade him to do anything of the kind. + +One day, however, when the father had gone to a little distance to +collect some sticks for the fire, the boy fetched his bow, and shot at +a bird that was just flying towards its nest. But he had not taken +proper aim, and the bird was only wounded, and fluttered along the +ground. The boy ran to catch it, but though he ran very fast, and the +bird seemed to flutter along very slowly, he never could quite come up +with it; it was always just a little in advance. But so absorbed was he +in the chase that he did not notice for some time that he was now deep +in the forest, in a place where he had never been before. Then he felt +it would be foolish to go any further, and he turned to find his way +home. + +He thought it would be easy enough to follow the path along which he +had come, but somehow it was always branching off in unexpected +directions. He looked about for a house where he might stop and ask his +way, but there was not a sign of one anywhere, and he was afraid to +stand still, for it was cold, and there were many stories of wolves +being seen in that part of the forest. Night fell, and he was beginning +to start at every sound, when suddenly a magician came running towards +him, with a pack of wolves snapping at his heels. Then all the boy’s +courage returned to him. He took his bow, and aiming an arrow at the +largest wolf, shot him through the heart, and a few more arrows soon +put the rest to flight. The magician was full of gratitude to his +deliverer, and promised him a reward for his help if the youth would go +back with him to his house. + +“Indeed there is nothing that would be more welcome to me than a +night’s lodging,” answered the boy; “I have been wandering all day in +the forest, and did not know how to get home again. + +“Come with me, you must be hungry as well as tired,” said the magician, +and led the way to his house, where the guest flung himself on a bed, +and went fast asleep. But his host returned to the forest to get some +food, for the larder was empty. + +While he was absent the housekeeper went to the boy’s room and tried to +wake him. She stamped on the floor, and shook him and called to him, +telling him that he was in great danger, and must take flight at once. +But nothing would rouse him, and if he did ever open his eyes he shut +them again directly. + +Soon after, the magician came back from the forest, and told the +housekeeper to bring them something to eat. The meal was quickly ready, +and the magician called to the boy to come down and eat it, but he +could not be wakened, and they had to sit down to supper without him. +By-and-by the magician went out into the wood again for some more +hunting, and on his return he tried afresh to waken the youth. But +finding it quite impossible, he went back for the third time to the +forest. + +While he was absent the boy woke up and dressed himself. Then he came +downstairs and began to talk to the housekeeper. The girl had heard how +he had saved her master’s life, so she said nothing more about his +running away, but instead told him that if the magician offered him the +choice of a reward, he was to ask for the horse which stood in the +third stall of the stable. + +By-and-by the old man came back and they all sat down to dinner. When +they had finished the magician said: “Now, my son, tell me what you +will have as the reward of your courage?” + +“Give me the horse that stands in the third stall of your stable,” +answered the youth. “For I have a long way to go before I get home, and +my feet will not carry me so far.” + +“Ah! my son,” replied the magician, “it is the best horse in my stable +that you want! Will not anything else please you as well?” + +But the youth declared that it was the horse, and the horse only, that +he desired, and in the end the old man gave way. And besides the horse, +the magician gave him a zither, a fiddle, and a flute, saying: “If you +are in danger, touch the zither; and if no one comes to your aid, then +play on the fiddle; but if that brings no help, blow on the flute.” + +The youth thanked the magician, and fastening his treasures about him +mounted the horse and rode off. He had already gone some miles when, to +his great surprise, the horse spoke, and said: “It is no use your +returning home just now, your father will only beat you. Let us visit a +few towns first, and something lucky will be sure to happen to us.” + +This advice pleased the boy, for he felt himself almost a man by this +time, and thought it was high time he saw the world. When they entered +the capital of the country everyone stopped to admire the beauty of the +horse. Even the king heard of it, and came to see the splendid creature +with his own eyes. Indeed, he wanted directly to buy it, and told the +youth he would give any price he liked. The young man hesitated for a +moment, but before he could speak, the horse contrived to whisper to +him: + +“Do not sell me, but ask the king to take me to his stable, and feed me +there; then his other horses will become just as beautiful as I.” + +The king was delighted when he was told what the horse had said, and +took the animal at once to the stables, and placed it in his own +particular stall. Sure enough, the horse had scarcely eaten a mouthful +of corn out of the manger, when the rest of the horses seemed to have +undergone a transformation. Some of them were old favourites which the +king had ridden in many wars, and they bore the signs of age and of +service. But now they arched their heads, and pawed the ground with +their slender legs as they had been wont to do in days long gone by. +The king’s heart beat with delight, but the old groom who had had the +care of them stood crossly by, and eyed the owner of this wonderful +creature with hate and envy. Not a day passed without his bringing some +story against the youth to his master, but the king understood all +about the matter and paid no attention. At last the groom declared that +the young man had boasted that he could find the king’s war horse which +had strayed into the forest several years ago, and had not been heard +of since. Now the king had never ceased to mourn for his horse, so this +time he listened to the tale which the groom had invented, and sent for +the youth. “Find me my horse in three days,” said he, “or it will be +the worse for you.” + +The youth was thunderstruck at this command, but he only bowed, and +went off at once to the stable. + +“Do not worry yourself,” answered his own horse. “Ask the king to give +you a hundred oxen, and to let them be killed and cut into small +pieces. Then we will start on our journey, and ride till we reach a +certain river. There a horse will come up to you, but take no notice of +him. Soon another will appear, and this also you must leave alone, but +when the third horse shows itself, throw my bridle over it.” + +Everything happened just as the horse had said, and the third horse was +safely bridled. Then the other horse spoke again: “The magician’s raven +will try to eat us as we ride away, but throw it some of the oxen’s +flesh, and then I will gallop like the wind, and carry you safe out of +the dragon’s clutches.” + +So the young man did as he was told, and brought the horse back to the +king. + +The old stableman was very jealous, when he heard of it, and wondered +what he could do to injure the youth in the eyes of his royal master. +At last he hit upon a plan, and told the king that the young man had +boasted that he could bring home the king’s wife, who had vanished many +months before, without leaving a trace behind her. Then the king bade +the young man come into his presence, and desired him to fetch the +queen home again, as he had boasted he could do. And if he failed, his +head would pay the penalty. + +The poor youth’s heart stood still as he listened. Find the queen? But +how was he to do that, when nobody in the palace had been able to do +so! Slowly he walked to the stable, and laying his head on his horse’s +shoulder, he said: “The king has ordered me to bring his wife home +again, and how can I do that when she disappeared so long ago, and no +one can tell me anything about her?” + +“Cheer up!” answered the horse, “we will manage to find her. You have +only got to ride me back to the same river that we went to yesterday, +and I will plunge into it and take my proper shape again. For I am the +king’s wife, who was turned into a horse by the magician from whom you +saved me.” + +Joyfully the young man sprang into the saddle and rode away to the +banks of the river. Then he threw himself off, and waited while the +horse plunged in. The moment it dipped its head into the water its +black skin vanished, and the most beautiful woman in the world was +floating on the water. She came smiling towards the youth, and held out +her hand, and he took it and led her back to the palace. Great was the +king’s surprise and happiness when he beheld his lost wife stand before +him, and in gratitude to her rescuer he loaded him with gifts. + +You would have thought that after this the poor youth would have been +left in peace; but no, his enemy the stableman hated him as much as +ever, and laid a new plot for his undoing. This time he presented +himself before the king and told him that the youth was so puffed up +with what he had done that he had declared he would seize the king’s +throne for himself. + +At this news the king waxed so furious that he ordered a gallows to be +erected at once, and the young man to be hanged without a trial. He was +not even allowed to speak in his own defence, but on the very steps of +the gallows he sent a message to the king and begged, as a last favour, +that he might play a tune on his zither. Leave was given him, and +taking the instrument from under his cloak he touched the strings. +Scarcely had the first notes sounded than the hangman and his helper +began to dance, and the louder grew the music the higher they capered, +till at last they cried for mercy. But the youth paid no heed, and the +tunes rang out more merrily than before, and by the time the sun set +they both sank on the ground exhausted, and declared that the hanging +must be put off till to-morrow. + +The story of the zither soon spread through the town, and on the +following morning the king and his whole court and a large crowd of +people were gathered at the foot of the gallows to see the youth +hanged. Once more he asked a favour—permission to play on his fiddle, +and this the king was graciously pleased to grant. But with the first +notes, the leg of every man in the crowd was lifted high, and they +danced to the sound of the music the whole day till darkness fell, and +there was no light to hang the musician by. + +The third day came, and the youth asked leave to play on his flute. +“No, no,” said the king, “you made me dance all day yesterday, and if I +do it again it will certainly be my death. You shall play no more +tunes. Quick! the rope round his neck.” + +At these words the young man looked so sorrowful that the courtiers +said to the king: “He is very young to die. Let him play a tune if it +will make him happy.” So, very unwillingly, the king gave him leave; +but first he had himself bound to a big fir tree, for fear that he +should be made to dance. + +When he was made fast, the young man began to blow softly on his flute, +and bound though he was, the king’s body moved to the sound, up and +down the fir tree till his clothes were in tatters, and the skin nearly +rubbed off his back. But the youth had no pity, and went on blowing, +till suddenly the old magician appeared and asked: “What danger are you +in, my son, that you have sent for me?” + +“They want to hang me,” answered the young man; “the gallows are all +ready and the hangman is only waiting for me to stop playing.” + +“Oh, I will put that right,” said the magician; and taking the gallows, +he tore it up and flung it into the air, and no one knows where it came +down. “Who has ordered you to be hanged?” asked he. + +The young man pointed to the king, who was still bound to the fir; and +without wasting words the magician took hold of the tree also, and with +a mighty heave both fir and man went spinning through the air, and +vanished in the clouds after the gallows. + +Then the youth was declared to be free, and the people elected him for +their king; and the stable helper drowned himself from envy, for, after +all, if it had not been for him the young man would have remained poor +all the days of his life. + +[From Finnische Mährchen.] + + + + +The Strong Prince + + +Once upon a time there lived a king who was so fond of wine that he +could not go to sleep unless he knew he had a great flaskful tied to +his bed-post. All day long he drank till he was too stupid to attend to +his business, and everything in the kingdom went to rack and ruin. But +one day an accident happened to him, and he was struck on the head by a +falling bough, so that he fell from his horse and lay dead upon the +ground. + +His wife and son mourned his loss bitterly, for, in spite of his +faults, he had always been kind to them. So they abandoned the crown +and forsook their country, not knowing or caring where they went. + +At length they wandered into a forest, and being very tired, sat down +under a tree to eat some bread that they had brought with them. When +they had finished the queen said: “My son, I am thirsty; fetch me some +water.” + +The prince got up at once and went to a brook which he heard gurgling +near at hand. He stooped and filled his hat with the water, which he +brought to his mother; then he turned and followed the stream up to its +source in a rock, where it bubbled out clear and fresh and cold. He +knelt down to take a draught from the deep pool below the rock, when he +saw the reflection of a sword hanging from the branch of a tree over +his head. The young man drew back with a start; but in a moment he +climbed the tree, cutting the rope which held the sword, and carried +the weapon to his mother. + +The queen was greatly surprised at the sight of anything so splendid in +such a lonely place, and took it in her hands to examine it closely. It +was of curious workmanship, wrought with gold, and on its handle was +written: “The man who can buckle on this sword will become stronger +than other men.” The queen’s heart swelled with joy as she read these +words, and she bade her son lose no time in testing their truth. So he +fastened it round his waist, and instantly a glow of strength seemed to +run through his veins. He took hold of a thick oak tree and rooted it +up as easily as if it had been a weed. + +This discovery put new life into the queen and her son, and they +continued their walk through the forest. But night was drawing on, and +the darkness grew so thick that it seemed as if it could be cut with a +knife. They did not want to sleep in the wood, for they were afraid of +wolves and other wild beasts, so they groped their way along, hand in +hand, till the prince tripped over something which lay across the path. +He could not see what it was, but stooped down and tried to lift it. +The thing was very heavy, and he thought his back would break under the +strain. At last with a great heave he moved it out of the road, and as +it fell he knew it was a huge rock. Behind the rock was a cave which it +was quite clear was the home of some robbers, though not one of the +band was there. + +Hastily putting out the fire which burned brightly at the back, and +bidding his mother come in and keep very still, the prince began to +pace up and down, listening for the return of the robbers. But he was +very sleepy, and in spite of all his efforts he felt he could not keep +awake much longer, when he heard the sound of the robbers returning, +shouting and singing as they marched along. Soon the singing ceased, +and straining his ears he heard them discussing anxiously what had +become of their cave, and why they could not see the fire as usual. +“This must be the place,” said a voice, which the prince took to be +that of the captain. “Yes, I feel the ditch before the entrance. +Someone forgot to pile up the fire before we left and it has burnt +itself out! But it is all right. Let every man jump across, and as he +does so cry out ‘Hop! I am here.’ I will go last. Now begin.” + +The man who stood nearest jumped across, but he had no time to give the +call which the captain had ordered, for with one swift, silent stroke +of the prince’s sword, his head rolled into a corner. Then the young +man cried instead, “Hop! I am here.” + +The second man, hearing the signal, leapt the ditch in confidence, and +was met by the same fate, and in a few minutes eleven of the robbers +lay dead, and there remained only the captain. + +Now the captain had wound round his neck the shawl of his lost wife, +and the stroke of the prince’s sword fell harmless. Being very cunning, +however, he made no resistance, and rolled over as if he were as dead +as the other men. Still, the prince was no fool, and wondered if indeed +he was as dead as he seemed to be; but the captain lay so stiff and +stark, that at last he was taken in. + +The prince next dragged the headless bodies into a chamber in the cave, +and locked the door. Then he and his mother ransacked the place for +some food, and when they had eaten it they lay down and slept in peace. + +With the dawn they were both awake again, and found that, instead of +the cave which they had come to the night before, they now were in a +splendid castle, full of beautiful rooms. The prince went round all +these and carefully locked them up, bidding his mother take care of the +keys while he was hunting. + +Unfortunately, the queen, like all women, could not bear to think that +there was anything which she did not know. So the moment that her son +had turned his back, she opened the doors of all the rooms, and peeped +in, till she came to the one where the robbers lay. But if the sight of +the blood on the ground turned her faint, the sight of the robber +captain walking up and down was a greater shock still. She quickly +turned the key in the lock, and ran back to the chamber she had slept +in. + +Soon after her son came in, bringing with him a large bear, which he +had killed for supper. As there was enough food to last them for many +days, the prince did not hunt the next morning, but, instead, began to +explore the castle. He found that a secret way led from it into the +forest; and following the path, he reached another castle larger and +more splendid than the one belonging to the robbers. He knocked at the +door with his fist, and said that he wanted to enter; but the giant, to +whom the castle belonged, only answered: “I know who you are. I have +nothing to do with robbers.” + +“I am no robber,” answered the prince. “I am the son of a king, and I +have killed all the band. If you do not open to me at once I will break +in the door, and your head shall go to join the others.” + +He waited a little, but the door remained shut as tightly as before. +Then he just put his shoulder to it, and immediately the wood began to +crack. When the giant found that it was no use keeping it shut, he +opened it, saying: “I see you are a brave youth. Let there be peace +between us.” + +And the prince was glad to make peace, for he had caught a glimpse of +the giant’s beautiful daughter, and from that day he often sought the +giant’s house. + +Now the queen led a dull life all alone in the castle, and to amuse +herself she paid visits to the robber captain, who flattered her till +at last she agreed to marry him. But as she was much afraid of her son, +she told the robber that the next time the prince went to bathe in the +river, he was to steal the sword from its place above the bed, for +without it the young man would have no power to punish him for his +boldness. + +The robber captain thought this good counsel, and the next morning, +when the young man went to bathe, he unhooked the sword from its nail +and buckled it round his waist. On his return to the castle, the prince +found the robber waiting for him on the steps, waving the sword above +his head, and knowing that some horrible fate was in store, fell on his +knees and begged for mercy. But he might as well have tried to squeeze +blood out of a stone. The robber, indeed, granted him his life, but +took out both his eyes, which he thrust into the prince’s hand, saying +brutally: + +“Here, you had better keep them! You may find them useful!” + +Weeping, the blind youth felt his way to the giant’s house, and told +him all the story. + +The giant was full of pity for the poor young man, but inquired +anxiously what he had done with the eyes. The prince drew them out of +his pocket, and silently handed them to the giant, who washed them +well, and then put them back in the prince’s head. For three days he +lay in utter darkness; then the light began to come back, till soon he +saw as well as ever. + +But though he could not rejoice enough over the recovery of his eyes, +he bewailed bitterly the loss of his sword, and that it should have +fallen to the lot of his bitter enemy. + +“Never mind, my friend,” said the giant, “I will get it back for you.” +And he sent for the monkey who was his head servant. + +“Tell the fox and the squirrel that they are to go with you, and fetch +me back the prince’s sword,” ordered he. + +The three servants set out at once, one seated on the back of the +others, the ape, who disliked walking, being generally on top. Directly +they came to the window of the robber captain’s room, the monkey sprang +from the backs of the fox and the squirrel, and climbed in. The room +was empty, and the sword hanging from a nail. He took it down, and +buckling it round his waist, as he had seen the prince do, swung +himself down again, and mounting on the backs of his two companions, +hastened to his master. The giant bade him give the sword to the +prince, who girded himself with it, and returned with all speed to the +castle. + +“Come out, you rascal! come out, you villain!” cried he, “and answer to +me for the wrong you have done. I will show you who is the master in +this house!” + +The noise he made brought the robber into the room. He glanced up to +where the sword usually hung, but it was gone; and instinctively he +looked at the prince’s hand, where he saw it gleaming brightly. In his +turn he fell on his knees to beg for mercy, but it was too late. As he +had done to the prince, so the prince did to him, and, blinded, he was +thrust forth, and fell down a deep hole, where he is to this day. His +mother the prince sent back to her father, and never would see her +again. After this he returned to the giant, and said to him: + +“My friend, add one more kindness to those you have already heaped on +me. Give me your daughter as my wife.” + +So they were married, and the wedding feast was so splendid that there +was not a kingdom in the world that did not hear of it. And the prince +never went back to his father’s throne, but lived peacefully with his +wife in the forest, where, if they are not dead, they are living still. + +[From Ungarische Volksmarchen.] + + + + +The Treasure Seeker + + +Once, long ago, in a little town that lay in the midst of high hills +and wild forests, a party of shepherds sat one night in the kitchen of +the inn talking over old times, and telling of the strange things that +had befallen them in their youth. + +Presently up spoke the silver-haired Father Martin. + +“Comrades,” said he, “you have had wonderful adventures; but I will +tell you something still more astonishing that happened to myself. When +I was a young lad I had no home and no one to care for me, and I +wandered from village to village all over the country with my knapsack +on my back; but as soon as I was old enough I took service with a +shepherd in the mountains, and helped him for three years. One autumn +evening as we drove the flock homeward ten sheep were missing, and the +master bade me go and seek them in the forest. I took my dog with me, +but he could find no trace of them, though we searched among the bushes +till night fell; and then, as I did not know the country and could not +find my way home in the dark, I decided to sleep under a tree. At +midnight my dog became uneasy, and began to whine and creep close to me +with his tail between his legs; by this I knew that something was +wrong, and, looking about, I saw in the bright moonlight a figure +standing beside me. It seemed to be a man with shaggy hair, and a long +beard which hung down to his knees. He had a garland upon his head, and +a girdle of oak-leaves about his body, and carried an uprooted fir-tree +in his right hand. I shook like an aspen leaf at the sight, and my +spirit quaked for fear. The strange being beckoned with his hand that I +should follow him; but as I did not stir from the spot he spoke in a +hoarse, grating voice: ‘Take courage, faint-hearted shepherd. I am the +Treasure Seeker of the mountain. If you will come with me you shall dig +up much gold.’ + +“Though I was still deadly cold with terror I plucked up my courage and +said: ‘Get away from me, evil spirit; I do not desire your treasures.’ + +“At this the spectre grinned in my face and cried mockingly: + +“‘Simpleton! Do you scorn your good fortune? Well, then, remain a +ragamuffin all your days.’ + +“He turned as if to go away from me, then came back again and said: +‘Bethink yourself, bethink yourself, rogue. I will fill your knapsack—I +will fill your pouch.’ + +“‘Away from me, monster,’ I answered, ‘I will have nothing to do with +you.’ + +“When the apparition saw that I gave no heed to him he ceased to urge +me, saying only: ‘Some day you will rue this,’ and looked at me sadly. +Then he cried: ‘Listen to what I say, and lay it well to heart, it may +be of use to you when you come to your senses. A vast treasure of gold +and precious stones lies in safety deep under the earth. At twilight +and at high noon it is hidden, but at midnight it may be dug up. For +seven hundred years have I watched over it, but now my time has come; +it is common property, let him find it who can. So I thought to give it +into your hand, having a kindness for you because you feed your flock +upon my mountain.’ + +“Thereupon the spectre told me exactly where the treasure lay, and how +to find it. It might be only yesterday so well do I remember every word +he spoke. + +“‘Go towards the little mountains,’ said he, ‘and ask there for the +Black King’s Valley, and when you come to a tiny brook follow the +stream till you reach the stone bridge beside the saw-mill. Do not +cross the bridge, but keep to your right along the bank till a high +rock stands before you. A bow-shot from that you will discover a little +hollow like a grave. When you find this hollow dig it out; but it will +be hard work, for the earth has been pressed down into it with care. +Still, work away till you find solid rock on all sides of you, and soon +you will come to a square slab of stone; force it out of the wall, and +you will stand at the entrance of the treasure house. Into this opening +you must crawl, holding a lamp in your mouth. Keep your hands free lest +you knock your nose against a stone, for the way is steep and the +stones sharp. If it bruises your knees never mind; you are on the road +to fortune. Do not rest till you reach a wide stairway, down which you +will go till you come out into a spacious hall, in which there are +three doors; two of them stand open, the third is fastened with locks +and bolts of iron. Do not go through the door to the right lest you +disturb the bones of the lords of the treasure. Neither must you go +through the door to the left, it leads to the snake’s chamber, where +adders and serpents lodge; but open the fast-closed door by means of +the well-known spring-root, which you must on no account forget to take +with you, or all your trouble will be for naught, for no crowbar or +mortal tools will help you. If you want to procure the root ask a +wood-seller; it is a common thing for hunters to need, and it is not +hard to find. If the door bursts open suddenly with great crackings and +groanings do not be afraid, the noise is caused by the power of the +magic root, and you will not be hurt. Now trim your lamp that it may +not fail you, for you will be nearly blinded by the flash and glitter +of the gold and precious stones on the walls and pillars of the vault; +but beware how you stretch out a hand towards the jewels! In the midst +of the cavern stands a copper chest, in that you will find gold and +silver, enough and to spare, and you may help yourself to your heart’s +content. If you take as much as you can carry you will have sufficient +to last your lifetime, and you may return three times; but woe betide +you if you venture to come a fourth time. You would have your trouble +for your pains, and would be punished for your greediness by falling +down the stone steps and breaking your leg. Do not neglect each time to +heap back the loose earth which concealed the entrance of the king’s +treasure chamber.’ + +“As the apparition left off speaking my dog pricked up his ears and +began to bark. I heard the crack of a carter’s whip and the noise of +wheels in the distance, and when I looked again the spectre had +disappeared.” + +So ended the shepherd’s tale; and the landlord who was listening with +the rest, said shrewdly: + +“Tell us now, Father Martin, did you go to the mountain and find what +the spirit promised you; or is it a fable?” + +“Nay, nay,” answered the greybeard. “I cannot tell if the spectre lied, +for never a step did I go towards finding the hollow, for two +reasons:—one was that my neck was too precious for me to risk it in +such a snare as that; the other, that no one could ever tell me where +the spring-root was to be found.” + +Then Blaize, another aged shepherd, lifted up his voice. + +“’Tis a pity, Father Martin, that your secret has grown old with you. +If you had told it forty years ago truly you would not long have been +lacking the spring-root. Even though you will never climb the mountain +now, I will tell you, for a joke, how it is to be found. The easiest +way to get it is by the help of a black woodpecker. Look, in the +spring, where she builds her nest in a hole in a tree, and when the +time comes for her brood to fly off block up the entrance to the nest +with a hard sod, and lurk in ambush behind the tree till the bird +returns to feed her nestlings. When she perceives that she cannot get +into her nest she will fly round the tree uttering cries of distress, +and then dart off towards the sun-setting. When you see her do this, +take a scarlet cloak, or if that be lacking to you, buy a few yards of +scarlet cloth, and hurry back to the tree before the woodpecker returns +with the spring-root in her beak. So soon as she touches with the root +the sod that blocks the nest, it will fly violently out of the hole. +Then spread the red cloth quickly under the tree, so that the +woodpecker may think it is a fire, and in her terror drop the root. +Some people really light a fire and strew spikenard blossoms in it; but +that is a clumsy method, for if the flames do not shoot up at the right +moment away will fly the woodpecker, carrying the root with her.” + +The party had listened with interest to this speech, but by the time it +was ended the hour was late, and they went their ways homeward, leaving +only one man who had sat unheeded in a corner the whole evening +through. + +Master Peter Bloch had once been a prosperous innkeeper, and a +master-cook; but he had gone steadily down in the world for some time, +and was now quite poor. + +Formerly he had been a merry fellow, fond of a joke, and in the art of +cooking had no equal in the town. He could make fish-jelly, and quince +fritters, and even wafer-cakes; and he gilded the ears of all his +boars’ heads. Peter had looked about him for a wife early in life, but +unluckily his choice fell upon a woman whose evil tongue was well known +in the town. Ilse was hated by everybody, and the young folks would go +miles out of their way rather than meet her, for she had some ill-word +for everyone. Therefore, when Master Peter came along, and let himself +be taken in by her boasted skill as a housewife, she jumped at his +offer, and they were married the next day. But they had not got home +before they began to quarrel. In the joy of his heart Peter had tasted +freely of his own good wine, and as the bride hung upon his arm he +stumbled and fell, dragging her down with him; whereupon she beat him +soundly, and the neighbours said truly that things did not promise well +for Master Peter’s comfort. Even when the ill-matched couple were +presently blessed with children, his happiness was but short-lived, the +savage temper of his quarrelsome wife seemed to blight them from the +first, and they died like little kids in a cold winter. + +Though Master Peter had no great wealth to leave behind him, still it +was sad to him to be childless; and he would bemoan himself to his +friends, when he laid one baby after another in the grave, saying: “The +lightning has been among the cherry-blossoms again, so there will be no +fruit to grow ripe.” + +But, by-and-by, he had a little daughter so strong and healthy that +neither her mother’s temper nor her father’s spoiling could keep her +from growing up tall and beautiful. Meanwhile the fortunes of the +family had changed. From his youth up, Master Peter had hated trouble; +when he had money he spent it freely, and fed all the hungry folk who +asked him for bread. If his pockets were empty he borrowed of his +neighbours, but he always took good care to prevent his scolding wife +from finding out that he had done so. His motto was: “It will all come +right in the end”; but what it did come to was ruin for Master Peter. +He was at his wits’ end to know how to earn an honest living, for try +as he might ill-luck seemed to pursue him, and he lost one post after +another, till at last all he could do was to carry sacks of corn to the +mill for his wife, who scolded him well if he was slow about it, and +grudged him his portion of food. + +This grieved the tender heart of his pretty daughter, who loved him +dearly, and was the comfort of his life. + +Peter was thinking of her as he sat in the inn kitchen and heard the +shepherds talking about the buried treasure, and for her sake he +resolved to go and seek for it. Before he rose from the landlord’s +arm-chair his plan was made, and Master Peter went home more joyful and +full of hope than he had been for many a long day; but on the way he +suddenly remembered that he was not yet possessed of the magic +spring-root, and he stole into the house with a heavy heart, and threw +himself down upon his hard straw bed. He could neither sleep nor rest; +but as soon as it was light he got up and wrote down exactly all that +was to be done to find the treasure, that he might not forget anything, +and when it lay clear and plain before his eyes he comforted himself +with the thought that, though he must do the rough work for his wife +during one more winter at least, he would not have to tread the path to +the mill for the rest of his life. Soon he heard his wife’s harsh voice +singing its morning song as she went about her household affairs, +scolding her daughter the while. She burst open his door while he was +still dressing: “Well, Toper!” was her greeting, “have you been +drinking all night, wasting money that you steal from my housekeeping? +For shame, drunkard!” + +Master Peter, who was well used to this sort of talk, did not disturb +himself, but waited till the storm blew over, then he said calmly: + +“Do not be annoyed, dear wife. I have a good piece of business in hand +which may turn out well for us.” + +“You with a good business?” cried she, “you are good for nothing but +talk!” + +“I am making my will,” said he, “that when my hour comes my house may +be in order.” + +These unexpected words cut his daughter to the heart; she remembered +that all night long she had dreamed of a newly dug grave, and at this +thought she broke out into loud lamentations. But her mother only +cried: “Wretch! have you not wasted goods and possessions, and now do +you talk of making a will?” + +And she seized him like a fury, and tried to scratch out his eyes. But +by-and-by the quarrel was patched up, and everything went on as before. +From that day Peter saved up every penny that his daughter Lucia gave +him on the sly, and bribed the boys of his acquaintance to spy out a +black woodpecker’s nest for him. He sent them into the woods and +fields, but instead of looking for a nest they only played pranks on +him. They led him miles over hill and vale, stock and stone, to find a +raven’s brood, or a nest of squirrels in a hollow tree, and when he was +angry with them they laughed in his face and ran away. This went on for +some time, but at last one of the boys spied out a woodpecker in the +meadow-lands among the wood-pigeons, and when he had found her nest in +a half-dead alder tree, came running to Peter with the news of his +discovery. Peter could hardly believe his good fortune, and went +quickly to see for himself if it was really true; and when he reached +the tree there certainly was a bird flying in and out as if she had a +nest in it. Peter was overjoyed at this fortunate discovery, and +instantly set himself to obtain a red cloak. Now in the whole town +there was only one red cloak, and that belonged to a man of whom nobody +ever willingly asked a favour—Master Hammerling the hangman. It cost +Master Peter many struggles before he could bring himself to visit such +a person, but there was no help for it, and, little as he liked it, he +ended by making his request to the hangman, who was flattered that so +respectable a man as Peter should borrow his robe of office, and +willingly lent it to him. + +Peter now had all that was necessary to secure the magic root; he +stopped up the entrance to the nest, and everything fell out exactly as +Blaize had foretold. As soon as the woodpecker came back with the root +in her beak out rushed Master Peter from behind the tree and displayed +the fiery red cloak so adroitly that the terrified bird dropped the +root just where it could be easily seen. All Peter’s plans had +succeeded, and he actually held in his hand the magic root—that +master-key which would unlock all doors, and bring its possessor +unheard-of luck. His thoughts now turned to the mountain, and he +secretly made preparations for his journey. He took with him only a +staff, a strong sack, and a little box which his daughter Lucia had +given him. + +It happened that on the very day Peter had chosen for setting out, +Lucia and her mother went off early to the town, leaving him to guard +the house; but in spite of that he was on the point of taking his +departure when it occurred to him that it might be as well first to +test the much-vaunted powers of the magic root for himself. Dame Ilse +had a strong cupboard with seven locks built into the wall of her room, +in which she kept all the money she had saved, and she wore the key of +it always hung about her neck. Master Peter had no control at all of +the money affairs of the household, so the contents of this secret +hoard were quite unknown to him, and this seemed to be a good +opportunity for finding out what they were. He held the magic root to +the keyhole, and to his astonishment heard all the seven locks creaking +and turning, the door flew suddenly wide open, and his greedy wife’s +store of gold pieces lay before his eyes. He stood still in sheer +amazement, not knowing which to rejoice over most—this unexpected find, +or the proof of the magic root’s real power; but at last he remembered +that it was quite time to be starting on his journey. So, filling his +pockets with the gold, he carefully locked the empty cupboard again and +left the house without further delay. When Dame Ilse and her daughter +returned they wondered to find the house door shut, and Master Peter +nowhere to be seen. They knocked and called, but nothing stirred within +but the house cat, and at last the blacksmith had to be fetched to open +the door. Then the house was searched from garret to cellar, but no +Master Peter was to be found. + +“Who knows?” cried Dame Ilse at last, “the wretch may have been idling +in some tavern since early morning.” + +Then a sudden thought startled her, and she felt for her keys. Suppose +they had fallen into her good-for-nothing husband’s hands and he had +helped himself to her treasure! But no, the keys were safe in their +usual place, and the cupboard looked quite untouched. Mid-day came, +then evening, then midnight, and still no Master Peter appeared, and +the matter became really serious. Dame Ilse knew right well what a +torment she had been to her husband, and remorse caused her the +gloomiest forebodings. + +“Ah! Lucia,” she cried, “I greatly fear that your father has done +himself a mischief.” And they sat till morning weeping over their own +fancies. + +As soon as it was light they searched every corner of the house again, +and examined every nail in the wall and every beam; but, luckily, +Master Peter was not hanging from any of them. After that the +neighbours went out with long poles to fish in every ditch and pond, +but they found nothing, and then Dame Ilse gave up the idea of ever +seeing her husband again and very soon consoled herself, only wondering +how the sacks of corn were to be carried to the mill in future. She +decided to buy a strong ass to do the work, and having chosen one, and +after some bargaining with the owner as to its price, she went to the +cupboard in the wall to fetch the money. But what were her feelings +when she perceived that every shelf lay empty and bare before her! For +a moment she stood bewildered, then broke into such frightful ravings +that Lucia ran to her in alarm; but as soon as she heard of the +disappearance of the money she was heartily glad, and no longer feared +that her father had come to any harm, but understood that he must have +gone out into the world to seek his fortune in some new way. + +About a month after this, someone knocked at Dame Ilse’s door one day, +and she went to see if it was a customer for meal; but in stepped a +handsome young man, dressed like a duke’s son, who greeted her +respectfully, and asked after her pretty daughter as if he were an old +friend, though she could not remember having ever set eyes upon him +before. + +However, she invited him to step into the house and be seated while he +unfolded his business. With a great air of mystery he begged permission +to speak to the fair Lucia, of whose skill in needlework he had heard +so much, as he had a commission to give her. Dame Ilse had her own +opinion as to what kind of commission it was likely to be—brought by a +young stranger to a pretty maiden; however, as the meeting would be +under her own eye, she made no objection, but called to her industrious +daughter, who left off working and came obediently; but when she saw +the stranger she stopped short, blushing, and casting down her eyes. He +looked at her fondly, and took her hand, which she tried to draw away, +crying: + +“Ah! Friedlin, why are you here? I thought you were a hundred miles +away. Are you come to grieve me again?” + +“No, dearest girl,” answered he; “I am come to complete your happiness +and my own. Since we last met my fortune has utterly changed; I am no +longer the poor vagabond that I was then. My rich uncle has died, +leaving me money and goods in plenty, so that I dare to present myself +to your mother as a suitor for your hand. That I love you I know well; +if you can love me I am indeed a happy man.” + +Lucia’s pretty blue eyes had looked up shyly as he spoke, and now a +smile parted her rosy lips; and she stole a glance at her mother to see +what she thought about it all; but the dame stood lost in amazement to +find that her daughter, whom she could have declared had never been out +of her sight, was already well acquainted with the handsome stranger, +and quite willing to be his bride. Before she had done staring, this +hasty wooer had smoothed his way by covering the shining table with +gold pieces as a wedding gift to the bride’s mother, and had filled +Lucia’s apron into the bargain; after which the dame made no +difficulties, and the matter was speedily settled. + +While Ilse gathered up the gold and hid it away safely, the lovers +whispered together, and what Friedlin told her seemed to make Lucia +every moment more happy and contented. + +Now a great hurly-burly began in the house, and preparations for the +wedding went on apace. A few days later a heavily laden waggon drove +up, and out of it came so many boxes and bales that Dame Ilse was lost +in wonder at the wealth of her future son-in-law. The day for the +wedding was chosen, and all their friends and neighbours were bidden to +the feast. As Lucia was trying on her bridal wreath she said to her +mother: “This wedding-garland would please me indeed if father Peter +could lead me to the church. If only he could come back again! Here we +are rolling in riches while he may be nibbling at hunger’s table.” And +the very idea of such a thing made her weep, while even Dame Ilse said: + +“I should not be sorry myself to see him come back—there is always +something lacking in a house when the good man is away.” + +But the fact was that she was growing quite tired of having no one to +scold. And what do you think happened? + +On the very eve of the wedding a man pushing a wheelbarrow arrived at +the city gate, and paid toll upon a barrel of nails which it contained, +and then made the best of his way to the bride’s dwelling and knocked +at the door. + +The bride herself peeped out of the window to see who it could be, and +there stood father Peter! Then there was great rejoicing in the house; +Lucia ran to embrace him, and even Dame Ilse held out her hand in +welcome, and only said: “Rogue, mend your ways,” when she remembered +the empty treasure cupboard. Father Peter greeted the bridegroom, +looking at him shrewdly, while the mother and daughter hastened to say +all they knew in his favour, and appeared to be satisfied with him as a +son-in-law. When Dame Ilse had set something to eat before her husband, +she was curious to hear his adventures, and questioned him eagerly as +to why he had gone away. + +“God bless my native place,” said he. “I have been marching through the +country, and have tried every kind of work, but now I have found a job +in the iron trade; only, so far, I have put more into it than I have +earned by it. This barrel of nails is my whole fortune, which I wish to +give as my contribution towards the bride’s house furnishing.” + +This speech roused Dame Ilse to anger, and she broke out into such +shrill reproaches that the bystanders were fairly deafened, and +Friedlin hastily offered Master Peter a home with Lucia and himself, +promising that he should live in comfort, and be always welcome. So +Lucia had her heart’s desire, and father Peter led her to the church +next day, and the marriage took place very happily. Soon afterwards the +young people settled in a fine house which Friedlin had bought, and had +a garden and meadows, a fishpond, and a hill covered with vines, and +were as happy as the day was long. Father Peter also stayed quietly +with them, living, as everybody believed, upon the generosity of his +rich son-in law. No one suspected that his barrel of nails was the real +“Horn of Plenty,” from which all this prosperity overflowed. + +Peter had made the journey to the treasure mountain successfully, +without being found out by anybody. He had enjoyed himself by the way, +and taken his own time, until he actually reached the little brook in +the valley which it had cost him some trouble to find. Then he pressed +on eagerly, and soon came to the little hollow in the wood; down he +went, burrowing like a mole into the earth; the magic root did its +work, and at last the treasure lay before his eyes. You may imagine how +gaily Peter filled his sack with as much gold as he could carry, and +how he staggered up the seventy-seven steps with a heart full of hope +and delight. He did not quite trust the gnome’s promises of safety, and +was in such haste to find himself once more in the light of day that he +looked neither to the right nor the left, and could not afterwards +remember whether the walls and pillars had sparkled with jewels or not. + +However, all went well—he neither saw nor heard anything alarming; the +only thing that happened was that the great iron-barred door shut with +a crash as soon as he was fairly outside it, and then he remembered +that he had left the magic root behind him, so he could not go back for +another load of treasure. But even that did not trouble Peter much; he +was quite satisfied with what he had already. After he had faithfully +done everything according to Father Martin’s instructions, and pressed +the earth well back into the hollow, he sat down to consider how he +could bring his treasure back to his native place, and enjoy it there, +without being forced to share it with his scolding wife, who would give +him no peace if she once found out about it. At last, after much +thinking, he hit upon a plan. He carried his sack to the nearest +village, and there bought a wheelbarrow, a strong barrel, and a +quantity of nails. Then he packed his gold into the barrel, covered it +well with a layer of nails, hoisted it on to the wheelbarrow with some +difficulty, and set off with it upon his homeward way. At one place +upon the road he met a handsome young man who seemed by his downcast +air to be in some great trouble. Father Peter, who wished everybody to +be as happy as he was himself, greeted him cheerfully, and asked where +he was going, to which he answered sadly: + +“Into the wide world, good father, or out of it, wherever my feet may +chance to carry me.” + +“Why out of it?” said Peter. “What has the world been doing to you?” + +“It has done nothing to me, nor I to it,” he replied. “Nevertheless +there is not anything left in it for me.” + +Father Peter did his best to cheer the young man up, and invited him to +sup with him at the first inn they came to, thinking that perhaps +hunger and poverty were causing the stranger’s trouble. But when good +food was set before him he seemed to forget to eat. So Peter perceived +that what ailed his guest was sorrow of heart, and asked him kindly to +tell him his story. + +“Where is the good, father?” said he. “You can give me neither help nor +comfort.” + +“Who knows?” answered Master Peter. “I might be able to do something +for you. Often enough in life help comes to us from the most unexpected +quarter.” + +The young man, thus encouraged, began his tale. + +“I am,” said he, “a crossbow-man in the service of a noble count, in +whose castle I was brought up. Not long ago my master went on a +journey, and brought back with him, amongst other treasures, the +portrait of a fair maiden so sweet and lovely that I lost my heart at +first sight of it, and could think of nothing but how I might seek her +out and marry her. The count had told me her name, and where she lived, +but laughed at my love, and absolutely refused to give me leave to go +in search of her, so I was forced to run away from the castle by night. +I soon reached the little town where the maiden dwelt; but there fresh +difficulties awaited me. She lived under the care of her mother, who +was so severe that she was never allowed to look out of the window, or +set her foot outside the door alone, and how to make friends with her I +did not know. But at last I dressed myself as an old woman, and knocked +boldly at her door. The lovely maiden herself opened it, and so charmed +me that I came near forgetting my disguise; but I soon recovered my +wits, and begged her to work a fine table-cloth for me, for she is +reported to be the best needlewoman in all the country round. Now I was +free to go and see her often under the pretence of seeing how the work +was going on, and one day, when her mother had gone to the town, I +ventured to throw off my disguise, and tell her of my love. She was +startled at first; but I persuaded her to listen to me, and I soon saw +that I was not displeasing to her, though she scolded me gently for my +disobedience to my master, and my deceit in disguising myself. But when +I begged her to marry me, she told me sadly that her mother would scorn +a penniless wooer, and implored me to go away at once, lest trouble +should fall upon her. + +“Bitter as it was to me, I was forced to go when she bade me, and I +have wandered about ever since, with grief gnawing at my heart; for how +can a masterless man, without money or goods, ever hope to win the +lovely Lucia?” + +Master Peter, who had been listening attentively, pricked up his ears +at the sound of his daughter’s name, and very soon found out that it +was indeed with her that this young man was so deeply in love. + +“Your story is strange indeed,” said he. “But where is the father of +this maiden—why do you not ask him for her hand? He might well take +your part, and be glad to have you for his son-in-law.” + +“Alas!” said the young man, “her father is a wandering good-for-naught, +who has forsaken wife and child, and gone off—who knows where? The wife +complains of him bitterly enough, and scolds my dear maiden when she +takes her father’s part.” + +Father Peter was somewhat amused by this speech; but he liked the young +man well, and saw that he was the very person he needed to enable him +to enjoy his wealth in peace, without being separated from his dear +daughter. + +“If you will take my advice,” said he, “I promise you that you shall +marry this maiden whom you love so much, and that before you are many +days older.” + +“Comrade,” cried Friedlin indignantly, for he thought Peter did but +jest with him, “it is ill done to mock at an unhappy man; you had +better find someone else who will let himself be taken in with your +fine promises.” And up he sprang, and was going off hastily, when +Master Peter caught him by the arm. + +“Stay, hothead!” he cried; “it is no jest, and I am prepared to make +good my words.” + +Thereupon he showed him the treasure hidden under the nails, and +unfolded to him his plan, which was that Friedlin should play the part +of the rich son-in-law, and keep a still tongue, that they might enjoy +their wealth together in peace. + +The young man was overjoyed at this sudden change in his fortunes, and +did not know how to thank father Peter for his generosity. They took +the road again at dawn the next morning, and soon reached a town, where +Friedlin equipped himself as a gallant wooer should. Father Peter +filled his pockets with gold for the wedding dowry, and agreed with him +that when all was settled he should secretly send him word that Peter +might send off the waggon load of house plenishings with which the rich +bridegroom was to make such a stir in the little town where the bride +lived. As they parted, father Peter’s last commands to Friedlin were to +guard well their secret, and not even to tell it to Lucia till she was +his wife. + +Master Peter long enjoyed the profits of his journey to the mountain, +and no rumour of it ever got abroad. In his old age his prosperity was +so great that he himself did not know how rich he was; but it was +always supposed that the money was Friedlin’s. He and his beloved wife +lived in the greatest happiness and peace, and rose to great honour in +the town. And to this day, when the citizens wish to describe a wealthy +man, they say: “As rich as Peter Bloch’s son-in-law!” + + + + +The Cottager And His Cat + + +Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife in a dirty, +tumble-down cottage, not very far from the splendid palace where the +king and queen dwelt. In spite of the wretched state of the hut, which +many people declared was too bad even for a pig to live in, the old man +was very rich, for he was a great miser, and lucky besides, and would +often go without food all day sooner than change one of his beloved +gold pieces. + +But after a while he found that he had starved himself once too often. +He fell ill, and had no strength to get well again, and in a few days +he died, leaving his wife and one son behind him. + +The night following his death, the son dreamed that an unknown man +appeared to him and said: “Listen to me; your father is dead and your +mother will soon die, and all their riches will belong to you. Half of +his wealth is ill-gotten, and this you must give back to the poor from +whom he squeezed it. The other half you must throw into the sea. Watch, +however, as the money sinks into the water, and if anything should +swim, catch it and keep it, even if it is nothing more than a bit of +paper.” + +Then the man vanished, and the youth awoke. + +The remembrance of his dream troubled him greatly. He did not want to +part with the riches that his father had left him, for he had known all +his life what it was to be cold and hungry, and now he had hoped for a +little comfort and pleasure. Still, he was honest and good-hearted, and +if his father had come wrongfully by his wealth he felt he could never +enjoy it, and at last he made up his mind to do as he had been bidden. +He found out who were the people who were poorest in the village, and +spent half of his money in helping them, and the other half he put in +his pocket. From a rock that jutted right out into the sea he flung it +in. In a moment it was out of sight, and no man could have told the +spot where it had sunk, except for a tiny scrap of paper floating on +the water. He stretched down carefully and managed to reach it, and on +opening it found six shillings wrapped inside. This was now all the +money he had in the world. + +The young man stood and looked at it thoughtfully. “Well, I can’t do +much with this,” he said to himself; but, after all, six shillings were +better than nothing, and he wrapped them up again and slipped them into +his coat. + +He worked in his garden for the next few weeks, and he and his mother +contrived to live on the fruit and vegetables he got out of it, and +then she too died suddenly. The poor fellow felt very sad when he had +laid her in her grave, and with a heavy heart he wandered into the +forest, not knowing where he was going. By-and-by he began to get +hungry, and seeing a small hut in front of him, he knocked at the door +and asked if they could give him some milk. The old woman who opened it +begged him to come in, adding kindly, that if he wanted a night’s +lodging he might have it without its costing him anything. + +Two women and three men were at supper when he entered, and silently +made room for him to sit down by them. When he had eaten he began to +look about him, and was surprised to see an animal sitting by the fire +different from anything he had ever noticed before. It was grey in +colour, and not very big; but its eyes were large and very bright, and +it seemed to be singing in an odd way, quite unlike any animal in the +forest. “What is the name of that strange little creature?” asked he. +And they answered, “We call it a cat.” + +“I should like to buy it—if it is not too dear,” said the young man; +“it would be company for me.” And they told him that he might have it +for six shillings, if he cared to give so much. The young man took out +his precious bit of paper, handed them the six shillings, and the next +morning bade them farewell, with the cat lying snugly in his cloak. + +For the whole day they wandered through meadows and forests, till in +the evening they reached a house. The young fellow knocked at the door +and asked the old man who opened it if he could rest there that night, +adding that he had no money to pay for it. “Then I must give it to +you,” answered the man, and led him into a room where two women and two +men were sitting at supper. One of the women was the old man’s wife, +the other his daughter. He placed the cat on the mantel shelf, and they +all crowded round to examine this strange beast, and the cat rubbed +itself against them, and held out its paw, and sang to them; and the +women were delighted, and gave it everything that a cat could eat, and +a great deal more besides. + +After hearing the youth’s story, and how he had nothing in the world +left him except his cat, the old man advised him to go to the palace, +which was only a few miles distant, and take counsel of the king, who +was kind to everyone, and would certainly be his friend. The young man +thanked him, and said he would gladly take his advice; and early next +morning he set out for the royal palace. + +He sent a message to the king to beg for an audience, and received a +reply that he was to go into the great hall, where he would find his +Majesty. + +The king was at dinner with his court when the young man entered, and +he signed to him to come near. The youth bowed low, and then gazed in +surprise at the crowd of little black creatures who were running about +the floor, and even on the table itself. Indeed, they were so bold that +they snatched pieces of food from the King’s own plate, and if he drove +them away, tried to bite his hands, so that he could not eat his food, +and his courtiers fared no better. + +“What sort of animals are these?” asked the youth of one of the ladies +sitting near him. + +“They are called rats,” answered the king, who had overheard the +question, “and for years we have tried some way of putting an end to +them, but it is impossible. They come into our very beds.” + +At this moment something was seen flying through the air. The cat was +on the table, and with two or three shakes a number of rats were lying +dead round him. Then a great scuffling of feet was heard, and in a few +minutes the hall was clear. + +For some minutes the King and his courtiers only looked at each other +in astonishment. “What kind of animal is that which can work magic of +this sort?” asked he. And the young man told him that it was called a +cat, and that he had bought it for six shillings. + +And the King answered: “Because of the luck you have brought me, in +freeing my palace from the plague which has tormented me for many +years, I will give you the choice of two things. Either you shall be my +Prime Minister, or else you shall marry my daughter and reign after me. +Say, which shall it be?” + +“The princess and the kingdom,” said the young man. + +And so it was. + +[From Islandische Marchen.] + + + + +The Prince Who Would Seek Immortality + + +Once upon a time, in the very middle of the middle of a large kingdom, +there was a town, and in the town a palace, and in the palace a king. +This king had one son whom his father thought was wiser and cleverer +than any son ever was before, and indeed his father had spared no pains +to make him so. He had been very careful in choosing his tutors and +governors when he was a boy, and when he became a youth he sent him to +travel, so that he might see the ways of other people, and find that +they were often as good as his own. + +It was now a year since the prince had returned home, for his father +felt that it was time that his son should learn how to rule the kingdom +which would one day be his. But during his long absence the prince +seemed to have changed his character altogether. From being a merry and +light-hearted boy, he had grown into a gloomy and thoughtful man. The +king knew of nothing that could have produced such an alteration. He +vexed himself about it from morning till night, till at length an +explanation occurred to him—the young man was in love! + +Now the prince never talked about his feelings—for the matter of that +he scarcely talked at all; and the father knew that if he was to come +to the bottom of the prince’s dismal face, he would have to begin. So +one day, after dinner, he took his son by the arm and led him into +another room, hung entirely with the pictures of beautiful maidens, +each one more lovely than the other. + +“My dear boy,” he said, “you are very sad; perhaps after all your +wanderings it is dull for you here all alone with me. It would be much +better if you would marry, and I have collected here the portraits of +the most beautiful women in the world of a rank equal to your own. +Choose which among them you would like for a wife, and I will send an +embassy to her father to ask for her hand.” + +“Alas! your Majesty,” answered the prince, “it is not love or marriage +that makes me so gloomy; but the thought, which haunts me day and +night, that all men, even kings, must die. Never shall I be happy again +till I have found a kingdom where death is unknown. And I have +determined to give myself no rest till I have discovered the Land of +Immortality. + +The old king heard him with dismay; things were worse than he thought. +He tried to reason with his son, and told him that during all these +years he had been looking forward to his return, in order to resign his +throne and its cares, which pressed so heavily upon him. But it was in +vain that he talked; the prince would listen to nothing, and the +following morning buckled on his sword and set forth on his journey. + +He had been travelling for many days, and had left his fatherland +behind him, when close to the road he came upon a huge tree, and on its +topmost bough an eagle was sitting shaking the branches with all his +might. This seemed so strange and so unlike an eagle, that the prince +stood still with surprise, and the bird saw him and flew to the ground. +The moment its feet touched the ground he changed into a king. + +“Why do you look so astonished?” he asked. + +“I was wondering why you shook the boughs so fiercely,” answered the +prince. + +“I am condemned to do this, for neither I nor any of my kindred can die +till I have rooted up this great tree,” replied the king of the eagles. +“But it is now evening, and I need work no more to-day. Come to my +house with me, and be my guest for the night.” + +The prince accepted gratefully the eagle’s invitation, for he was tired +and hungry. They were received at the palace by the king’s beautiful +daughter, who gave orders that dinner should be laid for them at once. +While they were eating, the eagle questioned his guest about his +travels, and if he was wandering for pleasure’s sake, or with any +special aim. Then the prince told him everything, and how he could +never turn back till he had discovered the Land of Immortality. + +“Dear brother,” said the eagle, “you have discovered it already, and it +rejoices my heart to think that you will stay with us. Have you not +just heard me say that death has no power either over myself or any of +my kindred till that great tree is rooted up? It will take me six +hundred years’ hard work to do that; so marry my daughter and let us +all live happily together here. After all, six hundred years is an +eternity!” + +“Ah, dear king,” replied the young man, “your offer is very tempting! +But at the end of six hundred years we should have to die, so we should +be no better off! No, I must go on till I find the country where there +is no death at all.” + +Then the princess spoke, and tried to persuade the guest to change his +mind, but he sorrowfully shook his head. At length, seeing that his +resolution was firmly fixed, she took from a cabinet a little box which +contained her picture, and gave it to him saying: + +“As you will not stay with us, prince, accept this box, which will +sometimes recall us to your memory. If you are tired of travelling +before you come to the Land of Immortality, open this box and look at +my picture, and you will be borne along either on earth or in the air, +quick as thought, or swift as the whirlwind.” + +The prince thanked her for her gift, which he placed in his tunic, and +sorrowfully bade the eagle and his daughter farewell. + +Never was any present in the world as useful as that little box, and +many times did he bless the kind thought of the princess. One evening +it had carried him to the top of a high mountain, where he saw a man +with a bald head, busily engaged in digging up spadefuls of earth and +throwing them in a basket. When the basket was full he took it away and +returned with an empty one, which he likewise filled. The prince stood +and watched him for a little, till the bald-headed man looked up and +said to him: “Dear brother, what surprises you so much?” + +“I was wondering why you were filling the basket,” replied the prince. + +“Oh!” replied the man, “I am condemned to do this, for neither I nor +any of my family can die till I have dug away the whole of this +mountain and made it level with the plain. But, come, it is almost +dark, and I shall work no longer.” And he plucked a leaf from a tree +close by, and from a rough digger he was changed into a stately +bald-headed king. “Come home with me,” he added; “you must be tired and +hungry, and my daughter will have supper ready for us.” The prince +accepted gladly, and they went back to the palace, where the +bald-headed king’s daughter, who was still more beautiful than the +other princess, welcomed them at the door and led the way into a large +hall and to a table covered with silver dishes. While they were eating, +the bald-headed king asked the prince how he had happened to wander so +far, and the young man told him all about it, and how he was seeking +the Land of Immortality. “You have found it already,” answered the +king, “for, as I said, neither I nor my family can die till I have +levelled this great mountain; and that will take full eight hundred +years longer. Stay here with us and marry my daughter. Eight hundred +years is surely long enough to live.” + +“Oh, certainly,” answered the prince; “but, all the same, I would +rather go and seek the land where there is no death at all.” + +So next morning he bade them farewell, though the princess begged him +to stay with all her might; and when she found that she could not +persuade him she gave him as a remembrance a gold ring. This ring was +still more useful than the box, because when one wished oneself at any +place one was there directly, without even the trouble of flying to it +through the air. The prince put it on his finger, and thanking her +heartily, went his way. + +He walked on for some distance, and then he recollected the ring and +thought he would try if the princess had spoken truly as to its powers. +“I wish I was at the end of the world,” he said, shutting his eyes, and +when he opened them he was standing in a street full of marble palaces. +The men who passed him were tall and strong, and their clothes were +magnificent. He stopped some of them and asked in all the twenty-seven +languages he knew what was the name of the city, but no one answered +him. Then his heart sank within him; what should he do in this strange +place if nobody could understand anything? he said. Suddenly his eyes +fell upon a man dressed after the fashion of his native country, and he +ran up to him and spoke to him in his own tongue. “What city is this, +my friend?” he inquired. + +“It is the capital city of the Blue Kingdom,” replied the man, “but the +king himself is dead, and his daughter is now the ruler.” + +With this news the prince was satisfied, and begged his countryman to +show him the way to the young queen’s palace. The man led him through +several streets into a large square, one side of which was occupied by +a splendid building that seemed borne up on slender pillars of soft +green marble. In front was a flight of steps, and on these the queen +was sitting wrapped in a veil of shining silver mist, listening to the +complaints of her people and dealing out justice. When the prince came +up she saw directly that he was no ordinary man, and telling her +chamberlain to dismiss the rest of her petitioners for that day, she +signed to the prince to follow her into the palace. Luckily she had +been taught his language as a child, so they had no difficulty in +talking together. + +The prince told all his story and how he was journeying in search of +the Land of Immortality. When he had finished, the princess, who had +listened attentively, rose, and taking his arm, led him to the door of +another room, the floor of which was made entirely of needles, stuck so +close together that there was not room for a single needle more. + +“Prince,” she said, turning to him, “you see these needles? Well, know +that neither I nor any of my family can die till I have worn out these +needles in sewing. It will take at least a thousand years for that. +Stay here, and share my throne; a thousand years is long enough to +live!” + +“Certainly,” answered he; “still, at the end of the thousand years I +should have to die! No, I must find the land where there is no death.” + +The queen did all she could to persuade him to stay, but as her words +proved useless, at length she gave it up. Then she said to him: “As you +will not stay, take this little golden rod as a remembrance of me. It +has the power to become anything you wish it to be, when you are in +need.” + +So the prince thanked her, and putting the rod in his pocket, went his +way. + +Scarcely had he left the town behind him when he came to a broad river +which no man might pass, for he was standing at the end of the world, +and this was the river which flowed round it. Not knowing what to do +next, he walked a little distance up the bank, and there, over his +head, a beautiful city was floating in the air. He longed to get to it, +but how? neither road nor bridge was anywhere to be seen, yet the city +drew him upwards, and he felt that here at last was the country which +he sought. Suddenly he remembered the golden rod which the mist-veiled +queen had given him. With a beating heart he flung it to the ground, +wishing with all his might that it should turn into a bridge, and +fearing that, after all, this might prove beyond its power. But no, +instead of the rod, there stood a golden ladder, leading straight up to +the city of the air. He was about to enter the golden gates, when there +sprang at him a wondrous beast, whose like he had never seen. “Out +sword from the sheath,” cried the prince, springing back with a cry. +And the sword leapt from the scabbard and cut off some of the monster’s +heads, but others grew again directly, so that the prince, pale with +terror, stood where he was, calling for help, and put his sword back in +the sheath again. + +The queen of the city heard the noise and looked from her window to see +what was happening. Summoning one of her servants, she bade him go and +rescue the stranger, and bring him to her. The prince thankfully obeyed +her orders, and entered her presence. + +The moment she looked at him, the queen also felt that he was no +ordinary man, and she welcomed him graciously, and asked him what had +brought him to the city. In answer the prince told all his story, and +how he had travelled long and far in search of the Land of Immortality. + +“You have found it,” said she, “for I am queen over life and over +death. Here you can dwell among the immortals.” + +A thousand years had passed since the prince first entered the city, +but they had flown so fast that the time seemed no more than six +months. There had not been one instant of the thousand years that the +prince was not happy till one night when he dreamed of his father and +mother. Then the longing for his home came upon him with a rush, and in +the morning he told the Queen of the Immortals that he must go and see +his father and mother once more. The queen stared at him with +amazement, and cried: “Why, prince, are you out of your senses? It is +more than eight hundred years since your father and mother died! There +will not even be their dust remaining.” + +“I must go all the same,” said he. + +“Well, do not be in a hurry,” continued the queen, understanding that +he would not be prevented. “Wait till I make some preparations for your +journey.” So she unlocked her great treasure chest, and took out two +beautiful flasks, one of gold and one of silver, which she hung round +his neck. Then she showed him a little trap-door in one corner of the +room, and said: “Fill the silver flask with this water, which is below +the trap-door. It is enchanted, and whoever you sprinkle with the water +will become a dead man at once, even if he had lived a thousand years. +The golden flask you must fill with the water here,” she added, +pointing to a well in another corner. “It springs from the rock of +eternity; you have only to sprinkle a few drops on a body and it will +come to life again, if it had been a thousand years dead.” + +The prince thanked the queen for her gifts, and, bidding her farewell, +went on his journey. + +He soon arrived in the town where the mist-veiled queen reigned in her +palace, but the whole city had changed, and he could scarcely find his +way through the streets. In the palace itself all was still, and he +wandered through the rooms without meeting anyone to stop him. At last +he entered the queen’s own chamber, and there she lay, with her +embroidery still in her hands, fast asleep. He pulled at her dress, but +she did not waken. Then a dreadful idea came over him, and he ran to +the chamber where the needles had been kept, but it was quite empty. +The queen had broken the last over the work she held in her hand, and +with it the spell was broken too, and she lay dead. + +Quick as thought the prince pulled out the golden flask, and sprinkled +some drops of the water over the queen. In a moment she moved gently, +and raising her head, opened her eyes. + +“Oh, my dear friend, I am so glad you wakened me; I must have slept a +long while!” + +“You would have slept till eternity,” answered the prince, “if I had +not been here to waken you.” + +At these words the queen remembered about the needles. She knew now +that she had been dead, and that the prince had restored her to life. +She gave him thanks from her heart for what he had done, and vowed she +would repay him if she ever got a chance. + +The prince took his leave, and set out for the country of the +bald-headed king. As he drew near the place he saw that the whole +mountain had been dug away, and that the king was lying dead on the +ground, his spade and bucket beside him. But as soon as the water from +the golden flask touched him he yawned and stretched himself, and +slowly rose to his feet. “Oh, my dear friend, I am so glad to see you,” +cried he, “I must have slept a long while!” + +“You would have slept till eternity if I had not been here to waken +you,” answered the prince. And the king remembered the mountain, and +the spell, and vowed to repay the service if he ever had a chance. + +Further along the road which led to his old home the prince found the +great tree torn up by its roots, and the king of the eagles sitting +dead on the ground, with his wings outspread as if for flight. A +flutter ran through the feathers as the drops of water fell on them, +and the eagle lifted his beak from the ground and said: “Oh, how long I +must have slept! How can I thank you for having awakened me, my dear, +good friend!” + +“You would have slept till eternity if I had not been here to waken +you”; answered the prince. Then the king remembered about the tree, and +knew that he had been dead, and promised, if ever he had the chance, to +repay what the prince had done for him. + +At last he reached the capital of his father’s kingdom, but on reaching +the place where the royal palace had stood, instead of the marble +galleries where he used to play, there lay a great sulphur lake, its +blue flames darting into the air. How was he to find his father and +mother, and bring them back to life, if they were lying at the bottom +of that horrible water? He turned away sadly and wandered back into the +streets, hardly knowing where he was going; when a voice behind him +cried: “Stop, prince, I have caught you at last! It is a thousand years +since I first began to seek you.” And there beside him stood the old, +white-bearded, figure of Death. Swiftly he drew the ring from his +finger, and the king of the eagles, the bald-headed king, and the +mist-veiled queen, hastened to his rescue. In an instant they had +seized upon Death and held him tight, till the prince should have time +to reach the Land of Immortality. But they did not know how quickly +Death could fly, and the prince had only one foot across the border, +when he felt the other grasped from behind, and the voice of Death +calling: “Halt! now you are mine.” + +The Queen of the Immortals was watching from her window, and cried to +Death that he had no power in her kingdom, and that he must seek his +prey elsewhere. + +“Quite true,” answered Death; “but his foot is in my kingdom, and that +belongs to me!” + +“At any rate half of him is mine,” replied the Queen, “and what good +can the other half do you? Half a man is no use, either to you or to +me! But this once I will allow you to cross into my kingdom, and we +will decide by a wager whose he is.” + +And so it was settled. Death stepped across the narrow line that +surrounds the Land of Immortality, and the queen proposed the wager +which was to decide the prince’s fate. “I will throw him up into the +sky,” she said, “right to the back of the morning star, and if he falls +down into this city, then he is mine. But if he should fall outside the +walls, he shall belong to you.” + +In the middle of the city was a great open square, and here the queen +wished the wager to take place. When all was ready, she put her foot +under the foot of the prince and swung him into the air. Up, up, he +went, high amongst the stars, and no man’s eyes could follow him. Had +she thrown him up straight? the queen wondered anxiously, for, if not, +he would fall outside the walls, and she would lose him for ever. The +moments seemed long while she and Death stood gazing up into the air, +waiting to know whose prize the prince would be. Suddenly they both +caught sight of a tiny speck no bigger than a wasp, right up in the +blue. Was he coming straight? No! Yes! But as he was nearing the city, +a light wind sprang up, and swayed him in the direction of the wall. +Another second and he would have fallen half over it, when the queen +sprang forward, seized him in her arms, and flung him into the castle. +Then she commanded her servants to cast Death out of the city, which +they did, with such hard blows that he never dared to show his face +again in the Land of Immortality. + +[From Ungarischen Volksmurchen.] + + + + +The Stone-Cutter + + +Once upon a time there lived a stone-cutter, who went every day to a +great rock in the side of a big mountain and cut out slabs for +gravestones or for houses. He understood very well the kinds of stones +wanted for the different purposes, and as he was a careful workman he +had plenty of customers. For a long time he was quite happy and +contented, and asked for nothing better than what he had. + +Now in the mountain dwelt a spirit which now and then appeared to men, +and helped them in many ways to become rich and prosperous. The +stone-cutter, however, had never seen this spirit, and only shook his +head, with an unbelieving air, when anyone spoke of it. But a time was +coming when he learned to change his opinion. + +One day the stone-cutter carried a gravestone to the house of a rich +man, and saw there all sorts of beautiful things, of which he had never +even dreamed. Suddenly his daily work seemed to grow harder and +heavier, and he said to himself: “Oh, if only I were a rich man, and +could sleep in a bed with silken curtains and golden tassels, how happy +I should be!” + +And a voice answered him: “Your wish is heard; a rich man you shall +be!” + +At the sound of the voice the stone-cutter looked round, but could see +nobody. He thought it was all his fancy, and picked up his tools and +went home, for he did not feel inclined to do any more work that day. +But when he reached the little house where he lived, he stood still +with amazement, for instead of his wooden hut was a stately palace +filled with splendid furniture, and most splendid of all was the bed, +in every respect like the one he had envied. He was nearly beside +himself with joy, and in his new life the old one was soon forgotten. + +It was now the beginning of summer, and each day the sun blazed more +fiercely. One morning the heat was so great that the stone-cutter could +scarcely breathe, and he determined he would stay at home till the +evening. He was rather dull, for he had never learned how to amuse +himself, and was peeping through the closed blinds to see what was +going on in the street, when a little carriage passed by, drawn by +servants dressed in blue and silver. In the carriage sat a prince, and +over his head a golden umbrella was held, to protect him from the sun’s +rays. + +“Oh, if I were only a prince!” said the stone-cutter to himself, as the +carriage vanished round the corner. “Oh, if I were only a prince, and +could go in such a carriage and have a golden umbrella held over me, +how happy I should be!” + +And the voice of the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard; a +prince you shall be.” + +And a prince he was. Before his carriage rode one company of men and +another behind it; servants dressed in scarlet and gold bore him along, +the coveted umbrella was held over his head, everything heart could +desire was his. But yet it was not enough. He looked round still for +something to wish for, and when he saw that in spite of the water he +poured on his grass the rays of the sun scorched it, and that in spite +of the umbrella held over his head each day his face grew browner and +browner, he cried in his anger: “The sun is mightier than I; oh, if I +were only the sun!” + +And the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard; the sun you +shall be.” + +And the sun he was, and felt himself proud in his power. He shot his +beams above and below, on earth and in heaven; he burnt up the grass in +the fields and scorched the faces of princes as well as of poorer folk. +But in a short time he began to grow tired of his might, for there +seemed nothing left for him to do. Discontent once more filled his +soul, and when a cloud covered his face, and hid the earth from him, he +cried in his anger: “Does the cloud hold captive my rays, and is it +mightier than I? Oh, that I were a cloud, and mightier than any!” + +And the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard; a cloud you +shall be!” + +And a cloud he was, and lay between the sun and the earth. He caught +the sun’s beams and held them, and to his joy the earth grew green +again and flowers blossomed. But that was not enough for him, and for +days and weeks he poured forth rain till the rivers overflowed their +banks, and the crops of rice stood in water. Towns and villages were +destroyed by the power of the rain, only the great rock on the mountain +side remained unmoved. The cloud was amazed at the sight, and cried in +wonder: “Is the rock, then, mightier than I? Oh, if I were only the +rock!” + +And the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard; the rock you +shall be! + +And the rock he was, and gloried in his power. Proudly he stood, and +neither the heat of the sun nor the force of the rain could move him. +“This is better than all!” he said to himself. But one day he heard a +strange noise at his feet, and when he looked down to see what it could +be, he saw a stone-cutter driving tools into his surface. Even while he +looked a trembling feeling ran all through him, and a great block broke +off and fell upon the ground. Then he cried in his wrath: “Is a mere +child of earth mightier than a rock? Oh, if I were only a man!” + +And the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard. A man once more +you shall be!” + +And a man he was, and in the sweat of his brow he toiled again at his +trade of stone-cutting. His bed was hard and his food scanty, but he +had learned to be satisfied with it, and did not long to be something +or somebody else. And as he never asked for things he had not got, or +desired to be greater and mightier than other people, he was happy at +last, and heard the voice of the mountain spirit no longer. + +[From Japanische Mährchen.] + + + + +The Gold-Bearded Man + + +Once upon a time there lived a great king who had a wife and one son +whom he loved very much. The boy was still young when, one day, the +king said to his wife: “I feel that the hour of my death draws near, +and I want you to promise that you will never take another husband but +will give up your life to the care of our son.” + +The queen burst into tears at these words, and sobbed out that she +would never, never marry again, and that her son’s welfare should be +her first thought as long as she lived. Her promise comforted the +troubled heart of the king, and a few days after he died, at peace with +himself and with the world. + +But no sooner was the breath out of his body, than the queen said to +herself, “To promise is one thing, and to keep is quite another.” And +hardly was the last spadeful of earth flung over the coffin than she +married a noble from a neighbouring country, and got him made king +instead of the young prince. Her new husband was a cruel, wicked man, +who treated his stepson very badly, and gave him scarcely anything to +eat, and only rags to wear; and he would certainly have killed the boy +but for fear of the people. + +Now by the palace grounds there ran a brook, but instead of being a +water-brook it was a milk-brook, and both rich and poor flocked to it +daily and drew as much milk as they chose. The first thing the new king +did when he was seated on the throne, was to forbid anyone to go near +the brook, on pain of being seized by the watchmen. And this was purely +spite, for there was plenty of milk for everybody. + +For some days no one dared venture near the banks of the stream, but at +length some of the watchmen noticed that early in the mornings, just at +dawn, a man with a gold beard came down to the brook with a pail, which +he filled up to the brim with milk, and then vanished like smoke before +they could get near enough to see who he was. So they went and told the +king what they had seen. + +At first the king would not believe their story, but as they persisted +it was quite true, he said that he would go and watch the stream that +night himself. With the earliest streaks of dawn the gold-bearded man +appeared, and filled his pail as before. Then in an instant he had +vanished, as if the earth had swallowed him up. + +The king stood staring with eyes and mouth open at the place where the +man had disappeared. He had never seen him before, that was certain; +but what mattered much more was how to catch him, and what should be +done with him when he was caught? He would have a cage built as a +prison for him, and everyone would talk of it, for in other countries +thieves were put in prison, and it was long indeed since any king had +used a cage. It was all very well to plan, and even to station a +watchman behind every bush, but it was of no use, for the man was never +caught. They would creep up to him softly on the grass, as he was +stooping to fill his pail, and just as they stretched out their hands +to seize him, he vanished before their eyes. Time after time this +happened, till the king grew mad with rage, and offered a large reward +to anyone who could tell him how to capture his enemy. + +The first person that came with a scheme was an old soldier who +promised the king that if he would only put some bread and bacon and a +flask of wine on the bank of the stream, the gold-bearded man would be +sure to eat and drink, and they could shake some powder into the wine, +which would send him to sleep at once. After that there was nothing to +do but to shut him in the cage. + +This idea pleased the king, and he ordered bread and bacon and a flask +of drugged wine to be placed on the bank of the stream, and the +watchers to be redoubled. Then, full of hope, he awaited the result. + +Everything turned out just as the soldier had said. Early next morning +the gold-bearded man came down to the brook, ate, drank, and fell sound +asleep, so that the watchers easily bound him, and carried him off to +the palace. In a moment the king had him fast in the golden cage, and +showed him, with ferocious joy, to the strangers who were visiting his +court. The poor captive, when he awoke from his drunken sleep, tried to +talk to them, but no one would listen to him, so he shut himself up +altogether, and the people who came to stare took him for a dumb man of +the woods. He wept and moaned to himself all day, and would hardly +touch food, though, in dread that he should die and escape his +tormentors, the king ordered his head cook to send him dishes from the +royal table. + +The gold-bearded man had been in captivity about a month, when the king +was forced to make war upon a neighbouring country, and left the +palace, to take command of his army. But before he went he called his +stepson to him and said: + +“Listen, boy, to what I tell you. While I am away I trust the care of +my prisoner to you. See that he has plenty to eat and drink, but be +careful that he does not escape, or even walk about the room. If I +return and find him gone, you will pay for it by a terrible death.” + +The young prince was thankful that his stepfather was going to the war, +and secretly hoped he might never come back. Directly he had ridden off +the boy went to the room where the cage was kept, and never left it +night and day. He even played his games beside it. + +One day he was shooting at a mark with a silver bow; one of his arrows +fell into the golden cage. + +“Please give me my arrow,” said the prince, running up to him; but the +gold-bearded man answered: + +“No, I shall not give it to you unless you let me out of my cage.” + +“I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather +says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the +war. My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.” + +The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he +begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him +free. Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was +touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of +other people. So he shot back the bolt, and the gold-bearded man +stepped out into the world. + +“I will repay you a thousand fold for that good deed.” said the man, +and then he vanished. The prince began to think what he should say to +the king when he came back; then he wondered whether it would be wise +to wait for his stepfather’s return and run the risk of the dreadful +death which had been promised him. “No,” he said to himself, “I am +afraid to stay. Perhaps the world will be kinder to me than he has +been.” + +Unseen he stole out when twilight fell, and for many days he wandered +over mountains and through forests and valleys without knowing where he +was going or what he should do. He had only the berries for food, when, +one morning, he saw a wood-pigeon sitting on a bough. In an instant he +had fitted an arrow to his bow, and was taking aim at the bird, +thinking what a good meal he would make off him, when his weapon fell +to the ground at the sound of the pigeon’s voice: + +“Do not shoot, I implore you, noble prince! I have two little sons at +home, and they will die of hunger if I am not there to bring them +food.” + +And the young prince had pity, and unstrung his bow. + +“Oh, prince, I will repay your deed of mercy, said the grateful +wood-pigeon. + +“Poor thing! how can you repay me?” asked the prince. + +“You have forgotten,” answered the wood-pigeon, “the proverb that runs, +‘mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living creature can +always come across another.’” The boy laughed at this speech and went +his way. + +By-and-by he reached the edge of a lake, and flying towards some rushes +which grew near the shore he beheld a wild duck. Now, in the days that +the king, his father, was alive, and he had everything to eat he could +possibly wish for, the prince always had wild duck for his birthday +dinner, so he quickly fitted an arrow to his bow and took a careful +aim. + +“Do not shoot, I pray you, noble prince!” cried the wild duck; “I have +two little sons at home; they will die of hunger if I am not there to +bring them food.” + +And the prince had pity, and let fall his arrow and unstrung his bow. + +“Oh, prince! I will repay your deed of mercy,” exclaimed the grateful +wild duck. + +“You poor thing! how can you repay me?” asked the prince. + +“You have forgotten,” answered the wild duck, “the proverb that runs, +‘mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living creature can +always come across another.’” The boy laughed at this speech and went +his way. + +He had not wandered far from the shores of the lake, when he noticed a +stork standing on one leg, and again he raised his bow and prepared to +take aim. + +“Do not shoot, I pray you, noble prince,” cried the stork; “I have two +little sons at home; they will die of hunger if I am not there to bring +them food.” + +Again the prince was filled with pity, and this time also he did not +shoot. + +“Oh, prince, I will repay your deed of mercy,” cried the stork. + +“You poor stork! how can you repay me?” asked the prince. + +“You have forgotten,” answered the stork, “the proverb that runs, +‘mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living creature can +always come across another.’” + +The boy laughed at hearing these words again, and walked slowly on. He +had not gone far, when he fell in with two discharged soldiers. + +“Where are you going, little brother?” asked one. + +“I am seeking work,” answered the prince. + +“So are we,” replied the soldier. “We can all go together.” + +The boy was glad of company and they went on, and on, and on, through +seven kingdoms, without finding anything they were able to do. At +length they reached a palace, and there was the king standing on the +steps. + +“You seem to be looking for something,” said he. + +“It is work we want,” they all answered. + +So the king told the soldiers that they might become his coachmen; but +he made the boy his companion, and gave him rooms near his own. The +soldiers were dreadfully angry when they heard this, for of course they +did not know that the boy was really a prince; and they soon began to +lay their heads together to plot his ruin. + +Then they went to the king. + +“Your Majesty,” they said, “we think it our duty to tell you that your +new companion has boasted to us that if he were only your steward he +would not lose a single grain of corn out of the storehouses. Now, if +your Majesty would give orders that a sack of wheat should be mixed +with one of barley, and would send for the youth, and command him to +separate the grains one from another, in two hours’ time, you would +soon see what his talk was worth.” + +The king, who was weak, listened to what these wicked men had told him, +and desired the prince to have the contents of the sack piled into two +heaps by the time that he returned from his council. “If you succeed,” +he added, “you shall be my steward, but if you fail, I will put you to +death on the spot.” + +The unfortunate prince declared that he had never made any such boast +as was reported; but it was all in vain. The king did not believe him, +and turning him into an empty room, bade his servants carry in the huge +sack filled with wheat and barley, and scatter them in a heap on the +floor. + +The prince hardly knew where to begin, and indeed if he had had a +thousand people to help him, and a week to do it in, he could never +have finished his task. So he flung himself on the ground in despair, +and covered his face with his hands. + +While he lay thus, a wood-pigeon flew in through the window. + +“Why are you weeping, noble prince?” asked the wood-pigeon. + +“How can I help weeping at the task set me by the king. For he says, if +I fail to do it, I shall die a horrible death.” + +“Oh, there is really nothing to cry about,” answered the wood-pigeon +soothingly. “I am the king of the wood-pigeons, whose life you spared +when you were hungry. And now I will repay my debt, as I promised.” So +saying he flew out of the window, leaving the prince with some hope in +his heart. + +In a few minutes he returned, followed by a cloud of wood-pigeons, so +dense that it seemed to fill the room. Their king showed them what they +had to do, and they set to work so hard that the grain was sorted into +two heaps long before the council was over. When the king came back he +could not believe his eyes; but search as he might through the two +heaps, he could not find any barley among the wheat, or any wheat +amongst the barley. So he praised the prince for his industry and +cleverness, and made him his steward at once. + +This made the two soldiers more envious still, and they began to hatch +another plot. + +“Your Majesty,” they said to the king, one day, as he was standing on +the steps of the palace, “that fellow has been boasting again, that if +he had the care of your treasures not so much as a gold pin should ever +be lost. Put this vain fellow to the proof, we pray you, and throw the +ring from the princess’s finger into the brook, and bid him find it. We +shall soon see what his talk is worth.” + +And the foolish king listened to them, and ordered the prince to be +brought before him. + +“My son,” he said, “I have heard that you have declared that if I made +you keeper of my treasures you would never lose so much as a gold pin. +Now, in order to prove the truth of your words, I am going to throw the +ring from the princess’s finger into the brook, and if you do not find +it before I come back from council, you will have to die a horrible +death.” + +It was no use denying that he had said anything of the kind. The king +did not believe him; in fact he paid no attention at all, and hurried +off, leaving the poor boy speechless with despair in the corner. +However, he soon remembered that though it was very unlikely that he +should find the ring in the brook, it was impossible that he should +find it by staying in the palace. + +For some time the prince wandered up and down peering into the bottom +of the stream, but though the water was very clear, nothing could he +see of the ring. At length he gave it up in despair, and throwing +himself down at the foot of the tree, he wept bitterly. + +“What is the matter, dear prince?” said a voice just above him, and +raising his head, he saw the wild duck. + +“The king of this country declares I must die a horrible death if I +cannot find the princess’s ring which he has thrown into the brook,” +answered the prince. + +“Oh, you must not vex yourself about that, for I can help you,” replied +the bird. “I am the king of the wild ducks, whose life you spared, and +now it is my turn to save yours.” Then he flew away, and in a few +minutes a great flock of wild ducks were swimming all up and down the +stream looking with all their might, and long before the king came back +from his council there it was, safe on the grass beside the prince. + +At this sight the king was yet more astonished at the cleverness of his +steward, and at once promoted him to be the keeper of his jewels. + +Now you would have thought that by this time the king would have been +satisfied with the prince, and would have left him alone; but people’s +natures are very hard to change, and when the two envious soldiers came +to him with a new falsehood, he was as ready to listen to them as +before. + +“Gracious Majesty,” said they, “the youth whom you have made keeper of +your jewels has declared to us that a child shall be born in the palace +this night, which will be able to speak every language in the world and +to play every instrument of music. Is he then become a prophet, or a +magician, that he should know things which have not yet come to pass?” + +At these words the king became more angry than ever. He had tried to +learn magic himself, but somehow or other his spells would never work, +and he was furious to hear that the prince claimed a power that he did +not possess. Stammering with rage, he ordered the youth to be brought +before him, and vowed that unless this miracle was accomplished he +would have the prince dragged at a horse’s tail until he was dead. + +In spite of what the soldiers had said, the boy knew no more magic than +the king did, and his task seemed more hopeless than before. He lay +weeping in the chamber which he was forbidden to leave, when suddenly +he heard a sharp tapping at the window, and, looking up, he beheld a +stork. + +“What makes you so sad, prince?” asked he. + +“Someone has told the king that I have prophesied that a child shall be +born this night in the palace, who can speak all the languages in the +world and play every musical instrument. I am no magician to bring +these things to pass, but he says that if it does not happen he will +have me dragged through the city at a horse’s tail till I die.” + +“Do not trouble yourself,” answered the stork. “I will manage to find +such a child, for I am the king of the storks whose life you spared, +and now I can repay you for it.” + +The stork flew away and soon returned carrying in his beak a baby +wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid it down near a lute. In an +instant the baby stretched out its little hands and began to play a +tune so beautiful that even the prince forgot his sorrows as he +listened. Then he was given a flute and a zither, but he was just as +well able to draw music from them; and the prince, whose courage was +gradually rising, spoke to him in all the languages he knew. The baby +answered him in all, and no one could have told which was his native +tongue! + +The next morning the king went straight to the prince’s room, and saw +with his own eyes the wonders that baby could do. “If your magic can +produce such a baby,” he said, “you must be greater than any wizard +that ever lived, and shall have my daughter in marriage.” And, being a +king, and therefore accustomed to have everything the moment he wanted +it, he commanded the ceremony to be performed without delay, and a +splendid feast to be made for the bride and bridegroom. When it was +over, he said to the prince: + +“Now that you are really my son, tell me by what arts you were able to +fulfil the tasks I set you?” + +“My noble father-in-law,” answered the prince, “I am ignorant of all +spells and arts. But somehow I have always managed to escape the death +which has threatened me.” And he told the king how he had been forced +to run away from his stepfather, and how he had spared the three birds, +and had joined the two soldiers, who had from envy done their utmost to +ruin him. + +The king was rejoiced in his heart that his daughter had married a +prince, and not a common man, and he chased the two soldiers away with +whips, and told them that if they ever dared to show their faces across +the borders of his kingdom, they should die the same death he had +prepared for the prince. + +[From Ungarische Mährchen] + + + + +Tritill, Litill, And The Birds + + +Once upon a time there lived a princess who was so beautiful and so +good that everybody loved her. Her father could hardly bear her out of +his sight, and he almost died of grief when, one day, she disappeared, +and though the whole kingdom was searched through and through, she +could not be found in any corner of it. In despair, the king ordered a +proclamation to be made that whoever could bring her back to the palace +should have her for his wife. This made the young men start afresh on +the search, but they were no more successful than before, and returned +sorrowfully to their homes. + +Now there dwelt, not far from the palace, an old man who had three +sons. The two eldest were allowed by their parents to do just as they +liked, but the youngest was always obliged to give way to his brothers. +When they were all grown up, the eldest told his father that he was +tired of leading such a quiet life, and that he meant to go away and +see the world. + +The old people were very unhappy at the thought that they must part +with him, but they said nothing, and began to collect all that he would +want for his travels, and were careful to add a pair of new boots. When +everything was ready, he bade them farewell, and started merrily on his +way. + +For some miles his road lay through a wood, and when he left it he +suddenly came out on a bare hillside. Here he sat down to rest, and +pulling out his wallet prepared to eat his dinner. + +He had only eaten a few mouthfuls when an old man badly dressed passed +by, and seeing the food, asked if the young man could not spare him a +little. + +“Not I, indeed!” answered he; “why I have scarcely enough for myself. +If you want food you must earn it.” And the beggar went on. + +After the young man had finished his dinner he rose and walked on for +several hours, till he reached a second hill, where he threw himself +down on the grass, and took some bread and milk from his wallet. While +he was eating and drinking, there came by an old man, yet more wretched +than the first, and begged for a few mouthfuls. But instead of food he +only got hard words, and limped sadly away. + +Towards evening the young man reached an open space in the wood, and by +this time he thought he would like some supper. The birds saw the food, +and flew round his head in numbers hoping for some crumbs, but he threw +stones at them, and frightened them off. Then he began to wonder where +he should sleep. Not in the open space he was in, for that was bare and +cold, and though he had walked a long way that day, and was tired, he +dragged himself up, and went on seeking for a shelter. + +At length he saw a deep sort of hole or cave under a great rock, and as +it seemed quite empty, he went in, and lay down in a corner. About +midnight he was awakened by a noise, and peeping out he beheld a +terrible ogress approaching. He implored her not to hurt him, but to +let him stay there for the rest of the night, to which she consented, +on condition that he should spend the next day in doing any task which +she might choose to set him. To this the young man willingly agreed, +and turned over and went to sleep again. In the morning, the ogress +bade him sweep the dust out of the cave, and to have it clean before +her return in the evening, otherwise it would be the worse for him. +Then she left the cave. + +The young man took the spade, and began to clean the floor of the cave, +but try as he would to move it the dirt still stuck to its place. He +soon gave up the task, and sat sulkily in the corner, wondering what +punishment the ogress would find for him, and why she had set him to do +such an impossible thing. + +He had not long to wait, after the ogress came home, before he knew +what his punishment was to be! She just gave one look at the floor of +the cave, then dealt him a blow on the head which cracked his skull, +and there was an end of him. + +Meanwhile his next brother grew tired of staying at home, and let his +parents have no rest till they had consented that he also should be +given some food and some new boots, and go out to see the world. On his +road, he also met the two old beggars, who prayed for a little of his +bread and milk, but this young man had never been taught to help other +people, and had made it a rule through his life to keep all he had to +himself. So he turned a deaf ear and finished his dinner. + +By-and-by he, too, came to the cave, and was bidden by the ogress to +clean the floor, but he was no more successful than his brother, and +his fate was the same. + +Anyone would have thought that when the old people had only one son +left that at least they would have been kind to him, even if they did +not love him. But for some reason they could hardly bear the sight of +him, though he tried much harder to make them comfortable than his +brothers had ever done. So when he asked their leave to go out into the +world they gave it at once, and seemed quite glad to be rid of him. +They felt it was quite generous of them to provide him with a pair of +new boots and some bread and milk for his journey. + +Besides the pleasure of seeing the world, the youth was very anxious to +discover what had become of his brothers, and he determined to trace, +as far as he could, the way that they must have gone. He followed the +road that led from his father’s cottage to the hill, where he sat down +to rest, saying to himself: “I am sure my brothers must have stopped +here, and I will do the same.” + +He was hungry as well as tired, and took out some of the food his +parents had given him. He was just going to begin to eat when the old +man appeared, and asked if he could not spare him a little. The young +man at once broke off some of the bread, begging the old man to sit +down beside him, and treating him as if he was an old friend. At last +the stranger rose, and said to him: “If ever you are in trouble call +me, and I will help you. My name is Tritill.” Then he vanished, and the +young man could not tell where he had gone. + +However, he felt he had now rested long enough, and that he had better +be going his way. At the next hill he met with the second old man, and +to him also he gave food and drink. And when this old man had finished +he said, like the first: “If you ever want help in the smallest thing +call to me. My name is Litill.” + +The young man walked on till he reached the open space in the wood, +where he stopped for dinner. In a moment all the birds in the world +seemed flying round his head, and he crumbled some of his bread for +them and watched them as they darted down to pick it up. When they had +cleared off every crumb the largest bird with the gayest plumage said +to him: “If you are in trouble and need help say, ‘My birds, come to +me!’ and we will come.” Then they flew away. + +Towards evening the young man reached the cave where his brothers had +met their deaths, and, like them, he thought it would be a good place +to sleep in. Looking round, he saw some pieces of the dead men’s +clothes and of their bones. The sight made him shiver, but he would not +move away, and resolved to await the return of the ogress, for such he +knew she must be. + +Very soon she came striding in, and he asked politely if she would give +him a night’s lodging. She answered as before, that he might stay on +condition that he should do any work that she might set him to next +morning. So the bargain being concluded, the young man curled himself +up in his corner and went to sleep. + +The dirt lay thicker than ever on the floor of the cave when the young +man took the spade and began his work. He could not clear it any more +than his brothers had done, and at last the spade itself stuck in the +earth so that he could not pull it out. The youth stared at it in +despair, then the old beggar’s words flashed into his mind, and he +cried: “Tritill, Tritill, come and help me!” + +And Tritill stood beside him and asked what he wanted. The youth told +him all his story, and when he had finished, the old man said: “Spade +and shovel do your duty,” and they danced about the cave till, in a +short time, there was not a speck of dust left on the floor. As soon as +it was quite clean Tritill went his way. + +With a light heart the young man awaited the return of the ogress. When +she came in she looked carefully round, and then said to him: “You did +not do that quite alone. However, as the floor is clean I will leave +your head on.” + +The following morning the ogress told the young man that he must take +all the feathers out of her pillows and spread them to dry in the sun. +But if one feather was missing when she came back at night his head +should pay for it.” + +The young man fetched the pillows, and shook out all the feathers, and +oh! what quantities of them there were! He was thinking to himself, as +he spread them out carefully, how lucky it was that the sun was so +bright and that there was no wind, when suddenly a breeze sprang up, +and in a moment the feathers were dancing high in the air. At first the +youth tried to collect them again, but he soon found that it was no +use, and he cried in despair: “Tritill, Litill, and all my birds, come +and help me!” + +He had hardly said the words when there they all were; and when the +birds had brought all the feathers back again, Tritill, and Litill, and +he, put them away in the pillows, as the ogress had bidden him. But one +little feather they kept out, and told the young man that if the ogress +missed it he was to thrust it up her nose. Then they all vanished, +Tritill, Litill, and the birds. + +Directly the ogress returned home she flung herself with all her weight +on the bed, and the whole cave quivered under her. The pillows were +soft and full instead of being empty, which surprised her, but that did +not content her. She got up, shook out the pillow-cases one by one, and +began to count the feathers that were in each. “If one is missing I +will have your head,” said she, and at that the young man drew the +feather from his pocket and thrust it up her nose, crying “If you want +your feather, here it is.” + +“You did not sort those feathers alone,” answered the ogress calmly; +“however, this time I will let that pass.” + +That night the young man slept soundly in his corner, and in the +morning the ogress told him that his work that day would be to slay one +of her great oxen, to cook its heart, and to make drinking cups of its +horns, before she returned home “There are fifty oxen,” added she, “and +you must guess which of the herd I want killed. If you guess right, +to-morrow you shall be free to go where you will, and you shall choose +besides three things as a reward for your service. But if you slay the +wrong ox your head shall pay for it.” + +Left alone, the young man stood thinking for a little. Then he called: +“Tritill, Litill, come to my help!” + +In a moment he saw them, far away, driving the biggest ox the youth had +ever seen. When they drew near, Tritill killed it, Litill took out its +heart for the young man to cook, and both began quickly to turn the +horns into drinking cups. The work went merrily on, and they talked +gaily, and the young man told his friends of the payment promised him +by the ogress if he had done her bidding. The old men warned him that +he must ask her for the chest which stood at the foot of her bed, for +whatever lay on the top of the bed, and for what lay under the side of +the cave. The young man thanked them for their counsel, and Tritill and +Litill then took leave of him, saying that for the present he would +need them no more. + +Scarcely had they disappeared when the ogress came back, and found +everything ready just as she had ordered. Before she sat down to eat +the bullock’s heart she turned to the young man, and said: “You did not +do that all alone, my friend; but, nevertheless, I will keep my word, +and to-morrow you shall go your way.” So they went to bed and slept +till dawn. + +When the sun rose the ogress awoke the young man, and called to him to +choose any three things out of her house. + +“I choose,” answered he, “the chest which stands at the foot of your +bed; whatever lies on the top of the bed, and whatever is under the +side of the cave.” + +“You did not choose those things by yourself, my friend,” said the +ogress; “but what I have promised, that will I do.” + +And then she gave him his reward. + +“The thing which lay on the top of the bed” turned out to be the lost +princess. “The chest which stood at the foot of the bed” proved full of +gold and precious stones; and “what was under the side of the cave” he +found to be a great ship, with oars and sails that went of itself as +well on land as in the water. “You are the luckiest man that ever was +born,” said the ogress as she went out of the cave as usual. + +With much difficulty the youth put the heavy chest on his shoulders and +carried it on board the ship, the princess walking by his side. Then he +took the helm and steered the vessel back to her father’s kingdom. The +king’s joy at receiving back his lost daughter was so great that he +almost fainted, but when he recovered himself he made the young man +tell him how everything had really happened. “You have found her, and +you shall marry her,” said the king; and so it was done. And this is +the end of the story. + +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] + + + + +The Three Robes + + +Long, long ago, a king and queen reigned over a large and powerful +country. What their names were nobody knows, but their son was called +Sigurd, and their daughter Lineik, and these young people were famed +throughout the whole kingdom for their wisdom and beauty. + +There was only a year between them, and they loved each other so much +that they could do nothing apart. When they began to grow up the king +gave them a house of their own to live in, with servants and carriages, +and everything they could possibly want. + +For many years they all lived happily together, and then the queen fell +ill, and knew that she would never get better. + +“Promise me two things,” she said one day to the king; “one, that if +you marry again, as indeed you must, you will not choose as your wife a +woman from some small state or distant island, who knows nothing of the +world, and will be taken up with thoughts of her grandeur. But rather +seek out a princess of some great kingdom, who has been used to courts +all her life, and holds them at their true worth. The other thing I +have to ask is, that you will never cease to watch over our children, +who will soon become your greatest joy.” + +These were the queen’s last words, and a few hours later she was dead. +The king was so bowed down with sorrow that he would not attend even to +the business of the kingdom, and at last his Prime Minister had to tell +him that the people were complaining that they had nobody to right +their wrongs. “You must rouse yourself, sir,” went on the minister, +“and put aside your own sorrows for the sake of your country.” + +“You do not spare me,” answered the king; “but what you say is just, +and your counsel is good. I have heard that men say, likewise, that it +will be for the good of my kingdom for me to marry again, though my +heart will never cease to be with my lost wife. But it was her wish +also; therefore, to you I entrust the duty of finding a lady fitted to +share my throne; only, see that she comes neither from a small town nor +a remote island.” + +So an embassy was prepared, with the minister at its head, to visit the +greatest courts in the world, and to choose out a suitable princess. +But the vessel which carried them had not been gone many days when a +thick fog came on, and the captain could see neither to the right nor +to the left. For a whole month the ship drifted about in darkness, till +at length the fog lifted and they beheld a cliff jutting out just in +front. On one side of the cliff lay a sheltered bay, in which the +vessel was soon anchored, and though they did not know where they were, +at any rate they felt sure of fresh fruit and water. + +The minister left the rest of his followers on board the ship, and +taking a small boat rowed himself to land, in order to look about him +and to find out if the island was really as deserted as it seemed. + +He had not gone far, when he heard the sound of music, and, turning in +its direction, he saw a woman of marvellous beauty sitting on a low +stool playing on a harp, while a girl beside her sang. The minister +stopped and greeted the lady politely, and she replied with +friendliness, asking him why he had come to such an out-of-the way +place. In answer he told her of the object of his journey. + +“I am in the same state as your master,” replied the lady; “I was +married to a mighty king who ruled over this land, till Vikings +[sea-robbers] came and slew him and put all the people to death. But I +managed to escape, and hid myself here with my daughter.” + +And the daughter listened, and said softly to her mother: “Are you +speaking the truth now?” + +“Remember your promise,” answered the mother angrily, giving her a +pinch which was unseen by the minister. + +“What is your name, madam?” asked he, much touched by this sad story. + +“Blauvor,” she replied “and my daughter is called Laufer”; and then she +inquired the name of the minister, and of the king his master. After +this they talked of many things, and the lady showed herself learned in +all that a woman should know, and even in much that men only were +commonly taught. “What a wife she would make for the king,” thought the +minister to himself, and before long he had begged the honour of her +hand for his master. She declared at first that she was too unworthy to +accept the position offered her, and that the minister would soon +repent his choice; but this only made him the more eager, and in the +end he gained her consent, and prevailed on her to return with him at +once to his own country. + +The minister then conducted the mother and daughter back to the ship; +the anchor was raised, the sails spread, and a fair wind was behind +them. + +Now that the fog had lifted they could see as they looked back that, +except just along the shore, the island was bare and deserted and not +fit for men to live in; but about that nobody cared. They had a quick +voyage, and in six days they reached the land, and at once set out for +the capital, a messenger being sent on first by the minister to inform +the king of what had happened. + +When his Majesty’s eyes fell on the two beautiful women, clad in +dresses of gold and silver, he forgot his sorrows and ordered +preparations for the wedding to be made without delay. In his joy he +never remembered to inquire in what kind of country the future queen +had been found. In fact his head was so turned by the beauty of the two +ladies that when the invitations were sent by his orders to all the +great people in the kingdom, he did not even recollect his two +children, who remained shut up in their own house! + +After the marriage the king ceased to have any will of his own and did +nothing without consulting his wife. She was present at all his +councils, and her opinion was asked before making peace or war. But +when a few months had passed the king began to have doubts as to +whether the minister’s choice had really been a wise one, and he +noticed that his children lived more and more in their palace and never +came near their stepmother. + +It always happens that if a person’s eyes are once opened they see a +great deal more than they ever expected; and soon it struck the king +that the members of his court had a way of disappearing one after the +other without any reason. At first he had not paid much attention to +the fact, but merely appointed some fresh person to the vacant place. +As, however, man after man vanished without leaving any trace, he began +to grow uncomfortable and to wonder if the queen could have anything to +do with it. + +Things were in this state when, one day, his wife said to him that it +was time for him to make a progress through his kingdom and see that +his governors were not cheating him of the money that was his due. “And +you need not be anxious about going,” she added, “for I will rule the +country while you are away as carefully as you could yourself.” + +The king had no great desire to undertake this journey, but the queen’s +will was stronger than his, and he was too lazy to make a fight for it. +So he said nothing and set about his preparations, ordering his finest +ship to be ready to carry him round the coast. Still his heart was +heavy, and he felt uneasy, though he could not have told why; and the +night before he was to start he went to the children’s palace to take +leave of his son and daughter. + +He had not seen them for some time, and they gave him a warm welcome, +for they loved him dearly and he had always been kind to them. They had +much to tell him, but after a while he checked their merry talk and +said: + +“If I should never come back from this journey I fear that it may not +be safe for you to stay here; so directly there are no more hopes of my +return go instantly and take the road eastwards till you reach a high +mountain, which you must cross. Once over the mountain keep along by +the side of a little bay till you come to two trees, one green and the +other red, standing in a thicket, and so far back from the road that +without looking for them you would never see them. Hide each in the +trunk of one of the trees and there you will be safe from all your +enemies.” + +With these words the king bade them farewell and entered sadly into his +ship. For a few days the wind was fair, and everything seemed going +smoothly; then, suddenly, a gale sprang up, and a fearful storm of +thunder and lightning, such as had never happened within the memory of +man. In spite of the efforts of the frightened sailors the vessel was +driven on the rocks, and not a man on board was saved. + +That very night Prince Sigurd had a dream, in which he thought his +father appeared to him in dripping clothes, and, taking the crown from +his head, laid it at his son’s feet, leaving the room as silently as he +had entered it. + +Hastily the prince awoke his sister Lineik, and they agreed that their +father must be dead, and that they must lose no time in obeying his +orders and putting themselves in safety. So they collected their jewels +and a few clothes and left the house without being observed by anyone. + +They hurried on till they arrived at the mountain without once looking +back. Then Sigurd glanced round and saw that their stepmother was +following them, with an expression on her face which made her uglier +than the ugliest old witch. Between her and them lay a thick wood, and +Sigurd stopped for a moment to set it on fire; then he and his sister +hastened on more swiftly than before, till they reached the grove with +the red and green trees, into which they jumped, and felt that at last +they were safe. + +Now, at that time there reigned over Greece a king who was very rich +and powerful, although his name has somehow been forgotten. He had two +children, a son and a daughter, who were more beautiful and +accomplished than any Greeks had been before, and they were the pride +of their father’s heart. + +The prince had no sooner grown out of boyhood than he prevailed on his +father to make war during the summer months on a neighbouring nation, +so as to give him a chance of making himself famous. In winter, +however, when it was difficult to get food and horses in that wild +country, the army was dispersed, and the prince returned home. + +During one of these wars he had heard reports of the Princess Lineik’s +beauty, and he resolved to seek her out, and to ask for her hand in +marriage. All this Blauvor, the queen, found out by means of her black +arts, and when the prince drew near the capital she put a splendid +dress on her own daughter and then went to meet her guest. + +She bade him welcome to her palace, and when they had finished supper +she told him of the loss of her husband, and how there was no one left +to govern the kingdom but herself. + +“But where is the Princess Lineik?” asked the prince when she had ended +her tale. + +“Here,” answered the queen, bringing forward the girl, whom she had +hitherto kept in the background. + +The prince looked at her and was rather disappointed. The maiden was +pretty enough, but not much out of the common. + +“Oh, you must not wonder at her pale face and heavy eyes,” said the +queen hastily, for she saw what was passing in his mind. “She has never +got over the loss of both father and mother.” + +“That shows a good heart,” thought the prince; “and when she is happy +her beauty will soon come back.” And without any further delay he +begged the queen to consent to their betrothal, for the marriage must +take place in his own country. + +The queen was enchanted. She had hardly expected to succeed so soon, +and she at once set about her preparations. Indeed she wished to travel +with the young couple, to make sure that nothing should go wrong; but +here the prince was firm, that he would take no one with him but +Laufer, whom he thought was Lineik. + +They soon took leave of the queen, and set sail in a splendid ship; but +in a short time a dense fog came on, and in the dark the captain +steered out of his course, and they found themselves in a bay which was +quite strange to all the crew. The prince ordered a boat to be lowered, +and went on shore to look about him, and it was not long before he +noticed the two beautiful trees, quite different from any that grew in +Greece. Calling one of the sailors, he bade him cut them down, and +carry them on board the ship. This was done, and as the sky was now +clear they put out to sea, and arrived in Greece without any more +adventures. + +The news that the prince had brought home a bride had gone before them, +and they were greeted with flowery arches and crowns of coloured +lights. The king and queen met them on the steps of the palace, and +conducted the girl to the women’s house, where she would have to remain +until her marriage. The prince then went to his own rooms and ordered +that the trees should be brought in to him. + +The next morning the prince bade his attendants bring his future bride +to his own apartments, and when she came he gave her silk which she was +to weave into three robes—one red, one green, and one blue—and these +must all be ready before the wedding. The blue one was to be done first +and the green last, and this was to be the most splendid of all, “for I +will wear it at our marriage,” said he. + +Left alone, Laufer sat and stared at the heap of shining silk before +her. She did not know how to weave, and burst into tears as she thought +that everything would be discovered, for Lineik’s skill in weaving was +as famous as her beauty. As she sat with her face hidden and her body +shaken by sobs, Sigurd in his tree heard her and was moved to pity. +“Lineik, my sister,” he called, softly, “Laufer is weeping; help her, I +pray you.” + +“Have you forgotten the wrongs her mother did to us” answered Lineik, +“and that it is owing to her that we are banished from home?” + +But she was not really unforgiving, and very soon she slid quietly out +of her hiding-place, and taking the silk from Laufer’s hands began to +weave it. So quick and clever was she that the blue dress was not only +woven but embroidered, and Lineik was safe back in her tree before the +prince returned. + +“It is the most beautiful work I have ever seen,” said he, taking up a +bit. “And I am sure that the red one will be still better, because the +stuff is richer,” and with a low bow he left the room. + +Laufer had hoped secretly that when the prince had seen the blue dress +finished he would have let her off the other two; but when she found +she was expected to fulfil the whole task, her heart sank and she began +to cry loudly. Again Sigurd heard her, and begged Lineik to come to her +help, and Lineik, feeling sorry for her distress, wove and embroidered +the second dress as she had done the first, mixing gold thread and +precious stones till you could hardly see the red of the stuff. When it +was done she glided into her tree just as the prince came in. + +“You are as quick as you are clever,” said he, admiringly. “This looks +as if it had been embroidered by the fairies! But as the green robe +must outshine the other two I will give you three days in which to +finish it. After it is ready we will be married at once.” + +Now, as he spoke, there rose up in Laufer’s mind all the unkind things +that she and her mother had done to Lineik. Could she hope that they +would be forgotten, and that Lineik would come to her rescue for the +third time? And perhaps Lineik, who had not forgotten the past either, +might have left her alone, to get on as best she could, had not Sigurd, +her brother, implored her to help just once more. So Lineik again slid +out of her tree, and, to Laufer’s great relief, set herself to work. +When the shining green silk was ready she caught the sun’s rays and the +moon’s beams on the point of her needle and wove them into a pattern +such as no man had ever seen. But it took a long time, and on the third +morning, just as she was putting the last stitches into the last flower +the prince came in. + +Lineik jumped up quickly, and tried to get past him back to her tree; +but the folds of the silk were wrapped round her, and she would have +fallen had not the prince caught her. + +“I have thought for some time that all was not quite straight here,” +said he. “Tell me who you are, and where you come from?” + +Lineik then told her name and her story. When she had ended the prince +turned angrily to Laufer, and declared that, as a punishment for her +wicked lies, she deserved to die a shameful death. + +But Laufer fell at his feet and begged for mercy. It was her mother’s +fault, she said: “It was she, and not I, who passed me off as the +Princess Lineik. The only lie I have ever told you was about the robes, +and I do not deserve death for that.” + +She was still on her knees when Prince Sigurd entered the room. He +prayed the Prince of Greece to forgive Laufer, which he did, on +condition that Lineik would consent to marry him. “Not till my +stepmother is dead,” answered she, “for she has brought misery to all +that came near her.” Then Laufer told them that Blauvor was not the +wife of a king, but an ogress who had stolen her from a neighbouring +palace and had brought her up as her daughter. And besides being an +ogress she was also a witch, and by her black arts had sunk the ship in +which the father of Sigurd and Lineik had set sail. It was she who had +caused the disappearance of the courtiers, for which no one could +account, by eating them during the night, and she hoped to get rid of +all the people in the country, and then to fill the land with ogres and +ogresses like herself. + +So Prince Sigurd and the Prince of Greece collected an army swiftly, +and marched upon the town where Blauvor had her palace. They came so +suddenly that no one knew of it, and if they had, Blauvor had eaten +most of the strong men; and others, fearful of something they could not +tell what, had secretly left the place. Therefore she was easily +captured, and the next day was beheaded in the market-place. Afterwards +the two princes marched back to Greece. + +Lineik had no longer any reason for putting off her wedding, and +married the Prince of Greece at the same time that Sigurd married the +princess. And Laufer remained with Lineik as her friend and sister, +till they found a husband for her in a great nobleman; and all three +couples lived happily until they died. + +[From Islandische Muhrchen Poestion Wien.] + + + + +The Six Hungry Beasts + + +Once upon a time there lived a man who dwelt with his wife in a little +hut, far away from any neighbours. But they did not mind being alone, +and would have been quite happy, if it had not been for a marten, who +came every night to their poultry yard, and carried off one of their +fowls. The man laid all sorts of traps to catch the thief, but instead +of capturing the foe, it happened that one day he got caught himself, +and falling down, struck his head against a stone, and was killed. + +Not long after the marten came by on the look out for his supper. +Seeing the dead man lying there, he said to himself: “That is a prize, +this time I have done well”; and dragging the body with great +difficulty to the sledge which was waiting for him, drove off with his +booty. He had not driven far when he met a squirrel, who bowed and +said: “Good-morning, godfather! what have you got behind you?” + +The marten laughed and answered: “Did you ever hear anything so +strange? The old man that you see here set traps about his hen-house, +thinking to catch me but he fell into his own trap, and broke his own +neck. He is very heavy; I wish you would help me to draw the sledge.” +The squirrel did as he was asked, and the sledge moved slowly along. + +By-and-by a hare came running across a field, but stopped to see what +wonderful thing was coming. “What have you got there?” she asked, and +the marten told his story and begged the hare to help them pull. + +The hare pulled her hardest, and after a while they were joined by a +fox, and then by a wolf, and at length a bear was added to the company, +and he was of more use than all the other five beasts put together. +Besides, when the whole six had supped off the man he was not so heavy +to draw. + +The worst of it was that they soon began to get hungry again, and the +wolf, who was the hungriest of all, said to the rest: + +“What shall we eat now, my friends, as there is no more man?” + +“I suppose we shall have to eat the smallest of us,” replied the bear, +and the marten turned round to seize the squirrel who was much smaller +than any of the rest. But the squirrel ran up a tree like lightning, +and the marten remembering, just in time, that he was the next in size, +slipped quick as thought into a hole in the rocks. + +“What shall we eat now?” asked the wolf again, when he had recovered +from his surprise. + +“We must eat the smallest of us,” repeated the bear, stretching out a +paw towards the hare; but the hare was not a hare for nothing, and +before the paw had touched her, she had darted deep into the wood. + +Now that the squirrel, the marten, and the hare had all gone, the fox +was the smallest of the three who were left, and the wolf and the bear +explained that they were very sorry, but they would have to eat him. +Michael, the fox, did not run away as the others had done, but smiled +in a friendly manner, and remarked: “Things taste so stale in a valley; +one’s appetite is so much better up on a mountain.” The wolf and the +bear agreed, and they turned out of the hollow where they had been +walking, and chose a path that led up the mountain side. The fox +trotted cheerfully by his two big companions, but on the way he managed +to whisper to the wolf: “Tell me, Peter, when I am eaten, what will you +have for your next dinner?” + +This simple question seemed to put out the wolf very much. What would +they have for their next dinner, and, what was more important still, +who would there be to eat it? They had made a rule always to dine off +the smallest of the party, and when the fox was gone, why of course, he +was smaller than the bear. + +These thoughts flashed quickly through his head, and he said hastily: + +“Dear brothers, would it not be better for us to live together as +comrades, and everyone to hunt for the common dinner? Is not my plan a +good one?” + +“It is the best thing I have ever heard,” answered the fox; and as they +were two to one the bear had to be content, though in his heart he +would much have preferred a good dinner at once to any friendship. + +For a few days all went well; there was plenty of game in the forest, +and even the wolf had as much to eat as he could wish. One morning the +fox as usual was going his rounds when he noticed a tall, slender tree, +with a magpie’s nest in one of the top branches. Now the fox was +particularly fond of young magpies, and he set about making a plan by +which he could have one for dinner. At last he hit upon something which +he thought would do, and accordingly he sat down near the tree and +began to stare hard at it. + +“What are you looking at, Michael?” asked the magpie, who was watching +him from a bough. + +“I’m looking at this tree. It has just struck me what a good tree it +would be to cut my new snow-shoes out of.” But at this answer the +magpie screeched loudly, and exclaimed: “Oh, not this tree, dear +brother, I implore you! I have built my nest on it, and my young ones +are not yet old enough to fly.” + +“It will not be easy to find another tree that would make such good +snow-shoes,” answered the fox, cocking his head on one side, and gazing +at the tree thoughtfully; “but I do not like to be ill-natured, so if +you will give me one of your young ones I will seek my snow-shoes +elsewhere.” + +Not knowing what to do the poor magpie had to agree, and flying back, +with a heavy heart, he threw one of his young ones out of the nest. The +fox seized it in his mouth and ran off in triumph, while the magpie, +though deeply grieved for the loss of his little one, found some +comfort in the thought that only a bird of extraordinary wisdom would +have dreamed of saving the rest by the sacrifice of the one. But what +do you think happened? Why, a few days later, Michael the fox might +have been seen sitting under the very same tree, and a dreadful pang +shot through the heart of the magpie as he peeped at him from a hole in +the nest. + +“What are you looking at?” he asked in a trembling voice. + +“At this tree. I was just thinking what good snowshoes it would make,” +answered the fox in an absent voice, as if he was not thinking of what +he was saying. + +“Oh, my brother, my dear little brother, don’t do that,” cried the +magpie, hopping about in his anguish. “You know you promised only a few +days ago that you would get your snow-shoes elsewhere.” + +“So I did; but though I have searched through the whole forest, there +is not a single tree that is as good as this. I am very sorry to put +you out, but really it is not my fault. The only thing I can do for you +is to offer to give up my snow-shoes altogether if you will throw me +down one of your young ones in exchange.” + +And the poor magpie, in spite of his wisdom, was obliged to throw +another of his little ones out of the nest; and this time he was not +able to console himself with the thought that he had been much cleverer +than other people. + +He sat on the edge of his nest, his head drooping and his feathers all +ruffled, looking the picture of misery. Indeed he was so different from +the gay, jaunty magpie whom every creature in the forest knew, that a +crow who was flying past, stopped to inquire what was the matter. +“Where are the two young ones who are not in the nest?” asked he. + +“I had to give them to the fox,” replied the magpie in a quivering +voice; “he has been here twice in the last week, and wanted to cut down +my tree for the purpose of making snow-shoes out of it, and the only +way I could buy him off was by giving him two of my young ones.” + +Oh, you fool,” cried the crow, “the fox was only trying to frighten +you. He could not have cut down the tree, for he has neither axe nor +knife. Dear me, to think that you have sacrificed your young ones for +nothing! Dear, dear! how could you be so very foolish!” And the crow +flew away, leaving the magpie overcome with shame and sorrow. + +The next morning the fox came to his usual place in front of the tree, +for he was hungry, and a nice young magpie would have suited him very +well for dinner. But this time there was no cowering, timid magpie to +do his bidding, but a bird with his head erect and a determined voice. + +“My good fox,” said the magpie putting his head on one side and looking +very wise—“my good fox, if you take my advice, you will go home as fast +as you can. There is no use your talking about making snow-shoes out of +this tree, when you have neither knife nor axe to cut it down with!” + +“Who has been teaching you wisdom?” asked the fox, forgetting his +manners in his surprise at this new turn of affairs. + +“The crow, who paid me a visit yesterday,” answered the magpie. + +“The crow was it?” said the fox, “well, the crow had better not meet me +for the future, or it may be the worse for him.” + +As Michael, the cunning beast, had no desire to continue the +conversation, he left the forest; but when he came to the high road he +laid himself at full length on the ground, stretching himself out, just +as if he was dead. Very soon he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, +that the crow was flying towards him, and he kept stiller and stiffer +than ever, with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. The crow, who +wanted her supper very badly, hopped quickly towards him, and was +stooping forward to peck at his tongue when the fox gave a snap, and +caught him by the wing. The crow knew that it was of no use struggling, +so he said: + +“Ah, brother, if you are really going to eat me, do it, I beg of you, +in good style. Throw me first over this precipice, so that my feathers +may be strewn here and there, and that all who see them may know that +your cunning is greater than mine.” This idea pleased the fox, for he +had not yet forgiven the crow for depriving him of the young magpies, +so he carried the crow to the edge of the precipice and threw him over, +intending to go round by a path he knew and pick him up at the bottom. +But no sooner had the fox let the crow go than he soared up into the +air, and hovering just out of teach of his enemy’s jaws, he cried with +a laugh: “Ah, fox! you know well how to catch, but you cannot keep.” + +With his tail between his legs, the fox slunk into the forest. He did +not know where to look for a dinner, as he guessed that the crow would +have flown back before him, and put every one on their guard. The +notion of going to bed supperless was very unpleasant to him, and he +was wondering what in the world he should do, when he chanced to meet +with his old friend the bear. + +This poor animal had just lost his wife, and was going to get some one +to mourn over her, for he felt her loss greatly. He had hardly left his +comfortable cave when he had come across the wolf, who inquired where +he was going. “I am going to find a mourner,” answered the bear, and +told his story. + +“Oh, let me mourn for you,” cried the wolf. + +“Do you understand how to howl?” said the bear. + +“Oh, certainly, godfather, certainly,” replied the wolf; but the bear +said he should like to have a specimen of his howling, to make sure +that he knew his business. So the wolf broke forth in his song of +lament: “Hu, hu, hu, hum, hoh,” he shouted, and he made such a noise +that the bear put up his paws to his ears, and begged him to stop. + +“You have no idea how it is done. Be off with you,” said he angrily. + +A little further down the road the hare was resting in a ditch, but +when she saw the bear, she came out and spoke to him, and inquired why +he looked so sad. The bear told her of the loss of his wife, and of his +search after a mourner that could lament over her in the proper style. +The hare instantly offered her services, but the bear took care to ask +her to give him a proof of her talents, before he accepted them. “Pu, +pu, pu, pum, poh,” piped the hare; but this time her voice was so small +that the bear could hardly hear her. “That is not what I want,” he +said, “I will bid you good morning.” + +It was after this that the fox came up, and he also was struck with the +bear’s altered looks, and stopped. “What is the matter with you, +godfather?” asked he, “and where are you going?” + +“I am going to find a mourner for my wife,” answered the bear. + +“Oh, do choose me,” cried the fox, and the bear looked at him +thoughtfully. + +“Can you howl well?” he said. + +“Yes, beautifully, just listen,” and the fox lifted up his voice and +sang weeping: “Lou, lou, lou! the famous spinner, the baker of good +cakes, the prudent housekeeper is torn from her husband! Lou, lou, lou! +she is gone! she is gone!” + +“Now at last I have found some one who knows the art of lamentation,” +exclaimed the bear, quite delighted; and he led the fox back to his +cave, and bade him begin his lament over the dead wife who was lying +stretched out on her bed of grey moss. But this did not suit the fox at +all. + +“One cannot wail properly in this cave,” he said, “it is much too damp. +You had better take the body to the storehouse. It will sound much +finer there.” So the bear carried his wife’s body to the storehouse, +while he himself went back to the cave to cook some pap for the +mourner. From time to time he paused and listened for the sound of +wailing, but he heard nothing. At last he went to the door of the +storehouse, and called to the fox: + +“Why don’t you howl, godfather? What are you about?” + +And the fox, who, instead of weeping over the dead bear, had been +quietly eating her, answered: + +“There only remain now her legs and the soles of her feet. Give me five +minutes more and they will be gone also!” + +When the bear heard that he ran back for the kitchen ladle, to give the +traitor the beating he deserved. But as he opened the door of the +storehouse, Michael was ready for him, and slipping between his legs, +dashed straight off into the forest. The bear, seeing that the traitor +had escaped, flung the ladle after him, and it just caught the tip of +his tail, and that is how there comes to be a spot of white on the +tails of all foxes. + +[From Finnische Mährchen.] + + + + +How the Beggar Boy Turned into Count Piro + + +Once upon a time there lived a man who had only one son, a lazy, stupid +boy, who would never do anything he was told. When the father was +dying, he sent for his son and told him that he would soon be left +alone in the world, with no possessions but the small cottage they +lived in and a pear tree which grew behind it, and that, whether he +liked it or not, he would have to work, or else he would starve. Then +the old man died. + +But the boy did not work; instead, he idled about as before, contenting +himself with eating the pears off his tree, which, unlike other pear +trees before or since, bore fruit the whole year round. Indeed, the +pears were so much finer than any you could get even in the autumn, +that one day, in the middle of the winter, they attracted the notice of +a fox who was creeping by. + +“Dear me; what lovely pears!” he said to the youth. “Do give me a +basket of them. It will bring you luck!” + +“Ah, little fox, but if I give you a basketful, what am I to eat?” +asked the boy. + +“Oh, trust me, and do what I tell you,” said the fox; “I know it will +bring you luck.” So the boy got up and picked some of the ripest pears +and put them into a rush basket. The fox thanked him, and, taking the +basket in his mouth, trotted off to the king’s palace and made his way +straight to the king. + +“Your Majesty, my master sends you a few of his best pears, and begs +you will graciously accept them,” he said, laying the basket at the +feet of the king. + +“Pears! at this season?” cried the king, peering down to look at them; +“and, pray, who is your master?” + +“The Count Piro,” answered the fox. + +“But how does he manage to get pears in midwinter?” asked the king. + +“Oh, he has everything he wants,” replied the fox; “he is richer even +than you are, your Majesty.” + +“Then what can I send him in return for his pears?” said the king. + +“Nothing, your Majesty, or you would hurt his feelings,” answered the +fox. + +“Well, tell him how heartily I thank him, and how much I shall enjoy +them.” And the fox went away. + +He trotted back to the cottage with his empty basket and told his tale, +but the youth did not seem as pleased to hear as the fox was to tell. + +“But, my dear little fox,” said he, “you have brought me nothing in +return, and I am so hungry!” + +“Let me alone,” replied the fox; “I know what I am doing. You will see, +it will bring you luck.” + +A few days after this the fox came back again. + +“I must have another basket of pears,” said he. + +“Ah, little fox, what shall I eat if you take away all my pears?” +answered the youth. + +“Be quiet, it will be all right,” said the fox; and taking a bigger +basket than before, he filled it quite full of pears. Then he picked it +up in his mouth, and trotted off to the palace. + +“Your Majesty, as you seemed to like the first basket of pears, I have +brought you some more,” said he, “with my master, the Count Piro’s +humble respects.” + +“Now, surely it is not possible to grow such pears with deep snow on +the ground?” cried the king. + +“Oh, that never affects them,” answered the fox lightly; “he is rich +enough to do anything. But to-day he sends me to ask if you will give +him your daughter in marriage?” + +“If he is so much richer than I am,” said the king, “I shall be obliged +to refuse. My honour would not permit me to accept his offer.” + +“Oh, your Majesty, you must not think that,” replied the fox; “and do +not let the question of a dowry trouble you. The Count Piro would not +dream of asking anything but the hand of the princess.” + +“Is he really so rich that he can do without a dowry?” asked the king. + +“Did I not tell your Majesty that he was richer than you?” answered the +fox reproachfully. + +“Well, beg him to come here, that we may talk together,” said the king. + +So the fox went back to the young man and said: “I have told the king +that you are Count Piro, and have asked his daughter in marriage.” + +“Oh, little fox, what have you done?” cried the youth in dismay; “when +the king sees me he will order my head to be cut off.” + +“Oh, no, he won’t!” replied the fox; “just do as I tell you.” And he +went off to the town, and stopped at the house of the best tailor. + +“My master, the Count Piro, begs that you will send him at once the +finest coat that you have in your shop,” said the fox, putting on his +grandest air, “and if it fits him I will call and pay for it to-morrow! +Indeed, as he is in a great hurry, perhaps it might be as well if I +took it round myself.” The tailor was not accustomed to serve counts, +and he at once got out all the coats he had ready. The fox chose out a +beautiful one of white and silver, bade the tailor tie it up in a +parcel, and carrying the string in his teeth, he left the shop, and +went to a horse-dealer’s, whom he persuaded to send his finest horse +round to the cottage, saying that the king had bidden his master to the +palace. + +Very unwillingly the young man put on the coat and mounted the horse, +and rode up to meet the king, with the fox running before him. + +“What am I to say to his Majesty, little fox?” he asked anxiously; “you +know that I have never spoken to a king before.” + +“Say nothing,” answered the fox, “but leave the talking to me. ‘Good +morning, your Majesty,’ will be all that is necessary for you.” + +By this time they had reached the palace, and the king came to the door +to receive Count Piro, and led him to the great hall, where a feast was +spread. The princess was already seated at the table, but was as dumb +as Count Piro himself. + +“The Count speaks very little,” the king said at last to the fox, and +the fox answered: “He has so much to think about in the management of +his property that he cannot afford to talk like ordinary people.” The +king was quite satisfied, and they finished dinner, after which Count +Piro and the fox took leave. + +The next morning the fox came round again. + +“Give me another basket of pears,” he said. + +“Very well, little fox; but remember it may cost me my life,” answered +the youth. + +“Oh, leave it to me, and do as I tell you, and you will see that in the +end it will bring you luck,” answered the fox; and plucking the pears +he took them up to the king. + +“My master, Count Piro, sends you these pears,” he said, “and asks for +an answer to his proposal.” + +“Tell the count that the wedding can take place whenever he pleases,” +answered the king, and, filled with pride, the fox trotted back to +deliver his message. + +“But I can’t bring the princess here, little fox?” cried the young man +in dismay. + +“You leave everything to me,” answered the fox; “have I not managed +well so far?” + +And up at the palace preparations were made for a grand wedding, and +the youth was married to the princess. + +After a week of feasting, the fox said to the king: “My master wishes +to take his young bride home to his own castle.” + +“Very well, I will accompany them,” replied the king; and he ordered +his courtiers and attendants to get ready, and the best horses in his +stable to be brought out for himself, Count Piro and the princess. So +they all set out, and rode across the plain, the little fox running +before them. + +He stopped at the sight of a great flock of sheep, which was feeding +peacefully on the rich grass. “To whom do these sheep belong?” asked he +of the shepherd. “To an ogre,” replied the shepherd. + +“Hush,” said the fox in a mysterious manner. “Do you see that crowd of +armed men riding along? If you were to tell them that those sheep +belonged to an ogre, they would kill them, and then the ogre would kill +you! If they ask, just say the sheep belong to Count Piro; it will be +better for everybody.” And the fox ran hastily on, as he did not wish +to be seen talking to the shepherd. + +Very soon the king came up. + +“What beautiful sheep!” he said, drawing up his horse. “I have none so +fine in my pastures. Whose are they?” + +“Count Piro’s,” answered the shepherd, who did not know the king. + +“Well, he must be a very rich man,” thought the king to himself, and +rejoiced that he had such a wealthy son-in-law. + +Meanwhile the fox had met with a huge herd of pigs, snuffling about the +roots of some trees. + +“To whom do these pigs belong?” he asked of the swineherd. + +“To an ogre,” replied he. + +“Hush!” whispered the fox, though nobody could hear him; “do you see +that troop of armed men riding towards us? If you tell them that the +pigs belong to the ogre they will kill them, and then the ogre will +kill you! If they ask, just say that the pigs belong to Count Piro; it +will be better for everybody.” And he ran hastily on. + +Soon after the king rode up. + +“What fine pigs!” he said, reining in his horse. “They are fatter than +any I have got on my farms. Whose are they?” + +“Count Piro’s,” answered the swineherd, who did not know the king; and +again the king felt he was lucky to have such a rich son-in-law. + +This time the fox ran faster than before, and in a flowery meadow he +found a troop of horses feeding. “Whose horses are these?” he asked of +the man who was watching them. + +“An ogre’s,” replied he. + +“Hush!” whispered the fox, “do you see that crowd of armed men coming +towards us? If you tell them the horses belong to an ogre they will +drive them off, and then the ogre will kill you! If they ask, just say +they are Count Piro’s; it will be better for everybody.” And he ran on +again. + +In a few minutes the king rode up. + +“Oh, what lovely creatures! how I wish they were mine!” he exclaimed. +“Whose are they?” + +Count Piro’s,” answered the man, who did not know the king; and the +king’s heart leapt as he thought that if they belonged to his rich +son-in-law they were as good as his. + +At last the fox came to the castle of the ogre himself. He ran up the +steps, with tears falling from his eyes, and crying: + +“Oh, you poor, poor people, what a sad fate is yours!” + +“What has happened?” asked the ogre, trembling with fright. + +“Do you see that troop of horsemen who are riding along the road? They +are sent by the king to kill you!” + +“Oh, dear little fox, help us, we implore you!” cried the ogre and his +wife. + +“Well, I will do what I can,” answered the fox. “The best place is for +you both to hide in the big oven, and when the soldiers have gone by I +will let you out.” + +The ogre and ogress scrambled into the oven as quick as thought, and +the fox banged the door on them; just as he did so the king came up. + +“Do us the honour to dismount, your Majesty,” said the fox, bowing low. +“This is the palace of Count Piro!” + +“Why it is more splendid than my own!” exclaimed the king, looking +round on all the beautiful things that filled the hall. But why are +there no servants?” + +“His Excellency the Count Piro wished the princess to choose them for +herself,” answered the fox, and the king nodded his approval. He then +rode on, leaving the bridal pair in the castle. But when it was dark +and all was still, the fox crept downstairs and lit the kitchen fire, +and the ogre and his wife were burned to death. The next morning the +fox said to Count Piro: + +“Now that you are rich and happy, you have no more need of me; but, +before I go, there is one thing I must ask of you in return: when I +die, promise me that you will give me a magnificent coffin, and bury me +with due honours.” + +“Oh, little, little fox, don’t talk of dying,” cried the princess, +nearly weeping, for she had taken a great liking to the fox. + +After some time the fox thought he would see if the Count Piro was +really grateful to him for all he had done, and went back to the +castle, where he lay down on the door-step, and pretended to be dead. +The princess was just going out for a walk, and directly she saw him +lying there, she burst into tears and fell on her knees beside him. + +“My dear little fox, you are not dead,” she wailed; “you poor, poor +little creature, you shall have the finest coffin in the world!” + +“A coffin for an animal?” said Count Piro. “What nonsense! just take +him by the leg and throw him into the ditch.” + +Then the fox sprang up and cried: “You wretched, thankless beggar; have +you forgotten that you owe all your riches to me?” + +Count Piro was frightened when he heard these words, as he thought that +perhaps the fox might have power to take away the castle, and leave him +as poor as when he had nothing to eat but the pears off his tree. So he +tried to soften the fox’s anger, saying that he had only spoken in +joke, as he had known quite well that he was not really dead. For the +sake of the princess, the fox let himself be softened, and he lived in +the castle for many years, and played with Count Piro’s children. And +when he actually did die, his coffin was made of silver, and Count Piro +and his wife followed him to the grave. + +[From Sicilianische Mährchen.] + + + + +The Rogue And The Herdsman + + +In a tiny cottage near the king’s palace there once lived an old man, +his wife, and his son, a very lazy fellow, who would never do a stroke +of work. He could not be got even to look after their one cow, but left +her to look after herself, while he lay on a bank and went to sleep in +the sun. For a long time his father bore with him, hoping that as he +grew older he might gain more sense; but at last the old man’s patience +was worn out, and he told his son that he should not stay at house in +idleness, and must go out into the world to seek his fortune. + +The young man saw that there was no help for it, and he set out with a +wallet full of food over his shoulder. At length he came to a large +house, at the door of which he knocked. + +“What do you want?” asked the old man who opened it. And the youth told +him how his father had turned him out of his house because he was so +lazy and stupid, and he needed shelter for the night. + +“That you shall have,” replied the man; “but to-morrow I shall give you +some work to do, for you must know that I am the chief herdsman of the +king.” + +The youth made no answer to this. He felt, if he was to be made to work +after all, that he might as well have stayed where he was. But as he +did not see any other way of getting a bed, he went slowly in. + +The herdsman’s two daughters and their mother were sitting at supper, +and invited him to join them. Nothing more was said about work, and +when the meal was over they all went to bed. + +In the morning, when the young man was dressed, the herdsman called to +him and said: + +“Now listen, and I will tell you what you have to do.” + +“What is it?” asked the youth, sulkily. + +“Nothing less than to look after two hundred pigs,” was the reply. + +“Oh, I am used to that,” answered the youth. + +“Yes; but this time you will have to do it properly,” said the +herdsman; and he took the youth to the place where the pigs were +feeding, and told him to drive them to the woods on the side of the +mountain. This the young man did, but as soon as they reached the +outskirts of the mountain they grew quite wild, and would have run away +altogether, had they not luckily gone towards a narrow ravine, from +which the youth easily drove them home to his father’s cottage. + +“Where do all these pigs come from, and how did you get them?” asked +the old man in surprise, when his son knocked at the door of the hut he +had left only the day before. + +“They belong to the king’s chief herdsman,” answered his son. “He gave +them to me to look after, but I knew I could not do it, so I drove them +straight to you. Now make the best of your good fortune, and kill them +and hang them up at once.” + +“What are you talking about?” cried the father, pale with horror. “We +should certainly both be put to death if I did any such thing.” + +“No, no; do as I tell you, and I will get out of it somehow,” replied +the young man. And in the end he had his way. The pigs were killed, and +laid side by side in a row. Then he cut off the tails and tied them +together with a piece of cord, and swinging the bundle over his back, +he returned to the place where they should have been feeding. Here +there was a small swamp, which was just what he wanted, and finding a +large stone, he fastened the rope to it, and sank it in the swamp, +after which he arranged the tails carefully one by one, so that only +their points were seen sticking out of the water. When everything was +in order, he hastened home to his master with such a sorrowful face +that the herdsman saw at once that something dreadful had happened. + +“Where are the pigs?” asked he. + +“Oh, don’t speak of them!” answered the young man; “I really can hardly +tell you. The moment they got into the field they became quite mad, and +each ran in a different direction. I ran too, hither and thither, but +as fast as I caught one, another was off, till I was in despair. At +last, however, I collected them all and was about to drive them back, +when suddenly they rushed down the hill into the swamp, where they +vanished completely, leaving only the points of their tails, which you +can see for yourself.” + +“You have made up that story very well,” replied the herdsman. + +“No, it is the real truth; come with me and I’ll prove it.” And they +went together to the spot, and there sure enough were the points of the +tails sticking up out of the water. The herdsman laid hold of the +nearest, and pulled at it with all his might, but it was no use, for +the stone and the rope held them all fast. He called to the young man +to help him, but the two did not succeed any better than the one had +done. + +“Yes, your story was true after all; it is a wonderful thing,” said the +herdsman. “But I see it is no fault of yours, and I must put up with my +loss as well as I can. Now let us return home, for it is time for +supper. + +Next morning the herdsman said to the young man: “I have got some other +work for you to do. To-day you must take a hundred sheep to graze; but +be careful that no harm befalls them.” + +“I will do my best,” replied the youth. And he opened the gate of the +fold, where the sheep had been all night, and drove them out into the +meadow. But in a short time they grew as wild as the pigs had done, and +scattered in all directions. The young man could not collect them, try +as he would, and he thought to himself that this was the punishment for +his laziness in refusing to look after his father’s one cow. + +At last, however, the sheep seemed tired of running about, and then the +youth managed to gather them together, and drove them, as before, +straight to his father’s house. + +“Whose sheep are these, and what are they doing here?” asked the old +man in wonder, and his son told him. But when the tale was ended the +father shook his head. + +“Give up these bad ways and take them back to your master,” said he. + +“No, no,” answered the youth; “I am not so stupid as that! We will kill +them and have them for dinner.” + +“You will lose your life if you do,” replied the father. + +“Oh, I am not sure of that!” said the son, “and, anyway, I will have my +will for once.” And he killed all the sheep and laid them on the grass. +But he cut off the head of the ram which always led the flock and had +bells round its horns. This he took back to the place where they should +have been feeding, for here he had noticed a high rock, with a patch of +green grass in the middle and two or three thick bushes growing on the +edge. Up this rock he climbed with great difficulty, and fastened the +ram’s head to the bushes with a cord, leaving only the tips of the +horns with the bells visible. As there was a soft breeze blowing, the +bushes to which the head was tied moved gently, and the bells rang. +When all was done to his liking he hastened quickly back to his master. + +“Where are the sheep?” asked the herdsman as the young man ran panting +up the steps. + +“Oh! don’t speak of them,” answered he. “It is only by a miracle that I +am here myself.” + +“Tell me at once what has happened,” said the herdsman sternly. + +The youth began to sob, and stammered out: “I—I hardly know how to tell +you! They—they—they were so—so troublesome—that I could not manage them +at all. They—ran about in—in all directions, and I—I—ran after them and +nearly died of fatigue. Then I heard a—a noise, which I—I thought was +the wind. But—but—it was the sheep, which, be—before my very eyes, were +carried straight up—up into the air. I stood watching them as if I was +turned to stone, but there kept ringing in my ears the sound of the +bells on the ram which led them.” + +“That is nothing but a lie from beginning to end,” said the herdsman. + +“No, it is as true as that there is a sun in heaven,” answered the +young man. + +“Then give me a proof of it,” cried his master. + +“Well, come with me,” said the youth. By this time it was evening and +the dusk was falling. The young man brought the herdsman to the foot of +the great rock, but it was so dark you could hardly see. Still the +sound of sheep bells rang softly from above, and the herdsman knew them +to be those he had hung on the horns of his ram. + +“Do you hear?” asked the youth. + +“Yes, I hear; you have spoken the truth, and I cannot blame you for +what has happened. I must bear the loss as best as I can.” + +He turned and went home, followed by the young man, who felt highly +pleased with his own cleverness. + +“I should not be surprised if the tasks I set you were too difficult, +and that you were tired of them,” said the herdsman next morning; “but +to-day I have something quite easy for you to do. You must look after +forty oxen, and be sure you are very careful, for one of them has +gold-tipped horns and hoofs, and the king reckons it among his greatest +treasures.” + +The young man drove out the oxen into the meadow, and no sooner had +they got there than, like the sheep and the pigs, they began to scamper +in all directions, the precious bull being the wildest of all. As the +youth stood watching them, not knowing what to do next, it came into +his head that his father’s cow was put out to grass at no great +distance; and he forthwith made such a noise that he quite frightened +the oxen, who were easily persuaded to take the path he wished. When +they heard the cow lowing they galloped all the faster, and soon they +all arrived at his father’s house. + +The old man was standing before the door of his hut when the great herd +of animals dashed round a corner of the road, with his son and his own +cow at their head. + +“Whose cattle are these, and why are they here?” he asked; and his son +told him the story. + +“Take them back to your master as soon as you can,” said the old man; +but the son only laughed, and said: + +“No, no; they are a present to you! They will make you fat!” + +For a long while the old man refused to have anything to do with such a +wicked scheme; but his son talked him over in the end, and they killed +the oxen as they had killed the sheep and the pigs. Last of all they +came to the king’s cherished ox. + +The son had a rope ready to cast round its horns, and throw it to the +ground, but the ox was stronger than the rope, and soon tore it in +pieces. Then it dashed away to the wood, the youth following; over +hedges and ditches they both went, till they reached the rocky pass +which bordered the herdsman’s land. Here the ox, thinking itself safe, +stopped to rest, and thus gave the young man a chance to come up with +it. Not knowing how to catch it, he collected all the wood he could +find and made a circle of fire round the ox, who by this time had +fallen asleep, and did not wake till the fire had caught its head, and +it was too late for it to escape. Then the young man, who had been +watching, ran home to his master. + +“You have been away a long while,” said the herdsman. “Where are the +cattle?” + +The young man gasped, and seemed as if he was unable to speak. At last +he answered: + +“It is always the same story! The oxen are—gone—gone!” + +“G-g-gone?” cried the herdsman. “Scoundrel, you lie!” + +“I am telling you the exact truth,” answered the young man. “Directly +we came to the meadow they grew so wild that I could not keep them +together. Then the big ox broke away, and the others followed till they +all disappeared down a deep hole into the earth. It seemed to me that I +heard sounds of bellowing, and I thought I recognised the voice of the +golden horned ox; but when I got to the place from which the sounds had +come, I could neither see nor hear anything in the hole itself, though +there were traces of a fire all round it.” + +“Wretch!” cried the herdsman, when he had heard this story, “even if +you did not lie before, you are lying now.” + +“No, master, I am speaking the truth. Come and see for yourself.” + +“If I find you have deceived me, you are a dead man, said the herdsman; +and they went out together. + +“What do you call that?” asked the youth. And the herdsman looked and +saw the traces of a fire, which seemed to have sprung up from under the +earth. + +“Wonder upon wonder,” he exclaimed, “so you really did speak the truth +after all! Well, I cannot reproach you, though I shall have to pay +heavily to my royal master for the value of that ox. But come, let us +go home! I will never set you to herd cattle again, henceforward I will +give you something easier to do.” + +“I have thought of exactly the thing for you,” said the herdsman as +they walked along, “and it is so simple that you cannot make a mistake. +Just make me ten scythes, one for every man, for I want the grass mown +in one of my meadows to-morrow.” + +At these words the youth’s heart sank, for he had never been trained +either as a smith or a joiner. However, he dared not say no, but smiled +and nodded. + +Slowly and sadly he went to bed, but he could not sleep, for wondering +how the scythes were to be made. All the skill and cunning he had shown +before was of no use to him now, and after thinking about the scythes +for many hours, there seemed only one way open to him. So, listening to +make sure that all was still, he stole away to his parents, and told +them the whole story. When they had heard everything, they hid him +where no one could find him. + +Time passed away, and the young man stayed at home doing all his +parents bade him, and showing himself very different from what he had +been before he went out to see the world; but one day he said to his +father that he should like to marry, and have a house of his own. + +“When I served the king’s chief herdsman,” added he, “I saw his +daughter, and I am resolved to try if I cannot win her for my wife.” + +“It will cost you your life, if you do,” answered the father, shaking +his head. + +“Well, I will do my best,” replied his son; “but first give me the +sword which hangs over your bed!” + +The old man did not understand what good the sword would do, however he +took it down, and the young man went his way. + +Late in the evening he arrived at the house of the herdsman, and +knocked at the door, which was opened by a little boy. + +“I want to speak to your master,” said he. + +“So it is you?” cried the herdsman, when he had received the message. +“Well, you can sleep here to-night if you wish.” + +“I have come for something else besides a bed,” replied the young man, +drawing his sword, “and if you do not promise to give me your youngest +daughter as my wife I will stab you through the heart.” + +What could the poor man do but promise? And he fetched his youngest +daughter, who seemed quite pleased at the proposed match, and gave the +youth her hand. + +Then the young man went home to his parents, and bade them get ready to +welcome his bride. And when the wedding was over he told his +father-in-law, the herdsman, what he had done with the sheep, and pigs, +and cattle. By-and-by the story came to the king’s ears, and he thought +that a man who was so clever was just the man to govern the country; so +he made him his minister, and after the king himself there was no one +so great as he. + +[From Islandische Mährchen.] + + + + +Eisenkopf + + +Once upon a time there lived an old man who had only one son, whom he +loved dearly; but they were very poor, and often had scarcely enough to +eat. Then the old man fell ill, and things grew worse than ever, so he +called his son and said to him: + +“My dear boy, I have no longer any food to give you, and you must go +into the world and get it for yourself. It does not matter what work +you do, but remember if you do it well and are faithful to your master, +you will always have your reward.” + +So Peter put a piece of black bread in his knapsack, and strapping it +on his back, took a stout stick in his hand, and set out to seek his +fortune. For a long while he travelled on and on, and nobody seemed to +want him; but one day he met an old man, and being a polite youth, he +took off his hat and said: “Good morning,” in a pleasant voice. “Good +morning,” answered the old man; “and where are you going?” + +“I am wandering through the country trying to get work,” replied Peter. + +“Then stay with me, for I can give you plenty,” said the old man, and +Peter stayed. + +His work did not seem hard, for he had only two horses and a cow to see +after, and though he had been hired for a year, the year consisted of +but three days, so that it was not long before he received his wages. +In payment the old man gave him a nut, and offered to keep him for +another year; but Peter was home-sick; and, besides, he would rather +have been paid ever so small a piece of money than a nut; for, thought +he, nuts grow on every tree, and I can gather as many as I like. +However, he did not say this to the old man, who had been kind to him, +but just bade him farewell. + +The nearer Peter drew to his father’s house the more ashamed he felt at +having brought back such poor wages. What could one nut do for him? +Why, it would not buy even a slice of bacon. It was no use taking it +home, he might as well eat it. So he sat down on a stone and cracked it +with his teeth, and then took it out of his mouth to break off the +shell. But who could ever guess what came out of that nut? Why, horses +and oxen and sheep stepped out in such numbers that they seemed as if +they would stretch to the world’s end! The sight gave Peter such a +shock that he wrung his hands in dismay. What was he to do with all +these creatures, where was he to put them? He stood and gazed in +terror, and at this moment Eisenkopf came by. + +“What is the matter, young man?” asked he. + +“Oh, my friend, there is plenty the matter,” answered Peter. “I have +gained a nut as my wages, and when I cracked it this crowd of beasts +came out, and I don’t know what to do with them all!” + +“Listen to me, my son,” said Eisenkopf. “If you will promise never to +marry I will drive them all back into the nut again.” + +In his trouble Peter would have promised far harder things than this, +so he gladly gave the promise Eisenkopf asked for; and at a whistle +from the stranger the animals all began crowding into the nut again, +nearly tumbling over each other in their haste. When the last foot had +got inside, the two halves of the shell shut close. Then Peter put it +in his pocket and went on to the house. + +No sooner had he reached it than he cracked his nut for the second +time, and out came the horses, sheep, and oxen again. Indeed Peter +thought that there were even more of them than before. The old man +could not believe his eyes when he saw the multitudes of horses, oxen +and sheep standing before his door. + +“How did you come by all these?” he gasped, as soon as he could speak; +and the son told him the whole story, and of the promise he had given +Eisenkopf. + +The next day some of the cattle were driven to market and sold, and +with the money the old man was able to buy some of the fields and +gardens round his house, and in a few months had grown the richest and +most prosperous man in the whole village. Everything seemed to turn to +gold in his hands, till one day, when he and his son were sitting in +the orchard watching their herds of cattle grazing in the meadows, he +suddenly said: “Peter, my boy, it is time that you were thinking of +marrying.” + +“But, my dear father, I told you I can never marry, because of the +promise I gave to Eisenkopf.” + +“Oh, one promises here and promises there, but no one ever thinks of +keeping such promises. If Eisenkopf does not like your marrying, he +will have to put up with it all the same! Besides, there stands in the +stable a grey horse which is saddled night and day; and if Eisenkopf +should show his face, you have only got to jump on the horse’s back and +ride away, and nobody on earth can catch you. When all is safe you will +come back again, and we shall live as happily as two fish in the sea.” + +And so it all happened. The young man found a pretty, brown-skinned +girl who was willing to have him for a husband, and the whole village +came to the wedding feast. The music was at its gayest, and the dance +at its merriest, when Eisenkopf looked in at the window. + +“Oh, ho, my brother! what is going on here? It has the air of being a +wedding feast. Yet I fancied—was I mistaken?—that you had given me a +promise that you never would marry.” But Peter had not waited for the +end of this speech. Scarcely had he seen Eisenkopf than he darted like +the wind to the stable and flung himself on the horse’s back. In +another moment he was away over the mountain, with Eisenkopf running +fast behind him. + +On they went through thick forests where the sun never shone, over +rivers so wide that it took a whole day to sail across them, up hills +whose sides were all of glass; on they went through seven times seven +countries till Peter reined in his horse before the house of an old +woman. + +“Good day, mother,” said he, jumping down and opening the door. + +“Good day, my son,” answered she, “and what are you doing here, at the +world’s end?” + +“I am flying for my life, mother, flying to the world which is beyond +all worlds; for Eisenkopf is at my heels.” + +“Come in and rest then, and have some food, for I have a little dog who +will begin to howl when Eisenkopf is still seven miles off.” + +So Peter went in and warmed himself and ate and drank, till suddenly +the dog began to howl. + +“Quick, my son, quick, you must go,” cried the old woman. And the +lightning itself was not quicker than Peter. + +“Stop a moment,” cried the old woman again, just as he was mounting his +horse, “take this napkin and this cake, and put them in your bag where +you can get hold of them easily.” Peter took them and put them into his +bag, and waving his thanks for her kindness, he was off like the wind. + +Round and round he rode, through seven times seven countries, through +forests still thicker, and rivers still wider, and mountains still more +slippery than the others he had passed, till at length he reached a +house where dwelt another old woman. + +“Good day, mother,” said he. + +“Good day, my son! What are you seeking here at the world’s end?” + +“I am flying for my life, mother, flying to the world that is beyond +all worlds, for Eisenkopf is at my heels.” + +“Come in, my son, and have some food. I have a little dog who will +begin to howl when Eisenkopf is still seven miles off; so lie on this +bed and rest yourself in peace.” + +Then she went to the kitchen and baked a number of cakes, more than +Peter could have eaten in a whole month. He had not finished a quarter +of them, when the dog began to howl. + +“Now, my son, you must go,” cried the old woman “but first put these +cakes and this napkin in your bag, where you can easily get at them.” +So Peter thanked her and was off like the wind. + +On he rode, through seven times seven countries, till he came to the +house of a third old woman, who welcomed him as the others had done. +But when the dog howled, and Peter sprang up to go, she said, as she +gave him the same gifts for his journey: “You have now three cakes and +three napkins, for I know that my sisters have each given you one. +Listen to me, and do what I tell you. Ride seven days and nights +straight before you, and on the eighth morning you will see a great +fire. Strike it three times with the three napkins and it will part in +two. Then ride into the opening, and when you are in the middle of the +opening, throw the three cakes behind your back with your left hand.” + +Peter thanked her for her counsel, and was careful to do exactly all +the old woman had told him. On the eighth morning he reached a fire so +large that he could see nothing else on either side, but when he struck +it with the napkins it parted, and stood on each hand like a wall. As +he rode through the opening he threw the cakes behind him. From each +cake there sprang a huge dog, and he gave them the names of +World’s-weight, Ironstrong, and Quick-ear. They bayed with joy at the +sight of him, and as Peter turned to pat them, he beheld Eisenkopf at +the edge of the fire, but the opening had closed up behind Peter, and +he could not get through. + +“Stop, you promise-breaker,” shrieked he; “you have slipped through my +hands once, but wait till I catch you again!” + +Then he lay down by the fire and watched to see what would happen. + +When Peter knew that he had nothing more to fear from Eisenkopf, he +rode on slowly till he came to a small white house. Here he entered and +found himself in a room where a gray-haired woman was spinning and a +beautiful girl was sitting in the window combing her golden hair. “What +brings you here, my son?” asked the old woman. + +“I am seeking for a place, mother,” answered Peter. + +“Stay with me, then, for I need a servant,” said the old woman. + +“With pleasure, mother,” replied he. + +After that Peter’s life was a very happy one. He sowed and ploughed all +day, except now and then when he took his dogs and went to hunt. And +whatever game he brought back the maiden with the golden hair knew how +to dress it. + +One day the old woman had gone to the town to buy some flour, and Peter +and the maiden were left alone in the house. They fell into talk, and +she asked him where his home was, and how he had managed to come +through the fire. Peter then told her the whole story, and of his +striking the flames with the three napkins as he had been told to do. +The maiden listened attentively and wondered in herself whether what he +said was true. So after Peter had gone out to the fields, she crept up +to his room and stole the napkins and then set off as fast as she could +to the fire by a path she knew of over the hill. + +At the third blow she gave the flames divided, and Eisenkopf, who had +been watching and hoping for a chance of this kind, ran down the +opening and stood before her. At this sight the maiden was almost +frightened to death, but with a great effort she recovered herself and +ran home as fast as her legs would carry her, closely pursued by +Eisenkopf. Panting for breath she rushed into the house and fell +fainting on the floor; but Eisenkopf entered behind her, and hid +himself in the kitchen under the hearth. + +Not long after, Peter came in and picked up the three napkins which the +maiden had dropped on the threshold. He wondered how they got there, +for he knew he had left them in his room; but what was his horror when +he saw the form of the fainting girl lying where she had dropped, as +still and white as if she had been dead. He lifted her up and carried +her to her bed, where she soon revived, but she did not tell Peter +about Eisenkopf, who had been almost crushed to death under the +hearth-stone by the body of World’s-weight. + +The next morning Peter locked up his dogs and went out into the forest +alone. Eisenkopf, however, had seen him go, and followed so closely at +his heels that Peter had barely time to clamber up a tall tree, where +Eisenkopf could not reach him. “Come down at once, you gallows bird,” +he cried. “Have you forgotten your promise that you never would marry?” + +“Oh, I know it is all up with me,” answered Peter, “but let me call out +three times.” + +“You can call a hundred times if you like,” returned Eisenkopf, “for +now I have got you in my power, and you shall pay for what you have +done.” + +“Iron-strong, World’s-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help!” cried Peter; +and Quick-ear heard, and said to his brothers: “Listen, our master is +calling us.” + +“You are dreaming, fool,” answered World’s-weight; “why he has not +finished his breakfast.” And he gave Quick-ear a slap with his paw, for +he was young and needed to be taught sense. + +“Iron-strong, World’s-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help!” cried Peter +again. + +This time World’s-weight heard also, and he said, “Ah, now our master +is really calling.” + +“How silly you are!” answered Iron-strong; “you know that at this hour +he is always eating.” And he gave World’s-weight a cuff, because he was +old enough to know better. + +Peter sat trembling on the tree dreading lest his dogs had never heard, +or else that, having heard, they had refused to come. It was his last +chance, so making a mighty effort he shrieked once more: + +“Iron-strong, World’s-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help, or I am a dead +man!” + +And Iron-strong heard, and said: “Yes, he is certainly calling, we must +go at once.” And in an instant he had burst open the door, and all +three were bounding away in the direction of the voice. When they +reached the foot of the tree Peter just said: “At him!” And in a few +minutes there was nothing left of Eisenkopf. + +As soon as his enemy was dead Peter got down and returned to the house, +where he bade farewell to the old woman and her daughter, who gave him +a beautiful ring, all set with diamonds. It was really a magic ring, +but neither Peter nor the maiden knew that. + +Peter’s heart was heavy as he set out for home. He had ceased to love +the wife whom he had left at his wedding feast, and his heart had gone +out to the golden-haired girl. However, it was no use thinking of that, +so he rode forward steadily. + +The fire had to be passed through before he had gone very far, and when +he came to it, Peter shook the napkins three times in the flames and a +passage opened for trim. But then a curious thing happened; the three +dogs, who had followed at his heels all the way, now became three cakes +again, which Peter put into his bag with the napkins. After that he +stopped at the houses of the three old women, and gave each one back +her napkin and her cake. + +“Where is my wife?” asked Peter, when he reached home. + +“Oh, my dear son, why did you ever leave us? After you had vanished, no +one knew where, your poor wife grew more and more wretched, and would +neither eat nor drink. Little by little she faded away, and a month ago +we laid her in her grave, to hide her sorrows under the earth.” + +At this news Peter began to weep, for he had loved his wife before he +went away and had seen the golden-haired maiden. + +He went sorrowfully about his work for the space of half a year, when, +one night, he dreamed that he moved the diamond ring given him by the +maiden from his right hand and put it on the wedding finger of the +left. The dream was so real that he awoke at once and changed the ring +from one hand to the other. And as he did so guess what he saw? Why, +the golden-haired girl standing before him. And he sprang up and kissed +her, and said: “Now you are mine for ever and ever, and when we die we +will both be buried in one grave.” + +And so they were. + +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] + + + + +The Death Of Abu Nowas And Of His Wife + + +Once upon a time there lived a man whose name was Abu Nowas, and he was +a great favourite with the Sultan of the country, who had a palace in +the same town where Abu Nowas dwelt. + +One day Abu Nowas came weeping into the hall of the palace where the +Sultan was sitting, and said to him: “Oh, mighty Sultan, my wife is +dead.” + +“That is bad news,” replied the Sultan; “I must get you another wife.” +And he bade his Grand Vizir send for the Sultana. + +“This poor Abu Nowas has lost his wife,” said he, when she entered the +hall. + +“Oh, then we must get him another,” answered the Sultana; “I have a +girl that will suit him exactly,” and clapped her hands loudly. At this +signal a maiden appeared and stood before her. + +“I have got a husband for you,” said the Sultana. + +“Who is he?” asked the girl. + +“Abu Nowas, the jester,” replied the Sultana. + +“I will take him,” answered the maiden; and as Abu Nowas made no +objection, it was all arranged. The Sultana had the most beautiful +clothes made for the bride, and the Sultan gave the bridegroom his +wedding suit, and a thousand gold pieces into the bargain, and soft +carpets for the house. + +So Abu Nowas took his wife home, and for some time they were very +happy, and spent the money freely which the Sultan had given them, +never thinking what they should do for more when that was gone. But +come to an end it did, and they had to sell their fine things one by +one, till at length nothing was left but a cloak apiece, and one +blanket to cover them. “We have run through our fortune,” said Abu +Nowas, “what are we to do now? I am afraid to go back to the Sultan, +for he will command his servants to turn me from the door. But you +shall return to your mistress, and throw yourself at her feet and weep, +and perhaps she will help us.” + +“Oh, you had much better go,” said the wife. “I shall not know what to +say.” + +“Well, then, stay at home, if you like,” answered Abu Nowas, “and I +will ask to be admitted to the Sultan’s presence, and will tell him, +with sobs, that my wife is dead, and that I have no money for her +burial. When he hears that perhaps he will give us something.” + +“Yes, that is a good plan,” said the wife; and Abu Nowas set out. + +The Sultan was sitting in the hall of justice when Abu Nowas entered, +his eyes streaming with tears, for he had rubbed some pepper into them. +They smarted dreadfully, and he could hardly see to walk straight, and +everyone wondered what was the matter with him. + +“Abu Nowas! What has happened?” cried the Sultan. + +“Oh, noble Sultan, my wife is dead,” wept he. + +“We must all die,” answered the Sultan; but this was not the reply for +which Abu Nowas had hoped. + +“True, O Sultan, but I have neither shroud to wrap her in, nor money to +bury her with,” went on Abu Nowas, in no wise abashed by the way the +Sultan had received his news. + +“Well, give him a hundred pieces of gold,” said the Sultan, turning to +the Grand Vizir. And when the money was counted out Abu Nowas bowed +low, and left the hall, his tears still flowing, but with joy in his +heart. + +“Have you got anything?” cried his wife, who was waiting for him +anxiously. + +“Yes, a hundred gold pieces,” said he, throwing down the bag, “but that +will not last us any time. Now you must go to the Sultana, clothed in +sackcloth and robes of mourning, and tell her that your husband, Abu +Nowas, is dead, and you have no money for his burial. When she hears +that, she will be sure to ask you what has become of the money and the +fine clothes she gave us on our marriage, and you will answer, ‘before +he died he sold everything.’” + +The wife did as she was told, and wrapping herself in sackcloth went up +to the Sultana’s own palace, and as she was known to have been one of +Subida’s favourite attendants, she was taken without difficulty into +the private apartments. + +“What is the matter?” inquired the Sultana, at the sight of the dismal +figure. + +“My husband lies dead at home, and he has spent all our money, and sold +everything, and I have nothing left to bury him with,” sobbed the wife. + +Then Subida took up a purse containing two hundred gold pieces, and +said: “Your husband served us long and faithfully. You must see that he +has a fine funeral.” + +The wife took the money, and, kissing the feet of the Sultana, she +joyfully hastened home. They spent some happy hours planning how they +should spend it, and thinking how clever they had been. “When the +Sultan goes this evening to Subida’s palace,” said Abu Nowas, “she will +be sure to tell him that Abu Nowas is dead. ‘Not Abu Nowas, it is his +wife,’ he will reply, and they will quarrel over it, and all the time +we shall be sitting here enjoying ourselves. Oh, if they only knew, how +angry they would be!” + +As Abu Nowas had foreseen, the Sultan went, in the evening after his +business was over, to pay his usual visit to the Sultana. + +“Poor Abu Nowas is dead!” said Subida when he entered the room. + +“It is not Abu Nowas, but his wife who is dead,” answered the Sultan. + +“No; really you are quite wrong. She came to tell me herself only a +couple of hours ago,” replied Subida, “and as he had spent all their +money, I gave her something to bury him with.” + +“You must be dreaming,” exclaimed the Sultan. “Soon after midday Abu +Nowas came into the hall, his eyes streaming with tears, and when I +asked him the reason he answered that his wife was dead, and they had +sold everything they had, and he had nothing left, not so much as would +buy her a shroud, far less for her burial.” + +For a long time they talked, and neither would listen to the other, +till the Sultan sent for the door-keeper and bade him go instantly to +the house of Abu Nowas and see if it was the man or his wife who was +dead. But Abu Nowas happened to be sitting with his wife behind the +latticed window, which looked on the street, and he saw the man coming, +and sprang up at once. “There is the Sultan’s door-keeper! They have +sent him here to find out the truth. Quick! throw yourself on the bed +and pretend that you are dead.” And in a moment the wife was stretched +out stiffly, with a linen sheet spread across her, like a corpse. + +She was only just in time, for the sheet was hardly drawn across her +when the door opened and the porter came in. “Has anything happened?” +asked he. + +“My poor wife is dead,” replied Abu Nowas. “Look! she is laid out +here.” And the porter approached the bed, which was in a corner of the +room, and saw the stiff form lying underneath. + +“We must all die,” said he, and went back to the Sultan. + +“Well, have you found out which of them is dead?” asked the Sultan. + +“Yes, noble Sultan; it is the wife,” replied the porter. + +“He only says that to please you,” cried Subida in a rage; and calling +to her chamberlain, she ordered him to go at once to the dwelling of +Abu Nowas and see which of the two was dead. “And be sure you tell the +truth about it,” added she, “or it will be the worse for you.” + +As her chamberlain drew near the house, Abu Nowas caught sight of him. +“There is the Sultana’s chamberlain,” he exclaimed in a fright. “Now it +is my turn to die. Be quick and spread the sheet over me.” And he laid +himself on the bed, and held his breath when the chamberlain came in. +“What are you weeping for?” asked the man, finding the wife in tears. + +“My husband is dead,” answered she, pointing to the bed; and the +chamberlain drew back the sheet and beheld Abu Nowas lying stiff and +motionless. Then he gently replaced the sheet and returned to the +palace. + +“Well, have you found out this time?” asked the Sultan. + +“My lord, it is the husband who is dead.” + +“But I tell you he was with me only a few hours ago,” cried the Sultan +angrily. “I must get to the bottom of this before I sleep! Let my +golden coach be brought round at once.” + +The coach was before the door in another five minutes, and the Sultan +and Sultana both got in. Abu Nowas had ceased being a dead man, and was +looking into the street when he saw the coach coming. “Quick! quick!” +he called to his wife. “The Sultan will be here directly, and we must +both be dead to receive him.” So they laid themselves down, and spread +the sheet over them, and held their breath. At that instant the Sultan +entered, followed by the Sultana and the chamberlain, and he went up to +the bed and found the corpses stiff and motionless. “I would give a +thousand gold pieces to anyone who would tell me the truth about this,” +cried he, and at the words Abu Nowas sat up. “Give them to me, then,” +said he, holding out his hand. “You cannot give them to anyone who +needs them more.” + +“Oh, Abu Nowas, you impudent dog!” exclaimed the Sultan, bursting into +a laugh, in which the Sultana joined. “I might have known it was one of +your tricks!” But he sent Abu Nowas the gold he had promised, and let +us hope that it did not fly so fast as the last had done. + +[From Tunische Mährchen.] + + + + +Motiratika + + +Once upon a time, in a very hot country, a man lived with his wife in a +little hut, which was surrounded by grass and flowers. They were +perfectly happy together till, by-and-by, the woman fell ill and +refused to take any food. The husband tried to persuade her to eat all +sorts of delicious fruits that he had found in the forest, but she +would have none of them, and grew so thin he feared she would die. “Is +there nothing you would like?” he said at last in despair. + +“Yes, I think I could eat some wild honey,” answered she. The husband +was overjoyed, for he thought this sounded easy enough to get, and he +went off at once in search of it. + +He came back with a wooden pan quite full, and gave it to his wife. “I +can’t eat that,” she said, turning away in disgust. “Look! there are +some dead bees in it! I want honey that is quite pure.” And the man +threw the rejected honey on the grass, and started off to get some +fresh. When he got back he offered it to his wife, who treated it as +she had done the first bowlful. “That honey has got ants in it: throw +it away,” she said, and when he brought her some more, she declared it +was full of earth. In his fourth journey he managed to find some that +she would eat, and then she begged him to get her some water. This took +him some time, but at length he came to a lake whose waters were +sweetened with sugar. He filled a pannikin quite full, and carried it +home to his wife, who drank it eagerly, and said that she now felt +quite well. When she was up and had dressed herself, her husband lay +down in her place, saying: “You have given me a great deal of trouble, +and now it is my turn!” + +“What is the matter with you?” asked the wife. + +“I am thirsty and want some water,” answered he; and she took a large +pot and carried it to the nearest spring, which was a good way off. +“Here is the water,” she said to her husband, lifting the heavy pot +from her head; but he turned away in disgust. + +“You have drawn it from the pool that is full of frogs and willows; you +must get me some more.” So the woman set out again and walked still +further to another lake. + +“This water tastes of rushes,” he exclaimed, “go and get some fresh.” +But when she brought back a third supply he declared that it seemed +made up of water-lilies, and that he must have water that was pure, and +not spoilt by willows, or frogs, or rushes. So for the fourth time she +put her jug on her head, and passing all the lakes she had hitherto +tried, she came to another, where the water was golden like honey. She +stooped down to drink, when a horrible head bobbed up on the surface. + +“How dare you steal my water?” cried the head. + +“It is my husband who has sent me,” she replied, trembling all over. +“But do not kill me! You shall have my baby, if you will only let me +go.” + +“How am I to know which is your baby?” asked the Ogre. + +“Oh, that is easily managed. I will shave both sides of his head, and +hang some white beads round his neck. And when you come to the hut you +have only to call ‘Motikatika!’ and he will run to meet you, and you +can eat him.” + +“Very well,” said the ogre, “you can go home.” And after filling the +pot she returned, and told her husband of the dreadful danger she had +been in. + +Now, though his mother did not know it, the baby was a magician and he +had heard all that his mother had promised the ogre; and he laughed to +himself as he planned how to outwit her. + +The next morning she shaved his head on both sides, and hung the white +beads round his neck, and said to him: “I am going to the fields to +work, but you must stay at home. Be sure you do not go outside, or some +wild beast may eat you.” + +“Very well,” answered he. + +As soon as his mother was out of sight, the baby took out some magic +bones, and placed them in a row before him. “You are my father,” he +told one bone, “and you are my mother. You are the biggest,” he said to +the third, “so you shall be the ogre who wants to eat me; and you,” to +another, “are very little, therefore you shall be me. Now, then, tell +me what I am to do.” + +“Collect all the babies in the village the same size as yourself,” +answered the bones; “shave the sides of their heads, and hang white +beads round their necks, and tell them that when anybody calls +‘Motikatika,’ they are to answer to it. And be quick for you have no +time to lose.” + +Motikatika went out directly, and brought back quite a crowd of babies, +and shaved their heads and hung white beads round their little black +necks, and just as he had finished, the ground began to shake, and the +huge ogre came striding along, crying: “Motikatika! Motikatika!” + +“Here we are! here we are!” answered the babies, all running to meet +him. + +“It is Motikatika I want,” said the ogre. + +“We are all Motikatika,” they replied. And the ogre sat down in +bewilderment, for he dared not eat the children of people who had done +him no wrong, or a heavy punishment would befall him. The children +waited for a little, wondering, and then they went away. + +The ogre remained where he was, till the evening, when the woman +returned from the fields. + +“I have not seen Motikatika,” said he. + +“But why did you not call him by his name, as I told you?” she asked. + +“I did, but all the babies in the village seemed to be named +Motikatika,” answered the ogre; “you cannot think the number who came +running to me.” + +The woman did not know what to make of it, so, to keep him in a good +temper, she entered the hut and prepared a bowl of maize, which she +brought him. + +“I do not want maize, I want the baby,” grumbled he “and I will have +him.” + +“Have patience,” answered she; “I will call him, and you can eat him at +once.” And she went into the hut and cried, “Motikatika!” + +“I am coming, mother,” replied he; but first he took out his bones, +and, crouching down on the ground behind the hut, asked them how he +should escape the ogre. + +“Change yourself into a mouse,” said the bones; and so he did, and the +ogre grew tired of waiting, and told the woman she must invent some +other plan. + +“To-morrow I will send him into the field to pick some beans for me, +and you will find him there, and can eat him.” + +“Very well,” replied the ogre, “and this time I will take care to have +him,” and he went back to his lake. + +Next morning Motikatika was sent out with a basket, and told to pick +some beans for dinner. On the way to the field he took out his bones +and asked them what he was to do to escape from the ogre. “Change +yourself into a bird and snap off the beans,” said the bones. And the +ogre chased away the bird, not knowing that it was Motikatika. + +The ogre went back to the hut and told the woman that she had deceived +him again, and that he would not be put off any longer. + +“Return here this evening,” answered she, “and you will find him in bed +under this white coverlet. Then you can carry him away, and eat him at +once.” + +But the boy heard, and consulted his bones, which said: “Take the red +coverlet from your father’s bed, and put yours on his,” and so he did. +And when the ogre came, he seized Motikatika’s father and carried him +outside the hut and ate him. When his wife found out the mistake, she +cried bitterly; but Motikatika said: “It is only just that he should be +eaten, and not I; for it was he, and not I, who sent you to fetch the +water.” + +[Adapted from the Ba-Ronga (H. Junod).] + + + + +Niels And The Giants + + +On one of the great moors over in Jutland, where trees won’t grow +because the soil is so sandy and the wind so strong, there once lived a +man and his wife, who had a little house and some sheep, and two sons +who helped them to herd them. The elder of the two was called Rasmus, +and the younger Niels. Rasmus was quite content to look after sheep, as +his father had done before him, but Niels had a fancy to be a hunter, +and was not happy till he got hold of a gun and learned to shoot. It +was only an old muzzle-loading flint-lock after all, but Niels thought +it a great prize, and went about shooting at everything he could see. +So much did he practice that in the long run he became a wonderful +shot, and was heard of even where he had never been seen. Some people +said there was very little in him beyond this, but that was an idea +they found reason to change in the course of time. + +The parents of Rasmus and Niels were good Catholics, and when they were +getting old the mother took it into her head that she would like to go +to Rome and see the Pope. The others didn’t see much use in this, but +she had her way in the end: they sold all the sheep, shut up the house, +and set out for Rome on foot. Niels took his gun with him. + +“What do you want with that?” said Rasmus; “we have plenty to carry +without it.” But Niels could not be happy without his gun, and took it +all the same. + +It was in the hottest part of summer that they began their journey, so +hot that they could not travel at all in the middle of the day, and +they were afraid to do it by night lest they might lose their way or +fall into the hands of robbers. One day, a little before sunset, they +came to an inn which lay at the edge of a forest. + +“We had better stay here for the night,” said Rasmus. + +“What an idea!” said Niels, who was growing impatient at the slow +progress they were making. “We can’t travel by day for the heat, and we +remain where we are all night. It will be long enough before we get to +Rome if we go on at this rate.” + +Rasmus was unwilling to go on, but the two old people sided with Niels, +who said, “The nights aren’t dark, and the moon will soon be up. We can +ask at the inn here, and find out which way we ought to take.” + +So they held on for some time, but at last they came to a small opening +in the forest, and here they found that the road split in two. There +was no sign-post to direct them, and the people in the inn had not told +them which of the two roads to take. + +“What’s to be done now?” said Rasmus. “I think we had better have +stayed at the inn.” + +“There’s no harm done,” said Niels. “The night is warm, and we can wait +here till morning. One of us will keep watch till midnight, and then +waken the other.” + +Rasmus chose to take the first watch, and the others lay down to sleep. +It was very quiet in the forest, and Rasmus could hear the deer and +foxes and other animals moving about among the rustling leaves. After +the moon rose he could see them occasionally, and when a big stag came +quite close to him he got hold of Niels’ gun and shot it. + +Niels was wakened by the report. “What’s that?” he said. + +“I’ve just shot a stag,” said Rasmus, highly pleased with himself. + +“That’s nothing,” said Niels. “I’ve often shot a sparrow, which is a +much more difficult thing to do.” + +It was now close on midnight, so Niels began his watch, and Rasmus went +to sleep. It began to get colder, and Niels began to walk about a +little to keep himself warm. He soon found that they were not far from +the edge of the forest, and when he climbed up one of the trees there +he could see out over the open country beyond. At a little distance he +saw a fire, and beside it there sat three giants, busy with broth and +beef. They were so huge that the spoons they used were as large as +spades, and their forks as big as hay-forks: with these they lifted +whole bucketfuls of broth and great joints of meat out of an enormous +pot which was set on the ground between them. Niels was startled and +rather scared at first, but he comforted himself with the thought that +the giants were a good way off, and that if they came nearer he could +easily hide among the bushes. After watching them for a little, +however, he began to get over his alarm, and finally slid down the tree +again, resolved to get his gun and play some tricks with them. + +When he had climbed back to his former position, he took good aim, and +waited till one of the giants was just in the act of putting a large +piece of meat into his mouth. Bang! went Niels’ gun, and the bullet +struck the handle of the fork so hard that the point went into the +giant’s chin, instead of his mouth. + +“None of your tricks,” growled the giant to the one who sat next him. +“What do you mean by hitting my fork like that, and making me prick +myself?” + +“I never touched your fork,” said the other. “Don’t try to get up a +quarrel with me.” + +“Look at it, then,” said the first. “Do you suppose I stuck it into my +own chin for fun?” + +The two got so angry over the matter that each offered to fight the +other there and then, but the third giant acted as peace-maker, and +they again fell to their eating. + +While the quarrel was going on, Niels had loaded the gun again, and +just as the second giant was about to put a nice tit-bit into his +mouth, bang! went the gun again, and the fork flew into a dozen pieces. + +This giant was even more furious than the first had been, and words +were just coming to blows, when the third giant again interposed. + +“Don’t be fools,” he said to them; “what’s the good of beginning to +fight among ourselves, when it is so necessary for the three of us to +work together and get the upper hand over the king of this country. It +will be a hard enough task as it is, but it will be altogether hopeless +if we don’t stick together. Sit down again, and let us finish our meal; +I shall sit between you, and then neither of you can blame the other.” + +Niels was too far away to hear their talk, but from their gestures he +could guess what was happening, and thought it good fun. + +“Thrice is lucky,” said he to himself; “I’ll have another shot yet.” + +This time it was the third giant’s fork that caught the bullet, and +snapped in two. + +“Well,” said he, “if I were as foolish as you two, I would also fly +into a rage, but I begin to see what time of day it is, and I’m going +off this minute to see who it is that’s playing these tricks with us.” + +So well had the giant made his observations, that though Niels climbed +down the tree as fast as he could, so as to hide among the bushes, he +had just got to the ground when the enemy was upon him. + +“Stay where you are,” said the giant, “or I’ll put my foot on you, and +there won’t be much of you left after that.” + +Niels gave in, and the giant carried him back to his comrades. + +“You don’t deserve any mercy at our hands,” said his captor “but as you +are such a good shot you may be of great use to us, so we shall spare +your life, if you will do us a service. Not far from here there stands +a castle, in which the king’s daughter lives; we are at war with the +king, and want to get the upper hand of him by carrying off the +princess, but the castle is so well guarded that there is no getting +into it. By our skill in magic we have cast sleep on every living thing +in the castle, except a little black dog, and, as long as he is awake, +we are no better off than before; for, as soon as we begin to climb +over the wall, the little dog will hear us, and its barking will waken +all the others again. Having got you, we can place you where you will +be able to shoot the dog before it begins to bark, and then no one can +hinder us from getting the princess into our hands. If you do that, we +shall not only let you off, but reward you handsomely.” + +Niels had to consent, and the giants set out for the castle at once. It +was surrounded by a very high rampart, so high that even the giants +could not touch the top of it. “How am I to get over that?” said Niels. + +“Quite easily,” said the third giant; “I’ll throw you up on it.” + +“No, thanks,” said Niels. “I might fall down on the other side, or +break my leg or neck, and then the little dog wouldn’t get shot after +all.” + +“No fear of that,” said the giant; “the rampart is quite wide on the +top, and covered with long grass, so that you will come down as softly +as though you fell on a feather-bed.” + +Niels had to believe him, and allowed the giant to throw him up. He +came down on his feet quite unhurt, but the little black dog heard the +dump, and rushed out of its kennel at once. It was just opening its +mouth to bark, when Niels fired, and it fell dead on the spot. + +“Go down on the inside now,” said the giant, “and see if you can open +the gate to us.” + +Niels made his way down into the courtyard, but on his way to the outer +gate he found himself at the entrance to the large hall of the castle. +The door was open, and the hall was brilliantly lighted, though there +was no one to be seen. Niels went in here and looked round him: on the +wall there hung a huge sword without a sheath, and beneath it was a +large drinking-horn, mounted with silver. Niels went closer to look at +these, and saw that the horn had letters engraved on the silver rim: +when he took it down and turned it round, he found that the inscription +was:— + +Whoever drinks the wine I hold + Can wield the sword that hangs above; +Then let him use it for the right, + And win a royal maiden’s love. + + +Niels took out the silver stopper of the horn, and drank some of the +wine, but when he tried to take down the sword he found himself unable +to move it. So he hung up the horn again, and went further in to the +castle. “The giants can wait a little,” he said. + +Before long he came to an apartment in which a beautiful princess lay +asleep in a bed, and on a table by her side there lay a gold-hemmed +handkerchief. Niels tore this in two, and put one half in his pocket, +leaving the other half on the table. On the floor he saw a pair of +gold-embroidered slippers, and one of these he also put in his pocket. +After that he went back to the hall, and took down the horn again. +“Perhaps I have to drink all that is in it before I can move the +sword,” he thought; so he put it to his lips again and drank till it +was quite empty. When he had done this, he could wield the sword with +the greatest of ease, and felt himself strong enough to do anything, +even to fight the giants he had left outside, who were no doubt +wondering why he had not opened the gate to them before this time. To +kill the giants, he thought, would be using the sword for the right; +but as to winning the love of the princess, that was a thing which the +son of a poor sheep-farmer need not hope for. + +When Niels came to the gate of the castle, he found that there was a +large door and a small one, so he opened the latter. + +“Can’t you open the big door?” said the giants; “we shall hardly be +able to get in at this one.” + +“The bars are too heavy for me to draw,” said Niels; “if you stoop a +little you can quite well come in here.” The first giant accordingly +bent down and entered in a stooping posture, but before he had time to +straighten his back again Niels made a sweep with the sword, and oft +went the giant’s head. To push the body aside as it fell was quite easy +for Niels, so strong had the wine made him, and the second giant as he +entered met the same reception. The third was slower in coming, so +Niels called out to him: “Be quick,” he said, “you are surely the +oldest of the three, since you are so slow in your movements, but I +can’t wait here long; I must get back to my own people as soon as +possible.” So the third also came in, and was served in the same way. +It appears from the story that giants were not given fair play! + +By this time day was beginning to break, and Niels thought that his +folks might already be searching for him, so, instead of waiting to see +what took place at the castle, he ran off to the forest as fast as he +could, taking the sword with him. He found the others still asleep, so +he woke them up, and they again set out on their journey. Of the +night’s adventures he said not a word, and when they asked where he got +the sword, he only pointed in the direction of the castle, and said, +“Over that way.” They thought he had found it, and asked no more +questions. + +When Niels left the castle, he shut the door behind him, and it closed +with such a bang that the porter woke up. He could scarcely believe his +eyes when he saw the three headless giants lying in a heap in the +courtyard, and could not imagine what had taken place. The whole castle +was soon aroused, and then everybody wondered at the affair: it was +soon seen that the bodies were those of the king’s great enemies, but +how they came to be there and in that condition was a perfect mystery. +Then it was noticed that the drinking-horn was empty and the sword +gone, while the princess reported that half of her handkerchief and one +of her slippers had been taken away. How the giants had been killed +seemed a little clearer now, but who had done it was as great a puzzle +as before. The old knight who had charge of the castle said that in his +opinion it must have been some young knight, who had immediately set +off to the king to claim the hand of the princess. This sounded likely, +but the messenger who was sent to the Court returned with the news that +no one there knew anything about the matter. + +“We must find him, however,” said the princess; “for if he is willing +to marry me I cannot in honour refuse him, after what my father put on +the horn.” She took council with her father’s wisest men as to what +ought to be done, and among other things they advised her to build a +house beside the highway, and put over the door this +inscription:—“Whoever will tell the story of his life, may stay here +three nights for nothing.” This was done, and many strange tales were +told to the princess, but none of the travellers said a word about the +three giants. + +In the meantime Niels and the others tramped on towards Rome. Autumn +passed, and winter was just beginning when they came to the foot of a +great range of mountains, towering up to the sky. “Must we go over +these?” said they. “We shall be frozen to death or buried in the snow.” + +“Here comes a man,” said Niels; “let us ask him the way to Rome.” They +did so, and were told that there was no other way. + +“And is it far yet?” said the old people, who were beginning to be worn +out by the long journey. The man held up his foot so that they could +see the sole of his shoe; it was worn as thin as paper, and there was a +hole in the middle of it. + +“These shoes were quite new when I left Rome,” he said, “and look at +them now; that will tell you whether you are far from it or not.” + +This discouraged the old people so much that they gave up all thought +of finishing the journey, and only wished to get back to Denmark as +quickly as they could. What with the winter and bad roads they took +longer to return than they had taken to go, but in the end they found +themselves in sight of the forest where they had slept before. + +“What’s this?” said Rasmus. “Here’s a big house built since we passed +this way before.” + +“So it is,” said Peter; “let’s stay all night in it.” + +“No, we can’t afford that,” said the old people; “it will be too dear +for the like of us.” + +However, when they saw what was written above the door, they were all +well pleased to get a night’s lodging for nothing. They were well +received, and had so much attention given to them, that the old people +were quite put out by it. After they had got time to rest themselves, +the princess’s steward came to hear their story. + +“You saw what was written above the door,” he said to the father. “Tell +me who you are and what your history has been.” + +“Dear me, I have nothing of any importance to tell you,” said the old +man, “and I am sure we should never have made so bold as to trouble you +at all if it hadn’t been for the youngest of our two sons here.” + +“Never mind that,” said the steward; “you are very welcome if you will +only tell me the story of your life.” + +“Well, well, I will,” said he, “but there is nothing to tell about it. +I and my wife have lived all our days on a moor in North Jutland, until +this last year, when she took a fancy to go to Rome. We set out with +our two sons but turned back long before we got there, and are now on +our way home again. That’s all my own story, and our two sons have +lived with us all their days, so there is nothing more to be told about +them either.” + +“Yes there is,” said Rasmus; “when we were on our way south, we slept +in the wood near here one night, and I shot a stag.” + +The steward was so much accustomed to hearing stories of no importance +that he thought there was no use going further with this, but reported +to the princess that the newcomers had nothing to tell. + +“Did you question them all?” she said. + +“Well, no; not directly,” said he; “but the father said that none of +them could tell me any more than he had done.” + +“You are getting careless,” said the princess; “I shall go and talk to +them myself.” + +Niels knew the princess again as soon as she entered the room, and was +greatly alarmed, for he immediately supposed that all this was a device +to discover the person who had run away with the sword, the slipper and +the half of the handkerchief, and that it would fare badly with him if +he were discovered. So he told his story much the same as the others +did (Niels was not very particular), and thought he had escaped all +further trouble, when Rasmus put in his word. “You’ve forgotten +something, Niels,” he said; “you remember you found a sword near here +that night I shot the stag.” + +“Where is the sword?” said the princess. + +“I know,” said the steward, “I saw where he laid it down when they came +in;” and off he went to fetch it, while Niels wondered whether he could +make his escape in the meantime. Before he had made up his mind, +however, the steward was back with the sword, which the princess +recognised at once. + +“Where did you get this?” she said to Niels. + +Niels was silent, and wondered what the usual penalty was for a poor +sheep-farmer’s son who was so unfortunate as to deliver a princess and +carry off things from her bed-room. + +“See what else he has about him,” said the princess to the steward, and +Niels had to submit to be searched: out of one pocket came a +gold-embroidered slipper, and out of another the half of a gold-hemmed +handkerchief. + +“That is enough,” said the princess; “now we needn’t ask any more +questions. Send for my father the king at once.” + +“Please let me go,” said Niels; “I did you as much good as harm, at any +rate.” + +“Why, who said anything about doing harm?” said the princess. “You must +stay here till my father comes.” + +The way in which the princess smiled when she said this gave Niels some +hope that things might not be bad for him after all, and he was yet +more encouraged when he thought of the words engraver on the horn, +though the last line still seemed too good to be true. However, the +arrival of the king soon settled the matter: the princess was willing +and so was Niels, and in a few days the wedding bells were ringing. +Niels was made an earl by that time, and looked as handsome as any of +them when dressed in all his robes. Before long the old king died, and +Niels reigned after him; but whether his father and mother stayed with +him, or went back to the moor in Jutland, or were sent to Rome in a +carriage and four, is something that all the historians of his reign +have forgotten to mention. + + + + +Shepherd Paul + + +Once upon a time a shepherd was taking his flock out to pasture, when +he found a little baby lying in a meadow, left there by some wicked +person, who thought it was too much trouble to look after it. The +shepherd was fond of children, so he took the baby home with him and +gave it plenty of milk, and by the time the boy was fourteen he could +tear up oaks as if they were weeds. Then Paul, as the shepherd had +called him, grew tired of living at home, and went out into the world +to try his luck. + +He walked on for many miles, seeing nothing that surprised him, but in +an open space of the wood he was astonished at finding a man combing +trees as another man would comb flax. + +“Good morning, friend,” said Paul; “upon my word, you must be a strong +man!” + +The man stopped his work and laughed. “I am Tree Comber,” he answered +proudly; “and the greatest wish of my life is to wrestle with Shepherd +Paul.” + +“May all your wishes be fulfilled as easily, for I am Shepherd Paul, +and can wrestle with you at once,” replied the lad; and he seized Tree +Comber and flung him with such force to the ground that he sank up to +his knees in the earth. However, in a moment he was up again, and +catching hold of Paul, threw him so that he sank up to his waist; but +then it was Paul’s turn again, and this time the man was buried up to +his neck. “That is enough,” cried he; “I see you are a smart fellow, +let us become friends.” + +“Very good,” answered Paul, and they continued their journey together. + +By-and-by they reached a man who was grinding stones to powder in his +hands, as if they had been nuts. + +“Good morning,” said Paul politely; “upon my word, you must be a strong +fellow!” + +“I am Stone Crusher,” answered the man, and the greatest wish of my +life is to wrestle with Shepherd Paul.” + +“May all your wishes be as easily fulfilled, for I am Shepherd Paul, +and will wrestle with you at once,” and the sport began. After a short +time the man declared himself beaten, and begged leave to go with them; +so they all three travelled together. + +A little further on they came upon a man who was kneading iron as if it +had been dough. “Good morning,” said Paul, “you must be a strong +fellow.” + +“I am Iron Kneader, and should like to fight Shepherd Paul,” answered +he. + +“Let us begin at once then,” replied Paul; and on this occasion also, +Paul got the better of his foe, and they all four continued their +journey. + +At midday they entered a forest, and Paul stopped suddenly. “We three +will go and look for game,” he said, “and you, Tree Comber, will stay +behind and prepare a good supper for us.” So Tree Comber set to work to +boil and roast, and when dinner was nearly ready, a little dwarf with a +pointed beard strolled up to the place. “What are you cooking?” asked +he, “give me some of it.” + +“I’ll give you some on your back, if you like,” answered Tree Comber +rudely. The dwarf took no notice, but waited patiently till the dinner +was cooked, then suddenly throwing Tree Comber on the ground, he ate up +the contents of the saucepan and vanished. Tree Comber felt rather +ashamed of himself, and set about boiling some more vegetables, but +they were still very hard when the hunters returned, and though they +complained of his bad cooking, he did not tell them about the dwarf. + +Next day Stone Crusher was left behind, and after him Iron Kneader, and +each time the dwarf appeared, and they fared no better than Tree Comber +had done. The fourth day Paul said to them: “My friends, there must be +some reason why your cooking has always been so bad, now you shall go +and hunt and I will stay behind.” So they went off, amusing themselves +by thinking what was in store for Paul. + +He set to work at once, and had just got all his vegetables simmering +in the pot when the dwarf appeared as before, and asked to have some of +the stew. “Be off,” cried Paul, snatching up the saucepan as he spoke. +The dwarf tried to get hold of his collar, but Paul seized him by the +beard, and tied him to a big tree so that he could not stir, and went +on quietly with his cooking. The hunters came back early, longing to +see how Paul had got on, and, to their surprise, dinner was quite ready +for them. + +“You are great useless creatures,” said he, “who couldn’t even outwit +that little dwarf. When we have finished supper I will show you what I +have done with him!” But when they reached the place where Paul had +left the dwarf, neither he nor the tree was to be seen, for the little +fellow had pulled it up by the roots and run away, dragging it after +him. The four friends followed the track of the tree and found that it +ended in a deep hole. “He must have gone down here,” said Paul, “and I +will go after him. See! there is a basket that will do for me to sit +in, and a cord to lower me with. But when I pull the cord again, lose +no time in drawing the basket up.” + +And he stepped into the basket, which was lowered by his friends. + +At last it touched the ground and he jumped out and looked about him. +He was in a beautiful valley, full of meadows and streams, with a +splendid castle standing by. As the door was open he walked in, but a +lovely maiden met him and implored him to go back, for the owner of the +castle was a dragon with six heads, who had stolen her from her home +and brought her down to this underground spot. But Paul refused to +listen to all her entreaties, and declared that he was not afraid of +the dragon, and did not care how many heads he had; and he sat down +calmly to wait for him. + +In a little while the dragon came in, and all the long teeth in his six +heads chattered with anger at the sight of the stranger. + +“I am Shepherd Paul,” said the young man, “and I have come to fight +you, and as I am in a hurry we had better begin at once.” + +“Very good,” answered the dragon. “I am sure of my supper, but let us +have a mouthful of something first, just to give us an appetite.” + +Whereupon he began to eat some huge boulders as if they had been cakes, +and when he had quite finished, he offered Paul one. Paul was not fond +of boulders, but he took a wooden knife and cut one in two, then he +snatched up both halves in his hands and threw them with all his +strength at the dragon, so that two out of the six heads were smashed +in. At this the dragon, with a mighty roar, rushed upon Paul, but he +sprang on one side, and with a swinging blow cut off two of the other +heads. Then, seizing the monster by the neck, he dashed the remaining +heads against the rock. + +When the maiden heard that the dragon was dead, she thanked her +deliverer with tears in her eyes, but told him that her two younger +sisters were in the power of dragons still fiercer and more horrible +than this one. He vowed that his sword should never rest in its sheath +till they were set free, and bade the girl come with him, and show him +the way. + +The maiden gladly consented to go with him, but first she gave him a +golden rod, and bade him strike the castle with it. He did so, and it +instantly changed into a golden apple, which he put in his pocket. +After that, they started on their search. + +They had not gone far before they reached the castle where the second +girl was confined by the power of the dragon with twelve heads, who had +stolen her from her home. She was overjoyed at the sight of her sister +and of Paul, and brought him a shirt belonging to the dragon, which +made every one who wore it twice as strong as they were before. +Scarcely had he put it on when the dragon came back, and the fight +began. Long and hard was the struggle, but Paul’s sword and his shirt +helped him, and the twelve heads lay dead upon the ground. + +Then Paul changed the castle into an apple, which he put into his +pocket, and set out with the two girls in search of the third castle. + +It was not long before they found it, and within the walls was the +third sister, who was younger and prettier than either of the other +two. Her husband had eighteen heads, but when he quitted the lower +regions for the surface of the earth, he left them all at home except +one, which he changed for the head of a little dwarf, with a pointed +beard. + +The moment that Paul knew that this terrible dragon was no other than +the dwarf whom he had tied to the tree, he longed more than ever to fly +at his throat. But the thought of the eighteen heads warned him to be +careful, and the third sister brought him a silk shirt which would make +him ten times stronger than he was before. + +He had scarcely put it on, when the whole castle began to shake +violently, and the dragon flew up the steps into the hall. + +“Well, my friend, so we meet once more! Have you forgotten me? I am +Shepherd Paul, and I have come to wrestle with you, and to free your +wife from your clutches.” + +“Ah, I am glad to see you again,” said the dragon. “Those were my two +brothers whom you killed, and now your blood shall pay for them.” And +he went into his room to look for his shirt and to drink some magic +wine, but the shirt was on Paul’s back, and as for the wine, the girl +had given a cupful to Paul and then had allowed the rest to run out of +the cask. + +At this the dragon grew rather frightened, but in a moment had +recollected his eighteen heads, and was bold again. + +“Come on,” he cried, rearing himself up and preparing to dart all his +heads at once at Paul. But Paul jumped underneath, and gave an upward +cut so that six of the heads went rolling down. They were the best +heads too, and very soon the other twelve lay beside them. Then Paul +changed the castle into an apple, and put it in his pocket. Afterwards +he and the three girls set off for the opening which led upwards to the +earth. + +The basket was still there, dangling from the rope, but it was only big +enough to hold the three girls, so Paul sent them up, and told them to +be sure and let down the basket for him. Unluckily, at the sight of the +maidens’ beauty, so far beyond anything they had ever seen, the friends +forgot all about Paul, and carried the girls straight away into a far +country, so that they were not much better off than before. Meanwhile +Paul, mad with rage at the ingratitude of the three sisters, vowed he +would be revenged upon them, and set about finding some way of getting +back to earth. But it was not very easy, and for months, and months, +and months, he wandered about underground, and, at the end, seemed no +nearer to fulfilling his purpose than he was at the beginning. + +At length, one day, he happened to pass the nest of a huge griffin, who +had left her young ones all alone. Just as Paul came along a cloud +containing fire instead of rain burst overhead, and all the little +griffins would certainly have been killed had not Paul spread his cloak +over the nest and saved them. When their father returned the young ones +told him what Paul had done, and he lost no time in flying after Paul, +and asking how he could reward him for his goodness. + +“By carrying me up to the earth,” answered Paul; and the griffin +agreed, but first went to get some food to eat on the way, as it was a +long journey. + +“Now get on my back,” he said to Paul, “and when I turn my head to the +right, cut a slice off the bullock that hangs on that side, and put it +in my mouth, and when I turn my head to the left, draw a cupful of wine +from the cask that hangs on that side, and pour it down my throat.” + +For three days and three nights Paul and the griffin flew upwards, and +on the fourth morning it touched the ground just outside the city where +Paul’s friends had gone to live. Then Paul thanked him and bade him +farewell, and he returned home again. + +At first Paul was too tired to do anything but sleep, but as soon as he +was rested he started off in search of the three faithless ones, who +almost died from fright at the sight of him, for they had thought he +would never come back to reproach them for their wickedness. + +“You know what to expect,” Paul said to them quietly. “You shall never +see me again. Off with you!” He next took the three apples out of his +pocket and placed them all in the prettiest places he could find; after +which he tapped them with his golden rod, and they became castles +again. He gave two of the castles to the eldest sisters, and kept the +other for himself and the youngest, whom he married, and there they are +living still. + +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] + + + + +How The Wicked Tanuki Was Punished + + +The hunters had hunted the wood for so many years that no wild animal +was any more to be found in it. You might walk from one end to the +other without ever seeing a hare, or a deer, or a boar, or hearing the +cooing of the doves in their nest. If they were not dead, they had +flown elsewhere. Only three creatures remained alive, and they had +hidden themselves in the thickest part of the forest, high up the +mountain. These were a grey-furred, long-tailed tanuki, his wife the +fox, who was one of his own family, and their little son. + +The fox and the tanuki were very clever, prudent beasts, and they also +were skilled in magic, and by this means had escaped the fate of their +unfortunate friends. If they heard the twang of an arrow or saw the +glitter of a spear, ever so far off, they lay very still, and were not +to be tempted from their hiding-place, if their hunger was ever so +great, or the game ever so delicious. “We are not so foolish as to risk +our lives,” they said to each other proudly. But at length there came a +day when, in spite of their prudence, they seemed likely to die of +starvation, for no more food was to be had. Something had to be done, +but they did not know what. + +Suddenly a bright thought struck the tanuki. “I have got a plan,” he +cried joyfully to his wife. “I will pretend to be dead, and you must +change yourself into a man, and take me to the village for sale. It +will be easy to find a buyer, tanukis’ skins are always wanted; then +buy some food with the money and come home again. I will manage to +escape somehow, so do not worry about me.” + +The fox laughed with delight, and rubbed her paws together with +satisfaction. “Well, next time I will go,” she said, “and you can sell +me.” And then she changed herself into a man, and picking up the stiff +body of the tanuki, set off towards the village. She found him rather +heavy, but it would never have done to let him walk through the wood +and risk his being seen by somebody. + +As the tanaki had foretold, buyers were many, and the fox handed him +over to the person who offered the largest price, and hurried to get +some food with the money. The buyer took the tanuki back to his house, +and throwing him into a corner went out. Directly the tanaki found he +was alone, he crept cautiously through a chink of the window, thinking, +as he did so, how lucky it was that he was not a fox, and was able to +climb. Once outside, he hid himself in a ditch till it grew dusk, and +then galloped away into the forest. + +While the food lasted they were all three as happy as kings; but there +soon arrived a day when the larder was as empty as ever. “It is my turn +now to pretend to be dead,” cried the fox. So the tanuki changed +himself into a peasant, and started for the village, with his wife’s +body hanging over his shoulder. A buyer was not long in coming forward, +and while they were making the bargain a wicked thought darted into the +tanuki’s head, that if he got rid of the fox there would be more food +for him and his son. So as he put the money in his pocket he whispered +softly to the buyer that the fox was not really dead, and that if he +did not take care she might run away from him. The man did not need +twice telling. He gave the poor fox a blow on the head, which put an +end to her, and the wicked tanuki went smiling to the nearest shop. + +In former times he had been very fond of his little son; but since he +had betrayed his wife he seemed to have changed all in a moment, for he +would not give him as much as a bite, and the poor little fellow would +have starved had he not found some nuts and berries to eat, and he +waited on, always hoping that his mother would come back. + +At length some notion of the truth began to dawn on him; but he was +careful to let the old tanuki see nothing, though in his own mind he +turned over plans from morning till night, wondering how best he might +avenge his mother. + +One morning, as the little tanuki was sitting with his father, he +remembered, with a start, that his mother had taught him all she knew +of magic, and that he could work spells as well as his father, or +perhaps better. “I am as good a wizard as you,” he said suddenly, and a +cold chill ran through the tanuki as he heard him, though he laughed, +and pretended to think it a joke. But the little tanaki stuck to his +point, and at last the father proposed they should have a wager. + +“Change yourself into any shape you like,” said he, “and I will +undertake to know you. I will go and wait on the bridge which leads +over the river to the village, and you shall transform yourself into +anything you please, but I will know you through any disguise.” The +little tanuki agreed, and went down the road which his father had +pointed out. But instead of transforming himself into a different +shape, he just hid himself in a corner of the bridge, where he could +see without being seen. + +He had not been there long when his father arrived and took up his +place near the middle of the bridge, and soon after the king came by, +followed by a troop of guards and all his court. + +“Ah! he thinks that now he has changed himself into a king I shall not +know him,” thought the old tanuki, and as the king passed in his +splendid carriage, borne by his servants, he jumped upon it crying: “I +have won my wager; you cannot deceive me.” But in reality it was he who +had deceived himself. The soldiers, conceiving that their king was +being attacked, seized the tanuki by the legs and flung him over into +the river, and the water closed over him. + +And the little tanoki saw it all, and rejoiced that his mother’s death +had been avenged. Then he went back to the forest, and if he has not +found it too lonely, he is probably living there still. + +[From Japanische Mährchen.] + + + + +The Crab And The Monkey + + +There was once a crab who lived in a hole on the shady side of a +mountain. She was a very good housewife, and so careful and industrious +that there was no creature in the whole country whose hole was so neat +and clean as hers, and she took great pride in it. + +One day she saw lying near the mouth of her hole a handful of cooked +rice which some pilgrim must have let fall when he was stopping to eat +his dinner. Delighted at this discovery, she hastened to the spot, and +was carrying the rice back to her hole when a monkey, who lived in some +trees near by, came down to see what the crab was doing. His eyes shone +at the sight of the rice, for it was his favourite food, and like the +sly fellow he was, he proposed a bargain to the crab. She was to give +him half the rice in exchange for the kernel of a sweet red kaki fruit +which he had just eaten. He half expected that the crab would laugh in +his face at this impudent proposal, but instead of doing so she only +looked at him for a moment with her head on one side and then said that +she would agree to the exchange. So the monkey went off with his rice, +and the crab returned to her hole with the kernel. + +For some time the crab saw no more of the monkey, who had gone to pay a +visit on the sunny side of the mountain; but one morning he happened to +pass by her hole, and found her sitting under the shadow of a beautiful +kaki tree. + +“Good day,” he said politely, “you have some very fine fruit there! I +am very hungry, could you spare me one or two?” + +“Oh, certainly,” replied the crab, “but you must forgive me if I cannot +get them for you myself. I am no tree-climber.” + +“Pray do not apologise,” answered the monkey. “Now that I have your +permission I can get them myself quite easily.” And the crab consented +to let him go up, merely saying that he must throw her down half the +fruit. + +In another moment he was swinging himself from branch to branch, eating +all the ripest kakis and filling his pockets with the rest, and the +poor crab saw to her disgust that the few he threw down to her were +either not ripe at all or else quite rotten. + +“You are a shocking rogue,” she called in a rage; but the monkey took +no notice, and went on eating as fast as he could. The crab understood +that it was no use her scolding, so she resolved to try what cunning +would do. + +“Sir Monkey,” she said, “you are certainly a very good climber, but now +that you have eaten so much, I am quite sure you would never be able to +turn one of your somersaults.” The monkey prided himself on turning +better somersaults than any of his family, so he instantly went head +over heels three times on the bough on which he was sitting, and all +the beautiful kakis that he had in his pockets rolled to the ground. +Quick as lightning the crab picked them up and carried a quantity of +them into her house, but when she came up for another the monkey sprang +on her, and treated her so badly that he left her for dead. When he had +beaten her till his arm ached he went his way. + +It was a lucky thing for the poor crab that she had some friends to +come to her help or she certainly would have died then and there. The +wasp flew to her, and took her back to bed and looked after her, and +then he consulted with a rice-mortar and an egg which had fallen out of +a nest near by, and they agreed that when the monkey returned, as he +was sure to do, to steal the rest of the fruit, that they would punish +him severely for the manner in which he had behaved to the crab. So the +mortar climbed up to the beam over the front door, and the egg lay +quite still on the ground, while the wasp set down the water-bucket in +a corner. Then the crab dug itself a deep hole in the ground, so that +not even the tip of her claws might be seen. + +Soon after everything was ready the monkey jumped down from his tree, +and creeping to the door began a long hypocritical speech, asking +pardon for all he had done. He waited for an answer of some sort, but +none came. He listened, but all was still; then he peeped, and saw no +one; then he went in. He peered about for the crab, but in vain; +however, his eyes fell on the egg, which he snatched up and set on the +fire. But in a moment the egg had burst into a thousand pieces, and its +sharp shell struck him in the face and scratched him horribly. Smarting +with pain he ran to the bucket and stooped down to throw some water +over his head. As he stretched out his hand up started the wasp and +stung him on the nose. The monkey shrieked and ran to the door, but as +he passed through down fell the mortar and struck him dead. “After that +the crab lived happily for many years, and at length died in peace +under her own kaki tree. + +[From _Japanische Mährchen_.] + + + + +The Horse Gullfaxi And The Sword Gunnfoder + + +Many many years ago there lived a king and queen who had one only son, +called Sigurd. When the little boy was only ten years old the queen, +his mother, fell ill and died, and the king, who loved her dearly, +built a splendid monument to his wife’s memory, and day after day he +sat by it and bewailed his sad loss. + +One morning, as he sat by the grave, he noticed a richly dressed lady +close to him. He asked her name and she answered that it was Ingiborg, +and seemed surprised to see the king there all alone. Then he told her +how he had lost his queen, and how he came daily to weep at her grave. +In return, the lady informed him that she had lately lost her husband, +and suggested that they might both find it a comfort if they made +friends. + +This pleased the king so much that he invited her to his palace, where +they saw each other often; and after a time he married her. + +After the wedding was over he soon regained his good spirits, and used +to ride out hunting as in old days; but Sigurd, who was very fond of +his stepmother, always stayed at home with her. + +One evening Ingiborg said to Sigurd: “To-morrow your father is going +out hunting, and you must go with him.” But Sigurd said he would much +rather stay at home, and the next day when the king rode off Sigurd +refused to accompany him. The stepmother was very angry, but he would +not listen, and at last she assured him that he would be sorry for his +disobedience, and that in future he had better do as he was told. + +After the hunting party had started she hid Sigurd under her bed, and +bade him be sure to lie there till she called him. + +Sigurd lay very still for a long while, and was just thinking it was no +good staying there any more, when he felt the floor shake under him as +if there were an earthquake, and peeping out he saw a great giantess +wading along ankle deep through the ground and ploughing it up as she +walked. + +“Good morning, Sister Ingiborg,” cried she as she entered the room, “is +Prince Sigurd at home?” + +“No,” said Ingiborg; “he rode off to the forest with his father this +morning.” And she laid the table for her sister and set food before +her. After they had both done eating the giantess said: “Thank you, +sister, for your good dinner—the best lamb, the best can of beer and +the best drink I have ever had; but—is not Prince Sigurd at home?” + +Ingiborg again said “No”; and the giantess took leave of her and went +away. When she was quite out of sight Ingiborg told Sigurd to come out +of his hiding-place. + +The king returned home at night, but his wife told him nothing of what +had happened, and the next morning she again begged the prince to go +out hunting with his father. Sigurd, however, replied as before, that +he would much rather stay at home. + +So once more the king rode off alone. This time Ingiborg hid Sigurd +under the table, and scolded him well for not doing as she bade him. +For some time he lay quite still, and then suddenly the floor began to +shake, and a giantess came along wading half way to her knees through +the ground. + +As she entered the house she asked, as the first one had done: “Well, +Sister Ingiborg, is Prince Sigurd at home?” + +“No,” answered Ingiborg,” he rode off hunting with his father this +morning”; and going to the cupboard she laid the table for her sister. +When they had finished their meal the giantess rose and said: “Thank +you for all these nice dishes, and for the best lamb, the best can of +beer and the nicest drink I have ever had; but—is Prince Sigurd really +not at home?” + +“No, certainly not!” replied Ingiborg; and with that they took leave of +each other. + +When she was well out of sight Sigurd crept from under the table, and +his stepmother declared that it was most important that he should not +stay at home next day; but he said he did not see what harm could come +of it, and he did not mean to go out hunting, and the next morning, +when the king prepared to start, Ingiborg implored Sigurd to accompany +his father. But it was all no use, he was quite obstinate and would not +listen to a word she said. “You will have to hide me again,” said he, +so no sooner had the king gone than Ingiborg hid Sigurd between the +wall and the panelling, and by-and-by there was heard once more a sound +like an earthquake, as a great giantess, wading knee deep through the +ground, came in at the door. + +“Good day, Sister Ingiborg!” she cried, in a voice like thunder; “is +Prince Sigurd at home?” + +“Oh, no,” answered Ingiborg, “he is enjoying himself out there in the +forest. I expect it will be quite dark before he comes back again.” + +“That’s a lie!” shouted the giantess. And they squabbled about it till +they were tired, after which Ingiborg laid the table; and when the +giantess had done eating she said: “Well, I must thank you for all +these good things, and for the best lamb, the best can of beer and the +best drink I have had for a long time; but—are you quite sure Prince +Sigurd is not at home?” + +“Quite,” said Ingiborg. “I’ve told you already that he rode off with +his father this morning to hunt in the forest.” + +At this the giantess roared out with a terrible voice: “If he is near +enough to hear my words, I lay this spell on him: Let him be half +scorched and half withered; and may he have neither rest nor peace till +he finds me.” And with these words she stalked off. + +For a moment Ingiborg stood as if turned to stone, then she fetched +Sigurd from his hiding-place, and, to her horror, there he was, half +scorched and half withered. + +“Now you see what has happened through your own obstinacy,” said she; +“but we must lose no time, for your father will soon be coming home.” + +Going quickly into the next room she opened a chest and took out a ball +of string and three gold rings, and gave them to Sigurd, saying: “If +you throw this ball on the ground it will roll along till it reaches +some high cliffs. There you will see a giantess looking out over the +rocks. She will call down to you and say: ‘Ah, this is just what I +wanted! Here is Prince Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night’; but +don’t be frightened by her. She will draw you up with a long boat-hook, +and you must greet her from me, and give her the smallest ring as a +present. This will please her, and she will ask you to wrestle with +her. When you are exhausted, she will offer you a horn to drink out of, +and though she does not know it, the wine will make you so strong that +you will easily be able to conquer her. After that she will let you +stay there all night. The same thing will happen with my two other +sisters. But, above all, remember this: should my little dog come to +you and lay his paws on you, with tears running down his face, then +hurry home, for my life will be in danger. Now, good-bye, and don’t +forget your stepmother.” + +Then Ingiborg dropped the ball on the ground, and Sigurd bade her +farewell. + +That same evening the ball stopped rolling at the foot of some high +rocks, and on glancing up, Sigurd saw the giantess looking out at the +top. + +“Ah, just what I wanted!” she cried out when she saw him; “here is +Prince Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night. Come up, my friend, +and wrestle with me.” + +With these words she reached out a long boat hook and hauled him up the +cliff. At first Sigurd was rather frightened, but he remembered what +Ingiborg had said, and gave the giantess her sister’s message and the +ring. + +The giantess was delighted, and challenged him to wrestle with her. +Sigurd was fond of all games, and began to wrestle with joy; but he was +no match for the giantess, and as she noticed that he was getting faint +she gave him a horn to drink out of, which was very foolish on her +part, as it made Sigurd so strong that he soon overthrew her. + +“You may stay here to-night,” said she; and he was glad of the rest. + +Next morning Sigurd threw down the ball again and away it rolled for +some time, till it stopped at the foot of another high rock. Then he +looked up and saw another giantess, even bigger and uglier than the +first one, who called out to him: “Ah, this is just what I wanted! Here +is Prince Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night. Come up quickly +and wrestle with me.” And she lost no time in hauling him up. + +The prince gave her his stepmother’s message and the second largest +ring. The giantess was greatly pleased when she saw the ring, and at +once challenged Sigurd to wrestle with her. + +They struggled for a long time, till at last Sigurd grew faint; so she +handed him a horn to drink from, and when he had drunk he became so +strong that he threw her down with one hand. + +On the third morning Sigurd once more laid down his ball, and it rolled +far away, till at last it stopped under a very high rock indeed, over +the top of which the most hideous giantess that ever was seen looked +down. + +When she saw who was there she cried out: “Ah, this is just what I +wanted! Here comes Prince Sigurd. Into the pot he goes this very night. +Come up here, my friend, and wrestle with me.” And she hauled him up +just as her sisters had done. + +Sigurd then gave her his stepmother’s message and the last and largest +ring. The sight of the red gold delighted the giantess, and she +challenged Sigurd to a wrestling match. This time the fight was fierce +and long, but when at length Sigurd’s strength was failing the giantess +gave him something to drink, and after he had drunk it he soon brought +her to her knees. “You have beaten me,” she gasped, so now, listen to +me. “Not far from here is a lake. Go there; you will find a little girl +playing with a boat. Try to make friends with her, and give her this +little gold ring. You are stronger than ever you were, and I wish you +good luck.” + +With these words they took leave of each other, and Sigurd wandered on +till he reached the lake, where he found the little girl playing with a +boat, just as he had been told. He went up to her and asked what her +name was. + +She was called Helga, she answered, and she lived near by. + +So Sigurd gave her the little gold ring, and proposed that they should +have a game. The little girl was delighted, for she had no brothers or +sisters, and they played together all the rest of the day. + +When evening came Sigurd asked leave to go home with her, but Helga at +first forbade him, as no stranger had ever managed to enter their house +without being found out by her father, who was a very fierce giant. + +However, Sigurd persisted, and at length she gave way; but when they +came near the door she held her glove over him and Sigurd was at once +transformed into a bundle of wool. Helga tucked the bundle under her +arm and threw it on the bed in her room. + +Almost at the same moment her father rushed in and hunted round in +every corner, crying out: “This place smells of men. What’s that you +threw on the bed, Helga?” + +“A bundle of wool,” said she. + +“Oh, well, perhaps it was that I smelt,” said the old man, and troubled +himself no more. + +The following day Helga went out to play and took the bundle of wool +with her under her arm. When she reached the lake she held her glove +over it again and Sigurd resumed his own shape. + +They played the whole day, and Sigurd taught Helga all sorts of games +she had never even heard of. As they walked home in the evening she +said: “We shall be able to play better still to-morrow, for my father +will have to go to the town, so we can stay at home.” + +When they were near the house Helga again held her glove over Sigurd, +and once more he was turned into a bundle of wool, and she carried him +in without his being seen. + +Very early next morning Helga’s father went to the town, and as soon as +he was well out of the way the girl held up her glove and Sigurd was +himself again. Then she took him all over the house to amuse him, and +opened every room, for her father had given her the keys before he +left; but when they came to the last room Sigurd noticed one key on the +bunch which had not been used and asked which room it belonged to.” + +Helga grew red and did not answer. + +“I suppose you don’t mind my seeing the room which it opens?” asked +Sigurd, and as he spoke he saw a heavy iron door and begged Helga to +unlock it for him. But she told him she dared not do so, at least if +she did open the door it must only be a very tiny chink; and Sigurd +declared that would do quite well. + +The door was so heavy, that it took Helga some time to open it, and +Sigurd grew so impatient that he pushed it wide open and walked in. +There he saw a splendid horse, all ready saddled, and just above it +hung a richly ornamented sword on the handle of which was engraved +these words: “He who rides this horse and wears this sword will find +happiness.” + +At the sight of the horse Sigurd was so filled with wonder that he was +not able to speak, but at last he gasped out: “Oh, do let me mount him +and ride him round the house! Just once; I promise not to ask any +more.” + +“Ride him round the house!” cried Helga, growing pale at the mere idea. +“Ride Gullfaxi! Why father would never, never forgive me, if I let you +do that.” + +“But it can’t do him any harm,” argued Sigurd; “you don’t know how +careful I will be. I have ridden all sorts of horses at home, and have +never fallen off not once. Oh, Helga, do!” + +“Well, perhaps, if you come back directly,” replied Helga, doubtfully; +“but you must be very quick, or father will find out!” + +But, instead of mounting Gullfaxi, as she expected, Sigurd stood still. + +“And the sword,” he said, looking fondly up to the place where it hung. +“My father is a king, but he has not got any sword so beautiful as +that. Why, the jewels in the scabbard are more splendid than the big +ruby in his crown! Has it got a name? Some swords have, you know.” + +“It is called ‘Gunnfjoder,’ the ‘Battle Plume,’” answered Helga, “and +‘Gullfaxi’ means ‘Golden Mane.’ I don’t suppose, if you are to get on +the horse at all, it would matter your taking the sword too. And if you +take the sword you will have to carry the stick and the stone and the +twig as well.” + +“They are easily carried,” said Sigurd, gazing at them with scorn; +“what wretched dried-up things! Why in the world do you keep them?” + +“Bather says that he would rather lose Gullfaxi than lose them,” +replied Helga, “for if the man who rides the horse is pursued he has +only to throw the twig behind him and it will turn into a forest, so +thick that even a bird could hardly fly through. But if his enemy +happens to know magic, and can throw down the forest, the man has only +to strike the stone with the stick, and hailstones as large as pigeons’ +eggs will rain down from the sky and will kill every one for twenty +miles round.” + +Having said all this she allowed Sigurd to ride “just once” round the +house, taking the sword and other things with him. But when he had +ridden round, instead of dismounting, he suddenly turned the horse’s +head and galloped away. + +Soon after this Helga’s father came home and found his daughter in +tears. He asked what was the matter, and when he heard all that had +happened, he rushed off as fast as he could to pursue Sigurd. + +Now, as Sigurd happened to look behind him he saw the giant coming +after him with great strides, and in all haste he threw the twig behind +him. Immediately such a thick wood sprang up at once between him and +his enemy that the giant was obliged to run home for an axe with which +to cut his way through. + +The next time Sigurd glanced round, the giant was so near that he +almost touched Gullfaxi’s tail. In an agony of fear Sigurd turned +quickly in his saddle and hit the stone with the stick. No sooner had +he done this than a terrible hailstorm burst behind, and the giant was +killed on the spot. + +But had Sigurd struck the stone without turning round, the hail would +have driven right into his face and killed him instead. + +After the giant was dead Sigurd rode on towards his own home, and on +the way he suddenly met his stepmother’s little dog, running to meet +him, with tears pouring down its face. He galloped on as hard as he +could, and on arriving found nine men-servants in the act of tying +Queen Ingiborg to a post in the courtyard of the palace, where they +intended to burn her. + +Wild with anger Prince Sigurd sprang from his horse and, sword in hand, +fell on the men and killed them all. Then he released his stepmother, +and went in with her to see his father. + +The king lay in bed sick with sorrow, and neither eating nor drinking, +for he thought that his son had been killed by the queen. He could +hardly believe his own eyes for joy when he saw the prince, and Sigurd +told him all his adventures. + +After that Prince Sigurd rode back to fetch Helga, and a great feast +was made which lasted three days; and every one said no bride was ever +seen so beautiful as Helga, and they lived happily for many, many +years, and everybody loved them. + +[From Islandische Mährchen.] + + + + +The Story Of The Sham Prince, Or The Ambitious Tailor + + +Once upon a time there lived a respectable young tailor called Labakan, +who worked for a clever master in Alexandria. No one could call Labakan +either stupid or lazy, for he could work extremely well and +quickly—when he chose; but there was something not altogether right +about him. Sometimes he would stitch away as fast as if he had a +red-hot needle and a burning thread, and at other times he would sit +lost in thought, and with such a queer look about him that his +fellow-workmen used to say, “Labakan has got on his aristocratic face +today.” + +On Fridays he would put on his fine robe which he had bought with the +money he had managed to save up, and go to the mosque. As he came back, +after prayers, if he met any friend who said “Good-day,” or “How are +you, friend Labakan?” he would wave his hand graciously or nod in a +condescending way; and if his master happened to say to him, as he +sometimes did, “Really, Labakan, you look like a prince,” he was +delighted, and would answer, “Have you noticed it too?” or “Well, so I +have long thought.” + +Things went on like this for some time, and the master put up with +Labakan’s absurdities because he was, on the whole, a good fellow and a +clever workman. + +One day, the sultan’s brother happened to be passing through +Alexandria, and wanted to have one of his state robes altered, so he +sent for the master tailor, who handed the robe over to Labakan as his +best workman. + +In the evening, when every one had left the workshop and gone home, a +great longing drove Labakan back to the place where the royal robe +hung. He stood a long time gazing at it, admiring the rich material and +the splendid embroidery in it. At last he could hold out no longer. He +felt he must try it on, and lo! and behold, it fitted as though it had +been made for him. + +“Am not I as good a prince as any other?” he asked himself, as he +proudly paced up and down the room. “Has not the master often said that +I seemed born to be a prince?” + +It seemed to him that he must be the son of some unknown monarch, and +at last he determined to set out at once and travel in search of his +proper rank. + +He felt as if the splendid robe had been sent him by some kind fairy, +and he took care not to neglect such a precious gift. He collected all +his savings, and, concealed by the darkness of the night, he passed +through the gates of Alexandria. + +The new prince excited a good deal of curiosity where ever he went, for +his splendid robe and majestic manner did not seem quite suitable to a +person travelling on foot. If anyone asked questions, he only replied +with an important air of mystery that he had his own reasons for not +riding. + +However, he soon found out that walking made him ridiculous, so at last +he bought a quiet, steady old horse, which he managed to get cheap. + +One day, as he was ambling along upon Murva (that was the horse’s +name), a horseman overtook him and asked leave to join him, so that +they might both beguile the journey with pleasant talk. The newcomer +was a bright, cheerful, good-looking young man, who soon plunged into +conversation and asked many questions. He told Labakan that his own +name was Omar, that he was a nephew of Elfi Bey, and was travelling in +order to carry out a command given him by his uncle on his death bed. +Labakan was not quite so open in his confidences, but hinted that he +too was of noble birth and was travelling for pleasure. + +The two young men took a fancy to each other and rode on together. On +the second day of their journey Labakan questioned Omar as to the +orders he had to carry out, and to his surprise heard this tale. + +Elfi Bey, Pacha of Cairo, had brought up Omar from his earliest +childhood, and the boy had never known his parents. On his deathbed +Elfi Bey called Omar to him, and then told him that he was not his +nephew, but the son of a great king, who, having been warned of coming +dangers by his astrologers, had sent the young prince away and made a +vow not to see him till his twenty-second birthday. + +Elfi Bey did not tell Omar his father’s name, but expressly desired him +to be at a great pillar four days’ journey east of Alexandria on the +fourth day of the coming month, on which day he would be twenty-two +years old. Here he would meet some men, to whom he was to hand a dagger +which Elfi Bey gave him, and to say “Here am I for whom you seek.” + +If they answered: “Praised be the Prophet who has preserved you,” he +was to follow them, and they would take him to his father. + +Labakan was greatly surprised and interested by this story, but after +hearing it he could not help looking on Prince Omar with envious eyes, +angry that his friend should have the position he himself longed so +much for. He began to make comparisons between the prince and himself, +and was obliged to confess that he was a fine-looking young man with +very good manners and a pleasant expression. + +At the same time, he felt sure that had he been in the prince’s place +any royal father might have been glad to own him. + +These thoughts haunted him all day, and he dreamt them all night. He +woke very early, and as he saw Omar sleeping quietly, with a happy +smile on his face, a wish arose in his mind to take by force or by +cunning the things which an unkind fate had denied him. + +The dagger which was to act as a passport was sticking in Omar’s +girdle. Labakan drew it gently out, and hesitated for a moment whether +or not to plunge it into the heart of the sleeping prince. However, he +shrank from the idea of murder, so he contented himself with placing +the dagger in his own belt, and, saddling Omar’s swift horse for +himself, was many miles away before the prince woke up to realise his +losses. + +For two days Labakan rode on steadily, fearing lest, after all, Omar +might reach the meeting place before him. At the end of the second day +he saw the great pillar at a distance. It stood on a little hill in the +middle of a plain, and could be seen a very long way off. Labakan’s +heart beat fast at the sight. Though he had had some time in which to +think over the part he meant to play his conscience made him rather +uneasy. However, the thought that he must certainly have been born to +be a king supported him, and he bravely rode on. + +The neighbourhood was quite bare and desert, and it was a good thing +that the new prince had brought food for some time with him, as two +days were still wanting till the appointed time. + +Towards the middle of the next day he saw a long procession of horses +and camels coming towards him. It halted at the bottom of the hill, and +some splendid tents were pitched. Everything looked like the escort of +some great man. Labakan made a shrewd guess that all these people had +come here on his account; but he checked his impatience, knowing that +only on the fourth day could his wishes be fulfilled. + +The first rays of the rising sun woke the happy tailor. As he began to +saddle his horse and prepare to ride to the pillar, he could not help +having some remorseful thoughts of the trick he had played and the +blighted hopes of the real prince. But the die was cast, and his vanity +whispered that he was as fine looking a young man as the proudest king +might wish his son to be, and that, moreover, what had happened had +happened. + +With these thoughts he summoned up all his courage sprang on his horse, +and in less than a quarter of an hour was at the foot of the hill. Here +he dismounted, tied the horse to a bush, and, drawing out Prince Omar’s +dagger climbed up the hill. + +At the foot of the pillar stood six men round a tall and stately +person. His superb robe of cloth of gold was girt round him by a white +cashmere shawl, and his white, richly jewelled turban showed that he +was a man of wealth and high rank. + +Labakan went straight up to him, and, bending low, handed him the +dagger, saying: “Here am I whom you seek.” + +“Praised be the Prophet who has preserved you! replied the old man with +tears of joy. “Embrace me, my dear son Omar!” + +The proud tailor was deeply moved by these solemn words, and with +mingled shame and joy sank into the old king’s arms. + +But his happiness was not long unclouded. As he raised his head he saw +a horseman who seemed trying to urge a tired or unwilling horse across +the plain. + +Only too soon Labakan recognised his own old horse, Murva, and the real +Prince Omar, but having once told a lie he made up his mind not to own +his deceit. + +At last the horseman reached the foot of the hill. Here he flung +himself from the saddle and hurried up to the pillar. + +“Stop!” he cried, “whoever you may be, and do not let a disgraceful +impostor take you in. My name is Omar, and let no one attempt to rob me +of it.” + +This turn of affairs threw the standers-by into great surprise. The old +king in particular seemed much moved as he looked from one face to the +other. At last Labakan spoke with forced calmness, “Most gracious lord +and father, do not let yourself be deceived by this man. As far as I +know, he is a half-crazy tailor’s apprentice from Alexandria, called +Labakan, who really deserves more pity than anger.” + +These words infuriated the prince. Foaming with rage, he tried to press +towards Labakan, but the attendants threw themselves upon him and held +him fast, whilst the king said, “Truly, my dear son, the poor fellow is +quite mad. Let him be bound and placed on a dromedary. Perhaps we may +be able to get some help for him.” + +The prince’s first rage was over, and with tears he cried to the king, +“My heart tells me that you are my father, and in my mother’s name I +entreat you to hear me.” + +“Oh! heaven forbid!” was the reply. “He is talking nonsense again. How +can the poor man have got such notions into his head?” + +With these words the king took Labakan’s arm to support him down the +hill. They both mounted richly caparisoned horses and rode across the +plain at the head of their followers. + +The unlucky prince was tied hand and foot, and fastened on a dromedary, +a guard riding on either side and keeping a sharp look-out on him. + +The old king was Sached, Sultan of the Wachabites. For many years he +had had no children, but at length the son he had so long wished for +was born. But the sooth-sayers and magicians whom he consulted as to +the child’s future all said that until he was twenty-two years old he +stood in danger of being injured by an enemy. So, to make all safe, the +sultan had confided the prince to his trusty friend Elfi Bey, and +deprived himself of the happiness of seeing him for twenty-two years. +All this the sultan told Labakan, and was much pleased by his +appearance and dignified manner. + +When they reached their own country they were received with every sign +of joy, for the news of the prince’s safe return had spread like +wildfire, and every town and village was decorated, whilst the +inhabitants thronged to greet them with cries of joy and thankfulness. +All this filled Labakan’s proud heart with rapture, whilst the +unfortunate Omar followed in silent rage and despair. + +At length they arrived in the capital, where the public rejoicings were +grander and more brilliant than anywhere else. The queen awaited them +in the great hall of the palace, surrounded by her entire court. It was +getting dark, and hundreds of coloured hanging lamps were lit to turn +night into day. + +The brightest hung round the throne on which the queen sat, and which +stood above four steps of pure gold inlaid with great amethysts. The +four greatest nobles in the kingdom held a canopy of crimson silk over +the queen, and the Sheik of Medina fanned her with a peacock-feather +fan. + +In this state she awaited her husband and her son. She, too, had not +seen Omar since his birth, but so many dreams had shown her what he +would look like that she felt she would know him among a thousand. + +And now the sound of trumpets and drums and of shouts and cheers +outside announced the long looked for moment. The doors flew open, and +between rows of low-bending courtiers and servants the king approached +the throne, leading his pretended son by the hand. + +“Here,” said he, “is he for whom you have been longing so many years.” + +But the queen interrupted him, “That is not my son!” she cried. “That +is not the face the Prophet has shown me in my dreams!” + +Just as the king was about to reason with her, the door was thrown +violently open, and Prince Omar rushed in, followed by his keepers, +whom he had managed to get away from. He flung himself down before the +throne, panting out, “Here will I die; kill me at once, cruel father, +for I cannot bear this shame any longer.” + +Everyone pressed round the unhappy man, and the guards were about to +seize him, when the queen, who at first was dumb with surprise, sprang +up from her throne. + +“Hold!” cried she. “This and no other is the right one; this is the one +whom my eyes have never yet seen, but whom my heart recognises.” + +The guards had stepped back, but the king called to them in a furious +voice to secure the madman. + +“It is I who must judge,” he said in tones of command; “and this matter +cannot be decided by women’s dreams, but by certain unmistakable signs. +This one” (pointing to Labakan) “is my son, for it was he who brought +me the token from my friend Elfi—the dagger.” + +“He stole it from me,” shrieked Omar; “he betrayed my unsuspicious +confidence.” + +But the king would not listen to his son’s voice, for he had always +been accustomed to depend on his own judgment. He let the unhappy Omar +be dragged from the hall, whilst he himself retired with Labakan to his +own rooms, full of anger with the queen his wife, in spite of their +many years of happy life together. + +The queen, on her side, was plunged in grief, for she felt certain that +an impostor had won her husband’s heart and taken the place of her real +son. + +When the first shock was over she began to think how she could manage +to convince the king of his mistake. Of course it would be a difficult +matter, as the man who declared he was Omar had produced the dagger as +a token, besides talking of all sorts of things which happened when he +was a child. She called her oldest and wisest ladies about her and +asked their advice, but none of them had any to give. At last one very +clever old woman said: “Did not the young man who brought the dagger +call him whom your majesty believes to be your son Labakan, and say he +was a crazy tailor?” + +“Yes,” replied the queen; “but what of that?” + +“Might it not be,” said the old lady, “that the impostor has called +your real son by his own name? If this should be the case, I know of a +capital way to find out the truth.” + +And she whispered some words to the queen, who seemed much pleased, and +went off at once to see the king. + +Now the queen was a very wise woman, so she pretended to think she +might have made a mistake, and only begged to be allowed to put a test +to the two young men to prove which was the real prince. + +The king, who was feeling much ashamed of the rage he had been in with +his dear wife, consented at once, and she said: “No doubt others would +make them ride or shoot, or something of that sort, but every one +learns these things. I wish to set them a task which requires sharp +wits and clever hands, and I want them to try which of them can best +make a kaftan and pair of trousers.” + +The king laughed. “No, no, that will never do. Do you suppose my son +would compete with that crazy tailor as to which could make the best +clothes? Oh, dear, no, that won’t do at all.” + +But the queen claimed his promise, and as he was a man of his word the +king gave in at last. He went to his son and begged that he would +humour his mother, who had set her heart on his making a kaftan. + +The worthy Labakan laughed to himself. “If that is all she wants,” +thought he, “her majesty will soon be pleased to own me.” + +Two rooms were prepared, with pieces of material, scissors, needles and +threads, and each young man was shut up in one of them. + +The king felt rather curious as to what sort of garment his son would +make, and the queen, too, was very anxious as to the result of her +experiment. + +On the third day they sent for the two young men and their work. +Labakan came first and spread out his kaftan before the eyes of the +astonished king. “See, father,” he said; “see, my honoured mother, if +this is not a masterpiece of work. I’ll bet the court tailor himself +cannot do better. + +The queen smiled and turned to Omar: “And what have you done, my son?” + +Impatiently he threw the stuff and scissors down on the floor. “I have +been taught how to manage a horse, to draw a sword, and to throw a +lance some sixty paces, but I never learnt to sew, and such a thing +would have been thought beneath the notice of the pupil of Elfi Bey, +the ruler of Cairo.” + +“Ah, true son of your father,” cried the queen; “if only I might +embrace you and call you son! Forgive me, my lord and husband,” she +added, turning to the king, “for trying to find out the truth in this +way. Do you not see yourself now which is the prince and which the +tailor? Certainly this kaftan is a very fine one, but I should like to +know what master taught this young man how to make clothes.” + +The king sat deep in thought, looking now at his wife and now at +Labakan, who was doing his best to hide his vexation at his own +stupidity. At last the king said: “Even this trial does not satisfy me; +but happily I know of a sure way to discover whether or not I have been +deceived.” + +He ordered his swiftest horse to be saddled, mounted, and rode off +alone into a forest at some little distance. Here lived a kindly fairy +called Adolzaide, who had often helped the kings of his race with her +good advice, and to her he betook himself. + +In the middle of the forest was a wide open space surrounded by great +cedar trees, and this was supposed to be the fairy’s favourite spot. +When the king reached this place he dismounted, tied his horse to the +tree, and standing in the middle of the open place said: “If it is true +that you have helped my ancestors in their time of need, do not despise +their descendant, but give me counsel, for that of men has failed me.” + +He had hardly finished speaking when one of the cedar trees opened, and +a veiled figure all dressed in white stepped from it. + +“I know your errand, King Sached,” she said; “it is an honest one, and +I will give you my help. Take these two little boxes and let the two +men who claim to be your son choose between them. I know that the real +prince will make no mistake.” + +She then handed him two little boxes made of ivory set with gold and +pearls. On the lid of each (which the king vainly tried to open) was an +inscription in diamonds. On one stood the words “Honour and Glory,” and +on the other “Wealth and Happiness.” + +“It would be a hard choice,” thought the king as he rode home. + +He lost no time in sending for the queen and for all his court, and +when all were assembled he made a sign, and Labakan was led in. With a +proud air he walked up to the throne, and kneeling down, asked: + +“What does my lord and father command?” + +The king replied: “My son, doubts have been thrown on your claim to +that name. One of these boxes contains the proofs of your birth. Choose +for yourself. No doubt you will choose right.” + +He then pointed to the ivory boxes, which were placed on two little +tables near the throne. + +Labakan rose and looked at the boxes. He thought for some minutes, and +then said: “My honoured father, what can be better than the happiness +of being your son, and what nobler than the riches of your love. I +choose the box with the words ‘Wealth and Happiness.’” + +“We shall see presently if you have chosen the right one. For the +present take a seat there beside the Pacha of Medina,” replied the +king. + +Omar was next led in, looking sad and sorrowful. He threw himself down +before the throne and asked what was the king’s pleasure. The king +pointed out the two boxes to him, and he rose and went to the tables. +He carefully read the two mottoes and said: “The last few days have +shown me how uncertain is happiness and how easily riches vanish away. +Should I lose a crown by it I make my choice of ‘Honour and Glory.’” + +He laid his hand on the box as he spoke, but the king signed to him to +wait, and ordered Labakan to come to the other table and lay his hand +on the box he had chosen. + +Then the king rose from his throne, and in solemn silence all present +rose too, whilst he said: “Open the boxes, and may Allah show us the +truth.” + +The boxes were opened with the greatest ease. In the one Omar had +chosen lay a little gold crown and sceptre on a velvet cushion. In +Labakan’s box was found—a large needle with some thread! + +The king told the two young men to bring him their boxes. They did so. +He took the crown in his hand, and as he held it, it grew bigger and +bigger, till it was as large as a real crown. He placed it on the head +of his son Omar, kissed him on the forehead, and placed him on his +right hand. Then, turning to Labakan, he said: “There is an old +proverb, ‘The cobbler sticks to his last.’ It seems as though you were +to stick to your needle. You have not deserved any mercy, but I cannot +be harsh on this day. I give you your life, but I advise you to leave +this country as fast as you can.” + +Full of shame, the unlucky tailor could not answer. He flung himself +down before Omar, and with tears in his eyes asked: “Can you forgive +me, prince?” + +“Go in peace,” said Omar as he raised him. + +“Oh, my true son!” cried the king as he clasped the prince in his arms, +whilst all the pachas and emirs shouted, “Long live Prince Omar!” + +In the midst of all the noise and rejoicing Labakan slipped off with +his little box under his arm. He went to the stables, saddled his old +horse, Murva, and rode out of the gate towards Alexandria. Nothing but +the ivory box with its diamond motto was left to show him that the last +few weeks had not been a dream. + +When he reached Alexandria he rode up to his old master’s door. When he +entered the shop, his master came forward to ask what was his pleasure, +but as soon as he saw who it was he called his workmen, and they all +fell on Labakan with blows and angry words, till at last he fell, half +fainting, on a heap of old clothes. + +The master then scolded him soundly about the stolen robe, but in vain +Labakan told him he had come to pay for it and offered three times its +price. They only fell to beating him again, and at last pushed him out +of the house more dead than alive. + +He could do nothing but remount his horse and ride to an inn. Here he +found a quiet place in which to rest his bruised and battered limbs and +to think over his many misfortunes. He fell asleep fully determined to +give up trying to be great, but to lead the life of an honest workman. + +Next morning he set to work to fulfil his good resolutions. He sold his +little box to a jeweller for a good price, bought a house and opened a +workshop. Then he hung up a sign with, “Labakan, Tailor,” over his +door, and sat down to mend his own torn clothes with the very needle +which had been in the ivory box. + +After a while he was called away, and when he went back to his work he +found a wonderful thing had happened! The needle was sewing away all by +itself and making the neatest little stitches, such as Labakan had +never been able to make even at his best. + +Certainly even the smallest gift of a kind fairy is of great value, and +this one had yet another advantage, for the thread never came to an +end, however much the needle sewed. + +Labakan soon got plenty of customers. He used to cut out the clothes, +make the first stitch with the magic needle, and then leave it to do +the rest. Before long the whole town went to him, for his work was both +so good and so cheap. The only puzzle was how he could do so much, +working all alone, and also why he worked with closed doors. + +And so the promise on the ivory box of “Wealth and Happiness” came true +for him, and when he heard of all the brave doings of Prince Omar, who +was the pride and darling of his people and the terror of his enemies, +the ex-prince thought to himself, “After all, I am better off as a +tailor, for ‘Honour and Glory’ are apt to be very dangerous things.” + + + + +The Colony Of Cats + + +Long, long ago, as far back as the time when animals spoke, there lived +a community of cats in a deserted house they had taken possession of +not far from a large town. They had everything they could possibly +desire for their comfort, they were well fed and well lodged, and if by +any chance an unlucky mouse was stupid enough to venture in their way, +they caught it, not to eat it, but for the pure pleasure of catching +it. The old people of the town related how they had heard their parents +speak of a time when the whole country was so overrun with rats and +mice that there was not so much as a grain of corn nor an ear of maize +to be gathered in the fields; and it might be out of gratitude to the +cats who had rid the country of these plagues that their descendants +were allowed to live in peace. No one knows where they got the money to +pay for everything, nor who paid it, for all this happened so very long +ago. But one thing is certain, they were rich enough to keep a servant; +for though they lived very happily together, and did not scratch nor +fight more than human beings would have done, they were not clever +enough to do the housework themselves, and preferred at all events to +have some one to cook their meat, which they would have scorned to eat +raw. Not only were they very difficult to please about the housework, +but most women quickly tired of living alone with only cats for +companions, consequently they never kept a servant long; and it had +become a saying in the town, when anyone found herself reduced to her +last penny: “I will go and live with the cats,” and so many a poor +woman actually did. + +Now Lizina was not happy at home, for her mother, who was a widow, was +much fonder of her elder daughter; so that often the younger one fared +very badly, and had not enough to eat, while the elder could have +everything she desired, and if Lizina dared to complain she was certain +to have a good beating. + +At last the day came when she was at the end of her courage and +patience, and exclaimed to her mother and sister: + +“As you hate me so much you will be glad to be rid of me, so I am going +to live with the cats!” + +“Be off with you!” cried her mother, seizing an old broom-handle from +behind the door. Poor Lizina did not wait to be told twice, but ran off +at once and never stopped till she reached the door of the cats’ house. +Their cook had left them that very morning, with her face all +scratched, the result of such a quarrel with the head of the house that +he had very nearly scratched out her eyes. Lizina therefore was warmly +welcomed, and she set to work at once to prepare the dinner, not +without many misgivings as to the tastes of the cats, and whether she +would be able to satisfy them. + +Going to and fro about her work, she found herself frequently hindered +by a constant succession of cats who appeared one after another in the +kitchen to inspect the new servant; she had one in front of her feet, +another perched on the back of her chair while she peeled the +vegetables, a third sat on the table beside her, and five or six others +prowled about among the pots and pans on the shelves against the wall. +The air resounded with their purring, which meant that they were +pleased with their new maid, but Lizina had not yet learned to +understand their language, and often she did not know what they wanted +her to do. However, as she was a good, kindhearted girl, she set to +work to pick up the little kittens which tumbled about on the floor, +she patched up quarrels, and nursed on her lap a big tabby—the oldest +of the community—which had a lame paw. All these kindnesses could +hardly fail to make a favourable impression on the cats, and it was +even better after a while, when she had had time to grow accustomed to +their strange ways. Never had the house been kept so clean, the meats +so well served, nor the sick cats so well cared for. After a time they +had a visit from an old cat, whom they called their father, who lived +by himself in a barn at the top of the hill, and came down from time to +time to inspect the little colony. He too was much taken with Lizina, +and inquired, on first seeing her: “Are you well served by this nice, +black-eyed little person?” and the cats answered with one voice: “Oh, +yes, Father Gatto, we have never had so good a servant!” + +At each of his visits the answer was always the same; but after a time +the old cat, who was very observant, noticed that the little maid had +grown to look sadder and sadder. “What is the matter, my child has any +one been unkind to you?” he asked one day, when he found her crying in +her kitchen. She burst into tears and answered between her sobs: “Oh, +no! they are all very good to me; but I long for news from home, and I +pine to see my mother and my sister.” + +Old Gatto, being a sensible old cat, understood the little servant’s +feelings. “You shall go home,” he said, “and you shall not come back +here unless you please. But first you must be rewarded for all your +kind services to my children. Follow me down into the inner cellar, +where you have never yet been, for I always keep it locked and carry +the key away with me.” + +Lizina looked round her in astonishment as they went down into the +great vaulted cellar underneath the kitchen. Before her stood the big +earthenware water jars, one of which contained oil, the other a liquid +shining like gold. “In which of these jars shall I dip you?” asked +Father Gatto, with a grin that showed all his sharp white teeth, while +his moustaches stood out straight on either side of his face. The +little maid looked at the two jars from under her long dark lashes: “In +the oil jar,” she answered timidly, thinking to herself: “I could not +ask to be bathed in gold.” + +But Father Gatto replied: “No, no; you have deserved something better +than that.” And seizing her in his strong paws he plunged her into the +liquid gold. Wonder of wonders! when Lizina came out of the jar she +shone from head to foot like the sun in the heavens on a fine summer’s +day. Her pretty pink cheeks and long black hair alone kept their +natural colour, otherwise she had become like a statue of pure gold. +Father Gatto purred loudly with satisfaction. “Go home,” he said, “and +see your mother and sisters; but take care if you hear the cock crow to +turn towards it; if on the contrary the ass brays, you must look the +other way.” + +The little maid, having gratefully kissed the white paw of the old cat, +set off for home; but just as she got near her mother’s house the cock +crowed, and quickly she turned towards it. Immediately a beautiful +golden star appeared on her forehead, crowning her glossy black hair. +At the same time the ass began to bray, but Lizina took care not to +look over the fence into the field where the donkey was feeding. Her +mother and sister, who were in front of their house, uttered cries of +admiration and astonishment when they saw her, and their cries became +still louder when Lizina, taking her handkerchief from her pocket, drew +out also a handful of gold. + +For some days the mother and her two daughters lived very happily +together, for Lizina had given them everything she had brought away +except her golden clothing, for that would not come off, in spite of +all the efforts of her sister, who was madly jealous of her good +fortune. The golden star, too, could not be removed from her forehead. +But all the gold pieces she drew from her pockets had found their way +to her mother and sister. + +“I will go now and see what I can get out of the pussies,” said +Peppina, the elder girl, one morning, as she took Lizina’s basket and +fastened her pockets into her own skirt. “I should like some of the +cats’ gold for myself,” she thought, as she left her mother’s house +before the sun rose. + +The cat colony had not yet taken another servant, for they knew they +could never get one to replace Lizina, whose loss they had not yet +ceased to mourn. When they heard that Peppina was her sister, they all +ran to meet her. “She is not the least like her,” the kittens whispered +among themselves. + +“Hush, be quiet!” the older cats said; “all servants cannot be pretty.” + +No, decidedly she was not at all like Lizina. Even the most reasonable +and large-minded of the cats soon acknowledged that. + +The very first day she shut the kitchen door in the face of the +tom-cats who used to enjoy watching Lizina at her work, and a young and +mischievous cat who jumped in by the open kitchen window and alighted +on the table got such a blow with the rolling-pin that he squalled for +an hour. + +With every day that passed the household became more and more aware of +its misfortune. + +The work was as badly done as the servant was surly and disagreeable; +in the corners of the rooms there were collected heaps of dust; +spiders’ webs hung from the ceilings and in front of the window-panes; +the beds were hardly ever made, and the feather beds, so beloved by the +old and feeble cats, had never once been shaken since Lizina left the +house. At Father Gatto’s next visit he found the whole colony in a +state of uproar. + +“Caesar has one paw so badly swollen that it looks as if it were +broken,” said one. “Peppina kicked him with her great wooden shoes on. +Hector has an abscess in his back where a wooden chair was flung at +him; and Agrippina’s three little kittens have died of hunger beside +their mother, because Peppina forgot them in their basket up in the +attic. There is no putting up with the creature—do send her away, +Father Gatto! Lizina herself would not be angry with us; she must know +very well what her sister is like.” + +“Come here,” said Father Gatto, in his most severe tones to Peppina. +And he took her down into the cellar and showed her the same two great +jars that he had showed Lizina. “In which of these shall I dip you?” he +asked; and she made haste to answer: “In the liquid gold,” for she was +no more modest than she was good and kind. + +Father Gatto’s yellow eyes darted fire. “You have not deserved it,” he +uttered, in a voice like thunder, and seizing her he flung her into the +jar of oil, where she was nearly suffocated. When she came to the +surface screaming and struggling, the vengeful cat seized her again and +rolled her in the ash-heap on the floor; then when she rose, dirty, +blinded, and disgusting to behold, he thrust her from the door, saying: +“Begone, and when you meet a braying ass be careful to turn your head +towards it.” + +Stumbling and raging, Peppina set off for home, thinking herself +fortunate to find a stick by the wayside with which to support herself. +She was within sight of her mother’s house when she heard in the meadow +on the right, the voice of a donkey loudly braying. Quickly she turned +her head towards it, and at the same time put her hand up to her +forehead, where, waving like a plume, was a donkey’s tail. She ran home +to her mother at the top of her speed, yelling with rage and despair; +and it took Lizina two hours with a big basin of hot water and two +cakes of soap to get rid of the layer of ashes with which Father Gatto +had adorned her. As for the donkey’s tail, it was impossible to get rid +of that; it was as firmly fixed on her forehead as was the golden star +on Lizina’s. Their mother was furious. She first beat Lizina +unmercifully with the broom, then she took her to the mouth of the well +and lowered her into it, leaving her at the bottom weeping and crying +for help. + +Before this happened, however, the king’s son in passing the mother’s +house had seen Lizina sitting sewing in the parlour, and had been +dazzled by her beauty. After coming back two or three times, he at last +ventured to approach the window and to whisper in the softest voice: +“Lovely maiden, will you be my bride?” and she had answered: “I will.” + +Next morning, when the prince arrived to claim his bride, he found her +wrapped in a large white veil. “It is so that maidens are received from +their parents’ hands,” said the mother, who hoped to make the king’s +son marry Peppina in place of her sister, and had fastened the donkey’s +tail round her head like a lock of hair under the veil. The prince was +young and a little timid, so he made no objections, and seated Peppina +in the carriage beside him. + +Their way led past the old house inhabited by the cats, who were all at +the window, for the report had got about that the prince was going to +marry the most beautiful maiden in the world, on whose forehead shone a +golden star, and they knew that this could only be their adored Lizina. +As the carriage slowly passed in front of the old house, where cats +from all parts of world seemed to be gathered a song burst from every +throat: + +Mew, mew, mew! +Prince, look quick behind you! +In the well is fair Lizina, +And you’ve got nothing but Peppina. + + +When he heard this the coachman, who understood the cat’s language +better than the prince, his master, stopped his horses and asked: + +“Does your highness know what the grimalkins are saying?” and the song +broke forth again louder than ever. + +With a turn of his hand the prince threw back the veil, and discovered +the puffed-up, swollen face of Peppina, with the donkey’s tail twisted +round her head. “Ah, traitress!” he exclaimed, and ordering the horses +to be turned round, he drove the elder daughter, quivering with rage, +to the old woman who had sought to deceive him. With his hand on the +hilt of his sword he demanded Lizina in so terrific a voice that the +mother hastened to the well to draw her prisoner out. Lizina’s clothing +and her star shone so brilliantly that when the prince led her home to +the king, his father, the whole palace was lit up. Next day they were +married, and lived happy ever after; and all the cats, headed by old +Father Gatto, were present at the wedding. + + + + +How To Find Out A True Friend + + +Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who longed to have a son. +As none came, one day they made a vow at the shrine of St. James that +if their prayers were granted the boy should set out on a pilgrimage as +soon as he had passed his eighteenth birthday. And fancy their delight +when one evening the king returned home from hunting and saw a baby +lying in the cradle. + +All the people came crowding round to peep at it, and declared it was +the most beautiful baby that ever was seen. Of course that is what they +always say, but this time it happened to be true. And every day the boy +grew bigger and stronger till he was twelve years old, when the king +died, and he was left alone to take care of his mother. + +In this way six years passed by, and his eighteenth birthday drew near. +When she thought of this the queen’s heart sank within her, for he was +the light of her eyes and how was she to send him forth to the unknown +dangers that beset a pilgrim? So day by day she grew more and more +sorrowful, and when she was alone wept bitterly. + +Now the queen imagined that no one but herself knew how sad she was, +but one morning her son said to her, “Mother, why do you cry the whole +day long?” + +“Nothing, nothing, my son; there is only one thing in the world that +troubles me.” + +“What is that one thing?” asked he. “Are you afraid your property is +badly managed? Let me go and look into the matter.” + +This pleased the queen, and he rode off to the plain country, where his +mother owned great estates; but everything was in beautiful order, and +he returned with a joyful heart, and said, “Now, mother, you can be +happy again, for your lands are better managed than anyone else’s I +have seen. The cattle are thriving; the fields are thick with corn, and +soon they will be ripe for harvest.” + +“That is good news indeed,” answered she; but it did not seem to make +any difference to her, and the next morning she was weeping and wailing +as loudly as ever. + +“Dear mother,” said her son in despair, “if you will not tell me what +is the cause of all this misery I shall leave home and wander far +through the world.” + +“Ah, my son, my son,” cried the queen, “it is the thought that I must +part from you which causes me such grief; for before you were born we +vowed a vow to St. James that when your eighteenth birthday was passed +you should make a pilgrimage to his shrine, and very soon you will be +eighteen, and I shall lose you. And for a whole year my eyes will never +be gladdened by the sight of you, for the shrine is far away.” + +“Will it take no longer than that to reach it?” said he. “Oh, don’t be +so wretched; it is only dead people who never return. As long as I am +alive you may be sure I will come back to you.” + +After this manner he comforted his mother, and on his eighteenth +birthday his best horse was led to the door of the palace, and he took +leave of the queen in these words, “Dear mother, farewell, and by the +help of fate I shall return to you as soon as I can.” + +The queen burst into tears and wept sore; then amidst her sobs she drew +three apples from her pocket and held them out, saying, “My son, take +these apples and give heed unto my words. You will need a companion in +the long journey on which you are going. If you come across a young man +who pleases you beg him to accompany you, and when you get to an inn +invite him to have dinner with you. After you have eaten cut one of +these apples in two unequal parts, and ask him to take one. If he takes +the larger bit, then part from him, for he is no true friend to you. +But if he takes the smaller bit treat him as your brother, and share +with him all you have.” Then she kissed her son once more, and blessed +him, and let him go. + +The young man rode a long way without meeting a single creature, but at +last he saw a youth in the distance about the same age as himself, and +he spurred his horse till he came up with the stranger, who stopped and +asked: + +“Where are you going, my fine fellow?” + +“I am making a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James, for before I was +born my mother vowed that I should go forth with a thank offering on my +eighteenth birthday.” + +“That is my case too,” said the stranger, “and, as we must both travel +in the same direction, let us bear each other company.” + +The young man agreed to this proposal, but he took care not to get on +terms of familiarity with the new comer until he had tried him with the +apple. + +By-and-by they reached an inn, and at sight of it the king’s son said, +“I am very hungry. Let us enter and order something to eat.” The other +consented, and they were soon sitting before a good dinner. + +When they had finished the king’s son drew an apple from his pocket, +and cut it into a big half and a little half, and offered both to the +stranger, who took the biggest bit. “You are no friend of mine,” +thought the king’s son, and in order to part company with him he +pretended to be ill and declared himself unable to proceed on his +journey. + +“Well, I can’t wait for you,” replied the other; “I am in haste to push +on, so farewell.” + +“Farewell,” said the king’s son, glad in his heart to get rid of him so +easily. The king’s son remained in the inn for some time, so as to let +the young man have a good start; them he ordered his horse and rode +after him. But he was very sociable and the way seemed long and dull by +himself. “Oh, if I could only meet with a true friend,” he thought, “so +that I should have some one to speak to. I hate being alone.” + +Soon after he came up with a young man, who stopped and asked him, +“Where are you going, my fine fellow?” The king’s son explained the +object of his journey, and the young man answered, as the other had +done, that he also was fulfilling the vow of his mother made at his +birth. + +“Well, we can ride on together,” said the king’s son, and the road +seemed much shorter now that he had some one to talk to. + +At length they reached an inn, and the king’s son exclaimed, “I am very +hungry; let us go in and get something to eat.” + +When they had finished the king’s son drew an apple out of his pocket +and cut it in two; he held the big bit and the little bit out to his +companion, who took the big bit at once and soon ate it up. “You are no +friend of mine,” thought the king’s son, and began to declare he felt +so ill he could not continue his journey. When he had given the young +man a good start he set off himself, but the way seemed even longer and +duller than before. “Oh, if I could only meet with a true friend he +should be as a brother to me,” he sighed sadly; and as the thought +passed through his mind, he noticed a youth going the same road as +himself. + +The youth came up to him and said, “Which way are you going, my fine +fellow?” And for the third time the king’s son explained all about his +mother’s vow. Why, that is just like me,” cried the youth. + +“Then let us ride on together,” answered the king’s son. + +Now the miles seemed to slip by, for the new comer was so lively and +entertaining that the king’s son could not help hoping that he indeed +might prove to be the true friend. + +More quickly than he could have thought possible they reached an inn by +the road-side, and turning to his companion the king’s son said, “I am +hungry; let us go in and have something to eat.” So they went in and +ordered dinner, and when they had finished the king’s son drew out of +his pocket the last apple, and cut it into two unequal parts, and held +both out to the stranger. And the stranger took the little piece, and +the heart of the king’s son was glad within him, for at last he had +found the friend he had been looking for. “Good youth,” he cried, “we +will be brothers, and what is mine shall be thine, and what is thine +shall be mine. And together we will push on to the shrine, and if one +of us dies on the road the other shall carry his body there.” And the +stranger agreed to all he said, and they rode forward together. + +It took them a whole year to reach the shrine, and they passed through +many different lands on their way. One day they arrived tired and +half-starved in a big city, and said to one another, “Let us stay here +for a little and rest before we set forth again.” So they hired a small +house close to the royal castle, and took up their abode there. + +The following morning the king of the country happened to step on to +his balcony, and saw the young men in the garden, and said to himself, +“Dear me, those are wonderfully handsome youths; but one is handsomer +than the other, and to him will I give my daughter to wife;” and indeed +the king’s son excelled his friend in beauty. + +In order to set about his plan the king asked both the young men to +dinner, and when they arrived at the castle he received them with the +utmost kindness, and sent for his daughter, who was more lovely than +both the sun and moon put together. But at bed-time the king caused the +other young man to be given a poisoned drink, which killed him in a few +minutes, for he thought to himself, “If his friend dies the other will +forget his pilgrimage, and will stay here and marry my daughter.” + +When the king’s son awoke the next morning he inquired of the servants +where his friend had gone, as he did not see him. “He died suddenly +last night,” said they, “and is to be buried immediately.” + +But the king’s son sprang up, and cried, “If my friend is dead I can +stay here no longer, and cannot linger an hour in this house.” + +“Oh, give up your journey and remain here,” exclaimed the king, “and +you shall have my daughter for your wife.” “No,” answered the king’s +son, “I cannot stay; but, I pray you, grant my request, and give me a +good horse, and let me go in peace, and when I have fulfilled my vow +then I will return and marry your daughter.” + +So the king, seeing no words would move him, ordered a horse to be +brought round, and the king’s son mounted it, and took his dead friend +before him on the saddle, and rode away. + +Now the young man was not really dead, but only in a deep sleep. + +When the king’s son reached the shrine of St. James he got down from +his horse, took his friend in his arms as if he had been a child, and +laid him before the altar. “St. James,” he said, “I have fulfilled the +vow my parents made for me. I have come myself to your shrine, and have +brought my friend. I place him in your hands. Restore him to life, I +pray, for though he be dead yet has he fulfilled his vow also.” And, +behold! while he yet prayed his friend got up and stood before him as +well as ever. And both the young men gave thanks, and set their faces +towards home. + +When they arrived at the town where the king dwelt they entered the +small house over against the castle. The news of their coming spread +very soon, and the king rejoiced greatly that the handsome young prince +had come back again, and commanded great feasts to be prepared, for in +a few days his daughter should marry the king’s son. The young man +himself could imagine no greater happiness, and when the marriage was +over they spent some months at the court making merry. + +At length the king’s son said, “My mother awaits me at home, full of +care and anxiety. Here I must remain no longer, and to-morrow I will +take my wife and my friend and start for home.” And the king was +content that he should do so, and gave orders to prepare for their +journey. + +Now in his heart the king cherished a deadly hate towards the poor +young man whom he had tried to kill, but who had returned to him +living, and in order to do him hurt sent him on a message to some +distant spot. “See that you are quick,” said he, “for your friend will +await your return before he starts.” The youth put spurs to his horse +and departed, bidding the prince farewell, so that the king’s message +might be delivered the sooner. As soon as he had started the king went +to the chamber of the prince, and said to him, “If you do not start +immediately, you will never reach the place where you must camp for the +night.” + +“I cannot start without my friend,” replied the king’s son. + +“Oh, he will be back in an hour,” replied the king, “and I will give +him my best horse, so that he will be sure to catch you up.” The king’s +son allowed himself to be persuaded and took leave of his +father-in-law, and set out with his wife on his journey home. + +Meanwhile the poor friend had been unable to get through his task in +the short time appointed by the king, and when at last he returned the +king said to him, + +“Your comrade is a long way off by now; you had better see if you can +overtake him.” + +So the young man bowed and left the king’s presence, and followed after +his friend on foot, for he had no horse. Night and day he ran, till at +length he reached the place where the king’s son had pitched his tent, +and sank down before him, a miserable object, worn out and covered with +mud and dust. But the king’s son welcomed him with joy, and tended him +as he would his brother. + +And at last they came home again, and the queen was waiting and +watching in the palace, as she had never ceased to do since her son had +rode away. She almost died of joy at seeing him again, but after a +little she remembered his sick friend, and ordered a bed to be made +ready and the best doctors in all the country to be sent for. When they +heard of the queen’s summons they flocked from all parts, but none +could cure him. After everyone had tried and failed a servant entered +and informed the queen that a strange old man had just knocked at the +palace gate and declared that he was able to heal the dying youth. Now +this was a holy man, who had heard of the trouble the king’s son was +in, and had come to help. + +It happened that at this very time a little daughter was born to the +king’s son, but in his distress for his friend he had hardly a thought +to spare for the baby. He could not be prevailed on to leave the sick +bed, and he was bending over it when the holy man entered the room. “Do +you wish your friend to be cured?” asked the new comer of the king’s +son. “And what price would you pay?” + +“What price?” answered the king’s son; “only tell me what I can do to +heal him.” + +“Listen to me, then,” said the old man. “This evening you must take +your child, and open her veins, and smear the wounds of your friend +with her blood. And you will see, he will get well in an instant.” + +At these words the king’s son shrieked with horror, for he loved the +baby dearly, but he answered, “I have sworn that I would treat my +friend as if he were my brother, and if there is no other way my child +must be sacrificed.” + +As by this time evening had already fallen he took the child and opened +its veins, and smeared the blood over the wounds of the sick man, and +the look of death departed from him, and he grew strong and rosy once +more. But the little child lay as white and still as if she had been +dead. They laid her in the cradle and wept bitterly, for they thought +that by the next morning she would be lost to them. + +At sunrise the old man returned and asked after the sick man. + +“He is as well as ever,” answered the king’s son. + +“And where is your baby?” + +“In the cradle yonder, and I think she is dead,” replied the father +sadly. + +“Look at her once more,” said the holy man, and as they drew near the +cradle there lay the baby smiling up at them. + +“I am St. James of Lizia,” said the old man, “and I have come to help +you, for I have seen that you are a true friend. From henceforward live +happily, all of you, together, and if troubles should draw near you +send for me, and I will aid you to get through them.” + +With these words he lifted his hand in blessing and vanished. + +And they obeyed him, and were happy and content, and tried to make the +people of the land happy and contented too. + +[From Sicilianische Mährchen Gonzenbach.] + + + + +Clever Maria + + +There was once a merchant who lived close to the royal palace, and had +three daughters. They were all pretty, but Maria, the youngest, was the +prettiest of the three. One day the king sent for the merchant, who was +a widower, to give him directions about a journey he wished the good +man to take. The merchant would rather not have gone, as he did not +like leaving his daughters at home, but he could not refuse to obey the +king’s commands, and with a heavy heart he returned home to say +farewell to them. Before he left, he took three pots of basil, and gave +one to each girl, saying, “I am going a journey, but I leave these +pots. You must let nobody into the house. When I come back, they will +tell me what has happened.” “Nothing will have happened,” said the +girls. + +The father went away, and the following day the king, accompanied by +two friends, paid a visit to the three girls, who were sitting at +supper. When they saw who was there, Maria said, “Let us go and get a +bottle of wine from the cellar. I will carry the key, my eldest sister +can take the light, while the other brings the bottle.” But the king +replied, “Oh, do not trouble; we are not thirsty.” “Very well, we will +not go,” answered the two elder girls; but Maria merely said, “I shall +go, anyhow.” She left the room, and went to the hall where she put out +the light, and putting down the key and the bottle, ran to the house of +a neighbour, and knocked at the door. “Who is there so late?” asked the +old woman, thrusting her head out of the window. + +“Oh, let me in,” answered Maria. “I have quarrelled with my eldest +sister, and as I do not want to fight any more, I have come to beg you +to allow me to sleep with you.” + +So the old woman opened the door and Maria slept in her house. The king +was very angry at her for playing truant, but when she returned home +the next day, she found the plants of her sisters withered away, +because they had disobeyed their father. Now the window in the room of +the eldest overlooked the gardens of the king, and when she saw how +fine and ripe the medlars were on the trees, she longed to eat some, +and begged Maria to scramble down by a rope and pick her a few, and she +would draw her up again. Maria, who was good-natured, swung herself +into the garden by the rope, and got the medlars, and was just making +the rope fast under her arms so as to be hauled up, when her sister +cried: “Oh, there are such delicious lemons a little farther on. You +might bring me one or two.” Maria turned round to pluck them, and found +herself face to face with the gardener, who caught hold of her, +exclaiming, “What are you doing here, you little thief?” “Don’t call me +names,” she said, “or you will get the worst of it,” giving him as she +spoke such a violent push that he fell panting into the lemon bushes. +Then she seized the cord and clambered up to the window. + +The next day the second sister had a fancy for bananas and begged so +hard, that, though Maria had declared she would never do such a thing +again, at last she consented, and went down the rope into the king’s +garden. This time she met the king, who said to her, “Ah, here you are +again, cunning one! Now you shall pay for your misdeeds.” + +And he began to cross-question her about what she had done. Maria +denied nothing, and when she had finished, the king said again, “Follow +me to the house, and there you shall pay the penalty.” As he spoke, he +started for the house, looking back from time to time to make sure that +Maria had not run away. All of a sudden, when he glanced round, he +found she had vanished completely, without leaving a trace of where she +had gone. Search was made all through the town, and there was not a +hole or corner which was not ransacked, but there was no sign of her +anywhere. This so enraged the king that he became quite ill, and for +many months his life was despaired of. + +Meanwhile the two elder sisters had married the two friends of the +king, and were the mothers of little daughters. Now one day Maria stole +secretly to the house where her elder sister lived, and snatching up +the children put them into a beautiful basket she had with her, covered +with flowers inside and out, so that no one would ever guess it held +two babies. Then she dressed herself as a boy, and placing the basket +on her head, she walked slowly past the palace, crying as she went: + +“Who will carry these flowers to the king, who lies sick of love?” + +And the king in his bed heard what she said, and ordered one of his +attendants to go out and buy the basket. It was brought to his bedside, +and as he raised the lid cries were heard, and peeping in he saw two +little children. He was furious at this new trick which he felt had +been played on him by Maria, and was still looking at them, wondering +how he should pay her out, when he was told that the merchant, Maria’s +father, had finished the business on which he had been sent and +returned home. Then the king remembered how Maria had refused to +receive his visit, and how she had stolen his fruit, and he determined +to be revenged on her. So he sent a message by one of his pages that +the merchant was to come to see him the next day, and bring with him a +coat made of stone, or else he would be punished. Now the poor man had +been very sad since he got home the evening before, for though his +daughters had promised that nothing should happen while he was away, he +had found the two elder ones married without asking his leave. And now +there was this fresh misfortune, for how was he to make a coat of +stone? He wrung his hands and declared that the king would be the ruin +of him, when Maria suddenly entered. “Do not grieve about the coat of +stone, dear father; but take this bit of chalk, and go to the palace +and say you have come to measure the king.” The old man did not see the +use of this, but Maria had so often helped him before that he had +confidence in her, so he put the chalk in his pocket and went to the +palace. + +“That is no good,” said the king, when the merchant had told him what +he had come for. + +“Well, I can’t make the coat you want,” replied he. + +“Then if you would save your head, hand over to me your daughter +Maria.” + +The merchant did not reply, but went sorrowfully back to his house, +where Maria sat waiting for him. + +“Oh, my dear child, why was I born? The king says that, instead of the +coat, I must deliver you up to him.” + +“Do not be unhappy, dear father, but get a doll made, exactly like me, +with a string attached to its head, which I can pull for ‘Yes’ and +‘No.’” + +So the old man went out at once to see about it. + +The king remained patiently in his palace, feeling sure that this time +Maria could not escape him; and he said to his pages, “If a gentleman +should come here with his daughter and ask to be allowed to speak with +me, put the young lady in my room and see she does not leave it.” + +When the door was shut on Maria, who had concealed the doll under her +cloak, she hid herself under the couch, keeping fast hold of the string +which was fastened to its head. + +“Senhora Maria, I hope you are well,” said the king when he entered the +room. The doll nodded. “Now we will reckon up accounts,” continued he, +and he began at the beginning, and ended up with the flower-basket, and +at each fresh misdeed Maria pulled the string, so that the doll’s head +nodded assent. “Who-so mocks at me merits death,” declared the king +when he had ended, and drawing his sword, cut off the doll’s head. It +fell towards him, and as he felt the touch of a kiss, he exclaimed, +“Ah, Maria, Maria, so sweet in death, so hard to me in life! The man +who could kill you deserves to die!” And he was about to turn his sword +on himself, when the true Maria sprung out from under the bed, and +flung herself into his arms. And the next day they were married and +lived happily for many years. + +[From the Portuguese.] + + + + +The Magic Kettle + + +Right in the middle of Japan, high up among the mountains, an old man +lived in his little house. He was very proud of it, and never tired of +admiring the whiteness of his straw mats, and the pretty papered walls, +which in warm weather always slid back, so that the smell of the trees +and flowers might come in. + +One day he was standing looking at the mountain opposite, when he heard +a kind of rumbling noise in the room behind him. He turned round, and +in the corner he beheld a rusty old iron kettle, which could not have +seen the light of day for many years. How the kettle got there the old +man did not know, but he took it up and looked it over carefully, and +when he found that it was quite whole he cleaned the dust off it and +carried it into his kitchen. + +“That was a piece of luck,” he said, smiling to himself; “a good kettle +costs money, and it is as well to have a second one at hand in case of +need; mine is getting worn out, and the water is already beginning to +come through its bottom.” + +Then he took the other kettle off the fire, filled the new one with +water, and put it in its place. + +No sooner was the water in the kettle getting warm than a strange thing +happened, and the man, who was standing by, thought he must be +dreaming. First the handle of the kettle gradually changed its shape +and became a head, and the spout grew into a tail, while out of the +body sprang four paws, and in a few minutes the man found himself +watching, not a kettle, but a tanuki! The creature jumped off the fire, +and bounded about the room like a kitten, running up the walls and over +the ceiling, till the old man was in an agony lest his pretty room +should be spoilt. He cried to a neighbour for help, and between them +they managed to catch the tanuki, and shut him up safely in a wooden +chest. Then, quite exhausted, they sat down on the mats, and consulted +together what they should do with this troublesome beast. At length +they decided to sell him, and bade a child who was passing send them a +certain tradesman called Jimmu. + +When Jimmu arrived, the old man told him that he had something which he +wished to get rid of, and lifted the lid of the wooden chest, where he +had shut up the tanuki. But, to his surprise, no tanuki was there, +nothing but the kettle he had found in the corner. It was certainly +very odd, but the man remembered what had taken place on the fire, and +did not want to keep the kettle any more, so after a little bargaining +about the price, Jimmu went away carrying the kettle with him. + +Now Jimmu had not gone very far before he felt that the kettle was +getting heavier and heavier, and by the time he reached home he was so +tired that he was thankful to put it down in the corner of his room, +and then forgot all about it. In the middle of the night, however, he +was awakened by a loud noise in the corner where the kettle stood, and +raised himself up in bed to see what it was. But nothing was there +except the kettle, which seemed quiet enough. He thought that he must +have been dreaming, and fell asleep again, only to be roused a second +time by the same disturbance. He jumped up and went to the corner, and +by the light of the lamp that he always kept burning he saw that the +kettle had become a tanuki, which was running round after his tail. +After he grew weary of that, he ran on the balcony, where he turned +several somersaults, from pure gladness of heart. The tradesman was +much troubled as to what to do with the animal, and it was only towards +morning that he managed to get any sleep; but when he opened his eyes +again there was no tanuki, only the old kettle he had left there the +night before. + +As soon as he had tidied his house, Jimmu set off to tell his story to +a friend next door. The man listened quietly, and did not appear so +surprised as Jimmu expected, for he recollected having heard, in his +youth, something about a wonder-working kettle. “Go and travel with it, +and show it off,” said he, “and you will become a rich man; but be +careful first to ask the tanuki’s leave, and also to perform some magic +ceremonies to prevent him from running away at the sight of the +people.” + +Jimmu thanked his friend for his counsel, which he followed exactly. +The tanuki’s consent was obtained, a booth was built, and a notice was +hung up outside it inviting the people to come and witness the most +wonderful transformation that ever was seen. + +They came in crowds, and the kettle was passed from hand to hand, and +they were allowed to examine it all over, and even to look inside. Then +Jimmu took it back, and setting it on the platform, commanded it to +become a tanuki. In an instant the handle began to change into a head, +and the spout into a tail, while the four paws appeared at the sides. +“Dance,” said Jimmu, and the tanuki did his steps, and moved first on +one side and then on the other, till the people could not stand still +any longer, and began to dance too. Gracefully he led the fan dance, +and glided without a pause into the shadow dance and the umbrella +dance, and it seemed as if he might go on dancing for ever. And so very +likely he would, if Jimmu had not declared he had danced enough, and +that the booth must now be closed. + +Day after day the booth was so full it was hardly possible to enter it, +and what the neighbour foretold had come to pass, and Jimmu was a rich +man. Yet he did not feel happy. He was an honest man, and he thought +that he owed some of his wealth to the man from whom he had bought the +kettle. So, one morning, he put a hundred gold pieces into it, and +hanging the kettle once more on his arm, he returned to the seller of +it. “I have no right to keep it any longer,” he added when he had ended +his tale, “so I have brought it back to you, and inside you will find a +hundred gold pieces as the price of its hire.” + +The man thanked Jimmu, and said that few people would have been as +honest as he. And the kettle brought them both luck, and everything +went well with them till they died, which they did when they were very +old, respected by everyone. + +[Adapted from Japanische Mährchen] + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Crimson Fairy Book</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Various</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Editor: Andrew Lang</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December, 2000 [eBook #2435]<br /> +[Most recently updated: March 4, 2023]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: J.C. Byers and David Widger</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK ***</div> + +<h1>THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">By Various</h2> + +<h2 class="no-break">Edited by Andrew Lang</h2> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_PREF"></a> +Preface</h2> + +<p> +Each Fairy Book demands a preface from the Editor, and these introductions are +inevitably both monotonous and unavailing. A sense of literary honesty compels +the Editor to keep repeating that he is the Editor, and not the author of the +Fairy Tales, just as a distinguished man of science is only the Editor, not the +Author of Nature. Like nature, popular tales are too vast to be the creation of +a single modern mind. The Editor’s business is to hunt for collections of these +stories told by peasant or savage grandmothers in many climes, from New +Caledonia to Zululand; from the frozen snows of the Polar regions to Greece, or +Spain, or Italy, or far Lochaber. When the tales are found they are adapted to +the needs of British children by various hands, the Editor doing little beyond +guarding the interests of propriety, and toning down to mild reproofs the +tortures inflicted on wicked stepmothers, and other naughty characters. +</p> + +<p> +These explanations have frequently been offered already; but, as far as ladies +and children are concerned, to no purpose. They still ask the Editor how he can +invent so many stories—more than Shakespeare, Dumas, and Charles Dickens could +have invented in a century. And the Editor still avers, in Prefaces, that he +did not invent one of the stories; that nobody knows, as a rule, who invented +them, or where, or when. It is only plain that, perhaps a hundred thousand +years ago, some savage grandmother told a tale to a savage granddaughter; that +the granddaughter told it in her turn; that various tellers made changes to +suit their taste, adding or omitting features and incidents; that, as the world +grew civilised, other alterations were made, and that, at last, Homer composed +the “Odyssey,” and somebody else composed the Story of Jason and the Fleece of +Gold, and the enchantress Medea, out of a set of wandering popular tales, which +are still told among Samoyeds and Samoans, Hindoos and Japanese. +</p> + +<p> +All this has been known to the wise and learned for centuries, and especially +since the brothers Grimm wrote in the early years of the Nineteenth Century. +But children remain unaware of the facts, and so do their dear mothers; whence +the Editor infers that they do not read his prefaces, and are not members of +the Folk Lore Society, or students of Herr Kohler and M. Cosquin, and M. Henri +Guidoz and Professor Child, and Mr. Max Muller. Though these explanations are +not attended to by the Editor’s customers, he makes them once more, for the +relief of his conscience. Many tales in this book are translated, or adapted, +from those told by mothers and nurses in Hungary; others are familiar to +Russian nurseries; the Servians are responsible for some; a rather peculiarly +fanciful set of stories are adapted from the Roumanians; others are from the +Baltic shores; others from sunny Sicily; a few are from Finland, and Iceland, +and Japan, and Tunis, and Portugal. No doubt many children will like to look +out these places on the map, and study their mountains, rivers, soil, products, +and fiscal policies, in the geography books. The peoples who tell the stories +differ in colour; language, religion, and almost everything else; but they all +love a nursery tale. The stories have mainly been adapted or translated by Mrs. +Lang, a few by Miss Lang and Miss Blackley. +</p> + +<hr /> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_PREF">Preface</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0002">Lovely Ilonka</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0003">Lucky Luck</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0004">The Hairy Man</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0005">To Your Good Health!</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0006">The Story of the Seven Simons</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0007">The Language of Beasts</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0008">The Boy Who Could Keep A Secret</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0009">The Prince And The Dragon</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0010">Little Wildrose</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0011">Tiidu The Piper</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0012">Paperarelloo</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0013">The Gifts Of The Magician</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0014">The Strong Prince</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0015">The Treasure Seeker</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0016">The Cottager And His Cat</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0017">The Prince Who Would Seek Immortality</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0018">The Stone-Cutter</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0019">The Gold-Bearded Man</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0020">Tritill, Litill, And The Birds</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0021">The Three Robes</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0022">The Six Hungry Beasts</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0023">How The Beggar Boy Turned Into Count Piro</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0024">The Rogue And The Herdsman</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0025">Eisenkopf</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0026">The Death Of Abu Nowas And Of His Wife</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0027">Motiratika</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0028">Niels And The Giants</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0029">Shepherd Paul</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0030">How The Wicked Tanuki Was Punished</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0031">The Crab And The Monkey</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0032">The Horse Gullfaxi And The Sword Gunnfoder</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0033">The Story Of The Sham Prince, Or The Ambitious Tailor</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0034">The Colony Of Cats</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0035">How To Find Out A True Friend</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0036">Clever Maria</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0037">The Magic Kettle</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<hr /> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0002"></a> +Lovely Ilonka</h2> + +<p> +There was once a king’s son who told his father that he wished to marry. +</p> + +<p> +“No, no!” said the king; “you must not be in such a hurry. Wait till you have +done some great deed. My father did not let me marry till I had won the golden +sword you see me wear.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince was much disappointed, but he never dreamed of disobeying his +father, and he began to think with all his might what he could do. It was no +use staying at home, so one day he wandered out into the world to try his luck, +and as he walked along he came to a little hut in which he found an old woman +crouching over the fire. +</p> + +<p> +“Good evening, mother. I see you have lived long in this world; do you know +anything about the three bulrushes?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, indeed, I’ve lived long and been much about in the world, but I have +never seen or heard anything of what you ask. Still, if you will wait till +to-morrow I may be able to tell you something.” +</p> + +<p> +Well, he waited till the morning, and quite early the old woman appeared and +took out a little pipe and blew in it, and in a moment all the crows in the +world were flying about her. Not one was missing. Then she asked if they knew +anything about the three bulrushes, but not one of them did. +</p> + +<p> +The prince went on his way, and a little further on he found another hut in +which lived an old man. On being questioned the old man said he knew nothing, +but begged the prince to stay overnight, and the next morning the old man +called all the ravens together, but they too had nothing to tell. +</p> + +<p> +The prince bade him farewell and set out. He wandered so far that he crossed +seven kingdoms, and at last, one evening, he came to a little house in which +was an old woman. +</p> + +<p> +“Good evening, dear mother,” said he politely. +</p> + +<p> +“Good evening to you, my dear son,” answered the old woman. “It is lucky for +you that you spoke to me or you would have met with a horrible death. But may I +ask where are you going?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am seeking the three bulrushes. Do you know anything about them?” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t know anything myself, but wait till to-morrow. Perhaps I can tell you +then.” So the next morning she blew on her pipe, and lo! and behold every +magpie in the world flew up. That is to say, all the magpies except one who had +broken a leg and a wing. The old woman sent after it at once, and when she +questioned the magpies the crippled one was the only one who knew where the +three bulrushes were. +</p> + +<p> +Then the prince started off with the lame magpie. They went on and on till they +reached a great stone wall, many, many feet high. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, prince,” said the magpie, “the three bulrushes are behind that wall.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince wasted no time. He set his horse at the wall and leaped over it. +Then he looked about for the three bulrushes, pulled them up and set off with +them on his way home. As he rode along one of the bulrushes happened to knock +against something. It split open and, only think! out sprang a lovely girl, who +said: “My heart’s love, you are mine and I am yours; do give me a glass of +water.” +</p> + +<p> +But how could the prince give it her when there was no water at hand? So the +lovely maiden flew away. He split the second bulrush as an experiment and just +the same thing happened. +</p> + +<p> +How careful he was of the third bulrush! He waited till he came to a well, and +there he split it open, and out sprang a maiden seven times lovelier than +either of the others, and she too said: “My heart’s love, I am yours and you +are mine; do give me a glass of water.” +</p> + +<p> +This time the water was ready and the girl did not fly away, but she and the +prince promised to love each other always. Then they set out for home. +</p> + +<p> +They soon reached the prince’s country, and as he wished to bring his promised +bride back in a fine coach he went on to the town to fetch one. In the field +where the well was, the king’s swineherds and cowherds were feeding their +droves, and the prince left Ilonka (for that was her name) in their care. +</p> + +<p> +Unluckily the chief swineherd had an ugly old daughter, and whilst the prince +was away he dressed her up in fine clothes, and threw Ilonka into the well. +</p> + +<p> +The prince returned before long, bringing with him his father and mother and a +great train of courtiers to escort Ilonka home. But how they all stared when +they saw the swineherd’s ugly daughter! However, there was nothing for it but +to take her home; and, two days later, the prince married her, and his father +gave up the crown to him. +</p> + +<p> +But he had no peace! He knew very well he had been cheated, though he could not +think how. Once he desired to have some water brought him from the well into +which Ilonka had been thrown. The coachman went for it and, in the bucket he +pulled up, a pretty little duck was swimming. He looked wonderingly at it, and +all of a sudden it disappeared and he found a dirty looking girl standing near +him. The girl returned with him and managed to get a place as housemaid in the +palace. +</p> + +<p> +Of course she was very busy all day long, but whenever she had a little spare +time she sat down to spin. Her distaff turned of itself and her spindle span by +itself and the flax wound itself off; and however much she might use there was +always plenty left. +</p> + +<p> +When the queen—or, rather, the swineherd’s daughter—heard of this, she very +much wished to have the distaff, but the girl flatly refused to give it to her. +However, at last she consented on condition that she might sleep one night in +the king’s room. The queen was very angry, and scolded her well; but as she +longed to have the distaff she consented, though she gave the king a sleeping +draught at supper. +</p> + +<p> +Then the girl went to the king’s room looking seven times lovelier than ever. +She bent over the sleeper and said: “My heart’s love, I am yours and you are +mine. Speak to me but once; I am your Ilonka.” But the king was so sound asleep +he neither heard nor spoke, and Ilonka left the room, sadly thinking he was +ashamed to own her. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after the queen again sent to say that she wanted to buy the spindle. The +girl agreed to let her have it on the same conditions as before; but this time, +also, the queen took care to give the king a sleeping draught. And once more +Ilonka went to the king’s room and spoke to him; whisper as sweetly as she +might she could get no answer. +</p> + +<p> +Now some of the king’s servants had taken note of the matter, and warned their +master not to eat and drink anything that the queen offered him, as for two +nights running she had given him a sleeping draught. The queen had no idea that +her doings had been discovered; and when, a few days later, she wanted the +flax, and had to pay the same price for it, she felt no fears at all. +</p> + +<p> +At supper that night the queen offered the king all sorts of nice things to eat +and drink, but he declared he was not hungry, and went early to bed. +</p> + +<p> +The queen repented bitterly her promise to the girl, but it was too late to +recall it; for Ilonka had already entered the king’s room, where he lay +anxiously waiting for something, he knew not what. All of a sudden he saw a +lovely maiden who bent over him and said: “My dearest love, I am yours and you +are mine. Speak to me, for I am your Ilonka.” +</p> + +<p> +At these words the king’s heart bounded within him. He sprang up and embraced +and kissed her, and she told him all her adventures since the moment he had +left her. And when he heard all that Ilonka had suffered, and how he had been +deceived, he vowed he would be revenged; so he gave orders that the swineherd, +his wife and daughter should all be hanged; and so they were. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the king was married, with great rejoicings, to the fair Ilonka; +and if they are not yet dead—why, they are still living. +</p> + +<p> +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0003"></a> +Lucky Luck</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there was a king who had an only son. When the lad was about +eighteen years old his father had to go to fight in a war against a +neighbouring country, and the king led his troops in person. He bade his son +act as Regent in his absence, but ordered him on no account to marry till his +return. +</p> + +<p> +Time went by. The prince ruled the country and never even thought of marrying. +But when he reached his twenty-fifth birthday he began to think that it might +be rather nice to have a wife, and he thought so much that at last he got quite +eager about it. He remembered, however, what his father had said, and waited +some time longer, till at last it was ten years since the king went out to war. +Then the prince called his courtiers about him and set off with a great retinue +to seek a bride. He hardly knew which way to go, so he wandered about for +twenty days, when, suddenly, he found himself in his father’s camp. +</p> + +<p> +The king was delighted to see his son, and had a great many questions to ask +and answer; but when he heard that instead of quietly waiting for him at home +the prince was starting off to seek a wife he was very angry, and said: “You +may go where you please but I will not leave any of my people with you.” +</p> + +<p> +Only one faithful servant stayed with the prince and refused to part from him. +They journeyed over hill and dale till they came to a place called Goldtown. +The King of Goldtown had a lovely daughter, and the prince, who soon heard +about her beauty, could not rest till he saw her. +</p> + +<p> +He was very kindly received, for he was extremely good-looking and had charming +manners, so he lost no time in asking for her hand and her parents gave her to +him with joy. The wedding took place at once, and the feasting and rejoicings +went on for a whole month. At the end of the month they set off for home, but +as the journey was a long one they spent the first evening at an inn. Everyone +in the house slept, and only the faithful servant kept watch. About midnight he +heard three crows, who had flown to the roof, talking together. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s a handsome couple which arrived here tonight. It seems quite a pity +they should lose their lives so soon.” +</p> + +<p> +“Truly,” said the second crow; “for to-morrow, when midday strikes, the bridge +over the Gold Stream will break just as they are driving over it. But, listen! +whoever overhears and tells what we have said will be turned to stone up to his +knees.” +</p> + +<p> +The crows had hardly done speaking when away they flew. And close upon them +followed three pigeons. +</p> + +<p> +“Even if the prince and princess get safe over the bridge they will perish,” +said they; “for the king is going to send a carriage to meet them which looks +as new as paint. But when they are seated in it a raging wind will rise and +whirl the carriage away into the clouds. Then it will fall suddenly to earth, +and they will be killed. But anyone who hears and betrays what we have said +will be turned to stone up to his waist.” +</p> + +<p> +With that the pigeons flew off and three eagles took their places, and this is +what they said: +</p> + +<p> +“If the young couple does manage to escape the dangers of the bridge and the +carriage, the king means to send them each a splendid gold embroidered robe. +When they put these on they will be burnt up at once. But whoever hears and +repeats this will turn to stone from head to foot.” +</p> + +<p> +Early next morning the travellers got up and breakfasted. They began to tell +each other their dreams. At last the servant said: +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious prince, I dreamt that if your Royal Highness would grant all I asked +we should get home safe and sound; but if you did not we should certainly be +lost. My dreams never deceive me, so I entreat you to follow my advice during +the rest of the journey.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t make such a fuss about a dream,” said the prince; “dreams are but +clouds. Still, to prevent your being anxious I will promise to do as you wish.” +</p> + +<p> +With that they set out on their journey. +</p> + +<p> +At midday they reached the Gold Stream. When they got to the bridge the servant +said: “Let us leave the carriage here, my prince, and walk a little way. The +town is not far off and we can easily get another carriage there, for the +wheels of this one are bad and will not hold out much longer.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince looked well at the carriage. He did not think it looked so unsafe as +his servant said; but he had given his word and he held to it. +</p> + +<p> +They got down and loaded the horses with the luggage. The prince and his bride +walked over the bridge, but the servant said he would ride the horses through +the stream so as to water and bathe them. +</p> + +<p> +They reached the other side without harm, and bought a new carriage in the +town, which was quite near, and set off once more on their travels; but they +had not gone far when they met a messenger from the king who said to the +prince: “His Majesty has sent your Royal Highness this beautiful carriage so +that you may make a fitting entry into your own country and amongst your own +people.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince was so delighted that he could not speak. But the servant said: “My +lord, let me examine this carriage first and then you can get in if I find it +is all right; otherwise we had better stay in our own.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince made no objections, and after looking the carriage well over the +servant said: “It is as bad as it is smart”; and with that he knocked it all to +pieces, and they went on in the one that they had bought. +</p> + +<p> +At last they reached the frontier; there another messenger was waiting for +them, who said that the king had sent two splendid robes for the prince and his +bride, and begged that they would wear them for their state entry. But the +servant implored the prince to have nothing to do with them, and never gave him +any peace till he had obtained leave to destroy the robes. +</p> + +<p> +The old king was furious when he found that all his arts had failed; that his +son still lived and that he would have to give up the crown to him now he was +married, for that was the law of the land. He longed to know how the prince had +escaped, and said: “My dear son, I do indeed rejoice to have you safely back, +but I cannot imagine why the beautiful carriage and the splendid robes I sent +did not please you; why you had them destroyed.” +</p> + +<p> +“Indeed, sire,” said the prince, “I was myself much annoyed at their +destruction; but my servant had begged to direct everything on the journey and +I had promised him that he should do so. He declared that we could not possibly +get home safely unless I did as he told me.” +</p> + +<p> +The old king fell into a tremendous rage. He called his Council together and +condemned the servant to death. +</p> + +<p> +The gallows was put up in the square in front of the palace. The servant was +led out and his sentence read to him. +</p> + +<p> +The rope was being placed round his neck, when he begged to be allowed a few +last words. “On our journey home,” he said, “we spent the first night at an +inn. I did not sleep but kept watch all night.” And then he went on to tell +what the crows had said, and as he spoke he turned to stone up to his knees. +The prince called to him to say no more as he had proved his innocence. But the +servant paid no heed to him, and by the time his story was done he had turned +to stone from head to foot. +</p> + +<p> +Oh! how grieved the prince was to lose his faithful servant! And what pained +him most was the thought that he was lost through his very faithfulness, and he +determined to travel all over the world and never rest till he found some means +of restoring him to life. +</p> + +<p> +Now there lived at Court an old woman who had been the prince’s nurse. To her +he confided all his plans, and left his wife, the princess, in her care. “You +have a long way before you, my son,” said the old woman; “you must never return +till you have met with Lucky Luck. If he cannot help you no one on earth can.” +</p> + +<p> +So the prince set off to try to find Lucky Luck. He walked and walked till he +got beyond his own country, and he wandered through a wood for three days but +did not meet a living being in it. At the end of the third day he came to a +river near which stood a large mill. Here he spent the night. When he was +leaving next morning the miller asked him: “My gracious lord, where are you +going all alone?” +</p> + +<p> +And the prince told him. +</p> + +<p> +“Then I beg your Highness to ask Lucky Luck this question: Why is it that +though I have an excellent mill, with all its machinery complete, and get +plenty of grain to grind, I am so poor that I hardly know how to live from one +day to another?” +</p> + +<p> +The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way. He wandered about for +three days more, and at the end of the third day saw a little town. It was +quite late when he reached it, but he could discover no light anywhere, and +walked almost right through it without finding a house where he could turn in. +But far away at the end of the town he saw a light in a window. He went +straight to it and in the house were three girls playing a game together. The +prince asked for a night’s lodging and they took him in, gave him some supper +and got a room ready for him, where he slept. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning when he was leaving they asked where he was going and he told them +his story. “Gracious prince,” said the maidens, “do ask Lucky Luck how it +happens that here we are over thirty years old and no lover has come to woo us, +though we are good, pretty, and very industrious.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way. +</p> + +<p> +Then he came to a great forest and wandered about in it from morning to night +and from night to morning before he got near the other end. Here he found a +pretty stream which was different from other streams as, instead of flowing, it +stood still and began to talk: “Sir prince, tell me what brings you into these +wilds? I must have been flowing here a hundred years and more and no one has +ever yet come by.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell you,” answered the prince, “if you will divide yourself so that I +may walk through.” +</p> + +<p> +The stream parted at once, and the prince walked through without wetting his +feet; and directly he got to the other side he told his story as he had +promised. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, do ask Lucky Luck,” cried the brook, “why, though I am such a clear, +bright, rapid stream I never have a fish or any other living creature in my +waters.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince said he would do so, and continued his journey. +</p> + +<p> +When he got quite clear of the forest he walked on through a lovely valley till +he reached a little house thatched with rushes, and he went in to rest for he +was very tired. +</p> + +<p> +Everything in the house was beautifully clean and tidy, and a cheerful +honest-looking old woman was sitting by the fire. +</p> + +<p> +“Good-morning, mother,” said the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“May Luck be with you, my son. What brings you into these parts?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am looking for Lucky Luck,” replied the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“Then you have come to the right place, my son, for I am his mother. He is not +at home just now, he is out digging in the vineyard. Do you go too. Here are +two spades. When you find him begin to dig, but don’t speak a word to him. It +is now eleven o’clock. When he sits down to eat his dinner sit beside him and +eat with him. After dinner he will question you, and then tell him all your +troubles freely. He will answer whatever you may ask.” +</p> + +<p> +With that she showed him the way, and the prince went and did just as she had +told him. After dinner they lay down to rest. +</p> + +<p> +All of a sudden Lucky Luck began to speak and said: “Tell me, what sort of man +are you, for since you came here you have not spoken a word?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am not dumb,” replied the young man, “but I am that unhappy prince whose +faithful servant has been turned to stone, and I want to know how to help him.” +</p> + +<p> +“And you do well, for he deserves everything. Go back, and when you get home +your wife will just have had a little boy. Take three drops of blood from the +child’s little finger, rub them on your servant’s wrists with a blade of grass +and he will return to life.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have another thing to ask,” said the prince, when he had thanked him. “In +the forest near here is a fine stream but not a fish or other living creature +in it. Why is this?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because no one has ever been drowned in the stream. But take care, in +crossing, to get as near the other side as you can before you say so, or you +may be the first victim yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Another question, please, before I go. On my way here I lodged one night in +the house of three maidens. All were well-mannered, hard-working, and pretty, +and yet none has had a wooer. Why was this?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because they always throw out their sweepings in the face of the sun.” +</p> + +<p> +“And why is it that a miller, who has a large mill with all the best machinery +and gets plenty of corn to grind is so poor that he can hardly live from day to +day?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because the miller keeps everything for himself, and does not give to those +who need it.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince wrote down the answers to his questions, took a friendly leave of +Lucky Luck, and set off for home. +</p> + +<p> +When he reached the stream it asked if he brought it any good news. “When I get +across I will tell you,” said he. So the stream parted; he walked through and +on to the highest part of the bank. He stopped and shouted out: +</p> + +<p> +“Listen, oh stream! Lucky Luck says you will never have any living creature in +your waters until someone is drowned in you.” +</p> + +<p> +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the stream swelled and overflowed +till it reached the rock up which he had climbed, and dashed so far up it that +the spray flew over him. But he clung on tight, and after failing to reach him +three times the stream returned to its proper course. Then the prince climbed +down, dried himself in the sun, and set out on his march home. +</p> + +<p> +He spent the night once more at the mill and gave the miller his answer, and +by-and-by he told the three sisters not to throw out all their sweepings in the +face of the sun. +</p> + +<p> +The prince had hardly arrived at home when some thieves tried to ford the +stream with a fine horse they had stolen. When they were half-way across, the +stream rose so suddenly that it swept them all away. From that time it became +the best fishing stream in the country-side. +</p> + +<p> +The miller, too, began to give alms and became a very good man, and in time +grew so rich that he hardly knew how much he had. +</p> + +<p> +And the three sisters, now that they no longer insulted the sun, had each a +wooer within a week. +</p> + +<p> +When the prince got home he found that his wife had just got a fine little boy. +He did not lose a moment in pricking the baby’s finger till the blood ran, and +he brushed it on the wrists of the stone figure, which shuddered all over and +split with a loud noise in seven parts and there was the faithful servant alive +and well. +</p> + +<p> +When the old king saw this he foamed with rage, stared wildly about, flung +himself on the ground and died. +</p> + +<p> +The servant stayed on with his royal master and served him faithfully all the +rest of his life; and, if neither of them is dead, he is serving him still. +</p> + +<p> +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0004"></a> +The Hairy Man</h2> + +<p> +Somewhere or other, but I don’t know where, there lived a king who owned two +remarkably fine fields of rape, but every night two of the rape heaps were +burnt down in one of the fields. The king was extremely angry at this, and sent +out soldiers to catch whoever had set fire to the ricks; but it was all of no +use—not a soul could they see. Then he offered nine hundred crowns to anyone +who caught the evil-doer, and at the same time ordered that whoever did not +keep proper watch over the fields should be killed; but though there were a +great many people, none seemed able to protect the fields. +</p> + +<p> +The king had already put ninety-nine people to death, when a little swineherd +came to him who had two dogs; one was called “Psst,” and the other “Hush”; and +the boy told the king that he would watch over the ricks. +</p> + +<p> +When it grew dark he climbed up on the top of the fourth rick, from where he +could see the whole field. About eleven o’clock he thought he saw someone going +to a rick and putting a light to it. “Just you wait,” thought he, and called +out to his dogs: “Hi! Psst, Hush, catch him!” But Psst and Hush had not waited +for orders, and in five minutes the man was caught. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning he was brought bound before the king, who was so pleased with the +boy that he gave him a thousand crowns at once. The prisoner was all covered +with hair, almost like an animal; and altogether he was so curious to look at +that the king locked him up in a strong room and sent out letters of invitation +to all the other kings and princes asking them to come and see this wonder. +</p> + +<p> +That was all very well; but the king had a little boy of ten years old who went +to look at the hairy man also, and the man begged so hard to be set free that +the boy took pity on him. He stole the key of the strong room from his mother +and opened the door. Then he took the key back, but the hairy man escaped and +went off into the world. +</p> + +<p> +Then the kings and princes began to arrive one after another, and all were most +anxious to see the hairy man; but he was gone! The king nearly burst with rage +and with the shame he felt. He questioned his wife sharply, and told her that +if she could not find and bring back the hairy man he would put her in a hut +made of rushes and burn her there. The queen declared she had had nothing to do +with the matter; if her son had happened to take the key it had not been with +her knowledge. +</p> + +<p> +So they fetched the little prince and asked him all sorts of questions, and at +last he owned that he had let the hairy man out. The king ordered his servants +to take the boy into the forest and to kill him there, and to bring back part +of his liver and lungs. +</p> + +<p> +There was grief all over the palace when the king’s command was known, for he +was a great favourite. But there was no help for it, and they took the boy out +into the forest. But the man was sorry for him, and shot a dog and carried +pieces of his lungs and liver to the king, who was satisfied, and did not +trouble himself any more. +</p> + +<p> +The prince wandered about in the forest and lived as best he could for five +years. One day he came upon a poor little cottage in which was an old man. They +began to talk, and the prince told his story and sad fate. Then they recognised +each other, for the old fellow was no other than the hairy man whom the prince +had set free, and who had lived ever since in the forest. +</p> + +<p> +The prince stayed here for two years; then he wished to go further. The old man +begged him hard to stay, but he would not, so his hairy friend gave him a +golden apple out of which came a horse with a golden mane, and a golden staff +with which to guide the horse. The old man also gave him a silver apple out of +which came the most beautiful hussars and a silver staff; and a copper apple +from which he could draw as many foot soldiers as ever he wished, and a copper +staff. He made the prince swear solemnly to take the greatest care of these +presents, and then he let him go. +</p> + +<p> +The boy wandered on and on till he came to a large town. Here he took service +in the king’s palace, and as no one troubled themselves about him he lived +quietly on. +</p> + +<p> +One day news was brought to the king that he must go out to war. He was +horribly frightened for he had a very small army, but he had to go all the +same. +</p> + +<p> +When they had all left, the prince said to the housekeeper: +</p> + +<p> +“Give me leave to go to the next village—I owe a small bill there, and I want +to go and pay it”; and as there was nothing to be done in the palace the +housekeeper gave him leave. +</p> + +<p> +When he got beyond the town he took out his golden apple, and when the horse +sprang out he swung himself into the saddle. Then he took the silver and the +copper apples, and with all these fine soldiers he joined the king’s army. +</p> + +<p> +The king saw them approach with fear in his heart, for he did not know if it +might not be an enemy; but the prince rode up, and bowed low before him. “I +bring your Majesty reinforcements,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +The king was delighted, and all dread of his enemy at once disappeared. The +princesses were there too, and they were very friendly with the prince and +begged him to get into their carriage so as to talk to them. But he declined, +and remained on horseback, as he did not know at what moment the battle might +begin; and whilst they were all talking together the youngest princess, who was +also the loveliest, took off her ring, and her sister tore her handkerchief in +two pieces, and they gave these gifts to the prince. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly the enemy came in sight. The king asked whether his army or the +prince’s should lead the way; but the prince set off first and with his hussars +he fought so bravely that only two of the enemy were left alive, and these two +were only spared to act as messengers. +</p> + +<p> +The king was overjoyed and so were his daughters at this brilliant victory. As +they drove home they begged the prince to join them, but he would not come, and +galloped off with his hussars. +</p> + +<p> +When he got near the town he packed his soldiers and his fine horse all +carefully into the apple again, and then strolled into the town. On his return +to the palace he was well scolded by the housekeeper for staying away so long. +</p> + +<p> +Well, the whole matter might have ended there; but it so happened that the +younger princess had fallen in love with the prince, as he had with her. And as +he had no jewels with him, he gave her the copper apple and staff. +</p> + +<p> +One day, as the princesses were talking with their father, the younger one +asked him whether it might not have been their servant who had helped him so +much. The king was quite angry at the idea; but, to satisfy her, he ordered the +servant’s room to be searched. And there, to everyone’s surprise, they found +the golden ring and the half of the handkerchief. When these were brought to +the king he sent for the prince at once and asked if it had been he who had +come to their rescue. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, your Majesty, it was I,” answered the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“But where did you get your army?” +</p> + +<p> +“If you wish to see it, I can show it you outside the city walls.” +</p> + +<p> +And so he did; but first he asked for the copper apple from the younger +princess, and when all the soldiers were drawn up there were such numbers that +there was barely room for them. +</p> + +<p> +The king gave him his daughter and kingdom as a reward for his aid, and when he +heard that the prince was himself a king’s son his joy knew no bounds. The +prince packed all his soldiers carefully up once more, and they went back into +the town. +</p> + +<p> +Not long after there was a grand wedding; perhaps they may all be alive still, +but I don’t know. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0005"></a> +To Your Good Health!</h2> + +<p> +Long, long ago there lived a king who was such a mighty monarch that whenever +he sneezed every one in the whole country had to say “To your good health!” +Every one said it except the shepherd with the staring eyes, and he would not +say it. +</p> + +<p> +The king heard of this and was very angry, and sent for the shepherd to appear +before him. +</p> + +<p> +The shepherd came and stood before the throne, where the king sat looking very +grand and powerful. But however grand or powerful he might be the shepherd did +not feel a bit afraid of him. +</p> + +<p> +“Say at once, ‘To my good health!’” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +“To my good health!” replied the shepherd. +</p> + +<p> +“To mine—to mine, you rascal, you vagabond!” stormed the king. +</p> + +<p> +“To mine, to mine, your Majesty,” was the answer. +</p> + +<p> +“But to mine—to my own,” roared the king, and beat on his breast in a rage. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, yes; to mine, of course, to my own,” cried the shepherd, and gently +tapped his breast. +</p> + +<p> +The king was beside himself with fury and did not know what to do, when the +Lord Chamberlain interfered: +</p> + +<p> +“Say at once—say this very moment: ‘To your health, your Majesty’; for if you +don’t say it you’ll lose your life, whispered he. +</p> + +<p> +“No, I won’t say it till I get the princess for my wife,” was the shepherd’s +answer. Now the princess was sitting on a little throne beside the king, her +father, and she looked as sweet and lovely as a little golden dove. When she +heard what the shepherd said she could not help laughing, for there is no +denying the fact that this young shepherd with the staring eyes pleased her +very much; indeed he pleased her better than any king’s son she had yet seen. +</p> + +<p> +But the king was not as pleasant as his daughter, and he gave orders to throw +the shepherd into the white bear’s pit. +</p> + +<p> +The guards led him away and thrust him into the pit with the white bear, who +had had nothing to eat for two days and was very hungry. The door of the pit +was hardly closed when the bear rushed at the shepherd; but when it saw his +eyes it was so frightened that it was ready to eat itself. It shrank away into +a corner and gazed at him from there, and, in spite of being so famished, did +not dare to touch him, but sucked its own paws from sheer hunger. The shepherd +felt that if he once removed his eyes off the beast he was a dead man, and in +order to keep himself awake he made songs and sang them, and so the night went +by. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the Lord Chamberlain came to see the shepherd’s bones, and was +amazed to find him alive and well. He led him to the king, who fell into a +furious passion, and said: “Well, you have learned what it is to be very near +death, and now will you say ‘To my good health’?” +</p> + +<p> +But the shepherd answered: “I am not afraid of ten deaths! I will only say it +if I may have the princess for my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then go to your death,” cried the king; and ordered him to be thrown into the +den with the wild boars. The wild boars had not been fed for a week, and when +the shepherd was thrust into their don they rushed at him to tear him to +pieces. But the shepherd took a little flute out of the sleeve of his jacket +and began to play a merry tune, on which the wild boars first of all shrank +shyly away, and then got up on their hind legs and danced gaily. The shepherd +would have given anything to be able to laugh, they looked so funny; but he +dared not stop playing, for he knew well enough that the moment he stopped they +would fall upon him and tear him to pieces. His eyes were of no use to him +here, for he could not have stared ten wild boars in the face at once; so he +kept on playing, and the wild boars danced very slowly, as if in a minuet, then +by degrees he played faster and faster till they could hardly twist and turn +quickly enough, and ended by all falling over each other in a heap, quite +exhausted and out of breath. +</p> + +<p> +Then the shepherd ventured to laugh at last; and he laughed so long and so loud +that when the Lord Chamberlain came early in the morning, expecting to find +only his bones, the tears were still running down his cheeks from laughter. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the king was dressed the shepherd was again brought before him; but +he was more angry than ever to think the wild boars had not torn the man to +bits, and he said: “Well, you have learned what it feels to be near ten deaths, +now say ‘To my good health!’” +</p> + +<p> +But the shepherd broke in with, “I do not fear a hundred deaths, and I will +only say it if I may have the princess for my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then go to a hundred deaths!” roared the king, and ordered the shepherd to be +thrown down the deep vault of scythes. +</p> + +<p> +The guards dragged him away to a dark dungeon, in the middle of which was a +deep well with sharp scythes all round it. At the bottom of the well was a +little light by which one could see if anyone was thrown in whether he had +fallen to the bottom. +</p> + +<p> +When the shepherd was dragged to the dungeons he begged the guards to leave him +alone a little while that he might look down into the pit of scythes; perhaps +he might after all make up his mind to say “To your good health” to the king. +So the guards left him alone and he stuck up his long stick near the well, hung +his cloak round the stick and put his hat on the top. He also hung his knapsack +up inside the cloak so that it might seem to have some body within it. When +this was done he called out to the guards and said that he had considered the +matter but after all he could not make up his mind to say what the king wished. +The guards came in, threw the hat and cloak, knapsack and stick all down the +well together, watched to see how they put out the light at the bottom and came +away, thinking that now there really was an end of the shepherd. But he had +hidden in a dark corner and was laughing to himself all the time. +</p> + +<p> +Quite early next morning came the Lord Chamberlain, carrying a lamp and he +nearly fell backwards with surprise when he saw the shepherd alive and well. He +brought him to the king, whose fury was greater than ever, but who cried: +</p> + +<p> +“Well, now you have been near a hundred deaths; will you say: ‘To your good +health’?” +</p> + +<p> +But the shepherd only gave the same answer: +</p> + +<p> +“I won’t say it till the princess is my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps after all you may do it for less,” said the king, who saw that there +was no chance of making away with the shepherd; and he ordered the state coach +to be got ready, then he made the shepherd get in with him and sit beside him, +and ordered the coachman to drive to the silver wood. When they reached it he +said: “Do you see this silver wood? Well, if you will say, ‘To your good +health,’ I will give it to you.” +</p> + +<p> +The shepherd turned hot and cold by turns, but he still persisted: +</p> + +<p> +“I will not say it till the princess is my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +The king was much vexed; he drove further on till they came to a splendid +castle, all of gold, and then he said: +</p> + +<p> +“Do you see this golden castle? Well, I will give you that too, the silver wood +and the golden castle, if only you will say that one thing to me: ‘To your good +health.’” +</p> + +<p> +The shepherd gaped and wondered and was quite dazzled, but he still said: +</p> + +<p> +“No; I will not say it till I have the princess for my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +This time the king was overwhelmed with grief, and gave orders to drive on to +the diamond pond, and there he tried once more. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you see this diamond pond? I will give you that too, the silver wood and +the golden castle and the diamond pond. You shall have them all—all—if you will +but say: ‘To your good health!’” +</p> + +<p> +The shepherd had to shut his staring eyes tight not to be dazzled with the +brilliant pond, but still he said: +</p> + +<p> +“No, no; I will not say it till I have the princess for my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the king saw that all his efforts were useless, and that he might as well +give in, so he said: +</p> + +<p> +“Well, well, it’s all the same to me—I will give you my daughter to wife; but, +then, you really and truly must say to me: ‘To your good health.’” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course I’ll say it; why should I not say it? It stands to reason that I +shall say it then.” +</p> + +<p> +At this the king was more delighted than anyone could have believed. He made it +known all through the country that there were to be great rejoicings, as the +princess was going to be married. And everyone rejoiced to think that the +princess, who had refused so many royal suitors, should have ended by falling +in love with the staring-eyed shepherd. +</p> + +<p> +There was such a wedding as had never been seen. Everyone ate and drank and +danced. Even the sick were feasted, and quite tiny new-born children had +presents given them. +</p> + +<p> +But the greatest merry-making was in the king’s palace; there the best bands +played and the best food was cooked; a crowd of people sat down to table, and +all was fun and merry-making. +</p> + +<p> +And when the groomsman, according to custom, brought in the great boar’s head +on a big dish and placed it before the king so that he might carve it and give +everyone a share, the savoury smell was so strong that the king began to sneeze +with all his might. +</p> + +<p> +“To your very good health,” cried the shepherd before anyone else, and the king +was so delighted that he did not regret having given him his daughter. +</p> + +<p> +In time, when the old king died, the shepherd succeeded him. He made a very +good king and never expected his people to wish him well against their wills; +but, all the same, everyone did wish him well, for they all loved him. +</p> + +<p> +[From Russische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0006"></a> +The Story of the Seven Simons</h2> + +<p> +Far, far away, beyond all sorts of countries, seas and rivers, there stood a +splendid city where lived King Archidej, who was as good as he was rich and +handsome. His great army was made up of men ready to obey his slightest wish; +he owned forty times forty cities, and in each city he had ten palaces with +silver doors, golden roofs, and crystal windows. His council consisted of the +twelve wisest men in the country, whose long beards flowed down over their +breasts, each of whom was as learned as a whole college. This council always +told the king the exact truth. +</p> + +<p> +Now the king had everything to make him happy, but he did not enjoy anything +because he could not find a bride to his mind. +</p> + +<p> +One day, as he sat in his palace looking out to sea, a great ship sailed into +the harbour and several merchants came on shore. Said the king to himself: +“These people have travelled far and beheld many lands. I will ask them if they +have seen any princess who is as clever and as handsome as I am.” +</p> + +<p> +So he ordered the merchants to be brought before him, and when they came he +said: “You have travelled much and visited many wonders. I wish to ask you a +question, and I beg you to answer truthfully. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you anywhere seen or heard of the daughter of an emperor, king, or a +prince, who is as clever and as handsome as I am, and who would be worthy to be +my wife and the queen of my country?” +</p> + +<p> +The merchants considered for some time. At last the eldest of them said: “I +have heard that across many seas, in the Island of Busan, there is a mighty +king, whose daughter, the Princess Helena, is so lovely that she can certainly +not be plainer than your Majesty, and so clever that the wisest greybeard +cannot guess her riddles.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is the island far off, and which is the way to it?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is not near,” was the answer. “The journey would take ten years, and we do +not know the way. And even if we did, what use would that be? The princess is +no bride for you.” +</p> + +<p> +“How dare you say so?” cried the king angrily. +</p> + +<p> +“Your Majesty must pardon us; but just think for a moment. Should you send an +envoy to the island he will take ten years to get there and ten more to +return—twenty years in all. Will not the princess have grown old in that time +and have lost all her beauty?” +</p> + +<p> +The king reflected gravely. Then he thanked the merchants, gave them leave to +trade in his country without paying any duties, and dismissed them. +</p> + +<p> +After they were gone the king remained deep in thought. He felt puzzled and +anxious; so he decided to ride into the country to distract his mind, and sent +for his huntsmen and falconers. The huntsmen blew their horns, the falconers +took their hawks on their wrists, and off they all set out across country till +they came to a green hedge. On the other side of the hedge stretched a great +field of maize as far as the eye could reach, and the yellow ears swayed to and +fro in the gentle breeze like a rippling sea of gold. +</p> + +<p> +The king drew rein and admired the field. “Upon my word,” said he, “whoever dug +and planted it must be good workmen. If all the fields in my kingdom were as +well cared for as this, there would be more bread than my people could eat.” +And he wished to know to whom the field belonged. +</p> + +<p> +Off rushed all his followers at once to do his bidding, and found a nice, tidy +farmhouse, in front of which sat seven peasants, lunching on rye bread and +drinking water. They wore red shirts bound with gold braid, and were so much +alike that one could hardly tell one from another. +</p> + +<p> +The messengers asked: “Who owns this field of golden maize?” And the seven +brothers answered: “The field is ours.” +</p> + +<p> +“And who are you?” +</p> + +<p> +“We are King Archidej’s labourers.” +</p> + +<p> +These answers were repeated to the king, who ordered the brothers to be brought +before him at once. On being asked who they were, the eldest said, bowing low: +</p> + +<p> +“We, King Archidej, are your labourers, children of one father and mother, and +we all have the same name, for each of us is called Simon. Our father taught us +to be true to our king, and to till the ground, and to be kind to our +neighbours. He also taught each of us a different trade which he thought might +be useful to us, and he bade us not neglect our mother earth, which would be +sure amply to repay our labour.” +</p> + +<p> +The king was pleased with the honest peasant, and said: “You have done well, +good people, in planting your field, and now you have a golden harvest. But I +should like each of you to tell me what special trades your father taught you.” +</p> + +<p> +“My trade, O king!” said the first Simon, “is not an easy one. If you will give +me some workmen and materials I will build you a great white pillar that shall +reach far above the clouds.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very good,” replied the king. “And you, Simon the second, what is your trade?” +</p> + +<p> +“Mine, your Majesty, needs no great cleverness. When my brother has built the +pillar I can mount it, and from the top, far above the clouds, I can see what +is happening: in every country under the sun.” +</p> + +<p> +“Good,” said the king; “and Simon the third?” +</p> + +<p> +“My work is very simple, sire. You have many ships built by learned men, with +all sorts of new and clever improvements. If you wish it I will build you quite +a simple boat—one, two, three, and it’s done! But my plain little home-made +ship is not grand enough for a king. Where other ships take a year, mine makes +the voyage in a day, and where they would require ten years mine will do the +distance in a week.” +</p> + +<p> +“Good,” said the king again; “and what has Simon the fourth learnt?” +</p> + +<p> +“My trade, O king, is really of no importance. Should my brother build you a +ship, then let me embark in it. If we should be pursued by an enemy I can seize +our boat by the prow and sink it to the bottom of the sea. When the enemy has +sailed off, I can draw it up to the top again.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is very clever of you,” answered the king; “and what does Simon the fifth +do?” +</p> + +<p> +“My work, your Majesty, is mere smith’s work. Order me to build a smithy and I +will make you a cross-bow, but from which neither the eagle in the sky nor the +wild beast in the forest is safe. The bolt hits whatever the eye sees.” +</p> + +<p> +“That sounds very useful,” said the king. “And now, Simon the sixth, tell me +your trade.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sire, it is so simple I am almost ashamed to mention it. If my brother hits +any creature I catch it quicker than any dog can. If it falls into the water I +pick it up out of the greatest depths, and if it is in a dark forest I can find +it even at midnight.” +</p> + +<p> +The king was much pleased with the trades and talk of the six brothers, and +said: “Thank you, good people; your father did well to teach you all these +things. Now follow me to the town, as I want to see what you can do. I need +such people as you about me; but when harvest time comes I will send you home +with royal presents.” +</p> + +<p> +The brothers bowed and said: “As the king wills.” Suddenly the king remembered +that he had not questioned the seventh Simon, so he turned to him and said: +“Why are you silent? What is your handicraft?” +</p> + +<p> +And the seventh Simon answered: “I have no handicraft, O king; I have learnt +nothing. I could not manage it. And if I do know how to do anything it is not +what might properly be called a real trade—it is rather a sort of performance; +but it is one which no one—not the king himself—must watch me doing, and I +doubt whether this performance of mine would please your Majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“Come, come,” cried the king; “I will have no excuses, what is this trade?” +</p> + +<p> +“First, sire, give me your royal word that you will not kill me when I have +told you. Then you shall hear.” +</p> + +<p> +“So be it, then; I give you my royal word.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the seventh Simon stepped back a little, cleared his throat, and said: “My +trade, King Archidej, is of such a kind that the man who follows it in your +kingdom generally loses his life and has no hopes of pardon. There is only one +thing I can do really well, and that is—to steal, and to hide the smallest +scrap of anything I have stolen. Not the deepest vault, even if its lock were +enchanted, could prevent my stealing anything out of it that I wished to have.” +</p> + +<p> +When the king heard this he fell into a passion. “I will not pardon you, you +rascal,” he cried; “I will shut you up in my deepest dungeon on bread and water +till you have forgotten such a trade. Indeed, it would be better to put you to +death at once, and I’ve a good mind to do so.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t kill me, O king! I am really not as bad as you think. Why, had I chosen, +I could have robbed the royal treasury, have bribed your judges to let me off, +and built a white marble palace with what was left. But though I know how to +steal I don’t do it. You yourself asked me my trade. If you kill me you will +break your royal word.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” said the king, “I will not kill you. I pardon you. But from this +hour you shall be shut up in a dark dungeon. Here, guards! away with him to the +prison. But you six Simons follow me and be assured of my royal favour.” +</p> + +<p> +So the six Simons followed the king. The seventh Simon was seized by the +guards, who put him in chains and threw him in prison with only bread and water +for food. Next day the king gave the first Simon carpenters, masons, smiths and +labourers, with great stores of iron, mortar, and the like, and Simon began to +build. And he built his great white pillar far, far up into the clouds, as high +as the nearest stars; but the other stars were higher still. +</p> + +<p> +Then the second Simon climbed up the pillar and saw and heard all that was +going on through the whole world. When he came down he had all sorts of +wonderful things to tell. How one king was marching in battle against another, +and which was likely to be the victor. How, in another place, great rejoicings +were going on, while in a third people were dying of famine. In fact there was +not the smallest event going on over the earth that was hidden from him. +</p> + +<p> +Next the third Simon began. He stretched out his arms, once, twice, thrice, and +the wonder-ship was ready. At a sign from the king it was launched, and floated +proudly and safely like a bird on the waves. Instead of ropes it had wires for +rigging, and musicians played on them with fiddle bows and made lovely music. +As the ship swam about, the fourth Simon seized the prow with his strong hand, +and in a moment it was gone—sunk to the bottom of the sea. An hour passed, and +then the ship floated again, drawn up by Simon’s left hand, while in his right +he brought a gigantic fish from the depth of the ocean for the royal table. +</p> + +<p> +Whilst this was going on the fifth Simon had built his forge and hammered out +his iron, and when the king returned from the harbour the magic cross-bow was +made. +</p> + +<p> +His Majesty went out into an open field at once, looked up into the sky and +saw, far, far away, an eagle flying up towards the sun and looking like a +little speck. +</p> + +<p> +“Now,” said the king, “if you can shoot that bird I will reward you.” +</p> + +<p> +Simon only smiled; he lifted his cross-bow, took aim, fired, and the eagle +fell. As it was falling the sixth Simon ran with a dish, caught the bird before +it fell to earth and brought it to the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Many thanks, my brave lads,” said the king; “I see that each of you is indeed +a master of his trade. You shall be richly rewarded. But now rest and have your +dinner.” +</p> + +<p> +The six Simons bowed and went to dinner. But they had hardly begun before a +messenger came to say that the king wanted to see them. They obeyed at once and +found him surrounded by all his court and men of state. +</p> + +<p> +“Listen, my good fellows,” cried the king, as soon as he saw them. “Hear what +my wise counsellors have thought of. As you, Simon the second, can see the +whole world from the top of the great pillar, I want you to climb up and to see +and hear. For I am told that, far away, across many seas, is the great kingdom +of the Island of Busan, and that the daughter of the king is the beautiful +Princess Helena.” +</p> + +<p> +Off ran the second Simon and clambered quickly up the pillar. He gazed around, +listened on all sides, and then slid down to report to the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Sire, I have obeyed your orders. Far away I saw the Island of Busan. The king +is a mighty monarch, but full of pride, harsh and cruel. He sits on his throne +and declares that no prince or king on earth is good enough for his lovely +daughter, that he will give her to none, and that if any king asks for her hand +he will declare war against him and destroy his kingdom.” +</p> + +<p> +“Has the king of Busan a great army?” asked King Archidej; “is his country far +off?” +</p> + +<p> +“As far as I could judge,” replied Simon, “it would take you nearly ten years +in fair weather to sail there. But if the weather were stormy we might say +twelve. I saw the army being reviewed. It is not so very large—a hundred +thousand men at arms and a hundred thousand knights. Besides these, he has a +strong bodyguard and a good many cross-bowmen. Altogether you may say another +hundred thousand, and there is a picked body of heroes who reserve themselves +for great occasions requiring particular courage.” +</p> + +<p> +The king sat for some time lost in thought. At last he said to the nobles and +courtiers standing round: “I am determined to marry the Princess Helena, but +how shall I do it?” +</p> + +<p> +The nobles, courtiers and counsellors said nothing, but tried to hide behind +each other. Then the third Simon said: +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon me, your Majesty, if I offer my advice. You wish to go to the Island of +Busan? What can be easier? In my ship you will get there in a week instead of +in ten years. But ask your council to advise you what to do when you arrive—in +one word, whether you will win the princess peacefully or by war?” +</p> + +<p> +But the wise men were as silent as ever. +</p> + +<p> +The king frowned, and was about to say something sharp, when the Court Fool +pushed his way to the front and said: “Dear me, what are all you clever people +so puzzled about? The matter is quite clear. As it seems it will not take long +to reach the island why not send the seventh Simon? He will steal the fair +maiden fast enough, and then the king, her father, may consider how he is going +to bring his army over here—it will take him ten years to do it!—-no less! What +do you think of my plan?” +</p> + +<p> +“What do I think? Why, that your idea is capital, and you shall be rewarded for +it. Come, guards, hurry as fast as you can and bring the seventh Simon before +me.” +</p> + +<p> +Not many minutes later, Simon the seventh stood before the king, who explained +to him what he wished done, and also that to steal for the benefit of his king +and country was by no means a wrong thing, though it was very wrong to steal +for his own advantage. +</p> + +<p> +The youngest Simon, who looked very pale and hungry, only nodded his head. +</p> + +<p> +“Come,” said the king, “tell me truly. Do you think you could steal the +Princess Helena?” +</p> + +<p> +“Why should I not steal her, sire? The thing is easy enough. Let my brother’s +ship be laden with rich stuffs, brocades, Persian carpets, pearls and jewels. +Send me in the ship. Give me my four middle brothers as companions, and keep +the two others as hostages.” +</p> + +<p> +When the king heard these words his heart became filled with longing, and he +ordered all to be done as Simon wished. Every one ran about to do his bidding; +and in next to no time the wonder-ship was laden and ready to start. +</p> + +<p> +The five Simons took leave of the king, went on board, and had no sooner set +sail than they were almost out of sight. The ship cut through the waters like a +falcon through the air, and just a week after starting sighted the Island of +Busan. The coast appeared to be strongly guarded, and from afar the watchman on +a high tower called out: “Halt and anchor! Who are you? Where do you come from, +and what do you want?” +</p> + +<p> +The seventh Simon answered from the ship: “We are peaceful people. We come from +the country of the great and good King Archidej, and we bring foreign +wares—rich brocades, carpets, and costly jewels, which we wish to show to your +king and the princess. We desire to trade—to sell, to buy, and to exchange.” +</p> + +<p> +The brothers launched a small boat, took some of their valuable goods with +them, rowed to shore and went up to the palace. The princess sat in a rose-red +room, and when she saw the brothers coming near she called her nurse and other +women, and told them to inquire who and what these people were, and what they +wanted. +</p> + +<p> +The seventh Simon answered the nurse: “We come from the country of the wise and +good King Archidej,” said he, “and we have brought all sorts of goods for sale. +We trust the king of this country may condescend to welcome us, and to let his +servants take charge of our wares. If he considers them worthy to adorn his +followers we shall be content.” +</p> + +<p> +This speech was repeated to the princess, who ordered the brothers to be +brought to the red-room at once. They bowed respectfully to her and displayed +some splendid velvets and brocades, and opened cases of pearls and precious +stones. Such beautiful things had never been seen in the island, and the nurse +and waiting women stood bewildered by all the magnificence. They whispered +together that they had never beheld anything like it. The princess too saw and +wondered, and her eyes could not weary of looking at the lovely things, or her +fingers of stroking the rich soft stuffs, and of holding up the sparkling +jewels to the light. +</p> + +<p> +“Fairest of princesses,” said Simon. “Be pleased to order your waiting-maids to +accept the silks and velvets, and let your women trim their head-dresses with +the jewels; these are no special treasures. But permit me to say that they are +as nothing to the many coloured tapestries, the gorgeous stones and ropes of +pearls in our ship. We did not like to bring more with us, not knowing what +your royal taste might be; but if it seems good to you to honour our ship with +a visit, you might condescend to choose such things as were pleasing in your +eyes.” +</p> + +<p> +This polite speech pleased the princess very much. She went to the king and +said: “Dear father, some merchants have arrived with the most splendid wares. +Pray allow me to go to their ship and choose out what I like.” +</p> + +<p> +The king thought and thought, frowned hard and rubbed his ear. At last he gave +consent, and ordered out his royal yacht, with 100 cross-bows, 100 knights, and +1,000 soldiers, to escort the Princess Helena. +</p> + +<p> +Off sailed the yacht with the princess and her escort. The brothers Simon came +on board to conduct the princess to their ship, and, led by the brothers and +followed by her nurse and other women, she crossed the crystal plank from one +vessel to another. +</p> + +<p> +The seventh Simon spread out his goods, and had so many curious and interesting +tales to tell about them, that the princess forgot everything else in looking +and listening, so that she did not know that the fourth Simon had seized the +prow of the ship, and that all of a sudden it had vanished from sight, and was +racing along in the depths of the sea. +</p> + +<p> +The crew of the royal yacht shouted aloud, the knights stood still with terror, +the soldiers were struck dumb and hung their heads. There was nothing to be +done but to sail back and tell the king of his loss. +</p> + +<p> +How he wept and stormed! “Oh, light of my eyes,” he sobbed; “I am indeed +punished for my pride. I thought no one good enough to be your husband, and now +you are lost in the depths of the sea, and have left me alone! As for all of +you who saw this thing—away with you! Let them be put in irons and lock them up +in prison, whilst I think how I can best put them to death!” +</p> + +<p> +Whilst the King of Busan was raging and lamenting in this fashion, Simon’s ship +was swimming like any fish under the sea, and when the island was well out of +sight he brought it up to the surface again. At that moment the princess +recollected herself. “Nurse,” said she, “we have been gazing at these wonders +only too long. I hope my father won’t be vexed at our delay.” +</p> + +<p> +She tore herself away and stepped on deck. Neither the yacht nor the island was +in sight! Helena wrung her hands and beat her breast. Then she changed herself +into a white swan and flew off. But the fifth Simon seized his bow and shot the +swan, and the sixth Simon did not let it fall into the water but caught it in +the ship, and the swan turned into a silver fish, but Simon lost no time and +caught the fish, when, quick as thought, the fish turned into a black mouse and +ran about the ship. It darted towards a hole, but before it could reach it +Simon sprang upon it more swiftly than any cat, and then the little mouse +turned once more into the beautiful Princess Helena. +</p> + +<p> +Early one morning King Archidej sat thoughtfully at his window gazing out to +sea. His heart was sad and he would neither eat nor drink. His thoughts were +full of the Princess Helena, who was as lovely as a dream. Is that a white gull +he sees flying towards the shore, or is it a sail? No, it is no gull, it is the +wonder-ship flying along with billowing sails. Its flags wave, the fiddlers +play on the wire rigging, the anchor is thrown out and the crystal plank laid +from the ship to the pier. The lovely Helena steps across the plank. She shines +like the sun, and the stars of heaven seem to sparkle in her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +Up sprang King Archidej in haste: “Hurry, hurry,” he cried. “Let us hasten to +meet her! Let the bugles sound and the joy bells be rung!” +</p> + +<p> +And the whole Court swarmed with courtiers and servants. Golden carpets were +laid down and the great gates thrown open to welcome the princess. +</p> + +<p> +King Archidej went out himself, took her by the hand and led her into the royal +apartments. +</p> + +<p> +“Madam,” said he, “the fame of your beauty had reached me, but I had not dared +to expect such loveliness. Still I will not keep you here against your will. If +you wish it, the wonder-ship shall take you back to your father and your own +country; but if you will consent to stay here, then reign over me and my +country as our queen.” +</p> + +<p> +What more is there to tell? It is not hard to guess that the princess listened +to the king’s wooing, and their betrothal took place with great pomp and +rejoicings. +</p> + +<p> +The brothers Simon were sent again to the Island of Busan with a letter to the +king from his daughter to invite him to their wedding. And the wonder-ship +arrived at the Island of Busan just as all the knights and soldiers who had +escorted the princess were being led out to execution. +</p> + +<p> +Then the seventh Simon cried out from the ship: “Stop! stop! I bring a letter +from the Princess Helena!” +</p> + +<p> +The King of Busan read the letter over and over again, and ordered the knights +and soldiers to be set free. He entertained King Archidej’s ambassadors +hospitably, and sent his blessing to his daughter, but he could not be brought +to attend the wedding. +</p> + +<p> +When the wonder-ship got home King Archidej and Princess Helena were enchanted +with the news it brought. +</p> + +<p> +The king sent for the seven Simons. “A thousand thanks to you, my brave +fellows,” he cried. “Take what gold, silver, and precious stones you will out +of my treasury. Tell me if there is anything else you wish for and I will give +it you, my good friends. Do you wish to be made nobles, or to govern towns? +Only speak.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the eldest Simon bowed and said: “We are plain folk, your Majesty, and +understand simple things best. What figures should we cut as nobles or +governors? Nor do we desire gold. We have our fields which give us food, and as +much money as we need. If you wish to reward us then grant that our land may be +free of taxes, and of your goodness pardon the seventh Simon. He is not the +first who has been a thief by trade and he will certainly not be the last.” +</p> + +<p> +“So be it,” said the king; “your land shall be free of all taxes, and Simon the +seventh is pardoned.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the king gave each brother a goblet of wine and invited them to the +wedding feast. And what a feast that was! +</p> + +<p> +[From Ungarischen Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0007"></a> +The Language of Beasts</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time a man had a shepherd who served him many years faithfully and +honestly. One day, whilst herding his flock, this shepherd heard a hissing +sound, coming out of the forest near by, which he could not account for. So he +went into the wood in the direction of the noise to try to discover the cause. +When he approached the place he found that the dry grass and leaves were on +fire, and on a tree, surrounded by flames, a snake was coiled, hissing with +terror. +</p> + +<p> +The shepherd stood wondering how the poor snake could escape, for the wind was +blowing the flames that way, and soon that tree would be burning like the rest. +Suddenly the snake cried: “O shepherd! for the love of heaven save me from this +fire!” +</p> + +<p> +Then the shepherd stretched his staff out over the flames and the snake wound +itself round the staff and up to his hand, and from his hand it crept up his +arm, and twined itself about his neck. The shepherd trembled with fright, +expecting every instant to be stung to death, and said: “What an unlucky man I +am! Did I rescue you only to be destroyed myself?” But the snake answered: +“Have no fear; only carry me home to my father who is the King of the Snakes.” +The shepherd, however, was much too frightened to listen, and said that he +could not go away and leave his flock alone; but the snake said: “You need not +be afraid to leave your flock, no evil shall befall them; but make all the +haste you can.” +</p> + +<p> +So he set off through the wood carrying the snake, and after a time he came to +a great gateway, made entirely of snakes intertwined one with another. The +shepherd stood still with surprise, but the snake round his neck whistled, and +immediately all the arch unwound itself. +</p> + +<p> +“When we are come to my father’s house,” said his own snake to him, “he will +reward you with anything you like to ask—silver, gold, jewels, or whatever on +this earth is most precious; but take none of all these things, ask rather to +understand the language of beasts. He will refuse it to you a long time, but in +the end he will grant it to you.” +</p> + +<p> +Soon after that they arrived at the house of the King of the Snakes, who burst +into tears of joy at the sight of his daughter, as he had given her up for +dead. “Where have you been all this time?” he asked, directly he could speak, +and she told him that she had been caught in a forest fire, and had been +rescued from the flames by the shepherd. The King of the Snakes, then turning +to the shepherd, said to him: “What reward will you choose for saving my +child?” +</p> + +<p> +“Make me to know the language of beasts,” answered the shepherd, “that is all I +desire.” +</p> + +<p> +The king replied: “Such knowledge would be of no benefit to you, for if I +granted it to you and you told any one of it, you would immediately die; ask me +rather for whatever else you would most like to possess, and it shall be +yours.” +</p> + +<p> +But the shepherd answered him: “Sir, if you wish to reward me for saving your +daughter, grant me, I pray you, to know the language of beasts. I desire +nothing else”; and he turned as if to depart. +</p> + +<p> +Then the king called him back, saying: “If nothing else will satisfy you, open +your mouth.” The man obeyed, and the king spat into it, and said: “Now spit +into my mouth.” The shepherd did as he was told, then the King of the Snakes +spat again into the shepherd’s mouth. When they had spat into each other’s +mouths three times, the king said: +</p> + +<p> +“Now you know the language of beasts, go in peace; but, if you value your life, +beware lest you tell any one of it, else you will immediately die.” +</p> + +<p> +So the shepherd set out for home, and on his way through the wood he heard and +understood all that was said by the birds, and by every living creature. When +he got back to his sheep he found the flock grazing peacefully, and as he was +very tired he laid himself down by them to rest a little. Hardly had he done so +when two ravens flew down and perched on a tree near by, and began to talk to +each other in their own language: “If that shepherd only knew that there is a +vault full of gold and silver beneath where that lamb is lying, what would he +not do?” When the shepherd heard these words he went straight to his master and +told him, and the master at once took a waggon, and broke open the door of the +vault, and they carried off the treasure. But instead of keeping it for +himself, the master, who was an honourable man, gave it all up to the shepherd, +saying: “Take it, it is yours. The gods have given it to you.” So the shepherd +took the treasure and built himself a house. He married a wife, and they lived +in great peace and happiness, and he was acknowledged to be the richest man, +not only of his native village, but of all the country-side. He had flocks of +sheep, and cattle, and horses without end, as well as beautiful clothes and +jewels. +</p> + +<p> +One day, just before Christmas, he said to his wife: “Prepare everything for a +great feast, to-morrow we will take things with us to the farm that the +shepherds there may make merry.” The wife obeyed, and all was prepared as he +desired. Next day they both went to the farm, and in the evening the master +said to the shepherds: “Now come, all of you, eat, drink, and make merry. I +will watch the flocks myself to-night in your stead.” Then he went out to spend +the night with the flocks. +</p> + +<p> +When midnight struck the wolves howled and the dogs barked, and the wolves +spoke in their own tongue, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“Shall we come in and work havoc, and you too shall eat flesh?” And the dogs +answered in their tongue: “Come in, and for once we shall have enough to eat.” +</p> + +<p> +Now amongst the dogs there was one so old that he had only two teeth left in +his head, and he spoke to the wolves, saying: “So long as I have my two teeth +still in my head, I will let no harm be done to my master.” +</p> + +<p> +All this the master heard and understood, and as soon as morning dawned he +ordered all the dogs to be killed excepting the old dog. The farm servants +wondered at this order, and exclaimed: “But surely, sir, that would be a pity?” +</p> + +<p> +The master answered: “Do as I bid you”; and made ready to return home with his +wife, and they mounted their horses, her steed being a mare. As they went on +their way, it happened that the husband rode on ahead, while the wife was a +little way behind. The husband’s horse, seeing this, neighed, and said to the +mare: “Come along, make haste; why are you so slow?” And the mare answered: “It +is very easy for you, you carry only your master, who is a thin man, but I +carry my mistress, who is so fat that she weights as much as three.” When the +husband heard that he looked back and laughed, which the wife perceiving, she +urged on the mare till she caught up with her husband, and asked him why he +laughed. “For nothing at all,” he answered; “just because it came into my +head.” She would not be satisfied with this answer, and urged him more and more +to tell her why he had laughed. But he controlled himself and said: “Let me be, +wife; what ails you? I do not know myself why I laughed.” But the more he put +her off, the more she tormented him to tell her the cause of his laughter. At +length he said to her: “Know, then, that if I tell it you I shall immediately +and surely die.” But even this did not quiet her; she only besought him the +more to tell her. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile they had reached home, and before getting down from his horse the man +called for a coffin to be brought; and when it was there he placed it in front +of the house, and said to his wife: +</p> + +<p> +“See, I will lay myself down in this coffin, and will then tell you why I +laughed, for as soon as I have told you I shall surely die.” So he lay down in +the coffin, and while he took a last look around him, his old dog came out from +the farm and sat down by him, and whined. When the master saw this, he called +to his wife: “Bring a piece of bread to give to the dog.” The wife brought some +bread and threw it to the dog, but he would not look at it. Then the farm cock +came and pecked at the bread; but the dog said to it: “Wretched glutton, you +can eat like that when you see that your master is dying?” The cock answered: +“Let him die, if he is so stupid. I have a hundred wives, which I call together +when I find a grain of corn, and as soon as they are there I swallow it myself; +should one of them dare to be angry, I would give her a lesson with my beak. He +has only one wife, and he cannot keep her in order.” +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the man understood this, he got up out of the coffin, seized a +stick, and called his wife into the room, saying: “Come, and I will tell you +what you so much want to know”; and then he began to beat her with the stick, +saying with each blow: “It is that, wife, it is that!” And in this way he +taught her never again to ask why he had laughed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0008"></a> +The Boy Who Could Keep A Secret</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a poor widow who had one little boy. At first +sight you would not have thought that he was different from a thousand other +little boys; but then you noticed that by his side hung the scabbard of a +sword, and as the boy grew bigger the scabbard grew bigger too. The sword which +belonged to the scabbard was found by the little boy sticking out of the ground +in the garden, and every day he pulled it up to see if it would go into the +scabbard. But though it was plainly becoming longer and longer, it was some +time before the two would fit. +</p> + +<p> +However, there came a day at last when it slipped in quite easily. The child +was so delighted that he could hardly believe his eyes, so he tried it seven +times, and each time it slipped in more easily than before. But pleased though +the boy was, he determined not to tell anyone about it, particularly not his +mother, who never could keep anything from her neighbours. +</p> + +<p> +Still, in spite of his resolutions, he could not hide altogether that something +had happened, and when he went in to breakfast his mother asked him what was +the matter. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, mother, I had such a nice dream last night,” said he; “but I can’t tell it +to anybody.” +</p> + +<p> +“You can tell it to me,” she answered. “It must have been a nice dream, or you +wouldn’t look so happy.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, mother; I can’t tell it to anybody,” returned the boy, “till it comes +true.” +</p> + +<p> +“I want to know what it was, and know it I will,” cried she, “and I will beat +you till you tell me.” +</p> + +<p> +But it was no use, neither words nor blows would get the secret out of the boy; +and when her arm was quite tired and she had to leave off, the child, sore and +aching, ran into the garden and knelt weeping beside his little sword. It was +working round and round in its hole all by itself, and if anyone except the boy +had tried to catch hold of it, he would have been badly cut. But the moment he +stretched out his hand it stopped and slid quietly into the scabbard. +</p> + +<p> +For a long time the child sat sobbing, and the noise was heard by the king as +he was driving by. “Go and see who it is that is crying so,” said he to one of +his servants, and the man went. In a few minutes he returned saying: “Your +Majesty, it is a little boy who is kneeling there sobbing because his mother +has beaten him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Bring him to me at once,” commanded the monarch, “and tell him that it is the +king who sends for him, and that he has never cried in all his life and cannot +bear anyone else to do so.” On receiving this message the boy dried his tears +and went with the servant to the royal carriage. “Will you be my son?” asked +the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, if my mother will let me,” answered the boy. And the king bade the +servant go back to the mother and say that if she would give her boy to him, he +should live in the palace and marry his prettiest daughter as soon as he was a +man. +</p> + +<p> +The widow’s anger now turned into joy, and she came running to the splendid +coach and kissed the king’s hand. “I hope you will be more obedient to his +Majesty than you were to me,” she said; and the boy shrank away +half-frightened. But when she had gone back to her cottage, he asked the king +if he might fetch something that he had left in the garden, and when he was +given permission, he pulled up his little sword, which he slid into the +scabbard. +</p> + +<p> +Then he climbed into the coach and was driven away. +</p> + +<p> +After they had gone some distance the king said: “Why were you crying so +bitterly in the garden just now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because my mother had been beating me,” replied the boy. +</p> + +<p> +“And what did she do that for?” asked the king again. +</p> + +<p> +“Because I would not tell her my dream.” +</p> + +<p> +“And why wouldn’t you tell it to her?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because I will never tell it to anyone till it comes true,” answered the boy. +</p> + +<p> +“And won’t you tell it to me either?” asked the king in surprise. +</p> + +<p> +“No, not even to you, your Majesty,” replied he. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I am sure you will when we get home,” said the king smiling, and he talked +to him about other things till they came to the palace. +</p> + +<p> +“I have brought you such a nice present,” he said to his daughters, and as the +boy was very pretty they were delighted to have him and gave him all their best +toys. +</p> + +<p> +“You must not spoil him,” observed the king one day, when he had been watching +them playing together. He has a secret which he won’t tell to anyone.” +</p> + +<p> +“He will tell me,” answered the eldest princess; but the boy only shook his +head. +</p> + +<p> +“He will tell me,” said the second girl. +</p> + +<p> +“Not I,” replied the boy. +</p> + +<p> +“He will tell me,” cried the youngest, who was the prettiest too. +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell nobody till it comes true,” said the boy, as he had said before; +“and I will beat anybody who asks me.” +</p> + +<p> +The king was very sorry when he heard this, for he loved the boy dearly; but he +thought it would never do to keep anyone near him who would not do as he was +bid. So he commanded his servants to take him away and not to let him enter the +palace again until he had come to his right senses. +</p> + +<p> +The sword clanked loudly as the boy was led away, but the child said nothing, +though he was very unhappy at being treated so badly when he had done nothing. +However, the servants were very kind to him, and their children brought him +fruit and all sorts of nice things, and he soon grew merry again, and lived +amongst them for many years till his seventeenth birthday. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the two eldest princesses had become women, and had married two +powerful kings who ruled over great countries across the sea. The youngest one +was old enough to be married too, but she was very particular, and turned up +her nose at all the young princes who had sought her hand. +</p> + +<p> +One day she was sitting in the palace feeling rather dull and lonely, and +suddenly she began to wonder what the servants were doing, and whether it was +not more amusing down in their quarters. The king was at his council and the +queen was ill in bed, so there was no one to stop the princess, and she hastily +ran across the gardens to the houses where the servants lived. Outside she +noticed a youth who was handsomer than any prince she had ever seen, and in a +moment she knew him to be the little boy she had once played with. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me your secret and I will marry you,” she said to him; but the boy only +gave her the beating he had promised her long ago, when she asked him the same +question. The girl was very angry, besides being hurt, and ran home to complain +to her father. +</p> + +<p> +“If he had a thousand souls, I would kill them all,” swore the king. +</p> + +<p> +That very day a gallows was built outside the town, and all the people crowded +round to see the execution of the young man who had dared to beat the king’s +daughter. The prisoner, with his hands tied behind his back, was brought out by +the hangman, and amidst dead silence his sentence was being read by the judge +when suddenly the sword clanked against his side. Instantly a great noise was +heard and a golden coach rumbled over the stones, with a white flag waving out +of the window. It stopped underneath the gallows, and from it stepped the king +of the Magyars, who begged that the life of the boy might be spared. +</p> + +<p> +“Sir, he has beaten my daughter, who only asked him to tell her his secret. I +cannot pardon that,” answered the princess’s father. +</p> + +<p> +“Give him to me, I’m sure he will tell me the secret; or, if not, I have a +daughter who is like the Morning Star, and he is sure to tell it to her.” +</p> + +<p> +The sword clanked for the third time, and the king said angrily: “Well, if you +want him so much you can have him; only never let me see his face again.” And +he made a sign to the hangman. The bandage was removed from the young man’s +eyes, and the cords from his wrists, and he took his seat in the golden coach +beside the king of the Magyars. Then the coachman whipped up his horses, and +they set out for Buda. +</p> + +<p> +The king talked very pleasantly for a few miles, and when he thought that his +new companion was quite at ease with him, he asked him what was the secret +which had brought him into such trouble. “That I cannot tell you,” answered the +youth, “until it comes true.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will tell my daughter,” said the king, smiling. +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell nobody,” replied the youth, and as he spoke the sword clanked +loudly. The king said no more, but trusted to his daughter’s beauty to get the +secret from him. +</p> + +<p> +The journey to Buda was long, and it was several days before they arrived +there. The beautiful princess happened to be picking roses in the garden, when +her father’s coach drove up. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, what a handsome youth! Have you brought him from fairyland?” cried she, +when they all stood upon the marble steps in front of the castle. +</p> + +<p> +“I have brought him from the gallows,” answered the king; rather vexed at his +daughter’s words, as never before had she consented to speak to any man. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t care where you brought him from,” said the spoilt girl. “I will marry +him and nobody else, and we will live together till we die.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will tell another tale,” replied the king, “when you ask him his secret. +After all he is no better than a servant.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is nothing to me,” said the princess, “for I love him. He will tell his +secret to me, and will find a place in the middle of my heart.” +</p> + +<p> +But the king shook his head, and gave orders that the lad was to be lodged in +the summer-house. +</p> + +<p> +One day, about a week later, the princess put on her finest dress, and went to +pay him a visit. She looked so beautiful that, at the sight of her, the book +dropped from his hand, and he stood up speechless. “Tell me,” she said, +coaxingly, “what is this wonderful secret? Just whisper it in my ear, and I +will give you a kiss.” +</p> + +<p> +“My angel,” he answered, “be wise, and ask no questions, if you wish to get +safely back to your father’s palace; I have kept my secret all these years, and +do not mean to tell it now.” +</p> + +<p> +However, the girl would not listen, and went on pressing him, till at last he +slapped her face so hard that her nose bled. She shrieked with pain and rage, +and ran screaming back to the palace, where her father was waiting to hear if +she had succeeded. “I will starve you to death, you son of a dragon,” cried he, +when he saw her dress streaming with blood; and he ordered all the masons and +bricklayers in the town to come before him. +</p> + +<p> +“Build me a tower as fast as you can,” he said, “and see that there is room for +a stool and a small table, and for nothing else. The men set to work, and in +two hours the tower was built, and they proceeded to the palace to inform the +king that his commands were fulfilled. On the way they met the princess, who +began to talk to one of the masons, and when the rest were out of hearing she +asked if he could manage to make a hole in the tower, which nobody could see, +large enough for a bottle of wine and some food to pass through. +</p> + +<p> +“To be sure I can,” said the mason, turning back, and in a few minutes the hole +was bored. +</p> + +<p> +At sunset a large crowd assembled to watch the youth being led to the tower, +and after his misdeeds had been proclaimed he was solemnly walled up. But every +morning the princess passed him in food through the hole, and every third day +the king sent his secretary to climb up a ladder and look down through a little +window to see if he was dead. But the secretary always brought back the report +that he was fat and rosy. +</p> + +<p> +“There is some magic about this,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +This state of affairs lasted some time, till one day a messenger arrived from +the Sultan bearing a letter for the king, and also three canes. “My master bids +me say,” said the messenger, bowing low, “that if you cannot tell him which of +these three canes grows nearest the root, which in the middle, and which at the +top, he will declare war against you. +</p> + +<p> +The king was very much frightened when he heard this, and though he took the +canes and examined them closely, he could see no difference between them. He +looked so sad that his daughter noticed it, and inquired the reason. +</p> + +<p> +“Alas! my daughter,” he answered, “how can I help being sad? The Sultan has +sent me three canes, and says that if I cannot tell him which of them grows +near the root, which in the middle, and which at the top, he will make war upon +me. And you know that his army is far greater than mine.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, do not despair, my father,” said she. “We shall be sure to find out the +answer”; and she ran away to the tower, and told the young man what had +occurred. +</p> + +<p> +“Go to bed as usual,” replied he, “and when you wake, tell your father that you +have dreamed that the canes must be placed in warm water. After a little while +one will sink to the bottom; that is the one that grows nearest the root. The +one which neither sinks nor comes to the surface is the cane that is cut from +the middle; and the one that floats is from the top.” +</p> + +<p> +So, the next morning, the princess told her father of her dream, and by her +advice he cut notches in each of the canes when he took them out of the water, +so that he might make no mistake when he handed them back to the messenger. The +Sultan could not imagine how he had found out, but he did not declare war. +</p> + +<p> +The following year the Sultan again wanted to pick a quarrel with the king of +the Magyars, so he sent another messenger to him with three foals, begging him +to say which of the animals was born in the morning, which at noon, and which +in the evening. If an answer was not ready in three days, war would be declared +at once. The king’s heart sank when he read the letter. He could not expect his +daughter to be lucky enough to dream rightly a second time, and as a plague had +been raging through the country, and had carried off many of his soldiers, his +army was even weaker than before. At this thought his face became so gloomy +that his daughter noticed it, and inquired what was the matter. +</p> + +<p> +“I have had another letter from the Sultan,” replied the king, “and he says +that if I cannot tell him which of three foals was born in the morning, which +at noon, and which in the evening, he will declare war at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, don’t be cast down,” said she, “something is sure to happen”; and she ran +down to the tower to consult the youth. +</p> + +<p> +“Go home, idol of my heart, and when night comes, pretend to scream out in your +sleep, so that your father hears you. Then tell him that you have dreamt that +he was just being carried off by the Turks because he could not answer the +question about the foals, when the lad whom he had shut up in the tower ran up +and told them which was foaled in the morning, which at noon, and which in the +evening.” +</p> + +<p> +So the princess did exactly as the youth had bidden her; and no sooner had she +spoken than the king ordered the tower to be pulled down, and the prisoner +brought before him. +</p> + +<p> +“I did not think that you could have lived so long without food,” said he, “and +as you have had plenty of time to repent your wicked conduct, I will grant you +pardon, on condition that you help me in a sore strait. Read this letter from +the Sultan; you will see that if I fail to answer his question about the foals, +a dreadful war will be the result.” +</p> + +<p> +The youth took the letter and read it through. “Yes, I can help you,” replied +he; “but first you must bring me three troughs, all exactly alike. Into one you +must put oats, into another wheat, and into the third barley. The foal which +eats the oats is that which was foaled in the morning; the foal which eats the +wheat is that which was foaled at noon; and the foal which eats the barley is +that which was foaled at night.” The king followed the youth’s directions, and, +marking the foals, sent them back to Turkey, and there was no war that year. +</p> + +<p> +Now the Sultan was very angry that both his plots to get possession of Hungary +had been such total failures, and he sent for his aunt, who was a witch, to +consult her as to what he should do next. +</p> + +<p> +“It is not the king who has answered your questions,” observed the aunt, when +he had told his story. “He is far too stupid ever to have done that! The person +who has found out the puzzle is the son of a poor woman, who, if he lives, will +become King of Hungary. Therefore, if you want the crown yourself, you must get +him here and kill him.” +</p> + +<p> +After this conversation another letter was written to the Court of Hungary, +saying that if the youth, now in the palace, was not sent to Turkey within +three days, a large army would cross the border. The king’s heart was sorrowful +as he read, for he was grateful to the lad for what he had done to help him; +but the boy only laughed, and bade the king fear nothing, but to search the +town instantly for two youths just like each other, and he would paint himself +a mask that was just like them. And the sword at his side clanked loudly. +</p> + +<p> +After a long search twin brothers were found, so exactly resembling each other +that even their own mother could not tell the difference. The youth painted a +mask that was the precise copy of them, and when he had put it on, no one would +have known one boy from the other. They set out at once for the Sultan’s +palace, and when they reached it, they were taken straight into his presence. +He made a sign for them to come near; they all bowed low in greeting. He asked +them about their journey; they answered his questions all together, and in the +same words. If one sat down to supper, the others sat down at the same instant. +When one got up, the others got up too, as if there had been only one body +between them. The Sultan could not detect any difference between them, and he +told his aunt that he would not be so cruel as to kill all three. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, you will see a difference to-morrow,” replied the witch, “for one will +have a cut on his sleeve. That is the youth you must kill.” And one hour before +midnight, when witches are invisible, she glided into the room where all three +lads were sleeping in the same bed. She took out a pair of scissors and cut a +small piece out of the boy’s coat-sleeve which was hanging on the wall, and +then crept silently from the room. But in the morning the youth saw the slit, +and he marked the sleeves of his two companions in the same way, and all three +went down to breakfast with the Sultan. The old witch was standing in the +window and pretended not to see them; but all witches have eyes in the backs of +their heads, and she knew at once that not one sleeve but three were cut, and +they were all as alike as before. After breakfast, the Sultan, who was getting +tired of the whole affair and wanted to be alone to invent some other plan, +told them they might return home. So, bowing low with one accord, they went. +</p> + +<p> +The princess welcomed the boy back joyfully, but the poor youth was not allowed +to rest long in peace, for one day a fresh letter arrived from the Sultan, +saying that he had discovered that the young man was a very dangerous person, +and that he must be sent to Turkey at once, and alone. The girl burst into +tears when the boy told her what was in the letter which her father had bade +her to carry to him. “Do not weep, love of my heart,” said the boy, “all will +be well. I will start at sunrise to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +So next morning at sunrise the youth set forth, and in a few days he reached +the Sultan’s palace. The old witch was waiting for him at the gate, and +whispered as he passed: “This is the last time you will ever enter it.” But the +sword clanked, and the lad did not even look at her. As he crossed the +threshold fifteen armed Turks barred his way, with the Sultan at their head. +Instantly the sword darted forth and cut off the heads of everyone but the +Sultan, and then went quietly back to its scabbard. The witch, who was looking +on, saw that as long as the youth had possession of the sword, all her schemes +would be in vain, and tried to steal the sword in the night, but it only jumped +out of its scabbard and sliced off her nose, which was of iron. And in the +morning, when the Sultan brought a great army to capture the lad and deprive +him of his sword, they were all cut to pieces, while he remained without a +scratch. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the princess was in despair because the days slipped by, and the +young man did not return, and she never rested until her father let her lead +some troops against the Sultan. She rode proudly before them, dressed in +uniform; but they had not left the town more than a mile behind them, when they +met the lad and his little sword. When he told them what he had done they +shouted for joy, and carried him back in triumph to the palace; and the king +declared that as the youth had shown himself worthy to become his son-in-law, +he should marry the princess and succeed to the throne at once, as he himself +was getting old, and the cares of government were too much for him. But the +young man said he must first go and see his mother, and the king sent him in +state, with a troop of soldiers as his bodyguard. +</p> + +<p> +The old woman was quite frightened at seeing such an array draw up before her +little house, and still more surprised when a handsome young man, whom she did +not know, dismounted and kissed her hand, saying: “Now, dear mother, you shall +hear my secret at last! I dreamed that I should become King of Hungary, and my +dream has come true. When I was a child, and you begged me to tell you, I had +to keep silence, or the Magyar king would have killed me. And if you had not +beaten me nothing would have happened that has happened, and I should not now +be King of Hungary.” +</p> + +<p> +[From the Folk Tales of the Magyars.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0009"></a> +The Prince And The Dragon</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived an emperor who had three sons. They were all fine +young men, and fond of hunting, and scarcely a day passed without one or other +of them going out to look for game. +</p> + +<p> +One morning the eldest of the three princes mounted his horse and set out for a +neighbouring forest, where wild animals of all sorts were to be found. He had +not long left the castle, when a hare sprang out of a thicket and dashed across +the road in front. The young man gave chase at once, and pursued it over hill +and dale, till at last the hare took refuge in a mill which was standing by the +side of a river. The prince followed and entered the mill, but stopped in +terror by the door, for, instead of a hare, before him stood a dragon, +breathing fire and flame. At this fearful sight the prince turned to fly, but a +fiery tongue coiled round his waist, and drew him into the dragon’s mouth, and +he was seen no more. +</p> + +<p> +A week passed away, and when the prince never came back everyone in the town +began to grow uneasy. At last his next brother told the emperor that he +likewise would go out to hunt, and that perhaps he would find some clue as to +his brother’s disappearance. But hardly had the castle gates closed on the +prince than the hare sprang out of the bushes as before, and led the huntsman +up hill and down dale, till they reached the mill. Into this the hare flew with +the prince at his heels, when, lo! instead of the hare, there stood a dragon +breathing fire and flame; and out shot a fiery tongue which coiled round the +prince’s waist, and lifted him straight into the dragon’s mouth, and he was +seen no more. +</p> + +<p> +Days went by, and the emperor waited and waited for the sons who never came, +and could not sleep at night for wondering where they were and what had become +of them. His youngest son wished to go in search of his brothers, but for long +the emperor refused to listen to him, lest he should lose him also. But the +prince prayed so hard for leave to make the search, and promised so often that +he would be very cautious and careful, that at length the emperor gave him +permission, and ordered the best horse in the stables to be saddled for him. +</p> + +<p> +Full of hope the young prince started on his way, but no sooner was he outside +the city walls than a hare sprang out of the bushes and ran before him, till +they reached the mill. As before, the animal dashed in through the open door, +but this time he was not followed by the prince. Wiser than his brothers, the +young man turned away, saying to himself: “There are as good hares in the +forest as any that have come out of it, and when I have caught them, I can come +back and look for you.” +</p> + +<p> +For many hours he rode up and down the mountain, but saw nothing, and at last, +tired of waiting, he went back to the mill. Here he found an old woman sitting, +whom he greeted pleasantly. +</p> + +<p> +“Good morning to you, little mother,” he said; and the old woman answered: +“Good morning, my son.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me, little mother,” went on the prince, “where shall I find my hare?” +</p> + +<p> +“My son,” replied the old woman, “that was no hare, but a dragon who has led +many men hither, and then has eaten them all.” At these words the prince’s +heart grew heavy, and he cried, “Then my brothers must have come here, and have +been eaten by the dragon!” +</p> + +<p> +“You have guessed right,” answered the old woman; “and I can give you no better +counsel than to go home at once, before the same fate overtakes you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Will you not come with me out of this dreadful place?” said the young man. +</p> + +<p> +“He took me prisoner, too,” answered she, “and I cannot shake off his chains.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then listen to me,” cried the prince. “When the dragon comes back, ask him +where he always goes when he leaves here, and what makes him so strong; and +when you have coaxed the secret from him, tell me the next time I come.” +</p> + +<p> +So the prince went home, and the old woman remained in the mill, and as soon as +the dragon returned she said to him: +</p> + +<p> +“Where have you been all this time—you must have travelled far?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, little mother, I have indeed travelled far.” answered he. Then the old +woman began to flatter him, and to praise his cleverness; and when she thought +she had got him into a good temper, she said: “I have wondered so often where +you get your strength from; I do wish you would tell me. I would stoop and kiss +the place out of pure love!” The dragon laughed at this, and answered: +</p> + +<p> +“In the hearthstone yonder lies the secret of my strength.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the old woman jumped up and kissed the hearth; whereat the dragon laughed +the more, and said: +</p> + +<p> +“You foolish creature! I was only jesting. It is not in the hearthstone, but in +that tall tree that lies the secret of my strength.” Then the old woman jumped +up again and put her arms round the tree, and kissed it heartily. Loudly +laughed the dragon when he saw what she was doing. +</p> + +<p> +“Old fool,” he cried, as soon as he could speak, “did you really believe that +my strength came from that tree?” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is it then?” asked the old woman, rather crossly, for she did not like +being made fun of. +</p> + +<p> +“My strength,” replied the dragon, “lies far away; so far that you could never +reach it. Far, far from here is a kingdom, and by its capital city is a lake, +and in the lake is a dragon, and inside the dragon is a wild boar, and inside +the wild boar is a pigeon, and inside the pigeon a sparrow, and inside the +sparrow is my strength.” And when the old woman heard this, she thought it was +no use flattering him any longer, for never, never, could she take his strength +from him. +</p> + +<p> +The following morning, when the dragon had left the mill, the prince came back, +and the old woman told him all that the creature had said. He listened in +silence, and then returned to the castle, where he put on a suit of shepherd’s +clothes, and taking a staff in his hand, he went forth to seek a place as +tender of sheep. +</p> + +<p> +For some time he wandered from village to village and from town to town, till +he came at length to a large city in a distant kingdom, surrounded on three +sides by a great lake, which happened to be the very lake in which the dragon +lived. As was his custom, he stopped everybody whom he met in the streets that +looked likely to want a shepherd and begged them to engage him, but they all +seemed to have shepherds of their own, or else not to need any. The prince was +beginning to lose heart, when a man who had overheard his question turned round +and said that he had better go and ask the emperor, as he was in search of some +one to see after his flocks. +</p> + +<p> +“Will you take care of my sheep?” said the emperor, when the young man knelt +before him. +</p> + +<p> +“Most willingly, your Majesty,” answered the young man, and he listened +obediently while the emperor told him what he was to do. +</p> + +<p> +“Outside the city walls,” went on the emperor, “you will find a large lake, and +by its banks lie the richest meadows in my kingdom. When you are leading out +your flocks to pasture, they will all run straight to these meadows, and none +that have gone there have ever been known to come back. Take heed, therefore, +my son, not to suffer your sheep to go where they will, but drive them to any +spot that you think best.” +</p> + +<p> +With a low bow the prince thanked the emperor for his warning, and promised to +do his best to keep the sheep safe. Then he left the palace and went to the +market-place, where he bought two greyhounds, a hawk, and a set of pipes; after +that he took the sheep out to pasture. The instant the animals caught sight of +the lake lying before them, they trotted off as fast as their legs would go to +the green meadows lying round it. The prince did not try to stop them; he only +placed his hawk on the branch of a tree, laid his pipes on the grass, and bade +the greyhounds sit still; then, rolling up his sleeves and trousers, he waded +into the water crying as he did so: “Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, +come out and fight with me!” And a voice answered from the depths of the lake: +</p> + +<p> +“I am waiting for you, O prince”; and the next minute the dragon reared himself +out of the water, huge and horrible to see. The prince sprang upon him and they +grappled with each other and fought together till the sun was high, and it was +noonday. Then the dragon gasped: +</p> + +<p> +“O prince, let me dip my burning head once into the lake, and I will hurl you +up to the top of the sky.” But the prince answered, “Oh, ho! my good dragon, do +not crow too soon! If the emperor’s daughter were only here, and would kiss me +on the forehead, I would throw you up higher still!” And suddenly the dragon’s +hold loosened, and he fell back into the lake. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as it was evening, the prince washed away all signs of the fight, took +his hawk upon his shoulder, and his pipes under his arm, and with his +greyhounds in front and his flock following after him he set out for the city. +As they all passed through the streets the people stared in wonder, for never +before had any flock returned from the lake. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning he rose early, and led his sheep down the road to the lake. +This time, however, the emperor sent two men on horseback to ride behind him, +with orders to watch the prince all day long. The horsemen kept the prince and +his sheep in sight, without being seen themselves. As soon as they beheld the +sheep running towards the meadows, they turned aside up a steep hill, which +overhung the lake. When the shepherd reached the place he laid, as before, his +pipes on the grass and bade the greyhounds sit beside them, while the hawk he +perched on the branch of the tree. Then he rolled up his trousers and his +sleeves, and waded into the water crying: +</p> + +<p> +“Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, come out and fight with me!” And the +dragon answered: +</p> + +<p> +“I am waiting for you, O prince,” and the next minute he reared himself out of +the water, huge and horrible to see. Again they clasped each other tight round +the body and fought till it was noon, and when the sun was at its hottest, the +dragon gasped: +</p> + +<p> +“O prince, let me dip my burning head once in the lake, and I will hurl you up +to the top of the sky.” But the prince answered: +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, ho! my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor’s daughter were +only here, and would kiss me on the forehead, I would throw you up higher +still!” And suddenly the dragon’s hold loosened, and he fell back into the +lake. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as it was evening the prince again collected his sheep, and playing on +his pipes he marched before them into the city. When he passed through the +gates all the people came out of their houses to stare in wonder, for never +before had any flock returned from the lake. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the two horsemen had ridden quickly back, and told the emperor all +that they had seen and heard. The emperor listened eagerly to their tale, then +called his daughter to him and repeated it to her. +</p> + +<p> +“To-morrow,” he said, when he had finished, “you shall go with the shepherd to +the lake, and then you shall kiss him on the forehead as he wishes.” +</p> + +<p> +But when the princess heard these words, she burst into tears, and sobbed out: +</p> + +<p> +“Will you really send me, your only child, to that dreadful place, from which +most likely I shall never come back?” +</p> + +<p> +“Fear nothing, my little daughter, all will be well. Many shepherds have gone +to that lake and none have ever returned; but this one has in these two days +fought twice with the dragon and has escaped without a wound. So I hope +to-morrow he will kill the dragon altogether, and deliver this land from the +monster who has slain so many of our bravest men.” +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had the sun begun to peep over the hills next morning, when the +princess stood by the shepherd’s side, ready to go to the lake. The shepherd +was brimming over with joy, but the princess only wept bitterly. “Dry your +tears, I implore you,” said he. “If you will just do what I ask you, and when +the time comes, run and kiss my forehead, you have nothing to fear.” +</p> + +<p> +Merrily the shepherd blew on his pipes as he marched at the head of his flock, +only stopping every now and then to say to the weeping girl at his side: +</p> + +<p> +“Do not cry so, Heart of Gold; trust me and fear nothing.” And so they reached +the lake. +</p> + +<p> +In an instant the sheep were scattered all over the meadows, and the prince +placed his hawk on the tree, and his pipes on the grass, while he bade his +greyhounds lie beside them. Then he rolled up his trousers and his sleeves, and +waded into the water, calling: +</p> + +<p> +“Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, come forth, and let us have one more +fight together.” And the dragon answered: “I am waiting for you, O prince”; and +the next minute he reared himself out of the water, huge and horrible to see. +Swiftly he drew near to the bank, and the prince sprang to meet him, and they +grasped each other round the body and fought till it was noon. And when the sun +was at its hottest, the dragon cried: +</p> + +<p> +“O prince, let me dip my burning head in the lake, and I will hurl you to the +top of the sky.” But the prince answered: +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, ho! my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor’s daughter were +only here, and she would kiss my forehead, I would throw you higher still.” +</p> + +<p> +Hardly had he spoken, when the princess, who had been listening, ran up and +kissed him on the forehead. Then the prince swung the dragon straight up into +the clouds, and when he touched the earth again, he broke into a thousand +pieces. Out of the pieces there sprang a wild boar and galloped away, but the +prince called his hounds to give chase, and they caught the boar and tore it to +bits. Out of the pieces there sprang a hare, and in a moment the greyhounds +were after it, and they caught it and killed it; and out of the hare there came +a pigeon. Quickly the prince let loose his hawk, which soared straight into the +air, then swooped upon the bird and brought it to his master. The prince cut +open its body and found the sparrow inside, as the old woman had said. +</p> + +<p> +“Now,” cried the prince, holding the sparrow in his hand, “now you shall tell +me where I can find my brothers.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not hurt me,” answered the sparrow, “and I will tell you with all my +heart.” Behind your father’s castle stands a mill, and in the mill are three +slender twigs. Cut off these twigs and strike their roots with them, and the +iron door of a cellar will open. In the cellar you will find as many people, +young and old, women and children, as would fill a kingdom, and among them are +your brothers.” +</p> + +<p> +By this time twilight had fallen, so the prince washed himself in the lake, +took the hawk on his shoulder and the pipes under his arm, and with his +greyhounds before him and his flock behind him, marched gaily into the town, +the princess following them all, still trembling with fright. And so they +passed through the streets, thronged with a wondering crowd, till they reached +the castle. +</p> + +<p> +Unknown to anyone, the emperor had stolen out on horseback, and had hidden +himself on the hill, where he could see all that happened. When all was over, +and the power of the dragon was broken for ever, he rode quickly back to the +castle, and was ready to receive the prince with open arms, and to promise him +his daughter to wife. The wedding took place with great splendour, and for a +whole week the town was hung with coloured lamps, and tables were spread in the +hall of the castle for all who chose to come and eat. And when the feast was +over, the prince told the emperor and the people who he really was, and at this +everyone rejoiced still more, and preparations were made for the prince and +princess to return to their own kingdom, for the prince was impatient to set +free his brothers. +</p> + +<p> +The first thing he did when he reached his native country was to hasten to the +mill, where he found the three twigs as the sparrow had told him. The moment +that he struck the root the iron door flew open, and from the cellar a +countless multitude of men and women streamed forth. He bade them go one by one +wheresoever they would, while he himself waited by the door till his brothers +passed through. How delighted they were to meet again, and to hear all that the +prince had done to deliver them from their enchantment. And they went home with +him and served him all the days of their lives, for they said that he only who +had proved himself brave and faithful was fit to be king. +</p> + +<p> +[From Volksmarehen der Serben.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0010"></a> +Little Wildrose</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time the things in this story happened, and if they had not +happened then the story would never have been told. But that was the time when +wolves and lambs lay peacefully together in one stall, and shepherds dined on +grassy banks with kings and queens. +</p> + +<p> +Once upon a time, then, my dear good children, there lived a man. Now this man +was really a hundred years old, if not fully twenty years more. And his wife +was very old too—how old I do not know; but some said she was as old as the +goddess Venus herself. They had been very happy all these years, but they would +have been happier still if they had had any children; but old though they were +they had never made up their minds to do without them, and often they would sit +over the fire and talk of how they would have brought up their children if only +some had come to their house. +</p> + +<p> +One day the old man seemed sadder and more thoughtful than was common with him, +and at last he said to his wife: “Listen to me, old woman!” +</p> + +<p> +“What do you want?” asked she. +</p> + +<p> +“Get me some money out of the chest, for I am going a long journey—all through +the world—to see if I cannot find a child, for my heart aches to think that +after I am dead my house will fall into the hands of a stranger. And this let +me tell you: that if I never find a child I shall not come home again.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the old man took a bag and filled it with food and money, and throwing it +over his shoulders, bade his wife farewell. +</p> + +<p> +For long he wandered, and wandered, and wandered, but no child did he see; and +one morning his wanderings led him to a forest which was so thick with trees +that no light could pass through the branches. The old man stopped when he saw +this dreadful place, and at first was afraid to go in; but he remembered that, +after all, as the proverb says: “It is the unexpected that happens,” and +perhaps in the midst of this black spot he might find the child he was seeking. +So summoning up all his courage he plunged boldly in. +</p> + +<p> +How long he might have been walking there he never could have told you, when at +last he reached the mouth of a cave where the darkness seemed a hundred times +darker than the wood itself. Again he paused, but he felt as if something was +driving him to enter, and with a beating heart he stepped in. +</p> + +<p> +For some minutes the silence and darkness so appalled him that he stood where +he was, not daring to advance one step. Then he made a great effort and went on +a few paces, and suddenly, far before him, he saw the glimmer of a light. This +put new heart into him, and he directed his steps straight towards the faint +rays, till he could see, sitting by it, an old hermit, with a long white beard. +</p> + +<p> +The hermit either did not hear the approach of his visitor, or pretended not to +do so, for he took no notice, and continued to read his book. After waiting +patiently for a little while, the old man fell on his knees, and said: “Good +morning, holy father!” But he might as well have spoken to the rock. “Good +morning, holy father,” he said again, a little louder than before, and this +time the hermit made a sign to him to come nearer. “My son,” whispered he, in a +voice that echoed through the cavern, “what brings you to this dark and dismal +place? Hundreds of years have passed since my eyes have rested on the face of a +man, and I did not think to look on one again.”. +</p> + +<p> +“My misery has brought me here,” replied the old man; “I have no child, and all +our lives my wife and I have longed for one. So I left my home, and went out +into the world, hoping that somewhere I might find what I was seeking.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the hermit picked up an apple from the ground, and gave it to him, saying: +“Eat half of this apple, and give the rest to your wife, and cease wandering +through the world.” +</p> + +<p> +The old man stooped and kissed the feet of the hermit for sheer joy, and left +the cave. He made his way through the forest as fast as the darkness would let +him, and at length arrived in flowery fields, which dazzled him with their +brightness. Suddenly he was seized with a desperate thirst, and a burning in +his throat. He looked for a stream but none was to be seen, and his tongue grew +more parched every moment. At length his eyes fell on the apple, which all this +while he had been holding in his hand, and in his thirst he forgot what the +hermit had told him, and instead of eating merely his own half, he ate up the +old woman’s also; after that he went to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +When he woke up he saw something strange lying on a bank a little way off, +amidst long trails of pink roses. The old man got up, rubbed his eyes, and went +to see what it was, when, to his surprise and joy, it proved to be a little +girl about two years old, with a skin as pink and white as the roses above her. +He took her gently in his arms, but she did not seem at all frightened, and +only jumped and crowed with delight; and the old man wrapped his cloak round +her, and set off for home as fast as his legs would carry him. +</p> + +<p> +When they were close to the cottage where they lived he laid the child in a +pail that was standing near the door, and ran into the house, crying: “Come +quickly, wife, quickly, for I have brought you a daughter, with hair of gold +and eyes like stars!” +</p> + +<p> +At this wonderful news the old woman flew downstairs, almost tumbling down ill +her eagerness to see the treasure; but when her husband led her to the pail it +was perfectly empty! The old man was nearly beside himself with horror, while +his wife sat down and sobbed with grief and disappointment. There was not a +spot round about which they did not search, thinking that somehow the child +might have got out of the pail and hidden itself for fun; but the little girl +was not there, and there was no sign of her. +</p> + +<p> +“Where can she be?” moaned the old man, in despair. “Oh, why did I ever leave +her, even for a moment? Have the fairies taken her, or has some wild beast +carried her off?” And they began their search all over again; but neither +fairies nor wild beasts did they meet with, and with sore hearts they gave it +up at last and turned sadly into the hut. +</p> + +<p> +And what had become of the baby? Well, finding herself left alone in a strange +place she began to cry with fright, and an eagle hovering near, heard her, and +went to see what the sound came from. When he beheld the fat pink and white +creature he thought of his hungry little ones at home, and swooping down he +caught her up in his claws and was soon flying with her over the tops of the +trees. In a few minutes he reached the one in which he had built his nest, and +laying little Wildrose (for so the old man had called her) among his downy +young eaglets, he flew away. The eaglets naturally were rather surprised at +this strange animal, so suddenly popped down in their midst, but instead of +beginning to eat her, as their father expected, they nestled up close to her +and spread out their tiny wings to shield her from the sun. +</p> + +<p> +Now, in the depths of the forest where the eagle had built his nest, there ran +a stream whose waters were poisonous, and on the banks of this stream dwelt a +horrible lindworm with seven heads. The lindworm had often watched the eagle +flying about the top of the tree, carrying food to his young ones and, +accordingly, he watched carefully for the moment when the eaglets began to try +their wings and to fly away from the nest. Of course, if the eagle himself was +there to protect them even the lindworm, big and strong as he was, knew that he +could do nothing; but when he was absent, any little eaglets who ventured too +near the ground would be sure to disappear down the monster’s throat. Their +brothers, who had been left behind as too young and weak to see the world, knew +nothing of all this, but supposed their turn would soon come to see the world +also. And in a few days their eyes, too, opened and their wings flapped +impatiently, and they longed to fly away above the waving tree-tops to mountain +and the bright sun beyond. But that very midnight the lindworm, who was hungry +and could not wait for his supper, came out of the brook with a rushing noise, +and made straight for the tree. Two eyes of flame came creeping nearer, nearer, +and two fiery tongues were stretching themselves out closer, closer, to the +little birds who were trembling and shuddering in the farthest corner of the +nest. But just as the tongues had almost reached them, the lindworm gave a +fearful cry, and turned and fell backwards. Then came the sound of battle from +the ground below, and the tree shook, though there was no wind, and roars and +snarls mixed together, till the eaglets felt more frightened than ever, and +thought their last hour had come. Only Wildrose was undisturbed, and slept +sweetly through it all. +</p> + +<p> +In the morning the eagle returned and saw traces of a fight below the tree, and +here and there a handful of yellow mane lying about, and here and there a hard +scaly substance; when he saw that he rejoiced greatly, and hastened to the +nest. +</p> + +<p> +“Who has slain the lindworm?” he asked of his children; there were so many that +he did not at first miss the two which the lindworm had eaten. But the eaglets +answered that they could not tell, only that they had been in danger of their +lives, and at the last moment they had been delivered. Then the sunbeam had +struggled through the thick branches and caught Wildrose’s golden hair as she +lay curled up in the corner, and the eagle wondered, as he looked, whether the +little girl had brought him luck, and it was her magic which had killed his +enemy. +</p> + +<p> +“Children,” he said, “I brought her here for your dinner, and you have not +touched her; what is the meaning of this?” But the eaglets did not answer, and +Wildrose opened her eyes, and seemed seven times lovelier than before. +</p> + +<p> +From that day Wildrose lived like a little princess. The eagle flew about the +wood and collected the softest, greenest moss he could find to make her a bed, +and then he picked with his beak all the brightest and prettiest flowers in the +fields or on the mountains to decorate it. So cleverly did he manage it that +there was not a fairy in the whole of the forest who would not have been +pleased to sleep there, rocked to and fro by the breeze on the treetops. And +when the little ones were able to fly from their nest he taught them where to +look for the fruits and berries which she loved. +</p> + +<p> +So the time passed by, and with each year Wildrose grew taller and more +beautiful, and she lived happily in her nest and never wanted to go out of it, +only standing at the edge in the sunset, and looking upon the beautiful world. +For company she had all the birds in the forest, who came and talked to her, +and for playthings the strange flowers which they brought her from far, and the +butterflies which danced with her. And so the days slipped away, and she was +fourteen years old. +</p> + +<p> +One morning the emperor’s son went out to hunt, and he had not ridden far, +before a deer started from under a grove of trees, and ran before him. The +prince instantly gave chase, and where the stag led he followed, till at length +he found himself in the depths of the forest, where no man before had trod. +</p> + +<p> +The trees were so thick and the wood so dark, that he paused for a moment and +listened, straining his ears to catch some sound to break a silence which +almost frightened him. But nothing came, not even the baying of a hound or the +note of a horn. He stood still, and wondered if he should go on, when, on +looking up, a stream of light seemed to flow from the top of a tall tree. In +its rays he could see the nest with the young eaglets, who were watching him +over the side. The prince fitted an arrow into his bow and took his aim, but, +before he could let fly, another ray of light dazzled him; so brilliant was it, +that his bow dropped, and he covered his face with his hands. When at last he +ventured to peep, Wildrose, with her golden hair flowing round her, was looking +at him. This was the first time she had seen a man. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me how I can reach you?” cried he; but Wildrose smiled and shook her +head, and sat down quietly. +</p> + +<p> +The prince saw that it was no use, and turned and made his way out of the +forest. But he might as well have stayed there, for any good he was to his +father, so full was his heart of longing for Wildrose. Twice he returned to the +forest in the hopes of finding her, but this time fortune failed him, and he +went home as sad as ever. +</p> + +<p> +At length the emperor, who could not think what had caused this change, sent +for his son and asked him what was the matter. Then the prince confessed that +the image of Wildrose filled his soul, and that he would never be happy without +her. At first the emperor felt rather distressed. He doubted whether a girl +from a tree top would make a good empress; but he loved his son so much that he +promised to do all he could to find her. So the next morning heralds were sent +forth throughout the whole land to inquire if anyone knew where a maiden could +be found who lived in a forest on the top of a tree, and to promise great +riches and a place at court to any person who should find her. But nobody knew. +All the girls in the kingdom had their homes on the ground, and laughed at the +notion of being brought up in a tree. “A nice kind of empress she would make,” +they said, as the emperor had done, tossing their heads with disdain; for, +having read many books, they guessed what she was wanted for. +</p> + +<p> +The heralds were almost in despair, when an old woman stepped out of the crowd +and came and spoke to them. She was not only very old, but she was very ugly, +with a hump on her back and a bald head, and when the heralds saw her they +broke into rude laughter. “I can show you the maiden who lives in the +tree-top,” she said, but they only laughed the more loudly. +</p> + +<p> +“Get away, old witch!” they cried, “you will bring us bad luck”; but the old +woman stood firm, and declared that she alone knew where to find the maiden. +</p> + +<p> +“Go with her,” said the eldest of the heralds at last. “The emperor’s orders +are clear, that whoever knew anything of the maiden was to come at once to +court. Put her in the coach and take her with us.” +</p> + +<p> +So in this fashion the old woman was brought to court. +</p> + +<p> +“You have declared that you can bring hither the maiden from the wood?” said +the emperor, who was seated on his throne. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, your Majesty, and I will keep my word,” said she. +</p> + +<p> +“Then bring her at once,” said the emperor. +</p> + +<p> +“Give me first a kettle and a tripod,” asked the old w omen, and the emperor +ordered them to be brought instantly. The old woman picked them up, and tucking +them under her arm went on her way, keeping at a little distance behind the +royal huntsmen, who in their turn followed the prince. +</p> + +<p> +Oh, what a noise that old woman made as she walked along! She chattered to +herself so fast and clattered her kettle so loudly that you would have thought +that a whole campful of gipsies must be coming round the next corner. But when +they reached the forest, she bade them all wait outside, and entered the dark +wood by herself. +</p> + +<p> +She stopped underneath the tree where the maiden dwelt and, gathering some dry +sticks, kindled a fire. Next, she placed the tripod over it, and the kettle on +top. But something was the matter with the kettle. As fast as the old woman put +it where it was to stand, that kettle was sure to roll off, falling to the +ground with a crash. +</p> + +<p> +It really seemed bewitched, and no one knows what might have happened if +Wildrose, who had been all the time peeping out of her nest, had not lost +patience at the old woman’s stupidity, and cried out: “The tripod won’t stand +on that hill, you must move it!” +</p> + +<p> +“But where am I to move it to, my child?” asked the old woman, looking up to +the nest, and at the same moment trying to steady the kettle with one hand and +the tripod with the other. +</p> + +<p> +“Didn’t I tell you that it was no good doing that,” said Wildrose, more +impatiently than before. “Make a fire near a tree and hang the kettle from one +of the branches.” +</p> + +<p> +The old woman took the kettle and hung it on a little twig, which broke at +once, and the kettle fell to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +“If you would only show me how to do it, perhaps I should understand,” said +she. +</p> + +<p> +Quick as thought, the maiden slid down the smooth trunk of the tree, and stood +beside the stupid old woman, to teach her how things ought to be done. But in +an instant the old woman had caught up the girl and swung her over her +shoulders, and was running as fast as she could go to the edge of the forest, +where she had left the prince. When he saw them coming he rushed eagerly to +meet them, and he took the maiden in his arms and kissed her tenderly before +them all. Then a golden dress was put on her, and pearls were twined in her +hair, and she took her seat in the emperor’s carriage which was drawn by six of +the whitest horses in the world, and they carried her, without stopping to draw +breath, to the gates of the palace. And in three days the wedding was +celebrated, and the wedding feast was held, and everyone who saw the bride +declared that if anybody wanted a perfect wife they must go to seek her on top +of a tree. +</p> + +<p> +[ Adapted from file Roumanian.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0011"></a> +Tiidu The Piper</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a poor man who had more children than bread to +feed them with. However, they were strong and willing, and soon learned to make +themselves of use to their father and mother, and when they were old enough +they went out to service, and everyone was very glad to get them for servants, +for they worked hard and were always cheerful. Out of all the ten or eleven, +there was only one who gave his parents any trouble, and this was a big lazy +boy whose name was Tiidu. Neither scoldings nor beatings nor kind words had any +effect on him, and the older he grew the idler he got. He spent his winters +crouching close to a warm stove, and his summers asleep under a shady tree; and +if he was not doing either of these things he was playing tunes on his flute. +</p> + +<p> +One day he was sitting under a bush playing so sweetly that you might easily +have mistaken the notes for those of a bird, when an old man passed by. “What +trade do you wish to follow, my son?” he asked in a friendly voice, stopping as +he did so in front of the youth. +</p> + +<p> +“If I were only a rich man, and had no need to work,” replied the boy, “I +should not follow any. I could not bear to be anybody’s servant, as all my +brothers and sisters are.” +</p> + +<p> +The old man laughed as he heard this answer, and said: “But I do not exactly +see where your riches are to come from if you do not work for them. Sleeping +cats catch no mice. He who wishes to become rich must use either his hands or +his head, and be ready to toil night and day, or else—” +</p> + +<p> +But here the youth broke in rudely: +</p> + +<p> +“Be silent, old man! I have been told all that a hundred times over; and it +runs off me like water off a duck’s back. No one will ever make a worker out of +me.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have one gift,” replied the old man, taking no notice of this speech, “and +if you would only go about and play the pipes, you would easily earn, not only +your daily bread, but a little money into the bargain. Listen to me; get +yourself a set of pipes, and learn to play on them as well as you do on your +flute, and wherever there are men to hear you, I promise you will never lack +money.” +</p> + +<p> +“But where am I to get the pipes from?” asked the youth. +</p> + +<p> +“Blow on your flute for a few days,” replied the old man, “and you will soon be +able to buy your pipes. By-and-by I will come back again and see if you have +taken my advice, and whether you are likely to grow rich.” And so saying he +went his way. +</p> + +<p> +Tiidu stayed where he was a little longer, thinking of all the old man had told +him, and the more he thought the surer he felt that the old man was right. He +determined to try whether his plan would really bring luck; but as he did not +like being laughed at he resolved not to tell anyone a word about it. So next +morning he left home—and never came back! His parents did not take his loss +much to heart, but were rather glad that their useless son had for once shown a +little spirit, and they hoped that time and hardship might cure Tiidu of his +idle folly. +</p> + +<p> +For some weeks Tiidu wandered from one village to another, and proved for +himself the truth of the old man’s promise. The people he met were all friendly +and kind, and enjoyed his flute-playing, giving him his food in return, and +even a few pence. These pence the youth hoarded carefully till he had collected +enough to buy a beautiful pair of pipes. Then he felt himself indeed on the +high road to riches. Nowhere could pipes be found as fine as his, or played in +so masterly a manner. Tiidu’s pipes set everybody’s legs dancing. Wherever +there was a marriage, a christening, or a feast of any kind, Tiidu must be +there, or the evening would be a failure. In a few years he had become so noted +a piper that people would travel far and wide to hear him. +</p> + +<p> +One day he was invited to a christening where many rich men from the +neighbouring town were present, and all agreed that never in all their lives +had they heard such playing as his. They crowded round him, and praised him, +and pressed him to come to their homes, declaring that it was a shame not to +give their friends the chance of hearing such music. Of course all this +delighted Tiidu, who accepted gladly, and left their houses laden with money +and presents of every kind; one great lord clothed him in a magnificent dress, +a second hung a chain of pearls round his neck, while a third handed him a set +of new pipes encrusted in silver. As for the ladies, the girls twisted silken +scarves round his plumed hat, and their mothers knitted him gloves of all +colours, to keep out the cold. Any other man in Tiidu’s place would have been +contented and happy in this life; but his craving for riches gave him no rest, +and only goaded him day by day to fresh exertions, so that even his own mother +would not have known him for the lazy boy who was always lying asleep in one +place or the other. +</p> + +<p> +Now Tiidu saw quite clearly that he could only hope to become rich by means of +his pipes, and set about thinking if there was nothing he could do to make the +money flow in faster. At length he remembered having heard some stories of a +kingdom in the Kungla country, where musicians of all sorts were welcomed and +highly paid; but where it was, or how it was reached, he could not recollect, +however hard he thought. In despair, he wandered along the coast, hoping to see +some ship or sailing boat that would take him where he wished to go, and at +length he reached the town of Narva, where several merchantmen were lying at +anchor. To his great joy, he found that one of them was sailing for Kungla in a +few days, and he hastily went on board, and asked for the captain. But the cost +of the passage was more than the prudent Tiidu cared to pay, and though he +played his best on his pipes, the captain refused to lower his price, and Tiidu +was just thinking of returning on shore when his usual luck flew to his aid. A +young sailor, who had heard him play, came secretly to him, and offered to hide +him on board, in the absence of the captain. So the next night, as soon as it +was dark, Tiidu stepped softly on deck, and was hidden by his friend down in +the hold in a corner between two casks. Unseen by the rest of the crew the +sailor managed to bring him food and drink, and when they were well out of +sight of land he proceeded to carry out a plan he had invented to deliver Tiidu +from his cramped quarters. At midnight, while he was keeping watch and everyone +else was sleeping, the man bade his friend Tiidu follow him on deck, where he +tied a rope round Tiidu’s body, fastening the other end carefully to one of the +ship’s ropes. “Now,” he said, “I will throw you into the sea, and you must +shout for help; and when you see the sailors coming untie the rope from your +waist, and tell them that you have swum after the ship all the way from shore.” +</p> + +<p> +At first Tiidu did not much like this scheme, for the sea ran high, but he was +a good swimmer, and the sailor assured him that there was no danger. As soon as +he was in the water, his friend hastened to rouse his mates, declaring that he +was sure that there was a man in the sea, following the ship. They all came on +deck, and what was their surprise when they recognised the person who had +bargained about a passage the previous day with the captain. +</p> + +<p> +“Are you a ghost, or a dying man?” they asked him trembling, as they stooped +over the side of the ship. +</p> + +<p> +“I shall soon indeed be a dead man if you do not help me,” answered Tiidu, “for +my strength is going fast.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the captain seized a rope and flung it out to him, and Tiidu held it +between his teeth, while, unseen by the sailors; he loosed the one tied round +his waist. +</p> + +<p> +“Where have you come from?” said the captain, when Tiidu was brought up on +board the ship. +</p> + +<p> +“I have followed you from the harbour,” answered he, “and have been often in +sore dread lest my strength should fail me. I hoped that by swimming after the +ship I might at last reach Kungla, as I had no money to pay my passage.” The +captain’s heart melted at these words, and he said kindly: “You may be thankful +that you were not drowned. I will land you at Kungla free of payment, as you +are so anxious to get there. So he gave him dry clothes to wear, and a berth to +sleep in, and Tiidu and his friend secretly made merry over their cunning +trick. +</p> + +<p> +For the rest of the voyage the ship’s crew treated Tiidu as something higher +than themselves, seeing that in all their lives they had never met with any man +that could swim for as many hours as he had done. This pleased Tiidu very much, +though he knew that he had really done nothing to deserve it, and in return he +delighted them by tunes on his pipes. When, after some days, they cast anchor +at Kungla, the story of his wonderful swim brought him many friends, for +everybody wished to hear him tell the tale himself. This might have been all +very well, had not Tiidu lived in dread that some day he would be asked to give +proof of his marvellous swimming powers, and then everything would be found +out. Meanwhile he was dazzled with the splendour around him, and more than ever +he longed for part of the riches, about which the owners seemed to care so +little. +</p> + +<p> +He wandered through the streets for many days, seeking some one who wanted a +servant; but though more than one person would have been glad to engage him, +they seemed to Tiidu not the sort of people to help him to get rich quickly. At +last, when he had almost made up his mind that he must accept the next place +offered him, he happened to knock at the door of a rich merchant who was in +need of a scullion, and gladly agreed to do the cook’s bidding, and it was in +this merchant’s house that he first learned how great were the riches of the +land of Kungla. All the vessels which in other countries are made of iron, +copper, brass, or tin, in Kungla were made of silver, or even of gold. The food +was cooked in silver saucepans, the bread baked in a silver oven, while the +dishes and their covers were all of gold. Even the very pigs’ troughs were of +silver too. But the sight of these things only made Tiidu more covetous than +before. “What is the use of all this wealth that I have constantly before my +eyes,” thought he, “if none of it is mine? I shall never grow rich by what I +earn as a scullion, even though I am paid as much in a month as I should get +elsewhere in a year.” +</p> + +<p> +By this time he had been in his place for two years, and had put by quite a +large sum of money. His passion of saving had increased to such a pitch that it +was only by his master’s orders that he ever bought any new clothes, “For,” +said the merchant, “I will not have dirty people in my house.” So with a heavy +heart Tiidu spent some of his next month’s wages on a cheap coat. +</p> + +<p> +One day the merchant held a great feast in honour of the christening of his +youngest child, and he gave each of his servants a handsome garment for the +occasion. The following Sunday, Tiidu, who liked fine clothes when he did not +have to pay for them, put on his new coat, and went for a walk to some +beautiful pleasure gardens, which were always full of people on a sunny day. He +sat down under a shady tree, and watched the passers-by, but after a little he +began to feel rather lonely, for he knew nobody and nobody knew him. Suddenly +his eyes fell on the figure of an old man, which seemed familiar to him, though +he could not tell when or where he had seen it. He watched the figure for some +time, till at length the old man left the crowded paths, and threw himself on +the soft grass under a lime tree, which stood at some distance from where Tiidu +was sitting. Then the young man walked slowly past, in order that he might look +at him more closely, and as he did so the old man smiled, and held out his +hand. +</p> + +<p> +“What have you done with your pipes?” asked he; and then in a moment Tiidu knew +him. Taking his arm he drew him into a quiet place and told him all that had +happened since they had last met. The old man shook his head as he listened, +and when Tiidu had finished his tale, he said: “A fool you are, and a fool you +will always be! Was there ever such a piece of folly as to exchange your pipes +for a scullion’s ladle? You could have made as much by the pipes in a day as +your wages would have come to in half a year. Go home and fetch your pipes, and +play them here, and you will soon see if I have spoken the truth.” +</p> + +<p> +Tiidu did not like this advice—he was afraid that the people would laugh at +him; and, besides, it was long since he had touched his pipes—but the old man +persisted, and at last Tiidu did as he was told. +</p> + +<p> +“Sit down on the bank by me,” said the old man, when he came back, “and begin +to play, and in a little while the people will flock round you.” Tiidu obeyed, +at first without much heart; but somehow the tone of the pipes was sweeter than +he had remembered, and as he played, the crowd ceased to walk and chatter, and +stood still and silent round him. When he had played for some time he took off +his hat and passed it round, and dollars, and small silver coins, and even gold +pieces, came tumbling in. Tiidu played a couple more tunes by way of thanks, +then turned to go home, hearing on all sides murmurs of “What a wonderful +piper! Come back, we pray you, next Sunday to give us another treat.” +</p> + +<p> +“What did I tell you?” said the old man, as they passed through the garden +gate. “Was it not pleasanter to play for a couple of hours on the pipes than to +be stirring sauces all day long? For the second time I have shown you the path +to follow; try to learn wisdom, and take the bull by the horns, lest your luck +should slip from you! I can be your guide no longer, therefore listen to what I +say, and obey me. Go every Sunday afternoon to those gardens; and sit under the +lime tree and play to the people, and bring a felt hat with a deep crown, and +lay it on the ground at your feet, so that everyone can throw some money into +it. If you are invited to play at a feast, accept willingly, but beware of +asking a fixed price; say you will take whatever they may feel inclined to +give. You will get far more money in the end. Perhaps, some day, our paths may +cross, and then I shall see how far you have followed my advice. Till then, +farewell”; and the old man went his way. +</p> + +<p> +As before, his words came true, though Tiidu could not at once do his bidding, +as he had first to fulfil his appointed time of service. Meanwhile he ordered +some fine clothes, in which he played every Sunday in the gardens, and when he +counted his gains in the evening they were always more than on the Sunday +before. At length he was free to do as he liked, and he had more invitations to +play than he could manage to accept, and at night, when the citizens used to go +and drink in the inn, the landlord always begged Tiidu to come and play to +them. Thus he grew so rich that very soon he had his silver pipes covered with +gold, so that they glistened in the light of the sun or the fire. In all Kungla +there was no prouder man than Tiidu. +</p> + +<p> +In a few years he had saved such a large sum of money that he was considered a +rich man even in Kungla, where everybody was rich. And then he had leisure to +remember that he had once had a home, and a family, and that he should like to +see them both again, and show them how well he could play. This time he would +not need to hide in the ship’s hold, but could hire the best cabin if he wished +to, or even have a vessel all to himself. So he packed all his treasures in +large chests, and sent them on board the first ship that was sailing to his +native land, and followed them with a light heart. The wind at starting was +fair, but it soon freshened, and in the night rose to a gale. For two days they +ran before it, and hoped that by keeping well out to sea they might be able to +weather the storm, when, suddenly, the ship struck on a rock, and began to +fill. Orders were given to lower the boats, and Tiidu with three sailors got +into one of them, but before they could push away from the ship a huge wave +overturned it, and all four were flung into the water. Luckily for Tiidu an oar +was floating near him, and with its help he was able to keep on the surface of +the water; and when the sun rose, and the mist cleared away, he saw that he was +not far from shore. By hard swimming, for the sea still ran high, he managed to +reach it, and pulled himself out of the water, more dead than alive. Then he +flung himself down on the ground and fell fast asleep. +</p> + +<p> +When he awoke he got up to explore the island, and see if there were any men +upon it; but though he found streams and fruit trees in abundance, there was no +trace either of man or beast. Then, tired with his wanderings he sat down and +began to think. +</p> + +<p> +For perhaps the first time in his life his thoughts did not instantly turn to +money. It was not on his lost treasures that his mind dwelt, but on his conduct +to his parents: his laziness and disobedience as a boy; his forgetfulness of +them as a man. “If wild animals were to come and tear me to pieces,” he said to +himself bitterly, “it would be only what I deserve! My gains are all at the +bottom of the sea—well! lightly won, lightly lost—but it is odd that I feel I +should not care for that if only my pipes were left me.” Then he rose and +walked a little further, till he saw a tree with great red apples shining +amidst the leaves, and he pulled some down, and ate them greedily. After that +he stretched himself out on the soft moss and went to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +In the morning he ran to the nearest stream to wash himself, but to his horror, +when he caught sight of his face, he saw his nose had grown the colour of an +apple, and reached nearly to his waist. He started back thinking he was +dreaming, and put up his hand; but, alas! the dreadful thing was true. “Oh, why +does not some wild beast devour me?” he cried to himself; “never, never, can I +go again amongst my fellow-men! If only the sea had swallowed me up, how much +happier it had been for me!” And he hid his head in his hands and wept. His +grief was so violent, that it exhausted him, and growing hungry he looked about +for something to eat. Just above him was a bough of ripe, brown nuts, end he +picked them and ate a handful. To his surprise, as he was eating them, he felt +his nose grow shorter and shorter, and after a while he ventured to feel it +with his hand, and even to look in the stream again! Yes, there was no mistake, +it was as short as before, or perhaps a little shorter. In his joy at this +discovery Tiidu did a very bold thing. He took one of the apples out of his +pocket, and cautiously bit a piece out of it. In an instant his nose was as +long as his chin, and in a deadly fear lest it should stretch further, he +hastily swallowed a nut, and awaited the result with terror. Supposing that the +shrinking of his nose had only been an accident before! Supposing that that nut +and no other was able to cause its shrinking! In that case he had, by his own +folly, in not letting well alone, ruined his life completely. But, no! he had +guessed rightly, for in no more time than his nose had taken to grow long did +it take to return to its proper size. “This may make my fortune,” he said +joyfully to himself; and he gathered some of the apples, which he put into one +pocket, and a good supply of nuts which he put into the other. Next day he wove +a basket out of some rushes, so that if he ever left the island he might be +able to carry his treasures about. +</p> + +<p> +That night he dreamed that his friend the old man appeared to him and said: +“Because you did not mourn for your lost treasure, but only for your pipes, I +will give you a new set to replace them.” And, behold! in the morning when he +got up a set of pipes was lying in the basket. With what joy did he seize them +and begin one of his favourite tunes; and as he played hope sprang up in his +heart, and he looked out to sea, to try to detect the sign of a sail. Yes! +there it was, making straight for the island; and Tiidu, holding his pipes in +his hand, dashed down to the shore. +</p> + +<p> +The sailors knew the island to be uninhabited, and were much surprised to see a +man standing on the beach, waving his arms in welcome to them. A boat was put +off, and two sailors rowed to the shore to discover how he came there, and if +he wished to be taken away. Tiidu told them the story of his shipwreck, and the +captain promised that he should come on board, and sail with them back to +Kungla; and thankful indeed was Tiidu to accept the offer, and to show his +gratitude by playing on his pipes whenever he was asked to do so. +</p> + +<p> +They had a quick voyage, and it was not long before Tiidu found himself again +in the streets of the capital of Kungla, playing as he went along. The people +had heard no music like his since he went away, and they crowded round him, and +in their joy gave him whatever money they had in their pockets. His first care +was to buy himself some new clothes, which he sadly needed, taking care, +however, that they should be made after a foreign fashion. When they were +ready, he set out one day with a small basket of his famous apples, and went up +to the palace. He did not have to wait long before one of the royal servants +passed by and bought all the apples, begging as he did so that the merchant +should return and bring some more. This Tiidu promised, and hastened away as if +he had a mad bull behind him, so afraid was he that the man should begin to eat +an apple at once. +</p> + +<p> +It is needless to say that for some days he took no more apples back to the +palace, but kept well away on the other side of the town, wearing other +clothes, and disguised by a long black beard, so that even his own mother would +not have known him. +</p> + +<p> +The morning after his visit to the castle the whole city was in an uproar about +the dreadful misfortune that had happened to the Royal Family, for not only the +king but his wife and children, had eaten of the stranger’s apples, and all, so +said the rumour, were very ill. The most famous doctors and the greatest +magicians were hastily summoned to the palace, but they shook their heads and +came away again; never had they met with such a disease in all the course of +their experience. By-and-bye a story went round the town, started no one knew +how, that the malady was in some way connected with the nose; and men rubbed +their own anxiously, to be sure that nothing catching was in the air. +</p> + +<p> +Matters had been in this state for more than a week when it reached the ears of +the king that a man was living in an inn on the other side of the town who +declared himself able to cure all manner of diseases. Instantly the royal +carriage was commanded to drive with all speed and bring back this magician, +offering him riches untold if he could restore their noses to their former +length. Tiidu had expected this summons, and had sat up all night changing his +appearance, and so well had he succeeded that not a trace remained either of +the piper or of the apple seller. He stepped into the carriage, and was driven +post haste to the king, who was feverishly counting every moment, for both his +nose and the queen’s were by this time more than a yard long, and they did not +know where they would stop. +</p> + +<p> +Now Tiidu thought it would not look well to cure the royal family by giving +them the raw nuts; he felt that it might arouse suspicion. So he had carefully +pounded them into a powder, and divided the powder up into small doses, which +were to be put on the tongue and swallowed at once. He gave one of these to the +king and another to the queen, and told them that before taking them they were +to get into bed in a dark room and not to move for some hours, after which they +might be sure that they would come out cured. +</p> + +<p> +The king’s joy was so great at this news that he would gladly have given Tiidu +half of his kingdom; but the piper was no longer so greedy of money as he once +was, before he had been shipwrecked on the island. If he could get enough to +buy a small estate and live comfortably on it for the rest of his life, that +was all he now cared for. However, the king ordered his treasure to pay him +three times as much as he asked, and with this Tiidu went down to the harbour +and engaged a small ship to carry him back to his native country. The wind was +fair, and in ten days the coast, which he had almost forgotten, stood clear +before him. In a few hours he was standing in his old home, where his father, +three sisters, and two brothers gave him a hearty welcome. His mother and his +other brothers had died some years before. +</p> + +<p> +When the meeting was over, he began to make inquiries about a small estate that +was for sale near the town, and after he had bought it the next thing was to +find a wife to share it with him. This did not take long either; and people who +were at the wedding feast declared that the best part of the whole day was the +hour when Tiidu played to them on the pipes before they bade each other +farewell and returned to their homes. +</p> + +<p> +[From Esthnische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0012"></a> +Paperarelloo</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a king and a queen who had one son. The king loved +the boy very much, but the queen, who was a wicked woman, hated the sight of +him; and this was the more unlucky for, when he was twelve years old, his +father died, and he was left alone in the world. +</p> + +<p> +Now the queen was very angry because the people, who knew how bad she was, +seated her son on the throne instead of herself, and she never rested till she +had formed a plan to get him out of the way. Fortunately, however, the young +king was wise and prudent, and knew her too well to trust her. +</p> + +<p> +One day, when his mourning was over, he gave orders that everything should be +made ready for a grand hunt. The queen pretended to be greatly delighted that +he was going to amuse himself once more, and declared that she would accompany +him. “No, mother, I cannot let you come,” he answered; “the ground is rough, +and you are not strong.” But he might as well have spoken to the winds: when +the horn was sounded at daybreak the queen was there with the rest. +</p> + +<p> +All that day they rode, for game was plentiful, but towards evening the mother +and son found themselves alone in a part of the country that was strange to +them. They wandered on for some time, without knowing where they were going, +till they met with a man whom they begged to give them shelter. “Come with me,” +said the man gladly, for he was an ogre, and fed on human flesh; and the king +and his mother went with him, and he led them to his house. When they got there +they found to what a dreadful place they had come, and, falling on their knees, +they offered him great sums of money, if he would only spare their lives. The +ogre’s heart was moved at the sight of the queen’s beauty, and he promised that +he would do her no harm; but he stabbed the boy at once, and binding his body +on a horse, turned him loose in the forest. +</p> + +<p> +The ogre had happened to choose a horse which he had bought only the day +before, and he did not know it was a magician, or he would not have been so +foolish as to fix upon it on this occasion. The horse no sooner had been driven +off with the prince’s body on its back than it galloped straight to the home of +the fairies, and knocked at the door with its hoof. The fairies heard the +knock, but were afraid to open till they had peeped from an upper window to see +that it was no giant or ogre who could do them harm. “Oh, look, sister!” cried +the first to reach the window, “it is a horse that has knocked, and on its back +there is bound a dead boy, the most beautiful boy in all the world!” Then the +fairies ran to open the door, and let in the horse and unbound the ropes which +fastened the young king on its back. And they gathered round to admire his +beauty, and whispered one to the other: “We will make him alive again, and will +keep him for our brother.” And so they did, and for many years they all lived +together as brothers and sisters. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by the boy grew into a man, as boys will, and then the oldest of the +fairies said to her sisters: “Now I will marry him, and he shall be really your +brother.” So the young king married the fairy, and they lived happily together +in the castle; but though he loved his wife he still longed to see the world. +</p> + +<p> +At length this longing grew so strong on him that he could bear it no more; +and, calling the fairies together, he said to them: “Dear wife and sisters, I +must leave you for a time, and go out and see the world. But I shall think of +you often, and one day I shall come back to you.” +</p> + +<p> +The fairies wept and begged him to stay, but he would not listen, and at last +the eldest, who was his wife, said to him: “If you really will abandon us, take +this lock of my hair with you; you will find it useful in time of need.” So she +cut off a long curl, and handed it to him. +</p> + +<p> +The prince mounted his horse, and rode on all day without stopping once. +Towards evening he found himself in a desert, and, look where he would, there +was no such thing as a house or a man to be seen. “What am I to do now?” he +thought. “If I go to sleep here wild beasts will come and eat me! Yet both I +and my horse are worn out, and can go no further.” Then suddenly he remembered +the fairy’s gift, and taking out the curl he said to it: “I want a castle here, +and servants, and dinner, and everything to make me comfortable tonight; and +besides that, I must have a stable and fodder for my horse.” And in a moment +the castle was before him just as he had wished. +</p> + +<p> +In this way he travelled through many countries, till at last he came to a land +that was ruled over by a great king. Leaving his horse outside the walls, he +clad himself in the dress of a poor man, and went up to the palace. The queen, +who was looking out of the window, saw him approaching, and filled with pity +sent a servant to ask who he was and what he wanted. “I am a stranger here,” +answered the young king, “and very poor. I have come to beg for some work.” “We +have everybody we want,” said the queen, when the servant told her the young +man’s reply. “We have a gate-keeper, and a hall porter, and servants of all +sorts in the palace; the only person we have not got is a goose-boy. Tell him +that he can be our goose-boy if he likes.” The youth answered that he was quite +content to be goose-boy; and that was how he got his nickname of Paperarello. +And in order that no one should guess that he was any better than a goose-boy +should be, he rubbed his face and his rags over with mud, and made himself +altogether such a disgusting object that every one crossed over to the other +side of the road when he was seen coming. +</p> + +<p> +“Do go and wash yourself, Paperarello!” said the queen sometimes, for he did +his work so well that she took an interest in him. “Oh, I should not feel +comfortable if I was clean, your Majesty,” answered he, and went whistling +after his geese. +</p> + +<p> +It happened one day that, owing to some accident to the great flour mills which +supplied the city, there was no bread to be had, and the king’s army had to do +without. When the king heard of it, he sent for the cook, and told him that by +the next morning he must have all the bread that the oven, heated seven times +over, could bake. “But, your Majesty, it is not possible,” cried the poor man +in despair. “The mills have only just begun working, and the flour will not be +ground till evening, and how can I heat the oven seven times in one night?” +“That is your affair,” answered the King, who, when he took anything into his +head, would listen to nothing. “If you succeed in baking the bread you shall +have my daughter to wife, but if you fail your head will pay for it.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Paperarello, who was passing through the hall where the king was giving his +orders, heard these words, and said: “Your Majesty, have no fears; I will bake +your bread.” “Very well,” answered the king; “but if you fail, you will pay for +it with your head!” and signed that both should leave his presence. +</p> + +<p> +The cook was still trembling with the thought of what he had escaped, but to +his surprise Paperarello did not seem disturbed at all, and when night came he +went to sleep as usual. “Paperarello,” cried the other servants, when they saw +him quietly taking off his clothes, “you cannot go to bed; you will need every +moment of the night for your work. Remember, the king is not to be played +with!” +</p> + +<p> +“I really must have some sleep first,” replied Paperarello, stretching himself +and yawning; and he flung himself on his bed, and was fast asleep in a moment. +In an hour’s time, the servants came and shook him by the shoulder. +“Paperarello, are you mad?” said they. “Get up, or you will lose your head.” +“Oh, do let me sleep a little more, answered he. And this was all he would say, +though the servants returned to wake him many times in the night. +</p> + +<p> +At last the dawn broke, and the servants rushed to his room, crying: +“Paperarello! Paperarello! get up, the king is coming. You have baked no bread, +and of a surety he will have your head.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, don’t scream so,” replied Paperarello, jumping out of bed as he spoke; and +taking the lock of hair in his hand, he went into the kitchen. And, behold! +there stood the bread piled high—four, five, six ovens full, and the seventh +still waiting to be taken out of the oven. The servants stood and stared in +surprise, and the king said: “Well done, Paperarello, you have won my +daughter.” And he thought to himself: “This fellow must really be a magician.” +</p> + +<p> +But when the princess heard what was in store for her she wept bitterly, and +declared that never, never would she marry that dirty Paperarello! However, the +king paid no heed to her tears and prayers, and before many days were over the +wedding was celebrated with great splendour, though the bridegroom had not +taken the trouble to wash himself, and was as dirty as before. +</p> + +<p> +When night came he went as usual to sleep among his geese, and the princess +went to the king and said: “Father, I entreat you to have that horrible +Paperarello put to death.” “No, no!” replied her father, “he is a great +magician, and before I put him to death, I must first find out the secret of +his power, and then—we shall see.” +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this a war broke out, and everybody about the palace was very busy +polishing up armour and sharpening swords, for the king and his sons were to +ride at the head of the army. Then Paperarello left his geese, and came and +told the king that he wished to go to fight also. The king gave him leave, and +told him that he might go to the stable and take any horse he liked from the +stables. So Paperarello examined the horses carefully, but instead of picking +out one of the splendid well-groomed creatures, whose skin shone like satin, he +chose a poor lame thing, put a saddle on it, and rode after the other +men-at-arms who were attending the king. In a short time he stopped, and said +to them: “My horse can go no further; you must go on to the war without me, and +I will stay here, and make some little clay soldiers, and will play at a +battle.” The men laughed at him for being so childish, and rode on after their +master. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely were they out of sight than Paperarello took out his curl, and wished +himself the best armour, the sharpest sword, and the swiftest horse in the +world, and the next minute was riding as fast as he could to the field of +battle. The fight had already begun, and the enemy was getting the best of it, +when Paperarello rode up, and in a moment the fortunes of the day had changed. +Right and left this strange knight laid about him, and his sword pierced the +stoutest breast-plate, and the strongest shield. He was indeed “a host in +himself,” and his foes fled before him thinking he was only the first of a +troop of such warriors, whom no one could withstand. When the battle was over, +the king sent for him to thank him for his timely help, and to ask what reward +he should give him. “Nothing but your little finger, your Majesty,” was his +answer; and the king cut off his little finger and gave it to Paperarello, who +bowed and hid it in his surcoat. Then he left the field, and when the soldiers +rode back they found him still sitting in the road making whole rows of little +clay dolls. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the king went out to fight another battle, and again Paperarello +appeared, mounted on his lame horse. As on the day before, he halted on the +road, and sat down to make his clay soldiers; then a second time he wished +himself armour, sword, and a horse, all sharper and better than those he had +previously had, and galloped after the rest. He was only just in time: the +enemy had almost beaten the king’s army back, and men whispered to each other +that if the strange knight did not soon come to their aid, they would be all +dead men. Suddenly someone cried: “Hold on a little longer, I see him in the +distance; and his armour shines brighter, and his horse runs swifter, than +yesterday.” Then they took fresh heart and fought desperately on till the +knight came up, and threw himself into the thick of the battle. As before, the +enemy gave way before him, and in a few minutes the victory remained with the +king. +</p> + +<p> +The first thing that the victor did was to send for the knight to thank him for +his timely help, and to ask what gift he could bestow on him in token of +gratitude. “Your Majesty’s ear,” answered the knight; and as the king could not +go back from his word, he cut it off and gave it to him. Paperarello bowed, +fastened the ear inside his surcoat and rode away. In the evening, when they +all returned from the battle, there he was, sitting in the road, making clay +dolls. +</p> + +<p> +On the third day the same thing happened, and this time he asked for the king’s +nose as the reward of his aid. Now, to lose one’s nose, is worse even than +losing one’s ear or one’s finger, and the king hesitated as to whether he +should comply. However, he had always prided himself on being an honourable +man, so he cut off his nose, and handed it to Paperarello. Paperarello bowed, +put the nose in his surcoat, and rode away. In the evening, when the king +returned from the battle, he found Paperarello sitting in the road making clay +dolls. And Paperarello got up and said to him: “Do you know who I am? I am your +dirty goose-boy, yet you have given me your finger, and your ear, and your +nose.” +</p> + +<p> +That night, when the king sat at dinner, Paperarello came in, and laying down +the ear, and the nose, and the finger on the table, turned and said to the +nobles and courtiers who were waiting on the king: “I am the invincible knight, +who rode three times to your help, and I also am a king’s son, and no goose-boy +as you all think.” And he went away and washed himself, and dressed himself in +fine clothes and entered the hall again, looking so handsome that the proud +princess fell in love with him on the spot. But Paperarello took no notice of +her, and said to the king: “It was kind of you to offer me your daughter in +marriage, and for that I thank you; but I have a wife at home whom I love +better, and it is to her that I am going. But as a token of farewell, I wish +that your ear, and nose, and finger may be restored to their proper places.” So +saying, he bade them all goodbye, and went back to his home and his fairy +bride, with whom he lived happily till the end of his life. +</p> + +<p> +[From Sicilianisohen Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0013"></a> +The Gifts Of The Magician</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there was an old man who lived in a little hut in the middle +of a forest. His wife was dead, and he had only one son, whom he loved dearly. +Near their hut was a group of birch trees, in which some black-game had made +their nests, and the youth had often begged his father’s permission to shoot +the birds, but the old man always strictly forbade him to do anything of the +kind. +</p> + +<p> +One day, however, when the father had gone to a little distance to collect some +sticks for the fire, the boy fetched his bow, and shot at a bird that was just +flying towards its nest. But he had not taken proper aim, and the bird was only +wounded, and fluttered along the ground. The boy ran to catch it, but though he +ran very fast, and the bird seemed to flutter along very slowly, he never could +quite come up with it; it was always just a little in advance. But so absorbed +was he in the chase that he did not notice for some time that he was now deep +in the forest, in a place where he had never been before. Then he felt it would +be foolish to go any further, and he turned to find his way home. +</p> + +<p> +He thought it would be easy enough to follow the path along which he had come, +but somehow it was always branching off in unexpected directions. He looked +about for a house where he might stop and ask his way, but there was not a sign +of one anywhere, and he was afraid to stand still, for it was cold, and there +were many stories of wolves being seen in that part of the forest. Night fell, +and he was beginning to start at every sound, when suddenly a magician came +running towards him, with a pack of wolves snapping at his heels. Then all the +boy’s courage returned to him. He took his bow, and aiming an arrow at the +largest wolf, shot him through the heart, and a few more arrows soon put the +rest to flight. The magician was full of gratitude to his deliverer, and +promised him a reward for his help if the youth would go back with him to his +house. +</p> + +<p> +“Indeed there is nothing that would be more welcome to me than a night’s +lodging,” answered the boy; “I have been wandering all day in the forest, and +did not know how to get home again. +</p> + +<p> +“Come with me, you must be hungry as well as tired,” said the magician, and led +the way to his house, where the guest flung himself on a bed, and went fast +asleep. But his host returned to the forest to get some food, for the larder +was empty. +</p> + +<p> +While he was absent the housekeeper went to the boy’s room and tried to wake +him. She stamped on the floor, and shook him and called to him, telling him +that he was in great danger, and must take flight at once. But nothing would +rouse him, and if he did ever open his eyes he shut them again directly. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after, the magician came back from the forest, and told the housekeeper to +bring them something to eat. The meal was quickly ready, and the magician +called to the boy to come down and eat it, but he could not be wakened, and +they had to sit down to supper without him. By-and-by the magician went out +into the wood again for some more hunting, and on his return he tried afresh to +waken the youth. But finding it quite impossible, he went back for the third +time to the forest. +</p> + +<p> +While he was absent the boy woke up and dressed himself. Then he came +downstairs and began to talk to the housekeeper. The girl had heard how he had +saved her master’s life, so she said nothing more about his running away, but +instead told him that if the magician offered him the choice of a reward, he +was to ask for the horse which stood in the third stall of the stable. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by the old man came back and they all sat down to dinner. When they had +finished the magician said: “Now, my son, tell me what you will have as the +reward of your courage?” +</p> + +<p> +“Give me the horse that stands in the third stall of your stable,” answered the +youth. “For I have a long way to go before I get home, and my feet will not +carry me so far.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! my son,” replied the magician, “it is the best horse in my stable that you +want! Will not anything else please you as well?” +</p> + +<p> +But the youth declared that it was the horse, and the horse only, that he +desired, and in the end the old man gave way. And besides the horse, the +magician gave him a zither, a fiddle, and a flute, saying: “If you are in +danger, touch the zither; and if no one comes to your aid, then play on the +fiddle; but if that brings no help, blow on the flute.” +</p> + +<p> +The youth thanked the magician, and fastening his treasures about him mounted +the horse and rode off. He had already gone some miles when, to his great +surprise, the horse spoke, and said: “It is no use your returning home just +now, your father will only beat you. Let us visit a few towns first, and +something lucky will be sure to happen to us.” +</p> + +<p> +This advice pleased the boy, for he felt himself almost a man by this time, and +thought it was high time he saw the world. When they entered the capital of the +country everyone stopped to admire the beauty of the horse. Even the king heard +of it, and came to see the splendid creature with his own eyes. Indeed, he +wanted directly to buy it, and told the youth he would give any price he liked. +The young man hesitated for a moment, but before he could speak, the horse +contrived to whisper to him: +</p> + +<p> +“Do not sell me, but ask the king to take me to his stable, and feed me there; +then his other horses will become just as beautiful as I.” +</p> + +<p> +The king was delighted when he was told what the horse had said, and took the +animal at once to the stables, and placed it in his own particular stall. Sure +enough, the horse had scarcely eaten a mouthful of corn out of the manger, when +the rest of the horses seemed to have undergone a transformation. Some of them +were old favourites which the king had ridden in many wars, and they bore the +signs of age and of service. But now they arched their heads, and pawed the +ground with their slender legs as they had been wont to do in days long gone +by. The king’s heart beat with delight, but the old groom who had had the care +of them stood crossly by, and eyed the owner of this wonderful creature with +hate and envy. Not a day passed without his bringing some story against the +youth to his master, but the king understood all about the matter and paid no +attention. At last the groom declared that the young man had boasted that he +could find the king’s war horse which had strayed into the forest several years +ago, and had not been heard of since. Now the king had never ceased to mourn +for his horse, so this time he listened to the tale which the groom had +invented, and sent for the youth. “Find me my horse in three days,” said he, +“or it will be the worse for you.” +</p> + +<p> +The youth was thunderstruck at this command, but he only bowed, and went off at +once to the stable. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not worry yourself,” answered his own horse. “Ask the king to give you a +hundred oxen, and to let them be killed and cut into small pieces. Then we will +start on our journey, and ride till we reach a certain river. There a horse +will come up to you, but take no notice of him. Soon another will appear, and +this also you must leave alone, but when the third horse shows itself, throw my +bridle over it.” +</p> + +<p> +Everything happened just as the horse had said, and the third horse was safely +bridled. Then the other horse spoke again: “The magician’s raven will try to +eat us as we ride away, but throw it some of the oxen’s flesh, and then I will +gallop like the wind, and carry you safe out of the dragon’s clutches.” +</p> + +<p> +So the young man did as he was told, and brought the horse back to the king. +</p> + +<p> +The old stableman was very jealous, when he heard of it, and wondered what he +could do to injure the youth in the eyes of his royal master. At last he hit +upon a plan, and told the king that the young man had boasted that he could +bring home the king’s wife, who had vanished many months before, without +leaving a trace behind her. Then the king bade the young man come into his +presence, and desired him to fetch the queen home again, as he had boasted he +could do. And if he failed, his head would pay the penalty. +</p> + +<p> +The poor youth’s heart stood still as he listened. Find the queen? But how was +he to do that, when nobody in the palace had been able to do so! Slowly he +walked to the stable, and laying his head on his horse’s shoulder, he said: +“The king has ordered me to bring his wife home again, and how can I do that +when she disappeared so long ago, and no one can tell me anything about her?” +</p> + +<p> +“Cheer up!” answered the horse, “we will manage to find her. You have only got +to ride me back to the same river that we went to yesterday, and I will plunge +into it and take my proper shape again. For I am the king’s wife, who was +turned into a horse by the magician from whom you saved me.” +</p> + +<p> +Joyfully the young man sprang into the saddle and rode away to the banks of the +river. Then he threw himself off, and waited while the horse plunged in. The +moment it dipped its head into the water its black skin vanished, and the most +beautiful woman in the world was floating on the water. She came smiling +towards the youth, and held out her hand, and he took it and led her back to +the palace. Great was the king’s surprise and happiness when he beheld his lost +wife stand before him, and in gratitude to her rescuer he loaded him with +gifts. +</p> + +<p> +You would have thought that after this the poor youth would have been left in +peace; but no, his enemy the stableman hated him as much as ever, and laid a +new plot for his undoing. This time he presented himself before the king and +told him that the youth was so puffed up with what he had done that he had +declared he would seize the king’s throne for himself. +</p> + +<p> +At this news the king waxed so furious that he ordered a gallows to be erected +at once, and the young man to be hanged without a trial. He was not even +allowed to speak in his own defence, but on the very steps of the gallows he +sent a message to the king and begged, as a last favour, that he might play a +tune on his zither. Leave was given him, and taking the instrument from under +his cloak he touched the strings. Scarcely had the first notes sounded than the +hangman and his helper began to dance, and the louder grew the music the higher +they capered, till at last they cried for mercy. But the youth paid no heed, +and the tunes rang out more merrily than before, and by the time the sun set +they both sank on the ground exhausted, and declared that the hanging must be +put off till to-morrow. +</p> + +<p> +The story of the zither soon spread through the town, and on the following +morning the king and his whole court and a large crowd of people were gathered +at the foot of the gallows to see the youth hanged. Once more he asked a +favour—permission to play on his fiddle, and this the king was graciously +pleased to grant. But with the first notes, the leg of every man in the crowd +was lifted high, and they danced to the sound of the music the whole day till +darkness fell, and there was no light to hang the musician by. +</p> + +<p> +The third day came, and the youth asked leave to play on his flute. “No, no,” +said the king, “you made me dance all day yesterday, and if I do it again it +will certainly be my death. You shall play no more tunes. Quick! the rope round +his neck.” +</p> + +<p> +At these words the young man looked so sorrowful that the courtiers said to the +king: “He is very young to die. Let him play a tune if it will make him happy.” +So, very unwillingly, the king gave him leave; but first he had himself bound +to a big fir tree, for fear that he should be made to dance. +</p> + +<p> +When he was made fast, the young man began to blow softly on his flute, and +bound though he was, the king’s body moved to the sound, up and down the fir +tree till his clothes were in tatters, and the skin nearly rubbed off his back. +But the youth had no pity, and went on blowing, till suddenly the old magician +appeared and asked: “What danger are you in, my son, that you have sent for +me?” +</p> + +<p> +“They want to hang me,” answered the young man; “the gallows are all ready and +the hangman is only waiting for me to stop playing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I will put that right,” said the magician; and taking the gallows, he tore +it up and flung it into the air, and no one knows where it came down. “Who has +ordered you to be hanged?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +The young man pointed to the king, who was still bound to the fir; and without +wasting words the magician took hold of the tree also, and with a mighty heave +both fir and man went spinning through the air, and vanished in the clouds +after the gallows. +</p> + +<p> +Then the youth was declared to be free, and the people elected him for their +king; and the stable helper drowned himself from envy, for, after all, if it +had not been for him the young man would have remained poor all the days of his +life. +</p> + +<p> +[From Finnische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0014"></a> +The Strong Prince</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a king who was so fond of wine that he could not +go to sleep unless he knew he had a great flaskful tied to his bed-post. All +day long he drank till he was too stupid to attend to his business, and +everything in the kingdom went to rack and ruin. But one day an accident +happened to him, and he was struck on the head by a falling bough, so that he +fell from his horse and lay dead upon the ground. +</p> + +<p> +His wife and son mourned his loss bitterly, for, in spite of his faults, he had +always been kind to them. So they abandoned the crown and forsook their +country, not knowing or caring where they went. +</p> + +<p> +At length they wandered into a forest, and being very tired, sat down under a +tree to eat some bread that they had brought with them. When they had finished +the queen said: “My son, I am thirsty; fetch me some water.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince got up at once and went to a brook which he heard gurgling near at +hand. He stooped and filled his hat with the water, which he brought to his +mother; then he turned and followed the stream up to its source in a rock, +where it bubbled out clear and fresh and cold. He knelt down to take a draught +from the deep pool below the rock, when he saw the reflection of a sword +hanging from the branch of a tree over his head. The young man drew back with a +start; but in a moment he climbed the tree, cutting the rope which held the +sword, and carried the weapon to his mother. +</p> + +<p> +The queen was greatly surprised at the sight of anything so splendid in such a +lonely place, and took it in her hands to examine it closely. It was of curious +workmanship, wrought with gold, and on its handle was written: “The man who can +buckle on this sword will become stronger than other men.” The queen’s heart +swelled with joy as she read these words, and she bade her son lose no time in +testing their truth. So he fastened it round his waist, and instantly a glow of +strength seemed to run through his veins. He took hold of a thick oak tree and +rooted it up as easily as if it had been a weed. +</p> + +<p> +This discovery put new life into the queen and her son, and they continued +their walk through the forest. But night was drawing on, and the darkness grew +so thick that it seemed as if it could be cut with a knife. They did not want +to sleep in the wood, for they were afraid of wolves and other wild beasts, so +they groped their way along, hand in hand, till the prince tripped over +something which lay across the path. He could not see what it was, but stooped +down and tried to lift it. The thing was very heavy, and he thought his back +would break under the strain. At last with a great heave he moved it out of the +road, and as it fell he knew it was a huge rock. Behind the rock was a cave +which it was quite clear was the home of some robbers, though not one of the +band was there. +</p> + +<p> +Hastily putting out the fire which burned brightly at the back, and bidding his +mother come in and keep very still, the prince began to pace up and down, +listening for the return of the robbers. But he was very sleepy, and in spite +of all his efforts he felt he could not keep awake much longer, when he heard +the sound of the robbers returning, shouting and singing as they marched along. +Soon the singing ceased, and straining his ears he heard them discussing +anxiously what had become of their cave, and why they could not see the fire as +usual. “This must be the place,” said a voice, which the prince took to be that +of the captain. “Yes, I feel the ditch before the entrance. Someone forgot to +pile up the fire before we left and it has burnt itself out! But it is all +right. Let every man jump across, and as he does so cry out ‘Hop! I am here.’ I +will go last. Now begin.” +</p> + +<p> +The man who stood nearest jumped across, but he had no time to give the call +which the captain had ordered, for with one swift, silent stroke of the +prince’s sword, his head rolled into a corner. Then the young man cried +instead, “Hop! I am here.” +</p> + +<p> +The second man, hearing the signal, leapt the ditch in confidence, and was met +by the same fate, and in a few minutes eleven of the robbers lay dead, and +there remained only the captain. +</p> + +<p> +Now the captain had wound round his neck the shawl of his lost wife, and the +stroke of the prince’s sword fell harmless. Being very cunning, however, he +made no resistance, and rolled over as if he were as dead as the other men. +Still, the prince was no fool, and wondered if indeed he was as dead as he +seemed to be; but the captain lay so stiff and stark, that at last he was taken +in. +</p> + +<p> +The prince next dragged the headless bodies into a chamber in the cave, and +locked the door. Then he and his mother ransacked the place for some food, and +when they had eaten it they lay down and slept in peace. +</p> + +<p> +With the dawn they were both awake again, and found that, instead of the cave +which they had come to the night before, they now were in a splendid castle, +full of beautiful rooms. The prince went round all these and carefully locked +them up, bidding his mother take care of the keys while he was hunting. +</p> + +<p> +Unfortunately, the queen, like all women, could not bear to think that there +was anything which she did not know. So the moment that her son had turned his +back, she opened the doors of all the rooms, and peeped in, till she came to +the one where the robbers lay. But if the sight of the blood on the ground +turned her faint, the sight of the robber captain walking up and down was a +greater shock still. She quickly turned the key in the lock, and ran back to +the chamber she had slept in. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after her son came in, bringing with him a large bear, which he had killed +for supper. As there was enough food to last them for many days, the prince did +not hunt the next morning, but, instead, began to explore the castle. He found +that a secret way led from it into the forest; and following the path, he +reached another castle larger and more splendid than the one belonging to the +robbers. He knocked at the door with his fist, and said that he wanted to +enter; but the giant, to whom the castle belonged, only answered: “I know who +you are. I have nothing to do with robbers.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am no robber,” answered the prince. “I am the son of a king, and I have +killed all the band. If you do not open to me at once I will break in the door, +and your head shall go to join the others.” +</p> + +<p> +He waited a little, but the door remained shut as tightly as before. Then he +just put his shoulder to it, and immediately the wood began to crack. When the +giant found that it was no use keeping it shut, he opened it, saying: “I see +you are a brave youth. Let there be peace between us.” +</p> + +<p> +And the prince was glad to make peace, for he had caught a glimpse of the +giant’s beautiful daughter, and from that day he often sought the giant’s +house. +</p> + +<p> +Now the queen led a dull life all alone in the castle, and to amuse herself she +paid visits to the robber captain, who flattered her till at last she agreed to +marry him. But as she was much afraid of her son, she told the robber that the +next time the prince went to bathe in the river, he was to steal the sword from +its place above the bed, for without it the young man would have no power to +punish him for his boldness. +</p> + +<p> +The robber captain thought this good counsel, and the next morning, when the +young man went to bathe, he unhooked the sword from its nail and buckled it +round his waist. On his return to the castle, the prince found the robber +waiting for him on the steps, waving the sword above his head, and knowing that +some horrible fate was in store, fell on his knees and begged for mercy. But he +might as well have tried to squeeze blood out of a stone. The robber, indeed, +granted him his life, but took out both his eyes, which he thrust into the +prince’s hand, saying brutally: +</p> + +<p> +“Here, you had better keep them! You may find them useful!” +</p> + +<p> +Weeping, the blind youth felt his way to the giant’s house, and told him all +the story. +</p> + +<p> +The giant was full of pity for the poor young man, but inquired anxiously what +he had done with the eyes. The prince drew them out of his pocket, and silently +handed them to the giant, who washed them well, and then put them back in the +prince’s head. For three days he lay in utter darkness; then the light began to +come back, till soon he saw as well as ever. +</p> + +<p> +But though he could not rejoice enough over the recovery of his eyes, he +bewailed bitterly the loss of his sword, and that it should have fallen to the +lot of his bitter enemy. +</p> + +<p> +“Never mind, my friend,” said the giant, “I will get it back for you.” And he +sent for the monkey who was his head servant. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell the fox and the squirrel that they are to go with you, and fetch me back +the prince’s sword,” ordered he. +</p> + +<p> +The three servants set out at once, one seated on the back of the others, the +ape, who disliked walking, being generally on top. Directly they came to the +window of the robber captain’s room, the monkey sprang from the backs of the +fox and the squirrel, and climbed in. The room was empty, and the sword hanging +from a nail. He took it down, and buckling it round his waist, as he had seen +the prince do, swung himself down again, and mounting on the backs of his two +companions, hastened to his master. The giant bade him give the sword to the +prince, who girded himself with it, and returned with all speed to the castle. +</p> + +<p> +“Come out, you rascal! come out, you villain!” cried he, “and answer to me for +the wrong you have done. I will show you who is the master in this house!” +</p> + +<p> +The noise he made brought the robber into the room. He glanced up to where the +sword usually hung, but it was gone; and instinctively he looked at the +prince’s hand, where he saw it gleaming brightly. In his turn he fell on his +knees to beg for mercy, but it was too late. As he had done to the prince, so +the prince did to him, and, blinded, he was thrust forth, and fell down a deep +hole, where he is to this day. His mother the prince sent back to her father, +and never would see her again. After this he returned to the giant, and said to +him: +</p> + +<p> +“My friend, add one more kindness to those you have already heaped on me. Give +me your daughter as my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +So they were married, and the wedding feast was so splendid that there was not +a kingdom in the world that did not hear of it. And the prince never went back +to his father’s throne, but lived peacefully with his wife in the forest, +where, if they are not dead, they are living still. +</p> + +<p> +[From Ungarische Volksmarchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0015"></a> +The Treasure Seeker</h2> + +<p> +Once, long ago, in a little town that lay in the midst of high hills and wild +forests, a party of shepherds sat one night in the kitchen of the inn talking +over old times, and telling of the strange things that had befallen them in +their youth. +</p> + +<p> +Presently up spoke the silver-haired Father Martin. +</p> + +<p> +“Comrades,” said he, “you have had wonderful adventures; but I will tell you +something still more astonishing that happened to myself. When I was a young +lad I had no home and no one to care for me, and I wandered from village to +village all over the country with my knapsack on my back; but as soon as I was +old enough I took service with a shepherd in the mountains, and helped him for +three years. One autumn evening as we drove the flock homeward ten sheep were +missing, and the master bade me go and seek them in the forest. I took my dog +with me, but he could find no trace of them, though we searched among the +bushes till night fell; and then, as I did not know the country and could not +find my way home in the dark, I decided to sleep under a tree. At midnight my +dog became uneasy, and began to whine and creep close to me with his tail +between his legs; by this I knew that something was wrong, and, looking about, +I saw in the bright moonlight a figure standing beside me. It seemed to be a +man with shaggy hair, and a long beard which hung down to his knees. He had a +garland upon his head, and a girdle of oak-leaves about his body, and carried +an uprooted fir-tree in his right hand. I shook like an aspen leaf at the +sight, and my spirit quaked for fear. The strange being beckoned with his hand +that I should follow him; but as I did not stir from the spot he spoke in a +hoarse, grating voice: ‘Take courage, faint-hearted shepherd. I am the Treasure +Seeker of the mountain. If you will come with me you shall dig up much gold.’ +</p> + +<p> +“Though I was still deadly cold with terror I plucked up my courage and said: +‘Get away from me, evil spirit; I do not desire your treasures.’ +</p> + +<p> +“At this the spectre grinned in my face and cried mockingly: +</p> + +<p> +“‘Simpleton! Do you scorn your good fortune? Well, then, remain a ragamuffin +all your days.’ +</p> + +<p> +“He turned as if to go away from me, then came back again and said: ‘Bethink +yourself, bethink yourself, rogue. I will fill your knapsack—I will fill your +pouch.’ +</p> + +<p> +“‘Away from me, monster,’ I answered, ‘I will have nothing to do with you.’ +</p> + +<p> +“When the apparition saw that I gave no heed to him he ceased to urge me, +saying only: ‘Some day you will rue this,’ and looked at me sadly. Then he +cried: ‘Listen to what I say, and lay it well to heart, it may be of use to you +when you come to your senses. A vast treasure of gold and precious stones lies +in safety deep under the earth. At twilight and at high noon it is hidden, but +at midnight it may be dug up. For seven hundred years have I watched over it, +but now my time has come; it is common property, let him find it who can. So I +thought to give it into your hand, having a kindness for you because you feed +your flock upon my mountain.’ +</p> + +<p> +“Thereupon the spectre told me exactly where the treasure lay, and how to find +it. It might be only yesterday so well do I remember every word he spoke. +</p> + +<p> +“‘Go towards the little mountains,’ said he, ‘and ask there for the Black +King’s Valley, and when you come to a tiny brook follow the stream till you +reach the stone bridge beside the saw-mill. Do not cross the bridge, but keep +to your right along the bank till a high rock stands before you. A bow-shot +from that you will discover a little hollow like a grave. When you find this +hollow dig it out; but it will be hard work, for the earth has been pressed +down into it with care. Still, work away till you find solid rock on all sides +of you, and soon you will come to a square slab of stone; force it out of the +wall, and you will stand at the entrance of the treasure house. Into this +opening you must crawl, holding a lamp in your mouth. Keep your hands free lest +you knock your nose against a stone, for the way is steep and the stones sharp. +If it bruises your knees never mind; you are on the road to fortune. Do not +rest till you reach a wide stairway, down which you will go till you come out +into a spacious hall, in which there are three doors; two of them stand open, +the third is fastened with locks and bolts of iron. Do not go through the door +to the right lest you disturb the bones of the lords of the treasure. Neither +must you go through the door to the left, it leads to the snake’s chamber, +where adders and serpents lodge; but open the fast-closed door by means of the +well-known spring-root, which you must on no account forget to take with you, +or all your trouble will be for naught, for no crowbar or mortal tools will +help you. If you want to procure the root ask a wood-seller; it is a common +thing for hunters to need, and it is not hard to find. If the door bursts open +suddenly with great crackings and groanings do not be afraid, the noise is +caused by the power of the magic root, and you will not be hurt. Now trim your +lamp that it may not fail you, for you will be nearly blinded by the flash and +glitter of the gold and precious stones on the walls and pillars of the vault; +but beware how you stretch out a hand towards the jewels! In the midst of the +cavern stands a copper chest, in that you will find gold and silver, enough and +to spare, and you may help yourself to your heart’s content. If you take as +much as you can carry you will have sufficient to last your lifetime, and you +may return three times; but woe betide you if you venture to come a fourth +time. You would have your trouble for your pains, and would be punished for +your greediness by falling down the stone steps and breaking your leg. Do not +neglect each time to heap back the loose earth which concealed the entrance of +the king’s treasure chamber.’ +</p> + +<p> +“As the apparition left off speaking my dog pricked up his ears and began to +bark. I heard the crack of a carter’s whip and the noise of wheels in the +distance, and when I looked again the spectre had disappeared.” +</p> + +<p> +So ended the shepherd’s tale; and the landlord who was listening with the rest, +said shrewdly: +</p> + +<p> +“Tell us now, Father Martin, did you go to the mountain and find what the +spirit promised you; or is it a fable?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, nay,” answered the greybeard. “I cannot tell if the spectre lied, for +never a step did I go towards finding the hollow, for two reasons:—one was that +my neck was too precious for me to risk it in such a snare as that; the other, +that no one could ever tell me where the spring-root was to be found.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Blaize, another aged shepherd, lifted up his voice. +</p> + +<p> +“’Tis a pity, Father Martin, that your secret has grown old with you. If you +had told it forty years ago truly you would not long have been lacking the +spring-root. Even though you will never climb the mountain now, I will tell +you, for a joke, how it is to be found. The easiest way to get it is by the +help of a black woodpecker. Look, in the spring, where she builds her nest in a +hole in a tree, and when the time comes for her brood to fly off block up the +entrance to the nest with a hard sod, and lurk in ambush behind the tree till +the bird returns to feed her nestlings. When she perceives that she cannot get +into her nest she will fly round the tree uttering cries of distress, and then +dart off towards the sun-setting. When you see her do this, take a scarlet +cloak, or if that be lacking to you, buy a few yards of scarlet cloth, and +hurry back to the tree before the woodpecker returns with the spring-root in +her beak. So soon as she touches with the root the sod that blocks the nest, it +will fly violently out of the hole. Then spread the red cloth quickly under the +tree, so that the woodpecker may think it is a fire, and in her terror drop the +root. Some people really light a fire and strew spikenard blossoms in it; but +that is a clumsy method, for if the flames do not shoot up at the right moment +away will fly the woodpecker, carrying the root with her.” +</p> + +<p> +The party had listened with interest to this speech, but by the time it was +ended the hour was late, and they went their ways homeward, leaving only one +man who had sat unheeded in a corner the whole evening through. +</p> + +<p> +Master Peter Bloch had once been a prosperous innkeeper, and a master-cook; but +he had gone steadily down in the world for some time, and was now quite poor. +</p> + +<p> +Formerly he had been a merry fellow, fond of a joke, and in the art of cooking +had no equal in the town. He could make fish-jelly, and quince fritters, and +even wafer-cakes; and he gilded the ears of all his boars’ heads. Peter had +looked about him for a wife early in life, but unluckily his choice fell upon a +woman whose evil tongue was well known in the town. Ilse was hated by +everybody, and the young folks would go miles out of their way rather than meet +her, for she had some ill-word for everyone. Therefore, when Master Peter came +along, and let himself be taken in by her boasted skill as a housewife, she +jumped at his offer, and they were married the next day. But they had not got +home before they began to quarrel. In the joy of his heart Peter had tasted +freely of his own good wine, and as the bride hung upon his arm he stumbled and +fell, dragging her down with him; whereupon she beat him soundly, and the +neighbours said truly that things did not promise well for Master Peter’s +comfort. Even when the ill-matched couple were presently blessed with children, +his happiness was but short-lived, the savage temper of his quarrelsome wife +seemed to blight them from the first, and they died like little kids in a cold +winter. +</p> + +<p> +Though Master Peter had no great wealth to leave behind him, still it was sad +to him to be childless; and he would bemoan himself to his friends, when he +laid one baby after another in the grave, saying: “The lightning has been among +the cherry-blossoms again, so there will be no fruit to grow ripe.” +</p> + +<p> +But, by-and-by, he had a little daughter so strong and healthy that neither her +mother’s temper nor her father’s spoiling could keep her from growing up tall +and beautiful. Meanwhile the fortunes of the family had changed. From his youth +up, Master Peter had hated trouble; when he had money he spent it freely, and +fed all the hungry folk who asked him for bread. If his pockets were empty he +borrowed of his neighbours, but he always took good care to prevent his +scolding wife from finding out that he had done so. His motto was: “It will all +come right in the end”; but what it did come to was ruin for Master Peter. He +was at his wits’ end to know how to earn an honest living, for try as he might +ill-luck seemed to pursue him, and he lost one post after another, till at last +all he could do was to carry sacks of corn to the mill for his wife, who +scolded him well if he was slow about it, and grudged him his portion of food. +</p> + +<p> +This grieved the tender heart of his pretty daughter, who loved him dearly, and +was the comfort of his life. +</p> + +<p> +Peter was thinking of her as he sat in the inn kitchen and heard the shepherds +talking about the buried treasure, and for her sake he resolved to go and seek +for it. Before he rose from the landlord’s arm-chair his plan was made, and +Master Peter went home more joyful and full of hope than he had been for many a +long day; but on the way he suddenly remembered that he was not yet possessed +of the magic spring-root, and he stole into the house with a heavy heart, and +threw himself down upon his hard straw bed. He could neither sleep nor rest; +but as soon as it was light he got up and wrote down exactly all that was to be +done to find the treasure, that he might not forget anything, and when it lay +clear and plain before his eyes he comforted himself with the thought that, +though he must do the rough work for his wife during one more winter at least, +he would not have to tread the path to the mill for the rest of his life. Soon +he heard his wife’s harsh voice singing its morning song as she went about her +household affairs, scolding her daughter the while. She burst open his door +while he was still dressing: “Well, Toper!” was her greeting, “have you been +drinking all night, wasting money that you steal from my housekeeping? For +shame, drunkard!” +</p> + +<p> +Master Peter, who was well used to this sort of talk, did not disturb himself, +but waited till the storm blew over, then he said calmly: +</p> + +<p> +“Do not be annoyed, dear wife. I have a good piece of business in hand which +may turn out well for us.” +</p> + +<p> +“You with a good business?” cried she, “you are good for nothing but talk!” +</p> + +<p> +“I am making my will,” said he, “that when my hour comes my house may be in +order.” +</p> + +<p> +These unexpected words cut his daughter to the heart; she remembered that all +night long she had dreamed of a newly dug grave, and at this thought she broke +out into loud lamentations. But her mother only cried: “Wretch! have you not +wasted goods and possessions, and now do you talk of making a will?” +</p> + +<p> +And she seized him like a fury, and tried to scratch out his eyes. But +by-and-by the quarrel was patched up, and everything went on as before. From +that day Peter saved up every penny that his daughter Lucia gave him on the +sly, and bribed the boys of his acquaintance to spy out a black woodpecker’s +nest for him. He sent them into the woods and fields, but instead of looking +for a nest they only played pranks on him. They led him miles over hill and +vale, stock and stone, to find a raven’s brood, or a nest of squirrels in a +hollow tree, and when he was angry with them they laughed in his face and ran +away. This went on for some time, but at last one of the boys spied out a +woodpecker in the meadow-lands among the wood-pigeons, and when he had found +her nest in a half-dead alder tree, came running to Peter with the news of his +discovery. Peter could hardly believe his good fortune, and went quickly to see +for himself if it was really true; and when he reached the tree there certainly +was a bird flying in and out as if she had a nest in it. Peter was overjoyed at +this fortunate discovery, and instantly set himself to obtain a red cloak. Now +in the whole town there was only one red cloak, and that belonged to a man of +whom nobody ever willingly asked a favour—Master Hammerling the hangman. It +cost Master Peter many struggles before he could bring himself to visit such a +person, but there was no help for it, and, little as he liked it, he ended by +making his request to the hangman, who was flattered that so respectable a man +as Peter should borrow his robe of office, and willingly lent it to him. +</p> + +<p> +Peter now had all that was necessary to secure the magic root; he stopped up +the entrance to the nest, and everything fell out exactly as Blaize had +foretold. As soon as the woodpecker came back with the root in her beak out +rushed Master Peter from behind the tree and displayed the fiery red cloak so +adroitly that the terrified bird dropped the root just where it could be easily +seen. All Peter’s plans had succeeded, and he actually held in his hand the +magic root—that master-key which would unlock all doors, and bring its +possessor unheard-of luck. His thoughts now turned to the mountain, and he +secretly made preparations for his journey. He took with him only a staff, a +strong sack, and a little box which his daughter Lucia had given him. +</p> + +<p> +It happened that on the very day Peter had chosen for setting out, Lucia and +her mother went off early to the town, leaving him to guard the house; but in +spite of that he was on the point of taking his departure when it occurred to +him that it might be as well first to test the much-vaunted powers of the magic +root for himself. Dame Ilse had a strong cupboard with seven locks built into +the wall of her room, in which she kept all the money she had saved, and she +wore the key of it always hung about her neck. Master Peter had no control at +all of the money affairs of the household, so the contents of this secret hoard +were quite unknown to him, and this seemed to be a good opportunity for finding +out what they were. He held the magic root to the keyhole, and to his +astonishment heard all the seven locks creaking and turning, the door flew +suddenly wide open, and his greedy wife’s store of gold pieces lay before his +eyes. He stood still in sheer amazement, not knowing which to rejoice over +most—this unexpected find, or the proof of the magic root’s real power; but at +last he remembered that it was quite time to be starting on his journey. So, +filling his pockets with the gold, he carefully locked the empty cupboard again +and left the house without further delay. When Dame Ilse and her daughter +returned they wondered to find the house door shut, and Master Peter nowhere to +be seen. They knocked and called, but nothing stirred within but the house cat, +and at last the blacksmith had to be fetched to open the door. Then the house +was searched from garret to cellar, but no Master Peter was to be found. +</p> + +<p> +“Who knows?” cried Dame Ilse at last, “the wretch may have been idling in some +tavern since early morning.” +</p> + +<p> +Then a sudden thought startled her, and she felt for her keys. Suppose they had +fallen into her good-for-nothing husband’s hands and he had helped himself to +her treasure! But no, the keys were safe in their usual place, and the cupboard +looked quite untouched. Mid-day came, then evening, then midnight, and still no +Master Peter appeared, and the matter became really serious. Dame Ilse knew +right well what a torment she had been to her husband, and remorse caused her +the gloomiest forebodings. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! Lucia,” she cried, “I greatly fear that your father has done himself a +mischief.” And they sat till morning weeping over their own fancies. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as it was light they searched every corner of the house again, and +examined every nail in the wall and every beam; but, luckily, Master Peter was +not hanging from any of them. After that the neighbours went out with long +poles to fish in every ditch and pond, but they found nothing, and then Dame +Ilse gave up the idea of ever seeing her husband again and very soon consoled +herself, only wondering how the sacks of corn were to be carried to the mill in +future. She decided to buy a strong ass to do the work, and having chosen one, +and after some bargaining with the owner as to its price, she went to the +cupboard in the wall to fetch the money. But what were her feelings when she +perceived that every shelf lay empty and bare before her! For a moment she +stood bewildered, then broke into such frightful ravings that Lucia ran to her +in alarm; but as soon as she heard of the disappearance of the money she was +heartily glad, and no longer feared that her father had come to any harm, but +understood that he must have gone out into the world to seek his fortune in +some new way. +</p> + +<p> +About a month after this, someone knocked at Dame Ilse’s door one day, and she +went to see if it was a customer for meal; but in stepped a handsome young man, +dressed like a duke’s son, who greeted her respectfully, and asked after her +pretty daughter as if he were an old friend, though she could not remember +having ever set eyes upon him before. +</p> + +<p> +However, she invited him to step into the house and be seated while he unfolded +his business. With a great air of mystery he begged permission to speak to the +fair Lucia, of whose skill in needlework he had heard so much, as he had a +commission to give her. Dame Ilse had her own opinion as to what kind of +commission it was likely to be—brought by a young stranger to a pretty maiden; +however, as the meeting would be under her own eye, she made no objection, but +called to her industrious daughter, who left off working and came obediently; +but when she saw the stranger she stopped short, blushing, and casting down her +eyes. He looked at her fondly, and took her hand, which she tried to draw away, +crying: +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! Friedlin, why are you here? I thought you were a hundred miles away. Are +you come to grieve me again?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, dearest girl,” answered he; “I am come to complete your happiness and my +own. Since we last met my fortune has utterly changed; I am no longer the poor +vagabond that I was then. My rich uncle has died, leaving me money and goods in +plenty, so that I dare to present myself to your mother as a suitor for your +hand. That I love you I know well; if you can love me I am indeed a happy man.” +</p> + +<p> +Lucia’s pretty blue eyes had looked up shyly as he spoke, and now a smile +parted her rosy lips; and she stole a glance at her mother to see what she +thought about it all; but the dame stood lost in amazement to find that her +daughter, whom she could have declared had never been out of her sight, was +already well acquainted with the handsome stranger, and quite willing to be his +bride. Before she had done staring, this hasty wooer had smoothed his way by +covering the shining table with gold pieces as a wedding gift to the bride’s +mother, and had filled Lucia’s apron into the bargain; after which the dame +made no difficulties, and the matter was speedily settled. +</p> + +<p> +While Ilse gathered up the gold and hid it away safely, the lovers whispered +together, and what Friedlin told her seemed to make Lucia every moment more +happy and contented. +</p> + +<p> +Now a great hurly-burly began in the house, and preparations for the wedding +went on apace. A few days later a heavily laden waggon drove up, and out of it +came so many boxes and bales that Dame Ilse was lost in wonder at the wealth of +her future son-in-law. The day for the wedding was chosen, and all their +friends and neighbours were bidden to the feast. As Lucia was trying on her +bridal wreath she said to her mother: “This wedding-garland would please me +indeed if father Peter could lead me to the church. If only he could come back +again! Here we are rolling in riches while he may be nibbling at hunger’s +table.” And the very idea of such a thing made her weep, while even Dame Ilse +said: +</p> + +<p> +“I should not be sorry myself to see him come back—there is always something +lacking in a house when the good man is away.” +</p> + +<p> +But the fact was that she was growing quite tired of having no one to scold. +And what do you think happened? +</p> + +<p> +On the very eve of the wedding a man pushing a wheelbarrow arrived at the city +gate, and paid toll upon a barrel of nails which it contained, and then made +the best of his way to the bride’s dwelling and knocked at the door. +</p> + +<p> +The bride herself peeped out of the window to see who it could be, and there +stood father Peter! Then there was great rejoicing in the house; Lucia ran to +embrace him, and even Dame Ilse held out her hand in welcome, and only said: +“Rogue, mend your ways,” when she remembered the empty treasure cupboard. +Father Peter greeted the bridegroom, looking at him shrewdly, while the mother +and daughter hastened to say all they knew in his favour, and appeared to be +satisfied with him as a son-in-law. When Dame Ilse had set something to eat +before her husband, she was curious to hear his adventures, and questioned him +eagerly as to why he had gone away. +</p> + +<p> +“God bless my native place,” said he. “I have been marching through the +country, and have tried every kind of work, but now I have found a job in the +iron trade; only, so far, I have put more into it than I have earned by it. +This barrel of nails is my whole fortune, which I wish to give as my +contribution towards the bride’s house furnishing.” +</p> + +<p> +This speech roused Dame Ilse to anger, and she broke out into such shrill +reproaches that the bystanders were fairly deafened, and Friedlin hastily +offered Master Peter a home with Lucia and himself, promising that he should +live in comfort, and be always welcome. So Lucia had her heart’s desire, and +father Peter led her to the church next day, and the marriage took place very +happily. Soon afterwards the young people settled in a fine house which +Friedlin had bought, and had a garden and meadows, a fishpond, and a hill +covered with vines, and were as happy as the day was long. Father Peter also +stayed quietly with them, living, as everybody believed, upon the generosity of +his rich son-in law. No one suspected that his barrel of nails was the real +“Horn of Plenty,” from which all this prosperity overflowed. +</p> + +<p> +Peter had made the journey to the treasure mountain successfully, without being +found out by anybody. He had enjoyed himself by the way, and taken his own +time, until he actually reached the little brook in the valley which it had +cost him some trouble to find. Then he pressed on eagerly, and soon came to the +little hollow in the wood; down he went, burrowing like a mole into the earth; +the magic root did its work, and at last the treasure lay before his eyes. You +may imagine how gaily Peter filled his sack with as much gold as he could +carry, and how he staggered up the seventy-seven steps with a heart full of +hope and delight. He did not quite trust the gnome’s promises of safety, and +was in such haste to find himself once more in the light of day that he looked +neither to the right nor the left, and could not afterwards remember whether +the walls and pillars had sparkled with jewels or not. +</p> + +<p> +However, all went well—he neither saw nor heard anything alarming; the only +thing that happened was that the great iron-barred door shut with a crash as +soon as he was fairly outside it, and then he remembered that he had left the +magic root behind him, so he could not go back for another load of treasure. +But even that did not trouble Peter much; he was quite satisfied with what he +had already. After he had faithfully done everything according to Father +Martin’s instructions, and pressed the earth well back into the hollow, he sat +down to consider how he could bring his treasure back to his native place, and +enjoy it there, without being forced to share it with his scolding wife, who +would give him no peace if she once found out about it. At last, after much +thinking, he hit upon a plan. He carried his sack to the nearest village, and +there bought a wheelbarrow, a strong barrel, and a quantity of nails. Then he +packed his gold into the barrel, covered it well with a layer of nails, hoisted +it on to the wheelbarrow with some difficulty, and set off with it upon his +homeward way. At one place upon the road he met a handsome young man who seemed +by his downcast air to be in some great trouble. Father Peter, who wished +everybody to be as happy as he was himself, greeted him cheerfully, and asked +where he was going, to which he answered sadly: +</p> + +<p> +“Into the wide world, good father, or out of it, wherever my feet may chance to +carry me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why out of it?” said Peter. “What has the world been doing to you?” +</p> + +<p> +“It has done nothing to me, nor I to it,” he replied. “Nevertheless there is +not anything left in it for me.” +</p> + +<p> +Father Peter did his best to cheer the young man up, and invited him to sup +with him at the first inn they came to, thinking that perhaps hunger and +poverty were causing the stranger’s trouble. But when good food was set before +him he seemed to forget to eat. So Peter perceived that what ailed his guest +was sorrow of heart, and asked him kindly to tell him his story. +</p> + +<p> +“Where is the good, father?” said he. “You can give me neither help nor +comfort.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who knows?” answered Master Peter. “I might be able to do something for you. +Often enough in life help comes to us from the most unexpected quarter.” +</p> + +<p> +The young man, thus encouraged, began his tale. +</p> + +<p> +“I am,” said he, “a crossbow-man in the service of a noble count, in whose +castle I was brought up. Not long ago my master went on a journey, and brought +back with him, amongst other treasures, the portrait of a fair maiden so sweet +and lovely that I lost my heart at first sight of it, and could think of +nothing but how I might seek her out and marry her. The count had told me her +name, and where she lived, but laughed at my love, and absolutely refused to +give me leave to go in search of her, so I was forced to run away from the +castle by night. I soon reached the little town where the maiden dwelt; but +there fresh difficulties awaited me. She lived under the care of her mother, +who was so severe that she was never allowed to look out of the window, or set +her foot outside the door alone, and how to make friends with her I did not +know. But at last I dressed myself as an old woman, and knocked boldly at her +door. The lovely maiden herself opened it, and so charmed me that I came near +forgetting my disguise; but I soon recovered my wits, and begged her to work a +fine table-cloth for me, for she is reported to be the best needlewoman in all +the country round. Now I was free to go and see her often under the pretence of +seeing how the work was going on, and one day, when her mother had gone to the +town, I ventured to throw off my disguise, and tell her of my love. She was +startled at first; but I persuaded her to listen to me, and I soon saw that I +was not displeasing to her, though she scolded me gently for my disobedience to +my master, and my deceit in disguising myself. But when I begged her to marry +me, she told me sadly that her mother would scorn a penniless wooer, and +implored me to go away at once, lest trouble should fall upon her. +</p> + +<p> +“Bitter as it was to me, I was forced to go when she bade me, and I have +wandered about ever since, with grief gnawing at my heart; for how can a +masterless man, without money or goods, ever hope to win the lovely Lucia?” +</p> + +<p> +Master Peter, who had been listening attentively, pricked up his ears at the +sound of his daughter’s name, and very soon found out that it was indeed with +her that this young man was so deeply in love. +</p> + +<p> +“Your story is strange indeed,” said he. “But where is the father of this +maiden—why do you not ask him for her hand? He might well take your part, and +be glad to have you for his son-in-law.” +</p> + +<p> +“Alas!” said the young man, “her father is a wandering good-for-naught, who has +forsaken wife and child, and gone off—who knows where? The wife complains of +him bitterly enough, and scolds my dear maiden when she takes her father’s +part.” +</p> + +<p> +Father Peter was somewhat amused by this speech; but he liked the young man +well, and saw that he was the very person he needed to enable him to enjoy his +wealth in peace, without being separated from his dear daughter. +</p> + +<p> +“If you will take my advice,” said he, “I promise you that you shall marry this +maiden whom you love so much, and that before you are many days older.” +</p> + +<p> +“Comrade,” cried Friedlin indignantly, for he thought Peter did but jest with +him, “it is ill done to mock at an unhappy man; you had better find someone +else who will let himself be taken in with your fine promises.” And up he +sprang, and was going off hastily, when Master Peter caught him by the arm. +</p> + +<p> +“Stay, hothead!” he cried; “it is no jest, and I am prepared to make good my +words.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon he showed him the treasure hidden under the nails, and unfolded to +him his plan, which was that Friedlin should play the part of the rich +son-in-law, and keep a still tongue, that they might enjoy their wealth +together in peace. +</p> + +<p> +The young man was overjoyed at this sudden change in his fortunes, and did not +know how to thank father Peter for his generosity. They took the road again at +dawn the next morning, and soon reached a town, where Friedlin equipped himself +as a gallant wooer should. Father Peter filled his pockets with gold for the +wedding dowry, and agreed with him that when all was settled he should secretly +send him word that Peter might send off the waggon load of house plenishings +with which the rich bridegroom was to make such a stir in the little town where +the bride lived. As they parted, father Peter’s last commands to Friedlin were +to guard well their secret, and not even to tell it to Lucia till she was his +wife. +</p> + +<p> +Master Peter long enjoyed the profits of his journey to the mountain, and no +rumour of it ever got abroad. In his old age his prosperity was so great that +he himself did not know how rich he was; but it was always supposed that the +money was Friedlin’s. He and his beloved wife lived in the greatest happiness +and peace, and rose to great honour in the town. And to this day, when the +citizens wish to describe a wealthy man, they say: “As rich as Peter Bloch’s +son-in-law!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0016"></a> +The Cottager And His Cat</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife in a dirty, tumble-down +cottage, not very far from the splendid palace where the king and queen dwelt. +In spite of the wretched state of the hut, which many people declared was too +bad even for a pig to live in, the old man was very rich, for he was a great +miser, and lucky besides, and would often go without food all day sooner than +change one of his beloved gold pieces. +</p> + +<p> +But after a while he found that he had starved himself once too often. He fell +ill, and had no strength to get well again, and in a few days he died, leaving +his wife and one son behind him. +</p> + +<p> +The night following his death, the son dreamed that an unknown man appeared to +him and said: “Listen to me; your father is dead and your mother will soon die, +and all their riches will belong to you. Half of his wealth is ill-gotten, and +this you must give back to the poor from whom he squeezed it. The other half +you must throw into the sea. Watch, however, as the money sinks into the water, +and if anything should swim, catch it and keep it, even if it is nothing more +than a bit of paper.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the man vanished, and the youth awoke. +</p> + +<p> +The remembrance of his dream troubled him greatly. He did not want to part with +the riches that his father had left him, for he had known all his life what it +was to be cold and hungry, and now he had hoped for a little comfort and +pleasure. Still, he was honest and good-hearted, and if his father had come +wrongfully by his wealth he felt he could never enjoy it, and at last he made +up his mind to do as he had been bidden. He found out who were the people who +were poorest in the village, and spent half of his money in helping them, and +the other half he put in his pocket. From a rock that jutted right out into the +sea he flung it in. In a moment it was out of sight, and no man could have told +the spot where it had sunk, except for a tiny scrap of paper floating on the +water. He stretched down carefully and managed to reach it, and on opening it +found six shillings wrapped inside. This was now all the money he had in the +world. +</p> + +<p> +The young man stood and looked at it thoughtfully. “Well, I can’t do much with +this,” he said to himself; but, after all, six shillings were better than +nothing, and he wrapped them up again and slipped them into his coat. +</p> + +<p> +He worked in his garden for the next few weeks, and he and his mother contrived +to live on the fruit and vegetables he got out of it, and then she too died +suddenly. The poor fellow felt very sad when he had laid her in her grave, and +with a heavy heart he wandered into the forest, not knowing where he was going. +By-and-by he began to get hungry, and seeing a small hut in front of him, he +knocked at the door and asked if they could give him some milk. The old woman +who opened it begged him to come in, adding kindly, that if he wanted a night’s +lodging he might have it without its costing him anything. +</p> + +<p> +Two women and three men were at supper when he entered, and silently made room +for him to sit down by them. When he had eaten he began to look about him, and +was surprised to see an animal sitting by the fire different from anything he +had ever noticed before. It was grey in colour, and not very big; but its eyes +were large and very bright, and it seemed to be singing in an odd way, quite +unlike any animal in the forest. “What is the name of that strange little +creature?” asked he. And they answered, “We call it a cat.” +</p> + +<p> +“I should like to buy it—if it is not too dear,” said the young man; “it would +be company for me.” And they told him that he might have it for six shillings, +if he cared to give so much. The young man took out his precious bit of paper, +handed them the six shillings, and the next morning bade them farewell, with +the cat lying snugly in his cloak. +</p> + +<p> +For the whole day they wandered through meadows and forests, till in the +evening they reached a house. The young fellow knocked at the door and asked +the old man who opened it if he could rest there that night, adding that he had +no money to pay for it. “Then I must give it to you,” answered the man, and led +him into a room where two women and two men were sitting at supper. One of the +women was the old man’s wife, the other his daughter. He placed the cat on the +mantel shelf, and they all crowded round to examine this strange beast, and the +cat rubbed itself against them, and held out its paw, and sang to them; and the +women were delighted, and gave it everything that a cat could eat, and a great +deal more besides. +</p> + +<p> +After hearing the youth’s story, and how he had nothing in the world left him +except his cat, the old man advised him to go to the palace, which was only a +few miles distant, and take counsel of the king, who was kind to everyone, and +would certainly be his friend. The young man thanked him, and said he would +gladly take his advice; and early next morning he set out for the royal palace. +</p> + +<p> +He sent a message to the king to beg for an audience, and received a reply that +he was to go into the great hall, where he would find his Majesty. +</p> + +<p> +The king was at dinner with his court when the young man entered, and he signed +to him to come near. The youth bowed low, and then gazed in surprise at the +crowd of little black creatures who were running about the floor, and even on +the table itself. Indeed, they were so bold that they snatched pieces of food +from the King’s own plate, and if he drove them away, tried to bite his hands, +so that he could not eat his food, and his courtiers fared no better. +</p> + +<p> +“What sort of animals are these?” asked the youth of one of the ladies sitting +near him. +</p> + +<p> +“They are called rats,” answered the king, who had overheard the question, “and +for years we have tried some way of putting an end to them, but it is +impossible. They come into our very beds.” +</p> + +<p> +At this moment something was seen flying through the air. The cat was on the +table, and with two or three shakes a number of rats were lying dead round him. +Then a great scuffling of feet was heard, and in a few minutes the hall was +clear. +</p> + +<p> +For some minutes the King and his courtiers only looked at each other in +astonishment. “What kind of animal is that which can work magic of this sort?” +asked he. And the young man told him that it was called a cat, and that he had +bought it for six shillings. +</p> + +<p> +And the King answered: “Because of the luck you have brought me, in freeing my +palace from the plague which has tormented me for many years, I will give you +the choice of two things. Either you shall be my Prime Minister, or else you +shall marry my daughter and reign after me. Say, which shall it be?” +</p> + +<p> +“The princess and the kingdom,” said the young man. +</p> + +<p> +And so it was. +</p> + +<p> +[From Islandische Marchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0017"></a> +The Prince Who Would Seek Immortality</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time, in the very middle of the middle of a large kingdom, there +was a town, and in the town a palace, and in the palace a king. This king had +one son whom his father thought was wiser and cleverer than any son ever was +before, and indeed his father had spared no pains to make him so. He had been +very careful in choosing his tutors and governors when he was a boy, and when +he became a youth he sent him to travel, so that he might see the ways of other +people, and find that they were often as good as his own. +</p> + +<p> +It was now a year since the prince had returned home, for his father felt that +it was time that his son should learn how to rule the kingdom which would one +day be his. But during his long absence the prince seemed to have changed his +character altogether. From being a merry and light-hearted boy, he had grown +into a gloomy and thoughtful man. The king knew of nothing that could have +produced such an alteration. He vexed himself about it from morning till night, +till at length an explanation occurred to him—the young man was in love! +</p> + +<p> +Now the prince never talked about his feelings—for the matter of that he +scarcely talked at all; and the father knew that if he was to come to the +bottom of the prince’s dismal face, he would have to begin. So one day, after +dinner, he took his son by the arm and led him into another room, hung entirely +with the pictures of beautiful maidens, each one more lovely than the other. +</p> + +<p> +“My dear boy,” he said, “you are very sad; perhaps after all your wanderings it +is dull for you here all alone with me. It would be much better if you would +marry, and I have collected here the portraits of the most beautiful women in +the world of a rank equal to your own. Choose which among them you would like +for a wife, and I will send an embassy to her father to ask for her hand.” +</p> + +<p> +“Alas! your Majesty,” answered the prince, “it is not love or marriage that +makes me so gloomy; but the thought, which haunts me day and night, that all +men, even kings, must die. Never shall I be happy again till I have found a +kingdom where death is unknown. And I have determined to give myself no rest +till I have discovered the Land of Immortality. +</p> + +<p> +The old king heard him with dismay; things were worse than he thought. He tried +to reason with his son, and told him that during all these years he had been +looking forward to his return, in order to resign his throne and its cares, +which pressed so heavily upon him. But it was in vain that he talked; the +prince would listen to nothing, and the following morning buckled on his sword +and set forth on his journey. +</p> + +<p> +He had been travelling for many days, and had left his fatherland behind him, +when close to the road he came upon a huge tree, and on its topmost bough an +eagle was sitting shaking the branches with all his might. This seemed so +strange and so unlike an eagle, that the prince stood still with surprise, and +the bird saw him and flew to the ground. The moment its feet touched the ground +he changed into a king. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you look so astonished?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“I was wondering why you shook the boughs so fiercely,” answered the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“I am condemned to do this, for neither I nor any of my kindred can die till I +have rooted up this great tree,” replied the king of the eagles. “But it is now +evening, and I need work no more to-day. Come to my house with me, and be my +guest for the night.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince accepted gratefully the eagle’s invitation, for he was tired and +hungry. They were received at the palace by the king’s beautiful daughter, who +gave orders that dinner should be laid for them at once. While they were +eating, the eagle questioned his guest about his travels, and if he was +wandering for pleasure’s sake, or with any special aim. Then the prince told +him everything, and how he could never turn back till he had discovered the +Land of Immortality. +</p> + +<p> +“Dear brother,” said the eagle, “you have discovered it already, and it +rejoices my heart to think that you will stay with us. Have you not just heard +me say that death has no power either over myself or any of my kindred till +that great tree is rooted up? It will take me six hundred years’ hard work to +do that; so marry my daughter and let us all live happily together here. After +all, six hundred years is an eternity!” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, dear king,” replied the young man, “your offer is very tempting! But at +the end of six hundred years we should have to die, so we should be no better +off! No, I must go on till I find the country where there is no death at all.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the princess spoke, and tried to persuade the guest to change his mind, +but he sorrowfully shook his head. At length, seeing that his resolution was +firmly fixed, she took from a cabinet a little box which contained her picture, +and gave it to him saying: +</p> + +<p> +“As you will not stay with us, prince, accept this box, which will sometimes +recall us to your memory. If you are tired of travelling before you come to the +Land of Immortality, open this box and look at my picture, and you will be +borne along either on earth or in the air, quick as thought, or swift as the +whirlwind.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince thanked her for her gift, which he placed in his tunic, and +sorrowfully bade the eagle and his daughter farewell. +</p> + +<p> +Never was any present in the world as useful as that little box, and many times +did he bless the kind thought of the princess. One evening it had carried him +to the top of a high mountain, where he saw a man with a bald head, busily +engaged in digging up spadefuls of earth and throwing them in a basket. When +the basket was full he took it away and returned with an empty one, which he +likewise filled. The prince stood and watched him for a little, till the +bald-headed man looked up and said to him: “Dear brother, what surprises you so +much?” +</p> + +<p> +“I was wondering why you were filling the basket,” replied the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh!” replied the man, “I am condemned to do this, for neither I nor any of my +family can die till I have dug away the whole of this mountain and made it +level with the plain. But, come, it is almost dark, and I shall work no +longer.” And he plucked a leaf from a tree close by, and from a rough digger he +was changed into a stately bald-headed king. “Come home with me,” he added; +“you must be tired and hungry, and my daughter will have supper ready for us.” +The prince accepted gladly, and they went back to the palace, where the +bald-headed king’s daughter, who was still more beautiful than the other +princess, welcomed them at the door and led the way into a large hall and to a +table covered with silver dishes. While they were eating, the bald-headed king +asked the prince how he had happened to wander so far, and the young man told +him all about it, and how he was seeking the Land of Immortality. “You have +found it already,” answered the king, “for, as I said, neither I nor my family +can die till I have levelled this great mountain; and that will take full eight +hundred years longer. Stay here with us and marry my daughter. Eight hundred +years is surely long enough to live.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, certainly,” answered the prince; “but, all the same, I would rather go and +seek the land where there is no death at all.” +</p> + +<p> +So next morning he bade them farewell, though the princess begged him to stay +with all her might; and when she found that she could not persuade him she gave +him as a remembrance a gold ring. This ring was still more useful than the box, +because when one wished oneself at any place one was there directly, without +even the trouble of flying to it through the air. The prince put it on his +finger, and thanking her heartily, went his way. +</p> + +<p> +He walked on for some distance, and then he recollected the ring and thought he +would try if the princess had spoken truly as to its powers. “I wish I was at +the end of the world,” he said, shutting his eyes, and when he opened them he +was standing in a street full of marble palaces. The men who passed him were +tall and strong, and their clothes were magnificent. He stopped some of them +and asked in all the twenty-seven languages he knew what was the name of the +city, but no one answered him. Then his heart sank within him; what should he +do in this strange place if nobody could understand anything? he said. Suddenly +his eyes fell upon a man dressed after the fashion of his native country, and +he ran up to him and spoke to him in his own tongue. “What city is this, my +friend?” he inquired. +</p> + +<p> +“It is the capital city of the Blue Kingdom,” replied the man, “but the king +himself is dead, and his daughter is now the ruler.” +</p> + +<p> +With this news the prince was satisfied, and begged his countryman to show him +the way to the young queen’s palace. The man led him through several streets +into a large square, one side of which was occupied by a splendid building that +seemed borne up on slender pillars of soft green marble. In front was a flight +of steps, and on these the queen was sitting wrapped in a veil of shining +silver mist, listening to the complaints of her people and dealing out justice. +When the prince came up she saw directly that he was no ordinary man, and +telling her chamberlain to dismiss the rest of her petitioners for that day, +she signed to the prince to follow her into the palace. Luckily she had been +taught his language as a child, so they had no difficulty in talking together. +</p> + +<p> +The prince told all his story and how he was journeying in search of the Land +of Immortality. When he had finished, the princess, who had listened +attentively, rose, and taking his arm, led him to the door of another room, the +floor of which was made entirely of needles, stuck so close together that there +was not room for a single needle more. +</p> + +<p> +“Prince,” she said, turning to him, “you see these needles? Well, know that +neither I nor any of my family can die till I have worn out these needles in +sewing. It will take at least a thousand years for that. Stay here, and share +my throne; a thousand years is long enough to live!” +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly,” answered he; “still, at the end of the thousand years I should +have to die! No, I must find the land where there is no death.” +</p> + +<p> +The queen did all she could to persuade him to stay, but as her words proved +useless, at length she gave it up. Then she said to him: “As you will not stay, +take this little golden rod as a remembrance of me. It has the power to become +anything you wish it to be, when you are in need.” +</p> + +<p> +So the prince thanked her, and putting the rod in his pocket, went his way. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had he left the town behind him when he came to a broad river which no +man might pass, for he was standing at the end of the world, and this was the +river which flowed round it. Not knowing what to do next, he walked a little +distance up the bank, and there, over his head, a beautiful city was floating +in the air. He longed to get to it, but how? neither road nor bridge was +anywhere to be seen, yet the city drew him upwards, and he felt that here at +last was the country which he sought. Suddenly he remembered the golden rod +which the mist-veiled queen had given him. With a beating heart he flung it to +the ground, wishing with all his might that it should turn into a bridge, and +fearing that, after all, this might prove beyond its power. But no, instead of +the rod, there stood a golden ladder, leading straight up to the city of the +air. He was about to enter the golden gates, when there sprang at him a +wondrous beast, whose like he had never seen. “Out sword from the sheath,” +cried the prince, springing back with a cry. And the sword leapt from the +scabbard and cut off some of the monster’s heads, but others grew again +directly, so that the prince, pale with terror, stood where he was, calling for +help, and put his sword back in the sheath again. +</p> + +<p> +The queen of the city heard the noise and looked from her window to see what +was happening. Summoning one of her servants, she bade him go and rescue the +stranger, and bring him to her. The prince thankfully obeyed her orders, and +entered her presence. +</p> + +<p> +The moment she looked at him, the queen also felt that he was no ordinary man, +and she welcomed him graciously, and asked him what had brought him to the +city. In answer the prince told all his story, and how he had travelled long +and far in search of the Land of Immortality. +</p> + +<p> +“You have found it,” said she, “for I am queen over life and over death. Here +you can dwell among the immortals.” +</p> + +<p> +A thousand years had passed since the prince first entered the city, but they +had flown so fast that the time seemed no more than six months. There had not +been one instant of the thousand years that the prince was not happy till one +night when he dreamed of his father and mother. Then the longing for his home +came upon him with a rush, and in the morning he told the Queen of the +Immortals that he must go and see his father and mother once more. The queen +stared at him with amazement, and cried: “Why, prince, are you out of your +senses? It is more than eight hundred years since your father and mother died! +There will not even be their dust remaining.” +</p> + +<p> +“I must go all the same,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, do not be in a hurry,” continued the queen, understanding that he would +not be prevented. “Wait till I make some preparations for your journey.” So she +unlocked her great treasure chest, and took out two beautiful flasks, one of +gold and one of silver, which she hung round his neck. Then she showed him a +little trap-door in one corner of the room, and said: “Fill the silver flask +with this water, which is below the trap-door. It is enchanted, and whoever you +sprinkle with the water will become a dead man at once, even if he had lived a +thousand years. The golden flask you must fill with the water here,” she added, +pointing to a well in another corner. “It springs from the rock of eternity; +you have only to sprinkle a few drops on a body and it will come to life again, +if it had been a thousand years dead.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince thanked the queen for her gifts, and, bidding her farewell, went on +his journey. +</p> + +<p> +He soon arrived in the town where the mist-veiled queen reigned in her palace, +but the whole city had changed, and he could scarcely find his way through the +streets. In the palace itself all was still, and he wandered through the rooms +without meeting anyone to stop him. At last he entered the queen’s own chamber, +and there she lay, with her embroidery still in her hands, fast asleep. He +pulled at her dress, but she did not waken. Then a dreadful idea came over him, +and he ran to the chamber where the needles had been kept, but it was quite +empty. The queen had broken the last over the work she held in her hand, and +with it the spell was broken too, and she lay dead. +</p> + +<p> +Quick as thought the prince pulled out the golden flask, and sprinkled some +drops of the water over the queen. In a moment she moved gently, and raising +her head, opened her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my dear friend, I am so glad you wakened me; I must have slept a long +while!” +</p> + +<p> +“You would have slept till eternity,” answered the prince, “if I had not been +here to waken you.” +</p> + +<p> +At these words the queen remembered about the needles. She knew now that she +had been dead, and that the prince had restored her to life. She gave him +thanks from her heart for what he had done, and vowed she would repay him if +she ever got a chance. +</p> + +<p> +The prince took his leave, and set out for the country of the bald-headed king. +As he drew near the place he saw that the whole mountain had been dug away, and +that the king was lying dead on the ground, his spade and bucket beside him. +But as soon as the water from the golden flask touched him he yawned and +stretched himself, and slowly rose to his feet. “Oh, my dear friend, I am so +glad to see you,” cried he, “I must have slept a long while!” +</p> + +<p> +“You would have slept till eternity if I had not been here to waken you,” +answered the prince. And the king remembered the mountain, and the spell, and +vowed to repay the service if he ever had a chance. +</p> + +<p> +Further along the road which led to his old home the prince found the great +tree torn up by its roots, and the king of the eagles sitting dead on the +ground, with his wings outspread as if for flight. A flutter ran through the +feathers as the drops of water fell on them, and the eagle lifted his beak from +the ground and said: “Oh, how long I must have slept! How can I thank you for +having awakened me, my dear, good friend!” +</p> + +<p> +“You would have slept till eternity if I had not been here to waken you”; +answered the prince. Then the king remembered about the tree, and knew that he +had been dead, and promised, if ever he had the chance, to repay what the +prince had done for him. +</p> + +<p> +At last he reached the capital of his father’s kingdom, but on reaching the +place where the royal palace had stood, instead of the marble galleries where +he used to play, there lay a great sulphur lake, its blue flames darting into +the air. How was he to find his father and mother, and bring them back to life, +if they were lying at the bottom of that horrible water? He turned away sadly +and wandered back into the streets, hardly knowing where he was going; when a +voice behind him cried: “Stop, prince, I have caught you at last! It is a +thousand years since I first began to seek you.” And there beside him stood the +old, white-bearded, figure of Death. Swiftly he drew the ring from his finger, +and the king of the eagles, the bald-headed king, and the mist-veiled queen, +hastened to his rescue. In an instant they had seized upon Death and held him +tight, till the prince should have time to reach the Land of Immortality. But +they did not know how quickly Death could fly, and the prince had only one foot +across the border, when he felt the other grasped from behind, and the voice of +Death calling: “Halt! now you are mine.” +</p> + +<p> +The Queen of the Immortals was watching from her window, and cried to Death +that he had no power in her kingdom, and that he must seek his prey elsewhere. +</p> + +<p> +“Quite true,” answered Death; “but his foot is in my kingdom, and that belongs +to me!” +</p> + +<p> +“At any rate half of him is mine,” replied the Queen, “and what good can the +other half do you? Half a man is no use, either to you or to me! But this once +I will allow you to cross into my kingdom, and we will decide by a wager whose +he is.” +</p> + +<p> +And so it was settled. Death stepped across the narrow line that surrounds the +Land of Immortality, and the queen proposed the wager which was to decide the +prince’s fate. “I will throw him up into the sky,” she said, “right to the back +of the morning star, and if he falls down into this city, then he is mine. But +if he should fall outside the walls, he shall belong to you.” +</p> + +<p> +In the middle of the city was a great open square, and here the queen wished +the wager to take place. When all was ready, she put her foot under the foot of +the prince and swung him into the air. Up, up, he went, high amongst the stars, +and no man’s eyes could follow him. Had she thrown him up straight? the queen +wondered anxiously, for, if not, he would fall outside the walls, and she would +lose him for ever. The moments seemed long while she and Death stood gazing up +into the air, waiting to know whose prize the prince would be. Suddenly they +both caught sight of a tiny speck no bigger than a wasp, right up in the blue. +Was he coming straight? No! Yes! But as he was nearing the city, a light wind +sprang up, and swayed him in the direction of the wall. Another second and he +would have fallen half over it, when the queen sprang forward, seized him in +her arms, and flung him into the castle. Then she commanded her servants to +cast Death out of the city, which they did, with such hard blows that he never +dared to show his face again in the Land of Immortality. +</p> + +<p> +[From Ungarischen Volksmurchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0018"></a> +The Stone-Cutter</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a stone-cutter, who went every day to a great rock +in the side of a big mountain and cut out slabs for gravestones or for houses. +He understood very well the kinds of stones wanted for the different purposes, +and as he was a careful workman he had plenty of customers. For a long time he +was quite happy and contented, and asked for nothing better than what he had. +</p> + +<p> +Now in the mountain dwelt a spirit which now and then appeared to men, and +helped them in many ways to become rich and prosperous. The stone-cutter, +however, had never seen this spirit, and only shook his head, with an +unbelieving air, when anyone spoke of it. But a time was coming when he learned +to change his opinion. +</p> + +<p> +One day the stone-cutter carried a gravestone to the house of a rich man, and +saw there all sorts of beautiful things, of which he had never even dreamed. +Suddenly his daily work seemed to grow harder and heavier, and he said to +himself: “Oh, if only I were a rich man, and could sleep in a bed with silken +curtains and golden tassels, how happy I should be!” +</p> + +<p> +And a voice answered him: “Your wish is heard; a rich man you shall be!” +</p> + +<p> +At the sound of the voice the stone-cutter looked round, but could see nobody. +He thought it was all his fancy, and picked up his tools and went home, for he +did not feel inclined to do any more work that day. But when he reached the +little house where he lived, he stood still with amazement, for instead of his +wooden hut was a stately palace filled with splendid furniture, and most +splendid of all was the bed, in every respect like the one he had envied. He +was nearly beside himself with joy, and in his new life the old one was soon +forgotten. +</p> + +<p> +It was now the beginning of summer, and each day the sun blazed more fiercely. +One morning the heat was so great that the stone-cutter could scarcely breathe, +and he determined he would stay at home till the evening. He was rather dull, +for he had never learned how to amuse himself, and was peeping through the +closed blinds to see what was going on in the street, when a little carriage +passed by, drawn by servants dressed in blue and silver. In the carriage sat a +prince, and over his head a golden umbrella was held, to protect him from the +sun’s rays. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, if I were only a prince!” said the stone-cutter to himself, as the +carriage vanished round the corner. “Oh, if I were only a prince, and could go +in such a carriage and have a golden umbrella held over me, how happy I should +be!” +</p> + +<p> +And the voice of the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard; a prince +you shall be.” +</p> + +<p> +And a prince he was. Before his carriage rode one company of men and another +behind it; servants dressed in scarlet and gold bore him along, the coveted +umbrella was held over his head, everything heart could desire was his. But yet +it was not enough. He looked round still for something to wish for, and when he +saw that in spite of the water he poured on his grass the rays of the sun +scorched it, and that in spite of the umbrella held over his head each day his +face grew browner and browner, he cried in his anger: “The sun is mightier than +I; oh, if I were only the sun!” +</p> + +<p> +And the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard; the sun you shall be.” +</p> + +<p> +And the sun he was, and felt himself proud in his power. He shot his beams +above and below, on earth and in heaven; he burnt up the grass in the fields +and scorched the faces of princes as well as of poorer folk. But in a short +time he began to grow tired of his might, for there seemed nothing left for him +to do. Discontent once more filled his soul, and when a cloud covered his face, +and hid the earth from him, he cried in his anger: “Does the cloud hold captive +my rays, and is it mightier than I? Oh, that I were a cloud, and mightier than +any!” +</p> + +<p> +And the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard; a cloud you shall be!” +</p> + +<p> +And a cloud he was, and lay between the sun and the earth. He caught the sun’s +beams and held them, and to his joy the earth grew green again and flowers +blossomed. But that was not enough for him, and for days and weeks he poured +forth rain till the rivers overflowed their banks, and the crops of rice stood +in water. Towns and villages were destroyed by the power of the rain, only the +great rock on the mountain side remained unmoved. The cloud was amazed at the +sight, and cried in wonder: “Is the rock, then, mightier than I? Oh, if I were +only the rock!” +</p> + +<p> +And the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard; the rock you shall be! +</p> + +<p> +And the rock he was, and gloried in his power. Proudly he stood, and neither +the heat of the sun nor the force of the rain could move him. “This is better +than all!” he said to himself. But one day he heard a strange noise at his +feet, and when he looked down to see what it could be, he saw a stone-cutter +driving tools into his surface. Even while he looked a trembling feeling ran +all through him, and a great block broke off and fell upon the ground. Then he +cried in his wrath: “Is a mere child of earth mightier than a rock? Oh, if I +were only a man!” +</p> + +<p> +And the mountain spirit answered: “Your wish is heard. A man once more you +shall be!” +</p> + +<p> +And a man he was, and in the sweat of his brow he toiled again at his trade of +stone-cutting. His bed was hard and his food scanty, but he had learned to be +satisfied with it, and did not long to be something or somebody else. And as he +never asked for things he had not got, or desired to be greater and mightier +than other people, he was happy at last, and heard the voice of the mountain +spirit no longer. +</p> + +<p> +[From Japanische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0019"></a> +The Gold-Bearded Man</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a great king who had a wife and one son whom he +loved very much. The boy was still young when, one day, the king said to his +wife: “I feel that the hour of my death draws near, and I want you to promise +that you will never take another husband but will give up your life to the care +of our son.” +</p> + +<p> +The queen burst into tears at these words, and sobbed out that she would never, +never marry again, and that her son’s welfare should be her first thought as +long as she lived. Her promise comforted the troubled heart of the king, and a +few days after he died, at peace with himself and with the world. +</p> + +<p> +But no sooner was the breath out of his body, than the queen said to herself, +“To promise is one thing, and to keep is quite another.” And hardly was the +last spadeful of earth flung over the coffin than she married a noble from a +neighbouring country, and got him made king instead of the young prince. Her +new husband was a cruel, wicked man, who treated his stepson very badly, and +gave him scarcely anything to eat, and only rags to wear; and he would +certainly have killed the boy but for fear of the people. +</p> + +<p> +Now by the palace grounds there ran a brook, but instead of being a water-brook +it was a milk-brook, and both rich and poor flocked to it daily and drew as +much milk as they chose. The first thing the new king did when he was seated on +the throne, was to forbid anyone to go near the brook, on pain of being seized +by the watchmen. And this was purely spite, for there was plenty of milk for +everybody. +</p> + +<p> +For some days no one dared venture near the banks of the stream, but at length +some of the watchmen noticed that early in the mornings, just at dawn, a man +with a gold beard came down to the brook with a pail, which he filled up to the +brim with milk, and then vanished like smoke before they could get near enough +to see who he was. So they went and told the king what they had seen. +</p> + +<p> +At first the king would not believe their story, but as they persisted it was +quite true, he said that he would go and watch the stream that night himself. +With the earliest streaks of dawn the gold-bearded man appeared, and filled his +pail as before. Then in an instant he had vanished, as if the earth had +swallowed him up. +</p> + +<p> +The king stood staring with eyes and mouth open at the place where the man had +disappeared. He had never seen him before, that was certain; but what mattered +much more was how to catch him, and what should be done with him when he was +caught? He would have a cage built as a prison for him, and everyone would talk +of it, for in other countries thieves were put in prison, and it was long +indeed since any king had used a cage. It was all very well to plan, and even +to station a watchman behind every bush, but it was of no use, for the man was +never caught. They would creep up to him softly on the grass, as he was +stooping to fill his pail, and just as they stretched out their hands to seize +him, he vanished before their eyes. Time after time this happened, till the +king grew mad with rage, and offered a large reward to anyone who could tell +him how to capture his enemy. +</p> + +<p> +The first person that came with a scheme was an old soldier who promised the +king that if he would only put some bread and bacon and a flask of wine on the +bank of the stream, the gold-bearded man would be sure to eat and drink, and +they could shake some powder into the wine, which would send him to sleep at +once. After that there was nothing to do but to shut him in the cage. +</p> + +<p> +This idea pleased the king, and he ordered bread and bacon and a flask of +drugged wine to be placed on the bank of the stream, and the watchers to be +redoubled. Then, full of hope, he awaited the result. +</p> + +<p> +Everything turned out just as the soldier had said. Early next morning the +gold-bearded man came down to the brook, ate, drank, and fell sound asleep, so +that the watchers easily bound him, and carried him off to the palace. In a +moment the king had him fast in the golden cage, and showed him, with ferocious +joy, to the strangers who were visiting his court. The poor captive, when he +awoke from his drunken sleep, tried to talk to them, but no one would listen to +him, so he shut himself up altogether, and the people who came to stare took +him for a dumb man of the woods. He wept and moaned to himself all day, and +would hardly touch food, though, in dread that he should die and escape his +tormentors, the king ordered his head cook to send him dishes from the royal +table. +</p> + +<p> +The gold-bearded man had been in captivity about a month, when the king was +forced to make war upon a neighbouring country, and left the palace, to take +command of his army. But before he went he called his stepson to him and said: +</p> + +<p> +“Listen, boy, to what I tell you. While I am away I trust the care of my +prisoner to you. See that he has plenty to eat and drink, but be careful that +he does not escape, or even walk about the room. If I return and find him gone, +you will pay for it by a terrible death.” +</p> + +<p> +The young prince was thankful that his stepfather was going to the war, and +secretly hoped he might never come back. Directly he had ridden off the boy +went to the room where the cage was kept, and never left it night and day. He +even played his games beside it. +</p> + +<p> +One day he was shooting at a mark with a silver bow; one of his arrows fell +into the golden cage. +</p> + +<p> +“Please give me my arrow,” said the prince, running up to him; but the +gold-bearded man answered: +</p> + +<p> +“No, I shall not give it to you unless you let me out of my cage.” +</p> + +<p> +“I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that +I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war. My arrow can +be of no use to you, so give it to me.” +</p> + +<p> +The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged +harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free. Indeed, +he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a +tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people. So he shot back the +bolt, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world. +</p> + +<p> +“I will repay you a thousand fold for that good deed.” said the man, and then +he vanished. The prince began to think what he should say to the king when he +came back; then he wondered whether it would be wise to wait for his +stepfather’s return and run the risk of the dreadful death which had been +promised him. “No,” he said to himself, “I am afraid to stay. Perhaps the world +will be kinder to me than he has been.” +</p> + +<p> +Unseen he stole out when twilight fell, and for many days he wandered over +mountains and through forests and valleys without knowing where he was going or +what he should do. He had only the berries for food, when, one morning, he saw +a wood-pigeon sitting on a bough. In an instant he had fitted an arrow to his +bow, and was taking aim at the bird, thinking what a good meal he would make +off him, when his weapon fell to the ground at the sound of the pigeon’s voice: +</p> + +<p> +“Do not shoot, I implore you, noble prince! I have two little sons at home, and +they will die of hunger if I am not there to bring them food.” +</p> + +<p> +And the young prince had pity, and unstrung his bow. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, prince, I will repay your deed of mercy, said the grateful wood-pigeon. +</p> + +<p> +“Poor thing! how can you repay me?” asked the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“You have forgotten,” answered the wood-pigeon, “the proverb that runs, +‘mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living creature can always come +across another.’” The boy laughed at this speech and went his way. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by he reached the edge of a lake, and flying towards some rushes which +grew near the shore he beheld a wild duck. Now, in the days that the king, his +father, was alive, and he had everything to eat he could possibly wish for, the +prince always had wild duck for his birthday dinner, so he quickly fitted an +arrow to his bow and took a careful aim. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not shoot, I pray you, noble prince!” cried the wild duck; “I have two +little sons at home; they will die of hunger if I am not there to bring them +food.” +</p> + +<p> +And the prince had pity, and let fall his arrow and unstrung his bow. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, prince! I will repay your deed of mercy,” exclaimed the grateful wild +duck. +</p> + +<p> +“You poor thing! how can you repay me?” asked the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“You have forgotten,” answered the wild duck, “the proverb that runs, ‘mountain +and mountain can never meet, but one living creature can always come across +another.’” The boy laughed at this speech and went his way. +</p> + +<p> +He had not wandered far from the shores of the lake, when he noticed a stork +standing on one leg, and again he raised his bow and prepared to take aim. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not shoot, I pray you, noble prince,” cried the stork; “I have two little +sons at home; they will die of hunger if I am not there to bring them food.” +</p> + +<p> +Again the prince was filled with pity, and this time also he did not shoot. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, prince, I will repay your deed of mercy,” cried the stork. +</p> + +<p> +“You poor stork! how can you repay me?” asked the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“You have forgotten,” answered the stork, “the proverb that runs, ‘mountain and +mountain can never meet, but one living creature can always come across +another.’” +</p> + +<p> +The boy laughed at hearing these words again, and walked slowly on. He had not +gone far, when he fell in with two discharged soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“Where are you going, little brother?” asked one. +</p> + +<p> +“I am seeking work,” answered the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“So are we,” replied the soldier. “We can all go together.” +</p> + +<p> +The boy was glad of company and they went on, and on, and on, through seven +kingdoms, without finding anything they were able to do. At length they reached +a palace, and there was the king standing on the steps. +</p> + +<p> +“You seem to be looking for something,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“It is work we want,” they all answered. +</p> + +<p> +So the king told the soldiers that they might become his coachmen; but he made +the boy his companion, and gave him rooms near his own. The soldiers were +dreadfully angry when they heard this, for of course they did not know that the +boy was really a prince; and they soon began to lay their heads together to +plot his ruin. +</p> + +<p> +Then they went to the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Your Majesty,” they said, “we think it our duty to tell you that your new +companion has boasted to us that if he were only your steward he would not lose +a single grain of corn out of the storehouses. Now, if your Majesty would give +orders that a sack of wheat should be mixed with one of barley, and would send +for the youth, and command him to separate the grains one from another, in two +hours’ time, you would soon see what his talk was worth.” +</p> + +<p> +The king, who was weak, listened to what these wicked men had told him, and +desired the prince to have the contents of the sack piled into two heaps by the +time that he returned from his council. “If you succeed,” he added, “you shall +be my steward, but if you fail, I will put you to death on the spot.” +</p> + +<p> +The unfortunate prince declared that he had never made any such boast as was +reported; but it was all in vain. The king did not believe him, and turning him +into an empty room, bade his servants carry in the huge sack filled with wheat +and barley, and scatter them in a heap on the floor. +</p> + +<p> +The prince hardly knew where to begin, and indeed if he had had a thousand +people to help him, and a week to do it in, he could never have finished his +task. So he flung himself on the ground in despair, and covered his face with +his hands. +</p> + +<p> +While he lay thus, a wood-pigeon flew in through the window. +</p> + +<p> +“Why are you weeping, noble prince?” asked the wood-pigeon. +</p> + +<p> +“How can I help weeping at the task set me by the king. For he says, if I fail +to do it, I shall die a horrible death.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, there is really nothing to cry about,” answered the wood-pigeon +soothingly. “I am the king of the wood-pigeons, whose life you spared when you +were hungry. And now I will repay my debt, as I promised.” So saying he flew +out of the window, leaving the prince with some hope in his heart. +</p> + +<p> +In a few minutes he returned, followed by a cloud of wood-pigeons, so dense +that it seemed to fill the room. Their king showed them what they had to do, +and they set to work so hard that the grain was sorted into two heaps long +before the council was over. When the king came back he could not believe his +eyes; but search as he might through the two heaps, he could not find any +barley among the wheat, or any wheat amongst the barley. So he praised the +prince for his industry and cleverness, and made him his steward at once. +</p> + +<p> +This made the two soldiers more envious still, and they began to hatch another +plot. +</p> + +<p> +“Your Majesty,” they said to the king, one day, as he was standing on the steps +of the palace, “that fellow has been boasting again, that if he had the care of +your treasures not so much as a gold pin should ever be lost. Put this vain +fellow to the proof, we pray you, and throw the ring from the princess’s finger +into the brook, and bid him find it. We shall soon see what his talk is worth.” +</p> + +<p> +And the foolish king listened to them, and ordered the prince to be brought +before him. +</p> + +<p> +“My son,” he said, “I have heard that you have declared that if I made you +keeper of my treasures you would never lose so much as a gold pin. Now, in +order to prove the truth of your words, I am going to throw the ring from the +princess’s finger into the brook, and if you do not find it before I come back +from council, you will have to die a horrible death.” +</p> + +<p> +It was no use denying that he had said anything of the kind. The king did not +believe him; in fact he paid no attention at all, and hurried off, leaving the +poor boy speechless with despair in the corner. However, he soon remembered +that though it was very unlikely that he should find the ring in the brook, it +was impossible that he should find it by staying in the palace. +</p> + +<p> +For some time the prince wandered up and down peering into the bottom of the +stream, but though the water was very clear, nothing could he see of the ring. +At length he gave it up in despair, and throwing himself down at the foot of +the tree, he wept bitterly. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter, dear prince?” said a voice just above him, and raising his +head, he saw the wild duck. +</p> + +<p> +“The king of this country declares I must die a horrible death if I cannot find +the princess’s ring which he has thrown into the brook,” answered the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, you must not vex yourself about that, for I can help you,” replied the +bird. “I am the king of the wild ducks, whose life you spared, and now it is my +turn to save yours.” Then he flew away, and in a few minutes a great flock of +wild ducks were swimming all up and down the stream looking with all their +might, and long before the king came back from his council there it was, safe +on the grass beside the prince. +</p> + +<p> +At this sight the king was yet more astonished at the cleverness of his +steward, and at once promoted him to be the keeper of his jewels. +</p> + +<p> +Now you would have thought that by this time the king would have been satisfied +with the prince, and would have left him alone; but people’s natures are very +hard to change, and when the two envious soldiers came to him with a new +falsehood, he was as ready to listen to them as before. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious Majesty,” said they, “the youth whom you have made keeper of your +jewels has declared to us that a child shall be born in the palace this night, +which will be able to speak every language in the world and to play every +instrument of music. Is he then become a prophet, or a magician, that he should +know things which have not yet come to pass?” +</p> + +<p> +At these words the king became more angry than ever. He had tried to learn +magic himself, but somehow or other his spells would never work, and he was +furious to hear that the prince claimed a power that he did not possess. +Stammering with rage, he ordered the youth to be brought before him, and vowed +that unless this miracle was accomplished he would have the prince dragged at a +horse’s tail until he was dead. +</p> + +<p> +In spite of what the soldiers had said, the boy knew no more magic than the +king did, and his task seemed more hopeless than before. He lay weeping in the +chamber which he was forbidden to leave, when suddenly he heard a sharp tapping +at the window, and, looking up, he beheld a stork. +</p> + +<p> +“What makes you so sad, prince?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“Someone has told the king that I have prophesied that a child shall be born +this night in the palace, who can speak all the languages in the world and play +every musical instrument. I am no magician to bring these things to pass, but +he says that if it does not happen he will have me dragged through the city at +a horse’s tail till I die.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not trouble yourself,” answered the stork. “I will manage to find such a +child, for I am the king of the storks whose life you spared, and now I can +repay you for it.” +</p> + +<p> +The stork flew away and soon returned carrying in his beak a baby wrapped in +swaddling clothes, and laid it down near a lute. In an instant the baby +stretched out its little hands and began to play a tune so beautiful that even +the prince forgot his sorrows as he listened. Then he was given a flute and a +zither, but he was just as well able to draw music from them; and the prince, +whose courage was gradually rising, spoke to him in all the languages he knew. +The baby answered him in all, and no one could have told which was his native +tongue! +</p> + +<p> +The next morning the king went straight to the prince’s room, and saw with his +own eyes the wonders that baby could do. “If your magic can produce such a +baby,” he said, “you must be greater than any wizard that ever lived, and shall +have my daughter in marriage.” And, being a king, and therefore accustomed to +have everything the moment he wanted it, he commanded the ceremony to be +performed without delay, and a splendid feast to be made for the bride and +bridegroom. When it was over, he said to the prince: +</p> + +<p> +“Now that you are really my son, tell me by what arts you were able to fulfil +the tasks I set you?” +</p> + +<p> +“My noble father-in-law,” answered the prince, “I am ignorant of all spells and +arts. But somehow I have always managed to escape the death which has +threatened me.” And he told the king how he had been forced to run away from +his stepfather, and how he had spared the three birds, and had joined the two +soldiers, who had from envy done their utmost to ruin him. +</p> + +<p> +The king was rejoiced in his heart that his daughter had married a prince, and +not a common man, and he chased the two soldiers away with whips, and told them +that if they ever dared to show their faces across the borders of his kingdom, +they should die the same death he had prepared for the prince. +</p> + +<p> +[From Ungarische Mährchen] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0020"></a> +Tritill, Litill, And The Birds</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a princess who was so beautiful and so good that +everybody loved her. Her father could hardly bear her out of his sight, and he +almost died of grief when, one day, she disappeared, and though the whole +kingdom was searched through and through, she could not be found in any corner +of it. In despair, the king ordered a proclamation to be made that whoever +could bring her back to the palace should have her for his wife. This made the +young men start afresh on the search, but they were no more successful than +before, and returned sorrowfully to their homes. +</p> + +<p> +Now there dwelt, not far from the palace, an old man who had three sons. The +two eldest were allowed by their parents to do just as they liked, but the +youngest was always obliged to give way to his brothers. When they were all +grown up, the eldest told his father that he was tired of leading such a quiet +life, and that he meant to go away and see the world. +</p> + +<p> +The old people were very unhappy at the thought that they must part with him, +but they said nothing, and began to collect all that he would want for his +travels, and were careful to add a pair of new boots. When everything was +ready, he bade them farewell, and started merrily on his way. +</p> + +<p> +For some miles his road lay through a wood, and when he left it he suddenly +came out on a bare hillside. Here he sat down to rest, and pulling out his +wallet prepared to eat his dinner. +</p> + +<p> +He had only eaten a few mouthfuls when an old man badly dressed passed by, and +seeing the food, asked if the young man could not spare him a little. +</p> + +<p> +“Not I, indeed!” answered he; “why I have scarcely enough for myself. If you +want food you must earn it.” And the beggar went on. +</p> + +<p> +After the young man had finished his dinner he rose and walked on for several +hours, till he reached a second hill, where he threw himself down on the grass, +and took some bread and milk from his wallet. While he was eating and drinking, +there came by an old man, yet more wretched than the first, and begged for a +few mouthfuls. But instead of food he only got hard words, and limped sadly +away. +</p> + +<p> +Towards evening the young man reached an open space in the wood, and by this +time he thought he would like some supper. The birds saw the food, and flew +round his head in numbers hoping for some crumbs, but he threw stones at them, +and frightened them off. Then he began to wonder where he should sleep. Not in +the open space he was in, for that was bare and cold, and though he had walked +a long way that day, and was tired, he dragged himself up, and went on seeking +for a shelter. +</p> + +<p> +At length he saw a deep sort of hole or cave under a great rock, and as it +seemed quite empty, he went in, and lay down in a corner. About midnight he was +awakened by a noise, and peeping out he beheld a terrible ogress approaching. +He implored her not to hurt him, but to let him stay there for the rest of the +night, to which she consented, on condition that he should spend the next day +in doing any task which she might choose to set him. To this the young man +willingly agreed, and turned over and went to sleep again. In the morning, the +ogress bade him sweep the dust out of the cave, and to have it clean before her +return in the evening, otherwise it would be the worse for him. Then she left +the cave. +</p> + +<p> +The young man took the spade, and began to clean the floor of the cave, but try +as he would to move it the dirt still stuck to its place. He soon gave up the +task, and sat sulkily in the corner, wondering what punishment the ogress would +find for him, and why she had set him to do such an impossible thing. +</p> + +<p> +He had not long to wait, after the ogress came home, before he knew what his +punishment was to be! She just gave one look at the floor of the cave, then +dealt him a blow on the head which cracked his skull, and there was an end of +him. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile his next brother grew tired of staying at home, and let his parents +have no rest till they had consented that he also should be given some food and +some new boots, and go out to see the world. On his road, he also met the two +old beggars, who prayed for a little of his bread and milk, but this young man +had never been taught to help other people, and had made it a rule through his +life to keep all he had to himself. So he turned a deaf ear and finished his +dinner. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by he, too, came to the cave, and was bidden by the ogress to clean the +floor, but he was no more successful than his brother, and his fate was the +same. +</p> + +<p> +Anyone would have thought that when the old people had only one son left that +at least they would have been kind to him, even if they did not love him. But +for some reason they could hardly bear the sight of him, though he tried much +harder to make them comfortable than his brothers had ever done. So when he +asked their leave to go out into the world they gave it at once, and seemed +quite glad to be rid of him. They felt it was quite generous of them to provide +him with a pair of new boots and some bread and milk for his journey. +</p> + +<p> +Besides the pleasure of seeing the world, the youth was very anxious to +discover what had become of his brothers, and he determined to trace, as far as +he could, the way that they must have gone. He followed the road that led from +his father’s cottage to the hill, where he sat down to rest, saying to himself: +“I am sure my brothers must have stopped here, and I will do the same.” +</p> + +<p> +He was hungry as well as tired, and took out some of the food his parents had +given him. He was just going to begin to eat when the old man appeared, and +asked if he could not spare him a little. The young man at once broke off some +of the bread, begging the old man to sit down beside him, and treating him as +if he was an old friend. At last the stranger rose, and said to him: “If ever +you are in trouble call me, and I will help you. My name is Tritill.” Then he +vanished, and the young man could not tell where he had gone. +</p> + +<p> +However, he felt he had now rested long enough, and that he had better be going +his way. At the next hill he met with the second old man, and to him also he +gave food and drink. And when this old man had finished he said, like the +first: “If you ever want help in the smallest thing call to me. My name is +Litill.” +</p> + +<p> +The young man walked on till he reached the open space in the wood, where he +stopped for dinner. In a moment all the birds in the world seemed flying round +his head, and he crumbled some of his bread for them and watched them as they +darted down to pick it up. When they had cleared off every crumb the largest +bird with the gayest plumage said to him: “If you are in trouble and need help +say, ‘My birds, come to me!’ and we will come.” Then they flew away. +</p> + +<p> +Towards evening the young man reached the cave where his brothers had met their +deaths, and, like them, he thought it would be a good place to sleep in. +Looking round, he saw some pieces of the dead men’s clothes and of their bones. +The sight made him shiver, but he would not move away, and resolved to await +the return of the ogress, for such he knew she must be. +</p> + +<p> +Very soon she came striding in, and he asked politely if she would give him a +night’s lodging. She answered as before, that he might stay on condition that +he should do any work that she might set him to next morning. So the bargain +being concluded, the young man curled himself up in his corner and went to +sleep. +</p> + +<p> +The dirt lay thicker than ever on the floor of the cave when the young man took +the spade and began his work. He could not clear it any more than his brothers +had done, and at last the spade itself stuck in the earth so that he could not +pull it out. The youth stared at it in despair, then the old beggar’s words +flashed into his mind, and he cried: “Tritill, Tritill, come and help me!” +</p> + +<p> +And Tritill stood beside him and asked what he wanted. The youth told him all +his story, and when he had finished, the old man said: “Spade and shovel do +your duty,” and they danced about the cave till, in a short time, there was not +a speck of dust left on the floor. As soon as it was quite clean Tritill went +his way. +</p> + +<p> +With a light heart the young man awaited the return of the ogress. When she +came in she looked carefully round, and then said to him: “You did not do that +quite alone. However, as the floor is clean I will leave your head on.” +</p> + +<p> +The following morning the ogress told the young man that he must take all the +feathers out of her pillows and spread them to dry in the sun. But if one +feather was missing when she came back at night his head should pay for it.” +</p> + +<p> +The young man fetched the pillows, and shook out all the feathers, and oh! what +quantities of them there were! He was thinking to himself, as he spread them +out carefully, how lucky it was that the sun was so bright and that there was +no wind, when suddenly a breeze sprang up, and in a moment the feathers were +dancing high in the air. At first the youth tried to collect them again, but he +soon found that it was no use, and he cried in despair: “Tritill, Litill, and +all my birds, come and help me!” +</p> + +<p> +He had hardly said the words when there they all were; and when the birds had +brought all the feathers back again, Tritill, and Litill, and he, put them away +in the pillows, as the ogress had bidden him. But one little feather they kept +out, and told the young man that if the ogress missed it he was to thrust it up +her nose. Then they all vanished, Tritill, Litill, and the birds. +</p> + +<p> +Directly the ogress returned home she flung herself with all her weight on the +bed, and the whole cave quivered under her. The pillows were soft and full +instead of being empty, which surprised her, but that did not content her. She +got up, shook out the pillow-cases one by one, and began to count the feathers +that were in each. “If one is missing I will have your head,” said she, and at +that the young man drew the feather from his pocket and thrust it up her nose, +crying “If you want your feather, here it is.” +</p> + +<p> +“You did not sort those feathers alone,” answered the ogress calmly; “however, +this time I will let that pass.” +</p> + +<p> +That night the young man slept soundly in his corner, and in the morning the +ogress told him that his work that day would be to slay one of her great oxen, +to cook its heart, and to make drinking cups of its horns, before she returned +home “There are fifty oxen,” added she, “and you must guess which of the herd I +want killed. If you guess right, to-morrow you shall be free to go where you +will, and you shall choose besides three things as a reward for your service. +But if you slay the wrong ox your head shall pay for it.” +</p> + +<p> +Left alone, the young man stood thinking for a little. Then he called: +“Tritill, Litill, come to my help!” +</p> + +<p> +In a moment he saw them, far away, driving the biggest ox the youth had ever +seen. When they drew near, Tritill killed it, Litill took out its heart for the +young man to cook, and both began quickly to turn the horns into drinking cups. +The work went merrily on, and they talked gaily, and the young man told his +friends of the payment promised him by the ogress if he had done her bidding. +The old men warned him that he must ask her for the chest which stood at the +foot of her bed, for whatever lay on the top of the bed, and for what lay under +the side of the cave. The young man thanked them for their counsel, and Tritill +and Litill then took leave of him, saying that for the present he would need +them no more. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had they disappeared when the ogress came back, and found everything +ready just as she had ordered. Before she sat down to eat the bullock’s heart +she turned to the young man, and said: “You did not do that all alone, my +friend; but, nevertheless, I will keep my word, and to-morrow you shall go your +way.” So they went to bed and slept till dawn. +</p> + +<p> +When the sun rose the ogress awoke the young man, and called to him to choose +any three things out of her house. +</p> + +<p> +“I choose,” answered he, “the chest which stands at the foot of your bed; +whatever lies on the top of the bed, and whatever is under the side of the +cave.” +</p> + +<p> +“You did not choose those things by yourself, my friend,” said the ogress; “but +what I have promised, that will I do.” +</p> + +<p> +And then she gave him his reward. +</p> + +<p> +“The thing which lay on the top of the bed” turned out to be the lost princess. +“The chest which stood at the foot of the bed” proved full of gold and precious +stones; and “what was under the side of the cave” he found to be a great ship, +with oars and sails that went of itself as well on land as in the water. “You +are the luckiest man that ever was born,” said the ogress as she went out of +the cave as usual. +</p> + +<p> +With much difficulty the youth put the heavy chest on his shoulders and carried +it on board the ship, the princess walking by his side. Then he took the helm +and steered the vessel back to her father’s kingdom. The king’s joy at +receiving back his lost daughter was so great that he almost fainted, but when +he recovered himself he made the young man tell him how everything had really +happened. “You have found her, and you shall marry her,” said the king; and so +it was done. And this is the end of the story. +</p> + +<p> +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0021"></a> +The Three Robes</h2> + +<p> +Long, long ago, a king and queen reigned over a large and powerful country. +What their names were nobody knows, but their son was called Sigurd, and their +daughter Lineik, and these young people were famed throughout the whole kingdom +for their wisdom and beauty. +</p> + +<p> +There was only a year between them, and they loved each other so much that they +could do nothing apart. When they began to grow up the king gave them a house +of their own to live in, with servants and carriages, and everything they could +possibly want. +</p> + +<p> +For many years they all lived happily together, and then the queen fell ill, +and knew that she would never get better. +</p> + +<p> +“Promise me two things,” she said one day to the king; “one, that if you marry +again, as indeed you must, you will not choose as your wife a woman from some +small state or distant island, who knows nothing of the world, and will be +taken up with thoughts of her grandeur. But rather seek out a princess of some +great kingdom, who has been used to courts all her life, and holds them at +their true worth. The other thing I have to ask is, that you will never cease +to watch over our children, who will soon become your greatest joy.” +</p> + +<p> +These were the queen’s last words, and a few hours later she was dead. The king +was so bowed down with sorrow that he would not attend even to the business of +the kingdom, and at last his Prime Minister had to tell him that the people +were complaining that they had nobody to right their wrongs. “You must rouse +yourself, sir,” went on the minister, “and put aside your own sorrows for the +sake of your country.” +</p> + +<p> +“You do not spare me,” answered the king; “but what you say is just, and your +counsel is good. I have heard that men say, likewise, that it will be for the +good of my kingdom for me to marry again, though my heart will never cease to +be with my lost wife. But it was her wish also; therefore, to you I entrust the +duty of finding a lady fitted to share my throne; only, see that she comes +neither from a small town nor a remote island.” +</p> + +<p> +So an embassy was prepared, with the minister at its head, to visit the +greatest courts in the world, and to choose out a suitable princess. But the +vessel which carried them had not been gone many days when a thick fog came on, +and the captain could see neither to the right nor to the left. For a whole +month the ship drifted about in darkness, till at length the fog lifted and +they beheld a cliff jutting out just in front. On one side of the cliff lay a +sheltered bay, in which the vessel was soon anchored, and though they did not +know where they were, at any rate they felt sure of fresh fruit and water. +</p> + +<p> +The minister left the rest of his followers on board the ship, and taking a +small boat rowed himself to land, in order to look about him and to find out if +the island was really as deserted as it seemed. +</p> + +<p> +He had not gone far, when he heard the sound of music, and, turning in its +direction, he saw a woman of marvellous beauty sitting on a low stool playing +on a harp, while a girl beside her sang. The minister stopped and greeted the +lady politely, and she replied with friendliness, asking him why he had come to +such an out-of-the way place. In answer he told her of the object of his +journey. +</p> + +<p> +“I am in the same state as your master,” replied the lady; “I was married to a +mighty king who ruled over this land, till Vikings [sea-robbers] came and slew +him and put all the people to death. But I managed to escape, and hid myself +here with my daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +And the daughter listened, and said softly to her mother: “Are you speaking the +truth now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Remember your promise,” answered the mother angrily, giving her a pinch which +was unseen by the minister. +</p> + +<p> +“What is your name, madam?” asked he, much touched by this sad story. +</p> + +<p> +“Blauvor,” she replied “and my daughter is called Laufer”; and then she +inquired the name of the minister, and of the king his master. After this they +talked of many things, and the lady showed herself learned in all that a woman +should know, and even in much that men only were commonly taught. “What a wife +she would make for the king,” thought the minister to himself, and before long +he had begged the honour of her hand for his master. She declared at first that +she was too unworthy to accept the position offered her, and that the minister +would soon repent his choice; but this only made him the more eager, and in the +end he gained her consent, and prevailed on her to return with him at once to +his own country. +</p> + +<p> +The minister then conducted the mother and daughter back to the ship; the +anchor was raised, the sails spread, and a fair wind was behind them. +</p> + +<p> +Now that the fog had lifted they could see as they looked back that, except +just along the shore, the island was bare and deserted and not fit for men to +live in; but about that nobody cared. They had a quick voyage, and in six days +they reached the land, and at once set out for the capital, a messenger being +sent on first by the minister to inform the king of what had happened. +</p> + +<p> +When his Majesty’s eyes fell on the two beautiful women, clad in dresses of +gold and silver, he forgot his sorrows and ordered preparations for the wedding +to be made without delay. In his joy he never remembered to inquire in what +kind of country the future queen had been found. In fact his head was so turned +by the beauty of the two ladies that when the invitations were sent by his +orders to all the great people in the kingdom, he did not even recollect his +two children, who remained shut up in their own house! +</p> + +<p> +After the marriage the king ceased to have any will of his own and did nothing +without consulting his wife. She was present at all his councils, and her +opinion was asked before making peace or war. But when a few months had passed +the king began to have doubts as to whether the minister’s choice had really +been a wise one, and he noticed that his children lived more and more in their +palace and never came near their stepmother. +</p> + +<p> +It always happens that if a person’s eyes are once opened they see a great deal +more than they ever expected; and soon it struck the king that the members of +his court had a way of disappearing one after the other without any reason. At +first he had not paid much attention to the fact, but merely appointed some +fresh person to the vacant place. As, however, man after man vanished without +leaving any trace, he began to grow uncomfortable and to wonder if the queen +could have anything to do with it. +</p> + +<p> +Things were in this state when, one day, his wife said to him that it was time +for him to make a progress through his kingdom and see that his governors were +not cheating him of the money that was his due. “And you need not be anxious +about going,” she added, “for I will rule the country while you are away as +carefully as you could yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +The king had no great desire to undertake this journey, but the queen’s will +was stronger than his, and he was too lazy to make a fight for it. So he said +nothing and set about his preparations, ordering his finest ship to be ready to +carry him round the coast. Still his heart was heavy, and he felt uneasy, +though he could not have told why; and the night before he was to start he went +to the children’s palace to take leave of his son and daughter. +</p> + +<p> +He had not seen them for some time, and they gave him a warm welcome, for they +loved him dearly and he had always been kind to them. They had much to tell +him, but after a while he checked their merry talk and said: +</p> + +<p> +“If I should never come back from this journey I fear that it may not be safe +for you to stay here; so directly there are no more hopes of my return go +instantly and take the road eastwards till you reach a high mountain, which you +must cross. Once over the mountain keep along by the side of a little bay till +you come to two trees, one green and the other red, standing in a thicket, and +so far back from the road that without looking for them you would never see +them. Hide each in the trunk of one of the trees and there you will be safe +from all your enemies.” +</p> + +<p> +With these words the king bade them farewell and entered sadly into his ship. +For a few days the wind was fair, and everything seemed going smoothly; then, +suddenly, a gale sprang up, and a fearful storm of thunder and lightning, such +as had never happened within the memory of man. In spite of the efforts of the +frightened sailors the vessel was driven on the rocks, and not a man on board +was saved. +</p> + +<p> +That very night Prince Sigurd had a dream, in which he thought his father +appeared to him in dripping clothes, and, taking the crown from his head, laid +it at his son’s feet, leaving the room as silently as he had entered it. +</p> + +<p> +Hastily the prince awoke his sister Lineik, and they agreed that their father +must be dead, and that they must lose no time in obeying his orders and putting +themselves in safety. So they collected their jewels and a few clothes and left +the house without being observed by anyone. +</p> + +<p> +They hurried on till they arrived at the mountain without once looking back. +Then Sigurd glanced round and saw that their stepmother was following them, +with an expression on her face which made her uglier than the ugliest old +witch. Between her and them lay a thick wood, and Sigurd stopped for a moment +to set it on fire; then he and his sister hastened on more swiftly than before, +till they reached the grove with the red and green trees, into which they +jumped, and felt that at last they were safe. +</p> + +<p> +Now, at that time there reigned over Greece a king who was very rich and +powerful, although his name has somehow been forgotten. He had two children, a +son and a daughter, who were more beautiful and accomplished than any Greeks +had been before, and they were the pride of their father’s heart. +</p> + +<p> +The prince had no sooner grown out of boyhood than he prevailed on his father +to make war during the summer months on a neighbouring nation, so as to give +him a chance of making himself famous. In winter, however, when it was +difficult to get food and horses in that wild country, the army was dispersed, +and the prince returned home. +</p> + +<p> +During one of these wars he had heard reports of the Princess Lineik’s beauty, +and he resolved to seek her out, and to ask for her hand in marriage. All this +Blauvor, the queen, found out by means of her black arts, and when the prince +drew near the capital she put a splendid dress on her own daughter and then +went to meet her guest. +</p> + +<p> +She bade him welcome to her palace, and when they had finished supper she told +him of the loss of her husband, and how there was no one left to govern the +kingdom but herself. +</p> + +<p> +“But where is the Princess Lineik?” asked the prince when she had ended her +tale. +</p> + +<p> +“Here,” answered the queen, bringing forward the girl, whom she had hitherto +kept in the background. +</p> + +<p> +The prince looked at her and was rather disappointed. The maiden was pretty +enough, but not much out of the common. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, you must not wonder at her pale face and heavy eyes,” said the queen +hastily, for she saw what was passing in his mind. “She has never got over the +loss of both father and mother.” +</p> + +<p> +“That shows a good heart,” thought the prince; “and when she is happy her +beauty will soon come back.” And without any further delay he begged the queen +to consent to their betrothal, for the marriage must take place in his own +country. +</p> + +<p> +The queen was enchanted. She had hardly expected to succeed so soon, and she at +once set about her preparations. Indeed she wished to travel with the young +couple, to make sure that nothing should go wrong; but here the prince was +firm, that he would take no one with him but Laufer, whom he thought was +Lineik. +</p> + +<p> +They soon took leave of the queen, and set sail in a splendid ship; but in a +short time a dense fog came on, and in the dark the captain steered out of his +course, and they found themselves in a bay which was quite strange to all the +crew. The prince ordered a boat to be lowered, and went on shore to look about +him, and it was not long before he noticed the two beautiful trees, quite +different from any that grew in Greece. Calling one of the sailors, he bade him +cut them down, and carry them on board the ship. This was done, and as the sky +was now clear they put out to sea, and arrived in Greece without any more +adventures. +</p> + +<p> +The news that the prince had brought home a bride had gone before them, and +they were greeted with flowery arches and crowns of coloured lights. The king +and queen met them on the steps of the palace, and conducted the girl to the +women’s house, where she would have to remain until her marriage. The prince +then went to his own rooms and ordered that the trees should be brought in to +him. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning the prince bade his attendants bring his future bride to his +own apartments, and when she came he gave her silk which she was to weave into +three robes—one red, one green, and one blue—and these must all be ready before +the wedding. The blue one was to be done first and the green last, and this was +to be the most splendid of all, “for I will wear it at our marriage,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +Left alone, Laufer sat and stared at the heap of shining silk before her. She +did not know how to weave, and burst into tears as she thought that everything +would be discovered, for Lineik’s skill in weaving was as famous as her beauty. +As she sat with her face hidden and her body shaken by sobs, Sigurd in his tree +heard her and was moved to pity. “Lineik, my sister,” he called, softly, +“Laufer is weeping; help her, I pray you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you forgotten the wrongs her mother did to us” answered Lineik, “and that +it is owing to her that we are banished from home?” +</p> + +<p> +But she was not really unforgiving, and very soon she slid quietly out of her +hiding-place, and taking the silk from Laufer’s hands began to weave it. So +quick and clever was she that the blue dress was not only woven but +embroidered, and Lineik was safe back in her tree before the prince returned. +</p> + +<p> +“It is the most beautiful work I have ever seen,” said he, taking up a bit. +“And I am sure that the red one will be still better, because the stuff is +richer,” and with a low bow he left the room. +</p> + +<p> +Laufer had hoped secretly that when the prince had seen the blue dress finished +he would have let her off the other two; but when she found she was expected to +fulfil the whole task, her heart sank and she began to cry loudly. Again Sigurd +heard her, and begged Lineik to come to her help, and Lineik, feeling sorry for +her distress, wove and embroidered the second dress as she had done the first, +mixing gold thread and precious stones till you could hardly see the red of the +stuff. When it was done she glided into her tree just as the prince came in. +</p> + +<p> +“You are as quick as you are clever,” said he, admiringly. “This looks as if it +had been embroidered by the fairies! But as the green robe must outshine the +other two I will give you three days in which to finish it. After it is ready +we will be married at once.” +</p> + +<p> +Now, as he spoke, there rose up in Laufer’s mind all the unkind things that she +and her mother had done to Lineik. Could she hope that they would be forgotten, +and that Lineik would come to her rescue for the third time? And perhaps +Lineik, who had not forgotten the past either, might have left her alone, to +get on as best she could, had not Sigurd, her brother, implored her to help +just once more. So Lineik again slid out of her tree, and, to Laufer’s great +relief, set herself to work. When the shining green silk was ready she caught +the sun’s rays and the moon’s beams on the point of her needle and wove them +into a pattern such as no man had ever seen. But it took a long time, and on +the third morning, just as she was putting the last stitches into the last +flower the prince came in. +</p> + +<p> +Lineik jumped up quickly, and tried to get past him back to her tree; but the +folds of the silk were wrapped round her, and she would have fallen had not the +prince caught her. +</p> + +<p> +“I have thought for some time that all was not quite straight here,” said he. +“Tell me who you are, and where you come from?” +</p> + +<p> +Lineik then told her name and her story. When she had ended the prince turned +angrily to Laufer, and declared that, as a punishment for her wicked lies, she +deserved to die a shameful death. +</p> + +<p> +But Laufer fell at his feet and begged for mercy. It was her mother’s fault, +she said: “It was she, and not I, who passed me off as the Princess Lineik. The +only lie I have ever told you was about the robes, and I do not deserve death +for that.” +</p> + +<p> +She was still on her knees when Prince Sigurd entered the room. He prayed the +Prince of Greece to forgive Laufer, which he did, on condition that Lineik +would consent to marry him. “Not till my stepmother is dead,” answered she, +“for she has brought misery to all that came near her.” Then Laufer told them +that Blauvor was not the wife of a king, but an ogress who had stolen her from +a neighbouring palace and had brought her up as her daughter. And besides being +an ogress she was also a witch, and by her black arts had sunk the ship in +which the father of Sigurd and Lineik had set sail. It was she who had caused +the disappearance of the courtiers, for which no one could account, by eating +them during the night, and she hoped to get rid of all the people in the +country, and then to fill the land with ogres and ogresses like herself. +</p> + +<p> +So Prince Sigurd and the Prince of Greece collected an army swiftly, and +marched upon the town where Blauvor had her palace. They came so suddenly that +no one knew of it, and if they had, Blauvor had eaten most of the strong men; +and others, fearful of something they could not tell what, had secretly left +the place. Therefore she was easily captured, and the next day was beheaded in +the market-place. Afterwards the two princes marched back to Greece. +</p> + +<p> +Lineik had no longer any reason for putting off her wedding, and married the +Prince of Greece at the same time that Sigurd married the princess. And Laufer +remained with Lineik as her friend and sister, till they found a husband for +her in a great nobleman; and all three couples lived happily until they died. +</p> + +<p> +[From Islandische Muhrchen Poestion Wien.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0022"></a> +The Six Hungry Beasts</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a man who dwelt with his wife in a little hut, far +away from any neighbours. But they did not mind being alone, and would have +been quite happy, if it had not been for a marten, who came every night to +their poultry yard, and carried off one of their fowls. The man laid all sorts +of traps to catch the thief, but instead of capturing the foe, it happened that +one day he got caught himself, and falling down, struck his head against a +stone, and was killed. +</p> + +<p> +Not long after the marten came by on the look out for his supper. Seeing the +dead man lying there, he said to himself: “That is a prize, this time I have +done well”; and dragging the body with great difficulty to the sledge which was +waiting for him, drove off with his booty. He had not driven far when he met a +squirrel, who bowed and said: “Good-morning, godfather! what have you got +behind you?” +</p> + +<p> +The marten laughed and answered: “Did you ever hear anything so strange? The +old man that you see here set traps about his hen-house, thinking to catch me +but he fell into his own trap, and broke his own neck. He is very heavy; I wish +you would help me to draw the sledge.” The squirrel did as he was asked, and +the sledge moved slowly along. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by a hare came running across a field, but stopped to see what wonderful +thing was coming. “What have you got there?” she asked, and the marten told his +story and begged the hare to help them pull. +</p> + +<p> +The hare pulled her hardest, and after a while they were joined by a fox, and +then by a wolf, and at length a bear was added to the company, and he was of +more use than all the other five beasts put together. Besides, when the whole +six had supped off the man he was not so heavy to draw. +</p> + +<p> +The worst of it was that they soon began to get hungry again, and the wolf, who +was the hungriest of all, said to the rest: +</p> + +<p> +“What shall we eat now, my friends, as there is no more man?” +</p> + +<p> +“I suppose we shall have to eat the smallest of us,” replied the bear, and the +marten turned round to seize the squirrel who was much smaller than any of the +rest. But the squirrel ran up a tree like lightning, and the marten +remembering, just in time, that he was the next in size, slipped quick as +thought into a hole in the rocks. +</p> + +<p> +“What shall we eat now?” asked the wolf again, when he had recovered from his +surprise. +</p> + +<p> +“We must eat the smallest of us,” repeated the bear, stretching out a paw +towards the hare; but the hare was not a hare for nothing, and before the paw +had touched her, she had darted deep into the wood. +</p> + +<p> +Now that the squirrel, the marten, and the hare had all gone, the fox was the +smallest of the three who were left, and the wolf and the bear explained that +they were very sorry, but they would have to eat him. Michael, the fox, did not +run away as the others had done, but smiled in a friendly manner, and remarked: +“Things taste so stale in a valley; one’s appetite is so much better up on a +mountain.” The wolf and the bear agreed, and they turned out of the hollow +where they had been walking, and chose a path that led up the mountain side. +The fox trotted cheerfully by his two big companions, but on the way he managed +to whisper to the wolf: “Tell me, Peter, when I am eaten, what will you have +for your next dinner?” +</p> + +<p> +This simple question seemed to put out the wolf very much. What would they have +for their next dinner, and, what was more important still, who would there be +to eat it? They had made a rule always to dine off the smallest of the party, +and when the fox was gone, why of course, he was smaller than the bear. +</p> + +<p> +These thoughts flashed quickly through his head, and he said hastily: +</p> + +<p> +“Dear brothers, would it not be better for us to live together as comrades, and +everyone to hunt for the common dinner? Is not my plan a good one?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is the best thing I have ever heard,” answered the fox; and as they were +two to one the bear had to be content, though in his heart he would much have +preferred a good dinner at once to any friendship. +</p> + +<p> +For a few days all went well; there was plenty of game in the forest, and even +the wolf had as much to eat as he could wish. One morning the fox as usual was +going his rounds when he noticed a tall, slender tree, with a magpie’s nest in +one of the top branches. Now the fox was particularly fond of young magpies, +and he set about making a plan by which he could have one for dinner. At last +he hit upon something which he thought would do, and accordingly he sat down +near the tree and began to stare hard at it. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you looking at, Michael?” asked the magpie, who was watching him from +a bough. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m looking at this tree. It has just struck me what a good tree it would be +to cut my new snow-shoes out of.” But at this answer the magpie screeched +loudly, and exclaimed: “Oh, not this tree, dear brother, I implore you! I have +built my nest on it, and my young ones are not yet old enough to fly.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will not be easy to find another tree that would make such good +snow-shoes,” answered the fox, cocking his head on one side, and gazing at the +tree thoughtfully; “but I do not like to be ill-natured, so if you will give me +one of your young ones I will seek my snow-shoes elsewhere.” +</p> + +<p> +Not knowing what to do the poor magpie had to agree, and flying back, with a +heavy heart, he threw one of his young ones out of the nest. The fox seized it +in his mouth and ran off in triumph, while the magpie, though deeply grieved +for the loss of his little one, found some comfort in the thought that only a +bird of extraordinary wisdom would have dreamed of saving the rest by the +sacrifice of the one. But what do you think happened? Why, a few days later, +Michael the fox might have been seen sitting under the very same tree, and a +dreadful pang shot through the heart of the magpie as he peeped at him from a +hole in the nest. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you looking at?” he asked in a trembling voice. +</p> + +<p> +“At this tree. I was just thinking what good snowshoes it would make,” answered +the fox in an absent voice, as if he was not thinking of what he was saying. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my brother, my dear little brother, don’t do that,” cried the magpie, +hopping about in his anguish. “You know you promised only a few days ago that +you would get your snow-shoes elsewhere.” +</p> + +<p> +“So I did; but though I have searched through the whole forest, there is not a +single tree that is as good as this. I am very sorry to put you out, but really +it is not my fault. The only thing I can do for you is to offer to give up my +snow-shoes altogether if you will throw me down one of your young ones in +exchange.” +</p> + +<p> +And the poor magpie, in spite of his wisdom, was obliged to throw another of +his little ones out of the nest; and this time he was not able to console +himself with the thought that he had been much cleverer than other people. +</p> + +<p> +He sat on the edge of his nest, his head drooping and his feathers all ruffled, +looking the picture of misery. Indeed he was so different from the gay, jaunty +magpie whom every creature in the forest knew, that a crow who was flying past, +stopped to inquire what was the matter. “Where are the two young ones who are +not in the nest?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“I had to give them to the fox,” replied the magpie in a quivering voice; “he +has been here twice in the last week, and wanted to cut down my tree for the +purpose of making snow-shoes out of it, and the only way I could buy him off +was by giving him two of my young ones.” +</p> + +<p> +Oh, you fool,” cried the crow, “the fox was only trying to frighten you. He +could not have cut down the tree, for he has neither axe nor knife. Dear me, to +think that you have sacrificed your young ones for nothing! Dear, dear! how +could you be so very foolish!” And the crow flew away, leaving the magpie +overcome with shame and sorrow. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning the fox came to his usual place in front of the tree, for he +was hungry, and a nice young magpie would have suited him very well for dinner. +But this time there was no cowering, timid magpie to do his bidding, but a bird +with his head erect and a determined voice. +</p> + +<p> +“My good fox,” said the magpie putting his head on one side and looking very +wise—“my good fox, if you take my advice, you will go home as fast as you can. +There is no use your talking about making snow-shoes out of this tree, when you +have neither knife nor axe to cut it down with!” +</p> + +<p> +“Who has been teaching you wisdom?” asked the fox, forgetting his manners in +his surprise at this new turn of affairs. +</p> + +<p> +“The crow, who paid me a visit yesterday,” answered the magpie. +</p> + +<p> +“The crow was it?” said the fox, “well, the crow had better not meet me for the +future, or it may be the worse for him.” +</p> + +<p> +As Michael, the cunning beast, had no desire to continue the conversation, he +left the forest; but when he came to the high road he laid himself at full +length on the ground, stretching himself out, just as if he was dead. Very soon +he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that the crow was flying towards him, +and he kept stiller and stiffer than ever, with his tongue hanging out of his +mouth. The crow, who wanted her supper very badly, hopped quickly towards him, +and was stooping forward to peck at his tongue when the fox gave a snap, and +caught him by the wing. The crow knew that it was of no use struggling, so he +said: +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, brother, if you are really going to eat me, do it, I beg of you, in good +style. Throw me first over this precipice, so that my feathers may be strewn +here and there, and that all who see them may know that your cunning is greater +than mine.” This idea pleased the fox, for he had not yet forgiven the crow for +depriving him of the young magpies, so he carried the crow to the edge of the +precipice and threw him over, intending to go round by a path he knew and pick +him up at the bottom. But no sooner had the fox let the crow go than he soared +up into the air, and hovering just out of teach of his enemy’s jaws, he cried +with a laugh: “Ah, fox! you know well how to catch, but you cannot keep.” +</p> + +<p> +With his tail between his legs, the fox slunk into the forest. He did not know +where to look for a dinner, as he guessed that the crow would have flown back +before him, and put every one on their guard. The notion of going to bed +supperless was very unpleasant to him, and he was wondering what in the world +he should do, when he chanced to meet with his old friend the bear. +</p> + +<p> +This poor animal had just lost his wife, and was going to get some one to mourn +over her, for he felt her loss greatly. He had hardly left his comfortable cave +when he had come across the wolf, who inquired where he was going. “I am going +to find a mourner,” answered the bear, and told his story. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, let me mourn for you,” cried the wolf. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you understand how to howl?” said the bear. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, certainly, godfather, certainly,” replied the wolf; but the bear said he +should like to have a specimen of his howling, to make sure that he knew his +business. So the wolf broke forth in his song of lament: “Hu, hu, hu, hum, +hoh,” he shouted, and he made such a noise that the bear put up his paws to his +ears, and begged him to stop. +</p> + +<p> +“You have no idea how it is done. Be off with you,” said he angrily. +</p> + +<p> +A little further down the road the hare was resting in a ditch, but when she +saw the bear, she came out and spoke to him, and inquired why he looked so sad. +The bear told her of the loss of his wife, and of his search after a mourner +that could lament over her in the proper style. The hare instantly offered her +services, but the bear took care to ask her to give him a proof of her talents, +before he accepted them. “Pu, pu, pu, pum, poh,” piped the hare; but this time +her voice was so small that the bear could hardly hear her. “That is not what I +want,” he said, “I will bid you good morning.” +</p> + +<p> +It was after this that the fox came up, and he also was struck with the bear’s +altered looks, and stopped. “What is the matter with you, godfather?” asked he, +“and where are you going?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am going to find a mourner for my wife,” answered the bear. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, do choose me,” cried the fox, and the bear looked at him thoughtfully. +</p> + +<p> +“Can you howl well?” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, beautifully, just listen,” and the fox lifted up his voice and sang +weeping: “Lou, lou, lou! the famous spinner, the baker of good cakes, the +prudent housekeeper is torn from her husband! Lou, lou, lou! she is gone! she +is gone!” +</p> + +<p> +“Now at last I have found some one who knows the art of lamentation,” exclaimed +the bear, quite delighted; and he led the fox back to his cave, and bade him +begin his lament over the dead wife who was lying stretched out on her bed of +grey moss. But this did not suit the fox at all. +</p> + +<p> +“One cannot wail properly in this cave,” he said, “it is much too damp. You had +better take the body to the storehouse. It will sound much finer there.” So the +bear carried his wife’s body to the storehouse, while he himself went back to +the cave to cook some pap for the mourner. From time to time he paused and +listened for the sound of wailing, but he heard nothing. At last he went to the +door of the storehouse, and called to the fox: +</p> + +<p> +“Why don’t you howl, godfather? What are you about?” +</p> + +<p> +And the fox, who, instead of weeping over the dead bear, had been quietly +eating her, answered: +</p> + +<p> +“There only remain now her legs and the soles of her feet. Give me five minutes +more and they will be gone also!” +</p> + +<p> +When the bear heard that he ran back for the kitchen ladle, to give the traitor +the beating he deserved. But as he opened the door of the storehouse, Michael +was ready for him, and slipping between his legs, dashed straight off into the +forest. The bear, seeing that the traitor had escaped, flung the ladle after +him, and it just caught the tip of his tail, and that is how there comes to be +a spot of white on the tails of all foxes. +</p> + +<p> +[From Finnische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0023"></a> +How the Beggar Boy Turned into Count Piro</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a man who had only one son, a lazy, stupid boy, +who would never do anything he was told. When the father was dying, he sent for +his son and told him that he would soon be left alone in the world, with no +possessions but the small cottage they lived in and a pear tree which grew +behind it, and that, whether he liked it or not, he would have to work, or else +he would starve. Then the old man died. +</p> + +<p> +But the boy did not work; instead, he idled about as before, contenting himself +with eating the pears off his tree, which, unlike other pear trees before or +since, bore fruit the whole year round. Indeed, the pears were so much finer +than any you could get even in the autumn, that one day, in the middle of the +winter, they attracted the notice of a fox who was creeping by. +</p> + +<p> +“Dear me; what lovely pears!” he said to the youth. “Do give me a basket of +them. It will bring you luck!” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, little fox, but if I give you a basketful, what am I to eat?” asked the +boy. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, trust me, and do what I tell you,” said the fox; “I know it will bring you +luck.” So the boy got up and picked some of the ripest pears and put them into +a rush basket. The fox thanked him, and, taking the basket in his mouth, +trotted off to the king’s palace and made his way straight to the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Your Majesty, my master sends you a few of his best pears, and begs you will +graciously accept them,” he said, laying the basket at the feet of the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Pears! at this season?” cried the king, peering down to look at them; “and, +pray, who is your master?” +</p> + +<p> +“The Count Piro,” answered the fox. +</p> + +<p> +“But how does he manage to get pears in midwinter?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, he has everything he wants,” replied the fox; “he is richer even than you +are, your Majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then what can I send him in return for his pears?” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing, your Majesty, or you would hurt his feelings,” answered the fox. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, tell him how heartily I thank him, and how much I shall enjoy them.” And +the fox went away. +</p> + +<p> +He trotted back to the cottage with his empty basket and told his tale, but the +youth did not seem as pleased to hear as the fox was to tell. +</p> + +<p> +“But, my dear little fox,” said he, “you have brought me nothing in return, and +I am so hungry!” +</p> + +<p> +“Let me alone,” replied the fox; “I know what I am doing. You will see, it will +bring you luck.” +</p> + +<p> +A few days after this the fox came back again. +</p> + +<p> +“I must have another basket of pears,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, little fox, what shall I eat if you take away all my pears?” answered the +youth. +</p> + +<p> +“Be quiet, it will be all right,” said the fox; and taking a bigger basket than +before, he filled it quite full of pears. Then he picked it up in his mouth, +and trotted off to the palace. +</p> + +<p> +“Your Majesty, as you seemed to like the first basket of pears, I have brought +you some more,” said he, “with my master, the Count Piro’s humble respects.” +</p> + +<p> +“Now, surely it is not possible to grow such pears with deep snow on the +ground?” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, that never affects them,” answered the fox lightly; “he is rich enough to +do anything. But to-day he sends me to ask if you will give him your daughter +in marriage?” +</p> + +<p> +“If he is so much richer than I am,” said the king, “I shall be obliged to +refuse. My honour would not permit me to accept his offer.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, your Majesty, you must not think that,” replied the fox; “and do not let +the question of a dowry trouble you. The Count Piro would not dream of asking +anything but the hand of the princess.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is he really so rich that he can do without a dowry?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Did I not tell your Majesty that he was richer than you?” answered the fox +reproachfully. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, beg him to come here, that we may talk together,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +So the fox went back to the young man and said: “I have told the king that you +are Count Piro, and have asked his daughter in marriage.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, little fox, what have you done?” cried the youth in dismay; “when the king +sees me he will order my head to be cut off.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, no, he won’t!” replied the fox; “just do as I tell you.” And he went off +to the town, and stopped at the house of the best tailor. +</p> + +<p> +“My master, the Count Piro, begs that you will send him at once the finest coat +that you have in your shop,” said the fox, putting on his grandest air, “and if +it fits him I will call and pay for it to-morrow! Indeed, as he is in a great +hurry, perhaps it might be as well if I took it round myself.” The tailor was +not accustomed to serve counts, and he at once got out all the coats he had +ready. The fox chose out a beautiful one of white and silver, bade the tailor +tie it up in a parcel, and carrying the string in his teeth, he left the shop, +and went to a horse-dealer’s, whom he persuaded to send his finest horse round +to the cottage, saying that the king had bidden his master to the palace. +</p> + +<p> +Very unwillingly the young man put on the coat and mounted the horse, and rode +up to meet the king, with the fox running before him. +</p> + +<p> +“What am I to say to his Majesty, little fox?” he asked anxiously; “you know +that I have never spoken to a king before.” +</p> + +<p> +“Say nothing,” answered the fox, “but leave the talking to me. ‘Good morning, +your Majesty,’ will be all that is necessary for you.” +</p> + +<p> +By this time they had reached the palace, and the king came to the door to +receive Count Piro, and led him to the great hall, where a feast was spread. +The princess was already seated at the table, but was as dumb as Count Piro +himself. +</p> + +<p> +“The Count speaks very little,” the king said at last to the fox, and the fox +answered: “He has so much to think about in the management of his property that +he cannot afford to talk like ordinary people.” The king was quite satisfied, +and they finished dinner, after which Count Piro and the fox took leave. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning the fox came round again. +</p> + +<p> +“Give me another basket of pears,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“Very well, little fox; but remember it may cost me my life,” answered the +youth. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, leave it to me, and do as I tell you, and you will see that in the end it +will bring you luck,” answered the fox; and plucking the pears he took them up +to the king. +</p> + +<p> +“My master, Count Piro, sends you these pears,” he said, “and asks for an +answer to his proposal.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell the count that the wedding can take place whenever he pleases,” answered +the king, and, filled with pride, the fox trotted back to deliver his message. +</p> + +<p> +“But I can’t bring the princess here, little fox?” cried the young man in +dismay. +</p> + +<p> +“You leave everything to me,” answered the fox; “have I not managed well so +far?” +</p> + +<p> +And up at the palace preparations were made for a grand wedding, and the youth +was married to the princess. +</p> + +<p> +After a week of feasting, the fox said to the king: “My master wishes to take +his young bride home to his own castle.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well, I will accompany them,” replied the king; and he ordered his +courtiers and attendants to get ready, and the best horses in his stable to be +brought out for himself, Count Piro and the princess. So they all set out, and +rode across the plain, the little fox running before them. +</p> + +<p> +He stopped at the sight of a great flock of sheep, which was feeding peacefully +on the rich grass. “To whom do these sheep belong?” asked he of the shepherd. +“To an ogre,” replied the shepherd. +</p> + +<p> +“Hush,” said the fox in a mysterious manner. “Do you see that crowd of armed +men riding along? If you were to tell them that those sheep belonged to an +ogre, they would kill them, and then the ogre would kill you! If they ask, just +say the sheep belong to Count Piro; it will be better for everybody.” And the +fox ran hastily on, as he did not wish to be seen talking to the shepherd. +</p> + +<p> +Very soon the king came up. +</p> + +<p> +“What beautiful sheep!” he said, drawing up his horse. “I have none so fine in +my pastures. Whose are they?” +</p> + +<p> +“Count Piro’s,” answered the shepherd, who did not know the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, he must be a very rich man,” thought the king to himself, and rejoiced +that he had such a wealthy son-in-law. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the fox had met with a huge herd of pigs, snuffling about the roots +of some trees. +</p> + +<p> +“To whom do these pigs belong?” he asked of the swineherd. +</p> + +<p> +“To an ogre,” replied he. +</p> + +<p> +“Hush!” whispered the fox, though nobody could hear him; “do you see that troop +of armed men riding towards us? If you tell them that the pigs belong to the +ogre they will kill them, and then the ogre will kill you! If they ask, just +say that the pigs belong to Count Piro; it will be better for everybody.” And +he ran hastily on. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after the king rode up. +</p> + +<p> +“What fine pigs!” he said, reining in his horse. “They are fatter than any I +have got on my farms. Whose are they?” +</p> + +<p> +“Count Piro’s,” answered the swineherd, who did not know the king; and again +the king felt he was lucky to have such a rich son-in-law. +</p> + +<p> +This time the fox ran faster than before, and in a flowery meadow he found a +troop of horses feeding. “Whose horses are these?” he asked of the man who was +watching them. +</p> + +<p> +“An ogre’s,” replied he. +</p> + +<p> +“Hush!” whispered the fox, “do you see that crowd of armed men coming towards +us? If you tell them the horses belong to an ogre they will drive them off, and +then the ogre will kill you! If they ask, just say they are Count Piro’s; it +will be better for everybody.” And he ran on again. +</p> + +<p> +In a few minutes the king rode up. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, what lovely creatures! how I wish they were mine!” he exclaimed. “Whose +are they?” +</p> + +<p> +Count Piro’s,” answered the man, who did not know the king; and the king’s +heart leapt as he thought that if they belonged to his rich son-in-law they +were as good as his. +</p> + +<p> +At last the fox came to the castle of the ogre himself. He ran up the steps, +with tears falling from his eyes, and crying: +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, you poor, poor people, what a sad fate is yours!” +</p> + +<p> +“What has happened?” asked the ogre, trembling with fright. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you see that troop of horsemen who are riding along the road? They are sent +by the king to kill you!” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, dear little fox, help us, we implore you!” cried the ogre and his wife. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I will do what I can,” answered the fox. “The best place is for you both +to hide in the big oven, and when the soldiers have gone by I will let you +out.” +</p> + +<p> +The ogre and ogress scrambled into the oven as quick as thought, and the fox +banged the door on them; just as he did so the king came up. +</p> + +<p> +“Do us the honour to dismount, your Majesty,” said the fox, bowing low. “This +is the palace of Count Piro!” +</p> + +<p> +“Why it is more splendid than my own!” exclaimed the king, looking round on all +the beautiful things that filled the hall. But why are there no servants?” +</p> + +<p> +“His Excellency the Count Piro wished the princess to choose them for herself,” +answered the fox, and the king nodded his approval. He then rode on, leaving +the bridal pair in the castle. But when it was dark and all was still, the fox +crept downstairs and lit the kitchen fire, and the ogre and his wife were +burned to death. The next morning the fox said to Count Piro: +</p> + +<p> +“Now that you are rich and happy, you have no more need of me; but, before I +go, there is one thing I must ask of you in return: when I die, promise me that +you will give me a magnificent coffin, and bury me with due honours.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, little, little fox, don’t talk of dying,” cried the princess, nearly +weeping, for she had taken a great liking to the fox. +</p> + +<p> +After some time the fox thought he would see if the Count Piro was really +grateful to him for all he had done, and went back to the castle, where he lay +down on the door-step, and pretended to be dead. The princess was just going +out for a walk, and directly she saw him lying there, she burst into tears and +fell on her knees beside him. +</p> + +<p> +“My dear little fox, you are not dead,” she wailed; “you poor, poor little +creature, you shall have the finest coffin in the world!” +</p> + +<p> +“A coffin for an animal?” said Count Piro. “What nonsense! just take him by the +leg and throw him into the ditch.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the fox sprang up and cried: “You wretched, thankless beggar; have you +forgotten that you owe all your riches to me?” +</p> + +<p> +Count Piro was frightened when he heard these words, as he thought that perhaps +the fox might have power to take away the castle, and leave him as poor as when +he had nothing to eat but the pears off his tree. So he tried to soften the +fox’s anger, saying that he had only spoken in joke, as he had known quite well +that he was not really dead. For the sake of the princess, the fox let himself +be softened, and he lived in the castle for many years, and played with Count +Piro’s children. And when he actually did die, his coffin was made of silver, +and Count Piro and his wife followed him to the grave. +</p> + +<p> +[From Sicilianische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0024"></a> +The Rogue And The Herdsman</h2> + +<p> +In a tiny cottage near the king’s palace there once lived an old man, his wife, +and his son, a very lazy fellow, who would never do a stroke of work. He could +not be got even to look after their one cow, but left her to look after +herself, while he lay on a bank and went to sleep in the sun. For a long time +his father bore with him, hoping that as he grew older he might gain more +sense; but at last the old man’s patience was worn out, and he told his son +that he should not stay at house in idleness, and must go out into the world to +seek his fortune. +</p> + +<p> +The young man saw that there was no help for it, and he set out with a wallet +full of food over his shoulder. At length he came to a large house, at the door +of which he knocked. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you want?” asked the old man who opened it. And the youth told him how +his father had turned him out of his house because he was so lazy and stupid, +and he needed shelter for the night. +</p> + +<p> +“That you shall have,” replied the man; “but to-morrow I shall give you some +work to do, for you must know that I am the chief herdsman of the king.” +</p> + +<p> +The youth made no answer to this. He felt, if he was to be made to work after +all, that he might as well have stayed where he was. But as he did not see any +other way of getting a bed, he went slowly in. +</p> + +<p> +The herdsman’s two daughters and their mother were sitting at supper, and +invited him to join them. Nothing more was said about work, and when the meal +was over they all went to bed. +</p> + +<p> +In the morning, when the young man was dressed, the herdsman called to him and +said: +</p> + +<p> +“Now listen, and I will tell you what you have to do.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is it?” asked the youth, sulkily. +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing less than to look after two hundred pigs,” was the reply. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I am used to that,” answered the youth. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes; but this time you will have to do it properly,” said the herdsman; and he +took the youth to the place where the pigs were feeding, and told him to drive +them to the woods on the side of the mountain. This the young man did, but as +soon as they reached the outskirts of the mountain they grew quite wild, and +would have run away altogether, had they not luckily gone towards a narrow +ravine, from which the youth easily drove them home to his father’s cottage. +</p> + +<p> +“Where do all these pigs come from, and how did you get them?” asked the old +man in surprise, when his son knocked at the door of the hut he had left only +the day before. +</p> + +<p> +“They belong to the king’s chief herdsman,” answered his son. “He gave them to +me to look after, but I knew I could not do it, so I drove them straight to +you. Now make the best of your good fortune, and kill them and hang them up at +once.” +</p> + +<p> +“What are you talking about?” cried the father, pale with horror. “We should +certainly both be put to death if I did any such thing.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, no; do as I tell you, and I will get out of it somehow,” replied the young +man. And in the end he had his way. The pigs were killed, and laid side by side +in a row. Then he cut off the tails and tied them together with a piece of +cord, and swinging the bundle over his back, he returned to the place where +they should have been feeding. Here there was a small swamp, which was just +what he wanted, and finding a large stone, he fastened the rope to it, and sank +it in the swamp, after which he arranged the tails carefully one by one, so +that only their points were seen sticking out of the water. When everything was +in order, he hastened home to his master with such a sorrowful face that the +herdsman saw at once that something dreadful had happened. +</p> + +<p> +“Where are the pigs?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, don’t speak of them!” answered the young man; “I really can hardly tell +you. The moment they got into the field they became quite mad, and each ran in +a different direction. I ran too, hither and thither, but as fast as I caught +one, another was off, till I was in despair. At last, however, I collected them +all and was about to drive them back, when suddenly they rushed down the hill +into the swamp, where they vanished completely, leaving only the points of +their tails, which you can see for yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have made up that story very well,” replied the herdsman. +</p> + +<p> +“No, it is the real truth; come with me and I’ll prove it.” And they went +together to the spot, and there sure enough were the points of the tails +sticking up out of the water. The herdsman laid hold of the nearest, and pulled +at it with all his might, but it was no use, for the stone and the rope held +them all fast. He called to the young man to help him, but the two did not +succeed any better than the one had done. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, your story was true after all; it is a wonderful thing,” said the +herdsman. “But I see it is no fault of yours, and I must put up with my loss as +well as I can. Now let us return home, for it is time for supper. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the herdsman said to the young man: “I have got some other work +for you to do. To-day you must take a hundred sheep to graze; but be careful +that no harm befalls them.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will do my best,” replied the youth. And he opened the gate of the fold, +where the sheep had been all night, and drove them out into the meadow. But in +a short time they grew as wild as the pigs had done, and scattered in all +directions. The young man could not collect them, try as he would, and he +thought to himself that this was the punishment for his laziness in refusing to +look after his father’s one cow. +</p> + +<p> +At last, however, the sheep seemed tired of running about, and then the youth +managed to gather them together, and drove them, as before, straight to his +father’s house. +</p> + +<p> +“Whose sheep are these, and what are they doing here?” asked the old man in +wonder, and his son told him. But when the tale was ended the father shook his +head. +</p> + +<p> +“Give up these bad ways and take them back to your master,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“No, no,” answered the youth; “I am not so stupid as that! We will kill them +and have them for dinner.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will lose your life if you do,” replied the father. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I am not sure of that!” said the son, “and, anyway, I will have my will +for once.” And he killed all the sheep and laid them on the grass. But he cut +off the head of the ram which always led the flock and had bells round its +horns. This he took back to the place where they should have been feeding, for +here he had noticed a high rock, with a patch of green grass in the middle and +two or three thick bushes growing on the edge. Up this rock he climbed with +great difficulty, and fastened the ram’s head to the bushes with a cord, +leaving only the tips of the horns with the bells visible. As there was a soft +breeze blowing, the bushes to which the head was tied moved gently, and the +bells rang. When all was done to his liking he hastened quickly back to his +master. +</p> + +<p> +“Where are the sheep?” asked the herdsman as the young man ran panting up the +steps. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! don’t speak of them,” answered he. “It is only by a miracle that I am here +myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me at once what has happened,” said the herdsman sternly. +</p> + +<p> +The youth began to sob, and stammered out: “I—I hardly know how to tell you! +They—they—they were so—so troublesome—that I could not manage them at all. +They—ran about in—in all directions, and I—I—ran after them and nearly died of +fatigue. Then I heard a—a noise, which I—I thought was the wind. But—but—it was +the sheep, which, be—before my very eyes, were carried straight up—up into the +air. I stood watching them as if I was turned to stone, but there kept ringing +in my ears the sound of the bells on the ram which led them.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is nothing but a lie from beginning to end,” said the herdsman. +</p> + +<p> +“No, it is as true as that there is a sun in heaven,” answered the young man. +</p> + +<p> +“Then give me a proof of it,” cried his master. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, come with me,” said the youth. By this time it was evening and the dusk +was falling. The young man brought the herdsman to the foot of the great rock, +but it was so dark you could hardly see. Still the sound of sheep bells rang +softly from above, and the herdsman knew them to be those he had hung on the +horns of his ram. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you hear?” asked the youth. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I hear; you have spoken the truth, and I cannot blame you for what has +happened. I must bear the loss as best as I can.” +</p> + +<p> +He turned and went home, followed by the young man, who felt highly pleased +with his own cleverness. +</p> + +<p> +“I should not be surprised if the tasks I set you were too difficult, and that +you were tired of them,” said the herdsman next morning; “but to-day I have +something quite easy for you to do. You must look after forty oxen, and be sure +you are very careful, for one of them has gold-tipped horns and hoofs, and the +king reckons it among his greatest treasures.” +</p> + +<p> +The young man drove out the oxen into the meadow, and no sooner had they got +there than, like the sheep and the pigs, they began to scamper in all +directions, the precious bull being the wildest of all. As the youth stood +watching them, not knowing what to do next, it came into his head that his +father’s cow was put out to grass at no great distance; and he forthwith made +such a noise that he quite frightened the oxen, who were easily persuaded to +take the path he wished. When they heard the cow lowing they galloped all the +faster, and soon they all arrived at his father’s house. +</p> + +<p> +The old man was standing before the door of his hut when the great herd of +animals dashed round a corner of the road, with his son and his own cow at +their head. +</p> + +<p> +“Whose cattle are these, and why are they here?” he asked; and his son told him +the story. +</p> + +<p> +“Take them back to your master as soon as you can,” said the old man; but the +son only laughed, and said: +</p> + +<p> +“No, no; they are a present to you! They will make you fat!” +</p> + +<p> +For a long while the old man refused to have anything to do with such a wicked +scheme; but his son talked him over in the end, and they killed the oxen as +they had killed the sheep and the pigs. Last of all they came to the king’s +cherished ox. +</p> + +<p> +The son had a rope ready to cast round its horns, and throw it to the ground, +but the ox was stronger than the rope, and soon tore it in pieces. Then it +dashed away to the wood, the youth following; over hedges and ditches they both +went, till they reached the rocky pass which bordered the herdsman’s land. Here +the ox, thinking itself safe, stopped to rest, and thus gave the young man a +chance to come up with it. Not knowing how to catch it, he collected all the +wood he could find and made a circle of fire round the ox, who by this time had +fallen asleep, and did not wake till the fire had caught its head, and it was +too late for it to escape. Then the young man, who had been watching, ran home +to his master. +</p> + +<p> +“You have been away a long while,” said the herdsman. “Where are the cattle?” +</p> + +<p> +The young man gasped, and seemed as if he was unable to speak. At last he +answered: +</p> + +<p> +“It is always the same story! The oxen are—gone—gone!” +</p> + +<p> +“G-g-gone?” cried the herdsman. “Scoundrel, you lie!” +</p> + +<p> +“I am telling you the exact truth,” answered the young man. “Directly we came +to the meadow they grew so wild that I could not keep them together. Then the +big ox broke away, and the others followed till they all disappeared down a +deep hole into the earth. It seemed to me that I heard sounds of bellowing, and +I thought I recognised the voice of the golden horned ox; but when I got to the +place from which the sounds had come, I could neither see nor hear anything in +the hole itself, though there were traces of a fire all round it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Wretch!” cried the herdsman, when he had heard this story, “even if you did +not lie before, you are lying now.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, master, I am speaking the truth. Come and see for yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +“If I find you have deceived me, you are a dead man, said the herdsman; and +they went out together. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you call that?” asked the youth. And the herdsman looked and saw the +traces of a fire, which seemed to have sprung up from under the earth. +</p> + +<p> +“Wonder upon wonder,” he exclaimed, “so you really did speak the truth after +all! Well, I cannot reproach you, though I shall have to pay heavily to my +royal master for the value of that ox. But come, let us go home! I will never +set you to herd cattle again, henceforward I will give you something easier to +do.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have thought of exactly the thing for you,” said the herdsman as they walked +along, “and it is so simple that you cannot make a mistake. Just make me ten +scythes, one for every man, for I want the grass mown in one of my meadows +to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +At these words the youth’s heart sank, for he had never been trained either as +a smith or a joiner. However, he dared not say no, but smiled and nodded. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly and sadly he went to bed, but he could not sleep, for wondering how the +scythes were to be made. All the skill and cunning he had shown before was of +no use to him now, and after thinking about the scythes for many hours, there +seemed only one way open to him. So, listening to make sure that all was still, +he stole away to his parents, and told them the whole story. When they had +heard everything, they hid him where no one could find him. +</p> + +<p> +Time passed away, and the young man stayed at home doing all his parents bade +him, and showing himself very different from what he had been before he went +out to see the world; but one day he said to his father that he should like to +marry, and have a house of his own. +</p> + +<p> +“When I served the king’s chief herdsman,” added he, “I saw his daughter, and I +am resolved to try if I cannot win her for my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +“It will cost you your life, if you do,” answered the father, shaking his head. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I will do my best,” replied his son; “but first give me the sword which +hangs over your bed!” +</p> + +<p> +The old man did not understand what good the sword would do, however he took it +down, and the young man went his way. +</p> + +<p> +Late in the evening he arrived at the house of the herdsman, and knocked at the +door, which was opened by a little boy. +</p> + +<p> +“I want to speak to your master,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“So it is you?” cried the herdsman, when he had received the message. “Well, +you can sleep here to-night if you wish.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have come for something else besides a bed,” replied the young man, drawing +his sword, “and if you do not promise to give me your youngest daughter as my +wife I will stab you through the heart.” +</p> + +<p> +What could the poor man do but promise? And he fetched his youngest daughter, +who seemed quite pleased at the proposed match, and gave the youth her hand. +</p> + +<p> +Then the young man went home to his parents, and bade them get ready to welcome +his bride. And when the wedding was over he told his father-in-law, the +herdsman, what he had done with the sheep, and pigs, and cattle. By-and-by the +story came to the king’s ears, and he thought that a man who was so clever was +just the man to govern the country; so he made him his minister, and after the +king himself there was no one so great as he. +</p> + +<p> +[From Islandische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0025"></a> +Eisenkopf</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived an old man who had only one son, whom he loved +dearly; but they were very poor, and often had scarcely enough to eat. Then the +old man fell ill, and things grew worse than ever, so he called his son and +said to him: +</p> + +<p> +“My dear boy, I have no longer any food to give you, and you must go into the +world and get it for yourself. It does not matter what work you do, but +remember if you do it well and are faithful to your master, you will always +have your reward.” +</p> + +<p> +So Peter put a piece of black bread in his knapsack, and strapping it on his +back, took a stout stick in his hand, and set out to seek his fortune. For a +long while he travelled on and on, and nobody seemed to want him; but one day +he met an old man, and being a polite youth, he took off his hat and said: +“Good morning,” in a pleasant voice. “Good morning,” answered the old man; “and +where are you going?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am wandering through the country trying to get work,” replied Peter. +</p> + +<p> +“Then stay with me, for I can give you plenty,” said the old man, and Peter +stayed. +</p> + +<p> +His work did not seem hard, for he had only two horses and a cow to see after, +and though he had been hired for a year, the year consisted of but three days, +so that it was not long before he received his wages. In payment the old man +gave him a nut, and offered to keep him for another year; but Peter was +home-sick; and, besides, he would rather have been paid ever so small a piece +of money than a nut; for, thought he, nuts grow on every tree, and I can gather +as many as I like. However, he did not say this to the old man, who had been +kind to him, but just bade him farewell. +</p> + +<p> +The nearer Peter drew to his father’s house the more ashamed he felt at having +brought back such poor wages. What could one nut do for him? Why, it would not +buy even a slice of bacon. It was no use taking it home, he might as well eat +it. So he sat down on a stone and cracked it with his teeth, and then took it +out of his mouth to break off the shell. But who could ever guess what came out +of that nut? Why, horses and oxen and sheep stepped out in such numbers that +they seemed as if they would stretch to the world’s end! The sight gave Peter +such a shock that he wrung his hands in dismay. What was he to do with all +these creatures, where was he to put them? He stood and gazed in terror, and at +this moment Eisenkopf came by. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter, young man?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my friend, there is plenty the matter,” answered Peter. “I have gained a +nut as my wages, and when I cracked it this crowd of beasts came out, and I +don’t know what to do with them all!” +</p> + +<p> +“Listen to me, my son,” said Eisenkopf. “If you will promise never to marry I +will drive them all back into the nut again.” +</p> + +<p> +In his trouble Peter would have promised far harder things than this, so he +gladly gave the promise Eisenkopf asked for; and at a whistle from the stranger +the animals all began crowding into the nut again, nearly tumbling over each +other in their haste. When the last foot had got inside, the two halves of the +shell shut close. Then Peter put it in his pocket and went on to the house. +</p> + +<p> +No sooner had he reached it than he cracked his nut for the second time, and +out came the horses, sheep, and oxen again. Indeed Peter thought that there +were even more of them than before. The old man could not believe his eyes when +he saw the multitudes of horses, oxen and sheep standing before his door. +</p> + +<p> +“How did you come by all these?” he gasped, as soon as he could speak; and the +son told him the whole story, and of the promise he had given Eisenkopf. +</p> + +<p> +The next day some of the cattle were driven to market and sold, and with the +money the old man was able to buy some of the fields and gardens round his +house, and in a few months had grown the richest and most prosperous man in the +whole village. Everything seemed to turn to gold in his hands, till one day, +when he and his son were sitting in the orchard watching their herds of cattle +grazing in the meadows, he suddenly said: “Peter, my boy, it is time that you +were thinking of marrying.” +</p> + +<p> +“But, my dear father, I told you I can never marry, because of the promise I +gave to Eisenkopf.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, one promises here and promises there, but no one ever thinks of keeping +such promises. If Eisenkopf does not like your marrying, he will have to put up +with it all the same! Besides, there stands in the stable a grey horse which is +saddled night and day; and if Eisenkopf should show his face, you have only got +to jump on the horse’s back and ride away, and nobody on earth can catch you. +When all is safe you will come back again, and we shall live as happily as two +fish in the sea.” +</p> + +<p> +And so it all happened. The young man found a pretty, brown-skinned girl who +was willing to have him for a husband, and the whole village came to the +wedding feast. The music was at its gayest, and the dance at its merriest, when +Eisenkopf looked in at the window. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, ho, my brother! what is going on here? It has the air of being a wedding +feast. Yet I fancied—was I mistaken?—that you had given me a promise that you +never would marry.” But Peter had not waited for the end of this speech. +Scarcely had he seen Eisenkopf than he darted like the wind to the stable and +flung himself on the horse’s back. In another moment he was away over the +mountain, with Eisenkopf running fast behind him. +</p> + +<p> +On they went through thick forests where the sun never shone, over rivers so +wide that it took a whole day to sail across them, up hills whose sides were +all of glass; on they went through seven times seven countries till Peter +reined in his horse before the house of an old woman. +</p> + +<p> +“Good day, mother,” said he, jumping down and opening the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Good day, my son,” answered she, “and what are you doing here, at the world’s +end?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am flying for my life, mother, flying to the world which is beyond all +worlds; for Eisenkopf is at my heels.” +</p> + +<p> +“Come in and rest then, and have some food, for I have a little dog who will +begin to howl when Eisenkopf is still seven miles off.” +</p> + +<p> +So Peter went in and warmed himself and ate and drank, till suddenly the dog +began to howl. +</p> + +<p> +“Quick, my son, quick, you must go,” cried the old woman. And the lightning +itself was not quicker than Peter. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop a moment,” cried the old woman again, just as he was mounting his horse, +“take this napkin and this cake, and put them in your bag where you can get +hold of them easily.” Peter took them and put them into his bag, and waving his +thanks for her kindness, he was off like the wind. +</p> + +<p> +Round and round he rode, through seven times seven countries, through forests +still thicker, and rivers still wider, and mountains still more slippery than +the others he had passed, till at length he reached a house where dwelt another +old woman. +</p> + +<p> +“Good day, mother,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“Good day, my son! What are you seeking here at the world’s end?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am flying for my life, mother, flying to the world that is beyond all +worlds, for Eisenkopf is at my heels.” +</p> + +<p> +“Come in, my son, and have some food. I have a little dog who will begin to +howl when Eisenkopf is still seven miles off; so lie on this bed and rest +yourself in peace.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she went to the kitchen and baked a number of cakes, more than Peter could +have eaten in a whole month. He had not finished a quarter of them, when the +dog began to howl. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, my son, you must go,” cried the old woman “but first put these cakes and +this napkin in your bag, where you can easily get at them.” So Peter thanked +her and was off like the wind. +</p> + +<p> +On he rode, through seven times seven countries, till he came to the house of a +third old woman, who welcomed him as the others had done. But when the dog +howled, and Peter sprang up to go, she said, as she gave him the same gifts for +his journey: “You have now three cakes and three napkins, for I know that my +sisters have each given you one. Listen to me, and do what I tell you. Ride +seven days and nights straight before you, and on the eighth morning you will +see a great fire. Strike it three times with the three napkins and it will part +in two. Then ride into the opening, and when you are in the middle of the +opening, throw the three cakes behind your back with your left hand.” +</p> + +<p> +Peter thanked her for her counsel, and was careful to do exactly all the old +woman had told him. On the eighth morning he reached a fire so large that he +could see nothing else on either side, but when he struck it with the napkins +it parted, and stood on each hand like a wall. As he rode through the opening +he threw the cakes behind him. From each cake there sprang a huge dog, and he +gave them the names of World’s-weight, Ironstrong, and Quick-ear. They bayed +with joy at the sight of him, and as Peter turned to pat them, he beheld +Eisenkopf at the edge of the fire, but the opening had closed up behind Peter, +and he could not get through. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop, you promise-breaker,” shrieked he; “you have slipped through my hands +once, but wait till I catch you again!” +</p> + +<p> +Then he lay down by the fire and watched to see what would happen. +</p> + +<p> +When Peter knew that he had nothing more to fear from Eisenkopf, he rode on +slowly till he came to a small white house. Here he entered and found himself +in a room where a gray-haired woman was spinning and a beautiful girl was +sitting in the window combing her golden hair. “What brings you here, my son?” +asked the old woman. +</p> + +<p> +“I am seeking for a place, mother,” answered Peter. +</p> + +<p> +“Stay with me, then, for I need a servant,” said the old woman. +</p> + +<p> +“With pleasure, mother,” replied he. +</p> + +<p> +After that Peter’s life was a very happy one. He sowed and ploughed all day, +except now and then when he took his dogs and went to hunt. And whatever game +he brought back the maiden with the golden hair knew how to dress it. +</p> + +<p> +One day the old woman had gone to the town to buy some flour, and Peter and the +maiden were left alone in the house. They fell into talk, and she asked him +where his home was, and how he had managed to come through the fire. Peter then +told her the whole story, and of his striking the flames with the three napkins +as he had been told to do. The maiden listened attentively and wondered in +herself whether what he said was true. So after Peter had gone out to the +fields, she crept up to his room and stole the napkins and then set off as fast +as she could to the fire by a path she knew of over the hill. +</p> + +<p> +At the third blow she gave the flames divided, and Eisenkopf, who had been +watching and hoping for a chance of this kind, ran down the opening and stood +before her. At this sight the maiden was almost frightened to death, but with a +great effort she recovered herself and ran home as fast as her legs would carry +her, closely pursued by Eisenkopf. Panting for breath she rushed into the house +and fell fainting on the floor; but Eisenkopf entered behind her, and hid +himself in the kitchen under the hearth. +</p> + +<p> +Not long after, Peter came in and picked up the three napkins which the maiden +had dropped on the threshold. He wondered how they got there, for he knew he +had left them in his room; but what was his horror when he saw the form of the +fainting girl lying where she had dropped, as still and white as if she had +been dead. He lifted her up and carried her to her bed, where she soon revived, +but she did not tell Peter about Eisenkopf, who had been almost crushed to +death under the hearth-stone by the body of World’s-weight. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning Peter locked up his dogs and went out into the forest alone. +Eisenkopf, however, had seen him go, and followed so closely at his heels that +Peter had barely time to clamber up a tall tree, where Eisenkopf could not +reach him. “Come down at once, you gallows bird,” he cried. “Have you forgotten +your promise that you never would marry?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I know it is all up with me,” answered Peter, “but let me call out three +times.” +</p> + +<p> +“You can call a hundred times if you like,” returned Eisenkopf, “for now I have +got you in my power, and you shall pay for what you have done.” +</p> + +<p> +“Iron-strong, World’s-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help!” cried Peter; and +Quick-ear heard, and said to his brothers: “Listen, our master is calling us.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are dreaming, fool,” answered World’s-weight; “why he has not finished his +breakfast.” And he gave Quick-ear a slap with his paw, for he was young and +needed to be taught sense. +</p> + +<p> +“Iron-strong, World’s-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help!” cried Peter again. +</p> + +<p> +This time World’s-weight heard also, and he said, “Ah, now our master is really +calling.” +</p> + +<p> +“How silly you are!” answered Iron-strong; “you know that at this hour he is +always eating.” And he gave World’s-weight a cuff, because he was old enough to +know better. +</p> + +<p> +Peter sat trembling on the tree dreading lest his dogs had never heard, or else +that, having heard, they had refused to come. It was his last chance, so making +a mighty effort he shrieked once more: +</p> + +<p> +“Iron-strong, World’s-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help, or I am a dead man!” +</p> + +<p> +And Iron-strong heard, and said: “Yes, he is certainly calling, we must go at +once.” And in an instant he had burst open the door, and all three were +bounding away in the direction of the voice. When they reached the foot of the +tree Peter just said: “At him!” And in a few minutes there was nothing left of +Eisenkopf. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as his enemy was dead Peter got down and returned to the house, where +he bade farewell to the old woman and her daughter, who gave him a beautiful +ring, all set with diamonds. It was really a magic ring, but neither Peter nor +the maiden knew that. +</p> + +<p> +Peter’s heart was heavy as he set out for home. He had ceased to love the wife +whom he had left at his wedding feast, and his heart had gone out to the +golden-haired girl. However, it was no use thinking of that, so he rode forward +steadily. +</p> + +<p> +The fire had to be passed through before he had gone very far, and when he came +to it, Peter shook the napkins three times in the flames and a passage opened +for trim. But then a curious thing happened; the three dogs, who had followed +at his heels all the way, now became three cakes again, which Peter put into +his bag with the napkins. After that he stopped at the houses of the three old +women, and gave each one back her napkin and her cake. +</p> + +<p> +“Where is my wife?” asked Peter, when he reached home. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my dear son, why did you ever leave us? After you had vanished, no one +knew where, your poor wife grew more and more wretched, and would neither eat +nor drink. Little by little she faded away, and a month ago we laid her in her +grave, to hide her sorrows under the earth.” +</p> + +<p> +At this news Peter began to weep, for he had loved his wife before he went away +and had seen the golden-haired maiden. +</p> + +<p> +He went sorrowfully about his work for the space of half a year, when, one +night, he dreamed that he moved the diamond ring given him by the maiden from +his right hand and put it on the wedding finger of the left. The dream was so +real that he awoke at once and changed the ring from one hand to the other. And +as he did so guess what he saw? Why, the golden-haired girl standing before +him. And he sprang up and kissed her, and said: “Now you are mine for ever and +ever, and when we die we will both be buried in one grave.” +</p> + +<p> +And so they were. +</p> + +<p> +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0026"></a> +The Death Of Abu Nowas And Of His Wife</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a man whose name was Abu Nowas, and he was a great +favourite with the Sultan of the country, who had a palace in the same town +where Abu Nowas dwelt. +</p> + +<p> +One day Abu Nowas came weeping into the hall of the palace where the Sultan was +sitting, and said to him: “Oh, mighty Sultan, my wife is dead.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is bad news,” replied the Sultan; “I must get you another wife.” And he +bade his Grand Vizir send for the Sultana. +</p> + +<p> +“This poor Abu Nowas has lost his wife,” said he, when she entered the hall. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, then we must get him another,” answered the Sultana; “I have a girl that +will suit him exactly,” and clapped her hands loudly. At this signal a maiden +appeared and stood before her. +</p> + +<p> +“I have got a husband for you,” said the Sultana. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is he?” asked the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“Abu Nowas, the jester,” replied the Sultana. +</p> + +<p> +“I will take him,” answered the maiden; and as Abu Nowas made no objection, it +was all arranged. The Sultana had the most beautiful clothes made for the +bride, and the Sultan gave the bridegroom his wedding suit, and a thousand gold +pieces into the bargain, and soft carpets for the house. +</p> + +<p> +So Abu Nowas took his wife home, and for some time they were very happy, and +spent the money freely which the Sultan had given them, never thinking what +they should do for more when that was gone. But come to an end it did, and they +had to sell their fine things one by one, till at length nothing was left but a +cloak apiece, and one blanket to cover them. “We have run through our fortune,” +said Abu Nowas, “what are we to do now? I am afraid to go back to the Sultan, +for he will command his servants to turn me from the door. But you shall return +to your mistress, and throw yourself at her feet and weep, and perhaps she will +help us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, you had much better go,” said the wife. “I shall not know what to say.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, then, stay at home, if you like,” answered Abu Nowas, “and I will ask to +be admitted to the Sultan’s presence, and will tell him, with sobs, that my +wife is dead, and that I have no money for her burial. When he hears that +perhaps he will give us something.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, that is a good plan,” said the wife; and Abu Nowas set out. +</p> + +<p> +The Sultan was sitting in the hall of justice when Abu Nowas entered, his eyes +streaming with tears, for he had rubbed some pepper into them. They smarted +dreadfully, and he could hardly see to walk straight, and everyone wondered +what was the matter with him. +</p> + +<p> +“Abu Nowas! What has happened?” cried the Sultan. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, noble Sultan, my wife is dead,” wept he. +</p> + +<p> +“We must all die,” answered the Sultan; but this was not the reply for which +Abu Nowas had hoped. +</p> + +<p> +“True, O Sultan, but I have neither shroud to wrap her in, nor money to bury +her with,” went on Abu Nowas, in no wise abashed by the way the Sultan had +received his news. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, give him a hundred pieces of gold,” said the Sultan, turning to the +Grand Vizir. And when the money was counted out Abu Nowas bowed low, and left +the hall, his tears still flowing, but with joy in his heart. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you got anything?” cried his wife, who was waiting for him anxiously. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, a hundred gold pieces,” said he, throwing down the bag, “but that will +not last us any time. Now you must go to the Sultana, clothed in sackcloth and +robes of mourning, and tell her that your husband, Abu Nowas, is dead, and you +have no money for his burial. When she hears that, she will be sure to ask you +what has become of the money and the fine clothes she gave us on our marriage, +and you will answer, ‘before he died he sold everything.’” +</p> + +<p> +The wife did as she was told, and wrapping herself in sackcloth went up to the +Sultana’s own palace, and as she was known to have been one of Subida’s +favourite attendants, she was taken without difficulty into the private +apartments. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter?” inquired the Sultana, at the sight of the dismal figure. +</p> + +<p> +“My husband lies dead at home, and he has spent all our money, and sold +everything, and I have nothing left to bury him with,” sobbed the wife. +</p> + +<p> +Then Subida took up a purse containing two hundred gold pieces, and said: “Your +husband served us long and faithfully. You must see that he has a fine +funeral.” +</p> + +<p> +The wife took the money, and, kissing the feet of the Sultana, she joyfully +hastened home. They spent some happy hours planning how they should spend it, +and thinking how clever they had been. “When the Sultan goes this evening to +Subida’s palace,” said Abu Nowas, “she will be sure to tell him that Abu Nowas +is dead. ‘Not Abu Nowas, it is his wife,’ he will reply, and they will quarrel +over it, and all the time we shall be sitting here enjoying ourselves. Oh, if +they only knew, how angry they would be!” +</p> + +<p> +As Abu Nowas had foreseen, the Sultan went, in the evening after his business +was over, to pay his usual visit to the Sultana. +</p> + +<p> +“Poor Abu Nowas is dead!” said Subida when he entered the room. +</p> + +<p> +“It is not Abu Nowas, but his wife who is dead,” answered the Sultan. +</p> + +<p> +“No; really you are quite wrong. She came to tell me herself only a couple of +hours ago,” replied Subida, “and as he had spent all their money, I gave her +something to bury him with.” +</p> + +<p> +“You must be dreaming,” exclaimed the Sultan. “Soon after midday Abu Nowas came +into the hall, his eyes streaming with tears, and when I asked him the reason +he answered that his wife was dead, and they had sold everything they had, and +he had nothing left, not so much as would buy her a shroud, far less for her +burial.” +</p> + +<p> +For a long time they talked, and neither would listen to the other, till the +Sultan sent for the door-keeper and bade him go instantly to the house of Abu +Nowas and see if it was the man or his wife who was dead. But Abu Nowas +happened to be sitting with his wife behind the latticed window, which looked +on the street, and he saw the man coming, and sprang up at once. “There is the +Sultan’s door-keeper! They have sent him here to find out the truth. Quick! +throw yourself on the bed and pretend that you are dead.” And in a moment the +wife was stretched out stiffly, with a linen sheet spread across her, like a +corpse. +</p> + +<p> +She was only just in time, for the sheet was hardly drawn across her when the +door opened and the porter came in. “Has anything happened?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“My poor wife is dead,” replied Abu Nowas. “Look! she is laid out here.” And +the porter approached the bed, which was in a corner of the room, and saw the +stiff form lying underneath. +</p> + +<p> +“We must all die,” said he, and went back to the Sultan. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, have you found out which of them is dead?” asked the Sultan. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, noble Sultan; it is the wife,” replied the porter. +</p> + +<p> +“He only says that to please you,” cried Subida in a rage; and calling to her +chamberlain, she ordered him to go at once to the dwelling of Abu Nowas and see +which of the two was dead. “And be sure you tell the truth about it,” added +she, “or it will be the worse for you.” +</p> + +<p> +As her chamberlain drew near the house, Abu Nowas caught sight of him. “There +is the Sultana’s chamberlain,” he exclaimed in a fright. “Now it is my turn to +die. Be quick and spread the sheet over me.” And he laid himself on the bed, +and held his breath when the chamberlain came in. “What are you weeping for?” +asked the man, finding the wife in tears. +</p> + +<p> +“My husband is dead,” answered she, pointing to the bed; and the chamberlain +drew back the sheet and beheld Abu Nowas lying stiff and motionless. Then he +gently replaced the sheet and returned to the palace. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, have you found out this time?” asked the Sultan. +</p> + +<p> +“My lord, it is the husband who is dead.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I tell you he was with me only a few hours ago,” cried the Sultan angrily. +“I must get to the bottom of this before I sleep! Let my golden coach be +brought round at once.” +</p> + +<p> +The coach was before the door in another five minutes, and the Sultan and +Sultana both got in. Abu Nowas had ceased being a dead man, and was looking +into the street when he saw the coach coming. “Quick! quick!” he called to his +wife. “The Sultan will be here directly, and we must both be dead to receive +him.” So they laid themselves down, and spread the sheet over them, and held +their breath. At that instant the Sultan entered, followed by the Sultana and +the chamberlain, and he went up to the bed and found the corpses stiff and +motionless. “I would give a thousand gold pieces to anyone who would tell me +the truth about this,” cried he, and at the words Abu Nowas sat up. “Give them +to me, then,” said he, holding out his hand. “You cannot give them to anyone +who needs them more.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, Abu Nowas, you impudent dog!” exclaimed the Sultan, bursting into a laugh, +in which the Sultana joined. “I might have known it was one of your tricks!” +But he sent Abu Nowas the gold he had promised, and let us hope that it did not +fly so fast as the last had done. +</p> + +<p> +[From Tunische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0027"></a> +Motiratika</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time, in a very hot country, a man lived with his wife in a little +hut, which was surrounded by grass and flowers. They were perfectly happy +together till, by-and-by, the woman fell ill and refused to take any food. The +husband tried to persuade her to eat all sorts of delicious fruits that he had +found in the forest, but she would have none of them, and grew so thin he +feared she would die. “Is there nothing you would like?” he said at last in +despair. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I think I could eat some wild honey,” answered she. The husband was +overjoyed, for he thought this sounded easy enough to get, and he went off at +once in search of it. +</p> + +<p> +He came back with a wooden pan quite full, and gave it to his wife. “I can’t +eat that,” she said, turning away in disgust. “Look! there are some dead bees +in it! I want honey that is quite pure.” And the man threw the rejected honey +on the grass, and started off to get some fresh. When he got back he offered it +to his wife, who treated it as she had done the first bowlful. “That honey has +got ants in it: throw it away,” she said, and when he brought her some more, +she declared it was full of earth. In his fourth journey he managed to find +some that she would eat, and then she begged him to get her some water. This +took him some time, but at length he came to a lake whose waters were sweetened +with sugar. He filled a pannikin quite full, and carried it home to his wife, +who drank it eagerly, and said that she now felt quite well. When she was up +and had dressed herself, her husband lay down in her place, saying: “You have +given me a great deal of trouble, and now it is my turn!” +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter with you?” asked the wife. +</p> + +<p> +“I am thirsty and want some water,” answered he; and she took a large pot and +carried it to the nearest spring, which was a good way off. “Here is the +water,” she said to her husband, lifting the heavy pot from her head; but he +turned away in disgust. +</p> + +<p> +“You have drawn it from the pool that is full of frogs and willows; you must +get me some more.” So the woman set out again and walked still further to +another lake. +</p> + +<p> +“This water tastes of rushes,” he exclaimed, “go and get some fresh.” But when +she brought back a third supply he declared that it seemed made up of +water-lilies, and that he must have water that was pure, and not spoilt by +willows, or frogs, or rushes. So for the fourth time she put her jug on her +head, and passing all the lakes she had hitherto tried, she came to another, +where the water was golden like honey. She stooped down to drink, when a +horrible head bobbed up on the surface. +</p> + +<p> +“How dare you steal my water?” cried the head. +</p> + +<p> +“It is my husband who has sent me,” she replied, trembling all over. “But do +not kill me! You shall have my baby, if you will only let me go.” +</p> + +<p> +“How am I to know which is your baby?” asked the Ogre. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, that is easily managed. I will shave both sides of his head, and hang some +white beads round his neck. And when you come to the hut you have only to call +‘Motikatika!’ and he will run to meet you, and you can eat him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” said the ogre, “you can go home.” And after filling the pot she +returned, and told her husband of the dreadful danger she had been in. +</p> + +<p> +Now, though his mother did not know it, the baby was a magician and he had +heard all that his mother had promised the ogre; and he laughed to himself as +he planned how to outwit her. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning she shaved his head on both sides, and hung the white beads +round his neck, and said to him: “I am going to the fields to work, but you +must stay at home. Be sure you do not go outside, or some wild beast may eat +you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” answered he. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as his mother was out of sight, the baby took out some magic bones, and +placed them in a row before him. “You are my father,” he told one bone, “and +you are my mother. You are the biggest,” he said to the third, “so you shall be +the ogre who wants to eat me; and you,” to another, “are very little, therefore +you shall be me. Now, then, tell me what I am to do.” +</p> + +<p> +“Collect all the babies in the village the same size as yourself,” answered the +bones; “shave the sides of their heads, and hang white beads round their necks, +and tell them that when anybody calls ‘Motikatika,’ they are to answer to it. +And be quick for you have no time to lose.” +</p> + +<p> +Motikatika went out directly, and brought back quite a crowd of babies, and +shaved their heads and hung white beads round their little black necks, and +just as he had finished, the ground began to shake, and the huge ogre came +striding along, crying: “Motikatika! Motikatika!” +</p> + +<p> +“Here we are! here we are!” answered the babies, all running to meet him. +</p> + +<p> +“It is Motikatika I want,” said the ogre. +</p> + +<p> +“We are all Motikatika,” they replied. And the ogre sat down in bewilderment, +for he dared not eat the children of people who had done him no wrong, or a +heavy punishment would befall him. The children waited for a little, wondering, +and then they went away. +</p> + +<p> +The ogre remained where he was, till the evening, when the woman returned from +the fields. +</p> + +<p> +“I have not seen Motikatika,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +“But why did you not call him by his name, as I told you?” she asked. +</p> + +<p> +“I did, but all the babies in the village seemed to be named Motikatika,” +answered the ogre; “you cannot think the number who came running to me.” +</p> + +<p> +The woman did not know what to make of it, so, to keep him in a good temper, +she entered the hut and prepared a bowl of maize, which she brought him. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not want maize, I want the baby,” grumbled he “and I will have him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have patience,” answered she; “I will call him, and you can eat him at once.” +And she went into the hut and cried, “Motikatika!” +</p> + +<p> +“I am coming, mother,” replied he; but first he took out his bones, and, +crouching down on the ground behind the hut, asked them how he should escape +the ogre. +</p> + +<p> +“Change yourself into a mouse,” said the bones; and so he did, and the ogre +grew tired of waiting, and told the woman she must invent some other plan. +</p> + +<p> +“To-morrow I will send him into the field to pick some beans for me, and you +will find him there, and can eat him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” replied the ogre, “and this time I will take care to have him,” +and he went back to his lake. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning Motikatika was sent out with a basket, and told to pick some beans +for dinner. On the way to the field he took out his bones and asked them what +he was to do to escape from the ogre. “Change yourself into a bird and snap off +the beans,” said the bones. And the ogre chased away the bird, not knowing that +it was Motikatika. +</p> + +<p> +The ogre went back to the hut and told the woman that she had deceived him +again, and that he would not be put off any longer. +</p> + +<p> +“Return here this evening,” answered she, “and you will find him in bed under +this white coverlet. Then you can carry him away, and eat him at once.” +</p> + +<p> +But the boy heard, and consulted his bones, which said: “Take the red coverlet +from your father’s bed, and put yours on his,” and so he did. And when the ogre +came, he seized Motikatika’s father and carried him outside the hut and ate +him. When his wife found out the mistake, she cried bitterly; but Motikatika +said: “It is only just that he should be eaten, and not I; for it was he, and +not I, who sent you to fetch the water.” +</p> + +<p> +[Adapted from the Ba-Ronga (H. Junod).] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0028"></a> +Niels And The Giants</h2> + +<p> +On one of the great moors over in Jutland, where trees won’t grow because the +soil is so sandy and the wind so strong, there once lived a man and his wife, +who had a little house and some sheep, and two sons who helped them to herd +them. The elder of the two was called Rasmus, and the younger Niels. Rasmus was +quite content to look after sheep, as his father had done before him, but Niels +had a fancy to be a hunter, and was not happy till he got hold of a gun and +learned to shoot. It was only an old muzzle-loading flint-lock after all, but +Niels thought it a great prize, and went about shooting at everything he could +see. So much did he practice that in the long run he became a wonderful shot, +and was heard of even where he had never been seen. Some people said there was +very little in him beyond this, but that was an idea they found reason to +change in the course of time. +</p> + +<p> +The parents of Rasmus and Niels were good Catholics, and when they were getting +old the mother took it into her head that she would like to go to Rome and see +the Pope. The others didn’t see much use in this, but she had her way in the +end: they sold all the sheep, shut up the house, and set out for Rome on foot. +Niels took his gun with him. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you want with that?” said Rasmus; “we have plenty to carry without +it.” But Niels could not be happy without his gun, and took it all the same. +</p> + +<p> +It was in the hottest part of summer that they began their journey, so hot that +they could not travel at all in the middle of the day, and they were afraid to +do it by night lest they might lose their way or fall into the hands of +robbers. One day, a little before sunset, they came to an inn which lay at the +edge of a forest. +</p> + +<p> +“We had better stay here for the night,” said Rasmus. +</p> + +<p> +“What an idea!” said Niels, who was growing impatient at the slow progress they +were making. “We can’t travel by day for the heat, and we remain where we are +all night. It will be long enough before we get to Rome if we go on at this +rate.” +</p> + +<p> +Rasmus was unwilling to go on, but the two old people sided with Niels, who +said, “The nights aren’t dark, and the moon will soon be up. We can ask at the +inn here, and find out which way we ought to take.” +</p> + +<p> +So they held on for some time, but at last they came to a small opening in the +forest, and here they found that the road split in two. There was no sign-post +to direct them, and the people in the inn had not told them which of the two +roads to take. +</p> + +<p> +“What’s to be done now?” said Rasmus. “I think we had better have stayed at the +inn.” +</p> + +<p> +“There’s no harm done,” said Niels. “The night is warm, and we can wait here +till morning. One of us will keep watch till midnight, and then waken the +other.” +</p> + +<p> +Rasmus chose to take the first watch, and the others lay down to sleep. It was +very quiet in the forest, and Rasmus could hear the deer and foxes and other +animals moving about among the rustling leaves. After the moon rose he could +see them occasionally, and when a big stag came quite close to him he got hold +of Niels’ gun and shot it. +</p> + +<p> +Niels was wakened by the report. “What’s that?” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ve just shot a stag,” said Rasmus, highly pleased with himself. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s nothing,” said Niels. “I’ve often shot a sparrow, which is a much more +difficult thing to do.” +</p> + +<p> +It was now close on midnight, so Niels began his watch, and Rasmus went to +sleep. It began to get colder, and Niels began to walk about a little to keep +himself warm. He soon found that they were not far from the edge of the forest, +and when he climbed up one of the trees there he could see out over the open +country beyond. At a little distance he saw a fire, and beside it there sat +three giants, busy with broth and beef. They were so huge that the spoons they +used were as large as spades, and their forks as big as hay-forks: with these +they lifted whole bucketfuls of broth and great joints of meat out of an +enormous pot which was set on the ground between them. Niels was startled and +rather scared at first, but he comforted himself with the thought that the +giants were a good way off, and that if they came nearer he could easily hide +among the bushes. After watching them for a little, however, he began to get +over his alarm, and finally slid down the tree again, resolved to get his gun +and play some tricks with them. +</p> + +<p> +When he had climbed back to his former position, he took good aim, and waited +till one of the giants was just in the act of putting a large piece of meat +into his mouth. Bang! went Niels’ gun, and the bullet struck the handle of the +fork so hard that the point went into the giant’s chin, instead of his mouth. +</p> + +<p> +“None of your tricks,” growled the giant to the one who sat next him. “What do +you mean by hitting my fork like that, and making me prick myself?” +</p> + +<p> +“I never touched your fork,” said the other. “Don’t try to get up a quarrel +with me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Look at it, then,” said the first. “Do you suppose I stuck it into my own chin +for fun?” +</p> + +<p> +The two got so angry over the matter that each offered to fight the other there +and then, but the third giant acted as peace-maker, and they again fell to +their eating. +</p> + +<p> +While the quarrel was going on, Niels had loaded the gun again, and just as the +second giant was about to put a nice tit-bit into his mouth, bang! went the gun +again, and the fork flew into a dozen pieces. +</p> + +<p> +This giant was even more furious than the first had been, and words were just +coming to blows, when the third giant again interposed. +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t be fools,” he said to them; “what’s the good of beginning to fight among +ourselves, when it is so necessary for the three of us to work together and get +the upper hand over the king of this country. It will be a hard enough task as +it is, but it will be altogether hopeless if we don’t stick together. Sit down +again, and let us finish our meal; I shall sit between you, and then neither of +you can blame the other.” +</p> + +<p> +Niels was too far away to hear their talk, but from their gestures he could +guess what was happening, and thought it good fun. +</p> + +<p> +“Thrice is lucky,” said he to himself; “I’ll have another shot yet.” +</p> + +<p> +This time it was the third giant’s fork that caught the bullet, and snapped in +two. +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said he, “if I were as foolish as you two, I would also fly into a +rage, but I begin to see what time of day it is, and I’m going off this minute +to see who it is that’s playing these tricks with us.” +</p> + +<p> +So well had the giant made his observations, that though Niels climbed down the +tree as fast as he could, so as to hide among the bushes, he had just got to +the ground when the enemy was upon him. +</p> + +<p> +“Stay where you are,” said the giant, “or I’ll put my foot on you, and there +won’t be much of you left after that.” +</p> + +<p> +Niels gave in, and the giant carried him back to his comrades. +</p> + +<p> +“You don’t deserve any mercy at our hands,” said his captor “but as you are +such a good shot you may be of great use to us, so we shall spare your life, if +you will do us a service. Not far from here there stands a castle, in which the +king’s daughter lives; we are at war with the king, and want to get the upper +hand of him by carrying off the princess, but the castle is so well guarded +that there is no getting into it. By our skill in magic we have cast sleep on +every living thing in the castle, except a little black dog, and, as long as he +is awake, we are no better off than before; for, as soon as we begin to climb +over the wall, the little dog will hear us, and its barking will waken all the +others again. Having got you, we can place you where you will be able to shoot +the dog before it begins to bark, and then no one can hinder us from getting +the princess into our hands. If you do that, we shall not only let you off, but +reward you handsomely.” +</p> + +<p> +Niels had to consent, and the giants set out for the castle at once. It was +surrounded by a very high rampart, so high that even the giants could not touch +the top of it. “How am I to get over that?” said Niels. +</p> + +<p> +“Quite easily,” said the third giant; “I’ll throw you up on it.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, thanks,” said Niels. “I might fall down on the other side, or break my leg +or neck, and then the little dog wouldn’t get shot after all.” +</p> + +<p> +“No fear of that,” said the giant; “the rampart is quite wide on the top, and +covered with long grass, so that you will come down as softly as though you +fell on a feather-bed.” +</p> + +<p> +Niels had to believe him, and allowed the giant to throw him up. He came down +on his feet quite unhurt, but the little black dog heard the dump, and rushed +out of its kennel at once. It was just opening its mouth to bark, when Niels +fired, and it fell dead on the spot. +</p> + +<p> +“Go down on the inside now,” said the giant, “and see if you can open the gate +to us.” +</p> + +<p> +Niels made his way down into the courtyard, but on his way to the outer gate he +found himself at the entrance to the large hall of the castle. The door was +open, and the hall was brilliantly lighted, though there was no one to be seen. +Niels went in here and looked round him: on the wall there hung a huge sword +without a sheath, and beneath it was a large drinking-horn, mounted with +silver. Niels went closer to look at these, and saw that the horn had letters +engraved on the silver rim: when he took it down and turned it round, he found +that the inscription was:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Whoever drinks the wine I hold<br/> + Can wield the sword that hangs above;<br/> +Then let him use it for the right,<br/> + And win a royal maiden’s love. +</p> + +<p> +Niels took out the silver stopper of the horn, and drank some of the wine, but +when he tried to take down the sword he found himself unable to move it. So he +hung up the horn again, and went further in to the castle. “The giants can wait +a little,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +Before long he came to an apartment in which a beautiful princess lay asleep in +a bed, and on a table by her side there lay a gold-hemmed handkerchief. Niels +tore this in two, and put one half in his pocket, leaving the other half on the +table. On the floor he saw a pair of gold-embroidered slippers, and one of +these he also put in his pocket. After that he went back to the hall, and took +down the horn again. “Perhaps I have to drink all that is in it before I can +move the sword,” he thought; so he put it to his lips again and drank till it +was quite empty. When he had done this, he could wield the sword with the +greatest of ease, and felt himself strong enough to do anything, even to fight +the giants he had left outside, who were no doubt wondering why he had not +opened the gate to them before this time. To kill the giants, he thought, would +be using the sword for the right; but as to winning the love of the princess, +that was a thing which the son of a poor sheep-farmer need not hope for. +</p> + +<p> +When Niels came to the gate of the castle, he found that there was a large door +and a small one, so he opened the latter. +</p> + +<p> +“Can’t you open the big door?” said the giants; “we shall hardly be able to get +in at this one.” +</p> + +<p> +“The bars are too heavy for me to draw,” said Niels; “if you stoop a little you +can quite well come in here.” The first giant accordingly bent down and entered +in a stooping posture, but before he had time to straighten his back again +Niels made a sweep with the sword, and oft went the giant’s head. To push the +body aside as it fell was quite easy for Niels, so strong had the wine made +him, and the second giant as he entered met the same reception. The third was +slower in coming, so Niels called out to him: “Be quick,” he said, “you are +surely the oldest of the three, since you are so slow in your movements, but I +can’t wait here long; I must get back to my own people as soon as possible.” So +the third also came in, and was served in the same way. It appears from the +story that giants were not given fair play! +</p> + +<p> +By this time day was beginning to break, and Niels thought that his folks might +already be searching for him, so, instead of waiting to see what took place at +the castle, he ran off to the forest as fast as he could, taking the sword with +him. He found the others still asleep, so he woke them up, and they again set +out on their journey. Of the night’s adventures he said not a word, and when +they asked where he got the sword, he only pointed in the direction of the +castle, and said, “Over that way.” They thought he had found it, and asked no +more questions. +</p> + +<p> +When Niels left the castle, he shut the door behind him, and it closed with +such a bang that the porter woke up. He could scarcely believe his eyes when he +saw the three headless giants lying in a heap in the courtyard, and could not +imagine what had taken place. The whole castle was soon aroused, and then +everybody wondered at the affair: it was soon seen that the bodies were those +of the king’s great enemies, but how they came to be there and in that +condition was a perfect mystery. Then it was noticed that the drinking-horn was +empty and the sword gone, while the princess reported that half of her +handkerchief and one of her slippers had been taken away. How the giants had +been killed seemed a little clearer now, but who had done it was as great a +puzzle as before. The old knight who had charge of the castle said that in his +opinion it must have been some young knight, who had immediately set off to the +king to claim the hand of the princess. This sounded likely, but the messenger +who was sent to the Court returned with the news that no one there knew +anything about the matter. +</p> + +<p> +“We must find him, however,” said the princess; “for if he is willing to marry +me I cannot in honour refuse him, after what my father put on the horn.” She +took council with her father’s wisest men as to what ought to be done, and +among other things they advised her to build a house beside the highway, and +put over the door this inscription:—“Whoever will tell the story of his life, +may stay here three nights for nothing.” This was done, and many strange tales +were told to the princess, but none of the travellers said a word about the +three giants. +</p> + +<p> +In the meantime Niels and the others tramped on towards Rome. Autumn passed, +and winter was just beginning when they came to the foot of a great range of +mountains, towering up to the sky. “Must we go over these?” said they. “We +shall be frozen to death or buried in the snow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Here comes a man,” said Niels; “let us ask him the way to Rome.” They did so, +and were told that there was no other way. +</p> + +<p> +“And is it far yet?” said the old people, who were beginning to be worn out by +the long journey. The man held up his foot so that they could see the sole of +his shoe; it was worn as thin as paper, and there was a hole in the middle of +it. +</p> + +<p> +“These shoes were quite new when I left Rome,” he said, “and look at them now; +that will tell you whether you are far from it or not.” +</p> + +<p> +This discouraged the old people so much that they gave up all thought of +finishing the journey, and only wished to get back to Denmark as quickly as +they could. What with the winter and bad roads they took longer to return than +they had taken to go, but in the end they found themselves in sight of the +forest where they had slept before. +</p> + +<p> +“What’s this?” said Rasmus. “Here’s a big house built since we passed this way +before.” +</p> + +<p> +“So it is,” said Peter; “let’s stay all night in it.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, we can’t afford that,” said the old people; “it will be too dear for the +like of us.” +</p> + +<p> +However, when they saw what was written above the door, they were all well +pleased to get a night’s lodging for nothing. They were well received, and had +so much attention given to them, that the old people were quite put out by it. +After they had got time to rest themselves, the princess’s steward came to hear +their story. +</p> + +<p> +“You saw what was written above the door,” he said to the father. “Tell me who +you are and what your history has been.” +</p> + +<p> +“Dear me, I have nothing of any importance to tell you,” said the old man, “and +I am sure we should never have made so bold as to trouble you at all if it +hadn’t been for the youngest of our two sons here.” +</p> + +<p> +“Never mind that,” said the steward; “you are very welcome if you will only +tell me the story of your life.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, well, I will,” said he, “but there is nothing to tell about it. I and my +wife have lived all our days on a moor in North Jutland, until this last year, +when she took a fancy to go to Rome. We set out with our two sons but turned +back long before we got there, and are now on our way home again. That’s all my +own story, and our two sons have lived with us all their days, so there is +nothing more to be told about them either.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes there is,” said Rasmus; “when we were on our way south, we slept in the +wood near here one night, and I shot a stag.” +</p> + +<p> +The steward was so much accustomed to hearing stories of no importance that he +thought there was no use going further with this, but reported to the princess +that the newcomers had nothing to tell. +</p> + +<p> +“Did you question them all?” she said. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, no; not directly,” said he; “but the father said that none of them could +tell me any more than he had done.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are getting careless,” said the princess; “I shall go and talk to them +myself.” +</p> + +<p> +Niels knew the princess again as soon as she entered the room, and was greatly +alarmed, for he immediately supposed that all this was a device to discover the +person who had run away with the sword, the slipper and the half of the +handkerchief, and that it would fare badly with him if he were discovered. So +he told his story much the same as the others did (Niels was not very +particular), and thought he had escaped all further trouble, when Rasmus put in +his word. “You’ve forgotten something, Niels,” he said; “you remember you found +a sword near here that night I shot the stag.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is the sword?” said the princess. +</p> + +<p> +“I know,” said the steward, “I saw where he laid it down when they came in;” +and off he went to fetch it, while Niels wondered whether he could make his +escape in the meantime. Before he had made up his mind, however, the steward +was back with the sword, which the princess recognised at once. +</p> + +<p> +“Where did you get this?” she said to Niels. +</p> + +<p> +Niels was silent, and wondered what the usual penalty was for a poor +sheep-farmer’s son who was so unfortunate as to deliver a princess and carry +off things from her bed-room. +</p> + +<p> +“See what else he has about him,” said the princess to the steward, and Niels +had to submit to be searched: out of one pocket came a gold-embroidered +slipper, and out of another the half of a gold-hemmed handkerchief. +</p> + +<p> +“That is enough,” said the princess; “now we needn’t ask any more questions. +Send for my father the king at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“Please let me go,” said Niels; “I did you as much good as harm, at any rate.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why, who said anything about doing harm?” said the princess. “You must stay +here till my father comes.” +</p> + +<p> +The way in which the princess smiled when she said this gave Niels some hope +that things might not be bad for him after all, and he was yet more encouraged +when he thought of the words engraver on the horn, though the last line still +seemed too good to be true. However, the arrival of the king soon settled the +matter: the princess was willing and so was Niels, and in a few days the +wedding bells were ringing. Niels was made an earl by that time, and looked as +handsome as any of them when dressed in all his robes. Before long the old king +died, and Niels reigned after him; but whether his father and mother stayed +with him, or went back to the moor in Jutland, or were sent to Rome in a +carriage and four, is something that all the historians of his reign have +forgotten to mention. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0029"></a> +Shepherd Paul</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time a shepherd was taking his flock out to pasture, when he found +a little baby lying in a meadow, left there by some wicked person, who thought +it was too much trouble to look after it. The shepherd was fond of children, so +he took the baby home with him and gave it plenty of milk, and by the time the +boy was fourteen he could tear up oaks as if they were weeds. Then Paul, as the +shepherd had called him, grew tired of living at home, and went out into the +world to try his luck. +</p> + +<p> +He walked on for many miles, seeing nothing that surprised him, but in an open +space of the wood he was astonished at finding a man combing trees as another +man would comb flax. +</p> + +<p> +“Good morning, friend,” said Paul; “upon my word, you must be a strong man!” +</p> + +<p> +The man stopped his work and laughed. “I am Tree Comber,” he answered proudly; +“and the greatest wish of my life is to wrestle with Shepherd Paul.” +</p> + +<p> +“May all your wishes be fulfilled as easily, for I am Shepherd Paul, and can +wrestle with you at once,” replied the lad; and he seized Tree Comber and flung +him with such force to the ground that he sank up to his knees in the earth. +However, in a moment he was up again, and catching hold of Paul, threw him so +that he sank up to his waist; but then it was Paul’s turn again, and this time +the man was buried up to his neck. “That is enough,” cried he; “I see you are a +smart fellow, let us become friends.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very good,” answered Paul, and they continued their journey together. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by they reached a man who was grinding stones to powder in his hands, as +if they had been nuts. +</p> + +<p> +“Good morning,” said Paul politely; “upon my word, you must be a strong +fellow!” +</p> + +<p> +“I am Stone Crusher,” answered the man, and the greatest wish of my life is to +wrestle with Shepherd Paul.” +</p> + +<p> +“May all your wishes be as easily fulfilled, for I am Shepherd Paul, and will +wrestle with you at once,” and the sport began. After a short time the man +declared himself beaten, and begged leave to go with them; so they all three +travelled together. +</p> + +<p> +A little further on they came upon a man who was kneading iron as if it had +been dough. “Good morning,” said Paul, “you must be a strong fellow.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am Iron Kneader, and should like to fight Shepherd Paul,” answered he. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us begin at once then,” replied Paul; and on this occasion also, Paul got +the better of his foe, and they all four continued their journey. +</p> + +<p> +At midday they entered a forest, and Paul stopped suddenly. “We three will go +and look for game,” he said, “and you, Tree Comber, will stay behind and +prepare a good supper for us.” So Tree Comber set to work to boil and roast, +and when dinner was nearly ready, a little dwarf with a pointed beard strolled +up to the place. “What are you cooking?” asked he, “give me some of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll give you some on your back, if you like,” answered Tree Comber rudely. +The dwarf took no notice, but waited patiently till the dinner was cooked, then +suddenly throwing Tree Comber on the ground, he ate up the contents of the +saucepan and vanished. Tree Comber felt rather ashamed of himself, and set +about boiling some more vegetables, but they were still very hard when the +hunters returned, and though they complained of his bad cooking, he did not +tell them about the dwarf. +</p> + +<p> +Next day Stone Crusher was left behind, and after him Iron Kneader, and each +time the dwarf appeared, and they fared no better than Tree Comber had done. +The fourth day Paul said to them: “My friends, there must be some reason why +your cooking has always been so bad, now you shall go and hunt and I will stay +behind.” So they went off, amusing themselves by thinking what was in store for +Paul. +</p> + +<p> +He set to work at once, and had just got all his vegetables simmering in the +pot when the dwarf appeared as before, and asked to have some of the stew. “Be +off,” cried Paul, snatching up the saucepan as he spoke. The dwarf tried to get +hold of his collar, but Paul seized him by the beard, and tied him to a big +tree so that he could not stir, and went on quietly with his cooking. The +hunters came back early, longing to see how Paul had got on, and, to their +surprise, dinner was quite ready for them. +</p> + +<p> +“You are great useless creatures,” said he, “who couldn’t even outwit that +little dwarf. When we have finished supper I will show you what I have done +with him!” But when they reached the place where Paul had left the dwarf, +neither he nor the tree was to be seen, for the little fellow had pulled it up +by the roots and run away, dragging it after him. The four friends followed the +track of the tree and found that it ended in a deep hole. “He must have gone +down here,” said Paul, “and I will go after him. See! there is a basket that +will do for me to sit in, and a cord to lower me with. But when I pull the cord +again, lose no time in drawing the basket up.” +</p> + +<p> +And he stepped into the basket, which was lowered by his friends. +</p> + +<p> +At last it touched the ground and he jumped out and looked about him. He was in +a beautiful valley, full of meadows and streams, with a splendid castle +standing by. As the door was open he walked in, but a lovely maiden met him and +implored him to go back, for the owner of the castle was a dragon with six +heads, who had stolen her from her home and brought her down to this +underground spot. But Paul refused to listen to all her entreaties, and +declared that he was not afraid of the dragon, and did not care how many heads +he had; and he sat down calmly to wait for him. +</p> + +<p> +In a little while the dragon came in, and all the long teeth in his six heads +chattered with anger at the sight of the stranger. +</p> + +<p> +“I am Shepherd Paul,” said the young man, “and I have come to fight you, and as +I am in a hurry we had better begin at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very good,” answered the dragon. “I am sure of my supper, but let us have a +mouthful of something first, just to give us an appetite.” +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon he began to eat some huge boulders as if they had been cakes, and +when he had quite finished, he offered Paul one. Paul was not fond of boulders, +but he took a wooden knife and cut one in two, then he snatched up both halves +in his hands and threw them with all his strength at the dragon, so that two +out of the six heads were smashed in. At this the dragon, with a mighty roar, +rushed upon Paul, but he sprang on one side, and with a swinging blow cut off +two of the other heads. Then, seizing the monster by the neck, he dashed the +remaining heads against the rock. +</p> + +<p> +When the maiden heard that the dragon was dead, she thanked her deliverer with +tears in her eyes, but told him that her two younger sisters were in the power +of dragons still fiercer and more horrible than this one. He vowed that his +sword should never rest in its sheath till they were set free, and bade the +girl come with him, and show him the way. +</p> + +<p> +The maiden gladly consented to go with him, but first she gave him a golden +rod, and bade him strike the castle with it. He did so, and it instantly +changed into a golden apple, which he put in his pocket. After that, they +started on their search. +</p> + +<p> +They had not gone far before they reached the castle where the second girl was +confined by the power of the dragon with twelve heads, who had stolen her from +her home. She was overjoyed at the sight of her sister and of Paul, and brought +him a shirt belonging to the dragon, which made every one who wore it twice as +strong as they were before. Scarcely had he put it on when the dragon came +back, and the fight began. Long and hard was the struggle, but Paul’s sword and +his shirt helped him, and the twelve heads lay dead upon the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Then Paul changed the castle into an apple, which he put into his pocket, and +set out with the two girls in search of the third castle. +</p> + +<p> +It was not long before they found it, and within the walls was the third +sister, who was younger and prettier than either of the other two. Her husband +had eighteen heads, but when he quitted the lower regions for the surface of +the earth, he left them all at home except one, which he changed for the head +of a little dwarf, with a pointed beard. +</p> + +<p> +The moment that Paul knew that this terrible dragon was no other than the dwarf +whom he had tied to the tree, he longed more than ever to fly at his throat. +But the thought of the eighteen heads warned him to be careful, and the third +sister brought him a silk shirt which would make him ten times stronger than he +was before. +</p> + +<p> +He had scarcely put it on, when the whole castle began to shake violently, and +the dragon flew up the steps into the hall. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, my friend, so we meet once more! Have you forgotten me? I am Shepherd +Paul, and I have come to wrestle with you, and to free your wife from your +clutches.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, I am glad to see you again,” said the dragon. “Those were my two brothers +whom you killed, and now your blood shall pay for them.” And he went into his +room to look for his shirt and to drink some magic wine, but the shirt was on +Paul’s back, and as for the wine, the girl had given a cupful to Paul and then +had allowed the rest to run out of the cask. +</p> + +<p> +At this the dragon grew rather frightened, but in a moment had recollected his +eighteen heads, and was bold again. +</p> + +<p> +“Come on,” he cried, rearing himself up and preparing to dart all his heads at +once at Paul. But Paul jumped underneath, and gave an upward cut so that six of +the heads went rolling down. They were the best heads too, and very soon the +other twelve lay beside them. Then Paul changed the castle into an apple, and +put it in his pocket. Afterwards he and the three girls set off for the opening +which led upwards to the earth. +</p> + +<p> +The basket was still there, dangling from the rope, but it was only big enough +to hold the three girls, so Paul sent them up, and told them to be sure and let +down the basket for him. Unluckily, at the sight of the maidens’ beauty, so far +beyond anything they had ever seen, the friends forgot all about Paul, and +carried the girls straight away into a far country, so that they were not much +better off than before. Meanwhile Paul, mad with rage at the ingratitude of the +three sisters, vowed he would be revenged upon them, and set about finding some +way of getting back to earth. But it was not very easy, and for months, and +months, and months, he wandered about underground, and, at the end, seemed no +nearer to fulfilling his purpose than he was at the beginning. +</p> + +<p> +At length, one day, he happened to pass the nest of a huge griffin, who had +left her young ones all alone. Just as Paul came along a cloud containing fire +instead of rain burst overhead, and all the little griffins would certainly +have been killed had not Paul spread his cloak over the nest and saved them. +When their father returned the young ones told him what Paul had done, and he +lost no time in flying after Paul, and asking how he could reward him for his +goodness. +</p> + +<p> +“By carrying me up to the earth,” answered Paul; and the griffin agreed, but +first went to get some food to eat on the way, as it was a long journey. +</p> + +<p> +“Now get on my back,” he said to Paul, “and when I turn my head to the right, +cut a slice off the bullock that hangs on that side, and put it in my mouth, +and when I turn my head to the left, draw a cupful of wine from the cask that +hangs on that side, and pour it down my throat.” +</p> + +<p> +For three days and three nights Paul and the griffin flew upwards, and on the +fourth morning it touched the ground just outside the city where Paul’s friends +had gone to live. Then Paul thanked him and bade him farewell, and he returned +home again. +</p> + +<p> +At first Paul was too tired to do anything but sleep, but as soon as he was +rested he started off in search of the three faithless ones, who almost died +from fright at the sight of him, for they had thought he would never come back +to reproach them for their wickedness. +</p> + +<p> +“You know what to expect,” Paul said to them quietly. “You shall never see me +again. Off with you!” He next took the three apples out of his pocket and +placed them all in the prettiest places he could find; after which he tapped +them with his golden rod, and they became castles again. He gave two of the +castles to the eldest sisters, and kept the other for himself and the youngest, +whom he married, and there they are living still. +</p> + +<p> +[From Ungarische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0030"></a> +How The Wicked Tanuki Was Punished</h2> + +<p> +The hunters had hunted the wood for so many years that no wild animal was any +more to be found in it. You might walk from one end to the other without ever +seeing a hare, or a deer, or a boar, or hearing the cooing of the doves in +their nest. If they were not dead, they had flown elsewhere. Only three +creatures remained alive, and they had hidden themselves in the thickest part +of the forest, high up the mountain. These were a grey-furred, long-tailed +tanuki, his wife the fox, who was one of his own family, and their little son. +</p> + +<p> +The fox and the tanuki were very clever, prudent beasts, and they also were +skilled in magic, and by this means had escaped the fate of their unfortunate +friends. If they heard the twang of an arrow or saw the glitter of a spear, +ever so far off, they lay very still, and were not to be tempted from their +hiding-place, if their hunger was ever so great, or the game ever so delicious. +“We are not so foolish as to risk our lives,” they said to each other proudly. +But at length there came a day when, in spite of their prudence, they seemed +likely to die of starvation, for no more food was to be had. Something had to +be done, but they did not know what. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly a bright thought struck the tanuki. “I have got a plan,” he cried +joyfully to his wife. “I will pretend to be dead, and you must change yourself +into a man, and take me to the village for sale. It will be easy to find a +buyer, tanukis’ skins are always wanted; then buy some food with the money and +come home again. I will manage to escape somehow, so do not worry about me.” +</p> + +<p> +The fox laughed with delight, and rubbed her paws together with satisfaction. +“Well, next time I will go,” she said, “and you can sell me.” And then she +changed herself into a man, and picking up the stiff body of the tanuki, set +off towards the village. She found him rather heavy, but it would never have +done to let him walk through the wood and risk his being seen by somebody. +</p> + +<p> +As the tanaki had foretold, buyers were many, and the fox handed him over to +the person who offered the largest price, and hurried to get some food with the +money. The buyer took the tanuki back to his house, and throwing him into a +corner went out. Directly the tanaki found he was alone, he crept cautiously +through a chink of the window, thinking, as he did so, how lucky it was that he +was not a fox, and was able to climb. Once outside, he hid himself in a ditch +till it grew dusk, and then galloped away into the forest. +</p> + +<p> +While the food lasted they were all three as happy as kings; but there soon +arrived a day when the larder was as empty as ever. “It is my turn now to +pretend to be dead,” cried the fox. So the tanuki changed himself into a +peasant, and started for the village, with his wife’s body hanging over his +shoulder. A buyer was not long in coming forward, and while they were making +the bargain a wicked thought darted into the tanuki’s head, that if he got rid +of the fox there would be more food for him and his son. So as he put the money +in his pocket he whispered softly to the buyer that the fox was not really +dead, and that if he did not take care she might run away from him. The man did +not need twice telling. He gave the poor fox a blow on the head, which put an +end to her, and the wicked tanuki went smiling to the nearest shop. +</p> + +<p> +In former times he had been very fond of his little son; but since he had +betrayed his wife he seemed to have changed all in a moment, for he would not +give him as much as a bite, and the poor little fellow would have starved had +he not found some nuts and berries to eat, and he waited on, always hoping that +his mother would come back. +</p> + +<p> +At length some notion of the truth began to dawn on him; but he was careful to +let the old tanuki see nothing, though in his own mind he turned over plans +from morning till night, wondering how best he might avenge his mother. +</p> + +<p> +One morning, as the little tanuki was sitting with his father, he remembered, +with a start, that his mother had taught him all she knew of magic, and that he +could work spells as well as his father, or perhaps better. “I am as good a +wizard as you,” he said suddenly, and a cold chill ran through the tanuki as he +heard him, though he laughed, and pretended to think it a joke. But the little +tanaki stuck to his point, and at last the father proposed they should have a +wager. +</p> + +<p> +“Change yourself into any shape you like,” said he, “and I will undertake to +know you. I will go and wait on the bridge which leads over the river to the +village, and you shall transform yourself into anything you please, but I will +know you through any disguise.” The little tanuki agreed, and went down the +road which his father had pointed out. But instead of transforming himself into +a different shape, he just hid himself in a corner of the bridge, where he +could see without being seen. +</p> + +<p> +He had not been there long when his father arrived and took up his place near +the middle of the bridge, and soon after the king came by, followed by a troop +of guards and all his court. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! he thinks that now he has changed himself into a king I shall not know +him,” thought the old tanuki, and as the king passed in his splendid carriage, +borne by his servants, he jumped upon it crying: “I have won my wager; you +cannot deceive me.” But in reality it was he who had deceived himself. The +soldiers, conceiving that their king was being attacked, seized the tanuki by +the legs and flung him over into the river, and the water closed over him. +</p> + +<p> +And the little tanoki saw it all, and rejoiced that his mother’s death had been +avenged. Then he went back to the forest, and if he has not found it too +lonely, he is probably living there still. +</p> + +<p> +[From Japanische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0031"></a> +The Crab And The Monkey</h2> + +<p> +There was once a crab who lived in a hole on the shady side of a mountain. She +was a very good housewife, and so careful and industrious that there was no +creature in the whole country whose hole was so neat and clean as hers, and she +took great pride in it. +</p> + +<p> +One day she saw lying near the mouth of her hole a handful of cooked rice which +some pilgrim must have let fall when he was stopping to eat his dinner. +Delighted at this discovery, she hastened to the spot, and was carrying the +rice back to her hole when a monkey, who lived in some trees near by, came down +to see what the crab was doing. His eyes shone at the sight of the rice, for it +was his favourite food, and like the sly fellow he was, he proposed a bargain +to the crab. She was to give him half the rice in exchange for the kernel of a +sweet red kaki fruit which he had just eaten. He half expected that the crab +would laugh in his face at this impudent proposal, but instead of doing so she +only looked at him for a moment with her head on one side and then said that +she would agree to the exchange. So the monkey went off with his rice, and the +crab returned to her hole with the kernel. +</p> + +<p> +For some time the crab saw no more of the monkey, who had gone to pay a visit +on the sunny side of the mountain; but one morning he happened to pass by her +hole, and found her sitting under the shadow of a beautiful kaki tree. +</p> + +<p> +“Good day,” he said politely, “you have some very fine fruit there! I am very +hungry, could you spare me one or two?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, certainly,” replied the crab, “but you must forgive me if I cannot get +them for you myself. I am no tree-climber.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pray do not apologise,” answered the monkey. “Now that I have your permission +I can get them myself quite easily.” And the crab consented to let him go up, +merely saying that he must throw her down half the fruit. +</p> + +<p> +In another moment he was swinging himself from branch to branch, eating all the +ripest kakis and filling his pockets with the rest, and the poor crab saw to +her disgust that the few he threw down to her were either not ripe at all or +else quite rotten. +</p> + +<p> +“You are a shocking rogue,” she called in a rage; but the monkey took no +notice, and went on eating as fast as he could. The crab understood that it was +no use her scolding, so she resolved to try what cunning would do. +</p> + +<p> +“Sir Monkey,” she said, “you are certainly a very good climber, but now that +you have eaten so much, I am quite sure you would never be able to turn one of +your somersaults.” The monkey prided himself on turning better somersaults than +any of his family, so he instantly went head over heels three times on the +bough on which he was sitting, and all the beautiful kakis that he had in his +pockets rolled to the ground. Quick as lightning the crab picked them up and +carried a quantity of them into her house, but when she came up for another the +monkey sprang on her, and treated her so badly that he left her for dead. When +he had beaten her till his arm ached he went his way. +</p> + +<p> +It was a lucky thing for the poor crab that she had some friends to come to her +help or she certainly would have died then and there. The wasp flew to her, and +took her back to bed and looked after her, and then he consulted with a +rice-mortar and an egg which had fallen out of a nest near by, and they agreed +that when the monkey returned, as he was sure to do, to steal the rest of the +fruit, that they would punish him severely for the manner in which he had +behaved to the crab. So the mortar climbed up to the beam over the front door, +and the egg lay quite still on the ground, while the wasp set down the +water-bucket in a corner. Then the crab dug itself a deep hole in the ground, +so that not even the tip of her claws might be seen. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after everything was ready the monkey jumped down from his tree, and +creeping to the door began a long hypocritical speech, asking pardon for all he +had done. He waited for an answer of some sort, but none came. He listened, but +all was still; then he peeped, and saw no one; then he went in. He peered about +for the crab, but in vain; however, his eyes fell on the egg, which he snatched +up and set on the fire. But in a moment the egg had burst into a thousand +pieces, and its sharp shell struck him in the face and scratched him horribly. +Smarting with pain he ran to the bucket and stooped down to throw some water +over his head. As he stretched out his hand up started the wasp and stung him +on the nose. The monkey shrieked and ran to the door, but as he passed through +down fell the mortar and struck him dead. “After that the crab lived happily +for many years, and at length died in peace under her own kaki tree. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +[From <i>Japanische Mährchen</i>.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0032"></a> +The Horse Gullfaxi And The Sword Gunnfoder</h2> + +<p> +Many many years ago there lived a king and queen who had one only son, called +Sigurd. When the little boy was only ten years old the queen, his mother, fell +ill and died, and the king, who loved her dearly, built a splendid monument to +his wife’s memory, and day after day he sat by it and bewailed his sad loss. +</p> + +<p> +One morning, as he sat by the grave, he noticed a richly dressed lady close to +him. He asked her name and she answered that it was Ingiborg, and seemed +surprised to see the king there all alone. Then he told her how he had lost his +queen, and how he came daily to weep at her grave. In return, the lady informed +him that she had lately lost her husband, and suggested that they might both +find it a comfort if they made friends. +</p> + +<p> +This pleased the king so much that he invited her to his palace, where they saw +each other often; and after a time he married her. +</p> + +<p> +After the wedding was over he soon regained his good spirits, and used to ride +out hunting as in old days; but Sigurd, who was very fond of his stepmother, +always stayed at home with her. +</p> + +<p> +One evening Ingiborg said to Sigurd: “To-morrow your father is going out +hunting, and you must go with him.” But Sigurd said he would much rather stay +at home, and the next day when the king rode off Sigurd refused to accompany +him. The stepmother was very angry, but he would not listen, and at last she +assured him that he would be sorry for his disobedience, and that in future he +had better do as he was told. +</p> + +<p> +After the hunting party had started she hid Sigurd under her bed, and bade him +be sure to lie there till she called him. +</p> + +<p> +Sigurd lay very still for a long while, and was just thinking it was no good +staying there any more, when he felt the floor shake under him as if there were +an earthquake, and peeping out he saw a great giantess wading along ankle deep +through the ground and ploughing it up as she walked. +</p> + +<p> +“Good morning, Sister Ingiborg,” cried she as she entered the room, “is Prince +Sigurd at home?” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” said Ingiborg; “he rode off to the forest with his father this morning.” +And she laid the table for her sister and set food before her. After they had +both done eating the giantess said: “Thank you, sister, for your good +dinner—the best lamb, the best can of beer and the best drink I have ever had; +but—is not Prince Sigurd at home?” +</p> + +<p> +Ingiborg again said “No”; and the giantess took leave of her and went away. +When she was quite out of sight Ingiborg told Sigurd to come out of his +hiding-place. +</p> + +<p> +The king returned home at night, but his wife told him nothing of what had +happened, and the next morning she again begged the prince to go out hunting +with his father. Sigurd, however, replied as before, that he would much rather +stay at home. +</p> + +<p> +So once more the king rode off alone. This time Ingiborg hid Sigurd under the +table, and scolded him well for not doing as she bade him. For some time he lay +quite still, and then suddenly the floor began to shake, and a giantess came +along wading half way to her knees through the ground. +</p> + +<p> +As she entered the house she asked, as the first one had done: “Well, Sister +Ingiborg, is Prince Sigurd at home?” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” answered Ingiborg,” he rode off hunting with his father this morning”; +and going to the cupboard she laid the table for her sister. When they had +finished their meal the giantess rose and said: “Thank you for all these nice +dishes, and for the best lamb, the best can of beer and the nicest drink I have +ever had; but—is Prince Sigurd really not at home?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, certainly not!” replied Ingiborg; and with that they took leave of each +other. +</p> + +<p> +When she was well out of sight Sigurd crept from under the table, and his +stepmother declared that it was most important that he should not stay at home +next day; but he said he did not see what harm could come of it, and he did not +mean to go out hunting, and the next morning, when the king prepared to start, +Ingiborg implored Sigurd to accompany his father. But it was all no use, he was +quite obstinate and would not listen to a word she said. “You will have to hide +me again,” said he, so no sooner had the king gone than Ingiborg hid Sigurd +between the wall and the panelling, and by-and-by there was heard once more a +sound like an earthquake, as a great giantess, wading knee deep through the +ground, came in at the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Good day, Sister Ingiborg!” she cried, in a voice like thunder; “is Prince +Sigurd at home?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, no,” answered Ingiborg, “he is enjoying himself out there in the forest. I +expect it will be quite dark before he comes back again.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s a lie!” shouted the giantess. And they squabbled about it till they +were tired, after which Ingiborg laid the table; and when the giantess had done +eating she said: “Well, I must thank you for all these good things, and for the +best lamb, the best can of beer and the best drink I have had for a long time; +but—are you quite sure Prince Sigurd is not at home?” +</p> + +<p> +“Quite,” said Ingiborg. “I’ve told you already that he rode off with his father +this morning to hunt in the forest.” +</p> + +<p> +At this the giantess roared out with a terrible voice: “If he is near enough to +hear my words, I lay this spell on him: Let him be half scorched and half +withered; and may he have neither rest nor peace till he finds me.” And with +these words she stalked off. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment Ingiborg stood as if turned to stone, then she fetched Sigurd from +his hiding-place, and, to her horror, there he was, half scorched and half +withered. +</p> + +<p> +“Now you see what has happened through your own obstinacy,” said she; “but we +must lose no time, for your father will soon be coming home.” +</p> + +<p> +Going quickly into the next room she opened a chest and took out a ball of +string and three gold rings, and gave them to Sigurd, saying: “If you throw +this ball on the ground it will roll along till it reaches some high cliffs. +There you will see a giantess looking out over the rocks. She will call down to +you and say: ‘Ah, this is just what I wanted! Here is Prince Sigurd. He shall +go into the pot to-night’; but don’t be frightened by her. She will draw you up +with a long boat-hook, and you must greet her from me, and give her the +smallest ring as a present. This will please her, and she will ask you to +wrestle with her. When you are exhausted, she will offer you a horn to drink +out of, and though she does not know it, the wine will make you so strong that +you will easily be able to conquer her. After that she will let you stay there +all night. The same thing will happen with my two other sisters. But, above +all, remember this: should my little dog come to you and lay his paws on you, +with tears running down his face, then hurry home, for my life will be in +danger. Now, good-bye, and don’t forget your stepmother.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Ingiborg dropped the ball on the ground, and Sigurd bade her farewell. +</p> + +<p> +That same evening the ball stopped rolling at the foot of some high rocks, and +on glancing up, Sigurd saw the giantess looking out at the top. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, just what I wanted!” she cried out when she saw him; “here is Prince +Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night. Come up, my friend, and wrestle with +me.” +</p> + +<p> +With these words she reached out a long boat hook and hauled him up the cliff. +At first Sigurd was rather frightened, but he remembered what Ingiborg had +said, and gave the giantess her sister’s message and the ring. +</p> + +<p> +The giantess was delighted, and challenged him to wrestle with her. Sigurd was +fond of all games, and began to wrestle with joy; but he was no match for the +giantess, and as she noticed that he was getting faint she gave him a horn to +drink out of, which was very foolish on her part, as it made Sigurd so strong +that he soon overthrew her. +</p> + +<p> +“You may stay here to-night,” said she; and he was glad of the rest. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning Sigurd threw down the ball again and away it rolled for some time, +till it stopped at the foot of another high rock. Then he looked up and saw +another giantess, even bigger and uglier than the first one, who called out to +him: “Ah, this is just what I wanted! Here is Prince Sigurd. He shall go into +the pot to-night. Come up quickly and wrestle with me.” And she lost no time in +hauling him up. +</p> + +<p> +The prince gave her his stepmother’s message and the second largest ring. The +giantess was greatly pleased when she saw the ring, and at once challenged +Sigurd to wrestle with her. +</p> + +<p> +They struggled for a long time, till at last Sigurd grew faint; so she handed +him a horn to drink from, and when he had drunk he became so strong that he +threw her down with one hand. +</p> + +<p> +On the third morning Sigurd once more laid down his ball, and it rolled far +away, till at last it stopped under a very high rock indeed, over the top of +which the most hideous giantess that ever was seen looked down. +</p> + +<p> +When she saw who was there she cried out: “Ah, this is just what I wanted! Here +comes Prince Sigurd. Into the pot he goes this very night. Come up here, my +friend, and wrestle with me.” And she hauled him up just as her sisters had +done. +</p> + +<p> +Sigurd then gave her his stepmother’s message and the last and largest ring. +The sight of the red gold delighted the giantess, and she challenged Sigurd to +a wrestling match. This time the fight was fierce and long, but when at length +Sigurd’s strength was failing the giantess gave him something to drink, and +after he had drunk it he soon brought her to her knees. “You have beaten me,” +she gasped, so now, listen to me. “Not far from here is a lake. Go there; you +will find a little girl playing with a boat. Try to make friends with her, and +give her this little gold ring. You are stronger than ever you were, and I wish +you good luck.” +</p> + +<p> +With these words they took leave of each other, and Sigurd wandered on till he +reached the lake, where he found the little girl playing with a boat, just as +he had been told. He went up to her and asked what her name was. +</p> + +<p> +She was called Helga, she answered, and she lived near by. +</p> + +<p> +So Sigurd gave her the little gold ring, and proposed that they should have a +game. The little girl was delighted, for she had no brothers or sisters, and +they played together all the rest of the day. +</p> + +<p> +When evening came Sigurd asked leave to go home with her, but Helga at first +forbade him, as no stranger had ever managed to enter their house without being +found out by her father, who was a very fierce giant. +</p> + +<p> +However, Sigurd persisted, and at length she gave way; but when they came near +the door she held her glove over him and Sigurd was at once transformed into a +bundle of wool. Helga tucked the bundle under her arm and threw it on the bed +in her room. +</p> + +<p> +Almost at the same moment her father rushed in and hunted round in every +corner, crying out: “This place smells of men. What’s that you threw on the +bed, Helga?” +</p> + +<p> +“A bundle of wool,” said she. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, well, perhaps it was that I smelt,” said the old man, and troubled himself +no more. +</p> + +<p> +The following day Helga went out to play and took the bundle of wool with her +under her arm. When she reached the lake she held her glove over it again and +Sigurd resumed his own shape. +</p> + +<p> +They played the whole day, and Sigurd taught Helga all sorts of games she had +never even heard of. As they walked home in the evening she said: “We shall be +able to play better still to-morrow, for my father will have to go to the town, +so we can stay at home.” +</p> + +<p> +When they were near the house Helga again held her glove over Sigurd, and once +more he was turned into a bundle of wool, and she carried him in without his +being seen. +</p> + +<p> +Very early next morning Helga’s father went to the town, and as soon as he was +well out of the way the girl held up her glove and Sigurd was himself again. +Then she took him all over the house to amuse him, and opened every room, for +her father had given her the keys before he left; but when they came to the +last room Sigurd noticed one key on the bunch which had not been used and asked +which room it belonged to.” +</p> + +<p> +Helga grew red and did not answer. +</p> + +<p> +“I suppose you don’t mind my seeing the room which it opens?” asked Sigurd, and +as he spoke he saw a heavy iron door and begged Helga to unlock it for him. But +she told him she dared not do so, at least if she did open the door it must +only be a very tiny chink; and Sigurd declared that would do quite well. +</p> + +<p> +The door was so heavy, that it took Helga some time to open it, and Sigurd grew +so impatient that he pushed it wide open and walked in. There he saw a splendid +horse, all ready saddled, and just above it hung a richly ornamented sword on +the handle of which was engraved these words: “He who rides this horse and +wears this sword will find happiness.” +</p> + +<p> +At the sight of the horse Sigurd was so filled with wonder that he was not able +to speak, but at last he gasped out: “Oh, do let me mount him and ride him +round the house! Just once; I promise not to ask any more.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ride him round the house!” cried Helga, growing pale at the mere idea. “Ride +Gullfaxi! Why father would never, never forgive me, if I let you do that.” +</p> + +<p> +“But it can’t do him any harm,” argued Sigurd; “you don’t know how careful I +will be. I have ridden all sorts of horses at home, and have never fallen off +not once. Oh, Helga, do!” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, perhaps, if you come back directly,” replied Helga, doubtfully; “but you +must be very quick, or father will find out!” +</p> + +<p> +But, instead of mounting Gullfaxi, as she expected, Sigurd stood still. +</p> + +<p> +“And the sword,” he said, looking fondly up to the place where it hung. “My +father is a king, but he has not got any sword so beautiful as that. Why, the +jewels in the scabbard are more splendid than the big ruby in his crown! Has it +got a name? Some swords have, you know.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is called ‘Gunnfjoder,’ the ‘Battle Plume,’” answered Helga, “and +‘Gullfaxi’ means ‘Golden Mane.’ I don’t suppose, if you are to get on the horse +at all, it would matter your taking the sword too. And if you take the sword +you will have to carry the stick and the stone and the twig as well.” +</p> + +<p> +“They are easily carried,” said Sigurd, gazing at them with scorn; “what +wretched dried-up things! Why in the world do you keep them?” +</p> + +<p> +“Bather says that he would rather lose Gullfaxi than lose them,” replied Helga, +“for if the man who rides the horse is pursued he has only to throw the twig +behind him and it will turn into a forest, so thick that even a bird could +hardly fly through. But if his enemy happens to know magic, and can throw down +the forest, the man has only to strike the stone with the stick, and hailstones +as large as pigeons’ eggs will rain down from the sky and will kill every one +for twenty miles round.” +</p> + +<p> +Having said all this she allowed Sigurd to ride “just once” round the house, +taking the sword and other things with him. But when he had ridden round, +instead of dismounting, he suddenly turned the horse’s head and galloped away. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this Helga’s father came home and found his daughter in tears. He +asked what was the matter, and when he heard all that had happened, he rushed +off as fast as he could to pursue Sigurd. +</p> + +<p> +Now, as Sigurd happened to look behind him he saw the giant coming after him +with great strides, and in all haste he threw the twig behind him. Immediately +such a thick wood sprang up at once between him and his enemy that the giant +was obliged to run home for an axe with which to cut his way through. +</p> + +<p> +The next time Sigurd glanced round, the giant was so near that he almost +touched Gullfaxi’s tail. In an agony of fear Sigurd turned quickly in his +saddle and hit the stone with the stick. No sooner had he done this than a +terrible hailstorm burst behind, and the giant was killed on the spot. +</p> + +<p> +But had Sigurd struck the stone without turning round, the hail would have +driven right into his face and killed him instead. +</p> + +<p> +After the giant was dead Sigurd rode on towards his own home, and on the way he +suddenly met his stepmother’s little dog, running to meet him, with tears +pouring down its face. He galloped on as hard as he could, and on arriving +found nine men-servants in the act of tying Queen Ingiborg to a post in the +courtyard of the palace, where they intended to burn her. +</p> + +<p> +Wild with anger Prince Sigurd sprang from his horse and, sword in hand, fell on +the men and killed them all. Then he released his stepmother, and went in with +her to see his father. +</p> + +<p> +The king lay in bed sick with sorrow, and neither eating nor drinking, for he +thought that his son had been killed by the queen. He could hardly believe his +own eyes for joy when he saw the prince, and Sigurd told him all his +adventures. +</p> + +<p> +After that Prince Sigurd rode back to fetch Helga, and a great feast was made +which lasted three days; and every one said no bride was ever seen so beautiful +as Helga, and they lived happily for many, many years, and everybody loved +them. +</p> + +<p> +[From Islandische Mährchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0033"></a> +The Story Of The Sham Prince, Or The Ambitious Tailor</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a respectable young tailor called Labakan, who +worked for a clever master in Alexandria. No one could call Labakan either +stupid or lazy, for he could work extremely well and quickly—when he chose; but +there was something not altogether right about him. Sometimes he would stitch +away as fast as if he had a red-hot needle and a burning thread, and at other +times he would sit lost in thought, and with such a queer look about him that +his fellow-workmen used to say, “Labakan has got on his aristocratic face +today.” +</p> + +<p> +On Fridays he would put on his fine robe which he had bought with the money he +had managed to save up, and go to the mosque. As he came back, after prayers, +if he met any friend who said “Good-day,” or “How are you, friend Labakan?” he +would wave his hand graciously or nod in a condescending way; and if his master +happened to say to him, as he sometimes did, “Really, Labakan, you look like a +prince,” he was delighted, and would answer, “Have you noticed it too?” or +“Well, so I have long thought.” +</p> + +<p> +Things went on like this for some time, and the master put up with Labakan’s +absurdities because he was, on the whole, a good fellow and a clever workman. +</p> + +<p> +One day, the sultan’s brother happened to be passing through Alexandria, and +wanted to have one of his state robes altered, so he sent for the master +tailor, who handed the robe over to Labakan as his best workman. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening, when every one had left the workshop and gone home, a great +longing drove Labakan back to the place where the royal robe hung. He stood a +long time gazing at it, admiring the rich material and the splendid embroidery +in it. At last he could hold out no longer. He felt he must try it on, and lo! +and behold, it fitted as though it had been made for him. +</p> + +<p> +“Am not I as good a prince as any other?” he asked himself, as he proudly paced +up and down the room. “Has not the master often said that I seemed born to be a +prince?” +</p> + +<p> +It seemed to him that he must be the son of some unknown monarch, and at last +he determined to set out at once and travel in search of his proper rank. +</p> + +<p> +He felt as if the splendid robe had been sent him by some kind fairy, and he +took care not to neglect such a precious gift. He collected all his savings, +and, concealed by the darkness of the night, he passed through the gates of +Alexandria. +</p> + +<p> +The new prince excited a good deal of curiosity where ever he went, for his +splendid robe and majestic manner did not seem quite suitable to a person +travelling on foot. If anyone asked questions, he only replied with an +important air of mystery that he had his own reasons for not riding. +</p> + +<p> +However, he soon found out that walking made him ridiculous, so at last he +bought a quiet, steady old horse, which he managed to get cheap. +</p> + +<p> +One day, as he was ambling along upon Murva (that was the horse’s name), a +horseman overtook him and asked leave to join him, so that they might both +beguile the journey with pleasant talk. The newcomer was a bright, cheerful, +good-looking young man, who soon plunged into conversation and asked many +questions. He told Labakan that his own name was Omar, that he was a nephew of +Elfi Bey, and was travelling in order to carry out a command given him by his +uncle on his death bed. Labakan was not quite so open in his confidences, but +hinted that he too was of noble birth and was travelling for pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +The two young men took a fancy to each other and rode on together. On the +second day of their journey Labakan questioned Omar as to the orders he had to +carry out, and to his surprise heard this tale. +</p> + +<p> +Elfi Bey, Pacha of Cairo, had brought up Omar from his earliest childhood, and +the boy had never known his parents. On his deathbed Elfi Bey called Omar to +him, and then told him that he was not his nephew, but the son of a great king, +who, having been warned of coming dangers by his astrologers, had sent the +young prince away and made a vow not to see him till his twenty-second +birthday. +</p> + +<p> +Elfi Bey did not tell Omar his father’s name, but expressly desired him to be +at a great pillar four days’ journey east of Alexandria on the fourth day of +the coming month, on which day he would be twenty-two years old. Here he would +meet some men, to whom he was to hand a dagger which Elfi Bey gave him, and to +say “Here am I for whom you seek.” +</p> + +<p> +If they answered: “Praised be the Prophet who has preserved you,” he was to +follow them, and they would take him to his father. +</p> + +<p> +Labakan was greatly surprised and interested by this story, but after hearing +it he could not help looking on Prince Omar with envious eyes, angry that his +friend should have the position he himself longed so much for. He began to make +comparisons between the prince and himself, and was obliged to confess that he +was a fine-looking young man with very good manners and a pleasant expression. +</p> + +<p> +At the same time, he felt sure that had he been in the prince’s place any royal +father might have been glad to own him. +</p> + +<p> +These thoughts haunted him all day, and he dreamt them all night. He woke very +early, and as he saw Omar sleeping quietly, with a happy smile on his face, a +wish arose in his mind to take by force or by cunning the things which an +unkind fate had denied him. +</p> + +<p> +The dagger which was to act as a passport was sticking in Omar’s girdle. +Labakan drew it gently out, and hesitated for a moment whether or not to plunge +it into the heart of the sleeping prince. However, he shrank from the idea of +murder, so he contented himself with placing the dagger in his own belt, and, +saddling Omar’s swift horse for himself, was many miles away before the prince +woke up to realise his losses. +</p> + +<p> +For two days Labakan rode on steadily, fearing lest, after all, Omar might +reach the meeting place before him. At the end of the second day he saw the +great pillar at a distance. It stood on a little hill in the middle of a plain, +and could be seen a very long way off. Labakan’s heart beat fast at the sight. +Though he had had some time in which to think over the part he meant to play +his conscience made him rather uneasy. However, the thought that he must +certainly have been born to be a king supported him, and he bravely rode on. +</p> + +<p> +The neighbourhood was quite bare and desert, and it was a good thing that the +new prince had brought food for some time with him, as two days were still +wanting till the appointed time. +</p> + +<p> +Towards the middle of the next day he saw a long procession of horses and +camels coming towards him. It halted at the bottom of the hill, and some +splendid tents were pitched. Everything looked like the escort of some great +man. Labakan made a shrewd guess that all these people had come here on his +account; but he checked his impatience, knowing that only on the fourth day +could his wishes be fulfilled. +</p> + +<p> +The first rays of the rising sun woke the happy tailor. As he began to saddle +his horse and prepare to ride to the pillar, he could not help having some +remorseful thoughts of the trick he had played and the blighted hopes of the +real prince. But the die was cast, and his vanity whispered that he was as fine +looking a young man as the proudest king might wish his son to be, and that, +moreover, what had happened had happened. +</p> + +<p> +With these thoughts he summoned up all his courage sprang on his horse, and in +less than a quarter of an hour was at the foot of the hill. Here he dismounted, +tied the horse to a bush, and, drawing out Prince Omar’s dagger climbed up the +hill. +</p> + +<p> +At the foot of the pillar stood six men round a tall and stately person. His +superb robe of cloth of gold was girt round him by a white cashmere shawl, and +his white, richly jewelled turban showed that he was a man of wealth and high +rank. +</p> + +<p> +Labakan went straight up to him, and, bending low, handed him the dagger, +saying: “Here am I whom you seek.” +</p> + +<p> +“Praised be the Prophet who has preserved you! replied the old man with tears +of joy. “Embrace me, my dear son Omar!” +</p> + +<p> +The proud tailor was deeply moved by these solemn words, and with mingled shame +and joy sank into the old king’s arms. +</p> + +<p> +But his happiness was not long unclouded. As he raised his head he saw a +horseman who seemed trying to urge a tired or unwilling horse across the plain. +</p> + +<p> +Only too soon Labakan recognised his own old horse, Murva, and the real Prince +Omar, but having once told a lie he made up his mind not to own his deceit. +</p> + +<p> +At last the horseman reached the foot of the hill. Here he flung himself from +the saddle and hurried up to the pillar. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” he cried, “whoever you may be, and do not let a disgraceful impostor +take you in. My name is Omar, and let no one attempt to rob me of it.” +</p> + +<p> +This turn of affairs threw the standers-by into great surprise. The old king in +particular seemed much moved as he looked from one face to the other. At last +Labakan spoke with forced calmness, “Most gracious lord and father, do not let +yourself be deceived by this man. As far as I know, he is a half-crazy tailor’s +apprentice from Alexandria, called Labakan, who really deserves more pity than +anger.” +</p> + +<p> +These words infuriated the prince. Foaming with rage, he tried to press towards +Labakan, but the attendants threw themselves upon him and held him fast, whilst +the king said, “Truly, my dear son, the poor fellow is quite mad. Let him be +bound and placed on a dromedary. Perhaps we may be able to get some help for +him.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince’s first rage was over, and with tears he cried to the king, “My +heart tells me that you are my father, and in my mother’s name I entreat you to +hear me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! heaven forbid!” was the reply. “He is talking nonsense again. How can the +poor man have got such notions into his head?” +</p> + +<p> +With these words the king took Labakan’s arm to support him down the hill. They +both mounted richly caparisoned horses and rode across the plain at the head of +their followers. +</p> + +<p> +The unlucky prince was tied hand and foot, and fastened on a dromedary, a guard +riding on either side and keeping a sharp look-out on him. +</p> + +<p> +The old king was Sached, Sultan of the Wachabites. For many years he had had no +children, but at length the son he had so long wished for was born. But the +sooth-sayers and magicians whom he consulted as to the child’s future all said +that until he was twenty-two years old he stood in danger of being injured by +an enemy. So, to make all safe, the sultan had confided the prince to his +trusty friend Elfi Bey, and deprived himself of the happiness of seeing him for +twenty-two years. All this the sultan told Labakan, and was much pleased by his +appearance and dignified manner. +</p> + +<p> +When they reached their own country they were received with every sign of joy, +for the news of the prince’s safe return had spread like wildfire, and every +town and village was decorated, whilst the inhabitants thronged to greet them +with cries of joy and thankfulness. All this filled Labakan’s proud heart with +rapture, whilst the unfortunate Omar followed in silent rage and despair. +</p> + +<p> +At length they arrived in the capital, where the public rejoicings were grander +and more brilliant than anywhere else. The queen awaited them in the great hall +of the palace, surrounded by her entire court. It was getting dark, and +hundreds of coloured hanging lamps were lit to turn night into day. +</p> + +<p> +The brightest hung round the throne on which the queen sat, and which stood +above four steps of pure gold inlaid with great amethysts. The four greatest +nobles in the kingdom held a canopy of crimson silk over the queen, and the +Sheik of Medina fanned her with a peacock-feather fan. +</p> + +<p> +In this state she awaited her husband and her son. She, too, had not seen Omar +since his birth, but so many dreams had shown her what he would look like that +she felt she would know him among a thousand. +</p> + +<p> +And now the sound of trumpets and drums and of shouts and cheers outside +announced the long looked for moment. The doors flew open, and between rows of +low-bending courtiers and servants the king approached the throne, leading his +pretended son by the hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Here,” said he, “is he for whom you have been longing so many years.” +</p> + +<p> +But the queen interrupted him, “That is not my son!” she cried. “That is not +the face the Prophet has shown me in my dreams!” +</p> + +<p> +Just as the king was about to reason with her, the door was thrown violently +open, and Prince Omar rushed in, followed by his keepers, whom he had managed +to get away from. He flung himself down before the throne, panting out, “Here +will I die; kill me at once, cruel father, for I cannot bear this shame any +longer.” +</p> + +<p> +Everyone pressed round the unhappy man, and the guards were about to seize him, +when the queen, who at first was dumb with surprise, sprang up from her throne. +</p> + +<p> +“Hold!” cried she. “This and no other is the right one; this is the one whom my +eyes have never yet seen, but whom my heart recognises.” +</p> + +<p> +The guards had stepped back, but the king called to them in a furious voice to +secure the madman. +</p> + +<p> +“It is I who must judge,” he said in tones of command; “and this matter cannot +be decided by women’s dreams, but by certain unmistakable signs. This one” +(pointing to Labakan) “is my son, for it was he who brought me the token from +my friend Elfi—the dagger.” +</p> + +<p> +“He stole it from me,” shrieked Omar; “he betrayed my unsuspicious confidence.” +</p> + +<p> +But the king would not listen to his son’s voice, for he had always been +accustomed to depend on his own judgment. He let the unhappy Omar be dragged +from the hall, whilst he himself retired with Labakan to his own rooms, full of +anger with the queen his wife, in spite of their many years of happy life +together. +</p> + +<p> +The queen, on her side, was plunged in grief, for she felt certain that an +impostor had won her husband’s heart and taken the place of her real son. +</p> + +<p> +When the first shock was over she began to think how she could manage to +convince the king of his mistake. Of course it would be a difficult matter, as +the man who declared he was Omar had produced the dagger as a token, besides +talking of all sorts of things which happened when he was a child. She called +her oldest and wisest ladies about her and asked their advice, but none of them +had any to give. At last one very clever old woman said: “Did not the young man +who brought the dagger call him whom your majesty believes to be your son +Labakan, and say he was a crazy tailor?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” replied the queen; “but what of that?” +</p> + +<p> +“Might it not be,” said the old lady, “that the impostor has called your real +son by his own name? If this should be the case, I know of a capital way to +find out the truth.” +</p> + +<p> +And she whispered some words to the queen, who seemed much pleased, and went +off at once to see the king. +</p> + +<p> +Now the queen was a very wise woman, so she pretended to think she might have +made a mistake, and only begged to be allowed to put a test to the two young +men to prove which was the real prince. +</p> + +<p> +The king, who was feeling much ashamed of the rage he had been in with his dear +wife, consented at once, and she said: “No doubt others would make them ride or +shoot, or something of that sort, but every one learns these things. I wish to +set them a task which requires sharp wits and clever hands, and I want them to +try which of them can best make a kaftan and pair of trousers.” +</p> + +<p> +The king laughed. “No, no, that will never do. Do you suppose my son would +compete with that crazy tailor as to which could make the best clothes? Oh, +dear, no, that won’t do at all.” +</p> + +<p> +But the queen claimed his promise, and as he was a man of his word the king +gave in at last. He went to his son and begged that he would humour his mother, +who had set her heart on his making a kaftan. +</p> + +<p> +The worthy Labakan laughed to himself. “If that is all she wants,” thought he, +“her majesty will soon be pleased to own me.” +</p> + +<p> +Two rooms were prepared, with pieces of material, scissors, needles and +threads, and each young man was shut up in one of them. +</p> + +<p> +The king felt rather curious as to what sort of garment his son would make, and +the queen, too, was very anxious as to the result of her experiment. +</p> + +<p> +On the third day they sent for the two young men and their work. Labakan came +first and spread out his kaftan before the eyes of the astonished king. “See, +father,” he said; “see, my honoured mother, if this is not a masterpiece of +work. I’ll bet the court tailor himself cannot do better. +</p> + +<p> +The queen smiled and turned to Omar: “And what have you done, my son?” +</p> + +<p> +Impatiently he threw the stuff and scissors down on the floor. “I have been +taught how to manage a horse, to draw a sword, and to throw a lance some sixty +paces, but I never learnt to sew, and such a thing would have been thought +beneath the notice of the pupil of Elfi Bey, the ruler of Cairo.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, true son of your father,” cried the queen; “if only I might embrace you +and call you son! Forgive me, my lord and husband,” she added, turning to the +king, “for trying to find out the truth in this way. Do you not see yourself +now which is the prince and which the tailor? Certainly this kaftan is a very +fine one, but I should like to know what master taught this young man how to +make clothes.” +</p> + +<p> +The king sat deep in thought, looking now at his wife and now at Labakan, who +was doing his best to hide his vexation at his own stupidity. At last the king +said: “Even this trial does not satisfy me; but happily I know of a sure way to +discover whether or not I have been deceived.” +</p> + +<p> +He ordered his swiftest horse to be saddled, mounted, and rode off alone into a +forest at some little distance. Here lived a kindly fairy called Adolzaide, who +had often helped the kings of his race with her good advice, and to her he +betook himself. +</p> + +<p> +In the middle of the forest was a wide open space surrounded by great cedar +trees, and this was supposed to be the fairy’s favourite spot. When the king +reached this place he dismounted, tied his horse to the tree, and standing in +the middle of the open place said: “If it is true that you have helped my +ancestors in their time of need, do not despise their descendant, but give me +counsel, for that of men has failed me.” +</p> + +<p> +He had hardly finished speaking when one of the cedar trees opened, and a +veiled figure all dressed in white stepped from it. +</p> + +<p> +“I know your errand, King Sached,” she said; “it is an honest one, and I will +give you my help. Take these two little boxes and let the two men who claim to +be your son choose between them. I know that the real prince will make no +mistake.” +</p> + +<p> +She then handed him two little boxes made of ivory set with gold and pearls. On +the lid of each (which the king vainly tried to open) was an inscription in +diamonds. On one stood the words “Honour and Glory,” and on the other “Wealth +and Happiness.” +</p> + +<p> +“It would be a hard choice,” thought the king as he rode home. +</p> + +<p> +He lost no time in sending for the queen and for all his court, and when all +were assembled he made a sign, and Labakan was led in. With a proud air he +walked up to the throne, and kneeling down, asked: +</p> + +<p> +“What does my lord and father command?” +</p> + +<p> +The king replied: “My son, doubts have been thrown on your claim to that name. +One of these boxes contains the proofs of your birth. Choose for yourself. No +doubt you will choose right.” +</p> + +<p> +He then pointed to the ivory boxes, which were placed on two little tables near +the throne. +</p> + +<p> +Labakan rose and looked at the boxes. He thought for some minutes, and then +said: “My honoured father, what can be better than the happiness of being your +son, and what nobler than the riches of your love. I choose the box with the +words ‘Wealth and Happiness.’” +</p> + +<p> +“We shall see presently if you have chosen the right one. For the present take +a seat there beside the Pacha of Medina,” replied the king. +</p> + +<p> +Omar was next led in, looking sad and sorrowful. He threw himself down before +the throne and asked what was the king’s pleasure. The king pointed out the two +boxes to him, and he rose and went to the tables. He carefully read the two +mottoes and said: “The last few days have shown me how uncertain is happiness +and how easily riches vanish away. Should I lose a crown by it I make my choice +of ‘Honour and Glory.’” +</p> + +<p> +He laid his hand on the box as he spoke, but the king signed to him to wait, +and ordered Labakan to come to the other table and lay his hand on the box he +had chosen. +</p> + +<p> +Then the king rose from his throne, and in solemn silence all present rose too, +whilst he said: “Open the boxes, and may Allah show us the truth.” +</p> + +<p> +The boxes were opened with the greatest ease. In the one Omar had chosen lay a +little gold crown and sceptre on a velvet cushion. In Labakan’s box was found—a +large needle with some thread! +</p> + +<p> +The king told the two young men to bring him their boxes. They did so. He took +the crown in his hand, and as he held it, it grew bigger and bigger, till it +was as large as a real crown. He placed it on the head of his son Omar, kissed +him on the forehead, and placed him on his right hand. Then, turning to +Labakan, he said: “There is an old proverb, ‘The cobbler sticks to his last.’ +It seems as though you were to stick to your needle. You have not deserved any +mercy, but I cannot be harsh on this day. I give you your life, but I advise +you to leave this country as fast as you can.” +</p> + +<p> +Full of shame, the unlucky tailor could not answer. He flung himself down +before Omar, and with tears in his eyes asked: “Can you forgive me, prince?” +</p> + +<p> +“Go in peace,” said Omar as he raised him. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my true son!” cried the king as he clasped the prince in his arms, whilst +all the pachas and emirs shouted, “Long live Prince Omar!” +</p> + +<p> +In the midst of all the noise and rejoicing Labakan slipped off with his little +box under his arm. He went to the stables, saddled his old horse, Murva, and +rode out of the gate towards Alexandria. Nothing but the ivory box with its +diamond motto was left to show him that the last few weeks had not been a +dream. +</p> + +<p> +When he reached Alexandria he rode up to his old master’s door. When he entered +the shop, his master came forward to ask what was his pleasure, but as soon as +he saw who it was he called his workmen, and they all fell on Labakan with +blows and angry words, till at last he fell, half fainting, on a heap of old +clothes. +</p> + +<p> +The master then scolded him soundly about the stolen robe, but in vain Labakan +told him he had come to pay for it and offered three times its price. They only +fell to beating him again, and at last pushed him out of the house more dead +than alive. +</p> + +<p> +He could do nothing but remount his horse and ride to an inn. Here he found a +quiet place in which to rest his bruised and battered limbs and to think over +his many misfortunes. He fell asleep fully determined to give up trying to be +great, but to lead the life of an honest workman. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning he set to work to fulfil his good resolutions. He sold his little +box to a jeweller for a good price, bought a house and opened a workshop. Then +he hung up a sign with, “Labakan, Tailor,” over his door, and sat down to mend +his own torn clothes with the very needle which had been in the ivory box. +</p> + +<p> +After a while he was called away, and when he went back to his work he found a +wonderful thing had happened! The needle was sewing away all by itself and +making the neatest little stitches, such as Labakan had never been able to make +even at his best. +</p> + +<p> +Certainly even the smallest gift of a kind fairy is of great value, and this +one had yet another advantage, for the thread never came to an end, however +much the needle sewed. +</p> + +<p> +Labakan soon got plenty of customers. He used to cut out the clothes, make the +first stitch with the magic needle, and then leave it to do the rest. Before +long the whole town went to him, for his work was both so good and so cheap. +The only puzzle was how he could do so much, working all alone, and also why he +worked with closed doors. +</p> + +<p> +And so the promise on the ivory box of “Wealth and Happiness” came true for +him, and when he heard of all the brave doings of Prince Omar, who was the +pride and darling of his people and the terror of his enemies, the ex-prince +thought to himself, “After all, I am better off as a tailor, for ‘Honour and +Glory’ are apt to be very dangerous things.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0034"></a> +The Colony Of Cats</h2> + +<p> +Long, long ago, as far back as the time when animals spoke, there lived a +community of cats in a deserted house they had taken possession of not far from +a large town. They had everything they could possibly desire for their comfort, +they were well fed and well lodged, and if by any chance an unlucky mouse was +stupid enough to venture in their way, they caught it, not to eat it, but for +the pure pleasure of catching it. The old people of the town related how they +had heard their parents speak of a time when the whole country was so overrun +with rats and mice that there was not so much as a grain of corn nor an ear of +maize to be gathered in the fields; and it might be out of gratitude to the +cats who had rid the country of these plagues that their descendants were +allowed to live in peace. No one knows where they got the money to pay for +everything, nor who paid it, for all this happened so very long ago. But one +thing is certain, they were rich enough to keep a servant; for though they +lived very happily together, and did not scratch nor fight more than human +beings would have done, they were not clever enough to do the housework +themselves, and preferred at all events to have some one to cook their meat, +which they would have scorned to eat raw. Not only were they very difficult to +please about the housework, but most women quickly tired of living alone with +only cats for companions, consequently they never kept a servant long; and it +had become a saying in the town, when anyone found herself reduced to her last +penny: “I will go and live with the cats,” and so many a poor woman actually +did. +</p> + +<p> +Now Lizina was not happy at home, for her mother, who was a widow, was much +fonder of her elder daughter; so that often the younger one fared very badly, +and had not enough to eat, while the elder could have everything she desired, +and if Lizina dared to complain she was certain to have a good beating. +</p> + +<p> +At last the day came when she was at the end of her courage and patience, and +exclaimed to her mother and sister: +</p> + +<p> +“As you hate me so much you will be glad to be rid of me, so I am going to live +with the cats!” +</p> + +<p> +“Be off with you!” cried her mother, seizing an old broom-handle from behind +the door. Poor Lizina did not wait to be told twice, but ran off at once and +never stopped till she reached the door of the cats’ house. Their cook had left +them that very morning, with her face all scratched, the result of such a +quarrel with the head of the house that he had very nearly scratched out her +eyes. Lizina therefore was warmly welcomed, and she set to work at once to +prepare the dinner, not without many misgivings as to the tastes of the cats, +and whether she would be able to satisfy them. +</p> + +<p> +Going to and fro about her work, she found herself frequently hindered by a +constant succession of cats who appeared one after another in the kitchen to +inspect the new servant; she had one in front of her feet, another perched on +the back of her chair while she peeled the vegetables, a third sat on the table +beside her, and five or six others prowled about among the pots and pans on the +shelves against the wall. The air resounded with their purring, which meant +that they were pleased with their new maid, but Lizina had not yet learned to +understand their language, and often she did not know what they wanted her to +do. However, as she was a good, kindhearted girl, she set to work to pick up +the little kittens which tumbled about on the floor, she patched up quarrels, +and nursed on her lap a big tabby—the oldest of the community—which had a lame +paw. All these kindnesses could hardly fail to make a favourable impression on +the cats, and it was even better after a while, when she had had time to grow +accustomed to their strange ways. Never had the house been kept so clean, the +meats so well served, nor the sick cats so well cared for. After a time they +had a visit from an old cat, whom they called their father, who lived by +himself in a barn at the top of the hill, and came down from time to time to +inspect the little colony. He too was much taken with Lizina, and inquired, on +first seeing her: “Are you well served by this nice, black-eyed little person?” +and the cats answered with one voice: “Oh, yes, Father Gatto, we have never had +so good a servant!” +</p> + +<p> +At each of his visits the answer was always the same; but after a time the old +cat, who was very observant, noticed that the little maid had grown to look +sadder and sadder. “What is the matter, my child has any one been unkind to +you?” he asked one day, when he found her crying in her kitchen. She burst into +tears and answered between her sobs: “Oh, no! they are all very good to me; but +I long for news from home, and I pine to see my mother and my sister.” +</p> + +<p> +Old Gatto, being a sensible old cat, understood the little servant’s feelings. +“You shall go home,” he said, “and you shall not come back here unless you +please. But first you must be rewarded for all your kind services to my +children. Follow me down into the inner cellar, where you have never yet been, +for I always keep it locked and carry the key away with me.” +</p> + +<p> +Lizina looked round her in astonishment as they went down into the great +vaulted cellar underneath the kitchen. Before her stood the big earthenware +water jars, one of which contained oil, the other a liquid shining like gold. +“In which of these jars shall I dip you?” asked Father Gatto, with a grin that +showed all his sharp white teeth, while his moustaches stood out straight on +either side of his face. The little maid looked at the two jars from under her +long dark lashes: “In the oil jar,” she answered timidly, thinking to herself: +“I could not ask to be bathed in gold.” +</p> + +<p> +But Father Gatto replied: “No, no; you have deserved something better than +that.” And seizing her in his strong paws he plunged her into the liquid gold. +Wonder of wonders! when Lizina came out of the jar she shone from head to foot +like the sun in the heavens on a fine summer’s day. Her pretty pink cheeks and +long black hair alone kept their natural colour, otherwise she had become like +a statue of pure gold. Father Gatto purred loudly with satisfaction. “Go home,” +he said, “and see your mother and sisters; but take care if you hear the cock +crow to turn towards it; if on the contrary the ass brays, you must look the +other way.” +</p> + +<p> +The little maid, having gratefully kissed the white paw of the old cat, set off +for home; but just as she got near her mother’s house the cock crowed, and +quickly she turned towards it. Immediately a beautiful golden star appeared on +her forehead, crowning her glossy black hair. At the same time the ass began to +bray, but Lizina took care not to look over the fence into the field where the +donkey was feeding. Her mother and sister, who were in front of their house, +uttered cries of admiration and astonishment when they saw her, and their cries +became still louder when Lizina, taking her handkerchief from her pocket, drew +out also a handful of gold. +</p> + +<p> +For some days the mother and her two daughters lived very happily together, for +Lizina had given them everything she had brought away except her golden +clothing, for that would not come off, in spite of all the efforts of her +sister, who was madly jealous of her good fortune. The golden star, too, could +not be removed from her forehead. But all the gold pieces she drew from her +pockets had found their way to her mother and sister. +</p> + +<p> +“I will go now and see what I can get out of the pussies,” said Peppina, the +elder girl, one morning, as she took Lizina’s basket and fastened her pockets +into her own skirt. “I should like some of the cats’ gold for myself,” she +thought, as she left her mother’s house before the sun rose. +</p> + +<p> +The cat colony had not yet taken another servant, for they knew they could +never get one to replace Lizina, whose loss they had not yet ceased to mourn. +When they heard that Peppina was her sister, they all ran to meet her. “She is +not the least like her,” the kittens whispered among themselves. +</p> + +<p> +“Hush, be quiet!” the older cats said; “all servants cannot be pretty.” +</p> + +<p> +No, decidedly she was not at all like Lizina. Even the most reasonable and +large-minded of the cats soon acknowledged that. +</p> + +<p> +The very first day she shut the kitchen door in the face of the tom-cats who +used to enjoy watching Lizina at her work, and a young and mischievous cat who +jumped in by the open kitchen window and alighted on the table got such a blow +with the rolling-pin that he squalled for an hour. +</p> + +<p> +With every day that passed the household became more and more aware of its +misfortune. +</p> + +<p> +The work was as badly done as the servant was surly and disagreeable; in the +corners of the rooms there were collected heaps of dust; spiders’ webs hung +from the ceilings and in front of the window-panes; the beds were hardly ever +made, and the feather beds, so beloved by the old and feeble cats, had never +once been shaken since Lizina left the house. At Father Gatto’s next visit he +found the whole colony in a state of uproar. +</p> + +<p> +“Caesar has one paw so badly swollen that it looks as if it were broken,” said +one. “Peppina kicked him with her great wooden shoes on. Hector has an abscess +in his back where a wooden chair was flung at him; and Agrippina’s three little +kittens have died of hunger beside their mother, because Peppina forgot them in +their basket up in the attic. There is no putting up with the creature—do send +her away, Father Gatto! Lizina herself would not be angry with us; she must +know very well what her sister is like.” +</p> + +<p> +“Come here,” said Father Gatto, in his most severe tones to Peppina. And he +took her down into the cellar and showed her the same two great jars that he +had showed Lizina. “In which of these shall I dip you?” he asked; and she made +haste to answer: “In the liquid gold,” for she was no more modest than she was +good and kind. +</p> + +<p> +Father Gatto’s yellow eyes darted fire. “You have not deserved it,” he uttered, +in a voice like thunder, and seizing her he flung her into the jar of oil, +where she was nearly suffocated. When she came to the surface screaming and +struggling, the vengeful cat seized her again and rolled her in the ash-heap on +the floor; then when she rose, dirty, blinded, and disgusting to behold, he +thrust her from the door, saying: “Begone, and when you meet a braying ass be +careful to turn your head towards it.” +</p> + +<p> +Stumbling and raging, Peppina set off for home, thinking herself fortunate to +find a stick by the wayside with which to support herself. She was within sight +of her mother’s house when she heard in the meadow on the right, the voice of a +donkey loudly braying. Quickly she turned her head towards it, and at the same +time put her hand up to her forehead, where, waving like a plume, was a +donkey’s tail. She ran home to her mother at the top of her speed, yelling with +rage and despair; and it took Lizina two hours with a big basin of hot water +and two cakes of soap to get rid of the layer of ashes with which Father Gatto +had adorned her. As for the donkey’s tail, it was impossible to get rid of +that; it was as firmly fixed on her forehead as was the golden star on +Lizina’s. Their mother was furious. She first beat Lizina unmercifully with the +broom, then she took her to the mouth of the well and lowered her into it, +leaving her at the bottom weeping and crying for help. +</p> + +<p> +Before this happened, however, the king’s son in passing the mother’s house had +seen Lizina sitting sewing in the parlour, and had been dazzled by her beauty. +After coming back two or three times, he at last ventured to approach the +window and to whisper in the softest voice: “Lovely maiden, will you be my +bride?” and she had answered: “I will.” +</p> + +<p> +Next morning, when the prince arrived to claim his bride, he found her wrapped +in a large white veil. “It is so that maidens are received from their parents’ +hands,” said the mother, who hoped to make the king’s son marry Peppina in +place of her sister, and had fastened the donkey’s tail round her head like a +lock of hair under the veil. The prince was young and a little timid, so he +made no objections, and seated Peppina in the carriage beside him. +</p> + +<p> +Their way led past the old house inhabited by the cats, who were all at the +window, for the report had got about that the prince was going to marry the +most beautiful maiden in the world, on whose forehead shone a golden star, and +they knew that this could only be their adored Lizina. As the carriage slowly +passed in front of the old house, where cats from all parts of world seemed to +be gathered a song burst from every throat: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Mew, mew, mew!<br/> +Prince, look quick behind you!<br/> +In the well is fair Lizina,<br/> +And you’ve got nothing but Peppina. +</p> + +<p> +When he heard this the coachman, who understood the cat’s language better than +the prince, his master, stopped his horses and asked: +</p> + +<p> +“Does your highness know what the grimalkins are saying?” and the song broke +forth again louder than ever. +</p> + +<p> +With a turn of his hand the prince threw back the veil, and discovered the +puffed-up, swollen face of Peppina, with the donkey’s tail twisted round her +head. “Ah, traitress!” he exclaimed, and ordering the horses to be turned +round, he drove the elder daughter, quivering with rage, to the old woman who +had sought to deceive him. With his hand on the hilt of his sword he demanded +Lizina in so terrific a voice that the mother hastened to the well to draw her +prisoner out. Lizina’s clothing and her star shone so brilliantly that when the +prince led her home to the king, his father, the whole palace was lit up. Next +day they were married, and lived happy ever after; and all the cats, headed by +old Father Gatto, were present at the wedding. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0035"></a> +How To Find Out A True Friend</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who longed to have a son. As none +came, one day they made a vow at the shrine of St. James that if their prayers +were granted the boy should set out on a pilgrimage as soon as he had passed +his eighteenth birthday. And fancy their delight when one evening the king +returned home from hunting and saw a baby lying in the cradle. +</p> + +<p> +All the people came crowding round to peep at it, and declared it was the most +beautiful baby that ever was seen. Of course that is what they always say, but +this time it happened to be true. And every day the boy grew bigger and +stronger till he was twelve years old, when the king died, and he was left +alone to take care of his mother. +</p> + +<p> +In this way six years passed by, and his eighteenth birthday drew near. When +she thought of this the queen’s heart sank within her, for he was the light of +her eyes and how was she to send him forth to the unknown dangers that beset a +pilgrim? So day by day she grew more and more sorrowful, and when she was alone +wept bitterly. +</p> + +<p> +Now the queen imagined that no one but herself knew how sad she was, but one +morning her son said to her, “Mother, why do you cry the whole day long?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing, nothing, my son; there is only one thing in the world that troubles +me.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is that one thing?” asked he. “Are you afraid your property is badly +managed? Let me go and look into the matter.” +</p> + +<p> +This pleased the queen, and he rode off to the plain country, where his mother +owned great estates; but everything was in beautiful order, and he returned +with a joyful heart, and said, “Now, mother, you can be happy again, for your +lands are better managed than anyone else’s I have seen. The cattle are +thriving; the fields are thick with corn, and soon they will be ripe for +harvest.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is good news indeed,” answered she; but it did not seem to make any +difference to her, and the next morning she was weeping and wailing as loudly +as ever. +</p> + +<p> +“Dear mother,” said her son in despair, “if you will not tell me what is the +cause of all this misery I shall leave home and wander far through the world.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, my son, my son,” cried the queen, “it is the thought that I must part from +you which causes me such grief; for before you were born we vowed a vow to St. +James that when your eighteenth birthday was passed you should make a +pilgrimage to his shrine, and very soon you will be eighteen, and I shall lose +you. And for a whole year my eyes will never be gladdened by the sight of you, +for the shrine is far away.” +</p> + +<p> +“Will it take no longer than that to reach it?” said he. “Oh, don’t be so +wretched; it is only dead people who never return. As long as I am alive you +may be sure I will come back to you.” +</p> + +<p> +After this manner he comforted his mother, and on his eighteenth birthday his +best horse was led to the door of the palace, and he took leave of the queen in +these words, “Dear mother, farewell, and by the help of fate I shall return to +you as soon as I can.” +</p> + +<p> +The queen burst into tears and wept sore; then amidst her sobs she drew three +apples from her pocket and held them out, saying, “My son, take these apples +and give heed unto my words. You will need a companion in the long journey on +which you are going. If you come across a young man who pleases you beg him to +accompany you, and when you get to an inn invite him to have dinner with you. +After you have eaten cut one of these apples in two unequal parts, and ask him +to take one. If he takes the larger bit, then part from him, for he is no true +friend to you. But if he takes the smaller bit treat him as your brother, and +share with him all you have.” Then she kissed her son once more, and blessed +him, and let him go. +</p> + +<p> +The young man rode a long way without meeting a single creature, but at last he +saw a youth in the distance about the same age as himself, and he spurred his +horse till he came up with the stranger, who stopped and asked: +</p> + +<p> +“Where are you going, my fine fellow?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am making a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James, for before I was born my +mother vowed that I should go forth with a thank offering on my eighteenth +birthday.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is my case too,” said the stranger, “and, as we must both travel in the +same direction, let us bear each other company.” +</p> + +<p> +The young man agreed to this proposal, but he took care not to get on terms of +familiarity with the new comer until he had tried him with the apple. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by they reached an inn, and at sight of it the king’s son said, “I am +very hungry. Let us enter and order something to eat.” The other consented, and +they were soon sitting before a good dinner. +</p> + +<p> +When they had finished the king’s son drew an apple from his pocket, and cut it +into a big half and a little half, and offered both to the stranger, who took +the biggest bit. “You are no friend of mine,” thought the king’s son, and in +order to part company with him he pretended to be ill and declared himself +unable to proceed on his journey. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I can’t wait for you,” replied the other; “I am in haste to push on, so +farewell.” +</p> + +<p> +“Farewell,” said the king’s son, glad in his heart to get rid of him so easily. +The king’s son remained in the inn for some time, so as to let the young man +have a good start; them he ordered his horse and rode after him. But he was +very sociable and the way seemed long and dull by himself. “Oh, if I could only +meet with a true friend,” he thought, “so that I should have some one to speak +to. I hate being alone.” +</p> + +<p> +Soon after he came up with a young man, who stopped and asked him, “Where are +you going, my fine fellow?” The king’s son explained the object of his journey, +and the young man answered, as the other had done, that he also was fulfilling +the vow of his mother made at his birth. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, we can ride on together,” said the king’s son, and the road seemed much +shorter now that he had some one to talk to. +</p> + +<p> +At length they reached an inn, and the king’s son exclaimed, “I am very hungry; +let us go in and get something to eat.” +</p> + +<p> +When they had finished the king’s son drew an apple out of his pocket and cut +it in two; he held the big bit and the little bit out to his companion, who +took the big bit at once and soon ate it up. “You are no friend of mine,” +thought the king’s son, and began to declare he felt so ill he could not +continue his journey. When he had given the young man a good start he set off +himself, but the way seemed even longer and duller than before. “Oh, if I could +only meet with a true friend he should be as a brother to me,” he sighed sadly; +and as the thought passed through his mind, he noticed a youth going the same +road as himself. +</p> + +<p> +The youth came up to him and said, “Which way are you going, my fine fellow?” +And for the third time the king’s son explained all about his mother’s vow. +Why, that is just like me,” cried the youth. +</p> + +<p> +“Then let us ride on together,” answered the king’s son. +</p> + +<p> +Now the miles seemed to slip by, for the new comer was so lively and +entertaining that the king’s son could not help hoping that he indeed might +prove to be the true friend. +</p> + +<p> +More quickly than he could have thought possible they reached an inn by the +road-side, and turning to his companion the king’s son said, “I am hungry; let +us go in and have something to eat.” So they went in and ordered dinner, and +when they had finished the king’s son drew out of his pocket the last apple, +and cut it into two unequal parts, and held both out to the stranger. And the +stranger took the little piece, and the heart of the king’s son was glad within +him, for at last he had found the friend he had been looking for. “Good youth,” +he cried, “we will be brothers, and what is mine shall be thine, and what is +thine shall be mine. And together we will push on to the shrine, and if one of +us dies on the road the other shall carry his body there.” And the stranger +agreed to all he said, and they rode forward together. +</p> + +<p> +It took them a whole year to reach the shrine, and they passed through many +different lands on their way. One day they arrived tired and half-starved in a +big city, and said to one another, “Let us stay here for a little and rest +before we set forth again.” So they hired a small house close to the royal +castle, and took up their abode there. +</p> + +<p> +The following morning the king of the country happened to step on to his +balcony, and saw the young men in the garden, and said to himself, “Dear me, +those are wonderfully handsome youths; but one is handsomer than the other, and +to him will I give my daughter to wife;” and indeed the king’s son excelled his +friend in beauty. +</p> + +<p> +In order to set about his plan the king asked both the young men to dinner, and +when they arrived at the castle he received them with the utmost kindness, and +sent for his daughter, who was more lovely than both the sun and moon put +together. But at bed-time the king caused the other young man to be given a +poisoned drink, which killed him in a few minutes, for he thought to himself, +“If his friend dies the other will forget his pilgrimage, and will stay here +and marry my daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +When the king’s son awoke the next morning he inquired of the servants where +his friend had gone, as he did not see him. “He died suddenly last night,” said +they, “and is to be buried immediately.” +</p> + +<p> +But the king’s son sprang up, and cried, “If my friend is dead I can stay here +no longer, and cannot linger an hour in this house.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, give up your journey and remain here,” exclaimed the king, “and you shall +have my daughter for your wife.” “No,” answered the king’s son, “I cannot stay; +but, I pray you, grant my request, and give me a good horse, and let me go in +peace, and when I have fulfilled my vow then I will return and marry your +daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +So the king, seeing no words would move him, ordered a horse to be brought +round, and the king’s son mounted it, and took his dead friend before him on +the saddle, and rode away. +</p> + +<p> +Now the young man was not really dead, but only in a deep sleep. +</p> + +<p> +When the king’s son reached the shrine of St. James he got down from his horse, +took his friend in his arms as if he had been a child, and laid him before the +altar. “St. James,” he said, “I have fulfilled the vow my parents made for me. +I have come myself to your shrine, and have brought my friend. I place him in +your hands. Restore him to life, I pray, for though he be dead yet has he +fulfilled his vow also.” And, behold! while he yet prayed his friend got up and +stood before him as well as ever. And both the young men gave thanks, and set +their faces towards home. +</p> + +<p> +When they arrived at the town where the king dwelt they entered the small house +over against the castle. The news of their coming spread very soon, and the +king rejoiced greatly that the handsome young prince had come back again, and +commanded great feasts to be prepared, for in a few days his daughter should +marry the king’s son. The young man himself could imagine no greater happiness, +and when the marriage was over they spent some months at the court making +merry. +</p> + +<p> +At length the king’s son said, “My mother awaits me at home, full of care and +anxiety. Here I must remain no longer, and to-morrow I will take my wife and my +friend and start for home.” And the king was content that he should do so, and +gave orders to prepare for their journey. +</p> + +<p> +Now in his heart the king cherished a deadly hate towards the poor young man +whom he had tried to kill, but who had returned to him living, and in order to +do him hurt sent him on a message to some distant spot. “See that you are +quick,” said he, “for your friend will await your return before he starts.” The +youth put spurs to his horse and departed, bidding the prince farewell, so that +the king’s message might be delivered the sooner. As soon as he had started the +king went to the chamber of the prince, and said to him, “If you do not start +immediately, you will never reach the place where you must camp for the night.” +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot start without my friend,” replied the king’s son. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, he will be back in an hour,” replied the king, “and I will give him my +best horse, so that he will be sure to catch you up.” The king’s son allowed +himself to be persuaded and took leave of his father-in-law, and set out with +his wife on his journey home. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the poor friend had been unable to get through his task in the short +time appointed by the king, and when at last he returned the king said to him, +</p> + +<p> +“Your comrade is a long way off by now; you had better see if you can overtake +him.” +</p> + +<p> +So the young man bowed and left the king’s presence, and followed after his +friend on foot, for he had no horse. Night and day he ran, till at length he +reached the place where the king’s son had pitched his tent, and sank down +before him, a miserable object, worn out and covered with mud and dust. But the +king’s son welcomed him with joy, and tended him as he would his brother. +</p> + +<p> +And at last they came home again, and the queen was waiting and watching in the +palace, as she had never ceased to do since her son had rode away. She almost +died of joy at seeing him again, but after a little she remembered his sick +friend, and ordered a bed to be made ready and the best doctors in all the +country to be sent for. When they heard of the queen’s summons they flocked +from all parts, but none could cure him. After everyone had tried and failed a +servant entered and informed the queen that a strange old man had just knocked +at the palace gate and declared that he was able to heal the dying youth. Now +this was a holy man, who had heard of the trouble the king’s son was in, and +had come to help. +</p> + +<p> +It happened that at this very time a little daughter was born to the king’s +son, but in his distress for his friend he had hardly a thought to spare for +the baby. He could not be prevailed on to leave the sick bed, and he was +bending over it when the holy man entered the room. “Do you wish your friend to +be cured?” asked the new comer of the king’s son. “And what price would you +pay?” +</p> + +<p> +“What price?” answered the king’s son; “only tell me what I can do to heal +him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Listen to me, then,” said the old man. “This evening you must take your child, +and open her veins, and smear the wounds of your friend with her blood. And you +will see, he will get well in an instant.” +</p> + +<p> +At these words the king’s son shrieked with horror, for he loved the baby +dearly, but he answered, “I have sworn that I would treat my friend as if he +were my brother, and if there is no other way my child must be sacrificed.” +</p> + +<p> +As by this time evening had already fallen he took the child and opened its +veins, and smeared the blood over the wounds of the sick man, and the look of +death departed from him, and he grew strong and rosy once more. But the little +child lay as white and still as if she had been dead. They laid her in the +cradle and wept bitterly, for they thought that by the next morning she would +be lost to them. +</p> + +<p> +At sunrise the old man returned and asked after the sick man. +</p> + +<p> +“He is as well as ever,” answered the king’s son. +</p> + +<p> +“And where is your baby?” +</p> + +<p> +“In the cradle yonder, and I think she is dead,” replied the father sadly. +</p> + +<p> +“Look at her once more,” said the holy man, and as they drew near the cradle +there lay the baby smiling up at them. +</p> + +<p> +“I am St. James of Lizia,” said the old man, “and I have come to help you, for +I have seen that you are a true friend. From henceforward live happily, all of +you, together, and if troubles should draw near you send for me, and I will aid +you to get through them.” +</p> + +<p> +With these words he lifted his hand in blessing and vanished. +</p> + +<p> +And they obeyed him, and were happy and content, and tried to make the people +of the land happy and contented too. +</p> + +<p> +[From Sicilianische Mährchen Gonzenbach.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0036"></a> +Clever Maria</h2> + +<p> +There was once a merchant who lived close to the royal palace, and had three +daughters. They were all pretty, but Maria, the youngest, was the prettiest of +the three. One day the king sent for the merchant, who was a widower, to give +him directions about a journey he wished the good man to take. The merchant +would rather not have gone, as he did not like leaving his daughters at home, +but he could not refuse to obey the king’s commands, and with a heavy heart he +returned home to say farewell to them. Before he left, he took three pots of +basil, and gave one to each girl, saying, “I am going a journey, but I leave +these pots. You must let nobody into the house. When I come back, they will +tell me what has happened.” “Nothing will have happened,” said the girls. +</p> + +<p> +The father went away, and the following day the king, accompanied by two +friends, paid a visit to the three girls, who were sitting at supper. When they +saw who was there, Maria said, “Let us go and get a bottle of wine from the +cellar. I will carry the key, my eldest sister can take the light, while the +other brings the bottle.” But the king replied, “Oh, do not trouble; we are not +thirsty.” “Very well, we will not go,” answered the two elder girls; but Maria +merely said, “I shall go, anyhow.” She left the room, and went to the hall +where she put out the light, and putting down the key and the bottle, ran to +the house of a neighbour, and knocked at the door. “Who is there so late?” +asked the old woman, thrusting her head out of the window. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, let me in,” answered Maria. “I have quarrelled with my eldest sister, and +as I do not want to fight any more, I have come to beg you to allow me to sleep +with you.” +</p> + +<p> +So the old woman opened the door and Maria slept in her house. The king was +very angry at her for playing truant, but when she returned home the next day, +she found the plants of her sisters withered away, because they had disobeyed +their father. Now the window in the room of the eldest overlooked the gardens +of the king, and when she saw how fine and ripe the medlars were on the trees, +she longed to eat some, and begged Maria to scramble down by a rope and pick +her a few, and she would draw her up again. Maria, who was good-natured, swung +herself into the garden by the rope, and got the medlars, and was just making +the rope fast under her arms so as to be hauled up, when her sister cried: “Oh, +there are such delicious lemons a little farther on. You might bring me one or +two.” Maria turned round to pluck them, and found herself face to face with the +gardener, who caught hold of her, exclaiming, “What are you doing here, you +little thief?” “Don’t call me names,” she said, “or you will get the worst of +it,” giving him as she spoke such a violent push that he fell panting into the +lemon bushes. Then she seized the cord and clambered up to the window. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the second sister had a fancy for bananas and begged so hard, +that, though Maria had declared she would never do such a thing again, at last +she consented, and went down the rope into the king’s garden. This time she met +the king, who said to her, “Ah, here you are again, cunning one! Now you shall +pay for your misdeeds.” +</p> + +<p> +And he began to cross-question her about what she had done. Maria denied +nothing, and when she had finished, the king said again, “Follow me to the +house, and there you shall pay the penalty.” As he spoke, he started for the +house, looking back from time to time to make sure that Maria had not run away. +All of a sudden, when he glanced round, he found she had vanished completely, +without leaving a trace of where she had gone. Search was made all through the +town, and there was not a hole or corner which was not ransacked, but there was +no sign of her anywhere. This so enraged the king that he became quite ill, and +for many months his life was despaired of. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the two elder sisters had married the two friends of the king, and +were the mothers of little daughters. Now one day Maria stole secretly to the +house where her elder sister lived, and snatching up the children put them into +a beautiful basket she had with her, covered with flowers inside and out, so +that no one would ever guess it held two babies. Then she dressed herself as a +boy, and placing the basket on her head, she walked slowly past the palace, +crying as she went: +</p> + +<p> +“Who will carry these flowers to the king, who lies sick of love?” +</p> + +<p> +And the king in his bed heard what she said, and ordered one of his attendants +to go out and buy the basket. It was brought to his bedside, and as he raised +the lid cries were heard, and peeping in he saw two little children. He was +furious at this new trick which he felt had been played on him by Maria, and +was still looking at them, wondering how he should pay her out, when he was +told that the merchant, Maria’s father, had finished the business on which he +had been sent and returned home. Then the king remembered how Maria had refused +to receive his visit, and how she had stolen his fruit, and he determined to be +revenged on her. So he sent a message by one of his pages that the merchant was +to come to see him the next day, and bring with him a coat made of stone, or +else he would be punished. Now the poor man had been very sad since he got home +the evening before, for though his daughters had promised that nothing should +happen while he was away, he had found the two elder ones married without +asking his leave. And now there was this fresh misfortune, for how was he to +make a coat of stone? He wrung his hands and declared that the king would be +the ruin of him, when Maria suddenly entered. “Do not grieve about the coat of +stone, dear father; but take this bit of chalk, and go to the palace and say +you have come to measure the king.” The old man did not see the use of this, +but Maria had so often helped him before that he had confidence in her, so he +put the chalk in his pocket and went to the palace. +</p> + +<p> +“That is no good,” said the king, when the merchant had told him what he had +come for. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I can’t make the coat you want,” replied he. +</p> + +<p> +“Then if you would save your head, hand over to me your daughter Maria.” +</p> + +<p> +The merchant did not reply, but went sorrowfully back to his house, where Maria +sat waiting for him. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my dear child, why was I born? The king says that, instead of the coat, I +must deliver you up to him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not be unhappy, dear father, but get a doll made, exactly like me, with a +string attached to its head, which I can pull for ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’” +</p> + +<p> +So the old man went out at once to see about it. +</p> + +<p> +The king remained patiently in his palace, feeling sure that this time Maria +could not escape him; and he said to his pages, “If a gentleman should come +here with his daughter and ask to be allowed to speak with me, put the young +lady in my room and see she does not leave it.” +</p> + +<p> +When the door was shut on Maria, who had concealed the doll under her cloak, +she hid herself under the couch, keeping fast hold of the string which was +fastened to its head. +</p> + +<p> +“Senhora Maria, I hope you are well,” said the king when he entered the room. +The doll nodded. “Now we will reckon up accounts,” continued he, and he began +at the beginning, and ended up with the flower-basket, and at each fresh +misdeed Maria pulled the string, so that the doll’s head nodded assent. “Who-so +mocks at me merits death,” declared the king when he had ended, and drawing his +sword, cut off the doll’s head. It fell towards him, and as he felt the touch +of a kiss, he exclaimed, “Ah, Maria, Maria, so sweet in death, so hard to me in +life! The man who could kill you deserves to die!” And he was about to turn his +sword on himself, when the true Maria sprung out from under the bed, and flung +herself into his arms. And the next day they were married and lived happily for +many years. +</p> + +<p> +[From the Portuguese.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0037"></a> +The Magic Kettle</h2> + +<p> +Right in the middle of Japan, high up among the mountains, an old man lived in +his little house. He was very proud of it, and never tired of admiring the +whiteness of his straw mats, and the pretty papered walls, which in warm +weather always slid back, so that the smell of the trees and flowers might come +in. +</p> + +<p> +One day he was standing looking at the mountain opposite, when he heard a kind +of rumbling noise in the room behind him. He turned round, and in the corner he +beheld a rusty old iron kettle, which could not have seen the light of day for +many years. How the kettle got there the old man did not know, but he took it +up and looked it over carefully, and when he found that it was quite whole he +cleaned the dust off it and carried it into his kitchen. +</p> + +<p> +“That was a piece of luck,” he said, smiling to himself; “a good kettle costs +money, and it is as well to have a second one at hand in case of need; mine is +getting worn out, and the water is already beginning to come through its +bottom.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he took the other kettle off the fire, filled the new one with water, and +put it in its place. +</p> + +<p> +No sooner was the water in the kettle getting warm than a strange thing +happened, and the man, who was standing by, thought he must be dreaming. First +the handle of the kettle gradually changed its shape and became a head, and the +spout grew into a tail, while out of the body sprang four paws, and in a few +minutes the man found himself watching, not a kettle, but a tanuki! The +creature jumped off the fire, and bounded about the room like a kitten, running +up the walls and over the ceiling, till the old man was in an agony lest his +pretty room should be spoilt. He cried to a neighbour for help, and between +them they managed to catch the tanuki, and shut him up safely in a wooden +chest. Then, quite exhausted, they sat down on the mats, and consulted together +what they should do with this troublesome beast. At length they decided to sell +him, and bade a child who was passing send them a certain tradesman called +Jimmu. +</p> + +<p> +When Jimmu arrived, the old man told him that he had something which he wished +to get rid of, and lifted the lid of the wooden chest, where he had shut up the +tanuki. But, to his surprise, no tanuki was there, nothing but the kettle he +had found in the corner. It was certainly very odd, but the man remembered what +had taken place on the fire, and did not want to keep the kettle any more, so +after a little bargaining about the price, Jimmu went away carrying the kettle +with him. +</p> + +<p> +Now Jimmu had not gone very far before he felt that the kettle was getting +heavier and heavier, and by the time he reached home he was so tired that he +was thankful to put it down in the corner of his room, and then forgot all +about it. In the middle of the night, however, he was awakened by a loud noise +in the corner where the kettle stood, and raised himself up in bed to see what +it was. But nothing was there except the kettle, which seemed quiet enough. He +thought that he must have been dreaming, and fell asleep again, only to be +roused a second time by the same disturbance. He jumped up and went to the +corner, and by the light of the lamp that he always kept burning he saw that +the kettle had become a tanuki, which was running round after his tail. After +he grew weary of that, he ran on the balcony, where he turned several +somersaults, from pure gladness of heart. The tradesman was much troubled as to +what to do with the animal, and it was only towards morning that he managed to +get any sleep; but when he opened his eyes again there was no tanuki, only the +old kettle he had left there the night before. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as he had tidied his house, Jimmu set off to tell his story to a friend +next door. The man listened quietly, and did not appear so surprised as Jimmu +expected, for he recollected having heard, in his youth, something about a +wonder-working kettle. “Go and travel with it, and show it off,” said he, “and +you will become a rich man; but be careful first to ask the tanuki’s leave, and +also to perform some magic ceremonies to prevent him from running away at the +sight of the people.” +</p> + +<p> +Jimmu thanked his friend for his counsel, which he followed exactly. The +tanuki’s consent was obtained, a booth was built, and a notice was hung up +outside it inviting the people to come and witness the most wonderful +transformation that ever was seen. +</p> + +<p> +They came in crowds, and the kettle was passed from hand to hand, and they were +allowed to examine it all over, and even to look inside. Then Jimmu took it +back, and setting it on the platform, commanded it to become a tanuki. In an +instant the handle began to change into a head, and the spout into a tail, +while the four paws appeared at the sides. “Dance,” said Jimmu, and the tanuki +did his steps, and moved first on one side and then on the other, till the +people could not stand still any longer, and began to dance too. Gracefully he +led the fan dance, and glided without a pause into the shadow dance and the +umbrella dance, and it seemed as if he might go on dancing for ever. And so +very likely he would, if Jimmu had not declared he had danced enough, and that +the booth must now be closed. +</p> + +<p> +Day after day the booth was so full it was hardly possible to enter it, and +what the neighbour foretold had come to pass, and Jimmu was a rich man. Yet he +did not feel happy. He was an honest man, and he thought that he owed some of +his wealth to the man from whom he had bought the kettle. So, one morning, he +put a hundred gold pieces into it, and hanging the kettle once more on his arm, +he returned to the seller of it. “I have no right to keep it any longer,” he +added when he had ended his tale, “so I have brought it back to you, and inside +you will find a hundred gold pieces as the price of its hire.” +</p> + +<p> +The man thanked Jimmu, and said that few people would have been as honest as +he. And the kettle brought them both luck, and everything went well with them +till they died, which they did when they were very old, respected by everyone. +</p> + +<p> +[Adapted from Japanische Mährchen] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3fef65d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #2435 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2435) diff --git a/old/2435.txt b/old/2435.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ddbf8ad --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2435.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10330 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Crimson Fairy Book, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Crimson Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: December, 2000 [Etext #2435] +Posting Date: December 1, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by J.C. Byers + + + + + +THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK + +By Various + + +Edited by Andrew Lang + + + + +Preface + +Each Fairy Book demands a preface from the Editor, and these +introductions are inevitably both monotonous and unavailing. A sense +of literary honesty compels the Editor to keep repeating that he is the +Editor, and not the author of the Fairy Tales, just as a distinguished +man of science is only the Editor, not the Author of Nature. Like +nature, popular tales are too vast to be the creation of a single modern +mind. The Editor's business is to hunt for collections of these +stories told by peasant or savage grandmothers in many climes, from New +Caledonia to Zululand; from the frozen snows of the Polar regions to +Greece, or Spain, or Italy, or far Lochaber. When the tales are found +they are adapted to the needs of British children by various hands, +the Editor doing little beyond guarding the interests of propriety, +and toning down to mild reproofs the tortures inflicted on wicked +stepmothers, and other naughty characters. + +These explanations have frequently been offered already; but, as far +as ladies and children are concerned, to no purpose. They still ask the +Editor how he can invent so many stories--more than Shakespeare, Dumas, +and Charles Dickens could have invented in a century. And the Editor +still avers, in Prefaces, that he did not invent one of the stories; +that nobody knows, as a rule, who invented them, or where, or when. It +is only plain that, perhaps a hundred thousand years ago, some +savage grandmother told a tale to a savage granddaughter; that the +granddaughter told it in her turn; that various tellers made changes to +suit their taste, adding or omitting features and incidents; that, as +the world grew civilised, other alterations were made, and that, at +last, Homer composed the 'Odyssey,' and somebody else composed the Story +of Jason and the Fleece of Gold, and the enchantress Medea, out of a +set of wandering popular tales, which are still told among Samoyeds and +Samoans, Hindoos and Japanese. + +All this has been known to the wise and learned for centuries, and +especially since the brothers Grimm wrote in the early years of the +Nineteenth Century. But children remain unaware of the facts, and so do +their dear mothers; whence the Editor infers that they do not read his +prefaces, and are not members of the Folk Lore Society, or students of +Herr Kohler and M. Cosquin, and M. Henri Guidoz and Professor Child, +and Mr. Max Muller. Though these explanations are not attended to by +the Editor's customers, he makes them once more, for the relief of his +conscience. Many tales in this book are translated, or adapted, from +those told by mothers and nurses in Hungary; others are familiar to +Russian nurseries; the Servians are responsible for some; a rather +peculiarly fanciful set of stories are adapted from the Roumanians; +others are from the Baltic shores; others from sunny Sicily; a few are +from Finland, and Iceland, and Japan, and Tunis, and Portugal. No doubt +many children will like to look out these places on the map, and study +their mountains, rivers, soil, products, and fiscal policies, in the +geography books. The peoples who tell the stories differ in colour; +language, religion, and almost everything else; but they all love a +nursery tale. The stories have mainly been adapted or translated by Mrs. +Lang, a few by Miss Lang and Miss Blackley. + + + +Contents + + Lovely Ilonka + Lucky Luck + The Hairy Man + To your Good Health! + The Story of the Seven Simons + The Language of Beasts + The Boy who could keep a Secret + The Prince and the Dragon + Little Wildrose + Tiidu the Piper + Paperarello + The Gifts of the Magician + The Strong Prince + The Treasure Seeker + The Cottager and his Cat + The Prince who would seek Immortality + The Stone-cutter + The Gold-bearded Man + Tritill, Litill, and the Birds + The Three Robes + The Six Hungry Beasts + How the Beggar Boy turned into Count Piro + The Rogue and the Herdsman + Eisenkopf + The Death of Abu Nowas and of his Wife + Motikatika + Niels and the Giants + Shepherd Paul + How the wicked Tanuki was punished + The Crab and the Monkey + The Horse Gullfaxi and the Sword Gunnfoder + The Story of the Sham Prince, or the Ambitious Tailor + The Colony of Cats + How to find out a True Friend + Clever Maria + The Magic Kettle + + + + +Lovely Ilonka + +There was once a king's son who told his father that he wished to marry. + +'No, no!' said the king; 'you must not be in such a hurry. Wait till you +have done some great deed. My father did not let me marry till I had won +the golden sword you see me wear.' + +The prince was much disappointed, but he never dreamed of disobeying his +father, and he began to think with all his might what he could do. It +was no use staying at home, so one day he wandered out into the world to +try his luck, and as he walked along he came to a little hut in which he +found an old woman crouching over the fire. + +'Good evening, mother. I see you have lived long in this world; do you +know anything about the three bulrushes?' + +'Yes, indeed, I've lived long and been much about in the world, but I +have never seen or heard anything of what you ask. Still, if you will +wait till to-morrow I may be able to tell you something.' + +Well, he waited till the morning, and quite early the old woman appeared +and took out a little pipe and blew in it, and in a moment all the crows +in the world were flying about her. Not one was missing. Then she asked +if they knew anything about the three bulrushes, but not one of them +did. + +The prince went on his way, and a little further on he found another hut +in which lived an old man. On being questioned the old man said he knew +nothing, but begged the prince to stay overnight, and the next morning +the old man called all the ravens together, but they too had nothing to +tell. + +The prince bade him farewell and set out. He wandered so far that he +crossed seven kingdoms, and at last, one evening, he came to a little +house in which was an old woman. + +'Good evening, dear mother,' said he politely. + +'Good evening to you, my dear son,' answered the old woman. 'It is +lucky for you that you spoke to me or you would have met with a horrible +death. But may I ask where are you going?' + +'I am seeking the three bulrushes. Do you know anything about them?' + +'I don't know anything myself, but wait till to-morrow. Perhaps I can +tell you then.' So the next morning she blew on her pipe, and lo! +and behold every magpie in the world flew up. That is to say, all the +magpies except one who had broken a leg and a wing. The old woman sent +after it at once, and when she questioned the magpies the crippled one +was the only one who knew where the three bulrushes were. + +Then the prince started off with the lame magpie. They went on and on +till they reached a great stone wall, many, many feet high. + +'Now, prince,' said the magpie, 'the three bulrushes are behind that +wall.' + +The prince wasted no time. He set his horse at the wall and leaped over +it. Then he looked about for the three bulrushes, pulled them up and +set off with them on his way home. As he rode along one of the bulrushes +happened to knock against something. It split open and, only think! out +sprang a lovely girl, who said: 'My heart's love, you are mine and I am +yours; do give me a glass of water.' + +But how could the prince give it her when there was no water at hand? +So the lovely maiden flew away. He split the second bulrush as an +experiment and just the same thing happened. + +How careful he was of the third bulrush! He waited till he came to a +well, and there he split it open, and out sprang a maiden seven times +lovelier than either of the others, and she too said: 'My heart's love, +I am yours and you are mine; do give me a glass of water.' + +This time the water was ready and the girl did not fly away, but she +and the prince promised to love each other always. Then they set out for +home. + +They soon reached the prince's country, and as he wished to bring his +promised bride back in a fine coach he went on to the town to fetch one. +In the field where the well was, the king's swineherds and cowherds were +feeding their droves, and the prince left Ilonka (for that was her name) +in their care. + +Unluckily the chief swineherd had an ugly old daughter, and whilst the +prince was away he dressed her up in fine clothes, and threw Ilonka into +the well. + +The prince returned before long, bringing with him his father and mother +and a great train of courtiers to escort Ilonka home. But how they all +stared when they saw the swineherd's ugly daughter! However, there was +nothing for it but to take her home; and, two days later, the prince +married her, and his father gave up the crown to him. + +But he had no peace! He knew very well he had been cheated, though he +could not think how. Once he desired to have some water brought him from +the well into which Ilonka had been thrown. The coachman went for it +and, in the bucket he pulled up, a pretty little duck was swimming. +He looked wonderingly at it, and all of a sudden it disappeared and he +found a dirty looking girl standing near him. The girl returned with him +and managed to get a place as housemaid in the palace. + +Of course she was very busy all day long, but whenever she had a little +spare time she sat down to spin. Her distaff turned of itself and her +spindle span by itself and the flax wound itself off; and however much +she might use there was always plenty left. + +When the queen--or, rather, the swineherd's daughter--heard of this, +she very much wished to have the distaff, but the girl flatly refused +to give it to her. However, at last she consented on condition that she +might sleep one night in the king's room. The queen was very angry, and +scolded her well; but as she longed to have the distaff she consented, +though she gave the king a sleeping draught at supper. + +Then the girl went to the king's room looking seven times lovelier than +ever. She bent over the sleeper and said: 'My heart's love, I am yours +and you are mine. Speak to me but once; I am your Ilonka.' But the king +was so sound asleep he neither heard nor spoke, and Ilonka left the +room, sadly thinking he was ashamed to own her. + +Soon after the queen again sent to say that she wanted to buy the +spindle. The girl agreed to let her have it on the same conditions as +before; but this time, also, the queen took care to give the king a +sleeping draught. And once more Ilonka went to the king's room and spoke +to him; whisper as sweetly as she might she could get no answer. + +Now some of the king's servants had taken note of the matter, and warned +their master not to eat and drink anything that the queen offered him, +as for two nights running she had given him a sleeping draught. The +queen had no idea that her doings had been discovered; and when, a few +days later, she wanted the flax, and had to pay the same price for it, +she felt no fears at all. + +At supper that night the queen offered the king all sorts of nice things +to eat and drink, but he declared he was not hungry, and went early to +bed. + +The queen repented bitterly her promise to the girl, but it was too late +to recall it; for Ilonka had already entered the king's room, where he +lay anxiously waiting for something, he knew not what. All of a sudden +he saw a lovely maiden who bent over him and said: 'My dearest love, I +am yours and you are mine. Speak to me, for I am your Ilonka.' + +At these words the king's heart bounded within him. He sprang up and +embraced and kissed her, and she told him all her adventures since the +moment he had left her. And when he heard all that Ilonka had suffered, +and how he had been deceived, he vowed he would be revenged; so he gave +orders that the swineherd, his wife and daughter should all be hanged; +and so they were. + +The next day the king was married, with great rejoicings, to the fair +Ilonka; and if they are not yet dead--why, they are still living. + +[From Ungarische Mahrehen.] + + + + +Lucky Luck + +Once upon a time there was a king who had an only son. When the lad was +about eighteen years old his father had to go to fight in a war against +a neighbouring country, and the king led his troops in person. He bade +his son act as Regent in his absence, but ordered him on no account to +marry till his return. + +Time went by. The prince ruled the country and never even thought of +marrying. But when he reached his twenty-fifth birthday he began to +think that it might be rather nice to have a wife, and he thought so +much that at last he got quite eager about it. He remembered, however, +what his father had said, and waited some time longer, till at last it +was ten years since the king went out to war. Then the prince called his +courtiers about him and set off with a great retinue to seek a bride. He +hardly knew which way to go, so he wandered about for twenty days, when, +suddenly, he found himself in his father's camp. + +The king was delighted to see his son, and had a great many questions +to ask and answer; but when he heard that instead of quietly waiting +for him at home the prince was starting off to seek a wife he was very +angry, and said: 'You may go where you please but I will not leave any +of my people with you.' + +Only one faithful servant stayed with the prince and refused to part +from him. They journeyed over hill and dale till they came to a place +called Goldtown. The King of Goldtown had a lovely daughter, and the +prince, who soon heard about her beauty, could not rest till he saw her. + +He was very kindly received, for he was extremely good-looking and had +charming manners, so he lost no time in asking for her hand and her +parents gave her to him with joy. The wedding took place at once, and +the feasting and rejoicings went on for a whole month. At the end of +the month they set off for home, but as the journey was a long one they +spent the first evening at an inn. Everyone in the house slept, and only +the faithful servant kept watch. About midnight he heard three crows, +who had flown to the roof, talking together. + +'That's a handsome couple which arrived here tonight. It seems quite a +pity they should lose their lives so soon.' + +'Truly,' said the second crow; 'for to-morrow, when midday strikes, the +bridge over the Gold Stream will break just as they are driving over +it. But, listen! whoever overhears and tells what we have said will be +turned to stone up to his knees.' + +The crows had hardly done speaking when away they flew. And close upon +them followed three pigeons. + +'Even if the prince and princess get safe over the bridge they will +perish,' said they; 'for the king is going to send a carriage to meet +them which looks as new as paint. But when they are seated in it a +raging wind will rise and whirl the carriage away into the clouds. Then +it will fall suddenly to earth, and they will be killed. But anyone who +hears and betrays what we have said will be turned to stone up to his +waist.' + +With that the pigeons flew off and three eagles took their places, and +this is what they said: + +'If the young couple does manage to escape the dangers of the bridge +and the carriage, the king means to send them each a splendid gold +embroidered robe. When they put these on they will be burnt up at once. +But whoever hears and repeats this will turn to stone from head to +foot.' + +Early next morning the travellers got up and breakfasted. They began to +tell each other their dreams. At last the servant said: + +'Gracious prince, I dreamt that if your Royal Highness would grant all +I asked we should get home safe and sound; but if you did not we should +certainly be lost. My dreams never deceive me, so I entreat you to +follow my advice during the rest of the journey.' + +'Don't make such a fuss about a dream,' said the prince; 'dreams are but +clouds. Still, to prevent your being anxious I will promise to do as you +wish.' + +With that they set out on their journey. + +At midday they reached the Gold Stream. When they got to the bridge the +servant said: 'Let us leave the carriage here, my prince, and walk +a little way. The town is not far off and we can easily get another +carriage there, for the wheels of this one are bad and will not hold out +much longer.' + +The prince looked well at the carriage. He did not think it looked so +unsafe as his servant said; but he had given his word and he held to it. + +They got down and loaded the horses with the luggage. The prince and +his bride walked over the bridge, but the servant said he would ride the +horses through the stream so as to water and bathe them. + +They reached the other side without harm, and bought a new carriage in +the town, which was quite near, and set off once more on their travels; +but they had not gone far when they met a messenger from the king who +said to the prince: 'His Majesty has sent your Royal Highness this +beautiful carriage so that you may make a fitting entry into your own +country and amongst your own people.' + +The prince was so delighted that he could not speak. But the servant +said: 'My lord, let me examine this carriage first and then you can get +in if I find it is all right; otherwise we had better stay in our own.' + +The prince made no objections, and after looking the carriage well +over the servant said: 'It is as bad as it is smart'; and with that +he knocked it all to pieces, and they went on in the one that they had +bought. + +At last they reached the frontier; there another messenger was waiting +for them, who said that the king had sent two splendid robes for the +prince and his bride, and begged that they would wear them for their +state entry. But the servant implored the prince to have nothing to do +with them, and never gave him any peace till he had obtained leave to +destroy the robes. + +The old king was furious when he found that all his arts had failed; +that his son still lived and that he would have to give up the crown to +him now he was married, for that was the law of the land. He longed to +know how the prince had escaped, and said: 'My dear son, I do indeed +rejoice to have you safely back, but I cannot imagine why the beautiful +carriage and the splendid robes I sent did not please you; why you had +them destroyed.' + +'Indeed, sire,' said the prince, 'I was myself much annoyed at their +destruction; but my servant had begged to direct everything on the +journey and I had promised him that he should do so. He declared that we +could not possibly get home safely unless I did as he told me.' + +The old king fell into a tremendous rage. He called his Council together +and condemned the servant to death. + +The gallows was put up in the square in front of the palace. The servant +was led out and his sentence read to him. + +The rope was being placed round his neck, when he begged to be allowed +a few last words. 'On our journey home,' he said, 'we spent the first +night at an inn. I did not sleep but kept watch all night.' And then he +went on to tell what the crows had said, and as he spoke he turned to +stone up to his knees. The prince called to him to say no more as he had +proved his innocence. But the servant paid no heed to him, and by the +time his story was done he had turned to stone from head to foot. + +Oh! how grieved the prince was to lose his faithful servant! And what +pained him most was the thought that he was lost through his very +faithfulness, and he determined to travel all over the world and never +rest till he found some means of restoring him to life. + +Now there lived at Court an old woman who had been the prince's nurse. +To her he confided all his plans, and left his wife, the princess, in +her care. 'You have a long way before you, my son,' said the old woman; +'you must never return till you have met with Lucky Luck. If he cannot +help you no one on earth can.' + +So the prince set off to try to find Lucky Luck. He walked and walked +till he got beyond his own country, and he wandered through a wood for +three days but did not meet a living being in it. At the end of the +third day he came to a river near which stood a large mill. Here he +spent the night. When he was leaving next morning the miller asked him: +'My gracious lord, where are you going all alone?' + +And the prince told him. + +'Then I beg your Highness to ask Lucky Luck this question: Why is it +that though I have an excellent mill, with all its machinery complete, +and get plenty of grain to grind, I am so poor that I hardly know how to +live from one day to another?' + +The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way. He wandered about +for three days more, and at the end of the third day saw a little town. +It was quite late when he reached it, but he could discover no light +anywhere, and walked almost right through it without finding a house +where he could turn in. But far away at the end of the town he saw a +light in a window. He went straight to it and in the house were three +girls playing a game together. The prince asked for a night's lodging +and they took him in, gave him some supper and got a room ready for him, +where he slept. + +Next morning when he was leaving they asked where he was going and he +told them his story. 'Gracious prince,' said the maidens, 'do ask Lucky +Luck how it happens that here we are over thirty years old and no lover +has come to woo us, though we are good, pretty, and very industrious.' + +The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way. + +Then he came to a great forest and wandered about in it from morning to +night and from night to morning before he got near the other end. Here +he found a pretty stream which was different from other streams as, +instead of flowing, it stood still and began to talk: 'Sir prince, tell +me what brings you into these wilds? I must have been flowing here a +hundred years and more and no one has ever yet come by.' + +'I will tell you,' answered the prince, 'if you will divide yourself so +that I may walk through.' + +The stream parted at once, and the prince walked through without wetting +his feet; and directly he got to the other side he told his story as he +had promised. + +'Oh, do ask Lucky Luck,' cried the brook, 'why, though I am such a +clear, bright, rapid stream I never have a fish or any other living +creature in my waters.' + +The prince said he would do so, and continued his journey. + +When he got quite clear of the forest he walked on through a lovely +valley till he reached a little house thatched with rushes, and he went +in to rest for he was very tired. + +Everything in the house was beautifully clean and tidy, and a cheerful +honest-looking old woman was sitting by the fire. + +'Good-morning, mother,' said the prince. + +'May Luck be with you, my son. What brings you into these parts?' + +'I am looking for Lucky Luck,' replied the prince. + +'Then you have come to the right place, my son, for I am his mother. He +is not at home just now, he is out digging in the vineyard. Do you go +too. Here are two spades. When you find him begin to dig, but don't +speak a word to him. It is now eleven o'clock. When he sits down to +eat his dinner sit beside him and eat with him. After dinner he will +question you, and then tell him all your troubles freely. He will answer +whatever you may ask.' + +With that she showed him the way, and the prince went and did just as +she had told him. After dinner they lay down to rest. + +All of a sudden Lucky Luck began to speak and said: 'Tell me, what sort +of man are you, for since you came here you have not spoken a word?' + +'I am not dumb,' replied the young man, 'but I am that unhappy prince +whose faithful servant has been turned to stone, and I want to know how +to help him.' + +'And you do well, for he deserves everything. Go back, and when you +get home your wife will just have had a little boy. Take three drops of +blood from the child's little finger, rub them on your servant's wrists +with a blade of grass and he will return to life.' + +'I have another thing to ask,' said the prince, when he had thanked him. +'In the forest near here is a fine stream but not a fish or other living +creature in it. Why is this?' + +'Because no one has ever been drowned in the stream. But take care, in +crossing, to get as near the other side as you can before you say so, or +you may be the first victim yourself.' + +'Another question, please, before I go. On my way here I lodged +one night in the house of three maidens. All were well-mannered, +hard-working, and pretty, and yet none has had a wooer. Why was this?' + +'Because they always throw out their sweepings in the face of the sun.' + +'And why is it that a miller, who has a large mill with all the best +machinery and gets plenty of corn to grind is so poor that he can hardly +live from day to day?' + +'Because the miller keeps everything for himself, and does not give to +those who need it.' + +The prince wrote down the answers to his questions, took a friendly +leave of Lucky Luck, and set off for home. + +When he reached the stream it asked if he brought it any good news. +'When I get across I will tell you,' said he. So the stream parted; he +walked through and on to the highest part of the bank. He stopped and +shouted out: + +'Listen, oh stream! Lucky Luck says you will never have any living +creature in your waters until someone is drowned in you.' + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the stream swelled and +overflowed till it reached the rock up which he had climbed, and dashed +so far up it that the spray flew over him. But he clung on tight, and +after failing to reach him three times the stream returned to its proper +course. Then the prince climbed down, dried himself in the sun, and set +out on his march home. + +He spent the night once more at the mill and gave the miller his answer, +and by-and-by he told the three sisters not to throw out all their +sweepings in the face of the sun. + +The prince had hardly arrived at home when some thieves tried to ford +the stream with a fine horse they had stolen. When they were half-way +across, the stream rose so suddenly that it swept them all away. From +that time it became the best fishing stream in the country-side. + +The miller, too, began to give alms and became a very good man, and in +time grew so rich that he hardly knew how much he had. + +And the three sisters, now that they no longer insulted the sun, had +each a wooer within a week. + +When the prince got home he found that his wife had just got a fine +little boy. He did not lose a moment in pricking the baby's finger till +the blood ran, and he brushed it on the wrists of the stone figure, +which shuddered all over and split with a loud noise in seven parts and +there was the faithful servant alive and well. + +When the old king saw this he foamed with rage, stared wildly about, +flung himself on the ground and died. + +The servant stayed on with his royal master and served him faithfully +all the rest of his life; and, if neither of them is dead, he is serving +him still. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Hairy Man + +Somewhere or other, but I don't know where, there lived a king who owned +two remarkably fine fields of rape, but every night two of the rape +heaps were burnt down in one of the fields. The king was extremely angry +at this, and sent out soldiers to catch whoever had set fire to the +ricks; but it was all of no use--not a soul could they see. Then he +offered nine hundred crowns to anyone who caught the evil-doer, and at +the same time ordered that whoever did not keep proper watch over the +fields should be killed; but though there were a great many people, none +seemed able to protect the fields. + +The king had already put ninety-nine people to death, when a little +swineherd came to him who had two dogs; one was called 'Psst,' and the +other 'Hush'; and the boy told the king that he would watch over the +ricks. + +When it grew dark he climbed up on the top of the fourth rick, from +where he could see the whole field. About eleven o'clock he thought he +saw someone going to a rick and putting a light to it. 'Just you wait,' +thought he, and called out to his dogs: 'Hi! Psst, Hush, catch him!' +But Psst and Hush had not waited for orders, and in five minutes the man +was caught. + +Next morning he was brought bound before the king, who was so pleased +with the boy that he gave him a thousand crowns at once. The prisoner +was all covered with hair, almost like an animal; and altogether he was +so curious to look at that the king locked him up in a strong room and +sent out letters of invitation to all the other kings and princes asking +them to come and see this wonder. + +That was all very well; but the king had a little boy of ten years old +who went to look at the hairy man also, and the man begged so hard to be +set free that the boy took pity on him. He stole the key of the strong +room from his mother and opened the door. Then he took the key back, but +the hairy man escaped and went off into the world. + +Then the kings and princes began to arrive one after another, and all +were most anxious to see the hairy man; but he was gone! The king nearly +burst with rage and with the shame he felt. He questioned his wife +sharply, and told her that if she could not find and bring back the +hairy man he would put her in a hut made of rushes and burn her there. +The queen declared she had had nothing to do with the matter; if her son +had happened to take the key it had not been with her knowledge. + +So they fetched the little prince and asked him all sorts of questions, +and at last he owned that he had let the hairy man out. The king ordered +his servants to take the boy into the forest and to kill him there, and +to bring back part of his liver and lungs. + +There was grief all over the palace when the king's command was known, +for he was a great favourite. But there was no help for it, and they +took the boy out into the forest. But the man was sorry for him, and +shot a dog and carried pieces of his lungs and liver to the king, who +was satisfied, and did not trouble himself any more. + +The prince wandered about in the forest and lived as best he could for +five years. One day he came upon a poor little cottage in which was an +old man. They began to talk, and the prince told his story and sad fate. +Then they recognised each other, for the old fellow was no other than +the hairy man whom the prince had set free, and who had lived ever since +in the forest. + +The prince stayed here for two years; then he wished to go further. The +old man begged him hard to stay, but he would not, so his hairy friend +gave him a golden apple out of which came a horse with a golden mane, +and a golden staff with which to guide the horse. The old man also gave +him a silver apple out of which came the most beautiful hussars and a +silver staff; and a copper apple from which he could draw as many foot +soldiers as ever he wished, and a copper staff. He made the prince swear +solemnly to take the greatest care of these presents, and then he let +him go. + +The boy wandered on and on till he came to a large town. Here he took +service in the king's palace, and as no one troubled themselves about +him he lived quietly on. + +One day news was brought to the king that he must go out to war. He was +horribly frightened for he had a very small army, but he had to go all +the same. + +When they had all left, the prince said to the housekeeper: + +'Give me leave to go to the next village--I owe a small bill there, and +I want to go and pay it'; and as there was nothing to be done in the +palace the housekeeper gave him leave. + +When he got beyond the town he took out his golden apple, and when the +horse sprang out he swung himself into the saddle. Then he took the +silver and the copper apples, and with all these fine soldiers he joined +the king's army. + +The king saw them approach with fear in his heart, for he did not know +if it might not be an enemy; but the prince rode up, and bowed low +before him. 'I bring your Majesty reinforcements,' said he. + +The king was delighted, and all dread of his enemy at once disappeared. +The princesses were there too, and they were very friendly with the +prince and begged him to get into their carriage so as to talk to them. +But he declined, and remained on horseback, as he did not know at what +moment the battle might begin; and whilst they were all talking together +the youngest princess, who was also the loveliest, took off her ring, +and her sister tore her handkerchief in two pieces, and they gave these +gifts to the prince. + +Suddenly the enemy came in sight. The king asked whether his army or the +prince's should lead the way; but the prince set off first and with his +hussars he fought so bravely that only two of the enemy were left alive, +and these two were only spared to act as messengers. + +The king was overjoyed and so were his daughters at this brilliant +victory. As they drove home they begged the prince to join them, but he +would not come, and galloped off with his hussars. + +When he got near the town he packed his soldiers and his fine horse all +carefully into the apple again, and then strolled into the town. On his +return to the palace he was well scolded by the housekeeper for staying +away so long. + +Well, the whole matter might have ended there; but it so happened that +the younger princess had fallen in love with the prince, as he had with +her. And as he had no jewels with him, he gave her the copper apple and +staff. + +One day, as the princesses were talking with their father, the younger +one asked him whether it might not have been their servant who had +helped him so much. The king was quite angry at the idea; but, to +satisfy her, he ordered the servant's room to be searched. And there, +to everyone's surprise, they found the golden ring and the half of the +handkerchief. When these were brought to the king he sent for the prince +at once and asked if it had been he who had come to their rescue. + +'Yes, your Majesty, it was I,' answered the prince. + +'But where did you get your army?' + +'If you wish to see it, I can show it you outside the city walls.' + +And so he did; but first he asked for the copper apple from the younger +princess, and when all the soldiers were drawn up there were such +numbers that there was barely room for them. + +The king gave him his daughter and kingdom as a reward for his aid, and +when he heard that the prince was himself a king's son his joy knew no +bounds. The prince packed all his soldiers carefully up once more, and +they went back into the town. + +Not long after there was a grand wedding; perhaps they may all be alive +still, but I don't know. + + + + +To Your Good Health! + +Long, long ago there lived a king who was such a mighty monarch that +whenever he sneezed every one in the whole country had to say 'To your +good health!' Every one said it except the shepherd with the staring +eyes, and he would not say it. + +The king heard of this and was very angry, and sent for the shepherd to +appear before him. + +The shepherd came and stood before the throne, where the king sat +looking very grand and powerful. But however grand or powerful he might +be the shepherd did not feel a bit afraid of him. + +'Say at once, "To my good health!"' cried the king. + +'To my good health!' replied the shepherd. + +'To mine--to mine, you rascal, you vagabond!' stormed the king. + +'To mine, to mine, your Majesty,' was the answer. + +'But to mine--to my own,' roared the king, and beat on his breast in a +rage. + +'Well, yes; to mine, of course, to my own,' cried the shepherd, and +gently tapped his breast. + +The king was beside himself with fury and did not know what to do, when +the Lord Chamberlain interfered: + +'Say at once--say this very moment: "To your health, your Majesty"; for +if you don't say it you'll lose your life, whispered he. + +'No, I won't say it till I get the princess for my wife,' was the +shepherd's answer. Now the princess was sitting on a little throne +beside the king, her father, and she looked as sweet and lovely as a +little golden dove. When she heard what the shepherd said she could not +help laughing, for there is no denying the fact that this young shepherd +with the staring eyes pleased her very much; indeed he pleased her +better than any king's son she had yet seen. + +But the king was not as pleasant as his daughter, and he gave orders to +throw the shepherd into the white bear's pit. + +The guards led him away and thrust him into the pit with the white bear, +who had had nothing to eat for two days and was very hungry. The door of +the pit was hardly closed when the bear rushed at the shepherd; but when +it saw his eyes it was so frightened that it was ready to eat itself. It +shrank away into a corner and gazed at him from there, and, in spite of +being so famished, did not dare to touch him, but sucked its own paws +from sheer hunger. The shepherd felt that if he once removed his eyes +off the beast he was a dead man, and in order to keep himself awake he +made songs and sang them, and so the night went by. + +Next morning the Lord Chamberlain came to see the shepherd's bones, and +was amazed to find him alive and well. He led him to the king, who fell +into a furious passion, and said: 'Well, you have learned what it is to +be very near death, and now will you say "To my good health"?' + +But the shepherd answered: 'I am not afraid of ten deaths! I will only +say it if I may have the princess for my wife.' + +'Then go to your death,' cried the king; and ordered him to be thrown +into the den with the wild boars. The wild boars had not been fed for a +week, and when the shepherd was thrust into their don they rushed at him +to tear him to pieces. But the shepherd took a little flute out of the +sleeve of his jacket and began to play a merry tune, on which the wild +boars first of all shrank shyly away, and then got up on their hind legs +and danced gaily. The shepherd would have given anything to be able to +laugh, they looked so funny; but he dared not stop playing, for he knew +well enough that the moment he stopped they would fall upon him and tear +him to pieces. His eyes were of no use to him here, for he could not +have stared ten wild boars in the face at once; so he kept on playing, +and the wild boars danced very slowly, as if in a minuet, then by +degrees he played faster and faster till they could hardly twist and +turn quickly enough, and ended by all falling over each other in a heap, +quite exhausted and out of breath. + +Then the shepherd ventured to laugh at last; and he laughed so long +and so loud that when the Lord Chamberlain came early in the morning, +expecting to find only his bones, the tears were still running down his +cheeks from laughter. + +As soon as the king was dressed the shepherd was again brought before +him; but he was more angry than ever to think the wild boars had not +torn the man to bits, and he said: 'Well, you have learned what it feels +to be near ten deaths, now say "To my good health!"' + +But the shepherd broke in with, 'I do not fear a hundred deaths, and I +will only say it if I may have the princess for my wife.' + +'Then go to a hundred deaths!' roared the king, and ordered the shepherd +to be thrown down the deep vault of scythes. + +The guards dragged him away to a dark dungeon, in the middle of which +was a deep well with sharp scythes all round it. At the bottom of the +well was a little light by which one could see if anyone was thrown in +whether he had fallen to the bottom. + +When the shepherd was dragged to the dungeons he begged the guards to +leave him alone a little while that he might look down into the pit of +scythes; perhaps he might after all make up his mind to say 'To your +good health' to the king. So the guards left him alone and he stuck up +his long stick near the well, hung his cloak round the stick and put his +hat on the top. He also hung his knapsack up inside the cloak so that it +might seem to have some body within it. When this was done he called out +to the guards and said that he had considered the matter but after all +he could not make up his mind to say what the king wished. The guards +came in, threw the hat and cloak, knapsack and stick all down the well +together, watched to see how they put out the light at the bottom and +came away, thinking that now there really was an end of the shepherd. +But he had hidden in a dark corner and was laughing to himself all the +time. + +Quite early next morning came the Lord Chamberlain, carrying a lamp and +he nearly fell backwards with surprise when he saw the shepherd alive +and well. He brought him to the king, whose fury was greater than ever, +but who cried: + +'Well, now you have been near a hundred deaths; will you say: "To your +good health"?' + +But the shepherd only gave the same answer: + +'I won't say it till the princess is my wife.' + +'Perhaps after all you may do it for less,' said the king, who saw that +there was no chance of making away with the shepherd; and he ordered the +state coach to be got ready, then he made the shepherd get in with him +and sit beside him, and ordered the coachman to drive to the silver +wood. When they reached it he said: 'Do you see this silver wood? Well, +if you will say, "To your good health," I will give it to you.' + +The shepherd turned hot and cold by turns, but he still persisted: + +'I will not say it till the princess is my wife.' + +The king was much vexed; he drove further on till they came to a +splendid castle, all of gold, and then he said: + +'Do you see this golden castle? Well, I will give you that too, the +silver wood and the golden castle, if only you will say that one thing +to me: "To your good health."' + +The shepherd gaped and wondered and was quite dazzled, but he still +said: + +'No; I will not say it till I have the princess for my wife.' + +This time the king was overwhelmed with grief, and gave orders to drive +on to the diamond pond, and there he tried once more. + +'Do you see this diamond pond? I will give you that too, the silver +wood and the golden castle and the diamond pond. You shall have them +all--all--if you will but say: "To your good health!"' + +The shepherd had to shut his staring eyes tight not to be dazzled with +the brilliant pond, but still he said: + +'No, no; I will not say it till I have the princess for my wife.' + +Then the king saw that all his efforts were useless, and that he might +as well give in, so he said: + +'Well, well, it's all the same to me--I will give you my daughter to +wife; but, then, you really and truly must say to me: "To your good +health."' + +'Of course I'll say it; why should I not say it? It stands to reason +that I shall say it then.' + +At this the king was more delighted than anyone could have believed. +He made it known all through the country that there were to be great +rejoicings, as the princess was going to be married. And everyone +rejoiced to think that the princess, who had refused so many royal +suitors, should have ended by falling in love with the staring-eyed +shepherd. + +There was such a wedding as had never been seen. Everyone ate and drank +and danced. Even the sick were feasted, and quite tiny new-born children +had presents given them. + +But the greatest merry-making was in the king's palace; there the best +bands played and the best food was cooked; a crowd of people sat down to +table, and all was fun and merry-making. + +And when the groomsman, according to custom, brought in the great boar's +head on a big dish and placed it before the king so that he might carve +it and give everyone a share, the savoury smell was so strong that the +king began to sneeze with all his might. + +'To your very good health,' cried the shepherd before anyone else, and +the king was so delighted that he did not regret having given him his +daughter. + +In time, when the old king died, the shepherd succeeded him. He made a +very good king and never expected his people to wish him well against +their wills; but, all the same, everyone did wish him well, for they all +loved him. + +[From Russische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Story of the Seven Simons + +Far, far away, beyond all sorts of countries, seas and rivers, there +stood a splendid city where lived King Archidej, who was as good as he +was rich and handsome. His great army was made up of men ready to obey +his slightest wish; he owned forty times forty cities, and in each city +he had ten palaces with silver doors, golden roofs, and crystal windows. +His council consisted of the twelve wisest men in the country, whose +long beards flowed down over their breasts, each of whom was as learned +as a whole college. This council always told the king the exact truth. + +Now the king had everything to make him happy, but he did not enjoy +anything because he could not find a bride to his mind. + +One day, as he sat in his palace looking out to sea, a great ship sailed +into the harbour and several merchants came on shore. Said the king to +himself: 'These people have travelled far and beheld many lands. I will +ask them if they have seen any princess who is as clever and as handsome +as I am.' + +So he ordered the merchants to be brought before him, and when they came +he said: 'You have travelled much and visited many wonders. I wish to +ask you a question, and I beg you to answer truthfully. + +'Have you anywhere seen or heard of the daughter of an emperor, king, +or a prince, who is as clever and as handsome as I am, and who would be +worthy to be my wife and the queen of my country?' + +The merchants considered for some time. At last the eldest of them said: +'I have heard that across many seas, in the Island of Busan, there is a +mighty king, whose daughter, the Princess Helena, is so lovely that she +can certainly not be plainer than your Majesty, and so clever that the +wisest greybeard cannot guess her riddles.' + +'Is the island far off, and which is the way to it?' + +'It is not near,' was the answer. 'The journey would take ten years, and +we do not know the way. And even if we did, what use would that be? The +princess is no bride for you.' + +'How dare you say so?' cried the king angrily. + +'Your Majesty must pardon us; but just think for a moment. Should you +send an envoy to the island he will take ten years to get there and ten +more to return--twenty years in all. Will not the princess have grown +old in that time and have lost all her beauty?' + +The king reflected gravely. Then he thanked the merchants, gave them +leave to trade in his country without paying any duties, and dismissed +them. + +After they were gone the king remained deep in thought. He felt puzzled +and anxious; so he decided to ride into the country to distract his +mind, and sent for his huntsmen and falconers. The huntsmen blew their +horns, the falconers took their hawks on their wrists, and off they all +set out across country till they came to a green hedge. On the other +side of the hedge stretched a great field of maize as far as the eye +could reach, and the yellow ears swayed to and fro in the gentle breeze +like a rippling sea of gold. + +The king drew rein and admired the field. 'Upon my word,' said he, +'whoever dug and planted it must be good workmen. If all the fields in +my kingdom were as well cared for as this, there would be more bread +than my people could eat.' And he wished to know to whom the field +belonged. + +Off rushed all his followers at once to do his bidding, and found a +nice, tidy farmhouse, in front of which sat seven peasants, lunching +on rye bread and drinking water. They wore red shirts bound with gold +braid, and were so much alike that one could hardly tell one from +another. + +The messengers asked: 'Who owns this field of golden maize?' And the +seven brothers answered: 'The field is ours.' + +'And who are you?' + +'We are King Archidej's labourers.' + +These answers were repeated to the king, who ordered the brothers to +be brought before him at once. On being asked who they were, the eldest +said, bowing low: + +'We, King Archidej, are your labourers, children of one father and +mother, and we all have the same name, for each of us is called Simon. +Our father taught us to be true to our king, and to till the ground, +and to be kind to our neighbours. He also taught each of us a different +trade which he thought might be useful to us, and he bade us not neglect +our mother earth, which would be sure amply to repay our labour.' + +The king was pleased with the honest peasant, and said: 'You have done +well, good people, in planting your field, and now you have a golden +harvest. But I should like each of you to tell me what special trades +your father taught you.' + +'My trade, O king!' said the first Simon, 'is not an easy one. If you +will give me some workmen and materials I will build you a great white +pillar that shall reach far above the clouds.' + +'Very good,' replied the king. 'And you, Simon the second, what is your +trade?' + +'Mine, your Majesty, needs no great cleverness. When my brother has +built the pillar I can mount it, and from the top, far above the clouds, +I can see what is happening: in every country under the sun.' + +'Good,' said the king; 'and Simon the third?' + +'My work is very simple, sire. You have many ships built by learned men, +with all sorts of new and clever improvements. If you wish it I will +build you quite a simple boat--one, two, three, and it's done! But my +plain little home-made ship is not grand enough for a king. Where other +ships take a year, mine makes the voyage in a day, and where they would +require ten years mine will do the distance in a week.' + +'Good,' said the king again; 'and what has Simon the fourth learnt?' + +'My trade, O king, is really of no importance. Should my brother build +you a ship, then let me embark in it. If we should be pursued by an +enemy I can seize our boat by the prow and sink it to the bottom of the +sea. When the enemy has sailed off, I can draw it up to the top again.' + +'That is very clever of you,' answered the king; 'and what does Simon +the fifth do?' + +'My work, your Majesty, is mere smith's work. Order me to build a smithy +and I will make you a cross-bow, but from which neither the eagle in the +sky nor the wild beast in the forest is safe. The bolt hits whatever the +eye sees.' + +'That sounds very useful,' said the king. 'And now, Simon the sixth, +tell me your trade.' + +'Sire, it is so simple I am almost ashamed to mention it. If my brother +hits any creature I catch it quicker than any dog can. If it falls into +the water I pick it up out of the greatest depths, and if it is in a +dark forest I can find it even at midnight.' + +The king was much pleased with the trades and talk of the six brothers, +and said: 'Thank you, good people; your father did well to teach you all +these things. Now follow me to the town, as I want to see what you can +do. I need such people as you about me; but when harvest time comes I +will send you home with royal presents.' + +The brothers bowed and said: 'As the king wills.' Suddenly the king +remembered that he had not questioned the seventh Simon, so he turned to +him and said: 'Why are you silent? What is your handicraft?' + +And the seventh Simon answered: 'I have no handicraft, O king; I have +learnt nothing. I could not manage it. And if I do know how to do +anything it is not what might properly be called a real trade--it is +rather a sort of performance; but it is one which no one--not the king +himself--must watch me doing, and I doubt whether this performance of +mine would please your Majesty.' + +'Come, come,' cried the king; 'I will have no excuses, what is this +trade?' + +'First, sire, give me your royal word that you will not kill me when I +have told you. Then you shall hear.' + +'So be it, then; I give you my royal word.' + +Then the seventh Simon stepped back a little, cleared his throat, and +said: 'My trade, King Archidej, is of such a kind that the man who +follows it in your kingdom generally loses his life and has no hopes of +pardon. There is only one thing I can do really well, and that is--to +steal, and to hide the smallest scrap of anything I have stolen. Not +the deepest vault, even if its lock were enchanted, could prevent my +stealing anything out of it that I wished to have.' + +When the king heard this he fell into a passion. 'I will not pardon +you, you rascal,' he cried; 'I will shut you up in my deepest dungeon on +bread and water till you have forgotten such a trade. Indeed, it would +be better to put you to death at once, and I've a good mind to do so.' + +'Don't kill me, O king! I am really not as bad as you think. Why, had I +chosen, I could have robbed the royal treasury, have bribed your judges +to let me off, and built a white marble palace with what was left. +But though I know how to steal I don't do it. You yourself asked me my +trade. If you kill me you will break your royal word.' + +'Very well,' said the king, 'I will not kill you. I pardon you. But from +this hour you shall be shut up in a dark dungeon. Here, guards! away +with him to the prison. But you six Simons follow me and be assured of +my royal favour.' + +So the six Simons followed the king. The seventh Simon was seized by the +guards, who put him in chains and threw him in prison with only bread +and water for food. Next day the king gave the first Simon carpenters, +masons, smiths and labourers, with great stores of iron, mortar, and the +like, and Simon began to build. And he built his great white pillar +far, far up into the clouds, as high as the nearest stars; but the other +stars were higher still. + +Then the second Simon climbed up the pillar and saw and heard all that +was going on through the whole world. When he came down he had all sorts +of wonderful things to tell. How one king was marching in battle against +another, and which was likely to be the victor. How, in another place, +great rejoicings were going on, while in a third people were dying of +famine. In fact there was not the smallest event going on over the earth +that was hidden from him. + +Next the third Simon began. He stretched out his arms, once, twice, +thrice, and the wonder-ship was ready. At a sign from the king it was +launched, and floated proudly and safely like a bird on the waves. +Instead of ropes it had wires for rigging, and musicians played on them +with fiddle bows and made lovely music. As the ship swam about, the +fourth Simon seized the prow with his strong hand, and in a moment it +was gone--sunk to the bottom of the sea. An hour passed, and then the +ship floated again, drawn up by Simon's left hand, while in his right he +brought a gigantic fish from the depth of the ocean for the royal table. + +Whilst this was going on the fifth Simon had built his forge and +hammered out his iron, and when the king returned from the harbour the +magic cross-bow was made. + +His Majesty went out into an open field at once, looked up into the sky +and saw, far, far away, an eagle flying up towards the sun and looking +like a little speck. + +'Now,' said the king, 'if you can shoot that bird I will reward you.' + +Simon only smiled; he lifted his cross-bow, took aim, fired, and the +eagle fell. As it was falling the sixth Simon ran with a dish, caught +the bird before it fell to earth and brought it to the king. + +'Many thanks, my brave lads,' said the king; 'I see that each of you is +indeed a master of his trade. You shall be richly rewarded. But now rest +and have your dinner.' + +The six Simons bowed and went to dinner. But they had hardly begun +before a messenger came to say that the king wanted to see them. They +obeyed at once and found him surrounded by all his court and men of +state. + +'Listen, my good fellows,' cried the king, as soon as he saw them. 'Hear +what my wise counsellors have thought of. As you, Simon the second, +can see the whole world from the top of the great pillar, I want you to +climb up and to see and hear. For I am told that, far away, across many +seas, is the great kingdom of the Island of Busan, and that the daughter +of the king is the beautiful Princess Helena.' + +Off ran the second Simon and clambered quickly up the pillar. He gazed +around, listened on all sides, and then slid down to report to the king. + +'Sire, I have obeyed your orders. Far away I saw the Island of Busan. +The king is a mighty monarch, but full of pride, harsh and cruel. He +sits on his throne and declares that no prince or king on earth is good +enough for his lovely daughter, that he will give her to none, and +that if any king asks for her hand he will declare war against him and +destroy his kingdom.' + +'Has the king of Busan a great army?' asked King Archidej; 'is his +country far off?' + +'As far as I could judge,' replied Simon, 'it would take you nearly ten +years in fair weather to sail there. But if the weather were stormy +we might say twelve. I saw the army being reviewed. It is not so very +large--a hundred thousand men at arms and a hundred thousand knights. +Besides these, he has a strong bodyguard and a good many cross-bowmen. +Altogether you may say another hundred thousand, and there is a picked +body of heroes who reserve themselves for great occasions requiring +particular courage.' + +The king sat for some time lost in thought. At last he said to the +nobles and courtiers standing round: 'I am determined to marry the +Princess Helena, but how shall I do it?' + +The nobles, courtiers and counsellors said nothing, but tried to hide +behind each other. Then the third Simon said: + +'Pardon me, your Majesty, if I offer my advice. You wish to go to the +Island of Busan? What can be easier? In my ship you will get there in a +week instead of in ten years. But ask your council to advise you what +to do when you arrive--in one word, whether you will win the princess +peacefully or by war?' + +But the wise men were as silent as ever. + +The king frowned, and was about to say something sharp, when the Court +Fool pushed his way to the front and said: 'Dear me, what are all you +clever people so puzzled about? The matter is quite clear. As it seems +it will not take long to reach the island why not send the seventh +Simon? He will steal the fair maiden fast enough, and then the king, +her father, may consider how he is going to bring his army over here--it +will take him ten years to do it!---no less! What do you think of my +plan?' + +'What do I think? Why, that your idea is capital, and you shall be +rewarded for it. Come, guards, hurry as fast as you can and bring the +seventh Simon before me.' + +Not many minutes later, Simon the seventh stood before the king, who +explained to him what he wished done, and also that to steal for the +benefit of his king and country was by no means a wrong thing, though it +was very wrong to steal for his own advantage. + +The youngest Simon, who looked very pale and hungry, only nodded his +head. + +'Come,' said the king, 'tell me truly. Do you think you could steal the +Princess Helena?' + +'Why should I not steal her, sire? The thing is easy enough. Let my +brother's ship be laden with rich stuffs, brocades, Persian carpets, +pearls and jewels. Send me in the ship. Give me my four middle brothers +as companions, and keep the two others as hostages.' + +When the king heard these words his heart became filled with longing, +and he ordered all to be done as Simon wished. Every one ran about to do +his bidding; and in next to no time the wonder-ship was laden and ready +to start. + +The five Simons took leave of the king, went on board, and had no sooner +set sail than they were almost out of sight. The ship cut through the +waters like a falcon through the air, and just a week after starting +sighted the Island of Busan. The coast appeared to be strongly guarded, +and from afar the watchman on a high tower called out: 'Halt and anchor! +Who are you? Where do you come from, and what do you want?' + +The seventh Simon answered from the ship: 'We are peaceful people. We +come from the country of the great and good King Archidej, and we bring +foreign wares--rich brocades, carpets, and costly jewels, which we wish +to show to your king and the princess. We desire to trade--to sell, to +buy, and to exchange.' + +The brothers launched a small boat, took some of their valuable goods +with them, rowed to shore and went up to the palace. The princess sat +in a rose-red room, and when she saw the brothers coming near she called +her nurse and other women, and told them to inquire who and what these +people were, and what they wanted. + +The seventh Simon answered the nurse: 'We come from the country of the +wise and good King Archidej,' said he, 'and we have brought all sorts +of goods for sale. We trust the king of this country may condescend +to welcome us, and to let his servants take charge of our wares. If he +considers them worthy to adorn his followers we shall be content.' + +This speech was repeated to the princess, who ordered the brothers to +be brought to the red-room at once. They bowed respectfully to her and +displayed some splendid velvets and brocades, and opened cases of pearls +and precious stones. Such beautiful things had never been seen in the +island, and the nurse and waiting women stood bewildered by all the +magnificence. They whispered together that they had never beheld +anything like it. The princess too saw and wondered, and her eyes could +not weary of looking at the lovely things, or her fingers of stroking +the rich soft stuffs, and of holding up the sparkling jewels to the +light. + +'Fairest of princesses,' said Simon. 'Be pleased to order your +waiting-maids to accept the silks and velvets, and let your women trim +their head-dresses with the jewels; these are no special treasures. +But permit me to say that they are as nothing to the many coloured +tapestries, the gorgeous stones and ropes of pearls in our ship. We did +not like to bring more with us, not knowing what your royal taste might +be; but if it seems good to you to honour our ship with a visit, you +might condescend to choose such things as were pleasing in your eyes.' + +This polite speech pleased the princess very much. She went to the +king and said: 'Dear father, some merchants have arrived with the most +splendid wares. Pray allow me to go to their ship and choose out what I +like.' + +The king thought and thought, frowned hard and rubbed his ear. At last +he gave consent, and ordered out his royal yacht, with 100 cross-bows, +100 knights, and 1,000 soldiers, to escort the Princess Helena. + +Off sailed the yacht with the princess and her escort. The brothers +Simon came on board to conduct the princess to their ship, and, led by +the brothers and followed by her nurse and other women, she crossed the +crystal plank from one vessel to another. + +The seventh Simon spread out his goods, and had so many curious +and interesting tales to tell about them, that the princess forgot +everything else in looking and listening, so that she did not know that +the fourth Simon had seized the prow of the ship, and that all of a +sudden it had vanished from sight, and was racing along in the depths of +the sea. + +The crew of the royal yacht shouted aloud, the knights stood still with +terror, the soldiers were struck dumb and hung their heads. There was +nothing to be done but to sail back and tell the king of his loss. + +How he wept and stormed! 'Oh, light of my eyes,' he sobbed; 'I am indeed +punished for my pride. I thought no one good enough to be your husband, +and now you are lost in the depths of the sea, and have left me alone! +As for all of you who saw this thing--away with you! Let them be put in +irons and lock them up in prison, whilst I think how I can best put them +to death!' + +Whilst the King of Busan was raging and lamenting in this fashion, +Simon's ship was swimming like any fish under the sea, and when the +island was well out of sight he brought it up to the surface again. At +that moment the princess recollected herself. 'Nurse,' said she, 'we +have been gazing at these wonders only too long. I hope my father won't +be vexed at our delay.' + +She tore herself away and stepped on deck. Neither the yacht nor the +island was in sight! Helena wrung her hands and beat her breast. Then +she changed herself into a white swan and flew off. But the fifth Simon +seized his bow and shot the swan, and the sixth Simon did not let it +fall into the water but caught it in the ship, and the swan turned into +a silver fish, but Simon lost no time and caught the fish, when, quick +as thought, the fish turned into a black mouse and ran about the ship. +It darted towards a hole, but before it could reach it Simon sprang upon +it more swiftly than any cat, and then the little mouse turned once more +into the beautiful Princess Helena. + +Early one morning King Archidej sat thoughtfully at his window gazing +out to sea. His heart was sad and he would neither eat nor drink. His +thoughts were full of the Princess Helena, who was as lovely as a dream. +Is that a white gull he sees flying towards the shore, or is it a sail? +No, it is no gull, it is the wonder-ship flying along with billowing +sails. Its flags wave, the fiddlers play on the wire rigging, the anchor +is thrown out and the crystal plank laid from the ship to the pier. The +lovely Helena steps across the plank. She shines like the sun, and the +stars of heaven seem to sparkle in her eyes. + +Up sprang King Archidej in haste: 'Hurry, hurry,' he cried. 'Let us +hasten to meet her! Let the bugles sound and the joy bells be rung!' + +And the whole Court swarmed with courtiers and servants. Golden carpets +were laid down and the great gates thrown open to welcome the princess. + +King Archidej went out himself, took her by the hand and led her into +the royal apartments. + +'Madam,' said he, 'the fame of your beauty had reached me, but I had not +dared to expect such loveliness. Still I will not keep you here against +your will. If you wish it, the wonder-ship shall take you back to your +father and your own country; but if you will consent to stay here, then +reign over me and my country as our queen.' + +What more is there to tell? It is not hard to guess that the princess +listened to the king's wooing, and their betrothal took place with great +pomp and rejoicings. + +The brothers Simon were sent again to the Island of Busan with a letter +to the king from his daughter to invite him to their wedding. And the +wonder-ship arrived at the Island of Busan just as all the knights and +soldiers who had escorted the princess were being led out to execution. + +Then the seventh Simon cried out from the ship: 'Stop! stop! I bring a +letter from the Princess Helena!' + +The King of Busan read the letter over and over again, and ordered the +knights and soldiers to be set free. He entertained King Archidej's +ambassadors hospitably, and sent his blessing to his daughter, but he +could not be brought to attend the wedding. + +When the wonder-ship got home King Archidej and Princess Helena were +enchanted with the news it brought. + +The king sent for the seven Simons. 'A thousand thanks to you, my brave +fellows,' he cried. 'Take what gold, silver, and precious stones you +will out of my treasury. Tell me if there is anything else you wish for +and I will give it you, my good friends. Do you wish to be made nobles, +or to govern towns? Only speak.' + +Then the eldest Simon bowed and said: 'We are plain folk, your Majesty, +and understand simple things best. What figures should we cut as nobles +or governors? Nor do we desire gold. We have our fields which give us +food, and as much money as we need. If you wish to reward us then grant +that our land may be free of taxes, and of your goodness pardon the +seventh Simon. He is not the first who has been a thief by trade and he +will certainly not be the last.' + +'So be it,' said the king; 'your land shall be free of all taxes, and +Simon the seventh is pardoned.' + +Then the king gave each brother a goblet of wine and invited them to the +wedding feast. And what a feast that was! + +[From Ungarischen Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Language of Beasts + +Once upon a time a man had a shepherd who served him many years +faithfully and honestly. One day, whilst herding his flock, this +shepherd heard a hissing sound, coming out of the forest near by, which +he could not account for. So he went into the wood in the direction of +the noise to try to discover the cause. When he approached the place +he found that the dry grass and leaves were on fire, and on a tree, +surrounded by flames, a snake was coiled, hissing with terror. + +The shepherd stood wondering how the poor snake could escape, for +the wind was blowing the flames that way, and soon that tree would be +burning like the rest. Suddenly the snake cried: 'O shepherd! for the +love of heaven save me from this fire!' + +Then the shepherd stretched his staff out over the flames and the snake +wound itself round the staff and up to his hand, and from his hand +it crept up his arm, and twined itself about his neck. The shepherd +trembled with fright, expecting every instant to be stung to death, and +said: 'What an unlucky man I am! Did I rescue you only to be destroyed +myself?' But the snake answered: 'Have no fear; only carry me home to my +father who is the King of the Snakes.' The shepherd, however, was much +too frightened to listen, and said that he could not go away and leave +his flock alone; but the snake said: 'You need not be afraid to leave +your flock, no evil shall befall them; but make all the haste you can.' + +So he set off through the wood carrying the snake, and after a time he +came to a great gateway, made entirely of snakes intertwined one with +another. The shepherd stood still with surprise, but the snake round his +neck whistled, and immediately all the arch unwound itself. + +'When we are come to my father's house,' said his own snake to him, 'he +will reward you with anything you like to ask--silver, gold, jewels, +or whatever on this earth is most precious; but take none of all these +things, ask rather to understand the language of beasts. He will refuse +it to you a long time, but in the end he will grant it to you.' + +Soon after that they arrived at the house of the King of the Snakes, who +burst into tears of joy at the sight of his daughter, as he had given +her up for dead. 'Where have you been all this time?' he asked, directly +he could speak, and she told him that she had been caught in a forest +fire, and had been rescued from the flames by the shepherd. The King of +the Snakes, then turning to the shepherd, said to him: 'What reward will +you choose for saving my child?' + +'Make me to know the language of beasts,' answered the shepherd, 'that +is all I desire.' + +The king replied: 'Such knowledge would be of no benefit to you, for if +I granted it to you and you told any one of it, you would immediately +die; ask me rather for whatever else you would most like to possess, and +it shall be yours.' + +But the shepherd answered him: 'Sir, if you wish to reward me for saving +your daughter, grant me, I pray you, to know the language of beasts. I +desire nothing else'; and he turned as if to depart. + +Then the king called him back, saying: 'If nothing else will satisfy +you, open your mouth.' The man obeyed, and the king spat into it, and +said: 'Now spit into my mouth.' The shepherd did as he was told, then +the King of the Snakes spat again into the shepherd's mouth. When they +had spat into each other's mouths three times, the king said: + +'Now you know the language of beasts, go in peace; but, if you value +your life, beware lest you tell any one of it, else you will immediately +die.' + +So the shepherd set out for home, and on his way through the wood he +heard and understood all that was said by the birds, and by every living +creature. When he got back to his sheep he found the flock grazing +peacefully, and as he was very tired he laid himself down by them to +rest a little. Hardly had he done so when two ravens flew down and +perched on a tree near by, and began to talk to each other in their own +language: 'If that shepherd only knew that there is a vault full of gold +and silver beneath where that lamb is lying, what would he not do?' When +the shepherd heard these words he went straight to his master and told +him, and the master at once took a waggon, and broke open the door of +the vault, and they carried off the treasure. But instead of keeping it +for himself, the master, who was an honourable man, gave it all up to +the shepherd, saying: 'Take it, it is yours. The gods have given it to +you.' So the shepherd took the treasure and built himself a house. He +married a wife, and they lived in great peace and happiness, and he was +acknowledged to be the richest man, not only of his native village, but +of all the country-side. He had flocks of sheep, and cattle, and horses +without end, as well as beautiful clothes and jewels. + +One day, just before Christmas, he said to his wife: 'Prepare everything +for a great feast, to-morrow we will take things with us to the farm +that the shepherds there may make merry.' The wife obeyed, and all was +prepared as he desired. Next day they both went to the farm, and in the +evening the master said to the shepherds: 'Now come, all of you, eat, +drink, and make merry. I will watch the flocks myself to-night in your +stead.' Then he went out to spend the night with the flocks. + +When midnight struck the wolves howled and the dogs barked, and the +wolves spoke in their own tongue, saying: + +'Shall we come in and work havoc, and you too shall eat flesh?' And +the dogs answered in their tongue: 'Come in, and for once we shall have +enough to eat.' + +Now amongst the dogs there was one so old that he had only two teeth +left in his head, and he spoke to the wolves, saying: 'So long as I have +my two teeth still in my head, I will let no harm be done to my master.' + +All this the master heard and understood, and as soon as morning dawned +he ordered all the dogs to be killed excepting the old dog. The farm +servants wondered at this order, and exclaimed: 'But surely, sir, that +would be a pity?' + +The master answered: 'Do as I bid you'; and made ready to return home +with his wife, and they mounted their horses, her steed being a mare. +As they went on their way, it happened that the husband rode on ahead, +while the wife was a little way behind. The husband's horse, seeing +this, neighed, and said to the mare: 'Come along, make haste; why are +you so slow?' And the mare answered: 'It is very easy for you, you carry +only your master, who is a thin man, but I carry my mistress, who is so +fat that she weights as much as three.' When the husband heard that he +looked back and laughed, which the wife perceiving, she urged on the +mare till she caught up with her husband, and asked him why he laughed. +'For nothing at all,' he answered; 'just because it came into my head.' +She would not be satisfied with this answer, and urged him more and more +to tell her why he had laughed. But he controlled himself and said: 'Let +me be, wife; what ails you? I do not know myself why I laughed.' But the +more he put her off, the more she tormented him to tell her the cause of +his laughter. At length he said to her: 'Know, then, that if I tell it +you I shall immediately and surely die.' But even this did not quiet +her; she only besought him the more to tell her. + +Meanwhile they had reached home, and before getting down from his horse +the man called for a coffin to be brought; and when it was there he +placed it in front of the house, and said to his wife: + +'See, I will lay myself down in this coffin, and will then tell you why +I laughed, for as soon as I have told you I shall surely die.' So he lay +down in the coffin, and while he took a last look around him, his old +dog came out from the farm and sat down by him, and whined. When the +master saw this, he called to his wife: 'Bring a piece of bread to give +to the dog.' The wife brought some bread and threw it to the dog, but he +would not look at it. Then the farm cock came and pecked at the bread; +but the dog said to it: 'Wretched glutton, you can eat like that when +you see that your master is dying?' The cock answered: 'Let him die, if +he is so stupid. I have a hundred wives, which I call together when I +find a grain of corn, and as soon as they are there I swallow it myself; +should one of them dare to be angry, I would give her a lesson with my +beak. He has only one wife, and he cannot keep her in order.' + +As soon as the man understood this, he got up out of the coffin, seized +a stick, and called his wife into the room, saying: 'Come, and I will +tell you what you so much want to know'; and then he began to beat her +with the stick, saying with each blow: 'It is that, wife, it is that!' +And in this way he taught her never again to ask why he had laughed. + + + + +The Boy Who Could Keep A Secret + +Once upon a time there lived a poor widow who had one little boy. At +first sight you would not have thought that he was different from a +thousand other little boys; but then you noticed that by his side hung +the scabbard of a sword, and as the boy grew bigger the scabbard grew +bigger too. The sword which belonged to the scabbard was found by the +little boy sticking out of the ground in the garden, and every day he +pulled it up to see if it would go into the scabbard. But though it +was plainly becoming longer and longer, it was some time before the two +would fit. + +However, there came a day at last when it slipped in quite easily. The +child was so delighted that he could hardly believe his eyes, so he +tried it seven times, and each time it slipped in more easily than +before. But pleased though the boy was, he determined not to tell anyone +about it, particularly not his mother, who never could keep anything +from her neighbours. + +Still, in spite of his resolutions, he could not hide altogether that +something had happened, and when he went in to breakfast his mother +asked him what was the matter. + +'Oh, mother, I had such a nice dream last night,' said he; 'but I can't +tell it to anybody.' + +'You can tell it to me,' she answered. 'It must have been a nice dream, +or you wouldn't look so happy.' + +'No, mother; I can't tell it to anybody,' returned the boy, 'till it +comes true.' + +'I want to know what it was, and know it I will,' cried she, 'and I will +beat you till you tell me.' + +But it was no use, neither words nor blows would get the secret out of +the boy; and when her arm was quite tired and she had to leave off, the +child, sore and aching, ran into the garden and knelt weeping beside his +little sword. It was working round and round in its hole all by itself, +and if anyone except the boy had tried to catch hold of it, he would +have been badly cut. But the moment he stretched out his hand it stopped +and slid quietly into the scabbard. + +For a long time the child sat sobbing, and the noise was heard by the +king as he was driving by. 'Go and see who it is that is crying so,' +said he to one of his servants, and the man went. In a few minutes he +returned saying: 'Your Majesty, it is a little boy who is kneeling there +sobbing because his mother has beaten him.' + +'Bring him to me at once,' commanded the monarch, 'and tell him that it +is the king who sends for him, and that he has never cried in all his +life and cannot bear anyone else to do so.' On receiving this message +the boy dried his tears and went with the servant to the royal carriage. +'Will you be my son?' asked the king. + +'Yes, if my mother will let me,' answered the boy. And the king bade the +servant go back to the mother and say that if she would give her boy to +him, he should live in the palace and marry his prettiest daughter as +soon as he was a man. + +The widow's anger now turned into joy, and she came running to the +splendid coach and kissed the king's hand. 'I hope you will be more +obedient to his Majesty than you were to me,' she said; and the boy +shrank away half-frightened. But when she had gone back to her cottage, +he asked the king if he might fetch something that he had left in the +garden, and when he was given permission, he pulled up his little sword, +which he slid into the scabbard. + +Then he climbed into the coach and was driven away. + +After they had gone some distance the king said: 'Why were you crying so +bitterly in the garden just now?' + +'Because my mother had been beating me,' replied the boy. + +'And what did she do that for?' asked the king again. + +'Because I would not tell her my dream.' + +'And why wouldn't you tell it to her?' + +'Because I will never tell it to anyone till it comes true,' answered +the boy. + +'And won't you tell it to me either?' asked the king in surprise. + +'No, not even to you, your Majesty,' replied he. + +'Oh, I am sure you will when we get home,' said the king smiling, and he +talked to him about other things till they came to the palace. + +'I have brought you such a nice present,' he said to his daughters, and +as the boy was very pretty they were delighted to have him and gave him +all their best toys. + +'You must not spoil him,' observed the king one day, when he had been +watching them playing together. He has a secret which he won't tell to +anyone.' + +'He will tell me,' answered the eldest princess; but the boy only shook +his head. + +'He will tell me,' said the second girl. + +'Not I,' replied the boy. + +'He will tell me,' cried the youngest, who was the prettiest too. + +'I will tell nobody till it comes true,' said the boy, as he had said +before; 'and I will beat anybody who asks me.' + +The king was very sorry when he heard this, for he loved the boy dearly; +but he thought it would never do to keep anyone near him who would not +do as he was bid. So he commanded his servants to take him away and not +to let him enter the palace again until he had come to his right senses. + +The sword clanked loudly as the boy was led away, but the child said +nothing, though he was very unhappy at being treated so badly when he +had done nothing. However, the servants were very kind to him, and their +children brought him fruit and all sorts of nice things, and he soon +grew merry again, and lived amongst them for many years till his +seventeenth birthday. + +Meanwhile the two eldest princesses had become women, and had married +two powerful kings who ruled over great countries across the sea. +The youngest one was old enough to be married too, but she was very +particular, and turned up her nose at all the young princes who had +sought her hand. + +One day she was sitting in the palace feeling rather dull and lonely, +and suddenly she began to wonder what the servants were doing, and +whether it was not more amusing down in their quarters. The king was at +his council and the queen was ill in bed, so there was no one to stop +the princess, and she hastily ran across the gardens to the houses where +the servants lived. Outside she noticed a youth who was handsomer than +any prince she had ever seen, and in a moment she knew him to be the +little boy she had once played with. + +'Tell me your secret and I will marry you,' she said to him; but the boy +only gave her the beating he had promised her long ago, when she asked +him the same question. The girl was very angry, besides being hurt, and +ran home to complain to her father. + +'If he had a thousand souls, I would kill them all,' swore the king. + +That very day a gallows was built outside the town, and all the people +crowded round to see the execution of the young man who had dared to +beat the king's daughter. The prisoner, with his hands tied behind +his back, was brought out by the hangman, and amidst dead silence his +sentence was being read by the judge when suddenly the sword clanked +against his side. Instantly a great noise was heard and a golden coach +rumbled over the stones, with a white flag waving out of the window. +It stopped underneath the gallows, and from it stepped the king of the +Magyars, who begged that the life of the boy might be spared. + +'Sir, he has beaten my daughter, who only asked him to tell her his +secret. I cannot pardon that,' answered the princess's father. + +'Give him to me, I'm sure he will tell me the secret; or, if not, I have +a daughter who is like the Morning Star, and he is sure to tell it to +her.' + +The sword clanked for the third time, and the king said angrily: 'Well, +if you want him so much you can have him; only never let me see his face +again.' And he made a sign to the hangman. The bandage was removed from +the young man's eyes, and the cords from his wrists, and he took his +seat in the golden coach beside the king of the Magyars. Then the +coachman whipped up his horses, and they set out for Buda. + +The king talked very pleasantly for a few miles, and when he thought +that his new companion was quite at ease with him, he asked him what was +the secret which had brought him into such trouble. 'That I cannot tell +you,' answered the youth, 'until it comes true.' + +'You will tell my daughter,' said the king, smiling. + +'I will tell nobody,' replied the youth, and as he spoke the sword +clanked loudly. The king said no more, but trusted to his daughter's +beauty to get the secret from him. + +The journey to Buda was long, and it was several days before they +arrived there. The beautiful princess happened to be picking roses in +the garden, when her father's coach drove up. + +'Oh, what a handsome youth! Have you brought him from fairyland?' cried +she, when they all stood upon the marble steps in front of the castle. + +'I have brought him from the gallows,' answered the king; rather vexed +at his daughter's words, as never before had she consented to speak to +any man. + +'I don't care where you brought him from,' said the spoilt girl. 'I will +marry him and nobody else, and we will live together till we die.' + +'You will tell another tale,' replied the king, 'when you ask him his +secret. After all he is no better than a servant.' + +'That is nothing to me,' said the princess, 'for I love him. He will +tell his secret to me, and will find a place in the middle of my heart.' + +But the king shook his head, and gave orders that the lad was to be +lodged in the summer-house. + +One day, about a week later, the princess put on her finest dress, and +went to pay him a visit. She looked so beautiful that, at the sight of +her, the book dropped from his hand, and he stood up speechless. 'Tell +me,' she said, coaxingly, 'what is this wonderful secret? Just whisper +it in my ear, and I will give you a kiss.' + +'My angel,' he answered, 'be wise, and ask no questions, if you wish to +get safely back to your father's palace; I have kept my secret all these +years, and do not mean to tell it now.' + +However, the girl would not listen, and went on pressing him, till at +last he slapped her face so hard that her nose bled. She shrieked with +pain and rage, and ran screaming back to the palace, where her father +was waiting to hear if she had succeeded. 'I will starve you to death, +you son of a dragon,' cried he, when he saw her dress streaming with +blood; and he ordered all the masons and bricklayers in the town to come +before him. + +'Build me a tower as fast as you can,' he said, 'and see that there is +room for a stool and a small table, and for nothing else. The men set +to work, and in two hours the tower was built, and they proceeded to the +palace to inform the king that his commands were fulfilled. On the way +they met the princess, who began to talk to one of the masons, and when +the rest were out of hearing she asked if he could manage to make a hole +in the tower, which nobody could see, large enough for a bottle of wine +and some food to pass through. + +'To be sure I can,' said the mason, turning back, and in a few minutes +the hole was bored. + +At sunset a large crowd assembled to watch the youth being led to the +tower, and after his misdeeds had been proclaimed he was solemnly walled +up. But every morning the princess passed him in food through the hole, +and every third day the king sent his secretary to climb up a ladder +and look down through a little window to see if he was dead. But the +secretary always brought back the report that he was fat and rosy. + +'There is some magic about this,' said the king. + +This state of affairs lasted some time, till one day a messenger arrived +from the Sultan bearing a letter for the king, and also three canes. 'My +master bids me say,' said the messenger, bowing low, 'that if you cannot +tell him which of these three canes grows nearest the root, which in the +middle, and which at the top, he will declare war against you. + +The king was very much frightened when he heard this, and though he took +the canes and examined them closely, he could see no difference between +them. He looked so sad that his daughter noticed it, and inquired the +reason. + +'Alas! my daughter,' he answered, 'how can I help being sad? The Sultan +has sent me three canes, and says that if I cannot tell him which of +them grows near the root, which in the middle, and which at the top, he +will make war upon me. And you know that his army is far greater than +mine.' + +'Oh, do not despair, my father,' said she. 'We shall be sure to find out +the answer'; and she ran away to the tower, and told the young man what +had occurred. + +'Go to bed as usual,' replied he, 'and when you wake, tell your father +that you have dreamed that the canes must be placed in warm water. After +a little while one will sink to the bottom; that is the one that grows +nearest the root. The one which neither sinks nor comes to the surface +is the cane that is cut from the middle; and the one that floats is from +the top.' + +So, the next morning, the princess told her father of her dream, and by +her advice he cut notches in each of the canes when he took them out of +the water, so that he might make no mistake when he handed them back to +the messenger. The Sultan could not imagine how he had found out, but he +did not declare war. + +The following year the Sultan again wanted to pick a quarrel with the +king of the Magyars, so he sent another messenger to him with three +foals, begging him to say which of the animals was born in the morning, +which at noon, and which in the evening. If an answer was not ready in +three days, war would be declared at once. The king's heart sank when he +read the letter. He could not expect his daughter to be lucky enough to +dream rightly a second time, and as a plague had been raging through +the country, and had carried off many of his soldiers, his army was even +weaker than before. At this thought his face became so gloomy that his +daughter noticed it, and inquired what was the matter. + +'I have had another letter from the Sultan,' replied the king, 'and +he says that if I cannot tell him which of three foals was born in the +morning, which at noon, and which in the evening, he will declare war at +once.' + +'Oh, don't be cast down,' said she, 'something is sure to happen'; and +she ran down to the tower to consult the youth. + +'Go home, idol of my heart, and when night comes, pretend to scream out +in your sleep, so that your father hears you. Then tell him that you +have dreamt that he was just being carried off by the Turks because he +could not answer the question about the foals, when the lad whom he +had shut up in the tower ran up and told them which was foaled in the +morning, which at noon, and which in the evening.' + +So the princess did exactly as the youth had bidden her; and no sooner +had she spoken than the king ordered the tower to be pulled down, and +the prisoner brought before him. + +'I did not think that you could have lived so long without food,' said +he, 'and as you have had plenty of time to repent your wicked conduct, +I will grant you pardon, on condition that you help me in a sore strait. +Read this letter from the Sultan; you will see that if I fail to answer +his question about the foals, a dreadful war will be the result.' + +The youth took the letter and read it through. 'Yes, I can help you,' +replied he; 'but first you must bring me three troughs, all exactly +alike. Into one you must put oats, into another wheat, and into the +third barley. The foal which eats the oats is that which was foaled in +the morning; the foal which eats the wheat is that which was foaled at +noon; and the foal which eats the barley is that which was foaled at +night.' The king followed the youth's directions, and, marking the +foals, sent them back to Turkey, and there was no war that year. + +Now the Sultan was very angry that both his plots to get possession of +Hungary had been such total failures, and he sent for his aunt, who was +a witch, to consult her as to what he should do next. + +'It is not the king who has answered your questions,' observed the aunt, +when he had told his story. 'He is far too stupid ever to have done +that! The person who has found out the puzzle is the son of a poor +woman, who, if he lives, will become King of Hungary. Therefore, if you +want the crown yourself, you must get him here and kill him.' + +After this conversation another letter was written to the Court of +Hungary, saying that if the youth, now in the palace, was not sent +to Turkey within three days, a large army would cross the border. The +king's heart was sorrowful as he read, for he was grateful to the lad +for what he had done to help him; but the boy only laughed, and bade the +king fear nothing, but to search the town instantly for two youths just +like each other, and he would paint himself a mask that was just like +them. And the sword at his side clanked loudly. + +After a long search twin brothers were found, so exactly resembling +each other that even their own mother could not tell the difference. The +youth painted a mask that was the precise copy of them, and when he had +put it on, no one would have known one boy from the other. They set out +at once for the Sultan's palace, and when they reached it, they were +taken straight into his presence. He made a sign for them to come near; +they all bowed low in greeting. He asked them about their journey; they +answered his questions all together, and in the same words. If one sat +down to supper, the others sat down at the same instant. When one got +up, the others got up too, as if there had been only one body between +them. The Sultan could not detect any difference between them, and he +told his aunt that he would not be so cruel as to kill all three. + +'Well, you will see a difference to-morrow,' replied the witch, 'for one +will have a cut on his sleeve. That is the youth you must kill.' And one +hour before midnight, when witches are invisible, she glided into the +room where all three lads were sleeping in the same bed. She took out +a pair of scissors and cut a small piece out of the boy's coat-sleeve +which was hanging on the wall, and then crept silently from the room. +But in the morning the youth saw the slit, and he marked the sleeves of +his two companions in the same way, and all three went down to breakfast +with the Sultan. The old witch was standing in the window and pretended +not to see them; but all witches have eyes in the backs of their heads, +and she knew at once that not one sleeve but three were cut, and they +were all as alike as before. After breakfast, the Sultan, who was +getting tired of the whole affair and wanted to be alone to invent some +other plan, told them they might return home. So, bowing low with one +accord, they went. + +The princess welcomed the boy back joyfully, but the poor youth was not +allowed to rest long in peace, for one day a fresh letter arrived from +the Sultan, saying that he had discovered that the young man was a very +dangerous person, and that he must be sent to Turkey at once, and alone. +The girl burst into tears when the boy told her what was in the letter +which her father had bade her to carry to him. 'Do not weep, love of +my heart,' said the boy, 'all will be well. I will start at sunrise +to-morrow.' + +So next morning at sunrise the youth set forth, and in a few days he +reached the Sultan's palace. The old witch was waiting for him at the +gate, and whispered as he passed: 'This is the last time you will ever +enter it.' But the sword clanked, and the lad did not even look at her. +As he crossed the threshold fifteen armed Turks barred his way, with the +Sultan at their head. Instantly the sword darted forth and cut off the +heads of everyone but the Sultan, and then went quietly back to its +scabbard. The witch, who was looking on, saw that as long as the youth +had possession of the sword, all her schemes would be in vain, and tried +to steal the sword in the night, but it only jumped out of its scabbard +and sliced off her nose, which was of iron. And in the morning, when the +Sultan brought a great army to capture the lad and deprive him of his +sword, they were all cut to pieces, while he remained without a scratch. + +Meanwhile the princess was in despair because the days slipped by, and +the young man did not return, and she never rested until her father let +her lead some troops against the Sultan. She rode proudly before them, +dressed in uniform; but they had not left the town more than a mile +behind them, when they met the lad and his little sword. When he told +them what he had done they shouted for joy, and carried him back in +triumph to the palace; and the king declared that as the youth had shown +himself worthy to become his son-in-law, he should marry the princess +and succeed to the throne at once, as he himself was getting old, and +the cares of government were too much for him. But the young man said he +must first go and see his mother, and the king sent him in state, with a +troop of soldiers as his bodyguard. + +The old woman was quite frightened at seeing such an array draw up +before her little house, and still more surprised when a handsome young +man, whom she did not know, dismounted and kissed her hand, saying: +'Now, dear mother, you shall hear my secret at last! I dreamed that I +should become King of Hungary, and my dream has come true. When I was +a child, and you begged me to tell you, I had to keep silence, or the +Magyar king would have killed me. And if you had not beaten me nothing +would have happened that has happened, and I should not now be King of +Hungary.' + +[From the Folk Tales of the Magyars.] + + + + +The Prince And The Dragon + +Once upon a time there lived an emperor who had three sons. They were +all fine young men, and fond of hunting, and scarcely a day passed +without one or other of them going out to look for game. + +One morning the eldest of the three princes mounted his horse and set +out for a neighbouring forest, where wild animals of all sorts were to +be found. He had not long left the castle, when a hare sprang out of a +thicket and dashed across the road in front. The young man gave chase +at once, and pursued it over hill and dale, till at last the hare took +refuge in a mill which was standing by the side of a river. The prince +followed and entered the mill, but stopped in terror by the door, for, +instead of a hare, before him stood a dragon, breathing fire and flame. +At this fearful sight the prince turned to fly, but a fiery tongue +coiled round his waist, and drew him into the dragon's mouth, and he was +seen no more. + +A week passed away, and when the prince never came back everyone in the +town began to grow uneasy. At last his next brother told the emperor +that he likewise would go out to hunt, and that perhaps he would find +some clue as to his brother's disappearance. But hardly had the castle +gates closed on the prince than the hare sprang out of the bushes as +before, and led the huntsman up hill and down dale, till they reached +the mill. Into this the hare flew with the prince at his heels, when, +lo! instead of the hare, there stood a dragon breathing fire and flame; +and out shot a fiery tongue which coiled round the prince's waist, and +lifted him straight into the dragon's mouth, and he was seen no more. + +Days went by, and the emperor waited and waited for the sons who never +came, and could not sleep at night for wondering where they were and +what had become of them. His youngest son wished to go in search of his +brothers, but for long the emperor refused to listen to him, lest he +should lose him also. But the prince prayed so hard for leave to make +the search, and promised so often that he would be very cautious and +careful, that at length the emperor gave him permission, and ordered the +best horse in the stables to be saddled for him. + +Full of hope the young prince started on his way, but no sooner was +he outside the city walls than a hare sprang out of the bushes and ran +before him, till they reached the mill. As before, the animal dashed in +through the open door, but this time he was not followed by the prince. +Wiser than his brothers, the young man turned away, saying to himself: +'There are as good hares in the forest as any that have come out of it, +and when I have caught them, I can come back and look for you.' + +For many hours he rode up and down the mountain, but saw nothing, and at +last, tired of waiting, he went back to the mill. Here he found an old +woman sitting, whom he greeted pleasantly. + +'Good morning to you, little mother,' he said; and the old woman +answered: 'Good morning, my son.' + +'Tell me, little mother,' went on the prince, 'where shall I find my +hare?' + +'My son,' replied the old woman, 'that was no hare, but a dragon who has +led many men hither, and then has eaten them all.' At these words the +prince's heart grew heavy, and he cried, 'Then my brothers must have +come here, and have been eaten by the dragon!' + +'You have guessed right,' answered the old woman; 'and I can give you no +better counsel than to go home at once, before the same fate overtakes +you.' + +'Will you not come with me out of this dreadful place?' said the young +man. + +'He took me prisoner, too,' answered she, 'and I cannot shake off his +chains.' + +'Then listen to me,' cried the prince. 'When the dragon comes back, +ask him where he always goes when he leaves here, and what makes him so +strong; and when you have coaxed the secret from him, tell me the next +time I come.' + +So the prince went home, and the old woman remained in the mill, and as +soon as the dragon returned she said to him: + +'Where have you been all this time--you must have travelled far?' + +'Yes, little mother, I have indeed travelled far.' answered he. Then the +old woman began to flatter him, and to praise his cleverness; and +when she thought she had got him into a good temper, she said: 'I have +wondered so often where you get your strength from; I do wish you would +tell me. I would stoop and kiss the place out of pure love!' The dragon +laughed at this, and answered: + +'In the hearthstone yonder lies the secret of my strength.' + +Then the old woman jumped up and kissed the hearth; whereat the dragon +laughed the more, and said: + +'You foolish creature! I was only jesting. It is not in the hearthstone, +but in that tall tree that lies the secret of my strength.' Then the +old woman jumped up again and put her arms round the tree, and kissed it +heartily. Loudly laughed the dragon when he saw what she was doing. + +'Old fool,' he cried, as soon as he could speak, 'did you really believe +that my strength came from that tree?' + +'Where is it then?' asked the old woman, rather crossly, for she did not +like being made fun of. + +'My strength,' replied the dragon, 'lies far away; so far that you could +never reach it. Far, far from here is a kingdom, and by its capital city +is a lake, and in the lake is a dragon, and inside the dragon is a wild +boar, and inside the wild boar is a pigeon, and inside the pigeon a +sparrow, and inside the sparrow is my strength.' And when the old woman +heard this, she thought it was no use flattering him any longer, for +never, never, could she take his strength from him. + +The following morning, when the dragon had left the mill, the prince +came back, and the old woman told him all that the creature had said. He +listened in silence, and then returned to the castle, where he put on +a suit of shepherd's clothes, and taking a staff in his hand, he went +forth to seek a place as tender of sheep. + +For some time he wandered from village to village and from town to town, +till he came at length to a large city in a distant kingdom, surrounded +on three sides by a great lake, which happened to be the very lake in +which the dragon lived. As was his custom, he stopped everybody whom he +met in the streets that looked likely to want a shepherd and begged them +to engage him, but they all seemed to have shepherds of their own, or +else not to need any. The prince was beginning to lose heart, when a man +who had overheard his question turned round and said that he had better +go and ask the emperor, as he was in search of some one to see after his +flocks. + +'Will you take care of my sheep?' said the emperor, when the young man +knelt before him. + +'Most willingly, your Majesty,' answered the young man, and he listened +obediently while the emperor told him what he was to do. + +'Outside the city walls,' went on the emperor, 'you will find a large +lake, and by its banks lie the richest meadows in my kingdom. When you +are leading out your flocks to pasture, they will all run straight to +these meadows, and none that have gone there have ever been known to +come back. Take heed, therefore, my son, not to suffer your sheep to go +where they will, but drive them to any spot that you think best.' + +With a low bow the prince thanked the emperor for his warning, and +promised to do his best to keep the sheep safe. Then he left the palace +and went to the market-place, where he bought two greyhounds, a hawk, +and a set of pipes; after that he took the sheep out to pasture. The +instant the animals caught sight of the lake lying before them, they +trotted off as fast as their legs would go to the green meadows lying +round it. The prince did not try to stop them; he only placed his hawk +on the branch of a tree, laid his pipes on the grass, and bade the +greyhounds sit still; then, rolling up his sleeves and trousers, he +waded into the water crying as he did so: 'Dragon! dragon! if you are +not a coward, come out and fight with me!' And a voice answered from the +depths of the lake: + +'I am waiting for you, O prince'; and the next minute the dragon reared +himself out of the water, huge and horrible to see. The prince sprang +upon him and they grappled with each other and fought together till the +sun was high, and it was noonday. Then the dragon gasped: + +'O prince, let me dip my burning head once into the lake, and I will +hurl you up to the top of the sky.' But the prince answered, 'Oh, ho! my +good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor's daughter were only +here, and would kiss me on the forehead, I would throw you up higher +still!' And suddenly the dragon's hold loosened, and he fell back into +the lake. + +As soon as it was evening, the prince washed away all signs of the +fight, took his hawk upon his shoulder, and his pipes under his arm, and +with his greyhounds in front and his flock following after him he set +out for the city. As they all passed through the streets the people +stared in wonder, for never before had any flock returned from the lake. + +The next morning he rose early, and led his sheep down the road to the +lake. This time, however, the emperor sent two men on horseback to ride +behind him, with orders to watch the prince all day long. The horsemen +kept the prince and his sheep in sight, without being seen themselves. +As soon as they beheld the sheep running towards the meadows, they +turned aside up a steep hill, which overhung the lake. When the shepherd +reached the place he laid, as before, his pipes on the grass and bade +the greyhounds sit beside them, while the hawk he perched on the branch +of the tree. Then he rolled up his trousers and his sleeves, and waded +into the water crying: + +'Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, come out and fight with me!' +And the dragon answered: + +'I am waiting for you, O prince,' and the next minute he reared himself +out of the water, huge and horrible to see. Again they clasped each +other tight round the body and fought till it was noon, and when the sun +was at its hottest, the dragon gasped: + +'O prince, let me dip my burning head once in the lake, and I will hurl +you up to the top of the sky.' But the prince answered: + +'Oh, ho! my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor's daughter +were only here, and would kiss me on the forehead, I would throw you up +higher still!' And suddenly the dragon's hold loosened, and he fell back +into the lake. + +As soon as it was evening the prince again collected his sheep, and +playing on his pipes he marched before them into the city. When he +passed through the gates all the people came out of their houses to +stare in wonder, for never before had any flock returned from the lake. + +Meanwhile the two horsemen had ridden quickly back, and told the emperor +all that they had seen and heard. The emperor listened eagerly to their +tale, then called his daughter to him and repeated it to her. + +'To-morrow,' he said, when he had finished, 'you shall go with the +shepherd to the lake, and then you shall kiss him on the forehead as he +wishes.' + +But when the princess heard these words, she burst into tears, and +sobbed out: + +'Will you really send me, your only child, to that dreadful place, from +which most likely I shall never come back?' + +'Fear nothing, my little daughter, all will be well. Many shepherds have +gone to that lake and none have ever returned; but this one has in these +two days fought twice with the dragon and has escaped without a wound. +So I hope to-morrow he will kill the dragon altogether, and deliver this +land from the monster who has slain so many of our bravest men.' + +Scarcely had the sun begun to peep over the hills next morning, when +the princess stood by the shepherd's side, ready to go to the lake. +The shepherd was brimming over with joy, but the princess only wept +bitterly. 'Dry your tears, I implore you,' said he. 'If you will just do +what I ask you, and when the time comes, run and kiss my forehead, you +have nothing to fear.' + +Merrily the shepherd blew on his pipes as he marched at the head of his +flock, only stopping every now and then to say to the weeping girl at +his side: + +'Do not cry so, Heart of Gold; trust me and fear nothing.' And so they +reached the lake. + +In an instant the sheep were scattered all over the meadows, and the +prince placed his hawk on the tree, and his pipes on the grass, while he +bade his greyhounds lie beside them. Then he rolled up his trousers and +his sleeves, and waded into the water, calling: + +'Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, come forth, and let us have +one more fight together.' And the dragon answered: 'I am waiting for +you, O prince'; and the next minute he reared himself out of the water, +huge and horrible to see. Swiftly he drew near to the bank, and the +prince sprang to meet him, and they grasped each other round the body +and fought till it was noon. And when the sun was at its hottest, the +dragon cried: + +'O prince, let me dip my burning head in the lake, and I will hurl you +to the top of the sky.' But the prince answered: + +'Oh, ho! my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor's daughter +were only here, and she would kiss my forehead, I would throw you higher +still.' + +Hardly had he spoken, when the princess, who had been listening, ran +up and kissed him on the forehead. Then the prince swung the dragon +straight up into the clouds, and when he touched the earth again, he +broke into a thousand pieces. Out of the pieces there sprang a wild boar +and galloped away, but the prince called his hounds to give chase, and +they caught the boar and tore it to bits. Out of the pieces there sprang +a hare, and in a moment the greyhounds were after it, and they caught +it and killed it; and out of the hare there came a pigeon. Quickly the +prince let loose his hawk, which soared straight into the air, then +swooped upon the bird and brought it to his master. The prince cut open +its body and found the sparrow inside, as the old woman had said. + +'Now,' cried the prince, holding the sparrow in his hand, 'now you shall +tell me where I can find my brothers.' + +'Do not hurt me,' answered the sparrow, 'and I will tell you with all my +heart.' Behind your father's castle stands a mill, and in the mill are +three slender twigs. Cut off these twigs and strike their roots with +them, and the iron door of a cellar will open. In the cellar you will +find as many people, young and old, women and children, as would fill a +kingdom, and among them are your brothers.' + +By this time twilight had fallen, so the prince washed himself in the +lake, took the hawk on his shoulder and the pipes under his arm, and +with his greyhounds before him and his flock behind him, marched gaily +into the town, the princess following them all, still trembling +with fright. And so they passed through the streets, thronged with a +wondering crowd, till they reached the castle. + +Unknown to anyone, the emperor had stolen out on horseback, and had +hidden himself on the hill, where he could see all that happened. When +all was over, and the power of the dragon was broken for ever, he rode +quickly back to the castle, and was ready to receive the prince with +open arms, and to promise him his daughter to wife. The wedding took +place with great splendour, and for a whole week the town was hung with +coloured lamps, and tables were spread in the hall of the castle for all +who chose to come and eat. And when the feast was over, the prince +told the emperor and the people who he really was, and at this everyone +rejoiced still more, and preparations were made for the prince and +princess to return to their own kingdom, for the prince was impatient to +set free his brothers. + +The first thing he did when he reached his native country was to hasten +to the mill, where he found the three twigs as the sparrow had told him. +The moment that he struck the root the iron door flew open, and from the +cellar a countless multitude of men and women streamed forth. He bade +them go one by one wheresoever they would, while he himself waited by +the door till his brothers passed through. How delighted they were to +meet again, and to hear all that the prince had done to deliver them +from their enchantment. And they went home with him and served him +all the days of their lives, for they said that he only who had proved +himself brave and faithful was fit to be king. + +[From Volksmarehen der Serben.] + + + + +Little Wildrose + +Once upon a time the things in this story happened, and if they had not +happened then the story would never have been told. But that was the +time when wolves and lambs lay peacefully together in one stall, and +shepherds dined on grassy banks with kings and queens. + +Once upon a time, then, my dear good children, there lived a man. Now +this man was really a hundred years old, if not fully twenty years more. +And his wife was very old too--how old I do not know; but some said she +was as old as the goddess Venus herself. They had been very happy all +these years, but they would have been happier still if they had had any +children; but old though they were they had never made up their minds to +do without them, and often they would sit over the fire and talk of how +they would have brought up their children if only some had come to their +house. + +One day the old man seemed sadder and more thoughtful than was common +with him, and at last he said to his wife: 'Listen to me, old woman!' + +'What do you want?' asked she. + +'Get me some money out of the chest, for I am going a long journey--all +through the world--to see if I cannot find a child, for my heart aches +to think that after I am dead my house will fall into the hands of a +stranger. And this let me tell you: that if I never find a child I shall +not come home again.' + +Then the old man took a bag and filled it with food and money, and +throwing it over his shoulders, bade his wife farewell. + +For long he wandered, and wandered, and wandered, but no child did he +see; and one morning his wanderings led him to a forest which was so +thick with trees that no light could pass through the branches. The old +man stopped when he saw this dreadful place, and at first was afraid to +go in; but he remembered that, after all, as the proverb says: 'It is +the unexpected that happens,' and perhaps in the midst of this black +spot he might find the child he was seeking. So summoning up all his +courage he plunged boldly in. + +How long he might have been walking there he never could have told you, +when at last he reached the mouth of a cave where the darkness seemed a +hundred times darker than the wood itself. Again he paused, but he felt +as if something was driving him to enter, and with a beating heart he +stepped in. + +For some minutes the silence and darkness so appalled him that he stood +where he was, not daring to advance one step. Then he made a great +effort and went on a few paces, and suddenly, far before him, he saw +the glimmer of a light. This put new heart into him, and he directed his +steps straight towards the faint rays, till he could see, sitting by it, +an old hermit, with a long white beard. + +The hermit either did not hear the approach of his visitor, or pretended +not to do so, for he took no notice, and continued to read his book. +After waiting patiently for a little while, the old man fell on his +knees, and said: 'Good morning, holy father!' But he might as well have +spoken to the rock. 'Good morning, holy father,' he said again, a little +louder than before, and this time the hermit made a sign to him to +come nearer. 'My son,' whispered he, in a voice that echoed through +the cavern, 'what brings you to this dark and dismal place? Hundreds of +years have passed since my eyes have rested on the face of a man, and I +did not think to look on one again.'. + +'My misery has brought me here,' replied the old man; 'I have no child, +and all our lives my wife and I have longed for one. So I left my home, +and went out into the world, hoping that somewhere I might find what I +was seeking.' + +Then the hermit picked up an apple from the ground, and gave it to him, +saying: 'Eat half of this apple, and give the rest to your wife, and +cease wandering through the world.' + +The old man stooped and kissed the feet of the hermit for sheer joy, +and left the cave. He made his way through the forest as fast as the +darkness would let him, and at length arrived in flowery fields, +which dazzled him with their brightness. Suddenly he was seized with a +desperate thirst, and a burning in his throat. He looked for a stream +but none was to be seen, and his tongue grew more parched every moment. +At length his eyes fell on the apple, which all this while he had been +holding in his hand, and in his thirst he forgot what the hermit had +told him, and instead of eating merely his own half, he ate up the old +woman's also; after that he went to sleep. + +When he woke up he saw something strange lying on a bank a little way +off, amidst long trails of pink roses. The old man got up, rubbed his +eyes, and went to see what it was, when, to his surprise and joy, it +proved to be a little girl about two years old, with a skin as pink and +white as the roses above her. He took her gently in his arms, but she +did not seem at all frightened, and only jumped and crowed with delight; +and the old man wrapped his cloak round her, and set off for home as +fast as his legs would carry him. + +When they were close to the cottage where they lived he laid the child +in a pail that was standing near the door, and ran into the house, +crying: 'Come quickly, wife, quickly, for I have brought you a daughter, +with hair of gold and eyes like stars!' + +At this wonderful news the old woman flew downstairs, almost tumbling +down ill her eagerness to see the treasure; but when her husband led +her to the pail it was perfectly empty! The old man was nearly beside +himself with horror, while his wife sat down and sobbed with grief and +disappointment. There was not a spot round about which they did not +search, thinking that somehow the child might have got out of the pail +and hidden itself for fun; but the little girl was not there, and there +was no sign of her. + +'Where can she be?' moaned the old man, in despair. 'Oh, why did I ever +leave her, even for a moment? Have the fairies taken her, or has some +wild beast carried her off?' And they began their search all over again; +but neither fairies nor wild beasts did they meet with, and with sore +hearts they gave it up at last and turned sadly into the hut. + +And what had become of the baby? Well, finding herself left alone in a +strange place she began to cry with fright, and an eagle hovering near, +heard her, and went to see what the sound came from. When he beheld +the fat pink and white creature he thought of his hungry little ones +at home, and swooping down he caught her up in his claws and was soon +flying with her over the tops of the trees. In a few minutes he reached +the one in which he had built his nest, and laying little Wildrose (for +so the old man had called her) among his downy young eaglets, he flew +away. The eaglets naturally were rather surprised at this strange +animal, so suddenly popped down in their midst, but instead of beginning +to eat her, as their father expected, they nestled up close to her and +spread out their tiny wings to shield her from the sun. + +Now, in the depths of the forest where the eagle had built his nest, +there ran a stream whose waters were poisonous, and on the banks of +this stream dwelt a horrible lindworm with seven heads. The lindworm had +often watched the eagle flying about the top of the tree, carrying food +to his young ones and, accordingly, he watched carefully for the moment +when the eaglets began to try their wings and to fly away from the +nest. Of course, if the eagle himself was there to protect them even the +lindworm, big and strong as he was, knew that he could do nothing; but +when he was absent, any little eaglets who ventured too near the ground +would be sure to disappear down the monster's throat. Their brothers, +who had been left behind as too young and weak to see the world, knew +nothing of all this, but supposed their turn would soon come to see the +world also. And in a few days their eyes, too, opened and their wings +flapped impatiently, and they longed to fly away above the waving +tree-tops to mountain and the bright sun beyond. But that very midnight +the lindworm, who was hungry and could not wait for his supper, came out +of the brook with a rushing noise, and made straight for the tree. Two +eyes of flame came creeping nearer, nearer, and two fiery tongues were +stretching themselves out closer, closer, to the little birds who were +trembling and shuddering in the farthest corner of the nest. But just +as the tongues had almost reached them, the lindworm gave a fearful cry, +and turned and fell backwards. Then came the sound of battle from the +ground below, and the tree shook, though there was no wind, and roars +and snarls mixed together, till the eaglets felt more frightened +than ever, and thought their last hour had come. Only Wildrose was +undisturbed, and slept sweetly through it all. + +In the morning the eagle returned and saw traces of a fight below the +tree, and here and there a handful of yellow mane lying about, and here +and there a hard scaly substance; when he saw that he rejoiced greatly, +and hastened to the nest. + +'Who has slain the lindworm?' he asked of his children; there were so +many that he did not at first miss the two which the lindworm had eaten. +But the eaglets answered that they could not tell, only that they had +been in danger of their lives, and at the last moment they had been +delivered. Then the sunbeam had struggled through the thick branches and +caught Wildrose's golden hair as she lay curled up in the corner, and +the eagle wondered, as he looked, whether the little girl had brought +him luck, and it was her magic which had killed his enemy. + +'Children,' he said, 'I brought her here for your dinner, and you have +not touched her; what is the meaning of this?' But the eaglets did not +answer, and Wildrose opened her eyes, and seemed seven times lovelier +than before. + +From that day Wildrose lived like a little princess. The eagle flew +about the wood and collected the softest, greenest moss he could find to +make her a bed, and then he picked with his beak all the brightest and +prettiest flowers in the fields or on the mountains to decorate it. So +cleverly did he manage it that there was not a fairy in the whole of the +forest who would not have been pleased to sleep there, rocked to and fro +by the breeze on the treetops. And when the little ones were able to fly +from their nest he taught them where to look for the fruits and berries +which she loved. + +So the time passed by, and with each year Wildrose grew taller and more +beautiful, and she lived happily in her nest and never wanted to go out +of it, only standing at the edge in the sunset, and looking upon the +beautiful world. For company she had all the birds in the forest, who +came and talked to her, and for playthings the strange flowers which +they brought her from far, and the butterflies which danced with her. +And so the days slipped away, and she was fourteen years old. + +One morning the emperor's son went out to hunt, and he had not ridden +far, before a deer started from under a grove of trees, and ran +before him. The prince instantly gave chase, and where the stag led he +followed, till at length he found himself in the depths of the forest, +where no man before had trod. + +The trees were so thick and the wood so dark, that he paused for a +moment and listened, straining his ears to catch some sound to break +a silence which almost frightened him. But nothing came, not even the +baying of a hound or the note of a horn. He stood still, and wondered if +he should go on, when, on looking up, a stream of light seemed to flow +from the top of a tall tree. In its rays he could see the nest with the +young eaglets, who were watching him over the side. The prince fitted +an arrow into his bow and took his aim, but, before he could let fly, +another ray of light dazzled him; so brilliant was it, that his bow +dropped, and he covered his face with his hands. When at last he +ventured to peep, Wildrose, with her golden hair flowing round her, was +looking at him. This was the first time she had seen a man. + +'Tell me how I can reach you?' cried he; but Wildrose smiled and shook +her head, and sat down quietly. + +The prince saw that it was no use, and turned and made his way out of +the forest. But he might as well have stayed there, for any good he was +to his father, so full was his heart of longing for Wildrose. Twice +he returned to the forest in the hopes of finding her, but this time +fortune failed him, and he went home as sad as ever. + +At length the emperor, who could not think what had caused this change, +sent for his son and asked him what was the matter. Then the prince +confessed that the image of Wildrose filled his soul, and that he would +never be happy without her. At first the emperor felt rather distressed. +He doubted whether a girl from a tree top would make a good empress; +but he loved his son so much that he promised to do all he could to find +her. So the next morning heralds were sent forth throughout the whole +land to inquire if anyone knew where a maiden could be found who lived +in a forest on the top of a tree, and to promise great riches and a +place at court to any person who should find her. But nobody knew. All +the girls in the kingdom had their homes on the ground, and laughed at +the notion of being brought up in a tree. 'A nice kind of empress she +would make,' they said, as the emperor had done, tossing their heads +with disdain; for, having read many books, they guessed what she was +wanted for. + +The heralds were almost in despair, when an old woman stepped out of the +crowd and came and spoke to them. She was not only very old, but she was +very ugly, with a hump on her back and a bald head, and when the heralds +saw her they broke into rude laughter. 'I can show you the maiden who +lives in the tree-top,' she said, but they only laughed the more loudly. + +'Get away, old witch!' they cried, 'you will bring us bad luck'; but the +old woman stood firm, and declared that she alone knew where to find the +maiden. + +'Go with her,' said the eldest of the heralds at last. 'The emperor's +orders are clear, that whoever knew anything of the maiden was to come +at once to court. Put her in the coach and take her with us.' + +So in this fashion the old woman was brought to court. + +'You have declared that you can bring hither the maiden from the wood?' +said the emperor, who was seated on his throne. + +'Yes, your Majesty, and I will keep my word,' said she. + +'Then bring her at once,' said the emperor. + +'Give me first a kettle and a tripod,' asked the old w omen, and the +emperor ordered them to be brought instantly. The old woman picked them +up, and tucking them under her arm went on her way, keeping at a little +distance behind the royal huntsmen, who in their turn followed the +prince. + +Oh, what a noise that old woman made as she walked along! She chattered +to herself so fast and clattered her kettle so loudly that you would +have thought that a whole campful of gipsies must be coming round the +next corner. But when they reached the forest, she bade them all wait +outside, and entered the dark wood by herself. + +She stopped underneath the tree where the maiden dwelt and, gathering +some dry sticks, kindled a fire. Next, she placed the tripod over it, +and the kettle on top. But something was the matter with the kettle. As +fast as the old woman put it where it was to stand, that kettle was sure +to roll off, falling to the ground with a crash. + +It really seemed bewitched, and no one knows what might have happened +if Wildrose, who had been all the time peeping out of her nest, had not +lost patience at the old woman's stupidity, and cried out: 'The tripod +won't stand on that hill, you must move it!' + +'But where am I to move it to, my child?' asked the old woman, looking +up to the nest, and at the same moment trying to steady the kettle with +one hand and the tripod with the other. + +'Didn't I tell you that it was no good doing that,' said Wildrose, more +impatiently than before. 'Make a fire near a tree and hang the kettle +from one of the branches.' + +The old woman took the kettle and hung it on a little twig, which broke +at once, and the kettle fell to the ground. + +'If you would only show me how to do it, perhaps I should understand,' +said she. + +Quick as thought, the maiden slid down the smooth trunk of the tree, and +stood beside the stupid old woman, to teach her how things ought to be +done. But in an instant the old woman had caught up the girl and swung +her over her shoulders, and was running as fast as she could go to the +edge of the forest, where she had left the prince. When he saw them +coming he rushed eagerly to meet them, and he took the maiden in his +arms and kissed her tenderly before them all. Then a golden dress was +put on her, and pearls were twined in her hair, and she took her seat in +the emperor's carriage which was drawn by six of the whitest horses in +the world, and they carried her, without stopping to draw breath, to the +gates of the palace. And in three days the wedding was celebrated, and +the wedding feast was held, and everyone who saw the bride declared that +if anybody wanted a perfect wife they must go to seek her on top of a +tree. + +[ Adapted from file Roumanian.] + + + + +Tiidu The Piper + +Once upon a time there lived a poor man who had more children than +bread to feed them with. However, they were strong and willing, and soon +learned to make themselves of use to their father and mother, and when +they were old enough they went out to service, and everyone was very +glad to get them for servants, for they worked hard and were always +cheerful. Out of all the ten or eleven, there was only one who gave his +parents any trouble, and this was a big lazy boy whose name was Tiidu. +Neither scoldings nor beatings nor kind words had any effect on him, and +the older he grew the idler he got. He spent his winters crouching close +to a warm stove, and his summers asleep under a shady tree; and if he +was not doing either of these things he was playing tunes on his flute. + +One day he was sitting under a bush playing so sweetly that you might +easily have mistaken the notes for those of a bird, when an old man +passed by. 'What trade do you wish to follow, my son?' he asked in a +friendly voice, stopping as he did so in front of the youth. + +'If I were only a rich man, and had no need to work,' replied the boy, +'I should not follow any. I could not bear to be anybody's servant, as +all my brothers and sisters are.' + +The old man laughed as he heard this answer, and said: 'But I do not +exactly see where your riches are to come from if you do not work for +them. Sleeping cats catch no mice. He who wishes to become rich must +use either his hands or his head, and be ready to toil night and day, or +else--' + +But here the youth broke in rudely: + +'Be silent, old man! I have been told all that a hundred times over; +and it runs off me like water off a duck's back. No one will ever make a +worker out of me.' + +'You have one gift,' replied the old man, taking no notice of this +speech, 'and if you would only go about and play the pipes, you would +easily earn, not only your daily bread, but a little money into the +bargain. Listen to me; get yourself a set of pipes, and learn to play on +them as well as you do on your flute, and wherever there are men to hear +you, I promise you will never lack money.' + +'But where am I to get the pipes from?' asked the youth. + +'Blow on your flute for a few days,' replied the old man, 'and you will +soon be able to buy your pipes. By-and-by I will come back again and see +if you have taken my advice, and whether you are likely to grow rich.' +And so saying he went his way. + +Tiidu stayed where he was a little longer, thinking of all the old man +had told him, and the more he thought the surer he felt that the old +man was right. He determined to try whether his plan would really bring +luck; but as he did not like being laughed at he resolved not to tell +anyone a word about it. So next morning he left home--and never came +back! His parents did not take his loss much to heart, but were rather +glad that their useless son had for once shown a little spirit, and they +hoped that time and hardship might cure Tiidu of his idle folly. + +For some weeks Tiidu wandered from one village to another, and proved +for himself the truth of the old man's promise. The people he met were +all friendly and kind, and enjoyed his flute-playing, giving him his +food in return, and even a few pence. These pence the youth hoarded +carefully till he had collected enough to buy a beautiful pair of pipes. +Then he felt himself indeed on the high road to riches. Nowhere could +pipes be found as fine as his, or played in so masterly a manner. +Tiidu's pipes set everybody's legs dancing. Wherever there was a +marriage, a christening, or a feast of any kind, Tiidu must be there, or +the evening would be a failure. In a few years he had become so noted a +piper that people would travel far and wide to hear him. + +One day he was invited to a christening where many rich men from the +neighbouring town were present, and all agreed that never in all their +lives had they heard such playing as his. They crowded round him, and +praised him, and pressed him to come to their homes, declaring that it +was a shame not to give their friends the chance of hearing such music. +Of course all this delighted Tiidu, who accepted gladly, and left their +houses laden with money and presents of every kind; one great lord +clothed him in a magnificent dress, a second hung a chain of pearls +round his neck, while a third handed him a set of new pipes encrusted +in silver. As for the ladies, the girls twisted silken scarves round his +plumed hat, and their mothers knitted him gloves of all colours, to keep +out the cold. Any other man in Tiidu's place would have been contented +and happy in this life; but his craving for riches gave him no rest, +and only goaded him day by day to fresh exertions, so that even his own +mother would not have known him for the lazy boy who was always lying +asleep in one place or the other. + +Now Tiidu saw quite clearly that he could only hope to become rich by +means of his pipes, and set about thinking if there was nothing he could +do to make the money flow in faster. At length he remembered having +heard some stories of a kingdom in the Kungla country, where musicians +of all sorts were welcomed and highly paid; but where it was, or how +it was reached, he could not recollect, however hard he thought. In +despair, he wandered along the coast, hoping to see some ship or sailing +boat that would take him where he wished to go, and at length he reached +the town of Narva, where several merchantmen were lying at anchor. To +his great joy, he found that one of them was sailing for Kungla in a few +days, and he hastily went on board, and asked for the captain. But the +cost of the passage was more than the prudent Tiidu cared to pay, and +though he played his best on his pipes, the captain refused to lower his +price, and Tiidu was just thinking of returning on shore when his usual +luck flew to his aid. A young sailor, who had heard him play, came +secretly to him, and offered to hide him on board, in the absence of the +captain. So the next night, as soon as it was dark, Tiidu stepped softly +on deck, and was hidden by his friend down in the hold in a corner +between two casks. Unseen by the rest of the crew the sailor managed to +bring him food and drink, and when they were well out of sight of land +he proceeded to carry out a plan he had invented to deliver Tiidu +from his cramped quarters. At midnight, while he was keeping watch and +everyone else was sleeping, the man bade his friend Tiidu follow him on +deck, where he tied a rope round Tiidu's body, fastening the other end +carefully to one of the ship's ropes. 'Now,' he said, 'I will throw you +into the sea, and you must shout for help; and when you see the sailors +coming untie the rope from your waist, and tell them that you have swum +after the ship all the way from shore.' + +At first Tiidu did not much like this scheme, for the sea ran high, +but he was a good swimmer, and the sailor assured him that there was no +danger. As soon as he was in the water, his friend hastened to rouse +his mates, declaring that he was sure that there was a man in the sea, +following the ship. They all came on deck, and what was their surprise +when they recognised the person who had bargained about a passage the +previous day with the captain. + +'Are you a ghost, or a dying man?' they asked him trembling, as they +stooped over the side of the ship. + +'I shall soon indeed be a dead man if you do not help me,' answered +Tiidu, 'for my strength is going fast.' + +Then the captain seized a rope and flung it out to him, and Tiidu held +it between his teeth, while, unseen by the sailors; he loosed the one +tied round his waist. + +'Where have you come from?' said the captain, when Tiidu was brought up +on board the ship. + +'I have followed you from the harbour,' answered he, 'and have been +often in sore dread lest my strength should fail me. I hoped that by +swimming after the ship I might at last reach Kungla, as I had no money +to pay my passage.' The captain's heart melted at these words, and he +said kindly: 'You may be thankful that you were not drowned. I will land +you at Kungla free of payment, as you are so anxious to get there. So he +gave him dry clothes to wear, and a berth to sleep in, and Tiidu and his +friend secretly made merry over their cunning trick. + +For the rest of the voyage the ship's crew treated Tiidu as something +higher than themselves, seeing that in all their lives they had never +met with any man that could swim for as many hours as he had done. This +pleased Tiidu very much, though he knew that he had really done nothing +to deserve it, and in return he delighted them by tunes on his pipes. +When, after some days, they cast anchor at Kungla, the story of his +wonderful swim brought him many friends, for everybody wished to hear +him tell the tale himself. This might have been all very well, had not +Tiidu lived in dread that some day he would be asked to give proof of +his marvellous swimming powers, and then everything would be found out. +Meanwhile he was dazzled with the splendour around him, and more than +ever he longed for part of the riches, about which the owners seemed to +care so little. + +He wandered through the streets for many days, seeking some one who +wanted a servant; but though more than one person would have been glad +to engage him, they seemed to Tiidu not the sort of people to help him +to get rich quickly. At last, when he had almost made up his mind that +he must accept the next place offered him, he happened to knock at the +door of a rich merchant who was in need of a scullion, and gladly agreed +to do the cook's bidding, and it was in this merchant's house that he +first learned how great were the riches of the land of Kungla. All the +vessels which in other countries are made of iron, copper, brass, or +tin, in Kungla were made of silver, or even of gold. The food was cooked +in silver saucepans, the bread baked in a silver oven, while the dishes +and their covers were all of gold. Even the very pigs' troughs were of +silver too. But the sight of these things only made Tiidu more covetous +than before. 'What is the use of all this wealth that I have constantly +before my eyes,' thought he, 'if none of it is mine? I shall never grow +rich by what I earn as a scullion, even though I am paid as much in a +month as I should get elsewhere in a year.' + +By this time he had been in his place for two years, and had put by +quite a large sum of money. His passion of saving had increased to such +a pitch that it was only by his master's orders that he ever bought any +new clothes, 'For,' said the merchant, 'I will not have dirty people in +my house.' So with a heavy heart Tiidu spent some of his next month's +wages on a cheap coat. + +One day the merchant held a great feast in honour of the christening of +his youngest child, and he gave each of his servants a handsome garment +for the occasion. The following Sunday, Tiidu, who liked fine clothes +when he did not have to pay for them, put on his new coat, and went for +a walk to some beautiful pleasure gardens, which were always full of +people on a sunny day. He sat down under a shady tree, and watched the +passers-by, but after a little he began to feel rather lonely, for he +knew nobody and nobody knew him. Suddenly his eyes fell on the figure of +an old man, which seemed familiar to him, though he could not tell when +or where he had seen it. He watched the figure for some time, till at +length the old man left the crowded paths, and threw himself on the soft +grass under a lime tree, which stood at some distance from where Tiidu +was sitting. Then the young man walked slowly past, in order that he +might look at him more closely, and as he did so the old man smiled, and +held out his hand. + +'What have you done with your pipes?' asked he; and then in a moment +Tiidu knew him. Taking his arm he drew him into a quiet place and told +him all that had happened since they had last met. The old man shook his +head as he listened, and when Tiidu had finished his tale, he said: 'A +fool you are, and a fool you will always be! Was there ever such a piece +of folly as to exchange your pipes for a scullion's ladle? You could +have made as much by the pipes in a day as your wages would have come +to in half a year. Go home and fetch your pipes, and play them here, and +you will soon see if I have spoken the truth.' + +Tiidu did not like this advice--he was afraid that the people would +laugh at him; and, besides, it was long since he had touched his +pipes--but the old man persisted, and at last Tiidu did as he was told. + +'Sit down on the bank by me,' said the old man, when he came back, 'and +begin to play, and in a little while the people will flock round you.' +Tiidu obeyed, at first without much heart; but somehow the tone of the +pipes was sweeter than he had remembered, and as he played, the crowd +ceased to walk and chatter, and stood still and silent round him. When +he had played for some time he took off his hat and passed it round, and +dollars, and small silver coins, and even gold pieces, came tumbling +in. Tiidu played a couple more tunes by way of thanks, then turned to +go home, hearing on all sides murmurs of 'What a wonderful piper! Come +back, we pray you, next Sunday to give us another treat.' + +'What did I tell you?' said the old man, as they passed through the +garden gate. 'Was it not pleasanter to play for a couple of hours on +the pipes than to be stirring sauces all day long? For the second time +I have shown you the path to follow; try to learn wisdom, and take the +bull by the horns, lest your luck should slip from you! I can be your +guide no longer, therefore listen to what I say, and obey me. Go every +Sunday afternoon to those gardens; and sit under the lime tree and play +to the people, and bring a felt hat with a deep crown, and lay it on the +ground at your feet, so that everyone can throw some money into it. +If you are invited to play at a feast, accept willingly, but beware of +asking a fixed price; say you will take whatever they may feel inclined +to give. You will get far more money in the end. Perhaps, some day, +our paths may cross, and then I shall see how far you have followed my +advice. Till then, farewell'; and the old man went his way. + +As before, his words came true, though Tiidu could not at once do +his bidding, as he had first to fulfil his appointed time of service. +Meanwhile he ordered some fine clothes, in which he played every Sunday +in the gardens, and when he counted his gains in the evening they were +always more than on the Sunday before. At length he was free to do as +he liked, and he had more invitations to play than he could manage to +accept, and at night, when the citizens used to go and drink in the inn, +the landlord always begged Tiidu to come and play to them. Thus he grew +so rich that very soon he had his silver pipes covered with gold, so +that they glistened in the light of the sun or the fire. In all Kungla +there was no prouder man than Tiidu. + +In a few years he had saved such a large sum of money that he was +considered a rich man even in Kungla, where everybody was rich. And then +he had leisure to remember that he had once had a home, and a family, +and that he should like to see them both again, and show them how well +he could play. This time he would not need to hide in the ship's hold, +but could hire the best cabin if he wished to, or even have a vessel +all to himself. So he packed all his treasures in large chests, and sent +them on board the first ship that was sailing to his native land, and +followed them with a light heart. The wind at starting was fair, but it +soon freshened, and in the night rose to a gale. For two days they ran +before it, and hoped that by keeping well out to sea they might be able +to weather the storm, when, suddenly, the ship struck on a rock, and +began to fill. Orders were given to lower the boats, and Tiidu with +three sailors got into one of them, but before they could push away from +the ship a huge wave overturned it, and all four were flung into the +water. Luckily for Tiidu an oar was floating near him, and with its help +he was able to keep on the surface of the water; and when the sun rose, +and the mist cleared away, he saw that he was not far from shore. By +hard swimming, for the sea still ran high, he managed to reach it, and +pulled himself out of the water, more dead than alive. Then he flung +himself down on the ground and fell fast asleep. + +When he awoke he got up to explore the island, and see if there were any +men upon it; but though he found streams and fruit trees in abundance, +there was no trace either of man or beast. Then, tired with his +wanderings he sat down and began to think. + +For perhaps the first time in his life his thoughts did not instantly +turn to money. It was not on his lost treasures that his mind dwelt, but +on his conduct to his parents: his laziness and disobedience as a boy; +his forgetfulness of them as a man. 'If wild animals were to come and +tear me to pieces,' he said to himself bitterly, 'it would be only what +I deserve! My gains are all at the bottom of the sea--well! lightly won, +lightly lost--but it is odd that I feel I should not care for that if +only my pipes were left me.' Then he rose and walked a little further, +till he saw a tree with great red apples shining amidst the leaves, +and he pulled some down, and ate them greedily. After that he stretched +himself out on the soft moss and went to sleep. + +In the morning he ran to the nearest stream to wash himself, but to his +horror, when he caught sight of his face, he saw his nose had grown the +colour of an apple, and reached nearly to his waist. He started back +thinking he was dreaming, and put up his hand; but, alas! the dreadful +thing was true. 'Oh, why does not some wild beast devour me?' he cried +to himself; 'never, never, can I go again amongst my fellow-men! If only +the sea had swallowed me up, how much happier it had been for me!' And +he hid his head in his hands and wept. His grief was so violent, that it +exhausted him, and growing hungry he looked about for something to eat. +Just above him was a bough of ripe, brown nuts, end he picked them and +ate a handful. To his surprise, as he was eating them, he felt his nose +grow shorter and shorter, and after a while he ventured to feel it +with his hand, and even to look in the stream again! Yes, there was no +mistake, it was as short as before, or perhaps a little shorter. In his +joy at this discovery Tiidu did a very bold thing. He took one of the +apples out of his pocket, and cautiously bit a piece out of it. In an +instant his nose was as long as his chin, and in a deadly fear lest +it should stretch further, he hastily swallowed a nut, and awaited the +result with terror. Supposing that the shrinking of his nose had only +been an accident before! Supposing that that nut and no other was able +to cause its shrinking! In that case he had, by his own folly, in not +letting well alone, ruined his life completely. But, no! he had guessed +rightly, for in no more time than his nose had taken to grow long did it +take to return to its proper size. 'This may make my fortune,' he said +joyfully to himself; and he gathered some of the apples, which he put +into one pocket, and a good supply of nuts which he put into the other. +Next day he wove a basket out of some rushes, so that if he ever left +the island he might be able to carry his treasures about. + +That night he dreamed that his friend the old man appeared to him and +said: 'Because you did not mourn for your lost treasure, but only for +your pipes, I will give you a new set to replace them.' And, behold! in +the morning when he got up a set of pipes was lying in the basket. With +what joy did he seize them and begin one of his favourite tunes; and as +he played hope sprang up in his heart, and he looked out to sea, to try +to detect the sign of a sail. Yes! there it was, making straight for +the island; and Tiidu, holding his pipes in his hand, dashed down to the +shore. + +The sailors knew the island to be uninhabited, and were much surprised +to see a man standing on the beach, waving his arms in welcome to them. +A boat was put off, and two sailors rowed to the shore to discover how +he came there, and if he wished to be taken away. Tiidu told them the +story of his shipwreck, and the captain promised that he should come on +board, and sail with them back to Kungla; and thankful indeed was Tiidu +to accept the offer, and to show his gratitude by playing on his pipes +whenever he was asked to do so. + +They had a quick voyage, and it was not long before Tiidu found himself +again in the streets of the capital of Kungla, playing as he went along. +The people had heard no music like his since he went away, and they +crowded round him, and in their joy gave him whatever money they had in +their pockets. His first care was to buy himself some new clothes, which +he sadly needed, taking care, however, that they should be made after a +foreign fashion. When they were ready, he set out one day with a small +basket of his famous apples, and went up to the palace. He did not have +to wait long before one of the royal servants passed by and bought all +the apples, begging as he did so that the merchant should return and +bring some more. This Tiidu promised, and hastened away as if he had a +mad bull behind him, so afraid was he that the man should begin to eat +an apple at once. + +It is needless to say that for some days he took no more apples back to +the palace, but kept well away on the other side of the town, wearing +other clothes, and disguised by a long black beard, so that even his own +mother would not have known him. + +The morning after his visit to the castle the whole city was in an +uproar about the dreadful misfortune that had happened to the Royal +Family, for not only the king but his wife and children, had eaten of +the stranger's apples, and all, so said the rumour, were very ill. The +most famous doctors and the greatest magicians were hastily summoned to +the palace, but they shook their heads and came away again; never had +they met with such a disease in all the course of their experience. +By-and-bye a story went round the town, started no one knew how, that +the malady was in some way connected with the nose; and men rubbed their +own anxiously, to be sure that nothing catching was in the air. + +Matters had been in this state for more than a week when it reached the +ears of the king that a man was living in an inn on the other side +of the town who declared himself able to cure all manner of diseases. +Instantly the royal carriage was commanded to drive with all speed and +bring back this magician, offering him riches untold if he could restore +their noses to their former length. Tiidu had expected this summons, +and had sat up all night changing his appearance, and so well had he +succeeded that not a trace remained either of the piper or of the apple +seller. He stepped into the carriage, and was driven post haste to the +king, who was feverishly counting every moment, for both his nose and +the queen's were by this time more than a yard long, and they did not +know where they would stop. + +Now Tiidu thought it would not look well to cure the royal family by +giving them the raw nuts; he felt that it might arouse suspicion. So he +had carefully pounded them into a powder, and divided the powder up into +small doses, which were to be put on the tongue and swallowed at once. +He gave one of these to the king and another to the queen, and told them +that before taking them they were to get into bed in a dark room and not +to move for some hours, after which they might be sure that they would +come out cured. + +The king's joy was so great at this news that he would gladly have given +Tiidu half of his kingdom; but the piper was no longer so greedy of +money as he once was, before he had been shipwrecked on the island. If +he could get enough to buy a small estate and live comfortably on it for +the rest of his life, that was all he now cared for. However, the king +ordered his treasure to pay him three times as much as he asked, and +with this Tiidu went down to the harbour and engaged a small ship to +carry him back to his native country. The wind was fair, and in ten days +the coast, which he had almost forgotten, stood clear before him. In +a few hours he was standing in his old home, where his father, three +sisters, and two brothers gave him a hearty welcome. His mother and his +other brothers had died some years before. + +When the meeting was over, he began to make inquiries about a small +estate that was for sale near the town, and after he had bought it the +next thing was to find a wife to share it with him. This did not take +long either; and people who were at the wedding feast declared that the +best part of the whole day was the hour when Tiidu played to them on the +pipes before they bade each other farewell and returned to their homes. + +[From Esthnische Mahrchen.] + + + + +Paperarelloo + +Once upon a time there lived a king and a queen who had one son. The +king loved the boy very much, but the queen, who was a wicked woman, +hated the sight of him; and this was the more unlucky for, when he was +twelve years old, his father died, and he was left alone in the world. + +Now the queen was very angry because the people, who knew how bad she +was, seated her son on the throne instead of herself, and she +never rested till she had formed a plan to get him out of the way. +Fortunately, however, the young king was wise and prudent, and knew her +too well to trust her. + +One day, when his mourning was over, he gave orders that everything +should be made ready for a grand hunt. The queen pretended to be greatly +delighted that he was going to amuse himself once more, and declared +that she would accompany him. 'No, mother, I cannot let you come,' he +answered; 'the ground is rough, and you are not strong.' But he might as +well have spoken to the winds: when the horn was sounded at daybreak the +queen was there with the rest. + +All that day they rode, for game was plentiful, but towards evening the +mother and son found themselves alone in a part of the country that was +strange to them. They wandered on for some time, without knowing where +they were going, till they met with a man whom they begged to give them +shelter. 'Come with me,' said the man gladly, for he was an ogre, and +fed on human flesh; and the king and his mother went with him, and he +led them to his house. When they got there they found to what a dreadful +place they had come, and, falling on their knees, they offered him great +sums of money, if he would only spare their lives. The ogre's heart was +moved at the sight of the queen's beauty, and he promised that he would +do her no harm; but he stabbed the boy at once, and binding his body on +a horse, turned him loose in the forest. + +The ogre had happened to choose a horse which he had bought only the day +before, and he did not know it was a magician, or he would not have been +so foolish as to fix upon it on this occasion. The horse no sooner had +been driven off with the prince's body on its back than it galloped +straight to the home of the fairies, and knocked at the door with its +hoof. The fairies heard the knock, but were afraid to open till they +had peeped from an upper window to see that it was no giant or ogre who +could do them harm. 'Oh, look, sister!' cried the first to reach the +window, 'it is a horse that has knocked, and on its back there is bound +a dead boy, the most beautiful boy in all the world!' Then the fairies +ran to open the door, and let in the horse and unbound the ropes which +fastened the young king on its back. And they gathered round to admire +his beauty, and whispered one to the other: 'We will make him alive +again, and will keep him for our brother.' And so they did, and for many +years they all lived together as brothers and sisters. + +By-and-by the boy grew into a man, as boys will, and then the oldest of +the fairies said to her sisters: 'Now I will marry him, and he shall +be really your brother.' So the young king married the fairy, and they +lived happily together in the castle; but though he loved his wife he +still longed to see the world. + +At length this longing grew so strong on him that he could bear it no +more; and, calling the fairies together, he said to them: 'Dear wife and +sisters, I must leave you for a time, and go out and see the world. But +I shall think of you often, and one day I shall come back to you.' + +The fairies wept and begged him to stay, but he would not listen, and +at last the eldest, who was his wife, said to him: 'If you really will +abandon us, take this lock of my hair with you; you will find it useful +in time of need.' So she cut off a long curl, and handed it to him. + +The prince mounted his horse, and rode on all day without stopping once. +Towards evening he found himself in a desert, and, look where he would, +there was no such thing as a house or a man to be seen. 'What am I to do +now?' he thought. 'If I go to sleep here wild beasts will come and eat +me! Yet both I and my horse are worn out, and can go no further.' Then +suddenly he remembered the fairy's gift, and taking out the curl he said +to it: 'I want a castle here, and servants, and dinner, and everything +to make me comfortable tonight; and besides that, I must have a stable +and fodder for my horse.' And in a moment the castle was before him just +as he had wished. + +In this way he travelled through many countries, till at last he came +to a land that was ruled over by a great king. Leaving his horse outside +the walls, he clad himself in the dress of a poor man, and went up +to the palace. The queen, who was looking out of the window, saw him +approaching, and filled with pity sent a servant to ask who he was and +what he wanted. 'I am a stranger here,' answered the young king, 'and +very poor. I have come to beg for some work.' 'We have everybody we +want,' said the queen, when the servant told her the young man's reply. +'We have a gate-keeper, and a hall porter, and servants of all sorts +in the palace; the only person we have not got is a goose-boy. Tell him +that he can be our goose-boy if he likes.' The youth answered that he +was quite content to be goose-boy; and that was how he got his nickname +of Paperarello. And in order that no one should guess that he was any +better than a goose-boy should be, he rubbed his face and his rags over +with mud, and made himself altogether such a disgusting object that +every one crossed over to the other side of the road when he was seen +coming. + +'Do go and wash yourself, Paperarello!' said the queen sometimes, for he +did his work so well that she took an interest in him. 'Oh, I should not +feel comfortable if I was clean, your Majesty,' answered he, and went +whistling after his geese. + +It happened one day that, owing to some accident to the great flour +mills which supplied the city, there was no bread to be had, and the +king's army had to do without. When the king heard of it, he sent for +the cook, and told him that by the next morning he must have all the +bread that the oven, heated seven times over, could bake. 'But, your +Majesty, it is not possible,' cried the poor man in despair. 'The mills +have only just begun working, and the flour will not be ground till +evening, and how can I heat the oven seven times in one night?' 'That +is your affair,' answered the King, who, when he took anything into his +head, would listen to nothing. 'If you succeed in baking the bread you +shall have my daughter to wife, but if you fail your head will pay for +it.' + +Now Paperarello, who was passing through the hall where the king was +giving his orders, heard these words, and said: 'Your Majesty, have no +fears; I will bake your bread.' 'Very well,' answered the king; 'but +if you fail, you will pay for it with your head!' and signed that both +should leave his presence. + +The cook was still trembling with the thought of what he had escaped, +but to his surprise Paperarello did not seem disturbed at all, and when +night came he went to sleep as usual. 'Paperarello,' cried the other +servants, when they saw him quietly taking off his clothes, 'you cannot +go to bed; you will need every moment of the night for your work. +Remember, the king is not to be played with!' + +'I really must have some sleep first,' replied Paperarello, stretching +himself and yawning; and he flung himself on his bed, and was fast +asleep in a moment. In an hour's time, the servants came and shook him +by the shoulder. 'Paperarello, are you mad?' said they. 'Get up, or you +will lose your head.' 'Oh, do let me sleep a little more, answered he. +And this was all he would say, though the servants returned to wake him +many times in the night. + +At last the dawn broke, and the servants rushed to his room, crying: +'Paperarello! Paperarello! get up, the king is coming. You have baked no +bread, and of a surety he will have your head.' + +'Oh, don't scream so,' replied Paperarello, jumping out of bed as +he spoke; and taking the lock of hair in his hand, he went into the +kitchen. And, behold! there stood the bread piled high--four, five, six +ovens full, and the seventh still waiting to be taken out of the oven. +The servants stood and stared in surprise, and the king said: 'Well +done, Paperarello, you have won my daughter.' And he thought to himself: +'This fellow must really be a magician.' + +But when the princess heard what was in store for her she wept bitterly, +and declared that never, never would she marry that dirty Paperarello! +However, the king paid no heed to her tears and prayers, and before many +days were over the wedding was celebrated with great splendour, though +the bridegroom had not taken the trouble to wash himself, and was as +dirty as before. + +When night came he went as usual to sleep among his geese, and the +princess went to the king and said: 'Father, I entreat you to have that +horrible Paperarello put to death.' 'No, no!' replied her father, 'he is +a great magician, and before I put him to death, I must first find out +the secret of his power, and then--we shall see.' + +Soon after this a war broke out, and everybody about the palace was very +busy polishing up armour and sharpening swords, for the king and his +sons were to ride at the head of the army. Then Paperarello left his +geese, and came and told the king that he wished to go to fight also. +The king gave him leave, and told him that he might go to the stable and +take any horse he liked from the stables. So Paperarello examined +the horses carefully, but instead of picking out one of the splendid +well-groomed creatures, whose skin shone like satin, he chose a poor +lame thing, put a saddle on it, and rode after the other men-at-arms who +were attending the king. In a short time he stopped, and said to them: +'My horse can go no further; you must go on to the war without me, and +I will stay here, and make some little clay soldiers, and will play at a +battle.' The men laughed at him for being so childish, and rode on after +their master. + +Scarcely were they out of sight than Paperarello took out his curl, and +wished himself the best armour, the sharpest sword, and the swiftest +horse in the world, and the next minute was riding as fast as he could +to the field of battle. The fight had already begun, and the enemy was +getting the best of it, when Paperarello rode up, and in a moment the +fortunes of the day had changed. Right and left this strange knight +laid about him, and his sword pierced the stoutest breast-plate, and the +strongest shield. He was indeed 'a host in himself,' and his foes fled +before him thinking he was only the first of a troop of such warriors, +whom no one could withstand. When the battle was over, the king sent for +him to thank him for his timely help, and to ask what reward he should +give him. 'Nothing but your little finger, your Majesty,' was +his answer; and the king cut off his little finger and gave it to +Paperarello, who bowed and hid it in his surcoat. Then he left the +field, and when the soldiers rode back they found him still sitting in +the road making whole rows of little clay dolls. + +The next day the king went out to fight another battle, and again +Paperarello appeared, mounted on his lame horse. As on the day before, +he halted on the road, and sat down to make his clay soldiers; then a +second time he wished himself armour, sword, and a horse, all sharper +and better than those he had previously had, and galloped after the +rest. He was only just in time: the enemy had almost beaten the king's +army back, and men whispered to each other that if the strange knight +did not soon come to their aid, they would be all dead men. Suddenly +someone cried: 'Hold on a little longer, I see him in the distance; and +his armour shines brighter, and his horse runs swifter, than yesterday.' +Then they took fresh heart and fought desperately on till the knight +came up, and threw himself into the thick of the battle. As before, the +enemy gave way before him, and in a few minutes the victory remained +with the king. + +The first thing that the victor did was to send for the knight to thank +him for his timely help, and to ask what gift he could bestow on him in +token of gratitude. 'Your Majesty's ear,' answered the knight; and as +the king could not go back from his word, he cut it off and gave it to +him. Paperarello bowed, fastened the ear inside his surcoat and rode +away. In the evening, when they all returned from the battle, there he +was, sitting in the road, making clay dolls. + +On the third day the same thing happened, and this time he asked for the +king's nose as the reward of his aid. Now, to lose one's nose, is worse +even than losing one's ear or one's finger, and the king hesitated as to +whether he should comply. However, he had always prided himself on being +an honourable man, so he cut off his nose, and handed it to Paperarello. +Paperarello bowed, put the nose in his surcoat, and rode away. In the +evening, when the king returned from the battle, he found Paperarello +sitting in the road making clay dolls. And Paperarello got up and said +to him: 'Do you know who I am? I am your dirty goose-boy, yet you have +given me your finger, and your ear, and your nose.' + +That night, when the king sat at dinner, Paperarello came in, and laying +down the ear, and the nose, and the finger on the table, turned and +said to the nobles and courtiers who were waiting on the king: 'I am the +invincible knight, who rode three times to your help, and I also am a +king's son, and no goose-boy as you all think.' And he went away and +washed himself, and dressed himself in fine clothes and entered the hall +again, looking so handsome that the proud princess fell in love with +him on the spot. But Paperarello took no notice of her, and said to the +king: 'It was kind of you to offer me your daughter in marriage, and for +that I thank you; but I have a wife at home whom I love better, and it +is to her that I am going. But as a token of farewell, I wish that your +ear, and nose, and finger may be restored to their proper places.' So +saying, he bade them all goodbye, and went back to his home and his +fairy bride, with whom he lived happily till the end of his life. + +[From Sicilianisohen Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Gifts Of The Magician + +Once upon a time there was an old man who lived in a little hut in the +middle of a forest. His wife was dead, and he had only one son, whom he +loved dearly. Near their hut was a group of birch trees, in which some +black-game had made their nests, and the youth had often begged his +father's permission to shoot the birds, but the old man always strictly +forbade him to do anything of the kind. + +One day, however, when the father had gone to a little distance to +collect some sticks for the fire, the boy fetched his bow, and shot at a +bird that was just flying towards its nest. But he had not taken proper +aim, and the bird was only wounded, and fluttered along the ground. The +boy ran to catch it, but though he ran very fast, and the bird seemed to +flutter along very slowly, he never could quite come up with it; it was +always just a little in advance. But so absorbed was he in the chase +that he did not notice for some time that he was now deep in the forest, +in a place where he had never been before. Then he felt it would be +foolish to go any further, and he turned to find his way home. + +He thought it would be easy enough to follow the path along which he had +come, but somehow it was always branching off in unexpected directions. +He looked about for a house where he might stop and ask his way, but +there was not a sign of one anywhere, and he was afraid to stand still, +for it was cold, and there were many stories of wolves being seen in +that part of the forest. Night fell, and he was beginning to start at +every sound, when suddenly a magician came running towards him, with +a pack of wolves snapping at his heels. Then all the boy's courage +returned to him. He took his bow, and aiming an arrow at the largest +wolf, shot him through the heart, and a few more arrows soon put the +rest to flight. The magician was full of gratitude to his deliverer, and +promised him a reward for his help if the youth would go back with him +to his house. + +'Indeed there is nothing that would be more welcome to me than a night's +lodging,' answered the boy; 'I have been wandering all day in the +forest, and did not know how to get home again. + +'Come with me, you must be hungry as well as tired,' said the magician, +and led the way to his house, where the guest flung himself on a bed, +and went fast asleep. But his host returned to the forest to get some +food, for the larder was empty. + +While he was absent the housekeeper went to the boy's room and tried +to wake him. She stamped on the floor, and shook him and called to him, +telling him that he was in great danger, and must take flight at once. +But nothing would rouse him, and if he did ever open his eyes he shut +them again directly. + +Soon after, the magician came back from the forest, and told the +housekeeper to bring them something to eat. The meal was quickly ready, +and the magician called to the boy to come down and eat it, but he +could not be wakened, and they had to sit down to supper without him. +By-and-by the magician went out into the wood again for some more +hunting, and on his return he tried afresh to waken the youth. But +finding it quite impossible, he went back for the third time to the +forest. + +While he was absent the boy woke up and dressed himself. Then he came +downstairs and began to talk to the housekeeper. The girl had heard +how he had saved her master's life, so she said nothing more about his +running away, but instead told him that if the magician offered him the +choice of a reward, he was to ask for the horse which stood in the third +stall of the stable. + +By-and-by the old man came back and they all sat down to dinner. When +they had finished the magician said: 'Now, my son, tell me what you will +have as the reward of your courage?' + +'Give me the horse that stands in the third stall of your stable,' +answered the youth. 'For I have a long way to go before I get home, and +my feet will not carry me so far.' + +'Ah! my son,' replied the magician, 'it is the best horse in my stable +that you want! Will not anything else please you as well?' + +But the youth declared that it was the horse, and the horse only, that +he desired, and in the end the old man gave way. And besides the horse, +the magician gave him a zither, a fiddle, and a flute, saying: 'If you +are in danger, touch the zither; and if no one comes to your aid, then +play on the fiddle; but if that brings no help, blow on the flute.' + +The youth thanked the magician, and fastening his treasures about him +mounted the horse and rode off. He had already gone some miles when, +to his great surprise, the horse spoke, and said: 'It is no use your +returning home just now, your father will only beat you. Let us visit a +few towns first, and something lucky will be sure to happen to us.' + +This advice pleased the boy, for he felt himself almost a man by this +time, and thought it was high time he saw the world. When they entered +the capital of the country everyone stopped to admire the beauty of the +horse. Even the king heard of it, and came to see the splendid creature +with his own eyes. Indeed, he wanted directly to buy it, and told the +youth he would give any price he liked. The young man hesitated for a +moment, but before he could speak, the horse contrived to whisper to +him: + +'Do not sell me, but ask the king to take me to his stable, and feed me +there; then his other horses will become just as beautiful as I.' + +The king was delighted when he was told what the horse had said, +and took the animal at once to the stables, and placed it in his own +particular stall. Sure enough, the horse had scarcely eaten a mouthful +of corn out of the manger, when the rest of the horses seemed to have +undergone a transformation. Some of them were old favourites which the +king had ridden in many wars, and they bore the signs of age and of +service. But now they arched their heads, and pawed the ground with +their slender legs as they had been wont to do in days long gone by. The +king's heart beat with delight, but the old groom who had had the care +of them stood crossly by, and eyed the owner of this wonderful creature +with hate and envy. Not a day passed without his bringing some story +against the youth to his master, but the king understood all about the +matter and paid no attention. At last the groom declared that the +young man had boasted that he could find the king's war horse which had +strayed into the forest several years ago, and had not been heard of +since. Now the king had never ceased to mourn for his horse, so this +time he listened to the tale which the groom had invented, and sent for +the youth. 'Find me my horse in three days,' said he, 'or it will be the +worse for you.' + +The youth was thunderstruck at this command, but he only bowed, and went +off at once to the stable. + +'Do not worry yourself,' answered his own horse. 'Ask the king to give +you a hundred oxen, and to let them be killed and cut into small pieces. +Then we will start on our journey, and ride till we reach a certain +river. There a horse will come up to you, but take no notice of him. +Soon another will appear, and this also you must leave alone, but when +the third horse shows itself, throw my bridle over it.' + +Everything happened just as the horse had said, and the third horse was +safely bridled. Then the other horse spoke again: 'The magician's raven +will try to eat us as we ride away, but throw it some of the oxen's +flesh, and then I will gallop like the wind, and carry you safe out of +the dragon's clutches.' + +So the young man did as he was told, and brought the horse back to the +king. + +The old stableman was very jealous, when he heard of it, and wondered +what he could do to injure the youth in the eyes of his royal master. +At last he hit upon a plan, and told the king that the young man had +boasted that he could bring home the king's wife, who had vanished many +months before, without leaving a trace behind her. Then the king bade +the young man come into his presence, and desired him to fetch the queen +home again, as he had boasted he could do. And if he failed, his head +would pay the penalty. + +The poor youth's heart stood still as he listened. Find the queen? But +how was he to do that, when nobody in the palace had been able to do +so! Slowly he walked to the stable, and laying his head on his horse's +shoulder, he said: 'The king has ordered me to bring his wife home +again, and how can I do that when she disappeared so long ago, and no +one can tell me anything about her?' + +'Cheer up!' answered the horse, 'we will manage to find her. You have +only got to ride me back to the same river that we went to yesterday, +and I will plunge into it and take my proper shape again. For I am the +king's wife, who was turned into a horse by the magician from whom you +saved me.' + +Joyfully the young man sprang into the saddle and rode away to the banks +of the river. Then he threw himself off, and waited while the horse +plunged in. The moment it dipped its head into the water its black skin +vanished, and the most beautiful woman in the world was floating on the +water. She came smiling towards the youth, and held out her hand, and +he took it and led her back to the palace. Great was the king's surprise +and happiness when he beheld his lost wife stand before him, and in +gratitude to her rescuer he loaded him with gifts. + +You would have thought that after this the poor youth would have been +left in peace; but no, his enemy the stableman hated him as much as +ever, and laid a new plot for his undoing. This time he presented +himself before the king and told him that the youth was so puffed up +with what he had done that he had declared he would seize the king's +throne for himself. + +At this news the king waxed so furious that he ordered a gallows to be +erected at once, and the young man to be hanged without a trial. He was +not even allowed to speak in his own defence, but on the very steps of +the gallows he sent a message to the king and begged, as a last favour, +that he might play a tune on his zither. Leave was given him, and taking +the instrument from under his cloak he touched the strings. Scarcely had +the first notes sounded than the hangman and his helper began to dance, +and the louder grew the music the higher they capered, till at last they +cried for mercy. But the youth paid no heed, and the tunes rang out more +merrily than before, and by the time the sun set they both sank on the +ground exhausted, and declared that the hanging must be put off till +to-morrow. + +The story of the zither soon spread through the town, and on the +following morning the king and his whole court and a large crowd of +people were gathered at the foot of the gallows to see the youth hanged. +Once more he asked a favour--permission to play on his fiddle, and this +the king was graciously pleased to grant. But with the first notes, the +leg of every man in the crowd was lifted high, and they danced to the +sound of the music the whole day till darkness fell, and there was no +light to hang the musician by. + +The third day came, and the youth asked leave to play on his flute. 'No, +no,' said the king, 'you made me dance all day yesterday, and if I do +it again it will certainly be my death. You shall play no more tunes. +Quick! the rope round his neck.' + +At these words the young man looked so sorrowful that the courtiers said +to the king: 'He is very young to die. Let him play a tune if it will +make him happy.' So, very unwillingly, the king gave him leave; but +first he had himself bound to a big fir tree, for fear that he should be +made to dance. + +When he was made fast, the young man began to blow softly on his flute, +and bound though he was, the king's body moved to the sound, up and +down the fir tree till his clothes were in tatters, and the skin nearly +rubbed off his back. But the youth had no pity, and went on blowing, +till suddenly the old magician appeared and asked: 'What danger are you +in, my son, that you have sent for me?' + +'They want to hang me,' answered the young man; 'the gallows are all +ready and the hangman is only waiting for me to stop playing.' + +'Oh, I will put that right,' said the magician; and taking the gallows, +he tore it up and flung it into the air, and no one knows where it came +down. 'Who has ordered you to be hanged?' asked he. + +The young man pointed to the king, who was still bound to the fir; and +without wasting words the magician took hold of the tree also, and +with a mighty heave both fir and man went spinning through the air, and +vanished in the clouds after the gallows. + +Then the youth was declared to be free, and the people elected him for +their king; and the stable helper drowned himself from envy, for, after +all, if it had not been for him the young man would have remained poor +all the days of his life. + +[From Finnische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Strong Prince + +Once upon a time there lived a king who was so fond of wine that he +could not go to sleep unless he knew he had a great flaskful tied to his +bed-post. All day long he drank till he was too stupid to attend to his +business, and everything in the kingdom went to rack and ruin. But one +day an accident happened to him, and he was struck on the head by a +falling bough, so that he fell from his horse and lay dead upon the +ground. + +His wife and son mourned his loss bitterly, for, in spite of his faults, +he had always been kind to them. So they abandoned the crown and forsook +their country, not knowing or caring where they went. + +At length they wandered into a forest, and being very tired, sat down +under a tree to eat some bread that they had brought with them. When +they had finished the queen said: 'My son, I am thirsty; fetch me some +water.' + +The prince got up at once and went to a brook which he heard gurgling +near at hand. He stooped and filled his hat with the water, which he +brought to his mother; then he turned and followed the stream up to +its source in a rock, where it bubbled out clear and fresh and cold. He +knelt down to take a draught from the deep pool below the rock, when he +saw the reflection of a sword hanging from the branch of a tree over his +head. The young man drew back with a start; but in a moment he climbed +the tree, cutting the rope which held the sword, and carried the weapon +to his mother. + +The queen was greatly surprised at the sight of anything so splendid in +such a lonely place, and took it in her hands to examine it closely. +It was of curious workmanship, wrought with gold, and on its handle was +written: 'The man who can buckle on this sword will become stronger than +other men.' The queen's heart swelled with joy as she read these words, +and she bade her son lose no time in testing their truth. So he fastened +it round his waist, and instantly a glow of strength seemed to run +through his veins. He took hold of a thick oak tree and rooted it up as +easily as if it had been a weed. + +This discovery put new life into the queen and her son, and they +continued their walk through the forest. But night was drawing on, and +the darkness grew so thick that it seemed as if it could be cut with a +knife. They did not want to sleep in the wood, for they were afraid of +wolves and other wild beasts, so they groped their way along, hand in +hand, till the prince tripped over something which lay across the path. +He could not see what it was, but stooped down and tried to lift it. +The thing was very heavy, and he thought his back would break under the +strain. At last with a great heave he moved it out of the road, and as +it fell he knew it was a huge rock. Behind the rock was a cave which it +was quite clear was the home of some robbers, though not one of the band +was there. + +Hastily putting out the fire which burned brightly at the back, and +bidding his mother come in and keep very still, the prince began to pace +up and down, listening for the return of the robbers. But he was very +sleepy, and in spite of all his efforts he felt he could not keep awake +much longer, when he heard the sound of the robbers returning, shouting +and singing as they marched along. Soon the singing ceased, and +straining his ears he heard them discussing anxiously what had become of +their cave, and why they could not see the fire as usual. 'This must +be the place,' said a voice, which the prince took to be that of the +captain. 'Yes, I feel the ditch before the entrance. Someone forgot to +pile up the fire before we left and it has burnt itself out! But it is +all right. Let every man jump across, and as he does so cry out "Hop! I +am here." I will go last. Now begin.' + +The man who stood nearest jumped across, but he had no time to give the +call which the captain had ordered, for with one swift, silent stroke +of the prince's sword, his head rolled into a corner. Then the young man +cried instead, 'Hop! I am here.' + +The second man, hearing the signal, leapt the ditch in confidence, and +was met by the same fate, and in a few minutes eleven of the robbers lay +dead, and there remained only the captain. + +Now the captain had wound round his neck the shawl of his lost wife, +and the stroke of the prince's sword fell harmless. Being very cunning, +however, he made no resistance, and rolled over as if he were as dead as +the other men. Still, the prince was no fool, and wondered if indeed he +was as dead as he seemed to be; but the captain lay so stiff and stark, +that at last he was taken in. + +The prince next dragged the headless bodies into a chamber in the cave, +and locked the door. Then he and his mother ransacked the place for some +food, and when they had eaten it they lay down and slept in peace. + +With the dawn they were both awake again, and found that, instead of +the cave which they had come to the night before, they now were in a +splendid castle, full of beautiful rooms. The prince went round all +these and carefully locked them up, bidding his mother take care of the +keys while he was hunting. + +Unfortunately, the queen, like all women, could not bear to think that +there was anything which she did not know. So the moment that her son +had turned his back, she opened the doors of all the rooms, and peeped +in, till she came to the one where the robbers lay. But if the sight +of the blood on the ground turned her faint, the sight of the robber +captain walking up and down was a greater shock still. She quickly +turned the key in the lock, and ran back to the chamber she had slept +in. + +Soon after her son came in, bringing with him a large bear, which he had +killed for supper. As there was enough food to last them for many days, +the prince did not hunt the next morning, but, instead, began to explore +the castle. He found that a secret way led from it into the forest; and +following the path, he reached another castle larger and more splendid +than the one belonging to the robbers. He knocked at the door with +his fist, and said that he wanted to enter; but the giant, to whom the +castle belonged, only answered: 'I know who you are. I have nothing to +do with robbers.' + +'I am no robber,' answered the prince. 'I am the son of a king, and I +have killed all the band. If you do not open to me at once I will break +in the door, and your head shall go to join the others.' + +He waited a little, but the door remained shut as tightly as before. +Then he just put his shoulder to it, and immediately the wood began +to crack. When the giant found that it was no use keeping it shut, he +opened it, saying: 'I see you are a brave youth. Let there be peace +between us.' + +And the prince was glad to make peace, for he had caught a glimpse of +the giant's beautiful daughter, and from that day he often sought the +giant's house. + +Now the queen led a dull life all alone in the castle, and to amuse +herself she paid visits to the robber captain, who flattered her till at +last she agreed to marry him. But as she was much afraid of her son, +she told the robber that the next time the prince went to bathe in +the river, he was to steal the sword from its place above the bed, +for without it the young man would have no power to punish him for his +boldness. + +The robber captain thought this good counsel, and the next morning, when +the young man went to bathe, he unhooked the sword from its nail and +buckled it round his waist. On his return to the castle, the prince +found the robber waiting for him on the steps, waving the sword above +his head, and knowing that some horrible fate was in store, fell on his +knees and begged for mercy. But he might as well have tried to squeeze +blood out of a stone. The robber, indeed, granted him his life, but +took out both his eyes, which he thrust into the prince's hand, saying +brutally: + +'Here, you had better keep them! You may find them useful!' + +Weeping, the blind youth felt his way to the giant's house, and told him +all the story. + +The giant was full of pity for the poor young man, but inquired +anxiously what he had done with the eyes. The prince drew them out of +his pocket, and silently handed them to the giant, who washed them well, +and then put them back in the prince's head. For three days he lay in +utter darkness; then the light began to come back, till soon he saw as +well as ever. + +But though he could not rejoice enough over the recovery of his eyes, he +bewailed bitterly the loss of his sword, and that it should have fallen +to the lot of his bitter enemy. + +'Never mind, my friend,' said the giant, 'I will get it back for you.' +And he sent for the monkey who was his head servant. + +'Tell the fox and the squirrel that they are to go with you, and fetch +me back the prince's sword,' ordered he. + +The three servants set out at once, one seated on the back of the +others, the ape, who disliked walking, being generally on top. Directly +they came to the window of the robber captain's room, the monkey sprang +from the backs of the fox and the squirrel, and climbed in. The room was +empty, and the sword hanging from a nail. He took it down, and buckling +it round his waist, as he had seen the prince do, swung himself down +again, and mounting on the backs of his two companions, hastened to +his master. The giant bade him give the sword to the prince, who girded +himself with it, and returned with all speed to the castle. + +'Come out, you rascal! come out, you villain!' cried he, 'and answer +to me for the wrong you have done. I will show you who is the master in +this house!' + +The noise he made brought the robber into the room. He glanced up to +where the sword usually hung, but it was gone; and instinctively he +looked at the prince's hand, where he saw it gleaming brightly. In his +turn he fell on his knees to beg for mercy, but it was too late. As he +had done to the prince, so the prince did to him, and, blinded, he was +thrust forth, and fell down a deep hole, where he is to this day. His +mother the prince sent back to her father, and never would see her +again. After this he returned to the giant, and said to him: + +'My friend, add one more kindness to those you have already heaped on +me. Give me your daughter as my wife.' + +So they were married, and the wedding feast was so splendid that there +was not a kingdom in the world that did not hear of it. And the prince +never went back to his father's throne, but lived peacefully with his +wife in the forest, where, if they are not dead, they are living still. + +[From Ungarische Volksmarchen.] + + + + +The Treasure Seeker + +Once, long ago, in a little town that lay in the midst of high hills and +wild forests, a party of shepherds sat one night in the kitchen of the +inn talking over old times, and telling of the strange things that had +befallen them in their youth. + +Presently up spoke the silver-haired Father Martin. + +'Comrades,' said he, 'you have had wonderful adventures; but I will tell +you something still more astonishing that happened to myself. When I was +a young lad I had no home and no one to care for me, and I wandered from +village to village all over the country with my knapsack on my back; +but as soon as I was old enough I took service with a shepherd in the +mountains, and helped him for three years. One autumn evening as we +drove the flock homeward ten sheep were missing, and the master bade me +go and seek them in the forest. I took my dog with me, but he could find +no trace of them, though we searched among the bushes till night fell; +and then, as I did not know the country and could not find my way home +in the dark, I decided to sleep under a tree. At midnight my dog became +uneasy, and began to whine and creep close to me with his tail between +his legs; by this I knew that something was wrong, and, looking about, I +saw in the bright moonlight a figure standing beside me. It seemed to be +a man with shaggy hair, and a long beard which hung down to his knees. +He had a garland upon his head, and a girdle of oak-leaves about his +body, and carried an uprooted fir-tree in his right hand. I shook like +an aspen leaf at the sight, and my spirit quaked for fear. The strange +being beckoned with his hand that I should follow him; but as I did not +stir from the spot he spoke in a hoarse, grating voice: "Take courage, +fainthearted shepherd. I am the Treasure Seeker of the mountain. If you +will come with me you shall dig up much gold." + +'Though I was still deadly cold with terror I plucked up my courage and +said: "Get away from me, evil spirit; I do not desire your treasures." + +'At this the spectre grinned in my face and cried mockingly: + +'"Simpleton! Do you scorn your good fortune? Well, then, remain a +ragamuffin all your days." + +'He turned as if to go away from me, then came back again and said: +"Bethink yourself, bethink yourself, rogue. I will fill your knapsack--I +will fill your pouch." + +'"Away from me, monster," I answered, "I will have nothing to do with +you." + +'When the apparition saw that I gave no heed to him he ceased to urge +me, saying only: "Some day you will rue this," and looked at me sadly. +Then he cried: "Listen to what I say, and lay it well to heart, it may +be of use to you when you come to your senses. A vast treasure of gold +and precious stones lies in safety deep under the earth. At twilight and +at high noon it is hidden, but at midnight it may be dug up. For seven +hundred years have I watched over it, but now my time has come; it is +common property, let him find it who can. So I thought to give it into +your hand, having a kindness for you because you feed your flock upon my +mountain." + +'Thereupon the spectre told me exactly where the treasure lay, and how +to find it. It might be only yesterday so well do I remember every word +he spoke. + +'"Go towards the little mountains," said he, "and ask there for the +Black King's Valley, and when you come to a tiny brook follow the stream +till you reach the stone bridge beside the saw-mill. Do not cross the +bridge, but keep to your right along the bank till a high rock stands +before you. A bow-shot from that you will discover a little hollow like +a grave. When you find this hollow dig it out; but it will be hard work, +for the earth has been pressed down into it with care. Still, work away +till you find solid rock on all sides of you, and soon you will come to +a square slab of stone; force it out of the wall, and you will stand at +the entrance of the treasure house. Into this opening you must crawl, +holding a lamp in your mouth. Keep your hands free lest you knock your +nose against a stone, for the way is steep and the stones sharp. If it +bruises your knees never mind; you are on the road to fortune. Do not +rest till you reach a wide stairway, down which you will go till you +come out into a spacious hall, in which there are three doors; two of +them stand open, the third is fastened with locks and bolts of iron. Do +not go through the door to the right lest you disturb the bones of the +lords of the treasure. Neither must you go through the door to the left, +it leads to the snake's chamber, where adders and serpents lodge; but +open the fast-closed door by means of the well-known spring-root, which +you must on no account forget to take with you, or all your trouble will +be for naught, for no crowbar or mortal tools will help you. If you want +to procure the root ask a wood-seller; it is a common thing for hunters +to need, and it is not hard to find. If the door bursts open suddenly +with great crackings and groanings do not be afraid, the noise is caused +by the power of the magic root, and you will not be hurt. Now trim your +lamp that it may not fail you, for you will be nearly blinded by the +flash and glitter of the gold and precious stones on the walls and +pillars of the vault; but beware how you stretch out a hand towards the +jewels! In the midst of the cavern stands a copper chest, in that +you will find gold and silver, enough and to spare, and you may help +yourself to your heart's content. If you take as much as you can carry +you will have sufficient to last your lifetime, and you may return three +times; but woe betide you if you venture to come a fourth time. You +would have your trouble for your pains, and would be punished for your +greediness by falling down the stone steps and breaking your leg. Do +not neglect each time to heap back the loose earth which concealed the +entrance of the king's treasure chamber." + +'As the apparition left off speaking my dog pricked up his ears and +began to bark. I heard the crack of a carter's whip and the noise +of wheels in the distance, and when I looked again the spectre had +disappeared.' + +So ended the shepherd's tale; and the landlord who was listening with +the rest, said shrewdly: + +'Tell us now, Father Martin, did you go to the mountain and find what +the spirit promised you; or is it a fable?' + +'Nay, nay,' answered the graybeard. 'I cannot tell if the spectre +lied, for never a step did I go towards finding the hollow, for two +reasons:--one was that my neck was too precious for me to risk it in +such a snare as that; the other, that no one could ever tell me where +the spring-root was to be found.' + +Then Blaize, another aged shepherd, lifted up his voice. + +"Tis a pity, Father Martin, that your secret has grown old with you. +If you had told it forty years ago truly you would not long have been +lacking the spring-root. Even though you will never climb the mountain +now, I will tell you, for a joke, how it is to be found. The easiest +way to get it is by the help of a black woodpecker. Look, in the spring, +where she builds her nest in a hole in a tree, and when the time comes +for her brood to fly off block up the entrance to the nest with a hard +sod, and lurk in ambush behind the tree till the bird returns to feed +her nestlings. When she perceives that she cannot get into her nest she +will fly round the tree uttering cries of distress, and then dart off +towards the sun-setting. When you see her do this, take a scarlet cloak, +or if that be lacking to you, buy a few yards of scarlet cloth, +and hurry back to the tree before the woodpecker returns with the +spring-root in her beak. So soon as she touches with the root the sod +that blocks the nest, it will fly violently out of the hole. Then spread +the red cloth quickly under the tree, so that the woodpecker may think +it is a fire, and in her terror drop the root. Some people really light +a fire and strew spikenard blossoms in it; but that is a clumsy method, +for if the flames do not shoot up at the right moment away will fly the +woodpecker, carrying the root with her." + +The party had listened with interest to this speech, but by the time it +was ended the hour was late, and they went their ways homeward, leaving +only one man who had sat unheeded in a corner the whole evening through. + +Master Peter Bloch had once been a prosperous innkeeper, and a +master-cook; but he had gone steadily down in the world for some time, +and was now quite poor. + +Formerly he had been a merry fellow, fond of a joke, and in the art of +cooking had no equal in the town. He could make fish-jelly, and quince +fritters, and even wafer-cakes; and he gilded the ears of all his +boars' heads. Peter had looked about him for a wife early in life, but +unluckily his choice fell upon a woman whose evil tongue was well known +in the town. Ilse was hated by everybody, and the young folks would go +miles out of their way rather than meet her, for she had some ill-word +for everyone. Therefore, when Master Peter came along, and let himself +be taken in by her boasted skill as a housewife, she jumped at his +offer, and they were married the next day. But they had not got home +before they began to quarrel. In the joy of his heart Peter had tasted +freely of his own good wine, and as the bride hung upon his arm he +stumbled and fell, dragging her down with him; whereupon she beat him +soundly, and the neighbours said truly that things did not promise +well for Master Peter's comfort. Even when the ill-matched couple were +presently blessed with children, his happiness was but short lived, the +savage temper of his quarrelsome wife seemed to blight them from the +first, and they died like little kids in a cold winter. + +Though Master Peter had no great wealth to leave behind him, still +it was sad to him to be childless; and he would bemoan himself to his +friends, when he laid one baby after another in the grave, saying: 'The +lightning has been among the cherry-blossoms again, so there will be no +fruit to grow ripe.' + +But, by-and-by, he had a little daughter so strong and healthy that +neither her mother's temper nor her father's spoiling could keep her +from growing up tall and beautiful. Meanwhile the fortunes of the family +had changed. From his youth up, Master Peter had hated trouble; when he +had money he spent it freely, and fed all the hungry folk who asked him +for bread. If his pockets were empty he borrowed of his neighbours, but +he always took good care to prevent his scolding wife from finding out +that he had done so. His motto was: 'It will all come right in the end'; +but what it did come to was ruin for Master Peter. He was at his wits' +end to know how to earn an honest living, for try as he might ill-luck +seemed to pursue him, and he lost one post after another, till at last +all he could do was to carry sacks of corn to the mill for his wife, who +scolded him well if he was slow about it, and grudged him his portion of +food. + +This grieved the tender heart of his pretty daughter, who loved him +dearly, and was the comfort of his life. + +Peter was thinking of her as he sat in the inn kitchen and heard +the shepherds talking about the buried treasure, and for her sake he +resolved to go and seek for it. Before he rose from the landlord's +arm-chair his plan was made, and Master Peter went home more joyful and +full of hope than he had been for many a long day; but on the way +he suddenly remembered that he was not yet possessed of the magic +spring-root, and he stole into the house with a heavy heart, and threw +himself down upon his hard straw bed. He could neither sleep nor rest; +but as soon as it was light he got up and wrote down exactly all that +was to be done to find the treasure, that he might not forget anything, +and when it lay clear and plain before his eyes he comforted himself +with the thought that, though he must do the rough work for his wife +during one more winter at least, he would not have to tread the path to +the mill for the rest of his life. Soon he heard his wife's harsh +voice singing its morning song as she went about her household affairs, +scolding her daughter the while. She burst open his door while he was +still dressing: 'Well, Toper!' was her greeting, 'have you been drinking +all night, wasting money that you steal from my housekeeping? For shame, +drunkard!' + +Master Peter, who was well used to this sort of talk, did not disturb +himself, but waited till the storm blew over, then he said calmly: + +'Do not be annoyed, dear wife. I have a good piece of business in hand +which may turn out well for us.' + +'You with a good business?' cried she, 'you are good for nothing but +talk!' + +'I am making my will,' said he, 'that when my hour comes my house may be +in order.' + +These unexpected words cut his daughter to the heart; she remembered +that all night long she had dreamed of a newly dug grave, and at this +thought she broke out into loud lamentations. But her mother only cried: +'Wretch! have you not wasted goods and possessions, and now do you talk +of making a will?' + +And she seized him like a fury, and tried to scratch out his eyes. But +by-and-by the quarrel was patched up, and everything went on as before. +From that day Peter saved up every penny that his daughter Lucia gave +him on the sly, and bribed the boys of his acquaintance to spy out a +black woodpecker's nest for him. He sent them into the woods and fields, +but instead of looking for a nest they only played pranks on him. They +led him miles over hill and vale, stock and stone, to find a raven's +brood, or a nest of squirrels in a hollow tree, and when he was angry +with them they laughed in his face and ran away. This went on for +some time, but at last one of the boys spied out a woodpecker in the +meadow-lands among the wood-pigeons, and when he had found her nest in +a half-dead alder tree, came running to Peter with the news of his +discovery. Peter could hardly believe his good fortune, and went quickly +to see for himself if it was really true; and when he reached the tree +there certainly was a bird flying in and out as if she had a nest in +it. Peter was overjoyed at this fortunate discovery, and instantly set +himself to obtain a red cloak. Now in the whole town there was only +one red cloak, and that belonged to a man of whom nobody ever willingly +asked a favour--Master Hammerling the hangman. It cost Master Peter +many struggles before he could bring himself to visit such a person, but +there was no help for it, and, little as he liked it, he ended by making +his request to the hangman, who was flattered that so respectable a man +as Peter should borrow his robe of office, and willingly lent it to him. + +Peter now had all that was necessary to secure the magic root; he +stopped up the entrance to the nest, and everything fell out exactly as +Blaize had foretold. As soon as the woodpecker came back with the root +in her beak out rushed Master Peter from behind the tree and displayed +the fiery red cloak so adroitly that the terrified bird dropped the root +just where it could be easily seen. All Peter's plans had succeeded, and +he actually held in his hand the magic root--that master-key which would +unlock all doors, and bring its possessor unheard-of luck. His thoughts +now turned to the mountain, and he secretly made preparations for his +journey. He took with him only a staff, a strong sack, and a little box +which his daughter Lucia had given him. + +It happened that on the very day Peter had chosen for setting out, Lucia +and her mother went off early to the town, leaving him to guard the +house; but in spite of that he was on the point of taking his departure +when it occurred to him that it might be as well first to test the +much-vaunted powers of the magic root for himself. Dame Ilse had a +strong cupboard with seven locks built into the wall of her room, in +which she kept all the money she had saved, and she wore the key of it +always hung about her neck. Master Peter had no control at all of the +money affairs of the household, so the contents of this secret hoard +were quite unknown to him, and this seemed to be a good opportunity for +finding out what they were. He held the magic root to the keyhole, and +to his astonishment heard all the seven locks creaking and turning, the +door flew suddenly wide open, and his greedy wife's store of gold pieces +lay before his eyes. He stood still in sheer amazement, not knowing +which to rejoice over most--this unexpected find, or the proof of the +magic root's real power; but at last he remembered that it was quite +time to be starting on his journey. So, filling his pockets with the +gold, he carefully locked the empty cupboard again and left the house +without further delay. When Dame Ilse and her daughter returned they +wondered to find the house door shut, and Master Peter nowhere to be +seen. They knocked and called, but nothing stirred within but the house +cat, and at last the blacksmith had to be fetched to open the door. Then +the house was searched from garret to cellar, but no Master Peter was to +be found. + +'Who knows?' cried Dame Ilse at last, 'the wretch may have been idling +in some tavern since early morning.' + +Then a sudden thought startled her, and she felt for her keys. Suppose +they had fallen into her good-for-nothing husband's hands and he had +helped himself to her treasure! But no, the keys were safe in their +usual place, and the cupboard looked quite untouched. Mid-day came, +then evening, then midnight, and still no Master Peter appeared, and the +matter became really serious. Dame Ilse knew right well what a torment +she had been to her husband, and remorse caused her the gloomiest +forebodings. + +'Ah! Lucia,' she cried, 'I greatly fear that your father has done +himself a mischief.' And they sat till morning weeping over their own +fancies. + +As soon as it was light they searched every corner of the house again, +and examined every nail in the wall and every beam; but, luckily, Master +Peter was not hanging from any of them. After that the neighbours went +out with long poles to fish in every ditch and pond, but they found +nothing, and then Dame Ilse gave up the idea of ever seeing her husband +again and very soon consoled herself, only wondering how the sacks of +corn were to be carried to the mill in future. She decided to buy +a strong ass to do the work, and having chosen one, and after some +bargaining with the owner as to its price, she went to the cupboard +in the wall to fetch the money. But what were her feelings when she +perceived that every shelf lay empty and bare before her! For a moment +she stood bewildered, then broke into such frightful ravings that Lucia +ran to her in alarm; but as soon as she heard of the disappearance of +the money she was heartily glad, and no longer feared that her father +had come to any harm, but understood that he must have gone out into the +world to seek his fortune in some new way. + +About a month after this, someone knocked at Dame Ilse's door one day, +and she went to see if it was a customer for meal; but in stepped +a handsome young man, dressed like a duke's son, who greeted her +respectfully, and asked after her pretty daughter as if he were an old +friend, though she could not remember having ever set eyes upon him +before. + +However, she invited him to step into the house and be seated while he +unfolded his business. With a great air of mystery he begged permission +to speak to the fair Lucia, of whose skill in needlework he had heard so +much, as he had a commission to give her. Dame Ilse had her own opinion +as to what kind of commission it was likely to be--brought by a young +stranger to a pretty maiden; however, as the meeting would be under her +own eye, she made no objection, but called to her industrious daughter, +who left off working and came obediently; but when she saw the stranger +she stopped short, blushing, and casting down her eyes. He looked at her +fondly, and took her hand, which she tried to draw away, crying: + +'Ah! Friedlin, why are you here? I thought you were a hundred miles +away. Are you come to grieve me again?' + +'No, dearest girl,' answered he; 'I am come to complete your happiness +and my own. Since we last met my fortune has utterly changed; I am +no longer the poor vagabond that I was then. My rich uncle has died, +leaving me money and goods in plenty, so that I dare to present myself +to your mother as a suitor for your hand. That I love you I know well; +if you can love me I am indeed a happy man.' + +Lucia's pretty blue eyes had looked up shyly as he spoke, and now a +smile parted her rosy lips; and she stole a glance at her mother to see +what she thought about it all; but the dame stood lost in amazement to +find that her daughter, whom she could have declared had never been out +of her sight, was already well acquainted with the handsome stranger, +and quite willing to be his bride. Before she had done staring, this +hasty wooer had smoothed his way by covering the shining table with gold +pieces as a wedding gift to the bride's mother, and had filled Lucia's +apron into the bargain; after which the dame made no difficulties, and +the matter was speedily settled. + +While Ilse gathered up the gold and hid it away safely, the lovers +whispered together, and what Friedlin told her seemed to make Lucia +every moment more happy and contented. + +Now a great hurry-burly began in the house, and preparations for the +wedding went on apace. A few days later a heavily laden waggon drove up, +and out of it came so many boxes and bales that Dame Ilse was lost in +wonder at the wealth of her future son-in-law. The day for the wedding +was chosen, and all their friends and neighbours were bidden to the +feast. As Lucia was trying on her bridal wreath she said to her mother: +'This wedding-garland would please me indeed if father Peter could lead +me to the church. If only he could come back again! Here we are rolling +in riches while he may be nibbling at hunger's table.' And the very idea +of such a thing made her weep, while even Dame Ilse said: + +'I should not be sorry myself to see him come back--there is always +something lacking in a house when the good man is away.' + +But the fact was that she was growing quite tired of having no one to +scold. And what do you think happened? + +On the very eve of the wedding a man pushing a wheelbarrow arrived at +the city gate, and paid toll upon a barrel of nails which it contained, +and then made the best of his way to the bride's dwelling and knocked at +the door. + +The bride herself peeped out of the window to see who it could be, and +there stood father Peter! Then there was great rejoicing in the house; +Lucia ran to embrace him, and even Dame Ilse held out her hand in +welcome, and only said: 'Rogue, mend your ways,' when she remembered the +empty treasure cupboard. Father Peter greeted the bridegroom, looking +at him shrewdly, while the mother and daughter hastened to say all +they knew in his favour, and appeared to be satisfied with him as a +son-in-law. When Dame Ilse had set something to eat before her husband, +she was curious to hear his adventures, and questioned him eagerly as to +why he had gone away. + +'God bless my native place,' said he. 'I have been marching through the +country, and have tried every kind of work, but now I have found a job +in the iron trade; only, so far, I have put more into it than I have +earned by it. This barrel of nails is my whole fortune, which I wish to +give as my contribution towards the bride's house furnishing.' + +This speech roused Dame Ilse to anger, and she broke out into such +shrill reproaches that the bystanders were fairly deafened, and Friedlin +hastily offered Master Peter a home with Lucia and himself, promising +that he should live in comfort, and be always welcome. So Lucia had her +heart's desire, and father Peter led her to the church next day, and +the marriage took place very happily. Soon afterwards the young people +settled in a fine house which Friedlin had bought, and had a garden and +meadows, a fishpond, and a hill covered with vines, and were as happy as +the day was long. Father Peter also stayed quietly with them, living, as +everybody believed, upon the generosity of his rich son-in law. No one +suspected that his barrel of nails was the real 'Horn of Plenty,' from +which all this prosperity overflowed. + +Peter had made the journey to the treasure mountain successfully, +without being found out by anybody. He had enjoyed himself by the way, +and taken his own time, until he actually reached the little brook in +the valley which it had cost him some trouble to find. Then he pressed +on eagerly, and soon came to the little hollow in the wood; down he +went, burrowing like a mole into the earth; the magic root did its work, +and at last the treasure lay before his eyes. You may imagine how gaily +Peter filled his sack with as much gold as he could carry, and how +he staggered up the seventy-seven steps with a heart full of hope and +delight. He did not quite trust the gnome's promises of safety, and +was in such haste to find himself once more in the light of day that +he looked neither to the right nor the left, and could not afterwards +remember whether the walls and pillars had sparkled with jewels or not. + +However, all went well--he neither saw nor heard anything alarming; the +only thing that happened was that the great iron-barred door shut with +a crash as soon as he was fairly outside it, and then he remembered +that he had left the magic root behind him, so he could not go back for +another load of treasure. But even that did not trouble Peter much; he +was quite satisfied with what he had already. After he had faithfully +done everything according to Father Martin's instructions, and pressed +the earth well back into the hollow, he sat down to consider how he +could bring his treasure back to his native place, and enjoy it there, +without being forced to share it with his scolding wife, who would +give him no peace if she once found out about it. At last, after +much thinking, he hit upon a plan. He carried his sack to the nearest +village, and there bought a wheelbarrow, a strong barrel, and a quantity +of nails. Then he packed his gold into the barrel, covered it well with +a layer of nails, hoisted it on to the wheelbarrow with some difficulty, +and set off with it upon his homeward way. At one place upon the road +he met a handsome young man who seemed by his downcast air to be in some +great trouble. Father Peter, who wished everybody to be as happy as he +was himself, greeted him cheerfully, and asked where he was going, to +which he answered sadly: + +'Into the wide world, good father, or out of it, where ever my feet may +chance to carry me.' + +'Why out of it?' said Peter. 'What has the world been doing to you?' + +'It has done nothing to me, nor I to it,' he replied. 'Nevertheless +there is not anything left in it for me.' + +Father Peter did his best to cheer the young man up, and invited him to +sup with him at the first inn they came to, thinking that perhaps hunger +and poverty were causing the stranger's trouble. But when good food was +set before him he seemed to forget to eat. So Peter perceived that what +ailed his guest was sorrow of heart, and asked him kindly to tell him +his story. + +'Where is the good, father?' said he. 'You can give me neither help nor +comfort.' + +'Who knows?' answered Master Peter. 'I might be able to do something +for you. Often enough in life help comes to us from the most unexpected +quarter.' + +The young man, thus encouraged, began his tale. + +'I am,' said he, 'a crossbow-man in the service of a noble count, in +whose castle I was brought up. Not long ago my master went on a journey, +and brought back with him, amongst other treasures, the portrait of a +fair maiden so sweet and lovely that I lost my heart at first sight of +it, and could think of nothing but how I might seek her out and marry +her. The count had told me her name, and where she lived, but laughed at +my love, and absolutely refused to give me leave to go in search of her, +so I was forced to run away from the castle by night. I soon reached the +little town where the maiden dwelt; but there fresh difficulties awaited +me. She lived under the care of her mother, who was so severe that she +was never allowed to look out of the window, or set her foot outside the +door alone, and how to make friends with her I did not know. But at last +I dressed myself as an old woman, and knocked boldly at her door. The +lovely maiden herself opened it, and so charmed me that I came near +forgetting my disguise; but I soon recovered my wits, and begged her +to work a fine table-cloth for me, for she is reported to be the best +needlewoman in all the country round. Now I was free to go and see her +often under the presence of seeing how the work was going oil, and one +day, when her mother had gone to the town, I ventured to throw off my +disguise, and tell her of my love. She was startled at first; but I +persuaded her to listen to me, and I soon saw that I was not displeasing +to her, though she scolded me gently for my disobedience to my master, +and my deceit in disguising myself. But when I begged her to marry me, +she told me sadly that her mother would scorn a penniless wooer, and +implored me to go away at once, lest trouble should fall upon her. + +'Bitter as it was to me, I was forced to go when she bade me, and I have +wandered about ever since, with grief gnawing at my heart; for how can +a masterless man, without money or goods, ever hope to win the lovely +Lucia?' + +Master Peter, who had been listening attentively, pricked up his ears +at the sound of his daughter's name, and very soon found out that it was +indeed with her that this young man was so deeply in love. + +'Your story is strange indeed,' said he. 'But where is the father of +this maiden--why do you not ask him for her hand? He might well take +your part, and be glad to have you for his son-in-law.' + +'Alas!' said the young man, 'her father is a wandering good-for-naught, +who has forsaken wife and child, and gone off--who knows where? The wife +complains of him bitterly enough, and scolds my dear maiden when she +takes her father's part.' + +Father Peter was somewhat amused by this speech; but he liked the young +man well, and saw that he was the very person he needed to enable him +to enjoy his wealth in peace, without being separated from his dear +daughter. + +'If you will take my advice,' said he, 'I promise you that you shall +marry this maiden whom you love so much, and that before you are many +days older.' + +'Comrade,' cried Friedlin indignantly, for he thought Peter did but jest +with him, 'it is ill done to mock at an unhappy man; you had better find +someone else who will let himself be taken in with your fine promises.' +And up he sprang, and was going off hastily, when Master Peter caught +him by the arm. + +'Stay, hothead!' he cried; 'it is no jest, and I am prepared to make +good my words.' + +Thereupon he showed him the treasure hidden under the nails, and +unfolded to him his plan, which was that Friedlin should play the part +of the rich son-in-law, and keep a still tongue, that they might enjoy +their wealth together in peace. + +The young man was overjoyed at this sudden change in his fortunes, and +did not know how to thank father Peter for his generosity. They took +the road again at dawn the next morning, and soon reached a town, where +Friedlin equipped himself as a gallant wooer should. Father Peter filled +his pockets with gold for the wedding dowry, and agreed with him that +when all was settled he should secretly send him word that Peter might +send off the waggon load of house plenishings with which the rich +bridegroom was to make such a stir in the little town where the bride +lived. As they parted, father Peter's last commands to Friedlin were to +guard well their secret, and not even to tell it to Lucia till she was +his wife. + +Master Peter long enjoyed the profits of his journey to the mountain, +and no rumour of it ever got abroad. In his old age his prosperity was +so great that he himself did not know how rich he was; but it was always +supposed that the money was Friedlin's. He and his beloved wife lived in +the greatest happiness and peace, and rose to great honour in the town. +And to this day, when the citizens wish to describe a wealthy man, they +say: 'As rich as Peter Bloch's son-in-law!' + + + + +The Cottager And His Cat + +Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife in a dirty, +tumble-down cottage, not very far from the splendid palace where the +king and queen dwelt. In spite of the wretched state of the hut, which +many people declared was too bad even for a pig to live in, the old man +was very rich, for he was a great miser, and lucky besides, and would +often go without food all day sooner than change one of his beloved gold +pieces. + +But after a while he found that he had starved himself once too often. +He fell ill, and had no strength to get well again, and in a few days he +died, leaving his wife and one son behind him. + +The night following his death, the son dreamed that an unknown man +appeared to him and said: 'Listen to me; your father is dead and your +mother will soon die, and all their riches will belong to you. Half of +his wealth is ill-gotten, and this you must give back to the poor from +whom he squeezed it. The other half you must throw into the sea. Watch, +however, as the money sinks into the water, and if anything should swim, +catch it and keep it, even if it is nothing more than a bit of paper.' + +Then the man vanished, and the youth awoke. + +The remembrance of his dream troubled him greatly. He did not want to +part with the riches that his father had left him, for he had known all +his life what it was to be cold and hungry, and now he had hoped for a +little comfort and pleasure. Still, he was honest and good-hearted, and +if his father had come wrongfully by his wealth he felt he could never +enjoy it, and at last he made up his mind to do as he had been bidden. +He found out who were the people who were poorest in the village, and +spent half of his money in helping them, and the other half he put in +his pocket. From a rock that jutted right out into the sea he flung it +in. In a moment it was out of sight, and no man could have told the +spot where it had sunk, except for a tiny scrap of paper floating on +the water. He stretched down carefully and managed to reach it, and +on opening it found six shillings wrapped inside. This was now all the +money he had in the world. + +The young man stood and looked at it thoughtfully. 'Well, I can't do +much with this,' he said to himself; but, after all, six shillings were +better than nothing, and he wrapped them up again and slipped them into +his coat. + +He worked in his garden for the next few weeks, and he and his mother +contrived to live on the fruit and vegetables he got out of it, and then +she too died suddenly. The poor fellow felt very sad when he had laid +her in her grave, and with a heavy heart he wandered into the forest, +not knowing where he was going. By-and-by he began to get hungry, and +seeing a small hut in front of him, he knocked at the door and asked if +they could give him some milk. The old woman who opened it begged him +to come in, adding kindly, that if he wanted a night's lodging he might +have it without its costing him anything. + +Two women and three men were at supper when he entered, and silently +made room for him to sit down by them. When he had eaten he began to +look about him, and was surprised to see an animal sitting by the fire +different from anything he had ever noticed before. It was grey in +colour, and not very big; but its eyes were large and very bright, and +it seemed to be singing in an odd way, quite unlike any animal in the +forest. 'What is the name of that strange little creature?' asked he. +And they answered, 'We call it a cat.' + +'I should like to buy it--if it is not too dear,' said the young man; +'it would be company for me.' And they told him that he might have it +for six shillings, if he cared to give so much. The young man took out +his precious bit of paper, handed them the six shillings, and the next +morning bade them farewell, with the cat lying snugly in his cloak. + +For the whole day they wandered through meadows and forests, till in the +evening they reached a house. The young fellow knocked at the door +and asked the old man who opened it if he could rest there that night, +adding that he had no money to pay for it. 'Then I must give it to you,' +answered the man, and led him into a room where two women and two men +were sitting at supper. One of the women was the old man's wife, the +other his daughter. He placed the cat on the mantel shelf, and they all +crowded round to examine this strange beast, and the cat rubbed itself +against them, and held out its paw, and sang to them; and the women were +delighted, and gave it everything that a cat could eat, and a great deal +more besides. + +After hearing the youth's story, and how he had nothing in the world +left him except his cat, the old man advised him to go to the palace, +which was only a few miles distant, and take counsel of the king, who +was kind to everyone, and would certainly be his friend. The young man +thanked him, and said he would gladly take his advice; and early next +morning he set out for the royal palace. + +He sent a message to the king to beg for an audience, and received a +reply that he was to go into the great hall, where he would find his +Majesty. + +The king was at dinner with his court when the young man entered, and +he signed to him to come near. The youth bowed low, and then gazed in +surprise at the crowd of little black creatures who were running about +the floor, and even on the table itself. Indeed, they were so bold that +they snatched pieces of food from the King's own plate, and if he drove +them away, tried to bite his hands, so that he could not eat his food, +and his courtiers fared no better. + +'What sort of animals are these?' asked the youth of one of the ladies +sitting near him. + +'They are called rats,' answered the king, who had overheard the +question, 'and for years we have tried some way of putting an end to +them, but it is impossible. They come into our very beds.' + +At this moment something was seen flying through the air. The cat was on +the table, and with two or three shakes a number of rats were lying +dead round him. Then a great scuffling of feet was heard, and in a few +minutes the hall was clear. + +For some minutes the King and his courtiers only looked at each other in +astonishment. 'What kind of animal is that which can work magic of this +sort?' asked he. And the young man told him that it was called a cat, +and that he had bought it for six shillings. + +And the King answered: 'Because of the luck you have brought me, in +freeing my palace from the plague which has tormented me for many years, +I will give you the choice of two things. Either you shall be my Prime +Minister, or else you shall marry my daughter and reign after me. Say, +which shall it be?' + +'The princess and the kingdom,' said the young man. + +And so it was. + +[From Islandische Marchen.] + + + + +The Prince Who Would Seek Immortality + +Once upon a time, in the very middle of the middle of a large kingdom, +there was a town, and in the town a palace, and in the palace a king. +This king had one son whom his father thought was wiser and cleverer +than any son ever was before, and indeed his father had spared no pains +to make him so. He had been very careful in choosing his tutors and +governors when he was a boy, and when he became a youth he sent him to +travel, so that he might see the ways of other people, and find that +they were often as good as his own. + +It was now a year since the prince had returned home, for his father +felt that it was time that his son should learn how to rule the kingdom +which would one day be his. But during his long absence the prince +seemed to have changed his character altogether. From being a merry and +light-hearted boy, he had grown into a gloomy and thoughtful man. The +king knew of nothing that could have produced such an alteration. +He vexed himself about it from morning till night, till at length an +explanation occurred to him--the young man was in love! + +Now the prince never talked about his feelings--for the matter of that +he scarcely talked at all; and the father knew that if he was to come to +the bottom of the prince's dismal face, he would have to begin. So one +day, after dinner, he took his son by the arm and led him into another +room, hung entirely with the pictures of beautiful maidens, each one +more lovely than the other. + +'My dear boy,' he said, 'you are very sad; perhaps after all your +wanderings it is dull for you here all alone with me. It would be much +better if you would marry, and I have collected here the portraits +of the most beautiful women in the world of a rank equal to your own. +Choose which among them you would like for a wife, and I will send an +embassy to her father to ask for her hand.' + +'Alas! your Majesty,' answered the prince, 'it is not love or marriage +that makes me so gloomy; but the thought, which haunts me day and night, +that all men, even kings, must die. Never shall I be happy again till +I have found a kingdom where death is unknown. And I have determined to +give myself no rest till I have discovered the Land of Immortality. + +The old king heard him with dismay; things were worse than he thought. +He tried to reason with his son, and told him that during all these +years he had been looking forward to his return, in order to resign his +throne and its cares, which pressed so heavily upon him. But it was +in vain that he talked; the prince would listen to nothing, and the +following morning buckled on his sword and set forth on his journey. + +He had been travelling for many days, and had left his fatherland behind +him, when close to the road he came upon a huge tree, and on its topmost +bough an eagle was sitting shaking the branches with all his might. This +seemed so strange and so unlike an eagle, that the prince stood still +with surprise, and the bird saw him and flew to the ground. The moment +its feet touched the ground he changed into a king. + +'Why do you look so astonished?' he asked. + +'I was wondering why you shook the boughs so fiercely,' answered the +prince. + +'I am condemned to do this, for neither I nor any of my kindred can die +till I have rooted up this great tree,' replied the king of the eagles. +'But it is now evening, and I need work no more to-day. Come to my house +with me, and be my guest for the night.' + +The prince accepted gratefully the eagle's invitation, for he was tired +and hungry. They were received at the palace by the king's beautiful +daughter, who gave orders that dinner should be laid for them at +once. While they were eating, the eagle questioned his guest about +his travels, and if he was wandering for pleasure's sake, or with any +special aim. Then the prince told him everything, and how he could never +turn back till he had discovered the Land of Immortality. + +'Dear brother,' said the eagle, 'you have discovered it already, and it +rejoices my heart to think that you will stay with us. Have you not just +heard me say that death has no power either over myself or any of my +kindred till that great tree is rooted up? It will take me six hundred +years' hard work to do that; so marry my daughter and let us all live +happily together here. After all, six hundred years is an eternity!' + +'Ah, dear king,' replied the young man, 'your offer is very tempting! +But at the end of six hundred years we should have to die, so we should +be no better off! No, I must go on till I find the country where there +is no death at all.' + +Then the princess spoke, and tried to persuade the guest to change his +mind, but he sorrowfully shook his head. At length, seeing that his +resolution was firmly fixed, she took from a cabinet a little box which +contained her picture, and gave it to him saying: + +'As you will not stay with us, prince, accept this box, which will +sometimes recall us to your memory. If you are tired of travelling +before you come to the Land of Immortality, open this box and look at +my picture, and you will be borne along either on earth or in the air, +quick as thought, or swift as the whirlwind.' + +The prince thanked her for her gift, which he placed in his tunic, and +sorrowfully bade the eagle and his daughter farewell. + +Never was any present in the world as useful as that little box, and +many times did he bless the kind thought of the princess. One evening it +had carried him to the top of a high mountain, where he saw a man with a +bald head, busily engaged in digging up spadefuls of earth and throwing +them in a basket. When the basket was full he took it away and returned +with an empty one, which he likewise filled. The prince stood and +watched him for a little, till the bald-headed man looked up and said to +him: 'Dear brother, what surprises you so much?' + +'I was wondering why you were filling the basket,' replied the prince. + +'Oh!' replied the man, 'I am condemned to do this, for neither I nor any +of my family can die till I have dug away the whole of this mountain and +made it level with the plain. But, come, it is almost dark, and I shall +work no longer.' And he plucked a leaf from a tree close by, and from a +rough digger he was changed into a stately bald-headed king. 'Come home +with me,' he added; 'you must be tired and hungry, and my daughter will +have supper ready for us.' The prince accepted gladly, and they went +back to the palace, where the bald-headed king's daughter, who was still +more beautiful than the other princess, welcomed them at the door and +led the way into a large hall and to a table covered with silver dishes. +While they were eating, the bald-headed king asked the prince how he had +happened to wander so far, and the young man told him all about it, and +how he was seeking the Land of Immortality. 'You have found it already,' +answered the king, 'for, as I said, neither I nor my family can die +till I have levelled this great mountain; and that will take full eight +hundred years longer. Stay here with us and marry my daughter. Eight +hundred years is surely long enough to live.' + +'Oh, certainly,' answered the prince; 'but, all the same, I would rather +go and seek the land where there is no death at all.' + +So next morning he bade them farewell, though the princess begged him to +stay with all her might; and when she found that she could not persuade +him she gave him as a remembrance a gold ring. This ring was still more +useful than the box, because when one wished oneself at any place one +was there directly, without even the trouble of flying to it through the +air. The prince put it on his finger, and thanking her heartily, went +his way. + +He walked on for some distance, and then he recollected the ring and +thought he would try if the princess had spoken truly as to its powers. +'I wish I was at the end of the world,' he said, shutting his eyes, and +when he opened them he was standing in a street full of marble palaces. +The men who passed him were tall and strong, and their clothes were +magnificent. He stopped some of them and asked in all the twenty-seven +languages he knew what was the name of the city, but no one answered +him. Then his heart sank within him; what should he do in this strange +place if nobody could understand anything? he said. Suddenly his eyes +fell upon a man dressed after the fashion of his native country, and he +ran up to him and spoke to him in his own tongue. 'What city is this, my +friend?' he inquired. + +'It is the capital city of the Blue Kingdom,' replied the man, 'but the +king himself is dead, and his daughter is now the ruler.' + +With this news the prince was satisfied, and begged his countryman to +show him the way to the young queen's palace. The man led him through +several streets into a large square, one side of which was occupied by a +splendid building that seemed borne up on slender pillars of soft green +marble. In front was a flight of steps, and on these the queen was +sitting wrapped in a veil of shining silver mist, listening to the +complaints of her people and dealing out justice. When the prince +came up she saw directly that he was no ordinary man, and telling her +chamberlain to dismiss the rest of her petitioners for that day, she +signed to the prince to follow her into the palace. Luckily she had been +taught his language as a child, so they had no difficulty in talking +together. + +The prince told all his story and how he was journeying in search of +the Land of Immortality. When he had finished, the princess, who had +listened attentively, rose, and taking his arm, led him to the door of +another room, the floor of which was made entirely of needles, stuck so +close together that there was not room for a single needle more. + +'Prince,' she said, turning to him, 'you see these needles? Well, know +that neither I nor any of my family can die till I have worn out these +needles in sewing. It will take at least a thousand years for that. Stay +here, and share my throne; a thousand years is long enough to live!' + +'Certainly,' answered he; 'still, at the end of the thousand years I +should have to die! No, I must find the land where there is no death.' + +The queen did all she could to persuade him to stay, but as her words +proved useless, at length she gave it up. Then she said to him: 'As you +will not stay, take this little golden rod as a remembrance of me. It +has the power to become anything you wish it to be, when you are in +need.' + +So the prince thanked her, and putting the rod in his pocket, went his +way. + +Scarcely had he left the town behind him when he came to a broad river +which no man might pass, for he was standing at the end of the world, +and this was the river which flowed round it. Not knowing what to do +next, he walked a little distance up the bank, and there, over his head, +a beautiful city was floating in the air. He longed to get to it, but +how? neither road nor bridge was anywhere to be seen, yet the city drew +him upwards, and he felt that here at last was the country which he +sought. Suddenly he remembered the golden rod which the mist-veiled +queen had given him. With a beating heart he flung it to the ground, +wishing with all his might that it should turn into a bridge, and +fearing that, after all, this might prove beyond its power. But no, +instead of the rod, there stood a golden ladder, leading straight up to +the city of the air. He was about to enter the golden gates, when there +sprang at him a wondrous beast, whose like he had never seen. 'Out sword +from the sheath,' cried the prince, springing back with a cry. And the +sword leapt from the scabbard and cut off some of the monster's heads, +but others grew again directly, so that the prince, pale with terror, +stood where he was, calling for help, and put his sword back in the +sheath again. + +The queen of the city heard the noise and looked from her window to see +what was happening. Summoning one of her servants, she bade him go and +rescue the stranger, and bring him to her. The prince thankfully obeyed +her orders, and entered her presence. + +The moment she looked at him, the queen also felt that he was no +ordinary man, and she welcomed him graciously, and asked him what had +brought him to the city. In answer the prince told all his story, and +how he had travelled long and far in search of the Land of Immortality. + +'You have found it,' said she, 'for I am queen over life and over death. +Here you can dwell among the immortals.' + +A thousand years had passed since the prince first entered the city, +but they had flown so fast that the time seemed no more than six months. +There had not been one instant of the thousand years that the prince was +not happy till one night when he dreamed of his father and mother. Then +the longing for his home came upon him with a rush, and in the morning +he told the Queen of the Immortals that he must go and see his father +and mother once more. The queen stared at him with amazement, and cried: +'Why, prince, are you out of your senses? It is more than eight hundred +years since your father and mother died! There will not even be their +dust remaining.' + +'I must go all the same,' said he. + +'Well, do not be in a hurry,' continued the queen, understanding that +he would not be prevented. 'Wait till I make some preparations for your +journey.' So she unlocked her great treasure chest, and took out two +beautiful flasks, one of gold and one of silver, which she hung round +his neck. Then she showed him a little trap-door in one corner of the +room, and said: 'Fill the silver flask with this water, which is below +the trap-door. It is enchanted, and whoever you sprinkle with the water +will become a dead man at once, even if he had lived a thousand years. +The golden flask you must fill with the water here,' she added, pointing +to a well in another corner. 'It springs from the rock of eternity; you +have only to sprinkle a few drops on a body and it will come to life +again, if it had been a thousand years dead.' + +The prince thanked the queen for her gifts, and, bidding her farewell, +went on his journey. + +He soon arrived in the town where the mist-veiled queen reigned in her +palace, but the whole city had changed, and he could scarcely find his +way through the streets. In the palace itself all was still, and he +wandered through the rooms without meeting anyone to stop him. At +last he entered the queen's own chamber, and there she lay, with her +embroidery still in her hands, fast asleep. He pulled at her dress, but +she did not waken. Then a dreadful idea came over him, and he ran to +the chamber where the needles had been kept, but it was quite empty. The +queen had broken the last over the work she held in her hand, and with +it the spell was broken too, and she lay dead. + +Quick as thought the prince pulled out the golden flask, and sprinkled +some drops of the water over the queen. In a moment she moved gently, +and raising her head, opened her eyes. + +'Oh, my dear friend, I am so glad you wakened me; I must have slept a +long while!' + +'You would have slept till eternity,' answered the prince, 'if I had not +been here to waken you.' + +At these words the queen remembered about the needles. She knew now that +she had been dead, and that the prince had restored her to life. She +gave him thanks from her heart for what he had done, and vowed she would +repay him if she ever got a chance. + +The prince took his leave, and set out for the country of the +bald-headed king. As he drew near the place he saw that the whole +mountain had been dug away, and that the king was lying dead on the +ground, his spade and bucket beside him. But as soon as the water from +the golden flask touched him he yawned and stretched himself, and slowly +rose to his feet. 'Oh, my dear friend, I am so glad to see you,' cried +he, 'I must have slept a long while!' + +'You would have slept till eternity if I had not been here to waken +you,' answered the prince. And the king remembered the mountain, and the +spell, and vowed to repay the service if he ever had a chance. + +Further along the road which led to his old home the prince found the +great tree torn up by its roots, and the king of the eagles sitting dead +on the ground, with his wings outspread as if for flight. A flutter ran +through the feathers as the drops of water fell on them, and the eagle +lifted his beak from the ground and said: 'Oh, how long I must have +slept! How can I thank you for having awakened me, my dear, good +friend!' + +'You would have slept till eternity if I had not been here to waken +you'; answered the prince. Then the king remembered about the tree, and +knew that he had been dead, and promised, if ever he had the chance, to +repay what the prince had done for him. + +At last he reached the capital of his father's kingdom, but on reaching +the place where the royal palace had stood, instead of the marble +galleries where he used to play, there lay a great sulphur lake, its +blue flames darting into the air. How was he to find his father and +mother, and bring them back to life, if they were lying at the bottom +of that horrible water? He turned away sadly and wandered back into +the streets, hardly knowing where he was going; when a voice behind him +cried: 'Stop, prince, I have caught you at last! It is a thousand years +since I first began to seek you.' And there beside him stood the old, +white-bearded, figure of Death. Swiftly he drew the ring from his +finger, and the king of the eagles, the bald-headed king, and the +mist-veiled queen, hastened to his rescue. In an instant they had seized +upon Death and held him tight, till the prince should have time to reach +the Land of Immortality. But they did not know how quickly Death could +fly, and the prince had only one foot across the border, when he felt +the other grasped from behind, and the voice of Death calling: 'Halt! +now you are mine.' + +The Queen of the Immortals was watching from her window, and cried to +Death that he had no power in her kingdom, and that he must seek his +prey elsewhere. + +'Quite true,' answered Death; 'but his foot is in my kingdom, and that +belongs to me!' + +'At any rate half of him is mine,' replied the Queen, 'and what good can +the other half do you? Half a man is no use, either to you or to me! But +this once I will allow you to cross into my kingdom, and we will decide +by a wager whose he is.' + +And so it was settled. Death stepped across the narrow line that +surrounds the Land of Immortality, and the queen proposed the wager +which was to decide the prince's fate. 'I will throw him up into the +sky,' she said, 'right to the back of the morning star, and if he falls +down into this city, then he is mine. But if he should fall outside the +walls, he shall belong to you.' + +In the middle of the city was a great open square, and here the queen +wished the wager to take place. When all was ready, she put her foot +under the foot of the prince and swung him into the air. Up, up, he +went, high amongst the stars, and no man's eyes could follow him. Had +she thrown him up straight? the queen wondered anxiously, for, if not, +he would fall outside the walls, and she would lose him for ever. The +moments seemed long while she and Death stood gazing up into the air, +waiting to know whose prize the prince would be. Suddenly they both +caught sight of a tiny speck no bigger than a wasp, right up in the +blue. Was he coming straight? No! Yes! But as he was nearing the city, +a light wind sprang up, and swayed him in the direction of the wall. +Another second and he would have fallen half over it, when the queen +sprang forward, seized him in her arms, and flung him into the castle. +Then she commanded her servants to cast Death out of the city, which +they did, with such hard blows that he never dared to show his face +again in the Land of Immortality. + +[From Ungarischen Volksmurchen.] + + + + + +The Stone-Cutter + +Once upon a time there lived a stone-cutter, who went every day to +a great rock in the side of a big mountain and cut out slabs for +gravestones or for houses. He understood very well the kinds of stones +wanted for the different purposes, and as he was a careful workman +he had plenty of customers. For a long time he was quite happy and +contented, and asked for nothing better than what he had. + +Now in the mountain dwelt a spirit which now and then appeared to +men, and helped them in many ways to become rich and prosperous. The +stone-cutter, however, had never seen this spirit, and only shook his +head, with an unbelieving air, when anyone spoke of it. But a time was +coming when he learned to change his opinion. + +One day the stone-cutter carried a gravestone to the house of a rich +man, and saw there all sorts of beautiful things, of which he had never +even dreamed. Suddenly his daily work seemed to grow harder and heavier, +and he said to himself: 'Oh, if only I were a rich man, and could sleep +in a bed with silken curtains and golden tassels, how happy I should +be!' + +And a voice answered him: 'Your wish is heard; a rich man you shall be!' + +At the sound of the voice the stone-cutter looked round, but could see +nobody. He thought it was all his fancy, and picked up his tools and +went home, for he did not feel inclined to do any more work that day. +But when he reached the little house where he lived, he stood still with +amazement, for instead of his wooden hut was a stately palace filled +with splendid furniture, and most splendid of all was the bed, in every +respect like the one he had envied. He was nearly beside himself with +joy, and in his new life the old one was soon forgotten. + +It was now the beginning of summer, and each day the sun blazed more +fiercely. One morning the heat was so great that the stone-cutter could +scarcely breathe, and he determined he would stay at home till the +evening. He was rather dull, for he had never learned how to amuse +himself, and was peeping through the closed blinds to see what was going +on in the street, when a little carriage passed by, drawn by servants +dressed in blue and silver. In the carriage sat a prince, and over his +head a golden umbrella was held, to protect him from the sun's rays. + +'Oh, if I were only a prince!' said the stone-cutter to himself, as the +carriage vanished round the corner. 'Oh, if I were only a prince, and +could go in such a carriage and have a golden umbrella held over me, how +happy I should be!' + +And the voice of the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; a +prince you shall be.' + +And a prince he was. Before his carriage rode one company of men and +another behind it; servants dressed in scarlet and gold bore him along, +the coveted umbrella was held over his head, everything heart could +desire was his. But yet it was not enough. He looked round still for +something to wish for, and when he saw that in spite of the water he +poured on his grass the rays of the sun scorched it, and that in spite +of the umbrella held over his head each day his face grew browner and +browner, he cried in his anger: 'The sun is mightier than I; oh, if I +were only the sun!' + +And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; the sun you shall +be.' + +And the sun he was, and felt himself proud in his power. He shot his +beams above and below, on earth and in heaven; he burnt up the grass in +the fields and scorched the faces of princes as well as of poorer folk. +But in a short time he began to grow tired of his might, for there +seemed nothing left for him to do. Discontent once more filled his soul, +and when a cloud covered his face, and hid the earth from him, he cried +in his anger: 'Does the cloud hold captive my rays, and is it mightier +than I? Oh, that I were a cloud, and mightier than any!' + +And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; a cloud you shall +be!' + +And a cloud he was, and lay between the sun and the earth. He caught the +sun's beams and held them, and to his joy the earth grew green again +and flowers blossomed. But that was not enough for him, and for days and +weeks he poured forth rain till the rivers overflowed their banks, and +the crops of rice stood in water. Towns and villages were destroyed by +the power of the rain, only the great rock on the mountain side remained +unmoved. The cloud was amazed at the sight, and cried in wonder: 'Is the +rock, then, mightier than I? Oh, if I were only the rock!' + +And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; the rock you +shall be! + +And the rock he was, and gloried in his power. Proudly he stood, and +neither the heat of the sun nor the force of the rain could move him. +'This is better than all!' he said to himself. But one day he heard a +strange noise at his feet, and when he looked down to see what it could +be, he saw a stone-cutter driving tools into his surface. Even while he +looked a trembling feeling ran all through him, and a great block broke +off and fell upon the ground. Then he cried in his wrath: 'Is a mere +child of earth mightier than a rock? Oh, if I were only a man!' + +And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard. A man once more +you shall be!' + +And a man he was, and in the sweat of his brow he toiled again at his +trade of stone-cutting. His bed was hard and his food scanty, but he +had learned to be satisfied with it, and did not long to be something +or somebody else. And as he never asked for things he had not got, or +desired to be greater and mightier than other people, he was happy at +last, and heard the voice of the mountain spirit no longer. + +[From Japanische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Gold-Bearded Man + +Once upon a time there lived a great king who had a wife and one son +whom he loved very much. The boy was still young when, one day, the king +said to his wife: 'I feel that the hour of my death draws near, and I +want you to promise that you will never take another husband but will +give up your life to the care of our son.' + +The queen burst into tears at these words, and sobbed out that she would +never, never marry again, and that her son's welfare should be her first +thought as long as she lived. Her promise comforted the troubled heart +of the king, and a few days after he died, at peace with himself and +with the world. + +But no sooner was the breath out of his body, than the queen said to +herself, 'To promise is one thing, and to keep is quite another.' And +hardly was the last spadeful of earth flung over the coffin than she +married a noble from a neighbouring country, and got him made king +instead of the young prince. Her new husband was a cruel, wicked man, +who treated his stepson very badly, and gave him scarcely anything to +eat, and only rags to wear; and he would certainly have killed the boy +but for fear of the people. + +Now by the palace grounds there ran a brook, but instead of being a +water-brook it was a milk-brook, and both rich and poor flocked to it +daily and drew as much milk as they chose. The first thing the new king +did when he was seated on the throne, was to forbid anyone to go near +the brook, on pain of being seized by the watchmen. And this was purely +spite, for there was plenty of milk for everybody. + +For some days no one dared venture near the banks of the stream, but at +length some of the watchmen noticed that early in the mornings, just at +dawn, a man with a gold beard came down to the brook with a pail, which +he filled up to the brim with milk, and then vanished like smoke before +they could get near enough to see who he was. So they went and told the +king what they had seen. + +At first the king would not believe their story, but as they persisted +it was quite true, he said that he would go and watch the stream that +night himself. With the earliest streaks of dawn the gold-bearded man +appeared, and filled his pail as before. Then in an instant he had +vanished, as if the earth had swallowed him up. + +The king stood staring with eyes and mouth open at the place where the +man had disappeared. He had never seen him before, that was certain; but +what mattered much more was how to catch him, and what should be done +with him when he was caught? He would have a cage built as a prison for +him, and everyone would talk of it, for in other countries thieves were +put in prison, and it was long indeed since any king had used a cage. It +was all very well to plan, and even to station a watchman behind every +bush, but it was of no use, for the man was never caught. They would +creep up to him softly on the grass, as he was stooping to fill his +pail, and just as they stretched out their hands to seize him, he +vanished before their eyes. Time after time this happened, till the king +grew mad with rage, and offered a large reward to anyone who could tell +him how to capture his enemy. + +The first person that came with a scheme was an old soldier who promised +the king that if he would only put some bread and bacon and a flask of +wine on the bank of the stream, the gold-bearded man would be sure to +eat and drink, and they could shake some powder into the wine, which +would send him to sleep at once. After that there was nothing to do but +to shut him in the cage. + +This idea pleased the king, and he ordered bread and bacon and a flask +of drugged wine to be placed on the bank of the stream, and the watchers +to be redoubled. Then, full of hope, he awaited the result. + +Everything turned out just as the soldier had said. Early next morning +the gold-bearded man came down to the brook, ate, drank, and fell sound +asleep, so that the watchers easily bound him, and carried him off to +the palace. In a moment the king had him fast in the golden cage, and +showed him, with ferocious joy, to the strangers who were visiting his +court. The poor captive, when he awoke from his drunken sleep, tried +to talk to them, but no one would listen to him, so he shut himself up +altogether, and the people who came to stare took him for a dumb man of +the woods. He wept and moaned to himself all day, and would hardly touch +food, though, in dread that he should die and escape his tormentors, the +king ordered his head cook to send him dishes from the royal table. + +The gold-bearded man had been in captivity about a month, when the king +was forced to make war upon a neighbouring country, and left the palace, +to take command of his army. But before he went he called his stepson to +him and said: + +'Listen, boy, to what I tell you. While I am away I trust the care of my +prisoner to you. See that he has plenty to eat and drink, but be careful +that he does not escape, or even walk about the room. If I return and +find him gone, you will pay for it by a terrible death.' + +The young prince was thankful that his stepfather was going to the war, +and secretly hoped he might never come back. Directly he had ridden +off the boy went to the room where the cage was kept, and never left it +night and day. He even played his games beside it. + +One day he was shooting at a mark with a silver bow; one of his arrows +fell into the golden cage. + +'Please give me my arrow,' said the prince, running up to him; but the +gold-bearded man answered: + +'No, I shall not give it to you unless you let me out of my cage.' + +'I may not let you out,' replied the boy, 'for if I do my stepfather +says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the +war. My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.' + +The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he +begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set +him free. Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince's heart was +touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other +people. So he shot back the bolt, and the gold-bearded man stepped out +into the world. + +'I will repay you a thousand fold for that good deed.' said the man, and +then he vanished. The prince began to think what he should say to the +king when he came back; then he wondered whether it would be wise to +wait for his stepfather's return and run the risk of the dreadful death +which had been promised him. 'No,' he said to himself, 'I am afraid to +stay. Perhaps the world will be kinder to me than he has been.' + +Unseen he stole out when twilight fell, and for many days he wandered +over mountains and through forests and valleys without knowing where he +was going or what he should do. He had only the berries for food, when, +one morning, he saw a wood-pigeon sitting on a bough. In an instant he +had fitted an arrow to his bow, and was taking aim at the bird, thinking +what a good meal he would make off him, when his weapon fell to the +ground at the sound of the pigeon's voice: + +'Do not shoot, I implore you, noble prince! I have two little sons at +home, and they will die of hunger if I am not there to bring them food.' + +And the young prince had pity, and unstrung his bow. + +'Oh, prince, I will repay your deed of mercy, said the grateful +wood-pigeon. + +'Poor thing! how can you repay me?' asked the prince. + +'You have forgotten,' answered the wood-pigeon, 'the proverb that runs, +"mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living creature can +always come across another."' The boy laughed at this speech and went +his way. + +By-and-by he reached the edge of a lake, and flying towards some rushes +which grew near the shore he beheld a wild duck. Now, in the days that +the king, his father, was alive, and he had everything to eat he could +possibly wish for, the prince always had wild duck for his birthday +dinner, so he quickly fitted an arrow to his bow and took a careful aim. + +'Do not shoot, I pray you, noble prince!' cried the wild duck; 'I have +two little sons at home; they will die of hunger if I am not there to +bring them food.' + +And the prince had pity, and let fall his arrow and unstrung his bow. + +'Oh, prince! I will repay your deed of mercy,' exclaimed the grateful +wild duck. + +'You poor thing! how can you repay me?' asked the prince. + +'You have forgotten,' answered the wild duck, 'the proverb that runs, +"mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living creature can +always come across another."' The boy laughed at this speech and went +his way. + +He had not wandered far from the shores of the lake, when he noticed a +stork standing on one leg, and again he raised his bow and prepared to +take aim. + +'Do not shoot, I pray you, noble prince,' cried the stork; 'I have two +little sons at home; they will die of hunger if I am not there to bring +them food.' + +Again the prince was filled with pity, and this time also he did not +shoot. + +'Oh, prince, I will repay your deed of mercy,' cried the stork. + +'You poor stork! how can you repay me?' asked the prince. + +'You have forgotten,' answered the stork, 'the proverb that runs, +"mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living creature can +always come across another."' + +The boy laughed at hearing these words again, and walked slowly on. He +had not gone far, when he fell in with two discharged soldiers. + +'Where are you going, little brother?' asked one. + +'I am seeking work,' answered the prince. + +'So are we,' replied the soldier. 'We can all go together.' + +The boy was glad of company and they went on, and on, and on, through +seven kingdoms, without finding anything they were able to do. At length +they reached a palace, and there was the king standing on the steps. + +'You seem to be looking for something,' said he. + +'It is work we want,' they all answered. + +So the king told the soldiers that they might become his coachmen; but +he made the boy his companion, and gave him rooms near his own. The +soldiers were dreadfully angry when they heard this, for of course they +did not know that the boy was really a prince; and they soon began to +lay their heads together to plot his ruin. + +Then they went to the king. + +'Your Majesty,' they said, 'we think it our duty to tell you that your +new companion has boasted to us that if he were only your steward he +would not lose a single grain of corn out of the storehouses. Now, if +your Majesty would give orders that a sack of wheat should be mixed with +one of barley, and would send for the youth, and command him to separate +the grains one from another, in two hours' time, you would soon see what +his talk was worth.' + +The king, who was weak, listened to what these wicked men had told him, +and desired the prince to have the contents of the sack piled into two +heaps by the time that he returned from his council. 'If you succeed,' +he added, 'you shall be my steward, but if you fail, I will put you to +death on the spot.' + +The unfortunate prince declared that he had never made any such boast as +was reported; but it was all in vain. The king did not believe him, and +turning him into an empty room, bade his servants carry in the huge sack +filled with wheat and barley, and scatter them in a heap on the floor. + +The prince hardly knew where to begin, and indeed if he had had a +thousand people to help him, and a week to do it in, he could never have +finished his task. So he flung himself on the ground in despair, and +covered his face with his hands. + +While he lay thus, a wood-pigeon flew in through the window. + +'Why are you weeping, noble prince?' asked the wood-pigeon. + +'How can I help weeping at the task set me by the king. For he says, if +I fail to do it, I shall die a horrible death.' + +'Oh, there is really nothing to cry about,' answered the wood-pigeon +soothingly. 'I am the king of the wood-pigeons, whose life you spared +when you were hungry. And now I will repay my debt, as I promised.' So +saying he flew out of the window, leaving the prince with some hope in +his heart. + +In a few minutes he returned, followed by a cloud of wood-pigeons, so +dense that it seemed to fill the room. Their king showed them what they +had to do, and they set to work so hard that the grain was sorted into +two heaps long before the council was over. When the king came back +he could not believe his eyes; but search as he might through the +two heaps, he could not find any barley among the wheat, or any wheat +amongst the barley. So he praised the prince for his industry and +cleverness, and made him his steward at once. + +This made the two soldiers more envious still, and they began to hatch +another plot. + +'Your Majesty,' they said to the king, one day, as he was standing on +the steps of the palace, 'that fellow has been boasting again, that if +he had the care of your treasures not so much as a gold pin should ever +be lost. Put this vain fellow to the proof, we pray you, and throw the +ring from the princess's finger into the brook, and bid him find it. We +shall soon see what his talk is worth.' + +And the foolish king listened to them, and ordered the prince to be +brought before him. + +'My son,' he said, 'I have heard that you have declared that if I made +you keeper of my treasures you would never lose so much as a gold pin. +Now, in order to prove the truth of your words, I am going to throw the +ring from the princess's finger into the brook, and if you do not find +it before I come back from council, you will have to die a horrible +death.' + +It was no use denying that he had said anything of the kind. The king +did not believe him; in fact he paid no attention at all, and hurried +off, leaving the poor boy speechless with despair in the corner. +However, he soon remembered that though it was very unlikely that he +should find the ring in the brook, it was impossible that he should find +it by staying in the palace. + +For some time the prince wandered up and down peering into the bottom of +the stream, but though the water was very clear, nothing could he see of +the ring. At length he gave it up in despair, and throwing himself down +at the foot of the tree, he wept bitterly. + +'What is the matter, dear prince?' said a voice just above him, and +raising his head, he saw the wild duck. + +'The king of this country declares I must die a horrible death if I +cannot find the princess's ring which he has thrown into the brook,' +answered the prince. + +'Oh, you must not vex yourself about that, for I can help you,' replied +the bird. 'I am the king of the wild ducks, whose life you spared, +and now it is my turn to save yours.' Then he flew away, and in a few +minutes a great flock of wild ducks were swimming all up and down the +stream looking with all their might, and long before the king came back +from his council there it was, safe on the grass beside the prince. + +At this sight the king was yet more astonished at the cleverness of his +steward, and at once promoted him to be the keeper of his jewels. + +Now you would have thought that by this time the king would have been +satisfied with the prince, and would have left him alone; but people's +natures are very hard to change, and when the two envious soldiers +came to him with a new falsehood, he was as ready to listen to them as +before. + +'Gracious Majesty,' said they, 'the youth whom you have made keeper of +your jewels has declared to us that a child shall be born in the palace +this night, which will be able to speak every language in the world and +to play every instrument of music. Is he then become a prophet, or a +magician, that he should know things which have not yet come to pass?' + +At these words the king became more angry than ever. He had tried to +learn magic himself, but somehow or other his spells would never work, +and he was furious to hear that the prince claimed a power that he did +not possess. Stammering with rage, he ordered the youth to be brought +before him, and vowed that unless this miracle was accomplished he would +have the prince dragged at a horse's tail until he was dead. + +In spite of what the soldiers had said, the boy knew no more magic than +the king did, and his task seemed more hopeless than before. He lay +weeping in the chamber which he was forbidden to leave, when suddenly he +heard a sharp tapping at the window, and, looking up, he beheld a stork. + +'What makes you so sad, prince?' asked he. + +'Someone has told the king that I have prophesied that a child shall be +born this night in the palace, who can speak all the languages in the +world and play every musical instrument. I am no magician to bring these +things to pass, but he says that if it does not happen he will have me +dragged through the city at a horse's tail till I die.' + +'Do not trouble yourself,' answered the stork. 'I will manage to find +such a child, for I am the king of the storks whose life you spared, and +now I can repay you for it.' + +The stork flew away and soon returned carrying in his beak a baby +wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid it down near a lute. In an +instant the baby stretched out its little hands and began to play a tune +so beautiful that even the prince forgot his sorrows as he listened. +Then he was given a flute and a zither, but he was just as well able +to draw music from them; and the prince, whose courage was gradually +rising, spoke to him in all the languages he knew. The baby answered him +in all, and no one could have told which was his native tongue! + +The next morning the king went straight to the prince's room, and saw +with his own eyes the wonders that baby could do. 'If your magic can +produce such a baby,' he said, 'you must be greater than any wizard that +ever lived, and shall have my daughter in marriage.' And, being a king, +and therefore accustomed to have everything the moment he wanted it, +he commanded the ceremony to be performed without delay, and a splendid +feast to be made for the bride and bridegroom. When it was over, he said +to the prince: + +'Now that you are really my son, tell me by what arts you were able to +fulfil the tasks I set you?' + +'My noble father-in-law,' answered the prince, 'I am ignorant of all +spells and arts. But somehow I have always managed to escape the death +which has threatened me.' And he told the king how he had been forced to +run away from his stepfather, and how he had spared the three birds, and +had joined the two soldiers, who had from envy done their utmost to ruin +him. + +The king was rejoiced in his heart that his daughter had married a +prince, and not a common man, and he chased the two soldiers away with +whips, and told them that if they ever dared to show their faces across +the borders of his kingdom, they should die the same death he had +prepared for the prince. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen] + + + + +Tritill, Litill, And The Birds + +Once upon a time there lived a princess who was so beautiful and so good +that everybody loved her. Her father could hardly bear her out of his +sight, and he almost died of grief when, one day, she disappeared, and +though the whole kingdom was searched through and through, she could +not be found in any corner of it. In despair, the king ordered a +proclamation to be made that whoever could bring her back to the palace +should have her for his wife. This made the young men start afresh on +the search, but they were no more successful than before, and returned +sorrowfully to their homes. + +Now there dwelt, not far from the palace, an old man who had three sons. +The two eldest were allowed by their parents to do just as they liked, +but the youngest was always obliged to give way to his brothers. When +they were all grown up, the eldest told his father that he was tired +of leading such a quiet life, and that he meant to go away and see the +world. + +The old people were very unhappy at the thought that they must part with +him, but they said nothing, and began to collect all that he would +want for his travels, and were careful to add a pair of new boots. When +everything was ready, he bade them farewell, and started merrily on his +way. + +For some miles his road lay through a wood, and when he left it he +suddenly came out on a bare hillside. Here he sat down to rest, and +pulling out his wallet prepared to eat his dinner. + +He had only eaten a few mouthfuls when an old man badly dressed passed +by, and seeing the food, asked if the young man could not spare him a +little. + +'Not I, indeed!' answered he; 'why I have scarcely enough for myself. If +you want food you must earn it.' And the beggar went on. + +After the young man had finished his dinner he rose and walked on for +several hours, till he reached a second hill, where he threw himself +down on the grass, and took some bread and milk from his wallet. While +he was eating and drinking, there came by an old man, yet more wretched +than the first, and begged for a few mouthfuls. But instead of food he +only got hard words, and limped sadly away. + +Towards evening the young man reached an open space in the wood, and by +this time he thought he would like some supper. The birds saw the food, +and flew round his head in numbers hoping for some crumbs, but he threw +stones at them, and frightened them off. Then he began to wonder where +he should sleep. Not in the open space he was in, for that was bare and +cold, and though he had walked a long way that day, and was tired, he +dragged himself up, and went on seeking for a shelter. + +At length he saw a deep sort of hole or cave under a great rock, and +as it seemed quite empty, he went in, and lay down in a corner. About +midnight he was awakened by a noise, and peeping out he beheld a +terrible ogress approaching. He implored her not to hurt him, but to +let him stay there for the rest of the night, to which she consented, on +condition that he should spend the next day in doing any task which she +might choose to set him. To this the young man willingly agreed, and +turned over and went to sleep again. In the morning, the ogress bade him +sweep the dust out of the cave, and to have it clean before her return +in the evening, otherwise it would be the worse for him. Then she left +the cave. + +The young man took the spade, and began to clean the floor of the cave, +but try as he would to move it the dirt still stuck to its place. He +soon gave up the task, and sat sulkily in the corner, wondering what +punishment the ogress would find for him, and why she had set him to do +such an impossible thing. + +He had not long to wait, after the ogress came home, before he knew what +his punishment was to be! She just gave one look at the floor of the +cave, then dealt him a blow on the head which cracked his skull, and +there was an end of him. + +Meanwhile his next brother grew tired of staying at home, and let his +parents have no rest till they had consented that he also should be +given some food and some new boots, and go out to see the world. On his +road, he also met the two old beggars, who prayed for a little of his +bread and milk, but this young man had never been taught to help other +people, and had made it a rule through his life to keep all he had to +himself. So he turned a deaf ear and finished his dinner. + +By-and-by he, too, came to the cave, and was bidden by the ogress to +clean the floor, but he was no more successful than his brother, and his +fate was the same. + +Anyone would have thought that when the old people had only one son left +that at least they would have been kind to him, even if they did not +love him. But for some reason they could hardly bear the sight of him, +though he tried much harder to make them comfortable than his brothers +had ever done. So when he asked their leave to go out into the world +they gave it at once, and seemed quite glad to be rid of him. They felt +it was quite generous of them to provide him with a pair of new boots +and some bread and milk for his journey. + +Besides the pleasure of seeing the world, the youth was very anxious to +discover what had become of his brothers, and he determined to trace, as +far as he could, the way that they must have gone. He followed the road +that led from his father's cottage to the hill, where he sat down to +rest, saying to himself: 'I am sure my brothers must have stopped here, +and I will do the same.' + +He was hungry as well as tired, and took out some of the food his +parents had given him. He was just going to begin to eat when the old +man appeared, and asked if he could not spare him a little. The young +man at once broke off some of the bread, begging the old man to sit down +beside him, and treating him as if he was an old friend. At last the +stranger rose, and said to him: 'If ever you are in trouble call me, and +I will help you. My name is Tritill.' Then he vanished, and the young +man could not tell where he had gone. + +However, he felt he had now rested long enough, and that he had better +be going his way. At the next hill he met with the second old man, and +to him also he gave food and drink. And when this old man had finished +he said, like the first: 'If you ever want help in the smallest thing +call to me. My name is Litill.' + +The young man walked on till he reached the open space in the wood, +where he stopped for dinner. In a moment all the birds in the world +seemed flying round his head, and he crumbled some of his bread for +them and watched them as they darted down to pick it up. When they had +cleared off every crumb the largest bird with the gayest plumage said to +him: 'If you are in trouble and need help say, "My birds, come to me!" +and we will come.' Then they flew away. + +Towards evening the young man reached the cave where his brothers had +met their deaths, and, like them, he thought it would be a good place +to sleep in. Looking round, he saw some pieces of the dead men's clothes +and of their bones. The sight made him shiver, but he would not move +away, and resolved to await the return of the ogress, for such he knew +she must be. + +Very soon she came striding in, and he asked politely if she would give +him a night's lodging. She answered as before, that he might stay on +condition that he should do any work that she might set him to next +morning. So the bargain being concluded, the young man curled himself up +in his corner and went to sleep. + +The dirt lay thicker than ever on the floor of the cave when the young +man took the spade and began his work. He could not clear it any more +than his brothers had done, and at last the spade itself stuck in +the earth so that he could not pull it out. The youth stared at it +in despair, then the old beggar's words flashed into his mind, and he +cried: 'Tritill, Tritill, come and help me!' + +And Tritill stood beside him and asked what he wanted. The youth told +him all his story, and when he had finished, the old man said: 'Spade +and shovel do your duty,' and they danced about the cave till, in a +short time, there was not a speck of dust left on the floor. As soon as +it was quite clean Tritill went his way. + +With a light heart the young man awaited the return of the ogress. When +she came in she looked carefully round, and then said to him: 'You did +not do that quite alone. However, as the floor is clean I will leave +your head on.' + +The following morning the ogress told the young man that he must take +all the feathers out of her pillows and spread them to dry in the sun. +But if one feather was missing when she came back at night his head +should pay for it.' + +The young man fetched the pillows, and shook out all the feathers, and +oh! what quantities of them there were! He was thinking to himself, +as he spread them out carefully, how lucky it was that the sun was so +bright and that there was no wind, when suddenly a breeze sprang up, +and in a moment the feathers were dancing high in the air. At first the +youth tried to collect them again, but he soon found that it was no use, +and he cried in despair: 'Tritill, Litill, and all my birds, come and +help me!' + +He had hardly said the words when there they all were; and when the +birds had brought all the feathers back again, Tritill, and Litill, and +he, put them away in the pillows, as the ogress had bidden him. But one +little feather they kept out, and told the young man that if the ogress +missed it he was to thrust it up her nose. Then they all vanished, +Tritill, Litill, and the birds. + +Directly the ogress returned home she flung herself with all her weight +on the bed, and the whole cave quivered under her. The pillows were soft +and full instead of being empty, which surprised her, but that did not +content her. She got up, shook out the pillow-cases one by one, and +began to count the feathers that were in each. 'If one is missing I will +have your head,' said she, and at that the young man drew the feather +from his pocket and thrust it up her nose, crying 'If you want your +feather, here it is.' + +'You did not sort those feathers alone,' answered the ogress calmly; +'however, this time I will let that pass.' + +That night the young man slept soundly in his corner, and in the morning +the ogress told him that his work that day would be to slay one of her +great oxen, to cook its heart, and to make drinking cups of its horns, +before she returned home 'There are fifty oxen,' added she, 'and +you must guess which of the herd I want killed. If you guess right, +to-morrow you shall be free to go where you will, and you shall choose +besides three things as a reward for your service. But if you slay the +wrong ox your head shall pay for it.' + +Left alone, the young man stood thinking for a little. Then he called: +'Tritill, Litill, come to my help!' + +In a moment he saw them, far away, driving the biggest ox the youth had +ever seen. When they drew near, Tritill killed it, Litill took out its +heart for the young man to cook, and both began quickly to turn the +horns into drinking cups. The work went merrily on, and they talked +gaily, and the young man told his friends of the payment promised him +by the ogress if he had done her bidding. The old men warned him that +he must ask her for the chest which stood at the foot of her bed, for +whatever lay on the top of the bed, and for what lay under the side of +the cave. The young man thanked them for their counsel, and Tritill and +Litill then took leave of him, saying that for the present he would need +them no more. + +Scarcely had they disappeared when the ogress came back, and found +everything ready just as she had ordered. Before she sat down to eat the +bullock's heart she turned to the young man, and said: 'You did not do +that all alone, my friend; but, nevertheless, I will keep my word, and +to-morrow you shall go your way.' So they went to bed and slept till +dawn. + +When the sun rose the ogress awoke the young man, and called to him to +choose any three things out of her house. + +'I choose,' answered he, 'the chest which stands at the foot of your +bed; whatever lies on the top of the bed, and whatever is under the side +of the cave.' + +'You did not choose those things by yourself, my friend,' said the +ogress; 'but what I have promised, that will I do.' + +And then she gave him his reward. + +'The thing which lay on the top of the bed' turned out to be the lost +princess. 'The chest which stood at the foot of the bed' proved full of +gold and precious stones; and 'what was under the side of the cave' he +found to be a great ship, with oars and sails that went of itself as +well on land as in the water. 'You are the luckiest man that ever was +born,' said the ogress as she went out of the cave as usual. + +With much difficulty the youth put the heavy chest on his shoulders and +carried it on board the ship, the princess walking by his side. Then he +took the helm and steered the vessel back to her father's kingdom. The +king's joy at receiving back his lost daughter was so great that he +almost fainted, but when he recovered himself he made the young man tell +him how everything had really happened. 'You have found her, and you +shall marry her,' said the king; and so it was done. And this is the end +of the story. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Three Robes + +Long, long ago, a king and queen reigned over a large and powerful +country. What their names were nobody knows, but their son was called +Sigurd, and their daughter Lineik, and these young people were famed +throughout the whole kingdom for their wisdom and beauty. + +There was only a year between them, and they loved each other so much +that they could do nothing apart. When they began to grow up the king +gave them a house of their own to live in, with servants and carriages, +and everything they could possibly want. + +For many years they all lived happily together, and then the queen fell +ill, and knew that she would never get better. + +'Promise me two things,' she said one day to the king; 'one, that if +you marry again, as indeed you must, you will not choose as your wife a +woman from some small state or distant island, who knows nothing of the +world, and will be taken up with thoughts of her grandeur. But rather +seek out a princess of some great kingdom, who has been used to courts +all her life, and holds them at their true worth. The other thing I have +to ask is, that you will never cease to watch over our children, who +will soon become your greatest joy.' + +These were the queen's last words, and a few hours later she was dead. +The king was so bowed down with sorrow that he would not attend even to +the business of the kingdom, and at last his Prime Minister had to tell +him that the people were complaining that they had nobody to right their +wrongs. 'You must rouse yourself, sir,' went on the minister, 'and put +aside your own sorrows for the sake of your country.' + +'You do not spare me,' answered the king; 'but what you say is just, and +your counsel is good. I have heard that men say, likewise, that it will +be for the good of my kingdom for me to marry again, though my heart +will never cease to be with my lost wife. But it was her wish also; +therefore, to you I entrust the duty of finding a lady fitted to share +my throne; only, see that she comes neither from a small town nor a +remote island.' + +So an embassy was prepared, with the minister at its head, to visit the +greatest courts in the world, and to choose out a suitable princess. But +the vessel which carried them had not been gone many days when a thick +fog came on, and the captain could see neither to the right nor to the +left. For a whole month the ship drifted about in darkness, till at +length the fog lifted and they beheld a cliff jutting out just in front. +On one side of the cliff lay a sheltered bay, in which the vessel was +soon anchored, and though they did not know where they were, at any rate +they felt sure of fresh fruit and water. + +The minister left the rest of his followers on board the ship, and +taking a small boat rowed himself to land, in order to look about him +and to find out if the island was really as deserted as it seemed. + +He had not gone far, when he heard the sound of music, and, turning +in its direction, he saw a woman of marvellous beauty sitting on a low +stool playing on a harp, while a girl beside her sang. The minister +stopped and greeted the lady politely, and she replied with +friendliness, asking him why he had come to such an out-of-the way +place. In answer he told her of the object of his journey. + +'I am in the same state as your master,' replied the lady; 'I was +married to a mighty king who ruled over this land, till Vikings +[sea-robbers] came and slew him and put all the people to death. But I +managed to escape, and hid myself here with my daughter.' + +And the daughter listened, and said softly to her mother: 'Are you +speaking the truth now?' + +'Remember your promise,' answered the mother angrily, giving her a pinch +which was unseen by the minister. + +'What is your name, madam?' asked he, much touched by this sad story. + +'Blauvor,' she replied 'and my daughter is called Laufer'; and then she +inquired the name of the minister, and of the king his master. After +this they talked of many things, and the lady showed herself learned +in all that a woman should know, and even in much that men only were +commonly taught. 'What a wife she would make for the king,' thought the +minister to himself, and before long he had begged the honour of her +hand for his master. She declared at first that she was too unworthy to +accept the position offered her, and that the minister would soon repent +his choice; but this only made him the more eager, and in the end he +gained her consent, and prevailed on her to return with him at once to +his own country. + +The minister then conducted the mother and daughter back to the ship; +the anchor was raised, the sails spread, and a fair wind was behind +them. + +Now that the fog had lifted they could see as they looked back that, +except just along the shore, the island was bare and deserted and not +fit for men to live in; but about that nobody cared. They had a quick +voyage, and in six days they reached the land, and at once set out for +the capital, a messenger being sent on first by the minister to inform +the king of what had happened. + +When his Majesty's eyes fell on the two beautiful women, clad in dresses +of gold and silver, he forgot his sorrows and ordered preparations for +the wedding to be made without delay. In his joy he never remembered to +inquire in what kind of country the future queen had been found. In fact +his head was so turned by the beauty of the two ladies that when the +invitations were sent by his orders to all the great people in the +kingdom, he did not even recollect his two children, who remained shut +up in their own house! + +After the marriage the king ceased to have any will of his own and +did nothing without consulting his wife. She was present at all his +councils, and her opinion was asked before making peace or war. But when +a few months had passed the king began to have doubts as to whether the +minister's choice had really been a wise one, and he noticed that his +children lived more and more in their palace and never came near their +stepmother. + +It always happens that if a person's eyes are once opened they see a +great deal more than they ever expected; and soon it struck the king +that the members of his court had a way of disappearing one after the +other without any reason. At first he had not paid much attention to the +fact, but merely appointed some fresh person to the vacant place. As, +however, man after man vanished without leaving any trace, he began to +grow uncomfortable and to wonder if the queen could have anything to do +with it. + +Things were in this state when, one day, his wife said to him that it +was time for him to make a progress through his kingdom and see that his +governors were not cheating him of the money that was his due. 'And +you need not be anxious about going,' she added, 'for I will rule the +country while you are away as carefully as you could yourself.' + +The king had no great desire to undertake this journey, but the queen's +will was stronger than his, and he was too lazy to make a fight for it. +So he said nothing and set about his preparations, ordering his finest +ship to be ready to carry him round the coast. Still his heart was +heavy, and he felt uneasy, though he could not have told why; and the +night before he was to start he went to the children's palace to take +leave of his son and daughter. + +He had not seen them for some time, and they gave him a warm welcome, +for they loved him dearly and he had always been kind to them. They +had much to tell him, but after a while he checked their merry talk and +said: + +'If I should never come back from this journey I fear that it may not +be safe for you to stay here; so directly there are no more hopes of my +return go instantly and take the road eastwards till you reach a high +mountain, which you must cross. Once over the mountain keep along by the +side of a little bay till you come to two trees, one green and the other +red, standing in a thicket, and so far back from the road that without +looking for them you would never see them. Hide each in the trunk of one +of the trees and there you will be safe from all your enemies.' + +With these words the king bade them farewell and entered sadly into +his ship. For a few days the wind was fair, and everything seemed going +smoothly; then, suddenly, a gale sprang up, and a fearful storm of +thunder and lightning, such as had never happened within the memory of +man. In spite of the efforts of the frightened sailors the vessel was +driven on the rocks, and not a man on board was saved. + +That very night Prince Sigurd had a dream, in which he thought his +father appeared to him in dripping clothes, and, taking the crown from +his head, laid it at his son's feet, leaving the room as silently as he +had entered it. + +Hastily the prince awoke his sister Lineik, and they agreed that their +father must be dead, and that they must lose no time in obeying his +orders and putting themselves in safety. So they collected their jewels +and a few clothes and left the house without being observed by anyone. + + +They hurried on till they arrived at the mountain without once looking +back. Then Sigurd glanced round and saw that their stepmother was +following them, with an expression on her face which made her uglier +than the ugliest old witch. Between her and them lay a thick wood, and +Sigurd stopped for a moment to set it on fire; then he and his sister +hastened on more swiftly than before, till they reached the grove with +the red and green trees, into which they jumped, and felt that at last +they were safe. + +Now, at that time there reigned over Greece a king who was very rich +and powerful, although his name has somehow been forgotten. He had two +children, a son and a daughter, who were more beautiful and accomplished +than any Greeks had been before, and they were the pride of their +father's heart. + +The prince had no sooner grown out of boyhood than he prevailed on his +father to make war during the summer months on a neighbouring nation, +so as to give him a chance of making himself famous. In winter, however, +when it was difficult to get food and horses in that wild country, the +army was dispersed, and the prince returned home. + +During one of these wars he had heard reports of the Princess Lineik's +beauty, and he resolved to seek her out, and to ask for her hand in +marriage. All this Blauvor, the queen, found out by means of her black +arts, and when the prince drew near the capital she put a splendid dress +on her own daughter and then went to meet her guest. + +She bade him welcome to her palace, and when they had finished supper +she told him of the loss of her husband, and how there was no one left +to govern the kingdom but herself. + +'But where is the Princess Lineik?' asked the prince when she had ended +her tale. + +'Here,' answered the queen, bringing forward the girl, whom she had +hitherto kept in the background. + +The prince looked at her and was rather disappointed. The maiden was +pretty enough, but not much out of the common. + +'Oh, you must not wonder at her pale face and heavy eyes,' said the +queen hastily, for she saw what was passing in his mind. 'She has never +got over the loss of both father and mother.' + +'That shows a good heart,' thought the prince; 'and when she is happy +her beauty will soon come back.' And without any further delay he begged +the queen to consent to their betrothal, for the marriage must take +place in his own country. + +The queen was enchanted. She had hardly expected to succeed so soon, and +she at once set about her preparations. Indeed she wished to travel with +the young couple, to make sure that nothing should go wrong; but here +the prince was firm, that he would take no one with him but Laufer, whom +he thought was Lineik. + +They soon took leave of the queen, and set sail in a splendid ship; but +in a short time a dense fog came on, and in the dark the captain steered +out of his course, and they found themselves in a bay which was quite +strange to all the crew. The prince ordered a boat to be lowered, and +went on shore to look about him, and it was not long before he noticed +the two beautiful trees, quite different from any that grew in Greece. +Calling one of the sailors, he bade him cut them down, and carry them on +board the ship. This was done, and as the sky was now clear they put out +to sea, and arrived in Greece without any more adventures. + +The news that the prince had brought home a bride had gone before them, +and they were greeted with flowery arches and crowns of coloured lights. +The king and queen met them on the steps of the palace, and conducted +the girl to the women's house, where she would have to remain until her +marriage. The prince then went to his own rooms and ordered that the +trees should be brought in to him. + +The next morning the prince bade his attendants bring his future bride +to his own apartments, and when she came he gave her silk which she was +to weave into three robes--one red, one green, and one blue--and these +must all be ready before the wedding. The blue one was to be done first +and the green last, and this was to be the most splendid of all, 'for I +will wear it at our marriage,' said he. + +Left alone, Laufer sat and stared at the heap of shining silk before +her. She did not know how to weave, and burst into tears as she thought +that everything would be discovered, for Lineik's skill in weaving was +as famous as her beauty. As she sat with her face hidden and her body +shaken by sobs, Sigurd in his tree heard her and was moved to pity. +'Lineik, my sister,' he called, softly, 'Laufer is weeping; help her, I +pray you.' + +'Have you forgotten the wrongs her mother did to us' answered Lineik, +'and that it is owing to her that we are banished from home?' + +But she was not really unforgiving, and very soon she slid quietly out +of her hiding-place, and taking the silk from Laufer's hands began to +weave it. So quick and clever was she that the blue dress was not only +woven but embroidered, and Lineik was safe back in her tree before the +prince returned. + +'It is the most beautiful work I have ever seen,' said he, taking up a +bit. 'And I am sure that the red one will be still better, because the +stuff is richer,' and with a low bow he left the room. + +Laufer had hoped secretly that when the prince had seen the blue dress +finished he would have let her off the other two; but when she found she +was expected to fulfil the whole task, her heart sank and she began to +cry loudly. Again Sigurd heard her, and begged Lineik to come to her +help, and Lineik, feeling sorry for her distress, wove and embroidered +the second dress as she had done the first, mixing gold thread and +precious stones till you could hardly see the red of the stuff. When it +was done she glided into her tree just as the prince came in. + +'You are as quick as you are clever,' said he, admiringly. 'This looks +as if it had been embroidered by the fairies! But as the green robe must +outshine the other two I will give you three days in which to finish it. +After it is ready we will be married at once.' + +Now, as he spoke, there rose up in Laufer's mind all the unkind things +that she and her mother had done to Lineik. Could she hope that they +would be forgotten, and that Lineik would come to her rescue for the +third time? And perhaps Lineik, who had not forgotten the past either, +might have left her alone, to get on as best she could, had not Sigurd, +her brother, implored her to help just once more. So Lineik again slid +out of her tree, and, to Laufer's great relief, set herself to work. +When the shining green silk was ready she caught the sun's rays and the +moon's beams on the point of her needle and wove them into a pattern +such as no man had ever seen. But it took a long time, and on the third +morning, just as she was putting the last stitches into the last flower +the prince came in. + +Lineik jumped up quickly, and tried to get past him back to her tree; +but the folds of the silk were wrapped round her, and she would have +fallen had not the prince caught her. + +'I have thought for some time that all was not quite straight here,' +said he. 'Tell me who you are, and where you come from?' + +Lineik then told her name and her story. When she had ended the prince +turned angrily to Laufer, and declared that, as a punishment for her +wicked lies, she deserved to die a shameful death. + +But Laufer fell at his feet and begged for mercy. It was her mother's +fault, she said: 'It was she, and not I, who passed me off as the +Princess Lineik. The only lie I have ever told you was about the robes, +and I do not deserve death for that.' + +She was still on her knees when Prince Sigurd entered the room. +He prayed the Prince of Greece to forgive Laufer, which he did, +on condition that Lineik would consent to marry him. 'Not till my +stepmother is dead,' answered she, 'for she has brought misery to all +that came near her.' Then Laufer told them that Blauvor was not the wife +of a king, but an ogress who had stolen her from a neighbouring palace +and had brought her up as her daughter. And besides being an ogress she +was also a witch, and by her black arts had sunk the ship in which the +father of Sigurd and Lineik had set sail. It was she who had caused +the disappearance of the courtiers, for which no one could account, by +eating them during the night, and she hoped to get rid of all the people +in the country, and then to fill the land with ogres and ogresses like +herself. + +So Prince Sigurd and the Prince of Greece collected an army swiftly, +and marched upon the town where Blauvor had her palace. They came so +suddenly that no one knew of it, and if they had, Blauvor had eaten most +of the strong men; and others, fearful of something they could not tell +what, had secretly left the place. Therefore she was easily captured, +and the next day was beheaded in the market-place. Afterwards the two +princes marched back to Greece. + +Lineik had no longer any reason for putting off her wedding, and married +the Prince of Greece at the same time that Sigurd married the princess. +And Laufer remained with Lineik as her friend and sister, till they +found a husband for her in a great nobleman; and all three couples lived +happily until they died. + +[From Islandische Muhrchen Poestion Wien.] + + + + + +The Six Hungry Beasts + +Once upon a time there lived a man who dwelt with his wife in a little +hut, far away from any neighbours. But they did not mind being alone, +and would have been quite happy, if it had not been for a marten, who +came every night to their poultry yard, and carried off one of their +fowls. The man laid all sorts of traps to catch the thief, but instead +of capturing the foe, it happened that one day he got caught himself, +and falling down, struck his head against a stone, and was killed. + +Not long after the marten came by on the look out for his supper. Seeing +the dead man lying there, he said to himself: 'That is a prize, this +time I have done well'; and dragging the body with great difficulty to +the sledge which was waiting for him, drove off with his booty. He +had not driven far when he met a squirrel, who bowed and said: +'Good-morning, godfather! what have you got behind you?' + +The marten laughed and answered: 'Did you ever hear anything so strange? +The old man that you see here set traps about his hen-house, thinking +to catch me but he fell into his own trap, and broke his own neck. He is +very heavy; I wish you would help me to draw the sledge.' The squirrel +did as he was asked, and the sledge moved slowly along. + +By-and-by a hare came running across a field, but stopped to see what +wonderful thing was coming. 'What have you got there?' she asked, and +the marten told his story and begged the hare to help them pull. + +The hare pulled her hardest, and after a while they were joined by a +fox, and then by a wolf, and at length a bear was added to the company, +and he was of more use than all the other five beasts put together. +Besides, when the whole six had supped off the man he was not so heavy +to draw. + +The worst of it was that they soon began to get hungry again, and the +wolf, who was the hungriest of all, said to the rest: + +'What shall we eat now, my friends, as there is no more man?' + +'I suppose we shall have to eat the smallest of us,' replied the bear, +and the marten turned round to seize the squirrel who was much smaller +than any of the rest. But the squirrel ran up a tree like lightning, +and the marten remembering, just in time, that he was the next in size, +slipped quick as thought into a hole in the rocks. + +'What shall we eat now?' asked the wolf again, when he had recovered +from his surprise. + +'We must eat the smallest of us,' repeated the bear, stretching out +a paw towards the hare; but the hare was not a hare for nothing, and +before the paw had touched her, she had darted deep into the wood. + +Now that the squirrel, the marten, and the hare had all gone, the fox +was the smallest of the three who were left, and the wolf and the bear +explained that they were very sorry, but they would have to eat him. +Michael, the fox, did not run away as the others had done, but smiled +in a friendly manner, and remarked: 'Things taste so stale in a valley; +one's appetite is so much better up on a mountain.' The wolf and the +bear agreed, and they turned out of the hollow where they had been +walking, and chose a path that led up the mountain side. The fox trotted +cheerfully by his two big companions, but on the way he managed to +whisper to the wolf: 'Tell me, Peter, when I am eaten, what will you +have for your next dinner?' + +This simple question seemed to put out the wolf very much. What would +they have for their next dinner, and, what was more important still, who +would there be to eat it? They had made a rule always to dine off the +smallest of the party, and when the fox was gone, why of course, he was +smaller than the bear. + +These thoughts flashed quickly through his head, and he said hastily: + +'Dear brothers, would it not be better for us to live together as +comrades, and everyone to hunt for the common dinner? Is not my plan a +good one?' + +'It is the best thing I have ever heard,' answered the fox; and as they +were two to one the bear had to be content, though in his heart he would +much have preferred a good dinner at once to any friendship. + +For a few days all went well; there was plenty of game in the forest, +and even the wolf had as much to eat as he could wish. One morning the +fox as usual was going his rounds when he noticed a tall, slender +tree, with a magpie's nest in one of the top branches. Now the fox was +particularly fond of young magpies, and he set about making a plan by +which he could have one for dinner. At last he hit upon something which +he thought would do, and accordingly he sat down near the tree and began +to stare hard at it. + +'What are you looking at, Michael?' asked the magpie, who was watching +him from a bough. + +'I'm looking at this tree. It has just struck me what a good tree it +would be to cut my new snow-shoes out of.' But at this answer the magpie +screeched loudly, and exclaimed: 'Oh, not this tree, dear brother, I +implore you! I have built my nest on it, and my young ones are not yet +old enough to fly.' + +'It will not be easy to find another tree that would make such good +snow-shoes,' answered the fox, cocking his head on one side, and gazing +at the tree thoughtfully; 'but I do not like to be ill-natured, so +if you will give me one of your young ones I will seek my snow-shoes +elsewhere.' + +Not knowing what to do the poor magpie had to agree, and flying back, +with a heavy heart, he threw one of his young ones out of the nest. The +fox seized it in his mouth and ran off in triumph, while the magpie, +though deeply grieved for the loss of his little one, found some comfort +in the thought that only a bird of extraordinary wisdom would have +dreamed of saving the rest by the sacrifice of the one. But what do you +think happened? Why, a few days later, Michael the fox might have been +seen sitting under the very same tree, and a dreadful pang shot through +the heart of the magpie as he peeped at him from a hole in the nest. + +'What are you looking at?' he asked in a trembling voice. + +'At this tree. I was just thinking what good snowshoes it would make,' +answered the fox in an absent voice, as if he was not thinking of what +he was saying. + +'Oh, my brother, my dear little brother, don't do that,' cried the +magpie, hopping about in his anguish. 'You know you promised only a few +days ago that you would get your snow-shoes elsewhere.' + +'So I did; but though I have searched through the whole forest, there +is not a single tree that is as good as this. I am very sorry to put you +out, but really it is not my fault. The only thing I can do for you is +to offer to give up my snow-shoes altogether if you will throw me down +one of your young ones in exchange.' + +And the poor magpie, in spite of his wisdom, was obliged to throw +another of his little ones out of the nest; and this time he was not +able to console himself with the thought that he had been much cleverer +than other people. + +He sat on the edge of his nest, his head drooping and his feathers all +ruffled, looking the picture of misery. Indeed he was so different from +the gay, jaunty magpie whom every creature in the forest knew, that a +crow who was flying past, stopped to inquire what was the matter. 'Where +are the two young ones who are not in the nest?' asked he. + +'I had to give them to the fox,' replied the magpie in a quivering +voice; 'he has been here twice in the last week, and wanted to cut down +my tree for the purpose of making snow-shoes out of it, and the only way +I could buy him off was by giving him two of my young ones.' + +Oh, you fool,' cried the crow, 'the fox was only trying to frighten you. +He could not have cut down the tree, for he has neither axe nor knife. +Dear me, to think that you have sacrificed your young ones for nothing! +Dear, dear! how could you be so very foolish!' And the crow flew away, +leaving the magpie overcome with shame and sorrow. + +The next morning the fox came to his usual place in front of the tree, +for he was hungry, and a nice young magpie would have suited him very +well for dinner. But this time there was no cowering, timid magpie to do +his bidding, but a bird with his head erect and a determined voice. + +'My good fox,' said the magpie putting his head on one side and looking +very wise--'my good fox, if you take my advice, you will go home as fast +as you can. There is no use your talking about making snow-shoes out of +this tree, when you have neither knife nor axe to cut it down with!' + +'Who has been teaching you wisdom?' asked the fox, forgetting his +manners in his surprise at this new turn of affairs. + +'The crow, who paid me a visit yesterday,' answered the magpie. + +'The crow was it?' said the fox, 'well, the crow had better not meet me +for the future, or it may be the worse for him.' + +As Michael, the cunning beast, had no desire to continue the +conversation, he left the forest; but when he came to the high road he +laid himself at full length on the ground, stretching himself out, just +as if he was dead. Very soon he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, +that the crow was flying towards him, and he kept stiller and stiffer +than ever, with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. The crow, who +wanted her supper very badly, hopped quickly towards him, and was +stooping forward to peck at his tongue when the fox gave a snap, and +caught him by the wing. The crow knew that it was of no use struggling, +so he said: + +'Ah, brother, if you are really going to eat me, do it, I beg of you, in +good style. Throw me first over this precipice, so that my feathers may +be strewn here and there, and that all who see them may know that your +cunning is greater than mine.' This idea pleased the fox, for he had +not yet forgiven the crow for depriving him of the young magpies, so +he carried the crow to the edge of the precipice and threw him over, +intending to go round by a path he knew and pick him up at the bottom. +But no sooner had the fox let the crow go than he soared up into the +air, and hovering just out of teach of his enemy's jaws, he cried with a +laugh: 'Ah, fox! you know well how to catch, but you cannot keep.' + +With his tail between his legs, the fox slunk into the forest. He did +not know where to look for a dinner, as he guessed that the crow would +have flown back before him, and put every one on their guard. The +notion of going to bed supperless was very unpleasant to him, and he was +wondering what in the world he should do, when he chanced to meet with +his old friend the bear. + +This poor animal had just lost his wife, and was going to get some one +to mourn over her, for he felt her loss greatly. He had hardly left his +comfortable cave when he had come across the wolf, who inquired where he +was going. 'I am going to find a mourner,' answered the bear, and told +his story. + +'Oh, let me mourn for you,' cried the wolf. + +'Do you understand how to howl?' said the bear. + +'Oh, certainly, godfather, certainly,' replied the wolf; but the bear +said he should like to have a specimen of his howling, to make sure that +he knew his business. So the wolf broke forth in his song of lament: +'Hu, hu, hu, hum, hoh,' he shouted, and he made such a noise that the +bear put up his paws to his ears, and begged him to stop. + +'You have no idea how it is done. Be off with you,' said he angrily. + +A little further down the road the hare was resting in a ditch, but when +she saw the bear, she came out and spoke to him, and inquired why he +looked so sad. The bear told her of the loss of his wife, and of his +search after a mourner that could lament over her in the proper style. +The hare instantly offered her services, but the bear took care to ask +her to give him a proof of her talents, before he accepted them. 'Pu, +pu, pu, pum, poh,' piped the hare; but this time her voice was so small +that the bear could hardly hear her. 'That is not what I want,' he said, +'I will bid you good morning.' + +It was after this that the fox came up, and he also was struck with +the bear's altered looks, and stopped. 'What is the matter with you, +godfather?' asked he, 'and where are you going?' + +'I am going to find a mourner for my wife,' answered the bear. + +'Oh, do choose me,' cried the fox, and the bear looked at him +thoughtfully. + +'Can you howl well?' he said. + +'Yes, beautifully, just listen,' and the fox lifted up his voice and +sang weeping: 'Lou, lou, lou! the famous spinner, the baker of good +cakes, the prudent housekeeper is torn from her husband! Lou, lou, lou! +she is gone! she is gone!' + +'Now at last I have found some one who knows the art of lamentation,' +exclaimed the bear, quite delighted; and he led the fox back to his +cave, and bade him begin his lament over the dead wife who was lying +stretched out on her bed of grey moss. But this did not suit the fox at +all. + +'One cannot wail properly in this cave,' he said, 'it is much too damp. +You had better take the body to the storehouse. It will sound much finer +there.' So the bear carried his wife's body to the storehouse, while +he himself went back to the cave to cook some pap for the mourner. From +time to time he paused and listened for the sound of wailing, but he +heard nothing. At last he went to the door of the storehouse, and called +to the fox: + +'Why don't you howl, godfather? What are you about?' + +And the fox, who, instead of weeping over the dead bear, had been +quietly eating her, answered: + +'There only remain now her legs and the soles of her feet. Give me five +minutes more and they will be gone also!' + +When the bear heard that he ran back for the kitchen ladle, to give +the traitor the beating he deserved. But as he opened the door of the +storehouse, Michael was ready for him, and slipping between his legs, +dashed straight off into the forest. The bear, seeing that the traitor +had escaped, flung the ladle after him, and it just caught the tip of +his tail, and that is how there comes to be a spot of white on the tails +of all foxes. + +[From Finnische Mahrchen.] + + + + +How The Beggar Boy Turned Into Count Piro + +Once upon a time there lived a man who had only one son, a lazy, stupid +boy, who would never do anything he was told. When the father was dying, +he sent for his son and told him that he would soon be left alone in +the world, with no possessions but the small cottage they lived in and a +pear tree which grew behind it, and that, whether he liked it or not, he +would have to work, or else he would starve. Then the old man died. + +But the boy did not work; instead, he idled about as before, contenting +himself with eating the pears off his tree, which, unlike other pear +trees before or since, bore fruit the whole year round. Indeed, the +pears were so much finer than any you could get even in the autumn, that +one day, in the middle of the winter, they attracted the notice of a fox +who was creeping by. + +'Dear me; what lovely pears!' he said to the youth. 'Do give me a basket +of them. It will bring you luck!' + +'Ah, little fox, but if I give you a basketful, what am I to eat?' asked +the boy. + +'Oh, trust me, and do what I tell you,' said the fox; 'I know it will +bring you luck.' So the boy got up and picked some of the ripest pears +and put them into a rush basket. The fox thanked him, and, taking the +basket in his mouth, trotted off to the king's palace and made his way +straight to the king. + +'Your Majesty, my master sends you a few of his best pears, and begs you +will graciously accept them,' he said, laying the basket at the feet of +the king. + +'Pears! at this season?' cried the king, peering down to look at them; +'and, pray, who is your master?' + +'The Count Piro,' answered the fox. + +'But how does he manage to get pears in midwinter?' asked the king. + +'Oh, he has everything he wants,' replied the fox; 'he is richer even +than you are, your Majesty.' + +'Then what can I send him in return for his pears?' said the king. + +'Nothing, your Majesty, or you would hurt his feelings,' answered the +fox. + +'Well, tell him how heartily I thank him, and how much I shall enjoy +them.' And the fox went away. + +He trotted back to the cottage with his empty basket and told his tale, +but the youth did not seem as pleased to hear as the fox was to tell. + +'But, my dear little fox,' said he, 'you have brought me nothing in +return, and I am so hungry!' + +'Let me alone,' replied the fox; 'I know what I am doing. You will see, +it will bring you luck.' + +A few days after this the fox came back again. + +'I must have another basket of pears,' said he. + +'Ah, little fox, what shall I eat if you take away all my pears?' +answered the youth. + +'Be quiet, it will be all right,' said the fox; and taking a bigger +basket than before, he filled it quite full of pears. Then he picked it +up in his mouth, and trotted off to the palace. + +'Your Majesty, as you seemed to like the first basket of pears, I have +brought you some more,' said he, 'with my master, the Count Piro's +humble respects.' + +'Now, surely it is not possible to grow such pears with deep snow on the +ground?' cried the king. + +'Oh, that never affects them,' answered the fox lightly; 'he is rich +enough to do anything. But to-day he sends me to ask if you will give +him your daughter in marriage?' + +'If he is so much richer than I am,' said the king, 'I shall be obliged +to refuse. My honour would not permit me to accept his offer.' + +'Oh, your Majesty, you must not think that,' replied the fox; 'and do +not let the question of a dowry trouble you. The Count Piro would not +dream of asking anything but the hand of the princess.' + +'Is he really so rich that he can do without a dowry?' asked the king. + +'Did I not tell your Majesty that he was richer than you?' answered the +fox reproachfully. + +'Well, beg him to come here, that we may talk together,' said the king. + +So the fox went back to the young man and said: 'I have told the king +that you are Count Piro, and have asked his daughter in marriage.' + +'Oh, little fox, what have you done?' cried the youth in dismay; 'when +the king sees me he will order my head to be cut off.' + +'Oh, no, he won't!' replied the fox; 'just do as I tell you.' And he +went off to the town, and stopped at the house of the best tailor. + +'My master, the Count Piro, begs that you will send him at once the +finest coat that you have in your shop,' said the fox, putting on his +grandest air, 'and if it fits him I will call and pay for it to-morrow! +Indeed, as he is in a great hurry, perhaps it might be as well if I took +it round myself.' The tailor was not accustomed to serve counts, and +he at once got out all the coats he had ready. The fox chose out a +beautiful one of white and silver, bade the tailor tie it up in a +parcel, and carrying the string in his teeth, he left the shop, and went +to a horse-dealer's, whom he persuaded to send his finest horse round to +the cottage, saying that the king had bidden his master to the palace. + +Very unwillingly the young man put on the coat and mounted the horse, +and rode up to meet the king, with the fox running before him. + +'What am I to say to his Majesty, little fox?' he asked anxiously; 'you +know that I have never spoken to a king before.' + +'Say nothing,' answered the fox, 'but leave the talking to me. "Good +morning, your Majesty," will be all that is necessary for you.' + +By this time they had reached the palace, and the king came to the door +to receive Count Piro, and led him to the great hall, where a feast was +spread. The princess was already seated at the table, but was as dumb as +Count Piro himself. + +'The Count speaks very little,' the king said at last to the fox, and +the fox answered: 'He has so much to think about in the management of +his property that he cannot afford to talk like ordinary people.' The +king was quite satisfied, and they finished dinner, after which Count +Piro and the fox took leave. + +The next morning the fox came round again. + +'Give me another basket of pears,' he said. + +'Very well, little fox; but remember it may cost me my life,' answered +the youth. + +'Oh, leave it to me, and do as I tell you, and you will see that in the +end it will bring you luck,' answered the fox; and plucking the pears he +took them up to the king. + +'My master, Count Piro, sends you these pears,' he said, 'and asks for +an answer to his proposal.' + +'Tell the count that the wedding can take place whenever he pleases,' +answered the king, and, filled with pride, the fox trotted back to +deliver his message. + +'But I can't bring the princess here, little fox?' cried the young man +in dismay. + +'You leave everything to me,' answered the fox; 'have I not managed +well so far?' + +And up at the palace preparations were made for a grand wedding, and the +youth was married to the princess. + +After a week of feasting, the fox said to the king: 'My master wishes to +take his young bride home to his own castle.' + +'Very well, I will accompany them,' replied the king; and he ordered his +courtiers and attendants to get ready, and the best horses in his stable +to be brought out for himself, Count Piro and the princess. So they all +set out, and rode across the plain, the little fox running before them. + +He stopped at the sight of a great flock of sheep, which was feeding +peacefully on the rich grass. 'To whom do these sheep belong?' asked he +of the shepherd. 'To an ogre,' replied the shepherd. + +'Hush,' said the fox in a mysterious manner. 'Do you see that crowd +of armed men riding along? If you were to tell them that those sheep +belonged to an ogre, they would kill them, and then the ogre would kill +you! If they ask, just say the sheep belong to Count Piro; it will be +better for everybody.' And the fox ran hastily on, as he did not wish to +be seen talking to the shepherd. + +Very soon the king came up. + +'What beautiful sheep!' he said, drawing up his horse. 'I have none so +fine in my pastures. Whose are they?' + +'Count Piro's,' answered the shepherd, who did not know the king. + +'Well, he must be a very rich man,' thought the king to himself, and +rejoiced that he had such a wealthy son-in-law. + +Meanwhile the fox had met with a huge herd of pigs, snuffling about the +roots of some trees. + +'To whom do these pigs belong?' he asked of the swineherd. + +'To an ogre,' replied he. + +'Hush!' whispered the fox, though nobody could hear him; 'do you see +that troop of armed men riding towards us? If you tell them that the +pigs belong to the ogre they will kill them, and then the ogre will kill +you! If they ask, just say that the pigs belong to Count Piro; it will +be better for everybody.' And he ran hastily on. + +Soon after the king rode up. + +'What fine pigs!' he said, reining in his horse. 'They are fatter than +any I have got on my farms. Whose are they?' + +'Count Piro's,' answered the swineherd, who did not know the king; and +again the king felt he was lucky to have such a rich son-in-law. + +This time the fox ran faster than before, and in a flowery meadow he +found a troop of horses feeding. 'Whose horses are these?' he asked of +the man who was watching them. + +'An ogre's,' replied he. + +'Hush!' whispered the fox, 'do you see that crowd of armed men coming +towards us? If you tell them the horses belong to an ogre they will +drive them off, and then the ogre will kill you! If they ask, just say +they are Count Piro's; it will be better for everybody.' And he ran on +again. + +In a few minutes the king rode up. + +'Oh, what lovely creatures! how I wish they were mine!' he exclaimed. +'Whose are they?' + +Count Piro's,' answered the man, who did not know the king; and the +king's heart leapt as he thought that if they belonged to his rich +son-in-law they were as good as his. + +At last the fox came to the castle of the ogre himself. He ran up the +steps, with tears falling from his eyes, and crying: + +'Oh, you poor, poor people, what a sad fate is yours!' + +'What has happened?' asked the ogre, trembling with fright. + +'Do you see that troop of horsemen who are riding along the road? They +are sent by the king to kill you!' + +'Oh, dear little fox, help us, we implore you!' cried the ogre and his +wife. + +'Well, I will do what I can,' answered the fox. 'The best place is for +you both to hide in the big oven, and when the soldiers have gone by I +will let you out.' + +The ogre and ogress scrambled into the oven as quick as thought, and the +fox banged the door on them; just as he did so the king came up. + +'Do us the honour to dismount, your Majesty,' said the fox, bowing low. +'This is the palace of Count Piro!' + +'Why it is more splendid than my own!' exclaimed the king, looking round +on all the beautiful things that filled the hall. But why are there no +servants?' + +'His Excellency the Count Piro wished the princess to choose them for +herself,' answered the fox, and the king nodded his approval. He then +rode on, leaving the bridal pair in the castle. But when it was dark and +all was still, the fox crept downstairs and lit the kitchen fire, and +the ogre and his wife were burned to death. The next morning the fox +said to Count Piro: + +'Now that you are rich and happy, you have no more need of me; but, +before I go, there is one thing I must ask of you in return: when I die, +promise me that you will give me a magnificent coffin, and bury me with +due honours.' + +'Oh, little, little fox, don't talk of dying,' cried the princess, +nearly weeping, for she had taken a great liking to the fox. + +After some time the fox thought he would see if the Count Piro was +really grateful to him for all he had done, and went back to the castle, +where he lay down on the door-step, and pretended to be dead. The +princess was just going out for a walk, and directly she saw him lying +there, she burst into tears and fell on her knees beside him. + +'My dear little fox, you are not dead,' she wailed; 'you poor, poor +little creature, you shall have the finest coffin in the world!' + +'A coffin for an animal?' said Count Piro. 'What nonsense! just take him +by the leg and throw him into the ditch.' + +Then the fox sprang up and cried: 'You wretched, thankless beggar; have +you forgotten that you owe all your riches to me?' + +Count Piro was frightened when he heard these words, as he thought that +perhaps the fox might have power to take away the castle, and leave him +as poor as when he had nothing to eat but the pears off his tree. So he +tried to soften the fox's anger, saying that he had only spoken in joke, +as he had known quite well that he was not really dead. For the sake +of the princess, the fox let himself be softened, and he lived in the +castle for many years, and played with Count Piro's children. And when +he actually did die, his coffin was made of silver, and Count Piro and +his wife followed him to the grave. + +[From Sicilianische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Rogue And The Herdsman + +In a tiny cottage near the king's palace there once lived an old man, +his wife, and his son, a very lazy fellow, who would never do a stroke +of work. He could not be got even to look after their one cow, but left +her to look after herself, while he lay on a bank and went to sleep in +the sun. For a long time his father bore with him, hoping that as he +grew older he might gain more sense; but at last the old man's patience +was worn out, and he told his son that he should not stay at house in +idleness, and must go out into the world to seek his fortune. + +The young man saw that there was no help for it, and he set out with +a wallet full of food over his shoulder. At length he came to a large +house, at the door of which he knocked. + +'What do you want?' asked the old man who opened it. And the youth told +him how his father had turned him out of his house because he was so +lazy and stupid, and he needed shelter for the night. + +'That you shall have,' replied the man; 'but to-morrow I shall give you +some work to do, for you must know that I am the chief herdsman of the +king.' + +The youth made no answer to this. He felt, if he was to be made to work +after all, that he might as well have stayed where he was. But as he did +not see any other way of getting a bed, he went slowly in. + +The herdsman's two daughters and their mother were sitting at supper, +and invited him to join them. Nothing more was said about work, and when +the meal was over they all went to bed. + +In the morning, when the young man was dressed, the herdsman called to +him and said: + +'Now listen, and I will tell you what you have to do.' + +'What is it?' asked the youth, sulkily. + +'Nothing less than to look after two hundred pigs,' was the reply. + +'Oh, I am used to that,' answered the youth. + +'Yes; but this time you will have to do it properly,' said the herdsman; +and he took the youth to the place where the pigs were feeding, and told +him to drive them to the woods on the side of the mountain. This the +young man did, but as soon as they reached the outskirts of the mountain +they grew quite wild, and would have run away altogether, had they not +luckily gone towards a narrow ravine, from which the youth easily drove +them home to his father's cottage. + +'Where do all these pigs come from, and how did you get them?' asked the +old man in surprise, when his son knocked at the door of the hut he had +left only the day before. + +'They belong to the king's chief herdsman,' answered his son. 'He gave +them to me to look after, but I knew I could not do it, so I drove them +straight to you. Now make the best of your good fortune, and kill them +and hang them up at once.' + +'What are you talking about?' cried the father, pale with horror. 'We +should certainly both be put to death if I did any such thing.' + +'No, no; do as I tell you, and I will get out of it somehow,' replied +the young man. And in the end he had his way. The pigs were killed, +and laid side by side in a row. Then he cut off the tails and tied them +together with a piece of cord, and swinging the bundle over his back, +he returned to the place where they should have been feeding. Here there +was a small swamp, which was just what he wanted, and finding a large +stone, he fastened the rope to it, and sank it in the swamp, after which +he arranged the tails carefully one by one, so that only their points +were seen sticking out of the water. When everything was in order, he +hastened home to his master with such a sorrowful face that the herdsman +saw at once that something dreadful had happened. + +'Where are the pigs?' asked he. + +'Oh, don't speak of them!' answered the young man; 'I really can hardly +tell you. The moment they got into the field they became quite mad, and +each ran in a different direction. I ran too, hither and thither, but as +fast as I caught one, another was off, till I was in despair. At last, +however, I collected them all and was about to drive them back, when +suddenly they rushed down the hill into the swamp, where they vanished +completely, leaving only the points of their tails, which you can see +for yourself.' + +'You have made up that story very well,' replied the herdsman. + +'No, it is the real truth; come with me and I'll prove it.' And they +went together to the spot, and there sure enough were the points of +the tails sticking up out of the water. The herdsman laid hold of the +nearest, and pulled at it with all his might, but it was no use, for +the stone and the rope held them all fast. He called to the young man to +help him, but the two did not succeed any better than the one had done. + +'Yes, your story was true after all; it is a wonderful thing,' said the +herdsman. 'But I see it is no fault of yours, and I must put up with +my loss as well as I can. Now let us return home, for it is time for +supper. + +Next morning the herdsman said to the young man: 'I have got some other +work for you to do. To-day you must take a hundred sheep to graze; but +be careful that no harm befalls them.' + +'I will do my best,' replied the youth. And he opened the gate of the +fold, where the sheep had been all night, and drove them out into the +meadow. But in a short time they grew as wild as the pigs had done, and +scattered in all directions. The young man could not collect them, try +as he would, and he thought to himself that this was the punishment for +his laziness in refusing to look after his father's one cow. + +At last, however, the sheep seemed tired of running about, and then +the youth managed to gather them together, and drove them, as before, +straight to his father's house. + +'Whose sheep are these, and what are they doing here?' asked the old man +in wonder, and his son told him. But when the tale was ended the father +shook his head. + +'Give up these bad ways and take them back to your master,' said he. + +'No, no,' answered the youth; 'I am not so stupid as that! We will kill +them and have them for dinner.' + +'You will lose your life if you do,' replied the father. + +'Oh, I am not sure of that!' said the son, 'and, anyway, I will have my +will for once.' And he killed all the sheep and laid them on the grass. +But he cut off the head of the ram which always led the flock and had +bells round its horns. This he took back to the place where they should +have been feeding, for here he had noticed a high rock, with a patch of +green grass in the middle and two or three thick bushes growing on the +edge. Up this rock he climbed with great difficulty, and fastened the +ram's head to the bushes with a cord, leaving only the tips of the horns +with the bells visible. As there was a soft breeze blowing, the bushes +to which the head was tied moved gently, and the bells rang. When all +was done to his liking he hastened quickly back to his master. + +'Where are the sheep?' asked the herdsman as the young man ran panting +up the steps. + +'Oh! don't speak of them,' answered he. 'It is only by a miracle that I +am here myself.' + +'Tell me at once what has happened,' said the herdsman sternly. + +The youth began to sob, and stammered out: 'I--I hardly know how to tell +you! They--they--they were so--so troublesome--that I could not manage +them at all. They--ran about in--in all directions, and I--I--ran after +them and nearly died of fatigue. Then I heard a--a noise, which I--I +thought was the wind. But--but--it was the sheep, which, be--before my +very eyes, were carried straight up--up into the air. I stood watching +them as if I was turned to stone, but there kept ringing in my ears the +sound of the bells on the ram which led them.' + +'That is nothing but a lie from beginning to end,' said the herdsman. + +'No, it is as true as that there is a sun in heaven,' answered the young +man. + +'Then give me a proof of it,' cried his master. + +'Well, come with me,' said the youth. By this time it was evening and +the dusk was falling. The young man brought the herdsman to the foot of +the great rock, but it was so dark you could hardly see. Still the sound +of sheep bells rang softly from above, and the herdsman knew them to be +those he had hung on the horns of his ram. + +'Do you hear?' asked the youth. + +'Yes, I hear; you have spoken the truth, and I cannot blame you for what +has happened. I must bear the loss as best as I can.' + +He turned and went home, followed by the young man, who felt highly +pleased with his own cleverness. + +'I should not be surprised if the tasks I set you were too difficult, +and that you were tired of them,' said the herdsman next morning; 'but +to-day I have something quite easy for you to do. You must look after +forty oxen, and be sure you are very careful, for one of them has +gold-tipped horns and hoofs, and the king reckons it among his greatest +treasures.' + +The young man drove out the oxen into the meadow, and no sooner had they +got there than, like the sheep and the pigs, they began to scamper in +all directions, the precious bull being the wildest of all. As the youth +stood watching them, not knowing what to do next, it came into his head +that his father's cow was put out to grass at no great distance; and he +forthwith made such a noise that he quite frightened the oxen, who were +easily persuaded to take the path he wished. When they heard the cow +lowing they galloped all the faster, and soon they all arrived at his +father's house. + +The old man was standing before the door of his hut when the great herd +of animals dashed round a corner of the road, with his son and his own +cow at their head. + +'Whose cattle are these, and why are they here?' he asked; and his son +told him the story. + +'Take them back to your master as soon as you can,' said the old man; +but the son only laughed, and said: + +'No, no; they are a present to you! They will make you fat!' + +For a long while the old man refused to have anything to do with such a +wicked scheme; but his son talked him over in the end, and they killed +the oxen as they had killed the sheep and the pigs. Last of all they +came to the king's cherished ox. + +The son had a rope ready to cast round its horns, and throw it to the +ground, but the ox was stronger than the rope, and soon tore it in +pieces. Then it dashed away to the wood, the youth following; over +hedges and ditches they both went, till they reached the rocky pass +which bordered the herdsman's land. Here the ox, thinking itself safe, +stopped to rest, and thus gave the young man a chance to come up with +it. Not knowing how to catch it, he collected all the wood he could +find and made a circle of fire round the ox, who by this time had fallen +asleep, and did not wake till the fire had caught its head, and it was +too late for it to escape. Then the young man, who had been watching, +ran home to his master. + +'You have been away a long while,' said the herdsman. 'Where are the +cattle?' + +The young man gasped, and seemed as if he was unable to speak. At last +he answered: + +'It is always the same story! The oxen are--gone--gone!' + +'G-g-gone?' cried the herdsman. 'Scoundrel, you lie!' + +'I am telling you the exact truth,' answered the young man. 'Directly +we came to the meadow they grew so wild that I could not keep them +together. Then the big ox broke away, and the others followed till they +all disappeared down a deep hole into the earth. It seemed to me that I +heard sounds of bellowing, and I thought I recognised the voice of the +golden horned ox; but when I got to the place from which the sounds had +come, I could neither see nor hear anything in the hole itself, though +there were traces of a fire all round it.' + +'Wretch!' cried the herdsman, when he had heard this story, 'even if you +did not lie before, you are lying now.' + +'No, master, I am speaking the truth. Come and see for yourself.' + +'If I find you have deceived me, you are a dead man, said the herdsman; +and they went out together. + +'What do you call that?' asked the youth. And the herdsman looked and +saw the traces of a fire, which seemed to have sprung up from under the +earth. + +'Wonder upon wonder,' he exclaimed, 'so you really did speak the truth +after all! Well, I cannot reproach you, though I shall have to pay +heavily to my royal master for the value of that ox. But come, let us +go home! I will never set you to herd cattle again, henceforward I will +give you something easier to do.' + +'I have thought of exactly the thing for you,' said the herdsman as they +walked along, 'and it is so simple that you cannot make a mistake. Just +make me ten scythes, one for every man, for I want the grass mown in one +of my meadows to-morrow.' + +At these words the youth's heart sank, for he had never been trained +either as a smith or a joiner. However, he dared not say no, but smiled +and nodded. + +Slowly and sadly he went to bed, but he could not sleep, for wondering +how the scythes were to be made. All the skill and cunning he had shown +before was of no use to him now, and after thinking about the scythes +for many hours, there seemed only one way open to him. So, listening +to make sure that all was still, he stole away to his parents, and told +them the whole story. When they had heard everything, they hid him where +no one could find him. + +Time passed away, and the young man stayed at home doing all his parents +bade him, and showing himself very different from what he had been +before he went out to see the world; but one day he said to his father +that he should like to marry, and have a house of his own. + +'When I served the king's chief herdsman,' added he, 'I saw his +daughter, and I am resolved to try if I cannot win her for my wife.' + +'It will cost you your life, if you do,' answered the father, shaking +his head. + +'Well, I will do my best,' replied his son; 'but first give me the sword +which hangs over your bed!' + +The old man did not understand what good the sword would do, however he +took it down, and the young man went his way. + +Late in the evening he arrived at the house of the herdsman, and knocked +at the door, which was opened by a little boy. + +'I want to speak to your master,' said he. + +'So it is you?' cried the herdsman, when he had received the message. +'Well, you can sleep here to-night if you wish.' + +'I have come for something else besides a bed,' replied the young man, +drawing his sword, 'and if you do not promise to give me your youngest +daughter as my wife I will stab you through the heart.' + +What could the poor man do but promise? And he fetched his youngest +daughter, who seemed quite pleased at the proposed match, and gave the +youth her hand. + +Then the young man went home to his parents, and bade them get ready +to welcome his bride. And when the wedding was over he told his +father-in-law, the herdsman, what he had done with the sheep, and pigs, +and cattle. By-and-by the story came to the king's ears, and he thought +that a man who was so clever was just the man to govern the country; so +he made him his minister, and after the king himself there was no one so +great as he. + +[From Islandische Mahrchen.] + + + + +Eisenkopf + +Once upon a time there lived an old man who had only one son, whom he +loved dearly; but they were very poor, and often had scarcely enough to +eat. Then the old man fell ill, and things grew worse than ever, so he +called his son and said to him: + +'My dear boy, I have no longer any food to give you, and you must go +into the world and get it for yourself. It does not matter what work you +do, but remember if you do it well and are faithful to your master, you +will always have your reward.' + +So Peter put a piece of black bread in his knapsack, and strapping it +on his back, took a stout stick in his hand, and set out to seek his +fortune. For a long while he travelled on and on, and nobody seemed to +want him; but one day he met an old man, and being a polite youth, he +took off his hat and said: 'Good morning,' in a pleasant voice. 'Good +morning,' answered the old man; 'and where are you going?' + +'I am wandering through the country trying to get work,' replied Peter. + +'Then stay with me, for I can give you plenty,' said the old man, and +Peter stayed. + +His work did not seem hard, for he had only two horses and a cow to see +after, and though he had been hired for a year, the year consisted of +but three days, so that it was not long before he received his wages. In +payment the old man gave him a nut, and offered to keep him for another +year; but Peter was home-sick; and, besides, he would rather have been +paid ever so small a piece of money than a nut; for, thought he, nuts +grow on every tree, and I can gather as many as I like. However, he did +not say this to the old man, who had been kind to him, but just bade him +farewell. + +The nearer Peter drew to his father's house the more ashamed he felt at +having brought back such poor wages. What could one nut do for him? Why, +it would not buy even a slice of bacon. It was no use taking it home, he +might as well eat it. So he sat down on a stone and cracked it with his +teeth, and then took it out of his mouth to break off the shell. But +who could ever guess what came out of that nut? Why, horses and oxen +and sheep stepped out in such numbers that they seemed as if they would +stretch to the world's end! The sight gave Peter such a shock that he +wrung his hands in dismay. What was he to do with all these creatures, +where was he to put them? He stood and gazed in terror, and at this +moment Eisenkopf came by. + +'What is the matter, young man?' asked he. + +'Oh, my friend, there is plenty the matter,' answered Peter. 'I have +gained a nut as my wages, and when I cracked it this crowd of beasts +came out, and I don't know what to do with them all!' + +'Listen to me, my son,' said Eisenkopf. 'If you will promise never to +marry I will drive them all back into the nut again.' + +In his trouble Peter would have promised far harder things than this, +so he gladly gave the promise Eisenkopf asked for; and at a whistle from +the stranger the animals all began crowding into the nut again, nearly +tumbling over each other in their haste. When the last foot had got +inside, the two halves of the shell shut close. Then Peter put it in his +pocket and went on to the house. + +No sooner had he reached it than he cracked his nut for the second time, +and out came the horses, sheep, and oxen again. Indeed Peter thought +that there were even more of them than before. The old man could not +believe his eyes when he saw the multitudes of horses, oxen and sheep +standing before his door. + +'How did you come by all these?' he gasped, as soon as he could speak; +and the son told him the whole story, and of the promise he had given +Eisenkopf. + +The next day some of the cattle were driven to market and sold, and with +the money the old man was able to buy some of the fields and gardens +round his house, and in a few months had grown the richest and most +prosperous man in the whole village. Everything seemed to turn to gold +in his hands, till one day, when he and his son were sitting in the +orchard watching their herds of cattle grazing in the meadows, he +suddenly said: 'Peter, my boy, it is time that you were thinking of +marrying.' + +'But, my dear father, I told you I can never marry, because of the +promise I gave to Eisenkopf.' + +'Oh, one promises here and promises there, but no one ever thinks of +keeping such promises. If Eisenkopf does not like your marrying, he will +have to put up with it all the same! Besides, there stands in the stable +a grey horse which is saddled night and day; and if Eisenkopf should +show his face, you have only got to jump on the horse's back and ride +away, and nobody on earth can catch you. When all is safe you will come +back again, and we shall live as happily as two fish in the sea.' + +And so it all happened. The young man found a pretty, brown-skinned girl +who was willing to have him for a husband, and the whole village came +to the wedding feast. The music was at its gayest, and the dance at its +merriest, when Eisenkopf looked in at the window. + +'Oh, ho, my brother! what is going on here? It has the air of being a +wedding feast. Yet I fancied--was I mistaken?--that you had given me a +promise that you never would marry.' But Peter had not waited for the +end of this speech. Scarcely had he seen Eisenkopf than he darted like +the wind to the stable and flung himself on the horse's back. In another +moment he was away over the mountain, with Eisenkopf running fast behind +him. + +On they went through thick forests where the sun never shone, over +rivers so wide that it took a whole day to sail across them, up hills +whose sides were all of glass; on they went through seven times seven +countries till Peter reined in his horse before the house of an old +woman. + +'Good day, mother,' said he, jumping down and opening the door. + +'Good day, my son,' answered she, 'and what are you doing here, at the +world's end?' + +'I am flying for my life, mother, flying to the world which is beyond +all worlds; for Eisenkopf is at my heels.' + +'Come in and rest then, and have some food, for I have a little dog who +will begin to howl when Eisenkopf is still seven miles off.' + +So Peter went in and warmed himself and ate and drank, till suddenly the +dog began to howl. + +'Quick, my son, quick, you must go,' cried the old woman. And the +lightning itself was not quicker than Peter. + +'Stop a moment,' cried the old woman again, just as he was mounting his +horse, 'take this napkin and this cake, and put them in your bag where +you can get hold of them easily.' Peter took them and put them into his +bag, and waving his thanks for her kindness, he was off like the wind. + +Round and round he rode, through seven times seven countries, through +forests still thicker, and rivers still wider, and mountains still more +slippery than the others he had passed, till at length he reached a +house where dwelt another old woman. + +'Good day, mother,' said he. + +'Good day, my son! What are you seeking here at the world's end?' + +'I am flying for my life, mother, flying to the world that is beyond all +worlds, for Eisenkopf is at my heels.' + +'Come in, my son, and have some food. I have a little dog who will begin +to howl when Eisenkopf is still seven miles off; so lie on this bed and +rest yourself in peace.' + +Then she went to the kitchen and baked a number of cakes, more than +Peter could have eaten in a whole month. He had not finished a quarter +of them, when the dog began to howl. + +'Now, my son, you must go,' cried the old woman 'but first put these +cakes and this napkin in your bag, where you can easily get at them.' So +Peter thanked her and was off like the wind. + +On he rode, through seven times seven countries, till he came to the +house of a third old woman, who welcomed him as the others had done. But +when the dog howled, and Peter sprang up to go, she said, as she gave +him the same gifts for his journey: 'You have now three cakes and three +napkins, for I know that my sisters have each given you one. Listen to +me, and do what I tell you. Ride seven days and nights straight before +you, and on the eighth morning you will see a great fire. Strike it +three times with the three napkins and it will part in two. Then ride +into the opening, and when you are in the middle of the opening, throw +the three cakes behind your back with your left hand.' + +Peter thanked her for her counsel, and was careful to do exactly all the +old woman had told him. On the eighth morning he reached a fire so large +that he could see nothing else on either side, but when he struck it +with the napkins it parted, and stood on each hand like a wall. As he +rode through the opening he threw the cakes behind him. From each cake +there sprang a huge dog, and he gave them the names of World's-weight, +Ironstrong, and Quick-ear. They bayed with joy at the sight of him, +and as Peter turned to pat them, he beheld Eisenkopf at the edge of the +fire, but the opening had closed up behind Peter, and he could not get +through. + +'Stop, you promise-breaker,' shrieked he; 'you have slipped through my +hands once, but wait till I catch you again!' + +Then he lay down by the fire and watched to see what would happen. + +When Peter knew that he had nothing more to fear from Eisenkopf, he rode +on slowly till he came to a small white house. Here he entered and found +himself in a room where a gray-haired woman was spinning and a beautiful +girl was sitting in the window combing her golden hair. 'What brings you +here, my son?' asked the old woman. + +'I am seeking for a place, mother,' answered Peter. + +'Stay with me, then, for I need a servant,' said the old woman. + +'With pleasure, mother,' replied he. + +After that Peter's life was a very happy one. He sowed and ploughed all +day, except now and then when he took his dogs and went to hunt. And +whatever game he brought back the maiden with the golden hair knew how +to dress it. + +One day the old woman had gone to the town to buy some flour, and Peter +and the maiden were left alone in the house. They fell into talk, and +she asked him where his home was, and how he had managed to come through +the fire. Peter then told her the whole story, and of his striking the +flames with the three napkins as he had been told to do. The maiden +listened attentively and wondered in herself whether what he said was +true. So after Peter had gone out to the fields, she crept up to his +room and stole the napkins and then set off as fast as she could to the +fire by a path she knew of over the hill. + +At the third blow she gave the flames divided, and Eisenkopf, who had +been watching and hoping for a chance of this kind, ran down the opening +and stood before her. At this sight the maiden was almost frightened +to death, but with a great effort she recovered herself and ran home as +fast as her legs would carry her, closely pursued by Eisenkopf. Panting +for breath she rushed into the house and fell fainting on the floor; but +Eisenkopf entered behind her, and hid himself in the kitchen under the +hearth. + +Not long after, Peter came in and picked up the three napkins which the +maiden had dropped on the threshold. He wondered how they got there, for +he knew he had left them in his room; but what was his horror when he +saw the form of the fainting girl lying where she had dropped, as still +and white as if she had been dead. He lifted her up and carried her +to her bed, where she soon revived, but she did not tell Peter about +Eisenkopf, who had been almost crushed to death under the hearth-stone +by the body of World's-weight. + +The next morning Peter locked up his dogs and went out into the forest +alone. Eisenkopf, however, had seen him go, and followed so closely at +his heels that Peter had barely time to clamber up a tall tree, where +Eisenkopf could not reach him. 'Come down at once, you gallows bird,' he +cried. 'Have you forgotten your promise that you never would marry?' + +'Oh, I know it is all up with me,' answered Peter, 'but let me call out +three times.' + +'You can call a hundred times if you like,' returned Eisenkopf, 'for now +I have got you in my power, and you shall pay for what you have done.' + +'Iron-strong, World's-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help!' cried Peter; +and Quick-ear heard, and said to his brothers: 'Listen, our master is +calling us.' + +'You are dreaming, fool,' answered World's-weight; 'why he has not +finished his breakfast.' And he gave Quick-ear a slap with his paw, for +he was young and needed to be taught sense. + +'Iron-strong, World's-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help!' cried Peter +again. + +This time World's-weight heard also, and he said, 'Ah, now our master is +really calling.' + +'How silly you are!' answered Iron-strong; 'you know that at this hour +he is always eating.' And he gave World's-weight a cuff, because he was +old enough to know better. + +Peter sat trembling on the tree dreading lest his dogs had never heard, +or else that, having heard, they had refused to come. It was his last +chance, so making a mighty effort he shrieked once more: + +'Iron-strong, World's-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help, or I am a dead +man!' + +And Iron-strong heard, and said: 'Yes, he is certainly calling, we must +go at once.' And in an instant he had burst open the door, and all three +were bounding away in the direction of the voice. When they reached the +foot of the tree Peter just said: 'At him!' And in a few minutes there +was nothing left of Eisenkopf. + +As soon as his enemy was dead Peter got down and returned to the house, +where he bade farewell to the old woman and her daughter, who gave him +a beautiful ring, all set with diamonds. It was really a magic ring, but +neither Peter nor the maiden knew that. + +Peter's heart was heavy as he set out for home. He had ceased to love +the wife whom he had left at his wedding feast, and his heart had gone +out to the golden-haired girl. However, it was no use thinking of that, +so he rode forward steadily. + +The fire had to be passed through before he had gone very far, and when +he came to it, Peter shook the napkins three times in the flames and a +passage opened for trim. But then a curious thing happened; the three +dogs, who had followed at his heels all the way, now became three cakes +again, which Peter put into his bag with the napkins. After that he +stopped at the houses of the three old women, and gave each one back her +napkin and her cake. + +'Where is my wife?' asked Peter, when he reached home. + +'Oh, my dear son, why did you ever leave us? After you had vanished, no +one knew where, your poor wife grew more and more wretched, and would +neither eat nor drink. Little by little she faded away, and a month ago +we laid her in her grave, to hide her sorrows under the earth.' + +At this news Peter began to weep, for he had loved his wife before he +went away and had seen the golden-haired maiden. + +He went sorrowfully about his work for the space of half a year, when, +one night, he dreamed that he moved the diamond ring given him by the +maiden from his right hand and put it on the wedding finger of the left. +The dream was so real that he awoke at once and changed the ring from +one hand to the other. And as he did so guess what he saw? Why, the +golden-haired girl standing before him. And he sprang up and kissed her, +and said: 'Now you are mine for ever and ever, and when we die we will +both be buried in one grave.' + +And so they were. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Death Of Abu Nowas And Of His Wife + +Once upon a time there lived a man whose name was Abu Nowas, and he was +a great favourite with the Sultan of the country, who had a palace in +the same town where Abu Nowas dwelt. + +One day Abu Nowas came weeping into the hall of the palace where the +Sultan was sitting, and said to him: 'Oh, mighty Sultan, my wife is +dead.' + +'That is bad news,' replied the Sultan; 'I must get you another wife.' +And he bade his Grand Vizir send for the Sultana. + +'This poor Abu Nowas has lost his wife,' said he, when she entered the +hall. + +'Oh, then we must get him another,' answered the Sultana; 'I have a +girl that will suit him exactly,' and clapped her hands loudly. At this +signal a maiden appeared and stood before her. + +'I have got a husband for you,' said the Sultana. + +'Who is he?' asked the girl. + +'Abu Nowas, the jester,' replied the Sultana. + +'I will take him,' answered the maiden; and as Abu Nowas made no +objection, it was all arranged. The Sultana had the most beautiful +clothes made for the bride, and the Sultan gave the bridegroom his +wedding suit, and a thousand gold pieces into the bargain, and soft +carpets for the house. + +So Abu Nowas took his wife home, and for some time they were very +happy, and spent the money freely which the Sultan had given them, never +thinking what they should do for more when that was gone. But come to an +end it did, and they had to sell their fine things one by one, till at +length nothing was left but a cloak apiece, and one blanket to cover +them. 'We have run through our fortune,' said Abu Nowas, 'what are we +to do now? I am afraid to go back to the Sultan, for he will command +his servants to turn me from the door. But you shall return to your +mistress, and throw yourself at her feet and weep, and perhaps she will +help us.' + +'Oh, you had much better go,' said the wife. 'I shall not know what to +say.' + +'Well, then, stay at home, if you like,' answered Abu Nowas, 'and I will +ask to be admitted to the Sultan's presence, and will tell him, with +sobs, that my wife is dead, and that I have no money for her burial. +When he hears that perhaps he will give us something.' + +'Yes, that is a good plan,' said the wife; and Abu Nowas set out. + +The Sultan was sitting in the hall of justice when Abu Nowas entered, +his eyes streaming with tears, for he had rubbed some pepper into them. +They smarted dreadfully, and he could hardly see to walk straight, and +everyone wondered what was the matter with him. + +'Abu Nowas! What has happened?' cried the Sultan. + +'Oh, noble Sultan, my wife is dead,' wept he. + +'We must all die,' answered the Sultan; but this was not the reply for +which Abu Nowas had hoped. + +'True, O Sultan, but I have neither shroud to wrap her in, nor money +to bury her with,' went on Abu Nowas, in no wise abashed by the way the +Sultan had received his news. + +'Well, give him a hundred pieces of gold,' said the Sultan, turning to +the Grand Vizir. And when the money was counted out Abu Nowas bowed low, +and left the hall, his tears still flowing, but with joy in his heart. + +'Have you got anything?' cried his wife, who was waiting for him +anxiously. + +'Yes, a hundred gold pieces,' said he, throwing down the bag, 'but that +will not last us any time. Now you must go to the Sultana, clothed in +sackcloth and robes of mourning, and tell her that your husband, Abu +Nowas, is dead, and you have no money for his burial. When she hears +that, she will be sure to ask you what has become of the money and the +fine clothes she gave us on our marriage, and you will answer, "before +he died he sold everything."' + +The wife did as she was told, and wrapping herself in sackcloth went up +to the Sultana's own palace, and as she was known to have been one of +Subida's favourite attendants, she was taken without difficulty into the +private apartments. + +'What is the matter?' inquired the Sultana, at the sight of the dismal +figure. + +'My husband lies dead at home, and he has spent all our money, and sold +everything, and I have nothing left to bury him with,' sobbed the wife. + +Then Subida took up a purse containing two hundred gold pieces, and +said: 'Your husband served us long and faithfully. You must see that he +has a fine funeral.' + +The wife took the money, and, kissing the feet of the Sultana, she +joyfully hastened home. They spent some happy hours planning how they +should spend it, and thinking how clever they had been. 'When the Sultan +goes this evening to Subida's palace,' said Abu Nowas, 'she will be sure +to tell him that Abu Nowas is dead. "Not Abu Nowas, it is his wife," he +will reply, and they will quarrel over it, and all the time we shall be +sitting here enjoying ourselves. Oh, if they only knew, how angry they +would be!' + +As Abu Nowas had foreseen, the Sultan went, in the evening after his +business was over, to pay his usual visit to the Sultana. + + +'Poor Abu Nowas is dead!' said Subida when he entered the room. + +'It is not Abu Nowas, but his wife who is dead,' answered the Sultan. + +'No; really you are quite wrong. She came to tell me herself only a +couple of hours ago,' replied Subida, 'and as he had spent all their +money, I gave her something to bury him with.' + +'You must be dreaming,' exclaimed the Sultan. 'Soon after midday Abu +Nowas came into the hall, his eyes streaming with tears, and when I +asked him the reason he answered that his wife was dead, and they had +sold everything they had, and he had nothing left, not so much as would +buy her a shroud, far less for her burial.' + +For a long time they talked, and neither would listen to the other, till +the Sultan sent for the door-keeper and bade him go instantly to the +house of Abu Nowas and see if it was the man or his wife who was dead. +But Abu Nowas happened to be sitting with his wife behind the latticed +window, which looked on the street, and he saw the man coming, and +sprang up at once. 'There is the Sultan's door-keeper! They have sent +him here to find out the truth. Quick! throw yourself on the bed and +pretend that you are dead.' And in a moment the wife was stretched out +stiffly, with a linen sheet spread across her, like a corpse. + +She was only just in time, for the sheet was hardly drawn across her +when the door opened and the porter came in. 'Has anything happened?' +asked he. + +'My poor wife is dead,' replied Abu Nowas. 'Look! she is laid out here.' +And the porter approached the bed, which was in a corner of the room, +and saw the stiff form lying underneath. + +'We must all die,' said he, and went back to the Sultan. + +'Well, have you found out which of them is dead?' asked the Sultan. + +'Yes, noble Sultan; it is the wife,' replied the porter. + +'He only says that to please you,' cried Subida in a rage; and calling +to her chamberlain, she ordered him to go at once to the dwelling of Abu +Nowas and see which of the two was dead. 'And be sure you tell the truth +about it,' added she, 'or it will be the worse for you.' + +As her chamberlain drew near the house, Abu Nowas caught sight of him. +'There is the Sultana's chamberlain,' he exclaimed in a fright. 'Now it +is my turn to die. Be quick and spread the sheet over me.' And he laid +himself on the bed, and held his breath when the chamberlain came in. +'What are you weeping for?' asked the man, finding the wife in tears. + +'My husband is dead,' answered she, pointing to the bed; and the +chamberlain drew back the sheet and beheld Abu Nowas lying stiff and +motionless. Then he gently replaced the sheet and returned to the +palace. + +'Well, have you found out this time?' asked the Sultan. + +'My lord, it is the husband who is dead.' + +'But I tell you he was with me only a few hours ago,' cried the Sultan +angrily. 'I must get to the bottom of this before I sleep! Let my golden +coach be brought round at once.' + +The coach was before the door in another five minutes, and the Sultan +and Sultana both got in. Abu Nowas had ceased being a dead man, and was +looking into the street when he saw the coach coming. 'Quick! quick!' he +called to his wife. 'The Sultan will be here directly, and we must both +be dead to receive him.' So they laid themselves down, and spread the +sheet over them, and held their breath. At that instant the Sultan +entered, followed by the Sultana and the chamberlain, and he went up +to the bed and found the corpses stiff and motionless. 'I would give a +thousand gold pieces to anyone who would tell me the truth about this,' +cried he, and at the words Abu Nowas sat up. 'Give them to me, then,' +said he, holding out his hand. 'You cannot give them to anyone who needs +them more.' + +'Oh, Abu Nowas, you impudent dog!' exclaimed the Sultan, bursting into +a laugh, in which the Sultana joined. 'I might have known it was one of +your tricks!' But he sent Abu Nowas the gold he had promised, and let us +hope that it did not fly so fast as the last had done. + +[From Tunische Mahrchen.] + + + + +Motiratika + +Once upon a time, in a very hot country, a man lived with his wife in +a little hut, which was surrounded by grass and flowers. They were +perfectly happy together till, by-and-by, the woman fell ill and refused +to take any food. The husband tried to persuade her to eat all sorts +of delicious fruits that he had found in the forest, but she would +have none of them, and grew so thin he feared she would die. 'Is there +nothing you would like?' he said at last in despair. + +'Yes, I think I could eat some wild honey,' answered she. The husband +was overjoyed, for he thought this sounded easy enough to get, and he +went off at once in search of it. + +He came back with a wooden pan quite full, and gave it to his wife. 'I +can't eat that,' she said, turning away in disgust. 'Look! there are +some dead bees in it! I want honey that is quite pure.' And the man +threw the rejected honey on the grass, and started off to get some +fresh. When he got back he offered it to his wife, who treated it as +she had done the first bowlful. 'That honey has got ants in it: throw it +away,' she said, and when he brought her some more, she declared it was +full of earth. In his fourth journey he managed to find some that she +would eat, and then she begged him to get her some water. This took him +some time, but at length he came to a lake whose waters were sweetened +with sugar. He filled a pannikin quite full, and carried it home to his +wife, who drank it eagerly, and said that she now felt quite well. When +she was up and had dressed herself, her husband lay down in her place, +saying: 'You have given me a great deal of trouble, and now it is my +turn!' + +'What is the matter with you?' asked the wife. + +'I am thirsty and want some water,' answered he; and she took a large +pot and carried it to the nearest spring, which was a good way off. +'Here is the water,' she said to her husband, lifting the heavy pot from +her head; but he turned away in disgust. + +'You have drawn it from the pool that is full of frogs and willows; +you must get me some more.' So the woman set out again and walked still +further to another lake. + +'This water tastes of rushes,' he exclaimed, 'go and get some fresh.' +But when she brought back a third supply he declared that it seemed made +up of water-lilies, and that he must have water that was pure, and not +spoilt by willows, or frogs, or rushes. So for the fourth time she put +her jug on her head, and passing all the lakes she had hitherto tried, +she came to another, where the water was golden like honey. She stooped +down to drink, when a horrible head bobbed up on the surface. + +'How dare you steal my water?' cried the head. + +'It is my husband who has sent me,' she replied, trembling all over. +'But do not kill me! You shall have my baby, if you will only let me +go.' + +'How am I to know which is your baby?' asked the Ogre. + +'Oh, that is easily managed. I will shave both sides of his head, and +hang some white beads round his neck. And when you come to the hut you +have only to call "Motikatika!" and he will run to meet you, and you can +eat him.' + +'Very well,' said the ogre, 'you can go home.' And after filling the pot +she returned, and told her husband of the dreadful danger she had been +in. + +Now, though his mother did not know it, the baby was a magician and he +had heard all that his mother had promised the ogre; and he laughed to +himself as he planned how to outwit her. + +The next morning she shaved his head on both sides, and hung the white +beads round his neck, and said to him: 'I am going to the fields to +work, but you must stay at home. Be sure you do not go outside, or some +wild beast may eat you.' + +'Very well,' answered he. + +As soon as his mother was out of sight, the baby took out some magic +bones, and placed them in a row before him. 'You are my father,' he told +one bone, 'and you are my mother. You are the biggest,' he said to +the third, 'so you shall be the ogre who wants to eat me; and you,' to +another, 'are very little, therefore you shall be me. Now, then, tell me +what I am to do.' + +'Collect all the babies in the village the same size as yourself,' +answered the bones; 'shave the sides of their heads, and hang white +beads round their necks, and tell them that when anybody calls +"Motikatika," they are to answer to it. And be quick for you have no +time to lose.' + +Motikatika went out directly, and brought back quite a crowd of babies, +and shaved their heads and hung white beads round their little black +necks, and just as he had finished, the ground began to shake, and the +huge ogre came striding along, crying: 'Motikatika! Motikatika!' + +'Here we are! here we are!' answered the babies, all running to meet +him. + +'It is Motikatika I want,' said the ogre. + +'We are all Motikatika,' they replied. And the ogre sat down in +bewilderment, for he dared not eat the children of people who had done +him no wrong, or a heavy punishment would befall him. The children +waited for a little, wondering, and then they went away. + +The ogre remained where he was, till the evening, when the woman +returned from the fields. + +'I have not seen Motikatika,' said he. + +'But why did you not call him by his name, as I told you?' she asked. + +'I did, but all the babies in the village seemed to be named +Motikatika,' answered the ogre; 'you cannot think the number who came +running to me.' + +The woman did not know what to make of it, so, to keep him in a good +temper, she entered the hut and prepared a bowl of maize, which she +brought him. + +'I do not want maize, I want the baby,' grumbled he 'and I will have +him.' + +'Have patience,' answered she; 'I will call him, and you can eat him at +once.' And she went into the hut and cried, 'Motikatika!' + +'I am coming, mother,' replied he; but first he took out his bones, and, +crouching down on the ground behind the hut, asked them how he should +escape the ogre. + +'Change yourself into a mouse,' said the bones; and so he did, and the +ogre grew tired of waiting, and told the woman she must invent some +other plan. + +'To-morrow I will send him into the field to pick some beans for me, and +you will find him there, and can eat him.' + +'Very well,' replied the ogre, 'and this time I will take care to have +him,' and he went back to his lake. + +Next morning Motikatika was sent out with a basket, and told to pick +some beans for dinner. On the way to the field he took out his bones and +asked them what he was to do to escape from the ogre. 'Change yourself +into a bird and snap off the beans,' said the bones. And the ogre chased +away the bird, not knowing that it was Motikatika. + +The ogre went back to the hut and told the woman that she had deceived +him again, and that he would not be put off any longer. + +'Return here this evening,' answered she, 'and you will find him in bed +under this white coverlet. Then you can carry him away, and eat him at +once.' + +But the boy heard, and consulted his bones, which said: 'Take the red +coverlet from your father's bed, and put yours on his,' and so he did. +And when the ogre came, he seized Motikatika's father and carried him +outside the hut and ate him. When his wife found out the mistake, she +cried bitterly; but Motikatika said: 'It is only just that he should be +eaten, and not I; for it was he, and not I, who sent you to fetch the +water.' + +[Adapted from the Ba-Ronga (H. Junod).] + + + + +Niels And The Giants + +On one of the great moors over in Jutland, where trees won't grow +because the soil is so sandy and the wind so strong, there once lived +a man and his wife, who had a little house and some sheep, and two sons +who helped them to herd them. The elder of the two was called Rasmus, +and the younger Niels. Rasmus was quite content to look after sheep, as +his father had done before him, but Niels had a fancy to be a hunter, +and was not happy till he got hold of a gun and learned to shoot. It was +only an old muzzle-loading flint-lock after all, but Niels thought it a +great prize, and went about shooting at everything he could see. So much +did he practice that in the long run he became a wonderful shot, and was +heard of even where he had never been seen. Some people said there was +very little in him beyond this, but that was an idea they found reason +to change in the course of time. + +The parents of Rasmus and Niels were good Catholics, and when they were +getting old the mother took it into her head that she would like to go +to Rome and see the Pope. The others didn't see much use in this, but +she had her way in the end: they sold all the sheep, shut up the house, +and set out for Rome on foot. Niels took his gun with him. + +'What do you want with that?' said Rasmus; 'we have plenty to carry +without it.' But Niels could not be happy without his gun, and took it +all the same. + +It was in the hottest part of summer that they began their journey, so +hot that they could not travel at all in the middle of the day, and they +were afraid to do it by night lest they might lose their way or fall +into the hands of robbers. One day, a little before sunset, they came to +an inn which lay at the edge of a forest. + +'We had better stay here for the night,' said Rasmus. + +'What an idea!' said Niels, who was growing impatient at the slow +progress they were making. 'We can't travel by day for the heat, and we +remain where we are all night. It will be long enough before we get to +Rome if we go on at this rate.' + +Rasmus was unwilling to go on, but the two old people sided with Niels, +who said, 'The nights aren't dark, and the moon will soon be up. We can +ask at the inn here, and find out which way we ought to take.' + +So they held on for some time, but at last they came to a small opening +in the forest, and here they found that the road split in two. There was +no sign-post to direct them, and the people in the inn had not told them +which of the two roads to take. + +'What's to be done now?' said Rasmus. 'I think we had better have stayed +at the inn.' + +'There's no harm done,' said Niels. 'The night is warm, and we can wait +here till morning. One of us will keep watch till midnight, and then +waken the other.' + +Rasmus chose to take the first watch, and the others lay down to sleep. +It was very quiet in the forest, and Rasmus could hear the deer and +foxes and other animals moving about among the rustling leaves. After +the moon rose he could see them occasionally, and when a big stag came +quite close to him he got hold of Niels' gun and shot it. + +Niels was wakened by the report. 'What's that?' he said. + +'I've just shot a stag,' said Rasmus, highly pleased with himself. + +'That's nothing,' said Niels. 'I've often shot a sparrow, which is a +much more difficult thing to do.' + +It was now close on midnight, so Niels began his watch, and Rasmus went +to sleep. It began to get colder, and Niels began to walk about a little +to keep himself warm. He soon found that they were not far from the edge +of the forest, and when he climbed up one of the trees there he could +see out over the open country beyond. At a little distance he saw a +fire, and beside it there sat three giants, busy with broth and beef. +They were so huge that the spoons they used were as large as spades, and +their forks as big as hay-forks: with these they lifted whole bucketfuls +of broth and great joints of meat out of an enormous pot which was set +on the ground between them. Niels was startled and rather scared at +first, but he comforted himself with the thought that the giants were +a good way off, and that if they came nearer he could easily hide among +the bushes. After watching them for a little, however, he began to get +over his alarm, and finally slid down the tree again, resolved to get +his gun and play some tricks with them. + +When he had climbed back to his former position, he took good aim, and +waited till one of the giants was just in the act of putting a large +piece of meat into his mouth. Bang! went Niels' gun, and the bullet +struck the handle of the fork so hard that the point went into the +giant's chin, instead of his mouth. + +'None of your tricks,' growled the giant to the one who sat next him. +'What do you mean by hitting my fork like that, and making me prick +myself?' + +'I never touched your fork,' said the other. 'Don't try to get up a +quarrel with me.' + +'Look at it, then,' said the first. 'Do you suppose I stuck it into my +own chin for fun?' + +The two got so angry over the matter that each offered to fight the +other there and then, but the third giant acted as peace-maker, and they +again fell to their eating. + +While the quarrel was going on, Niels had loaded the gun again, and +just as the second giant was about to put a nice tit-bit into his mouth, +bang! went the gun again, and the fork flew into a dozen pieces. + +This giant was even more furious than the first had been, and words were +just coming to blows, when the third giant again interposed. + +'Don't be fools,' he said to them; 'what's the good of beginning to +fight among ourselves, when it is so necessary for the three of us to +work together and get the upper hand over the king of this country. It +will be a hard enough task as it is, but it will be altogether hopeless +if we don't stick together. Sit down again, and let us finish our meal; +I shall sit between you, and then neither of you can blame the other.' + +Niels was too far away to hear their talk, but from their gestures he +could guess what was happening, and thought it good fun. + +'Thrice is lucky,' said he to himself; 'I'll have another shot yet.' + +This time it was the third giant's fork that caught the bullet, and +snapped in two. + +'Well,' said he, 'if I were as foolish as you two, I would also fly into +a rage, but I begin to see what time of day it is, and I'm going off +this minute to see who it is that's playing these tricks with us.' + +So well had the giant made his observations, that though Niels climbed +down the tree as fast as he could, so as to hide among the bushes, he +had just got to the ground when the enemy was upon him. + +'Stay where you are,' said the giant, 'or I'll put my foot on you, and +there won't be much of you left after that.' + +Niels gave in, and the giant carried him back to his comrades. + +'You don't deserve any mercy at our hands,' said his captor 'but as you +are such a good shot you may be of great use to us, so we shall spare +your life, if you will do us a service. Not far from here there stands a +castle, in which the king's daughter lives; we are at war with the king, +and want to get the upper hand of him by carrying off the princess, but +the castle is so well guarded that there is no getting into it. By our +skill in magic we have cast sleep on every living thing in the castle, +except a little black dog, and, as long as he is awake, we are no better +off than before; for, as soon as we begin to climb over the wall, the +little dog will hear us, and its barking will waken all the others +again. Having got you, we can place you where you will be able to shoot +the dog before it begins to bark, and then no one can hinder us from +getting the princess into our hands. If you do that, we shall not only +let you off, but reward you handsomely.' + +Niels had to consent, and the giants set out for the castle at once. +It was surrounded by a very high rampart, so high that even the giants +could not touch the top of it. 'How am I to get over that?' said Niels. + +'Quite easily,' said the third giant; 'I'll throw you up on it.' + +'No, thanks,' said Niels. 'I might fall down on the other side, or break +my leg or neck, and then the little dog wouldn't get shot after all.' + +'No fear of that,' said the giant; 'the rampart is quite wide on the +top, and covered with long grass, so that you will come down as softly +as though you fell on a feather-bed.' + +Niels had to believe him, and allowed the giant to throw him up. He came +down on his feet quite unhurt, but the little black dog heard the dump, +and rushed out of its kennel at once. It was just opening its mouth to +bark, when Niels fired, and it fell dead on the spot. + +'Go down on the inside now,' said the giant, 'and see if you can open +the gate to us.' + +Niels made his way down into the courtyard, but on his way to the outer +gate he found himself at the entrance to the large hall of the castle. +The door was open, and the hall was brilliantly lighted, though there +was no one to be seen. Niels went in here and looked round him: on the +wall there hung a huge sword without a sheath, and beneath it was a +large drinking-horn, mounted with silver. Niels went closer to look at +these, and saw that the horn had letters engraved on the silver rim: +when he took it down and turned it round, he found that the inscription +was:-- + + Whoever drinks the wine I hold + Can wield the sword that hangs above; + Then let him use it for the right, + And win a royal maiden's love. + +Niels took out the silver stopper of the horn, and drank some of the +wine, but when he tried to take down the sword he found himself unable +to move it. So he hung up the horn again, and went further in to the +castle. 'The giants can wait a little,' he said. + +Before long he came to an apartment in which a beautiful princess lay +asleep in a bed, and on a table by her side there lay a gold-hemmed +handkerchief. Niels tore this in two, and put one half in his pocket, +leaving the other half on the table. On the floor he saw a pair of +gold-embroidered slippers, and one of these he also put in his pocket. +After that he went back to the hall, and took down the horn again. +'Perhaps I have to drink all that is in it before I can move the sword,' +he thought; so he put it to his lips again and drank till it was quite +empty. When he had done this, he could wield the sword with the greatest +of ease, and felt himself strong enough to do anything, even to fight +the giants he had left outside, who were no doubt wondering why he had +not opened the gate to them before this time. To kill the giants, he +thought, would be using the sword for the right; but as to winning +the love of the princess, that was a thing which the son of a poor +sheep-farmer need not hope for. + +When Niels came to the gate of the castle, he found that there was a +large door and a small one, so he opened the latter. + +'Can't you open the big door?' said the giants; 'we shall hardly be able +to get in at this one.' + +'The bars are too heavy for me to draw,' said Niels; 'if you stoop a +little you can quite well come in here.' The first giant accordingly +bent down and entered in a stooping posture, but before he had time to +straighten his back again Niels made a sweep with the sword, and oft +went the giant's head. To push the body aside as it fell was quite easy +for Niels, so strong had the wine made him, and the second giant as he +entered met the same reception. The third was slower in coming, so Niels +called out to him: 'Be quick,' he said, 'you are surely the oldest of +the three, since you are so slow in your movements, but I can't wait +here long; I must get back to my own people as soon as possible.' So the +third also came in, and was served in the same way. It appears from the +story that giants were not given fair play! + +By this time day was beginning to break, and Niels thought that his +folks might already be searching for him, so, instead of waiting to see +what took place at the castle, he ran off to the forest as fast as he +could, taking the sword with him. He found the others still asleep, so +he woke them up, and they again set out on their journey. Of the night's +adventures he said not a word, and when they asked where he got the +sword, he only pointed in the direction of the castle, and said, 'Over +that way.' They thought he had found it, and asked no more questions. + +When Niels left the castle, he shut the door behind him, and it closed +with such a bang that the porter woke up. He could scarcely believe +his eyes when he saw the three headless giants lying in a heap in the +courtyard, and could not imagine what had taken place. The whole castle +was soon aroused, and then everybody wondered at the affair: it was soon +seen that the bodies were those of the king's great enemies, but how +they came to be there and in that condition was a perfect mystery. Then +it was noticed that the drinking-horn was empty and the sword gone, +while the princess reported that half of her handkerchief and one of her +slippers had been taken away. How the giants had been killed seemed a +little clearer now, but who had done it was as great a puzzle as before. +The old knight who had charge of the castle said that in his opinion +it must have been some young knight, who had immediately set off to the +king to claim the hand of the princess. This sounded likely, but the +messenger who was sent to the Court returned with the news that no one +there knew anything about the matter. + +'We must find him, however,' said the princess; 'for if he is willing to +marry me I cannot in honour refuse him, after what my father put on the +horn.' She took council with her father's wisest men as to what ought to +be done, and among other things they advised her to build a house beside +the highway, and put over the door this inscription:--'Whoever will tell +the story of his life, may stay here three nights for nothing.' This was +done, and many strange tales were told to the princess, but none of the +travellers said a word about the three giants. + +In the meantime Niels and the others tramped on towards Rome. Autumn +passed, and winter was just beginning when they came to the foot of +a great range of mountains, towering up to the sky. 'Must we go over +these?' said they. 'We shall be frozen to death or buried in the snow.' + +'Here comes a man,' said Niels; 'let us ask him the way to Rome.' They +did so, and were told that there was no other way. + +'And is it far yet?' said the old people, who were beginning to be worn +out by the long journey. The man held up his foot so that they could see +the sole of his shoe; it was worn as thin as paper, and there was a hole +in the middle of it. + +'These shoes were quite new when I left Rome,' he said, 'and look at +them now; that will tell you whether you are far from it or not.' + +This discouraged the old people so much that they gave up all thought of +finishing the journey, and only wished to get back to Denmark as quickly +as they could. What with the winter and bad roads they took longer to +return than they had taken to go, but in the end they found themselves +in sight of the forest where they had slept before. + +'What's this?' said Rasmus. 'Here's a big house built since we passed +this way before.' + +'So it is,' said Peter; 'let's stay all night in it.' + +'No, we can't afford that,' said the old people; 'it will be too dear +for the like of us.' + +However, when they saw what was written above the door, they were +all well pleased to get a night's lodging for nothing. They were well +received, and had so much attention given to them, that the old people +were quite put out by it. After they had got time to rest themselves, +the princess's steward came to hear their story. + +'You saw what was written above the door,' he said to the father. 'Tell +me who you are and what your history has been.' + +'Dear me, I have nothing of any importance to tell you,' said the old +man, 'and I am sure we should never have made so bold as to trouble you +at all if it hadn't been for the youngest of our two sons here.' + +'Never mind that,' said the steward; 'you are very welcome if you will +only tell me the story of your life.' + +'Well, well, I will,' said he, 'but there is nothing to tell about it. +I and my wife have lived all our days on a moor in North Jutland, until +this last year, when she took a fancy to go to Rome. We set out with our +two sons but turned back long before we got there, and are now on our +way home again. That's all my own story, and our two sons have lived +with us all their days, so there is nothing more to be told about them +either.' + +'Yes there is,' said Rasmus; 'when we were on our way south, we slept in +the wood near here one night, and I shot a stag.' + +The steward was so much accustomed to hearing stories of no importance +that he thought there was no use going further with this, but reported +to the princess that the newcomers had nothing to tell. + +'Did you question them all?' she said. + +'Well, no; not directly,' said he; 'but the father said that none of +them could tell me any more than he had done.' + +'You are getting careless,' said the princess; 'I shall go and talk to +them myself.' + +Niels knew the princess again as soon as she entered the room, and was +greatly alarmed, for he immediately supposed that all this was a device +to discover the person who had run away with the sword, the slipper and +the half of the handkerchief, and that it would fare badly with him if +he were discovered. So he told his story much the same as the others did +(Niels was not very particular), and thought he had escaped all further +trouble, when Rasmus put in his word. 'You've forgotten something, +Niels,' he said; 'you remember you found a sword near here that night I +shot the stag.' + +'Where is the sword?' said the princess. + +'I know,' said the steward, 'I saw where he laid it down when they came +in;' and off he went to fetch it, while Niels wondered whether he +could make his escape in the meantime. Before he had made up his +mind, however, the steward was back with the sword, which the princess +recognised at once. + +'Where did you get this?' she said to Niels. + +Niels was silent, and wondered what the usual penalty was for a poor +sheep-farmer's son who was so unfortunate as to deliver a princess and +carry off things from her bed-room. + +'See what else he has about him,' said the princess to the steward, +and Niels had to submit to be searched: out of one pocket came a +gold-embroidered slipper, and out of another the half of a gold-hemmed +handkerchief. + +'That is enough,' said the princess; 'now we needn't ask any more +questions. Send for my father the king at once.' + +'Please let me go,' said Niels; 'I did you as much good as harm, at any +rate.' + +'Why, who said anything about doing harm?' said the princess. 'You must +stay here till my father comes.' + +The way in which the princess smiled when she said this gave Niels some +hope that things might not be bad for him after all, and he was yet more +encouraged when he thought of the words engraver on the horn, though the +last line still seemed too good to be true. However, the arrival of the +king soon settled the matter: the princess was willing and so was Niels, +and in a few days the wedding bells were ringing. Niels was made an earl +by that time, and looked as handsome as any of them when dressed in all +his robes. Before long the old king died, and Niels reigned after him; +but whether his father and mother stayed with him, or went back to +the moor in Jutland, or were sent to Rome in a carriage and four, +is something that all the historians of his reign have forgotten to +mention. + + + + +Shepherd Paul + +Once upon a time a shepherd was taking his flock out to pasture, when he +found a little baby lying in a meadow, left there by some wicked person, +who thought it was too much trouble to look after it. The shepherd was +fond of children, so he took the baby home with him and gave it plenty +of milk, and by the time the boy was fourteen he could tear up oaks +as if they were weeds. Then Paul, as the shepherd had called him, grew +tired of living at home, and went out into the world to try his luck. + +He walked on for many miles, seeing nothing that surprised him, but in +an open space of the wood he was astonished at finding a man combing +trees as another man would comb flax. + +'Good morning, friend,' said Paul; 'upon my word, you must be a strong +man!' + +The man stopped his work and laughed. 'I am Tree Comber,' he answered +proudly; 'and the greatest wish of my life is to wrestle with Shepherd +Paul.' + +'May all your wishes be fulfilled as easily, for I am Shepherd Paul, +and can wrestle with you at once,' replied the lad; and he seized Tree +Comber and flung him with such force to the ground that he sank up +to his knees in the earth. However, in a moment he was up again, and +catching hold of Paul, threw him so that he sank up to his waist; but +then it was Paul's turn again, and this time the man was buried up to +his neck. 'That is enough,' cried he; 'I see you are a smart fellow, let +us become friends.' + +'Very good,' answered Paul, and they continued their journey together. + +By-and-by they reached a man who was grinding stones to powder in his +hands, as if they had been nuts. + +'Good morning,' said Paul politely; 'upon my word, you must be a strong +fellow!' + +'I am Stone Crusher,' answered the man, and the greatest wish of my life +is to wrestle with Shepherd Paul.' + +'May all your wishes be as easily fulfilled, for I am Shepherd Paul, and +will wrestle with you at once,' and the sport began. After a short time +the man declared himself beaten, and begged leave to go with them; so +they all three travelled together. + +A little further on they came upon a man who was kneading iron as if +it had been dough. 'Good morning,' said Paul, 'you must be a strong +fellow.' + +'I am Iron Kneader, and should like to fight Shepherd Paul,' answered +he. + +'Let us begin at once then,' replied Paul; and on this occasion also, +Paul got the better of his foe, and they all four continued their +journey. + +At midday they entered a forest, and Paul stopped suddenly. 'We three +will go and look for game,' he said, 'and you, Tree Comber, will stay +behind and prepare a good supper for us.' So Tree Comber set to work to +boil and roast, and when dinner was nearly ready, a little dwarf with +a pointed beard strolled up to the place. 'What are you cooking?' asked +he, 'give me some of it.' + +'I'll give you some on your back, if you like,' answered Tree Comber +rudely. The dwarf took no notice, but waited patiently till the dinner +was cooked, then suddenly throwing Tree Comber on the ground, he ate +up the contents of the saucepan and vanished. Tree Comber felt rather +ashamed of himself, and set about boiling some more vegetables, but +they were still very hard when the hunters returned, and though they +complained of his bad cooking, he did not tell them about the dwarf. + +Next day Stone Crusher was left behind, and after him Iron Kneader, and +each time the dwarf appeared, and they fared no better than Tree Comber +had done. The fourth day Paul said to them: 'My friends, there must be +some reason why your cooking has always been so bad, now you shall go +and hunt and I will stay behind.' So they went off, amusing themselves +by thinking what was in store for Paul. + +He set to work at once, and had just got all his vegetables simmering in +the pot when the dwarf appeared as before, and asked to have some of the +stew. 'Be off,' cried Paul, snatching up the saucepan as he spoke. The +dwarf tried to get hold of his collar, but Paul seized him by the +beard, and tied him to a big tree so that he could not stir, and went +on quietly with his cooking. The hunters came back early, longing to see +how Paul had got on, and, to their surprise, dinner was quite ready for +them. + +'You are great useless creatures,' said he, 'who couldn't even outwit +that little dwarf. When we have finished supper I will show you what I +have done with him!' But when they reached the place where Paul had left +the dwarf, neither he nor the tree was to be seen, for the little fellow +had pulled it up by the roots and run away, dragging it after him. The +four friends followed the track of the tree and found that it ended in +a deep hole. 'He must have gone down here,' said Paul, 'and I will go +after him. See! there is a basket that will do for me to sit in, and a +cord to lower me with. But when I pull the cord again, lose no time in +drawing the basket up.' + +And he stepped into the basket, which was lowered by his friends. + +At last it touched the ground and he jumped out and looked about him. He +was in a beautiful valley, full of meadows and streams, with a splendid +castle standing by. As the door was open he walked in, but a lovely +maiden met him and implored him to go back, for the owner of the castle +was a dragon with six heads, who had stolen her from her home and +brought her down to this underground spot. But Paul refused to listen to +all her entreaties, and declared that he was not afraid of the dragon, +and did not care how many heads he had; and he sat down calmly to wait +for him. + +In a little while the dragon came in, and all the long teeth in his six +heads chattered with anger at the sight of the stranger. + +'I am Shepherd Paul,' said the young man, 'and I have come to fight you, +and as I am in a hurry we had better begin at once.' + +'Very good,' answered the dragon. 'I am sure of my supper, but let us +have a mouthful of something first, just to give us an appetite.' + +Whereupon he began to eat some huge boulders as if they had been cakes, +and when he had quite finished, he offered Paul one. Paul was not fond +of boulders, but he took a wooden knife and cut one in two, then +he snatched up both halves in his hands and threw them with all his +strength at the dragon, so that two out of the six heads were smashed +in. At this the dragon, with a mighty roar, rushed upon Paul, but he +sprang on one side, and with a swinging blow cut off two of the other +heads. Then, seizing the monster by the neck, he dashed the remaining +heads against the rock. + +When the maiden heard that the dragon was dead, she thanked her +deliverer with tears in her eyes, but told him that her two younger +sisters were in the power of dragons still fiercer and more horrible +than this one. He vowed that his sword should never rest in its sheath +till they were set free, and bade the girl come with him, and show him +the way. + +The maiden gladly consented to go with him, but first she gave him a +golden rod, and bade him strike the castle with it. He did so, and it +instantly changed into a golden apple, which he put in his pocket. After +that, they started on their search. + +They had not gone far before they reached the castle where the second +girl was confined by the power of the dragon with twelve heads, who had +stolen her from her home. She was overjoyed at the sight of her sister +and of Paul, and brought him a shirt belonging to the dragon, which made +every one who wore it twice as strong as they were before. Scarcely had +he put it on when the dragon came back, and the fight began. Long and +hard was the struggle, but Paul's sword and his shirt helped him, and +the twelve heads lay dead upon the ground. + +Then Paul changed the castle into an apple, which he put into his +pocket, and set out with the two girls in search of the third castle. + +It was not long before they found it, and within the walls was the third +sister, who was younger and prettier than either of the other two. Her +husband had eighteen heads, but when he quitted the lower regions for +the surface of the earth, he left them all at home except one, which he +changed for the head of a little dwarf, with a pointed beard. + +The moment that Paul knew that this terrible dragon was no other than +the dwarf whom he had tied to the tree, he longed more than ever to fly +at his throat. But the thought of the eighteen heads warned him to be +careful, and the third sister brought him a silk shirt which would make +him ten times stronger than he was before. + +He had scarcely put it on, when the whole castle began to shake +violently, and the dragon flew up the steps into the hall. + +'Well, my friend, so we meet once more! Have you forgotten me? I am +Shepherd Paul, and I have come to wrestle with you, and to free your +wife from your clutches.' + +'Ah, I am glad to see you again,' said the dragon. 'Those were my two +brothers whom you killed, and now your blood shall pay for them.' And he +went into his room to look for his shirt and to drink some magic wine, +but the shirt was on Paul's back, and as for the wine, the girl had +given a cupful to Paul and then had allowed the rest to run out of the +cask. + +At this the dragon grew rather frightened, but in a moment had +recollected his eighteen heads, and was bold again. + +'Come on,' he cried, rearing himself up and preparing to dart all his +heads at once at Paul. But Paul jumped underneath, and gave an upward +cut so that six of the heads went rolling down. They were the best heads +too, and very soon the other twelve lay beside them. Then Paul changed +the castle into an apple, and put it in his pocket. Afterwards he and +the three girls set off for the opening which led upwards to the earth. + +The basket was still there, dangling from the rope, but it was only big +enough to hold the three girls, so Paul sent them up, and told them to +be sure and let down the basket for him. Unluckily, at the sight of the +maidens' beauty, so far beyond anything they had ever seen, the friends +forgot all about Paul, and carried the girls straight away into a far +country, so that they were not much better off than before. Meanwhile +Paul, mad with rage at the ingratitude of the three sisters, vowed he +would be revenged upon them, and set about finding some way of getting +back to earth. But it was not very easy, and for months, and months, and +months, he wandered about underground, and, at the end, seemed no nearer +to fulfilling his purpose than he was at the beginning. + +At length, one day, he happened to pass the nest of a huge griffin, +who had left her young ones all alone. Just as Paul came along a cloud +containing fire instead of rain burst overhead, and all the little +griffins would certainly have been killed had not Paul spread his cloak +over the nest and saved them. When their father returned the young ones +told him what Paul had done, and he lost no time in flying after Paul, +and asking how he could reward him for his goodness. + +'By carrying me up to the earth,' answered Paul; and the griffin agreed, +but first went to get some food to eat on the way, as it was a long +journey. + +'Now get on my back,' he said to Paul, 'and when I turn my head to the +right, cut a slice off the bullock that hangs on that side, and put it +in my mouth, and when I turn my head to the left, draw a cupful of wine +from the cask that hangs on that side, and pour it down my throat.' + +For three days and three nights Paul and the griffin flew upwards, and +on the fourth morning it touched the ground just outside the city where +Paul's friends had gone to live. Then Paul thanked him and bade him +farewell, and he returned home again. + +At first Paul was too tired to do anything but sleep, but as soon as +he was rested he started off in search of the three faithless ones, who +almost died from fright at the sight of him, for they had thought he +would never come back to reproach them for their wickedness. + +'You know what to expect,' Paul said to them quietly. 'You shall never +see me again. Off with you!' He next took the three apples out of his +pocket and placed them all in the prettiest places he could find; after +which he tapped them with his golden rod, and they became castles again. +He gave two of the castles to the eldest sisters, and kept the other +for himself and the youngest, whom he married, and there they are living +still. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen.] + + + + +How The Wicked Tanuki Was Punished + +The hunters had hunted the wood for so many years that no wild animal +was any more to be found in it. You might walk from one end to the other +without ever seeing a hare, or a deer, or a boar, or hearing the cooing +of the doves in their nest. If they were not dead, they had flown +elsewhere. Only three creatures remained alive, and they had hidden +themselves in the thickest part of the forest, high up the mountain. +These were a grey-furred, long-tailed tanuki, his wife the fox, who was +one of his own family, and their little son. + +The fox and the tanuki were very clever, prudent beasts, and they also +were skilled in magic, and by this means had escaped the fate of their +unfortunate friends. If they heard the twang of an arrow or saw the +glitter of a spear, ever so far off, they lay very still, and were +not to be tempted from their hiding-place, if their hunger was ever so +great, or the game ever so delicious. 'We are not so foolish as to risk +our lives,' they said to each other proudly. But at length there came +a day when, in spite of their prudence, they seemed likely to die of +starvation, for no more food was to be had. Something had to be done, +but they did not know what. + +Suddenly a bright thought struck the tanuki. 'I have got a plan,' he +cried joyfully to his wife. 'I will pretend to be dead, and you must +change yourself into a man, and take me to the village for sale. It will +be easy to find a buyer, tanukis' skins are always wanted; then buy +some food with the money and come home again. I will manage to escape +somehow, so do not worry about me.' + +The fox laughed with delight, and rubbed her paws together with +satisfaction. 'Well, next time I will go,' she said, 'and you can sell +me.' And then she changed herself into a man, and picking up the stiff +body of the tanuki, set off towards the village. She found him rather +heavy, but it would never have done to let him walk through the wood and +risk his being seen by somebody. + +As the tanaki had foretold, buyers were many, and the fox handed him +over to the person who offered the largest price, and hurried to get +some food with the money. The buyer took the tanuki back to his house, +and throwing him into a corner went out. Directly the tanaki found he +was alone, he crept cautiously through a chink of the window, thinking, +as he did so, how lucky it was that he was not a fox, and was able to +climb. Once outside, he hid himself in a ditch till it grew dusk, and +then galloped away into the forest. + +While the food lasted they were all three as happy as kings; but there +soon arrived a day when the larder was as empty as ever. 'It is my turn +now to pretend to be dead,' cried the fox. So the tanuki changed himself +into a peasant, and started for the village, with his wife's body +hanging over his shoulder. A buyer was not long in coming forward, and +while they were making the bargain a wicked thought darted into the +tanuki's head, that if he got rid of the fox there would be more food +for him and his son. So as he put the money in his pocket he whispered +softly to the buyer that the fox was not really dead, and that if he did +not take care she might run away from him. The man did not need twice +telling. He gave the poor fox a blow on the head, which put an end to +her, and the wicked tanuki went smiling to the nearest shop. + +In former times he had been very fond of his little son; but since he +had betrayed his wife he seemed to have changed all in a moment, for he +would not give him as much as a bite, and the poor little fellow would +have starved had he not found some nuts and berries to eat, and he +waited on, always hoping that his mother would come back. + +At length some notion of the truth began to dawn on him; but he was +careful to let the old tanuki see nothing, though in his own mind he +turned over plans from morning till night, wondering how best he might +avenge his mother. + +One morning, as the little tanuki was sitting with his father, he +remembered, with a start, that his mother had taught him all she knew of +magic, and that he could work spells as well as his father, or perhaps +better. 'I am as good a wizard as you,' he said suddenly, and a cold +chill ran through the tanuki as he heard him, though he laughed, and +pretended to think it a joke. But the little tanaki stuck to his point, +and at last the father proposed they should have a wager. + +'Change yourself into any shape you like,' said he, 'and I will +undertake to know you. I will go and wait on the bridge which leads over +the river to the village, and you shall transform yourself into anything +you please, but I will know you through any disguise.' The little tanuki +agreed, and went down the road which his father had pointed out. But +instead of transforming himself into a different shape, he just hid +himself in a corner of the bridge, where he could see without being +seen. + +He had not been there long when his father arrived and took up his place +near the middle of the bridge, and soon after the king came by, followed +by a troop of guards and all his court. + +'Ah! he thinks that now he has changed himself into a king I shall +not know him,' thought the old tanuki, and as the king passed in his +splendid carriage, borne by his servants, he jumped upon it crying: 'I +have won my wager; you cannot deceive me.' But in reality it was he who +had deceived himself. The soldiers, conceiving that their king was being +attacked, seized the tanuki by the legs and flung him over into the +river, and the water closed over him. + +And the little tanoki saw it all, and rejoiced that his mother's death +had been avenged. Then he went back to the forest, and if he has not +found it too lonely, he is probably living there still. + +[From Japanische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Crab And The Monkey + +There was once a crab who lived in a hole on the shady side of a +mountain. She was a very good housewife, and so careful and industrious +that there was no creature in the whole country whose hole was so neat +and clean as hers, and she took great pride in it. + +One day she saw lying near the mouth of her hole a handful of cooked +rice which some pilgrim must have let fall when he was stopping to eat +his dinner. Delighted at this discovery, she hastened to the spot, and +was carrying the rice back to her hole when a monkey, who lived in some +trees near by, came down to see what the crab was doing. His eyes shone +at the sight of the rice, for it was his favourite food, and like the +sly fellow he was, he proposed a bargain to the crab. She was to give +him half the rice in exchange for the kernel of a sweet red kaki fruit +which he had just eaten. He half expected that the crab would laugh in +his face at this impudent proposal, but instead of doing so she only +looked at him for a moment with her head on one side and then said that +she would agree to the exchange. So the monkey went off with his rice, +and the crab returned to her hole with the kernel. + +For some time the crab saw no more of the monkey, who had gone to pay a +visit on the sunny side of the mountain; but one morning he happened to +pass by her hole, and found her sitting under the shadow of a beautiful +kaki tree. + +'Good day,' he said politely, 'you have some very fine fruit there! I am +very hungry, could you spare me one or two?' + +'Oh, certainly,' replied the crab, 'but you must forgive me if I cannot +get them for you myself. I am no tree-climber.' + +'Pray do not apologise,' answered the monkey. 'Now that I have your +permission I can get them myself quite easily.' And the crab consented +to let him go up, merely saying that he must throw her down half the +fruit. + +In another moment he was swinging himself from branch to branch, eating +all the ripest kakis and filling his pockets with the rest, and the poor +crab saw to her disgust that the few he threw down to her were either +not ripe at all or else quite rotten. + +'You are a shocking rogue,' she called in a rage; but the monkey took no +notice, and went on eating as fast as he could. The crab understood that +it was no use her scolding, so she resolved to try what cunning would +do. + +'Sir Monkey,' she said, 'you are certainly a very good climber, but now +that you have eaten so much, I am quite sure you would never be able +to turn one of your somersaults.' The monkey prided himself on turning +better somersaults than any of his family, so he instantly went head +over heels three times on the bough on which he was sitting, and all the +beautiful kakis that he had in his pockets rolled to the ground. Quick +as lightning the crab picked them up and carried a quantity of them into +her house, but when she came up for another the monkey sprang on her, +and treated her so badly that he left her for dead. When he had beaten +her till his arm ached he went his way. + +It was a lucky thing for the poor crab that she had some friends to come +to her help or she certainly would have died then and there. The wasp +flew to her, and took her back to bed and looked after her, and then he +consulted with a rice-mortar and an egg which had fallen out of a nest +near by, and they agreed that when the monkey returned, as he was +sure to do, to steal the rest of the fruit, that they would punish him +severely for the manner in which he had behaved to the crab. So the +mortar climbed up to the beam over the front door, and the egg lay +quite still on the ground, while the wasp set down the water-bucket in a +corner. Then the crab dug itself a deep hole in the ground, so that not +even the tip of her claws might be seen. + +Soon after everything was ready the monkey jumped down from his tree, +and creeping to the door began a long hypocritical speech, asking pardon +for all he had done. He waited for an answer of some sort, but none +came. He listened, but all was still; then he peeped, and saw no one; +then he went in. He peered about for the crab, but in vain; however, his +eyes fell on the egg, which he snatched up and set on the fire. But in +a moment the egg had burst into a thousand pieces, and its sharp shell +struck him in the face and scratched him horribly. Smarting with pain he +ran to the bucket and stooped down to throw some water over his head. As +he stretched out his hand up started the wasp and stung him on the nose. +The monkey shrieked and ran to the door, but as he passed through down +fell the mortar and struck him dead. 'After that the crab lived happily +for many years, and at length died in peace under her own kaki tree. + + [From Japanische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Horse Gullfaxi And The Sword Gunnfoder + +Many many years ago there lived a king and queen who had one only son, +called Sigurd. When the little boy was only ten years old the queen, his +mother, fell ill and died, and the king, who loved her dearly, built a +splendid monument to his wife's memory, and day after day he sat by it +and bewailed his sad loss. + +One morning, as he sat by the grave, he noticed a richly dressed lady +close to him. He asked her name and she answered that it was Ingiborg, +and seemed surprised to see the king there all alone. Then he told her +how he had lost his queen, and how he came daily to weep at her grave. +In return, the lady informed him that she had lately lost her husband, +and suggested that they might both find it a comfort if they made +friends. + +This pleased the king so much that he invited her to his palace, where +they saw each other often; and after a time he married her. + +After the wedding was over he soon regained his good spirits, and used +to ride out hunting as in old days; but Sigurd, who was very fond of his +stepmother, always stayed at home with her. + +One evening Ingiborg said to Sigurd: 'To-morrow your father is going out +hunting, and you must go with him.' But Sigurd said he would much rather +stay at home, and the next day when the king rode off Sigurd refused to +accompany him. The stepmother was very angry, but he would not listen, +and at last she assured him that he would be sorry for his disobedience, +and that in future he had better do as he was told. + +After the hunting party had started she hid Sigurd under her bed, and +bade him be sure to lie there till she called him. + +Sigurd lay very still for a long while, and was just thinking it was no +good staying there any more, when he felt the floor shake under him as +if there were an earthquake, and peeping out he saw a great giantess +wading along ankle deep through the ground and ploughing it up as she +walked. + +'Good morning, Sister Ingiborg,' cried she as she entered the room, 'is +Prince Sigurd at home?' + +'No,' said Ingiborg; 'he rode off to the forest with his father this +morning.' And she laid the table for her sister and set food before her. +After they had both done eating the giantess said: 'Thank you, sister, +for your good dinner--the best lamb, the best can of beer and the best +drink I have ever had; but--is not Prince Sigurd at home?' + +Ingiborg again said 'No'; and the giantess took leave of her and went +away. When she was quite out of sight Ingiborg told Sigurd to come out +of his hiding-place. + +The king returned home at night, but his wife told him nothing of what +had happened, and the next morning she again begged the prince to go +out hunting with his father. Sigurd, however, replied as before, that he +would much rather stay at home. + +So once more the king rode off alone. This time Ingiborg hid Sigurd +under the table, and scolded him well for not doing as she bade him. +For some time he lay quite still, and then suddenly the floor began to +shake, and a giantess came along wading half way to her knees through +the ground. + +As she entered the house she asked, as the first one had done: 'Well, +Sister Ingiborg, is Prince Sigurd at home?' + +'No,' answered Ingiborg,' he rode off hunting with his father this +morning'; and going to the cupboard she laid the table for her sister. +When they had finished their meal the giantess rose and said: 'Thank you +for all these nice dishes, and for the best lamb, the best can of beer +and the nicest drink I have ever had; but--is Prince Sigurd really not +at home?' + +'No, certainly not!' replied Ingiborg; and with that they took leave of +each other. + +When she was well out of sight Sigurd crept from under the table, and +his stepmother declared that it was most important that he should not +stay at home next day; but he said he did not see what harm could come +of it, and he did not mean to go out hunting, and the next morning, when +the king prepared to start, Ingiborg implored Sigurd to accompany his +father. But it was all no use, he was quite obstinate and would not +listen to a word she said. 'You will have to hide me again,' said he, +so no sooner had the king gone than Ingiborg hid Sigurd between the wall +and the panelling, and by-and-by there was heard once more a sound like +an earthquake, as a great giantess, wading knee deep through the ground, +came in at the door. + +'Good day, Sister Ingiborg!' she cried, in a voice like thunder; 'is +Prince Sigurd at home?' + +'Oh, no,' answered Ingiborg, 'he is enjoying himself out there in the +forest. I expect it will be quite dark before he comes back again.' + +'That's a lie!' shouted the giantess. And they squabbled about it till +they were tired, after which Ingiborg laid the table; and when the +giantess had done eating she said: 'Well, I must thank you for all these +good things, and for the best lamb, the best can of beer and the best +drink I have had for a long time; but--are you quite sure Prince Sigurd +is not at home?' + +'Quite,' said Ingiborg. 'I've told you already that he rode off with his +father this morning to hunt in the forest.' + +At this the giantess roared out with a terrible voice: 'If he is near +enough to hear my words, I lay this spell on him: Let him be half +scorched and half withered; and may he have neither rest nor peace till +he finds me.' And with these words she stalked off. + +For a moment Ingiborg stood as if turned to stone, then she fetched +Sigurd from his hiding-place, and, to her horror, there he was, half +scorched and half withered. + +'Now you see what has happened through your own obstinacy,' said she; +'but we must lose no time, for your father will soon be coming home.' + +Going quickly into the next room she opened a chest and took out a ball +of string and three gold rings, and gave them to Sigurd, saying: 'If you +throw this ball on the ground it will roll along till it reaches some +high cliffs. There you will see a giantess looking out over the rocks. +She will call down to you and say: "Ah, this is just what I wanted! +Here is Prince Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night"; but don't be +frightened by her. She will draw you up with a long boat-hook, and you +must greet her from me, and give her the smallest ring as a present. +This will please her, and she will ask you to wrestle with her. When you +are exhausted, she will offer you a horn to drink out of, and though she +does not know it, the wine will make you so strong that you will easily +be able to conquer her. After that she will let you stay there all +night. The same thing will happen with my two other sisters. But, above +all, remember this: should my little dog come to you and lay his paws on +you, with tears running down his face, then hurry home, for my life will +be in danger. Now, good-bye, and don't forget your stepmother.' + +Then Ingiborg dropped the ball on the ground, and Sigurd bade her +farewell. + +That same evening the ball stopped rolling at the foot of some high +rocks, and on glancing up, Sigurd saw the giantess looking out at the +top. + +'Ah, just what I wanted!' she cried out when she saw him; 'here is +Prince Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night. Come up, my friend, +and wrestle with me.' + +With these words she reached out a long boat hook and hauled him up the +cliff. At first Sigurd was rather frightened, but he remembered what +Ingiborg had said, and gave the giantess her sister's message and the +ring. + +The giantess was delighted, and challenged him to wrestle with her. +Sigurd was fond of all games, and began to wrestle with joy; but he was +no match for the giantess, and as she noticed that he was getting faint +she gave him a horn to drink out of, which was very foolish on her part, +as it made Sigurd so strong that he soon overthrew her. + +'You may stay here to-night,' said she; and he was glad of the rest. + +Next morning Sigurd threw down the ball again and away it rolled for +some time, till it stopped at the foot of another high rock. Then he +looked up and saw another giantess, even bigger and uglier than the +first one, who called out to him: 'Ah, this is just what I wanted! Here +is Prince Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night. Come up quickly and +wrestle with me.' And she lost no time in hauling him up. + +The prince gave her his stepmother's message and the second largest +ring. The giantess was greatly pleased when she saw the ring, and at +once challenged Sigurd to wrestle with her. + +They struggled for a long time, till at last Sigurd grew faint; so she +handed him a horn to drink from, and when he had drunk he became so +strong that he threw her down with one hand. + +On the third morning Sigurd once more laid down his ball, and it rolled +far away, till at last it stopped under a very high rock indeed, over +the top of which the most hideous giantess that ever was seen looked +down. + +When she saw who was there she cried out: 'Ah, this is just what I +wanted! Here comes Prince Sigurd. Into the pot he goes this very night. +Come up here, my friend, and wrestle with me.' And she hauled him up +just as her sisters had done. + +Sigurd then gave her his stepmother's message and the last and largest +ring. The sight of the red gold delighted the giantess, and she +challenged Sigurd to a wrestling match. This time the fight was fierce +and long, but when at length Sigurd's strength was failing the giantess +gave him something to drink, and after he had drunk it he soon brought +her to her knees. 'You have beaten me,' she gasped, so now, listen to +me. 'Not far from here is a lake. Go there; you will find a little girl +playing with a boat. Try to make friends with her, and give her this +little gold ring. You are stronger than ever you were, and I wish you +good luck.' + +With these words they took leave of each other, and Sigurd wandered on +till he reached the lake, where he found the little girl playing with +a boat, just as he had been told. He went up to her and asked what her +name was. + +She was called Helga, she answered, and she lived near by. + +So Sigurd gave her the little gold ring, and proposed that they should +have a game. The little girl was delighted, for she had no brothers or +sisters, and they played together all the rest of the day. + +When evening came Sigurd asked leave to go home with her, but Helga at +first forbade him, as no stranger had ever managed to enter their house +without being found out by her father, who was a very fierce giant. + +However, Sigurd persisted, and at length she gave way; but when they +came near the door she held her glove over him and Sigurd was at once +transformed into a bundle of wool. Helga tucked the bundle under her arm +and threw it on the bed in her room. + +Almost at the same moment her father rushed in and hunted round in every +corner, crying out: 'This place smells of men. What's that you threw on +the bed, Helga?' + +'A bundle of wool,' said she. + +'Oh, well, perhaps it was that I smelt,' said the old man, and troubled +himself no more. + +The following day Helga went out to play and took the bundle of wool +with her under her arm. When she reached the lake she held her glove +over it again and Sigurd resumed his own shape. + +They played the whole day, and Sigurd taught Helga all sorts of games +she had never even heard of. As they walked home in the evening she +said: 'We shall be able to play better still to-morrow, for my father +will have to go to the town, so we can stay at home.' + +When they were near the house Helga again held her glove over Sigurd, +and once more he was turned into a bundle of wool, and she carried him +in without his being seen. + +Very early next morning Helga's father went to the town, and as soon +as he was well out of the way the girl held up her glove and Sigurd was +himself again. Then she took him all over the house to amuse him, and +opened every room, for her father had given her the keys before he left; +but when they came to the last room Sigurd noticed one key on the bunch +which had not been used and asked which room it belonged to.' + +Helga grew red and did not answer. + +'I suppose you don't mind my seeing the room which it opens?' asked +Sigurd, and as he spoke he saw a heavy iron door and begged Helga to +unlock it for him. But she told him she dared not do so, at least if she +did open the door it must only be a very tiny chink; and Sigurd declared +that would do quite well. + +The door was so heavy, that it took Helga some time to open it, and +Sigurd grew so impatient that he pushed it wide open and walked in. +There he saw a splendid horse, all ready saddled, and just above it +hung a richly ornamented sword on the handle of which was engraved +these words: 'He who rides this horse and wears this sword will find +happiness.' + +At the sight of the horse Sigurd was so filled with wonder that he was +not able to speak, but at last he gasped out: 'Oh, do let me mount him +and ride him round the house! Just once; I promise not to ask any more.' + +'Ride him round the house!' cried Helga, growing pale at the mere idea. +'Ride Gullfaxi! Why father would never, never forgive me, if I let you +do that.' + +'But it can't do him any harm,' argued Sigurd; 'you don't know how +careful I will be. I have ridden all sorts of horses at home, and have +never fallen off not once. Oh, Helga, do!' + +'Well, perhaps, if you come back directly,' replied Helga, doubtfully; +'but you must be very quick, or father will find out!' + +But, instead of mounting Gullfaxi, as she expected, Sigurd stood still. + +'And the sword,' he said, looking fondly up to the place where it hung. +'My father is a king, but he has not got any sword so beautiful as that. +Why, the jewels in the scabbard are more splendid than the big ruby in +his crown! Has it got a name? Some swords have, you know.' + +'It is called "Gunnfjoder," the "Battle Plume,"' answered Helga, 'and +"Gullfaxi" means "Golden Mane." I don't suppose, if you are to get on +the horse at all, it would matter your taking the sword too. And if you +take the sword you will have to carry the stick and the stone and the +twig as well.' + +'They are easily carried,' said Sigurd, gazing at them with scorn; 'what +wretched dried-up things! Why in the world do you keep them?' + +'Bather says that he would rather lose Gullfaxi than lose them,' replied +Helga, 'for if the man who rides the horse is pursued he has only to +throw the twig behind him and it will turn into a forest, so thick that +even a bird could hardly fly through. But if his enemy happens to know +magic, and can throw down the forest, the man has only to strike the +stone with the stick, and hailstones as large as pigeons' eggs will rain +down from the sky and will kill every one for twenty miles round.' + +Having said all this she allowed Sigurd to ride 'just once' round the +house, taking the sword and other things with him. But when he had +ridden round, instead of dismounting, he suddenly turned the horse's +head and galloped away. + +Soon after this Helga's father came home and found his daughter in +tears. He asked what was the matter, and when he heard all that had +happened, he rushed off as fast as he could to pursue Sigurd. + +Now, as Sigurd happened to look behind him he saw the giant coming after +him with great strides, and in all haste he threw the twig behind him. +Immediately such a thick wood sprang up at once between him and his +enemy that the giant was obliged to run home for an axe with which to +cut his way through. + +The next time Sigurd glanced round, the giant was so near that he almost +touched Gullfaxi's tail. In an agony of fear Sigurd turned quickly in +his saddle and hit the stone with the stick. No sooner had he done this +than a terrible hailstorm burst behind, and the giant was killed on the +spot. + +But had Sigurd struck the stone without turning round, the hail would +have driven right into his face and killed him instead. + +After the giant was dead Sigurd rode on towards his own home, and on the +way he suddenly met his stepmother's little dog, running to meet him, +with tears pouring down its face. He galloped on as hard as he could, +and on arriving found nine men-servants in the act of tying Queen +Ingiborg to a post in the courtyard of the palace, where they intended +to burn her. + +Wild with anger Prince Sigurd sprang from his horse and, sword in hand, +fell on the men and killed them all. Then he released his stepmother, +and went in with her to see his father. + +The king lay in bed sick with sorrow, and neither eating nor drinking, +for he thought that his son had been killed by the queen. He could +hardly believe his own eyes for joy when he saw the prince, and Sigurd +told him all his adventures. + +After that Prince Sigurd rode back to fetch Helga, and a great feast was +made which lasted three days; and every one said no bride was ever seen +so beautiful as Helga, and they lived happily for many, many years, and +everybody loved them. + +[From Islandische Mahrchen.] + + + + +The Story Of The Sham Prince, Or The Ambitious Tailor + +Once upon a time there lived a respectable young tailor called Labakan, +who worked for a clever master in Alexandria. No one could call +Labakan either stupid or lazy, for he could work extremely well and +quickly--when he chose; but there was something not altogether right +about him. Sometimes he would stitch away as fast as if he had a red-hot +needle and a burning thread, and at other times he would sit lost in +thought, and with such a queer look about him that his fellow-workmen +used to say, 'Labakan has got on his aristocratic face today.' + +On Fridays he would put on his fine robe which he had bought with the +money he had managed to save up, and go to the mosque. As he came back, +after prayers, if he met any friend who said 'Good-day,' or 'How are +you, friend Labakan?' he would wave his hand graciously or nod in a +condescending way; and if his master happened to say to him, as he +sometimes did, 'Really, Labakan, you look like a prince,' he was +delighted, and would answer, 'Have you noticed it too?' or 'Well, so I +have long thought.' + +Things went on like this for some time, and the master put up with +Labakan's absurdities because he was, on the whole, a good fellow and a +clever workman. + +One day, the sultan's brother happened to be passing through Alexandria, +and wanted to have one of his state robes altered, so he sent for the +master tailor, who handed the robe over to Labakan as his best workman. + +In the evening, when every one had left the workshop and gone home, a +great longing drove Labakan back to the place where the royal robe hung. +He stood a long time gazing at it, admiring the rich material and the +splendid embroidery in it. At last he could hold out no longer. He felt +he must try it on, and lo! and behold, it fitted as though it had been +made for him. + +'Am not I as good a prince as any other?' he asked himself, as he +proudly paced up and down the room. 'Has not the master often said that +I seemed born to be a prince?' + +It seemed to him that he must be the son of some unknown monarch, and at +last he determined to set out at once and travel in search of his proper +rank. + +He felt as if the splendid robe had been sent him by some kind fairy, +and he took care not to neglect such a precious gift. He collected all +his savings, and, concealed by the darkness of the night, he passed +through the gates of Alexandria. + +The new prince excited a good deal of curiosity where ever he went, for +his splendid robe and majestic manner did not seem quite suitable to a +person travelling on foot. If anyone asked questions, he only replied +with an important air of mystery that he had his own reasons for not +riding. + +However, he soon found out that walking made him ridiculous, so at last +he bought a quiet, steady old horse, which he managed to get cheap. + +One day, as he was ambling along upon Murva (that was the horse's name), +a horseman overtook him and asked leave to join him, so that they might +both beguile the journey with pleasant talk. The newcomer was a bright, +cheerful, good-looking young man, who soon plunged into conversation and +asked many questions. He told Labakan that his own name was Omar, that +he was a nephew of Elfi Bey, and was travelling in order to carry out a +command given him by his uncle on his death bed. Labakan was not quite +so open in his confidences, but hinted that he too was of noble birth +and was travelling for pleasure. + +The two young men took a fancy to each other and rode on together. On +the second day of their journey Labakan questioned Omar as to the orders +he had to carry out, and to his surprise heard this tale. + +Elfi Bey, Pacha of Cairo, had brought up Omar from his earliest +childhood, and the boy had never known his parents. On his deathbed Elfi +Bey called Omar to him, and then told him that he was not his nephew, +but the son of a great king, who, having been warned of coming dangers +by his astrologers, had sent the young prince away and made a vow not to +see him till his twenty-second birthday. + +Elfi Bey did not tell Omar his father's name, but expressly desired him +to be at a great pillar four days' journey east of Alexandria on the +fourth day of the coming month, on which day he would be twenty-two +years old. Here he would meet some men, to whom he was to hand a dagger +which Elfi Bey gave him, and to say 'Here am I for whom you seek.' + +If they answered: 'Praised be the Prophet who has preserved you,' he was +to follow them, and they would take him to his father. + +Labakan was greatly surprised and interested by this story, but after +hearing it he could not help looking on Prince Omar with envious eyes, +angry that his friend should have the position he himself longed so much +for. He began to make comparisons between the prince and himself, and +was obliged to confess that he was a fine-looking young man with very +good manners and a pleasant expression. + +At the same time, he felt sure that had he been in the prince's place +any royal father might have been glad to own him. + +These thoughts haunted him all day, and he dreamt them all night. He +woke very early, and as he saw Omar sleeping quietly, with a happy smile +on his face, a wish arose in his mind to take by force or by cunning the +things which an unkind fate had denied him. + +The dagger which was to act as a passport was sticking in Omar's girdle. +Labakan drew it gently out, and hesitated for a moment whether or not to +plunge it into the heart of the sleeping prince. However, he shrank from +the idea of murder, so he contented himself with placing the dagger in +his own belt, and, saddling Omar's swift horse for himself, was many +miles away before the prince woke up to realise his losses. + +For two days Labakan rode on steadily, fearing lest, after all, Omar +might reach the meeting place before him. At the end of the second day +he saw the great pillar at a distance. It stood on a little hill in +the middle of a plain, and could be seen a very long way off. Labakan's +heart beat fast at the sight. Though he had had some time in which to +think over the part he meant to play his conscience made him rather +uneasy. However, the thought that he must certainly have been born to be +a king supported him, and he bravely rode on. + +The neighbourhood was quite bare and desert, and it was a good thing +that the new prince had brought food for some time with him, as two days +were still wanting till the appointed time. + +Towards the middle of the next day he saw a long procession of horses +and camels coming towards him. It halted at the bottom of the hill, and +some splendid tents were pitched. Everything looked like the escort of +some great man. Labakan made a shrewd guess that all these people had +come here on his account; but he checked his impatience, knowing that +only on the fourth day could his wishes be fulfilled. + +The first rays of the rising sun woke the happy tailor. As he began to +saddle his horse and prepare to ride to the pillar, he could not help +having some remorseful thoughts of the trick he had played and the +blighted hopes of the real prince. But the die was cast, and his vanity +whispered that he was as fine looking a young man as the proudest king +might wish his son to be, and that, moreover, what had happened had +happened. + +With these thoughts he summoned up all his courage sprang on his horse, +and in less than a quarter of an hour was at the foot of the hill. Here +he dismounted, tied the horse to a bush, and, drawing out Prince Omar's +dagger climbed up the hill. + +At the foot of the pillar stood six men round a tall and stately person. +His superb robe of cloth of gold was girt round him by a white cashmere +shawl, and his white, richly jewelled turban showed that he was a man of +wealth and high rank. + +Labakan went straight up to him, and, bending low, handed him the +dagger, saying: 'Here am I whom you seek.' + +'Praised be the Prophet who has preserved you! replied the old man with +tears of joy. 'Embrace me, my dear son Omar!' + +The proud tailor was deeply moved by these solemn words, and with +mingled shame and joy sank into the old king's arms. + +But his happiness was not long unclouded. As he raised his head he saw a +horseman who seemed trying to urge a tired or unwilling horse across the +plain. + +Only too soon Labakan recognised his own old horse, Murva, and the real +Prince Omar, but having once told a lie he made up his mind not to own +his deceit. + +At last the horseman reached the foot of the hill. Here he flung himself +from the saddle and hurried up to the pillar. + +'Stop!' he cried, 'whoever you may be, and do not let a disgraceful +impostor take you in. My name is Omar, and let no one attempt to rob me +of it.' + +This turn of affairs threw the standers-by into great surprise. The old +king in particular seemed much moved as he looked from one face to the +other. At last Labakan spoke with forced calmness, 'Most gracious lord +and father, do not let yourself be deceived by this man. As far as I +know, he is a half-crazy tailor's apprentice from Alexandria, called +Labakan, who really deserves more pity than anger.' + +These words infuriated the prince. Foaming with rage, he tried to press +towards Labakan, but the attendants threw themselves upon him and held +him fast, whilst the king said, 'Truly, my dear son, the poor fellow is +quite mad. Let him be bound and placed on a dromedary. Perhaps we may be +able to get some help for him.' + +The prince's first rage was over, and with tears he cried to the king, +'My heart tells me that you are my father, and in my mother's name I +entreat you to hear me.' + +'Oh! heaven forbid!' was the reply. 'He is talking nonsense again. How +can the poor man have got such notions into his head?' + +With these words the king took Labakan's arm to support him down the +hill. They both mounted richly caparisoned horses and rode across the +plain at the head of their followers. + +The unlucky prince was tied hand and foot, and fastened on a dromedary, +a guard riding on either side and keeping a sharp look-out on him. + +The old king was Sached, Sultan of the Wachabites. For many years he +had had no children, but at length the son he had so long wished for +was born. But the sooth-sayers and magicians whom he consulted as to the +child's future all said that until he was twenty-two years old he stood +in danger of being injured by an enemy. So, to make all safe, the sultan +had confided the prince to his trusty friend Elfi Bey, and deprived +himself of the happiness of seeing him for twenty-two years. All this +the sultan told Labakan, and was much pleased by his appearance and +dignified manner. + +When they reached their own country they were received with every +sign of joy, for the news of the prince's safe return had spread +like wildfire, and every town and village was decorated, whilst the +inhabitants thronged to greet them with cries of joy and thankfulness. +All this filled Labakan's proud heart with rapture, whilst the +unfortunate Omar followed in silent rage and despair. + +At length they arrived in the capital, where the public rejoicings were +grander and more brilliant than anywhere else. The queen awaited them +in the great hall of the palace, surrounded by her entire court. It was +getting dark, and hundreds of coloured hanging lamps were lit to turn +night into day. + +The brightest hung round the throne on which the queen sat, and which +stood above four steps of pure gold inlaid with great amethysts. The +four greatest nobles in the kingdom held a canopy of crimson silk over +the queen, and the Sheik of Medina fanned her with a peacock-feather +fan. + +In this state she awaited her husband and her son. She, too, had not +seen Omar since his birth, but so many dreams had shown her what he +would look like that she felt she would know him among a thousand. + +And now the sound of trumpets and drums and of shouts and cheers outside +announced the long looked for moment. The doors flew open, and between +rows of low-bending courtiers and servants the king approached the +throne, leading his pretended son by the hand. + +'Here,' said he, 'is he for whom you have been longing so many years.' + +But the queen interrupted him, 'That is not my son!' she cried. 'That is +not the face the Prophet has shown me in my dreams!' + +Just as the king was about to reason with her, the door was thrown +violently open, and Prince Omar rushed in, followed by his keepers, +whom he had managed to get away from. He flung himself down before the +throne, panting out, 'Here will I die; kill me at once, cruel father, +for I cannot bear this shame any longer.' + +Everyone pressed round the unhappy man, and the guards were about to +seize him, when the queen, who at first was dumb with surprise, sprang +up from her throne. + +'Hold!' cried she. 'This and no other is the right one; this is the one +whom my eyes have never yet seen, but whom my heart recognises.' + +The guards had stepped back, but the king called to them in a furious +voice to secure the madman. + +'It is I who must judge,' he said in tones of command; 'and this matter +cannot be decided by women's dreams, but by certain unmistakable signs. +This one' (pointing to Labakan) 'is my son, for it was he who brought me +the token from my friend Elfi--the dagger.' + +'He stole it from me,' shrieked Omar; 'he betrayed my unsuspicious +confidence.' + +But the king would not listen to his son's voice, for he had always been +accustomed to depend on his own judgment. He let the unhappy Omar be +dragged from the hall, whilst he himself retired with Labakan to his +own rooms, full of anger with the queen his wife, in spite of their many +years of happy life together. + +The queen, on her side, was plunged in grief, for she felt certain that +an impostor had won her husband's heart and taken the place of her real +son. + +When the first shock was over she began to think how she could manage +to convince the king of his mistake. Of course it would be a difficult +matter, as the man who declared he was Omar had produced the dagger as a +token, besides talking of all sorts of things which happened when he +was a child. She called her oldest and wisest ladies about her and asked +their advice, but none of them had any to give. At last one very clever +old woman said: 'Did not the young man who brought the dagger call him +whom your majesty believes to be your son Labakan, and say he was a +crazy tailor?' + +'Yes,' replied the queen; 'but what of that?' + +'Might it not be,' said the old lady, 'that the impostor has called +your real son by his own name? If this should be the case, I know of a +capital way to find out the truth.' + +And she whispered some words to the queen, who seemed much pleased, and +went off at once to see the king. + +Now the queen was a very wise woman, so she pretended to think she might +have made a mistake, and only begged to be allowed to put a test to the +two young men to prove which was the real prince. + +The king, who was feeling much ashamed of the rage he had been in with +his dear wife, consented at once, and she said: 'No doubt others would +make them ride or shoot, or something of that sort, but every one learns +these things. I wish to set them a task which requires sharp wits and +clever hands, and I want them to try which of them can best make a +kaftan and pair of trousers.' + +The king laughed. 'No, no, that will never do. Do you suppose my son +would compete with that crazy tailor as to which could make the best +clothes? Oh, dear, no, that won't do at all.' + +But the queen claimed his promise, and as he was a man of his word the +king gave in at last. He went to his son and begged that he would humour +his mother, who had set her heart on his making a kaftan. + +The worthy Labakan laughed to himself. 'If that is all she wants,' +thought he, 'her majesty will soon be pleased to own me.' + +Two rooms were prepared, with pieces of material, scissors, needles and +threads, and each young man was shut up in one of them. + +The king felt rather curious as to what sort of garment his son would +make, and the queen, too, was very anxious as to the result of her +experiment. + +On the third day they sent for the two young men and their work. Labakan +came first and spread out his kaftan before the eyes of the astonished +king. 'See, father,' he said; 'see, my honoured mother, if this is not a +masterpiece of work. I'll bet the court tailor himself cannot do better. + +The queen smiled and turned to Omar: 'And what have you done, my son?' + +Impatiently he threw the stuff and scissors down on the floor. 'I have +been taught how to manage a horse, to draw a sword, and to throw a lance +some sixty paces, but I never learnt to sew, and such a thing would have +been thought beneath the notice of the pupil of Elfi Bey, the ruler of +Cairo.' + +'Ah, true son of your father,' cried the queen; 'if only I might embrace +you and call you son! Forgive me, my lord and husband,' she added, +turning to the king, 'for trying to find out the truth in this way. +Do you not see yourself now which is the prince and which the tailor? +Certainly this kaftan is a very fine one, but I should like to know what +master taught this young man how to make clothes.' + +The king sat deep in thought, looking now at his wife and now at +Labakan, who was doing his best to hide his vexation at his own +stupidity. At last the king said: 'Even this trial does not satisfy me; +but happily I know of a sure way to discover whether or not I have been +deceived.' + +He ordered his swiftest horse to be saddled, mounted, and rode off alone +into a forest at some little distance. Here lived a kindly fairy called +Adolzaide, who had often helped the kings of his race with her good +advice, and to her he betook himself. + +In the middle of the forest was a wide open space surrounded by great +cedar trees, and this was supposed to be the fairy's favourite spot. +When the king reached this place he dismounted, tied his horse to the +tree, and standing in the middle of the open place said: 'If it is true +that you have helped my ancestors in their time of need, do not despise +their descendant, but give me counsel, for that of men has failed me.' + +He had hardly finished speaking when one of the cedar trees opened, and +a veiled figure all dressed in white stepped from it. + +'I know your errand, King Sached,' she said; 'it is an honest one, and +I will give you my help. Take these two little boxes and let the two +men who claim to be your son choose between them. I know that the real +prince will make no mistake.' + +She then handed him two little boxes made of ivory set with gold and +pearls. On the lid of each (which the king vainly tried to open) was an +inscription in diamonds. On one stood the words 'Honour and Glory,' and +on the other 'Wealth and Happiness.' + +'It would be a hard choice,' thought the king as he rode home. + +He lost no time in sending for the queen and for all his court, and when +all were assembled he made a sign, and Labakan was led in. With a proud +air he walked up to the throne, and kneeling down, asked: + +'What does my lord and father command?' + +The king replied: 'My son, doubts have been thrown on your claim to that +name. One of these boxes contains the proofs of your birth. Choose for +yourself. No doubt you will choose right.' + +He then pointed to the ivory boxes, which were placed on two little +tables near the throne. + +Labakan rose and looked at the boxes. He thought for some minutes, and +then said: 'My honoured father, what can be better than the happiness of +being your son, and what nobler than the riches of your love. I choose +the box with the words "Wealth and Happiness."' + +'We shall see presently if you have chosen the right one. For the +present take a seat there beside the Pacha of Medina,' replied the king. + +Omar was next led in, looking sad and sorrowful. He threw himself down +before the throne and asked what was the king's pleasure. The king +pointed out the two boxes to him, and he rose and went to the tables. He +carefully read the two mottoes and said: 'The last few days have shown +me how uncertain is happiness and how easily riches vanish away. Should +I lose a crown by it I make my choice of "Honour and Glory."' + +He laid his hand on the box as he spoke, but the king signed to him to +wait, and ordered Labakan to come to the other table and lay his hand on +the box he had chosen. + +Then the king rose from his throne, and in solemn silence all present +rose too, whilst he said: 'Open the boxes, and may Allah show us the +truth.' + +The boxes were opened with the greatest ease. In the one Omar had chosen +lay a little gold crown and sceptre on a velvet cushion. In Labakan's +box was found--a large needle with some thread! + +The king told the two young men to bring him their boxes. They did so. +He took the crown in his hand, and as he held it, it grew bigger and +bigger, till it was as large as a real crown. He placed it on the head +of his son Omar, kissed him on the forehead, and placed him on his right +hand. Then, turning to Labakan, he said: 'There is an old proverb, "The +cobbler sticks to his last." It seems as though you were to stick to +your needle. You have not deserved any mercy, but I cannot be harsh on +this day. I give you your life, but I advise you to leave this country +as fast as you can.' + +Full of shame, the unlucky tailor could not answer. He flung himself +down before Omar, and with tears in his eyes asked: 'Can you forgive me, +prince?' + +'Go in peace,' said Omar as he raised him. + +'Oh, my true son!' cried the king as he clasped the prince in his arms, +whilst all the pachas and emirs shouted, 'Long live Prince Omar!' + +In the midst of all the noise and rejoicing Labakan slipped off with his +little box under his arm. He went to the stables, saddled his old horse, +Murva, and rode out of the gate towards Alexandria. Nothing but the +ivory box with its diamond motto was left to show him that the last few +weeks had not been a dream. + +When he reached Alexandria he rode up to his old master's door. When he +entered the shop, his master came forward to ask what was his pleasure, +but as soon as he saw who it was he called his workmen, and they all +fell on Labakan with blows and angry words, till at last he fell, half +fainting, on a heap of old clothes. + +The master then scolded him soundly about the stolen robe, but in vain +Labakan told him he had come to pay for it and offered three times its +price. They only fell to beating him again, and at last pushed him out +of the house more dead than alive. + +He could do nothing but remount his horse and ride to an inn. Here he +found a quiet place in which to rest his bruised and battered limbs and +to think over his many misfortunes. He fell asleep fully determined to +give up trying to be great, but to lead the life of an honest workman. + +Next morning he set to work to fulfil his good resolutions. He sold his +little box to a jeweller for a good price, bought a house and opened a +workshop. Then he hung up a sign with, 'Labakan, Tailor,' over his door, +and sat down to mend his own torn clothes with the very needle which had +been in the ivory box. + +After a while he was called away, and when he went back to his work he +found a wonderful thing had happened! The needle was sewing away all by +itself and making the neatest little stitches, such as Labakan had never +been able to make even at his best. + +Certainly even the smallest gift of a kind fairy is of great value, and +this one had yet another advantage, for the thread never came to an end, +however much the needle sewed. + +Labakan soon got plenty of customers. He used to cut out the clothes, +make the first stitch with the magic needle, and then leave it to do the +rest. Before long the whole town went to him, for his work was both so +good and so cheap. The only puzzle was how he could do so much, working +all alone, and also why he worked with closed doors. + +And so the promise on the ivory box of 'Wealth and Happiness' came true +for him, and when he heard of all the brave doings of Prince Omar, who +was the pride and darling of his people and the terror of his enemies, +the ex-prince thought to himself, 'After all, I am better off as a +tailor, for "Honour and Glory" are apt to be very dangerous things.' + + + + +The Colony Of Cats + +Long, long ago, as far back as the time when animals spoke, there lived +a community of cats in a deserted house they had taken possession of not +far from a large town. They had everything they could possibly desire +for their comfort, they were well fed and well lodged, and if by any +chance an unlucky mouse was stupid enough to venture in their way, they +caught it, not to eat it, but for the pure pleasure of catching it. The +old people of the town related how they had heard their parents speak +of a time when the whole country was so overrun with rats and mice +that there was not so much as a grain of corn nor an ear of maize to be +gathered in the fields; and it might be out of gratitude to the cats who +had rid the country of these plagues that their descendants were allowed +to live in peace. No one knows where they got the money to pay for +everything, nor who paid it, for all this happened so very long ago. +But one thing is certain, they were rich enough to keep a servant; for +though they lived very happily together, and did not scratch nor fight +more than human beings would have done, they were not clever enough to +do the housework themselves, and preferred at all events to have some +one to cook their meat, which they would have scorned to eat raw. Not +only were they very difficult to please about the housework, but most +women quickly tired of living alone with only cats for companions, +consequently they never kept a servant long; and it had become a saying +in the town, when anyone found herself reduced to her last penny: 'I +will go and live with the cats,' and so many a poor woman actually did. + +Now Lizina was not happy at home, for her mother, who was a widow, was +much fonder of her elder daughter; so that often the younger one fared +very badly, and had not enough to eat, while the elder could have +everything she desired, and if Lizina dared to complain she was certain +to have a good beating. + +At last the day came when she was at the end of her courage and +patience, and exclaimed to her mother and sister: + +'As you hate me so much you will be glad to be rid of me, so I am going +to live with the cats!' + +'Be off with you!' cried her mother, seizing an old broom-handle from +behind the door. Poor Lizina did not wait to be told twice, but ran off +at once and never stopped till she reached the door of the cats' house. +Their cook had left them that very morning, with her face all scratched, +the result of such a quarrel with the head of the house that he had very +nearly scratched out her eyes. Lizina therefore was warmly welcomed, +and she set to work at once to prepare the dinner, not without many +misgivings as to the tastes of the cats, and whether she would be able +to satisfy them. + +Going to and fro about her work, she found herself frequently hindered +by a constant succession of cats who appeared one after another in the +kitchen to inspect the new servant; she had one in front of her +feet, another perched on the back of her chair while she peeled the +vegetables, a third sat on the table beside her, and five or six others +prowled about among the pots and pans on the shelves against the wall. +The air resounded with their purring, which meant that they were pleased +with their new maid, but Lizina had not yet learned to understand +their language, and often she did not know what they wanted her to do. +However, as she was a good, kindhearted girl, she set to work to pick +up the little kittens which tumbled about on the floor, she patched +up quarrels, and nursed on her lap a big tabby--the oldest of the +community--which had a lame paw. All these kindnesses could hardly fail +to make a favourable impression on the cats, and it was even better +after a while, when she had had time to grow accustomed to their strange +ways. Never had the house been kept so clean, the meats so well served, +nor the sick cats so well cared for. After a time they had a visit from +an old cat, whom they called their father, who lived by himself in a +barn at the top of the hill, and came down from time to time to inspect +the little colony. He too was much taken with Lizina, and inquired, on +first seeing her: 'Are you well served by this nice, black-eyed little +person?' and the cats answered with one voice: 'Oh, yes, Father Gatto, +we have never had so good a servant!' + +At each of his visits the answer was always the same; but after a time +the old cat, who was very observant, noticed that the little maid had +grown to look sadder and sadder. 'What is the matter, my child has any +one been unkind to you?' he asked one day, when he found her crying in +her kitchen. She burst into tears and answered between her sobs: 'Oh, +no! they are all very good to me; but I long for news from home, and I +pine to see my mother and my sister.' + +Old Gatto, being a sensible old cat, understood the little servant's +feelings. 'You shall go home,' he said, 'and you shall not come back +here unless you please. But first you must be rewarded for all your kind +services to my children. Follow me down into the inner cellar, where you +have never yet been, for I always keep it locked and carry the key away +with me.' + +Lizina looked round her in astonishment as they went down into the +great vaulted cellar underneath the kitchen. Before her stood the big +earthenware water jars, one of which contained oil, the other a liquid +shining like gold. 'In which of these jars shall I dip you?' asked +Father Gatto, with a grin that showed all his sharp white teeth, while +his moustaches stood out straight on either side of his face. The little +maid looked at the two jars from under her long dark lashes: 'In the oil +jar,' she answered timidly, thinking to herself: 'I could not ask to be +bathed in gold.' + +But Father Gatto replied: 'No, no; you have deserved something better +than that.' And seizing her in his strong paws he plunged her into the +liquid gold. Wonder of wonders! when Lizina came out of the jar she +shone from head to foot like the sun in the heavens on a fine summer's +day. Her pretty pink cheeks and long black hair alone kept their natural +colour, otherwise she had become like a statue of pure gold. Father +Gatto purred loudly with satisfaction. 'Go home,' he said, 'and see +your mother and sisters; but take care if you hear the cock crow to turn +towards it; if on the contrary the ass brays, you must look the other +way.' + +The little maid, having gratefully kissed the white paw of the old cat, +set off for home; but just as she got near her mother's house the cock +crowed, and quickly she turned towards it. Immediately a beautiful +golden star appeared on her forehead, crowning her glossy black hair. +At the same time the ass began to bray, but Lizina took care not to look +over the fence into the field where the donkey was feeding. Her +mother and sister, who were in front of their house, uttered cries of +admiration and astonishment when they saw her, and their cries became +still louder when Lizina, taking her handkerchief from her pocket, drew +out also a handful of gold. + +For some days the mother and her two daughters lived very happily +together, for Lizina had given them everything she had brought away +except her golden clothing, for that would not come off, in spite of all +the efforts of her sister, who was madly jealous of her good fortune. +The golden star, too, could not be removed from her forehead. But all +the gold pieces she drew from her pockets had found their way to her +mother and sister. + +'I will go now and see what I can get out of the pussies,' said Peppina, +the elder girl, one morning, as she took Lizina's basket and fastened +her pockets into her own skirt. 'I should like some of the cats' gold +for myself,' she thought, as she left her mother's house before the sun +rose. + +The cat colony had not yet taken another servant, for they knew they +could never get one to replace Lizina, whose loss they had not yet +ceased to mourn. When they heard that Peppina was her sister, they all +ran to meet her. 'She is not the least like her,' the kittens whispered +among themselves. + +'Hush, be quiet!' the older cats said; 'all servants cannot be pretty.' + +No, decidedly she was not at all like Lizina. Even the most reasonable +and large-minded of the cats soon acknowledged that. + +The very first day she shut the kitchen door in the face of the +tom-cats who used to enjoy watching Lizina at her work, and a young and +mischievous cat who jumped in by the open kitchen window and alighted on +the table got such a blow with the rolling-pin that he squalled for an +hour. + +With every day that passed the household became more and more aware of +its misfortune. + +The work was as badly done as the servant was surly and disagreeable; +in the corners of the rooms there were collected heaps of dust; spiders' +webs hung from the ceilings and in front of the window-panes; the beds +were hardly ever made, and the feather beds, so beloved by the old and +feeble cats, had never once been shaken since Lizina left the house. +At Father Gatto's next visit he found the whole colony in a state of +uproar. + +'Caesar has one paw so badly swollen that it looks as if it were +broken,' said one. 'Peppina kicked him with her great wooden shoes on. +Hector has an abscess in his back where a wooden chair was flung at him; +and Agrippina's three little kittens have died of hunger beside their +mother, because Peppina forgot them in their basket up in the attic. +There is no putting up with the creature--do send her away, Father +Gatto! Lizina herself would not be angry with us; she must know very +well what her sister is like.' + +'Come here,' said Father Gatto, in his most severe tones to Peppina. And +he took her down into the cellar and showed her the same two great +jars that he had showed Lizina. 'In which of these shall I dip you?' he +asked; and she made haste to answer: 'In the liquid gold,' for she was +no more modest than she was good and kind. + +Father Gatto's yellow eyes darted fire. 'You have not deserved it,' he +uttered, in a voice like thunder, and seizing her he flung her into +the jar of oil, where she was nearly suffocated. When she came to the +surface screaming and struggling, the vengeful cat seized her again +and rolled her in the ash-heap on the floor; then when she rose, dirty, +blinded, and disgusting to behold, he thrust her from the door, saying: +'Begone, and when you meet a braying ass be careful to turn your head +towards it.' + +Stumbling and raging, Peppina set off for home, thinking herself +fortunate to find a stick by the wayside with which to support herself. +She was within sight of her mother's house when she heard in the meadow +on the right, the voice of a donkey loudly braying. Quickly she turned +her head towards it, and at the same time put her hand up to her +forehead, where, waving like a plume, was a donkey's tail. She ran home +to her mother at the top of her speed, yelling with rage and despair; +and it took Lizina two hours with a big basin of hot water and two cakes +of soap to get rid of the layer of ashes with which Father Gatto had +adorned her. As for the donkey's tail, it was impossible to get rid of +that; it was as firmly fixed on her forehead as was the golden star on +Lizina's. Their mother was furious. She first beat Lizina unmercifully +with the broom, then she took her to the mouth of the well and lowered +her into it, leaving her at the bottom weeping and crying for help. + +Before this happened, however, the king's son in passing the mother's +house had seen Lizina sitting sewing in the parlour, and had been +dazzled by her beauty. After coming back two or three times, he at last +ventured to approach the window and to whisper in the softest voice: +'Lovely maiden, will you be my bride?' and she had answered: 'I will.' + +Next morning, when the prince arrived to claim his bride, he found her +wrapped in a large white veil. 'It is so that maidens are received from +their parents' hands,' said the mother, who hoped to make the king's son +marry Peppina in place of her sister, and had fastened the donkey's tail +round her head like a lock of hair under the veil. The prince was young +and a little timid, so he made no objections, and seated Peppina in the +carriage beside him. + +Their way led past the old house inhabited by the cats, who were all at +the window, for the report had got about that the prince was going to +marry the most beautiful maiden in the world, on whose forehead shone a +golden star, and they knew that this could only be their adored Lizina. +As the carriage slowly passed in front of the old house, where cats +from all parts of world seemed to be gathered a song burst from every +throat: + + Mew, mew, mew! Prince, look quick behind you! + In the well is fair Lizina, + And you've got nothing but Peppina. + +When he heard this the coachman, who understood the cat's language +better than the prince, his master, stopped his horses and asked: + +'Does your highness know what the grimalkins are saying?' and the song +broke forth again louder than ever. + +With a turn of his hand the prince threw back the veil, and discovered +the puffed-up, swollen face of Peppina, with the donkey's tail twisted +round her head. 'Ah, traitress!' he exclaimed, and ordering the horses +to be turned round, he drove the elder daughter, quivering with rage, to +the old woman who had sought to deceive him. With his hand on the hilt +of his sword he demanded Lizina in so terrific a voice that the mother +hastened to the well to draw her prisoner out. Lizina's clothing and her +star shone so brilliantly that when the prince led her home to the king, +his father, the whole palace was lit up. Next day they were married, and +lived happy ever after; and all the cats, headed by old Father Gatto, +were present at the wedding. + + + + +How To Find Out A True Friend + +Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who longed to have a son. +As none came, one day they made a vow at the shrine of St. James that +if their prayers were granted the boy should set out on a pilgrimage as +soon as he had passed his eighteenth birthday. And fancy their delight +when one evening the king returned home from hunting and saw a baby +lying in the cradle. + +All the people came crowding round to peep at it, and declared it was +the most beautiful baby that ever was seen. Of course that is what they +always say, but this time it happened to be true. And every day the boy +grew bigger and stronger till he was twelve years old, when the king +died, and he was left alone to take care of his mother. + +In this way six years passed by, and his eighteenth birthday drew near. +When she thought of this the queen's heart sank within her, for he was +the light of her eyes' and how was she to send him forth to the unknown +dangers that beset a pilgrim? So day by day she grew more and more +sorrowful, and when she was alone wept bitterly. + +Now the queen imagined that no one but herself knew how sad she was, but +one morning her son said to her, 'Mother, why do you cry the whole day +long?' + +'Nothing, nothing, my son; there is only one thing in the world that +troubles me.' + +'What is that one thing?' asked he. 'Are you afraid your property is +badly managed? Let me go and look into the matter.' + +This pleased the queen, and he rode off to the plain country, where his +mother owned great estates; but everything was in beautiful order, and +he returned with a joyful heart, and said, 'Now, mother, you can be +happy again, for your lands are better managed than anyone else's I have +seen. The cattle are thriving; the fields are thick with corn, and soon +they will be ripe for harvest.' + +'That is good news indeed,' answered she; but it did not seem to make +any difference to her, and the next morning she was weeping and wailing +as loudly as ever. + +'Dear mother,' said her son in despair, 'if you will not tell me what is +the cause of all this misery I shall leave home and wander far through +the world.' + +'Ah, my son, my son,' cried the queen, 'it is the thought that I must +part from you which causes me such grief; for before you were born we +vowed a vow to St. James that when your eighteenth birthday was passed +you should make a pilgrimage to his shrine, and very soon you will be +eighteen, and I shall lose you. And for a whole year my eyes will never +be gladdened by the sight of you, for the shrine is far away.' + +'Will it take no longer than that to reach it?' said he. 'Oh, don't be +so wretched; it is only dead people who never return. As long as I am +alive you may be sure I will come back to you.' + +After this manner he comforted his mother, and on his eighteenth +birthday his best horse was led to the door of the palace, and he took +leave of the queen in these words, 'Dear mother, farewell, and by the +help of fate I shall return to you as soon as I can.' + +The queen burst into tears and wept sore; then amidst her sobs she drew +three apples from her pocket and held them out, saying, 'My son, take +these apples and give heed unto my words. You will need a companion in +the long journey on which you are going. If you come across a young man +who pleases you beg him to accompany you, and when you get to an inn +invite him to have dinner with you. After you have eaten cut one of +these apples in two unequal parts, and ask him to take one. If he takes +the larger bit, then part from him, for he is no true friend to you. But +if he takes the smaller bit treat him as your brother, and share with +him all you have.' Then she kissed her son once more, and blessed him, +and let him go. + +The young man rode a long way without meeting a single creature, but at +last he saw a youth in the distance about the same age as himself, and +he spurred his horse till he came up with the stranger, who stopped and +asked: + +'Where are you going, my fine fellow?' + +'I am making a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James, for before I was +born my mother vowed that I should go forth with a thank offering on my +eighteenth birthday.' + +'That is my case too,' said the stranger, 'and, as we must both travel +in the same direction, let us bear each other company.' + +The young man agreed to this proposal, but he took care not to get on +terms of familiarity with the new comer until he had tried him with the +apple. + +By-and-by they reached an inn, and at sight of it the king's son said, +'I am very hungry. Let us enter and order something to eat.' The other +consented, and they were soon sitting before a good dinner. + +When they had finished the king's son drew an apple from his pocket, +and cut it into a big half and a little half, and offered both to the +stranger, who took the biggest bit. 'You are no friend of mine,' thought +the king's son, and in order to part company with him he pretended to be +ill and declared himself unable to proceed on his journey. + +'Well, I can't wait for you,' replied the other; 'I am in haste to push +on, so farewell.' + +'Farewell,' said the king's son, glad in his heart to get rid of him so +easily. The king's son remained in the inn for some time, so as to let +the young man have a good start; them he ordered his horse and rode +after him. But he was very sociable and the way seemed long and dull by +himself. 'Oh, if I could only meet with a true friend,' he thought, 'so +that I should have some one to speak to. I hate being alone.' + +Soon after he came up with a young man, who stopped and asked him, +'Where are you going, my fine fellow?' The king's son explained the +object of his journey, and the young man answered, as the other had +done, that he also was fulfilling the vow of his mother made at his +birth. + +'Well, we can ride on together,' said the king's son, and the road +seemed much shorter now that he had some one to talk to. + +At length they reached an inn, and the king's son exclaimed, 'I am very +hungry; let us go in and get something to eat.' + +When they had finished the king's son drew an apple out of his pocket +and cut it in two; he held the big bit and the little bit out to his +companion, who took the big bit at once and soon ate it up. 'You are no +friend of mine,' thought the king's son, and began to declare he felt so +ill he could not continue his journey. When he had given the young man a +good start he set off himself, but the way seemed even longer and duller +than before. 'Oh, if I could only meet with a true friend he should be +as a brother to me,' he sighed sadly; and as the thought passed through +his mind, he noticed a youth going the same road as himself. + +The youth came up to him and said, 'Which way are you going, my fine +fellow?' And for the third time the king's son explained all about his +mother's vow. Why, that is just like me,' cried the youth. + +'Then let us ride on together,' answered the king's son. + +Now the miles seemed to slip by, for the new comer was so lively and +entertaining that the king's son could not help hoping that he indeed +might prove to be the true friend. + +More quickly than he could have thought possible they reached an inn by +the road-side, and turning to his companion the king's son said, 'I am +hungry; let us go in and have something to eat.' So they went in and +ordered dinner, and when they had finished the king's son drew out of +his pocket the last apple, and cut it into two unequal parts, and held +both out to the stranger. And the stranger took the little piece, and +the heart of the king's son was glad within him, for at last he had +found the friend he had been looking for. 'Good youth,' he cried, 'we +will be brothers, and what is mine shall be thine, and what is thine +shall be mine. And together we will push on to the shrine, and if one +of us dies on the road the other shall carry his body there.' And the +stranger agreed to all he said, and they rode forward together. + +It took them a whole year to reach the shrine, and they passed through +many different lands on their way. One day they arrived tired and +half-starved in a big city, and said to one another, 'Let us stay here +for a little and rest before we set forth again.' So they hired a small +house close to the royal castle, and took up their abode there. + +The following morning the king of the country happened to step on to his +balcony, and saw the young men in the garden, and said to himself, 'Dear +me, those are wonderfully handsome youths; but one is handsomer than +the other, and to him will I give my daughter to wife;' and indeed the +king's son excelled his friend in beauty. + +In order to set about his plan the king asked both the young men to +dinner, and when they arrived at the castle he received them with the +utmost kindness, and sent for his daughter, who was more lovely than +both the sun and moon put together. But at bed-time the king caused the +other young man to be given a poisoned drink, which killed him in a few +minutes, for he thought to himself, 'If his friend dies the other will +forget his pilgrimage, and will stay here and marry my daughter.' + +When the king's son awoke the next morning he inquired of the servants +where his friend had gone, as he did not see him. 'He died suddenly last +night,' said they, 'and is to be buried immediately.' + +But the king's son sprang up, and cried, 'If my friend is dead I can +stay here no longer, and cannot linger an hour in this house.' + +'Oh, give up your journey and remain here,' exclaimed the king, 'and you +shall have my daughter for your wife.' 'No,' answered the king's son, +'I cannot stay; but, I pray you, grant my request, and give me a good +horse, and let me go in peace, and when I have fulfilled my vow then I +will return and marry your daughter.' + +So the king, seeing no words would move him, ordered a horse to be +brought round, and the king's son mounted it, and took his dead friend +before him on the saddle, and rode away. + +Now the young man was not really dead, but only in a deep sleep. + +When the king's son reached the shrine of St. James he got down from his +horse, took his friend in his arms as if he had been a child, and laid +him before the altar. 'St. James,' he said, 'I have fulfilled the vow my +parents made for me. I have come myself to your shrine, and have brought +my friend. I place him in your hands. Restore him to life, I pray, for +though he be dead yet has he fulfilled his vow also.' And, behold! while +he yet prayed his friend got up and stood before him as well as ever. +And both the young men gave thanks, and set their faces towards home. + +When they arrived at the town where the king dwelt they entered the +small house over against the castle. The news of their coming spread +very soon, and the king rejoiced greatly that the handsome young prince +had come back again, and commanded great feasts to be prepared, for in a +few days his daughter should marry the king's son. The young man himself +could imagine no greater happiness, and when the marriage was over they +spent some months at the court making merry. + +At length the king's son said, 'My mother awaits me at home, full of +care and anxiety. Here I must remain no longer, and to-morrow I will +take my wife and my friend and start for home.' And the king was content +that he should do so, and gave orders to prepare for their journey. + +Now in his heart the king cherished a deadly hate towards the poor young +man whom he had tried to kill, but who had returned to him living, and +in order to do him hurt sent him on a message to some distant spot. 'See +that you are quick,' said he, 'for your friend will await your return +before he starts.' The youth put spurs to his horse and departed, +bidding the prince farewell, so that the king's message might be +delivered the sooner. As soon as he had started the king went to +the chamber of the prince, and said to him, 'If you do not start +immediately, you will never reach the place where you must camp for the +night.' + +'I cannot start without my friend,' replied the king's son. + +'Oh, he will be back in an hour,' replied the king, 'and I will give him +my best horse, so that he will be sure to catch you up.' The king's son +allowed himself to be persuaded and took leave of his father-in-law, and +set out with his wife on his journey home. + +Meanwhile the poor friend had been unable to get through his task in the +short time appointed by the king, and when at last he returned the king +said to him, + +'Your comrade is a long way off by now; you had better see if you can +overtake him.' + +So the young man bowed and left the king's presence, and followed after +his friend on foot, for he had no horse. Night and day he ran, till at +length he reached the place where the king's son had pitched his tent, +and sank down before him, a miserable object, worn out and covered with +mud and dust. But the king's son welcomed him with joy, and tended him +as he would his brother. + +And at last they came home again, and the queen was waiting and watching +in the palace, as she had never ceased to do since her son had rode +away. She almost died of joy at seeing him again, but after a little she +remembered his sick friend, and ordered a bed to be made ready and the +best doctors in all the country to be sent for. When they heard of the +queen's summons they flocked from all parts, but none could cure him. +After everyone had tried and failed a servant entered and informed the +queen that a strange old man had just knocked at the palace gate and +declared that he was able to heal the dying youth. Now this was a holy +man, who had heard of the trouble the king's son was in, and had come to +help. + +It happened that at this very time a little daughter was born to the +king's son, but in his distress for his friend he had hardly a thought +to spare for the baby. He could not be prevailed on to leave the sick +bed, and he was bending over it when the holy man entered the room. 'Do +you wish your friend to be cured?' asked the new comer of the king's +son. 'And what price would you pay?' + +'What price?' answered the king's son; 'only tell me what I can do to +heal him.' + +'Listen to me, then,' said the old man. 'This evening you must take your +child, and open her veins, and smear the wounds of your friend with her +blood. And you will see, he will get well in an instant.' + +At these words the king's son shrieked with horror, for he loved the +baby dearly, but he answered, 'I have sworn that I would treat my friend +as if he were my brother, and if there is no other way my child must be +sacrificed.' + +As by this time evening had already fallen he took the child and opened +its veins, and smeared the blood over the wounds of the sick man, and +the look of death departed from him, and he grew strong and rosy once +more. But the little child lay as white and still as if she had been +dead. They laid her in the cradle and wept bitterly, for they thought +that by the next morning she would be lost to them. + +At sunrise the old man returned and asked after the sick man. + +'He is as well as ever,' answered the king's son. + +'And where is your baby?' + +'In the cradle yonder, and I think she is dead,' replied the father +sadly. + +'Look at her once more,' said the holy man, and as they drew near the +cradle there lay the baby smiling up at them. + +'I am St. James of Lizia,' said the old man, 'and I have come to help +you, for I have seen that you are a true friend. From henceforward live +happily, all of you, together, and if troubles should draw near you send +for me, and I will aid you to get through them.' + +With these words he lifted his hand in blessing and vanished. + +And they obeyed him, and were happy and content, and tried to make the +people of the land happy and contented too. + +[From Sicilianische Mahrehen Gonzenbach.] + + + + +Clever Maria + +There was once a merchant who lived close to the royal palace, and had +three daughters. They were all pretty, but Maria, the youngest, was the +prettiest of the three. One day the king sent for the merchant, who was +a widower, to give him directions about a journey he wished the good +man to take. The merchant would rather not have gone, as he did not +like leaving his daughters at home, but he could not refuse to obey the +king's commands, and with a heavy heart he returned home to say farewell +to them. Before he left, he took three pots of basil, and gave one to +each girl, saying, 'I am going a journey, but I leave these pots. You +must let nobody into the house. When I come back, they will tell me what +has happened.' 'Nothing will have happened,' said the girls. + +The father went away, and the following day the king, accompanied by two +friends, paid a visit to the three girls, who were sitting at supper. +When they saw who was there, Maria said, 'Let us go and get a bottle of +wine from the cellar. I will carry the key, my eldest sister can take +the light, while the other brings the bottle.' But the king replied, +'Oh, do not trouble; we are not thirsty.' 'Very well, we will not +go,' answered the two elder girls; but Maria merely said, 'I shall go, +anyhow.' She left the room, and went to the hall where she put out the +light, and putting down the key and the bottle, ran to the house of a +neighbour, and knocked at the door. 'Who is there so late?' asked the +old woman, thrusting her head out of the window. + +'Oh, let me in,' answered Maria. 'I have quarrelled with my eldest +sister, and as I do not want to fight any more, I have come to beg you +to allow me to sleep with you.' + +So the old woman opened the door and Maria slept in her house. The king +was very angry at her for playing truant, but when she returned home +the next day, she found the plants of her sisters withered away, because +they had disobeyed their father. Now the window in the room of the +eldest overlooked the gardens of the king, and when she saw how fine and +ripe the medlars were on the trees, she longed to eat some, and begged +Maria to scramble down by a rope and pick her a few, and she would draw +her up again. Maria, who was good-natured, swung herself into the garden +by the rope, and got the medlars, and was just making the rope fast +under her arms so as to be hauled up, when her sister cried: 'Oh, there +are such delicious lemons a little farther on. You might bring me one or +two.' Maria turned round to pluck them, and found herself face to face +with the gardener, who caught hold of her, exclaiming, 'What are you +doing here, you little thief?' 'Don't call me names,' she said, 'or you +will get the worst of it,' giving him as she spoke such a violent push +that he fell panting into the lemon bushes. Then she seized the cord and +clambered up to the window. + +The next day the second sister had a fancy for bananas and begged so +hard, that, though Maria had declared she would never do such a thing +again, at last she consented, and went down the rope into the king's +garden. This time she met the king, who said to her, 'Ah, here you are +again, cunning one! Now you shall pay for your misdeeds.' + +And he began to cross-question her about what she had done. Maria denied +nothing, and when she had finished, the king said again, 'Follow me to +the house, and there you shall pay the penalty.' As he spoke, he started +for the house, looking back from time to time to make sure that Maria +had not run away. All of a sudden, when he glanced round, he found she +had vanished completely, without leaving a trace of where she had gone. +Search was made all through the town, and there was not a hole or corner +which was not ransacked, but there was no sign of her anywhere. This so +enraged the king that he became quite ill, and for many months his life +was despaired of. + +Meanwhile the two elder sisters had married the two friends of the +king, and were the mothers of little daughters. Now one day Maria stole +secretly to the house where her elder sister lived, and snatching up the +children put them into a beautiful basket she had with her, covered +with flowers inside and out, so that no one would ever guess it held two +babies. Then she dressed herself as a boy, and placing the basket on her +head, she walked slowly past the palace, crying as she went: + +'Who will carry these flowers to the king, who lies sick of love?' + +And the king in his bed heard what she said, and ordered one of his +attendants to go out and buy the basket. It was brought to his bedside, +and as he raised the lid cries were heard, and peeping in he saw two +little children. He was furious at this new trick which he felt had been +played on him by Maria, and was still looking at them, wondering how he +should pay her out, when he was told that the merchant, Maria's father, +had finished the business on which he had been sent and returned home. +Then the king remembered how Maria had refused to receive his visit, and +how she had stolen his fruit, and he determined to be revenged on her. +So he sent a message by one of his pages that the merchant was to come +to see him the next day, and bring with him a coat made of stone, or +else he would be punished. Now the poor man had been very sad since he +got home the evening before, for though his daughters had promised that +nothing should happen while he was away, he had found the two elder +ones married without asking his leave. And now there was this fresh +misfortune, for how was he to make a coat of stone? He wrung his hands +and declared that the king would be the ruin of him, when Maria suddenly +entered. 'Do not grieve about the coat of stone, dear father; but take +this bit of chalk, and go to the palace and say you have come to measure +the king.' The old man did not see the use of this, but Maria had so +often helped him before that he had confidence in her, so he put the +chalk in his pocket and went to the palace. + +'That is no good,' said the king, when the merchant had told him what he +had come for. + +'Well, I can't make the coat you want,' replied he. + +'Then if you would save your head, hand over to me your daughter Maria.' + +The merchant did not reply, but went sorrowfully back to his house, +where Maria sat waiting for him. + +'Oh, my dear child, why was I born? The king says that, instead of the +coat, I must deliver you up to him.' + +'Do not be unhappy, dear father, but get a doll made, exactly like +me, with a string attached to its head, which I can pull for "Yes" and +"No."' + +So the old man went out at once to see about it. + +The king remained patiently in his palace, feeling sure that this time +Maria could not escape him; and he said to his pages, 'If a gentleman +should come here with his daughter and ask to be allowed to speak with +me, put the young lady in my room and see she does not leave it.' + +When the door was shut on Maria, who had concealed the doll under her +cloak, she hid herself under the couch, keeping fast hold of the string +which was fastened to its head. + +'Senhora Maria, I hope you are well,' said the king when he entered the +room. The doll nodded. 'Now we will reckon up accounts,' continued he, +and he began at the beginning, and ended up with the flower-basket, and +at each fresh misdeed Maria pulled the string, so that the doll's head +nodded assent. 'Who-so mocks at me merits death,' declared the king when +he had ended, and drawing his sword, cut off the doll's head. It fell +towards him, and as he felt the touch of a kiss, he exclaimed, 'Ah, +Maria, Maria, so sweet in death, so hard to me in life! The man who +could kill you deserves to die!' And he was about to turn his sword on +himself, when the true Maria sprung out from under the bed, and flung +herself into his arms. And the next day they were married and lived +happily for many years. + +[From the Portuguese.] + + + + +The Magic Kettle + +Right in the middle of Japan, high up among the mountains, an old man +lived in his little house. He was very proud of it, and never tired of +admiring the whiteness of his straw mats, and the pretty papered walls, +which in warm weather always slid back, so that the smell of the trees +and flowers might come in. + +One day he was standing looking at the mountain opposite, when he heard +a kind of rumbling noise in the room behind him. He turned round, and in +the corner he beheld a rusty old iron kettle, which could not have seen +the light of day for many years. How the kettle got there the old man +did not know, but he took it up and looked it over carefully, and when +he found that it was quite whole he cleaned the dust off it and carried +it into his kitchen. + +'That was a piece of luck,' he said, smiling to himself; 'a good kettle +costs money, and it is as well to have a second one at hand in case of +need; mine is getting worn out, and the water is already beginning to +come through its bottom.' + +Then he took the other kettle off the fire, filled the new one with +water, and put it in its place. + +No sooner was the water in the kettle getting warm than a strange thing +happened, and the man, who was standing by, thought he must be dreaming. +First the handle of the kettle gradually changed its shape and became a +head, and the spout grew into a tail, while out of the body sprang four +paws, and in a few minutes the man found himself watching, not a kettle, +but a tanuki! The creature jumped off the fire, and bounded about the +room like a kitten, running up the walls and over the ceiling, till the +old man was in an agony lest his pretty room should be spoilt. He cried +to a neighbour for help, and between them they managed to catch the +tanuki, and shut him up safely in a wooden chest. Then, quite exhausted, +they sat down on the mats, and consulted together what they should do +with this troublesome beast. At length they decided to sell him, and +bade a child who was passing send them a certain tradesman called Jimmu. + +When Jimmu arrived, the old man told him that he had something which he +wished to get rid of, and lifted the lid of the wooden chest, where +he had shut up the tanuki. But, to his surprise, no tanuki was there, +nothing but the kettle he had found in the corner. It was certainly very +odd, but the man remembered what had taken place on the fire, and did +not want to keep the kettle any more, so after a little bargaining about +the price, Jimmu went away carrying the kettle with him. + +Now Jimmu had not gone very far before he felt that the kettle was +getting heavier and heavier, and by the time he reached home he was so +tired that he was thankful to put it down in the corner of his room, and +then forgot all about it. In the middle of the night, however, he was +awakened by a loud noise in the corner where the kettle stood, and +raised himself up in bed to see what it was. But nothing was there +except the kettle, which seemed quiet enough. He thought that he must +have been dreaming, and fell asleep again, only to be roused a second +time by the same disturbance. He jumped up and went to the corner, and +by the light of the lamp that he always kept burning he saw that the +kettle had become a tanuki, which was running round after his tail. +After he grew weary of that, he ran on the balcony, where he turned +several somersaults, from pure gladness of heart. The tradesman was +much troubled as to what to do with the animal, and it was only towards +morning that he managed to get any sleep; but when he opened his eyes +again there was no tanuki, only the old kettle he had left there the +night before. + +As soon as he had tidied his house, Jimmu set off to tell his story to +a friend next door. The man listened quietly, and did not appear so +surprised as Jimmu expected, for he recollected having heard, in his +youth, something about a wonder-working kettle. 'Go and travel with +it, and show it off,' said he, 'and you will become a rich man; but be +careful first to ask the tanuki's leave, and also to perform some magic +ceremonies to prevent him from running away at the sight of the people.' + +Jimmu thanked his friend for his counsel, which he followed exactly. The +tanuki's consent was obtained, a booth was built, and a notice was hung +up outside it inviting the people to come and witness the most wonderful +transformation that ever was seen. + +They came in crowds, and the kettle was passed from hand to hand, and +they were allowed to examine it all over, and even to look inside. Then +Jimmu took it back, and setting it on the platform, commanded it to +become a tanuki. In an instant the handle began to change into a head, +and the spout into a tail, while the four paws appeared at the sides. +'Dance,' said Jimmu, and the tanuki did his steps, and moved first on +one side and then on the other, till the people could not stand still +any longer, and began to dance too. Gracefully he led the fan dance, and +glided without a pause into the shadow dance and the umbrella dance, and +it seemed as if he might go on dancing for ever. And so very likely +he would, if Jimmu had not declared he had danced enough, and that the +booth must now be closed. + +Day after day the booth was so full it was hardly possible to enter it, +and what the neighbour foretold had come to pass, and Jimmu was a rich +man. Yet he did not feel happy. He was an honest man, and he thought +that he owed some of his wealth to the man from whom he had bought +the kettle. So, one morning, he put a hundred gold pieces into it, and +hanging the kettle once more on his arm, he returned to the seller of +it. 'I have no right to keep it any longer,' he added when he had ended +his tale, 'so I have brought it back to you, and inside you will find a +hundred gold pieces as the price of its hire.' + +The man thanked Jimmu, and said that few people would have been as +honest as he. And the kettle brought them both luck, and everything went +well with them till they died, which they did when they were very old, +respected by everyone. + +[Adapted from Japanische Mahrchen] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Crimson Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 2435.txt or 2435.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/3/2435/ + +Produced by J.C. 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A +sense of literary honesty compels the Editor to keep repeating that +he is the Editor, and not the author of the Fairy Tales, just as a +distinguished man of science is only the Editor, not the Author of +Nature. Like nature, popular tales are too vast to be the creation of +a single modern mind. The Editor's business is to hunt for +collections of these stories told by peasant or savage grandmothers +in many climes, from New Caledonia to Zululand; from the frozen +snows of the Polar regions to Greece, or Spain, or Italy, or far +Lochaber. When the tales are found they are adapted to the needs +of British children by various hands, the Editor doing little beyond +guarding the interests of propriety, and toning down to mild +reproofs the tortures inflicted on wicked stepmothers, and other +naughty characters. + +These explanations have frequently been offered already; but, as far +as ladies and children are concerned, to no purpose. They still ask +the Editor how he can invent so many stories--more than +Shakespeare, Dumas, and Charles Dickens could have invented in a +century. And the Editor still avers, in Prefaces, that he did not +invent one of the stories; that nobody knows, as a rule, who +invented them, or where, or when. It is only plain that, perhaps a +hundred thousand years ago, some savage grandmother told a tale +to a savage granddaughter; that the granddaughter told it in her +turn; that various tellers made changes to suit their taste, adding or +omitting features and incidents; that, as the world grew civilised, +other alterations were made, and that, at last, Homer composed the +'Odyssey,' and somebody else composed the Story of Jason and the +Fleece of Gold, and the enchantress Medea, out of a set of +wandering popular tales, which are still told among Samoyeds and +Samoans, Hindoos and Japanese. + +All this has been known to the wise and learned for centuries, and +especially since the brothers Grimm wrote in the early years of the +Nineteenth Century. But children remain unaware of the facts, and +so do their dear mothers; whence the Editor infers that they do not +read his prefaces, and are not members of the FolkLore Society, or +students of Herr Kohler and M. Cosquin, and M. Henri Guidoz and +Professor Child, and Mr. Max Muller. Though these explanations +are not attended to by the Editor's customers, he makes them once +more, for the relief of his conscience. Many tales in this book are +translated, or adapted, from those told by mothers and nurses in +Hungary; others are familiar to Russian nurseries; the Servians are +responsible for some; a rather peculiarly fanciful set of stories are +adapted from the Roumanians; others are from the Baltic shores; +others from sunny Sicily; a few are from Finland, and Iceland, and +Japan, and Tunis, and Portugal. No doubt many children will like to +look out these places on the map, and study their mountains, rivers, +soil, products, and fiscal policies, in the geography books. The +peoples who tell the stories differ in colour; language, religion, and +almost everything else; but they all love a nursery tale. The stories +have mainly been adapted or translated by Mrs. Lang, a few by +Miss Lang and Miss Blackley. + + + +Contents + +Lovely Ilonka +Lucky Luck +The Hairy Man +To your Good Health! +The Story of the Seven Simons +The Language of Beasts +The Boy who could keep a Secret +The Prince and the Dragon +Little Wildrose +Tiidu the Piper +Paperarello +The Gifts of the Magician +The Strong Prince +The Treasure Seeker +The Cottager and his Cat +The Prince who would seek Immortality +The Stone-cutter +The Gold-bearded Man +Tritill, Litill, and the Birds +The Three Robes +The Six Hungry Beasts +How the Beggar Boy turned into Count Piro +The Rogue and the Herdsman +Eisenkopf +The Death of Abu Nowas and of his Wife +Motikatika +Niels and the Giants +Shepherd Paul +How the wicked Tanuki was punished +The Crab and the Monkey +The Horse Gullfaxi and the Sword Gunnfoder +The Story of the Sham Prince, or the Ambitious Tailor +The Colony of Cats +How to find out a True Friend +Clever Maria +The Magic Kettle + + + +Lovely Ilonka + +There was once a king's son who told his father that he wished to +marry. + +'No, no!' said the king; 'you must not be in such a hurry. Wait till +you have done some great deed. My father did not let me marry till +I had won the golden sword you see me wear.' + +The prince was much disappointed, but he never dreamed of +disobeying his father, and he began to think with all his might what +he could do. It was no use staying at home, so one day he +wandered out into the world to try his luck, and as he walked along +he came to a little hut in which he found an old woman crouching +over the fire. + +'Good evening, mother. I see you have lived long in this world; do +you know anything about the three bulrushes?' + +'Yes, indeed, I've lived long and been much about in the world, but +I have never seen or heard anything of what you ask. Still, if you +will wait till to-morrow I may be able to tell you something.' + +Well, he waited till the morning, and quite early the old woman +appeared and took out a little pipe and blew in it, and in a moment +all the crows in the world were flying about her. Not one was +missing. Then she asked if they knew anything about the three +bulrushes, but not one of them did. + +The prince went on his way, and a little further on he found another +hut in which lived an old man. On being questioned the old man +said he knew nothing, but begged the prince to stay overnight, and +the next morning the old man called all the ravens together, but +they too had nothing to tell. + +The prince bade him farewell and set out. He wandered so far that +he crossed seven kingdoms, and at last, one evening, he came to a +little house in which was an old woman. + +'Good evening, dear mother,' said he politely. + +'Good evening to you, my dear son,' answered the old woman. 'It +is lucky for you that you spoke to me or you would have met with a +horrible death. But may I ask where are you going?' + +'I am seeking the three bulrushes. Do you know anything about +them?' + +'I don't know anything myself, but wait till to-morrow. Perhaps I +can tell you then.' So the next morning she blew on her pipe, and lo! +and behold every magpie in the world flew up. That is to say, all +the magpies except one who had broken a leg and a wing. The old +woman sent after it at once, and when she questioned the magpies +the crippled one was the only one who knew where the three +bulrushes were. + +Then the prince started off with the lame magpie. They went on +and on till they reached a great stone wall, many, many feet high. + +'Now, prince,' said the magpie, 'the three bulrushes are behind that +wall.' + +The prince wasted no time. He set his horse at the wall and leaped +over it. Then he looked about for the three bulrushes, pulled them +up and set off with them on his way home. As he rode along one of +the bulrushes happened to knock against something. It split open +and, only think! out sprang a lovely girl, who said: 'My heart's love, +you are mine and I am yours; do give me a glass of water.' + +But how could the prince give it her when there was no water at +hand? So the lovely maiden flew away. He split the second bulrush +as an experiment and just the same thing happened. + +How careful he was of the third bulrush! He waited till he came to a +well, and there he split it open, and out sprang a maiden seven times +lovelier than either of the others, and she too said: 'My heart's love, +I am yours and you are mine; do give me a glass of water.' + +This time the water was ready and the girl did not fly away, but she +and the prince promised to love each other always. Then they set +out for home. + +They soon reached the prince's country, and as he wished to bring +his promised bride back in a fine coach he went on to the town to +fetch one. In the field where the well was, the king's swineherds +and cowherds were feeding their droves, and the prince left Ilonka +(for that was her name) in their care. + +Unluckily the chief swineherd had an ugly old daughter, and whilst +the prince was away he dressed her up in fine clothes, and threw +Ilonka into the well. + +The prince returned before long, bringing with him his father and +mother and a great train of courtiers to escort Ilonka home. But +how they all stared when they saw the swineherd's ugly daughter! +However, there was nothing for it but to take her home; and, two +days later, the prince married her, and his father gave up the crown +to him. + +But he had no peace! He knew very well he had been cheated, +though he could not think how. Once he desired to have some +water brought him from the well into which Ilonka had been +thrown. The coachman went for it and, in the bucket he pulled up, +a pretty little duck was swimming. He looked wonderingly at it, +and all of a sudden it disappeared and he found a dirty looking girl +standing near him. The girl returned with him and managed to get a +place as housemaid in the palace. + +Of course she was very busy all day long, but whenever she had a +little spare time she sat down to spin. Her distaff turned of itself +and her spindle span by itself and the flax wound itself off; and +however much she might use there was always plenty left. + +When the queen--or, rather, the swineherd's daughter--heard of +this, she very much wished to have the distaff, but the girl flatly +refused to give it to her. However, at last she consented on +condition that she might sleep one night in the king's room. The +queen was very angry, and scolded her well; but as she longed to +have the distaff she consented, though she gave the king a sleeping +draught at supper. + +Then the girl went to the king's room looking seven times lovelier +than ever. She bent over the sleeper and said: 'My heart's love, I +am yours and you are mine. Speak to me but once; I am your +Ilonka.' But the king was so sound asleep he neither heard nor +spoke, and Ilonka left the room, sadly thinking he was ashamed to +own her. + +Soon after the queen again sent to say that she wanted to buy the +spindle. The girl agreed to let her have it on the same conditions as +before; but this time, also, the queen took care to give the king a +sleeping draught. And once more Ilonka went to the king's room +and spoke to him; whisper as sweetly as she might she could get no +answer. + +Now some of the king's servants had taken note of the matter, and +warned their master not to eat and drink anything that the queen +offered him, as for two nights running she had given him a sleeping +draught. The queen had no idea that her doings had been +discovered; and when, a few days later, she wanted the flax, and +had to pay the same price for it, she felt no fears at all. + +At supper that night the queen offered the king all sorts of nice +things to eat and drink, but he declared he was not hungry, and +went early to bed. + +The queen repented bitterly her promise to the girl, but it was too +late to recall it; for Ilonka had already entered the king's room, +where he lay anxiously waiting for something, he knew not what. +All of a sudden he saw a lovely maiden who bent over him and said: +'My dearest love, I am yours and you are mine. Speak to me, for I +am your Ilonka.' + +At these words the king's heart bounded within him. He sprang up +and embraced and kissed her, and she told him all her adventures +since the moment he had left her. And when he heard all that +Ilonka had suffered, and how he had been deceived, he vowed he +would be revenged; so he gave orders that the swineherd, his wife +and daughter should all be hanged; and so they were. + +The next day the king was married, with great rejoicings, to the fair +Ilonka; and if they are not yet dead--why, they are still living. + +[From Ungarische Mahrehen.] + + + +Lucky Luck + +Once upon a time there was a king who had an only son. When the +lad was about eighteen years old his father had to go to fight in a +war against a neighbouring country, and the king led his troops in +person. He bade his son act as Regent in his absence, but ordered +him on no account to marry till his return. + +Time went by. The prince ruled the country and never even thought +of marrying. But when he reached his twenty-fifth birthday he +began to think that it might be rather nice to have a wife, and he +thought so much that at last he got quite eager about it. He +remembered, however, what his father had said, and waited some +time longer, till at last it was ten years since the king went out to +war. Then the prince called his courtiers about him and set off with +a great retinue to seek a bride. He hardly knew which way to go, so +he wandered about for twenty days, when, suddenly, he found +himself in his father's camp. + +The king was delighted to see his son, and had a great many +questions to ask and answer; but when he heard that instead of +quietly waiting for him at home the prince was starting off to seek a +wife he was very angry, and said: 'You may go where you please +but I will not leave any of my people with you.' + +Only one faithful servant stayed with the prince and refused to part +from him. They journeyed over hill and dale till they came to a +place called Goldtown. The King of Goldtown had a lovely +daughter, and the prince, who soon heard about her beauty, could +not rest till he saw her. + +He was very kindly received, for he was extremely good-looking +and had charming manners, so he lost no time in asking for her hand +and her parents gave her to him with joy. The wedding took place +at once, and the feasting and rejoicings went on for a whole month. +At the end of the month they set off for home, but as the journey +was a long one they spent the first evening at an inn. Everyone in +the house slept, and only the faithful servant kept watch. About +midnight he heard three crows, who had flown to the roof, talking +together. + +'That's a handsome couple which arrived here tonight. It seems +quite a pity they should lose their lives so soon.' + +'Truly,' said the second crow; 'for to-morrow, when midday +strikes, the bridge over the Gold Stream will break just as they are +driving over it. But, listen! whoever overhears and tells what we +have said will be turned to stone up to his knees.' + +The crows had hardly done speaking when away they flew. And +close upon them followed three pigeons. + +'Even if the prince and princess get safe over the bridge they will +perish,' said they; 'for the king is going to send a carriage to meet +them which looks as new as paint. But when they are seated in it a +raging wind will rise and whirl the carriage away into the clouds. +Then it will fall suddenly to earth, and they will be killed. But +anyone who hears and betrays what we have said will be turned to +stone up to his waist.' + +With that the pigeons flew off and three eagles took their places, +and this is what they said: + +'If the young couple does manage to escape the dangers of the +bridge and the carriage, the king means to send them each a +splendid gold embroidered robe. When they put these on they will +be burnt up at once. But whoever hears and repeats this will turn to +stone from head to foot.' + +Early next morning the travellers got up and breakfasted. They +began to tell each other their dreams. At last the servant said: + +'Gracious prince, I dreamt that if your Royal Highness would grant +all I asked we should get home safe and sound; but if you did not +we should certainly be lost. My dreams never deceive me, so I +entreat you to follow my advice during the rest of the journey.' + +'Don't make such a fuss about a dream,' said the prince; 'dreams are +but clouds. Still, to prevent your being anxious I will promise to do +as you wish.' + +With that they set out on their journey. + +At midday they reached the Gold Stream. When they got to the +bridge the servant said: 'Let us leave the carriage here, my prince, +and walk a little way. The town is not far off and we can easily get +another carriage there, for the wheels of this one are bad and will +not hold out much longer.' + +The prince looked well at the carriage. He did not think it looked so +unsafe as his servant said; but he had given his word and he held to +it. + +They got down and loaded the horses with the luggage. The prince +and his bride walked over the bridge, but the servant said he would +ride the horses through the stream so as to water and bathe them. + +They reached the other side without harm, and bought a new +carriage in the town, which was quite near, and set off once more +on their travels; but they had not gone far when they met a +messenger from the king who said to the prince: 'His Majesty has +sent your Royal Highness this beautiful carriage so that you may +make a fitting entry into your own country and amongst your own +people.' + +The prince was so delighted that he could not speak. But the +servant said: 'My lord, let me examine this carriage first and then +you can get in if I find it is all right; otherwise we had better stay in +our own.' + +The prince made no objections, and after looking the carriage well +over the servant said: 'It is as bad as it is smart'; and with that he +knocked it all to pieces, and they went on in the one that they had +bought. + +At last they reached the frontier; there another messenger was +waiting for them, who said that the king had sent two splendid +robes for the prince and his bride, and begged that they would wear +them for their state entry. But the servant implored the prince to +have nothing to do with them, and never gave him any peace till he +had obtained leave to destroy the robes. + +The old king was furious when he found that all his arts had failed; +that his son still lived and that he would have to give up the crown +to him now he was married, for that was the law of the land. He +longed to know how the prince had escaped, and said: 'My dear +son, I do indeed rejoice to have you safely back, but I cannot +imagine why the beautiful carriage and the splendid robes I sent did +not please you; why you had them destroyed.' + +'Indeed, sire,' said the prince, 'I was myself much annoyed at their +destruction; but my servant had begged to direct everything on the +journey and I had promised him that he should do so. He declared +that we could not possibly get home safely unless I did as he told +me.' + +The old king fell into a tremendous rage. He called his Council +together and condemned the servant to death. + +The gallows was put up in the square in front of the palace. The +servant was led out and his sentence read to him. + +The rope was being placed round his neck, when he begged to be +allowed a few last words. 'On our journey home,' he said, 'we spent +the first night at an inn. I did not sleep but kept watch all night.' +And then he went on to tell what the crows had said, and as he +spoke he turned to stone up to his knees. The prince called to him +to say no more as he had proved his innocence. But the servant paid +no heed to him, and by the time his story was done he had turned to +stone from head to foot. + +Oh! how grieved the prince was to lose his faithful servant! And +what pained him most was the thought that he was lost through his +very faithfulness, and he determined to travel all over the world and +never rest till he found some means of restoring him to life. + +Now there lived at Court an old woman who had been the prince's +nurse. To her he confided all his plans, and left his wife, the +princess, in her care. 'You have a long way before you, my son,' +said the old woman; 'you must never return till you have met with +Lucky Luck. If he cannot help you no one on earth can.' + +So the prince set off to try to find Lucky Luck. He walked and +walked till he got beyond his own country, and he wandered +through a wood for three days but did not meet a living being in it. +At the end of the third day he came to a river near which stood a +large mill. Here he spent the night. When he was leaving next +morning the miller asked him: 'My gracious lord, where are you +going all alone?' + +And the prince told him. + +'Then I beg your Highness to ask Lucky Luck this question: Why is +it that though I have an excellent mill, with all its machinery +complete, and get plenty of grain to grind, I am so poor that I +hardly know how to live from one day to another?' + +The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way. He wandered +about for three days more, and at the end of the third day saw a +little town. It was quite late when he reached it, but he could +discover no light anywhere, and walked almost right through it +without finding a house where he could turn in. But far away at the +end of the town he saw a light in a window. He went straight to it +and in the house were three girls playing a game together. The +prince asked for a night's lodging and they took him in, gave him +some supper and got a room ready for him, where he slept. + +Next morning when he was leaving they asked where he was going +and he told them his story. 'Gracious prince,' said the maidens, 'do +ask Lucky Luck how it happens that here we are over thirty years +old and no lover has come to woo us, though we are good, pretty, +and very industrious.' + +The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way. + +Then he came to a great forest and wandered about in it from +morning to night and from night to morning before he got near the +other end. Here he found a pretty stream which was different from +other streams as, instead of flowing, it stood still and began to talk: +'Sir prince, tell me what brings you into these wilds? I must have +been flowing here a hundred years and more and no one has ever +yet come by.' + +'I will tell you,' answered the prince, 'if you will divide yourself so +that I may walk through.' + +The stream parted at once, and the prince walked through without +wetting his feet; and directly he got to the other side he told his +story as he had promised. + +'Oh, do ask Lucky Luck,' cried the brook, 'why, though I am such a +clear, bright, rapid stream I never have a fish or any other living +creature in my waters.' + +The prince said he would do so, and continued his journey. + +When he got quite clear of the forest he walked on through a lovely +valley till he reached a little house thatched with rushes, and he +went in to rest for he was very tired. + +Everything in the house was beautifully clean and tidy, and a +cheerful honest-looking old woman was sitting by the fire. + +'Good-morning, mother,' said the prince. + +'May Luck be with you, my son. What brings you into these parts?' + +'I am looking for Lucky Luck,' replied the prince. + +'Then you have come to the right place, my son, for I am his +mother. He is not at home just now, he is out digging in the +vineyard. Do you go too. Here are two spades. When you find him +begin to dig, but don't speak a word to him. It is now eleven +o'clock. When he sits down to eat his dinner sit beside him and eat +with him. After dinner he will question you, and then tell him all +your troubles freely. He will answer whatever you may ask.' + +With that she showed him the way, and the prince went and did just +as she had told him. After dinner they lay down to rest. + +All of a sudden Lucky Luck began to speak and said: 'Tell me, what +sort of man are you, for since you came here you have not spoken a +word?' + +'I am not dumb,' replied the young man, 'but I am that unhappy +prince whose faithful servant has been turned to stone, and I want +to know how to help him.' + +'And you do well, for he deserves everything. Go back, and when +you get home your wife will just have had a little boy. Take three +drops of blood from the child's little finger, rub them on your +servant's wrists with a blade of grass and he will return to life.' + +'I have another thing to ask,' said the prince, when he had thanked +him. 'In the forest near here is a fine stream but not a fish or other +living creature in it. Why is this?' + +'Because no one has ever been drowned in the stream. But take +care, in crossing, to get as near the other side as you can before you +say so, or you may be the first victim yourself.' + +'Another question, please, before I go. On my way here I lodged +one night in the house of three maidens. All were well-mannered, +hard-working, and pretty, and yet none has had a wooer. Why was +this?' + +'Because they always throw out their sweepings in the face of the +sun.' + +'And why is it that a miller, who has a large mill with all the best +machinery and gets plenty of corn to grind is so poor that he can +hardly live from day to day?' + +'Because the miller keeps everything for himself, and does not give +to those who need it.' + +The prince wrote down the answers to his questions, took a friendly +leave of Lucky Luck, and set off for home. + +When he reached the stream it asked if he brought it any good +news. 'When I get across I will tell you,' said he. So the stream +parted; he walked through and on to the highest part of the bank. +He stopped and shouted out: + +'Listen, oh stream! Lucky Luck says you will never have any living +creature in your waters until someone is drowned in you.' + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the stream swelled +and overflowed till it reached the rock up which he had climbed, +and dashed so far up it that the spray flew over him. But he clung +on tight, and after failing to reach him three times the stream +returned to its proper course. Then the prince climbed down, dried +himself in the sun, and set out on his march home. + +He spent the night once more at the mill and gave the miller his +answer, and by-and-by he told the three sisters not to throw out all +their sweepings in the face of the sun. + +The prince had hardly arrived at home when some thieves tried to +ford the stream with a fine horse they had stolen. When they were +half-way across, the stream rose so suddenly that it swept them all +away. From that time it became the best fishing stream in the +country-side. + +The miller, too, began to give alms and became a very good man, +and in time grew so rich that he hardly knew how much he had. + +And the three sisters, now that they no longer insulted the sun, had +each a wooer within a week. + +When the prince got home he found that his wife had just got a fine +little boy. He did not lose a moment in pricking the baby's finger till +the blood ran, and he brushed it on the wrists of the stone figure, +which shuddered all over and split with a loud noise in seven parts +and there was the faithful servant alive and well. + +When the old king saw this he foamed with rage, stared wildly +about, flung himself on the ground and died. + +The servant stayed on with his royal master and served him +faithfully all the rest of his life; and, if neither of them is dead, he is +serving him still. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Hairy Man + +Somewhere or other, but I don't know where, there lived a king +who owned two remarkably fine fields of rape, but every night two +of the rape heaps were burnt down in one of the fields. The king +was extremely angry at this, and sent out soldiers to catch whoever +had set fire to the ricks; but it was all of no use--not a soul could +they see. Then he offered nine hundred crowns to anyone who +caught the evil-doer, and at the same time ordered that whoever did +not keep proper watch over the fields should be killed; but though +there were a great many people, none seemed able to protect the +fields. + +The king had already put ninety-nine people to death, when a little +swineherd came to him who had two dogs; one was called 'Psst,' +and the other 'Hush'; and the boy told the king that he would watch +over the ricks. + +When it grew dark he climbed up on the top of the fourth rick, from +where he could see the whole field. About eleven o'clock he +thought he saw someone going to a rick and putting a light to it. +'Just you wait,' thought he, and called out to his dogs: 'Hi! Psst, +Hush, catch him! ' But Psst and Hush had not waited for orders, +and in five minutes the man was caught. + +Next morning he was brought bound before the king, who was so +pleased with the boy that he gave him a thousand crowns at once. +The prisoner was all covered with hair, almost like an animal; and +altogether he was so curious to look at that the king locked him up +in a strong room and sent out letters of invitation to all the other +kings and princes asking them to come and see this wonder. + +That was all very well; but the king had a little boy of ten years old +who went to look at the hairy man also, and the man begged so +hard to be set free that the boy took pity on him. He stole the key +of the strong room from his mother and opened the door. Then he +took the key back, but the hairy man escaped and went off into the +world. + +Then the kings and princes began to arrive one after another, and all +were most anxious to see the hairy man; but he was gone! The king +nearly burst with rage and with the shame he felt. He questioned +his wife sharply, and told her that if she could not find and bring +back the hairy man he would put her in a hut made of rushes and +burn her there. The queen declared she had had nothing to do with +the matter; if her son had happened to take the key it had not been +with her knowledge. + +So they fetched the little prince and asked him all sorts of questions, +and at last he owned that he had let the hairy man out. The king +ordered his servants to take the boy into the forest and to kill him +there, and to bring back part of his liver and lungs. + +There was grief all over the palace when the king's command was +known, for he was a great favourite. But there was no help for it, +and they took the boy out into the forest. But the man was sorry +for him, and shot a dog and carried pieces of his lungs and liver to +the king, who was satisfied, and did not trouble himself any more. + +The prince wandered about in the forest and lived as best he could +for five years. One day he came upon a poor little cottage in which +was an old man. They began to talk, and the prince told his story +and sad fate. Then they recognised each other, for the old fellow +was no other than the hairy man whom the prince had set free, and +who had lived ever since in the forest. + +The prince stayed here for two years; then he wished to go further. +The old man begged him hard to stay, but he would not, so his +hairy friend gave him a golden apple out of which came a horse +with a golden mane, and a golden staff with which to guide the +horse. The old man also gave him a silver apple out of which came +the most beautiful hussars and a silver staff; and a copper apple +from which he could draw as many foot soldiers as ever he wished, +and a copper staff. He made the prince swear solemnly to take the +greatest care of these presents, and then he let him go. + +The boy wandered on and on till he came to a large town. Here he +took service in the king's palace, and as no one troubled themselves +about him he lived quietly on. + +One day news was brought to the king that he must go out to war. +He was horribly frightened for he had a very small army, but he had +to go all the same. + +When they had all left, the prince said to the housekeeper: + +'Give me leave to go to the next village--I owe a small bill there, +and I want to go and pay it'; and as there was nothing to be done in +the palace the housekeeper gave him leave. + +When he got beyond the town he took out his golden apple, and +when the horse sprang out he swung himself into the saddle. Then +he took the silver and the copper apples, and with all these fine +soldiers he joined the king's army. + +The king saw them approach with fear in his heart, for he did not +know if it might not be an enemy; but the prince rode up, and +bowed low before him. 'I bring your Majesty reinforcements,' said +he. + +The king was delighted, and all dread of his enemy at once +disappeared. The princesses were there too, and they were very +friendly with the prince and begged him to get into their carriage so +as to talk to them. But he declined, and remained on horseback, as +he did not know at what moment the battle might begin; and whilst +they were all talking together the youngest princess, who was also +the loveliest, took off her ring, and her sister tore her handkerchief +in two pieces, and they gave these gifts to the prince. + +Suddenly the enemy came in sight. The king asked whether his +army or the prince's should lead the way; but the prince set off first +and with his hussars he fought so bravely that only two of the +enemy were left alive, and these two were only spared to act as +messengers. + +The king was overjoyed and so were his daughters at this brilliant +victory. As they drove home they begged the prince to join them, +but he would not come, and galloped off with his hussars. + +When he got near the town he packed his soldiers and his fine horse +all carefully into the apple again, and then strolled into the town. +On his return to the palace he was well scolded by the housekeeper +for staying away so long. + +Well, the whole matter might have ended there; but it so happened +that the younger princess had fallen in love with the prince, as he +had with her. And as he had no jewels with him, he gave her the +copper apple and staff. + +One day, as the princesses were talking with their father, the +younger one asked him whether it might not have been their servant +who had helped him so much. The king was quite angry at the idea; +but, to satisfy her, he ordered the servant's room to be searched. +And there, to everyone's surprise, they found the golden ring and +the half of the handkerchief. When these were brought to the king +he sent for the prince at once and asked if it had been he who had +come to their rescue. + +'Yes, your Majesty, it was I,' answered the prince. + +'But where did you get your army?' + +'If you wish to see it, I can show it you outside the city walls.' + +And so he did; but first he asked for the copper apple from the +younger princess, and when all the soldiers were drawn up there +were such numbers that there was barely room for them. + +The king gave him his daughter and kingdom as a reward for his +aid, and when he heard that the prince was himself a king's son his +joy knew no bounds. The prince packed all his soldiers carefully +up once more, and they went back into the town. + +Not long after there was a grand wedding; perhaps they may all be +alive still, but I don't know. + + + +To Your Good Health! + +Long, long ago there lived a king who was such a mighty monarch +that whenever he sneezed every one in the whole country had to say +'To your good health!' Every one said it except the shepherd with +the staring eyes, and he would not say it. + +The king heard of this and was very angry, and sent for the +shepherd to appear before him. + +The shepherd came and stood before the throne, where the king sat +looking very grand and powerful. But however grand or powerful +he might be the shepherd did not feel a bit afraid of him. + +'Say at once, "To my good health!"' cried the king. + +'To my good health!' replied the shepherd. + +'To mine--to mine, you rascal, you vagabond!' stormed the king. + +'To mine, to mine, your Majesty,' was the answer. + +'But to mine--to my own,' roared the king, and beat on his breast in +a rage. + +'Well, yes; to mine, of course, to my own,' cried the shepherd, and +gently tapped his breast. + +The king was beside himself with fury and did not know what to +do, when the Lord Chamberlain interfered: + +'Say at once--say this very moment: "To your health, your +Majesty"; for if you don't say it you'll lose your life, whispered he. + +'No, I won't say it till I get the princess for my wife,' was the +shepherd's answer. Now the princess was sitting on a little throne +beside the king, her father, and she looked as sweet and lovely as a +little golden dove. When she heard what the shepherd said she +could not help laughing, for there is no denying the fact that this +young shepherd with the staring eyes pleased her very much; indeed +he pleased her better than any king's son she had yet seen. + +But the king was not as pleasant as his daughter, and he gave +orders to throw the shepherd into the white bear's pit. + +The guards led him away and thrust him into the pit with the white +bear, who had had nothing to eat for two days and was very +hungry. The door of the pit was hardly closed when the bear +rushed at the shepherd; but when it saw his eyes it was so +frightened that it was ready to eat itself. It shrank away into a +corner and gazed at him from there, and, in spite of being so +famished, did not dare to touch him, but sucked its own paws from +sheer hunger. The shepherd felt that if he once removed his eyes +off the beast he was a dead man, and in order to keep himself +awake he made songs and sang them, and so the night went by. + +Next morning the Lord Chamberlain came to see the shepherd's +bones, and was amazed to find him alive and well. He led him to +the king, who fell into a furious passion, and said: 'Well, you have +learned what it is to be very near death, and now will you say "To +my good health"?' + +But the shepherd answered: 'I am not afraid of ten deaths! I will +only say it if I may have the princess for my wife.' + +'Then go to your death,' cried the king; and ordered him to be +thrown into the den with the wild boars. The wild boars had not +been fed for a week, and when the shepherd was thrust into their +don they rushed at him to tear him to pieces. But the shepherd +took a little flute out of the sleeve of his jacket and began to play a +merry tune, on which the wild boars first of all shrank shyly away, +and then got up on their hind legs and danced gaily. The shepherd +would have given anything to be able to laugh, they looked so +funny; but he dared not stop playing, for he knew well enough that +the moment he stopped they would fall upon him and tear him to +pieces. His eyes were of no use to him here, for he could not have +stared ten wild boars in the face at once; so he kept on playing, and +the wild boars danced very slowly, as if in a minuet, then by degrees +he played faster and faster till they could hardly twist and turn +quickly enough, and ended by all falling over each other in a heap, +quite exhausted and out of breath. + +Then the shepherd ventured to laugh at last; and he laughed so long +and so loud that when the Lord Chamberlain came early in the +morning, expecting to find only his bones, the tears were still +running down his cheeks from laughter. + +As soon as the king was dressed the shepherd was again brought +before him; but he was more angry than ever to think the wild boars +had not torn the man to bits, and he said: 'Well, you have learned +what it feels to be near ten deaths, now say "To my good health!"' + +But the shepherd broke in with, 'I do not fear a hundred deaths, and +I will only say it if I may have the princess for my wife.' + +'Then go to a hundred deaths!' roared the king, and ordered the +shepherd to be thrown down the deep vault of scythes. + +The guards dragged him away to a dark dungeon, in the middle of +which was a deep well with sharp scythes all round it. At the +bottom of the well was a little light by which one could see if +anyone was thrown in whether he had fallen to the bottom. + +When the shepherd was dragged to the dungeons he begged the +guards to leave him alone a little while that he might look down +into the pit of scythes; perhaps he might after all make up his mind +to say 'To your good health' to the king. So the guards left him +alone and he stuck up his long stick near the well, hung his cloak +round the stick and put his hat on the top. He also hung his +knapsack up inside the cloak so that it might seem to have some +body within it. When this was done he called out to the guards and +said that he had considered the matter but after all he could not +make up his mind to say what the king wished. The guards came +in, threw the hat and cloak, knapsack and stick all down the well +together, watched to see how they put out the light at the bottom +and came away, thinking that now there really was an end of the +shepherd. But he had hidden in a dark corner and was laughing to +himself all the time. + +Quite early next morning came the Lord Chamberlain, carrying a +lamp and he nearly fell backwards with surprise when he saw the +shepherd alive and well. He brought him to the king, whose fury +was greater than ever, but who cried: + +'Well, now you have been near a hundred deaths; will you say: "To +your good health"?' + +But the shepherd only gave the same answer: + +'I won't say it till the princess is my wife.' + +'Perhaps after all you may do it for less,' said the king, who saw that +there was no chance of making away with the shepherd; and he +ordered the state coach to be got ready, then he made the shepherd +get in with him and sit beside him, and ordered the coachman to +drive to the silver wood. When they reached it he said: 'Do you see +this silver wood? Well, if you will say, "To your good health," I +will give it to you.' + +The shepherd turned hot and cold by turns, but he still persisted: + +'I will not say it till the princess is my wife.' + +The king was much vexed; he drove further on till they came to a +splendid castle, all of gold, and then he said: + +'Do you see this golden castle? Well, I will give you that too, the +silver wood and the golden castle, if only you will say that one thing +to me: "To your good health."' + +The shepherd gaped and wondered and was quite dazzled, but he +still said: + +'No; I will not say it till I have the princess for my wife.' + +This time the king was overwhelmed with grief, and gave orders to +drive on to the diamond pond, and there he tried once more. + +'Do you see this diamond pond? I will give you that too, the silver +wood and the golden castle and the diamond pond. You shall have +them all--all--if you will but say: "To your good health!"' + +The shepherd had to shut his staring eyes tight not to be dazzled +with the brilliant pond, but still he said: + +'No, no; I will not say it till I have the princess for my wife.' + +Then the king saw that all his efforts were useless, and that he +might as well give in, so he said: + +'Well, well, it's all the same to me--I will give you my daughter to +wife; but, then, you really and truly must say to me: "To your good +health."' + +'Of course I'll say it; why should I not say it? It stands to reason +that I shall say it then.' + +At this the king was more delighted than anyone could have +believed. He made it known all through the country that there were +to be great rejoicings, as the princess was going to be married. And +everyone rejoiced to think that the princess, who had refused so +many royal suitors, should have ended by falling in love with the +staring-eyed shepherd. + +There was such a wedding as had never been seen. Everyone ate +and drank and danced. Even the sick were feasted, and quite tiny +new-born children had presents given them. + +But the greatest merry-making was in the king's palace; there the +best bands played and the best food was cooked; a crowd of people +sat down to table, and all was fun and merry-making. + +And when the groomsman, according to custom, brought in the +great boar's head on a big dish and placed it before the king so that +he might carve it and give everyone a share, the savoury smell was +so strong that the king began to sneeze with all his might. + +'To your very good health,' cried the shepherd before anyone else, +and the king was so delighted that he did not regret having given +him his daughter. + +In time, when the old king died, the shepherd succeeded him. He +made a very good king and never expected his people to wish him +well against their wills; but, all the same, everyone did wish him +well, for they all loved him. + +[From Russische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Story of the Seven Simons + +Far, far away, beyond all sorts of countries, seas and rivers, there +stood a splendid city where lived King Archidej, who was as good +as he was rich and handsome. His great army was made up of men +ready to obey his slightest wish; he owned forty times forty cities, +and in each city he had ten palaces with silver doors, golden roofs, +and crystal windows. His council consisted of the twelve wisest +men in the country, whose long beards flowed down over their +breasts, each of whom was as learned as a whole college. This +council always told the king the exact truth. + +Now the king had everything to make him happy, but he did not +enjoy anything because he could not find a bride to his mind. + +One day, as he sat in his palace looking out to sea, a great ship +sailed into the harbour and several merchants came on shore. Said +the king to himself: 'These people have travelled far and beheld +many lands. I will ask them if they have seen any princess who is as +clever and as handsome as I am.' + +So he ordered the merchants to be brought before him, and when +they came he said: 'You have travelled much and visited many +wonders. I wish to ask you a question, and I beg you to answer +truthfully. + +'Have you anywhere seen or heard of the daughter of an emperor, +king, or a prince, who is as clever and as handsome as I am, and +who would be worthy to be my wife and the queen of my country?' + +The merchants considered for some time. At last the eldest of them +said: 'I have heard that across many seas, in the Island of Busan, +there is a mighty king, whose daughter, the Princess Helena, is so +lovely that she can certainly not be plainer than your Majesty, and +so clever that the wisest greybeard cannot guess her riddles.' + +'Is the island far off, and which is the way to it?' + +'It is not near,' was the answer. 'The journey would take ten years, +and we do not know the way. And even if we did, what use would +that be? The princess is no bride for you.' + +'How dare you say so?' cried the king angrily. + +'Your Majesty must pardon us; but just think for a moment. Should +you send an envoy to the island he will take ten years to get there +and ten more to return--twenty years in all. Will not the princess +have grown old in that time and have lost all her beauty?' + +The king reflected gravely. Then he thanked the merchants, gave +them leave to trade in his country without paying any duties, and +dismissed them. + +After they were gone the king remained deep in thought. He felt +puzzled and anxious; so he decided to ride into the country to +distract his mind, and sent for his huntsmen and falconers. The +huntsmen blew their horns, the falconers took their hawks on their +wrists, and off they all set out across country till they came to a +green hedge. On the other side of the hedge stretched a great field +of maize as far as the eye could reach, and the yellow ears swayed +to and fro in the gentle breeze like a rippling sea of gold. + +The king drew rein and admired the field. 'Upon my word,' said he, +'whoever dug and planted it must be good workmen. If all the +fields in my kingdom were as well cared for as this, there would be +more bread than my people could eat.' And he wished to know to +whom the field belonged. + +Off rushed all his followers at once to do his bidding, and found a +nice, tidy farmhouse, in front of which sat seven peasants, lunching +on rye bread and drinking water. They wore red shirts bound with +gold braid, and were so much alike that one could hardly tell one +from another. + +The messengers asked: 'Who owns this field of golden maize?' And +the seven brothers answered: 'The field is ours.' + +'And who are you?' + +'We are King Archidej's labourers.' + +These answers were repeated to the king, who ordered the brothers +to be brought before him at once. On being asked who they were, +the eldest said, bowing low: + +'We, King Archidej, are your labourers, children of one father and +mother, and we all have the same name, for each of us is called +Simon. Our father taught us to be true to our king, and to till the +ground, and to be kind to our neighbours. He also taught each of +us a different trade which he thought might be useful to us, and he +bade us not neglect our mother earth, which would be sure amply +to repay our labour.' + +The king was pleased with the honest peasant, and said: 'You have +done well, good people, in planting your field, and now you have a +golden harvest. But I should like each of you to tell me what +special trades your father taught you.' + +'My trade, O king!' said the first Simon, 'is not an easy one. If you +will give me some workmen and materials I will build you a great +white pillar that shall reach far above the clouds.' + +'Very good,' replied the king. 'And you, Simon the second, what is +your trade?' + +'Mine, your Majesty, needs no great cleverness. When my brother +has built the pillar I can mount it, and from the top, far above the +clouds, I can see what is happening: in every country under the sun.' + +'Good,' said the king; 'and Simon the third?' + +'My work is very simple, sire. You have many ships built by +learned men, with all sorts of new and clever improvements. If you +wish it I will build you quite a simple boat--one, two, three, and it's +done! But my plain little home-made ship is not grand enough for a +king. Where other ships take a year, mine makes the voyage in a +day, and where they would require ten years mine will do the +distance in a week.' + +'Good,' said the king again; 'and what has Simon the fourth learnt?' + +'My trade, O king, is really of no importance. Should my brother +build you a ship, then let me embark in it. If we should be pursued +by an enemy I can seize our boat by the prow and sink it to the +bottom of the sea. When the enemy has sailed off, I can draw it up +to the top again.' + +'That is very clever of you,' answered the king; 'and what does +Simon the fifth do?' + +'My work, your Majesty, is mere smith's work. Order me to build a +smithy and I will make you a cross-bow, but from which neither the +eagle in the sky nor the wild beast in the forest is safe. The bolt hits +whatever the eye sees.' + +'That sounds very useful,' said the king. 'And now, Simon the sixth, +tell me your trade.' + +'Sire, it is so simple I am almost ashamed to mention it. If my +brother hits any creature I catch it quicker than any dog can. If it +falls into the water I pick it up out of the greatest depths, and if it is +in a dark forest I can find it even at midnight.' + +The king was much pleased with the trades and talk of the six +brothers, and said: 'Thank you, good people; your father did well +to teach you all these things. Now follow me to the town, as I want +to see what you can do. I need such people as you about me; but +when harvest time comes I will send you home with royal presents.' + +The brothers bowed and said: 'As the king wills.' Suddenly the king +remembered that he had not questioned the seventh Simon, so he +turned to him and said: 'Why are you silent? What is your +handicraft?' + +And the seventh Simon answered: 'I have no handicraft, O king; I +have learnt nothing. I could not manage it. And if I do know how +to do anything it is not what might properly be called a real trade--it +is rather a sort of performance; but it is one which no one--not the +king himself--must watch me doing, and I doubt whether this +performance of mine would please your Majesty.' + +'Come, come,' cried the king; 'I will have no excuses, what is this +trade?' + +'First, sire, give me your royal word that you will not kill me when I +have told you. Then you shall hear.' + +'So be it, then; I give you my royal word.' + +Then the seventh Simon stepped back a little, cleared his throat, +and said: 'My trade, King Archidej, is of such a kind that the man +who follows it in your kingdom generally loses his life and has no +hopes of pardon. There is only one thing I can do really well, and +that is--to steal, and to hide the smallest scrap of anything I have +stolen. Not the deepest vault, even if its lock were enchanted, +could prevent my stealing anything out of it that I wished to have.' + +When the king heard this he fell into a passion. 'I will not pardon +you, you rascal,' he cried; 'I will shut you up in my deepest dungeon +on bread and water till you have forgotten such a trade. Indeed, it +would be better to put you to death at once, and I've a good mind +to do so.' + +'Don't kill me, O king! I am really not as bad as you think. Why, +had I chosen, I could have robbed the royal treasury, have bribed +your judges to let me off, and built a white marble palace with what +was left. But though I know how to steal I don't do it. You +yourself asked me my trade. If you kill me you will break your +royal word.' + +'Very well,' said the king, 'I will not kill you. I pardon you. But +from this hour you shall be shut up in a dark dungeon. Here, +guards! away with him to the prison. But you six Simons follow +me and be assured of my royal favour.' + +So the six Simons followed the king. The seventh Simon was +seized by the guards, who put him in chains and threw him in prison +with only bread and water for food. Next day the king gave the +first Simon carpenters, masons, smiths and labourers, with great +stores of iron, mortar, and the like, and Simon began to build. And +he built his great white pillar far, far up into the clouds, as high as +the nearest stars; but the other stars were higher still. + +Then the second Simon climbed up the pillar and saw and heard all +that was going on through the whole world. When he came down +he had all sorts of wonderful things to tell. How one king was +marching in battle against another, and which was likely to be the +victor. How, in another place, great rejoicings were going on, +while in a third people were dying of famine. In fact there was not +the smallest event going on over the earth that was hidden from +him. + +Next the third Simon began. He stretched out his arms, once, +twice, thrice, and the wonder-ship was ready. At a sign from the +king it was launched, and floated proudly and safely like a bird on +the waves. Instead of ropes it had wires for rigging, and musicians +played on them with fiddle bows and made lovely music. As the +ship swam about, the fourth Simon seized the prow with his strong +hand, and in a moment it was gone--sunk to the bottom of the sea. +An hour passed, and then the ship floated again, drawn up by +Simon's left hand, while in his right he brought a gigantic fish from +the depth of the ocean for the royal table. + +Whilst this was going on the fifth Simon had built his forge and +hammered out his iron, and when the king returned from the +harbour the magic cross-bow was made. + +His Majesty went out into an open field at once, looked up into the +sky and saw, far, far away, an eagle flying up towards the sun and +looking like a little speck. + +'Now,' said the king, 'if you can shoot that bird I will reward you.' + +Simon only smiled; he lifted his cross-bow, took aim, fired, and the +eagle fell. As it was falling the sixth Simon ran with a dish, caught +the bird before it fell to earth and brought it to the king. + +'Many thanks, my brave lads,' said the king; 'I see that each of you +is indeed a master of his trade. You shall be richly rewarded. But +now rest and have your dinner.' + +The six Simons bowed and went to dinner. But they had hardly +begun before a messenger came to say that the king wanted to see +them. They obeyed at once and found him surrounded by all his +court and men of state. + +'Listen, my good fellows,' cried the king, as soon as he saw them. +'Hear what my wise counsellors have thought of. As you, Simon +the second, can see the whole world from the top of the great pillar, +I want you to climb up and to see and hear. For I am told that, far +away, across many seas, is the great kingdom of the Island of +Busan, and that the daughter of the king is the beautiful Princess +Helena.' + +Off ran the second Simon and clambered quickly up the pillar. He +gazed around, listened on all sides, and then slid down to report to +the king. + +'Sire, I have obeyed your orders. Far away I saw the Island of +Busan. The king is a mighty monarch, but full of pride, harsh and +cruel. He sits on his throne and declares that no prince or king on +earth is good enough for his lovely daughter, that he will give her to +none, and that if any king asks for her hand he will declare war +against him and destroy his kingdom.' + +'Has the king of Busan a great army?' asked King Archidej; 'is his +country far off?' + +'As far as I could judge,' replied Simon, 'it would take you nearly +ten years in fair weather to sail there. But if the weather were +stormy we might say twelve. I saw the army being reviewed. It is +not so very large--a hundred thousand men at arms and a hundred +thousand knights. Besides these, he has a strong bodyguard and a +good many cross-bowmen. Altogether you may say another +hundred thousand, and there is a picked body of heroes who +reserve themselves for great occasions requiring particular courage.' + +The king sat for some time lost in thought. At last he said to the +nobles and courtiers standing round: 'I am determined to marry the +Princess Helena, but how shall I do it?' + +The nobles, courtiers and counsellors said nothing, but tried to hide +behind each other. Then the third Simon said: + +'Pardon me, your Majesty, if I offer my advice. You wish to go to +the Island of Busan? What can be easier? In my ship you will get +there in a week instead of in ten years. But ask your council to +advise you what to do when you arrive--in one word, whether you +will win the princess peacefully or by war?' + +But the wise men were as silent as ever. + +The king frowned, and was about to say something sharp, when the +Court Fool pushed his way to the front and said: 'Dear me, what are +all you clever people so puzzled about? The matter is quite clear. +As it seems it will not take long to reach the island why not send +the seventh Simon? He will steal the fair maiden fast enough, and +then the king, her father, may consider how he is going to bring his +army over here--it will take him ten years to do it!---no less! What +do you think of my plan?' + +'What do I think? Why, that your idea is capital, and you shall be +rewarded for it. Come, guards, hurry as fast as you can and bring +the seventh Simon before me.' + +Not many minutes later, Simon the seventh stood before the king, +who explained to him what he wished done, and also that to steal +for the benefit of his king and country was by no means a wrong +thing, though it was very wrong to steal for his own advantage. + +The youngest Simon, who looked very pale and hungry, only +nodded his head. + +'Come,' said the king, 'tell me truly. Do you think you could steal +the Princess Helena?' + +'Why should I not steal her, sire? The thing is easy enough. Let my +brother's ship be laden with rich stuffs, brocades, Persian carpets, +pearls and jewels. Send me in the ship. Give me my four middle +brothers as companions, and keep the two others as hostages.' + +When the king heard these words his heart became filled with +longing, and he ordered all to be done as Simon wished. Every one +ran about to do his bidding; and in next to no time the wonder-ship +was laden and ready to start. + +The five Simons took leave of the king, went on board, and had no +sooner set sail than they were almost out of sight. The ship cut +through the waters like a falcon through the air, and just a week +after starting sighted the Island of Busan. The coast appeared to be +strongly guarded, and from afar the watchman on a high tower +called out: 'Halt and anchor! Who are you? Where do you come +from, and what do you want?' + +The seventh Simon answered from the ship: 'We are peaceful +people. We come from the country of the great and good King +Archidej, and we bring foreign wares--rich brocades, carpets, and +costly jewels, which we wish to show to your king and the princess. +We desire to trade--to sell, to buy, and to exchange.' + +The brothers launched a small boat, took some of their valuable +goods with them, rowed to shore and went up to the palace. The +princess sat in a rose-red room, and when she saw the brothers +coming near she called her nurse and other women, and told them +to inquire who and what these people were, and what they wanted. + +The seventh Simon answered the nurse: 'We come from the country +of the wise and good King Archidej,' said he, 'and we have brought +all sorts of goods for sale. We trust the king of this country may +condescend to welcome us, and to let his servants take charge of +our wares. If he considers them worthy to adorn his followers we +shall be content.' + +This speech was repeated to the princess, who ordered the brothers +to be brought to the red-room at once. They bowed respectfully to +her and displayed some splendid velvets and brocades, and opened +cases of pearls and precious stones. Such beautiful things had +never been seen in the island, and the nurse and waiting women +stood bewildered by all the magnificence. They whispered together +that they had never beheld anything like it. The princess too saw +and wondered, and her eyes could not weary of looking at the +lovely things, or her fingers of stroking the rich soft stuffs, and of +holding up the sparkling jewels to the light. + +'Fairest of princesses,' said Simon. 'Be pleased to order your +waiting-maids to accept the silks and velvets, and let your women +trim their head-dresses with the jewels; these are no special +treasures. But permit me to say that they are as nothing to the +many coloured tapestries, the gorgeous stones and ropes of pearls +in our ship. We did not like to bring more with us, not knowing +what your royal taste might be; but if it seems good to you to +honour our ship with a visit, you might condescend to choose such +things as were pleasing in your eyes.' + +This polite speech pleased the princess very much. She went to the +king and said: 'Dear father, some merchants have arrived with the +most splendid wares. Pray allow me to go to their ship and choose +out what I like.' + +The king thought and thought, frowned hard and rubbed his ear. +At last he gave consent, and ordered out his royal yacht, with 100 +cross-bows, 100 knights, and 1,000 soldiers, to escort the Princess +Helena. + +Off sailed the yacht with the princess and her escort. The brothers +Simon came on board to conduct the princess to their ship, and, led +by the brothers and followed by her nurse and other women, she +crossed the crystal plank from one vessel to another. + +The seventh Simon spread out his goods, and had so many curious +and interesting tales to tell about them, that the princess forgot +everything else in looking and listening, so that she did not know +that the fourth Simon had seized the prow of the ship, and that all +of a sudden it had vanished from sight, and was racing along in the +depths of the sea. + +The crew of the royal yacht shouted aloud, the knights stood still +with terror, the soldiers were struck dumb and hung their heads. +There was nothing to be done but to sail back and tell the king of +his loss. + +How he wept and stormed! 'Oh, light of my eyes,' he sobbed; 'I am +indeed punished for my pride. I thought no one good enough to be +your husband, and now you are lost in the depths of the sea, and +have left me alone! As for all of you who saw this thing--away with +you! Let them be put in irons and lock them up in prison, whilst I +think how I can best put them to death!' + +Whilst the King of Busan was raging and lamenting in this fashion, +Simon's ship was swimming like any fish under the sea, and when +the island was well out of sight he brought it up to the surface +again. At that moment the princess recollected herself. 'Nurse,' +said she, 'we have been gazing at these wonders only too long. I +hope my father won't be vexed at our delay.' + +She tore herself away and stepped on deck. Neither the yacht nor +the island was in sight! Helena wrung her hands and beat her breast. +Then she changed herself into a white swan and flew off. But the +fifth Simon seized his bow and shot the swan, and the sixth Simon +did not let it fall into the water but caught it in the ship, and the +swan turned into a silver fish, but Simon lost no time and caught the +fish, when, quick as thought, the fish turned into a black mouse and +ran about the ship. It darted towards a hole, but before it could +reach it Simon sprang upon it more swiftly than any cat, and then +the little mouse turned once more into the beautiful Princess +Helena. + +Early one morning King Archidej sat thoughtfully at his window +gazing out to sea. His heart was sad and he would neither eat nor +drink. His thoughts were full of the Princess Helena, who was as +lovely as a dream. Is that a white gull he sees flying towards the +shore, or is it a sail? No, it is no gull, it is the wonder-ship flying +along with billowing sails. Its flags wave, the fiddlers play on the +wire rigging, the anchor is thrown out and the crystal plank laid +from the ship to the pier. The lovely Helena steps across the plank. +She shines like the sun, and the stars of heaven seem to sparkle in +her eyes. + +Up sprang King Archidej in haste: 'Hurry, hurry,' he cried. 'Let us +hasten to meet her! Let the bugles sound and the joy bells be rung!' + +And the whole Court swarmed with courtiers and servants. Golden +carpets were laid down and the great gates thrown open to +welcome the princess. + +King Archidej went out himself, took her by the hand and led her +into the royal apartments. + +'Madam,' said he, 'the fame of your beauty had reached me, but I +had not dared to expect such loveliness. Still I will not keep you +here against your will. If you wish it, the wonder-ship shall take +you back to your father and your own country; but if you will +consent to stay here, then reign over me and my country as our +queen.' + +What more is there to tell? It is not hard to guess that the princess +listened to the king's wooing, and their betrothal took place with +great pomp and rejoicings. + +The brothers Simon were sent again to the Island of Busan with a +letter to the king from his daughter to invite him to their wedding. +And the wonder-ship arrived at the Island of Busan just as all the +knights and soldiers who had escorted the princess were being led +out to execution. + +Then the seventh Simon cried out from the ship: 'Stop! stop! I +bring a letter from the Princess Helena!' + +The King of Busan read the letter over and over again, and ordered +the knights and soldiers to be set free. He entertained King +Archidej's ambassadors hospitably, and sent his blessing to his +daughter, but he could not be brought to attend the wedding. + +When the wonder-ship got home King Archidej and Princess +Helena were enchanted with the news it brought. + +The king sent for the seven Simons. 'A thousand thanks to you, my +brave fellows,' he cried. 'Take what gold, silver, and precious +stones you will out of my treasury. Tell me if there is anything else +you wish for and I will give it you, my good friends. Do you wish +to be made nobles, or to govern towns? Only speak.' + +Then the eldest Simon bowed and said: 'We are plain folk, your +Majesty, and understand simple things best. What figures should +we cut as nobles or governors? Nor do we desire gold. We have +our fields which give us food, and as much money as we need. If +you wish to reward us then grant that our land may be free of taxes, +and of your goodness pardon the seventh Simon. He is not the first +who has been a thief by trade and he will certainly not be the last.' + +'So be it,' said the king; 'your land shall be free of all taxes, and +Simon the seventh is pardoned.' + +Then the king gave each brother a goblet of wine and invited them +to the wedding feast. And what a feast that was! + +[From Ungarischen Mahrchen.] + + + +The Language of Beasts + +Once upon a time a man had a shepherd who served him many +years faithfully and honestly. One day, whilst herding his flock, this +shepherd heard a hissing sound, coming out of the forest near by, +which he could not account for. So he went into the wood in the +direction of the noise to try to discover the cause. When he +approached the place he found that the dry grass and leaves were +on fire, and on a tree, surrounded by flames, a snake was coiled, +hissing with terror. + +The shepherd stood wondering how the poor snake could escape, +for the wind was blowing the flames that way, and soon that tree +would be burning like the rest. Suddenly the snake cried: 'O +shepherd! for the love of heaven save me from this fire!' + +Then the shepherd stretched his staff out over the flames and the +snake wound itself round the staff and up to his hand, and from his +hand it crept up his arm, and twined itself about his neck. The +shepherd trembled with fright, expecting every instant to be stung +to death, and said: 'What an unlucky man I am! Did I rescue you +only to be destroyed myself?' But the snake answered: 'Have no +fear; only carry me home to my father who is the King of the +Snakes.' The shepherd, however, was much too frightened to listen, +and said that he could not go away and leave his flock alone; but +the snake said: 'You need not be afraid to leave your flock, no evil +shall befall them; but make all the haste you can.' + +So he set off through the wood carrying the snake, and after a time +he came to a great gateway, made entirely of snakes intertwined +one with another. The shepherd stood still with surprise, but the +snake round his neck whistled, and immediately all the arch +unwound itself. + +'When we are come to my father's house,' said his own snake to +him, 'he will reward you with anything you like to ask--silver, gold, +jewels, or whatever on this earth is most precious; but take none of +all these things, ask rather to understand the language of beasts. He +will refuse it to you a long time, but in the end he will grant it to +you.' + +Soon after that they arrived at the house of the King of the Snakes, +who burst into tears of joy at the sight of his daughter, as he had +given her up for dead. 'Where have you been all this time?' he +asked, directly he could speak, and she told him that she had been +caught in a forest fire, and had been rescued from the flames by the +shepherd. The King of the Snakes, then turning to the shepherd, +said to him: 'What reward will you choose for saving my child?' + +'Make me to know the language of beasts,' answered the shepherd, +'that is all I desire.' + +The king replied: 'Such knowledge would be of no benefit to you, +for if I granted it to you and you told any one of it, you would +immediately die; ask me rather for whatever else you would most +like to possess, and it shall be yours.' + +But the shepherd answered him: 'Sir, if you wish to reward me for +saving your daughter, grant me, I pray you, to know the language +of beasts. I desire nothing else'; and he turned as if to depart. + +Then the king called him back, saying: 'If nothing else will satisfy +you, open your mouth.' The man obeyed, and the king spat into it, +and said: 'Now spit into my mouth.' The shepherd did as he was +told, then the King of the Snakes spat again into the shepherd's +mouth. When they had spat into each other's mouths three times, +the king said: + +'Now you know the language of beasts, go in peace; but, if you +value your life, beware lest you tell any one of it, else you will +immediately die.' + +So the shepherd set out for home, and on his way through the +wood he heard and understood all that was said by the birds, and by +every living creature. When he got back to his sheep he found the +flock grazing peacefully, and as he was very tired he laid himself +down by them to rest a little. Hardly had he done so when two +ravens flew down and perched on a tree near by, and began to talk +to each other in their own language: 'If that shepherd only knew +that there is a vault full of gold and silver beneath where that lamb +is lying, what would he not do?' When the shepherd heard these +words he went straight to his master and told him, and the master at +once took a waggon, and broke open the door of the vault, and +they carried off the treasure. But instead of keeping it for himself, +the master, who was an honourable man, gave it all up to the +shepherd, saying: 'Take it, it is yours. The gods have given it to +you.' So the shepherd took the treasure and built himself a house. +He married a wife, and they lived in great peace and happiness, and +he was acknowledged to be the richest man, not only of his native +village, but of all the country-side. He had flocks of sheep, and +cattle, and horses without end, as well as beautiful clothes and +jewels. + +One day, just before Christmas, he said to his wife: 'Prepare +everything for a great feast, to-morrow we will take things with us +to the farm that the shepherds there may make merry.' The wife +obeyed, and all was prepared as he desired. Next day they both +went to the farm, and in the evening the master said to the +shepherds: 'Now come, all of you, eat, drink, and make merry. I +will watch the flocks myself to-night in your stead.' Then he went +out to spend the night with the flocks. + +When midnight struck the wolves howled and the dogs barked, and +the wolves spoke in their own tongue, saying: + +'Shall we come in and work havoc, and you too shall eat flesh?' And +the dogs answered in their tongue: 'Come in, and for once we shall +have enough to eat.' + +Now amongst the dogs there was one so old that he had only two +teeth left in his head, and he spoke to the wolves, saying: 'So long +as I have my two teeth still in my head, I will let no harm be done to +my master.' + +All this the master heard and understood, and as soon as morning +dawned he ordered all the dogs to be killed excepting the old dog. +The farm servants wondered at this order, and exclaimed: 'But +surely, sir, that would be a pity?' + +The master answered: 'Do as I bid you'; and made ready to return +home with his wife, and they mounted their horses, her steed being +a mare. As they went on their way, it happened that the husband +rode on ahead, while the wife was a little way behind. The +husband's horse, seeing this, neighed, and said to the mare: 'Come +along, make haste; why are you so slow?' And the mare answered: +'It is very easy for you, you carry only your master, who is a thin +man, but I carry my mistress, who is so fat that she weights as much +as three.' When the husband heard that he looked back and laughed, +which the wife perceiving, she urged on the mare till she caught up +with her husband, and asked him why he laughed. 'For nothing at +all,' he answered; 'just because it came into my head.' She would not +be satisfied with this answer, and urged him more and more to tell +her why he had laughed. But he controlled himself and said: 'Let +me be, wife; what ails you? I do not know myself why I laughed.' +But the more he put her off, the more she tormented him to tell her +the cause of his laughter. At length he said to her: 'Know, then, +that if I tell it you I shall immediately and surely die.' But even this +did not quiet her; she only besought him the more to tell her. + +Meanwhile they had reached home, and before getting down from +his horse the man called for a coffin to be brought; and when it was +there he placed it in front of the house, and said to his wife: + +'See, I will lay myself down in this coffin, and will then tell you why +I laughed, for as soon as I have told you I shall surely die.' So he lay +down in the coffin, and while he took a last look around him, his +old dog came out from the farm and sat down by him, and whined. +When the master saw this, he called to his wife: 'Bring a piece of +bread to give to the dog.' The wife brought some bread and threw it +to the dog, but he would not look at it. Then the farm cock came +and pecked at the bread; but the dog said to it: 'Wretched glutton, +you can eat like that when you see that your master is dying?' The +cock answered: 'Let him die, if he is so stupid. I have a hundred +wives, which I call together when I find a grain of corn, and as soon +as they are there I swallow it myself; should one of them dare to be +angry, I would give her a lesson with my beak. He has only one +wife, and he cannot keep her in order.' + +As soon as the man understood this, he got up out of the coffin, +seized a stick, and called his wife into the room, saying: 'Come, and +I will tell you what you so much want to know'; and then he began +to beat her with the stick, saying with each blow: 'It is that, wife, it +is that!' And in this way he taught her never again to ask why he +had laughed. + + + +The Boy Who Could Keep A Secret + +Once upon a time there lived a poor widow who had one little boy. +At first sight you would not have thought that he was different from +a thousand other little boys; but then you noticed that by his side +hung the scabbard of a sword, and as the boy grew bigger the +scabbard grew bigger too. The sword which belonged to the +scabbard was found by the little boy sticking out of the ground in +the garden, and every day he pulled it up to see if it would go into +the scabbard. But though it was plainly becoming longer and +longer, it was some time before the two would fit. + +However, there came a day at last when it slipped in quite easily. +The child was so delighted that he could hardly believe his eyes, so +he tried it seven times, and each time it slipped in more easily than +before. But pleased though the boy was, he determined not to tell +anyone about it, particularly not his mother, who never could keep +anything from her neighbours. + +Still, in spite of his resolutions, he could not hide altogether that +something had happened, and when he went in to breakfast his +mother asked him what was the matter. + +'Oh, mother, I had such a nice dream last night,' said he; 'but I can't +tell it to anybody.' + +'You can tell it to me,' she answered. 'It must have been a nice +dream, or you wouldn't look so happy.' + +'No, mother; I can't tell it to anybody,' returned the boy, 'till it +comes true.' + +'I want to know what it was, and know it I will,' cried she, 'and I +will beat you till you tell me.' + +But it was no use, neither words nor blows would get the secret out +of the boy; and when her arm was quite tired and she had to leave +off, the child, sore and aching, ran into the garden and knelt +weeping beside his little sword. It was working round and round in +its hole all by itself, and if anyone except the boy had tried to catch +hold of it, he would have been badly cut. But the moment he +stretched out his hand it stopped and slid quietly into the scabbard. + +For a long time the child sat sobbing, and the noise was heard by +the king as he was driving by. 'Go and see who it is that is crying +so,' said he to one of his servants, and the man went. In a few +minutes he returned saying: 'Your Majesty, it is a little boy who is +kneeling there sobbing because his mother has beaten him.' + +'Bring him to me at once,' commanded the monarch, 'and tell him +that it is the king who sends for him, and that he has never cried in +all his life and cannot bear anyone else to do so.' On receiving this +message the boy dried his tears and went with the servant to the +royal carriage. 'Will you be my son?' asked the king. + +'Yes, if my mother will let me,' answered the boy. And the king +bade the servant go back to the mother and say that if she would +give her boy to him, he should live in the palace and marry his +prettiest daughter as soon as he was a man. + +The widow's anger now turned into joy, and she came running to +the splendid coach and kissed the king's hand. 'I hope you will be +more obedient to his Majesty than you were to me,' she said; and +the boy shrank away half-frightened. But when she had gone back +to her cottage, he asked the king if he might fetch something that he +had left in the garden, and when he was given permission, he pulled +up his little sword, which he slid into the scabbard. + +Then he climbed into the coach and was driven away. + +After they had gone some distance the king said: 'Why were you +crying so bitterly in the garden just now?' + +'Because my mother had been beating me,' replied the boy. + +'And what did she do that for?' asked the king again. + +'Because I would not tell her my dream.' + +'And why wouldn't you tell it to her?' + +'Because I will never tell it to anyone till it comes true,' answered +the boy. + +'And won't you tell it to me either?' asked the king in surprise. + +'No, not even to you, your Majesty,' replied he. + +'Oh, I am sure you will when we get home,' said the king smiling, +and he talked to him about other things till they came to the palace. + +'I have brought you such a nice present,' he said to his daughters, +and as the boy was very pretty they were delighted to have him and +gave him all their best toys. + +'You must not spoil him,' observed the king one day, when he had +been watching them playing together. He has a secret which he +won't tell to anyone.' + +'He will tell me,' answered the eldest princess; but the boy only +shook his head. + +'He will tell me,' said the second girl. + +'Not I,' replied the boy. + +'He will tell me,' cried the youngest, who was the prettiest too. + +'I will tell nobody till it comes true,' said the boy, as he had said +before; 'and I will beat anybody who asks me.' + +The king was very sorry when he heard this, for he loved the boy +dearly; but he thought it would never do to keep anyone near him +who would not do as he was bid. So he commanded his servants to +take him away and not to let him enter the palace again until he had +come to his right senses. + +The sword clanked loudly as the boy was led away, but the child +said nothing, though he was very unhappy at being treated so badly +when he had done nothing. However, the servants were very kind +to him, and their children brought him fruit and all sorts of nice +things, and he soon grew merry again, and lived amongst them for +many years till his seventeenth birthday. + +Meanwhile the two eldest princesses had become women, and had +married two powerful kings who ruled over great countries across +the sea. The youngest one was old enough to be married too, but +she was very particular, and turned up her nose at all the young +princes who had sought her hand. + +One day she was sitting in the palace feeling rather dull and lonely, +and suddenly she began to wonder what the servants were doing, +and whether it was not more amusing down in their quarters. The +king was at his council and the queen was ill in bed, so there was no +one to stop the princess, and she hastily ran across the gardens to +the houses where the servants lived. Outside she noticed a youth +who was handsomer than any prince she had ever seen, and in a +moment she knew him to be the little boy she had once played with. + +'Tell me your secret and I will marry you,' she said to him; but the +boy only gave her the beating he had promised her long ago, when +she asked him the same question. The girl was very angry, besides +being hurt, and ran home to complain to her father. + +'If he had a thousand souls, I would kill them all,' swore the king. + +That very day a gallows was built outside the town, and all the +people crowded round to see the execution of the young man who +had dared to beat the king's daughter. The prisoner, with his hands +tied behind his back, was brought out by the hangman, and amidst +dead silence his sentence was being read by the judge when +suddenly the sword clanked against his side. Instantly a great noise +was heard and a golden coach rumbled over the stones, with a +white flag waving out of the window. It stopped underneath the +gallows, and from it stepped the king of the Magyars, who begged +that the life of the boy might be spared. + +'Sir, he has beaten my daughter, who only asked him to tell her his +secret. I cannot pardon that,' answered the princess's father. + +'Give him to me, I'm sure he will tell me the secret; or, if not, I have +a daughter who is like the Morning Star, and he is sure to tell it to +her.' + +The sword clanked for the third time, and the king said angrily: +'Well, if you want him so much you can have him; only never let me +see his face again.' And he made a sign to the hangman. The +bandage was removed from the young man's eyes, and the cords +from his wrists, and he took his seat in the golden coach beside the +king of the Magyars. Then the coachman whipped up his horses, +and they set out for Buda. + +The king talked very pleasantly for a few miles, and when he +thought that his new companion was quite at ease with him, he +asked him what was the secret which had brought him into such +trouble. ' That I cannot tell you,' answered the youth, 'until it +comes true.' + +'You will tell my daughter,' said the king, smiling. + +'I will tell nobody,' replied the youth, and as he spoke the sword +clanked loudly. The king said no more, but trusted to his daughter's +beauty to get the secret from him. + +The journey to Buda was long, and it was several days before they +arrived there. The beautiful princess happened to be picking roses +in the garden, when her father's coach drove up. + +'Oh, what a handsome youth! Have you brought him from +fairyland?' cried she, when they all stood upon the marble steps in +front of the castle. + +'I have brought him from the gallows,' answered the king; rather +vexed at his daughter's words, as never before had she consented to +speak to any man. + +'I don't care where you brought him from,' said the spoilt girl. 'I +will marry him and nobody else, and we will live together till we +die.' + +'You will tell another tale,' replied the king, 'when you ask him his +secret. After all he is no better than a servant.' + +'That is nothing to me,' said the princess, 'for I love him. He will +tell his secret to me, and will find a place in the middle of my heart.' + +But the king shook his head, and gave orders that the lad was to be +lodged in the summer-house. + +One day, about a week later, the princess put on her finest dress, +and went to pay him a visit. She looked so beautiful that, at the +sight of her, the book dropped from his hand, and he stood up +speechless. 'Tell me,' she said, coaxingly, 'what is this wonderful +secret? Just whisper it in my ear, and I will give you a kiss.' + +'My angel,' he answered, 'be wise, and ask no questions, if you wish +to get safely back to your father's palace; I have kept my secret all +these years, and do not mean to tell it now.' + +However, the girl would not listen, and went on pressing him, till at +last he slapped her face so hard that her nose bled. She shrieked +with pain and rage, and ran screaming back to the palace, where her +father was waiting to hear if she had succeeded. 'I will starve you +to death, you son of a dragon,' cried he, when he saw her dress +streaming with blood; and he ordered all the masons and bricklayers +in the town to come before him. + +'Build me a tower as fast as you can,' he said, 'and see that there is +room for a stool and a small table, and for nothing else. The men +set to work, and in two hours the tower was built, and they +proceeded to the palace to inform the king that his commands were +fulfilled. On the way they met the princess, who began to talk to +one of the masons, and when the rest were out of hearing she asked +if he could manage to make a hole in the tower, which nobody +could see, large enough for a bottle of wine and some food to pass +through. + +'To be sure I can,' said the mason, turning back, and in a few +minutes the hole was bored. + +At sunset a large crowd assembled to watch the youth being led to +the tower, and after his misdeeds had been proclaimed he was +solemnly walled up. But every morning the princess passed him in +food through the hole, and every third day the king sent his +secretary to climb up a ladder and look down through a little +window to see if he was dead. But the secretary always brought +back the report that he was fat and rosy. + +'There is some magic about this,' said the king. + +This state of affairs lasted some time, till one day a messenger +arrived from the Sultan bearing a letter for the king, and also three +canes. 'My master bids me say,' said the messenger, bowing low, +'that if you cannot tell him which of these three canes grows nearest +the root, which in the middle, and which at the top, he will declare +war against you. + +The king was very much frightened when he heard this, and though +he took the canes and examined them closely, he could see no +difference between them. He looked so sad that his daughter +noticed it, and inquired the reason. + +'Alas! my daughter,' he answered, 'how can I help being sad? The +Sultan has sent me three canes, and says that if I cannot tell him +which of them grows near the root, which in the middle, and which +at the top, he will make war upon me. And you know that his army +is far greater than mine.' + +'Oh, do not despair, my father,' said she. 'We shall be sure to find +out the answer'; and she ran away to the tower, and told the young +man what had occurred. + +'Go to bed as usual,' replied he, 'and when you wake, tell your +father that you have dreamed that the canes must be placed in warm +water. After a little while one will sink to the bottom; that is the +one that grows nearest the root. The one which neither sinks nor +comes to the surface is the cane that is cut from the middle; and the +one that floats is from the top.' + +So, the next morning, the princess told her father of her dream, and +by her advice he cut notches in each of the canes when he took +them out of the water, so that he might make no mistake when he +handed them back to the messenger. The Sultan could not imagine +how he had found out, but he did not declare war. + +The following year the Sultan again wanted to pick a quarrel with +the king of the Magyars, so he sent another messenger to him with +three foals, begging him to say which of the animals was born in the +morning, which at noon, and which in the evening. If an answer +was not ready in three days, war would be declared at once. The +king's heart sank when he read the letter. He could not expect his +daughter to be lucky enough to dream rightly a second time, and as +a plague had been raging through the country, and had carried off +many of his soldiers, his army was even weaker than before. At this +thought his face became so gloomy that his daughter noticed it, and +inquired what was the matter. + +'I have had another letter from the Sultan,' replied the king, 'and he +says that if I cannot tell him which of three foals was born in the +morning, which at noon, and which in the evening, he will declare +war at once.' + +'Oh, don't be cast down,' said she, 'something is sure to happen'; and +she ran down to the tower to consult the youth. + +'Go home, idol of my heart, and when night comes, pretend to +scream out in your sleep, so that your father hears you. Then tell +him that you have dreamt that he was just being carried off by the +Turks because he could not answer the question about the foals, +when the lad whom he had shut up in the tower ran up and told +them which was foaled in the morning, which at noon, and which in +the evening.' + +So the princess did exactly as the youth had bidden her; and no +sooner had she spoken than the king ordered the tower to be pulled +down, and the prisoner brought before him. + +'I did not think that you could have lived so long without food,' said +he, 'and as you have had plenty of time to repent your wicked +conduct, I will grant you pardon, on condition that you help me in a +sore strait. Read this letter from the Sultan; you will see that if I +fail to answer his question about the foals, a dreadful war will be +the result.' + +The youth took the letter and read it through. 'Yes, I can help you,' +replied he; 'but first you must bring me three troughs, all exactly +alike. Into one you must put oats, into another wheat, and into the +third barley. The foal which eats the oats is that which was foaled +in the morning; the foal which eats the wheat is that which was +foaled at noon; and the foal which eats the barley is that which was +foaled at night.' The king followed the youth's directions, and, +marking the foals, sent them back to Turkey, and there was no war +that year. + +Now the Sultan was very angry that both his plots to get possession +of Hungary had been such total failures, and he sent for his aunt, +who was a witch, to consult her as to what he should do next. + +'It is not the king who has answered your questions,' observed the +aunt, when he had told his story. 'He is far too stupid ever to have +done that! The person who has found out the puzzle is the son of a +poor woman, who, if he lives, will become King of Hungary. +Therefore, if you want the crown yourself, you must get him here +and kill him.' + +After this conversation another letter was written to the Court of +Hungary, saying that if the youth, now in the palace, was not sent +to Turkey within three days, a large army would cross the border. +The king's heart was sorrowful as he read, for he was grateful to +the lad for what he had done to help him; but the boy only laughed, +and bade the king fear nothing, but to search the town instantly for +two youths just like each other, and he would paint himself a mask +that was just like them. And the sword at his side clanked loudly. + +After a long search twin brothers were found, so exactly resembling +each other that even their own mother could not tell the difference. +The youth painted a mask that was the precise copy of them, and +when he had put it on, no one would have known one boy from the +other. They set out at once for the Sultan's palace, and when they +reached it, they were taken straight into his presence. He made a +sign for them to come near; they all bowed low in greeting. He +asked them about their journey; they answered his questions all +together, and in the same words. If one sat down to supper, the +others sat down at the same instant. When one got up, the others +got up too, as if there had been only one body between them. The +Sultan could not detect any difference between them, and he told +his aunt that he would not be so cruel as to kill all three. + +'Well, you will see a difference to-morrow,' replied the witch, 'for +one will have a cut on his sleeve. That is the youth you must kill.' +And one hour before midnight, when witches are invisible, she +glided into the room where all three lads were sleeping in the same +bed. She took out a pair of scissors and cut a small piece out of the +boy's coat-sleeve which was hanging on the wall, and then crept +silently from the room. But in the morning the youth saw the slit, +and he marked the sleeves of his two companions in the same way, +and all three went down to breakfast with the Sultan. The old +witch was standing in the window and pretended not to see them; +but all witches have eyes in the backs of their heads, and she knew +at once that not one sleeve but three were cut, and they were all as +alike as before. After breakfast, the Sultan, who was getting tired +of the whole affair and wanted to be alone to invent some other +plan, told them they might return home. So, bowing low with one +accord, they went. + +The princess welcomed the boy back joyfully, but the poor youth +was not allowed to rest long in peace, for one day a fresh letter +arrived from the Sultan, saying that he had discovered that the +young man was a very dangerous person, and that he must be sent +to Turkey at once, and alone. The girl burst into tears when the +boy told her what was in the letter which her father had bade her to +carry to him. 'Do not weep, love of my heart,' said the boy, 'all will +be well. I will start at sunrise to-morrow.' + +So next morning at sunrise the youth set forth, and in a few days he +reached the Sultan's palace. The old witch was waiting for him at +the gate, and whispered as he passed: 'This is the last time you will +ever enter it.' But the sword clanked, and the lad did not even look +at her. As he crossed the threshold fifteen armed Turks barred his +way, with the Sultan at their head. Instantly the sword darted forth +and cut off the heads of everyone but the Sultan, and then went +quietly back to its scabbard. The witch, who was looking on, saw +that as long as the youth had possession of the sword, all her +schemes would be in vain, and tried to steal the sword in the night, +but it only jumped out of its scabbard and sliced off her nose, which +was of iron. And in the morning, when the Sultan brought a great +army to capture the lad and deprive him of his sword, they were all +cut to pieces, while he remained without a scratch. + +Meanwhile the princess was in despair because the days slipped by, +and the young man did not return, and she never rested until her +father let her lead some troops against the Sultan. She rode +proudly before them, dressed in uniform; but they had not left the +town more than a mile behind them, when they met the lad and his +little sword. When he told them what he had done they shouted for +joy, and carried him back in triumph to the palace; and the king +declared that as the youth had shown himself worthy to become his +son-in-law, he should marry the princess and succeed to the throne +at once, as he himself was getting old, and the cares of government +were too much for him. But the young man said he must first go +and see his mother, and the king sent him in state, with a troop of +soldiers as his bodyguard. + +The old woman was quite frightened at seeing such an array draw +up before her little house, and still more surprised when a handsome +young man, whom she did not know, dismounted and kissed her +hand, saying: 'Now, dear mother, you shall hear my secret at last! I +dreamed that I should become King of Hungary, and my dream has +come true. When I was a child, and you begged me to tell you, I +had to keep silence, or the Magyar king would have killed me. And +if you had not beaten me nothing would have happened that has +happened, and I should not now be King of Hungary.' + +[From the Folk Tales of the Magyars.] + + + +The Prince And The Dragon + +Once upon a time there lived an emperor who had three sons. They +were all fine young men, and fond of hunting, and scarcely a day +passed without one or other of them going out to look for game. + +One morning the eldest of the three princes mounted his horse and +set out for a neighbouring forest, where wild animals of all sorts +were to be found. He had not long left the castle, when a hare +sprang out of a thicket and dashed across the road in front. The +young man gave chase at once, and pursued it over hill and dale, till +at last the hare took refuge in a mill which was standing by the side +of a river. The prince followed and entered the mill, but stopped in +terror by the door, for, instead of a hare, before him stood a +dragon, breathing fire and flame. At this fearful sight the prince +turned to fly, but a fiery tongue coiled round his waist, and drew +him into the dragon's mouth, and he was seen no more. + +A week passed away, and when the prince never came back +everyone in the town began to grow uneasy. At last his next +brother told the emperor that he likewise would go out to hunt, and +that perhaps he would find some clue as to his brother's +disappearance. But hardly had the castle gates closed on the prince +than the hare sprang out of the bushes as before, and led the +huntsman up hill and down dale, till they reached the mill. Into this +the hare flew with the prince at his heels, when, lo! instead of the +hare, there stood a dragon breathing fire and flame; and out shot a +fiery tongue which coiled round the prince's waist, and lifted him +straight into the dragon's mouth, and he was seen no more. + +Days went by, and the emperor waited and waited for the sons who +never came, and could not sleep at night for wondering where they +were and what had become of them. His youngest son wished to +go in search of his brothers, but for long the emperor refused to +listen to him, lest he should lose him also. But the prince prayed so +hard for leave to make the search, and promised so often that he +would be very cautious and careful, that at length the emperor gave +him permission, and ordered the best horse in the stables to be +saddled for him. + +Full of hope the young prince started on his way, but no sooner was +he outside the city walls than a hare sprang out of the bushes and +ran before him, till they reached the mill. As before, the animal +dashed in through the open door, but this time he was not followed +by the prince. Wiser than his brothers, the young man turned away, +saying to himself: 'There are as good hares in the forest as any that +have come out of it, and when I have caught them, I can come back +and look for you.' + +For many hours he rode up and down the mountain, but saw +nothing, and at last, tired of waiting, he went back to the mill. Here +he found an old woman sitting, whom he greeted pleasantly. + +'Good morning to you, little mother,' he said; and the old woman +answered: 'Good morning, my son.' + +'Tell me, little mother,' went on the prince, 'where shall I find my +hare?' + +'My son,' replied the old woman, 'that was no hare, but a dragon +who has led many men hither, and then has eaten them all.' At +these words the prince's heart grew heavy, and he cried, 'Then my +brothers must have come here, and have been eaten by the dragon!' + +'You have guessed right,' answered the old woman; 'and I can give +you no better counsel than to go home at once, before the same fate +overtakes you.' + +'Will you not come with me out of this dreadful place?' said the +young man. + +'He took me prisoner, too,' answered she, 'and I cannot shake off +his chains.' + +'Then listen to me,' cried the prince. 'When the dragon comes back, +ask him where he always goes when he leaves here, and what +makes him so strong; and when you have coaxed the secret from +him, tell me the next time I come.' + +So the prince went home, and the old woman remained in the mill, +and as soon as the dragon returned she said to him: + +'Where have you been all this time--you must have travelled far?' + +'Yes, little mother, I have indeed travelled far.' answered he. Then +the old woman began to flatter him, and to praise his cleverness; +and when she thought she had got him into a good temper, she said: +'I have wondered so often where you get your strength from; I do +wish you would tell me. I would stoop and kiss the place out of +pure love!' The dragon laughed at this, and answered: + +'In the hearthstone yonder lies the secret of my strength.' + +Then the old woman jumped up and kissed the hearth; whereat the +dragon laughed the more, and said: + +'You foolish creature! I was only jesting. It is not in the +hearthstone, but in that tall tree that lies the secret of my strength.' +Then the old woman jumped up again and put her arms round the +tree, and kissed it heartily. Loudly laughed the dragon when he saw +what she was doing. + +'Old fool,' he cried, as soon as he could speak, 'did you really +believe that my strength came from that tree?' + +'Where is it then?' asked the old woman, rather crossly, for she did +not like being made fun of. + +'My strength,' replied the dragon, 'lies far away; so far that you +could never reach it. Far, far from here is a kingdom, and by its +capital city is a lake, and in the lake is a dragon, and inside the +dragon is a wild boar, and inside the wild boar is a pigeon, and +inside the pigeon a sparrow, and inside the sparrow is my strength.' +And when the old woman heard this, she thought it was no use +flattering him any longer, for never, never, could she take his +strength from him. + +The following morning, when the dragon had left the mill, the +prince came back, and the old woman told him all that the creature +had said. He listened in silence, and then returned to the castle, +where he put on a suit of shepherd's clothes, and taking a staff in his +hand, he went forth to seek a place as tender of sheep. + +For some time he wandered from village to village and from town +to town, till he came at length to a large city in a distant kingdom, +surrounded on three sides by a great lake, which happened to be the +very lake in which the dragon lived. As was his custom, he stopped +everybody whom he met in the streets that looked likely to want a +shepherd and begged them to engage him, but they all seemed to +have shepherds of their own, or else not to need any. The prince +was beginning to lose heart, when a man who had overheard his +question turned round and said that he had better go and ask the +emperor, as he was in search of some one to see after his flocks. + +'Will you take care of my sheep?' said the emperor, when the young +man knelt before him. + +'Most willingly, your Majesty,' answered the young man, and he +listened obediently while the emperor told him what he was to do. + +'Outside the city walls,' went on the emperor, 'you will find a large +lake, and by its banks lie the richest meadows in my kingdom. +When you are leading out your flocks to pasture, they will all run +straight to these meadows, and none that have gone there have ever +been known to come back. Take heed, therefore, my son, not to +suffer your sheep to go where they will, but drive them to any spot +that you think best.' + +With a low bow the prince thanked the emperor for his warning, +and promised to do his best to keep the sheep safe. Then he left the +palace and went to the market-place, where he bought two +greyhounds, a hawk, and a set of pipes; after that he took the sheep +out to pasture. The instant the animals caught sight of the lake +lying before them, they trotted off as fast as their legs would go to +the green meadows lying round it. The prince did not try to stop +them; he only placed his hawk on the branch of a tree, laid his pipes +on the grass, and bade the greyhounds sit still; then, rolling up his +sleeves and trousers, he waded into the water crying as he did so: +'Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, come out and fight with +me!' And a voice answered from the depths of the lake: + +'I am waiting for you, O prince'; and the next minute the dragon +reared himself out of the water, huge and horrible to see. The +prince sprang upon him and they grappled with each other and +fought together till the sun was high, and it was noonday. Then the +dragon gasped: + +'O prince, let me dip my burning head once into the lake, and I will +hurl you up to the top of the sky.' But the prince answered, 'Oh, ho! +my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor's daughter +were only here, and would kiss me on the forehead, I would throw +you up higher still!' And suddenly the dragon's hold loosened, and +he fell back into the lake. + +As soon as it was evening, the prince washed away all signs of the +fight, took his hawk upon his shoulder, and his pipes under his arm, +and with his greyhounds in front and his flock following after him +he set out for the city. As they all passed through the streets the +people stared in wonder, for never before had any flock returned +from the lake. + +The next morning he rose early, and led his sheep down the road to +the lake. This time, however, the emperor sent two men on +horseback to ride behind him, with orders to watch the prince all +day long. The horsemen kept the prince and his sheep in sight, +without being seen themselves. As soon as they beheld the sheep +running towards the meadows, they turned aside up a steep hill, +which overhung the lake. When the shepherd reached the place he +laid, as before, his pipes on the grass and bade the greyhounds sit +beside them, while the hawk he perched on the branch of the tree. +Then he rolled up his trousers and his sleeves, and waded into the +water crying: + +'Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, come out and fight with +me!' And the dragon answered: + +'I am waiting for you, O prince,' and the next minute he reared +himself out of the water, huge and horrible to see. Again they +clasped each other tight round the body and fought till it was noon, +and when the sun was at its hottest, the dragon gasped: + +'O prince, let me dip my burning head once in the lake, and I will +hurl you up to the top of the sky.' But the prince answered: + +'Oh, ho! my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor's +daughter were only here, and would kiss me on the forehead, I +would throw you up higher still!' And suddenly the dragon's hold +loosened, and he fell back into the lake. + +As soon as it was evening the prince again collected his sheep, and +playing on his pipes he marched before them into the city. When he +passed through the gates all the people came out of their houses to +stare in wonder, for never before had any flock returned from the +lake. + +Meanwhile the two horsemen had ridden quickly back, and told the +emperor all that they had seen and heard. The emperor listened +eagerly to their tale, then called his daughter to him and repeated it +to her. + +'To-morrow,' he said, when he had finished, 'you shall go with the +shepherd to the lake, and then you shall kiss him on the forehead as +he wishes.' + +But when the princess heard these words, she burst into tears, and +sobbed out: + +'Will you really send me, your only child, to that dreadful place, +from which most likely I shall never come back?' + +'Fear nothing, my little daughter, all will be well. Many shepherds +have gone to that lake and none have ever returned; but this one +has in these two days fought twice with the dragon and has escaped +without a wound. So I hope to-morrow he will kill the dragon +altogether, and deliver this land from the monster who has slain so +many of our bravest men.' + +Scarcely had the sun begun to peep over the hills next morning, +when the princess stood by the shepherd's side, ready to go to the +lake. The shepherd was brimming over with joy, but the princess +only wept bitterly. 'Dry your tears, I implore you,' said he. 'If you +will just do what I ask you, and when the time comes, run and kiss +my forehead, you have nothing to fear.' + +Merrily the shepherd blew on his pipes as he marched at the head of +his flock, only stopping every now and then to say to the weeping +girl at his side: + +'Do not cry so, Heart of Gold; trust me and fear nothing.' And so +they reached the lake. + +In an instant the sheep were scattered all over the meadows, and +the prince placed his hawk on the tree, and his pipes on the grass, +while he bade his greyhounds lie beside them. Then he rolled up his +trousers and his sleeves, and waded into the water, calling: + +'Dragon! dragon! if you are not a coward, come forth, and let us +have one more fight together.' And the dragon answered: 'I am +waiting for you, O prince'; and the next minute he reared himself +out of the water, huge and horrible to see. Swiftly he drew near to +the bank, and the prince sprang to meet him, and they grasped each +other round the body and fought till it was noon. And when the sun +was at its hottest, the dragon cried: + +'O prince, let me dip my burning head in the lake, and I will hurl +you to the top of the sky.' But the prince answered: + +'Oh, ho! my good dragon, do not crow too soon! If the emperor's +daughter were only here, and she would kiss my forehead, I would +throw you higher still.' + +Hardly had he spoken, when the princess, who had been listening, +ran up and kissed him on the forehead. Then the prince swung the +dragon straight up into the clouds, and when he touched the earth +again, he broke into a thousand pieces. Out of the pieces there +sprang a wild boar and galloped away, but the prince called his +hounds to give chase, and they caught the boar and tore it to bits. +Out of the pieces there sprang a hare, and in a moment the +greyhounds were after it, and they caught it and killed it; and out of +the hare there came a pigeon. Quickly the prince let loose his +hawk, which soared straight into the air, then swooped upon the +bird and brought it to his master. The prince cut open its body and +found the sparrow inside, as the old woman had said. + +'Now,' cried the prince, holding the sparrow in his hand, 'now you +shall tell me where I can find my brothers.' + +'Do not hurt me,' answered the sparrow, 'and I will tell you with all +my heart.' Behind your father's castle stands a mill, and in the mill +are three slender twigs. Cut off these twigs and strike their roots +with them, and the iron door of a cellar will open. In the cellar you +will find as many people, young and old, women and children, as +would fill a kingdom, and among them are your brothers.' + +By this time twilight had fallen, so the prince washed himself in the +lake, took the hawk on his shoulder and the pipes under his arm, +and with his greyhounds before him and his flock behind him, +marched gaily into the town, the princess following them all, still +trembling with fright. And so they passed through the streets, +thronged with a wondering crowd, till they reached the castle. + +Unknown to anyone, the emperor had stolen out on horseback, and +had hidden himself on the hill, where he could see all that happened. +When all was over, and the power of the dragon was broken for +ever, he rode quickly back to the castle, and was ready to receive +the prince with open arms, and to promise him his daughter to wife. +The wedding took place with great splendour, and for a whole +week the town was hung with coloured lamps, and tables were +spread in the hall of the castle for all who chose to come and eat. +And when the feast was over, the prince told the emperor and the +people who he really was, and at this everyone rejoiced still more, +and preparations were made for the prince and princess to return to +their own kingdom, for the prince was impatient to set free his +brothers. + +The first thing he did when he reached his native country was to +hasten to the mill, where he found the three twigs as the sparrow +had told him. The moment that he struck the root the iron door +flew open, and from the cellar a countless multitude of men and +women streamed forth. He bade them go one by one wheresoever +they would, while he himself waited by the door till his brothers +passed through. How delighted they were to meet again, and to +hear all that the prince had done to deliver them from their +enchantment. And they went home with him and served him all the +days of their lives, for they said that he only who had proved +himself brave and faithful was fit to be king. + +[From Volksmarehen der Serben.] + + + +Little Wildrose + +Once upon a time the things in this story happened, and if they had +not happened then the story would never have been told. But that +was the time when wolves and lambs lay peacefully together in one +stall, and shepherds dined on grassy banks with kings and queens. + +Once upon a time, then, my dear good children, there lived a man. +Now this man was really a hundred years old, if not fully twenty +years more. And his wife was very old too--how old I do not +know; but some said she was as old as the goddess Venus herself. +They had been very happy all these years, but they would have been +happier still if they had had any children; but old though they were +they had never made up their minds to do without them, and often +they would sit over the fire and talk of how they would have +brought up their children if only some had come to their house. + +One day the old man seemed sadder and more thoughtful than was +common with him, and at last he said to his wife: 'Listen to me, old +woman!' + +'What do you want?' asked she. + +'Get me some money out of the chest, for I am going a long +journey--all through the world--to see if I cannot find a child, for +my heart aches to think that after I am dead my house will fall into +the hands of a stranger. And this let me tell you: that if I never find +a child I shall not come home again.' + +Then the old man took a bag and filled it with food and money, and +throwing it over his shoulders, bade his wife farewell. + +For long he wandered, and wandered, and wandered, but no child +did he see; and one morning his wanderings led him to a forest +which was so thick with trees that no light could pass through the +branches. The old man stopped when he saw this dreadful place, +and at first was afraid to go in; but he remembered that, after all, as +the proverb says: 'It is the unexpected that happens,' and perhaps in +the midst of this black spot he might find the child he was seeking. +So summoning up all his courage he plunged boldly in. + +How long he might have been walking there he never could have +told you, when at last he reached the mouth of a cave where the +darkness seemed a hundred times darker than the wood itself. +Again he paused, but he felt as if something was driving him to +enter, and with a beating heart he stepped in. + +For some minutes the silence and darkness so appalled him that he +stood where he was, not daring to advance one step. Then he made +a great effort and went on a few paces, and suddenly, far before +him, he saw the glimmer of a light. This put new heart into him, +and he directed his steps straight towards the faint rays, till he could +see, sitting by it, an old hermit, with a long white beard. + +The hermit either did not hear the approach of his visitor, or +pretended not to do so, for he took no notice, and continued to +read his book. After waiting patiently for a little while, the old man +fell on his knees, and said: 'Good morning, holy father!' But he +might as well have spoken to the rock. 'Good morning, holy father,' +he said again, a little louder than before, and this time the hermit +made a sign to him to come nearer. 'My son,' whispered he, in a +voice that echoed through the cavern, 'what brings you to this dark +and dismal place? Hundreds of years have passed since my eyes +have rested on the face of a man, and I did not think to look on one +again.'. + +'My misery has brought me here,' replied the old man; 'I have no +child, and all our lives my wife and I have longed for one. So I left +my home, and went out into the world, hoping that somewhere I +might find what I was seeking.' + +Then the hermit picked up an apple from the ground, and gave it to +him, saying: 'Eat half of this apple, and give the rest to your wife, +and cease wandering through the world.' + +The old man stooped and kissed the feet of the hermit for sheer joy, +and left the cave. He made his way through the forest as fast as the +darkness would let him, and at length arrived in flowery fields, +which dazzled him with their brightness. Suddenly he was seized +with a desperate thirst, and a burning in his throat. He looked for a +stream but none was to be seen, and his tongue grew more parched +every moment. At length his eyes fell on the apple, which all this +while he had been holding in his hand, and in his thirst he forgot +what the hermit had told him, and instead of eating merely his own +half, he ate up the old woman's also; after that he went to sleep. + +When he woke up he saw something strange lying on a bank a little +way off, amidst long trails of pink roses. The old man got up, +rubbed his eyes, and went to see what it was, when, to his surprise +and joy, it proved to be a little girl about two years old, with a skin +as pink and white as the roses above her. He took her gently in his +arms, but she did not seem at all frightened, and only jumped and +crowed with delight; and the old man wrapped his cloak round her, +and set off for home as fast as his legs would carry him. + +When they were close to the cottage where they lived he laid the +child in a pail that was standing near the door, and ran into the +house, crying: 'Come quickly, wife, quickly, for I have brought you +a daughter, with hair of gold and eyes like stars!' + +At this wonderful news the old woman flew downstairs, almost +tumbling down ill her eagerness to see the treasure; but when her +husband led her to the pail it was perfectly empty! The old man was +nearly beside himself with horror, while his wife sat down and +sobbed with grief and disappointment. There was not a spot round +about which they did not search, thinking that somehow the child +might have got out of the pail and hidden itself for fun; but the little +girl was not there, and there was no sign of her. + +'Where can she be?' moaned the old man, in despair. 'Oh, why did I +ever leave her, even for a moment? Have the fairies taken her, or +has some wild beast carried her off?' And they began their search all +over again; but neither fairies nor wild beasts did they meet with, +and with sore hearts they gave it up at last and turned sadly into the +hut. + +And what had become of the baby? Well, finding herself left alone +in a strange place she began to cry with fright, and an eagle +hovering near, heard her, and went to see what the sound came +from. When he beheld the fat pink and white creature he thought of +his hungry little ones at home, and swooping down he caught her +up in his claws and was soon flying with her over the tops of the +trees. In a few minutes he reached the one in which he had built his +nest, and laying little Wildrose (for so the old man had called her) +among his downy young eaglets, he flew away. The eaglets +naturally were rather surprised at this strange animal, so suddenly +popped down in their midst, but instead of beginning to eat her, as +their father expected, they nestled up close to her and spread out +their tiny wings to shield her from the sun. + +Now, in the depths of the forest where the eagle had built his nest, +there ran a stream whose waters were poisonous, and on the banks +of this stream dwelt a horrible lindworm with seven heads. The +lindworm had often watched the eagle flying about the top of the +tree, carrying food to his young ones and, accordingly, he watched +carefully for the moment when the eaglets began to try their wings +and to fly away from the nest. Of course, if the eagle himself was +there to protect them even the lindworm, big and strong as he was, +knew that he could do nothing; but when he was absent, any little +eaglets who ventured too near the ground would be sure to +disappear down the monster's throat. Their brothers, who had been +left behind as too young and weak to see the world, knew nothing +of all this, but supposed their turn would soon come to see the +world also. And in a few days their eyes, too, opened and their +wings flapped impatiently, and they longed to fly away above the +waving tree-tops to mountain and the bright sun beyond. But that +very midnight the lindworm, who was hungry and could not wait +for his supper, came out of the brook with a rushing noise, and +made straight for the tree. Two eyes of flame came creeping +nearer, nearer, and two fiery tongues were stretching themselves +out closer, closer, to the little birds who were trembling and +shuddering in the farthest corner of the nest. But just as the +tongues had almost reached them, the lindworm gave a fearful cry, +and turned and fell backwards. Then came the sound of battle from +the ground below, and the tree shook, though there was no wind, +and roars and snarls mixed together, till the eaglets felt more +frightened than ever, and thought their last hour had come. Only +Wildrose was undisturbed, and slept sweetly through it all. + +In the morning the eagle returned and saw traces of a fight below +the tree, and here and there a handful of yellow mane lying about, +and here and there a hard scaly substance; when he saw that he +rejoiced greatly, and hastened to the nest. + +'Who has slain the lindworm?' he asked of his children; there were +so many that he did not at first miss the two which the lindworm +had eaten. But the eaglets answered that they could not tell, only +that they had been in danger of their lives, and at the last moment +they had been delivered. Then the sunbeam had struggled through +the thick branches and caught Wildrose's golden hair as she lay +curled up in the corner, and the eagle wondered, as he looked, +whether the little girl had brought him luck, and it was her magic +which had killed his enemy. + +'Children,' he said, 'I brought her here for your dinner, and you have +not touched her; what is the meaning of this?' But the eaglets did +not answer, and Wildrose opened her eyes, and seemed seven times +lovelier than before. + +>From that day Wildrose lived like a little princess. The eagle flew +about the wood and collected the softest, greenest moss he could +find to make her a bed, and then he picked with his beak all the +brightest and prettiest flowers in the fields or on the mountains to +decorate it. So cleverly did he manage it that there was not a fairy +in the whole of the forest who would not have been pleased to sleep +there, rocked to and fro by the breeze on the treetops. And when +the little ones were able to fly from their nest he taught them where +to look for the fruits and berries which she loved. + +So the time passed by, and with each year Wildrose grew taller and +more beautiful, and she lived happily in her nest and never wanted +to go out of it, only standing at the edge in the sunset, and looking +upon the beautiful world. For company she had all the birds in the +forest, who came and talked to her, and for playthings the strange +flowers which they brought her from far, and the butterflies which +danced with her. And so the days slipped away, and she was +fourteen years old. + +One morning the emperor's son went out to hunt, and he had not +ridden far, before a deer started from under a grove of trees, and +ran before him. The prince instantly gave chase, and where the stag +led he followed, till at length he found himself in the depths of the +forest, where no man before had trod. + +The trees were so thick and the wood so dark, that he paused for a +moment and listened, straining his ears to catch some sound to +break a silence which almost frightened him. But nothing came, not +even the baying of a hound or the note of a horn. He stood still, +and wondered if he should go on, when, on looking up, a stream of +light seemed to flow from the top of a tall tree. In its rays he could +see the nest with the young eaglets, who were watching him over +the side. The prince fitted an arrow into his bow and took his aim, +but, before he could let fly, another ray of light dazzled him; so +brilliant was it, that his bow dropped, and he covered his face with +his hands. When at last he ventured to peep, Wildrose, with her +golden hair flowing round her, was looking at him. This was the +first time she had seen a man. + +'Tell me how I can reach you?' cried he; but Wildrose smiled and +shook her head, and sat down quietly. + +The prince saw that it was no use, and turned and made his way out +of the forest. But he might as well have stayed there, for any good +he was to his father, so full was his heart of longing for Wildrose. +Twice he returned to the forest in the hopes of finding her, but this +time fortune failed him, and he went home as sad as ever. + +At length the emperor, who could not think what had caused this +change, sent for his son and asked him what was the matter. Then +the prince confessed that the image of Wildrose filled his soul, and +that he would never be happy without her. At first the emperor felt +rather distressed. He doubted whether a girl from a tree top would +make a good empress; but he loved his son so much that he +promised to do all he could to find her. So the next morning +heralds were sent forth throughout the whole land to inquire if +anyone knew where a maiden could be found who lived in a forest +on the top of a tree, and to promise great riches and a place at court +to any person who should find her. But nobody knew. All the girls +in the kingdom had their homes on the ground, and laughed at the +notion of being brought up in a tree. 'A nice kind of empress she +would make,' they said, as the emperor had done, tossing their +heads with disdain; for, having read many books, they guessed what +she was wanted for. + +The heralds were almost in despair, when an old woman stepped +out of the crowd and came and spoke to them. She was not only +very old, but she was very ugly, with a hump on her back and a bald +head, and when the heralds saw her they broke into rude laughter. +'I can show you the maiden who lives in the tree-top,' she said, but +they only laughed the more loudly. + +'Get away, old witch!' they cried, 'you will bring us bad luck'; but +the old woman stood firm, and declared that she alone knew where +to find the maiden. + +'Go with her,' said the eldest of the heralds at last. 'The emperor's +orders are clear, that whoever knew anything of the maiden was to +come at once to court. Put her in the coach and take her with us.' + +So in this fashion the old woman was brought to court. + +'You have declared that you can bring hither the maiden from the +wood?' said the emperor, who was seated on his throne. + +'Yes, your Majesty, and I will keep my word,' said she. + +'Then bring her at once,' said the emperor. + +'Give me first a kettle and a tripod,' asked the old w omen, and the +emperor ordered them to be brought instantly. The old woman +picked them up, and tucking them under her arm went on her way, +keeping at a little distance behind the royal huntsmen, who in their +turn followed the prince. + +Oh, what a noise that old woman made as she walked along! She +chattered to herself so fast and clattered her kettle so loudly that +you would have thought that a whole campful of gipsies must be +coming round the next corner. But when they reached the forest, +she bade them all wait outside, and entered the dark wood by +herself. + +She stopped underneath the tree where the maiden dwelt and, +gathering some dry sticks, kindled a fire. Next, she placed the +tripod over it, and the kettle on top. But something was the matter +with the kettle. As fast as the old woman put it where it was to +stand, that kettle was sure to roll off, falling to the ground with a +crash. + +It really seemed bewitched, and no one knows what might have +happened if Wildrose, who had been all the time peeping out of her +nest, had not lost patience at the old woman's stupidity, and cried +out: 'The tripod won't stand on that hill, you must move it!' + +'But where am I to move it to, my child?' asked the old woman, +looking up to the nest, and at the same moment trying to steady the +kettle with one hand and the tripod with the other. + +'Didn't I tell you that it was no good doing that,' said Wildrose, +more impatiently than before. 'Make a fire near a tree and hang the +kettle from one of the branches.' + +The old woman took the kettle and hung it on a little twig, which +broke at once, and the kettle fell to the ground. + +'If you would only show me how to do it, perhaps I should +understand,' said she. + +Quick as thought, the maiden slid down the smooth trunk of the +tree, and stood beside the stupid old woman, to teach her how +things ought to be done. But in an instant the old woman had +caught up the girl and swung her over her shoulders, and was +running as fast as she could go to the edge of the forest, where she +had left the prince. When he saw them coming he rushed eagerly to +meet them, and he took the maiden in his arms and kissed her +tenderly before them all. Then a golden dress was put on her, and +pearls were twined in her hair, and she took her seat in the +emperor's carriage which was drawn by six of the whitest horses in +the world, and they carried her, without stopping to draw breath, to +the gates of the palace. And in three days the wedding was +celebrated, and the wedding feast was held, and everyone who saw +the bride declared that if anybody wanted a perfect wife they must +go to seek her on top of a tree. + +[ Adapted from file Roumanian.] + + + +Tiidu The Piper + +Once upon a time there lived a poor man who had more children +than bread to feed them with. However, they were strong and +willing, and soon learned to make themselves of use to their father +and mother, and when they were old enough they went out to +service, and everyone was very glad to get them for servants, for +they worked hard and were always cheerful. Out of all the ten or +eleven, there was only one who gave his parents any trouble, and +this was a big lazy boy whose name was Tiidu. Neither scoldings +nor beatings nor kind words had any effect on him, and the older he +grew the idler he got. He spent his winters crouching close to a +warm stove, and his summers asleep under a shady tree; and if he +was not doing either of these things he was playing tunes on his +flute. + +One day he was sitting under a bush playing so sweetly that you +might easily have mistaken the notes for those of a bird, when an +old man passed by. 'What trade do you wish to follow, my son?' he +asked in a friendly voice, stopping as he did so in front of the youth. + +'If I were only a rich man, and had no need to work,' replied the +boy, 'I should not follow any. I could not bear to be anybody's +servant, as all my brothers and sisters are.' + +The old man laughed as he heard this answer, and said: 'But I do +not exactly see where your riches are to come from if you do not +work for them. Sleeping cats catch no mice. He who wishes to +become rich must use either his hands or his head, and be ready to +toil night and day, or else--' + +But here the youth broke in rudely: + +'Be silent, old man! I have been told all that a hundred times over; +and it runs off me like water off a duck's back. No one will ever +make a worker out of me.' + +'You have one gift,' replied the old man, taking no notice of this +speech, 'and if you would only go about and play the pipes, you +would easily earn, not only your daily bread, but a little money into +the bargain. Listen to me; get yourself a set of pipes, and learn to +play on them as well as you do on your flute, and wherever there +are men to hear you, I promise you will never lack money.' + +'But where am I to get the pipes from?' asked the youth. + +'Blow on your flute for a few days,' replied the old man, 'and you +will soon be able to buy your pipes. By-and-by I will come back +again and see if you have taken my advice, and whether you are +likely to grow rich.' And so saying he went his way. + +Tiidu stayed where he was a little longer, thinking of all the old man +had told him, and the more he thought the surer he felt that the old +man was right. He determined to try whether his plan would really +bring luck; but as he did not like being laughed at he resolved not to +tell anyone a word about it. So next morning he left home--and +never came back! His parents did not take his loss much to heart, +but were rather glad that their useless son had for once shown a +little spirit, and they hoped that time and hardship might cure Tiidu +of his idle folly. + +For some weeks Tiidu wandered from one village to another, and +proved for himself the truth of the old man's promise. The people +he met were all friendly and kind, and enjoyed his flute-playing, +giving him his food in return, and even a few pence. These pence +the youth hoarded carefully till he had collected enough to buy a +beautiful pair of pipes. Then he felt himself indeed on the high road +to riches. Nowhere could pipes be found as fine as his, or played in +so masterly a manner. Tiidu's pipes set everybody's legs dancing. +Wherever there was a marriage, a christening, or a feast of any +kind, Tiidu must be there, or the evening would be a failure. In a +few years he had become so noted a piper that people would travel +far and wide to hear him. + +One day he was invited to a christening where many rich men from +the neighbouring town were present, and all agreed that never in all +their lives had they heard such playing as his. They crowded round +him, and praised him, and pressed him to come to their homes, +declaring that it was a shame not to give their friends the chance of +hearing such music. Of course all this delighted Tiidu, who +accepted gladly, and left their houses laden with money and +presents of every kind; one great lord clothed him in a magnificent +dress, a second hung a chain of pearls round his neck, while a third +handed him a set of new pipes encrusted in silver. As for the ladies, +the girls twisted silken scarves round his plumed hat, and their +mothers knitted him gloves of all colours, to keep out the cold. +Any other man in Tiidu's place would have been contented and +happy in this life; but his craving for riches gave him no rest, and +only goaded him day by day to fresh exertions, so that even his own +mother would not have known him for the lazy boy who was always lying +asleep in one place or the other. + +Now Tiidu saw quite clearly that he could only hope to become rich +by means of his pipes, and set about thinking if there was nothing +he could do to make the money flow in faster. At length he +remembered having heard some stories of a kingdom in the Kungla +country, where musicians of all sorts were welcomed and highly +paid; but where it was, or how it was reached, he could not +recollect, however hard he thought. In despair, he wandered along +the coast, hoping to see some ship or sailing boat that would take +him where he wished to go, and at length he reached the town of +Narva, where several merchantmen were lying at anchor. To his +great joy, he found that one of them was sailing for Kungla in a few +days, and he hastily went on board, and asked for the captain. But +the cost of the passage was more than the prudent Tiidu cared to +pay, and though he played his best on his pipes, the captain refused +to lower his price, and Tiidu was just thinking of returning on shore +when his usual luck flew to his aid. A young sailor, who had heard +him play, came secretly to him, and offered to hide him on board, in +the absence of the captain. So the next night, as soon as it was +dark, Tiidu stepped softly on deck, and was hidden by his friend +down in the hold in a corner between two casks. Unseen by the +rest of the crew the sailor managed to bring him food and drink, +and when they were well out of sight of land he proceeded to carry +out a plan he had invented to deliver Tiidu from his cramped +quarters. At midnight, while he was keeping watch and everyone +else was sleeping, the man bade his friend Tiidu follow him on +deck, where he tied a rope round Tiidu's body, fastening the other +end carefully to one of the ship's ropes. 'Now,' he said, 'I will +throw you into the sea, and you must shout for help; and when you +see the sailors coming untie the rope from your waist, and tell them +that you have swum after the ship all the way from shore.' + +At first Tiidu did not much like this scheme, for the sea ran high, +but he was a good swimmer, and the sailor assured him that there +was no danger. As soon as he was in the water, his friend hastened +to rouse his mates, declaring that he was sure that there was a man +in the sea, following the ship. They all came on deck, and what was +their surprise when they recognised the person who had bargained +about a passage the previous day with the captain. + +'Are you a ghost, or a dying man?' they asked him trembling, as +they stooped over the side of the ship. + +'I shall soon indeed be a dead man if you do not help me,' answered +Tiidu, 'for my strength is going fast.' + +Then the captain seized a rope and flung it out to him, and Tiidu +held it between his teeth, while, unseen by the sailors; he loosed the +one tied round his waist. + +'Where have you come from?' said the captain, when Tiidu was +brought up on board the ship. + +'I have followed you from the harbour,' answered he, 'and have been +often in sore dread lest my strength should fail me. I hoped that by +swimming after the ship I might at last reach Kungla, as I had no +money to pay my passage.' The captain's heart melted at these +words, and he said kindly: 'You may be thankful that you were not +drowned. I will land you at Kungla free of payment, as you are so +anxious to get there. So he gave him dry clothes to wear, and a +berth to sleep in, and Tiidu and his friend secretly made merry over +their cunning trick. + +For the rest of the voyage the ship's crew treated Tiidu as +something higher than themselves, seeing that in all their lives they +had never met with any man that could swim for as many hours as +he had done. This pleased Tiidu very much, though he knew that +he had really done nothing to deserve it, and in return he delighted +them by tunes on his pipes. When, after some days, they cast +anchor at Kungla, the story of his wonderful swim brought him +many friends, for everybody wished to hear him tell the tale himself. +This might have been all very well, had not Tiidu lived in dread that +some day he would be asked to give proof of his marvellous +swimming powers, and then everything would be found out. +Meanwhile he was dazzled with the splendour around him, and +more than ever he longed for part of the riches, about which the +owners seemed to care so little. + +He wandered through the streets for many days, seeking some one +who wanted a servant; but though more than one person would +have been glad to engage him, they seemed to Tiidu not the sort of +people to help him to get rich quickly. At last, when he had almost +made up his mind that he must accept the next place offered him, he +happened to knock at the door of a rich merchant who was in need +of a scullion, and gladly agreed to do the cook's bidding, and it was +in this merchant's house that he first learned how great were the +riches of the land of Kungla. All the vessels which in other +countries are made of iron, copper, brass, or tin, in Kungla were +made of silver, or even of gold. The food was cooked in silver +saucepans, the bread baked in a silver oven, while the dishes and +their covers were all of gold. Even the very pigs' troughs were of +silver too. But the sight of these things only made Tiidu more +covetous than before. 'What is the use of all this wealth that I have +constantly before my eyes,' thought he, 'if none of it is mine? I shall +never grow rich by what I earn as a scullion, even though I am paid +as much in a month as I should get elsewhere in a year.' + +By this time he had been in his place for two years, and had put by +quite a large sum of money. His passion of saving had increased to +such a pitch that it was only by his master's orders that he ever +bought any new clothes, 'For,' said the merchant, 'I will not have +dirty people in my house.' So with a heavy heart Tiidu spent some +of his next month's wages on a cheap coat. + +One day the merchant held a great feast in honour of the christening +of his youngest child, and he gave each of his servants a handsome +garment for the occasion. The following Sunday, Tiidu, who liked +fine clothes when he did not have to pay for them, put on his new +coat, and went for a walk to some beautiful pleasure gardens, which +were always full of people on a sunny day. He sat down under a +shady tree, and watched the passers-by, but after a little he began to +feel rather lonely, for he knew nobody and nobody knew him. +Suddenly his eyes fell on the figure of an old man, which seemed +familiar to him, though he could not tell when or where he had seen +it. He watched the figure for some time, till at length the old man +left the crowded paths, and threw himself on the soft grass under a +lime tree, which stood at some distance from where Tiidu was +sitting. Then the young man walked slowly past, in order that he +might look at him more closely, and as he did so the old man +smiled, and held out his hand. + +'What have you done with your pipes?' asked he; and then in a +moment Tiidu knew him. Taking his arm he drew him into a quiet +place and told him all that had happened since they had last met. +The old man shook his head as he listened, and when Tiidu had +finished his tale, he said: 'A fool you are, and a fool you will always +be! Was there ever such a piece of folly as to exchange your pipes +for a scullion's ladle? You could have made as much by the pipes in +a day as your wages would have come to in half a year. Go home +and fetch your pipes, and play them here, and you will soon see if I +have spoken the truth.' + +Tiidu did not like this advice--he was afraid that the people would +laugh at him; and, besides, it was long since he had touched his +pipes--but the old man persisted, and at last Tiidu did as he was +told. + +'Sit down on the bank by me,' said the old man, when he came back, +'and begin to play, and in a little while the people will flock round +you.' Tiidu obeyed, at first without much heart; but somehow the +tone of the pipes was sweeter than he had remembered, and as he +played, the crowd ceased to walk and chatter, and stood still and +silent round him. When he had played for some time he took off his +hat and passed it round, and dollars, and small silver coins, and +even gold pieces, came tumbling in. Tiidu played a couple more +tunes by way of thanks, then turned to go home, hearing on all +sides murmurs of 'What a wonderful piper! Come back, we pray +you, next Sunday to give us another treat.' + +'What did I tell you?' said the old man, as they passed through the +garden gate. 'Was it not pleasanter to play for a couple of hours on +the pipes than to be stirring sauces all day long? For the second +time I have shown you the path to follow; try to learn wisdom, and +take the bull by the horns, lest your luck should slip from you! I +can be your guide no longer, therefore listen to what I say, and +obey me. Go every Sunday afternoon to those gardens; and sit +under the lime tree and play to the people, and bring a felt hat with +a deep crown, and lay it on the ground at your feet, so that +everyone can throw some money into it. If you are invited to play +at a feast, accept willingly, but beware of asking a fixed price; say +you will take whatever they may feel inclined to give. You will get +far more money in the end. Perhaps, some day, our paths may +cross, and then I shall see how far you have followed my advice. +Till then, farewell'; and the old man went his way. + +As before, his words came true, though Tiidu could not at once do +his bidding, as he had first to fulfil his appointed time of service. +Meanwhile he ordered some fine clothes, in which he played every +Sunday in the gardens, and when he counted his gains in the +evening they were always more than on the Sunday before. At +length he was free to do as he liked, and he had more invitations to +play than he could manage to accept, and at night, when the citizens +used to go and drink in the inn, the landlord always begged Tiidu to +come and play to them. Thus he grew so rich that very soon he had +his silver pipes covered with gold, so that they glistened in the light +of the sun or the fire. In all Kungla there was no prouder man than +Tiidu. + +In a few years he had saved such a large sum of money that he was +considered a rich man even in Kungla, where everybody was rich. +And then he had leisure to remember that he had once had a home, +and a family, and that he should like to see them both again, and +show them how well he could play. This time he would not need to +hide in the ship's hold, but could hire the best cabin if he wished to, +or even have a vessel all to himself. So he packed all his treasures +in large chests, and sent them on board the first ship that was sailing +to his native land, and followed them with a light heart. The wind +at starting was fair, but it soon freshened, and in the night rose to a +gale. For two days they ran before it, and hoped that by keeping +well out to sea they might be able to weather the storm, when, +suddenly, the ship struck on a rock, and began to fill. Orders were +given to lower the boats, and Tiidu with three sailors got into one +of them, but before they could push away from the ship a huge +wave overturned it, and all four were flung into the water. Luckily +for Tiidu an oar was floating near him, and with its help he was able +to keep on the surface of the water; and when the sun rose, and the +mist cleared away, he saw that he was not far from shore. By hard +swimming, for the sea still ran high, he managed to reach it, and +pulled himself out of the water, more dead than alive. Then he +flung himself down on the ground and fell fast asleep. + +When he awoke he got up to explore the island, and see if there +were any men upon it; but though he found streams and fruit trees +in abundance, there was no trace either of man or beast. Then, +tired with his wanderings he sat down and began to think. + +For perhaps the first time in his life his thoughts did not instantly +turn to money. It was not on his lost treasures that his mind dwelt, +but on his conduct to his parents: his laziness and disobedience as a +boy; his forgetfulness of them as a man. 'If wild animals were to +come and tear me to pieces,' he said to himself bitterly, 'it would be +only what I deserve! My gains are all at the bottom of the sea--well! +lightly won, lightly lost--but it is odd that I feel I should not +care for that if only my pipes were left me.' Then he rose and +walked a little further, till he saw a tree with great red apples +shining amidst the leaves, and he pulled some down, and ate them +greedily. After that he stretched himself out on the soft moss and +went to sleep. + +In the morning he ran to the nearest stream to wash himself, but to +his horror, when he caught sight of his face, he saw his nose had +grown the colour of an apple, and reached nearly to his waist. He +started back thinking he was dreaming, and put up his hand; but, +alas! the dreadful thing was true. 'Oh, why does not some wild +beast devour me?' he cried to himself; 'never, never, can I go again +amongst my fellow-men! If only the sea had swallowed me up, +how much happier it had been for me!' And he hid his head in his +hands and wept. His grief was so violent, that it exhausted him, +and growing hungry he looked about for something to eat. Just +above him was a bough of ripe, brown nuts, end he picked them +and ate a handful. To his surprise, as he was eating them, he felt his +nose grow shorter and shorter, and after a while he ventured to feel +it with his hand, and even to look in the stream again! Yes, there +was no mistake, it was as short as before, or perhaps a little shorter. +In his joy at this discovery Tiidu did a very bold thing. He took one +of the apples out of his pocket, and cautiously bit a piece out of it. +In an instant his nose was as long as his chin, and in a deadly fear +lest it should stretch further, he hastily swallowed a nut, and +awaited the result with terror. Supposing that the shrinking of his +nose had only been an accident before! Supposing that that nut and +no other was able to cause its shrinking! In that case he had, by his +own folly, in not letting well alone, ruined his life completely. But, +no! he had guessed rightly, for in no more time than his nose had +taken to grow long did it take to return to its proper size. 'This +may make my fortune,' he said joyfully to himself; and he gathered +some of the apples, which he put into one pocket, and a good +supply of nuts which he put into the other. Next day he wove a +basket out of some rushes, so that if he ever left the island he might +be able to carry his treasures about. + +That night he dreamed that his friend the old man appeared to him +and said: 'Because you did not mourn for your lost treasure, but +only for your pipes, I will give you a new set to replace them.' And, +behold! in the morning when he got up a set of pipes was lying in +the basket. With what joy did he seize them and begin one of his +favourite tunes; and as he played hope sprang up in his heart, and +he looked out to sea, to try to detect the sign of a sail. Yes! there +it was, making straight for the island; and Tiidu, holding his pipes in +his hand, dashed down to the shore. + +The sailors knew the island to be uninhabited, and were much +surprised to see a man standing on the beach, waving his arms in +welcome to them. A boat was put off, and two sailors rowed to the +shore to discover how he came there, and if he wished to be taken +away. Tiidu told them the story of his shipwreck, and the captain +promised that he should come on board, and sail with them back to +Kungla; and thankful indeed was Tiidu to accept the offer, and to +show his gratitude by playing on his pipes whenever he was asked +to do so. + +They had a quick voyage, and it was not long before Tiidu found +himself again in the streets of the capital of Kungla, playing as he +went along. The people had heard no music like his since he went +away, and they crowded round him, and in their joy gave him +whatever money they had in their pockets. His first care was to buy +himself some new clothes, which he sadly needed, taking care, +however, that they should be made after a foreign fashion. When +they were ready, he set out one day with a small basket of his +famous apples, and went up to the palace. He did not have to wait +long before one of the royal servants passed by and bought all the +apples, begging as he did so that the merchant should return and +bring some more. This Tiidu promised, and hastened away as if he +had a mad bull behind him, so afraid was he that the man should +begin to eat an apple at once. + +It is needless to say that for some days he took no more apples back +to the palace, but kept well away on the other side of the town, +wearing other clothes, and disguised by a long black beard, so that +even his own mother would not have known him. + +The morning after his visit to the castle the whole city was in an +uproar about the dreadful misfortune that had happened to the +Royal Family, for not only the king but his wife and children, had +eaten of the stranger's apples, and all, so said the rumour, were very +ill. The most famous doctors and the greatest magicians were +hastily summoned to the palace, but they shook their heads and +came away again; never had they met with such a disease in all the +course of their experience. By-and-bye a story went round the +town, started no one knew how, that the malady was in some way +connected with the nose; and men rubbed their own anxiously, to +be sure that nothing catching was in the air. + +Matters had been in this state for more than a week when it reached +the ears of the king that a man was living in an inn on the other side +of the town who declared himself able to cure all manner of +diseases. Instantly the royal carriage was commanded to drive with +all speed and bring back this magician, offering him riches untold if +he could restore their noses to their former length. Tiidu had +expected this summons, and had sat up all night changing his +appearance, and so well had he succeeded that not a trace remained +either of the piper or of the apple seller. He stepped into the +carriage, and was driven post haste to the king, who was feverishly +counting every moment, for both his nose and the queen's were by +this time more than a yard long, and they did not know where they +would stop. + +Now Tiidu thought it would not look well to cure the royal family +by giving them the raw nuts; he felt that it might arouse suspicion. +So he had carefully pounded them into a powder, and divided the +powder up into small doses, which were to be put on the tongue +and swallowed at once. He gave one of these to the king and +another to the queen, and told them that before taking them they +were to get into bed in a dark room and not to move for some +hours, after which they might be sure that they would come out +cured. + +The king's joy was so great at this news that he would gladly have +given Tiidu half of his kingdom; but the piper was no longer so +greedy of money as he once was, before he had been shipwrecked +on the island. If he could get enough to buy a small estate and live +comfortably on it for the rest of his life, that was all he now cared +for. However, the king ordered his treasure to pay him three times +as much as he asked, and with this Tiidu went down to the harbour +and engaged a small ship to carry him back to his native country. +The wind was fair, and in ten days the coast, which he had almost +forgotten, stood clear before him. In a few hours he was standing +in his old home, where his father, three sisters, and two brothers +gave him a hearty welcome. His mother and his other brothers had +died some years before. + +When the meeting was over, he began to make inquiries about a +small estate that was for sale near the town, and after he had bought +it the next thing was to find a wife to share it with him. This did +not take long either; and people who were at the wedding feast +declared that the best part of the whole day was the hour when +Tiidu played to them on the pipes before they bade each other +farewell and returned to their homes. + +[From Esthnische Mahrchen.] + + + +Paperarelloo + +Once upon a time there lived a king and a queen who had one son. +The king loved the boy very much, but the queen, who was a +wicked woman, hated the sight of him; and this was the more +unlucky for, when he was twelve years old, his father died, and he +was left alone in the world. + +Now the queen was very angry because the people, who knew how +bad she was, seated her son on the throne instead of herself, and +she never rested till she had formed a plan to get him out of the +way. Fortunately, however, the young king was wise and prudent, +and knew her too well to trust her. + +One day, when his mourning was over, he gave orders that +everything should be made ready for a grand hunt. The queen +pretended to be greatly delighted that he was going to amuse +himself once more, and declared that she would accompany him. +'No, mother, I cannot let you come,' he answered; 'the ground is +rough, and you are not strong.' But he might as well have spoken +to the winds: when the horn was sounded at daybreak the queen +was there with the rest. + +All that day they rode, for game was plentiful, but towards evening +the mother and son found themselves alone in a part of the country +that was strange to them. They wandered on for some time, +without knowing where they were going, till they met with a man +whom they begged to give them shelter. 'Come with me,' said the +man gladly, for he was an ogre, and fed on human flesh; and the +king and his mother went with him, and he led them to his house. +When they got there they found to what a dreadful place they had +come, and, falling on their knees, they offered him great sums of +money, if he would only spare their lives. The ogre's heart was +moved at the sight of the queen's beauty, and he promised that he +would do her no harm; but he stabbed the boy at once, and binding +his body on a horse, turned him loose in the forest. + +The ogre had happened to choose a horse which he had bought +only the day before, and he did not know it was a magician, or he +would not have been so foolish as to fix upon it on this occasion. +The horse no sooner had been driven off with the prince's body on +its back than it galloped straight to the home of the fairies, and +knocked at the door with its hoof. The fairies heard the knock, but +were afraid to open till they had peeped from an upper window to +see that it was no giant or ogre who could do them harm. 'Oh, +look, sister!' cried the first to reach the window, 'it is a horse that +has knocked, and on its back there is bound a dead boy, the most +beautiful boy in all the world!' Then the fairies ran to open the +door, and let in the horse and unbound the ropes which fastened the +young king on its back. And they gathered round to admire his +beauty, and whispered one to the other: 'We will make him alive +again, and will keep him for our brother.' And so they did, and for +many years they all lived together as brothers and sisters. + +By-and-by the boy grew into a man, as boys will, and then the +oldest of the fairies said to her sisters: 'Now I will marry him, and +he shall be really your brother.' So the young king married the +fairy, and they lived happily together in the castle; but though he +loved his wife he still longed to see the world. + +At length this longing grew so strong on him that he could bear it +no more; and, calling the fairies together, he said to them: 'Dear +wife and sisters, I must leave you for a time, and go out and see the +world. But I shall think of you often, and one day I shall come +back to you.' + +The fairies wept and begged him to stay, but he would not listen, +and at last the eldest, who was his wife, said to him: 'If you really +will abandon us, take this lock of my hair with you; you will find it +useful in time of need.' So she cut off a long curl, and handed it to +him. + +The prince mounted his horse, and rode on all day without stopping +once. Towards evening he found himself in a desert, and, look +where he would, there was no such thing as a house or a man to be +seen. 'What am I to do now?' he thought. 'If I go to sleep here +wild beasts will come and eat me! Yet both I and my horse are +worn out, and can go no further.' Then suddenly he remembered +the fairy's gift, and taking out the curl he said to it: 'I want a castle +here, and servants, and dinner, and everything to make me +comfortable tonight; and besides that, I must have a stable and +fodder for my horse.' And in a moment the castle was before him +just as he had wished. + +In this way he travelled through many countries, till at last he came +to a land that was ruled over by a great king. Leaving his horse +outside the walls, he clad himself in the dress of a poor man, and +went up to the palace. The queen, who was looking out of the +window, saw him approaching, and filled with pity sent a servant to +ask who he was and what he wanted. 'I am a stranger here,' +answered the young king, 'and very poor. I have come to beg for +some work.' 'We have everybody we want,' said the queen, when +the servant told her the young man's reply. 'We have a gate-keeper, +and a hall porter, and servants of all sorts in the palace; the only +person we have not got is a goose-boy. Tell him that he can he our +goose-boy if he likes.' The youth answered that he was quite +content to be goose-boy; and that was how he got his nickname of +Paperarello. And in order that no one should guess that he was any +better than a goose-boy should be, he rubbed his face and his rags +over with mud, and made himself altogether such a disgusting +object that every one crossed over to the other side of the road +when he was seen coming. + +'Do go and wash yourself, Paperarello!' said the queen sometimes, +for he did his work so well that she took an interest in him. 'Oh, I +should not feel comfortable if I was clean, your Majesty,' answered +he, and went whistling after his geese. + +It happened one day that, owing to some accident to the great flour +mills which supplied the city, there was no bread to be had, and the +king's army had to do without. When the king heard of it, he sent +for the cook, and told him that by the next morning he must have all +the bread that the oven, heated seven times over, could bake. 'But, +your Majesty, it is not possible,' cried the poor man in despair. +'The mills have only just begun working, and the flour will not be +ground till evening, and how can I heat the oven seven times in one +night?' 'That is your affair,' answered the King, who, when he took +anything into his head, would listen to nothing. 'If you succeed in +baking the bread you shall have my daughter to wife, but if you fail +your head will pay for it.' + +Now Paperarello, who was passing through the hall where the king +was giving his orders, heard these words, and said: 'Your Majesty, +have no fears; I will bake your bread.' 'Very well,' answered the +king; 'but if you fail, you will pay for it with your head!' and signed +that both should leave his presence. + +The cook was still trembling with the thought of what he had +escaped, but to his surprise Paperarello did not seem disturbed at +all, and when night came he went to sleep as usual. 'Paperarello,' +cried the other servants, when they saw him quietly taking off his +clothes, 'you cannot go to bed; you will need every moment of the +night for your work. Remember, the king is not to be played with!' + +'I really must have some sleep first,' replied Paperarello, stretching +himself and yawning; and he flung himself on his bed, and was fast +asleep in a moment. In an hour's time, the servants came and shook +him by the shoulder. 'Paperarello, are you mad?' said they. 'Get up, +or you will lose your head.' 'Oh, do let me sleep a little more, +answered he. And this was all he would say, though the servants +returned to wake him many times in the night. + +At last the dawn broke, and the servants rushed to his room, crying: +'Paperarello! Paperarello! get up, the king is coming. You have +baked no bread, and of a surety he will have your head.' + +'Oh, don't scream so,' replied Paperarello, jumping out of bed as he +spoke; and taking the lock of hair in his hand, he went into the +kitchen. And, behold! there stood the bread piled high--four, five, +six ovens full, and the seventh still waiting to be taken out of the +oven. The servants stood and stared in surprise, and the king said: +'Well done, Paperarello, you have won my daughter.' And he +thought to himself: 'This fellow must really be a magician.' + +But when the princess heard what was in store for her she wept +bitterly, and declared that never, never would she marry that dirty +Paperarello! However, the king paid no heed to her tears and +prayers, and before many days were over the wedding was +celebrated with great splendour, though the bridegroom had not +taken the trouble to wash himself, and was as dirty as before. + +When night came he went as usual to sleep among his geese, and +the princess went to the king and said: 'Father, I entreat you to have +that horrible Paperarello put to death.' 'No, no!' replied her father, +'he is a great magician, and before I put him to death, I must first +find out the secret of his power, and then--we shall see.' + +Soon after this a war broke out, and everybody about the palace +was very busy polishing up armour and sharpening swords, for the +king and his sons were to ride at the head of the army. Then +Paperarello left his geese, and came and told the king that he +wished to go to fight also. The king gave him leave, and told him +that he might go to the stable and take any horse he liked from the +stables. So Paperarello examined the horses carefully, but instead +of picking out one of the splendid well-groomed creatures, whose +skin shone like satin, he chose a poor lame thing, put a saddle on it, +and rode after the other men-at-arms who were attending the king. +In a short time he stopped, and said to them: 'My horse can go no +further; you must go on to the war without me, and I will stay here, +and make some little clay soldiers, and will play at a battle.' The +men laughed at him for being so childish, and rode on after their +master. + +Scarcely were they out of sight than Paperarello took out his curl, +and wished himself the best armour, the sharpest sword, and the +swiftest horse in the world, and the next minute was riding as fast +as he could to the field of battle. The fight had already begun, and +the enemy was getting the best of it, when Paperarello rode up, and +in a moment the fortunes of the day had changed. Right and left +this strange knight laid about him, and his sword pierced the +stoutest breast-plate, and the strongest shield. He was indeed 'a +host in himself,' and his foes fled before him thinking he was only +the first of a troop of such warriors, whom no one could withstand. +When the battle was over, the king sent for him to thank him for his +timely help, and to ask what reward he should give him. 'Nothing +but your little finger, your Majesty,' was his answer; and the king +cut off his little finger and gave it to Paperarello, who bowed and +hid it in his surcoat. Then he left the field, and when the soldiers +rode back they found him still sitting in the road making whole +rows of little clay dolls. + +The next day the king went out to fight another battle, and again +Paperarello appeared, mounted on his lame horse. As on the day +before, he halted on the road, and sat down to make his clay +soldiers; then a second time he wished himself armour, sword, and a +horse, all sharper and better than those he had previously had, and +galloped after the rest. He was only just in time: the enemy had +almost beaten the king's army back, and men whispered to each +other that if the strange knight did not soon come to their aid, they +would be all dead men. Suddenly someone cried: 'Hold on a little +longer, I see him in the distance; and his armour shines brighter, and +his horse runs swifter, than yesterday.' Then they took fresh heart +and fought desperately on till the knight came up, and threw himself +into the thick of the battle. As before, the enemy gave way before +him, and in a few minutes the victory remained with the king. + +The first thing that the victor did was to send for the knight to +thank him for his timely help, and to ask what gift he could bestow +on him in token of gratitude. 'Your Majesty's ear,' answered the +knight; and as the king could not go back from his word, he cut it +off and gave it to him. Paperarello bowed, fastened the ear inside +his surcoat and rode away. In the evening, when they all returned +from the battle, there he was, sitting in the road, making clay dolls. + +On the third day the same thing happened, and this time he asked +for the king's nose as the reward of his aid. Now, to lose one's +nose, is worse even than losing one's ear or one's finger, and the +king hesitated as to whether he should comply. However, he had +always prided himself on being an honourable man, so he cut off his +nose, and handed it to Paperarello. Paperarello bowed, put the +nose in his surcoat, and rode away. In the evening, when the king +returned from the battle, he found Paperarello sitting in the road +making clay dolls. And Paperarello got up and said to him: 'Do you +know who I am? I am your dirty goose-boy, yet you have given me +your finger, and your ear, and your nose.' + +That night, when the king sat at dinner, Paperarello came in, and +laying down the ear, and the nose, and the finger on the table, +turned and said to the nobles and courtiers who were waiting on the +king: 'I am the invincible knight, who rode three times to your help, +and I also am a king's son, and no goose-boy as you all think.' And +he went away and washed himself, and dressed himself in fine +clothes and entered the hall again, looking so handsome that the +proud princess fell in love with him on the spot. But Paperarello +took no notice of her, and said to the king: 'It was kind of you to +offer me your daughter in marriage, and for that I thank you; but I +have a wife at home whom I love better, and it is to her that I am +going. But as a token of farewell, I wish that your ear, and nose, +and finger may be restored to their proper places.' So saying, he +bade them all goodbye, and went back to his home and his fairy +bride, with whom he lived happily till the end of his life. + +[From Sicilianisohen Mahrchen.] + + + +The Gifts Of The Magician + +Once upon a time there was an old man who lived in a little hut in +the middle of a forest. His wife was dead, and he had only one son, +whom he loved dearly. Near their hut was a group of birch trees, in +which some black-game had made their nests, and the youth had +often begged his father's permission to shoot the birds, but the old +man always strictly forbade him to do anything of the kind. + +One day, however, when the father had gone to a little distance to +collect some sticks for the fire, the boy fetched his bow, and shot at +a bird that was just flying towards its nest. But he had not taken +proper aim, and the bird was only wounded, and fluttered along the +ground. The boy ran to catch it, but though he ran very fast, and +the bird seemed to flutter along very slowly, he never could quite +come up with it; it was always just a little in advance. But so +absorbed was he in the chase that he did not notice for some time +that he was now deep in the forest, in a place where he had never +been before. Then he felt it would be foolish to go any further, and +he turned to find his way home. + +He thought it would be easy enough to follow the path along which +he had come, but somehow it was always branching off in +unexpected directions. He looked about for a house where he +might stop and ask his way, but there was not a sign of one +anywhere, and he was afraid to stand still, for it was cold, and there +were many stories of wolves being seen in that part of the forest. +Night fell, and he was beginning to start at every sound, when +suddenly a magician came running towards him, with a pack of +wolves snapping at his heels. Then all the boy's courage returned to +him. He took his bow, and aiming an arrow at the largest wolf, +shot him through the heart, and a few more arrows soon put the +rest to flight. The magician was full of gratitude to his deliverer, +and promised him a reward for his help if the youth would go back +with him to his house. + +'Indeed there is nothing that would be more welcome to me than a +night's lodging,' answered the boy; 'I have been wandering all day in +the forest, and did not know how to get home again. + +'Come with me, you must be hungry as well as tired,' said the +magician, and led the way to his house, where the guest flung +himself on a bed, and went fast asleep. But his host returned to the +forest to get some food, for the larder was empty. + +While he was absent the housekeeper went to the boy's room and +tried to wake him. She stamped on the floor, and shook him and +called to him, telling him that he was in great danger, and must take +flight at once. But nothing would rouse him, and if he did ever +open his eyes he shut them again directly. + +Soon after, the magician came back from the forest, and told the +housekeeper to bring them something to eat. The meal was quickly +ready, and the magician called to the boy to come down and eat it, +but he could not be wakened, and they had to sit down to supper +without him. By-and-by the magician went out into the wood again +for some more hunting, and on his return he tried afresh to waken +the youth. But finding it quite impossible, he went back for the +third time to the forest. + +While he was absent the boy woke up and dressed himself. Then he +came downstairs and began to talk to the housekeeper. The girl +had heard how he had saved her master's life, so she said nothing +more about his running away, but instead told him that if the +magician offered him the choice of a reward, he was to ask for the +horse which stood in the third stall of the stable. + +By-and-by the old man came back and they all sat down to dinner. +When they had finished the magician said: 'Now, my son, tell me +what you will have as the reward of your courage?' + +'Give me the horse that stands in the third stall of your stable,' +answered the youth. 'For I have a long way to go before I get +home, and my feet will not carry me so far.' + +'Ah! my son,' replied the magician, 'it is the best horse in my stable +that you want! Will not anything else please you as well?' + +But the youth declared that it was the horse, and the horse only, +that he desired, and in the end the old man gave way. And besides +the horse, the magician gave him a zither, a fiddle, and a flute, +saying: 'If you are in danger, touch the zither; and if no one comes +to your aid, then play on the fiddle; but if that brings no help, blow +on the flute.' + +The youth thanked the magician, and fastening his treasures about +him mounted the horse and rode off. He had already gone some +miles when, to his great surprise, the horse spoke, and said: 'It is no +use your returning home just now, your father will only beat you. +Let us visit a few towns first, and something lucky will be sure to +happen to us.' + +This advice pleased the boy, for he felt himself almost a man by this +time, and thought it was high time he saw the world. When they +entered the capital of the country everyone stopped to admire the +beauty of the horse. Even the king heard of it, and came to see the +splendid creature with his own eyes. Indeed, he wanted directly to +buy it, and told the youth he would give any price he liked. The +young man hesitated for a moment, but before he could speak, the +horse contrived to whisper to him: + +'Do not sell me, but ask the king to take me to his stable, and feed +me there; then his other horses will become just as beautiful as I.' + +The king was delighted when he was told what the horse had said, +and took the animal at once to the stables, and placed it in his own +particular stall. Sure enough, the horse had scarcely eaten a +mouthful of corn out of the manger, when the rest of the horses +seemed to have undergone a transformation. Some of them were +old favourites which the king had ridden in many wars, and they +bore the signs of age and of service. But now they arched their +heads, and pawed the ground with their slender legs as they had +been wont to do in days long gone by. The king's heart beat with +delight, but the old groom who had had the care of them stood +crossly by, and eyed the owner of this wonderful creature with hate +and envy. Not a day passed without his bringing some story against +the youth to his master, but the king understood all about the +matter and paid no attention. At last the groom declared that the +young man had boasted that he could find the king's war horse +which had strayed into the forest several years ago, and had not +been heard of since. Now the king had never ceased to mourn for +his horse, so this time he listened to the tale which the groom had +invented, and sent for the youth. 'Find me my horse in three days,' +said he, 'or it will be the worse for you.' + +The youth was thunderstruck at this command, but he only bowed, +and went off at once to the stable. + +'Do not worry yourself,' answered his own horse. 'Ask the king to +give you a hundred oxen, and to let them be killed and cut into +small pieces. Then we will start on our journey, and ride till we +reach a certain river. There a horse will come up to you, but take +no notice of him. Soon another will appear, and this also you must +leave alone, but when the third horse shows itself, throw my bridle +over it.' + +Everything happened just as the horse had said, and the third horse +was safely bridled. Then the other horse spoke again: 'The +magician's raven will try to eat us as we ride away, but throw it +some of the oxen's flesh, and then I will gallop like the wind, and +carry you safe out of the dragon's clutches.' + +So the young man did as he was told, and brought the horse back to +the king. + +The old stableman was very jealous, when he heard of it, and +wondered what he could do to injure the youth in the eyes of his +royal master. At last he hit upon a plan, and told the king that the +young man had boasted that he could bring home the king's wife, +who had vanished many months before, without leaving a trace +behind her. Then the king bade the young man come into his +presence, and desired him to fetch the queen home again, as he had +boasted he could do. And if he failed, his head would pay the +penalty. + +The poor youth's heart stood still as he listened. Find the queen? +But how was he to do that, when nobody in the palace had been +able to do so! Slowly he walked to the stable, and laying his head +on his horse's shoulder, he said: 'The king has ordered me to bring +his wife home again, and how can I do that when she disappeared +so long ago, and no one can tell me anything about her?' + +'Cheer up!' answered the horse, 'we will manage to find her. You +have only got to ride me back to the same river that we went to +yesterday, and I will plunge into it and take my proper shape again. +For I am the king's wife, who was turned into a horse by the +magician from whom you saved me.' + +Joyfully the young man sprang into the saddle and rode away to the +banks of the river. Then he threw himself off, and waited while the +horse plunged in. The moment it dipped its head into the water its +black skin vanished, and the most beautiful woman in the world was +floating on the water. She came smiling towards the youth, and +held out her hand, and he took it and led her back to the palace. +Great was the king's surprise and happiness when he beheld his lost +wife stand before him, and in gratitude to her rescuer he loaded him +with gifts. + +You would have thought that after this the poor youth would have +been left in peace; but no, his enemy the stableman hated him as +much as ever, and laid a new plot for his undoing. This time he +presented himself before the king and told him that the youth was +so puffed up with what he had done that he had declared he would +seize the king's throne for himself. + +At this news the king waxed so furious that he ordered a gallows to +be erected at once, and the young man to be hanged without a trial. +He was not even allowed to speak in his own defence, but on the +very steps of the gallows he sent a message to the king and begged, +as a last favour, that he might play a tune on his zither. Leave was +given him, and taking the instrument from under his cloak he +touched the strings. Scarcely had the first notes sounded than the +hangman and his helper began to dance, and the louder grew the +music the higher they capered, till at last they cried for mercy. But +the youth paid no heed, and the tunes rang out more merrily than +before, and by the time the sun set they both sank on the ground +exhausted, and declared that the hanging must be put off till +to-morrow. + +The story of the zither soon spread through the town, and on the +following morning the king and his whole court and a large crowd +of people were gathered at the foot of the gallows to see the youth +hanged. Once more he asked a favour--permission to play on his +fiddle, and this the king was graciously pleased to grant. But with +the first notes, the leg of every man in the crowd was lifted high, +and they danced to the sound of the music the whole day till +darkness fell, and there was no light to hang the musician by. + +The third day came, and the youth asked leave to play on his flute. +'No, no,' said the king, 'you made me dance all day yesterday, and if +I do it again it will certainly be my death. You shall play no more +tunes. Quick! the rope round his neck.' + +At these words the young man looked so sorrowful that the +courtiers said to the king: 'He is very young to die. Let him play a +tune if it will make him happy.' So, very unwillingly, the king gave +him leave; but first he had himself bound to a big fir tree, for fear +that he should be made to dance. + +When he was made fast, the young man began to blow softly on his +flute, and bound though he was, the king's body moved to the +sound, up and down the fir tree till his clothes were in tatters, and +the skin nearly rubbed off his back. But the youth had no pity, and +went on blowing, till suddenly the old magician appeared and +asked: 'What danger are you in, my son, that you have sent for me?' + +'They want to hang me,' answered the young man; 'the gallows are +all ready and the hangman is only waiting for me to stop playing.' + +'Oh, I will put that right,' said the magician; and taking the gallows, +he tore it up and flung it into the air, and no one knows where it +came down. 'Who has ordered you to be hanged?' asked he. + +The young man pointed to the king, who was still bound to the fir; +and without wasting words the magician took hold of the tree also, +and with a mighty heave both fir and man went spinning through +the air, and vanished in the clouds after the gallows. + +Then the youth was declared to be free, and the people elected him +for their king; and the stable helper drowned himself from envy, for, +after all, if it had not been for him the young man would have +remained poor all the days of his life. + +[From Finnische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Strong Prince + +Once upon a time there lived a king who was so fond of wine that +he could not go to sleep unless he knew he had a great flaskful tied +to his bed-post. All day long he drank till he was too stupid to +attend to his business, and everything in the kingdom went to rack +and ruin. But one day an accident happened to him, and he was +struck on the head by a falling bough, so that he fell from his horse +and lay dead upon the ground. + +His wife and son mourned his loss bitterly, for, in spite of his faults, +he had always been kind to them. So they abandoned the crown +and forsook their country, not knowing or caring where they went. + +At length they wandered into a forest, and being very tired, sat +down under a tree to eat some bread that they had brought with +them. When they had finished the queen said: 'My son, I am thirsty; +fetch me some water.' + +The prince got up at once and went to a brook which he heard +gurgling near at hand. He stooped and filled his hat with the water, +which he brought to his mother; then he turned and followed the +stream up to its source in a rock, where it bubbled out clear and +fresh and cold. He knelt down to take a draught from the deep +pool below the rock, when he saw the reflection of a sword hanging +from the branch of a tree over his head. The young man drew back +with a start; but in a moment he climbed the tree, cutting the rope +which held the sword, and carried the weapon to his mother. + +The queen was greatly surprised at the sight of anything so splendid +in such a lonely place, and took it in her hands to examine it closely. +It was of curious workmanship, wrought with gold, and on its +handle was written: 'The man who can buckle on this sword will +become stronger than other men.' The queen's heart swelled with +joy as she read these words, and she bade her son lose no time in +testing their truth. So he fastened it round his waist, and instantly a +glow of strength seemed to run through his veins. He took hold of +a thick oak tree and rooted it up as easily as if it had been a weed. + +This discovery put new life into the queen and her son, and they +continued their walk through the forest. But night was drawing on, +and the darkness grew so thick that it seemed as if it could be cut +with a knife. They did not want to sleep in the wood, for they were +afraid of wolves and other wild beasts, so they groped their way +along, hand in hand, till the prince tripped over something which lay +across the path. He could not see what it was, but stooped down +and tried to lift it. The thing was very heavy, and he thought his +back would break under the strain. At last with a great heave he +moved it out of the road, and as it fell he knew it was a huge rock. +Behind the rock was a cave which it was quite clear was the home +of some robbers, though not one of the band was there. + +Hastily putting out the fire which burned brightly at the back, and +bidding his mother come in and keep very still, the prince began to +pace up and down, listening for the return of the robbers. But he +was very sleepy, and in spite of all his efforts he felt he could not +keep awake much longer, when he heard the sound of the robbers +returning, shouting and singing as they marched along. Soon the +singing ceased, and straining his ears he heard them discussing +anxiously what had become of their cave, and why they could not +see the fire as usual. 'This must be the place,' said a voice, which +the prince took to be that of the captain. 'Yes, I feel the ditch +before the entrance. Someone forgot to pile up the fire before we +left and it has burnt itself out! But it is all right. Let every man +jump across, and as he does so cry out "Hop! I am here." I will go +last. Now begin.' + +The man who stood nearest jumped across, but he had no time to +give the call which the captain had ordered, for with one swift, +silent stroke of the prince's sword, his head rolled into a corner. +Then the young man cried instead, 'Hop! I am here.' + +The second man, hearing the signal, leapt the ditch in confidence, +and was met by the same fate, and in a few minutes eleven of the +robbers lay dead, and there remained only the captain. + +Now the captain had wound round his neck the shawl of his lost +wife, and the stroke of the prince's sword fell harmless. Being very +cunning, however, he made no resistance, and rolled over as if he +were as dead as the other men. Still, the prince was no fool, and +wondered if indeed he was as dead as he seemed to be; but the +captain lay so stiff and stark, that at last he was taken in. + +The prince next dragged the headless bodies into a chamber in the +cave, and locked the door. Then he and his mother ransacked the +place for some food, and when they had eaten it they lay down and +slept in peace. + +With the dawn they were both awake again, and found that, instead +of the cave which they had come to the night before, they now were +in a splendid castle, full of beautiful rooms. The prince went round +all these and carefully locked them up, bidding his mother take care +of the keys while he was hunting. + +Unfortunately, the queen, like all women, could not bear to think +that there was anything which she did not know. So the moment +that her son had turned his back, she opened the doors of all the +rooms, and peeped in, till she came to the one where the robbers +lay. But if the sight of the blood on the ground turned her faint, the +sight of the robber captain walking up and down was a greater +shock still. She quickly turned the key in the lock, and ran back to +the chamber she had slept in. + +Soon after her son came in, bringing with him a large bear, which +he had killed for supper. As there was enough food to last them for +many days, the prince did not hunt the next morning, but, instead, +began to explore the castle. He found that a secret way led from it +into the forest; and following the path, he reached another castle +larger and more splendid than the one belonging to the robbers. He +knocked at the door with his fist, and said that he wanted to enter; +but the giant, to whom the castle belonged, only answered: 'I know +who you are. I have nothing to do with robbers.' + +'I am no robber,' answered the prince. 'I am the son of a king, and I +have killed all the band. If you do not open to me at once I will +break in the door, and your head shall go to join the others.' + +He waited a little, but the door remained shut as tightly as before. +Then he just put his shoulder to it, and immediately the wood began +to crack. When the giant found that it was no use keeping it shut, +he opened it, saying: 'I see you are a brave youth. Let there be +peace between us.' + +And the prince was glad to make peace, for he had caught a +glimpse of the giant's beautiful daughter, and from that day he often +sought the giant's house. + +Now the queen led a dull life all alone in the castle, and to amuse +herself she paid visits to the robber captain, who flattered her till at +last she agreed to marry him. But as she was much afraid of her +son, she told the robber that the next time the prince went to bathe +in the river, he was to steal the sword from its place above the bed, +for without it the young man would have no power to punish him +for his boldness. + +The robber captain thought this good counsel, and the next +morning, when the young man went to bathe, he unhooked the +sword from its nail and buckled it round his waist. On his return to +the castle, the prince found the robber waiting for him on the steps, +waving the sword above his head, and knowing that some horrible +fate was in store, fell on his knees and begged for mercy. But he +might as well have tried to squeeze blood out of a stone. The +robber, indeed, granted him his life, but took out both his eyes, +which he thrust into the prince's hand, saying brutally: + +'Here, you had better keep them! You may find them useful!' + +Weeping, the blind youth felt his way to the giant's house, and told +him all the story. + +The giant was full of pity for the poor young man, but inquired +anxiously what he had done with the eyes. The prince drew them +out of his pocket, and silently handed them to the giant, who +washed them well, and then put them back in the prince's head. For +three days he lay in utter darkness; then the light began to come +back, till soon he saw as well as ever. + +But though he could not rejoice enough over the recovery of his +eyes, he bewailed bitterly the loss of his sword, and that it should +have fallen to the lot of his bitter enemy. + +'Never mind, my friend,' said the giant, 'I will get it back for you.' +And he sent for the monkey who was his head servant. + +'Tell the fox and the squirrel that they are to go with you, and fetch +me back the prince's sword,' ordered he. + +The three servants set out at once, one seated on the back of the +others, the ape, who disliked walking, being generally on top. +Directly they came to the window of the robber captain's room, the +monkey sprang from the backs of the fox and the squirrel, and +climbed in. The room was empty, and the sword hanging from a +nail. He took it down, and buckling it round his waist, as he had +seen the prince do, swung himself down again, and mounting on the +backs of his two companions, hastened to his master. The giant +bade him give the sword to the prince, who girded himself with it, +and returned with all speed to the castle. + +'Come out, you rascal! come out, you villain!' cried he, 'and answer +to me for the wrong you have done. I will show you who is the +master in this house!' + +The noise he made brought the robber into the room. He glanced +up to where the sword usually hung, but it was gone; and +instinctively he looked at the prince's hand, where he saw it +gleaming brightly. In his turn he fell on his knees to beg for mercy, +but it was too late. As he had done to the prince, so the prince did +to him, and, blinded, he was thrust forth, and fell down a deep hole, +where he is to this day. His mother the prince sent back to her +father, and never would see her again. After this he returned to the +giant, and said to him: + +'My friend, add one more kindness to those you have already +heaped on me. Give me your daughter as my wife.' + +So they were married, and the wedding feast was so splendid that +there was not a kingdom in the world that did not hear of it. And +the prince never went back to his father's throne, but lived +peacefully with his wife in the forest, where, if they are not dead, +they are living still. + +[From Ungarische Volksmarchen.] + + + +The Treasure Seeker + +Once, long ago, in a little town that lay in the midst of high hills and +wild forests, a party of shepherds sat one night in the kitchen of the +inn talking over old times, and telling of the strange things that had +befallen them in their youth. + +Presently up spoke the silver-haired Father Martin. + +'Comrades,' said he, 'you have had wonderful adventures; but I will +tell you something still more astonishing that happened to myself. +When I was a young lad I had no home and no one to care for me, +and I wandered from village to village all over the country with my +knapsack on my back; but as soon as I was old enough I took +service with a shepherd in the mountains, and helped him for three +years. One autumn evening as we drove the flock homeward ten +sheep were missing, and the master bade me go and seek them in +the forest. I took my dog with me, but he could find no trace of +them, though we searched among the bushes till night fell; and then, +as I did not know the country and could not find my way home in +the dark, I decided to sleep under a tree. At midnight my dog +became uneasy, and began to whine and creep close to me with his +tail between his legs; by this I knew that something was wrong, +and, looking about, I saw in the bright moonlight a figure standing +beside me. It seemed to be a man with shaggy hair, and a long +beard which hung down to his knees. He had a garland upon his +head, and a girdle of oak-leaves about his body, and carried an +uprooted fir-tree in his right hand. I shook like an aspen leaf at the +sight, and my spirit quaked for fear. The strange being beckoned +with his hand that I should follow him; but as I did not stir from the +spot he spoke in a hoarse, grating voice: "Take courage, +fainthearted shepherd. I am the Treasure Seeker of the mountain. +If you will come with me you shall dig up much gold." + +'Though I was still deadly cold with terror I plucked up my courage +and said: "Get away from me, evil spirit; I do not desire your +treasures." + +'At this the spectre grinned in my face and cried mockingly: + +'"Simpleton! Do you scorn your good fortune? Well, then, remain a +ragamuffin all your days." + +'He turned as if to go away from me, then came back again and +said: "Bethink yourself, bethink yourself, rogue. I will fill your +knapsack--I will fill your pouch." + +'"Away from me, monster," I answered, "I will have nothing to do +with you." + +'When the apparition saw that I gave no heed to him he ceased to +urge me, saying only: "Some day you will rue this," and looked at +me sadly. Then he cried: "Listen to what I say, and lay it well to +heart, it may be of use to you when you come to your senses. A +vast treasure of gold and precious stones lies in safety deep under +the earth. At twilight and at high noon it is hidden, but at midnight +it may be dug up. For seven hundred years have I watched over it, +but now my time has come; it is common property, let him find it +who can. So I thought to give it into your hand, having a kindness +for you because you feed your flock upon my mountain." + +'Thereupon the spectre told me exactly where the treasure lay, and +how to find it. It might be only yesterday so well do I remember +every word he spoke. + +'"Go towards the little mountains," said he, "and ask there for the +Black King's Valley, and when you come to a tiny brook follow the +stream till you reach the stone bridge beside the saw-mill. Do not +cross the bridge, but keep to your right along the bank till a high +rock stands before you. A bow-shot from that you will discover a +little hollow like a grave. When you find this hollow dig it out; but +it will be hard work, for the earth has been pressed down into it +with care. Still, work away till you find solid rock on all sides of +you, and soon you will come to a square slab of stone; force it out +of the wall, and you will stand at the entrance of the treasure house. +Into this opening you must crawl, holding a lamp in your mouth. +Keep your hands free lest you knock your nose against a stone, for +the way is steep and the stones sharp. If it bruises your knees never +mind; you are on the road to fortune. Do not rest till you reach a +wide stairway, down which you will go till you come out into a +spacious hall, in which there are three doors; two of them stand +open, the third is fastened with locks and bolts of iron. Do not go +through the door to the right lest you disturb the bones of the lords +of the treasure. Neither must you go through the door to the left, it +leads to the snake's chamber, where adders and serpents lodge; but +open the fast-closed door by means of the well-known spring-root, +which you must on no account forget to take with you, or all your +trouble will be for naught, for no crowbar or mortal tools will help +you. If you want to procure the root ask a wood-seller; it is a +common thing for hunters to need, and it is not hard to find. If the +door bursts open suddenly with great crackings and groanings do +not be afraid, the noise is caused by the power of the magic root, +and you will not be hurt. Now trim your lamp that it may not fail +you, for you will be nearly blinded by the flash and glitter of the +gold and precious stones on the walls and pillars of the vault; but +beware how you stretch out a hand towards the jewels! In the midst +of the cavern stands a copper chest, in that you will find gold and +silver, enough and to spare, and you may help yourself to your +heart's content. If you take as much as you can carry you will have +sufficient to last your lifetime, and you may return three times; but +woe betide you if you venture to come a fourth time. You would +have your trouble for your pains, and would be punished for your +greediness by falling down the stone steps and breaking your leg. +Do not neglect each time to heap back the loose earth which +concealed the entrance of the king's treasure chamber." + +'As the apparition left off speaking my dog pricked up his ears and +began to bark. I heard the crack of a carter's whip and the noise of +wheels in the distance, and when I looked again the spectre had +disappeared.' + +So ended the shepherd's tale; and the landlord who was listening +with the rest, said shrewdly: + +'Tell us now, Father Martin, did you go to the mountain and find +what the spirit promised you; or is it a fable?' + +'Nay, nay,' answered the graybeard. 'I cannot tell if the spectre lied, +for never a step did I go towards finding the hollow, for two +reasons:--one was that my neck was too precious for me to risk it in +such a snare as that; the other, that no one could ever tell me where +the spring-root was to be found.' + +Then Blaize, another aged shepherd, lifted up his voice. + +"Tis a pity, Father Martin, that your secret has grown old with you. +If you had told it forty years ago truly you would not long have +been lacking the spring-root. Even though you will never climb the +mountain now, I will tell you, for a joke, how it is to be found. The +easiest way to get it is by the help of a black woodpecker. Look, in +the spring, where she builds her nest in a hole in a tree, and when +the time comes for her brood to fly off block up the entrance to the +nest with a hard sod, and lurk in ambush behind the tree till the bird +returns to feed her nestlings. When she perceives that she cannot +get into her nest she will fly round the tree uttering cries of distress, +and then dart off towards the sun-setting. When you see her do +this, take a scarlet cloak, or if that be lacking to you, buy a few +yards of scarlet cloth, and hurry back to the tree before the +woodpecker returns with the spring-root in her beak. So soon as +she touches with the root the sod that blocks the nest, it will fly +violently out of the hole. Then spread the red cloth quickly under +the tree, so that the woodpecker may think it is a fire, and in her +terror drop the root. Some people really light a fire and strew +spikenard blossoms in it; but that is a clumsy method, for if the +flames do not shoot up at the right moment away will fly the +woodpecker, carrying the root with her.' + +The party had listened with interest to this speech, but by the time it +was ended the hour was late, and they went their ways homeward, +leaving only one man who had sat unheeded in a corner the whole +evening through. + +Master Peter Bloch had once been a prosperous innkeeper, and a +master-cook; but he had gone steadily down in the world for some +time, and was now quite poor. + +Formerly he had been a merry fellow, fond of a joke, and in the art +of cooking had no equal in the town. He could make fish-jelly, and +quince fritters, and even wafer-cakes; and he gilded the ears of all +his boars' heads. Peter had looked about him for a wife early in life, +but unluckily his choice fell upon a woman whose evil tongue was +well known in the town. Ilse was hated by everybody, and the +young folks would go miles out of their way rather than meet her, +for she had some ill-word for everyone. Therefore, when Master +Peter came along, and let himself be taken in by her boasted skill as +a housewife, she jumped at his offer, and they were married the +next day. But they had not got home before they began to quarrel. +In the joy of his heart Peter had tasted freely of his own good wine, +and as the bride hung upon his arm he stumbled and fell, dragging +her down with him; whereupon she beat him soundly, and the +neighbours said truly that things did not promise well for Master +Peter's comfort. Even when the ill-matched couple were presently +blessed with children, his happiness was but short lived, the savage +temper of his quarrelsome wife seemed to blight them from the +first, and they died like little kids in a cold winter. + +Though Master Peter had no great wealth to leave behind him, still +it was sad to him to be childless; and he would bemoan himself to +his friends, when he laid one baby after another in the grave, saying: +'The lightning has been among the cherry-blossoms again, so there +will be no fruit to grow ripe.' + +But, by-and-by, he had a little daughter so strong and healthy that +neither her mother's temper nor her father's spoiling could keep her +from growing up tall and beautiful. Meanwhile the fortunes of the +family had changed. From his youth up, Master Peter had hated +trouble; when he had money he spent it freely, and fed all the +hungry folk who asked him for bread. If his pockets were empty he +borrowed of his neighbours, but he always took good care to +prevent his scolding wife from finding out that he had done so. His +motto was: 'It will all come right in the end'; but what it did come to +was ruin for Master Peter. He was at his wits' end to know how to +earn an honest living, for try as he might ill-luck seemed to pursue +him, and he lost one post after another, till at last all he could do +was to carry sacks of corn to the mill for his wife, who scolded him +well if he was slow about it, and grudged him his portion of food. + +This grieved the tender heart of his pretty daughter, who loved him +dearly, and was the comfort of his life. + +Peter was thinking of her as he sat in the inn kitchen and heard the +shepherds talking about the buried treasure, and for her sake he +resolved to go and seek for it. Before he rose from the landlord's +arm-chair his plan was made, and Master Peter went home more +joyful and full of hope than he had been for many a long day; but on +the way he suddenly remembered that he was not yet possessed of +the magic spring-root, and he stole into the house with a heavy +heart, and threw himself down upon his hard straw bed. He could +neither sleep nor rest; but as soon as it was light he got up and +wrote down exactly all that was to be done to find the treasure, that +he might not forget anything, and when it lay clear and plain before +his eyes he comforted himself with the thought that, though he must +do the rough work for his wife during one more winter at least, he +would not have to tread the path to the mill for the rest of his life. +Soon he heard his wife's harsh voice singing its morning song as she +went about her household affairs, scolding her daughter the while. +She burst open his door while he was still dressing: 'Well, Toper!' +was her greeting, 'have you been drinking all night, wasting money +that you steal from my housekeeping? For shame, drunkard!' + +Master Peter, who was well used to this sort of talk, did not disturb +himself, but waited till the storm blew over, then he said calmly: + +'Do not be annoyed, dear wife. I have a good piece of business in +hand which may turn out well for us.' + +'You with a good business?' cried she, 'you are good for nothing +but talk!' + +'I am making my will,' said he, 'that when my hour comes my house +may be in order.' + +These unexpected words cut his daughter to the heart; she +remembered that all night long she had dreamed of a newly dug +grave, and at this thought she broke out into loud lamentations. +But her mother only cried: 'Wretch! have you not wasted goods and +possessions, and now do you talk of making a will?' + +And she seized him like a fury, and tried to scratch out his eyes. +But by-and-by the quarrel was patched up, and everything went on +as before. From that day Peter saved up every penny that his +daughter Lucia gave him on the sly, and bribed the boys of his +acquaintance to spy out a black woodpecker's nest for him. He sent +them into the woods and fields, but instead of looking for a nest +they only played pranks on him. They led him miles over hill and +vale, stock and stone, to find a raven's brood, or a nest of squirrels +in a hollow tree, and when he was angry with them they laughed in +his face and ran away. This went on for some time, but at last one +of the boys spied out a woodpecker in the meadow-lands among +the wood-pigeons, and when he had found her nest in a half-dead +alder tree, came running to Peter with the news of his discovery. +Peter could hardly believe his good fortune, and went quickly to see +for himself if it was really true; and when he reached the tree there +certainly was a bird flying in and out as if she had a nest in it. Peter +was overjoyed at this fortunate discovery, and instantly set himself +to obtain a red cloak. Now in the whole town there was only one +red cloak, and that belonged to a man of whom nobody ever +willingly asked a favour--Master Hammerling the hangman. It cost +Master Peter many struggles before he could bring himself to visit +such a person, but there was no help for it, and, little as he liked it, +he ended by making his request to the hangman, who was flattered +that so respectable a man as Peter should borrow his robe of office, +and willingly lent it to him. + +Peter now had all that was necessary to secure the magic root; he +stopped up the entrance to the nest, and everything fell out exactly +as Blaize had foretold. As soon as the woodpecker came back with +the root in her beak out rushed Master Peter from behind the tree +and displayed the fiery red cloak so adroitly that the terrified bird +dropped the root just where it could be easily seen. All Peter's +plans had succeeded, and he actually held in his hand the magic +root--that master-key which would unlock all doors, and bring its +possessor unheard-of luck. His thoughts now turned to the +mountain, and he secretly made preparations for his journey. He +took with him only a staff, a strong sack, and a little box which his +daughter Lucia had given him. + +It happened that on the very day Peter had chosen for setting out, +Lucia and her mother went off early to the town, leaving him to +guard the house; but in spite of that he was on the point of taking +his departure when it occurred to him that it might be as well first +to test the much-vaunted powers of the magic root for himself. +Dame Ilse had a strong cupboard with seven locks built into the +wall of her room, in which she kept all the money she had saved, +and she wore the key of it always hung about her neck. Master +Peter had no control at all of the money affairs of the household, so +the contents of this secret hoard were quite unknown to him, and +this seemed to be a good opportunity for finding out what they +were. He held the magic root to the keyhole, and to his +astonishment heard all the seven locks creaking and turning, the +door flew suddenly wide open, and his greedy wife's store of gold +pieces lay before his eyes. He stood still in sheer amazement, not +knowing which to rejoice over most--this unexpected find, or the +proof of the magic root's real power; but at last he remembered that +it was quite time to be starting on his journey. So, filling his +pockets with the gold, he carefully locked the empty cupboard +again and left the house without further delay. When Dame Ilse +and her daughter returned they wondered to find the house door +shut, and Master Peter nowhere to be seen. They knocked and +called, but nothing stirred within but the house cat, and at last the +blacksmith had to be fetched to open the door. Then the house was +searched from garret to cellar, but no Master Peter was to be +found. + +'Who knows?' cried Dame Ilse at last, 'the wretch may have been +idling in some tavern since early morning.' + +Then a sudden thought startled her, and she felt for her keys. +Suppose they had fallen into her good-for-nothing husband's hands +and he had helped himself to her treasure! But no, the keys were +safe in their usual place, and the cupboard looked quite untouched. +Mid-day came, then evening, then midnight, and still no Master +Peter appeared, and the matter became really serious. Dame Ilse +knew right well what a torment she had been to her husband, and +remorse caused her the gloomiest forebodings. + +'Ah! Lucia,' she cried, 'I greatly fear that your father has done +himself a mischief.' And they sat till morning weeping over their +own fancies. + +As soon as it was light they searched every corner of the house +again, and examined every nail in the wall and every beam; but, +luckily, Master Peter was not hanging from any of them. After that +the neighbours went out with long poles to fish in every ditch and +pond, but they found nothing, and then Dame Ilse gave up the idea +of ever seeing her husband again and very soon consoled herself, +only wondering how the sacks of corn were to be carried to the mill +in future. She decided to buy a strong ass to do the work, and +having chosen one, and after some bargaining with the owner as to +its price, she went to the cupboard in the wall to fetch the money. +But what were her feelings when she perceived that every shelf lay +empty and bare before her! For a moment she stood bewildered, +then broke into such frightful ravings that Lucia ran to her in alarm; +but as soon as she heard of the disappearance of the money she was +heartily glad, and no longer feared that her father had come to any +harm, but understood that he must have gone out into the world to +seek his fortune in some new way. + +About a month after this, someone knocked at Dame Ilse's door +one day, and she went to see if it was a customer for meal; but in +stepped a handsome young man, dressed like a duke's son, who +greeted her respectfully, and asked after her pretty daughter as if he +were an old friend, though she could not remember having ever set +eyes upon him before. + +However, she invited him to step into the house and be seated while +he unfolded his business. With a great air of mystery he begged +permission to speak to the fair Lucia, of whose skill in needlework +he had heard so much, as he had a commission to give her. Dame +Ilse had her own opinion as to what kind of commission it was +likely to be--brought by a young stranger to a pretty maiden; +however, as the meeting would be under her own eye, she made no +objection, but called to her industrious daughter, who left off +working and came obediently; but when she saw the stranger she +stopped short, blushing, and casting down her eyes. He looked at +her fondly, and took her hand, which she tried to draw away, +crying: + +'Ah! Friedlin, why are you here? I thought you were a hundred +miles away. Are you come to grieve me again?' + +'No, dearest girl,' answered he; 'I am come to complete your +happiness and my own. Since we last met my fortune has utterly +changed; I am no longer the poor vagabond that I was then. My +rich uncle has died, leaving me money and goods in plenty, so that I +dare to present myself to your mother as a suitor for your hand. +That I love you I know well; if you can love me I am indeed a +happy man.' + +Lucia's pretty blue eyes had looked up shyly as he spoke, and now a +smile parted her rosy lips; and she stole a glance at her mother to +see what she thought about it all; but the dame stood lost in +amazement to find that her daughter, whom she could have +declared had never been out of her sight, was already well +acquainted with the handsome stranger, and quite willing to be his +bride. Before she had done staring, this hasty wooer had smoothed +his way by covering the shining table with gold pieces as a wedding +gift to the bride's mother, and had filled Lucia's apron into the +bargain; after which the dame made no difficulties, and the matter +was speedily settled. + +While Ilse gathered up the gold and hid it away safely, the lovers +whispered together, and what Friedlin told her seemed to make +Lucia every moment more happy and contented. + +Now a great hurry-burly began in the house, and preparations for +the wedding went on apace. A few days later a heavily laden +waggon drove up, and out of it came so many boxes and bales that +Dame Ilse was lost in wonder at the wealth of her future +son-in-law. The day for the wedding was chosen, and all their +friends and neighbours were bidden to the feast. As Lucia was +trying on her bridal wreath she said to her mother: 'This +wedding-garland would please me indeed if father Peter could lead +me to the church. If only he could come back again! Here we are +rolling in riches while he may be nibbling at hunger's table.' And the +very idea of such a thing made her weep, while even Dame Ilse +said: + +'I should not be sorry myself to see him come back--there is always +something lacking in a house when the good man is away.' + +But the fact was that she was growing quite tired of having no one +to scold. And what do you think happened? + +On the very eve of the wedding a man pushing a wheelbarrow +arrived at the city gate, and paid toll upon a barrel of nails which it +contained, and then made the best of his way to the bride's dwelling +and knocked at the door. + +The bride herself peeped out of the window to see who it could be, +and there stood father Peter! Then there was great rejoicing in the +house; Lucia ran to embrace him, and even Dame Ilse held out her +hand in welcome, and only said: 'Rogue, mend your ways,' when +she remembered the empty treasure cupboard. Father Peter greeted +the bridegroom, looking at him shrewdly, while the mother and +daughter hastened to say all they knew in his favour, and appeared +to be satisfied with him as a son-in-law. When Dame Ilse had set +something to eat before her husband, she was curious to hear his +adventures, and questioned him eagerly as to why he had gone +away. + +'God bless my native place,' said he. 'I have been marching through +the country, and have tried every kind of work, but now I have +found a job in the iron trade; only, so far, I have put more into it +than I have earned by it. This barrel of nails is my whole fortune, +which I wish to give as my contribution towards the bride's house +furnishing.' + +This speech roused Dame Ilse to anger, and she broke out into such +shrill reproaches that the bystanders were fairly deafened, and +Friedlin hastily offered Master Peter a home with Lucia and himself, +promising that he should live in comfort, and be always welcome. +So Lucia had her heart's desire, and father Peter led her to the +church next day, and the marriage took place very happily. Soon +afterwards the young people settled in a fine house which Friedlin +had bought, and had a garden and meadows, a fishpond, and a hill +covered with vines, and were as happy as the day was long. Father +Peter also stayed quietly with them, living, as everybody believed, +upon the generosity of his rich son-in law. No one suspected that +his barrel of nails was the real 'Horn of Plenty,' from which all this +prosperity overflowed. + +Peter had made the journey to the treasure mountain successfully, +without being found out by anybody. He had enjoyed himself by +the way, and taken his own time, until he actually reached the little +brook in the valley which it had cost him some trouble to find. +Then he pressed on eagerly, and soon came to the little hollow in +the wood; down he went, burrowing like a mole into the earth; the +magic root did its work, and at last the treasure lay before his eyes. +You may imagine how gaily Peter filled his sack with as much gold +as he could carry, and how he staggered up the seventy-seven steps +with a heart full of hope and delight. He did not quite trust the +gnome's promises of safety, and was in such haste to find himself +once more in the light of day that he looked neither to the right nor +the left, and could not afterwards remember whether the walls and +pillars had sparkled with jewels or not. + +However, all went well--he neither saw nor heard anything +alarming; the only thing that happened was that the great +iron-barred door shut with a crash as soon as he was fairly outside +it, and then he remembered that he had left the magic root behind +him, so he could not go back for another load of treasure. But even +that did not trouble Peter much; he was quite satisfied with what he +had already. After he had faithfully done everything according to +Father Martin's instructions, and pressed the earth well back into +the hollow, he sat down to consider how he could bring his treasure +back to his native place, and enjoy it there, without being forced to +share it with his scolding wife, who would give him no peace if she +once found out about it. At last, after much thinking, he hit upon a +plan. He carried his sack to the nearest village, and there bought a +wheelbarrow, a strong barrel, and a quantity of nails. Then he +packed his gold into the barrel, covered it well with a layer of nails, +hoisted it on to the wheelbarrow with some difficulty, and set off +with it upon his homeward way. At one place upon the road he met +a handsome young man who seemed by his downcast air to be in +some great trouble. Father Peter, who wished everybody to be as +happy as he was himself, greeted him cheerfully, and asked where +he was going, to which he answered sadly: + +'Into the wide world, good father, or out of it, where ever my feet +may chance to carry me.' + +'Why out of it?' said Peter. 'What has the world been doing to you?' + +'It has done nothing to me, nor I to it,' he replied. 'Nevertheless +there is not anything left in it for me.' + +Father Peter did his best to cheer the young man up, and invited +him to sup with him at the first inn they came to, thinking that +perhaps hunger and poverty were causing the stranger's trouble. +But when good food was set before him he seemed to forget to eat. +So Peter perceived that what ailed his guest was sorrow of heart, +and asked him kindly to tell him his story. + +'Where is the good, father?' said he. 'You can give me neither help +nor comfort.' + +'Who knows?' answered Master Peter. 'I might be able to do +something for you. Often enough in life help comes to us from the +most unexpected quarter.' + +The young man, thus encouraged, began his tale. + +'I am,' said he, 'a crossbow-man in the service of a noble count, in +whose castle I was brought up. Not long ago my master went on a +journey, and brought back with him, amongst other treasures, the +portrait of a fair maiden so sweet and lovely that I lost my heart at +first sight of it, and could think of nothing but how I might seek her +out and marry her. The count had told me her name, and where she +lived, but laughed at my love, and absolutely refused to give me +leave to go in search of her, so I was forced to run away from the +castle by night. I soon reached the little town where the maiden +dwelt; but there fresh difficulties awaited me. She lived under the +care of her mother, who was so severe that she was never allowed +to look out of the window, or set her foot outside the door alone, +and how to make friends with her I did not know. But at last I +dressed myself as an old woman, and knocked boldly at her door. +The lovely maiden herself opened it, and so charmed me that I came +near forgetting my disguise; but I soon recovered my wits, and +begged her to work a fine table-cloth for me, for she is reported to +be the best needlewoman in all the country round. Now I was free +to go and see her often under the presence of seeing how the work +was going oil, and one day, when her mother had gone to the town, +I ventured to throw off my disguise, and tell her of my love. She +was startled at first; but I persuaded her to listen to me, and I soon +saw that I was not displeasing to her, though she scolded me gently +for my disobedience to my master, and my deceit in disguising +myself. But when I begged her to marry me, she told me sadly that +her mother would scorn a penniless wooer, and implored me to go +away at once, lest trouble should fall upon her. + +'Bitter as it was to me, I was forced to go when she bade me, and I +have wandered about ever since, with grief gnawing at my heart; +for how can a masterless man, without money or goods, ever hope +to win the lovely Lucia?' + +Master Peter, who had been listening attentively, pricked up his +ears at the sound of his daughter's name, and very soon found out +that it was indeed with her that this young man was so deeply in +love. + +'Your story is strange indeed,' said he. 'But where is the father of +this maiden--why do you not ask him for her hand? He might well +take your part, and be glad to have you for his son-in-law.' + +'Alas!' said the young man, 'her father is a wandering +good-for-naught, who has forsaken wife and child, and gone off-- +who knows where? The wife complains of him bitterly enough, and +scolds my dear maiden when she takes her father's part.' + +Father Peter was somewhat amused by this speech; but he liked the +young man well, and saw that he was the very person he needed to +enable him to enjoy his wealth in peace, without being separated +from his dear daughter. + +'If you will take my advice,' said he, 'I promise you that you shall +marry this maiden whom you love so much, and that before you are +many days older.' + +'Comrade,' cried Friedlin indignantly, for he thought Peter did but +jest with him, 'it is ill done to mock at an unhappy man; you had +better find someone else who will let himself be taken in with your +fine promises.' And up he sprang, and was going off hastily, when +Master Peter caught him by the arm. + +'Stay, hothead!' he cried; 'it is no jest, and I am prepared to make +good my words.' + +Thereupon he showed him the treasure hidden under the nails, and +unfolded to him his plan, which was that Friedlin should play the +part of the rich son-in-law, and keep a still tongue, that they might +enjoy their wealth together in peace. + +The young man was overjoyed at this sudden change in his +fortunes, and did not know how to thank father Peter for his +generosity. They took the road again at dawn the next morning, +and soon reached a town, where Friedlin equipped himself as a +gallant wooer should. Father Peter filled his pockets with gold for +the wedding dowry, and agreed with him that when all was settled +he should secretly send him word that Peter might send off the +waggon load of house plenishings with which the rich bridegroom +was to make such a stir in the little town where the bride lived. As +they parted, father Peter's last commands to Friedlin were to guard +well their secret, and not even to tell it to Lucia till she was his +wife. + +Master Peter long enjoyed the profits of his journey to the +mountain, and no rumour of it ever got abroad. In his old age his +prosperity was so great that he himself did not know how rich he +was; but it was always supposed that the money was Friedlin's. He +and his beloved wife lived in the greatest happiness and peace, and +rose to great honour in the town. And to this day, when the +citizens wish to describe a wealthy man, they say: 'As rich as Peter +Bloch's son-in-law!' + + + +The Cottager And His Cat + +Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife in a dirty, +tumble-down cottage, not very far from the splendid palace where +the king and queen dwelt. In spite of the wretched state of the hut, +which many people declared was too bad even for a pig to live in, +the old man was very rich, for he was a great miser, and lucky +besides, and would often go without food all day sooner than +change one of his beloved gold pieces. + +But after a while he found that he had starved himself once too +often. He fell ill, and had no strength to get well again, and in a few +days he died, leaving his wife and one son behind him. + +The night following his death, the son dreamed that an unknown +man appeared to him and said: 'Listen to me; your father is dead +and your mother will soon die, and all their riches will belong to +you. Half of his wealth is ill-gotten, and this you must give back to +the poor from whom he squeezed it. The other half you must +throw into the sea. Watch, however, as the money sinks into the +water, and if anything should swim, catch it and keep it, even if it is +nothing more than a bit of paper.' + +Then the man vanished, and the youth awoke. + +The remembrance of his dream troubled him greatly. He did not +want to part with the riches that his father had left him, for he had +known all his life what it was to be cold and hungry, and now he +had hoped for a little comfort and pleasure. Still, he was honest +and good-hearted, and if his father had come wrongfully by his +wealth he felt he could never enjoy it, and at last he made up his +mind to do as he had been bidden. He found out who were the +people who were poorest in the village, and spent half of his money +in helping them, and the other half he put in his pocket. From a +rock that jutted right out into the sea he flung it in. In a moment it +was out of sight, and no man could have told the spot where it had +sunk, except for a tiny scrap of paper floating on the water. He +stretched down carefully and managed to reach it, and on opening it +found six shillings wrapped inside. This was now all the money he +had in the world. + +The young man stood and looked at it thoughtfully. 'Well, I can't +do much with this,' he said to himself; but, after all, six shillings +were better than nothing, and he wrapped them up again and +slipped them into his coat. + +He worked in his garden for the next few weeks, and he and his +mother contrived to live on the fruit and vegetables he got out of it, +and then she too died suddenly. The poor fellow felt very sad when +he had laid her in her grave, and with a heavy heart he wandered +into the forest, not knowing where he was going. By-and-by he +began to get hungry, and seeing a small hut in front of him, he +knocked at the door and asked if they could give him some milk. +The old woman who opened it begged him to come in, adding +kindly, that if he wanted a night's lodging he might have it without +its costing him anything. + +Two women and three men were at supper when he entered, and +silently made room for him to sit down by them. When he had +eaten he began to look about him, and was surprised to see an +animal sitting by the fire different from anything he had ever noticed +before. It was grey in colour, and not very big; but its eyes were +large and very bright, and it seemed to be singing in an odd way, +quite unlike any animal in the forest. 'What is the name of that +strange little creature?' asked he. And they answered, 'We call it a +cat.' + +'I should like to buy it--if it is not too dear,' said the young man; 'it +would be company for me.' And they told him that he might have it +for six shillings, if he cared to give so much. The young man took +out his precious bit of paper, handed them the six shillings, and the +next morning bade them farewell, with the cat lying snugly in his +cloak. + +For the whole day they wandered through meadows and forests, till +in the evening they reached a house. The young fellow knocked at +the door and asked the old man who opened it if he could rest there +that night, adding that he had no money to pay for it. 'Then I must +give it to you,' answered the man, and led him into a room where +two women and two men were sitting at supper. One of the +women was the old man's wife, the other his daughter. He placed +the cat on the mantel shelf, and they all crowded round to examine +this strange beast, and the cat rubbed itself against them, and held +out its paw, and sang to them; and the women were delighted, and +gave it everything that a cat could eat, and a great deal more +besides. + +After hearing the youth's story, and how he had nothing in the +world left him except his cat, the old man advised him to go to the +palace, which was only a few miles distant, and take counsel of the +king, who was kind to everyone, and would certainly be his friend. +The young man thanked him, and said he would gladly take his +advice; and early next morning he set out for the royal palace. + +He sent a message to the king to beg for an audience, and received +a reply that he was to go into the great hall, where he would find +his Majesty. + +The king was at dinner with his court when the young man entered, +and he signed to him to come near. The youth bowed low, and +then gazed in surprise at the crowd of little black creatures who +were running about the floor, and even on the table itself. Indeed, +they were so bold that they snatched pieces of food from the King's +own plate, and if he drove them away, tried to bite his hands, so +that he could not eat his food, and his courtiers fared no better. + +'What sort of animals are these?' asked the youth of one of the +ladies sitting near him. + +'They are called rats,' answered the king, who had overheard the +question, 'and for years we have tried some way of putting an end +to them, but it is impossible. They come into our very beds.' + +At this moment something was seen flying through the air. The cat +was on the table, and with two or three shakes a number of rats +were lying dead round him. Then a great scuffling of feet was +heard, and in a few minutes the hall was clear. + +For some minutes the King and his courtiers only looked at each +other in astonishment. 'What kind of animal is that which can work +magic of this sort?' asked he. And the young man told him that it +was called a cat, and that he had bought it for six shillings. + +And the King answered: 'Because of the luck you have brought me, +in freeing my palace from the plague which has tormented me for +many years, I will give you the choice of two things. Either you +shall be my Prime Minister, or else you shall marry my daughter and +reign after me. Say, which shall it be?' + +'The princess and the kingdom,' said the young man. + +And so it was. + +[From Islandische Marchen.] + + + +The Prince Who Would Seek Immortality + +Once upon a time, in the very middle of the middle of a large +kingdom, there was a town, and in the town a palace, and in the +palace a king. This king had one son whom his father thought was +wiser and cleverer than any son ever was before, and indeed his +father had spared no pains to make him so. He had been very +careful in choosing his tutors and governors when he was a boy, +and when he became a youth he sent him to travel, so that he might +see the ways of other people, and find that they were often as good +as his own. + +It was now a year since the prince had returned home, for his father +felt that it was time that his son should learn how to rule the +kingdom which would one day be his. But during his long absence +the prince seemed to have changed his character altogether. From +being a merry and light-hearted boy, he had grown into a gloomy +and thoughtful man. The king knew of nothing that could have +produced such an alteration. He vexed himself about it from +morning till night, till at length an explanation occurred to him--the +young man was in love! + +Now the prince never talked about his feelings--for the matter of +that he scarcely talked at all; and the father knew that if he was to +come to the bottom of the prince's dismal face, he would have to +begin. So one day, after dinner, he took his son by the arm and led +him into another room, hung entirely with the pictures of beautiful +maidens, each one more lovely than the other. + +'My dear boy,' he said, 'you are very sad; perhaps after all your +wanderings it is dull for you here all alone with me. It would be +much better if you would marry, and I have collected here the +portraits of the most beautiful women in the world of a rank equal +to your own. Choose which among them you would like for a wife, +and I will send an embassy to her father to ask for her hand.' + +'Alas! your Majesty,' answered the prince, 'it is not love or marriage +that makes me so gloomy; but the thought, which haunts me day +and night, that all men, even kings, must die. Never shall I be +happy again till I have found a kingdom where death is unknown. +And I have determined to give myself no rest till I have discovered +the Land of Immortality. + +The old king heard him with dismay; things were worse than he +thought. He tried to reason with his son, and told him that during +all these years he had been looking forward to his return, in order to +resign his throne and its cares, which pressed so heavily upon him. +But it was in vain that he talked; the prince would listen to nothing, +and the following morning buckled on his sword and set forth on +his journey. + +He had been travelling for many days, and had left his fatherland +behind him, when close to the road he came upon a huge tree, and +on its topmost bough an eagle was sitting shaking the branches with +all his might. This seemed so strange and so unlike an eagle, that +the prince stood still with surprise, and the bird saw him and flew to +the ground. The moment its feet touched the ground he changed +into a king. + +'Why do you look so astonished?' he asked. + +'I was wondering why you shook the boughs so fiercely,' answered +the prince. + +'I am condemned to do this, for neither I nor any of my kindred can +die till I have rooted up this great tree,' replied the king of the +eagles. 'But it is now evening, and I need work no more to-day. +Come to my house with me, and be my guest for the night.' + +The prince accepted gratefully the eagle's invitation, for he was +tired and hungry. They were received at the palace by the king's +beautiful daughter, who gave orders that dinner should be laid for +them at once. While they were eating, the eagle questioned his +guest about his travels, and if he was wandering for pleasure's sake, +or with any special aim. Then the prince told him everything, and +how he could never turn back till he had discovered the Land of +Immortality. + +'Dear brother,' said the eagle, 'you have discovered it already, and it +rejoices my heart to think that you will stay with us. Have you not +just heard me say that death has no power either over myself or any +of my kindred till that great tree is rooted up? It will take me six +hundred years' hard work to do that; so marry my daughter and let +us all live happily together here. After all, six hundred years is an +eternity!' + +'Ah, dear king,' replied the young man, 'your offer is very tempting! +But at the end of six hundred years we should have to die, so we +should be no better off! No, I must go on till I find the country +where there is no death at all.' + +Then the princess spoke, and tried to persuade the guest to change +his mind, but he sorrowfully shook his head. At length, seeing that +his resolution was firmly fixed, she took from a cabinet a little box +which contained her picture, and gave it to him saying: + +'As you will not stay with us, prince, accept this box, which will +sometimes recall us to your memory. If you are tired of travelling +before you come to the Land of Immortality, open this box and +look at my picture, and you will be borne along either on earth or in +the air, quick as thought, or swift as the whirlwind.' + +The prince thanked her for her gift, which he placed in his tunic, +and sorrowfully bade the eagle and his daughter farewell. + +Never was any present in the world as useful as that little box, and +many times did he bless the kind thought of the princess. One +evening it had carried him to the top of a high mountain, where he +saw a man with a bald head, busily engaged in digging up spadefuls +of earth and throwing them in a basket. When the basket was full +he took it away and returned with an empty one, which he likewise +filled. The prince stood and watched him for a little, till the +bald-headed man looked up and said to him: 'Dear brother, what +surprises you so much?' + +'I was wondering why you were filling the basket,' replied the +prince. + +'Oh!' replied the man, 'I am condemned to do this, for neither I nor +any of my family can die till I have dug away the whole of this +mountain and made it level with the plain. But, come, it is almost +dark, and I shall work no longer.' And he plucked a leaf from a tree +close by, and from a rough digger he was changed into a stately +bald-headed king. 'Come home with me,' he added; 'you must be +tired and hungry, and my daughter will have supper ready for us.' +The prince accepted gladly, and they went back to the palace, +where the bald-headed king's daughter, who was still more beautiful +than the other princess, welcomed them at the door and led the way +into a large hall and to a table covered with silver dishes. While +they were eating, the bald-headed king asked the prince how he had +happened to wander so far, and the young man told him all about it, +and how he was seeking the Land of Immortality. 'You have found +it already,' answered the king, 'for, as I said, neither I nor my family +can die till I have levelled this great mountain; and that will take full +eight hundred years longer. Stay here with us and marry my +daughter. Eight hundred years is surely long enough to live.' + +'Oh, certainly,' answered the prince; 'but, all the same, I would +rather go and seek the land where there is no death at all.' + +So next morning he bade them farewell, though the princess begged +him to stay with all her might; and when she found that she could +not persuade him she gave him as a remembrance a gold ring. This +ring was still more useful than the box, because when one wished +oneself at any place one was there directly, without even the trouble +of flying to it through the air. The prince put it on his finger, and +thanking her heartily, went his way. + +He walked on for some distance, and then he recollected the ring +and thought he would try if the princess had spoken truly as to its +powers. 'I wish I was at the end of the world,' he said, shutting his +eyes, and when he opened them he was standing in a street full of +marble palaces. The men who passed him were tall and strong, and +their clothes were magnificent. He stopped some of them and +asked in all the twenty-seven languages he knew what was the +name of the city, but no one answered him. Then his heart sank +within him; what should he do in this strange place if nobody could +understand anything? he said. Suddenly his eyes fell upon a man +dressed after the fashion of his native country, and he ran up to him +and spoke to him in his own tongue. 'What city is this, my friend?' +he inquired. + +'It is the capital city of the Blue Kingdom,' replied the man, 'but the +king himself is dead, and his daughter is now the ruler.' + +With this news the prince was satisfied, and begged his countryman +to show him the way to the young queen's palace. The man led him +through several streets into a large square, one side of which was +occupied by a splendid building that seemed borne up on slender +pillars of soft green marble. In front was a flight of steps, and on +these the queen was sitting wrapped in a veil of shining silver mist, +listening to the complaints of her people and dealing out justice. +When the prince came up she saw directly that he was no ordinary +man, and telling her chamberlain to dismiss the rest of her +petitioners for that day, she signed to the prince to follow her into +the palace. Luckily she had been taught his language as a child, so +they had no difficulty in talking together. + +The prince told all his story and how he was journeying in search of +the Land of Immortality. When he had finished, the princess, who +had listened attentively, rose, and taking his arm, led him to the +door of another room, the floor of which was made entirely of +needles, stuck so close together that there was not room for a +single needle more. + +'Prince,' she said, turning to him, 'you see these needles? Well, +know that neither I nor any of my family can die till I have worn out +these needles in sewing. It will take at least a thousand years for +that. Stay here, and share my throne; a thousand years is long +enough to live!' + +'Certainly,' answered he; 'still, at the end of the thousand years I +should have to die! No, I must find the land where there is no +death.' + +The queen did all she could to persuade him to stay, but as her +words proved useless, at length she gave it up. Then she said to +him: 'As you will not stay, take this little golden rod as a +remembrance of me. It has the power to become anything you wish +it to be, when you are in need.' + +So the prince thanked her, and putting the rod in his pocket, went +his way. + +Scarcely had he left the town behind him when he came to a broad +river which no man might pass, for he was standing at the end of +the world, and this was the river which flowed round it. Not +knowing what to do next, he walked a little distance up the bank, +and there, over his head, a beautiful city was floating in the air. He +longed to get to it, but how? neither road nor bridge was anywhere +to be seen, yet the city drew him upwards, and he felt that here at +last was the country which he sought. Suddenly he remembered the +golden rod which the mist-veiled queen had given him. With a +beating heart he flung it to the ground, wishing with all his might +that it should turn into a bridge, and fearing that, after all, this +might prove beyond its power. But no, instead of the rod, there +stood a golden ladder, leading straight up to the city of the air. He +was about to enter the golden gates, when there sprang at him a +wondrous beast, whose like he had never seen. 'Out sword from +the sheath,' cried the prince, springing back with a cry. And the +sword leapt from the scabbard and cut off some of the monster's +heads, but others grew again directly, so that the prince, pale with +terror, stood where he was, calling for help, and put his sword back +in the sheath again. + +The queen of the city heard the noise and looked from her window +to see what was happening. Summoning one of her servants, she +bade him go and rescue the stranger, and bring him to her. The +prince thankfully obeyed her orders, and entered her presence. + +The moment she looked at him, the queen also felt that he was no +ordinary man, and she welcomed him graciously, and asked him +what had brought him to the city. In answer the prince told all his +story, and how he had travelled long and far in search of the Land +of Immortality. + +'You have found it,' said she, 'for I am queen over life and over +death. Here you can dwell among the immortals.' + +A thousand years had passed since the prince first entered the city, +but they had flown so fast that the time seemed no more than six +months. There had not been one instant of the thousand years that +the prince was not happy till one night when he dreamed of his +father and mother. Then the longing for his home came upon him +with a rush, and in the morning he told the Queen of the Immortals +that he must go and see his father and mother once more. The +queen stared at him with amazement, and cried: 'Why, prince, are +you out of your senses? It is more than eight hundred years since +your father and mother died! There will not even be their dust +remaining.' + +'I must go all the same,' said he. + +'Well, do not be in a hurry,' continued the queen, understanding that +he would not be prevented. 'Wait till I make some preparations for +your journey.' So she unlocked her great treasure chest, and took +out two beautiful flasks, one of gold and one of silver, which she +hung round his neck. Then she showed him a little trap-door in one +corner of the room, and said: 'Fill the silver flask with this water, +which is below the trap-door. It is enchanted, and whoever you +sprinkle with the water will become a dead man at once, even if he +had lived a thousand years. The golden flask you must fill with the +water here,' she added, pointing to a well in another corner. 'It +springs from the rock of eternity; you have only to sprinkle a few +drops on a body and it will come to life again, if it had been a +thousand years dead.' + +The prince thanked the queen for her gifts, and, bidding her +farewell, went on his journey. + +He soon arrived in the town where the mist-veiled queen reigned in +her palace, but the whole city had changed, and he could scarcely +find his way through the streets. In the palace itself all was still, +and he wandered through the rooms without meeting anyone to +stop him. At last he entered the queen's own chamber, and there +she lay, with her embroidery still in her hands, fast asleep. He +pulled at her dress, but she did not waken. Then a dreadful idea +came over him, and he ran to the chamber where the needles had +been kept, but it was quite empty. The queen had broken the last +over the work she held in her hand, and with it the spell was broken +too, and she lay dead. + +Quick as thought the prince pulled out the golden flask, and +sprinkled some drops of the water over the queen. In a moment she +moved gently, and raising her head, opened her eyes. + +'Oh, my dear friend, I am so glad you wakened me; I must have +slept a long while!' + +'You would have slept till eternity,' answered the prince, 'if I had +not been here to waken you.' + +At these words the queen remembered about the needles. She +knew now that she had been dead, and that the prince had restored +her to life. She gave him thanks from her heart for what he had +done, and vowed she would repay him if she ever got a chance. + +The prince took his leave, and set out for the country of the +bald-headed king. As he drew near the place he saw that the whole +mountain had been dug away, and that the king was lying dead on +the ground, his spade and bucket beside him. But as soon as the +water from the golden flask touched him he yawned and stretched +himself, and slowly rose to his feet. 'Oh, my dear friend, I am so +glad to see you,' cried he, 'I must have slept a long while!' + +'You would have slept till eternity if I had not been here to waken +you,' answered the prince. And the king remembered the mountain, +and the spell, and vowed to repay the service if he ever had a +chance. + +Further along the road which led to his old home the prince found +the great tree torn up by its roots, and the king of the eagles sitting +dead on the ground, with his wings outspread as if for flight. A +flutter ran through the feathers as the drops of water fell on them, +and the eagle lifted his beak from the ground and said: 'Oh, how +long I must have slept! How can I thank you for having awakened +me, my dear, good friend!' + +'You would have slept till eternity if I had not been here to waken +you'; answered the prince. Then the king remembered about the +tree, and knew that he had been dead, and promised, if ever he had +the chance, to repay what the prince had done for him. + +At last he reached the capital of his father's kingdom, but on +reaching the place where the royal palace had stood, instead of the +marble galleries where he used to play, there lay a great sulphur +lake, its blue flames darting into the air. How was he to find his +father and mother, and bring them back to life, if they were lying at +the bottom of that horrible water? He turned away sadly and +wandered back into the streets, hardly knowing where he was +going; when a voice behind him cried: 'Stop, prince, I have caught +you at last! It is a thousand years since I first began to seek you.' +And there beside him stood the old, white-bearded, figure of Death. +Swiftly he drew the ring from his finger, and the king of the eagles, +the bald-headed king, and the mist-veiled queen, hastened to his +rescue. In an instant they had seized upon Death and held him +tight, till the prince should have time to reach the Land of +Immortality. But they did not know how quickly Death could fly, +and the prince had only one foot across the border, when he felt the +other grasped from behind, and the voice of Death calling: 'Halt! +now you are mine.' + +The Queen of the Immortals was watching from her window, and +cried to Death that he had no power in her kingdom, and that he +must seek his prey elsewhere. + +'Quite true,' answered Death; 'but his foot is in my kingdom, and +that belongs to me!' + +'At any rate half of him is mine,' replied the Queen, 'and what good +can the other half do you? Half a man is no use, either to you or to +me! But this once I will allow you to cross into my kingdom, and +we will decide by a wager whose he is.' + +And so it was settled. Death stepped across the narrow line that +surrounds the Land of Immortality, and the queen proposed the +wager which was to decide the prince's fate. 'I will throw him up +into the sky,' she said, 'right to the back of the morning star, and if +he falls down into this city, then he is mine. But if he should fall +outside the walls, he shall belong to you.' + +In the middle of the city was a great open square, and here the +queen wished the wager to take place. When all was ready, she put +her foot under the foot of the prince and swung him into the air. +Up, up, he went, high amongst the stars, and no man's eyes could +follow him. Had she thrown him up straight? the queen wondered +anxiously, for, if not, he would fall outside the walls, and she would +lose him for ever. The moments seemed long while she and Death +stood gazing up into the air, waiting to know whose prize the +prince would be. Suddenly they both caught sight of a tiny speck +no bigger than a wasp, right up in the blue. Was he coming +straight? No! Yes! But as he was nearing the city, a light wind +sprang up, and swayed him in the direction of the wall. Another +second and he would have fallen half over it, when the queen +sprang forward, seized him in her arms, and flung him into the +castle. Then she commanded her servants to cast Death out of the +city, which they did, with such hard blows that he never dared to +show his face again in the Land of Immortality. + +[From Ungarischen Volksmurchen.] + + + + +The Stone-Cutter + +Once upon a time there lived a stone-cutter, who went every day to +a great rock in the side of a big mountain and cut out slabs for +gravestones or for houses. He understood very well the kinds of +stones wanted for the different purposes, and as he was a careful +workman he had plenty of customers. For a long time he was quite +happy and contented, and asked for nothing better than what he +had. + +Now in the mountain dwelt a spirit which now and then appeared to +men, and helped them in many ways to become rich and +prosperous. The stone-cutter, however, had never seen this spirit, +and only shook his head, with an unbelieving air, when anyone +spoke of it. But a time was coming when he learned to change his +opinion. + +One day the stone-cutter carried a gravestone to the house of a rich +man, and saw there all sorts of beautiful things, of which he had +never even dreamed. Suddenly his daily work seemed to grow +harder and heavier, and he said to himself: 'Oh, if only I were a rich +man, and could sleep in a bed with silken curtains and golden +tassels, how happy I should be!' + +And a voice answered him: 'Your wish is heard; a rich man you +shall be!' + +At the sound of the voice the stone-cutter looked round, but could +see nobody. He thought it was all his fancy, and picked up his tools +and went home, for he did not feel inclined to do any more work +that day. But when he reached the little house where he lived, he +stood still with amazement, for instead of his wooden hut was a +stately palace filled with splendid furniture, and most splendid of all +was the bed, in every respect like the one he had envied. He was +nearly beside himself with joy, and in his new life the old one was +soon forgotten. + +It was now the beginning of summer, and each day the sun blazed +more fiercely. One morning the heat was so great that the +stone-cutter could scarcely breathe, and he determined he would +stay at home till the evening. He was rather dull, for he had never +learned how to amuse himself, and was peeping through the closed +blinds to see what was going on in the street, when a little carriage +passed by, drawn by servants dressed in blue and silver. In the +carriage sat a prince, and over his head a golden umbrella was held, +to protect him from the sun's rays. + +'Oh, if I were only a prince!' said the stone-cutter to himself, as the +carriage vanished round the corner. 'Oh, if I were only a prince, +and could go in such a carriage and have a golden umbrella held +over me, how happy I should be!' + +And the voice of the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; +a prince you shall be.' + +And a prince he was. Before his carriage rode one company of men +and another behind it; servants dressed in scarlet and gold bore him +along, the coveted umbrella was held over his head, everything +heart could desire was his. But yet it was not enough. He looked +round still for something to wish for, and when he saw that in spite +of the water he poured on his grass the rays of the sun scorched it, +and that in spite of the umbrella held over his head each day his face +grew browner and browner, he cried in his anger: 'The sun is +mightier than I; oh, if I were only the sun!' + +And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; the sun you +shall be.' + +And the sun he was, and felt himself proud in his power. He shot +his beams above and below, on earth and in heaven; he burnt up the +grass in the fields and scorched the faces of princes as well as of +poorer folk. But in a short time he began to grow tired of his +might, for there seemed nothing left for him to do. Discontent once +more filled his soul, and when a cloud covered his face, and hid the +earth from him, he cried in his anger: 'Does the cloud hold captive +my rays, and is it mightier than I? Oh, that I were a cloud, and +mightier than any!' + +And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; a cloud you +shall be!' + +And a cloud he was, and lay between the sun and the earth. He +caught the sun's beams and held them, and to his joy the earth grew +green again and flowers blossomed. But that was not enough for +him, and for days and weeks he poured forth rain till the rivers +overflowed their banks, and the crops of rice stood in water. +Towns and villages were destroyed by the power of the rain, only +the great rock on the mountain side remained unmoved. The cloud +was amazed at the sight, and cried in wonder: 'Is the rock, then, +mightier than I? Oh, if I were only the rock!' + +And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; the rock +you shall be! + +And the rock he was, and gloried in his power. Proudly he stood, +and neither the heat of the sun nor the force of the rain could move +him. 'This is better than all!' he said to himself. But one day he +heard a strange noise at his feet, and when he looked down to see +what it could be, he saw a stone-cutter driving tools into his +surface. Even while he looked a trembling feeling ran all through +him, and a great block broke off and fell upon the ground. Then he +cried in his wrath: 'Is a mere child of earth mightier than a rock? +Oh, if I were only a man!' + +And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard. A man +once more you shall be!' + +And a man he was, and in the sweat of his brow he toiled again at +his trade of stone-cutting. His bed was hard and his food scanty, +but he had learned to be satisfied with it, and did not long to be +something or somebody else. And as he never asked for things he +had not got, or desired to be greater and mightier than other +people, he was happy at last, and heard the voice of the mountain +spirit no longer. + +[From Japanische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Gold-Bearded Man + +Once upon a time there lived a great king who had a wife and one +son whom he loved very much. The boy was still young when, one +day, the king said to his wife: 'I feel that the hour of my death +draws near, and I want you to promise that you will never take +another husband but will give up your life to the care of our son.' + +The queen burst into tears at these words, and sobbed out that she +would never, never marry again, and that her son's welfare should +be her first thought as long as she lived. Her promise comforted +the troubled heart of the king, and a few days after he died, at peace +with himself and with the world. + +But no sooner was the breath out of his body, than the queen said +to herself, 'To promise is one thing, and to keep is quite another.' +And hardly was the last spadeful of earth flung over the coffin than +she married a noble from a neighbouring country, and got him made +king instead of the young prince. Her new husband was a cruel, +wicked man, who treated his stepson very badly, and gave him +scarcely anything to eat, and only rags to wear; and he would +certainly have killed the boy but for fear of the people. + +Now by the palace grounds there ran a brook, but instead of being a +water-brook it was a milk-brook, and both rich and poor flocked to +it daily and drew as much milk as they chose. The first thing the +new king did when he was seated on the throne, was to forbid +anyone to go near the brook, on pain of being seized by the +watchmen. And this was purely spite, for there was plenty of milk +for everybody. + +For some days no one dared venture near the banks of the stream, +but at length some of the watchmen noticed that early in the +mornings, just at dawn, a man with a gold beard came down to the +brook with a pail, which he filled up to the brim with milk, and then +vanished like smoke before they could get near enough to see who +he was. So they went and told the king what they had seen. + +At first the king would not believe their story, but as they persisted +it was quite true, he said that he would go and watch the stream +that night himself. With the earliest streaks of dawn the +gold-bearded man appeared, and filled his pail as before. Then in +an instant he had vanished, as if the earth had swallowed him up. + +The king stood staring with eyes and mouth open at the place +where the man had disappeared. He had never seen him before, +that was certain; but what mattered much more was how to catch +him, and what should be done with him when he was caught? He +would have a cage built as a prison for him, and everyone would +talk of it, for in other countries thieves were put in prison, and it +was long indeed since any king had used a cage. It was all very +well to plan, and even to station a watchman behind every bush, but +it was of no use, for the man was never caught. They would creep +up to him softly on the grass, as he was stooping to fill his pail, and +just as they stretched out their hands to seize him, he vanished +before their eyes. Time after time this happened, till the king grew +mad with rage, and offered a large reward to anyone who could tell +him how to capture his enemy. + +The first person that came with a scheme was an old soldier who +promised the king that if he would only put some bread and bacon +and a flask of wine on the bank of the stream, the gold-bearded man +would be sure to eat and drink, and they could shake some powder +into the wine, which would send him to sleep at once. After that +there was nothing to do but to shut him in the cage. + +This idea pleased the king, and he ordered bread and bacon and a +flask of drugged wine to be placed on the bank of the stream, and +the watchers to be redoubled. Then, full of hope, he awaited the +result. + +Everything turned out just as the soldier had said. Early next +morning the gold-bearded man came down to the brook, ate, drank, +and fell sound asleep, so that the watchers easily bound him, and +carried him off to the palace. In a moment the king had him fast in +the golden cage, and showed him, with ferocious joy, to the +strangers who were visiting his court. The poor captive, when he +awoke from his drunken sleep, tried to talk to them, but no one +would listen to him, so he shut himself up altogether, and the +people who came to stare took him for a dumb man of the woods. +He wept and moaned to himself all day, and would hardly touch +food, though, in dread that he should die and escape his tormentors, +the king ordered his head cook to send him dishes from the royal +table. + +The gold-bearded man had been in captivity about a month, when +the king was forced to make war upon a neighbouring country, and +left the palace, to take command of his army. But before he went +he called his stepson to him and said: + +'Listen, boy, to what I tell you. While I am away I trust the care of +my prisoner to you. See that he has plenty to eat and drink, but he +careful that he does not escape, or even walk about the room. If I +return and find him gone, you will pay for it by a terrible death.' + +The young prince was thankful that his stepfather was going to the +war, and secretly hoped he might never come back. Directly he had +ridden off the boy went to the room where the cage was kept, and +never left it night and day. He even played his games beside it. + +One day he was shooting at a mark with a silver bow; one of his +arrows fell into the golden cage. + +'Please give me my arrow,' said the prince, running up to him; but +the gold-bearded man answered: + +'No, I shall not give it to you unless you let me out of my cage.' + +'I may not let you out,' replied the boy, 'for if I do my stepfather +says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from +the war. My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.' + +The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done +so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door +and set him free. Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince's +heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the +sorrows of other people. So he shot back the bolt, and the +gold-bearded man stepped out into the world. + +'I will repay you a thousand fold for that good deed.' said the man, +and then he vanished. The prince began to think what he should +say to the king when he came back; then he wondered whether it +would be wise to wait for his stepfather's return and run the risk of +the dreadful death which had been promised him. 'No,' he said to +himself, 'I am afraid to stay. Perhaps the world will be kinder to me +than he has been.' + +Unseen he stole out when twilight fell, and for many days he +wandered over mountains and through forests and valleys without +knowing where he was going or what he should do. He had only +the berries for food, when, one morning, he saw a wood-pigeon +sitting on a bough. In an instant he had fitted an arrow to his bow, +and was taking aim at the bird, thinking what a good meal he would +make off him, when his weapon fell to the ground at the sound of +the pigeon's voice: + +'Do not shoot, I implore you, noble prince! I have two little sons at +home, and they will die of hunger if I am not there to bring them +food.' + +And the young prince had pity, and unstrung his bow. + +'Oh, prince, I will repay your deed of mercy, said the grateful +wood-pigeon. + +'Poor thing! how can you repay me?' asked the prince. + +'You have forgotten,' answered the wood-pigeon, 'the proverb that +runs, "mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living +creature can always come across another."' The boy laughed at this +speech and went his way. + +By-and-by he reached the edge of a lake, and flying towards some +rushes which grew near the shore he beheld a wild duck. Now, in +the days that the king, his father, was alive, and he had everything +to eat he could possibly wish for, the prince always had wild duck +for his birthday dinner, so he quickly fitted an arrow to his bow and +took a careful aim. + +'Do not shoot, I pray you, noble prince!' cried the wild duck; 'I have +two little sons at home; they will die of hunger if I am not there to +bring them food.' + +And the prince had pity, and let fall his arrow and unstrung his bow. + +'Oh, prince! I will repay your deed of mercy,' exclaimed the grateful +wild duck. + +'You poor thing! how can you repay me?' asked the prince. + +'You have forgotten,' answered the wild duck, 'the proverb that +runs, "mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living +creature can always come across another."' The boy laughed at this +speech and went his way. + +He had not wandered far from the shores of the lake, when he +noticed a stork standing on one leg, and again he raised his bow and +prepared to take aim. + +'Do not shoot, I pray you, noble prince,' cried the stork; 'I have two +little sons at home; they will die of hunger if I am not there to bring +them food.' + +Again the prince was filled with pity, and this time also he did not +shoot. + +'Oh, prince, I will repay your deed of mercy,' cried the stork. + +'You poor stork! how can you repay me?' asked the prince. + +'You have forgotten,' answered the stork, 'the proverb that runs, +"mountain and mountain can never meet, but one living creature +can always come across another."' + +The boy laughed at hearing these words again, and walked slowly +on. He had not gone far, when he fell in with two discharged +soldiers. + +'Where are you going, little brother?' asked one. + +'I am seeking work,' answered the prince. + +'So are we,' replied the soldier. 'We can all go together.' + +The boy was glad of company and they went on, and on, and on, +through seven kingdoms, without finding anything they were able +to do. At length they reached a palace, and there was the king +standing on the steps. + +'You seem to be looking for something,' said he. + +'It is work we want,' they all answered. + +So the king told the soldiers that they might become his coachmen; +but he made the boy his companion, and gave him rooms near his +own. The soldiers were dreadfully angry when they heard this, for +of course they did not know that the boy was really a prince; and +they soon began to lay their heads together to plot his ruin. + +Then they went to the king. + +'Your Majesty,' they said, 'we think it our duty to tell you that your +new companion has boasted to us that if he were only your steward +he would not lose a single grain of corn out of the storehouses. +Now, if your Majesty would give orders that a sack of wheat +should be mixed with one of barley, and would send for the youth, +and command him to separate the grains one from another, in two +hours' time, you would soon see what his talk was worth.' + +The king, who was weak, listened to what these wicked men had +told him, and desired the prince to have the contents of the sack +piled into two heaps by the time that he returned from his council. +'If you succeed,' he added, 'you shall be my steward, but if you fail, +I will put you to death on the spot.' + +The unfortunate prince declared that he had never made any such +boast as was reported; but it was all in vain. The king did not +believe him, and turning him into an empty room, bade his servants +carry in the huge sack filled with wheat and barley, and scatter them +in a heap on the floor. + +The prince hardly knew where to begin, and indeed if he had had a +thousand people to help him, and a week to do it in, he could never +have finished his task. So he flung himself on the ground in despair, +and covered his face with his hands. + +While he lay thus, a wood-pigeon flew in through the window. + +'Why are you weeping, noble prince?' asked the wood-pigeon. + +'How can I help weeping at the task set me by the king. For he +says, if I fail to do it, I shall die a horrible death.' + +'Oh, there is really nothing to cry about,' answered the wood-pigeon +soothingly. 'I am the king of the wood-pigeons, whose life you +spared when you were hungry. And now I will repay my debt, as I +promised.' So saying he flew out of the window, leaving the prince +with some hope in his heart. + +In a few minutes he returned, followed by a cloud of wood-pigeons, +so dense that it seemed to fill the room. Their king showed them +what they had to do, and they set to work so hard that the grain +was sorted into two heaps long before the council was over. When +the king came back he could not believe his eyes; but search as he +might through the two heaps, he could not find any barley among +the wheat, or any wheat amongst the barley. So he praised the +prince for his industry and cleverness, and made him his steward at +once. + +This made the two soldiers more envious still, and they began to +hatch another plot. + +'Your Majesty,' they said to the king, one day, as he was standing +on the steps of the palace, 'that fellow has been boasting again, that +if he had the care of your treasures not so much as a gold pin +should ever be lost. Put this vain fellow to the proof, we pray you, +and throw the ring from the princess's finger into the brook, and bid +him find it. We shall soon see what his talk is worth.' + +And the foolish king listened to them, and ordered the prince to be +brought before him. + +'My son,' he said, 'I have heard that you have declared that if I +made you keeper of my treasures you would never lose so much as +a gold pin. Now, in order to prove the truth of your words, I am +going to throw the ring from the princess's finger into the brook, +and if you do not find it before I come back from council, you will +have to die a horrible death.' + +It was no use denying that he had said anything of the kind. The +king did not believe him; in fact he paid no attention at all, and +hurried off, leaving the poor boy speechless with despair in the +corner. However, he soon remembered that though it was very +unlikely that he should find the ring in the brook, it was impossible +that he should find it by staying in the palace. + +For some time the prince wandered up and down peering into the +bottom of the stream, but though the water was very clear, nothing +could he see of the ring. At length he gave it up in despair, and +throwing himself down at the foot of the tree, he wept bitterly. + +'What is the matter, dear prince?' said a voice just above him, and +raising his head, he saw the wild duck. + +'The king of this country declares I must die a horrible death if I +cannot find the princess's ring which he has thrown into the brook,' +answered the prince. + +'Oh, you must not vex yourself about that, for I can help you,' +replied the bird. 'I am the king of the wild ducks, whose life you +spared, and now it is my turn to save yours.' Then he flew away, +and in a few minutes a great flock of wild ducks were swimming all +up and down the stream looking with all their might, and long +before the king came back from his council there it was, safe on the +grass beside the prince. + +At this sight the king was yet more astonished at the cleverness of +his steward, and at once promoted him to be the keeper of his +jewels. + +Now you would have thought that by this time the king would have +been satisfied with the prince, and would have left him alone; but +people's natures are very hard to change, and when the two envious +soldiers came to him with a new falsehood, he was as ready to +listen to them as before. + +'Gracious Majesty,' said they, 'the youth whom you have made +keeper of your jewels has declared to us that a child shall be born in +the palace this night, which will be able to speak every language in +the world and to play every instrument of music. Is he then become +a prophet, or a magician, that he should know things which have +not yet come to pass?' + +At these words the king became more angry than ever. He had +tried to learn magic himself, but somehow or other his spells would +never work, and he was furious to hear that the prince claimed a +power that he did not possess. Stammering with rage, he ordered +the youth to be brought before him, and vowed that unless this +miracle was accomplished he would have the prince dragged at a +horse's tail until he was dead. + +In spite of what the soldiers had said, the boy knew no more magic +than the king did, and his task seemed more hopeless than before. +He lay weeping in the chamber which he was forbidden to leave, +when suddenly he heard a sharp tapping at the window, and, +looking up, he beheld a stork. + +'What makes you so sad, prince?' asked he. + +'Someone has told the king that I have prophesied that a child shall +be born this night in the palace, who can speak all the languages in +the world and play every musical instrument. I am no magician to +bring these things to pass, but he says that if it does not happen he +will have me dragged through the city at a horse's tail till I die.' + +'Do not trouble yourself,' answered the stork. 'I will manage to find +such a child, for I am the king of the storks whose life you spared, +and now I can repay you for it.' + +The stork flew away and soon returned carrying in his beak a baby +wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid it down near a lute. In an +instant the baby stretched out its little hands and began to play a +tune so beautiful that even the prince forgot his sorrows as he +listened. Then he was given a flute and a zither, but he was just as +well able to draw music from them; and the prince, whose courage +was gradually rising, spoke to him in all the languages he knew. +The baby answered him in all, and no one could have told which +was his native tongue! + +The next morning the king went straight to the prince's room, and +saw with his own eyes the wonders that baby could do. 'If your +magic can produce such a baby,' he said, 'you must be greater than +any wizard that ever lived, and shall have my daughter in marriage.' +And, being a king, and therefore accustomed to have everything the +moment he wanted it, he commanded the ceremony to be +performed without delay, and a splendid feast to be made for the +bride and bridegroom. When it was over, he said to the prince: + +'Now that you are really my son, tell me by what arts you were able +to fulfil the tasks I set you?' + +'My noble father-in-law,' answered the prince, 'I am ignorant of all +spells and arts. But somehow I have always managed to escape the +death which has threatened me.' And he told the king how he had +been forced to run away from his stepfather, and how he had spared +the three birds, and had joined the two soldiers, who had from envy +done their utmost to ruin him. + +The king was rejoiced in his heart that his daughter had married a +prince, and not a common man, and he chased the two soldiers +away with whips, and told them that if they ever dared to show +their faces across the borders of his kingdom, they should die the +same death he had prepared for the prince. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen] + + + +Tritill, Litill, And The Birds + +Once upon a time there lived a princess who was so beautiful and +so good that everybody loved her. Her father could hardly bear her +out of his sight, and he almost died of grief when, one day, she +disappeared, and though the whole kingdom was searched through +and through, she could not be found in any corner of it. In despair, +the king ordered a proclamation to be made that whoever could +bring her back to the palace should have her for his wife. This +made the young men start afresh on the search, but they were no +more successful than before, and returned sorrowfully to their +homes. + +Now there dwelt, not far from the palace, an old man who had +three sons. The two eldest were allowed by their parents to do just +as they liked, but the youngest was always obliged to give way to +his brothers. When they were all grown up, the eldest told his +father that he was tired of leading such a quiet life, and that he +meant to go away and see the world. + +The old people were very unhappy at the thought that they must +part with him, but they said nothing, and began to collect all that he +would want for his travels, and were careful to add a pair of new +boots. When everything was ready, he bade them farewell, and +started merrily on his way. + +For some miles his road lay through a wood, and when he left it he +suddenly came out on a bare hillside. Here he sat down to rest, and +pulling out his wallet prepared to eat his dinner. + +He had only eaten a few mouthfuls when an old man badly dressed +passed by, and seeing the food, asked if the young man could not +spare him a little. + +'Not I, indeed!' answered he; 'why I have scarcely enough for +myself. If you want food you must earn it.' And the beggar went +on. + +After the young man had finished his dinner he rose and walked on +for several hours, till he reached a second hill, where he threw +himself down on the grass, and took some bread and milk from his +wallet. While he was eating and drinking, there came by an old +man, yet more wretched than the first, and begged for a few +mouthfuls. But instead of food he only got hard words, and limped +sadly away. + +Towards evening the young man reached an open space in the +wood, and by this time he thought he would like some supper. The +birds saw the food, and flew round his head in numbers hoping for +some crumbs, but he threw stones at them, and frightened them off. +Then he began to wonder where he should sleep. Not in the open +space he was in, for that was bare and cold, and though he had +walked a long way that day, and was tired, he dragged himself up, +and went on seeking for a shelter. + +At length he saw a deep sort of hole or cave under a great rock, +and as it seemed quite empty, he went in, and lay down in a corner. +About midnight he was awakened by a noise, and peeping out he +beheld a terrible ogress approaching. He implored her not to hurt +him, but to let him stay there for the rest of the night, to which she +consented, on condition that he should spend the next day in doing +any task which she might choose to set him. To this the young man +willingly agreed, and turned over and went to sleep again. In the +morning, the ogress bade him sweep the dust out of the cave, and +to have it clean before her return in the evening, otherwise it would +be the worse for him. Then she left the cave. + +The young man took the spade, and began to clean the floor of the +cave, but try as he would to move it the dirt still stuck to its place. +He soon gave up the task, and sat sulkily in the corner, wondering +what punishment the ogress would find for him, and why she had +set him to do such an impossible thing. + +He had not long to wait, after the ogress came home, before he +knew what his punishment was to be! She just gave one look at the +floor of the cave, then dealt him a blow on the head which cracked +his skull, and there was an end of him. + +Meanwhile his next brother grew tired of staying at home, and let +his parents have no rest till they had consented that he also should +be given some food and some new boots, and go out to see the +world. On his road, he also met the two old beggars, who prayed +for a little of his bread and milk, but this young man had never been +taught to help other people, and had made it a rule through his life +to keep all he had to himself. So he turned a deaf ear and finished +his dinner. + +By-and-by he, too, came to the cave, and was bidden by the ogress +to clean the floor, but he was no more successful than his brother, +and his fate was the same. + +Anyone would have thought that when the old people had only one +son left that at least they would have been kind to him, even if they +did not love him. But for some reason they could hardly bear the +sight of him, though he tried much harder to make them +comfortable than his brothers had ever done. So when he asked +their leave to go out into the world they gave it at once, and +seemed quite glad to be rid of him. They felt it was quite generous +of them to provide him with a pair of new boots and some bread +and milk for his journey. + +Besides the pleasure of seeing the world, the youth was very +anxious to discover what had become of his brothers, and he +determined to trace, as far as he could, the way that they must have +gone. He followed the road that led from his father's cottage to the +hill, where he sat down to rest, saying to himself: 'I am sure my +brothers must have stopped here, and I will do the same.' + +He was hungry as well as tired, and took out some of the food his +parents had given him. He was just going to begin to eat when the +old man appeared, and asked if he could not spare him a little. The +young man at once broke off some of the bread, begging the old +man to sit down beside him, and treating him as if he was an old +friend. At last the stranger rose, and said to him: 'If ever you are in +trouble call me, and I will help you. My name is Tritill.' Then he +vanished, and the young man could not tell where he had gone. + +However, he felt he had now rested long enough, and that he had +better be going his way. At the next hill he met with the second old +man, and to him also he gave food and drink. And when this old +man had finished he said, like the first: 'If you ever want help in the +smallest thing call to me. My name is Litill.' + +The young man walked on till he reached the open space in the +wood, where he stopped for dinner. In a moment all the birds in +the world seemed flying round his head, and he crumbled some of +his bread for them and watched them as they darted down to pick it +up. When they had cleared off every crumb the largest bird with +the gayest plumage said to him: 'If you are in trouble and need help +say, "My birds, come to me!" and we will come.' Then they flew +away. + +Towards evening the young man reached the cave where his +brothers had met their deaths, and, like them, he thought it would +be a good place to sleep in. Looking round, he saw some pieces of +the dead men's clothes and of their bones. The sight made him +shiver, but he would not move away, and resolved to await the +return of the ogress, for such he knew she must be. + +Very soon she came striding in, and he asked politely if she would +give him a night's lodging. She answered as before, that he might +stay on condition that he should do any work that she might set him +to next morning. So the bargain being concluded, the young man +curled himself up in his corner and went to sleep. + +The dirt lay thicker than ever on the floor of the cave when the +young man took the spade and began his work. He could not clear +it any more than his brothers had done, and at last the spade itself +stuck in the earth so that he could not pull it out. The youth stared +at it in despair, then the old beggar's words flashed into his mind, +and he cried: 'Tritill, Tritill, come and help me!' + +And Tritill stood beside him and asked what he wanted. The youth +told him all his story, and when he had finished, the old man said: +'Spade and shovel do your duty,' and they danced about the cave +till, in a short time, there was not a speck of dust left on the floor. +As soon as it was quite clean Tritill went his way. + +With a light heart the young man awaited the return of the ogress. +When she came in she looked carefully round, and then said to him: +'You did not do that quite alone. However, as the floor is clean I +will leave your head on.' + +The following morning the ogress told the young man that he must +take all the feathers out of her pillows and spread them to dry in the +sun. But if one feather was missing when she came back at night +his head should pay for it.' + +The young man fetched the pillows, and shook out all the feathers, +and oh! what quantities of them there were! He was thinking to +himself, as he spread them out carefully, how lucky it was that the +sun was so bright and that there was no wind, when suddenly a +breeze sprang up, and in a moment the feathers were dancing high +in the air. At first the youth tried to collect them again, but he soon +found that it was no use, and he cried in despair: 'Tritill, Litill, and +all my birds, come and help me!' + +He had hardly said the words when there they all were; and when +the birds had brought all the feathers back again, Tritill, and Litill, +and he, put them away in the pillows, as the ogress had bidden him. +But one little feather they kept out, and told the young man that if +the ogress missed it he was to thrust it up her nose. Then they all +vanished, Tritill, Litill, and the birds. + +Directly the ogress returned home she flung herself with all her +weight on the bed, and the whole cave quivered under her. The +pillows were soft and full instead of being empty, which surprised +her, but that did not content her. She got up, shook out the +pillow-cases one by one, and began to count the feathers that were +in each. 'If one is missing I will have your head,' said she, and at +that the young man drew the feather from his pocket and thrust it +up her nose, crying 'If you want your feather, here it is.' + +'You did not sort those feathers alone,' answered the ogress calmly; +'however, this time I will let that pass.' + +That night the young man slept soundly in his corner, and in the +morning the ogress told him that his work that day would be to slay +one of her great oxen, to cook its heart, and to make drinking cups +of its horns, before she returned home 'There are fifty oxen,' added +she, 'and you must guess which of the herd I want killed. If you +guess right, to-morrow you shall be free to go where you will, and +you shall choose besides three things as a reward for your service. +But if you slay the wrong ox your head shall pay for it.' + +Left alone, the young man stood thinking for a little. Then he +called: 'Tritill, Litill, come to my help!' + +In a moment he saw them, far away, driving the biggest ox the +youth had ever seen. When they drew near, Tritill killed it, Litill +took out its heart for the young man to cook, and both began +quickly to turn the horns into drinking cups. The work went +merrily on, and they talked gaily, and the young man told his friends +of the payment promised him by the ogress if he had done her +bidding. The old men warned him that he must ask her for the +chest which stood at the foot of her bed, for whatever lay on the +top of the bed, and for what lay under the side of the cave. The +young man thanked them for their counsel, and Tritill and Litill then +took leave of him, saying that for the present he would need them +no more. + +Scarcely had they disappeared when the ogress came back, and +found everything ready just as she had ordered. Before she sat +down to eat the bullock's heart she turned to the young man, and +said: 'You did not do that all alone, my friend; but, nevertheless, I +will keep my word, and to-morrow you shall go your way.' So they +went to bed and slept till dawn. + +When the sun rose the ogress awoke the young man, and called to +him to choose any three things out of her house. + +'I choose,' answered he, 'the chest which stands at the foot of your +bed; whatever lies on the top of the bed, and whatever is under the +side of the cave.' + +'You did not choose those things by yourself, my friend,' said the +ogress; 'but what I have promised, that will I do.' + +And then she gave him his reward. + +'The thing which lay on the top of the bed' turned out to be the lost +princess. 'The chest which stood at the foot of the bed' proved full +of gold and precious stones; and 'what was under the side of the +cave' he found to be a great ship, with oars and sails that went of +itself as well on land as in the water. 'You are the luckiest man that +ever was born,' said the ogress as she went out of the cave as usual. + +With much difficulty the youth put the heavy chest on his shoulders +and carried it on board the ship, the princess walking by his side. +Then he took the helm and steered the vessel back to her father's +kingdom. The king's joy at receiving back his lost daughter was so +great that he almost fainted, but when he recovered himself he +made the young man tell him how everything had really happened. +'You have found her, and you shall marry her,' said the king; and so +it was done. And this is the end of the story. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Three Robes + +Long, long ago, a king and queen reigned over a large and powerful +country. What their names were nobody knows, but their son was +called Sigurd, and their daughter Lineik, and these young people +were famed throughout the whole kingdom for their wisdom and +beauty. + +There was only a year between them, and they loved each other so +much that they could do nothing apart. When they began to grow +up the king gave them a house of their own to live in, with servants +and carriages, and everything they could possibly want. + +For many years they all lived happily together, and then the queen +fell ill, and knew that she would never get better. + +'Promise me two things,' she said one day to the king; 'one, that if +you marry again, as indeed you must, you will not choose as your +wife a woman from some small state or distant island, who knows +nothing of the world, and will be taken up with thoughts of her +grandeur. But rather seek out a princess of some great kingdom, +who has been used to courts all her life, and holds them at their true +worth. The other thing I have to ask is, that you will never cease to +watch over our children, who will soon become your greatest joy.' + +These were the queen's last words, and a few hours later she was +dead. The king was so bowed down with sorrow that he would not +attend even to the business of the kingdom, and at last his Prime +Minister had to tell him that the people were complaining that they +had nobody to right their wrongs. 'You must rouse yourself, sir,' +went on the minister, 'and put aside your own sorrows for the sake +of your country.' + +'You do not spare me,' answered the king; 'but what you say is just, +and your counsel is good. I have heard that men say, likewise, that +it will be for the good of my kingdom for me to marry again, +though my heart will never cease to be with my lost wife. But it +was her wish also; therefore, to you I entrust the duty of finding a +lady fitted to share my throne; only, see that she comes neither from +a small town nor a remote island.' + +So an embassy was prepared, with the minister at its head, to visit +the greatest courts in the world, and to choose out a suitable +princess. But the vessel which carried them had not been gone +many days when a thick fog came on, and the captain could see +neither to the right nor to the left. For a whole month the ship +drifted about in darkness, till at length the fog lifted and they beheld +a cliff jutting out just in front. On one side of the cliff lay a +sheltered bay, in which the vessel was soon anchored, and though +they did not know where they were, at any rate they felt sure of +fresh fruit and water. + +The minister left the rest of his followers on board the ship, and +taking a small boat rowed himself to land, in order to look about +him and to find out if the island was really as deserted as it seemed. + +He had not gone far, when he heard the sound of music, and, +turning in its direction, he saw a woman of marvellous beauty +sitting on a low stool playing on a harp, while a girl beside her sang. +The minister stopped and greeted the lady politely, and she replied +with friendliness, asking him why he had come to such an +out-of-the way place. In answer he told her of the object of his +journey. + +'I am in the same state as your master,' replied the lady; 'I was +married to a mighty king who ruled over this land, till Vikings +[sea-robbers] came and slew him and put all the people to death. +But I managed to escape, and hid myself here with my daughter.' + +And the daughter listened, and said softly to her mother: 'Are you +speaking the truth now?' + +'Remember your promise,' answered the mother angrily, giving her +a pinch which was unseen by the minister. + +'What is your name, madam?' asked he, much touched by this sad +story. + +'Blauvor,' she replied 'and my daughter is called Laufer'; and then +she inquired the name of the minister, and of the king his master. +After this they talked of many things, and the lady showed herself +learned in all that a woman should know, and even in much that +men only were commonly taught. 'What a wife she would make for +the king,' thought the minister to himself, and before long he had +begged the honour of her hand for his master. She declared at first +that she was too unworthy to accept the position offered her, and +that the minister would soon repent his choice; but this only made +him the more eager, and in the end he gained her consent, and +prevailed on her to return with him at once to his own country. + +The minister then conducted the mother and daughter back to the +ship; the anchor was raised, the sails spread, and a fair wind was +behind them. + +Now that the fog had lifted they could see as they looked back that, +except just along the shore, the island was bare and deserted and +not fit for men to live in; but about that nobody cared. They had a +quick voyage, and in six days they reached the land, and at once set +out for the capital, a messenger being sent on first by the minister to +inform the king of what had happened. + +When his Majesty's eyes fell on the two beautiful women, clad in +dresses of gold and silver, he forgot his sorrows and ordered +preparations for the wedding to be made without delay. In his joy +he never remembered to inquire in what kind of country the future +queen had been found. In fact his head was so turned by the beauty +of the two ladies that when the invitations were sent by his orders +to all the great people in the kingdom, he did not even recollect his +two children, who remained shut up in their own house! + +After the marriage the king ceased to have any will of his own and +did nothing without consulting his wife. She was present at all his +councils, and her opinion was asked before making peace or war. +But when a few months had passed the king began to have doubts +as to whether the minister's choice had really been a wise one, and +he noticed that his children lived more and more in their palace and +never came near their stepmother. + +It always happens that if a person's eyes are once opened they see a +great deal more than they ever expected; and soon it struck the king +that the members of his court had a way of disappearing one after +the other without any reason. At first he had not paid much +attention to the fact, but merely appointed some fresh person to the +vacant place. As, however, man after man vanished without leaving +any trace, he began to grow uncomfortable and to wonder if the +queen could have anything to do with it. + +Things were in this state when, one day, his wife said to him that it +was time for him to make a progress through his kingdom and see +that his governors were not cheating him of the money that was his +due. 'And you need not be anxious about going,' she added, 'for I +will rule the country while you are away as carefully as you could +yourself.' + +The king had no great desire to undertake this journey, but the +queen's will was stronger than his, and he was too lazy to make a +fight for it. So he said nothing and set about his preparations, +ordering his finest ship to be ready to carry him round the coast. +Still his heart was heavy, and he felt uneasy, though he could not +have told why; and the night before he was to start he went to the +children's palace to take leave of his son and daughter. + +He had not seen them for some time, and they gave him a warm +welcome, for they loved him dearly and he had always been kind to +them. They had much to tell him, but after a while he checked their +merry talk and said: + +'If I should never come back from this journey I fear that it may not +be safe for you to stay here; so directly there are no more hopes of +my return go instantly and take the road eastwards till you reach a +high mountain, which you must cross. Once over the mountain +keep along by the side of a little bay till you come to two trees, one +green and the other red, standing in a thicket, and so far back from +the road that without looking for them you would never see them. +Hide each in the trunk of one of the trees and there you will be safe +from all your enemies.' + +With these words the king bade them farewell and entered sadly +into his ship. For a few days the wind was fair, and everything +seemed going smoothly; then, suddenly, a gale sprang up, and a +fearful storm of thunder and lightning, such as had never happened +within the memory of man. In spite of the efforts of the frightened +sailors the vessel was driven on the rocks, and not a man on board +was saved. + +That very night Prince Sigurd had a dream, in which he thought his +father appeared to him in dripping clothes, and, taking the crown +from his head, laid it at his son's feet, leaving the room as silently as +he had entered it. + +Hastily the prince awoke his sister Lineik, and they agreed that their +father must be dead, and that they must lose no time in obeying his +orders and putting themselves in safety. So they collected their +jewels and a few clothes and left the house without being observed +by anyone. + + +They hurried on till they arrived at the mountain without once +looking back. Then Sigurd glanced round and saw that their +stepmother was following them, with an expression on her face +which made her uglier than the ugliest old witch. Between her and +them lay a thick wood, and Sigurd stopped for a moment to set it +on fire; then he and his sister hastened on more swiftly than before, +till they reached the grove with the red and green trees, into which +they jumped, and felt that at last they were safe. + +Now, at that time there reigned over Greece a king who was very +rich and powerful, although his name has somehow been forgotten. +He had two children, a son and a daughter, who were more +beautiful and accomplished than any Greeks had been before, and +they were the pride of their father's heart. + +The prince had no sooner grown out of boyhood than he prevailed +on his father to make war during the summer months on a +neighbouring nation, so as to give him a chance of making himself +famous. In winter, however, when it was difficult to get food and +horses in that wild country, the army was dispersed, and the prince +returned home. + +During one of these wars he had heard reports of the Princess +Lineik's beauty, and he resolved to seek her out, and to ask for her +hand in marriage. All this Blauvor, the queen, found out by means +of her black arts, and when the prince drew near the capital she put +a splendid dress on her own daughter and then went to meet her +guest. + +She bade him welcome to her palace, and when they had finished +supper she told him of the loss of her husband, and how there was +no one left to govern the kingdom but herself. + +'But where is the Princess Lineik?' asked the prince when she had +ended her tale. + +'Here,' answered the queen, bringing forward the girl, whom she +had hitherto kept in the background. + +The prince looked at her and was rather disappointed. The maiden +was pretty enough, but not much out of the common. + +'Oh, you must not wonder at her pale face and heavy eyes,' said the +queen hastily, for she saw what was passing in his mind. 'She has +never got over the loss of both father and mother.' + +'That shows a good heart,' thought the prince; 'and when she is +happy her beauty will soon come back.' And without any further +delay he begged the queen to consent to their betrothal, for the +marriage must take place in his own country. + +The queen was enchanted. She had hardly expected to succeed so +soon, and she at once set about her preparations. Indeed she +wished to travel with the young couple, to make sure that nothing +should go wrong; but here the prince was firm, that he would take +no one with him but Laufer, whom he thought was Lineik. + +They soon took leave of the queen, and set sail in a splendid ship; +but in a short time a dense fog came on, and in the dark the captain +steered out of his course, and they found themselves in a bay which +was quite strange to all the crew. The prince ordered a boat to be +lowered, and went on shore to look about him, and it was not long +before he noticed the two beautiful trees, quite different from any +that grew in Greece. Calling one of the sailors, he bade him cut +them down, and carry them on board the ship. This was done, and +as the sky was now clear they put out to sea, and arrived in Greece +without any more adventures. + +The news that the prince had brought home a bride had gone before +them, and they were greeted with flowery arches and crowns of +coloured lights. The king and queen met them on the steps of the +palace, and conducted the girl to the women's house, where she +would have to remain until her marriage. The prince then went to +his own rooms and ordered that the trees should be brought in to +him. + +The next morning the prince bade his attendants bring his future +bride to his own apartments, and when she came he gave her silk +which she was to weave into three robes--one red, one green, and +one blue--and these must all be ready before the wedding. The blue +one was to be done first and the green last, and this was to be the +most splendid of all, 'for I will wear it at our marriage,' said he. + +Left alone, Laufer sat and stared at the heap of shining silk before +her. She did not know how to weave, and burst into tears as she +thought that everything would be discovered, for Lineik's skill in +weaving was as famous as her beauty. As she sat with her face +hidden and her body shaken by sobs, Sigurd in his tree heard her +and was moved to pity. 'Lineik, my sister,' he called, softly, 'Laufer +is weeping; help her, I pray you.' + +'Have you forgotten the wrongs her mother did to us' answered +Lineik, 'and that it is owing to her that we are banished from home?' + +But she was not really unforgiving, and very soon she slid quietly +out of her hiding-place, and taking the silk from Laufer's hands +began to weave it. So quick and clever was she that the blue dress +was not only woven but embroidered, and Lineik was safe back in +her tree before the prince returned. + +'It is the most beautiful work I have ever seen,' said he, taking up a +bit. 'And I am sure that the red one will be still better, because the +stuff is richer,' and with a low bow he left the room. + +Laufer had hoped secretly that when the prince had seen the blue +dress finished he would have let her off the other two; but when she +found she was expected to fulfil the whole task, her heart sank and +she began to cry loudly. Again Sigurd heard her, and begged +Lineik to come to her help, and Lineik, feeling sorry for her +distress, wove and embroidered the second dress as she had done +the first, mixing gold thread and precious stones till you could +hardly see the red of the stuff. When it was done she glided into +her tree just as the prince came in. + +'You are as quick as you are clever,' said he, admiringly. 'This +looks as if it had been embroidered by the fairies! But as the green +robe must outshine the other two I will give you three days in +which to finish it. After it is ready we will be married at once.' + +Now, as he spoke, there rose up in Laufer's mind all the unkind +things that she and her mother had done to Lineik. Could she hope +that they would be forgotten, and that Lineik would come to her +rescue for the third time? And perhaps Lineik, who had not +forgotten the past either, might have left her alone, to get on as best +she could, had not Sigurd, her brother, implored her to help just +once more. So Lineik again slid out of her tree, and, to Laufer's +great relief, set herself to work. When the shining green silk was +ready she caught the sun's rays and the moon's beams on the point +of her needle and wove them into a pattern such as no man had ever +seen. But it took a long time, and on the third morning, just as she +was putting the last stitches into the last flower the prince came in. + +Lineik jumped up quickly, and tried to get past him back to her +tree; but the folds of the silk were wrapped round her, and she +would have fallen had not the prince caught her. + +'I have thought for some time that all was not quite straight here,' +said he. 'Tell me who you are, and where you come from?' + +Lineik then told her name and her story. When she had ended the +prince turned angrily to Laufer, and declared that, as a punishment +for her wicked lies, she deserved to die a shameful death. + +But Laufer fell at his feet and begged for mercy. It was her +mother's fault, she said: 'It was she, and not I, who passed me off as +the Princess Lineik. The only lie I have ever told you was about the +robes, and I do not deserve death for that.' + +She was still on her knees when Prince Sigurd entered the room. +He prayed the Prince of Greece to forgive Laufer, which he did, on +condition that Lineik would consent to marry him. 'Not till my +stepmother is dead,' answered she, 'for she has brought misery to all +that came near her.' Then Laufer told them that Blauvor was not the +wife of a king, but an ogress who had stolen her from a +neighbouring palace and had brought her up as her daughter. And +besides being an ogress she was also a witch, and by her black arts +had sunk the ship in which the father of Sigurd and Lineik had set +sail. It was she who had caused the disappearance of the courtiers, +for which no one could account, by eating them during the night, +and she hoped to get rid of all the people in the country, and then to +fill the land with ogres and ogresses like herself. + +So Prince Sigurd and the Prince of Greece collected an army +swiftly, and marched upon the town where Blauvor had her palace. +They came so suddenly that no one knew of it, and if they had, +Blauvor had eaten most of the strong men; and others, fearful of +something they could not tell what, had secretly left the place. +Therefore she was easily captured, and the next day was beheaded +in the market-place. Afterwards the two princes marched back to +Greece. + +Lineik had no longer any reason for putting off her wedding, and +married the Prince of Greece at the same time that Sigurd married +the princess. And Laufer remained with Lineik as her friend and +sister, till they found a husband for her in a great nobleman; and all +three couples lived happily until they died. + +[From Islandische Muhrchen Poestion Wien.] + + + + +The Six Hungry Beasts + +Once upon a time there lived a man who dwelt with his wife in a +little hut, far away from any neighbours. But they did not mind +being alone, and would have been quite happy, if it had not been for +a marten, who came every night to their poultry yard, and carried +off one of their fowls. The man laid all sorts of traps to catch the +thief, but instead of capturing the foe, it happened that one day he +got caught himself, and falling down, struck his head against a +stone, and was killed. + +Not long after the marten came by on the look out for his supper. +Seeing the dead man lying there, he said to himself: 'That is a prize, +this time I have done well'; and dragging the body with great +difficulty to the sledge which was waiting for him, drove off with +his booty. He had not driven far when he met a squirrel, who +bowed and said: 'Good-morning, godfather! what have you got +behind you?' + +The marten laughed and answered: 'Did you ever hear anything so +strange? The old man that you see here set traps about his +hen-house, thinking to catch me but he fell into his own trap, and +broke his own neck. He is very heavy; I wish you would help me to +draw the sledge.' The squirrel did as he was asked, and the sledge +moved slowly along. + +By-and-by a hare came running across a field, but stopped to see +what wonderful thing was coming. 'What have you got there?' she +asked, and the marten told his story and begged the hare to help +them pull. + +The hare pulled her hardest, and after a while they were joined by a +fox, and then by a wolf, and at length a bear was added to the +company, and he was of more use than all the other five beasts put +together. Besides, when the whole six had supped off the man he +was not so heavy to draw. + +The worst of it was that they soon began to get hungry again, and +the wolf, who was the hungriest of all, said to the rest: + +'What shall we eat now, my friends, as there is no more man?' + +'I suppose we shall have to eat the smallest of us,' replied the bear, +and the marten turned round to seize the squirrel who was much +smaller than any of the rest. But the squirrel ran up a tree like +lightning, and the marten remembering, just in time, that he was the +next in size, slipped quick as thought into a hole in the rocks. + +'What shall we eat now?' asked the wolf again, when he had +recovered from his surprise. + +'We must eat the smallest of us,' repeated the bear, stretching out a +paw towards the hare; but the hare was not a hare for nothing, and +before the paw had touched her, she had darted deep into the +wood. + +Now that the squirrel, the marten, and the hare had all gone, the fox +was the smallest of the three who were left, and the wolf and the +bear explained that they were very sorry, but they would have to +eat him. Michael, the fox, did not run away as the others had done, +but smiled in a friendly manner, and remarked: 'Things taste so stale +in a valley; one's appetite is so much better up on a mountain.' The +wolf and the bear agreed, and they turned out of the hollow where +they had been walking, and chose a path that led up the mountain +side. The fox trotted cheerfully by his two big companions, but on +the way he managed to whisper to the wolf: 'Tell me, Peter, when I +am eaten, what will you have for your next dinner?' + +This simple question seemed to put out the wolf very much. What +would they have for their next dinner, and, what was more +important still, who would there be to eat it? They had made a rule +always to dine off the smallest of the party, and when the fox was +gone, why of course, he was smaller than the bear. + +These thoughts flashed quickly through his head, and he said +hastily: + +'Dear brothers, would it not be better for us to live together as +comrades, and everyone to hunt for the common dinner? Is not my +plan a good one?' + +'It is the best thing I have ever heard,' answered the fox; and as they +were two to one the bear had to be content, though in his heart he +would much have preferred a good dinner at once to any friendship. + +For a few days all went well; there was plenty of game in the forest, +and even the wolf had as much to eat as he could wish. One +morning the fox as usual was going his rounds when he noticed a +tall, slender tree, with a magpie's nest in one of the top branches. +Now the fox was particularly fond of young magpies, and he set +about making a plan by which he could have one for dinner. At last +he hit upon something which he thought would do, and accordingly +he sat down near the tree and began to stare hard at it. + +'What are you looking at, Michael?' asked the magpie, who was +watching him from a bough. + +'I'm looking at this tree. It has just struck me what a good tree it +would be to cut my new snow-shoes out of.' But at this answer the +magpie screeched loudly, and exclaimed: 'Oh, not this tree, dear +brother, I implore you! I have built my nest on it, and my young +ones are not yet old enough to fly.' + +'It will not be easy to find another tree that would make such good +snow-shoes,' answered the fox, cocking his head on one side, and +gazing at the tree thoughtfully; 'but I do not like to be ill-natured, +so if you will give me one of your young ones I will seek my +snow-shoes elsewhere.' + +Not knowing what to do the poor magpie had to agree, and flying +back, with a heavy heart, he threw one of his young ones out of the +nest. The fox seized it in his mouth and ran off in triumph, while +the magpie, though deeply grieved for the loss of his little one, +found some comfort in the thought that only a bird of extraordinary +wisdom would have dreamed of saving the rest by the sacrifice of +the one. But what do you think happened? Why, a few days later, +Michael the fox might have been seen sitting under the very same +tree, and a dreadful pang shot through the heart of the magpie as he +peeped at him from a hole in the nest. + +'What are you looking at?' he asked in a trembling voice. + +'At this tree. I was just thinking what good snowshoes it would +make,' answered the fox in an absent voice, as if he was not +thinking of what he was saying. + +'Oh, my brother, my dear little brother, don't do that,' cried the +magpie, hopping about in his anguish. 'You know you promised +only a few days ago that you would get your snow-shoes +elsewhere.' + +'So I did; but though I have searched through the whole forest, +there is not a single tree that is as good as this. I am very sorry to +put you out, but really it is not my fault. The only thing I can do +for you is to offer to give up my snow-shoes altogether if you will +throw me down one of your young ones in exchange.' + +And the poor magpie, in spite of his wisdom, was obliged to throw +another of his little ones out of the nest; and this time he was not +able to console himself with the thought that he had been much +cleverer than other people. + +He sat on the edge of his nest, his head drooping and his feathers all +ruffled, looking the picture of misery. Indeed he was so different +from the gay, jaunty magpie whom every creature in the forest +knew, that a crow who was flying past, stopped to inquire what +was the matter. 'Where are the two young ones who are not in the +nest?' asked he. + +'I had to give them to the fox,' replied the magpie in a quivering +voice; 'he has been here twice in the last week, and wanted to cut +down my tree for the purpose of making snow-shoes out of it, and +the only way I could buy him off was by giving him two of my +young ones.' + +Oh, you fool,' cried the crow, 'the fox was only trying to frighten +you. He could not have cut down the tree, for he has neither axe +nor knife. Dear me, to think that you have sacrificed your young +ones for nothing! Dear, dear! how could you be so very foolish!' +And the crow flew away, leaving the magpie overcome with shame +and sorrow. + +The next morning the fox came to his usual place in front of the +tree, for he was hungry, and a nice young magpie would have suited +him very well for dinner. But this time there was no cowering, +timid magpie to do his bidding, but a bird with his head erect and a +determined voice. + +'My good fox,' said the magpie putting his head on one side and +looking very wise--'my good fox, if you take my advice, you will go +home as fast as you can. There is no use your talking about making +snow-shoes out of this tree, when you have neither knife nor axe to +cut it down with!' + +'Who has been teaching you wisdom?' asked the fox, forgetting his +manners in his surprise at this new turn of affairs. + +'The crow, who paid me a visit yesterday,' answered the magpie. + +'The crow was it?' said the fox, 'well, the crow had better not meet +me for the future, or it may be the worse for him.' + +As Michael, the cunning beast, had no desire to continue the +conversation, he left the forest; but when he came to the high road +he laid himself at full length on the ground, stretching himself out, +just as if he was dead. Very soon he noticed, out of the corner of +his eye, that the crow was flying towards him, and he kept stiller +and stifer than ever, with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. The +crow, who wanted her supper very badly, hopped quickly towards +him, and was stooping forward to peck at his tongue when the fox +gave a snap, and caught him by the wing. The crow knew that it +was of no use struggling, so he said: + +'Ah, brother, if you are really going to eat me, do it, I beg of you, in +good style. Throw me first over this precipice, so that my feathers +may be strewn here and there, and that all who see them may know +that your cunning is greater than mine.' This idea pleased the fox, +for he had not yet forgiven the crow for depriving him of the young +magpies, so he carried the crow to the edge of the precipice and +threw him over, intending to go round by a path he knew and pick +him up at the bottom. But no sooner had the fox let the crow go +than he soared up into the air, and hovering just out of teach of his +enemy's jaws, he cried with a laugh: 'Ah, fox! you know well how +to catch, but you cannot keep.' + +With his tail between his legs, the fox slunk into the forest. He did +not know where to look for a dinner, as he guessed that the crow +would have flown back before him, and put every one on their +guard. The notion of going to bed supperless was very unpleasant +to him, and he was wondering what in the world he should do, +when he chanced to meet with his old friend the bear. + +This poor animal had just lost his wife, and was going to get some +one to mourn over her, for he felt her loss greatly. He had hardly +left his comfortable cave when he had come across the wolf, who +inquired where he was going. 'I am going to find a mourner,' +answered the bear, and told his story. + +'Oh, let me mourn for you,' cried the wolf. + +'Do you understand how to howl?' said the bear. + +'Oh, certainly, godfather, certainly,' replied the wolf; but the bear +said he should like to have a specimen of his howling, to make sure +that he knew his business. So the wolf broke forth in his song of +lament: 'Hu, hu, hu, hum, hoh,' he shouted, and he made such a +noise that the bear put up his paws to his ears, and begged him to +stop. + +'You have no idea how it is done. Be off with you,' said he angrily. + +A little further down the road the hare was resting in a ditch, but +when she saw the bear, she came out and spoke to him, and +inquired why he looked so sad. The bear told her of the loss of his +wife, and of his search after a mourner that could lament over her in +the proper style. The hare instantly offered her services, but the +bear took care to ask her to give him a proof of her talents, before +he accepted them. 'Pu, pu, pu, pum, poh,' piped the hare; but this +time her voice was so small that the bear could hardly hear her. +'That is not what I want,' he said, 'I will bid you good morning.' + +It was after this that the fox came up, and he also was struck with +the bear's altered looks, and stopped. 'What is the matter with you, +godfather?' asked he, 'and where are you going?' + +'I am going to find a mourner for my wife,' answered the bear. + +'Oh, do choose me,' cried the fox, and the bear looked at him +thoughtfully. + +'Can you howl well?' he said. + +'Yes, beautifully, just listen,' and the fox lifted up his voice and +sang weeping: 'Lou, lou, lou! the famous spinner, the baker of +good cakes, the prudent housekeeper is torn from her husband! +Lou, lou, lou! she is gone! she is gone!' + +'Now at last I have found some one who knows the art of +lamentation,' exclaimed the bear, quite delighted; and he led the fox +back to his cave, and bade him begin his lament over the dead wife +who was lying stretched out on her bed of grey moss. But this did +not suit the fox at all. + +'One cannot wail properly in this cave,' he said, 'it is much too +damp. You had better take the body to the storehouse. It will +sound much finer there.' So the bear carried his wife's body to the +storehouse, while he himself went back to the cave to cook some +pap for the mourner. From time to time he paused and listened for +the sound of wailing, but he heard nothing. At last he went to the +door of the storehouse, and called to the fox: + +'Why don't you howl, godfather? What are you about?' + +And the fox, who, instead of weeping over the dead bear, had been +quietly eating her, answered: + +'There only remain now her legs and the soles of her feet. Give me +five minutes more and they will be gone also!' + +When the bear heard that he ran back for the kitchen ladle, to give +the traitor the beating he deserved. But as he opened the door of +the storehouse, Michael was ready for him, and slipping between +his legs, dashed straight off into the forest. The bear, seeing that +the traitor had escaped, flung the ladle after him, and it just caught +the tip of his tail, and that is how there comes to be a spot of white +on the tails of all foxes. + +[From Finnische Mahrchen.] + + + +HOW THE BEGGAR BOY TURNED INTO COUNT PIRO + +Once upon a time there lived a man who had only one son, a lazy, +stupid boy, who would never do anything he was told. When the +father was dying, he sent for his son and told him that he would +soon be left alone in the world, with no possessions but the small +cottage they lived in and a pear tree which grew behind it, and that, +whether he liked it or not, he would have to work, or else he would +starve. Then the old man died. + +But the boy did not work; instead, he idled about as before, +contenting himself with eating the pears off his tree, which, unlike +other pear trees before or since, bore fruit the whole year round. +Indeed, the pears were so much finer than any you could get even +in the autumn, that one day, in the middle of the winter, they +attracted the notice of a fox who was creeping by. + +'Dear me; what lovely pears!' he said to the youth. 'Do give me a +basket of them. It will bring you luck!' + +'Ah, little fox, but if I give you a basketful, what am I to eat?' asked +the boy. + +'Oh, trust me, and do what I tell you,' said the fox; 'I know it will +bring you luck.' So the boy got up and picked some of the ripest +pears and put them into a rush basket. The fox thanked him, and, +taking the basket in his mouth, trotted off to the king's palace and +made his way straight to the king. + +'Your Majesty, my master sends you a few of his best pears, and +begs you will graciously accept them,' he said, laying the basket at +the feet of the king. + +'Pears! at this season?' cried the king, peering down to look at them; +'and, pray, who is your master?' + +'The Count Piro,' answered the fox. + +'But how does he manage to get pears in midwinter?' asked the +king. + +'Oh, he has everything he wants,' replied the fox; 'he is richer even +than you are, your Majesty.' + +'Then what can I send him in return for his pears?' said the king. + +'Nothing, your Majesty, or you would hurt his feelings,' answered +the fox. + +'Well, tell him how heartily I thank him, and how much I shall enjoy +them.' And the fox went away. + +He trotted back to the cottage with his empty basket and told his +tale, but the youth did not seem as pleased to hear as the fox was to +tell. + +'But, my dear little fox,' said he, ' you have brought me nothing in +return, and I am so hungry!' + +'Let me alone,' replied the fox; 'I know what I am doing. You will +see, it will bring you luck.' + +A few days after this the fox came back again. + +'I must have another basket of pears,' said he. + +'Ah, little fox, what shall I eat if you take away all my pears?' +answered the youth. + +'Be quiet, it will be all right,' said the fox; and taking a bigger basket +than before, he filled it quite full of pears. Then he picked it up in +his mouth, and trotted off to the palace. + +'Your Majesty, as you seemed to like the first basket of pears, I +have brought you some more,' said he, 'with my master, the Count +Piro's humble respects.' + +'Now, surely it is not possible to grow such pears with deep snow +on the ground?' cried the king. + +'Oh, that never affects them,' answered the fox lightly; 'he is rich +enough to do anything. But to-day he sends me to ask if you will +give him your daughter in marriage?' + +'If he is so much richer than I am,' said the king, 'I shall be obliged +to refuse. My honour would not permit me to accept his offer.' + +'Oh, your Majesty, you must not think that,' replied the fox; 'and do +not let the question of a dowry trouble you. The Count Piro would +not dream of asking anything but the hand of the princess.' + +'Is he really so rich that he can do without a dowry?' asked the king. + +'Did I not tell your Majesty that he was richer than you?' answered +the fox reproachfully. + +'Well, beg him to come here, that we may talk together,' said the +king. + +So the fox went back to the young man and said: 'I have told the +king that you are Count Piro, and have asked his daughter in +marriage.' + +'Oh, little fox, what have you done?' cried the youth in dismay; +'when the king sees me he will order my head to be cut off.' + +'Oh, no, he won't!' replied the fox; 'just do as I tell you.' And he +went off to the town, and stopped at the house of the best tailor. + +'My master, the Count Piro, begs that you will send him at once the +finest coat that you have in your shop,' said the fox, putting on his +grandest air, 'and if it fits him I will call and pay for it to-morrow! +Indeed, as he is in a great hurry, perhaps it might be as well if I +took it round myself.' The tailor was not accustomed to serve +counts, and he at once got out all the coats he had ready. The fox +chose out a beautiful one of white and silver, bade the tailor tie it +up in a parcel, and carrying the string in his teeth, he left the shop, +and went to a horse-dealer's, whom he persuaded to send his finest +horse round to the cottage, saying that the king had bidden his +master to the palace. + +Very unwillingly the young man put on the coat and mounted the +horse, and rode up to meet the king, with the fox running before +him. + +'What am I to say to his Majesty, little fox?' he asked anxiously; +'you know that I have never spoken to a king before.' + +'Say nothing,' answered the fox, 'but leave the talking to me. "Good +morning, your Majesty," will be all that is necessary for you.' + +By this time they had reached the palace, and the king came to the +door to receive Count Piro, and led him to the great hall, where a +feast was spread. The princess was already seated at the table, but +was as dumb as Count Piro himself. + +'The Count speaks very little,' the king said at last to the fox, and +the fox answered: 'He has so much to think about in the +management of his property that he cannot afford to talk like +ordinary people.' The king was quite satisfied, and they finished +dinner, after which Count Piro and the fox took leave. + +The next morning the fox came round again. + +'Give me another basket of pears,' he said. + +'Very well, little fox; but remember it may cost me my life,' +answered the youth. + +'Oh, leave it to me, and do as I tell you, and you will see that in the +end it will bring you luck,' answered the fox; and plucking the pears +he took them up to the king. + +'My master, Count Piro, sends you these pears,' he said, 'and asks +for an answer to his proposal.' + +'Tell the count that the wedding can take place whenever he +pleases,' answered the king, and, filled with pride, the fox trotted +back to deliver his message. + +'But I can't bring the princess here, little fox?' cried the young man +in dismay. + +'You leave everything to me,' answered the fox; ' have I not +managed well so far?' + +And up at the palace preparations were made for a grand wedding, +and the youth was married to the princess. + +After a week of feasting, the fox said to the king: 'My master +wishes to take his young bride home to his own castle.' + +'Very well, I will accompany them,' replied the king; and he ordered +his courtiers and attendants to get ready, and the best horses in his +stable to be brought out for himself, Count Piro and the princess. +So they all set out, and rode across the plain, the little fox running +before them. + +He stopped at the sight of a great flock of sheep, which was feeding +peacefully on the rich grass. 'To whom do these sheep belong?' +asked he of the shepherd. 'To an ogre,' replied the shepherd. + +'Hush,' said the fox in a mysterious manner. 'Do you see that crowd +of armed men riding along? If you were to tell them that those +sheep belonged to an ogre, they would kill them, and then the ogre +would kill you! If they ask, just say the sheep belong to Count +Piro; it will be better for everybody.' And the fox ran hastily on, as +he did not wish to be seen talking to the shepherd. + +Very soon the king came up. + +'What beautiful sheep!' he said, drawing up his horse. 'I have none +so fine in my pastures. Whose are they?' + +'Count Piro's,' answered the shepherd, who did not know the king. + +'Well, he must be a very rich man,' thought the king to himself, and +rejoiced that he had such a wealthy son-in-law. + +Meanwhile the fox had met with a huge herd of pigs, snuffling +about the roots of some trees. + +'To whom do these pigs belong?' he asked of the swineherd. + +'To an ogre,' replied he. + +'Hush!' whispered the fox, though nobody could hear him; 'do you +see that troop of armed men riding towards us? If you tell them +that the pigs belong to the ogre they will kill them, and then the +ogre will kill you! If they ask, just say that the pigs belong to +Count Piro; it will be better for everybody.' And he ran hastily on. + +Soon after the king rode up. + +'What fine pigs!' he said, reining in his horse. 'They are fatter than +any I have got on my farms. Whose are they?' + +'Count Piro's,' answered the swineherd, who did not know the king; +and again the king felt he was lucky to have such a rich son-in-law. + +This time the fox ran faster than before, and in a flowery meadow +he found a troop of horses feeding. 'Whose horses are these?' he +asked of the man who was watching them. + +'An ogre's,' replied he. + +'Hush!' whispered the fox, 'do you see that crowd of armed men +coming towards us? If you tell them the horses belong to an ogre +they will drive them off, and then the ogre will kill you! If they ask, +just say they are Count Piro's; it will be better for everybody.' And +he ran on again. + +In a few minutes the king rode up. + +'Oh, what lovely creatures! how I wish they were mine!' he +exclaimed. 'Whose are they?' + +Count Piro's,' answered the man, who did not know the king; and +the king's heart leapt as he thought that if they belonged to his rich +son-in-law they were as good as his. + +At last the fox came to the castle of the ogre himself. He ran up the +steps, with tears falling from his eyes, and crying: + +'Oh, you poor, poor people, what a sad fate is yours!' + +'What has happened?' asked the ogre, trembling with fright. + +'Do you see that troop of horsemen who are riding along the road? +They are sent by the king to kill you!' + +'Oh, dear little fox, help us, we implore you!' cried the ogre and his +wife. + +'Well, I will do what I can,' answered the fox. 'The best place is for +you both to hide in the big oven, and when the soldiers have gone +by I will let you out.' + +The ogre and ogress scrambled into the oven as quick as thought, +and the fox banged the door on them; just as he did so the king +came up. + +'Do us the honour to dismount, your Majesty,' said the fox, bowing +low. 'This is the palace of Count Piro!' + +'Why it is more splendid than my own!' exclaimed the king, looking +round on all the beautiful things that filled the hall. But why are +there no servants?' + +'His Excellency the Count Piro wished the princess to choose them +for herself,' answered the fox, and the king nodded his approval. +He then rode on, leaving the bridal pair in the castle. But when it +was dark and all was still, the fox crept downstairs and lit the +kitchen fire, and the ogre and his wife were burned to death. The +next morning the fox said to Count Piro: + +'Now that you are rich and happy, you have no more need of me; +but, before I go, there is one thing I must ask of you in return: +when I die, promise me that you will give me a magnificent coffin, +and bury me with due honours.' + +'Oh, little, little fox, don't talk of dying,' cried the princess, nearly +weeping, for she had taken a great liking to the fox. + +After some time the fox thought he would see if the Count Piro was +really grateful to him for all he had done, and went back to the +castle, where he lay down on the door-step, and pretended to be +dead. The princess was just going out for a walk, and directly she +saw him lying there, she burst into tears and fell on her knees beside +him. + +'My dear little fox, you are not dead,' she wailed; 'you poor, poor +little creature, you shall have the finest coffin in the world!' + +'A coffin for an animal?' said Count Piro. 'What nonsense! just take +him by the leg and throw him into the ditch.' + +Then the fox sprang up and cried: 'You wretched, thankless beggar; +have you forgotten that you owe all your riches to me?' + +Count Piro was frightened when he heard these words, as he +thought that perhaps the fox might have power to take away the +castle, and leave him as poor as when he had nothing to eat but the +pears off his tree. So he tried to soften the fox's anger, saying that +he had only spoken in joke, as he had known quite well that he was +not really dead. For the sake of the princess, the fox let himself be +softened, and he lived in the castle for many years, and played with +Count Piro's children. And when he actually did die, his coffin was +made of silver, and Count Piro and his wife followed him to the +grave. + +[From Sicilianische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Rogue And The Herdsman + +In a tiny cottage near the king's palace there once lived an old man, +his wife, and his son, a very lazy fellow, who would never do a +stroke of work. He could not be got even to look after their one +cow, but left her to look after herself, while he lay on a bank and +went to sleep in the sun. For a long time his father bore with him, +hoping that as he grew older he might gain more sense; but at last +the old man's patience was worn out, and he told his son that he +should not stay at house in idleness, and must go out into the world +to seek his fortune. + +The young man saw that there was no help for it, and he set out +with a wallet full of food over his shoulder. At length he came to a +large house, at the door of which he knocked. + +'What do you want?' asked the old man who opened it. And the +youth told him how his father had turned him out of his house +because he was so lazy and stupid, and he needed shelter for the +night. + +'That you shall have,' replied the man; 'but to-morrow I shall give +you some work to do, for you must know that I am the chief +herdsman of the king.' + +The youth made no answer to this. He felt, if he was to be made to +work after all, that he might as well have stayed where he was. But +as he did not see any other way of getting a bed, he went slowly in. + +The herdsman's two daughters and their mother were sitting at +supper, and invited him to join them. Nothing more was said about +work, and when the meal was over they all went to bed. + +In the morning, when the young man was dressed, the herdsman +called to him and said: + +'Now listen, and I will tell you what you have to do.' + +'What is it?' asked the youth, sulkily. + +'Nothing less than to look after two hundred pigs,' was the reply. + +'Oh, I am used to that,' answered the youth. + +'Yes; but this time you will have to do it properly,' said the +herdsman; and he took the youth to the place where the pigs were +feeding, and told him to drive them to the woods on the side of the +mountain. This the young man did, but as soon as they reached the +outskirts of the mountain they grew quite wild, and would have run +away altogether, had they not luckily gone towards a narrow +ravine, from which the youth easily drove them home to his father's +cottage. + +'Where do all these pigs come from, and how did you get them?' +asked the old man in surprise, when his son knocked at the door of +the hut he had left only the day before. + +'They belong to the king's chief herdsman,' answered his son. 'He +gave them to me to look after, but I knew I could not do it, so I +drove them straight to you. Now make the best of your good +fortune, and kill them and hang them up at once.' + +'What are you talking about?' cried the father, pale with horror. +'We should certainly both be put to death if I did any such thing.' + +'No, no; do as I tell you, and I will get out of it somehow,' replied +the young man. And in the end he had his way. The pigs were +killed, and laid side by side in a row. Then he cut off the tails and +tied them together with a piece of cord, and swinging the bundle +over his back, he returned to the place where they should have been +feeding. Here there was a small swamp, which was just what he +wanted, and finding a large stone, he fastened the rope to it, and +sank it in the swamp, after which he arranged the tails carefully one +by one, so that only their points were seen sticking out of the water. +When everything was in order, he hastened home to his master with +such a sorrowful face that the herdsman saw at once that something +dreadful had happened. + +'Where are the pigs?' asked he. + +'Oh, don't speak of them!' answered the young man; 'I really can +hardly tell you. The moment they got into the field they became +quite mad, and each ran in a different direction. I ran too, hither +and thither, but as fast as I caught one, another was off, till I was in +despair. At last, however, I collected them all and was about to +drive them back, when suddenly they rushed down the hill into the +swamp, where they vanished completely, leaving only the points of +their tails, which you can see for yourself.' + +'You have made up that story very well,' replied the herdsman. + +'No, it is the real truth; come with me and I'll prove it.' And they +went together to the spot, and there sure enough were the points of +the tails sticking up out of the water. The herdsman laid hold of the +nearest, and pulled at it with all his might, but it was no use, for the +stone and the rope held them all fast. He called to the young man +to help him, but the two did not succeed any better than the one +had done. + +'Yes, your story was true after all; it is a wonderful thing,' said the +herdsman. 'But I see it is no fault of yours. and I must put up with +my loss as well as I can. Now let us return home, for it is time for +supper. + +Next morning the herdsman said to the young man: 'I have got +some other work for you to do. To-day you must take a hundred +sheep to graze; but be careful that no harm befalls them.' + +'I will do my best,' replied the youth. And he opened the gate of +the fold, where the sheep had been all night, and drove them out +into the meadow. But in a short time they grew as wild as the pigs +had done, and scattered in all directions. The young man could not +collect them, try as he would, and he thought to himself that this +was the punishment for his laziness in refusing to look after his +father's one cow. + +At last, however, the sheep seemed tired of running about, and then +the youth managed to gather them together, and drove them, as +before, straight to his father's house. + +'Whose sheep are these, and what are they doing here?' asked the +old man in wonder, and his son told him. But when the tale was +ended the father shook his head. + +'Give up these bad ways and take them back to your master,' said +he. + +'No, no,' answered the youth; 'I am not so stupid as that! We will +kill them and have them for dinner.' + +'You will lose your life if you do,' replied the father. + +'Oh, I am not sure of that!' said the son, 'and, anyway, I will have +my will for once.' And he killed all the sheep and laid them on the +grass. But he cut off the head of the ram which always led the +flock and had bells round its horns. This he took back to the place +where they should have been feeding, for here he had noticed a high +rock, with a patch of green grass in the middle and two or three +thick bushes growing on the edge. Up this rock he climbed with +great difficulty, and fastened the ram's head to the bushes with a +cord, leaving only the tips of the horns with the bells visible. As +there was a soft breeze blowing, the bushes to which the head was +tied moved gently, and the bells rang. When all was done to his +liking he hastened quickly back to his master. + +'Where are the sheep?' asked the herdsman as the young man ran +panting up the steps. + +'Oh! don't speak of them,' answered he. 'It is only by a miracle that +I am here myself.' + +'Tell me at once what has happened,' said the herdsman sternly. + +The youth began to sob, and stammered out: 'I--I hardly know how +to tell you! They--they--they were so--so troublesome--that I could +not manage them at all. They--ran about in--in all directions, and I- +-I--ran after them and nearly died of fatigue. Then I heard a--a +noise, which I--I thought was the wind. But--but--it was the sheep, +which, be--before my very eyes, were carried straight up--up into +the air. I stood watching them as if I was turned to stone, but there +kept ringing in my ears the sound of the bells on the ram which led +them.' + +'That is nothing but a lie from beginning to end,' said the herdsman. + +'No, it is as true as that there is a sun in heaven,' answered the +young man. + +'Then give me a proof of it,' cried his master. + +'Well, come with me,' said the youth. By this time it was evening +and the dusk was falling. The young man brought the herdsman to +the foot of the great rock, but it was so dark you could hardly see. +Still the sound of sheep bells rang softly from above, and the +herdsman knew them to be those he had hung on the horns of his +ram. + +'Do you hear?' asked the youth. + +'Yes, I hear; you have spoken the truth, and I cannot blame you for +what has happened. I must bear the loss as best as I can.' + +He turned and went home, followed by the young man, who felt +highly pleased with his own cleverness. + +'I should not be surprised if the tasks I set you were too difficult, +and that you were tired of them,' said the herdsman next morning; +'but to-day I have something quite easy for you to do. You must +look after forty oxen, and be sure you are very careful, for one of +them has gold-tipped horns and hoofs, and the king reckons it +among his greatest treasures.' + +The young man drove out the oxen into the meadow, and no sooner +had they got there than, like the sheep and the pigs, they began to +scamper in all directions, the precious bull being the wildest of all. +As the youth stood watching them, not knowing what to do next, it +came into his head that his father's cow was put out to grass at no +great distance; and he forthwith made such a noise that he quite +frightened the oxen, who were easily persuaded to take the path he +wished. When they heard the cow lowing they galloped all the +faster, and soon they all arrived at his father's house. + +The old man was standing before the door of his hut when the great +herd of animals dashed round a corner of the road, with his son and +his own cow at their head. + +'Whose cattle are these, and why are they here?' he asked; and his +son told him the story. + +'Take them back to your master as soon as you can,' said the old +man; but the son only laughed, and said: + +'No, no; they are a present to you! They will make you fat!' + +For a long while the old man refused to have anything to do with +such a wicked scheme; but his son talked him over in the end, and +they killed the oxen as they had killed the sheep and the pigs. Last +of all they came to the king's cherished ox. + +The son had a rope ready to cast round its horns, and throw it to +the ground, but the ox was stronger than the rope, and soon tore it +in pieces. Then it dashed away to the wood, the youth following; +over hedges and ditches they both went, till they reached the rocky +pass which bordered the herdsman's land. Here the ox, thinking +itself safe, stopped to rest, and thus gave the young man a chance +to come up with it. Not knowing how to catch it, he collected all +the wood he could find and made a circle of fire round the ox, who +by this time had fallen asleep, and did not wake till the fire had +caught its head, and it was too late for it to escape. Then the young +man, who had been watching, ran home to his master. + +'You have been away a long while,' said the herdsman. 'Where are +the cattle?' + +The young man gasped, and seemed as if he was unable to speak. +At last he answered: + +'It is always the same story! The oxen are--gone--gone!' + +'G-g-gone?' cried the herdsman. 'Scoundrel, you lie!' + +'I am telling you the exact truth,' answered the young man. +'Directly we came to the meadow they grew so wild that I could not +keep them together. Then the big ox broke away, and the others +followed till they all disappeared down a deep hole into the earth. +It seemed to me that I heard sounds of bellowing, and I thought I +recognised the voice of the golden horned ox; but when I got to the +place from which the sounds had come, I could neither see nor hear +anything in the hole itself, though there were traces of a fire all +round it.' + +'Wretch!' cried the herdsman, when he had heard this story, 'even if +you did not lie before, you are lying now.' + +'No, master, I am speaking the truth. Come and see for yourself.' + +'If I find you have deceived me, you are a dead man, said the +herdsman; and they went out together. + +'What do you call that?' asked the youth. And the herdsman looked +and saw the traces of a fire, which seemed to have sprung up from +under the earth. + +'Wonder upon wonder,' he exclaimed, 'so you really did speak the +truth after all! Well, I cannot reproach you, though I shall have to +pay heavily to my royal master for the value of that ox. But come, +let us go home! I will never set you to herd cattle again, +henceforward I will give you something easier to do.' + +'I have thought of exactly the thing for you,' said the herdsman as +they walked along, ' and it is so simple that you cannot make a +mistake. Just make me ten scythes, one for every man, for I want +the grass mown in one of my meadows to-morrow.' + +At these words the youth's heart sank, for he had never been trained +either as a smith or a joiner. However, he dared not say no, but +smiled and nodded. + +Slowly and sadly he went to bed, but he could not sleep, for +wondering how the scythes were to be made. All the skill and +cunning he had shown before was of no use to him now, and after +thinking about the scythes for many hours, there seemed only one +way open to him. So, listening to make sure that all was still, he +stole away to his parents, and told them the whole story. When +they had heard everything, they hid him where no one could find +him. + +Time passed away, and the young man stayed at home doing all his +parents bade him, and showing himself very different from what he +had been before he went out to see the world; but one day he said +to his father that he should like to marry, and have a house of his +own. + +'When I served the king's chief herdsman,' added he, 'I saw his +daughter, and I am resolved to try if I cannot win her for my wife.' + +'It will cost you your life, if you do,' answered the father, shaking +his head. + +'Well, I will do my best,' replied his son; 'but first give me the sword +which hangs over your bed!' + +The old man did not understand what good the sword would do, +however he took it down, and the young man went his way. + +Late in the evening he arrived at the house of the herdsman, and +knocked at the door, which was opened by a little boy. + +'I want to speak to your master,' said he. + +'So it is you?' cried the herdsman, when he had received the +message. 'Well, you can sleep here to-night if you wish.' + +'I have come for something else besides a bed,' replied the young +man, drawing his sword, 'and if you do not promise to give me your +youngest daughter as my wife I will stab you through the heart.' + +What could the poor man do but promise? And he fetched his +youngest daughter, who seemed quite pleased at the proposed +match, and gave the youth her hand. + +Then the young man went home to his parents, and bade them get +ready to welcome his bride. And when the wedding was over he +told his father-in-law, the herdsman, what he had done with the +sheep, and pigs, and cattle. By-and-by the story came to the king's +ears, and he thought that a man who was so clever was just the man +to govern the country; so he made him his minister, and after the +king himself there was no one so great as he. + +[From Islandische Mahrchen.] + + + +Eisenkopf + +Once upon a time there lived an old man who had only one son, +whom he loved dearly; but they were very poor, and often had +scarcely enough to eat. Then the old man fell ill, and things grew +worse than ever, so he called his son and said to him: + +'My dear boy, I have no longer any food to give you, and you must +go into the world and get it for yourself. It does not matter what +work you do, but remember if you do it well and are faithful to +your master, you will always have your reward.' + +So Peter put a piece of black bread in his knapsack, and strapping it +on his back, took a stout stick in his hand, and set out to seek his +fortune. For a long while he travelled on and on, and nobody +seemed to want him; but one day he met an old man, and being a +polite youth, he took off his hat and said: 'Good morning,' in a +pleasant voice. 'Good morning,' answered the old man; 'and where +are you going?' + +'I am wandering through the country trying to get work,' replied +Peter. + +'Then stay with me, for I can give you plenty,' said the old man, and +Peter stayed. + +His work did not seem hard, for he had only two horses and a cow +to see after, and though he had been hired for a year, the year +consisted of but three days, so that it was not long before he +received his wages. In payment the old man gave him a nut, and +offered to keep him for another year; but Peter was home-sick; and, +besides, he would rather have been paid ever so small a piece of +money than a nut; for, thought he, nuts grow on every tree, and I +can gather as many as I like. However, he did not say this to the +old man, who had been kind to him, but just bade him farewell. + +The nearer Peter drew to his father's house the more ashamed he +felt at having brought back such poor wages. What could one nut +do for him? Why, it would not buy even a slice of bacon. It was no +use taking it home, he might as well eat it. So he sat down on a +stone and cracked it with his teeth, and then took it out of his +mouth to break off the shell. But who could ever guess what came +out of that nut? Why, horses and oxen and sheep stepped out in +such numbers that they seemed as if they would stretch to the +world's end! The sight gave Peter such a shock that he wrung his +hands in dismay. What was he to do with all these creatures, where +was he to put them? He stood and gazed in terror, and at this +moment Eisenkopf came by. + +'What is the matter, young man?' asked he. + +'Oh, my friend, there is plenty the matter,' answered Peter. 'I have +gained a nut as my wages, and when I cracked it this crowd of +beasts came out, and I don't know what to do with them all!' + +'Listen to me, my son,' said Eisenkopf. 'If you will promise never +to marry I will drive them all back into the nut again.' + +In his trouble Peter would have promised far harder things than +this, so he gladly gave the promise Eisenkopf asked for; and at a +whistle from the stranger the animals all began crowding into the +nut again, nearly tumbling over each other in their haste. When the +last foot had got inside, the two halves of the shell shut close. Then +Peter put it in his pocket and went on to the house. + +No sooner had he reached it than he cracked his nut for the second +time, and out came the horses, sheep, and oxen again. Indeed Peter +thought that there were even more of them than before. The old +man could not believe his eyes when he saw the multitudes of +horses, oxen and sheep standing before his door. + +'How did you come by all these?' he gasped, as soon as he could +speak; and the son told him the whole story, and of the promise he +had given Eisenkopf. + +The next day some of the cattle were driven to market and sold, +and with the money the old man was able to buy some of the fields +and gardens round his house, and in a few months had grown the +richest and most prosperous man in the whole village. Everything +seemed to turn to gold in his hands, till one day, when he and his +son were sitting in the orchard watching their herds of cattle +grazing in the meadows, he suddenly said: ' Peter, my boy, it is time +that you were thinking of marrying.' + +'But, my dear father, I told you I can never marry, because of the +promise I gave to Eisenkopf.' + +'Oh, one promises here and promises there, but no one ever thinks +of keeping such promises. If Eisenkopf does not like your +marrying, he will have to put up with it all the same! Besides, there +stands in the stable a grey horse which is saddled night and day; and +if Eisenkopf should show his face, you have only got to jump on the +horse's back and ride away, and nobody on earth can catch you. +When all is safe you will come back again, and we shall live as +happily as two fish in the sea.' + +And so it all happened. The young man found a pretty, +brown-skinned girl who was willing to have him for a husband, and +the whole village came to the wedding feast. The music was at its +gayest, and the dance at its merriest, when Eisenkopf looked in at +the window. + +'Oh, ho, my brother! what is going on here? It has the air of being a +wedding feast. Yet I fancied--was I mistaken?--that you had given +me a promise that you never would marry.' But Peter had not +waited for the end of this speech. Scarcely had he seen Eisenkopf +than he darted like the wind to the stable and flung himself on the +horse's back. In another moment he was away over the mountain, +with Eisenkopf running fast behind him. + +On they went through thick forests where the sun never shone, over +rivers so wide that it took a whole day to sail across them, up hills +whose sides were all of glass; on they went through seven times +seven countries till Peter reined in his horse before the house of an +old woman. + +'Good day, mother,' said he, jumping down and opening the door. + +'Good day, my son,' answered she, 'and what are you doing here, at +the world's end?' + +'I am flying for my life, mother, flying to the world which is beyond +all worlds; for Eisenkopf is at my heels.' + +'Come in and rest then, and have some food, for I have a little dog +who will begin to howl when Eisenkopf is still seven miles off.' + +So Peter went in and warmed himself and ate and drank, till +suddenly the dog began to howl. + +'Quick, my son, quick, you must go,' cried the old woman. And the +lightning itself was not quicker than Peter. + +'Stop a moment,' cried the old woman again, just as he was +mounting his horse, 'take this napkin and this cake, and put them in +your bag where you can get hold of them easily.' Peter took them +and put them into his bag, and waving his thanks for her kindness, +he was off like the wind. + +Round and round he rode, through seven times seven countries, +through forests still thicker, and rivers still wider, and mountains +still more slippery than the others he had passed, till at length he +reached a house where dwelt another old woman. + +'Good day, mother,' said he. + +'Good day, my son! What are you seeking here at the world's end?' + +'I am flying for my life, mother, flying to the world that is beyond all +worlds, for Eisenkopf is at my heels.' + +'Come in, my son, and have some food. I have a little dog who will +begin to howl when Eisenkopf is still seven miles off; so lie on this +bed and rest yourself in peace.' + +Then she went to the kitchen and baked a number of cakes, more +than Peter could have eaten in a whole month. He had not finished +a quarter of them, when the dog began to howl. + +'Now, my son, you must go,' cried the old woman 'but first put +these cakes and this napkin in your bag, where you can easily get at +them.' So Peter thanked her and was off like the wind. + +On he rode, through seven times seven countries, till he came to the +house of a third old woman, who welcomed him as the others had +done. But when the dog howled, and Peter sprang up to go, she +said, as she gave him the same gifts for his journey: 'You have now +three cakes and three napkins, for I know that my sisters have each +given you one. Listen to me, and do what I tell you. Ride seven +days and nights straight before you, and on the eighth morning you +will see a great fire. Strike it three times with the three napkins and +it will part in two. Then ride into the opening, and when you are in +the middle of the opening, throw the three cakes behind your back +with your left hand.' + +Peter thanked her for her counsel, and was careful to do exactly all +the old woman had told him. On the eighth morning he reached a +fire so large that he could see nothing else on either side, but when +he struck it with the napkins it parted, and stood on each hand like +a wall. As he rode through the opening he threw the cakes behind +him. From each cake there sprang a huge dog, and he gave them +the names of World's-weight, Ironstrong, and Quick-ear. They +bayed with joy at the sight of him, and as Peter turned to pat them, +he beheld Eisenkopf at the edge of the fire, but the opening had +closed up behind Peter, and he could not get through. + +'Stop, you promise-breaker,' shrieked he; 'you have slipped +through my hands once, but wait till I catch you again!' + +Then he lay down by the fire and watched to see what would +happen. + +When Peter knew that he had nothing more to fear from Eisenkopf, +he rode on slowly till he came to a small white house. Here he +entered and found himself in a room where a gray-haired woman +was spinning and a beautiful girl was sitting in the window combing +her golden hair. +'What brings you here, my son?' asked the old woman. + +'I am seeking for a place, mother,' answered Peter. + +'Stay with me, then, for I need a servant,' said the old woman. + +'With pleasure, mother,' replied he. + +After that Peter's life was a very happy one. He sowed and +ploughed all day, except now and then when he took his dogs and +went to hunt. And whatever game he brought back the maiden +with the golden hair knew how to dress it. + +One day the old woman had gone to the town to buy some flour, +and Peter and the maiden were left alone in the house. They fell +into talk, and she asked him where his home was, and how he had +managed to come through the fire. Peter then told her the whole +story, and of his striking the flames with the three napkins as he had +been told to do. The maiden listened attentively and wondered in +herself whether what he said was true. So after Peter had gone out +to the fields, she crept up to his room and stole the napkins and +then set off as fast as she could to the fire by a path she knew of +over the hill. + +At the third blow she gave the flames divided, and Eisenkopf, who +had been watching and hoping for a chance of this kind, ran down +the opening and stood before her. At this sight the maiden was +almost frightened to death, but with a great effort she recovered +herself and ran home as fast as her legs would carry her, closely +pursued by Eisenkopf. Panting for breath she rushed into the house +and fell fainting on the floor; but Eisenkopf entered behind her, and +hid himself in the kitchen under the hearth. + +Not long after, Peter came in and picked up the three napkins which +the maiden had dropped on the threshold. He wondered how they +got there, for he knew he had left them in his room; but what was +his horror when he saw the form of the fainting girl lying where she +had dropped, as still and white as if she had been dead. He lifted +her up and carried her to her bed, where she soon revived, but she +did not tell Peter about Eisenkopf, who had been almost crushed to +death under the hearth-stone by the body of World's-weight. + +The next morning Peter locked up his dogs and went out into the +forest alone. Eisenkopf, however, had seen him go, and followed +so closely at his heels that Peter had barely time to clamber up a tall +tree, where Eisenkopf could not reach him. 'Come down at once, +you gallows bird,' he cried. 'Have you forgotten your promise that +you never would marry?' + +'Oh, I know it is all up with me,' answered Peter, 'but let me call +out three times.' + +'You can call a hundred times if you like,' returned Eisenkopf, 'for +now I have got you in my power, and you shall pay for what you +have done.' + +'Iron-strong, World's-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help!' cried +Peter; and Quick-ear heard, and said to his brothers: 'Listen, our +master is calling us.' + +'You are dreaming, fool,' answered World's-weight; 'why he has not +finished his breakfast.' And he gave Quick-ear a slap with his paw, +for he was young and needed to be taught sense. + +'Iron-strong, World's-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help!' cried Peter +again. + +This time World's-weight heard also, and he said, 'Ah, now our +master is really calling.' + +'How silly you are!' answered Iron-strong; 'you know that at this +hour he is always eating.' And he gave World's-weight a cuff, +because he was old enough to know better. + +Peter sat trembling on the tree dreading lest his dogs had never +heard, or else that, having heard, they had refused to come. It was +his last chance, so making a mighty effort he shrieked once more: + +'Iron-strong, World's-weight, Quick-ear, fly to my help, or I am a +dead man!' + +And Iron-strong heard, and said: 'Yes, he is certainly calling, we +must go at once.' And in an instant he had burst open the door, and +all three were bounding away in the direction of the voice. When +they reached the foot of the tree Peter just said: 'At him!' And in a +few minutes there was nothing left of Eisenkopf. + +As soon as his enemy was dead Peter got down and returned to the +house, where he bade farewell to the old woman and her daughter, +who gave him a beautiful ring, all set with diamonds. It was really a +magic ring, but neither Peter nor the maiden knew that. + +Peter's heart was heavy as he set out for home. He had ceased to +love the wife whom he had left at his wedding feast, and his heart +had gone out to the golden-haired girl. However, it was no use +thinking of that, so he rode forward steadily. + +The fire had to be passed through before he had gone very far, and +when he came to it, Peter shook the napkins three times in the +flames and a passage opened for trim. But then a curious thing +happened; the three dogs, who had followed at his heels all the way, +now became three cakes again, which Peter put into his bag with +the napkins. After that he stopped at the houses of the three old +women, and gave each one back her napkin and her cake. + +'Where is my wife?' asked Peter, when he reached home. + +'Oh, my dear son, why did you ever leave us? After you had +vanished, no one knew where, your poor wife grew more and more +wretched, and would neither eat nor drink. Little by little she faded +away, and a month ago we laid her in her grave, to hide her +sorrows under the earth.' + +At this news Peter began to weep, for he had loved his wife before +he went away and had seen the golden-haired maiden. + +He went sorrowfully about his work for the space of half a year, +when, one night, he dreamed that he moved the diamond ring given +him by the maiden from his right hand and put it on the wedding +finger of the left. The dream was so real that he awoke at once and +changed the ring from one hand to the other. And as he did so +guess what he saw? Why, the golden-haired girl standing before +him. And he sprang up and kissed her, and said: 'Now you are mine +for ever and ever, and when we die we will both be buried in one +grave.' + +And so they were. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Death Of Abu Nowas And Of His Wife + +Once upon a time there lived a man whose name was Abu Nowas, +and he was a great favourite with the Sultan of the country, who +had a palace in the same town where Abu Nowas dwelt. + +One day Abu Nowas came weeping into the hall of the palace +where the Sultan was sitting, and said to him: 'Oh, mighty Sultan, +my wife is dead.' + +'That is bad news,' replied the Sultan; 'I must get you another wife.' +And he bade his Grand Vizir send for the Sultana. + +'This poor Abu Nowas has lost his wife,' said he, when she entered +the hall. + +'Oh, then we must get him another,' answered the Sultana; 'I have a +girl that will suit him exactly,' and clapped her hands loudly. At this +signal a maiden appeared and stood before her. + +'I have got a husband for you,' said the Sultana. + +'Who is he?' asked the girl. + +'Abu Nowas, the jester,' replied the Sultana. + +'I will take him,' answered the maiden; and as Abu Nowas made no +objection, it was all arranged. The Sultana had the most beautiful +clothes made for the bride, and the Sultan gave the bridegroom his +wedding suit, and a thousand gold pieces into the bargain, and soft +carpets for the house. + +So Abu Nowas took his wife home, and for some time they were +very happy, and spent the money freely which the Sultan had given +them, never thinking what they should do for more when that was +gone. But come to an end it did, and they had to sell their fine +things one by one, till at length nothing was left but a cloak apiece, +and one blanket to cover them. 'We have run through our fortune,' +said Abu Nowas, 'what are we to do now? I am afraid to go back +to the Sultan, for he will command his servants to turn me from the +door. But you shall return to your mistress, and throw yourself at +her feet and weep, and perhaps she will help us.' + +'Oh, you had much better go,' said the wife. 'I shall not know what +to say.' + +'Well, then, stay at home, if you like,' answered Abu Nowas, 'and I +will ask to be admitted to the Sultan's presence, and will tell him, +with sobs, that my wife is dead, and that I have no money for her +burial. When he hears that perhaps he will give us something.' + +'Yes, that is a good plan,' said the wife; and Abu Nowas set out. + +The Sultan was sitting in the hall of justice when Abu Nowas +entered, his eyes streaming with tears, for he had rubbed some +pepper into them. They smarted dreadfully, and he could hardly see +to walk straight, and everyone wondered what was the matter with +him. + +'Abu Nowas! What has happened?' cried the Sultan. + +'Oh, noble Sultan, my wife is dead,' wept he. + +'We must all die,' answered the Sultan; but this was not the reply +for which Abu Nowas had hoped. + +'True, O Sultan, but I have neither shroud to wrap her in, nor +money to bury her with,' went on Abu Nowas, in no wise abashed +by the way the Sultan had received his news. + +'Well, give him a hundred pieces of gold,' said the Sultan, turning to +the Grand Vizir. And when the money was counted out Abu +Nowas bowed low, and left the hall, his tears still flowing, but with +joy in his heart. + +'Have you got anything?' cried his wife, who was waiting for him +anxiously. + +'Yes, a hundred gold pieces,' said he, throwing down the bag, 'but +that will not last us any time. Now you must go to the Sultana, +clothed in sackcloth and robes of mourning, and tell her that your +husband, Abu Nowas, is dead, and you have no money for his +burial. When she hears that, she will be sure to ask you what has +become of the money and the fine clothes she gave us on our +marriage, and you will answer, "before he died he sold everything."' + +The wife did as she was told, and wrapping herself in sackcloth +went up to the Sultana's own palace, and as she was known to have +been one of Subida's favourite attendants, she was taken without +difficulty into the private apartments. + +'What is the matter?' inquired the Sultana, at the sight of the dismal +figure. + +'My husband lies dead at home, and he has spent all our money, and +sold everything, and I have nothing left to bury him with,' sobbed +the wife. + +Then Subida took up a purse containing two hundred gold pieces, +and said: 'Your husband served us long and faithfully. You must +see that he has a fine funeral.' + +The wife took the money, and, kissing the feet of the Sultana, she +joyfully hastened home. They spent some happy hours planning +how they should spend it, and thinking how clever they had been. +'When the Sultan goes this evening to Subida's palace,' said Abu +Nowas, 'she will be sure to tell him that Abu Nowas is dead. "Not +Abu Nowas, it is his wife," he will reply, and they will quarrel over +it, and all the time we shall be sitting here enjoying ourselves. Oh, +if they only knew, how angry they would be!' + +As Abu Nowas had foreseen, the Sultan went, in the evening after +his business was over, to pay his usual visit to the Sultana. + + +'Poor Abu Nowas is dead!' said Subida when he entered the room. + +'It is not Abu Nowas, but his wife who is dead,' answered the +Sultan. + +'No; really you are quite wrong. She came to tell me herself only a +couple of hours ago,' replied Subida, 'and as he had spent all their +money, I gave her something to bury him with.' + +'You must be dreaming,' exclaimed the Sultan. 'Soon after midday +Abu Nowas came into the hall, his eyes streaming with tears, and +when I asked him the reason he answered that his wife was dead, +and they had sold everything they had, and he had nothing left, not +so much as would buy her a shroud, far less for her burial.' + +For a long time they talked, and neither would listen to the other, +till the Sultan sent for the door-keeper and bade him go instantly to +the house of Abu Nowas and see if it was the man or his wife who +was dead. But Abu Nowas happened to be sitting with his wife +behind the latticed window, which looked on the street, and he saw +the man coming, and sprang up at once. 'There is the Sultan's +door-keeper! They have sent him here to find out the truth. Quick! +throw yourself on the bed and pretend that you are dead.' And in a +moment the wife was stretched out stiffly, with a linen sheet spread +across her, like a corpse. + +She was only just in time, for the sheet was hardly drawn across her +when the door opened and the porter came in. 'Has anything +happened?' asked he. + +'My poor wife is dead,' replied Abu Nowas. 'Look! she is laid out +here.' And the porter approached the bed, which was in a corner of +the room, and saw the stiff form lying underneath. + +'We must all die,' said he, and went back to the Sultan. + +'Well, have you found out which of them is dead?' asked the Sultan. + +'Yes, noble Sultan; it is the wife,' replied the porter. + +'He only says that to please you,' cried Subida in a rage; and calling +to her chamberlain, she ordered him to go at once to the dwelling of +Abu Nowas and see which of the two was dead. 'And be sure you +tell the truth about it,' added she, 'or it will be the worse for you.' + +As her chamberlain drew near the house, Abu Nowas caught sight +of him. 'There is the Sultana's chamberlain,' he exclaimed in a +fright. 'Now it is my turn to die. Be quick and spread the sheet +over me.' And he laid himself on the bed, and held his breath when +the chamberlain came in. 'What are you weeping for?' asked the +man, finding the wife in tears. + +'My husband is dead,' answered she, pointing to the bed; and the +chamberlain drew back the sheet and beheld Abu Nowas lying stiff +and motionless. Then he gently replaced the sheet and returned to +the palace. + +'Well, have you found out this time?' asked the Sultan. + +'My lord, it is the husband who is dead.' + +'But I tell you he was with me only a few hours ago,' cried the +Sultan angrily. 'I must get to the bottom of this before I sleep! Let +my golden coach be brought round at once.' + +The coach was before the door in another five minutes, and the +Sultan and Sultana both got in. Abu Nowas had ceased being a +dead man, and was looking into the street when he saw the coach +coming. 'Quick! quick!' he called to his wife. 'The Sultan will be +here directly, and we must both be dead to receive him.' So they +laid themselves down, and spread the sheet over them, and held +their breath. At that instant the Sultan entered, followed by the +Sultana and the chamberlain, and he went up to the bed and found +the corpses stiff and motionless. 'I would give a thousand gold +pieces to anyone who would tell me the truth about this,' cried he, +and at the words Abu Nowas sat up. 'Give them to me, then,' said +he, holding out his hand. 'You cannot give them to anyone who +needs them more.' + +'Oh, Abu Nowas, you impudent dog!' exclaimed the Sultan, +bursting into a laugh, in which the Sultana joined. 'I might have +known it was one of your tricks!' But he sent Abu Nowas the gold +he had promised, and let us hope that it did not fly so fast as the last +had done. + +[From Tunische Mahrchen.] + + + +Motiratika + +Once upon a time, in a very hot country, a man lived with his wife +in a little hut, which was surrounded by grass and flowers. They +were perfectly happy together till, by-and-by, the woman fell ill and +refused to take any food. The husband tried to persuade her to eat +all sorts of delicious fruits that he had found in the forest, but she +would have none of them, and grew so thin he feared she would +die. 'Is there nothing you would like?' he said at last in despair. + +'Yes, I think I could eat some wild honey,' answered she. The +husband was overjoyed, for he thought this sounded easy enough to +get, and he went off at once in search of it. + +He came back with a wooden pan quite full, and gave it to his wife. +'I can't eat that,' she said, turning away in disgust. 'Look! there are +some dead bees in it! I want honey that is quite pure.' And the man +threw the rejected honey on the grass, and started off to get some +fresh. When he got back he offered it to his wife, who treated it as +she had done the first bowlful. 'That honey has got ants in it: throw +it away,' she said, and when he brought her some more, she +declared it was full of earth. In his fourth journey he managed to +find some that she would eat, and then she begged him to get her +some water. This took him some time, but at length he came to a +lake whose waters were sweetened with sugar. He filled a pannikin +quite full, and carried it home to his wife, who drank it eagerly, and +said that she now felt quite well. When she was up and had dressed +herself, her husband lay down in her place, saying: 'You have given +me a great deal of trouble, and now it is my turn!' + +'What is the matter with you?' asked the wife. + +'I am thirsty and want some water,' answered he; and she took a +large pot and carried it to the nearest spring, which was a good way +off. 'Here is the water,' she said to her husband, lifting the heavy +pot from her head; but he turned away in disgust. + +'You have drawn it from the pool that is full of frogs and willows; +you must get me some more.' So the woman set out again and +walked still further to another lake. + +'This water tastes of rushes,' he exclaimed, 'go and get some fresh.' +But when she brought back a third supply he declared that it +seemed made up of water-lilies, and that he must have water that +was pure, and not spoilt by willows, or frogs, or rushes. So for the +fourth time she put her jug on her head, and passing all the lakes +she had hitherto tried, she came to another, where the water was +golden like honey. She stooped down to drink, when a horrible +head bobbed up on the surface. + +'How dare you steal my water?' cried the head. + +'It is my husband who has sent me,' she replied, trembling all over. +'But do not kill me! You shall have my baby, if you will only let me +go.' + +'How am I to know which is your baby?' asked the Ogre. + +'Oh, that is easily managed. I will shave both sides of his head, and +hang some white beads round his neck. And when you come to the +hut you have only to call "Motikatika!" and he will run to meet you, +and you can eat him.' + +'Very well,' said the ogre, 'you can go home.' And after filling the +pot she returned, and told her husband of the dreadful danger she +had been in. + +Now, though his mother did not know it, the baby was a magician +and he had heard all that his mother had promised the ogre; and he +laughed to himself as he planned how to outwit her. + +The next morning she shaved his head on both sides, and hung the +white beads round his neck, and said to him: 'I am going to the +fields to work, but you must stay at home. Be sure you do not go +outside, or some wild beast may eat you.' + +'Very well,' answered he. + +As soon as his mother was out of sight, the baby took out some +magic bones, and placed them in a row before him. 'You are my +father,' he told one bone, 'and you are my mother. You are the +biggest,' he said to the third, 'so you shall be the ogre who wants to +eat me; and you,' to another, 'are very little, therefore you shall be +me. Now, then, tell me what I am to do.' + +'Collect all the babies in the village the same size as yourself,' +answered the bones; 'shave the sides of their heads, and hang white +beads round their necks, and tell them that when anybody calls +"Motikatika," they are to answer to it. And be quick for you have +no time to lose.' + +Motikatika went out directly, and brought back quite a crowd of +babies, and shaved their heads and hung white beads round their +little black necks, and just as he had finished, the ground began to +shake, and the huge ogre came striding along, crying: 'Motikatika! +Motikatika!' + +'Here we are! here we are!' answered the babies, all running to meet +him. + +'It is Motikatika I want,' said the ogre. + +'We are all Motikatika,' they replied. And the ogre sat down in +bewilderment, for he dared not eat the children of people who had +done him no wrong, or a heavy punishment would befall him. The +children waited for a little, wondering, and then they went away. + +The ogre remained where he was, till the evening, when the woman +returned from the fields. + +'I have not seen Motikatika,' said he. + +'But why did you not call him by his name, as I told you?' she +asked. + +'I did, but all the babies in the village seemed to be named +Motikatika,' answered the ogre; 'you cannot think the number who +came running to me.' + +The woman did not know what to make of it, so, to keep him in a +good temper, she entered the hut and prepared a bowl of maize, +which she brought him. + +'I do not want maize, I want the baby,' grumbled he 'and I will have +him.' + +'Have patience,' answered she; 'I will call him, and you can eat him +at once.' And she went into the hut and cried, 'Motikatika!' + +'I am coming, mother,' replied he; but first he took out his bones, +and, crouching down on the ground behind the hut, asked them +how he should escape the ogre. + +'Change yourself into a mouse,' said the bones; and so he did, and +the ogre grew tired of waiting, and told the woman she must invent +some other plan. + +'To-morrow I will send him into the field to pick some beans for +me, and you will find him there, and can eat him.' + +'Very well,' replied the ogre, 'and this time I will take care to have +him,' and he went back to his lake. + +Next morning Motikatika was sent out with a basket, and told to +pick some beans for dinner. On the way to the field he took out his +bones and asked them what he was to do to escape from the ogre. +'Change yourself into a bird and snap off the beans,' said the bones. +And the ogre chased away the bird, not knowing that it was +Motikatika. + +The ogre went back to the hut and told the woman that she had +deceived him again, and that he would not be put off any longer. + +'Return here this evening,' answered she, 'and you will find him in +bed under this white coverlet. Then you can carry him away, and +eat him at once.' + +But the boy heard, and consulted his bones, which said: 'Take the +red coverlet from your father's bed, and put yours on his,' and so he +did. And when the ogre came, he seized Motikatika's father and +carried him outside the hut and ate him. When his wife found out +the mistake, she cried bitterly; but Motikatika said: 'It is only just +that he should be eaten, and not I; for it was he, and not I, who sent +you to fetch the water.' + +[Adapted from the Ba-Ronga (H. Junod).] + + + +Niels And The Giants + +On one of the great moors over in Jutland, where trees won't grow +because the soil is so sandy and the wind so strong, there once lived +a man and his wife, who had a little house and some sheep, and two +sons who helped them to herd them. The elder of the two was +called Rasmus, and the younger Niels. Rasmus was quite content +to look after sheep, as his father had done before him, but Niels had +a fancy to be a hunter, and was not happy till he got hold of a gun +and learned to shoot. It was only an old muzzle-loading flint-lock +after all, but Niels thought it a great prize, and went about shooting +at everything he could see. So much did he practice that in the long +run he became a wonderful shot, and was heard of even where he +had never been seen. Some people said there was very little in him +beyond this, but that was an idea they found reason to change in the +course of time. + +The parents of Rasmus and Niels were good Catholics, and when +they were getting old the mother took it into her head that she +would like to go to Rome and see the Pope. The others didn't see +much use in this, but she had her way in the end: they sold all the +sheep, shut up the house, and set out for Rome on foot. Niels took +his gun with him. + +'What do you want with that?' said Rasmus; 'we have plenty to +carry without it.' But Niels could not be happy without his gun, +and took it all the same. + +It was in the hottest part of summer that they began their journey, +so hot that they could not travel at all in the middle of the day, and +they were afraid to do it by night lest they might lose their way or +fall into the hands of robbers. One day, a little before sunset, they +came to an inn which lay at the edge of a forest. + +'We had better stay here for the night,' said Rasmus. + +'What an idea!' said Niels, who was growing impatient at the slow +progress they were making. 'We can't travel by day for the heat, +and we remain where we are all night. It will be long enough +before we get to Rome if we go on at this rate.' + +Rasmus was unwilling to go on, but the two old people sided with +Niels, who said, 'The nights aren't dark, and the moon will soon be +up. We can ask at the inn here, and find out which way we ought +to take.' + +So they held on for some time, but at last they came to a small +opening in the forest, and here they found that the road split in two. +There was no sign-post to direct them, and the people in the inn +had not told them which of the two roads to take. + +'What's to be done now?' said Rasmus. 'I think we had better have +stayed at the inn.' + +'There's no harm done,' said Niels. 'The night is warm, and we can +wait here till morning. One of us will keep watch till midnight, and +then waken the other.' + +Rasmus chose to take the first watch, and the others lay down to +sleep. It was very quiet in the forest, and Rasmus could hear the +deer and foxes and other animals moving about among the rustling +leaves. After the moon rose he could see them occasionally, and +when a big stag came quite close to him he got hold of Niels' gun +and shot it. + +Niels was wakened by the report. 'What's that?' he said. + +'I've just shot a stag,' said Rasmus, highly pleased with himself. + +'That's nothing,' said Niels. 'I've often shot a sparrow, which is a +much more difficult thing to do.' + +It was now close on midnight, so Niels began his watch, and +Rasmus went to sleep. It began to get colder, and Niels began to +walk about a little to keep himself warm. He soon found that they +were not far from the edge of the forest, and when he climbed up +one of the trees there he could see out over the open country +beyond. At a little distance he saw a fire, and beside it there sat +three giants, busy with broth and beef. They were so huge that the +spoons they used were as large as spades, and their forks as big as +hay-forks: with these they lifted whole bucketfuls of broth and great +joints of meat out of an enormous pot which was set on the ground +between them. Niels was startled and rather scared at first, but he +comforted himself with the thought that the giants were a good way +off, and that if they came nearer he could easily hide among the +bushes. After watching them for a little, however, he began to get +over his alarm, and finally slid down the tree again, resolved to get +his gun and play some tricks with them. + +When he had climbed back to his former position, he took good +aim, and waited till one of the giants was just in the act of putting a +large piece of meat into his mouth. Bang! went Niels' gun, and the +bullet struck the handle of the fork so hard that the point went into +the giant's chin, instead of his mouth. + +'None of your tricks,' growled the giant to the one who sat next +him. 'What do you mean by hitting my fork like that, and making +me prick myself?' + +'I never touched your fork,' said the other. 'Don't try to get up a +quarrel with me.' + +'Look at it, then,' said the first. 'Do you suppose I stuck it into my +own chin for fun?' + +The two got so angry over the matter that each offered to fight the +other there and then, but the third giant acted as peace-maker, and +they again fell to their eating. + +While the quarrel was going on, Niels had loaded the gun again, +and just as the second giant was about to put a nice tit-bit into his +mouth, bang! went the gun again, and the fork flew into a dozen +pieces. + +This giant was even more furious than the first had been, and words +were just coming to blows, when the third giant again interposed. + +'Don't be fools,' he said to them; 'what's the good of beginning to +fight among ourselves, when it is so necessary for the three of us to +work together and get the upper hand over the king of this country. +It will be a hard enough task as it is, but it will be altogether +hopeless if we don't stick together. Sit down again, and let us finish +our meal; I shall sit between you, and then neither of you can blame +the other.' + +Niels was too far away to hear their talk, but from their gestures he +could guess what was happening, and thought it good fun. + +'Thrice is lucky,' said he to himself; 'I'll have another shot yet.' + +This time it was the third giant's fork that caught the bullet, and +snapped in two. + +'Well,' said he, 'if I were as foolish as you two, I would also fly into +a rage, but I begin to see what time of day it is, and I'm going off +this minute to see who it is that's playing these tricks with us.' + +So well had the giant made his observations, that though Niels +climbed down the tree as fast as he could, so as to hide among the +bushes, he had just got to the ground when the enemy was upon +him. + +'Stay where you are,' said the giant, 'or I'll put my foot on you, and +there won't be much of you left after that.' + +Niels gave in, and the giant carried him back to his comrades. + +'You don't deserve any mercy at our hands,' said his captor 'but as +you are such a good shot you may be of great use to us, so we shall +spare your life, if you will do us a service. Not far from here there +stands a castle, in which the king's daughter lives; we are at war +with the king, and want to get the upper hand of him by carrying off +the princess, but the castle is so well guarded that there is no +getting into it. By our skill in magic we have cast sleep on every +living thing in the castle, except a little black dog, and, as long as he +is awake, we are no better off than before; for, as soon as we begin +to climb over the wall, the little dog will hear us, and its barking +will waken all the others again. Having got you, we can place you +where you will be able to shoot the dog before it begins to bark, +and then no one can hinder us from getting the princess into our +hands. If you do that, we shall not only let you off, but reward you +handsomely.' + +Niels had to consent, and the giants set out for the castle at once. +It was surrounded by a very high rampart, so high that even the +giants could not touch the top of it. 'How am I to get over that?' +said Niels. + +'Quite easily,' said the third giant; ' I'll throw you up on it.' + +'No, thanks,' said Niels. 'I might fall down on the other side, or +break my leg or neck, and then the little dog wouldn't get shot after +all.' + +'No fear of that,' said the giant; 'the rampart is quite wide on the +top, and covered with long grass, so that you will come down as +softly as though you fell on a feather-bed.' + +Niels had to believe him, and allowed the giant to throw him up. +He came down on his feet quite unhurt, but the little black dog +heard the dump, and rushed out of its kennel at once. It was just +opening its mouth to bark, when Niels fired, and it fell dead on the +spot. + +'Go down on the inside now,' said the giant, 'and see if you can +open the gate to us.' + +Niels made his way down into the courtyard, but on his way to the +outer gate he found himself at the entrance to the large hall of the +castle. The door was open, and the hall was brilliantly lighted, +though there was no one to be seen. Niels went in here and looked +round him: on the wall there hung a huge sword without a sheath, +and beneath it was a large drinking-horn, mounted with silver. +Niels went closer to look at these, and saw that the horn had letters +engraved on the silver rim: when he took it down and turned it +round, he found that the inscription was:-- + + Whoever drinks the wine I hold + Can wield the sword that hangs above; + Then let him use it for the right, + And win a royal maiden's love. + +Niels took out the silver stopper of the horn, and drank some of the +wine, but when he tried to take down the sword he found himself +unable to move it. So he hung up the horn again, and went further +in to the castle. 'The giants can wait a little,' he said. + +Before long he came to an apartment in which a beautiful princess +lay asleep in a bed, and on a table by her side there lay a +gold-hemmed handkerchief. Niels tore this in two, and put one half +in his pocket, leaving the other half on the table. On the floor he +saw a pair of gold-embroidered slippers, and one of these he also +put in his pocket. After that he went back to the hall, and took +down the horn again. 'Perhaps I have to drink all that is in it before +I can move the sword,' he thought; so he put it to his lips again and +drank till it was quite empty. When he had done this, he could +wield the sword with the greatest of ease, and felt himself strong +enough to do anything, even to fight the giants he had left outside, +who were no doubt wondering why he had not opened the gate to +them before this time. To kill the giants, he thought, would be +using the sword for the right; but as to winning the love of the +princess, that was a thing which the son of a poor sheep-farmer +need not hope for. + +When Niels came to the gate of the castle, he found that there was +a large door and a small one, so he opened the latter. + +'Can't you open the big door?' said the giants; 'we shall hardly be +able to get in at this one.' + +'The bars are too heavy for me to draw,' said Niels; 'if you stoop a +little you can quite well come in here.' The first giant accordingly +bent down and entered in a stooping posture, but before he had +time to straighten his back again Niels made a sweep with the +sword, and oft went the giant's head. To push the body aside as it +fell was quite easy for Niels, so strong had the wine made him, and +the second giant as he entered met the same reception. The third +was slower in coming, so Niels called out to him: 'Be quick,' he +said, 'you are surely the oldest of the three, since you are so slow in +your movements, but I can't wait here long; I must get back to my +own people as soon as possible.' So the third also came in, and was +served in the same way. It appears from the story that giants were +not given fair play! + +By this time day was beginning to break, and Niels thought that his +folks might already be searching for him, so, instead of waiting to +see what took place at the castle, he ran off to the forest as fast as +he could, taking the sword with him. He found the others still +asleep, so he woke them up, and they again set out on their journey. +Of the night's adventures he said not a word, and when they asked +where he got the sword, he only pointed in the direction of the +castle, and said, 'Over that way.' They thought he had found it, and +asked no more questions. + +When Niels left the castle, he shut the door behind him, and it +closed with such a bang that the porter woke up. He could scarcely +believe his eyes when he saw the three headless giants lying in a +heap in the courtyard, and could not imagine what had taken place. +The whole castle was soon aroused, and then everybody wondered +at the affair: it was soon seen that the bodies were those of the +king's great enemies, but how they came to be there and in that +condition was a perfect mystery. Then it was noticed that the +drinking-horn was empty and the sword gone, while the princess +reported that half of her handkerchief and one of her slippers had +been taken away. How the giants had been killed seemed a little +clearer now, but who had done it was as great a puzzle as before. +The old knight who had charge of the castle said that in his opinion +it must have been some young knight, who had immediately set off +to the king to claim the hand of the princess. This sounded likely, +but the messenger who was sent to the Court returned with the +news that no one there knew anything about the matter. + +'We must find him, however,' said the princess; 'for if he is willing +to marry me I cannot in honour refuse him, after what my father put +on the horn.' She took council with her father's wisest men as to +what ought to be done, and among other things they advised her to +build a house beside the highway, and put over the door this +inscription:--'Whoever will tell the story of his life, may stay here +three nights for nothing.' This was done, and many strange tales +were told to the princess, but none of the travellers said a word +about the three giants. + +In the meantime Niels and the others tramped on towards Rome. +Autumn passed, and winter was just beginning when they came to +the foot of a great range of mountains, towering up to the sky. +'Must we go over these?' said they. 'We shall be frozen to death or +buried in the snow.' + +'Here comes a man,' said Niels; 'let us ask him the way to Rome.' +They did so, and were told that there was no other way. + +'And is it far yet?' said the old people, who were beginning to be +worn out by the long journey. The man held up his foot so that +they could see the sole of his shoe; it was worn as thin as paper, +and there was a hole in the middle of it. + +'These shoes were quite new when I left Rome,' he said, 'and look +at them now; that will tell you whether you are far from it or not.' + +This discouraged the old people so much that they gave up all +thought of finishing the journey, and only wished to get back to +Denmark as quickly as they could. What with the winter and bad +roads they took longer to return than they had taken to go, but in +the end they found themselves in sight of the forest where they had +slept before. + +'What's this?' said Rasmus. 'Here's a big house built since we +passed this way before.' + +'So it is,' said Peter; 'let's stay all night in it.' + +'No, we can't afford that,' said the old people; 'it will be too dear for +the like of us.' + +However, when they saw what was written above the door, they +were all well pleased to get a night's lodging for nothing. They +were well received, and had so much attention given to them, that +the old people were quite put out by it. After they had got time to +rest themselves, the princess's steward came to hear their story. + +'You saw what was written above the door,' he said to the father. +'Tell me who you are and what your history has been.' + +'Dear me, I have nothing of any importance to tell you,' said the old +man, 'and I am sure we should never have made so bold as to +trouble you at all if it hadn't been for the youngest of our two sons +here.' + +'Never mind that,' said the steward; ' you are very welcome if you +will only tell me the story of your life.' + +'Well, well, I will,' said he, 'but there is nothing to tell about it. I +and my wife have lived all our days on a moor in North Jutland, +until this last year, when she took a fancy to go to Rome. We set +out with our two sons but turned back long before we got there, +and are now on our way home again. That's all my own story, and +our two sons have lived with us all their days, so there is nothing +more to be told about them either.' + +'Yes there is,' said Rasmus; 'when we were on our way south, we +slept in the wood near here one night, and I shot a stag.' + +The steward was so much accustomed to hearing stories of no +importance that he thought there was no use going further with +this, but reported to the princess that the newcomers had nothing to +tell. + +'Did you question them all?' she said. + +'Well, no; not directly,' said he; 'but the father said that none of +them could tell me any more than he had done.' + +'You are getting careless,' said the princess; 'I shall go and talk to +them myself.' + +Niels knew the princess again as soon as she entered the room, and +was greatly alarmed, for he immediately supposed that all this was a +device to discover the person who had run away with the sword, +the slipper and the half of the handkerchief, and that it would fare +badly with him if he were discovered. So he told his story much the +same as the others did (Niels was not very particular), and thought +he had escaped all further trouble, when Rasmus put in his word. +'You've forgotten something, Niels,' he said; 'you remember you +found a sword near here that night I shot the stag.' + +'Where is the sword?' said the princess. + +'I know,' said the steward, 'I saw where he laid it down when they +came in;' and off he went to fetch it, while Niels wondered whether +he could make his escape in the meantime. Before he had made up +his mind, however, the steward was back with the sword, which the +princess recognised at once. + +'Where did you get this?' she said to Niels. + +Niels was silent, and wondered what the usual penalty was for a +poor sheep-farmer's son who was so unfortunate as to deliver a +princess and carry off things from her bed-room. + +'See what else he has about him,' said the princess to the steward, +and Niels had to submit to be searched: out of one pocket came a +gold-embroidered slipper, and out of another the half of a +gold-hemmed handkerchief. + +'That is enough,' said the princess; 'now we needn't ask any more +questions. Send for my father the king at once.' + +'Please let me go,' said Niels; 'I did you as much good as harm, at +any rate.' + +'Why, who said anything about doing harm?' said the princess. +'You must stay here till my father comes.' + +The way in which the princess smiled when she said this gave Niels +some hope that things might not be bad for him after all, and he was +yet more encouraged when he thought of the words engraver on the +horn, though the last line still seemed too good to be true. +However, the arrival of the king soon settled the matter: the +princess was willing and so was Niels, and in a few days the +wedding bells were ringing. Niels was made an earl by that time, +and looked as handsome as any of them when dressed in all his +robes. Before long the old king died, and Niels reigned after him; +but whether his father and mother stayed with him, or went back to +the moor in Jutland, or were sent to Rome in a carriage and four, is +something that all the historians of his reign have forgotten to +mention. + + + +Shepherd Paul + +Once upon a time a shepherd was taking his flock out to pasture, +when he found a little baby lying in a meadow, left there by some +wicked person, who thought it was too much trouble to look after +it. The shepherd was fond of children, so he took the baby home +with him and gave it plenty of milk, and by the time the boy was +fourteen he could tear up oaks as if they were weeds. Then Paul, as +the shepherd had called him, grew tired of living at home, and went +out into the world to try his luck. + +He walked on for many miles, seeing nothing that surprised him, +but in an open space of the wood he was astonished at finding a +man combing trees as another man would comb flax. + +'Good morning, friend,' said Paul; 'upon my word, you must be a +strong man!' + +The man stopped his work and laughed. 'I am Tree Comber,' he +answered proudly; 'and the greatest wish of my life is to wrestle +with Shepherd Paul.' + +'May all your wishes be fulfilled as easily, for I am Shepherd Paul, +and can wrestle with you at once,' replied the lad; and he seized +Tree Comber and flung him with such force to the ground that he +sank up to his knees in the earth. However, in a moment he was up +again, and catching hold of Paul, threw him so that he sank up to +his waist; but then it was Paul's turn again, and this time the man +was buried up to his neck. 'That is enough,' cried he; 'I see you are +a smart fellow, let us become friends.' + +'Very good,' answered Paul, and they continued their journey +together. + +By-and-by they reached a man who was grinding stones to powder +in his hands, as if they had been nuts. + +'Good morning,' said Paul politely; 'upon my word, you must be a +strong fellow!' + +'I am Stone Crusher,' answered the man, and the greatest wish of +my life is to wrestle with Shepherd Paul.' + +'May all your wishes be as easily fulfilled, for I am Shepherd Paul, +and will wrestle with you at once,' and the sport began. After a +short time the man declared himself beaten, and begged leave to go +with them; so they all three travelled together. + +A little further on they came upon a man who was kneading iron as +if it had been dough. 'Good morning,' said Paul, 'you must be a +strong fellow.' + +'I am Iron Kneader, and should like to fight Shepherd Paul,' +answered he. + +'Let us begin at once then,' replied Paul; and on this occasion also, +Paul got the better of his foe, and they all four continued their +journey. + +At midday they entered a forest, and Paul stopped suddenly. 'We +three will go and look for game,' he said, 'and you, Tree Comber, +will stay behind and prepare a good supper for us.' So Tree +Comber set to work to boil and roast, and when dinner was nearly +ready, a little dwarf with a pointed beard strolled up to the place. +'What are you cooking?' asked he, 'give me some of it.' + +'I'll give you some on your back, if you like,' answered Tree +Comber rudely. The dwarf took no notice, but waited patiently till +the dinner was cooked, then suddenly throwing Tree Comber on +the ground, he ate up the contents of the saucepan and vanished. +Tree Comber felt rather ashamed of himself, and set about boiling +some more vegetables, but they were still very hard when the +hunters returned, and though they complained of his bad cooking, +he did not tell them about the dwarf. + +Next day Stone Crusher was left behind, and after him Iron +Kneader, and each time the dwarf appeared, and they fared no +better than Tree Comber had done. The fourth day Paul said to +them: 'My friends, there must be some reason why your cooking +has always been so bad, now you shall go and hunt and I will stay +behind.' So they went off, amusing themselves by thinking what +was in store for Paul. + +He set to work at once, and had just got all his vegetables +simmering in the pot when the dwarf appeared as before, and asked +to have some of the stew. 'Be off,' cried Paul, snatching up the +saucepan as he spoke. The dwarf tried to get hold of his collar, but +Paul seized him by the beard, and tied him to a big tree so that he +could not stir, and went on quietly with his cooking. The hunters +came back early, longing to see how Paul had got on, and, to their +surprise, dinner was quite ready for them. + +'You are great useless creatures,' said he, 'who couldn't even outwit +that little dwarf. When we have finished supper I will show you +what I have done with him!' But when they reached the place +where Paul had left the dwarf, neither he nor the tree was to be +seen, for the little fellow had pulled it up by the roots and run away, +dragging it after him. The four friends followed the track of the +tree and found that it ended in a deep hole. 'He must have gone +down here,' said Paul, 'and I will go after him. See! there is a +basket that will do for me to sit in, and a cord to lower me with. +But when I pull the cord again, lose no time in drawing the basket +up.' + +And he stepped into the basket, which was lowered by his friends. + +At last it touched the ground and he jumped out and looked about +him. He was in a beautiful valley, full of meadows and streams, +with a splendid castle standing by. As the door was open he +walked in, but a lovely maiden met him and implored him to go +back, for the owner of the castle was a dragon with six heads, who +had stolen her from her home and brought her down to this +underground spot. But Paul refused to listen to all her entreaties, +and declared that he was not afraid of the dragon, and did not care +how many heads he had; and he sat down calmly to wait for him. + +In a little while the dragon came in, and all the long teeth in his six +heads chattered with anger at the sight of the stranger. + +'I am Shepherd Paul,' said the young man, 'and I have come to fight +you, and as I am in a hurry we had better begin at once.' + +'Very good,' answered the dragon. 'I am sure of my supper, but let +us have a mouthful of something first, just to give us an appetite.' + +Whereupon he began to eat some huge boulders as if they had been +cakes, and when he had quite finished, he offered Paul one. Paul +was not fond of boulders, but he took a wooden knife and cut one +in two, then he snatched up both halves in his hands and threw them +with all his strength at the dragon, so that two out of the six heads +were smashed in. At this the dragon, with a mighty roar, rushed +upon Paul, but he sprang on one side, and with a swinging blow cut +off two of the other heads. Then, seizing the monster by the neck, +he dashed the remaining heads against the rock. + +When the maiden heard that the dragon was dead, she thanked her +deliverer with tears in her eyes, but told him that her two younger +sisters were in the power of dragons still fiercer and more horrible +than this one. He vowed that his sword should never rest in its +sheath till they were set free, and bade the girl come with him, and +show him the way. + +The maiden gladly consented to go with him, but first she gave him +a golden rod, and bade him strike the castle with it. He did so, and +it instantly changed into a golden apple, which he put in his pocket. +After that, they started on their search. + +They had not gone far before they reached the castle where the +second girl was confined by the power of the dragon with twelve +heads, who had stolen her from her home. She was overjoyed at +the sight of her sister and of Paul, and brought him a shirt belonging +to the dragon, which made every one who wore it twice as strong +as they were before. Scarcely had he put it on when the dragon +came back, and the fight began. Long and hard was the struggle, +but Paul's sword and his shirt helped him, and the twelve heads lay +dead upon the ground. + +Then Paul changed the castle into an apple, which he put into his +pocket, and set out with the two girls in search of the third castle. + +It was not long before they found it, and within the walls was the +third sister, who was younger and prettier than either of the other +two. Her husband had eighteen heads, but when he quitted the +lower regions for the surface of the earth, he left them all at home +except one, which he changed for the head of a little dwarf, with a +pointed beard. + +The moment that Paul knew that this terrible dragon was no other +than the dwarf whom he had tied to the tree, he longed more than +ever to fly at his throat. But the thought of the eighteen heads +warned him to be careful, and the third sister brought him a silk +shirt which would make him ten times stronger than he was before. + +He had scarcely put it on, when the whole castle began to shake +violently, and the dragon flew up the steps into the hall. + +'Well, my friend, so we meet once more! Have you forgotten me? +I am Shepherd Paul, and I have come to wrestle with you, and to +free your wife from your clutches.' + +'Ah, I am glad to see you again,' said the dragon. 'Those were my +two brothers whom you killed, and now your blood shall pay for +them.' And he went into his room to look for his shirt and to drink +some magic wine, but the shirt was on Paul's back, and as for the +wine, the girl had given a cupful to Paul and then had allowed the +rest to run out of the cask. + +At this the dragon grew rather frightened, but in a moment had +recollected his eighteen heads, and was bold again. + +'Come on,' he cried, rearing himself up and preparing to dart all his +heads at once at Paul. But Paul jumped underneath, and gave an +upward cut so that six of the heads went rolling down. They were +the best heads too, and very soon the other twelve lay beside them. +Then Paul changed the castle into an apple, and put it in his pocket. +Afterwards he and the three girls set off for the opening which led +upwards to the earth. + +The basket was still there, dangling from the rope, but it was only +big enough to hold the three girls, so Paul sent them up, and told +them to be sure and let down the basket for him. Unluckily, at the +sight of the maidens' beauty, so far beyond anything they had ever +seen, the friends forgot all about Paul, and carried the girls straight +away into a far country, so that they were not much better off than +before. Meanwhile Paul, mad with rage at the ingratitude of the +three sisters, vowed he would be revenged upon them, and set +about finding some way of getting back to earth. But it was not +very easy, and for months, and months, and months, he wandered +about underground, and, at the end, seemed no nearer to fulfilling +his purpose than he was at the beginning. + +At length, one day, he happened to pass the nest of a huge griffin, +who had left her young ones all alone. Just as Paul came along a +cloud containing fire instead of rain burst overhead, and all the little +griffins would certainly have been killed had not Paul spread his +cloak over the nest and saved them. When their father returned the +young ones told him what Paul had done, and he lost no time in +flying after Paul, and asking how he could reward him for his +goodness. + +'By carrying me up to the earth,' answered Paul; and the griffin +agreed, but first went to get some food to eat on the way, as it was +a long journey. + +'Now get on my back,' he said to Paul, 'and when I turn my head to +the right, cut a slice off the bullock that hangs on that side, and put +it in my mouth, and when I turn my head to the left, draw a cupful +of wine from the cask that hangs on that side, and pour it down my +throat.' + +For three days and three nights Paul and the griffin flew upwards, +and on the fourth morning it touched the ground just outside the +city where Paul's friends had gone to live. Then Paul thanked him +and bade him farewell, and he returned home again. + +At first Paul was too tired to do anything but sleep, but as soon as +he was rested he started off in search of the three faithless ones, +who almost died from fright at the sight of him, for they had +thought he would never come back to reproach them for their +wickedness. + +'You know what to expect,' Paul said to them quietly. 'You shall +never see me again. Off with you!' He next took the three apples +out of his pocket and placed them all in the prettiest places he could +find; after which he tapped them with his golden rod, and they +became castles again. He gave two of the castles to the eldest +sisters, and kept the other for himself and the youngest, whom he +married, and there they are living still. + +[From Ungarische Mahrchen.] + + + +How The Wicked Tanuki Was Punished + +The hunters had hunted the wood for so many years that no wild +animal was any more to be found in it. You might walk from one +end to the other without ever seeing a hare, or a deer, or a boar, or +hearing the cooing of the doves in their nest. If they were not dead, +they had flown elsewhere. Only three creatures remained alive, and +they had hidden themselves in the thickest part of the forest, high +up the mountain. These were a grey-furred, long-tailed tanuki, his +wife the fox, who was one of his own family, and their little son. + +The fox and the tanuki were very clever, prudent beasts, and they +also were skilled in magic, and by this means had escaped the fate +of their unfortunate friends. If they heard the twang of an arrow or +saw the glitter of a spear, ever so far off, they lay very still, and +were not to be tempted from their hiding-place, if their hunger was +ever so great, or the game ever so delicious. 'We are not so foolish +as to risk our lives,' they said to each other proudly. But at length +there came a day when, in spite of their prudence, they seemed +likely to die of starvation, for no more food was to be had. +Something had to be done, but they did not know what. + +Suddenly a bright thought struck the tanuki. 'I have got a plan,' he +cried joyfully to his wife. 'I will pretend to be dead, and you must +change yourself into a man, and take me to the village for sale. It +will be easy to find a buyer, tanukis' skins are always wanted; then +buy some food with the money and come home again. I will +manage to escape somehow, so do not worry about me.' + +The fox laughed with delight, and rubbed her paws together with +satisfaction. 'Well, next time I will go,' she said, 'and you can sell +me.' And then she changed herself into a man, and picking up the +stiff body of the tanuki, set off towards the village. She found him +rather heavy, but it would never have done to let him walk through +the wood and risk his being seen by somebody. + +As the tanaki had foretold, buyers were many, and the fox handed +him over to the person who offered the largest price, and hurried to +get some food with the money. The buyer took the tanuki back to +his house, and throwing him into a corner went out. Directly the +tanaki found he was alone, he crept cautiously through a chink of +the window, thinking, as he did so, how lucky it was that he was +not a fox, and was able to climb. Once outside, he hid himself in a +ditch till it grew dusk, and then galloped away into the forest. + +While the food lasted they were all three as happy as kings; but +there soon arrived a day when the larder was as empty as ever. 'It +is my turn now to pretend to be dead,' cried the fox. So the tanuki +changed himself into a peasant, and started for the village, with his +wife's body hanging over his shoulder. A buyer was not long in +coming forward, and while they were making the bargain a wicked +thought darted into the tanuki's head, that if he got rid of the fox +there would be more food for him and his son. So as he put the +money in his pocket he whispered softly to the buyer that the fox +was not really dead, and that if he did not take care she might run +away from him. The man did not need twice telling. He gave the +poor fox a blow on the head, which put an end to her, and the +wicked tanuki went smiling to the nearest shop. + +In former times he had been very fond of his little son; but since he +had betrayed his wife he seemed to have changed all in a moment, +for he would not give him as much as a bite, and the poor little +fellow would have starved had he not found some nuts and berries +to eat, and he waited on, always hoping that his mother would +come back. + +At length some notion of the truth began to dawn on him; but he +was careful to let the old tanuki see nothing, though in his own +mind he turned over plans from morning till night, wondering how +best he might avenge his mother. + +One morning, as the little tanuki was sitting with his father, he +remembered, with a start, that his mother had taught him all she +knew of magic, and that he could work spells as well as his father, +or perhaps better. 'I am as good a wizard as you,' he said suddenly, +and a cold chill ran through the tanuki as he heard him, though he +laughed, and pretended to think it a joke. But the little tanaki stuck +to his point, and at last the father proposed they should have a +wager. + +'Change yourself into any shape you like,' said he, 'and I will +undertake to know you. I will go and wait on the bridge which +leads over the river to the village, and you shall transform yourself +into anything you please, but I will know you through any disguise.' +The little tanuki agreed, and went down the road which his father +had pointed out. But instead of transforming himself into a +different shape, he just hid himself in a corner of the bridge, where +he could see without being seen. + +He had not been there long when his father arrived and took up his +place near the middle of the bridge, and soon after the king came +by, followed by a troop of guards and all his court. + +'Ah! he thinks that now he has changed himself into a king I shall +not know him,' thought the old tanuki, and as the king passed in his +splendid carriage, borne by his servants, he jumped upon it crying: 'I +have won my wager; you cannot deceive me.' But in reality it was +he who had deceived himself. The soldiers, conceiving that their +king was being attacked, seized the tanuki by the legs and flung him +over into the river, and the water closed over him. + +And the little tanoki saw it all, and rejoiced that his mother's death +had been avenged. Then he went back to the forest, and if he has +not found it too lonely, he is probably living there still. + +[From Japanische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Crab And The Monkey + +There was once a crab who lived in a hole on the shady side of a +mountain. She was a very good housewife, and so careful and +industrious that there was no creature in the whole country whose +hole was so neat and clean as hers, and she took great pride in it. + +One day she saw lying near the mouth of her hole a handful of +cooked rice which some pilgrim must have let fall when he was +stopping to eat his dinner. Delighted at this discovery, she hastened +to the spot, and was carrying the rice back to her hole when a +monkey, who lived in some trees near by, came down to see what +the crab was doing. His eyes shone at the sight of the rice, for it +was his favourite food, and like the sly fellow he was, he proposed +a bargain to the crab. She was to give him half the rice in exchange +for the kernel of a sweet red kaki fruit which he had just eaten. He +half expected that the crab would laugh in his face at this impudent +proposal, but instead of doing so she only looked at him for a +moment with her head on one side and then said that she would +agree to the exchange. So the monkey went off with his rice, and +the crab returned to her hole with the kernel. + +For some time the crab saw no more of the monkey, who had gone +to pay a visit on the sunny side of the mountain; but one morning he +happened to pass by her hole, and found her sitting under the +shadow of a beautiful kaki tree. + +'Good day,' he said politely, 'you have some very fine fruit there! I +am very hungry, could you spare me one or two?' + +'Oh, certainly,' replied the crab, 'but you must forgive me if I cannot +get them for you myself. I am no tree-climber.' + +'Pray do not apologise,' answered the monkey. 'Now that I have +your permission I can get them myself quite easily.' And the crab +consented to let him go up, merely saying that he must throw her +down half the fruit. + +In another moment he was swinging himself from branch to branch, +eating all the ripest kakis and filling his pockets with the rest, and +the poor crab saw to her disgust that the few he threw down to her +were either not ripe at all or else quite rotten. + +'You are a shocking rogue,' she called in a rage; but the monkey +took no notice, and went on eating as fast as he could. The crab +understood that it was no use her scolding, so she resolved to try +what cunning would do. + +'Sir Monkey,' she said, ' you are certainly a very good climber, but +now that you have eaten so much, I am quite sure you would never +be able to turn one of your somersaults.' The monkey prided +himself on turning better somersaults than any of his family, so he +instantly went head over heels three times on the bough on which +he was sitting, and all the beautiful kakis that he had in his pockets +rolled to the ground. Quick as lightning the crab picked them up +and carried a quantity of them into her house, but when she came +up for another the monkey sprang on her, and treated her so badly +that he left her for dead. When he had beaten her till his arm ached +he went his way. + +It was a lucky thing for the poor crab that she had some friends to +come to her help or she certainly would have died then and there. +The wasp flew to her, and took her back to bed and looked after +her, and then he consulted with a rice-mortar and an egg which had +fallen out of a nest near by, and they agreed that when the monkey +returned, as he was sure to do, to steal the rest of the fruit, that +they would punish him severely for the manner in which he had +behaved to the crab. So the mortar climbed up to the beam over +the front door, and the egg lay quite still on the ground, while the +wasp set down the water-bucket in a corner. Then the crab dug +itself a deep hole in the ground, so that not even the tip of her claws +might be seen. + +Soon after everything was ready the monkey jumped down from his +tree, and creeping to the door began a long hypocritical speech, +asking pardon for all he had done. He waited for an answer of +some sort, but none came. He listened, but all was still; then he +peeped, and saw no one; then he went in. He peered about for the +crab, but in vain; however, his eyes fell on the egg, which he +snatched up and set on the fire. But in a moment the egg had burst +into a thousand pieces, and its sharp shell struck him in the face and +scratched him horribly. Smarting with pain he ran to the bucket and +stooped down to throw some water over his head. As he stretched +out his hand up started the wasp and stung him on the nose. The +monkey shrieked and ran to the door, but as he passed through +down fell the mortar and struck him dead. 'After that the crab lived +happily for many years, and at length died in peace under her own +kaki tree. + + [From Japanische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Horse Gullfaxi And The Sword Gunnfoder + +Many many years ago there lived a king and queen who had one +only son, called Sigurd. When the little boy was only ten years old +the queen, his mother, fell ill and died, and the king, who loved her +dearly, built a splendid monument to his wife's memory, and day +after day he sat by it and bewailed his sad loss. + +One morning, as he sat by the grave, he noticed a richly dressed +lady close to him. He asked her name and she answered that it was +Ingiborg, and seemed surprised to see the king there all alone. +Then he told her how he had lost his queen, and how he came daily +to weep at her grave. In return, the lady informed him that she had +lately lost her husband, and suggested that they might both find it a +comfort if they made friends. + +This pleased the king so much that he invited her to his palace, +where they saw each other often; and after a time he married her. + +After the wedding was over he soon regained his good spirits, and +used to ride out hunting as in old days; but Sigurd, who was very +fond of his stepmother, always stayed at home with her. + +One evening Ingiborg said to Sigurd: 'To-morrow your father is +going out hunting, and you must go with him.' But Sigurd said he +would much rather stay at home, and the next day when the king +rode off Sigurd refused to accompany him. The stepmother was +very angry, but he would not listen, and at last she assured him that +he would be sorry for his disobedience, and that in future he had +better do as he was told. + +After the hunting party had started she hid Sigurd under her bed, +and bade him be sure to lie there till she called him. + +Sigurd lay very still for a long while, and was just thinking it was no +good staying there any more, when he felt the floor shake under +him as if there were an earthquake, and peeping out he saw a great +giantess wading along ankle deep through the ground and +ploughing it up as she walked. + +'Good morning, Sister Ingiborg,' cried she as she entered the room, +'is Prince Sigurd at home?' + +'No,' said Ingiborg; 'he rode off to the forest with his father this +morning.' And she laid the table for her sister and set food before +her. After they had both done eating the giantess said: 'Thank you, +sister, for your good dinner--the best lamb, the best can of beer and +the best drink I have ever had; but--is not Prince Sigurd at home?' + +Ingiborg again said 'No'; and the giantess took leave of her and +went away. When she was quite out of sight Ingiborg told Sigurd +to come out of his hiding-place. + +The king returned home at night, but his wife told him nothing of +what had happened, and the next morning she again begged the +prince to go out hunting with his father. Sigurd, however, replied +as before, that he would much rather stay at home. + +So once more the king rode off alone. This time Ingiborg hid +Sigurd under the table, and scolded him well for not doing as she +bade him. For some time he lay quite still, and then suddenly the +floor began to shake, and a giantess came along wading half way to +her knees through the ground. + +As she entered the house she asked, as the first one had done: 'Well, +Sister Ingiborg, is Prince Sigurd at home?' + +'No,' answered Ingiborg,' he rode off hunting with his father this +morning'; and going to the cupboard she laid the table for her sister. +When they had finished their meal the giantess rose and said: 'Thank +you for all these nice dishes, and for the best lamb, the best can of +beer and the nicest drink I have ever had; but--is Prince Sigurd really +not at home?' + +'No, certainly not!' replied Ingiborg; and with that they took leave +of each other. + +When she was well out of sight Sigurd crept from under the table, +and his stepmother declared that it was most important that he +should not stay at home next day; but he said he did not see what +harm could come of it, and he did not mean to go out hunting, and +the next morning, when the king prepared to start, Ingiborg +implored Sigurd to accompany his father. But it was all no use, he +was quite obstinate and would not listen to a word she said. 'You +will have to hide me again,' said he, so no sooner had the king gone +than Ingiborg hid Sigurd between the wall and the panelling, and +by-and-by there was heard once more a sound like an earthquake, +as a great giantess, wading knee deep through the ground, came in +at the door. + +'Good day, Sister Ingiborg!' she cried, in a voice like thunder; 'is +Prince Sigurd at home?' + +'Oh, no,' answered Ingiborg, 'he is enjoying himself out there in the +forest. I expect it will be quite dark before he comes back again.' + +'That's a lie!' shouted the giantess. And they squabbled about it till +they were tired, after which Ingiborg laid the table; and when the +giantess had done eating she said: 'Well, I must thank you for all +these good things, and for the best lamb, the best can of beer and +the best drink I have had for a long time; but--are you quite sure +Prince Sigurd is not at home?' + +'Quite,' said Ingiborg. 'I've told you already that he rode off with +his father this morning to hunt in the forest.' + +At this the giantess roared out with a terrible voice: 'If he is near +enough to hear my words, I lay this spell on him: Let him be half +scorched and half withered; and may he have neither rest nor peace +till he finds me.' And with these words she stalked off. + +For a moment Ingiborg stood as if turned to stone, then she fetched +Sigurd from his hiding-place, and, to her horror, there he was, half +scorched and half withered. + +'Now you see what has happened through your own obstinacy,' said +she; 'but we must lose no time, for your father will soon be coming +home.' + +Going quickly into the next room she opened a chest and took out a +ball of string and three gold rings, and gave them to Sigurd, saying: +'If you throw this ball on the ground it will roll along till it reaches +some high cliffs. There you will see a giantess looking out over the +rocks. She will call down to you and say: "Ah, this is just what I +wanted! Here is Prince Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night"; +but don't be frightened by her. She will draw you up with a long +boat-hook, and you must greet her from me, and give her the +smallest ring as a present. This will please her, and she will ask you +to wrestle with her. When you are exhausted, she will offer you a +horn to drink out of, and though she does not know it, the wine will +make you so strong that you will easily be able to conquer her. +After that she will let you stay there all night. The same thing will +happen with my two other sisters. But, above all, remember this: +should my little dog come to you and lay his paws on you, with +tears running down his face, then hurry home, for my life will be in +danger. Now, good-bye, and don't forget your stepmother.' + +Then Ingiborg dropped the ball on the ground, and Sigurd bade her +farewell. + +That same evening the ball stopped rolling at the foot of some high +rocks, and on glancing up, Sigurd saw the giantess looking out at +the top. + +'Ah, just what I wanted!' she cried out when she saw him; 'here is +Prince Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night. Come up, my +friend, and wrestle with me.' + +With these words she reached out a long boat hook and hauled him +up the cliff. At first Sigurd was rather frightened, but he +remembered what Ingiborg had said, and gave the giantess her +sister's message and the ring. + +The giantess was delighted, and challenged him to wrestle with her. +Sigurd was fond of all games, and began to wrestle with joy; but he +was no match for the giantess, and as she noticed that he was +getting faint she gave him a horn to drink out of, which was very +foolish on her part, as it made Sigurd so strong that he soon +overthrew her. + +'You may stay here to-night,' said she; and he was glad of the rest. + +Next morning Sigurd threw down the ball again and away it rolled +for some time, till it stopped at the foot of another high rock. Then +he looked up and saw another giantess, even bigger and uglier than +the first one, who called out to him: 'Ah, this is just what I wanted! +Here is Prince Sigurd. He shall go into the pot to-night. Come up +quickly and wrestle with me.' And she lost no time in hauling him +up. + +The prince gave her his stepmother's message and the second +largest ring. The giantess was greatly pleased when she saw the +ring, and at once challenged Sigurd to wrestle with her. + +They struggled for a long time, till at last Sigurd grew faint; so she +handed him a horn to drink from, and when he had drunk he +became so strong that he threw her down with one hand. + +On the third morning Sigurd once more laid down his ball, and it +rolled far away, till at last it stopped under a very high rock indeed, +over the top of which the most hideous giantess that ever was seen +looked down. + +When she saw who was there she cried out: 'Ah, this is just what I +wanted! Here comes Prince Sigurd. Into the pot he goes this very +night. Come up here, my friend, and wrestle with me.' And she +hauled him up just as her sisters had done. + +Sigurd then gave her his stepmother's message and the last and +largest ring. The sight of the red gold delighted the giantess, and +she challenged Sigurd to a wrestling match. This time the fight was +fierce and long, but when at length Sigurd's strength was failing the +giantess gave him something to drink, and after he had drunk it he +soon brought her to her knees. 'You have beaten me,' she gasped, +so now, listen to me. 'Not far from here is a lake. Go there; you +will find a little girl playing with a boat. Try to make friends with +her, and give her this little gold ring. You are stronger than ever +you were, and I wish you good luck.' + +With these words they took leave of each other, and Sigurd +wandered on till he reached the lake, where he found the little girl +playing with a boat, just as he had been told. He went up to her +and asked what her name was. + +She was called Helga, she answered, and she lived near by. + +So Sigurd gave her the little gold ring, and proposed that they +should have a game. The little girl was delighted, for she had no +brothers or sisters, and they played together all the rest of the day. + +When evening came Sigurd asked leave to go home with her, but +Helga at first forbade him, as no stranger had ever managed to +enter their house without being found out by her father, who was a +very fierce giant. + +However, Sigurd persisted, and at length she gave way; but when +they came near the door she held her glove over him and Sigurd +was at once transformed into a bundle of wool. Helga tucked the +bundle under her arm and threw it on the bed in her room. + +Almost at the same moment her father rushed in and hunted round +in every corner, crying out: 'This place smells of men. What's that +you threw on the bed, Helga?' + +'A bundle of wool,' said she. + +'Oh, well, perhaps it was that I smelt,' said the old man, and +troubled himself no more. + +The following day Helga went out to play and took the bundle of +wool with her under her arm. When she reached the lake she held +her glove over it again and Sigurd resumed his own shape. + +They played the whole day, and Sigurd taught Helga all sorts of +games she had never even heard of. As they walked home in the +evening she said: 'We shall be able to play better still to-morrow, +for my father will have to go to the town, so we can stay at home.' + +When they were near the house Helga again held her glove over +Sigurd, and once more he was turned into a bundle of wool, and +she carried him in without his being seen. + +Very early next morning Helga's father went to the town, and as +soon as he was well out of the way the girl held up her glove and +Sigurd was himself again. Then she took him all over the house to +amuse him, and opened every room, for her father had given her the +keys before he left; but when they came to the last room Sigurd +noticed one key on the bunch which had not been used and asked +which room it belonged to.' + +Helga grew red and did not answer. + +'I suppose you don't mind my seeing the room which it opens?' +asked Sigurd, and as he spoke he saw a heavy iron door and begged +Helga to unlock it for him. But she told him she dared not do so, at +least if she did open the door it must only be a very tiny chink; and +Sigurd declared that would do quite well. + +The door was so heavy, that it took Helga some time to open it, +and Sigurd grew so impatient that he pushed it wide open and +walked in. There he saw a splendid horse, all ready saddled, and +just above it hung a richly ornamented sword on the handle of +which was engraved these words: 'He who rides this horse and +wears this sword will find happiness.' + +At the sight of the horse Sigurd was so filled with wonder that he +was not able to speak, but at last he gasped out: 'Oh, do let me +mount him and ride him round the house! Just once; I promise not +to ask any more.' + +'Ride him round the house! ' cried Helga, growing pale at the mere +idea. 'Ride Gullfaxi! Why father would never, never forgive me, if I +let you do that.' + +'But it can't do him any harm,' argued Sigurd; 'you don't know how +careful I will be. I have ridden all sorts of horses at home, and have +never fallen off not once. Oh, Helga, do!' + +'Well, perhaps, if you come back directly,' replied Helga, doubtfully; +'but you must be very quick, or father will find out!' + +But, instead of mounting Gullfaxi, as she expected, Sigurd stood +still. + +'And the sword,' he said, looking fondly up to the place where it +hung. 'My father is a king, but he has not got any sword so +beautiful as that. Why, the jewels in the scabbard are more splendid +than the big ruby in his crown! Has it got a name? Some swords +have, you know.' + +'It is called "Gunnfjoder," the "Battle Plume,"' answered Helga, 'and +"Gullfaxi" means "Golden Mane." I don't suppose, if you are to get +on the horse at all, it would matter your taking the sword too. And +if you take the sword you will have to carry the stick and the stone +and the twig as well.' + +'They are easily carried,' said Sigurd, gazing at them with scorn; +'what wretched dried-up things! Why in the world do you keep +them?' + +'Bather says that he would rather lose Gullfaxi than lose them,' +replied Helga, 'for if the man who rides the horse is pursued he has +only to throw the twig behind him and it will turn into a forest, so +thick that even a bird could hardly fly through. But if his enemy +happens to know magic, and can throw down the forest, the man +has only to strike the stone with the stick, and hailstones as large as +pigeons' eggs will rain down from the sky and will kill every one for +twenty miles round.' + +Having said all this she allowed Sigurd to ride 'just once' round the +house, taking the sword and other things with him. But when he +had ridden round, instead of dismounting, he suddenly turned the +horse's head and galloped away. + +Soon after this Helga's father came home and found his daughter in +tears. He asked what was the matter, and when he heard all that +had happened, he rushed off as fast as he could to pursue Sigurd. + +Now, as Sigurd happened to look behind him he saw the giant +coming after him with great strides, and in all haste he threw the +twig behind him. Immediately such a thick wood sprang up at once +between him and his enemy that the giant was obliged to run home +for an axe with which to cut his way through. + +The next time Sigurd glanced round, the giant was so near that he +almost touched Gullfaxi's tail. In an agony of fear Sigurd turned +quickly in his saddle and hit the stone with the stick. No sooner +had he done this than a terrible hailstorm burst behind, and the giant +was killed on the spot. + +But had Sigurd struck the stone without turning round, the hail +would have driven right into his face and killed him instead. + +After the giant was dead Sigurd rode on towards his own home, +and on the way he suddenly met his stepmother's little dog, running +to meet him, with tears pouring down its face. He galloped on as +hard as he could, and on arriving found nine men-servants in the act +of tying Queen Ingiborg to a post in the courtyard of the palace, +where they intended to burn her. + +Wild with anger Prince Sigurd sprang from his horse and, sword in +hand, fell on the men and killed them all. Then he released his +stepmother, and went in with her to see his father. + +The king lay in bed sick with sorrow, and neither eating nor +drinking, for he thought that his son had been killed by the queen. +He could hardly believe his own eyes for joy when he saw the +prince, and Sigurd told him all his adventures. + +After that Prince Sigurd rode back to fetch Helga, and a great feast +was made which lasted three days; and every one said no bride was +ever seen so beautiful as Helga, and they lived happily for many, +many years, and everybody loved them. + +[From Islandische Mahrchen.] + + + +The Story Of The Sham Prince, Or The Ambitious Tailor + +Once upon a time there lived a respectable young tailor called +Labakan, who worked for a clever master in Alexandria. No one +could call Labakan either stupid or lazy, for he could work +extremely well and quickly--when he chose; but there was +something not altogether right about him. Sometimes he would +stitch away as fast as if he had a red-hot needle and a burning +thread, and at other times he would sit lost in thought, and with +such a queer look about him that his fellow-workmen used to say, +'Labakan has got on his aristocratic face today.' + +On Fridays he would put on his fine robe which he had bought with +the money he had managed to save up, and go to the mosque. As +he came back, after prayers, if he met any friend who said +'Good-day,' or 'How are you, friend Labakan?' he would wave his +hand graciously or nod in a condescending way; and if his master +happened to say to him, as he sometimes did, 'Really, Labakan, you +look like a prince,' he was delighted, and would answer, 'Have you +noticed it too?' or 'Well, so I have long thought.' + +Things went on like this for some time, and the master put up with +Labakan's absurdities because he was, on the whole, a good fellow +and a clever workman. + +One day, the sultan's brother happened to be passing through +Alexandria, and wanted to have one of his state robes altered, so he +sent for the master tailor, who handed the robe over to Labakan as +his best workman. + +In the evening, when every one had left the workshop and gone +home, a great longing drove Labakan back to the place where the +royal robe hung. He stood a long time gazing at it, admiring the +rich material and the splendid embroidery in it. At last he could +hold out no longer. He felt he must try it on, and lo! and behold, it +fitted as though it had been made for him. + +'Am not I as good a prince as any other?' he asked himself, as he +proudly paced up and down the room. 'Has not the master often +said that I seemed born to be a prince?' + +It seemed to him that he must be the son of some unknown +monarch, and at last he determined to set out at once and travel in +search of his proper rank. + +He felt as if the splendid robe had been sent him by some kind fairy, +and he took care not to neglect such a precious gift. He collected +all his savings, and, concealed by the darkness of the night, he +passed through the gates of Alexandria. + +The new prince excited a good deal of curiosity where ever he +went, for his splendid robe and majestic manner did not seem quite +suitable to a person travelling on foot. If anyone asked questions, +he only replied with an important air of mystery that he had his own +reasons for not riding. + +However, he soon found out that walking made him ridiculous, so +at last he bought a quiet, steady old horse, which he managed to get +cheap. + +One day, as he was ambling along upon Murva (that was the horse's +name), a horseman overtook him and asked leave to join him, so +that they might both beguile the journey with pleasant talk. The +newcomer was a bright, cheerful, good-looking young man, who +soon plunged into conversation and asked many questions. He told +Labakan that his own name was Omar, that he was a nephew of Elfi +Bey, and was travelling in order to carry out a command given him +by his uncle on his death bed. Labakan was not quite so open in his +confidences, but hinted that he too was of noble birth and was +travelling for pleasure. + +The two young men took a fancy to each other and rode on +together. On the second day of their journey Labakan questioned +Omar as to the orders he had to carry out, and to his surprise heard +this tale. + +Elfi Bey, Pacha of Cairo, had brought up Omar from his earliest +childhood, and the boy had never known his parents. On his +deathbed Elfi Bey called Omar to him, and then told him that he +was not his nephew, but the son of a great king, who, having been +warned of coming dangers by his astrologers, had sent the young +prince away and made a vow not to see him till his twenty-second +birthday. + +Elfi Bey did not tell Omar his father's name, but expressly desired +him to be at a great pillar four days' journey east of Alexandria on +the fourth day of the coming month, on which day he would be +twenty-two years old. Here he would meet some men, to whom he +was to hand a dagger which Elfi Bey gave him, and to say 'Here am +I for whom you seek.' + +If they answered: 'Praised be the Prophet who has preserved you,' +he was to follow them, and they would take him to his father. + +Labakan was greatly surprised and interested by this story, but after +hearing it he could not help looking on Prince Omar with envious +eyes, angry that his friend should have the position he himself +longed so much for. He began to make comparisons between the +prince and himself, and was obliged to confess that he was a +fine-looking young man with very good manners and a pleasant +expression. + +At the same time, he felt sure that had he been in the prince's place +any royal father might have been glad to own him. + +These thoughts haunted him all day, and he dreamt them all night. +He woke very early, and as he saw Omar sleeping quietly, with a +happy smile on his face, a wish arose in his mind to take by force or +by cunning the things which an unkind fate had denied him. + +The dagger which was to act as a passport was sticking in Omar's +girdle. Labakan drew it gently out, and hesitated for a moment +whether or not to plunge it into the heart of the sleeping prince. +However, he shrank from the idea of murder, so he contented +himself with placing the dagger in his own belt, and, saddling +Omar's swift horse for himself, was many miles away before the +prince woke up to realise his losses. + +For two days Labakan rode on steadily, fearing lest, after all, Omar +might reach the meeting place before him. At the end of the second +day he saw the great pillar at a distance. It stood on a little hill in +the middle of a plain, and could be seen a very long way off. +Labakan's heart beat fast at the sight. Though he had had some +time in which to think over the part he meant to play his conscience +made him rather uneasy. However, the thought that he must +certainly have been born to be a king supported him, and he bravely +rode on. + +The neighbourhood was quite bare and desert, and it was a good +thing that the new prince had brought food for some time with him, +as two days were still wanting till the appointed time. + +Towards the middle of the next day he saw a long procession of +horses and camels coming towards him. It halted at the bottom of +the hill, and some splendid tents were pitched. Everything looked +like the escort of some great man. Labakan made a shrewd guess +that all these people had come here on his account; but he checked +his impatience, knowing that only on the fourth day could his +wishes be fulfilled. + +The first rays of the rising sun woke the happy tailor. As he began +to saddle his horse and prepare to ride to the pillar, he could not +help having some remorseful thoughts of the trick he had played +and the blighted hopes of the real prince. But the die was cast, and +his vanity whispered that he was as fine looking a young man as the +proudest king might wish his son to be, and that, moreover, what +had happened had happened. + +With these thoughts he summoned up all his courage sprang on his +horse, and in less than a quarter of an hour was at the foot of the +hill. Here he dismounted, tied the horse to a bush, and, drawing out +Prince Omar's dagger climbed up the hill. + +At the foot of the pillar stood six men round a tall and stately +person. His superb robe of cloth of gold was girt round him by a +white cashmere shawl, and his white, richly jewelled turban showed +that he was a man of wealth and high rank. + +Labakan went straight up to him, and, bending low, handed him the +dagger, saying: 'Here am I whom you seek.' + +'Praised be the Prophet who has preserved you! replied the old man +with tears of joy. 'Embrace me, my dear son Omar!' + +The proud tailor was deeply moved by these solemn words, and +with mingled shame and joy sank into the old king's arms. + +But his happiness was not long unclouded. As he raised his head he +saw a horseman who seemed trying to urge a tired or unwilling +horse across the plain. + +Only too soon Labakan recognised his own old horse, Murva, and +the real Prince Omar, but having once told a lie he made up his +mind not to own his deceit. + +At last the horseman reached the foot of the hill. Here he flung +himself from the saddle and hurried up to the pillar. + +'Stop!' he cried, 'whoever you may be, and do not let a disgraceful +impostor take you in. My name is Omar, and let no one attempt to +rob me of it.' + +This turn of affairs threw the standers-by into great surprise. The +old king in particular seemed much moved as he looked from one +face to the other. At last Labakan spoke with forced calmness, +'Most gracious lord and father, do not let yourself be deceived by +this man. As far as I know, he is a half-crazy tailor's apprentice +from Alexandria, called Labakan, who really deserves more pity +than anger.' + +These words infuriated the prince. Foaming with rage, he tried to +press towards Labakan, but the attendants threw themselves upon +him and held him fast, whilst the king said, 'Truly, my dear son, the +poor fellow is quite mad. Let him be bound and placed on a +dromedary. Perhaps we may be able to get some help for him.' + +The prince's first rage was over, and with tears he cried to the king, +'My heart tells me that you are my father, and in my mother's name +I entreat you to hear me.' + +'Oh! heaven forbid!' was the reply. 'He is talking nonsense again. +How can the poor man have got such notions into his head?' + +With these words the king took Labakan's arm to support him +down the hill. They both mounted richly caparisoned horses and +rode across the plain at the head of their followers. + +The unlucky prince was tied hand and foot, and fastened on a +dromedary, a guard riding on either side and keeping a sharp +look-out on him. + +The old king was Sached, Sultan of the Wachabites. For many +years he had had no children, but at length the son he had so long +wished for was born. But the sooth-sayers and magicians whom he +consulted as to the child's future all said that until he was +twenty-two years old he stood in danger of being injured by an +enemy. So, to make all safe, the sultan had confided the prince to +his trusty friend Elfi Bey, and deprived himself of the happiness of +seeing him for twenty-two years. All this the sultan told Labakan, +and was much pleased by his appearance and dignified manner. + +When they reached their own country they were received with +every sign of joy, for the news of the prince's safe return had spread +like wildfire, and every town and village was decorated, whilst the +inhabitants thronged to greet them with cries of joy and +thankfulness. All this filled Labakan's proud heart with rapture, +whilst the unfortunate Omar followed in silent rage and despair. + +At length they arrived in the capital, where the public rejoicings +were grander and more brilliant than anywhere else. The queen +awaited them in the great hall of the palace, surrounded by her +entire court. It was getting dark, and hundreds of coloured hanging +lamps were lit to turn night into day. + +The brightest hung round the throne on which the queen sat, and +which stood above four steps of pure gold inlaid with great +amethysts. The four greatest nobles in the kingdom held a canopy +of crimson silk over the queen, and the Sheik of Medina fanned her +with a peacock-feather fan. + +In this state she awaited her husband and her son. She, too, had not +seen Omar since his birth, but so many dreams had shown her what +he would look like that she felt she would know him among a +thousand. + +And now the sound of trumpets and drums and of shouts and +cheers outside announced the long looked for moment. The doors +flew open, and between rows of lowbending courtiers and servants +the king approached the throne, leading his pretended son by the +hand. + +'Here,' said he, 'is he for whom you have been longing so many +years.' + +But the queen interrupted him, 'That is not my son!' she cried. +'That is not the face the Prophet has shown me in my dreams!' + +Just as the king was about to reason with her, the door was thrown +violently open, and Prince Omar rushed in, followed by his keepers, +whom he had managed to get away from. He flung himself down +before the throne, panting out, 'Here will I die; kill me at once, +cruel father, for I cannot bear this shame any longer.' + +Everyone pressed round the unhappy man, and the guards were +about to seize him, when the queen, who at first was dumb with +surprise, sprang up from her throne. + +'Hold!' cried she. 'This and no other is the right one; this is the one +whom my eyes have never yet seen, but whom my heart recognises.' + +The guards had stepped back, but the king called to them in a +furious voice to secure the madman. + +'It is I who must judge,' he said in tones of command; 'and this +matter cannot be decided by women's dreams, but by certain +unmistakable signs. This one' (pointing to Labakan) 'is my son, for +it was he who brought me the token from my friend Elfi--the +dagger.' + +'He stole it from me,' shrieked Omar; 'he betrayed my unsuspicious +confidence.' + +But the king would not listen to his son's voice, for he had always +been accustomed to depend on his own judgment. He let the +unhappy Omar be dragged from the hall, whilst he himself retired +with Labakan to his own rooms, full of anger with the queen his +wife, in spite of their many years of happy life together. + +The queen, on her side, was plunged in grief, for she felt certain +that an impostor had won her husband's heart and taken the place of +her real son. + +When the first shock was over she began to think how she could +manage to convince the king of his mistake. Of course it would be +a difficult matter, as the man who declared he was Omar had +produced the dagger as a token, besides talking of all sorts of things +which happened when he was a child. She called her oldest and +wisest ladies about her and asked their advice, but none of them had +any to give. At last one very clever old woman said: 'Did not the +young man who brought the dagger call him whom your majesty +believes to be your son Labakan, and say he was a crazy tailor? ' + +'Yes,' replied the queen; 'but what of that?' + +'Might it not be,' said the old lady, 'that the impostor has called your +real son by his own name? If this should be the case, I know of a +capital way to find out the truth.' + +And she whispered some words to the queen, who seemed much +pleased, and went off at once to see the king. + +Now the queen was a very wise woman, so she pretended to think +she might have made a mistake, and only begged to be allowed to +put a test to the two young men to prove which was the real prince. + +The king, who was feeling much ashamed of the rage he had been +in with his dear wife, consented at once, and she said: 'No doubt +others would make them ride or shoot, or something of that sort, +but every one learns these things. I wish to set them a task which +requires sharp wits and clever hands, and I want them to try which +of them can best make a kaftan and pair of trousers.' + +The king laughed. 'No, no, that will never do. Do you suppose my +son would compete with that crazy tailor as to which could make +the best clothes? Oh, dear, no, that won't do at all.' + +But the queen claimed his promise, and as he was a man of his +word the king gave in at last. He went to his son and begged that +he would humour his mother, who had set her heart on his making a +kaftan. + +The worthy Labakan laughed to himself. 'If that is all she wants,' +thought he, 'her majesty will soon be pleased to own me.' + +Two rooms were prepared, with pieces of material, scissors, +needles and threads, and each young man was shut up in one of +them. + +The king felt rather curious as to what sort of garment his son +would make, and the queen, too, was very anxious as to the result +of her experiment. + +On the third day they sent for the two young men and their work. +Labakan came first and spread out his kaftan before the eyes of the +astonished king. 'See, father,' he said; 'see, my honoured mother, if +this is not a masterpiece of work. I'll bet the court tailor himself +cannot do better. + +The queen smiled and turned to Omar: 'And what have you done, +my son?' + +Impatiently he threw the stuff and scissors down on the floor. 'I +have been taught how to manage a horse, to draw a sword, and to +throw a lance some sixty paces, but I never learnt to sew, and such +a thing would have been thought beneath the notice of the pupil of +Elfi Bey, the ruler of Cairo.' + +'Ah, true son of your father,' cried the queen; 'if only I might +embrace you and call you son! Forgive me, my lord and husband,' +she added, turning to the king, 'for trying to find out the truth in this +way. Do you not see yourself now which is the prince and which +the tailor? Certainly this kaftan is a very fine one, but I should like +to know what master taught this young man how to make clothes.' + +The king sat deep in thought, looking now at his wife and now at +Labakan, who was doing his best to hide his vexation at his own +stupidity. At last the king said: 'Even this trial does not satisfy me; +but happily I know of a sure way to discover whether or not I have +been deceived.' + +He ordered his swiftest horse to be saddled, mounted, and rode off +alone into a forest at some little distance. Here lived a kindly fairy +called Adolzaide, who had often helped the kings of his race with +her good advice, and to her he betook himself. + +In the middle of the forest was a wide open space surrounded by +great cedar trees, and this was supposed to be the fairy's favourite +spot. When the king reached this place he dismounted, tied his +horse to the tree, and standing in the middle of the open place said: +'If it is true that you have helped my ancestors in their time of need, +do not despise their descendant, but give me counsel, for that of +men has failed me.' + +He had hardly finished speaking when one of the cedar trees +opened, and a veiled figure all dressed in white stepped from it. + +'I know your errand, King Sached,' she said; 'it is an honest one, and +I will give you my help. Take these two little boxes and let the two +men who claim to be your son choose between them. I know that +the real prince will make no mistake.' + +She then handed him two little boxes made of ivory set with gold +and pearls. On the lid of each (which the king vainly tried to open) +was an inscription in diamonds. On one stood the words 'Honour +and Glory,' and on the other 'Wealth and Happiness.' + +'It would be a hard choice,' thought the king as he rode home. + +He lost no time in sending for the queen and for all his court, and +when all were assembled he made a sign, and Labakan was led in. +With a proud air he walked up to the throne, and kneeling down, +asked: + +'What does my lord and father command?' + +The king replied: 'My son, doubts have been thrown on your claim +to that name. One of these boxes contains the proofs of your birth. +Choose for yourself. No doubt you will choose right.' + +He then pointed to the ivory boxes, which were placed on two little +tables near the throne. + +Labakan rose and looked at the boxes. He thought for some +minutes, and then said: 'My honoured father, what can be better +than the happiness of being your son, and what nobler than the +riches of your love. I choose the box with the words "Wealth and +Happiness."' + +'We shall see presently if you have chosen the right one. For the +present take a seat there beside the Pacha of Medina,' replied the +king. + +Omar was next led in, looking sad and sorrowful. He threw himself +down before the throne and asked what was the king's pleasure. +The king pointed out the two boxes to him, and he rose and went to +the tables. He carefully read the two mottoes and said: 'The last +few days have shown me how uncertain is happiness and how easily +riches vanish away. Should I lose a crown by it I make my choice +of "Honour and Glory."' + +He laid his hand on the box as he spoke, but the king signed to him +to wait, and ordered Labakan to come to the other table and lay his +hand on the box he had chosen. + +Then the king rose from his throne, and in solemn silence all present +rose too, whilst he said: 'Open the boxes, and may Allah show us +the truth.' + +The boxes were opened with the greatest ease. In the one Omar +had chosen lay a little gold crown and sceptre on a velvet cushion. +In Labakan's box was found--a large needle with some thread! + +The king told the two young men to bring him their boxes. They +did so. He took the crown in his hand, and as he held it, it grew +bigger and bigger, till it was as large as a real crown. He placed it +on the head of his son Omar, kissed him on the forehead, and +placed him on his right hand. Then, turning to Labakan, he said: +'There is an old proverb, "The cobbler sticks to his last." It seems as +though you were to stick to your needle. You have not deserved +any mercy, but I cannot be harsh on this day. I give you your life, +but I advise you to leave this country as fast as you can.' + +Full of shame, the unlucky tailor could not answer. He flung +himself down before Omar, and with tears in his eyes asked: 'Can +you forgive me, prince?' + +'Go in peace,' said Omar as he raised him. + +'Oh, my true son!' cried the king as he clasped the prince in his +arms, whilst all the pachas and emirs shouted, 'Long live Prince +Omar!' + +In the midst of all the noise and rejoicing Labakan slipped off with +his little box under his arm. He went to the stables, saddled his old +horse, Murva, and rode out of the gate towards Alexandria. +Nothing but the ivory box with its diamond motto was left to show +him that the last few weeks had not been a dream. + +When he reached Alexandria he rode up to his old master's door. +When he entered the shop, his master came forward to ask what +was his pleasure, but as soon as he saw who it was he called his +workmen, and they all fell on Labakan with blows and angry words, +till at last he fell, half fainting, on a heap of old clothes. + +The master then scolded him soundly about the stolen robe, but in +vain Labakan told him he had come to pay for it and offered three +times its price. They only fell to beating him again, and at last +pushed him out of the house more dead than alive. + +He could do nothing but remount his horse and ride to an inn. Here +he found a quiet place in which to rest his bruised and battered +limbs and to think over his many misfortunes. He fell asleep fully +determined to give up trying to be great, but to lead the life of an +honest workman. + +Next morning he set to work to fulfil his good resolutions. He sold +his little box to a jeweller for a good price, bought a house and +opened a workshop. Then he hung up a sign with, 'Labakan, +Tailor,' over his door, and sat down to mend his own torn clothes +with the very needle which had been in the ivory box. + +After a while he was called away, and when he went back to his +work he found a wonderful thing had happened! The needle was +sewing away all by itself and making the neatest little stitches, such +as Labakan had never been able to make even at his best. + +Certainly even the smallest gift of a kind fairy is of great value, and +this one had yet another advantage, for the thread never came to an +end, however much the needle sewed. + +Labakan soon got plenty of customers. He used to cut out the +clothes, make the first stitch with the magic needle, and then leave +it to do the rest. Before long the whole town went to him, for his +work was both so good and so cheap. The only puzzle was how he +could do so much, working all alone, and also why he worked with +closed doors. + +And so the promise on the ivory box of 'Wealth and Happiness' +came true for him, and when he heard of all the brave doings of +Prince Omar, who was the pride and darling of his people and the +terror of his enemies, the ex-prince thought to himself, 'After all, I +am better off as a tailor, for "Honour and Glory" are apt to be very +dangerous things.' + + + +The Colony Of Cats + +Long, long ago, as far back as the time when animals spoke, there +lived a community of cats in a deserted house they had taken +possession of not far from a large town. They had everything they +could possibly desire for their comfort, they were well fed and well +lodged, and if by any chance an unlucky mouse was stupid enough +to venture in their way, they caught it, not to eat it, but for the pure +pleasure of catching it. The old people of the town related how +they had heard their parents speak of a time when the whole +country was so overrun with rats and mice that there was not so +much as a grain of corn nor an ear of maize to be gathered in the +fields; and it might be out of gratitude to the cats who had rid the +country of these plagues that their descendants were allowed to live +in peace. No one knows where they got the money to pay for +everything, nor who paid it, for all this happened so very long ago. +But one thing is certain, they were rich enough to keep a servant; +for though they lived very happily together, and did not scratch nor +fight more than human beings would have done, they were not +clever enough to do the housework themselves, and preferred at all +events to have some one to cook their meat, which they would have +scorned to eat raw. Not only were they very difficult to please +about the housework, but most women quickly tired of living alone +with only cats for companions, consequently they never kept a +servant long; and it had become a saying in the town, when anyone +found herself reduced to her last penny: 'I will go and live with the +cats,' and so many a poor woman actually did. + +Now Lizina was not happy at home, for her mother, who was a +widow, was much fonder of her elder daughter; so that often the +younger one fared very badly, and had not enough to eat, while the +elder could have everything she desired, and if Lizina dared to +complain she was certain to have a good beating. + +At last the day came when she was at the end of her courage and +patience, and exclaimed to her mother and sister: + +'As you hate me so much you will be glad to be rid of me, so I am +going to live with the cats!' + +'Be off with you!' cried her mother, seizing an old broom-handle +from behind the door. Poor Lizina did not wait to be told twice, +but ran off at once and never stopped till she reached the door of +the cats' house. Their cook had left them that very morning, with +her face all scratched, the result of such a quarrel with the head of +the house that he had very nearly scratched out her eyes. Lizina +therefore was warmly welcomed, and she set to work at once to +prepare the dinner, not without many misgivings as to the tastes of +the cats, and whether she would be able to satisfy them. + +Going to and fro about her work, she found herself frequently +hindered by a constant succession of cats who appeared one after +another in the kitchen to inspect the new servant; she had one in +front of her feet, another perched on the back of her chair while she +peeled the vegetables, a third sat on the table beside her, and five or +six others prowled about among the pots and pans on the shelves +against the wall. The air resounded with their purring, which meant +that they were pleased with their new maid, but Lizina had not yet +learned to understand their language, and often she did not know +what they wanted her to do. However, as she was a good, +kindhearted girl, she set to work to pick up the little kittens which +tumbled about on the floor, she patched up quarrels, and nursed on +her lap a big tabby--the oldest of the community--which had a lame +paw. All these kindnesses could hardly fail to make a favourable +impression on the cats, and it was even better after a while, when +she had had time to grow accustomed to their strange ways. Never +had the house been kept so clean, the meats so well served, nor the +sick cats so well cared for. After a time they had a visit from an old +cat, whom they called their father, who lived by himself in a barn at +the top of the hill, and came down from time to time to inspect the +little colony. He too was much taken with Lizina, and inquired, on +first seeing her: 'Are you well served by this nice, black-eyed little +person?' and the cats answered with one voice: 'Oh, yes, Father +Gatto, we have never had so good a servant!' + +At each of his visits the answer was always the same; but after a +time the old cat, who was very observant, noticed that the little +maid had grown to look sadder and sadder. 'What is the matter, my +child has any one been unkind to you?' he asked one day, when he +found her crying in her kitchen. She burst into tears and answered +between her sobs: 'Oh, no! they are all very good to me; but I long +for news from home, and I pine to see my mother and my sister.' + +Old Gatto, being a sensible old cat, understood the little servant's +feelings. 'You shall go home,' he said, 'and you shall not come back +here unless you please. But first you must be rewarded for all your +kind services to my children. Follow me down into the inner cellar, +where you have never yet been, for I always keep it locked and +carry the key away with me.' + +Lizina looked round her in astonishment as they went down into the +great vaulted cellar underneath the kitchen. Before her stood the +big earthenware water jars, one of which contained oil, the other a +liquid shining like gold. 'In which of these jars shall I dip you?' +asked Father Gatto, with a grin that showed all his sharp white +teeth, while his moustaches stood out straight on either side of his +face. The little maid looked at the two jars from under her long +dark lashes: 'In the oil jar,' she answered timidly, thinking to +herself: 'I could not ask to be bathed in gold.' + +But Father Gatto replied: 'No, no; you have deserved something +better than that.' And seizing her in his strong paws he plunged her +into the liquid gold. Wonder of wonders! when Lizina came out of +the jar she shone from head to foot like the sun in the heavens on a +fine summer's day. Her pretty pink cheeks and long black hair +alone kept their natural colour, otherwise she had become like a +statue of pure gold. Father Gatto purred loudly with satisfaction. +'Go home,' he said, 'and see your mother and sisters; but take care if +you hear the cock crow to turn towards it; if on the contrary the ass +brays, you must look the other way.' + +The little maid, having gratefully kissed the white paw of the old +cat, set off for home; but just as she got near her mother's house the +cock crowed, and quickly she turned towards it. Immediately a +beautiful golden star appeared on her forehead, crowning her glossy +black hair. At the same time the ass began to bray, but Lizina took +care not to look over the fence into the field where the donkey was +feeding. Her mother and sister, who were in front of their house, +uttered cries of admiration and astonishment when they saw her, +and their cries became still louder when Lizina, taking her +handkerchief from her pocket, drew out also a handful of gold. + +For some days the mother and her two daughters lived very happily +together, for Lizina had given them everything she had brought +away except her golden clothing, for that would not come off, in +spite of all the efforts of her sister, who was madly jealous of her +good fortune. The golden star, too, could not be removed from her +forehead. But all the gold pieces she drew from her pockets had +found their way to her mother and sister. + +'I will go now and see what I can get out of the pussies,' said +Peppina, the elder girl, one morning, as she took Lizina's basket and +fastened her pockets into her own skirt. 'I should like some of the +cats' gold for myself,' she thought, as she left her mother's house +before the sun rose. + +The cat colony had not yet taken another servant, for they knew +they could never get one to replace Lizina, whose loss they had not +yet ceased to mourn. When they heard that Peppina was her sister, +they all ran to meet her. 'She is not the least like her,' the kittens +whispered among themselves. + +'Hush, be quiet!' the older cats said; 'all servants cannot be pretty.' + +No, decidedly she was not at all like Lizina. Even the most +reasonable and large-minded of the cats soon acknowledged that. + +The very first day she shut the kitchen door in the face of the +tom-cats who used to enjoy watching Lizina at her work, and a +young and mischievous cat who jumped in by the open kitchen +window and alighted on the table got such a blow with the +rolling-pin that he squalled for an hour. + +With every day that passed the household became more and more +aware of its misfortune. + +The work was as badly done as the servant was surly and +disagreeable; in the corners of the rooms there were collected heaps +of dust; spiders' webs hung from the ceilings and in front of the +window-panes; the beds were hardly ever made, and the feather +beds, so beloved by the old and feeble cats, had never once been +shaken since Lizina left the house. At Father Gatto's next visit he +found the whole colony in a state of uproar. + +'Caesar has one paw so badly swollen that it looks as if it were +broken,' said one. 'Peppina kicked him with her great wooden +shoes on. Hector has an abscess in his back where a wooden chair +was flung at him; and Agrippina's three little kittens have died of +hunger beside their mother, because Peppina forgot them in their +basket up in the attic. There is no putting up with the creature--do +send her away, Father Gatto! Lizina herself would not be angry +with us; she must know very well what her sister is like.' + +'Come here,' said Father Gatto, in his most severe tones to Peppina. +And he took her down into the cellar and showed her the same two +great jars that he had showed Lizina. 'In which of these shall I dip +you?' he asked; and she made haste to answer: 'In the liquid gold,' +for she was no more modest than she was good and kind. + +Father Gatto's yellow eyes darted fire. 'You have not deserved it,' +he uttered, in a voice like thunder, and seizing her he flung her into +the jar of oil, where she was nearly suffocated. When she came to +the surface screaming and struggling, the vengeful cat seized her +again and rolled her in the ash-heap on the floor; then when she +rose, dirty, blinded, and disgusting to behold, he thrust her from the +door, saying: 'Begone, and when you meet a braying ass be careful +to turn your head towards it.' + +Stumbling and raging, Peppina set off for home, thinking herself +fortunate to find a stick by the wayside with which to support +herself. She was within sight of her mother's house when she heard +in the meadow on the right, the voice of a donkey loudly braying. +Quickly she turned her head towards it, and at the same time put +her hand up to her forehead, where, waving like a plume, was a +donkey's tail. She ran home to her mother at the top of her speed, +yelling with rage and despair; and it took Lizina two hours with a +big basin of hot water and two cakes of soap to get rid of the layer +of ashes with which Father Gatto had adorned her. As for the +donkey's tail, it was impossible to get rid of that; it was as firmly +fixed on her forehead as was the golden star on Lizina's. Their +mother was furious. She first beat Lizina unmercifully with the +broom, then she took her to the mouth of the well and lowered her +into it, leaving her at the bottom weeping and crying for help. + +Before this happened, however, the king's son in passing the +mother's house had seen Lizina sitting sewing in the parlour, and +had been dazzled by her beauty. After coming back two or three +times, he at last ventured to approach the window and to whisper in +the softest voice: 'Lovely maiden, will you be my bride?' and she +had answered: 'I will.' + +Next morning, when the prince arrived to claim his bride, he found +her wrapped in a large white veil. 'It is so that maidens are received +from their parents' hands,' said the mother, who hoped to make the +king's son marry Peppina in place of her sister, and had fastened the +donkey's tail round her head like a lock of hair under the veil. The +prince was young and a little timid, so he made no objections, and +seated Peppina in the carriage beside him. + +Their way led past the old house inhabited by the cats, who were all +at the window, for the report had got about that the prince was +going to marry the most beautiful maiden in the world, on whose +forehead shone a golden star, and they knew that this could only be +their adored Lizina. As the carriage slowly passed in front of the +old house, where cats from all parts of world seemed to be gathered +a song burst from every throat:! + +Mew, mew, mew! Prince, look quick behind you! In the well is fair +Lizina, And you've got nothing but Peppina. + +When he heard this the coachman, who understood the cat's +language better than the prince, his master, stopped his horses and +asked: + +'Does your highness know what the grimalkins are saying?' and the +song broke forth again louder than ever. + +With a turn of his hand the prince threw back the veil, and +discovered the puffed-up, swollen face of Peppina, with the +donkey's tail twisted round her head. 'Ah, traitress!' he exclaimed, +and ordering the horses to be turned round, he drove the elder +daughter, quivering with rage, to the old woman who had sought to +deceive him. With his hand on the hilt of his sword he demanded +Lizina in so terrific a voice that the mother hastened to the well to +draw her prisoner out. Lizina's clothing and her star shone so +brilliantly that when the prince led her home to the king, his father, +the whole palace was lit up. Next day they were married, and lived +happy ever after; and all the cats, headed by old Father Gatto, were +present at the wedding. + + + +How To Find Out A True Friend + +Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who longed to have +a son. As none came, one day they made a vow at the shrine of St. +James that if their prayers were granted the boy should set out on a +pilgrimage as soon as he had passed his eighteenth birthday. And +fancy their delight when one evening the king returned home from +hunting and saw a baby lying in the cradle. + +All the people came crowding round to peep at it, and declared it +was the most beautiful baby that ever was seen. Of course that is +what they always say, but this time it happened to be true. And +every day the boy grew bigger and stronger till he was twelve years +old, when the king died, and he was left alone to take care of his +mother. + +In this way six years passed by, and his eighteenth birthday drew +near. When she thought of this the queen's heart sank within her, +for he was the light of her eyes' and how was she to send him forth +to the unknown dangers that beset a pilgrim? So day by day she +grew more and more sorrowful, and when she was alone wept +bitterly. + +Now the queen imagined that no one but herself knew how sad she +was, but one morning her son said to her, 'Mother, why do you cry +the whole day long?' + +'Nothing, nothing, my son; there is only one thing in the world that +troubles me.' + +'What is that one thing?' asked he. 'Are you afraid your property is +badly managed? Let me go and look into the matter.' + +This pleased the queen, and he rode off to the plain country, where +his mother owned great estates; but everything was in beautiful +order, and he returned with a joyful heart, and said, 'Now, mother, +you can be happy again, for your lands are better managed than +anyone else's I have seen. The cattle are thriving; the fields are +thick with corn, and soon they will be ripe for harvest.' + +'That is good news indeed,' answered she; but it did not seem to +make any difference to her, and the next morning she was weeping +and wailing as loudly as ever. + +'Dear mother,' said her son in despair, 'if you will not tell me what is +the cause of all this misery I shall leave home and wander far +through the world.' + +'Ah, my son, my son,' cried the queen, 'it is the thought that I must +part from you which causes me such grief; for before you were born +we vowed a vow to St. James that when your eighteenth birthday +was passed you should make a pilgrimage to his shrine, and very +soon you will be eighteen, and I shall lose you. And for a whole +year my eyes will never be gladdened by the sight of you, for the +shrine is far away.' + +'Will it take no longer than that to reach it?' said he. 'Oh, don't be +so wretched; it is only dead people who never return. As long as I +am alive you may be sure I will come back to you.' + +After this manner he comforted his mother, and on his eighteenth +birthday his best horse was led to the door of the palace, and he +took leave of the queen in these words, 'Dear mother, farewell, and +by the help of fate I shall return to you as soon as I can.' + +The queen burst into tears and wept sore; then amidst her sobs she +drew three apples from her pocket and held them out, saying, 'My +son, take these apples and give heed unto my words. You will need +a companion in the long journey on which you are going. If you +come across a young man who pleases you beg him to accompany +you, and when you get to an inn invite him to have dinner with you. +After you have eaten cut one of these apples in two unequal parts, +and ask him to take one. If he takes the larger bit, then part from +him, for he is no true friend to you. But if he takes the smaller bit +treat him as your brother, and share with him all you have.' Then +she kissed her son once more, and blessed him, and let him go. + +The young man rode a long way without meeting a single creature, +but at last he saw a youth in the distance about the same age as +himself, and he spurred his horse till he came up with the stranger, +who stopped and asked: + +'Where are you going, my fine fellow?' + +'I am making a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James, for before I +was born my mother vowed that I should go forth with a thank +offering on my eighteenth birthday.' + +'That is my case too,' said the stranger, 'and, as we must both travel +in the same direction, let us bear each other company.' + +The young man agreed to this proposal, but he took care not to get +on terms of familiarity with the new comer until he had tried him +with the apple. + +By-and-by they reached an inn, and at sight of it the king's son said, +'I am very hungry. Let us enter and order something to eat.' The +other consented, and they were soon sitting before a good dinner. + +When they had finished the king's son drew an apple from his +pocket, and cut it into a big half and a little half, and offered both to +the stranger, who took the biggest bit. 'You are no friend of mine,' +thought the king's son, and in order to part company with him he +pretended to be ill and declared himself unable to proceed on his +journey. + +'Well, I can't wait for you,' replied the other; 'I am in haste to push +on, so farewell.' + +'Farewell,' said the king's son, glad in his heart to get rid of him so +easily. The king's son remained in the inn for some time, so as to +let the young man have a good start; them he ordered his horse and +rode after him. But he was very sociable and the way seemed long +and dull by himself. 'Oh, if I could only meet with a true friend,' he +thought, 'so that I should have some one to speak to. I hate being +alone.' + +Soon after he came up with a young man, who stopped and asked +him, 'Where are you going, my fine fellow?' The king's son +explained the object of his journey, and the young man answered, as +the other had done, that he also was fulfilling the vow of his mother +made at his birth. + +'Well, we can ride on together,' said the king's son, and the road +seemed much shorter now that he had some one to talk to. + +At length they reached an inn, and the king's son exclaimed, 'I am +very hungry; let us go in and get something to eat.' + +When they had finished the king's son drew an apple out of his +pocket and cut it in two; he held the big bit and the little bit out to +his companion, who took the big bit at once and soon ate it up. +'You are no friend of mine,' thought the king's son, and began to +declare he felt so ill he could not continue his journey. When he +had given the young man a good start he set off himself, but the +way seemed even longer and duller than before. 'Oh, if I could only +meet with a true friend he should be as a brother to me,' he sighed +sadly; and as the thought passed through his mind, he noticed a +youth going the same road as himself. + +The youth came up to him and said, 'Which way are you going, my +fine fellow?' And for the third time the king's son explained all +about his mother's vow. Why, that is just like me,' cried the youth. + +'Then let us ride on together,' answered the king's son. + +Now the miles seemed to slip by, for the new comer was so lively +and entertaining that the king's son could not help hoping that he +indeed might prove to be the true friend. + +More quickly than he could have thought possible they reached an +inn by the road-side, and turning to his companion the king's son +said, 'I am hungry; let us go in and have something to eat.' So they +went in and ordered dinner, and when they had finished the king's +son drew out of his pocket the last apple, and cut it into two +unequal parts, and held both out to the stranger. And the stranger +took the little piece, and the heart of the king's son was glad within +him, for at last he had found the friend he had been looking for. +'Good youth,' he cried, 'we will be brothers, and what is mine shall +be thine, and what is thine shall be mine. And together we will +push on to the shrine, and if one of us dies on the road the other +shall carry his body there.' And the stranger agreed to all he said, +and they rode forward together. + +It took them a whole year to reach the shrine, and they passed +through many different lands on their way. One day they arrived +tired and half-starved in a big city, and said to one another, 'Let us +stay here for a little and rest before we set forth again.' So they +hired a small house close to the royal castle, and took up their +abode there. + +The following morning the king of the country happened to step on +to his balcony, and saw the young men in the garden, and said to +himself, 'Dear me, those are wonderfully handsome youths; but one +is handsomer than the other, and to him will I give my daughter to +wife;' and indeed the king's son excelled his friend in beauty. + +In order to set about his plan the king asked both the young men to +dinner, and when they arrived at the castle he received them with +the utmost kindness, and sent for his daughter, who was more +lovely than both the sun and moon put together. But at bed-time +the king caused the other young man to be given a poisoned drink, +which killed him in a few minutes, for he thought to himself, 'If his +friend dies the other will forget his pilgrimage, and will stay here +and marry my daughter.' + +When the king's son awoke the next morning he inquired of the +servants where his friend had gone, as he did not see him. 'He died +suddenly last night,' said they, 'and is to be buried immediately.' + +But the king's son sprang up, and cried, 'If my friend is dead I can +stay here no longer, and cannot linger an hour in this house.' + +'Oh, give up your journey and remain here,' exclaimed the king, 'and +you shall have my daughter for your wife.' 'No,' answered the +king's son, 'I cannot stay; but, I pray you, grant my request, and +give me a good horse, and let me go in peace, and when I have +fulfilled my vow then I will return and marry your daughter.' + +So the king, seeing no words would move him, ordered a horse to +be brought round, and the king's son mounted it, and took his dead +friend before him on the saddle, and rode away. + +Now the young man was not really dead, but only in a deep sleep. + +When the king's son reached the shrine of St. James he got down +from his horse, took his friend in his arms as if he had been a child, +and laid him before the altar. 'St. James,' he said, 'I have fulfilled +the vow my parents made for me. I have come myself to your +shrine, and have brought my friend. I place him in your hands. +Restore him to life, I pray, for though he be dead yet has he fulfilled +his vow also.' And, behold! while he yet prayed his friend got up +and stood before him as well as ever. And both the young men +gave thanks, and set their faces towards home. + +When they arrived at the town where the king dwelt they entered +the small house over against the castle. The news of their coming +spread very soon, and the king rejoiced greatly that the handsome +young prince had come back again, and commanded great feasts to +be prepared, for in a few days his daughter should marry the king's +son. The young man himself could imagine no greater happiness, +and when the marriage was over they spent some months at the +court making merry. + +At length the king's son said, 'My mother awaits me at home, full of +care and anxiety. Here I must remain no longer, and to-morrow I +will take my wife and my friend and start for home.' And the king +was content that he should do so, and gave orders to prepare for +their journey. + +Now in his heart the king cherished a deadly hate towards the poor +young man whom he had tried to kill, but who had returned to him +living, and in order to do him hurt sent him on a message to some +distant spot. 'See that you are quick,' said he, 'for your friend will +await your return before he starts.' The youth put spurs to his horse +and departed, bidding the prince farewell, so that the king's message +might be delivered the sooner. As soon as he had started the king +went to the chamber of the prince, and said to him, 'If you do not +start immediately, you will never reach the place where you must +camp for the night.' + +'I cannot start without my friend,' replied the king's son. + +'Oh, he will be back in an hour,' replied the king, 'and I will give him +my best horse, so that he will be sure to catch you up.' The king's +son allowed himself to be persuaded and took leave of his +father-in-law, and set out with his wife on his journey home. + +Meanwhile the poor friend had been unable to get through his task +in the short time appointed by the king, and when at last he +returned the king said to him, + +'Your comrade is a long way off by now; you had better see if you +can overtake him.' + +So the young man bowed and left the king's presence, and followed +after his friend on foot, for he had no horse. Night and day he ran, +till at length he reached the place where the king's son had pitched +his tent, and sank down before him, a miserable object, worn out +and covered with mud and dust. But the king's son welcomed him +with joy, and tended him as he would his brother. + +And at last they came home again, and the queen was waiting and +watching in the palace, as she had never ceased to do since her son +had rode away. She almost died of joy at seeing him again, but +after a little she remembered his sick friend, and ordered a bed to be +made ready and the best doctors in all the country to be sent for. +When they heard of the queen's summons they flocked from all +parts, but none could cure him. After everyone had tried and failed +a servant entered and informed the queen that a strange old man +had just knocked at the palace gate and declared that he was able to +heal the dying youth. Now this was a holy man, who had heard of +the trouble the king's son was in, and had come to help. + +It happened that at this very time a little daughter was born to the +king's son, but in his distress for his friend he had hardly a thought +to spare for the baby. He could not be prevailed on to leave the +sick bed, and he was bending over it when the holy man entered the +room. 'Do you wish your friend to be cured?' asked the new comer +of the king's son. 'And what price would you pay?' + +'What price?' answered the king's son; 'only tell me what I can do to +heal him.' + +'Listen to me, then,' said the old man. 'This evening you must take +your child, and open her veins, and smear the wounds of your +friend with her blood. And you will see, he will get well in an +instant.' + +At these words the king's son shrieked with horror, for he loved the +baby dearly, but he answered, 'I have sworn that I would treat my +friend as if he were my brother, and if there is no other way my +child must be sacrificed.' + +As by this time evening had already fallen he took the child and +opened its veins, and smeared the blood over the wounds of the +sick man, and the look of death departed from him, and he grew +strong and rosy once more. But the little child lay as white and still +as if she had been dead. They laid her in the cradle and wept +bitterly, for they thought that by the next morning she would be lost +to them. + +At sunrise the old man returned and asked after the sick man. + +'He is as well as ever,' answered the king's son. + +'And where is your baby?' + +'In the cradle yonder, and I think she is dead,' replied the father +sadly. + +'Look at her once more,' said the holy man, and as they drew near +the cradle there lay the baby smiling up at them. + +'I am St. James of Lizia,,' said the old man, 'and I have come to +help you, for I have seen that you are a true friend. From +henceforward live happily, all of you, together, and if troubles +should draw near you send for me, and I will aid you to get through +them.' + +With these words he lifted his hand in blessing and vanished. + +And they obeyed him, and were happy and content, and tried to +make the people of the land happy and contented too. + +[From Sicilianische Mahrehen Gonzenbach.] + + + +Clever Maria + +There was once a merchant who lived close to the royal palace, and +had three daughters. They were all pretty, but Maria, the youngest, +was the prettiest of the three. One day the king sent for the +merchant, who was a widower, to give him directions about a +journey he wished the good man to take. The merchant would +rather not have gone, as he did not like leaving his daughters at +home, but he could not refuse to obey the king's commands, and +with a heavy heart he returned home to say farewell to them. +Before he left, he took three pots of basil, and gave one to each +girl, saying, 'I am going a journey, but I leave these pots. You must +let nobody into the house. When I come back, they will tell me +what has happened.' 'Nothing will have happened,' said the girls. + +The father went away, and the following day the king, accompanied +by two friends, paid a visit to the three girls, who were sitting at +supper. When they saw who was there, Maria said, 'Let us go and +get a bottle of wine from the cellar. I will carry the key, my eldest +sister can take the light, while the other brings the bottle.' But the +king replied, 'Oh, do not trouble; we are not thirsty.' 'Very well, we +will not go,' answered the two elder girls; but Maria merely said, 'I +shall go, anyhow.' She left the room, and went to the hall where +she put out the light, and putting down the key and the bottle, ran +to the house of a neighbour, and knocked at the door. 'Who is +there so late?' asked the old woman, thrusting her head out of the +window. + +'Oh, let me in,' answered Maria. 'I have quarrelled with my eldest +sister, and as I do not want to fight any more, I have come to beg +you to allow me to sleep with you.' + +So the old woman opened the door and Maria slept in her house. +The king was very angry at her for playing truant, but when she +returned home the next day, she found the plants of her sisters +withered away, because they had disobeyed their father. Now the +window in the room of the eldest overlooked the gardens of the +king, and when she saw how fine and ripe the medlars were on the +trees, she longed to eat some, and begged Maria to scramble down +by a rope and pick her a few, and she would draw her up again. +Maria, who was good-natured, swung herself into the garden by the +rope, and got the medlars, and was just making the rope fast under +her arms so as to be hauled up, when her sister cried: 'Oh, there are +such delicious lemons a little farther on. You might bring me one +or two.' Maria turned round to pluck them, and found herself face +to face with the gardener, who caught hold of her, exclaiming, +'What are you doing here, you little thief?' 'Don't call me names,' +she said, 'or you will get the worst of it,' giving him as she spoke +such a violent push that he fell panting into the lemon bushes. Then +she seized the cord and clambered up to the window. + +The next day the second sister had a fancy for bananas and begged +so hard, that, though Maria had declared she would never do such a +thing again, at last she consented, and went down the rope into the +king's garden. This time she met the king, who said to her, 'Ah, +here you are again, cunning one! Now you shall pay for your +misdeeds.' + +And he began to cross-question her about what she had done. +Maria denied nothing, and when she had finished, the king said +again, 'Follow me to the house, and there you shall pay the penalty.' +As he spoke, he started for the house, looking back from time to +time to make sure that Maria had not run away. All of a sudden, +when he glanced round, he found she had vanished completely, +without leaving a trace of where she had gone. Search was made +all through the town, and there was not a hole or corner which was +not ransacked, but there was no sign of her anywhere. This so +enraged the king that he became quite ill, and for many months his +life was despaired of. + +Meanwhile the two elder sisters had married the two friends of the +king, and were the mothers of little daughters. Now one day Maria +stole secretly to the house where her elder sister lived, and +snatching up the children put them into a beautiful basket she had +with her, covered with flowers inside and out, so that no one would +ever guess it held two babies. Then she dressed herself as a boy, +and placing the basket on her head, she walked slowly past the +palace, crying as she went: + +'Who will carry these flowers to the king, who lies sick of love?' + +And the king in his bed heard what she said, and ordered one of his +attendants to go out and buy the basket. It was brought to his +bedside, and as he raised the lid cries were heard, and peeping in he +saw two little children. He was furious at this new trick which he +felt had been played on him by Maria, and was still looking at them, +wondering how he should pay her out, when he was told that the +merchant, Maria's father, had finished the business on which he had +been sent and returned home. Then the king remembered how +Maria had refused to receive his visit, and how she had stolen his +fruit, and he determined to be revenged on her. So he sent a +message by one of his pages that the merchant was to come to see +him the next day, and bring with him a coat made of stone, or else +he would be punished. Now the poor man had been very sad since +he got home the evening before, for though his daughters had +promised that nothing should happen while he was away, he had +found the two elder ones married without asking his leave. And +now there was this fresh misfortune, for how was he to make a coat +of stone? He wrung his hands and declared that the king would be +the ruin of him, when Maria suddenly entered. 'Do not grieve about +the coat of stone, dear father; but take this bit of chalk, and go to +the palace and say you have come to measure the king.' The old +man did not see the use of this, but Maria had so often helped him +before that he had confidence in her, so he put the chalk in his +pocket and went to the palace. + +'That is no good,' said the king, when the merchant had told him +what he had come for. + +'Well, I can't make the coat you want,' replied he. + +'Then if you would save your head, hand over to me your daughter +Maria.' + +The merchant did not reply, but went sorrowfully back to his house, +where Maria sat waiting for him. + +'Oh, my dear child, why was I born? The king says that, instead of +the coat, I must deliver you up to him.' + +'Do not be unhappy, dear father, but get a doll made, exactly like +me, with a string attached to its head, which I can pull for "Yes" +and "No."' + +So the old man went out at once to see about it. + +The king remained patiently in his palace, feeling sure that this time +Maria could not escape him; and he said to his pages, 'If a +gentleman should come here with his daughter and ask to be +allowed to speak with me, put the young lady in my room and see +she does not leave it.' + +When the door was shut on Maria, who had concealed the doll +under her cloak, she hid herself under the couch, keeping fast hold +of the string which was fastened to its head. + +'Senhora Maria, I hope you are well,' said the king when he entered +the room. The doll nodded. 'Now we will reckon up accounts,' +continued he, and he began at the beginning, and ended up with the +flower-basket, and at each fresh misdeed Maria pulled the string, so +that the doll's head nodded assent. 'Who-so mocks at me merits +death,' declared the king when he had ended, and drawing his +sword, cut off the doll's head. It fell towards him, and as he felt the +touch of a kiss, he exclaimed, 'Ah, Maria, Maria, so sweet in death, +so hard to me in life! The man who could kill you deserves to die!' +And he was about to turn his sword on himself, when the true +Maria sprung out from under the bed, and flung herself into his +arms. And the next day they were married and lived happily for +many years. + +[From the Portuguese.] + + + +The Magic Kettle + +Right in the middle of Japan, high up among the mountains, an old +man lived in his little house. He was very proud of it, and never +tired of admiring the whiteness of his straw mats, and the pretty +papered walls, which in warm weather always slid back, so that the +smell of the trees and flowers might come in. + +One day he was standing looking at the mountain opposite, when +he heard a kind of rumbling noise in the room behind him. He +turned round, and in the corner he beheld a rusty old iron kettle, +which could not have seen the light of day for many years. How +the kettle got there the old man did not know, but he took it up and +looked it over carefully, and when he found that it was quite whole +he cleaned the dust off it and carried it into his kitchen. + +'That was a piece of luck,' he said, smiling to himself; 'a good kettle +costs money, and it is as well to have a second one at hand in case +of need; mine is getting worn out, and the water is already +beginning to come through its bottom.' + +Then he took the other kettle off the fire, filled the new one with +water, and put it in its place. + +No sooner was the water in the kettle getting warm than a strange +thing happened, and the man, who was standing by, thought he +must be dreaming. First the handle of the kettle gradually changed +its shape and became a head, and the spout grew into a tail, while +out of the body sprang four paws, and in a few minutes the man +found himself watching, not a kettle, but a tanuki! The creature +jumped off the fire, and bounded about the room like a kitten, +running up the walls and over the ceiling, till the old man was in an +agony lest his pretty room should be spoilt. He cried to a +neighbour for help, and between them they managed to catch the +tanuki, and shut him up safely in a wooden chest. Then, quite +exhausted, they sat down on the mats, and consulted together what +they should do with this troublesome beast. At length they decided +to sell him, and bade a child who was passing send them a certain +tradesman called Jimmu. + +When Jimmu arrived, the old man told him that he had something +which he wished to get rid of, and lifted the lid of the wooden +chest, where he had shut up the tanuki. But, to his surprise, no +tanuki was there, nothing but the kettle he had found in the corner. +It was certainly very odd, but the man remembered what had taken +place on the fire, and did not want to keep the kettle any more, so +after a little bargaining about the price, Jimmu went away carrying +the kettle with him. + +Now Jimmu had not gone very far before he felt that the kettle was +getting heavier and heavier, and by the time he reached home he +was so tired that he was thankful to put it down in the corner of his +room, and then forgot all about it. In the middle of the night, +however, he was awakened by a loud noise in the corner where the +kettle stood, and raised himself up in bed to see what it was. But +nothing was there except the kettle, which seemed quiet enough. +He thought that he must have been dreaming, and fell asleep again, +only to be roused a second time by the same disturbance. He +jumped up and went to the corner, and by the light of the lamp that +he always kept burning he saw that the kettle had become a tanuki, +which was running round after his tail. After he grew weary of +that, he ran on the balcony, where he turned several somersaults, +from pure gladness of heart. The tradesman was much troubled as +to what to do with the animal, and it was only towards morning that +he managed to get any sleep; but when he opened his eyes again +there was no tanuki, only the old kettle he had left there the night +before. + +As soon as he had tidied his house, Jimmu set off to tell his story to +a friend next door. The man listened quietly, and did not appear so +surprised as Jimmu expected, for he recollected having heard, in his +youth, something about a wonder-working kettle. 'Go and travel +with it, and show it off,' said he, 'and you will become a rich man; +but be careful first to ask the tanuki's leave, and also to perform +some magic ceremonies to prevent him from running away at the +sight of the people.' + +Jimmu thanked his friend for his counsel, which he followed +exactly. The tanuki's consent was obtained, a booth was built, and +a notice was hung up outside it inviting the people to come and +witness the most wonderful transformation that ever was seen. + +They came in crowds, and the kettle was passed from hand to hand, +and they were allowed to examine it all over, and even to look +inside. Then Jimmu took it back, and setting it on the platform, +commanded it to become a tanuki. In an instant the handle began +to change into a head, and the spout into a tail, while the four paws +appeared at the sides. 'Dance,' said Jimmu, and the tanuki did his +steps, and moved first on one side and then on the other, till the +people could not stand still any longer, and began to dance too. +Gracefully he led the fan dance, and glided without a pause into the +shadow dance and the umbrella dance, and it seemed as if he might +go on dancing for ever. And so very likely he would, if Jimmu had +not declared he had danced enough, and that the booth must now +be closed. + +Day after day the booth was so full it was hardly possible to enter +it, and what the neighbour foretold had come to pass, and Jimmu +was a rich man. Yet he did not feel happy. He was an honest man, +and he thought that he owed some of his wealth to the man from +whom he had bought the kettle. So, one morning, he put a hundred +gold pieces into it, and hanging the kettle once more on his arm, he +returned to the seller of it. 'I have no right to keep it any longer,' he +added when he had ended his tale, 'so I have brought it back to you, +and inside you will find a hundred gold pieces as the price of its +hire.' + +The man thanked Jimmu, and said that few people would have been +as honest as he. And the kettle brought them both luck, and +everything went well with them till they died, which they did when +they were very old, respected by everyone. + +[Adapted from Japanische Mahrchen] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext The Crimson Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang + diff --git a/old/crfry10.zip b/old/crfry10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..639ebf0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/crfry10.zip |